26?

Daniel used his key on the front door when no one answered his knock. He entered the house and found it empty. He couldn't help the sigh of relief that came out. Sam, Jack, and the kids were gone. Sure he wanted to see the boys, but the relief that flooded through him and not having to talk to Sam or Jack was stronger than the disappointment at not seeing the twins.

Daniel entered his room and started to gather some of his clothes up. He knew Jack and Sam would probably let him stay, they weren't going to throw him out on the street. But Daniel knew he couldn't stay. Not with his feelings for Sam. He still hadn't sorted those out, and he knew that if he stayed here and watched Sam and Jack be the world's most amazing couple again, he would never get the feelings sorted out.

He would come back later and get his furniture and things, as his car was way too small to carry anything but a bag or two of his clothes. Yeah, he'd forgotten to get boxes. His mind was elsewhere.

He sat down on his bed and heard something crumple. He leaned forward a bit and grabbed a piece of paper that was lying on his bed. It was a note from Sam.

Daniel,

I'm not sure if you're coming over today, but if you do I want you

to know we are not avoiding you. Myrin woke up just a few minutes

ago and apparently her experience with Ralk was as awful as Jack's,

as she's scared out of her mind. Jack and I are headed there to see if he

can calm her.

We have the twins with us, because I gave Greta a couple of days off and

you know how I am with people watching my boys.

Daniel, if the situation with Myrin is under control, we'd like to have

dinner with you. We know there's a lot to talk about. I'll call you.

And you're welcome to stay Daniel. Forever if you want. Jack agrees.

Sam

Daniel sighed. He knew they'd offer to let him stay. But even if he thought he could handle it, he wouldn't stay. Jack was back and he needed the time alone with his family. Daniel had overstayed his welcome, even if they didn't think so.

He threw his stuff in the trunk of his car and drove back to the compound. He thought maybe he'd be able to help Myrin adjust. It was his specialty after all. Jack sometimes called him the Ambassador of Earth. Daniel smiled at the thought. He missed Jack.

With a determined sigh, Daniel decided to quit being such a drama queen. He missed his friend and he was going to do whatever it took to get his friendship with Jack back to where they left it. And if that meant completely forgetting about his more than platonic feelings for Sam, and of course it would mean that, then Daniel was prepared to do that.

When Daniel entered the med lab where Myrin was, he saw Jack look up at him. "Daniel?" Jack asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Thought I might be able to help." He shrugged.

Jack gave him a grin and turned to Myrin. "This is Daniel. He's a friend. A very good friend."

Myrin looked over at Daniel and gave him a small smile. Her red hair was tangled and she looked rather gaunt. "Good to meet you Myrin." Daniel offered her his hand. She shook it lightly.

"Doc says she's perfectly healthy." Jack announced.

"Then we should get her into some real clothes and get her some quarters, don't you think so Jack?" Daniel asked, looking over at his friend.

"Actually, I do." Jack helped her off the bed and draped a blanket around her shoulders. "General Hammond wants you to stay on base for a while Myrin. It's just procedure." Jack explained.

"I understand." She said.

"Myrin, do you know the gate address to your home?" Daniel asked, following Jack and Myrin out the door.

She shook her head sadly. "I can't remember it." But she looked up at Daniel and gave him a bright smile. "But its called Juhni."

"That actually might help. We should enter it in the database and see if anything pops up." Daniel suggested. He looked around and noticed that Sam was not with them for the first time. "Where's Sam and the kids?"

"I'm right here." Sam said, walking down the hall.

Daniel looked up at her and was about to suggest she look up Myrin's home world when his legs were attacked by twins. "Danny!" They shouted together.

He grinned and bent down to pick them up, giving them each a squeeze. "How are my boys doing?" Daniel asked. He realized after he'd said it that he'd called Jack's boys his, but with a shrug he let it go. He couldn't change his habits in one day.

J.D. pointed at Jack and said, "Daddy."

"Daddy." Jonathan echoed.

Daniel looked up at Jack, who was beaming. "Yep. That's Daddy." Daniel agreed. They reached the quarters used for people who had to stay on base and Jack let Myrin into one of the rooms.

"Is this ok Myrin?" Jack asked.

She nodded. "Anything is better compared to that place." She said, alluding to the place she and Jack had come from.

"I'll Amen that." Jack agreed.

Sam dropped some clothes on the dresser. "We'll get you more." She said quietly. She took one of the twins from Daniel automatically.

"Well, who's hungry?" Jack asked, clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention.

"I am famished." Myrin admitted.

"These guys are probably starving by now." Sam said, shifting Jonathan from one hip to the other.

"Daniel? You going to join us for breakfast?" Jack asked cautiously.

"I ate already." Daniel replied. "But I'll meet you for dinner." He said, looking at Sam.

"Great! I'm grilling out." He took looked over at Myrin. "I'll see if Hammond will let you out if I keep an eye on you."

Myrin nodded. "I would like to see your planet Jack."

"Jack." Sam said in a warning tone, causing everyone to look at her. She sighed. What was done was done. "Nevermind."

They left Myrin's room so she could change. Daniel let Jonathan down to play. Sam followed suit, but kept an eye on them as they could get into trouble as fast as their father could. "I'll check on Myrin's home world. Call me when you want me to be at the house."

"Seven probably. If Sam doesn't kill me before then." Jack joked.

"We may be having Bar-B-Que'd O'Neill." Sam said.

Daniel smiled a little. Ok, so seeing them together wasn't so bad. Yet. "I'll be there."

"Hey Danny, if Hammond okay's it, can you bring Myrin?"

Daniel shrugged. "Sure."

"Thanks."

Daniel waved over his head in response. "What?" He heard Jack ask when he thought Daniel was out of earshot.

"We were supposed to have dinner alone with Daniel." Sam admonished him.

"It'll be fine Sam. Trust me. I have a plan."

Daniel couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. Jack and his plans never went well.

A/N: Nice long chapter to make up for not writing anything on this story for a while.