28?

Daniel had to hand it to the guy, when Jack had a plan, he stuck to it. Daniel watched Myrin as she ran to him, tears streaming down her face. When she reached him he enclosed her in his arms. He kissed her passionately, wanting to remember everything about her.

And when they parted, his heart sank.

It had been three months since Jack had returned with his fellow escapee. It had been barely two months since Daniel realized that he could find love. Not with Sam. Not with Kelsey, who didn't understand his bond with Jonathan and J.D. He found love with Myrin, an alien from a planet that she couldn't remember the gate address to.

And it had been a month and a half since Gen. Hammond let her live off base and she joined him at his new apartment where he had a playroom for the twins. They had enjoyed a month of bliss before she woke up, startled from a dream.

Daniel knew it would end. It always ended. Jack's plan had gone off without a hitch, and Daniel would be eternally grateful, but there was a problem in the plan that Daniel refused to acknowledge.

She woke up two weeks ago and remembered the address.

"You ready?" Jack asked gently from the gate. She looked at him, and then back at Daniel.

Jack was taking Myrin home, as his last official mission. Daniel asked not to go. He knew that if he went he'd want to stay. He'd give up everything to be with her. Maybe that's what he should have done, but as he watched her slowly walk back up the ramp he knew he was choosing right.

Because along with the memory or her world's address came the memory of her husband. A man she loved very much. A man she would not be able to tell about Daniel. Daniel understood. Of course he did. He always understood.

Dr. Ralk had wiped out her memory, and it was slowly coming back to her. She remembered things every now and again. Her parents, her sister, her niece. This last bit of information didn't come like the others. When she remembered something she'd usually smile and relate the memory to Daniel. This last one though, came with tears and apologies. He'd assured her he was not mad and understood her need to go back. She had a family back home. A husband.

And so, without a fuss or fight, Daniel let her go. She went with the knowledge that he loved her. She'd promised him that she'd never forget about him. He assured her he'd never forget her.

It took two weeks to get prepared, and as Daniel watched her leave through the blue pool he closed his eyes and concentrated on his memories of her. He stood there, silent with his eyes closed, for five minutes after the gate had closed until a soft hand landed on his shoulder. "Daniel?" Sam said gently.

Daniel turned to her and allowed her to give him a comforting hug. She led him out of the compound and to her car where she drove him to her house. They drove in silence. As they walked in Greta gave him a smile but when he looked past her she looked up at Sam. Sam shook her head in response to Greta's unspoken question of if Daniel was ok, then Sam let Greta go home.

The boys climbed on Daniel's lap with books for him to read to them and he did so automatically. He didn't offer them any smiles or use funny voices. They noticed the difference right away. "Danny!" J.D. shouted. "Read!"

"I am reading J.D." Daniel said.

"No." Jonathan shook his head, causing Daniel to look at him. "Read Danny."

Daniel sighed. He probably should have just gone back to his apartment. He looked to Sam for help but she didn't offer any. She knew the kids would be able to help him carry on. They could quite possibly be the only thing to help him carry on.

"Read." J.D. pointed to the book.

With another sigh Daniel complied. He read with funny voices and gave them smiles.

Later that night Daniel fell asleep on Sam's couch where Jack found him the next morning.

Jack watched Daniel sleep restlessly for a few moments before going into his room to see Sam and get a shower. Sam woke up when he entered the room and gave him a warm smile. "Welcome home Jack."

He slipped into the bed next to her. "Rough night?"

"What are we going to do with him?" Sam asked.

"I thought maybe we'd let Myrin handle him."

"What?" Sam asked, sitting up in the bed.

Jack gave her a sideways grin. "Seems she was declared dead months ago."

"Yeah…"

"And in her culture, apparently getting married a few days after one's spouse dies is not looked down upon."

"Are you saying her husband got remarried?"

"Yep. And his new wife is expecting their first child."

"That's great!" Sam exclaimed, then her smile faded. "How'd Myrin take it?"

"She was hurt at first, but then she realized she had Daniel here. She promised to visit her sister, and then asked to come back to Earth with me. So she's in the living room surprising Danny now."

"Wow."

"Yeah." Jack made Sam lay back down. "Looks like we all get a happy ending."

THE END