Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Daniel woke up to find he was alone in the bed, sliding out he headed to the nursery to find Sha're sitting on the bean bag chair she'd had since she was a child staring out of the window at the falling rain. Crouching down beside her Daniel gently touched her shoulder.
"Hey, you should be sleeping," he told her, "Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
"I can't sleep," Sha're murmured, "I miss him."
Daniel pulled her close gently kissing her forehead, "I know. I barely knew him but I miss him too."
"I don't want to have to go through this," Sha're sighed, "I just want to stay here and I want to start fixing the nursery or paint one of the rooms. Anything but go to my brother's memorial service."
"I know but your Mom and Dad need you there tomorrow," Daniel reminded her, "And I'll be there for you. So come back to bed, even if you can't sleep I'll hold you all night."
Sha're smiled sadly, with his help she stood up and they walked slowly back to their room.
x
Jack walked over to join Daniel who was standing at the patio doors watching Sha're who was sitting sadly on the couch.
"How's she doing?" Jack asked, startling the archaeologist.
Daniel sighed, "She's not sleeping. And only eats when I make her. She feels guilty that she disappeared without a trace, now he's gone and she hasn't made up for when she wasn't here."
"I can understand that," Jack said before catching Charlie who was wandering around, "Charlie, go see if Sha're wants something to eat or drink would you?"
The boy nodded and he wandered over to where Daniel's wife sat staring into space. The two men watched as an imperceptible smile crossed the young woman's face and she touched Charlie's face fondly while shaking her head at the offer of food.
Daniel sighed, "I'm going to go make her get some rest."
"The spare room's free," Jack told him, "She can go there."
Daniel gave him a grateful look as he headed over to where his wife sat; he crouched down beside her and gently touched her cheek.
"You look tired love," he said gently, "You should lie down for a while."
Sha're sighed deeply and nodded allowing him to lead her to the spare room, he pulled back the cover and she lay down closing her exhaustion filled dark eyes.
"Get some rest," Daniel gently kissed her forehead.
"Dan'iel," she caught his hand, "Don't leave."
Daniel lay beside her pulling her into his arms turning her to look at him before gently kissing her. Sha're wrapped her arms around him and held onto him for the moment forgetting.
Daniel tossed his jacket in the locker getting ready to start his work-out. Sha're was with Micki and Jonas in the office they were all using to work on the tablets. He'd only left when she'd snapped at him to stop hovering. He was due to join SG1 on a mission next week so he wanted to be fit enough to keep up with the rest of the team.
"Daniel," a voice he hadn't expected called.
Looking up Daniel nodded softly, "Walker. I didn't realise you were back."
"Just got back," Walker had left the SGC not long after his return to Earth so he could spend some time with his family, "I heard what happened to Skaara, how is she?"
"Depressed, feeling guilty," Daniel sighed, "It's to be expected. She's working in Micki's office if you want to go talk to her."
"I want to say I'm sorry," Walker told him, "About what I said before I left. I had no right."
Daniel nodded, "Don't worry about it."
"I'll see you around," Walker called as he left nodding to Major Dean and the rest of SG3 as they entered the gym.
x
Walker found Sha're heading to Hammond's office with a report.
"Sha're," he called jogging up to join her.
"Hello Walker," she gave him a small tired smile, "It's good to see you back."
"You looking really good," he told her, "How's everything going with junior?"
Sha're rested her hand on her bump, "I'm still sick a lot but not as much as I was at first. Dan'iel keeps saying we're probably having twins I seem so big."
"I didn't want to say anything in case I ended up in the infirmary," he smiled before swallowing, "I heard about Skaara, sorry I couldn't make the memorial service."
"It's alright," Sha're whispered, "I know you would have been there if you could have."
They continued to walk in silence to Hammond's office finding Najia already there talking with the General.
"Welcome back Walker," Najia said very softly.
Walker gave her a smile but before anyone could say anything Janet came running in.
"Sorry sir," she said before stopping and catching her breath, "Its SG3's blood work. The tests came back positive for Rho'nal."
"That's a hypnotic drug," Najia murmured thoughtfully.
"Only used by Apophis to carry out assassinations," Walker noted, "Why would they have that unless…"
"Apophis wants to stop us discovering what is in the scrolls," Sha're gasped piecing things together, "Dan'iel!!"
"He's in the gym," Walker yelled as he started to run, "With SG3."
x
Racing to the gym Walker found Daniel struggling against the three members of SG3, two of whom were holding the archaeologist's arms. Seeing a knife appear in Dean's hand Walker dived tackling Dean knocking him to the floor. As they struggled Daniel tried to twist out of the others grip, Dean finally gave Walker the opening to knock him out but before he could help Daniel Sha're appeared in the doorway and fired a zat.
Daniel and the two men holding him were surrounded by the energy making them drop to the ground with a cry.
Walker restrained one of the remaining two men who'd attacked Daniel while an airman got the other as Sha're dropped down beside her husband.
"What the hell was that?" Daniel demanded shakily getting to his feet.
"The best way to help you," Sha're said softly her eyes wide with apology, "Are you alright?"
"Not too sure," Daniel shuddered trying to shake off the residual pain from the zat blast, "Thanks Walker.
"No problem," the other man grinned as he helped escort all of SG3 to a secure isolation room leaving the couple alone.
"What was that about?" Daniel asked rubbing his arms where he'd been restrained.
"It looks like Apophis captured and drugged them" Sha're explained, "He wants to make sure you can't translate the scrolls for us."
"How would he even know I'm here and working on them?" Daniel asked.
"I don't know Dan'iel," Sha're whispered suddenly wrapping her arms around him, "I was scared I was going to lose you too."
"Hey it's okay," Daniel soothed, "I'm not going anywhere."
Sha're gave him a small smile, "I want Janet to make sure you're alright."
"Of course," Daniel slipped his arm around her waist, "Come on."
x
Daniel was finally allowed out of the infirmary after Janet had done a few tests with Sha're hovering over him. They headed upstairs to join everyone else to discuss what had just happened.
"Major Dean explained they were ambushed not too far from the Gate," Jack told them; "He remembers being strapped down and being told to kill Daniel."
"How did Apophis know he was here?" Sha're asked her hand gripping her husband's tightly.
"That's the thing," Jack looked at the Littlefield family, both the Earth and Abydonian branches, "Skaara's been goulded."
Silence filled the room as they all tried to take this in.
"It's obvious the Gould used Skaara's knowledge of his family to devise a strategy to kill Dr Jackson," Walker continued, "Apophis would have discovered we were trying to recreate the scrolls and since we believe Dr Jackson to be the only one who can translate them…"
"Apophis wanted to make sure that never happened," Daniel finished, "What now? How do we get Skaara back?"
"We can't," Jack told him, "If we come across him we may be lucky enough to knock him unconscious long enough to get him to the Tok'ra but going after him is not an option. I'm sorry guys."
His last comment was to Najia and Kasuf who both nodded before leaving the briefing room.
"What?" Daniel demanded, "That's it?"
"Yes," Sha're told him quietly.
"There's got to be something you can do," Daniel cried, "You're just abandoning him."
Sha're closed her eyes a tear sliding along her cheek, "We can't risk it. The possibility of retrieving Skaara is outweighed by the lives we will more than likely lose. We have done this before."
Daniel sighed ashamed of himself hugging her tightly, "I'm sorry."
"I know Dan'iel," she whispered, "We should go back to work. I want to find whatever Apophis wants so we didn't lose Skaara in vain."
Daniel sat staring out across the view from the top of the mountain his knees pulled up to his chest.
"Hey," Jack said taking a seat beside him, "Want to talk about it?"
Daniel gave a soft snort, "What's there to talk about?"
"Maybe that you're pissed off at us," Jack replied.
"I'm more annoyed at the situation," Daniel told him, "Skaara is now…"
"Yeah," Jack cut him off.
"I don't know what to do," Daniel sighed, "I knew Skaara for about a month and I don't know how to comfort her. Walker knows things about him, you know things about him and everyone else but me."
"Daniel…" Jack started but Daniel cut him off.
"I'm pretty useless here because I'm not a part of this place," Daniel sighed, "And I'm not exactly fitting in."
"Bull," Jack snapped.
"Excuse me?" Daniel's eyes widened.
"That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard," Jack told him, "I've known Sha're for a long time and I know she's never been as happy as she is with you. You didn't know Skaara that well, but you know her. To be honest you probably know her better than any of us."
"Jack…"
"All you have to do to comfort your wife," Jack told him, "Is be there. You really have no self-confidence at all do you?"
Daniel stared at the other man not sure what to say. Jack had hit on something Daniel tried to hide.
"I guess I don't," Daniel sighed, "Jack, I just want to change this and make her smile again."
Jack shrugged, "I've known Skaara since he was a kid, trust me you're not the only one who wants to change this but the rest of us understand we can't. You have to learn this too."
x
Daniel found Sha're sitting in her own office. She was staring at a picture of her and Skaara from when they were children.
"Wow," Daniel said coming up behind her, "You were a scrawny kid."
Sha're turned and hit him on the arm, "I have seen pictures of you Dan'iel, you were a runt."
Daniel took her hand and gently kissed it, "But you at least grew up to be beautiful."
Sha're smiled before she looked back down at the picture sighing. Gently she placed it in a small photo album.
"What are you doing?" Daniel asked sitting beside her.
"Skaara and I made this when we were children," Sha're explained, "I decided to create one for our baby. So he or she knows about their uncle Skaara."
"She will," Daniel promised.
"You are still convinced we are having a girl," Sha're rolled her eyes.
Daniel caught her chin, "You'll see."
Sha're smiled and rested her head against his shoulder, "We should return to working on the scrolls."
"I have a better idea," Daniel told her.
"And what would that be my strange husband?" Sha're's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"We spend some time away from here," Daniel told her, "I know we just got here but maybe a few days alone would be good for us."
A small smile touched her lips, "Where would you suggest?"
"Somewhere special," Daniel touched his finger to her lips, "Vegas."
"Vegas?" Sha're asked.
"Robert's still there," Daniel continued, "He and Kate would be happy to see us especially since you won't be able to fly in a few months."
Sha're wrapped her arms around his neck, "That sounds…wonderful."
x
"I can't believe you two are doing this," Kate Rothman said as she and Sha're went looking for a dress for Sha're to wear for her wedding which was now less than an hour away.
"I know," Sha're laughed giddily, "I never wanted to get married ever and now after knowing him for only six months…"
Kate laughed, "Look on the bright side when Robert and I met, it took him a month to finally ask me out, a year and half to propose and then eight months for him to set the date. I think you two are doing the best thing doing it this way."
"So do I," Sha're smiled, "Though I was unbelievably shocked when he produced the ring," Sha're stopped and looked at the small ring she was wearing, "It is beautiful."
"Daniel always was one for romantic gestures," Kate sighed, "Sarah always…"
"Sarah?" Sha're asked seeing Kate frown after she trailed off into silence.
Kate grimaced, "She was…" the other woman sighed, "She was Daniel's girlfriend until about nine months ago."
"What happened?" Sha're asked very curious as she'd never heard anything about a Sarah.
"I'm not sure," Kate said, "They seemed to be quite happy then the next thing I knew was that they'd split and Daniel was heading for the dig."
"He mentioned someone had hurt him before he joined the dig. I have never had specifics, including a name and I didn't want to push," Sha're shrugged, "I know he loves me, the past doesn't matter."
"We should find a dress," Kate changed the subject quickly, "Because we're running out of time."
x
Sha're allowed Kate to fuss over her, fixing the dress they'd found just before time was up. Glancing through the doors she saw Daniel standing with Robert, Daniel looked nervous and he jumped slightly as the music started.
Sha're smiled as she walked towards him. His blue eyes were fixed on her filled with love and she decided that whatever this woman had done to hurt him she would heal those wounds.
"Daniel," Robert smiled as his friend exited the car.
"Hey Robert," Daniel grinned back before he helped Sha're out of the car.
"Sha're, you look…"
"Huge," she answered before he could finish his sentence hugging him when she finally made it to him, "Where's Kate?"
"She's at work," Robert told her, "But she's looking forward to seeing you two."
Sha're smiled before sighing, "I'm a little tired so maybe we should talk inside where I can sit down."
Daniel laughed, helping her into the house while Robert helped with their bags.
It was only about an hour or so later when Kate finally arrived home with Chinese takeout.
"Sha're," Kate hugged the other woman tightly, "You look amazing. How do you feel?"
"I'm feeling really good," Sha're smiled at her friend, "And being home is good."
"We were wondering about that," Robert said, "One day you two just left the dig. What happened?"
Daniel shrugged, "Sha're got a message from home, we went to see them and suddenly we decided to stay.
Kate grinned, "What's it like around the in-laws?"
Daniel grimaced slightly, "It took some time."
"Once we had our own house Dan'iel warmed to them a little more," Sha're laughed.
"So you guys are permanently staying in Colorado?" Robert asked.
Daniel nodded taking Sha're's hand, "We have a home now."
Sha're moved away from Daniel who murmured slightly before turning over. Awkwardly she climbed out of the bed and went to the window staring out at the garden. She felt better coming here, Daniel had been right they needed to get away from everything for a while.
She winced as the baby kicked, "You're going to be a handful."
Looking over she saw Daniel was still sleeping peacefully; she gently kissed his forehead before she pulled on some clothes and headed downstairs to get something to eat.
"Morning," Kate smiled looking up for cooking breakfast as Sha're entered the kitchen, "How'd you sleep?"
"It would be better if junior here didn't like to dance at night," Sha're laughed taking a seat, "Unfortunately the baby takes after Dan'iel, boundless energy."
"Now in Daniel that's not exactly a bad thing," Kate grinned.
Sha're laughed wincing at another kick, "I just can't wait till I get my body to myself again. These kicks are getting worse."
"May I?" Kate gestured to her stomach.
Sha're nodded taking her friends hand and resting it where her child would kick, "It will give you an idea of what it'll be like."
Kate laughed, "I don't see us having kids any time soon."
"I never thought about it either," Sha're replied, "And one day there I was, pregnant," she grimaced when the baby kicked her again as Kate gasped, "See, this baby is going to bruise me from the inside."
x
Kate was cleaning up the kitchen while Robert had gone with Daniel and Sha're for a walk when the doorbell rang.
"Kate," the woman standing there cried, "He left the dig. I need to know where he is."
Kate grimaced, "That is out of the question. I'll tell him you're looking for him. Just give me your number."
"No," the woman snapped, "Just…just tell me where he is."
"Kate," Daniel called worriedly at hearing raised voices as he'd entered the house, "Is everything alright?"
"Daniel," the visitor sighed in relief.
Daniel blanched, "Sarah?"
