Chapter 1 – A discovery

Major Samantha Carter sighed and put down her pen. She was beginning to regret pulling an all nighter to study the metallic artefact SG4 had brought back from their latest mission. She knew there was a power source within the orb because her computer was showing low energy readings, and she had spent the whole night trying to open the casing to see inside. She glanced down at her watch and groaned – the dial was showing 08:00. Any minute now the Colonel was going to walk past her door and make some comment about her work, and she nothing to show for it. Leaning forward, she rubbed her eyes and studied the large, black sphere on her desk. 'I am looking at a big, black crystal ball' she thought to herself. 'And if I look really closely at it's surface I can see a very scruffy Sam looking back'.

"Hey."

Sam jumped at the soft voice and stood up quickly, turning to face the speaker. She wobbled slightly as the blood rushed to her head and she stuck her arm out, leaning on the desk for balance.

"Are you ok?"

Sam heard the concern in Daniel's voice as he moved closer into the room.

"Yeah, I've just been working too hard, thats all." She smiled and looked at him closely.

"Hmm, I know the feeling." Daniel had a delicate shadow across his face and his clothes were creased.

"I'm just off actually. I pulled an all nighter on the scriptures that came with the orb," he added sheepishly, his blue eyes looking to Sam's desk where the orb rested – unopened. Weary though she was, Sam's eyes lit up with the idea that Daniel may have discovered how to open the orb.

"Did you discover anything?" She asked, unable to keep her enthusiasm out of her voice. Daniel looked back into Sam's face and chuckled quietly.

"I'm guessing I'm not the only one who stayed here the whole night." He saw the eagerness in Sam's eyes and continued. "I'm afraid I didn't. I can't get beyond the first line of text. My brain seems to have frozen. I thought I would go home and hunt out some text books. And maybe get some sleep."

Sam nodded and turned to look at the orb. "I know there is a power source inside but I just can't figure out how to get in. Or what it was even used for." She sighed in frustration and yawned. "I hate not knowing how something works…" She tapped the orb absentmindedly. Daniel moved up to her side and gently turned her to face him.

"I think I should take you home to get some sleep. The orb will still be here later – though I wouldn't suggest working through the night again!" His eyes locked onto her's and he felt a spark as sleepy blue eyes looked back at him.

Sam looked into Daniel's crystal blue eyes and felt the spark pass through her. She suddenly felt very unsure of herself. This was Daniel, her friend, not the Daniel she had just thought of him as. She gently shook herself and Daniel let go of her shoulders and stepped back.

"I… I came by bike today. Yesterday… I think" she finished lamely. She avoided eye contact with Daniel and went round the side of her desk to collect her things.

Daniel watched her. He knew from her reaction she must have felt it too, or seen it in his eyes, and he felt unsure of how he should proceed. He couldn't let Sam go home on a motorbike though. It would be the early morning rush on the roads and Sam was hardly in a fit state to ride.

"Sam, you can't possibly be thinking of biking home. I insist on giving you a lift. Your bike will still be here later!" He went up and took some of the lab notes out of her laden arms. "Come on." He strode out into the hallway and Sam followed meekly behind him.