Chapter 3 – To work
A few minutes after 3 Sam's doorbell went and she flew to the door, grabbing her work things as she passed them. Refreshed from her sleep, she was both eager to see Daniel and eager to crack the secret of the orb. She swung open the door and stepped out, locking it behind her. She noted Daniel looked tired, but was tidier than earlier.
"Good afternoon. Sleep well?" She asked as they headed for his car.
"Not really… thinking about the scriptures" he added by way of an excuse. It was the first time he had lied to Sam and he blushed as he thought of the real reason for his tiredness. He had dreamt of his life with Shar're back on Abydos. He had been watching the sunrise with her one morning and they had ended up making love as the desert heated up with the sun. In his dreams it had been Sam he had made love to. He had kissed all over her body and she had cried with pleasure at his touch. Daniel cleared his throat and opened the passenger door for Sam. She climbed in and a few minutes later they were heading to the SGC.
"If it was anyone else holding a door open for me I would probably beat them up. But as it's you I'll forgive." She smiled at Daniel and he glanced at her as he changed gears. "So, did you realise anything new about the scriptures while you were not sleeping?"
Daniel blushed lightly, and it did not go unmissed by Sam. 'I wonder why he keeps blushing' she thought. She mentally noted how he was avoiding her eyes and staring at the road ahead.
"No, not really. I did have an idea though. As we are both working towards the same aim – opening the orb," Sam nodded at him. "I wondered whether it wouldn't be quicker to collaborate our efforts and work together." He risked a glance at Sam to see her reactions. She seemed undisturbed by the comment.
"That's a great idea. As long as you don't expect me to translate anything!" Inside, Sam's heart was filled with joy at the idea of spending an afternoon with Daniel, but she remained ever professional and maintained her cool exterior.
At the entrance to Cheyenne Mountain the guard checked their ID and let them pass. Unlike if it had been Jack and Sam, there was no speculation about the two of them arriving together. Everyone knew Sam's heart belonged to the Colonel, and Daniel and Sam were often seen working together.
They got into a lift and descended into the base of the mountain.
"I'm going to go see the Colonel and tell him we're here. Why don't you get your notes and the scriptures and I'll meet you back at my lab?"
Daniel scowled to himself but remained outwardly jovial. "Sure. See you in a few minutes."
They got out at their corresponding floors and Sam walked to the Colonel's office. As she approached she could see the door was open and Colonel O'Neill was shooting a ball through a mini hoop on his desk.
"Knock knock."
The Colonel looked up mid throw and smiled at her.
"Carter. Hoop?" He held out the ball to her.
"Ermm. No thanks Sir." She wondered why she had ever thought it could work between her and the Colonel. He was a great man, but they were so different.
"I just popped by to tell you that Daniel and I are back on base to study the orb some more."
Colonel O'Neill rolled his eyes. "I'm bored Carter. See this mountain of paperwork?" He gestured to the folders pushed to one side of his desk. "This is not fun. Going through the Stargate and kicking some Goa'uld ass is fun. Why can't you hand back the orb to the geeks so they can study it?"
"We have an off-world mission scheduled in a week's time sir, and this orb is quite fascinating." 'Or it would be if I could get in it' she added silently.
"Hmmm, well off you go to your new toy Carter, and leave me to have fun with my paperwork…" He looked with disgust at his folders before throwing the ball through the hoop.
"Thanks Sir." Sam smiled and left his office. Jack watched her leave and marvelled at how great she looked in combats. "So weird though" he muttered. "Actually enjoys spending time in her office."
Sam found Daniel engrossed in a textbook when she got back to her lab. She went up to her desk ad started up her computer before sitting down in front of the orb. Daniel looked up from his textbook and watched her.
"Any ideas?" Sam looked up and Daniel gestured towards the orb.
"Well I'm going to try and get a scan of what's inside, then I'll take it from there. I spent hours last night testing the thickness of the casing and I know its hollow in there."
Daniel nodded. "I've started work on the translation. I've done two lines from the first scripture. It's describing a Globe of the Gods. That's all I've got so far." Daniel looked back into his textbook and started making notes again. Sam proceeded to set up the equipment to take an x-ray of the globe.
Her mind remained focussed on the task in hand, but a little part of her kept taking sneaky peaks at Daniel. She wondered why she had never noticed her feelings for him before. He looked so gorgeous with his forehead creased in concentration, leaning forward at the scripture in front of him, and she had seen him in a stance like this many times before. She quickly took a few x-rays and started packing away the equipment while the readings were processed by the computer.
Daniel glanced at Sam as she moved round the room with her lab equipment. He loved the way she was so graceful, even in combats, and he wished she could be his. Kicking himself mentally he pulled the scriptures closer, and told himself to stop watching someone who was in love with his CO. He was making fast work with the scriptures now he had got over the 'teething problems' but he couldn't find any reference as to how to open the orb.