A/N Bit slow with this chapter - damn reality keeps getting in the way! Please review, I'm wondering where to go with this. It gets a bit angsty so I apologise to all those who don't like it!
Chapter 4 – Electricity
"Damn it." Sam's exasperated mutter raised Daniel from his translating. Glancing at his watch he realised they had been at it for 4 hours.
"What's up?" he asked, looking over to where Sam was working at her desk.
"I'm getting nowhere. The x-rays showed up nothing. The casing must be thicker than I thought. I've taken to applying different energy frequencies to try and activate whatever's inside, but that doesn't appear to be having any affects either. I may just go and get a blow torch and burn my way in." She flicked some switches angrily on the board beside her. Daniel picked up his notes and walked round to her side of the desk, coming to stand beside her.
"I've had a bit more luck than that. But not much" he added, seeing Sam turn to face him excitedly. "The scriptures speak of a Globe of the Gods, which descended to their land in a beam of white light. It was believed to be a sacred artefact and was placed in their highest temple. Presumably the ruins we found. There is one interesting bit I translated though. It says 'The Art of the Gods was seen only twice. When the Globe of the Gods was delivered to our people and once when light bore down on the temple'."
Sam looked over at Daniel. "Art of the Gods? Are you saying there's some kind of drawing on here?"
"Well. Something. That's the only reference to Art of the Gods that I've come across so far."
"So, what? It faded after a while? 'light bore down on the temple'. I wonder whether it was a lightning bolt during a storm." Sam fiddled with some dials on her board and started flicking switches.
"I haven't come across a reference to what happened to the Art of the…" A great beam of light suddenly shot to the ceiling and Daniel dropped his notes in surprise.
"Ok…" As he and Sam watched complex symbols started filling the surface of the orb. When the surface was full the beam of light switched off, leaving the room feeling dark apart from the glow of the symbols.
"I guess we found the Art of the Gods then" Daniel grinned at Sam. She grinned back and noticed his notes were scattered around his feet. She knelt down to gather the ones closest to her and saw Daniel's hands join hers in gathering up the sheets.
"That was a bit of a surprise." She stated, looking up from the floor. Daniel's face was inches from hers and she got a faint whiff of his aftershave. Daniel looked into her eyes and nodded weakly. A spark passed through the two of them and somehow their hands found each other's on the floor. He slowly leaned forward and pressed his lips gently on Sam's. All thoughts of the orb were immediately forgotten as Sam slowly opened her mouth and embraced Daniel's kiss.
Daniel tried to be delicate, aware of the fact he wasn't sure how Sam would respond, but as he felt her mouth open his kiss became more passionate, and they probed each other's mouths hungrily.
Sam broke off the kiss as the need for oxygen became too great. She opened her eyes to see Daniel looking back at her.
"I'm sorry" he half whispered. "I shouldn't have done that." He pulled his head back to a safer distance from hers. "I just wanted to. Just once. To know what it was like." He released her hands from his and looked down at the sheets on the floor.
"What?" Sam felt confused and her hand reached out for Daniel's as he picked up some notes.
"I know your heart's already taken," he said by way of explanation, moving his hand away from hers and standing up. He placed his notes on the table next to the orb and started putting them back in order.
Sam stood up too, placing the last two sheets on the table next to his. "I suppose it is. But not with whomever is filling your thoughts right now." She said slowly; watch Daniel's face for a reaction.
Daniel's thoughts were with Jack, and how much Sam loved him. He turned his head to look at Sam once more.
"Sam, you're one of my best friends. I don't think you need to hide your feelings from me. I already know. I can't compete with Jack for your affections, and I won't."
He picked up the notes and went to the scriptures. "I'll be back in a second with my video recorder. I'll record the symbols and go back to my lab to work on them there". He put his notes next to the scriptures before turning and leaving the room.