AN: Ha, ha! My first SG-1 fic and my first XO! Two birds for the price of one! Anyways, since I've only seen the first ep. of season 7, this is sorta AU in terms of consistency stuff. Please review so my existence and effort can be validated (and so I know to write more). I don't care what you have to say, as long as you say something! Cheers.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, only the plot is mine. Konami owns Silent Hilll and MGM owns Stargate.

". . . so, taking that into account, you can see the entire equation changes drastically," at this Sam turned from her whiteboard to see Daniel's reaction to her discovery. She wasn't surprised when he didn't seem to notice her scrutiny, being too absorbed in his current blank stare. "Daniel, are you even listening to me?"

He shook his head at the sound of his name and immediately looked up at her with his usual polite expression. "I think," he began as he adjusted his glasses on his nose with a finger. "The more pertinent question is whether or not I understand what you're explaining to me. In which case the answer would be . . . no."

Sam gave him an unimpressed look. "I'm talking about the possibility of networking the entire system, here!" she exclaimed in exasperation, partly do to her friend's obvious lack of enthusiasm and her own weariness.

Absorbing the information for a moment, Daniel took awhile to respond. "Yes, well, as far as you and I go, Sam, we're probably the intellectuals out of the bunch – however, aside from that, I'd have to say our expertise isn't exactly complimentary of one another," he paused to gauge her response. "I'm more than happy to act as your sounding board though, but other than that I can't really see how I can be much help."

Sam couldn't help but smile at his candidness. She knew that when she went on about the quantum physics behind the 'gate, she was usually talking miles above most people's heads and usually they would just pretend they understood what she was saying. Daniel generally clarified when she was speaking in the only language he couldn't decipher. "Well, thanks anyway," she said, genuinely appreciative but aware that Daniel was probably bored out of his mind. He'd leave and she would work on this some more or go home to bed.

"So, then, you were saying? Something about a drastic change in your previous calculation?"

"You really don't have to sit through this."

"I know. But what else have I go to do? Besides, if you really are stuck, I always find it helps to voice your thoughts out loud."

Sam nodded and began her pacing again as she continued to dissect the myriad of symbols on the board before them. She was on her sixth lap when Daniel suddenly spoke up:

"Do you ever wonder if we've negatively influenced any of the more primitive civilizations we've visited?"

Sam stopped in midstep, cut short from her train of thought and also a little surprised by the sudden change of topic.

At this Daniel raised his hands in defense. "I was listening, but just when you mentioned something about prime whatever, it got me thinking."

"Prime?"

"You know, the prime directive? Star Trek?"

"Daniel, please, you're starting to sound like the colonel-"

"No, really. They have this rule that states they aren't to interfere with the affairs of inferior races in case contact somehow has some ill-effects later on."

"Daniel, most of the less-advanced peoples we've met we've liberated from the Goa'uld, how could that possibly have ill-effects?"

Daniel pushed himself off the desk he had been leaning on and folded his arms across his chest. A thoughtful expression graced his features. "Well, we were once under Goa'uld subjugation – Earth, I mean – but look how well our civilization flourished."

"Yes, it did – after the Goa'uld left the planet and we were allowed to advance," Sam responded, a little flabberghasted by her colleague's thoughts. "I understand what you're saying, Daniel, but I can't see how eliminating the Goa'uld from the picture could harm any civilization."

Daniel nodded, but it was apparent he was deep in his own thoughts.

"Look," Sam placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I can't say that we've never made a mistake, but I wouldn't be doing this and I know the colonel, Teal'c and even you wouldn't be doing this if we didn't think it was the right thing to do." She was rather concerned for her friend's sudden change of mood.

Daniel said nothing for a long time. He just stared off into the distance, ignoring Sam and her affectionate squeeze of his shoulder. A few awkward moments passed until he finally muttered, "You know, none of this would have happened if we hadn't killed Ra."

"Daniel-"

He waved her away with a gesture of his hand. "I'm sorry, I don't know what I'm saying," and with little ado, left the lab.

. . . . . .

"Have you noticed Daniel acting a little odd lately?" Sam asked O'Neill as she took a sip of her coffee, and he a spoonful of cheerios.

"Daniel?" Jack repeated with his mouth half-full of cereal. Having opted to get an early start on his paperwork, he had nearly forgotten about the most important meal of the day. He answered the question after finishing the bowl off. "No. I haven't noticed – well, he hasn't been so moody lately, but other than that . . ."

Sam eyed the colonel, not sure if the last part was in jest or not.

"Why, what's so odd about his behaviour lately?"

"I don't know. He just didn't seem himself when I last saw him."

"He's probably just tired. I know he and Jonas have been working their butts off trying to figure out that tablet we picked up on P10X 932. 'Fact, if he hadn't taken today and tomorrow off I was going to suspend him or something just to give him some down time."

"Well, he spent the early hours of this morning listening to me try and smooth out my latest hypothesis regarding the Stargate."

"Why the hell would he do that?" Jack blurted, then catching himself decided to rephrase the question. "I mean, how early? What'd he say he was doing there?"

Sam rubbed her brow, the reality of the situation finally catching up with her. "It must have been around four or five this morning." At this Jack cast her his own concerned look. "I didn't mean to," she told him. "I was just about to go home last night when I figured I'd give one last go at this equation I've been working and I managed to make a breakthrough. After I'd proofed what I could I ran into Daniel and asked him if he'd listen to what I had so far. He said he didn't have anything better to do." She took another sip of her coffee. "I guess I just thought he probably had been working through the night like myself."

"So, he wanted to listen to you go through your . . . whatever?" Jack teased. "That isn't just odd – this is serious."

Sam let a small smile pull at the corners of her mouth. "And he also happened to make some obscure Star Trek reference."

"A Star Trek reference? That sounds like me . . . that is odd." Jack stood with a formality that contradicted his casual tone. "He better not still be here, and you, Carter, I want you home getting some rest as well. That's an order."

Sam finished her coffee with a chuckle, "Yes sir."

. . . . . .

"I. Give. Up." Jonas remarked as he tossed the notepad that he had been scribbling on Daniel's way. "You're the linguist, you figure it out."

Jackson snorted at the comment, idly scratching his forehead with the end of a pencil. "There is some way to decipher this," he stated.

"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself, not me," Jonas quipped. He shrugged a little. "We've been at this for three days now, and between the two of us have come up with nothing."

"That's not true," Daniel responded. "We know whatever this language is it shares similar characteristics with Egyptian hieroglyphics, Babylonian text, Mesopotamian-"

"And every other ancient language – so we know it's old," Jonas finished with an edge he didn't intend. As much as he wanted to decode this new mystery, he wasn't as used to multiple day stints as his archaeologist counterpart.

"Maybe you're right," Daniel conceded as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Perhaps we'll just have to wait until some more of this crops up."

"Or . . ." Jonas began with a smirk.

"Or?"

"Well, when you first came back you could miraculously read that other tablet regarding the city of the Lost, right?"

Daniel cut him off before he could get to his point. "So, you're suggesting what? I just ascend again, and then come back with the hopes that I'll know what this one says instead?"

"Well, I'm not saying you have to do it today, but it's always good to keep our options open."

Daniel laughed in reply.

Suddenly, the door to the study swung open to reveal Colonel Jack O'Neill. "What the hell are you doing here, Daniel? And you," he shot a finger Jonas' way. "I thought I told you to take some time off as well."

"Good morning, Jack," Daniel greeted with a mock salute as he turned his attention back to his books.

"Did he put you up to this?" Jack asked of Jonas. "Because I distinctly remember telling the both of you I didn't want to see you here, at all."

"Then close your eyes," Daniel muttered dryly.

Jack motioned for Jonas to leave the room with a nod of his head. "So, are you going to spill, or is there going to be some witty exchange required in order for you to tell me what's up?"

So, please tell me what you think so I know you want more! Thanks for reading, K. R.