6

A/N My deepest apologies guys. I've had writer's block on this story, but I think I've finally hammered through it. I hope this next chapter makes up for my absence.

…

"He can't ask us to do that, can he?" Daniel asked as he and Sam walked to his office.

Sam nodded. "He can Daniel." She looked at him and frowned. "And he has a point. If it's real, then it will still be here when our system is completely clean."

Outside his door Daniel sighed. "I still don't like it."

"I don't either, but it's for the best right now."

"Are you coming in?" He asked, walking through his door.

"I probably shouldn't." She gave him a sad look.

"Right. Then I guess I'll see you around."

Sam waved to him and offered him a brave smile. "I'll be seeing you when our systems are clean." He smiled back, both believing it to be true.

…

Three days later found Daniel walking briskly to Sam's lab. He barged in, closed and locked the door, and found her staring at her computer. She gave him a shocked look and yelped in surprise when he picked her up from her stool and crushed his lips to hers.

She yielded to the kiss and a moan escaped as she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Her arms automatically snaked around his neck, holding him close to her. Only when they heard a feminine cough did they part. They both looked at Janet, embarrassed and red-faced.

"I should leave you two alone." She said, gathering her files.

"No, Janet, wait." Sam said. She backed away from Daniel, needing to get distance between them. "We, uh-"

"Don't tell Gen. Hammond." Daniel interjected.

Janet folded her arms across her chest. "What's this all about anyway?"

Sam sighed, figuring she may as well explain everything to her now. After telling Janet about the events on P3X-456, Sam ended the explanation with, "And so Gen. Hammond thinks we should stay apart until our systems are completely clean."

Janet nodded, finally understanding. "Does the Colonel know about this?" When they both nodded their heads with slight frowns, Janet could tell that she had hit a sore spot with them.

"He wasn't very happy." Sam added unnecessarily.

"I'd imagine not." Janet sighed slightly. "All right, I won't tell Gen. Hammond if you swear to not do this again until I give the all clear. He's right about it possibly affecting you."

"We promise." Sam said, looking pointedly at Daniel.

"Fine." Daniel agreed. "Any idea how much longer we have?"

"The narcotic seems to be slowly leaving your systems. Teal'c has been cleared, but you two and Col. O'Neill have not. I don't know when you will be." She said sadly. "Come on Daniel, I'll walk you to the lab, I have to run my tests on you anyway."

"Bye Sam." Daniel said, resigning himself to weeks without being able to hold or kiss Sam.

"Bye Daniel." Sam said, watching the two leave. She turned back to her computer and tried to read about the project she wanted to start. Her mind elsewhere, Sam cursed Daniel and his timing. Twice they'd been caught by him not paying attention to who else was around.

…

Five days after kissing passionately in front of Janet, Sam and Daniel noticed that they were no longer a secret. They sat in the commissary, completely absorbed in each other and their projects, when Sergeant Siler sat next to Sam. "Good afternoon Doctor, Major."

"Uh, hi Siler." Daniel said, giving Sam a questioning look. She shrugged.

"How's the narcotic cleansing coming?" Siler asked, obviously wanting to make conversation.

"We're almost completely clean." Sam answered, still unsure of why he was sitting with them. Not that she cared, but it was odd.

"Good." He grinned, taking a sip of his coke. "Do you think you'll still be 'in love' when it leaves your system?"

Daniel spat his water all over Sam. "What?"

"How'd you find out?" The only ones who knew were Gen. Hammond, Col. O'Neill, and Janet. None of them would go about blabbing their personal stuff.

"One of the guys overheard Dr. Frasier talking to Col. O'Neill." He said, waving off the explanation. "Anyway, we have a pool going-"

"Do you guys bet on everything?" Daniel asked.

"Just about." Siler grinned again. "As I was saying, we have this pool going, and I have $200 on you guys staying a couple for another three months."

Daniel looked at Sam and she blushed slightly. "Just three months?"

Siler looked back over at Daniel a bit nervously. "Think you'll go longer then?"

"Way longer." Sam said.

Siler thought a moment. "If I give you a cut of the winnings, think you can go for eight plus months? No one has you past seven."

"Geez." Daniel sighed. "We're going to have to do some proving Sam."

"That's what I was thinking." She nodded. She turned to Siler. "Go in for $500 and get over a year."

He shook his head. "No way."

Daniel smiled at him. "If you go in for $700 we'll give you our promise that if, for whatever reason, you lose, we'll pay you your losses."

"You're that sure?" They nodded, locking eyes with each other. "All right then. $700 for over a year it is." He stood up, mumbling something about being laughed at, as he walked over to Davis.

"We should have made him go in for two years."

Sam smiled. "Or even marriage."

"Three kids." Daniel teased her.

"And two dogs." She said, knowing the dogs would aggravate Daniel's allergies.