SGC

January 25th, 2005

11:00 am

Daniel made his way down to the infirmary. Alexia had woken up about three hours ago, and he had been told to take her home. They had been given a week of downtime. Walking into the infirmary, he spotted her sitting on her bed, and he grinned at her. "Hey, you," he said, walking over to her, "I've been told to take you home. And then tonight, Sam, Jack, and Teal'c are going to meet us at O'Malley's at 7:00, if you're up to it, that is," he said, glad that she was going to be ok.

Alexia nodded, and gingerly stood up, still a little sore from the device that had been used on her. They made their way off the base, and to Daniel's car. Once in the car, he asked, "So, you want to go to your place, or mine."

"It doesn't matter," she said, leaning back into her seat.

"Your place it is," he said, glancing at her sideways, "hey, are you ok?"

"I'm fine," she answered, "just a little sore." She patted his hand.

He grabbed her hand before she could take it away and intertwined their fingers. He had spent most of the last day thinking of her last words to him before she fell unconscious, and wondered what they meant, and if she had really meant them. He wanted to know, but didn't know how to bring it up. They rode the rest of the way to her apartment in silence.

Alexia walked into her apartment, and turned on the light. Walking into the kitchen, she noticed that her answering machine was blinking. She hit the button as Daniel came up behind her.

"You have three new messages," the automated voice told her, and then the messages started:

"Hey Alex, it's Grandma. Just wondering if you were coming this weekend or not. Give me a call. Love you."

Alexia sighed, she had forgotten about that. Gram would kill her if she found out she was off and didn't go.

"This message is for Alexia Miller. This is Sgt. Hiller with the Dallas Police Department. If you would give me a call at your earliest convenience, I need to speak to you about the parole of Thomas Franco and Eddie Williams. Thank you."

Alexia froze and stared at the machine. Parole. They had paroled them? She had been told that wouldn't be possible.

"Hey Al, it's Brandon. I know you've probably heard by now. I'm sorry. We tried our best, but they would only hold Gary Young on the murder charges. Oh, and your Grandmother called and invited me this weekend, so maybe I'll see you there. Call me."

Alexia backed away from the machine, "No, nonononono," she said.

Daniel had a pretty good idea what the last two messages were about, and reached out to hold her, "Hey, it'll be ok, I promise I am not going to let them hurt you, ok."

Alexia accepted his comfort, "I was told that parole wouldn't be possible for at least four more years."

"I'm sorry, Alex," he said, rubbing her back gently.

"I'll be ok," she said, pulling back, "It's just a shock."

Daniel nodded, "Now, what's this thing that your Grandmother is having this weekend?" he asked.

Alexia sighed, "Well, it's a tradition. A family reunion. I was hoping I would be working, and not be able to go, but since I'm off, I'm going to have to," she said.

"Why wouldn't you want to go," Daniel asked.

"Because my father will be there. And my brother. And I really don't want to see them. That's probably why Gram invited Brandon, so I wouldn't have to face them alone."

"Why wouldn't you want to see your father and brother? And who's Brandon," he asked, as they sat on the couch.

"Because of the hell they put my mother through. I was ten when they got divorced, but even before then, I knew that my father was not a good man. And my brother Ethan is just like him. They can't find anything right with me," she said, frowning, then smiled, "Brandon is Adam's brother. He was my lifeline for a while after Adam died. If he goes and I don't, he's going to get mad."

"So are you going to go," he asked.

Alexia looked at him, "Will you come with me?" she asked, "I mean, if you don't want to, I'll understand, but even with Brandon, I still don't want to go alone."

"Of course I'll go, Alex," he said, and smiled at her. Then he stood up, and started pacing, deciding how to bring up the one topic that he wanted to discuss right now.

Alexia was struck by his sudden change in behavior, "Daniel, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Alex, I need to ask you something," he said, kneeling in front of her, "It's been driving me crazy all day."

"What is it, Daniel," she asked, running her fingers through his hair.

"Do you remember when we were on the planet and you were about to fall unconscious?"

Alexia's fingers froze and she knew exactly where this was going. What if he didn't feel the same? She had said it because she didn't want to die without him knowing. She nodded, "Yes, I do, Daniel," she said, keeping her voice calm.

Daniel looked into her eyes, "Do you remember what you told me?" he asked.

Alexia knew that if she just said no that she could get out of this really quickly, but she didn't really want to, and decided to tell the truth. "Yes," she whispered, looking down.

Daniel lifted her chin with his finger and looked again into her eyes, "What I really need to know is if you meant it," he said, scared at what her answer would be.

Alexia felt tears come to her eyes, knowing that there was probably no chance that he felt the same about her. Sure, she knew he loved her, but more in the way that Jack and Sam loved her, not the way that she loved him, "Yes, I meant it," she said.

Daniel grinned and wiped away her tears, "Good," he whispered, hugging her tightly, "because I love you, too."

Alexia hugged him back just as tightly, and was shocked at what he said, "You do?" she asked.

Daniel laughed, "Of course I do," he said, pulling back to look at her, "How could I not fall for you," he said, cupping her cheek with his hand, "you're perfect."

Alexia smiled, "Now we all know that's not true, but I feel the same way about you, so I'll let it slide."

Daniel smiled, then turned serious, "Alex, you really have no idea how scared I was yesterday. I really thought that you were going to die in my arms and I never would have been able to tell you how I feel. Promise me that you won't do something that dangerous again."

Alexia sighed, "Daniel, I can't promise you that. Do you really think that I'm just going to sit there and do nothing when I can do something? I don't regret what I did, Daniel. I'm glad that I lived, but even if I hadn't lived, I would still have no regrets. You would do the same thing for us and you know it. If my dying meant that you would have lived, then that was the choice that I was prepared to make."

"But Alex," he started, but she cut him off.

"No buts, Daniel, it's over and done with, and if, in the future I have to make the same choice again, I will," she said.

Daniel looked into her eyes, "I don't want to lose you," he said, I love you too much. I just want to be with you."

"Then face reality, Daniel, we're in the wrong job. I don't want to lose you either, but every time you or I go through the Stargate, that is always a possibility. For now, we'll just have to be happy that we are alive and together," she said, and then frowned, "But, Daniel, we both know that nothing can happen between us. It's not allowed."

"Alex, I love you. Do you really think I'm going to let work keep us apart? A while ago I talked to Jack. He said that as long as we didn't work together that we could be together. We're not in the military, Alex, we can't be court-martialed for it."

"So, three months, then" she said.

Daniel nodded, "three long months," he said.

"Well, that's not as long as Jack and Sam have waited," she said.

Daniel nodded, "True," he said, "but I still wish we didn't have to wait."

"I know," she answered, looking at her watch, "I should probably call all those people back. Then I think I'm going to take a nap before tonight."

"Ok," Daniel said as he stood up, "I guess I'll leave you alone then."

Alexia grabbed his arm, "Stay with me, please," she said.

Daniel looked at her, "Alex, that's really not a good idea."

"Please, Daniel, I just want to be close to you."

"Ok, Alex," he said, "I'll stay."

Daniel left after they woke up from the nap, and was back to pick her up at 6:30. They drove to O'Malley's in silence, and found that they were the last to arrive.

"Hey, guys, over here," they heard Jack yell, and they made their way in that direction. Daniel sat next to Teal'c and Alexia lowered herself gingerly into the chair between him and Sam.

"You still sore, huh?" Jack asked her.

Alexia smiled, "Just a little," she said, trying to make herself comfortable.

Jack nodded, "So, what are your plans for the week," he asked.

"Actually, I have a family reunion to go to this weekend at my Grandmother's house," Alexia said.

"Don't you just hate those," Sam asked.

Alexia looked at her, "Yes, I do."

Teal'c looked at them, "What is a family reunion?" he asked.

"It's where everyone who's alive in your family and is willing to subject themselves to the torture of spending time with each other come together to torture each other," Alexia said.

"But why would one subject himself to this?" Teal'c asked.

"Because they're still your family," Alexia said, and turned to everyone else, "So, what are your plans?" she asked.

"Well, I'm going to go to D.C. and visit some friends," Sam said.

Jack grinned, "I'm going fishing. In Minnesota, and I'd better not get any calls while I'm gone."

"I am going to Chulak to spend time with my son," Teal'c said.

Alexia nodded, and they talked of other things for a while. By 9:00, Alexia was about ready to drop. Her body ached, and she was, for some reason, unbelievably tired, even though she had slept for about 3 hours earlier that day. Daniel stood up, "Ok, guys, we're going to head out before she falls asleep right here. Come on, Alex," he said, helping her up, "I'm taking you home."

"Bye guys," Alexia said, yawning, "have fun on your trips."

"Get some sleep, Alex," Sam said.

Alexia nodded, and she and Daniel walked to his car. Alexia carefully got into the car, "God, I'm so sore."

Daniel took her hand and intertwined their fingers, "I'm sorry," he said, squeezing her hand.

"Not your fault," she said, leaning back and closing her eyes.

Daniel drove back to her apartment and waited for her to get ready for bed. She got into her bed, and he pulled the covers around her, "Good-night, Alex," he said.

Alexia looked at him, and almost asked him to stay, but knowing that that would be a very bad idea, she grabbed his hand instead, "I wish you could stay," she said.

Daniel smiled, "So do I. Soon," he said, kissing her forehead, "Now go to sleep."

"'Night, Daniel," she said, "I love you."

"I love you, too, Alex." He said, and walked out of the room. After checking the windows and doors, he let himself out of her apartment, using the spare key that she had given him about six months ago.