The Doctor eyed Daniel for a moment before clearing his throat. "Are you family?" He asked.
Frowning, Daniel nodded. "I'm her...husband." He seemed to be looking for the right words. "Is everything ok?" He was beginning to panic.
Doctor Gregory looked at the chart in his hands. "Samantha is doing well. But this being her first child it will be difficult. By my calculations the baby should be born within the next eight hours." He turned and walked back down the hallway.
"So the great Daniel Jackson decided to grace us with his presence." It was Jack who was speaking now that the guards had left after determining that he wasn't a threat. "She doesn't want you here." He stated simply. Daniel was his best friend but he couldn't believe what he did to Sam. It was almost unforgivable.
Daniel let a sigh escape his lips as he managed to get himself to a chair. The side of his face was throbbing and he knew that it would swell up and that he'd have a black eye in a few hours. "I was with Sam when she went into labor. I rode on the ambulance with her." His voice was quiet. He really didn't feel like he belonged here. The atmosphere was tense and almost unbearable. He wanted to run back to the safety of Egypt. But he couldn't. So he just stared straight ahead, not looking at anyone.
Jack wasn't going to let him off that easily. Daniel had a lot to answer for. "And where has our Danny-boy been hiding himself?" He plopped into a chair beside Daniel's and calmly laid a arm over the back of his chair. His words were quiet but the anger was radiating off of them.
Closing his eyes, Daniel reopened them and looked over at Jack. "That is really none of you business, Jack." He spat out as he stood and moved away from Jack. "What I do in my life is no ones concern except mine. So leave me the hell alone." He moved over to the receptionist and told her that if the Doctor came out again to call him. After that he exited through the two sliding glass doors and took a seat on the bench outside. It was for smokers but no one was out since the day was rather chilly. Taking a few deep breaths he sat back and shoved his hands into his pant pockets. "Why me?" He mumbled not seeing that Cassie had followed him out.
"She loves you. You know?" Cassie said as she sat beside him on the bench. Grinning as he jumped since he hadn't noticed her. "She keeps a picture of you in her dresser drawer. She missed you a lot, Uncle Daniel." Again she was grinning. "Jack and Janet just don't understand." She was quiet now.
"Uncle Daniel?" He shook his head. "You've never called me that. I know deep down in my heart that she loves me but...I've been gone along time. Things change." Daniel was being honest but what surprised him is that he was speaking to Cassie about his love life. He watched as she stood, patted him on the shoulder and returned inside. "Their not my friends anymore..." He mumbled as he watched them through the glass doors. A light rain soon began to fall and soon he was drenched. But he didn't move. He just sat there and left the rain wash away the silent tears were falling from his eyes. He didn't know how long he had been sitting there but when he looked around it was pitch black out. No stars in the sky. The Hospital outside lights were just kicking on and soon he was bathed in a soft yellow glow. Finally he stood and trudged back inside, taking a seat far away from the others. He was shivering and smiled as the receptionist appeared with a cup of steaming hot coffee. "I thought you might need this." Was her exact words as she walked back into her little office and closed the door, taking her place back at the window. He sipped the hot liquid, absentmindedly. The whispers of the others didn't fall on deaf ears. He could hear them chatting about him. He even saw the rogue looks that he was getting. His temper was beginning to flare. Finally he stood, some of the coffee splashing the front of his pants and onto the floor. He stalked over to them. "If you don't want me here that's fine. But I came back to try and make up for the pain that I caused. To try and explain my actions. You are acting like a bunch of teenagers and you know what, I don't have to take it." He tossed the coffee into a nearby garbage can then pointed to Jack. "You tell Sam that I'm not here because of your childish behavior. You tell Sam that her baby will grow up without a father because of some petty hatred." He all but screamed as he once again fled to the doors and outside. But he stopped in his tracks. How was he supposed to get home? Sighing he entered the hospital once again and to the pay phone. He had a cell but didn't feel like using it at the moment. He quickly dial information and retrieved the number for the local taxi service. His finger was dialing the last digits when the Doctor appeared, asking the others where he was. They grudgingly pointed to him at the payphone. His finger stopped pushing the numbers as the Doctor made his way towards him.
Doctor Gregory noticed the tension in the waiting room as soon as he stepped through it. He tried to smile when he approached the young man that had identified himself as Samantha's husband even though he couldn't remember him being at any of the checkups that Sam had done for the baby. But once he got closer he noticed Daniels demeanor. He looked tired and run down. Emotionally exhausted. "I thought I would let you know that Samantha and the baby is doing fine. She's asking for you."
Daniel let out a sigh and felt somewhat relieved. She was asking for him and that's all that mattered at the moment. "Alright. Lead the way." He tried to smile but his face hurt to much so he settled for placing his lips in a straight line. He followed the Doctor down the hallway and into a private room. The Doctor then went about his business, leaving Daniel along with Sam. Clearing his throat he moved around the bed and sat in a nearby chair, keeping his head lowered so she wouldn't see the state that his face was in. "Hey." He said quietly.
Sam felt like crap. The nurses had told her that eleven hours of labor was a short period of time but to her it was the longest hours of her life and to make it worse they wouldn't allow Daniel in the room with her. She had asked repeatedly for him but each time they refused saying that it wouldn't be sanitary for the baby. Her blonde hair was plastered to her head from the sweat and she was exhausted, yet excited at the same time. She was a mamma. "Hey yourself." She smiled and reached over, taking Daniel's hand. She eyed him for a moment. "What happened to your face?" She sounded concerned since he looked like he got into a fight with a sledgehammer.
"My face?" Daniel used his free hand to reach up and touch it which made him wince. "Well, Jack thought that my face and his fist deserved to meet." Sarcasm laced his words. "How are you feeling?" He was trying to change the subject but he was also concerned. His voice was soft and held a undertone of caring and concern.
"I feel like I've been hit by a Goa'uld death glider. But other than that, I feel fine." Sam couldn't believe that he was actually here. Her husband was actually acting as such.
A nurse appeared with a blue bundle in her arms. She smiled at Daniel then handed the baby to Sam. "Here you go, Mrs. Jackson. Ten fingers and ten toes. He's also very healthy. Have you two thought of a name yet?" She knew that this man was the father, she could tell by the way he was looking at Sam.
"Um...not yet." Daniel managed to get out since his eyes were fixed on the tiny bundle in Sam's arms. "A boy? I have a son?" He sounded in awe and reached a hand up to touch the baby but pulled it away. This was all to much for him to handle. He needed to get out of there but it was impossible. It would only give the others more reason to hate him. The nurse was already gone and they were alone in the room. "Mrs. Jackson?" That part just hit him.
Sam smiled at the baby in her arms then looked at Daniel. "We are married, Daniel. I wanted the baby to have your last name so I asked General Hammond if he could help me with the paper work. I've been Mrs. Jackson since right before you left. I was actually going to tell you the day you asked for leave and disappeared. Isn't he beautiful?" Her eyes were filled with tears when she looked back to the baby.
Daniel held back a gasp when the baby opened his eyes and looked around. They were light blue and sparkled in the hospital lighting. He had a tuff of dirty blonde hair on the very top of his head and he was absolutely perfect. At this moment Daniel couldn't believe that he actually was willing to give this up. He quickly wiped the tears from his eyes on the arm of his shirt. "Hi there." He whispered and reached up again, letting the baby wrap a tiny hand around his finger. "I'm you daddy." It felt so natural to say it. "I am so sorry, Sam."
"He looks like you, Daniel." Was all Sam could mange to say right now. Joy was bubbling up inside of her. Daniel had just admitted that the baby was his. He admitted to being the daddy. "We need to name him. Baby boy Jackson might get him teased at school." She was trying to lighten the mood.
A soft chuckle left Daniel's lips. "We wouldn't want that, now would we?" He seemed to think for a moment. "Jacob after your father since he makes you smile." He looked up at her for conformation.
"Jacob sounds good." Sam said quietly since she was already thinking of Jacob as a first name. Until this moment she hadn't decided on a middle name. "And Daniel after his father who makes me want to smile even when the times are tough and unbearable."
Daniel nodded slowly and looked back to the baby. "Welcome to the world Jacob Daniel Jackson. It's not a perfect world but I think you'll like it. Your mommy and daddy not to mention your aunts and uncles have fought really hard to make this world safe for little babies just like you." He whispers so no one else could hear him. "I love you, JD." Sniffling he leaned up and pressed his lips against the Jacob's forehead then moved them to Sam's lips, giving her a soft kiss. "I love you too. I see that now. Love created this perfect little guy."