A/N: Krys: "Now what?" The tried-and-true story line for romance is "boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl." Well, we've done the first two, now it's time for the third. There will be a happy ending - eventually, because this is Daniel and he must be happy!

"Thank God, you're alive!" Sam came running toward Daniel and enveloped him in a breath-taking hug. Streams of unashamed tears of relief marking his cheeks, Daniel held on to Sam for dear life.

AJ watched Sam and Daniel clinging to each other and her heart stopped. She could see the love between the two team mates and knew that Daniel did have someone who had waited for him. Heartbroken, AJ stood and waited.

Teal'c and Jack emerged from the ship. Daniel, still held by a crying Sam, looked up as his friends approached him.

"DanielJackson, it is a great relief to see you well." Teal'c's jaw twitched with suppressed emotion.

Sam released Daniel, but held on to his hand with both of hers, afraid he would vanish if she let go. Jack stepped up to Daniel and just looked for a moment, not sure he was real. He broke out into a huge smile and threw his arms around the younger man, burying his face in Daniel's neck.

"God, Daniel, we thought we'd never see you again…again! You have got to stop disappearing on us." Jack stepped back to get a good look at his friend, who had been missing for almost three months, but continued to pat him on the cheek affectionately. "How the hell did you survive in this god-forsaken land?"

"It's desert, Jack. I'm always at home in the desert." Daniel turned to Teal'c and the jaffa clasped both of Daniel's shoulders with his large hands, not speaking a word, but conveying his relief and joy with his touch.

"How did you find us?" Daniel turned back to see AJ, waiting just out of reach.

"Why don't you go pack up and Sam can explain it on our way home." Jack was anxious to get his archeologist back to SGC where he could lock him up and never let him out again.

"Sure. There isn't much. It'll only take about ten minutes." Daniel jogged back with AJ. "Come on. Let's get ready to go home, AJ."

AJ followed Daniel back into the hut and looked at the small space that had been their home for almost three months. She watched Daniel cheerfully stuffing his meager belongings into his backpack. She was sad to be leaving the place where she had found him. In spite of the circumstances, she had some wonderful memories here.

She began sorting through her things, leaving behind things that had been life saving, but were no longer needed. She packed her journals, the chess pieces they had carved, the paper deck of cards she had made for Daniel, and left the rest.

Daniel turned toward her. "Are you sad, leaving all this behind?"

"A little. It's been home for so long and I never expected anyone to find us. I really thought we'd have to find the gate."

Daniel threw an arm around her, pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "It's OK now. We're going home."

"Home. Wow. Oh, god, Daniel! My family must have been frantic! They were really concerned when I took this job. I think they figured I'd get lost somewhere in the Middle East, kidnapped by wacko extremists." AJ could picture her parents; her dad embracing her mom and reassuring her. "Let's go. I need to let them know I'm fine."

Daniel took her hand and they left the oasis.