Sam was standing beside the kitchen table with one hand on the stuffed puppy in the center of the table, when she heard the front door open and Daniel walked in.

"I thought you were going to return this to Cassie?" Sam asked, turning around.

"I tried" Daniel told her walking toward the kitchen. "When I told her you'd had it she asked me to give it back to you, and tell you to keep it as long as you needed it."

Sam smiled. Cassie must have figured she'd been missing Jack that night. "She is perfect isn't she?"

"Yes" Daniel agreed, enjoying the neutral topic. "That she is."

"So about the other night…" Sam started.

"I'm sorry" Daniel jumped in.

"Daniel…"

"Sam I know I'm probably not going to get another chance to say this so please, let me say it right"

Sam waited.

"I want you to know that I am really sorry. I can't tell you I completely regret Janet. I know you wouldn't believe me if I did, you're smarter than that. But, the way I did it, going behind your back was completely inexcusable,completely unforgivable..."

Sam knew he was tearing himself apart over this, and while he deserved it, she didn't feel like watching. "Daniel" she interrupted, and made him actually look at her for the first time since he'd arrived.

"I went to see Jack last night"

Daniel stood there dumbly as he processed the information. That was the phrase they used to use for going to the cemetery. 'I went to see Jack today.' Somehow he knew that wasn't what it meant this time. And then it all made sense. Sam's calm when he'd arrived, the fact that she hadn't thrown anything at him yet, or even called him anything…

"So did this start before or after you found out…" Daniel didn't finish the sentence,

"After"

"So I guess that still makes me the heel huh?" Daniel said wryly.

Sam didn't verbally agree. But her expression said 'If the shoe fits…"

"Well, that's okay. After all those years of badgering Jack, I deserved to fall on my arrogant, morally superior ass." Daniel said bitterly.

"I'll see ya 'round Daniel" Sam hinted.

"I'm sorry" Daniel said one last time. "And this isn't an excuse, because there isn't any excuse, but one of the reasons I didn't tell you, was that I wasn't sure you were going to be all right."

"I'm gonna be fine" Sam told him.

"I know" Daniel nodded, pulling his upper lip between his teeth and fighting the unexpected urge to cry. "I know that now" he blinked back the tears. "Goodbye Sam" he flashed her a quick, bittersweet smile and headed for the door.

Sam was surprised by the sudden display of emotion and realized that in some ways, at some times, she was really going to miss him. Consequently when she spoke her voice was softer. "Goodbye Daniel"

Daniel hesitated at the open door and looked back. "Is this it?" his blue eyes were questioning.

Sam looked back at him, torn between her desire to run to him and throw her arms around her friend, and telling her -soon to be ex- husband to leave her the hell alone. "I don't know" she shook her head. "I really don't know."

Daniel hesitated in the doorway, but there was nothing left to say. He nodded and slipped out the door, letting it fall closed behind him.

Sam picked up the stuffed puppy off the table and looked around the house. She'd thought they were going to discuss the house today. The things they'd have to split up and sell, but it hadn't turned out that way. Right now she was having trouble imagining them ever having that discussion. She wished it could just be over, that she could walk out of the house right now and never come back, never think of it again. Sam took the stuffed toy in one hand, picked her car keys up off the table and walked out, locking the door behind her. She'd have to come back for her stuff. The house and probably the furniture would have to be sold or given away, she'd have to come back at least once, but not today, or tomorrow, or the day after that. She set the puppy in the seat beside her and started the car. Today she was free.