A/N: Awhile back I posted a ficlet named Coffee, which was meant to be the opening for a Heroes fix-it. Well, I never actually got around to finishing the fic...so the ficlet had to sort of stand alone.

So, I thought maybe I'd write a somewhat similar scene for Ripple Effect.

Hope you like it. And, as always, feedback is loved and is very much appreciated. :)

"One cream, two sugars," a familiar voice said, as a coffee cup was placed in front of him.

Looking up quickly, Daniel couldn't help but be taken aback once again by the sight of her. Janet. Though she wasn't the friend he'd known for years, the similarities were hard to ignore. She had the same small build, contagious smile, and discerning eyes. If he didn't know better, he'd swear it was his Janet standing before him in the commissary, just as she had done countless times in the past.

"Daniel?" she said, looking concerned. "Are you okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost." A flash of panic crossed her face when she realized the implication of her words.

"I'm not entirely sure I haven't," he replied, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

Daniel held up a hand to silence her. " I know. It's okay. Please sit down."

Janet nodded and sank into an empty chair opposite him. "I went to see General Landry."

Daniel nodded as he reached for the coffee she'd brought him. "I heard some of the other SG-1 teams talking about it. I'm sorry...he's approved the mission and is sending us on the Prometheus as soon as Sam and...the other Sam...get everything they need."

Both Daniel and Janet looked up as movement from the doorway caught their attention. The Daniel Jackson from Janet's reality walked over to the coffee machine and poured himself a cup. Daniel couldn't help but notice the expression that crossed the other Daniel's face when he saw who Janet was having coffee with. Surveying the room some more, the other Daniel finally settled on sitting at a nearby table with the Mitchell from his own reality.

"I'm not used to this," Janet confessed as she turned her attention back to the Daniel sitting in front of her. "This place feels so much like home...but everything is just a little bit…wrong. It's unnerving. And now...now we may very well never get back to our own reality."

"I'm sorry you were caught in the middle of all this...well, I'm mostly sorry, anyway."

"Mostly?" Janet said with a raised eyebrow.

Daniel sighed. "Well, it's been two years since our Janet was..." Daniel stopped. Two years, and he still found it hard to talk about. Clearing his throat, he continued. "But seeing you here...I guess it's comforting to know that Janet's not gone completely."

Janet bit her lower lip and nodded.

"I just wish I had been able to get my Janet off P3X safely, the way your Daniel did," Daniel said with a sigh, glancing over in time to see the alternate Daniel looking at their table, an unreadable expression on his face.

"He loves you, you know." The words came out unbidden, but it was too late now to change it or take it back. Daniel glanced up into Janet's wide eyes, then immediately looked back down into the brown liquid in his cup. "At least, if he's anything like me he does."

Janet merely nodded; her eyes shining with unshed tears at his confession. "He is a lot like you," she whispered.

"Will this reality's SG-1 please report to the Briefing Room?" a voice said over the base intercom.

Daniel stood, not knowing what else to say to her. "I guess I'd better go. Thanks for the coffee."

"Daniel?" Janet said, grabbing his hand to prevent him from leaving. "I think you should know..."

"What?"

"If your Janet was anything like me...she loved you, too."

Finis