Unexpected Effect by Betty Bokor
Sam/Daniel. The ripple effect brought a few more consequences than first thought.
Spoilers: All seasons, including 9.
Disclaimer: The Stargate original characters belong to MGM/Showtime, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Film Corp. This was written strictly for the purpose of entertainment. No attempt at copyright infringement has been made.

Unexpected Effect

Chapter 8

Daniel sat in front of Jack and sighed. "We've been thinking about our relationship. We've been best friends for so long… What happened because of the ripple effect made us think," he added. "You know better than I do. The other times, when you found out about those Sams, married or in love with you, I know it affected you."

"Maybe."

"We've never talked about this, Jack."

"No."

"I always thought you'd do something about it." Jack didn't answer and Daniel sighed again. "All these years I've kept myself away from her because of you." Jack made a gesture of surprise, of lack of understanding. "It was easy to see that you two had this connection going on. I thought you'd do something about it."

"We had a connection? I'd say Sam and you had one."

"It's different. We understand each other, we can think together. There was no sexual tension between us, but it was there with you."

"And now?"

"Don't think it has changed too much. We've just talked about it. I think the fact that you didn't make any attempts to get together with her once the regulations didn't stop you anymore, has had some effect on it."

"So, I was supposed to do something? It's my fault?"

"I don't know, Jack. That's between you and Sam. She just found out how I felt about her and it made her react, but I don't want her to settle for me because she can't have you. Before Sam and I go any further, you two will have to sit down and talk about yourselves. It won't hurt me if you end up together, Jack. I've always wanted her to have what she wants to be happy and if that means that she has to be with you, I'll take it."

"Has she told you anything about me?"

"Some, but you have to talk to her."

Jack sat back on his chair and closed his eyes. He said, "You know, I've never pictured Carter with you. I always thought she liked the tough guys, like Hansen or Pete-"

"Or you."

Jack opened his eyes and sat straight again, looking at Daniel, "Yeah, or me. But, now that I think about it, she has been also interested in another kind of guy," it looked as if he was remembering something, "and up there, in your room, before she went tomato shade, she sounded happy."

"Jack, she said like two words, how could you know?"

"I felt it, Daniel. I know every one of you so well, even Teal'c. I know she was happy, relaxed. At ease. It's been a long time since I've seen her like that."

"Jack, it was a second!"

"I don't care. I know these things, the same way I know you aren't happy. There's something there that's keeping you from enjoying this."

"Jack-"

"And I know what it is. You know what, it's time I have a talk with my former second in command. You're right, it's way past time." He got up with a smile and started walking toward the front door.

"Jack!" Daniel tried in vain to stop him and make him talk to him.

Jack got to the door, opened it and went out. He turned around and started closing it in front of a stunned Daniel. "Danny-boy," Jack said in a farewell tone and with a big grin. "See you later, alligator," he finally smiled and closed the door.

Daniel walked back to the kitchen, turned off the coffee machine, and went back to his bedroom. He threw himself on the bed and tried to go to sleep.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Daniel woke up feeling warm and rested. The headache was gone. He looked at the clock on his nightstand and discovered that it was 11:35 at night. He closed his eyes again and tried to remember. He had taken a couple of pills to finally get to sleep. He had felt overwhelmed by the dread of impending disaster. He had tried to imagine what Jack had done or how Sam had reacted and all the results had depressed him even further.

He looked again at the clock, the only lit thing in the dark room. He knew he was lying face down across the bed, just as he had positioned himself right after swallowing the pills. What he didn't remember was having wrapped a blanket around himself. Perhaps he'd been already sleepy because of the medicine. He decided to stretch a little and discovered that the weight on his back was not only a blanket. Someone was lying right behind him, very close to him. He sat up on the bed in one movement and turned on the night lamp. Sam, still wrapped in the rest of the blanket, opened her eyes sleepily.

"Hey," she said.

"Sam?"

"Are you feeling better?"

"What do you mean?"

"The General said you were not feeling well. We came to see you and when you didn't open the door, he used the key you had given him." She sat up and wrapped the blanket more tightly around herself.

"And?"

"You were sleeping and we didn't want to wake you up, so I stayed to check up on you. He had to fly back to D.C."

"And you were on my bed because…" he tried to ask, feeling again that he definitely had to get dressed and stop going around the house in only his robe.

"It was getting cold and late, and I don't know how to control the temperature in the house, so I thought- I'm sorry if it bothered you."

Daniel visibly relaxed and said, "No, no problem. Thank you for staying. You shouldn't have done it. We only have one more day to relax and take a break." He got up and asked, "What can I do for you? Are you hungry? Do you want to stay there? You should get more comfortable."

"I'm fine. I just wanted to stay here until we had a chance to talk."

There it was, what he dreaded the most. Nevertheless, he nodded and sat down in the armchair by the side of the bed.

Sam looked down and started talking. "The General came to see me after he left you. He said he was going to go by the base and check up on Teal'c, too. He wanted to know how we were all doing. I think he was curious because he found me here with you," she added as if revealing a secret. Daniel started to worry that Jack hadn't really talked to her. "We ended up talking about us, I mean he and I- I'm sorry, Daniel, this must be hurtful."

"It's okay," he said in a very low voice.

"We talked about all these years and the feelings we've had for each other… It was surprising. I thought he wasn't capable of opening himself like that." Daniel swallowed hard; his worst fears were coming true. "He was very frank and honest and I felt I owed him as much."