One More Try by Betty Bokor
Sam/Daniel. Daniel has a heartbreaking secret and needs to share it with Sam.
Spoilers: All seasons, including 9 and 10.
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.

One More Try

Chapter 2

The following morning, Sam drove to her house after promising Daniel she would seriously think about what she had asked and then come back for dinner to give him an answer. He also made her promise she would not spend the day crying because of his illness. Sam found it easier than she would have imagined. She was full of hope that she would have Daniel's baby and, somehow, he would stay with her. She did not need to reflect on it; she knew exactly what she wanted to do and she filled her day imagining how the future would be like.

Early in the evening, she got ready to go back to his house. She put on a pair of jeans and a light sweater and left the house. Just then it hit her. How were they going to go about this having a baby together? Was in vitro a good option? No, she told herself. The old fashioned way would be far better and certainly less painful and bothersome. What was she thinking! Daniel was not attracted to her that way and she was not either. Right? Well, they would have to talk about it. Perhaps that was what he meant when he referred to the logistics of the matter the night before. In any case, it would be better if she tried to help, so she went back inside and put on one of her best dresses. She fixed her hair in a more feminine way and even added a bit of make-up. Then she got in her car and left.

Daniel spent the day putting more of his stuff in order. He had known about his tumor for at least ten days now and he had been slowly preparing for the end. He had no idea when or how he would die, but he could feel it coming deep inside him. He was calm and ready. He was truly tired and saw his oncoming death as a sort of liberation. He made plans to tell Cassie and decided there was not anyone else he wanted to know about it. Jack called him in the afternoon, worried and already building the shell in which he would hide his feelings when Daniel died. It had worked when he ascended; it would have to do now, too.

Many times during the day, Daniel's thoughts went back to Sam and the idea of having a baby with her. He could anticipate the joy of just putting his hand on her belly and knowing that his baby was there even if he never got to see him being born. However, in spite of his desires, he was absolutely convinced that Sam would come back to her senses and dismiss the idea.

When later he opened the door to let her in, he was stunned by how radiant she looked. He was surprised to notice that she had obviously taken time to fix herself up for him, almost as if they were on a date. "Wow! You look beautiful tonight!" he said, sincerely.

"You mean, I'm not the same old spinster that you see everyday?" she replied jokingly.

"You're a beautiful woman, Sam, extraordinarily beautiful, no matter what you wear or what you do. Your beauty comes from inside and I've always seen it. It's just that tonight you have even enhanced that and I thought it wasn't possible," he finished more seriously.

She was deeply touched. "Oh, Daniel," she exclaimed. "You see beauty in others because the beauty is in you. You have an exceptional soul. It shines through your eyes and smiles to us in the hardest of times." She walked toward him and hugged him tightly. What was she going to do when he died? She could not think about it right then, but her eyes filled with tears nonetheless. Daniel sensed the emotion and stroked her hair gently.

"Come on, Sam. You promised me not to cry. Everything will be fine in the end." She shivered at his choice of words and he felt it. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"It's all right, Daniel. Let's have dinner and then we'll talk," she interrupted him and left his arms to smile at him. "Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed and both went to the kitchen to enjoy their meal.

A couple of hours later, they sat on the sofa just as the night before, except that this time Sam sat leaning on Daniel's shoulder. That was a position they only adopted in extraordinary occasions, such as mourning the loss of yet another member of the SGC. Daniel immediately knew Sam had changed her mind and wanted to deliver the news without hurting him too much. He decided to help her by starting the conversation.

"Well, Sam, I'm sure that after a day of careful consideration, you must have seen all the disadvantages of being a single parent. Don't worry. I understand. Despite how beguiling the idea could be-"

"Wait, wait, wait. You promised you would accept what I decided. I don't care if there are any disadvantages, as you call them. They are more like little hitches on the road, problems to be solved when and if they appear. I'll manage; you leave that to me. I told you yesterday; I want us to have a baby together and I haven't changed my mind."

Daniel sighed, relieved, and shyly said, "Okay."

"That's it? Okay? Doesn't it excite you a little?"

"Ah, Sam… You don't know… I was scared out of my mind you wouldn't want it anymore. I am excited. I'm happy. I'm elated," he smiled.

Sam had turned around to look at him for the last question, so it was easy for her to lean a little and hug him for all he was worth. They remained embraced for a while longer, both with tears rolling down their faces. Then they separated and started planning.

Sam calculated that Dr. Lam was going to call her soon for her next mandated contraceptive shot, so necessary when going off-world to face unknown situations. By then she would have requested to stand down from SG-1 off-world activities or maybe a transfer to a desk –laboratory?– job. She would be in the Infirmary first thing the following Monday to get information about how much longer they would have to wait. They also decided that Daniel should put his house for sale and move to hers. If it did not sell soon, he would give Sam a power of attorney to take care of the matter. She would clear up her guest room and a little room on top of the garage so that he could have as much space as he needed. It would not be hard, especially considering that he already had started getting rid of his stuff.

The move was mostly her idea. She felt strong apprehension every time she thought she would have to separate from Daniel for any extended period of time. She was afraid that he would vanish if she was not looking at him, if she was not touching him. He had promptly agreed with the idea, simply because it was the logical thing to do. He then spent the weekend selecting what he would take to Sam's house –there was not much left that still mattered to him after all his experiences with death– and she spent the time preparing her house for him.

Early Monday, Sam went to see Dr. Lam. She did not have a rapport with her like the one she had shared with Janet; nonetheless she was a nice person and she already knew Sam's medical history. Furthermore, she knew about Daniel's condition. The doctor listened intently and promised to help. Even though she was not an expert on fertility, she promised to consult with a friend of hers that had specialized in that field.

Sam met Daniel a few minutes later and they both walked towards General Landry's office. They decided to be completely honest with him and tell him the whole story. The news slightly shocked the general, especially since on no occasion had the couple given any indication that they were romantically involved or planning to marry, but he did not miss the light of hope in Daniel's eyes, something that had been completely absent when they had discussed his medical status less than two weeks before. He thought he had no right to deny anything to two people who had already given so much for their country. Actually, for the world was a much better assessment.

As soon as they got his approval, Sam left to talk to Teal'c and Daniel went to see Cam. During Daniel's first ascension –she could not believe there had been more than one–, Teal'c had been the one who had most helped her deal with the loss. Jack had been completely emotionally unavailable. Now, Teal'c understood promptly and offered his support in any way necessary.

Cameron Mitchell had a rougher time with the news –there went his newly reunited SG-1– but he was glad that at least something positive would come out of so much pain.

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