Chapter 9. Legacy

Sam knocked on Daniel's apartment door and waited. When he opened the door, she held up the paper bag full of his favourite chocolate walnut cookies from that bakery down on Main Street that they always visited. The barest of smiles pulled at his lips and he opened the door wider to let her in. She popped the bag down on the kitchen bench and turned to study him. Though he looked exceptionally better than he had in that padded, white cell, he still looked ragged around the edges. His eyes were dark, harrowed; deep circles clung beneath them, looking like he'd managed to land himself two shiners. His shoulders were set, almost vibrating with tension, and his arms were wrapped around himself, holding his elbows, as if that alone could ward off any further damage to his soul.

"How are you?" She said finally, breaking his concentration on the carpeted floor.

"Hmm? Oh, I'm fine. No really," he pressed when it was clear that she wasn't buying it, "I am. I mean it was…definitely an experience that I wouldn't wish to repeat, but I'm alright now – I'm out now – you guys figured it out." He unwrapped his arms from his torso and shrugged, moving past her into the kitchen to pour himself a mug of fresh coffee. He raised the pot at her, silently offering, and she nodded.

"Still, I'm sorry we took so long." She moved around the bench to where he stood, leaning back against the cupboards as she accepted the mug of coffee he pressed into her hands. "We should have believed you. I should have believed you."

Daniel shook his head, "We're scientists, Sam. We follow the evidence. And all the evidence pointed to me being a crazy person. Honestly, it's not so surprising that the leap was made."

Sam frowned down at her coffee. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged, not meeting her eyes. "I just mean…you know, if anyone was going to…to crack, then of course…" He didn't finish the sentence, just gestured vaguely towards himself.

Sam found it difficult to control the look of shocked incredulity on her face. She set down her mostly-full mug on the bench. "Why would you say that?"

Daniel laughed at himself, but Sam didn't see the humour. "I just mean, you guys are…you're… And I'm…" His hand waved wildly between them, gesturing when he couldn't quite find the words.

"Daniel," her voice was stern, almost threatening, "you are not weak, do you hear me?"

His whole façade dropped; his shoulders slumped, his hand fell still at his side, his chin drooped to his chest, staring down into his coffee. She had clearly hit the nail on the head.

She moved in closer to him, needing him to hear her. "You are strong, Daniel. You are one of the strongest people I know. You've survived so much; more than anyone should, more than anyone has any right to. You carried on where many would have given up."

She reached out to him, her hands sliding under his jacket and clenching in the material of his shirt. She felt him stiffen under her touch, muscles tensing, and he set the coffee down and shuffled minutely forward, his hand lightly grasping her arm just above her elbow, silently asking her please, please don't let go. Had he always been so touch starved? So deprived of human affection?

"I admire you, Daniel," she continued, though her breath came a little quicker, "your strength and integrity is what holds SG-1 together. It's not me, or Jack. It's you, Daniel. It's always been you."

He finally looked up, meeting her gaze; dazzling blue eyes swam in a pool of unshed tears. Sam was surprised to find her own eyes were prickling uncomfortably.

His other hand came to rest upon her hip, and his head tilted down towards her, slowly, so slowly, giving her enough time to pull away if that's what she wanted. But that isn't what she wanted. It never was.

His parted lips brushed against hers; hardly even a kiss. He was testing her, almost teasing, making sure he would not be rejected. She couldn't have rejected him now even if she'd wanted to. Her own lips parted, bumping against his, and she knew he would feel the sigh of her warm breath across his skin. Her tongue flicked out, tasting his lower lip, and he groaned and surrendered, crushing her to him.

His hands came up to frame her face, holding her steady as he consumed her, devoured her. It was all she could do to cling to his shirt for dear life as his tongue delved past her parted lips, plundering her mouth mercilessly.

The force of his kiss had her off balance, and they stumbled together until her back met the hard edge of the kitchen bench. Her hands slid his jacket from his shoulders, then tugged at the hem of his shirt. His hands left her body at her silent order, ripping his glasses from his face then reaching back to yank the offending item over his head and allow her hands to freely explore his smooth, hairless chest. He grasped at her hips, then slid down, his palms firm against her ass as he ground their hips together, making her gasp into his mouth. He clutched her thighs, and with a swift movement, hiked her up onto the bench, pushing her knees apart so he could fit firmly between them. Her pullover joined his on the floor, his hands sliding under her shirt, fingers inching up her skin, searching. He traced the edge of her lace bra and her back arched, pushing herself more firmly into his hand.

Daniel groaned, breaking their kiss. "Sam wait," he panted against her lips, trying to gather enough breath to speak, "You said that we shouldn't… That it's better off if we..."

"I know what I said."

She wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles together and pushing his hips into hers. Daniel swore and crushed his mouth to hers again, his fingers making quick work of the buttons on her shirt.

"Bedroom?" He managed to murmur somewhere between their scorching kisses.

It wasn't until Daniel's lips left hers and trailed down her neck, nipping and sucking at the skin, that she could reply. "No. Right here." She gasped when his mouth trailed down further, his hands sliding her bra straps from her shoulders. Her head dropped back as his lips, teeth and tongue worked her sensitive skin. "The bedroom can be…act two." She muttered, and he paused in his ministrations to grin devilishly up at her.

"Yes, ma'am."