Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Sg1 or any of it's characters, I post this strictly for entertainment purposes.

Chapter 9

"Dammit, you're an Idiot!" Daniel cursed himself. How could he be so stupid? What happened to waiting until the right moment? What had come over him? This had never happened to him before, one moment they were having a good time and the next he went and blew it all. He just prayed that Sam wasn't going to leave without allowing him to apologize. Realizing that he should probably go after her, he set his feet into motion and he ran out of the commissary.

He looked left and right, but she had already left the corridor. Believing that she most likely went to her room, he took off in that direction. He spotted her just as the door to her room slammed shut. Running up to her door, he knocked desperately.

"Sam...Sam...please... Please open the door. We really need to talk about this." Silence greeted him from the other side and his stomach fell to his knees, perhaps she wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

"Alright, I tell you what. I'm going to go back to my room and if you can forgive me, I'll be there... Please, Sam. I never wanted to hurt you, please believe me. I'm so sorry." He spoke softy, his thoat closing up as he rested his head against the door. He was again confronted by silence, so he turned and left for his room, watching her door as he walked to his, hoping she would come out, but she never did.

Once inside his room he flung himself across his bed, staring up at the ceiling, the mental bashing of his actions continued internally, he wasn't sure he could ever forgive himself if he lost Sam.

OOOOO

Sam leaned back against her door, tears coming swiftly and cascading down her cheeks. Afraid to open it and face the man on the other side as he knocked and begged her to open the door. What was she doing? Running away wasn't going to solve anything, but it was the easiest thing to do.

She had just been so surprised that Daniel had made a move to kiss her. She had wanted to kiss him too, but how could she when all she could see in her mind's eye was Jack's face? She had simply panicked, her rational and scientific mind took a backseat to her illogical emotions and she hated that she might have hurt his feelings by fleeing in such a childish manner.

What was she to do? Rationality told her that she should go to him, tell him how she felt for him in truth. But was she actually ready for this? She had to leave for Atlantis again soon and did she need to start something with Daniel only to leave him behind? Sam went to her bed and laid down, her mind buzzing and turning. Questions poured over questions in her head but finally, the one she truly needed to ask herself came to the forefront. How would Jack feel about this and would he want her to be alone for the rest of her life? After pondering her answer for what seemed like an eternity, she sat up, knowing what she needed to do.

OOOOO

Daniel laid in bed for the longest time, staring at the ceiling fan twirling round and round, wishing he could find a time machine in order to go back and fix the mess he had made to his friendship with Sam. After what could have been an hour, but he couldn't be sure since he wasn't keeping track of time, his eyelids grew heavy and he fell asleep.

He crested over the side of the grassy and flowered hill, the bright sunlight made him squint, but the warm spring breeze blowing through his hair refreshed and revitalized him. He could see her ahead of him, wearing the black fatigues they used to wear the last time they ever had a mission together. She held her weapon in one hand and waved to him with her other, smiling and beckoning him to join her.

He waved back and smiled, making his way down towards her position. Suddenly the sky darkened and opened up, hundreds of aircraft filled the sky, blotting out the sun, swooping down and strafing the surface with scorching and fiery volleys. The world exploded around him and he tried to run, but his heavy legs refused to move fast enough, he couldn't get to her in time. She reached out and cried his name as a swarm of terrifying and demonic creatures appeared from nowhere, surrounding her, tearing at her clothes and raking her flesh. Blood-curdling, piercing screams filled his ears.

"No!" He yelled to the revoltingly abhorrent things and the ground gave way underneath him. He fell down the hill, rolling over sharp rocks, lacerating his skin until he came to a sudden stop at the bottom, laying helpless and broken as fires continued to erupt around him. He shouted he name, but her shrieks had ended. The blood-covered monsters licked their lips, curling them into evil smiles, stepping away from the circle they had formed around her and revealing the carnage they created. Leaving only her bloody bones and uniform on the ground, they had devoured her. He screamed in anguish and hatred, cursing their wickedness and calling her name over and over again...

"Sam!" He bolted upright, his heart threatening to escape his chest. He fell back against the mattress, wiping the sweat from his face and willing his breath to return to normal. This particular dream hadn't plagued him in quite a while, at least not since Sam had come to Atlantis, but it had always been Vala featured in the nightmare before, not Sam. This new development disturbed him deeply. He was going to lose her too if he didn't do something soon.

Rising from the bed, he resolved to try again to reach out to Sam. Opening the door, there she stood, hand poised to knock. He sighed in relief. Perhaps it wasn't too late to save their friendship before she left after all. He opened his mouth to speak, but Sam raised a hand and gently pushed him back into his room and shut the door behind her before he could utter a word.

"Daniel...I"

"Sam..." They both spoke at once. They both gave each other a small smile.

"Look, Sam. I'm not sure why I did that back there..."

"Daniel, stop." She gave him a serious look "It's okay, really." She swallowed hard and grabbed his hands. "I want you to do something for me." She looked deep and unwaveringly into his eyes with a conviction he had never seen in her before.

"Anything Sam."

"Finish what you started."

"What?" Daniel asked, confused.

"Finish what you meant to do back in the commissary."

"Sam...I don't think..."

"Don't think Daniel, just do...I'm ready and I'm not afraid anymore. I promise I won't run away this time."

"You sure?" She merely responded with a smile and he relented. He moved his hands up her arms then placed one hand behind her head, his other one brushing the hair away from her face, fingers getting lost in her blond tresses. She moved in closer and Daniel leaned in, casting his head to the side. Cautiously and lightly, he brushed his lips against hers and she responded, pressing back against the feathery touch from his mouth. Sam opened up further and he lost himself in desire, his heart beating furiously. Fire coursed between them, both of them finally letting go and allowing the feelings they had locked away for so long to escape and sweep them away. It felt so right, like the universe and all of the celestial bodies had come into perfect alignment for this one pristine and shining moment and he never wanted it to end. Eventually however, they had to break apart, Sam leaning her head onto his heaving chest as he pulled her into a tight embrace, not willing to let her go any time soon.

"I was so afraid I was going to lose you, Sam." He spoke softly with relief heavy in his voice, laying his head on top of her soft hair.

"Never, Daniel. You've always had me and you always will." He pulled away from her and they looked into the deep recesses of each others' eyes. He smiled with pure joy, seeing the love he felt in his own heart reflected in those twin oceans of sparkling blue. She smiled widely back and this time they came together simultaneously, their lips greeting each other and further tearing down the walls of doubt and fear that they had both entrenched themselves behind. Daniel gave his heart away to her at that moment and in return she gave him delight he never expected to ever experience again and for that, he knew their was no repayment except to vow to make her as happy as possible for the rest of his life.

Sorry, this one was kinda short, but I hope it was sweet. :) Have a good weekend everyone!