One afternoon, four thousand men died in the water…

General Landry looked appalled at the dead expressions on everyone's faces as they came through the 'gate. He didn't press details out of Jack and Daniel during the briefing and immediately allowed them to go home. Jack, barely missing several messy car crashes, drove home in a daze. He silently embraced Sam, tears spilling from his eyes and picked up Rose, clutching them close to his body, unwilling to let either of them go. Sam was utterly confused and surprised but, seeing the scared demeanor of her husband, didn't ask questions.

Daniel, on the other hand, didn't go home. Somehow he found himself in his office, sitting in front of his shut down computer. His elbows were propped up on the keyboard, hands holding up his heavy head. He stared at the keys as they morphed into angry waves and drowning men and women. He felt the water rush around him, pushing him down and down and—

Rrrrrrring!

Daniel jumped a foot off his chair, jolted out of his thoughts for the slightest moment. He grabbed the phone and held it to his ear, still too out of it to remember to say hello.

"Daniel?" Vala's voice asked after a while. Finally Daniel found his voice.

"Vala," he chocked hoarsely. He coughed, clearing his throat.

"Daniel, Sam called, told me Jack was home and something had obviously gone wrong… She was afraid…well, I was afraid you—"

"I'm fine," Daniel replied, his voice monotone. Vala paused.

"You sure? You don't sound okay," she argued gently. Daniel, however, couldn't answer as he had dropped the phone and was on his knees, retching into the garbage can.

XxXxX

"…It was all my fault," Daniel finished miserably. Vala rubbed his freezing hand between hers. After realizing he wasn't going to get back on the phone, she had jumped into the car and sped the entire way to the base. She had found him still on the floor, by the wastebasket, horrified tears streaming down his face.

"How was it your fault?" she asked softly, scared at how upset the linguist was. "You didn't sink the city." It was so…out of character for him to be as fragile as he currently was. He looked up to her grey eyes, cheeks shining.

"I told you," he said, voice hard. "Adria was there for me."

"Daniel, she would've come after you no matter where you were," Vala pointed out.

"Exactly!" the archeologist exclaimed. "If I hadn't gone, I'd be the only one dead. Instead, an entire city has been…" He flung an arm around wildly, for lack of the right word. Vala stayed silently, realizing she wasn't going to convince him otherwise. Daniel's head drooped again, a hand going to the back of his neck, rubbing gently.

"I saw Ettan," he said quietly. Vala raised an eyebrow.

"When Adria showed up?" she asked. Daniel nodded. "How is he?" she asked conversationally, not quite sure what type of reaction the linguist was waiting for. He shrugged.

"He seemed happy."

Vala waited for elaboration, but when she didn't get any, sighed, standing up.

"You need to get your mind off of things," she decided. Daniel scoffed.

"And how do you suggest I do that?" he asked skeptically. Vala slid her hand beneath his chin, nudging his face up towards hers and kissed his lips, slowly, tenderly.

"I have a few ideas," she whispered.

XxXxX

Jack came out of Rose's room after tucking her for bed, eyes to the ground and a very somber air about him. Sam frowned, pursing her lips and walked up to him as he sat down heavily a couch. She sat beside him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"What happened?" she asked softly. "Vala told me Daniel wasn't home yet…did he…?"

Jack shook his head. "Daniel's fine. It…Atlantis sunk. The Ori came and attacked…so many people…Dr. Weir died…oh, Sam…" Suddenly he wrapped his arms around her as well, nestling his face in her hair. "What would I do without you? Or Rose? How…how would I survive?"

"What does losing us have to do with Atlantis sinking?" Sam asked, confused. Jack shook his head.

"I don't know…reality hitting, I guess. And apparently Adria took Ettan away last night," he replied. Sam reached her head up, kissing him gently.

"Maybe you need to get your mind off things," she suggested quietly. Jack raised an eyebrow at her.

"How?"

Sam smiled, kissing him again. "Oh…you know…"

XxXxX

"Hey," John said, walking into the room Teyla and Ronon were currently in. "How're you all?"

"We are well," Teyla replied. Ronon snorted.

"Speak for yourself," he grumbled. Teyla frowned at him.

"You are fine, Ronon," she assured him. "You are simply bored."

Ronon nodded. "Exactly."

"Boredom can actually kill a person," John said, grabbing a chair and sitting down.

"No, technically, it can't," Rodney argued, walking in the door. John rolled his eyes, pushing a chair towards the doctor.

"Yeah, whatever."

"It can't!"

"Do you know what they plan to do with us?" Ronon interrupted, gesturing at himself and Teyla. John winced and shook his head.

"I don't think they're really thinking about it. Or McKay and I'd probably be doing something right now…instead of having all the time in the world do to nothing."

"Why aren't they thinking about it?" Teyla asked, brow creased.

"Well, the Ori, or Adria, to be specific," John started, "was there because she wanted Dr. Jackson. I have a feeling they're more concerned about him and Adria than us."

"Which is completely unreasonable," Rodney muttered.

"No, actually, it's not, McKay," John argued. "I, personally, can't blame them. Though I wish I could."

"So what are we supposed to do?" Ronon asked gruffly. John shrugged.

"Wait."

A/N: I love reviewers and live for constructive criticism!