Janet opened the flap to one of tents and stepped outside into the cool night air. In the distance, she saw SG-1. All four of them were sitting together, perched on a couple of worn boulders that rested near the temple that housed the Stargate. She didn't fail to notice that Daniel was hanging back, cut off a bit from the rest of them, lost in his own contemplative world as he stared at the temple.

The rest of his team was giving him the space that he needed. She had known them long enough to understand what was happening. Each member of SG-1 handled the stress of the job in different ways. This was Daniel's way. She knew that he'd bounce right back. He would file the experience away, but never forget it, and go about his business.

She knew. So, she wasn't sure why she felt compelled to watch him. She wasn't sure why she felt the need to talk to him.

She knew part of it was just the nature of her personality and job. She needed to see and hear that he was okay. Part of it was personal. And part of it was purely selfish.

She knew. But she ignored all of it anyway and approached SG-1.

"Colonel," she said cheerfully.

"Fraiser," he replied. "I trust you have good news?"

She nodded. "First, you will be glad to know that our lab tests have come back and the form of plague manufactured on this planet is treatable. It will take some time, but with the right medicines, we should be able to assist the Baich and the Rusayev."

"That's great," Sam said.

"Any more news?" O'Neill asked, arching his eyebrows.

Janet chuckled. "I am also happy to inform you that you and the rest of your team have not contracted the plague."

The news had the immediate effect of relaxing SG-1. Or at least those who were paying attention.

She shot a worried glance over to Daniel.

"Are you sure?" Sam asked. "Our symptoms were—"

"Imagined," Janet said. She smiled at Colonel O'Neill and Sam's shocked faces. "You're in perfect health. Any symptoms that you, Doctor Jackson, and Colonel O'Neill experienced were psychosomatic."

Sam and Colonel O'Neill just stared at her, the embarrassment more than evident in their faces. Though, in contrast, she was positive that she caught a smug smile creep across Teal'c's face.

In the end, all O'Neill could manage to say was, "huh."

Janet chuckled again. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to tell Daniel the good news."

She nodded to them before she walked around the boulder to reach Daniel, who was still focused on the temple. Quietly, she leaned against the rock where he was sitting and looked over at him. She followed his gaze to the temple gates, watching him track the departure of a young woman and her two sons.

"Her name is Irina," he said, answering her silent question. He did not turn to look at her. "We're offering her asylum. She'll stay at the SGC until we find her a place with one of our allies where she'll feel comfortable."

"I see." Janet glanced over to him. "She's not safe here anymore."

He shook his head. "Nothing has changed."

"That's not true," she said, feeling her cheeks warm in defense. "We can cure these people. It's not too late."

He smiled weakly. "We might have helped today, but it won't change anything." He faced her, surprising Janet with the gravity in his features. "There will be another Fyodor. Another Taras. Another Raya. Another Irina. There will always be someone to take their places. Unless something is done to solve the root of the problem, it will never end. They'll just keep killing each other until nothing is left."

Janet swallowed hard, hurting from the pain she heard in his voice. She touched his arm. "We just do the best we can."

He glanced down at her hand before looking into her face. "Sometimes the best isn't good enough." His voice dropped. "One day it won't be."

She blinked at him. "Daniel, you can't save everyone."

"No. But I can try."

Janet wasn't sure what to say to that. She didn't know how long he would continue to live with the pain. Every day he added a new burden to his collection and one day he was sure to collapse under the pressure of his own guilt and responsibility. She couldn't let that happen.

"You've already done more than most people."

"I know. It's not that. It's just one day…" He forced another smile, but there was nothing but sadness in his eyes. "One day there's going to be a time when one of us doesn't come back."

Janet refused to think about that possibility. "That day isn't now," she said firmly. "The best we can do is focus on the here and now."

He nodded and looked away. Janet hesitated, but then moved closer, slipping her hand into his, and gave him a supportive squeeze. He squeezed back, and they both turned to look past the temple. Just for a little while, they put aside the past and the future and cherished the present as they gazed at the horizon to watch the rising moon.

THE END

End Note: Thank you for reading the story. I have appreciated your feedback :)