"Hey."

"Hi." Sam smiled brightly as Daniel entered her lab, and took a seat.

"What's this?"

"It's a device SG-2 brought back from 824 four days ago. Dr. Lee did some tests and couldn't determine what it did. There's no energy coming from it, and whatever it's made of, well, besides being scratch resistant, and light, it's not anything we've seen before."

"May I?" Daniel gestured towards the small metallic sphere, and Sam nodded her assent. He almost dropped the ball as it wasn't much heavier than a balloon, even though he could barely put his fingers around it.

"We don't have a clue what it was used for. There's nothing inside, just a hollow space, and there's no writing on it."

"Where did they find it? Just lying around?"

"No, it was in a temple of sorts. You haven't got the pictures yet? I was sure they were sending you a bunch." Sam took the sphere from Daniel, and placed it carefully in a stand to prevent it rolling off the desk.

"It's only 7am, I haven't been to my office yet. Did you even leave the base yesterday?"

"No, I had too much work to do, then this arrived in my hands."

"Oh. After I took Jack to the airport, I went home. Thought I'd get here early and see how Vala's doing."

"Alright, well, lunch?"

"Sure, lunch it is. Here or in the commissary?" Daniel knew that once Sam had a gadget to play with, all other plans would be forgotten.

"Uh, how about your office?" Sam eyed all the instruments littering the desk as she answered.

"Yeah, I'll see you around noon."

"Thanks, Daniel."

Sam turned back to the device, her concentration immediately focused on it. She didn't see Daniel turn around, and open his mouth to ask her a question. Daniel shrugged his shoulders and walked out of her lab.

Daniel had waited half an hour for Sam before he went to get her. He wasn't angry, just mildly amused, as knew he did the same thing when he was involved in a project.

"Sam, you forget about lunch?"

"Is it noon already? I'm sorry, Daniel, I guess I got too caught up."

"Anything yet?" Daniel exited the lab, following Sam.

"Nothing."

"Why did SG-2 bring it back?"

"Apparently, when they removed the object, the artificial lighting went out. They assumed it to be some kind of energy source, but I have yet to get any kind of reading from it."

"I got the pictures, but I don't think I'll be of much use. The language that's written on the walls is completely different to anything I've seen before. Hey, where's the crutches?" Daniel stopped to look for them, as if they would be following her down the hall. She had been using the crutches for a while, and he had been used to them.

"I'm supposed to start trying to walk without them for short periods of time. Help strengthen some of the unused muscles."

"How's it going so far?"

"I'm glad to be rid of the crutches, even if it's only for a couple of hours each day. Hopefully I won't have them by the time I move."

"You almost finished packing?"

"No. I didn't think I had that much stuff. It's going to take forever."

"Don't you have a week off to pack?" Daniel opened the door to his office and took a seat, Sam following.

"Not a full week to pack. Most of it's for unpacking."

"Take more days. You've got about a month's worth of days off banked."

"Maybe. Depends on what's going on here."

"Well, I'm not going off world for a few days, why don't I come help you out."

"That'd be great Daniel. Thanks." Daniel handed Sam a tray with a salad, several sandwiches, and bottled water. He set his own tray on the table and started eating.

"Oh, and before I forget, Jack might come to help you move." Daniel had waited for a moment when her mouth was full and she wouldn't be able to talk for a few seconds. "Don't say no, you could probably use the help."

"Why would he help me move?" Sam had chewed and swallowed as fast as she could.

"That's what friends do, right?"

"Yes, but usually friends don't have to take a flight across the country to help another one move. What did you say to him?"

"Me! I should be asking you the same question! Why did you talk to him the other night?"

"Daniel, you wouldn't understand." Sam laid her sandwich back on the plate, and sat back, her arms crossed.

"Try me."

"I had to."

"Why?"

"I had to stop him from thinking there could be something more than friendship."

"So that's your final decision?" Daniel had finished eating, and placed the tray on top of a filing cabinet.

"Yes." Even as she said the word, Sam was beginning to have doubts. Daniel picked up on it immediately.

"You don't sound too sure about that." Daniel spoke softly, his voice penetrating Sam's thoughts, and forcing her to be honest with herself.

"Oh, Daniel. I'm not sure what I want anymore. It's all just, so confusing." Sam could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but refused to allow them to spill over.

"That's what I'm here for. Look, why don't you get out of here early. I'll take you home, and we can do some packing."

Sam nodded her consent, and as Daniel started clearing up the remains of their lunch, she returned to her lab to clean up. After talking to General Landry, Daniel returned to Sam's lab, and helped her finish clearing up, before they left.

Once at Sam's apartment, Sam had begun stuffing boxes energetically. Daniel thought she was being a little too aggressive, and was about to make a comment when his cell phone rang. He answered and wandered into the living room, to cut down on some of the unnecessary noise Sam was making. He didn't notice as the banging of dishes ceased, engrossed in his conversation.

Sam tried not to listen, but couldn't help herself. As soon as she knew Daniel was talking to Jack, she was curious. She continued to pack, but was much quieter, so she could hear Daniel's side of the conversation. When he hung up, she hurried to the other side of the kitchen, and started wrapping plates in newspaper.

"Sorry about that."

"No problem." Sam felt terrible for listening, but as she hadn't overheard anything interesting, it didn't show in her face.

"That was just Jack." Daniel studied her face closely, wondering how much she had heard.

"Oh. How is he?"

"Sam, I know you were listening. I noticed it got a little quiet in here, just before I hung up."

"Sorry." Now Daniel could see guilt on her face, mixed with sadness.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just, so, muddled. I thought it was cut and dry, nothing to it, but now I'm not too sure." Daniel instinctively knew she was talking about Jack.

"What aren't you too sure about?"

"Him, us, everything."

"You're second guessing your decision." Daniel had thought something like this would happen, hence he had asked her to wait a few days before saying anything to Jack.

"Something like that."

"Do you want more than friendship?" Daniel steered Sam into the living room, and cleared off the couch so they could both sit down.

"At first, no. Now, I'm not too sure."

"Why did you go talk to him, instead of waiting like I asked?" His tone was not accusing, and the barrier holding Sam's emotions came down a fraction.

"I thought I needed to. Get it out in the open. Make sure we were on the same page."

"And?"

"We weren't. He wants more, I can see it in his eyes."

"So now you've changed your mind?"

"I don't think I changed my mind. More like lied to him about what I was feeling."

"Do you want more?" Daniel barely heard her response.

"Yes. I think I do."

"Sam, are you sure?"

"Yes, but I'm scared. What if he's not interested anymore? What if it doesn't work out? I don't want to loose what we have. It wasn't pleasant coming back to the SGC with him behaving like that."

"Like what?"

"Cold, rude, sarcastic, bitter. You know, the way he gets when he's in a mood."

"Have you ever thought about why he acted like that towards you?" Daniel was shocked at her previous response, and felt a desiring urge to defend Jack.

"I don't know. Probably because he never wanted to see me again."

"Sort of."

"You knew why he was being an asshole to me?" Sam suddenly changed from being downcast, to being infuriated.

"Yes. I talked to him."

"So why didn't you stop him?"

"I had to stop both of you!"

"Me! You're saying I had something to do with his pissiness?" Sam was past being infuriated, as she yelled at Daniel.

"Calm down, Sam. It was both of you." Daniel's patience was wearing thin, and it was all he could do to keep his cool and calm temperament.

"He was the jackass. He avoided me. I hadn't had contact with him in years. He was the one who started it."

"Why do you think he avoided you, never answered your emails or letters, never came to visit?"

"I dunno, because he's a stubborn ass?"

"No, Sam. It was because you hurt him."

"When? When did I hurt him?" Sam had stood up, and now crossed her arms, demanding an answer from Daniel.

"When you married Pete." Daniel spoke just louder than a whisper, unsure of how she would react.

"I hurt him? When I married Pete, whatever me and Jack had, or didn't have, was over."

"Was it? Did you ever talk about it?"

"We couldn't. You know that Daniel. I hinted at it, and he gave me some answer, which really wasn't an answer as such, then he started seeing that Karen."

"Kerry."

"Whatever. Besides, that was years ago, and things have changed since then." Sam was pacing around the coffee table, her anger emanating from her every pore.

"Have they? When you were in that explosion at your old lab, you were surprised to hear that Jack was the one to find you."

"In case you don't remember, we weren't getting along at that point."

"But he would never leave you, or any of us, alone, and injured. You should know that by now."

"Do you have another point here, or are you just talking out of your ass? Fine, I hurt him. That was years ago. Things have changed since then."

"Have they? You two seem to be playing an old love/hate game. The only thing in your way, is the pair of you. No regulations this time, Sam."

"Why are you so interested in this, Daniel?"

"You guys are both my friends. When you act like this with each other, it drives me 'n Teal'c nuts. I want this to get resolved, one way or another."

"Well, I'm so sorry that we are causing you stress. Why don't you butt out, as it's not your problem."

"Sam, wait. Don't take it that way. Look, I just want to see you both happy, whatever that ends up being. Jack's feeling none too happy about the way things have gone, and I wanted you to see things as I see them, before things got any worse."

"Daniel, I think you've helped enough. I've got packing to do." Sam's voice was trembling with emotion, and Daniel took it as his cue to leave.

"If you need anything, just call me."

"Fine, Daniel."

"And Sam, please, make a decision and stick to it. Don't play around with him anymore."

As Daniel closed the door behind him, Sam collapsed onto the couch, and allowed the tears to fall. She stayed there for almost an hour, wallowing in her own sorrow and anger, before she started to think over what Daniel had said. She knew he was right, but didn't want to admit it to herself. She hadn't blamed Jack for everything that had happened, but hadn't placed any of that blame on her own shoulders. She had behaved just as badly as Jack had, perhaps even worse. Wiping her eyes, she resolved to clear the mess up, for once and for all.

Jack was expecting Daniel to call, as he had explained he was with Sam when he had called earlier. Jack ended his conversation with Daniel, frustrated. When he had arrived in D.C. he was sure that he knew what he wanted. After listening to Daniel rehash his argument with Sam, he had felt a seed of animosity towards her, grow within him. Now, several hours later, he was fuming. Daniel was right. Sam had hurt him. Why was he waiting for her to change her mind, and did he still want her to?

Despite his anger towards her, underneath all that was the hope that she would want more. As he acknowledged that, he realised that he would never get Sam out of his mind, or heart. He would give her time, let her get her own thoughts together, and wait for her to make a move, whether it be towards him, or another. This time, he would do what he could to make sure she knew what his feelings towards her were, and he wouldn't give up.

She had married someone else, but that was in the past. He knew from harsh experiences, that dwelling on things that you couldn't change didn't do anyone any good. It was time to forgive and forget, try to start anew.

He grabbed a piece of paper, and wrote a reminder to himself to arrange to have Sam's moving day off. Two weeks felt like years away, but it should give them both some time to think things over.

AN: That was a hard chapter to write, hope you enjoyed. More this weekend...Thanx to all the great reviews for the last chapter.