Chapter 4: Christmas

December, Friday

Week 6

Jack's command meetings had become more regular. They had to; he had a life now. He insisted that they always happen on Friday that way he could kill two birds with one stone. It insured that Diana was taken care of and the Sam and Daniel took the weekend off.

Now on their sixth Friday with one week until Christmas Sam and Daniel were taking Diana and Cassie, who was visiting from Seattle College, out for dinner and some last minute holiday shopping. Daniel had escorted Sam out this time since her car was in the shop. Their first stop had been Sam's house so they could change and pick up Cassie. Now if Diana would just open the door.

Cassie tugged her belt down again as Sam rang the doorbell. It had been almost two months since Cassie had seen the girl who had thrust her way into SG1's life. They all had gone out of their way to make her feel as comfortable as possible. Jack had taken her to Sarah's grave as often as she requested and Sam had offered advice she knew would help. Just as Sam was about to ring yet again the door flew open. Diana Marie Parson (Sarah's maiden name) stood, smiling shyly, ready to go. "Sorry."

Cassie pulled the girl into a hug and Sam smiled. "No worries, Daniel's keeping the car warm."

Diana nodded and closed the door behind her. "So, where're we going tonight?"

As they got into the car Sam smiled. Over the past month she and Daniel had introduced the girl to Colorado Springs. They took her out every Friday night for dinner and on Saturdays they showed her the more interesting sites and social things to do. Strapping in her seatbelt Sam turned her head towards the back seat. "Well, we have to go to the mall for last minute Christmas gifts but the location of dinner is totally up to you."

Diana nodded; watching the landscape fly by she sighed. "Well I have absolutely no idea. Can we go to the mall first?"

Sam looked to Daniel who nodded. "Sure thing Di."

Pulling into the crowed parking lot Daniel expertly swerved into the only spot left. Unclipping his belt he sighed. "Next time we do this Sam lets be sure to bring a zat okay?"

She just laughed.

000

Agreeing on meeting up in an hour and a half for dinner the two adults and two young women had split up. Sam and Daniel tackling the west side and Cassie and Diana the north.

Wandering down the corridors Sam turned to her best friend. "Daniel."

He paused. "Yea?"

She held her breath for a second. She had been dyeing to tell him her secret since she had found out. Finally she had her chance. She chickened out. "What should we get for Diana?" Mad at herself Sam scowled and began moving again.

"Um." Daniel looked his best friend over. That was definitely not what she was going to say. "I was thinking.. I don't know. Jack said he was getting her jewelry and Teal'c found out that she loves sewing so he got her fabric and a machine to make new curtains for her room." They walked in silence, both pondering what to get the young girl who had given new meaning to their lives, but both preoccupied with Sam's unfinished sentence.

Spotting a seating area Daniel directed their path over. "Sam?"

She plopped down looking exhausted. "Yea."

"What were you going to say back there?"

Sam shook her head and studied the hem of her shirt. "If I told you I would and you could get in trouble."

Daniel bent over, taking her hyper hands in his calm ones. "Only if I tell someone else."

Looking up and only seeing concern she nodded. "Okay." Disentangling her hands Sam slowly put her hair behind her ears and sat back. "It started the night that we found out about Sarah, you know the night Diana showed up." He nodded. "Well I had just broken it off with Pete and was feeling really crappy so that combined with Jack finding about Sarah, well we were both blind with self pity and sorrow." Daniel sat back in his chair, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, instinctually feeling where this was leading. "That night we-" she took a deep breath. "Colonel O'Neill and I engaged in-"

Daniel just nodded and tried to compartmentalize the strange feelings of betrayal and jealousy. Attempting put his best friend first.

Sam took another deep breath. "The next morning I instantly regretted it and when he brought it up I told him so, clearly stating that it would never happen again but now something's come up."

"Come up?" Daniel asked incredulously. "Like something happened and now you have to sleep with him again!" Running a hand through his hair Daniel tried to calm down. Finally looking back at Sam he noticed her eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"I thought you of all people would understand, or at least try. Do you have any idea how bad this is? I slept with my commanding officer, who I don't love and could never have a functional relationship with yet I am going to have his baby!" Her voice had become a harsh, strained whisper.

Taking a minute both members of SG1 looked away from each other and tried to calm down. Finally Daniel pulled Sam into a hug. "I'm sorry. But Sam this will be okay. I promise I will do everything in my power to make this right."

Sam returned the hug with equal force. "Don't tell him Daniel. I meant it. Everything I said I meant. And I just haven't decided what I'm going to do yet." She could feel him nod.