I seemed to float in cool, calm water. It was perfect for the lazy tube rafting I used to do when I was younger. Dad and Mark would rig up several inner tubes and then we all would pile on, laughing and talking, floating down the nearest river. Sometimes when the weather was fine and the waters calm, we would meet with other tube rafters. I remember having my first "boys are cute" talk with another teenager as we floated along.

But now, now something disrupts the water, sloshes around me. I feel myself lifted, almost floating up into the sky. I don't want to be in the sky, I don't want to get too close to the sun. I find myself being drowned in blue, I watch the lazy puffy clouds sink to meet me, cradle me in the puffy whiteness.

"Sam. Wake up, sweetie," I hear in the distance. It's comforting and loving, I find myself longing to find it. "Sam."

I am lifted higher still, now among the stars, the same ones I have traveled among for the past 10 years; the same ones I wish to show my children someday. I watch as I go by space rocks and into the darkness. The emptiness of space is warm and inviting, but so is my final destination. I gasp in the air as it hits my lungs, clinging onto it as it pulls me back to the hospital bed, to the infirmary and to…

"Daniel?" I croak. I lick my lips and try again, this time my voice is less cracked.

He nods. "Yes, Sam. I'm here. I'm here and I will not leave, ever."

"Jackson, don't make a promise you can't keep," I heard Cam warn. I stared at Daniel as he nodded shyly.

"Well, I'll not leave unless I have to, or am forced to."

"Watch it, Carolyn has been known to throw out grown men before," Cam said, laughing.

"I'd like to see her try," Daniel muttered. He continued to talk to Cam as I blinked, more and more alert. I pushed the oxygen mask off and took in a shaky breath. Cam and Daniel were still debating whether or not Dr. Lam could throw out a grown man. I lifted my arms up and grabbed Daniel by the lapels and yanked him down.

His shock helped propel him down and I crushed my lips onto his. Slow, tender kisses could wait; I had waited three months to have him before me and I wasn't going to let him go. Rational Sam left the building and Emotional Sam entered front and center. All I wanted was to have him in my arms, where I knew he was safe for a while.

"I think I will stall the doc," Cam said, or at least I think that's what he said. All I remember was Daniel snaking his arms around me, hugging me fiercely.

"Thank you, Sam."

"For what," I asked, pulling back a little.

"I made a part of me inaccessible to the Ori, when I was made a Prior and hoped it was strong enough. When I saw the team and they said you were in a deep coma and had been for over a week, I felt the hope and fear grow and I was able to see again." Daniel sighed, stroking my hair. "You were my anchor, your faith in me, your love. I need to have you by my side, or near me. I need to know you will be okay. I was able to battle the Ori grip because of you."

"I felt you; I felt like we were reaching out," I whispered.

"We have a deep bond, Sam, one made only deeper now that we admit that we love each other. Please forgive me, Sam. I never meant to make you worry."

"It's better now that I know you are here … really here," I said, placing my head on his chest. "Did your experiment succeed at least?"

"As soon as you are well and cleared we are going to start using the Ori knowledge for ourselves."

"Good," I said, feeling sleep wash over me. "Good."