A/N: Yee-haw, it's damn good to be back in the saddle. Oh, how I've missed my fanfic habit! Thanks for the reviews and congratulations. And now, as promised, on with the show!

"Carter, I know you're brilliant and all, but this has got to be one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard." Walking beside his wife in one of the SGC's central corridors, Jack took a moment to stare meaningfully into her lovely, sparkling gaze. "And, as you're well aware, I'm no stranger to dumb ideas."

Sam just smiled affectionately, completely unfazed by his blunt assessment. "Yes, dear. I'm quite familiar with your expertise in that area."

Jack opened his mouth and then quickly closed it again, apparently unsure whether to be reassured or offended by Sam's comment. "Well, okay," he said after a moment. "Just so we're clear on that."

Leaning forward, Sam planted a soft kiss on her husband's cheek. "Crystal clear," she replied. Then, without skipping a beat, she smiled brilliantly. "But you're still going to have a look at the cylinder."

As the rounded a corner, the doorway to Sam's lab came into view. Sighing heavily, Jack kept pace beside his wife in spite of his reservations. "I'll look at it," he agreed skeptically, "but I'm not sure how much good it'll do. If you and Daniel haven't figured out how the damn thing works, I have no idea what you expect me to come up with."

Stepping into the laboratory that she used to call a second home, Sam just smiled benignly and waited for Jack to follow. Once he'd crossed to the cluttered workbench in the center of the room, she quietly closed the door and turned to face him. "Jack," she said gently, "give yourself some credit." Walking toward him, she allowed her affection for him to shine in her eyes. "You're not fooling me. We both know you're not half as clueless as you pretend to be." Seeing him open his mouth to reply, she held up a hand and continued speaking. "Besides which, you somehow have knowledge of this device that nobody else on this planet seems to have."

Jack shrugged. "Lucky guess."

Exhaling impatiently, Sam shook her head. "Nope. I'm not buying that, either. Last year, you knew exactly where to find the stone ring on P3X-812. And when we returned there after Sha're's appearance, you were able to remove that cylinder within seconds." Standing directly in front of him, she speared him with a no-nonsense look. "Might I remind you that in both cases, we had teams of experts working on the problem for weeks?"

Jack closed his eyes, hating what he was about to do, but feeling bound to do it all the same. "And, might I remind you," he said quietly, "that one of those instances ended with my smoldering ashes being buried at Arlington?"

Sam jerked as if she'd been punched in the stomach. Sucking in a reflexive breath, she turned her head away to hide the pain she knew was painted on her features.

"Damn it, I'm sorry." Jack reached out and roughly pulled her into his arms. "I know how much it kills you to think about that, but I need you to understand why I think this might be a bad idea. I just feel like we should talk about why I seem to have these strange, unexplainable abilities. Doesn't it seem a little weird to you?"

Suppressing a shudder, Sam took a moment to absorb the solid strength of his arms before once again meeting his gaze. "Of course it seems weird. But we're not exactly swimming in alternatives here." Looking somewhat defeated, she shrugged. "I just hate to think of what it will do to Daniel if we give up."

Jack brushed a lock of hair from her face. "I'm not saying that I shouldn't look at the cylinder. I just worry that your confidence in my mystic abilities might be overly optimistic."

She smiled faintly. "Maybe," she admitted. "But we won't know if you don't try."

Looking directly into her eyes, he forged ahead boldly. "And you're okay with the risks?"

Sam swallowed. "I'm not sure I've ever been 'okay' with the risks you take for this job." She shrugged. "As your wife, I absolutely hate it. But as an Air Force officer, I have to accept that it goes with the territory."

Jack sighed, wishing he had Daniel's diplomatic skills or Teal'c's wisdom. Lacking either, he made do with the only thing he could come up with. "I love you, Sam," he said gruffly. "And I saw what happened when I went back to 812 and pulled that cylinder out of the ring. You went totally out of your mind when you thought something might go wrong." Willing her to understand, he squeezed her gently. "I don't want to put you through that again. And the truth is, I have no idea how I happen to know anything about that damned device." His dark eyes absorbed the pain that radiated from her with obvious regret. "When I said it was a lucky guess, I really wasn't kidding."

Sam returned his gaze steadily. "I know that," she replied quietly. "But, Jack, most of what we do at the SGC involves a whole lot of lucky guessing."

"True," Jack admitted. "I just don't want to leave you holding the bag if our luck runs out."

Sam drew her eyebrows together worriedly. "Do you have a bad feeling about this? Because, if you do, we're going to turn around right this minute and-"

Lifting a hand to her mouth, Jack silenced her with the gentle touch of one finger. "No, Sam. I feel perfectly capable of examining the cylinder. No dark premonitions or visions of dread." Tracing his fingertip along the smooth, pink line of her lip, he looked deeply into her eyes. "It's just…" He exhaled sharply and glanced away. "You aren't the only one with baggage from that whole ordeal last year," he admitted gruffly.

Sam reached up and captured his hand, brushing a soft kiss on it. There was a note of something deeper in her husband's voice. "What's bothering you, Jack?"

His dark brown eyes slowly made their way back to her sweetly familiar face. "Maybe it was the look on Daniel's face when he talked about his wife slipping into unconsciousness, or maybe it was hearing about your trip to Arlington. I really don't know. But I do know that I suddenly can't erase the picture of you, eight months pregnant and wearing a wedding dress, being told by Daniel that I was killed in the line of duty." Even as the words left his mouth, Jack felt his throat close with emotion. "I hate that I put you through that, Sam," he rasped miserably.

Hearing the anguish in his voice, Sam leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "It wasn't your fault," she whispered soothingly. "And it all worked out in the long run."

Jack inhaled a shaky breath. "Be that as it may, I never want to hurt you that way again." Laughing humorlessly, he stared into space with a wry shake of his head. "It's funny how different this job looks when you have something to lose."

Sam regarded him perceptively. "Sweetheart, you're not going to lose me. Nor am I going to lose you." When his brown eyes finally returned to her face, she smiled affectionately. "I know you want to protect me from every horrible thing that this universe can dish out. But you can't do that. You couldn't do it as my CO, and you can't do it as my husband, either." She squeezed his hand. "Jack, If you have a legitimate concern for our safety, please feel free to act appropriately. But unless there's a real reason to be worried, you have to let us both do our jobs, risky as they might sometimes be."

Staring at her intently, he mustered a small, somewhat wistful smile. "I now understand why all those pesky fraternization rules were put into the UCMJ. You really do lose all perspective when the 'L' word is involved."

Sam returned his smile with a knowing one of her own. "Guess it's a good thing we never crossed that line out in the field, hey?" Thoughts of their moments together on the volcanic planet made her eyes sparkle. She knew he was still ignorant of their earlier lapse in protocol and couldn't help finding personal amusement at his expense.

Jack seemed to ponder her words. "I guess it was for the best. Even though I was sorely tempted on many occasions." He grinned at her suggestively. "You're practically irresistible."

Raising her eyebrows, Sam appeared offended. "Only practically irresistible?"

He paused. "Well, I did manage to fend you off for the better part of a decade."

Sam smiled impishly. "Yeah, but I had my way with you eventually."

"Only with the help of some fancy alien hormone potion," he retorted with a gleam in his eye. "And after that – since you were all knocked up anyway – I figured I might as well throw in the towel and marry you."

Aiming a forceful punch at her husband's middle, Sam made a noise of indignation. "Oh, is that how it happened?" With a deceivingly bland smile, she looked into his dark eyes. "Then I suppose you won't mind if we went back to our old 'hands off' policy for a few weeks? Just to maintain the spirit of those pesky fraternization rules, of course. I wouldn't want to cloud your judgment while you made important military decisions."

Jack looked a bit panicked. Holding a hand up, he shook his head vehemently. "Um, I don't think that will be necessary, Colonel." He smiled contritely. "No need to be hasty."

Laughing wickedly, Sam leaned forward and kissed him softly on the mouth. "Just so we're clear on that whole issue of irresistibility."

He smiled as the sweet pressure of her lips intensified. "Perfectly clear," he murmured. "I'm sorry I ever implied otherwise."

After a long, sweet moment locked in her husband's embrace, Sam slowly pulled away. "Good," she said forcefully. "Now, let's go put your psychic powers to work."

Dozing fitfully in one of the infirmary's hard, plastic visitor chairs, Daniel suddenly found himself pulled awake by an unknown noise. Looking around the room, he blinked as he tried to shake his drowsy disorientation. The darkened room was now silent, except for the steady beeping of the medical equipment attached to his wife.

His wife.

Forcing himself into a state of total consciousness, Daniel tried – for perhaps the millionth time since her arrival – to remind himself that this Sha're was not his wife. His wife was dead, taken hostage by an evil creature and killed as an innocent bystander during an attempt on his own life. He'd watched her life slip away, heard her last words of love as they floated away on her dying breath. He had seen the end of his beloved Sha're with his own two eyes.

And still, he couldn't quite make himself believe that the woman before him was anyone other than his wife.

Swallowing a lump of emotion, he leaned forward and examined the motionless figure on the hospital bed. Dark eyelashes gently fanned high, sculpted cheekbones. Ebony hair lay in stark contrast to the snowy-white pillowcase, bringing out the subtle olive tone of her flawless skin. Without thinking, Daniel reached forward and captured one of the dark locks between his thumb and forefinger. She was so incredibly lovely; it made his chest ache if he stared at her long enough. Closing his eyes, he leaned forward and placed a soft, tender kiss on her forehead. "God, I love you," he whispered. Breathing deeply, he was struck by the familiar scent of her. "I don't think I can stand to lose you again." Concentrating on holding his emotions in check, he was about to lean back into his chair when he was stopped by an unexpected voice.

"My Daniel, I love you also. I will cling to this life with all my strength because I do not wish to lose you, either." Sha're's voice was quiet, but clear.

Daniel's eyes flew open in astonishment. Her nearly-black gaze met his steadily, unashamed of the emotions she shared. "You're…" He stumbled as he tried to formulate a coherent thought. "You're awake."

She smiled softly. "It would seem so." Reaching up, she gently placed a hand on his cheek and brushed her fingertips along the five-o'clock shadow that had begun to darken its surface. "How long did I sleep?"

Still flabbergasted by her apparent recovery, Daniel had to concentrate as he mentally ticked off the hours since Sam and Jack had left to work on the cylinder. "Almost a day," he replied weakly. "Are you feeling okay? Should I get Dr. Brightman? She'll need to check your vital-"

"In a moment, Daniel," Sha're interrupted gently. Lowering her eyes for a moment, she seemed to be gathering courage. When she again met his gaze, he could see the nervous apprehension on her features. "Did you mean what you said just now?"

Blinking, Daniel tried to remember what he'd just said. "About your being asleep for a day?" He looked utterly confused.

She smiled. "No, my Daniel. Before that."

Thinking back, he suddenly realized what she meant. "Oh!" Then, looking somewhat pole-axed, he exhaled slowly. "Sha're, I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I have this whole…" he paused searching for the right word, "ocean of feelings for you, left over from our lives together in this universe. And I know it isn't fair to expect that you'll return those feelings, because… well, we've really just met. Which is why I didn't say anything before this-"

Sha're held up a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. "Daniel, do you love me?" Staring at him intently, she seemed to hold her breath as she waited for his reply.

He wanted to explain himself further, but seeing her clear anxiety over his response, he simply nodded. "Yes." He smiled into her gleaming brown stare. "Yes, Sha're. In my heart, you are my wife." Turning his head slightly, he pressed a gentle kiss into the palm of her hand. "I love you very much. I can't help it."

Sha're closed her eyes for a moment, smiling serenely. When she reopened them, brilliant emotion poured from her like sunshine. "I am glad to hear it," she whispered. "I have felt the same way for many weeks now."

Daniel felt his jaw slacken with astonishment. "Sha're," he whispered, "why didn't you say something sooner?"

She laughed musically. "Because I was afraid you only felt pity and obligation for me and I did not want to burden you with my feelings."

Daniel shook his head. "Pity?" How could you ever possibly think-"

He never got a chance to finish his sentence, however, because his mouth was suddenly occupied in a much more pleasant fashion. Sha're's fingers had somehow managed to wind their way into his hair, giving her a firm grasp as she pulled his lips to hers. The first fraction of a second took him by surprise as the feel of her warm mouth sliced through him like a shot of hundred-proof whiskey. It only took heartbeats, however, for instinct and memory to take over. After the briefest of moments, the embrace exploded into a dizzying release of pent-up desires.

"Ah… maybe we should come back another time."

A familiar – and somewhat sheepish – voice from the doorway made both Daniel and Sha're freeze with surprise. The unexpected interruption sliced through most of the passion fogging his brain and allowed Daniel to recover his composure in a few quick seconds. Pulling gently away, he met Sha're's smoldering gaze for a moment before turning toward the infirmary's entrance.

Sam and Jack stood just inside the doorway, looking as flabbergasted as Daniel was currently feeling. "Um. Hi." He cleared his throat and gestured toward his wife, who looked delicately flushed and somewhat disheveled from their interrupted embrace. "Sha're's awake," he finished lamely, noting the nearly comical expressions on his friends' faces at his statement.

"I can see that," Jack said dryly. "Seems we didn't consider the 'Sleeping Beauty' treatment for her condition." He smiled. "Glad to see you had it covered."

Sam was unable to suppress a laugh, and quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sorry," she mumbled. "You know, we really can come back-"

Daniel waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I was just about to go get Dr. Brightman, anyway."

"Yeah, it looked that way," Jack quipped with a snort, stopping suddenly as a backhanded blow from Sam landed firmly in his gut. "Ouch!" Turning toward her slowly, he took on an injured expression.

Completely ignoring him, she spoke directly to Sha're and Daniel instead. "So, everything's all right here?"

Exchanging meaningful glances, the pair smiled nearly in unison. "I am well, Samantha," Sha're replied warmly. She pulled her gaze away from Daniel with obvious effort. "Thank you for your concern."

Sam returned the smile with a happy one of her own. "I'm really glad to hear it," she said, injecting a deeper meaning that expressed her feelings on the couple's obvious contentment.

Daniel suddenly noticed that his friends hadn't arrived empty-handed. "Hey, isn't that the cylinder from P3X-812?" Jack held the heavy, crystal-topped device in one hand – while the other still massaged the spot on his stomach where Sam's punch had landed.

Crossing to the other side of her husband, Sam lifted the device from his hand and brought it to the bedside where Daniel sat. "Yes, and you're never going to believe what Jack discovered." Placing three fingers of each hand into six grooves on the cylinder's surface, Sam watched in satisfaction as the cool, silver surface of the device began to transform. The solid metal seemed to instantly liquefy, flowing in intricate patterns along the cylinder's exterior. After a moment, the fluid movement slowed to a halt, leaving the device transformed. Instead of a solid, grooved surface, a series of levers and switches now dotted the length of the device at even, regular intervals.

Daniel and Sha're both sat transfixed by the demonstration. "Oh, wow," Daniel exclaimed softly, unable to better express his utter astonishment. "That's amazing."

Sam nodded enthusiastically. "We have no idea what any of this means, but it's a start."

Looking from Sam to Jack, Daniel nodded slowly. "So," he said incredulously, "Jack really does have latent psychic powers."

Grinning boyishly, Jack shrugged. "Either that, or I'm starting to absorb Carter's intelligence through osmosis."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Can't be that," she muttered, "or you'd have gained enough brainpower to call your wife by her actual name."

With a smile at his friends' antics, Daniel turned to Sha're and looked warmly into her eyes. "I'm going to go get the doctor," he said softly. "But I want you to know that whatever she says, we're going to make sure you're all right."

Sha're returned his tender gaze and brushed her fingers along his cheek. "I have no doubts, my Daniel." She looked deeply into his blue eyes. "You make me believe that anything is possible."

Witnessing the sweet affection between her friends, Sam glanced over at her husband, only to find him staring fondly at her. Sha're's words echoed through the hearts of all four people in the room, ushering in a moment of sublime happiness that none of them would soon forget.