Alkcalien—Many thanks for your kind words and great review. :)

Title: Stardust
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Sam/Cam established.
Notes and summary: See part one

It'd taken Daniel longer than he thought to track down Cameron Mitchell. Daniel thought he'd known all the hiding places in Cheyenne Mountain. However when the archeologist had found each one empty Daniel had backtracked to the place he should've looked first.
It had just seemed too obvious.
Too painful.

Daniel peeked in the open doorway to Sam's lab to find it dark.
He looked one more time to confirm it was empty until he heard a rustling.
Fabric against fabric.
Daniel stepped inside the familiar room. As his eyes adjusted to the dark he saw Mitchell slumped in the far corner facing Sam's table. A paper coffee cup sat next to Cameron.

Daniel stifled a sigh if he ever needed confirmation on the status of Cameron and Sam's relationship he had it now.
Not that he hadn't suspected it earlier when Sam had fallen ill.
The scene he had witnessed in the clean room had been too intimate for just close friends.

Daniel moved further into the room and into Mitchell's line of vision not wanting to startle his friend.
He'd never seen Cameron look more lost.

Mitchell's troubled gaze flickered with hope as it landed on Daniel. "Any change?"

Daniel shook his head sadly as he slid down the wall and sat next to the pilot. "No."

Cameron pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin against them. "I feel so damn helpless, Daniel…..all I can do is wait and pray…..I've never been good at praying."

"She loves you…..she's not going to give up easily and neither should you."

Cameron blinked in surprise then shook his head as he balanced his folded arms on his knees and leaned his chin back against them.

"Guess the secret's out, huh?"

Daniel smiled sadly. "I don't think everybody's figured it out yet. When did things with you and Sam….."

"Change?"Cameron finished. "Few months before she left for Atlantis. I'm not giving up on her Daniel…..I just can't watch her fade away…..it hurts too much."

"Becket and Carolyn will figure it out."Daniel promised hoping it wasn't a lie.

"Why do you have such faith in him?"Mitchell asked in a haunted tone. Despite everything he couldn't shake the fact that this Beckett had worked for Michael. Under duress or not he had still helped the bastard.

"Because from all accounts....including my own... the real Carson Beckett was a good man….one of the best doctors…Clone or not you can't change character…..Did you know this one is risking his own health?"

Cameron stared at his friend. "What?"

"Before Keller put him into stasis originally this Beckett's organs were shutting down cellular degradation after affects of being a clone. Before she was infected Keller had come up with a way to slow the degradation. However Beckett has only received two shots…..one when he was revived and one before he left Atlantis."

Cameron scrubbed a hand over his face. "Guess I owe him an apology."

Daniel nodded with a grin. "I'm sure he's used to it from McKay."

Cameron didn't acknowledge the smile his gaze returning to the familiar surroundings of Sam's lab.

"Daniel."

"Yeah?"

"What if we lose her?"Cameron asked in a heartfelt whisper.

"We won't."Daniel vowed as he turned to face his friend. "SG-1 has been through a hell of a lot worse. It'll take more than this to shatter this family."

"I hope to God you're right."

After a long moment Daniel stood and offered Cameron a hand up. "Come on, when was the last time you ate?"

Cameron held up the coffee with a weak smile.

Daniel shook his head. "Doesn't count."

"Sugar's a food group."Cameron countered as he got to his feet.

"No, it's not."Daniel replied with a grin though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I know you're not hungry but you won't be of any help to Sam if you fall over."

"Daniel."Mitchell called halting the other man in the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Jackson nodded. "Just don't break her heart."

"If I'm lucky enough to get her back."Cameron replied as he reached the door. "I'll do everything in my power to make her happy."

The two walked the rest of the way to the Mess in silence.

********

"That worked!"Carolyn exclaimed excitedly as she gestured toward the computer screen.

Beckett shook his head tiredly. "It's still not good enough."

"But it's the best you've got isn't it?"

Startled both Carolyn and Beckett turned to face Jack O'Neill who was standing just inside the doorway.

"General…."Carson began.

O'Neill took several steps forward but stopped just beyond the table. "Isn't it?"

Beckett nodded reluctantly. "Aye."

"Use it."O'Neill ordered sharply causing both doctors to instantly protest.

Jack held up a hand. "She's barely hanging on. We don't have the full seventy-two hours we all know it. Use it."