Daniel let his fingers fly over the familiar paper. Just the feel of paper grounded him. He smiled as he thought of the many conversations Sam and he had had about things that reminded them of Earth. Subtle things like paper, the elements table, and coffee made them feel like their life on the run had meant something. That their life on Earth had existed and was what gave them the strength to continue the fight.
"Dr. Jackson?" a voice said behind him.
Daniel put on his glasses and turned around, facing the young librarian. "Yes?"
"A note came for you," she said, handing him an envelope.
"Thanks," he said, absentmindedly looking over the envelope. He slid a finger under the flap and pulled out the white notebook paper stuffed inside. He paused for a second when he thought he caught the smell of Sam's perfume. Undoing the note, he saw it was the same coordinates that Sam had given for their last mission. Looking at it he was almost positive this was the same that she had given him when they had come to the library to research.
Daniel turned around, half standing out of his seat, trying to find the young librarian. He looked over the low selves but couldn't find her. Sitting once more, he studied the paper. It gave him nothing more than what he already had, but something told him this would help in his quest to find Sam.
Closing the books, and tucking the note safely in his pocket, he left the building and walked the few blocks to the next station. The fresh air did nothing for his mind; it still raced and tried to search for the meaning behind the note. As he waited for the next train, Daniel un-tucked the note and once more looked at it. It looked like the same piece of paper Sam had passed around to everyone on the mission and had placed in the locker that they held all their mission outlines. Hell, had he not just looked and touched that note last night?
For the first time in a long time, Daniel wished time would speed up and he could get home, to his basement, to the last place he knew Sam had been safe. He ran from the train to the bus, and impatiently looked out the window on the way back to his house. Was this a note from Sam? Was this a sign that his planning had ended and now was the time to put it into action? The note told him nothing new, nothing to suggest she was trying to tell him something, but why else would he receive the note?
For the first time, a sense of urgency and unknown propelled him back to his house, lifted the key and headed down to the basement. Turning on the light, pulling all the maps toward him, Daniel searched the papers for the note he had been reading last night. Finding it tucked into a binder, he hesitantly pulled the note toward him. Taking out the note from the library, he held them up, comparing.
For a moment the memories of Sam slipping from his hands replayed, speeding up and making him sit down on the chair from the rush of emotions. Tears came to his eyes and he leaned forward, resting his head in his hands.
"I'm coming, Sam. I'm coming."