Sam stood in the observation desk, looking down into the isolation room. The sole inhabitant of that room had sat down in one of only two chairs, conveniently with her back facing the windows. Atlantis had taken off the oversized BDU blouse; it was balled up on a table behind Sam. Dr. Lee was taking his turn at the gadgets Atlantis turned over as well.

Looking down, all Sam saw was the braids down the young girl's back. Her hair was a light brown, but blonde highlights were there throughout.

Just like Jack's in the summer, Sam couldn't help but think. You couldn't ever tell, when he'd been out in the sun, whether it was brown or blonde.

That was as far as she could let herself go with comparisons. It was almost a relief that the girl had sat looking away.

The girl. Geez Sam, she has a name. Get a hold of yourself.

In the room, Ellie tilted her head slightly, almost as if she were going to turn and look up at the windows. Sam instinctively flinched – she wasn't sure if she wanted to see that face.

Not yet, anyway.

She could still remember Jack's face that day, even after the years that had passed. It was one of those rare instances when he let his usually hidden intellect out to shine. And shine it did, even though the subject itself was dismal.

I just can't help but think, he'd said. What if everything we've been through has…I don't know…changed us. I mean, you have to admit; we've been through some crazy stuff.

She'd laughed, until she realized he was seriously concerned. He still rarely ever talked about Charlie; but she knew it was still with him, would always be with him. The thought of losing a child was one she wouldn't wish on anyone, and she greatly wished she could take that pain from him.

But now, he was talking about their children – the what-if possibilities. Sam admitted the thought had crossed her mind, but the SGC had always gone above and beyond ensuring their health. Janet had been an absolute stickler, and Carolyn was fully dedicated to following that path.

Yet, he was still worried. He couldn't explain it to her, not exactly. It seemed to her that he couldn't even explain it to himself. But he was headed to DC, she to Nevada. It was just the beginning for them – a natural time for concerns to peek out. She insisted they had time.

No sense worrying over what hasn't happened.

Whatever will be, will be.

Etcetera, etcetera, blah blah blah…

What would be ended up being an inability. Leave it to the most routine medical exam she'd undergone in the last decade to be the one with the worst results.

A gentle touch on her shoulder shook Sam out of her thoughts.

"Okay?" Jack gently asked, the subtle concern on his face crystal clear to her.

"Yeah. Daniel ready?"

"He's heading in now." Jack motioned down to the room as Daniel walked in, Mitchell and Sheppard filing into the observation room at the same time.

Daniel was hesitant walking into the room, his objections still ringing in his ears. He could understand why he got the job of talking to this girl, of course. But he didn't think it would help his friends.

Never thought Jack O'Neill would turn down a chance to face a problem like this head on.

A problem like this. Well, that was his answer. If it was any other problem, he might not be the one down here.

But…it wasn't.

He walked in, still not sure what he was expecting to see when he eventually looked at her face.

When he did finally look at her though, all expectations were thrown out the window.

DNA tests say a lot. But that says everything.

The resolute, on the verge of stubborn, look on her face practically screamed Jack O'Neill. But for Daniel, the thing that clinched it was the eyes.

Those bright blue eyes were the same as those he'd seen countless times – whether full of unbridled curiosity or tears of sadness. Those were Sam Carter's eyes.

He glanced up at his friends looking down on him, and hoped the startled expression he caught in his reflection was less ridiculous in reality.

The returning look he got from Jack said it wasn't.

Damn. He's pissed… Duly so, of course. And Daniel knew it wasn't for Jack's own sake. He was upset because this was going to upset Sam.

Damn. Whelp…

"Hi."

She peered at him from the corner of her eye, following him as he made his way to stand behind the other chair, not moving her head an inch.

"Hi."

"So…you know, you should be sitting here," he began lamely, patting the chair back.

She glowered up at him for a moment and then raised her hand to point up at the corner of the room, again, not moving her head.

He turned to look and found one of the security cameras, then turned back to her, more shock threatening to cross his face.

She doesn't want to see them. And she's giving them the choice to see her or not. He glanced up to see Jack give an almost imperceptible nod to either him or Cam. Or both. Cam reached over to, presumably, turn on the monitor connected to the cameras. While he and Sheppard looked momentarily at the screen, Sam and Jack just continued staring down at Daniel.

"Okay…" Daniel finally said, giving up on any continued, inevitably failed, attempts at making this easy. He sat in the chair, hands out on the table. "I'm Daniel. You're Ellie, right?"

She blinked over at him, almost like she was studying him. A subtle shift in her eyes said she was giving up on preconceived notions as well.

"I know who you are, Dr Jackson."

"Please, call me Daniel."

"No. Thank you."

Huh. That's a first…

"Alright. You're choice, I suppose…" He paused, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "We're not going to hurt you. You're safe." He looked up at the short snort of amusement that came from across the table.

"Tell that to the weasel who had me drugged."

"Weasel? Woolsey?"

"Weasel – Woolsey – whatever." The amusement left her face as quickly as it had come.

"No, no. Weasel works. It's…fitting…" He was starting to see what had Colonel Sheppard shook up about this girl. He felt like he had to reassure her, calm her, no matter how hard she tried to throw it back. Just like he would…with his own child.

His mind flashed to Vala and Jon, most likely at home enjoying the lazy weekend. He thought of Jon's third birthday at the park. Jon had fallen off the swing and Jack had run over to dust him off and quell the tears. Just as any great friend would do.

Damn!

"Okay… Let's start with… I'm guessing you know where you are." She looked at him, obviously restraining an eye roll. "Right. Course you do. You dialed the gate." Pause again, trying to get a reaction. Not so much as a blink. "Right…well…you told Colonel Sheppard you don't know how you got to Atlantis. So…"

Blink. Blink.

Hey Jack, found a way she's not like you. Apparently this was going to be a very one sided conversation.

"Look, we can't figure out how to help you if you don't talk."

Blink. Blink.

"Ellie. I meant what I said. We're not going to hurt you. Forget weas– Woolsey, alright. Sam's in charge here. I'm guessing you might know her, right?" He waved his hand up towards the observation windows.

Her head flickered to the side, like she was going to turn and look, but stopped herself.

"I know" was all she offered, looking down at her hands. When she looked back up at him, Daniel saw the quickest flash of utter sadness cross her eyes before she returned to her stand-by stoicism. "I would give you the answers if I could. But…I don't know all of them. Not yet…"

"Okay…" He pushed away from the table to stand. He paused, looking down at her, blue eyes staring off at images he didn't want to imagine. As much as he knew his friends were hoping he could get them answers, Daniel suddenly realized he didn't want to know.

He was scared. Scared of what the answers might be. What they might mean.

He headed for the door when she quietly called to him. He stopped, but couldn't bring himself to turn around.

"I'm sure they're still fiddling with everything I had with me, but… Could I get my jacket back? The black one I was wearing?"

"I'll see where it is," he responded, turning his head toward her and speaking over his shoulder. He still didn't look at her, but instead gave a glance toward the windows as he walked out.

Before he was completely out the door, he saw Sam as she had been the whole time, staring at the back of Ellie's head like she could read her mind.

And Jack was right beside her, not looking into the room. Not looking at Daniel. He was staring at the monitor.

And Ellie was staring right back.