Trying her best to find Sam, Janet walked straight into SG-1's shared office in search of her, but instead only found Daniel bent over his desk and clearly absorbed in some paperwork. Coughing to alert him to her presence, Janet smiled as Daniel looked up at her, returning her smile.
"Hey, Janet."
"Hey, I was looking for Sam. Is she around?"
"No, she went home …" he looked at his watch. "Is it really that late? Yeah, she went home over an hour ago."
"Really, Colonel O'Neill's in a meeting with the general."
"Well, that's because she's avoiding him, isn't it?"
"He's avoiding her, too, Daniel."
"I haven't spoken to him properly so wouldn't know."
Laughing at her friend's ineptitude, Janet often wondered how a man so brilliantly talented and intelligent failed to see things that were right in front of his face, especially as he was usually so good when it came to the human element. "Since Daniella's birthday?"
"Yes, actually. He pretty much kicked me out of his house."
"Do you blame him?"
He stared at her in shock and disbelief. "You agree that Sarah should be kept away from everyone important in my life and that she has no place in it with any of you?"
"Why are you here so late? I've been forced to cover, but what's your excuse? Where's Sarah tonight?"
"Her family have flown over for a visit. That isn't why I've chosen to work late."
"Yes it is, Daniel. You can't see any of what's been happening, can you?" He stared at her mutely. "Sam still doesn't remember anything, the colonel wants it to remain that way and Lieutenant Carpenter…" Janet had to be careful to not cross any lines. "She may need a friend. But whilst the three of them may have needed you for different reasons and functions, you've been too wrapped up with yourself and Sarah."
"Sarah needs me and she doesn't have anyone else. Sam has Jack, they all have each other, but Sarah has no one. She had her life stolen from her for years and I'm the only one who can help her."
Shaking her head at the loudness of his voice, Janet snapped, "And if you continue ignoring your friends, you'll end up with only her. Is that what you want? Daniel, you can't even see the pain your closest friends are in!"
"Her life was stolen from her," Daniel repeated.
"And what was stolen from Sam, the colonel and Lieutenant Carpenter?" Janet did not wait for an answer as she stormed from the room, disbelieving Daniel.