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Suggested Rating: PG-13
Category: Daniel/Janet
Setting: I would place this sometime during the
middle of season 4.
Author’s
Comments: Written for the Daniel/Janet Ficathon 2010: Back to the Future. Prompt supplied by Claire: While
off-world, Janet is captured by Apophis who decides to make Janet his new
queen. Daniel must track her down
and save her before she suffers the same fate as Sha’re. Thanks to Sonia for working in a quick
beta read for me.
DISCLAIMER: All publicly
recognizable characters and places (the Stargate SG-1 stuff) are the
property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret
Productions. This piece of fan
fiction was created for entertainment only and no infringement on copyrights
or trademarks was intended. Previously
unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are creations of the
author. Any similarity to real
persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not
intended by the author.
HISTORY DOES NOT
ALWAYS REPEAT ITSELF
- by Michelle Lunsford (February
2010)
Unscheduled off-world activation!
It
wasn’t the first time Daniel had heard those words, but as the klaxon
continued to blare, an unexpected sense of dread settled in the pit of his
stomach.
He
stood and stepped away from the briefing room table. Hammond was already half-way down the
stairs, Jack on his heels.
Trepidation pressed him to follow, but Daniel knew he would only be in
the way. Moving toward the
observation window instead, he watched and waited while Sam and Teal’c
came to stand beside him. No one
spoke a word.
He
mentally reviewed which teams were off-world. There weren’t many, but one in
particular jolted to the front of his mind. A planet they’d visited once
before had made contact, the inhabitants requesting medical assistance. The sinking feeling in his gut
intensified just as a man in filthy, sweat-soaked BDUs came stumbling through
the gate.
Daniel
heard Sam’s sharp intake of breath as recognition clicked for her
too. The man was one of the
medical technicians on base. And
one that Doctor Janet Fraiser had picked as part of her team for this
mission. A mission that
she’d specifically requested to lead.
A
med unit arrived through the door on the left, Doctor Warner making quick and
expert assessment of the situation, even as General Hammond and Jack ran in
from the right. Daniel
concentrated on the scene, searching for the tiniest revelation of a clue. It wasn’t easy. Years of experience had developed in
these men a necessary stoicism for moments of crisis. But as the general peppered the
technician with questions in between Warner’s ministrations, Daniel
noted the way Jack suddenly tensed – a slight clench of his hand before
willing it to relax again.
No! No, no, no, no, no!
He
silently repeated the mantra but it did little to assuage the alarm now
running full blast through his heart and mind.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Janet
had to take quick steps to keep pace with the long-striding Jaffa ahead of her. But she was determined to run outright
if it meant avoiding another shove between the shoulder blades from the Jaffa
behind. She had no idea how far
they’d traveled via ship, but the fact they’d used rings for
transport meant this planet had no gate.
She also had no idea why she or the two other women from the village
had been taken, nor if the rest of her team had survived the attack. Thus, she had no idea if anyone knew
what had happened to her.
Have to be prepared
for anything,
she resolutely told herself.
Potential escape might depend solely on her. But even if others came, she’d
want to be ready to help in whatever way possible. Digging up skills from her military
training, she did her best to map the route her guards were taking.
The
winding labyrinthine path and the unvarying décor of paneled walls
with torches burning at regular intervals made the task difficult. But by the time they arrived at a
locked door, she’d managed to make note of the number and direction of
every turn they’d taken since ringing down. One of the guards leaned forward,
preventing her from viewing the combination of keys he pressed to open the
door. As it swooshed open, Janet gasped
at what she saw.
Unlike
the nondescript cell she’d been expecting, the room beyond was adorned
with rich tapestries, plush furnishings, and tables spread with more food
than she’d seen even at her grandmother’s Thanksgiving
feasts. A few other women were
scattered about the room. They
stared back with wide-eyed expressions and seemed to be drawing as far away
from the Jaffa as possible without actually moving. But when they noticed the guards were
only delivering new “guests”, they seemed to relax.
“You
may enter,” a deep female voice instructed.
The
woman who moved forward to greet them was tall and beautiful, her skin dark
and smooth as chocolate silk. Her
dress was elaborate, as was the headdress she wore. She moved with an unmistakable air of
cold authority, but Janet took some comfort in the fact that her eyes never
once glowed.
The
woman gave their party a well practiced glance up and down. “Yes, they will do,” she
announced. With a gesture of
dismissal she added to the guards, “You may go.”
Only
then did additional details of her surroundings begin to sink into
Janet’s awareness. The
other women, after their initial tense reaction, had been studying the new
arrivals with subtle yet calculating interest. Although of lesser quality than the
leader’s attire, everyone was also dressed in fine fabrics, each
garment designed in very flattering cuts and patterns.
They come from
different planets,
she silently assessed, noting the variations in skin tone and facial
structure. But there was
something in their manner that struck her as similar. As familiar.
These women,
wherever they’re from, are all strong. They’re leaders. Women who don’t crack under
pressure. Janet swallowed hard. Which
means they – we – are all wanted for something in
particular. And if Goa’uld are involved, that something can’t be good.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
“And
that’s all you can tell us?”
Jack’s tone hinted at barely controlled frustration, a sentiment
Daniel could readily share.
SG-1’s leader leaned across the briefing room table toward Jacob
Carter and demanded, “The name of a planet where Fraiser might be, at an unknown location on said possible planet, with an unknown level of security –
that’s all you’ve got?”
The
Tok’ra lowered his head for a moment. When he looked back up, his voice had
taken on the characteristic resonance indicating Selmak
was in control.
“Colonel
O’Neill, I understand your irritation. And I sympathize. But as Jacob has already assured you,
this was the best intelligence our operative could disclose. Even this minimal information was
passed on at great risk of discovery.
Given the way Apophis is striving to build his powerbase among the
Goa’uld at present, it is imperative that we maintain the few
advantages we have. We cannot
afford to endanger our operative any further.”
“And
we understand your position,” General Hammond affirmed as he cast a
warning glance toward the colonel.
“However, we also want to make sure any rescue attempt we devise
has the best possible chance of success.
We appreciate the information you’ve been able to provide, but
is there anything further you could add, based on your experience and
understanding of the Goa’uld, that might prove helpful?”
That’s
something you should be asking yourself, Daniel silently chided, trying in
vain to ignore the foreboding that had been eating at him for several hours
now. Go over everything Jacob’s told us. Is there anything you missed on first
hearing?
After
a few seconds of thoughtful silence it was Jacob who replied this time. “Given that Apophis has been
operating primarily from his mothership for the
past several months, the use of a planetary location implies that whatever
he’s up to, he intends to keep it secret from as many others as
possible.”
“We
also know from the attack on PRX-327,” Daniel added, “the serpent
guards only took hostage Doctor Fraiser and two other women from the
village. That’s not exactly
standard operations for Goa’uld when doing roundups for potential new
hosts.”
“I
would agree.” Teal’c
sat stone-still, his hands resting in a clasped position on top of the
table. “Although I would
not necessarily concur that this is a positive sign.”
“Dad,”
Sam chimed in from her side of the table, “you said your operative
suspected that other raids and kidnappings had been conducted on other
worlds.”
“Yes. Although he could not verify
that.”
Glancing
across as Sam, Daniel saw her nod, could almost hear the wheels turning in
her head. From the look on her
face she was not arriving at a conclusion anyone was going to like.
“Any
speculation on whether or not all the hostages were female?” she asked.
Oh no! Daniel began to feel lightheaded. Why
didn’t I see it before?
“Daniel?” Jack, tone laced with concern, must
have noticed the look on his face.
“It
makes sense.” Still looking
at Sam, it was all Daniel could do to get those words out.
“What
makes sense?” Jack insisted, glancing back and forth between him and
Sam.
“I’m
afraid I don’t follow either,” the general admitted. But before either of them could query
further, Jacob interjected.
“You
think he’s looking for a new queen?” The Tok’ra
ran a hand across his chin before shaking his head. “There are
no female Goa’uld among the hierarchy right now who would legitimately
consider aligning themselves with Apophis. And there’s been no intel about him possibly grooming some lesser
Goa’uld for the position of a queen.”
“He
wouldn’t necessarily have to,” Daniel said. “He could merely be seeking a
queen as nothing more than a—,” he waved a hand, searching for
how best to describe it, “someone to serve as a figurehead, an
adornment of sorts. She
wouldn’t need to hold any legitimate authority. In fact, given his present circumstance,
that would likely be more advantageous for him.”
“All
he would need is some young symbiote, eager to work
her way up in the ranks but loyal to him.” Sam appeared to be following his train
of thought.
“And
a strong, healthy female to serve as host,” Daniel finished. He leaned back in his chair, unable to
make eye contact with anyone. Anger
swelled in him, overwhelming and bitter, enough to make him feel physically
ill.
This isn’t
happening. Not again. It can’t be!
“Okay,
people.” Hammond broke the
uneasy silence that had settled over the room. The steady determination in those simple
words, which had so often filled Daniel with a confidence he didn’t
realize he could have, did nothing to temper his current torment. “Jacob’s provided us with
a possible location for Doctor Fraiser’s
whereabouts,” the general went on.
“It’s not solid, but it’s the best lead we’ve
got. Now, let’s come up
with the best plan we can to bring her home.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Not sure I can
trust this food, but it’s best to keep my strength up.
Janet
began to fix a plate from the smorgasbord arraying the table. She’d learned little from the
few women she could persuade to talk to her. Most of the hostages appeared to have
gathered themselves in groups of two or three and no one was eager to welcome
her into their confidence. Even
the pair from the village she’d been kidnapped with had distanced
themselves. The feeling of
isolation wasn’t helping any, but she couldn’t bring herself to
blame them.
If I were in their
shoes, not sure I’d want to be associated with any SG personnel either, she thought. We
aren’t exactly on any Goa’uld favorites list.
Her
plate full, Janet turned from the table and surveyed her options. There was one woman sitting off to the
side of another group.
She’d been sleeping earlier, so Janet hadn’t spoken with
her yet.
What have I got to
lose? Squaring her shoulders, she crossed
the room and sat down on one of the huge pillows.
“Hi,
my name’s Janet.” She
offered her best bedside manner smile.
“What’s yours?”
The
young woman eyed her warily, but after a few seconds she mumbled,
“Fehani.”
Janet
smiled again and nibbled on a couple of grapes before continuing. “Fehani, how long have you been
here?”
“I
am not sure how the cycles are measured here, but I was taken from my world
less than half a cycle ago.”
Janet
nodded. So that means maybe a couple weeks, she guessed. Based on the little bits she had
gleaned from some of the others, it seemed this kidnapping operation had been
going on for no more than three or four weeks at most.
“And
do you have any idea why you were taken?
Or why any of us are here?”
Fehani
tensed and alarm flashed in her eyes.
But she shook her head adamantly and glanced away, now very interested
in the food on her own plate.
Janet
took a few bites of something that resembled a dried date and tried not to
get discouraged. This was the
same point in the conversation when the others she’d approached had
shut her out. Clearly, she was
going to have to attempt a different tactic if she hoped to get any further
information about what was going on.
She
finished the meal in silence and was just about to get up when Fehani placed
a hand hesitantly on her forearm.
“We’ve
been warned not to speak of it,” the young woman whispered.
Janet
leaned in, careful not to seem too eager. “To speak of what?”
“It
has happened only twice since I was taken.” Fahani’s
eyes darted back and forth beneath thick lashes, as if searching for danger
lurking in the corners.
“The Jaffa come, with the Mistress, and one of us is
chosen. She is taken away
and… she does not return.”
With
this confession Fehani drew back and slowly stood. But she gave Janet a final look, her
expression a pained mixture of foreboding and sympathy, before walking away.
A
wave of panic threatened to overtake her and Janet squeezed her hands around
the edge of her plate.
Deep breaths, she ordered
herself sternly. Come on, get a
grip – slow, deep breaths.
The
Mistress, she’d learned, was the woman who’d taken charge upon
her arrival. Young servant girls
had assisted as Janet and the other two village woman had been taken to one
side of the room and, in full view of everyone, had been stripped and
bathed. The entire time the
Mistress had waxed incessantly about them taking pride in their great honor,
and being certain to eat and rest in order to be presentable at the
appropriate time.
Guess now I have a
better idea what she meant by ‘appropriate time’.
Instinctively,
Janet’s gaze fell to take in her new attire. Like the others, she’d been
clothed in a dress of silk and linen.
The combination of slits and layers made it fit in ways that left
little to the imagination.
Setting
her dish aside, she rose and made her way to the quiet corner where the
sleeping area was.
Are they choosing
us as Goa’uld hosts?
It wasn’t the first time the thought had run through her mind,
but now she had another idea to consider. Or
are they merely using us for their physical pleasure?
Either
way, she’d been in this game long enough to know that should she be
chosen, if she didn’t pass whatever inspection awaited her, she was as
good as dead. Yet, as horrid as
this knowledge was, it was the realization that such an outcome might
devastate Daniel that made her most anxious.
Janet
shivered despite the warmth of her surroundings and fought against tears.
I won’t lose
hope and I won’t give up.
She brandished the thought like a weapon. If
not for myself, then for him.
“I’ll
fight with everything I have, Daniel.” He couldn’t hear her, but it fortified
her resolve to speak the words aloud.
“I promise, I’ll never stop
fighting.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
“Hey,
you okay?”
It
took a few seconds for the question to register, but as his mental solitude
was broken, Daniel’s surroundings came clearly into focus once
more. There was the hum of the Alkesh engines, and the sound of Jack as he rhythmically
checked his weapon. From
somewhere behind him, Teal’c and Jacob were discussing something about
ship modifications. And there was
Sam, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of him, her eyes boring
steadily into his.
“Um…
what?” He blinked at her, feigning ignorance.
Sam,
to her credit, didn’t call him on it. But neither did she back down. “You don’t have to talk
about it if you don’t want.
But it might help, having someone to listen.”
Daniel
took a deep breath. “You
know, I’m usually not one who buys into the whole idea of fate or
destiny. But it’s times
like this when I do begin to wonder if there isn’t something or someone
out there who has it in for me.”
Sam
placed a hand on his knee in compassionate understanding but her expression
remained resolute. “Janet
won’t go down without a fight.
She knows we’ll be doing everything we can to find her. And she’ll take strength from
knowing that you are thinking of her.”
He
nodded, but what he couldn’t tell his friend was that was part of his problem. He couldn’t stop thinking about
Janet – about how everything in this terrible nightmare was too much like
what had happened before, and how he didn’t think he could endure
losing someone he cared about again.
I haven’t
even told her how I really feel.
It
had begun as innocent flirtation.
He’d never been clever at that sort of thing, but somehow with
Janet it had seemed easier. And
it was during a time when he was just beginning to see glimpses of light and
life again after thinking he wouldn’t survive the drowning grief of Sha’re’s death. Daniel had no doubts he’d not
have made it through that without his friends, but he hadn’t expected
Janet to play such a major role.
She was simply there, with her smiles and words of encouragement, and
he found himself noticing her as more than his doctor or a peripheral friend.
They’d
only been on a couple of dates, both casual and somewhat spur-of the
moment. He’d felt like a
floundering idiot when he asked her out, but once they were together she
managed to put him at ease. It
wasn’t long before he realized he was falling heavy and hard, but
he’d hesitated revealing the depth of his feelings to her.
He
was pulled from these musings by the warmth of Sam’s hand as she gave
his knee an affectionate squeeze.
“Janet would also want you to take strength from the knowledge
that she’s thinking of you.”
Daniel
met her gaze and was bolstered by the conviction in her eyes. While he’d hoped, even sensed,
that Janet returned his affections, he still felt there was so much about her
that he didn’t know. But
Sam probably knew her better than anyone. He would cling to her confidence in
her friend even if he couldn’t find such assurance in himself.
“Thanks,
Sam.” At her smile of
support he managed a slight one of his own.
Any
further conversation was cut short by Jacob announcing they would be arriving
at the planet within the next fifteen minutes.
“Alright
campers,” Jack said.
“Time to gear up.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Heart
pounding, Janet followed in silence between her two guards. The Mistress was saying something
about the privilege of being selected for this great service to the gods, but
Janet ignored the rhetoric. Once
the initial alarm of being chosen had passed, her thoughts had fixated on a
single point. She would face this
calamity with as much bravery and determination as she could muster. And if it led to her death, she would
have only a single regret – having not been able to say goodbye to
those she loved.
They
entered what she assumed to be the great audience chamber of her captor,
because the splendor of wall hangings and furnishings made those of the room
she’d recently occupied seem drab by comparison.
Be strong, she commanded
herself. Don’t show them your fear.
The
pep talk seemed to be working. At
least it did until she arrived at the center of the room and her captor, who had
been studying a series of holographic charts on one side of the room, turned
to face her.
He
was much stronger, more fit and hearty than the last time she’d seen
him. And although he sported a
type of mask along portions of the right side of his face, there was no
mistaking him.
“Apophis!”
It
came out as a sort of half-curse and the Mistress hissed her
disapproval. “You do not
speak.”
“Silence,”
Apophis barked, eyes flashing with the distinctive glow of a Goa’uld
presence.
The
Mistress bowed and she scurried farther out of the way as her lord drew
near. He studied Janet with a
curious scrutiny that eventually gave way to recognition.
“I
know you.” His voice
resonated with the dark echo of a symbiote. “You are the healer of the Tau’ri.”
Janet
said nothing but held her head a little higher, proving to herself if no one
else that she would not be intimidated.
A
smile tugged at the corner of the Goa’uld’s
face but there was nothing pleasant about the expression. “You are in league with the Shol’va and the detestable weaklings known as
SG-1.”
At
the mention of her friends, Janet’s eyes flashed with a fire of her
own. Still she said nothing.
“Ah,
stubbornness,” Apophis cooed.
“A potentially appealing characteristic in a host.” He reached up to trace a finger along
her cheek and she noticed he wore a hand device. “Providing, of course, it can be
properly curtailed.”
She
swallowed hard. Stay strong, stay strong.
She
could feel his eyes on her as he walked all the way around her. She was more conscious than ever of
the scant covering her dress provided but she was determined to give no
outward sign of her distress.
Pausing at one shoulder, Apophis leaned to whisper in her ear.
“I
also remember you were the only one to show compassion to your god.”
A
god was the farthest thing in the world she’d considered him, but
he’d still been her patient at the time. And Janet had no regrets, not even
now, of how she’d remained true to her oath in caring for him. But his words caused other memories to
come to mind. She could still see
Daniel, expressing his own level of kindness, as he’d performed last
rights for the dying host. The
same host who, under Apophis’ possession, had taken Sha’re for his own.
I’m sorry,
Daniel. She felt a sting in the back of her
throat, the warning of imminent tears.
I’m sorry for putting you
through a similar ordeal all over again.
The
heat of Apophis’ breath burned along her neck. “Compassion will not serve you
now, but I will be gracious and choose not to count it against you as I judge
you worthy or not.”
He
stepped away from her with a flourish, the edges of his ornate robe creating
a slight breeze around her feet as they billowed from his movements. And with nothing more than a snap of
his fingers the two Jaffa reached to take hold of her arms. Janet resisted the urge to struggle in
their grasp, although it took most of her willpower. Then before she realized it, the
Mistress stood before her and with a single yank tore the dress from
Janet’s body.
Panic
seized her and the Jaffa’s grip tightened as her response to attempt
flight momentarily won over her resolution to fight.
“Always
good to see the spirited ones,” Apophis mocked as he looked her up and
down.
The
taunt was enough to help Janet refocus and she willed herself to stand
unmoving before his gaze.
You can do this,
just think like a doctor – you’re nothing more than a specimen
under the microscope – don’t let this rattle you.
“I
also perceive much power of mind,” Apophis said, more to himself than
anyone else, as he came to stand in front of her again. He studied her face for a little
longer and Janet met his gaze unflinchingly. After what seemed an agonizing eternity,
he nodded and smiled. “Yes,
she is the one.”
The
smile grew markedly more sinister.
“But before I bestow her with the honor of being host to my new
queen,” he paused to run his free hand down the curve of her body,
“I shall enjoy her feisty nature as it is now. Jaffa, to my chamber with her. Kree.”
Fear
seized her afresh and Janet struggled against her guards. “No,” she yelled, adding a
few choice words that would have made even the marines she knew blush. A tiny part of her mind somehow
managed to remain detached and sane, registering that her arms would be badly
bruised later and she was certain that if she kept pulling at that angle
against the Jaffa on her left, she was going to have a dislocated
shoulder. But she no longer
cared. If this was to be her
final battle, she would go out kicking and screaming with every ounce of
strength she had.
They
had her almost to the door now and it seemed that some commotion was building
behind her. No doubt Apophis
ordering his guards to get her under control, a
thought which encouraged her to shriek and flail all the more. But then there was the unmistakable
sound of gunfire. Without
warning, the Jaffa released her and the cacophony increased with the
answering thud of staff weapons.
Janet,
who’d been aiming a powerful heave against her guards just then, went
slamming into the nearby wall.
Tears stung her eyes from the pain and it nearly knocked the breath
from her lungs, but even as she slumped to the ground she realized no serious
damage had been done. The room
was becoming a danger zone of crossfire so she crawled out of the way and
hunkered down enough to cover herself and yet still
watch what was going on.
From
her vantage point, she could barely see the two Jaffa, unharmed behind some
furnishings and filling the air with rapid fire. She recognized the sound of a staff
weapon from another direction, as well as zats,
mixed among the gunshots, but couldn’t be sure if it was coming from
Teal’c and SG-1 or enemy reinforcements who had joined the fray.
The
Jaffa closer to her suddenly cried out and fell to the floor behind the chair
he’d been using as cover.
Seconds later Janet was almost certain she heard the sound of
O’Neill’s voice rising above the din.
“We’ll
cover you – find Fraiser – go!”
Janet
thought to call out, then realized the other Jaffa
– who had for the moment forgotten her – was also in her line of
sight. Not knowing how the battle
was really going, Janet couldn’t be sure the Jaffa wouldn’t as
likely shoot her as he would protect her for his supposed god. So she remained crouching in her spot,
silently willing SG-1 success in their attempts.
The
fight had already taken on that surreal quality where time seemed
nonexistent, but Janet felt her legs beginning to quiver from the strain of
her cramped position. Have to hold on, she thought, even as
the second Jaffa rose a little too far from behind his cover. His risk was met by a cacophony of
P-90 ammunition square in the chest and he slumped forward in a lifeless
heap. A split-second later Daniel
came running around the edge the tall pillar that had blocked most of
Janet’s view. His gun was
at the ready and he bore a look of determination so fierce that it might have
frightened her, had she not been so relieved to see him.
Before
she could call his name, Daniel was at her side, his gun cast aside as he
pulled off his jacket and slipped it around her. Sounds of gunfire still echoed in the
room, but it was evident the battle was dying down. And as combat instinct gave way to
fatigue, Janet clung to him and wept on his shoulder.
“It’s
okay,” he soothed.
“I’m here.
Everything’s going to be okay now.”
Within
another few moments O’Neill came barreling around the corner. He took in the entire scene with a
single glance, appeared to decide he was better off not knowing why his CMO
was half-naked in the arms of his team’s anthropologist, and announced,
“Battle’s over.
Apophis got away, but Jacob thinks the Tok’ra
might still be able to get some intel from the
surviving Jaffa and other subordinates who were running this little
operation.”
Sniffling
but regaining control, Janet eased out of Daniel’s embrace and moved to
stand. He helped her up and she
found the hem of his borrowed jacket hit just low enough to keep her modesty
intact. She’d never been so
grateful to be short in all her life.
“Colonel,
there are other women being held hostage here.”
“Carter’s
already on it. Just radioed that
she and Teal’c had located them.
By the by, maybe you two should catch up with them. See if Carter can, ah, find you
something a bit more presentable for the ride home, Doc.”
“Yes,
sir.” As he turned to go,
Janet called him back. “And
Colonel? Thank you.”
He
tipped his head in acknowledgement and even offered a slight smile. “No problem, Doc. Glad to see you’re okay.”
It
was difficult trying to walk while also holding the edge of Daniel’s
jacket as far down as she could, but eventually they made it back to the room
where she’d been held. Sam
and Teal’c already had the situation under control, leading the women
out and through the corridors to where they’d ring to the ship Jacob
held in orbit. Sam caught sight
of her, eyes widening as she took in her friend’s appearance. But Janet managed a nod of reassurance
that she was alright.
She
crossed the room to where the extra dresses were stored. Her uniform had been taken away,
likely even destroyed, so she rummaged in the crates for something that would
fit and not be too revealing.
Daniel hovered at the edge of the area, clearly keen to be nearby but
also seeming unsure how not to be intrusive.
“Well,
better than nothing at all,” she said, holding up an outfit she thought
would work.
Daniel
turned his back to her, offering a minimal amount of cover as she eased out of
his jacket and put on the dress.
It didn’t fit as well as the one she’d had before, but it
covered her. Still, the fabric
and design was a vivid reminder of all that had happened to her here, and
Janet couldn’t help feeling more exposed in the dress than she had in
the BDU jacket.
“I’m
ready now.”
Daniel
turned around again and, at first sight of her, indignation flashed in his
eyes.
“I’m
sorry.” Janet picked his
jacket up from the floor and held it out to him. “Daniel, I’m so sorry. I never… I didn’t want you
to see me like this.”
“It’s
okay,” he assured, even as his brow puckered in that way it always did
when she knew he was trying to figure something out. He took the jacket but rather than
putting it on he slipped it around her shoulders. “You’re safe, that’s
all that matters.”
He thinks I’m
talking about the way I’m dressed? If he hadn’t been looking at her
with so much genuine affection, as if he was attempting to convince himself as much as her that she was
still alive and well, Janet might have been tempted to laugh at him. Or punch him in the face. She wasn’t quite sure.
“No,”
she insisted, gently stepping away from him. “I mean I’m sorry for you
to see me in this situation.”
She shook her head, unable to meet his gaze for fear it would bring on
a fresh wave of tears.
“I’m sorry because I know it’s still difficult for
you, dealing with the loss of Sha’re. And now to have this
happen—”
“Hey,”
he interrupted, pulling her chin up so she’d have to look at him. “First of all, none of this is your fault, so
apologies are not necessary.”
Janet
opened her mouth to try making her point another way but he stopped her with
a finger placed gently but firmly over her lips.
“Second,
yes it is still difficult for me sometimes as I deal with the grief of Sha’re’s death. But you have done more than anyone to
help in that area of my life, and don’t you dare try to apologize for
that. Finally – and perhaps
most importantly – if you think that all of this has reminded me once
again of what Apophis stole from me, then of course you’re right. And I won’t deny that when I
learned you’d been kidnapped that I thought about Sha’re
and how I was unable to save her.”
Releasing her chin Daniel took both her hands in his and met her eyes
with a look so fervent Janet couldn’t bring herself to turn away. “But as we raced to form a plan
to find and rescue you, as I readied for the mission, as I sat on the floor
of the Alkesh reviewing all we knew and
didn’t know about the situation, it wasn’t Sha’re
who was foremost in my thoughts.
It was you, Janet. You are the one I was coming for. You’re the one I hoped to
save.”
He
pulled her into another embrace and this time she didn’t attempt to
push him away.
“I
thought of you too,” she murmured against his chest. “And it helped me stay
strong.”
“I’m
glad.” He stroked her hair
and rested his chin lightly against the top of her head. “Now, just one more question. I need to know – are you really
okay? Did anything happen to
you—”
“No,
nothing. I’m
fine.” She managed a tiny,
nervous laugh as the final vestiges of her fear drained away. “Granted, I look a total mess, but I’m fine.”
Holding
her at arm’s length, Daniel studied her face and smiled. “Sorry, have to disagree. You’re as beautiful as
ever.”
Smiling,
she slipped her hands into the arms of his jacket and began fastening the
buttons. “Thank you for
letting me borrow this. You’re my knight in military
green armor,” she teased good-naturedly.
Daniel
reached to adjust the collar more securely at her neck. “My lady, I believe you already
have my heart. What little more
it is to give you my cloak.”
His
tone had matched the playfulness of her own, but as she looked up there was
candid seriousness in his eyes.
“I
think you already have my heart as well,” she admitted, meeting his
lips in a kiss.
Then
hand in hand they returned to the ship.
~
THE END ~
|