Suggested Rating: for older teen and adult readers
Category: Daniel/Janet
Setting: No particular season, but I’d say it fits well in year 4 or 5 of the series.
Synopsis: Written in response to the November Daniel/Janet Challenge, which must include the theme of water in some way.
Author’s Comments: This is a bit more out there than the fare I usually come up with. Who knew that with a prompt like “water” my muse would go where it did. But, hopefully it makes for an enjoyable read. Thanks to Sonia for editing, and assuring me that my muse hadn’t totally lost it.
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.
THE ISLE OF CARYS
- by Michelle Lunsford (November 2007)
Janet fastened the lid on the last of her supply crates and arched her back to ease her strained muscles. She was tired. More tired than she had been in a long time. At least it’s over, she thought with some relief. The viral epidemic experienced by this planet’s village had been mild by earth standards, but she knew that if SG-1 hadn’t intervened when they did, a lot of people would have died.
“Is there anything else I can do to assist you?”
Janet turned to find the village healer looking at her expectantly. “No. I think everything here is packed and ready to go.” She crossed the hut’s small space and touched the woman’s shoulder in a gesture of appreciation. “You’ve been a great help, Aithne. But surely you must be tired. Shouldn’t you be getting some rest?”
The elderly woman cocked her head, her eyes narrowing in reproach. “I have worked no harder than you, my dear.”
Janet managed a short laugh and nodded. “Hopefully we’ll both be able to take a well deserved rest soon. Your people will still need looking after in the coming days, but the worst has passed.” She waved to indicate the stacked boxes in the corner. “Someone should be along shortly to retrieve the last of our supplies, and we’ll be heading back to our home world soon after.”
And with any luck, General Hammond will permit me enough time to get in a good hot shower before I have to debrief him, she thought wistfully.
“I must again express my gratitude for all you’ve done,” Aithne said. “You have taught me much in the few days you’ve been here. I only wish there was some way I could repay the debt I owe.”
Janet smiled. “As a healer, surely you understand that simply being able to help restore health to your people is compensation enough.”
“Doc?” a voice called from the doorway. Janet glanced over her shoulder to see O’Neill, military cap pulled low over his forehead, peering into the hut. “How goes the packing?”
“Everything’s ready here, Colonel,” she replied.
O’Neill nodded once, disappeared from the doorway, then reappeared seconds later with Daniel and Teal’c in tow. Soon they were loading the crates onto one of the FRED units.
“I know you’ve promised others will come, to check our progress in the next moon cycle,” Aithne commented as they stepped out into the sunshine. “Will you be returning with them?”
“Not likely,” Janet admitted, her attention still half focused on the progress with her supplies. “My responsibilities on Earth don’t allow me to travel off world except in emergencies.”
“I see.”
Noting the woman’s rather serious tone, Janet turned to face her. “Aithne, what is it?”
The healer glanced toward the ground and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I’m sorry – it’s just that I seem to perceive… but it is discourteous of me to pry.”
Uncertain why Aithne seemed so uncomfortable, yet concerned lest it be something important, Janet touched the woman’s arm. “It’s okay. If there’s something you feel you should say to me, then please do.”
Aithne looked up, but not before her gaze flicked momentarily to the men working with the medical crates. “You will forgive an old woman, perhaps, if what I say is offensive,” she said, seemingly reluctant, “but I have noticed – your interaction, during these past few days – is there not some accord between yourself and the young man?”
Janet furrowed her brow as her hand fell back to her side. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand exactly what you’re asking.”
“Daniel Jackson,” she whispered, as if fearing he might overhear their conversation. “Is there not some accord, some… relation or bond between you?”
Janet blinked. Was the healer asking what she thought? “Um, we’re good friends, if that’s what you mean.”
Aithne locked gazes with her then and Janet had the strangest feeling, as if the woman was looking into her innermost thoughts. “But you wish it were more. You wish to be betrothed, no?”
Janet could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to laugh it off, tell Aithne that this was some silly misconception on her part. But looking into those wise old eyes she simply couldn’t.
“I didn’t realize it was that obvious.” The tremor in her voice revealed just how much Aithne’s insight had rattled her.
The old lady smiled kindly. “Sometimes a new friend can see what more familiar friends will not notice.” She stepped closer, wrapped an arm around Janet’s shoulder in an affectionate embrace. “What is most important, I sense, is that he has not noticed.”
If you only knew how perceptive you are.
Janet sighed, cognizant of how hiding her feelings and thoughts about this was beginning to take a toll. A longing to confide, combined with the camaraderie she’d developed with Aithne in recent days, emboldened her to confess. “There have been moments, when I thought he might…” And then she remembered all the factors – Daniel’s loss of Sha’re, all the risks they faced because of the Goa’uld, her own fear of being hurt again – that added to the equation. “But, it’s rather complicated.”
Aithne merely patted her shoulder and smiled mysteriously. “Don’t worry my dear. These things have a way of working themselves out.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“She’s been what?!”
The question, blurted simultaneously and with equal amounts of incredulity by Daniel and Jack, echoed throughout the hut.
Daniel noticed Aithne’s grin wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as it had been a moment before as she repeated, “She has been taken and confined, to the Isle of Carys.”
Jack took one step forward and said, very slowly, “Can you tell me why, exactly, this has happened?”
The healer’s grin faded altogether now, replaced with a frown of confusion. “It was done to repay our debt, to express our gratitude for all she has taught me and done for our people.”
“Oh, really?” Jack shoved his hands forward and barked, “Heck of way you folks have of showing appreciation.”
“Jack.” Daniel, his tone a mixture of concern and exasperation, maneuvered between the pair.
“Daniel?”
Daniel held up a hand in a placating gesture. “This may be nothing more than some kind of cultural misunderstanding. Why don’t you let me see if I can figure out what’s going on, and how it might be resolved?”
Jack didn’t look any happier about the situation, but at least he took a few steps back. “Okay. In the meantime Teal’c and Carter, take a look around, see what you can find.”
“Sir.” Carter acknowledged with a nod, already moving toward the doorway with the Jaffa close behind.
Daniel took a deep breath and turned to face the healer. “Aithne, where we’re from, taking people and putting them in confinement is not an acceptable way of expressing gratitude. So I need you to explain to me exactly what has happened to Doctor Frasier, okay?”
Nodding slowly, Aithne replied, “First let me assure you she has not been harmed. She is in no danger.”
“That’s good to know. Please go on,” Daniel encouraged.
“This custom is from the Legend of Carys. For our women to be taken to the Isle of Carys is a great honor. Our young girls look to the day with much anticipation. So, when Doctor Frasier confided in me her situation, I knew a way to repay her. I’d found the means of giving to her something of as much value as she had given to us.” She faltered and suddenly began wringing her hands together. “I thought you would be pleased, but now I see I was mistaken. Now I fear I should not have done this.” Shaking her head she turned and sat at the small table occupying one side of the hut.
“We understand your motives,” Daniel acknowledged as he followed and took the chair opposite her. From the corner of his eye he could see Jack beginning to pace but he ignored him. “And we don’t mean any offense against your customs. We’d just like to have Doctor Frasier released.”
Aithne met his eyes, her mouth set in a hard, thin line. “But what you do not understand is that once someone has been taken to the Isle of Carys, she cannot be released except by the One who must come to her rescue.”
Daniel, feeling as if he were attempting to work a puzzle with half the pieces missing, leaned across the table and said, “Then explain it to me. How do we ‘come to her rescue’?”
Aithne’s eyes fluttered shut as she began to chant.
To the Isle of Carys, the Maiden departs
To await the truest desire of her heart
Neither path nor wood nor fall of night
Shall deter the One’s tenacious fight
If Waters of Carys bears him to the shore
Maiden and the One, united evermore
Meeting his gaze again she continued, “The Isle sits in the middle of a lake, which can only be reached by taking the correct path, through the forest, and then crossing the Waters of Carys.”
“Great,” Jack interjected, halting mid-stride in his pacing. “The Doc’s only been missing a little over an hour, so this island can’t be that far away. All we need is someone to show us the path, and to get us a boat, and we’ll go and bring her back.”
Daniel frowned. A little voice in the back of his head warned that, with a legend of this much significance to the people, it wasn’t going to be that easy. His suspicion was confirmed when Aithne spoke again.
“The maiden is taken there by a secret path, known only to the Keepers of the Carys Legend. When the One accepts the charge of the Legend, he must take a different, longer route, as instructed by the Legend. And,” she added, her eyes falling to stare at her hands which were clasped tightly on top of the table, “he is allowed only a simple map to aid in the journey. No other special tools. And no boat.”
“What?” Jack bellowed. Pivoting on one foot, he headed for the table where they sat but Daniel held up a hand to forestall his angry words.
“Then how is the one to get the maiden back from the Isle?” he hurriedly asked. Jack’s irritation was getting dangerously high, and with good reason. But Daniel still believed this mess could be resolved in some reasonable fashion if he could just get a little more from Aithne and put this Legend into a more informed context.
“Oh, there is a boat on the Isle,” the healer replied.
Brows furrowing in confusion, Daniel pointed out, “Then what’s to prevent Janet from just taking that boat and returning on her own?”
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I forget you are unfamiliar with the particulars of the Legend. When a maiden is taken there, she is drugged—”
“Drugged?” Jack and Daniel exclaimed at the same instant.
Aithne flinched at this outburst but quickly assured, “It is only a mild concoction to make her drowsy and is perfectly harmless. Once on the Isle she is secured in a cave, with plenty of provisions, and there awaits her rescuer.”
Daniel remembered something else Aithne had said before, and even though he guessed this would only add to Jack’s ire, he had to know the answer. Meeting the woman’s gaze he said, “You mentioned before that she’d been taken and confined.”
“Yes,” Aithne affirmed. “The opening to the cave has bars across it that are locked. The key is left there – out of the maiden’s reach, of course – to be used once the One arrives.”
“Are you telling me,” Jack demanded, slapping his palms against the table’s surface, “that your women get drugged, carted off to this island, locked up in a cave, and this is supposed to be a good thing?”
“Colonel O’Neill,” Aithne said firmly, “our ways may seem absurd to you, but understand that they have been practiced by my people for generations. This Legend is one of our most respected and treasured customs.”
“That’s all well and good,” he rejoined, “but you’ve taken one of my people. I want her back.”
“That is easily accomplished,” she calmly replied. “The One must go and free her.”
“Fine,” Jack huffed, locking his arms across his chest. “Give me the map that shows where the hell this island is and we’ll do just that.”
Aithne shook her head. “The One must go.”
“Then I’ll go alone.”
“No, Colonel O’Neill, you cannot go,” Aithne insisted. She turned and fixed her eyes on Daniel. “The One must go.”
Daniel felt his stomach plummet as the final missing puzzle piece unexpectedly appeared and fell into place. To await the truest desire of her heart… Maiden and the One, united evermore.
“It’s meant to be a test of the heart, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Aithne breathed, seemingly relieved that he’d figured it out. She reached across the table to take his hand. “And I am truly sorry that our custom has caused offense. I only intended to help, to give back to her something I thought would make her happy…”
Daniel nodded. He did understand. And, from a certain perspective, he couldn’t even fault the old woman. But there was one more thing of which he had to be sure. Taking a deep breath he asked, “Did Janet tell you this is what she wanted?”
“Not in so many words,” Aithne replied, inclining her head guiltily. “But I have lived long enough to know what it means when I see a woman watching a man as she did.” Her eyes held his as she leaned even closer across the table. “And I believe she does not hope in vain.”
Well, Daniel reflected, I guess we’re about to find out.
“Daniel, what’s going on?” Jack’s anger was still in full swing but there was enough confusion coloring his tone for Daniel to know he’d genuinely gotten lost in this last bit of the conversation.
Rising from the table, he motioned toward the opposite corner. “Jack, can we, uh, talk for a moment?”
“Whatever it is you’re thinking, I’m not going to like it,” Jack began as soon as he’d joined him on the far side of the hut.
Daniel didn’t doubt his friend’s assessment. He wasn’t too keen about what he was thinking either. But there was no better way to resolve this. “Jack, we have to do this their way.”
“Are you crazy? Daniel, these people have kidnapped our CMO.”
“I know. And believe me, I’m as outraged about this as you are. But this isn’t the kind of situation where using our muscle is going to solve the problem.” Jack narrowed his eyes and raised a finger but Daniel cut him off before he could make his counterpoint. “Yes, we could probably force them to betray the custom of their Legend, but in the end it’s going to take time and cause problems – more time and more problems than if I just go and get her myself.”
Mouth set in a hard line Jack began to shake his head, “Daniel, now is not the time for cultural—wait, what do you mean if you go and get her?”
Feeling a trace of heat working its way up his neck Daniel replied, “Meaning I’m the One who is supposed to go and bring Janet back.” When Jack merely stared blankly back at him he added, “I don’t know what Aithne thinks she saw in Janet’s behavior, or what Janet may have said to her, but I have a pretty good idea what conclusions Aithne has drawn and,” he paused, shrugging sheepishly, “I also suspect those conclusions aren’t wholly unfounded.”
“Are you implying the Doc wanted to get involved in all this?”
“No, no, no. I mean, not exactly. I doubt she knows anything about this Legend, and I’m sure she wouldn’t have voluntarily agreed to any of this. But—,” he reached up to unnecessarily reposition his spectacles. “I’ve had the feeling, a few times, recently, that Janet’s been acting just a little differently around me. I didn’t want to think anything of it at first. If anything, I thought I was imagining it. And then I realized I didn’t want to get my hopes up in any way—”
“Daniel,” Jack cut him off as he took a step closer. “Can you just get to the point?”
“The Legend of Carys is a rite of betrothal, Jack.”
The colonel pulled off his cap and raked a hand through his hair. “Daniel, have you completely lost your mind? Or are you really telling me that this is some strange way for Fraiser letting us know that she secretly wants to get married?”
“All I’m saying is that I think Aithne believes Janet may have feelings for me, and that I’ve observed behavior on Janet’s part which doesn’t make that so implausible. That’s why she had Janet taken to the Isle of Carys, why she thought it was a reasonable way to express her appreciation for everything Janet’s done here.” This next part wouldn’t be so easy to admit, he realized. “But even if I’m wrong, I still have to go and bring Janet back.”
Jack simply stared at him in tense silence for several seconds before finally asking, “Why? Just because Aithne thinks you’re the One?”
Daniel took a deep breath, released it slowly. “No. Because I want to be the One.”
The silence held even longer this time. But eventually Jack nodded and gave him a single slap on the shoulder. “Alright then. Let’s see about getting you that map Aithne mentioned.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Janet, sitting cross-legged on the ground, frowned and read the letter through a third time. But nothing in Aithne’s message had miraculously changed since the first two times she’d read it.
“I can’t believe this,” she muttered. “After everything we did to help her people.”
But as much as she wanted to be angry at the elderly healer, she just couldn’t. The intent of the note made it perfectly clear that Aithne’s subjecting her to this Legend of Carys was done from pure motivations, as a way to express her gratitude.
If only it hadn’t resulted in me being drugged and locked up like some silly damsel in distress, she thought scornfully. I’m going to be the laughing stock of the entire SGC once this hits the gossip circuit.
At least Aithne’s sleeping concoction hadn’t produced any unpleasant side effects. And Janet had gotten a few good hours of rest for the trouble. Still, if she’d only been a little more on her guard, maybe the woman’s casual offer of a cup of tea while the men finished loading her medical supplies wouldn’t have landed her in this situation.
“Not that there’s anything I can do about it now,” she declared to the walls of her little cave.
She’d already explored the area thoroughly. But the only way out was through the entryway, which was currently barred and locked. She’d located the key, but it was well out of reach, sitting on a bench outside the cave along with some of her other personal effects – her military vest, side arm, and walkie-talkie. There was even a boat, secured a few feet away. There were plenty of supplies inside the cave, including food and wood for a fire. Basically, all Janet could do was wait until SG-1 came after her.
Until some One from SG-1 comes after me, her inner voice amended, recalling the details from Aithne’s note. And the longer she sat here, the longer she was tempted to speculate on whom that someone might be.
She knew who she wanted it to be. But the woman’s note had assured her that Aithne would not tell Daniel point blank that he was her intended One. And while Daniel might come to that conclusion on his own, Janet felt certain he’d rationalize it away as a complete misunderstanding on Aithne’s part. Besides, knowing O’Neill as she did, the colonel would insist on coming himself, nonsense about some stupid betrothal ritual notwithstanding.
That is, if he doesn’t go off half-cocked and demand to be brought here, she considered. Which would, no doubt, result in some cultural relations fiasco… And all because I didn’t have the nerve to tell Daniel weeks ago that I have feelings for him.
Janet rubbed her face. “None of this is doing me any good,” she huffed. “I’m only going to make myself more crazy than I already am over this if I sit her thinking about it.”
Rising from the ground she headed toward the back of the cave, where the supplies had been stashed. “Might as well get a fire going. It’s going to be dark before long.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thank God, Daniel thought as he noticed the tree line was visibly thinning. He barely had an hour of daylight left and hadn’t relished the idea of being stuck in this forest after dark.
Following the Legend of Carys was proving more difficult than he’d anticipated. The path had begun straightforward enough, branching off from one of the regular roadways out of the village. But as he’d followed the map, relying on little more than the position of the sun in the sky, he discovered that the terrain became more treacherous as he progressed. It had taken almost two hours to reach the woods. There he found that what little remained of the path – barely a worn spot in the dirt among barren rock – disappeared into an overgrown forest. At least he’d been allowed his standard issue military knife for the journey, or he’d never have made it this far.
Stepping into the clearing, Daniel scanned his surroundings. The ground sloped down from here and appeared to be mostly grassy. He could see the edge of a lake at the bottom. A small island was situated almost perfectly in the middle of the lake, but from here he couldn’t be sure about the distance. Casting one final glance at the sun as it slowly descended toward the horizon, he headed down the hill.
As Aithne had warned, there was no sign of a boat anywhere along the shore. Standing on the bank now, Daniel peered across the water. It looked like half a mile to the island. Not an impossible distance but far enough considering how tired he was already. Squatting, he reached out to dip a couple fingers into the lake. He grimaced. He didn’t think it was cold enough to be a serious threat, but it certainly wasn’t going to make this part of the trip any easier.
Why can’t any of the potential romances in my life be just a little more conventional in how they come about? he wondered as he stood up.
“Then again,” he said aloud in an almost maudlin effort at encouragement as he eased into the water, “where would be the fun in that?”
He could feel the cold seeping into him as he walked farther out and it nearly took his breath when he dove beneath the surface. Keep it nice and steady, he told himself, striving to find a rhythm that would maintain his body warmth without exhausting him too quickly. He’d scarcely covered a hundred yards before a cramp started in his left leg.
Perfect! Some rescue this is going to be. At this rate Janet will end up having to treat me for hypothermia. He suddenly pictured Janet in his mind’s eye, arms crossed as she fixed him with a stern look and some word of reprimand on her lips. But then the image altered as she shook her head in patient amusement and smiled – the smile that had warmed his heart countless times. Fixing that smile at the front of his mind, Daniel swam on.
By the time he reached the other side he had to drag himself up the bank. He rolled over, panting as he stared up at the darkening sky. He was tired and freezing, but knowing Janet was holed up somewhere alone on this small island drove him to his feet. Squinting into the distance he noticed the ground was mostly a wide, open area to his right. To his left there appeared to be some short, cliff-like structures several hundred yards ahead. He headed that direction, each step a colossal effort. But as he neared the rocks he noticed a tiny flickering of light that looked conspicuously like shadows cast from a fire. With a surge of energy he didn’t think he had, Daniel took off at a run.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Janet, legs drawn up and her arms wrapped around them as she stared absently into the flames, suddenly jerked her head up, ears straining into the silence.
“Great,” she admonished. “In addition to talking to yourself, now you’re hearing things.” Shaking her head, she reached for the stick at her side and stirred her fire.
But the sound came again, clearer this time, and Janet was certain she hadn’t imagined it. Dropping her makeshift poker, she jumped up and ran to the front of her cave. “I’m here,” she shouted at the top of her lungs.
In response the call of her name came back again, sounding decidedly more relieved now. Within moments she could make out the figure of a man, running toward her out of the darkness. A surge of astonishment – part bewilderment, part excitement – hit her when she recognized who it was. As he drew closer she saw that he was soaked and dirty, his BDUs ripped in several places. Despite his urgent pace it looked as if he could barely keep one foot in front of the other.
“Janet!” Daniel almost fell against the bars as he came to an abrupt halt in front of her. “Are you…” he doubled over, straining for breath. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Pointing through the bars she told him, “The keys are on that bench, along with my tactical vest.”
He nodded, and within seconds had her freed. Her mind raced with myriad questions about his presence here, but her medical training kicked in and took control.
“Daniel, you’re drenched.” Taking hold of his arm to direct him inside the cave she added, “And you’re freezing. Sit down by the fire and let me take a look at you.”
“I’ll be fine,” he gasped, waving away her attempted ministrations. Motioning at her military vest, where he’d dropped it near the entrance, he said, “We need to call Jack, on the radio. Let him know I found you.”
“After I make sure you’re not hypothermic,” Janet insisted, her voice stern.
With a nod he sat and eased back against the stone wall of the cave. She noted he was shivering, but not violently. Although he was still struggling to get his breathing under control it wasn’t shallow. And his pulse was a bit high, but strong and steady. Sighing in relief, she stood and retrieved a couple of blankets from the supplies at the back of the cave.
“You’re suffering from very mild hypothermia but you should be fine once you get dry and warm. You’ll need to get out of your wet things and wrap up in these,” she instructed, handing him the blankets.”
“There’s supposed to be a boat,” Daniel said as he moved to stand, “somewhere nearby. That’s how we’ll be able to get back.”
“It’s okay. You just get warm and rest for a moment.” Stepping toward the entrance she picked up her vest and retrieved the walkie-talkie. “I’ll contact the colonel and let him know the situation.”
O’Neill replied to her call quickly and it only took a moment to bring him up to speed. “Sir, Daniel will likely be stable within the hour. I did spot the boat earlier, but considering the situation it might be better if we just waited it out here for the night. I don’t think either of us needs to be making our way back in the dark.”
“Understood,” O’Neill’s voice crackled over the radio. “Check in at oh-seven-hundred, unless there’s some change in the situation.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“And Doc?”
“Sir?”
“Glad to hear you and Daniel are okay.”
“Thank you, Sir. Good night.”
The radio fell silent and Janet stared at it for a long moment. If O’Neill had known anything about this crazy Legend of Carys business he probably wouldn’t have brought it up anyway.
Daniel, on the other hand…
“How are you feeling?” she asked, returning the radio to her vest and turning to face him.
“Warmer.” He had one blanket wrapped around his torso and the other covering his legs, which were outstretched by the fire. “Better.”
“Good.” She gathered some food from the supplies and brought it to him. “How about something to eat?”
He voiced thanks, but Janet noticed he wouldn’t quite meet her eyes as he accepted the food. She had no idea how much he knew about why she’d been brought here. And although she was rather surprised – and pleased – that he was the one who had come to her rescue, she wondered if he understood what that implied.
As the silence grew heavy Janet stood and made herself busy by spreading his wet clothing out along some rocks near the fire. Apparently, having her back to him gave Daniel enough gumption to finally speak.
“So, I heard you tell Jack we’d be staying here for the night.”
“I thought it was for the best,” she explained. “I’m not sure what route you took to get here, but I haven’t a clue about how to get back.” She hesitated. She’d finished the small task of positioning his clothes, leaving her with no legitimate excuse not to turn around. She continued to stare at the opposite wall. “I don’t know how informed you are about the situation, but I was under the influence of a sleeping drug when I was brought here.”
“I know,” Daniel replied, his voice soft but even. Even without looking, she could tell he’d grown very still. “Aithne explained everything to us.”
Janet swallowed but forced herself to turn around and sit down. “I see.”
“What I don’t know,” Daniel said, his gaze focused on the flickering flames, “is how informed you are about the situation.” Slowly setting his food aside, he turned and met her eyes. “Do you know why you were brought here?”
Nodding, Janet answered, “The Legend of Carys. Aithne had a letter sent with me. I found it when I woke up.”
“Ah.” He fell silent again, attention drifting back toward the fire. After several heartbeats he observed, “And yet, this is still proving to be extremely awkward, isn’t it?”
Janet decided to go for plausible deniability. “Daniel, I am so sorry. I don’t know why Aithne got it into her head that this would be a good idea, that you and I—” she trailed off, too insecure in her own feelings to give voice to them.
He looked at her then, a tiny frown forming as his brow furrowed behind his spectacles. “So, are you saying there was no legitimate motivation whatsoever behind Aithne’s actions? This was all nothing more than the delusion of a senile old woman?”
Janet’s heart was racing. Was that disappointment she’d heard in Daniel’s tone? “Well… perhaps there was a little something more than mere delusion on her part.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed, just noticeably. “How much more, exactly?”
So, he wasn’t going to make this easy on her. Fair enough.
“Aithne’s letter included a bit of verse that described the Legend.” She bit at her bottom lip. “It sounded really old, and… somewhat romantic in nature.”
He nodded and quoted the rhyme from memory.
She glanced down and clasped her hands in her lap. “I sort of gathered that I’m supposed to be the maiden.”
“And this is the Isle of Carys,” Daniel confirmed.
The silence that lingered was heavy and expectant. Janet looked up and met his eyes. The trust and respect she’d often witnessed in that familiar blue gaze was visible now, but there was a tenderness about his expression that she’d never seen before.
“So I traveled the path, went through the wood, and swam the Waters of Carys,” he said, voice low. “I won’t deny, it’s a quixotic legend, of a people we barely know. And I can only imagine how you must have felt when you woke up and,” he waved a hand, indicating their entire surroundings, “found yourself in the middle of this ridiculous circumstance. But legends, and the rituals involved in them, can have meaning and significance for those who wish to abide by them.” He paused, and Janet noticed his fingers were nervously picking at the edge of his blanket. “So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you’re willing—if you don’t think it’s too ludicrous, this idea of maidens and chosen ones—and if I haven’t completely misinterpreted—”
His gaze never wavered but Janet could sense his courage was failing him. She leaned forward, reached to take hold of his hand and whispered, “I accept.”
“—what might have been impl—wh-what did you just say?”
She couldn’t help smiling in response to his sudden befuddlement. “I said, I accept.”
He blinked a couple of times before carefully clarifying, “As in…?”
Janet rolled her eyes, “As in, you lovable idiot, I accept you as the maiden’s rescuer.” Her expression softened and she squeezed his hand. “My rescuer.”
Daniel blinked again but an answering smile was beginning to tug at the corner of his mouth. “That’s… good.” Janet’s breath caught in her throat when he eased forward and caressed her cheek. “Very, very good.”
He continued leaning closer and her eyes fluttered shut as his lips brushed her mouth. Not satisfied with this tender, yet chaste, initial contact, she kissed him back with a bit more enthusiasm. A wave of lightheadedness nearly overwhelmed her when Daniel responded in kind, his hand drifting from her cheek to cradle the back of her head even as his other arm slipped around her waist. Willingly succumbing to the embrace, she reflected that this long desired moment was thus far proving well beyond expectation.
When he finally broke the kiss, Janet opened her eyes to find him gazing at her intently. His face was still close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.
“You know,” he said, stroking her hair, “there is still one thing I don’t quite understand.”
Tilting her head, Janet met his gaze and asked, “What?”
“If you were interested, why didn’t you just tell me?”
She shrugged. “Various reasons… all of which seem absurdly irrelevant at the moment.”
He nodded. “So, what happens now?”
She knew what he was asking, but couldn’t resist the temptation to tease him a bit. “Well, I suppose you should finish your dinner, and once your clothes have dried you can get dressed again.” She had to glance away momentarily, an unanticipated warmth flushing her face. As his doctor, Janet had seen him in various states of undress before. But that was quite different, she’d suddenly realized, than sitting here in his arms with nothing between them but a couple of blankets. Clearing her throat she continued, “And then you need to rest. After all, I’m sure it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for you to get here.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
His humorless tone stymied her playful mood. Meeting his eyes she asked, “Exactly how far did you have to come, anyway?”
He seemed to become quite interested in the floor of the cave then, and his voice was muffled as he answered, “It’s not really important.”
Taking hold of his chin, she turned his face so he would have to look at her. “Except that it is important. To me, anyway.”
Holding her gaze Daniel replied, “The first part of the path was about five miles, and I’m not really sure about the forest. Because it was so overgrown I was paying more attention to finding a way through than thinking about the distance.” He shrugged self-consciously. “The lake was just a little over half a mile.”
Janet was dumbfounded. It wasn’t exactly a marathon, but Aithne’s letter had included enough description to communicate the journey’s terrain was part of the challenge. And he’d apparently covered the distance during the few hours of afternoon daylight remaining after they had figured out she’d gone missing.
And he did all that… for me.
Blinking back unexpected tears, Janet shook her head. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” He gently tugged her into his arms. “At least, nothing that you haven’t already said. I made it here, and Aithne was right – that’s all that matters.”
She nodded against his shoulder.
“And… you still haven’t answered my question.” He rested his chin against the top of her head. “What happens now?”
“We take it one step at a time?” She felt his nod of acceptance. “We’ll probably need to consider certain… well, I imagine I won’t be able to get out of being your physician entirely, what with my being CMO and you’re being on SG-1, but we can still transfer your primary care to one of the other doctors.”
“I understand,” he replied.
“And we should probably discuss this with General Hammond. There shouldn’t be any problem, but… he’s a good commander, and he deserves to know.”
Daniel rubbed her arm affectionately. “I agree.”
She took a deep breath. “I don’t relish the idea of being the latest SGC gossip but,” she paused, titling her face so she could see him, “that will pass eventually. And,” she paused, smiling as she allowed herself to bask in the warmth of his gaze, “it’s a small price to pay, all things considered.”
He smiled too, letting the silence linger for a moment. “I don’t think it dawned on me until just now,” he eventually began, “but the name of this place, of this people’s legend, it is rather appropriate.”
Crinkling her brow in curiosity she asked, “How so?”
“Carys is Celtic.” He traced a path along the side of her face with his fingers, cupping her chin as he met her eyes. “It means beloved.”
The kiss seemed less fervent this time. It was no less passionate, Janet reflected, but in that slow, sweet, blissful embrace she sensed something new. This kiss was full of unspoken promise.
THE END