Blood Is Thicker Than Water Part Two
Blood Is Thicker Than Water Part Two
by L.E McMurray
Summary: Daniel's new family life is about to be disrupted in several different ways.
Category: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Season: Season 4
Pairing: Daniel/Sha're, other pairing
Rating: 13+
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 2005-03-05
Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Thanks to those who reviewed Chapter One, I haven't forgotten anyone it's just going to take some time to get them all in.
I am working on Chapter Three (amongst the rest of the things I have to finish)
*********************************************
Daniel walked silently with Jack and Claire towards their apartments. He'd been silent since leaving the infirmary unable to stop thinking about the imaginary world he'd experienced which had given him some time with his wife again.
"Danny," Jack said softly, "Claire's getting off here."
Daniel blinked and turned to his mother who was looking at him worried.
"Night Mom," he sighed hugging her.
Before Claire could say a word her son had disappeared into his own home leaving her and Jack in the hall.
"He isn't going to open up to me," Claire sighed, "I wish he would just once."
Jack rested his hand on her shoulder, "Give him some time."
"You'll have to tell me how you found us," Claire said as she let them in, "And what Maria was doing there."
"Briefing tomorrow morning," Jack told her, "I'm going to check on wonder boy."
Claire nodded, "Thank you Jack. Goodnight."
"Night," he smiled before leaving her alone.
Once Claire was sure she was alone she collapsed onto the sofa and wept for her husband and baby boy.
-
"Go away Jack," Daniel said the instant his friend entered his apartment; "If you don't stop doing this I'm changing the locks."
"Just wanted to make sure you were alright," Jack told him.
"I'm fine," Daniel replied automatically as he made himself some coffee, "Go home Jack. I'll see you tomorrow for the briefing."
"Are you sure?"
"Jack," Daniel snapped, "I'm not a child will you just leave me alone?"
"Sure Daniel," Jack stepped back, "I'll see you tomorrow."
Daniel kept his back to the door relieved when Jack finally left him in peace. He stopped what he was doing, the knot in his chest releasing now he was finally alone. Tears trailed along his cheeks and he wandered to his bedroom finding his wife's picture sitting there he stared at it. For a short time he'd been with her again in a strange way and he'd wasted the last few moments of it yelling at her. Lying down on his bed he held her photo to him and fell asleep.
*********************************************
Elizabeth Walker tapped her pen on the notebook as she thought about the story she was meant to be writing. She'd found her passion for journalism had waned since she'd discovered the truth about what her brother did for a living. Her decision to kill the story her friend had died for had left a strange apathy for her work. She'd gone from writing to taking the job of assistant editor to see if she could find the passion again but it hadn't worked.
Picking up the small card she kept in her desk drawer she frowned musing over whether or not she should take this chance and completely change her life's direction. With a sigh Elizabeth replaced the card and went back to work. She had to finish before she headed to the airport, it was her mother's birthday. Actually it was the day they'd always used so she, Maria and Kelly were still using it even if they now knew the exact date.
Elizabeth loved her family, especially her new brother. They'd known him for a year now and Daniel was an important part of her life. They corresponded via email a lot, she knew he also kept in touch with Kelly the same way now she was in Egypt and Maria would meet him at least once a week for lunch.
Smiling Elizabeth decided what she was going to write now.
-
Steven Raynor glanced around the arrival lounge wondering if she would be there to meet him, who met him was someone he didn't expect.
"Hi," Daniel greeted softly, his face was pale and his eyes dull. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days.
"Hi," Steven looked confused, "What are you doing here?"
"Maria got called into work," Daniel shrugged his voice practically a monotone, "I said I'd come pick you up."
"Should I have left a will?" Steven tried to lighten the mood.
Daniel gave a ghost of a smile, "Don't worry. Several people know I'm here. Besides Maria is kinda deadly to cross. Come on, the car's not far."
Steven followed his sort of friend getting worried about how depressed Daniel was, the last time they'd seen each other Daniel had appeared to be completely at peace with himself. Since what Steven mentally referred to as the Osiris incident he and Daniel had talked only a few times both still too caught up in the arguments of the past to be close friends. As they walked to where Daniel had parked Steven studied the younger man and wished there was some way he could help.
"Maria suggested you get acquainted with the SGC then she'll pick you up," Daniel told him as they both climbed in, "Are you staying with her?"
"Until I find a place," Steven replied, not wanting to discuss this with Daniel.
Daniel shrugged and started the car.
-
"So," Claire said as she took her seat, "Did my father stay or leave as usual?"
"He had to return the device to the planet," Jack told her, "He'll be back within the next week or so for good."
"Won't that be fun," Claire grimaced.
"Claire," Jack frowned, "I know you have issues with Nick, believe me so do I but Daniel is pretty touchy when it comes to people bad-mouthing Nick trust me on this. Now Daniel should be here in a minute can we just focus on what happened on the planet."
"That would be the best idea," Hammond agreed he spotted Daniel heading up the stairs, "Dr Jackson, please take your seat."
Daniel slipped in beside Jack his face as blank as it had been when Jack had left him the night before. He gave his mother a quick smile before turning all his focus to Hammond to start the briefing.
-
"Daniel," Claire called catching up with her son as he headed back to his office, "Can we talk for a minute."
"Mom, I've got a lot of work to do," he told her.
"Daniel Jackson," Claire said sternly making him wince, "Don't treat me like some stranger."
"I'm not," he whispered.
"Then let's go and talk," she told him motioning him to move.
When they entered Daniel's office Claire shut the door firmly turning back to find her son sitting sullenly at his desk.
"Alright Daniel," Claire said gently, "You need to talk to me about what happened back on the planet."
"Mom, I already..."
"No, you gave a very clean report," Claire cut him off moving to sit across from him, "Now I want you to tell me what happened?" when he made no move to speak she took his hand and gently touched his cheek, "Danny, sweetheart I know how much this hurt. Do you have any idea what it was like realising your father wasn't real and that I wasn't back there with him and you."
"No offence Mom," Daniel whispered, "But when you woke up I was still here, you didn't lose everything."
"You didn't lose everything Daniel," Claire frowned noting the way his eyes were drifting to Sha're's picture, "You're not telling me everything Danny."
Daniel was silent for a while as he stared at the only picture he had of his wife finally looking back to his mother, "When I was in that world I was with her again and for that time I felt whole. Mom I felt like there was nothing wrong in the world then I realised it was all a lie and it felt...it felt like a kick in the gut," he stopped as tears filled his eyes, "She asked me about Jack then Sam and Teal'c and I knew it wasn't real then. So I yelled at her, I yelled at her to stop it."
"Danny, that is totally understandable," Claire soothed, "You know that."
Daniel looked up at her pain filling his crystal blue eyes, "She told me how to leave, Mom I can't help but wonder if maybe she was real. Then I remember watching her die and I know she couldn't have been but..."
Claire pulled him to her holding him as he cried, "I know how much you wish she had been real Daniel. I know that. Because I wish your father had been but it wasn't to be."
"I could have said a proper goodbye to her," Daniel sniffed not moving from his mother's embrace, "Like you did for Dad."
"You did have a chance to say goodbye back when she died," Claire reminded him, "In the message she sent you. I never had that chance."
"I miss her so much Mom just like you miss Dad," Daniel cried, "Why would someone use that, how could anyone do that to us? What good did it do them?"
"I wish I could tell you sweetie," she sighed rocking him gently; "I wish I knew."
*********************************************
"Hi," Maria smiled entering the small office to find Steven reading over some files, "Sorry I couldn't pick you up at the airport."
"Doesn't matter much," he leaned over and kissed her quickly, "How do you manage to get in here when you don't work here?"
Maria gave a mysterious smile, "I have my ways."
He grimaced at her.
"I've been working with some of the teams to design an off world base as well as going over ruins to see if I can backtrack them to their former glory," she admitted.
"That makes sense," Steven grinned at her, "So, are we leaving or do you have work to do?"
Maria smiled taking his hand, "You can buy me dinner."
As they walked through the corridors Maria smiled to see her brother walking towards them.
"Daniel," she smiled, "Thanks for picking Steven up."
"You know I could have got a taxi," Steven interrupted, "I'm not incapable."
Daniel suddenly laughed, "I remember you getting lost heading for coffees one day."
"I did not get lost," Steven swallowed uncomfortably, "I was distracted."
"Really?" Maria asked interested as Steven glared at Daniel.
"It's not important," Steven told her.
"Definitely not," Daniel backed him up.
Maria gave them a suspicious look before shrugging, "We were going to get some take-out, want to join us?"
Daniel shook his head, "Jack and I are being made to watch the latest Star Wars with Teal'c. Believe me you'll be best in a galaxy far, far away."
"We'll see you tomorrow," Steven said as Daniel left, he turned to Maria, "Is he okay?"
"To be honest," Maria sighed, "I have no idea."
-
Daniel looked back to where Maria and Steven were walking towards the elevator; he had thought it strange at first that his second youngest sister was seeing his former best friend though of course according to Maria they were just friends.
He wanted to be happy for them but it was hard to feel anything but jealousy at the moment. His recent experience in that virtual-reality world had shaken him; he knew Jack's get together at his house tonight was basically a way to make sure Daniel didn't spend too much time alone. While they were doing that Claire, Sam, Janet, Cassie and Sara were having a girls' night in.
"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c called from behind him, "We are leaving now."
Daniel smiled slightly, Teal'c's sci-fi addiction was actually really funny though could be very scary at times.
"Sure Teal'c," he turned to his friend, "Let's go."
-
Daniel stared at her anger filling him as she closed her eyes, "Look for the spherical pattern on the rocks."
"What?" he demanded confused
"It is your way out," she stepped forward, Daniel felt her lips brush against his cheek for an instance the warmth cooling quickly as he fell to his knees.
Daniel jolted awake throwing away the blanket covering him.
"Not a fan either?" Jack asked picking up the blanket and replacing it on Daniel.
Daniel frowned, "What?"
"Teal'c's collection of movies," Jack explained, "You fell asleep during the first one."
Daniel sighed rubbing his hand across his face, "I guess I'm more tired than I thought," he paused looking around the room, "Where is Teal'c?"
"The spare room," Jack replied, "He couldn't Kel-no-reem with you snoring."
Daniel ignored the obvious jibe and realising that he was curled up on Jack's couch quickly checked his watch, "Night Jack," he said turning over closing his eyes again.
He heard Jack laugh softly then leave entering his own room, once he was sure that Jack was settled in for the night Daniel threw off the cover and sat up.
This wasn't fair. He'd just managed to start living again, he'd just started feeling that he could go on with his life and then this had to happen.
Sha're.
She'd always be the one person in his life that could be used against him. Her presence could distract him far too easily and now someone else knew this too which scared him.
Why would someone need to know something like that unless they were going to attack them? Why would someone do that to them unless...he tried to push that thought out of his mind and focus on something else.
Daniel yawned; he was so tired of feeling this bad. He just wanted for his emotions to stop, to be numb just for a while just so he could rest but they never did. With another sigh Daniel lay back down and closed his eyes, falling asleep wishing.
*********************************************
Sara hummed tunelessly as she sat in her office finishing off some work; she was meeting Janet for lunch in twenty minutes so she was doing this to kill time. A shadow crossed her desk and she looked up to find the last person she expected to see standing nervously in her doorway.
"Daniel," she greeted him surprised, "What brings you here?"
"Ah...em...I..." he stammered a little looking flustered, "I..." he paused again frowning, "This was a bad idea."
He turned and started to go but Sara jumped up and caught his arm. She liked Daniel although she hadn't spent that much time in his company. It was strange considering the young man was Jack's best friend but they seemed to rarely cross paths.
"Daniel," she said softly, "You wanted to talk right?"
"It's not important," Daniel told her but he made no move to leave.
Sara smiled at him, "Then how about some coffee and a place to hide out from everyone for a while."
"That would be good," Daniel smiled very softly entering her office properly.
He took the spare chair and nodded gratefully as she handed him a mug of coffee before taking her own seat. Sara studied the young man before her as they both drank in silence. His sadness was almost palpable just now but he looked so tired that Sara just wanted to wrap him in her arms and rock him to sleep like she used to do to Charlie when he was having...
"What are your nightmares about?" she asked seeing the look of amazement in his eyes that she had guessed.
"What do you mean?" he tried to avoid her question.
Sara placed her mug down leaning forward slightly, "Daniel you didn't just come by to visit me. You came because you need to talk to someone, someone who isn't as close to you as Jack is, or your mother but someone who does know you."
"I..." he hesitated again.
"Whatever you say to me is completely confidential," Sara reminded him before smiling, "Unless it's a surprise party for Jack because you know the rule on that."
Daniel gave a laugh at that before sighing again, "They're about Sha're."
"Your wife."
"Dead wife," Daniel said bitterly, "Everyone always has to make sure to remind me that she's dead."
"But she's still your wife," Sara replied, "Still an integral part of who you are Daniel."
He stared at her for a long time before a very faint smile touched his lips, "Thank you Sara," he took a breath, "I keep dreaming about what happened on the planet and I just don't understand."
"Understand what?" Sara pushed very gently.
"Why she told me how to leave," Daniel replied, "Whoever had us, had us in there for a reason so why would they suddenly just turn around and tell me how to leave? Not to mention the major slip up of asking me about Sam and Teal'c It makes no sense."
"If the scenario was developed using your memories Daniel, it's possible that's what prompted this simulation of your wife to show you the way out," Sara suggested leaning back in her chair, "If your mind was what created her then you also created a way to recognise that what was happening was wrong."
"I don't know," Daniel sighed, "I just feel as though I'm missing something."
"From all I've been told about you from Jack," Sara smiled, "You'll work it out sooner rather than later."
A faint blush covered the young man's face and he quickly finished his coffee standing up to leave.
"Daniel," Sara called after him making him turn back to her, "I'm always happy to have you come hide out here. I like the company."
He nodded, "I'd like that. I should get back to work."
Without another word Daniel disappeared leaving Sara alone once more, checking her watch she realised she was now late for meeting Janet. Sara locked her computer before heading to the commissary.
-
She had been punished for helping them escape but she didn't care. She hadn't wanted them hurt, she'd had to do something and telling him how to escape from the virtual world was all she'd managed but it was enough.
She hated the thing that held her captive, hated what her life had somehow become and hated even more that it was tying to harm people she cared for.
It would punish her but she would do everything she could to help them; she wouldn't allow this thing to beat her.
The dizziness and pain took over once again but she held on as best she could, she would fight until her last breath.
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