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After the Excuses
by Nancy Claycomb
After the ExcusesAfter the Excusesby Nancy ClaycombTITLE: After the ExcusesAuthor: Nancy ClaycombEmail: nancy_claycomb@hsb.comCategory: Romance, NonePairing: Daniel/SamSpoilers: Forever in a Day, Children of the GodsSeason: 3This story is a sequel to: No More ExcusesRating: PGContent Warnings: noneStatus: CompletedSummary: Daniel and Sam work through their feelings for each otherDisclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. We 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 authors. Not to be archived without permission of the authors.Author's notes: I still think that Daniel and Sam belong together. If it doesn't happen in the show, I can still make it happen in my mind'Now what?' Doctor Daniel Jackson thought. He had survived the ribbon device and he had made it through Sha're's funeral on his adopted home planet of Abydos. Now, somehow....someway, he was supposed to go on with his life as though nothing had changed.Nothing could be farther from the truth.Daniel sat alone in his office staring at the dancing Egyptian screen saver on his computer screen, thinking back to the vision he had while caught in Amonet's Ribbon Device. Sha're had fought hard to send a message through to him while Amonet was trying to kill him. He finally managed to figure most of it out: Forgive Teal'c and find the baby. At first, he had problems interpreting the final part of the vision and had agonized over the last part of the message: The strong part that Samantha Carter had played in his dream. 'I'll miss Carter,' he had said during his vision. More than once in the vision caused by Sha're, Sam had shown up to offer comfort to Daniel. Why was Sha're so interested in Sam? They had only met briefly on Abydos before Sha're had been taken. Why had Sam made such an impression on his wife?Daniel knew that Sha're wasn't stupid. She had noticed the interest her husband had taken in the beautiful golden haired stranger that had come through the Chappai'i. He also knew that Sha're never questioned his love for her. Sha're may have noticed his attraction to Sam, but she would have known how devoted he was to her. During his vision, Sha're had given him the message that he needed to get on with his life. She also told him whom he should go on with it with."Sam!" Daniel was shocked out his thoughts by the sudden appearance of his friend in his office."Hey, Daniel. I haven't seen you all day," she said clearing a space off on the extra chair. She sat down and made herself comfortable, as only someone who had been there a thousand times would do. "I just wanted to make sure everything's okay.""I'm good," he said glancing up at her and flashing his small shy smile. He quickly bent his head back down over his work. What more could he tell her at this point anyway? 'Sam I love you?... I want to spend the rest of my life with you?... It's okay, my dead wife gave me permission?'Sam knew that Daniel's 'I'm good' usually meant anything but; however, she let it drop for the moment. She would never push her friend. She knew him well enough to know that when he was ready to talk, he would tell her everything. He just wasn't ready yet.She also had her own reasons for not pushing him: She had her own thoughts and doubts to deal with. Sam had come to the conclusion long ago that she could easily fall in love with Daniel. For years, he had been her best friend, study pal, confidant, and counselor; he had also been married. Suddenly that had changed. Now, she wasn't sure how to act or what to say to him. 'Daniel, I need you in my life... I don't think I could stand it if you weren't around me.... I know that we're great friends, but every time I see you I want to grab you and kiss you senseless?'They sat quietly for awhile trying to look everywhere but at each other. It was not an uncomfortable silence, it never was with them, but each was waiting for the other to start sharing first.Finally, Daniel looked up and caught her eyes with his. Whatever was going to happen, he needed to make sure that their friendship remained intact. He could not risk losing her out of his life altogether."Sam, I, um..." he began quietlyThe shrill ring of the telephone made both of them jump. What was worse, he wasn't going to get the chance to say what he had been thinking."Daniel," Jack's voice said from the other end of the receiver. "We have a briefing, uh, five minutes ago. Stop by Sam's on the way. She's late too.... Scientists."The line went dead."I think we've been missed," Daniel said standing up quickly."Holy Hannah," Sam jumped up and followed Daniel out the door. "The colonel is going to be pissed.""Forget 'going to be,'" Daniel joked. "He was there five minutes ago."*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Sam stared at Daniel through most of the meeting wondering what he had been going to say to her. Worst of all, if that time in his office had been any indication, how was she going to continue treating him like a friend, when she wanted so much more from him?Daniel had actually been paying attention to the MALP pictures that the general had been showing them of their next assignment. Slowly, however he got the spooky feeling that someone was watching him. He glanced up from the notes that he had been scribbling to see Sam's gaze stuck on him. Their eyes eventually made contact, but instead of shifting her look suddenly, Sam just smiled. It was one of her beautiful smiles that Daniel got to see too rarely these days."Okay, people, there you have it. Be ready to go at oh eight hundred tomorrow," the General finished up.Finally, Daniel and Sam had to release their locked stare. Sam gathered up her papers and prepared to leave. Daniel eyes continued to follow her as she made her way through the maze of chairs in the room. He watched her back as she left the room and continued to stare at the open doorway long after she was gone.'That was nice,' Daniel thought, 'but am I trying to read more into it than actually happened? We've looked at each other before, but still...''Could she?' he thought.Suddenly, Jack appeared foremost in Daniel's field of vision."You won't know until you've asked," Jack said simply."Huh?""Oh, for cryin' out loud. Just ask," Jack replied"Ask who....what?" Daniel still wasn't sure that were on the same topic. So often in their relationship, these little conversations left each of them staring at the other saying 'huh?' at the same time."Danny, my boy, that's something you have to figure out on your own," Jack said heading for the door."Teal'c!" Jack yelled down the hallway and then hurried though the door. "Buddy, pal. How 'bout hittin' some golf balls around?"Daniel sat alone in the conference room for a short time. He was as confused as ever. Finally he got up and walked into the hallway."Just ask," he repeated over and over to himself as he wondered aimlessly through the hallways and levels of the SGC for awhile. When he stopped and took notice of where he was, he was in front of the door to Sam's lab. "Just ask....."Daniel knocked as he walked through the door. Sam was bent over the UAV on her lab table attaching some small something or other to one of its wings. It had probably been explained at one of the meetings recently, however, to be honest Daniel hadn't been paying attention.Daniel walked over to the lab table. He stood silently for a moment, watching Sam as she worked.'It's now or never,' he though to himself."Sam....I, um...," he began."Just a minute," Sam said as she finished up the last of the welding. "Oooookay, what?"She removed her goggles and shuffled her fingers through her hair to loosen up what the goggles had plastered down. She flopped down into her chair and looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement over a job well done.He stared down at her for a moment, almost drowning in the blue of her eyes and promptly forgot everything he wanted to say.Daniel had gotten his love for languages early in life. His parents had taken him on digs all over the world and he had been quick to pick up on the different languages of the various countries. For someone who had spent most of his life studying various forms of communication, for once, he had nothing to say. He realized that there were no words for what he was feeling, not in any language living or dead, earthly or alien. Instead, he bent down quickly, capturing her mouth with his. It was a brief kiss, mainly because of the uncomfortable position they were both in. He was leaning over her with both hands in his pockets. Nothing but her lips were holding him up against the force of gravity.When Sam glanced up from her work with the UAV this was not what she had been expecting. Her neck was at an awkward angle that she could not hold very long, especially when you had a face-full of archeologist to support with just your mouth.Daniel broke the kiss, practically falling over as he tried to get himself back into an upright position. He stared at Sam's face, but couldn't quite interpret the look she had. Daniel thought that he had seen the many faces of Samantha Carter in the three years that he had known her: Determination, happiness, excitement, horror, hope. But this wide-eyed glassy stare was like nothing he had ever seen before.It scared him."Oh, God," he muttered as he made a hasty retreat from her lab.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Sam sat for a moment in utter disbelief.Well, okay, then..... That had been a surprise.....The Gulf War. Yeah, maybe that was the last time she had experienced a surprise attack like that. Of course, that hadn't been a kiss and run.'Okay, maybe the look on my face may have scared anyone off. But still....' Sam thought. 'What the hell was that? Can't that man do anything right? I waited three years for that?'"Wait 'till I get my hands on him," she said out loud to the instruments in her lab. She stopped and smiled at the thought. "That's not helping!"She practically marched out of her lab and down the hallway to his office to give him a piece of her mind. She found him sitting in his chair with his elbows propped up on the desktop. His face was completely buried in his hands."Daniel....," she started out angrily."What?" Came the muffled reply. Neither his hands nor his head moved.Sam sat on the edge of Daniel's desk next to his lift elbow and leaned over him."Daniel," she said again. She waited a moment and then non-too gently pried his hands away from his face.She looked down at him, his hands still in hers. With nothing to say coming to mind Sam swooped down and took possession of his mouth. Just as she had done numerous times in her F-16, it was a hard fast attack that left no time for retaliation.'This is different,' Daniel thought. His eyebrows knit together and his forehead wrinkled as her lips pressed up against his. 'Not bad mind you, just different.'By the time he truly realized what was going on, she had straightened up and was walking out the door.When Daniel's head stopped spinning only one word came to mind.Paybacks.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*It was fortunate that the mission to P3X489 ended up being routine, because two out of the four members of SG1 had gotten very little sleep the night before. Even though the planet was peaceful, Sam and Daniel had no time to talk. This had been set up as a strictly technical expedition, so different objectives sent the two scientists in opposite directions. Daniel and Teal'c ended up heading to the east of the gate where the UAV had shown ruins, while Sam and Jack needed to gather her water and soil sample to the west.The silence to the east of the gate was stifling. Daniel was too deep in thought to talk. He still couldn't figure out what should be happening. As for Teal'c, he knew that something was on Daniel's mind, but Jaffa aren't ones to pry. Teal'c wasn't used to silence from Daniel, but he let the quiet continue. Overall, he felt that Tau're talked too much.He assumed that Daniel's behavior had something to do with Major Carter, but he was unsure why they seemed ill at ease with each other lately. The two had been acting very strangely around each other recently. Teal'c had concluded long ago that his two teammates were soul-mates. He could tell by looking at them, even back in the dungeons of Apophis, that they cared about each other. Teal'c could only guess that because of his own actions in killing Sha're their relationship had changed. Daniel Jackson was no longer mated to anyone and that had most likely changed the way the two viewed each other.One of Teal'c's jobs as First Prime was to assure that his men were all working at top capacity. Obviously, that meant something much different then than it did here on this world, however he still felt obligated to discover a solution to this new situation. Something had to be done soon if the team was to continue at peak efficiency. He just had to figure out what.Besides the professional interest Teal'c had in his teammates, he hated to admit that he had developed a personal interest in them as well. On Chulak it was considered a weakness to develop any kind of attachment to your fellow warriors. It was taught that you could not function properly if you were concerned for others well being.The Tau're were teaching him a new way of thinkingTeal'c would have been the first to admit that it had O'Neill's courage that had convinced him to join the Tau're. However, it had been Daniel Jackson's passion that had made him take notice to the small group of strangers in the dungeon of Apophis in the first place. This man who looked so weak had been willing to sacrifice himself to be with someone whom he cared about. And, it had been his own fault that Daniel felt that he needed to make that sacrifice.It was Daniel's compassion and intelligence combined with O'Neill's strength and cunning that made Teal'c believe, for the first time in his life, that the Goa'uld could be defeated. That day, he had also witnessed Major Carter's spirit and determination in leading the prisoners to freedom. He watched as they worked together to save not only themselves, but everyone in the dungeon. They made him realized the difference between Goa'uld and Tau're: The Tau're believed that true strength was shown by how much you could help others, not by how many people you could enslave through fear.These people had become very important to him. He suddenly realized with amusement that he was concerned as much about their happiness as he was the performance of the team. Teal'c decided to speak to his commanding officer as soon as he got the chance. Perhaps O'Neill would have a suggestion for a solution.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*West of the gate wasn't much louder. Jack knew what was bothering his team, but he was never one to get into "touchy feely" subjects like this. This was between the two of them even though the solution was as plain as the nose on your face. Anyone could see that the two of them were perfect for each other.Daniel and Carter had connected way back on Abydos the first time they met. Back then, he had absolutely no time for scientists and he definitely felt left out of their Ph.D. club. He didn't care what they felt about whom. Things had completely changed since then. Carter and Daniel had definitely altered his opinion about smart people.Now that he knew them both better and actually cared what happened to them, he could see that they were perfect for each other. They were the only two people on base, maybe in the world, who understood each other once they got going full speed. No one else could even stay in the same time zone with most of their conversations. The way they bounced ideas off each other...each pushing the idea and solutions a little further. He could see that they needed to be together to do their best work. Lately, Jack had realized the sheer confidence they were putting in each other. It was as if they thought that as long as they were working on a problem together there was no way a solution wouldn't or couldn't be found.Way smarter then he was.Jack O'Neill wasn't stupid, however. He may not be on their level of intelligence, not many were, but he wouldn't have made it as far as he did in the military by under-estimating situations or people. He had recognized for a long time now that not only did Daniel and Carter need each other professionally and team-wise, they needed each other personally. Lately, he had noticed that they had been spending more time with each other, searching each other out when they were hurt or upset. They seemed to have a calming effect on each other. Daniel seemed to be happier when Sam was around and Carter seemed more relaxed when Daniel was by her side.There had been a time when Jack thought something might happen between Carter and himself. No doubt, there was still a physical attraction on his part, maybe even on hers he wished, but mentally and emotionally there was no compatibility. At first, he had hoped that it was simply regulations that were keeping them at arm's length. Then, slowly but surely, the truth became evident, they were friends, good friends, maybe too good of friends for a commanding officer and his subordinate, but still friends - nothing more.Jack didn't have very may friends, and he felt obligated to take care of the few he had. He figured Daniel was just about the best friend he would ever have. Who would have thought it? When they had first met, he could hardly stand to look at the geeky scientist who had weaseled his way onto the team. Somewhere along the way, however, Jack developed a soft spot in his heart for the younger man. There weren't many people that Jack worried about impressing in this world, but Daniel turned out to be one of them. Jack had done many questionable things during his time in the military and the black ops. Daniel was slowing giving him back his conscience and his soul. Maybe if he could give Daniel some happiness in his life, he would be able to pay back the younger man slightly.It was because of this friendship he had with both of his teammates that he knew he had to get them together. Now that he had figured out how they felt about each other, all he had to do was find a way to get the two of them to admit it.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*With the mission completed and nothing more being said, the team met back at the gate to travel home. In a very unusual move, Jack stepped up to the DHD and pressed the symbols for home. Motioning for Teal'c to stay behind, he allowed Sam and Daniel to step into the wormhole first. He might not have been good at this touchy feely stuff, but he knew something had to be done.Action was something Jack was good at.After a brief conversation, the Colonel and Jaffa followed the two scientists through the event horizon that would lead them back home.Once back at the SGC, in a very uncharacteristically clumsy move Jack bumped into Daniel coming down the ramp, knocking his glasses to the floor. Teal'c glanced quickly at Jack, surprised at the Colonel's actions. Then, with a quick rise of the eyebrow he abruptly sidestepped around Daniel smashing the spectacles flat."Jeez, Daniel, I'm sorry." Jack said handing the mashed wire and glass to the confused archeologist."I, too, apologize for my part in the breaking of your glasses," Teal'c said with a slight bow of his head. " I was unaware of O'Niell's action until it was too late.""It's okay guys," Daniel said glancing up to the control room. "Now at least other people will see that it's not always my fault when I get hurt.""Yeah, like they're going to believe that," Jack said under his breath."Anyway, I have another pair back in my office. I've kind of gotten used to keeping an extra pair around." Daniel admitted. "I'll pick them up after the physical.""Why don't you guys head on back to the infirmary," Jack said patting Teal'c on the shoulder. "I've got a few thing to do and the I'll meet you at the debriefing.""Yeah, okay," Daniel mumbled, still looking down at the mess Jack had handed him. He was continued to stare at the chaos in his hand even as Teal'c was guiding out through the door and down the hall.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*"Kids, I'm out'ta here. Things to see, people to do. Catch you all tomorrow," Jack said after being dismissed from the rather nondescript debrief."Uh, Jack, could I grab a lift home with you," Daniel said chasing him out the door. "I was sure that I had my extra glasses here, but I must have left them at home."I, uh, wasn't heading straight home from here today. Carter will have to give you a lift.""Oh...., Sir, I really don't...." Carter stammered."Don't make me make that an order, Major. It's my fault that his glasses got broken and he needs a ride home. Cut me a break, here and help me out." Jack practically begged his second in command."Yes, sir." Carter said, and then turned towards Daniel. "Just let me know when you want me to give you the ride.""I guess I want you now," Daniel said. "To take me home.... uh....my home, of course!.... Drop me off at my place...uh....please?"Suddenly the conference room was feeling very warm.Sam and Daniel continued down the hallway while Jack and Teal'c stood and watched."I assume you were successful in locating Daniel Jackson's second pair of glasses?" Teal'c said to Jack quietly."Yeah, I got'ta go put them back now. I guess in a different place so it won't be too obvious. Although with all of those rocks and books laying around that place it's a wonder he can find anything anyway." Jack mumbled heading out the door.Suddenly he paused and turned around. "Hey, Teal'c. Wan'na take a ride in a little bit?"*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*On the ride home, Sam seemed to be concentrating very heavily on the road in front of her. Daniel glanced over towards her repeatedly, however it was hard to read her emotions in the fading sunlight of the day. He hated to interrupt her train of thought, and wasn't sure what to say even if he did speak. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, he felt like he would explode if one of them didn't say something."Sam?"Daniel had spoken her name softly, but in the previously silent vehicle it sounded like a shout."Here we are!" Sam answered louder than she had intended. She breathed a sigh of relief as she pulled over to the curb in front of his building. Daniel looked toward the front door of his building and then thumped his head against the passenger window. 'It's all in the timing,' he thought"Sam, we really need to talk." Daniel said quietly looking over at her. He moved slightly closer to her, so that she could see is face in the semi-darkness of the car, but she still refused to meet his eyes."Sam," he tried one more time. There was no question in his voice this time, just a statement of everything they both knew to be true. Their deep friendship over the past few years had been a paving the way towards this moment for a long time. They both already knew exactly what was happening.Slowly Sam raised her face to finally meet his gaze. In doing so, she realized that her lips were just a breath away from his and the temptation was just too strong. She softly brushed her lips against his twice before settling in to the proper kiss they had both been longing for, for so long. This time, there was no awkward positions involved, no thoughts of paybacks, only Sam and Daniel's true feelings for each other being shared.Time passed unnoticed, while the two finally let their emotions flow to the other. Still not completely certain how this was going to effect their future, they finally broke apart."That! Th... th...that right there! Would you please tell me why that keeps happening?" Daniel stuttered once Sam's mouth left his. His index finger was extended punctuating each word to emphasize his meaning. "Every time I try to talk to you....THAT keeps happening!""Maybe it's a sign that we've talked enough," Sam said quietly, staring into his eyes. Slowly, without breaking eye contact with him until the last possible second, she raised her lips to his again.As much as Daniel had been waiting for this moment for so long, he still felt he needed desperately to explain things to Sam. Once her lips met his he reconsidered his opinion. He had waited this long; there was no harm in him waiting a little bit longer, he figured. And, he noted, before his brain stopped thinking altogether, her lips did fit his perfectly, maybe they could stay there awhile.Many......many moments later they broke apart.Daniel looked toward Sam and had no idea what they could possibly need to talk about. He still felt the need to say something, however. "It's just that I want... I think...maybe, we should....or need to....."Sam gently placed her finger over Daniel's lips to stop his babbling."Daniel, it doesn't matter. I know we need to take a lot of time with this. Whatever happens, I just need to know that we will always be friends. I need you in my life, in whatever capacity you want to be there in." Her voice became firm with conviction. "I can't even imagine what my life would be like without you ...your friendship....your company....your support. You've become way too important to me in the last few years to lose."Daniel mentally kicked himself. Why had he thought that this situation would be any different then anything he and Sam had experienced over the years? They had always thought alike ever since the first time that had met. Of course she would understand what he was feeling right now."Hey, its okay." Daniel said, placing his hand under her chin forcing her to look at him. Sam was right; maybe they had talked enough. She knew exactly what he was feeling and vice-versa. "I'm not going anywhere. You're right, I just want to go slow and make sure we do this right. I need you in my life, too. I don't think that I would have been able to make it the last few years without you."Sam moved closer to Daniel and rested her head against his chest. Daniel's left arm settled around Sam's shoulders, like it was custom made to be in that position. His right hand reached for hers and held it gently while they relaxed into each other. Time seemed to stop moving, as they each tried to take in this situation they had each only dreamed of previously.Reality was definitely better than either of them ever could have imagined.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Lost as they were in each other, neither Sam nor Daniel noticed the small dark car that had repeatedly driven past them every few moments."Is not this an ineffective way of reaching our destination, O'Neill?" Teal'c finally asked the fourth time around the block."We really aren't trying to get anywhere, Teal'c. We're on a covert information gathering mission." Jack tried to explain to his friend. "We're just trying to see how things are progressing."Jack slowed the car to a crawl the fifth time around the block. He was rewarded by a view of Daniel and Sam walking through the door of the apartment building, hand in hand."And, it appears as though this mission was a success." Jack breathed a sigh of relief. He continued staring out of the car window as he pressed down on the accelerator."Indeed," Teal'c said bowing his head slightly. He suddenly raised his head and his eyebrow at Colonel O'Neill's next words."Teal'c, what do you know about being an uncle?" Jack asked as the car sped around the corner one last time.If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to Nancy Claycomb
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