Title: Keeping Watch

Author: Wonderland

Rating: G

Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em, wish I did, you know who does, yadda, yadda, yadda

Summary: Missing Scene from Threads.

Season/Spoiler info: Threads

Author’s Notes: I always thought it was a shame that Daniel didn’t visit Sam while he was ascended, this is my way of rectifying that.

Keeping Watch

“Sam?”

She didn’t look up, didn’t even stir. There wasn’t anyone there, there couldn’t be anyone there.

Mark was on his way back to California, his disbelief warring with grief and anger. Disbelief that his father was really dead, grief for the loss, anger at the circumstances that had taken his father so far away for so long.

Telling Mark that Jacob had been on special assignment for the Air Force hadn’t been enough; he wasn’t stupid, he’d known something was going on. And he knew that his sister was privy to a part of their father’s life where he could never be accepted.

General O’Neill had taken himself off as soon as he could politely do so. General Hammond and Teal’c had sent regrets from the far flung venues of DC and Dakara.

She’d made Pete leave, told him she wanted to be left alone. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him taking her at her word.

“Sam.” The soft whisper came again, wafting over her quietly.

“What?” She angrily wiped eyes that refused to stop watering.

“Sam.”

“God, Daniel, what is it now!” A gasp escaped her as she recognized the voice. “Daniel?” She leaped up. It couldn’t be, it just couldn’t be. “Daniel?”

“More or less,” he smiled warily, hands jammed in the pockets of his khakis, softly white sweater gleaming in the darkening shadows of sunset.

She didn’t even question why she wasn’t questioning. “Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick.”

His brows knit. “I’m nor really sure. I heard you crying.”

“You heard me crying? And you…”

“You needed me. I came.” He replied simply.

His warm, patient eyes broke down her defenses. “My dad…” She choked the words out.

“I know and I’m so sorry. I know it’s hard, we don’t ever want to give up the people we love. But sometimes, we don’t have a choice.”

“No, Daniel, no! I just lost my father, I’m damn sure not giving you up, too.” Anger came easily now.

“Sam. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Daniel, are you…?”

“I don’t know, I really don’t. The last thing I remember is fighting the replicators with you then poof, here I am.”

“Daniel, that was two weeks ago.”

“Really?” He seemed puzzled. “Then I really don’t know where I am or what I’ve been doing.” He shook his head sadly. “All I know is that you shouldn’t be alone, so…”

“You’re gonna keep my company?” Sam almost laughed.

“Lie down, Sam. Close your eyes. You need to rest.” She didn’t know why she obeyed, only that her head hurt and a nap seemed like a good idea. Curling up on the couch, she pulled a soft throw over her body. “Do you want me to tell you a story?”

She did laugh then. “A bedtime story? Daniel, I’m not a child.”

“Yes, you are.” She felt a warm breeze stir her hair. “Right now, you’re a little girl who’s just lost her father. It’s alright to be sad. I just wish there was more I could do for you.” Her eyes slowly drifted shut. “All I can do is be here. For as long as you need me. I won’t leave you, Sam. Ever.”

*

Sam woke hours later to a quiet house, hearing only the steady drip of rain outside the window.

She was alone.

Again.