Carter and Daniel trudged through dense forest, a few steps behind an exuberant Mitchell, and a stoic Teal'c.

Mitchell remarked, "What a green galaxy we live in. Maybe when that global warming thing comes true, us Tau'ri could resettle on a few planets in this neck of the woods."

"Indeed, ColonelMitchell, but then in time, they would ruin those planets too."

"Ah yes, but then there's the Pegasus galaxy they could make a nuisance of themselves in, and the many other galaxies out there."

The two scientists smiled at the exchange, and Carter piped up, "And besides, that sort of damage would take thousands of years to make the planets uninhabitable."

Mitchell chuckled and remarked, "Enough time to make a few million more little Tau'ri, and develop weapons to nuke each other."

Daniel smiled at this briefly, before they reached the 'gate.

Mitchell said, "Carter, dial us out."

Carter dialled Earth and, the event horizon established, Mitchell and Teal'c walked through. Carter and Daniel were about to do the same, when a mid-range Ori bomber flew really low towards them, and began to shoot up the clearing surrounding the 'gate.

Carter called into her radio, "Stargate Command, this is Carter, we're being attacked by an Ori bomber!"

They dived into the event horizon, just as the bomber shot the 'gate.

At the SGC, Teal'c, Mitchell and Landry waited expectantly at the bottom of the ramp. They had heard the radio transmission, and hoped that their friends would be alright. Suddenly, they noticed that the event horizon appeared to short circuit and then it shut down.

Landry called up to the control room, "Walter?! What's going on?"

Walter replied via the microphone, "Sir, the 'gate shut down."

Mitchell, remembering a mission report, called, "Could their patterns be still in the buffer?"

"No Sir, there appears to have been a power surge."

Mitchell remembered another mission report, and asked, "Where's the nearest 'gate?"

"It used to be the Antarctic one, and then Abydos, Sir, but it's now Edora."

Mitchell approached Landry and said, "Sir, request permission to mount a search and rescue to Edora."

"Granted. Walter, dial the 'gate!"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Take SG-3 with you."

Carter and Daniel found themselves in an icy cavern, where she exclaimed, "We can't be in Antarctica - that gate's at the SGC now!"

He asked, "Could there be one in the Arctic?"

"Don't see how - there's no land there."

"So, let's dial home then -- if we're on another planet, it won't be like dialling our own number."

She chuckled and said, "The phone analogy again!"

They looked for the DHD, and eventually found one, buried beneath at least half a metre of ice.

She exclaimed, "Oh, it's gonna be hard work!"

They proceeded to dig at the ice with picks from their rucksacks, and she remarked, "What I wouldn't do for a flamethrower right about now!"

He joked, "Maybe we should introduce it to Doctor Lam -- that would scare it into melting."

They laughed as they continued digging.

SG-3 and Teal'c, led by Mitchell, arrived on Edora, where they were greeted by Laira.

"Is Jack not with you?"

Mitchell replied, "No Ma'am, he no longer leads our little group any more. He got promoted."

She smiled and replied wistfully, "That is a shame - our son will grow up to be a fine young man."

Reynolds barely restrained a smile, as Mitchell exclaimed, "Excuse me?!"

"Yes, Jack left me with child."

Mitchell looked surprised for a brief moment, before he said, "Well, Captain Kirk aside, we came to look for two of our friends who may have accidentally come here. Did you see Sam or Jackson?"

She shook her head and replied, "No-one has come through the stone ring for twenty-five moons, when representatives from your planet ceased mining for the mineral in our soil."

He tipped his hat at her and said with a smile, "Thank you, Ma'am."

"Will you not share midday meal with us?"

"Some other time, maybe. Thank you. We've got to look for our friends."

"May the good fortune of your ancestors shine on you."

"Pardon me?"

Teal'c whispered, "I think that she is saying 'good luck'."

They returned to the SGC, Landry waiting expectantly at the bottom of the ramp, and Mitchell said, frustrated, "No-one's seen hide nor hair of those two, Sir. I think we may need to brainstorm some more options."

Landry, disappointed, said, "Ok... briefing in one hour."

The personnel exited the gateroom, Mitchell impatiently swinging his hat.

Five hours later, the scientists were still digging at the ice, when they managed to dig through the last stratum. She gleefully ripped her glove off, and attempted to dial the 'gate, when nothing happened.

She threw her glove down in disgust, exclaiming, "For cryin' out loud!"

He placed his hand on her shoulder, and said calmly, "Maybe something needs rewiring."

She shrugged and they began to dig at the back of the DHD.

Another three hours later, he managed to pry open the back, and she shone her flashlight in. What she saw made her shoulders slump in resignation. He asked her, concerned, "Sam, what is it?"

She replied, trying to keep a level voice, "It's totally fried. There's no way home - we don't have a power source of any sort. We're stuck."

He said, optimistic, "They'll find us. We've been in worse situations before."

"Name but one."

"Um... um... there was Apophis' ship... Ne'tu..."

He continued, "Maybe we should see what's outside of this cavern."

Together they found a chink in the ice, through which daylight was visible, and they dug at it. Eventually, a tunnel just large enough to allow Carter through, was made, and she squeezed through and looked around herself. There was nothing but ice and snow as far as the eye could see.

She was about to climb down, when she slipped and crashed back through the tunnel, and fell awkwardly onto the floor of the cavern.

He ran to her aid and cradled her head, asking frantically, "Sam! Sam, are you alright?!"

Her eyes flickered open and she said hoarsely, "I think I've broken a rib and I can't feel my legs."

All the available Physicists sat around the briefing table, with Mitchell, Teal'c and Landry. They had been debating for hours on end about what could have happened.

Lee said, "Maybe we should start with the nearest available 'gate and go further."

McKay haughtily replied, "And waste time! They would have dialled home by now! Maybe they're in the buffer!"

Teal'c looked at him grimly, before Felger suggested, "Perhaps one of the nearest planets in the 'gate system has a second 'gate, just like Earth once did. I think we should be searching Abydos' polar regions."

McKay exclaimed, "How much time are you planning on wasting?! Do you even know how long that would take?!"

Landry retorted, "If it brings our people home, it doesn't matter how long it takes!"

McKay rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, "Fine, secondary 'gate... let's go look for it."

Mitchell remarked, much to everyone's amusement, "Can it McKay - don't think I forgot to bring a lemon!"

Landry smiled briefly, before saying, "We could try Abydos, but last time it was dialled, it didn't divert to a secondary 'gate."

Teal'c said, "DanielJackson once said, 'in the kingdom of hope, there is no winter,' and I agree with him."

She began to shiver violently, as did he. He took his jacket off, laid down next to her, and spread it over them. He wrapped his arms around her and said dejectedly, "That should hold off the cold for a while longer."

She nodded, her eyes still closed, trying to block out the cold, the pain and the numbness.

She murmured, "Do you think we'll be found in time?"

He replied as he held her closer, "I don't know. Ten years and it all ends like this."

"They won't rest until we're found - it's always been like that, and the SG-1 spirit has become second nature to Cam."

"Yeah, I remember when you and Jack were stuck on Antarctica - Teal'c and I were up all night, thinking where you'd got to. I then remembered the phone analogy and asked him what happens if you try to call your own number. Wrong person to ask, obviously, but it led to getting you both back."

"Thank you."

She opened her eyes and kissed him on the cheek, as he caressed her face, saying, "I don't want to lose you again, Sam."

She nodded, and closed her eyes, tiredness overwhelming her.

He knew that if she slept, it would be for the last time, so he gently shook her, saying loudly, "Sam! Sam! Don't fall asleep! You could have hypothermia."

She struggled to open her eyes, murmuring with a weak smile, "I wasn't sleeping - I was just resting my eyes!"

He said, "Come on, you're gonna have to sing in order to stay awake."

She groaned, "Do I have to?"

"We could talk."

"Much more promising... I'm not much of a singer. So, how are we for food and water?"

"It doesn't look too good, Sam... the food'll last for three days tops, and the water we could stretch out for about two days, but then again, we're surrounded by the stuff! Unfortunately, Mitchell's got the stove."

Teal'c and Mitchell were in Daniel's office, the former standing stoically, ever watchful, while the latter idly flicked through books, and touched artefacts.

Mitchell said with a sigh, "Doesn't look too promising, does it T?"

Teal'c, allowing himself to express the smallest amount of emotion, replied, "Indeed. I am afraid that we have lost them for good, but there is always hope, and that is a very good thing. I remember when O'Neill and ColonelCarter were missing in similar circumstances. DanielJackson and I worried a lot, but he worked it out and saved their lives."

"Yeah, this time, we don't have Jackson here thinking out of the box. Those damn scientists should be ashamed of themselves! I hope the 'gate diverted to somewhere like Rio."

"Indeed."

"I suggested that we ring up the Asgard, but I get the feeling Landry doesn't like Kvasir. To be honest, I can see why. I only hope we're not too late."

Before Teal'c could reply, O'Neill strolled in and remarked, "They're boned - we need someone like Carter here."

Mitchell stood to attention with a surprised look on his face, as Teal'c smiled and said, "O'Neill."

"At ease, Mitchell. So, how're you guys holding up?"

Teal'c resumed his grim expression as Mitchell replied, scratching the back of his head, "Not good, Sir. I take it you've been briefed."

"Damn straight - that's why I'm here! So, scientists going round in circles?"

"McKay's pretty much shooting down hypotheses, although Lee came up with a pretty good idea about checking out the nearest 'gates, and Felger suggested searching Abydos' polar regions."

"Ya know, I say we get that four foot nine fighting machine in!"

"Sir?"

Teal'c informed him, "O'Neill is referring to LieutenantHailey."

O'Neill corrected him, "That's Captain Hailey... I've been keeping tabs on her in case Carter went AWOL."

"Oh right, the mission with the electrical creatures."

"Sam?"

Carter's eyes had closed again, and he gently shook her, but to no avail. He then shook her a little firmer and she began to stir.

"You've got to fight it."

Her eyes flickered briefly, before she hoarsely whispered, "Dad?"

He realised that she was close to death, but he didn't know what to do, so he held her tighter, whispering, "Sam, please, stay with me."

Her eyes closed again and she smiled, so he shook her much firmer than previously, and shouted hoarsely as the cold gradually affected him more, "Sam! Fight it! Come back to me."

She groaned in discomfort and murmured, "Dad, I can't go with you."

He looked at her, hope in his eyes, as she coughed and murmured, "I think the cold's gone."

He said loudly, "Sam, it's the hypothermia. Wake up."

Her eyes slowly opened and she squinted at him, whispering, "Dad was here."

"I know. Hang in there a while longer."

"It's hard - I can't feel anything."

"Do you want some water?"

She had lost her voice, so he reached over and clumsily fumbled with his rucksack. He then realised that frostbite was setting in.

He pulled her gloves off and murmured, "You've got frostbite too."

She smiled weakly in acknowledgement, too weak to move her head.

Suddenly, everything began to shake, and ice began to drop from the cavern's roof. He immediately shielded her with his body, silently hoping they would be found very soon.

Within a few hours, Hailey had memorised every detail of the 'gate system. She hypothesised that everyone's favourite scientists had been sent to a 'gate address rather similar to Earth's, or one with a different combination of symbols.

Chloe helped her to draw up a long list of combinations, resulting in thousands of 'gate addresses. Hailey then fed them into the database, which proceeded to match designation numbers and names with the symbols.

A few more hours later, Hailey had compiled a list of designation numbers and names, and another list of the unidentified addresses, viz. the planets SG-1 hadn't got round to visiting yet.

She presented her results at a briefing, and it was decided that the planets be explored a number at a time by MALPs and then SG teams.

This resulted in McKay arguing about time wasting, and Hailey retorting, "You've never been through the 'gate."

Daniel realised he had drifted off when he was woken up by the sound of the event horizon establishing. He looked over at Carter, who had dozed off again, and he shook her firmly. Her eyes opened, and he inclined his head towards the 'gate.

She, with great difficulty, looked at the 'gate, and her eyes lit up as a MALP slowly made its way through.

She looked up at him curiously, and as if he had read her mind, he shook his head and whispered, "No, it's not a dream."

The MALP stopped a metre away from them, and they saw the camera move. They heard Landry's relieved voice via the radio, "Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson!"

Daniel nodded weakly and said hoarsely into the microphone, "The DHD is not working. Sam's got hypothermia, and I think she's broken a rib and her legs. We've both got frostbite."

"Don't worry, Doctor - I'm sending the Odyssey to pick you up!"

Daniel smiled weakly and nodded, before turning to her and whispering, "We're going home."

She smiled and fought to keep her eyes open.

Twelve hours later, their unconscious forms were being wheeled through the corridors of the SGC, medical personnel bustling around them. O'Neill, Teal'c and Mitchell were trying to keep up with the gurnies, but were stopped from going into the Infirmary by Lam and Brightman.

The two scientists were treated for hypothermia, dehydration and frostbite. Carter was also treated for a broken leg and a bruised rib. Daniel got off lightly in comparison with a broken ankle.

O'Neill, Teal'c and Mitchell watched their friends through the observation window.

O'Neill said, relief evident on his face, "That was definitely worse than Antarctica!"

"Indeed."

Mitchell said with a relieved smile, "I don't know how you coped with almost losing those two so many times, Sir."

"Well, ya know, you get used to it eventually, especially when Daniel goes off without any regard for his wellbeing."

Teal'c, a man who communicated more with less, smiled as he looked down at his team-mates.

Mitchell asked, "D'you think they'll pull through?"

"Well, they're both strong people, and y'know Daniel... he won't even let death stop him."

A couple of weeks later, Landry pulled SG-1 from active duty, until Carter and Daniel were back on their feet.

Daniel had bounced back pretty quickly, and Lam hypothesised that it was a legacy of his ascended days. Carter, on the other hand, had to be off her feet for a while.

There was a little ceremony in the gateroom, where Hailey was awarded a special medal for finding Carter and Daniel. The two members of SG-1, one of them in a wheelchair, thanked her profusely, and hugged her.

McKay had remarked, "No hug for me?!"

Mitchell retorted, "No, but you can have Grandma Mitchell's famous lemon pie."

Lam recommended that the scientists go home to rest, so O'Neill and Mitchell flipped coins to decide where to establish a base. Fate won, and Carter's house was chosen.

Daniel, characteristically unselfish, flatly refused to be mothered. He argued with O'Neill for at least an hour:

"Jack..."

"Look Daniel, you're gonna be piled high with down quilts and you're not having a say in the matter."

I'm fine!"

"You're as fine as a broken '78, now shut up and get mothered!"

"No."

"Daniel..."

"No."

"For cryin' out loud, you're going to Carter's house even if me and Teal'c have to drag you there."

"I never said that I wouldn't go - I can look after her."

"Jesus, Daniel... you've broken your ankle, and you were frozen!"

"No I wasn't, and besides, I'm much better now. Jack, I nearly lost her... please don't make this difficult."

"Difficult?! Who's being difficult?! You're lucky I can't stay much longer, or you'll be experiencing the patented full blown Grandma O'Neill treatment! Look, I'll stay over for the coupl'a days I have before Washington, and see how you cope. If I see you can't manage, I'll rope Mitchell and Teal'c in, capische?"

Daniel hung his head, hiding his welling emotions, and whispered, "Thanks Jack."

O'Neill looked at him with concern, put a hand on the younger man's shoulder, and said quietly, "Hey, it's ok... I know you care for her a lot."

Later that day, Teal'c carried Carter up the stairs to her bedroom, with O'Neill and a limping Daniel following.

She joked, "This takes me back."

O'Neill quipped, "Yeah, for a kid, Orlin must've been pretty strong!"

"Sir!"

"Y'know I'm kidding."

Daniel asked, "Were you thinking of Jacob?"

Carter replied with a nostalgic smile, "Yeah. Dad used to carry me up to my bed when I fell asleep reading."

Daniel smiled as O'Neill remarked, "Don't know how he managed it - you would've been quite heavy three years ago."

"Sir!"

They entered her room, where the Jaffa gently laid her down onto the bed.

Teal'c asked, "Do you need anything, ColonelCarter?"

She was about to shake her head, when she realised something, and then said, "I've got to change my clothes... could you guys skedaddle for a bit?"

O'Neill raised his eyebrows and said, "Sure."

Daniel asked her with a concerned expression, "Can you manage by yourself?"

"I think so, thanks."

The three men left, as she attempted to work out how she was going to go about changing.

They waited outside her door, O'Neill remarking, "Any excuse, Dannyboy."

"What?!"

"Y'know..."

"Shut up Jack."

Teal'c smiled a small knowing smile before he said, "O'Neill, I must depart. GeneralLandry insisted that I not stay longer than necessary, taking into account the Trust's great dislike of me."

"Sure thing, T - here's the keys to my SUV."

"I am in your debt, O'Neill."

"No you're not - you've saved all of us tonnes of times. Go on now before ol' Hank sends SG-3 to investigate."

Teal'c left the house, as O'Neill continued to tease Daniel.

Suddenly, they heard a loud thump accompanied by a groan, and Daniel called, "Sam! Are you alright?"

The muffled reply came back, "I take back what I said about managing..."

"Do you want some help?"

O'Neill gave him a knowing look as she called back, "If you insist, but you're gonna get embarrassed."

O'Neill called, "It'll take a while for Lam to come over!"

Daniel frowned slightly before calling gently, "Sam, I'll close my eyes, I promise."

"Um, ok."

He went in, shutting the door behind him, and proceeded to help her into her pyjamas, closing his eyes when he felt it was required.

O'Neill could be heard remarking, "Don't keep us up all night!"

Daniel blushed as Carter exclaimed, "Sir, with all respect, you've got a smuttier mind than all those gossiping nurses!"

"Hey, it's what I do."

That night, with Carter safely tucked up in bed, O'Neill and Daniel were downstairs. The former was flicking through channels, loudly noting the lack of ESPN, while the latter cleaned her kitchen.

O'Neill got up and watched Daniel from the doorway, remarking, "You wanna put your feet up before you break the other ankle?"

"It's the least I can do for her."

"You sound guilt-ridden - wanna talk? Come on, the place is spotless."

"Jack..."

"Daniel... for cryin' out loud, there's something on your mind, and I'm not gonna back off 'til you tell me what it is."

Daniel closed his eyes briefly before rinsing the cloth and washing his hands. He reluctantly joined his friend in the lounge, hobbling along on his crutches.

Daniel slowly sat down on the sofa, his knees still a little stiff after his ordeal, and O'Neill perched on the arm.

"So Dannyboy, what's on your mind?"

"It was awful, Jack. I thought I was going to lose her. We were stranded for aeons in the cold, and I had to fight to keep her awake. And then there was an earthquake, and everything started falling on us. At one point, she was talking to Jacob."

"Sounds like hypothermia alright. So, how did she get the break and bruise?"

"We were digging at a small hole, and she climbed up to see what was out there. She was about to come back down, when she lost her grip and fell awkwardly. She told me that she couldn't feel her legs."

O'Neill raised his eyebrows in surprise and exclaimed, "That sounds much worse than Antarctica! Glad we got Hailey in when we did."

"Me too. Thanks."

"Hey, no problem. It was the least I could do."

Daniel put his head in his hands as the traumatic events flashed through his mind, and O'Neill sat next to him and pulled him into a hug.

"Oh Gd, Jack. I thought I was going to lose her!"

"Daniel, she's alive because of you, d'ya hear? Stop beating yourself up about it!"

"It was awful..."

"I know, Danny, I know."

He let go of the younger man, and said seriously, "Daniel, it's obvious you have feelings for her - why don't you tell her?"

Daniel looked down at her coffee table, unable to meet the older man's gaze, as he replied, "I can't, Jack. I always thought you and her would get together when she was no longer under your command. I couldn't do that to either of you."

"For cryin' out loud, Daniel! I'll admit that she is a very attractive woman, but what have we got beyond attraction? Hmm? You two could keep each other up all night, talking about rocks and planets, whereas I'd just space out - ya know what all that techno babble does to me. Go on... go for it."

Daniel's heart began to beat faster before his sense of responsibility kicked in, and he replied, "I can't Jack. She needs a friend more than anything now."

"Well, then think about it, eh?"

"Ok... thanks Jack."

"Hey any time, Space monkey. You're how I imagine Charlie would have been like."

"That reminds me, are you still in touch with mini-Jack?"

"Nah, we thought it best that he not stay in touch - let the young man have a life."

"Aren't you worried he could enlist in the Air Force?"

"If he's anything like me, he'd be content with sitting on the dock of the bay with a few beers. I am done with all that gung-ho stuff."

"What about the Stargate? Our robot doubles were bounding about, saving the Universe when we turned our backs."

"There's that, but he understands what he can't do."

"Like that's ever stopped you!"

Later that night, Daniel limped upstairs to check on Carter.

"Sam," he whispered from the doorway.

She groaned a little before replying, "Yeah?"

"Were you sleeping?"

"No... I gave up trying hours back. What's up?"

"Just seeing if you were alright."

"Apart from my leg and ribs hurting, I'm fine - I think I might go play hockey tomorrow."

He chuckled and remarked, "You sure picked up Jack's sarcasm."

She turned over with difficulty, and said with a smile, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For keeping me awake back there."

"'s nothing. I didn't want to lose you."

He sat down the edge of the bed, and she asked, "How's the ankle?"

"Oh, it's serviceable, but I can identify with Jack now, what with the stiff knees."

"Yeah, I got a bit of that too... makes me feel old!"

"Don't get started about feeling old - I'm surprised I haven't had my mid-life crisis yet!"

"Tell me about it... with all this saving the Universe, we haven't been able to hold down solid relationships!"

"That's worthy of another 'tell me about it'."

She gazed up at him before asking, "D'you miss Sha're?"

He replied with a sigh, as he looked down at his hands, "Sometimes, but other times I think that she's in a much better place."

She sat up and touched his hand, saying soothingly, "Yeah, she's not suffering any more."

Their gazes met, and he asked, "How about Martouf?"

She looked away, thoughts of the ex-Tok'ra filtering into her head, and she said, chewing her lip, "I didn't really know him that much - we only became friends 'cos of Jolinar and Lantash. I miss him though, and I feel guilty for shooting him, but I had to do it."

Tears pricked her eyes and he hugged her, saying, "I'm sorry - I shouldn't have brought that up."

"It's ok - I've been thinking about him recently. Remember when we were all stuck on Ne'tu? We all got fed that compound, and the poor guy thought that I was Jolinar, and he relented to the torture. Luckily he lied about the location of the Tok'ra base."

"We've had so many adventures with the Tok'ra. Thankfully Teal'c saved us that day, rather than let Aldwin sacrifice us."

"Oh Gd yeah, that sacrificing instinct they have is so annoying, but I suppose it's out of necessity."

"Yeah."

"Daniel?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being there for me."

"Sam, you don't have to thank me - I'd do it a million times over. I thought I was going to lose you and that was scary."

She pulled him into a hug, as he caressed her back, and she whispered, "I love you."

He pulled away and exclaimed in a whisper, "What?!"

She smiled and repeated, "I love you."

He was stunned at this, and then he blushed, clearing his throat.

He took a deep breath and then said quickly, "I love you too."

They smiled at each other, as he tenderly caressed her jaw, and she ran her fingers through his hair.

O'Neill, satisfied that Daniel could manage, left for Washington after a couple of days. Before he left, he made the younger man promise that if anything happened, he would call either Mitchell or Lam. However, he also arranged for Lam or Brightman to pop round every morning to assist Carter in the bathroom.

The morning after O'Neill left, and right after Brightman left for the SGC, Daniel helped Carter downstairs for breakfast, and she exclaimed on seeing the plate, bowl and mug laden table, "Holy Hannah, I had all this in my cupboards?!"

He remarked with a smile, "It's a wonder what a man can rustle up with a few eggs, flour and some butter."

He continued with a sober smile when she raised an eyebrow, "Ok, to tell the truth, I only made the coffee - it turns out that Jack ordered all our meals for the next six months, and filled the fridge with beer that would last a regular person a year, but him, a few weeks."

She chuckled as they sat down, and he asked her, "How're you feeling?"

"Leg hurts like hell, but it's better than before. How's the ankle?"

"I hate using the crutches, but it hurts doing the laddy with the limp."

She laughed and exclaimed, "Laddy with the limp!?"

Before he could reply, there was a knock at the door.

He got up and hopped to the door, as she remarked with a giggle, "More like the hopping homme!"

He opened the door to the beaming faces of Vala and Mitchell, the former remarking, "See what happens when I let you lot go on missions without me?!"

Daniel smiled before Mitchell remarked with a grin, "Hey, aren't you supposed to be using crutches?"

"Yeah, but they're really annoying."

He led them through to the breakfast table, where Mitchell asked Carter, "Hey Sam, how're you holding up?"

She replied with a smile, "I'm cool, give or take a few definitions of the word."

Vala eyed up the food as Mitchell exclaimed, "Woah Jackson, you rustled all this up?!"

Before Daniel could reply, Carter joked as she smiled knowingly at Daniel, "He sure did."

Daniel chuckled and said, "Sit down - there's tonnes of stuff here. Jack ordered enough food to feed every SG team plus NORAD and the Pentagon."

They chuckled as they sat down and began to eat, Mitchell remarking, "I knew it was too much for even you, Jackson! You should've called me - I'd've made you guys a wonderful omelette!"

Later that evening, after a visit from Teal'c, the two of them watched a DVD together. Daniel laid down on the sofa, with Carter laid strategically on top of him. He put a supporting arm around her, in order to stop her from falling off as she laughed at the idea of the MIB HQ being a locker in an intergalactic train station.

The cordless rang, and luckily it was on the arm of the sofa, so he reached up and answered it as Carter turned the TV volume down:

"Hello?"

"Hey Dannyboy, how're you doing?"

"Hi Jack... we're cool."

"Y'sure?"

"Yes."

"What'cha doin'?"

"Just finished watching MIB II."

"Sure you are!"

"Jack! Will you stop insinuating stuff?!"

"Insinuating?! Is that what I'm doing? Ok, I've got to make a note of that for future reference. Seriously though, do you need anything?"

"No. Thanks for ordering all those meals."

"Hey, it's the least I can do for you two. How's Carter's leg?"

"It's still hurting but it's better than before - she doesn't need the painkillers as much."

"Hey, you take it easy, ok? You wanna stay off that ankle of yours for as long as possible."

"Jack, I'm fine."

"If you make it worse, I swear I'm gonna come down to Colorado Springs and feed you copious amounts of chicken soup!"

"Jack!"

"Daniel... seriously though..."

"What, you mean you weren't serious before?!"

"Ha, ha, funny. If you get any sharper, you'll cut yourself. Anyway,

seriously though, take it easy."

"Jack..."

"Look I know you - death wasn't able to stop you, so you're not gonna ease up on that ankle of yours!"

"Jack, I'm not gonna make it worse!"

"Sure! Anyhoo, tell Carter I said 'hi'... I better be off - got a tonne of paperwork... y'know, the problems with being near the epicentre of this bunch of egos is the paperwork, oh, and the hours."

"Ok, bye Jack... thanks for calling."

"Yasureyabetcha!"

He disconnected the line and Carter remarked, "Well that sounded surreal!"

He put the cordless back, and said with a chuckle, "He was implying that we were, ahem, doing it, before threatening to load me up with chicken soup if I didn't ease off the ankle. Oh, and he said 'hi'."

She raised an eyebrow and laughed.

He remarked, "Well, I suppose it's Jack being Jack."

She retorted with a grin, "It's the patented Grandma O'Neill maternal instinct via the telephone."

A few nights later, as Carter laid in Daniel's arms on the sofa, the two of them watching another film, he asked her, "Are you alright getting up?"

"Why, do you need the bathroom?"

He shook his head, then realised she couldn't see his head, so he said, "No, I was thinking we could go outside and look at the stars."

She turned her head to look at him and said, concerned, "I'd love to, but it's gonna be tough for you."

"No sweat, Sam - I'm worried about you."

"My leg still hurts like hell, but I'd do anything to get out of here."

He gently eased her up to a sitting position, and sat next to her. He put an arm around her waist as he slowly helped her upright. She put an arm around his shoulders as they slowly made their way out back, and he grabbed the cordless on the way out.

Luckily the grass was dry, so he gently eased her down, and he laid down next to her. He wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her over him, and they looked up at the Orion arm of our galaxy.

He caressed her cheek as she gestured towards stars and constellations, and said, "Y'know that one that looks like a box with sticks sticking out? That's Pegasus. The zigzag over there is Cassiopeia. The rectangle with the tapering centre and three stars across the middle? That's Orion. See that over there? That's Gemini, with Castor and Pollux and the top. Over there is Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, Deneb and Vega... ooh, I'm told that star over there is the one that Abydos orbits."

Suddenly the phone rang, startling them both.

She remarked with a grin, "If it's General O'Neill, wind him up!"

He chuckled before answering:

"Hey."

"Yo Jackson, what's the skinny about you not answering the door?! I hope you're being gentle with Sam!"

"Mitchell!"

Carter suppressed a giggle as Daniel put his hand over the mouthpiece and whispered, "Should we wind Mitchell up?"

She nodded, and he put the phone to his ear again, and said, faking tiredness, "Oh, um, hang on a sec, it's gonna take me a while to get my clothes on and get downstairs."

He covered the mouthpiece as they both giggled, and Mitchell exclaimed, "Oh my... you actually are knocking boots -- looks like a lot of people on base are gonna be just that bit happier tomorrow! Ok, um, I'll just leave you two alone!"

Daniel quickly removed his hand and said, still laughing, "Mitchell, I'm kidding - we're out back."

"Dammit, Jackson - you and your sense of humour! Right, I'm coming round so you two better get dressed!"

He appeared a few seconds later, and exclaimed, "I swear, you really had me there!"

He continued, concerned, as he sat down next to them, "You guys had any trouble getting out?"

She shook her head as Daniel replied, "Nothing out of the ordinary, so what brings you to the love shack?"

She began to giggle again, as Mitchell replied with a grin, "It's so boring at the mountain without you guys. Lee is driving me mad. They were gonna have McKay in as the resident Physicist, but I objected on the grounds that I didn't have a lemon. Vala is flirting with poor Reynolds, and Teal'c's gone to see Ish'ta."

Carter asked, "Will the General finally put Captain Hailey on an SG team?"

"Looks like it. Apparently she didn't want it initially 'cos she was looking after her Mom at the time, but she's cool now. She was working at the Pentagon."

He peered at the two scientists closely before asking, "So you guys, are you...?"

Daniel blushed as Carter nonchalantly asked, "Are we what?"

"Y'know... knocking boots?"

She laughed as Daniel exclaimed, "For crying out loud, Mitchell! No!"

"I only ask 'cos a group of SFs have started a betting pool on whether you two are a couple, and/or whether you two are close to making some Carter-Jacksons!"

Carter exclaimed, "Those guys are incorrigible!"

Daniel remarked, "Y'know, we should get back at them by starting a betting pool on who knocked up Lieutenant Moore!"

A couple of weeks later, Daniel stood in Carter's doorway to say 'goodnight', when he could hear her sniffling.

He went in, sat down on the edge of the bed, and put a hand on her shoulder, asking, "Sam, have you got a cold?"

The muffled reply was, "No."

She sniffled some more, and he tenderly asked her, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Sam..."

She sighed, turned over, squeezing the pillow in her arms, and replied, "It's not a cold; I just don't feel very well, and my leg and back hurts."

"Is it...?"

She nodded, and he debated what to do as he caressed her arm.

"Is your stomach hurting too?"

She nodded again, and he asked, "Do you want some painkillers?"

She shook her head, sniffed, and said, "I'll be fine - I just need to get some sleep."

"Sam, I don't have any sisters, so I don't have any experience with this, but I think if you held a hot water bottle on your stomach, you'll be alright."

She smiled, despite her discomfort, and replied, "I don't have any hot water bottles."

He asked her, "Do you want me to hold you?"

She, still clutching the pillow, remarked, "Ok, but if Mitchell asks, we did nothing of the sort."

They laughed as he laid down next to her. He gently lifted her up onto him so as to support her cast, and caressed her stomach.

Early the next morning, O'Neill and Mitchell had let themselves in with a spare key the former had had cut previously. They went upstairs and finding Daniel's bed empty, they looked in on Carter.

What they saw made them snigger, making the scientists wake with a start, and then blush profusely.

O'Neill remarked, "I know I said you guys were made, but aren't you moving too fast?!"

Daniel retorted, "Shut up Jack."

Carter caressed Daniel's arm as she said, "Sir, I wasn't feeling very well and he held me."

Mitchell chuckled as O'Neill remarked, "Ordinarily I'd believe ya but..."

Daniel exclaimed, "Jesus Jack, we're still clothed!"

O'Neill shrugged as Carter began to laugh.

Suddenly O'Neill and Mitchell felt a presence. They turned around to see Teal'c looking back at them.

Mitchell exclaimed as he clapped him on the shoulder, "Hey T, how're you doing?"

"I am fine, ColonelMitchell."

O'Neill asked, "Lam send you over?"

Teal'c replied, "Indeed. She is unable to assist ColonelCarter this morning, and DoctorBrightman is in charge of caring for the Kelownans at the military hospital."

Daniel looked at him, worried, and asked, "How are we going to help Sam in the bathroom? I think she's..."

Carter tapped him on his arm to stop him from continuing, and he murmured, "Sorry."

O'Neill looked at them with a curious expression, as Mitchell cleared his throat in embarrassment.

Carter pensively replied, "I'm sure I can manage by myself."

Daniel said, concerned, "Sam, you'll have trouble getting out of the shower... last time you tried going it alone, you fell over."

Mitchell quickly turned to Teal'c and asked, "Hey, what's Vala doing?"

"She is accompanying SG-5 on a mission to the Pangalaros system."

Mitchell swore under his breath, before O'Neill suggested, "How about if Daniel helps her out?"

Daniel looked down at Carter, who replied looking up to meet the Archaeologist's gaze, "Ok... but only if you're not embarrassed."

O'Neill joked, "Well, you've got to get familiar with each other at some point!"

"Sir!"

"Jack!"

O'Neill insisted that Daniel rest as he had done so much already. Him and Mitchell sat in the lounge with a couple of beers as O'Neill and Teal'c whisked a wheel-chaired Carter off to the mountain for a quick visit.

Mitchell fixed the Archaeologist with a curious expression, "So, Jackson..."

"Yeah?"

"You and Sam."

Daniel, playing it cool, said nonchalantly, "Me and Sam, what?"

"Y'know, are you guys together?"

"We're friends, Mitchell."

"Now... now I know you're lying - I can see it in your eyes. Come on Jackson, I know I haven't known you guys as long as General O'Neill and Teal'c have, but I thought we could tell each other anything."

"It's complicated."

"How?"

"I don't know - I just said that to shut you up."

"You insisted on being her sole carer despite the state of your ankle and knees - that says a lot."

"Does it?"

"In what way does it not say anything?"

"Ok, fine... I'll admit that I have feelings for her."

Mitchell exclaimed, "Woo, I knew that! So, you told her?"

"I wasn't going to, but our first night back, we were talking and suddenly she told me that she loved me."

Mitchell looked at him curiously, and pressed, "You told her then?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, I already knew she loves you... at first I thought it was the whole SG-1 togetherness thing, but it's so much more than that. You should've seen her during that Caledonian thing last year - it would've broken your heart."

"Well, I've lost count how many times we've lost each other over the years."

Mitchell reached over to touch his shoulder, and said quietly, "Hey, you did good, Jackson."

"It was nothing."

Mitchell exclaimed, "Sweet Jesus, no it wasn't! You saved her life, otherwise she'd've been a goner! You selflessly put your jacket over each other, and kept her from being an ex-Colonel! In my opinion, for someone who isn't military, you did good. Hell, you whupped good's ass, and did fantastic!"

A few weeks later, their breakages healed but their physical and mental scars remaining, Carter laid in bed, her mind racing, when Daniel came limping in to bid her goodnight.

"Daniel?"

"What?"

"Thank you."

"It was nothing."

"It was far from nothing! You insisted on helping me with no regard for your own wellbeing, not forgetting what you did on the ice planet!"

He ducked his head in embarrassment and replied, "I came so close to losing you Sam."

She sat up and patted the side of her bed, and he sat down.

"Daniel?"

"What?"

"Y'know when I said that I loved you?"

"Yeah?"

"I meant it."

"I know."

They hugged, as she said proudly, "You, Doctor Jackson, are my hero."

He chuckled as he caressed her back, and she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Why don't you stay here tonight?"

"Are you sure, Sam?"

"As sure as I'll ever be. Come on, don't be shy. After everything that we've been through, you in particular, we need this."

Daniel whined, "But my knees..."

"Holy Hannah, you know I wouldn't be as inconsiderate to suggest that, Daniel!"

"Oh."

He laid down, wrapping his arms around her, as she kissed him, tears pricking her eyes, whispering, "I love you."

Suddenly a voice was heard, startling them both, "That is so sweet!"

They separated, looked up and were startled even more on seeing none other than Jacob looking back at them.

Carter's voice broke as she said, "Dad?"

Daniel held her in his arms, and asked, "Jacob? Are we hallucinating?"

"Far from it, Doctor Jackson."

The scientists sat up, and Carter asked, "How are you here?"

"Oh, a little thing called ascension."

Daniel exclaimed, "You ascended?!"

"Why, don't you remember, Daniel? You were on your way back, so you arranged for me to ascend. Sam, I'm telling you, you bet on the right horse."

Carter looked from her father to her friend, and murmured in surprise, "Ascended?"

Daniel replied, "I don't remember that - Oma might have wiped that little thing from my memory."

Carter, finding her voice again, asked, "Why are you here Dad?"

"Oh just stopping by to see how my two favourite people are doing. Y'know, I was actually offering you the chance to ascend back on the ice planet!"

Daniel exclaimed, "I thought it was the hypothermia!"

"You did great, Daniel. Thank you for saving and supporting my little girl."

Carter exclaimed, embarrassed, "Dad!"

"What?! No matter how old you are, you'll always be that little five year old that climbed into the neighbour's house and attempted to dissect their cat!"

"Dad!"

Daniel chuckled and remarked, "I see you were scientific from a very young age!"

Jacob said, a little more seriously, "Over the next few months, you'll have some major challenges and obstacles in your path, and you'll need each other more than ever."

Carter asked, her eyes lowering, "What did you mean when you said that I should be happy?"

"I meant that you should settle for someone who was right for you and could give you the Universe. My eyesight was a bit off, so if it looked as though I meant Jack, I'm sorry. Anyway, you and Daniel have found each other now, and that's all that matters."

He continued with a grin, "Boy, if I was twenty years younger!"

"Dad!"

"What?! You should count yourself lucky young lady - I know of many ladies, not forgetting men, who wouldn't mind getting their claws into that young man."

Carter laughed, as Daniel replied with a grin, "Thanks Jacob."

"Hey any time. Anyhoo, I better poof away before the others have words with me again. Hasta luego."

"Bye Dad."

"Bye Jacob."

"Bye you two -- Daniel, look after her, and go easy on those knees."

Daniel nodded and smiled, as Jacob disappeared in a flash of white light.

Carter turned to him and said with a grin, "Well, we can safely say that you've got Dad's permission! Wow, I can't believe you ascended him! D'you know how high that puts you in my estimation?!"

He chuckled, before he wrapped his arms around her, and tenderly kissed her, saying, "Not as high as you are in mine!"