Reflections

If there was ever a better reason to get the gate bridge going it was the discomfort that he was experiencing right now. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with Colonel Young’s body, but he would just prefer his own especially when he had to actually concentrate on important things to be said, things like he needed to go over right now. 

Daniel was sitting in the cold dank communications room of the Destiny, if you could call it that, waiting for Dr. Rush to join him. The scientist claiming that he needed to confer with some experts Cam was bringing in from Area 51. He was taking his time getting here, Daniel growing impatient, his mind already wandering through his to do list...

Meet with Telford to give him a brief status report and mention the additions to his staff. 

Check in with TJ concerning the still touch and go status of Chloe Armstrong and see how she herself was doing.

Confer with Rodney on the central energy systems, which were working fine, but for some reason needed to be upgraded 

Attend a brief demonstration by Adrienne, which he was happiest about, he felt like he never saw her any more, and Sam concerning the next phase in the DATA project; getting the Asgard knowledge uploaded to the main Atlantis informational system.

Walk perimeter with Ronon to discuss adding safety features to keep small children from toppling over the edge into the water, thanks to Nicholas’ little adventure. 

Stop by Teyla’s room to see how she was feeling, the first embryo not taking and Teyla resting and recuperating for the second attempt next week. 

And somewhere in that, eat, and not a Powerbar because Adrienne was right. You really couldn’t live off of those things. 

Sitting at the million year old dusty table Daniel tried to remember the lessons Teal’c had taught him on meditation so long ago, breath in slowly, breath out, focus on nothing, or at the very least something calm and soothing.

Think positive thoughts, thoughts that will ensure you do not explode at this asshole you encouraged the SGC to hire...

“I found it...” he couldn’t miss her smile as she crossed the room, that smile of hers always making the worries of the day melt away, worries that had taken over his entire existence since they touched down on Atlantica.

“Found what?” he played stupid, he’d hoped she’d find it sooner, but her expression made it all worth the wait. 

“Your little joke...on my desk...” she was giggling as she crawled into bed beside him, the first night in a long time that he had beat her to bed. She was still laughing, her hands now clasped behind her back as she crawled into his lap, scooting carefully on her knees. 

Daniel couldn’t help but smile. 

“Well you said it made sense if we all had one,” he joked, reaching out for her, pulling her into his arms in an attempt to steal away the object in question, Adrienne throwing it over her head. 

“No ma’am,” he joked, tackling her, pinning her, kissing down her neck, “I’m not gonna let you make me look that out of shape being stuck behind a desk all day..:”

She laughed, relenting, hissing in as he moved his lips so softly down her collarbone, his hand reaching lightly up her shirt. 

“I can’t believe that you did it, or that you knew what to make,” she was trying to talk, arching her back underneath of his body submitting to affection as always.

“It’s just a starship, kinda looks like the Daedalus, the damn machine could at least whip that up.The Sharpie was in your desk,” he pushed back from her only enough to answer, his wife bringing the small toy into view. 

“The Adrienne Rowan,” she declared with a wink.

“The Adrienne Jackson;” he corrected quickly, making a face of disapproval, “did you read?” 

“Yes, I read, I just like messing with you,” she answered, running her finger along his jagged script. 

“Did I do well? I got you a starship...” and he must have as she was kissing him again, her hands at his waist...

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Dr. Rush was seated in front of him, Daniel snapping back to reality. 

Because of course he shows up at that part of the memory...

“It’s alright, just running my to do list through my head,” he lied, part of his mind still wondering where that space ship had gone to after it had, like their clothes, been discarded to the floor. 

“Dr. Rush,” the body started, Daniel realizing in his daydreams that he had missed two switches, “is meeting with some of our experts on Earth so we have plenty of time.” 

Sighing, Daniel started his first report to General Telford, in which he was going to have to go over, yet again, how a Wraith that had been contained for years escaped him in a little over a month. 

*****

Surprisingly, Telford hadn’t been angry, in fact it seemed that Todd’s escape once Atlantis had returned to the Pegasus Galaxy was expected. Daniel had asked why in the world no one thought to put a homing beacon on the creature, but it seemed the powers that be that knew of Todd’s existence, even more people than Sam had known about, thought that would bring the wrath of any Wraith that he would find down upon the base. It took everything in Daniel’s power to resist the urge to point out that landing the city in the exact same place that it had been attacked, a city accompanied by TWO Asgard starships, was a pretty huge ‘We’re back!’ to the Wraith as well, but no one would listen. Daniel just needed to be thankful that he hadn’t gotten himself an IOA liaison on base and that Cam was having to deal with that instead.

He just hoped his old buddy was getting in some good running time. 

The meeting basically ended with Daniel being lauded for his work on the base so far, commendations to be sent to both Sam and Adrienne on their new system and Rodney to be told he was getting five more engineers on the next supply run to help with his project. 

Joy, Daniel thought, I can’t wait to hear his smart mouth when I tell him that one.Rodney had been begging for more staff despite that fact that Daniel wanted to expand their population bit by bit, but it seemed yet again someone had overruled him. He just had to hope they were as nice as Dr. Bosse, the kind scientist that always took the time for Nicholas. 

“Daniel?” and again it was Nicholas Rush sitting before him, Daniel pinching the bridge of the nose. 

Back to work...

“Yeah, still me, I wanted to check on Chloe,” he said as he stood, Rush in his own world he could tell. Not bothering to ask for a guide to the infirmary, he had checked on both Chloe and TJ in this past month more times than he could count, Daniel shoved unfamiliar hands into pockets, walking his way swiftly down the hall.

*****

“LET ME GO!” 

He heard her voice before he made it to the door on TJ’s make-shift recovery area, the tortured echoes of a distressed Chloe Armstrong beating through the halls. That wasn’t a good sign; when he had met with Carolyn last week on the Destiny she said there was no neurological damage that she could see using the resources on the ship and the young woman would just have to come out of it by herself. 

This wasn’t how things needed to go. 

What they needed was a way to get the Destiny home, but at this time, other than being pointed in the right direction, there wasn’t much more they could do to help. 

Much to his surprise, tables and beds were at the ceiling, hovering precariously over TJ, Eli and Scott's heads as Chloe thrashed in her bed, shrieking, pulling frantically at her restraints. 

“CHLOE! Stop! It’s me! Calm down!!” Scott was trying to reason at her feet, himself slammed back against the wall. Daniel had to do something, racking to brain to think of anything to knock her out safely when a thought popped into his head, the Atlantis commander racing to the back of the bay. 

“Quick, grab a blanket!” he shouted at the bystanders, racing to a pile of linens on a side table, linens that probably should never be used in a medical facility.  Ripping the top cloth from the table, Daniel signaled that Scott join him, tossing the blanket into the air to open it and bringing it down on her, dodging a table as he moved.

“Wrap her up!” he ordered, Scott staring at him in utter confusion. 

“What?” 

“Eli, distract her while we wrap her up!” Daniel repeated, clarified really, needing all hands on deck as he remembered Scott flying back against the wall. The men did as they were told, TJ racing to help as well. With Chloe too overwhelmed to focus her energies on one person, Scott and Daniel wrapped the woman quickly, the Lieutenant backing away to allow Daniel to wrap behind her back, the tall body working rapidly.  She thrashed a while longer, before her breathing changed, a panicked pant until she finally lay back staring at the ceiling, tables crashing down all around her. 

“Sedate her,” Daniel ordered, TJ doing as asked, kicking the furniture out of her way the best she could. With his borrowed eyes he directed the men to follow him to the hallway, seeing out of the corner of his eye that the young woman was thankfully calm. 

“How’d you do that?” Eli asked in amazement, Daniel shaking his head. 

“I’m a parent, of a formerly fussy child. Swaddling works on anyone,” he replied, peering to make sure that Chloe was indeed subdued, “What was THAT?” 

“That was her enhanced brain activity. We think it’s more than just enhanced intelligence. We think the Nakai were able to activate parts of her brain that we as humans normally don’t use,” he explained, Daniel rubbing his hand under glasses that were not there. 

Could this be any more of a disaster? The Destiny now seemed to have a telekinetic lunatic.

“How long has she been like this?” he now inquired, part of his mind already back home wanting Jennifer to research the infirmary systems for anything like this that she could find. 

“Floating things? A few days,” Scott answered, Daniel shaking his head in disbelief. 

“Why didn’t anyone tell me? Or General Mitchell? Did anyone contact him?” 

“Because I ordered them not too...” Rush replied from down the hall, Daniel glancing up to meet his glare, “we haven’t had the chance to fully analyze this change to know whether or not it’s temporary or a side effect that will go away on its own.” 

“Dr. Rush,” Daniel started to argue right away, meditating, remaining calm, “The health status of this crew is to be reported immediately as per SGC protocol.” 

“As it was, just now, to General Telford at my weekly report to him,” he answered coolly. He had the urge to flip Rush the bird, damn Adrienne influences invading his thoughts. It wasn’t only that but it was something Adrienne had once said to him slipping into his mind, something she had said back when they could barely stand to be in the same room.

She growled at him as she turned, Daniel so angry he had already forgotten what they were arguing about in the first place. He looked up to apologize, things had been going so well since the little incident in the elevator, but she was halfway down the corridor, middle finger in the air behind her. 

“That’s for you to do to yourself, not a service I provide...” 

The irony in that statement now...

He’d never asked her if that was an Adrienne-ism or something clever she picked up from Vala. 

“No, I’m not, however we have the resources of Atlantis at your disposal Dr. Rush, should you need them,” Daniel offered as calmly as he was able, still planning on talking to Jennifer about what he had seen. 

“We’ll keep that in mind,” Rush returned the cordiality, seemingly forced on his end as well, “Now if you please, I need to speak to Colonel Young as soon as possible.” 

*****

Rodney was bearable, so much so that Daniel had to repeat three times that the scientist was going to get everything he asked for, but not until the next supply run. Regardless, Rodney was delighted, polite and thankful tempting Daniel to call for a random drug screening. 

The man had to be on something...

Or possessed...

That made more sense than Rodney being nice. 

“I’ve been with Adrienne too long,” he muttered under his breath, remembering that she was the next thing on his list, meeting with her and Sam. Let Vala make fun of him until the end of time, his missed working with Adrienne every day and there were days when he was seriously considering making her his assistant again just so he could work with her on a regular basis. After all Davidson was technically the head gate technician even though he kind of acted like Daniel’s assistant, but Adrienne would kill him. When she saw the lab, her lab, she had looked like a kid in a candy store and he could never take that away from her. It was a promotion that she deserved more than anyone else. 

He just needed to clean out the lab next door and work from there, that could work, it was sitting there as some sort of Ancient storage and Adrienne wanted to start going through the contents anyway. 

It just wasn’t the same without her right there...

Indy?

The message bounced up on his screen, Daniel peeking up glad it was her. 

He missed her so badly...

Yes…

Am I bothering you?

Yes… ;-) 

She was and he didn’t care.

Oh, sorry, I’ll wait until ya get up here.  

I’m just messing with you Ad. I can multi-task. What’s up?

Nothing actually. I just can’t sleep.  Don’t worry, I’m not obsessing, I just can’t sleep. Too much excitement.  

Well, I am glad that you can’t sleep.  I want to actually spend some time with you that does not involve work, stress, drama, etc. 

What are you working on?

Here it is, nearly one in the morning, Woolsey’s removed Adrienne from my service part time but we’re still talking like everything is alright. 

I love her, so very much. 

Just some more things from Atlantis.  I can translate it, but I have no idea what it’s talking about.  Some astro-physics or something.  Rodney swears it’s a way to recharge ZPMs (I have been working with him too long – I almost typed ZED – P – M). Based on what I’m reading here I’m not so sure, but that’s not my area of expertise. I can hope though; charged ZPMs would ship him back into the cosmos.  

You’re evil. 

I’m honest. That man doesn’t belong here but I feel guilty imposing him onto other civilized cultures.  

I have no idea what Jennifer sees in him. She’s just so kind and sweet.

I’ve wondered that myself but then again I’m not sure what you see in my old, workaholic, boring self. 

You’re not old. Or boring. Workaholic, yes, but so am I.  And I refuse to get sappy on chat message. 

Aww...why not?

He had to admit it, she made him feel like a teenager again, he wanted to cuddle with her, kiss her, hear stupid sappy things from here.

What in the hell had happened to him?

Stop fishing sha. 

I figured it was worth a try.  After getting told I’m just a “stupid historian” I needed a little ego boost. 

I’ll give you the eyes. You can melt me with just a glance. Always have been able to really. But that’s it, nothing else sweet until ya get ya fool ass up ‘ere ta bed. 

I’ll take what I can get. Five more pages, I swear.  Might be done in 30 minutes if I stop being distracted. 

Sorry. 

No worries, would you prefer talking to me on here or in bed. 

Shutting up...

Then, check back with me in 30 minutes or so, unless of course I’m already there. Ok?

Ok. I love you Daniel.

I love you. 

Yeah, text chat wasn’t the same, no matter how silly they used to be on Earth or still were here. 

He was gonna look into that office.

“Ja-wer?” forget formality on the radio, he loved her and he was the boss and honestly didn’t care who heard him call her ‘my love’ over the radio before she switched to private mode. 

“Hey handsome, how was the Destiny?” 

That would be what she asked about of course, especially given that she had been popping over there herself lately to meet with Eli as she and Sam continued to perfect the DATA project. He’d found out that what they had managed to create that day in their room was essentially a prototype and it was going to take months to perfect, especially given that she and Sam wanted to include both the information that they had gleaned from the Asgard database as well as anything Eli was starting to catalogue from the Destiny, which, given how they had to transfer that information was quite the undertaking. 

The whole damn thing was quite the undertaking, which is why he loved the hell out of that woman. 

“Doing well, they were able to obtain water from a moon the ship could purify, but they are getting dangerously low on proteins. I might be sending Rodney or Dr. Bosse over to help them try to find the closet planet or at least mediate for when Rush and Young start to rip into each other about the next food mission,” he replied honestly, the line secure he could tell from the tiny beep he had heard before she answered. It was good and he was thankful that he had her to talk to as well as John because he could get both the professional official opinion on a situation and a counter point from the one person he had grown to count on. As far as John was concerned, things had gotten better in that regard as well, Daniel understanding that John hadn’t intended to put anyone in danger by setting Todd free. 

Still didn’t change the outcome, but he needed to think forward, not obsess over what ifs.

“Good ta ‘ear, ya ‘eadin ah way?” 

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her accent. She’d been working really late, saying goodnight to he and Nicky and heading back down to her lab, and the lack of sleep was showing in her speech. 

“Yeah, just wanted to make sure you were ready,” he answered, Adrienne muttering something about him being a coo yon and laughing at her overtired voice. 

“We are, but can ya stop by ah quarters on da way? I need anutha vitamin wata.” 

If anything, being a married commander of an alien city was humbling. 

All of the power to control the galaxy and lead mankind into a great technological future. 

Still has to bring the wife beverages on command. 

“Anything my love,” he replied smartly, Adrienne swearing at him in Cajun as he ended the transmission, heading for their room. 

Maybe they had some Twinkies left too. 

*****

Daniel had just pulled a bottle of vitamin water from Adrienne’s cold storage box, a box he was certain that the Ancients did not create to store drinks when he decided that he might as well get two just to be on the safe side. Reaching back down into her ‘fridge’ Daniel caught something purple out of the corner of his eye, kneeling down to see what it was. 

“And I’m the disorganized mess,” he joked, grabbing Adrienne’s glasses from under the bed. He had no idea how they had gotten under there, he hadn’t seen her wearing them in a long time, in fact she only seemed to wear them when she was working late at night, which she had been doing a lot of lately. She rarely wore them, in fact, he had known her for months before he even realized that she wore glasses. 

That had been funny...

“What are those?” he couldn’t help but ask as she slipped into his quarters, his assistant peering up at him over the frames. She paused for a moment, looking up from the folder she was reading, the folder that she had just texted him to drag him out of bed to read. 

The damn woman worked too much. 

No wonder she was starting to grow on him.

“What are what?” she inquired confused, Daniel tapping his own pair. 

“My glasses?” she clarified as he nodded, standing from his small desk. 

“The great and powerful Adrienne Rowan wears glasses?” he was trying to joke, he hoped she knew that, things had been so much better lately...

“What’s so funny ‘bout dat?” she spat making him almost face palm then and there. He could never talk to this woman, ever, even considering the leaps and bounds he had made in these past few weeks 

“Nothing,” he laughed out, Adrienne drawing her face into a frown. 

“Stop,” she whined playfully, she was playing, thank God, biting her lip lightly.

“You look like a librarian,” he added, that Cajun glare now shot in his direction. 

“I do not.” 

“Yeah you do.” 

“I do not dammit, they’re designer glasses. They’re Coach!!” she shouted back, confusing Daniel completely. 

“What?”

“Coach glasses, like the purses,” she explained, Daniel rolling his eyes. 

“Since when do you care about designer glasses?” he shot back. 

“Since the lady at the eyeglasses store told me...” she answered sheepishly, unable to hide the smile creeping across her lips, “Stop pickin’ on me.” 

Her accent slipped for a moment like it tended to do, it was cute, no, why am I thinking that, it’s not cute...

“I just think it’s funny,” he stammered, standing awkwardly, offering her his bed to sit down on while he gathered the items from his desk, “You’re always messing with me about MY glasses getting in the way and you wear them too.”

“You can go ta ‘ell...” 

“Indy? Sha, did ya get lost?” 

“I really need a break; I’m losing track of how many times I’ve zoned out,” Daniel was talking to himself again, adding that to the list of reasons he needed a rest. 

Maybe he should get John to stand in for a few days, not that they could go anywhere, but it might be nice for he and Adrienne, and maybe Nicky too, just a few days to spend together, relaxing...

“Daniel?” 

“Sorry ja-wer, just got distracted, I’ll be right there,” he answered, standing and setting the glasses aside, rushing out of their room for the meeting. 

*****

“So, as you can see, Adrienne and I have a lot left to do before we load DATA into the mainframe and allow city-wide access but I’d like to start running practice simulations in the classrooms,” Sam concluded as she shut off the screen, Daniel nodding. It was impressive what they had done, so far uploading the entire city manual into their hologram, creating what was essentially a face to face directional system. 

“My only concern is access, how are we going to limit who has access to more confidential information while still allowing the system to meet everyone’s needs?” he didn’t need to say more, Sam nodding in understanding. 

“I was thinking of using the optical scanners that Radek had in his old lab...” Adrienne suggested, “that way we can scan everyone, similar to the DNA recognition on the Daedalus, coding each person individually. It’ll take time but I think Radek would be happy to help.”

She had a point, and he was sure that Radek wouldn’t mind putting his engineering hat back on for a while to work on this project, especially since the garden was doing so well. 

“I agree; I think that’s a great idea. In fact, given that we’re still unsure where Todd has gone and if we will ever be seeing him again, I’d prefer you’d both halt all additional information uploads until we have some sort of security system in place,” Daniel said, both women nodding in agreement. 

“No prob sha,” Adrienne answered promptly, Sam already standing, talking to what sounded like Radek in her communicator. 

“Indy?” he heard a voice and felt his wife’s hand at his wrist, pulling him over to the side, “we need to talk about Nicky’s birthday.”

The comment threw him off for a moment, Daniel glancing at his digital watch to see that they only had four weeks until their son was one year old. 

“Yeah, your face was mine when I saw the calendar this morning...” 

“How did I forget?” he felt awful but Adrienne was on it already, shaking her head and rubbing his arm. 

“You run a city. I run a lab. Nicky acts like he’s 30. It’s pretty safe to say it was a combination of factors.” 

Daniel reached under his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose.

“Alright, are you working late tonight?” he asked, hoping the answer was no.

Adrienne shrugged. 

“I don’t have to, do you want me to take the night off? I was debating heading back here once you boys were in bed...” she answered honestly, exactly as he anticipated, Daniel waving his hands. 

“Yeah, Zalenka’s gotta pull the optical scanners anyway, make sure they are working and inform Rodney before he comes storming into my office asking why I have not informed the chief science officer as to what we are doing. See if Radek and Sam can get started on it without you,” he requested as Adrienne brought her hand to his cheek, drawing him close. 

“Daniel, are you ok?” she asked and he could hear the concern in her voice. He was a little stressed today, but nothing too bad, nothing he couldn’t handle, but she would worry. Worry might as well have been her middle name. 

“I’m fine,” he assured but the look on her face spoke volumes. 

“Can you go take a nap? We’re done here, what do you have left today? Ronon?” 

He just looked at her, not even wanting to list for her exactly what he had left today.

“You’ve been tossing in bed sha; we’ve been sleeping together long enough for me to read between the lines...”

Damn Adrienne, always damn right. 

He was glad he’d married her; it was kinda nice to have someone that knew you that well. 

“No I’m fine, if it’s not one thing it’s another. We’ll talk later. Dinner?” he asked, his wife nodding immediately before leaning up and just kissing him slowly, in the lab with Sam or not. 

“Yep,” she said as she pulled her lips away, leaving her hand resting on his cheek, “Don’t forget to stop and breathe; I’d be broken-hearted if I had to bury ya.” 

“I love you ja-wer,” he kissed her lightly again, catching Sam smiling out of the corner of his eye. Flushing with embarrassment, he and Adrienne seemed to have less control over their displays of affection here and a guilty part of him knew it was because he was in charge, he darted out of the room headed to the security control room, his thoughts on birthday parties...

He’d never really cared that much about birthdays, even his parents had done very little to celebrate when they were alive. But he’d registered the date in the morning briefing, a passing thought of how he was getting older, trying to brush it aside. 

He should have known Adrienne wouldn’t. 

There, sitting on his desk was a box with a bow, just like the box that had held coconut halves and a shot glass months before.

“What is this?” he asked the obvious question, Adrienne beaming from underneath her headphones. She was listening to heavy metal today, interesting. 

“It’s your birthday present Indy. Open it!”  She was nearly out of her seat at the words, Daniel trying not to smile. As they had become friends he learned that this was her way; not a single special occasion would pass by without Dr. Adrienne Rowan making sure that the person in question was fully pampered.

“You got me a present?” the coconut halves were one thing, sure, a gag even, but this...

He’d never had a friend like this before. She did these things just because, not wanting anything in return and while she did things like this with everyone it seemed to him that his gifts or little surprises were just a little more thought out, had a little more meaning. 

“Yeah, that’s what happens on birthdays,” she corrected with a smile, one he couldn’t help but return. 

“I didn’t get you one, wait, when was your birthday?,” he felt awful, not only hadn’t he read that damn file but he had never bothered to ask, “Has it passed? Did I miss it?”

“It was June 18th,” she said but without tone, just reporting to him a fact. 

If today was July 8th he definitely forgot her birthday...

“Ad, I’m sorry, I...” he started but she was shaking her head, a finger pointed at his desk.

“Just open the box Indy, last thing I need is more crap,” she said before quickly sticking out her tongue. Laughing, he did, expecting something insane inside, which is just what he found.

“It’s a toy gun,” he stated, asked, bewildered, peering back over at her. 

“A Nerf gun like mine,” she clarified.

“You SHOOT me with that,” he countered. She did shoot him with it, a lot, right in the head. 

“Yes, I do because you get into a zone,” there was that mischievous grin again, Daniel rolling his eyes. 

“No, I don’t,” he argued.

“Yes you do.”

He didn’t respond, her face was semi-serious, he did indeed get into a zone, but she was JUST as guilty...

“Fine, so I can shoot you now? When you get into a zone?” he spat back, removing the gun from the box to determine where to load the arrows because the next time there was loud rap music echoing through the lab he was gonna plant one right upside her head.

“Daniel Jackson,” she smiled slyly, reaching to open her desk drawer where said weapon was stored, “are you proposing a Nerf war in your laboratory?”

“I gotta see if the replicating machines can make a Nerf gun. The boy needs to know that’s part of being in this family,” Daniel was talking to himself, again, looking up to see that he had made it all the way to Ronon’s office without even noticing. 

Ronon’s office, he thought, that made him laugh. It was an office in that it was set up like any other plain office around Atlantis and that was it. Ronon hadn’t changed a thing, hadn’t put up a single decoration, not even a picture of Vala. Her presence in the office was evident, however, one table and chair in the corner of the room an explosion of, well, Vala. She’d left make-up, a few magazines, soda bottles, and some lotion but it was as if the entire area was in a bubble all of its own, never entrenching into Ronon’s space. They were the odd couple, but somehow it was working and he just hoped that Vala didn’t do anything to hurt the Satedan. Daniel had never thought of the man as the sensitive type, but Adrienne had told him different, much different. There was a part of Ronon Dex that would be forever hurt by the loss of his fiancee and the life as a husband and father that he wanted. That seemed to affect him much more than being a runner and it was not an exaggeration to say that Daniel was concerned that Vala wouldn’t want the same. 

Rubbing his head, trying to get the blood flowing to wake himself up, Daniel regretted not grabbing another cup of coffee from Adrienne, as he knocked at the open door. The Satedan was standing overlooking the wall of monitors that kept track of all activity in the city, peering over his shoulder at Daniel when he heard the sound. 

“Hey,” he greeted, not moving an inch, “ya ready?”

Ronon Dex was a man of a few words but that was refreshing. Were this a visit to Rodney he would have heard the results of every experiment in the past five hours and how if Rodney were allowed to rule Atlantis and the galaxy that magically everything would have worked the first time. 

Ronon, on the other hand, who could probably successfully rule the galaxy were it to need a ruler, usually gave Daniel one minute overviews of everything he needed to know and not a word more. 

“Yeah, anything I need to know about before we go?” Daniel checked, a nice way of hinting that some sort of report of anything would be nice because as much as Daniel appreciated what he did, General Telford? Not so much. 

“Nope.” 

Did I really expect anything else?

“Then lead the way,” Daniel requested, not really knowing what more to say. Slipping his gun into his leg holster, Ronon tapped a few things on the screen, pushing past his commander and out into the corridor. 

*****

The tall warrior might not say much but he was good at his job. Not that Daniel wanted to cultivate an environment of fear in his staff but there was always that little bit of respect you needed to have for the person that was in Ronon’s position. That respect could not have been clearer as they toured the halls of the city, Ronon showing Daniel information from hidden wall panels, cameras checked, shields tested with his giant blaster. Daniel was glad he had selected Ronon for this position, he was military, but not US military, so the scientists considered him not the typical jar head. 

In fact, as Sam had pointed out right after that fateful briefing where Daniel had chosen his staff, Ronon Dex was the first non-Tau’ri individual to be assigned to a major post in any part of SGC operations. Honestly, Daniel hadn’t even thought of that. The man was the most qualified candidate he had, especially given that Lt. Colonel Lorne had elected to stay on Earth. 

All was clear, and as Daniel requested after Nicholas’ little adventure, the safety shields had also been extended to make sure that no one went over the edge, accidentally or intentionally. There was a way to gain access outside, but you needed to check with Daniel first or have clearance issued. So far, only Jack had asked, to take Nicky fishing, but other than that it didn’t seem that anyone in the staff cared as long as they still had access to the balconies. 

Daniel had only one more stop before he had to head by his office, a new list of insanity and messages awaiting him he was sure. 

He was so nervous, he knew the chances of the first embryo taking were pretty slim, but it was knowing that she had still gone through what was essentially a miscarriage of the first one that was unsettling. Were it Adrienne he would have been in the bed with her, holding her, comforting her, but with Teyla he wasn’t sure what to do. Not only was she not Adrienne, but the warrior woman had a way about her that was unique and strong and he really didn’t know her as well as the rest of the Atlantis crew. 

To be perfectly honest, he was still shocked that she had volunteered to do all of this, but again, despite his burning curiosity was afraid to ask.

Her door was open when he arrived, the sound of Torrin’s voice tumbling out into the hallway, Teyla teaching him to read what sounded to be the Cat in the Hat. That was something Daniel was looking forward to, it had taken Nicholas only about three days to master the concept, and Daniel couldn’t help but hope that he and Adrienne’s second child just might need them a little more. 

“Come in Daniel, you never need to stand outside,” she invited gently before he could announce his presence. 

Biting his lip and looking down, Daniel nodded, slipping through the doorway. As he had thought from the outside, Torrin was sitting in the floor with the small blue book in his hand, his finger still sitting where he had been tracking. Teyla was positioned across from him, on the floor as well, as if she hadn’t undergone any kind of major procedure. 

“Please sit,” she offered, Daniel nodding and sitting crossed legged nearby, a quick smile and wave in the direction of the boy.  

“I wanted to see how you are feeling,” he started right away, cursing himself for not thinking about Torrin sitting right there but Teyla didn’t seem to mind, smiling pleasantly. 

“I am well. How are you?” she shot right back at him, Daniel shrugging in reply. 

“Please do not worry. I have a good feeling about the next time Daniel,” the Athosian woman continued. Of course she was not only worrying about he and Adrienne, but she continued her positive outlook on everything. It was her nature, she was not only a warrior in body, but in mind as well, always seeing the glass as half full. There were so many times when he wished he could be that way...

“I’ve got it!” Adrienne said as she pulled her legs from across his lap, again knocking his book to the floor. She was so damn antsy and when she got like this there was no point in trying to read. 

But it did give him an excuse to prop his arms across her legs. 

Damn distracting Adrienne; why in the hell did he have to fall in love with his assistant?

“Got what?” he was almost afraid to ask. 

“I know what your problem is,” she declared, racing back to the kitchen to get more wine he knew. 

That woman LOVED wine. 

“What problem?” 

The only problem that he could think of was Vala, day in and day out it seemed since he realized how he felt about Adrienne, harassing him. Some days it was picking the lock to his room to try to crawl into the shower with him and other days it was locking the lab door while Adrienne was at a meeting to lecture him on how she knew he loved her and that this insanity needed to end. 

“Your happiness problem!” she shouted as she waltzed back into the living room, reaching to pour him a glass, a glass he didn’t need, but he would drink, because that’s what friends did, drink the wine that was poured. 

“You sound like Jack; I don’t have a happiness problem,” Daniel spat back frowning, reaching for his full glass to have that almost knocked out of his hand as well as she flopped back down on the sofa, legs again in his lap. 

“I think you suffer from Cherophobia,” she stated so professionally that were they not watching a horror movie and drinking wine he would have almost believed her. 

“What is that?” 

“It’s a fear of letting yourself be happy on the off chance that everything is going to fall apart,” she explained, taking a sip from her glass. 

He went to argue but she was right, wasn’t she? 

Wasn’t that exactly why he was sitting her debating as to whether or not he was going to reach out, book or not and hold her legs. 

Screw it. 

“Whatever Ad,” he laughed, reaching out to wrap his arms around her calves...

“Daniel, you need not worry, Carson has everything under control,” Teyla was in his face, Daniel realizing that yet again he had spaced out. Adrienne was right, he needed to start taking a breather during the day. 

“I know and Teyla I can’t thank you enough,” he answered, standing to do just that, rest. 

“It is the least I can do Daniel. I am giving you ten months. You have given me my home back. The trade is still unbalanced,” she said as she reached out her hand squeezing his gently. Smiling, not really knowing what to say back to that, Daniel excused himself to head to his quarters.

*****

Thankfully, Davidson said there were no visitors to his office and a quick check on his messages from the panel in he and Adrienne’s suite showed that there was nothing really pressing that he had to worry himself with. 

Stepping away from the panel, he flicked it closed, unzipping his uniform jacket and tossing it aside. It was only three thirty, he had plenty of time to just lie down, relax, and maybe refocus his mind a touch. Cracking his neck, Daniel kicked off his boots, walking over to the dresser to set down his glasses when he caught sight of a tiny figurine, an antique statue of Aphrodite. He smiled, remembering it instantly.  

Adrienne had given it to him for his birthday, what, a year ago, no two. He wasn’t sure, but he knew where she had purchased it, just like everything else she bought...

She turned around running smack into him, Daniel catching her in his arms. 

“Sorry, I didn’t see you,” she apologized, her accent slipping like it did when she wasn’t thinking until she realized exactly who she had run in to, her jaw dropping and eyes widening, “wha, Indy, wait, what are you doin’ ‘ere?” 

He was caught, dammit he knew he shouldn’t have come, it was obvious, they couldn’t do this, he could never be with her, why did he think in a million years...

“Daniel, are you ok?” 

Focus Daniel focus, talk to her like a normal person, you do every single day this is not that hard. 

“Yeah, I was just worried about you. After that meeting, with Woolsey; that wasn’t your fault,” he went with his stock excuse, the one he had worked on the entire drive over, even though he was fairly certain she had brushed off the tongue lashing easily. 

Yeah, it’s not hard. 

It’s impossible. 

I love you Adrienne. 

“Aww, thanks, but I’m ok. I’ve worked long enough for the government to be used to it...” she didn’t seem to feel like he was patronizing her in the least, she looked touched and he had been worried but he had really just wanted to see her. 

And hold her...

Let go Daniel, you’re still holding on to her...

I’m still holding her...

“Well, yeah, but you left so quickly,” he stuttered as he backed up, Adrienne letting go slowly, was she lingering, she’s lingering, don’t let go...

“I just need to get out of there, some historical therapy,” she replied, gone now, from his arms, Daniel trying to clear his throat. 

“Can I join you?” 

The question was across his lips before he could stop himself, Adrienne laughing coyly. 

“Of course, but I still can’t figure out how you found me,” and there was the one thing he hadn’t taken into account. I watch you, his mind was saying, I love you and I’ve made sure to learn about everything that’s important to you because even though I might never be able to tell you how I feel I want to make sure that each and every day I’m with you that you know how special you are...

“You talk about that big stuffed bear in the window a lot,” he chose instead. 

“Oh, yeah, I forgot,” she looked disappointed, Daniel extending his hand for a moment before pulling away...

“I wonder if I was really that obvious,” he said aloud, momentarily startled by hands slipping around his waist, soft lips at his ear. 

“About wha sha?” she asked, kissing his cheek as he turned around in her arms, reaching his hand for her cheek. 

“What are you doing down here?” he questioned, surprised to see her, pleasantly surprised but hoping that nothing was wrong. 

“You weren’t in your office and you didn’t answer your communicator, so I thought you’d headed down here for some quiet like I suggested. Just had something cool I wanted to show you,” she said before kissing him, melting into his arms. 

“Yeah, I came down here to get something and was considering heeding your advice, taking a breather,” he replied, holding her so close to him, relishing in their simple contact. 

“So what were you yammerin’ on about?” Adrienne ventured with a grin, her chin in his chest as she peered back up at him. 

“Just a strange day, lot of down time between meetings, been thinking about things...” 

“Like what?” and she was pulling away, but this time he didn’t let her escape so easily, Adrienne smiling at the gesture. 

“Us, things I missed, things I didn’t. Some of the stupider stuff I did, when I was afraid to tell you how I felt about you,” he admitted, Adrienne unable to help but giggle. 

“You mean memorizing my favorite everything, learning where I went to escape or actually watching True Blood?” 

Daniel froze. Ok, the True Blood thing was obvious, he’d all but told her that, but did she really know about the rest of it?

Had she always known about the rest of it?

“Daniel Anthony Jackson, born on July 8th 1965 to Melburne and Claire Jackson in New York City. Your favorite color is red, you hate reality TV and you would live off of 5th Avenue bars and M&M’s if you could. You sleep on your left side unless we’re on a mission, and then you sleep on your back, but you do that all of the time now when I want to sleep on you. You shove your hands into your pockets or bite your lip when you’re nervous. You HATE Wallis Budge, if that is even strong enough a word. You suck at gin, but you can MURDER anyone at chess. You fell off your bike in a housing project when you were eleven and had a huge scar on your upper thigh for years until me and our healing mess and you cried when Bambi’s mother was killed...” she started to ramble, Daniel making a face. 

“We’re married; you’re supposed to know those kinds of things,” he countered. 

Adrienne pulled away, looking down at her feet, a touch of pink growing lightly at her cheeks. 

“I knew them, all of them and more the moment I realized you were the person I never thought existed.” 

A tear in his eye at her words, he looked away from her only long enough to see that it was early, early enough where Jack wouldn’t be back with Nicky for over an hour. Facing her, Daniel swept Adrienne up into his arms, carrying her over to the bed. 

For the rest of the afternoon, despite the long list of things to do, the galaxy in strange influx, Daniel decided to focus his attention to Adrienne, because all that mattered right now was their love. 

And he WAS going to set up the lab next door tomorrow.