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Past Memories from Future Dreams
Author's Notes: Sappy Daniel Birthday fic - with a good deal of SD romance.
Disclaimer: Anything that is theirs, isn't mine.
Feedback: Yes please, feedback makes me glow (though not in the Danny sense).
Daniel sat staring into the fire, staring and thinking back, letting the memories wash over him as he took a sip of his wine. He closed his eyes and felt the heat of the fire on his face, and let that dry warmth reinforce what he was trying to experience.
A look of peace crossed his face and a small smile started to form when the doorbell rang and disturbed his efforts. Sighing gently he stood and started towards the door, then stopped. Putting his glass down he prepared himself for what was on the other side.
Today was his birthday, his thirty-sixth birthday. And on the other side of that door was a surprise waiting to happen. All day he had managed to avoid any real fuss. Of course there had been a cake at the SGC and a drink with the others there and the usual toasts, cards and silly gifts. All good fun, but he didn't like much more. What he wanted was some peace to reflect to go back to a time when he was most happy. Without interruptions. But he knew Jack too well, and while Jack was sympathetic, he felt that "cheering up" Daniel was more important than being sympathetic. What he didn't realise was that Daniel didn't want to be cheered up!
Bracing himself he opened the door and waited for the explosion of party fun that was Jack!
"Sam!" he stuttered taken totally aback at seeing Sam stood on his doorstep holding a bottle of wine and a golden coloured box.
"Daniel!" she replied imitating the surprised expression on his face. "Relax Daniel, Jack agreed that I should be the one to check that you were having a good birthday this year. I think he's finally realised that he's not going to get you drunk enough for you to agree to go to that karaoke bar!"
Daniel stood aside to let Sam in and she walked past handing him the wine, glancing at the label he realised that this was no cheap drink. Nodding his approval he went to fetch two clean glasses while glancing back at Sam.
"Okay good wine but what's in the box" Daniel asked his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Later Daniel, you'll just have to wait and see" Sam said glancing round at him. She slipped off her leather jacket and walked around the lounge. She didn't come here often because they spent most of their time together at work, but she loved Daniel's apartment. It was peaceful yet intriguing. Artefacts dotted about caught her attention and every time she looked she saw something she hadn't spotted last time. Walking back over to the sofa she threw her Jacket across the back and sat down in front of the fire on the floor. She loved a real fire and closed her eyes as the warmth flowed over her.
Daniel was walking back over with the glasses when he noticed Sam sat in front of the fire, her eyes closed with a smile forming across her face. He stood there for a second not wanting to break the moment that was before him when he realised that her eyes were open and she was looking at him quizzically. He crossed quickly, a bit embarrassed about being caught watching her and handed her a glass. Sitting down next to her on the floor Daniel sipped his wine and relished the taste. Glancing across he watched as Sam put her glass onto the table and turned to look at Daniel.
"Daniel, I wanted to come here tonight because I wanted to talk to you about something. I want to ask you a personal question and I will understand if you don't want to answer it." Sam didn't break the look but continued to hold eye contact with Daniel watching the fire light flicker across his face.
Daniel was curious yet afraid. He was wondering what on earth could Sam want to ask that he wouldn't want to answer. Although they were good friends, best friends and had spent many evenings talking about everything from the meaning of life to the meaning of chocolate, he had never seen Sam quite this nervous with him.
"Sam you can ask me anything, I can't think of anything that I couldn't talk to you about." Daniel answered as honestly as he could although his heart was starting to pound.
"Daniel I know that this day of the year is painful for you and I understand what it is that you are thinking about but you never talk about it." Sam reached over and took his hand "Daniel, tell me about your birthday, the one that you go back to every year."
Daniel sat there knowing exactly what Sam was referring to but was astonished that she knew. Looking away he took a sip of his wine and then looked back to see worry on her face and he wanted to put her at ease. To take that worry away and make her the Sam that he knew so well but he didn't know where to begin.
"Daniel" Sam's voice was so soft and he suddenly realised how close they were. "Tell me about Abydos, about that one birthday. The one that must have been your happiest."
Daniel closed his eyes and let the fire warm him again and drive away the cold. He felt Sam lean towards him and he started gently to recall what he could. As he spoke his memories became clearer than they had before. Sat here talking about it to the most wonderful friend in the world help him recall every detail. To see again that day. When his world had seemed complete, when everything had been wonderful. He had spent the past few years trying to recall those feelings, to see what had been ripped away and blurred by events. His happiest birthday.
Sam watched his face as he spoke, he opened his eyes and talked looking straight into the fire. Then as the memories became clearer he became more animated. He turned around and spoke directly to her excitement lighting his face. Happiness radiating from him as he recalled every moment. As he remembered things he forgotten surprise lit his face and Sam couldn't remember seeing him this happy in a long time.
It had taken her a lot of courage to come here and ask a question which many people would have refused to answer. But she had watched Daniel over the years and it hurt her so much that her friend suffered this time every year. That he had only spent one year with the woman he loved only to have everything ripped away. Some times she just wanted to hold him and take away those bad memories to give him back the happiest memories he had ever experienced.
And tonight she had stopped Jack in his tracks and told him to leave Daniel alone. Explained she wanted to help Daniel in a way that only she could. She had stopped off to get that expensive bottle of wine she had been saving and headed on over before she could change her mind.
She watched him and helped him remember, prompted and asked questions and after a while the conversation expanded to include other memories, other things that had happened during that year.
Daniel sat there lost in his memories, everything the clearest it had been for years and he could now see things that had been lost to him for so long. He suddenly looked over at the clock on the mantle and realised that they had been sat there for hours!
"My god Sam have you seen the time. I'm so sorry I've sat here going on for hours." Daniel suddenly felt exposed and embarrassed at how much he had talked about but when he looked at Sam all that disappeared.
"Daniel, you need to talk about the memories to keep them alive. Don't ever apologise for that. I wanted you to remember Sha're without sadness. I wanted you to relive your happiest birthday and be able to enjoy those memories." Sam reached back over and gently touched his face "You are my best friend and the person that I can talk to about anything. And I hope that I am the same for you."
Daniel sat there so grateful to have Sam here with him. Being able to see Sha're in his mind again without such pain was wonderful and it made him realise just how lucky he was to have Sam as his friend. He took her hand from his face and held it between his. "Sam .." Daniel started but was lost for words. Shaking his head trying to get a grip on his emotions he looked back into her face and acted on impulse. Leaning over slowly he gently placed the lightest of kisses on her lips and sat back.
Sam sat there her heart beating madly as her thoughts scattered and headed for the hills. 'It was kiss of friendship, it was a kiss of friendship' she kept telling herself. 'He's my best friend!' she thought trying to fight down thoughts that sprung unbidden to her mind. She suddenly found herself looking at Daniel through a new pair of eyes and realised that something had been developing between them all these years without her noticing.
She had always thought him handsome and attractive - yes. Sexy, well of course but he was also Daniel - her best friend and that was what it had always come down to. But sitting here watching him in the fire light she realised that who better to fall in love with than your best friend.
Daniel was watching the emotions cross Sam's face and suddenly realised what he had done. He had kissed Sam - okay no more than a kiss that any friend might give another but that hadn't been his intention behind it! He was sat there looking at her and realised that he wanted to kiss her - Sam Carter - his best friend. He had always thought that there would be chemistry first. To warn you that you were falling for someone. The lust and attraction that drew too people together. But then he realised that after that wears off unless true love formed then you were left with someone with whom you have no connection.
But with Sam...he thought.
But with Daniel ... she thought.
Sam leant across this time and captured his lips in a kiss, light and hesitant. There was no worry about rejection, no worries about what he would think. This was Daniel - he would never hurt her.
Daniel leant into the kiss, his arm reaching around Sam and pulled her closer to him. Feeling her body against his as they sat in front of that fire Daniel savoured the moment. As the kiss deepened, Sam found that she was excited, aroused but relaxed, it was strange. Their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly as Sam put her arms around Daniel and ran her hands down his back. This felt so right.
Gently they separated and looked into one another's eyes.
There was no talking as Daniel drew her into a tight embrace and they sat there in front on the fire relishing in the close contact.
After a while Daniel spoke "Sam?" Daniel.
"Hmmm" was the response from a blissful Sam, snuggled into him.
"Friends no matter what?" Daniel asked.
Sam turned so she could see him properly and looked deep into his eyes. "Always." She responded kissing him again.
The End.
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