Title: Torn

Author: em

Email: beatrice51398@yahoo.com, em_the_gem@sbcglobal.net

Status: complete, not beta'd

Category: S/J inferred … Daniel and Sam conversation about Pete – follow up to Chimera

Rating: PG (minor language)

Summary: "So…" Daniel drew out, blinking several times at her through his glasses before continuing with caution. "He seems… nice…"

Spoilers: Chimera, and by default, anything before that, I guess. (So yeah, just about everything ever seen in the US)

Archive: SJD, yes – anybody else, just ask

Disclaimer: Sam and Jack and Co. sadly belong to MGM, Gekko Corp and Double Secret – evidence of this can be found in the fact that after 7 seasons, these two people still aren't together. If I owned them, they would have been married by season 2. They'd have six kids by now. Yeah. No money was made, no copyright infringement meant, yada yada yada.

Notes: Inspired by Michelle B's "The Lift" series where we are introduced to the CGSJFFL (Committee to Get Sam and Jack to Finally Fall in Love). I have previously written about such committees (in an unofficial, highly-motivated-by-monetary-gain type context – See `Their General, The Teddy Bear') but Michelle's recent fics reminded me of this theme. This isn't really a companion piece (it doesn't fit in with Michelle's timeline, since she's already written one that occurs after Death Knell) but it was highly inspired by her. Who knows, maybe it's an AU where the CGSJFFL also exists… Thanks, Michelle! :)

Feedback: always appreciated, always rejoiced over in high pitched squees :>

"So," Sam said quietly, picking absently at her jello with her all- purpose spork provided by the commissary as she adjusted to the arrival of her friend.

"So…" Daniel drew out, blinking several times at her through his glasses before continuing with caution. "He seems… nice…"

Sam simply nodded, closing her mouth around a spoonful of her favorite comfort-food, then slurping it down noiselessly, her gaze still on the table.

Tilting his head slightly sideways, trying to will her gaze up, he continued, "Janet says he's been the perfect patient…"

"You don't have to do this, Daniel," she interrupted suddenly, looking up at him with the tiniest of smirks on her face.

"Do… what?" he stumbled, a familiar look of confusion crossing his features.

Sam just shook her head and smiled gratefully at him. "Pretend to be all excited about this… You don't have to do that. I know about you and Janet…"

Daniel's eyes widened significantly at her words, and he seemed to hold in his breath as she continued.

"And Teal'c. Your little club to get me and…" she shrugged and cocked her head slightly to one side, "Me and you-know-who together…"

Daniel swallowed, the color in his cheeks altering. "I… um… Whatever do you mean?" he squeaked out, pushing his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose.

"Oh jeez, Daniel, for somebody who's gone undercover half a dozen times, you sure suck at lying…" she said airily, holding back a giggle, then taking another slurp of jello.

"But we never… How…" Daniel flailed miserably, his own mouth curving up into a smile as he watched his friend's joyful reaction. "Okay, okay… You got us," he admitted finally, shaking his head in amused disbelief. "What gave us away?"

Sam grinned victoriously, having successfully exposed their secret society. "Lets just say I happened to be passing by your lab last week and caught the end of your discussion. Very creative name, by the way…" she mocked, nudging his hand playfully with the flat end of her spork.

"Hey, don't blame me… It was Janet's idea, I swear," Daniel explained, taking a sip of his coffee. "Anyway, I'm horrible with all those stupid initials. GDO, NID, DHD, NRA…"

Sam smiled at his strange confession, simply nodding and continuing to eat her jello as Daniel got sidetracked and started making fun of all the weird abbreviations the SGC had. And for a few quiet minutes the two of them just sat there, eating and enjoying the simple comfort only an old friend can engender.

It was only after Sam had sucked up the last of her jello, and Daniel had drank the rest of his coffee that he approached seriousness once more. "It'll drive him crazy, you know… Seeing you with…"

"Pete," Sam filled in the name with a quiet confidence, glancing up at the commissary doorway fleetingly, almost hopefully, then back at Daniel. "Yeah," she said, sighing. "I know…"

Daniel rested his chin on his loosely clenched hand and leaned forward a tiny bit. "Do you… love him?"

"After all these years, Daniel, you of all people should know I can't answer that…" Sam answered calmly, rolling her eyes at him.

"I mean Pete, Sam… Do you love him?" Daniel repeated his question softly.

Sam's eyes immediately shifted down, focusing once more on the empty jello glass. "Can you be in love with two people at the same time?"

Daniel took in a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Sam. "The truth?"

Sam nodded, eyes still downcast.

"Sam…" Daniel began gently, "I don't think so…"

Sam's eyes rose once more to meet Daniel's intent gaze. "Yeah," she answered, shrugging as she leaned sideways on her open palm and smiled tiredly. "I guess that's my problem…" she admitted, glancing up once more at the door, her eyes brightening as they fell on a familiar face.

Daniel turned his head around and followed her gaze, his own eyes recognizing the figure. A small frown formed on his lips as he got up from the table, leaving Sam alone once more. "`Night, Sam," he said, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Get some sleep, okay?" he urged as he turned on his heels and walked towards the door.

As he neared the figure, he tried to control the weird mix of emotions boiling up in him. He wanted to protect her, but at the same time, Daniel wanted her to be happy… But happiness comes at a price, and he of all people knew that.

"Do something," he whispered as he stopped next to the figure whose entrance had so entranced Sam. Gray-haired and more than a little exhausted from the stake-out and subsequent mess with Pete, Jack seemed to be frozen solid in the entrance of the commissary. "Or you're going to lose her for good," Daniel warned his friend, pushing him firmly in the direction of Sam.

"Don't mess this up, Jack…" Daniel whispered as he watched his best friend walk towards the only woman in his life that he ever thought of as a sister. "Or they'll be hell to pay when Janet and Teal'c find out…"

______________________

I'd love to hear what you think!! :)