Daniel wandered slowly down the corridors of the SGC, head buried in one of the latest finds from the Gate. He was certainly glad to be back although Janet had confined him to light duties. She hadn't been convinced about letting him out of the infirmary but he was beginning to drive her insane. So he'd promised to be a good boy and stick to the reading. He smiled to himself. Everything was back to normal.Well almost everything, he corrected silently. Sam was still wary fo him. In fact every time he saw her, she flinched or refused to look at him. SG-1 hadn't been off world since the incident but Daniel wasn't sure if the team could withstand him and Sam having problems. He needed to talk to her, he decided. Turning on his heel he began to search the SGC for her.
He found her soon enough, in the gym. She had stripped to the waist and was working out with the punch bag. Daniel watched her for a moment then announced his presence. Sam glanced in his direction, muttered something and began to walk away. This was not good. He had to get her to stay and talk to him. He ran after her and caught her arm.
"Sam wait."
Sam tensed beneath his grip, almost as though she was afraid. Why couldn't he leave her alone? She cried in her head. It was silly, but she was still afraid of him. She had thought that she'd got over what he'd tried to do to her, but every time she saw him, she remembered being pinned by him and helpless against him. She stiffened even more as he leaned closer to her.
"I'm not going to hurt you Sam," he whispered.
Oh God how she wished she could believe him, but she couldn't. Tears welled in her eyes.
"Please, Daniel. Leave me alone. Please." Her voice was cracking and she thought for a minute that he was going to do just that.
Daniel felt Sam's arm tense beneath his hand. He could feel the fear radiating out of her. God he hated himself for what he'd done to her. She couldn't even bare to face him. She was frightened of him. The realisation struck him like a blow to the guts, turning his stomach and leaving him breathless. He was responsible for this. They both had to face this. He let her go and began to walk away.
Sam relaxed as Daniel let go of her arm and began to walk away from her, towards the door. Without looking she continued to the showers. Then without warning Daniel barrelled into her, taking her legs from underneath her, sending them both crashing to the ground. She scrabbled wildy at the floor trying to get away. Daniel caught her easily, flipped her onto her back and pinned her to the floor. Sam looked up into Daniel's eyes, terror making her eyes more blue than usual.
"Oh God no. Please. Daniel. Don't hurt me. Please." Her voice began to rise in terror.
Daniel stared back at her. He knew he was hurting her but it was the only way he could think of to get her to fight back.
"Come on Sam. Fight back. Don't let me win again." He applied a little more pressure to her wrists.
Suddenly Sam's training kicked in. She was not going to live in fear of Daniel. The next thing the linguist was aware of was spinning backwards through the air and landing with a thud! on his back. He pulled himself to his feet and faced Sam. She'd dropped into a fighting stance. As he moved toward her she pulled up one leg and caught him full in the gut. He staggered back and then circled around. The blows were coming thick and fast.
Jack wandered back from another meeting with the General. He still wasn't convinced that SG-1 were ready to return to active duty. Jack had pleaded (almost) but the General was adamant. Everyone was aware of the tension between Sam and Daniel and the General had decided that until they could work together, SG-1 was stuck at the mountian. Jack headed for Sam's quarters. He had to get her and Daniel talking again if SG-1 wished to continue on the project. An airman hurried past Jack as he knocked on Sam's door. There was no reply. Maybe she was in the labs, he thought. As he turned he was nearly run down by another three airman, all heading in the same direction as the first. Perhaps there was some kind of emergency he wasn't aware of. When the fifth airman hurried past along with Colonel Makepeace, Jack had had enough of wondering.
"Makepeace." The Colonel stopped and turned to face Jack. He looked almost surprised.
"O'Neill. What are you doing here?"
"Uh gee I thought I worked here?" Jack replied. Then he saw the look on Makepeace's face.
"What's going on?"
"You haven't heard? Your Captain Carter and Doctor Jackson are sluggin' it out in the gym."
"What?" Jack took off at a run, easily outstripping Makepeace.
He arrived at the gymnasium to find a large group of SGC personnel gathered around the central floor, egging on the two combatants who were now circling each other in the center. Sam was in a vest top and shorts, her blonde hair sticking to her face, arms raised defensively. Daniel was stipped to the waist, sweat glistening on his back. A small trickle of blood ran from his hairline.
As Jack watched, Sam came forward, hitting Daniel square in the stomach. He staggered back, before collapsing to the floor. He struggled to get up, but the effort proved too much and he ended up sitting on the floor wheezing. Jack decided that this *match* had gone far enough. As he marched towards the two members of SG-1, the rest of the crowd began to disperse, not daring to look the irate Colonel in the eye. Daniel saw Jack and waved, grinning sheepishly.
"Hi Jack."
"Would someone mind explaining to me exactly what is going on here?" Jack demanded.
Sam wandered over and helped Daniel to his feet. The two then faced the irate Colonel together.
"Sorry Sir. Just think of it as a rematch." Sam explained. Then she turned to Daniel. "I think we should get you back to the Infirmary,"
Daniel nodded in agreement. "You do realise Janet's going to kill me. I'm supposed to convalesing"
Sam smiled. "I'll explain it was all in a good cause. I'll see you later, Colonel." Then the two left the room, leaving Jack feeling confused. He had no idea what had just gone on in here but it seemed like SG-1 was back on track. As he watched Sam and Daniel's retreating backs it occurred to him that next time there had to be an easier way to get team members talking!
THE END
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