Part One- Daniel

I look down at the latest edition of the base newspaper. The front-page headline reads Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter, to marry Detective Peter Shanahan of the Colorado Springs Police Department. There is a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach as I read those words. It just feels so- wrong. I can just see her now, dressed in a long white gown, trying so desperately to live in the world she's saved from the brink of destruction- how many times has it been? Too many to count. But what she doesn't yet understand that she cannot walk in the world if she plans to rescue it. Jack understands, and Teal'c. I am beginning to. I think Sam needs someone to save her from this mistake.

There is a saying that while we stop to think, we often miss our opportunity. My time with Oma has taught me how to look at things deeper, to see what lies hidden beneath the surface. I see things now with different eyes. Were Jack and Sam always so in love with each other? Most days it is hardly noticeable, until one of them is missing or injured and the other completely falls to pieces. Being missing and/or injured is nothing new to us since we've discovered the Stargate. Being dead is also old hat now that I think about it. It's fascinating the cultural significance of death in post-modern western civilization- what was I talking about? Oh, yeah- Jack and Sam.

I found Jack drunk in his office the other night babbling about Zatarcs and Thera and a thousand other things. Eventually, I pieced together enough facts to know that Sam and Pete had somehow been the cause of the midnight raid on the liquor cabinet. Teal'c was there and after helping Jack into his quarters, we sat in my lab.

"Daniel Jackson, do you believe that Colonel Carter still has feelings for the General?" Teal'c inquires after several moments of silence.

"What do you mean? What kind of fee... Oh, those kinds of feelings." I look down, unsure of how to respond. Images of them come to me, playing in my mind like a movie. It was the small things that stood out most. Like how they'd take food from each others' plate, Jack would always drag her out of her lab if she worked too long, how she always laughed at his stupid jokes, how they'd look at each other across the campfire when we would be off-world overnight. I remember Jonah and Thera huddled in the dark together, her head on his shoulder. I have seen the sheer terror that crosses on of their faces if the other is hurt or missing. All the pieces finally fit, I understand why Sam drove herself to the brink of madness how many times to save Jack. When Teal'c was missing, was she that relentless? Yes, but not as irrationally emotional.

"I will share with you an ancient Jaffa tale of two great warriors who together were much more formidable than they were separately. Have you ever heard of Adanta'c and Ashka?" Teal'c asked. I shook my head and prepared to hear the story.

"Adanta'c and Ashka were lovers when they were young. All of the prophets proclaimed that they were mates of the spirit. When they were called to war, the prophets said that they would fail in battle if they continued to express their love for each other. It was said that the gods were jealous of the magnitude of their passion. As long as their love was never spoken of nor acted upon their land would be safe from their enemies. For 75 years they never once mentioned this grand passion of their childhood. And for 75 years, they prevailed in battle." Teal'c grew quiet, then continued. " In the heat of battle, Ashka watched as her lover was struck down by an enemy blade. She ran to his side to spend his last moments of life. She told him all of what lay within her heart for many years. He told her with his final breath that he had always loved her best among all others. As she lay weeping for her lost love, she was also slain, their entire village was burned and their enemies took all the survivors as slaves."

"A warrior must honor duty above all other things. Sacrifice is a word that is not unfamiliar to any of us, least of all Colonel Carter and General O'Neill. On Chulak, I have heard them called Adanta'c and Ashka. I am becoming increasingly concerned with Colonel Carter's insistence of having a "normal life."" Teal'c finished, and fell silent.

"I don't think there are any prophets declaring impending doom for Jack and Sam. Just court martial if the wrong people found out." I suddenly knew what I had to do. I left Teal'c to Kel No Reem. I had a few phone calls to make.

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