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phantismaFandom: Stargate SG1
Title: something in the water, part two
Characters/Pairings: Daniel Jackson/Sam Carter, Jack O'Neill, General Hammond, Janet Fradier, Teal'c
Word Count: 15741
Rating: NC-17 (though only for the very end, the bulk of this is gen)
Summary: SG-1 is negotiating a treaty with a race called the Qeanu when something about Daniel begins to change.
A/Ns & Warnings: WINGFIC. And yes, it's allbadfalcon's fault.
Daniel’s eyes scanned the crowds around them as he was taken from his cell and into a courtroom. He hadn’t seen Jack or Sam since that first visit, and it had been close to twenty four hours. He hadn’t been given food or water, or clothes to cover his still bare torso.
He was walked to a raised circle in the center of the courtroom where his wrists and ankles were finally released from the heavy chain. His hands were brought around in front and locked into thick metal cuffs that were bolted to the railing around the stand.
Once his handlers had stepped back, Daniel arched his back, trying to ease the ache in his muscles. He ruffled his wings, spreading them out and nearly moaning with the relief the gesture brought.
The crowd that filled the chamber rumbled as his wings stretched, then parted as the Chancellor entered, trailing a serious group of twelve Qeanu in robes. They filed into the room and up to the raised dias in front of where Daniel was bound. They stood as the crowd quieted and settled, then the Chancellor banged his gavel.
“Kanpau, you have been tried and found guilty by virtue of your blood. You will be taken to the plain of shandu, where you will be given to the descendants of those who died due to Kanpau treachery. Your wings will be ripped from you, and you will be stoned, your blood will spill slowly and your bones will break, until at last your heart beats no more, and you will be left upon the plain as payment for all the Qeanu that died.”
“That sounds unpleasant.” Daniel murmured under his breath. “This is insane, you know that right?”
The room erupted in outrage and fury, intense and overwhelming. His knees buckled as the rage echoed inside him until he couldn’t tell what was his own and what was external. The noise died down, but the emotion continued to flow and Daniel fought to get back to his feet under the assault.
“....not to speak.” He didn’t need to hear it all to understand that he was breaking some protocol by speaking. The Chancellor slammed his gavel down. “Now, the condemned will be taken to the plain of shandu.”
His handlers returned, though rather than the heavy chains, they pulled his wings back and clipped them together at their apex, which was actually more painful, but let him walk. His wrists were cuffed and he was pushed toward the narrow path through the crowd. Insults and stones were hurled at him, small, but still painful when they actually connected. Worse than that was the anger and fear, fury and violent intent.
Then they were shoving him into the back of a vehicle not unlike a van. The door closed behind him and he relished the peace it provided...until he recognized that it wasn’t the absence of external emotion, just different external emotion. There was hope and even a little nervous excitement. He opened his eyes as the vehicle lurched into motion. “Sam?”
She smiled tightly. “We don’t have a lot of time.”
“Considering they’re taking me out to have my wings ripped off and bleed me to death, I’d agree.”
“I got them to let me ride along, to say goodbye. But actually, I need to fill you in.”
“I take it Jack has some plan?”
She took his bound hands in hers, looking at the lock. “I came prepared for the chains. I think the corri-cord is a little heavy handed for this, it’ll eat through this and into your skin.. You’ll have to do it with the cuffs on, we’ll get them off when we get back to the SGC.”
“Do what exactly?” Daniel asked.
“Colonel O’Neill is going to provide us a distraction.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Do I want to know what kind of distraction?”
She chuckled. “General Hammond is dialing in right now. Colonel O’Neill is at the gate. When I give the signal, Teal’c and SGs 3, 6 and 12 will come through, along with AUV support. As soon as the UAV has dumped its payload, they’ll close the gate and re-dial, keeping it open for us. It’s up to us to get back to the gate.”
“And how are we doing that, exactly?” Daniel asked. The vehicle was slowing down. They needed to have a plan fast.
There was apprehension now. “I was kind of hoping you could...fly.”
“Sam, I don’t even know if I can. Let alone with you. And, not to mention, I’m a little clipped here.” He turned as much as the confines of the van would allow.
Her fingers traced up the edges of his wings, finding the metal. She exhaled. “I can try this.” She held up a thin strip of the corrosive cord that she had already said was too heavy handed for the cuffs. “If I get it thin enough…”
The van turned and came to a stop. “Do it.” Daniel said, watching her tear the strip and dropping to one knee so that she could reach.
The door was opening and Sam threw her arms around him, pulling him in. “It’ll take a few minutes.”
“Stick close.” Daniel murmured back before he was being yanked out into the bright afternoon sun.
Her hand held his as she followed him, clinging to him until they forced her to let go. He imagined he could feel the corrosive burning through the metal, burning into his wings, but it was too soon.
The plain was wide, ringed with people. In the center was a twenty foot circle of stones that Daniel was dragged out to the center of as a line of people filed in from near the place where the vehicles had been moved. He could see Sam being pushed off to the side. He looked around him, trying to get his bearings.
Okay, he could do this...just flap his wings and go.
Sure he could.
The Chancellor was talking and Daniel did not like the looks of the tools in the hands of the two men coming toward him. His memory flashed and he could see some ancestor with his wings pulled wide, these tools ripping feathers and skin. His wings fluttered involuntarily, pulling against the clip.
Hands reached for him and he felt the teeth of one of the tools connect with his side as he tried to turn away. He lurched forward, his wings pulling hard now. There were more people rushing at him and he was running out of time.
The first explosion was behind him and a ways off, then a UAV was buzzing over them and dropping gas containers that immediately began dispersing a heavy smoke.
Daniel ducked away from the hands reaching for him, spinning away only to feel something sharp bite into his thigh. A second blade found his stomach, just off to the right. Suddenly the top of his wings were free and they flapped forward, pushing him back from the guard nearest him. His own fear at the moment seemed to be protecting him from the rage around him, though not from the rocks now starting to pelt him from the men and women that had circled around him.
“Daniel!” Sam. Right.
Now or never. Daniel leaped up, hoping his wings knew what to do. He floundered a little, getting over the heads of those closest before he was falling back to the ground. His second attempt took him further and the third time he took a few running steps and launched himself up, finally getting fully airbound. That didn’t stop the rocks and he was no where near under control, but he tried to get low enough to get Sam, lowering his bound hands for her to grab onto.
Climbing up was harder with Sam’s weight and she banged into people as he fought for lift. Hands grabbed at her and she dropped. Daniel beat his wings hard to gain some air, his eyes watching Sam roll clear and start running for the distant tree line. A large rock connected with his hip, sending him tumbling through the air.
He hit the ground not far from Sam, who doubled back and grabbed his bound hands to pull him up. He took two steps and shook his head. Blood had soaked his pant leg from the thigh wound and the hip that had just gotten hit wasn’t going to hold him.
“Try again?” he asked, lifting his arms so she could duck under them. She stepped in close, her hands locking behind his neck. “Hold on.”
His muscles strained, but eventually he got a foot off the ground, then another.
“Not to pressure you or anything….” Sam said in his ear.
“Yeah, I know. The trees.”
“And the really big guns. Behind you.”
He spared a glance, but wobbled in the air. “Right. Okay...we can do this.”
His skin was thick with sweat from the exertion, but he managed to get above the trees before they reached them. The first shot from the guns sang over his shoulder.
“Carter, where are you?” Jack’s voice came through Sam’s earpiece, loud enough for Daniel to hear clearly.
“Daniel, I can’t….” She glanced at her jacket pocket.
“Oh, right.” He pulled her radio out. “Jack, it’s Daniel. We’re on our way, but we’ve got company.”
“So do we. We can’t hold this position much longer.”
“Roger that.”
He could see the stargate, and the puffs of smoke that indicated that there was a firefight going on. Another bolt slammed past them from behind, making him veer to the right. He was tiring rapidly, but they were less than a mile out now. “Can you get there on foot?” Daniel asked, locating a spot in the trees he could land. He tried to do it gracefully, but he was listing badly and settled for not breaking anything.
“Yeah, probably. At least until I hit their troops.” She let go and he lifted his arms over her head.
“Okay, new plan. I need a few minutes. You head to the gate. Stop at the treeline. I’ll swing by and pick you up.”
She grinned at him. “You’ll swing by and pick me up?”
He pressed a hand to the wound in his abdomen, nodding. “Can’t promise it’ll be fun, but I’ll get you to the gate.”
“I can’t just leave you here alone and bleeding.”
“If you don’t, neither one of us is getting out of here. Go. I’m keeping the radio though.”
For a moment he didn’t think she would, then she nodded and took off at a run through the trees. “Jack, be advised, Sam is on foot on her way toward you. I’m injured, not sure I can get her there in one piece.”
“What about you?”
Daniel sighed and looked up at the sky. Any minute now Qeanu would be combing through the trees looking for him. “I’m working on it.”
“Work faster.”
He stretched his wings out and folded them back in. He could feel people closing in and for a panicked moment he wasn’t sure he could actually get back into the air, then he was lifting up. He was barely over the trees when gunfire started again, coming from both directions now. “Jack, shit.” He nearly crashed into the trees below him. “I could use some cover fire over here,” he yelled into the radio.
He stuck close to the tree tops, hoping that would make him harder to hit, but he was going to run out of trees soon, and he was going to need to get low enough to get Sam, then high enough to clear the line of guns that would be shooting at them….and he was beginning to seriously doubt he could do any of that.
“Jack, can you see me?” Daniel asked, an idea forming.
“Yeah, I can see you.”
“I’m going to land. Make note of where. Once I’m down, lay down as much firepower as you can at the men between me and you, low. I need you to make a hole, but not shoot us. And tell me that’s an outgoing wormhole..”
“One way ticket to Earth.”
Daniel could just see Sam squatting near the treeline. He veered left and circled around, hoping the spot he picked was actually wide enough. It was a little bumpy, but he managed not to break anything as he crashed down behind Sam.
In front of them gunfire and staff blasts tore through Qeanu lines. “Hurry.” Daniel said as Sam reached for him. “This is going to be rough.” He took two steps out of the trees and launched himself, barely getting enough altitude to avoid friendly fire. “Let go when we reach the gate.”
“Fall back!” Jack yelled as Daniel dropped lower, angling to actually drop Sam just before the wormhole and circle back around, but that wasn’t going to happen. She held on, pulling him down and it was all he could do to fold up his wings before they crashed into the gate, sending them hurtling through the wormhole and rolling down the ramp.
“Daniel?” Sam clambered off of him, trying to avoid his wings or his wounds. “Medic!”
“Sam, I’m right here.” Janet’s eyes were big, and Daniel wanted to say something, but the truth was, the pain from his body, and the sudden influx of the emotions of a room full of military and medical personnel was too much and before Janet even touched him, Daniel was unconscious.
Sam. He could feel her, warm, affection and concern, a sense of hiding something...else...a flare of expectation as his fingers curled around hers, a jump of joy as he opened his eyes. “Hey.” Daniel murmured, letting his eyes focus on the somewhat familiar confines of one of the infirmary’s isolation rooms.
Sam smiled, setting aside the book in her hand and moving closer. “Janet felt you’d be more comfortable without everyone staring at you.”
“You been sitting there long?” Daniel asked, though he already knew the answer.
Sam rolled her eyes. “The knife wounds were not too bad, Janet stitched you up. Your hip is pretty deeply bruised, you might not be walking on it for a while. And two ribs are broken, probably from the rocks.”
“Or the crash landing.” There were a half dozen other bruises in other places from the rocks thrown at him.
“And your wings are a little banged up. The corr-cord singed them a little.”
“Is that all of it?” Daniel asked, figuring by now Janet had to have run a battery of other tests.
“Test results aren’t complete. X-rays show that the bones are all solid, nothing broken there.”
Daniel sat up, grimacing as it pulled on the stitches in his stomach. “We had a hard time deciding how we should lay you down.” Sam said. “I can’t imagine it’s comfortable on your back like that now.”
“I’ve had worse.” Daniel admitted, letting the wings spread out a bit. “What about you? Did I hurt you?”
She brushed a hand over the dusty spot on her jaw that was going to develop into a full bruise eventually. “No, I’ve had worse too.”
They were quiet a minute before they both realized that Sam was still holding Daniel’s hand. She blushed and cleared her throat as she slipped it out of his. “I...should...maybe I should go.”
“You don’t have to go.” Daniel said. “I like the way you feel.” It was his turn to blush and close his eyes. “That came out wrong.” She chuckled and he looked up at her. “Emotionally. Which doesn’t sound any better.” He sighed. “I’m going to stop talking now.”
She was flushed as her hand covered his, her smile different somehow than even just a few minutes before. “Never.”
The door opened and Sam stepped back, clearing her throat. Janet looked up from the charts in her hands before she came to the end of the bed. “So, what’s the word, doc?”
“Aside from the obvious, you’re a picture of health.” Janet said. “Your tests all came back good, some of them better than they were before the mission even.”
“Despite the fact that I’ve developed extra senses and limbs?” Daniel asked.
“Possibly because of that.” Janet said. “How’s the pain level? I didn’t want to give you too much until I got the test results back.”
“Tolerable. Though I think I need to stretch my back muscles out.”
Janet nodded. “Now that you’re awake, we’ll let you decide how you’re most comfortable, I just needed access to your wounds.”
“How long are you keeping me?”
Janet raised an eyebrow at him. “In a hurry to fly off?”
Daniel rolled his eyes. “Funny, take you long to come up with?”
She chuckled. “I want you here until at least the morning. It’s going to take a while to set up your quarters anyway.”
Right. There was no way they were letting him just go home now.
“Colonel O’Neill and Teal’c are setting you up in a special room, with your own kitchen and room to spread out.” Sam said. “They’re bringing stuff from your apartment.”
“Okay. I’ll just hang out here then.”
“Do you need anything?” Janet asked.
He considered waiting until they’d left, but if Sam was right and his hip wouldn’t hold him… “Actually, yes. Can you two help me up? I can stretch out and get laid down on my stomach.”
Sam was instantly on his right side and Janet put her chart down, helping him slide his legs to the side of the bed. Before his feet even touched the ground he knew he’d have fallen without them there. “Okay, easy now.” Janet murmured.
Daniel hopped a little away from the bed, letting his wings ruffle, then fan out behind them, stretching them to their full expanse. Previously unused muscles burned from the exertion of flying for the first time and carrying Sam after the cramped positions forced on his by the Qeanu. His shoulders cracked and some relief flowed.
“Wow.” Sam whispered, the fingers of her free hand petting over the wings. Daniel turned his head to try to figure out what the spike of emotion was he got from her, but Janet’s awe and curiosity was louder.
“These are….amazing.”
“Okay, need to be laying down now.” Daniel leaned on Janet and let his injured leg and hip move around. It took some maneuvering, but eventually they got him turned and shifted onto the bed on his stomach. Sam adjusted the light blanket and Janet moved the trays away so that he had room to open his wings up if he needed to.
“Better?” Sam asked.
Daniel nodded. “Better.”
“Get some rest. I’ll be back in a little bit to check on you.” Janet said, her hand patting Daniel’s arm.
“I’m going to go too. See if I can help get things ready for you.”
“I meant what I said, Sam.” Daniel offered, ruffling his feathers as he shifted around to get comfortable.
She smiled and leaned in close. “Then I’ll come back.” She kissed the top of his head and followed Janet out the door, leaving him to ponder what exactly he was feeling coming from her.
He didn’t see Jack or Teal’c or anyone really other than Sam and Janet until Janet was there with a pair of crutches around noon the next day. “Since I don’t want you putting weight on that hip, and you can’t fly in the halls.”
“You know, you’re being remarkably okay with this whole thing.” Daniel observed as she helped him down from the bed, grateful she’d already conceded to giving him a pair of scrubs to wear.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m fascinated and I ran every test I could think of. I’m going to be weeks going over all of it. But my first concern was making sure you were healthy and stable.”
She held the door for him to maneuver through, which was more difficult trying to compensate for both his wings and his hip, but eventually, he figured it out. The halls were mostly empty, but he could feel the eyes of those who they passed on their way to the elevator.
Sam was waiting for them, her smile bright. “I can take him from here, Janet, thanks.”
“I’m being escorted?” Daniel asked as he got into the elevator.
“General Hammond hasn’t made a base wide announcement yet, he figured you should have some adjustment time before you have to deal with...everyone.” Sam said as she pressed the button. “All non-essential personnel are confined to quarters for the next half hour or so. I’m just here to show you to your new room.” She grinned again.
He tried to figure out what she was feeling, but it just came across as being pleased with herself. Intrigued, he followed her out of the elevator when the doors open. “Where are we going?” Daniel asked, frowning a little. Level seventeen was someplace he’d seldom been, and last he knew there were no living quarters on it.
Sam stopped at a door and swiped a card, which she then handed to him. “Welcome home.” She pushed the door open and for a moment even his senses were fooled. It smelled like home, like walking into his apartment. He moved into the space, turning to try to see it all.
“You did this in a day?” Daniel asked, limping into the room. His living room furniture was arranged around a rug off to his right, his bookshelves lined the wall leading to a door in the right corner. His kitchen table was directly in front of him, and to his left was a kitchen.
“The fridge is stocked. You’ll have to make due with government issue plates and silverware until the rest of your stuff gets here tomorrow.” She walked around him to the door near the refrigerator. “Your bedroom…” He followed her into the room, unsurprised that his bed was there, his dresser, more bookshelves, a wardrobe he was sure would hold his clothes.
She gestured toward another door. “Bathroom...we’re not done with the shower yet, but you can wash up. We had to order some parts. You should be able to use the locker room showers just fine until it’s done.”
Sam headed back toward the main room. “Like I said, we didn’t get all of your stuff. The rest of your books will be here tomorrow. These were mostly from the living room. But, here…” She crossed to the other door and opened it, reaching in to flip on a light. He followed, still kind of awestruck that they’d done so much so fast.
The next room was like his office downstairs, only bigger. “You should be able to stretch out in here.” Sam said, grinning. “In all of the rooms, except the bathroom, actually. I made sure it was big enough to accommodate your full wingspan.”
Almost as if in response, his wings twitched and he let them spread, moving to the center of the room. True enough, the tips didn’t quite touch the walls. “You can, of course, still use your office downstairs. This is mostly stuff from your study at home. Oh and this.” She put her hands down on a book he didn’t recognize. “Remember that cave? I got into the private room, this was in it, along with some scrolls.” She pointed to a bag on the floor by his desk.”
“You figured out the final trial?” Daniel asked, bringing his wings back in.
She bit her lip and shrugged. “I used C-4.”
Daniel laughed. “That works too.”
“I’m working on figuring out clothes for you. I mean, unless you want to walk around shirtless. I mean, I’m not complaining.” She closed her eyes as her cheeks pinked up and she turned away. “Just...forget I said that.”
There was a knock on the door and Daniel left Sam to her embarrassment, hobbling out to open the door. Genneral Hammond was on the other side. “Sir, come in.”
“I just wanted to see that you were getting settled in.”
“You wanted to see the wings.” Daniel said.
Hammond smiled. “Okay, you caught me. I saw you when you came in, of course, but things have been busy since you got back.”
“Oh?”
“The Qeanu have demanded that we return you to them. They’ve been fairly aggressive.” Hammond was a solid wall of resolution. “Doctor Frasier assures me that you’re going to be fine.”
“Yes, once the hip and stab wounds heal.” Daniel agreed.
Sam emerged from the office. “General Hammond.”
“Fine job you did here, Major.”
‘Thank you, sir, but Colonel O’Neill and Teal’c did most of the work.”
“General, I want you to know that I don’t intend to let this interfere with my work.” Daniel said, a little anxiety rising as the reality of the physical changes was starting to set in. He wouldn’t be allowed off base. He might not be allowed to go off world. These rooms might become his entire existence.
Sam’s hand touched his back, calming. He could almost hear her voice in his head telling him she was there, she would always be there.
“I know that, Son.” Hammond said. “We have a lot to work out first. For now, let’s focus on your recovery. Then we’ll talk.”
“Fair enough. I’m not really ready to be walking around.” Daniel said, calming some. “I’m not...it’s okay for people to know though. I mean, it’s not like I can hide what’s happened.”
“I was thinking, sir, we could maybe let people come up one at a time. That way Daniel doesn’t get overwhelmed.” Sam said, stepping around Daniel now.
“I’d like that.” Daniel agreed. “I want everyone to get comfortable with this. With me.”
“Very well. I’ll make the announcement. But we’ll give you this afternoon to settle in.” Hammond’s eyes traced to Daniel’s wings and Daniel turned, letting them shift, the feathers ruffling lightly. “That is really something.”
Daniel closed them and turned back around. “Incredible, really.”
“And they really work?”
“I probably wouldn’t be here if they didn’t, General.” Sam said.
“You’re going to have to show me one day.”
“I look forward to it, sir.” Daniel said.
“You rest up. I’ll see myself out.”
Daniel sighed, watching him leave, but before the door closed behind him, Jack and Teal’c were there. “Is this a private party or can we come in?” Jack asked.
“Jack, Teal’c. Please.” Daniel could tell Jack was a little less freaked out than the last time he’d been close enough to feel, and beside him Teal’c was...unreadable.
“It is good to see you well.” Teal’c said.
Daniel smiled. “Thank you. Both of you. This is...very comforting.”
“It was Carter’s idea.” Jack said. “We thought we’d get a little more time, but Doc Frasier thought you’d be more comfortable up here.”
“Well, I appreciate it. And getting me out of there before they ripped my wings off and stoned me.”
Jack frowned. “That’s what they were…” He shook his head. “Don’t mention it. You’re still a member of my team. We don’t leave anyone behind.”
It was quiet for a minute, and Daniel hobbled over to the table, pulling one of the chairs out to sit. “So, General Hammond says the Qeanu have been aggressive?”
“Yeah.” Jack followed him, sitting across from him. “I think we finally convinced them to stop sending men through the gate though, so that’s something.”
“How many?” Daniel asked.
Jack made a face and looked to Sam. “At last count, around seventy five.” Sam supplied.
“They’re not going to stop.” Daniel said softly. “And there’s a very good chance they don’t just want me now.”
“Well, they can’t have you. And if they think they can wipe us out, they’ll have to wait in line.”
Daniel smiled. “Okay.” His body ached and his wings itched. He shifted on the chair to give them some room, the ends twitching.
“So…” Jack’s eyes scanned the room, then came back to Daniel. “Enough room? Comfy?”
“Yes. Thank you.” He waited, he could nearly taste Jack’s curiosity, but he couldn’t figure out how to ask the questions. “You’re dying to ask questions.” Daniel said finally.
“Come on Daniel, you’re a freaking angel for god’s sake.” Jack said.
“Not an angel, Jack. Still me.”
“Yeah but look at you.” Jack countered.
“So ask.” Daniel offered, letting the wings settle to a comfortable position.
“Just...what...how?” Jack shook his head.
“It’s okay. Here…” He turned in the chair, offering his back to Jack. “Go ahead, touch them.”
Jack’s hand was tentative and at first only touched Daniel’s skin, his back between the wings. Daniel flexed the muscle there, shaking his wings. Jack’s little exhale of surprise preceded a rush of awe and his hands sliding over the top edge, down as far as he could reach. His fingers trailed over feathers as Daniel extended them, though the table was in his way to really stretch out.
“Okay, I’ll admit that’s pretty damn cool.” Jack said finally when Daniel had turned back to the table.
“Your wingspan is most impressive.” Teal’c said with a raised eyebrow.
“Dressing is going to be a problem.” Jack offered wryly. “So, how much did it hurt?”
“What, when they came in?” Daniel shrugged. “It hurt, but it wasn’t a lot different than say a tooth coming in...well, except, you know, a lot bigger.”
Jack seemed to accept that, nodding. “And the empath stuff?”
“What about it?” Daniel asked.
“Isn’t that a little crazy?” There was a spike of real concern, worry for his privacy.
“I’ll learn to control it. And I promise I don’t want to invade your private emotions.” Except for how he was suddenly very aware of Sam’s...who was rapidly trying to mask a hot, fiery lust behind other emotions. It distracted him so much that he got caught staring and her face turned nearly as red as the emotion she was trying to hide.
“And so...this is...it? This is who you are now?” Jack asked, pulling his attention back to the conversation.
“I promise, I’m still me.” Daniel rubbed his face to hide the yawn escaping him. “It’s going to take some adjustment. I need to figure out how to be in a room full of people without being overwhelmed with the mix of emotion. I’m hoping some of the scrolls and the book Sam found will help.” He couldn’t hide the second yawn. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’ve been through a lot in the last seventy two hours.” Jack said, standing. “You get some rest.”
“I should go too.” Sam said, following Jack and Teal’c.
“Sam, wait.” Daniel struggled to stand up, wincing as he put weight on the injured leg.
“I have work to do.” Sam insisted. “I’ll come back later.” She was still flushed with embarrassment, and as much as he wanted to ask her about what he’d felt, he gave her the space to withdraw gracefully.
Alone, he yawned again and decided he probably should get some sleep so his body could heal and adjust.
“Daniel?”
Jack’s voice rose up the shaft, and Daniel sighed, descending to land on the ramp in front of the Stargate.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Well, I haven’t been given clearance to go outside yet, and I needed to stretch out and this is the only place in the mountain I actually have enough clearance to get off the ground.”
“I see you’re getting the hang of the landing thing.”
“Practice.” Daniel came down the ramp. “Did you need something?”
“Oh, Hammond wants to see you.”
“Okay.”
“Liking the shirt, by the way.”
“Yeah? Sam’s got a bunch more being made. Told the tailor it was for a student movie.”
He followed Jack up to General Hammond’s office, both of them stopping at the sound of raised voices.
“Doctor Jackson is a member of my staff and not a lab rat.” Hammond said, his anger radiating out the open door. Daniel had gotten a lot better in the last two weeks at controlling how much external emotion he let in, but there was no blocking that kind of anger.
“General, Doctor Jackson represents a serious alteration in what we know and understand of human anatomy. Not to mention--”
“Not to mention his anatomy isn’t exactly human.” Daniel countered, stepping around Jack and into the office. “General.”
“Holy shit.”
Daniel turned to look at the man speaking, but he didn’t know the man. “Doctor Jackson, Doctor Elias Lathrom from Area 51. It seems that you have become a subject of discussion over there.”
Lathrom’s eyes were wide and excitement rolled off him as those eyes traced Daniel’s wings. “I mean, I read the reports, but this is...this is something else entirely.” He reached out a hand, but Daniel stepped back. “I’m sorry, I just...those are...incredible.”
“Yes, they are. And they’re mine.” Daniel said. “Highly sensitive. I don’t let just anyone touch them.”
“I meant no offense, Dr. Jackson.”
“No, you just want to lock me in a lab and poke at me.” Daniel crossed his arms and waited for Lathrom to try to deny it or justify it.
“Frasier’s already done all the tests.” Jack said. “You lab geeks can study those.”
“I don’t think you understand, Colonel O’Neill.”
“I understand plenty. You’re not taking Daniel anywhere.”
“General, surely you must understand the significance--”
“I understand that Doctor Jackson is a valuable member of this command.”
“And a member of my team.” Jack insisted. “I need him here, prepping for our next mission.”
Daniel looked at him sharply, they hadn’t even discussed another mission, or whether or not Daniel would be allowed to stay on SG1. “You do?”
Jack was exasperated now, raising both eyebrows at him. “Yes, Daniel. I was going to bring you the mission file when I came up for lunch.”
“Where we going?” Daniel asked, pointedly ignoring Lathrom was even in the room.
“P3X-1202, they have ruins.”
“Oh, I like ruins.” Daniel said. Jack turned for the door and Daniel followed.
“SG4 took pictures.”
“This isn’t over!” Lathrom called after them, his disappointment chasing down the hallway.
“Thanks.” Daniel said as they neared the elevator.
“Don’t mention it.” Jack said. “I left the file in Carter’s lab, you want to…” He frowned, confusion filling him as Daniel stopped.
“Wait, you were serious?”
The exasperation returned and Jack rolled his eyes. “Yes, I was serious. Figured you’d want to get outside and since they haven’t decided what to do with you here on earth, I thought I’d get you off world.”
“Oh.” Daniel was genuinely surprised, still under the impression that Jack was too freaked out by the wings to have him along. “Okay, I appreciate it.”
They resumed walking, though Daniel fell behind Jack so that he wasn’t blocking the whole corridor. The regular personnel had started to get accustomed to seeing him in the four weeks since General Hammond had made the announcement and given him permission to move around the base.
Sam looked up as they came into her lab, smiling at Jack and holding up a file folder. Her smile widened when she saw Daniel. “Hey, wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“He was flying. In the gate room.” Jack said, reaching for the folder.
“Makes sense, only internal space with the clearance to get off the floor.”
“That’s what I said.” Daniel agreed. He stayed at the far end of the lab table, though that did little to diminish how much of her emotion he was getting. Some people, like Teal’c, he could barely read. Others, like Sam, he couldn’t help but read. Her emotional state overwhelmed him and he hadn’t quite figured out how to deal with it.
“How’s the hip?” Sam asked, her eyes skipping from Daniel to Jack and back.
“Better.” Daniel answered. “Still cramps up a bit if I sit or stand too long, but I’m even landing on that leg now.”
“Good.”
Jack handed him the file. “We go tomorrow, if you’re ready.”
“Oh, I’ll be ready.”
He flipped through the file on his way back to his rooms. It was an uninhabited planet, at least as far as SG4 had found, but the ruins were extensive and there were clearly several columns covered in writing. As a place for Daniel to get back in the field, it was probably as close to perfect as they were going to get.
It was nearly nine pm when a knock on his door pulled Daniel up from the books scattered across his table. He crossed to the door and opened it to Sam grinning at him. “Hey, come on in.”
She shook her head. “Actually, I was hoping you would come out.”
Intrigued, he raised an eyebrow and waited.
“It’s a surprise.” She was a bundle of excited and happy and that ever present feeling of affection and what he’d come to understand as desire. “Just...trust me.”
She took his hand, pulling him out of the apartment and down to the elevator. “Where are we going?” Daniel asked as the doors closed and the elevator started to rise.
He got an inkling when they got off the elevator and headed for the elevator up to the surface. “General Hammon said as long as you stay above the base, don’t go flying off somewhere, you could get outside.”
“No wandering into town for a smoothie?” Daniel asked as they cleared a guard and Sam’s fingers stayed loosely in his as they climbed up into the trees.
“Wouldn’t want to start a rash of angel sightings.” Sam said with a grin.
“I had to get the white feathers, right?” Daniel asked as they reached a clearing. There was a blanket spread on the soft grass of a clearing, basket on one side. The night sky was clear, the air warm. His wings twitched in anticipation, but he held it in check as Sam let go of his hand.
“Too corny?” Sam asked, stepping onto the blanket.
Daniel shook his head. She was nervous. He unfolded the wings, closing his eyes to savor the feeling of strength. There it was, the rush of lust accompanied by...love. Daniel opened his eyes and Sam looked away. He stepped in close, lifting a hand to her face. “Don’t...the back and forth is confusing the hell out of me.” Daniel said softly. “Just tell me it isn’t only the wings.”
Her eyes met his. “No, never. Daniel...this is, I shouldn’t…”
He stopped her with a finger on her lips. “We’re way past rules here, Sam.”
He slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her in close before he lifted off the ground, taking them both up above the trees around them, over the base. It was cooler up there, with only the stars for company.
“Holy Hannah.” Sam whispered, clinging to him now.
He smiled, then slowly leaned in, brushing his lips over hers. “Oh.” She looked at him for a second and it was as if all emotion fell away, then it gushed, her lips meeting his and a cascade of love and desire and affection nearly physically knocked him back. He settled them to the ground, but Sam didn’t let go. His tongue slipped over her lips and she opened to him, the last remnant of her resistance fading.
“Confused now?” Sam asked softly when they came up for air.
“Not even a little.” Daniel responded.
“It’s a bad idea, you know that, right?”
“Maybe. But we’re SG1, our whole lives are pretty much one big bad idea.” Daniel countered. “Tell me there’s wine in that basket?”
She smiled, her face flushed. “Yeah. There is.”
He slipped a hand into hers and together they went back to the blanket. Yes, it was probably a bad idea, but for the moment it felt right. It felt good. And in their world they didn’t always get to have that.
Everything in his life had changed. He was more alone than he had ever been, the last of his race...but he had family all the same...and love, if that’s what this was. He took the glass of wine Sam handed him and sipped at it. She was beautiful, maybe even more so with the blush on her cheeks and that smile...yeah, he really loved that smile.
Daniel spread his wings as he sat on the blanket, letting them settle to a comfortable position. There was a corresponding spike of something in Sam. “Really?” Daniel asked.
She rolled her eyes. “You know this whole empath thing is going to get old.”
“I just don’t understand.” Daniel said, lifting the tips of the wings and curling them toward her.
“Now you’re teasing.”
“A little.” Daniel admit, smiling. He leaned across and kissed her.
“I don’t…” She brushed a hand down one wing, over the feathers. “I can’t explain it.”
“Okay.” Daniel stole another kiss. “Don’t. We’ll figure it out.”
She raised an eyebrow. “We will?”
“It’s what we do.” He set his wine aside and crooked a finger at her. “Come here.” She set her wine down as well, looking at him suspiciously. She got to her knees and crawled toward him as he straightened his legs out in front of him. “Right here.”
Daniel put a hand on her hip and guided her so that she was straddling his thighs, hands moving up her back now as he kissed her lightly. He brought his wings up, circling them around the both of them. Sam’s body tightened, her heart speeding up as her hands cupped his face. She ground down against him. He pulled his wings in tighter and she gasped, her eyes closing as her head fell back. One hand dropped between them, cupping herself as the rush and swirl of an unexpected orgasm flowed from her.
“Daniel.” She was breathless, rocking lightly against his now hardening cock and when her eyes opened, the pupils were blown wide. Her hand brushed over his groin and she licked her lips. She rubbed her hand down the length of him, then she was tugging his zipper down, guiding his cock out of his pants.
“Sam…” Desire swarmed through him...his own, hers...he couldn’t tell which as she unzipped her own pants and rose up enough to pull them down under her ass. She kissed him, tongue plunging into his mouth as she pulled clothes forward and out of the way, holding his cock and sinking down onto it. She moaned into his mouth as she rose up and sank down again. She was slick and wet and hot and her pace increased with her need.
Her hands caressed over the place where his wings came through his shirt, shuddering as she came again. His own orgasm followed and she slowed down, stopping with him deep inside her, her eyes closed as she panted. “I...I’m sorry.” Sam whispered when she finally opened her eyes.
“I’m not.” Daniel whispered back, kissing her.
“I...wasn’t planning…” She pulled up and stood, pulling her pants up.
Daniel pulled his wings back and stood himself, tucking in and zipping. “I’m glad you did anyway.”
“You must think I’m a freak.” Sam said suddenly, backing away.
“What I think is that you are freaking beautiful, and amazing.” Daniel countered. He reached for her hand, pulling her back to him. “That you could...want me like this?” He felt tears building. “I...Sam, if you could….if you could feel me the way I do you….If you could know how...alone I feel...the desperate loneliness of knowing that I’m the only person like me in the universe? And here you are, loving me anyway, offering me this…” He shook his head. “I’m the freak, Sam. You…”
She lifted a hand, brushing at the tear on his cheek, ignoring the tears on her own. “You’re not a freak. You’re...Daniel. And you’re beautiful, always have been.” She sniffled and looked down at their joined hands. “You know when I saw it first? We were on P3X-899 and you were in the library with Stana researching. So excited, so lost in what you were doing.”
“That was almost two years ago.”
She nodded. “I know. I sometimes sit and watch you working when you don’t know I’m there.” She blushed. “But I guess you’ll know now, seeing as you can feel me.”
He nodded slowly. “I can...and I’m going to make you feel me too.” He pulled back when she rolled her eyes. “What? Too corny?”
“Maybe a little,” she admitted.
“Why don’t we take this somewhere a little more private then.” Daniel offered. “Unless you had other plans.”
“We do have a mission tomorrow.” Sam said, retrieving the picnic basket.
“We’ll get some rest.” Daniel responded, grinning. “My bed is very comfortable.”
“Yep, bad idea.” Sam tangled her fingers in his and they headed back to the entrance.
“Worst idea ever.” Daniel agreed. One that would probably cause a whole slew of new problems...but right at that moment, he couldn’t bring himself to care.
Title: something in the water, part two
Characters/Pairings: Daniel Jackson/Sam Carter, Jack O'Neill, General Hammond, Janet Fradier, Teal'c
Word Count: 15741
Rating: NC-17 (though only for the very end, the bulk of this is gen)
Summary: SG-1 is negotiating a treaty with a race called the Qeanu when something about Daniel begins to change.
A/Ns & Warnings: WINGFIC. And yes, it's all
badfalcon's fault. Daniel’s eyes scanned the crowds around them as he was taken from his cell and into a courtroom. He hadn’t seen Jack or Sam since that first visit, and it had been close to twenty four hours. He hadn’t been given food or water, or clothes to cover his still bare torso.
He was walked to a raised circle in the center of the courtroom where his wrists and ankles were finally released from the heavy chain. His hands were brought around in front and locked into thick metal cuffs that were bolted to the railing around the stand.
Once his handlers had stepped back, Daniel arched his back, trying to ease the ache in his muscles. He ruffled his wings, spreading them out and nearly moaning with the relief the gesture brought.
The crowd that filled the chamber rumbled as his wings stretched, then parted as the Chancellor entered, trailing a serious group of twelve Qeanu in robes. They filed into the room and up to the raised dias in front of where Daniel was bound. They stood as the crowd quieted and settled, then the Chancellor banged his gavel.
“Kanpau, you have been tried and found guilty by virtue of your blood. You will be taken to the plain of shandu, where you will be given to the descendants of those who died due to Kanpau treachery. Your wings will be ripped from you, and you will be stoned, your blood will spill slowly and your bones will break, until at last your heart beats no more, and you will be left upon the plain as payment for all the Qeanu that died.”
“That sounds unpleasant.” Daniel murmured under his breath. “This is insane, you know that right?”
The room erupted in outrage and fury, intense and overwhelming. His knees buckled as the rage echoed inside him until he couldn’t tell what was his own and what was external. The noise died down, but the emotion continued to flow and Daniel fought to get back to his feet under the assault.
“....not to speak.” He didn’t need to hear it all to understand that he was breaking some protocol by speaking. The Chancellor slammed his gavel down. “Now, the condemned will be taken to the plain of shandu.”
His handlers returned, though rather than the heavy chains, they pulled his wings back and clipped them together at their apex, which was actually more painful, but let him walk. His wrists were cuffed and he was pushed toward the narrow path through the crowd. Insults and stones were hurled at him, small, but still painful when they actually connected. Worse than that was the anger and fear, fury and violent intent.
Then they were shoving him into the back of a vehicle not unlike a van. The door closed behind him and he relished the peace it provided...until he recognized that it wasn’t the absence of external emotion, just different external emotion. There was hope and even a little nervous excitement. He opened his eyes as the vehicle lurched into motion. “Sam?”
She smiled tightly. “We don’t have a lot of time.”
“Considering they’re taking me out to have my wings ripped off and bleed me to death, I’d agree.”
“I got them to let me ride along, to say goodbye. But actually, I need to fill you in.”
“I take it Jack has some plan?”
She took his bound hands in hers, looking at the lock. “I came prepared for the chains. I think the corri-cord is a little heavy handed for this, it’ll eat through this and into your skin.. You’ll have to do it with the cuffs on, we’ll get them off when we get back to the SGC.”
“Do what exactly?” Daniel asked.
“Colonel O’Neill is going to provide us a distraction.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Do I want to know what kind of distraction?”
She chuckled. “General Hammond is dialing in right now. Colonel O’Neill is at the gate. When I give the signal, Teal’c and SGs 3, 6 and 12 will come through, along with AUV support. As soon as the UAV has dumped its payload, they’ll close the gate and re-dial, keeping it open for us. It’s up to us to get back to the gate.”
“And how are we doing that, exactly?” Daniel asked. The vehicle was slowing down. They needed to have a plan fast.
There was apprehension now. “I was kind of hoping you could...fly.”
“Sam, I don’t even know if I can. Let alone with you. And, not to mention, I’m a little clipped here.” He turned as much as the confines of the van would allow.
Her fingers traced up the edges of his wings, finding the metal. She exhaled. “I can try this.” She held up a thin strip of the corrosive cord that she had already said was too heavy handed for the cuffs. “If I get it thin enough…”
The van turned and came to a stop. “Do it.” Daniel said, watching her tear the strip and dropping to one knee so that she could reach.
The door was opening and Sam threw her arms around him, pulling him in. “It’ll take a few minutes.”
“Stick close.” Daniel murmured back before he was being yanked out into the bright afternoon sun.
Her hand held his as she followed him, clinging to him until they forced her to let go. He imagined he could feel the corrosive burning through the metal, burning into his wings, but it was too soon.
The plain was wide, ringed with people. In the center was a twenty foot circle of stones that Daniel was dragged out to the center of as a line of people filed in from near the place where the vehicles had been moved. He could see Sam being pushed off to the side. He looked around him, trying to get his bearings.
Okay, he could do this...just flap his wings and go.
Sure he could.
The Chancellor was talking and Daniel did not like the looks of the tools in the hands of the two men coming toward him. His memory flashed and he could see some ancestor with his wings pulled wide, these tools ripping feathers and skin. His wings fluttered involuntarily, pulling against the clip.
Hands reached for him and he felt the teeth of one of the tools connect with his side as he tried to turn away. He lurched forward, his wings pulling hard now. There were more people rushing at him and he was running out of time.
The first explosion was behind him and a ways off, then a UAV was buzzing over them and dropping gas containers that immediately began dispersing a heavy smoke.
Daniel ducked away from the hands reaching for him, spinning away only to feel something sharp bite into his thigh. A second blade found his stomach, just off to the right. Suddenly the top of his wings were free and they flapped forward, pushing him back from the guard nearest him. His own fear at the moment seemed to be protecting him from the rage around him, though not from the rocks now starting to pelt him from the men and women that had circled around him.
“Daniel!” Sam. Right.
Now or never. Daniel leaped up, hoping his wings knew what to do. He floundered a little, getting over the heads of those closest before he was falling back to the ground. His second attempt took him further and the third time he took a few running steps and launched himself up, finally getting fully airbound. That didn’t stop the rocks and he was no where near under control, but he tried to get low enough to get Sam, lowering his bound hands for her to grab onto.
Climbing up was harder with Sam’s weight and she banged into people as he fought for lift. Hands grabbed at her and she dropped. Daniel beat his wings hard to gain some air, his eyes watching Sam roll clear and start running for the distant tree line. A large rock connected with his hip, sending him tumbling through the air.
He hit the ground not far from Sam, who doubled back and grabbed his bound hands to pull him up. He took two steps and shook his head. Blood had soaked his pant leg from the thigh wound and the hip that had just gotten hit wasn’t going to hold him.
“Try again?” he asked, lifting his arms so she could duck under them. She stepped in close, her hands locking behind his neck. “Hold on.”
His muscles strained, but eventually he got a foot off the ground, then another.
“Not to pressure you or anything….” Sam said in his ear.
“Yeah, I know. The trees.”
“And the really big guns. Behind you.”
He spared a glance, but wobbled in the air. “Right. Okay...we can do this.”
His skin was thick with sweat from the exertion, but he managed to get above the trees before they reached them. The first shot from the guns sang over his shoulder.
“Carter, where are you?” Jack’s voice came through Sam’s earpiece, loud enough for Daniel to hear clearly.
“Daniel, I can’t….” She glanced at her jacket pocket.
“Oh, right.” He pulled her radio out. “Jack, it’s Daniel. We’re on our way, but we’ve got company.”
“So do we. We can’t hold this position much longer.”
“Roger that.”
He could see the stargate, and the puffs of smoke that indicated that there was a firefight going on. Another bolt slammed past them from behind, making him veer to the right. He was tiring rapidly, but they were less than a mile out now. “Can you get there on foot?” Daniel asked, locating a spot in the trees he could land. He tried to do it gracefully, but he was listing badly and settled for not breaking anything.
“Yeah, probably. At least until I hit their troops.” She let go and he lifted his arms over her head.
“Okay, new plan. I need a few minutes. You head to the gate. Stop at the treeline. I’ll swing by and pick you up.”
She grinned at him. “You’ll swing by and pick me up?”
He pressed a hand to the wound in his abdomen, nodding. “Can’t promise it’ll be fun, but I’ll get you to the gate.”
“I can’t just leave you here alone and bleeding.”
“If you don’t, neither one of us is getting out of here. Go. I’m keeping the radio though.”
For a moment he didn’t think she would, then she nodded and took off at a run through the trees. “Jack, be advised, Sam is on foot on her way toward you. I’m injured, not sure I can get her there in one piece.”
“What about you?”
Daniel sighed and looked up at the sky. Any minute now Qeanu would be combing through the trees looking for him. “I’m working on it.”
“Work faster.”
He stretched his wings out and folded them back in. He could feel people closing in and for a panicked moment he wasn’t sure he could actually get back into the air, then he was lifting up. He was barely over the trees when gunfire started again, coming from both directions now. “Jack, shit.” He nearly crashed into the trees below him. “I could use some cover fire over here,” he yelled into the radio.
He stuck close to the tree tops, hoping that would make him harder to hit, but he was going to run out of trees soon, and he was going to need to get low enough to get Sam, then high enough to clear the line of guns that would be shooting at them….and he was beginning to seriously doubt he could do any of that.
“Jack, can you see me?” Daniel asked, an idea forming.
“Yeah, I can see you.”
“I’m going to land. Make note of where. Once I’m down, lay down as much firepower as you can at the men between me and you, low. I need you to make a hole, but not shoot us. And tell me that’s an outgoing wormhole..”
“One way ticket to Earth.”
Daniel could just see Sam squatting near the treeline. He veered left and circled around, hoping the spot he picked was actually wide enough. It was a little bumpy, but he managed not to break anything as he crashed down behind Sam.
In front of them gunfire and staff blasts tore through Qeanu lines. “Hurry.” Daniel said as Sam reached for him. “This is going to be rough.” He took two steps out of the trees and launched himself, barely getting enough altitude to avoid friendly fire. “Let go when we reach the gate.”
“Fall back!” Jack yelled as Daniel dropped lower, angling to actually drop Sam just before the wormhole and circle back around, but that wasn’t going to happen. She held on, pulling him down and it was all he could do to fold up his wings before they crashed into the gate, sending them hurtling through the wormhole and rolling down the ramp.
“Daniel?” Sam clambered off of him, trying to avoid his wings or his wounds. “Medic!”
“Sam, I’m right here.” Janet’s eyes were big, and Daniel wanted to say something, but the truth was, the pain from his body, and the sudden influx of the emotions of a room full of military and medical personnel was too much and before Janet even touched him, Daniel was unconscious.
Sam. He could feel her, warm, affection and concern, a sense of hiding something...else...a flare of expectation as his fingers curled around hers, a jump of joy as he opened his eyes. “Hey.” Daniel murmured, letting his eyes focus on the somewhat familiar confines of one of the infirmary’s isolation rooms.
Sam smiled, setting aside the book in her hand and moving closer. “Janet felt you’d be more comfortable without everyone staring at you.”
“You been sitting there long?” Daniel asked, though he already knew the answer.
Sam rolled her eyes. “The knife wounds were not too bad, Janet stitched you up. Your hip is pretty deeply bruised, you might not be walking on it for a while. And two ribs are broken, probably from the rocks.”
“Or the crash landing.” There were a half dozen other bruises in other places from the rocks thrown at him.
“And your wings are a little banged up. The corr-cord singed them a little.”
“Is that all of it?” Daniel asked, figuring by now Janet had to have run a battery of other tests.
“Test results aren’t complete. X-rays show that the bones are all solid, nothing broken there.”
Daniel sat up, grimacing as it pulled on the stitches in his stomach. “We had a hard time deciding how we should lay you down.” Sam said. “I can’t imagine it’s comfortable on your back like that now.”
“I’ve had worse.” Daniel admitted, letting the wings spread out a bit. “What about you? Did I hurt you?”
She brushed a hand over the dusty spot on her jaw that was going to develop into a full bruise eventually. “No, I’ve had worse too.”
They were quiet a minute before they both realized that Sam was still holding Daniel’s hand. She blushed and cleared her throat as she slipped it out of his. “I...should...maybe I should go.”
“You don’t have to go.” Daniel said. “I like the way you feel.” It was his turn to blush and close his eyes. “That came out wrong.” She chuckled and he looked up at her. “Emotionally. Which doesn’t sound any better.” He sighed. “I’m going to stop talking now.”
She was flushed as her hand covered his, her smile different somehow than even just a few minutes before. “Never.”
The door opened and Sam stepped back, clearing her throat. Janet looked up from the charts in her hands before she came to the end of the bed. “So, what’s the word, doc?”
“Aside from the obvious, you’re a picture of health.” Janet said. “Your tests all came back good, some of them better than they were before the mission even.”
“Despite the fact that I’ve developed extra senses and limbs?” Daniel asked.
“Possibly because of that.” Janet said. “How’s the pain level? I didn’t want to give you too much until I got the test results back.”
“Tolerable. Though I think I need to stretch my back muscles out.”
Janet nodded. “Now that you’re awake, we’ll let you decide how you’re most comfortable, I just needed access to your wounds.”
“How long are you keeping me?”
Janet raised an eyebrow at him. “In a hurry to fly off?”
Daniel rolled his eyes. “Funny, take you long to come up with?”
She chuckled. “I want you here until at least the morning. It’s going to take a while to set up your quarters anyway.”
Right. There was no way they were letting him just go home now.
“Colonel O’Neill and Teal’c are setting you up in a special room, with your own kitchen and room to spread out.” Sam said. “They’re bringing stuff from your apartment.”
“Okay. I’ll just hang out here then.”
“Do you need anything?” Janet asked.
He considered waiting until they’d left, but if Sam was right and his hip wouldn’t hold him… “Actually, yes. Can you two help me up? I can stretch out and get laid down on my stomach.”
Sam was instantly on his right side and Janet put her chart down, helping him slide his legs to the side of the bed. Before his feet even touched the ground he knew he’d have fallen without them there. “Okay, easy now.” Janet murmured.
Daniel hopped a little away from the bed, letting his wings ruffle, then fan out behind them, stretching them to their full expanse. Previously unused muscles burned from the exertion of flying for the first time and carrying Sam after the cramped positions forced on his by the Qeanu. His shoulders cracked and some relief flowed.
“Wow.” Sam whispered, the fingers of her free hand petting over the wings. Daniel turned his head to try to figure out what the spike of emotion was he got from her, but Janet’s awe and curiosity was louder.
“These are….amazing.”
“Okay, need to be laying down now.” Daniel leaned on Janet and let his injured leg and hip move around. It took some maneuvering, but eventually they got him turned and shifted onto the bed on his stomach. Sam adjusted the light blanket and Janet moved the trays away so that he had room to open his wings up if he needed to.
“Better?” Sam asked.
Daniel nodded. “Better.”
“Get some rest. I’ll be back in a little bit to check on you.” Janet said, her hand patting Daniel’s arm.
“I’m going to go too. See if I can help get things ready for you.”
“I meant what I said, Sam.” Daniel offered, ruffling his feathers as he shifted around to get comfortable.
She smiled and leaned in close. “Then I’ll come back.” She kissed the top of his head and followed Janet out the door, leaving him to ponder what exactly he was feeling coming from her.
He didn’t see Jack or Teal’c or anyone really other than Sam and Janet until Janet was there with a pair of crutches around noon the next day. “Since I don’t want you putting weight on that hip, and you can’t fly in the halls.”
“You know, you’re being remarkably okay with this whole thing.” Daniel observed as she helped him down from the bed, grateful she’d already conceded to giving him a pair of scrubs to wear.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m fascinated and I ran every test I could think of. I’m going to be weeks going over all of it. But my first concern was making sure you were healthy and stable.”
She held the door for him to maneuver through, which was more difficult trying to compensate for both his wings and his hip, but eventually, he figured it out. The halls were mostly empty, but he could feel the eyes of those who they passed on their way to the elevator.
Sam was waiting for them, her smile bright. “I can take him from here, Janet, thanks.”
“I’m being escorted?” Daniel asked as he got into the elevator.
“General Hammond hasn’t made a base wide announcement yet, he figured you should have some adjustment time before you have to deal with...everyone.” Sam said as she pressed the button. “All non-essential personnel are confined to quarters for the next half hour or so. I’m just here to show you to your new room.” She grinned again.
He tried to figure out what she was feeling, but it just came across as being pleased with herself. Intrigued, he followed her out of the elevator when the doors open. “Where are we going?” Daniel asked, frowning a little. Level seventeen was someplace he’d seldom been, and last he knew there were no living quarters on it.
Sam stopped at a door and swiped a card, which she then handed to him. “Welcome home.” She pushed the door open and for a moment even his senses were fooled. It smelled like home, like walking into his apartment. He moved into the space, turning to try to see it all.
“You did this in a day?” Daniel asked, limping into the room. His living room furniture was arranged around a rug off to his right, his bookshelves lined the wall leading to a door in the right corner. His kitchen table was directly in front of him, and to his left was a kitchen.
“The fridge is stocked. You’ll have to make due with government issue plates and silverware until the rest of your stuff gets here tomorrow.” She walked around him to the door near the refrigerator. “Your bedroom…” He followed her into the room, unsurprised that his bed was there, his dresser, more bookshelves, a wardrobe he was sure would hold his clothes.
She gestured toward another door. “Bathroom...we’re not done with the shower yet, but you can wash up. We had to order some parts. You should be able to use the locker room showers just fine until it’s done.”
Sam headed back toward the main room. “Like I said, we didn’t get all of your stuff. The rest of your books will be here tomorrow. These were mostly from the living room. But, here…” She crossed to the other door and opened it, reaching in to flip on a light. He followed, still kind of awestruck that they’d done so much so fast.
The next room was like his office downstairs, only bigger. “You should be able to stretch out in here.” Sam said, grinning. “In all of the rooms, except the bathroom, actually. I made sure it was big enough to accommodate your full wingspan.”
Almost as if in response, his wings twitched and he let them spread, moving to the center of the room. True enough, the tips didn’t quite touch the walls. “You can, of course, still use your office downstairs. This is mostly stuff from your study at home. Oh and this.” She put her hands down on a book he didn’t recognize. “Remember that cave? I got into the private room, this was in it, along with some scrolls.” She pointed to a bag on the floor by his desk.”
“You figured out the final trial?” Daniel asked, bringing his wings back in.
She bit her lip and shrugged. “I used C-4.”
Daniel laughed. “That works too.”
“I’m working on figuring out clothes for you. I mean, unless you want to walk around shirtless. I mean, I’m not complaining.” She closed her eyes as her cheeks pinked up and she turned away. “Just...forget I said that.”
There was a knock on the door and Daniel left Sam to her embarrassment, hobbling out to open the door. Genneral Hammond was on the other side. “Sir, come in.”
“I just wanted to see that you were getting settled in.”
“You wanted to see the wings.” Daniel said.
Hammond smiled. “Okay, you caught me. I saw you when you came in, of course, but things have been busy since you got back.”
“Oh?”
“The Qeanu have demanded that we return you to them. They’ve been fairly aggressive.” Hammond was a solid wall of resolution. “Doctor Frasier assures me that you’re going to be fine.”
“Yes, once the hip and stab wounds heal.” Daniel agreed.
Sam emerged from the office. “General Hammond.”
“Fine job you did here, Major.”
‘Thank you, sir, but Colonel O’Neill and Teal’c did most of the work.”
“General, I want you to know that I don’t intend to let this interfere with my work.” Daniel said, a little anxiety rising as the reality of the physical changes was starting to set in. He wouldn’t be allowed off base. He might not be allowed to go off world. These rooms might become his entire existence.
Sam’s hand touched his back, calming. He could almost hear her voice in his head telling him she was there, she would always be there.
“I know that, Son.” Hammond said. “We have a lot to work out first. For now, let’s focus on your recovery. Then we’ll talk.”
“Fair enough. I’m not really ready to be walking around.” Daniel said, calming some. “I’m not...it’s okay for people to know though. I mean, it’s not like I can hide what’s happened.”
“I was thinking, sir, we could maybe let people come up one at a time. That way Daniel doesn’t get overwhelmed.” Sam said, stepping around Daniel now.
“I’d like that.” Daniel agreed. “I want everyone to get comfortable with this. With me.”
“Very well. I’ll make the announcement. But we’ll give you this afternoon to settle in.” Hammond’s eyes traced to Daniel’s wings and Daniel turned, letting them shift, the feathers ruffling lightly. “That is really something.”
Daniel closed them and turned back around. “Incredible, really.”
“And they really work?”
“I probably wouldn’t be here if they didn’t, General.” Sam said.
“You’re going to have to show me one day.”
“I look forward to it, sir.” Daniel said.
“You rest up. I’ll see myself out.”
Daniel sighed, watching him leave, but before the door closed behind him, Jack and Teal’c were there. “Is this a private party or can we come in?” Jack asked.
“Jack, Teal’c. Please.” Daniel could tell Jack was a little less freaked out than the last time he’d been close enough to feel, and beside him Teal’c was...unreadable.
“It is good to see you well.” Teal’c said.
Daniel smiled. “Thank you. Both of you. This is...very comforting.”
“It was Carter’s idea.” Jack said. “We thought we’d get a little more time, but Doc Frasier thought you’d be more comfortable up here.”
“Well, I appreciate it. And getting me out of there before they ripped my wings off and stoned me.”
Jack frowned. “That’s what they were…” He shook his head. “Don’t mention it. You’re still a member of my team. We don’t leave anyone behind.”
It was quiet for a minute, and Daniel hobbled over to the table, pulling one of the chairs out to sit. “So, General Hammond says the Qeanu have been aggressive?”
“Yeah.” Jack followed him, sitting across from him. “I think we finally convinced them to stop sending men through the gate though, so that’s something.”
“How many?” Daniel asked.
Jack made a face and looked to Sam. “At last count, around seventy five.” Sam supplied.
“They’re not going to stop.” Daniel said softly. “And there’s a very good chance they don’t just want me now.”
“Well, they can’t have you. And if they think they can wipe us out, they’ll have to wait in line.”
Daniel smiled. “Okay.” His body ached and his wings itched. He shifted on the chair to give them some room, the ends twitching.
“So…” Jack’s eyes scanned the room, then came back to Daniel. “Enough room? Comfy?”
“Yes. Thank you.” He waited, he could nearly taste Jack’s curiosity, but he couldn’t figure out how to ask the questions. “You’re dying to ask questions.” Daniel said finally.
“Come on Daniel, you’re a freaking angel for god’s sake.” Jack said.
“Not an angel, Jack. Still me.”
“Yeah but look at you.” Jack countered.
“So ask.” Daniel offered, letting the wings settle to a comfortable position.
“Just...what...how?” Jack shook his head.
“It’s okay. Here…” He turned in the chair, offering his back to Jack. “Go ahead, touch them.”
Jack’s hand was tentative and at first only touched Daniel’s skin, his back between the wings. Daniel flexed the muscle there, shaking his wings. Jack’s little exhale of surprise preceded a rush of awe and his hands sliding over the top edge, down as far as he could reach. His fingers trailed over feathers as Daniel extended them, though the table was in his way to really stretch out.
“Okay, I’ll admit that’s pretty damn cool.” Jack said finally when Daniel had turned back to the table.
“Your wingspan is most impressive.” Teal’c said with a raised eyebrow.
“Dressing is going to be a problem.” Jack offered wryly. “So, how much did it hurt?”
“What, when they came in?” Daniel shrugged. “It hurt, but it wasn’t a lot different than say a tooth coming in...well, except, you know, a lot bigger.”
Jack seemed to accept that, nodding. “And the empath stuff?”
“What about it?” Daniel asked.
“Isn’t that a little crazy?” There was a spike of real concern, worry for his privacy.
“I’ll learn to control it. And I promise I don’t want to invade your private emotions.” Except for how he was suddenly very aware of Sam’s...who was rapidly trying to mask a hot, fiery lust behind other emotions. It distracted him so much that he got caught staring and her face turned nearly as red as the emotion she was trying to hide.
“And so...this is...it? This is who you are now?” Jack asked, pulling his attention back to the conversation.
“I promise, I’m still me.” Daniel rubbed his face to hide the yawn escaping him. “It’s going to take some adjustment. I need to figure out how to be in a room full of people without being overwhelmed with the mix of emotion. I’m hoping some of the scrolls and the book Sam found will help.” He couldn’t hide the second yawn. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’ve been through a lot in the last seventy two hours.” Jack said, standing. “You get some rest.”
“I should go too.” Sam said, following Jack and Teal’c.
“Sam, wait.” Daniel struggled to stand up, wincing as he put weight on the injured leg.
“I have work to do.” Sam insisted. “I’ll come back later.” She was still flushed with embarrassment, and as much as he wanted to ask her about what he’d felt, he gave her the space to withdraw gracefully.
Alone, he yawned again and decided he probably should get some sleep so his body could heal and adjust.
“Daniel?”
Jack’s voice rose up the shaft, and Daniel sighed, descending to land on the ramp in front of the Stargate.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Well, I haven’t been given clearance to go outside yet, and I needed to stretch out and this is the only place in the mountain I actually have enough clearance to get off the ground.”
“I see you’re getting the hang of the landing thing.”
“Practice.” Daniel came down the ramp. “Did you need something?”
“Oh, Hammond wants to see you.”
“Okay.”
“Liking the shirt, by the way.”
“Yeah? Sam’s got a bunch more being made. Told the tailor it was for a student movie.”
He followed Jack up to General Hammond’s office, both of them stopping at the sound of raised voices.
“Doctor Jackson is a member of my staff and not a lab rat.” Hammond said, his anger radiating out the open door. Daniel had gotten a lot better in the last two weeks at controlling how much external emotion he let in, but there was no blocking that kind of anger.
“General, Doctor Jackson represents a serious alteration in what we know and understand of human anatomy. Not to mention--”
“Not to mention his anatomy isn’t exactly human.” Daniel countered, stepping around Jack and into the office. “General.”
“Holy shit.”
Daniel turned to look at the man speaking, but he didn’t know the man. “Doctor Jackson, Doctor Elias Lathrom from Area 51. It seems that you have become a subject of discussion over there.”
Lathrom’s eyes were wide and excitement rolled off him as those eyes traced Daniel’s wings. “I mean, I read the reports, but this is...this is something else entirely.” He reached out a hand, but Daniel stepped back. “I’m sorry, I just...those are...incredible.”
“Yes, they are. And they’re mine.” Daniel said. “Highly sensitive. I don’t let just anyone touch them.”
“I meant no offense, Dr. Jackson.”
“No, you just want to lock me in a lab and poke at me.” Daniel crossed his arms and waited for Lathrom to try to deny it or justify it.
“Frasier’s already done all the tests.” Jack said. “You lab geeks can study those.”
“I don’t think you understand, Colonel O’Neill.”
“I understand plenty. You’re not taking Daniel anywhere.”
“General, surely you must understand the significance--”
“I understand that Doctor Jackson is a valuable member of this command.”
“And a member of my team.” Jack insisted. “I need him here, prepping for our next mission.”
Daniel looked at him sharply, they hadn’t even discussed another mission, or whether or not Daniel would be allowed to stay on SG1. “You do?”
Jack was exasperated now, raising both eyebrows at him. “Yes, Daniel. I was going to bring you the mission file when I came up for lunch.”
“Where we going?” Daniel asked, pointedly ignoring Lathrom was even in the room.
“P3X-1202, they have ruins.”
“Oh, I like ruins.” Daniel said. Jack turned for the door and Daniel followed.
“SG4 took pictures.”
“This isn’t over!” Lathrom called after them, his disappointment chasing down the hallway.
“Thanks.” Daniel said as they neared the elevator.
“Don’t mention it.” Jack said. “I left the file in Carter’s lab, you want to…” He frowned, confusion filling him as Daniel stopped.
“Wait, you were serious?”
The exasperation returned and Jack rolled his eyes. “Yes, I was serious. Figured you’d want to get outside and since they haven’t decided what to do with you here on earth, I thought I’d get you off world.”
“Oh.” Daniel was genuinely surprised, still under the impression that Jack was too freaked out by the wings to have him along. “Okay, I appreciate it.”
They resumed walking, though Daniel fell behind Jack so that he wasn’t blocking the whole corridor. The regular personnel had started to get accustomed to seeing him in the four weeks since General Hammond had made the announcement and given him permission to move around the base.
Sam looked up as they came into her lab, smiling at Jack and holding up a file folder. Her smile widened when she saw Daniel. “Hey, wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“He was flying. In the gate room.” Jack said, reaching for the folder.
“Makes sense, only internal space with the clearance to get off the floor.”
“That’s what I said.” Daniel agreed. He stayed at the far end of the lab table, though that did little to diminish how much of her emotion he was getting. Some people, like Teal’c, he could barely read. Others, like Sam, he couldn’t help but read. Her emotional state overwhelmed him and he hadn’t quite figured out how to deal with it.
“How’s the hip?” Sam asked, her eyes skipping from Daniel to Jack and back.
“Better.” Daniel answered. “Still cramps up a bit if I sit or stand too long, but I’m even landing on that leg now.”
“Good.”
Jack handed him the file. “We go tomorrow, if you’re ready.”
“Oh, I’ll be ready.”
He flipped through the file on his way back to his rooms. It was an uninhabited planet, at least as far as SG4 had found, but the ruins were extensive and there were clearly several columns covered in writing. As a place for Daniel to get back in the field, it was probably as close to perfect as they were going to get.
It was nearly nine pm when a knock on his door pulled Daniel up from the books scattered across his table. He crossed to the door and opened it to Sam grinning at him. “Hey, come on in.”
She shook her head. “Actually, I was hoping you would come out.”
Intrigued, he raised an eyebrow and waited.
“It’s a surprise.” She was a bundle of excited and happy and that ever present feeling of affection and what he’d come to understand as desire. “Just...trust me.”
She took his hand, pulling him out of the apartment and down to the elevator. “Where are we going?” Daniel asked as the doors closed and the elevator started to rise.
He got an inkling when they got off the elevator and headed for the elevator up to the surface. “General Hammon said as long as you stay above the base, don’t go flying off somewhere, you could get outside.”
“No wandering into town for a smoothie?” Daniel asked as they cleared a guard and Sam’s fingers stayed loosely in his as they climbed up into the trees.
“Wouldn’t want to start a rash of angel sightings.” Sam said with a grin.
“I had to get the white feathers, right?” Daniel asked as they reached a clearing. There was a blanket spread on the soft grass of a clearing, basket on one side. The night sky was clear, the air warm. His wings twitched in anticipation, but he held it in check as Sam let go of his hand.
“Too corny?” Sam asked, stepping onto the blanket.
Daniel shook his head. She was nervous. He unfolded the wings, closing his eyes to savor the feeling of strength. There it was, the rush of lust accompanied by...love. Daniel opened his eyes and Sam looked away. He stepped in close, lifting a hand to her face. “Don’t...the back and forth is confusing the hell out of me.” Daniel said softly. “Just tell me it isn’t only the wings.”
Her eyes met his. “No, never. Daniel...this is, I shouldn’t…”
He stopped her with a finger on her lips. “We’re way past rules here, Sam.”
He slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her in close before he lifted off the ground, taking them both up above the trees around them, over the base. It was cooler up there, with only the stars for company.
“Holy Hannah.” Sam whispered, clinging to him now.
He smiled, then slowly leaned in, brushing his lips over hers. “Oh.” She looked at him for a second and it was as if all emotion fell away, then it gushed, her lips meeting his and a cascade of love and desire and affection nearly physically knocked him back. He settled them to the ground, but Sam didn’t let go. His tongue slipped over her lips and she opened to him, the last remnant of her resistance fading.
“Confused now?” Sam asked softly when they came up for air.
“Not even a little.” Daniel responded.
“It’s a bad idea, you know that, right?”
“Maybe. But we’re SG1, our whole lives are pretty much one big bad idea.” Daniel countered. “Tell me there’s wine in that basket?”
She smiled, her face flushed. “Yeah. There is.”
He slipped a hand into hers and together they went back to the blanket. Yes, it was probably a bad idea, but for the moment it felt right. It felt good. And in their world they didn’t always get to have that.
Everything in his life had changed. He was more alone than he had ever been, the last of his race...but he had family all the same...and love, if that’s what this was. He took the glass of wine Sam handed him and sipped at it. She was beautiful, maybe even more so with the blush on her cheeks and that smile...yeah, he really loved that smile.
Daniel spread his wings as he sat on the blanket, letting them settle to a comfortable position. There was a corresponding spike of something in Sam. “Really?” Daniel asked.
She rolled her eyes. “You know this whole empath thing is going to get old.”
“I just don’t understand.” Daniel said, lifting the tips of the wings and curling them toward her.
“Now you’re teasing.”
“A little.” Daniel admit, smiling. He leaned across and kissed her.
“I don’t…” She brushed a hand down one wing, over the feathers. “I can’t explain it.”
“Okay.” Daniel stole another kiss. “Don’t. We’ll figure it out.”
She raised an eyebrow. “We will?”
“It’s what we do.” He set his wine aside and crooked a finger at her. “Come here.” She set her wine down as well, looking at him suspiciously. She got to her knees and crawled toward him as he straightened his legs out in front of him. “Right here.”
Daniel put a hand on her hip and guided her so that she was straddling his thighs, hands moving up her back now as he kissed her lightly. He brought his wings up, circling them around the both of them. Sam’s body tightened, her heart speeding up as her hands cupped his face. She ground down against him. He pulled his wings in tighter and she gasped, her eyes closing as her head fell back. One hand dropped between them, cupping herself as the rush and swirl of an unexpected orgasm flowed from her.
“Daniel.” She was breathless, rocking lightly against his now hardening cock and when her eyes opened, the pupils were blown wide. Her hand brushed over his groin and she licked her lips. She rubbed her hand down the length of him, then she was tugging his zipper down, guiding his cock out of his pants.
“Sam…” Desire swarmed through him...his own, hers...he couldn’t tell which as she unzipped her own pants and rose up enough to pull them down under her ass. She kissed him, tongue plunging into his mouth as she pulled clothes forward and out of the way, holding his cock and sinking down onto it. She moaned into his mouth as she rose up and sank down again. She was slick and wet and hot and her pace increased with her need.
Her hands caressed over the place where his wings came through his shirt, shuddering as she came again. His own orgasm followed and she slowed down, stopping with him deep inside her, her eyes closed as she panted. “I...I’m sorry.” Sam whispered when she finally opened her eyes.
“I’m not.” Daniel whispered back, kissing her.
“I...wasn’t planning…” She pulled up and stood, pulling her pants up.
Daniel pulled his wings back and stood himself, tucking in and zipping. “I’m glad you did anyway.”
“You must think I’m a freak.” Sam said suddenly, backing away.
“What I think is that you are freaking beautiful, and amazing.” Daniel countered. He reached for her hand, pulling her back to him. “That you could...want me like this?” He felt tears building. “I...Sam, if you could….if you could feel me the way I do you….If you could know how...alone I feel...the desperate loneliness of knowing that I’m the only person like me in the universe? And here you are, loving me anyway, offering me this…” He shook his head. “I’m the freak, Sam. You…”
She lifted a hand, brushing at the tear on his cheek, ignoring the tears on her own. “You’re not a freak. You’re...Daniel. And you’re beautiful, always have been.” She sniffled and looked down at their joined hands. “You know when I saw it first? We were on P3X-899 and you were in the library with Stana researching. So excited, so lost in what you were doing.”
“That was almost two years ago.”
She nodded. “I know. I sometimes sit and watch you working when you don’t know I’m there.” She blushed. “But I guess you’ll know now, seeing as you can feel me.”
He nodded slowly. “I can...and I’m going to make you feel me too.” He pulled back when she rolled her eyes. “What? Too corny?”
“Maybe a little,” she admitted.
“Why don’t we take this somewhere a little more private then.” Daniel offered. “Unless you had other plans.”
“We do have a mission tomorrow.” Sam said, retrieving the picnic basket.
“We’ll get some rest.” Daniel responded, grinning. “My bed is very comfortable.”
“Yep, bad idea.” Sam tangled her fingers in his and they headed back to the entrance.
“Worst idea ever.” Daniel agreed. One that would probably cause a whole slew of new problems...but right at that moment, he couldn’t bring himself to care.
