Chapter 3: Going Home
(Daniel's POV)

It's been a very long week since the gate malfunctioned and Janet has finally cleared me to go home --which is kind of ironic considering that she allowed me to travel all the way down to Antarctica, but then again she was coming with us on that one-- though the truth is that since I woke up in the infirmary I've hardly had time to breathe. The search for Sam and Jack was too important and --even though she wanted me to stay on base-- even Janet eventually gave up on nagging me about taking it easy while we were looking for them. In fact that was surprising, seeing how she is not exactly known for backing down but the situation was desperate and I did notice her keeping an eye on me when she thought no one was watching.

The thing is that for the first time since we came back I can finally relax knowing that my friends are safe and that they will both be fine... eventually. That is a relief, especially considering that we had all but given them up for dead... that if it had taken us a little longer to find them we would probably have been too late because we were not the only ones who came dangerously close to giving up.

In fact I'll never forget the scene that greeted me in that cavern, though luckily by the time I got there the rescue team had already confirmed that both Sam and Jack were alive and they were preparing them for transport. I can only imagine what it would have been like to find them lying there, not moving, not knowing whether they were dead or alive... in fact just thinking about what might have been is enough to send shivers down my spine.

I guess that is one of the reasons why I was in no hurry to be allowed to go home, because as long as I remained on base I was close to them, because as long as I remained on base I could always sneak into the infirmary with one excuse or another... and I suspect that I was also driving Janet and the nurses crazy in the process, which in turn might explain why Janet decided to kick me out, to order me to go home and spend a night in my own bed... whether I want to or not.

That is what brought me here, to the side of the road wondering which way to go... because I admit I almost turned left. That's what I've been doing these past few weeks, that's where 'home' has been lately and that is what threw me because the truth is that to go home I have to turn right. There's no point in me going back to Sam's place, not while she is in the infirmary but by now it is something I do without giving it much thought. The thing is that that is something that is going to have to change, and I don't mean just because Sam is not there tonight but also because I suspect that the time has come for me to consider the possibility of going back to my own place.

After all, I knew when I first moved in with her that it was a temporary measure at best and now I realize that its time has come and gone. I am certainly enjoying the company, that is true --and so far Sam hasn't said or done anything to suggest that she wants me out of there-- but my presence at her place no longer serves any real purpose and I know it. I mean, SG-1 is back on duty --or at least it was before this latest incident-- Sam is doing fine and even our guidelines are complete so it's time for us to go back to normal, it's time for me to go home before I overstay my welcome... the only problem is that I'm not looking forward to it, not like I thought I would be.

Sure, most of my books are in my apartment --though a significant number of them have managed to make their way to Sam's house in recent weeks and just as many are back at the base-- but other than that I have nothing to go home to. In fact in these past few weeks I've gotten used to not being alone... not that I was all that used to it before that. That was one of the main reasons why I ended up spending so many nights at the mountain before Janet asked me to keep an eye on Sam: because I didn't want to be alone, because the base never sleeps and that was sort of comforting.

To me being home meant being reminded that Sha're was no longer with me and that was more painful than I cared to acknowledge. At least when I was at the mountain I could literally work until I dropped and then maybe, if I could muster the energy to do so, stumble a few steps to my quarters. That was oddly reassuring, it kept me from thinking too much, it kept me from dwelling on what had happened on both Abydos and Chulak and then that comfort was replaced by Sam's presence only now Sam is spending the night at the infirmary and I'm heading home, back to my empty apartment.

I know it's only for a few days, I know that as soon as Sam is released I'll be heading back to her place, at least until I can be sure that she is fully recovered from this latest adventure, but then I'm going to find myself all out of excuses and I'm dreading it. I'm supposed to be there to help her but she is ready to go back to normal and I know she won't be able to do that with me hanging around... in fact I can't help but wonder whether or not I've helped at all, especially since we were cleared for gate travel.

Sure, the guidelines were an interesting project, they enabled us to focus on some dangers we hadn't even considered until it was already too late and they also made it possible for Sam to understand what had happened to her a little better --or at least I hope they did-- but the truth is that these past couple of weeks there has been no real reason for me to stay there, not any more. I just stayed with her because it was comfortable, because we were settled into our little routine and we were in no hurry to change it.

The thing is that Sam is one of my best friends and I'm going to miss her constant company but I know that the time has come for me to allow her to move on with her life. She is certainly ready to do it, even if that means that I am left with no choice but to go back to my own place.

THE END

Author's notes: Hi guys, okay, this is it, the end of Under Alien Skies. I know it's been over sixteen months since I started posting this series so the most important thing I have to say is'thank you for sticking with me for so long'. I also wanted to thank you for your encouragement and your feedback, it has been deeply appreciated. As for upcoming projects --in case anyone is interested-- for the time being I'm going to be focusing mostly on Long Shadows (a BSG project) though I do have an idea for an SG-1 oneshot that is unrelated to this universe. I'll probably be posting that one within the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again for taking the time to read this, I know it's been a long journey but I hope it was worth it,

Alec