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A Vision From Next Door

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Daniel suggested grabbing a bite to eat on the way home and Annika agreed absently. Though the tension of the morning had disappeared she was unusually quiet. He couldn’t read anything through their bond and it had him apprehensive.

"Everything alright?" he asked hesitantly as he parked the car.

"Hhmmm? Oh, I’m okay." Annika tried to hop out of the jeep, but she’d forgotten about the seat belt.

Daniel released the button for her, a worried frown creasing his forehead. "You just seem a little distracted. Second thoughts?" His heart began to pound.

"No," she said vaguely. She climbed out of the car, however Daniel knew she wasn’t really paying any attention to what she was doing. "I was just thinking."

"About?" A feeling of dread descended over him. She was having second thoughts.

"So much has happened." They started walking towards a diner. "I mean a few days ago my life was pretty normal, well, normal for me anyway. Then since I’ve met you, I’ve fallen madly in love, I’ve had spies in my house, will now probably work at a top secret military base and to top it all off my gift…" she paused a split second before shouting out, "STOP!"

They were just about to cross the street and a startled Daniel froze at her loud command even as her arm shot out to push him back onto the sidewalk. "What the..?"

A second later a car, clearly out of control, came barreling around the corner and crashed into the diner. If Daniel and Annika hadn’t halted when they did they would both be pinned between the now smashed car and diner wall.

Daniel broke out in a cold sweat at the close call, but Annika continued as though nothing had happened.

"…My gift is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s a lot to take in all at once."

When Daniel made no response it partly snapped her out of her reverie. One look at his pale face and she was immediately concerned. "What’s the matter?"

He waved a hand at the carnage in front of them, unable to speak.

"Oh." She’d been so lost in thought that she hadn’t realized she’d just saved their lives. "See that’s what I’m talking about. I’m having premonitions now that are more specific than any I’ve ever had before."

Daniel was trying to focus on her words rather than on what had just happened. "What are you saying? That you wish I’d never come into your life?"

Her violet eyes were shocked. "No!" She immediately wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Loving you and having you love me is the best thing that has ever happened to me." She kissed him soundly, sending all her love through their bond to reassure him. "It’s just that my life has taken a completely different course to what I thought it would. I need time to adjust."

Daniel relaxed once he felt her love rush into him. He tenderly kissed her forehead. "Take all the time you need." Though it pained him to say it he suggested, "If you need to be alone to work through this, I’ll understand."

Her arms tightened around him. "No, I don’t ever want to be without you."

His heart pounded in joy.

"Are you two younguns’ alright?"

They spun around at the unfamiliar voice to see an elderly man with his wife hovering behind them.

"My missus and I saw the whole thing, you’re damned lucky not to be hood ornaments right now." He cackled at his crass joke, while his wife cringed.

Daniel felt Annika tremble as the full ramifications of her premonition finally hit home. Goosebumps broke out over her skin and he rubbed her arms trying to comfort her. "We’re fine. Is the driver alright?"

"Yeah, seems he passed out behind the wheel. Lucky there was no one wanting a window view in the diner. No one was hurt, but I’m betting they’ll be trading in their lattés for something stronger." He gave another cackle before his wife dragged him away.

"Are you alright?" Daniel tilted her chin to study her expression.

She smiled shakily. "I guess having more premonitions is a good thing."

He gave a low chuckle. "I would have to agree with that."

Her smile broadened and the color returned to her cheeks.

"You’re okay?"

She nodded.

Daniel gave her a light peck on the lips. "Would you still like to grab some lunch or do you want to go home?"

A mischievous glint lit up her eyes. "I don’t think they’ll have what I want on the menu." The kiss she gave him was more than just a peck. "Besides I’ve got dessert on my mind."

"There’s an ice cream parlor on the corner," Daniel teased but his voice was husky.

She kissed him again and desire raged within him.

"Then again we do have cake at home," he murmured, reveling in the sweet taste of her lips.

They reluctantly broke apart when a wolf whistle penetrated their ears. Both faces turned pink but they were grinning from ear to ear as they hurriedly climbed back into the jeep. They barely made it through the front door before letting their need for each other consume them.

A A A

On the last day of Daniel’s leave they emerged from the bedroom only to eat. When day turned into night they lay curled up in each other’s arms, reluctant to fall asleep and miss a moment of their remaining time together.

"What time do you need to go in?" Annika asked, her head resting on Daniel’s chest.

"I have to leave here by five."

"How long will you be gone?" Her voice was small.

He sighed, "I don’t know. We’ve planned for four days, but it could be longer."

"I’m guessing there aren’t any phones where you’re going."

"No. But…" He climbed out of bed and rummaged around for his discarded jeans. He removed a business card from his wallet and handed it to her. It was plain white with no insignia, just the name ‘Major General George Hammond’ and a telephone number. "If you need to reach me for any reason give him a call and he can contact me by…er…radio."

"Radio?" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Kind of," Daniel hedged. Technically it wasn’t a lie. When they were off-world they communicated with the SGC by two way radio. The radio waves just traveled through the Stargate wormhole first. He relaxed back into the pillows and she resumed her place in his arms. "Hopefully when I get back I’ll be able to explain everything. I hate having to keep things from you."

"I know." She kissed him tenderly. "I’ll miss you. I’ll be counting down the seconds till I can do this to you again…" She ran her hands down his body and Daniel’s nerve endings stirred in response. Her lips followed her hands and all thought of talk disintegrated.

They managed to get a couple of hours of sleep before the alarm rudely intruded upon their dreams. Daniel gently unwrapped Annika’s arm from around his waist as he groggily peeled back the covers. Still half asleep she started to get up herself but he tucked the blanket around her. "Go back to sleep. I’m just going to have a shower."

"Promise you won’t leave without saying good bye?" she asked yawning.

"Promise." He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her tenderly. She snuggled into the pillow, a small smile playing on her lips, and Daniel reluctantly headed for the bathroom.

When he emerged a few minutes later the bed was empty and the faint aroma of coffee drifted through the air. Downstairs, he saw Annika had already poured him a cup of the steaming brew and was sipping one of her own.

"You’re an angel," Daniel gratefully took sip. "But you didn’t have to get up." He sat down and Annika quickly sat in her customary place on his lap.

"I tried to go back to sleep, but couldn’t." Sad eyes gazed up at him. "I can sleep when you’ve gone. It’ll make the time go by quicker."

"This is the first time in years that I don’t want to go on a mission," he admitted.

"I guess we’ll have to get used to it," she sighed. "Even if I do work at the base, you’ll still be going away, won’t you?"

"Yes. But at least we have this." Daniel let his love flow through their bond and she smiled.

"Yes, we do." She sent her own love back at him.

They sat in silence drinking their coffee slowly in a futile attempt to delay his departure as long as they could.

The sound of his cell phone ringing startled them both. Daniel fumbled it from his pocket. He glanced at the screen and grimaced when he saw it was Jack.

"Uh…Hello?"

"Daniel, you’d better be answering this from the road."

"Ah…Not quite. I’m running out the door right now," he lied.

"Well, say your goodbyes and get your butt over here."

Daniel glanced at the clock and frowned. "But I’m not late." Not yet, he added silently.

"The general’s not a happy camper this morning. I don’t think you being caught in traffic is gonna help any."

"Okay." He shot a glance at Annika. "Maybe we should wait on mentioning Annika’s recruitment until he’s in a better mood?"

"Not a bad idea," Jack agreed. "We’ll ask him after we get back. Now get going."

Daniel hung up and quickly recounted the details to Annika while he gathered up his gear. "I’ve got to go."

She followed him out to the jeep. He dumped his bag on the seat and pulled her into his arms.

"I’ll see you in a few days." He kissed her ardently. "I love you, don’t you ever forget it."

She eagerly kissed him back. "I love you too. I’ll be waiting."

After a final hug Daniel grudgingly climbed into the jeep and drove away.

Annika remained outside until he disappeared from sight. When she eventually made her way back into the house the silence almost deafened her. She already missed the sound of his voice, the smell of his body, his touch…well, everything about him really…and he’d barely been gone a minute.

She listlessly wandered from room to room looking for something, anything, to keep her mind occupied. The puppies clambered around her feet eager for attention and she gratefully played with them until they were exhausted. She tried to make a few sugar flowers for her next cake order, but couldn’t concentrate. In the end she decided that her house needed a good spring cleaning and spent the rest of the day dusting, polishing and cleaning out cupboards. By ten o’clock that night she was physically drained and tumbled into bed. She fell asleep snuggled up to the pillow Daniel had used, breathing in the scent of him that lingered on the soft cotton.

Annika woke the next morning covered in sweat and gasping for breath. Something was wrong. She immediately concentrated on the bond she shared with Daniel and to her immense relief sensed nothing alarming from his end. So what was the matter?

She made her way downstairs, trying in vain to remember what her dream had been about. She knew it had been a premonition involving Daniel and that it was important, but no matter what she did the images wouldn’t take shape in her mind. Even when she took herself through a deep meditation all she was left with was a dark feeling of foreboding.

The only thing that kept her from calling General Hammond was that her bond with Daniel hadn’t changed. At one point when she’d needed the reassurance that he was okay, she channeled her love through their bond and he immediately responded in kind. She’d felt not only his love but his desire to be with her. There was not a shred of anxiety or worry.

As the day dragged on her uneasiness remained, but she decided that unless she could give specifics of her premonition there was no point in trying to contact Daniel. She went to bed early, hoping that she would have the premonition again, and this time remember it when she woke.

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