When the clang of their boots hitting a familiar metal ramp echoed in their ears, Daniel and Annika’s hearts pounded in relief. They were home!

Waiting at the base of the ramp were Jack, Sam and Teal’c. All three faces broke out into wide smiles when they saw them.

Daniel gave a single wave. "So, did you miss us?"

"Are you kidding? We had a whole day of peace and quiet!" Jack quipped.

"Is that what you call it?" Sam raised a playful eyebrow. "I seem to recall a recurring echo, ‘Are they back yet’?"

"Carter, you need to get your hearing checked."

"I too heard that phrase repeatedly in your tone of voice, O’Neill."

"Nope, don’t know what you’re talking bout."

"Maybe you’re the one with the dodgy ears, Jack." Daniel strode down the ramp.

"I have perfect hearing, thank you very much," the colonel defended himself.

Sam gave a snort of laughter. "Yeah, when it suits you."

Daniel paused, when he realized that Annika was still at the top of the ramp, her eyes fixed on the four of them. "Annika?"

For a moment the redhead could only stare at her teammates, listening with a lump in her throat at the banter, the light hearted words doing nothing to hide the utter relief and joy they all felt to have them back safely. Her eyes focused on Sam, so…so alive, her eyes glowing with happiness, not the yellow light of a Goa’uld, not dull in death. Moved on to Jack, drinking in his healthy complexion, the smirking twitch to his mouth, the twinkle of his brown orbs.

"Hey, Casper, your feet grow roots or somethin’?"

That wonderful teasing sarcasm propelled Annika forward. She ran down the ramp and threw her arms around the military couple. Tears sprang to her eyes at the warmth of their bodies.

They were startled by the outburst, then they returned her hug tightly. "What’s with the waterworks?" Jack demanded gruffly, though a thumb gently wiped a tear from her cheek.

Annika sniffed. "Alternate realities friggin’ suck."

General Hammond entered the ’gate room, he’d been watching the reunion from the sidelines. "Doctor Jackson, Annika, it’s good to have you back."

"Thank you, sir," Daniel smiled. "It was touch and go there for a while."

"I’m sure it’ll make for an interesting debrief." His own smile revealed his pleasure at seeing the missing members of his flagship team. "After you report to the infirmary and clean up, we’ll be waiting to hear all the details."

Janet came barreling around the corner her concern for the pair shrinking the instant she saw them standing upright with no apparent injuries. "You decided to come back to us after all."

"Yep," Daniel flashed her a bright smile. "There’s no place like home."

"Come on, Dorothy and Toto, let’s get you checked out." She linked arms with them and hustled them to the infirmary.

The base doctor subjected them to more than the usual post-mission examination when she learned of the entropic cascade failure. While they were waiting for the results they took quick showers and reported to the briefing room. Nursing cups of coffee the couple started relaying their unexpected day trip. They left out a few of the personal details, such as the two psychic’s emotional release of their life’s hurts and all references to the Hathor gene and the other Daniel’s addiction. Annika would also have willing skipped over the first embarrassing few minutes of their arrival in the alternate reality. Daniel on the other hand found the situation far too amusing not to tell.

"So there’s Annika ready to clobber Casey, who had her nine mil trained on her. I swear they were going to start hissing at each other," Daniel laughed.

"How did you stop first blood?" Sam asked her eyes dancing. They all knew Annika’s protective streak where Daniel was concerned.

"Casey yanked the other Daniel’s shirt showing a tattoo and then yanked her shirt up revealing a matching one. At that point I thought I’d better speak up, and asked if the tattoo was Mayan. You should have seen Annika's and Casey’s faces!"

"A woman bares all and all you see is an ancient symbol," Jack rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Hey, I was trying to stop an all out brawl," Daniel shrugged. "It was the best I could do." He launched into a description of the device and the temple, explaining that they eventually determined that they were on Abydos.

"Abydos?" the general interrupted. "How do you know for sure?"

"By the recurring characters that showed up," Annika supplied. "Sha’re and Skaara were thieves, intent on stealing whatever was in the temple. They were desperate, would have killed us to get at the supposed treasure we were hiding. Casey and I scared them off the first time and when they came back for an encore both Daniels were able to talk them out of it…" she winced. "After Casey opened fire wounding a few of them and I tossed Sha’re out on her nomadic butt. But all that happened after Casey and I returned from our astral reports to you and their reality."

"What’s their world like?" Sam was curious.

"Pretty much like Earth, only there’s a small town feel about it." She took a sip of her coffee. "Their SGC is exactly the same."

"How did the people react to your astral embodiment, Annika Murdoch?" Teal’c enquired.

"Well…Casey and Daniel’s kids didn’t have much of a problem…they were quite cute really…the adults," she heaved a dramatic sigh and said earnestly, "I swear I started off being polite."

A bark of laughter escaped Jack’s lips. "How’d that work out for ya’?"

"Not so well," Annika admitted. "After the gate guards finished doing the stunned mullet thing they wanted to shoot me. I tried not to take it personally. On our return trip from you guys, Casey and I kinda collided with a ha’tak orbiting Abydos. Casey understands Goa’uld and discovered that the head snake on board was the one to activate the device."

"She thought it was a time machine," Daniel added.

"Did you ever find out who she was?" Hammond asked.

Both civilians shook their heads.

"Casey and I decided to teach the bitch a lesson for screwing with things she didn’t understand."

"What did you do?" Jack was leaning forward in his seat, eager to hear the details. Casper running amuck was always a good yarn.

"You know what I did on Bes’ ship?"

They all nodded.

"Like that, except with Casey it was double the fun. We chased those Jaffa all over the ship before making it crash and burn." She told of scaring the bejeebers out of the warriors and the others cracked up, easily picturing the scene.

"Annika almost gave us guys a heart attack," Daniel chuckled. "Out of the blue she jumped to her feet yelling, ‘Charge the tin men!’"

"Got caught up in the moment," Annika sheepishly laughed, then sobered when her eyes landed on Sam. "It wasn’t all fun and games. We ran into you," Annika’s throat closed up. "You…you were a Goa’uld."

The major’s eyes widened. "I hope you killed me," she said softly.

Her head jerked up and down once. "Casey shot you with a staff."

Sam nodded in approval. "Good." She reached across the table and squeezed the younger woman’s hand. "It was the right thing to do."

"We were still reeling over that, and then we saw you…" her gaze shifted to the colonel.

"Don’t tell me I was a snakehead too," he wisecracked, trying to lighten the mood.

"No," Annika was barely audible. "A slave…you were skin and bones…" her voice trailed off. What she left unsaid was conveyed by her quick swallow and the pain reflected in her eyes. "Anyway, we wondered about Daniel and Teal’c. There was no sign of you," she looked at the Jaffa.

"Most likely I was still in the service of Apophis," Teal’c concluded.

Annika shrugged in non-commitment. With how warped that reality had been she wouldn’t even hazard a guess. She looked back at Jack. "While Casey was locating Daniel, I busted you out. Gave you a chance to get away."

"Did I go?"

"Not at first. You thought you had died and I was an angel coming to spirit your soul away." She hesitated. "You were so grateful at the idea…" she cleared the tightness from her throat. "But I shoved you out the door and you had that twinkle back in your eye. We don’t know if you made it off the ship…there wasn’t enough time to check…"

The colonel waved her concern away. "I made it." He gripped the hand that Sam had just released. "We O’Neill’s are hard to get rid of."

Daniel took up the narrative, telling of the entropic cascade failure, going into more detail about Sha’re’s visits and directing the Abydonians to the downed ship, ending with how they finally managed to get the device to work. "Daniel and Casey were going to set some C4 to destroy it after they left."

"Doctor Jackson, you said that the device was identical to the one Malikai activated creating the time loop."

The archaeologist nodded.

"Do you think that device could also open up doorways to alternate universes?"

"Possibly," he mused. "But the texts made no references to that or another machine for that matter. It was created specifically to go back in time to stop the disease that wiped them out."

"Perhaps it was a prototype," Sam suggested.

Daniel gave a slow nod of agreement, as he mulled over the idea. "There may have been a similar device on our Abydos…once I found the address room I didn’t look any further," he shrugged, "thought I’d have years to explore the rest of the planet. Assuming that events were analogous in other realities, once the Ancients of the reality we were dragged to realized that the device on their P4X-639 didn’t work to save themselves, they may have attempted to adapt the device to warn other realities of their impending doom…"

"…It would explain how people of two different realities and timelines ended up in the temple." Sam finished.

"So those Ancients must have worked out the time thing," Annika frowned in confusion. "Why didn’t they go back and change their own reality like they originally intended?"

"I was just going to ask that!" Jack exclaimed.

"Perhaps it would only allow them to manipulate timelines other than their own," Teal’c speculated.

"Or by the time they worked it out, they discovered that Ascension was a more worthwhile existence," Daniel shrugged. "Who knows? This is all speculation."

Jack scratched his head. "If the Abydos machine was a second edition, could any average Joe also make those adaptations?"

The two scientist’s brows furrowed as they considered the question.

"Maybe, sir. But the average Joe would have to have extensive knowledge of Ancient machines, and understand the physics involved in inter-dimensional time travel…"

"And be fluent in Ancient, which is a dead language," Daniel added.

"Didn’t you just describe yourselves?" Annika pointed out and the two flushed slightly.

"We should consider destroying the device on P4X-639 also," the Jaffa declared.

"Of course that will only stop anyone from our reality," Daniel felt obliged to mention.

"Oy, I was so not wanting to hear that." Jack rubbed his hand over his temple.

"If it makes you feel any better I had the sense that the Abydos machine was a one of a kind for any reality," Annika added helpfully and the colonel relaxed slightly.

"We can only worry about our reality as far as P4X-639 goes." Hammond sighed. "I’ll make it SG-3’s next mission. Well, if that’s everything, I suggest we all go home, people," he wrapped up the briefing, "providing Doctor Fraiser gives the all clear for Doctor Jackson and Annika. Report back in two days. Meanwhile we’ll contact the Norettens and reschedule another visit. Hopefully the next one will go according to plan."

After the CO left, the team stopped off at the mess hall to grab a quick meal.

"Ah, real food…" Daniel took a sniff of what appeared to be lemon chicken, "…sort of."

A frown marred Jack’s face as he studied the dish before him. "I thought I asked for the beef stroganoff."

"It is the beef stroganoff," Sam took a wary bite, "it’s just in disguise."

Teal’c on the other hand was digging into his meal with gusto. "Annika Murdoch, in hindsight your premonition turned out to be work related after all."

"Yep," Annika tucked herself into Daniel’s automatic one armed embrace. "You would have liked Casey. She was…is," she corrected, "a real smart ass, has a wicked sense of humor."

Daniel placed a light kiss on her head. "Like someone else we know."

"Tell me, why we are eating here and not…" Jack gave up trying to digest the military food, "…anywhere else."

"Still waiting for Janet’s overzealous test results."

As if on cue the two civilian’s were paged to the infirmary.

"We’ll catch up with you later." Daniel pushed his chair back.

The others nodded and the couple left hand in hand.

"Well, you both seem fine, from what I can tell." Janet was flicking through the results from the numerous tests.

Daniel and Annika slid off the beds, eager to be out the door.

"However I’d like you to remain overnight as a precaution."

Their faces fell.

"But you said we were fine," Daniel protested. "And we feel fine."

"Hunky-dory," Annika confirmed.

"This from a man who said his bursting appendix was a slight twinge." The diminutive doctor gave them ‘the look’ that cowered four star generals, and the civilians reluctantly sat back down. "Daniel, your body was broken down at the molecular level, and Annika, I’m not sure if yours did or not, but your insides were shaken up pretty badly because of the bond you share."

The two wore mutinous expressions yet Janet didn’t back down. Call her overprotective, but she had seen too many unexpected side effects as a result of off-world adventures, a good many of which had happened to the young man sitting before her. Better to err on the side of caution. She could practically hear Daniel’s brain ticking over and she readied herself for a verbal debate.

"Alternate universe Sam was fine after she returned to her reality."

"We don’t know that. There could have been a delayed reaction like when the entropic cascade failure first hit."

"I was fine when I used the mirror the first time."

"The other you was already dead when you went through. Plus you only switched realities, not times and realities together. There could be temporal aftereffects."

"But you don’t know that for sure."

"No, which is why I want you on base." Janet could see the man searching for another rebuttal, knew he was going to bring up SG-1’s trip to year 1969. She used the ace up her sleeve. "Doctor’s orders. You are staying and that’s that. I want you to rest and let your bodies recuperate."

"Fat chance," Annika groused. "I’ll never get a wink of sleep in here. Too many lights and machines beeping not to mention a rock hard mattress." She’d really been looking forward to sleeping in her own bed.

Daniel knew when he was beat and tried to negotiate the terms of their enforced ‘incarceration’. He latched on to the doctor's phrasing. "Are you confining us to the infirmary or just the base?"

"I haven’t decided yet." Janet’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at the archaeologist’s tone. "If you think I’m going to let you out of here just so you can spend the night holed up in your offices working, then I will personally chain you to the bed."

"Thought never crossed my mind." His blue eyes were innocent. "But I was wondering if you’d consider letting us find a more comfortable resting place."

"Such as?"

He pretended to mull over the question. "Oh, I don’t know…somewhere like the VIP room that is currently not being used."

"You mean the only room on base that currently has a queen size bed," Janet countered dryly.

"Also a room that is quiet with lights that switch off," Annika contradicted. "More conducive to resting don’t ya’ think?"

Janet considered the alternative of having the two loudly grumbling all night. There were no other patients at the moment, which would only mean the pair would bitch and moan all the louder, hoping that she would kick them out just to shut them up. She let out a sigh. "Okay, you are confined to base, but I’m giving orders that if either of you even try to get to level twenty-six that you are to be marched straight back here."

"We promise not to go near our offices," Daniel said solemnly, grabbing Annika’s hand and heading for the door.

"And use that bed for sleeping!" The exasperated doctor was trying to cover all angles before they left.

"Cross my heart that we’ll get some sleep," Annika called back as they hurried into the hallway before Janet could change her mind. When they were safely out of earshot she added, "After we unwind a bit."

"Have anything in mind?" Daniel asked mischievously.

"We’re two intelligent adults, I’m sure we can come up with something."

They stepped into the elevator, however the button Annika tapped wouldn’t take them to the private room.

At Daniel’s questioning look she gave a shrug. "Something I need to check on first."

"Casey?" he asked softly.

She nodded.

"Nice little loophole," Daniel complimented with a grin when he realized where they were headed.

"I thought so. We only said we wouldn’t go to our offices. Nothing was mentioned about Sam’s." Annika booted up the computer but frowned when the cursor flashed waiting for a command. "I don’t know where to begin. We don’t have Casey’s maiden name or surname from her first marriage."

"Here, let me." Daniel pulled up a chair in front of the monitor. "I’ve had experience looking for needles in haystacks. So, what do we know about Casey?" He typed in her first name, then looked expectantly at Annika.

She perched herself on the armrest. "Um…husband’s name is Kenny…"

Daniel added his own key word. Strangled.

Annika raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. "He knows about the…uh…incident, but Casey doesn’t know he knows." Daniel clicked on the ‘find’ icon and they waited while it searched the world wide web. There were thousands of hits.

He adjusted the search parameters to news articles in America, which reduced the number to a manageable few dozen. About halfway down was a blurb of a woman in Tacoma who’d been a fatal victim of domestic violence. When they double clicked to bring up the whole story, the picture attached showed a familiar face.

"Casey was right," Annika sighed. "This reality’s Casey was killed by her husband."

Silently they read the article. Kenny had been arrested after he had been caught red handed by Casey’s friend Kelly. Attempts to resuscitate the blonde had failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Kenny had been convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to twelve years jail. Now that they had a surname, Daniel ran a specific search for the abusive husband.

Annika was surprised when it brought up the man’s prison record.

"The SGC computers have a tad more access to certain sites than an average PC," he explained while he scrolled down the screen. The two shared a smirk of satisfaction when they read the final addendum to the file. Kenny had been stabbed by one of the inmates, he never made it out of surgery.

Annika was quiet as he shut down the computer and made their way to the VIP room. Daniel could feel a niggling doubt radiating from her. He waited until the door was closed in the private room before giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "My Angel, what’s bothering you?" With his free hand he removed his glasses, placing them on the nightstand.

A deep sigh blew from her lips. "It’s just…Daniel and Casey were so right for each other. They were fated to be together. What if you were meant to be with her in our reality?" She wouldn’t meet his eyes.

He sat down on the bed and pulled her sideways onto his lap. "If Casey was supposed to be with me here," he tenderly tilted her chin so she was forced to look at him, "Kenny wouldn’t have been allowed to succeed. Fate would have stepped in. In our reality, the only reality that matters, you and I were destined to be together."

"But…"

He cut her off with a kiss. "No buts. I admit that Casey is a beautiful woman, but I wasn’t attracted to her in any way. There is only one woman in any universe who has captured my heart, mind and soul." His arms tightened around her and his lips lovingly sought hers. He felt her doubts melt away. After another bone melting kiss he pulled away with a teasing smile. "Besides, I’m the one who should be worried."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Huh?"

"Well, that other Daniel was quite impressive. Immortal and able to power up the device with the Fire…"

Though his tone was light, Annika sensed his own concerns. Since seeing Sha’re she’d been worried about his feelings for his first wife and just now about Casey. Never once had she considered that he had similar fears regarding his double. It simply hadn't occurred to her, because until Daniel, she had never been in a relationship that had even come close to an engagement, let alone a loving marriage. Didn't Daniel know that? She hesitated, probably not. She'd only discussed her previous relationships in passing. Didn't even recall mentioning any of her ex's by name, they had been that insignificant, at least in her mind...She felt like the most selfish bitch on Earth. "Daniel, he may have looked like you, but I never once felt that wonderful tingly feeling I get with one glance from you. I don’t care if he can shoot fire from his finger tips, he is not the man I fell in love with…" This time it was Annika who reassured with a kiss. "And if he had damned well opened his eyes from the beginning I would have known that."

"Really?" Daniel sounded slightly skeptical.

"Yes," she said firmly, then reluctantly conceded, "well, it may have taken a bit of time. I wasn’t really studying subtle anomalies at that particular moment. You may be DNA replicas, but there is a sparkle in your blue depths...I can’t put it into words. The other Daniel had something similar but you have a light that is uniquely yours. You are one of a kind Daniel Jackson, and you’re the only man I love, now or ever." Annika let all the love she felt for him flow through their bond, only to have his spiral right back at her. She coyly peered up at him. "Now, weren’t we going to find a way to unwind?"

Daniel’s voice deepened with desire, "I believe that was mentioned." His lips descended on hers, seeking her sweet taste, his tongue eagerly exploring her mouth. One hand caressed the small of her back, traveling in small circles up her spine, sending fissions of heat coursing through her. His other hand tugged at the hem of her shirt, pulling it off to reveal voluptuous twin mounds encased in delicate scraps of lace. A gasp transferred from her mouth to his as his thumb grazed over her nipple, teasing it through the soft fabric. Daniel’s finger traced the outline of the lingerie, dipping into the valley of her breasts. He unhooked the clasp of her bra, slowly sliding the straps from her shoulders one by one. It fell to the floor unheeded, as he spread his fingers wide to cup the soft flesh, sensuously massaging.

Annika tried to shift her sideways position, so she could begin to repay the erotic assault of her senses, but Daniel’s arm behind her back held her possessively.

"Haven’t finished playing yet," he kissed along her jaw line, "have barely begun."

"But I want to feel you too." It came out a breathy whisper as lips burned a trail down the side of her throat, his tongue darting out to swirl around the hollow of her neck. She felt him smile.

"You’ll get your turn."

Annika let out a soft moan when his mouth replaced his fingers, her back arching, pushing her chest towards the gentle nipping of his teeth on her nipple, the slow twirl of his tongue, the tender sucking of his lips. A hand danced its way down over her belly, making the muscles tremble the lower they went. He caressed the tops of her thighs through the cotton of her BDUs, nudging her legs slightly apart so that he could run his palm against the hidden apex, his thumb applying a light pressure to the covered nub he knew was already throbbing with need for his touch without any barriers. Snapped open the button of her BDUs, then eased the zip down. She gave a groan of frustration when his hand moved back up to her stomach.

Daniel shifted his position, shuffling further onto the bed until the back of his knees hit the mattress, then let the taut nipple he was sampling fall from his lips. Gently he urged Annika to lie back, and his fingers ran the length of her torso, then continued to her legs, pausing to undo her shoe laces and remove her boots and socks. When they moved to the open waist of her pants, Annika lifted her hips and Daniel eased both pants and bikinis off. He drank in the sight of her, draped over his lap, one leg dangling over the side of the bed, the other slightly bent at the knee, her butt resting in the gap between his thighs, chest rising and falling in anticipation.

Arousal had spread throughout Annika’s body from the moment Daniel’s lips captured hers, yet it was nothing compared to the fire she was feeling now. She found it highly erogenous to be completely naked, splayed over Daniel’s lap while he was still fully clothed. The way he devoured her with his eyes acted like a natural aphrodisiac. No man had ever made her feel as cherished…as needed, as Daniel did. No one had ever come close. He hadn’t made a move to touch her since her clothes had been removed, but wherever his gaze landed, her body tingled. Gods, was it possible to cum from just a look? If he didn’t touch her soon, she would soon find out. "So are you just going to stare?" she demanded huskily.

He smiled lazily. "No. However I realized that I haven’t told you which parts of your body I love and why."

She squirmed. "You want to talk? Now?"

"Well, I have such a beautiful visual aid…" he murmured, his blue orbs locking with hers. "I think I’ll be methodical about this, start from one end and work my way up." Without breaking eye contact he started his ‘lecture’. "Your perfectly sized feet, with toes that scrunch up whenever you become excited…slim ankles and the gentle sloping of your calves, that look fantastic in any situation, but especially in high heels and stockings, which I suspect you wear just to drive me out of my mind…" A single index finger danced around the area that he described in a feather light pattern. "…Then there’s the cute little hollow of your knee, that elicits a little gasp if I kiss it…Silky smooth thighs, that wrap around me when we make love, that quiver just before the song of your orgasm erupts from your lips…" That finger teased the tops of her thighs, traveled to the softer skin of her inner leg. "…And I love the ripple that emanates from them when I partake of the nectar that flows from your molten core…" His hand paused just short of the curls that were begging to feel his intimate caress. "But more on that later…" He grinned at her mew of frustration and his finger resumed it journey, moving to her hip and over her stomach.

"Gods, Daniel, you’re going to make me explode," she gasped, trying to wiggle the ‘neglected’ part of her body up to his roaming finger before it moved higher. Dammit, if he didn’t stop with this delicious torment soon, she was going to go insane. How could words and one lone finger have such an effect on her? Because, her desire riddle mind answered, that sexy voice and finger belong to Daniel!

"That’s the idea," he chuckled, then effectively stopped her chase of his finger by widening the gap between his legs, making her butt fall into the crevice. "Now, where was I?"

"Molten core," she breathed hoping he would traverse his way back down to relieve the throbbing ache he’d created.

"Nope, I believe I’d moved on. I love the little twitch of your belly whenever I do this." That maddening finger zigzagged across her abdomen, and just like he described her muscles contracted from the ticklish caress. He circled her belly button. "…When my tongue dips in here, a quick indrawn breath is sure to follow…Of course, now we come…"

"Liar," Annika moaned, "neither one of us has cum yet." She writhed against him, feeling his straining member through his clothes.

A low laugh rumbled through Daniel’s chest. He loved teasing her like this. Their bond told him how close she was to the edge. He’d half expected her to have grabbed hold of his hand, pushing it down between her legs, forcing him to give her the release that her body was crying out for. He was itching to do it, knew that she was slick with mounting desire, but he was having way too much fun with his ‘analysis’. Her hands had fisted the sheets and he knew it was to stop herself from reaching out to him, maintaining the ‘rules’ of this game…it wasn’t her turn yet. He also knew that she was going to pay him back for the erotic torture he was subjecting her to. A shiver of anticipation ran through him as he continued his narrative.

"…To one of my all time favorite parts. A creamy twin set, that react delightfully when I do this…" His finger leisurely spiraled inwards from under her ribcage towards one rosy peak, taking the time to swirl around the areola. Annika’s breath caught in her throat as it puckered at his touch, the nipple tightening into a hard little pebble as he toyed. He paid equal attention to the other magnificent mound, before sliding down between them. "Your heart, My Angel, has its own special place in this list. You give all your love to me without hesitation. It beats in time to my own, and it is something that I will treasure forever…" His eyes darkened with sincerity and he let a wash of his love for her cascade through their magical bond, watched as it rippled through her body. Then his finger trailed ever upwards. "…Your neck, is such a superb thing to nuzzle, and when I kiss you here, I can feel your pulse quicken, can feel that husky laugh before it makes its way out of your lips…which brings us to your lush mouth…" He tenderly ran his finger over her full bottom lip. "So perfect for kissing…having your lips pressed to mine, feeling their soft caress, tasting the sweetness of them, makes me forget everything else…not to mention that they are devilishly talented when used on other areas of my anatomy…"

Annika couldn’t help it, her tongue darted out encircling the finger that was taunting her beyond distraction, and Daniel grinned.

"Another talented body part when used in conjunction with you mouth that has the ability to send me soaring to the heavens." He moved up to her eyes. "Now these little violet beauties have the ability to destroy all conscious thought. So expressive of every thought and emotion you feel. It lights up my soul when they sparkle with laughter, and they wreak havoc with my body when they darken with desire…like they are now." For a moment he paused, losing himself in the purple depths, then gave himself a little shake. "Now let’s see, is there any thing I have forgotten?" He leisurely perused her body with his eyes, resting for a moment just below her waist.

Oh, yes, finally! her mind crowed. She wasn’t sure she could take much more. And from the rock hard bulge that was pressed along her side, she was pretty sure that Daniel himself was pretty close to exploding. Watching the effect of his words on her, seeing her get more and more aroused by the second was becoming as much of a delightful torture for him as it was for her. If she was going to repay this in kind she would have to take care of that little…well, not so little, she corrected, ‘problem’ before beginning her own exploration of his body. Annika could have howled when his gaze locked with hers again and she saw the wicked gleam glittering down at her. Surely there wasn’t any part of her left to describe, except for that one key piece that was demanding his attention! The man was going to sent her directly to the nut house if he kept this up! Her admittance form would say ‘brain turned to mush, due to orgasm denial!’.

"Your hands…so extraordinarily artistic and creative…" He trailed down her arm, circling her wrist and knuckles. "One touch from you is never enough, has me begging for more. I love how your nails rake across my back in the throes of passion, love when your fingers bury themselves in my hair, and when they wrap around my…"

"Casey calls it an anaconda," Annika barely managed to gasp out the words. Oh, just you wait until it’s my turn! I’m gonna make you into a gibbering mess!

Daniel grinned, could see the challenge in her eyes. God, he could hardly wait. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be pushed right over the edge right along with her when he finally let his hand go where she needed it. He’d underestimated what the sight of Annika squirming with desire, almost delirious with the raging heat that was steaming her body, would do to him. With a voice thick with ardor he continued. "…Running up and down the length of me, making me so damned hard I could easily blow in your hand. An experience surpassed only when your mouth joins in, swallowing me deep down your throat, or being buried to the hilt inside of you…"

"The final item on my list…" Annika tensed in anticipation as his finger slowly made its way back up her arm and down her body. "…is a treasure trove. I love the tight little curls that hide a tiny jewel. Love giving the intimate kiss, and using my tongue to draw the jewel into revealing itself…" He brushed against the nest of hair, and her hips bucked towards him. "…Nipping and licking and suckling until you're wanton with need, coaxing you to soar, hearing that sexy moan crying out, lapping up the sweet essence that flows…" He finally slipped his finger between her moist folds, at last answering her need. She pushed her hips up as he pressed into her, his thumb moving in tiny quick circles around her hooded nub. It took only a few strokes before he felt her whole body shudder, and a rapturous cry escaped from deep within her throat.

Daniel battled to control his own release as he felt the power of her climax beneath his heart. Damn, but she was beautiful like this. Her face flushed in excitement, her body tingling with pleasure. While she trembled over his thighs, his free hand pushed down on the mattress and under her shoulders, lifting her up so he could cradle her against him. She clung limply to him, her mouth seeking his in between haggard breaths. "Hmmm, back where we started," he observed. He hadn’t removed his roaming hand and he reveled in the aftershocks twitching the length of his finger, the hot juices that coated his palm. "Almost."

"You, Doctor Jackson, have an amazing way with the vernacular." Annika gently tugged at his lower lip.

"Guess I chose the right profession."

Violet eyes glinted up at him. "My turn?"

Daniel’s heart thudded against his chest and he nodded. Hoped he’d be able to last until he could surround himself with her feminine well.

"Now, I’m no linguist." She swung her legs off the side of the bed. "I trained as an artist so I’m more adept at using my hands to express myself…" Slowly she drew his shirt up and over his head. "I plan to take my time…an artist should never be rushed." Her hand skimmed down to the waistband of his BDUs, the material pulled taut across his bulging rod. "With that in mind, I have a rather ‘pointed’ issue to take care of first." She flicked open the button and drew down the zip, being careful not to catch him in the metal teeth, then slid to her knees. He started to stand to remove the clothing, but she placed both hands on his thighs to stop him. "Later," she murmured, lowering her head towards the vee of his legs.

As she drew closer to him, he could feel the warmth of her breath through the silky material of his boxers, and he felt himself swell even more. When her tongue darted beneath the slit in his shorts, he couldn’t stop the low groan that escaped. With gentle fingers, she manipulated the tip of his manhood through the hole, so it stood freely erect. A blissful sigh blew from his lips as her tongue ran from base to tip, swirled around the engorged head, licking up the salty flow of precum that trickled out.

Her hand slipped between his BDUs and boxers, seeking the twin spheres that housed his life force. The sensation of her nails lightly drawing over him through the satiny material made him gasp, when she cupped him, tenderly massaging, his breath hitched in his throat. Then her skilful tongue, made one last spiral before taking him fully into her mouth. Even though Daniel knew this was just a tantalizing glimpse of what she had planned, he tried to delay the eruption. It wasn’t that he didn’t long to burst down her throat, in fact he ached with the need to do so…it was just that she was so damned good at giving head!

Her eyes flickered up to see Daniel’s head roll back, his chest heaving in quick short breaths. Annika knew he was fighting the inevitable conclusion of her act, knew why he was doing it. He loved to feel her mouth wrapped around him, and she loved it too. Loved the velvety steel that swelled with every suck of her lips, loved the quiver that raced through his body when she lightly grazed her teeth against the throbbing muscle, loved when he could hold back no more and his hot seed gushed down her throat. She changed her rhythm from slow and sensual to longer and firmer. It had the desired effect, his hips bucked towards her as his control slipped. Daniel’s gravelly moan echoed in her ears and Annika eagerly swallowed the hot salty liquid. She sat back on her heels, and while she waited patiently for Daniel to catch his breath, she untied his laces and removed boots and socks.

"Now that the urgency is gone…I get to really start my turn." The smile that flashed across her face was wickedly indulgent. She gently pushed his shoulder and he did as was bid laying down. "Have I ever mentioned that I attended a couple of university classes?"

The question surprised Daniel and he lifted his head up off the bed looking at her curiously. "No, I don’t believe you have." This was an odd topic of conversation considering the circumstances. The blasé tone had caught his attention though. She definitely had something planned. His brain, still languid from Annika’s ministrations hadn’t made the connection yet. "Which ones?"

"One was a sculpting course," She started to remove the rest of his clothing. "And the other was in anatomy." Taking infinite care in sliding his temporarily sated shaft back through the boxer’s slit, she nudged them down his hips and slid both BDUs and boxers down his legs. "They came in handy with the icing figures for my cakes."

Daniel could understand the how sculpting would be an advantage, but a science class? His mind was having difficulty focusing. Annika had picked up one of his feet and placed it on her lap. Using feather light sweeps she was almost absently running her fingers over the short hair of his calves. "Why anatomy?"

"It gave me an insight of the human body. If I didn’t want my figures to look like cartoons I had to know how flexing one muscle affected the appearance." Her hand was still whispering over his leg. "I thought, seeing as you were in such a talkative mood earlier that I would share what I learnt."

Despite the climax that rock his body not five minutes ago, Daniel’s loins responded. She was going to torment him just like he had her, and the mere idea had him tingly all over. "I’m always eager to learn," he grinned, letting his head drop back down to the bed.

"So I’ve heard," she said seriously. "Why don’t I start here? The gastrocnemius is the largest muscle of the calf, the bulk of it is here," her hands began moving in slow circles over his calves. "But it actually runs all the way down to here," in sync her hands moved down to his Achilles tendons, "allowing the bending of the ankle." Fingers danced up to his knees. "Now the sartorius, the longest muscle in the human body, lets your legs bend outwards, which gives me such easy access to your impressively large organ and twin orbs that I so love to roll around my mouth, sucking and nibbling. It runs from here…"

As her fingers glided up the sensitive skin of his inner thigh, Daniel couldn’t stop the ripple of heat that coursed through him. Not that he wanted to. At this point in time he couldn’t decide which was more of a turn on, being the ‘teacher’ or being the ‘visual aid’. He had never considered medical terminology sexy before, but then again he’d never heard those words in Annika’s wonderfully husky voice nor had that particular example given as explanation.

Annika gave a self-satisfied smirk, when Daniel’s thigh muscle contracted beneath her caress. She purposefully slowed her ascent the closer she got to the join of his legs. "…to here." Her fingers turned outwards to his hip and a hiss of frustration escaped from his lips. "The gluteus maximus is a particular favorite of mine, at least when it’s yours that I am looking at…" her hands snaked beneath him, "…or squeezing as the case may be." Her nimble fingers begun massaging the firm flesh of his backside and Daniel automatically lifted his hips slightly, giving her greater access. "It gives you the ability to thrust deep inside me again and again, making us both sing out in ecstasy." She couldn’t resist sneaking a fraction lower to caress the underside of his scrotum. The gasp that reached her ears made her grin and she moved on. "When you reach out to my breasts to tease my nipples into tight little nubs, when you haul me against your body into your strong embrace, you are using the latissimus dorsi, triceps and biceps …" Her hands traveled up from his tailbone to his shoulder blades and then his upper arms, softly kneading the muscles and Daniel’s back arched at the contact. With Annika still kneeling between his legs the higher she moved up his body, the more she leant into him.

"Oh God!"

The guttural moan hit the back of his throat at the consequences of this. Annika’s breasts rubbed against his manhood. Her upper arms shifted slightly, flexing inwards to each other. Though the movement was subtle, it had a domino effect, pushing her voluptuous mounds closer, which in turn encased his reawakening shaft. His breath hitched at the sensation of feeling that soft skin encase him. Her fingers worked the muscles of his back in a sensuous up and down motion, her breasts mimicking the movement above him.

Annika could feel Daniel grow harder every time she rocked forward. This hadn’t been part of her plan, the contact had been totally unintentional. However feeling the velvety length nestled between her breasts gave her such a rush, that she considered briefly trying to coax another orgasm this way and just as quickly vetoed the idea. Maybe another time. She dipped her head and tauntingly swished her tongue once around the engorged head, before pulling away which elicited a mumble of protest from Daniel. "Getting a little sidetracked."

"I wasn’t complaining." There was a smile to his voice. He was slowly being driven out of his mind but it was such a wonderful way to lose one’s marbles. His body didn’t know which way to react. The soft massaging of his muscles made his whole body relax, yet at the same time, her very touch was creating a burning tension that was growing with every passing second.

"Moving on…" Keeping contact with his skin Annika stood up and crawled onto the bed, positioning herself over him with a leg on either side. Now that she could see his face, Annika locked her eyes with his and almost lost herself in the luminous blue depths. She knew he was tempted to wrap his arms around her, pulling her down on top of his rock hard arousal that was craving her wet center. But like she had, he would play by the rules of the game. "The orbicularis oris, aptly nicknamed the kissing muscle…" she traced the outlined of his mouth, "and the tongue, calls for a physical explanation…" Her lips descended on his, and Daniel enthusiastically responded. The mounting passion making their kisses more and more fervid.

Daniel drank in the taste of her, relishing the taste of himself that still lingered within her mouth. He struggled to keep his hands by his side, he yearned to bury himself deep inside her. Oh, God, but he’d asked for this! He’d taken such joy at teasing her almost passed endurance that Annika wasn’t going to allow him entry into her honey pot until he begged. And the way things were going, it wouldn’t be long before he was doing that. When she drew her full lips away his groan of disappointment changed to one of pleasure as her lips skipped down to his chest.

"The pectorals consist of two parts," she spoke in between kisses, her breath a warm caress against his already hot skin. "Here and here…" Her mouth crossed diagonally on one side while fingers traced down the other side. "…working to lift your arms…they are such a delight to play with…" Her tongue darted out encircling one of the flat nipples, lips sucking gently, running her teeth over it until it tightened beneath her lips. Switching to the other one, Annika’s hand traversed a path down over his flat stomach and she continued on with her narrative. "The abductor muscles press the tops of your thighs together, and run from your hips…" her fingers ever so lightly followed the directions she spoke. "…Along the groin…and to the back of the knee."

When she glided back up, pointedly missing the steamy area Daniel could stand it no longer. "Please, My Angel…" it came out a hoarse whisper.

A triumphant smile touched her lips. Her words and ‘voyeurism’ of Daniel had the same effect on her as his had on him. She was aching with as much desire as he was. "There is one more little thing I have to share. It’s not a muscle, but rather a tiny set of glands, called the bulbourethral glands. They’re responsible for creating the first drops of your life force to emerge from your hot rod of steel." Her thumb circled the tip of his shaft, smearing the precum that seeped out over the rosy head. "One of its functions is thought to be a lubricant…" she continued conversationally, "but I have discovered something that works a little better…" Ever so slowly, she lowered her waist, until the slick outer lips of her core rested against him. Instinctively his hips rocked up, demanding entrance but she tauntingly rose with him, keeping just out of reach. With his hips once again on the bed, she slid against him, painting his member with the essence of her being. Rubbed back and forth, once, twice, three times, making sure that every millimeter was coated. Daniel was writhing beneath her, the sheen of sweat on his body evidence of the need he was trying to control. Annika curled her fingers and palm around his pining member then began pump up and down its length.

Daniel lasted two strokes then with one fluid move he grabbed her tormenting hand from him and rolled them so she was beneath him. With a loud groan echoing off the walls he plunged into her, his lips laying claim to her mouth. Annika’s legs wrapped around his hips, meeting him thrust for thrust, her mouth just as bruising on his. The tingle signaling the beginnings of a second orgasm quickly turned into a pulsing heat wave. When it pounded her body, her cry of molten ecstasy mixed with Daniel’s, his creamy life force gushing into her. With their bodies still trembling in the aftermath, Daniel managed to roll on to his side, keeping her in his arms.

"I don't recall any science class using such interesting examples," he said, his chest heaving.

"Well, the examples the lecturer gave were boring," her eyes gleamed mischievously, as she sucked in a few deep breaths. "I improvised."

After a few minutes, when their rapidly beating hearts had returned to normal, Annika lifted a languid head. "Do you think that’s a suitable way to unwind?"

"If I were any more relaxed I’d be dead," he grinned. "Pretty sure I could follow Janet’s orders now."

They crawled beneath the covers.

"Why does it feel like forever since we've done this?" she sighed, blissfully snuggling into Daniel's arms.

"Must be the time travel," he concluded, breathing in the vanilla scent of her skin. "I wonder when we actually were."

"I don't care, I'm just glad we're home."

From outside the door they heard whispered voices.

A small smile tugged at Daniel’s lips. "It took them long enough."

"Hmmm?" Annika absently traced a hand up and down the washboard ripples of his stomach. "Who long enough?"

"The others. It always happens when a mission separates us." He reached for his BDUs. "First night back we sort of end up being together…over the years we’ve all come up with the some pretty lame excuses to drop by…"

There was a soft rap on the door. "Daniel? Annika? You awake?"

"No, Jack, we’re sound asleep!" Annika called out to them as she hunted around for her clothes.

"Are we interrupting…um…anything?" Sam’s voice was hesitant.

Daniel and Annika both wore cheeky grins, but they refrained from the litany of smart ass answers that sprang to the tip of their tongues…well, almost…

"Anything you may have interrupted was concluded about ten minutes ago," Daniel quipped. "You’ll have to work on your timing."

There were quiet chuckles from outside.

"Uh…well…Sam was fiddling with some gadget and Teal’c was doing the kelnoreem thing and I was doing some…er…paperwork…"

The couple bit back a laugh. Jack doing paperwork? Yeah, right!

"…And we all got a sudden hankering for Annika’s chocolate pancakes."

"Chocolate pancakes?" Annika sounded amused.

"That’s a new one," Daniel murmured pulling on his shirt. "Quite inventive for two in the morning."

"Indeed," Teal’c’s baritone voice echoed through the door. "We bartered for use of the base kitchen."

"Don’t tell me you let Jack do the negotiating," Annika took a quick look to make sure Daniel was decent and opened the door to reveal their teammates. "We know what a disaster that can be."

The colonel was leaning against the door jam. "As a matter of fact, it was easy. All it took was a bottle of his favorite brandy." He feigned hurt.

"You know, we’re under medical supervision," Daniel pointed out, draping an arm around his lover’s shoulders. "Janet has confined us to bed rest."

Jack smirked, taking in the rumpled bed and the obvious glow of their faces. "And knowing how you’re both sticklers for following orders, I’m sure you were just laying there platonically side by side."

"Well, technically we were in bed, and when you knocked we were resting," Annika grinned.

"And technically Sam has medic training and can supervise you…and only supervise, while you whip up a batch of those delicious morsels." Jack neatly sidestepped an elbow jab from the major.

Annika pretended to consider their request. "Alright, but on one condition."

"Name it," the team leader flapped his hand as they all headed for the mess hall.

"I want a second by second account of exactly where, when, how and by whom Hathor met her demise."

The unexpectedness of Annika’s stipulation threw everyone for a moment, except for Daniel. The archaeologist knew precisely why his fiancée wanted details of that particular mission.

"Any particular reason?" Sam asked.

"Yes." Annika’s eyes flashed, as she hunted around the unfamiliar kitchen for the ingredients.

"I can get you the mission report," she offered.

"Nope, I recently discovered little details get left out of those." She shot Daniel a wry look.

Jack, Sam and Teal’c exchanged a glance, then shrugged. The topic of conversation wasn’t important. This was about reaffirming that their team was whole again, both for those left behind and those who had been missing.

While Annika cooked up the sweet dessert the others launched into a detailed description of when they had supposedly woken up at the SGC eighty years into the future. Sam started off with Daniel adding his account, then Teal’c of his waking up at the real SGC without them. By the time they got to the part where Jack threw Hathor into the cryogenic pit, the five of them had settled around a table in the deserted room and were eagerly reducing the stack of warm pancakes.

"No one actually saw her corpse?" The tone of Annika’s voice made them all raise an eyebrow.

"No," Sam licked a smidgen of cream from her finger. "But the symbiote couldn’t have survived the gasses of the cryogenic chamber."

"So she’s definitely dead." Annika gave a annoyed huff, pushing her empty plate away.

"You sound disappointed, Annika Murdoch," Teal’c frowned. "The death of a Goa’uld is cause for rejoicing."

"I suppose," she sighed and then there was a malicious hope in her eyes. "Was it a painful death?"

"Um…" Sam grimaced. "Not really. It would have taken less than a second for her to freeze."

"Dammit!"

Daniel started laughing and pulled his grumpy lover onto his lap. "The important thing is that she is dead."

"But if no one saw a body…"

"Why do you wish that parasite life?" Teal’c demanded.

"So I can find the bitch and kill her myself," she growled. "I’m sure I could come up with a much more drawn out and agonizing method of death than becoming a frozen dinner. I can be quite imaginative when I put my mind to it."

The others grinned.

"Well, if it’s any consolation, there may be a one in a…trillion…?" Jack looked at Sam for confirmation, who nodded, "chance that someone somehow revived Hathor in a sarcophagus."

"Really?"

The way the redhead perked up at that idea had them practically rolling on the floor with laughter.

"I don’t know what’s so funny," Annika grumbled. "Stranger things have happened around here."

"Very true," Daniel confirmed, still chuckling. He placed a kiss to her neck. "Come on, My Vindictive Angel, let’s go back to bed."

She let herself be led away all the while plotting what she would do to the Goa’uld Queen. "I could start with something traditional…like the Japanese torture methods…nah, the symbiote would heal those too quickly…Oooh, I know, I could use my telekinesis and twist and pull that slimy snake like it was on old fashioned stretching rack…nope, too clichéd…Daniel, didn’t the Aztecs have some wonderfully painful rituals that I could adapt? I read that…" The flapping doors cut off her animated voice.

Jack didn’t try to hide his grin as he took another bite of the sweet pastry. "You know, I’d almost feel sorry for Hathor if she did survive."

"Really?" Sam’s voice was muffled by her own mouthful of food.

Teal’c’s fork had paused halfway to his mouth, his eyebrow quirked in astonishment.

Jack shrugged, "I said almost." His lip curled up into a wicked smile. "Almost."