Healing Hands
by Karen Sraits
Email: rstra1028@aol.com
Status: Complete
Category/Rating: G, H/C angst, Daniel and Janet
Spoilers: Stargate: The movie, Children of the Gods, Forever and a
Day. Uh... basically seasons 1-3
Summary/Notes: A friend and I were discussing nice things Daniel
would do for Janet and this came about. What happens when the
Stargate goes whack and Janet gets hurt.
Disclaimer: All publicly recogonizable characters and places are the
property of MGM, Gekko Corp. and Double Secret Productions. This
piece of fan-fic was created for entertainment, not monetary purposes
and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks intended. Previously
unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted
to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is
coincidental and not intended by the author.
FEEDBACK: This is my first fan-fic so please be gentle!I would appreciate any
feedback as i hope to get better at this(read less run-on sentences LOL)
Praise is good too^_^ Any flames will be immediatly be fed-exed to the
lovely Ness to light her smokes. As I am neither an astrophysicist or medical
doctor (damn) Please ignore the lack of tech stuff and story loopholes big
enough to walk through! This was done strickly for fun and not for a career
change. Peace Karen
Colonel Jack O'Neill stood in the doorway of the infirmary, dark eyes taking
in the chaos around him. His sight settled on the one quiet corner of the
medical facility. Pushing his way around the various staff that were quickly
but efficiently doing their jobs he slowly made his way until he was standing
next to a certain brilliant but tired looking archeologist slumped, dozing,
in a hard plastic chair next to a bed. Laying a hand gently but firmly on his
shoulder he gave a slight shake to wake him.
"Daniel," he called softly, giving another but firmer shake. "Wake up."
Daniel started, sleep filled blue eyes peering up at Jack blearily through
smudged lenses. "Jack!" He exclaimed. "What are you doing here? I thought
you had the day off?"
"I could ask you the same question, Danny Boy!" Jack glanced down at the bed
containing the petite form of Dr. Janet Fraiser sleeping soundly amid all the
noise. "Mind telling me what the heck is going on? I got a call saying that
there had been a problem concerning the Stargate."
Daniel sat up straight in the chair, wearily rubbing at his face, then
stretching his arms out, trying to work out the kinks. "Yea, there was a
problem alright," he said. "Simply put the Stargate tried to fry me!"
Jack's eyes widened, noticing for the first time the acrid smell of smoke
coming off the linguist and the charred spot on the back of the jacket
hanging off the chair. Glancing back down at the doctor he saw that her hands
were heavily bandaged and an i.v. was in place.
Jack took a deep breath. "Okay Daniel, just start at the beginning."
************************************************************************
Daniel Jackson stood in front of the Stargate talking with some of the techs
standing about. He had been in his lab cataloging some artifacts SG-13 had
brought back from their last mission. He had of course lost total track of
time and only the rumbling of his stomach reminded him how long it had been
since breakfast. Stomach deciding for him, he gave a cursory pat to the
"rock" and wandered down to the gateroom to see if Sam wanted to take a break
with him. Coffee that wasn't evolving into a sludge-like life form was
sounding really good to him right now.
SG-1 was on stand-down for the week and Sam was taking the opportunity to
implement and test some new programming she and her staff had been working
on. Sam told Daniel that she and Janet were meeting for a late lunch. He was
more than welcome to join them when she finished this last test and Janet met
them in the gateroom. Which was how he came to be standing in front of the
gate, hands in pockets, thinking.
Thoughts were flitting through his mind as he looked up at the gate. Nothing
really conscious or taking form, just images and memories of the gate and all
the adventures he had been on. And a certain medical doctor who was starting
to figure prominently in them.
Major Samantha Carter grabbed the mike and looked down at Daniel through the
bullet-proof glass. "Almost done here Daniel, we just need to finish this
last diagnostic and I'll be ready to go."
Daniel noticed a slight humming noise from the gate as he replied back.
"Take your time Sam, I'm in no hurry."
His thoughts turning back to the pretty doctor, he realized this would be one
of the rare times they would spend together that wasn't a life or death
situation or a dire medical emergency. He cocked his head. Strange, was the
humming getting louder?
Hearing the sound of the gateroom doors sliding open Daniel turned around to
see the small form of Janet Fraiser walking briskly into the chamber. He
smiled at her approach and felt a small jolt in his stomach at her answering
smile back. When Janet smiled, it was like a small sunburst. She simply
glowed.
That was Daniel's last coherent thought before all hell broke loose.
Daniel started making his way down the ramp toward Janet when the humming he
had heard suddenly turned into a high-pitched shriek. A guard slapped the
alarm button.
Klaxons started going off and Sam was yelling through the com system, "Get
out of there, now!" with a look of horror on her face.
People started scrambling for the doors. Daniel ran to Janet when suddenly
the gate screamed and bolts of energy started shooting out, arcing towards
whatever they could hit. The chamber rumbled with the overload of energy and
sparks rained down from the loose power conduits hanging from the ceiling.
Sam and her team were frantically trying to shut the program down, initiating
every override they could think of.
Several of the technicians had been hit and were striving desperately to make
it to the door. With a sense of urgency all personnel started to help the
injured. With an ease born of practice and well-trained military precision,
they all headed for the exit.
****
Janet was attempting to help one of the techs to their feet. Looking up she
saw Daniel almost reach her when a bolt of blue lightning struck him in the
back. He jerked and cried out as he was enveloped in blue flame.
She screamed his name and ran to him. Upon reaching him she saw that he was
actually on fire! Working quickly she ripped off her lab coat and pushed him
to the ground. Leaning over him she started to smother the flames with the
coat and her hands.
"Daniel, can you hear me? Hold still so I can help you!" He writhed on the
floor in pain and it was all she could do to hold him down and put the fire
out but finally she succeeded.
As suddenly as the Stargate had overloaded, it just as quickly shut down.
Sam's team exchanged grim looks as Sam shouted she was going to go help. Sam
ran down the stairs toward the gateroom just in time to meet the incoming
medical team and firefighters.
Janet and a nurse had pulled Daniel to the door and they were lifting him
onto a gurney, Janet barking orders the whole time.
"God, Janet! Are you all right? How's Daniel?" The blonde woman looked at her
friends worriedly.
"I don't know Sam! I need to check him out. Lets get these people to the
infirmary! Stat!" The whole time she was thinking, 'Please, God, just let
him be all right!'
****
Janet and her medical team burst through the doors of the infirmary. Janet
shouting over the din to be heard. Sam followed closely behind with the
second med unit, helping with the injured.
"Cheryl, help me get Dr. Jackson's jacket off." Moving quickly they stripped
the garment off. Taking a pair of scissors Janet cut his shirt off and began
to gently probe the burned area on his back.
"Janet? How is he? Will he be all right?" Sam stood off to the side, trying
to stay out of the way. She bit her lower lip as she looked at Janet for the
answer.
"Well Sam, It doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. I think I got to him
before any real damage was done." Janet turned back to the nurse. Just as she
was about to issue directions concerning his care, she heard a small gasp.
Daniel gave a small groan as his eyelids fluttered open. He looked up into
warm brown eyes shadowed with worry and relief. With a bemused look on his
face he tried to sit up.
"Whoa, easy there! Don't try to get up just yet, Daniel." Laying a hand on
his shoulder she gently guided him back down to the bed. Making sure he was
lying on his side, she began to check his vital signs. "Daniel, can you
remember what happened to you?"
"Uh, I think I got hit by a Mack Truck?" He muttered in a low voice. "And did
anyone get the license of said truck?"
Sam and Janet exchanged a brief smile. Sam spoke. "Well at least his sense of
humor seems intact."
"Whose joking!" said Daniel.
"Can you tell me where it hurts and how much pain you are in?" Janet asked.
She watched his face carefully as he answered. He winced as she poked a
particularly sensitive spot.
"I have a headache and my back feels really tender. Can I sit up now?" He
pleaded.
Janet gave a mental shake of her head. Who could resist those baby blues when
they looked at you like that. She motioned the nurse over and they each took
an arm. "Okay Daniel, Cheryl and I are going to help you up but slowly!
Understand?"
Daniel gave a small nod of his head. Janet and the nurse carefully eased him
into an upright position. "Okay?" He nodded again. "I'm okay Janet, really."
"Let me be the judge of that Dr. Jackson." But she smiled at him to take the
bite out of the comment.
****
Janet surveyed the ward as she signed off on a status report. Handing the
clipboard back to the medic, she turned around. She saw Sam helping Daniel
put on his shirt carefully over the gauze on his back. They were talking
quietly. Thank God he was all right! She didn't want to think about what
could have happened. Pushing the dark thoughts to the back of her mind, she
started to walk over to them. She shook her hands lightly, they were starting
to tingle a little bit.
God she was tired! Janet's shoulders sagged and she stopped, feeling light
headed. The adrenaline must be wearing off she thought. She slipped off the
latex gloves, dropping them in the bin. Seeing spots before her eyes, Janet
pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes. She heard her name faintly
through the roaring in her ears.
She had just enough time to gaze up into clear blue eyes before she collapsed
into Daniel's arms.
****
Sam and Daniel were talking about the Stargate. Discussing possible scenarios
of what went wrong, Daniel trailed off in the middle of a sentence. Wondering
what distracted him, Sam looked over to see Janet.
Daniel stopped talking when he noticed Janet stop and sway slightly. Damn! He
seemed to have radar where she was concerned. Seeing the pale face, he
stepped towards her. A questioning tone to his voice. "Janet?" He looked into
those spectacular eyes, mesmerized, and then they closed.
"Janet!" He cried as she dropped like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
She fell into Daniel's arms. He swept her up against his chest, feeling the
pull on his back. He yelled at Sam. "Get Dr. Warner!" He carried her over to
a bed and laid her down.
Smoothing the hair gently from her forehead and away from her face, Daniel
leaned over her. Reaching down to grasp her hand he stopped with a sharp
intake of breath. Color ranging from light pink to a dark, angry red splayed
across the small, delicate hands. Both of her hands looked raw, blisters
starting to form.
Daniel felt sick to his stomach. This was all his fault!
************************************************************************
Jack looked into Daniel's tormented eyes. Seeing the anguish on the
expressive face, he sought to reassure him.
"Daniel, I know what you're thinking and you're wrong. It's not your
fault!"
"Yes Jack, it is my fault!" he declared forcefully. "If she hadn't..."
"Hadn't what?" Jack interrupted him. "Saved your life, did her job?"
"Jack," Daniel's voice came out low and distressed. "Janet got hurt because
of me!"
Jack moved closer to Daniel. Putting every ounce of persuasion into his
voice, he continued. "Danny, What Janet did, she would have done for anyone.
It's what she is trained to do and she's damned good at it!"
He nudged Daniel's arm. "It's one of the things that makes her such a great
Doctor."
He watched as Daniel lightly laid his fingertips on Janet's arm.
"So what did Dr. Warner say about Janet's hands?"
Absently stroking Janet's arm, Daniel began to speak. "Second and third
degree burns."
Jack's eyebrows rose, a questioning look on his face.
Daniel shook his head. "Apparently with all the excitement, Janet didn't
feel anything until things started to slow down." He glanced at Jack. "Once
the adrenaline wore off, the pain set in and she passed out."
With a slight smile on his face, he continued. "When she came to she kept
insisting she was fine." He looked back down at her sleeping form. "She kept
trying to get out of bed, saying she was needed and couldn't be lying around."
Jack muttered, "That sounds like the Doc alright."
"So Dr. Warner sedated her, for her own good, of course."
"Of course he did." Jack ran his hands through his hair, making the gray
tufts more unruly if that were possible. "What about you? How are you
feeling?"
"Oh, I'm okay thanks to Janet's quick thinking." He ran his fingers up and
down her arm, stopping just short of the bandages.
Probably doesn't even realize he's doing that Jack thought. He smirked.
'Oh
yea, you've got it bad, Danny Boy.'
Softly caressing her arm, Daniel spoke quietly. "I got lucky." Tired eyes
looked back at Jack. "My back is sore, actually it feels like a really bad
sunburn. Slight headache, other than that, I'm good to go."
"Not so fast, Tiger." Daniel opened his mouth to protest. Jack held up his
hands. "No buts." He pushed Daniel back down into the chair. "Thanks to this
little incident, all gate travel has been postponed until we figure out what
went wrong. Hammond's orders."
Jack scanned the infirmary one last time. He wanted to talk to Carter. If he
knew his 2IC, and he did, she would be blaming herself. Plus he needed to see
that she was all right for his own peace of mind. He turned back to Daniel.
"Look. I gotta go. You're sure you're alright?"
Daniel was already waving him away. "Go on, I know you want to talk to Sam,"
he said with a small knowing grin.
Jack headed for the door. "Oh, and Jack." O'Neill stopped and looked back at
Daniel.
"Thanks for listening. It really scared me, seeing her like that." He paused.
"Normally she's so strong," he paused again, swallowing heavily "and I felt
powerless to do anything to help her." He gave a small shrug. "So just...
Thank you."
Jack threw him a cocky smile and a jaunty salute as he walked out the door.
"Anytime Space Monkey, anytime!"
************************************************************************
Daniel stood in Janet's living room, talking on the phone with Cassandra
Fraiser. The young girl Janet had adopted was away at friends for a
sleepover. This was the third time she had called in to check on her mother.
Daniel was doing his best to reassure her.
"Cass, she's alright, really"... "Yes, I will make sure she doesn't try to
over do it."...He nodded even though she couldn't see him. "I'll make sure
she takes her medicine, I know how stubborn your mother can be!" He could
hear laughter in the background and her name being called.
There was a muffled curse and a thump that came from Janet's bedroom.
"Cass, honey, I've got to go." He looked towards the stairs. "Have fun, and
don't worry!".."Goodbye sweetheart, I love you too."
****
Daniel stopped in the doorway to Janet's bedroom. Leaning against the
doorjamb with his arms crossed, he surveyed the scene. Janet sat on the edge
of the bed, looking adorably tousled and grumpy. Her hairbrush was across the
room, laying on the floor. 'Ah, that must have been the thump.'
He straightened up and sauntered into the room. Picking up the brush, he
looked over at Janet on the bed. "Had a disagreement, did we?"
Janet looked down at her hands ruefully. "I was trying to brush my hair, but
my bandages won't let me hold the brush properly." She sounded very
frustrated.
He walked over with the brush and stood by the side of the bed.
Daniel cleared his throat nervously. "Well, uh, I could brush your hair for
you."
"What! Oh no, I couldn't ask you to do that, you've done so much already!"
Daniel overrode her protests. "Janet! It's alright, really." He had a small
smirk on his face. "Besides, it really needs it!" He ducked his head at the
piercing glance she sent him.
****
'Damn the man!' Did he have to look so sexy she thought irritably. She
observed him through narrowed eyes. Long legs encased in soft, faded denim. A
white turtleneck with a blue long-sleeved shirt that matched his eyes thrown
over it. He looked completely casual and completely edible!
She sighed. He was right, of course. It needed to be done. She looked and
felt like an experiment gone bad. The fact that he saw her in this state just
added to her irritability. A girl had her pride after all. 'Okay Janet, you
can do this. Lets get this over with'
"Right! Okay Daniel, how do you want me? On the bed?"
****
"What!?!" Daniel stuttered. "Wha'. What do you mean? Want you?"
Janet just looked at him. "Yes, when you brush my hair. Where would you like
me to sit?"
"Oh" Daniel gave himself a mental shake. 'C'mon Jackson, pull yourself
together!' He ran a finger along the edge of his turtleneck and scolded
himself. 'You need to quit drinking so much coffee, it's starting to affect
your mental processes.'
"You're fine right where you are." Tossing the brush on the bed, he moved
behind her. Hesitantly he reached out and touched the soft hair. Gathering
his courage, he began removing pins, setting the silky strands free.
Soon he had all the pins out. Looking at the tumbled mass of auburn hair
cascading past her shoulders and down her back, he reached out again in
wonder. "It's so long."
Janet gave a small laugh. "I know, I've been thinking about cutting it."
"No, don't do that!" In a low, shy voice he went on. "It's beautiful."
Thinking 'Like you.'
Gently he carded his hands through the waves, detangling the snarls of hair.
He noticed the set of Janet's shoulders. "You're so tense," he murmured.
"Are your hands bothering you?"
"A little." She admitted. "It's almost time for my pain meds."
Daniel palmed the back of her neck, gently kneading. "When we're done with
your hair, I'll change your bandages so you can rest." She started to speak
and he broke in with "Don't argue with the Doctor!"
Janet grumbled "You're not that kind of Doctor."
"No, but I'm in charge, so just relax, okay?" Taking the brush, he started to
lightly run it through her hair. He kept a rhythmic stroke, starting from the
top of her head, down to the very bottom and back up again.
Janet sighed in quiet appreciation and lowered her head. Her shoulders
started to unbow as she relaxed with each pass of the brush. Soon there was
no sound except for her soft, even breathing and the glide of the brush.
****
Janet was in Heaven. Who would have thought that the accident-prone
archeologist would be so good at this. The bed shifted as he moved closer.
She could feel the heat radiating off him and his scent enveloped her. He
smelled of citrus and old books, clean and faintly exotic.
She felt a small tug at her heart as she breathed in his essence. She cared
for him so much! She couldn't remember when it had turned from professional
caring into friendship and then love. Love. She looked down at her hands and
choked back a laugh, feeling her eyes mist.
He was being helpful because he felt guilty about her hands.
Daniel would never think of her that way. Touching her in such an intimate
way was a pain almost beyond bearing. Yet she reveled in it.
He was still very much in love with his wife, even though she was buried on a
desert planet light years away. Janet remembered his sorrow and how he had
grieved. Wishing she could lay her hands on him and heal him of that tragic
loss.
Why else would he not show any interest in anyone? Janet had seen the looks
cast his way by appreciative females. Overheard the conversations by the
nurses each time he was in the infirmary.
Janet took a deep breath. No matter. She would stand by him and be his
friend. Be there for him like she always was. Even as she resolved to do it,
a small voice whispered through her mind. 'Yes, but how long until you can't
hide your feelings anymore?'
****
Daniel saw Janet take a deep breath. 'Good, she's starting to relax a little
bit, maybe later I can get her to rest.'
Daniel continued, the pull of the brush through the tousled waves of hair
almost hypnotic.
He remembered doing this for his wife, Shau`re. They would sit by the fire,
she at his feet and he would tenderly run the comb through the sable mass of
curls. The fact that such a simple task gave him so much pleasure surprised
him greatly.
His pleasure had always come from books and the history that he so loved, the
languages he learned, his own secret romance.
A romance that would test his heart and soul and come close to breaking his
spirit. He remembered the mockery of his fellow scholars, how they had
laughed at him. That last disastrous conference as he had tried to explain
his theories.
And then Catherine Langford had found him and his whole life changed.
The first mission to Abydos with Jack O'Neill. Teaching the natives about
their past and Kasuf presenting him with the 'gift' of his daughter.
Leading a revolt against Ra, winning the battle but at a terrible cost of
precious lives.
When O'Neill and his team were ready to go, Daniel had almost gone with them.
He looked into the laughing brown eyes of Shau`re and realized that he
wanted to keep this 'gift'. To open it up and to be open to it, to see where
it would take him. So he stayed.
She had healed him in the time they had together.
Shau`re had shown him unconditional love. Proved to him that he was worthy of
love in small, everyday gestures. Laughing at him as he tried to grind flour,
listening to his stories. The magic of her hands touching his body, her
passion his. They shared a year of joy.
His life changed again.
Daniel's wife was taken from him. Forced to become the host to a Goa`uld
Queen. He helped to birth the child she carried, a child that was not his.
Long, dark years spent searching for her, finding her only to lose her. Her
freedom won through death.
Daniel stopped brushing Janet's hair, his hand trembling from gripping the
handle so tightly. Emotions he thought he had repressed threatened to sweep
over him. The wall he had built around his heart was starting to show cracks.
"Penny for them." The quiet voice broke through his reverie. Struggling to
put the memories away, Daniel looked down at the small form in front of him.
"I'm thinking its time I changed your bandages." he said lightly, hoping the
observant doctor didn't notice anything amiss.
****
Janet felt Daniel's hand falter then stop. Quietly she spoke, "Penny for
them."
"I'm thinking its time I changed your bandages." She felt the bed dip as he
got up and started to move around the room. She watched him as he started to
gather the supplies he needed. Handing her a glass of water and a pain pill,
he stood over her while she took it.
Janet made a face. "These meds make me sleepy." Daniel chuckled. "Good! Maybe
then you will lay down and rest like you're supposed to." She stuck her
tongue out at him and he laughed again.
Placing a small footstool in front of her, he sat down and sorted through the
various items.
"Now tell me if I'm hurting you at all, Okay?"
"Okay." Gently he began to unwind the long strips of gauze, setting them in a
pan on the floor.
Janet looked down at the dark head bent over her hands, intent on his task.
Her fingers ached to ruffle through the silky hair. Being this close to him
was pure torture! A low hiss of pain escaped her. The last piece of gauze had
stuck and was pulling at the tender skin.
Concerned blue eyes gazed up at her as Daniel immediately stopped what he was
doing.
"God! Janet, I am so sorry!"
Janet hastened to reassure him. "Its all right Daniel, really!" As she said
it, she realized it was true. She would do it all over again, just to keep
him safe. The pain she felt putting out the fire and was feeling now was
nothing compared to the pain of losing him.
Seeing the distress on his face she said softly, "You just need to soak it a
little bit with some water, it will come off, I promise." That was one of the
things she loved most about him, his concern for the welfare of other people.
'One out of a lot of things' she thought.
Janet bit her lip as she felt Daniel's long, elegant fingers spread the cool
salve lightly over the burns. Fire and ice all at once, pleasure and pain
combined. 'I am one sick puppy' she thought amusedly.
Daniel had become silent again as he focused on what he was doing.
****
Daniel felt his jaw tighten as he looked down at Janet's hands. He winced in
silent sympathy as he pulled the last piece of gauze off. Her hands were
still an angry red in places, blisters forming, the small palms shiny and
slightly puckered. He violently jerked the lid off the salve only to ever so
gently spread it onto the injured areas.
He remembered the look on her face as she had screamed his name. The pain
trapping him in a steel cocoon of agony. He had felt her small frame against
his as she had thrown herself at him with no thought for her own safety.
Softly he grasped her wrist and began to wrap her hand back up. She had saved
him again, just as she had done countless times before. He thought of all the
times she had helped him, stood by him, in good times and bad. God knew there
had been plenty of bad times.
When Shau`re had died, she hovered in the background. Keeping vigil with him,
not interfering but keeping watch. Daniel knew that she was there for him if
needed. Had he ever thanked her for that? What about all the other times she
had healed him?
Daniel started wrapping the other hand. He marveled at how small they were.
How could such a small body contain such strength? Her intelligence and
spirit burned like a flame, sometimes so much so that he thought it would
burst out of her body and simply fly away.
Beneath the competent exterior was a kind heart. Janet's compassion was one
of the things he loved most about her. He pulled up sharply at the thought.
Loved? Daniel stilled at the feelings rushing through his body, finally
recognizing them for what they were.
Love.
Daniel was in awe. He had thought that he would never love again. Only to be
caught unaware by a beautiful, kindred soul. Janet had healed his heart. How
could he thank her for such a gift? He didn't know but he would spend the
rest of his life trying if she would let him.
His task completed, he held both her hands in his and looked into Janet's
eyes. Their gaze caught and held for a long moment. Letting his feelings
color his voice, he spoke the words he needed her to hear. "Thank you... for
everything that you have ever done for me." As he spoke he leaned over her
hands and tenderly placed a kiss in each upturned palm.
Without releasing her hands he reached up and placed a chaste kiss upon the
honeyed lips. It was a vow sealed with the mingling of their breath. He
whispered into her mouth, "Thank you for giving me back my heart." Kissing
her was liquid joy, he could feel it run through his veins. He wanted to
laugh at the beauty of it all.
Pulling back slowly from her, Daniel watched her face as she touched her lips
in wonder.
****
Dazed, as if she were waking from a dream, Janet touched her lips. If this
was a dream, then she never wanted to wake up. Daniel had just kissed her!
Looking at that dear, sweet face, his feelings exposed for her to see. Daniel
shimmered before her as her eyes filled with tears.
"My love, why are you crying?" He asked in a concerned and tender voice.
Janet shook her head, unable to speak, the emotion overwhelming her.
Struggling to speak, she gasped out, "You just called me your love!"
"Because you are! Don't you understand? I love you!" Daniel looked frustrated
and happy at the same time.
"But...But you love Shau`re! Everyone knows that's why you never go out with
anyone, even with all the women who throw themselves at you!" There! She
didn't sound too jealous now, did she?
Janet watched Daniel shake his head in exasperation. "Yes, I did love
Shau`re, I will always love her. She is my past. You. You are my future. If
you will have me."
She wanted to say yes so badly! But she was afraid. Afraid of herself and her
feelings.
Daniel pulled her to her feet and gazed down into velvet brown eyes. With a
touch as light as air, he closed her eyes. His fingertips swept across her
cheekbones and down her face, tracing the tracks of her tears.
Janet put up a token resistance as he pulled her towards him, listening to
that rich voice flow over her like a caress. He kissed each eye at the
corner, tasting her tears and descending downward, words tumbling out between
each kiss.
"No woman has ever touched me the way you have. And no woman ever will! You
have stood by me and been my friend. You have always done what you thought
best for me, regardless of how it might affect us, our friendship. You have
helped me and healed me in so many different ways. Ways I can't even begin to
describe. I love you, Janet!"
Janet opened her eyes as Daniel tilted her face towards his. He bent down
over her, his lips so close she could taste his words. He stopped, waiting
for a sign to kiss her.
"I love you too, Daniel. So much!"
****
With a fierce look on his face, Daniel swooped down and took her mouth in a
passionate kiss. Slanting his mouth to cover hers completely, he gentled the
kiss, exploring the taste of her.
Daniel lifted his lips from hers to kiss the delicate throat, feeling the
pulse of her beneath his mouth. He watched as she went to say something and
stifled a yawn instead. A blush stole across the creamy skin and she buried
her head on his chest.
"Well! I can't say I've had that reaction before!" He didn't know if he
should be dismayed or amused.
Janet giggled. "I'm sorry, the meds must be kicking in. I told you they make
me sleepy!"
"Thank goodness for that! Lets get you to bed then, you need your rest. Its
been a quite a day with everything that's happened."
Daniel led her over to the bed. Turning down the covers, he helped ease her
between the cool sheets. Janet sighed happily as he tucked her in. Kissing
her on the forehead, he made to leave. Janet touched his arm. "Stay with me?"
She murmured drowsily.
"Always my love."
Coming around to the other side, Daniel sat up against the headboard, on top
of the covers. Janet turned over and threw an arm across his waist. Laying
her head upon his chest, she snuggled into him. She fell asleep listening to
his heartbeat.
Daniel listened to Janet's soft breathing as she slept. He thought about all
that had happened in the last four days and how some things happened for a
reason. Stroking the russet head beneath his hand, he said a quiet goodbye to
his past and Shau`re. He would always love her, that was true.
He meant what he had said to Janet. She was his future. Someone, some higher
power had seen fit to grace him with another gift of love. He wouldn't waste
it. He had the feeling Shau`re would be proud of him. Pulling the small body
closer to him, he settled in. He couldn't wait to get started.
The End
Copyright ( c ) Dec. 2000 Karen Straits
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