Category: Romance/angst
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Season Four, The First Ones
Antonia and Daniel's paths cross, then a tragic event brings them together again.
Why did it always seem to rain at funerals? The young woman thought as she made her way from the car to the Chapel, a large black umbrella held over her head.
There were only about a dozen mourners, beside the family, outside the small building and only one that she recognised, although he had changed since they last met.
Doctor Daniel Jackson, the hair was shorter the face a little older but she remembered him; it had been raining that day too, she recalled. She smiled weakly at him, an acknowledging smile, there was no recognition in the clear blue eyes.
She made her way to where Robert's Mother and Father stood, under another large umbrella, Mrs Rothman touched her arm, "Thank you for coming Antonia" she said.
The young woman, covered the hand with her own, no point in words.
After the memorial service, they went back to Robert's apartment. Daniel approached Antonia as she helped herself to food from the buffet.
"Excuse me, " he began "but have we met before?"
"Yes, Antonia Richards, " she juggled her plates so that her right hand was free and she could shake his.
Daniel frowned he was still searching for the connection, he studied her, certain he had recognised her. Her hair was long, dark brown in colour; she had swept it away from her face and clipped it back with a large silver clip. It was the eyes that given him the jolt of recognition, hazel they called the colour, not brown, not green. She was dressed in black, as were most of the attendees of the funeral and the stark outfit, paled her features. Her accent too was familiar, she was British, and the linguist in him noted, that she was probably from London, no heavy regional inflection. Even her name was familiar, he assumed she was a friend of the family and maybe Robert had mentioned her.
Daniel may have had difficulty remembering their previous meeting, but Antonia had never forgotten it.
***********
"It never rains in California"; the old Albert Hammond song kept running though her brain, she seemed to remember it was an ironic title. It was certainly raining in downtown LA now as Antonia dashed from the cab to the steps of the Scottish Rite Temple on Sunset Boulevard. The backed-up traffic had made her late: Professor Rauschenberg would not be impressed he had an obsession about punctuality. Many students including her had been chewed out over a few minutes tardiness. Running up the steps, she collided with another person who was also in a hurry to reach the same destination. A pile of notes and documents went flying. She muttered an apology and knelt down to help him pick them up. She found herself staring into a pair of dazzling blue eyes, blinking apologetically from behind a pair of metal rimmed spectacles which were in turn half hidden by a mop of dark blond hair.
"I'm sorry." They both said together followed by a nervous laugh as they realised they were both apologising automatically.
Shifting the pile of papers precariously to his left hand, he extended his right, "Hi, I'm Daniel, Daniel Jackson."
She shook the outstretched hand, "Antonia Richards."
The handshake was brief and his eyes met hers for a second, "Are you speaking today?" he asked wishing he could think of something more original to say.
"Oh no, I'm here with Professor Rauschenberg's team" she explained.
The mention of the professor's name seemed to summon him, he and Doctor Tubman were mounting the steps; Antonia always had a vision of Laurel and Hardy when she saw the two of them together.
"Ah Ms. Richards, " the stout professor boomed, "I see you have honoured us with your presence, come along now my dear child, I want you to take notes."
She smiled briefly at Daniel then followed the two men, why did that man always make her feel like a schoolgirl, Ms she hated that, it was his nod to feminism but she would prefer he recognised her doctorate.
As Daniel watched her depart, he wondered if he would get a chance to speak to her later, to find out what she thought of his speech, the reminder of that caused the ball of nerves in his stomach to twist again. He took the recommended deep breaths and headed towards the hall.
Taking her seat in the packed conference hall; Antonia noticed a few familiar faces. Doctor Ajami began his introduction of the speaker, Daniel Jackson the man she'd met in the corridor.
Beside her, the two men began dissecting his character before he even began to speak, but soon the professor was on the receiving end of Daniel's question. He was attempting to make a point about the development of Egyptian culture using the development of the car as an example. However, he had already lost some of the audience. He went on to explain his theory that Khufu's Pyramid had been built before what were traditionally considered the older step pyramids. At this point another group of people walked out.
Antonia felt sympathy for him, she remembered reading one of his articles now and there had been something in those eyes, which had intrigued her. He had guts too; standing up in front of this crowd of dinosaurs, probably committing professional suicide by the comments she overheard from the exiting academics. Perhaps if she were a bit more assertive she wouldn't have been stuck with the overbearing professor.
The beleaguered speaker came under more pressure, when Professor Romney began his questioning. He brought up Vyse and Daniel began energetically, scribbling hieroglyphs on the giant chalkboard. Antonia was impressed with the speed with which the markings appeared. She knew the story of course, found herself agreeing with him, but shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the Professor 's stare burned into her, as if to say, I hope you are not listening to that nonsense young lady.
Romney finally had enough of Daniel's' reasoning and left, muttering something about Chariots of the Gods.
Daniel seemed to relax a little now, the remaining audience was attentive, whether out of politeness or genuine interest it was hard to tell, just as began to speak again, a woman at the back spoke up.
Antonia followed Daniel's gaze as he directed his focus to her. Her question was the final nail in his coffin.
"Who do you think built the pyramids?" she asked.
"That's err the whole point, " he answered her, "I have no idea who built them or why"
Beside Antonia, Doctor Tubman snorted loudly, The professor, muttered something she didn't catch, the rest of the audience were making varied groaning noises.
Wise cracks flew as the crowd left; Tubman and Rauschenberg stood up. The professor’s hard look gave Antonia no doubt that she was expected to do the same. They left just as she heard Daniel giving one last attempt to salvage his reputation by citing the evidence that the Sphinx had now been discovered to be much earlier than previously thought. Antonia had one last sight of him standing alone at the lectern before Tubman beckoned to her.
***********
The Sun beat down on the Mayan temple, Antonia sat in the shade a few hundred yards distant from the pyramid. The tables under the awnings were covered with artefacts from the exploration of the area. She made notes as she studied one particularly interesting piece, as she turned it over, she noticed that the markings were almost like hieroglyphics, very strange. As she pondered on it a bead of perspiration ran down her forehead, she irritably wiped it away with the back of her hand. She made some more observations in her notebook.
A sudden noise made her look up, Pedro one of the locals was charging towards her gibbering excitedly in Spanish. Antonia struggled to make out the words; her grasp of Spanish was basic at the best of times. These words were fast and furious and she strained to catch the meaning. He was pointing urgently at the pyramid. Seeing the look of confusion on her face he grabbed her arm and switched to English.
"Come, you must come, " he urged.
Her colleague Adrian Mullings over hearing the commotion had came over from where he was studying a pile of geophysics reports.
"Toni? " The Scotsman questioned her in his soft brogue, "what’s going on?"
"I have no idea, " she replied, "something in the pyramid."
"Well I guess we better go and see," he suggested.
She nodded and followed the two men, towards the ancient building.
The archaeological team led by Doctor Kleinhouse and Doctor Cole had been studying the Mayan temple for the past week and earlier the two senior archaeologists had entered the structure hoping to find a new chamber. Antonia suspected that was what had bought Pedro running out, some exciting find that they wanted to share with Adrian and her.
The corridors were lit by a string of lamps from the generator but Antonia had to switch on her torch for the final part of the journey. Kleinhouse and Cole had indeed discovered a new chamber, the door was wide open. Once inside the first thing she saw to her amazement was a large gold sarcophagus covered in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Her curiosity was interrupted by Adrian’s startled gasp; Dr Cole was lying unconscious on the floor, as he bend down to check on her, Antonia spotted Dr Kleinhouse also out cold.
She shook him gently trying to rouse him, then she noticed that he wasn’t breathing, she hesitantly, as if not wanting to confirm the truth, touched his neck where she hoped to find a pulse, nothing and the skin was unnaturally cold.
"Oh my God, " she exclaimed, a sudden feeling of dread, slamming her in the pit of her stomach.
Adrian had completed a similar examination of Doctor Cole; it seemed that they were both dead.
The Mexican authorities had arrested both Antonia and Adrian but they had both been cleared of the deaths following the inquest. They had been attributed to a tragic accident, some kind of energy discharge was blamed, though the cause was never discovered, lightening being the most likely suspect.
The gold sarcophagus was a puzzle, Antonia however remembered the hesitant young man she had met in LA 18 months previously. Doctor Daniel Jackson, after that disastrous lecture she read more of his work, even tried to contact him but the number in the phone book had been disconnected for non payment. She had managed to track down an old colleague of his a Steven Rayner but he had been very cool on the 'phone and had no knowledge of Daniel’s whereabouts.
What had bought Daniel back to her thoughts were his theories of cross-pollination of cultures, and this was the kind of thing that pointed to that theory. The first attempt to find Daniel gave her confusing information even that he had died; he had certainly disappeared for at least a year after the infamous lecture. However, after a few 'phone calls and emails to her contacts she finally located him in Colorado. She was somewhat surprised when the USAF came to collect the sarcophagus. What was the connection between an Archaeologist and the US airforce? She wondered.
A Major Davis led the small group of Airmen, Antonia, attempted to question him about the Airforce’s interest in an archaeological find.
The tall dark officer was cool and composed in his jungle fatigues and Antonia was very conscious of how unkempt she was in her crumbled shorts and baggy T-shirt with untidy strands of hair plastered to her forehead. Despite this, she smiled her most winning smile up at him.
"This artefact is going to Doctor Jackson," she queried.
There was no reaction in his eyes, "Yes ma’am." He acknowledged, firmly but politely. He half turned away the conversation was concluded as far as he was concerned.
Antonia moved in front of him, still seeking answers, her mouth suddenly dry as his dark eyes bore into her, somehow she managed to splutter, "It’s just I was wondering…"
The raised finger stopped her and her remaining courage left her, Davis spoke slowly as if explaining to a child, "The rest is not your concern, Doctor Richards."
Something in his tone reminded her of Professor Rauschenberg; she had stood up to him in the end and the memory of the frustration and anger she’d felt on his team resurfaced. She felt certain she was blushing; however, she reasoned that the Major owed her an explanation.
"Look, I was just…"
His look silenced her this time, and his final three words finished the exchange, "Need to know."
As Antonia watched his departing back Adrian joined her, "You OK?" he asked seeing her frown.
She shook her head, "not really, seems I’m not going to get any answers there," she told him indicating the now distant Major, who was overseeing the loading of a large truck.
"Ah now let me guess that airman told me the same thing, need to know yeah?"
She nodded
Adrian smiled, "well I guess we…"
Antonia smiling too, completed the saying with him, "don’t need to know."
Laughing they headed back towards the tents, although most were dismantled now, to collect their belongings, for the long trip back to London.
***********
In the early part of the First Century, the Roman fort would have been alive with soldiers, defending the border. In the last part of the 20th Century, it was a muddy archaeological dig. Muddy because the rain had been constant all week.
Antonia’s waxed cotton jacket was soaked through; this morning’s downpour was heavier than normal. She squelched though the mud towards the Portacabin, the plastic boxes of finds held out before her. She manoeuvred backwards though the door and placed them on the trestle table to sort later. She removed her jacket and shook off as much excess water as possible. As she went to re-fill the kettle, her colleague came through the door; he too was soaking wet and carrying similar plastic boxes. Muttering under his breath, he discarded his coat and slumped into a chair.
Antonia picked up the cartoon of milk and sniffed the contents, not a good smell, she decided. She hastily threw it in the sink. "Looks like black coffee, "she announced, spooning instant granules into a couple of mugs.
The occupant of the chair nodded only half aware of her words he was studying a letter. Doctor Robert Rothman had been working in Britain with Antonia for the last six months. He had hoped to go to Egypt but the funds weren’t available so now he was stuck in this damp miserable country.
Kettle boiled, Antonia placed the steaming mug on the up turned tea chest that served as a make shift coffee table.
"Anything interesting? She asked, gesturing to the letter.
"Err, umm not sure." was the non-committal reply. He looked around as if he had forgotten something, then got up and went to his jacket, and found a nose spray. He applied a squirt up each nostril.
"Thought this rain would dampen down my allergies, " he muttered.
Antonia nodded sympathetically, she had heard the tales of his various ailments many times.
"It’s OK for you, you Brits should be used to the rain," He continued.
She sighed, yet another of Robert’s favourite sayings, she attempted to counter it with humour, "yeah I guess, probably in a 1000 years or so we will have genetically evolved gills." She chuckled.
He smiled back half heartily, "yeah right."
Antonia liked Robert, they worked well together; but he was very much the epitome, of what her American friends, called a geek. This particular week everything seemed to be conspiring against them they only had a few days left to complete the dig before she was due to start work on a new exhibition for the Museum of London. She knew she would be desk bound for the next three or four months and that had increased her frustration.
Robert’s contract had also finished and he was flying home in two weeks time, he had still not found a job.
Antonia sipped her coffee, wishing she had some scotch from the local distillery to add to it; she and Robert had done the tour the week before. It would warm her up, take the away some of the wet chill. She looked out of the window the sky was still a dreary grey and the wind was sweeping across the dark hills driving the rain before it. Although the main dig area was covered in awnings, it was still not a pleasant place to be. She instinctively hugged her cup trying to draw as much warmth from it as possible.
"Well it looks as if I may have a job after all, "Robert told her.
"Hey that’s great mate. What? Where?"
He joined her at the window and offered her the paper he had been studying, "Daniel’s offered me a job, I was his research assistant when he did his dissertation."
"Oh right, that’s good of him to remember you."
"Um I’m not so sure, he err, well some of his ideas…"
Antonia by now had read through the letter, "Oh Daniel Jackson." She exclaimed
"Yes, you know him?"
"Err yes, well no we meet briefly once, but I know of him."
Robert rubbed his beard for a second considering his next words, then pushed his glasses back up his nose with his forefinger, "so you know he has some unconventional ideas."
"Yes, " she acknowledged, "In fact I’ve read all his published work."
"Ah" was Robert’s only reply.
Both Archaeologists fell silent, neither one sure what to say, Antonia knew from her past experience with Professor Rauschenberg that it wasn’t always a good idea to endorse ideas such as Daniel’s, Robert too was thinking on similar lines.
However, she considered Robert a friend she knew any comments she made would stay between the two of them.
"Actually, " she began, " I thought some of his points were very interesting, well researched. In fact Adrian and I may have even found something that supported one of them."
"You did?" Robert asked with surprise.
"Yes in Mexico, we found a sarcophagus, seemed to be of Ancient Egyptian origin."
"Really?" He gapped at her wide mouthed, then composed himself slightly, " Did you ever publish an article on it, I’m sure I would have seen that."
"No in fact it was Daniel I contacted about it." She described the events that had occurred two years before.
"So what happened then?" Robert frowned, "I still don’t recall seeing anything in print."
Antonia sighed, "Now that’s the strange thing, apparently there was some kind of incident, a fire and the artefact was destroyed. All I know is a letter I received from that Major Davis."
"Airforce?"
She nodded.
"Why was Daniel was working for the Airforce?"
" Well I don’t know if he was, they just transported it and they were the ones who had it when it was destroyed."
Robert studied his letter from Daniel again as if that would give him an answer to the question; there was no mention of the military. He had been offered a job as Daniel’s research assistant, studying Egyptian finds from a recent excavation, some translation work too.
"The thing is, Toni, it’s a job and I haven’t exactly been overwhelmed with offers lately."
"True" she acknowledged and touched his arm reassuringly, "Well I say go for it. What have you got to loose mate? You can still keep your options open."
"Yeah, and I’m still keen to go to Nazca with you, if that ever comes off."
She laughed, "don’t hold your breath." That was her dream to travel to Peru to study the Nazca lines. The trip was all planned in her head, had been for over a year, for the last six months she had been desperately tying to find a sponsor to accept her plan. " I’m waiting on a reply to that last letter."
Robert nodded, he understood all too well his own trip to Egypt had been delayed and postponed and then finally cancelled for the same reasons.
In the distance, the sun broke through the clouds, a shaft of light illuminating a nearby hill and refracting off the residual rain. A pale rainbow arched across the lightening sky.
Antonia heard the childhood mnemonic running through her mind, Richard of York gave battle in vain. The blue reminded her too of those eager blue eyes that had meet hers in LA. Occasionally she'd wondered what it would have been like to have Daniel’s eyes gazing at her with a different look. She dismissed the idea; he probably didn’t even remember her after all this time.
Instead, she beamed triumphantly at Robert, "See, the rain’s stopped and a rainbow too must be a sign, to take the job."
He smiled back, "yeah OK," he acknowledged. Then turned to pick up his coat the coffee break was over, back to the mud.
***********
Antonia had read the email twice now and still found it hard to believe. Robert was dead, she thought she should be crying but all she felt was a sick feeling in her stomach. She left the computer and searched for her address book, turning the pages to locate the 'phone number she wanted. Adding the international code, she dialled.
A further call to the Travel agents, and one to Adrian telling him she would be in Lima 3 days later then expected and she was ready. The cab driver was fortunately not very talkative and Antonia was left with her own thoughts as they travelled to Heathrow. There was no delay on the flight and the sleek aircraft lifted from the runaway on time. She dosed briefly on the journey, but the best selling paperback she had purchased remained unread.
The rain began as soon as she left the Airport in another cab headed for Colorado Springs. She was glad to get to the relative peace and quiet of the motel room. She showered, changed, and then idly flicked through the many TV Channels. A certain fascination made her leave it on the home shopping channel and strangely the imaginative descriptions of the imitation diamond rings were the first thing that had managed to stop her thinking about Robert.
***********
Antonia sensed the confusion in Daniel’s eyes, those same clear blue eyes she remembered so clearly from the LA lecture hall. Now they were searching her face for answers. She decided to help him out.
"We meet in LA a few years ago, you were giving a lecture…"
"Oh yes." He interrupted smiling, not embarrassed as she thought he might have been, "that wasn’t one of my better performances."
"No, " she smiled with him.
"So how do you know… " He paused realising the present tense now was inappropriate.
She jumped in understanding, " We worked together"
Recollection dawned on Daniel's face, "Toni, you're Toni of course!"
She nodded.
"Robert mentioned you a few times, he said you dragged him to some dig where he was up to his elbows in mud."
"Oh yes, that was a bit rough but we found some interesting stuff."
"Yes, I saw the paper, you wrote, tell me…" he continued questioning her about her work. As they ate from the buffet.
They chatted for awhile she was relieved to talk about her recent digs; it took her mind away from Robert. She had a question of her own.
"I don't suppose you remember that I contacted you a couple of years ago about the find Doctor Kleinhouse and Doctor Cole made in Mexico."
Daniel's fork stopped halfway to his mouth, "oh that was you, I had a Doctor Mullings as the contact."
"He was on the team too." She explained
"Well, emm there was an incident, the um." Daniel seemed to be searching for the right phrase.
He was saved from further hunting by the arrival of a tall slightly greying man. He smiled broadly at Antonia the warm brown eyes lighting up.
He continued to smile at Antonia but addressed his comments to Daniel, "Making friends Danny?"
Antonia decided to introduce herself, "Antonia Richards."
"Jack O'Neill" The handshake was brief but firm.
"Did you work with Robert too?" She asked, her first quick impression of him suggested that he wasn't a fellow archaeologist. Though by the use of the nickname she assumed he and Daniel were friends.
"Yes in a way." He replied.
Antonia had some questions and something about Jack suggested authority; maybe he had the answers.
"I was wondering, " she began, "If you knew more about how he died? All I've heard is that he drowned and the body was never recovered." She glanced across the room towards Robert's family; "I didn't want to ask them."
"Well, " Daniel began.
"Daniel!" Jack said, almost reprimanding him.
"Jack?" A look passed between them.
Daniel made a you tell it motion with his hand to Jack.
"Yes Ma'am that's all we know." He told Antonia.
"I see, " she nodded, but there was something that seemed off, no she must be imagining it. The trill of Jack's cellphone interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes" he spoke into the mouthpiece, " OK thank you." then turned to Daniel, "That was Carter"
"OK" Daniel acknowledged, some kind of shorthand between the two of them instant understanding.
"We have to go," he told her, " It was nice to meet you."
"You too, " she replied.
Daniel and Jack spoke briefly to Mr and Mrs Rothman and then left.
Antonia watched bemused as they departed, once again, Daniel had puzzled her, and the blue eyes were as clear and enticing as she had remembered. While they had talked she been drawn to his hair, much shorter than the unruly mop she remembered. But there had been something about the spikes of fringe, that spread over his forehead, which had her longing to run her fingers though them. She felt a blush rise on her cheeks, a funeral was not a place for picking up men and she doubted whether she would ever see him again.
Robert's sister was sitting alone in the corner, she decided to join her.
***********
The receptionist smiled and pointed Antonia towards the direction of the library. She had the whole day to kill; her flight to join Adrian didn't leave until the evening. The local university had some interesting research papers so she decided to while away the time there.
She read for an hour in the quiet of the reading room, a couple of students wandered in and out but they left her to her studying. But a conversation in the hallway made her ears pick up. She got up to check; it was him. She saw Daniel chatting to a young curly haired man. The younger man laughed at Daniel's last comment and then headed back into the main part of the building. Antonia hesitated for a split second if she stayed in the library she would be out of sight and he wouldn't see her, she left the room, he had half turned to leave.
She called after him "Doctor Jackson!"
He swung round surprised then pleased a large grin erupting on his face. "Antonia!"
Her reaction to the smile surprised her, a little shiver of excitement at the base of her spine; she hesitated for a spilt second before answering in case her voice gave her away.
"Hi I was, em, just, " she pointed a thumb towards the library, "passing some time before I leave,"
"When do you fly home?"
"I'm going straight to my next dig, I'm meeting my colleague in Lima in two days."
"Lima?" Daniel's eyebrows rose.
She smiled knowing his interested was peaked, She explained all about the expedition to the Nazca plain.
Daniel listened intently asking her many questions, he paused in the middle of one, "Listen, why don’t we go and get a coffee somewhere…" he stopped, realising that he was assuming she was free, "that's if you have the time, "he finished.
"Yes, I'd like that." She gestured toward the reading room again; "I just need to put the books away."
"Of course."
Over coffee they talked more, Daniel discovering that she had the rest of the day free suggested that they visit the local national park, there were some interesting early native American excavations there that she might be interested in.
***********
Stopping briefly for a take out lunch Daniel drove them to the park. They picnicked on the grass and then explored the site and the small museum. The curator suggested a couple of other things of interest. As they crossed the park the weather suddenly changed, Antonia immediately felt the temperature drop two or three degrees and minutes later the rain began. They ran quickly to a large rocky overhang to shelter.
"Argh! " Antonia exclaimed, shivering slightly in her light summer dress.
Daniel half-laughing said "Hey I thought you Brits were used to the rain?"
The words hit Antonia like a sledgehammer, almost the exact phrase that Robert had used on the bleak Scottish hillside, then she had laughed too, joined in the joke, made some inane comment back she remembered. Hearing the words from Daniel had produced an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. All throughout the funeral she had coped, smiled even, exchanged small talk with the other guests, made the right noises to Robert's family. Now she was feeling Robert's loss as a physical pain, tears began to form in her eyes.
Instantly Daniel's expression changed from mirth to compassion, "Toni? "He questioned softly.
She attempted to explain, "It's just, err, Robert…. Said the same thing and I…."
"I see, " Daniel acknowledged.
She was highly embarrassed by her display of emotion, to avoid his gaze she concentrated on finding a paper tissue in her small backpack.
Sensing her confusion and embarrassment He touched her arm, "I understand" he said simply.
She looked up at him and saw by the haunted look in his eyes that yes he did; of course, Robert was his friend too.
"It's never easy loosing someone, " he paused, "I know."
She nodded, unsure of what to say to him, assuming he meant Robert too, but he didn’t
"I lost my wife a couple of years ago."
She felt she needed to say something to him, her own grief over Robert had overwhelmed her so unexpectedly and she couldn't even begin to contemplate the idea of losing someone that precious. She was a little curious as to why he had told her.
"I'm sorry" was the standard ineffectual response.
Daniel just nodded, he had heard it many times, said it himself to Robert's family yesterday, understood the awkwardness people felt when it was mentioned, but he had felt a need to share with her. His eyes too were close to tears; images of Sha're mixed with images of Robert. Both has died the same way, killed because they were no longer themselves but inhabited by the parasitical Gou'ald. He didn't know for a while that Jack had killed Robert, not until he had left the Unas. Jack took him aside on the long walk back to the gate and told him of the events by the lake.
The medical scans back at the SGC had been extra thorough; no one wanted to take any more chances. At the de-briefing, they agreed on the drowning story for the families of the deceased men. Daniel 'phoned Robert's mother and the sound of her sobs on the 'phone, almost made him tell her the truth, but he knew he never would be able to.
The tears that Antonia had been struggling to control flew then, hot and warm down her cheeks; she made a half hearted attempt to wipe them with the tissue. Daniel didn't hesitate he instinctively pulled her close in a hug; she didn't resist, but let her head rest on his shoulder. His arms made her feel safe and secure and he held her tight stroking her hair, until the tears subsided.
The rain had stopped but they stayed beneath the overhang sitting side by side, talking about their mutual friend, Antonia told him stories from the Scottish dig and she and Daniel laughed about Robert's mannerisms.
"I'll miss, him, " She sighed.
"Yes me too."
They fell silent, both miles away, Daniel a galaxy away on P3X-888. He had forgiven Teal'c a long time ago for killing Sha're. The pain and the grief of loosing his wife took longer to fade, never leaving him completely. Sometimes the smallest seemingly unrelated thing would bring a memory to the surface and he would find himself having to stop and take a moment to recover. He and Jack had discussed Robert's death. Knowing what was right didn't make it any easier. Jack admitted he had never liked Robert, Daniel understood, they were very different personalities after all. Somedays he even wondered how the Colonel tolerated him, there was the occasional look an unspoken, for crying out loud. He had awoken in the night, images of the Unas haunting his dreams, with a black thought that maybe Jack had enjoyed firing on Robert. However, he knew Jack, knew the real threat the Gou'ald posed, if just one had made it back to the SGC there's no telling what damage they could have done.
He glanced across at the woman beside him, grateful he could talk to her about Robert as a person, a fellow archaeologist, not a victim of the Gou'ald a casualty of the war against the their ever present enemy. He hadn't even realised up to that point that he was beginning to think that way himself. He had remembered now colliding with her in LA, but the rest of the events of that day had overtaken that memory.
Then an idea occurred to him, borne out of a selfish need maybe, The SGC hadn't chosen a replacement for Robert. Antonia had the right qualifications he argued, but also she was a person he could get along with and even, no that was silly. He glanced at her; the breeze was lifting her hair, the hair that felt so soft when he'd stroked it a moment ago. He had an almost irresistible urge to touch it again. Now was not the time to be thinking of things like that, though now he had thought it, his mind took the next step, imagining her soft lips under his.
Just like that day in Scotland here too in Colorado the sun's rays had made one of nature's wonders, a rainbow.
Daniel stood up and offered his hand to Antonia, "Come" he said, "the rain's stopped, let's find that other ruin the curator mentioned."
She nodded and taking his hand, they continued exploring the park.
***********
The airport was as busy and soulless as every other airport that Antonia had passed through. She handed her bags to the ever-smiling check-in assistant and then returned to where Daniel waited.
"What time is your flight?" he inquired
"It's on time I have an hour."
"Time for a coffee, " he smiled, " although just because it's called that…."
"Yeah." She returned the smile.
The coffee was drinkable, though Antonia added an extra sugar to make it more palatable. Once they were settled at the table; Daniel broached the question that had been running through his mind for the last few hours.
"Toni, when you get back from Peru, would you like to come and work for me? Robert's old job."
She didn't reply just looked down at her cup, twisting the stainless steel spoon around in the saucer.
He continued "Look you don't have to decide right now the offer will still be here when you get back."
She looked up at him then, "I'm always open to offers," she smiled.
Daniel returned the smile, a little saddened but also he knew there was hope, it was a big decision.
She took the card he offered her and put in her bag. The sight of her ticket bringing home that here it was she was off to Peru, to her dream, the excitement that she expected was dulled by another emotion, sorrow.
Daniel noticing, covered her hand with his own, "You OK?"
She raised her head to meet his eyes, "I was thinking here I am, about to go on the dream trip of my life my big adventure. But Robert never got to live his, he wanted to go to Egypt you know."
"I know." He thought for a moment, if she accepted his offer, she would know soon enough he needed to say something the sadness in her eyes was almost unbearable. "Robert did have his adventure."
"What? " she exclaimed, " doing translation work in some dusty research lab for the last year, I don't thing so!"
He thought of the sights Robert had seen the Pyramids on distant worlds the Mayan temples, planets with two moons, Tollanna and it's technology and much more and of course, the fantastic device that transported him there.
He choose his words carefully, "Believe me Toni, I can't explain but it’s the truth."
She studied him for a second, why should she believe him, then a memory a long unanswered question.
"The Major who collected that sarcophagus from Mexico, Davis... Do you know him? " She asked,
Daniel nodded "I've heard of him."
She concluded her train of thought "You work for the airforce?"
"I can't tell you anymore." He said slowly.
She believed him then, knew that it was the truth, couldn't express the reasons but she instinctively knew what he'd said about Robert was true.
The flight announcement cut across her thoughts. Time for her to leave. Nothing more to say.
At the departure gate she stopped and turned to face him, "Well it was a pleasure to meet you Daniel."
"You too Toni."
She hugged him and he caught a whiff of her perfume, for a second he debated whether he should kiss her, but in his hesitation she had kissed him briefly on the cheek and was gone.
As he watched her departing through the gate, he thought of the ways their paths had crossed and hoped it wouldn't be too long before the next time.
As the aircraft lifted off the runaway, the rain began again, pounding angrily against the small window. Antonia turned away the view of the Rockies was now lost in the clouds. She took Daniel's card out and studied it, on the reverse he had written, the date and time of the LA Conference and underneath it "I WAS right."
© Katana 2000