Author's Note: It's a whole month since I started posting "An Evolutionary Gap" and now it's complete. Funny how I'm both sad and happy to be finished writing this fanfic -the first multichapter fic I have written in years (wow, was "I was Reminded" really 2 years ago?). Mara Jade Jedi: I know that I've thanked you every chapter for the beta editing, but I can't really say it enough. Thank you for all your support, red ink, and DESCRIPTION (hehe). Also, thank you to everyone who wrote a review (I'm sorry I can't list you all here!), who's encouragement (and cookies) have been amazing. So, now it's happy ending time...

Epilogue

Daniel had gotten to his destination: Janet's office. All he had to do was go in. Well, knock first and then go in; however, the knocking was proving difficult. For some reason, Daniel's stomach was tied in knots. He was tempted to wipe his hands against his pants to get rid of invisible sweat. His anxiety was ridiculous; this was Janet! And that's precisely the problem, the more rational side of Daniel argued. Daniel called upon the confidence he had used in the past to sacrifice his life for an entire civilization... and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Janet called out in response. Daniel tried to look casual as he stepped into her office.

"Hi," he greeted. Janet was examining her bookshelf. It was similar to the one he had in his own office, except hers was filled with Medical jargon that he would never be able to translate.

"Daniel?" she looked surprised at his presence, "Are you alright? Are you experiencing any new symptoms…?" He didn't have the chance to reassure her before she was next to him checking his pulse. It probably didn't help that her close proximity was causing his heart to race.

"No, no. Nothing like that." His words calmed the doctor down. As if she suddenly realized she was invading his personal space, she took a step back and comfortably learned against her desk.

"Oh, good." She buried her concern and asked, "Then what can I do for you, Dr. Jackson?" A name that was supposed to signify respect had never irritated Daniel so much.

"I just came to apologize. I don't know exactly what happened when the Vorfahren were controlling me, but what I can remember…" Daniel shuddered at the fragmented memories he could recall.

"Apology accepted. Now you should be resting, Daniel." He was relieved at her forgiveness, but he couldn't help but feel like he was being pushed away. She was giving him an out by preventing the conversation from becoming more intimate than one that could occur between a doctor and her patient. Hadn't the Thought Universe taught him that this was the last thing that he wanted? The scarier question was: did she still feel the same?

"Janet..." He had to find out. Years ago, his main argument was that he didn't want to possibly sacrifice their friendship. At this rate, he was worried that they almost didn't have a relationship to lose.

He closed the space between them and grabbed hold of her wrist, echoing a demonstration of friendship he'd offered three years ago. What he wasn't expecting was Janet's pained reaction. Feeling her wince upon contact, Daniel let go immediately.

"What happened?" His voice was soft, laced with concern.

"It's nothing, Daniel."

It wasn't 'nothing'. With a flash of insight, he recalled squeezing her struggling body against his own, and making those bruises that currently adorned her wrists. The realization was written all over Daniel's face.

"I'm so sorry, Janet." His voice was barely above a whisper. Janet nodded her head and gave him a small smile meant to be reassuring. How could see keep looking at him like that –like she cared for him? Even after what he'd done to her?

"I should go…" Daniel turned to make his exit. He'd come to visit Janet too soon. He needed to think (correction: brood) for a bit. He also wanted a strong drink, possibly vodka –a really bad sign: he hadn't wanted to drink heavily since Sha're had died.

However, Daniel didn't make it through the door. Janet's silent protest stopped him. He felt a hand on his shoulder; he didn't realize she was so close behind him. When he turned to face her, she reached up and wrapped her arms around him. After being stunned for a brief moment, Daniel reciprocated the embrace, his arms hooking around Janet's back.

Janet's voice was muffled against Daniel's shirt: "It wasn't you, Daniel. I know it wasn't you."

Sam watched two of her closest friends walk into the commissary together. Daniel was ushering the petit doctor into the room, his hand gently resting on the small of her back. She watched them order their lunch with a reflective expression on her face. There was something there that was different. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. Was it the constant invasion of personal space between the two? Janet's blush when Daniel teased her about something while they were waiting in line? What was going on between Daniel Jackson and Janet Fraiser?

Unconsciously, Sam grinned at the sight of the two "lovebirds". Her expression didn't go unnoticed by her companions.

"Feel like sharing with the rest of the class?" the Colonel drawled. Sam had figured out the answer to her own question: the air between Daniel and Janet was no longer tense with professionalism. Sam gave her commanding officer a shrug; she would be the one to recognize it.

Teal'c had been following Sam's line of sight and commented, "You were looking at Doctor Fraiser and Daniel Jackson." He always was the observant one.

"They're here?" asked the Colonel, and twisted around to search for them. "Daniel! Fraiser!" Jack yelled over the noise of the commissary, waving them over. Daniel and Janet nodded in acknowledgement and continued waiting in line for their food.

"Does something seem different between the two of them?" Sam ventured.

"They both look the same to me," the Colonel commented.

Sam's question inspired the three friends to watch the oblivious doctor and archeologist. Janet was laughing at something Daniel had said, touching his arm lightly, and he looked a little flustered. They were standing just a little too close.

"Are they…" Jack's sentence stalled. However, he didn't have to say anything more. Sam and Teal'c knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Yep," Sam answered.

"Indeed."

Jack's grin was almost sinister. "Oh, this is going to be fun." Sam wondered if her two friends were ready for the teasing that the Colonel apparently had in store.

Moments later, Daniel and Janet joined the group and together they enjoyed a peaceful lunch. That is until Janet was called down to the infirmary (Siler had broken his arm). Then Sam was called down to the labs to assist with finding an alien device that had mysteriously disappeared. Minutes later the klaxons sounded and Daniel, Jack and Teal'c left to report to the Gate Room. Life at the SGC went on as usual.

The End

(It's been a blast, guys! Thanks for reading.)