What if...

by Del
©April 2006

Spoiler: S7 Lifeboat
Pairing: Janet/Tryan (looking like Daniel)
Rating: PG 13 for a kiss
Warnings: Hetero pairing but hints for JD slash.
Notes: This is my first hetero fic for Stargate and it's all MS's fault because his fabulous portraying of several characters made me write this story. It's also a tribute for Teryl's fine work in this episode. They had incredible chemistry!

Disclaimer: Of course they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them.

Thanks to Karen for the fast beta.

artwork by Ninie

"I'd like to thank you again, Doctor Fraiser." Tryan took Janet's hand and held it in his for a few seconds.

"Thank you, Tryan, but this wasn't my doing alone." She actually blushed and couldn't look up to meet his blue eyes. "And you know that."

"Yes I know I need to thank Thor, General Hammond and SG1 as well." He turned away from her and admired the beautiful landscape of Ardena again which lay in front of him.

He thought he'd end up in Pharrin's body and would go insane along with the sovereign. But luckily the people from earth and one of their alien friends managed to create bodies for the lost souls.

Tryan knew he wasn't exactly the same person he was before the crash of the Stromos as he had explained to Dr. Fraiser in the isolation room, but he was close. And he still couldn't believe that Doctor Jackson had agreed to use his features and body as a model for a new body for him to use. Tryan only had to promise, not to leave Ardena, which was fine with him.

Since there was so much to do on their new world, so much to create, to organize, to take care of, that he didn't have the desire to leave. He was happy that they managed to save all the passengers of the Stromos.

Except until this particular moment, the moment when he realized that Doctor Fraiser would be gone in a minute.

"Tryan," Janet came up behind him, "we are very grateful as well." She hesitated for a second, then laid her hand on his bare arm, feeling the tiny hairs there. "You helped us so much to get our friend back."

He turned instantly, trying to hide a sad smile.

Janet still had trouble looking at him since he looked like Daniel's twin brother. On one hand she felt as if she was talking to Daniel, but on the other hand she knew she wasn't. She'd never known what Tryan actually looked like. He had always looked like Daniel to her, but she knew Tryan was a different person.

She was impressed by the way he tried to help her from the first moment he appeared from inside Dr. Jackson's body, was drawn to the gentleness in his voice, his very polite and calm behavior, his clear scientific explanations. But thinking of it, it WAS almost a description of Daniel as well. It was confusing at first, but they all got used to it.

It was several weeks now since they found out where Ardena really was, and they couldn't have been luckier - it actually HAD a Stargate.

After SG1 had contacted Thor and got his help by separating the consciousnesses from Pharrin's body into cloned human bodies, SG1, Janet and Tryan had worked very closely together to find Ardena and move all the people to their new home.

"I have to go now..." Janet stood uncertainly at the DHD.

It was winter in Colorado Springs, but here it was warm and sunny; and she had to admit to herself, she didn't want to leave the former engineer of the Stromos. She liked to be in his company, and there was still so much she wanted to know about Talthus and about him.

She really wondered why Daniel agreed to this twin thing. Did he sense that she liked him a bit more than as a friend but couldn't have him and this was his way of giving her the chance to have at least a part of him?

"Will you...will you come back?" There was hope in the tall man's voice. "I'd come visit you, but you know I can't." Tryan inclined his head very slightly, not sure if he had said the right thing. He squinted against the sun, hiding his hands in the back pockets of his jeans because he suddenly didn't know where to put them.

"You...you want me to come back?" Janet turned fully to face him, playing nervously with the GDO.

"Well, I thought ...I thought we are friends..." He now took the GDO from her and laid it onto the DHD, holding her hands again, looking intensely at her.

She felt the warmth of his slender fingers spreading from her hands slowly through her whole body and without thinking she tiptoed and kissed him lightly on the lips, drawing back instantly, muttering, without looking at him,

"Yes, we are."

Tryan licked his lips. He wasn't really sure if the kiss had happened or if he'd only imagined it. But he didn't give it a second thought. He made her look up at him again by putting his forefinger under her chin.

"Maybe even more than friends...Janet?" He didn't wait for her answer but bent down and kissed her too, closing his lips over hers.

Janet's heart was racing when she felt the warm, moist touch. She almost couldn't believe it. This incredible man thought she was worth being more then friends. She felt his arms sliding around her slender waist and lifting her off the ground.

It seemed as though she had been never in love before, since she almost couldn't remember her last boyfriend. She felt like 17 suddenly.

A giggle formed in her throat. It was one of utter relief and she pulled slightly away from him so they could look at each other.

"More then friends," she stated. The most brilliant smile she had ever seen spread over his face.

He still held her above the ground, and she loved it. He was so strong, and she was able to look down in his face and take it in both of her hands, finally caressing the smooth skin not as a doctor but as a lover.

He still smiled and blinked when she bent down to kiss him again. This time it became a real kiss, hesitant at first, tongues touching tentatively but more passionate with each second.

Neither of them had been kissed in ages, and they melted together into one shadow on the ground.

They didn't notice when SG1 came up through the trees behind them.

After some seconds Jack cleared his throat meaningfully.

The couple drew apart in embarrassment.

"I...I'd like to stay a little longer," Janet sputtered, still with Tryan's arm around her waist.

"Well, since it's her day off, we could allow it, don't ya think, kids?" Jack looked a bit puzzled from Daniel to Tryan. He still couldn't get used to this. The guys looked so much alike that it made him totally dizzy. Too much male beauty.

He had to stop himself from laying his arm around Daniel's waist as well, to claim HIS territory, when Janet took several steps to Daniel, pulled his head down and whispered something into his ear.

He smiled broadly and winked at her and the only thing Jack could hear was, "You're welcome."

The men and Sam shook hands with the engineer again, and then they were gone through the shiny blue circle.

What no one knew was that Daniel and Tryan had had a little talk while the foreigner was trapped in the linguist's body. And they talked about a small, powerful woman...

The end

Artwork by Karen