Author's Notes: Sequel to "Gaining in Inches" and part 6/8 of a Daniel/Janet friendship series, tracing their relationship through the first few seasons. The order of the stories is as follows: "A Singular Friendship," "The Price of Compassion," "Legacy of Trust," "Crossing the Line," "Gaining in Inches," "Smaller Victories," "Not Too Late," and "After All." You will observe that I have removed the word "angst" from the category descriptions...yup, things are starting (slowly) to look up for our favorite pair.

Dedication: To the fantastic folks on the danandjan list, whose feedback and encouragement keeps me writing!

Janet glanced at the treadmill counter with dismay. Usually by the third mile, she was able to outrun her preoccupations and frustrations and concentrate only on the thud, thud, thud of her shoes. She had gone 3.4 miles, and the regular, meditative sound of her shoes was still blocked by her incessant worry about her friends. It had been four days, and they still hadn't heard a word from Sam, Jack, and Teal'c. Of course, without Sam here to help, the gate technicians hadn't managed to successfully install the new stargate, so it wasn't too surprising that they hadn't heard from them. The real test would begin when the new gate was operational; she didn't like to think about what it would mean if the waiting continued after that point.

The stress level on the base was understandably lower than it had been a few days previous, but everyone was still restless and uneasy. Without a doubt, Daniel Jackson was the most anxious person on base, and as usual, he figured prominently in Janet's own level of restlessness. His recent appendectomy had forced her to spend more time with him than she had in months...since before Sha're's death. She had forgiven him, albeit somewhat rudely, for forcing himself on her that night and for his subsequent liaison with Ke'ra, but they still had done a good job of avoiding each other. Despite her lingering mistrust, however, she couldn't stay really angry at Daniel for long, and seeing him essentially trapped on base worrying about his team had raised her concern and sympathy for him back to more familiar levels.

The door to the gym opened, and Janet was startled to see none other than Daniel walk in, dressed in gym shorts and a t-shirt. He apparently didn't expect to see her either and stared at her for a moment in surprise.

"I'm not going to overdo," he insisted without even bothering to say hello. "You said I should be active if I take it easy, remember."

Geez, I must be a worse nag than I thought, if he feels like he needs to make an excuse the moment he sees me, Janet thought abashedly. "Right," she agreed, "just take it easy."

He stepped onto the other treadmill and began walking at a slow pace. "I didn't expect to see you in here," he commented casually.

Janet couldn't really carry on a conversation while jogging full speed, but she figured nearly four miles was a good enough workout, so she slowed her machine down to a brisk walk. After gulping some water, she was able to answer. "Yeah, besides it being good for me, I like to run to take my mind off worrying. It passes the time, releases stress, that kind of thing."

"I know what you mean," Daniel replied. "I think I'm going to go crazy if they don't get the gate up soon. I decided to come up here after I almost assaulted Siler. You'd think that after working with Sam for almost four years, that guy wouldn't be so clueless." Janet chuckled. "I'm just so frustrated having to stay here, waiting without knowing where they are or if they're okay."

"Welcome to my life," muttered Janet.

"Uh, yeah, the General said something similar. I guess I never really appreciated what you all go through when we're off-world. Especially when things don't go as planned."

"Well, I've learned to be more patient, anyway. As much as I hate not knowing and especially not being able to do anything, I'm getting used to that fact that my friends and patients are regularly in situations out of my control. Of course, I think I tend to overcompensate a little by being over-controlling when they get back," she finished wryly.

"Did you know that Jack called you a Napoleonic power-monger?" Daniel asked with a bemused look on his face.

"A what?!" Janet pretended to be aghast. "Oh, the Colonel is going to regret that during his post-mission exam when he gets back. Napoleonic power-monger my ass!"

"If he gets back," Daniel said softly.

Janet looked at him with surprise. "What?"

"I said, *if* he gets back. I mean, we don't know if they managed to escape." Daniel's voice began escalating frantically. "All this waiting and hoping, but what if they're already dead, and we don't even know it. Janet, what if they never come back?" Abruptly, Daniel hit the stop button on his treadmill and stepped off of it. He walked over to the bench against the wall and sat down heavily. Janet quickly shut down her own machine and followed him.

"Daniel," she began as she sat down on the bench next to him, "there's a rule about being the one left waiting: never say 'if.' Never let yourself think they won't get back. I have faith in them, and you, who know them even better, should have even more faith. If it is humanly possible for them to get home, they will. Besides, our gate isn't even working yet. For all we know, they're probably lazing around some beach planet waiting on us."

Daniel sighed. "I know you're right. It's just," he paused, searching for what to say, "they're my team. I'm supposed to be with them. No matter what."

Janet nodded. She knew and admired how close the members of SG-1 were, yet she couldn't pretend that she wished Daniel were with them right now. She took a deep breath before risking a statement that she knew would make her somewhat vulnerable. "You know, if it's any consolation," she began hesitantly, "it's kind of nice to have you here to keep an eye on for a little while."

Daniel's eyes widened with surprise as he turned slowly to look at her. "Really?"

Janet shrugged and fidgeted with her water bottle. "Yeah. You're not such a bad guy to have around, you know. Even when you're going crazy with frustration." She hazarded a glance over at him and saw that his mouth was hanging open. "Don't look so shocked."

"I just..." He paused. "I, uh, didn't figure you cared. I mean, after...what happened."

Janet chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, tasting the saltiness of the sweat dried there. "I still care," she said softly.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, and Janet realized with relief that for the first time in a long time, the silence between them was not awkward. The door opened, and a couple of airmen entered and headed for the bench press across the room. "Well," Janet said, the distraction bringing her out of her brief musings, "I should hit the showers. I've got to pick up Cassie at six. Um, if you hear anything from Sam, Jack, and Teal'c, you'll call me, right?"

"Oh, definitely, I will," answered Daniel. Janet stood up stiffly, her muscles aching from her failure to stretch after her run. As she began to walk away, Daniel called to her quietly. "Hey Jan?"

"Yeah?"

"I've missed this. I've missed you."

Her mouth twitched into a small smile. "Me too." She walked across the gym, pausing briefly to wave at the door. As she headed down the hallway, she sighed as she ruefully remembered the promise she made to herself six months previously to stay away from Daniel. "Me too," she repeated in a whisper.