Recently had some random inspiration for SG-1 one-shots. Also some holiday request fics that I am just getting around to posting. This is my favorite of the bunch.

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Permission
She was sitting in her lab with the lights off when he found her. Daniel hesitated in the doorway for a moment, then lightly wrapped the doorframe with his knuckles. Sam turned sharply to look at him, apparently surprised that anyone was even still here so late. She spun away just as quickly, and he saw her hand move furtively upward to wipe tears from her cheeks. Ducking his head, he walked inside and came up behind her, slowly resting a hand on her shoulder.

"You wanna talk?" he asked softly.

"I don't know," she sniffled.

He tightened his fingers in a gentle squeeze, then let go and moved around her chair to slide onto the edge of her desk. Then, quietly, he reached for her hand, and neither spoke for a long time. She lowered her head, and he could see her shoulders begin to quake, though she made no sound. He squeezed her fingers supportively and waited, knowing that what she needed more than anything was permission to process her own grief.

Finally, she took a ragged breath and sighed, looking up at him again. "You're going to think it's ridiculous."

"No, I'm not," he promised.

"I feel like an orphan," she confessed. "I mean, my mom's been gone since I was a kid, but--even when Dad and I weren't close, he was always there somewhere. You know?"

"Yeah," he nodded.

"You don't think it sounds silly?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No, Sam. Not at all. And…you know…it may not feel like it right now, but you're not alone."

She looked down again, but Daniel let go of her hand and reached for her, shifting forward as he drew her against himself. She cried a bit more, then simply rested with her head against his shoulder. He rubbed her back softly but didn't speak. There wasn't anymore he could say, but he wouldn't move until she was ready.