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They were back on the Phoenix. Wade was in the infirmary, still weak from what he had been through. His wounds were healed, but his mind was still reeling. He remembered a great deal of what Geb had known, and was relaying that knowledge to Jack.

Daniel hovered near the doorway, watching, listening. Wade had gone through hell. But he lay there and smiled, and tried to give them all the information he could. Something that he would try to do. Was that proof that they were…brothers? Daniel shook his head. Nothing short of a DNA test would prove it to him.

Wade glanced at the door, saw Daniel there. "I have no right to ask, but I must anyway…is she…is she all right?"

The archaeologist felt the anger surge, barely managed to get it under control. No, damn it, you don't have a right to ask! he thought. "She's fine," he said aloud.

The dark haired man nodded. "She was quite brave to taunt the Goa'uld as she did."

He couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, well, Case loves taunting them."

Wade smiled in return. "I believe that."

Daniel stepped into the room. "There's a test, it's…uh…a medical procedure. Nothing painful, just a swab taken from the inside of your cheek. I…uh…I'd like for you to take it."

He studied the dark blonde man for a moment. "If you think it's important. It has to do with the Goa'uld?"

He shook his head. "No. It's a…uh…DNA test. It will let me…us…it will show whether or not we're related."

Wade remembered hearing Daniel tell Geb that he was there for his brother. "I do not believe that to be possible."

"Neither do I. But I've learned that what I think to be impossible is often very possible, in this universe," Daniel replied.

The dark haired man nodded. "Do your test."

With a nod of his own, Daniel went in search of Dr. Montigue.

A  A  A  A  A  A

Casey was curled up in a ball, lying on the bed. Daniel hadn't said anything to her once they were back on board the Phoenix. It seemed that he was trying to avoid her. He wasn't blocking her, he was 'there', but she didn't dare reach out to him. It wasn't pleasant physically being shoved away, and it was heartbreaking as well. Better to just avoid it all together. Her nightmare had returned, and so far Daniel had been unable…or perhaps unwilling…to change it. In fact, she hadn't 'seen' him come in at all.

Just when it seemed that they had talked things out, were on their way back to the good times, something happened. The past few days had been a roller coaster of misery and ecstasy. As long as Wade was between them, things would never be right again. Wade was his brother. He would always be there…would always remain between them. She closed her eyes. Perhaps it was better to just…pull away...now. Before the anger was so strong that he hated her. If he didn't already. Yes, that was what she needed to do. Things weren't going to get better this time. This was one cliff they wouldn't walk away from.

She pulled herself to her feet, gathered her belongings, and took them to the room assigned to her parents. She dropped down onto that bed, sat there…numb, heartbroken; terrified of what lay ahead for her. How was she to face life without him?

A  A  A  A  A  A

Daniel walked into their quarters. He looked around. Something was…different. Her robe wasn't tossed across the chair. He frowned, walked into the bathroom. He stared at the shelf where she kept all of her toiletries. It was empty. He walked to the closet. Her clothes, those that she kept on the Phoenix, were gone. He barely made it to the bed before his legs gave out on him. 'Angel?'

He barely caught a feeling of pain, of anguish, before she blocked him. She did so carefully, slowly, almost as if she were closing a door. She wasn't pushing him away. But the message was just as clear, no matter how gently she tried to deliver it.

Goddamn it! He rubbed his hand over his face. He had tried to get into her nightmare, the one where he and his brother raped her. Each time he took her hand, moved his mind toward hers, she would wake up, or pull away. He didn't think it was a conscious decision. She was still beating herself up over what had happened on Dracia. Damn! After that incredible, glorious weekend on Alteria, he had been certain that those demons were defeated forever. She had once again convinced herself that she was to blame, and that he could never forgive her. No matter what he said, he couldn't seem to get through to her that he loved her, needed her… forgave her for something she should feel no guilt over.

The First watched, a worried frown on her face. She had known that the truth would be difficult for The Chosen to hear. She had thought that His Chosen would be at his side to help him. She had not anticipated that Casey would feel such deep guilt over something that wasn't her fault that she would pull away from him.

"We must do something," the Second whispered.

"If His Chosen leaves his side, he will not have the strength, or the will, to face what is ahead," added the Third.

The First nodded. "Wait here. I will return."

The Second and Third exchanged a surprised glance, then turned again to watch the man who sat on the bed, his blue eyes full of misery.

Daniel looked up as a light began to shine brightly in the corner of the room. The same corner that Casey had looked at, spoken to.

"Chosen, you must go to her," a soft feminine voice said.

He frowned. That voice sounded…familiar. "I have no idea where she is."

"It is but a ship. You cannot search?"

"If she left, it's because she wanted to," he replied curtly. His own feelings of frustration were beginning to surface.

"Or did she leave because she felt she had no other choice?"

He stood to his feet, ran his hand over his head. "At this point, I don't know what she's thinking. Hell, that's the problem, she's not thinking! Not logically, anyway. She's so hurt over what happened, what she thinks she's guilty of…and I can't get through that…past that. I can't get her to understand that I love her, and that I don't hold it against her. I can't get her to understand that the entire mess was my fault!"

"Go to her, Chosen."

"I don't know where she is!" he shouted.

"Yes, you do. As angry as you are, as much hurt as you feel, she feels many more times. She blames herself for Dracia. She blames herself for Tantaline. She even blames herself for being the one to tell you about your brother."

He heaved a sigh. That was Casey. Take any and all blame for any bad situation, and absolve everyone around her of any responsibility for their actions. "I don't suppose you could just wipe that damned memory out of her head?"

The Third and Second looked hopefully at the First. "Other memories have been…removed," the Second reminded her companion softly.

The First smiled. "I will do what I can. Go to her, Chosen. She is your Destiny. With her at your side you will not be defeated."

He nodded. Searched his mind for the answer to his question. Smiled when he found it. He ran out the door and into the corridor.

A  A  A  A  A  A

Casey was lying on the bed, tears on her face. She didn't even sense their arrival, she was hurting too badly to feel anything other than the pain that was breaking her heart. She felt suddenly sleepy, and closed her eyes.

Daniel stood outside the door of Aaron's quarters. He put his hand on the cold metal, reached out with his mind. He could feel her now. She was…asleep. He tried to open the door, it was locked. He banged his fist on the door in frustration, jumped when it opened. He knew that he hadn't done that! He smiled. "Thanks," he murmured softly.

She was curled up on her side. Even in the dim light he could see the tear stains on her cheeks. He moved slowly, afraid of waking her, frightening her. He saw her duffel on the floor. He picked it up, put the strap over his shoulder. He carefully pulled her into his arms, and carried her back to their bed.

Back in their quarters, he put her gently on the bed, dropped the duffel onto the chair, and stretched out beside her. "Love you, Angel," he whispered. He caressed her with his mind, gratified to feel her sleepy caress in return.

A  A  A  A  A  A

She opened her eyes. She was curled around him. It was a dream, she thought, it had to be a dream! She moved her cheek against his shoulder. She could feel the warmth of his body through the shirt, could smell him. She reached a hand up and timidly touched his cheek. He certainly felt real enough! She frowned. The last thing she remembered was…she remembered packing her duffel…she had to get away from him, because he was angry with her. She was lost in thought, didn't notice that his blue eyes were now watching her carefully.

"'Morning, Angel," he said softly.

She started, looked up at him. "'Morning," she replied.

"You look like you have something on your mind," he said quietly.

Casey sat up. "I have a lot on my mind," she admitted.

"Want to talk about it?" He reached up and pushed her hair behind her shoulder, let his fingers trail lazily over her cheek, down her jaw to her throat. He wanted to make love to her, needed to make love to her, but not until she was ready.

"I…it's…" she shook her head. "I must have been more tired than I thought." She frowned. "Are we…are we…okay?"

He smiled. "We're more than okay, Case. We're fine."

She smiled. "I guess I must have been having some weird dreams or something. I was sure that you were pissed at me."

His smile widened. "Nope. Not me. Not at all." He wrapped his hand in her hair, tugged gently until she leaned down and kissed him.

"Any reason we slept in BDUs last night?"

"You were asleep when I came in. I just stretched out beside you," he replied. He grinned inwardly. Every word was the truth.

She nodded. "It's been a wild couple of days," she replied. "I'm going to take a shower. I wouldn't object to company," she said, smiling softly.

"Is that an invitation?"

"If you want it to be," she replied.

"Oh, yeah, Angel, I want it to be."

She got off of the bed, held her hand out to him. Smiled when he took it and followed her into the bathroom. She frowned when she looked at the shelf. "Be right back," she said.  She didn't remember packing her duffel, nor did she have a clue why she had.  She grabbed her floral 'ditty' bag and hurried back into the tiny bathroom.

The water was warm, her body was warm, and he wrapped himself around her, held her close. His need was a throbbing ache, he was aroused to the point of pain. He moved her hair aside, kissed her shoulder, nibbled the soft skin of her neck. His hands found her breasts, he massaged them, squeezed them gently, tugged at the hardened nipples.

She leaned her head back against him as his mouth moved over her skin. She could feel his erection against her hip. She turned slowly in his arms, kissed him, then slid to her knees. She kissed his thighs, licked his belly, smiled inwardly at the soft groan he gave as he waited impatiently for her mouth to make love to him. She let her hands roam over his hips, his ass, pushed her fingers through that thick curly hair, knowing that her soft caresses were only serving to make him all the needier.

He closed his eyes when her sweet lips finally wrapped his swollen flesh. Sighed when she began to work him like she was so good at doing. Jerked when she began to tease him with her tongue…tormenting him…taking him ever higher…setting his body on Fire for her. Flames were leaping around him, scorching him with their heat. He wrapped his fists in her hair, his hips moving toward her with every down stroke she made.

She loved tasting him, loved feeling him, loved knowing that she was giving him pleasure. She pulled her mouth away, licked at that tiny opening…savored the salty taste of him…sucked gently, rewarded when he gasped and shoved his hips toward her.

"Oh, god, babe, that's it, just like that," he moaned.

She took him back into her mouth, her hands gently stroking what she couldn't take in. She looked up at him, his chin was on his chest, his eyes were closed, his breath was fast and ragged. She moved toward him, and before he knew what was happening, she was taking him deeper. She relaxed her throat, felt the head touch the back, swallowed as she continued to suck him. She nearly cried out when he pulled away from her.

"Your turn," he said, his breath still coming in gasps. He pulled her to her feet, knelt down in front of her, gently pushed her legs farther apart. He could smell her arousal, his mouth watered to taste her.

Oh, god, it always felt so good when he worshipped her! She let her head drop back as his tongue began to move over her. She felt him use his tongue to lap the honey straight from her well, the sensations making her shiver with delight. His fingers replaced his tongue, he began stroking her. When he sucked her swollen, aching nub into his mouth she gave a tiny whimper of delight.

He was so addicted to the taste of her! He couldn't get enough! He pulled his fingers from her body, pressed his mouth against her and forced his tongue as far into her as he could, tasting…needing…wanting more. He licked her from top to bottom and back again, returned his fingers to her sweet, hot well, began stroking her again.

"I need you inside me," she moaned, his mouth and hands building a fire so hot that she was amazed that steam wasn't pouring off her body where the water touched her skin.

He kissed his way up to her breasts, made love to them for a few minutes before finally standing up and pulling her close. "Wrap around me, Angel," he whispered.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, waited until his hands were firmly on her ass, then put her legs around his waist. He lifted her slightly, lowered her gently when she guided his raging cock between her folds. She sighed with pleasure. "Oh, yes!"

He spread his feet a bit wider, pushed her against the wall and began to thrust into her. "You feel so good, Angel," he whispered in her ear.

"You do, too," she whispered in reply. One hand moved to his cheek. She smiled when he turned his head and kissed her palm. "I love you, Daniel. Only you. Always you."

"I love you, Casey. Only you, always you," he replied. Her thighs began to quiver, and the most melodic of all sounds, in his opinion, filled her throat. "Give it to me, babe. Come for me," he commanded softly.

She cried out, her back arching, pushing her breasts against his chest, as the flames danced around her. She dropped her head onto his shoulder, clinging tightly to him as he began to push deeper and harder with each thrust. "Love me, Daniel. Fill me with your love," she begged.

He nipped at her shoulder, the taste of her skin adding to the concert of sensations that filled him. He cried out, shuddering as he emptied himself into her waiting body. He stood still until the pulsing had stopped. He kissed her sweet lips, trailed kisses over her face. "Love you, Angel," he said softly.

"Love you, Sweetheart," she replied, her face pressed against his neck.

He held her for just a few more minutes. By now the test results should be complete. He would know soon if Wade Michaels was really his brother. "Let's get washed up, babe. I…I have to go to the infirmary." He felt her body tense.

"Do you want me to go with you?" she asked softly. She would be there for him, even though she would rather be anywhere but near the two men when they learned the truth about their relationship. She knew that she had been with Wade. But the feelings of guilt, feelings she remembered well, seemed to be…missing. She was terrified that being there would bring it all back.

"I'd like that, Angel." He put her on her feet, took her face between his hands. "Whatever happened, it wasn't your fault, Casey. If he's my brother, it won't change a thing. It still won't be your fault. Let it go, Angel, let it go."

She looked in his eyes. Saw the love that burned so deeply, so hot. She nodded. "I'm trying."

He kissed her again. "Remember that I love you, Angel. I'll always love you. Always need you."

"I'll remember."

They finished their shower. Dressed in fresh BDUs, they headed for the mess hall, agreeing that they needed coffee first. Casey would find any excuse to put off what was about to happen. She knew that Wade was Daniel's brother. Had no doubt about it. What she didn't know was how they would handle that news. She suspected that neither would react well. Daniel had already known for seven days, but still seemed no more at ease with the idea than when she had first told him. Wade had no clue, this would be a bolt from the blue. Neither man was going to like what they were about to hear. And she was left in the middle.

She could sense their presence. She glanced behind her. "Stick around, the ride is just about to begin," she said softly.

Daniel glanced down at her, then over his shoulder where she seemed to be looking. They must be there. He smiled, then took her hand, wrapped his fingers tightly around it. "We'll be on that ride together, Angel," he told her.

She glanced up at him. "I'll be at your side as long as you want me there," she replied.

He frowned slightly. He understood exactly what she was saying. "I want you by my side forever, Angel. Nothing can, or will change that."

She shook her blonde head. "Never say never," she replied, her heart pounding with dread.

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