[REPOST] Stargate SG-1: Nothing More Perfect
When looking death in the face, Daniel's life doesn't flash before his eyes. He just lives in one single moment until the end comes or he's pulled back from the brink.
(This story was originally written in 2011 and has been updated for composition and clarity in 2020.)
976 words | [PG]
They say that your whole life flashes before your eyes when you are in a life-or-death situation. I’ve died enough times to know that isn’t true. Most of the time, death is chasing you down like a starving tiger, and you don’t have time to think of anything other than ‘this is going to hurt.’ Sometimes, though, there is opportunity to contemplate the upcoming death. It could be hours or minutes or a few stolen moments while exchanging knowing glances with your friends. In those times, I’ve found myself not dwelling on every minute detail of my life. No, I’m taken back to one absolute perfect moment.
The sun shines brightly this morning, glistening off the sand as it flutters in the wind. Sha’re looks beautiful as always-the thin fabric of her dress billowing around her body; the light of the morning giving it an iridescent glow and silhouetting her body. It’s early, but it’s already hot enough for beads of sweat to pop up on my forehead and slide down my sunburned neck. Or maybe it has nothing to do with the sun. I watch as she turns away, shooting me a coy look over her shoulder. I want nothing more than to follow her, but there’s work to be done, and her father is sitting just five feet away from me. I lick my parched lips and try to look away.
I have no illusions that she doesn’t know exactly what she is doing. She might not be a modern American woman, but she’s not stupid or simple. Next to me, Kasuf coughs indiscreetly. I pry my eyes away from the image of my wife. I’m sure I hear her laughter carried on the breeze. Kasuf is staring at me with a combination of amusement and warning.
“Go,” he finally says with a suffering sigh.
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I blink at him then look down at the repair job only half-done. The last sandstorm leveled many of the larger buildings and there is a lot of work to be done. He nods after his daughter, his grin growing. I don’t have to be told twice.
I catch up with her at the oasis-a watering hole on the outskirts of the village. It’s used by everyone, but today, for some reason, it’s mostly empty. A few women gather buckets of water, giggling as I nod genteelly at them. Whispered words pass between them amongst fits of laughter, but I’m in too much of a hurry to pay attention.
Sha’re is sitting along the pool of cool water, her toes digging into the wet sand. Her dress is hiked all the way up her thigh, and she’s pulled the tie undone on top. My throat has gone completely dry. I don’t think I could speak if I wanted to. She’s amazingly beautiful. And I’m struck again at how utterly lucky I am. Who would have thought a suicide mission with an unstable colonel would be the changing point in my life. And all for the better. There were no modern conveniences here: no telephones or TVs, no running water or toilets, no library of books to keep me occupied. It was simple living in harsh conditions, but looking at the lagoon-the morning sun giving a golden glow to water, palms and woman alike-I can’t imagine living in any other way. It’s absolutely perfect.
“Are you going to join me?” she asks, her lashes batting rapidly. She’s teasing, I know that. I’m still caught in the absolute miracle that is Sha’re. She laughs at my gaping mouth and wide eyes. Six months of marriage, and she still undoes me with a simple sound. A lopsided grin eventually replaces my slack jaw. She pats the sand next to her, and I take my place by her side. She’s so beautiful. There’s not a word in any language to describe her or how she makes me feel.
She leans over, her head resting on my shoulder. “Danyel?” Her voice is hesitant but optimistic.
“Hmmm?” She could ask me to dig a hole to what passes as China on this planet or build a rocket to one of the moons. It wouldn’t matter because if the words left her lips, I’d be hard-pressed to deny her.
“Have you ever thought of having children?”
My heart stops. For a split-second. Kids? She’s looking up at me with expectant eyes, and I think I might see tears building. I hate when she cries. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tightly to my chest. “I’d love to have children,” I whisper into her hair, and she relaxes against me.
“Then we can try? Soon?”
The sun bakes my face, warming my entire body, but I still shiver at the thought. A baby. I squeeze her hard. “Yes. Soon.” Nothing could be more perfect. My eyes drift shut against the glare coming off the water. I breathe in deeply the scent of the cool breeze and lye soap, and the musky perfume the women make from some of the flowers growing along the banks. Perfect.
Then someone slaps me.
My eyes jerk open, and Jack is standing over me.
“Time to go, Danny-boy.”
I don’t have time to react before he’s pulling me up off the floor. My body aches in places I didn’t even know existed, but Jack is hoisting me over his shoulder with a determined grunt, and I know I just escaped another dance with death. The visits with Sha’re on the banks of the lagoon come all too frequently, and yet, I can’t seem to care at the moment. Slowly, the world fades to black around me... and hopefully, when I open my eyes again, I will be greeted with the perfect morning sun. If just for a few more minutes.