Rating: T
Spoilers: I have referenced pretty much every episode of Season 10 at some point, and some from Season 9.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or anything else related to Stargate; I'm just doing this for fun.
Thank you's: These last three chapters (6, 7 and 8) were beta'd by Milena D., and so many, many thanks to her for her help. I couldn't have posted without her.
Author's Note: As in the last two chapters, we're sitting pretty in mature sexual content here. I've edited a piece of this chapter to keep it in the realm of a T rating. However, if you would like to read the unabridged/original version, you may visit my Live Journal homepage which is listed in my profile or you may visit AllDanielFic(dot)com, a Daniel Jackson fanfiction archive. Here is the link to my profile and the story there: http:// alldanielfic (dot) com/viewuser (dot) php?uid215. You will have to copy and paste this into the address line, replace (dot) with a period, and crush it all together.
Falling asleep holding a beautiful woman was not common practice for Daniel. However, he wouldn't mind getting used to it. Or waking up next to this same beautiful woman for the rest of his life.
He lay on his side watching the aforementioned beautiful woman slumbering peacefully. Sometime during the night they had rolled away from each other and had settled comfortably in the bed together. He lay there, replaying in his mind the previous night's events.
Had he been at fault at any time last night? Had he forced her in any way? No. Their being together was mutual. Vala had told him at Cassie's birthday party that she didn't want to wait anymore. They had a talk in his car about contraceptives and other protection-related topics. She'd had plenty of time last night to warn him off if she was afraid that she would be hurt.
She'd risked the pain for the happiness she said she felt whenever she was with him. Maybe she'd thought his presence would break the curse. He probably ought to tell her about the experiments Pavlov had with dogs and bells. Some things just became instinct over time.
And this was some instinct. His life almost seemed tame compared to what she'd been through. All he could think of to help was just to keep loving her. To keep giving her opportunities to share her burdens with him.
Vala's eyes flickered open as he watched her. "Mornin,'" she yawned.
"Good morning to you," Daniel replied, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very well, thank you," she purred and stretched, then scooted over into the circle of his arms and laid her head on his chest. "This mattress is infinitely better than mine at the base. You'd think the SGC would provide its flagship team the best in bedroom furniture."
"They have experienced cutbacks this year." He let out an exaggerated sigh, "I suppose we could sleep here most nights, you know, for your health and all."
She lifted her head and eyed him, trying to determine whether he knew she was teasing. Whether he knew that she hadn't meant to invite herself over every night. But he simply smiled at her and sat up, kissing her cheek, "I think you might be thinking too much, Vala. Relax." He kissed her forehead then and said that he was going to get up, brush his teeth, and get a glass of water.
She lay back in the bed thinking there might in fact be a pleasant afterlife if this little scene was any indication. Daniel came back with the glass of water and handed it to her when she reached out and asked for a sip. Then he slid back under the covers with her and held her close. Yeah, what did these Tau'ri call it, heaven?
XXX
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving. What would you like? I've got eggs, I can make pancakes and bacon or sausage."
"Yes," Vala replied enthusiastically.
"Which one?"
"All of it," she beamed.
Daniel laughed out loud, "Alright, well I better get started. I'll jump in the shower first…"
"And I'll get the coffee started," Vala finished, kissing him lightly.
Yep, he was definitely in love.
SG-1's next mission at the end of the week could only be described as a lucky disaster. They'd made the customary sweep of the ruins before splitting up again. This time, the girls headed off in one direction exploring the ruins and the guys in another.
"I don't like how we split up this time," Cam announced.
"What's wrong with it, the military are separated, the scientists are separated, and the couples are separated."
"Not the genders, though," Cam griped. "They're talking 'bout us."
"You don't know that." Daniel looked up from the writing on what looked like old temple walls as they continued their march. "Well, what about Sam, Teal'c, and I and you and Vala?"
"Nope, old team versus new team."
"Alright, how about just Sam and I, and you, Teal'c, and Vala?"
"No, she talks too much."
Teal'c grimaced.
"Besides, she doesn't listen to me."
"Join the club."
Teal'c raised a fist to signal a halt. They'd been talking loudly but he was sure he'd heard some movement. Suddenly they were surrounded by Ori soldiers.
"Shit. They're gonna kill us."
"Sam and Vala, or the Ori?" Daniel mumbled back.
"Hopefully Sam and Vala get the chance."
"Recognize anything?"
"No. I don't think any Goa'uld ever played god here," the former goddess declared. "Do you think the guys are talking about us?"
"Probably. Cam was very antsy all morning."
"I noticed that too. Teal'c will take care of them, though, won't he?"
"Of course, they're in good hands."
Suddenly they heard weapons-fire off to the south.
The two women ran through the village ruins, keeping an eye out for enemies and their own teammates. The gunfire had stopped when they reached the central square and the three men of SG-1 were being disarmed by half a dozen Ori soldiers and herded to a ring platform. Before Sam or Vala could do anything they were gone.
"I'll kill 'im," Vala said angrily.
"Daniel or the Ori?"
"It's a toss-up right now. What can we do?"
"There're about four fallen soldiers around here. Maybe one of them has codes to the rings. If the ship hasn't left orbit yet, we might be able to get aboard."
They started searching the bodies when the rings activated. Both Sam and Vala readied their weapons, but neither were prepared for what they saw. Daniel and Teal'c were squatting on either side of an unconscious and bleeding Mitchell, Ori blast-staffs at the ready.
"Vala?" Daniel called into his radio.
"Behind you," she took off her pack and fumbled through the pockets for the healing device.
"What happened? Wait, we should move to a more secure location."
"Agreed, ColonelCarter." Teal'c crouched to lift Mitchell by the shoulders and Daniel went to his legs. Sam led them to a building with good cover on all sides and a vantage point of the square.
When they'd set Mitchell down, Vala knelt at his side and held the device over his wound. Teal'c kept watch at the window and Sam questioned Daniel, "What happened?"
"We were ambushed," Daniel answered.
"Teal'c, I'm surprised they got the drop on you," Vala said, trying to keep the worry from her voice.
Teal'c scowled. "Blind and lame soldiers could have 'gotten the drop on us.'"
Daniel winced.
"You were talking about us," Sam accused.
"SON OF A…"
"Good as new," Vala smiled gratefully.
"Are you alright, ColonelMitchell?"
"Damn, those things hurt."
"You're tellin' me," both women spoke simultaneously.
Vala looked up at Daniel, "How did you manage to escape? Ingenuity?"
"Tactful negotiating?" Sam kidded, even though her voice was strained.
"Brute force," Cam replied, sitting up. "They had us in a circle in the rings and when we materialized, we pushed and shoved. We managed to wrestle a few weapons away from them, but mainly we just punched, kicked and clawed our way to freedom. Well, up until I got shot."
"That was incredibly reckless of you. You had no idea how many soldiers were on that ship…"
"Or if there'd been a prior in the room where you'd ringed aboard," Vala finished.
"Guess our manly bravery isn't gonna impress the ladies, guys," Cam poked at his nonexistent wound.
Sam rolled her eyes and looked at Daniel. "Do you think they'll come back?"
"I don't know. We'd killed a few, but basically just stunned the rest. I think it was just a patrol ship. But someone may have raised an alarm."
"Did anyone know one of you was injured? Would they assume we'd made it to the gate by now?" Sam needed information to plan their next move.
"Probably not," Cam chipped in. "They'll probably search the area."
"By space, air or foot, is the question," Sam thought aloud.
"You're sure it was a patrol ship, Daniel?" Vala asked.
"Uh, yeah, I'm sure."
"Well, they don't have priors on board, Samantha, right, Daniel?" He nodded. "So, if we can just stay hidden," Vala looked over to the window, "probably for the next six hours or so, they won't be able to find us without a prior's abilities."
"Unless they send for a mothership," Teal'c speculated.
Vala shook her head, "No, they probably didn't recognize us. And there are no villages besides this one near the stargate, no worshippers to convert."
Daniel finished, "They don't know if we've escaped through the stargate or not, and they won't want to look foolish for letting us get away. They'll try to find us themselves and when they don't, they'll cover it up and be on their way."
"Alright, we wait," Cam resumed the lead. "We'll try to head back to the gate after nightfall."
"Samantha?"
Sam was sitting against the wall in their small shelter. It was only about an hour into their wait and she lifted her head to meet Vala's concerned eyes.
"You okay?"
"This shouldn't have happened," she answered Vala. Sam stood up and called over to Teal'c who was still keeping watch near the window, "Anything?"
"There has been no activity, ColonelCarter."
"Good. Guys, we need to talk. This shouldn't have happened. There's a reason teammates aren't allowed to date. We may be SG-1 and we may be able to bend the rules a little, but we're supposed to set an example for everyone else at the SGC, and this kind of thing can't happen. From now on, we leave our relationships at the gate. Agreed?"
"Yes, Samantha," Vala said first.
"Of course, Sam," Daniel replied.
Teal'c simply nodded his approval of her command.
She looked at Cam finally and raised her eyebrows at him.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. This was my fault today."
"I don't want apologies," Sam smiled back at him. "You got back, we're all in one piece, and with any luck we'll get out of here without another scratch."
That night, when they were all back at Stargate Command and had debriefed General Landry on their capture and escape, Vala went looking for Daniel in his office. He was engrossed in a translation and she wrestled with the idea of bothering him. But after what happened today she realized she needed to say some things before the chance was taken from her again.
"Hey."
"Hey, Vala. You alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I just wanted to see you."
She walked up to his desk and leaned against it, fiddling with her fingers. "I wanted to say this earlier when we were on the planet, but we'd promised Samantha and I didn't want to be the first to…go against her, but…"
Daniel cut her off, "I love you, too."
She quirked her lips in half a smile. "How did you know?"
Daniel shrugged his shoulders and leaned back in his chair. "I think I'm learning your tells, we probably shouldn't play poker." He took one of her hands and brought her onto his lap. "But seriously, I've been wanting to say it for a while now, I just didn't want to frighten you."
"I love you, Daniel." She kissed him, with all the fear and love she'd felt all day.
Life is too short.
Well there you have it. My very first fic completed. I hope you liked it. I know I had a blast writing it and enjoyed every one of your comments and reviews along the way. Thanks,
Erin