A/N: From Marishal's story idea! Thanks Mari.
Synopsis: These guys love to camp! Jack, Daniel, Vala, Sam, Teal'c Mitchell. Vala and Daniel fight, there's rain and a leaking tent. Jack and Sam are getting close. Teal'c speaks and Mitchell gets caught in the middle.
Chapter One: Road to Perdition
"Move over" Daniel pushed against Vala's hip in the crowded SUV.
"Daniel I can't move over, there's no room." She hit Daniel's shoulder with the heel of her hand.
"Teal'c?" Disgruntled, Daniel called from the back seat.
"Yes DanielJackson." Teal'c took a quick glance at his friend in the rearview mirror, then returned his eyes to the road.
"Next stop, we're switching places. I'll drive."
"Agreed." Teal'c nodded. Anyone who didn't know him would not recognize the laughter in his eyes.
The other two front seat occupants were quiet. Sam only shifted her eyes for the barest of seconds to Jack, who pretended to look out the passenger window, a grin on his face.
"Look, you two," Mitchell interjected with a hint of rancor, "I'm practically squashed to this door. This is a big SUV, there is no reason we can't all sit comfortable. So chill out."
Both Vala and Daniel leaned forward and scowled at Mitchell.
"General," Mitchell drawled from the corner of the back seat, " I'm not feelin' the love back here. Your idea of a fun camping trip is beginning to feel like a mission to the Ori galaxy."
"Oh, we'll have some fun. At least four of us will. It's only a few hours to the campsite." Jack didn't bother looking away from the blur of trees whizzing past out the window.
xxxxxx
When they stopped for gas everyone but Sam got out of the vehicle to stretch. Teal'c pumped the gas while Mitchell and Jack went into the store for ice and beer.
Vala made a mad dash for the ladies room, as Daniel hopped into the driver's seat. He sighed, relaxing in the comfort of the big seat. Laying his head back, he turned his gaze to Sam. "This was a bad idea."
Sam held the laugh inside, "Daniel, it's an adventure. You're way too tense."
Mitchell and Jack returned carrying a Styrofoam ice chest. "Okay, Danny-boy, you're gonna have to hop in the back." Jack spoke as he and Mitchell tried to wedge the ice chest into the back seat of the already over stuffed vehicle.
"What? I don't think so. I'm driving."
"No way, bucko, I'm driving. I'm the only one who knows the way from here. Teal'c's called shotgun, Carter gets car sick in the backseat in the mountains. You, Mitchell, and Vala are gonna have to cram in for the next twenty or so miles, with the ice chest. So move it." Jack was already pulling Daniel from the front driver's seat.
"We have a cooler full of beer tied on top. Why would we need more, I see no sense in this. We need the space." By the time Daniel got out of the front, Vala, the ice chest, and Mitchell were comfortably settled into the back seat.
Mitchell and Jack looked at each other in confusion over Daniel's question.
Then every one of them, heads turned in his direction, gaped perplexed at Daniel who stood crestfallen at the open car door.
"Come on Daniel, I want to get there before dark thirty." Jack started the engine.
Vala shifted over and forward, a silly grin on her face. She patted the infinitesimal space between the door and herself. "Come on Daniel, Jack wants to get there before dark thirty," she continued to pat the seat, "I know your cute little butt will fit very nicely right here."
He closed his eyes. Dropped his head.
"Jackson!" Mitchell pressed.
Daniel managed to wedge himself into the remaining minuscule gap between Vala and the door.
"Finally!" Jack grouched. Turning to look out the back window, he threw the SUV in reverse, put his arm over the seat, behind Sam, and caught Mitchell's twinkling eye grin.
Backing up, Jack returned Mitchell's knowing grin with one of his own. He turned the car forward, keeping his arm behind Sam, and pulled onto the highway.
The door handle dug into Daniel's hip. Each time he shifted for comfort, Vala would shift and steal the space he worked so hard to take over.
The two wrestled for the next twenty minutes. Vala turned the ice chest long ways, creating a few inches. When Daniel moved to take the tiny space she vacated, Vala hit against the Styrofoam cooler and a definite crack got everyone's attention. Mitchell scowled at Daniel.
"What? It wasn't me."
Vala moved back his way, threw a leg over his leg and put an arm behind his shoulder. "There, happy?"
"Not by any stretch of the imagination." He picked her leg up and tossed it aside. She scooted forward, then tried to lodge herself on the floor between the seats. Daniel immediately appropriated the space she left unguarded.
That didn't last two minutes. Vala groaned. "Daniel?"
"What!?"
"Open your legs, I'm going to move in"
Mitchell nearly broke his neck, he turned his head so quickly. Even Teal'c took his gaze momentarily from the passing scenery to look back.
Vala forced herself between his legs and leaned back into him. "There, you see, all better."
"Get up!" Daniel pushed against her back, sending Vala crashing into the back of the driver's seat.
Mitchell, frustrated, put his hands against his face, stretched his eyes, rubbed his temples and moaned.
"Will you two kids stop fighting! Jez, you're gonna cause a wreck." Jack looked back in the rearview mirror, but couldn't see the couple. He looked at Sam with a wicked grin. She smiled back. Jack let his hand fall every so slightly to rest against her shoulder. Almost imperceptibly Sam moved closer to his side.
Vala sat across Daniel's lap. To avoid contact with the roof of the vehicle, she laid her head on his shoulder, then wiggled around to find the most comfortable spot on his lap.
"Can you please be still." Daniel closed his eyes, shaking his head in irritation.
"I can't be still, I'm uncomfortable"
"Well stop wiggling."
"I am not wiggling."
"You are. Take the damned cooler and sit it on your lap." Daniel's voice seethed with annoyance.
"It's leaking." She closed her eyes, sighing in contentment.
"Would it not be prudent, DanielJackson, to relax for the remained of our travel? ValaMalDoran, please put on DanielJackson's seat belt." Teal'c never took his eyes off of the countryside.
Moving only one arm, Vala explored for the seat belt, moving her hand across Daniel's side, and finally unbuckling the belt. She enjoyed every minute of lifting and pressing to loosen the belt and get it across the both of them.
"How much further?" Before Daniel got a response from Jack, both Sam and Mitchell said, "Are we there yet?" Both laughing at their shared joke.
"Ten minutes, maybe fifteen," Jack answered with a hint of humor in his voice.
Within five minutes, Daniel's legs were going numb. "This is torture. You sure you don't have some of Qetesh still hanging around?"
Vala's head came up hitting the ceiling. "Agh! Daniel that was really mean."
Scooting off his lap, Vala picked up the damp cooler, sat in it's damp space and placed it's damp bottom across her legs. With a hurt expression she turned her face away from him.
Mitchell reached over and patted her hand before taking the cooler and placing it on his lap. "Let me hold that." Once again, he scowled at Daniel as water dripped from the cracked cooler onto his legs.
Feeling contrite, Daniel looked out the window wondering how she could take him to the brink of madness, then break his heart with one uncomplicated hurt look.
Facing her he whispered, "I'm sorry."
But Vala twisted at the waist, completely turning away from him. She didn't say another word for the remained of the ride.