Spacegypsy1

Friends and Lovers

Synopsis: SG-1 along with Dr. Lam travel to Washington for a Presidential Summit and a little romance. Way too much fluff! Couples everywhere along the way. Three little Chapters of D/V, S/J, C/C, T/I. Fluffy stuff. Rated T for hanky panky!

Chapter One: Journey to Discovery

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes he wouldn't believe it. Vala in a turtleneck, long sleeved, loose fitting sweater, tailored pants and low heeled boots. All white. Standing near the helicopter with Mitchell, Daniel furrowed his brows, watching Sam and Vala approach. What was Vala up too? Walking in stride the two looked like the Yin and Yang of female trouble. Sam's black suit spoke 'classic', while Vala's outfit spoke... 'angelic'. Ha!

Mitchell turned to Daniel, "Where's the good doctor? We're gonna be late."

"How should I know?" It was barely out of his mouth when Carolyn Lam dashed out and caught up with the women. One, two, three. Black, white, red. They walked purposefully toward the helicopter.

"Hello." Mitchell whistled low, "Charlie's Angel's … I think we're in trouble."

Daniel groaned. "This isn't good. I didn't bring a Zat."

Mitchell laughed and climbed into the chopper. "Come on, Jackson, maybe we can hide in the back."

Teal'c was already seated for their flight to the Peterson airfield and the plane that waited there to take them to DC. Another Presidential Summit that Jack had gotten them into.

……

The plane was large and comfortable, the food exceptional. Which, Daniel was sure, Jack had ordered to impress them. There were a lot of giggles and peels of laughter coming from the back of the aircraft where the champagne flowed. Daniel, Mitchell and Teal'c intermittently would turn and stare at the three women who lounged on the leather couch, glasses clinking in repeated toasts.

"I think I'll have a cocktail. Anybody else?" Mitchell asked standing.

"I would like a glass of juice, ColonelMitchell," Teal'c bowed his head and smiled slightly.

Another bout of laughter came forward like a wave. "I'll have what you're having." Daniel frowned looking back. Vala raised a champagne glass in salute when she caught his eye. Turning forward he closed his eyes, removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. My god, but she looked beautiful! All that dark hair flowing around that white sweater.

Cam tried to pour two drinks, but found it difficult to concentrate. He could feel those dark, enchanting eyes on him. All bound in red. Soft, pliable red leather. Jesus jumpin' crimany what's a guy to do? Landry would bust him right out of the Air Force. And it might just be worth it. Without a second thought he turned to her with a wide, eye crinkling grin. "Can I get ya somethin' darlin'?"

Carolyn managed to stifle a breathless gasp. "A bottle of champagne?"

"Done." Mitchell grabbed a bottle from the fridge and sauntered lazily toward her. "Here ya go."

She winked, and Mitchell did a double take, his grin widening. As he walked away the women huddled together and whispered, arguing companionably about whose grin was the best. Jack's? Cam's? Daniel's? Or the elusive Jaffa grin?

Mitchell took his seat across for Teal'c and Daniel. "Drinks?" Daniel queried.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot." Mitchell hopped up and returned with an apple juice and two bottled waters. Then he settled in the seat between the other two so his back would be to the women. One woman in particular. He needed time to clear his head.

…….

Daniel felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to find his face inches from Vala's. She didn't say a word, only ran a hand down his arm, grabbed his hand and tugged him up. He followed mesmerized. Halfway down the isle she slipped into a row of empty seats, taking him with her. She sat by the window, patted the seat beside her. He sat. Vala turned and looked out the window. "I like flying low, just above the clouds. I used to buzz planets just for the fun of it. I miss that."

He couldn't see her expression. Reaching out, he gently guided her face towards him.

"Lovely isn't it?" She spoke of clouds and the earth far below.

"Mmm, yes it is." He spoke of her lovely face. She was such a strange creature and the more time he spent with her the more she mystified him.

Laughter erupted from behind them. "Vala!" Carolyn called and the spell was broken.

"My comrades are calling. I should go." She kissed his cheek, her hand lingering on his face a moment before she moved passed him and headed for the back of the plane. As he returned to his seat he watched her body swaying down the aisle and grinned.

The men were quiet listening to the women and occasionally shaking their heads as the laughter continued on and on. Finally, Daniel got up, went to the bar, grabbed a glass and another bottle of champagne and took a slow walk down the aisle.

"Mind if I join you?"

……

The jet hit the runway with a minimal jar, and screamed to a stop. The passengers, three slightly tipsy, two more tense than when they boarded and one looking serene, but actually close to laughter, deplaned.

Jack, in full uniform, hat perched just right and medals gleaming met them at the gate. When he spotted the three women laughing and wobbling towards him he got that 'I'm totally confused Jack O'Neill' look and lifted his gaze to Daniel, who rolled his eyes and shook his head. Next, Jack took a gander at Mitchell who shrugged a 'who knows' and Jack's glance moved on to Teal'c. Ah, there was an answer! The Jaffa was doing the 'I'm laughing my head off' 'they're totally smashed, and delightfully entertaining' expression. All with his eyes.

"Carter?" Jack said as she stopped in front of him.

"Yes sir?"

"Enjoyed the champagne did ya?"

"Oh boy. I think I enjoyed a little bit too much of it."

"Vala?"

"Yes, sir, Jacko?"

"Feeling no pain, are you now?"

"I don't even know how to spell it."

"Doc?"

"Yep?"

"Good to go?"

"Anywhere you're heart desires…Sir!"

"Okay, campers. Let's load up these wandering gypsies and head to the hotel."

The three women sat at the far end of the limo as Jack, Teal'c, Mitchell and Daniel sat clear across the car with their backs to the front. Daniel turned to Jack. "Don't you think they look like Charlie's Angels?"

"They look like trouble to me." Jack studied the trio.

"That's what I said." Mitchell commented, shaking his head.

"The reception's tonight. Think you can sober 'em up and get 'em dressed? Well… I don't mean you have to actually dress them. Although… never mind. I'll send the car about seven. Have your angels ready."

……

With a towel wrapped around his waist Mitchell wandered into the main room. "We haven't heard a peep out of them. Think we should check to see if they're still conscious?"

"I don't know. Teal'c?" Daniel stood shirtless, his tux pants still unbuttoned, hands in his pockets.

Teal'c was struggling with his bow tie. "I too am concerned. It is unusual for ValaMalDoran not to be pestering us. ColonelCarter did seem a bit…happy. And Dr. Lam's eyes were unable to focus. Perhaps one of you should check to see if they are indeed preparing for the festivities."

"Jackson, you're the appointee. Make sure they know we leave here in twenty minutes!" Mitchell returned to the bathroom.

With a frustrated sigh, Daniel pulled on a T-shirt and buttoned his pants. "Fine. I'll be right back."

He knocked on the door and then stood waiting, hands in his pockets and head down. Sam opened the door dressed in a fluffy white hotel robe, champagne in hand. "Hi Daniel, come on in. We'll be ready soon…Carolyn's in the tub, Vala's in her room waiting. You can go check on her." Sam gestured towards an open door. "I'll roust Carolyn." Sam walked off.

Daniel knocked on the open door and Vala answered with a weary sounding "Come in."

He walked into a scene that would forever be burned into his mind. She sat on the end of the bed. High heels strapped around her ankles. Legs spread, forearms resting on her knees and something satiny in her hand where she stared. A skimpy white lacy push up bra thankfully covered her breasts, but barely. She wore a garter belt with silk like stockings attached and some wisp of panties underneath. Her hair was loose and curly. She looked up surprised to see him and smiled totally at ease with her state of dress.

Daniel blinked, mouth open, breath held, head spinning out of control.

"I don't understand the purpose of this garment. I mean why would you need another layer? It's called a slip. Why? I mean, what is its purpose? Do you think I should wear this under my dress? I already have on all of this." She did the Vanna White hand sweep from head to toe. "Daniel? What's the matter? No? Ridicules to wear it? Or Yes, silly me of course I'm supposed… Daniel?"

He turned and left without a word. Vala shrugged her shoulders and tossed the slip across the room.

……

Daniel in a tux. What more could a girl ask for? Vala wrapped an arm through his in the elevator and sighed in contentment, laying her throbbing head on his shoulder.

Again, she'd chosen white. A gossamer fairy like gown. Dark curls cascading down. Glittered eye shadow and pouting pink lips. And he knew exactly what was underneath that gown. Daniel felt every inch of her leaning against him. He was doomed. He'd lost his soul to her. His heart. His mind.

Carolyn's red strapless gown hugged her like a second skin and Mitchell could not keep his eyes from her. Damn. She looked like a cherry popsicle. Gran'maw had warned him about girls like this. Oh yeah. He was in for a night of blissful trouble. If he was lucky, tomorrow he just might wake up without a job and grinnin' like a fool.

Sam was feeling no pain. Teal'c, decked in black tux and a bejeweled skull cap had a hold of her arm. She smiled up at him and he smiled back, careful not to be too admiring of her attire. The black slinky dress, backless and vee necked was set off by a heart shaped diamond at her throat. He had been with O'Neill when the general purchased it. Teal'c had a sudden longing to see Ishta.

……

Walking toward the ballroom, Vala was rolling her eyes and doing the chatty hand gesture as Daniel repeated for the umpteenth time instructions on how to act in the receiving line. "DO NOT say anything other than 'nice to meet you' when you are introduced to the President's wife and children. They do not know anything about the Stargate program, and certainly nothing about aliens on Earth. Do not call Teal'c, Teal'c, his name is Murray. And stop that!" He swatted at her hand, laughing.

"I'll be on my best behavior. I swear." Vala tossed her curled hair, pulled lint from Daniel's tux lapel and left her hand on his chest.

He picked the hand up and kissed her wrist, then as they entered the reception area, he let her go and with a 'do not disappoint me' glower he moved her ahead of him into the line behind Murray.

"Murray!" The President's ten and twelve year old girls squealed in chorus.

Vala, fists cupped to her chest, smiled delighted. "It appears Muscles… ah I mean Murray has a fan club."

"Yes. He's met them before. I think they're in love with him." Daniel put a hand to her back and gently encouraged her forward.

The President seemed genuinely pleased to see her. "Ms Mal Doran, you look lovely."

"Thank you, sir." There, she said something nice and normal. Ha! Daniel's just over anxious. She knew how to be an earthling. It was really quite simple.

"Ms Mal Doran, this is my wife Claire and our daughters, Jane and Leigh."

Claire took Vala's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms Mal Doran."

"Vala. Please call me Vala."

"Vala. What an unusual name."

"Yes well, it's quite normal on my planet… ah, I mean in my town. Well, you know what I mean. It's a family name. Actually it came from Zerous Tebella, that adorable little planet..ah, I mean town near my… town." Oh my gawd, he's going to kill me.

"Zerous Tebella? I don't believe I've ever heard of it. Have you dear?" Claire turned to the President.

"Ah, no, Daniel?"

"It's Swahili…means 'Talks Too Much." Daniel's eyes were wide and worried.

"Oh. Swahili, that's the language of Tanzania, right?"

Daniel, Vala and the President nodded enthusiastically.

Claire smiled and patted Vala's hand. "We should talk later; I'd love to hear all about growing up in Tanzania."

"Oh, right." Vala could barely form a smile as she moved on.

"Lovely woman, Daniel. Is she your date? I don't think I've ever seen you with a date before. She seems so right for you somehow." Claire kissed Daniel's cheek.

"Ah, she's a bit... well…mental. Accident in Zerous Tebella. Sad really, such a lovely woman and all. But she's leaving soon. Have to get back to 'The Home'. I just wanted to get her out for a while."

"Oh. I see." Claire frowned and turned to watch Vala. Poor thing. And such a lovely woman.

……

Daniel's hand on her back felt firm but not pushing, not rigid. That had to be a good sign. Right? She risked a quick glance. He was grinning. Why was he grinning? Oh no, that's not a good sign. "I'm sorry. I can't explain what happened."

"Vala happened. Now we have to avoid Claire all night. You don't know a thing about Tanzania."

"I do now, they speak Swallow-easy."

He burst out laughing, knowing full well she made it up just to tease him. "Come on, let's get something to drink." His brain obviously had misfired sometime in the last hours. Daniel didn't feel the least bit annoyed.

……

Jack whisked Sam all over the ballroom introducing her to his Washington cronies. Speculation was high about the General's beautiful companion. A few knew she'd been his 2IC and the gossip spread like wildfire, fed by his obvious attention and the fact he couldn't keep his hands off of her. The President ignored his wife's questions about the couple. His only thought - well they weren't in the same line of command anymore, well not actually.

"Excuse me dear, I think I'd better go rescue Murray." The President moved across the room where the Jaffa stood, looking uncertain in the midst of five women all vying for his attention.

"Murray?" Teal'c looked up relieved to see an ally standing there. "Perhaps you ladies will forgive us, we have business to discuss." The women backed off, disappointed.

"I am grateful for your assistance, Sir." Teal'c bowed in earnest.

"I believe Jane and Leigh were looking for a dance partner. Maybe you could help me entertain them?"

"I would be most happy to assist." Teal'c followed the President to the girls who stood looking unhappy in the midst of all the adults.

"Ladies, I have brought you someone who is very interested in dancing."

Both Jane and Leigh seemed delighted by Murray. "I would love to dance, Murray. I've been taking dancing lessons." Jane curtsied.

"Indeed?" Murray took her arm and led her on to the dance floor.

……

"I'm bored, Daniel." Vala stood beside him, staring down at the hand he had clasped in a death grip around her wrist.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight." He looked at her and grinned. "You will undoubtedly get us all into trouble."

"Can't we at least dance?" She asked not looking at him again.

"Let's have something to eat."

"You don't dance, do you? You don't dance, you don't drink much, you don't go to movies, you don't shop…how are we ever going to date?"

Scrunched eyebrows and confused blue eyes turned to her. "Date?"

"Yes, Daniel. Date. We should be dating. That's what couples do here on Earth. I've been studying up on it. I know I wanted to jump your bones and other parts of you since the minute I laid eyes on you. But I didn't know about dating then. I didn't know I had to go about the whole …" She waved her loose arm the hand flopping to and fro, "… ritual thingie first. I didn't know that I was going to be around long enough to ritualize the …." Again she gestured through the air. "…pre requisites to lovemaking. Who would have thought I'd settle down and fall in love… ah, I mean, you know, want to stay around… with you. You're the reason…"

Daniel tugged her out onto the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. "Dating?" He started to move her around to the music, "Let's just count tonight as the dating part."

Across the room Jack watched - his arm around Sam's waist. Teal'c watched - his hands clasped behind his back. Mitchell watched - his fingers intertwined with Carolyn's. They stood, enthralled by the couple who in the midst of the crowded dance floor stood out like characters in a fairy tale, gliding across the stone floor. Not a one of them knew Daniel could dance. He waltzed Vala around as if she were a feather in his hands. She was looking up at him adoringly. He had eyes only for her. It was as if in a blink of an eye they had gone from antagonists to lovers.

Daniel's mouth came to rest against her ear and Vala moaned low in her throat. "Vala?" His deep sensuous voice sent a shiver through her.

"Hmmm?"

"When this dance is over, will you come with me to my room?"

"Yes, Daniel."

"You know I love you?"

"Yes, Daniel. You know I love you?"

"Yes." He touched her lips lightly. The music stopped. Vala smiled and Daniel grinned. They walked hand and hand, disappearing through the doorway out of the ballroom.

Teal'c, hands clasped behind his back, walked away from the group of onlookers, across the ballroom, disappearing in the crowd without a word.

Jack took Sam's hand, pulling her behind him. "Let's go say goodnight to the President."

The music started again and Mitchell looked at Carolyn. "Care to dance?"