Authors Note. I wanted to make a Sam and Vala story. It's kind of dark, but in the end I think you will appreciate the friendship that Sam and Vala have.

Sam was having a cup of coffee on her balcony. It was a ritual she would do daily before coming to work. This morning was different. It seemed a little colder and a little darker this one morning. The air was crisp and she could smell the lingering smells of car gas fumes and someone making breakfast down the road. She lingered in space on that balcony. She wasn't going in to work this morning, something or someone needed her attention. She could not abandon this person, not today.

They had been preparing for weeks for the holidays and shopping for the Turkey and other ingredients was a pure joy for her. She knew Daniel was a great cook and he would be preparing the Thanksgiving dinner at her house this year. Daniel had shown up early that morning and Cam, Teal'c, Carol and Gen Landry had shown up a couple of hours later bringing their favorite dish, Vala would follow later. She said she had to find something to contribute. It was anyone's guess what that meant. Most of the guys were watching football, which to Teal'c meant he was going to win another bet with Cam. He always informed Cam that the brightest colors of a warrior were most intimidating. Somehow his teams always won. It drove Cam crazy.

Dinner was almost done and Daniel, Sam and Carol had prepared the table in Sam's dining room with extreme precision. To Daniel it was a joy to cook for his friends and having his family together over Sam's house made him value he did not have to clean up his own house later. Sam was still watching for Vala. It was getting late and she tried to contact her on Vala's new cell phone. Vala loved if anyone called her, though it was mostly SG1. But it was hers and she just loved the independence of having something that everyone else had.

Sam was about to contact Vala again. They were all still waiting for Vala to show up to sit down to eat. Sam saw headlights, it was Vala's car. She was given the opportunity to drive once and awhile, because she bugged Gen Landry to death. He finally gave in after she promised she go with someone, mainly Daniel and Sam and drive to and from work and each others houses. Gen Landry figured she had a locator on her so she couldn't go far, he hoped.

"Hey Vala's here, you guys can go ahead and be seated in the dining room. We'll bring up the rear." Sam stated.

Cam interjected. "It's about time, I'm starving, I was about to see if we were going to call out the marines on her."

Everyone except Sam went into the dining room. Sam saw Vala coming up the walkway and opened the door. She stood behind the door to tease Vala when she came in.

"Well it's about time you showed up. Teal'c was winning again and I hope you brought something edible."

Vala slowly walked through the door. Sam looked worried at what she saw.

Vala's hair was disheveled and her face was puffy and bruised. Her clothes were half hanging from her and she had a glazed look in her eyes. One of her shoes was missing and her leg was badly scared.

"Oh my God, Vala, what happened?" She shouted for Carol. "Carol! Carol! Get in here quick."

They all came running in. They stopped dead in their tracks at what Sam saw.

"Get her in the bedroom quick." said Carol. "She's in shock. Cam get me some hot towels and dry ones too. Dad I have my medical bag in the back of the car. Get it quick."

Daniel tried to pick her up and she backed away terrified. Cam tried and she started backing away from him also, she was fighting them and Sam thought the worst. Teal'c picked her up and she seemed to let him. He carried her into Sam's bedroom and laid her down on the bed. Cam came in with the wet towels and Gen Landry came back in with Carol's medical bag.

"Everyone out, except Sam. I'm going to need you Sam, ok."

Sam shut the door and Carol and her were left to tend to Vala.

All the men could only speculate what happened to Vala. She was terrified of them except Teal'c.

Daniel spoke, barely.

"Do you think she, Vala was, was attacked?"

"We don't know Jackson; wait until my daughter examines her. Our best hope is that she wasn't." explained Gen Landry.

They waited hoping for the best for Vala. Gen Landry made some calls and the rest of them waited patiently in the living room until Carol came out.

"Sam, I need you to clean her off a little, I need to get a sample from her. I need to know is she was raped."

"Oh God Carol, you don't think?"

"I won't know yet until I get the sample back to the lab. Can you hold her; tell her she's with us now, to not be afraid. She's still in shock, I don't even know if she know where's she's at."

Sam moved Vala so that she could rest her head on her lap. Sam slipped behind Vala and softly said to her; "its ok Vala, your safe, Carol is going to take a sample from you. It's ok."

Vala just stared into space; she didn't move or say anything. Carol was right; Vala had no ideal where she was.

"Ok, Sam I have a sample. Use some of those towels and clean her up if she'll let you and I need to get those clothes off her. I may need them for other samples of skin and blood. Make her comfortable and keep her warm. Let me know if she says anything. I'm going to let dad and the others know how she's doing."

As Carol closed the door, Sam gently removed Vala's clothes, and started to clean her up. Vala still had not moved or said anything. It was scarring Sam. If Vala was attacked, she would make sure whatever happened she would be there for her friend no matter what.

Carol closed the door and went into the living room to let the guys know about Vala.

Gen Landry asked first. "Carol was Vala attacked?"

"I think so dad, but I need to get this sample and her clothes back to the lab. She's still in shock. Sam is making he comfortable. I don't think we should move her to the infirmary yet. I didn't see any major physical damage to her and I think it's best she stay with someone she recognizes or feels safe with."

"We should have gone with her." Daniel stated. "This never would have happened if one of us was with her."

Cam interceded. "Daniel; no one knew this would happen. Vala has been off base before, she loved her independence. This could of happened to Sam or Carol. She's safe with us now and we will investigate what happened to her, I promise."

Daniel was still worried, they all were. "Sam can I see her? Is it alright to see her?"

"No Daniel, right now I don't think it's a good ideal for anyone to see her except Sam and myself. Teal'c was the only one she let touch her, that may be a good sign, but I won't be able to tell until tomorrow. She hasn't responded to anyone except us, so Teal'c; if you can stay with Sam just in case she needs help. I have a feeling when she comes out of shock, she won't know where she is."

"Of course Dr. Lam, whatever is needed." Teal'c answered.

Gen Landry spoke up. "I made some calls to the local police to see if there were any reports of attacks or sightings of attacks by pedestrians. We'll try to trace where she went. I have some base personnel picking up her vehicle to see if we could find any evidence of where she's been."

"Col Mitchell, I'm taking Carol back to the base. I need you to supervise Vala's vehicle. Dr. Jackson? Jackson?"

"Huh, what?"

"I don't need everyone; do you want to stay her with Teal'c?"

"Yes, Yes, I want to stay with Vala, I mean Teal'c just in case."

Gen Landry, Carol and Cam were returning to base. Teal'c and Daniel stayed behind with Sam. Daniel was worried about Vala. He couldn't get the image of Vala being terrified of him and Cam out of his mind. He though to himself. Please Vala, Please be alright.

Sam had finished cleaning Vala up. She got her into some old pajamas of hers and covered her up with blankets. She tried to get some water down her but Vala had not moved at all since Teal'c brought her in. Sam moved closer to the bed and laid her head down next to Vala. She would be there for her friend when she woke up. She would make sure she was safe.