A/N: This is a very short fic with each chapter being approximately 1000 words. Originally the intention was to have Vala learn something in each chapter, but that faltered out about halfway through. I'm also currently working on two fics similar to this one (and Two Birds still so don't worry).
Disclaimer: I own nothing
5 Guys
Chapter 1
The Thoroughbred
A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. ~ Elbert Hubbard
1.
It's an odd game really, one that she doesn't quite understand. Always notices it in the corner of his office, the board set up and all those lovely little figurines that each have their own purpose. To be honest, she thought that it was just a collection of knickknacks that he was proud to display. Thought about stealing one early on, the material looked to be a beautiful crystal but when she tried to verify this through Daniel, he answered it was a translucent plastic or glass.
"Ms. Mal Doran." The General stands when she enters the room and she knows this is a contradictory action because she's seen Samantha and Mitchell vacate their chairs in honor of him. She often forgets his rank and what it means to everyone else, though it means nothing to her. He is a just a man, a nice man whom she enjoys spending time with, but no different to her than any other she's known. "Do you know why I called you in?"
"Yes General, and I would just like to say I wasn't complicit in the act at all. Firstly, Daniel decided to turn on the device that I very clearly warned him was radioactive and—"
"Vala." Raises his hands telling her to slow or halt her story, unsure of which she slows the speed of her words and closes her mouth when this doesn't appease him. "I read both your reports about the lab being slightly radioactive now, I know it was an accident."
"Oh." Pulls her smile wide and nods at his words, hoping to escape reprimanding, or reprimanding that she can't grin or nod her way out of, or her greatest fear of being reprimanded with a pay cut. She likes her money, likes buying little bobbles for her hair and silk robes to wear around the confines of her room. "Then why am I here?" her tone turns cavalier, so she quickly spits out, "Sir."
He grins softly and strolls to the corner of the room where that board sits, the little figures all dustless and proper. "You've been with SG-1 for a while now."
"A year or so?" Questions with a squeak of her voice because she doesn't know the actual date. His expression widens into one of shock and through squinting she adds, "two years? Three—It's not my fault no one actually throws parties for these things and I keep saying we need more parties around here."
"Come take a seat." Drags a chair away from the table and gestures for her to sit in it. She's always taken back by Tau'ri men and their manners, a welcome change from some of the holes in the galaxy she's ended up in, a welcome change from the men on her home world and their rather handsy nature.
Hesitantly sits in the chair and flashes a very awkward, very anxious side smile at him. "What are we doing?"
"I'm going to teach you how to play chess."
"The board and figures game?"
He takes the seat across from her and she wonders if this is because Carolyn recently transferred out. Knows they were having frequent disagreements about her dating a member of SG-15 that he didn't approve of. Tau'ri fathers are so beautifully unique, caring for their children well into adulthood and expecting nothing but love back. Nothing but love. "General, while I'm honored you'd take time out of your busy schedule to teach me chest—"
"Chess."
"—yes, of course—I know that you have to be quite intelligent to play and I don't think I'm completely qualified. Daniel said—"
"Sounds to me like Dr. Jackson didn't want to spend the time teaching you." Holds up the tiniest of the pieces, it has a rounded top and looks like gear shift in Cameron's jeep. "This is a pawn."
"I was a pawn to many a plan in my days as a free agent." Touches the similar piece on her side and finds it weightier in her hand that she would've thought.
"It can move one or two spaces."
"I often had to think one or two spaces ahead of my enemies." Plucks the only figurine that appeals to her, moulded or carved to look like a horse, beautiful creatures she saw running around the farm when she went to Kansas. When she pet it, the sound of appreciation it made, a sort of snort, warmed her. "What does this one do?"
He seems pleased she's taking an interest and pulls his own horse from the ranks. "This is a knight, it can only move in an L pattern."
"An L?"
"Yes like this." Demonstrates the movement several times clacking the horse over the black tiles until he's sure she understands.
She slides the horse forward in a straight line, clomping it over white and black squares alike. "So, I cannot move the thoroughbred this way?"
"No, but a rook does that."
"A rook?" Sighs and squeezes the tiny horse head in her hand until an imprint appears embedded on her skin. "General—Sir—while I really appreciate you taking the time to teach me, I think I need to reiterate what Daniel said—"
He reaches forward, to what she thinks, is remove the horse from her hand and she almost jumps when his warm hand cups hers for a moment. She stares at it and then across the table and she doesn't think she can blink. "Vala, all Team One members plays chess with me," pats her hand in endearment and sets her toppled horse upright. "So, you're going to have to learn sooner or later."