Stargate Universe
By: a. loquita
Summary: The SG-1 team members are going in new directions and like Sam on Atlantis and all the others, Daniel gets a new job opportunity. But they've shared so much and have been so close that no matter how far the former teammates may travel, they will always be there for each other. D/V and S/J
Spoilers: SG-1 "Unending" and SGA "Reunion"
Rating: T

Teaser

A band was playing, the hum of conversations was a constant, and the barman was doing excellent business. It could have been any neighborhood pub in any city in America. Except that the creatures in this room were from the far corners of the universe.

Daniel took in the scene and glanced next to him. Abigail shrugged her shoulders in answer to his questioning look.

The two found a table and sat down. They ordered drinks and played the role of a couple on a date while in reality, they scanned the room for the nefarious men that were rumored to frequent this place.

Behind Daniel the band started up a new song, but this time a woman accompanied them. After she sang the first few notes, Daniel turned his head and gaped at her. "Vala?"

Abigail looked between Daniel and the woman up on stage belting out a tune much to the crowd's delight. She asked him, "You know that woman?"

"I thought I did," he replied.

Act 1

"You sure you want to do this, Daniel, 'cuz no one's gonna blame you if you decide not to."

"Jack," Daniel nearly whined it. Though they were sitting mere feet from the Oval Office, it didn't force them to alter the childish dynamic between them.

"I'm just sayin'"

"This is just like Atlantis all over again."

Jack responded, "No it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"No."

"Yes."

"No." Jack made a gesture similar to an umpire calling safe, effectively stopping the battle. He reminded Daniel of the one thing that secretly was most worrying to Jack. "There may not be a way home."

Daniel replied, "I've been requested to represent not just our country, or Earth, but the entire galaxy. How can I turn that down?"

"Cuz you've got stuff… to do… here," Jack tried, lamely.

"We defeated the Ori. Sam's commander of the Atlantis expedition, you're a Presidential advisor, and Teal'c is off creating a government for his people. I'm not going to sit around at the SGC all by myself with nothing important to do."

"Don't want the rest of us to outshine you, eh?"

Daniel shot Jack a look, one of losing patience quickly. "Just because you miss Sam doesn't give you the right to pester me in her place."

"Believe me, you can't take her place. Especially the way she–"

"Don't," Daniel cut him off. "I really don't want to know."

The door opened and the President appeared. "General O'Neill, Dr. Jackson, please."

The President didn't typically open his own door and call someone into his office. He had someone to do that for him. But these were unusual times, and the two men being invited into the Oval Office were unusual men. The President stepped aside, allowing them both to pass by.

In the room, several members of the IOA were present along with a woman Daniel had never seen before. She was tall, had almond-colored hair worn in loose curls, and warm hazel eyes.

"Hello, Dr. Jackson," she said while holding out her hand, "Abigail Tarasov."

"Nice to meet you," said Daniel, shaking her hand.

There was a very slight Eastern European accent in her voice. "I've heard so much about you. I was half expecting a superhero to walk through the door."

"Yes, well," Jack said, "that would be me."

Abigail smiled wide, stifling a laugh. "Yes, of course, General O'Neill." She shook his hand too. "Actually, I know your wife."

"Do you now?" Jack asked, interested.

"Well, knew at one time anyway. I attended Cambridge where Samantha studied for a semester. We weren't close, but we had many mutual friends and spent a little time together. One of those mutual friends told me that congratulations are in order."

"Thanks," said Jack, beaming wide. Of course, thoughts of his wife always had that affect on him.

Daniel rolled his eyes. Jack was proud of Sam, respected her, cherished her, but sometimes he was also so very… mind-in-the-gutter about her. The fact that Sam actually loved the dolt in return was sometimes beyond Daniel's comprehension. But they were good together and made each other happy, so that was all that really mattered.

Seeing his friends happy was simultaneously a joy, and a painful reminder of what Daniel lacked in his own life. Was taking on this assignment and going to the far reaches of the universe really just running away from his own issues? Probably. Best not to tell Jack that part of it.

The President had everyone sit before beginning to review things that Daniel was for the most part already aware of. The Asgard had a leadership role in the universe that previous to their recent demise the people of Earth were unaware of.

Just days ago, an ambassador from the Universal Alliance Council had contacted the SGC. They informed the Tau'ri that as the "Fifth Race" the Tau'ri immediately gained the rights and responsibility of representing the Galaxy on the UA Council in place of the Asgard. Sort of a United Nations of the universe, Daniel had been asked to serve as a representative. But now for the first time, Daniel learned that there were actually two seats to fill. Abigail Tarasov would be the second Councilor.

Daniel turned his head in the middle of the President's review of the situation and reassessed Ms. Tarasov. Did she have any idea what she was in for? Then again, did he?

Three days later, Daniel woke in his private quarters at the SGC. He rolled over and stared at the empty side of the bed. The last time he saw Vala, she had slept here next to him. Strange, because they usually only spent the night together at his house. Here on base it just didn't seem quite… appropriate.

After finally getting it together, talking through their baggage and issues, he and Vala had what Daniel believed to be a passionate, fun, and lasting relationship. But after only a short time during which Vala gave no indication that anything was wrong, she one day disappeared. She left a short note, something about not being worthy and that was it.

Daniel, Mitchell, and the others searched everywhere, both on and off world, that they could think of to find Vala. But once it became apparent that she didn't want to be found and had covered her tracks well, Daniel resigned himself to the fact that he would never see her again.

Daniel also blamed himself. He should have known better. Vala was changing but there were some things in a person's nature that would always be constant. Vala needed to be out, always on the move, not settled in one place for any length of time. She was a flirt, always needing fresh blood to have her fun with. Doubtless, Daniel was simply a convenient play toy while she went through one of her boredom phases.

Daniel sighed and got out of bed. He should have known better and never allowed himself to open up and get hurt like that. Never again, that was for sure. He dressed, ate breakfast, and at the scheduled time made his way to the Gate room. Jack, Mitchell, and Teal'c were there to see him off.

Cam smiled wide. "Listen, Jackson, it's been great working with you. I'm gonna miss you."

"Thanks, Mitchell."

Teal'c grasped Daniel's arm, a sign of respect between Jaffa warriors. Then Teal'c embraced him. "Daniel Jackson, you will do well in representing our galaxy. Good luck."

"You too. I'll be in touch, I promise."

Jack gave Daniel a funny look and asked for about the 14th time, "You sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."

"OK, then," Jack said. They both never spoke of certain things, like friendship and gratitude. It was easier to say, "Sam asked me to send you her love and best wishes."

"Tell her I send the same back to her."

"Will do. You take care, Daniel."

The wormhole was established using an extra crystal that the UA Council had given Earth. It had a limited life and therefore, it caused a great deal of concern for the travelers about to go through the gate. Would they ever come home again? No one really knew what would be waiting on the other side, friend or foe.

Leaving his old team behind, Daniel took his place with his new team. Including Abigail and a number of military personnel and civilian researchers who would serve on one of the UA Council's peacekeeping ships.

They stepped through. The travel was longer and bumpier than any Daniel had ever known. When he came through on the other side, he felt nauseous and dizzy. Apparently gating across the universe took much more out of you than those short jaunts across a galaxy he was used to.

A handful of Councilors were waiting on the other side to greet them. Daniel was overwhelmed. The Council building which housed the Gate, Council chambers, living quarters and other rooms, was impressively beautiful. There were certainly some similarities to Persian and other architecture styles from Earth but nothing entirely compared to this place.

Dr. Lara Werden, Commander Bennet Brice, and their respective teams of research and military were lead off in one direction. Meanwhile, Daniel and Abigail were shown their new private quarters as well as other sights.

Stepping out on a fourth floor balcony at one point during the tour, Daniel's breath was taken away. The city surrounding the Council building was massive, far exceeding Atlantis by at least 100-fold. Ships hovered over in the skies, some landing or taking off from airstrips in the distance.

"Gorgeous," Abigail said, standing at Daniel's side.

"That's certainly one word for it."

The excitement in her voice was apparent. "I've never seen anything like it."

Daniel turned to her and smiled. "And we've got work to do, unfortunately. Meetings to be had, politics to be sorted out, alliances and treaties to be negotiated."

"Are you always this much of a kill-joy?"

"Pretty much," he quipped.

She grinned. "OK. Maybe we can work on that."

TBC…