The Princess and the Problem

spacegypsy1

A Daniel and Vala fairy tale of mayhem and mistaken identify. With SG-1, Sam, and a bit of Jack. RATED T!

CHAPTER ONE

The chiming of the alarm, soft and melodic, woke Daniel. He smiled, reaching over and shutting it off. He never used the snooze, and certainly not in the last few weeks.

The numbers glowed steady. 0430 hours. Due at the base for a 0700 meeting, he'd purposely set the clock early.

Snuggling into the warmth of the body spooned against him, Daniel nuzzled her neck. "You're awake."

It wasn't a question.

"Go back to sleep, Daniel."

"I don't plan on wasting the morning." When she didn't answer he figured she'd probably been awake for some time dreading this. "Come on, Vala. Spit it out."

She made a little spitting sound. "There. Done. Now go back to sleep."

Daniel rolled to his back and placed an arm over his eyes. "We've been over and over this. We've talked it through. It's what we decided. You and me. We accepted the guidelines. Are you going to waste our last morning together for the next few weeks, pouting?" He sighed, once again turning to cuddle against her.

Vala moved slowly, coming fully around to wedge a knee between his legs and wiggle her arm under his far enough for her hand to caress his back. "Yes. Let's not talk. Let's just lie here and breathe."

Laughing, Daniel pulled her closer, burying his nose into her hair.

"It's not funny," she mumbled, then gasped when his hand ran across her bare hip. "Not fair," she complained breathlessly.

"Shh," he whispered, "talk later."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"I don't understand the rules!" Vala buttoned her pants slowly.

"Vala!" Frustrated, Daniel yanked the black T-Shirt over his head. "We have to be at the SGC in thirty minutes."

"Maybe I should stay here." She snapped out, snatching up her jacket.

Eyes narrowed, Daniel threw his hands outward. "What!? Are you nuts!? You can't stay at my place alone, besides, Sam's counting on you. Please put your boots on and let's go."

"Well, I think it's ridiculous that we can't go out on missions together."

He let out a heavy sigh, dropping his head. After a moment, he raised his eyes to her. "It's temporary, they have to okay it, since we're...you know, together."

"Stupid Tau'ri." Vala grumbled, lacing her combat boots. "What do they think? That I'm going to seduce you at every moment? Sneak into your tent? Strip you naked and manhandle you in public!?" She raised dark brows and glared.

Grabbing his jacket, Daniel let out a derisive laugh. "Seeing as that's what you used to do at every turn, every moment, every mission, what else would they think?" He placed a hand on her back, handed her bag to her, and gently shoved her out the door.

"Agh!! I have NEVER stripped you naked...in public!" Vala tossed her hair and scurried forward, got in the car, and slammed the door.

Sitting behind the wheel, Daniel remained quiet for a long moment. "Vala, I don't want to fight. Can't we just follow the SGC's mandate, at least for now? Let's give them time to digest it all." He looked sideways, towards her, grasping her hand and gently squeezing. "We'll be fine. Right now, we take turns off world, unless one of us is needed more than the other. Like this mission. It's a lot of diplomatic treaty work. I have to go. At least Sam got permission for you to help out on the Hammond. So, really, just two weeks apart. Me on the planet and you flying around somewhere above me." He waited for her to reply, but she stared out the passenger window, remaining silent. "Vala?"

"You know, darling," she said, finally looking at him. "I'm quite the diplomat when I choose to be. It is my turn, and this just isn't fair. You, Muscles, Mitchell, Sam, and even Dr. Lee are all going to be gone! We all know I can't work with Marks, he's...well...wonko! He'll be difficult. Sam should know that. I should be able to go to the planet with my team. I mean, really, Daniel, if something goes wrong you all might need me."

"I promise to be very careful, not take any undue risk, if you promise not to blow Sam's ship up while you're trying to hijack it with your tests. Okay?"

Nodding her consent, Vala reached to pat his thigh. "Daniel, we're late," she said with a mischievous grin.

Daniel looked at his watch. "Shit!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"So, Sunshine, you decided to grace us with your presence?" Mitchell shot Daniel a pointed glare.

Jerking his thumb behind him at Vala, Daniel didn't bother to answer his CO. He took a seat, nodding respectfully, and apologetically, at General Landry.

Vala walked the long way around the conference table with her absolute best sullen, dejected look...shoulders slumped, head down and breathing consisting of sighs and groans oscillating from one person to the next as she passed.

Only Sam bothered to give Vala a sympathetic nod. Feeling put out and without anyone commenting on her misery, Vala plopped down in the only chair left. The one across from Daniel. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she ignored him, and wrapped her arms around her knees.

General Landry stood, shot Vala a reproachful glance, and began outlining the mission.

Vala barely paid attention; instead she fidgeted in her seat, obviously bored beyond redemption. Off and on, either Daniel or Mitchell would catch her eye, scowling in a way that conveyed their disproval of her actions. She didn't care. She'd gotten the gist of what the general rambled on about.

They would be taking the George Hammond to some P something or the other, Boldera, the natives called it, where Naquadah mines abounded, Goa'uld slaves had been set free and abandoned years ago, the Stargate had been buried, and the DHD had been destroyed.

Daniel would lead the discussions on a treaty for Naquadah. Mitchell would have a team to map the mines. Teal'c would confer with the five tribes to consolidate and then dig up the Stargate, and Sam and Bill Lee would reconstruct the DHD. SG-2 would assist in helping rebuild the towns and restoring the agricultural basis of their economy. SG-3 would remain on the Hammond as backup, and Vala suspected as a deterrent to her 'escaping' to the planet.

Vala was delegated to the Hammond to create, as well as run, simulations of a hijacking, thus testing the crew and teaching them how to override the takeovers. Blah, blah, blah. In other words, her team would be on the surface wheeling and dealing, camping out, and having a good old time, and she would be darting around over the planet teaching the crew how to get out of trouble. Not very interesting. Boring, to say the least.

Landry was still rambling when Vala raised sultry eyes to Daniel and winked.

"It's not just the technology, or the mines. These people have a store house of Goa'uld treasures to support their effor...."

Vala turned and grinned at General Landry. "Treasures? Did you say treasures?"

"Yes, thank you for finally joining us!" Landry's bush brows twitched in Vala's direction. "There are several abandoned Goa'uld palaces, and thirty or more smaller – Lesser Gods – temples. These have never been raided. The storehouse of goods could be a solid core for the planets' financial base. They need help in selling off the items to boost their economy. The entire planet's economy is close to collapsing...they need our help."

Pausing, the General looked pointedly at each member. "It is their desire to return to a farming based, self sustaining existence. They are willing to let us mine the Naquadah in exchange for our assistance. They can sustain their planet on the money received for the Goa'uld artifacts...treasures... alone, but they have no way to get these items to market."

"See! See!" Vala chirped excitedly, unfolding her legs and leaning forward as she glancing around to each person, "I should go. Who better than me to fence...er...sell Goa'uld trinkets? I'm the expert, as everyone knows...."

General Landry interrupted, "Correct, however, we can have SG-2 tag and catalog the items and bring them to you...for your 'expertise', once the treaty is signed. You will stay on the George Hammond as ordered."

Two hours after the briefing, they were on the ship and racing towards Boldera.

As they approached the planet, Vala's team was cloistered apart from her to discuss their mission while she was sent off to begin her stupid tests!

~TBC