Series: Idioms - A series of stand-alone stories based off random idioms.
A/N: All definitions can be found in From the Horse's Mouth by John Ayto.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Idiom: plan b: an alternate strategy.
Plan B
Even as he broke into the locker, Daniel knew what he was doing was wrong. He was only able to allay his guilty conscience by remembering why he was doing it in the first place. Vala. She refused to talk with him and this was the only way he knew where she had no choice but to face him. So, with a deep breath, he grabbed the devices he needed and high-tailed it out of there. Hopefully no one would notice they were missing and this plan wouldn't blow up in his face.
()()()()
"We need to talk."
Vala jumped at the unexpected voice and looked up to see Daniel entering Sam's lab. She'd believed this was a good hiding place since Samantha was away on the Hammond and there was really no reason for anyone to be there. She wasn't sure who she should blame more; Daniel for knowing her too well or herself for allowing him that privilege. Well, it didn't matter because she had no intention of giving him what he wanted. Pasting on her best mega-watt smile, Vala made sure to keep the desk between them before responding.
"I'm rather busy at the moment, Daniel. Perhaps later?" To prove her point, she indicated the large stack of reports beside her that she was supposed to be working on but her smile faltered as Daniel made his way around the desk.
"Don't worry, this won't take long." he promised with a gentle smile she didn't trust.
She was about to reply when she felt something familiar snap onto her wrist. Looking down in dread, she saw a kor mak bracelet and her eyes darted to Daniel's arm just in time to see him place its twin there.
"Are you insane!?" she asked, trying to pull the device off as she backed away from him. Both actions proved futile as she found herself hit a wall with Daniel standing just a few feet from her. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm trying to get you to talk to me." he responded calmly but Vala could see a nervous glint in his eyes.
"And you thought this was a good idea? You are insane! Hell, this sounds like one of my ideas!"
"What else am I supposed to do?" he asked, slight exasperation in his voice. "You won't talk to me and you've been avoiding me for days. I only want you to stop running and tell me what's wrong so we can fix it."
"There is nothing to fix and right now the only thing wrong with me is you! Now, I'm going to find someone to help me get this bloody thing off." Vala stalked past him and headed for the door.
Daniel watched Vala's retreating back and sat down with a defeated sigh. Okay, so maybe he hadn't thought this plan out very well but he honestly didn't know what else to do. He wasn't going to let her run away from what ever was bothering her. Eventually she'd have to stop and talk to him. Right?
()()()()
"Cameron, I need your help."
Ready to cast off some smart remark, Cam looked up at the familiar voice with a grin but it faltered when he spotted the gold band on her upheld arm. "Dammit, Vala, what did you do now?"
"It wasn't me this time, I swear. It was Daniel." she defended herself, her voice somewhere between offended and petulant.
"Jackson?" the colonel asked incredulously. "Why would he do something so stupid?"
"Perhaps he's finally gone off the steep end?"
"Deep end, Princess." Cam corrected with a chuckle. "And you're lying. How 'bout the truth this time?"
"Fine." she said in a dejected voice, taking a seat in the chair in front of his desk. "He claimed that I refuse to talk to him, which is absolute nonsense. I talk non-stop most of the time and he's always trying to get me to shut up. Just last week-"
"Vala!" Cam interrupted, rubbing his temples. He so did not need this today. "The point, please?"
"Oh, right. Anywho, he says that this is the only way he can get me to stay with him long to tell him what's bothering me. Just because I said I wouldn't marry him, the man thinks something is wrong. He thinks I've been avoiding him. Seriously, how egotistical is that? He's not the only one around here with a job to do."
"Wait a minute." Cam held up a hand to stop her rant long enough for him to take everything in. One thing stuck out and he glanced at her carefully before continuing. "Rewind a bit. Jackson asked you to marry him and you said no?"
"That's not the point!" she yelled, jumping to her feet. "I simply want your help in removing this bracelet. Since Samantha is off on her ship and I can't find Bill, you're my last resort. You have to help me."
"He can't help you, Vala." came a familiar voice from the open doorway. "Only I know where the key is."
Vala turned, fear and anger warring for top position in her chest right below love. She attempted to push them all aside but knew Daniel had seen each emotion.
"So, are you ready to talk now?"
"I'll just be going." Cam said with a decisive nod, kissing her forehead as he went by. "Don't kill him, Princess."
"Cameron!" Vala hissed, trying to grab his sleeve but he was already out the door. She was alone with her Daniel. Crossing her arms over her chest, she turned her back on the man and refused to speak. She knew if she started, she'd never be able to stop until the entire truth was out and that just would not do.
"Come on, sweetheart." Daniel's coaxing voice reached her as he placed a hand on each of her shoulders. "You've got to talk to me. I can't fix this if I don't know what's wrong."
"I've already told you, there's nothing to fix, Daniel." Vala told him coldly, steeling herself against what she was about to say. "It was fun while it lasted but I'd never meant for this to get so serious. I want out."
"You don't mean that."
"I most certainly do. Now, give me the key and leave."
There was silence for a moment and Vala feared/hoped he was about to capitulate but suddenly the hands on her shoulders were forcing her to turn and face him.
"When we started this, you promised you weren't messing with me. I trusted you then and I trust you now. I know you love me as much as I love you. Just tell me what's wrong."
"Oh, Daniel, can't you just let this go?"
"No, because that would mean letting you go and I can't do that." He trailed a finger down her cheek, smiling again as he continued to stare into her eyes. "Tell me what has you running scared."
Vala was about to refute his assumption when she felt the first tear fall and she knew the moment Daniel pulled her into his arms that she wasn't going to be able to hold back any longer. Clinging to him like a lifeline, she allowed herself this purge, only vaguely noticing as he led them to the over-stuffed chair Cameron kept in the corner of his office. He sat, pulling her onto his lap and she continued to sob as she curled into him. Eventually she had no more tears to cry but she still held on, not wanting to lose the comfort his arms afforded. Not yet. After a while, Daniel lifted her face so there eyes connected.
"Baby, you have to tell me what's wrong. You're scaring me."
"I-I can't. You-You'll hate me."
"Never." Daniel told her in a firm voice that held no room for argument. "No matter what you tell me, no matter how bad it may seem, I could never hate you. I love you, Vala and that will never change."
"It may after what I have to say."
"I doubt that but we'll never know if you don't tell me."
"All right. I went to see Carolyn a couple weeks ago. You know, to have her check over a few things. She ran some tests..." Vala trailed off and looked down, not wanting to see disappointment or, worse, hatred in Daniel's eyes.
"Now you're really scaring me, Vala." he said, lifting her face to look at him again. "What did Carolyn find? Are you ill?"
"No, I'm not sick, though I almost wish that were the case." This time Vala kept her eyes on Daniel's, knowing she was going to have to face this eventually. "The Ori, they...when I was pregnant with Adria...they changed something inside me. Daniel, I can't have anymore children."
"Is that all?" he asked with a creased brow.
"What do you mean, is that all? Don't you understand, Daniel? I can't give you children. Ever. And don't tell me you don't want any. I know you better than that."
"Vala, I would love nothing more than to have children with you." He grabbed her chin when she tried to turn away. "But the fact that you can't doesn't mean I love you any less. Being with you, loving you, means more to me than any children we may or may not have had together."
'But, Daniel-"
"No, you said it yourself; you know me. We've fought too long and too hard to get to where we are today. I am not going to give that up. I am not going to give you up. I love you."
"I know, Daniel, I love you, too. But you deserve a woman who can give you the family you've always wanted."
"You are the only woman who can give me that, Vala. You're my family now. And just because we can't have children of our own, it doesn't mean we'll never be parents."
"What do you mean?"
"Have you ever thought about adoption?"
"You'd be willing to do that?"
"Of course I would. I've been in the system, I know what it's like. If we can save even one child from going through what I did, I'll be happy."
"Oh, Daniel, I love you so much." Vala threw her arms around his neck and placed a quick kiss to his lips. Tears were falling anew as she rested her face in the crook of his neck. "I am so sorry I didn't talk to you sooner."
"It's all right, Vala, but I hope next time you'll come to me. There isn't anything we can't get through as long as we're together."
"I'll remember that, darling." Vala pulled back and stared into Daniel's eyes, a smile on her face.
"Good." He grinned back, placing a hand to her cheek. "Are we okay now?"
"Oh, I think we're more than okay, darling."
"So, does that mean you're going to marry me?"
"Yes." she grinned but her eyes widened in surprise when he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a familiar box. "You kept the ring with you?"
"Of course I did." He answered, pulling out the ring and placing it on her trembling finger. "I wasn't willing to give up on us and I never will be. You're stuck with me forever, Vala."
"I like the sound of that." She smiled again and, this time when she kissed him, there was nothing quick about it.
The End