Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter ran a brush through her short, bushy blonde hair and stepped back to admire the results in the hotel mirror. With a pink shirt & diamond tear-drop necklace, she looked ready for a much anticipated night of shopping.

Sam knocked on the door adjoining her room and Vala Mal Doran's.

"You ready?"

"Just a minute," was the reply. The door opened and Vala stepped into Sam's room, closing the door behind her with a resounding thud. "All ready. Where are we going?" Vala said, curiosity coloring her voice.

"Shopping." Despite questions, Sam didn't divulge their destination. Both she and Vala were in Washington D.C. for an astrophysics conference Sam was speaking at. She'd invited Vala along because the ex-smuggler seemed bored and, well, she'd exhibited good behavior lately. Sam also wanted to treat her to the joys of clothing stores and their last night in D.C. seemed as good a time as any.

-OoO-

Vala ran her fingers through the assorted necklaces displayed on the wall in front of her, contemplating which she should choose. They all cried out and begged her to take them home but she knew she didn't have enough money for that. And this was only the first shop. She wouldn't have money for anything else if she bought them all. But still…

She could see Sam at the jewelry counter, back turned; surely several of these necklaces would not be missed…

Vala reached out, already knowing where her prizes could be hidden on her person, but just as quickly she pulled her hand back and sighed. No, she had resolved to reform her ways. Stealing from this establishment was the exact opposite of that.

She resolutely selected a gold necklace with red rose beads and moved to Sam's side.

"Did you find something you liked?" Sam asked, fingering a silver ring. Vala huffed.

"They have too many wonderful, pretty things. How can they expect a girl to choose between them?"

Sam chuckled and put the ring back. "They hope you won't and will just buy them all."

Vala handed her necklace to the cashier, who smiled sympathetically, and turned back to gaze longingly at the necklaces again. Would one really be missed…?

She shook her head emphatically and turned her back again. No, Vala Mal Doran was turning over a new leaf. She had come so far already; would she really lose it all for a couple of trinkets?

She knew she could hide them well enough, that her friends would still trust her, but would she be deserving of that trust? Images of Daniel, Muscles, & Mitchell smiling at her and congratulating her on her reformation while inside she knew the truth, flashed through her mind. No, for once she would look them in the eye and not be a lie.

-OoO-

Two stores later and Sam was pleasantly surprised. Vala had bought something at every store, but resisted spending all her money in just one establishment. She had also kept a discreet eye on her friend and, as far as she could tell, Vala had not stolen anything.

She smiled slightly as she imagined Daniel's reaction to her report of Vala's activities when they got back to the SGC. He was probably worrying himself sick over her conduct in D.C. and would be relieved to know that Vala appeared to have forsaken her past ways.

"This would look great on you." Vala said, holding up a blue dress with a splattering of sequins across the top for Sam to try on. And she was right, it would look good. Sam scanned for a dressing room.

"Be right back."

-OoO-

An hour later both were contentedly sipping cokes and chewing on French fries at the mall's McDonald's, purchases stacked up neatly against the table.

"Well, this was fun." Vala said, taking a slurp from her cup. Sam smiled and dipped a fry in ketchup before responding.

"Yeah. It's been awhile since I was in a mall. I didn't realize how much I missed it."

"Do they have malls near the SGC?"

Sam nodded. "Not as big as this one though."

Vala licked the salt off her fingers and motioned to the surrounding expanse. "This is a wonderful place. They should have a mall on every world; it would increase trade and put those grumpy shopkeepers out of business."

"You don't suppose they were grumpy at you for a reason?"

Vala shrugged and picked up another fry. "I didn't rip all of them off. Or borrow all their merchandise."

Sam pursed her lips and shook her head. No, not all of them. She thought in amusement. Just most of them.

At that moment her attention flickered to a pair of dark-skinned young men having an argument a couple of stores away. She frowned. It looked like it could get ugly. She looked around for a security guard but saw none.

"Wonder what their problem is?" Vala said, her voice muffled by the fries in her mouth.

"I don't know. But I hope they settle it soon…"

One of the men huffed and started to wander off, but the other grabbed his backpack and ripped it away. The first man turned around to reclaim it but the second one was already opening it.

Sam got to her feet, determined to keep this from escalating as Vala stood up too.

"Is that the bathroom?" She asked, pointing away from the men. Sam nodded and, as Vala hurried towards it, stepped towards the men.

"Is there a problem?" She asked, in her best "military commander" voice. The two men looked at her. The first yelped and tried to break away, the second finished opening the backpack and, before Sam's astonished eyes, pulled out an AK-47, pointing it directly at her.