Inscription
Rated: K
Season: 10 or so
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate.
Summary: A DV vignette. He didn't stop her when she reached her hand out to brush his forehead. "No wonder you figured out the gate system, Daniel," she whispered simply. NOTE: Also, if you would be so kind, please read my author's note because I need some help looking for a fanfic story I read once and can't seem to find again :)
AN: Hey everybody! Hope you enjoy this little ditty :D When you get to the end, you'll know what I mean, you can see it so clearly on the show.
AN2: Calling on all avid fanfic readers! I need your help finding a fanfic story I read a while back but can't find again no matter how many searches I run. It's about Daniel having trouble after the events of Hathor. He essentially has a breakdown. Jack takes him and the team off for downtime (I think to Jack's house) and they take turns keeping vigil by Daniel's bedside trying to get him to talk. Sam shares a similar experience from her past showing him that she knows how he feels, and this helps Daniel open up about his experience with Hathor. The story is similar to Maureen T's story "Violated" in that Sam shares about a past experience, but it's definitely not the same. Anyhoo, if any of you know what story I'm talking about, please send me an email at macisgate at yahoo dot com. Much appreciated! Now on with my story...
Best wishes and lots of love,
Christine
Daniel refused to look up from his notebook. Vala was in her usual spot, lying across his desk, feet in the air. He'd felt her eyes boring into him steady for the last ten minutes, magazine forgotten. She was beginning to make him nervous, staying quiet this long. He gave his head a slight shake and squinted his eyes even more at the page before him, hoping she'd take the hint and leave. She didn't.
He started making another notation when the tip of his pencil snapped, and he looked up in exasperation.
His eyes froze as they met Vala's intent gaze. He couldn't look away. Or breathe.
This was not the look she gave him when she was about to drag him off to "do something fun" or the look when she was going to say something flirtatious and inappropriate.
This was her regal look – eyes serious, lips slightly turned with a small smile.
Wise. The look that reversed their roles and made him feel suddenly too young, too small and uncertain. Weighed and found wanting. Vulnerable. Needing her approval or absolution or... something.
He didn't stop her when she reached her hand out to brush his forehead. Her fingers lightly tracing the lines between his eyes.
"No wonder you figured out the gate system, Daniel," she whispered simply. She moved her hand to caress his cheek. Then she got up off his desk and walked out without saying another word.
Daniel sat frozen for a long time before he gave up on returning to his work and went to his quarters instead, still not fully understanding her words.
Until he was washing up before bed.
Daniel leaned over the small sink and let the warm water soothe the slight headache formed from a day of reading. Eventually, he turned off the water and dried his face. He straightened up to look at his reflection in the mirror.
And saw an upside down V inscribed by the lines between his eyes.
The End