Daniel Jackson

Dr. Daniel Jackson hurriedly made his way through the halls of the SGC. At two o'clock in the morning there was only one person on base he could share his news with and he rushed to the room. He hadn't discovered the secret to the universe but his find was big enough it needed to be shared.

He banged on the closed door with all his might stopping only when he saw light slip through the crack at the bottom. The door opened to reveal a startled looking Vala. For a moment he was sorry he had woken her, but his excitement took over. Overly eager, as he was, he waited only long enough for her to focus on him.

"Vala! I've got it!" Daniel's excited face studied Vala's stern one for several moments before she spoke.

"Daniel. It's two in the morning. Why aren't you asleep?"

Daniel refused to let his good mood be spoiled by Vala's lack of interest. He pushed through and moved to the middle of her room. Sighing, Vala closed the door and turned to face him.

"Daniel, what can you possibly have to show me at two in the morning?"

"Remember when we went to P3X-494? We found that device with all the ancient writing on it. It's taken me a while but I finally translated it." Daniel paused and looked expectantly at Vala.

"Okay. First of all, I don't remember the device that entirely well. You were mad at me and made me stay as far away from you as I could. All I saw was the box you brought it back in. Second, I give. What does the device say?"

"It talks about granting those with the knowledge of the ages a gift that will bring great joy. Obviously, the inscription was put on before the device was working because it says, 'when completed nothing will compare'. Now the most interesting part of the text talks about increasing life. From what I can make out it means more." He stopped again, waiting for Vala to understand. He saw the passive look in her eyes and knew she wasn't even going to try.

"More, better, longer…"

Suddenly, Vala's eyes were alight with understanding.

"Longer? Longer life? As in what Teal'c has?"

Daniel grinned.

Doubt began to seep into Vala's eyes as she mulled over what she had been told.

"How?"

"I don't know. I figured that would be something Sam could figure out. I have to wonder though…"

Vala looked at him steadily.

"Wonder what?"

Daniel glanced at her. "Well, if the device was supposed to give you long life, why would the Ancients just abandon it with their outpost? I would think they would have wanted to take it with them."

Vala moved to sit on the edge of her bed and she looked up at Daniel.

"Daniel." He turned to look at her. "Maybe there was a very good reason they left it behind. Obviously, they didn't want it. We should pay attention to that little fact. Don't you think you should study it more before you have Sam try to find a way to turn it on?"

Daniel just looked at her. He couldn't believe how much she had changed since he first met her three years ago. He studied her anxious face carefully. This woman had gone from an annoying, flirty, thief to someone who could balance him out stride for stride. The Vala he met would be demanding they turn it on at once; however, the Vala sitting in front of him was urging caution. It was a side of her he was still adjusting to.

"Vala, I admire your caution, really I do. But if I didn't think it was safe, I would never have mentioned turning it on."

"Daniel, I want to believe you, but I really think we should wait. Something doesn't feel right to me."

"Okay. Well, if something does go wrong I give you permission to say, 'I told you so'." That earned him a small smile from her.

"Okay."

Daniel stayed and talked to her for a little while longer, but decided to let her have a few more hours of sleep. As he made his way back to his lab, he couldn't help but smile to himself in eagerness as he anticipated Sam's arrival.

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This is a story I wrote a few years ago. There is a lot more to come, but please, let me know what you think as it goes. Thanks!!