Before the Fire
-Spoilers for Season 9. Episode 2. Avalon part II. Missing Scene.
They were bound together back to back. The fire had been lit and was coming towards them. Vala could already feel the heat and she just stared ahead, knowing the searing, blinding pain that was to come; the only difference was that this time she could feel the presence of Daniel behind her.
Her heart ached at the knowledge that he would die along with her and she was surprised when he gripped her hands with his own. It was a partial grip but the connection made her stronger, more prepared to face the fire which was inching ever closer.
"Vala," Daniel began, his breathing increasing as the fire encircled them. "I am so sorry."
"This isn't your fault Daniel-" Vala insisted, turning her head to get a partial look at him. "If anything, this is mine- if I hadn't been so greedy-"
"If I hadn't told the Doci about what we believe…" Daniel interrupted, turning his own head to catch a glimpse of Vala out of the corner of his eye, their hands still clasped together.
"…well it doesn't matter now whose fault it is." Vala pointed out painfully as the fire came ever closer. "What matters is that we are going to die here."
"Yeah… I'm still hoping that the SGC figures something out…"
"They're running out of time."
"I'm well aware…" Daniel agreed, trailing off as the fire encircled them one last time.
Deep down he was scared, and he knew that Vala was scared too. So he gripped her hands as tight as he could, knowing that the liquid fire would be pouring into their section of the Ara in a matter of mere moments. And to his surprised, she gripped just as hard back.
"Daniel, I am sorry." Vala whispered, trying futilely to ignore the heat and the pain as she clasped his hands with all her strength. "I am so sorry."
"Yeah…" Daniel agreed clasping her hands tightly too, their fingers intertwined. "Me too…"
And then the pain was gone and they were safe at the SGC. Daniel awoke to see Carolyn Lam standing over him and a moment after he awoke Vala sat up with a start. He looked over and caught her eye as she rubbed her neck. Something profound had passed between them as they sat before the fire, they had shared a moment in the light of their imminent death and it was a moment that Daniel was not going to soon forget- and neither for Vala.
A/N: Hey guys! New Dala update. Not my sequel which is on permenant hiatus in my mind, but while I was attempting to study today this little tidbit jumped into my mind as I was watching Avalon II. Something just struck me as off with the ending scene, so I added this. A little moment between dear Daniel and Vala.