Title: Piano Man
Rating: T (for later chapters)
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 & its characters all belong to MGM, Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money has been made.
Summary: On a girl's night out Vala and Sam bump into a certain someone.
A/N- This story has sat on my hard drive 'almost finished' for months. I figure if I start to post chapters it will force me to finish the last little bit. It's the longest fic I've attempted so all feedback much appreciated!
The doors to the club swung shut, dulling the loud throbbing music.
"So where to next?" Sam asked, grateful as the ringing in her ears started to fade. She was getting too old for this.
"Why don't we just head back, Samantha?" Vala suggested, studying her friend. "You look exhausted, beautiful, obviously, but exhausted."
Sam smiled at her comment but shook her head. She'd promised to take Vala out on a girly night months ago, but mission after mission had ruined their plans. She wanted to show the alien a good night out and really let their hair down but she was tired. A few days ago SG-9 had brought back an artefact that was submitting low level energy readings. It had been fascinating at the time but she was now regretting the all-nighters.
"No, it's still early," she insisted trying to hide a yawn.
"Are you sure? I really don't mind. We could just call this the 'preview' and have a proper night out when you're more awake?"
"No," Sam shook her head firmly. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I can manage at least one more place…although maybe somewhere a little quieter?"
Vala smiled and nodded in agreement; grateful the night was continuing. Looping her arm through her friend's they continued their walk. They kept a slow, leisurely pace as they navigated the pavement in their new heels, which neither would admit were starting to rub.
It wasn't long before Vala spotted a sign across the street. Stopping, she grinned at Sam's questioning look and gestured towards the building. "I know just the place Samantha."
Sam looked at the worn sign and raised a doubtful eyebrow. "Trudy's Tavern? I've never heard of it."
"Trust me," Vala promised, steering her friend across the road. "This will be perfect."
Before Sam could question her further, they reached the door and entered the building. It seemed to be a small piano bar. It was well-furnished with some tables scattered around and a bar counter running along the back wall. Over to far end there was a small crowd gathered round a slightly raised stage. Sam couldn't really see the singer but it was a woman with a pretty good voice accompanied by a piano. The soft sound surrounded them and Sam couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.
"You're right- this is perfect."
Vala smiled at the praise as the friends seated themselves at a small table off to the side. The relief of taking the weight off her feet was immense.
"Good evening ladies, my name's Trudy and welcome to our tavern. What can I get you two tonight?"
"Oooh waitress service," Vala smiled in delight. "I love this place even more!" Trudy laughed pleased by Vala's comment. "Do you do any cocktails, maybe a Martini? I ordered this lovely sounding passion fruit one with Daniel but I got kidnapped before I could try it."
"Oh my dear, how terrible," the waitress blinked, totally caught off guard. "It just so happens we do the best cocktails in the state. I'll make up a special passion fruit one especially for you."
"Does it come with one of those little umbrella thingies?" Vala asked hopefully.
"It will for you," the waitress promised.
Vala smiled in glee and turned back to Sam excitedly.
Sam smiled at her friend's delight before turning back to the waitress, "a glass of red wine please, and no umbrella needed for mine."
The waitress laughed, "Coming right up ladies," and walked back to the bar to place their order.
"So," Sam asked curiously, "just how did you know about this place? I didn't think you got to leave the mountain much?"
"Daniel's mentioned it," she shrugged. "He promised he'd bring me here one day. Who knows, maybe this will be where we come on our second 'not a date'."
She'd tried hard not to talk or think about Daniel all evening but it was difficult. The frustrating man was constantly on her mind and he was getting harder to ignore each day.
"Daniel, eh?" Sam smiled, picking up the lead. "So now that we're alone, and can actually hear ourselves have a conversation, you can finally tell me all about the famous date."
"It wasn't a date." Vala corrected with a pout.
"Says Daniel."
"He told me, repeatedly," Vala sighed. "And I think he's annoyed I told you all."
"Probably," Sam chuckled, "but he's rubbish at keeping secrets anyhow, so we would have found out eventually. Come on, I want details! What exactly did he say when he asked you out? Did he call it a 'date'?"
"No, he asked if I'd like to go for dinner…somewhere nice."
"Really?"
"Uh huh, and he started to go red doing that gorgeous embarrassed thing he does, falling over his words telling me about this nice restaurant he knows and how it could be just the two of us."
"It certainly sounds like a date."
"Well, he -"
"Here's your drinks ladies," the waitress interrupted. "One glass of red and one passion fruit surprise." She placed the drink in front of Vala with a grand flare.
Vala clapped her hands together in amazement of the cocktail in front of her. It was bright orange and in a classic cocktail glass. It had sugar around the edge, with several varieties of sliced fruit and she counted at least four umbrellas.
"It looks amazing!" she exclaimed in delight. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, dear. I hope you enjoy it and just holler when you're ready for another." She left them to it.
Sam looked at Vala in amusement, watching as the alien took an experimental sip, rolling the drink around in her mouth before swallowing like a wine connoisseur. Then, she smiled, giving a thumbs up and taking a more enthusiastic swig.
"It's fantastic- would you like to try some?"
"I'm good thanks," Sam waved her off with a hand, taking a sip of her own drink. "Now tell me more about you and Daniel."
Vala's good mood changed a little.
"There's not much to tell," she confessed, poking at one of her umbrellas with her florescent orange straw. "I love him, he tolerates me…barely."
"Vala," Sam soothed reaching out a hand to comfort her. "He does a lot more than tolerate you."
"Not really," she shook his head. "And some days he can't even do that."
"Trust me," Sam insisted. "I've known him a long time, he's like a brother to me. He likes you, a lot- I just don't know if he's worked it out yet."
"Really?"
"Really. It's obvious to everyone. I mean if he didn't like you he wouldn't have taken you out…and you should have seen him when you were missing."
"How so?"
"He was a complete wreck," Sam explained. "I mean, we were all worried about you, obviously, but Daniel…he couldn't sleep, hardly ate. We had to take in turns to 'Daniel-sit' him and make sure he was looking after himself. He was so worried about you and when we found you…" Sam shook her head remembering.
"Well he forgets pretty quickly," Vala looked down at her drink. "He snapped at me earlier for humming. Besides, I came back *three* weeks ago and he hasn't asked me out again. If he was interested in me, he isn't anymore."
"He's probably scared of two things."
Vala raised an eyebrow.
"First," she counted off on her finger, "of all the teasing and secondly, that something will happen to you again."
"You really think that?" Vala considered the idea.
"Yep," Sam took another sip of her wine. "I bet you anything he's waiting to see how tonight goes. As soon as I return you back from our night on the town safe and sound he'll ask you out again."
"I hope so," Vala tried to smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
She drank more of the orange liquid, the taste bursting inside her mouth. For a moment she wondered once again what would have happened that fateful night if she hadn't been snatched. If she'd spent longer at the dinner table, with Daniel, drinking martinis and sampling the delightful looking food. Would they have got to know each other even better, learnt each-others deepest secrets? Despite what he said would there have been any moments, any glimpses to show her that he thought her more than a friend… that it had been a date?
"Just be patient with him Vala," Sam interrupted her musings. "Sometimes Daniel can be a little…"
"Dense? Stupid? Judgmental?-"
"Slow, I was going to say slow," she supplied with a smile. "He can be a little slow sometimes when it comes to women."
"Oh."
"He's told you about his wife?"
Vala nodded.
"It's taken him a long time to get over what happened to her but I think he's ready now to finally move on. With you."
Not convinced, Vala finished the rest of her cocktail and took another look around the bar. The music had stopped and the group had dispersed slightly, most headed for the bar counter.
"Do you think she's going to sing some more?" Vala asked. "She was good."
"She's just having a quick break," the waitress supplied as she walked past their table. "Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing; that's my daughter up there."
"You must be proud," Vala smiled, blocking out all thoughts of her own daughter trying to dominate the galaxy. "She has a real talent."
"Thank you," she smiled. "Are you ready for another round of drinks?" she asked spying the almost empty glasses.
Vala and Sam both nodded.
"Same again?"
"Please."
"No worries, it may take a moment longer," she gestured to the busier than before bar. "It always gets a little busier when she takes a break."
"That's ok," Sam assured the older woman. "There's really no rush."
Now that they had found a quiet pleasant bar where they could actually sit down and have a conversation, she felt she could go on a bit longer. She was enjoying herself a lot more than she had been in the club.
"Did you hear about Walter?" Vala gossiped, "Apparently, according to lt Wilson, do you know her? The one who has a diabetic dog? Anyhow she told me that Walter-"
"What the hell are you two doing here?"
They snapped their heads around to see a bemused Daniel standing beside them, hands in pockets and a disbelieving expression on his face.
TBC...