Disclaimer: Still don't own Stargate.

A/N: This is another one that's been heavily edited from its original state. Hope you guys like this revised version.

No More Running

Daniel awoke feeling refreshed and happy. Happier than he'd been in a long time. It only took him a moment to remember why he was feeling so euphoric and he grinned at the memory. He and Vala had finally gone out on a real date last night and everything had been perfect. Dinner at a nice restaurant followed by a romantic movie. No karaoke, though. Instead, he'd brought her home and they'd made love. Some time in the middle of the night he'd awoken to find Vala studying him with that adorably contemplative expression she wore whenever she was trying to puzzle out a particularly vexing problem. The sight had made him smile and, before he could stop himself, he'd told her he loved her. There had been tears in her eyes as she kissed him and they made love again.

The grin he wore now quickly faltered, however, when he reached for her only to discover the other side of the bed was cold and empty. He shot up and looked around the room. She wasn't there. In fact, there was absolutely no evidence of her having been there at all. He could feel panic rising in his chest but clamped down on the emotion quickly, telling himself that she must have gotten up early to take a shower or something. He refused to believe that he was just a one-night stand to her, not after everything they'd shared.

He searched the entire apartment, knowing he wouldn't find her but not allowing logic to sway him. He needed to believe. When he reached the kitchen, he spied a piece of paper perched against the coffee maker. Picking it up, he chuckled a little at how well Vala seemed to know him even as the thought caused his heart to clench again. If she knew him so well, why the hell had she left? Pushing the thought aside, he focussed on reading the note.

Daniel,

I awoke early this morning and decided it best to take a taxi back to the base. You looked so peaceful and adorable that I didn't want to wake you. Besides, I don't think either of us wants the entire base gossiping about us coming in early together, and me still in the same clothes I left in the night before. There is enough talk without putting more kindling on the fire. Anywho, last night was fun and I'll see you later.

Toodles,

Vala

Fun? She was referring the life-altering experience they'd had last night as fun? He was aware she hadn't said she loved him after his own declaration last night but he knew she was cautious with her emotions. He was willing to wait for her, but he wasn't willing to let her run away from her feelings. He wouldn't let her hide behind her walls without putting up a hell of a fight. He allowed his anger to build and propel him into action, hurriedly dressing and driving to Cheyenne Mountain in record time. As he made his way though the corridors of the SGC, Daniel wasn't even cognizant of the wary looks being sent his way or the personnel scattering to get out of his way as he stormed by. His mind was focussed on only one objective, finding Vala.

And just as Vala knew his weakness for coffee in the morning, he knew hers for sweets, so he quickly made his way to the commissary. As he rounded the corner, he saw her coming out with her head bowed, seemingly in deep thought. He didn't even take the time to calm himself before making his way to her. In her contemplative state, he was able to sneak up behind her and grab her elbow to ensure she couldn't run away.

"We need to talk." he whispered in her ear, feeling her tense under his hold.

"About what, darling?" she asked as she turned with a huge, false grin plastered over her face. "Do you have a fun new artefact for us to look at?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Vala." he responded, studying her eyes. He could see annoyance on the surface but it was only a thin layer over the fear in their grey depths. The sight bolstered his confidence and he pinned her to the wall with his arms on either side of her so she couldn't escape. "Why did you leave this morning?"

"Darling, we're drawing a crowd." Her eyes darted around nervously, focussing on anything but him.

"You've never cared much about an audience before." Daniel shrugged, not taking his focus from her. At the moment, he really didn't care who witnessed this scene. "What are you so afraid of?"

Her eyes finally met his, raw anger spitting fire at him, and she attempted to flee but he simply moved in closer.

"Oh, no you don't." He took Vala's chin in his hands, gently manoeuvring her attention back toward him. "You're not hiding from me this time. There's nowhere to run this time."

"Who's running? I merely thought you might wish to continue this in a more private setting." Her voice was light but he could hear the slight tremor in it.

"Nope, I'm good. You guys good?" Daniel finally turned to acknowledge the group of curious onlookers behind him, taking in what he knew was referred to as the "Vala & Daniel Show" amongst SGC personnel. When they grinned and nodded, he retuned his attention to Vala. "See, everyone is good with this. Now, answer my question."

"And what question would that be?" she asked, defiance shining in her eyes now as she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

"Why did you leave this morning without a word?"

"I left a note, Daniel. I was trying to be discreet. I didn't think you'd want everyone to know about what happened last night." She glanced over his shoulder with a sigh. "Apparently privacy isn't as important to you as I'd thought."

"Vala, I don't give a damn who knows about us. The only thing I care about is how you feel about it, and if privacy is the only way to get you to talk, fine, let's go." He took her elbow again and pulled her through the corridors without a word.

"Daniel, where are we going?" she asked as they entered the elevator, exhaling heavily when he refused to answer. "Honestly, darling, this is a strange time for you to go silent on me. I don't understand why you're so angry anyway. If I bruised your ego, I'm sorry."

Daniel refused to rise to the bait, leading her out of the elevator as the door opened and he didn't speak until they were safely inside his quarters.

"Private enough for you?" he asked as he locked the door.

"Is that really necessary?" she asked as she pulled free of his grip and started pacing the small confines of the room. She reminded Daniel of a caged animal and the image only spurred his anger.

"Vala." he said warningly.

"Fine, I suppose this will do." she sighed and stopped moving for a moment, facing him with another glare. "Now, you wanted to talk?"

"Vala, I want to know why you left this morning. The truth, this time." he warned when he saw her mouth open. "No more of this privacy or discretion crap. Why did you run?"

"Really, Daniel, I didn't run. I simply needed a change of clothes so I called for a cab and left. Don't make more out of it than it was."

"More out of what, your leaving or what happened last night?" Daniel was seething as he awaited an answer. When he saw shock cross her face before being hidden behind her ever-present mask, he wanted to punch something. Instead, he took a deep breath and silently waited for her to answer his question. After a short battle of wills, his patience was rewarded with her capitulation.

"Daniel, we had fun last night. The dinner was lovely, the film was sweet, and the sex was fantastic. Why do you insist on making more out of that than necessary?"

"More than-Dammit, Vala! We made love lastnight." He made certain to emphasise those two words, hoping to convey exactly how he felt about their night together. He'd be damned if he let her belittle it, no matter how scared she was. "It meant something to me and I thought it meant something to you, too. No, I know it meant something to you. I saw it in your eyes, felt it in your touch, heard it in your voice."

"There is no need to get all...poetic, Daniel." she huffed in frustration but refused to meet his gaze. "I don't know what you think you saw, felt, or heard, but maybe I'm just a better actress than you assumed."

"No." he said emphatically. "I've known you long enough to know when you're messing with me. Last night was real, you're just too scared to admit it."

"Well, it's obvious you don't know me as well as you think. Otherwise you would know I'm not capable of being genuine. You're forgetting that I used to make a living as a con artist. I'm very good at making people see only what they want."

"Vala-" he started but was interrupted as she continued to rant.

"You said it yourself, Daniel. I use sex as a weapon to keep myself from forming any real relationships."

"Vala, that was over two years ago. You've grown beyond that." She scoffed at his words but he forged ahead. "You have formed lasting, meaningful relationships. Mitchell, Sam, Teal'c, Carolyn, Cassie. Hell, even Jack goes to see you before me whenever he's in town."

"That's different, those are friendships." she said softly, still unable to look him in the eye. "What you're asking from me is more than I can give."

"What am I asking of you, that you stop running scared and accept this? Accept us. I love you, Vala, and I know you love me, too."

"I never said that, Daniel!" This time her eyes met his and there was fire in them but it was what lay beneath that urged him on.

"You didn't have to, I saw it in your eyes."

"You didn't see anything." she told him stubbornly. "I was perfectly willing to keep this-this thing between us light. Why did you have to complicate it by telling me...by saying that."

"You can't even say it, can you? You can't say the word 'love'." Daniel could feel fear creeping past his anger as he realised he may not get through this wall of hers. He knew she loved him but, if he couldn't get through to her, they had no hope of a future.

"Of course I can say it. I say it all the time."

"Not when it matters."

"This is ridiculous." She made to move toward the door but Daniel caught her arms and wouldn't let go.

"If it's so ridiculous, just say it. What have you got to lose?"

"I-I...I can't. I'm sorry." She closed her eyes, bowing her head in defeat. "Can't you just let this go?"

"No, I can't." Daniel placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look him in the eye. "It's taken me years to admit to both of us how I feel about you. Now that I have and now that I'm certain you feel the same way, I'm never letting you go."

"But, Daniel, I don't know how to do this-this...relationship thing. I'm simply no good at it."

"I've got news for you, sweetheart, neither am I." He smiled a little as he brushed an errant tear from her cheek. "The last meaningful relationship I had was with my wife. It's taken me a long time to get to this place, a place where I'm finally ready to risk my heart again, and it's all because of you."

His words hung heavily in the space between them and he waited, allowing Vala the time she needed to work through whatever barrier was holding her back. He felt a slight panic when she pulled away, afraid his love wasn't going to be enough, but breathed a sigh of relief when she merely sat on the edge of his bed. He sat besude her but didn't touch, knowing she had to come to him in her own time. If they stood any chance, she had work through this on her own. It seemed like a lifetime before she spoke but when she did, the emotion in her voice was undeniable.

"Daniel, I need you to understand something. The last honest relationship I had with a man was my fiancé. I was seventeen and I...I'd loved him with my entire being. He was such a gentle soul, quiet and shy. He was quite a lot like you, in fact. When I was taken as...host to Qetesh, he tried to fight for me but was severely punished for his insolence. It was all my fault. After I was separated from Qetesh, I made my way back to the village, hoping to...I don't know, atone for her sins, I suppose. But as I walked through the once familiar streets, I was met with suspicion and contempt. I'd hoped Carden would be different, that he'd see that it hadn't been me who brutalised our people. He'd loved me so I naively believed he'd understand. When I saw him in the town square, however, he looked upon me with such anger, such hatred, I could feel my heart ripping in two. This man who'd pledged to love me, to protect me, was the first to throw a stone. The rest of my people joined in and I almost didn't get out alive. Part of me wished I hadn't. But I did and that day I made a vow to never allow myself to become so vulnerable again. I'd never let myself rely on anyone again, least of all a man. Then I met you and you showed me a world where vulnerability is not considered a weakness. A place where people care freely for one another, not strings attached. For the first time since Qetesh took me, I felt I could finally get close to people. I now have friends, family, and it's all because of you, Daniel." Vala stopped to take a deep breath, finally looking him in the eye. "I do care for you. I-I love you, Daniel. But I'm so damaged, so broken, I don't know that I can be what you need. I'm not strong enough and I'm afraid I'll only end up hurting you. I couldn't bear that."

The love Daniel saw in her eyes now was so palpable, he had no choice but to pull her into his arms. After a moment's hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight grasp and he simply continued to hold her for a few moments, knowing they both needed this time. Once he felt stable enough to speak, he pulled back slightly, never letting his grip on her falter, and looked into her eyes.

"Vala, you are strong. In fact, you are one of the strongest people I've ever known." When he felt her start to pull away, he held her tighter, stopping the argument he knew she was about to make. "You are. Not many people could go through what you have and come out alive, let alone able to rebuild their life. I've never known a person more resilient than you. No matter what life has thrown at you, you bounce back stronger than before. You may be damaged, but you'll never be broken. As for hurting me, as long as I know you love me, there is nothing we can't get through together. All I need is you."

"I need you, too, Daniel." she said in a watery voice.

"Good, because I'm here to stay." He kissed her forehead. "You've healed me, Vala, and I want to do the same for you."

"You have, darling. Before I met you, I was broken. Don't argue." she told him quickly, placing her hand over his mouth. "I was and I know it. But I'm not broken anymore. You put me back together. I need you to know what you're in for, though. I'm new to this whole relationship business so I'm not sure what to do. But, if you're willing to try, I'd like to see where this goes. I do love you."

Daniel smiled and pulled her back into a fierce embrace. "I love you so much, sweetheart. And I promise I'll be here no matter what. You are not going to be able to get rid of me."

"Good, because you're stuck with me, too."

"I'm definitely okay with that." he said, laughing as he pulled back once more to look her in the eye. "So, no more running?"

"No more running." she confirmed, bringing her lips to his for a kiss.

Daniel couldn't believe his luck. This beautiful, amazing, strong woman loved him and he couldn't be happier. He'd thought he'd never feel this way again but now he couldn't imagine a future without her. He knew, no matter what happened, they'd get through it. Together.

The End