The Curse
Spacegypsy1
Good Mission? All is well? Jack is tagging along? Please! SG-1 and Jack spell trouble. Daniel/Vala, Sam/Jack pairings.
Chapter One: All's Well Until It Ends Badly.
What a beautiful day! What a great mission! What an incredible find! They were packing up and heading home early. They'd be back at base at least an hour before their scheduled 2200 hours check in. Mitchell was grinning, Sam was humming. Teal'c was practically smiling. Vala and Daniel were bickering. And General Jack O'Neill was thinking, Life is good.
By 2030 hours they were walking single file, spread out, down the little dirt path to the Stargate. Only a half a click from town. Sam took point, Jack behind her, Teal'c behind him, then Mitchell. Daniel dragged his feet along behind Mitchell and Vala was on their six.
Jack caught up with Sam and leaned over her shoulder to whisper. "You think having her on our six is a good idea?"
"You invited yourself on this mission. Your little vacation as you called it. This is SG-1, she's as capable as you… no, she's as capable as any of the other four of us."
"Was that a slur?"
She could feel his grin without even turning around. "Yes."
"Okay, thought so. I'm gonna go pester Daniel." He left his position and wandered back to walk beside Daniel thinking he sure was having a good time. He missed this.
"Jack. What are you doing?"
"Oh, just checking on you. It's dark and scary out here and I thought you might like some company."
Daniel took his vest light and pointed it into Jack's face. He was rewarded with scrunched eyes and a grimace. "Go away, Jack. I'm not in the mood."
"She really knows how to get to you doesn't she?" He ducked back before Daniel could bring the light closer to his eyes.
"Nice light." Jack told Vala as he stepped into position beside her.
"Thanks. It is rather cute isn't it?"
"Oh yeah, peachy. You know how to operate that thing?" He was looking down at the P-90 in her hands.
"Well it is lit, it is pulsing and it is adorable. What else do I need to know?"
He rolled his eyes. "Hey, if you don't mind, I think I'll take the six."
"Sure. Go ahead."
They were lit up like a Christmas tree, each with some type of light on. P-90's, flashlights, lights on their vests, and Vala had the small lantern she'd bought at the town market giving off a pink strobe like light. She had her eyes on the cute little light and didn't notice the lightning until a bolt struck the DHD dead center just as they approached.
The center crystal exploded, shot sparks into the air and fizzled.
"Son of a bitch!" Mitchell ran to the DHD where Sam stood, stunned.
"I can't believe it. They don't break like that. Teal'c have you ever seen anything like this before?" Sam started unbelievingly at the shattered crystal.
"I have not. Perhaps it was weakened by the crack we discovered on arrival."
"It worked fine. I tried it the minute we noticed the crack." Daniel was inspecting the broken pieces. "I dialed PR2-299 that deserted planet. The gate activated."
"Well, I don't think it's gonna work now." Mitchell said with a disgusted sigh. "Crap." Let's head back to town. No sense standin' around waitin' for another bolt to fry us all."
"We'll get them to send us a Naquada generator when they radio in, and we'll dial out on the lap top tomorrow." Jack was relaxed and standing in the middle of the team.
"I can't believe this." Sam repeated, awed by the incident.
"Let's go." Mitchell headed back, taking point. "Let's buddy up, two by two. Stay close. And step up the pace."
……
They hadn't been in the small hostel more than ten minutes when the storm roared in like a Northwester. Sheets of sideways rain, wind gusts that rattled the old building and killer lightning.
The innkeeper had lit a blazing fire and shuffled off to bed. There were only five chairs around the only table in the main room. Vala paced unable to sit still while the others sat around the table.
Daniel watched her knowing she had an aversion to storms. Why hadn't he thought to ask her about it before now?
Mitchell played with his pocket knife, pitching it into the wood table again and again. "You people are cursed. Never, not once, have I gone through the Stargate, boarded a ship or been beamed across the universe and had a damned thing go right."
"Landry will call in soon. We'll have him send the generator; we'll be out of here in no time." Jack was still having a good time.
Sam thought about saying something to Cam about the knife, but the table was so littered with scratches and scars you couldn't see where his knife went into the wood.
"Yeah, and if some twister comes rollin' down the street, we're all gonna be Dorothyed outta here." The knife hit the table and wobbled before falling over. Mitchell picked it up and flung it down again.
"Oh!" Vala stopped her pacing. "If we had one of those plastic circle thingies we could play that Twister game."
In unison the remaining four team members turned their heads and stared at her. Jack burst out laughing. "I'm loving this!"
……
Vala was still pacing when Landry radioed in. They could barely hear him above the storm and the static. Vala came to stand beside the table and Daniel could see she was trembling. He pulled at her wrist and tugged her on to his knee. "Have a seat." He said nonchalantly. He turned away to the conversation between Jack and Landry.
Vala felt his hand on her back, gently rubbing up and down. Just a friendly gesture to calm her nerves. That's all it was. He could be so sweet sometimes.
"Alright, campers, here's the deal," Jack was looking at Mitchell, "You heard the man, they're not sending anything until this storm blows over. Base will check in at two hour intervals, so let's try to get some sleep. Two hour watch, they're's six of us. So, Mitchell, you make the schedule. I'm just hanging out; I can take whatever you want."
"I say, Daniel and Vala, first watch and the 2430 check in. Then General O'Neill, and Sam at 2440, Teal and me at 0240, Teal'c 0440, 'cause he never sleeps anyway, then me again, but we'll all probably be up by six."
……
Daniel added wood to the fire to chase the damp chill from the air. Vala paced. Neither said much as the storm continued to rage around them. Vala wandered over to stand beside Daniel, who sat at the table writing in his journal by the firelight. He looked up and smiled. She smiled then turned and stood before the fire. Setting the pen down he watched her a moment and started to rise when the radio beeped. "Sierra Gulf One?"
No go. SGC would try again in about two hours. Vala shrugged her shoulders grinning nervously and Daniel took her hand, pulling her into his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder and drifted into restless sleep.
"Wake up sleepyhead, it's almost time to change the guard." Daniel shook her shoulder and she mumbled, placed her hand at the back of his neck and fiddled with his hair. He sat up straight. "Vala. Wake up."
Mumbling, she kissed his neck, lips warm and moist. "I'm awake."
The fire crackled as rain pelted the window. Unwittingly, his hand rubbed her back. His head slanted down, "You're awake?"
"Very." Her fingers kept up their play at his neck. Slowly she tilted her head up. He felt her lips like a brand under his jaw. He closed his eyes and lightly kissed her temple. "Vala. What are you doing?" Whispered words without much meaning. His lips wandered across her ear, to her cheek.
"Hmmm? What are you doing?" She murmured as her mouth burned a trail up to the side of his mouth, kissing lightly, slowly.
"I asked first." Unhurried, he tasted the side of her cheek.
"Just wondering."
"Wondering what?" His breathe caught as she moved her warm lips ever so slightly.
"What it would be like." Sliding her lips to cover his fully she hesitated.
"Like this." Gentle warmth enveloped her lips as he opened to her, tasting leisurely. They explored with long wet testing kisses, both holding back, both still wondering.
Standing in his door frame, leaning, hands deep in his pockets, Jack watched. He turned away as not to intrude, thinking they reminded him of that old Tracy-Hepburn movie Sam made him watch. Yep, he was having a real good time.
Daniel, hands on her shoulders, gently pushed her back. In the firelight there was no mistaking the delight on her lovely face. "We need to wake the others." Hands skimming her arms a moment, he let go taking her with him as he stood.
……
Leaving their replacements, Sam and Jack, at the table they wandered off up the stairs. Vala walked beside Daniel, fidgeting nervously. The wind howled, lightening flashed and things were going bump in the night. The accommodations were sparse in the tiny rooms. Stuffed straw mattresses on handmade frames, but with remarkably clean and comfortable linens, a small roughhewn table and chair and a lantern were all that graced the narrow rooms.
"You okay?" Daniel asked stepping into Vala's room.
"I'd feel more comfortable knowing you were close by, you are taking the room next to me aren't you, Daniel?"
"Sure." Daniel lit the oil lamp, and closed the thread bare curtains. Something thumped against the window and Vala jumped, leaning into Daniel.
Instinctively, his arm went around her waist, then he let go. "If you need me, just let me know." He left her standing there looking vulnerable and wide eyed.
……
"No cards?" Jack sat at the table, twiddling his thumbs and suddenly wishing he'd chosen the cabin for his vacation. But no way was he going to tell that to Carter.
"No Sir." Sam searched around otherwise deserted room for anything remotely resembling entertainment. She hadn't expected to find a book, a chess game or playing cards, but she explored anyway.
"Whatda you guys do for fun?"
"Worry, don't you remember?"
"No. But it's not a good plan. What're you worried about?"
A pop of glowing embers shot from the stone fireplace and Sam brushed them back with a dilapidated broom. She turned, the radiant firelight silhouetting her. "What's to worry about? We no longer have a DHD. There's a killer storm – which by the way does not seem to be dissipating in the least – Cam thinks we're cursed and I'm beginning to think he's right. And…I'm worried about Daniel."
"Daniel?" Jack stood and walked to her. "Why are you worried about Daniel?"
"He's been in a foul mood for over three weeks. I keep making sure he has lots of coffee and I try to communicate with him, but he won't talk."
"Hmmm, well, I wouldn't worry. I think I have an idea of what's got our spacemonkey jumping around in his cage." Jack wrapped an arm around Sam's waist.
She removed his arm. "We're on duty."
"Right. Sorry. Old habits…not really old habits, kind of new…nevermind."
"So, what's your theory professor?" Sam was smiling up at Jack. Her face was aglow from the blaze behind her and he stared for the longest time.
"It was a theory. But I got a glimpse, okay, a bit more than a glimpse of evidence to support my theory. I'm no theoretical astrophysicist, and we all know I have to use spell check to even write it, but…"
She looked at him expectantly and his eyebrows waggled. "But…?" She prompted.
"Our archeologist – on duty at the time, by the way –was exchanging lip locks with our newest alien addition, by this very fire."
"Jack." She said with complete doubt. "They've been at each others throats for three weeks. I find it hard to believe…you're not kidding are you?" She could see it in his expression, in his dark eyes and knowing smile.
"So that's what has been bothering him." Sam laughed. "Oh boy, that's awful! Poor Daniel. He's been in denial so long; I forgot that that was my first impression. The way he acted as if he could barely tolerate her. I thought something like this might be the case, but it's been two years. God! He's such a nitwit. Two years… oh, well, I guess I understand."
"Yeah, try eight."
Sam grinned, "Oh, this is too funny! Oh. No it's not. Kissing on duty… glad Cam didn't see it. I better have a talk with him."
"There are kissing rules for non-military personnel?"
Before she could answer the radio beeped loud and clear. "Sierra Gulf One?"
……
Another no go. Jack woke Mitchell and Teal'c at 0240, and then he walked Sam to her room, kissed her goodnight against her better judgment and wandered back up the hall to his room. He tried to sleep without success.
In his room, Daniel couldn't sleep, his head filled with random thoughts. Why the hell did he kiss her like that? And why did she hold back, because he knew she did. Her latest ploy? But it didn't make sense. Something had changed, he felt it, and it worried him.
