Story: The Ultimate Prize

Ch. 3: Ahem.

Summary: Our crazy couple gets caught! Spoiler for First Stike (SGA).

Daniel's little game of cat and mouse went on for weeks. He would systematically get her excited in the morning then deny her sex for days at a time. He could see why she used to have so much fun teasing him before. The flustered look on her face was priceless.

And through it all, Vala had no idea what he was up to. She easily believed that he would reject her because he had more important things to concentrate on. Cameron, Teal'c, and Sam noticed how well Vala was beginning to listen to directions, especially Cam's orders. Sam speculated that Vala was just changing for the better, learning to be a better team member. Cameron deferred to Sam's expertise on the matter. He didn't understand Vala Mal Doran at all. To him, she was just a seriously large thorn in his side.

"Ahem." He was in the doorway to Jackson's office, staring at the display in front of him. Vala had pinned Daniel on the wall. She was kissing his lips hungrily. It was obvious to Mitchell that she had him trapped in such a way that Daniel couldn't get out of the lip-lock. Cameron cleared his throat for the third time.

She finally heard him and opened an eye to look at her audience. She didn't stop kissing Daniel until she realized who it was. She jumped back, releasing the archaeologist from the wall. "Mitchell!" she shouted. "I didn't know you were here." A look of guilt crossed Vala's face as she stared at the ground.

Daniel plastered a look of surprise and disgust on his face. Cameron was so easy to fool. "Jackson, are you alright? Do I need to confine someone to the brig?" He didn't get a reply. "That's it, Vala! You've gone too far this time. You and me are gonna go have a little chat."

She tried to resist as Cameron walked over and grabbed her arm. It was a death grip. The angry Colonel yanked her out of the room. Vala looked back at Daniel. He grinned mischievously and waved goodbye to her. 'Have fun,' he mouthed.

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"YOU!" she yelled down the hallway.

Daniel had been walking casually down a corridor when the space pirate caught sight of him. "Oops." He did a one-eighty and began walking purposefully away. She was a volcano ready to erupt – and all over him.

"Don't you walk away from ME, Daniel Jackson!" she screamed. A few SFs passing by decided to take an alternate route to their destination. Daniel quickened his pace, hoping to lose her. He found the door to a storage locker and entered it. 'Whew, think I lost her.'

The door swung open. Vala stood there with arms clenched at her sides. She was flushed and breathing heavily. The look of pure evil in her eyes rivaled that of Anubis himself. She placed one menacing finger on his chest. "I just got an earful of crap about team morale and discipline! No one has ever lectured me that long and lived to tell about it!"

Fear crept into Daniel's eyes. "You killed Mitchell?" He knew she really wouldn't, but the look in her eyes made him wonder.

"No! No! I'm going to kill you! Aghhhhhh!" She lunged at him. There wasn't much space for Daniel to escape to. He deflected most of her blows, but a few carefully placed hits would leave him with bruises the next day.

He managed to grab hold of her and stop this madness. "Vala, calm down!" he yelled over her shouts. She struggled against his grip. "I'm not letting you go 'til you promise not to attack me again. We can work this out like civilized people!"

She finally stopped squirming and he let her go. He stepped as far back from her as the little storage locker would allow. After catching her breath, she began yelling again. Somehow during the struggle, the door had been closed. A few airmen passing by wondered at all the commotion coming from the little room. They were about to lean in and listen when an alarm blared. The men hurried off.

Inside, Vala screamed Daniel's ears off. "You didn't even make one move to support me! You left me like a rodent to be devoured by Plagellian wolves!" She went on to demand that he defend her honor if he wanted any more of his ultimate prize.

Daniel had no time to respond. An announcement was made for him to report to the Control Room. He took the opportunity to bolt past Vala and out the door. She quickly hurried after him, determined to make him comply.

In the Control Room, the screens were filled with the image of Lt. Colonel John Sheppard. He was just expaining how Atlantis had escaped the Wraith and its own demise in the middle of nowhere. "Ahh, Dr. Jackson, so nice of you to join us," General Landry quipped sarcastically. "Vala." He nodded to her when she entered. Her anger was instantly masked at the sight of more authority. Mitchell glared at her.

"What is it, General?"

"I'll let Colonel Sheppard explain. Colonel?"

"Dr. Jackson, we've got something you might wanna take a look at. Dr. McKay found some new information about the Ori hidden deep in the city's Ancient database. Everyone here seems to think you'd be most qualified to decipher it and use it."

"I agree. SG-1 you're going to Atlantis," the General ordered. "Suit up and be ready to go in an hour. Use the Gate." Sheppard relayed their new coordinates to Walter and Sam, who entered it into the Asguard-upgraded computer system.

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The team arrived in Atlantis within hours. Teyla greeted them and led them to their quarters. "I apologize, but since we have been attacked, many living quarters were damaged. These two are the only ones we have available." She gestured toward two doors in the corridor. Teyla excused herself and let them decide how to share the rooms. The girls took one, while the guys took the other.

It would be at least an hour before the Ancient database would be available for SG-1's use, so they had time to settle in. Sam and Vala unpacked their duffle bags. "Vala, you know, I just wanted to say how proud I am of you."

The raven-haired vixen almost failed to hear the compliment. She was still fuming over Dr. Jackson. They never had the chance to resolve the issue of getting caught by Mitchell. "Huh? Oh, yes yes, thank you," she replied flatly.

Sam sensed that she was distracted, but went on anyway. "Teal'c and I were just noticing how well you follow Cam's orders now and help everyone out. You're doing even better than before." Vala continued to look angry and distracted. "Is something wrong?"

Her friend looked up. "Wrong? Oh, nothing, nothing's wrong. Nothing's wrong at all!" she said nervously.

Sam walked over and placed a friendly hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Vala. It's me, Sam. You can tell me anything."

Vala hesitated. She knew she really, really shouldn't tell. For all she knew, Sam would go blabbing off to Mitchell and get them both in trouble this time. Then again, Daniel deserved a chewing out from the Colonel just as much as she had. She made up her mind to share the truth. "DanielandIgotcaughtbyMitchellandnowI'mtheonlyoneintrouble! Danieldidn'tbothertoliftafingertohelpme!!"

Sam's eyes went wide. "What do you mean, 'caught'? Doing what?!"

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"She was really layin' one on you, Jackson. How'd you get pinned to the wall like that anyway?"

Teal'c stood by watching the exchange in amusement. "I told you, she caught me by surprise." Daniel looked down nervously at the floor.

"Well, I suggest you keep your guard up around the little pirate. I have a feeling she didn't hear a word I said when I gave her a piece of my mind," the Colonel commanded.

"Right." Daniel still stared at the floor, avoiding eye contact with his team leader.

"You know, I couldn't help but notice that it looked like you were enjoying it a little." Daniel's eyes darted up. "I was a little suspicious."

"Uhhhh…"

"ColonelMitchell, ValaMalDoran has only just recently changed her behavior. If anything 'suspicious' were occuring, would you not notice a change in DanielJackson's behavior as well?" Both sets of eyes turned to the Jaffa. Daniel nodded a quiet thanks. Mitchell rubbed his chin in thought.

"Yeah… you're right, Teal'c. You've been as focused as ever, Jackson. Nevermind."

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Sam sat there, incredulous. "All this time, and you never got caught until now?"

"We're usually very careful. But it was a moment of weakness, Sam. I couldn't help myself. He was whispering in my ear again and I… I… oooooooh. Whenever he does that I'll do anything."

Something about that statement made Carter think. "Wait a minute. He should know better than to seduce you while on duty. He doesn't do that during missions, does he?"

Vala nodded profusely. "Oh, all the time."

"What? That's not like Daniel at all. That's a lot more like…" Sam gasped slightly. "You."

Vala chuckled. "Yes, I know."

Something dawned on Sam. She snapped her fingers. "No wonder you've been doing so well lately!"

"Huh?"

"He's been doing all of this on purpose. You said you'd do anything for him whenever he, uh, ya know. He's finally found a way to reign you in. To control you!" A smile graced Carter's face. She mentally patted herself on the back for figuring this one out.

"WHAT."

Sam had to restrain Vala to prevent her from going next door and wringing Daniel's neck. Vala felt used. Sam felt a little sorry for her. When Vala calmed down again, the Colonel made a suggestion. "What if we play a little game of our own? You know, get him back for not admitting anything to Mitchell."

A sly smile crossed Vala's mouth. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well…"

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Daniel stared nervously at Vala's back. This was the first moment they had alone since the incident back home. "I just wanted to say, that I'm, uh, really sorry, sweetheart. And I promise, next chance I get, I'll explain everything to Mitchell and take some of the heat off of you."

Inside, she lit up like a Christmas tree. He really was sweet. But no, there was a plan. She planted a surprisingly calm smile on her face and turned around to face him. "No need, darling. Like you said, it'll be more fun to keep our little relationship under the radar, as you Earthlings like to say. No worries; all is well." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and exited the room. Daniel was amazed at how quickly she forgave him.

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Carter stood talking to a few of the male soldiers stationed on Atlantis. "Oh she's very single. It's been driving Colonel Mitchell nuts how much she wants to get out there and have a little fun. Frankly, I don't blame her. She is a civilian. Frat regs don't apply to her."

The men nodded in agreement. No, they certainly did not.

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TBC… Next time: Vala exacts her revenge on Daniel.