Chapter 3: Neighbour

"Hold the elevator!" Vala yelled sprinting toward it and smiling gratefully at the man occupying the car as she joined him. "Thank you."

"No problem." he smiled and Vala couldn't help noticing how good-looking he was. Not as handsome as her Daniel, but... "You're new to the building, aren't you?"

"Yes, I just moved in over the weekend. Vala Mal Doran." she greeted, holding out her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Vala. Jeff Faraday." he said, taking her offered hand. "So, have you lived in Colorado Springs long?"

"A few years but I've not really had the opportunity to explore much of it. My work has kept me rather busy."

"Oh, what do you do?"

"I'm a...consultant for the Air Force." Vala said carefully, relieved that she remembered the title she was supposed to use. Before either of them could say another word, the elevator doors opened to the ground floor and they stepped out.

"I guess this is where we part." he smiled again. "It was nice talking to you, Vala. If you need someone to show you around town, let me know. I'd be more than happy to do so."

"I'll remember that, Jeff." Vala grinned, enjoying the fact he seemed to be flirting with her. It was nice to know someone found her attractive, especially since Daniel seemed so oblivious.

"Vala!" came Daniel's voice from across the lobby. "We're going to be late."

"I'll be right there, darling." Vala answered with a roll of her eyes then turned back to Jeff.

"Oh, you and Dr. Jackson..." Jeff trailed off with a frown.

"What? Oh! No, no, no. Daniel and I just work together." Why did everyone seem to think they were an item? "He's also my ride, so I guess I should be going. I'll see you around."

"Yeah, see ya." he agreed, his smile returning.

Vala waved then made her way over to Daniel. "All right, darling, let's go."

"Sure." he grumbled, stalking out of the building and straight for his car.

Vala followed, wondering at his attitude but deciding not to mention it. They drove along in silence for a bit before she decided to speak up.

"Daniel, what do you know of our neighbour Jeff?" she asked absent-mindedly, not noticing his grip on the steering wheel tighten.

"Uh, not much. I really haven't spoken to him other than in passing."

"Oh." she mulled that over for a moment. "He seems nice."

"Yeah, nice."

"Is there something you're not telling me, Daniel?" Vala asked, brow furrowing at his tone.

"It's nothing, just...Just be careful around him."

"Why? Is there something wrong with him?"

"No, but if Mrs. Griswald is to be believed, he's a bit of a playboy."

"You mean he's had a lot of girlfriends?"

"Something like that. Just be careful."

"Oh, Daniel, stop acting like a big brother." Vala rolled her eyes, again missing his reaction to her words. "I think Cameron and Teal'c already have that position sufficiently covered."

"I'm just trying to protect you."

"I don't know it you've noticed, darling, but I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I've been doing so for a long time." she huffed angrily.

"Fine, do what you want but don't say I didn't warn you."

Silence filled the vehicle after that, neither speaking the rest of the way to the base. Vala's was still trying to figure out why Daniel was in such a bad mood but decided not to let it bother her too much. If he wanted to tell her, he would.

()()()()

Daniel was in a rotten mood the rest of the day, not able to concentrate on work and snapping at people for no apparent reason. Well, no reason he wanted to admit to, even to himself. He knew, though. He'd been in a bad mood ever since he'd seen Vala flirting with Jeff. Okay, he didn't know that she'd been flirting, but it had sure looked that way. Then she'd started asking questions about the man like she was interested in him. Daniel groaned as he threw his pen down in frustration.

"Uh, Jackson?"

Daniel turned to see Mitchell enter his office carefully, a wary look on his face. He schooled his features into a tight smile and greeted the other man.

"Hey, Mitchell. Did you need something?"

"Not really, I just...I've heard a few people mention that you and Vala seemed to both be biting off heads today. I wanted to make sure everything was okay."

"Everything is fine." Daniel grumbled, not really wanting to discuss this with Mitchell.

"You sure? I mean, it's only been a few days since she moved into your building but...Well, it's Vala." Mitchell shrugged as if that said it all.

"It's nothing, we just had a little argument this morning."

"About what?"

"Why are you so interested?" Daniel knew he sounded like a petulant child but he couldn't seem to help it.

"We have to go off-world tomorrow and, as your CO I need to be aware of anything that might cause trouble in the field." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Besides, you and Vala are my friends and I want to make sure you're okay."

Daniel sighed, knowing Mitchell was just trying to help. "She's angry because she thinks I'm acting like an overprotective big brother."

Mitchell snorted in amusement. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing. I just warned her about a guy in our building. He's a bit of a playboy and I don't want to see her get hurt."

"You sure that's all it is?" Mitchell asked with a smirk.

"Of course, what else would it be?"

"C'mon, Jackson. Brotherly is the last word I'd use to describe you relationship with Vala."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Figure it out." Mitchell laughed and left, leaving behind a shocked archaeologist. Damn, were his feelings that obvious to everyone? Not that he was admitting to feelings other than friendship, but...

"Aw, hell." Daniel groaned. Mitchell was right, this argument had to be resolved before they went off-world. He didn't want to put the rest of the team at risk over something so petty. Determinedly, Daniel stood to go find Vala.

()()()()

Vala jabbed harshly at the punching bag, letting all of her frustration with a certain archaeologist go into the movements. Where did Daniel get off telling how to live her life? And what was with the attitude? One minute they were friends, joking and enjoying each other's company. The next, they were at each other's throats. It had been like this since they'd met but lately it seemed to be getting worse. She'd thought moving into her own office would make their relationship easier but it only served to make Daniel more tetchy whenever they did have to work together. She'd never understand that man.

"Vala."

"What do you want, Daniel?" she asked, not bothering to turn away from the bag as she continued to wail on it.

"We need to talk." he said, moving closer but keeping a safe distance from her.

"About what?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Are you here to protect me from gym equipment now?"

"C'mon, Vala, that's not fair."

"No, Daniel." Vala finally stopped punching the bag and turned a heated glare at him. "What's not fair is you telling me how to live my life, who I can and cannot have in it. Since when did you become my protector?"

"Since the day I met you." he mumbled, shocking both of them into silence for a few moments. "Look, I know you're used to taking care of yourself out in the universe but things are different here. People are different here."

"No, Daniel, people are the same everywhere. I thought you were the exception, but I guess I was wrong. I don't need you protecting me. I am not your little sister!"

"That is not how I see you." he answered angrily.

"Oh, and how do you see me?" she shot back, hope and fear battling inside.

"You're my friend."

"Friend." she said with a humourless laugh.

"Yes, and I want to make sure you think things through before doing something stupid."

"Stupid! The only stupid thing I've done lately is letting you talk me into moving into your building!" Vala ripped off the tape on her hands, balling it up before throwing it at him and stalking out. "I'm done, Daniel! Find someone else to mould to your firm specifications."

"Vala!" he called after her but she kept walking. She didn't need him or his "protection". She'd always done fine alone and she'd continue to do so, no matter what he thought of her.