Reference to episode Momento Mori.

Fight

Vala tightened her arms around herself as a chill wind blew against her exposed skin. It did nothing to cool her heated temper as she continued to stalk down the street. If nothing else, the loud click of her boots on the sidewalk was a sure sign she was a woman not to be messed with at the moment. She was fuming...

He had no right to demand those things of her. Promises and assurances when she wasn't too sure of their relationship herself. She couldn't promise him she wouldn't get up and leave out of nowhere. She couldn't assure him that she would never flirt with another guy, look at another guy...kiss another guy. It had been engraved in her since she was young.

And Daniel had no right to try and change her. It was too early for them as a couple for her to even think about permanence. And that made Daniel mad...which in turn made her mad. Mad at him for proving to her that she wasn't as strong as he was - she didn't have the will, possibly the want, for anything long term like he had.

So to prove her point that she could never promise to stay where he wanted her to, Vala had walked out. She'd made sure to give the door a good slam as she did, almost certain she'd heard something crash to the floor inside. It had been satisfying at the time.

But as she continued to walk, and as the cold started to quickly seep into every part of her body, Vala started to doubt her actions. Why was she so afraid of commitment? What did she have to worry about? She knew Daniel wanted to be with her, and she was almost...no, definitely certain she didn't want to go back to jumping from one scum to another. She wanted one man, and she wanted that one man to be Daniel.

But him asking so much of her so soon had overwhelmed her, and she'd panicked. And now she was terrified she'd done something so irreversible that Daniel wouldn't want her back. Their first fight might just be their last.

Especially since Daniel hadn't even attempted to hunt her down. Looking up, Vala's heart leapt into her throat. She'd just walked, letting her feet take her wherever they wanted to go. Wherever the anger led. Now she was lost, with no knowledge of how to get back to the familiarity of Daniel's street, Daniel's house, Daniel's arms.

She had lived on base the whole time before she'd started going home with Daniel. She knew how to get to the basic places - the base, Sam's house, and Cameron's apartment, O'Malley's, the mall - but she'd never been taken on a thorough trek of the city. She'd never been to this part of town.

And if that wasn't frightening enough, Vala got the distinct feeling this wasn't the safest place to be. She tightened her arms once more, looking around helplessly - the same feeling of insecurity she'd felt after her memory was erased returning.

She was cold, upset, lonely, lost...and before she knew what exactly was going on, she was being attacked. Vala felt herself being dragged into a dark alley and pushed up against a graffiti-covered wall. A hand came to her throat and she felt a cold steel circle being pushed to her temple.

"Those are some fancy clothes ya wearin', beautiful." A deep, menacing voice sneered, and Vala resisted the urge to gag on the stench of tobacco and booze on the man's hot breath. "How's about we have some fun gettin' them off 'fore I make you hand them over."

Maybe it was the cold, or her own emotional state, but Vala found she didn't have the strength to fight back as her attacker started to undo the button on her jeans. She wanted to kick and scream. She wanted to fight. She wanted...Daniel.

Tears came to her eyes as she thought of him. He'd promised to protect her, to love and cherish her, to be only hers. And she had argued and fought about agreeing to the same thing. She realized now she didn't want to agree. She wanted those promises, and wanted to give her own. This wasn't how things were suppose to be, but were, all because she decided to fight instead of commit.

Vala flinched at the sound of a gun cocking, thinking the assailant was going to get his kicks after he killed her. Her eyes closed instinctively, then snapped open again at the sound of a familiar, very pissed off voice.

"You might wanna drop the weapon." Daniel commanded calmly, a sure sign he was not happy. "Because I'm sure you aren't anywhere near being certified to have yours, where I am one-hundred percent certified to have mine. I am also well within my rights to kill you, whether you think it or not."

"You prob'ly can't even use that thing." The man laughed, tightening his hold around Vala's neck. She gasped out to Daniel.

"The United States Air Force has numerous documents that say otherwise." Daniel stated, internally crying out for joy as Vala's assailant released his hold on her. The man looked at him uncertainly for a moment and saw the seriousness in those blue eyes, then took off at a run down the alley.

Daniel was never more grateful for the Springs being a town where when you said you were connected to the Air Force, people took it seriously. He lowered his gun and rushed to Vala's side. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. Before she could say anything, Daniel kissed her needingly.

Vala pulled away after a moment. "You're here...really here."

"Of course I am." Daniel sighed, moving to hug her close.

Vala nuzzled into his neck as he brought his head down. "All I kept thinking about was you. How much I wanted to say I'm sorry, and wanted nothing more than for you to be here and tell you how wrong I was...how I wanted to give you all the promises in the world. I just wanted you to find me like before."

Daniel pulled away and kissed her forehead. "I'll always find you, and I know...I know I shouldn't have pushed you, and you didn't mean to panic...I know." He nodded and brushed his hand against her hair. Vala nodded in return, then shivered as the heat of the moment left and the cold wind returned.

Daniel jumped into action again. "Come on, let's get you home." He took off his leather jacket and had Vala pull her arms into it. Wrapping his arm around her waist, Daniel walked Vala to his truck sitting just outside the alley way. As he opened the door for her, Vala saw a broken picture frame sitting on the passenger seat.

It was the picture Mitchell had taken of her asleep against Daniel, who had also dozed off. It was snapped long before they had both affirmed their feelings for one another, and the tender gestures of affection seen in the picture were a true testament to their future. Daniel had hung it on the wall the same day Mitchell had given him the picture. It had hung just inside the front door.

"I broke that?" Vala whispered sadly. She loved the picture, and she'd ruined it.

Daniel moved the frame to the dashboard, and helped Vala into the vehicle. "The outside may be a little cracked..." He brushed his hand along her cheek. "But all that matters is what's inside is still intact."

Both knew this first fight wouldn't be their last, but those words he'd said to her would always bring them back together every time.

A/N: Wouldn't you just LVOE to see that picture?! -sigh- Angst, ending with Daniel to the rescue and smooshiness! Bunnies enjoyed thrusting this chapter at me! Show bunnies some lovin'!