Chapter Four: The Alien arrives in Roswell

Vala pleaded with Sam to stop at some Alien themed motel in Roswell, but Sam argued against it with tales of giant cockroaches and lack of WiFi for email hook up, until Vala yielded.

While Sam checked in with Landry, Vala checked her email. Nothing. Well, except for the three from Landry who still awaited her last three mission reports.

According to Sam, Landry had been somewhat distracted during his conversation, had requested that they stay on base. She took it as a request and not orders, and opted for the freedom – and the pool – of some local motel on the outskirts of Roswell.

After dinner Sam check on the arrangements for their experiment at Area 51 tomorrow and the two enjoyed a little vacation time poolside. Laying on the chaise lounges they caught the last of the sun.

"Sam?"

"Hmmm?"

"Oh, nothing." Vala had promised Daniel she wouldn't tell until she heard from him. He assured her if everything was okay, there would be no need to bother Sam, and if not, SG-1 would be there to tell her.

It was Carter who answered the knock at their door an hour later, Vala close behind her.

Sam's eyes grew round in complete surprise, "Sir?"

"Carter." Jack looked at his feet.

"Daniel?" Sam blinked in confusion.

"Sam." Daniel said then looked at Vala.

"Cam?" Sam frowned, concerned.

"Yep." Mitchell responded.

"And Teal'c?" Sam was totally confused now.

Well, obviously everything was not alright. "Miss me?" Vala grinned happy to see Daniel anyway.

"What's going on?" Sam stood back while Jack and SG-1 entered the room.

"Not sure. You've had a tail the whole way here." Mitchell stated. Jack glowered at Mitchell then turned back to Sam.

Teal'c, Jack, Mitchell and Sam sat at the chairs around the small table, while Vala and Daniel sat on the nearest bed.

"The entire way?" Sam glare at Jack nonplused. "And no one bothered to tell us?"

Vala ducked her head, but Sam had her back to her and didn't see her guilty look.

"We had you on Satellite, and when we finally got a van of marines behind you, the car following you skedaddled. Me, Mitchell and T went after them." Jack smiled proudly.

"We lost them." Teal'c confessed and Jack turned to him with a feral glint.

Sam twisted towards Daniel. "And where were you?"

"Watching you."

Completely turning in her chair, Sam stared at Vala but said nothing.

Vala shrugged noncommittally.

---

The following evening, after hours of trial and error, Sam and Vala, along with Sam's former team at Area 51, concluded that a vital component in the Area 51 device was missing. Discouraged, the women left the base and returned to their motel room.

"Don't you want to go have dinner with the boys?" Vala questioned Sam who just kept studying her laptop.

"No." Sam snapped not looking up.

"Sam?"

After a long silence Sam looked at Vala. "He was your candy, wasn't he?"

"I'm sorry, I should have told you. It all got so wonky - I didn't know what to do."

As hard as she tried Sam couldn't stay mad at Vala, "It's okay, it's not your fault. It's Jack's."

"You're mad at him?"

"Furious."

"Then let's order in! Damn them anyway, sneaky bastards and all that other rubbish they mouth off." Vala was disappointed that she wasn't going to see Daniel, but she wasn't about to let her friend down again.

"Thanks, ordering in sounds good."

---

Jack pulled off his boots and tossed them across the room, "The artifact is safe and sound at Area 51, our stalkers have disappeared, and all is well, so I guess I'll head back tomorrow." He looked at Mitchell, "Mitchell, you and T can follow those two back, and Daniel can beam himself back to Unasland from Area 51." Jack seemed please with himself even if Carter wasn't talking to him.

"Unasland?" Daniel eyed Jack with mild contempt. "Can't. the Daedalus is out of orbit, I'll have go back to SGC with them and gate back to … Unasland from there."

"Seems simple enough," Mitchell headed for the door. "I'm tired and I still have to check in with the IOA and the marines to see what's new with our 'stalkers', I'm stayin' on base tonight, see you guys tomorrow."

"I will accompany ColonelMitchell. I believe I will retire early … and watch O'Neill's favorite team on the television." Teal'c followed Mitchell out.

Jack flipped on the sports channel and settled back with a beer. There were still two marines taking watch from across the street, as well as the IOA goons prowling around somewhere. The artifact was safe, so he felt comfortable. Carter would get over it. He smiled, turned up the volume and grabbed a piece of cold, stale pizza.

Daniel came out of the bathroom, drying his hair and squinting without his glasses, "I was thinking…"

"Now that can be dangerous!" Jack laughed as he popped the top of another beer.

Scowling Daniel continued, "It might be a bad idea to leave Sam and Vala alone and vulnerable since we really don't know who or what those guys were up to."

Turning the volume down on the television, Jack sat up, a light bulb look on his face. "Yeah?"

"Well," Daniel put his glasses on, "maybe you should go over there and stay. And, well… maybe Vala should probably come over her, or vice versa."

Liking the sound of that, Jack stood, trying not to appear anxious or interested in Daniel's plan.

"I mean," Daniel continued in effort to encourage Jack, "we have two beds in each room."

"That way they'd both be safe, right?" Jack said a little too eager.

"Right, it's not like we don't do this all the time, I mean on missions, sleeping in the same place. You remember, right?" Daniel was getting excited at the prospect of Jack falling for his ruse.

"Right, good plan, you go tell Carter." Jack was looking for his boots.

"Me?"

"Well it's your idea."

"Yeah, but you're in command!"

"No I'm not," Jack was hoping on one foot trying to get a boot on the other. "I'm just the … the advisor in this little … whatever, thingy."

Daniel glared at Jack, "You're the one who got all bent out of shape and came up with the off the wall scheme to follow them. You go tell them."

Finally frustrated with trying to put on his boots, Jack sat to continue the task, "I'm not pissing Carter off any more than I already have. You go."

"Jack! You need to go. I don't wanna be the one. I wouldn't know what to say! It's your place to tell them."

"Not a chance!" Jack stood boots on and tucking his shirttail in.

"Fine! Stay up all night worried about them."

Jack cocked his head to one side, "I'm not worried, we've got backup."

"Oh really? Like that always works." Daniel's hands were on his hips and he eyed Jack with scorn.

"Good point." Nodding, Jack shoved his hands in his pockets.

Then Daniel shoved his hands in his pockets, "I'll wait here, send Vala over."

"Red rover, red rover, send Vala right over. Are you freakin' nuts! You're the civilian."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Okay, we both go." Jack opened the door looking back at Daniel.

"Fine! You knock, I'll be right behind you." Daniel blinked, smiled and waited.

Jack grabbed Daniel's sleeve and yanked him down the walkway to Carter's door.