Ghost Hunter

Spacegypsy1

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Chapter Four:

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Teal'c had agreed to speak only because the others were too distraught. From the podium his eyes scanned the crowd in the Gateroom and up in the control room before his gaze returned to his teammates.

DanielJackson trembled, fists clinched, eyes red and hollow. His dark suit, though recently pressed, appeared rumbled around his middle but still contrasted somewhat with his otherwise unkempt appearance.

ColonelMitchell sat in a wheelchair his expression bleak.

ColonelCarter did not lift her face. Teal'c suspected she feared she could not hold back the tears.

Teal'c himself could feel the sting of unshed tears, like many others who'd come to pay their respects to their comrade. It had been many years since he had felt emotions rise so strongly.

O'Neill stood behind ColonelCarter, his hand lightly on her shoulder, but his gaze was locked on his friend, DanielJackson.

GeneralLandry, soft spoken and strong, had delivered the opening and turned the memorial over to Teal'c.

"ValaMalDoran," Teal'c began, pausing briefly.

"Yes, Muscles?" Vala squeezed her arms around Daniel's waist.

"ValaMalDoran," the Jaffa began again, "was a beloved teammate. She came to us in the oddest of manners, but proved herself worthy - more than worthy to wear the patches of Stargate Command and SG-1. And she wore them proudly. And we were proud of her and her contribution to humanity. She was an enigma. A kind and loving person. A friend. Colleague. Comrade. A warrior of strength and intelligence," he stopped, thinking to himself, a lover to DanielJackson for more than fifty years…something he will never know. Lifting his gaze briefly to the man, Teal'c clinched his jaw in sorrow before continuing the eulogy.

Vala laid her head against Daniel's back and listened as Teal'c continued to expound on her character – surprised he could come up with so many things. "Daniel?" She could feel the tremors running unheeded through his body. "Darling, it's alright. I'm here. I will never leave you. I promise."

Daniel blocked the words from his friend on the ramp. He concentrated instead on the sensation of the hallucination that felt so real pressed against him. He could feel her weight, hear her words of comfort, and he knew that without her he would not be able to stand. He would crumble to the floor in misery.

Being insane had its virtues. Having gone so far over the edge, he found the illusion comforting, keeping heartbreak and hopelessness to a minimum. The decision had been made when he'd kissed the specter in his dreams, his fantasy. He wanted to be crazy, demented, unbalanced. It certainly felt better.

Vala had been peeking over the crowd when her team members walked up the ramp to toss the exquisite wreath through the Stargate. The pink satin sash read 'Forever our Princess' in glitter. Very appropriate. She had overheard Cameron suggest that one. Tiny pink roses in several hues sprung from the lush greenery. Vala felt like crying herself it was all so lovely.

It felt good to hear and see that the people really did care for her. Many cried at the loss and she wished fervently that she could let them know she was fine. Funny, how one does not really know their own worth until...death.

Everyone should be able to attend their own memorial service just to see how deeply others cared. She did fit in. She was accepted. Even General Landry looked as if he would cry. And Jack. She'd never seen him so somber. Bill Lee looked pale. Colonel Reynolds blinked continuously. Carolyn never took her gaze off of the wreath, her face void of any emotion. But one look into her eyes revealed her sorrow.

Suddenly, Vala spotted something and dashed up the ramp coming to a halt beside Daniel. "My giraffe! Daniel, you can't let them heave him through the Stargate, out into the universe to drift all alone for eternity! You have to save him!"

Daniel snatched the toy from the wreath along with two of the pink roses. Sam began to cry, Jack having to come up to steady her. Teal'c bowed, his eyes misting. Carolyn, keeping a firm grip on Cam's wheelchair, let out a haunting sigh.

Cam only grinned through his tears. "Good plan, Jackson."

The wreath was set against the open Stargate. It drifted through, disappearing into oblivion. Just like Vala had.

Daniel squeezed the hand that took his, not knowing whose it was. Sam's probably, since she was the one to whisper, 'goodbye'. His other hand, the casted one, held the giraffe. His phantom stood glumly beside him staring wide eyed at the Stargate. He had the sudden urge to laugh.

Jack rested a strong hand on Daniel's shoulder. "I say we all have a piece of the girly pink princess cake T ordered."

Daniel, not wanting to appear too unhinged, nodded with the hint of a sad smile that remained from watching the figment of his imagination looking so put out by the near loss of her giraffe.

"You better save me a piece of that cake!"

"I will." He answered her, and Jack nodded thinking Daniel had agreed with him.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Sam stopped by just as Daniel finished boxing some books to take home with him. "Leaving so soon?"

He looked up, his blue eyes, with red lines and rims, matched hers. "I have to go. I need some time. You?"

She shook her head emphatically. "I have something I really need to work on. I have to, you know, to keep myself in check."

"Right." Daniel closed the box, grabbed his laptop, and hefted the carton into his arms.

"Can I call you?"

He hesitated, not wanting to hurt her feelings. "Only if you really need to, at first anyway."

"Sure." She kissed his cheek then half hugged him around the box. "I love you, don't…don't leave us for good. I couldn't bear that."

"Okay."

She let him go.

Vala stood watching Sam watching Daniel leave. "I promise I will take good care of him and make him happy again." She blew a kiss to Sam and followed Daniel out.

TBC~