SG1 HEADQUARTERS

Sam had returned with Vala a couple of days later. Dr. Lam had no choice but to return Vala back to duty status, her bruises on her face and legs had healed. Gen Landry had used his connections with the local government officials to keep the investigation of Vala's attack open. SG1, Carolyn, and Gen Landry were the only one's to know what happened to Vala. They had respected her wish to not mention it around her and to keep it low key about events surrounding the attack. Sam had noticed that Vala avoided Col Mitchell and Daniel other than mandatory meetings with Gen Landry. She stayed pretty much to herself on and off base, other than visiting Sam. Daniel and Cam had tried to speak to Sam about Vala avoiding them. Sam would only relate to giving Vala time and that she would let them know if Vala had a changed towards them.

Missions that were assigned to SG1, Vala requested to either be teamed with Teal'c or Sam. She only discussed mission results with Sam and she relayed all Vala's findings through reports. Sam knew her friend was still bothered by Daniel and Cam, yet she didn't push the issue with Vala. It was getting near the Christmas holidays and Sam had planned to have dinner at her house and the team would exchange presents. However, Vala thoughtfully declined her invitation and decided to swap time with anyone staying on base for the holidays. Teal'c had also decided to stay on base with Vala to keep her company. Teal'c and Vala were constantly working out in the gym, but their basketball challenges with Cam and Daniel were always cancelled.

Sam and Teal'c continued to watch over their friend and were concerned that Vala's distance with part of the team was affecting all of them. To Vala it was just a normal day at SG1, but the subtlety in her mood was evident to Sam and Teal'c. She would smile to others on the base and say nothing; she would eat her meals either off base alone or alone in her room with interruptions by Sam once in awhile. Daniel tried several times to communicate to her but she would just turn down another corridor or just totally ignore him. He didn't want to force Vala into speaking to him and Sam had made it very clear that it's Vala's choice to only interact during missions only.

Sam had been very protective towards Vala since that cold Thanksgiving morning. Vala had sat on the balcony in Sam's home and they had talked for a little while drinking cocoa. Sam was remembering how quiet Vala was at first that morning and some of the moments of what they talked about.

"Sam, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"I, I don't remember much about Thanksgiving; how did I get here?"

"You, you drove hon; I saw your car pull into the driveway and you walking up to the door. I opened the door and you came in, I don't think you knew exactly where you were, but I'm glad you showed up here."

"I, I don't know how I got here. I only remember that I had to drive towards a certain road and knew I would be safe. Everything is pretty much a blur. I do remember Teal'c picking me up and carrying me and then blackness."

"Do you remember that you were terrified of Daniel and Cam? Teal'c was the only one you allowed to touch you. Carolyn and myself are the only others that were in the room with you."

Vala had become silent, trying to remember anything after the attack. She remembered someone speaking, it was mostly muffled sounds to her, but she remembered the attack all to well. She shook herself from the thoughts.

"Sam, I-- I want to thank you, for being my friend. You've allowed me to stay here and not push me. I remember how you helped me in the shower and how you stayed with me until I went to sleep. I owe you so much Sam, I, thank you."

She had seen a glimpse of her friend again, but she knew underneath Vala's thick skin, she was still vulnerable. The look of terror in her eyes towards Daniel and Cam she still couldn't shake. She knew Vala had avoided them and still would not say even to her, why. At that moment against her friend's wishes, she decided to launch her own private investigation. She couldn't let these men get away with hurting her friend. She could figure out the complexities of the Stargate dialing system, she knew astrophysics and quantum mechanics, apply her knowledge to engineering and biology, but try and find those who brutally attacked Vala she was dead in the water. Sam knew she had to do something, she wasn't going to rest until justice was done and her friend deserved that.