Chapter Seven

Hope you enjoy this chappy, it's a little longer than usual :P

"Daniel, what is this place?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but if I was a betting man...a lab maybe."

"A lab. In the middle of a primitive societies temple. That still uses firelight by the way...there's no way this was theirs."

"This room is kinda out of place isn't it?" Daniel replied as his heavy eyes struggled to take it what they were seeing.

It was like they had walked out the dark ages right into the middle of a culture with technology that would put theirs to shame. It was more than a little disorientating. As his eyes fully adjusted to the well lit room he tried to figure out what everything was...and what it would be used for, as in experiments.

The room was all white, with light blue trimming along the walls. There were three long tables located in the center of the room, each one in front of the other forming a class room type setup. Stools still sat in front of each one. Three per table. They were covered in what Daniel had to assume were computers- similar to some of the monitors at the SGC, but not. The designs were smaller, sleeker, more impressive to look at. The walls were lined with shelves full of test tubes, gadgets that he hadn't even the slightest inkling as to what they might be used for, probably some type of medical gear in one corner, and a one shelf that interested him the most was covered with data pads. At least forty were all stacked on top of each other rather haphazardly, it looked like someone had left this room in a hurry. A few pads were scattered on the three desks, and a small beaker was broken on the floor. Yep, someone had left in a hurry.

Sadly, his awe of what he was seeing couldn't distract him from his condition for long. Daniel bit his lip to hide the fact that his leg was on fire. A cool hand brushed against his sweaty forehead.

"Time to get you off your feet Daniel."

For once he didn't offer any argument. The room seemed to be moving back and forth, the monitors flashing lights bringing his headache back in full force.

He was only vaguely aware of Vala guiding him into a stool, and leaning him back against the wall...which felt cool against his feverish skin.

"Water," she whispered, concern was written all over her face. He drank and gave her a half smile. It was the best he could muster.

"I think your injuries are finally catching up with you Daniel." She cupped his face in her soft, tender hands.

"Your hands feel nice," he whispered.

"Daniel." Her voice was slightly raised. She sounded afraid...but he wasn't sure why.

"Vala," his own voice sounded hollow, and why was the damn room moving so much. Then the nausea hit.

"Yes." Her eyes were wide and boring a hole into his head.

"I think I'm going to be-"

She must've gotten the idea because the next thing he knew she'd moved to the side and he was on the floor. Vala rubbed his back in a circular motion while he began to vomit up what little he had in his system. Which wasn't much. She murmured soothing things until finally, the now dry heaves stopped wracking his body.

"That was fun," he managed in between deep breaths.

"Are you kidding this is the best date I've had in years."

More water was pressed to his lips. "Use it to rinse out your mouth Daniel."

He did. "Thanks."

"How are you feeling?"

He thought about it for a second. "The room isn't spinning anymore. I think that's an improvement."

Vala's eyes narrowed. "I'm sure."

Daniel suddenly had the overpowering urge to just close his eyes and sleep for days. He felt his eyelids begin to droop.

"You need to stay awake Daniel." Her voice was deadly serious.

"I know. It's hard."

"Well, I guess I'll just have to keep you entertained with my amazing conversational skills."

He pried his eyes open and smiled at her, she really was one hell of woman.

"So going back what we found in this little hiddy-hole here," she said while looping her fingers through his. Vala looked as though she expected him to yank his hand away. But he only smiled again and squeezed her fingers. She then snuggled up against him.

"I'm thinking you were dead on Daniel."

"I'm sorry?" His brain was still moving a little sluggish.

"Your theory."

"Really? How do you figure?" Daniel agreed with her to a point, but he found himself wanting to hear what she had come up with on her own.

"Well, okay. It answers one of your questions. Why did these creatures just show up one day? Whoever built this room obviously brought them here, probably performing some weird, take over the world type experiment."

"That's a bit of an assumption don't you think?" He pressed her.

"Maybe," she shrugged. "What do you think? Alien invasion? A scheme to have a better crop production?" Her eyes were lit up like a fireworks display. She really did seem to enjoy solving this mystery as much as he was. Despite his headache, throbbing leg, and rolling stomach...Daniel loved what he did. And this was what he did.

"I think we need more information before we decide that. Can you bring me some of those pads? I'll look through them while we...rest."

She smiled. "Wow, that must've been hard for you to admit that you need a break."

"Maybe."

"It's okay", she leaned in so close he could smell her perfume, somehow still lingering despite all they had been through. Honey mixed with strawberries. Or maybe that was just how her skin smelled naturally, whatever it was, it always drove him nuts. In a good way. "I could use a long break as well."

Before he knew what he was saying, something that had been on the tip of his tongue for a few weeks slipped out. "How about when we get out of here, we can discuss your ideas over dinner...at my place."

She laughed. Now I know you have a concussion."

"No," he leaned in closer. "I mean it." As he said it, Daniel realized how much he meant it. He wanted this more than anything. "I'll cook," his eyes were pleading...begging for that second chance they had discussed earlier. Another shot at this whole dating thing. "I know I really suck at this but-"

Then she was kissing him. Not a friendly kiss, or a one night stand type of deal. A real, I wanna have your babies kinda kiss. And he returned it with just as much passion. Tongues teased and danced, teeth nipped, and moans of pleasure echoed throughout the room. She tasted just like she smelled...perfect. He wished he could stay in this moment forever...hell he didn't even notice his aching leg anymore. But sadly, the need for air, and reality of their situation forced them to pull apart.

"Wow." He panted.

"Yeah." She gasped.

He couldn't seem to pull his eyes away from her.

"What?" Vala's voice was warm and full of emotion.

"I was just wondering why the hell I fought this for so long?"

She pretended to think about it. "Because you can be an idiot."

He rolled his eyes then leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "I like to think of myself as ...cautious."

She shook her head. "Dammit. I just can't seem to argue with you at the moment."

"Really? You mean all I had to do was kiss you senseless to shut you up. I wish I'd know that sooner."

"So do I." She purred and brushed her lips against his ever so slightly.

Daniel suppressed another moan. "Vala as much as I hate to be the buzz kill here..."

"I know. We need to get back to work."

"Unfortunately. On the plus side, I really am feeling much better," he grinned. "I'm wide awake now."

She smirked. "I noticed. But eat this anyway and take two more of these." She shoved an energy bar and two more pain pills at him.

"Yes dear." He teased as he went to work on both of them.

Vala got up and grabbed an armful of data pads and laid them next to him. Then she began exploring the room. "Sam's gonna have a field day in here Daniel."

Daniel forced down another bite of the dry and chewy food bar. "Yes. Assuming we can find another way out of here, and back so she can take a look."

"Always the pessimist Daniel."

"No. Just a realist."

"I think they are pretty much the same thing," she flashed him a smile that turned him to a puddle of goo and he couldn't think of single witty comeback. He just grinned back at her like a lovesick teenager, and the funny thing was he didn't even mind.

The moment passed and they both got to work. Daniel was able to figure out the writing on the pads fairly easily. It was a combinations of three different alien languages he'd learned over the past ten years. A unique dialect of course, but translating was what he did best. When it came down to it, most languages had something in common, a basic format. Once you figured out what that was, the rest came easily...to him anyway. So he started plowing through the data. A lot he didn't understand, it was too technical, and not his area of expertise. That' where Sam would come in, but since she wasn't here, he just did his best to piece together what he could.

By the time Vala had finished trying to figure out how to operate some of the "computers" he had sifted through at least half of the information scattered around him. And she had been right...halfway. It had been an experiment, but the snakes were not created or brought here by the "Createic" as Daniel had discovered they called themselves. The Slupi, which was the actual name of the species that had caused an entire world's population so much grief, were native to this planet.

But the Createic had done something to them. They had been experimenting with the genetic makeup of this snake-like animal. Apparently, they had been intending to help the people of this world, but things had backfired-as they so often did when you tried to play god. The changes they had made hadn't helped the people, instead they had given them an increased breeding rate and metabolism. So the population had begun to grow exponentially until they had virtually overrun the planet. They'd eaten everything, causing massive quakes that had killed thousands when they'd neared the surface. Basically, your average "this is what happens when you screw with nature" life lesson. Daniel sighed and called Vala over.

He told her all of this and more.

She looked horrified. "But what happened to the inhabitants of this world?"

"I still haven't found that out yet."

"So the Createic wanted to make the Slupi more efficient at helping to fertilize the soil."

"Yes. This culture was built around farming a certain substance that could be converted into fuel for trading. A plant that could only be grown in dirt that had been fertilized by the Slupi's excrements."

"But it all went to hell and instead of allowing more of this fuel to be harvested...it was all destroyed."

"Basically yes. There were too many of them, the balance was broken. Increased numbers meant more mouths to feed. So the creatures ate these people out of their livelihood."

"And the quakes were caused by this increase in population as well?"

"Apparently, there were always quakes. But they became more frequent, and more severe. I know a lot of people lost their lives to them."

"That's just ...awful."

"Yes it is. There's a lot more here, but I can't make heads or tails of it. It's above my knowledge level."

"I think you did great Daniel. I can't believe you could read all that."

"It's what I do."

"It's still impressive."

"Thank you." He felt himself blushing slightly. He'd always had problems accepting compliments.

"So I think we should take those pads with us, they aren't heavy and that way if we can't get back here for some reason Sam can take a look. There's no way I can crack the security codes on these computers. Whoever encoded them was damn good. Besides, I don't think we really have the time."

"I agree. Let's get the hell moving. Suddenly I just really want to get the hell off this planet."

"A shower."

"What?"

"I want a hot shower."

Daniel helped her haul him to his feet. "Yeah me too." He replied after the initial wave of pain subsided.

"Cool," she slipped her arm around his waist. "We can make it a joint effort"

"Good idea."

She looked at him and didn't even try to hide her shock. "Why Daniel...I do think I am a bad influence on you still."

"Yeah. But I like it."

They walked in comfortable silence, as they got further from the lab, they were forced to go by torch light again. The damn thing was amazingly still burning.

He didn't know how long they had walked, it pretty much all looked the same.

Then he saw it. They both spoke at the same moment.

"Daniel."

"Vala."

Her soft laugh, sent a tingle of happiness that went all the way from the back of his neck to his toes. The things this woman made him feel.

"I guess you see it to huh?" She said.

"God yes."

"Do you think it's the way out?"

"Let's find out." Daniel said a silent prayer as they made their way towards the new light source ahead of them.

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