All – Thank you so much for your patience, I hope it was worth it. In this chapter, well, again, I wanted to proceed with the story, and again, I got an idea I didn't wanna waste. I hope you will like it, it's the middle of the chapter. However, I feel obliged to warn you this chapter to be somehow sappy, so get ready for the tons of sugar. :)

Again, read and REVIEW!!!

And Ow! BTW! I wanted to tell you that I just saw the Quest Part 2 and the following two episodes, so I don't know what, if anything, happens between Daniel and Vala, so if my story isn't somehow fitting into the original script anymore – sorry, and please, take this as an AU.

ATTENTION ALL – There has been some slight problems with my betta, who is swamped with work, at least i hope so honey, you alright,right:) So I decided to post the next chapter without betta-ing this time.

the risks of doing such a thing - well,

1. bad spelling

2. bad grammar

3. crazy word order

4. baffling expressions without any obvious meaning

5. medical inaccuracies

Buut, despite all of this, I hope you all wont mind, cause i know that there really is NO excuse for the belated posting. Sorry again and have fun reading!

ATTENTION ALL NO 2.– I've experienced some nasty surprise, when certain someone (Yes, it was you, Briar Elwood) wrote into one review submited to a story that had nothing to do with the second half of season 10 how season 10 end. To be honest, I was pretty angry and disappointed that I now know the ending, It pretty much spoiled it for me.

So, I hereby would like to ask you all, who have already seen the rest on season 10, to be carefull and thoughtful to the rest of us, who weren't that lucky to see those few remaining episodes. Because it is not nice to have the very end of your favourite series spoiled by some seemingly harmless review.

Hazmot – A special thanks to Hazmot, who has chased my ass to write another chapter, and also for your sweet support, it really meant the world to me!!! It's a gift to have such wonderful readers like you. Thank you again, I hope this chapter was worth the long wait.

Dawn – Thank you darlin for your sweet review, Ive already missed you!:

Leenie – Honey, I am soo sorry for not waiting for your revierw, but I really felt like I had to get this of my chest. I hope you really don't mind and I hope you are well and happy succesfully finishing your thesis! Cross fingers!

Where the truth lies

by- liz parker

Chapter 9 – Dream and Reality

Suddenly, the door opened only to reveal Carolyn Lam with a more tired expression on her face than the one she had earlier in the gateroom. She didn't look any more optimistic than she did before either.

They all jumped to their feet, waiting for the doctor to give them the most recent update on Vala's condition.

Carolyn inhaled and started to talk.

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„I'm afraid I don't have many good news for you."

Said Carolyn without hesitation the minute she stepped throught the door. During her many years of practise, she made the experience that the truth and directness was the best approach on how to tell the family and friends the news, no matter how hard the truth was.

„As for the good news, we were able to stabilize Vala for now. She is slowly gaining a normal temperature again, her heart rate and pressure are strong and steady. However, that's the only possitive news I have for you." The members of SG-1 were carefully listening, their eyes never leaving the doctor's face.

„So? What is the other news, doc?" Asked Mitchell, ready to get over with the unpleasant part as quickly as possible.

Carolyn breathed once again, then started to explain.

„We were able to stabilize her, for now. Her heart is now functioning again, yet she still remains on respirator, since she isn't able to breath on her own. Curently, we are keeping her in a coma. She suffered some frostbite on her hands and feet, yet in comparission to her other problems, is it rather minor. However, her lungs are in a bad shape. I can tell you right now, she is getting a hell of a pneumonia, which we have medicine to treat with, yet, the biggest part it's always up to the patient and their strenght. Unfortunatelly, she is very weak now, her body fighting a whole array of other problems. Considering her condition, the prognosis isn't very good. However, as for now, she is fighting." Carolyn made a pause, cause the one last thing she had to tell them was still ahead of her.

„But she is gonna be alright? We all know her, she's a fighter, she can get through this, right?" Asked Cam, his eyes pleading for some good news.

„As for the hypothermia, we still not know. Although the result we get to date are looking cosidering the circumastances surprisingly good, we still can't tell for sure the extension of nerve and organ damage. Even If she wakes up, she is gonna have some very hard and painfull weeks, possibly months of rehabilitation ahead of her."

„Well, that shouldn't be a problem. She could use the healing device to cure heself after her strenght returns, right?" Said Mitchell, suddenly cheering up a little bit.

„Well, that may be possible, although you know of how much strengh it always drains from her, even after using the device to cure minor injuries. We can't say for now if she'll be even abl-"

„Hold on for a moment. You said: Even If she wakes up…What is that supposed to mean?" Asked Daniel in a quiet, dangerously calm voice, looking directly into the doctors eyes. And although it was one of the most penatrating looks Carolyn ever got, she didn't flinch.

„That's the main problem we have. As it seems, the pneumonia and hopythermia may be the ‚smaller' problems. Appearantly, we underestimated the head injury. The CT showed her skull was broken, the blow to the head causing serious swelling and some minor bleeding to her brain."

This was definitely the news none of SG-1 expected. Everybody was staring at Carolyn in horror, unable to move or say anything, the blunt and helpless expression on their faces causing Carolyn the break the unbearable silence by continuing.

„Now, we were able to stop the swelling and the MRI showed the drugs were effective and stopped the bleeding. However, we can't say for sure, but it is very well possible she may have suffered serious brain damage."

The silence on the corridor that came up after Carolyn's last statement was ear-splitting.

„What..what..are you saying she may never wake up again?" Asked Sam in shock.

She couldn't believe this. She couldn't loose another female friend like this. It was the first time she bonded with a woman at SGC since Janet…

„We don't know yet. Usually, we would try if she was able to breathe on her own, that would indicate her brain was still functional, although not necesarily without damage. However, her lungs collapsed from the cold and even if we unplugged her from the respirator and she would fail to breathe on her own, we would be unable to determine if it was due to the head trauma or lung failure." Everybody was staring at her with horror.

„I'm really sorry." She added, indicating there was no more for her to say.

Mitchell cursed nastily, turned around and kicked the wall. Sam was looking directly through Carolyn, lost in her own thoughts and painful memories. As for Daniel, his expression was unreadable. The doctor couldn't tell if he even knew where he was and what was going on.

„When will you be able to tell us more about Vala Mal Doran's condition?" Asked Teal'c, the only one able to think rationally.

„Well, however unpleasant it may sound, the only thing to do now is to wait. We will have to make sure her temperature is normal again and that her internal organs didn't suffer any further damage. Then we may try to uplug her from the respirator and see how her body reacts. I must warn you though, even if her organs continue to function normally, there is no way to tell if she didn't suffer permanent brain damage, or even if she will be able to wake up from the coma. As I said, we have to wait."

„Can't it be that Vala Mal Doran wakes up on her own, even before you take her down from the respirator?" Asked Teal'c, who was obviously the only one in condition to ask any reasonable questions.

„No. As for now, we keep her strongly sedated, she needs her rest."

„How much time do you estimate will it take untill you can try to unplug her form the breathing maschine?" Asked the Jaffa calmly.

„A day, maybe two. As I said, as soon as we get her bodyheat under control again, and also be sure her other internal organs work properly again, then we can try to get her down from the respirator and lower the medication dosage."

Daniel's back was pressed against the corridor wall. He was surprised, but he couldn't feel anything. He always though that in a situation like this, he would be angry, sad, horriffied, hell, maybe even violent, but nothing of that happened. He could feel…nothing. Only emptiness. Scary emptiness in his chest. His mind was repeating the one sentence the doctor told them: ‚may have suffered serious brain damage'…‚may have suffered serious brain damage'…‚may have suffered serious brain damage'…‚may have suffered serious brain damage'….

Daniel didn't even notice how, but suddenly, he was on the ground leaning with his back against the wall, his legs unable to hold him any much longer. Somebody was saying something, but Daniel couldn't focus. ‚may have suffered serious brain damage'…

„Doctor Jackson. Doctor JACKSON!"

Daniel eyes snapped open, he didn't notice he had closed them. Doctor Lam was leaning over him, a concerned look on her face.

„You all should have some rest. You have a very hard day behind you. I need to do a quick check-up on all of you and then you are free to go and have some sleep at your quoters, alright?"

Have some sleep? Daniel couldn't imagine to be able to fall asleep. Sleep was a luxury he didn't deserve.

„Can we see her?" Daniel asked quietly.

„I think you should rest. There is nothing you could do right now. If anything changes, I will let you know that instant, I promise." Replied Carolyn gently.

„Can we see her?" Asked Daniel again, oblivious of what she just said.

„Please." He added in a urgent tone.

„Ok, but only for five minutes and only if you promise me to go straight to bed afterwards."

Daniel nodded in agreement, taking Mitchell's and Teal'c's hand as they were helping him up on his feet again. All four of them with doctor Lam right behind them walked into the room. The smell of antiseptics made their stomach turn upside down. Daniel walked in a trance. He knew the others were right with him, but the only thing he could focus on was the white bed in the far corner of the infirmary that accomodated a still figure, which's face was even paler than the sheets in was cowered with.

The only visible parts of Vala were her head and arms, resting at the top of the thick special sheets that were keeping her warm. Her hands were bandaged with thick dressings, probably due to the frostbite. The quiet noises coming from the heart rate monitor and respirator dug into Daniel's consciousness.

Her face was deadly pale, drown of all blood. So still, almost like she were dead…

He noticed fainlty when Cam cursed behind him at the sight. Daniel understood him perfectely. It was not like there weren't in this situation before. There were always accidents, ambushs, belligerent attacks, misfortunate experiments. But this time, it was their fault one of their own team was laying on the infirmary bead, almost killed by a dispute and provocation inside their own group. To be accurate, his provocation.

How Daniel passed the medical check-up or how he even got into his quoters he didn't know. He was laying inside his bed, tugged under his sheets and was angry he was forced in here. He wanted to stay. I's always been like that. Somebody got hurt, they would stay till they wake up. Not this time however. The chance of Vala waking up in the next 30 hours was minimal. Zero, the better expression. As for later…, Daniel didn't want to go that far.

He was tossing and turning in his bed, yet couldn't find any comfort. He lay on his back, eyes absent/mindedly focused on the dark ceiling. He was unable to fall asleep, not under these circumstances. He glanced at the watch beside his bed. 4:13 pm. He would wait till 8 pm, then he would sneak out of his room and check on Vala. Hopefully, the good doctor Lam wouldn't be anywhere nearby.

Daniel didn't even bother to set an alarm. He though it to be impossible to fall asleep. Yet, however strongminded he was, his body, as so many times before that day, betrayed him again and he fell into a restless sleep.

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Daniel was running through a snow-covered forest. He didn't know where he was or why he was running, he just did. Suddenly, he noticed some movement on his right. He turned his head but didn't slow down. He could see Cam bound to a tree shouting at him:

„Watch out! They are everywhere! And they will get to you too!"

Daniel kept running, but all of a sudden, some strong hand grasped his mounth, the second his waist and quickly pulled him into a sort of a cave adroitly hidden under the snow. Before Daniel had the chance to cry out, Teal'c signaled him to be quiet. He was sitting in the middle of the cave, legs crossed, a barrier of fire between the two men. Dressed all up in green camouflage outfit, wearing a helmet disguised with leaves and moss, his face cowered with green paint, the only thing missing was his golden emblem that used to be on his forehaed.

Still with his index finger on his lips, Teal'c reached into his pocket and to Daniel's astounding pulled out a small golden chain with a little pendant attached to it. Daniel recognized it at once. It was the pendant Sam took from him claiming it belonged to Vala.

„She wants it back." Teal'c whispered in a scared voice, so untipical for the big Jaffa.

„But I told her. She won't get it untill she returns what's not hers."

He then raised his hand with his index finger pointing to his forehead.

„It will be your quest, Daniel Jackson, to get it back. My emblem…", then he pointed his finger into the corner of the room, where Daniel for the first time saw somebody squirming in the corner, „and his mace!"

Slowly from the shadow of the cave, a figure emerged, a figure of a young boy.

„Tabuti?" Asked Daniel in shock.

„What are you doing here? Where's your father? Where are your people?"

„She took it altough it wasn't hers. She shall return it or she will be punished." He said.

„But who? Who took the mace?" Asked Daniel, although he knew the answer.

„The raven one." Said Tabuti and disappeared. Only Teal'c was left.

„Take this." He pressed the chain with the pendant into Daniel's wrist.

„Don't forget. Emblem and mace for the locket. That's the deal."

The cave, Teal'c and the fire vanished. Daniel was again standing in the forest, though this time, there was a cruel, violent storm going on. He could barely see a few feet ahead of him. He passed the tree Mitchell has been bound to previously. It was empty. Daniel's eyes were starting to sting and tear from the the harsh wind. He stopped for a moment to dry them.

„Going somewhere?" Asked a female voice from behind. Daniel jumped in surprise and turned around.

„Looking for this?" Asked Sam, showing him an object she was squeezing in her hand. It was Shaa'res picture that usually hung on his office wall.

„Give it back!" Shouted Daniel angrily. „It doesn't belong to you!"

„Oh really? But you too, have something that does not belong to you, don't you Daniel?" Asked Sam in an amused tone. Daniel stared at her in confussion. What did he have that was somebody elses?

His hand subconsciously reached into his pocket, where his fingers found the pendant. He took it out and looked at it.

„What is it? Why does Vala have it?" He asked Sam loudly.

„I am sorry, Daniel, but I already told you. I can't tell." She shouted back. The two of them were standing still some ten feet apart from each other and literally had to shout to be able to understand one another.

„If you won't tell me, I will not give it to you." Daniel shouted angrily.

„Well,I promised not to tell. But if you really wanna know, you should better ask her!" Sam replied poining her hand somewhere behind Daniel and disappeared in the darkness of the forest. Daniel turned around and there she was, standing some six feet ahead of him,her arms crossed over her chest, a big mischievous grin spread all over her face.

„There there. What took you so long?" Asked Vala.

„I've been waiting here for you quite some time now. You know how rude it is to keep a lady waiting, don't you Daniel?" She teased.

„Now, if you don't mind, I would like my pendant back." She said in a more serious tone and stretched out her hand towards him. Daniel didn't move.

„No."

„No?" Vala asked surprisedly.

„Why not?"

He didn't reply only stared at her knowingly. She still looked vaguely.

„Oh don't be such a jerk, Daniel! I've done everything you asked from me. I left everything behind, I joined your team, I risked my life in order to save that tiny unsignificant planet of yours and now you turn your back on me? Now, I little faith in me would be nice, don't you think? I really have to say you are hurting my feelings…" She said dramatically.

„Return what you took and everything is gonna be fine." Said Daniel, oblivious of her little drama performance.

„UH! Alright!" cried Vala in frustration. „Here you go!" She reached into her pocket and took Tea'lc's emblem from her pocket. Throwing it in Daniel's direction, it landed just a few centimeters away from his feet.

„But I told Muscles I would give it back. And I always do, he knows that! Now, return what's mine." She said expectantly.

„You still have something that does not belong to you." Said Daniel resolutely.

„What?? No I don't!" Shouted Vala indignantly.

„Give back the mace. I know you have it."

„What mace? Ah, that one. I don't have it. I never had it. I mean I had it, but then I gave it back. I didn't even ever held it."

„Too much of a confussing answer, don't you think?" Daniel said mockingly.

„UH, who cares? It's the truth. Now give me back my pendant."

„Not until you return the mace."

„I told you Daniel, I don't have it!" She cried. She was starting to move in order to close the distance between the two of them. She was now closing up on him, her face clearer with each step she made in the dim light. She was already a foot away from him, however, she didn't stop. She closed every distance between them that was left, leaning into him, bringing her mounth to his ear, quietly whispering:

„Now, return what's not yours."

Her warm breath was tickling the skin of his neck and Daniel could feel the hair of his neck rising. Vala gave a little laugh, then withdrew her face an inch back, looking directly into his eyes. Her's were sparkling mischievously. She leaned closer and gave him a sweet teasing kiss on the lips before stepping back, smiling. She held out her hand in order to show him what was inside and Daniel was shocked to find out it was her pendant comfortably resting in it. In panic, he quickly dug his hand into his pocket where the pendant used to be but found it empty. Vala laughed gently once again.

„"Well, well, Daniel. You just never learn from your mistakes, do you?" She said in a deep voice, half teasingly, half reproachefully. Her defiant gaze lingering on him, her smile snobbish.

Daniel was furious. She tricked him again. But he wouldn't let her this time.

„Give me the mace Vala." He said cooly, his rage bubbling just beneath the surface.

„I told you! I don't have it!" She said innocently, flinging her arms in the air. „Somebody else must have taken it."

„Now. We can make it the easy, or the hard way Vala." Said Daniel through gritted teeth.

Vala laughed, then sized Daniel from head to toes. „You know me Daniel. And I know you. I am not the one choosing easy. The hard way then."

Without a warning, Daniel jumped forward, taking Vala by surprise, forcing her down to the ground.

„Give me the mace Vala. Those people need it!" He said, pinning her down hard.

„I don't have it Daniel!" Shouted Vala back. „I never had it!"

„Don't lie to me!" Shouted Daniel directly into her face.

„Ouch Daniel! Let me be. You are hurting me!" Her voice wasn't as nearly amused anymore. She was scared, her eyes frantically searching his own in confussion, possibly triing to find an explanation for his behaviour, but Daniel didn't give a damn.

„Where is it Vala? Tell me!" He pushed even harder, very well aware he was pushing too much.

„I don't know!" Vala cried out in pain, triing to get out of his grasp, but he was too strong.

„She told you Jackson, she doesn't have it! Now drop it, we still have a mission to complete and then return to the SGC." Mitchell's voice shot through the air.

Daniel turned his head only to see all three remaining members of SG-1 standing behind him, all of them looking down on him in distaste.

„Please Daniel, release her, she didn't do anything." Said Sam in a quiet voice.

„Indeed." Added Teal'c.

Daniel felt a sudden punch of shame. He turned back at Vala to apologize but when he looked down, she wasn't there anymore. Instead, at the exact spot where she has been lying was now a big black hole filled with dark water. Daniel panicked. He threw both of his hands into the water trying to catch her, but it was too late. The only thing he was capable of was shouting her name.

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Daniel jerked from his dream, his breathing heavy, his heart pounding hard against his chest. He looked around confusedly. It took him a second to recognize his surroundings. He relaxed. He was in his own room, in his own bed, at SGC. It was just a bad dream, wasn't it? Still in dark, his hand searched the bed table for his glasses. He finally found them and put them on to see what time it was. 3:27 am. Damn! He must have been sleeping for over eleven hours!

He shot out of his bed, put on some clothes and made his way towards the door. Still a bit confused by the strange dream, he wandered the empty SGC corridors, occiasionally meeting a night guard or some too enthusiastic scientist.

While he still though about the dream, his feet were carrying him to the infirmary. He wanted to see her, to assure himself she was alright.

There was no one else in the room exept of Vala and the various maschines keeping her alive.

He closed onto her bed, pulling a chair that stood nearby and lowering himself onto it. He was looking into her face, still so pale, yet a bit more colourfull. She looked so at peace. He realized he never had the chance to see her like this; composed and oblivious to the world. She looked almost content.

Daniel still couldn't believe this was the reality. Oh he wished, he wished so badly he would jerk from this dream too, and when he did so, there would be a smiling Vala, poking him into the ribs while sitting next to him at his working desk in his office, asking him if he would join her at lunch.

But no matter how much he wished, it was just his wishful thinking.

She was lying here, after almost dying in the freezing water after the ice of a frozen lake broke underneeth her on some god forsaken planet somewhere in the universe. And now, she may never wake up again, or never be the same as before…

No silly, that's not happening. You know me! I've survived far worse that this!

Ringed Vala's cheerfull voice in his head and Daniel realized his imagination just called himself ‚silly'. He had to smile. It was HER expression, one of her special nicknames she used to give people, mostly people she really cared about, although she would never admit it. And this one was preserved only for him, Daniel knew.

He reached out wanting to grasp Vala's hand, but then he realized it was so heavily bandaged he couldn't. He didn't stop the movement though, just changed it's direction a bit and continued his way upwards her arm, then shoulder, collarbone and neck, till his hand touched her cheek, where it finally remained, his thumb gently caressing the still rather cold skin of her face.

Daniel couldn't imagine another day without her teasing, without her smile, without the bickering. He already missed it immensely.

He quickly turned around to check if anybody was nearby and then murmured:

„Please, be allright and wake up soon. I will make up everything to you, I promise you, just don't leave me here alone. I promise I'll do everything you wish, I'll stop bickering, I'll even cut down on the caffeine, just wake up soon and kick my ass for what a jerk I've been in the last few days…or ever…"

Daniel sighed, leaned over and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

„I am sorrry, I gotta go now. But I promise I'll be back soon."

Daniel left the infirmary and slowly returned to his quoters, where he laid down on the bed again. He didn't want Doctor Lam or any other doctor or nurse find him in the infirmary. There was enough talking around the base about his somehow odd relationship with the sassy alien as it was, even without a story how he secretively sneaked into the infirmary to visit Vala at night.

However, Daniel knew, that sleep would not come that night anymore. But iven if so, he wouldn't let it. Cause the though of another nightmare like he already had that night terrified the hell out of him.

TBC

AN - Ok, sooorry for the long wait, but i hope you liked it and that this chapter was worth the wait. Btw, cross fingers, Ive had my state examination on the 11.5 from english (passed and got an A!YAY!!) and I have the rest on 25.5 from everything else still ahead of me. Trust me, I will need ALL the support I can get.

Oh, and keep your reviews coming, I just caaaan't wait to break the 100 limit, I know, still far from it, but I hope that with YOUR help I will be succesfull.

Have a nice day and rest of the week, loving you all, Liz.