General Landry was staving off Woosley after finding out there had not been any deal made at planet PX-357.

"I demand an explanation General Landry. Why is there no contract with the inhabitants? It was a simple deal and as I understand they have broken off all communications with SGC."

"Look Mr. Woosley, there were complications that have to be worked out. I trust my team to use caution when representing our organization and that's exactly what SG1 is doing."

"Then where are your precious SG1 General? It seems that they are nowhere to be found. Why are they taking their sweet time to stay in contact with PX-357?"

"Again, they are using caution." Landry knew Woosley would snoop long enough, he might find out the truth. He needed to stall off IOA as long as possible.

Woosley looked at Landry trying to figure out what he was hiding. "I expect a contract in one week General. Our organization needs that Naquadah and as I understand PX -357 has adequate amounts to further our programs."

"Then you will have your report as usual. Not if you don't mind, I have a facility to run. Please show yourself out."

Woosley started to say something. But dealing with General Landry and O'Neill has taught him more patients than he could muster.

"You'll be seeing me real soon General." Woosley turned and left, but decided he needed to make a few phone calls.

I know enough when someone is hiding something, and General Landry and O'Neill are knee deep in whatever it is. I'm going to get to the bottom of what it is.

After finding out that Vala's implanted transmitter had been damaged somehow, the friends had no choice but look for Vala the old fashion way. Go out and search from her last know location. General O'Neill was driving, while Sam was giving navigations directions. Daniel and Teal'c were searching outside the window for any visual sight of Vala leading from the mountain. Fortunately the car that Vala swiped had a On Star program that tracked the vehicle. The last location was a town called Beulah. They were on their way there.

Cam sat in the back seat of O'Neill's SUV silently watching the outside, but nor really seeing anything, saying nothing, but worried about Vala, and why she ran.

FLASHBACK

"Now what do you call these round things you cooked?"

"There called macaroons. There from my grandmothers recipe."

Vala crinkled up her nose to smell the sweet treat. "So what's the occasion? I've never seen you bring them on base."

"I make them for special occasions, and for special people. And you my sweet are special to me." Cam kissed Vala before feeding her.

"Sooooo, what do ya think?"

Vala finally swallowed the cookie, savoring the sweetness. "Well..mppph…….it's different." Vala smiled, knowing it would please Cam to no end that she enjoyed something he made special.

"My grandmother was from Scottish roots and these supposedly originated from there She use to make these all the time for me; just me." Vala could see there was a little sadness in Cam mentioning his grandmother.

"She must of loved you very much to think you are so special to make these. I love them and what's the special occasion?" Vala grabbed another macaroon, which Cam was elated about.

"Well Princess it's been four months and 2 days since our first conversation riding thru Kansas, and it's the first time I really, really liked you."

Vala smiled and put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Oh, Cam really; you liked me for the first time?"

"Yep, it was the first time I saw you other than just a teammate. You really are a good listener and……… Cam put his head down. "I…..really saw the beauty within you, not just the outside. You are a very caring person, and how you treated my mom and dad was special."

Vala was touched. No one had really praised her for a long time for her kindness. "I didn't do anything special Cam. Your parents welcomed me into their home without any suspicion. It's…….its the first time I really felt at home with anyone." Vala had tears streaming down her face.

Cam pulled her into a hug. He couldn't believe how special Vala really was. He couldn't for the life of him understand why Daniel treated her sometimes with disdain.

"Hey Princess, I think those macaroons are the charm." Cam wiped her tears and kissed her back, while smiling. He enjoyed the taste of his special macaroons on Vala's lips and tongue. She had a bit of coconut on her lips, and he licked the sweet flakes off the root of her mouth. Vala kissed him back with a little more passion as he responded in kind.

Cam pulled from their embrace. "Vala, I don't want to push you, and I think the world of you darlin. I want us to be sure of each other and I want us to take our time."

Vala knew what he meant and she respected that he wanted her to make the decision to be more intimate. "Cam, I'm sure of this, I mean of us. I want nothing more than to be with you." She kissed him back with a little more passion. Cam loved pulling her into a passionate kiss. Holding and touching her was more enjoyable to him than having sex with her. He enjoyed the pure sweetness of her body and the softness of her velvety skin.

Vala was enjoying so many sensations of Cam's kisses and the way he held her to him. She felt a safeness in his arms that she had not felt in a long time, if ever. She felt a sureness of their being together and she didn't have to explain her obvious passion for kissing him and tasting him. Other men had thought her too passionate, wanting something from them, than wanting to be with them. Vala used her physicality to survive, to escape. This was neither. This was love for a man who had shown he wanted to love her back.

"You know what would be nice right now? Stated Cam, obviously a bit dizzy from Vala's tentative kisses.

Vala ran her finger down his nose and mouth. He playfully snapped at her finger. "I nice refreshing nap."

Vala looked at him confused. "A nap Cam? Is that another of your Tauri sayings for, I want to have sex with you?" She smiled.

Cam laughed at Vala's innocent bluntness. "No sweety, I just think it's been a long day, we've got plenty of time for being intimate. And it turns me on that I can just hold you while you melt into my arms. I just want to hold you."

Again Vala was amazed by this man and his tenderness towards her. How could she refuse.

"You know; that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I think a nap would be very, very nice." This time, Cam kissed her until they had to come up for air.

PRESENT

Cam was roused from his memory by Sam asking if he had seen anything. The snowfall was getting a bit heavy and they were still hours from arriving in Beulah.

"Ah….what Sam?"

"I said we can't really see anything yet, and it's getting late. We'll press on until we can get to the city. If the roads get too covered, it might be difficult to find her. This city is off the main roads and we don't want to get stuck out here. We are on our own in finding her." Said Sam.

"Could Vala have possible stopped in town, knowing this weather was getting bad?" Asked Jack.

"We have no way of knowing. This is a valley area, and the last known signal was from Beulah." Said Sam.

"I am sure we will be successful in finding Vala Mol Doran." Teal'c interjected.

Daniel looked at Cam strangely, as he noticed that Cam was acting odd about the whole thing. "Vala is good at hiding. We just have to know where to look." Said Daniel.

Cam gave Daniel that look again. Daniel noticed it for what is was and it was contempt. Daniel decided to leave it alone for now. Cam just turned his attention back the window and the outside falling snow. Jack and Sam both looked at each other, knowing that Cam had to hide his worry and involvement with Vala. Sam pulled Jack's hand into her lap while he drove with the other. She was worried too.

Old man Brown saw the tarp move again, and heard a voice from underneath. He looked around and found a 4 x 4 board. He slowly walked to the back and raised the tarp. What he saw not only shocked him, but he could see the pale women shivering to death. He went into immediate old training mode. He needed to get Vala in the house and warm.

He burst into the house carrying a shivering Vala. He could tell from the symptoms that Vala had Hypothermia. "MARTHA…….MARTHA! HURRY AND GET MY SLEEPING BAG FROM DOWNSTAIRS."

Martha came into the run wondering what her husband was shouting for. "Old man what are you………..

Martha stopped in her tracks when she saw her husband carrying a women, shivering. He was carrying her towards the back room with the extra bed.

"Martha hurry, she's got Hypothermia. We need to get her warm as soon as possible."

Martha fell into action. She'd been around her husband long enough to know not to hesitate when it came to quick action.

As Martha went for the sleeping bag, the old man went into the bedroom closet and grabbed some extra blankets. Martha had perfect timing and she knew that she had to remove her clothing. Her husband turned away as Martha quickly removed Vala's clothing.

Martha let out a horrified gasp as she saw the whelps on Vala's back.

"My God Henry, look at her back."

Her husband briefly could see she looked like she was beaten. "Let's get her warm first Martha. We'll worry about this later."

Martha grabbed the blankets and wrapped her into them, while the old man unzipped the sleeping bag. Martha moved so her husband could pick her up and placed the strange women into the sleeping bag.

Vala opened her eyes, not really knowing where she was. Vala tried to say something, but she looked disorientated and lost.

"It's ok dear, we're going to take good care of you. It's alright, it's alright." Martha continued to say this to Vala over and over again, until Vala just closed her eyes and feel into unconsciousness, still shivering.

"Martha, were going to need some hot tea and soup for her. I found her in the back of the truck under the tarp. I almost hit her with a two by four when I saw it was a women."

"I wonder who she is sweety? She looks so lost and ill."

"I don't know hon, but we need to get her warm fast. I'll stay with her until you get back."

"Poor child; let me heat up the soup and get some tea fast." Martha left the room and hurried to get some hot liquids into their unknown guest.

The old man wondered why this strange women was in the back of his truck. As she watched carefully over Vala, he looked down at the discarded clothes. He knew they were military, and so were the boots.

You must of hid in the back of my truck for some reason. Those whelps didn't get there by themselves. You must be running away from someone.

Henry immediately felt protective of Vala. "Don't worry; no one is going to hurt you again. You're safe here with me and Martha. I guarantee if I find out who did this to you, they'll pay."

Martha could hear her husband from the kitchen. She knew he wasn't close to a lot of people and rarely showed such concern for a stranger. She just hoped they could save the women and for now give her a shelter from what she might have been through.

TBC

A/N: Thanks Acer Sigma for your great suggestions. I dedicate this chapter to you and for your valued support.