Thanks to Entropic Cascade for picking up something that I missed on about ten run throughs. Lol. Thanks!

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As Daniel changed back into black BDUs in the locker room on board the ship, Sam, forgoing the usual protocol regarding two on-duty team members who were involved in a relationship, sat on a bench behind him as Daniel related to her what had happened on the planet with Hertis. "... I don't know how Vala managed to hide a 9 mil and a zat..."

Sam couldn't help but smile for a moment, and then she said with a shrug, "Well, security on-board isn't as stringent as back at the SGC. At the SGC, we have the Armoury which is under constant guard and repeated auditing to ensure that it has what it's supposed to have. Here, however... the time spent aboard this ship is logged as mission hours, even if we're doing experimentation, maintenance or simple reconnaissance... which is why we wear BDUs and not fatigues, and why we carry our standard issue weaponry on our persons for most of the time."

As Daniel buckled up his trousers, he couldn't help but chuckle at the long explanation, remarking, "Jack was right... I shouldn't ask you anything unless I really want to know."

She threw him a hurt look before saying with an embarrassed smile, noting his teasing smile, "You asked for it. Anyway... at least I don't have to repeat myself or dumb it down, so while you do look bored, you actually take it on board."

He raised his eyebrows mirthfully. "So you think."

She shook her head in disbelief and then shrugged. "So anyway... even if we did do equipment checks before beaming down personnel, who would be willing to search the ship commander's fiancée?"

He grimaced a little. "Yeah. Good point."

She asked with a slight smile, "You ok?"

He nodded and asked, "Yeah. You?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I think I may be excited. Cautious excitement though, considering who else we have on board."

He rolled his eyes at the thought of Merek potentially ruining the continuing escapade in search of the fabled Ark, and she stood up, wrapping her arms around his waist as she rested her head against his shoulder. A thoughtful frown on his face, he held her tightly, knowing as well as she that there was no guarantee that they would see home again, or each other even, should the quest take a turn for the worst. He kissed her forehead tenderly and was about to say something when he was interrupted by a knocking at the door. Before they could react, Cam's voice called,

"Carter, let's lock and load."

Daniel raised his eyebrows and looked at Sam, who smiled sheepishly. "He knows me." Still in Daniel's embrace, she called back, "Just a minute, Cam." She looked up at Daniel regretfully. "Probably the last time to be unprofessional before we reach Celestis."

His face mirrored her pain and regretfulness for the briefest of moments. "I know."

They reluctantly let go of each other, and Daniel said as he smoothed her cheek, gazing at her in worry, "Don't think about it too much, Sam. It's..." He looked uncomfortable at being on the verge of saying something that he didn't think would be entirely true, for instance, that everything would be okay, and would come to a satisfying conclusion.

She nodded in understanding, knowing what he was thinking, and she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before leaving the locker room without another glance, willing herself to be strong and to keep her mind focussed on what they might find, rather than the pain that was growing within her. Daniel watched her leave, still looking pensive, before he mentally shook himself and laced his boots up.

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Vala, now in black BDUs too, sat with Teal'c in the ship's Mess, the Jaffa wondering idly if Cam would hold it against him if he shot Vala. Vala continued to talk about random topics, ranging from how many Naquadah bricks of a certain size it would take to construct a model replica of the ship, to Jaffa travel games. Eventually she sighed, all mirth vanishing from her countenance. Teal'c noticed this and asked as he reached for her hand in a gesture of comfort,

"Have you not consulted Tomin with regard to your intentions of marrying ColonelMitchell?"

Vala remarked, exasperated and stressed, "Do I look as though I've told him?" She looked down at their hands and asked, looking worried, "What if he takes it badly?"

Teal'c retorted grimly, "No self-respecting male will take such news light-heartedly, ValaMalDoran. He may perhaps wish to cause injury to ColonelMitchell."

She pointed at him. "See? That's exactly why I'm worried. He's a good man... but he's, uh, a mite impulsive." She smiled triumphantly on surmising that she had used the colloquialism 'mite' correctly. Her smile vanished. "But he gets hurt easily."

"... and I will not permit him to lay a single finger on your Sim'ka. You have my word."

She smiled at him gratefully despite the pain and turmoil in her eyes and voice. She patted his hand and said, "Thank you, Muscles." Her tone lifted, sounding brighter. "Now... you must have had what these Earth-borns call Scrabble." Teal'c silently groaned and put his head down on his folded arms, wishing that he could finally achieve Ascension.

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In another part of the Mess, Tomin sat with Hertis, the two acquaintances catching up on events that had happened since they had last encountered each other. Hertis looked at Tomin sceptically as the former Ori commander gazed longingly at Vala, who was seated far from them with Teal'c. Hertis remarked, teasing as well as concerned,

"Tomin, I would sooner believe that your mother was a male than believe that you and Vala are married."

Tomin shot him a glare at the perceived jibe directed towards his mother. He then said, glancing over at Vala again as she held Teal'c's hand, "She is still my wife."

"Has she fallen in love with another man?"

Tomin glared at him testily. "That is enough from you. You will speak no more on the matter, otherwise I will not be held accountable for my actions."

Hertis grinned at him as he ate a grape, and then he said, looking impressed, "I would like to know how they have such lovely grapes without those irritating seeds."

"Do you think of nothing but food?!"

Hertis looked mildly offended. "I do not. I think of a great many things... including why the woman who you claim is your wife was involved in a tender embrace with the commander of this vessel... and why she is now in the company of a man who is not her husband. Perhaps she once was your wife, but you could not keep her satis..."

As Vala and Teal'c left the Mess, leaving the two men alone, Tomin suddenly grabbed Hertis' throat, impeding further taunts as he said darkly while Hertis gasped for breath,"If you speak once more on this topic, I will kill you where you sit." Tomin's harsh expression suddenly melted as he realised just what he was threatening to do, and how he had previously killed in the name of false gods. With a murmured apology, the now ashamed man left the Mess. Hertis looked at where Tomin had gone before resuming his meal, shaking his head slightly as he thought in concern of his friend's state of mind.