Okay, I literally HATE, HATE, HATE, HATE myself for not updating this sooner! School has gotten me so bogged down that I barely had time to write, and when I did, other stories took precedence! God, I hate that!
THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS STORY! IT MEANS ALOT TO ME! (Even though, I'm a terrible updater!)
Please remember to review at the end! :)
Daniel and Vala sat in the briefing room, holding hands with their backs straightened. They looked like they were on trial, which honestly, it was a trial. A trial of the IOA.
Jack, Sam, and Teal'c entered the room, and sat on the other end of the table. Their faces were unreadable, but that didn't worry Daniel and Vala. What worried them was the man with the glasses at the point of the table.
Richard Woolsey opened the folder in front of him, and read the contents again, trying to understand the true meaning of the words.
"So, Doctor Jackson it says here that you are from the future." He replied, glancing up from his folder.
Daniel nodded, and squeezed Vala's hand lightly.
"Can you explain why you decided to come back?" Woolsey asked, placing his hands together on top of the folder on the table.
Daniel sighed, and bowed his head. "Because I wanted to be with my wife," He answered, though Vala could hear the irritation in his voice. She knew he was getting tired of repeating the story, but they both knew it had to be done.
"Ah, yes, that would be Ms. Vala Mal Doran." He replied, lifting a sheet of paper, and then to Vala.
"Jackson." She stated, narrowing her eyes.
He glanced at her, and lifted his brows. "I beg your pardon." He replied, shifting his gaze to Daniel.
Vala sat straighter in her chair. "Vala Mal Doran Jackson or Vala Jackson." She stated, her hand tightening in Daniel's.
Woolsey slowly nodded, and nodded. "Right, Jackson." He replied, though his tone held disbelief.
Vala moved slightly in her seat, but Daniel held her tight. She glanced his way, and he shook his head.
"Let it go." He whispered, holding her eyes for a moment before turning back to Woolsey.
Woolsey sighed, and marked on a piece of paper. "Now, have you two experienced any contact with any alien device?" He asked, glancing up at the couple.
Vala frowned at him, and Daniel squeezed her hand to soothe her. "No, we haven't." Daniel answered, stiffly.
Woolsey sighed, and wrote down a comment on the same paper. "Have you had any contact with any aliens who could have manipulated your thoughts or feelings?" He asked, writing on the paper.
Vala moved to stand up, but Daniel held her tight to his side. "No, we haven't, except the Ancients." He replied, adding the last part under his breath.
Woolsey stopped writing, and slowly lifted his head to look at the couple before him. "The Ancients?" He asked, lifting his brow in disbelief.
Vala smirked, and nodded her head curtly, but the smile faded when Daniel squeezed her side, and when she looked at him, he shook his head.
Woolsey leaned back, and stared at them, moving his eyes from Daniel to Vala. He finally moved his eyes to Jack, who closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Damn it, Daniel." Jack muttered, bowing his head.
Daniel glared at his friend, but didn't say a word.
Woolsey moved his focus to Jack, and sighed. "You believe him." He stated, in a bland tone.
Jack turned his head to Woolsey, and clasped his hands in front of him on the table. "Daniel doesn't lie." He stated, strongly, looking at Daniel and Vala. "And if he says he came from the future, I believe him." He added, watching Daniel smile at him in gratitude.
Woolsey lowered his eyes, and moved his head to look at the couple, who he noticed had not let go of each other since they had entered the room. "Even if I believed you, I can't speak for the IOA." He stated, shaking his head. "They make the final decision." He added, leaning forward.
Jack shook his head, and leaned back in his chair. "Damn it, Woolsey." He stated, pointing to the couple. "They have much of a right as anyone to marry, and have a happy life." He added, dropping his hand on the table.
Woolsey nodded, and sighed. "I agree, but this is not ordinary circumstances." He stated, glancing at the couple. "What is the IOA going to think when they hear this, Jack?" He asked, turning his head back to Jack. "Two people come from the future, and claim that the Ancients sent them, without so much of an explanation as to why except that he came back to be with her." He continued, shaking his head.
Daniel felt Vala tensed in his arms. "We can't prove this or even give any other explanation." He replied, firmly.
Woolsey was about to say something when someone said something first.
"I can."
Everyone at the table froze with the exception of Daniel, as they all turned to the very end of the table, and saw Oma De Sal standing in front of them.
"I beg your pardon." Woolsey replied, though everyone heard the nervousness in his voice.
Oma smiled, and gazed at the couple before her. "I can give an explanation, and prove it, for I am the one who sent them back." She replied, firmly.
"And just who are you?" Sam asked, firmly.
"Sam, this is Oma De Sal. An Ancient," Daniel introduced, holding his wife to his side, firmly.
~XXX~
Vala walked numbly into their quarters. The events of the past hour replayed through her mind. Daniel sensed her distress, and closed the door swiftly behind them. He moved towards her, and sat in front of her, as she sat with her back against the backboard.
"Vala," He whispered, placing his hand on her knee.
Vala lifted her gaze to his, and he read the fear and sadness in her grey depths. "What are we going to do?" She asked, softly, fear in her tone.
"We don't have a choice, Vala." He answered, softly, but firmly. "We have to do what Oma says." He whispered, touching her face with his other hand, and stroked it gently.
She sighed, and leaned into his hand. "And risk losing you? Again?" She whispered, closing her eyes as tears began to trickle down her face.
He sighed, scooted close to her, and pulled her into his arms. "You won't lose me, Vala." He whispered, stroking her back, his heart breaking at the thought.
She nodded, and held him closer than before. Her love was being put to the test, and she was scared, scared for her, and for Daniel, and for everyone who ever loved someone with all their heart.
"I love you so much, Daniel." She whispered, crying onto his shoulder.
He nodded, and pulled back to gaze into her gray eyes. "I love you just as much, Vala." He whispered in return, leaning forward to kiss her lips.
She sighed, and pulled back, just to place her forehead on his, her heart beating out of her chest. "They're not going to like this." She whispered, rubbing her forehead on his.
He sighed, and squeezed her waist. "I know."
She rubbed her hands over his shoulders, and let the tears fall once more. "But we have to do it." She said, lowly.
He nodded his head, and pulled back, only to brush his fingers over her face, pushing her hair behind her ear. "If we want to stay together, then yes, we do." He returned, watching her eyes sadden, but then her determined light appeared in her eyes.
"Well then," She began with her voice husky and full of emotion. "Let's go defeat this creature, and get on with our lives." She stated, watching Daniel smile, and chuckle at her words.
"I couldn't have said it better myself." He stated, nodding his head.
She smiled, and wrapped her arms around him, holding onto him for as long as she had left.
~XXX~
In the distance, Chernobog stared into the darkness.
His heart ached in his chest, and slowly he rubbed it. He longed for the day the pain would ease, but knew that the only thing that would do was to destroy that which gave him pain.
He had to destroy true love, and then he could be at peace.
And that's exactly what he was going to do.
Please be kind! (Even if you want to scold me for taking so long! Believe me, I've already heard it from my inner Vala!) LOL!
I'm doing my best to finish up this story, but I'm not making any promises, since I can't keep up with my updates at times, but I will do my upmost best! Please be patient!
Next Chapter: Jack and Daniel discuss what Oma told them. Vala meets with Sam. Oma meets with a mysterious being. SG-1 has a final say on their mission. But will the IOA condone it? Stay tuned...
Until Next Time...