Chapter 12

Changes in the Air

childofspacegypsy1

xxxxxx

"Commander Heimdall?"

Heimdall turned from the consol. "Yes?"

"We are in communications range; we may be able to get a message off before we lose that function, again. Would you like to send a message to earth?"

"How long before we arrive in orbit?" Heimdall turned back to continue manipulating the crystal across the consol.

"A few hours should bring us into earths orbit."

"We will wait." Heimdall hoped the Tau'ri would be able to help; they were in desperate need of materials for repairs, as well as answers to the troubling question of what became of the rest of their people.

xxxxxx

Teal'c watched the other warrior's lithe body as it gracefully roamed the small confines of his room. Forcefully he pulled himself from his musings and braced for what he knew must come next.

"Ishta." Waiting for the slim blonde to stop in her wanderings, Teal'c again studied her. There was no denying, he had missed the companionship of this woman considerably.

At the sound of her name, Ishta turned to face the irritating man, meeting his eyes boldly.

"I realize that recent events have left me looking like a hypocrite, and I wish to clear this misunderstanding between us." Teal'c spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully.

"Misunderstanding? I misunderstood nothing." Angrily, Ishta brushed past him.

Teal'c watched as Ishta stopped at the door, body rigid with fury. He realized that it was now or never. If he let her walk away from him now, he would lose her forever.

Stepping up to stand right behind her, Teal'c gripped her shoulder, pulling her back to nuzzle his face into her neck before raising his head and turning her to face him. "Ishta, I am a very proud man. But that pride has not always served me well. There are times such as this one when it hinders me in reaching for something I want. I made a decision. A bad one. Made in the heat of the moment, out of fear." He stood away from her as he felt her turning.

The look of shock on her face almost made him laugh. "Even the most proud Jaffa warriors feel fear from time to time."

Ishta stepped closer, tipping her face up to study Teal'c. Her heart was pounding; she had not been prepared for this, this blatant honesty from the man in front of her.

Deciding it was time to take some advice from his son, Teal'c grasped Ishta by the hips. Pulling her close, he smiled when she reached up, putting a restraining hand on his chest, but instead gripped his shirt and pressed her body closer to his.

"You… when I told you of my wish for children, that finally being out free of Molok and finding a permanent home for my people, I was ready to start a family, a family with you. You refused. You told me that under no circumstances would you ever wish to have more children." Pulling away from his embrace, Ishta clenched her fists at the memory. "You even went so far as to attack me, saying that I had tricked you into something that was not what our original 'arrangement' was. That I was turning our relationship into something it was not. How am I to forgive you for that? How am I to look past that hurt, when I find you here happily being father to these children? Not that I begrudge them your parenting."

Teal'c felt his heart lurch as he listened to her tirade, knowing she was right, and that there was a very good chance she would not wish to re-establish a relationship with him. He could not blame her.

Unable to stop himself, he reached for her again. "As I said I made a foolish choice out of fear."

"What could you have to fear from me?" Letting Teal'c pull her close again, Ishta tried to focus her swirling thoughts.

With a warm smile, he leaned in to brush her lips lightly with his own. "Nothing but my own insecurities. If you are willing, I would like a chance to make it up to you, a chance to start our relationship again."

Grinning slyly, Ishta leaned into Teal'c's embrace. "I believe I could be persuaded."

xxxxxx

Daniel leaned in the doorway of their private nursery. Though the room was dark, he could make out Vala's outline curled up in the rocking chair, watching the babies sleep. For the first time in nearly two years, Daniel was afraid he really didn't know what was going through her head.

In some ways she was the happiest he'd seen her. Settling into the family life quite snuggly, she balanced work and family effortlessly. But then, why did hers eye's turn sad from time to time? Like something was slowly eating away at her happiness, tainting it.

It wasn't Adria, it was something more, and something she wouldn't/didn't talk to him about. And all the while they were growing closer; some part of her seemed to be drifting away, making him feel desperate to pull her closer.

Vala sat quietly, watching her babies, silent tears sliding down her cheeks. She could feel him in the doorway, sensed his eyes on her. A feeling that used to bring a tingle of excitement and anticipation, but now she only felt the painful jolt of need and the empty burn of unrequited love.

Biting her lip and breathing deeply, she attempted to stop the flow of tears as she felt Daniel approach.

Sinking down to crouch in front of her, Daniel studied her face. He could see the tears, shining in the dim light. Reaching up to clasp her hand Daniel's voice was soft and warm, "Vala?"

Softly clearing her throat of unshed tears, Vala looked down at her best friend, her protector, her tormentor. And by the gods the man she loved. "Yes, Daniel."

"Is something wrong?" Concerned, he watched her face closely.

"No, Daniel. The babies are fine."

"That's not what I meant, Vala. Why are you here in the dark, alone?"

"I like to watch them sleep."

Daniel smiled, he too often came here to do just that. "And the tears?"

She was quiet for a long time, so long Daniel didn't think she would respond, she sat quietly seeming to study him. Finally she stood up, knocking Daniel back.

"I'm fine, darling. Just a little melancholy. Nothing to worry about." Vala leaned over the crib rail to press a kiss to each of the babies.

"If you're upset about something…Vala, you know you can talk to me about anything…unless it's me." His heart plummeted when he saw her falter.

"What makes you think that Daniel?" Reaching the door to her bedroom, Vala turned to look Daniel in the face. Her breath caught at the pained expression in his eyes.

"I thought we were growing closer. I…why are you suddenly pulling away if it's not me?" Stepping up so that they stood face to face, Daniel couldn't stop himself from reaching up to run his thumb across the dried tears staining her cheek.

Closing her eyes, Vala unconsciously leaned forward, pressing into the palm of his hand. She desperately searched for something to say, anything to comfort him, take that confusion and pain from his eyes. It wasn't that she thought Daniel would never let himself be loved again, it's just that she knew it would be someone 'safe'. And it wouldn't be her, his friend. A friendship she couldn't lose, couldn't risk.

"Vala?" Daniel inched closer so their faces were close, foreheads nearly touching. He could feel his heart beat, her heart beat, their hearts beating. The usually eloquent linguist, pushed back, dominated by the man. The man, trembling with desperation, with the need to touch, to hold this woman.

"Daniel, I…" suddenly Vala was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the smell, the feel, the wanting of Daniel.

Their foreheads touched.

Lips close enough to lightly brush. Breathing the same air, speaking the same words before melding into one.

"I love you."

xxxxxx

"General Landry to the control room. SG-1 to the control room."

Carolyn looked up from her desk to her mother and the nurse watching Eir, Hoor, Ulr and Urd playfully romping on the mat. The two women exchanged curious glances before going back to what they were doing.

Stopping to hear the announcement blaring from the speaker, Cam let his staff drop allowing Teal'c an opportunity to swipe his legs out from under him. Glaring up at Teal'c as the Jaffa reached out to help him up, Cam wiped the sweat from his face. "Well, let's see what they want. Shall we?"

Bowing his head fractionally, Teal'c set his staff against the wall and followed Cam from the gym.

With a frustrated groan, Daniel pulled his lips from Vala's and leaned his forehead against hers. Breathing deeply, he stepped back and lowered her until her feet touched the ground. Smiling at her glaze eyed, dazed expression, Daniel brush her hair behind her ear and grasping her hand, walked from the room pulling her along behind him. "We should drop the babies by the nursery on our way down."

Pressing her hands to her flushed cheeks, Vala tried to clear her pleasure fogged brain. "Yes darling. Although I hate to wake them, it took me nearly an hour to get them to sleep."

"Yes, Walter. What is it?" Landry came down the stairs from his office.

"An unidentified ship has been detected in orbit, sir. They are asking to open communications." Walter twisted around to look up at the General for permission when Teal'c and Cam came sprinting into the room.

"What's up?" Cam stood directly behind the technician, looking down into the 'Gate room, noting there was no activity there, he turned to Landry.

"Open the communications, Chief."

Daniel and Vala bounded into the room as the small screen flicked to life.

"General Landry, it s good to see you. We find ourselves in an awkward position and are in need of assistance. Would it be possible for us to land so that we may speak with you in person? Our beaming capabilities are not functional at this time."

Complete silence reined for a full minute before Daniel found his voice. "Commander Heimdall?"

"Yes, Dr. Jackson." Heimdall blinked and cocked his head to the side, confused by the strange actions, or lack there of, of the Tau'ri.

"Um, well." Daniel turned to Landry, not knowing what to do. Vala was gripping his hand and forearm. He could feel the tension in her body as it pressed into his side. He unconsciously rubbed the small of her back in a calming motion.

Landry leaned in close to the screen. "As far as landing, I'm afraid you will have to go to the Alpha site. We can meet you there."

Heimdall nodded. "Thank you, General Landry."

"Walter, send them the coordinates and then inform the Alpha site." Landry watched the screen, his mind whirling with what ifs.

"Yes, sir." Walter busily set about transmitting the information.

Landry nodded and headed back towards the stairs. "Get Carolyn up here, then join me in the briefing room."

Coming up the stairs into the briefing room, the team gathered around the table as General Landry hung up the red phone.

"Where are Jack and Samantha?" Vala looked around, just noticing the missing pair.

"They are already on the Alpha site with Frigg and Frey, having a play-day outside." Landry didn't sit as he came up to the table.

"What do you think, sir?" Cam looked between Daniel and the General. "Could they really be Asgard or something else?"

"Well, the only way to find out is to meet them." Daniel looked pointedly at Landry.

"I suggest we get a move on, we need to get to the Alpha site before them. You've got thirty minutes to meet in the 'Gate room." Landry turned as Carolyn rushed into the meeting room.

"Mitchell, fill Carolyn in on what's going on." He looked to Carolyn. "I want you to come with us."

"What about the babies?" Vala's nervous voice pulled him away from watching as Carolyn's gaze sought out Mitchell's.

Turning to look at the group, Landry thought for a moment. "Let's leave them here, at least for now."

End Chapter