Jack and Vala stood staring out the window, both smiling that Sam was chasing Daniel around the lake. Jack was truly enjoying his wife to be having fun and laughing. Vala he noticed was smiling, but it wasn't a complete smile. Jack wondered if Vala too, wanted the same for herself with Daniel. Jack moved closer to Vala, while the rest went into the kitchen to help with dinner.

"Whatcha thinking space princess?"

"Hmm, oh, nothing. Just nice to see Daniel having fun for once."

"Yeah, you should of seen him before you came along. Couldn't even get a chuckle out of him."

Vala turned to Jack. "Really?"

"Really; Daniel was all gloom and doom. We could barely get him out of his office. I swear he was sleeping with his artifacts in his hands. I was getting a little worried about him."

"Sooo, he's changed?" Vala was trying to be coy, but wanted to know what made Daniel tick.

"Yeah, he's a lot more happier than he used to be. Can't say I blame him with a beautiful women on his arm." Smiling at Vala.

Vala nudged Jack in the arm. "Oh, stop you charmer."

"No, I mean it Vala. Daniel's had some bad memories with other women, and god knows there were rumors flying that he may be a little, I don't know, odd in other ways. But you make him smile Vala. I'm not just sayin that, he's really come around lately."

"I don't think I have made him change all that much Jack. He has all these other layers that I want to know about." Vala curled her lips, thinking about Daniel.

"Daniel's been building those layers for years Vala. There's a big rind covering the juicy stuff. I kinda think you both have some rinds to peel back, hmmm."

Vala looked curiously at Jack. Jack picked up on her confusion. "It's like orange covering the juicy fruit. You peel it back and the sweet juice is just waiting for you to bite in." Vala smiled to herself and at Jack. "I guess that may be true. But my rind, as you say, has been bruised a little, and left out in the sun to rot." Vala huffed, with her head slightly downward.

Jack picked up the self loathing Vala was feeling. Jack tilted Vala's chin up towards him. "Hey….none of that. Daniel has a way of getting to people, not vise versa. Listen; you are the best thing that has happened to Daniel in a long, long time. He's been stuck in the no life zone forever and it's time I see my other friends have a little happiness too."

"He's so nice Jack. I mean, I haven't had a lot of people be very nice to me. It's…….it's a little scary. I think……..I sometimes think it's out of pity. I mean I don't want Daniel liking me out of guilt. I don't really have to many friends. Well I really didn't have any friends, until now, I mean you guys are my friends, right?" Vala felt a little scared about the answer.

Jack pulled Vala into a hug. "You have more friends than you think missy. We like you, not because of Daniel. We like you because you're smart, put you life on the line without a care for you own life, and you hate authority. In my book that's worthy of a O'Neill friendship and above all else my friends like you too."

Vala's eyes were a little misty. Vala smiled, pushing away from Jack. "No wonder Sam likes you."

"Well that too." Both turned back to Daniel and Sam, who were headed back in. "You know, I kinda figured she would catch him."

Vala nodded. "Yep."

TBC