Chapter 26 - Number 24 - Shh…Go to Sleep

"Well here's another fine mess you've gotten me into." Mitchell stood with hands on hips in front of his team members.

Daniel, Vala, Sam and Teal'c leaned their backs against the cell bars all eyeing Mitchell intensely.

"You know, Mitchell, in the last three years I've been in more jail cells than in the previous eight years. I'm thinking it's you who keeps getting the rest of us into all the fine messes." Daniel pushed away for the bars and sat on the one bench in the very small cell.

Mitchell ignored the comment. "Let's settle in. We might be here awhile. That crack head leader is about as smart as brick. Sam had to show him how to contact Landry about five times."

Sam slid down the bars to sit on the floor. "I'd be surprised if he makes the connection."

Crossing the room, Teal'c stood behind Mitchell to peer out the tiny street level window as Vala lay out on the bench, her head in Daniel's lap. "I'm exhausted and hungry." She pouted, closing her eyes. Daniel moved her head onto the bench, closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall.

"It's bound to get claustrophobic in here; this cell can't be more than 80 square feet."

"Approximately 8 square meters." Sam mumbled.

"Anybody got any weapons stashed that weren't confiscated?"

No one answered. The five had been searched and relieved of their vests, packs, weapons, jackets and belts.

Vala, eyes still closed and mouth pouting, set her feet flat on the bench when Mitchell shoved them aside to sit down. "I just bought that cute little stuffed baby lamb in my pack and I'll bet someone will lift it!"

"Well if they do Princess, I'm sure SGC will compensate you for its loss." Mitchell closed his eyes, head against the wall.

Sam let out a little laugh. "You two look like Vala book ends."

Both Mitchell and Daniel rolled their heads towards each other, peered at the other one with one eye, shrugged and went back to resting.

……

It took seven guards to deliver their meal. Two to hold SG-1 at gun point, five to carry in the trays laden with exotic food and drink. After the guards left the team sat crossed leg on the floor and studied the array.

"Okay, who's going to test it first for poison?"

Before anyone could volunteer the crunch of a carrot like veggie in Vala's mouth had them all turning. "I'm starving."

"How the hell do you stay so tiny?" Mitchell shook his head.

Daniel tested the meat. "Because she runs her mouth all the time and burns the calories."

Night began to fall and a single bare bulb in the hall out side the cell flickered on. When the guards returned to retrieve the trays, they brought five bedrolls.

Vala was the first to unroll hers. "Well. A two inch mat, a lumpy pea sized pillow, a rather thread bare sheet thingie and a scratchy blanket. After their delicious food I was expecting a bit more." She set it all up in the center of the room, covered herself with the sheet and blanket and began to remove her BDU pants.

"What are you doing?" Daniel asked not sure he really wanted to know.

"Taking my pants off. I'm uncomfortable and I'm exhausted and I need to sleep." She tossed the pants across the cell under the bench. "Ahhhh… much better."

"Vala, the sun only set about ten minutes ago." Sam stood over her friend smiling down.

"Right!" Vala throw the covers back and stood wearing a pair of men's boxers and her black T-shirt.

Mitchell came up behind her, twisted the waistband in the back then snapped it into place again. "I knew it. They're mine. Says Cam Mitchell on the inside waistband."

"You want them back?"

"Hell no!" He walked away with a tinge of red creeping up his neck.

After several trials, they finally realized there was only one way to lay the mats out. Side by side in the small space. Mitchell settled down on the mat that sat against the steel bars, with Sam next, then Daniel, Vala and finally Teal'c.

"Don't we have something to throw at the light? I don't sleep well when there's a light on." Vala complained from under her covers.

"Shh. Go to sleep." Daniel sounded cross, turning his back to Vala and finding himself nose to nose with Sam.

Sam grinned and turned over, now face to face with Mitchell, who also turned so he faced the cell bars. Within the hour both Teal'c and Daniel seemed to be asleep. Vala and Sam were giggling, Mitchell grinning in the semi darkness. "Come on guys. I gotta get some sleep." He rustled around on his mat grumbling with humor.

It was quiet for good thirty minutes. Suddenly Sam started giggling again, followed shortly by Vala. "You two need to calm down!" This time Mitchell wasn't laughing.

"Shh!" Both Teal'c and Daniel shushed loudly, and the two women responded with muffled laughs.

Twenty minutes of near silence and light snoring ensued. Daniel grumbled something in his sleep and threw an arm over Sam's waist. Mitchell turned and Sam started giggling again.

"What?" Vala whispered.

"Shh, you have to see this. Look." Sam tried to keep her laughing whisper quiet.

Rising slowly, Vala peered over Daniel towards Sam, who was sandwiched between Mitchell and Daniel. Daniel's arm across Sam's waist was covered with Mitchell's arm across Daniel's. Both men snored lightly. Vala's burst of hilarious laughter was muffled behind the hand she'd plastered over her mouth. "Oh my god! A Sam Sandwich. A Samwich!"

Drunk with exhaustion and the levity of the situation, both women buried their faces in their hands to control the giggles.

Sam eased Mitchell's arm off, then Daniels. Mitchell flipped over once again towards the bars and Daniel tossed over onto his back. "We have to go to sleep, Vala." Whispering again, Sam insisted.

"Right. I finally get Daniel into bed with me and you want me to sleep!"

"Shh! Good night." Sam turned her back to Daniel and drifted off to sleep.

Vala couldn't sleep with Daniel so close so she turned away and placed her head on Teal'c's shoulder and placed her hand on his chest.

"Are you comfortable ValaMalDoran?" Teal'c asked quietly.

"Quite, Muscles. Thanks." She fell asleep with a smile on her lips.

Sometime in the night Vala turned and spooned against Daniel's back and Daniel turned to face her. Asleep and unaware Vala's hand slid up under his T-shirt and his hand came to rest on her hip. Slowly, Daniel became aware of the heat where her hand rested over his heart. His eyes opened and he found himself staring into hers. "You're going to have to go sleep next to Sam."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Just because. Shh, be quiet."

They moved into each other, cheek to cheek and whispered low.

"I'm sure everyone is asleep."

"Probably not."

"Daniel, you know I love you?"

"You've told me a hundred times." The heat of his whisper brushed across her ear.

"No. This is the first time, because I've come to realize that I really do love you, like IN love with you. I'm not teasing."

Daniel didn't say a word, but his hand was on her back, rubbing up and down.

"Sounds like the night before Christmas." He felt her words, warm breath and moist lips at his ear.

"What?" He said wondering when he had moved so close.

"Not a creature stirred, not even my archeologist mouse." Shock waves washed down her when she felt his mouth press against her hair.

Their conversation reverberated around the other three who separately wondered what to do. Each thinking they were the only one awake and privy to the conversation.

"I know you have serious feelings for me. Otherwise you would have stopped my teasing a long, long time ago." Vala's hand continued to stroke his chest.

"Shh." His breath was hot against her cheek.

Vala snaked her other arm under him and encircled her Daniel in her arms. "While I completely understand you're reluctance to get involved due to your earth's three strikes and you're out - Sha're, Sarah and Janet…"

"Wait. Janet?"

"Yes." She continued voice so low she thought no one could hear her. "I've read… well skimmed over – the files and reports. One would have to be a complete dolt not to see that one."

He was silent again.

"Daniel?"

"No one knew. No one."

Dolts one, two and three listened, shocked. Tears stung Sam's eyes. Tears for Daniel and tears of betrayal that her best friend – Janet – had never told her.

Vala continued. "I know and I understand your past. I have a past too, as you well know. I don't even know if I'm still married or ever really was to Tomin. And while I loved him, I was never in love with him. But it is in the past, darling. And we need to look to the future. Our future. Either or both of us could die tomorrow. And I for one don't want to go there without having told you how I feel. We're stronger than any other person could imagine. We're survivors, Daniel. We can do this." Vala pulled back, looked him in the eyes and then buried her face in his neck.

He lifted her face. Kissed her eyes. Held her close. "I love you." His whisper was so light, so breathy, that the others strained to hear.

Mitchell turned, intentionally make noise to alert the couple. Sam opened her eyes and their gazes met, they smiled, Sam blinking little tears and Cam grinning foolishly, then he hugged Sam in a friendly and loving manner. "Who knew?" He mouthed. Sam nodded, patted his shoulder, and closed her eyes.

Teal'c, still on his back, spoke softly. "DanielJackson?"

"Hmm?" He answered. His arms circling Vala did not loosen.

"I did not intentionally hear your conversation. However, I am compelled to comment."

Daniel chuckled as Vala kissed his neck.

"Yes?"

"I am honored to be your friend, as well as ValaMalDoran's and Colonels Carter and Mitchell. My heart is full of joy that you two have declared your love. It is meant to be. And while you may have not intended for me to hear, I am most glad to have FINALLY heard your admissions. I foresee a long and loving relationship. Good night." Teal'c turned over, facing the wall a huge grin on his face.

"Ditto." Cam turned back to the bars.

"I can't believe she didn't tell me." Sam turned toward Daniel and rested her forehead against his back. "But I'm happy for you two. Good night."