Chapter 8

Turns out, shopping for everything a four-year old and newborn needed was exhausting. Despite their efforts of prepping by writing a list of everything needed, using Vala's as a guide, and their tag teaming in the store, it was still quite the process. Though they tried to only purchase the bare minimum of what was needed, it still amounted to way more than either Sam or Jack thought possible.

SG-1, Janet and Cassie spent the rest of the night setting everything up. They decided to split up the tasks that needed to be done: the guys built most of the furniture while the ladies washed and sorted through all the clothes and bedding before joining the guys in building the rest of the furniture. They had gotten the most important stuff built, clothes and bedding washed, folded, and put away, along with a small amount of toys and books. Janet and Cassie had headed out after 10pm, since it was a school night, while the rest stayed 'til midnight before heading back to the base.

Once SG-1 hit the corridor that connected to all their private quarters, they all stopped and took in the scene in front of them. Vala held the fussy newborn and she quietly sang to him and swayed as she attempted to calm him. The way she swayed him, it almost appeared as if she was some fairy gliding around, so light on her feet. Her total focus was on Ian. Whatever Vala was singing to him, it wasn't in English, worked like a charm and his fussing stopped.

Sam felt a small prick of envy and jealousy again. Vala was just so good with him. Even though Sam understood she wouldn't be the perfect mom with her new children overnight, she still felt as if she should be better at this. Vala seemed to be though. "She's such a natural with children," Sam commented, voicing her thoughts.

"Is she singing to him in Goa'uld?" was Jack's comment, head tilted to the side.

Vala snorted softly and looked at the four of them. She arched an eyebrow. "Really, Jack?" she asked, her voice full of mirth, "does that really sound like Goa'uld to you?"

He shrugged. "It's all Greek to me."

Vala rolled her eyes at him. She walked over to them, though it looked as if she floated over with the way she carried herself. She motioned for Sam to take the baby, which the Major obligingly did. "He's been fed, changed, and burped. He'll sleep for at least three to four hours before repeating the cycle. Grace went down at 8pm, or 2000 hours as you like to say, and hasn't made a peep since," she informed them and pointed to Sam's quarters behind her.

The new parents thanked her, which she waved off, stating that she was there whenever they needed her. It's not like she had anything else to do or would be allowed to do for some time. Vala bestowed a kiss on the baby's brow before Jack and Sam took him and retired. Teal'c gave a small bow and 'goodnight' as he headed to his quarters, leaving Daniel and Vala alone in the hallway.

"I'll just…" Vala trailed off and she thumbed behind her in the direction of her door and began back up that way.

"What language were you singing in?" Daniel asked, effectively stopping her.

Her eyes widened a bit. "It's, uh, it's the old tongue of my home planet," she disclosed. "It died out generations ago, but some still know it. It's mainly heard in old lullabies."

"And that's what you were singing to Ian?" Daniel asked.

"Yes. My mother used to sing it to me and my brother when we were young," she stated softly, remembering those moments. "How was shopping?" she asked cheerfully, changing the subject.

Daniel groaned, his heading falling back. "Exhausting," he answered honestly.

Vala let out a small giggle. "Shopping was never your thing," she asserted wistfully.

Daniel offered her a small smile, knowing that she was thinking of her husband, and wanted to comfort her in some way, though he had no idea how to. "Yeah…" he drawled out, agreeing with her. "The good news is that we have most of it set up and it's ready enough so Jack and Sam can take the kids home tomorrow."

"That's great!" Vala exclaimed, "Grace will be so happy to get off the base."

Daniel glanced down at his watch: 12:34. He really should let her get some sleep. Janet had said that was important. "We should get some sleep," he said, almost reluctantly.

"You're right, we should," she agreed and started backing up. "Goodnight Daniel."

"Goodnight Vala," he returned quietly.

The sound of gunfire and orders being shouted drowned out everything else as smoke filled the air. They had finally come for the base, for the Stargate, and anyone who happened to be on it. Everyone left tried to hold the enemy off as the last group they were able to get here attempted to make their escape. They couldn't hold them off for much longer.

Daniel Jackson and Jack O'Neill shared a look. They both had talked about what needed to happen if it came to this. Save their wives and children at all cost. The last group should be already through the 'gate. They needed to get Sam, Vala, and Grace to the Embarkation room now. Daniel gave the nod to his friend, who then motioned for Teal'c that it was time. When they had first approached him, the Jaffa had stated that he would be better suited to fight and hold off the enemy, but Daniel and Jack disagreed. Teal'c was the only who had the best chance of getting their families off the planet alive.

Daniel pulled his wife into a tight embrace. "I love you," he stated emphatically. "I love you so much, but you need to go with Teal'c now."

Vala protested, pulling away from him. "What? I'm not leaving you!"

"You need to get off the planet. You need to get Sam and Grace out here!" he argued back.

Vala looked over at her friend, who was having a similar conversation with her husband. It seemed to be going better for Jack. Sam knew her husband was right. Though her friend hid it well, Vala knew that Sam had been in labor for a few hours now but was keeping it quiet. The right timing to announce it hadn't come.

"What about you and Jack and all the othets?" Vala inquired.

"We'll come as soon as we can. We just need to hold them off until you get the 'gate dialed and ready to go. Radio us when you do," he explained and saw the look of uncertainty on her face. He knew his wife was going to protest more and they didn't have time! "Please, I need to know you're safe, that our baby is safe," he pleaded softly, desperation in his voice.

She blinked back tears but nodded and grabbed his face. "I love you," she whispered.

Resting his forehead against hers, he repeated, "I love you!" He pulled her into a hard and passionate kiss. The sound of the enemy's weapon rang through the corridor. Daniel pulled away. "Time to go. Go!" he insisted as he pushed her towards Sam and Grace.

Vala picked up Grace and the three women and the Jaffa ran for the 'gate room. Well, they moved as fast as they could with a nine-month pregnant woman in labor. When they got to the level the 'gate was located on, Vala instructed Teal'c to take Grace and Sam to the 'gate as she dialed the Stargate to a random planet in case the Orici tried to follow. As it was, Vala already decided to blow up the DHD on the other side after they dialed yet another planet in hopes of stranding the Orici and her soldiers if they should follow.

As the Stargate began to spin, Vala radioed Daniel. "Daniel, the 'gate is dialing. Get everyone over here."

The radio cracked. "Vala," Daniel said, his voice weak, "I'm so sorry."

Vala's stomach dropped. No… "Daniel, please," she begged, "get to the 'gate."

"It's too late," was his reply. "I'm so sorry. I love you so much. Let the baby know how much I love it, how much I wanted to be its father."

"Daniel," she pleaded with him, tears running down her face. There was nothing she could do. Even if she went back for him, she knew by his voice that he wouldn't make it. So instead of pleading for him to try, she said, "I will, I promise. I love you, too."

"You're my everything," he whispered before going completely silent.

Vala let out a sob and stared out the control room window. Sam and Grace appeared to be having a similar conversation with Jack based on Sam's face. The fifth chevron had just locked, alerting Vala that it was time to go. She rushed down to the 'gate room, taking a defensive position next to Teal'c. The final chevron locked into place and the kawoosh came forth. Vala ushered Grace towards the puddle while Sam and Teal'c followed.

Then chaos erupted. Four Ori soldiers entered the 'gate room, all taking aim at Teal'c, who stood in front of the women. Vala, being closest to Grace and the event horizon, pushed the little girl through before aiming her gun on the soldiers and taking out one. But she had been too late. Teal'c was down. Sam and Vala continued to fire their guns and they rushed towards the Stargate. Just before they entered it, the remaining Ori soldier was able to hit Sam squarely in the stomach. Vala pushed Sam through the 'gate and shot the soldier in the head before following.

The rest seem to fast-forward. Vala redialing the 'gate to another neutral location, setting a C-4 charge to blow up the DHD 30 seconds after they go through the 'gate, Vala dragging Sam on the next planet to safer location after instructing Grace to stay put in a safe place not far them, Sam giving birth to Ian, Sam dying, and Vala dragging Grace and Ian to the 'gate to escape to the Delta Site. Except when they stepped through, they emerged back on Earth.

That's not right, thought Vala. Grace and Ian seemed to disappear into thin air. In front of her in the 'gate room were the original four members of SG-1 on their knees and the Orici standing behind Daniel, gun to his head. This isn't what happened! It was then that she realized that she was dreaming. Wake up, Vala! She told herself desperately. It wasn't the first time she dreamed about what had transpired and her mind twisting the ending. Even though she knew it was a dream, she was powerless in it. She was never able to wake herself up before the inevitable happened: the Orici briefly torturing Daniel before killing him.

"Daniel!" she yelled in her dream as she fought to get to him, but was unable due to some force holding her back and was able to do nothing other than to helplessly watch it all go down. "No! No, leave him alone! Daniel!"

Based on the previous nightmare she had over the last month, she knew the end was near. Vala fought harder in her dream. Damnit, it was her dream! Why didn't she have any control over it? She couldn't bear to watch Daniel die again! Or Sam, Jack, and Teal'c! Come on, Vala! Fight harder! She thought to herself and tried to break the invisible barrier that separated her from her husband and team.

She watched in horror as the Orici looked at Vala with pure eyes of evil and a deadly smirk. Vala knew what came next. "Leave him alone!" she shouted out. "Daniel no!" she continued to cry out as she struggled to get to him.

"Vala, wake up," Daniel's soft voice broke through her yelling.

She ignored it and continued to try and get to him. It was almost to the part she didn't want to see. She wondered what her twisted mind would choose this time as his execution: death by fire, a gun, strangled in mid-air, and the list went on.

"No! Get away from him!" she yelled at the devil masquerading as an angel. "No! Daniel, no!" She heard his voice again, urging her to wake up. Again, she ignored it and watched in horror as the Orici gave her a deadly smirk before raising a gun to Daniel's head. The sound of a gunshot went off.

Vala sprang up in bed as she yelled out, "Daniel!" The next thing she knew, she was wrapped in his arms as she sobbed.