"Addy, dammit wake up."
Adrienne heard a voice in her sleep, in her dreams of being back home.
"Addy, you overslept," the voice continued, making Adrienne turn to see Uncle Buddy's donkey Bouillee frowning at her.
"At least you two are dressed," the donkey continued, lifting a hoof to shove her forcefully.
"Vala why in the hell are you in my quarters!?" she now heard another voice yell, an equally familiar voice, "Get out of my bedroom."
"Because Addy said she would drop me off at the spa and if she doesn't get her ass out of bed now I'm gonna be late."
Remembering, Adrienne sat up in Daniel's bed, on base, not on the farm and certainly not in a conversation with a thirteen year old donkey.
"Merde," she swore, pushing her hair out of her face and rubbing her eyes, "What time is it?"
"6:38," Vala muttered angrily, "And I have to be there at 7:45, D.C. traffic or not."
"And you can't beam there why?" Daniel asked, sitting up himself and rubbing his eyes as Vala rolled hers.
"Besides the obvious fact that most people don't just beam into local businesses genius," she grumbled, "You two and your tryst in the lab also has resulted in a number of things we used to do all the time being restricted, so thanks, hope it was worth it."
Daniel rubbed his face before glaring back at her, "How did you get in here anyway?"
"I work in intelligence," she spat, "I can get in anywhere."
Daniel frowned, grabbing his glasses and turning to see if Adrienne was moving yet.
"Sorry, Val, shug, I'm up, let me find a bra or something," Adrienne grumbled, standing, miraculously, but staggering, trying to make her way to the dresser.
"Vala," Daniel grumbled, standing himself, and very thankful that he and Adrienne were indeed dressed, "Explain to me why you have asked the one person on base that cannot get anywhere on time to get you somewhere on time."
Still half asleep, Adrienne held up a middle finger from the dresser, digging through the drawers to find the desired article of clothing.
"Because Addy isn't shitty to me when I want to do things like go to the spa."
"She's not wrong," the cajun answered, bra in hand and headed for the bathroom, "Indy do you see my Vans?"
"No…" he grunted, staggering around himself, too early in the morning without coffee, "Did you ever wear them in here? I swear you were in running clothes before you showered…"
"Ugh, did I leave flip flops in here!?" she shouted, crossing the threshold and entering the other room.
"You two should just get married already," Vala noted, hands on her hips, "You might as well be."
Adrienne safely out of sight, Daniel shot a look at her and her eyes widened.
"Wait, are you? Did you two run away like Sam & Jack?!"
"No…" he hissed under his breath, "And we will keep discussions of that to a minimum."
Vala grinned, "I know that look. That look says someone's gonna ask..."
"And now it says someone's gonna shut up…" he muttered, Vala's jaw dropping.
"Really? I mean, Addy, well, is Addy. She doesn't want to be married ever."
"Please Vala," Daniel added, the pirate putting her finger to her lips, "I know, but, we've kinda talked about it and just please, I'm trying to not screw this up."
She grimaced, pursing her lips and shaking her head.
"Alright, fine, not a word I swear, but make sure whatever you get that it's lab-created," Vala noted as the bathroom door reopened, "She gets upset when she thinks child or slave labor were a part of something she uses."
"I get upset about what?" Adrienne asked, Vala waving her hand in front of her face.
"Unethical business practices," Vala covered quickly, "And I was just saying I can't believe that you're still wearing Vans because you were telling me that they weren't doing enough for the environment or for their workforce."
Adrienne sighed, and Daniel felt bad that she was now going to feel guilty in order for him to hide a proposal that he wasn't even sure was happening…
"I know, I know, but they're practical footwear for the amount of sleep we all actually get…" she tried to defend, as Daniel squatted down, holding up a pair in his hands.
"Here, just wear mine," he said, thrusting them at her, "They fit your giant feet."
"See if you get any tonight," Adrienne grumbled, uncharacteristically, making Vala laugh.
"You mean you plan on staying awake tonight," he joked back, "That's a first."
"Someone must miss being single…" she shot, taking the shoes and walking to the bed.
These two were hilarious when tired.
"Put them on Addy, I'll buy you a damn coffee, or ten coffees, whatever it takes to get you moving."
"Shug, I'm up, I'm decent, and I'm wearing Indy's damn shoes…" the cajun muttered, staggering over to where her keys were sitting on the desk.
"Ad? Do you want me to take her?" Daniel offered sweetly, now sounding more like he did when they made Vala sick with their undying love for one another. Adrienne, however, shook her head no as she was well aware of how that would play out and that it would not be good.
"Nah, I got it," she replied, "Just don't go to breakfast without me."
"I'll be here then," he answered, crawling back into the bed.
"Love ya too cher," Adrienne said, shaking her head and walking for the door, Vala following.
"So now he's gonna be mad at me," Vala muttered as they got into the elevator heading for the top floor. Adrienne, however, shook her head.
"No, we've been working late on the ship's database while still trying to go through the never ending Asgard gift, so I doubt he'll remember anything that happened this morning at all," she noted with a shrug, shoving her hands into her pockets, a gesture Vala knew that she had picked up from Daniel.
"Good," was all she said in reply.
"Why do you care so much?" Adrienne asked, curious, "I mean, not too long ago you were walking that line between still trying to get into his pants and telling him to go baise toi."
She shrugged, "Because he's your, whatever he is, and that seems to be permanent."
Adrienne laughed, partly because she still felt boyfriend was weird even though she used the term, and because Vala was correct, and this was permanent.
Whatever this was.
She hated traditional naming conventions.
"Yeah, I guess it is," Adrienne admitted as they stepped out of the elevator and into the parking lot.
"Wow," Vala replied as she followed, "You really are gonna stay with him, aren't you?"
"I'd planned on it," Adrienne said with a light chuckle, her pale cheeks flushing, "Why do you ask?"
"Honestly?" Vala questioned.
"Duh," Adrienne replied as she opened the Beetle door and got into the car, reaching over to let Vala in.
"I just want that," the pirate admitted as she sat, "Not Daniel, I mean, I have no idea how in the hell what Teal'c says happened on the Odyssey is even possible, he is so damn boring, but just someone, permanent, that has that look in his eyes Daniel had when he looks at you."
Adrienne was quiet. Being friends with Vala, this was not a surprise admission in the least. What made Adrienne pause was the fact that she never wanted or even imagined this, no wedding daydreams as a little girl, nothing.
Literally, all she dreamed about was becoming Indiana Jones.
Her imagination or aspirations had never extended further, and most certainly not to anything remotely traditional.
And now, she had the one thing her friend wanted more than anything.
"What about Dex?" Adrienne now asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. Vala and Ronon had been spending a considerable amount of time together, time that Vala never spoke of, which made Adrienne wonder if there was something else there.
"What about him?"
"You just, I dunno," Adrienne paused, her foot pressed on the clutch to start the car but frozen, "Have been spending a lot of time with him…"
"Because he's the head of Atlantis's security team," she answered coolly, "So, that makes him kind of their me, I think…"
"Uh huh,"Adrienne answered, seeing an accident on the horizon already that made her glad Vala had gotten her up so early, "That's why you got so upset when I didn't call him…"
"No," Vala defended, "that was because you were so stupid that instead of coming to my quarters and telling me that Ronon was talking about wives and you're too good to be a wife or some shit, you went to go crawl in the bed with Daniel."
Adrienne frowned, starting the car and beginning to back up, "I didn't crawl into bed with Daniel."
"Where did you sleep that night?" Vala shot back.
"At Daniel's."
"Where at Daniel's?" Vala pushed harder, Adrienne rolling her eyes.
"In his bed…" Adrienne replied noncommittally, turning out of the parking lot.
"And where was he?"
"Dammit Vala, I didn't have sex with Indy the night I went out with Dex if that's what you are implying," Adrienne spat as she merged onto the road, Vala roaring with laughter.
"It's not, but your reaction means you probably did…"
Adrienne didn't reply, in fact, Vala noted that she actually looked hurt.
"Addy, I'm just messin' with you," she spoke quickly, "Look, no one cares. You're his entire world now and everyone knows it. No one cares when you two started sleeping together."
Adrienne was quiet as she turned out onto the interstate.
"Addy, geez, sorry," Vala continued, "It's funny. He's such a, well, Daniel and it's funny to think of him doing anything like that…"
"No," Adrienne finally spoke, "It's fine."
"Addy," Vala said her friend's name slowly, "Why do you get like that? It's not Southernness or whatever when I joke about sex, you get, quiet. Daniel hasn't done anything, has he? Because if so, I have no problems dealing with him."
"Oh no, not even close," Adrienne corrected quickly, "He's amazing. He's tender, loving; it's wonderful."
"Ok, then what's wrong?"
Adrienne sighed, but thought for a moment. Maybe this was the key to her next step in healing, telling someone other than Daniel…
"It took me a long time to be intimate with Daniel because I was..." Adrienne said aloud, not believing her own words but pausing before she explained more, pushing out the words she could, "And right up until I decided I was ready, I wasn't sure I ever would be."
Vala sighed out now, understanding. She reached her hand over to Adrienne's leg.
"When?"
"Few years before my dad passed, when we were living in that motel," she was telling her, she really was telling her, and the face of her friend had told her that she was not alone.
"I'm sorry," Vala said quietly, "That," she paused, "That takes some time to get through, but you do…"
Seeing hurt in the eyes of her friend as well, Adrienne reached for the hand on her leg, squeezing it.
"But," Vala continued, "I'm also glad that you're not letting the actions of someone else ruin the rest of your life."
"I am too," Adrienne answered, "I was close to letting it, but not anymore. It's my life, and I get to make the decisions."
"Still can't believe him though," Vala joked quickly before it got too serious, "I would have matched you with either Cam or Anne, actually probably Anne, over Daniel. I didn't see the Dex thing either."
"Cam, no, too much like the boys back home, but Anne? Yeah, if I had even been thinking about dating, it would have been Anne."
Vala laughed, "See, I know you so well."
"You do," Adrienne laughed, "I still don't think Indy has figured that one out. He has still only asked me about men I've dated in the past."
Vala laughed, pointing ahead to the accident scene ahead of them as they finally approached it, "See why I wanted to leave early? D.C. traffic is terrible."
"Yeah, yeah," Adrienne replied in lackluster agreement, "But you owe me. We actually cuddle like a normal couple on a Saturday morning now, which, for both of us, is a miracle."
Vala nodded, looking ahead to the traffic that was forming.
Daniel was asleep when Adrienne returned, a fact that never ceased to amaze her now that they were together. She could only guess that his half jokes about anxiety were not really jokes at all, and that maybe she did, in fact, have a positive impact on his anxiety level.
He rolled over, sleepily waving at her.
Or maybe not…
"You get her there on time?" he asked as Adrienne kicked off his shoes and pulled her bra through her sleeve, crawling back into bed with him. He reached out for her, pulling her close to him and she nuzzled into his chest.
"Yeah, but barely. Three accidents on the 395. Why in the hell she doesn't go to the spa in Fashion Centre is beyond me."
"You only get things for your apartment down at the Ikea in Woodbridge so I don't think you have room to talk," he answered, kissing her head.
"I don't like the one in College Park, you have to dodge frat boys…"
"Ergo my point," he replied, "She probably has some girly reason that would make no sense to you."
"You racking up the not gettin' any tonight points this mornin'," she teased, "Aren't ya?"
"But I think I have enough of those other points I've never cashed in to balance it out," he joked as she smacked his arm.
"You're an ass."
He laughed, "You're not going back to sleep, are you?"
"Bout as soon as you are shug."
Grumbling, he sat up, rubbing his face before fumbling for his glasses. He put them on, glancing over at Adrienne who was looking at something on her phone.
"Do we have any leftover database work on your schedule?" he asked, Adrienne cutting her eyes over at him.
"I'm not your assistant anymore…" she teased in return.
"Clever," he replied, Adrienene laughing and lying across his lap, phone still held over her.
"I was just checking and no, we're caught up with everything everyone has thrown at us in the past two weeks, by some damn miracle," she answered as she turned the screen to face him, "Why?"
"I want real food for breakfast. Which means nothing from that damn cafeteria," Daniel replied.
"You drivin'?" she asked from his lap, smiling.
"Yeah, I'll drive," he said as reached for his own phone, "But I'm gonna need my shoes back."
"Ass," she laughed again, sitting up to get ready for the second time today, wondering where exactly her shoes were.
"You left them by the shower," he read her mind, "And I was correct, you ran, late, and left your running shoes and some damn smelly running clothes right outside of the shower which I cleaned 're welcome."
"You used to be sweet," Adrienne noted with a laugh, "And kind. And now you just give me shit all of the time."
Daniel crawled over, wrapping his arms around her, from behind "Didn't you used to say that harassing me brought you great joy?" he asked, kissing her cheek, "I now understand that joy."
Adrienne shook her head, laughing lightly, her conversation with Vala from earlier replaying in her head.
"Ad, I'm just messin' with you," he added, sitting back on his knees, letting go, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she said, turning around, "I'm fine."
Daniel frowned at her.
"No you're not," he countered, "I read you as well as you read me you know?"
Adrienne sighed, "It's just something Vala said."
"Ok…" he led, Adrienne shaking her head.
"She just," she started, sighing again, "she was talking about us and how we are and she's, well, sad. She just wants something like this and I feel bad."
Daniel dropped his shoulders, not knowing what to say, especially given his history with the woman in question.
"Ya look says it all," Adrienne spoke instead, "Hence why I didn't say anything to ya. I know our friendship has gotta be weird for you."
Daniel shrugged, "It is, but my life is weird, so what's one more thing?"
Adrienne laughed softly.
"She's like family, remember, like you said that time when my cousin got engaged?"
Daniel nodded, "I do, and you're right. That's one about this job, about this place. Work colleagues were never anything more than work colleagues until I came here. Here, it's different."
Adrienne nodded, "It really is. I would have never expected that."
Daniel reached out for her shoulder, "She'll find it, what she wants. Vala's a great person. She'll find her other, somewhere."
"I hope so," Adrienne sighed, standing from the bed, "Because that's what she wants, ya know? It's not for everyone, and shouldn't be expected to be, but that's what she really wants."
Daniel sat back, pondering her words.
It's not for everyone, and shouldn't be expected to be.
Why would she say that?
Is she trying to tell me something?
"Cher?" Adrienne asked, bringing him out of his worry, "Ya ok?"
"Yeah, just interrupted sleep and starving," he lied, crawling out of the bed to get ready, "Let's get going."
Vala had just finished her massage, one she desperately needed after Ronon and she had been up training late the night before, when she heard a buzz on the dressing table.
It was Ronon.
She smiled.
Glowing, she reached over to grab her phone, frowning immediately.
They're back. Not good.
She sighed. Of course her crew was back, because she just couldn't seem to get a break. She went to respond, ask questions, but he had texted again.
Seems he's retracing SG-1's steps, from way back.
Vala frowned, wondering what that meant. There were so many things about their intelligence that made no sense, and Anubis going to smaller worlds like she had sent her team, worlds they were just checking off a list because they were inhabited seemed to make no good sense.
How far back we talkin'?
"Ma'am," she heard a voice at the doorway, making her peer up, "It's time for your facial."
"Thanks, I'll be right there," Vala replied, adjusting the robe as the phone buzzed in her hand.
Called Jack Colonel back.
"Jesus," Vala muttered, "That is back."
There was another buzz.
I can handle this if you're alright with that. I know you had a full day planned.
"Everyday you prove to me I set my sights in the wrong damn direction for too long," she muttered, taking a look at the clock. It was nearly lunch, and while she had planned for the entire day, she could text Addy, it would take her a while to get here, and then she could meet with her agents and figure out what needed to happen next.
Or, she could let Ronon handle it…
"No Val, being responsible is what you do now, if not for any other reason to prove Daniel is a pompous turd who was wrong about you," she declared out loud, sending off her message.
Debrief them and I will text Addy for a ride. We can regroup after lunch.
She went to inform the manager that she would need to reschedule her afternoon when there was another vibration in her robe pocket.
I'll get you something to eat. See you soon.
"A real man," she remarked, shooting off a message to Addy before heading for her facial.
The phone buzzed on the table, as Adrienne sipped her mimosa.
"Nope," Daniel joked, reaching for the phone, "If I can't, you can't."
"Given how we got together I think we both need to reconsider that rule shug," Adrienne noted, slipping her hand on her phone, snatching from his grasp just in time.
"You made it," he noted, forking his waffle, "I was content continuing to be hopeless as you so delicately put it."
"Tchew," she muttered, peeking at the message on the screen.
Hey, can you get me early?
Adrienne sighed, peering up at Daniel.
"Do I wanna know?" he asked, Adrienne shaking her head.
"We might have to scratch Olde Towne…"
Daniel grumbled, "Get a social life, they said, date, find hobbies outside of work, sure, no problem, in what free time…"
Adrienne nodded in agreement, taking another sip and holding up her finger.
"Just wait cher, let me see," she replied, typing off a reply.
Everything ok?
"Who is it?" Daniel asked, his own phone silent and flipped face down on the table.
"It's Vala," Adrienne replied, "She wants to be picked up early, which must mean something is wrong."
"Wonder who she screamed at at the salon?" he noted, taking another bite of his eggs.
"I hope it's nothing like that," Adrienne sighed, wanting to defend her friend, but also knowing there was a distinct possibility that he was correct.
Not sure yet. My people are back early.
"You were right…" Adrienne grumbled.
"I usually am with her…" Daniel replied.
"No, she didn't scream at anyone," the cajun continued, "It's work."
Shaking his head, Daniel took another sip of his drink.
"Have we ever been on a real date? Ever? That wasn't interrupted by work?" he joked, Adrienne reaching for her water.
"Ya so cleva," she answered, "and for the record, when we got together you informed me that I needed to understand how important work was to you and how you would forget important relationship things for work and blah blah blah and yet here we are…"
"I evolved," he answered smartly, raising his hand for a waiter as Adrienne shot off another message.
We're coming. Be there in less than an hour.
"No more mimosas…" Adriene said with a wink, Daniel rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
"Despite the fact I feel like I am going to need one, no, I'm getting the check," he replied, "Because family is family."
Adrienne smiled, rushing to finish her breakfast.
Vala made a face at the text, debating a reply before she began her facial.
"Of course we," Vala groaned, "He's like a leech."
Make sure you get dressed first.
She laughed at her reply, hoping indeed that Adrienne had not answered a text message mid-coitous.
She wouldn't; would she?
Actually, oddly enough Vala thought that she might; Adrienne was just really caring like that. Also, there was no way Daniel would be so good that Adrienne would tune out the world because the way that Vala remembered it, Daniel wasn't even that good of a kisser in her opinion.
Lucky for you you just owe me another mimosa.
Smiling, relieved, dear lord if Addy has texted her…
Gross, the pirate though, gross gross those two nerds.
Pushing the thought aside, and thankful that Adrienne was on the way. Vala lay back to worry through her facial and wait.
It took about an hour and ten minutes, but for Adrienne that was as close as she was going to get to getting her friend to be somewhere on time twice in one day. Shockingly, Daniel also kept his mouth shut, not one snide remark shot in her direction the entire ride back to the Pentagon. Thanking her friend, Vala leapt from the back of Daniel's Jeep the moment they arrived in the parking lot, dashing down to meet Ronon and her two best spies.
He was waiting outside of her quarters.
"I let them in, hope that was alright," he said as she came to a halt in front of him, her head already nodding in reply before answering.
"Yeah, that's fine, I gave you the code in case you ever needed it," she noted, "Has anyone else spoken to them?"
"No," he answered quickly.
"Thanks," she replied, turning to code herself into the room, pausing and peering back.
Say something…
Why in the hell could you say whatever at stupid Glasses and yet you're tongue-tied with Dex?
Because this is a pipe dream, a stupid idea, and you need to let it go…
"Val, you good?" he asked, still standing there, what was he waiting for…
"Yeah, but keep your phone handy," she added, "In case I need you before I sound the alarms."
He smiled, "No problem."
Nodding again, she entered her quarters.
Three hours later, sounding the alarms, at least metaphorically, was exactly what Vala was doing.
She went straight to Sam's office, not even bothering to call, sitting and waiting until the general returned from her meetings. Sam seemed to never have time off either, something Vala thought was going to be cut into even further, once she shared what her people had found.
Now, as she sat in the briefing room, no fancy slides, no nothing, just one text shot off to Adrienne to bring the entire file on P3X-593, one that her friend had not questioned for a moment, a thumbs up icon in response.
Her team filed in, Cam, Teal'c, Daniel and Adrienne, Sam and surprisingly Jack joining them as well. Daniel's nose was shoved into one file while Adrienne was reading the other, Vala anticipating either of them to speak first.
"So why in the hell are we meeting about Sam's favorite planet of misogyny?" Jack spoke first, leaning on the chair at the other end of the table as the others, save Sam, took a seat.
"Because you and Daniel's buddy made a stopover there," Vala replied, Sam shutting the door and nodding to Walter to kill any cameras.
"On Simarka?" Daniel asked, "Why? Other than the medical properties of some of the native plant life, Simarka had nothing to offer that any system lord would care about."
"Mongolian-like nomads…" Adrienne spoke aloud, her voice momentarily excited, more thinking aloud, "Oh...wait...sexist Mongolian-like nomads…" her excitement dissipating quickly.
"But Sam kicked their leader's ass Dr. Perky," Jack noted with pride, "Not sure if that made the report, but it was sweet."
Sam blushed.
"It was pretty awesome," Daniel agreed, shutting the folder and looking over at Vala, "So, was he spotted? Did they make contact? What's going on?"
Vala held up a small device, presumably a camera.
"I'd need Addy to hook this up to display it on that big screen thingy, but some of his goons are talking to what appear to be villagers on the outskirts of the village."
Reaching over, Daniel took the device, peering into the tiny display, nodding in agreement.
"Looks like the ones we've already encountered," he agreed, passing the device across the table to Cam.
"That's what my people thought, and there was more than one interaction," Vala noted, "But unless you and Addy have anything on any additional resources I'm not sure why he's there."
Adrienne opened the folder, shrugging, "It's just the medicine shug, an anesthetic?"
"Yeah, the one we use now, right? Didn't Janet work her magic or something and that's what we are using now?" Jack asked, Daniel nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, it works faster than traditional anesthetic, nearly instantaneous in some cases."
"Wait, we have instant anesthetic?" Adrienne asked, confused.
"Yeah girlie," Cam replied, "It's awesome."
"I've never gotten instant anesthetic…" Adrienne noted, "I mean, not that I remember…"
Daniel just covered his mouth, trying to hide a chuckle.
The cajun shot him a look, frowning.
"She didn't…"
"I'm not saying anything ja-wer," he replied, breathing in to refocus, "So why would Anubis want an anesthetic?"
"That apparently we're not even universally using here…" Adrienne added smugly, as Vala rolled her eyes.
"I've spoken with Rodney," Sam added, "And he seems to think that Anubis may need it to install those counters in the clones like he saw on his wrist, that otherwise, the clones may be too fragile to handle such a procedure with a more typical anesthetic."
"Seems possible," Daniel agreed, "Or, as weak as he was, perhaps he needs it for himself."
"And if we remember from before," Jack continued, "They were very interested in trade, so if he's collecting garbage from all over the galaxy that doesn't make sense this may be why."
The group nodded collectively.
"So, what's the plan? Head over, ask them what's up? Are we even in regular contact with these people?" Cam asked as the cajun peered up from the folder and frowned.
"No," she muttered, "Y'all ain't talked to them since I was a freshman in college…"
"And when we did," Jack added, "They'd gone back to their old chauvinistic ways after daddy died."
"It's easier than one would think to slip back into the old ways," Teal'c noted, Daniel nodding in agreement.
"I think we should go," he turned his attention to Vala, "Did your people determine who was the leader? Is it still," he paused, scanning the folder, "Abu?"
"From what they tell me, officially, yes, but his son appears to be doing much more of the leading, a young man by the name of Tsolmon," she answered.
"Ok, then he should remember us," Daniel continued, "So, we head back, ask to speak to Abu and see what is going on. Though…" he trailed, his eyes peering over at Adrienne, "At the risk of the chewing out I'm gonna get later, I recommend that Cameron, myself, and Teal'c go."
"Then I'll take Addy and Dex with me," Vala interjected, "Daniel can go play politician."
Daniel went to open his mouth to argue, a cajun glare shot in his direction, making him reconsider his protest.
"Vala, I can understand Ronon, but why Adrienne?" Sam asked, agreeing with Daniel's assessment but confused as to why Vala would want Adrienne.
"Because, from my intel, the women are not too happy with their situation, and would probably be willing to talk to another woman. With Addy, we can split up, get what information we can from as many women as we can and Dex can watch our backs," Vala concluded.
Damn, Daniel thought, she has a really good point.
"Alright," Sam concluded, "The Odyssey will beam in Vala, Adrienne and Ronon. Vala, you are in charge of that team. Cam, you Daniel and Teal'c gate over, do the standard dog and pony, but don't question directly. If Anubis has been there, he's most likely not only warned them we might come but…" she trailed, "Daniel you might be a target. If it gets questionable for a moment, get out of there, call for help, anything. Understood?"
Jack raised his hand.
"Mrs. O'Neill?" he asked smartly, "Can I go on the field trip too?"
"Funny Jack," Sam answered flatly, "But not this time. Given what we already know about them, and well…"
"I know, you married an old man, I get it," he said, teasingly, "Let the young'uns go."
"I do think," Daniel noted, "That Jack should be on call in case Abu does request to speak to him, given that Jack was the team leader at the time."
"Yeah," Jack agreed, "and you can tell him I'm not with you all because I'm the head honcho over here…"
Sam frowned at him.
"And Sam too," he added quickly, "Make sure he knows Sam is also a head honcho."
"You leave in two hours," Sam stated in reply, "So suit up, and Vala, Addy and Ronon need to meet Rodney down in transport fifteen minutes before for DNA clearance."
Nods and small mumbles in understanding, the group stood, Vala racing over to Adrienne before she could leave.
"My quarters," she ordered, "I need to get you ready."
Adrienne nodded, instinctively peeking at Daniel, who was shaking his head. She smiled, following Vala without a word, shooting off a text as she walked.
If she lets me borrow Lucian leathers again, I will keep them…
Vala caught Adrienne walking, texting and smiling as she followed her to her quarters.
"Gross," she joked, rolling her eyes, "You're texting him something dirty aren't you."
"No," the cajun lied, her pale cheeks growing redder.
"Uh huh," Vala teased, "You can't lie to me. So I repeat, gross."
"Need I remind you…" Adrienne shot back with a wink.
"Long moment of desperation and weakness," Vala responded quickly, "We've gone over this."
"Uh huh," Adrienne replied.
"So, there are no fun costumes this time," Vala quickly changed the subject, "You can wear your damn running clothes for all I care, just make sure to wear the black ones. None of your neon shit."
"I thought I was going to talk with the women…" Adrienne led and Vala shrugged in reply, powering forward.
"You are, but I have a feeling that this isn't just a lucky coincidence," she continued, "I think it's a trap."
Adrienne stopped in her tracks.
"Wait, a trap? For who…" she trailed but she knew the answer, her heart already pounding in her chest.
"That right there," Vala noted, "That look you have right now is exactly why Cam thinks you and Daniel are a bad idea. Yes, a trap for Daniel. Anesthetic? Seriously? Some plant derivative? I could get better than that shit Carolyn is using, well on everyone else but you, on at least five starbases. No, Anubis sent his people to that place, on purpose, because he knew it would get my attention and the attention of the SGC."
"Then why in the hell are we just walking into the trap?" the cajun demanded, but Vala was confident.
"Ever seen an animal trap, you know, those cruel ones, with teeth?"
Adrienne didn't look convinced.
"If you know you're gonna walk out into a field full of them, and you can't get around it, better to have some rocks to set the shit off. Let's you know where the real trouble is."
"I'm not buying it," Adrienne continued, "And if that's the case, why didn't Sam just tell Indy that he and the rest of the team are bait, yet again? Didn't we already determine the last time we tried something like this didn't work."
"Because last time I told too many damn people," Vala replied, "Sam included. Right now, the only ones that know are you, me and Dex, and it's gonna stay that way."
"Vala I…"
"No Addy," she countered, "You will not march down there and tell him anything. He might be the love of your life, but this is your job and right now your job is to make sure that that psychopath doesn't march in here and take over your planet. Got it?"
Adrienne kept her mouth shut, but nodded in agreement. Not liking the look on the cajun woman's face, Vala snatched the phone, reading the text on the screen, a reply from Daniel.
Don't make promises you can't keep…
Groaning, the pirate passed the gadget back.
"We're going to go to my quarters, meet Dex, and go over the rest of the intelligence. Then, you're gonna take that stupid leather top I caught him taking off of you back down to him so he thinks that is all we talked about and you two can do gross nerd things to one another."
"Fine," Adrienne sighed out, "But I don't have to like it."
"I rarely do," Vala responded, turning to power on to her quarters.
Adrienne did as she was asked, despite wanting to tell Daniel everything, despite wanting to warn him.
Despite wanting to keep him safe.
She'd just taken that stupid outfit down to his quarters, told him a half-truth about what Vala was asking her to do, and helped him get ready to go off world.
Vala, however, was right, the intelligence needed to be followed, and, given that the Odyssey would be one beam away from bringing SG-1 to safety, Adrienne needed to focus on the task at hand, and her task was to chat with the local women, ones that had been selected by Vala's people as most likely willing to talk.
Regardless, instead of resting she sat, as the Odyssey barrelled through space, ahead of the rest of her team and the love of her life.
"Hey," she heard a voice behind her, making her peer back. She was sitting in the observation room, just watching the stars go by, and hadn't really spoken to anyone else since they set out several hours ago.
"Hey shug," she greeted Ronon as he entered the room, taking a seat beside her.
"You ok?" he asked, the cajun shrugging.
"As I'm gonna be," she answered honestly. The Sateadan reached over, setting his hand on her shoulder.
"Val says that Anubis really hates Jackson."
"Yeah, like cartoon villain crazy hate or something," Adrienne confirmed, trying to make light of a situation that worried her on a near daily basis now.
Ronon just remained silent.
She was unsure of what to say for a moment. She'd talked to Ronon after their date, explaining that she wasn't looking for something that serious and that she appreciated everything…
...only to be practically married to Daniel now.
Until this very moment, Adrienne wasn't sure if she had really spoken to Ronon at all, outside of work or training since that very conversation.
"I'm sorry ya know," Adrienne finally said, "About, well, things."
"I knew you were headed there the moment I dropped you off," Ronon laughed, "I could tell."
"It wasn't, well, what Vala thinks anyway, it was…"
"You love him, it happens," he finished for her, "When you least expect it too."
Adrienne thought she caught a smile on his face.
She decided not to say anything and just hope for the best.
"Val says we're gonna be there soon, so if you wanna change or need to do anything, now's the time to do it," he added and she nodded.
"Yeah, thanks shug," Adrienne answered, standing to go and change into running leggings and black tennis shoes, just in case…
As he stood in the gateroom awaiting Teal'c and Cameron to arrive, Daniel couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
His girlfriend was truly the worst actress and liar in the world, well, when it came to him at least. She had returned to his quarters, which was more like their quarters lately, that amazing Lucian outfit in her hands that he had torn off of her on their last covert mission, as if that was the reason she had accompanied Vala to her quarters.
Daniel, however, knew better, and what he knew was this was a trap, but one they were setting, and he was the bait. What he was actually truly impressed with was her ability to remain professional and not freak out since he was nearly certain that she was well aware of what was really happening.
She never ceased to amaze him.
And it was why he was looking now, for a ring and a way to ask and talk to her that would both surprise her as well as respect her feelings on the matter.
He just hadn't figured it out yet.
"Alright Jackson, let's go see if this Abu remembers you all and cares to chat," Cameron announced as he powered into the gateroom bringing Daniel out of his trance. The archaeologist nodded, making his way to the ramp as the gate was firing on.
"Fingers crossed," he replied, hoping that Abu did indeed want to talk, as the three men stepped through the event horizon.
The Odyssey beamed the trio down, all three instinctively scanning the area around them to ensure that they were alone.
"Clear," Ronon declared first, Vala taking another glance herself before nodding in agreement.
"Good, that means they still have no idea that anyone else is coming other than their little visit from SG-1," Vala added, directing her attention to the Sateadean, "If you remember the high point, on the aerials we were looking at, get there and immediately alert the Odyssey to your new location. No matter what happens, your objective is to ensure that as many of us as possible get beamed back aboard that ship, but Daniel MUST be last in case Anubis does come for him. We need to be able to draw Anubis in as close as possible."
Adrienne swallowed strongly, though she knew that these sorts of risks needed to be taken, if not for any other reason that the unknowing people of Earth did not deserve whatever fate Anubis had planned for them. Sacrificing herself for Daniel was one thing, sacrificing six billion other people for him was quite another.
"You have my gun?" Ronon asked, Vala taking his side arm from her holster and flashing it.
"Yep," she answered with a grin.
"Then stay safe," he requested, tapping his ear, "And in contact."
"Always," she replied, smiling again, Adrienne cracking a smile of her own. Nodding, Ronon dashed out to a hill the cajun could barely make out in the distance. She waited until he was out of sight, unable to hold back, grinning from ear to ear.
"He left you his gun," Adrienne noted, "That thing's like his child."
"It makes a better sidearm than my P-90," Vala answered simply.
"Uh huh," Adrienne joked, playfully shrugging "Kinda like Indy dancing in the lab it means nothing…"
Vala turned away and Adrienne's eyes widened.
Could that mean?
"Vala, really?" Adrienne asked, smiling, "Look, trust me, as someone subjected to weeks of Rodney because she decided to hook up with her former boss in the lab, I understand the value of keeping my mouth shut."
"It's not…" Vala started, blushing, was she blushing, she wasn't replying to Adrienne's admission, even though normally she would have jumped on any chance to make a sex joke at the archaeologist couple's expense, especially one she could tell Addy had so clearly set up for her to run with...
"Shug, oh my," Adrienne continued, recognizing the look on her face at that moment, the look Adrienne herself had seen in the mirror nearly a year ago, "You've really fallen for Dex. Like fallen fallen."
"Dammit Addy," her friend snapped, "Yes, ok, yes, fine."
"But it's not like..." Adrienne added, "Well, you. I mean, you practically undressed Daniel any chance you got but you're not like that with Dex…"
Vala looked down, "Ronon's different, he's just different…"
"Because he's your one," Adrienne finished for her, "He's not safe, or just the hot guy, or the one that can get you into a position that you need. He's your other, your equal. And that changes everything."
Vala didn't answer.
"I won't say a word," Adrienne spoke instead, "Or tease or anything. I get it, I do, I mean I never considered ever being with anyone ever again and then I met Daniel and that changed everything. It's hard, when it hits you, it's hard and scary, I get it. But for what it's worth Ronon's a great guy and I think you'll find that what he really wants in life aligns pretty closely with what you've told me you want too."
"There's the village ahead, and once I speak with my contact, we will head back and wait for them to come to us," Vala explained, changing the subject and not answering, Adrienne nodding in agreement.
"And that's really all I need to do? Just ask the women what those men wanted and were trying to trade for?" Adrienne didn't seem convinced, but Vala was shrugging.
"No worries, I didn't lie to you like the others. That's it. I just needed another female to cover more ground. In my experience once they get to talking you don't even need questions; an angry woman will tell you everything you need to know, especially when she is treated like they are being treated," the pirate replied, turning to head to the village. Adrienne sighed, starting to accept that, given that even back in Vala's quarters and on the ship she had been told nothing different, but there was one more thing that was bothering her, and Adrienne just couldn't keep her mouth shut.
"Hey Vala shug?"
"Yes..." she grumbled, peering back over her shoulder.
"Why me?"
Vala frowned at the question, turning around completely to face her teammate.
"Huh?"
"Why me?" Adrienne asked again, "I mean, you have gawd knows how many damn spies in your network and I know they include women, you have Teyla, Anne, hell all of SG-14, why me? Especially if it meant lying to Indy?"
"Because I trust you," Vala answered simply, "More than anyone else. You're my sister."
Adrienne stood there, dumbfounded, not sure as to how she should answer that.
They really were like sisters, and she thought back to her conversation with Daniel this morning about how they were all family now. Adrienne herself never had any siblings, cousins yes, boatloads of cousins, but never any siblings and she knew that if Vala did she had no knowledge of them. The two women had that in common, that they had always been virtually alone in one way, shape or form their entire lives.
"You're the only one I've told about Dex, and, well, the only one I would trust to put her life and the life of the man she loves on the line for everyone else. You're family."
Adrienne smiled, reaching out her hand to her friend.
"You're mine too," she answered honestly, Vala shaking her head.
"Let's catch this fucker," she declared, heading to the village again, "Stay here and wait for my signal."
"You got it," Adrienne answered as Vala turned and jogged to the village.
"Greeting Dr. Jackson, I see that your people have finally understood that it is best to leave your women behind…" Abu greeted from the same makeshift mobile throne that Daniel had stood in front of so many years ago, Daniel putting on his best face thinking about all of the women in his life that would have had a pretty strong reaction to that greeting.
"Actually," Daniel couldn't help himself, "Colonel Carter is now the head of our entire program, so we are here at her request."
Cam and Teal'c stood at Daniel's side, just one step behind, allowing him to do what he did best, talk. Abu was also flanked, by four men rather than two, two on either side, all of whom were armed with curved blades as well as a box wrapped across their chests.
The son was nowhere to be seen, which concerned Daniel.
"She was strong-willed, I remember," was all he answered in reply, Daniel refraining from reminding him that he would have been eaten by a pack of wild dogs were it not for her.
"Thank you for seeing us," Daniel continued, "My colleagues and I have been making visits to friendly worlds to ensure that we can still count on your world as an ally to ours."
Abu smiled, "And yet we have not seen a representative of your world in many many years…"
"Meh," Cam interjected, trying to not give their position away, "Different management so to speak. Held us up for a while."
The man seemed confused.
"As you are aware Abu our worlds are very different and our leadership changes hands often," the archaeologist explained, "And therefore we have been unable to return as frequently as we would like."
"Or we have nothing of value," the man offered instead, "I have been made aware that your world places a greater importance on worlds with resources of value."
Daniel frowned, not just at the response, but because he was right, and it was something he himself hated.
That, and who made him aware of this...
"As I stated, our leadership changes hands and priorities," Daniel replied, "But, now with General Carter at the helm, we are reaching out once again as allies in peace and friendship."
Abu and his men laughed.
"Of course a woman would want peace and friendship rather than an ally in strength and power."
Daniel had a powerful urge to punch him in the face, but refrained.
"Friendship is an important element of strength," Daniel countered, "Or so we believe."
Abu smiled slyly.
"This can be true," the man replied, pausing for a moment, "So you are here to ensure that we are still friends? You have no other motive?"
"None, I assure you," Daniel lied through his teeth, but Abu appeared to be nodding, believing him.
"Then, welcome back Dr. Jackson," he answered, standing, "Please, follow me and I will share with you the advances we have made in the many many years since you were last here."
Daniel found it odd that Abu himself was offering to walk and talk with them, however he went along, a nagging feeling in the back of his head. He stepped back, allowing the man to advance, the four men Daniel assumed were his guard falling in behind him. They walked out of the tent, to the center of the encampment, not even waiting to see if their guests would follow."
"DanielJackson," Teal'c muttered from behind, "I do not like this. Where is he taking us?"
"Probably somewhere bad because Nuby got here first," Cameron replied, also looking to Daniel for answers.
"Regardless we follow," he countered to his team, "We've got to figure out what games Anubis is playing and right now we don't have any other leads."
He peered ahead to see a young man joining Abu, one that looked so much like the young man his team had saved so many years ago, and Daniel could only assume it was Tsolmon. The two wpoke, and Tsolmon looked up at their approaching guests, a grin on his face that Daniel did not trust.
"Look," Daniel whispered, peering back at them, "I'm who Anubis wants, if this is a trap. If this turns, or we have any indication that this isn't working out in our favor, make a run for it, back to the gate, and get help. Just don't worry about me."
"Jackson, no, we don't leave…"
"This time, you do," Daniel stopped, turning, "You leave me and get help. I've held him off before and I can do it again. The important thing is keeping that monster away from Earth."
And Adrienne, Daniel thought, and the rest of the people I care about.
"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," Cameron muttered, picking up the pace to catch their hosts.
"Your boyfriend is a moron," Vala said as she peered through the binoculars from the outskirts of the village. They had been on world not even en hour, Vala and Adrienne still waiting to hear back from Vala's supposed contact when the pair heard a commotion in the distance, a peek through Vala's binoculars letting them both know that Daniel, Cameron and Teal'c had arrived at the main tent of the settlement.
That was about thirty minutes ago.
Now, Vala watched as Cameron was struck in the head from the back, Daniel grabbed by two very large men and Teal'c, somehow, was nowhere to be seen.
"I take it that by calling him my boyfriend rather than Daniel that they've been captured?" Adrienne asked, willing herself calm, and trying to hide her fear with sarcasm, her failsafe.
"Yeah, Cam and Daniel," Vala muttered, "I don't see Teal'c…"
Frowning, Adrienne grabbed the binoculars, peering into them. She saw Daniel kicked in the back of the knees, forced to the ground, his arms bound behind him. Cameron was being bound as well, but was clearly unconscious. She looked left and right, but there was no sign of the Jaffa anywhere.
"He must have known," Adrienne surmised, "Daniel must have suspected something and sent Teal'c somewhere, anywhere…"
"Then where?"
"Back to the gate," Adrienne suggested, "Since we are covert and gave them no signal, it must mean he is headed back to the gate."
Frowning, Vala tapped her ear, "Ronon, do you read me?"
"Yeah, everything alright?" the response was, thankfully, loud enough for Adrienne to make out.
"No, Glasses must've opened his mouth and said something stupid because he and Cam are being tied up and hauled away somewhere," she hissed as Adrienne peered back through the binoculars to see where exactly they were being hauled away to.
"What about T?"
"Addy, anything?" Vala asked one more time, Adrienne shaking her head.
"Nah shug, I really think he would be headed back to the gate for help," the cajun answered.
"You and Addy stay put," Ronon ordered, "I'm gonna head in the direction of the gate and try to head him off."
"Get to him before our lovely hosts do," Vala added, "Because I'm sure they're headed there as well."
"I'll radio you when I have him," Ronon replied, "Stay safe."
"You too," she answered, Adrienne still staring into those binoculars.
Vala didn't say a word, just sat onto the ground, reaching into her tac vest. She pulled out some hair ties and pins, pulling her hair carefully into pigtails.
"Vala I gotta get to Indy," Adrienne finally said, "Anubis will…" her voice cracked and she couldn't bring herself to admit what would happen.
"Working on it," Vala replied, continuing with her hair.
"How!?" Adrienne spat, spinning around, "By fixing your hair? Waiting on Dex to find Teal'c? They could be torturing him and we're sitting here waiting!?"
Vala didn't reply, hair in two pigtails and she stood, undoing her pants and looking over at Adrienne.
"Gimme your knife, the smaller one."
"What?" Adrienne asked, "Why?"
"You wanna spend eternity or what the hell ever with Daniel or what?" Vala spat, holding out her hand, "Give me your damn knife."
Still confused, Adrienne did as asked, Vala pulling her canvas belt from her belt loops. She took Adrienne's knife, sliding the belt carefully through the loops on the holster and strapped it upside down on the inside of her thigh.
"Do you care to clue me in?" Adrienne asked. Vala didn't reply for a moment, instead pulling her pants to her hips, buttoning them again.
"We're gonna go save Cam and your lover boy," she answered, kneeling and digging into her pack, grabbing a few small objects and handing them over, "Here, stuff those in your bra."
"Vala, there's an entire village of large, angry, armed sexist assholes who want to sell Daniel to ya'll's like mortal enemy and then there's us," Adrienne noted, but Vala just smiled.
"I know, I kinda feel bad for them," the pirate smiled, "Put your emergency tracker in my pack and we'll stuff the rest in there."
"For what? What are we doing?!"
"We're gonna go get caught," Vala replied, stuffing items into her pack and reaching out for the tracker as requested.
Sighing, Adrienne did as she was told, having no other solution that she could offer.
He saw Cameron moving, slightly, a good sign because Daniel wasn't quite sure how long he'd been knocked out.
"Cameron," he called out softly, hoping not to alert anyone to his teammates' awakening, "Over here."
Grunting, Cameron rubbed his face first and then the back of his head, starting to sit.
"Daniel?"
"Yeah, I'm in the next cage, look to your right."
He sat, still muttering under his breath, finally looking in Daniel's direction.
"I said he was taking us somewhere bad," Cameron complained, "And I was right. Does anyone in this damn galaxy like us anymore?"
Daniel shrugged the best he could with his hands tied.
"Where's Teal'c?" Cameron asked but Daniel just shook his head.
"I saw him take down two guards and run in the direction of the gate," Daniel noted, "I thought he was going to try to fight, but thankfully he did as I asked."
"Not like him though to not stay and fight," Cameron countered, but Daniel shook his head.
"Not typically, but remember, we have a history with Anubis that you don't. He knows we'll get more out of this incident if I can get close," the archaeologist replied.
"Fine, ok, we just spy now whatever," Cameron grumbled, "So, did you get anything? Is Anubis here?"
Daniel shook his head, "No, and he never was. In fact, Tsolmon seemed quite annoyed that various emissaries were sent to speak with his father rather than Anubis himself. Felt it was an insult to their people."
"Ok, so what?"
"So," Daniel continued, "I think Anubis' body is either failing, or has failed, and he is in no position to go anywhere. I mean, he came face to face with Rodney, RODNEY, who, for all Anubis knows, is just another lab rat. Why not meet with the leader of an entire civilization? Unless you can't."
"Great, so, his creepy clone body is failing whatever," Cameron continued, "So, if Tsolmon is so pissed off, why are we still in here?"
"Evidently there's a bounty for…" he trailed for a moment, "Me. Alive. And turned over to Anubis."
"Fantastic," Cam spat, "This guy really hates you doesn't he?"
"Hate's probably too nice a word, maybe abhor? Loathe? I'm too caffeine deprived right now to come up with a better term," Daniel answered calmly.
"Jackson," Cameron grumbled, trying to adjust his hands better behind his back, "you don't even seem bothered. Are you listening to yourself!? There's a BOUNTY out for you, a BOUNTY. And we have no idea if Teal'c even made it back to the gate!?"
Truth was, he wasn't worried, not for a moment. He had the information that they needed, he had gotten enough eavesdropping and feigning weakness as he was taken prisoner. Anubis wasn't there, hadn't been there, evidently hadn't been seen in a while, and his men were looking for not only SG-1, but, as Daniel had surmised, other plant life similar to the anesthetic. Anubis was weak, and while he was still a threat, weak would buy them all some time to figure out exactly what was going on with this cloning and how it might turn the tide.
Now, he just needed to wait.
"Daniel? Are you listening to me?"
But Daniel didn't answer, he just smiled, hearing her words echoing through his head.
Just like you said you would always come back for me, I'll never leave you behind either.
And the funny part was, neither would Vala.
In fact, he was fairly certain that this exact outcome was something that Vala had anticipated and prepared for. Whether or not she told Adrienne he wasn't sure, but between the fact that he knew Adrienne would never leave him behind and that Vala was much better at all of this than he had ever given her credit for, he knew he could count on the two of them to arrive at any moment.
"Just be patient…" he adjusted himself calmly, leaning back against the bars.
"For who? Vala and Dex? Seriously? It's Vala's fault we're in this mess, again!"
Daniel just smiled.
"Daniel, you can't seriously be over there, smirking, thinking Addy is getting us out of this? I love her, I do, and I'm really glad you two have nerdtopia or whatever now, but there is no way ADDY is getting us out of this."
Daniel was about to argue, pointing out her keen problem solving skills that at this point had honestly done pretty well for their team when he heard a grunt and what sounded like the word "merde" before their captors reappeared at the door to the small room.
"Let us the fuck go you fuckin' asshole!" Vala swore at the man holding her cuffed arms behind her, pushing her forward with a spear. There was motion behind her and Daniel looked up to see Adrienne, fighting and spitting as well, being brought in afterwards.
Ok, he thought, maybe not.
Her pale cajun face was bruised at the cheek, as though she had been punched. He winced, wanted to rush over to her but he was in no position to free himself at all.
"Put them both in that one," the warrior holding Adrienne stated, indicating a large cage across from them that might hold the two women, albeit uncomfortably. The man leading Vala nodded, shoving her forward forcefully in that direction. Vala fought a little more, but she seemed to be hurt as well, muttering things like "fucker" under her breath but fighting weakly. He opened the door, shoving her into the floor of the cage, the one seemingly in charge doing the same with Adrienne, who fell right into Vala.
The man turned to face Cameron, a smirk on his face.
"Seems your women this time are inferior to the one you brought before, but maybe my cousins just tell stories…"
The other laughed and secured the lock on the cage.
"Abu will be pleased. More of them should bring a greater bounty," he added, the two men leaving the room and shutting the door behind them.
Daniel waited until he heard the click, nervously peering over at Adrienne, "Ja-wer, are you hurt?'
"Nah, cher, I'm fine," she answered quickly, crawling to her knees to look at Vala, "Shug, I need ya to turn to your right and shift forward."
Vala did as she was told, turning and leaning her pigtail back at Adrienne, "I think the left one is bigger, so get that one first."
"Where's Dex?" Cam asked, the woman ignoring him as Adrienne scooted forward, bringing her face to Vala's hair.
"On the Odyssey ready to beam us out," the pirate answered, Daniel screwing up his face in confusion.
"Wait, why isn't he doing that now? We are all loaded into the system?"
"Some kind of dampener on it," Vala explained, "Around a good three mile radius of the village. Gotta get on the outskirts to beam out. We already tried to get Dex to beam you all out once we figured out where they took you but no luck," she paused, cocking back her head more, "Addy, you see it?"
"Yep, sorry if I pull out any hair with it," she apologized, opening her mouth as Daniel was formulating his next question.
"Did Teal'c make it to the gate? How were you taken?"
"Daniel shut your damn mouth for five seconds and let Addy concentrate," Vala spat, leaning back just a bit more. Daniel watched in confusion as Adrienne seemed to bite into Vala's hair, rooting around with her teeth and pulling back, a couple of long black hairs in her mouth as well as a large hair pin.
"Got it Addy?"
"Mhm hmm…" Adrienne muttered.
"Ok, so, I need you to drop it into my right hand ok, and then I need you to turn your cuffs to bring our hands close together, but not too close."
"What are you two doing?" Daniel asked, confused, as he watched Adrienne lean down and carefully drop the pin into Vala's right hand.
"Got it, ok Addy, now turn," Vala ordered, rotating the pin herself. Adrienne turned quickly, doing as she was asked, and was now able to face Daniel.
"We're gettin' ya boys outta here cher," she explained with a wink.
"Wait, us? Ad, what are you talking about? You're locked up with us."
"You got caught," Cam started, catching on, "On purpose."
"And that point's for Mitchell," Adrienne joked, feeling Vala at her hands.
"If being snarky means you can't hold still," Vala grumbled, "Then shut up and try not to be snarky until I get this unlocked."
Frowning, Adrienne redirected her attention back to Daniel, "T's on the Odyssey with Dex, gate's busted, probably intentional, but Dex got to him before the locals did," she began to explain, "Beaming's our only way outta here, and, unless we can get about five kilometers away from this central complex area, well, we're screwed."
There was a click and Adrienne sat forward, her cuffs falling to the bottom of the cage. She sat upright, rubbing her wrists, before turning to face Vala.
"Ok, now, just like we practiced," Vala coached, trying to turn her body to pass Adrienne the pin. Taking in a breath, Adrienne grabbed the pin, reaching down and inserting it into the lock.
"Ad, when did you learn to pick a lock?" Daniel asked, Vala shushing him harshly.
"She does do more than just babysit you," she spat, turning to try to coach her friend, "remember, top first, gentle left and right until you feel pressure then slowly until the click and give."
"Ok," Adrienne sighed out, doing as instructed, her face furrowed in concentration.
Daniel went to open his mouth and ask again, what was happening, but he decided against it, letting Adrienne concentrate. She fumbled around with Vala's cuffs, swearing under her breath in Cajun French before there was a louder click, the pair of braces falling to the floor of the cage.
"Allons mon ami!" Adrienne celebrated, passing Vala back the hairpin so she could pick the lock on the cage.
"Ad," Daniel now spoke, noting her attire. She was in running shoes and her running shorts, the only thing regulation in her dress was the tank top that she was wearing over her sports bra, "Cameron and I are NOT cuffed, we're tied up, and those people out there are armed…"
"I told you," Vala spat, turning the pin in the exterior lock, "He has no faith in me, even when I save his ass time and time again."
"Indy cher," Adrienne noted as she reached in her bra, "We have weapons," and from her undergarments she produced a couple of focus grenades and those light bombs he had toyed with at Rodney's request.
"And a goddam knife strapped to my inner thigh," Vala continued, "Because we knew they wouldn't search us to that extent."
"Damn, I take it all back," Cameron declared, "I forgot you ladies are experts in bra bombs and cage escapes...carry on."
A loud click echoed through the room, Vala sitting back and pushing the door open to her and Adrienne's containment. She darted out, straight to Cameron's cage, picking at his lock and looking back at Adrienne.
"Addy," she ordered, "Reach up into my pants leg, grab the knife and cut Daniel's bonds."
Adrienne nodded, pulling the stretch cord to loosen the leg of Vala's BDUs and sliding her hand up the garment, producing a knife. Quickly, she crawled over to Daniel's cage, the archaeologist turning to point his bounds at her.
"So I take it that Cameron was right and getting caught was intentional?" he asked, a sly smile on his face.
"Yep," she replied, "once we saw you two had been taken we headed back to the main village complex and sent Ronon to find Teal'c on the way. They beamed up, told us about the gate and the perimeter, but we were already on our way to fake getting caught."
She cut into the rope, sawing away.
"Vala's idea?" he asked, trying to pull the cording taut to help her.
"Yeah," she answered but didn't look up, "Asked me if I would be willing to stuff bombs in my undergarments one more time if it meant saving ya fool tchew," she added, winking.
Daniel laughed, about to answer when he felt looseness at his wrists, his bindings cut and his arms free, making him pull his arms to his front, rubbing the soreness away.
"Addy," she heard, turning to see Cameron holding out his wrists through the open door of a cage and Vala crawling over to Daniel. The pair switched, Adrienne racing over and beginning to cut Cameron free and Vala unlocking Daniel's cage.
"Look," she muttered, "Here I am saving your ass again," she grumbled some more, the hairpin shoved deep into the lock.
"Not alone though," he noted, his eyes cutting over at Adrienne who had just about freed Cameron.
"Yeah yeah," she replied with a smile, "Your girlfriend just had to tag along…"
There was another click, and Vala sat back with a wink, waiting to see if Daniel could push the door open. He crawled forward, pushing, and it opened, Vala backing away and standing so he could as well, the pair turning to face Cameron and Adrienne.
"There's two horses outside. Cam, I'll ride with you and Addy, you take Daniel. We'll have to fight our way out and get to the horses, but once we make it that far, it shouldn't be long before Dex can pick up our DNA signatures and beam us aboard," Vala explained, Cameron and Daniel both nodding in agreement.
"Alright, Addy, give the boys the grenades," Vala ordered, Adrienne passing the knife back to Vala before reaching into her sports bra and handing them out as asked. Cameron took two, Daniel three, before the archaeologist peered back at Adrienne confused.
"Ad, you aren't even in uniform, what are you going to fight with?" he asked, but Adrienne was already heading to the back of the room, tipping over a crate and standing on it, reaching for a display on the wall.
A display of gently curved swords…
Adrienne grabbed the middle sized one from a display of three, turned and held it with a smile on her face.
"I think this will do," she said with a smile, twirling the blade around like he had seen her twirl her staff weapon.
"Stop showing off Addy, we all know you wanna be Bruce Lee," Vala grumbled, grabbing a bow and arrow set from another display and heading for the door, "I lead and clear, then Daniel and Cam, but we only have the five grenades so be smart with them and Addy takes the rear."
"We got it shug, let's go!" Adrienne agreed, pointing the sword forward so the men would comply.
"You heard them Jackson, run," Cameron added, dashing forward to fall in behind Vala.
As instructed the team made it to the door, opening it into midday on Simarka. There were few guards but they saw them, shouting out for assistance while two headed in their direction.
Vala downed them with two arrows faster than Adrienne had ever seen her shoot.
"Come on!" she ordered, Daniel running to catch up with her.
"I thought you didn't know how to use a bow and arrow," he had to ask, Vala rolling her eyes.
"You seemed to be into bimbos, so I played bimbo…" she answered honestly, "Which evidently was not the case because you fell for Lara Croft back there," she added, cocking her head in the direction of Adrienne who was taking out a guard that was attacking from the back with her sword.
Dumbfounded, and feeling like an amazing asshole, Daniel slowed his step to allow Cameron to pass him and Adrienne to catch up, the latter racing towards him, sword at her side.
"Move ya ass cher!" she shouted, Daniel checking back into his surroundings, following Adrienne as she raced in the direction of two horses tied up about 500 feet ahead. He felt something fly by his head, a spear maybe, and saw her stop again, her sword meeting the sword of another warrior. His heart stopped, his mind thinking of ways to save her and not to lose her, but she didn't need him, taking a deep stance and holding the weapon as he had seen Teal'c train her. She took her foe down in an instant, racing past him again and grabbing his uniform sleeve. He followed, impressed, so impressed, seeing Vala up ahead, using that bow while Cam untied the horse.
"Daniel, we're almost there! Throw a light grenade," Adrienne yelled, racing ahead. He paused for merely a moment, doing as she asked and tossing it into the oncoming collective of warriors. The bomb made contact with the hard earth, erupting, and exploding, Daniel truend away just in time.
"Come on cher," he felt lips at his ear and without realizing it he was at the horse, Adrienne pulling him back to reality, "I ride and you can toss the last two of those."
He froze for a moment as he saw her standing there, and then climbing onto the horse, reaching to help him. He tossed his foot into the stirrup, throwing his leg across as Cam yelled and he and Vala took off in the direction not of the gate, but an open field. He climbed on behind Adrienne, tapping her leg to let her know he was there and she kicked the sides of the horse, the animal lurching forward and the two of them dashing off behind their teammates.
"So are you planning on making rescuing me a habit?" he teased as he held onto her waist, eying behind them for any pursuers.
"Given that invested conversation we had some time back, I figured I might need to," she joked, holding to the reins and riding onward. He watched her back, her shoulder muscles flexing as she rode the beast, her pale face furrowed in concentration and despite the fact that they were fleeing for their lives Daniel, Adrienne had never been more beautiful to him than she was right now.
"Adrienne, you're incredible," he couldn't resist whispering into her ear, kissing behind it lightly before he glanced behind him. Seeing more pursuers, he uncapped yet another light grenade, tossing it behind them as they raced onward.
He didn't see her smile, as she rode on, intent on getting them to the rendezvous point.
"Not much further!" he heard Vala yell and saw her lean back, letting loose another arrow to her left. He turned to see a group flanking them from that side, reaching down to grab another grenade, this one a pulse grenade, activating it and throwing it toward the group. It hit the ground with an explosion, the horses unhurt but rearing up and dropping their riders. He suddenly felt pressure to his right, a shove, and in the noise hadn't noticed two horsemen pursuing from the right, but Adrienne was already on it, sword in her right hand and reins in her left, slicing at the hand that was now reaching for them. The man got closer, and Adrienne seemed to falter, so Daniel reached and took the sword from her hand, slicing the best he could while holding on. Both hands free, Adrienne grabbed the reins, riding more intensely and he saw beams of light in the distance, Vala and Cameron being beamed aboard the Odyssey and they only needed to make it 1500 feet or less to be beamed aboard as well. He heard a shout out, and what sounded like a whoosh and a sob, and saw an arrow cut in front of Adrienne, scraping her left shoulder as it barely passed in front of them. She was bleeding, he felt the blood hit the hand that was holding onto her, but she rode on, her face furrowed in concentration. There was a greater commotion, and he turned to see what appeared to be every last male warrior in the village on their tail, some nocking arrows to shoot. He prepared for the impact of an arrow hitting his body, trying to figure out how he could both protect Adrienne and ensure that nothing hit any vital organs when the lights appeared around them…
...and they fell, in a heap together, onto the floor of the ship.
"Oh look," Vala cooed as she stood over them, "The ladies saved the day. Again."
"Shug," Adrienne replied, extending her hand to request assistance up, "That was all you. YOU saved our asses."
The pirate shrugged, offering her hand and helping Adrienne to her feet.
"You'd better have something good Glasses," Vala continued, "Because we got nothing and I'm hoping that you heard something that made this shitshow worthwhile…"
Daniel stood, walking over to Adrienne to check and see if she was still bleeding, but it seemed to have stopped, Daniel peering back at Vala before arguing with Adrienne that he needed to take her to the infirmary.
"Yeah, I think Anubis is in worse shape than he wants us to know," Daniel replied, "But he did want the anesthetic, or some other plant life. I think you need to send a team, maybe when things cool down to just analyze the plant life, see if there is anything new since the last time we were there," he turned his direction to Adrienne, who was still standing there as he held onto her arm, "Any chance I can convince you to go to the infirmary?"
Adrienne smiled, letting him lead her, "I guess this time…"
Pleased, he started to lead her down to the ship's infirmary, when he heard a shout behind them.
"Addy!"
They stopped, the cajun turning to face Vala again.
"Nice work," the pirate said.
"Thanks shug," she muttered, her pale cajun cheeks blushing.
Not saying a word, but still so very impressed, Daniel led Adrienne gently to the infirmary.
Annoyed by the number of stitches in her left shoulder, four, which was at least two more than she had anticipated, Adrienne walked back to the cafeteria, dying for something to eat or drink or anything. She turned the corner, entering the cafeteria to see Vala and Daniel sitting at a table together, talking, not another soul in the cafeteria. Adrienne started to join them when she noticed the legal pad in front of Vala, pen in hand, and Daniel's face furrowed in seriousness. The cajun came to a halt, changing her mind, deciding instead to raid Daniel's stuff for Powerbars rather than sit and listen to whatever details Vala was writing down that were most likely details of how Anubis planned to horrifically murder the love of her life.
She could live without that nightmare fuel.
She spun on her heels, headed back to grab a snack and find Ronon, Teal'c and Cam when she heard footsteps behind her, jogging to catch up.
"Addy, wait! I'm not trying to steal your man!"
She paused, peering back to see Vala fast approaching and laughing, having left Daniel and the legal pad behind.
"Hey shug, sorry, I just don't wanna talk about, well, Indy's imminent homicide," Adrienne answered, Vala nodding in understanding.
"No, I get it," she agreed, "That's why I decided to debrief him while you were getting sewn up."
"Thanks," Adrienne stated in appreciation.
"Don't mention it," Vala replied, pausing for a moment, "You did great back there Addy. I was worried that you would go racing into danger without thinking to save Daniel but you didn't. You used your head, kept calm, and got us out of there."
Adrienne flushed, embarrassed. She'd been scared, but, the longer she was with the program, the easier this was all becoming, despite being in love with Daniel. She was able to keep her wits about her a bit better, think things through, and, most importantly, work as a team with her team.
"I just did whatcha told me to do," Adrienne admitted, "And you were right and we're here and safe and headed home."
Vala frowned, "Addy, you've got to start giving yourself credit for what you are, what you do. You don't do that enough."
The cajun shrugged, but Vala shook her head, cocking her thumb back in the direction of Daniel.
"Fine, don't believe me, but know this. Those jokes we made, for years, about women throwing themselves at him? Well, he may say it's not true because he didn't notice, but we all did. He never noticed a single one, until you came along, and you didn't even try to get him to. He fell for you because you're an amazing, intelligent and good person Addy. We all did, because of who you are."
Adrienne looked down, still now answering.
"I wouldn't think of you as a sister if you weren't," Vala added, her voice serious. Adrienne was touched, she didn't know what to say, when she noticed another set of footsteps making her look up to see Daniel, legal pad in hand, joining them.
"Hey, we finished?" Daniel asked as he passed the pad over, "Because I could really use a shower…"
"Yeah," Vala replied, taking the pad, "Please you two just remember that other people are on the ship with you right now, ok?"
And in an instant Vala was back to Vala normal, which was oddly comforting.
"I'm aware, but we're actively trying to break some records on the ship, so, you know," he answered smartly with a smirk, Adrienne shaking her head and rubbing her face.
"I'll alert the crew to grab earplugs," Vala shot back with a grin, turning to head back to the cafeteria. Daniel laughed, reaching to put his arm around Adrienne as Vala left, but she paused, not following him.
"Cher, go ahead and showa," she said sweetly, "I'm gonna grab some dinna and just chill for a bit."
Daniel pulled away, but was smiling.
"I really wasn't planning on us, well…"
"I know," she replied, resting her hand gently on his arm, winking, "We can save that for your place."
He laughed, nodding, holding up his finger one more time as he formulated his words.
"Adrienne, I meant what I said back there," he added before letting her go, "You're incredible and I'm thankful every day that I met you."
Smiling, she pulled him to her, pressing her lips to his in the middle of the passageway.
"I'll be down shortly," she said softly, squeezing his hand before turning to join Vala in the cafeteria.
After all, there was sister gossip to be had.