Chapter 3 – The breakup
"General Landry, could I speak with you?" Vala says with a smile as she peeks through his door.
"Come on it," he smiles and waves her in. "I've got about 5 minutes if that's enough for you."
"Oh, yes, it will be." She walks and stands in front of his desk, playing with her fingers like she nervous.
"I'd like permission to live off base," she starts, but continues quickly before he can object. "Sam's house is empty, and I sent her a message about it last week. I received her answer in this morning's wave. There are two other SG team members who would like to rent it with me. Sam knows them both and approves. I don't have a driver's license, so my roommates would have to give me ride, but that means I can't go off into town by myself. I'm almost guaranteed to not get in trouble since someone would have to be with me at all times," she finishes, out of breath.
General Landry gave her a lopsided smile at the "almost guaranteed" part. "I have no doubt you can get yourself into all manner of trouble if you put your mind to it, but I've known you for a while now and have seen how much you want to do the right thing. Let me think about it and take it to the IOA and I'll get back with you a couple of days."
General Landry calls Cam to his office later that afternoon and asks his opinion.
"She's been a bit down lately, sir." Cam says. "It may be that staying cooped up in the mountain is getting to her. If she has other SGC members with her, that might keep her from doing anything that would breach security. But we both know she's capable of causing a ruckus without really trying."
"We do at that," General Landry agrees with him. "The IOA read all the recent mission reports she was on, and they agree that her behavior has improved. They are still reluctant to set her loose on the unsuspecting populace of Colorado Springs, and I can't say that I blame them, but they left the decision up to me and agree that she deserves a chance. Would you agree?"
"Who would her roommates be?" Cam asks.
"Smithson from SG7 and Arnold from SG5." the General replies.
"Good people, Cam says.
"I agree. Ok, we'll give it a try."
"Want me to break the news, General?" Cam asks.
"Please do, I have meetings the rest of the day. Oh joy." General Landy says without a smile.
Cam sticks his head in Daniel's office. "Hey Sunshine, where's Princess?"
Daniel shrugs. "I know she's been working with Dr. Allsup some, and I've seen her stop at the scientists table in the commissary to talk, so I guess she's working with them."
"Why don't you ask her what she's doing every day?" Cam asks as he leaned up against the door.
That means he's expecting a conversation, Daniel thinks. Great. "I do, she shrugs and walks out the door."
"Man, you two really need to learn to talk to each other. Ask her questions, show some interest in her life, tell her you miss her," Cam says looking Daniel straight in the eyes.
"You have her sit in your office all day popping gum and asking questions about some celebrity's love life. You'll learn to enjoy the silence, too," Daniel retorts.
" .Her. You know it." Cam states knowingly. "Did you know she's moving to Sam's house with a couple of roommates?"
"What? When?" Daniel sits up in his chair and looks at Cam.
"Landry just gave her permission; I'm looking for her to tell her now," Cam answers.
Daniel slumps in his chair and closes his eyes. He takes off his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose. "No, she didn't tell me. I guess she's really mad at me this time".
"Looks like it. Do something about it before it's too late," Cam says as he turns and walks down the hallway.
The next morning when she comes to his office to ask if he has anything for her to help him with, he asks why she is moving and tells her he was hurt that she didn't tell him and that he had to find out from Mitchell.
"It was just time for me to get out on my own," she says with a shrug. "You know I don't like being dependent on other people and I think it's time I learn to fend for myself here. I want to get a real life, well, as much of a real life as an SG team member can have". She doesn't address why she did not tell him, hoping he'll forget he asked that.
"I can understand that, and you've worked hard to deserve the chance." he says.
She gives him a small smile and walks out.