Chapter 4 – The Move
Vala doesn't have that many possessions outside of clothes, and most of those are SGC issued. Her roommates load her few boxes in their cars and take them to the house. She could have asked Cam or Daniel for help but didn't want to bother Cam with just a few boxes and Daniel, well, that was not going to happen.
Two days later, Daniel rings the bell at Sam's house. There is only one car in the driveway, and he wonders if maybe she is off with the other roommate somewhere in town.
A very large man, wearing only shorts and holding a bottle of beer answers the door. Daniel stammers a bit; he wasn't prepared for a male roommate. A large male roommate. Daniel says something, he's not sure what, but it included Vala's name.
Vala hears his voice and goes to the door. "Hi Daniel, this is Brandon, one of my roommates," she says.
"Oh, hi, Brandon, nice to meet you." Daniel looks up as he speaks. He feels a bit intimidated because, even though he's not a small man, Brandon is a few inches taller and a bit broader. He has no idea how the SGC found a uniform to fit this man. Picturing him in a uniform, Daniel realizes he is a Marine but can't place which team he's on.
"Hey man, you wanna beer? Brandon asks holding his up.
"Um, no thanks, but can I come in?" Daniel asks.
The human doorway moves toward the living room, so Daniel can get in the door, which he closes behind him.
Vala has sat down on one end of the couch, with her feet up on the coffee table. Brandon walks over and sits on the other end. That leaves a very large recliner for Daniel. He tries to look like he's comfortable sitting in it, but he's not. He wonders why Brandon didn't sit there since it is obviously made for him. The TV is on, and the couch faces the TV directly, so maybe that's it, Daniel thinks.
"Where is your other roommate?" Daniel asks. Great opening question, he chastises himself.
"She's off-world for a few days," Vala says, eyes on the TV show she's not watching.
Daniel wonders how stupid it is to be relieved that she doesn't have two male roommates. "You get moved in ok?" he asks. Another stupid question, the thinks. This is not going well.
"MMHM" Vala answers.
"How are you getting along without a car? I guess your roommates are giving you rides to the base." He asks. He wonders what the record is for stupid questions in a row.
"Yep," she replies. "They'll give me rides to the base and have already taken me to the grocery store. Rhonda and I are going to the movies when she gets back and Brandon has promised to take me to the zoo soon."
Daniel realizes that there is a lot of the outside world that she would be thrilled to experience and feels a bit guilty for not realizing that himself.
Brandon excuses himself saying he must be at the mountain early in the morning for a mission.
"I'm going out with SG7 again tomorrow, so I guess I need to get some sleep also," Vala says.
Daniel realizes Brandon is on the team Vala has been going out with lately. Interesting. Too interesting for him to be comfortable with.
Daniel tells them both goodbye and wishes them good luck on the mission tomorrow and sees himself to the door.