2 4 1
Chapter 3
To Get Ready
The ruins are just as they left them, a cavernous expanse running an entire mountainside in a ruddy color. There's a small clearing, much like a quad or a compound burrowed out of the thick rock leaving flat terrain on which the gate stands. The ruins don't get many visitors anymore, no longer popular as they were decades ago when the Goa'uld had an iron fist around much of the galaxy.
"Wow." Cameron's exclamation echoes as the dull, almost haunting wind howls through the area stirring up small tufts of dust. "This place looks like the Grand Canyon."
"Actually." Daniel One brushes by her, tossing his pack against a group of rocks, chiseled out and smoothed down as makeshift chairs, facing each other around a sooty firepit. "It looks more like Uluru."
"Okay?" He gives her a scrunched face, like he knew this wasn't going to be a good idea. They haven't even made it inside, he hasn't even met the guardian yet, which is where they're more than likely going to see a bit of resistance.
"Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a red sandstone formation in—"
Cameron groans, tossing his head back and stomping down the stairs cut from the stone, and would probably give her more of the same face if she bothered to look back at him. Instead she watches the tiny whirlwinds spin and break at her boots, hiding a coy grin because all her boys are back together.
"Look." Cameron's bag hits the ground blasting sand in all directions, he's already favoring his bad thigh and perhaps it wasn't the smartest idea to bring him along. It's just—she's missed going on adventures with him. They don't talk about it because their conversations have become exceedingly fixated on one topic. Is she eating enough, is she eating the right thing, how is she feeling, does she have any cravings, should she be doing this, should she be doing that—the answer to both is no.
While being protected by such a caring man, one she chose to be her husband nonetheless, makes her feel loved and safe, it gets to the point where she's not even allowed to leave the house alone, where he trails her all around the farm, and when she finally does break free in the black pre-dawn still shadowing the fields, she can't fight the guilt that roils up within her because he simply just wants her to be safe.
If the discussion of adventuring did come up, before he blasted it straight down from the air with a shotgun, one he got under the guise of nipping mongrel animals from the back field, he would give her some sentimental answer about how every day with her is adventure enough. It's adorable, it truly is, but the pleasantries of freshly baked cookies, and the domesticities of clean countertops and floors offer her next to no stimulation.
She misses going out into the field, misses exploring different planets, different cultures, hijacking ships and pulling aerial stunts, knicking a few goods on the side, but most of all, misses doing it with someone who shares her same penchant for adventure. Someone who has her back, not that he wouldn't, he certainly does now, but he's hating every second of this and they've only just arrived.
She misses being part of a team.
Part of a family.
She misses how it was before she exiled herself from a planet she grew to love, sacrificing friends for the safety of their child.
His warm hand falls to the flat of her back, inching her forward. "Let's get in there so you can etch-a-sketch whichever ancient text you forgot to skim over last time and get the hell out of here."
Daniel One groans, his pacing falls into step to keep up with the other Daniel now approaching the large monolithic entrance. There are bat like creatures stuck up in the craggy rocks and they watch with little red beady eyes.
Daniel Two sets down the pack near the reference point. Not a specific reference point like saying to meet by the water fountain in the middle of the food court—a food court and mall with amenities that she misses as dearly as an old confidant—but rather the reference point for calling on the guardian of the ruins.
Before anyone can object, mainly the other Daniel, this one stands on the calling pad, his biological signature being read and registered in an eerie, unnatural hum, like the machine may print him a receipt.
Despite the feeble wind, the next gust is coarse and prickles a bit at her bare arms. Cameron slides closer to her, hugging around her waist, pressing her brown jacket tighter to her, his hand settling on the curve of her side, just under the pack which he keeps trying to steal from her. Supposes it's chivalrous, to have a husband who would do all the heavy lifting, and were this years ago, she would more than allow him to do so, but her pack contains little more than snacks and a water bottle, it's not trying in any sense of the word, and his constant need to rid her of it is becoming patronizing.
"What's that?" He whispers, nodding to the platform on which Daniel Two stands.
"Remember when we went to that hotel and I kept dinging that delightful little bell at the reception desk until they took it away from me?" They stayed for a weekend for their second anniversary. Five stars, a jacuzzi in the room, chocolate covered everything, and she remembers being very satiated and in love in every way.
"Yeah."
"This ruin's equivalent of that."
Before her answer results in many more questions, a rattling reverberates from within the mouth of the ruins, it sounds like tin cans tied to the back of a car—a joke he said they would have to make if they ever visited his parents again. She wants to, so badly does she yearn to return to Earth, but then her emotions have fled, bouncing around from gate to gate until finally settling in their farmhouse is still disorientating to her six weeks later.
Her arrest, her imprisonment, her interrogation that she's never told Cameron about, all seem like mixed up dreams. What she does remember clearly is two stuttering polyglots opening her cell and tossing her the bag she keeps in her locker for emergency missions, telling her to run, and that they would have her back.
And if anyone bothered to ever ask her, that's what she thinks family is.
Cameron angles his head away at the unpleasant sound. "What's—"
"That's Chippie."
Bursting forth from the cavern, the ruin guardian appears. He's half mechanical, half natural, a combination of intuition and innovation. The Ancients employed the device to keep the ruins running smoothly in their wake, only when they ascended, they forgot to mention it and the poor dear was running himself ragged until she and the single Daniel filled in the gaps.
While Chippie appears to be genderless, the mechanical voice he emits does have the tonal values of a male, when she asked if she may refer to him as such, he smiled and agreed. He's created primarily from rock, the same rock the ruins are etched out of, but deeper down inside the caverns, so instead of being red, he's more of a delightful brownish-gray. He's about the size of a car windshield, and has a screen set on either side directly in the middle to portray his emotions in basic Tau'ri punctuation marks. There's a rocket-like exhaust pipe sticking out from the bottom of him and puttering through the air seems to be his only form of transportation.
:) —#Dr. Daniel Jackson#
The little screen face is very pleased as small puffs of smoke boil out the silver pipe while he drifts to the other Daniel.
:) —#And Dr. Daniel Jackson! How lovely it is to see you again#
Cameron's arm falls slack on her for once, and when she glances up to gauge his reaction, he's wearing a very wry half-smile. "Okay, what the hell is—"
:O —#Oh my! A new person! Who are you new person#
Her husband's face falters while Chippie buzzes around him, as if this is some marvelous joke. With narrowed eyes he glares at her and she shoos him a step forward, Chippie bouncing back a step to compensate the movement and Cameron clears his throat. "I'm Cameron Mitchell—"
"Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell." Gathers her hands against his shoulder and rests her chin there. Still is anything but an expert in the hierarchical knowledge of the Tau'ri military, but the rank always sounds imposing.
:D —#Vala Mal Doran#
Chippie brushes by her husband, wavering to a stop before her with the biggest nonexistent smile she's ever seen. "Hello Chippie, how have you been?"
xD —# Oh very well. I've missed you#
"Of course you're friends with it," Cameron laughs, not sarcastic but somehow pleased, like he was this morning when he discovered she had been feeding the stray cats for the last five weeks. Saw one on the way to the garbage bin to drop off scraps, and it was just skin and bones. How could she throw away a perfectly decent meal right in front of it? A few days later another joined, then another. The little group follows her around when she needs to get away from being contained in that house. She paces through empty fields with dry and withered crops left over from the previous owners, and when she looks back, five cats cautiously stop walking. "Someone want to fill me in?"
:O —#How rude of me! I'm the Computer Hardware Interface Providing Proper Intelligence and Education about the ruins which could otherwise potentially be very dangerous#
While Daniel One, looking a bit perturbed at not getting any new information taps his foot, Daniel Two leans forward and helpfully informs, "Chippie for short."
"Who named it?"
"Who do you think?"
When Cameron looks back at her she gives him a monstrous grin. He didn't get the pleasure of meeting Chippie the first time around, when the sight of them threw him into a breathless frenzy, zipping to the side and eagerly asking questions. Throughout the planets, and now galaxies, she's explored, she has never seen a machine so unfit for being a hermit.
:) —#I also guard and protect the ruins! So I hope you're not planning anything of malintent Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, or I might have to kick your ass#
"Cam's just fine." He's keeping his guard up, but still wears that delightful smile. Chippie bobs around him, still happy as ever and eager to please. Around his third pass Cameron's grin starts to fade, and her palms start to sweat. "Who taught it the swear?"
Daniel Two glances up from pulling a bottle of water from his pack. "Who do you think?"
As Cam takes another step, Chippie cuts him off, still passively content.
:) —#Vala Mal Doran taught me that word! If you have any questions you can ask me directly! I'm here to help#
The back of her neck starts to grow hot, possibly from standing in the middle of a clearing absorbing the sun with a leather jacket on. However, the lie to herself lasts meager seconds as the familiar queasiness sets in.
Daniel One almost swings his pack into Chippie as he switches shoulders. "We actually came back to take another look at the Ancient writing on Sublevel A"
:) —#How interesting#
"Yes." Daniel Two agrees with sterner eyebrows than she's used to seeing on him. Perhaps he's just a bit befuddled by the entire mess, even she's having a hard time following the conversation. "Can you take us there?"
:) —#Of course#
She cocks her head to the side at a sudden twinge in her temple, the nausea now rising in her stomach as the Daniels keep asking for entrance to the ruins. The morning sickness this time around is like none she's experienced before. It knows no time, doesn't stick to any routine, just randomly pops in until she's vomited to the point of exhaustion and requires a nap.
"Hey." Cameron steps to her, reaching out for her as saliva gathers her in mouth. "Are you okay?"
"Now Chippie!" Daniel One throws his hands towards the cave.
"I can see why they needed to bring—" extends his hand, cupping her cheek as a familiar tingle prickles at the back of her throat. Drops his hand just as quickly, recognizing the signs. "You're on fire."
She vomits, just as she did at the tavern yesterday, heaves her entire breakfast of sugary coated puffed cocoa crunches onto the dry terrain, half-digested, bitter tasting from the lack of sugar. Heaves again and the cup of tea and orange juice are not far behind. She's bent at her knees, heaving a third time when nothing comes out, when tears gather in the corner of her eyes, and her nose starts to run from the stupid congestion she's experiencing on Thea.
Then she realizes his hand is rubbing circles on her back, and he softly talks her down as if she has a weapon pointed at her own father again. That thought rings up another bout of nausea, but there's nothing left in her stomach to remove. He helps her stand, his hands expertly scooting under her jacket, and as an extension, to her pack, grabbing both as they slid off her arms, then he tugs the holder from around her wrist and pulls her hair up, blowing on the back of her neck.
Sadly, this situation occurs roughly three to five times a day. Cameron handles it better than her, has a knack for knowing which words calm her, and what comforts she likes. He's had plenty of practice, as from not being used to Tau'ri bacteria and illnesses, she tended to run sick quite more often then he did. Part of her always liked it, the way he cares for her, reminds her of being Qetesh—but in a good way. Having someone devoted to her who wants to be. Having a pure source of renewable love that's meant only for her.
The Daniels stare in what she can only describe is horror, as they approach the firepit sitting stones with a very slow gait. His arm around her for support, but not too tightly as she needs to cool. Rubbing the back of her hand over her mouth to clear away any lingering bits, she sits on the closest stone while he kneels beside her, rummaging through her pack for the bottle of water.
Hands it to her without a word, just a sympathetic smile. Waits until she's taken a few sips before questioning, "You good?"
"Yes," almost unvoiced as she realizes she's panting.
While her momentary hyperventilation continues, his palm touches the side of her face again, and he uses the cuff of his long-sleeved shirt popping out from beneath his jacket to wipe away the wetness on her skin. "You're cooling down. Do you want to take a break?"
They just got here. Haven't even been inside the ruins yet, but she's exhausted, feels like she could curl up on one of the sun-warmed stones and have a nap like the black cat on their back-porch swing. Instead she just nods.
He nods back, picking up her jacket off the ground and dusting it off before setting it beside her in case she gets cold. He uses the rock for balance as he stands, his leg shaking with the lingering pain as he cups his hands over his mouth and announces, "we're taking a break."
"We just got here." Daniel One shouts back, his arms flying in the air.
"We could always just—" Cameron whistles, jutting this thumb backwards to the gate. When she leans her head against the side of his good thigh, his hand drops to her hair, stroking as he continues his haggling with the Daniels.
"Fine." Daniel Two probably nods, she can't tell, her eyes are closed, but knows it's him because his voice is softer. "We'll pop ahead—"
"Vala Mal Doran?"
Opens her eyes when something blots out the warmth from the sunlight, to find Chippie floating level with her face, concern evident.
:( —#Are you okay#
"Fine, Chippie." Holds her head up as Cameron shuffles to take a seat beside her. Her hand pets Chippie's warm stone, and the bright green font of his face remains unchanged. "It's just morning sickness."
:( —#It is no longer morning#
"I don't think the baby really cares." Cameron bottles up her water, slipping back into her bag of sugary cereal and chips, that he groans at, but really, he should have never let her pack snacks for herself if he didn't expect this. He doesn't say anything though, more than content to sit beside her, his obviously aching thigh receiving heat therapy from the stone.
:|— #Baby? What baby#
She maneuvers his hand from the warm rock and guides it to where their child is adoringly punting her side. Pushes his wrist tighter to her and they both become silent, listening for a motion. When he says nothing, she raises her eyebrows at him expectantly. "Anything?"
"Nothing." Each time he sounds more disappointed and perhaps it would be more prudent to stop asking until she's further along, if only their child would stop constantly kicking her internals. Adria was hellbent on being the zealot of a religious empire, and she never kicked as a foetus once.
The Daniels, growing bored with idly standing around when they could be dissecting Ancient directions to a cache that she's still not entirely sure exists, trudge up before them. Two looks a little pale, and One squints his eyes into to the sunbeam, throwing a hand over his eyes. "You okay?"
Cameron doesn't answer for her, his hand still pressing intently trying to find kicking that's since subsided.
"Fine," answers for herself instead and as she thinks about standing, the barrage of kicks flies at her side again, causing her to hiss in another breath.
All three men, halt all their movements, going stiff like the porch cats, like they want to bolt, and she almost laughs, because she remembers Tomin and even the priors having the same reaction.
Shifts to her side to try and direct their child to pummel the other side of her body for a change. "Just a lot of kicking."
:0 —#Who is kicking#
"The baby." Pushes herself off the rock, feels Cameron's hand guiding at the small of her back.
:O —#What baby#
"She's pregnant." Two offers, rolling his shoulder back, and marching back to the mouth of the cavern.
One, glances from Chippie back to her and, with an incredulous tone, questions, "you can't tell?"
: —#I could Dr. Daniel Jackson. As you know I am programmed for medical diagnostics. But it is impolite to ask#
They walk slowly, her boots dragging across the dirt, and for the first time she feels tired. Tired enough that she doesn't want to be here and would rather be at home—would rather be on Earth where people she trusts can see to her being happy and healthy, but that wish is a little too farfetched now.
Although there are a few natural holes acting as lights, most of the ruins lays in darkness, with torches aligned on the walls illuminating very little of the caverns. The dust ground turns grittier as they stand in the mouth of the cave.
:) —#How are you feeling#
Chippie's question echoes through the darkness but doesn't upset the bat creatures by the snarling teeth of the entrance. They've probably grown accustomed to his exhaust and his voice.
"I'm doing well—"
Before she can add a 'thank you' to the end of her sentence, Cameron interrupts her. "Except for the backaches, the nausea—"
"Which is probably exacerbated by the types of food you choose to eat," One chimes in, calibrating his data pad to the type of glyphs on this particular set of ruins.
"If you experts will excuse me, I was going to say—" As the baby kicks again she winces, the palm of her hand rubbing at her side "—except for the near constant kicking."
"What does your doctor have to say about it?" Two looks up from his data pad, and both her and Cameron fall silent. He squints his eyes through the same thin-rimmed glasses she's broke half a dozen times, and cautiously adds, "You…do have a doctor. Right?"
"We—" Cameron looks at her trying to find a way to explain that they don't want anyone on Thea interested in their baby "—we're having trouble finding one we trust."
"Vala, you need to—"
"This is just idiotic, Mitchell—"
"—and a sonogram—"
"—are you going to live—"
"—and an ultrasound—"
"—just never trust anyone—"
"—and prenatal vitamins—"
"Just go see Lam already."
Her head perks up at the last comment, because she's heard the other ones from Cameron before.
She needs to have the scary blob picture done. They need to hear the baby's heartbeat. Just ordinary Tau'ri things that lesser planets consider frivolous—although once he did leave his guide to babies on the arm of the couch while he was in the shower, and she did read up on the benefits of prenatal vitamins and over the course of several doctor's appointments and post mission checkups, managed to accumulate roughly six months worth.
But that last comment—
"We can't go see Lam—"
"Yes, you can." Two interrupts, one hand removing his glasses and the other wiping across his face. "Is it really worth the health of—"
"Do. Not." Cameron face falls hard, his molars crunching together and his jaw muscles tight. He's taken a step forward, jabbing a finger at Two. "Tread. Lightly."
Darts her eyes between Cameron, stiff and unmoving in the sand like he's stepped on a mine, and Two who's head is lowered. One has a grim look on his face, and she doesn't understand the full implications of the conversation.
What was just suggested.
What was just divulged.
"What's going on?"
:) —#It seems as if Dr. Daniel Jackson and Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell are having a squabble#
Chippie's unhelpful whisper from beside her would usually warrant a grin and pat on her part, but the mood, the shift in dynamics is distracting. "I'll ask one more time—"
"It's nothing," Cameron grunts, sliding her pack up his arm to sit with his. "We're losing time."
But the Daniels don't move, Two's head still hangs and One's brow furrows in contemplation. "Cameron."
"Vala—It's nothing, you wanted to do this, let's just—"
"Cameron." As she takes a step forward, the barrage of kicks their child launches into another barrage of kicks. Without fully implicating their child in his means to answer, she simply rubs at her side with a bit of a pout. "You owe me an answer."
But he says nothing and the longer the conversation continues, the more her heart sinks. Knew the protective overprotective line was very thin but didn't think he'd cross entirely this soon.
"You've been allowed—"
"Jackson, I will haul your asses back to—"
"—on Earth—"
"Jackson!"
"—for almost a month now."
Stares at One, trying to contemplate the information, discerning if it means what she thinks it means and if that's so, trying to quell the hot pit of rage now brewing in her stomach. "Back on Earth?"
"The Alien Act was almost immediately revoked. Landry, O'Neill, Sam, they all put in pleas, spent three days explaining how you and Teal'c are beneficial members of the team." One stands from zipping up his pack, tossing it over his shoulder, he again, almost hits Chippie.
Two resets his glasses and blows air out his mouth, hands resting on his thighs. "Teal'c's been back for almost a month, when we found out we contacted Mitchell through—"
Her head snaps towards her husband, who glowers at the Daniels in the same way she glares at him. "You knew?"
"I—"
"He knew," Two nods his head.
"We could have gone home to be with our friends, with your parents, and—" Her face scrunches, the emotions causing her to overreact, something she's aware of but has no logical way of stopping. Feels her eyebrows dip, the tears burn in the corner of her eyes. "You didn't tell me."
"Vala." Perhaps he realizes just how serious the situation is, because he takes a step towards her. They could have returned to SGC, and been happier, been less stressed. Had the internet and television, shopping malls and sports cars, taco Tuesdays and stat holidays. All her favorite things. "It's not safe there."
"No." Tugs her arm away from him, and when her tears hit her hand, she realizes she's started crying. "Apparently it is."
"I don't think—"
"That's just it. You're always doing the thinking for both of us."
"I'm just trying to—"
"No, Cameron, you have no idea how I feel. How—" each day is a struggle because she loves him and he loves the baby, and she just wanted to give it a chance, but everyday she wakes up nauseous from anxiety, from knowing that Athena, and if not her, someone else, will track her down. Will hurt the life inside her that she's given up so much to protect. "Dare you."
"Vala." Scrambles towards her like she's going to stomp away, when she doesn't have the strength to move just yet. He collects her hand in his, his palm sweaty, but cold. "Just listen—"
Doesn't tear her hand away, what he's done will be forgivable, but she needs time. Needs separation. "I'm done listening to you for the foreseeable future."
Before he can answer, just as she turns away, fully waddling towards the Daniels in her emotionally drained state, Chippie sputters up.
:) —#I'm ready to navigate you through the ruins now#
A/N: I hope you enjoyed Chippie. I love him. He's a good and precious boy. That's all.