Daniel rushed into the briefing room, where he was unsurprised to find General Landry, Sam, Teal'c, Cameron, and Dr. Lam waiting, "When do we go?" he asked.
General Landry turned to him and looked at his watch, "Now," he answered, "but we take no chances. I want everyone in a hazmat suit," he paused as Jack came in an nodded in his direction then turned toward Dr. Lam, "Caroline, everyone is to be examined. If they are infected, I want to know if they can be safely brought back here. If that's the case, I want them here as soon as possible. Dismissed."
Two dreadfully slow hours later, Daniel finally walked through the Stargate with Sam at his heels. They were greeted on the other side by SG-15, who were stationed at the alpha site, "Where is she?" Daniel asked.
The marine motioned for them to follow him and they made their way to the main building. While the building did house a makeshift infirmary, it wasn't really equipped to deal with viruses or severe injuries. That's what the infirmary on Earth was for. Daniel followed the man into the room, and immediately rushed to the side of the woman in the bed. Movement was restricted because of the suit he was in, but he rested his hand on hers. Her eyes opened to his touch.
Vala opened her eyes, happy to see Daniel. She smiled through the pain, "Daniel," she breathed, "what took you so long?"
Daniel smiled at her attempt at a joke, "Sorry," he answered, "but I'm here now. Dr. Lam's going to determine if your infected with a plague or just an ordinary virus, ok?"
Vala nodded, and Daniel turned away, but Vala pulled on his glove. He turned back toward her, "What?"
Vala gripped his glove. She wasn't ready to let him leave yet. She wanted to make sure this wasn't a dream, "Don't." She closed her eyes, gritting her teeth, "Stay." Daniel saw a few tears flow from her eyes.
Daniel worked to control his emotions. The fact that she was asking him for something, anything, told him more than she knew. Vala prided herself on being independent, on not needing anything or anyone, and now she was begging him to stay with her. What had they done to her? "I'm not going anywhere," he answered.
Dr. Lam appeared on the other side of Vala and began to take her vitals. She drew blood and gave it to the nurse behind her to run tests on. If it was an Ori virus, they should be able to recognize it. Then she set to work examining the rest of the other woman's numerous injuries. There were cuts on her face and arms, a few of which were deep. She also appeared to have a large gash on her side, which appeared to still be bleeding. They had been bandaged pretty well, but a few of them needed stitches, so that's what she focused on.
Daniel stayed by her side, waiting apprehensively while Dr. Lam patched Vala up. When she was done, she looked up at him, "I'm going to examine the rest of the personnel. Call me if something changes."
Daniel nodded and turned his attention back to the woman in the bed. He found that he didn't know what to say to her. Sam tapped his arm. He turned toward her and she motioned for him to follow her.
Daniel nodded and turned back to Vala, "I'll be right back," he told her and followed Sam to where Teal'c and Cameron were waiting.
"We're going to help Dr. Lam as much as we can," Sam said, "Call us if you need us." She and Teal'c left the room.
Cameron hung back, "Daniel, can I give you some advice without you biting my head off?" he asked, remembering the last conversation he had with Daniel.
Daniel nodded, not quite ready to apologize for his earlier anger. He glanced at Vala and then turned back to Cameron, "Sure."
Cameron clapped Daniel on the shoulder, "Tell her how you feel, Daniel. Take that risk," he said, dropped his hand, and left the room.
Daniel stood there for a moment watching the door that his friends had just walked through then turned back toward the bed where Vala lay. She had her eyes open and was watching him. He was surprised, "What? Is something wrong?"
Vala shook her head slightly, "Just having trouble believing that you are actually real," she whispered.
Daniel walked back over to her, "I'm so sorry, Vala," he whispered, bringing his gloved hand to her cheek.
"What for?" she asked, confused.
"For this, for not listening, for not believing you, for everything," he said, "I should have listened to you."
"Even if you had, we would still be in this situation. Better me than you," she answered.
"I don't believe that," he answered, "and neither should you." He paused and looked at her hand, resting on his, "I've missed you," he whispered.
Vala grinned. "Did you, now," she asked, cheekily.
For the first time since he had known her, Daniel was actually glad to hear one of her remarks, "It's nice to see you're still your old self," he said, smiling.
"I missed you too," she said.
Daniel sighed, "this is so frustrating," he said, "I wish I could hold you, hug you, at least touch you. I have half a mind to take this damn suit off."
Vala's eyes grew big, "NO," she said, struggling to sit up, "DON'T."
Daniel was alarmed, "Vala! Calm down!" She gripped his forearms, tightly. "Lay back down before you hurt yourself more. Please, Vala, lay down." He pleaded with her.
Vala refused, "You can't take it off, Daniel," she said quickly, her breathing heavy, "What if they've given me something. I feel bad enough about possibly infecting the people here."
Daniel relented, "Ok, ok, I won't take it off," he reassured her, "now, please, lay back down." She did as he asked, and he waited until she was settled before grinning at her, "I didn't know that you cared so much."
Vala scoffed, "I blame it all on you, you know. You made me care."
Daniel smiled, "I'm glad," he said, pulling a chair over to her bed, "Why don't you get some sleep? I'll be right here when you wake up."
A vulnerable look came into Vala's eyes, "Promise?"
Daniel raised his eyebrows, "I promise," he reassured, once again wondering what in the world they had done to her to alter her so completely.
Sam, Cameron, and Teal'c returned about an hour after Vala fell asleep. They talked for a while and Daniel finally apologized for his anger before he had left for Minnesota. They were discussing what to do next when Dr. Lam came back in the room.
Daniel walked over to her, "Are the results back?" he asked.
Dr. Lam nodded, walking over to the bed that held Vala. Daniel followed her and watched as she gently shook the other woman awake. Vala groggily opened her eyes, "What's going on?" she asked, "I'm trying to sleep here."
"I have your test results, Vala," Dr. Lam said.
Vala and Daniel looked both looked at her eagerly. Sam, Teal'c, and Cameron crowded around the bed, Sam and Teal'c around Daniel and Cameron standing beside Dr. Lam.
Dr. Lam looked at the papers in front of her, "Well, it appears that you have not been infected by any Ori plague that we've seen." She smiled, "you just have a nasty infection. You will be perfectly fine once we get you back to Earth and can treat you," she said, "I'm going to radio General Landry and we'll leave a soon as possible."
Vala grinned and looked at Daniel who was still staring at the doctor like he didn't believe his ears, "So," he asked, "she's not contagious?" he asked.
"No, not that I can tell. Just to be safe, we'll bring her in under quarantine and watch her for a few days," she said, "SG-15 can report to us if they notice any symptoms of question." She left the room and headed for the Stargate. Teal'c, Sam, and Cameron followed.
Daniel looked down at Vala. She was grinning, "This is great news," she said, "I'm relieved."
Daniel smiled down at her, "So am I," he answered, "you have no idea. So, can I take this damn suit off yet?"
"Maybe you shouldn't," she said, "Dr. Lam said that I was to be kept under observation for a few days. I would prefer not to take that chance."
Daniel sighed, "Have I mentioned how much I really hate waiting," he said, and looked into her eyes, "It's been six months."
"I know exactly how long it's been, Daniel," she answered, "believe me."
Daniel hung his head, "I'm so sorry, Vala, I never meant for this to happen. I never wanted to see you hurt."
"Hey, stop apologizing. I'll be fine, you'll be fine. We'll be fine," she said, "I don't blame you. I made my decision. I wanted to prove that you could trust me and I did, didn't I?"
Daniel smiled, "Yes, of course, but you would have done that anyway."
Vala grinned, "Yeah, but it would have taken longer, wouldn't it," she asked.
Daniel nodded, conceding her point, "Probably," he answered, "but I would still like to be able to hold you."
Vala glared at him, "From what I remember, you had your chance," she said.
Daniel grinned at her, "Are you telling me I won't get a second chance?"
Vala merely grinned.