Chapter 3. Purple Mountain's Majesty
Daniel became aware that he was laying on the couch and that someone was almost on top of him. His arm was wrapped around that 'someone' and he was confused. Then he remembered that they had been watching a movie but that's all he could remember.
He glanced down and saw that Vala was asleep in his arms. 'Oh boy, how did this happen?' She started to stir as he moved to make himself more comfortable and opened her eyes to see him watching her.
"Hey," he said quietly.
She sat up on the edge of the couch, placed her left hand on his chest and looked around. "Where'd everyone go?"
"I don't know." He smiled at her and pulled her back down next to him. "They're probably not too far off. Did you have a nice nap?"
"Mmm Hmm. You're good to snuggle with."
"Sorry I fell asleep."
"It's alright, Daniel. I did, too. I guess staying up so late, getting up early, and then swimming all morning wore us out."
She felt good. His arm was wrapped around her back and it was nice just to lay there together.
The double glass doors to the lounge opened and they saw Jack look at them and then look back to the others and say, "Yup, they're awake." He stepped into the room and said, "I'm taking us all out to dinner tonight, whenever everyone feels hungry. You game?"
Daniel and Vala sat up and both said 'yes.' Daniel said, "Any place in particular you want to go?"
"Nothing fancy, I hope," Sam said as she came into the room with Teal'c and Cameron. "I didn't bring dressy clothes."
"How about the Thai place south of town? Their food is pretty good and we can go casual."
They all agreed and soon they were all piled into Teal'c's SUV and Daniel's Jeep.
Dinner was great and they decided to go for a walk afterwards and they watched the sun go behind the mountains.
After they got back to the house, they all decided to spend some time around the pool. Daniel turned the lights down and they all splashed and had fun. Tut wanted to get in with them, but Daniel said his shed fur would be hell on the filtration system, so the dog stayed off to the side.
Jack asked, "What are you going to do with him when you're at work?"
"I've been leaving him at a kennel and they take good care of him."
"I didn't even know you had a dog," Sam said.
"Well, I adopted him from the shelter about a month ago. The previous owner had children that grew allergic to him. He's great with kids and a good watch dog."
"Speaking of work, I got a call from the Joint Chiefs. I didn't want to say anything yet, but I have to get back to the Pentagon in the morning." Jack was disappointed that he had to go.
"That's too bad, Jack. I was hoping you could stay a few more days."
"Well, your birthday is Saturday so I'll try to make it back by then and we can do something."
"I won't be able to be here," Sam said. "I'm expected at my brother's tomorrow night. They asked me to come out a while ago and I made reservations before I knew about this. I'm sorry, Daniel."
"It's okay. I'll give you all your keys before you go. You can come back any time you like." Daniel was disappointed that they would be gone but he understood. "Cam, are you staying?"
"Well..."
"It's okay, Cam. I know I sprang this on you and I probably should have said something before."
"Daniel, this was great. Nobody's upset with you. I think it's very generous of you to get this place with us in mind." Sam smiled to reassure him.
"I'm glad you like it. And I mean what I said. You're all welcome any time."
They left the pool and headed back towards their rooms. Everyone said good night and went inside, except Vala. Daniel pulled her close for a kiss and then rested his forehead against hers. "Was that okay?"
"Yes, very okay." She smiled and then went into her room.
Daniel stood there for a few moments watching her door, and then turned and went off to his own room. 'We definitely need to talk.'
0 0 0
Monday morning dawned sunny and clear. The forecast was for the temperatures to be in the 90's and they spent it around the outdoor pool until about 10. Then Jack went inside to get his bags. Teal'c had gotten a call from General Landry telling him that his presence was requested by Master Bra'tac so he had to head back to the mountain. They decided that it was probably a good time for them to all head back so they packed and met Daniel and Vala in the foyer. Jack and Teal'c went outside to load the luggage into the back of the SUV and then they all said their 'good bye's' on the front porch.
Daniel and Vala both waved as they watched them head down the dirt road towards town and then turned and went back inside. He shut the front door to the heat and they went and sat on the sofa in the sun room.
"Does it always get this hot out, Daniel?"
"No, it's just this way in the summer. By September, we could have snow on the ground. It's cooler up in the mountains on days like this. Now, there's an idea. Why don't we get some things together and head up into the mountains? I can show you some places that would leave you speechless."
"Trying to shut me up, are you?" Vala teased him as he sat next to her.
"Never. Come on. Let's go get ready. We'll take the Jeep. Would you like to camp out or stay some place?"
"We camp all the time when we're off world."
"Yeah, but that's work related. This would be relaxing. We could fish for trout and hike. I know of some caves we could explore."
They agreed to camp and soon had the Jeep packed up with a tent and all the gear they would need.
"Where are we going?"
"There's a little town west of here called, 'Cripple Creek' and it's a bit touristy but it's a nice place. We can get dinner there."
They followed the winding road up into the mountains and stopped at a turn off for a picnic lunch. It was a lot cooler and Vala was glad she packed some warmer clothes. Around 4 in the afternoon, they pulled into the town. Daniel had explained to her how the place used to be a mining town and had fallen on hard times until it was built up as a tourist site.
It was very charming and they had dinner in a small café that was crowded but the food was really good. Daniel asked the waitress about the campgrounds in the area and she said they were all nice but they were probably full. He got out the phone book and called a few places and found out that indeed, they were all full.
Vala asked, "What are we going to do? Should we head back to your place?"
Daniel thought about it for a few minutes and Vala could see that he was troubled.
"Daniel, it's okay. I don't mind going back."
He was disappointed. He hadn't even thought about the tourists and that the camp sites might all be taken.
The waitress came back to the table and said, "My sister runs a Bed and Breakfast. I just checked there and they just had a cancellation. I can have her save a room for you if you want but you have to decide now or the room will be gone."
"Vala, would that be okay? I know it's not what we planned, but we can see about a place to camp in the morning."
Vala knew what this meant. They would be spending the night in the same room. Well, this wasn't a whole not different than when they were off world and all slept close together.
"That'll be fine." She watched his face and noted a look of surprise but he agreed and the waitress gave him the phone number and told him to tell her sister who he was and that Linda sent them. He hung up and they left the café with the directions to the place.
Daniel pulled the Jeep into the small parking lot next to an old Victorian house. It was painted pink and purple, which was traditional and picturesque. They left the camping gear in the jeep, locked it up and then went inside to meet Cathy.
After registering at the desk, Cathy showed them to their room and gave them the key. She left and they set their things down and looked around the room.
Vala realized right away that she couldn't have been more wrong. This wasn't anything like camping with her team members off world. This was entirely different. One wall held a fireplace made of field stone. There was a clock on the mantle and a picture of a mountain lake on the wall above. The one queen sized bed was covered with a sea foam green bedspread and it was flanked on each side with walnut night stands. In the corner were two stuffed chairs and a table and lamp. The walls were ivory colored and the floor had an oriental rug.
She sat in the chair and looked around the room. "I didn't realize it would be like this, Daniel. It's small and cozy but not like I expected."
"Don't worry, I'll sleep on the floor." Daniel knew she was uncomfortable. Their relationship was better but neither one was ready to take it to this obvious conclusion.
"Don't be silly. We're both adults and can behave. We'll share the bed. We'll just sleep, right? Nothing wrong with that. I've slept next to you on missions plenty of times. This is no different."
Daniel admired her for her bravery but she couldn't be MORE wrong. This was very different and he knew she knew it, too.
They unpacked their things and he went into the bathroom to shower and change. She slipped on her pajamas and when he came out, she slipped in and brushed her teeth. Then she came back into the room and crawled into bed next to him. He turned off the light on the night table and they both laid there staring at the ceiling.
"Vala, I know you're nervous about this. Why don't we just talk. That might help us relax."
"What do you want to talk about, Daniel?"
"Well, I could tell you about one of the digs I was on. That might bore you enough to put you to sleep." He laughed and then she did.
"Okay, that sounds good."
He proceeded to tell her about one in Egypt. He kept his voice low and steady and soon he could tell she was asleep.
'Thank you, God! This isn't at all what I had planned and though I'm tempted... really tempted... I don't want to do anything that might hurt her.' He turned on his side grateful that she'd fallen asleep so easily.
Vala wasn't asleep. She pretended so that he wouldn't feel nervous. If he believed she was asleep, then maybe he could go to sleep. She turned her back to him and stared at the wall. 'I can't believe I'm in the same bed with Daniel. I know women who would kill to be where I am. And look at us. Acting like two strangers. Oh, the unfairness of it all!'
Daniel was pretty much thinking the same thing. 'She's a thief, a smuggler and a liar. And, beautiful, funny and caring. And I'm afraid to touch her.' He sighed.
Vala noticed the sigh and realized that he was still awake. She couldn't help but sigh herself and then Daniel realized she was awake. They both turned towards each other and started laughing, quietly.
"We're being silly, aren't we?" Daniel said.
"Yes, I suppose we are."
He pulled her close to his side and kissed her. "Do you mind?"
"No, I don't. At all." She kissed him back.
They started to grow more passionate as the minutes wore on and then Daniel stopped. "Vala, you know where this is going, right? I just want you to be sure."
"I am."
"I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Are you on any kind of birth control? I don't do this kind of thing so I don't have any condoms."
Doctor Lam put me on something as soon as I joined the team. I've also been tested for any diseases and I'm clean."
"So am I."
All talking stopped a that point and it was much later before they fell asleep.
0 0 0
Early in the morning, Daniel woke up and found he was sleeping next to a gorgeous brunette and felt like laying there all day watching her sleep. Her face, when asleep, seemed to lose all the tension that she carried around with her all day. Her lashes were long and her lips full. He pulled himself up on his side, looked down on her sleeping form and swore he would do anything to not hurt her. She'd been through enough. He wasn't sure if last night had been the best thing for her, emotionally, but he hoped she'd have no regrets.
He pulled her close and fell back to sleep with her in his arms.
They both woke up about an hour later and Vala stretched like a cat. Daniel chuckled and said, "Morning.' He leaned over her and started nibbling on her ear.
"Morning, yourself. Sleep well?"
"Oh, yeah. You?"
"Never better."
She kissed him and it was quite a bit later before they got up and took a shower together. And later yet, before they were dressed and downstairs in the dining room having breakfast.
They took their luggage to the Jeep after they checked out and headed west up into the higher elevations. As they were driving along, Daniel pulled over to the side of the dirt road and said, "I can't believe I didn't think of this. A buddy of mine from graduate school bought some land up this way a few years ago. I wonder if he still owns it? Maybe he would let us camp on it.
"Do you know where it is?"
"No, not exactly. But, maybe I can get his number and call him." Daniel's satellite phone had been packed with their gear so he called information and got the number. Vala waited in the Jeep while he walked up the road and chatted. In a few minutes, he was back and said, "He lives about 2 hours from here. He gave me directions and said to come on up."
They made their way over some mountain passes and along some roads that were obviously not traveled on much. Vala's ears had been popping so Daniel gave her some gum to chew and took some himself. He pulled up to a Y in the road and stopped to look at the map. "According to Leon, we take the left and it's up a ways on the right."
In a few minutes, they pulled into a rutted dirt track and followed it over a hill. He stopped the Jeep and they got out and looked around. A large ranch style home was sitting against the mountain side and the view to the north was incredible. They were at about 10,000 feet up and the air was cool, and it was worth every bit of the drive.
The door to the ranch house opened and a man about Daniel's age came out with is two Irish Setters. The dogs barked at them but Leon told them to stop and they did. He walked out to the Jeep and shook Daniel's hand.
"Danny, where the hell have you been keeping yourself?" They hugged each other as men sometimes do, and then Daniel introduced Vala.
"Hey, I didn't know you were married."
Daniel blushed and said, "We're not."
Leon looked at Daniel and grinned. He said to Vala, "This old dog never could keep the chicks away from him." He shook her hand and said, "I'm glad to meet you. You'll both come in for lunch, won't you?"
Daniel looked at him and said "Yes, we'd be delighted."
Vala, for her part, wondered just what Leon had meant. 'Chicks? I assume that means women. Well, I can understand that. I've seen pictures of Daniel when he was younger and he was very handsome then, too.'
Inside, they found Leon's wife Jenny and she showed them to the bathroom where they could wash up and then they sat down to eat. Jenny was a fine cook and she'd prepared a meal of roast venison with carrots, potatoes and onions. There was home made biscuits with honey and then coffee afterwards. They sat around the table and the guys got caught up a bit on what they'd been up to over the years.
"What have you been doing, Danny? I heard some things but you know how it goes. Rumors run rampant sometimes and they're rarely true."
"I'm a private contractor for the Air Force."
"You're military? I never thought I'd see the day! That doesn't seem like you. What happened?"
"I'm a civilian, Leon. I translate for them."
"What about you, Vala?"
"I work with the Air Force, too. In the same department with Daniel."
Leon asked her, "So, that's how you met?"
"Something like that," Daniel said.
After about 2 hours of chatting, Leon said, "If you follow me up in your jeep, I'll show you a place you can camp at. There's a cabin if the weather turns bad. There's bears up here so don't leave any food out. If you take proper precautions, you'll be fine. They're more afraid of you than you think. I've written down some things to remember but you should be fine. How many days are you planning on staying?" He handed a piece of paper to Daniel with the precautions on it.
"Three or four. We haven't decided. We have to be back to my place by Friday."
"Well, stay as long as you like. But, stop by the house before you leave so I know not to send up a search party."
They followed Leon up the dirt road behind the house and before long they were at the cabin.
"You can stay here or camp down by the creek. Either one is fine. There's running water in the cabin and a wood stove. Did you bring food along?"
"Yes. We're set."
"Okay, then. Remember to drink a lot of water. You can dehydrate really fast up here and water might help keep the headaches away if you get altitude sickness."
Leon shook hands with them both and headed back to his truck.
They looked around the cabin and decided that since they might have bears in the area, they would stay inside it. They unpacked their things and went out to sit on the steps.
"What do you think?" Daniel looked at Vala and pointed to the view.
"It's magnificent, Daniel. I've never been anywhere more beautiful. Is the whole planet like this?"
Daniel laughed quietly, "No, it's probably like most any of the places you've ever been. Rolling plains, deserts, wooded land, you name it. If you can imagine it, you'll find it some place on earth. How about we go fishing down at the creek?"
"What are bears, Daniel?"
"Big, hairy beasts that roar and can get really mean, but don't worry. I brought along a zat."
"Good, the only beast I want around is you."
"Is that right?" Daniel challenged her with a look. "Beast, huh?"
"Oh yes, not too hairy but you do roar, sometimes." Vala gave him a playful wink and he leaned over and kissed her.
"Come on. I'll get the fishing tackle. Can you carry the shovel? We'll dig for worms."
"Worms? Daniel, what are worms?"