127 Minutes
"May I join you ValaMalDoran?"
She was seated underneath the windowpane that overlooked the gateroom, her bent legs stretching before her, and forearms resting upon her knees. It was a position of resignation that he knew from observing her time in a prison cell. She nodded her acquiescence without breaking her fervent gaze upon the empty conference table in front of her.
He tipped his head in thanks and sat beside her, preferring an 'indian style'position (as ColonelMitchell referred to it) suitable for kelnorim rather than her dejected stance.
"I wish to apologize to you ValaMalDoran, for my part in our inability to find DanielJackson. Know that DanielJackson is a formidable warrior and that we will not cease until he is returned to us." He saw some of the tension drip from her shoulders, supremely comforted by his words and the knowledge that lying simply wasn't part of his vocabulary.
Most of the SGC was amused by their relationship, particularly their standing date for Tuesday night kelnorim sessions. They thought that a woman like ValaMalDoran wouldn't possess the self-control to meditate like a Jaffa when so few of their well disciplined marines or brilliant scientists could perform the task. They failed to understand what Teal'c knew so well, that the airs ValaMalDoran assumed were to throw the SGC off their guard and leave them never quite knowing what to expect. Such was the strength of a thief. She manufactured the faults in her intellect to always have the upper hand.
Teal'c had done the same. By speaking rarely many thought him slow, but those who understood knew he was ravenous for every new piece of knowledge, and they who grasped this method were those who deserved Teal'c's attention.
It was a pattern ValaMalDoran knew well, but in reverse. She spoke loud and often, and in a manner that most of the SGC pretended to find most aggravating. However, when she told jokes they laughed, when she teased DanielJackson they were thrilled to see him banter like he had with O'Neill, and when she spoke whatever innuendo flittered into her thought they looked at her wishing they possessed the courage to speak their minds as she did.
His interest in ValaMalDoran had developed out of profound concern for DanielJackson. Teal'c did not wish to see any harm befall his friend, which seemed to be all the woman brought upon him. Teal'c's first care had been the consistent rise in DanielJackson's blood pressure, but with greater observation his occupation had transferred to a more plausible option.
DanielJackson was attracted to ValaMalDoran. The situation presented a new and nerve-wracking possibility. DanielJackson was known throughout the galaxy for his impervious morality, and yet was stricken tongue-tied by a thief.
Teal'c had long been entertained by her mannerisms, but for DanielJackson it ran deeper than simple fascination. DanielJackson still seemed surprised when he compelled people to change their lives, but never seemed shocked when ValaMalDoran agreed to do something for a noble cause. DanielJackson saw more good in her than even she believed, but she was willing to show it for what DanielJackson offered in exchange; personal changes of his own. For all DanielJackson's protests that ValaMalDoran was having no effect upon him, DanielJackson had finally found someone willing to fight back and it had inspired him. The Jaffa believed that a warrior was only as good as his most formidable opponent, and it had been quite some time since DanielJackson had been challenged.
To see her in this state of discontent was most unusual, given the rarity of the occurance he had yet to determine the most viable course of action. O'Neill would require beer, ColonelCarter would require a long motorcycle ride, DanielJackson would require someone to listen to, and ColonelMitchell would require someone to listen to him, but he was unsure as to ValaMalDoran.
He had hypothesized with ColonelCarter, and they both presumed that ValaMalDoran was past the stage of speaking. When DanielJackson ran late she would converse amiably with ColonelMitchell, then less with ColonelCarter, but never before had they been unable to retrieve DanielJackson completely.
Teal'c reached into the pocket of his BDUs and drew forth a deck of cards. Knowing her fondness for various Tau'ri games of chance he assumed the enjoyment would extend to other card games. He reached out his hand with the deck and tilted his head to request her superior shuffling skills.
She held her hand to her side, shuffling the deck where she had taken the cards so nothing could break her gaze on the legs of the conference table. Her thumb ran slowly across the side of the dog-earred deck and she stopped shuffling. Her breath seized, and she contracted as if in pain. The following breaths in and out were slow and ragged.
She brought the cards to center, wrapping her palms around them and cradling them to her chest. She slowly slid her trembling hands to her face, resting the deck end on the tip of her nose. For the first time her gaze broke and she closed her eyes, and breathed deep.
"You took these from Daniel's office."
"It is my understanding that DanielJackson has possessed these cards since his return from Abydos."
"He doesn't like it when I play with them."
"And yet you seem to know these cards well ValaMalDoran."
Her eyes remained closed, and her hands enveloped the cards. "I couldn't sleep the night after I got my memories back. We stayed up in his office playing Speed, and Go Fish, and everything else he could think of. He said that when he woke up on Vis Uban he had nothing, not even a memory to his name. The villagers clothed him, fed him, gave him a name, and new life. But none of it was his, and he knew it.
"He went to bed a few nights into his new life, and there was a deck of cards on his pillow. He didn't know what to do with them, but he kept them. He said he's always been grateful to Oma for cheating that tiny bit more. She took them from his desk and put them in his new home. He still doesn't know why, but they were something he got to keep in every life."
She reopened her eyes, pulling herself back from the blissful memory and reached her hand back to Teal'c, resting the cards on her palm, loath to wrap them in her fingers again. "You should put these back."
"How did you know these were DanielJackson's cards ValaMalDoran?"
She bit her bottom lip and whispered, "Every deck feels different, and these cards felt the same." He waited. He would not tolerate falsehood.
The whisper grew dimmer, as if she was almost too embarrassed to admit it. "They smell like him. Like sand, and sweat, and study, and honor." With Teal'c's hand not forthcoming she slammed them on the ground in frustration for admitting such a thing.
"I knew the smell Teal'c."
He pulled his back away from the wall and dealt out the cards for Speed. "We will play a game ValaMalDoran. You have often shared with DanielJackson that too much life cannot be spent behind a desk, perhaps it is time you share the same message with his cards. And perhaps they may teach him the same principle when he returns."
She lolled her head to the side and finally focused on the living. "And perhaps ValaMalDoran, when he returns, his cards will smell like you."