Cameron looked at the Jaffa and grinned, "Ya think?"
Sam was still looking at the door the two had left through. She smiled faintly, saying, "His expression when he saw her on the monitor was simply priceless." Her smile blossomed a little as she remembered. Looking away from the door, she turned to her friends. "So do you think he's going to admit to his feelings for her now?" Cameron and Teal'c shared a skeptical look at hearing her words. "What?" she asked.
Teal'c answered, "It is not at all certain whether Daniel Jackson does indeed have feelings for Vala beyond simple friendship or not."
Cameron nodded, "Yeah, Sam, I gotta go with Teal'c on this one. I mean, you didn't see the two of them together; Vala drove Daniel nuts with her antics. It seemed pretty obvious to me that he couldn't stand being around her."
Teal'c nodded, "Indeed, I have never seen him so infuriated as when Vala was about."
Sam crossed her arms, "Come on, guys. Are you telling me you don't see it? It's plain as day." Teal'c and Cam shared another look, and Sam continued in exasperation, "You saw him just now."
Cam shook his head, "I dunno. I think he was just feeling guilty for the way that whole thing went down at the Ori beachhead. He thought her 'dying' was his fault."
Sam shook her head, "No way. He's been too miserable the last several months for it to be just a guilt trip."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow, "Daniel Jackson is a man of great personal responsibility. He always carries the burdens of his actions or his perceived failures as well as those of others. It is his way."
Sam answered with frustration in her voice, "Yeah, but you saw the way they looked at each other…and what about the way they held each other?"
Cameron thought about it for a moment, but then shook his head again. "Nope. Not buying it."
Teal'c nodded in agreement, "I believe Colonel Mitchell is correct. After the initial emotion of this reunion has passed, Vala's words and actions will again drive Daniel Jackson from her. He will come to prefer her absence once more."
Cameron nodded. "Yeah, I think the big guy's got it." He looked right at Sam, "I'm telling you, she pissed – him – off. You had to see it. There's just no way he's fallen for her, she makes him too nuts."
Sam started talking faster as she got more wrapped up in what she was saying. "See, that's just my point!" She shook her head firmly, "I mean, you guys don't get it, when someone gets under your skin like that, it's a big flashing sign! You react that way because they touch something deep inside of you and make you really uncomfortable about how you feel about them. Like, for example, when Jack would…" she nearly bit her tongue at the last, cutting herself off. All color drained from her face, and she looked like she wanted to just crawl under a rock.
Teal'c and Cameron both suddenly stared at her. Cameron tilted his head while Teal'c raised an eyebrow at her. Sam flushed a bright red and noticed that she'd even caught the attention of General Landry in the control center. She cleared her throat and said, "You know, I think I just remembered that there's something in my lab that I better tend to." She started edging her way to the door, "You see, I've got this timed experiment that should be done about now…" she checked her wrist where her watch should be, though it turned out she wasn't wearing one. She blinked at the bare spot and dropped her arm to her side as she continued to step away.
Cameron nodded. "Uhuh…lemme guess, you, uh, left the oven on, right?"
Sam cleared her throat again, saying simply, "Uh, yeah." With that,she turned on her heel and quickly exited the Gateroom. Cam and Teal'c watched her leave, and then turned to look at each other, grinning. Cameron chuckled and looked up at Landry, who just shook his head and smiled, then turned to answer the lieutenant that had come up to show him something
on a clipboard she was carrying.
Vala sat upon the side of the bed in the infirmary with a thermometer sticking out of her mouth. Her dress had been replaced with the blue scrubs customary for the infirmary. Dr. Lam was nearby, scribbling something down on a clipboard thick with papers. The nurse finished the temperature reading and read it off to the doctor, walking off as she did. Lam scribed down the reading, muttering to herself as she flipped through the many papers. Daniel stood next to Vala, watching the physician with a concerned expression, trying to read into her furrowed brow. Vala turned to look up at Daniel and smiled, catching his worried expression for just a moment before he turned to smile back at her.
The examination had taken a bit longer than usual, as Dr. Lam wanted to run extra tests beyond the normal checkout given to those returning from Off World. Additionally, Vala had her share of injuries, though none of them major. She had multiple bruises and some open cuts that required a clean dressing, and at least two-dozen stitches between them all.
So between all of the care for her injuries and constantly being poked, prodded, and scanned, the poor woman hadn't a moment's rest since returning to the SGC. Throughout it all, however, she remained stoically and uncharacteristically silent. Daniel had been quite surprised at how she bore herself through the affair, expecting her to start up at any minute with the usual childish behavior and inappropriate comments. Occasionally, she'd catch his gaze and smile at him with a dazzling effect, to which he could only smile back, wondering where she'd been and what had happened to her.
"Well, aside from the few bruises and stitches, she's fit as a fiddle." Dr. Lam suddenly proclaimed, making Vala and Daniel both turn from each other to look at her.
Daniel blinked, "Really, you're sure?"
Dr. Lam chuckled as she started to walk away, "Yes, pretty sure."
Vala turned to look at him with an annoyed expression, "What, you figured something had to be wrong with me?"
Daniel turned to look back at her, surprised. Suddenly looking abashed, he starting to stumble over himself with an explanation, "No, no, no, I didn't mean that something had to be wrong with you, I just figured since Dr. Lam was taking so long that…"
"…something had be wrong with me," Vala finished for him, glaring harshly at him.
Daniel sputtered and cleared his throat, withering under her stare. He rubbed the back of his neck, blushing profusely. "Sorry, none of that came out right," he offered weakly.
Vala watched him a moment more and sighed. Placing a hand on his cheek, she asked wistfully "Daniel, whatever am I going to do with you?" She smiled as his blush deepened to an even brighter red. She felt the warmth of his flushed cheek under the caress of her hand. He fell silent, unable to reply and she smiled all the more. Her eyes sparkled as she watched him intently, and she noted with satisfaction that he didn't pull away from her touch, even as the moments drifted by.
"Unscheduled off-world activation", called out Walter's voice over the intercom system, as the red, flashing lights filled the hallway and the klaxon sprang to life. The two of them jumped at the sudden burst of noise. Sighing again, Vala pulled her hand away, tracing along the line of his jaw as she did. She looked to him for his reaction, but he was distracted by the event.
"I wonder what's going on," he asked aloud to nobody in particular as he started to stray towards the door from the infirmary.
"Who knows," she answered, grabbing his hand as he began to wander away. "I'm sure they'll call for you if they need you, Daniel. Right now, weren't you supposed to take me to the briefing room?" She smiled at him, trying to get his attention back.
Daniel slowly came back, though he still was glancing out the door. "Hrm, I suppose you're right," It was clear he wanted to rush off to the Gateroom bunker and find out what was going on.
She hopped off of the table at that, smiling brilliantly at him. "Right then. All set."
Daniel turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow, looking over the scrubs she was wearing. He grinned, "You might find you'll be a bit more comfortable if you change into something warmer. The rest of the base is usually a good bit cooler than the infirmary." He reached over and picked up the fatigues he had a passing SF fetch for her while she was being taken care of. Handing them to her, he motioned with his hand over to the curtains in the corner. "Go ahead and change, we'll head up as soon as you're ready."
Vala took the clothes with a grin and said with a sultry voice, "Why Daniel, aren't you going to join me?"
Daniel blinked in surprise. This was more like the Vala he had been expecting, and he wasn't exactly happy to see her. He sighed, and shook his head, "No, I'm not going to join you," he said in an exasperated tone.
Vala grinned at him, "Ah, I understand perfectly. You'd rather wait until we're alone. I like that better, actually." Her eyes sparkled as he bristled at her words. He opened his mouth to respond with what promised to be an angry retort. She beat him to it, though, walking over to the screen and speaking loud enough for everyone in the infirmary to hear, "Besides, it's not like there's anything here you haven't seen before, now is there, darling?" She flashed him one last smile before slipping behind the screen.
Daniel snapped his jaw shut and ground his teeth as she disappeared. He heard a noise to his right and turned to see a few nurses who were grinning while they looked at him, whispering to each other in hushed tones. He sighed, realizing that there was nothing he could say to undo the damage at this point.
At that moment, the flashing lights stopped and Walter's voice came back over the intercom, "Defense teams, stand down." Daniel's mind whirled at the possibilities as to why someone had dialed their gate, and he had half of a mind to just leave Vala here and go find out.
Just then, Vala came out from behind the screen, dressed in blue pants, a black tank-top, and a blue shirt that she left unbuttoned. She smiled widely as she came over to him, putting her hand in his. She beamed up at him, catching his gaze and asked in a chipper voice, "Right then, I believe it's off to the briefing room?" Daniel looked wordlessly back into her eyes, the tempest inside of him raging at full pitch. He could have wrung her neck for what she had just pulled, insinuating that they were on intimate terms in front of so many people. At the same time, however, the hurt from losing her was still so fresh, and his relief at her return still so new, that he didn't know what to think.
Reading the tumultuous emotions on his face, Vala grew serious. "Daniel, are you alright?" He swore he heard a worried tone to her voice, and thought he saw nervousness in her eyes.
Daniel shoved his internal struggle aside. He gently squeezed her hand, answering with a faint smile, "I'm fine. You're right; we're due in the briefing room next. Let's go." He led her out of the infirmary, not saying another word.
They walked for several minutes through the corridors, Vala continuing to scrutinize him. "Daniel, something's bothering you. Please tell me what it is." She stopped in the last corridor before the Gateroom, pulling him to a stop with her.
Daniel sighed, looking at the floor and then to her. "Vala, why do you have to do things like that?"
Vala blinked, "Like what?" She thought for a moment as he glared at her. "What, you mean back there in the infirmary?" She chuckled, "Oh come on, darling, I was just teasing you."
He nodded, frowning, "Yes, 'darling', just like you always do. You always say whatever floats into your head without a single thought for how it might make anyone else feel. You love to joke at other people's expense, playing games with them. You have absolutely no regard for anyone but yourself."
Vala flinched at his words, a reaction which took Daniel by complete surprise. Before she'd have just shrugged off his protests and his denunciations of her behavior with a smile and more outrageous remarks, but now she actually seemed to take pause at what he said. Suddenly he remembered the one other time she reacted this way, it was when he rebuked her for showing up in his bed and he made that rather short and harsh assessment of how she used sex as a weapon to keep others away. Her expression was now as it was then, he realized. It made Daniel start to regret his words instantly.
Vala's expression hardened a bit and she let go of his hand, "I'm sorry Daniel, I guess I forgot about how I upset you so much." Her voice was cool, distant.
Daniel now started to regret his words more than before. Suddenly memories of the last time he was short with her washed over him, the tension and memories from the Ori beachhead surging back. He suddenly felt like a damned fool. "Vala, look, I…"
She cut him off, shaking her head and taking a step back. "No, it's okay, really. I get it, alright? Look, we'd best get to the briefing room, I imagine everyone is waiting for us." Her eyes were cold, and she regarded him as if he were a stranger.
At that moment, as if on cue, Walter's voice called over the intercom system, "Dr. Jackson and Vala MalDuran, please report to the briefing room." Vala looked up at the sound, though Daniel continued to watch her, wishing now that he could take back his words.
"There, see? Let's go." Vala said curtly, striding the last length of corridor to the Gateroom bunker and the briefing room above it.
Daniel paused for a moment as she walked off in a hurry, suddenly finding he had a sharp pain in his chest. He wanted to call out to her, but she had already turned the corner to enter the Gateroom. Sighing, he hustled up behind her, running to catch up.
Sam, Teal'c, and Cameron all sat about the conference table. They could see General Landry in his office, speaking with someone on the phone. "I'll bet he's talking with the President or General Hammond about our next mission," Cam grinned, watching the General's body language intently.
Sam glanced up from the papers in front of her, studying Landry for a moment. "Nah," she said, returning her attention to the stack of materials before with her. Figuring there would be some down time, she brought some research papers to catch up on. "You've really bought into the reputation too much, Cam. Being in SG-1 isn't like that, we're not always rushing out to save the world on a moment's notice, and the president isn't calling every other day to get our help." She flipped the page, "He's probably just catching up on some calls he had to make while we're waiting."
At that, Vala crested the stairs into the briefing room, "Hello, everybody," she called out with a chipper tone. Everyone turned at the sound of her voice, smiling as she bounced into the room. Daniel was right behind her, though she didn't wait for him. Instead, she walked over and took a seat next to Teal'c, beaming at the three around the table. The archaeologist followed behind, looking very somber, and quietly sat next to her. Sam furrowed her brow as she saw the look on his face, instantly concerned. She then noticed Vala staring daggers at Daniel as he took the seat next to her. Frowning slightly, she began to wonder if maybe Cam and Teal'c were right.
Turning away from Daniel and acting as if he didn't exist, Vala asked brightly, "So how is everyone?"
Cam nodded, smiling, "We're all doing pretty well. How're you feeling now that you've had a chance to get cleaned up a bit?"
Vala smiled widely at him, "Oh, I'm doing absolutely fantastic. I couldn't be better, really." She glanced over to the window into the General's office. "Think he's going to be long in there?" She tried to ask the question nonchalantly, but there was an undercurrent of urgency in her tone. Next to her, Daniel kept silent with his eyes on the table. Cam watched the two of them silently and then glanced over at Carter and they shared a concerned look.
Just then, Landry stepped out of his office and started talking, causing everyone to turn at the sound of his voice. "Sorry everyone, but that was General Hammond. The transmission we received from Dakara on that last in-bound wormhole carried some disturbing news. Apparently, the Jaffa have been suffering some sort of sabotage, and have asked for our help. I'm going to need all of you to head out straight away to assist them." Cam turned away from Landry and grinned smartly at Sam with an "I told you so" look. Sam rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue at him.
Teal'c sat up in his chair at hearing the news, looking extremely concerned, "What exactly was the nature of this sabotage, General?"
Sitting in the chair at the end of the table, Landry answered, "Well, it seems that one of the largest Goa'uld hatcheries the Jaffa have has been hit."
Cam interrupted the General. "Waitaminute. Did you say Goa'uld…hatcheries?" He looked at his commander with a stunned expression, waiting to hear that he'd heard wrong.
Landry nodded in understanding, "Yes, that's what I said…hatcheries."
Daniel chimed in, "Well, that makes sense, actually. The Jaffa need symbiotes to live, and I rather doubt that they can make enough tretonin yet for the countless millions of their fellows in the galaxy. I mean, we don't even have that kind of manufacturing capacity."
Teal'c nodded. "Indeed. Setting up the hatcheries was one of the first things the original ruling council did, as it was immediately recognized that as the old system and old ways fell, we would soon be faced with an epidemic shortage of primtahs. We learned much from the Pangarans about how to force Goa'uld females into a breeding cycle, and how to collect and harvest the young until they are ready for implantation." His expression grew dark, "If one of our larger facilities has been compromised, then we are indeed in danger. Our ability to produce enough was already in question. Now, we may face many deaths if we cannot somehow compensate for this."
Sam interjected, "Teal'c, couldn't we help out by producing more Tretonin to make up for the short-fall, at least in the near-term?"
Teal'c half nodded, "That might indeed help us in the foreseeable future, but we must find out who did this, and stop them before they can strike again. If they cause any more damage, the Jaffa nation will truly be in peril."
Landry nodded, "That's exactly why we've been asked to help. Apparently the damage was fairly severe, and Bra'tac is quite concerned. Exactly what the damage is or how it was affected we weren't told. I think there was some concern about security on the part of the Jaffa, and I can't really blame them for being cautious. It's my understanding you'll get more information when you reach Dakara. From there, the Jaffa will let you know where they need you to go and what they need you to do."
He paused and looked around the table for anyone to respond. Seeing all were silent, he then added, "As to Carter's idea of producing more Tretonin, things are already in motion. Bra'tac has been dealing with Hammond through Schlesinger's team, and that was one of the first things we suggested, apparently. In the meanwhile, however, you'll all be needed on Dakara."
Turning to Vala, Landry smiled, "My apologies, but it would seem we don't have a lot of time to hear your story. If you can keep it brief, however, you can give me the highlights now. Feel free to fill in the rest of SG-1 if you find time in the field. They can relate to me anything I would need to know later on."
Vala sat forward and blinked, looking a bit stunned. "Wait, you…you're expecting me to go with SG-1?"
Landry nodded, looking her right in the eye. "I'm counting on it. The other piece of information we've learned so far is that the Lucien Alliance is somehow involved. Your knowledge of the galactic underworld and the Alliance in particular will likely prove vital. The timing of your return couldn't have been better, actually."
Vala sat back in her chair, still absorbing it all, "Well, I…" she looked around the table to find everyone smiling warmly at her, awaiting her answer. She pointedly avoided looking at Daniel. "I suppose I can't refuse that. It'll be nice to be useful and needed."
The General nodded. "Good. Now, please tell us what happened to you and how you got here. Keep it brief, as you're all leaving within the hour."
Daniel sat forward at this, "Wait, you want us to go in less than an hour and you want Vala to go with us?"
Turning to face him with an acid stare, Vala snarled, "What, you already can't wait to be rid of me? Have something against me going with you?"
Everyone else exchanged glances at her words, except Daniel, who turned to look at Vala, blinking in surprise. "What? No! No, no, it's nothing like that. I'm just concerned that after all you've been through…well, whatever it is you've been through…that we're already trying to ship you out, without any time to rest. I mean, it looked like you'd been on that planet for days, and I can't imagine you got any rest then in that cold. You haven't had a chance for a decent night's sleep, or even a few hours to grab a quick cat-nap maybe?" At the last, he looked over to Landry with raised eyebrows.
"Oh," Vala answered, relaxing a little, but still glaring sharply at Daniel. Landry was about to say something when Vala cut in, not even realizing he was about to speak. "That's very considerate of you, Daniel, but you don't need to concern yourself with me. I'm quite alright."
Turning back to look at her as she spoke, Daniel tilted his head down and looked at her over the rims of his glasses. "Uhuh, and that's why you kept nodding off anytime Dr. Lam had you lay down for the tests she put you through? Not to mention the various wounds your sporting?" Vala fidgeted at that, and looked ready to reply but Daniel continued, "I mean look at you, Vala. Your can barely sit up straight, you've got rings under your eyes and you look dead on your feet."
At his comment about her eyes, Vala reached up and touched her cheek self-consciously. Pursing her lips, she replied snarkily, "Well, you really know how to make a woman feel attractive, Daniel." She continued to glare at him.
Sighing, Daniel finished, "Look, all I'm saying is that an hour's notice might not be enough time. After all this time finally you're back, and the last thing I want to see is you getting killed by some shrub from the Lucien Alliance because we rushed you right back out the door." He paused and noticed that everyone was looking at him a little intently, maybe because of how passionately he blurted out the last. Clearing his throat, he added, "and, maybe we all need some rest too, I mean it is pretty late," he made a gesture to the clock which was going on 23:00 hours.
Vala continued to look at him, though her gaze had become an unreadable mask. Daniel glanced around the table, waiting for someone to say something. Landry opened his mouth to speak, but Teal'c beat him to it.
"I believe your concerns may be unnecessary, Daniel Jackson," he began. Landry snapped his jaw shut for the second time and was looking positively annoyed. The Jaffa continued, "While you are most correct that Vala and probably the rest of us should have some rest, I believe we will have ample opportunity to rest after passing through the Stargate."
"What do you mean, Teal'c?" Landry asked, as Daniel Jackson said the exact same words overtop of him. The General furrowed his brows and was looking rather angry now as he glared at Daniel. The archaeologist was leaning forward in his chair and looking at Teal'c, however, and didn't seem to even notice.
"The Goa-uld hatcheries are all located on planets and moons outside of the gate network. This was done to increase their security. As such, the only way to reach any such destination would be by way of a ship, and the shortest journey is 18 hours. That should be more than enough time for anyone who needs rest to do so."
Blinking, Daniel sat back in his chair, "Ah." He nodded, "Well, that should work out then."
Vala turned from Teal'c to Daniel, "Satisfied?"
The archaeologist nodded, "Mhm."
Landry nodded. "Alright then, now that we've got that settled, Vala, would you please proceed?"
"Right, then." Vala nodded and drew in a deep breath. "I had managed to reach the ring platform and activate it, but as the rings fell about me, I saw the ship start to break apart. I figured that was it, I was done for, and I don't remember anything else until I woke up in what turned out to be a village in the Ori galaxy. I was being cared for by a villager named Tomin, who had found me in a field. He was a very kind and sweet man, but a die-hard believer of Origin and the Ori. He was also lame, and had been so since birth. He let me stay with him, as I had no money and no means. Given that place, I wasn't about to go about my normal ways of acquiring either." She grinned wryly to herself before continuing, "After some time had passed, I learned the lay of the land and made friends with a barmaid named Denya. She worked in a bar owned and run by Seevis, the village administrator."
"As I got to knew Denya, I came to suspect she might be a member of the underground that Daniel and I found the last time we were there. I tried to find out more, but within a day, Seevis had accused me of being a member of the underground, and chained me to the Ara for three days without food and water. To my surprise, Tomin freed me on the third day, defying Seevis. I had thought that he would have nothing more to do with me, after my being accused."
"Several days later, Tomin came home and his lameness was healed by the Prior. He was going on and on about how he had been conscripted into the army that was being assembled to purge the unbelievers of afar." Everyone around the table shared concerned glances. "From then on, he spent all of his days in training with the rest, and I could only spend my days in agonizing wait, knowing what the Ori were planning."
She sighed, then continued, "One day, I followed Tomin to where he went. Sneaking about from afar so I couldn't be seen, I ventured up to a cliff above where the armies were training. There I saw several large ships that were being built, and realized the enormity of what the Ori were planning. At that point, Seevis and Denya surprised me from behind, but they revealed to me that they were members of the underground." She grinned, "As a matter of fact, Seevis turns out to be the leader."
Glancing at the clock, realizing that time was passing quickly, she tried to finish her story quickly. "Seevis had told me how they were attempting to sabotage the fleet. Several weeks later, the Priors were to activate the ships, and if all went according to plan, the vessels would have destroyed themselves. When the time came, the plan was only partially successful. More than half of the ships were destroyed, along with countless dead. But still many ships remained, as did much of the army that had gathered. We left hurriedly, fearing that meant we had been discovered. As it turned out, similar results had been seen on other planets, with varying degrees of success."
"At that point, Seevis realized that it would probably be wise for me to return to this galaxy so I could carry news of these events and help prepare for the inevitability that they would finish their work. Things got really bad for the underground after that, with many spies being discovered. It was with great sacrifice and effort that Seevis and Denya were able to get me to a gate that could dial this galaxy. I knew that I couldn't come directly here, so instead I went to PX8-317. I remembered our briefing on that upcoming mission, and I knew that I'd find my Daniel there, I just wasn't sure if I was right about what day." She smiled gently, then saw the looks she was getting. Her smile disappeared when she realized what she'd just said, and she pointedly avoided looking over at Daniel. Clearing her throat she added with finality, "Of course, I was lucky enough to be right about when, as I only had to wait a couple of days."
Several moments of silence passed by as everyone digested her story. General Landry then spoke up, "So it seems like we have a brief reprieve before we can expect an invasion by the Ori."
Vala nodded at this, "Seevis was disappointed by the results, but he was optimistic that he'd at least bought us a few months. Maybe it was just a couple, maybe more."
Landry nodded, "well, we're going to have to continue this discussion later then." He glanced up at the clock, "I'll issue a communiqué to Dakara that you're going to be just a bit later than we anticipated. For right now, I want all of you getting ready. You leave in an hour."