LIBERTINES AND LIBERATION
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Stargate characters, ideas or themes. As a matter of fact, Stargate can have my ideas if they want them (wouldn't that be great). All standard applicable disclaimers apply to this piece. I have tried to source any materials quoted in furtherance of this story.
Spoilers: Probably some for Season 10 and beyond
Summary: Vala and Daniel centered storyline adventure (hopefully); relationship (okay yes); angst (yup); comfort; etc.
Rating: R to NC-17 in some parts.
Author's Note: This is my first Stargate fiction. I have no betas – not even a beta fish – not even sure what a beta is in fact.
This story will have multiple chapters.
I took inspiration from Milena D's Misappropriation of Lives and a short story called Believe by Random. I really wish those two authors would write more on those two story lines.
I hope for a few comments.
DANIEL'S HOME BEAUTY TREATMENT
SG-1 was greeted by General Landry and Walter Harriman looking down from the Control Room along with the usual posted SF personnel. Daniel emerged from the shimmering liquid blue puddle into the SGC to see most of those SFs eyeing Vala's GI/Geisha fusion look. Her Qetesh wear would have been daring even for the Vala of two years ago who had turned up in Dominatrix leathers baring ample cleavage. All SF eyes snapped front and center when Colonel Mitchell came through the gate.
General Landry took it all in stride, "Debriefing at 0800 tomorrow morning; SG-1 you're expected in the infirmary; welcome back.
Vala waited for her blood work still wrapped in Daniel's jacket while Sam went to Vala's quarters to retrieve some clothes.
"Here you go," Sam said handing Vala some clothes.
"Thanks," Vala said wearily, she got up, removed Daniel's jacket off revealing the whole Qetesh goddess ensemble to Sam for the first time. "Oh my God!" Sam gasped.
"Yup, Qetesh liked to make a statement." Vala stated the obvious.
She took the clothes from Sam and then looked down at her sheer gold encased body, "guess I won't live this down around here for awhile."
Sam laughed, 'Well those SF's seemed pretty intrigued.
Vala had shut the door to the bathroom when Sam heard a groan. There was a full length mirror in the bathroom. Vala opened the bathroom door back up and Sam saw she had taken a look at her whole Qetesh remake in the mirror. Vala had a half smirk, half serious look on her face, "You know Daniel's NOT going to be able to handle this whole sex goddess for a day thing – I'll be lucky to see him for at least two weeks."
Vala went back into the bathroom to change and reemerged in a black t-shirt and green BDU pants. She began gathering her hair into pig tails, but she still had on the thick exotic Egyptian make up with the heavily black lined eyes. With the pig tails up, Vala looked like an Egyptian teen queen, and Sam had to laugh.
"What?" Vala asked.
There was a knock on the infirmary room door, "we're decent," Vala responded.
Cam, Teal'c and Daniel entered the room. Cam immediately started laughing, "That's quite a look Princess." Daniel and Sam were also laughing and even Teal'c was smiling.
"Ha, Ha," Vala folded her arms over her chest and shrugged, "trust me, I've had enough experience with this stuff" she motioned to her face, "to know that you don't start trying to get it off without the proper product."
Daniel was struck that Vala's innocuous comment was one of the only times she had ever discussed anything related to her experiences as Qetesh. She never brought Qetesh up unless it was absolutely necessary and directly related to a specific mission goal. Vala just didn't talk about being host to Qetesh. A shiver went down Daniel's back.
Dr. Lam knocked at the door, "Vala?" As Dr. Lam entered and took in Vala's new hairdo, a big smile crossed her face. Dr. Lam was carrying a small suture kit and disinfectant for Vala's foot.
Vala hopped on the bed and extended her foot. As Dr. Lam worked, she said, "Your blood tests show that you were definitely subjected to a strong narcoleptic, we're still trying to isolate the compound. Was anyone with you when you came to?"
Daniel raised his hand.
I'd been with the pilgrims for at least two hours before someone decided they weren't getting anywhere and jabbed me with a ring, I felt woozy pretty soon after that," Vala said, "the next thing I remembered was waking up with Daniel made up like Qetesh." Daniel suddenly reddened at the memory of Vala on his lap and looked down. Vala stopped herself from flinching as Dr. Lam applied the disinfectant.
"Daniel did you notice any shivering or seizures while Vala was unconscious." Carolyn asked.
"Yeah, she was shivering pretty violently, I thought she was just cold, and she seemed to calm down once I warmed her up." Daniel said awkwardly as the rest of SG-1 smirked. "She mostly she just slept after that, but she did have a couple of bouts of shivering and almost panic." Daniel said.
This time Vala looked down, she didn't want to talk about this stuff. She often had panic attacks when she fell into deep sleep, mostly when she was exhausted. She doubted it was an effect of the drug.
"And when she woke?" Carolyn asked.
"She was disoriented, dizzy and shaky. She settled down after about 15 minutes though standing was a problem for a while. But once we got her up on her feet she's seemed alright, maybe a little more ditzy than usual though" Daniel grinned at her.
"Well thank you very much; I still managed to get your sorry butt out of that temple Daniel." Vala scrunched her face up at Daniel.
"Anyhoo, she's been a bit wobbly here and there." Daniel said ignoring Vala.
"Yup, sounds about right, other than that ditzy crack." Vala said with a nod, "I feel fine now, just really tired and sleepy, though I don't think I'm alone there right?"
"No not alone there," Cam said with a big grin.
"Well Vala I hate to tell you this, but I don't want you sleeping longer than a two hour stretch until this stuff is out of your system. We don't know what the base of the narcoleptic used on you was; our best guess is it will be in your system in excessive amounts for another 12 to 18 hours." Dr. Lam explained. "I'm afraid you'll need to stay in the infirmary" at the scowl on Vala's face, Dr. Lam quickly added, "unless there's someone who can make sure you're awake for 20 minutes, every 2 or 3 hours."
Vala groaned, "I hate the infirmary. Look, I'll just stay awake, believe me I'm an expert on doing that."
"I'll watch her," Daniel was surprised to hear himself offer, "She can nap on the lab couch while I translate these items I brought back from Quotan. I'll probably have some questions for her anyway."
"And what about you -- you need some sleep don't you?" Vala looked at Daniel skeptically.
"I'm over the edge – wired now. I'll be up for hours." Daniel said honestly.
Vala was surprised that Daniel had just offered to stay with her. She thought for sure he'd be running the opposite direction after what happened on Quotan.
"Are you sure Daniel?" Vala asked cautiously.
"Yeah, I'm the logical choice anyway, since I was the one who watched you last night." Daniel said before he saw Cam smirk.
"Well fine, I'd probably end up on your couch anyway." Vala said (noticing smirks on all her teammates' faces).
Vala smiled at Carolyn, "Carolyn, you're a lovely person, but I prefer you in a social setting not in your infirmary – no offense. Yeah! No infirmary! But speaking of social, Cameron's birthday is next week and we're going to that Country Western rib place he loves so much, do you think you might come along and add another female singer for the Karaoke?" Vala gave Cam a sly look. Cam just looked down at the floor.
Carolyn smiled, flattered, "That sounds like fun, are you sure you wouldn't mind me crashing your party Colonel Mitchell?"
Cam looked at Carolyn with a big smile, "The more the merrier; you should definitely come. We can even pick you up." Then, Cam looked over at Vala as if she'd just given him the best gift he'd ever received.
"Okay, that's settled then. Details to follow." Vala smiled with innocent eyes.
"Daniel contact the infirmary if you have a problem waking her up, I want to know about it."
"Vala, no sitting down when you're alone got that?" Carolyn warned.
"Come on Cleopatra," Daniel told Vala walking her out of the infirmary.
"I'll meet you at your lab; I have to stop at my quarters." Vala said.
"What do you need?" Daniel asked.
"Actually, I want to take a shower, I smell of Qetesh's perfume," Vala said and Daniel saw her repress a look of revulsion. "More importantly, I want to try to get this stuff off my face. Look Daniel I'll be fine. You don't have to come with me." Vala said with a smirk knowing the thought of being in her quarters, the lair of the evil seductress, while she showered would send him over the edge.
"You heard Dr. Lam." Daniel scolded, "I'll see if Sam can stay with you."
"Sam left with Cam. Jack's here. Didn't you know?" Vala smirked.
"Yeah, just slipped my mind," Daniel whispered, "she told you about Jack?"
"Not in any great detail, but yeah." Vala whispered back.
"Well who else would you be comfortable with Cleo?" Daniel asked and pulled a pig tail.
Vala was not one for pussy footing around an issue and said plainly, "Daniel, I just spent the better part of an evening practically naked sitting in your lap. I guess I'm comfortable with you." Vala laughed at him. "I just assumed you were the one that was uncomfortable with entering the lair of the evil seductress." She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you saying I shouldn't trust you?" Daniel said with his hands in his pockets and both his eyebrows rising.
"I make no guarantees." Vala winked at him, "I have a reputation to uphold so you'll just have to take your chances, or let me go by myself, and I'm fine with that too."
"Let's just get this over with." Daniel huffed.
Vala slid the access card to open the door to her quarters. Daniel noted that her quarters were neat and decorated sparsely, though each piece seemed exotic. He was itching to ask Vala about some of them. He noticed an intricately carved set of hair combs on her dressing table; they were made of a shiny white substance with a pinkish tint that Daniel had never seen before.
"Make yourself at home, such as it is. I'll try to be quick." Vala said as she grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom. Daniel walked over to the dresser and picked up the carved combs. To his surprise the back was inscribed to Vala in a language that appeared to be have roots in Etruscan, Latin and Gaelic French, Daniel's rough translation without more information was, "You are my greatest glory. The Ballo en pointe en guarde my heritage born within you destined to emerge to light bright your fire and inspire all. My warrior is within you and you are born to defend all." Love, Mere."
Daniel's brows furrowed at the emergence of this intriguing mystery about Vala's past. What could "Ballo en pointe en guarde" refer to? He knew that "Ballo" was an Italian term for Ballet. And, "en pointe" a French term for dancing on the toes. "En Guarde" was a fencing term used during a fight to mark the beginning of swordplay. He assumed it must be some dance, perhaps ritual. "Mere was the French word for mother. He was dying to ask Vala about the inscription, but didn't want to admit to snooping on her dresser.
Daniel heard some rustling in the bathroom; and then a load groan. He heard the bathroom door and turned quickly away from the dresser, feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, as Vala emerged.
"I was afraid of this!" Vala pouted holding make up removing cloths in hand, she had her hair wrapped away from her face in a large stretchy head band.
"What?" Daniel said with a furrowed brow.
"This stuff isn't make up." Vala said pointing to her face. "It's some sort of skin dyes -- Qetesh favored them."
"So you'll look like Cleopatra permanently?" Daniel teased.
"Daniel, I know this doesn't seem like a big deal to you, but I seem to remember Qetesh's method of removing this crap required recovery time in the sarcophagus." Vala whined terribly unhappy.
"Hmm, I think it suits you." Daniel teased again, "Although General Landry will probably insist no more off base excursions."
"He wouldn't! I'll leave!" Vala said miserably. Daniel started a little surprised at the vehemence of her reaction. He hadn't heard her say anything about leaving the SGC since she thought she had failed her psych evaluation.
"Well . . ., if you really don't like it . . . , I may be able to help you take it off." Daniel smirked.
"How?" Vala asked looking up at him through adorably miserable exotic eyes.
"Oh, I have been known to study an Egyptian culture or two." Daniel said cryptically.
"Are you saying you know how to get this stuff off?" Vala asked with wide eyes.
"May . . . be," Daniel teased, "Go take your shower and I'll see what I can do."
"Oh Daniel, did I ever tell you how great it is to know someone as brilliant as you?" She smiled and headed back into the bathroom.
He grabbed her access card and headed down the hall to his own quarters which weren't very far. Vala's quarters were the same ones she had originally been assigned when they were linked by the bracelets. He did a quick reference check that he verified on the computer in his quarters.
From there Daniel headed to the commissary and grabbed an odd assortment of items, cigarettes that he bummed off of the cook; olive oil; salt; lemons; yogurt, raw eggs and peanut butter. He asked the kitchen staff for a bowl and mixing spoon as well as some vanilla ice cream. While he was at it, he grabbed a couple of sandwiches and cups of coffee. He was hungry and Vala was always hungry.
Daniel was gone about fifteen minutes. As he opened the door of Vala's quarters, he heard John Coltrane's Equinox playing from Vala's I-Pod boom box. The shower was no longer running. In fact, there wasn't any noise from the bathroom.
Daniel knocked. "Vala?" She didn't answer, so he knocked again, "Vala?" When there was still no answer, Daniel opened the door and found Vala perched on the edge of the tub, she was wearing a white cotton camisole and pajama pants. Her long black hair was wet and hanging down around her, wetting her camisole wherever it touched. There was a comb lying loosely in her hand. She looked like a wet, sleeping Cleopatra. She looked like a little girl who had been playing dress up at bath time.
Daniel smiled at the sight and gently shook Vala. "Vala." Daniel said in a normal tone of voice.
"Sorry!" Vala started, "I'm awake."
"Uh, huh." Daniel smirked. Here he said, handing Vala a cup of coffee and taking the other one himself. Vala sat down the comb and took the coffee.
"Thanks. What's all that Daniel?"
"That's your make up remover." Daniel grinned, "Or it will be."
"It's making me hungry" Vala said.
"What a complete shock." Daniel mimicked the tone of voice he had heard her use when uttering that same phrase. "Here," he said handing her a sandwich and picking up the comb.
Watching Daniel move to sit beside her on the edge of the bathtub, Vala said, "Daniel, I appreciate this, but you don't have to do that."
"It's better to get this done quickly before the ice cream melts."
"Ice cream?" Vala smiled.
"That's to put on your face, not to eat." Daniel chided.
"Oh Daniel, I quite like your beauty salon." Vala teased.
Daniel had turned Vala slightly away from him and began to move the comb slowly through her long hair. He picked up a plait of wet hair and began at the end, working his way up, running his fingers down the plait with the comb following his hand. Daniel took a big breath in smelling the scent of her shampoo, her hair smelled of coconut oil.
Vala grinned at him, "Daniel are you smelling my hair?" she teased him.
Daniel sputtered, "No, it was cold on that planet, I think my sinuses are acting up."
"Oh, sorry to hear that," Vala said with mock sympathy in a voice that sounded like he wasn't fooling her. He was being so lovely to her that she decided to go easy on him and change the subject, "I love John Coltrane, this is beautiful don't you think?" Vala said in her alien drawl.
"Where did you learn about Coltrane Vala?" Daniel asked curiously.
"Ummm, I think one of the Airmen was listening to something and I asked what it was. But this piece is actually off your Coltrane CD." Vala admitted sheepishly as if she were confessing some great secret.
"Hmmm, a confession of snooping?" Daniel sounded stern, but he had leaned forward so she saw he was grinning. "Well you're too late, I know all about you snooping through my music."
"I'd hardly call it snooping Daniel, there was enough dust on those CDs to qualify them as an artifact."
Daniel chuckled at that.
"Do you ever turn on that CD player if I'm not there Daniel? Besides I assure you I ripped them into your music library and then onto my I-pod. Your precious CDs have all been returned to their original pre-dig site." Vala said nervously.
"Hey, I . . . didn't mean it like that Vala," Daniel said, "besides, I'm enjoying rediscovering my music through your eyes or I guess that would be ears. Not to mention I have an I-Tunes account I didn't even know I needed." Daniel pulled her hair.
"Well, I didn't have the right information for one of my own darling. And, I paid you back Daniel. Besides, all the music is on your computer if you want to listen to it." Vala pleaded silently for him not to be angry.
Daniel put a hand on her shoulder, and leaned in to her ear, "I know Vala. It's fine. I'm messing with you. And I must say it is rather bizarrely fascinating to see what will turn up on MY library, though I'm not sure Rhianna and Kat Deluna should be on a grown man's music library."
Vala shrugged, "then you must not dance around when you're alone! You should try it Daniel, music is a great release, not as good as sex, but for those who choose a monastic life, music is the way to go. Exploring Tau'ri music is wonderful!"
Daniel ignored her jibe about being a monk and smiled at her enthusiasm. He picked up the last plait of her hair and started to comb it.
"Daniel, maybe you missed your calling, you should have a salon." Vala teased.
"I used to do this for my wife." Daniel said quietly.
"You loved your wife very deeply." Vala stated it as a declaration and not a question and then added, with a sigh, "My mother used to do this for me."
"Hmmm," Daniel said, he didn't know why he had brought up Sha're. He didn't really want to think about her right now. He was intoxicated by having Vala's long thick hair in his hands; intoxicated by having more than just memories to fill his senses with, "you don't talk about your mother or your life much."
"That's the black kettle calling to its mate." Vala said.
"Do you mean, the pot calling the kettle black?" Daniel pulled her hair a little with a grin at her attempt at another American slang.
"Yes, that's it."
He finished combing her hair, and felt a loss as he moved away from her.
Vala had opened the ice cream and scooped some out on her finger and into her mouth.
"Not for eating Vala." Daniel scolded, "Put it on your face."
"What? Daniel, are you messing with me?" Vala looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Trust Me. I wouldn't mess with a woman about looking like a Steve Martin back up singer." Daniel laughed.
"What?" Vala scrunched her nose up.
"Never mind," Daniel maybe he'd see if he could find Steve Martin's King Tut on the internet, but Vala probably didn't need any reminders of being painted like Qetesh.
Daniel took a big handful of slightly softened ice cream and gently slathered it on Vala's face. "Trust me!"
Vala shrugged, dug her hand into the ice cream, saying "cold and squishy, and covered her face.
"Why am I wearing my dessert Daniel?" Vala asked.
"According to my research, the Egyptian method of skin dye removal involved waiting for the coldest part of the day and placing the face in milk." I think the idea had to do with working the acids from the milk into the skin without opening the pours." The milk acids provide some sloughing of skin and dyes.
Vala had slid to the floor and was leaning against the tub. She watched as Daniel tore open cigarettes, and used the spoon to squish the tobacco adding lemon juice, oil and the remaining ingredients until he had made a mushy, oily mask.
He turned on the water, handed Vala a washcloth and commanded, "Wash your face."
Vala did as he instructed. "Okay now put the new mix on."
"That looks disgusting Daniel." Vala protested.
"So you want to continue like Cleopatra then?" Daniel told her in a bit of a bratty voice.
"Fine!" Vala said as she put the disgusting mixture on her face. "It kind of tingles and burns," Vala stated.
"Ah what price beauty," Daniel quipped.
"You have no idea my Daniel, no idea."
"So what's this do?" Vala asked with a look that said she was rather disgusted with Daniel's knowledge base right now.
"Oh nothing, I just wanted to see if I could get you to do it." Daniel teased.
Vala tried to swat him, but she couldn't see.
"Actually, this has different acids that neutralize the dyes. If I'm right, the dye will be significantly faded." Daniel lectured.
"I hope you're right Daniel." Vala said a little anxious again.
To distract her, Daniel said, "You know that was a nice thing you did inviting Dr. Lam along to Cam's birthday. This is a hard place to make friends especially if you're General Landry's daughter."
Vala laughed at him, "making friends will not be Carolyn's problem darling. Cameron wants to be her friend." Vala tried to wink, but remembered the goo on her face and grimaced. This is really disgusting Daniel."
"Are you saying that invitation to Dr. Lam was your attempt at match making! Here I'm giving you credit for being sweet, and you're meddling." Daniel said, but he was only slightly serious.
"Excuse me, did you SEE Cameron's face. He was thrilled. And believe me, Carolyn is a lot more fun than Amy, the Kansas cure for insomnia."
"Oh so you're meddling is crossing state lines now." Daniel said, but he couldn't contain a grin.
After about fifteen minutes, Daniel said, "Okay wash your face." Daniel grabbed Vala's hand and pulled her off the floor and led her to the sink. When she had cleaned the goo off, her face looked almost normal. The dyes had significantly faded.
"Wow thank you Daniel!" Vala exclaimed, unable to contain herself she gave Daniel a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, before capering about, obviously thrilled to escape her sentence as a permanent novelty act.
Daniel was laughing, rubbing his cheek where Vala had kissed him. "I think we'll need to repeat the process, but it can wait until tomorrow, Okay."
Vala nodded her head as she slipped a sweatshirt on and started looking for shoes. Then she looked up and said, "Thank you Daniel." Standing there with wet hair and no make up, she looked at him with such appreciation. "Thank you for finding me today. It was so creepy being back in that temple with those people." She had started gasping a bit, but stopped herself looking down for a moment and gaining control. "Thank you for everything Daniel," Vala said not looking at him, but grasping his arm for a moment before moving away.
Daniel couldn't speak for a moment, her words and eyes – she'd looked so sincere, so appreciative that it almost took his breath away.