Here it is. The final chapter. The exciting conclusion. Etc. Hope you enjoy it. Sorry I didn't post sooner. I have no excuse. Other than the fact that Algebra II is taking up all my time.
Vala waited until the last echoes had died away before cautiously sitting up. She immediately sneezed; the air was full of dust.
"Daniel?" She queried. There was no reply. "Daniel!" Couching, she grabbed her P-90 and turned on the attached light, thankful that it wasn't broken. She appeared to be in a low long cavern. Turning slowly, her light fell on this staircase - now covered in rubble - and a motionless figure lying at its foot. Vala ran forward and knelt beside him.
"Daniel?" she question urgently. "Can you hear me?" There was no reply, but a quick check showed that he was simply unconscious and not . . . Vala pushed that thought out of her mind. She took off her jacket and placed it under her companion's head. Then, taking the P-90, she headed a little ways down the passage.
Sam sat in her lab typing up what she could for her mission report. Or rather, she was attempting to. Her mind kept wandering. Mitchell and Teal'c wandered in.
"Mission report?" Mitchell asked.
Sam nodded. "I'm having trouble concentrating though."
They all exchanged knowing looks. "They'll get back alright," Mitchell said confidently. They have too, he added silently. They have to.
Daniel awoke with a headache. He felt like someone had hit him on the head with a sledgehammer.
"Ow," he groaned and sat up.
Vala was at his side in an instant, having returned from her exploring. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Well, nothing's broken," Daniel answered.
"But . . . ?"
"But my head is pounding." He looked around. "And I can't see."
"It is pretty dark in here," Vala agreed. "Not to mention your glasses appear to be missing." Daniel reached up and found that they weren't on his nose.
"Yeah, that would explain it." Daniel took a deep breath to sigh and sneezed instead.
"Oh, I forgot to mention that you should try not the breathe."
"Right." Daniel got to his feet and nearly fell over again.
Vala steadied him gently. "Maybe you should sit down again."
"No, I'm fine. Just got a little dizzy."
"You probably have a concusion or something." Daniel glared at her. "I'm just saying."
Daniel sighed a small, cautious sigh. "You're probably right. But I'm fine . . . or at least I will be." Vala nodded, accepting his answer.
"The stairs are blocked so the only way out is this way," she said as they started walking. "I explored down it a little bit, but I didn't want to go very far with you unconscious back there."
Daniel nodded. "Most tunnels have a second entrance so if we follow this, we should find in eventually."
"Eventually?" Vala asked.
"Well, there's no telling how long this tunnel is," her companion explained.
"Ah," said Vala and they continued walking. Fifteen minutes later, they were still walking. The tunnel stretched endlessly on into the darkness and the shadows the light created. Vala was worried about Daniel. He kept stumbling, using the wall to keep upright.
"Why don't we rest a minute," Vala suggested. Daniel nodded and flopped to the ground. Vala watched him a moment. "Are you alright?"
"Fine, why?"
The ex-con gave him a look. "Well, for one you look like you rolled through a dirt pile and for another, you were supporting yourself with the wall."
Daniel reflected the look back. "You don't look much better, you know."
"You're avoiding my question."
The archeologist sighed. "I just have a headache. I'll be fine." Vala said nothing, but her eyes spoke volumes. "Really, Vala," Daniel insisted. "I'll be fine."
Vala smiled gently. "I love you, Daniel, so I'm justified in my worrying."
Daniel smiled back. Yes, I suppose you are." They shared a tender look. "We should probably keep going," the archeologist said at last. They got to their feet and headed off again towards what they hoped was a way out. At long last, daylight could be seen ahead. Daniel and Vala hurried forward and stepped out of the tunnel. They were still in a forest, but the undergrowth was denser and more lush.
Daniel looked around. "I think the Stargate is thataway," he said pointing. "We should head towards it. It'll be dark soon anyway it looks like."
Several minutes later, they had reached a point several yards from the gate. Now the only problem left was the fact that there were several guards patrolling the area.
"Alright," Daniel whispered, "here's the plan. I distract the guards while you dial the gate."
"Well, that sounds like a good plan except that your the one taking all the risk. What if they catch you?"
"Then I'll at least know that you're safe." He looked at her, blue eyes intense. "I've lost so many people I cared about. I . . . I can't lose you too."
Vala smiled, her eyes shining. "I understand. Let's do this." Daniel laid a restraining hand on her arm.
"There's something I want to ask you. I wouldn't normally have chosen now, but the fact is . . . I many not get another chance." Gently, he took her hand in one of his own. "Vala Mal Doran," he began, "will you marry me?"
Vala smiled, her heart telling her the answer. "Yes, Daniel Jackson, I will." The archeologist smiled in utter happiness and kissed her passionately.
"Now," he said, "let's do this," and they moved away to implement their plan.
Daniel dashed through the woods, making as much noise as possible. Sure enough, all the guards but two had raced into the woods after him. A few seconds later, Vala burst from her hiding place. The two men left on guard didn't stand a chance. Working quickly, she dialed the Stargate and sent her iris code through.
"I did it," she radioed Daniel. "Get to the gate."
"Copy," her companion panted.
Vala waited anxiously by the open Stargate. Soon, sounds of people crashing through underbrush could be heard drawing closer. Daniel suddenly rocketed out of the trees and into the clearing, followed closely by the other guards.
"Go!" he yelled as a shot whizzed by his head. Vala turned immediately and ran through the gate. A few seconds later, Daniel followed her, diving headlong into the shimmering ring. About 3.5 seconds later, he landed rather painfully on the floor of the SG-C. The gate shut down behind him. Vala helped the archeologist to his feet as Sam, Mitchell, and Teal'c rushed forward to greet them.
A few hours later, Daniel and Vala lay happily in each others arms under the blankets of the archeologist's bed. On the finger of the soon-to-be Mrs. Jackson sat a diamond ring. They kissed gently in the darkness.
Daniel smiled at his fiance fondly. "Come what may," he sang gently, "I will love you until my dying day."
Vala smiled back, tears of happiness shining in her eyes.
The End
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