Title: It's Not Fair!

POV: Vala

Summary: Daniel's not where he should be. Vala doesn't approve.

Other Info: This one is pretty self-explanitory. On another note completely: Two questions I have for people who are reading this is, Do any of you watch Atlantis? If you do, how would you feel If incorporated a couple of their characters into one of my one-shots?

"It's not fair!" I shout into Daniel's, oddly, empty office.

I had originally come here to ask if he had eaten dinner yet. I assume he hasn't. He's working on translating this thing, and can't be bothered to eat. But, he wasn't here. And he still isn't. So, I figured maybe he was eating, now. So, I left, went to the mess (No Daniel there), ate and came back. All the while feeling an awful sense of disappointment. It's terrible. When I came back, he still wasn't here. The disappointment at not being able to see him is horrible. And really unfair. So, I told his empty office. It wouldn't be so bad, if it was the first time this had happened. Fourth time this week. Really, not fair. As unfair as it is, it's really shocking to see Daniel's office empty of Daniel. Especially when there is something interesting to translate. So, really he has no reason not to be here. By all rights, he should be here. But here I am standing in an empty office feeling disappointed. IT'S NOT FAIR!

I go and sit in his chair. I let out a sigh. I really care for him. If I ever doubted that before, I certainly didn't now. Despite the disappointment I am feeling, I can't help but smile when I think about him. My Daniel.

I sit there for a few minutes thinking about just how wonderful my Daniel is. He's always so kind. It can sometimes be a problem… anyway. Daniel is kind, is the point. Another thing I've noticed is he always wants to see the good in people. People who probably don't deserve it… People like me.

It's as if someone heard me think that, (which isn't entirely impossible…) because at that precise moment that Daniel makes his appearance. When he sees me he jumps a little. I just smile at him and wave.

"Vala?" My previous state of disappointment was gone at this point. Gone, yes, but not forgotten. Definitely not.

"Hello, Darling." I say, smile still on my lips. It was the smile I use when I tease him. I'm going to get to the bottom of this whole "disappearing Daniel" thing.

"What are you doing in here?"

"Really Daniel, is it so odd for me to be in here?" I mean, really. I spend almost 90% of my day in here.

"It is when you declare that you aren't speaking to me for the rest of the day." What? When did I say that? I would remember saying something like that… wouldn't I? I am almost sure I would.

"I didn't." It's hard to keep my statement from sounding like a question. But I am pretty sure I succeeded.

"You did."

I am about to say something back, when a thought suddenly hits me. I am supposed to be mad at him. I am supposed to be interrogating him! Not arguing about what I may or may not have said! I think Daniel may have seen something on my face just now… because he now has that look he on his face. The one he gets when he is studying some particularly old and dusty thing. I glare at him.

"What?" I just continue to glare. Maybe he will automatically know what I am upset about and fix it. That's not too much to hope for, right?

"You're not mad at me are you?" He says slowly, skeptical. No. I didn't think so. Because that would be much too easy.

"What do you think?" I ask, because really, he ought to know.

"I think something is bothering you. "

"How perceptive of you." I say. Is it too much to ask that he know what is bothering me without me having to tell him?

"Vala!" He says in a frustrated tone. "I can't know what's bothering you unless you tell me."

"Humph," Well there goes that hope. Daniel moves to stand in front of his desk. I look down at the tablet sitting on the desk in front of me. He is just staring at me, waiting for me to say something. I look up at him. I decide to tell him… well… more like give him a hint.

"It's not fair." I tell him in a matter-of-fact tone. He get's this confused look on his face, obviously trying to decipher my cryptic statement.

"I need a little more than that." Why me? I really don't want to tell him about my earlier state. That would just be embarrassing. But I can't not tell him either. AHHH! This is so frustrating! How do people even do this relationship thing? I glare up at him again. For no other reason than I am frustrated and it's his fault.

"You weren't here."

"Vala-"

"I came up here to get you and you weren't here." I could feel a slight bit of sadness creeping into my features.

"And after-" I cut myself off. Not now. I can't do this now. I stand up and head for the door. But Daniel, in his annoying "I am going to help you whether you like it or not," kind of way, grabbed me. I looked up into his eyes. He finally caught on it seems. There is an annoying prickling in the corners of my eyes. Tears. I struggle to keep the pesky little things from falling.

"I-"

"You don't have to say anything."

"Yes, I do." He sighs. "I know I have been busy, and I am sorry that I haven't spent a lot of time with you."

"Daniel. It's n-" I started to lie. But Daniel interrupted me.

"Don't even try to tell me that's not what it is." He just smiles down at me, looking all cute and happy. I can't help but smile back. We stand there for a moment, before I break the happy little silence.

"So… Where were you?"

"Hmm?" Daniel looked like he was broken out of some pleasant thought he was having. I almost question him about it, but I want to know where my Daniel has been.

"Where were you before you came here?"

"I was in the briefing room. They needed some help translating some text."

"Ah." Oh. That's embarrassing. All of that upset… Daniel breaks my terrain of thought, by asking

"Have you eaten dinner yet?" Isn't that what I came here to ask? Oh the irony. It kills me.

"I have. In fact," I say smirking at him. "That's what I came here to ask you. But, when I got here, much to my surprise, there was no Daniel to be found. So, I, being the independent woman I am, went and ate by myself." I tell him as if he didn't know what happened.

"Is that so?"

"Um-hm." I say with nod. I know that if he asked me to go with him, I would. I also know he knows it too. All he has to do is ask…

"That's too bad." He says with a smirk. Oh. I see how it is. He's going to make me offer. Not fair. I don't even know why I bother with this man… He's impossibly hopeless.

"You do have the privilege to ask for my company," He let out a short a laugh.

"Hmmm, thanks. I think I'll pass, on the asking bit, but you're welcome to join me."

I smile at him before I steal a quick kiss, and then we leave his office. We enter the mess, and he gets his food. As we sit, I ask him:

"Have I ever told you that you are an evil, evil man?" His only reply is a laugh. I can feel myself smile widely.

I think the reason I put up with Daniel at all is because he can make me smile like this...

…Well, that and, he is gorgeous.

Sorry that took so long to post, I wanted to watch my way through all of the seasons first... believe it or not I hadn't seen them all. (still haven't... only one I haven't watched all the way through yet is, ironically, season 10 ^_^U )

I don't feel I did very well with this one. Let me know what you think, as I am overly critical of myself and it's good to have another point of view.

~Chiri-O