A Rose by Any Other Name
Chapter Three: Training Wheels for a Future SG Team
xxxxxx
"Alright, everyone listen up." Vala had her little team lined up by the front door. "We are going to the Mitchell's. We will NOT be putting our dirty hands all over baby Benjamin. We will NOT be hanging all over Auntie Carolyn. Understood?"
The troop nodded in compliance.
"Mommie?" Rose fluffed her newest fairy dress, smiling delightfully.
"Yes, darling?"
"Can I holded the baby?"
"Probably not. But we will see." Vala grinned at her husband who picked up Rose and carried her towards the car.
"Daddy?"
"What honey?"
Rose rolled her eyes in exasperation at the 'Honey' and sighed. "I can holded a baby. I got stwang awms." She flexed her tiny muscle.
Daniel kissed her temple and hugged her close. "You'll get to hold him sometime, sweetheart. Maybe not today."
xxxxxx
After putting the kids to bed later that evening Daniel and Vala relaxed in a hot bubble bath as candle light flickered around them. Daniel was chuckling and Vala turned her head looking back at him.
"What is so funny?"
"That kid! He sure can scream his tiny head off. He's such a mini Mitchell, looks just like him when he gets all mad about something." Daniel's hand moved low on her stomach and rested there. "So what are you going to name this one? Petunia?"
Vala splashed soapy water at him. "I don't know, maybe Murray if it's a boy or...stop that!" She swatted at this hand grinning back at him. He took her jaw and kissed her fully.
Little Rose Jackson carried the old stuffed giraffe, its neck locked tightly in the crock of her elbow. Barefoot she silently tiptoed towards the tub fascinated as the bubbles sloshed out. "Mommie?"
The couple jumped apart. Vala sat straight up as Daniel slapped the side of his face, and dropped his head grateful for the bubbles.
"Darling, what are you doing up this time of night?" Vala stood, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body, looking back at her husband who was peeping at her through one open and squinting eye.
"I'm tersty."
"Alright, I'll get you a drink of water." At the door she turned with an apologetic smile.
He was looking at her with a pained expression. "Go on. I'll be dead by the time you get back. Don't worry about me."
It took her thirty minutes to get Rose back to sleep. Daniel was in bed apparently asleep so she quietly undressed and slipped under the covers.
"I think I love you more today then yesterday." He whispered pulling her halfway on top of him.
"Really? And why is that?"
"Your long term plan started many years ago to drive me wild by insisting on producing your own army of insurgents to keep me on my toes is actually working."
"I love you, Daniel."
"Mmm, love you too," he murmured sleepily, his lips against her forehead.
xxxxxx
Vala dropped the boys off at school the following morning, waving at Cam as he pulled off and she and Rose hit the mall for a few hours, picked up lunch and headed to Carolyn's.
"Benjamin asleep?" Vala asked carrying lunch into the kitchen, Rose in tow.
"Finally! He's been crabby all day." Carolyn rested, feet up on pillows on the couch in the living room.
"Darling why don't you go play in the den with the boy's toys? I'm sure they will be delighted to hear you've been in there meddling." As Rose scampered off, Vala turned back to Carolyn. "Where's Cameron? Didn't he take family leave?" Vala unloaded the food and gathered plates and utensils.
"He did. He just left, got a call from base and had to check in."
Vala looked across into the living room. "What's up?"
"Who knows?" Carolyn shrugged. "It's always something. Being second in command of the base does not have any true rewards. He didn't seem to mind having to leave either. I think he's over poopie diapers already."
"Hmm, probably something important like playing basketball with Daniel. Cameron knew I was coming over today." Vala handed a plate to Carolyn, checked on Rose and then settled with her lunch on a chair next to the couch.
"Rose not eating?"
"She ate at the mall… oh that reminds me I found Benjamin an outfit with fighter planes all over it."
xxxxxx
Vala was waiting outside the school at 1540 hours when she got the call.
"I'm headed off world with Mitchell. I'm on my way to the Gateroom now. Sam'll fill you in later. I love you, Vala."
"Daniel? What's wrong? What's happened?" Where are you going?"
"Kiss the kids for me and tell them I love them. Vala, I love you."
She heard the kawoosh of the 'Gate and he ended the call. The minute the boys were buckled up she turned the car around and headed back to Carolyn's, dialing Sam frantically, but Sam didn't pick up and Vala had to leave a message. Her eyes lifted to the back and she could see the boy's worried frowns. She tried to calm down. Her phone rang and she took a deep breath. It was Carolyn.
"Vala?" Carolyn's voice was anxious.
"I got a call…"
"Can you pick up the boys at school?"
"Sure. And we'll be right there."
xxxxxx
Once she got Mitchell's two boys into the vehicle and buckled up Vala headed out.
"Mommie?"
"Yes, darling?"
"Awr you sad?"
"No darling. We're going back to Auntie Carolyn's to visit with baby Benjamin, won't that be fun?"
"I lub him." Rose giggled. Vala's eyes cut again to the rearview mirror where the four boys were huddled in the back whispering.
xxxxxx
It was Reynolds who called, "Vala, Sam asked me to call. She's in a meeting with the President…"
"Where are they?" She cut him off.
"On the Pytheas. Two Jaffa motherships were destroyed near RK4-3R3 one had an SG team on it. We weren't able to find a Stargate there so they took the ship. We don't know anything yet. Mitchell, Daniel and Lt. Bowser, along with SG-8 are on the Pytheas, Teal'c's in route to meet them. They haven't arrived yet, so nothing to report. Sam will try to call later."
"It must be bad if they sent SG-1, the only time we go…well it's bad. Why's JoJo going?"
"Bowser was assigned as your replacement, she insisted on tagging along. You know her. I tried to talk one of them into letting me go instead, but Mitchell's ready to kick some butt he's so mad, and Daniel…well he went too. What intel we did get reported a few post-Goa'uld occupied villages… with lots of old ruins, he wanted to check it out. No matter how many times ya tell him there's thirty Goa'uld experts – including Bowser who knows as much Goa'uld, Asgard, Nox as anyone on the planet…well you know - he just has to be the one! Look I have to call Carolyn, and …"
"I'm at Carolyn's, I'll fill her in."
"Okay, gotta go. I'm trying to keep things together here with Mitchell gone and Sam in meetings."
xxxxxx
Vala struggled to keep things in routine at home that evening. Jack had dropped off Eli for the night on his way to SGC promising Vala he'd keep her posted.
Rose scooped up a handful of bubbles in the tub. "Mommie, is Daddy outta town wooking again?"
"Yes he is." Unable to keep the sadness from her voice Vala tried to smile.
"Is it dangerous?" Danny asked from the doorway.
Vala looked up and knew the boys could see the fear in her eyes. "No." she lied, "of course not."
Eli O'Neill read the fear in her eyes easily. "My dad said they'd be fine, Mrs. J."
"I'm sure they will." Vala nodded and forced a smile. "Why don't you boys go and get ready for bed. You can play on the computer a while or watch TV. It's Friday night. So I suppose you can stay up late."
Rose had put a pile of bubbles atop her head, one on each cheek and one on her chin. "Mommie, can I sleep with you?"
"Yes, darling, that would be very nice tonight."
"Is Uncle Cam outta town with Daddy?"
"Yes, he and Muscles are with Daddy." Vala rinsed the suds from Rose's hair. The child lay trusting and happy in her hands and Vala had to bite her lip to keep the sob inside.
"And 'tenant JoJo?"
"And Lieutenant JoJo." Wrapping Rose in a towel Vala lifted her from the tub and kissed her small pink lips.
"She's nice. She's helping cause your pregerant. JoJo promised to me to keep Daddy safe. Don't cry Mommie." Her little hands held each side of Vala's cheeks.
xxxxxx
"I'm in." Eli sat back as Jake and Danny leaned forward to study the computer screen.
"You hacked into SGC's computer. How'd you do that?" Danny continued to stare at the computer in awe.
"Good gene's. Now let me see what I can find out." Eli started searching the data banks.
"Won't they notice you're in there? We could get in a lot of trouble. I mean its gotta be the most guarded site on the planet…and then some."
"Nope. I got some of my mom's codes. I don't think they'll notice. Besides, this is your parent's access point. It shouldn't send up any red flags."
It was well after midnight and both Danny and Jake kept a nervous eye on their parent's bedroom door for a long time. Eli dug deeper into the SGC system. Finally the three huddled closer to the screen reading the information. It was so quiet in the room that all three flinched when the door squeaked open slowly. Eli minimized the site and pulled up an Anime site he'd had waiting. Jake's eyes went round and Danny swallowed the lump of fear in this throat.
Rose peeped out into the living room, her dark hair tousled and eyes squinting sleepily. All three boys sat up relieved and then put a finger to their lips and stared at the elfin figure silently tiptoeing towards them.
"Mom asleep?" Danny whispered.
Rose nodded.
"You sure?" Jake questioned for reassurance.
Nodding emphatically, Rose frowned. Danny lifted her into his lap. "Be real quiet Darling."
Eli brought the screen back to the report they had been reading and again the three boys jumped in surprise when a dialog box sprung up. Vala, what the hell are you doing?-Jack
Danny went big eyed and turned to Eli, then Jake. Eli began to type, Checking things out for myself, darling, since you didn't bother to call me - Vala
There's not much to report - Jack
That's not exactly what the report says - Vala
How the hell did you get in here? - Jack
"Ah, what should I say?" Eli turned to Danny who leaned across and typed, Sam taught me - Vala
That figures. Stop worrying. They're all fine. There's no technology on the planet other than the beam that struck the ships. We haven't located a Stargate. Sam said the beam looked OLD Asgard. Probably some protective device. Most likely in response to the Motherships and the few Jaffa still carrying a symbiote. The team's going down in a jumper in about an hour. I'll let you know something when we do, probably be a while, so don't worry. Close this down before you get in trouble - Jack
Eli quickly cut and pasted the script, and then sat back with a worried expression.
Who was on the ship?- Vala It was Jake who typed the question.
There was a delay to the response as if Jack was paused in thought. SG-14 –Jack
Don't call me – email me…I don't want the kids to hear this – Vala. Eli fired back with a plan.
Right, how's Eli? – Jack
Good. Fine. Great. What a wonderful kid! - Vala
The best. Get off here now - Jack.
The dialog box closed and the three boys sighed in relief.
"Now what are we going to do?" Danny looked down at Rose sleeping in his arms.
"I'm hacking into my dad's email, editing the information and emailing it to your mom. Then we have got to make a lot of noise and wake her up, get her to read her email and everything should be fine."
"We could call her cell phone, and say something like one of the staff and tell her Uncle Jack's busy, but he sent her an email."
"Good plan Jake, I sure hope we're all on the same SG team when we grow up! We're the best!" Eli executed his email plan.
"What about the caller ID?" Danny said putting sleeping Rose on the couch.
"Oh. Right." Eli had a troubled look on his face and the three sat at the dinning room table trying to solve their latest dilemma. "I'll have to disable the caller ID on her phone."
Jake and Danny shared worried expressions and Danny whispered in an undisguised voice of fear. "It's in her room with her. We'll have to get it."
"I can do it." Jake stood up proudly and tiptoed towards the bedroom.
Hand trembling, Jake reached for the door knob.
"Wait!"
Jake froze at Danny's low but emphatic word. "I've got an idea." He went towards the couch. "Jake you be ready, the minute Mom comes out that door you rush in and get the phone. Danny woke up Rose, who came straight up with a shrieking cry. Jake plastered himself against the wall and they waited with baited breath.