A/N: Tara1 seems to be winning the competition. (She's how I pictured her too) I'll get to work on some banners and such with her. Thanks for the votes. If you haven't voted already you can find the link in my profile.

Chapter 11

Sam had finished preparing to go back to check on Vala with the rest of SG-1 and was walking down the hall looking for Cameron when she heard Daniel on the phone, and paused outside his office door.

"Yes, is Tara in?" He asked casually. There was a pause. "Oh… No, that's all right. I'll try her on her cell phone later." He hung up with an air of disappointment, and Sam smiled and continued walking down the hall.

It seemed weird to her how the team had changed over the years. The loss of Jack was probably the most devastating to the team, and the additions of Cam and Vala were also major impacts. But on a personal level she had watched them all change too. They had been through relationships, changed their tastes in foods and styles…She knew that it was all a natural way of life, but it still felt odd to see the people she was so close to change at the same time. She knew she had changed too…and things would change a lot once she was married. She couldn't suppress a grin at the thought of finally marrying Jack.

"You look happy." A voice interrupted her mental analysis of the SG-1.

"Oh, hi Cam. I was just looking for you." She told him.

"Mm, and you're happy to see me?" He teased with a smirk.

"You wish. Are we ready to go?" She asked.

"Yeah, as soon as Daniel gets his act together." He noted, watching Teal'c come in.

"I believe he is talking on the phone." Teal'c broke into the conversation.

"Yeah, he seems really into that girl." Cam told them.

"Indeed." Teal'c responded.

"Ready?" Daniel asked, hurrying into the room with his gear. He came to a sudden halt and looked at them all curiously. "Why are you all staring at me?" He asked.

No one answered, they just gave him smug grins and moved toward the small ship. He shook his head and followed, not willing to give them the satisfaction of re-asking the question.

- - -

Aboard the Ori-Mother ship Vala had broken into hysterics trying to convert Tomin, and he had locked her in a holding cell.

"Vala, I'm really sorry, I don't want to do this to you, but you're being too much of a distraction." He had told her, with a sad look in his eyes as he turned the key.

Once SG-1 had reached the mother ship again, they opened up communication and called for Vala to respond. She heard it from her cell, and stood by the door to see if anyone would come get her, but her calls were in vain.

"SG-1, this is Tomin. We have Vala, and are not willing to let her go until you agree to leave us alone."

"That's nice. We'll stay here, thanks." Cam's sarcasm came back over, making Vala smile.

Tomin closed communication before SG-1 had a chance to say anything further. He had told them what they needed to hear, and that was that.

- -

Finally Vala heard the footsteps that she had been craning her neck to catch, and straightened up, making herself appear bored.

"Would you like to come out now?" He asked.

She made a face, feeling like a child who had been sent to time out, instead of talking with her husband.

"Are you really going to just let me walk out of here?" she asked.

"If you'll make less noise. We've been looking forward to this mission for a long time, and we need peace as we prepare ourselves." He told her.

"Peace?" She asked. "You're coming to brainwash an entire planet, and you want peace from ME?" She jumped to her feet and hurried toward the control room, trying to push the pilot off the seat, but he was too strong.

Tomin took her arm and pulled her back gently. "Vala, I'm serious. You need to calm down, or I'll put you back in the cell. You're giving me no choice." His voice was firm, and she diverted her eyes to the floor, trying to collect and rationalize her anger so that she could communicate it in a way that might penetrate the way of thinking this ship's crew was full of.

"SG-1 is trying to communicate with us again." One of the bald men told Tomin.

"Open the channel." He ordered, exasperated.

"…respond. We just need to talk to Vala." Sam's voice finished.

Tomin nodded at Vala.

"I'm here, Sam." She spoke, keeping her eyes fixed on her husband.

Sam sighed with relief, but didn't know how much she could say with everyone else listening.

"Is there anything you need?" She asked at length.

"No, I'm fine. I don't know how much longer I'll be." Vala worded her response.

"Ok, we're going to send another team back, and continue to work from the base. They should be here within 24 hours." Sam told her.

"Understood."

They closed the channel, and Vala's stomach had a sinking feeling as she realized that the only sane people within miles and miles were leaving her. If only she could get through…

- - -

Back at the base most of SG-1 was in a bad mood; their brains were fried from trying to figure out a way to save earth from the Ori. They didn't even want to think about what the consequences would be for them any unauthorized personnel caught wind of what was going on. They knew that in a few days devices would pick up images of the ship. Fate was hanging from a few weak strings all tied to Vala.