All's Well That Ends Well
spacegypsy1
Chapter Three
~0i0~
"You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not."
― Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper
Journal open and pen in hand Daniel watched the village, intermittently drawing and taking notes. It took determination to not let his mind wander. To block the urge to think of her. To worry. Was she safe? Of course she was safe, she was Vala Mal Doran!
He would shake his head to chase away the thoughts.
His efforts to focus on some niggling but familiar traits he saw in the people were constantly commandeered by all things Vala.
He'd been gone for nearly six hours and had half the amount of notes he should have. His drawings were quick and not very detailed. But he dared not move closer. Not yet.
As the sun grew lower, he packed up his gear and trudged back quickening his steps when he drew closer. Why? He asked himself. He knew, of course. Things between them had changed. Still rocky. Still argumentative. But certainly changed. Again, he confessed, out loud this time, as he traversed the rocky terrain, "Damn, Yep, I know the signs. I'm in love with her. Now what? Talk to her? Talk about us? As in us as an us? I have to, and that's what I'm going to do, no matter what! I'm going to tell her I love her. Or at the very least tell her I really like her. A lot."
~0i0~
Vala, like some car garage mechanic, was on her back under the control deck. She cursed, using every Goa'uld, English and a few obscure languages she'd picked up over the years. She couldn't concentrate. All she could do was pull out parts, forget what she was doing and lay there thinking about being in Daniel's arms. This, she thought aggravated, could be a problem. She was sure to get hurt if she didn't squelch her feelings. It was all so confusing! He wanted to talk about them. As in how they were friends and probably how she should act like a friend. He cares, like a friend. Most likely he was tired of her looking at him as if he was something more. The friends speech. She didn't want to hear it! She'd put him off until they were back on base. It was safer that way.
Holding a crystal in one hand and a probe in the other she stalled. He had said he cared for her. He'd said they would plan a vacation together. He'd held her close, hugging her. Well, he was a friend. That's all.
Slamming the crystal into a place it wasn't made for, she continued her cursing. Suddenly the boards above her head lit up, that subtle, familiar whine reached her ears and the ship's power flickered for a mere second.
Scooting out, Vala stood. Slapping at her shirt and pants she sent a cloud of dust up then checked the controls confirming that the cloak was working.
Daniel's voice called over the radio. "Vala? Either you left me behind or you fixed it. Can you open the hatch so I can find my way in?"
She scurried to the lock and opened the hatch.
"Hi." His grin was electric.
"Hey, did you miss me?"
"I did." Moving past her he sat down and pulled off his boots before looking up and staring at her standing there looking confused, shirt twisted and dust bunnies sprinkled through her dark tussled hair.
Knowing he meant nothing by the remark, Vala took a step closer. "What has you looking so excited and happy? Did you find a tribe from some Mezio Paleotic ostodontokeratic stoned iron age?" When his grin grew wider her brows dove in consternation. "See, I listen to your boring lectures."
"Mezio?"
"Um hmm."
"Paleotic?"
"Yep."
"Stoned iron age?"
"Right. Oh, wait! Did I get the Osteodonto thingie wrong?"
Shucking out of his jacket, Daniel tossed it aside. "That's the only one you got right. But no. That's not what is making me, well, seem... excited."
"Then, what?"
"You."
"Me?"
"I've been thinking..."
"Oh? About..."
"You."
Completely taken aback, Vala Mal Doran stuttered, "I... I... I... I mean, that, that, that is to say, I'm... I'mmmmm... er... I'm fine. Really. Though. Actually. I think, er, think I... I... have a sore spot. From our tumble. Here." Looking down she pointed one finger just below her left hipbone. "Of course, I can walk, so not broken. Not that I'm... I mean I'm not trying to, you know. Be... well, innocuous... no that's totally wrong, innuendo-ish. No, certainly not that, Daniel. Though it is rather sore. No doubt it's not very serious. Oh! Not that you aren't serious. I'm hoping you are serious and in a way... Do you mean that you are thinking that, because of me, you are excitedly irritated, annoyed, in your thoughts. About me?"
"No, of course not!" Irritation colored his comment as his voice rose. "And why didn't you tell me you were hurt!"
"Well, because." She shrugged. "Why are you so grouchy?"
"I'm not." He snapped out. "I'm not." He said again, calmly. He stood and approached.
Vala held both arms out towards him, hands up. "Ew, you need a shower, darling."
"A shower? You want to talk about a shower. Now? Really?"
"Yes. Then we can talk. About my bruise."
How the hell did I let her highjack my planned conversation with talk of a bruise and a shower? She's a damn thief! Daniel shook his head. "Okay. Fine. Please tell me you somehow upgraded a Tel'tak with a shower, and nobody told me. Because if you think I'm going to wait until..."
"Of course I did. It's in the room with the potty, in the bay, silly. I just used the unit from a little camper that Harry has. I forgot to tell him I pinched it, er, borrowed it. But he did tell me I could borrow the camper anytime. He's so weird. I don't know why I even went out with him. I guess I'm getting desperate. Those baby making eggs of mine will shrivel up sooner or later. Well, anyway it was easy to install, easy for Siler, and the amazing thing is he, that is Siler, didn't even get one tiny scratch. He put the whole thing in without any accidents."
Staring aghast, Daniel concentrated on baby making eggs as the words ricocheted around in his head for a few seconds. Then, with a sigh of surrender he stuffed his hands in his pockets and shuffled off towards the aforementioned room with the potty, muttering, "I wonder how we all survived before you came along."
Shoulders high, grin large, and eyes wide open, Vala affirmed, "I know, right?"
~0i0~
Still amazed by the fact she'd installed a shower, Daniel lathered up, took the hand held shower head and reveled in the hot water cascading over his soaped head and shoulders.
The banging on the door startled him and he dropped the shower head. "What!"
"One of your perimeter alarms is going off." Vala yelled.
Bursting out of the small room, securing a towel around his waist and with suds and water dripping, Daniel rushed to the control deck. "Wow," he said.
"That's what I was thinking." Vala's gaze scanned his back, admiringly.
"I need to get dressed and check out what's going on. See who and why someone or more than one is headed this way." Daniel turned to find Vala grinning. "What?" he asked. He watched as her gaze dropped downward and took a quick self inventory finding the towel riding extremely low. "Oh. Sorry." Grabbing a handful of the towel he hoisted it up. "I'm going in the back to get dressed."
~0i0~
Grateful he was in camo, Daniel skulked around the wooded area watching as two men guided a group of women with baskets and bundles, babies swaddled, a few complaining fowl and older children trotting along towards a cave not far from where the Tel'tak sat inside the overhang.
He could hear them speaking but was too far to pick out any language. The men held spears and kept looking at the sky. Curious, Daniel would look up each time but found nothing unusual. But they sure seemed nervous.
Eventually they entered the cave and Daniel waited, watching. He pulled out his journal and wrote some notes, penciling a few pictures of the people and their clothing and weapons. Hearing the approach of more villagers, he put his journal aside.
What apparently was the remainder of the men from the village hurried towards the cave at a fast pace with packs and liters with supplies hauled along, followed by teen boys tugging a few farm animals. They too kept eyeing the sky.
Daniel suddenly realized what was happening! He jumped up and ran for the Tel'tak. The sun was setting fast and suddenly the light of thousands of meteors raced not so far over his head. He all but dove into the shelter and jumped in through the open hatch. "Son of a bitch!" He yelled.
"What is it? What's going..." a barrage of explosions shooting debris and fire right in front of the opening cut off Vala's exclamation.
Several of the trees close to the opening were split like toothpicks.
Daniel pulled Vala away from the view screen holding tight to her arm and headed to the cargo bay.
"Daniel, what is it?"
"The damn meteors!" Palming the controls he shut blast the door. "What we rode in on obviously was the introduction to the actual event!"
Vala looked distraught. "Those people! They'll be killed!"
Seeing her concern he pulled her to him, hugging her tightly. "They all made it to the cave."
"What cave?" She mumbled against his shirt.
"There's a cave not far from the entrance to the overhang. The entire village made it there. There's no more than fifteen, maybe twenty. They knew it was coming. I should have recognized the signs. They've been preparing."
"So we're stuck in here?" Vala looked around at the crates that took up the center of the cargo bay. "Now what?" Turning to Daniel she glared as if the whole thing was his fault.
Sitting on a low crate he smiled. "Time to talk."
"Talk! Talk? I don't want to talk!"
The typical Daniel sigh escaped him – a combination of frustration, consternation, and confusion. "Why?' he asked. "What are you afraid of?"
Turning away from him she said, "I'm not."
"You have that look, Vala. What's going on? Talk to me."
"You can't even see my 'look' so why are you determined to make me unhappy?"
"Un... unhappy?" Daniel stood. "I didn't know that talking about my feelings for you would..." His voice held a strong dose of irritation.
"Well," she interrupted, "feelings, like friends and co-workers?"
"Nooo... will you please listen?"
"All I hear, Daniel, is this planet being pelted by large hot rocks! We're going to go the way of the dinosaurs of your planet!"
He glared. "We have plenty of life support!"
"Oh, great! We can live out our lives inside a Tel'tak until all our supplies are all used up!"
Daniel removed his glassed and stuffed them in a pocket, rubbed his eyes, then looked at her. "I need to say something."
"Fine. But the ship is rocking and too close to the opening!"
Daniel agreed giving up yet again. "Okay, fine. Let's pack up and move deeper into the cavern."
"Guns. Extra ammo and M and M's." Vala exclaimed.
"Maybe a MRE or two." Daniel added.
"And a pillow." She said.
"The usual." He confirmed and grinned.
The two dispersed, packed up, left the Tel'tak and made their way further into the cavern.
Keeping the lights on their weapons low, they moved slowly.
"It's getting bigger and higher, isn't it?" Vala whispered, solemnly.
"It's a cave." He said with a hint of humor.
"I know. I wonder how far back it goes?"
Turning the light on her Daniel blurted out, "What would you say if I told you," he took a deep breath, "that I love you?"
As though a wave crashed across her face washing away all expression, Vala's countenance went totally blank. Her eyes seemed to be locked on his throat as if she couldn't look him in the eyes.
~0i0~ TBC