Chapter Seven: Mitchell's Worse Nightmare.

The somber group gathered in the parking lot early the next morning. Mitchell and Daniel were securing the Porsche to the tow dolly, while Teal'c inspected the trailer hitch. Jack tied the last of their personal gear to the top.

Sam took the driver's seat and no one challenged her. Teal'c scooted in beside Sam and Jack took the passenger window seat. Not a word was said as Mitchell got in beside Vala and Daniel took the seat behind Jack.

Teal'c stared ahead, a phantom smile on his face. The others sat grave faced. For an hour you could cut the tension in the SUV with a knife.

After they stopped for breakfast, Jack claimed the driver's seat, while Vala rode next to him and Mitchell stared in bafflement out the passenger window. Teal'c sat behind Jack, Daniel in the middle and Sam behind Mitchell. They rode another hour in silence.

Sam reached for Daniel's hand, squeezed it and smiled repentant at him. He responded with an apologetic smile.

Teal'c turned toward Sam and Daniel with a tilt of his head and a raised eyebrow. Mitchell looked around confused, as Vala relaxed, smiled sweetly at Jack, who nodded and turned for a quick glance back at Carter. Sam lifted her eyes to him, and then looked away with a big grin on her face.

Daniel looked up into the rearview mirror at Jack who grinned and nodded. Then Vala turned completely around in her seat and gave Daniel a mean smirk.

Daniel responded with squinted eyes and a childish leer.

After they stopped for lunch, leaving Daniel with the bill, they climbed back into the vehicle. Mitchell took a backseat window; Sam crawled in beside him, and Jack beat Daniel to the seat beside Sam. Teal'c had taken shotgun, and Vala was trapped between him and Daniel, when Daniel came around to take over the driver's seat.

Jack turned to Sam. "I talked to Landry, he said for you guys to take a couple days down time, don't rush back."

Mitchell groaned. "That could prove to be dangerous with this bunch…. Sir."

With a soft laugh, Sam pretending to stretch, leaning closer to Jack.

It remained quiet, but pleasant in the SUV. Mitchell took a cat nap, and Jack and Sam held hands hidden on the seat between them.

They were nearly home when they had to stop again. Everyone got out to stretch. Vala and Sam headed for the ladies room, while Mitchell and Teal'c went to find food and Jack inspected the selections in the outside drink machine. Daniel was left to pay for and pump the gas.

This time Mitchell took up the driver's seat with Sam and Jack in the front, leaving Vala having to sit between Teal'c and Daniel in the back seat. She frowned, but not wanting to cause a scene she relented and stayed put.

Twenty minutes down the road, Daniel moved over with a weary sigh. Vala shoved him with the heel of her hand and Daniel snapped his head around and eyed her threateningly. She returned his glare with one of her best.

"ColonelMitchell," Teal'c's voice seemed to explode in the quiet SUV.

Mitchell flinched, "Yeah, Teal'c?"

"Please move the vehicle to the side of the road. Turn off the engine and wait for further instructions."

Mitchell looked at Jack who only shrugged, then he did as instructed.

Teal'c got out, walked around the front of the SUV to DanielJackson's door, opened it and literally snatched Daniel out of the car.

"Ha!" Vala spat out toward Daniel.

Teal'c came back to the car and dragged Vala, squealing indignantly, out and placed her right in front of Daniel.

Sam's eyes went round as saucers, Jack watched intrigued and Mitchell thumped his head on the steering wheel, repeatedly.

Daniel and Vala glared hatefully at one another.

"We will remain in this location until you have come to a pleasant and equitable solution." Teal'c returned to the SUV, stood beside the vehicle, locked his hands behind his back and watched the traffic zoom past.

Jack wanted none of that. He put his arm on the back of the seat, leaned over and whispered sweetly in Sam's ear. "I'm sorry, I was a real ass."

Sam leaned into him. "Me too." She whispered back, nearly giggling.

Mitchell's face went totally blank, he blinked, tried to mentally stick his fingers in his ears and do the humming thing.

Outside the SUV Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran stood, lips sealed and eyes flashing, mere inches apart. Vala turned her head away.

Daniel's voice trembled as he spoke. "I wouldn't even know how to begin to tell you how much I wish I could take every word back. And if you don't know that I didn't mean those hateful, lying words, then I am doomed. I can tell you this. I was frightened and guilty and overwhelmed with fear of nearly losing you. I've only felt that horrid desolation once before and I couldn't stand the thought of it happening again. And I thought that it had. I never, ever-ever wanted to go down that path again. The thought of living within that dark and horrifying place, the place where you would never again bound into my arms, never drive me senseless with your happy chatter, never make me lose my self control, make me laugh or make me cry, shattered me. If life is about lessons … I've learned mine. If there is the slightest chance you can forgive me, that we can try again, then you will save me from something far worse than death. Because, Vala, I would rather die than lose you."

She lifted tear filled eyes to his. "I knew, Daniel, I knew you didn't mean those things." She kissed him sweetly, softly, upon his trembling lips. His arms wrapped around her, pulled her closer. They stood wrapped in each others arms for a long time before Daniel lifted her chin and kissed her. Vala's arms went around his neck and she kissed him back. It was a long and passionate kiss. In the vehicle Mitchell thumped his head on the steering wheel once, leaving it there while Sam squeezed Jack's arm and Jack kept his crinkled grinning eyes on the couple.

Hand in hand Vala and Daniel returned to the SUV. Daniel no longer cared what his team thought. Yes, he'd learned his lesson.

"Thanks, Teal'c" Daniel clasped Teal'c's arm in the traditional Jaffa style.

"You are most welcome."

Back on the road, everyone started talking at once with the exception of Mitchell, who drove in silence. He'd garnered way too much information about his team and tried unsuccessfully to block it out. 'Don't tell, don't ask' kept looping in his mind, over and over.

When the car quieted down, Mitchell spoke. "My Aunt Tilly used to say…"

"Aunt Tilly?" Both Sam and Jack questioned at the same time.

"Yeah, Granmaw's sister, Aunt Tilly used to be something of a movie buff and she would quote movie lines. She had one for every occasion, but her favorite was Laurel and Hardy, "'Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.' I think that's how I feel about spending 'down' time with you guys."

Jack looked out the window, grinning, "Life is like a box of chocolates, ya never know what you're gonna get."

"Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." Sam smiled at Mitchell.

Vala laid her head on Daniel's shoulder, "Love is never having to say you're sorry."

"I'll have what she's having." Daniel kissed the top of Vala's head.

There was a long pause before Teal'c spoke. "I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master."

END - A great big hug and thanks to my beta's Mari, Aly and Sam!