ALTERNATE SG1
Vala and Teal'c were enjoying a nice peaceful moment in bed at Teal'c's apartment. Sam and Vala had finished the long day, looking for ways to find Daniel. After so many long hours in Sam's lab, Mitchell and Teal'c retrieved the two women for dinner and then Mitchell ordered them to get some rest. If Daniel was going to be found, then Sam and Vala were the best candidates. But rest was needed for both of them or they would be in the infirmary because of the long hours working.
Vala was snuggling up to Teal'c. Vala had to smile at Teal'c, realizing that no one knew about the snuggly side of this stoic warrior. He was a big softy, but would never admit it, until now.
"Teal'c, I hope we find Daniel. I know he was distant before he disappeared, but ………but……….
"But what Cal Mah?"
"I don't think Daniel will be happy for us muscles. I want to believe he will, but I'm not sure how he will react to us being together."
"Does that matter?"
"No…….yes. I just don't want any ill feelings between us, that's all."
"You care so much about others Cal Mah. You always want the best for everyone. That is what I love about you the most. Let us find our friend first, and then we can concentrate on his feelings."
"You know muscles; it would make everyone freaky if they knew you liked to cuddle so much."
Teal'c smiled slightly into Vala's hair. "It will be our secret Cal Mah. No one need know, except you and I or I would have to kill those who did."
"Oh, muscles; you do have a sense of humor. I wonder why people think you don't."
"Because they are dead." Teal'c smiled, raising his brow.
"See, there you go again."
Teal'c leaned over and kissed Vala, moving himself against her to institute some afternoon cuddling and lovemaking.
"Ohhhh, muscles. I love the way you think, nice and dirty."
DISTANT PLANET
Mitchell had received news that the Ori had left the planets orbit. SG1 was immediately dispatched, and Sam and Vala began calculations on the DRD.
"CRAP."
"What's wrong Sam?" Mitchell knew Sam only cursed when she couldn't get something to work.
"According to my readings. The address that was struck can't exist."
"What do you mean can't exist?" Asked Vala.
"According to where the gate last dialed out. It's going nowhere. It's like its dialed into space and no one is there to answer it. We could walk into nothingness and be lost forever."
"Do…….do you think that's what happened to Daniel." Asked Vala, looking at Sam, worried.
"I don't know. We can try sending a MALP through to this address and see what happens." Stated Sam.
"Roger that, I'll have one up in a jiffy." Stated Mitchell.
Vala walked over to Teal'c and though he rarely held hands in public view, Vala held his hand and looked across the horizon. Daniel may have had his disagreements with her, but he still was part of the team.
As soon as a MALP came through, Sam dialed the address scorched on the DHD and sent it through. Sam's computer would relay any image that the MALP picked up. There were none.
"Damn; I hate it when I'm right." The MALP was irretrievable.
"So what do we do now Sam? Asked Mitchell.
"Sam, maybe it's not the DHD that we should seek the address from." Said Vala. "Maybe we should look at an unconventional address. Maybe what we are looking for is not in the DHD. Maybe it's in the gate itself."
"What do you mean?" They all asked simultaneously.
"Well when a tree is struck by lightning, where is the imprint of the burn?"
Sam answered. "In the tree. Ahh, now that might be an interesting theory."
"But this is not a tree Sam. How can the lightning save an address in the gate?"
"No, but it holds the imprint or scar of sorts. An electrical imprint of the strike, the last sequence of dials. Vala that's brilliant."
Vala smiled her big wide grin to everyone.
"So, all we have to do……. Sam was busy typing on her computer.
"All we have to do is go thru the last sequence the gate dialed and backtrack, well theoretically. It's a risky calculation, but……….
"But what Sam? Asked Mitchell.
"We need to send another MALP thru, but we still would not know if it's the right planet Daniels on. We would have to physically go to each planet and search for him."
"How many addresses from the last one are we talking about Sam?" Mitchell wasn't quite sure he wanted the answer.
"From my calculations, about ten to forty addresses. And we don't have that many MALPS, or teams. Maybe 3- 4 teams we can spare including us, but still, it would take time."
Mitchell sighed knowing that other missions might take priority. "I'm going to have to clear it with Landry. Maybe we can split up and search. Sam, get me those calculations and I'll go back and smooth things over."
"I'll download them and you can let Gen Landry decide. I know he won't give up on Daniel. It's just the time factor."
Vala looked at Teal'c. He knew what she was already thinking.
"Teal'c and I can go to the first address and look. When can we go?" Asked Vala.
"As soon as I can get a MALP thru. I don't have any problems with the first couple of addresses. The Colonel and I can go on the next planet."
"Ok, you guys wait here. We've got a Doctor to find."
Mitchell left to go back to base. He sent another MALP thru for the team and they waited for a go.
While they waited. Sam continued to recalculate the lightning strike on the gate. Sam looked towards Teal'c and Vala and they had walked off a little to be by themselves. She tilted her head and watched her friends sit down next to a tree. Teal'c was sitting, braced against a tree, and Vala had sat down between his legs. Teal'c had put his arms around her and leaned back. Sam smiled at Teal'c often unseen tenderness towards Vala and she felt comfortable seeing them together, instead of Daniel. She knew Daniel had so many emotional walls built up, that they probably would never come down. But life moved on, and Daniel was going to have to come to terms with losing out on something special in Vala, that Teal'c had found and it fit.
A/N: Yep, it's short, but more to come. Feedback and reviews are welcomed.
A/N: I fully accept that I need some tweeking on my stories. I write them raw and then go back and edit. I appreciate the constructive criticism. But as of late it seems to be a few reviewers who are just plain mean about other stories in FFNet and seem to think they can bully readers as well as the writers. They are also the type that have not contributed one story for anyone else to review. I know my weaknesses, and I'm willing to correct my mistakes and improve. But to be mean to the writer, just for the sake of doing so, shows a lack of their own creativity. The writers out there put a lot of work into their stories and entertain and make us think. So as long as there are great stories to read and it makes us feel good or bad. Whichever mood we happen to be in, just makes us a better muse and we can continue to appreciate those who take the time to just sit down and take a load off and just have fun reading.
A/N: I'm sorry to my good muse friends. BUT I WAS JUST DARNED, MIFFED. HEHEHEHE. :D
