SG1 had returned thru the gate at the designated planet. The team was solemn after leaving the older Teal'c and deceased Vala behind. Mitchell had radioed Gen Landry that they had retrieved Daniel and that the other teams could report back to base. Sam and Mitchell would wait for the other teams to return and download any information gathered thru the other addresses. Teal'c and Vala had walked away to the be alone and sat down by an old tree. Daniel had watched Teal'c take hold of Vala's hand and seem to see that they mimicked their older counterparts. Teal'c had pulled Vala close to him and held her while she obviously upset at seeing a older version of herself die.
Daniel sat down on the steps of the Stargate. His thoughts were still on Vala dying and the sacrifice she made for him and his friends to return to their own world and time. But seeing the older Teal'c's face after losing his wife, reminded him of his loss of Sha're, but also how he treated that Vala before she died. He had accused her of being a false God, using the innocent Eloshins for her own gain. He had insulted Teal'c in his own home and accused them of practically being dictators of the planet. Everything was of the contrary. Teal'c and Vala were a loving couple, loved by the Eloshins, had saved them from a contagious disease, and lived a free and fulfilled life.
Daniel had lived in his own little bubble and thought the world revolved around him and his sorrows. He believed that Vala or at least this Vala was incapable of love, courage, honor or even trust. Now he could see how very wrong he was. He had been privileged to see what Vala could or would be and thru ironically another Vala's eyes. Daniel continued to watch Vala and Teal'c hold one another. It was strange to see them together, they seemed so compatible and yet he wondered when Teal'c had noticed Vala, in that way. He would give them time to themselves and then speak to Vala and then both of them together.
Vala held onto Teal'c like a life blanket. She had seen her own death and Teal'c disturbing face as he held his dead wife for the last time. She wondered if that was her future. She couldn't get pass what the older Vala said about sacrifice and love. It haunted her very being.
"Cal Mah, the older Vala. You spoke to her while in the room?"
"Yes muscles. Her eyes spoke volumes of wisdom, pain and happiness. It was like looking into a mirror in the future. Do you think that will happen to us?'
"I cannot say; our future is not certain. But I found that my life is surrounded by you. I too felt as if my image was reflected by the older Teal'c. He had such love for his Vala and such pain in her passing."
"I…..I don't want to believe she's gone; even if it was another reality. Do…..do you believe he followed her in passing after we left?"
"I believe he would do as I would of done. I could not live without you Cal Mah. I would not want to go on if there were no children of our own to look out after. I believe that he would not have waited to die and be with her for all eternity."
Vala sighed, realizing that this could very well happen to her and Teal'c.
"Teal'c; I think I wanted to get married as soon as possible and if it's alright with you; start a family. I don't want to die without giving you a child or have someone to carry on our lineage."
Teal'c leaned down to kiss Vala on the head and hugged her closer. "I believe I want the same Cal Mah. But I sense something more is on your mind."
"You know me so well muscles. I……I keep thinking about Daniel and how he was so worried about the older Vala. He seemed to accept her easily enough. I……..I don't want any riff between you two. I want you to remain friends muscles."
"That would be up to Daniel Jackson, Cal Mah. I hold no malice against my friend. But I will not allow him to disrespect you in any way. You are soon to be my wife and I would want him to accept you as you are, not as he would have wanted you to be."
"Well, he's coming this way muscles. I guess we'll know soon enough."
Both Teal'c and Vala remained sitting as Daniel walked over to them. Mitchell and Sam watched their friends as they continued to check on the other SGC teams returning to base.
"Hey guys. I……I wanted to see how you where doing. I…..I hadn't really thanked you for finding me."
Vala responded. "Well Daniel our motto is never leave anyone behind. We all missed you."
"Really?"
"Indeed Daniel Jackson. Our lives indeed felt your loss."
Daniel hung his head slightly not feeling deserving of their loyalty.
"I…..I missed you guys too." Daniel sat down in front of Vala and Teal'c.
Daniel blew out a breath, searching to tell them what he felt. Something he was not familiar with until he met the older Teal'c and Vala.
"Vala, I……..I owe you an apology. I…….I never did thank you for saving my life when that wall fell on you as you pushed me out of the way."
Vala looked surprised as Daniels admission and back at Teal'c.
"I haven't treated you with the most respect or best intentions. Matter of fact, I hadn't treated you well at all. I…….I want to say I'm sorry Vala for not completely accepting you as part of the team. Can…….can you forgive me?"
Vala was awe struck. She couldn't believe Daniel was apologizing and asking for forgiveness. Teal'c said nothing, but was pleased at the change in his friend.
"Well, say something Vala." Daniel was teasing, but serious also.
"Well Daniel, it's a lot for a girl like me to handle in one day. There's no apology needed, but what brought on this change I wonder?"
"Well, tell you the truth, you; I mean the older you and the older Teal'c. I just didn't realize it until too late, well for them."
"Well, us Vala's seem to have that affect on people, but what do you mean Daniel?" Vala asked, a bit confused.
"I…..I learned some truth's about myself guys." Daniel paused, knowing it wasn't easy to open himself up.
"I keep thinking that someone is always going to hurt me. That I can't really trust anyone, except you guys, well, not you Vala. I could never see you as being trustworthy or honest. I……I thought you just wanted to flirt with me and never be serious about anything."
"Well thank you Daniel. Any more flattering, and I'll just have to run and tell the world."
"Valaaaaa."
"Alright muscles, I'll be good and listen. Go ahead Daniel. I'm listening."
"I can't say I don't deserve your skepticism. But Vala, the older Vala, she……she really opened my eyes to how selfish I was and Teal'c, well he made sure that I never hurt his wife. He was so loving and protective of Vala. I guess it's ironic and I come back and you two are as exactly the same way."
"Well, actually we have to thank you Daniel, but go on. I didn't mean to interrupt you."
"It's alright. But anyway, Vala was a gracious host, always. But……..but I didn't make it easy for her. I…….I accused her of being a Goddess; of being a former host and wanting to dictate over a simple culture. That she and Teal'c were on that planet for personal gain. I even went as far as accusing them of keeping secrets from me, so I couldn't leave the planet."
"Oh, Daniel; you didn't." Vala was appalled that Daniel would subject that loving couple to his insecurities.
"I know, I know Vala. I'm not proud of what I did to them. But………but I kept thinking about you and……… and it wasn't fair to them or you. I just wanted off that damn planet and I did everything to make them miserable."
"Obviously they were a honorable couple and you have redeemed yourself." Said Teal'c.
"Not entirely Teal'c. When I found out the truth about how their Daniel Jackson died I was furious and scarred. I thought I was going to end up the same way. Dead on a planet I couldn't escape and forced to live or die without anyone knowing where I was."
"What happened that changed your mind?" Asked Vala.
Daniel shook his head as if to shake out his thoughts.
"I found out that how naive and ignorant I was. I found out that Adria had somehow recalculated their Stargate to Vala's makeup. Everytime the gate would be activated, it made her deathly ill. There was no way she could escape that curse. Their Daniel……….I guess their Daniel was as stubborn as me or worse. From what they told me; their Daniel miscalculated one of the crystals and tried to activate the Stargate. He paid with his life and almost killed Vala in the process. I……I almost did the same thing, until you guys came along."
Daniel hung his head at what happened to the older Vala. Because of him, he believed he was partly responsible for Vala's death.
Vala picked up on Daniel's emotions that he blamed himself for Vala's death. "Daniel, you can't blame yourself, no more than we can for what happened. We had no ideal that this would happen to her and Teal'c of that world certainly did not blame you either."
"Indeed Daniel Jackson. The cause of Vala's pain was Adria. You have been forgiven as the Teal'c of that reality explained."
"I understand that, but still. My shameless behavior didn't help. She was…….she was so happy and noble. They both loved each other so much and now…………
Daniel hung his head and started crying for both the older Vala and Teal'c. Vala scooted from Teal'c embrace and hugged Daniel to soothe his pain.
"Daniel, I had the chance to speak with Vala and she didn't blame you for what happened. She embraced her life with her loving husband and she was loved by him and others from that planet. They knew that there was always the possibility that she may die and she had no regrets, no malice in her heart for you or us. I saw two people who loved each other so much, that they could not live without the other."
Vala looked back at Teal'c with such love, that Teal'c bowed his head to keep Vala from seeing his own eyes water.
"Daniel, I believe that their death was not in vain. They had shown you love, and the strength it carries. They had shown you friendship, when you didn't warrant it. They had shown you courage when they were at their worst. They had shown you love and forgiveness go hand in hand. There is no blame Daniel, when what you've learned is to forgive yourself and others."
Daniel looked up from reddened eyes and smiled at Vala. He realized that Vala was full of forgiveness and wisdom. Something he now regretted knowing too late.
"Thank you Vala, thank you."
"Daniel Jackson, I believe Vala and both have a request."
"You name it Teal'c, anything."
"I would ask, would you be our best man, as the custom of the Tau'ri, at our joining?"
Daniel smiled at both Vala and Teal'c and let out a breathe of happiness.
"I would be honored Teal'c."
Daniel had realized that Vala and Teal'c were truly in love and belonged together; that another's life and death had granted him another chance to redeem himself; and that this Vala and Teal'c's trust in their friendship, was the most important gift he could ever receive.
A/N: I want to thank all the reviews and special feedback on this little story. It was one of my harder ones to finish, but I think I'm proud at how it turned out. Thanks as always to my greatest supporters, Literal Literary, Acer-Sigma and MadaboutDanny. I dedicate this to you guys and all those special readers.
