I don't like being forced to hide like this. I much prefer running – something that I've had a lot of experience with lately. When I came into this warehouse, I was simply hoping to avoid those men who were chasing me. I don't even know why they are chasing me, I just know that I am in trouble – again – and the fear that has been niggling at the back of my mind is threatening to overwhelm me.

I hear the grate of sliding metal followed by soft footsteps, and realize that I'm no longer alone. Obviously I should never have stopped running. I'm much better at running than I am at hiding and now I'm trapped.

I've taken up position behind a storage container, crouching low to the ground. I peer around a corner, careful to avoid being spotted, and try to assess how many of my pursuers are here. I see four, all standing just inside the doorway. But that doesn't mean there aren't others. All of them are carrying weapons. I notice belatedly that the man I captured earlier is with them. No doubt he helped them track me here.

Two of the men call out, hoping that I'll surrender. The fear rises another notch, tension shooting through my body. I'm prepared to flee the first chance I get.

A deep voice calls out a warning and then chaos erupts. I hear gunfire, a metallic zing along with the quick explosive sounds of bullets overlapping. People scramble for cover, and my skin tingles with anticipation. I pull out the handgun I'd taken from my last captor and decide to make use of the distraction.

Peering out from my hiding spot, my gaze is drawn to the open door, the bright light, and the promise of freedom. If I were completely honest with myself, I would admit that freedom is never going to be an option for me now. They will never stop chasing me. The most I can hope for at the moment is escape and a chance to run again. I grab hold of that hope and make a dash for the door.

A man steps into my path and I pull up short. I raise my gun as he raises his own weapon. It's different than the one I hold, but it looks familiar, and even if I'm not sure exactly what it is, the way he holds it defensively in front of him, pointed directly at me, makes it's purpose clear.

"Get out of my way," I say, my voice shaking just a bit. The man doesn't move, doesn't speak, he simply shakes his head slowly, assessing me with his eyes. I should shoot him right now, but I don't. I try to sound serious and dangerous, but that slight waver in my voice won't go away. "Get out of my way or I will shoot you."

He doesn't appear to believe me, but he does move his weapon away, holding it in a lose grip before he slowly drops it to the floor. He stands in front of me, keeping his hands in sight, but refusing to move, effectively blocking my only escape.

Then he speaks, gently, soothingly, almost pleadingly. "You don't remember who you are, but I do. You won't shoot."

I should be angry that he thinks he knows me better than I know myself. I think I would be angry if I wasn't so scared. And somehow he's right. I would have shot him the moment he stepped into my path if it weren't for this strange feeling of…something. It almost feels as if he does know me. And I want to trust him even though I know that trust is a dangerous thing.

He stands unmoving, and although I don't know why, I can't imagine this man trying to hurt me. He stares back at me with a look I can't identify…something almost like compassion.

"If I let you go, I know you're going to make yourself disappear. And you've been running so long it's almost second nature to you." His voice is unbearably soft, his blue eyes filled with understanding, as if he knows exactly how I feel. As if he's somehow been where I am now. "You don't remember it, but you made a decision to stop running. It's over. Now it's time to come home."

The flashbacks come and I'm not sure, but I think I'm beginning to remember.

"Daniel," I whisper his name and feel the tears slide down my cheeks. Even more than the fragmented memories, it's the understanding in his eyes that makes me believe him. I'm not even aware that I've lowered the gun until I feel his fingers gently taking it from my hand before he reaches out. I don't resist as he pulls me close to him, and even as I hear approaching footsteps, I somehow know that I don't have to run away this time.

I slip into his office when he isn't paying close enough attention. He's too engrossed in his work to notice, but I'm here because I need to know what he meant.

"Daniel, can I ask you a question?" He looks up from the translation he's working on and I can see a flash of déjà vu in his eyes. I realize that this is exactly how I started that discussion about his wife when we were on the Ori ship not too long ago. I continue quickly, before he can object. "Back in the warehouse, you said something about how I was always running, and that I'd decided to stop." He looks a bit surprised, but nods to acknowledge that he remembers. "Why did you say that? I don't mean that it isn't true, but…"

"How did I know?" I nod helplessly. He sighs a bit. "I guess because I've been there. I know what it's like to always feel like you're on the run, trying to stay just one step ahead of the next disaster in your life, afraid to settle down because you think that as soon as you do, something will go wrong…" He trails off and I see the distance in his eyes. I move a bit closer and place a hand on his arm, pulling him back to the present. He looks up at me with a small, almost sad smile. "I guess in some ways, I understand where you're coming from."

I pull back, because I think he needs the space, and to be honest, so do I. "You don't seem like the kind of person who would run away from a fight," I tell him, surprising myself with the honesty of my response.

He gives a slightly brittle laugh. "Yeah, you're right. Normally, I'm not. But for a long time, I wasn't real good at staying in one place." He shrugs. "After a while, moving around feels like second nature and it gets hard to imagine ever staying in one place." I can definitely relate to that. Until I came here, I was pretty much resigned to being a wanderer for the rest of my days. But that was before I met Daniel… I ponder that for a moment, but this time it's his hand on my arm that brings my gaze back to his. "Vala, I really am proud of you, of what you've accomplished in the time you've been with us." I know that I'm blushing and can hardly believe it. Normally, I'm the one who makes him blush, but the honest praise and the sincerity in his voice is something that I'm not used to – from Daniel or from anyone else.

"So, Daniel, are you saying that we really are more alike than you've been letting on?" I ask teasingly. I'm sincerely curious, but I also need to lighten the mood before I get any deeper into this conversation than I already am.

He winces slightly, but it turns into a sardonic grin. "Uh – um…well, maybe in some ways." He raises one finger accusingly. "But if you tell anyone that I admitted that, I'll deny it to my dying breath."

I laugh. "Oh, of course. That's perfectly understandable. I wouldn't dream of letting on that we might have something in common." He looks both skeptical and confused, which is an adorably cute expression on him. "After all, it's much more fun to tease you when everyone thinks that we're constantly bickering over our drastically different ideals." My innocent grin surprises a laugh out of him as he rolls his eyes in amusement.

Then he pushes his chair back and stands up briskly. "How about we go get some lunch?" The suggestion takes me a bit by surprise, but I move to follow him.

"Sure. But this doesn't make up for that date you still owe me."

He stares back incredulously. "I told you, it wasn't a date. And neither is this for the record. This is lunch. Nothing more."

"Of course, darling," I smile sweetly and he shakes his head in frustration. "Whatever you say."

Author's Note: This story was both a form of therapy and an experiment for me. Although, I'm not sure if the experiment part was entirely successful. Either way, thank you to those who read and enjoyed it, and a big thank you to those of you who reviewed.