Number Seven and a Half

Continues scene in number seven.

At his desk, Daniel flipped through the ancient tome. He scratched at the healing wound of his neck and Vala reached over and slapped his hand.

"Stop that. You'll irritate it." She returned to the translation she was editing for Daniel.

Surreptitiously, he watched her write into his journal. He distinctly remembered that morning five days ago when she had lain in his arms in the infirmary and they whispered words of love. When he had next woken up, she was gone and had not said anything to him about the … incident. Actually, she had been right back at being playful, teasing Vala, as if it had never happened. He wondered now if it had. Probably just some drug induced dream. That made more sense. Once again he studied the text, unsure of what he felt, if it had been a dream, if he wanted it to be a dream.

Vala wrote into the journal, fleshing out the meanings, editing his half written words. She was miserable beyond anything she'd felt before. Distracted, she read her last entry and surprised, she scribbled it out, then, just to be safe she ripped the page where she'd written 'I love you Daniel… I love you too'. She tore the page into tiny bits…

His expression clearly sent her a message of first awe that she would tear something from his sacred journal, with a reproachful furrowing of his brows, slight glare of the eyes and hard set of the mouth…followed lastly with brows raised in question.

"I mucked it up. Starting over." Vala went back to work.

Thinking she certainly could read him well he flipped a page of the book before him without really seeing the pages. Vala was more distracting then ever – in a very different way. Unusually quiet, going about her work, not interrupting him. He didn't like it one bit. How was he ever going to get any work done if she kept this up? No twirling pigtails, no sitting on his desk – right on top of his books and papers. No face going through a gambit of silly grins and loving smiles. No rambling idiotic comments. No crawling into his arms and kissing his chest. He threw the pen down irritated by his last thought.

He forced a rasping whisper, "don't tear my pages out."

Without looking up she shook her head, "You're not supposed to be talking. Doctor's orders. No talking at all until after your speech therapy today. So stop talking!"

He rolled his eyes just as she looked up.

"No, it is not stupid. You'll never get your voice back if you keep rattling on and on like that."

Returning to his work he wondered how she'd learned to read him so well. Vala was an enigma – with soft gray eyes that speared his soul at every look.

She could feel his gaze on her, but fought the need to look at him again. She couldn't take it anymore. Those blue eyes without the searing words he so often used said things she didn't understand. Intent on her work she asked, "Are you hungry?"

Not a sound came out of him. Of course not, she'd just berated him about speaking. With a quick slant of her eyes she saw him shake his head. "Okay, then back to work."

Daniel placed a hand over hers and her gaze lifted to him in shock.

Blue eyes, deep with a caring expression watched her. "Vala…" he forced her name in a whisper, raspy and jagged.

"Daniel! Stop it! Stop talking. It is totally unnecessary and particularly harmful."

He flipped a printed sheet of paper over and jotted down something then shoved it over to her. She read his scribbled text... are YOU hungry?

Vala responded by writing beneath his note… I might be a little hungry… She slid the paper back.

Let's get something to eat he wrote.

Reaching her arm across the desk she penned on the side of the paper Yes!

Daniel grinned and wrote You know you don't have to write it down, and passed the note back to her.

I think it's fun. That way it will be easier for you not to talk. She turned the paper towards him.

He hesitated before reaching across and sloppily scribbling That's very sweet of you. Thank you.

You are welcome.

Want to go out somewhere to eat?

Out? Wonderful idea.

Okay, now?

Now would be good. Actually, I'm starving. Vala punctuated the note with a smiley face. Don't forget a pad and pens so we can 'talk'

He grinned and nodded digging a spiral note pad from his drawer and picking up two pens. In the hall he grabbed a hold of her arm above her elbow and she turned in question.

With a frown he wrote on the pad I forgot. I have therapy in less than an hour. Commissary?

Vala nodded and followed him back the other way. Every time someone in the corridor spoke to him Vala would wave and tell them Daniel said hello.

In the commissary, they loaded a tray with a menagerie of food and returned to his office.

Vala speared a piece of his broccoli and chewed it, surprised by the crunching sound it made in the silent room. She snatched the pad that lay halfway between them. Damn, but that broccoli is loud.

He reached and twirled the paper in his direction and laughed with a scratchy release of air and sound.

Vala warned him with her eyes squinted menacingly. His eyes continued to twinkle but he did manage to look somewhat contrite. He pulled the notepad to him wrote and slowly scooted it in her direction. I want to thank you for staying with me in the infirmary. I really appreciated that, it meant a lot to me.

She read it with a carrot munching noisily in her mouth. Tentatively she found the pen and responded I would never leave you all alone. Besides, I was worried about you getting the right care.

Still…thank you.

Anytime. I'd be happy to crawl in bed with you. She sent the paper his way before suddenly realizing what she had written. He had already begun to read it and she tried to snatch it back. Her heart began a cacophony of skipped beats.

Slowly his eyes shifted to her, his pen poised over the paper. Vala swallowed, clear and telling it the quiet. Daniel wrote, without scribbling, taking his time. The pad skidded across the desk at her, like a bullet to the heart. I meant what I said.

Reading the precisely written script her eyes began to sting and she blinked. Rising from the chair, Vala pulled the pad along the table with her as she went to stand beside him. She leaned over and wrote What?

What I said. I meant it.

When you said what? She scrawled across the paper in big letters.

He sighed. When you He paused in thought When you snuggled sweetly beside me in the infirmary.

Both were writing furiously as if they were sparring on paper.

What did you say?

You don't remember?

Yes. But what did you say?

You want me to put it in writing?

Yes. I may need it someday.

No you won't I'd never deny it.

Deny what?

V-A-L-A!!

I love you, Daniel. I was really afraid to say it. I'm afraid to write it. I don't want anything to come between our friendship. I'd be lost …

He pulled the pad right out from under her pen sending her next word out into a squiggled line.

Vala covered her face with her hands. She could hear him scratching out something on the pad. He stood and pulled her hands from her face and handed the paper to her.

Don't ever be afraid to tell me anything. He started to try and speak, but she placed a hand across his mouth. Sitting, he took her hand and kissed it softly and pulled her into his lap. He wrote quickly I need to say it out loud then whispered against her lips, "I love you."