Number Thirteen: Duly Noted
If you are reading this note then I must be dead. Or missing and probably dead. I wanted you to know I love you, Daniel. I mean that sincerely. I'm in love with you. I wish I was standing right there as you read this so I could say it out loud. I love you. –there was a littleheart drawn before her elaborate signature, Vala.
He'd received it less than an hour ago. Teal'c had placed it on his desk, bowed and left without a word.
He got up and paced the room, the note clutched in his fist. He never stood a chance. Not from the minute she removed that damned Super Soldier helmet on the Prometheus and not when she walked back into his life in that crazy leather outfit. And certainly not through the whole bracelet escapade, and most of all not when the Ori had burned her and he held her in his arms thinking he had lost her for good. He stopped and looked around his office, missing her. Then there was the time he thought he'd lost her at the Beachhead incident. He shook his head sadly to clear his thoughts. All that loss seemed insignificant now.
He studied the note with a smile, carefully folding it; he slipped it into his pocked and left his office. He wandered dazed down the hall. Nobody said a word to him as he made his way towards her quarters. He sighed.
He loved her too. Had for some time, but he'd held it all inside. Not much he could do about that now. At her door, he hesitated. He blew out a noisy breath, dropped his head to his chest and sighed again. He raised his hand, knocked on the door, slammed his hands in his pockets and waited.
The door creaked open slowly. She was standing there with a mischievous grin wearing that bizarre leather outfit she'd worn the first time she came through the Stargate to SGC.
"I knew that would get you here! And I meant every word of it, too. I'm thinking we should just start all over again. Pretend I've just come through the Stargate. Gawd, I love you so much." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his mouth. His hands came out of his pockets as he enveloped her, tugging her against his body. Vala pulled back and looked into his blue eyes. "You do love me, don't you, Daniel?"
She got her answer as a muffled 'yes' as he kissed her.