Number Fourteen: Cabin Fever
They stopped the card game and moved their chairs outside before the firepit in the center of the deck; Jack and Sam, Daniel and Vala. Jack produced four beers from the cooler beside him, passing them around. He took Sam's hand. She didn't resist, laid her head on his shoulder. Daniel put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward staring into the fire.
Jack took a quick glance at Daniel before turning his attention to the dark haired woman he so loved to call Daniel's space pirate girlfriend. Tonight, watching the two relaxed around each other, Jack realized his teasing held a grain of truth.
Sam turned her head and smiled at Vala with a nod. Go ahead, she seemed to say.
Vala felt as if she stood at the edge of a cliff. At the edge of love. Not knowing whether to jump or turn and run. She'd had a nice long chat with Sam about men and the pitfalls of holding back with your feelings. Girl talk Sam called it as they'd hiked through the woods earlier today.
Vala placed a hand on Daniel's thigh. Took a breath and waited. He sat up, placed his hand over hers, settled back against the chair and closed his eyes. The fire crackled and popped.
The four sat quietly for an eternity. As the fire died down, Jack stood, taking Sam's hand. "Night." He said, leading Sam into the cabin.
Quiet settled around Daniel and Vala like a blanket and they stared endlessly at the dying embers. He spoke, eyes on the coals. "Go on in to bed, I'll put the fire out."
She stood without question. Sad and hopeless, she left without a word, leaving him sitting alone before the fire.
Dressing in one of the T-shirts she procured long ago from Teal'c, Vala crawled under her covers and turned her back. She heard her door open and close softly. Her senses filled with the smell of wood smoke and Daniel. She pretended to sleep, listening to him move around in her dark room. Curiosity at the sound of movements fought her fear and wonder and she refused to turn to see what he was doing. Would he leave…or would he stay? Was he undressing? She had taken his blue sweater to wear by the fireside. Was he looking for it? Maybe she should say something. Maybe he would. She lay uncomfortably still, listening to her heartbeat drumming away in her ears.
When he lifted the blanket and crawled in beside her, Vala's heart soared. Daniel spooned against her back, pulling her against him and kissing the back of her head. Her eyes closed and her mouth grinned in joy. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. But she could talk. Somehow she could talk! "I love you, Daniel." Just a breath of whisper.
His hand went to her shoulder and turned her to him. Pulled her against the warmth of his body. Wrapped her in the comfort of his arms. He kissed her softly, "I love you, too."