I know what's real can not be denied although it may hide for a while

Chapter 5: Changed But Not

"So Rodney…" Daniel began holding the bracelet in his hand. "…you were about to tell me how I can use this bracelet to get my Vala back…."

"D-Daniel?" Sam asked, tears coming to her eyes at the sight of her friend unhurt.

"Yeah…?" Daniel answered, looking from Rodney to Sam who threw her arms around his neck. "…woah, Sam- what are you doing?"

"I thought you'd-" She couldn't continue. She was too choked up with emotion and Rodney took the bracelet from Daniel's hands so that he could return Sam's hug. "-I mean I don't understand how…"

"Sam," Daniel began pulling away. "I haven't gone anywhere."

"Uh actually yes you did…" Rodney interrupted causing Daniel to glance at the annoying scientist. "…you- uh- died."

"I what?" Daniel asked in shock thinking that Rodney had gone insane. "I didn't die. Vala died. We were all there- she…"

"She didn't die Daniel." Sam stated, placing a comforting hand on her friends shoulder. "You did- and she…she…."

"…she must have activated the 'Ad Infinitum Coil' and gone back in time." Rodney answered shaking his head. "She must have stopped Daniel from dying and-"

"-and died herself?" Sam finished, the realisation that she had lost one friend to gain another hitting her. "Well that…I mean…."

"So what you're saying," Daniel began slowly, trying to understand what was going one. "Is that I was dead, but now I'm not and Vala-"

"-Vala's gone back into the past." Sam answered biting her lower lip. "To save you…"

"…save me?" Daniel asked, not believing what he was hearing. "To save me? But I couldn't save her…."

Daniel trailed off, worriedly thinking to his fiancée and hoping that she was alright.

oOo

When Vala's vision cleared she realised that she was not alright at all. Atlantis was shaking around her. She could hear the self-destruct tone in the background and Elizabeth's worried EVAC command looping through the comm. system.

'Daniel-' She thought fearfully to herself as she began running to the control room which was were she knew the final explosion would take place. '-I have to find Daniel and-'

Suddenly there was a giant explosion behind her and Vala felt herself flung to the floor. The pain was intense and her world was darkening. As her world darkened she saw him racing towards her with a pained look on his face. She tried to cry out to him to stay away but his name stayed on her lips- she was to weak to do anything, even breathe and staying conscious was a struggle. The destructive fires were burning all around her and she could barely hear him cry out her name and take her into his arms before she let the darkness consume her.

oOo

"What do you mean you couldn't save her?" Elizabeth asked leaning forward in her chair. "You remember what happened?"

"Of course I remember what happened." Daniel began tentatively feeling the eyes of everyone on him.

He paused to glance and Jack, Teal'c and Cam. They all looked shocked and very glad that he was alive but there was a measure of sadness and confusion at the fact that Vala was missing. Daniel then turned his attention to his new friends, John and Teyla and Ronan and Elizabeth and Rodney. They all shared the same feelings and he glanced at Sam once for support and he saw that she simply nodded. "I was there, I was running towards our quarters when I saw the panel explode and Vala was flung to the floor….she was dead before I could reach her."

"Daniel I am so sorry." Elizabeth whispered apologetically. "I don't know what we can do…"

"We can't do anything." Rodney stated firmly. "But Daniel can."

"What are you talking about McKay?" Jack asked, his snippy tone shocking the annoying scientist slightly. "How can Daniel help……"

"Well unlike the rest of us," Rodney began, his tone indicating that he thought Jack was a complete idiot. "-Daniel is slightly out of phase compared to the rest of us. Carson discovered that when he completed his physical. Now, this works to our advantage because clearly the Ad Infinitum Coil affects its users in a very specific way." Rodney paused and saw that all eyes were on him so he continued. "See, Daniel has different memories than us. As far as he's concerned Vala's dead but our reality didn't change. This means that he can go back in time again to try and save her and the rest of us will remain unaffected."

"When do I leave?"

A/N- Hello Beloved Readers. Sorry for the REALLY long update. But this story kinda didn't want to go anywhere until now... but here we are an update. I don't know when the next one will be but I will update, I swear. :D So, thank you to acer-sigma, Samira, HAZMOT, spacegypsy1, Shinki and my dear Briar for reviewing the last chapter. I hope that you six plus many more will review this chapter. :D Till later!