I still wish on the stars as they fall from above

Chapter 15: Reminiscences

"Elizabeth." General Landry welcomed as the leader of Atlantis' face appeared on the screens in the control room. "What can I do with this surprise call?"

"I need you to pass a message onto the former members of SG1." Elizabeth began, noting the look of worry on Landry's face. "It's nothing serious right now General, but I believe that their friends should know."

"What happened?"

"We were attacked by the Asurans," Elizabeth explained. "They got a couple good shots in before we were able to raise our shields. After that our drones took care of them."

"And..."

"And in the process there were several explosions." Elizabeth finished. "Daniel and Vala were hurt in one."

"But they're not severely hurt?"

"No." Elizabeth confirmed. "And Carson says that they're stable for now... I just-"

"Thought that we should know," Landry interrupted nodding curtly. "Thank you, I'll contact everyone immediately."

ooo

Meanwhile, Daniel and Vala were still experiencing their shared memories of the past. Yet neither of them knew what the purpose was or why the specific memories were chosen.

"Daniel?"

"It's out there Vala The key to defeating the Ori is out there."

"And we will find it Daniel."

ooo

"What? ...Oh Daniel, I thought you said I had changed, that I had proved you right for taking a chance on me. I've never known you to be a liar Daniel."

"I didn't lie. You have changed, and you have proved me right a hundred times Vala, I swear. But look- You see this symbol?"

"Yes. What about it?"

"This isn't any ordinary symbol."

"It's not?"

"No. It's not. It's the symbol for death in the ancient language."

"D-death? That means death?"

"Yes, I think it was meant for a warning."

"Daniel?"

"You are not doing this."

"Yes I am."

"No you're not...I am."

"Daniel, If this doesn't work then they...they are going to need you."

"I need you."

ooo

"Daniel! Daniel. Come on, I'm going to get you out of here. Come on Daniel, We have to get out of here."

"Vala, I'm not getting out of here."

"Of course you are Daniel. Now come on, we have to get out of here."

"Vala, Ega mas nom" (I can not)

"Daniel- What did you do to him??"

"I broke the barriers that he had erected in his mind. With out them, the knowledge of the Alterrans is taking over his mind. It will only be a matter of moments before he can no longer understand you."

"No...Come on Daniel, You have to fight this...Daniel.

"Link."

"Link? Daniel, what does that mean? No!" She cried out and impulsively she drew Daniel up into a hug and held him as tight as she could. "Come on Daniel, you have to fight this. I can't lose you."

"Bos nunquaym mod."

"I can't understand you."

"You. Never. Will. Loose. Me."

"Daniel-"

Vala cried moving to give him another hug, but as she moved to do so Daniel disappeared and her arms embraced nothing. After a moment of shock Vala realised what had happened and she turned to face her daughter.

"Bring him back." She demanded but Adria simply turned from her mother. "Bring. Him. BACK!"

ooo

"Daniel!"

"Vala, He's a-"

"I know what he is Sam, I'm not blind. But he's still Daniel, maybe I can get him to talk to me."

"Daniel! Daniel, please wait! DANIEL!"

ooo

Vala, who was not like the rest of her team, took a defiant step forward and was a mere couple of inches away from Daniel and she saw a different emotion along with the confusion and surprise in his eyes.

'Why Daniel -you look almost…amused….to see no village here. Are you still on our side? Is that why you haven't been killing the poor innocents of this galaxy?'

"Vala-?"

Vala froze and her heart seemed to stop beating for a moment. She knew that she hadn't said anything, and even if she had, Vala also knew that Daniel shouldn't have- no wouldn't have-couldn't have heard her.

Daniel walked a few feet either side of Vala before returning directly in front of her and he scanned the area, allowing his gaze to fall squarely on her- and she let her gaze fall upon him as well.

Their eyes locked and for one brief, shinning and fleeting moment Vala got the distinct sense that he was proud of them for finding away to protect the innocents from the Ori and Vala could almost feel his regret for his part in the war now. Vala could also hear the near in-audible statement that he gave before he turned and left.

ooo

Only Vala knew that she could move and she silently watched as Daniel walked by her in the direction of the gate when she whirled around and ran at him managing to topple him and cause his staff and book to go flying.

Daniel regained his balance quickly and he merely turned and looked Vala in the face. What he saw broke his heart, though she never saw it breaking. There before him was his strong and competent Vala - now an utter mess. With her hair pulled back as she usually wore it now she looked like a child and with her face crumpled and her eyes blinking back the tears she looked heart-broken as well. And as Daniel studied her face their eyes locked.

A thousand messages were passed between their locked eyes. Vala tried to plead with him to do something, anything to let her know that he really was still in there somewhere and Daniel tried to plead with her to understand why he had done what he did- but none of this registered in their minds.

Instead, Daniel just called his staff and his book of Origin to him and continued on his way, allowing SG1 to move again once he was within the tree line.

Vala just stared for a moment in his direction before her vision travelled to the forest floor where his book had fallen and she was shocked to see a rock that was eerily familiar. She walked over to it, bent down and picked it up and after examining it closely she saw that it was a communication device of the ancients.

The thought raced through her like a shot of adrenaline and she quickly pocketed the small device before her team asked her any questions about it.

ooo

"I am sorry for all that." Daniel whispered as the memory faded.

"I know." Vala assured softly. "But there was so much more..."

A/N- Hello beloved readers, thank you as always to Jebaraj and acer and HAZ and Ena and Bri for reviewing chapter 14 and thanks to Bri for reviewing chapter 13 as well. I hope that things are making sense now, if not stay tuned for the next chapter coming out tomorrow... so please review!