Woosley was sitting at his desk, when he heard, what he thought were Col Mitchell and Teal'c voices, asking to come in. Woosley smiled to himself thinking that Muhammad had come to the mountain. His waiting was over.

"Let Col Mitchell and Teal'c in. I've been waiting for General O'Neill, but you two will do."

"Woosley, you old coyote. I just bet you were waiting on the General. Matter of fact, he wants to see you." Smiled Mitchell with his southern drawl.

"Indeed Mr. Woosley. The General has some questions for you in reference to Vala Mol Doran. You will come with us." Teal'c moved towards Woosley desk, to make his point.

"It would be my pleasure to see the General. I have been waiting for an opportunity to speak to you all, matter of fact."

Mitchell didn't like the fact Woosley was rather calm and confident in his manner, but he was just as curious on what Woosley was up to. "Well we will escort you personally Woosley. This way." Mitchell motioned towards the door.

INFIRMARY

Jack watched Sam as she sat back in her chair, watching Vala. It looked like Sam hadn't had much sleep and she looked worn down. It was apparent that Sam was worried and he remembered the same scene when Jacob was dying. He had tried to give Sam comfort and about her father, but in the weeks that Jacob passed away, Sam seemed to shut herself off from everyone. She had really never talked about her death to him, but he realized Sam was a lot like him in certain ways. He never talked about Charlie's death, until a crystal like alien appeared as his son. The alien helped him understand his grief, and he lived with the fact that Charlie's death was an accident and there was nothing he could do about it. After that, Jack was no longer afraid of death himself, just for others. Sam didn't have an alien to help her with her grief, just herself. He often wondered if she had ever talked to anyone about Jacob's death. Right now, he could only think about Sam and how much he wanted to help her, to help Vala. But also on his mind was the way Daniel was acting. It disturbed him that Daniel would side with the enemy, without even thinking of the consequences to Vala or his friends. He would have a little chat with Daniel again, and soon.

Sam heard a cough beside her. It was Vala waking up. Sam immediately poured a glass of water, while she heard Vala try to clear her throat to speak. Vala drank eagerly. Her throat felt like sand paper as she drank, sip after sip. She finally nodded her head to Sam, that that was enough water.

"Hey kiddo." Sam remembered her father only calling her that out of endearment. Sam didn't mind sounding like her father to Vala.

"Hey Sam; I guess I'm in the infirmary still?" Vala sounded weak to Sam, but had a feeling Vala had much to say.

"Yeah, it seems you started quite a stir when you arrived. The SF's filled me in. They thought it was cool."

Sam made Vala smile slightly. She always did like an entrance too. Vala tried to push herself up, trying to gain a better sitting position to speak to Sam. Sam helped her with some extra pillows behind her back and reclined the bed slightly up.

"Hey, that better?"

"Yes…………thanks Sam. I couldn't………………..I couldn't let you do it Sam. You mean too much to SG1. They need you more than me. You would have………..have ruined your life."

"Your life is not important too? Why do you think so little of your life Vala? You're my friend; that means something to me, to all of us."

"Sam………. all my life, I've been used for some reason or another. And all thru those times, I did not have one friend. Oh, maybe some fun acquaintances, but not really anyone I could truly trust."

"And now, you still think that you're worth nothing?" Sam was insistent on seeing reasoning in Vala's comment.

"I think I had to learn to like myself from you, from Teal'c, Cam and even Daniel. For the first time in my life, I have friends that I can count on and they can count on me. I never had a home for a long time Sam. I never had anyone to truly trust me without giving them something in return. I've found a bigger reason to exist in this crazy galaxy and a new found mission in my life to live. Now I find a new reason to die. I accept what's happened to me, why can't you?"

Vala started to cough slightly and Sam found the oxygen mask, and turned it on to help Vala breathe better. Sam remembered from her dad, how difficult it was for him to breathe and talk at the same time. Sam at least felt useful, in some way, until Carolyn could come up with something to help.

"Thanks……………Sam." Vala was able to breathe a little better and continued.

"Because I…………I don't have that many girl friends Vala. The guys fill in, but you and……………I just can't give up, not for you, not ever." Sam was starting to become emotional and Vala could see her struggling with her death.

"Remember when you told me about your father? How helpless you felt, when he was dying and how he accepted what was inevitable? How you were sure he was happy at the end that you were there beside him when he passed? It's the same Sam; I'm just happy that I'm here with you, with Teal'c, Cam, Jack and Daniel. Don't you see? I'm around the only home that I've had in a long time, with friends and family. You're my family Sam; all of you are and that's the best medicine anyone can have in this situation. I have everything I need and it's here, right now at this moment. No one can ever take that away from me. I've had too much taken away from me. My life, my mother and brother, my child. This is the one thing Woosley can't understand; can't touch. My life is my own now; my death is what finally makes me whole. I can trust you to do the right thing for me Sam. Bury me as you would your father. Bury me next to him. That's all I ask."

Sam bowed her head, knowing her silent tears would not abate. Vala had asked only one thing that truly mattered to her, and it was tearing Sam apart. Sam was shaking her head, remembering her 

father's silent dignity, facing death. To Sam this was the same. Vala was the only one she had told, how she felt about her father passing away. The only one.

Vala put the oxygen mask back on and reached over to Sam. Sam looked up, biting her lip, understanding that Vala was saying, she didn't have much time.

"You…………you never said goodbye to Janet, did you?" Vala's eyes were filled with understanding for Sam.

Sam shook her head. "No………..she died………..she……….it was so quick. No one………..no one expected her to die like that. It wasn't fair that she died like that Vala."

Sam started shaking, remembering how there was a camera crew in her face when she came back after hearing Janet Frasier was dead. It also scarred her to death, when they brought back Jack on a gurney. He looked half dead. She was terrified and hurt and there was no one to comfort her. Not even Daniel or Teal'c could understand her pain, her loss.

"Sam?...Sam?" Vala knew instinctively that Sam has held in her emotions for a long time. She knew what her dying was doing to her.

"Sam………..I'm right here. You can say goodbye to me. I need you to understand, that I saw my mother die without anyone to say goodbye to her. My brother and I were the only ones to mourn her. My mother was the most loving person in my life and I admired her for always thinking of my brother and I, even when my father was not around. I am my mother now, Sam. You can honor my mother, by taking care of me and you have. You can say your goodbye for my mother; Sam. You can say goodbye to Janet for me and her."

Sam let go of her tears; a rush of emotions rose to the surface and Sam couldn't hold them back. She hugged Vala and sobbed those unshed tears that lay dormant for so very, very long. Vala only wanted to comfort Sam, to reassure her, that it was ok to grieve, to let go of her own guilt and pain.



Jack watched the exchange between Sam and Vala. He had never seen Sam cry like that. She was always strong and endured almost everything. She didn't even cry like that, when Jacob passed. The only time she was upset was when she closed up when Janet died and when she found out that he was alright on that sad day. She was so glad to see him and told him so. It was the only time he felt Sam cared more for him that she wanted to reveal. But in the end, he never pursued that relationship further. He thought it would be out of context, and the regulations stopped any fraternization between officers. He didn't want to take advantage of the situation and thought, because of Janet's death, Sam would be too vulnerable for any relationship. Now all he wanted to do is hold her and even now, he was a bit sorry for not being able to comfort her, now that he knew that Vala may be taken away by Woosley.

Woosley walked in, as Jack was watching Vala and Sam. He darkened the screen to give Sam some privacy. Woosley was disappointed, but waited for General O'Neill to address him.

"Alright Woosley, what exactly are you charging Vala with? I have a seriously ill woman down there, and I need to know what your plans are and who is giving you validation to charge her anyway?"

"Very well, this is what I'm charging her with. One; leaving a secured facility without permission. Two: Unauthorized usage of military and SGA equipment. Three; providing secure information to sources unknown. Four; The kidnapping of an valuable member of your team, who happens to be one of the top astrophysics in the known world and risking Col Carter's life to hostile forces, which means she could have been captured and tortured for her high security information, which in turn could of jeopardized this facility, NID, and the IOA with the National security of this planet. And from one Dr. Daniel Jackson, who with his credentials has informed me that Vala Mol Doran is capable of fooling anyone and seems to have her own agenda. I have it on his authority that Vala Mol Doran, can't be trusted and Col Carter may be at her mercy or forced to go with her. And I quote, again from Dr. Jackson that Vala is really good at selling something and information is just one of them; end quote."

Jack stood there angered at what Woosley just presented him, and even angrier that Daniel said those things about Vala.

"You're lying Woosley." Stated Mitchell, barely containing his rage.

"Indeed Mr. Woosley. Daniel Jackson would not speak in such a way about his teammates. I am sure you are confused about such information." Stated Teal'c. Even Teal'c was angry, but contained a stoic face and a small sneer at Woosley.

"I'm afraid not General and Col Mitchell." Purposely ignoring Teal'c. " I have his words on recording." Woosley played back every word Daniel had said. "I carry a recording device with me, on matters that concern treason. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some evidence to present to the President."

Woosley walked with self confidence out of the booth. Jack couldn't believe his ears. His heart told him that Daniel must have been tricked into making such a cavalier statement against Vala, but his military mentality could not abide by such menacing words that not only damaged Vala's reputation, but that his old team could not be trusted.

"Mitchell, bring Daniel here. I don't care if you have to knock him out and drag him here. Bring him to the infirmary. This has become a private matter for usonly. I'm going to get to the bottom of this, once and for all. I'll be down there with Sam and Vala." Jack was seething inside and his anger was more directed and Daniel more than ever.

Mitchell and Teal'c didn't have to be asked twice. All three men wanted some answers, and Jack was just the man to get them out of Daniel.

Jack walked up slowly on Sam. She had fallen asleep as did Vala. Jack didn't want to disturb them and certainly what he had to say to Sam about Daniel would not go over well. But he had to know why Vala had disappeared and left without a word, and more as to why Sam had disappeared also.

Dr. Lam appeared in the doorway and motioned Jack to follow her to her office.

"Hey Dr. Lam. Can you tell me what's going on with Vala? I know it's serious, and don't tell me you can't tell me."

Carolyn let out a breathe and she had to come clean of her results on Vala. "Vala is dying General."

Jack was taken aback. He thought maybe Vala had some serious illness that had to run its course. But the realization hit him, why Sam was so estranged, so distant.

"Is there anything you can do Dr. Lam, I mean, what about the healing device or a sarcophagus? I can call in anything you want to help her. Specialist, treatments, anything."

"It's………….it's too late General. It's progressed for too long and I'm not sure if she even has that much time. Whatever this disease is, it acts just like cancer. It eats away at the immune system, and then it's going to start shutting down her vital organs. I don't even know how she's made it this far. From what Col Carter has told me, Vala's mother had the same disease, and that it was genetic. Vala must have known for a long time and just accepted that it was going to happen sooner or later. I………I just wish I could do more for her."

"I need to speak to Sam first, but I want to know what can be done for Vala right now?"

"I can keep her comfortable. She's in a small amount of pain, and I can give her a sedative to make her sleep without pain. But…………but I think you should ask Col Carter on what Vala wants. She seems to know more than she's letting on. I'm………….I'm sorry; that's all I can do."

Jack sat up to return to Sam and Vala. "Can you let the General know. I have some other business to attend to and I appreciate everything you've done already."

"It doesn't make me feel any better. I'll tell Gen Landry and just so you know. I'm not a fan of Mr. Woosley either. As long as she's my patient, he can't touch Vala."

Jack smiled slightly. "Thanks." He appreciated that Vala was protected, even if she was not aware of it.

Jack walked back into the room. He shook Sam slightly. Sam opened her eyes. They were red and puffy, from her crying.

"Jack…….I mean Sir. Is Vala alright? Is something wrong?"

"It's ok Sam. Vala is asleep. I ………..I need to talk to you. I need to clear some things up. I…………I know Vala is dying. Dr. Lam informed me and don't be mad. Something has come up, where Woosley is trying to force my hand to put Vala away or take her into custody, whether she's awake or not. So, I need some answer Sam and something else."

Sam walked over to the corner so, Vala wouldn't be disturbed. "What else is happening that's more important than Vala dying?" Sam knew Jack was only doing his job, but she knew Woosley and his doggedness for getting his way.

"Daniel is on his way here, but not by his own accord. He inadvertently informed Woosley that Vala was still a con artist. That she could have possibly sold information to the highest bidder and that she had a hand in kidnapping you. Woosley has it on recording. Believe me, when I say, I'm as angry as you're going to be and I intend to get to the bottom of why he would say such a thing."

Sam shook her head out of disbelief and frustration on how Vala was being treated. She knew Vala was on her death bed and she was not going to let Woosley, Daniel or anyone else trash Vala's character. If anything, Vala has done nothing but go beyond protecting her and Daniel. Sam wasn't mad, she was furious.

"Where is he?" Sam said angrily.

Jack knew that look and that tone. "He should be here any minute. I've instructed Teal'c and Mitchell to bring him here unconscious or kicking and screaming, but he will be…………..aah, and there he is now." Jack looked toward the booth. Daniel was angry alright, but what he saw on Sam's face was more disturbing. Sam headed his way.

"Jack stay with Vala. I need to have a little chat with Daniel, and don't interfere."

"I'll back you 100 percent Sam. Don't worry about Vala; I won't leave her side."



Jack almost felt sorry for Daniel. But this was going to be a family dispute. Sam was about to take care of business. Sam walked into the booth, staring Daniel down, as she moved almost predatory at Daniel.

"Teal'c, you and Mitchell watch over Vala. I need to have a chat with Daniel; alone."

Mitchell was about to say something on the lines of knock some sense into Daniel, but Teal'c motioned his head down were Vala was lying. Both men shut the door on the way out.

"This ain't going to be pretty Teal'c. We may need medical attention for Jackson, soon."

"Indeed."

Daniel said nothing, trying to stare Sam down, but Sam moved closer. Her voice was low and menacing. He had never seen Sam this way, at least towards him.

"Of all the stupid, idiotic things to do." She pushed Daniel against the wall, and up by his collar. He tried to get away, but Sam kneed him in the groin, so he wouldn't go anywhere. Daniel lost his glasses in the process and laid on the floor moaning in pain.

"How dare you do that to her. How stupid and selfish can you get? I never would have thought you could maliciously hurt someone on purpose Daniel, but this takes the cake. Do you actually think the world revolves around you?"

Sam was raising her voice now, at every word towards Daniel.

"ANSWER ME, YOU SELFISH BASTARD."

Daniel was startled and breathing hard, trying to take in air and ignore the pain he was feeling from Sam's physical and verbal attack.

"Why………..why are you defending her? She's fooling all of you. She………….she fooled me. She just used me for her own gain. You are all on her side. She……….

"SHUT UP DANIEL. JUST SHUP UP AND LISTEN." Sam turned her head to look at Vala and then back to Daniel. She had never felt so angry.

"You think you're so hurt by a little bunch of words? You think if anyone said anything to you that you would break if they hurt your feelings? You're pathetic Daniel. We tip toe around you, knowing that you've been used and hurt by so many people and so many deaths. Your mother and father, Shar'e or anyone else that comes into your lives. You think you're the only to be hurt by others and people dying on you. Well get in line Daniel. Jack, Teal'c, Mitchell and me and many others. We've all been hurt by someone or someone's death. You don't have the right to think you're the only one in the world that's been thru pain and suffering. You hurt one of your own, and that's not forgivable Daniel, not by me. Vala has done nothing to you but protect you this whole time. She's protected me and this whole facility by taking upon herself the one thing she tried to hide from you so she wouldn't hurt you."

Daniel sat up against the wall, protecting his privates from anymore attacks from Sam.

"Oh, yeah, she protected me alright. She told the whole world that I was a chump. She told me that there was never a us. She was just using me to taunt the women of this base. That she never has had any interest in me what so ever. Yeah, that's protecting me alright."

"SHE'S DYING YOU IDIOT. SHE'S BEEN DYING FOR A LONG TIME AND SHE WANTED TO SAVE YOU THE PAIN OF THINKING SOMEONE ELSE IN YOUR LIFE WAS DYING BECAUSE OF YOU. SHE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO FEEL GUILTY ALL OVER AGAIN, SO SHE SAID THAT TO PROTECT YOU."

"What? No…………she……………..she……….

What Sam said hit him all at once. He was trying to process what Sam was saying. His voice had caught in his throat and he shook his head as if to clear his thoughts.

"Yes, Vala is dying Daniel and there's nothing anyone can do. She disappeared to die alone Daniel. She only came back because she missed us. She didn't want to die alone and I promised Daniel, I promised I would carry out her dying wish in secret. But nooooooo, you had to open your big mouth to Woosley and now he's going to use what you said to charge Vala with treason."

"But……..but, I was only, I……….I didn't know. I thought………….

"That's just it Daniel; you didn't think. You never asked. You just wallowed in your own guilt that Vala hurt your feelings and you thought you would hurt her. You didn't give a Damn about the consequences of your actions. Woosley is salivating to put Vala away and take her away where we would never find her. Is that what you wanted Daniel? To hurt someone, who hurt you? You finally wanted that pound of flesh and it was going to be Vala that would satisfy your need for revenge?

"Grow Up Daniel. The rest of us have. We've been thru enough in our lifetime to fill a black hole. Vala has been thru enough in her life that you would just put the last nail in her coffin. I don't know if I can ever look at you again with innocent eyes again Daniel. I never thought you would turn your back on one of us. But I guess that doesn't matter, huh? We've always been there for each other Daniel, but you just turned your back on Vala. You didn't even realize that there was something wrong. If one of us had told you off, the first thing you would have done was ask what's wrong. But I guess you still think Vala is not one of us. She's more than one of us, she's better than us. She knew what would happen if she returned. She knew that she would probably die, before Woosley could arrest her. But she came back anyway Daniel.

Daniel interrupted. "But……..but why?"

"She wanted to keep her death a secret. She wanted to come back and clear me of any charges. She protected me Daniel. She was afraid that my career and reputation would be ruined, because I took her somewhere where she might have died with her dignity intact. I took her away from prying eyes and locked up in some desolate lonely room, hooked up to who knows what, alone, away from us. They would have taken her Daniel and all she wanted was to die somewhere safe, with her family Daniel. We are her family. We stick it out with one another, no matter what happens. So I took her somewhere where she could see trees, calming waters, flowers and mountains."

"You took her to Jack's cabin?"

"Yes Daniel. Are you going to tell Woosley that too? Then he can arrest me for hiding a fugitive?

Daniel shook his head no. He had betrayed all of them, but mostly Vala.

"I'm sick of walking on needles with you Daniel. I'm sick of you hiding beyond walls to protect yourself from being hurt. I'm sick that you took out your anger on Vala and used Woosley to get back at her; and don't say you didn't Daniel. You're a smart man, you knew exactly what you were doing. I…………I can't even look at you right now. I thought you would never treat anyone or us like this. I hope your happy Daniel. I hope that one day, you make it up to Vala, but it's too late. She…………..she needs us Daniel, she wants to die around her family and right now you don't deserve that honor. You don't deserve her and you don't deserve us. If you have any semblance of honor, then you better make this go away, because Jack is doing everything in his power to keep Woosley from taking Vala away from us and I mean to fight Woosley every step of the way to protect Vala."

Daniel felt lost and ashamed at what he had caused Vala. He felt he was losing himself, and for the first time, didn't know what he could do to help. "What…………what can I do? Sam tell me, anything, what can I do?"

"GROW UP DANIEL. JUST GROW UP AND QUITE FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF."

Sam left leaving Daniel to his thoughts. Sam was tired, frustrated and angry all at once. She went back down to sit by Vala's side. Only SG1 heard what Sam had said to Daniel and Jack, Mitchell and Teal'c couldn't have said what had to be said to Daniel any better. They all pulled up a chair and waited for Vala to wake, that's if she ever would.

TBC