Girls' Day Out - Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate
Spoilers: slight for Ark of Truth. Takes place just after.
AN: Thanks so much for your reviews!! I hope you enjoy this chapter focusing on Vala and her relationship with Daniel.
Best wishes and lots of love!
Christine
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Vala flinched as the last sparkle disappeared from the closing wormhole. It was done. She wondered if she'd done the right thing - choosing one man who made every effort to ignore his feelings for her over another man whose love for her seared from his eyes every time he looked at her.
She never really had been very good at playing by the book. No sense wallowing in self-doubt. Time to follow her own advice: Look ahead or risk being left behind. She squared her shoulders and walked out of the gate room, mask of confidence firmly in place.
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"Teal'c, have you seen Vala? I've got a translation I need her help with."
Teal'c looked up to see Daniel Jackson in the doorway of the gym. Teal'c set down the weight he'd been lifting. "Indeed, I have not, DanielJackson." He moved over to the bench press. Daniel stayed where he was, looking slightly lost. Teal'c decided to give him a little help. It had been two days.
"I have not seen ValaMalDoran often since Tomin left."
Daniel nodded and moved to sit on a bench near Teal'c. "I'm not really sure what to say to her. I mean, she left her husband for us."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, so she left her husband for- oh, I'm really not sure what to say to her. God, this is such a mess." Daniel rubbed a hand over his eyes.
Teal'c sat up. Perhaps his friend needed more than just a little help. "DanielJackson, it has been my observation over the years since the death of Sha're, that you have not allowed yourself many pleasures. While you dedicate yourself to ensuring the peace of thousands you have never met, you do not enjoy that same peace yourself. It is not good to be alone, DanielJackson. ValaMalDoran has offered you a chance at true happiness and companionship. I suggest you act quickly before she pulls away in an effort to protect herself."
"Did you rehearse that?" Daniel joked, but the weight of Teal'c's words were not lost on him.
"Indeed."
Daniel nodded. "Thanks, Teal'c." Daniel stood up and left the room in search of Vala.
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Vala wrapped her damp hair in a towel. Two days since she'd made her choice, and no one had said a word. No, "Hey, how are you doing?" or "Would you like to take a couple days off?" Okay, so she did have the last two days off, but still.
What's the matter with you? she asked herself. You made your choice.
He was a good man.
Yes, she argued with herself. But- Okay, no argument there. He really was a good man.
But Daniel.
Part of her wanted Daniel to rush in and sweep her off her feet and pronounce his undying love for her. But another part of her was afraid he would rush in and accuse her of being foolish and how could she have even considered he would care that way for her.
Perhaps it was better not to see him at all. Then she wouldn't have to know how he felt.
She sat down on her bed with a huff. "What a mess," she said to herself. "I need to get out of here." She grabbed the towel off her head and shook out her hair into damp waves. She put on her leather jacket and left her room.
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She reached the surface and asked an airman to arrange a ride for her. He wanted to know where she wanted to go.
"Darling, I really have no idea. Just anywhere. I-"
"Vala, wait," a voice shouted from behind her. She spun around to see Daniel running toward her. She wasn't ready to face him and his decision just yet.
"Daniel, if you need help with your translation, I'm sorry, I'm just leaving-"
"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but it's going to be at least twenty minutes before your drive gets here."
Vala closed her eyes. "That's fine."
Daniel stopped in front of her. "Wait, Vala, where are you going?"
"I don't know. Just out."
Daniel put his hands on her shoulders. "Please don't go. I-"
"Daniel, please."
Daniel looked at her closely and noticed the slight desperation in her eyes. She wasn't even trying to smile and flirt her way past him. "You really need to get out of here, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Come with me, okay?"
Her resolve slowly dissolved at the look in his eyes. "Where?"
"Just come. Please."
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The drive in Daniel's car was silent. He wasn't used to seeing Vala so quiet. She leaned back into her seat and looked out the window at the lights sparkling in the darkness. The smell of her freshly washed hair filled the car. He still wasn't really sure what to say to her.
"So where are we going?" Vala spoke first, still staring out the window. He had a feeling she wasn't just talking about the drive.
"Honestly… I don't know," Daniel answered, also not just talking about the drive.
Vala turned her head to look at him but still didn't say anything.
"Actually, I think I know where we should go," Daniel decided.
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Daniel used his key to open the door to his apartment and held the door open for Vala to enter. Vala walked in and stared in amazement, some of her natural curiosity returning. She immediately walked over to his bookshelves, taking in the volumes and the small statues and artefacts placed sporadically in front of the books. She turned to take in the room around her in wonder.
"Daniel, do you really live here?"
Daniel was watching her from the door and smiled. "Yeah."
"With all these amazing treasures."
Daniel moved to stand beside her. "Took a while to collect them all."
"I would imagine. What's this?" she moved to the baby grand situated in the corner.
"It's a musical instrument. It's called a piano."
"Do you know how to play it?" Vala sat down on the bench and fingered the keys.
"Yeah, a bit. Here, I'll show you." Daniel sat down beside her and began playing the theme song from the movie, Music and Lyrics. He didn't think she'd seen it yet, but something about the couple in the movie reminded him of them. Or at least the song did. Besides that, he didn't think she'd find Mozart or Beethoven amusing.
"That's very beautiful, Daniel," she was mesmerized by the movement of his hands.
Daniel turned to face her. "Yes, you are."
Vala turned to face him. She studied him carefully and put a hand to his cheek. "Daniel-"
"No wait. Let me finish," he interrupted, afraid of her words. "I'm sorry for not coming to you sooner. I guess I wasn't sure what to say to you or if you needed space. I just- I didn't want to hurt you."
"Daniel, in case you haven't noticed, I've got a pretty thick skin. I just need you to tell me I made the right choice."
Daniel put a hand into her still damp hair and leaned in to kiss her deeply.
After a long moment, Vala broke away just enough to look him in the eyes. "Daniel, you'd better not be messing with me."
Daniel laughed at having his own words repeated back to him from when she'd tried to seduce him during her first few weeks on Earth.
"I promise," he said and held her close to him once again.
I've been living with a shadow overhead,
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed,
I've been lonely for so long,
Trapped in the past,
I just can't seem to move on
I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine,
I've been searching but i just don't see the signs,
I know that it's out there,
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere
All I want to do is find a way back into love.
I can't make it through without a way back into love.
And if I open my heart again,
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end
All I want to do is find a way back into love,
I can't make it through without a way back into love,
And if I open my heart to you,
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do,
And if you help me to start again,
You know that I'll be there for you in the end!
Way Back Into Love, Music and Lyrics