Shelley woke up as she did every morning to the sound of screaming children. Over the last few years, Daniel had become quite accustomed to getting the kids ready for day care and school. Secretly he loved it and Shelley liked the lie in. Her eyes were still tired from the night before. Remembering what she and Vala had seen. She shook her head, trying her best to forget about it.
Shelley pulled herself out of bed, still being able to feel the warmth on Daniel's side. She ran her hand across it, remembering what had happened when she had come home. How they'd had sex in the kitchen, on the kitchen counter. Then she realised and hoped that Daniel remember to pick up he panties off the kitchen floor. The last thing she wanted her kids to see were her dis guarded underwear. It had been about two months since they had had sex, until last night. Which had been incredible! She had felt wanted and so loved. Like at that club she and Vala had been too. There had only been one man she had wanted to dance with. The man she had come home to.
She showered and made out into the living room, almost been run into her by her daughter, Lacey. Shelley picked her up, holding her in her arms.
"Hey, what's going on in here,"
"Riley's picking on me," Lacey said.
Shelley lowered her daughter to the floor, seeing the girls' twin hiding behind a nearby wall. She couldn't believe how much all of her children had grown up. The twins were almost four now. Kennedy was seven and Mia had just turned ten. And they were a handful at times, especially in the mornings.
"Riley, stop picking on your sister," Shelley said.
She looked around the room searching for Daniel, hearing him in the kitchen again. Mia and Kennedy were sat at the table, finishing their breakfast and finishing their homework. Kennedy was still getting used to her new glasses as they kept falling down her nose. Shelley kissed them both on the head has she entered the kitchen.
"How did you sleep? You seemed a bit restless, tossing and turning."
"I'm fine. Maybe I'm coming down with something."
Daniel reached over, pressing his hand against her forehead.
"You do feel a little feverish. Maybe you should stay home today," he said.
"I'm sure I'll live. Besides I have a tone of paper work to do."
"Which you can do from home,"
Mia and Kennedy looked up, seeing their parents trying not to fight in front of them. Shelley shook her head, not wanting to be pushed any further. Knowing the real reason why he didn't want her going to the base.
"Anyways, were going to have to drop off the kids because I left my car at work."
"Okay,"
"Girl's why don't you start packing your things away and get ready for school."
Shelley watched as her two eldest children cleared away the breakfast dishes, placing them all into the sink. Then pick up their books, heading towards their room.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't know what you mean?"
"Trying to get me to stay home and not go into work!"
Daniel shook his head.
"I was just looking out for you."
"Really, so it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that…"
Daniel shook his head, again. He didn't want to hear what she had to say. Not wanting to hear her say his name.
"We should get the kids to hurry up. Or we'll both be late."
He rushed passed her, heading into the direction of his kids bedrooms. Shelley stood in the middle of the kitchen, frustrated by her husband's refusal to talk about their past. Their counsellor had told them that in order to move on they needed to confront all of the issues that were holding them back. Including Shelley's friendship with Colonel Reynolds! And the fact that Reynolds was in love with her. Some men would find it a compliment. Having such a hot wife. But Daniel hadn't. He hated it. Hated the fact that another man wanted what he had. And the fact that he had tried on numerous occasions to take her from him! In their sessions with the counsellor, Daniel had found it hard to talk about. He didn't want Shelley to see how insecure he was in their marriage.
Shelley looked at her watch, now they were late!
After dropping off the kids, they didn't talk on the drive to the base. The silence preferable to another argument! Shelley had turned on the radio. Turning it over several times, trying not to induce another argument. Setting it on talk radio and then sitting back.
On arrival, Shelley checked her car, making sure it hadn't been damaged overnight in the SGC car park. Luckily for her, it seemed okay.
Shelley made her own way to her office, whilst Daniel had his own work to do. They were due to meet up later. To wave off Vala. It had been sort of a tradition since they had started seeing other again.
The botanist had finished her paper work. Still going over in her mind her semi argument with Daniel. Refusing to mention Reynolds name had been childish. To even talk about him had constituted another argument. Shelley wanted to talk about him. To talk about what she had seen last night. She still didn't know if Reynolds was okay or not and had was supposed to go to see Caroline in the infirmary.
Shelley couldn't wait any longer, making her way to the infirmary. She stopped as she stood at the threshold. They hadn't seen each other in two years. Two long years. What if he was really sick? She couldn't bare losing her friend all over again.
Caroline saw her from across the room, hesitating.
"Shelley," she called out, signalling to her.
She looked up, her hesitation lifted as she noticed an expression of relief on the doctors face.
"I'm glad you're here," she said.
"Is he?"
Caroline shook her head.
"No, he's fine, a few cuts a bruises. The most serious injury is a broken leg."
"But when you brought him in?" Shelley asked.
"He'd lost consciousness and his heart stopped. But he's stable now and doing well. You can go in and see him, if you want. He's been asking for you!"
Shelley was frozen to the spot. They hadn't spoken in two years and he was still asking for her.
"He might be asleep, I don't want to disturb him,"
"He's awake!"
With those words, Shelley stepped forward, heading into the main part of the infirmary. The lights were dimmed as its only resident seemed to be Colonel Reynolds. She walked around to the side of the bed, seeing a man with his eyes half shut. They fluttered open, as he felt someone approach. His head rose, looking up at her.
Shelley patted down her blouse and skirt, running her fingers through her hair, making herself look presentable and not the mother of four children.
"Shelley," he whispered.
It had felt like a life time since he had seen her last and she hadn't changed at all, apart from her hair. Her hair was a little shorter than she had usually had worn it, below her ears and not half way down her back. It was different.
"Hello, Andrew," she said.
It was still strange for her to call him Andrew. A name he hadn't really liked growing up. Maybe that's why he joined the air force. So everyone else could call him Reynolds.
"How are you feeling?"
"A little groggy."
He kept looking at her. Not being able to look away. For the last two years he had tried to get over her and thought that he was succeeding, until now. Until he had seen her face again!
"I hope Caroline is looking after you,"
He nodded, as best as he could. Reynolds tried to lift himself up. Noticing that his leg was in heavy plaster, Shelley grabbed hold of his arm, helping to pull him self up to the head of the bed. There, he got an even better look at her.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I should get going; I've got something to do." Shelley said.
As she tried to pull her hand away, Reynolds managed to stop it. Holding it briefly for a moment against his own. Shelley looked down at their hands, still lingering, she pulled it away.
"It's good to see you, Shelley. I've missed you." Reynolds said.
"I… I should go,"
She turned quickly on her heels, heading out of the infirmary. Propping herself up against a nearby wall. Her heart pounding in her chest!
What the hell was that?
Why had she let her hand slip into his? It had been the simplest of touches and one that had lasted for longer than it should. The fact that he had missed her had made it ten times as worse. She had missed him too! Maybe a little more than she should!
The Colonel lay back on the bed, his head on the pillow behind him, shaking his head. Surely he still couldn't feel the same way after two years, could he? Yes, he could. And it still hurt. The thought of her with someone else! But something felt different. The way she had let him hold her hand? Shelley would have never have done that before. But for a brief moment, he believed he had held more than her hand.
Shelley ran to the gate room, realising that she was going to miss Vala's send off. As she approached the gateroom, she heard the last chevron lock and the event horizon spill outward. At the door, she stopped, composing herself. Whatever had happened in the infirmary had shaken her. And she didn't want Vala or Daniel to see it.
Vala's head turned, seeing her friend appear from behind her.
"I thought you weren't going to make it!" she said.
"I know I'm sorry. I'm here now."
Vala pulled Shelley into her arms for a hug. This would definitely wouldn't have happened a few years ago, not without one of them losing a limb. As Shelley pulled back, Vala saw something in her eyes. Shelley was scared of something.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Shelley hesitated, looking across at Daniel and then nodded.
"I'm fine, honestly."
Vala knew when people were lying and her friend was definitely lying.
"Are you sure, I can stay!"
Shelley shook her head.
"No you can't. You need to see him. You need to sort this out."
"Are you talking about me and Tomin or you and…"
Shelley's silence explained it all and she shook her head, not wanting to talk about it any longer.
"We'll talk when I get back,"
Shelley nodded. Daniel appeared next to them, always still a little weary when the two of them got on. And had been on high alert for the last two years! He held Vala's bag out for her. She may be only going for a few days but she had packed almost her entire wardrobe. Including the lingerie she had brought the afternoon before. Vala hugged Shelley again, then moved on to Daniel.
"I'll see you guys in a few days," she said. "Take care of her," Vala added.
Daniel was puzzled by her remark. But nodded in agreement, of course he was going to take care of her.
Vala stepped back, walking the short distance up the ramp towards the gate and waved as she stepped through, backwards. Shelley smiled. She really did miss her when she went away. But wouldn't say it to her face.
The gate shut off behind them as they turned back towards the gateroom exit.
"I thought tonight that I'd see if we could get a baby sitter for the kids and we could go out for dinner. Maybe book into a cheap motel?"
Shelley shook her head.
"I don't know, Daniel. I'm still pretty tired after last night."
"That's why the motel idea is such a good one!" Daniel said.
"Maybe we could just rent a movie and veg out on the couch,"
Daniel nodded, agreeing.
"I guess I'll see you later," he said.
"I shouldn't be home late," Shelley said.
She turned again, heading out of the room, not even saying goodbye. Daniel looked at her. She had been more interested in say goodbye to Vala than having any kind of conversation with him. And what was with Vala's, look after her, comment. Did Vala know something that he didn't?