Cheesy 1980's pop song alert! You have been warned! Don't read the chapter and then come complaining to me afterwards ;-)
Chapter 12 The Right Words
It was a full minute before Laylun and Vala broke apart. Vala had to clear her throat and wipe her nose on her sleeve afterward.
Laylun continued to grin, even as he broke into a hurried whisper. "I'm sorry about the letter, Mother Vala, really I am, but we had to enact the perfect subtefuge. The Tok'ra and I, that is. We had to make everyone think that I was converted to Athena's cause, to ensure both my safety and the safety of any future mission that I may be involved in."
"It's okay," Vala patted both of his cheeks with her hands, gently. "Really. I understand, sweetheart, I really do. We've all been there. Well, mostly I've been hiding my identity because I was in trouble with various law abiding societies. But that would be another story, and not one for your delicate ears."
Laylun grinned. "My ears are a lot less delicate than they were back home on Semjata!" He began to lead her down one of the smaller corridors which led off of the main one.
Vala tweaked a little smile sideways at her young protégé. "I hope that the things you were taught back home put you in good stead out in the galaxy?"
"They did." Laylun chuckled outright. "You'd be surprised how dreadful most people around here are at playing cards! It's almost a shame to keep taking their money."
"Darling, it's never a shame to take other peoples' money, if they're stupid enough to play against you." Vala stopped, as her young friend drew to a standstill.
"I must return, before the other guard awakens," he told her. "Once you are in the cell await my return and I will escort you back out. I will need to make false reports of your presence and direction of flight. It may be some time before I can return to you. The room where Dr Jackson and the Colonel are extends to the right of the door a little, you can hide yourself there if anyone comes to the doorway."
Laylun pointed to the two cells where the SGC captives were incarcerated. "Good luck, Mother!"
Nodding, Vala moved stealthily along the remaining few yards of corridor that led towards the two rooms. She put her ear against the first, listened closely, then pulled away.
Here goes something, she thought. Nope – here goes nothing! That's the one. Here goes nothing.
Then, pulling Daniel's credit card out of her pocket, she began to silently work on the door locking mechanism.
o – o – o – o – o – o –
Sam Carter watched as another small contingent of Free Jaffa warriors materialised on the bridge of the George Hammond. She smiled at them briefly, then turned to Teal'c who was stood next to her.
"Are you sure there's room to put them all?" she asked him, concerned.
Teal'c smiled and inclined his head. "Indeed, ColonelCarter. Jaffa require very little space, as we bring no possessions with us and are used to the hardships and strategies of both battle and preparation."
"Oh." Sam nodded, trying not to grimace as the transport beam deposited another group directly in front of her. "Well, as long as they're all happy. And we don't sink!"
Teal'c looked at her, puzzled. "Sink? We are in orbit around Chulak, I do not think that it is possible to sink."
Sam let out a chuckle. "Joke, Teal'c. Joke. I just mean, there's so many people onboard now, that the ship is heavier."
"We are in space, ColonelCarter," said Teal'c, still confused. "This vessel is weightless at the moment then, is it not?"
"Oh Teal'c," Sam's grin was wide across her face. "It's just a figure of speech! I just mean -."
"You mean that we have many new passengers on board," Teal'c said, enlightenment dawning. "And as such, if this were a Tau'ri vessel similar to one of your ocean going ships back on Earth, then it would indeed sink due to all of the extra weight."
"Correct." Sam shook her head ruefully as another bunch of warriors appeared in front of them. "How many does that make now?"
"I believe that the last group brought the number of Jaffa to forty two, not including myself and Master Bra'tac."
"And, just out of interest…" Sam paused. "Where exactly are you putting them all?"
Teal'c went to speak, then clamped his mouth down, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "ColonelCarter – you do not wish to know!"
o – o – o – o – o – o –
Mitchell lifted his head and sat forward. He thought that he'd heard a faint slithering sound from outside the cell. He listened for a moment but there was no other indication that anyone was there. The Colonel leaned back against the wall. A moment later the sound came again.
"Mitchell?" Daniel opened his eyes. His voice was very quiet, almost breathless. "Do you hear that?"
"Uh huh." Mitchell climbed slowly to his feet. "You stay down there buddy. Rest yourself." He crept closer to the door, only getting about half way when there was a small click. The Colonel froze, moving back quickly as the door swung open suddenly.
Vala stood on the threshold, Zat in one hand, Daniel's credit card in the other. "Hello you two," she grinned, jamming the weapon back into her leg holster and slipping the card into one of her many other pockets.
"Princess!" Mitchell grabbed her and swung her around in a hug that made her hair fly.
"The door!" Vala hissed, half laughing against his shoulder.
Mitchell let her go and pulled it to carefully. When he turned back Vala was kneeling beside Daniel.
The archaeologist's jacket, on the left side, was soaked through with thick blood from his armpit down to his hip bone. His face was sallow and his breathing seemed shallow and difficult – even so, he managed to open his eyes and grin a tiny grin up at Vala.
"Daniel, you foolish idiot," she told him, brushing her fingers gently across his forehead. Her heart was clenching and unclenching painfully in her chest and she had to clear her throat. Taking his left hand carefully in her own she lifted it, rubbing the back gently.
"We need to get out of here ASAP," Mitchell said, in a low voice. He nodded towards Daniel who had closed his eyes again. "Jackson needs Carolyn's medical attention urgently. We gotta leave, pronto!"
"I've got this one, Cameron," Vala patted his arm gently. She settled to sit cross legged in front of Daniel, before pulling her Gou'ald healing device out of one of her pockets. She showed it briefly to the Colonel.
"Is that what I think it is?" he asked, suspiciously.
"Yes, probably," Vala answered, slipping the small trinket onto her hand. "And it's the only thing we've got, stuck down here. Or shall I just leave him to die?" The last sentence was almost spat out at Mitchell.
The Colonel shook his head. "Of course not. Just be careful."
"I will. Keep an eye on the door."
Mitchell went to stand close to the cell entrance, listening for any approaching sounds from the corridor outside.
Vala's expression changed, became intent. She shut her eyes and held the small Gou'ald implement directly over the wound on Daniel's abdomen. The stone in it's centre began to glow as a visualisation of the torn and broken blood vessels, ligament and muscle began to form in her mind. She saw the burns, and the scarring – she scanned what needed to be attended to immediately, and what could be healed with a second burst of the crystal, and a third.
Vala's hand shook and she opened her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"You okay?" Mitchell asked, from his position by the door.
She nodded, straightened her arm and closed her eyes again. "Don't interrupt me now," she told him, her voice sounding strange, almost catatonic. Then the device began to make it's odd, mechanical hum, and Vala's eyes closed again as she concentrated on using it to heal Daniel.
Several minutes passed before she broke off, panting slightly.
"It's done," she whispered, voice slightly wobbly.
"You okay?" Mitchell asked, concerned.
Vala nodded, and slipped the little gadget off of her fingers - her hands shook quite obviously. "Not being an actual Gou'ald any more takes it out of a girl, when I use this little knick knack for a lengthy period of time," she smiled.
"You use it often?" Mitchell raised his eyebrows.
Vala grinned again, looking better already. "Mainly on grazed knees and nosebleeds these days!" She smoothed her fingers across Daniel's forehead again, gently.
His colour had already improved, and he breathed softly but rhythmically, in and out, in and out. The wound on his side was gone, not even a bruise or a graze to show that it had ever been there.
"He's gonna sleep it off, right?" Mitchell came to crouch next to her and nodded at his old team mate. "Like a hangover?"
Vala shouder nudged him. "Mmm. It might be a little tender when he stretches for a few days – I'm not sure I managed to catch all of the muscles completely."
"You did a bang up job, Princess," Mitchell gave her a one armed hug. "I was beginning to think that the only thing which would save him would be a sarcophagus!"
Vala pulled her mouth down but was stopped from speaking by the sound of approaching feet outside the cell. She scuttled over to the area of wall which Laylun had told her couldn't be seen from the doorway. There was the sound of someone battling with the lock, then the door opened.
Vala squashed herself into the corner as much as she was able.
Mitchell stood and approached the entrance to the cell. He was careful to position himself so as to draw the gaze of anyone entering away from the hidden corner.
"Colonel Mitchell?" a young ex-Jaffa stood in the doorway, thankfully making no attempt to enter the cell. There were two more young boys behind him.
"That's me," The Colonel leaned nonchalantly against the wall.
"Our Priestess Athena wishes you to be brought before her for questioning," the leader of the trio said.
"Great." Mitchell straightened up. "Lead on." He didn't look back, afraid of giving Vala's position away. One of the accompanying young men pulled the door shut behind him and they moved away, escorting the Colonel up the corridor.
This is NOT going to be fun, Mitchell thought to himself. But at least they didn't find Vala. He rubbed his neck. Come on Sam, we need you. Hurry up and rescue us.
Back in the cell Vala waited a few moments before creeping out from her hiding place. Listening carefully for a minute or so, she eventually made her way over to Daniel. He was sleeping peacefully, free of pain. The ex-Gou'ald host felt justifiably pleased with herself.
Nice to know that Qetesh was good for something! she thought. Settling with her back against the wall, she lifted Daniel's head gently onto her lap, hoping to make him a little more comfortable. The floor didn't look as if it made a very good pillow.
Sitting in silence, with her fingers moving slowly through the archaeologist's matted, dusty hair Vala let her thoughts stray back over the last few days. Visiting Teal'c on Dakara, the Ha'tak appearing over the Temple, her arrival at the SGC and seeing all of the old team again. The long journey in the Tel'tak with Daniel back to Semjata to check on her babies. Feelings – old feelings, new ones. One's that she'd tried to pretend that she didn't have.
Vala remembered Daniel telling her that he loved her as they stood in front of the Stargate. That was the last thing he'd said to her – and she hadn't been able to repeat it back. Not because she didn't love him, because she did. She always had, and she'd always known it. The ex-space pirate, used to being on her own, and let down in the past by everyone that she'd ever trusted, had never been brave enough to tell her dear archaeologist how she really felt. It had led to years of heartache. For both of them.
Vala's mouth trembled and her eyes filled with sudden, unexpected tears. She wiped her nose on the back of her hand. Daniel might have died – he might have died not knowing how she felt about him. Suddenly it didn't seem such a big thing anymore, declaring that most precious and intimate of feelings. Vala glanced down at his sleeping face. Bizarrely, the words from a song on one of Teal'c 'Sounds of the 80's – European Import' CD's slipped into her mind. As she continued to run her fingers gently through Daniel's hair, she began to sing in a voice that was little more than a whisper.
"Words,
Don't come easy to me…."
Vala had to stop as her throat closed up with emotion. She took a deep breath.
"How can I find a way to make you see I love you?
Words don't come easy."
A single tear from her brimming eye tipped over and slid down one cheek as her vision blurred. She carried on, barely able to sing the lyrics.
"Words,
Don't come easy to me,
This is the only way for me to say I love you,
Words don't come easy."
Daniel unexpectedly turned over onto his back – his sparkling blue eyes open, expression incredulous yet gently joyful at the same time.
Vala couldn't see him as she had her hands over her face by now, although she felt him move in her lap. She began to weep silently, as she hadn't done since the death of her mother, so many years before.
Daniel, sat up, wincing, and pulled her into his arms, holding her as close as he possibly could, while she cried out all of her fear and regret and sadness. Rubbing her back soothingly, he laid his cheek gently against her hair, unable to prevent the hopeful tiny smile which tugged at his mouth.
Eventually the tears died away. Vala dropped her hands before wrapping her arms around Daniel's midriff instead and burrowing her face into his chest.
He gently ran one finger down her jawline. "Hey, look at me."
"Just…give me a minute," Vala replied, head down, searching for a tissue in one of her many pockets.
"Nope." Daniel tilted her face up to him. Her cheeks were damp and blotchy, eyes red rimmed. But to the archaeologist she looked more beautiful than she ever had in her whole life, and he kissed her, right there, on the floor of the prison cell. It was gentle, but deep and went on for some time.
Vala didn't feel the urge to complain – she re -wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all of the years of loving and wanting that she carried in her heart.
Eventually they both needed to breathe – breaking apart the pair of them just sat grinning like goons at each other.
"You really love me?" Daniel asked at last, tweaking her chin gently.
Vala nodded. "Mmm." She swallowed. "I really do."
"That song…." Daniel pulled her in to lean against his chest again.
Vala blushed faintly. "Sorry."
"Why?" Looking down at her, he brushed a stray lock of blonde wavy hair away from her eyes. "It was beautiful. Perfect. It was you – your real feelings, right?"
"Mmm."
"It was beautiful," Daniel repeated. He meant it. The cheesy, 80's pop song had enabled his beautiful alien to put into words the feelings that were truly on her heart. "Say it again?" he asked. "Please? I won't laugh."
Vala deliberated. Her eyes were huge, a deep silver-blue. She lifted one hand to stroke Daniel's dear face, paused, then made up her mind. "Don't look at me," she told him, then laid her head against his heart and repeated the words she had sung earlier.
"Words,
Don't come easy to me,
How can I find a way to make you see I love you?
Words don't come easy.
Words,
Don't come easy to me,
This is the only way for me to say I love you,
Words don't come easy."
A long, gentle silence followed. Vala broke it eventually. "There is more," she told him. "I mean, there's more song. But I couldn't remember the rest."
Daniel kissed her forehead, grinning against it. "It doesn't matter. What you sang was perfect." Another pause. Now the archaeologist's heart began to beat loudly and uncomfortably. His hands began to sweat. "Vala," he cleared his throat. "Um – Vala?"
"Mmm?"
"How would you like to get – to get – I mean – would you ever like to – I mean that is – get married?"
There was a lengthy pause.
"Well," Vala said eventually. "That would depend on who I was marrying. I mean, I don't want to marry Mitchell, although he is cute on occasion and I do love him as a brother. And I don't want to marry Muscles, well, obviously he has Ishta. And Sam has Jack – I don't want to marry either of them. And Sam is a girl anyway – I suppose that you've noticed that…?"
Daniel stopped her nervous if excited babbling with another lengthy kiss. This one involved a lot of hands as well and they were both pretty breathless by the time they broke apart.
"Me," he said. "Marry me. Please. I'd love it if you would."
And that was it. After all those years of denial and deliberation, of missed chances and forgotten alternate realities, of separation and misunderstandings and just downright fearfulness of rejection – after all those years, Daniel realised that he would simply just love to be married to Vala.
She was smiling a wide but gentle, slightly damp smile as the tears spilled over again, but they were happy tears this time.
"I'd love it too," she whispered. "I'd love it too. Very much."
Daniel enveloped her in the biggest hug yet, the kiss this time was a mixture of tears and laughter and teeth-bashing grins.
A few minutes later a crash from further up the hallway brought them both back down to earth.
Vala wriggled off of Daniel's lap and stood. She held out her hand and hauled him, grimacing to his feet.
"I'll have to finish healing those muscles later," she told him, ruefully.
"It's okay." He smiled carefully. "I can run."
Footsteps were approaching the closed cell door.
Vala backed into the hidden corner.
Daniel moved slowly to stand against the far wall.
And they waited for the door to open.
TBC...
So - did we all enjoy that little burst of F.R. David? My OH actually pointed out that Vala, coming from off-world, has no knowledge of what is cool and not cool regarding songs, and wouldn't be trapped by any stereotypes that we associate with different genres. If she heard a song, any song, and liked it she'd just sing it. I hadn't listened to the song for years until I heard it on the radio a few months ago but it seemed perfect for our space pirate. :-) So thank you F.R. David and your song "Words" from 1982.
And I hope that you all liked the small nod to 'Unending' in this chapter too - no apologies there :-)