Vala stretched as she came awake, feeling the warmth of Daniel's hand on hers. Opening her eyes with a smile, she watched him play with her fingers for several moments before his eyes lifted to hers.
"Hi." She breathed softly.
"Hi." He replied. She watched him continue to run a finger along the knuckle of her hand, her concern growing.
"Darling, is everything alright?" she asked finally.
Daniel took his time responding, she finally pulled her hand away to force him to focus.
"You know I'd do anything for you, right?" He asked then. Vala felt a chill of fear run down her spine. She was in the infirmary, alone, with Daniel, who had only a few short months before wanted her to destroy their baby.
"Where is this going?" She asked, steel edging its way into her voice as she curled around her stomach protectively.
"I'd do anything to protect you." He continued. His other hand came up to rest against the baby kicking under skin, eyes darkening with firm resolve.
"Darling, you're beginning to frighten me. What's going on?" She asked softly.
"Jacek contacted us this morning, wanted to negotiate coming back to Earth. He claims to have important information about a ZPM, and you know those things are like…we really need them. For Atlantis. So, we'll be allowing him back. And he's staying. He's going to be living on Earth again. Jack found him a nice little place in Texas, where he will live out the rest of his life in relative peace. This time we're monitoring him with a tracking device. He steps outside the boundaries of his preprogrammed radius, he's thrown into the holding cells here, never to see the light of day again." Daniel explained.
Vala withdrew, pulling her hands out of his grasp.
"Remember what happened last time? He'll do it again." She warned sagely. "You didn't listen last time, and he escaped. I reserve the right to say I told you so when he eludes his guards again and starts making trouble, even hiring the evil Jaffa to do his bidding again." She continued.
"We aren't going to let him near you or the baby, unless you want him here."
"Really?" Vala's face was hopeful.
"Really. As far as he's concerned, you no longer exist. In fact, I'm thinking up something to tell him about your absence. What would make you happier, running away with a gorgeous male model to the south of France to be his exotic beauty and living in the lap of luxury for the rest of your life, or, you steal something valuable and disappear with it off world, while we search desperately for the one item that keeps our planet turning?" He asked with a smile.
"Definitely love the idea of the male model. Although, almost no one holds a candle to you, darling. Except of course, that one man we both know I would leave you for. George Clooney. Or even that wonderful younger man, Orlando Bloom." She teased.
"I'm hurt. George Clooney over me?" Daniel countered, squeezing her hand.
She squeezed back, her eyes shining with love.
"I'm headed to the commissary, you want me to bring you anything special?" He asked then.
"Grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich, heavy on the barbecue sauce, heavy on the cheese, heavy on the macaroni, if they have it. If they don't, don't worry about it. Oh, and a side of mashed potatoes with mayonnaise. Fish sticks and as many croissants as you can hold, make sure the fish has strawberry jelly on it, veal burgers, and turkey bacon. And any kind of jelly filled donut, except absolutely no strawberry."
Daniel raised an eyebrow, she gave him a mock glare in return.
"Your son wants the donut." She explained.
"Right." He turned to leave again.
"If it's not too much trouble, one of those things Cameron calls pears. And some pineapple. Oh, and cranberry sauce. That sounds good." she tilted her head, staring off to the side.
"Waffles, maple syrup, and something nutty. Not peanut butter though. Pistachio butter, almond butter, hazelnut spread, anything not made from peanuts."
By now, Daniel had a pen and paper in hand, writing things down quickly.
"Anything else?" He asked.
"That should do it." She sighed after giving it some careful thought.
"Back in a flash." Daniel smiled, heading off to do her bidding.