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***I do not own anything here, all characters belong to MGM, I just play with them now and again. *****

A/N_ this chapter is really just a filler, it rambles, sorry. But the next chapter will be clearer I promise!

Chapter 3

Vala heard the buzz of her alarm and quickly shut it off. It was an hour before she usually rose and she had to make her escape quickly. As she hurriedly showered and dressed, being as quiet as she knew how, she mentally cursed the fact that Daniel was just down the hall from her. In the past, having Daniel so close had made her feel very safe, but today it made her get away very difficult. In a record 15 minutes she was ready to leave her quarters. With her boots in hand, she peered out her door. With the coast being clear, she quickly headed away from Daniel's door and made her escape. Stopping briefly in the mess hall to put on her boots and grab a paper sack of food prepared for her by one of the staff, Vala made her way to Samantha Carter's lab. Leaning against the wall, nearly asleep was Bill Lee.

"Hey Bill, I appreciate this" Vala smiled her thanks as Bill opened the lab. With Sam gone for the next few weeks on a shake-down cruise of the General Hammond, her lab was the perfect place for Vala to get some time to think.

"If you would like Vala, I can disable the cameras in here for you" Bill nervously followed her into the lab. He wasn't worried about Vala breaking anything, but he knew when Daniel found out who was helping her hide from him, there would be an explosion. The entire base had been buzzing about the "Daniel-Vala thing" that was going on. Bets were being recorded, money was changing hands, and they had become the SGC's very own reality show. It was a common occurrence to hear Mitchell bellowing "C'mon Jackson…in HERE?" Vala was quieter than anyone had seen her, rarely flirting with anyone, missing all of the opportunities for double-entendres, a big laugh, or just a wink. Daniel Jackson on the other hand seemed very self-satisfied and smug. Insufferably so according to Vala. Bill had noticed that Vala had taken to muttering about Daniel under her breath when working. But despite the complaints from Vala, she was often seen in Daniel's company or rather his arms. He seemed to be always touching her now. She seemed content to be there, but later Bill would catch her grumbling. "I know you need time to think Vala, if you would like I can sneak you food later today" Bill stood nervously by the door.

"Thanks Bill, you are an angel! How about a couple of bottles of fruit juice too? "Vala made herself at home in Sam's lab, unlocking the door to the tiny restroom that was shared with Bill Lee's lab to pick up the small overnight bag she had stashed there yesterday. Sam's lab, like Daniel's office, had a sofa with a couple of pillows and blankets kept in a storage closet. There were times of crisis when the scientists of the SGC bedded down in their labs. "Cozy isn't it" Vala threw a smile over her shoulder to Bill.

Bill watched Vala with a puzzled expression, he knew she was crazy for Daniel but she didn't seem to be happy with Daniel now acting crazy for her. He had never figured out women, maybe that was why he was divorced. He mumbled a quick promise to sneak her food and juice later and left. Vala looked at the door that Bill closed and shrugged. Some men …..

She continued settling into Sam's lab, turning on the computer, putting on her earphones and turning on her iPod, it would never do for Daniel to walk by Sam's lab and hear music with Sam gone. Vala settled in to browse the world-wide web.

Meanwhile…

Daniel smirked to himself as he showered. He had Vala all confused now and it was the way for him to stay in control of both her and their relationship. He planned a nice leisurely breakfast with Vala, preceded by some necking in her quarters, followed by some necking…working in his office. He laughed a bit at himself for feeling like a horny teenager. Vala brought out a side of him that no one had ever done before. Even Sha're hadn't gotten him feeling so out of control. He wasn't comfortable being so out of control, knowing that just a look from Vala was going to turn him completely on. She used her flirtatious ways to try to control others around her, he saw that. He didn't want to be just one of the ones she felt she had to control. He wanted to be the one she lost control for.

Daniel rapped on Vala's door, no answer. He rapped again "Vala it's me, time for breakfast", Still nothing from her room. He looked around to see that he was alone then slipped the master copy of the keycard for the base out of his wallet. Many years ago, he had acquired one, mainly because he kept losing the ones to his office and quarters. It had made things much easier over the years. He swiped Vala's door lock and quietly entered. He was surprised to find the room empty. The bed was neatly made, but there was no sign of Vala. She's probably eating Daniel decided as he left her rooms. He went to the commissary for breakfast and distractedly ate as he kept looking around for Vala. He also looked for the friends she had made to see if she was with one of them. There was Lt. Alice Graham, they often shopped together. That was Mary something who Val insisted had a beautiful singing voice, near her was Jason Brown and Katherine …something who often sparred with Vala. Daniel realized that she simply wasn't there. He left his breakfast half finished, took his coffee cup and decided to see if one of the scientists had her working already. He smiled to himself as he left the room, he had been keeping Vala pretty close to himself and had heard the grumbles of a few scientists about that. She really was brilliant, but he, Daniel, had decided he deserved her help more than any one else did for awhile. Daniel decided to make the rounds of the "usual suspects', the scientists who had come to rely on her help. His first stop was going to be Bill Lee; he had always been the most persistent in seeking her help. As Daniel marched through the corridors her heard a loud bang coming from the lab section and began running. If there was chaos he was sure Vala would be there. This time he was wrong, Bill Lee was unconscious due to an explosion Dr. Kelley insisted was not her fault. But there was no Vala. As Bill was taken to the infirmary, Daniel asked if anyone else had seen Vala and no one had.

Daniel stopped outside his office door, irritated but unsure why. As he entered he realized that he was ….worried….yep he was worried about Vala. Daniel barely made it to his chair and slumped into it. Why on earth should he be worried about Vala, he should be worried that she would hurt someone, steal something, and cause an international incident or something. Hell, she could be with someone, a MALE someone. Daniel clenched a fist, there was that Marine on SG 7 who was always calling "hi Vala" as they passed in the hallways, complimenting her even when Daniel had his arm firmly around her. Then there was that aide from the Pentagon who was always very solicitous whenever he saw Vala, offering to show her around… Daniel then realized he was growling in the back of his throat. Wait a minute, was he jealous? Daniel stopped to think….

A/N--- read and review… thanks. :D