"We have picked up a coded message from an Ori ship. We can intercept them in one hour."

"Good Commander. Keep me posted and keep trying to contact Kraco. We continue on our course, unless something else more valuable is to be obtained."

The Commander bowed as the man stood up from his chair.

"As you wish Lord Ba'al."

Teal'c, Mitchell and Sam took a breather while Daniel held on to Vala. The Ori pod had enough fresh clothes on board and uniforms that they all changed into to stay warm. Sam switched places with Daniel to change Vala into some warm clothes finally. They all said nothing while changing and the silence was understood, knowing they still where not out of the woods until they were all safe and sound on the Deadulis. When Daniel was finished, he settled back down on the benches and held on to Vala with thankfully some blankets to keep Vala covered and warm.

They had all remembered how Vala was beaten and kept them alive by feeding them and kept them clean, while she took the brunt of violent brutality. It would be an unshaken bond between all of them and especially Vala. Vala had taken all the pain and suffering to keep them alive, and they would never forget those vivid memories. Each in their own way they have vowed to protect Vala, even if it meant their own death in doing so. There bond would never be shaken, it was cemented in her blood and shame. Only they would know what happened to Vala and any reports would reflect that Vala saved them all at the expense of her own life. They had made up their minds, that such acts of brutal rape and beatings would be known only to them. Gen Landry and Dr. Lam they realized would be the only ones to truly know what happened, unofficially. It would be up to Vala if she ever revealed it to anyone else. Somehow they knew she would never do so or ever speak of such atrocities ever again unless to them.

Unknown to SG1, Taika had indeed saved their lives. But the Alterans deep seated plan for the defeat of Origin was yet to be revealed. Taika's people had been wiped out by a virus introduced to them by Origin for their betrayal to the Alterans. The Alterans rescued Taika and what was left of her culture and used the virus to their own needs. Their plan was to hide one of their own amongst the galaxy and one day to finally defeat Origin. Taika had witnessed the finding of the lost one. For thousands of years, the lost one remained hidden and then lost several times. Taika would become one of their seekers, other than the Gou'ald. After the Gou'ald's treachery, her purpose was to protect the hidden one until time would come to defeat Origin. However, the event of Adria being born thru the Origin was a way to diffuse the Alterans plan of destruction for them by using Adria to defeat and destroy their Ancestors and take over the galaxies by spreading Origin. Taika however knew the Alterans did not anticipate the child of the lost one to be so powerful, so soon. Adria had taken Vala's hidden memories and used them to create her own persona of terror. Vala was never meant to remember Quetesh's horrific reign or she would have lost her sanity, as all host have done in the past.

Kraco's machine had only tapped into a small portion of Vala's memory of what Quetesh really was. Vala had protected herself long ago, against remembering anything close to the blood that Quetesh had spilled in slavery to her whim. Taika realized that Vala would remember her own memories of enough torture and certainly Kraco's had only added his own to her cache of pain.

Taika had no other choice but to neutralize Adria and use her virus infected body to infect the flames of Origin before they became too powerful through Adria. Adria had to be dealt with, and it would be by the Alterans ultimate plan to defeat Origin and the spread of evil amongst the stars. Taika would make her sacrifice by sending Adria a million light years away from the known galaxies and away from the lost one. The flames of Origin and Adria would only be able to return when the lost one had passed on her Ancient gene and it would mature in another.

ORI POD

Sam and put the pod on auto pilot and left the ships sensors on to detect any enemy or friendly ships in the area. They were all worried about Vala. Daniel kept a vigil with hardly any sleep. All of them had stayed mostly awake and tired, but Vala had done for more for them. Teal'c, Mitchell and Sam had joined Daniel in the back of the pod, to look in on Vala. Daniel informed them that Vala had spoken briefly and recognized him for a few moments and she went back to sleep. They could not remember Daniel looking more worried than he did now. They sat in silence, listening to the hum of the pod engines and keeping their eyes on the control panels. But they wanted to be there if Vala had awakened again.

Daniel held Vala tenderly and close. He was trying to convey all his love in his warm hold on Vala. Sam, Teal'c and Mitchell has just sat close to Daniel, knowing he only wanted to keep her safe. But they wanted to be close too. Vala began to stir.

"Nooooooo, noooooo. Can………can't die. Th…….they…….need……….need…..me." Vala started flailing her arms around. Daniel held her arms down. Making sure she would not hurt herself or him.

"Shhh, shhhhhhhh. It's ok Vala. I'm here. We're all here. Sam, Teal'c and Cam. We're here baby. Don't fight. We're alive, were alright. We're alright." Daniel continued to speak softly to reassure Vala she was safe. She finally calmed down and slowly opened her eye."

The first person she saw in focus once more was Daniel.

"Dan………Daniel?"

"Yes baby, I'm here, I'm here."

Daniel bent down and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

"Hey Princess." You scared us there for awhile; you ok?" Said Mitchell with concern.

Vala only looked his way and nodded. "You……..you're all……….safe?" Vala face was contorted in fear. Her mind was still foggy and she only vaguely remembered being strapped down and her mind on fire.

Mitchell responded smiling that she was still concerned about them. "Yes Princess; you made that possible. You took care of us and kept us alive."

Sam interjected and put her hand on Vala's forehead. "Hey, do you need anything? Are you thirsty or hungry?" Sam had realized they all had hardly eaten any food, but Vala must have been very weak from the lack of it.

Daniel appreciated that Sam was thinking of Vala's physically well being, as well as her mental state. Vala turned to look at Sam. Vala conveyed to Sam, thru her eyes, the physical violation that terrifies every woman pressed upon them against their will. Vala took hold of Sam's hand and held them tight. No words needed to be said between the two women. They knew instinctively the pain of that humiliation. The men watched silently as the two women completed a wordless bond. Sam patted Vala's hand in acknowledgement and sat up to find some food and water.

Vala watched Sam walk away and her eyes fell upon Teal'c. He scooted closer soVala could see him. Vala reached out her hand and placed her hand on Teal'c's face. Teal'c was stoic, until Vala had touched him. Teal'c bowed and spoke in the softest voice his friends had ever heard him speak.

"Nanb'tu'qua? (How are you?).

Vala understood his concern, and yet somehow she remembered his voice, the musical sound of his voice. The one that did not cause pain. Vala replied in kind.

"Lul…..lullaby. Lullaby." Vala eyes began to tear up.

Teal'c knew now, that Vala had heard him when she was in pain, and had soothed her with a Jaffa lullaby. Only Teal'c and Vala knew what it meant. That would be their bond.

Teal'c covered her hand on his face, and took his other hand and covered her forehead. Still speaking softly, Teal'c bowed his head a said a prayer for Vala. Before anyone could see the misting in his eyes, he abruptly left, but gently removed Vala's hands and placed them in Daniel's before doing so.

Mitchell bowed his head, knowing that Teal'c had become emotional, said nothing, and allowed the stoic man his quiet dignity and compassion.

"Princess, you get well." Said Mitchell. "When we get home. I'm going to have mom whip up a special cherry pie, just the way you like it, ok." Mitchell remembered his reunion in his hometown, and how Vala charmed his father and mother. But she was especially fond of his mother's homemade cherry pie. She couldn't get enough of it. And he appreciated how his parents treated Vala, a stranger, like one of the family. That was his bond to Vala.

"Jackson; take care of our girl. She was our sunshine, when things were darkest. We'll get home soon Princess; I promise." Mitchell patted Vala's hand and smiled at Daniel and left.

Daniel had never felt so thankful for his friendship, with these special people. They had shown Vala in their own personal way, how much she had meant to them. Vala even in her weak state had never felt so close to anyone in this way, until now. She had finally found the love she had long been desperate for and hid in her smile and laughter to protect her from being vulnerable.

Daniel held onto Vala and kissed her sweetly. Vala looked into his eyes, and saw such love and devotion, it overwhelmed her and she instinctively snuggled into Daniel's shoulders.

"Dan…Daniel?"

"Yes, hon?"

"Are……….are we……….we really married?" Vala asked hoping this was not a dream.

"Yes; we're husband and wife. Nothing will separate me from you, ever again; nothing."

Vala said nothing for a moment, wanting her marriage to Daniel to sink in, and hugging him to her, to make sure he was real.

"So…….can I pick……………pick our honeymoon?"

Daniel smiled to himself, and held her tighter.

"Any place you want Vala. Any place you want."

Vala sighed briefly and slowly fell back into a safe slumber, knowing Daniel was indeed hers, forever.

TBC

A/N: I was going to make this a two parter. But, I have to go to sleep sometimes. Feedback and reviews are most welcomed.