It was now way past noon when Mitchell emerged from Vala's room. Sam had returned and Daniel, Teal'c and Carolyn were talking about Vala's mysterious Blue Flame. Carolyn was addressing if there was any danger to them or Vala, when Cam entered the kitchen.

"How……how did it go Cam? Is Vala alright?" Asked Daniel still a little reprehensive about Vala's treatment.

"I don't know Jackson. You were right Dr. …….Carolyn. She did lash out at me a couple of times. She even made me angry a couple of times. But……..but I remembered what you both said. I…….I can only hope that she knows we care about her a lot."

Sam walked back into the room and sat down. She had emerged from her talk with Vala; a different woman. She had such fear that she would one day die alone on some far away planet. But now she knew she had friends in Daniel, Cam, Teal'c, and even Jack. But confessing to Vala about her worst fears had bonded the two women like no other. She had never even spoke to Janet about such fears, but Vala had been thru more than any women she knew and yet her ability to survive while still being beaten and raped, had opened her eyes to what Vala cherished most in life and hers; her friends. To protect her friends, even if it meant sacrificing her life; and that's exactly what Vala had done.

"Cam, did she respond to you? Asked Sam.

"I honestly don't know Sam. I know that…….that she helped me understand something about myself. That I would do anything to protect my friends, all company included."

Daniel sat listening to Sam and Mitchell open up about their friendship, made him feel that his wife was really special to all of them. Teal'c had remained fairly quite once Sam and Mitchell returned to the kitchen. He knew that Teal'c was up next, but he was going over the memories of what brutality Vala had experienced. It still made him choke up to see her in that kind of pain. Even more so that it was still causing her pain. But his thoughts also were on what Taika had said about Vala being the lost one and the pain she must suffer. Carolyn interrupted his thoughts.

"Well let's take a breather. I know Vala probably expects more of this and from what you're telling me, she has quite a positive influence on both of you without saying a word."

Daniel looked down the hall at Vala's room. Wanting her to bound out of her room, looking for something to eat. He knew Vala had a high metabolism and pretty much anything she ate was burned quickly off. But he was remembering other things about Vala also. The way she would barge into his office with an apple in hand and pester him about going out. The way she would curl up her nose when she was trying to decipher a book of artifacts and sigh when she was bored. Her easy demeanor when she was around anyone on base and how she always said hello to everyone, whether on base or off. Her sense of humor and the humorous affect she had on everyone about Tau'ri pop culture. Those were the things Daniel realized he took for granted. The small things that made up Vala and now he missed the most.

"Daniel?...Daniel?" Carolyn was trying to get his attention.

"Daniel Jackson? Are you not well?" Asked Teal'c.

Daniel could not help it. He wanted Vala back the way she was. The way he resented her and hurt her, even unintentionally. Most of his life he had hidden his feeling away after his parents died and when he became an adult, he masked his hurt so those around him until they would eventually give up and leave him alone. Shar'e had been his first real love and when he lost her, the walls grew thicker, impenetrable.

"I need to speak to her Carolyn. It's driving me nuts, seeing her this way. She needs me. I want to tell her how much I love her and how sorry I am. I……..I couldn't protect her and not she thinks she's worthless.

"Daniel I know you want to see her, but it's important that you wait. Give her time to process what everyone is conveying to her without pressuring her. She needs this time to think. It's not always easy to wait on those you love. But the bigger picture is Vala. She's the one that has to respond to all you and what she thinks about herself. I can feel she's a strong individual, but she has always done it alone. This is very hard for her to deal with this type of pain out in the open."

Sam stood up from the table and hugged Daniel. He appreciated Sam's understanding and why he wants to see Vala so badly.

"Daniel, I can tell you this. I'm a richer person because of Vala. I took our friendship for granted. I think we can all say that. We've known each other for ten years and I've never seen you so care about someone so much. We all know you didn't marry Vala out of pity. We weren't even sure if you would ever love again. And we know you didn't marry Vala out of pity. I know she pushed your buttons, but someone had to. I think Vala has liked you from the start. You just didn't know how to return that love again, until now."

Daniel looked at Sam with glazed over eyes. He knew she was right and finally admitting that he was a jerk to Vala didn't make it any easier.

"Why don't we all get something to eat and regroup. Teal'c, I don't know what you're going to say to her, and I know she can't bully you. But, you may be the most difficult person to relate to. You have dealt with the Gou'ald as well as she has. So tread carefully, ok?" Stated Carolyn.

Teal'c nodded, but didn't say a word. It was now nightfall and pretty much everyone was deep in thought. Sam and Mitchell had bedded down for the night as well as Carolyn. Daniel couldn't really sleep, but took a nap. Carolyn had informed him, if he was too tired, it would not help Vala's cause. She would know and attack his resolve. Teal'c had starred at Vala's door all night. It was hard to tell what he was thinking and he never let on that he would visit Vala on his own terms into the night.

TBC