Mr Mal Doran

spacegypsy1

Chapter Three

~0i0~

"Ho, wait, what do you mean which wife?" Cam, closed one eye, took a short hurtful breath, and waited.

"Welllll," Vala tossed her hair from her face and waved a hand around. "Weird stuff. Nothing unusual."

"Come on, princess spit it out."

"Not my fault." Vala whispered, ducking her head.

"And...?" Sam prompted.

Rushing her words she answered. "He somehow thought I was his wife when we were escaping from death."

"And how was that?" Landry prompted.

Vala raised both shoulders high. "I have no idea. Really. It wasn't my fault. I said, and I quote, that I told him, and he was delirious, so, anyhow, I told him I was tempted to tell his addled brain I was his wife and then, well, I think he got confused. And, so, well, er, he thinks I'm his wife. Very disturbing, I know. But, however, really, not my fault."

Mitchell coughed painfully, then muttered, "Son of a bitch."

"That's what I thought." Vala grinned wide.

~0i0~

"Vala?"

"Hmm? What? I hate the infirmary no one ever lets me sleep."

"Wake up. Daniel's asking for you."

Instantly she sprung forward jackknifing into a sitting position. "Carolyn? He's awake? Oh! Me? Awake AND asking for me? He's alright? And, asking for me?"

"Physically he's good. Scans are all good. No swelling in his brain as we'd feared. We still have to see about his memory. All I can say is... he's asking for his wife, Vala."

"Okay, is the Vala the wife he is asking for or Vala as in you are talking to me?"

Carolyn shrugged. "I'm not sure. Either way he's asking for his wife. Then he adds, 'Vala. Where is Vala?' As if he's not so sure he has it right.

Scurrying out of the infirmary bed Vala headed for the door.

"Vala?"

"Yes?"

"Shoes, robe?"

"Oh, right."

As Vala got ready, the doctor cautioned her. "Keep him engaged in conversation, but avoid the wife thing, maybe just ordinary things like lunch, things like that, do try to get him to talk."

~0i0~

Carolyn led Vala into the cool dimly lit room where Daniel lay apparently unconscious. Vala shot a disproving glare at the doctor.

"Asleep or resting," she said to Vala then taking her penlight out she softly touched his shoulder. "Hey?"

Daniel slowly opened his eyes.

"I brought Vala to see you."

He tried to turn, but Carolyn stopped him. "Hold on." She ran one penlight across one blue orb surrounded by black and blue bruising, then moved to the other eye. "Looks good. What's your name?"

Daniel flicked his gaze over to Vala and smiled. "Daniel."

Vala nodded and grinned back at him.

Smile widening, Daniel kept his eyes on Vala.

"What's your full name?" Carolyn asked.

Slowly Daniel turned his head back towards the doctor, "Daniel, Daniel Mal Doran. Where are we? What happened?" Again his gaze went to Vala.

A small, almost inaudible gasp escaped Vala. She blinked, bit her lip, looked up at Carolyn and back to Daniel. Recovering quickly she touched his face gently. "What do you remember happening?"

"Running, pain. You, so incredible, lugging me along and running straight towards that swimming pool. That's all I remember." His eyes squeezed shut tightly but more in concentration than pain.

"Swimming pool?" Vala squeaked out. "Oh! I know! Right, yes, running towards it. And jumping in to a, er, a, wellll... a secret passage to safety. Because, hmm, because we were being chased by the bad people... sorta people, not what Mitchell would call people, who were mean to you and... and... Daniel?"

"He's asleep."

"Thank the stars! I was running out of regular things to say."

Looking dubious Carolyn pointed towards the door. "Let's go up so I can update everyone. And maybe go over what is considered normal conversation."

"I'll stay here with him. I don't think I want to hear the update on his memory and certainly we all know what's normal. Besides, I'm not dressed for it."

"Vala, I gave him a mild sedative. He'll be out for some time. His body needs to heal and his mind needs to heal. Come on. You can change while I gather the troops."

Vala stalled. What time is it? General Landry probably wants to sleep in. I can watch Daniel sleep. Won't be the first time."

~0i0~

Trying to appear undisturbed by the information Carolyn and the Neurologist had just presented, Vala stared at the conference table mulling over the highlights. Daniel's scans are good, vitals good, injuries recovering nicely. Actually, almost ready to be released, amazing as that was. Unfortunately they seemed to be stumped by his memory loss.

What if he never remembered the past? That didn't seem so bad, what worried her is he would – okay - when he does remember he will be very pissed at her. Keeping panic at bay she pretended to be hopeful and listened to the doctors orders, that is, to not be found skulking around and not staying up all night in a chair, at Daniel's side and to get some sleep herself, in the infirmary bed. To which she whole heartedly agreed.

Two hours later she was curled up asleep right beside him, on his infirmary bed, no skulking around and no staying up all night occurred.

~To Be Continued