Broken

AN: Hello! I bring you another Stargate fic featuring Daniel and Vala. This is an AU, so there is no stargate. Our favorite characters will pop up though. I hope you all enjoy it! There may be some trigger warnings periodically. The characters may appear to be OOC at times, fair warning.

Summary: Two broken people meet under unusual circumstances. Are they what the other needs to become whole?

Chapter 1

(Trigger warning- talk of miscarriages.)

Daniel Jackson was bone tired. The yellow lines on the dark road in front of him passed quickly. He had made the decision to drive home from the airport after a 14-hour plane ride home from Egypt. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo had requested his expertise after rare treasures had been unearthed during a recent dig. Daniel was a well-known archeologist that was in high demand. Daniel relished the opportunity.

It also gave him time to forget about his life at home in Colorado for a while. He knew that once he got back home, the silence would be oppressive. The best part of his life had ended eight years ago. Now, he just felt like he sleepwalked through his life.

He had met his wife Sha're almost 10 years before when he had been on a dig in Egypt. At the time, he had been trying to read and walk – a feat that had ended when he had accidentally walked into her on the sidewalk. His book and her bag had both gone flying. Daniel found himself on his rear with a beautiful woman in his lap. He had blushed and struggled to right her before standing up. Being a skilled linguist, he had quickly offered his apologies. The woman, who he learned was named "Sha're" had been impressed by the fact that he spoke like a native. They had struck up a conversation. By the time he was done on the dig and was ready to return to the states, they were in love. Before he left, he asked Sha're to be his wife. She had agreed and they married. Daniel and Sha're returned to Colorado together.

They were married for a year when they decided to try for a baby. Sha're had quickly become pregnant, and they were beyond excited. However, at 12 weeks, she suffered a miscarriage. Daniel and Sha're grieved their loss deeply. About 3 months later, Sha're became pregnant again. They were hopeful this one would stick. It wasn't meant to be. A month later, they were told there was no heartbeat. Two more pregnancies ended in miscarriages before the end of the year.

Sha're became depressed. Daniel tried to raise her spirits by telling her that they could always adopt. But Sha're wanted to give Daniel his own child. Without his knowledge, Sha're went to a specialist. The news she received was not what she wanted to hear. And she was afraid to tell Daniel.

Finally, one night, two weeks later, she worked up her courage and told Daniel what the doctor had told her…

She had Stage 2 cervical cancer. The doctor wanted to give her a complete hysterectomy.

Daniel was floored. He had told her that if it needed to be done, then she should do it. Sha're had argued, saying that she wanted to give him a child. She still believed that she would be able to. She argued that the doctor had to be wrong. Daniel argued that her life was more important than having a child.

They went back to the specialist together. The news didn't change. The doctor warned that if she didn't have the surgery, it would cost her more than just the loss of children. It would cost her life.

The drive home was abnormally quiet. Sha're stared out the car window, refusing to look at or even talk to Daniel. When they got home, she locked herself in their bedroom. Daniel sat in their living room, trying to figure out what to say to help her. For once, his impressive linguist skills failed him.

After that afternoon, they started to drift apart. Daniel pleaded with Sha're to have the surgery. Sha're however, wouldn't. She was afraid that Daniel would see her as less of a woman if she had the hysterectomy. She was also still in denial. Sha're refused to believe that she had cancer. She refused chemotherapy and started getting sicker and sicker.

Two months after their 2 year wedding anniversary, Sha're died at home, the cancer having spread from her cervix to several other areas. Daniel was holding her hand as she breathed her last. Her last words to him were, "I love you, my Daniel."

Her father, Kasuf, requested that Sha're be buried in Egypt, according to their traditions. Daniel agreed and arranged for her body to be flown back to Egypt. He participated in her burial ceremony, and then returned to the states.

The first night back home found Daniel staring at their bed, his memory replaying Sha're's last moments. Overcome, Daniel began trashing the room. He screamed out his frustrations, tears streaming down his face as he flung the mattress against the wall, not even noticing the lamp next to the bed crashing to the floor. He continued to rage until he heard a pounding on his front door. One of his neighbors had heard the disturbance and had called the police.

Once Daniel had explained that he was the homeowner and that his wife had just died, the police left, but warned him that next time he would be pulled down to the station and thrown in jail for disturbing the peace.

He left the destruction in the bedroom as it was. He closed the door and collapsed into an exhausted sleep on the couch. After that night, Daniel continued to sleep on the couch.

Six months after Sha're's death, Daniel sold the house and moved to an apartment several blocks away. He still lived there.

Daniel was shaken out of his reverie when he noticed a dark-haired woman walking on the side of the road. She carried a small duffle bag and seemed to be limping slightly. He looked at the clock on the dashboard. 3:30 AM. Daniel was concerned. Why was she out here all alone? He hadn't noticed any other cars on the road. Why was she walking alone at 3:30 in the morning? Where had she come from? He didn't want to get involved and started to go around her. He slowed down as he passed her, not wanting to frighten her. She turned her head as he passed, and their eyes caught briefly. She didn't attempt to wave him down for a ride.

Daniel was struck with how sad she looked. She appeared to hunch in on herself, and he noticed her pull a thread bare jacket a little tighter around her. He got around her and sped up slightly. Not my problem. Looking in his rearview, he saw that she was looking down at the ground now, her pace even slower than before. She looked so small…

Daniel sighed. He slowed his jeep down, pulling along the shoulder. Wondering if this was a good idea, he opened his door and stepped out. The woman had also stopped, her body language showing she was on alert.

Daniel approached her slowly, his hands up to show he wasn't a threat. She eyed him warily and then wrapped her arms around her stomach.

"Hello. I'm not going to hurt you," Daniel said quietly, his words carrying to her in the silence of the night. She continued to eye him, her stance not changing. As he got closer, he noticed her looking around, her eyes looking for a quick escape.

"Do you need a ride somewhere? I'm heading into town. I can drop you at the motel. It's about a half hour away. I promise I'm a nice guy. You'd be safe with me."

The woman sighed and straightened slightly. She looked Daniel up and down, and then at his jeep. Finally, she opened her mouth.

"You are very attractive," came out quietly. She sounded Australian.

Daniel coughed, surprised. He hadn't been expecting that. "Um…thank you?"

"You promise not to hurt me?" she asked, her eyes once again on the ground.

Daniel stepped closer. He held out his hand. She looked at it, her eyebrow raised. "I'm Dr. Daniel Jackson. I'm an Archeologist. I promise you'll be safe with me. You shouldn't be out here this late by yourself. Let me take you to the motel." His hand hung in the air between them. Finally, her hand raised, and she shook his.

"Vala. Vala Mal Doran."

Daniel nodded. "Nice to meet you."

"I can't pay you for gas. I…um…don't have any money. If you don't want to take me into town now, that's fine. I'll…figure something out." Vala looked at the ground again, and Daniel felt her trying to tug her hand away. He realized he still held her hand and quickly dropped it.

In that moment, as he stared at her, Daniel made a decision. "Are you hungry? I haven't eaten in a few hours and could definitely go for a burger or something."

Vala shook her head, but her stomach growled loudly, betraying her. Daniel grinned. Vala just looked embarrassed. "Come on. There's a great burger joint that's open 24 hours just up the road." He held out his hand, waiting.

Vala eyed his hand, before finally taking it. He led her to the passenger side and opened the door. She climbed in and he shut the door. He walked around to the other side and climbed behind the wheel. She stared ahead as he started the engine and pulled back on the road.

"What do you like on your burgers? Do you even like burgers?" Daniel asked conversationally.

"I like them. I'm not picky," Vala replied, still looking ahead.

Daniel knew he had to tread lightly with his next question. "When did you eat last?" he asked quietly.

He felt more than saw her head turn toward him. He kept his eyes on the road, waiting for her answer. After a couple minutes, he heard her say, "A couple days ago."

Daniel gave no outward reaction, but internally he was shocked. A couple days?!

"How long have you been…traveling?" Daniel asked.

"A while…"

They passed the rest of the drive in silence. Daniel saw the sign for the burger joint and pulled in the parking lot. He parked the jeep and looked at Vala. She met his eyes briefly before looking down.

"Hey…" Daniel said gently, his palm cupping her cheek, "Look at me…"

Vala looked up, and Daniel saw tears in her eyes. His thumb brushed against her cheek, and she stared at him. Daniel swore he felt a spark. He shook it off.

"Come on. Time to eat," he said, pulling away from Vala.