Vala liked the idea Daniel had for their evening activity - but she suspected that he had invited Teal'c to join them to keep her at something of a distance.

They were currently walking into a soup kitchen that Daniel had seen a news story about a few days ago. He had explained to her and Teal'c that this place provided food to those who were in need. Vala asked if this was only done at Christmas time, but Daniel explained that the kitchen was open year-round. She rather hoped she could come again during the upcoming year if all went well.

Daniel made a beeline for the person in charge, having quickly identified her from the news story.

"Ms. Coleman?" he asked, extending a hand in greeting. Said lady, a middle aged redhead with a big smile, took it in a firm handshake.

"Dr. Jackson, I take it?" she replied. Daniel, of course, had called ahead and found out that they were lacking on volunteers this night.

"Yes, ma'am," he responded with a smile. "These are my friends, Vala and Murray, with me. We're more than ready to pitch in tonight."

Ms. Coleman smiled. "Excellent!" She peered at the trio for a moment, clearly deciding where to put them. "I think we could use Murray on dish duty, and then, you, Dr. Jackson, and Vala on chopping some vegetables for the soup."

Vala nodded her head, ready to move to wherever she'd be doing that, but Daniel quickly jumped in. "Actually, Ms. Coleman, I think I'd be faster with dishes than T- Murray. He's good with knives, though - he and Vala would be great at chopping vegetables."

Ms. Coleman nodded, and began directing them to their stations. Vala cast an irritated look at Daniel before they separated, and she could see him wince as he turned to the sink. He's avoiding me, and I'm not about to let him think he's just getting away with it. She fully intended to have a conversation with him later.

Vala huffed as she began peeling a potato. Teal'c glanced over at her as he did the same.

"Dare I ask what is troubling you?" he asked somewhat wryly.

She sighed as she looked up at him. "Come on, Muscles. It's clear that Daniel is totally avoiding me, and I can't understand why." She frowned in thought. "He seemed fine yesterday until-" The mistletoe. Vala could understand his simply avoiding kissing her - it wouldn't have been the first time he'd avoided it, after all. But the imminent threat had passed. Why is he setting up barriers between us now?

"Until the mistletoe question was asked," Teal'c stated after a few moments, characteristically going right to the heart of the matter.

"Exactly," Vala agreed, feeling a bit morose at the confirmation. "It would have just been a kiss. I don't know why it's gotten him so worked up."

Teal'c looked right at her now, pausing over his sixth potato to Vala's second. Daniel clearly hadn't been kidding about Teal'c's skill with a knife. "Perhaps it would not have been 'just a kiss' to him, Vala Mal Doran."

Vala froze as Teal'c resumed peeling. Really? she wondered. "Oh," she replied rather lamely.

The conversation almost ended there as they silently peeled and chopped vegetables. Then Teal'c looked back at her from his work.

"Daniel Jackson was married when we first met. He then spent much time looking for his wife, who had been taken by a Goa'uld, before she died," Teal'c's face was stoic, but there was also a sense that he was reflecting back over his time with the archaeologist. "He has not really been in a relationship since. I believe the prospect of that sort of relationship developing with you gives him a certain sense of fear."

Vala's eyebrows rose as she took in what the Jaffa had said. He didn't typically reveal this much information in one go. "You think he's scared of getting serious with someone, then? Afraid he might get hurt again?"

Teal'c slowly nodded. "I believe so. There may be additional reasons, but I believe fear greatly affects his feelings on the matter."

Vala hummed in thought, willing to let the discussion with Teal'c end there. As they continued to help prepare the food, she began to assess the situation.

So he's afraid of anything serious with me. She knew seduction wasn't going to make him move forward with her - she'd tried to make a move on him several times, and he had rebuffed her every time. So what then? How do I get him to stop being afraid?

Perhaps if he knew I can take care of myself and won't die on him easily... The problem was, he should already know that. She'd kicked butt - including his - countless times. If he was still afraid -

"Are you alright, dear?" Ms. Coleman broke in, seeming to have popped up from out of nowhere.

Vala jumped a bit, realizing she'd started peeling a lot more slowly than she had before. "Oh, yes! My mind just ran away with me for a moment."

Ms. Coleman smiled. "Oh, happens to me all the time! I was going to say that, since your friend here is doing very well with the vegetables, I could use your help with set-up out front."

Vala jumped up to help. She did enjoy helping out for the rest of the night, getting a chance at one point to go out and talk to some of the strangers who came to eat. She definitely wanted to do this again.

But first - she had an archaeologist to sort out. She wasn't sure yet how she would do that, but with all these Christmas activities, maybe, just maybe, she'd get a little lucky.