Author's Note: Happy Independence Day all!

Another little fluffler for you all. Let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: Don't own nothing - unfortunately.


o0o


Wherever It Goes

It was like watching the tango.

Or waltz or…whatever. The point was, they worked in perfect sync, which wasn't natural – not for them at least. They were chaotic, always snapping at each other, bickering over nothing.

So when the hell did that change?

Yeah, sure they didn't do a complete one-eighty – what was Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran without a little fighting? – but the absence of it was kinda freaking Jack out. That and the way they were acting now. Synchronized. Efficient. Effortless. It was weird and raised more than a few red flags.

Jack decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. They could just be having a good day. Maybe it didn't mean anything and he was overreacting. They were having dinner with the gang at his place later that night and surely that would give them enough time to find something to be annoyed at with each other. Yeah…that should do it.

To his surprise, they arrived at his place together and were still in that same headspace. That's when his hackles were raised and he was on high alert. This was not normal. His eyes followed them all night, watching as they continued to work in harmony, share shy glances, little touches, and secret smiles. They were so enthroned with each other, they never noticed Jack's intensive gaze.

Maybe he was losing his touch. His one constellation was the others didn't notice as well.

Jack lost it when it became apparent what was happening. He said nothing as he grasped Daniel's arm and proceeded to yank him from the room, ignoring his protests and confusion of the others. "I'm hurt, Daniel," he pouted once they were out of earshot of the others. "Hurt."

Daniel's face was baffled. "What the hell are you talking about?" He almost had Jack believing he was insane. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong is I thought you were my best friend. How could you?"

Daniel shook his head, clearly in no mood to indulge him. "I can't talk to you when you're like this."

He started to move away but paused when Jack said, "How long?"

His friend of over ten years frowned at him. "You gonna be more specific?" he fished for more information.

Jack scoffed. "Cut the crap." He was in no mood for games. "When were you going to tell me about you and Vala?"

Daniel's face instantly went blank, raising his suspicions even more. "What about me and Vala?" he asked nonchalantly and casually crossed his arms, not knowing it was only strengthening Jack's case.

The General raised his eyebrows. "Uhh, how about the fact that you're clearly dating her?" he put it out there. "But judging by how defensive you're being, I take it's more of a secret relationship?" When he squirmed, Jack knew he got him. "So I repeat, how long? And don't think you can get out of this."

Because when he wanted to know something, he was relentless. So relentless, he could give the space pirate a run for her money.

Daniel's eyes shifted in the direction of the living room before signing in defeat. Man knew when he was beaten. "Four months," he reluctantly disclosed. "But you can't tell anyone! Vala's not ready for everyone to know."

You could've knocked him over with a feather. "She's not ready?" He didn't hear that right – he couldn't have.

Daniel did his tilted nod while shrugging. "Crazy, right?" he mumbled, sounding like he couldn't quite believe it himself. "But I agreed with her. We wanted to figure this out and see if we work before upsetting the team dynamics. In case it didn't work out, we didn't want everyone to feel awkward or choose sides."

Jack nodded, agreeing with his logic, but couldn't help but be surprised that no one had noticed – they were trained officers and Jaffa fer crying' out loud! "Four months is a long time," he noted slowly and carefully watched his friend's face. "What's the verdict?"

A look of awe settled onto Daniel's face. "I love her, Jack," he confessed in a soft tone, sounding a little bewildered. "I can't…I can't imagine a life where she's not in it. When I'm with her, I feel alive for the first time in…forever."

It had been over a decade since Jack had seen his friend like this and a weight was lifted inside him. He hadn't known it was there but it made sense. He'd spent most of their friendship watching his friend suffer and grieve the woman he loved and every attempt that came after, but now, instead of the man hardened to love, he was seeing one who was deeply in love – and it was more mature and deeper than the one he'd witnessed with Sha're.

"So what's the hold up?" he was curious to know.

Daniel shrugged smally. "I didn't think I could feel like this again and didn't want to mess it up," he mumbled. "I don't want to risk it."

Jack's brows went up again. "What, like admitting it out loud would make the universe retaliate and take her away?" When his face didn't show a hint of amusement and only somber, Jack sobered up. "Oh Daniel." His heart hurt all over again at the pain the man before him experienced in such a short lifetime.

Daniel chuckled ruefully. "I know it's stupid and irrational but…"

"I know," Jack quietly cut him off. "I'm proud of you."

He seemed surprised. "Proud of me?" he repeated.

Jack nodded and shifted on his feet. "Not long ago, you would deny any chance at being with her," he said bluntly. "You'd make up excuses, any excuse, not to be with her or even try – but you are, and I'm so damn proud of you for it."

A first genuine smile spread across Daniel's face. "Thanks Jack."

Silence hovered for the next few moments before Jack broke it. "Bite the bullet."

"What?" Daniel asked in confusion.

Jack placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned in closer. "You love her, Daniel. Judging by the way she reacts to you, looks at you, she loves you too." He stopped an eyeroll at his friend's dopey expression. "It's time to let the cat out of the bag. No one's going to be surprised – trust me."

With that, he walked away, effectively deciding not to mention the betting pool on the pair – not when he had new information that could tip the scales in his favor.


o0o


"So, Jack knows."

"What!" Vala's shriek caused him to wince and she shot him an apologetic look. "What do you mean, he knows?"

Daniel shrugged helplessly. "Exactly what it sounds like. He knows we're dating."

She sighed heavily and sunk into the car's seat. "How?"

He stared straight at his small little house through the car's windshield. "Apparently we're a little too comfortable around each other?" he guessed. "Maybe it was the lack of bickering?"

Vala hummed thoughtfully. "Yeah, I was worried that'd be a problem," she muttered. "So, that means Samantha now knows."

Daniel hadn't thought of that but it made sense – Jack wouldn't not tell his wife. "So that just leaves Teal'c and Mitchell."

"Pft, please. Teal'c already knows," she dismissed.

He sighed. "Vala, we've been through this –"

"He knows, Daniel," she cut him off. "Something happened between us during those fifty years. Why else would he separately ask each of us why we didn't do anything about our feelings."

"He'd be breaking his word not to interfere in the natural progression of our lives once we were out of the bubble, which is something he'd never do," he argued. "He was probably just curious."

"Right, because Muscles is so invested in our love lives. You can never get him to stop interfering," she remarked sarcastically. "Daniel, the man has a small smile whenever he's around just the two of us. It's almost impossible to see but it's there."

She had a point, he admitted to himself. "Fine, Teal'c knows," he concurred. "That only leaves Mitchell from the team. Do we tell him?"

Vala's face went pensive. "He'll be crushed to find out he's the last to know," she mused.

Daniel twisted in the seat to face her better. "We can tell him together and make him think he's the first. You know, being our team's leader and all," he proposed. "I'm sure the others won't say anything. They know just as well how upset he'd be."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, that would work," she gave him a small smile. "When should we do it?"

He grabbed her hand and squeezed. "I'm ready whenever you are."

She arched a single eyebrow – she'd been getting lessons from Teal'c. "Really?"

He shrugged innocently. "What, that so hard to believe?"

"A little, yeah." Her eyes searched his face for any signs of hesitation. "Are you sure?"

Daniel leaned forward and cupped her face. "I've never been more sure of anything," he told her with sincerity. "I'm all in. Wherever it goes, I'm going with you because…because I love you." He held his breath as he waited for her response.

A big grin spread across Vala's face and she became almost bashful. "I love you, too," she whispered. "Wherever it goes, I wanna do it with you – all the way."

He laughed in pure delight and kissed her. "Wherever it goes," he whispered.

The End.