Daughter

A/N: Heartfelt thanks to those of you who took the time to review Chapter 1. Encouraging words are fuel for story-telling. Please enjoy!

Chapter 2 – Old Friends

When the hatch opened, bright daylight flooded the cabin. Jack shielded his eyes from the sudden onslaught. Vala and Gracie stood at the doorway with hands out at their sides, hoping to appear as nonthreatening as possible. They seemed to have expected the Jaffa women currently pointing staff weapons at them.

Vala spoke to them in Goa'uld. Jack couldn't make it out, but the weapons were eventually lowered and the Jaffa stepped aside to let them disembark. She turned to Jack and Daniel. "This is a Hak'tyl world. They are being gracious. Don't insult our hosts," she warned.

Jack unbuckled his harness and stood up. Daniel followed suit. "What are we doing here?"

"You'll see."

Daniel and Jack looked at each other, then shrugged.

Vala and Gracie stepped out first. The men hopped out to see a quintet of sneers pointed their way. The Jaffa eyed them warily, daring them to do something stupid.

"I haven't made contact with the Hak'tyl in ages," Daniel mused aloud innocently. "Which planet is this one?" His question was met with silence as they were escorted away. Jack gave him a look. He took the hint and kept quiet the rest of the way.

Soon they came upon a lively settlement of Jaffa women of all ages. It would seem that their ways had been maintained well. There wasn't a man in sight. In the middle of a small town center, the women leading them paused before a small hut. The animal skin drapes of the opening were pushed aside as another Jaffa woman stepped out.

She smiled serenely at Vala and Gracie. "What brings you here, my friends?"

Daniel tilted his head. The woman seemed familiar. She nodded her head at their escorts, who quietly dispersed and left her as the sole host.

Vala stepped forward to clasp hands with the Jaffa in greeting. "We want to send word to Teal'c that we'd like to see him. Would you be able to do that?" Vala leaned in. "Discreetly?"

The Jaffa bowed her head ever so slightly in agreement. "I see you have brought friends," she observed, peering over at Jack and Daniel. She stepped closer to them, laying a friendly hand on Gracie's shoulder as she passed. "Old friends," she concluded.

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Oh?"

"I am Nesa, younger sister to Neith."

Daniel sputtered. "Nesa?" He turned to Jack to remind him. "She was that young girl we gave tretonin to the first time we met the Hak'tyl." He smiled at her. "But not so little anymore."

She bowed her head. "Indeed not."

"So, you a warrior now?" Jack asked.

"Yes, I received the rights many years ago. Now I lead this small settlement of Hak'tyl."

Daniel glanced at Vala in question. "How did you meet these people?"

Nesa contorted her face in confusion. "It was through you, DanielJackson, that I was acquainted with ValaMalDoran and her daughter."

Jack's mouth twitched at the suggestion that Gracie only belonged to Vala. He looked back and forth among the women.

Vala stepped in between Daniel and Nesa. "Pay him no mind, Nesa. He's forgetful." She glanced back at Daniel with warning in her eyes. The Jaffa raised an eyebrow, but chose to respect Vala's suggestion to drop the subject.

"I will send a courier to deliver your request to Teal'c." She gestured a hand to a maiden in waiting, who ran forward. She whispered into the younger girl's ear. The Jaffa assistant darted off, presumably to do as she was bid. "Will you be staying?" she asked, looking between both Vala and Gracie. The younger blonde's eyes lit up in hopeful anticipation toward her mother.

Vala hesitated. "We would not inconvenience you."

Nesa smiled. She said simply, "Stay."

Vala sighed and bowed her head in thanks. Gracie openly smiled, the first genuine smile Jack had seen her give since he met this adult version of her. His eyes shown with love. If this was a place that could make her happy, then it must be filled with good memories. He was eager to observe what he could so he could have some idea of what her life growing up might have been like.

Turning to her now, Nesa said, "Your sisters are in that hut over there. They will be glad to see you again, GracieMalDoran." Jack's eyes narrowed at the name.

Taking that as permission to leave, Gracie bowed her head in a respectful Jaffa manner, then dashed off in the direction Nesa had pointed.

The eyes of the human adults followed her. Once she was out of sight, Jack looked at Vala pointedly. She stared back, not intimidated in the least. Daniel glanced back and forth between them uncomfortably.

The brief silence was pierced by a loud, grumbling stomach. Nesa placed a hand on Vala's shoulder. "You shall eat." Gratitude written all over her expression, Vala allowed the Jaffa to lead her away. As the men followed, Jack glanced back at the hut Gracie had disappeared into.

Nesa had them settle into bench seats at a simple table. She directed a few other Jaffa to place food there for them. Then she excused herself to resume whatever it was that she was doing before they arrived. Vala hungrily got started, causing Jack and Daniel to gape at her in surprise.

"You'd think you haven't eaten in days," Jack commented.

She glanced at him while stuffing her mouth. After swallowing a bite of food, she responded, "It's been nearly two."

Daniel gritted his teeth and shook his head.

Jack's eyes went wide. "What about Gracie?" he asked worriedly.

"She's probably already eating with her Jaffa sisters."

"So, you've stayed here before," Daniel presumed.

In between gulps of a honey-sweet drink, Vala answered, "Many times. The longest we spent with the Hak'tyl was almost a year."

Jack looked around at the settlement. Those who were not actively engaged in combat training busied themselves with other tasks. People seemed happy here. There was no sense of anxiety or a lack of safety here. It wouldn't be a bad place to raise a child. "What made you leave?"

"I got wind that our pursuers were closing in. I couldn't risk bringing harm to the Hak'tyl."

Daniel had a feeling that even if he pressed her, she wouldn't explain how exactly she knew danger was on the way. He nudged Jack to silently tell him not to dig any deeper. Their conversation in the shuttle cockpit had him sensing there was a lot more trauma involved than she was letting on. Daniel doubled-down on his promise to prevent this from ever happening at all if he could get back.

Jack seemed to get the hint. He tried a different line of questioning. "Is this where she learned some of her moves?" Vala looked at him more fully now. "We watched her beat up a couple of guys."

"She might have picked up a few things here," she said nonchalantly. Her eyebrow raised as her mouth formed a smug smile. "I made sure she received a very well-rounded education, Jack."

"In kicking ass?"

Vala nodded proudly. Jack grinned now, not bothered by this in the least. He liked that his daughter could defend herself just as well as Sam could. It reassured him. Daniel smirked with amusement over both Vala's accomplishment and Gracie's ability.

Now having eaten more than her two companions combined, Vala leaned back, rubbing her stomach. She seemed to let out a breath of relief. They all turned when a group of young women excitedly gathered at the town center, Gracie among them. She was all smiles. They began to take up instruments and make music. The sounds of coordinated drum beats immediately permeated the air.

Soon the commotion was attracting the attention of others in the settlement, who seemed to have no issue dropping what they were doing to gather round. Nesa appeared from within the doorway of her raised hut to smile down approvingly. It would seem there was a celebration in order. But for what, Jack couldn't say. "I'm gonna go get a better look," he announced. He left Daniel and Vala behind to see what Gracie was doing.

Daniel slid over on the bench. He placed an arm around Vala, letting her rest her head on his shoulder as they both watched the girls beginning to dance. She relaxed into him without hesitation. He felt reassured that she would still allow him to comfort her like this, considering how much she seemed to resent his older counterpart. "She seems happy," he observed aloud.

"I hope that she is. It's all I could ask for." Her voice was quiet and sentimental.

Daniel looked down at her. Her eyes were closing as exhaustion seemed to catch up to her. He felt her breathe in deeply. He was bursting with questions, but he could tell Vala needed her rest. He couldn't even imagine what raising a child alone while on the run must have done to her. And being out in the galaxy like this had to have made it so much worse.

He concluded that she was more than perfect for this job. Out of everyone they knew with specialized skills and talents, Jack chose the right person to protect his daughter. That much Daniel was certain of.

They gathered around a fire later that evening. The Jaffa gave Vala a place to continue her rest while the others communed casually in the dying sunlight. Gracie, much more at ease now, sat with Jack and Daniel as they charred meat over the flames together. She had changed into the sensible attire of the Hak'tyl, a combination of warm furs and flexible fabrics. It was a stark contrast to her black leather suit with knee-high mag-boots.

"Where have you been staying lately?" Jack wondered curiously.

The reflection of the fire danced in Gracie's eyes as she turned meat on a stick. "We have a safe house on another world that we've been using for the past couple of months. Won't use it for much longer. It's a backwater planet, probably nothing you've ever heard of." The men shared a look. She spoke of it so casually.

"You ever get tired of running from place to place?" Daniel ventured. He echoed a question he'd asked of Vala so many years before.

She looked up and met his eyes. "It's all I've ever known." She returned her eyes to the fire, lest it overcook her food. "Besides, if we stay in one place too long, it becomes dangerous. Not just for us, but for anyone we make friends with."

"Your mom said as much," Jack muttered. It was the first time he openly acknowledged Vala's role aloud.

Daniel glanced at him. He could tell this was hard for him to accept. "Any idea who's been chasing you?"

Gracie sighed. "Goa'uld? Humans from Earth? Some choice Jaffa that we double-crossed?" She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. The point is: we stay put, we die. We move, we live."

Jack pulled his meat out of the fire, turning it round and round to check if it was cooked well enough. His teeth belied his frustration with the whole situation, gritted as they were while he stared down at his food.

"Do you have any idea what you would do, or where you would go, if anything ever happened to her?" Daniel asked in reference to Vala. He was always one to have a plan in place, or at least some idea of how to proceed in the event of an emergency. He wondered if Vala had prepared Gracie for the same. She'd implied as much earlier. But she'd also made it sound like Earth was not an option.

Gracie bit into her food. While chewing, she said, "If I told you that, it wouldn't be smart." She swallowed her mouthful then took a sip from a drink. "We keep things like that to ourselves out here."

Jack nudged Daniel's shoulder. "Looks like she got her smarts from her mother."

Daniel nodded and raised his brows. "Both of them."

Gracie seemed to look at Daniel with new eyes now. Some of her suspicion and outright hostility had been replaced with curiosity. She must have noticed how Vala had fallen asleep in his arms after their meal. She wasn't used to seeing her mother let any man touch her. Not unless, of course, it was a mark. "How do you know my mom? Vala, I mean."

Jack smirked. "Yeah, Daniel, why don't you tell the story?" he goaded. He gestured to the fire. "Perfect story for a camp fire."

Gracie scrunched her face at this, unsure of his reference. But she looked to Daniel with expectation, causing him to let out a long-suffering breath as he acquiesced.

Where to start? he wondered. He settled with, "She kidnapped me."

Gracie didn't blink at all. "Why, who wanted you?"

Jack started to laugh. "Who didn't?"

Daniel glared at him. "No, it wasn't like there was a bounty on me. At least not then. I think. I hope." He shook his head. "She was trying to hijack our ship. Kicked everyone off, but somehow overlooked me."

Now Gracie raised an eyebrow at this oversight on the part of her mother's. But she nodded for him to tell more.

"She, uhh, threatened me. Actually shot me. Then as she was trying to fly the ship to a planet to meet with her buyers, I got the upper hand, and well, the rest is history."

"Don't forget the part where she beat your ass," Jack supplied helpfully.

"Jack," Daniel said pointedly. "Let's not dwell on the details." He began to turn a shade of crimson.

Gracie stared at Daniel with a contemplative look. She narrowed her eyes as she studied him. Jack knew that look. He'd seen Sam do the same countless times when she was deciding something.

"You're not the type of guy she typically deals with."

Daniel thought about it. "No, I imagine not."

"So let me guess," Gracie continued, "She escaped." Daniel nodded easily in agreement. "But then showed back up with a shiny object to dangle in front of you to give her more attention. You became a mark as she pursued the next item to procure." The men glanced at each other, Jack smiling with amusement and Daniel looking perturbed. "And it worked. Somehow. And then… you became friends?" This was the part that had her confused.

"Well… yeah, actually."

"First, they got married. Then, they became friends," Jack added, wagging a thumb at Daniel.

Daniel openly shoved Jack now. "They were Kor-mac bracelets. NOT marriage. No," he said indignantly.

"Huh," Gracie intoned contemplatively.

Jack was grinning now. "What?"

"It's just that… that's not the story I remember hearing."

Both men sat up. Daniel became anxious. "What did you hear?"

"She told a lot of entertaining bedtime stories," Gracie explained, tilting her head wistfully.

"Oh boy."

"In every version, she's saving the handsome prince from all the villains. Including the one where she acquires a ship, rallies the crew, then keeps the prince from being captured by Oranian traders." Jack laughed again. "Then, the prince is so thankful he offers her his long-lost riches. They go on a quest to find them. Or something."

Daniel's mouth gaped open. Vala may not have explained who he was to Gracie, but wove him into her imaginative stories instead. "Wait a minute. So, I'm the prince?"

"The handsome kind," Jack teased. He leaned back as he laughed more.

Gracie bit her lip, amused by his reaction. "Afraid so."

Daniel brought a hand up to his head. He sighed.

"Maybe she doesn't owe you anything, then," Gracie decided. "It's you who has to keep coming around to pay off part of your debt." She regarded him thoughtfully.

Hand still on his forehead, Daniel locked eyes with her. He brought his hand down. "Maybe you're right."

"O'Neill," a baritone voice called out in surprise.

Jack turned around and squinted as the morning sun caused a glare. He held a hand up above his eyes, which widened at who he saw. "Teal'c! Old buddy!" he replied with enthusiasm. They clasped hands, with Jack also clapping him on the back.

Teal'c was clothed in a heavy brown cloak, his casual walking wear. The sleeves hung wide and low, leaving much space to pull a hidden weapon through should the need arise. Daniel soon joined them. He greeted Teal'c with much the same zest as Jack did.

"You are supposed to be dead, O'Neill. How is it that you are here?" the Jaffa asked in wonder.

"That's what we aim to find out," Vala explained as she approached.

Teal'c smiled at her warmly, opening his arms out to envelop her in a tight hug. They touched foreheads as Vala sighed in relief over his presence. "ValaMalDoran," he intoned. "Are you well?"

"About as well as I was last time," she replied. For Jack and Daniel, however, that could mean anything. The absolute exhaustion that took hold of her once she felt safe was concerning.

Teal'c bowed his head to acknowledge her. "And what of your daughter?"

"Oh she's busy with her friends. I'll have her come around to see you once we're done discussing the matter at hand."

He bowed again, then followed as she led them all into Nesa's hut. They settled comfortably onto the floor in a circle. Nesa graciously allowed them time to themselves, understanding Vala's concern that overhearing sensitive information could later place any of the Hak'tyl in danger. Thus, only former and current members of SG-1 sat present now.

"Teal'c," Vala started, "We need help figuring out how to get these two back to wherever it is they came from."

The Jaffa considered the two male humans. "You look considerably younger than I would expect you to," he declared. "You, especially, DanielJackson."

"Have you seen my other self lately?"

"Yes, and the differences are striking."

"Yikes, guess I don't age well."

Jack glanced at Daniel, unable to imagine him looking older.

"I have observed that humans under constant, considerable stress appear to age faster. The other DanielJackson is one such example."

"Whaa… why?"

"He is the commander of the current incarnation of the SGC."

Jack's eyes bulged out. He pointed a thumb at Daniel. "Him?"

"Yes, O'Neill."

The men turned to Vala. Daniel had to ask. "Did you know about this?" She nodded affirmatively. "And I still couldn't make things safe enough to get you back home?" he asked incredulously. She shrugged and sighed while shaking her head.

"Sounds like…" Jack said, uncharacteristically choosing his words carefully, "we should go back with as much intel as we can gather and arrange for Daniel to have a nice, happy retirement instead of… well… that." He stared at his friend, struggling to envision him with white hair.

"I can make contact with Earth for you to make an inquiry," Teal'c offered.

Vala laid a hand on his shoulder. "Only Daniel," she reminded. He nodded.

"Then it shall be done. I will depart now." Teal'c got up.

"Ahh, wait… Gracie." She exited the hut with him, leaving Jack and Daniel behind to contemplate what they'd learned.

"Commander?" Jack questioned.

"I know," Daniel agreed, shaking his head.

"Sounds like things change. A lot."

"Maybe too much."

"Come on, I wanna see how Gracie acts around the big guy." They got up to join the others outside.

"Teal'c!" Gracie squealed as she ran up to him.

The Jaffa laughed aloud now, pulling her into a hug. They swung around merrily. Other Jaffa girls gathered round, clearly in awe of Gracie's legendary uncle. Teal'c also greeted Nesa warmly when she joined them. Now the group of Jaffa and single human were conversing amorously while Vala, Jack, and Daniel hung back.

Jack found himself smiling at the scene. It comforted him to know that his old friend had this chance to know his daughter, especially when he couldn't be there for her himself. He eagerly awaited the chance to get back home and make everything right.

Hands in pockets, Daniel nudged Vala gently with his shoulder. "How often do you get to see him?"

"More often than I see you."

"That's a good thing, right?"

"Yes, it is. He's helped us find safe houses. Says he even gives you a hint when you struggle to find me on one of your infrequent visits," she added bitterly.

Daniel grimaced. "You really resent him, don't you?"

Vala met his eyes, but she didn't speak aloud. It wouldn't help anything to answer the question. She turned back to watch her daughter be as happy as she could be surrounded by beloved friends and extended family. It killed her inside to know that she would have to tear her away from this again soon. It always did.

"Vala," Jack began. "You ever think of hitching a ride to Atlantis?"

"The thought crossed Daniel's mind. He agreed that it would be healthier for Gracie to grow up in one place. But ultimately, the idea was scrapped." They both looked at her. "He couldn't guarantee our safety over there, either."

"Are we talking assassins or something?" Jack said, alarmed.

"I really don't know, Jack. Honestly. He won't tell me." Her mouth formed a grim line, eyes going back to the scene of happiness, if only to maintain her calm.

"I don't understand how he could think being on the run is any safer," Daniel commented. "Out here, nothing is under anyone's control."

"Dammit. We need to get back and get this fixed, pronto," Jack complained.

Vala looked at him warily. What that would mean for her, in the end, was unclear. Would all of her hard work to keep that little girl alive be undone? Forgotten? Everything she taught this child… wasted? Would all of the tears have been worth it, when this timeline could be snuffed out of existence? She knew it should be done, if this were actually a time travel scenario. But she also knew she didn't want it to be done. She stared at Jack, watching his daughter longingly, regretful of all the time he'd missed. She could be switching places with him soon enough. And it broke her heart to know that whatever self might overwrite her current version wouldn't know what she had missed.

As if he could sense her inner turmoil, Daniel quietly grabbed her hand and squeezed. She returned her eyes to the happy scene, willing herself to stay in control emotionally and not lose it. Vala didn't see when Daniel cocked his head at Jack to get his attention, silently telling him to attend to her. When Jack did, he saw her lip quivering and eyes shining as she stared straight ahead. And then he knew.

"Ay, Princess. Walk with me, huh?"

Daniel leaned in. "Go ahead," he said gently. "I'll look out for her." He fought the urge to kiss her temple in comfort as Jack led her away from the cacophony of smiling, happy people. This was not his Vala. She never belonged to him in the first place. He found himself in need of that reminder more and more lately, well before the stupid incursion at the base. Regretfully, he let go of her hand. This was going to have to be a conversation between Jack and Vala.

The pair started to wander along the outskirts of the settlement, away from most of the Jaffa residents going about their days. They walked in silence for a while. Vala worked on maintaining even breaths while Jack tried to think of what to say. They came upon a brook and Jack suggested they sit. He started picking up rocks to throw into the water, seeing how far he could get them to skim.

Vala, joints now aching with age, decided against pulling her knees up to her chest as she might have done in her youth. She settled on stretching out her legs toward the water, thinking of the best way to sit so that she could easily get up in a hurry. Her eyes followed the rocks Jack threw as they darted across the water.

"You deserve a lot more than you're getting, you know," Jack finally started.

"Oh? Is there a substantial reward waiting for me back on Earth?"

"Oh yeah. Huge," he exaggerated. Another rock skimmed. "But nothing would be enough payment for everything you've done for Gracie." He paused his absent-minded rock-tossing. "She's turned out incredible."

Vala let out a slow breath.

Jack wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Thank you." He leaned into her. "I mean it."

Vala rested her head on his shoulder and remained quiet. If she spoke now, she would absolutely lose control.

They stayed that way for many more minutes, just staring out at nature and listening to the local animals sounding off to each other.

"I miss you, Jack. I miss Sam. And all the rest."

"Yeah," he acknowledged.

"You were highlights in my life." She dug her head into his shoulder a little more to emphasize her affection for all of them. "Gracie has been my regular reminder of you."

"I can tell how much you love her. It's good. Glad I asked you to watch her." His hand squeezed her arm. "I'm really sorry I couldn't pick her up sooner. I'm gonna have to give you a raise," he quipped.

Vala couldn't help but chuckle at his joke. She pulled away now, using the back of her hand to wipe an errant tear that had defied her orders not to fall. Neither of them wanted to ask the question aloud. But both wondered what would happen after Jack and Daniel left.