Daughter
Chapter 57 – The Demands of Family
"I think I have a migraine," Reynolds complained to Carolyn.
She looked at him with concern across the table in the Hammond's mess. "Oh?"
"Or maybe it's a… tension headache." He rubbed at his forehead. "No. Cluster headache."
Now the doctor raised her brow. He was randomly naming different iterations of the common ailment. "Trigger?"
"The clusterfuck that is the Mal Doran family tree."
Carolyn wheezed as she leaned forward against the table and laughed. When she sat back in her chair, her hand covered her mouth as she kept going.
Reynolds simply stared at her.
People in the commissary noticed and began watching curiously.
It took a full minute for the doctor to finally calm down.
She waved a palm in the air, apologizing with the gesture and simultaneously trying to regain control. Her eyes continued to smile. "Mal, don't even try to figure them out."
"Believe me, Carolyn, I have been trying not to." He waved a spoon around in the air. "Who even is this father of Vala's anyway? Should I be worried?"
She shrugged. "I have no idea. You'd need to ask Vala that one."
"Last time we dealt with him, he ran all kinds of scams on Earth."
"He sure did."
"Meanwhile he had Jaffa visiting the surface for some other deal."
"If memory serves, Vala outsmarted him on that last one."
"Yeah, I heard. Taught me not to play Texas Hold 'Em with her. Ever."
Carolyn laughed aloud again.
Reynolds simply shook his head in exasperation as he looked down at his food. "Don't know what I was doing, messin' with that family. Good God."
"Aww, come on, Malcolm."
He waved a dismissive hand in the air over the table. They both bit into their meals more. Carolyn was acutely aware that several colleagues were listening in. She was waiting for her opportunity to show public support for Elda, in whatever way she needed. Vala had already congratulated her on a job well done so far.
"Doc, what am I really gonna do with these Three Musketeers of mine?" he said, shifting tracks.
"You mean your younger marines and Elda?"
He nodded glumly.
"You complain about them being kids. Well, kids gotta grow up sometime. So let them."
He looked up at her in consideration. "Just let 'em have at it?"
"Within reason," she suggested, tilting her head encouragingly. Then she smiled more. "Don't see what other choice you have."
"Goddammit, I am outnumbered."
"Did he plant anything on you?" Daniel wondered.
Cameron scrunched his face at the linguist. "Did he plant… Jackson, are you serious?"
He widened his eyes at his friend meaningfully. "It's Jacek!"
The Colonel turned to Vala in the moon's command center. "Well?"
"He tried." She held up the necklace with the red jewel attached. "See this? Transmitter."
"Gracie already searched Vala for other bugs before they came back in. And she was watching his hands carefully. There was nothing else," Sam reported.
"Is that thing listening in on our conversation right now?" Cameron asked suspiciously.
Vala handed it to him. "We deactivated it right away. It's very dead."
He turned it over and over in his palm. "Your Pops is really somethin' else, Princess."
She huffed, knowing that was the truth.
"What did he think of Gracie?" Daniel asked.
Her brows waggled. "Said she seemed familiar." Vala looked a little proud of this.
Daniel grinned. "Not surprised." Then his smile faded into an expression of caution. "Errrr… the marines were right there. Is her cover still secure?"
She waved a flippant hand. "I think so. Carolyn already put it out there that our fathers are not the same. So we leaned on that."
"Carolyn did?" Cameron repeated in surprise.
"Yes. With Reynolds. He blatantly pointed out that Gracie and I look nothing alike. That was her explanation."
Cameron felt proud again. "Cool."
Sam smiled at him in agreement. "The question now is: how did Jacek know to come to this moon?"
"Right," Cam agreed. "He's no bounty hunter. Didn't think that old job would be on his radar."
"No," Vala said contemplatively. "I can't say for sure yet why he was here. When he shows back up, I'm sure I could figure him out."
"You mean to say this isn't over?" her CO asked worriedly.
"Darling, it's my father. He doesn't quit. We've gotten his attention… accidentally… and now he won't stop until he finds out what's going on down here. And whoever else might be interested in that information will likely offer him a pretty payment for his intelligence."
"Shit."
"Exactly."
"He's like… your Grandpa?" Jack asked in wonder on the screen.
Elda laughed aloud in her quarters on the ship. "Sort of. We ran into him a few times in my youth. Learned a lot whenever we had an encounter."
Her father tilted his head curiously. "Like what?"
"Like… how much Vala is so easily annoyed and irritated by him." She chuckled at the memories.
"Heh. I bet. What else?"
"Hmm. Well, you know how everyone gets so upset whenever random men say inappropriate things to me?"
He scrunched his face worriedly now. "Yeah?" he responded hesitantly.
"The reason I never get offended is because I learned from Jacek to never take it seriously."
"What!?"
She raised her palms in the air. "Dad, he never actually tried anything on me. Not when I was young. He knew exactly who I was to the Vala of my timeline. But what he did do is explain in terms that I could understand how the minds of men worked. And then he took me around to let me observe all that for myself."
"Wait just a minute. He took you around?"
"There was this one job Vala got hired for that I was just too young to go on. Well, all of them were like that really. But this one especially was not good for me. So Jacek waited with me until she was done. We went tavern-hopping."
Jack couldn't stop the way his face got stuck in a squint. Sometimes he forgot the circumstances of her youth. Every time he was reminded of it, he was simply amazed that she had survived at all. He shook his head in awe at his grown daughter. She had a hell of a life growing up.
"So… he babysat you."
"Yeah, I guess he did. We didn't call it that, though. I believe Jacek would have referred to it as catching me up on my essential education."
"Explains a lot. What else did that old joker teach you?"
Elda thought about it. "How to use the spoken word to manipulate."
"Thought that would have come from Vala."
"Yes. Definitely. But he has a certain style all his own. It's hard to explain."
"Try."
She took in a breath and hummed. "Maybe I can give an example. Another time I met him, we accidentally ran into each other aboard this trading vessel. Vala and I were hitching a ride, hiding among the crates. Suddenly, so was he. Guess he was between ships at the time. Or maybe he was on his way to pick up his next one," Elda said distractedly. She shook her head.
Jack blinked.
"Anyway, we all got caught. It was his way with words that got us out of it alive. I got to see firsthand how he charms, then distracts, and finally makes you think you know better even though it's quite the opposite."
Jack simply widened his eyes.
"I probably had the same look on my face when it was done. I watched a master at work." She smiled now. "Vala didn't want to admit it at first, but eventually she gave him a little credit for improving my skills as a courier."
"Chip off the old block, huh?"
"What?"
Jack sighed. "I'm going to buy you one of those idiom dictionaries."
"Idiom? Like idiot?"
He laughed and raised his palms within view of the screen. "No. No, no." Jack continued to crack up more.
One of the SFs from her section made pointed eye contact with Elda. "Pssst. Boss. This is getting' kinda old," he lightly complained.
She raised a brow at him. She waved a hand around in the air. "This? Old? And standing around in the SGC isn't?"
He shrugged.
Elda sighed to herself. Clearly, she wasn't the only one who was bored on this mission. They'd gotten into a routine here on the moon. Eruce and Aurelia gave daily reports on their progress helping the Jaffa refugees. Elda would greet the ones who happened to wake back up from procedures. And then… she would go back to work as security for the base.
She had already memorized every nook and cranny of the section Reynolds assigned to her. She could walk it with her eyes closed. As for the SFs working under her, there was only so much rotating one could do to break up the monotony.
Elda appreciated that they had a safe space for the station visitors to work. But Gods, was it getting boring.
She patted the shoulder of the SF that had just complained to her. She had no answer for their shared boredom. If she did, she would gladly be sharing it.
She placed herself next to another SF, dutifully checking on him.
"You know what I miss?" he started.
"What?"
"Cheetohs."
"What?"
"You don't know Cheetohs?"
"I know Cheetohs. But out of all the things, why that?"
"Elda, come on. It's Cheetohs."
What was this idiotic conversation now?
She shook her head and she moved on.
The next SF was even worse. "I heard Crawford asked Carter to beat someone's ass for you." He waggled his brows at her suggestively.
She sighed. She had heard that, too. She even overheard Smith berating Crawford for it. Apparently the rumors about them were still alive and well. Being in close quarters with all these watchful security force members was only strengthening them. "Do you have a point?" she quietly asked.
"Would you let him?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Would you let him kick someone's ass for you?"
"If the mission calls for it," she said, shaking her head in disbelief at his question.
"No, no. I'm talking about like him defending your honor. That typa shit."
Elda pursed her lips briefly. She faced him with a tight smile. "I don't need anyone to defend my honor, Darling. I can do that all by myself."
The SF grinned back at her. "I bet you could, Boss."
Elda continued walking. The rest of their section overlapped with Crawford's. She found him also making his rounds and coming up on their intersection.
He caught her stare. They stopped before each other in the corridor. "What."
"The SFs are nonstop about us, Crawfy."
He grimaced. "Yeah."
"We need to give them a distraction. Something else to worry about that has nothing to do with you, me, or Smitty."
"I'll take suggestions."
She shrugged. "I can't think of anything. There is absolutely nothing new going on here on this moon," she complained.
"I'm bored as fuck, too. And so are the SFs."
"Clearly, we are their only entertainment." She hit his arm now and tsked. "Did you really ask Colonel Carter for permission to beat Jacek up?"
"He propositioned you, Cakes. That ain't right," he argued.
"He didn't mean it."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do. I can tell the difference."
He sniffed with disbelief. "If you say so."
"Ugh. Well, thanks anyway. At least I know you've got my back," she said.
"Of course I do. We're SG-3."
She smiled.
"My Lady," Bier called out.
Elda spun around in surprise. She knew Jaffa from Tek'ron were arriving. But she had no idea who they would be. "Bier!" She left the SF she was standing with to go to him. They bowed respectfully to each other. "Welcome to the moon. Who else has come?"
He smiled gently at her. "You shall see. For now, please, show me to our Brothers and Sisters. I must learn the path to ensure it is safe."
She furrowed her brow in confusion. "Safe?"
He inclined his head. "Please, Lady Elda. Indulge me."
She sucked in a breath and nodded. She led him through the maze of the facility toward the lab. SFs glanced curiously at them as they passed.
She gestured at the entrance. "This is it."
Bier gazed in but did not cross the threshold. His eyes darted around curiously, noting its layout and size. He saw that several pods were occupied. Unknown workers hovered over random Jaffa, who appeared to be unconscious or asleep.
Aurelia noticed them at the opening. "Elda?"
"Rellie, just showing this to someone new."
"Come on in," she invited.
Bier bowed respectfully upon entry.
"Here," Aurelia suggested. "This patient is about to be woken. You can say hello."
Elda and Bier approached the suggested pod. A female floated peacefully inside the vat.
Aurelia entered commands into the attached keypad. The liquids rippled in response. The movement appeared to be the mechanism to bring the Jaffa back to wakefulness.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly.
"Sister," Elda called to her. "You are safe."
The Jaffa carefully turned her head. "Lady Elda," she said with a rasp to her voice. "Brother."
"Sister," Bier responded softly. "How are you faring?"
She hesitated. Then she grimaced.
Aurelia noticed this and held her medical sphere above her. It began to float under its own power and scan the patient.
"Sister?" Elda prompted.
"I sense pain."
Aurelia addressed the patient. "I am ready to help ease your pain. Would you tell me if it is the same as before?"
"It is the same," she reported, voice burdened with stress.
The station medical professional pulled a tool from one of her pockets. It was a hand-held device, not much bigger than a cigar on Earth. She twisted its components to set the correct dosage for some pain drugs inside.
"Where is your pain the greatest?"
The Jaffa squeezed her eyes. "My pouch."
Aurelia dutifully directed the medicine there, pressing her tool against the skin. It hissed as it pushed drugs into her system without creating a puncture.
The Jaffa's eyes immediately relaxed. She kept them closed.
"Her body is still not fully recovered. Her treatment plan requires genetic repair done in multiple stages," Aurelia explained to Elda and Bier.
They gazed down at her pitifully. Bier stepped back to give the Jaffa patient some space. He looked around. "I understand there has been some success with others."
Aurelia smiled. "Yes. It has been encouraging."
"Bier, allow me to introduce Aurelia Thel of Station Medical. She has become one of our very good friends."
He inclined his head respectfully to her. "I thank you gratefully for your care and attention to our brethren."
"It is my duty and my pleasure."
Bier turned to Elda. "I will depart now briefly. Thank you for allowing me to greet this Jaffa."
"Of course. But Bier, what's going on?"
"You will see, My Lady. For now, I will leave you to continue your good works." He bowed to her and left.
"Do you know him well?" Aurelia asked curiously.
"Yes. He's one of Jasuf's top guardsmen." She narrowed her eyes in the direction Bier had gone. "I didn't expect him to be here."
"Elda Mal Doran to the main entrance."
"Uh oh," one of the SFs said to her.
"Oh Gods, what now." She leaned into her radio. "I'll be right there."
"My money's on an Alkesh this time."
"Yeah, yeah," she said as she hurried away.
She decided to take a page out of Crawford's book and start removing her tac gear as she went along. By the time she made it, she found Smith and Crawford also there. Their gear was already separated into piles on the floor. She quickly dumped hers as well. The trio now matched with their black sleeveless tank tops and military green pants. They were armed with just their personal blasters.
"Well?" she asked of her teammates.
The boys didn't answer. They were busy staring out the window, confused.
Elda pushed past them to see. She gasped slightly and opened the door immediately. Her teammates followed her out. She bowed low. "Den Mother," she said in surprise.
"Kal'ma," Ishta's smooth voice responded. "SG-3," she also greeted toward the marines.
They nodded back as a hello.
When Elda rose from her bow, Ishta stepped to the side. Behind her, Jasuf was waiting. Elda squealed. She ran to him, hugging him fiercely.
He laughed aloud. "My Love, are you well?"
"I am. I didn't expect you to be here!" They shared a chaste kiss. She pulled away to gaze around at the other people with them. She saw Bier again. And none of her sisters were present as she was expecting. These newcomers before her were all guardsmen. She bowed to them, then turned to Ishta. "Den Mother?"
Meanwhile, the marines waved at Jasuf. He inclined his head back to them with a friendly smile.
"I felt it was important to show unity," Ishta explained. "Meil'nor came here guarded by Hak'tyl. It was time for me to be escorted by his warriors. An even exchange."
Elda looked at her in awe. "Unity for strength," she murmured. Idul's crazy idea seemed to be coming true. "Who flew the ship?" she asked of everyone.
"Bier and myself," Jasuf answered.
She smiled broadly.
The Hak'tyl leader looked to SG-3. "With your permission, I should like to visit with our people inside."
Elda nodded emphatically. She glanced back at Crawford, who was ranking here.
"Colonel Carter, this is Crawford. Come in."
"Go ahead, Corporal."
Ishta smiled at the sound of Sam's familiar voice.
"The leader of the Hak'tyl is here, requesting permission to enter the facility."
"Permission granted."
Reynolds cut in. "Escort them in, then return to your posts. They have their own security."
"Yes, sir."
"Jaffa, kree," Ishta now commanded. Bier and a few guardsmen stepped forward in front of her. Still more surrounded Ishta protectively. Jasuf placed himself at her side and slightly behind. An SF opened the door and the group entered the facility.
Aurelia blinked at the new people entering the lab. She watched in fascination as Jaffa males in matching uniforms stationed themselves near the entrance protectively. Soon Elda was gesturing in, giving way for an elegant female Jaffa to enter. Her light-colored cape swayed gracefully around her as she moved.
She had an aura about her. Aurelia could tell this newcomer was someone in power. Someone revered. A person who commanded respect.
The Station Master's daughter instinctively stepped up to represent her father. "Welcome. I am Aurelia Thel."
Elda grinned. "Den Mother, Aurelia is the medical professional I described to you before. Her father commands the space station." She addressed her friend. "Rellie, this is Ishta, leader of the Hak'tyl. They are an all-female group of warriors that openly resist the Goa'uld."
Aurelia bowed her head in respect. "Warm greetings."
"I return them in kind," Ishta replied. The leader gazed around, taking in the sight of Jaffa resting peacefully within pods. "Tell me, what progress has been made here?"
"I will show you," Aurelia declared. Ishta ventured further into the lab while Elda hung back. Soon Aurelia was giving her a tour and allowing her to witness the wakening of one of the Jaffa patients.
Eruce Thel eventually appeared to exchange formal greetings with the leader. They engaged in conversation, which allowed Aurelia to step away.
Carolyn exited the sub-lab and placed herself next to her. They both studied Elda as she smiled up at another Jaffa.
"Who is that?" Rellie asked curiously.
"That's him."
Her eyes widened. She looked at Carolyn in shock. "He's really handsome!" she whisper-shouted.
Carolyn giggled quietly. "I know."
Aurelia turned back to regard Elda with awe. "It all makes so much more sense now."
"What do you mean?"
"Wouldn't you be loyal to an entire race of people if your boyfriend looked like that?"
Carolyn laughed.
Word was spreading that Elda's boyfriend had shown up. Her actual Jaffa boyfriend. No one could believe it. The SFs never thought he was real.
A few of them witnessed her gazing up at him adoringly while they waited for the Hak'tyl leader to be done with her visit. They saw how he touched her affectionately and planted chaste kisses on her lips. It looked like he was ready to do more, but Elda reminded him she was on duty. He only smiled and whispered into her ear.
The look on her face could not be denied.
They were making plans.
So it was no surprise when later, after shift, Elda was nowhere to be found in the Hammond's mess. Crawford and Smith were there without her.
A few of the SFs dared to join their table. The marines looked up in confusion when their colleagues sat down uninvited.
"What's up?" Smith asked.
"Nothin."
"The sky."
Smith just bit into his food. He glanced at Crawford, who was trying to maintain a neutral expression.
"So."
"Elda's man is here, huh?"
The two marines shared a tired look. "Told you he's real," Crawford muttered. He was quietly glad Jasuf arrived. Maybe now the distraction would take some of the heat off of him and Smith. He knew for a fact that the SFs believed they had some sort of friends-with-benefits deal going on with Elda. Crawford was also hoping that Jasuf's presence would remind him to get his mind off of her and back on his girlfriend. He needed the reset. The boyfriend's arrival was just what he needed to trigger it.
"And you losers didn't want to believe us," Smith complained to the SFs.
"Dude's huge."
"Large and in charge."
The marines shrugged.
"Where'd Elda find that guy?" another SF asked curiously.
Crawford's mouth quirked. "He found her."
"They tried to beat each other's asses," Smith explained. He leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "Love at first fight."
Crawford snorted.
The few SFs with them all exchanged looks of confusion. One of them gestured toward the marines. "So how does this all work?"
"Yeah. Does that make you two her side pieces?"
Crawford and Smith groaned. So much for distraction.
"Suddenly, this moon is so much more interesting," Elda commented. She nuzzled her nose into the crook of Jasuf's neck happily. They were naked and cuddled together in his quarters on the Ha'tak. A single sheet covered them.
"Is there not enough to occupy you here?" he asked.
"We're so bored."
He laughed softly. "Perhaps guard duty does not suit you."
"Not this guard duty." She absentmindedly stroked the muscles of his bare chest. "How is Tek'ron?"
"The same. I took into account that our Ha'tak was not there and increased patrols. Some of your sisters joined forces with our warriors to cover more ground."
Elda leaned up on one elbow to look at him pointedly. "That is not the same!" She marveled at what he just told her. Their tribes used to be bitter rivals. And now they were cooperating with each other for patrols! "How did the guardsmen fare with the Hak'tyl?"
"They fared fine. I heard no complaints."
She widened her eyes.
"You are surprised?"
"Jasuf, who wouldn't be?"
"My Love, the hard work we were made to do has proven successful. Leaderships' designs were artfully executed. Although we detested the tasks they set before us, I now see their worth."
"Really?"
"Yes. Our alliance has been made stronger. We must learn from our leaders' example."
"Ugh. What if I don't want to," she said petulantly, dropping back down into his arm.
He kissed her hair, knowing she was reluctant to accept her station. And her power. "Our tribes have benefitted from your arrival, Elda. It is only fitting that you should one day lead."
Elda groaned more, which only made him laugh.
"The people appreciate you," he continued encouragingly. "They agree that you deserve more than just warriorhood." Jasuf squeezed her. "So much good has happened since your arrival to Tek'ron. I am glad for it."
She swallowed, taking his perspective seriously and realizing that his words were laced with true admiration for her. It made her feel warm. And touched. Ishta's suggestion that she was some sort of catalyst once again came forward in her mind. Maybe this is what the Hak'tyl leader was talking about.
Or was this the goal that she was deviously maneuvering them all toward?
Elda felt suspicious again. She sighed and thought perhaps she'd learn what their leaders' secretive plans were over time, now that she was being let into their exclusive club.
For now, she just wanted to push it all out of her mind. "Jasuf, thank you for your kind words." She kissed his cheek. "And I'm glad, too. To have you."
He smiled toward her. "I rather like this assignment you have now. Despite your complaints, you are safe here. And I now have an opportunity to see you while you are working."
Elda smirked. "How did you manipulate yourself into coming here?"
"There was no need for manipulation. I simply demanded to come."
"Your father didn't protest?"
Jasuf just smiled at her. She raised her brow. She imagined Jasuf must have asserted himself as the future leader of the tribe. Maybe his father respected that. Elda had to admit, she liked it, too. He was here holding her after all.
"What will you do while you're here and I'm on duty?" she asked.
"I will oversee the continued improvements to the Ha'tak. And take command of the peltac."
"Your boyhood dream comes true," she said playfully.
He hummed amusedly.
"You're leaving?" Elda asked in Vala and Daniel's quarters on the Hammond.
Her mother nodded. "The tracker we put on Jacek's ship shows he went to a planet I know. Might be his latest hide-out. I mean to go there and see who he's talking to."
"You think he'll give us up?"
"For the right price, yes."
"Even if he knows you're here?"
Vala considered Elda. "How well did you know Jacek? In your time?" she wondered.
"Not very well. I met him a few times. I was just telling my father about those experiences. Jacek contributed to my education."
Her mother furrowed her brow. "He would, wouldn't he," she remarked drily. "You might have only known him as an impressionable child, when it was easier for him to charm you. I know him as an adult, when I can see right through him. Believe me when I say: family bloodlines suddenly become less important when the right amount of money stares Jacek in the face."
Elda frowned. She understood. And maybe she wasn't surprised. But she was still disappointed to hear that Jacek was truly as selfish as her mother made him out to be. "Is all of SG-1 going?"
"Yes. Daniel demanded it."
"He did?"
"I'm pregnant with his child. He won't let me out of his sight." Vala smiled with satisfaction over this.
Elda chuckled. "And naturally, Cameron better follow. Or else he's got no team left."
"Right. He's already nervous as it is."
"What's he really going to do when both of you need to step away for the baby?"
Vala tilted her head. "Cover for General Landry so the poor man can finally take a vacation."
"Oh Gods. More leadership duties," she grumbled in disgust.
Her mother chuckled at her distaste for responsibility. "Meanwhile, I'm sure Teal'c will take time off to be with Ishta while we're on leave."
"Oh he would. He's with her right now on the Ha'tak."
"I'm not surprised." Now Vala was reminded of a curiosity she had. "Did Ishta really show up here with male Jaffa warriors as her guard?"
Elda nodded. "I am just as shocked as you. Jasuf said he even combined their patrols back on Tek'ron."
"Sounds like your tribes are beginning to merge." Vala was already aware that the Hak'tyl had accepted a male ambassador into their village. And they used to pride themselves on segregation.
"Can you believe it?" Elda marveled.
Vala grabbed her chin affectionately. "I think you had something to do with that happening, Darling."
"What!?"
"Think about it. If you hadn't captured Jasuf's attention, and then become his mate, likely nothing would have changed on Tek'ron. The two tribes would have remained separate, barely tolerating each other. Your little courtship seems to have been inspiring." Vala waggled her brows meaningfully.
Elda scrunched her face. "I hardly think I had that much influence."
Vala pursed her lips.
This girl didn't even realize she was like a sun that everyone else revolved around.
She refrained from saying that aloud. It would do no good. She settled for hugging her tightly. Vala kissed her forehead. "I'll try to send back word of what we learn out there."
Elda sighed within her arms. "Be careful. Please."
"I will," she promised.
The tavern wasn't anything special. Cameron and Daniel sat at the bar with drinks in front of them. They sipped them slowly, just waiting.
Vala and Teal'c were in the puddle jumper, parked deep into the forest and hidden away. They had live comms and could monitor everything.
So far they hadn't heard anything of interest. And no one was approaching the pair of men who blended in with every other patron at this establishment. They held innocuous conversation, careful not to name specific people or places. It was all just in case the wrong person was listening in and could accidentally identify them as Tau'ri. That would be dangerous.
There was only one person they were interested in seeing. He was supposedly somewhere in this little town.
After an hour, Jacek finally walked in for his evening meal. He ignored Cameron and Daniel at the bar. They didn't try very hard to disguise themselves. But they also didn't try to call extra attention to their presence. The idea was to let Jacek tell them how he wanted to play. Vala was ready to advise them in their ears however he chose. It was enough that Jacek would eventually notice them and realize that Earth was watching.
This was about to be a warning.
Their target made conversation with the locals in the tavern, laughing along at some crude jokes. He ordered a meal and a drink. He flirted with the female server, who accepted his extra coins as a tip for letting him.
After he finished his food, Jacek slipped into the stool next to Cameron. "Fancy seeing you here," he remarked. He got the bartender's attention and ordered a round for them.
When the new drinks slammed down, Jacek raised a glass toward the men. He didn't say anything and simply took a drink.
They stared at him, expressionless. They were still waiting.
"I take it you're here to say hello," Jacek guessed.
"Hello," Mitchell said flatly.
He grinned. He patted his shoulder heartily and leaned in. "How's my Vala?"
"Wondering why Daddy had to leave so soon," Daniel said drily.
Jacek brought a hand to his wounded heart. He laughed merrily. "Yes, well, Daddy always has to work. I'm a slave to the profession."
"Really," Cameron said with mild interest. "Anything good lately?"
Jacek pointed a finger at him thoughtfully. "You know, there have been some good ones as of late. I helped this little farmer with a rodent problem just last month."
Daniel raised a brow. He could hear Vala snorting over the comms. "Anything else?"
Their mark chuckled to himself. "Listen, I think I know why you're here. And let me assure you that you have nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, to worry about." He smiled at both of them reassuringly.
Vala recited over the comms, "Who said we're worried?"
"Who said we're worried?" Cameron repeated casually.
"Exactly!" Jacek responded enthusiastically. "You boys can certainly handle yourselves." He leaned in toward Cameron with a meaningful look. "And I'm quite sure my daughter still holds that special affection for you she's always had." His eyes sparkled at the Colonel as he said it.
Mitchell cracked a grin.
Daniel rolled his eyes surreptitiously.
Jacek had the two of them confused.
"Oh, she sure does," Cameron answered, also quietly telling Vala what was going on.
She understood. And she meant to take advantage of it. "Tell him I'm pregnant."
"Did she share her special news with you?"
"The part about you two getting engaged?" Jacek assumed with Cameron. "Congratulations by the way! I always knew you had a special place in your heart for my darling daughter."
Mitchell fought the laugh that wanted to burst out of his chest. He didn't bother to glance behind him to see Daniel's expression. He could imagine the annoyance on his face.
Jacek mistook his smile as verification for his assumption.
Daniel took a casual sip from his drink. "Did Vala happen to tell you why he's marrying her?"
Cameron's eye twitched.
Vala said, "Oooh," interestedly over the line.
They could all feel Teal'c's brow rising in anticipation.
Jacek shook his head.
Daniel smirked. "He got her pregnant. And our local customs frown upon such a thing. He's marrying her because he has no choice."
Vala began laughing hysterically on the comms.
Daniel patted Cameron's shoulder supportively. "Sorry, buddy. Guess you should have used protection."
Suddenly, Cam was not so amused.
Jacek blinked. He regarded Cameron suspiciously, trying to gauge whether or not they were telling him the truth. "Vala is pregnant?"
The Colonel coughed. Then he turned to stare at Daniel in warning. The linguist simply grinned back mischievously.
Jacek brought a hand up to his chin in thought. "I guess it was going to happen eventually."
Both men turned back to him. They raised their brows in question.
"Well, have you seen my daughter? She was bound to catch the attention of someone on your planet. Just a matter of which one of you she would allow to touch her. Well, thanks for telling me, fellas. This just means I'll have to pay her a visit more often. Check on how she's doing. See if she needs anything," he rambled, hinting. "Now that I'm thinking on it, how much longer would you say she'll be on that cute little moon? Seeing as how I won't be visiting your home planet anytime soon." He flashed them a smile.
"Lie. I'm permanently based there now."
"It's her new home base," Daniel said aloud to Jacek. "Command decided to get her out of the view of angry villagers for now."
Cameron nearly scrunched his face, but fought the change in expression.
Jacek pointed at Daniel. "Sounds like a very prudent move. Let them simmer down. And once they see a darling little baby, all the bad feelings just fade away." He lifted his hand up in the air to emphasize his point.
"Tell him, if he wants to see me, he has to come alone."
The Colonel immediately said, "If you mean to visit with Vala again, you have to continue to come alone. No uninvited guests."
Jacek smiled at Cameron. "Oh I wouldn't dream of it."
"And for God's sake, call ahead, would ya?" he complained.
Vala's father pointed a finger gun at him in agreement. He winked as he made a shooting sound with his mouth. Then Jacek downed the last of his drink. "See ya, boys." He left the tavern, colorful robes swaying around him as he moved
They both turned to watch him.
Cameron muttered, "Why did we just do that?" To anyone else watching, his question would appear to be directed to Daniel next to him.
Vala answered, "Telling him I'm pregnant will make him think twice about bringing danger to that moon. Letting him come back means more opportunities to interrogate him… and possibly imprison him to keep him from getting back out there and causing more problems."
"He's family," Daniel replied aloud to Cam's query, to keep up the ruse they had going in the bar.
Cameron grinned. "You know, when you get hitched, you don't just marry the girl, but her whole family, too." He slapped Daniel's shoulder as he got up.
His friend's eye twitched as he followed. "Lucky you," he deadpanned.
They dropped a few extra coins on the bar and left.