Complications
By: iheartvala
CATEGORY: Angst, AU
SEASON/SPOILERS: Season 10 “Counterstrike”
WARNINGS: None
AUTHOR’S WEBSITE:
http://iheartvala.livejournal.com/
CHAPTER 1
"You've got to be kidding me." Vala signed, a long
exaggerated sigh, as she sat in Dr. Lam's office.
"I'm pretty sure these tests aren't wrong very often Vala. I'm hoping you
have a better idea of how you got pregnant this time..." Carolyn Lam
raised an eyebrow at Vala, and then quietly sat back in her chair, realizing
she may have gone a little to far. "You do have some options," she
continued. "However, I need to know what you plan to do before the end of
the third month."
Vala nodded her head, and then tilted it to the side. "Thank you, Dr.
Lam." She said, and hurried out of the infirmary.
* * * *
Vala was walking down one of the many SGC hallways that looked exactly like the
others, when she heard a somewhat familiar voice calling her name.
"Ah, Vala!" Richard Woolsey was jogging to catch up with her.
"Vala, I trust you're settling in well here? The IOA is so far pleased
with the reports we've recieved regarding your behavior and contributions."
he said, a little exasperated.
"I'm sure my mother would be proud Mr. Woolsey." Vala was trying to
shrug him off.
Just then she spotted Daniel approaching from the opposite direction.
"Are you feeling alright Vala?" Mr. Woolsey inquired. Vala was
staring at Daniel, and he finally noticed her, giving her a sort of greeting
smile, and a nod. Vala directed her attention back at Woolsey, and smiled a
nice big fake smile.
"I'm fantastic." she began, "Actually I've got to go. Stargating
business, you know that kind of thing." She began to run away in the
opposite direction. "Nice to see you again Mr. Woolsey," she said,
her voice trailing off.
* * * *
The next morning General Landry began Sg-1's mission briefing with a sigh.
"It looks like we've got another Ori sighting on a
Vala stood from her seat at the grand meeting table, and approached her new
commanding officer. She liked to think of General Landry as her boss...it added
to the sense of security she so desperately needed in these last few months.
"General Sir, may I speak with you privately?" He turned to her with
a bit of an inquisitive look, and then nodded. He stepped aside and extended an
arm toward his office, and followed her in and closed the door.
She began, "You see General, I was just thinking, what with me being an
ex-host and all, it's probably not a good idea for me to tag along this time.
Wouldn't want to possibly hurt such an important mission, so if you don't mind
I'll just not go this time. Thanks." Vala quickly made a run for the door.
"Vala." General Landry's voice was stern, and she knew he hadn't
bought it. "If you're going to be a part of this facility that requires
honesty." Vala turned back around and flashed her most innocent grin.
"Now what is this really about?"
"Well, it's just that...." She winced. Her hair was done up in the
usual pigtails, and she was wearing a new scarf she'd aquired since Daniel took
her other one, and Landry thought she looked like a child who was about to
confress to drawing on the walls.
"Well I'm pregnant...again."
General Landry sighed. "I see. Is this Ori related?" She nodded a no.
"Vala, I like to think I can be speak on a personal level with all my
staff. You can tell me anything you need to."
"Daniel is the father." The words came out slowly and in pieces, and
she looked at him, desperate for some sort of reassurance of fatherly like
advice.
"Well then. You're hereby suspended from off world travel unless Dr. Lam
approves." He walked out from behind his desk and put an arm on Vala's
shoulder. "You may take the next few days off, no questions asked."
He smiled at her.
She nodded, and walked to the door.
"Oh and Vala," he began, "I need you to be a bit more
professional, and careful in these," he searched for the appropriate word,
"situations. If you understand what I mean?" She nodded again slowly
and gave an "I'm sorry" shrug, as she left.
* * * *
The next morning Sg-1 gathered in the gate room, awaiting the ok to head
through the glowing blue doorway.
"Everyone ready?" Cameron broke the silence, as the team adjusted
their gear.
"Uh Vala's not here." Daniel piped up, and looked around the room,
and then at General Landry in the control room.
The towering man in the blue uniform spoke up: "Vala will not be
accompanying you on any more missions until further notice. Get going."
Daniel shot him a very confused and concerned look, and Landy returned it with
one that said "Go, now.", and Cameron pulled Daniel up the ramp.
* * * *
Sg-1 returned exactly 24 hours later, and first thing, Daniel searched the base
for Vala.
He found her in the commissary, of course, and she was slowly picking at some
red jell-o with a fork. He smiled a large smile, and sat down in front of her.
"So," he said, "did you miss me?" And he grinned at her.
"Oh please Daniel, I'm not in the mood for your teasing." She didn't
even look up at him.
"You? Not in the mood? I'm shocked." Daniel chuckled that giggle that
he does when he think's he's one upped her. and his face said he was very
pleased with himself. It was sort of their thing now. When he realized she was
serious, he sat back and considered her for a moment. "You wanna tell me
why you aren't accompanying us on missions any more?"
"Not really."
"Vala..."
"Gotta go Daniel, I'm a very busy and important person you know." She
practically ran from the table. He thought about chasing after her, but he
honestly thought she would kick him in the head if he did.
* * * *
He let her be for the rest of the day, and even barely spoke to her the next
day...until he found her in an unused lab crying alone. She was leaning on the
counter with her head in her hands lightly sobbing. He sighed heavily to
announce his presence and approached her.
She stood up straight and turned her back to him without even looking in his
direction.
"This is ridiculous Vala. I've let you sulk around here and avoid me for
two days now. I put my own butt on the line so that you could come with us off
world and help like you said you so badly wanted to, and now for some
mysterious reason you can't perform. What is wrong with you?"
She whirled around to face him, anger in her eyes. "Oh that is so god damn
typical of you isn't it Daniel?! Wouldn't want anything to hurt poor Dr.
Jackson's perfect reputation now would we?"
He gave her his typical confused squint, but this time he was obviously pissed.
"What the hell did I do to deserve this? You sulk around the halls
avoiding me, and then I find you in here crying by yourself, and when I try and
help, you snap at me." She shook her head at him in a exaggerated fashion
and bit her cheek.
Vala stood there for a few moments with her arms crossed against her chest
considering her next move. Finally she spoke, this time back to her somewhat
depressed demeanor: "It wouldn't hurt you to be a little more
sensitive."
He sighed again and moved closer to her. This time she did not turn away from
him.
"Ok Vala. We're coworkers now, sorta part of a team, and I'd like to think
that we're at least friends given the direction that our personal relationship
has gone recently, and as your friend I would really like to know what's
bothering you and if there's anything I can do to help." He reached out a
hand and put it on her shoulder. Vala pulled away slightly just out of his
reach and looked away from him, tears welling up in her eyes again. She looked
him straight in the eyes, and she could tell he was genuinely worried for her,
and Vala knew she had to be honest with him.
"Daniel do you trust me? I mean not just as your coworker, as a person, do
you really trust me, entirely?"
"You know I've been trying." His words went down like a bucket of
rusty bolts and she began to cry a little more. He waited patiently, as she
began again, trying to get the words out: "I...," She rubbed her
forhead, "something happened."
"What?"
"I'm five weeks along."
"Five weeks along what?" Daniel bent down a little to look at her
face while she was so intently staring at her shoes.
She looked up at him and frowned as tears steamed down her face. "Daniel,
I'm pregnant."
The words came so fast out of her mouth he wasn't sure he heard her correctly,
and he swallowed a large lump in his throat. Now it was his turn to rub his
forehead.
He didn't want to ask the next question, but both of them knew it was coming:
"And you're sure it's mine?" Vala just nodded a yes.
"I'm going to go now if that's ok." She didn't wait for a response.
Daniel sunk down onto the floor and put his head in his hands.
CHAPTER 2
"Hi Sam." Vala tentatively strolled into Colonel Carter's lab where she was engrossed in something on her laptop. "You busy?" Vala continued. "Not really. Just typing up my report, but it can wait, what's up?" Vala was continuously amazed at this woman who had become some what of a role model for her. Despite all that had happened over the past months, Sam was always completely patient and kind with her. Vala smiled. She walked up to stand across from Sam on the other side of the island in the middle of the lab. "Nothing's up really, just wanted to see what you were up to. Have a girl to girl talk maybe." She grinned a little bit and shrugged. Sam nodded. "How are you Vala?" she asked, "I mean a lot has happened to you recently, that must be taking a bit of a toll on your nerves." Vala sighed and twisted a strand of her long black hair around a finger. She tilted her head forward a bit letting her bangs fall in her face. "Adjusting hasn't been easy." She finally said. "Can I talk to you Sam? I need some advice." Sam nodded her head, "Of course Vala." Sam pushed her laptop aside, and leaned forward on the counter to give Vala all of her attention. "Well I went to see Dr. Lam the other day, and," She paused, swallowig a lump in her throat. "I guess I'm pregnant again." Sam's head jerked back and she blinked a lot the way she does when she's genuinely completely shocked. She suddenly felt a slight twinge of jealousy. She regained her composure, "Umm, same circumstances as before?" "Nope." Vala shook her head and smiled sorta, "Not this time." "Oh, I see." "Yea." A silence fell over the room for a moment and Vala exhaled loudly through her mouth just before Sam spoke up: "Have you spoken to the father about it?" "Yup. Told General Landry too, that's why I'm not going off world for a while." Sam nodded. "I see. And...the father...how does he feel about it?" Vala began pacing a bit, twirling her hair in her fingers again. "That's the thing...I didn't really stick around to find out." "Did anything at all happen when you told him?" Vala stopped her pacing and shrugged: "You know Daniel, he just sorta stared with that confused look on his face." Sam blinked. "Daniel?" she said. Vala nodded. Sam moved around the counter then to face Vala. She looked her in the eye and said slowly and with conviction, "You need to talk to him."
* * * *
It was late, very late actually, and Vala was standing outside Daniel's quarters staring at the light coming from crack beneath the door. The rest of the base was barely lit in dim lighting, and faint footsteps of a technician or a guard could be heard in the distance, but mostly it was completely empty, and suddenly Vala felt very alone. She was looking for any excuse not to knock on that door. Maybe he was asleep? Of course he wasn't asleep. Maybe he was reading. He did hate when she interrupted his reading. But, that wasn't true either. Vala stepped forward and made a sad excuse for a knock on the door. He probably hadn't heard, and just as she was about to knock again, he opened the door. He looked at her for a moment and motioned for her to come in. She did, and after an akward moment of standing and looking around, they both sat on the bed. Vala knew she had to open: "Dr. Lam says I have some options." Daniel got up and stood across from her, hands on his hips and a thoghtful look on his face. "I think that we should talk about us first." Vala looked away from him. She suddenly felt very vulnerable. "What happened between us was more than just a moment of weakness, and I think you know that as much as me." She glared at him. "What do you want me to say Daniel? That I'm desperately in love with you? That I came to earth to try and coerce you into loving me back? Because I wont say that. I'm not going to give you that!" She stood up no more than a foot across from him and put her hands on her hips aswell. He stared at her. She was beautiful in the dim light of the single lamp in his quarters. Her hair was down and straight, a style she hadn't worn in a long time, and for a split second he wondered why she'd changed it. Daniel breathed one long heavy breath and gained some composure. "If you are so not in love with me then why are you acting they way you do? Why did you take that shot for me on the Ori ship?!" He raised an eyebrow at her. "Why have you been sneaking into my bed every night when you think I'm asleep? If you really don't care about me then why are you here now in my quarters?" Vala begain walking about the room. Daniel thought perhaps she was looking for something to throw, but then she just stopped and squeezed her eyes shut, facing him. "You gave me the key to your room!" She shouted at him. Then she exhaled heavily, and stood very still. A moment later she spoke: "Maybe I need you." She choked out the words as tears came ot her eyes. "All my life I've never stayed in one place Daniel, and now for some reason, I am so afraid to be anywhere but here." She paused for a long time. "I don't like feeling like you could just walk away from this and go on with your life never having cared at all." Daniel hung his head for a moment. And then he blurted out something he instantly regretted: "Is that why you got pregnant; to keep me around?" He squinted hard and exhaled the breath caught in his throat. "I'm sorry I didn't mean that at all." Vala sat back down on the bed, her mouth hanging slightly open. "If I decide to keep it, I wont expect you to help." Her words floated for a moment within the space between them. Daniel looked down at her, and she looked so pained he just wanted to hold her in his arms like he did while they slept. He was so intently staring at her that he hadn't even really taken in what she said, and when he did, his expression changed dramatically. "What do you mean if you keep it? You don't want it?" He was actually quite shocked. She got up and slowly walked towards the door, one small hand ready on the handle. Daniel's eyes followed her and the walk seemed to take hours. She wasn't crying any longer but she couldn't hold back the hurt in her voice when she finally spoke: "I can't carry the child of a man who doesn't care about me." She closed her eyes for a moment and then left.
CHAPTER 3
Daniel caught the door before it closed, and grabbed Vala's
left wrist so she couldn't get completely away. Vala stopped and looked at him
in shock; or not as much shock and anger that her escape plan hadn't worked. He
grabbed her in a fierce embrace, and she fought against him for a while, but eventually
gave in and melted into his strong arms. She sobbed against his chest. After
what seemed an eternity Daniel pulled back and took her face in both his hands.
He was staring into her blue-grey eyes and without warning he kissed her
passionately. His tongue searched for hers, and Vala sensed desperation in him.
It wasn't like the animalistic and rough kisses they'd shared that night of
fluid level reduction and stress release. No, this was a real kiss that meant
something, and Vala found her arms encircling him.
Their kiss ended and she hugged him tightly whispering, "Daniel...what
have you done to me?"
He squeezed her one more time and then pulled away from her letting her hands
rest around his waist. "What do you mean?"
She smiled a little but shook her head in disbelief, "When I'm with you,
I'm not the same person I was."
"Well," he interrupted, "you weren't really that great of a
person before." And he grinned at her when she playfully slapped him on
the chest and giggled. He grabbed her hand and tangled her fingers with his as
he closed the door to his quarters and then began pulling her down the hall.
"I know you've got to be as starving as I am."
* * * *
The next day Vala was slowly spinning in one of the chairs in the conference
room, reading a book.
Cameron Mitchell strolled in and sat on the table in front of her. "You?
Reading...a...book?" He teased.
"It's called Being an American for Dummies." She replied,
pointing at the cover. "Teal'c suggested it."
"Of course." He laughed. And she went back to her reading.
"Hey," he continued, "I know I've been a little hard on you the
past few months, but it's my job and I just want to make sure you don't screw
up again or steal anything and..."
She poked her face up from behind the book and interrupted, "As much as I
love the company of a man Colonel Mitchell...do you have a point?" She
shrugged and fake smiled.
"Oh sorry." He said, "My point is that you're doing a good job
and I just wanted to say keep it up."
She flashed him her million dollar smile and sqee'd, "Aww, thank you
Colonel Mitchell. I wont let you down Sir!" She gave him a mock salute, as
he stood to leave.
"Now if you and Jackson can just work out your issues we can get back to
our weekly basketball games." He smiled. "Basketball is a key part of
being an American Vala." She laughed and nodded and he left.
* * * *
"
"Oh hey
Cameron continued any way: "I just talked with Vala. I told her she was
doing a good job and I'm pleased with her performance so far."
"Oh yea?" Daniel inquired. "That's good." Cameron ignored
the fact that the archeologist was clearly not listening and continued anyway
as they walked down the hall. "Teal'c sent word from Dakara. The council's
meeting again today, and he thinks they're going to dedicate some ships to the
effort." Daniel didn't even say anything, just kept walking.
"Hey Jackson," Cameron prodded, "I know you've always got some
translating or something going on in your head, but something's up with you
today."
Daniel stopped and threw his towel around his neck putting his hands on his
hips. He waited for an SF to walk by and then whispered toward Cameron, "Vala's
pregnant again."
"Oooohhhhh." Cameron nodded. "Who's is it?"
Daniel just looked at him. Cameron pointed at him and lifted an eyebrow. Daniel
nodded "yes".
The Colonel's mouth fell open a little. "How'd that happen?"
"Things happen I guess." Cameron sorta smiled a sympathetic smile.
"What are you gonna do?" He asked.
Daniel shrugged. "I don't know."
"Do you care about her?"
"Maybe. I don't know. She makes me feel different."
"How do you mean?" He asked.
"Like i'm alive." Daniel shugged and sighed as if he was finally
admitting to himself what he he was sure, everyone else already knew.
Cameron smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Anything you need man,
it's no problem."
"Thanks."
* * * *
Vala absent-mindedly walked out of the infirmary staring at her shoes again and
bumped hard into someone walking by. "Oh. Sorry" She said and looked
up. It was Daniel.
"Vala.." He said.
"Hey." She smiled a fake smile at him, and he looked away from her
noticing where she had come from.
"Everything thing ok?" He asked and sort of looked toward her belly.
She looked down at her belly too. "Oh yea, everything's fine." She
began, "I was just talking with Dr. Lam about those options I mentioned
before." She spoke the words so carefully.
"Oh" Daniel let his expression change to worry.
"Oh I haven't made up my mind yet." She wanted to reassure him.
"I figured maybe I should consult you first." She paused, "That
is, if you would like to be invovled."
"Of course!" He blurted. "I mean, I would love it if you would
involve
"Alright." She said, her tone soft and sweet. "Should we go
somewhere to talk?" He nodded and followed her.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I wasn't sure if I
wanted Cameron to know about Vala's pregnancy at first, but I decided to go
with it because I'd like to see a good friendship between
CHAPTER 4
"My wife died many years ago and I always thought I
would just never be a father; that I would never get to experience that."
he paused "I want you to have this baby." They were in Daniel's
quarters again. It was poorly lit, and they stood almost the whole room's length,
apart frome each other. Vala was fuming, Daniel was exhausted, his hands dug
deep in his pockets.
"And I want you to admit that you like me Daniel!" She shouted louder
than she meant to.
"I'm not going to do that"
"Oh really?" She shook her head in disbelief and gave a fake smile,
her hands planted firmly on her hips. "So you realize you're not getting
any older and you decide, 'Hey I want a kid!', and I happen to be having yours
so you figure, 'She likes me enough that she'll stick around through anything and
I don't have to commit.' I thought you were supposed to be some kind of prince
charming. Dr. Daniel Jackson." His name was expressed with so much anger
and sarcasm it made Daniel cringe.
"Vala..."
"No, I'm not finished! I can't live like this Daniel. You're never going
to trust me, I'm never going to belong here, no one's ever going to take me
seriously, and I'm never going to have a real family." She was sobbing
weakly now. "I need more than just a pat on the back from Colonel Mitchell
and an 'Oh hey, you haven't screwed up yet, good job.'" The sarcasm was
strong in her voice, but she collapsed on the bed.
"Vala." He sat next to her placing one arm gently around her
shoulders. "I was going to say, I'm not going to admit that I like you
because I want to do better than that." She peered up at him through foggy
tear filled eyes and waited. "Vala, I think I love you; more than I have
loved anyone in a long long time, and that's pretty hard for me to admit."
"You're just saying that so I wont leave. You don't have to do me any
favors Daniel." Her voice was small like a child's.
"No." he shook his head and smiled at her. "Vala, you have
caused me a lot of mental and physical pain in the last year,"
He rolled his eyes, and she interruped hanging her head: "Daniel...please...I
get it ok?"
"But," He continued, ignoring her, "I have also never felt so
alive and...." he struggled for the right word "happy." He took
her face in his hands and wiped a tear away from her cheek. "You make me
happy Vala, and I am so proud of the way you've handled yourself here. You've
been through a lot, but you've proven time and time again what a strong and
capable person you are, and I am so glad that you're here...with me."
She smiled a little and exhaled. "Even though I frustrate you and make you
make that squinty face?"
He laughed out loud. "Yea. I like that you keep me on my toes." She
smiled widely at him, and he hugged her. She was a liar and a thief and a
manipulator, and beautiful and strong and funny, and incredibly smart, and she
was his, and the thought brought a huge smile to his face and he sighed heavily
in exhaustion. "I'm tired, how about you?"
"I'm as plump as a ballpark on a hot summer day." Vala said, and
Daniel suddenly became very confused.
He laughed. "Uh Vala, I think that's the wrong expression."
"Oh." She said, a little embarassed.
"Do me a favor?" "Hmm?" "Don't try and speak
Texan." He had that irresistable smirk on his face, and Vala suddenly
kissed him roughly. She pulled back and he smiled at her.
"What was that for?"
"Thanks." He hugged her tightly once more.
"It's late, let's get some sleep." They crawled into his bed, and
Vala rested her head on his chest and wrapped her arm around him.
"Daniel.." she asked.
"Yea?"
"This one's going to stay a baby for a while right?"
He chuckled. "Well...I don't know, I did ascend once..." he lead her
on.
"No way! Really?" She began to pout. "But they're so cute when
they're babies." He just squeezed her and turned off the lamp.
* * * *
The next morning Vala skipped out of Daniel's room and over to her own to clean
up and get ready for the day. They agreed to meet in the hall in 20 minutes.
When Vala finally emerged, 10 minutes late exactly, Daniel was leaning against
a wall chatting with Siler. He was wearing the blue BDU's today, sleeves rolled
up to his elbow's and a black t-shirt underneath. Vala gave him a wide grin;
she loved the blue ones and he knew it. She was wearing all black today. Black
is a slimming color, and she figured if she was going to blow up like a balloon
again she might as well start dressing the part.
They met eachother in the middle of the hall way. She placed a delicate hand on
his cheek feeling the soft smooth skin there and he smiled. He never understood
why she loved that gesture so much, but it had become a touch he often longed
for. He took her arm and wrapped it inside his and together they made their way
to the infirmary. They informed Dr. Lam that Vala would be keeping her baby for
good. The young doctor smiled pleasantly and immediately started lecturing Vala
on the importance of pre-natal vitamins and exercise during pregnancy.
An hour later they emerged, both a little taken back by all the information,
and the work that it was going to take to go down this road.
"So Daniel, does this mean I'm your girlfriend."
He laughed a little, "Umm I don't know, we'll see I guess." They
headed for the commisary...again.
CHAPTER 5
----- FIVE MONTHS LATER -----
Sg-1 came through the gate to the booming voice of General Landry over the PA:
"Sg-1 report to my office now please."
Cameron spoke up as soon as he entered the room, "What's so urgent
Sir?"
"Let me get right to the point." Landry began, "While you were
away, Dr. Lam and I authorized Vala to take Sg-6 and go off world for a little
while."
Daniel's mouth fell open a little. He almost shouted: "What?! Why? What
for?"
"We sent a team ahead to check it out, and everything appeared
normal." He came out from behind his desk to talk more personally with his
lead team.
"What are you trying to say Sir?" Cameron asked.
The General sighed heavily. "We recieved word half and hour ago that a
small Ori vessel has landed on the planet and they've taken control of one of
the villiages there. Vala was there visiting someone who she said was a
relative. Sg-6 hasn't heard from her in two hours."
"How could you let this happen?!" Daniel blurted out. "We have
to go get her, now."
"Not so fast Dr. Jackson. We have no idea how many Ori soldiers are there
or what kind of defenses they've set up within the villiage."
Daniel opened his mouth to protest, but General Landry continued before he
could, "I will not endanger any more of my people until we hear back again
from Sg-6. They are attempting some recon right now, and they think they
haven't been discovered yet." He moved to put one hand on Daniel's
shoulder. "Go get cleaned up and eat something. I'll alert you all as soon
as we hear anything."
* * * *
An hour later General Landry walked into the briefing room a
little bit hopefull after having asked Sg-1 and Sg-12 there. There was a thick
tension in the air and no one was going to dare say anything.
Daniel was sitting in his chair as straight as he could, practically on the
table, he was leaning forward so far. "You've heard something General?"
He asked, his expression filled with concern.
"
"Adria." Sam added. The General nodded his head in agreement.
"Additionally," he continued, "The Odyssey was close to the
planet testing some systems so I sent them to go check out the area above the
planet." He sat down at the end of the table. "They've reported no
signs of additional Ori vessels in the area and scanners confirm the numbers we
got from Sg-6."
"Uh Sir.." Sam interjected, "This can't be that easy. There must
be some kind of catch."
He nodded. "There is. The stargate has somehow become unoperational on
that planet, effectively trapping everyone there."
"The Odyssey's Asgard beams should supply us an exit." Teal'c said.
"Yes Teal'c. However, Vala does not have a tracking device on her, so your
mission is to secure her and get to a safe location where you can all be beamed
out." Landry turned his attention to Daniel who was being suprisingly
quiet. "What do you think Dr. Jackson?"
He was a little lost in his thoughts, but looked up when he heard his name.
"Umm I'm guessing Adria went there specifically to see Vala, and perhaps
capture her, but I cannot imagine why she would care about Vala, and why she
would go somewhere so underguarded. We have no idea what her powers are like
now."
Sam looked concerned. "Daniel's right Sir. I'm not so sure we can do this."
"Well we're going to try. We're hoping you can simply out number them, but
it will be up to you to find a way to distract Adria." He said with a nod
and stood. "Go suit up, you leave in thirty minutes."
* * * *
"We've come to take you home Mother." Adria's voice was cold but
childlike even though she now had the appearance of a full grown woman.
Vala, her very elderly grandmother, and Adria now, were gathered in a small
room in one of the small homes in the villiage. "Vala who is this?"
The old woman inquired, coughing a little as she settled into a chair at the
table.
"Grams, this is my daughter Adria."
"Your daughter?" The old lady squinted hard and looked Adria up and
down. "Adria? Why in heaven's name did you name her after that horrid
wretch..."
"Yes, yes Grams, you're feeling very tired I'm sure, allow me to take you
to your room." Vala looked to Adria to see if she would allow the action,
and she did not object. When Vala returned someone else had entered the room
and was standing beside Adria, completely clad in Ori armor, staff in hand.
"Tomin?" The name came out of Vala's mouth with an audible shudder.
Her hands went to her bulging belly.
"Vala!" He said with a long exhale, and ran over to her.
He tried to hug her and then noticed what was blocking their contact. He backed
up a few steps away from her slowly. "You are...with..child?" He was
visibly dismayed. Just then heavy gunfire was heard outside, and Tomin backed
out of the house looking at Vala the whole time.
Adria approached her and placed one of Vala's hands in hers. "It is not
too late Mother. I can help you find the path."
"You really need some new material." Vala said, and sighed.
Tomin backed into the room again slowly, followed by Cameron, Daniel and Teal'c
all pointing their guns at him. Tomin came to rest at Adria's side, and Vala
ran over to Daniel. It was a face off. Cameron and Sam looked at eachother for
guidance, and Daniel glared at the young woman who looked remarkably like Vala,
trying to read her emotions.
Adria was the first to break the silence. "We've only come for
Mother." She said.
"Vala, are you ok?" Daniel asked. He wanted to look at her but tried
not to take his eyes off Tomin's staff which was pointed at him and only him.
"Yes, I'm fine Daniel." She spoke it in her most reassuring tone, but
he could sense the fear in her voice.
"Well," Cameron said. "The thing is, you can't have Vala. We
kinda like her now, and we'd like to keep her Origin free if that's alright
with you."
"You have made a grave mistake." Adria said, flinging her hand up
from her side sending Cameron flying into the wall behind them. Teal'c and Sam
opened fire on Adria, and Vala ducked back toward the wall. After a few seconds
the firing stopped. Adria was standing, in exactly the same spot, smiling,
completely unharmed, and then she just disappeared.
Vala got up from her crouched position to see Cameron, Sam and Teal'c checking
out the area where Adria just was three seconds ago...and then she looked at
Daniel. He was standing over Tomin who was choking and coughing on the floor.
Vala ran to his side, and cradled his head in her lap.
"I'm so sorry."
"I love you Vala." She began to cry, and heard distant voices.
It was Sam: "We have to go now." Daniel nodded at her, and attempted
to pull Vala up from the floor. She resisted, and continued to weep over
Tomin's lifeless body. He sighed heavily, and handed Cameron his gun as the
rest of Sg-1 left the room. He bent down and gently scooped Vala up in his arms
and carried her, sobbing, to the beaming site.
* * * *
The long trip back to the SGC was certainly silent if it was anything. Daniel
walked into the commisary aboard the Odyssey. He saw Vala walking with a large
tray full of food. She came to rest at a table in the corner and sat down by
herself. Daniel wanted so badly to just sit with her so that she might look at
him. Instead he found Cameron and Teal'c eating together and sat down with his
coffee, proping his head up with a hand on the table.
"She's still not talking to ya huh?" Cameron offered. Daniel shook
his head. "I am so in over my head." He sighed. "I did the right
thing right? I mean as soon as you started firing on Adria he would have tried
to protect her."
"Of course
"Do you not love Vala, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c's voice was a little
bit soothing to Daniel.
He smiled at Teal'c. In all the years of their friendship, Daniel never guessed
that the First Prime of Apophis, who helped him and Jack and Sam escape from a
Goa'uld dungeon, would now be giving him love advice. "Yea Teal'c, I do,
it's just..." He paused for a moment. "Well after Shar'e died it was
just my work. Nothing got in the way of my work, and so much has happened since
then, I'm a different person." He shook his head and sighed, sliding a bit
further into his chair. "I just don't know if I can handle this."
"My grandmama never gave me much advice on love, but I do know that being
in love is probably the scariest thing this side of the
Daniel took another sip of his coffee and sat up in his chair. "Thanks a
lot guys." He stood up and turned to the table Vala was still sitting at.
He noticed that she had cleared her plate and was working on a small bowl of
Jell-O...with a spoon. He grinned and walked out.
CHAPTER 6
"Ok, I give up." Daniel shoved Vala into some
room, it didn't matter which one because now he was staring down at her
intently with his hands firmly on his hips.
She tried to act cool, brushing a lock of her long hair away from her shoulder
so that he could more easily observe her black tank top, which had somehow
conveniently become much more low cut that Daniel last remembered, and was
showing off her cleavage quite nicely. She stuck out her chest a little more.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She said, head held high,
and attempting to exit.
He stopped her. "Oh no you don't. No more of your running away Vala."
He ushered her into a chair, and sat beside her. "For two days since we
got back you have done nothing but strut around here flirting with every Airman
on the base!" He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Now, I know you're mad
at me, but for pete's sake Vala you're six months pregnant."
"Who's Pete?" Her forehead crinkled.
"It's just an expression, don't change the subject. Why are you acting
like this?"
She sighed. "I don't know! I just..." She got up and walked ever so
slightly away. "I'm confused."
His voice was kind and patient. "About what?"
"Oh pretty much everything." she said, exageratting every word.
"I just...I don't know what's going on. I mean, you say you love me, but
we're not in a relationship, and then you killed Tomin and I was angry at you
and I didn't want to be." She sighed and threw her hands up in
frustration. "And now we're back here in this constant stalemate, and
everyone here gets silent when I walk into the room and constantly asks if I'm
ok, and I can't stand it. I just..." She she crossed her arms over her
chest, resting them slightly on her engorged belly and began crying. Damn
hormones. She thought.
He smiled his sympthetic smile and approached her. He placed his arms around
her waist, holding her to him, and looked into her eyes. "Oh come on now,
you're going to mess up your make-up if you keep that up. I know you must have
spent hours getting this gorgeous." His smile turned sweet and genuine.
"You think I look gorgeous?" He nodded slowly and raised both
eyebrows. She smiled a little bit but looked away. "But I'm all fat and
motherly looking." She made a disgusted face that made Daniel chuckle.
"Well that's not what the airmen have been saying."
She perked up and grinned widely. "Oh really?! What did they say?"
Daniel's eyebrows suddenly came very close together, and he gave her that look.
"Vala..."
She giggled and wiggled in his arms. "I just wanted to hear you say my
name like that."
He grabbed her hand and began leading her out of the room. "Come on, let's
go have a little chat with the General. I think you need a little
vacation."
* * * *
While Daniel was working out the details of their vacation, which General
Landry happily approved, Sam decided to help Vala shop for some new clothes.
She was always outgrowing them these days, and the Air Force doesn't really
have standard issue maternity wear. She figured if Vala was now going to be a
big part of one of her best friend's lives, she'd ought to get to know the
woman the best she could.
They were walking through a ridiculously huge mall just outside
"The pretzel?"
She looked at Sam and squinted a little. "No, I mean being a burden on
other people. I know you'll say I'm not a burden, but I've always taken care of
myself, and it very strange having everyone else buy things for me."
Sam went out on a limb: "Well...it's better than you stealing them
right?"
Vala glared at her. "HA HA," she said, sarcastically, then smiled.
Sam grinned at her.
"It's just sort of the way things work right now." Sam began,
"You've been here for over a year now, and although you're technically a
part of the SCG, you don't actually have a title or specific position, so
they're kinda just considering you a dependent on Daniel, and so he gets a
little bigger salary now." She cringed, hoping she hadn't offended Vala in
any way.
"Oh I see." Vala smiled and shrugged.
Sam continued, "Unfortunately for you, the baby thing kind of got in the
way of your.." She wasn't sure which word to use, "..career. I guess.
You just have to find you niche, and until the baby's born you can try out
different things, and see what you like to do best. Granted..." she
shrugged. "I doubt the
"Thanks Sam." Vala sighed. "I am so tired. You ready to go
back?"
"Sure." said Sam, and they headed home to the SGC.
* * * *
That Friday, Sam, Daniel and Vala all headed up to the cabin of Major General
Jack O'Neill.
"Explain to me again why there are no fish in the pond?" Vala asked.
Sam and Daniel just looked at each other and chuckled. "Now Vala,"
Daniel began, "Dr. Lam says you're only allowed to be up here if you
remember to take your vitamins, if you take it easy, and don't stay out in the
heat too long."
"You know I'm seriously beginning to reconsider this pregnancy thing. Are
you sure there's not an easier way to do this?"
An hour later they arrived to the smell of carred meat and sweet watermelon.
Sam ran to the back to find Jack at the barbeque, while Daniel helped Vala out
of the car.
"Why couldn't Teal'c and Colonel Mitchell come with us?" Vala grunted
and stretched after the long car ride.
"Well, Teal'c had some business on Dakara with the council, and Mitchell,
well he has plans for this weekend with Carolyn."
Vala raised an eyebrow, "Dr. Lam?"
"Mm hm. But you didn't hear it form me."
The four of them ate speedily and silently, and then sat together in the living
room to talk. Everyone but Vala were enjoying beers while she slurrped loudly
at a now empty glass of juice.
"So Vala.." Jack began
"Here is comes." Daniel mumbled to himself but Jack just shot him a
snoty look and continued.
"...You don't mind if I call you Vala do you?"
She smiled sweetly, "Oh no, please go ahead."
He smiled back. "It appears you're having a baby. How's
that....going?"
"Jaaaaack.." Daniel sighed heavily and dropped his head to his chest.
Vala's eyes widened. "Really?" She said. By the look on her face, for
a second you could believe that she actually had no idea she was pregnant. But,
she grinned widely and her sarcasm became completely apparent. "Actually
Jack...you don't mind if I call you Jack do you?"
He shrugged and nodded a no, grinning. The tension was thick, and Sam was on
the brink of histerics. She knew these two smartasses would be testing each
other's limits, but she had no idea it would be this funny to watch.
"Well actually Jack, I'm having Daniel's baby, and I have to say.....it's
not the best time I've ever had."
Jack nodded and then tilted his head slightly. "Yep, can't say I can
relate at all. But if it's Daniel's I'm sure the whole experience is going to
be uh...exciting to say the least."
* * * *
That night Vala and Daniel were banished to bed aroung nine so they could get
up far too early for anyone's good, and go fishing tomorrow. It was the first
time they'd slept together in the same bed, in what Vala counted as exactly 6
days. Daniel was already in bed, his long legs stretched out the length of the
bed, and a book stuck up near his face. When Vala finally emerged from the
bathroom where she was doing God knows what, for-ev-er, she was standing in the
doorway with her hands on her lower back, attempting to ease the pain. Her long
dark hair was flowing over her shoulders, and she was wearing a tight white
tank top that showed off just an inch of her round belly, and accentuated her
breasts, which had gotten much larger in the past month to her suprise and
delight, a fact which had also not gone unnoticed by Daniel's wandering eyes.
He was staring at her.
"What?" she said, genuinely confused at why he was so interested in
her aching back.
Daniel threw his book on the ground and sat up giving her a hungry look.
"Get over here!"
Vala grinned and did as he demanded, wiggling her way toward the bed, making
sure he got a full and conclusive view of her pink ruffled panties as she
walked. "Just what do you have in mind Dr. Jackson?" Vala's tone was
low and sultry, and it sent shivers down Daniel's spine. "Dr. Lam gave
strict orders for me to take it easy." She was still grinning when she sat
next to him on the bed, sprawled out in her sexiest pose.
Daniel turned on his side to face her, biting his bottom lip. "Dr. Lam
also said we can do anything we normally would up until the eighth month."
Vala opened her mouth to protest but he didn't let her. "Which means I
have two whole months to rock your world..." he added the next part just
because he knew it would drive her crazy, "...any...way...I...want."
He drew out the sentence in a deep tone that made Vala lose a breath somewhere
in her throat.
She pretended to be thinking about it, looking up at the celing and making very
serious faces while trying not to laugh. "I don't know Daniel." Vala
licked her lips and smiled. She loved torturing him.
"Oh shut up!" Daniel said, pinning both of Vala's hands above her
head and tickling her mercilessly.
Jack was gonna be so pissed when they didn't get up on time tomorrow.
CHAPTER 7
AUTHOR’S NOTE: believe it or not, this chapter is awful, but
I just could not end this well. I had originally planned on Vala dieing, but
I'm not that good at the drama, so I wrote this, and I don't like it. SORRY!
----- THREE WEEKS BEFORE VALA'S DUE DATE -----
Cameron Mitchell's face was way too close to the camera on the MALP when he
spoke to the General through the stargate. "Sir, I thought we weren't
suppost to check in until 0300 hours tomorrow. Is something wrong?"
"Colonel I need you to send Dr. Jackson back immediately. There's been
some complications with Vala."
Mitchell nodded. "Yes, Sir, right away. What about the rest of Sg-1
Sir?"
"You're to stay and complete the mission. I expect you to report back at
the agreed upon time tomorrow. Landry out."
Just then Daniel came running through the stargate. "What's wrong?"
He shouted up at the window of the control room.
"Dr. Lam is waiting for you in the infirmary. Vala is..." General
Landry trailed off and stopped when he saw Daniel was already out of earshot.
* * * *
Daniel was panting a little when he finally arrived in the infirmary. It was empty.
Then he noticed a nurse in full surgery scrubs running out of a side room, and
bolted to the doorway. He saw one bed in the middle of the room, at least 5
people standing around it, and Dr. Lam was blurting out orders. It was noisy
and someone was screaming.
"What's going on?" Daniel shouted at the mess of people.
"Where's Vala?"
With that, Vala sat up a little peering over the nurses heads, trying to get a
glimpse of him. "Daniel?" She could barely see him standing in the
doorway, in full uniform and with a Zat in his hand.
Dr. Lam hurried over to where he was. "No. Change first, then you can come
in."
Reluctantly he accepted the scrubs a nurse handed him, and went to change.
A few moments later he returned, bolting to Vala's side on the bed. "What's
going on?" He asked again, taking Vala's hand in his own.
Carolyn Lam was suprisingly calm even though her nurses certainly weren't and
every once in a while Vala let out a scream in pain. "Vala's gone into
labor, but the baby is twisted up inside the womb. We've given her some
medication that should stop the contractions until we can get the baby into the
right position, but if we can't then we'll have to operate."
Daniel tried not to think of his own fatigue from the mission, and stayed there
by Vala's side for 4 hours.
Vala looked exhausted from all the prodding they had to do to settle the baby
in the correct position for birth. "Ok Vala," Carolyn began,
"It's time to start pushing."
Vala inhaled deeply, squeezed Daniel's hand, and exhaled all the way through
one long push. Everyone held their breath until Dr. Lam spoke...
"Good Vala, how about another?"
Vala strained and pushed. "It hurts." She muttered in between quick
breaths. "Why does it hurt so bad?" Daniel squeezed her hand and brushed
a strand of hair away from her face.
"Vala you're bleeding a little bit. It's not really serious, but I can't
address the issue until the baby's completely out. Are you ready to push
again?"
Vala fought back tears and pushed as hard as she could. Twenty-five minutes
later Daniel came rushing out of the room. To his suprise General Landry,
Walter, Siler, and Jack were waiting in the infirmary. "Whoa." He
said, and took a step back.
"Soooooo?" Jack looked extremely bored, and prodded for some kind of
update.
Daniel grinned. "It's a girl!"
"YES!" Jack cheered and placed both hands out in front of him palms
up where Siler and Seargent Harriman promptly placed undisclosed amounts of
cash, to their dismay.
"Well congratulations Dr. Jackson." General Landry spoke up, and gave
Daniel a pat on the shoulder. We've began the arrangements to have Vala and the
baby moved to your home as soon as Dr. Lam releases them."
"Oh, thanks." Daniel said.
Jack moved past Daniel to try and get a peek in the delivery room. "How's
Vala, Danny?"
Daniel sat down on one of the beds. "Oh she'll be ok in a little while.
There were some problems, but Dr. Lam says she'll be fine in a few hours. Her
and the baby are sleeping right now."
General Landry laughed when Daniel rubbed his eyes and stretched. "Perhaps
you should do the same Dr. Jackson."
* * * *
The next day Daniel awoke to a feeling of something very cold on his cheek. He
looked up to see Cameron and Sam looking down at him, and quickly realized his
head was laying on a table in the commisary. "Oh crap!" He spoke, and
quickly got to his feet.
"Where's Vala?" Sam asked as Cameron laughed at Daniel, when he
noticed the left side of his face was bright red.
"Uh she's at home." He spat out in typical Daniel talks too fast
speed. "Crap, I just came back to get a few things and I think I came in
here for a snack and I must have fallen asleep."
"She's at your place alone?" Cameron looked confused.
"Oh uh no." Daniel began walking out of the commisary toward his lab.
"She's with Carolyn, they're getting settled in and Jack's there putting
together the crib and basinet."
Sam laughed out loud. "Jack is?!"
Daniel gave her a glare. "Yea don't remind me. Anyway, I was just on my
way back there."
"Ooh, ooh can I come?" Cameron asked, grinning.
"Uh sure." Daniel patted him on the shoulder as they walked.
"Actually you can all come and see the baby if you've got some time.
Where's Teal'c?"
Sam scrunched up her face. "Umm in the locker room I think, but Daniel,
are you certain Vala would be ok with that? We don't want to intrude."
"Oh yea it'll be fine. Vala thinks she looks horrible and all, but I know
she'd love to see you guys. Grab Teal'c and I'll meet you guys there."
* * * *
A year ago Daniel was thankful to be getting out of this old apartment when he
was on his way to the Pegasus galaxy, but now he was cursing himself for never
commiting to buying a house.
When they entered, Daniel, Cameron, Sam, and Teal'c found Jack lounging on the
couch with a beer in his hand. Jack shrugged. "Hey at least I finished
putting the stuff together. That was hard." He pouted.
Sam, Cameron and Teal'c headed for the bedroom where Vala was with Dr. Lam, and
Daniel sat down with Jack. He sighed.
"Tired huh?" Jack handed Daniel a beer.
"Yea, you could say that."
Jack stretched. "Are you guys gonna get hitched?"
"I don't think so." Daniel said. "At least not yet. We haven't
really had a chance to have a relationship you know."
* * * *
Vala was stretched out on the bed, some horrible soap opera
on the television, and a small ball of pink in her arms.
"Hi Vala." Sam said. "We brought flowers." Cameron was
grinning before he noticed that there were groups of flowers and baloons on the
dresser.
"Are you feeling well Vala Mal Doran?" Teal'c asked.
"Yes Teal'c, thank you. I'm feeling much better. We both are." She
looked down at the tiny baby in her arms.
Daniel and Jack joined them.
"You guys got a name for the little bugger yet?" Daniel gave Cameron
a confused look when he said this, then just laughed. He joined Vala and sat on
the side of the bed.
"We were thinking
"You know," Colonel O'Neill began, "Jack could be a girl's
name."
** The End **
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