By: madd4the24
CATEGORY: Drama
COMPLETED: March 8, 2006
WARNINGS: No animals were actually harmed in the production of this fic. All mistakes are my own.
AUTHOR’S NOTES: In response to the “Teach Vala to Drive” challenge as posed by lifeomatt.
It was quite inevitable, no matter how one looked at it, in every conceivable way. Right around the time Vala received her very own social security number, birth certificate and American citizenship, the topic made its way to the front of her mind, and she was dead set.
She’d wormed her way deep into Daniel’s heart, and they’d been living together at his house for nearly six months. At first she’d been fairly dependent on him. Earth culture, especially the American social structure, she found incredibly confusing. Her social interactions were limited to people within the SGC program and friendly, elderly neighbors. She grew slowly into Earth’s technology, which was lacking greatly in certain areas, and far surpassed anything she’d ever seen in others. She spent the better part of her days watching TV, listening to the radio, surfing the web, and pestering Daniel with endless questions.
When she did leave the house, he went with her, always by her side. If he couldn’t make it, she went out with Samantha Carter, Cameron Mitchell, occasionally Teal’c, and as her very last resort, Larry Hinkle, a scientist who’d been smitten with her for several months. She was always with someone, never alone. She wasn’t quite sure if they, being Daniel and the SGC, didn’t trust her or think her capable, or some other ridiculous reason.
She and Daniel worked together, five, sometimes six days a week, and all hours of the day. They shopped together, as he introduced her to paper and coin money, then taught her the art of exchange. They spent all their free time together, working out at the local YMCA, bowling, at the skating rink, at the pond fishing, or sprawled out on the sofa, watching a documentary on the lost tribes of Zanzibar. They had no need for real individual independence. They functioned well enough as a unit.
However, thirty weeks after she’d moved in, she slinked through the house towards Daniel’s study, on a mission. The door was closed instead of cracked, which told her he was working on something very important and didn’t want to be interrupted. Thankfully, she learned, it was the perfect moment to bother him. If she hit him when he was already agitated, he was more likely to cave in order to get back to work. She just had to be strong—no signs of weakness, he could smell it a mile away.
Vala rapped her knuckles against his door, then blew in, spotting him in the corner, hunched over his desk. His shoulders were tense and he was scribbling furiously, half a dozen opened books covered his desk, along with several photo copied files with the SGC label. He obviously hadn’t heard her slam open his door, she’d have to fix that.
“Daniel.”
His pen clattered down and he spun in his chair, running a stiff hand over his tired and scruffy face. “Yes?” His voice was grainy, indicating how long he’d been holed up in the office.
“Daniel,” she said lovingly, sauntering over to his desk. She hopped up, planting her rear end over his documents, just like she knew he hated. “I’ve been on Earth over a year—”
“No,” he snapped. “You can’t have another credit card. Not after you conveniently forgot to pay the bill last time.”
Vala blinked for a moment. “Oh, no.” Her forehead creased. “It’s all so difficult to remember, Daniel. Those little checks? Bank accounts? Taxes? Please.” She crossed one leg over the other seductively. “I learned my lesson. Why would I want my own when I have yours?” She beamed.
Daniel worked hard not to smile right back. He’d been less then pleased when she’d discovered eBay and charged several thousand dollars to his credit cards. However, he’d felt a surge of pride she’d mastered human technology so quickly, and she’d been just too cute decked out in Ski gear in August. He liked it when she was happy, and he only lectured for an hour or so about stealing afterwards.
“That’s not what I want to talk about,” she clarified, papers crinkling as she leaned back and braced herself with her hands.
He pried a paper out from under her. “SG-3,” he told her, pointing at the ancient symbols. He flipped the page, showing her the Ori’s new prototype spacecraft. “SG-7.” Reaching for a stack of papers he flipped through the starchy sheets, showing her the amount of work he had lined up, and the teams that needed his expertise. “I’ve got half a dozen scriptures to identify and translate, due tomorrow. So, is there a reason you’re in here bothering me?” He didn’t mean for it to come out so rough, but he was tired.
“I want a driver’s license,” she spilled out.
He blinked at her. “Tell me you’re kidding.”
“Daniel!” She huffed. “I want my own car, to go out when ever I want, and to do that I have to attain what you call a driver’s license. I’m going insane locked in this house. Daniel, I want to be able to go out on my own.”
Part of him had always known the day was coming when she’d want independence from him. She loved him, liked to depend on him—to an extent, but she was still Vala. She was used to being on her own, having complete control of her life. He’d always known there would be a day where she’d come to him, asking for the ability to be an individual again. He just couldn’t help but cling.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said, reclining back in his chair.
“And why not?”
Daniel tried, “It’s dangerous.”
She leaned forward. “Come on, Daniel. I’ll be careful.”
He nearly laughed. “Dangerous for them, not you.” At her scowl he patted her knee comfortingly. “I can just imagine you reaching to change the radio channel. You take your eyes from the road, swerve to the side, over the curb, plow into a mailbox, and smash into something ironic, like a police station or hospital.”
She nearly growled, “I want a driver’s license, Daniel, and I’m going to get one.” Ah, that was the tone that told him until she got her way, he’d be sleeping in his office. It also told him she’d make a few calls and by Monday morning he’d be the most loathsome male on the face of the earth, at least in the eyes of every woman on base. He was quite sure she was capable of getting a rather large portion of the male population to see her side over his, as well.
“You can’t just stroll into the DMV and pick up a license.”
“I know,” she stressed, annoyed he thought of her as a child in any respect. She whipped out a DMV informational book. “I’ve been reading up on it.”
Daniel watched her flip through it. “You have to get a permit before you can get the license. It’s a written test.”
From within the book she produced a folded piece of paper. Opening it up she flashed the title at him. “Took it a week ago,” She stated proudly. “Only missed one, something about a car and a bicycle and the right of way. I always thought the bigger one—“ she trailed off, pointing at her score. “Passed on the first try.”
Daniel sputtered, “How? Who took you?”
Vala smiled wide. “Sam.”
“And did she plan on letting you practice on her car?”
She shook her head. “I want my own car.”
“I bet you do.”
She hopped up and off his desk, floating near the office’s window. She’d thought he’d say that. “Of course, I could always practice on yours.” Through the window she could see the sleek silver car, Daniel’s most prized possession. He’d only bought it a few weeks ago, and she’d never seen him so obsessed with an object. He was incredible protective of it.
When she turned back to absorb the look of horror on Daniel’s face, she was a little disappointed to see the back of his head. She wondered briefly if he’d gone back to work, even at the threat to his precious car, but wandering closer she could see a phone attached to the side of his face.
“Whatcha doing?” She asked, draping herself over his shoulder.
“Calling the bank,” he told her curtly.
Less then a day later they were at a dealership, picking her out a car. He’d managed to keep her away from the dangerous, quick sports cars, but had failed at talking her into an SUV or Hummer. He was far more inclined to think that she’d be able to hurt more people with those vehicles, but she’d also be less likely to kill herself if strapped into a huge Hummer. Nevertheless, she stood next to the large vehicle, asked him if it made her look fat, then made a beeline for the BMW lot.
The cute black BMW was sitting in front of their house when they returned from an off world mission the following week. Daniel kept the keys firmly in the palm of his hand as she danced around him, speaking a mile a minute about driving.
“Remember what we talked about?” He asked, refusing to let her out of the house until she answered.
She waved a dismissive hand. “Yeah, car insurance.”
“And what is it for?”
Vala stuck her tongue out at him. “If you get into an accident, and it has to be paid every month, on time.”
Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. “Not if, Vala, when.”
She wrestled the keys from his grip and flung open the door, dashing for the car. He followed after quickly, afraid she’d manage to damage the new car without turning it on.
Vala cambered into the car, sinking into the soft seats. She unlocked Daniel’s door and watched with joyous eyes as he slid in. “Relax,” she told him fondly. “This is going to be fun.”
He was murmuring about happy places, she realized.
“First rule,” he directed. “Is?”
She reached to turn the key in the ignition and he batted her hand away. “What?” She demanded.
“Seatbelt,” he snapped. “Always put your seatbelt on first.” When he heard it click he turned in his own seat and watched her carefully. “Now, gently turn the key,” he instructed. The car roared to life and she giggled manically.
“Now what?” She could admit she’d never honestly watched him drive. She was always far too preoccupied with the happenings outside the car, rather then inside.
Daniel said, “Place your foot on the break—left petal.” When he saw she’d followed directions he added, “And don’t take it off until I say so. Shift the car into drive.” He gestured to the automatic gear stick. There was no way in hell he was attempting to teach her how to drive a stick shift. He had too many years ahead of him to risk certain death.
Vala did as instructed then clutched the steering wheel, eyes wide. “Why aren’t we moving?” She drew back, glancing about the car. “Daniel, it’s broken!”
“Why’s your foot off the break?” He could feel a headache throbbing as he indicated her free foot. “What did I tell you?”
She bit her lip and admitted sheepishly. “Always keep my foot on the break until you tell me otherwise?”
“Good. Now why is your foot off the break?”
“Why aren’t we moving?”
“Vala.”
“Daniel.”
“Vala,” Daniel said forcefully. “Put your foot back on the break.” He released his grip on the door’s arm. “We’re not moving because the emergency break is on.”
“Why’s it on?”
Daniel smiled wryly. “Because I had a feeling you’d take your foot off the break.”
“Think you’re so sneaky?” She snapped. “Fine. My foot is back on the break.”
He instructed her on how to release the emergency break. “Now look over your shoulder. Make sure there isn’t any oncoming traffic, then slowly, and I repeat slowly, pull onto the road. Don’t press the gas. The car will roll on its’ own.”
“No gas?”
He assured her, “Ten miles per hour is a great place to start.”
Daniel though perhaps things were going just a little too well. Vala had managed to merge successfully onto the street, which in itself wasn’t incredibly difficult, considering the mildly populated area they lived in. Still, she was navigating the road at a good fifteen miles per hour rather spectacularly.”
“You can gently press the gas,” he added, impressed with her progress. “Petal on the right. Gas petals can be sensitive so just tap it gent—“ His word morphed into a holler as the car surged forward, jamming down the road. “Stop!” he urged.
Vala bounced happily in her seat, watching the speedometer rise. “Why?” She asked, hitting thirty-five with no trouble. She spared him a glance.
Because, Daniel wanted to say, he was going to hurl. Instead, “TREE!” came out. She swerved away from the sidewalk and focused her attention back on the road.
“Oops.”
The car slammed forward again and she called out, “Thought that was the break!”
With the car rapidly approaching a stop sign Vala found the breaks and slammed on the petal with both feet. The car skidded several feet and came to a rest perfectly in front of the sign.
“Touchy?” She exclaimed, grinning widely. “Daniel?” She shook his shoulder. “Daniel? Are you with me?”
“No,” he informed her. “I’m fifty feet back, with my stomach.”
“We should get some of those nifty little bags, like they had on the airplane.”
A car behind them beeped and Vala was off again, jetting down the road. “This isn’t so bad!” She called, laughing loudly.
Daniel screamed, “Squirrel!”
Later that night Daniel lay stretched across the sofa, cushioned by his favorite fluffy pillion. Vala leaned up against him, her back pressed firmly to his chest. While she rested quietly, Daniel worked furiously to calm his still raging headache.
“It really wasn’t that bad, “ she said, drowsy. “I think I did fine.”
“You hit a squirrel,” Daniel said. “Ran over a bicycle, nearly killed several pedestrians, sideswiped a parked car, ran a red light, flirted poorly with the police officer, and—”
“And I picked up a really nice pair of fuzzy dice,” Vala finished. “Eventful day.”
Daniel said, “Long day.”
Vala turned slightly and pressed a soft kiss to his jaw line. “Love you.”
He mumbled in approval and stroked her hair lovingly.
“Say,” Vala asked, “When are you going to teach me how to park.”
A pregnant paused held in the air, then Daniel answered, “Mitchell owes me a huge favor.”
** The End **
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