What Was Meant
By: Assilem
CATEGORY: Angst
WARNINGS: None
AUTHOR’S WEBSITE:
http://www.geocities.com/assilems_archive/
When I dipt into the
future far as human eye could see;
Saw the Vision of the world and all the wonder that would be.—Alfred Lord Tennyson
PART 1
She had moved on, and Daniel Gabriel Jackson was confused. She had spent three years chasing him, trying to get a hold of him, and every step of the way, Daniel was letting her get closer and closer, but she moved on. Daniel wasn’t so sure whether or not he was glad or jealous that she had moved on. The constant flirting and sexual suggestions were suddenly gone; the constant fly on the wall that was Vala in his office was few to none.
Vala provoked something in him, something that he didn’t quite understand. He didn’t know if it was lust, affection, or an unnamed feeling-a feeling that he didn’t want to admit. It was supposed to be her chasing him, and that’s the way he liked it-although he would never admit it outright. But that all changed, she had moved on.
It wasn’t like Daniel didn’t like the man she was seeing, on the contrary, they had met and eve had conversations before Vala and Craig met and began to date. Craig Martin one of the junior scientists that were brought in to take over for Dr. Lee, who took over Sam’s job while she was in Atlantis. He was nice, young, dirty blonde hair, and Vala seemed to fall for him. Quite fast.
Daniel stared at the piece of paper in front of him. He couldn’t concentrate without Vala in the room, he had grown so accustom to having her there, and asking questions, most of the time silly, and helped him figure out the problem.
Sam,
It’s so weird without
you here, but I’m sure its weird running the Atlantis Expedition. I wish I
could be there. Here things are usual, the Air Force brought in about five new
scientists to take over Bill’s job, since he got yours. I know, it’s a bit odd
having five new ones. There’s Dr. Marie Keller, she’s quite smart, then Dr.
Andrea-Rae Drossi, she’s nice, I haven’t met Dr. Kristena Woods, and Dr. Louise
Wilsons yet, but I hear they’re nice, and then the token male, Dr. Craig
Martin. Speaking of Craig, Vala has taken a liking to him. They’ve been seeing
each other since the moment they met.
This means that she’s
no longer bugging me. Which is a welcome relief. I’m finally getting some work
done with the Asgard database. This information and their history is amazing
Sam. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. It’s insane really.
Bill and his team are working like a team of mad scientists trying to
comprehend all the technology from the Odyssey.
I’ll write soon,
Daniel
Dr. Daniel Jackson,
PhD
Signing the letter, Daniel put it in an envelope and scribbled down Sam’s name on the envelope and placed it on his desk. Standing up, Daniel looked around the room, it was cluttered and no evidence of Vala. She used to leave her magazines and empty juice boxes on his desk, nail polish and her ipod. Now there was nothing, his papers, books, artifacts and coffee cups. It was like Daniel couldn’t hold on to any woman whom he cared for.
It started with his mother, she was ripped away from him. Then his first girl friend, Sherry Beaoumont, he thought they were going to last forever. It was a delusion. Then there was Sarah, he was too caught up in his work and theories to make them work. Then there was Sha’re, beautiful Sha’re, taken away by fate. Janet was never truly his, but he watched his world crumble when she died. Sam, his best friend, off in Atlantis, and Vala, the woman who provoked every kind of emotion from Daniel, but he cared for her.
“Yo
“Yeah, its right here,” Daniel said turning around and picking up a box marked ‘Atlantis Expedition-Dr. Rodney McKay’. “This goes to McKay, its everything I found that should help. Oh and this letter is for Sam. And uh, I’ve included some reference materials and a copy of my dissertation for references of some of the findings.”
“Okieday,” Cameron said taking the box. “
“Couldn’t be better, why?” Daniel asked as he sat back down at his desk.
“Just wonderin’,” Cameron shrugged. “Well, see ya.”
Daniel nodded and waved to
Swinging around in his chair, Daniel hoped that this small distraction would distract him enough from thinking of Vala, and how for the first time in his life, he was positive that he couldn’t hold onto her anymore.
The fact that boggled his mind the most, was how he managed to lose everyone he loved. Was his too self-obsessed or self-focused? Was his work more important than anyone else in his life? Was it something about him that no woman wanted for a lifetime, did he not want to be a woman for his life? Was it just commitment issues?
Sighing, Daniel stared at his computer screen and started to type. Hoping to provide a distraction for even a moment, Daniel put the nagging feeling of his emotions to the back of his brain. Sitting there for hours working was not uncommon for him, he’d sit there for days if he could. Today would be no different. He would sit there, all by himself, the only sound the keys being hit on his keyboard, the hum of the computer and the pages being turned in his research.
He felt Vala enter the room, but didn’t show a sign of knowing. He kept his attention to the computer, pen behind his ear, pencil in his mouth, a piece paper of scribbled notes in his hand. Vala stood in the doorway and looked at Daniel before she made her presence known.
“Hello Daniel,” she smiled.
“Huh? Oh hi,’ Daniel said absently.
“What are you working on?” Vala asked sauntering over to Daniel and the computer, the click of her high heals hit the ground on beat.
“My Doctorial dissertation,” Daniel said turning around to look at her. She was dressed up. A pair of cropped black trousers, a black cami with lace top under a purple short-sleeved shirt, and a pair of purple strap heal sandals. “I uh, have my defense soon…”
“What’s a dissertation?” Vala asked jumping up onto a cleaned spot on his desk.
“Uh, it’s a large formal explanation of ones research to uh achieve a degree,” Daniel explained.
“Oh,” Vala smiled. “How interesting, what’s yours about?”
“Um, the connection of languages with a single common value,” Daniel said. “Its not the best topic, but it provides me with a ton of research and examples.”
“Oh!” Vala grinned. “Well, I’m off. Craig and I are going out to the movies tonight.”
“Yeah, what are you seeing?” Daniel asked looking back to his research.
“The new Harry Potter movie,” Vala smiled. “Teal’c gave me the books, and I have to say Daniel, this world of Magic is quite interesting. My favourite one is the Deathly Hallows, have you read it Daniel?”
Daniel chuckled softly and looked up at Vala, her eyes were smiling she seemed generally happy. He loved that, he loved when she was happy. Whatever it took to make her happy he was ready to take, and if her being truly happy meant that she was with another man, then he had to let that be.
“No, can’t say that I’ve made it to that one yet,” Daniel replied. “I just started to read The Prisoner of Azkaban.”
“Well, I wont tell you about it then,” Vala smiled. “Well Time to see the movie.”
“Well, have fun.”
Vala nodded and watched Daniel for a moment before she turned her heals and walked away. How could Daniel be so blind? For over two years she gave up everything to try and convince him that she was ready to change everything just to be with him. She had true and honest feelings for Daniel, had them since the day she met him, it was something different, something special, something that became the focus of her life. She had tried everything to convince him, but he kept pulling away every time they got closer. Then she had no choice but to give up on Daniel.
She had met Craig and immediately fell for him. She wasn’t sure if it was just lust or affection, but she cared for him. He was sweet and generally interested in her. She was just not able to hold onto Daniel, so why should she have to be alone?
PART 2: Where Do We Go From Here?
“That was a good movie,” Craig said as he and Vala walked out of the theatre holding hands.
“I think that Tonks could have been in there more,” Vala smiled. “I like her, she’s different. Slightly misunderstood, and not like anyone else.”
Craig smiled and pulled Vala into his arms. Her smile brightened as Craig
spoke. “King of like you.”
“Like me,” she said as he leaned in a brushed his lips to hers. Pulling away Vala opened her eyes and smiled. “Where now?”
“Well, if you want, the Roller dome is open, we could go skating,” Craig suggested as he laced his fingers with Vala’s for the second time.
“Sounds fun,” she smiled.
Looking at the couple one would think they were perfectly happy normal people. In reality, their lives were put on the line nearly everyday, and things as a simple movie or being out with each other were treasured and very rare.
Before she met Craig, Vala would spend time helping Daniel in his research, watching movies with Teal’c, shopping with Sam, and running around the gym with Cameron. But now, to somewhat disappointment, but mostly pleasure, she spent time with Craig. She was happy with him, happier than she’d been in a long time. The brief thought that she should have waited for Daniel flickered out of existence. For that matter this relationship with Craig wasn’t to make Daniel jealous, there was no thought of Daniel when she was with Craig.
“Are you okay?” Craig asked causing Vala to look at him.
“Absolutely perfect,” she grinned.
* * * *
Standing in his bedroom, Daniel stared at his tie
collection, trying to decide which one to wear. He had his defense this
afternoon, and typical him, spent the night awake preparing, had realized the
time and headed home for a shower, shave and suit. Grabbing the purple and blue
striped time, he had gotten from Sam for his birthday, he put it around his
neck and grabbed his jacked from the bed. Glancing at the clock, Daniel caught
the time and quickly ran out of hi apartment, he needed to get to the mountain,
then the airport to catch his plane to
Arriving at the mountain, Daniel made his way to his office and started to gather up his research, dissertation, and his tie still hanging loosely around his neck.
“Daniel, all dressed up,” Vala smiled walking in. “Here,” she smiled grabbing the tie and tying it, as Daniel looked at her with an expression of bewilderment. “Where are you going?”
“Oh, my uh, defense for my uh, PhD,” Daniel said shaking out of his bewilderment.
“That time already? Good luck darling,” she smiled patting his beautifully tied tie. “That should hold.”
“Thanks,” Daniel smiled leaning down and giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek. “I could never tie these myself.”
Vala smiled and shrugged. “Well, I wont hold you up, I’m going to go meet Craig for lunch. Good luck.”
“Oh right, you two are still together then?” Daniel asked, he knew they were, but he didn’t want to show that he’d been paying attention to her personal life.
“Yes Daniel,” Vala said raising her eyebrow. “I didn’t think you..."
“I heard Rae talking about it,” Daniel shrugged. “But uh, I’ll see you later. We’ll get together with Cameron and Teal’c and do a team night soon.”
“Sounds good,” Vala smiled as Daniel nodded and walked out of the room.
A small moment with Vala, not caring that she was someone else, a moment where he could just say everything was back to normal.
They had their moments, and now they were over. Vala had found someone else, and at this point, he was happy for her. Or at least pretended to be. He would think to himself, what if he took the chance, would he be in the same place as she and Craig were, would he be living this fairytale that he never thought would come true?
He honestly didn’t know, and he had to beat himself up every day, watching a woman he cared about in the arms of another man. She had given up her trying to get him, and that was his fault. He was the one that kept saying no, kept pushing her away, and she finally pulled away.
“They’re ready for you,” a voice said to Daniel, who jumped slightly.
“Oh, thank you,” he said walking into the room, a panel of ten men and women sat before him, while chairs were filled with undergrads, grad students and even a few PhD students.
“Now presenting, Doctor Daniel Jackson, for his Doctorial degree in Linguistics,” one of the men said as Daniel set up at the podium.
“Thank you,” taking a breath, Daniel looked up and looked around the room. “Good afternoon honoraries, my name is Daniel Jackson. I have three Post Doctorial degrees, and today I will be explaining to you how one common element in languages can relate them all back to the rare dialect of the ancient Egyptians.”
* * * *
Vala sat in the commissary with Craig, who was talking to her about a discovery he had made, but Vala wasn’t interested. She sat there, pushing her macaroni and cheese around her plate.
“You okay babe?” Craig asked looking at Vala. “You seem preoccupied.”
“Oh my uh, my...Daniel, my friend Daniel is doing a presentation and I’m just hoping he does okay,” Vala lied before smiling. “What are we doing tonight?”
“I was thinking we could go out to dinner,” Craig started. “Maybe if you’re up for it, a bit of dancing.”
“Sounds great,” Vala smiled standing up. “I’m going to go back to work however. I have to get all the artifacts that SG-5 brought back catalogued for Daniel.”
“Okay,” Craig said standing up. He walked around the table and leaned over and placed a kiss on Vala’s lip. “I’ll pick you up at your quarters around six?”
“Sure,” Vala smiled giving him a quick peck before walking away. Leaving the commissary, she headed straight for Daniel’s office. She wasn’t lying when she said she had work to do. Only mere hours ago Daniel had kissed her on the cheek. Her skin burned from where his lips touched. Daniel was not going to ruin her happiness. She was bound and determined to let hi go, which was getting easier until this morning. Shaking it off, Vala started to work. There wasn’t much to catalogue, but even after a decade, no one understood Daniel’s preference of cataloging, with the exception of her. She quite liked it that way, made her feel useful to the base.
“Hey Princess,” Cameron said poking his head into Daniel’s office where Vala was sitting, cross-legged, a clip board on her lap and boxes surrounding her. “Whatcha doin’?”
“Cataloging all the stuff SG-5 brought back,” Vala replied. “I thought Dr. Lam gave you time off because of your broken ankle?” she asked gesturing to the cast that donned his right leg.
“I was bored being stuck in my apartment, besides the guy in 5B is creeping me out.”
“Well I can’t help you tonight, Craig and I are going out,” Vala replied.
“You two pretty serious huh?”
“You could say that,” Vala smiled softly as she continued to write.
“What bout
“What about Daniel?”
“I just thought you two had made-up,”
“Daniel and I are just friends, never more,” Vala said determinately.
“That doesn’t sound like you,” Cameron said poking her with one of his crutches.
“Cameron, Daniel and I are just friends. I’m seeing Craig,” she said swatting away the offending crutch.
“You happy with brain-boy?”
“Yes,” she said very softly. “Very much so.”
“
“Dinner,” Vala replied with a smile. “I read in your local newspaper that a local theatre is putting on a show entitled Guys and Dolls. What’s a theatre?”
“It’s a place where people act…kinda like…well…you know…it’s kind of like TV…but not on TV cause you’re right there…Its like live…and, ah hell, its like watching TV,” Cameron tried to explain, but giving up.
“Right,” she laughed softly. “Well, I need to finish this before Daniel gets back.”
“Where is geek?”
“His defense for his doctorate degree,” she said. “He had to
fly to
“I’m gonna see if I can find Teal’c, maybe he’d do something with me.”
Vala laughed softly and waved as she continued her work.
* * * *
The base was quite and only a skeleton crew was on base, as Vala and Craig walked hand in hand back to her quarters. After a night out to dinner and a show, the two decided to call it a night. It was silent when they reached Vala’s quarters. Craig’s hand gently cupped her cheek, as he leaned in and placed a kiss on her lips. Vala responded as her arms coiled around his neck. Pulling away, Vala smiled up at him. “Come on in.”
With no response other than his lips to hers again, Vala and Craig both tried to open the door as Daniel came into sight.
His eyes widened as the two disappeared into the darkened bedroom. Staring at the door, as if he saw someone cheating, as if she was cheating on him. But she couldn’t be cheating on him, they weren’t together, so why did Daniel feel like every time he saw her and Craig together that his moment with Vala was over.
But he didn’t want it to be over. He didn’t even get a chance for it to start. He should be the one in that bedroom, running his hands over Vala’s skin.
What was he jealous? Vala was never his, she was nothing more than a co-worker, a friend, a woman whom he watched from a thief and con-artist, to a woman of amazing qualities. He shouldn’t be jealous of a woman that was never his. But in that moment, he didn’t know what to think.
A few months later…
“Sam,” Daniel smiled as Sam walked out of the hanger doors. “Its good to have you back,” he said taking her into his arms for a big.
“You feel so good,” Sam smiled pulling back. “I’m glad to be back, the blonde smiled. “Vala, we need to do some major catching up. You and Craig,” she smiled and she hugged the woman.
“Defiantly,” Vala smiled, her face beaming.
“Cameron,” Sam said leaning over and hugging him. “You got the band back together again.”
“Damn straight!” Cameron chuckled patting Sam on the back. “Good to have you back.
“Thanks, where’s Teal’c?” Sam asked looking around and not
seeing the
“Waiting for us in the car,” Daniel said as he and Sam held hands walking outside. Vala skipped beside them as Cameron lead the team outside.
Teal’c was waiting at the car and Sam’s eyes lit up and she ran to him.
“TEAL’C!” she called running into his embrace. “Its so good to see you. You,
I’ve missed the most.”
“Indeed, so have I Samantha,” Teal’c said hugging her tightly.
“This is cause for a celebration,” Vala grinned. “Shall we?” The rest of the team nodded and laughed as they all climbed into the vehicle.
* * * *
“Why don’t you talk to her?” Sam asked as she and Daniel were gathering tings in the kitchen to bring outside.
“Easier said than done Sam,” Daniel sighed. “She’s with him, she’s happy, how can I ruin that for her?”
“Daniel,” Sam sighed leaning herself on the counter. “Look, I know how you feel, but you deserve to be happy too,” she said grabbing the salad bowl and all the dressing. “Oh and Daniel, use that new PhD of yours.”
Daniel stared at Sam for a moment before he grabbed the condiments and plates and headed outside behind her. Teal’c and Vala were playing Frisbee on the lawn, Cameron was cooking on the BBQ and Sam was putting the table together.
He smiled at the team and decided to just relax. As the night went by, the beer flowed slowly; Vala had discovered the joys of a trampoline and Cameron had spent the night until the darkness fell jumping with her. By the time the night fell, the team found themselves inside. Sam, Teal’c and Cameron playing playstation, and Teal’c kicking their butts, while Daniel and Vala watched them.
“I should be getting back to the base,” Vala said.
“I’ll take you,” Daniel said standing up as Sam turned and looked at him. “I need to get some stuff I left in my office.”
“Thank you Daniel,” Vala smiled. “I’ll see you three later. Have a good night, don’t do anything I would.”
Sam laughed and waved. “Goodbye you two.”
The ride to the base was quiet, Vala spent the time looking out the window. Parking, the two walked into the base.
“Do yeah want me to walk you to your quarters?” Daniel asked as he and Vala walked slowly down the empty hallways.
“Sure,” Vala smiled softly as they walked down towards her quarters. “Daniel?”
“Yeah?”
“You know you’re my best friend right?” Vala asked looking up at Daniel who nodded. “I just wanted you to know that,” she said as they reached her quarters.
Daniel looked down at Vala, her hair pulled back into an untypical ponytail, her bangs swept across her forehead. He was going to say something, but in that moment, he didn’t know what to say, so he did the first thing that came to his mind. He leaned down and captured her lips. The kiss was soft and sweet and Daniel’s arms circled around her body pulling her closer to him.
Breaking the kiss for air, Daniel looked at Vala, eyes brimming with tears, she pushed out of his arms and walked into her quarters, slamming the door. Tears running down her cheeks, Vala slunk down to the floor, burring her face into her knees as the tears turned into sobs, and all Daniel could do was stand on the other side of the door asking why he did it.
PART 3: Something There
He had made her unhappy and he knew it. The moment he kissed her, he knew he screwed up everything. The look in her eyes, were that of hurt, confusion and tears. He knew that he had screwed up and couldn’t make it better by pretending it didn’t happen.
When the next day rolled around, Daniel was sitting in the briefing room reading through Sam’s report as the rest of the team came in. Cameron and Teal’c first, both taking their seats, Sam came in shortly after holding a coffee mug. She gave Daniel a look of ‘what did you do’ just as Vala walked in, her eyes avoiding Daniel’s as she sat opposite Teal’c and beside Cameron.
Daniel looked at her face, her eyes still puffy from the tears, no make-up on her face, her hair pulled into a low pony tail, as hair escaped and framed her face.
Blinking, Daniel looked up at Sam as she smiled and started her briefing. His eyes couldn’t help but fall back to Vala whenever he pretended to check his report in front of him. She was avoiding him, caught his eye once and quickly jerked her head back to Sam.
She made her way out of the briefing room in an instant once Sam finished. Sam looked at the boys and quickly left the room.
“Vala!” Sam called jogging up to her friend. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Oh I’m fine,” Vala said putting on a smile. “I’m just tired, didn’t sleep to well last night.”
“Vala, I know I’ve been gone for a while, but you know you can always talk to me, no matter what,” Sam said laying a hand on Vala’s shoulder.
“Daniel kissed me,” Vala blurted out suddenly, a tear falling from her eye. Sam’s eyes widened as she looked around to see if anyone heard.
“Come here,” she said pulling Vala into an empty office. Locking the door she turned around. “Daniel kissed you?”
“Last night, he walked me to my quarters, and I told him that he was my best friend, and he kissed me,” Vala said touching her lips.
“Like a friend kiss or?” Sam asked, her face looking anxious.
“It was…” Vala said softly as Sam closed her eyes. “I’m confused. Sam, the other night Craig and I went out for dinner, and he proposed.”
Sam’s jaw dropped before she smiled. “That’s wonderful. Isn’t it?”
“I care for Craig, a lot, he makes me happy. Sam, I really do care for him, and he treats me like a princess,” Vala said sitting down on the ground, pulling her knees to her chest. “I finally thought I was moving on from Daniel, I moved on with my life, I found someone I could care for and who cares for me. My life finally fell into a place where I could start a family with a man, and Daniel screws everything up.”
“Vala,” Sam said softly sitting beside her friend. “Do what makes you happy okay?”
“I don’t know what would,” Vala sighed. Sam sighed and patted her friend’s knee. What else was she supposed to do?
* * * *
“You feeling okay babe?” Craig asked as the two sat cuddled on the couch, Craig stroking her arm as they stared aimlessly at the television.
“Oh I’m fine Craig,” Vala smiled. “Did you see what I put on?” she asked lifting up her finger to show the diamond ring that adorned her finger.
“So that’s a yes then?” Craig asked as Vala nodded. “I’m, I’m, I love you.”
“I love you too,” Vala smiled leaning up and giving him a quick kiss. “What did you say this movie was called?”
“Peter Pan,” Craig said.
“That little fairy has an awful mouth,” Vala said moving down so that her head rested on his lap. “And what is with the little boy not wanting to grow up?”
Craig chuckled and ran his fingers through Vala’s hair. “Well, the story is all about Peter not wanting to grow up, to leave his innocence, and comforts.”
“But…”
“No buts, just watch,” Craig teased as Vala stuck her tongue out.
* * * *
“Daniel,” Sam said walking into Daniel’s office, his nose in a book, his hand scribbling down notes. “Daniel!”
“Oh hi,” Daniel said absently.
“When I told you to use your PhD, I meant Talk to her, not kiss her,” Sam said sitting down opposite of Daniel as he looked up.
“You found out?” Daniel asked looking her straight in the eyes.
“Of course I did. Daniel when you told me you had feelings for her, I didn’t mean for you to just act on them, I meant for you to talk to her, explain things, you have a way with words,” Sam said. “You’re not supposed to just kiss her!”
“I know I screwed up,” Daniel said rubbing his hand over his face.
“You have no idea how much. You made her second guess her engagement,” Sam said looking at Daniel as if he was a teenager being reprimanded for cheating on a test. “You know how much that tore her? She was happy Daniel. I only meant for you to say, oh I don’t know ‘I still care for you, and always will, you’ll never have to run away from me’, or something along those lines.”
“She’s engaged?” Daniel asked, his eyes nearly popping from his sockets. “When? How? Why?”
“Why Daniel?” Sam asked standing up. “Daniel, you’re one of my best friends, and I’m only telling you this to make things somewhat better. Go and talk to Vala, because right now she doesn’t need me, or Teal’c, or Cameron, or Craig, she needs her best friend, she needs you.”
With that Sam walked out of the room and left Daniel to sit there, more confused than he’d ever been. He never expected Vala to move on in the first place, but now she was moving on, and the worst part, she had been happy and he had screwed that up. Pressing his fingers to his temple, Daniel rubbed the on-coming headache as he tried to come up with a viable way to talk to Vala without causing more tension that he already had. Standing up, Daniel put his pencil in his book and walked out of the room, he made his way aimlessly down to Vala’s quarters, why there, he didn’t know, he just had a feeling that she’d be there. Knocking on the door, Daniel waited as he heard shuffling, and a giggle.
“Craig,” Vala said as she pushed him out of her arms, a smile on her face as she opened her door. “Daniel?”
“I uh, didn’t know you were busy, I’ll come back,” Daniel said giving a small nod.
“Daniel,” Vala said as she watched him turn around and walk away. “DANIEL!” When he didn’t answer, Vala dropped her head and turned to look at Craig. “That was Daniel.”
“I figured,” Craig said reaching over taking her hand. “You okay?”
“No,” Vala sighed. “But I will be. I’m kind of sleepy.”
“I’ll let you sleep,” Craig said leaning down and brushing her lips. “Love you, sleep well.”
“Me too,” Vala smiled as Craig pulled away and walked out of the room. Vala closed the door and stared around her bedroom. It was her home, had been since the day she came back from the Ori Galaxy. Looking around, she smiled at the familiar processions, on her bedside, her stuffed giraffe, beside it a picture of her and Daniel on their first karaoke night. His arm was around her shoulders and her head was cocked to lay on his shoulder and they looked happy. They were happy. It was a great night. After a few drinks, she had managed to convince Daniel to sing along with her, Cameron and Teal’c had already done it, so it was only fair. Smiling she looked around, on her walls, pictures of the team and planets they had been on-the peaceful ones. Under her bed, the treasure box with all her prized possessions, the little trinkets from her father, a single bobby pin that Daniel had given her, she had lost the other one when she was kidnapped. A small picture frame with pictures of her and Craig from the picture booths. Her first ever pay-stub.
Everything that meant the world to Vala was there, surrounding her and making her feel like she had a home. By marrying Craig, would she lose the home she made? Would she lose Daniel as a friend? That was one thing she couldn’t do, she couldn’t lose the one man in her life that made her who she was.
Stripping off her clothing, Vala let it drop to the floor, as she pulled on her silk pajamas. Turning her lights off, she crawled into her bed, pulled the covers over her head and tried to shut out the world. She didn’t want to be unhappy, she didn’t want to be the bearer of tears and emotions that she couldn’t handle. Where was the Vala Mal Doran that was a thief, who only thought about herself, a con artist? The Vala where love didn’t exist and emotions just complicated deals. Sex was used as a way of getting what she wanted, a defense mechanism. She’d have sex with a man, leave before he awoke, and take whatever she came for. She was not that Vala anymore, she was a valued member of this society, she was loved, cared for, and loved a man with all her heart.
PART 4: Keep Me Awake
“We need to talk,” Vala said walking up to Daniel as he sat in the commissary eating his breakfast.
“We do,” Daniel agreed with a nod. “Not here though.”
“Meet me tonight in my quarters, we’ll have privacy there,” Vala said giving Daniel a small slime. “I have to go. I’ll see you.”
“Bye,” Daniel said as he watched Vala walk away. Lately, that’s all she’s been doing, walking away. She walked away from him, walked away from problems, walking away from him hurt the most. It was supposed to be easy, he was supposed to say ‘I care for you’ and she’d say the same thing and they’d live like they always dreamed of.
It was supposed to be easy, but it wasn’t. Nothing about it was easy. Nothing was ever easy. Vala’s life had never been easy, and why did this have to stand out and be easy? Walking into Sam’s new office, she sat down and picked up a pen. Sam noticed Vala entering the room, and said nothing, letting the woman sit and play with the pen. If she knew one thing about Vala, especially lately, that it was never good to rush her, she’d talk one her own.
“We’re getting married,” Vala said holding up her hand to show a diamond ring.
“That’s wonderful, congratulations!” Sam beamed putting down her pen and taking a hold of Vala’s hand. “That’s a gorgeous ring.”
“Isn’t it?” Vala asked wiggling her finger.
“When’s the Big Day?” Sam asked looking at Vala in anticipation.
“Umm, we haven’t set a day,” Vala asked. “I do have a question about Tauri weddings, as the only real wedding I’ve been to is, well Tomin and I’s, and that was set in a different galaxy, so that is a bit different.”
“Well, I’ll be glad to help you,” Sam smiled. “I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do.”
“Great, thank you Samantha,” Vala smiled, her giving Sam a grateful smile that spread into her eyes. Sam smiled back and squeezed Vala’s hand.
* * * *
Everything had changed. It changed the second the door shut behind Daniel, who was dressed casually in a pair of jeans and an un-tucked button down shirt. The familiar glasses on his nose were missing, and the blue of his eyes seemed to be brighter without the glass.
“I’m not late?” Daniel asked giving a shrug of slight discomfort.
“No, no,” Vala said pulling her hair into a ponytail. “Thanks for coming Daniel.”
“No problem. We need to talk, and the longer we put it off, the worse it’ll be,” Daniel said, his hands going into his front pockets of his jeans.
“I agree,” she said walking to the wall of pictures in her room. She knew they had to talk, she knew that something needed to happen, and the thing she didn’t know was how to start it. Should she just come right out and say it, explain things, procrastinate until the topic came up? Staring at the pictures, Vala ran her finger along one of the frames and the words just came out.
“You know Daniel, I waited. I waited a long time. I came to Earth, not because of the treasure like I said. I came because of you. That time we spent on the Prometheus, you trusted me, and I had to trust you, and that scared me. I never trusted anyone in my life since the day my mother died. But you, you made it so that I could trust someone again, and I wanted to find out why. So I came, and I was treated with such hostility and lack of the trust that I couldn’t wait to leave, until the look in your eyes that said that you didn’t want me to.
“I was willing to die to save you and your people, because for some reason you meant something to me. I didn’t know what it was. It scared me. I may have tried to live in OriLand, but I wanted to get back here like there was no tomorrow. I needed to get back to you Daniel. I never gave a damn about any culture except my own in my entire life, and I care about Earth. You made me care about Earth Daniel.”
“Vala,” Daniel said interrupting her.
“No, let me speak.” With Daniel’s nod Vala took a breath and continued. “I understand that you had a wife and you weren’t over her murder, but Daniel, I had a husband, and a child who would kill everyone I cared about because we refused to believe in their way of life. Daniel I was willing to lose them for your protection. I cared deeply for Tomin, I could almost love him in a way, but you held me back. You made me feel something I never had before, something so deep and it scared me. But you know what I did Daniel? I stuck to try and find out what it was, and hopefully find it not as frightening! I stuck to it, I stayed here to find out what could possibly keep me from everything I ever knew to something strange and scary…
“I was angry with you. Horribly and selfishly angry that you could show me that you could care for me, but not like I care for you. Daniel I waited, I hoped, I did everything I knew to subtly tell you and show you that I needed you. The flirtatious front, that is me, and that is only me because of Quetesh. You know after so many years of being the body of a soul that used sex and my body to get her way, it became me. Became who I was. Who I am. We all have fronts we put up…
“Cameron’s is his sarcasm…his ability to fall back to basic
survival. Samantha’s is her façade that everything is okay, her ever illusive
smile that makes you think everything will turn our. Teal’c, his is that he was
a
“Mine, is my flirting, it’s the only way I know that I know I can cover up what I’m really feeling. I just had to kept he faith that you would be the one to catch me and break through my front. You are my best friend, you were there throughout everything that happened here, everything that I’ve gone through, you were the one to pick up my hand and say that it was going to be okay and I’d survive.
“I waited Daniel, I waited until you were ready, and you know what, I couldn’t wait any longer. I went and decided to let another man to love me. Craig loves me, Tomin loved me, hell, Tomin probably still does. Because you couldn’t love me, I needed to be with someone that could. I couldn’t let my heart break again, because what kind of heart can break when you’d already broke it? Because of you, and your own pride and fear and whatever else that there might be, I can’t be with you until you’d finally given into your desires…or feelings. But I can’t wait…I couldn’t wait.
“Then you kissed me!” She said as tears poured out of her eyes. “When I was finally happy, I was happy, and you kissed me. There was something in the kiss that made me forget who I was, whom I was supposed to be with….How you really felt…I just. I need to know what you feel. Its easy Daniel, just go and say what you feel. What you want from me. Am I just a object of lust that can satisfy your sexual needs, or am I something more?”
Vala stared at Daniel, her eyes puffy with tears, and he looked at her.
“Vala,” he said softly running his hand through his short brown hair. Sighing slightly, Daniel closed his eyes in frustration. “How can you stand there and tell me that I don’t care? I care far too much about you. I was the one that didn’t sleep when you were gone, I was the one that convinced Landry to let you stay on base, because I cared what happened to you. I didn’t know why, but you did something to me that I couldn’t control.
“Do you even know how much it killed me when you disappeared? Something happened….You happened. I’m finally ready to move on in my life, from my wife, and you happened to me. You made me feel something that I haven’t felt in a long time. I spent nights laying awake trying to figure you out. You’re a mystery.”
“How dare you!” Vala screamed. “How dare you lay this on me. I moved on! I found someone!”
“You call Craig someone? Oh come on Vala, you understand nothing of what he says!”
“I can’t believe you just said that,” Vala said shaking her head. “You think that’s all I care about? For Christs sake Daniel! He’s sweet, caring, loving, treats me better than you ever did! He treats me like he loves me, and not like I’m his friend, who he’s ashamed of having feelings for!”
“I’m not ashamed!” Daniel yelled before he grabbed Vala’s head and pulled her into a kiss. Her lips were warm and somewhat welcoming, his arm curled around her torso bringing her closer to his body. Bodies pressed together, Daniel’s hands holding her, while Vala’s were pressed against his chest, as they moved up to curl around his neck.
Pulling away when air became a need, Daniel whispered against her lips. “I’m not ashamed of you.” Before Daniel could say more, Vala leaned up and kissed him again, their worlds colliding, and crashing and nothing mattered but them at the moment.
PART 5: Will It Be?
Vala woke up and kept her eyes closed. She was hoping that whatever happened last night was just a dream. But upon opening her eyes, she saw the body of Daniel beside her, his hand lightly touching her shoulder as his chest moved up and down in a slow steady rhythm. Taking a breath, Vala started to rack her brain as to what happened last night. This was not stable, it was purely based on anger and bursting emotions. There was no stability.
Moving so that not to disturb Daniel, she couldn’t deal with him waking up right now, she didn’t know how to deal with what happened. Standing up, she grabbed the nearest piece of clothing she could find and slipped it over her body, concealing the skin that for one of the first times in her life, that she was slightly embarrassed by. Moving around the room with the skill of a thief, Vala dressed and left her quarters, and Daniel who was asleep in her bed.
The hall was quiet in the morning, but bright, as the light burned her eyes. Vala squinted and waited for the light to adjust in her vision before starting to walk down the hall. The only sound was the sound of her bare feet on the cement floor. She needed a place to go, to hide from the world. Craig’s room was out of the question, she couldn’t see him, not yet. Sam was an option, she was a good option, the woman wouldn’t pry, but the minute Vala explained what happened, she would go after Daniel and Cameron was the same, they were protective of Vala. There was Teal’c, Teal’c wouldn’t say anything, he wasn’t like that, he’d welcome her and comfort her…
Standing in front of Teal’c’s room, she hoped that he was awake at the early hours in the morning, she reached over and knocked on his door. Hoping that he was there, Vala wrapped her arms around her body as the door opened and the soft glow of candle light splashed over her.
“Come in,” Teal’c said softly putting an arm around her shoulders and bringing her into his room. Once Vala settled down on one of his piles of pillows, she looked at Teal’c, her eyes pleading for some sort of answer. “Over the many years that we had spent on the Odyssey, I have provided a great many nights of refuge for you. Many a nights, you would come in search of answers and comfort from your emotions and fears. We would sit in silence until you were ready to tell me of your troubles, I have missed that time that we shared.”
Vala smiled at Teal’c as she picked up one of the burning candles.
* * * *
Weeks Later
“What are the symbols?” Vala asked as she stared at the mission file in front of her. There rest of SG-1 were sitting around the briefing room table, and there were mission files in front of each one, some open, some closed. “The gate address, what is it?”
“Uh,” Daniel said shaking his head and looking up, quickly writing them down, he slipped the paper over to her. “That’s them.”
Vala stared at the piece of paper, her fingers walking over the symbols. “I know this place. It’s a safe haven. Its called Terran, the people there are friendly but cautious, because of their enslavement over the years. It’s a good place.” Pausing. “The main town, is called Yale, and Yale, Yale the last time I was there was a safe haven. They’d be good allies.”
“Well, that settles it, SG-1 this is your mission. Friday morning.”
Vala stared at General Landry and nodded her head. One place she knew that going back would result in her emotions spiking, and she was headed there. She could do it, there wasn’t a thing holding her back than going home. A safe place was something Vala always needed and wanted in her life, and she had it, here on Earth, Terran was just a place she used to call home, where all that was left was memories.
* * * *
She was pregnant and she knew she was, it was painfully obvious. Her hot skin on the cold porcelain as she leaned over the toilet bowl, in the morning, in the afternoon, in the night, in the early morning. Morning sickness that lasted all day, all night, and generally made Vala feel as if she was about to die.
“Vala?” Sam asked from outside the bathroom stall in the woman’s change room. Knocking on the door she waited until Vala flushed the toilet. “Vala, I have your toothbrush.”
“Thanks,” Vala said as the door opened and she stepped out, her pale skin even paler.
“How far along?” Sam asked handing the toothbrush with toothpaste on it over to Vala.
“A few weeks,” Vala replied looking up at her. “How did you know?”
“Women know things,” Sam explained. “Have you told Craig?”
“I don’t know if it’s his,” Vala said as she leaned down into the sink and spit rising her toothbrush.
“As in?” Sam asked, her face scrunching up in confusion.
“As in I had sex with two different men,” Vala sighed, leaning her head against the cold mirror, her reflection hiding nothing.
“Vala,” Sam started leaning against the vanity. “If you need anything, I’m here.”
“Thank you Samantha,” Vala whispered. “I just don’t know what to do right now.”
“Well, you need to do whatever is best for you and the baby,” Sam said softly touching Vala’s shoulder. “Forget about the men, it’s for you and the baby that’s important.”
“I, I need to go on this mission, after this, I’ll tell General Landry,” Vala aid, her blue/gray eyes looking into Sam’s for reassurance.
“If you’re sure we’re not in any danger,” Sam said looking at Vala, worry evident.
“I’m going home,” Vala whispered softly to herself. “We’ll be fine.”
“Come on, before the boys come looking,” Sam said as Vala nodded and the two headed out of the change room, Vala suppressing all the urges to run back to the toilet and throw up her stomach.
* * * *
The team walked down the steps of the gate and looked around. There was a path leading down the hill, and surrounding them were trees and bright green grass and the plain dirt road. It was like a picture out of a painting and the air smelled as sweet and warm against their skin as they’d imagine. The best part was that Vala was home, a place where memories were good and bad and everything in between.
“This way,” Vala said stepping ahead of the crowd of the four. “The closest village is Yale, also the safest, they’re friendly.”
“You’ve been here before?” Cameron asked as they made their way down the dirt path.
“You could say that,” Vala said letting her gun fall to her chest. “I suggest however that you request a lunch with the town leader and to establish trade negotiations. The village Elder, Kolsa, knows more about the races of this galaxy that it will shock you. The town is very small, everyone knows everyone, there is a creek just outside the town, the freshest water and fish in town.” She said softly as they walked into the limits of the city. It was a small town, one main road and on either side, there were shops and a few children running across the road.
Vala looked around the town, and slightly smiled. She remembered being one of the children who’d run through the street chasing others and their pets. She saw a little girl with jet-black hair look at her, eyes wide before she ran towards a woman standing picking out what would be classified as fruit.
“Vala Mal Doran,” a voice said as Vala and the team stopped and looked to the voice. A man about a few years older than Vala stood, his arms folded across his chest.
“Deken Aine,” Vala smiled before she jumped into his arms. “Its great to see you.”
“You too, haven’t seen you since Kendra’s death,” Deken said touching her cheek. “You’ve grown up so beautifully.”
“Thank you,” Vala smiled.
“You gonna introduce us?” Cameron asked jerking Vala out of her thoughts.
“Oh right, Deken, this is Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell,
Colonel Samantha Carter, Teal’c, former
“Welcome to Yale,” Deken smiled.
“Thank you,” Sam smiled back. “We would like to open trade negotiations for our two societies and provide information about a race…”
“Who want to suck the life out of us all,” Cameron supplied.
“You’d have to go with the counsel for that, but that shouldn’t be to hard, if you’d like, I can arrange something,” Deken offered as Vala nodded. “I’ll be right back then, if you want you can wait at the diner, Zeka is making Kaner pudding.”
“I’ve missed that,” Vala smiled. “Thank you Deken.”
“No problem, I’ll be back in a bit.”
Waving, Deken headed off as SG-1 looked at Vala. “Well, we’d better head to the diner, Zeka’s Kaner pudding is the best tasting food in the universe, even better than your mother’s pie Cameron.” She gave a million dolar grin before turning. “As I remember it, the diner is this way.”
The team followed Vala, and weren’t the ignorant when it came to how many people stopped and watched Vala, and the whispers. They caught a few whispered words, about Vala Mal Doran returning, and the death of a woman named Kendra.
“Look, Vala, I don’t know what kind of scam you’re pulling on these poor people,” Cameron started before Vala whipped around, her eyes burning him with anger.
“Has it ever occurred to you that we all come from somewhere Cameron?” she demanded. “That we all have a place that we call home? Or are you too ignorant about your own culture that little ole me can’t come from anywhere because I was nothing more than a common space pirate?”
Cameron and SG-1 stood there, looking shocked as Vala ran off. Teal’c was the first to move, giving a glare to Cameron and the universal signal for not to follow him. Teal’c made his way to where Vala had run and found her leaning against a building, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Vala Mal Doran,” Teal’c said placing a hand on her shoulder. “You should not be upset. There are times when I too believe the Tauri are ignorant.”
“Its not that Muscles,” Vala whispered, her body leaning against the wall behind her. “There’s a lot relying on me…”
“There is much at risk, yes, but is it worth risking your unborn child?” Teal’c asked, his head cocking to the side and giving Vala a look of concern.
“How did you know?” Vala asked whipping her eyes.
“I have observed you for the past few weeks Vala Mal Doran,” Teal’c replied. “There is no doubt that you are carrying a child.”
Vala sighed and smiled softly. “Please, don’t tell anyone…”
“You have my word Vala Mal Doran,” Teal’c vowed as his arm draped over her shoulder. “Come now.”
* * * * *
*
“Vala, what’s the matter?” Daniel asked as he stared at Vala, who was holding a very old book to her body as she walked up and down the rows.
“What ever do you mean Daniel?” Vala asked as her head popped up, and pulling the book closer to her body.
“There’s defiantly something not right Vala,” he said. “There is all this talk about you returning after the death of this woman named Kendra. The records of Kendra Mal are all before one date, and then nothing. Who was Kendra?”
“Kendra Orcia Mal was my mother,” Vala replied fingering the book. “She died when I was eleven. Jecek came back the day after she died, we held a funeral, and then we left.”
“What was so special about her?”
“Daniel, Kendra is a descendent of the man who founded this town, and she freed the town of slavery. Since the day her father died, my grandfather, she was the heir to crown. The government is run by hierarchy with one leader of the Mal family. If one of those crown holders die and there are no children, the second in line will take over, like Nayans did after mother died.”
“You’re the rightful heir,” Daniel said, his mouth agape. “That’s why there was whispering.” Vala nodded.
“Since the day we left, there had been pictures of me sent back here, stories of my achievements, until the day I made them stop. It was rumoured that I died, until I showed up on a little planet called Onys, where the people knew of my family, and sent evidence that I was alive.
“I hoped that living on Earth that I’d be able to escape the world that everyone knew I was royalty.”
“Vala, you’re telling me you’re supposed to be running this planet?” Daniel asked as Vala nodded again.
“And this child after me,” she said before realizing what she said.
“Child? You’re pregnant?” Daniel asked stop asking questions you idiot!
“Yes,” Vala said looking out the window. “I am.”
“And its Craig’s?”
“I don’t know,” Vala sighed. “I don’t know Daniel. It could be yours, it could be Craig’s, I just don’t know.”
“Vala,” Daniel said softly, dropping his pencil and walking over to Vala. He rested a hand on her shoulder and stood in silence for a moment. “If the baby is mine, I’ll do anything you want me to do, I’ll be in its life, I’ll be the father, I’ll be at every ballet recital, basketball game, for every cut, scrape, bruise, broken heart, everything.”
“I’d expect nothing less Daniel,” Vala said turning her head. “I just don’t want the life the child would be bound by blood to live, the child of an heir is no life.”
PART 6: What Was Needed
Searching within herself for the answers she kept asking.
Was this for real? Was she ready for this? Could she make the sacrifice? Could
she be the mother she needed to be? She knew she wanted the child. This baby
was something she wanted with her heart. The child may have been a surprise and
not planned at this moment in time, but that didn’t mean the child was any less
loved.
The need for the child to have a family really impacted Vala the second she
went back home. Going home wasn’t an option, she needed to make her child’s
life better than hers. Going home would mean the same fate, a child of
heredity, where his or her only responsibility was to be an heir to a society
that never needed a leader, but relied more on the material than physical. Vala
couldn’t inflict the same future to her child, a future where there was only a
mother, no father around in their life
She needed to tell Craig. Daniel knew there was a possibility that the baby was
his, and it was only fair to let Craig know. That’s what she was doing,
pacing back and forth waiting for Craig to meet her. She had taken off the
diamond ring and was playing with it between her fingers. She loved the ring,
she loved the man who gave her the ring, but that man didn’t deserve her. She
was for the second time, unaware of who the father of her child was, at least
this time, she could rule out evil power hungry ascended type being
impregnating her without her knowledge.
“Hey, penny for your thoughts?” Craig said walking into the room, his hand
touching her elbow, shaking Vala out of her thoughts.
“I wanted to give this back,” Vala said holding out the ring. “I don’t deserve
it…or you.”
“What do you mean?” Craig asked, searching Vala’s face for an answer.
“I,” Vala started as she looked down to the floor. “I can’t be with you. I
cheated on you, I slept with another man…and I can ‘t live with myself, and you
shouldn’t have to live with me.” The tears that were threatening to fall,
finally fell as she looked at Craig, who stood motionless holding the diamond
ring between his fingers.
“Vala, I can live with you having a one night fling with some man, it doesn’t
change how I feel about you,” he said stepping forward and touching her arm.
“What happened doesn’t matter to
“I got pregnant,” Vala said pulling back. “I can’t ask you to raise another
man’s child. I wont ask you to do that. I’m just so sorry that it had to turn
out like this.”
“It’s Doctor Jackson’s isn’t it?” Craig asked staring at Vala, who stood there,
her face bearing a look of sorrow.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her head dropping. “I wanted to just forget about
it, I wanted to be with you, I do care for you. I just couldn’t bear with
myself any longer. I thought that if I looked at you, you’d know. I couldn’t
help but thank god you went to Atlantis to help Dr. Zelenka, and I just…I hoped
that by the time you came back, everything would be better, I would have
forgotten the entire night. We could go back to the way we were, get married, have
children of our own, but then I got pregnant, and the worst part about this
entire thing, is me.”
“Vala,” Craig said touching her shoulder, her engagement ring still in his
hand. “Its okay.”
“No its not. You deserve someone better, someone who loves you more than me,
someone who at a turn of another mans head wont fall into bed with him. Someone
better.”
“Vala,” Craig said again, trying to stop the woman from talking.
“You don’t know my past Craig, I hurt too many people for my own need, and I
wont hurt you. I can’t…I don’t want to hurt you when everything you’ve ever
shown me was love and affection. I can’t be the one to take that away from you.
I was hoping that by the time you got home, I’d be okay with myself, that we
could move on…but I can’t be okay with myself, because every time I look at you
now, I think, I wish, that it wasn’t you.” Stopping, Vala looked up, her
thoughts continued to rage…That it was Daniel who was holding me in his arms,
that it was Daniel who kisses my nose and tells me that he loves me, “but its
you, and that’s the reason why you don’t deserve me, I come with baggage, I
come with loving another man whom I can’t be with at this time in my life.”
Pulling away from Craig, Vala looked up at him and turned her back. “Don’t follow,
you’ll make it harder.”
Craig stood there as he watched Vala walk out of the room and his life. A
diamond the only thing left in his hand. Tightening his grasp around the ring,
Craig quickly left the room in search for Daniel. Walking quickly down the
corridors, the ring still clutched in his hand, and his need to see the man who
had stolen something from him, something very special to him.
“Dr. Jackson?” Craig said knocking on the door as Daniel looked up from his
work.
“Oh hi, Craig,” Daniel said as he tapped his pencil to his book. “Did you need
anything?”
“I did actually,” Craig said walking into the office. “I needed to know
something.”
“How can I help?” the archaeologist asked putting down his pencil and turning
towards the young physicist.
“Well, I want to know why you stole it?”
“Stole what?” Daniel asked, clearly confused as to what he supposedly stole.
“Her heart. Vala’s heart. Why did you take her heart and her love?” Craig asked
dropping the ring on the books. “Why did you take her away from me?”
“Look, Craig, I didn’t mean to take her away,” Daniel started before realizing
what he dropped, his gaze focused on the diamond and he looked back up. “She
cancelled the wedding?”
“She left me Dr. Jackson, she left me because she loves you,” Craig said,
almost angrily, his eyes burning Daniel’s.
“Look Craig, Vala is her own woman, she only leaves someone when she wants to!”
Daniel said staring back at him, his blue gaze burning Craig’s brown. “If she
left you, its not my problem.”
“It is your problem if the baby is yours!”
“Get out!” Daniel said as Craig nodded his head curtly and quickly left the
room as Daniel picked up his pencil and threw it across his room.
Looking around, Daniel ran his hand through his hair and sighed. This was
proving to be a headache, and it all lead back to maybe he should have packed
up his bags, headed to Atlantis and not let Vala and her irresistible
personality that kept him back here on earth. Everything that was Vala kept him
here, he searched high and low for the answers, and all the clues and facts
came back to one single person: Vala. It was all Vala, there was no Sha’re, no
Sarah, no Janet, nobody but Vala.
Looking at his desk, under the papers, and books there were three picture
frames. Each with a woman whom he loved and lost; Sarah, Sha’re and Janet. The
forth picture was not framed, but instead it was stuck to the side of his
computer screen. A single picture of not one person, but two…Daniel sighed and
pulled the picture off the screen. He remembered that picture well, it was at
Sam’s goodbye party. Before Craig came into her life. They were sitting on the
patio, his arm around her shoulders, she was leaning into his body, a smile on
his face, and Daniel had a smile…
For a reason that was beyond Daniel, he had kept that
picture, he kept that picture closest to him, not in a frame covered by glass,
in a world where all he could do was look, never touch, but the picture of he
and Vala, was real, he could remember everything about the picture, the feel of
her skin next to his, the sweet, almost spicy sent of her, the way she made him
feel, feeling of excitement, an aroused feeling, a feeling of being…loved…
She was real, the only real thing he had left…and he never wanted to lose that.
Everything he did from this moment on was to make sure she stayed…make sure
nothing scared her away, he loved her too much, never wanted to see her leave…
* * * *
“So you left him,” Sam said softly. “I’ve left two fiancés. Actually when I say
it like that, doesn’t make me sound too good…”
“You had valid reasons for leaving though,” Vala protested as she pulled the
blanket over her lap, and playing with the fringe. “I left him because I can’t
live a lie…not anymore.”
“That’s a good thing Vala. The reasons you had were valid, you couldn’t be with
a man whom you didn’t truly care about, and that’s completely understandable,”
Sam reasoned looking at her friend, who was in obvious distress about the
entire situation.
“I cared…care about Craig, I just,” pausing, Vala pulled her knees to her
chest. “I can’t hurt or be hurt like that again…” she whispered softly.
“Hey Vala,” Sam said moving so that she was sitting straighter in her chair.
“Why don’t you come and live here with me, I have plenty of room and I’d love
the company.”
“I couldn’t impose,” Vala said quickly.
“You wouldn’t be, I have the extra room, and when the baby comes we can convert
my third office to a nursery. Besides, you wouldn’t be alone,” Sam added in
hopes to peruse her friend.
“Its nice of you to offer, but,” Vala started before Sam cut her off.
“I don’t take no for an answer.”
A smile spread across Vala’s face as she nodded her head. “Okay…”
“Great!” Sam grinned. “We’ll go get your stuff packed up and I’ll get the boys
to move you in this weekend.”
Vala smiled and leaned back into the couch, letting it hug her body. Everything
in her life was not how she planned it, but then again, when was anything
planned? Leaning from a very young age that life was indeed not fair, she knew
that she must be the one to stay and make sure that life didn’t take a turn for
the worse, and she lost everything.
Everything here on Earth was now her home, she had a family, a baby of her own,
a home, friends, a job that was honest, people to take care of her, people to
love her. Everything she had ever searched for in her life, she had. She had
everything but one thing…
Her Knight in Shining Armour that would rescue her from the confines of her
heritage and take her for what she was. The man who in her dreams always
remained faceless, but his warmth, and love made her question everything she
was ever taught. Who worshiped her, but also set her straight. Everything she
ever searched for she hoped to find within Craig, but never found the most
important thing that came with it, she was to love him with everything she ever
had. She didn’t find that in Craig, found that in another man…a man who in the
first place made her come to Earth.
Daniel didn’t worship her, not in the way one thinks worshiping works, oh no,
Daniel worshiped her friendship, her being… At least, that’s what Vala hoped.
* * * *
Daniel walked into his darkened apartment, dropping his briefcase on the
kitchen counter and keys beside the sink. Not bothering to turn the lights on,
he looked around, mind racing. The events of the past few days running through
his mind, so many things, Vala, and the baby, her leaving Craig, and the baby.
The idea that he could be a father, a real life father, scared him a bit. Hell,
it scared him a lot. The idea of someone so tiny and smell relying on him for
everything, it was scary.
He knew very well that in fact the child might not be his, which he was okay
with. Since Vala told him, everything that ran through his mind all revolved
around the child. Of what could be. Three different scenarios…
The first, it wasn’t his. Instead he got to play Uncle Daniel to a little boy
or girl. He’d take them out for an afternoon, give them books for Christmas,
helping with French homework, all in all, the role of an Uncle.
The second scenario was Vala giving birth to a little boy. His boy. He gets to
be Dad, teaching him all about life, how to play catch, ride a bike, how to ask
out his first girlfriend, the facts of life. His son would be his life.
The last scenario was a little girl all his own. Being Daddy, who fixes scraped
knees, broken hearts, lost dollies all with his hugs. He’d be the one to tell
her every chance she looked pretty; she’d be his angel, the one he made sure
that no man would break her heart, and if they did, death would ensue.
Then there’s the scary scenario, the scenario he didn’t want to think about.
The loss of the baby. That was a scenario he wasn’t going divulge into. That
scenario wasn’t something he wanted to think about, or within his power, let
happen.
Daniel sighed and walked through his apartment, not once turning on the light.
Light meant seeing, facing something he wasn’t ready to. The dark was easier,
the dark just meant he was able to search, find and accept…
PART 7: When One Door
The months passed, too slow for Vala who seemed to suffer from every ill effect of pregnancy, and too fast for the rest of the team, who enjoyed every moment of watching the baby grow, although at the same time they didn’t enjoy the constant mood-swings from the expectant mother. Each member of the team tried to keep their patience with Vala at most times, but couldn’t succeed sometimes.
Teal’c decided to take it upon himself to become the Supreme Caretaker, who watched Vala like a hawk, making sure she was careful of the child that grew inside of her.
Cameron became very excited that “his team” was getting a mini-member, and was scheming to obtain SG-1 badges for the unborn child.
Sam took it upon herself to prepare everything for the child’s arrival, she was constantly reading parenting books or shopping for everything the child would need and not need, but she found cute.
Daniel was the worst of them all, constantly checking in on how Vala was doing, making sure she was eating enough, taking her to the Doctor’s appointments, he’d say on the phone for hours upon hours with Vala, sometimes assuring her things would be all right, or merely saying nothing.
Vala in mere frustration of everyone on base giving her name suggestions, to back off and if they had any parenting ideas to tell SG-1, and then if they deemed it safe, to tell Vala. The team even came up with names, as they knew Vala would only accept their suggestions. Sam came up with Olivia or Callum, while Cameron presented Molly and Toby, while Teal’c merely handed over a piece of paper with two words written on it, “You Decide.”
Daniel didn’t suggest or give Vala a piece of paper, instead he sat on Sam’s couch, rubbing her feet, her very swollen feet, discussing her life, the child’s future, everything Vala was thinking.
“What does Craig have to say?” Daniel asked one night, Vala’s pregnancy in the later months, and she was getting more and more worried about the coming baby.
“Oh honestly Daniel, I don’t think he cares,” Vala sighed. “He’s not concerned that he’s the baby’s father. He says there is no chance, not even a one percent chance that she’s his…”
“She?”
“Or he,” Vala replied, caressing her stomach. “The fact that he put in for a transfer is saying everything.”
“Vala, I’ll, uh, I’ll be here, there, for you and the baby, even if it isn’t mine,” Daniel said drifting off.
“Daniel, if it’s not yours, you don’t have to feel obligated, I can raise the baby myself.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” Daniel protested.
“It was my fault we’re in this triangle problem,” Vala replied. “I allowed myself to fall for both of you…you more than him.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Daniel whispered as he noticed the welling of tears in her eyes. “Please don’t cry.”
“Daniel, I have lost every man in my life…my father, my best friend, my first love, my husband, my father again, my Craig, I can’t lose another man,” she said as tears started to run down her cheeks. “I can’t lose another Daniel…”
“I’m not lost,” Daniel whispered.
* * * *
It wasn’t until her eighth month that Jack was able to get
away from
Showing up at the house, pizza in one hand, and a huge teddy-bear in the other, his infectious smile rang through the house, which somehow opted as a way that the rest of SG-1 arrived at the house, each brining a different type of food.
“So, you pick a name yet?” Jack asked taking a drink of his Guinness.
“Well, I’ve narrowed it down for sure,” Vala smiled, her finger dancing over the rim of her water glass.
“Now, Jack, that’s a good name for a baby, or Jacqueline,” Jack smiled as everyone else laughed.
“No offence Jack, but I don’t want my kid named after you,” Daniel teased, his hand touching Vala’s stomach protectively.
“Why not? I’m a great influence you know,” Jack said as Sam snickered into her cup. “Carter, you got something to say to the audience?”
“No sir,” Sam said, quickly putting on a straight face.
“Well, what are you thinking anyway Vala?” Cameron asked, rescuing Sam from further prosecution.
“Well, if it’s a boy, then either, Laine, Fiyaro or Brandt, for reasons I don’t want to dwell into, and then for a girl, after my mother, Kendra, and most likely a form of my middle name, Ceya.”
“Your middle name is Ceya?” Cameron asked, looking a bit surprised.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know that,” he replied.
“I don’t go introducing myself as it,” Vala replied a little fast.
“Well, I think its pretty, and middle names aren’t really a big deal, I mean mine is Gabriel,” Daniel shrugged.
“Samantha Isabelle Carter,” Sam said raising her hand.
“I got two, and uh…Jonathon Keith James O’Neill,” Jack shrugged, bringing his beer bottle to his lips.
“Cameron S.M Mitchell,” Cameron added, feeling the need to keep the chain going.
“What does the S and M stand for?” Vala asked, looking curious.
“Nothing,” Cameron said quickly.
“Well, it does mean something Colonel,” Jack said as Cameron shot him a glance.
“Sir?”
“You see Vala, Mitchell’s middle names are Sunshine Moonbeam,” Jack elaborated as a smile that ranged from ear to ear spread across Vala’s lips.
“Sunshine Moonbeam?”
“Yeah, well, my Mom got to give me my middle names okay? Apparently I’ named after some friends who uh, changed her life, whatever that means,” Cameron shrugged leaning back in his seat.
“Four friends ya say?” Jack asked, looking at the younger man.
“And those friends gave your Mother the idea to name you after them?” Sam added as Cameron nodded, his brows frowning.
“Whatcha y’all getting at?”
“Well, you see Mitchell, lets do a bit of spelling,” Jack said as Vala leaned into the table, indent on hearing the great mystery behind his name. “Take, oh I don’t know, five letters from my name.”
“And another five from mine?” Sam added with a smile.
“Then, a few from my name,” Daniel smiled.
“And the remaining from mine,” Teal’c said, a smirk wanting to play upon his lips.
“Are you saying I’m named after you guys!?” Cameron exclaimed. “Wait, I’m being punk’d again aren’t I?”
“’fraid not Kid,” Jack said into his beer bottle, as the look of horror raged over Cameron’s face.
“Why do you this to me?” Cameron asked in horror as everyone laughed, except for Vala, whos laughter turned into a gasp.
“You okay?” Sam asked quickly, looking at her friend.
“I think…No, I’m in labour…” Vala said breathing out her mouth.
“Well now, isn’t this convenient?” Jack asked standing up. “Mitchell, get the cars started, Teal’c, help me get miss Vala here to the SUV, Sam calm Daniel down and grab the bags.”
“Yessir!” Cameron said grabbed the keys from the keybowl on the table and running outside.
“Okay Pigtails, lets go,” Jack said wrapping his arms around Vala helping her stand. “This is a piece of cake!”
Childbirth wasn’t a piece of cake…far from it.
*
* * *
“She’s sleeping,” Jack said gesturing to the child in his arms, as Vala looked up at Jack.
“She?”
“Yeah, you gotcha self a girl, she’s quite comfortable in Uncle Jack’s arms though,” Jack said sitting down opposite of Vala.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“Well, Cameron and Teal’c got hungry, so they went down to the cafeteria, then Daniel was hovering, so Sam dragged him to the gift shop, which left me and little Monkey here,” Jack smiled, cradling the child in his arms. “Go see Mama.”
“Thank you,” Vala smiled, looking at her baby girl in her arms. “She’s gorgeous.”
“Yup, doesn’t look a thing like Daniel though,” Jack said as Vala looked at him, her eyes, asking all the questions her mouth couldn’t. “DNA compared, she isn’t Daniel. Yours yes, Dr.Whatshisface yes, but not Daniel.”
“Does he know?”
“Daniel is a smart guy. Besides, between you and me Pigtails, I don’t think he really cares who’s the biological father.
Vala smiled brightly and looked down at the sleeping infant. “She needs a name…”
“That she does,” Jack said as the four other members of SG-1 walked in.
“Welcome back to the living Princess,” Cameron smiled sitting himself down on one of the chairs by the window. “We would have brought you back some food from the caf, but they shouldn’t even serve that stuff to prisoners.”
“How you feeling?” Sam asked sitting at Vala’s feet, her hand touching her leg.
“Tired, sore,” Vala smiled. “She’s gorgeous.”
“That she is,” Daniel said touching the baby’s head. “Have you decided on a name?”
“I have actually,” Vala said positioning the baby so that she was facing Vala. “Sorcia Kendra-Clare Mal Doran.”
“That’s a pretty name for a pretty little girl,” Jack smiled as a nurse walked in.
“I hate to break this up General, but the two need their rest,” the young woman, said regrettably.
“If you say so, keep your eye on the baby, she’s gonna be a trouble maker,” Jack winked as everyone started their goodbyes to Vala and Sorica, who was fussing her little heart out.
Vala looked down at the baby in her arms. One door closed many years ago for her…and it finally opened, and that opened door gave her everything she had ever wanted in her life, and more. She and Daniel started out on rocky grounds, but now, with little Sorcia, they’d get back to that sandy beach where everything was just right.
PART 8: When Everything Changed
Sorcia was defiantly not a quite baby. At only three weeks old, the child spent day and night screaming and shouting until she was held. Sam and Vala would take turns during the night, and during lunch breaks and whenever the rest of the team could get away, they’d come to the house, usually when Sorica finally fell asleep, and wake her up from shutting the front door.
Sam sat at her desk, her blinks were long and few in between, when her eyes were open, the brilliant blue turned grey and glazed as she tried her hardest to read the book she had open; granted it was still on the title page…
“Yo Sam,” Cameron said waving his hand in front of the woman’s face. “You awake there?”
“Barely, Sorcia was up all night long, she didn’t sleep at
all. First she wanted to be rocked, then she was hungry, then she needed her
diaper changed, then she wanted to be sung too, then she wanted to be rocked,
and then hungry again, and then diaper, and then hungry…and then she just
didn’t want to sleep,” Sam said in one breath and a yawn. “Vala finally got her
to sleep around
“Does she still have that cold?” Cameron asked.
“Unfortunately,” Sam sighed. “So when she does drift off to sleep, she wheezes and her little nose is always running.”
“Any clue as to who gave the cold to the angel?”
“No, random proximity thing I’m guessing,” Sam sighed. “My brain isn’t really functioning to its fullest.”
“Well, not to cheer ya up, but got word from the Atlantis base, they’re sending Daddyboy back, he was stuck off world and just got the news,” Cameron said sitting down opposite of the temporary base commander.
“When are they coming through?”
“Early afternoon, I figure we can go with the team that heads over to your place, the big guy can scare the crap out of him,” Cameron smirked.
“Well, we’ll see. I’ll organize a team to accompany him officially,” Sam smiled leaning back in her chair, her head touching the headrest. “Is it bad that I just want to take a nap?”
“Nope,” Cameron said with a grin.
* * * *
The moment that Craig walked through the gate, he looked at SG-1, sans Vala. Four sets of eyes were watching him, each reading differently.
“Welcome back,” Cameron said waving his hand.
“Thanks,” Craig said looking at his former co-workers.
“Well Mr. Martin, I’m guessing you’d like to go visit your daughter?” Sam asked as Craig nodded his head.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” Craig said, a small smile playing on the corner of his lips.
“Well, come on then, Colonel Earls’ team will be your escort,” Sam said as the five left the ‘gate room.
“Carter, when you heading home?” Cameron asked looking at Sam.
”A little later, Daniel can you give me a ride home?”
“Sure, I was gonna go see Vala tonight anyway,” Daniel mentioned turning the corner. “Hey listen, I’ll call you when I’m ready, it shouldn’t be too long.”
“Thanks Daniel,” Sam smiled. “Mr. Martin, I guess I’ll see you shortly.”
Craig nodded as Colonel Earl came into sight. “Ma’am.”
“He’s going to my house. Vala is there, but don’t ring the doorbell, the baby might be sleeping, so knock the door, softly, or call before reaching the door. Don’t just walk in, she may be feeding the baby,” Sam instructed as Craig watched her closely.
* * * *
“There you go sweetheart,” Vala said softly as Sorica’s eyes
closed and the little girl’s mouth opened slightly. “Finally…” she sighed as
Sorica laid peacefully in her bassinette. Her breathing shallow and slightly
wheeze coming out of her mouth. Vala rubbed her chest slightly trying to
comfort the infant. Looking up, Vala stared at the clock, it was only
The knock on the front door disrupted Vala from her thoughts. Making a beeline to the door, she opened it to see Craig standing there.
“Hi,” she said softly. “I didn’t know you were coming…”
“I just found out,” Craig said rolling on the balls of his feet. “Can I come in?”
“Oh yeah, umm, she’s sleeping right now,” Vala said moving out of the way as Craig walked in, followed by an airman, taking his position at the door.
“Ma’am, we have all entrances covered,” Colonel Earls said as Vala nodded her head.
“Okay, did you want a drink or something? I was just making some tea,” she said softly.
“Sure, thanks,” Craig said. This was awkward. “So, what’s her name?”
“Sorcia,” Vala said pulling out two tea mugs from the cupboard.
“That’s a pretty name,” Craig said.
“She’s a pretty girl,” Vala countered. “Look, Craig, I know we didn’t end things best, but…”
“I know,” Craig smiled his hand reaching over to touch Vala’s.
The two stood in silence, looking at each other, not knowing what to say or do, so they stood there. Hands touching, eyes meeting…
“Want to meet her?” Vala asked suddenly, popping herself out of her trance as it were.
“I’d love that,” Craig smiled as Vala stepped away, taking the kettle off the stove, and leading him towards the back of the house.
The door was open a crack, and you could smell the sweet sent of baby. Holding her finger up to her lips, Vala opened the door, the small amount of light shinning in from the window just missed the crib. The small blanket covering the little body, caused for smiles to appear on Vala and Craig’s face. The two walked to the crib, looking down at the infant, a few blonde hairs stood atop her head, her little arms above her head, her chest and stomach rising and falling with every breath.
Craig’s hand drifted down to the child, his thumb stroking her soft cheek. And for in that moment, and in only for that moment, there was no screaming, shouting or arguing.
Sorcia let out a soft cough as her little body shook, and her wheezing became louder.
“She has a cold,” Vala whispered softly as she checked the vaporizer.
Leaving the nursery, Vala shut the door again and walked quietly back to the kitchen with Craig, seeing Sam standing in her kitchen with the rest of SG1 in tow.
“Sam invited us over for dinner,” Cameron smirked as Teal’c turned around, handing the man a can. “I’m makin’ soup!”
“None of us can actually cook,” Sam smiled to Craig who knowingly nodded. “So you saw her?”
“Yeah, I did. She’s gorgeous.”
‘I know,” Daniel smiled, holding the baby monitor in his hands. “How’s she feeling?”
“Still sick,” Vala sighed taking the coffee mug of tea. “Thank you. Craig and I are going to go talk,” she said as the team nodded.
The two walked into the living room, Vala sitting on the couch, pulling her legs under her.
“We should talk about visiting and stuff,” Vala said softly as Craig nodded.
“Well, I’m going to uh, request a transfer back,” he said as Vala nodded. “Then you two can move it with me.”
“Oh, we’re not moving,” Vala replied as she noticed her team move towards the counter, so that they were looking upon the two.
“What do you mean?” Craig asked. “Vala, she’s ours, I should have say in how she’s raised.”
“You will get it, I’m just not moving… Craig, I’m happy the way I am, happier than I’ve been in a while. She’s happy.”
“She’s got a cold, how can she be happy?” Craig asked, his voice raising a bit.
“Craig, she’s three weeks old, she knows me, she knows Sam, Daniel, Cameron, Teal’c, Jack, she doesn’t know you,” Vala said as she noticed her team walking towards the couple.
“Which is why I’m going to file for full custody,” Craig said as five heads popped up, eyes wide, lips tight.
“Come again there?” Cameron asked stepping forward, Teal’c not far behind him.
“She’s not stable in this house, her mother’s for one an alien, and two her job is deadly,” Craig said, as Vala backed out of the room.
“And your job is any better there buddyboy? You work in a different galaxy,” Cameron said taking charge of the entire argument.
“Daniel, Vala,” Sam whispered to the man, holding the baby monitor. Daniel quickly shut it off.
“Monitor stopped, I’m gonna check on it,” he said dismissing himself as Cameron’s voice started to be raised.
Sneaking into the nursery where Vala stood staring at Sorcia. “He wont get her,” Daniel whispered coming up behind her, his arms going around her waist. He didn’t know if it was out of pure comfort or because of deeper feelings for the woman, but it felt good.
“She’s so peaceful,” Vala smiled softly.
“She’s like her mother, except for that blonde hair,” Daniel smirked against Vala’s ear, his lips touching her ear, so lightly it wouldn’t be noticeable, but she noticed.
“Daniel, on earth can they take the baby away from her mother?” Vala asked, looking at him, her body slightly adjusting in his embrace.
“Sometimes,” Daniel whispered.
“My planet, the child belonged to their father, unless their mother is of status,” Vala replied. “I was my mothers child until she died and I became the property of Jacek…Then when he married Adria, I was hers, and I remember fighting, so hard. I remember running away, and every time I would, Jacek would come out after me, and finally get me, then the last time I ran away, no one came looking, and they gave up on me, and I ran and ran, until I couldn’t run anymore, and then…”
“That wont happen with Sorcia,” Daniel said softly.
The shouting got louder, and Vala and Daniel watched as Sorcia’s face scrunched up and her lips began to tremble, and she started to cry, loud. Picking her up, Vala softly rocked her.
“Daniel, can you take her?”
“Of course,” Daniel said taking the infant into his arms, holding her close to his body.
Walking back out into the living room, her mind started to race. What was to happen if Sorcia left her, the baby was her life. Everything she had on Earth, everything that she tried so hard to change, all wrapped up into her life; she was everything, she was her life, her soul, her happiness… If Craig took her away, Vala wouldn’t have a reason to stay here, she could fall back on her old ways, leave everything she worked so hard to achieve…Sorcia…
Making it into the living room, Craig and Cameron were exchanging very heated words, taking a breath, she held up her hand, and Cameron and Craig stopped talking, as Teal’c took a step closer.
“If you mind, I have a three week old baby who was woken up by your antics. She is no one’s but mine. She is mine, and mine only. She is not Cameron’s, she is not Teal’c, she’s not Sam’s, nor Daniel’s, not even yours Craig. She may have your genetics, but after seeing you for who you are, I don’t want you to be her father,” Vala said, her face straight and angry. “You were an amazing man Craig, I thought I loved you, but you know what? The second you left, changed everything…”
“Vala,” Craig started.
“No, we’re done…”
The last scream that was heard that day was Daniel who screamed for help, as little Sorcia fell limp in his arms.
PART 9: The Good, the Bad and the Goodbye
“Just hold on,” Daniel said softly holding onto Vala’s hand, as she watched her three-week-old baby get pushed out of her sight. “She’ll be okay.”
“Daniel, what happened?” Sam asked coming up to the two, Craig sitting down, staring at the door.
“She started to breath really heavily, and then, she just stopped,” Daniel replied, his arm wrapping tighter around Vala’s body. “I really don’t know.”
“She’ll be okay, Dr. Lam just came, and she brought some of the best doctors in the world with her,” Sam said touching Vala’s arm. “Teal’c is watching over her, no one would say no to him, so he’s being his Lord Supreme Protector…”
“I’ve never been so scared,” Vala whispered softly, her body leaning straight into Daniel’s warmth.
“Me either…” he said barely audible. His hand ran up and down Vala’s back, his gaze falling to Craig, who sat, white faced, as if he had just lost a life.
* * * *
“She’s okay then?” Vala asked as she slowly rocked Sorcia in her arms.
“She’ll be fine,” Carolyn said placing the chart on her desk. “The cold you thought she had, wasn’t a cold at all, but before you say anything, its normal to miss it. What Sorcia has is a condition known as Bronchiolitis, which the smallest airways in her lungs swelled and filled with mucus, which caused her to stop breathing. We don’t usually catch things like that at her age, because its, like in this case, so minor.”
“What does it mean?” Vala asked running her
“It’s a respiratory syncytial virus, it’s more of a nuisance than anything, nothing to be concerned about, just keep a humidifier by her crib, it’ll help clear up her airways. If she starts to cry a lot and reach for her ear or moves her head to one side a lot, then bring her back. It could be an ear infection. Other than that, she’ll be just fine.”
“You sure?” Daniel asked his hand touching Sorcia’s head.
“Quite sure,” Carolyn said as she noticed Craig standing a bit away from them. “Mr. Martin is there something you’d like to ask?”
“No, thank you,” Craig said standing straighter. “As long as she’s going to be all right.”
“She may get asthma when she gets older, but that’s manageable with steroids,” Carolyn said. “I’m actually going to refer Sorcia to a pediatrician, his name is Thomas Gubler, one of the best out there. He’ll be able to monitor her lungs, as well as her development.”
“Thank you,” Vala smiled, looking down at Sorcia.
“Just remember, keep an eye on her breathing, and that humidifier beside her crib should clear up her airways fully within a few days. Other than that, keep it on anyway; it should prevent it from returning.”
Daniel and Vala nodded as Craig folded his arms across his chest.
* * * *
The months started to pass, almost too quickly for Vala, as she watched her baby grow. The day she started to smile, she smiled for everyone who looked at her. Smiling full of dimples and giggles, big blue eyes and gums.
And then she started to ‘talk’, as much as she could, she would talk when someone looked at her, when Sam or Vala talked to her, grabbed constantly at everything she could possibly touch. Cooking was her favourite past time; she’d sit in her highchair and bang her hands repeatedly on her table. When Cameron would cook, he’d give him dough or something similar saying if she were going to bang her hands, she could so something productive.
Craig was back on Atlantis shortly after he met Sorcia, and as each day went by, there was no sign of any type of communication, and Vala had started to give up on the fact that possibly, Sorcia would be able to know her real father… Until the fateful day when the Gate opened and Craig walked through.
They sat in silence in the briefing room, Daniel holding Sorcia, and Teal’c, pretending he had a reason to be standing in the halls. Sam was making excuses to be the one in the control room, playing with the computers…which all she did was sit and tap her fingers against the keyboards in wait.
“Vala…listen, I’m sorry,” Craig said breaking the silence as Vala turned to face him. “I… I was overwhelmed and thought that I might lose my daughter to someone else if I didn’t step in…”
“Craig, I’d never not let you see Sorcia, she’s yours… But I wont let you have her, she belongs with me, where she’s happy, where she has her family to love and take care of her.”
“Vala…” Craig said as the door to the General’s office opened, and they stood up, Daniel’s arms tightening around Sorcia, holding her higher in his arms.
“If you would like to join us,” the Colonel said as the three nodded and walked into the office. “Please have a seat.”
The three adults looked at the General and then at the Judge sitting in the chair. “Well, this decision is an easy one, one of the easiest I have ever made. Also one of the extraordinary ones. I have heard stories of all kinds, but this remains the most interesting, a mother from another planet, a father who lives in another galaxy. However in this case, because Mr. Martin has no judicial rights over the infant, except for the fact of being genetically related, so I must rule in favor of Miss. Mal Doran. In my opinion, children, much like,” pausing to look at the file, “Sorcia, will do better if raised in an environment where there is no a single parent, but also a family within the child’s life. I am going to say that it is up to Miss. Mal Doran to impose visiting rights for her child.”
Vala smiled in relief and looked at Daniel, who placed his lips on Sorcia’s head.
* * *
*
From the moment Craig walked through the gate, Vala didn’t know it wouldn’t be the final time he would leave. He touched Sorcia’s head and said he’d be back. Smiling, Vala leaned over and kissed his cheek, as she handed Sorcia to him.
“Say goodbye,” she ordered lightly.
“Goodbye my sweet baby,” Craig smiled kissing her nose. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Just let me know and I’ll make sure you can have her for the day,” Vala smiled taking the baby back into her arms.
Taking Sorcia’s hand, the two waved before the wormhole disengaged. Vala looked down at Sorcia and brought her to eye level. “Lets go baby girl.”
Sorcia growing up in front of the eyes of the entire SGC was at most times a good thing, but at others, a bad. Vala would go to the base to see the doctors, and everyone from Cameron giving a bogus excuse to take the baby and play, to everyone stopping her to say hi to the child.
Then there was the time, when she…well, basically lost Sorcia.
Vala had gone to the base, Sorcia in tow, and walked into Daniel’s lab. Putting the little girl, carrier and all down Daniel held up the tablet and Vala’s eyes widened.
Cameron and Teal’c soon entered. “Ah! I thought I heard you!” Cameron grinned bending down and picking Sorcia up. “How’s my ray of Sunshine?” he asked as Sorcia smiled at him. “Oh boy! You’re happy aren’t you? How bout you come with Uncle Cam huh? I’m gonna take her.”
“Uh huh,” Vala said waving her hand as her eyes focused on the writing.
“Well my little Miss Sunshine, lets go play huh? I have some awesome toys in my office, yes I do,” Cameron said disappearing from the office and down the hall. “Teal’c, we should get her fed, what do you think?”
“I concur ColonelMitchell. I shall proceed to the commissary and obtain nutrients suitable for the infant,” Teal’c said nodding his head. “I shall return shortly.”
Cameron smiled and carried Sorcia to his office. It wasn’t long after he got there that Teal’c returned, jello, pudding and ice-cream in hand, which was promptly consumed, very messily by the child.
“ColonelMitchell, I have a sparring session with SergeantSiler,” Teal’c said as he wiped Sorcia’s mouth and face.
“We’ll be great, don’t worry!” Cameron grinned as he laid Sorcia on the floor. Waving to Teal’c, Cameron dropped to his knees to play.
* * * *
“Don’t tell me the baby’s yours,” a voice said from the doorway, as Cameron looked up from where he was rocking Sorcia quietly.
“Nah, wouldn’t do that to you,” he winked placing Sorcia into her carrier. “C’mere.”
Elizabeth Weir walked directly into Cameron’s arms, her body pressed against his. “I missed you.”
“Back atcha,” Cameron smiled into
“Who’s the baby?”
“This is Sorcia, she’s Vala’s kid,” Cameron explained.
“Gorgeous thing isn’t she?”
“Yes, the SGC and the Government has commissioned me to stay
here on Earth,”
“Well, that’s a good thing for us then isn’t it? You can help me babysit,” he said, moving so that they were standing right in front of each other.
“Cameron,”
“Beth,” he said loosing his grip a bit. “I lost you once, well twice, I care about you…”
“Cameron, I…”
“Is that how you baby-sit Cameron?” Vala asked standing in the doorway of Cameron’s office, as the two adults sprung apart. “Oh, Doctor Weir.”
“Hello,”
“Thank you,” Vala smiled walking over to the desk. “Now, let me take her and you two can continue,” she winked picking up Sorcia’s carrier.
“Oh ummm…well…”
“Goodbye,” Vala grinned shutting the door as Cameron burst out laughing.
* * * *
“And there we go,” Vala smiled placing Sorcia on the couch, so that she leaned against the back in a sitting position. “You’re getting big. Yes you are. Uncle Jack is coming to dinner tonight, yes he is. He’s going to come and see you. Cause he loves you. Who doesn’t love you?”
Smiling at her baby girl, Vala leaned over and kissed her softly. “Is Daniel here yet?” Sam asked walking into the living room, looking at Sorcia who looked up at her mother.
“No, not yet,” Vala said standing up.
“Any idea what else we need?” Sam asked picking up the shopping list from the table.
“Sorcia’s bath supplies,” Vala said as the doorbell rang. “That’s Daniel, yes it is.”
“I’m here,” Daniel said closing the door.
“Thanks for this Daniel,” Vala smiled standing up, as Daniel walked towards them.
“No problem,” he said sitting down on the couch, next to Sorcia. “We’re going to learn how to read,” Daniel teased picking Sorcia up and placing her on his lap.
“Just don’t have her speaking different languages until she learns English,” Vala smiled kissing Sorcia’s head. “I’ll be back sweetheart, be nice to your Daniel.”
“Bye Daniel,” Sam smiled as the two women left the house. Daniel smiled and looked at Sorcia.
“We’ll have a great day.”
* *
* * * *
“Look at you!” Daniel grinned as he watched Sorcia sit by herself. Not for the first time, but the first time with him.
Sorcia did nothing but smile widely at Daniel before falling backwards, grabbing her feet with a giggle. “Mommy is out with Auntie Sam, and then Uncle Jack is flying in this afternoon and we’re having dinner with Uncle Teal’c and Uncle Cameron.”
Sam and Vala had headed grocery shopping that morning, as Daniel offered to stay behind with Sorcia making sure the five-month-old baby was bathed and dressed before they came back. He was in all reality doing a rather bad job of doing that, as he at least had her bathed, and getting the very squirmy baby into her diaper was a chore in itself.
“We have to get you dressed,” Daniel said as the doorbell rang and the door opened. Picking Sorcia up, Daniel turned around to see Cameron standing there, his face read no expression. “Hey…”
“I am under orders to inform you of a tragic incident that
occurred at oh-ten-hundred this morning. Upon entering a local coffee shop at
oh-nine-fifty-five, Brigadier General O’Neill ordered a large coffee and a
donut, upon turning around, a man who has been identified as Paul Bradley, of
Daniel stared at Cameron, who was trying to keep a straight face, and his arms curled tighter around Sorcia, who squirmed. “What are you saying?”
“That Jack O’Neill is dead,” Cameron said. “I’m under orders
to collect you and the remaining members of SG-1 for transport to
Daniel stared and looked at Sorcia, who was resting her head on his shoulder now. “I gotta get her stuff…”
“I’ll help,” Cameron said dropping the mask he put on, and walked towards Daniel. “I’ll get her dressed, can you take care of the diaper bag?”
“Yeah…” Daniel mumbled turning around as Cameron stared at the little girl.
“I’m so sorry sweetheart.”
* * * *
No one had seen anything like it before. No one ever wanted to, buy they all knew it was bound to happen. Just not now. The cemetery was like a bruise, all black and blue. People from all over were in attendance, and no one realized how many lives that Jack O’Neill touched in his life. People of all ages were in attendance Sorcia being the youngest and trying to figure out the tears on the faces of those around her.
Seven hand picked officers stood at the hear of the congregation, which comprised of Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, Colonel John Sheppard, Colonel Louis Feretti, Sergeant Steven Siler, Lieutenant Mark Cruickshanke, Major Alexander McGraw and Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman, stood, guns at ease, each face white and somber. A small pipe band, consisting of Major Leslie Camphell, Captain Poppy Marshall and Captain Andrew-Liam McKenzie, stood with their horns, at pure attention, faces showing no emotion.
Groups of people scattered around, some in groups, other sitting alone. SG-1 stood by themselves, Sorcia staying in her mothers arms, reaching for Daniel, and squirming to be on the ground. At six months old, the little girl wanted to spend her time on the ground rather than in the arms of someone.
Teal’c’s arm was wrapped around Sam’s side, her body leaning into him. She hated showing weakness but at this moment, where in her life, she lost yet another man whom she loved, Sam couldn’t keep it together.
“Sam,” Rodney said, as he walked up to the group. Sam smiled softly and reached over, giving Rodney a hug. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks for coming,” she said pulling away.
“We all came as soon as we could,” Rodney said gesturing behind him at members of the Atlantis Expedition stood in a group. “We, uh, I’m sorry,” his hand rubbed Sam’s arm before drifting down to take her hand in his, in a friendly gesture.
The group stood in silence; Sorcia’s protests to be put down were the only noise, besides the quite rumble of the whispered chatter around the grounds. Sam’s hand in Rodney’s, her body leaned into Teal’c’s, Daniel had his arms wrapped around Vala, one hand resting on her stomach, the other on Sorcia.
“Excuse me, but are you Colonel Carter?” a woman asked, touching Sam’s shoulder, as the group turned to face the woman. She was tall, slender, light brown hair pulled off her face. She looked like a female version of Jack.
“Yes, I am,” Sam said. “This is Dr. McKay, Dr. Daniel Jackson, Vala Mal Doran and Teal’c.”
“I’m Patricia White, I’m Jack’s sister,” the younger woman said, her blue eyes, glassed with tears.
“Oh, hi,” Sam said, eyes widening. “I’m so sorry about your loss.”
“I’m the one that should be sorry,” Patricia said looking at the team surrounding Sam. “You are the ones Jack considered family more than myself.”
“We considered him family,” Daniel said taking Sorcia who was still squirming in Vala’s arms. “Come here sweet pea.”
“I just wanted you to know that the flag,” she said gesturing to the coffin, with the flag covering it, “I want his team to have it. Jack, he would have wanted the baby to remember him. My children, they…they know their Uncle…”
“Listen, its nice of you, but you’re his family,” Sam said quickly.
“I’m just his sister, you are the family,” Patricia said softly. “The baby, she needs to know Jack.”
Before anyone could protest to Patricia’s wishes, Vala spoke. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
* * * *
The service was quiet, each person in attendance, sat, and held the hands of those around them, letting their emotions show. Vala looked beside her, to Daniel, who was sitting holding Sorcia on his lap, his eyes watering as he listened to the words come out of the mouths of those standing by the casket. When it was his turn to speak, standing up, Vala watched Daniel walk up, baby firmly planted on his hip; her little legs dangling in front of him, the white of her tights contrasting his black suit. Vala held her stomach, as she watched his mouth move, speak words of friendship, loyalty and love. She watched as he held the baby closer to him, and say how much Jack would miss, but how much was gained in the decade and a half they’d known each other. Vala smiled faintly at the memories Daniel was recalling, the smile in his eyes, if not permanently on his face. The stories regaled, brought smiles to those around him, if only for a brief moment, and for that moment in time, Vala felt that everything was going to be alright.
Daniel placed his lips to Sorcia’s head before he turned to the coffin covered in the flag beside him.
“You know, to go out with a cliché, even though Jack hated them, we’ve sent the good, the bad and the ugly, and you were all three. Goodbye.”
PART 10: Moving On
"You haven't said anything since we left the burial," Vala said softly looking at Daniel, whom was sitting quietly behind the wheel.
"I'll be okay," Daniel replied. "I promise."
"I certainly hope so Daniel," Vala said softly, her hand moving over to touch his on the wheel.
"I wish Cameron would hurry up, he drives like an elderly woman," Daniel groaned as Cameron's car in front of him putted along slowly. "I mean he can go more than 2 miles per hour."
Vala laughed softly as Daniel turned his head towards her and smiled softly. His hand left the wheel and he laced his fingers with hers before turning his vision back to the car in front of him.
* * * *
SG-1 was the last to leave the wake, Sorcia had fallen
asleep with the flag under her head, and the adults sat around the child, each
finding comfort in the person they sat next too. Sam was tightly holding
Rodney's hand, if it was any other year but this one, it would have been
uncharacteristic but she had grown to appreciate and care about Rodney while
she was commander of the Atlantis Expedition. Beyond popular belief, Rodney was
a caring man, who would protect her to the galaxy's end. Teal'c was on the
floor, holding the sleeping baby, after bowing his head to Daniel, in a signal
that "It is Teal'c's time with the infant, and if he does not receive the
time, he would go all Jaffa on your ass" at least according to Cameron who
coined the phrase. Cameron's arm was draped over
"You know, we should do something with that flag," Cameron said gesturing to the child. "Like put a picture in it or something...you know, so that when she grows up, she wont forget..."
"That's really sweet Cameron," Sam said softly.
"Yeah, it happens sometimes," he shrugged.
The silence became comfortable again, as each were lost in their own musings. Suddenly Sam stood up, and six pairs of eyes focused on her. "I need to go to work...I just..."
"I'll come with you," Rodney said standing up as Sam looked at him.
"You don't have to McKay."
"I'm coming," he said firmly as Sam nodded weakly, and the two left the building. Eight pairs of eyes moved around the room and rested on Teal’c and Sorcia, the latter, who was resting peacefully in Uncle T’s arms; one of her favourite places.
"I should be getting her home," Vala said after a few moments.
"I shall accompany you ValaMalDoran," Teal'c said. "ColonelMitchell, DrWeir I shall see you in a short while."
"Sure T...see you in the morning," Cameron said standing up. "We'll probably go grab something to eat and head home...you know..."
"Bye" Vala smiled giving the two a hug. "I'll see you at work tomorrow."
"Sure thing," Cameron said, as four bodies turned to look at the academy.
* * * *
"I just want to get out of these," Sam said as she and Rodney walked to her on base quarters.
"Yeah sure," Rodney shrugged, loosing his tie. Sam opened the door and let Rodney in before closing it. The room was dark, and the only light came from the soft light from under the door. The two adults looked at each other for a moment, before in unison, they came closer and lips touched, bodies arched into each other.
They never made it to the lab until the next morning.
Sam was the first to wake, her body pressed into Rodney's side, his arm wrapped around her body, holding her there. Their skin smelt of sweat and stale perfume and cologne. What drove the two into each other's arms remained a mystery, but the soft and shy smile on Sam's lips was enough to make Rodney stop wondering.
"Listen, Sam... Whatever happened," he said waving his hand between the two.
"McKay, it's okay," Sam sighed. "Let's just put it behind us okay. It was a one night thing," she said looking up from her computer. Rodney opened his mouth to say something, but closed it and looked down at his work. The two stayed silent, focusing on their mutual work, Sam was the first to make a move, by reaching over, and picking up Rodney's hand. He didn't look up, but simply laced his fingers with hers.
Maybe in the midst of this tragedy, something bright would come out.
* * * *
Sam took a breath and flipped the white envelope, her name written in cursive
on the front. She was nervous, when they had emptied Jack’s safety deposit box,
several envelopes were the only contents, each with names on them. Teal’c had
gotten a ten page letter, Cameron a shorter one, but thoughtful nonetheless.
She had sat with them as they read the letters, holding her hand, as the words
of Jack O’Neill flowed for the last time. She had chosen to read hers alone, she
felt that Jack would have wanted it that way.
Opening the envelope, she pulled the piece of paper out.
Samantha,
If you’re reading
this, then I’m dead. Long time coming if you ask me.
You’re probably
thinking that life right now can’t get any worse, but believe me, it can.
You were a big part of
my life for over a decade, and those years were some of the best and worst
years of my life. But with you, it seemed that much better. You made a smile
come to my face in the worst situations. Just your presence made life that much
better.
I don’t want you to
sit around and morn me. You deserve a life, filled with love, and a family. You
deserve everything I could never give you.
I love you, always
will.
♫See you in
Heaven Baby, ♪
Jonathon O’Neill.
Smiling to herself, Sam folded the letter back up. One page from her best friend was all she needed.
“I’ll see you in heaven too baby,” she grinned at the reference to one of her favorite songs.
* * * *
“I was thinking,” Daniel said one afternoon as he and Vala walked down the aisle of the grocery store.
“That’s no surprise Daniel,” Vala winked as she pulled a few boxes of cereal off the shelf. “Cheerios for Sorcia,” she said shaking the box for the baby.
“What no fruit loops?” Daniel teased pointing to the bright red box with Toucan Sam.
“We still have some,” Vala said walking ahead of the cart. “Thank you for coming with me Daniel.”
“No problem,” Daniel replied as he followed. “What else do you need?”
“Cameron wanted us to pick up food for dinner, he said he wanted to make dinner tonight.”
“Okay.”
The three walked down the aisles, having idle conversations, Vala routinely asking Sorcia what she wanted. A few moments of silence, the two stood in the baby aisle, grabbing Socria’s necessities-diapers, wipes, etc. Daniel spoke,
“I’d uh, like to take you to dinner,” he said as they continued to walk down the aisle, pushing the shopping cart.
“You have dinner with us all the time silly,” Vala said placing a box of crackers in the cart.
“I mean, just me and you, I want to take you on a date…” Vala said nothing to Daniel, but gave him a smile, before she turned to her daughter.
“Did you hear that Sorcia, Daniel wants to take Mommy on a date,” she whispered as the little girl kicked her feet. “You stop that. Or Mommy is not going to raise you anymore.”
Daniel chuckled at the interaction between Vala and her daughter. From the Vala he first met all those years ago, she had come into her own as a woman. She had grown up, matured; she had an entire life ahead of her, an entire life, which revolved around the little girl, she was talking to. For Daniel, he respected every aspect of the new Vala; the hard working, the loving, the caring, the mother that was Vala Mal Doran.
“Come on, let’s get home. Kiddo here needs her nap. Yes we do, seven months is not old enough to skip naps,” Daniel grinned placing a hand on the small of Vala’s back. Something about her now, changed his world, his desires, his everything.
Dinner at the Carter-Mal Doran house was something that SG-1 loved. Cameron would take over the kitchen, saying that if Sam or Vala started to cook, they’d kill his niece, and she was just damn too cute to be dead by food poisoning from Mommy and Auntie Sam. That, and it was common knowledge among his friends, that Cameron was a cook, his Momma taught him. His apartment, bought strictly for the kitchen became the center point for all the “family meals”. Any holiday that Cameron deemed worthy enough for a big dinner, he’d cook at his place, because Sam’s oven was just not good enough and that she only had one, and he wasn’t sure when she cleaned it, so, he’d cook everything, and then transport it to the girls’ place, because they had the room to fit all of SG-1.
Tonight was not any different, Cameron was cooking, saying that dinner tonight was not as special as family dinners, and thusly, he could cook in the house. Walking into the house, without knocking on dinner nights was normal, after all, he was cooking, why should he knock? The house was quiet, which meant that Sorcia might be sleeping, and he once made noise; woke the baby; and felt the wrath of Vala, who could get mighty mad when she had a cranky baby to deal with.
“Hey,” he said poking his head into the living room where Sam and Vala chatted as they folded laundry. “Panty folding are we?”
“Here, help,” Sam said tossing him a few clothes.
“Yes ma’am,” Cameron said as he walked over to the piles. “You know, for only being three of you…you guys got a lot of laundry.”
“Sorcia has a lot,” Vala replied with a smile. “Where’s Teal’c?”
“Umm…Daniel was picking him up,” Cameron replied holding up a bra. “Whose?”
“Mine,” Sam said. Being friends with Cameron for more years that she wanted to admit, she had lost all kinds of self-consciousness around him.
“So, where’s my niece?” Cameron asked, continuing to fold the fresh clothes. He could hear the dryer in the background, wondering if these women kept up with their cleaning.
“Sleeping,” Vala replied. “Daniel took us food shopping this morning while Sam had to go out, it tired her out,”
“I’m gonna go see her,” he said quickly standing.
“No, sit.” Vala commanded. “She’s sleeping. Don’t you dare wake her up, or you will have to deal with her!”
“I’ll just go check on her then, make sure she’s sleeping,” Cameron said. If one thing Cameron couldn’t help but do, was spend every minute toting around the little girl. It was what Uncle Cameron did.
Walking down the hall to the nursery, formally known as Sam’s spare office number one: he opened the door, and stepped in. The yellow nursery was decorated with butterflies and flowers. Her collection of stuffed animals donned a few hammocks on either side of her bookshelf, something that Sam and Daniel had insisted she had, and nearly every week a new book would be put on it. Right after the funeral, the flag, placed on the top shelf, beside it a gold picture frame with Jack’s picture, placed just inside of the flag, was the picture of Sorcia and Jack on his last visit to the Springs. The crib sat across from the window, and Cameron walked over to it, noticing his little girl, laying there, her bright blue eyes staring up at him as she sucked on her blanket.
“Hey, Mommy said you should be sleeping,” Cameron smiled putting his hands on the crib. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”
Sorcia looked up at Cameron and babbled in her own unique way, which caused him to chuckle. “Well then, since you’re up, lets change that diaper of yours, so that you’re all baby fresh before you help Uncle Cam with dinner. Does that sound good my dear? Yes? I thought it did. Come on, up we go,” with a swift move, Cameron scooped up Sorcia in his arms and laid her down on the changing table. “Okay, this is a process don’t you know. My Momma taught me this. And ‘cause I got all the nieces and nephews that I could ever need, so I know these things. Okay, lift that cute little tushie of yours. Ooh look at that, you’re all wet.”
A few minutes later, freshly diapered, powdered and dressed again, Cameron walked into the living room, with a very babbling baby on his hip.
“She was awake,” he quickly defended at the look Sam and Vala gave to him. “So I changed her and now we’re all ready to cook.”
“You want to cook with Uncle Cam sweet heart?” Vala asked standing up and touching Sorcia’s head, the little girl smiled brightly and reached for Cameron’s dog tags. “Oh okay, but if you get her messy, you’re on bath duty.”
“No problem!” Cameron smiled before turning his heal and walking into the kitchen, talking with the babbling baby the entire way.
Sam shook her head and looked at her roommate. “He’s really good with her.”
“She loves him,” Vala smiled as she heard her little girl squeal with delight. “Are you okay Samantha, you look a little pale?”
“I think I’m getting that cold Socria had last week,” Sam said shaking her head. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll beat it.”
“Okay,” Vala said placing Sorcia’s folded clothes into the hamper. “I’ll go put these away.”
Dinner went as smooth as it always did. Cameron decided to make ‘Momma’s beef and potatoe stroganoff’, which caused Sorcia to make a mess, as she decided that picking up each noodle and trying to put it into her mouth, then every thinly sliced piece of potatoe was plastered right to her face.
After dinner, the team started to split off, Cameron and Teal’c offered to bathe the baby, who was covered in everything her little hands touched. Sam was called to the base in the middle of dinner, which left Daniel and Vala to do dishes.
“So have you given any thought to what I asked you today?” Daniel asked nervously as he dried the plate Vala handed him.
“Why, whatever do you mean Daniel?” Vala asked with a smirk, and sparkle in her eyes. Daniel eyed Vala for a moment and swatted her with his towel, a smile spreading over his lips as Vala stopped washing dishes and stared. A pregnant pause and she lifted a handful of bubbles from the sink before tossing it onto him.
“Oh its on,” Daniel said reaching for the soapy water.
“Daniel!” Vala shrieked as he tossed the water and bubbles to her.
“You started it,” Daniel stated with a grin before he was hit with bubbles once more. “So, what do you say? Dinner on Saturday?”
“I’d love that Daniel,” Vala smiled and moved closer to his body, his arm pulling her closer. Pulling her into his arms, Daniel held her body close to his, just reveling in the feeling of her body. She was warm, and fit perfectly in his arms.
Daniel was finally ready to admit that he was willing to move on; to take the chance to be hurt; take the chance to love someone again. His someone, he wanted to be Vala. He didn’t care if she was a mother of a seven-month-old child, he loved Sorcia; he didn’t care that she was an alien; he didn’t care about anything, only her.
“Yo Vala,” Cameron said walking into the kitchen as the two adults sprung apart. “Question, which sleeper does she sleep in? The pink one, or the yellow one, or this one with the duck, or how about this one with the frog?”
“Whichever,” Vala said shaking her head. “Just make sure you powder and lotion her before you get her dressed.”
“T’s all over that,” Cameron smiled. “We’re bathed and lotioned and diapered and currently we’re playing with Uncle T, and then gonna come out and see Mommy, who is going to make out with Daddy-wannabe here,” he winked before turning his heal and leaving the room.
Vala looked up at Daniel and laughed softly. “We should uh, finish,” Daniel said as Vala nodded her head in agreement before turning her body towards the skink again.
By Saturday, Vala had almost forgotten of her date with Daniel. Sam had reminded her the night before, offering to babysit. Gratefully accepting, Vala ended up standing in front of her closet, baby on her hip, standing in nothing other than a slip staring at her clothes.
“What do you think sweetheart?” she asked leaning her head so that it touched Sorcia’s blonde covered head. Sorcia made a few noises and reached for her diaper straps. “How about we keep that on. And you help Mommy pick an outfit out, because then she wont have to go naked.”
It wasn’t like Vala didn’t have clothing. She had plenty of clothes; it was just last November she was pregnant and according to her, fat. The one before that she was skinny, and now, she was pleasantly, curvy, thanks to the child in her arms. “Okay, Mommy has an idea, why don’t you sit on her bed and try to take that diaper off, and she’ll get put clean clothes on, that should work right sweetie?”
Twenty minutes later, Vala had on a pair of leather boots, jeans, and a black sweater than hung off her shoulders. Sorcia had finally managed to remove the constraints of her diaper and was in the full attempts to stand on her knees.
“Okay sweet cheeks, lets put your clothes back on.”
Dressing the baby quickly and with the skill of a mother, Vala carried Sorcia out into the living room, where Sam was sitting on the floor, legs folded under her and laptop on her lap, papers surrounding her.
“Looking good,” Sam smiled looking up at her friend and niece.
“Thank you,” Vala smiled sitting on the couch, placing Sorcia on her knee and bouncing her slightly. “We’re intent on taking our diaper off still.”
“Still?” Sam asked grabbing Sorcia’s foot and wiggling it.
“I’ll make sure it stays on. Don’t worry about her tonight we’ll be fine.
Teal’c and
“Okay,” Vala said looking at Sorcia as the door opened.
“She awake?” Daniel’s voice asked, popping around the corner to see the three girls sitting. “You uh, ready?”
“Yeah,” Vala smiled as she and Sam stood up, the baby was passed over to the blonde, and kissed by both leaving parties.
“Well little one,” Sam said as Daniel and Vala left. “It’s just us.” Sorcia looked up at her Aunt and smiled brightly hitting her hands onto her knees before reaching for the diaper. It was going to be an interesting night to say the least.
* * * *
“She’s trying her hardest to crawl,” Vala said taking a sip of her water. “Prefers to do it naked it seems. She’ll be laying there, and look at you sweetly, then reach for her diaper. She’s getting better at grabbing it.”
“Just like her mother,” Daniel joked as Vala kicked his shin lightly. “Ow.”
“Don’t be such a baby Daniel.”
A moment of comfortable silence, Daniel and Vala reached over and laced fingers. “I’m really happy you came out to dinner with me.”
“I am too Daniel,” Vala whispered s he squeezed her hand.
After a few more moments, Daniel stood up, pulling Vala with him. “Come on, lets get out of here.” Vala nodded and grabbed her purse and jacket from the back of her chair, and let herself be walked out by Daniel.
Their relationship had taken a few turns over the past few months. The weeks, let it be only three, since the death of Jack O’Neill, they had grown closer. Daniel spent more and more time with her and Sorcia, cutting his hours at the base to spend with them. No longer were weekends spent working, but at Sam and Vala’s. He’d be the one to stay at home with Sorcia, while Sam and Vala went shopping, or he’d be the one to sit in the living room, Sorcia in his lap reading to her, while Sam and Vala cleaned. He was the father that Sorcia never knew. Granted he was slightly disappointed that Craig couldn’t have been in her life, but he chose not to be there for everything that was Sorcia; the nights where Vala would call in tears because Sorcia was sick, and she just couldn’t do it without help; the nights where the only thing that kept her dreams at bay were by talking on the phone.
“You want to go home to Sorcia?” Daniel asked as he got in car after letting Vala in.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not at all,” Daniel smiled. “She’s your daughter.”
“Daniel,” Vala said moving, so that she faced the man. Daniel looked at Vala, before he dropped his hands from the wheel. His hand moved so that it took hers, and Vala opened her mouth to talk. “I… I really enjoyed myself, I love my time with you. Just you.”
Daniel smiled at Vala’s words, leaned, closer, his other hand touching her cheek, rubbing it with his thumb, before he leaned in and captured her lips with his own. The kiss was soft, sweet, and full of emotion. Her lips were soft, and tasted of her pink grapefruit lip-gloss; his of coffee and mint.
Pulling back, Vala blinked her eyes open and looked at Daniel, a small blush rising over her cheeks. “Lets go tuck Sorcia into bed.”
“You got it,” Daniel smiled turning his body back to the wheel.
Arriving back at the house, Vala and Daniel walked hand-in-hand inside, the TV was on and Sam was curled on the couch, her tea in hand as she watched her TVIO from the week before.
“You’re back,” Sam said looking up at the two before glancing at the clock. “Early,” she continued as the quiet background noise of Sorcia is hysterics continued. “She’s been crying since I put her down.”
“Do you think that those teeth are coming in?” Daniel asked putting his coat over one of the chairs.
“Could be, I’ll check,” Vala said dropping her purse and walking down the hall, to where the wails became louder and louder. Opening the door to the nursery, Vala stepped in, Sorcia was on her knees, face down in her mattress, crying wildly. The light made her look up, the bright blue eyes that was Sorcia, looked up at her mother, they were red from tears and she continued to wail. “Come here sweetheart,” she said soothingly picking up the seven month old. “What’s the matter?”
“So, did you have fun?” Sam asked pausing her TV and looking at her best friend, and crossing her legs under her body.
“Yeah,” Daniel laughed softly.
“You spent the entire time talking about Sorcia?” Sam asked, a smile playing on her lips as Daniel nodded his head. “You want the family don’t you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Well, only to me. Daniel, if you want it, go for it,” she smiled grabbing the monitor back from the table, and turning up the volume. Oh baby, those gums must hurt. How about we go see Daniel, he can make it better. Daniel can make everything better. “See?”
“Yeah, I’m gonna go help her.”
“Yep, I’m gonna watch Grey’s, Sheppard is really hot,” she grinned as Daniel chuckled and tossed a pillow at her.
* * * *
“She’s getting so big,” Craig smiled as he held his seven-month-old girl in his arms. Sorcia looked at her mother from the arms of her father, her brow frowned slightly as she played with the pacifier in her mouth.
“That she is,” Daniel said from Vala’s side, his arm curled around her waist. Waving at Sorcia, he watched the little girl smiled wildly, soother still firmly placed in her mouth.
“I’ll have her back by nap time,” Craig said rubbing her back. “That’s like, two?”
“Around there,” Vala smiled holding Sorcia’s hand. “Have fun. Call if you need anything.”
“I will. Bye Val, Doctor,” Craig said before he turned his heal and walked out of the house.
Vala looked at Daniel, as he pulled her into his embrace. Her arms encircled his body as she leaned her head onto his chest. Daniel breathed in Vala before spoke. “She’ll be okay.”
“She’s my baby,” Vala said into his chest. “You smell good.”
“Same here,” Daniel said softly running his hand up and down her back. “Come on, we should get going on that translation.”
“I suppose so,” Vala mumbled pulling away, keeping her fingers linked with Daniel’s. “How about we clean the house? Much more fun that some translation.”
“Cleaning without having Sorcia to make a mess? Think it’s a better idea, plus then you’ll wear that cute little t-shirt,” Daniel grinned as Vala swatted him in the chest, pulling her back to his body, he leaned down and quickly stole a kiss. Smiling up at Daniel, Vala gave him one last squeeze before she slipped out of his arms and walked into the house.
The afternoon of cleaning didn’t last long, when the sound of Sorcia wailing was heard. Vala frowned her eyebrows, dropping her swiffer duster and walking to the front door. “Craig? What’s the matter?”
“She started to cry on my way back,” Craig said as Vala took the little girl into her arms. “She hasn’t stopped since the door closed…”
“Hush,” Vala said softly as she felt Daniel come around, and place a hand on her daughter’s back. “Can you take her inside?”
“Of course,” Daniel said reaching for the crying baby. “Come here monkey,” he said softly, as Sorcia stopped crying for a moment, her breath ragged from tears. Daniel’s voice quieted down as the two made their way into the house, and Vala looked at him.
“It’s been two hours,” she said, “its not even
“I’m sorry, I just,” Craig said shrugging. “Listen, I got a call, I have to head back to the base…we’re heading back soon…”
“Oh,” Vala said looking at him, her arms folding over her chest. “Well…next time.”
“Yeah,” Craig said. “Tell her I love her.”
“I will,” Vala said as the sounds of Sorcia’s wails quieted. “I have to check on her.”
“Okay,” Craig said before turning his heal.
Vala sighed, dropping her head and walking into the house, closing the door. “In seven months, he’s seen her twice. Twice. Daniel, and now he’s going back to Atlantis.”
“Vala,” Daniel said softly putting a cloth into Sorcia’s mouth for her to chew on.
“Daniel, how fair is it to her? I vowed, I vowed that she’d see her father, not like I did. Not once every two months, when he’d come home from his little excursions. This time it’s not even that! It’s worse. It’s turning into my life all over again Daniel. Being raised by my mother and my nurse. Never seeing Jacek, collecting those little trinkets he’d bring me back… I can’t let her live like that Daniel… I loved my father, foolishly, like she’s going to love hers. If she ever sees him.”
“Vala,” Daniel repeated walking over to the woman, who was near in tears at the thought. “Listen to me please.”
“Daniel, its not fair to her…”
“Would you just shut up for a moment,” Daniel laughed touching her face with his spare hand, holding onto Sorcia. Looking at Daniel, Vala closed her mouth at the sight of him. Sorcia in one arm, her holding a frozen cloth in her mouth, gnawing on it, he looked good with her… “She’ll always have me.”
“Daniel,” Vala whispered, with a smile. “I…”
Daniel just smiled back, pulling her into a hug, her arm wrapping around him and Sorcia. Everything just felt complete at this moment in time. It felt like a family… her family.
* * * *
“Are you going to read it?” Vala asked one night, her naked body, wrapped in a sheet, legs over Daniel’s lap as he stared at the envelope. He had gotten it a several weeks ago now, and hadn’t opened it. Hadn’t felt it was right, however he kept it with him constantly, always in his pants pocket.
“Yeah…” he said opening the envelope. Vala smiled softly and leaned over and kissed his cheek, still smelling sweet from her perfume. His arm curled around her body, pulling her closer.
One date two weeks ago, led to the two being closer than either would have imagined. Rarely nights were spent away from each other, Daniel’s presence was there more often than not, he was the first to rise every morning, and Sam teased more than once, that the smell of his specialty coffee was the only reason why she loved him.
Along the letters in Jack’s box, was a letter to Sorcia, where everyone had decided to have her open it when she was older. Everyone else had open their letters, which left Daniel being the only one left.
Not nearly as long as Teal’c’s, nor Cameron’s, longer than Sam’s, but immensely Jack O’Neill. The last line was what struck him.
Its time to let her
love you Daniel, and for you to love her back. To quote my favourite writer;
The prize of all too precious you.
J
Daniel read the last line out loud and looked at Vala. “I already do.”
“Me too,” Vala smiled leaning over giving Daniel a sweet kiss. Daniel returned the kiss softly, breaking apart when Sorcia started to scream. “Its those gums.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Daniel said breaking away, pulling on a pair of boxers and walking out of the bedroom.
He’d found it, everything he was ever looking for, he found it.
* * * *
“What did you find?” Daniel asked as SG-1, now mostly disband, walked down the corridors of the SGC. Vala was on part-time duty, Sam while General Landry was on medical leave, was in charge of the base, which left Daniel who when not going off world spent his time trying to decipher the Asgard date base still. The team would still go on missions, but it was fewer and fewer as life progressed.
“There was an obvious settlement, looks a lot like a pre-Atlantis place,” Cameron explained, moving at a slower pace than usual.
“What did you think Sam?”
“Defiantly something of interest,” Sam added, looking up from the folder she was reading. “It doesn’t look like any ancient that I know…”
“Let me see?” Daniel said taking a picture Sam handed him. “Huh… it looks like some Goa’uld and Ancient, I can’t be sure just yet.”
“I’ve seen this,” Vala said looking at the picture Daniel held. “Quetesh… her and Athena… During the little time they weren’t at war with one another, there was this planet, where Athena decided to take over, and form a mining settlement. She decided to mix what little she knew of the Gate builders language with Goa’uld to confuse those who came to uncover her ‘settlement’.”
“Really?” Daniel asked turning his head to look at her.
“Yes,” Vala smiled. “I’ll find a babysitter, and I’ll go with you off world.”
“You sure?” Sam asked, looking at Vala, shock playing in her eyes.
“I’m sure I can leave her with Sergeant Harriman and his family,” Vala explained. Since the first day of coming back to work, Vala decided that she didn’t trust the NORAD’s daycare, or any daycare around the base. Which left only one option, she asked around and two days later, Walter Harriman came back, saying that his wife would gladly take care of her on the three or four days a week she was on base. Kerry Harriman was great with Sorcia, and she loved the time with her.
“Vala, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Daniel said looking at her. “I mean…”
“Daniel,” Vala stated looking at him, her hand reaching up to touch his cheek. “I know you’re worried, but she’ll be okay.”
“What about you?” Daniel whispered. “We’re SG-1, something is bound to go wrong, what if something happens to you?” His hand reached her cheek to stroke it slightly. The rest of SG-1, turned their bodies so that the two would have some privacy. Sam continued to ‘read’ the folder in her hands, as Cameron and Teal’c started to play ‘Rock Paper Scissors’.
“Then its up to you to take the baby,” she whispered, grey eyes speaking more than words. Daniel smiled, softly and leaned down capturing her lips. Vala responded quickly, before ending it. “I love you,” she whispered, barely audible.
“Same.”
“I win!” Cameron chimed as the couple turned their bodies so that they looked at the rest of their team. “I won. So it’s settled then? We all going off world?
“Yep,” Vala smiled brightly.
* * * *
“It feels weird doesn’t it?” Vala asked as she and Daniel sat on the ground of the ruins.
“What?”
“Being off-world,” she clarified. “Cameron was so excited to get us back together.”
Daniel looked up from his notebook and turned to look at her. “Its safer for Mitchell to stay at home.”
“Oh I know, but it would have been nice to have us all together again,” Vala sighed, hitting the back of her notebook.
“This isn’t too bad is it?”
“Of course not Darling,” Vala smiled lovingly. “I’m going to go see what we have for food. Did you want anything?”
“No, I’m fine for now,” Daniel said with a smile before he turned back to the ruin he was studying. Vala stood up and ruffled his hair before skipping off to camp.
Vala walked over to her friend, who was lying on her back, staring up at the sky, her P-90 resting on her chest. “Hi.”
“Oh hey,” Sam smiled turning her head.
“Are you still not feeling well?” Vala asked sitting down next to Sam.
“I’ll be okay, I think its just stress, running the base is hard work,” she explained looking at her friend. “I got your back, well, Teal’c does at the moment. How are you and Daniel coming along?”
“Slower than usual,” Vala sighed. “Once we get through one translation and make headway, there is another puzzle.”
“Athena really didn’t want people to find out her plans?”
“It doesn’t seem like Athena,” Vala replied opening her pack. “Hungry?”
“No, just the thought of a MRI right now is nauseating,” Sam replied shaking her head.
“Well, lucky for you, I pack for such emergencies,” Vala grinned pulling out a few chocolate bars. “Twix.”
“Have I mentioned I love you?” Sam replied with a grin taking the chocolate bar from her friend.
“I’m going to go check with Daniel,” Vala said standing up giving her friend a wink. “Oh and when the base checks in, check how my baby is doing?”
“Of course,” Sam smiled taking a bite of the chocolate treat.
*
* * *
“So I was thinking,” Daniel mumbled looking down at Vala who was lying in his arms, his fingers rubbing the skin on her arm. The two were on watch for another hour, and had gone from sitting beside each other by the fire, to her sitting between his legs, his arms around her body.
“About what?” Vala asked softly, enjoying the quiet time she was spending with him. It wasn’t often they were alone, and the time they were, was treasured.
“Why don’t you and Sorcia move in with me?” Daniel asked softly, into Vala’s ear. The woman in his arms tensed slightly then turned towards Daniel, her body twisting.
“Daniel?”
“If you want to…I mean…” Daniel stumbled. “Its sudden…but…I think…you know, we good…together…as a pair…couple I mean…”
“Daniel,” Vala said again putting her finger to his lips. “Hush darling.” Daniel closed his mouth and looked at Vala. “We’d love to.”
“Really?” Daniel asked, his eyes opening and staring at the woman who he was holding.
“Yes really,” Vala smiled as Daniel laughed hugging her tighter to him.
PART 11: Into This World
Life was not all rainbows, lollipops and fully white clouds. Far from it to say the least; especially for the members of SG-1.
Christmas came and went. The celebration was not that of large, but instead small, Sam went to Mark’s, Cameron made his way back home, which left Teal’c, Daniel and Vala, and little Sorcia. Daniel was never big on Christmas, within his foster family Christmas was more religious than commercial, Teal’c, although he would never admit it, was frightened of Santa Clause, and Vala, well, she didn’t understand the concept of this random fat man in red giving her presents, and knowing what she wanted, and breaking into her house, and not taking anything. She figured he was a thief that didn’t know what he was doing. Sorcia was being too young to understand what Christmas meant, which meant she just liked to sit there playing with the bows and ribbons on the presents she did receive.
Vala and Sorcia spent Christmas as Daniel’s place. He had set up a small Christmas tree and placed the presents for Sorcia under it. It may have been Baby’s First Christmas, but it wasn’t something she would remember. Sure when she got older, Christmas would be more elaborate, than this first year.
It wasn’t until the New Year that the world, as they knew it changed.
Vala and Sorcia moving in with Daniel was done in the long weekend, which mostly meant moving Daniel’s boxes and books to a storage space, which took a lot longer than moving the two girls in. Why they waited until winter was something no one comprehended, but it was SG-1, and they were anything but ordinary. It was becoming more and more evident that the family Daniel never had, was finally coming together, and he was happier and happier-though he wouldn’t admit it most of the time.
The discovery that came next shocked the team.
She had an idea of what was wrong with her, it wasn’t exactly a problem, except that it was, and the problem was big. But in the long run, it wasn’t a problem, and that was problem.
“Sam, are you okay?” Daniel asked as SG-1 sat in the park by Sam’s place. Sorcia was playing on the swings, with Teal’c, only a step away from them. Spending team-nights, turned ‘Play-Dates’ were weekly for the team, Teal’c would usually be the one to monopolize Sorcia, insisting that he was the only one capable to protect her from the harm of mere insects.
“Kind of…not really, um, its difficult to explain really,” Sam sighed as Vala turned her attention to her friend rather than her daughter whom was now squealing with joy.
“Samantha?”
“Its just,” Sam sighed running her fingers through her blonde hair. “I’m pregnant, and…”
“What?” Daniel and Cameron said simultaneously, both mouths
agape. They were shocked to say the least, it was the last thing they expected
Sam to say. Daniel was more shocked than everyone else, he had known Sam since
“Really, that’s wonderful!” Vala grinned brightly, but with a small-confused face Sam still held, she added. “Or not?”
“It is,” Sam quickly replied. “Its just…I don’t know what to do.” Her fingers laced with Daniel’s for support as she held onto his hand, her vision going back to Sorcia who was squealing with delight with Teal’c. Teal’c knew, he knew everything. There was something about Teal’c that was still a mystery to everyone. She knew that on the Odyssey this pregnancy wouldn’t have happened, but they were on Earth, and she was, and having the baby was the only option.
“We’re always here,” Cameron said, speaking up, looking at her.
“I know,” Sam smiled as she looked toward Teal’c and Sorcia. “I’m having a baby.”
* * * *
“Do you ever plan on coming to bed?” Vala asked standing in the doorway of the livingroom, where Daniel was sitting, books spread around him and his nose in a book.
“Yeah, in a bit, just let me finish this,” Daniel mumbled.
“Daniel, you said that three hours ago,” Vala said looking at him. “Which before that, you said a few more minutes when I put Sorcia to bed at seven.”
“I’m almost finished,” Daniel sighed. “I just need to get this done in peace.”
“Fine,” Vala said rolling her eyes and walking away, leaving Daniel feeling slightly cold. “Do what you wish, but don’t come to bed.”
“Fine,” Daniel growled, as he rolled his eyes and focused back on his work. Vala groaned and closed the door, being careful not to slam it, Sorcia, like her father, wasn’t a sound sleeper to say the least. She had started to sleep through the night, sucking on her pacifier or a frozen cloth.
Vala just couldn’t understand him sometimes. Sure, he was a wonderful, loving man. But he got very into his work, and when he did, there was nothing anyone could do. Vala hoped that she could, but he was Daniel and Daniel was a work-a-holic. She did hope that Daniel would put down his work to be with Sorcia, and most times he would, if she cried, he’d be the one to grab her first, or he’d be the one to put her on his knee, bounce her and talk to her, getting her to ‘help’ with whatever he was doing.
The sound of Sorcia’s wails jolted Daniel out of his work. He knew Vala was mad, granted she had the right, but instead of letting her get the child, Daniel put down his book and pen, and stood up, getting a quick stretch as her wails started to get louder. His socked feet walked down the hard wood of the hallway to his former office, which was now Sorcia’s room, he opened the door, the light from her nightlight and the lights from outside her window lit the room enough for Daniel to see the child laying in her crib. The tears streaming down her cheeks, and her fingers in her mouth, biting down.
“Hey Monkey,” Daniel whispered reaching down and picking up the little girl. “Those gums really hurt, I bet you I can make it better.” He said softly, walking out of the room and towards the living room.
“Dada,” Sorcia whined softly as Daniel rubbed her back gently. Sorcia’s first word was Dada, said quite excitedly looking at Daniel. From that moment on, Dada was applied to Daniel, and no one else. He was quite pleased by it, felt loved, completely loved, needed and wanted, for the first time in his entire life, someone, a little someone, was depending on him, and he couldn’t help but smile every time Sorcia called him Dada.
“I’m here,” Daniel whispered adjusting her with his arm. “Okay, we need the ora-gel, it’ll help.”
“Dada,” the ten-month-old repeated leaning her head onto Daniel’s shoulder, putting his t-shirt into her mouth.
“You can stay with me until you fall back asleep okay Monkey?” he asked grabbing the little tube that was sitting beside his cold coffee mug. Sitting down on his recliner, Daniel placed Sorcia in the curve of his arm so that she was comfortable, pulling a blanket of the two. After the gel was applied, Daniel used one hand to hold Sorcia, and the other to rub her belly. She was like her mother that way, needed her belly rubbed to comfort her.
It wasn’t long that the two had fallen asleep, Daniel’s shirt still in the baby’s mouth, him cradling her body.
By seven-am, Vala blinked open her eyes and looked around. Daniel still wasn’t here, and no sign he’d even made it to the bedroom. A bubble of rage built up in her stomach, as she kicked the comforter off her body and crawled out of bed. Angry, Vala walked out of the bedroom, fully intent on waking Daniel up, who was most likely asleep in his work, but what she saw when she entered the living room, made all the anger flow away.
Daniel, head cocked to the side, was fast asleep, as Sorcia, fully awake and ready for the day, as she poked Daniel’s face, repeating ‘Dada’ over and over again.
“Sorcia,” Vala smiled as the little girl turned her head, recognize her name. “Come here darling, lets leave Daniel alone to sleep.”
“Dada,” Sorcia said as Vala picked her up. “Mamamama,” she chorused.
“We’re going to let Daniel sleep,” Vala explained settling the child on her hip. “And we’re going to get you changed. Then Mommy will make you some breakfast.”
Sorcia just stuck her fingers in her mouth and looked back at where Daniel was sleeping. Vala smiled and kissed Sorcia’s head as the two headed towards the bedroom.
Daniel opened his eyes slightly and stared around the room. Sorcia missing from his arms, made him jolt awake until he heard the little girl giggle down the hall. Relaxing a moment, Daniel rubbed his eyes and looked around the room, still covered in his notes. Groaning, he started to clean up the papers, making sure to keep them in order so that he could finish later. He knew Vala was mad, probably still was, but when he got into his work, it was hard for him to stop. Which meant that this was not the last time Vala would be mad at him.
The sounds of the two walking down the hall. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Vala said as Sorcia squealed.
“Dada!”
“Good morning Monkey,” Daniel’s smiled reaching over for the child who practically jumped into his arms. “I’m sorry for last night.”
“It’s okay,” Vala sighed as the two walked into the kitchen. “I guess I understand.”
“I can’t promise I wont do it again, but I’ll try not to,” he said putting Sorcia into the high chair. “Do you just want to do cereal?”
“That’s fine,” Vala said sitting down, letting Daniel do all
the work. They had fallen into the rhythm quite early in the relationship, and
even more so the day they moved in together. “So I was thinking, we could drive
into
“Sorcia would love that,” Vala smiled. Ever since she came home from the Mitchell farm, the little girl was more attached to the animals that before. She liked to blame that on Cameron. Everything was hers, it’d be “my aldergater”, “mine”, and the such. The first time she saw a monkey, she screamed “me” at the top of her lungs, and tried to jump into the cage.
“We can catch a lunch in the city, and then come back here for nap time,” Daniel said placing the box of Cheerios on the table, along with the milk.
“Okay,” Vala nodded as Sorcia reached for the small bowl of Cheerios that was heading her way.
“Vala,” Daniel said softly sitting next to her. “I am sorry. I love you…”
“I know Daniel,” Vala said touching his arm. The softness in his blue eyes locked with Vala’s greys, before he leaned over and kissed her as Sorcia squealed in delight. The two pulled apart before looking at the little girl.
“What?” Daniel asked reaching over and tickling Sorcia. “What is it?” Sorcia’s response was to shove some cheerios into her mouth, missing half of them as they fell to her highchair table. Daniel’s laugh rang through their ears as Sorcia grinned brightly.
* * * *
Another promotion ceremony was a surprise to everyone. The morning of it was a hay-day. Vala was trying to get dressed, while making sure Sorcia would stay out of making a mess, and Daniel was in attempts to get his suit on.
“This is just not working,” Vala grumbled staring at Daniel, Sorcia on her hip, her dress undone and hair half curled. Looking like the mother she was, frazzled, tired, and with her baby plastered to her hip.
“I’ll take her, you finish getting ready,” Daniel said taking the baby from her. “We’re going to be late.”
“I know,” Vala sighed. “Thank you darling.”
“No problem, get ready,” Daniel said walking out of the room, carrying Sorcia and carrying on a conversation with her.
Within thirty minutes, the three were out of the apartment, Vala putting Sorcia’s winter hat on her head as they tried to make it on time. From experience, Daniel knew that Air Force Ceremony’s never started on time, which meant that them being on time, was actually, early.
“
“Looking pretty sharp yourself,” Vala smiled as Sorcia started to pull at her toque. “Okay, we’ll go sit down and Daniel will take that winter hat off.”
“Hi Princess,” Cameron smiled shaking Sorcia’s hand, her eyes bright and wild.
“NO!” she screamed, clapping her hands together in excitement.
“No? You don’t like Uncle Cam?”
“No,” Sorcia smiled leaning towards him. Cameron leaned down and let the child place a sloppy kiss to his cheek.
“That’s lovely! Wasn’t it Princess?”
“Noo,” Sorcia repeated. Cameron chuckled and kissed her nose.
“Learn a new word Princess,” Cameron grinned, he loved the child, though her referring to him as ‘No’ and having that as her answer to whatever he said could get a little repetitive.
“Where’s Teal’c?” Daniel questioned as Cameron pointed
to the tall man sitting with
The three made their way to the two sitting in the front
row. “Oh hi,”
“Thanks,” Vala smiled sitting next to the woman, Daniel beside her, Sorcia on his lap. “Okay little miss, lets get that hat off.” Sorcia gave a large grin when the hat was pulled off, and her hands went straight to her head, reveling in the hat being off.
“SorciaMalDoran,” Teal’c said as Sorcia looked at him, her blue eye brightly shining. Her little arms reached out for Teal’c as Daniel passed her over. “How are you today?” The little girl squealed, two teeth and all. “That is well.”
Vala chuckled as Daniel placed Sorcia’s jacket and toque on the diaper bag at his feet. She leaned down to his level and placed a small quick kiss on his cheek. Daniel turned to look at Vala as the two sat up, his hand slipped over hers, lacing his fingers with hers.
By time the ceremony started, Sorcia was sitting quietly on Teal’c’s lap, her rubber duck, which no longer squeaked, stuck in her mouth. The sea of blue behind them, watched the string of promotions. Twenty minutes into the ceremony, Sorcia got fussy. Vala reached over and took her child, bouncing her on her knee, trying to calm her down.
“Sssh,” Vala whispered into Sorcia’s ear, trying to get Sorcia to stop fussing.
“Want me to take her?” Daniel whispered into Vala’s ear as she nodded her head, Daniel reached for the child and bent his knees and headed out the room.
Making into the atrium before Sorcia started to cry, Daniel was thankful. “Ssssh, what’s the matter Monkey?” Daniel said bouncing the child in his arms.
“Dada,” she whimpered looking at Daniel with her bright blue eyes.
“Dada is here,” Daniel whispered walking her up and down the hallway. “Why are you crying? Hmm? Were you bored? I bet you your Mommy is bored, you have the same attention span,” he joked pressing his lips to her forehead.
A while later, the doors to the theatre opened and people started to file out in groups; Daniel moved to the side of the lobby, holding Sorcia, who had her head resting in the curve of his neck.
“Daniel,” Vala said walking over to the two, the diaper bag over her shoulder. “Is she okay? You didn’t come back.”
“As soon as I got her settled down the doors opened,” Daniel replied giving a sorry smile. “How was it?”
“Oh you know,” Vala smiled giving him a kiss. “Cameron is still a Colonel, Sam is a General, normal things.” She teased as Cameron and the newly starred General Samantha Carter emerged. Maybe at times life was rainbows and butterflies. At least for now.
* * * *
“So, tell me again why we’re doing this?” Daniel asked as the small ‘family’ made their way through the mall towards one of the spas.
“Because Daniel,” Vala said as she pushed Sorcia’s stroller. “She needs to feel pretty.”
“She’s not even one yet,” Daniel tried to protest as Vala just waved her hand. He was learning to never fight over what Vala said when it came to Sorcia. Neither of them really knew what it took to raise a child, but she was more adept at it than he was. He deemed it Mother’s Intuition. “Okay, what about allergies? My foster sister was allergic to metals.”
“That is why you’re paying for the pure ones Daniel,” Vala grinned as the two entered the spa, Sorcia in her stroller, sitting quietly, eating her bag of Shreddies. It wasn’t often that Sorcia was quiet, it was very rare, she could meltdown any moment, and both knew it. And Sorcia’s scream could alert China of Nuclear War.
“How did I know,” Daniel said shaking his head. “Hi, appointment for Mal Doran, Sorcia.”
“Little girl’s first piercing?” the young woman asked as Daniel nodded. He still didn’t understand why she needed her ears pierced, but ‘mother knows best’. “Well that’s exciting. I’m Lauren, and you must be Sorcia.”
“Yeah!” Sorcia smiled brightly holding out the bag of Shreddies.
The event itself was filled with her screams, and Daniel trying to soothe her, as the ear gun quickly pierced her ears. The piercing itself only took a minute, but Sorcia, being Sorcia, and a baby, made it longer than it should have been.
“That wasn’t so bad was it Monkey?” Daniel asked, as Sorcia’s tear stained cheeks were drying up. “You look so pretty.”
“You do Darling,” Vala said picking up her daughter from the chair. “I am so proud of you.”
“She did good,” Lauren smiled. “One of the well behaved babies I’ve had. Usually they move their head and it goes in crooked.”
“She’s a trooper,” Daniel grinned kissing her head. “Just standard cleaning?”
“Yup, three times a day, morning, afternoon and bedtime. If she keeps touching them, clean them more, and if they turn red or around the earring turns a different color, then take them out and put sleepers in. It’d most likely occur from lack of air around the piercing. That’s completely normal.”
“Okay,” Daniel nodded, as he glanced at Vala putting Sorcia back into her stroller, talking quietly to her, as he watched the pout turn into her bright smile. When he first met Vala, he’d never imagined she’d be a mother, let alone one that was so good at what she did. She was natural, and everything she did was to make Sorcia’s life that much better. Sorcia was her baby, a baby she could call her own, give everything that she never had.
*
* * *
It was still weird. She was briefing SG teams, okay, it wasn’t that weird, she’d done it before, but she’d never briefed SG-1, because, she was SG-1. The longest living member of SG-1, Daniel came second. Teal’c third. Her life, for over a decade was with SG-1, even after she came back from Atlantis, it was like she’d never left.
“So, you wanna go here ‘cause?” Cameron asked looking at Daniel, who stood at the front of the room, as he rambled on about something that was found on P3X-something 5 something.
Sam’s focus, albeit in attempts, on Daniel, her hand covered her mouth before she bolted out of her chair. SG-1 watched Sam, before they looked at each other, trying to figure out if one of them should go check on her. For the first, oh….ten briefings when Sam bolted out to empty her stomach from the past several hundred years, they would take turns to see how she was. Now it was getting just part of the briefing.
“So,” Cameron said turning his chair to face Vala. “How’s my Sorcia, I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”
“As same as yesterday,” Vala said, her body leaning back in the chair.
“How’s the little ears?”
“Same as yesterday,” Vala replied.
“So,” Cameron said as everyone else nodded and tried to think of what to talk about while their commander spent time with the toilet. “Maybe we should start having briefings in the bathroom.”
CHAPTER 11: Part 2
“You look horrible,” Cameron said looking at Sam, who was sitting behind her desk and staring at a folder in front of her.
“Thanks,” Sam said leaning back in her chair. “What can I do for you Colonel?”
“Well, General,” Cameron started sitting down. “Just wondering how you’re doing?”
“I’m okay,” Sam smiled. “Busy running the base is all. The Atlantis members should be here this afternoon, so I’m going to be debriefing them.”
“McKay coming?”
“Yeah,” Sam sighed closing her eyes, hands going to her pregnant stomach, which was now showing that she was pregnant, and didn’t just gain weight, or was bloated.
“You can’t hide it from him forever, he’s not the brightest man, but he aint stupid either,” Cameron offered.
“How did you know it was him?” Sam asked looking at her Second-in-Command and friend.
“Sam, I know you, have for a while dontcha know,” Cameron started looking that the woman. “I know things. That and you specially requested that he join the debrief team. So I put two and two together and arrived at baby.”
“It was a one night thing,” Sam sighed. “After Jack’s wake…it wasn’t planned. I think he needs to know…”
“That in four months he’s gonna be a daddy? I think that’s pretty important.”
“I know. Hey is it all right if I bring him to dinner tonight, if…”
“Of course, I’m sure Beth will love to see him, and I’m pretty sure that BabyDaddy is coming, you know, it being Sorcia’s birthday and all that.”
“Okay, I better get back to this before the expedition arrives,” Sam said pointing to the file. “I’ll see you later, oh and don’t let Sorcia at the presents!”
“I can’t guarantee anything,” Cameron winked before heading out of her office.
Like and unlike its past commanding officers, the office was decorated to suit the personality of the occupant. Her degrees displayed along the walls, pictures of her team and her father scattered. A few planes and molecules, a few other pictures which previously scattered her lab.
On her desk was the last picture of all of SG-1; Jack, Daniel, Teal’c, herself, Cameron, Vala and at the time, the newest member, Sorcia. They were all squeezed together into frame. She was squeezed between Teal’c and Jack, with Vala and Sorcia on the bed, and Daniel and Cameron on the other side of the bed. It was her favourite picture. They had gotten the pediatric nurse to take the picture, and in such a small room, they were squished together, but happy. Beside that, a picture of her father, brother Mark and her, the last time they were all together before he died. Behind her, the picture of her mother, it had gone from every locker, to lab, to office with her since the day she died. This was no different. She knew, that soon, she’d place the baby’s picture beside her phones, her desktop on her laptop, her entire life. She knew that no matter what, that her SG-1, her SG-1, would be there, that Mark would be there to take care of her. It was a baby, no big deal right…
“Scheduled Incoming Wormhole,” rang through Sam’s ears. She jolted out of her thoughts and looked at the clock on her wall. Atlantis.
Getting out of her chair, Sam walked down the stairs as the IDC came through. “Atlantis?”
“Yes ma’am,” Chief Sergeant Harriman replied.
“Open the iris,” she said. “Send them up to the briefing room after they get checked out by Dr. Lam.”
“Yes ma’am,” Walter said. “Oh ma’am, Kerry and I will be at dinner tonight. Around six?”
“Yep,” Sam said touching his shoulder.
* * * *
“Daniel,” Vala said walking into his office, Sorcia on her hip, playing with her stuffed giraffe that came into her possession not to long ago. Once she had found it on the bookshelf in her room, it hadn’t left her arms without protest.
“Yup, give me a minute,” Daniel mumbled as he organized his notes and books. Hitting the Shut down button on his computer, Daniel turned around and looked at his family. Vala was holding Sorcia, both heads turned to each other, as Vala spoke soft words to the child. Sorcia’s face was lit up with delight, as she spoke back. He smiled at the two placing a few books and his laptop into his laptop case. “Okay, I’m ready.”
“Perfect,” Vala smiled kissing Sorcia’s head.
“And how was your morning with Kerry?” Daniel asked leaning in and giving Sorcia’s head a kiss.
“Yes,” she said clearly, before holding out her hand to Daniel. Daniel chuckled and took the baby into his arms, as the three moved out of his office.
“I didn’t see you today,” Daniel said looking at Vala.
“I was helping Paul organize Dr. Cousineau’s files,” she explained.
“Oh, right, Lauren’s coming back today,” Daniel said putting Sorcia on the ground to walk. Her feet hit the ground, and the lights on her shoes lit up. “One foot, two foot,” he said to Sorcia as she walked still unsure. “Come on Birthday Girl, lets get ready for your party.” The three walked slowly through the halls before Daniel stopped. “I have to run to talk to Sam. Meet me uptop?”
“Of course,” Vala smiled leaning over and giving Daniel’s a kiss.
* * * *
The debriefing went swimmingly as the few expedition members who came gathered around the table, Sam at the head, the table conveniently covering her stomach.
She knew she had to tell Rodney and that played on her mind throughout the entire briefing. She hadn’t figured out how she was going to tell him, she figured she might just stand up. He was a smart man she’d hope he get it.
“We finished?” Rodney asked looking up from his folder.
“Yes. Rodney, could you stay a moment?” Sam asked as the man nodded his head. Almost too quickly the rest of the small team that came disappeared from the room. Taking a breath, Sam stood up pushing her chair back. “Rodney.”
“You’re…” he said looking at the roundness of her belly.
“Yes,” Sam nodded.
“Well, congratulations,” he said gesturing awkwardly towards her.
“Rodney,” Sam said taking a breath and walking over to him. “I’m five months pregnant.”
“Okay,” the man said, his face scrunching in confusion. “Well…congratulations.”
“Rodney,” she repeated for the third time, resting her tired body against the chair. “Listen I’m pregnant.”
“Yes, I see, apparently suffering from an affliction, makes them state the blindingly obvious,” Rodney said sarcastically. “Repeatedly.”
“Rodney, its yours.”
“What?” a dumbfounded look broke over Rodney’s face, as his brain stopped working, and he stared at Sam, his eyes shifting nervously from her face to the roundness of her stomach.
“I just thought I should tell you, I mean, the baby is going to need a father, and I want a better father than what Dr. Martin is to Sorcia, and, just understand that I don’t expect you to do anything…except you know….understand that this child is yours, and hopefully be its father, because I’d hate for him, or her to not have you in their life, and I know we’re just friends, and I know we should always stay that way, because we’d never work, and…”
“Sam, shut up,” Rodney said snapping his fingers in a very McKay way. “Just…you’re saying…that one incident, made…” Waving his hands awkwardly he pointed to her stomach. Sam nodded in response and watched as Rodney’s brain tried to comprehend the situation. “Okay…so what are we going to do?”
“Its like the season of Friends, when Rachel was having Ross’ baby, and he was dating someone else,” Sam explained. “Sorry, Vala really loves the show.”
Rodney stayed quite for a moment, looking at Sam. “So uh…five months along?”
“About that,” Sam nodded. “Listen, we’re having Sorcia’s birthday party tonight at my place, you’re welcome to come…I’d like it if you came.”
“Yeah, sure,” Rodney said sitting back down in a chair, his eyes focused on the roundness of Sam’s stomach. “You know, I’m going to make a horrible father.”
“I’m going to make a horrible mother,” Sam offered sitting down.
“We’re going to make horrible parents, we shouldn’t have children,” he repeated. “Do you know the sex?”
“No, Teal’c knows, he refuses to tell me though,” Sam explained. “I said I didn’t want to know, but Teal’c was with me when I got my ultrasound and he wanted to know, so the doctor told him, but now he wont tell me.”
“Oh,” he said. “So…when are you due?”
“July 19th.”
“Oh.”
“You’re welcome to come…”
“Well, we’ll see,” Rodney said. “What time did you say the birthday party was?”
“Um, around six. I’m going to head home a little early…”
“Okay, uh… Listen, I’m going to go…I’ll be back around four.”
“Okay,” Sam said as Rodney stood up. “Bye.”
“Yeah,” he said waving his fingers and walking off. Sam watched Rodney leave, as her mind started to race. Did she do the right thing? She was really just his friend; it was all they ever could be. He knew it. He was the one that said it.
Now she was having his baby, by complete accident, it was a night; she wasn’t going to regret it, because it was not something she should regret. The child may be a mistake, but she wasn’t going to let that interfere with her life. She was going to be a mother, plain and simple. She was going to have to take care of this child, and she knew, even if Rodney didn’t yet, that he would be there. Because, it was Rodney and the child did have his genes.
She would never ask Rodney to give up his life for her baby. His baby. Their baby. He seemed happy, for the first time she knew him, he seemed happy. Not happy like hw was when he was with Katie Brown, he was happier. For some odd reason he was happy, she didn’t know why, but she didn’t want to take that away from him.
“Sam,” Daniel called waving his hand in front of his friends face.
“Oh, hi,” Sam smiled.
“We’re going to pick up a few things from the store…are you all right?” Daniel asked, looking at her, concern worried on his face.
“I just told the baby’s father,” Sam sighed. “But um, I have work to do now. When you get to my place, just um, the cake is in the freezer, I’m sure Cameron is taking care of the food.”
“That’s the plan,” Daniel agreed. “You going to be okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Sam said with a forced smile. “You go get ready, she’s probably bursting with excitement.”
“She’s only a year old, so,” Daniel smiled. “I’ll see you in a few hours. Call when you’re leaving the base.”
“I will, Bye,” Sam pushing Daniel out of the briefing room.
* * * *
“Let me get this straight,” Rodney said emerging in Sam’s doorway. “You’re pregnant.”
“Yes, not mistaking it now,” Sam replied as Rodney kicked the door closed lightly.
“You know, us being parents, not the best thing,” he said looking at her.
“I know, but it happened Rodney, and the child has your genes, whether you want to believe it or not.”
“Well obviously.”
“Rodney,” Sam said softly. “Listen, if you don’t want to be the father, I wont pressure you…”
“Nono! I already am. Okay, so I’ve been thinking about this, I mean of course I’ve been thinking, this is how we’re going to do it. Well, I need to talk to Jennifer, but she’ll understand, or not…well, maybe. Anyway! We’ll transfer back to the SGC as soon as we can, and that way I can…help… You with the…” a brief gesture to the protruding stomach, Sam understood what he meant.
“Rodney, thank you,” Sam said softly.
“I hate kids,” he said sitting down across from Sam. “If anyone else came to me…but it was you, and you’re you…and that’s my kid…”
“So, Jennifer Keller huh?” Sam teased as she grabbed her bag from the drawer in her desk.
* * * * * *
“You got her all right?” Vala asked as she and Daniel started to pull the groceries from the SUV.
“Yep,” he replied, Sorcia in one arm, bags in the other.
“Okay.” Juggling the bags, Vala produced a key for Sam’s place, and opening the doors without dropping the bags. She was getting quite the juggler and multi-tasker, especially with Sorcia who at most times demanded to be in someone’s arms or she’d throw a fit.
Sorcia wasn’t the perfect baby, she was anything and everything from it. She
was defiantly Vala’s daughter, she constantly wanted attention, constantly since
the moment she started, was talking, and when she wasn’t happy, she was making
sure everyone knew she wasn’t happy and they’d have to live with her. She was
really just like every child, she was anything but perfect, but to Vala and
Daniel, she was perfect.
“Dada,” Sorcia whined wiggling her body trying to get to the floor.
“No, you can go down in a few minutes,” Daniel said walking into the kitchen, putting the bags on the table, before he put Sorcia on the floor. “Stay here.”
Sam already had her house baby proofed from when she was living there, and kept it, which came in handy with her own pregnancy now. Even still, Sorcia was a tricky child, whom had ways of getting into things.
“Daniel, can you help me for a moment?” Vala asked as she started to unpack the bags. Only two were groceries, the rest were the party supplies, as baby’s first birthday meant it was party time. Which meant there were balloons, streamers, bubbles and toy shakers for Sorcia’s amusement.
“Yup, be there in a minute,” Daniel replied scooping Sorcia back up. “Play pen. I know Auntie Sam brought it out,” he said to the girl who was trying to squirm her way out of his arms. Placing her into the pen, Daniel turned his back and headed to the kitchen. Sorcia, standing up in the play pen watched him walk away, her lip started to quiver and tears started to flow.
“Sorcia, no crying, just play.” Sighing she looked at Daniel. “She’s going to be the death of me.”
“Ah, don’t say that,” Daniel said resting his chin on Vala’s shoulder, looking at the child on the verge of hysterics. “What are you looking at Monkey?” Placing a quick kiss onto Vala’s neck, Daniel stepped back and turned towards getting the dry goods they had bought, put in Sam’s cupboards.
“Craig is coming tonight,” Vala said as she pulled out a few snacks- areoroot cookies, crackers, the like-.
“Yeah? Who’s idea was that?”
“I said he should come,” Vala replied. “I figured he needed to be here.”
“I know,” Daniel mumbled as Sorcia’s screams pierced their ears. Whipping around Daniel’s vision focused on Sorcia, who was holding onto the playpen, tears streaming down her face and Vala was with her in a split second.
“What is it?” Vala asked picking her up, wiping her tears away with her thumb.
“Mama,” Sorcia mumbled.
“Oh you’re such a sucker,” Daniel said coming up behind the two. “All you wanted was your Mommy.”
“Hey, you love birds around?” Cameron called opening the door, followed by Craig and Elizabeth.
“Hi,” Vala smiled turning around and looking at them.
“Happy Birthday Princess,” Cameron grinned taking the child away from her mother. “You’re so big!” turning to Craig who was standing rather awkwardly, he looked at him. “Here, say happy birthday to your kid.”
Craig smiled and reached for the child, his eyes tearing away from Daniel and Vala who were standing together, skin touching, his arm curled around her waist, and Craig was jealous. “Hi sweetheart,” he said taking Sorica who looked at him strangely. As soon as she was settled onto his lap, Sorcia’s eyes started to water and the crying started as she leaned towards Daniel.
“Dada,” she whined as Craig frowned his brows.
“I’m right here,” Craig said as Sorcia started to cry louder.
“Give me her,” Daniel said reaching over and taking the screaming child, who as soon as she was out of Craig’s arms settled down her tears. “Sssh, its okay Monkey.”
“Does she always cry?” Craig asked as Vala’s eyes shifted. Almost two years ago, she loved this man, he was someone she could have and love and loved her back. They were happy, for the time, but now, it was hard for Vala to even remember what it was like to have him in her life, and for that matter Sorcia’s.
“Only with strangers,” Vala said, putting on a false smile.
“Hey, why don’t you and Cameron go and finish unpacking the food,” Daniel suggested to Vala who nodded. It was going to be one awkward night to say the least. Sam was due home shortly, and Rodney might be coming, with Teal’c. Being only her first birthday, they had decided that it would be a family affair, maybe next year it’ll be bigger.
“So,”
“Umm, good, I guess. Dr. McKay is a slave driver,” he said
as
“Demanding,”
“Oh really? You’re Dr. Weir then? The Doctor Weir?”
“The one and only,” Daniel said as he got Sorcia settled down, placed her on his feet. She loved standing, and loved walking; she just didn’t have the courage yet to do it on her own.
“She walking yet?” Craig asked looking at Daniel who shrugged.
“Only if someone is holding her hands, she doesn’t have the courage to do it herself yet,” Daniel replied sadly. “She’ll walk soon, wont you Monkey?”
“Dada,” Sorcia smiled, her legs wobbling as he lifted her up and placed her on the floor.
“Come on, you can do it.”
“SAM!” Cameron called hearing the door shut.
“What?” Sam called, as Rodney followed moving into her kitchen.
“You have wobbly vegetables!” he said, waving the carrot, which wobbled in his hand. “Wobbly!”
“Put that down,”
“
“Rodney,” she smiled as the two instinctively fell into each other’s embraces. “You look good.”
“You too,”
“Martin, I want to show you something,” he said snapping his fingers and pointing towards Sam’s office, “Sam I’m using your computer.”
“Okay,” Sam said as the two disappeared. Shaking her head she turned to Daniel who had Sorcia on his feet. “Happy Birthday baby girl.” Sorcia’s huge smile beamed up at her aunt and Daniel lifted her up by her arms, causing a squeal. “Nap time soon?”
“I’m going to put her down,” Vala said taking her daughter into her arms. “Come here.”
The afternoon was spent decorating Sam’s living room, with not much help from Sam, Rodney or Craig, as they remained in her office, all pouring over some results of something. Cameron cooped himself in the kitchen making dinner, while the rest of the adults were the ones decorating.
The party was as awkward as everyone imagined. Sorcia kept
them entertained, the cake was the best part, as most of it ended up around,
and on her, rather than in her mouth. Her face lit up with the singing of Happy
Birthday, and even more with the presents given to her. Cameron joked that he
should have just given her ribbons and boxes. Sam had bought a new outfit for
her, which was gratefully accepted by Vala, because Sorcia was growing like a
weed. Teal’c had given her a set of new more durable blocks with a backpack to
put them all in, which Daniel couldn’t be happier about, for stepping on her
blocks every other day. Cameron and Elizabeth a few sets of shirt and bottoms-a
pant, skirt and short. Craig, having only today on Earth, bought her a ‘big
girl’ bed, for when Vala decided she was ready for it. Daniel started her
college fund, and given her several books, and Vala had given her two new pairs
of shoes-a dress and a play shoe, and a few other toys she squealed at. By
What really bothered Vala was Sorcia’s aversion to her father, whenever he went to take her, she’d start crying, or when someone went to hand her over, she’d kick and scream until she was in the comfort of someone she knew. She crawled around the floor and whenever she came close to Craig she’d try and move away or start whining until someone would pick her up. For Daniel, it was more concerning that she was so adverse to him, when usually she’d loved everyone who would show her affection, but when the man who was her biological father, she wanted nothing to do with.
“We better get her home,” Daniel said looking at Vala.
“Oh, you’re guys are living together?” Craig asked as Vala nodded her head.
“Why don’t we…” Cameron said as everyone else nodded and stood up and moved out of the room.
“I shall pack up the car,” Teal’c said standing up, skillfully keeping Sorcia in his arms, as the rest of the team started to gather up the presents.
“I always knew it…”
“Craig, Daniel and I…we were never together while we were,” Vala started looking at her ex-fiancé. She felt around and took Daniel’s hand for comfort. Daniel without a blink came up behind her.
“Are you happy?”
“Yes,” Vala replied. “I’m happy.”
“Okay, I should head back to the base…” he said standing up, Vala following suit, letting Daniel’s hand go as she reached over and hugged him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered into his ear. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Craig smiled. “You’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
PART 12: Stepping Forward
“Okay, we’re here,” Cameron said as SG-1 pulled themselves
out of the SUV. Momma had clearly stated that Cameron was to bring along his
team to Kelsey’s wedding. She wanted to see Sam, especially after hearing that
she was pregnant, and she said Sorcia should come along, wanting to see how her
newest “Grandchild” was doing, which meant that Vala was coming, and if Vala
was coming, Daniel, who was glued at her hip lately was coming. And if he had
to go, that meant that
“It’s so big,” Daniel mumbled as he put Sorcia on the ground. “Stay close to me and Mommy.”
“There’s not really a way to prepare someone for a full-on Mitchell assault. Kind of just have to throw them in and hope for the best; just pray to God they survive,” Cameron explained before looking at his team. The confused looks on their faces led to a continuation. “Okay, my family is huge…like I’m not kidding, its huge…According to my Momma, all my Uncle and Aunts, cousins, and brothers and sisters, and everyone is coming to this thing and knowing my luck, they’ll all be here now. So brace yourself,”
“
“Not all of them,”
“UNCLE
Daniel felt Sorcia move to his leg in response to new faces. Her personality although like her mothers, held the new people shyness to the extreme. Her whine barely audible made Vala immediately pick her up running her hand over her head, as Daniel put his hand on her back.
“Spawns!” Cameron smiled as he accepted the herd of three into his arms. “Go tell Gramma we’re here.”
“Okay,” Sherry-Lynn smiled jumping up and down before running towards the house screaming ‘Gamma’.
“The girl is Sherry-Lynn…she’s Christina’s kid. That’s Derek’s daughter, and those two monsters are Jared and Jensen, and they’re Alison’s sons…steps…something like that,” Cameron explained. “You know what, I should have made like…a guide to the Mitchell clan…”
“
“Oh right, okay, lets go. If you guys need a break, just let me know and drive out to the city, we can be quite, over whelming,” he explained as the group walked towards the house. “There’s the barn…the tree house, swing set, the cows are down there, umm, horses are that a-way, I’m guessing the girls are with them now…”
“Cameron, welcome home,” Wendy Mitchell smiled leaning over and kissing her son’s head. “Oh and Samantha, look at you.”
“Mrs…”
“Momma,” Wendy corrected quickly. “Bathroom is in the house, under the stairs.”
“Thank you,” Sam said before quickly moving her way into the house.
“Oh, and little Sorcia, growing up,” Wendy smiled taking the child from Vala. “Vala, she’s gorgeous, you must be the father?” looking at Daniel his eyes widened.
“Umm…” Daniel mumbled. “Dr. Daniel Jackson.”
“Wendy Mitchell, you can call me Momma. You must be Teal’c,” she said looking at the taller man who nodded his head.
“Yes MommaMitchell.”
“Well, come on in,” Momma smiled shuffling everyone inside. “Cameron dear, go get the bags and put them upstairs. The small little family can stay in the Derek’s room, with the crib for Sorcia here, you and Elizabeth can have your room, if you don’t mind Teal’c, Samantha can share with you, which you can put in the twins’ room?”
“No at all MommaMitchell,” Teal’c replied as he followed the woman into the livingroom.
“Good. Well, bathroom is right there, living room, family room, kitchen and dining room, and then downstairs is where the children are staying, upstairs, Cameron can show you later tonight. Well come outside to the back, Vala dear, are you still breast feeding?”
Before Vala could reply they stepped out into the backyard, which had more people than Vala had ever seen for one family. Her hand went straight to Daniel, grasping it, as Daniel pulled her closer to him.
Dinner was something else. The Mitchells were a family of many people, the immediate family larger than anyone imagined. Cameron was the second youngest of a family of seven children; with each of his siblings have a family of their own. The dinner table was insane. The children were sent to eat on the picnic blankets, with Christina, the oldest of the grandchildren, in charge. One table was for the direct family, and what it seemed like seven million others, for the rest of the family. Sorcia wasn’t fond of being away from Vala or Daniel, and kept getting up and walking to the table, calling for “Mommy” and “Dada”, in her high pitch scream. Which meant by the end of dinner, Sorcia was firmly planted on Vala’s lap, talking animatedly to the rest of the table.
When the majority had left the farm, only the Mitchell children and theirs were left. The younger children had taken a liking to Teal’c, whom was bigger than Seamus and Stephen put together.
Sorcia had started to throw a fit after not being with Mommy and Daniel. Which Vala quickly calmed by holding the little girl in her arms and promising that tomorrow they’d go see the pretty horses.
“Okay, so let me get this straight,” Daniel said looking up from his notebook. “Derek and you have Christina, Joey and Kimmy. And Christina’s daughter is Sherry-Lynn?”
“Yep,” Angela smiled as she helped him figure out who was who in the Mitchell clan.
“Okay, and Marilyn and Richard have Brian, Arthur, Jeanne, and Alison. Alison is married to?”
“Samuel, they’re the ones that have the twin boys, Jensen and Jared and the little girl Lana,” Angela continued.
“Right. Okay, Emily, she and Andrew, have the three boys, Keith, Robbie and Frederick.”
“Yep, you’re good Doctor,” Angela praised.
“Daniel, and thank you. I grew up in a foster house, so this isn’t so bad,” he explained as he watched Vala, Sorcia and Sam play in the grass. “Then there are the twins, Seamus and Stephen. Seamus is married to Joan, and have Erica, Jessica and Seamus.”
“Alex, Junior doesn’t like going by Seamus,” she corrected. “Only Wendy is allowed to call him by his name.”
“Right, okay, and that leaves Stephen, and Crystal, with Veronica and Alan.”
“That’s right, well Daniel, I’m thoroughly impressed. When Stephen and Crystal got married it took her a while to get everyone straightened out.” Daniel chuckled as he cocked his head to the side to look at the little girl. “Your daughter is beautiful.”
“Thanks, but she’s not mine, I’m just dating her mother,” Daniel explained as he smiled at Sorcia falling to her knees and giggle.
“Doesn’t look like either of them care,” Angela smiled as she watched Sorcia wave to Daniel.
“How do you remember everyone’s name?”
“They’re family,” Angela smiled, “the Mitchells have a chain, kind of like a hierarchy, I’m only second, Emily and Andrew have been married since they were eighteen,” she explained. “As everyone is added into the clan, you need to know more people. The newer ones look to you for who is who. Derek and I have been together for more years than I’d like to admit,” she laughed. “So I know the entire family, and I mean entire family. A lot of the family is flying in for tomorrow, and then staying the week, instead of doing what the immediate family is doing and just coming in for the weekend. Every year around this time is the Mitchell Family reunion, so it was only natural that Kelsey got married. And that, she had to.”
“Oh?” Daniel asked, looking at the older woman.
“You see, to the Mitchells, you have to be ‘married up proper’ and when Kels got pregnant, as is painfully obvious as she’s eight months along, she eloped, and that is a first for all of us. You see Andrew and Emily got married before Derek and I, and in lieu of a large wedding Derek and I wanted to have a small church ceremony, but according to Mitchell tradition, and even though the year previous was a wedding, we were forced into this large, elaborate ceremony. I would never regret it because, you see the Mitchell tradition of a wedding, is not only welcoming the spouse into the family, but adopting them as Mitchells, telling them to escape now, and not in years to come when there are children involved. As Mitchells, we hold our own very close, and that’s the purpose of the wedding, not because we’re good Christians, but because we’re concerned to an extreme of our own.”
Daniel cocked his head to the side as he listened to Angela speak, flawless and she didn’t have to think of what she was saying, it just came out, perfectly.
“As Mitchells, we take care of our own, be blood or not, it’s a requirement for being a Mitchell, and the elaborate wedding, is a testing ground, if someone can handle that, then we know that he or she is a welcome edition into the family.”
“So that’s why Sherry-Lynn’s father isn’t here?”
“We Mitchells have words to say about that young man,” Angela said shortly. “Sherry-Lynn and Christina are Mitchells, through and through, he didn’t have what it takes to be a Mitchell.”
“I was married before,” Daniel stated as he watched Vala and Sorcia play with Sam. “She was killed, and after my parents died when I was a child…”
“I’m so sorry,” Angela said, her eyes watering and placing a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “I bet that if they didn’t die, you’d still be a Mitchell,” she smiled before turning to the fields. “The boys should be back soon, they’re usually not this bad at getting those cows and horses back in.”
“Sure,” Daniel smiled as Angela stood up squeezing Daniel’s shoulder before walking towards the field. Daniel sat for a moment before standing up and walking over to his girls. “Having fun monkey?”
“Dada!” Sorcia cried joyfully. Her smile brightening her face, eyes twinkling.
“Hey, babe,” Daniel smiled kissing Vala’s cheek before sitting down next to Vala. “She’s up late for missing her nap.”
“Yeah, hopefully she’ll sleep all night,” Vala smiled as Sorcia reached for the grass and tried to grab it.
“We can only hope,” Daniel chuckled, his arm curling around Vala’s waist as she smiled and moved a bit closer to him.
* * * *
Sorcia fell asleep faster than either Vala or Daniel
expected when she was laid in her crib, which was a relief. By
“So you all work with
“Yeah,” Daniel nodded, his arm draped over Vala, holding her to his body.
“So, that’s where you two met then?”
“Well, we met a year before that, um, I was on the way out of town, and umm, she helped when uh, my transportation broke down,” Daniel lied, well, not completely, but he wasn’t about to let everyone in the Mitchell family know of the Military’s top secrets.
“But you knew Cameron before that?” Marilyn asked, looking at Daniel from her little brother.
“We all did, except for Vala, he was saving our lives when his jet crashed,” Sam explained. “For that we’re eternally grateful. I’ve known Cameron from before though, I was actually one of his flight commanders during his F302 training.”
“That’s the speciality jet right Cameron?” Frank asked, looking at his son.
“Yep. Sam here, and General O’Neill, and a few others were the ones that trained me in those. Pretty sweet. Actually Sam here was the one who designed it.”
“Really?” chimed the Mitchells as Sam nodded her head.
“I’m an astrophysicist, it was nothing,” Sam said brushing it off. “Really. Its what I’m paid to do.”
“I think it’s amazing,” Christina said from her spot on the floor at her father’s legs. “I always wanted to build a plane.”
“Why don’t you?” Sam asked, looking at the eldest of the Mitchell grandchildren.
“Sherry-Lynn,” Christina said. “That and I’m not really good at building things.”
“That’s right, everything falls apart that she touches,” Alison grinned winking at her cousin.
“I’m just an accountant,” Christina replied. “I can draw it, and make a model, but when it comes to construction, its not my boat. Joey here, that’s what he does.”
“Is that right?” Sam asked turning to the oldest of the nephews.
“I’m majoring in Aerospace Engineering,” Joey said, with
almost all the relatives not living in
Conversations in the Mitchell house were many, talking with one person meant that there was at least a dozen not talking, so rooms became very loud very quickly.
“Well, I just have to say, Daniel and Vala your daughter is just the cutest thing,” Emily smiled. “I remember when my babies were that small, they’re easy compared to teenagers!”
“I think we’ll skip over that part in her life,” Daniel chuckled with a yawn.
“Oh, just wait until she starts dating,” Richard, Marilyn’s husband warned. “I needed a shot gun with my twins.”
“Yeah, she can stay young forever,” Daniel chuckled before he yawned. “I think I’m going to head to bed, Sorcia has a habit of getting up before the crack of dawn.”
“Okay, goodnight,” Momma smiled standing up. “Do you need anything else before you go to bed?”
“No, thank you Mrs. Mitchell.”
“Its Momma Daniel,” she smiled as Vala stood up. “Joining your husband?”
“Yes, its been a long day,” Vala said nodding her head to the Mitchell’s and her friends as the two headed up towards the bedroom. One of the brothers had brought up the crib from the basement and Sorcia was already fast asleep when her parents walked in. The soft light of the lamp lightly glowed as Daniel shut the door.
“Husband eh,” he teased in a whisperer. Vala smiled as she ran her hand over Sorcia’s head. “She’s really out huh?”
“Yeah, hopefully she’ll sleep through the night,” Vala whispered as Daniel came up behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist.
“I love you,” Daniel whispered into her neck. “Lets get some sleep. One of the twins mentioned there were roosters…”
“Sleep,” Vala said nodding her head, as the two crawled into the bed. Daniel’s arms curled around her, pulling her close, his hand resting on her stomach.
“Love you,” Daniel mumbled into Vala’s neck as she mumbled back.
* * * *
Vala opened her eyes, as the sun beamed into the bedroom, washing over everything with its glow. She was alone, no warm heat beside her, or Sorcia’s snore from the crib. Sitting up, she ran her fingers through her hair; it was knotted at the end. Yawning, Vala pulled herself out of bed, her barefeet hitting the carpet of the floor. The sound of Sorcia’s giggle caught Vala’s attention as she walked out of the bedroom, and down the stairs. In the kitchen, which was washed in the bright sunshine sat Sorcia, in the highchair, beside Sherry-Lynn, both eating cereal, Sherry talking to Sorcia.
“We can play wif Jar’d an’ J’sen,” Sherry said as she put a spoonful of fruit loops into her mouth.
“Good morning,” Wendy Mitchell smiled placing a plate of pancakes on the table. “I made pancakes if you’re hungry.”
“Thank you,” Vala smiled as Daniel handed her a coffee mug. “Good morning.”
“Hey, she woke up with the sun, so I brought her down,” Daniel replied, his arm slipped around her waist, and his lips touching her cheek.
“Good morning,” Cameron said walking into the kitchen from the backdoor.
“Uncle Cam!” Sherry grinned brightly looking up at Cameron, who looked like he’d been up for a few hours already.
“Hey spawn,” Cameron smiled grabbing the box of Fruit Loops.
“No, those are for the children. Did you let the cows out?” Wendy asked handing Cameron a plate of pancakes.
“Yes ma’am,” he said as he sat down with his plate.
* * * *
The morning went by smoothly, Daniel could see the tension on Vala’s face as her daughter was passed around, and stole the two as they wandered off into the fields. Sorcia was holding both Daniel and Vala’s hands, as they walked along the edge of the farm.
“You having fun Monkey?” Daniel asked as Sorcia sat down in the grass, followed by her parents.
“Uhuh,” Sorcia smiled before she started to pick the grass. Vala took a sigh and leaned into Daniel.
“When my parents died and I went to my first foster home, I
was the middle child of five children. The youngest was no more older than
Monkey is now, it was a boy, Benjamin. The rest of the family were girls,
Maggie, Roxanne and Amber. My second and last foster family, were a set of
professors at the university I went to. They had one child, Nadine, she was my
age, but every summer we went to the cabin up in
“Before mother died and I was taken by Quetesh, every third cycle, Mother would host a carnival of sorts in the village, it would be the highlight of the cycles. I used to be able go and hide in the ceremony room, no one would ever be there, I got to be alone, and I enjoyed that,” Vala said softly as she watched Sorcia pick a few dandy lions. “Don’t eat them sweetheart.”
“Your manor must have always been filled with people.”
“As I can remember,” Vala smiled. “It was years ago, at night, mother would tuck me in and ask if I had fun, I always said yes, she knew, always knew, I avoided the carnival, and took the time to be alone. Every day I would wake up and my maiden was there, I’d get to spend the day with her, she’d take me to school, until mother was assassinated. It was not a cycle after that day when I was taken by my father. I was sold into slavery, and those days alone were limited to hiding out,” she continued as Sorcia wobbled up to her mother. “Hi sweetheart.”
“Hi.” Sorcia smiled as she moved to sit on Vala’s lap. Vala wrapped her arms around her toddler and kissed her hair.
“You’re a good girl,” she said giving the child a squeeze. Daniel, who was holding Vala to his side pulled her and Sorcia to his lap so that he could hold them. No matter how use he was to being around a few hundred people, the time he could spend with just his family was worth more than anything, and lately everything was sacrificed for them. It was the first time in his life where something other than knowledge came first.
Dinner arrived that night which served as the rehearsal dinner, in which not only were the immediate family present, but so was anyone with any connection to the Mitchells. The introduction of the sextuplets made everyone turn their heads. No one expected all six would show up, but they all did; three boys and three girls, Beverly, Jessica, Alexander, Michelle, Colin and Jason. SG-1 had moved to their own corner of the farm, Teal’c had taken Sorcia, while Sam, Vala and Daniel sat talking. Cameron was making his rounds through the family, casually introducing people to his team.
When dinner was served, the seats started to fill up, Daniel could sense the apprehension in Vala, and he quickly moved to her side, grasping the hand as he watched Sam sit with Sorcia on her lap, her belly just starting to bulge. Sorcia loved that her “Auntie Sam” was having a baby, and at every opportunity she babbled to Sam’s stomach in a language all her own. Cameron would tease that it was just her speaking Goa’uld mixed with every other language Daniel knew.
Cameron was pointing people and introducing everyone as he went along. There were more Sam’s in the family than anyone expected, and he went to organise them by going: Cousin Sam, Nephew Sam, Young Sam, Girl Sam, married to Alison Sam, married to Allison with two L’s Sam, and when he came to Sam Carter, he went ‘Fat Sam’ before stumbling and settling on ‘Perfectly beautiful, radiant pregnant Sam’, before scuffling off to help Momma.
“Did you want me to take her?” Vala asked looking at her best friend, as Sam shook her head no.
“No, I should get used to this,” she smiled looking down at Sorcia, her blonde hair from her father, curled like her mothers in her pigtails. Her hair lightened over the year, the black fuz faded to a dark brown, to eventually the caramel blonde her hair was now. She had more hair than anyone expected her too, but Vala said it was because all of her people had a lot of hair.
“Hi,” a small bright blonde girl smiled.
“Hi, who are you?”
“I’m Keesa, that’s
“Triplets?” Sam asked as they nodded.
“You’re Russian?” Daniel asked as
“
“Вы проделали длинный путь,” Daniel said as the three girls’ eyes lit up. “Ваш английский язык очень хорош.”
“You know, one day one of us should learn Russian,” Vala said to Sam and Teal’c as they watched Daniel and the three girls speak.
“Considering how many Russians are on base,” Sam nodded holding Sorcia to her. The little girl fell asleep and when woken up, had decided to stay glued to Sam’s side. “I vote for Teal’c.
When dinner wrapped up, SG1 had moved themselves indoors, while the Mitchells remained outside. Teal’c had taken Sorcia and sat on the floor reading her a book, while Sam laid on the recliner holding her ever-expanding belly. She was only eight weeks away now and it was getting increasingly harder to move. Vala sympathised and helped her whenever possible, as her schedule at the SGC was far more relaxed, as Sorcia was her main priority.
Sitting in the room with her friends, Vala thought back to what she said to Tomin, a few years ago, she didn’t know where she belonged, and hoped it was here on Earth, and she knew it was. She had her best friend Sam, her daughter, her lover, Cameron and Teal’c, relationships that held a stronger bond than she had ever experienced. She watched the bond that all the Mitchells had, and hoped that one day her family here would have the same bond.
* * *
*
The next morning, everyone woke up at the crack of dawn to
prepare for the wedding. Teal’c had offered, or Volun-told to watch the
children, as he put them into the livingroom and regaled them with ‘make believe’
stories of this race known as the
“Did you get her down?” Daniel asked as Vala walked out of the bedroom they were staying in, before Sorcia’s shrieking pierced their ears. “I take not.”
“I don’t know what the matter is,” Vala sighed as the baby’s shrieks got louder.
“Maybe she wants to go home,” Daniel suggested as Vala moved to straighten his tie.
“That’s better,” Vala smiled patting his chest, as Daniel grabbed her hand and placed his lips to it. “Sometimes I just want to give up Daniel,” she said softly.
“I know baby.”
“How long until the ceremony?”
“Cameron said around
“I doubt it,” Vala replied shaking her head.
“Lets just hear Teal’c’s stories of the intrepid team of explorers,” he winked.
“I’d love to hear the one where the geeky member is met by the sexy alien,” Vala grinned as Daniel laughed as the two made their way downstairs.
Not a half an hour into listening to Teal’c stories, the distant sound of Sorcia stopped, and Vala looked at Daniel. He nodded when she stood up and headed upstairs. Opening the door, Sorcia was sitting in the crib, holding her feet in her hands, and tears streaming down her face as she hiccupped.
“Sweetheart,” Vala said softly walking over to the child, who let go of her feet and got to them, her breath hitching. “What’s the matter?” taking the child into her arms, Vala ran her hand through her hair. Sorcia babbled in unintelligible speech as Vala rocked her softly. “Do you want to stay with me?”
Sorcia nodded her head as Vala kissed her forehead. “Ook.”
“We can get you your book,” she smiled grabbing Sorcia’s favourite book and letting her little hands hold it. “Come on, Uncle Teal’c is telling stories.” She said adjusting Sorcia on her hip, and heading downstairs. “Wheres your sucky?” she asked noticing the clip that held Sorcia’s soother was missing. That one word made Sorcia tear up and it clicked in Vala’s head. “We’ll go ask Daniel where it is.”
Rubbing the baby’s back as she headed down the stairs. Vala couldn’t help but
shake her head, something so trivial as a soother was the cause for her foul
mood-at least that’s what she hoped. Running through the past events, Vala
tried to remember where it may be, or if they brought it. Sorcia had her good
days, and her bad, days where she didn’t want the soother, and days where if it
wasn’t in her mouth then the world was shattered around her.
She remembered seeing it on the coffee table at the apartment, as Sorcia sat in her playpen playing with her blocks. She was packing the diaper bag for the flight, making sure she had juice, and a few snacks, Daniel was putting the luggage in his SUV. Cameron had called Daniel’s cell, as she grabbed it and placed it to her ear, she handed the soother to Sorica, and walked back into the kitchen to finish packing.
“Daniel?” she asked walking back into the livingroom, as the children-a few of the teenagers included whom were smitten with Teal’c smiled at the baby. “Soother?”
“I thought you packed it,” he said, frowning his brows, before sighing. “The playpen. She was playing with her blocks and I remember taking one of them out of her mouth before putting her in the SUV. And that explains this entire attitude.”
“Yes,” Vala said handing the child to Daniel, who currently had her book stuck in her mouth.
“Yo, Momma wants everyone to be seated,” Cameron said popping his head into the living room. “And has anyone seen Beth?”
“Working,” Sam said, as Teal’c pulled her to a standing position. “Upstairs.”
“Who brought the laptop?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest staring at his team.
“Hey don’t look at me, I’m pregnant,” Sam said putting on her best innocent face, as Daniel made a b-line for the door.
“Hold it
“I have a baby,” he said in defense holding Sorcia up in front of him, which caused the first giggle of the weekend.
“Why did ya have to go do that?” Cameron whined.
“In my defence, I have a baby who only sleeps at night now when there is music playing,” Daniel said, as Cameron raised his brow, in a very Teal’c fashion. “I’m writing a paper, its due soon.”
“That’ll I’ll believe, Cameron said. “You and Princess go get Beth, and the rest of you, outside, spawns go find your parents.” He ordered before the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it, must be Dave’s brother.”
Fixing his dress blues, Cameron walked to the front door. “Yo,” he said opening the door, “Sheppard?”
“Mitchell?” John Sheppard said digging in his pocket. “I must be at the wrong house…I’m looking for…this place?”
“This is here,” Cameron said raising a brow. “Why you here?”
“My brother, Dave, is getting married, I was back on Earth for a debrief and got out early, so I thought I’d come…and I must have got the wrong place.”
“Yup, well my sister is getting hitched…”
“To Dave Sheppard?” John asked as Cameron nodded, whose eyes widened.
“Ah hell, we’re brothers in law.”
* * * *
Vala sat holding Sorcia in her lap, her favourite book in her hands as the baby flipped the pages. It was keeping her quiet, and that was all Vala cared about at the moment. Daniel’s arm was around her shoulders as she watched his face. He was thinking, she could tell.
It was a beautiful ceremony, Kelsey was radiant and 8 months pregnant, her bridal party consisted of both Marilyn and Emily, as well as her best friend, who was introduced as Sage. Vala had to admit that it was a beautiful wedding, hers to Tomin was nothing compared to this one, neither was her parents. She remembered planning her wedding to Craig, she didn’t get far in the planning before Sorcia came into their lives and changed the world. Looking at Kelsey, she hoped that the little one would change the world for them, but not tear them apart.
She had to admit, she wanted that happiness. It crossed her mind if she never got out of the Ori galaxy that that happiness would be with Tomin and ‘their’ baby. Adria changed everything, and it wasn’t for the better. The harm and horrors she caused, made Vala realise for the first time in the entire pregnancy, that she was an incubator, not a mother. With Sorcia she took the chance, knowing that her baby may not change the world, but would change hers. Granted life was hard with her, she sometimes just wanted to give up, but knew if she did, that Sorcia would end up in a place she could not imagine. Jacek gave up on her, and that led to a life that she never wanted to revisit.
Glancing over at Daniel once more, Vala raised a brow as he stared at the two at the alter saying their vows. “What are you thinking about?” she whispered softly, as Daniel turned his head to face her.
“Marry me.” Her face went wide as Sam who sat next to Daniel turned her head, as did the rest of SG-1.
To be continued…
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