BOtR, Ch.12 : Unwanted Permission
Beginning of the Rest
Chapter 12 (Unwanted Permission)
Unwanted Permission
"Good..." Vala stated in a happy tone. "He's busy." Her gaze shifted from the General's star map window, where Landry was on the other side on the phone, to Daniel standing beside her. She patted his chest then turned to hightail it out of the briefing room. "We can come back later."
Daniel uncrossed his arms and threw a hand out to snatch Vala by the wrist as she attempted to escape. He never looked away from Landry who nodded in his direction, holding up a finger to indicate he'd be just a moment. "Vala."
She let out a whine and turned back towards him. "What?" Her pout was expected.
"We talked about this." His tone was patient and calm. Vala's dramatics were definitely nothing new to him. The fact that Hayden had inherited a good portion of them from her only made them easier for him to bear. "We're going to talk to Landry about trying to locate Jacek." He turned his head to look at her.
Vala nodded. "Yes, we did. But we never actually specified when..." She twisted her free hand in the air for emphasis. "We'd be talking to Landry." She bounced on her feet, her eyes lighting up with an idea. "I know, we'll just wait until AFTER the wedding to bring it up."
"Vala." Daniel said again patiently. She tugged at his grasp still around her wrist, stamping her foot like Hayden was known to do. Sometime he swore they were identical. The phrase 'like mother, like daughter' never fit so well. She fixed him with a pouty stare, and he conceded to at least letting her go. He trusted her not to-
"I think there was something..." Vala pointed over her shoulder, than made a mad dash for the door.
Daniel took off after her, easily catching her as she reached the doorway. He snatched her around the waist. "Oh, no no no...You're not running off on me."
She continued to try and struggle out of his hold. Vala knew she could if she really wanted to, but that would mean she'd have to hurt him and it so wasn't worth that. "Daniel...please!" She whined, placing her hands on the outside of the doorframe to drag herself out of his strong arms. "Don't you have some dead language or something you want to resurrect instead of bringing up things like finding my father to the General?"
"Yeah, right." He laughed, keeping her from snaking out of his embrace. "I'd agree to do that and not see you for the rest of the day." Daniel planted his feet firmly to the floor. "At least not until it was too late to bring it up."
Vala tugged at the walls desperately, wanting to wiggle out of Daniel's grasp. If she just managed to break free, he would have to chase after her. She could keep it up for just long enough to wear him out enough to where he wouldn't bother dragging her to see Landry. If she could just break free...without injury to Daniel. "That is the general idea, yes."
"Dr. Jackson...Vala." A voice from behind them brought both of their heads whipping around. Landry stood with his arms behind his back in the doorway to his office, a smirk playing on his lips. "Was there something you wanted?"
Smiling innocently, Vala continued trying to pull out of Daniel's grasp. "Nope, nothing..." She gasped as Daniel tugged her back with enough force for her to collide with his chest.
"Yes, sir." He countered just as innocently. "We do." His hand squeezed hers hard, and she instinctively smacked him on the chest with the back of her free hand. Daniel coughed with the impact.
Landry was unphased by their antics after so many years of having them around as a couple. It had just become a part of his everyday life, and now it was more normal than, well, normal things. "Care to take it into my office then, or would you rather we talk about whatever it is while you two wrestle out here in the briefing room?"
Vala choked down a laugh, and Daniel fixed her with a stern glare. "Your office is fine, sir." He said, his voice holding an underlying tone to tell her she was starting to push it.
"That's a good thing." Landry stepped aside so Daniel could manhandle Vala into the office. She crossed her arms as she threw herself into one of the chairs, and crossed her legs dramatically. Daniel just rolled his eyes and took his seat with a little more grace. The General took his seat behind the desk and rested his hands on top of the paper-littered surface.
"Because I think you guys keep the rumor mill churning well enough without needing a 'briefing room wrestle.'" He chuckled, and relished in the twin smirks of mischief that spread across the lovers faces. He had enjoyed seeing them grow together over the years. Their love for each other had only gotten stronger, especially after the birth of their daughter - a child he just adored.
Vala's eyes went wide at the look Landry was giving them. Maybe he knew about that little incident that was now hot gossip all over the base. "I swear, General, the whole makeout and semi love making thing on the basketball court was all Daniel's-"
Daniel smacked her firmly across the chest, barely suppressing a laugh, face flushing pink with the effort. Vala let out a sort of squeak before snapping her mouth shut.
Landry laughed quietly. "Let's just add that one to the list of things I know nothing about, shall we?" Daniel nodded his thank you, and Vala shrugged nonchalantly. "Now I'm curious to know as to why you two were waiting, and I use the term lightly, outside my office."
"There's something we'd like to run across you, sir." Daniel sat forward, his mind now focused on the task at hand. He snuck a glance at Vala, who was once again pouting. "It's a personal request of sorts." She slouched down farther in her chair.
The General nodded. "I'm listening."
Daniel nodded as well. "Okay, last night, Vala and I had a..." He looked at her again and she shrugged. "A discussion, sir. It had to do with the wedding, in a way. Our wedding, as you know, is mostly gonna end up as far from conventional as it can get, considering."
"Yes." Landry laughed. "Especially when you start off by informing everyone except your commanding officer about your engagement." He said in a joking, yet serious, tone. He felt like he'd been the last to know about the whole thing.
Sitting back in his chair, Daniel adopted a mock expression of hurt. "With all do respect, sir. You were in Washington at the time," They'd already been round and round about the whole leaving him out of the announcement. It was just a joking matter, really, because Landry had found out about it almost the moment he got back. "And you've already given me a ration of shit about it, sooo..."
Landry laughed at the smile on Daniel's face. It was exactly a mirror image of a very good Major General friend of his. "Moving on..." He indicated with a small wave of his hand.
"Yes, moving on." Daniel agreed. Looking at Vala again, he sighed. "But there was something that I decided to bring up-"
"Stupidly." Vala muttered, whose gaze had shifted to the floor.
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Please ignore that comment, Sir." He growled as he glared at Vala. She might not be looking at him, but she really didn't need to be.
Chuckling, Landry sat back a little in his chair. "I usually do."
"For which I am truly thankful." Daniel replied, looking up at the older man. The General's expression let him know that he better be getting the point soon. So he decided to just jump right in. "We had a discussion about Jacek, sir."
"Well, no wonder Vala is upset." Landry stated, surprised. "Maybe I shouldn't ignore that whole stupidity comment after all." He joked, and Daniel flopped back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh.
Vala sat up straighter in her chair, brightening a little. "Thank you, General!" She held out her hand to him in a gesture of agreement. "I told him that it was a totally closed off, NO, subject." She sent a glowering glare at Daniel who, to the General's surprise, seemed unphased by her anger. "He just pushed and pushed and pushed..."
"Oh would you stop!" Daniel grumbled loudly. He glared right back. "I DID NOT push!" Blues eyes drifted towards Landry. "I brought it up and she went...wonko, to borrow a term." The stare returned to Vala, who was squinting at him "Besides you already said I was RIGHT!"
She relaxed a little. "Oh, I did?" Daniel crossed his arms and gave her an expectant look. Vala sighed. "Yes, you were right, Daniel." She looked at Landry. "He was right, sir."
The General nodded slowly, patiently. "And what, may I ask, was Dr. Jackson so right about?" He'd known from the moment he saw them coming into the briefing room that whatever they wanted to talk about was gonna be like pulling teeth...or talking to a pair of preschoolers.
Vala blinked, and looked at Daniel. He waved his hand, telling her to take the lead. Why did she have to be the one to ask when it was HIS idea to find Jacek in the first place? Because Jacek was her father, that's why. She swallowed and focused on the General.
"Daniel was right to ask about...that man." She muttered the last part, squeezing her hand into a fist. "Even if he is the biggest, most conceited, downright dirtiest, lying-" Vala stopped as a hand came to rest on her thigh. She looked up into Daniel understanding blue gaze. Nodding, Vala breathed in and out slowly. Her head turned to look at Landry again. "Sorry..." She said, closing her eyes. "As my future husband and father of Hayden, he was right to bring him up."
Daniel sat back in his seat again, waiting for Vala to spring the big question.
"Of course I think he's totally insane in asking you, General Landry, sir, if we could take two weeks to try and find him..." But not quite like that. Daniel glared at the back of Vala's head for a moment, than shifted his gaze to Landry. As expected, there was a surprised look on the commanding officer's face.
"You want to find Jacek?" Landry questioned, looking between the pair. Vala shook her head adamantly, and Daniel nodded reluctantly with a minute raise of his eyebrows.
The archaeologist came forward, placing his elbows on this knees. "There's no guarantee that we'll actually find Jacek, sir. But I'd feel a lot better knowing that we had tried to find him, especially as a father. I don't want Hayden to think we kept the man from her on purpose."
"Which is exactly what you've done now for years." Landry pointed out.
Vala nodded this time. "Exactly!" She smiled as both men looked at her. "No need to break that time honored tradition now, after such a good run." She patted Daniel's cheek. "See, I told you he wouldn't approve. Now let's go hunt down that adoring Colonel friend of ours," Vala rose from her chair, intending to leave. "And rescue our daughter before he has any more time to corrupt her innocence..."
"Did I say anything about not approving, Vala?" Landry asked in a commanding tone. The former space pirate turned a guilty gaze on him and mumbled a 'no.' He pointed back to the chair, and Vala slowly took her seat again. Landry didn't miss the smug look Daniel gave her. "Two weeks, you said?"
Daniel nodded. "Yes sir. We figured it would be enough time to locate Jacek, at least tell him about the engagement." He looked at Vala, who was staring at the floor once again. "If he decides to come back here..." Daniel looked back at Landry. "Then he'll learn about his granddaughter. If not, then well he'll remain none the wiser, and we won't have to subject her to the likes of...him." He shuddered. "That's assuming, of course, that we do find him."
"One can only hope we don't." Vala muttered to no one in particular.
"And when did you wish to take this trip?" Landry asked carefully.
Shrugging, Daniel shook his head. "Whenever is best, sir." His gaze came up quickly. "As long as it's AFTER Hayden's birthday in two weeks. That's the only condition. Other than that, we can go at whatever chance you can give us."
"Of course if there's no chance whatsoever..." Vala threw in hopefully. She flopped back in her seat after Daniel muttered 'quit it' to her in a low tone. Her arms crossed and her lips pushed out in a signature pouty nature.
Landry couldn't help but laugh quietly. The more the two changed, the more they stayed the same. "Permission to find Vala's father granted." Daniel gave a quick nod and Vala...practically fell to the floor as she slid down in her chair. Landry smiled and pulled a report to the center of his desk. "In two weeks, after Hayden's birthday, you two have permission to take two weeks to try and locate her grandfather."
Daniel rose from his chair, pulling a sulking Vala up with him. "Thank you sir. We..." Vala laughed humorlessly. "Okay, I truly appreciate this."
"As a father myself, I understand Dr. Jackson." Landry said, looking up from his work. "You're doing the right thing in trying to find him, even if we all tend not to like the man much around here." He said, proud and yet envious of how much of a good dad the good doctor was turning out to be, as the pair moved to head out the door.
Looking back while standing in the doorway, Daniel smiled. "Thank you. It's good to know I can do something right." His joke was only half intended as one. The General picked up on it immediately and went to reply, but the younger man had already pulled the door almost all the way closed.
Sighing, he intended to focus on the report before him. The sounds of voices in the hallways stopped him, and Hank listened to the quiet conversation between the couple that had just left.
"I don't like it, Daniel..." Vala sighed, and Landry could hear the worry in her voice. "I don't like it. I just don't."
"I know, baby." Daniel replied soothingly. The General smiled at the endearment. "But if and when we find him, I promise you that I will not let him manipulate our little girl..." There was a pause, in which Hank assumed the pair was kissing. It was something they were renowned for around the base. "Or you." The archaeologist finished.
Another short pause, and then- "Promise?" Vala asked in a hopeful, desperate whisper.
"Promise." Landry heard a kiss being placed against Vala, most likely to the cheek or forehead. He smiled and thought back on the last thing Daniel had said before vacating his office.
"Son, you've done a helluva lot more than something right." The General murmured to the empty room. He returned to his work with a grin on his face.
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Chapter 12 (Unwanted Permission)
Unwanted Permission
"Good..." Vala stated in a happy tone. "He's busy." Her gaze shifted from the General's star map window, where Landry was on the other side on the phone, to Daniel standing beside her. She patted his chest then turned to hightail it out of the briefing room. "We can come back later."
Daniel uncrossed his arms and threw a hand out to snatch Vala by the wrist as she attempted to escape. He never looked away from Landry who nodded in his direction, holding up a finger to indicate he'd be just a moment. "Vala."
She let out a whine and turned back towards him. "What?" Her pout was expected.
"We talked about this." His tone was patient and calm. Vala's dramatics were definitely nothing new to him. The fact that Hayden had inherited a good portion of them from her only made them easier for him to bear. "We're going to talk to Landry about trying to locate Jacek." He turned his head to look at her.
Vala nodded. "Yes, we did. But we never actually specified when..." She twisted her free hand in the air for emphasis. "We'd be talking to Landry." She bounced on her feet, her eyes lighting up with an idea. "I know, we'll just wait until AFTER the wedding to bring it up."
"Vala." Daniel said again patiently. She tugged at his grasp still around her wrist, stamping her foot like Hayden was known to do. Sometime he swore they were identical. The phrase 'like mother, like daughter' never fit so well. She fixed him with a pouty stare, and he conceded to at least letting her go. He trusted her not to-
"I think there was something..." Vala pointed over her shoulder, than made a mad dash for the door.
Daniel took off after her, easily catching her as she reached the doorway. He snatched her around the waist. "Oh, no no no...You're not running off on me."
She continued to try and struggle out of his hold. Vala knew she could if she really wanted to, but that would mean she'd have to hurt him and it so wasn't worth that. "Daniel...please!" She whined, placing her hands on the outside of the doorframe to drag herself out of his strong arms. "Don't you have some dead language or something you want to resurrect instead of bringing up things like finding my father to the General?"
"Yeah, right." He laughed, keeping her from snaking out of his embrace. "I'd agree to do that and not see you for the rest of the day." Daniel planted his feet firmly to the floor. "At least not until it was too late to bring it up."
Vala tugged at the walls desperately, wanting to wiggle out of Daniel's grasp. If she just managed to break free, he would have to chase after her. She could keep it up for just long enough to wear him out enough to where he wouldn't bother dragging her to see Landry. If she could just break free...without injury to Daniel. "That is the general idea, yes."
"Dr. Jackson...Vala." A voice from behind them brought both of their heads whipping around. Landry stood with his arms behind his back in the doorway to his office, a smirk playing on his lips. "Was there something you wanted?"
Smiling innocently, Vala continued trying to pull out of Daniel's grasp. "Nope, nothing..." She gasped as Daniel tugged her back with enough force for her to collide with his chest.
"Yes, sir." He countered just as innocently. "We do." His hand squeezed hers hard, and she instinctively smacked him on the chest with the back of her free hand. Daniel coughed with the impact.
Landry was unphased by their antics after so many years of having them around as a couple. It had just become a part of his everyday life, and now it was more normal than, well, normal things. "Care to take it into my office then, or would you rather we talk about whatever it is while you two wrestle out here in the briefing room?"
Vala choked down a laugh, and Daniel fixed her with a stern glare. "Your office is fine, sir." He said, his voice holding an underlying tone to tell her she was starting to push it.
"That's a good thing." Landry stepped aside so Daniel could manhandle Vala into the office. She crossed her arms as she threw herself into one of the chairs, and crossed her legs dramatically. Daniel just rolled his eyes and took his seat with a little more grace. The General took his seat behind the desk and rested his hands on top of the paper-littered surface.
"Because I think you guys keep the rumor mill churning well enough without needing a 'briefing room wrestle.'" He chuckled, and relished in the twin smirks of mischief that spread across the lovers faces. He had enjoyed seeing them grow together over the years. Their love for each other had only gotten stronger, especially after the birth of their daughter - a child he just adored.
Vala's eyes went wide at the look Landry was giving them. Maybe he knew about that little incident that was now hot gossip all over the base. "I swear, General, the whole makeout and semi love making thing on the basketball court was all Daniel's-"
Daniel smacked her firmly across the chest, barely suppressing a laugh, face flushing pink with the effort. Vala let out a sort of squeak before snapping her mouth shut.
Landry laughed quietly. "Let's just add that one to the list of things I know nothing about, shall we?" Daniel nodded his thank you, and Vala shrugged nonchalantly. "Now I'm curious to know as to why you two were waiting, and I use the term lightly, outside my office."
"There's something we'd like to run across you, sir." Daniel sat forward, his mind now focused on the task at hand. He snuck a glance at Vala, who was once again pouting. "It's a personal request of sorts." She slouched down farther in her chair.
The General nodded. "I'm listening."
Daniel nodded as well. "Okay, last night, Vala and I had a..." He looked at her again and she shrugged. "A discussion, sir. It had to do with the wedding, in a way. Our wedding, as you know, is mostly gonna end up as far from conventional as it can get, considering."
"Yes." Landry laughed. "Especially when you start off by informing everyone except your commanding officer about your engagement." He said in a joking, yet serious, tone. He felt like he'd been the last to know about the whole thing.
Sitting back in his chair, Daniel adopted a mock expression of hurt. "With all do respect, sir. You were in Washington at the time," They'd already been round and round about the whole leaving him out of the announcement. It was just a joking matter, really, because Landry had found out about it almost the moment he got back. "And you've already given me a ration of shit about it, sooo..."
Landry laughed at the smile on Daniel's face. It was exactly a mirror image of a very good Major General friend of his. "Moving on..." He indicated with a small wave of his hand.
"Yes, moving on." Daniel agreed. Looking at Vala again, he sighed. "But there was something that I decided to bring up-"
"Stupidly." Vala muttered, whose gaze had shifted to the floor.
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Please ignore that comment, Sir." He growled as he glared at Vala. She might not be looking at him, but she really didn't need to be.
Chuckling, Landry sat back a little in his chair. "I usually do."
"For which I am truly thankful." Daniel replied, looking up at the older man. The General's expression let him know that he better be getting the point soon. So he decided to just jump right in. "We had a discussion about Jacek, sir."
"Well, no wonder Vala is upset." Landry stated, surprised. "Maybe I shouldn't ignore that whole stupidity comment after all." He joked, and Daniel flopped back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh.
Vala sat up straighter in her chair, brightening a little. "Thank you, General!" She held out her hand to him in a gesture of agreement. "I told him that it was a totally closed off, NO, subject." She sent a glowering glare at Daniel who, to the General's surprise, seemed unphased by her anger. "He just pushed and pushed and pushed..."
"Oh would you stop!" Daniel grumbled loudly. He glared right back. "I DID NOT push!" Blues eyes drifted towards Landry. "I brought it up and she went...wonko, to borrow a term." The stare returned to Vala, who was squinting at him "Besides you already said I was RIGHT!"
She relaxed a little. "Oh, I did?" Daniel crossed his arms and gave her an expectant look. Vala sighed. "Yes, you were right, Daniel." She looked at Landry. "He was right, sir."
The General nodded slowly, patiently. "And what, may I ask, was Dr. Jackson so right about?" He'd known from the moment he saw them coming into the briefing room that whatever they wanted to talk about was gonna be like pulling teeth...or talking to a pair of preschoolers.
Vala blinked, and looked at Daniel. He waved his hand, telling her to take the lead. Why did she have to be the one to ask when it was HIS idea to find Jacek in the first place? Because Jacek was her father, that's why. She swallowed and focused on the General.
"Daniel was right to ask about...that man." She muttered the last part, squeezing her hand into a fist. "Even if he is the biggest, most conceited, downright dirtiest, lying-" Vala stopped as a hand came to rest on her thigh. She looked up into Daniel understanding blue gaze. Nodding, Vala breathed in and out slowly. Her head turned to look at Landry again. "Sorry..." She said, closing her eyes. "As my future husband and father of Hayden, he was right to bring him up."
Daniel sat back in his seat again, waiting for Vala to spring the big question.
"Of course I think he's totally insane in asking you, General Landry, sir, if we could take two weeks to try and find him..." But not quite like that. Daniel glared at the back of Vala's head for a moment, than shifted his gaze to Landry. As expected, there was a surprised look on the commanding officer's face.
"You want to find Jacek?" Landry questioned, looking between the pair. Vala shook her head adamantly, and Daniel nodded reluctantly with a minute raise of his eyebrows.
The archaeologist came forward, placing his elbows on this knees. "There's no guarantee that we'll actually find Jacek, sir. But I'd feel a lot better knowing that we had tried to find him, especially as a father. I don't want Hayden to think we kept the man from her on purpose."
"Which is exactly what you've done now for years." Landry pointed out.
Vala nodded this time. "Exactly!" She smiled as both men looked at her. "No need to break that time honored tradition now, after such a good run." She patted Daniel's cheek. "See, I told you he wouldn't approve. Now let's go hunt down that adoring Colonel friend of ours," Vala rose from her chair, intending to leave. "And rescue our daughter before he has any more time to corrupt her innocence..."
"Did I say anything about not approving, Vala?" Landry asked in a commanding tone. The former space pirate turned a guilty gaze on him and mumbled a 'no.' He pointed back to the chair, and Vala slowly took her seat again. Landry didn't miss the smug look Daniel gave her. "Two weeks, you said?"
Daniel nodded. "Yes sir. We figured it would be enough time to locate Jacek, at least tell him about the engagement." He looked at Vala, who was staring at the floor once again. "If he decides to come back here..." Daniel looked back at Landry. "Then he'll learn about his granddaughter. If not, then well he'll remain none the wiser, and we won't have to subject her to the likes of...him." He shuddered. "That's assuming, of course, that we do find him."
"One can only hope we don't." Vala muttered to no one in particular.
"And when did you wish to take this trip?" Landry asked carefully.
Shrugging, Daniel shook his head. "Whenever is best, sir." His gaze came up quickly. "As long as it's AFTER Hayden's birthday in two weeks. That's the only condition. Other than that, we can go at whatever chance you can give us."
"Of course if there's no chance whatsoever..." Vala threw in hopefully. She flopped back in her seat after Daniel muttered 'quit it' to her in a low tone. Her arms crossed and her lips pushed out in a signature pouty nature.
Landry couldn't help but laugh quietly. The more the two changed, the more they stayed the same. "Permission to find Vala's father granted." Daniel gave a quick nod and Vala...practically fell to the floor as she slid down in her chair. Landry smiled and pulled a report to the center of his desk. "In two weeks, after Hayden's birthday, you two have permission to take two weeks to try and locate her grandfather."
Daniel rose from his chair, pulling a sulking Vala up with him. "Thank you sir. We..." Vala laughed humorlessly. "Okay, I truly appreciate this."
"As a father myself, I understand Dr. Jackson." Landry said, looking up from his work. "You're doing the right thing in trying to find him, even if we all tend not to like the man much around here." He said, proud and yet envious of how much of a good dad the good doctor was turning out to be, as the pair moved to head out the door.
Looking back while standing in the doorway, Daniel smiled. "Thank you. It's good to know I can do something right." His joke was only half intended as one. The General picked up on it immediately and went to reply, but the younger man had already pulled the door almost all the way closed.
Sighing, he intended to focus on the report before him. The sounds of voices in the hallways stopped him, and Hank listened to the quiet conversation between the couple that had just left.
"I don't like it, Daniel..." Vala sighed, and Landry could hear the worry in her voice. "I don't like it. I just don't."
"I know, baby." Daniel replied soothingly. The General smiled at the endearment. "But if and when we find him, I promise you that I will not let him manipulate our little girl..." There was a pause, in which Hank assumed the pair was kissing. It was something they were renowned for around the base. "Or you." The archaeologist finished.
Another short pause, and then- "Promise?" Vala asked in a hopeful, desperate whisper.
"Promise." Landry heard a kiss being placed against Vala, most likely to the cheek or forehead. He smiled and thought back on the last thing Daniel had said before vacating his office.
"Son, you've done a helluva lot more than something right." The General murmured to the empty room. He returned to his work with a grin on his face.
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