fic: Only Fools (4/9)
TITLE: ONLY FOOLS
FANDOM: SG-1
PAIRING: Daniel/Vala. Minor other pairings, including a slash one.
GENRE: Romance/Humour/Action-Adventure/Angst/AU. It's a plethora of genres, lets see how I make them work together.
RATING: R
WARNINGS/SPOILERS: None, AU of crack is cracky. I have no shame in this.
SUMMARY: In the waters of the Caribbean lie treasures unfound, leave it to Vala and Daniel to look for the one that causes them the most trouble. (originally written for the dv_exchange)
( part i: original comm link)
part i | part ii | part iii
Jack O’Neill was not a man that particularly liked people. In fact he could probably count the number of people he did like on his hands and still have a couple of fingers left over. Hell, it was why he ran his salving business out of the back of a museum. Because really, how many people hang out in a museum that’s in the middle of the Caribbean? That being said, it was going to be obvious that Jack O’Neill was not going to like Baal Hadad just on principle, but then he met the man and really didn’t like him.
Baal grinned, snake-like, “Mr. O’Neill, I would like you to find me the Queen’s Dowry.”
Jack almost snorted, but fought to keep his professional face in check. “Well, Mr. Hadad--”
“Please, call me Baal, there’s no need for formality here.” He smirked, making himself at home as he leaned back in the chair.
“Sure, why not?” Jack shrugged, barely keeping the eye-roll in check. “Like I was going to say, Mr. Baal, I don’t think you know just exactly what you’re after.”
Baal just kept his smirk on and gestured to one of the two idiots that had followed him in, “Jarran, the plate.”
Plate? Jack wondered, his curiosity spiking.
Taking the pouch that his lacky handed him, Baal opened it and pulled out half a porcelain plate that should showed the obvious wear of having been left underwater too long. Jack took it in his hands, feeling its sharp edges and looked up at Baal, eyebrow raised.
In his smooth (and over confident) voice, Baal pointed to the plate, proud. “This is piece of the plate I’ve found in the Bahamas, off Topsail Key. Now if you turn it over, you will notice it has the Dessala family crest etched in the back.”
This time Jack really, really tried to keep the scepticism out his voice, too used to amateur treasure seekers coming to him for confirmation that they found something. Most of the time he let Sam break the news to them, as she was much nicer than he, but today he decided it had been a while and instead of humouring the smarmy man in front of him, he felt he owed him the truth.
“Well, that’s just dandy Mr. Baal, but who the hell are the Dessalas and why should I care about their family crest.”
The look on the man’s face was almost worth it, but the man recovered quickly from his angry shock. “I have it on good authority that these Dessalas have more to do with the Queen’s Dowry than obviously even you, Mr. O’Neill, had considered. I’m offering you an opportunity to discover one of the greatest treasures of the known world, and I suggest you take it.”
Jack started at the man, reminding himself it was bad to hit clients and took one last look at the plate in his hands. This character sounded sure of his source and Topsail Key was one of Daniel’s theories…. Daniel. Vala. He lifted his head, slowly, and sized up Baal. Slick, confident, clearly dangerous. Ha, he shook his head, amused, Vala, you never did change. She always picked the dodgiest characters to borrow money from. Pushing the inklings of worry back, Daniel and Vala had stopped being his problem a long time ago, Jack nodded to Baal.
“Sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.”
Baal stood, grabbed the plate, and nodded to Jack. “Looks like we have deal.” The man was an oily character, smooth and dangerous, there was no question of that, but, Jack smirked, it wasn’t like he hadn’t worked with worse. Hell, he used to work for the government.
“Looks like.”
--
As Vala and Carolyn finished their afternoon together, Vala had to admit she did feel guilty about ultimately using Carolyn to get on her father’s boat, after all, she was conning a doctor-a doctor that helped kids, no less, as she learned during their conversation as she showed Carolyn around-but this could be her big break, and after six years she was not letting it slip away when it was so close. Nearing the docks, Vala turned to Carolyn, “So I hope my tour guide services have made up for running you over this morning.”
Carolyn laughed warmly, “No lasting damage was made. And thank you for showing me around.”
“It was no problem.” Vala spun towards the ocean, tucking her hands into the back pocket of her short, “So, which ship out there do you call home?”
Carolyn pressed her lips together, not quite smiling or frowning, her entire stance tensing, “None of them.”
“Are you a mermaid then, because unless there’s an underwater hotel I’ve never heard about…” Vala trailed off, facing Carolyn, with an amused tilt of her head.
“Not quite. I’m staying with my father on the Gateship,” Carolyn pointed to the yacht, “but it’s not what I’d call home.”
Vala nodded, “Ah.”
“Yeah.” Carolyn sighed, frowning for a split second before straightening and stepping forward towards the small lifeboat waiting for her. “Right, well, that’s my ride. Dinner with my father is waiting.”
“You have my number, Carolyn. Call whenever you want some company.”
Carolyn smiled, heading towards the boat. Vala watched her go, waving her fingers idly.
“Have fun at dinner with daddy,” she called out, being obviously ironic, grinning when Carolyn laughed back.
“I sure it will be.” Carolyn moved down the dock. Half way down, Carolyn paused. Vala, slowly turning back towards town, counted to ten.
“Hey, Vala!” Carolyn called out.
Waiting a second to wipe the smug smile of her face, Vala turned, “Carolyn, did you forget something?”
“I was just wondering… you feel like some dinner? I promise it will be good.”
Vala waved her hands down her body, “I’m not exactly dressed for dinner.”
Carolyn rolled her eyes and waved her over, “Please, if you don’t fit in my clothes, I’ll shoot myself. Come on, you’ll be saving me from having to listen to my father talk about his new investments for the night.”
“Anything I can do to help.” Smirking, Vala agreed, heading down the docks. “So, what does your father even do?”
--
As Carson and Rodney carefully arranged the food on the plates in front of Daniel, he wondered who was the third person join Landry and his daughter for dinner. He had heard that Carolyn had brought someone on board, but he had thought she had never been to Key West before, so unless she had a friend already living in the area, Carolyn Lam made fast friends. The food looked good though, fantastic, even, and he made sure to tell both Carson and Rodney that.
Carson blushed, glowing under the compliment. “Thank you, lad. I will admit I’m particularly proud of the cherry glaze.”
“A recipe you know because of me!” Rodney grumbled, moving to Carson’s side, drizzling the said glaze over the lamb.
“And I thank you for it every day.” Carson smiled at his partner, rolling his eyes. “Stop being a spoil sport.”
Rodney scowled, but there was no malice being it. “Whatever. They probably won’t even appreciate the effort I put into making that lamb perfect. It’s more than just skill, it’s a science.”
“I noticed.” Carson settled his hand on Rodney’s shoulder, making the other man’s ear go red. Daniel smiled, knowing that small gesture from Carson had just made Rodney’s night. “So, Daniel,” Carson turned to him, adding the garnishes to the plate, “have you talked to Landry about this ship of yours?”
Shaking his head, Daniel picked up the plates and set them on the tray. “No, not yet. I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“Don’t be a coward, Daniel. He either likes the idea and helps you out or tells you you’re mad and you still make your way to Chicago. Either way you end up somewhere you wanted. Stop being a wimp.”
“Rodney!” Carson scolded.
“What, am I wrong?” Eyebrow raised, he gave Daniel a look.
Narrowing his eyes at Rodney, Daniel turned to Carson, lips set in a mild frown. “No, it’s fine, Carson. He’s right.”
“Of course I am.” Rodney stated, turning back to the stove, getting started on the soufflé, for dessert.
“When do you plan to ask?” Carson asked, gently.
“What better time to waste than now.” Daniel sighed, grabbing the tray. “If you see me come back looking like a ghost, you’ll know how it went.” Walking out of the galley, Daniel straighten his shoulders. What better time to waste than now. Vala had always said that.
--
Vala grinned charmingly as Carolyn introduced her to Hank Landry when he asked who she was as they stepped on the yacht.
“This is Vala Mal Doran, a friend, and I’ve invited her over for dinner.” Carolyn replied in a no-nonsense tone that had Vala laughing inwardly, especially considering Hank Landry’s confused demeanour.
Clearing this throat, he gave Vala a polite nod and flash of teeth. “Of course, the more the merrier. Dinner will be served in an hour.”
In an obvious effort not to roll her eyes, Carolyn lead Vala down towards the guest rooms. “I know, dad. We’ll be ready soon.”
--
Making his way towards the upper deck, where dinner was being served, Daniel went over his speech to Landry, not knowing what waited for him when he got there.
“Mr. Landry, remember when you asked me what I really did? I look for treasure ships-galleons. I look for Spanish galleons.” He muttered under his breathe, trying to get his bearings. “It’s not exactly an investment, because you probably won’t see a dime. It’s a chance to pull out a piece of living history from the hand. With your bare hands.” Mentally scoffing at himself for using more than a few Vala lines in his speech, Daniel didn’t even perceive the familiar accent drifting past his ears.
“To the Odisea, and to adventure!”
It was those words that brought Daniel back from his thoughts and he could not believe his eyes. Vala. Sitting. At dinner. With the Landrys. There was only one way for Daniel to react.
“I knew it!” Practically dropping the tray of food on the table, he glared at his wife. EX-wife. Ex-wife! He couldn’t even think straight. He knew she’d find a way on board. He should have insisted on leaving to Landry instead of listening to Carson and Rodney.
Vala, unaware of his inner break down, only turned to face him with happy surprise etched across her face. “Darling!”
Gritting his teeth, he now did let the tray fall to the table with a resounding clang as the silverware rattled together and more than a few cups threaten to fall over. The fury (and shock) he felt at the moment overtaking any sense of protocol he had for his job. Well, almost any sense. “Have a nice dinner, don’t mind me!” He exclaimed, his voice more than a touch hysterical.
As he turned to leave he caught sight of Vala’s absurdly happy grin and heard Landry exclaim, “I take it you’ve met.”
Vala’s laugh followed and he hated himself for missing the sound of it.
--
Vala was holding back honest to god glee at Daniel’s brooding face-it was just so bloody adorable. In his eyes he was completely in the right for his little tantrum at dinner, but really, he should have known better than to keep this from her. She always did manage to find him. Watching as he moved across the yacht’s living area, Vala had to admire the way the white trousers of his uniform framed his ass. If only they were still having make-up sex, she mourned, briefly, before beginning to explain to Hank and Carolyn what she and Daniel were searching for. What she hoped they’d help them find.
Carolyn though, Vala had to admit, did not look all that happy, but that’s probably because the other woman was beginning to understand that their meeting might not have been so accidental. Oh, well, Vala frowned, she would make it up to her later. Carolyn was lovely, after all. Crossing her legs and leaning back in the soft material of the cream chair that sat across from Landry on his sofa. The maps of Mexico and the Caribban that she and Daniel had asked Landry to use as props laid on the coffee table in front of there in their pristine frames.
Vala curled her lips, remembering as she spoke, “So Daniel and I first met when I was working for this local bloke, Jack O’Neill. Local character, not a big talker, used to be Navy SEALs before he retired. An old sea dog, as he likes to call himself.”
While she spoke, she watched as Daniel walked around her with a tray of tea sandwiches. Snatching one, she gave him a grin just as Landry gently requested for Daniel to sit down and stop serving them.
After a pause and giving a look Daniel did just that, very conspicuously taking the seat across from her. “Jack O’Neill is one of the world’s most respected treasure salvers.”
Vala rolled her eyes, “Nobody said he wasn’t, Daniel.”
“Don’t forget what you were doing when you met Jack, Vala.” He eyed her back, the light glinting of his glasses.
“Oh, don’t make it sound scandalous, Daniel.” She turned to Landry, wide smile stretched across her face. “I was giving surf lessons, Mr. Landry.”
Landry had the good taste to chuckle at the innuendo as Daniel continued. “Jack gave you a job, a vocation and taught you everything you-we-know.”
“Not everything,” she winked back at him.
This time it was Carolyn’s laugh that filled the silence brought about by Daniel’s blush as Landry choked on his brandy. Vala felt proud.
“Anyway,” Daniel narrowed his eyes at her silently telling her to drop it, “later when she and Jack had a falling out about this canon we found”- “on our day off,” Vala interjected- “of the Odisea, which Vala has told you about, about three miles off Euro Beach, which the court ruled was Jack’s since we used his equipment.” He ignored her, facing Landry, and Vala felt a rush of affection for Daniel. Her presence was getting to him.
“Let me guess, you got fired again.” Carolyn smirked, moving to take a seat next to her dad, eyeing Vala.
Landry looked between the two women and cleared his throat trying to diffuse the slight tension that that taken the room. “So, about this treasure?”
Vala leaned forward, making eye contact, her lips curling very cat like. “It starts July 31st, 1715, and a hurricane sinks the entire Spanish treasure fleet of the coast of Florida, including her flag ship The Daedalus, which according to its manifest carried the Queen’s Dowry. Forty chests filled with jewellery and gold crowns, specially crafted in the orient for the new Queen.”
From across her, Daniel’s smile grew, “When we say jewels we mean some of the most exotic and valuable stones known to man.”
“But,” Vala interrupted, “we need to get important bits and that starts with what Daniel and myself got up to during our honeymoon.” She winked saucily at her ex-husband.
“Vala!” Daniel exclaimed, clearing remember the table in the Archives Room just as well as she did.
“I think we can all imagine that.” Landry offered uncomfortably, taking up his drink. Next to him Carolyn raised an eyebrow at Vala, blushing gracefully when Vala told her she’d fill her in on that later.
“Ignore her, Mr. Landry,” Daniel took over, shifting in his chair. “See after the court case we decided to go backpacking in Spain for a couple of weeks.” He paused sending her a small smile, “We ended up staying there for two years in the archives in Seville. Where every known record of official transcript and royal decree relating to the treasure fleet has been kept for centuries.”
Vala pressed her lips together as the memory of the lonely library filled her mind and the reminder of Daniel and her as they took advantage of it-the feel of the weathered wood against her back, the smell of book on their clothes, the way the papers felt curled in her fingers-they were good memories. Shaking herself out of the memory she tuned back into Daniel’s voice he retold the story.
“At first it was for fun, but then we decided to look up the Odisea, because of the cannon we found. It became a sort of pet project for us, especially when we learned that the captain was an eighteen year old boy named Orlin Dessala.”
Vala watched Landry and Carolyn, saw that they were getting hooked into the story much like she and Daniel had been, and took over. “We also discovered that the same boy was the illegitimate son of Capitan General Don Janus Moros of The Daedalus and his Mexican mistress Omaria Dessala. We thought it was an interesting side note and didn’t think much of tit until Daniel, here,” she paused to send a blinding and still proud smile his way, “ found this obscure Spanish book published in 1905 titled: The Dessala Family: An 18th Century Family.”
“It was a collection of letters, actually,” Daniel gently corrected with some pride.
Vala nodded in acknowledgement, “Right. So, you’re probably asking yourselves: why is this important? It’s important because the Dessala ran the mule train that transported the Queen’s Dowry over the mountains from the Pacific and loaded it onto the Spanish galleons, here in Veracruz, where it set sail to the Caribbean.” Vala pointed to the coastal city on the map leaving the imprint of the finger on the glass that covered it.
“And as I’m reading this,” Daniel spoke, “I realise that the answer to all this is right there, in the last letter Moros wrote Omaria. He wrote: my faith in the Odisea is that she is swift and light and will outrun all the storms we most certainly will cross. But it is my faith my in Orlin that knows no bounds. Our son is good and strong and wiser than this old fool who leaves your bed more and more reluctantly. The glory of the Spanish Crown rest in his capable hands.”
Vala couldn’t help the affected smile that creeped onto her face as Daniel recounted the letter. It never mattered how often she read it or heard it from his lips, the sweet language always affected her, and glancing over towards Landry and Carolyn she saw that it too had them by their heartstrings.
Landry was the first to recover, rubbing his chin. “So Moros pulled a switch-a-roo and had the Dessala's move the dowry form The Daedalus to the Odisea, the supply ship.”
Next to him, Carolyn leaned forward. “But why do that in the first place. The dowry would have safer on The Daedalus, don’t you think?”
Daniel nodded, “True, The Daedalus was the more powerful of the ships, but it already overloaded especially with the treasure and it would have been very heavy and slow.”
“Yes, and it wasn’t just hurricanes that they had to watch out for. British warships, French privateer, pirates. Though, I do believe I would have suited the pirate life,” Vala winked.
Across from her, Daniel rolled his eyes. “Anyway, back to the story. As Vala and I started getting ready to leave she finds this article about a Spanish sailor that was founded marooned off a deserted island after being shipwrecked for three years.”
“Off Top Sail Key, I’m guessing.” Landry said.
“Right! In 1718.” Vala nodded.
“Three years after the hurricane,” Daniel added, finishing her sentence.
It was so quickly that they fell into their rhythm of finishing (or even starting) each other’s sentences, Vala mused, continuing the tale. “It was a Dutch frigate that had come to shore, got caught in the reef, where while waiting for the tide to rise, they saw what looked to be an old man paddling out to them.Only it wasn’t an old man, but a young boy, twenty-one years of age.”
“Orlin,” Carolyn breathed.
“Yes, only that’s not what he told the Dutch captain. Instead he told him that his name was Rafael Serrano of the tobacco ship, Omaria.”
Carolyn quirked an eyebrow, sharing a look with her father, “As in his mother…”
Vala smiled mischievously, “Exactly. He told them that he had hit the same reef and sunk in just thirty feet of water.”
Leaning back on his plush sofa, Landry gave an appraising look at Daniel and Vala, “Very impressive.” Vala and Daniel started to sit up straighter when Landry finished his sentence, “still thin, though.”
Vala began to frown, but not for long as Daniel pulled out the trump card.
He leaned forward, “That’s not all though, the Omaria? She's was a real ship, she just didn’t sink of Top Sail Key. She sank of the coast of Veracruz, with all hands, including her captain, Rafael Serrano.”
“And, most importantly,” Vala joined in, “the Omaria was owned by the Dessala family.”
At that Vala watched as Landry and Carolyn’s eyes shone with understanding and wonder. It never got old seeing the effect of tale on others.
“Well, imagine that.” Landry spoke, a quiet timber in voice giving way to the awe he felt.
Daniel was practically bouncing with unexpressed excitement, “Yes, so looking back, what do we know about Orlin Dessala. He survived a hurricane, a shipwreck, starvation, pirates mostly likely and then he lied about it.” He ticked off each point with his fingers, meeting Vala’s eyes, before finishing. “Now, why would someone lie about being part of the greatest treasure fleet in the history of the world?”
“Unless you sitting on top of a huge secret; a secret that not even the King of Spain knew about. We could only think of one reason: Honor.”
Vala nodded in agreement with him, “Because his father had entrusted him with the most precious of tasks. He had to survive to fulfil the privilege Urbino had bestowed upon him. That’s why he lived, that’s why we can’t give up.” She paused to give a significant look at Daniel, “Orlin Dessala is the unsung hero of an entire nation-”
“And we intend to prove it,” Daniel finished, smiling at her.
In front of them Hank Landry and his daughter appeared to be a daze spun of the story they had just told them. (Again, Vala couldn’t help but feel a little proud.)
Carolyn was the first to break out of her daze with a question, “So what happened to him?”
“Orlin?” Daniel ventured.
Carolyn nodded.
“Sadly, he was taken off the Dutch ship in Martinique and died a week later of consumption.” Vala replied.
A sad but understanding look cross Carolyn’s face, the doctor in her taking over for a second.
“So, that’s our idea,” Vala smiled, hoping they had persuaded Landry to help them in their quest.
Landry started at her and Daniel for a minute before turning to Carolyn, “What do you think?”
Carolyn seemed genuinely surprised at the consideration her father gave on this matter. “You’re asking me?”
Landry shurgged, smiling, “Well, how would rather spend these last three weeks before you start you job at the hospital? A treasure hunt or searching for an apartment?”
The twist of Carolyn’s lips amused Vala because she knew, from her afternoon spend with the brunette, that finding an apartment was the least of her problems. Especially considering she already had made an appointment with Kelwona Real Estate, the best agency on the island. Carolyn had just been hoping to get of the her father’s yacht as soon as possible, but it was obvious she was reconsidering it.
As Carolyn thought the idea over, Vala looked over to Daniel, surprised to find him already staring at her. The second their eyes locked, she watched the slight flush appear on his cheeks and could feel the hair’s on the back of her neck stand in anticipation. She didn’t look away from him until Carolyn’s voice broke their impromptu staring constant.
“How can I say no to such an adventure?” Carolyn smiled, lifting her shoulders.
Vala looked away from Daniel and clapped her hands, “Fantastic!”
Daniel stood to shake hands with Landry, “Thank you, for this.”
Landry nodded, turning to shake Vala’s hand.
As they began planning, Vala started off by mentioning, “First off, let’s call Cameron.”
Daniel chuckled.
She smirked.
FANDOM: SG-1
PAIRING: Daniel/Vala. Minor other pairings, including a slash one.
GENRE: Romance/Humour/Action-Adventure/Angst/AU. It's a plethora of genres, lets see how I make them work together.
RATING: R
WARNINGS/SPOILERS: None, AU of crack is cracky. I have no shame in this.
SUMMARY: In the waters of the Caribbean lie treasures unfound, leave it to Vala and Daniel to look for the one that causes them the most trouble. (originally written for the dv_exchange)
( part i: original comm link)
part i | part ii | part iii
Jack O’Neill was not a man that particularly liked people. In fact he could probably count the number of people he did like on his hands and still have a couple of fingers left over. Hell, it was why he ran his salving business out of the back of a museum. Because really, how many people hang out in a museum that’s in the middle of the Caribbean? That being said, it was going to be obvious that Jack O’Neill was not going to like Baal Hadad just on principle, but then he met the man and really didn’t like him.
Baal grinned, snake-like, “Mr. O’Neill, I would like you to find me the Queen’s Dowry.”
Jack almost snorted, but fought to keep his professional face in check. “Well, Mr. Hadad--”
“Please, call me Baal, there’s no need for formality here.” He smirked, making himself at home as he leaned back in the chair.
“Sure, why not?” Jack shrugged, barely keeping the eye-roll in check. “Like I was going to say, Mr. Baal, I don’t think you know just exactly what you’re after.”
Baal just kept his smirk on and gestured to one of the two idiots that had followed him in, “Jarran, the plate.”
Plate? Jack wondered, his curiosity spiking.
Taking the pouch that his lacky handed him, Baal opened it and pulled out half a porcelain plate that should showed the obvious wear of having been left underwater too long. Jack took it in his hands, feeling its sharp edges and looked up at Baal, eyebrow raised.
In his smooth (and over confident) voice, Baal pointed to the plate, proud. “This is piece of the plate I’ve found in the Bahamas, off Topsail Key. Now if you turn it over, you will notice it has the Dessala family crest etched in the back.”
This time Jack really, really tried to keep the scepticism out his voice, too used to amateur treasure seekers coming to him for confirmation that they found something. Most of the time he let Sam break the news to them, as she was much nicer than he, but today he decided it had been a while and instead of humouring the smarmy man in front of him, he felt he owed him the truth.
“Well, that’s just dandy Mr. Baal, but who the hell are the Dessalas and why should I care about their family crest.”
The look on the man’s face was almost worth it, but the man recovered quickly from his angry shock. “I have it on good authority that these Dessalas have more to do with the Queen’s Dowry than obviously even you, Mr. O’Neill, had considered. I’m offering you an opportunity to discover one of the greatest treasures of the known world, and I suggest you take it.”
Jack started at the man, reminding himself it was bad to hit clients and took one last look at the plate in his hands. This character sounded sure of his source and Topsail Key was one of Daniel’s theories…. Daniel. Vala. He lifted his head, slowly, and sized up Baal. Slick, confident, clearly dangerous. Ha, he shook his head, amused, Vala, you never did change. She always picked the dodgiest characters to borrow money from. Pushing the inklings of worry back, Daniel and Vala had stopped being his problem a long time ago, Jack nodded to Baal.
“Sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.”
Baal stood, grabbed the plate, and nodded to Jack. “Looks like we have deal.” The man was an oily character, smooth and dangerous, there was no question of that, but, Jack smirked, it wasn’t like he hadn’t worked with worse. Hell, he used to work for the government.
“Looks like.”
--
As Vala and Carolyn finished their afternoon together, Vala had to admit she did feel guilty about ultimately using Carolyn to get on her father’s boat, after all, she was conning a doctor-a doctor that helped kids, no less, as she learned during their conversation as she showed Carolyn around-but this could be her big break, and after six years she was not letting it slip away when it was so close. Nearing the docks, Vala turned to Carolyn, “So I hope my tour guide services have made up for running you over this morning.”
Carolyn laughed warmly, “No lasting damage was made. And thank you for showing me around.”
“It was no problem.” Vala spun towards the ocean, tucking her hands into the back pocket of her short, “So, which ship out there do you call home?”
Carolyn pressed her lips together, not quite smiling or frowning, her entire stance tensing, “None of them.”
“Are you a mermaid then, because unless there’s an underwater hotel I’ve never heard about…” Vala trailed off, facing Carolyn, with an amused tilt of her head.
“Not quite. I’m staying with my father on the Gateship,” Carolyn pointed to the yacht, “but it’s not what I’d call home.”
Vala nodded, “Ah.”
“Yeah.” Carolyn sighed, frowning for a split second before straightening and stepping forward towards the small lifeboat waiting for her. “Right, well, that’s my ride. Dinner with my father is waiting.”
“You have my number, Carolyn. Call whenever you want some company.”
Carolyn smiled, heading towards the boat. Vala watched her go, waving her fingers idly.
“Have fun at dinner with daddy,” she called out, being obviously ironic, grinning when Carolyn laughed back.
“I sure it will be.” Carolyn moved down the dock. Half way down, Carolyn paused. Vala, slowly turning back towards town, counted to ten.
“Hey, Vala!” Carolyn called out.
Waiting a second to wipe the smug smile of her face, Vala turned, “Carolyn, did you forget something?”
“I was just wondering… you feel like some dinner? I promise it will be good.”
Vala waved her hands down her body, “I’m not exactly dressed for dinner.”
Carolyn rolled her eyes and waved her over, “Please, if you don’t fit in my clothes, I’ll shoot myself. Come on, you’ll be saving me from having to listen to my father talk about his new investments for the night.”
“Anything I can do to help.” Smirking, Vala agreed, heading down the docks. “So, what does your father even do?”
--
As Carson and Rodney carefully arranged the food on the plates in front of Daniel, he wondered who was the third person join Landry and his daughter for dinner. He had heard that Carolyn had brought someone on board, but he had thought she had never been to Key West before, so unless she had a friend already living in the area, Carolyn Lam made fast friends. The food looked good though, fantastic, even, and he made sure to tell both Carson and Rodney that.
Carson blushed, glowing under the compliment. “Thank you, lad. I will admit I’m particularly proud of the cherry glaze.”
“A recipe you know because of me!” Rodney grumbled, moving to Carson’s side, drizzling the said glaze over the lamb.
“And I thank you for it every day.” Carson smiled at his partner, rolling his eyes. “Stop being a spoil sport.”
Rodney scowled, but there was no malice being it. “Whatever. They probably won’t even appreciate the effort I put into making that lamb perfect. It’s more than just skill, it’s a science.”
“I noticed.” Carson settled his hand on Rodney’s shoulder, making the other man’s ear go red. Daniel smiled, knowing that small gesture from Carson had just made Rodney’s night. “So, Daniel,” Carson turned to him, adding the garnishes to the plate, “have you talked to Landry about this ship of yours?”
Shaking his head, Daniel picked up the plates and set them on the tray. “No, not yet. I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“Don’t be a coward, Daniel. He either likes the idea and helps you out or tells you you’re mad and you still make your way to Chicago. Either way you end up somewhere you wanted. Stop being a wimp.”
“Rodney!” Carson scolded.
“What, am I wrong?” Eyebrow raised, he gave Daniel a look.
Narrowing his eyes at Rodney, Daniel turned to Carson, lips set in a mild frown. “No, it’s fine, Carson. He’s right.”
“Of course I am.” Rodney stated, turning back to the stove, getting started on the soufflé, for dessert.
“When do you plan to ask?” Carson asked, gently.
“What better time to waste than now.” Daniel sighed, grabbing the tray. “If you see me come back looking like a ghost, you’ll know how it went.” Walking out of the galley, Daniel straighten his shoulders. What better time to waste than now. Vala had always said that.
--
Vala grinned charmingly as Carolyn introduced her to Hank Landry when he asked who she was as they stepped on the yacht.
“This is Vala Mal Doran, a friend, and I’ve invited her over for dinner.” Carolyn replied in a no-nonsense tone that had Vala laughing inwardly, especially considering Hank Landry’s confused demeanour.
Clearing this throat, he gave Vala a polite nod and flash of teeth. “Of course, the more the merrier. Dinner will be served in an hour.”
In an obvious effort not to roll her eyes, Carolyn lead Vala down towards the guest rooms. “I know, dad. We’ll be ready soon.”
--
Making his way towards the upper deck, where dinner was being served, Daniel went over his speech to Landry, not knowing what waited for him when he got there.
“Mr. Landry, remember when you asked me what I really did? I look for treasure ships-galleons. I look for Spanish galleons.” He muttered under his breathe, trying to get his bearings. “It’s not exactly an investment, because you probably won’t see a dime. It’s a chance to pull out a piece of living history from the hand. With your bare hands.” Mentally scoffing at himself for using more than a few Vala lines in his speech, Daniel didn’t even perceive the familiar accent drifting past his ears.
“To the Odisea, and to adventure!”
It was those words that brought Daniel back from his thoughts and he could not believe his eyes. Vala. Sitting. At dinner. With the Landrys. There was only one way for Daniel to react.
“I knew it!” Practically dropping the tray of food on the table, he glared at his wife. EX-wife. Ex-wife! He couldn’t even think straight. He knew she’d find a way on board. He should have insisted on leaving to Landry instead of listening to Carson and Rodney.
Vala, unaware of his inner break down, only turned to face him with happy surprise etched across her face. “Darling!”
Gritting his teeth, he now did let the tray fall to the table with a resounding clang as the silverware rattled together and more than a few cups threaten to fall over. The fury (and shock) he felt at the moment overtaking any sense of protocol he had for his job. Well, almost any sense. “Have a nice dinner, don’t mind me!” He exclaimed, his voice more than a touch hysterical.
As he turned to leave he caught sight of Vala’s absurdly happy grin and heard Landry exclaim, “I take it you’ve met.”
Vala’s laugh followed and he hated himself for missing the sound of it.
--
Vala was holding back honest to god glee at Daniel’s brooding face-it was just so bloody adorable. In his eyes he was completely in the right for his little tantrum at dinner, but really, he should have known better than to keep this from her. She always did manage to find him. Watching as he moved across the yacht’s living area, Vala had to admire the way the white trousers of his uniform framed his ass. If only they were still having make-up sex, she mourned, briefly, before beginning to explain to Hank and Carolyn what she and Daniel were searching for. What she hoped they’d help them find.
Carolyn though, Vala had to admit, did not look all that happy, but that’s probably because the other woman was beginning to understand that their meeting might not have been so accidental. Oh, well, Vala frowned, she would make it up to her later. Carolyn was lovely, after all. Crossing her legs and leaning back in the soft material of the cream chair that sat across from Landry on his sofa. The maps of Mexico and the Caribban that she and Daniel had asked Landry to use as props laid on the coffee table in front of there in their pristine frames.
Vala curled her lips, remembering as she spoke, “So Daniel and I first met when I was working for this local bloke, Jack O’Neill. Local character, not a big talker, used to be Navy SEALs before he retired. An old sea dog, as he likes to call himself.”
While she spoke, she watched as Daniel walked around her with a tray of tea sandwiches. Snatching one, she gave him a grin just as Landry gently requested for Daniel to sit down and stop serving them.
After a pause and giving a look Daniel did just that, very conspicuously taking the seat across from her. “Jack O’Neill is one of the world’s most respected treasure salvers.”
Vala rolled her eyes, “Nobody said he wasn’t, Daniel.”
“Don’t forget what you were doing when you met Jack, Vala.” He eyed her back, the light glinting of his glasses.
“Oh, don’t make it sound scandalous, Daniel.” She turned to Landry, wide smile stretched across her face. “I was giving surf lessons, Mr. Landry.”
Landry had the good taste to chuckle at the innuendo as Daniel continued. “Jack gave you a job, a vocation and taught you everything you-we-know.”
“Not everything,” she winked back at him.
This time it was Carolyn’s laugh that filled the silence brought about by Daniel’s blush as Landry choked on his brandy. Vala felt proud.
“Anyway,” Daniel narrowed his eyes at her silently telling her to drop it, “later when she and Jack had a falling out about this canon we found”- “on our day off,” Vala interjected- “of the Odisea, which Vala has told you about, about three miles off Euro Beach, which the court ruled was Jack’s since we used his equipment.” He ignored her, facing Landry, and Vala felt a rush of affection for Daniel. Her presence was getting to him.
“Let me guess, you got fired again.” Carolyn smirked, moving to take a seat next to her dad, eyeing Vala.
Landry looked between the two women and cleared his throat trying to diffuse the slight tension that that taken the room. “So, about this treasure?”
Vala leaned forward, making eye contact, her lips curling very cat like. “It starts July 31st, 1715, and a hurricane sinks the entire Spanish treasure fleet of the coast of Florida, including her flag ship The Daedalus, which according to its manifest carried the Queen’s Dowry. Forty chests filled with jewellery and gold crowns, specially crafted in the orient for the new Queen.”
From across her, Daniel’s smile grew, “When we say jewels we mean some of the most exotic and valuable stones known to man.”
“But,” Vala interrupted, “we need to get important bits and that starts with what Daniel and myself got up to during our honeymoon.” She winked saucily at her ex-husband.
“Vala!” Daniel exclaimed, clearing remember the table in the Archives Room just as well as she did.
“I think we can all imagine that.” Landry offered uncomfortably, taking up his drink. Next to him Carolyn raised an eyebrow at Vala, blushing gracefully when Vala told her she’d fill her in on that later.
“Ignore her, Mr. Landry,” Daniel took over, shifting in his chair. “See after the court case we decided to go backpacking in Spain for a couple of weeks.” He paused sending her a small smile, “We ended up staying there for two years in the archives in Seville. Where every known record of official transcript and royal decree relating to the treasure fleet has been kept for centuries.”
Vala pressed her lips together as the memory of the lonely library filled her mind and the reminder of Daniel and her as they took advantage of it-the feel of the weathered wood against her back, the smell of book on their clothes, the way the papers felt curled in her fingers-they were good memories. Shaking herself out of the memory she tuned back into Daniel’s voice he retold the story.
“At first it was for fun, but then we decided to look up the Odisea, because of the cannon we found. It became a sort of pet project for us, especially when we learned that the captain was an eighteen year old boy named Orlin Dessala.”
Vala watched Landry and Carolyn, saw that they were getting hooked into the story much like she and Daniel had been, and took over. “We also discovered that the same boy was the illegitimate son of Capitan General Don Janus Moros of The Daedalus and his Mexican mistress Omaria Dessala. We thought it was an interesting side note and didn’t think much of tit until Daniel, here,” she paused to send a blinding and still proud smile his way, “ found this obscure Spanish book published in 1905 titled: The Dessala Family: An 18th Century Family.”
“It was a collection of letters, actually,” Daniel gently corrected with some pride.
Vala nodded in acknowledgement, “Right. So, you’re probably asking yourselves: why is this important? It’s important because the Dessala ran the mule train that transported the Queen’s Dowry over the mountains from the Pacific and loaded it onto the Spanish galleons, here in Veracruz, where it set sail to the Caribbean.” Vala pointed to the coastal city on the map leaving the imprint of the finger on the glass that covered it.
“And as I’m reading this,” Daniel spoke, “I realise that the answer to all this is right there, in the last letter Moros wrote Omaria. He wrote: my faith in the Odisea is that she is swift and light and will outrun all the storms we most certainly will cross. But it is my faith my in Orlin that knows no bounds. Our son is good and strong and wiser than this old fool who leaves your bed more and more reluctantly. The glory of the Spanish Crown rest in his capable hands.”
Vala couldn’t help the affected smile that creeped onto her face as Daniel recounted the letter. It never mattered how often she read it or heard it from his lips, the sweet language always affected her, and glancing over towards Landry and Carolyn she saw that it too had them by their heartstrings.
Landry was the first to recover, rubbing his chin. “So Moros pulled a switch-a-roo and had the Dessala's move the dowry form The Daedalus to the Odisea, the supply ship.”
Next to him, Carolyn leaned forward. “But why do that in the first place. The dowry would have safer on The Daedalus, don’t you think?”
Daniel nodded, “True, The Daedalus was the more powerful of the ships, but it already overloaded especially with the treasure and it would have been very heavy and slow.”
“Yes, and it wasn’t just hurricanes that they had to watch out for. British warships, French privateer, pirates. Though, I do believe I would have suited the pirate life,” Vala winked.
Across from her, Daniel rolled his eyes. “Anyway, back to the story. As Vala and I started getting ready to leave she finds this article about a Spanish sailor that was founded marooned off a deserted island after being shipwrecked for three years.”
“Off Top Sail Key, I’m guessing.” Landry said.
“Right! In 1718.” Vala nodded.
“Three years after the hurricane,” Daniel added, finishing her sentence.
It was so quickly that they fell into their rhythm of finishing (or even starting) each other’s sentences, Vala mused, continuing the tale. “It was a Dutch frigate that had come to shore, got caught in the reef, where while waiting for the tide to rise, they saw what looked to be an old man paddling out to them.Only it wasn’t an old man, but a young boy, twenty-one years of age.”
“Orlin,” Carolyn breathed.
“Yes, only that’s not what he told the Dutch captain. Instead he told him that his name was Rafael Serrano of the tobacco ship, Omaria.”
Carolyn quirked an eyebrow, sharing a look with her father, “As in his mother…”
Vala smiled mischievously, “Exactly. He told them that he had hit the same reef and sunk in just thirty feet of water.”
Leaning back on his plush sofa, Landry gave an appraising look at Daniel and Vala, “Very impressive.” Vala and Daniel started to sit up straighter when Landry finished his sentence, “still thin, though.”
Vala began to frown, but not for long as Daniel pulled out the trump card.
He leaned forward, “That’s not all though, the Omaria? She's was a real ship, she just didn’t sink of Top Sail Key. She sank of the coast of Veracruz, with all hands, including her captain, Rafael Serrano.”
“And, most importantly,” Vala joined in, “the Omaria was owned by the Dessala family.”
At that Vala watched as Landry and Carolyn’s eyes shone with understanding and wonder. It never got old seeing the effect of tale on others.
“Well, imagine that.” Landry spoke, a quiet timber in voice giving way to the awe he felt.
Daniel was practically bouncing with unexpressed excitement, “Yes, so looking back, what do we know about Orlin Dessala. He survived a hurricane, a shipwreck, starvation, pirates mostly likely and then he lied about it.” He ticked off each point with his fingers, meeting Vala’s eyes, before finishing. “Now, why would someone lie about being part of the greatest treasure fleet in the history of the world?”
“Unless you sitting on top of a huge secret; a secret that not even the King of Spain knew about. We could only think of one reason: Honor.”
Vala nodded in agreement with him, “Because his father had entrusted him with the most precious of tasks. He had to survive to fulfil the privilege Urbino had bestowed upon him. That’s why he lived, that’s why we can’t give up.” She paused to give a significant look at Daniel, “Orlin Dessala is the unsung hero of an entire nation-”
“And we intend to prove it,” Daniel finished, smiling at her.
In front of them Hank Landry and his daughter appeared to be a daze spun of the story they had just told them. (Again, Vala couldn’t help but feel a little proud.)
Carolyn was the first to break out of her daze with a question, “So what happened to him?”
“Orlin?” Daniel ventured.
Carolyn nodded.
“Sadly, he was taken off the Dutch ship in Martinique and died a week later of consumption.” Vala replied.
A sad but understanding look cross Carolyn’s face, the doctor in her taking over for a second.
“So, that’s our idea,” Vala smiled, hoping they had persuaded Landry to help them in their quest.
Landry started at her and Daniel for a minute before turning to Carolyn, “What do you think?”
Carolyn seemed genuinely surprised at the consideration her father gave on this matter. “You’re asking me?”
Landry shurgged, smiling, “Well, how would rather spend these last three weeks before you start you job at the hospital? A treasure hunt or searching for an apartment?”
The twist of Carolyn’s lips amused Vala because she knew, from her afternoon spend with the brunette, that finding an apartment was the least of her problems. Especially considering she already had made an appointment with Kelwona Real Estate, the best agency on the island. Carolyn had just been hoping to get of the her father’s yacht as soon as possible, but it was obvious she was reconsidering it.
As Carolyn thought the idea over, Vala looked over to Daniel, surprised to find him already staring at her. The second their eyes locked, she watched the slight flush appear on his cheeks and could feel the hair’s on the back of her neck stand in anticipation. She didn’t look away from him until Carolyn’s voice broke their impromptu staring constant.
“How can I say no to such an adventure?” Carolyn smiled, lifting her shoulders.
Vala looked away from Daniel and clapped her hands, “Fantastic!”
Daniel stood to shake hands with Landry, “Thank you, for this.”
Landry nodded, turning to shake Vala’s hand.
As they began planning, Vala started off by mentioning, “First off, let’s call Cameron.”
Daniel chuckled.
She smirked.