Update - Our Lives As Happenstance - Chapter 6
Title: Our Lives As Happenstance
Author: Milena D.
Rating: T (PG-13) for now
Genre: Action/Angst/Romance
Pairings: Daniel/Vala, some Cam/Sam can be seen as shippy
SPOILERS: HUGE SPOILERS FOR CONTINUUM.
Summary: A divergence in the lives of our team from one of the last scenes of the movie causes their future to change radically and permanently. Daniel/Vala and HUGE spoilers for CONTINUUM.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Stargate Continuum, the Stargate Series, any of the characters, I don’t even own the premise which is the plot from the movie. Basically I own nothing and am making no money so please don’t sue.
Author’s Note #1: Moved in, internet back, furniture finally arrived, all but school is peachy!
Author’s Note #2: As always, thank you Susan for being such a good beta.
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
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Chapter 6: While You Were Detained
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Why did this feel familiar? Oh, right, because it was. Daniel looked around the small room with irritation. This place was the very definition of “nondescript”. The familiarity came from the days he’d spent in a similar room when he, Cam, and Sam had been detained upon being discovered on the altered Earth. He rapped his fingertips against the tabletop in front of him and sighed for the umpteenth time.
Seeing Martouf alive and surprisingly rugged had been a shock but they’d taken it in stride. Well he had, Sam had taken a while to come around to the idea. He supposed it made sense since she had shared a pseudo relationship with him through the Tok’ra who’d implanted herself in the scientist, not to mention the trauma of him dying in her arms.
Martouf and his fellow Tok’ra hadn’t taken their presence - or knowledge - well. The moment Daniel had uttered his name (an impossibility unless he was a spy according to them), they’d been suspicious. Add to that Teal’c walking out and aiming his staff weapon at the Tok’ra and their afternoon had gotten very tense. Not to mention the point when they found Qetesh in the back. The humans, Jaffa, and Goa’uld had all been separated from each other and interrogated for hours and Daniel was more than tired of not being believed. He’d gotten used to his reputation carrying some credibility before Ba’al ruined their lives and being constantly accused and under suspicion was getting old.
Though he hadn’t seen any of them in almost three full days, Daniel was sure Sam and Cam’s more diplomatic sides would get them through safely. He was worried about Teal’c, though, and what his temper might cause. And he was especially worried about Qetesh, he had no guarantee that she was still alive. They wouldn’t tell him anything despite his very loud pleas that the symbiote be extracted and the host unharmed.
Strangely enough, he was also worried about himself. Not physically; he didn’t believe he was in any danger. Mentally, he wasn’t sure how much more he could take of this all before he did something he’d forever regret. Losing his leg had been hard but he’d gotten through it and the prosthesis hadn’t been such an inconvenience. Losing his security is what had really crippled him. Being jostled from one place to another, trying to convince everyone that he deserved to have his old life back and being denied at every turn. That’s what was leaving a very obvious scar on him. And here he was again, in yet another holding cell, pleading to be believed that he wasn’t crazy yet again. But they’d gotten tired of his litany hours ago and had left him alone.
“Doctor Jackson.” A voice at the door surprised him. He turned to take in yet another shock.
“Freya, hi.” He greeted slightly uncomfortably. A single, delicate eyebrow lifted at his personal greeting but she didn’t dwell. The blonde Tok’ra made her way to the table and took a seat on the side opposite to Daniel.
“I have been told that you believe you are from an alternate timeline.” She began matter-of-factly. “I specialize in science and technology among my people and I’ve been sent to appraise whether such a device can be fashioned at our present time.”
“You’re just like her.” Daniel noted wryly. “Ever the consummate scientist.” He didn’t miss her alternate self but it was good to see a familiar face sporting the matching personality. Freya cocked her head to the side but didn’t speak. She opened a small case that looked like a laptop and was poised to take notes.
“Look, if it’s the physics and mechanics of the device you’re looking for, you’ll want Sam.” He told her. “Samantha Carter, the blonde woman in our group. She’s the theoretical astrophysicist. I’m...an archeologist and linguist.”
“Yes, Samantha Carter. She told us that she was host to Selma’c in your alternate timeline.” Freya chimed in, remembering the woman he spoke of. Daniel frowned.
“Okay, no, you must have taken your notes wrong.” he said, eyeing her strangely, “She was host to Jolinar of Malkshur, against her will, for a few days about eight years ago. Her father Jacob was host, willingly, to Selma’c to cure his cancer but he died a few years back and that was a trick question.”
“It was.” Freya replied with a small smile after his speech. “You did well.”
“Yeah, well...” Daniel trailed off, not sure whether to be angry with the mind games or happy to be making progress. He decided to be happy and bite the bullet. “Listen, I know all of this must be very left field for all of you but you have to believe that we mean you no harm.”
Freya looked at him questioningly again and he rolled his eyes.
“Well Qetesh probably does but the rest of us don’t. Cam, Sam and I are part of the Tau’ri, the last surviving Tau’ri in this timeline now. In our timeline, we forged an alliance with the Tok’ra early on, working closely with you, Martouf, and Selma’c. Teal’c is from your timeline but he’s part of the Jaffa Rebellion against the Goa’uld, or will be once we find it. And we’re only here to ask your help in extracting the symbiote Qetesh from her host so we can get our friend back and be on our way.” Daniel swore to her in a rush.
When she still didn’t look particularly acquiescent, Daniel was struck with a last ditch effort.
“The za’tarc testing device!” He exclaimed, startling her. “In my timeline, you invented a device that could tell whether a person was hiding the truth. Use it on us, you’ll see we’re not lying.”
Freya was quiet a moment before bowing her head and rising again, speaking with a distinctly different voice.
“I assume you know my name as well?” Freya’s symbiote asked.
“Hello Anise.” Daniel greeted tiredly.
“This device you speak of does not exist.” She informed him and watched him closed his eyes in frustration. “It does not exist yet. However, I have been testing prototypes for some years. Prototypes only I and a select few Tok’ra know of.”
Daniel opened his eyes again and looked at her with hope barely burgeoning in his eyes.
“I believe you are who you say you are. And I believe you are from an alternate timeline. Freya does as well.” Anise announced.
“Thank you.” Daniel all but whispered elatedly. “What about the others?”
“They have already been cleared, you were the last to confirm.” Anise answered him. “You will be given temporary lodgings here until we change locations, at which time you will leave us.”
“That’s fine,” Daniel replied honestly, rising from his chair, “we just came for Vala. Who can I speak to about performing the extraction on Qetesh?”
Freya smiled as she collected her things and rising as well.
“After preliminary interrogations revealed that Qetesh was left out of most of Ba’al’s plans, the extraction was performed.” She told him, his widening eyes making her smile larger. “Your friend has been free for two days.”
All of Daniel’s previous tiredness vanished and his body hummed with energy begging to be released. He needed to see her.
“Where?” He heard himself asked as his foot fidgeted.
“I will take you to them.” Anise offered, leaving the room. He wasted no time in following her.
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“Daniel!” Sam cried joyfully as he walked into their living area. They had been assigned a small common space in addition to their individual rooms and there the two humans and the Jaffa had been waiting for their fourth.
“Hey, you guys okay?” He asked distractedly as his eyes quickly searched every corner of the room.
“Yeah, you?” Cam returned, eyeing the woman behind their friend.
“Freya,” Sam greeted, trying not to look too put-off by her presence, “hi.”
The Tok’ra simply bowed her head in reply.
“Where is she?” Daniel asked, not bothering to act patient.
“In there.” Cam pointed to a closed door across the hall from their small alcove. Daniel quickly turned around to see.
“You know she’s been-?”
“We know.” Sam said, soothingly. “We’ve tried to see her but the Tok’ra chief of medicine, Te’sin, won’t let us.”
It was only then that Daniel realized there weren’t only three people sitting around the table in the room. At his mention, the Tok’ra stood.
“She does not wish to see anybody, surely that’s understandable after what she’s been through.” The symbiote said in a monotone voice.
“We’re her friends!” Daniel argued back.
“Not, as I understand it, in this timeline.” Te’sin returned calmly. “She has no recollection of any of you. You are as much strangers to her as we are.”
“You see what we’ve been up against?” Cam asked Daniel, his arms crossed defensively against Te’sin. They’d been trying to get at least one of them in to see Vala for the past three hours to no avail.
“She may not remember us but we know her and we have a lot of experience in dealing with newly freed hosts, either way we’re an asset to her recovery.” Daniel fought back with the most rational arguments he could think of. Te’sin opened his mouth to rebuke him but was interrupted.
“Te’sin,” Anise called to her brethren, “I agree with the Tau’ri. They can be useful in her rehabilitations. Especially as we cannot afford to offer any of our own people at this time.”
Te’sin took a moment to mull it over, no doubt to chat with his host, before simply nodding, somewhat reluctantly before turning to the Tau’ri and Jaffa.
“You must not add to her stress or agitate her in any way. Do not pressure her to remember her time as a host as it is often too traumatic for anyone to go through. And you must leave her if she so asks you.” Te’sin ordered them.
“We know the rules, doc. Now can we go?” Cam asked, rising from his chair to lean against the table.
“You may, but it would be best not to overwhelm her.” He replied, subtly chastising their impetuousness.
“We know, one visitor at a time.” Daniel added hastily. Te’sin nodded curtly.
“Contact me should she require any further attention.” He ordered before leaving the room. The others were left looking at each other in amazement. Vala, human Vala, was just beyond that door.
“So who’s going first?” Cam asked needlessly. It was obvious who was going first...he just seemed to be frozen to the ground at the moment, staring intently at the closed door.
“You have had a rest, I believe one of you would be the appropriate choice.” Anise told Cam and Sam as she moved to stand beside Daniel. “Dr. Jackson, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your quarters and you can get some rest.”
The moment Anise’s hand touched his arm, Daniel was shocked out of the spell he’d been under and, without taking stock of his environment, he quickly walked towards the closed door that hid the woman he’d missed more than he’d ever thought possible.
“I have to see her.” He mumbled by way of explanation once his hand settled on the doorknob. Cam and Sam shared a look - half joyful, half anxious - with each other and with Teal’c as they settled in for a long wait.
“So, Anise, Freya,” Cam started, proud of himself for remembering the host’s name, “about this rebellion...”
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Daniel moved slowly but noisily into the dark room. The last thing he needed was to startle her. The ambient lights had been turned off but there’s was a softly pulsing white glow emanating from the wall. It almost looked like a lava lamp and it made Daniel smile as he remembered how Vala had wanted one after she’d seen it in a movie. He should have gotten her one.
Daniel allowed his eyes to adjust to the minimal light and saw that the room contained a dresser to his left, a chair against the wall, and a bed tucked into the corner of the room. There was a door to his left as well, a closet maybe, or a bathroom. He approached the slowly, picking the chair up to bring with him. He set the furniture back down near the bed, leaving a respectable space between the two, but hesitated to sit down. At the moment, all he could see was a human-shaped lump facing the opposite wall underneath the bedding and it was taking all his willpower to resist the temptation to gently tug on her shoulder to roll her onto her back and soak in the sight of her... Te’sin was right, he was a stranger to this Vala, he had no right to touch her, hell he didn’t have the right to walk into her room uninvited but he was willing to push the envelope of social protocol to the limit for this chance to be so near her again.
The dim lighting only allowed him to see that the covers were pulled up to her shoulders and the black, silky hair falling across her back and pillow. She wasn’t moving on the bed but her breathing wasn’t steady and every so often, she shivered. Daniel sat down in his chair, making enough noise to let her know where he was but not speaking yet. He was so afraid that to speak would sever this almost impossible scene and he wasn’t willing to risk it. Finally, Vala shifted slightly on the bed, though she didn’t alter her position, and he was finally ready to speak to her.
“Hi Vala,” he murmured very quietly and slowly so as to not startle her, “my name is Daniel Jackson. You don’t know me but I...I know what you’re going through.”
Vala’s form had become tense and still but she made no move of acknowledging his words, or that she even understood them. He remembered vividly how near comatose Sam was after her extraction...but Cassandra had been able to guide her out of it and that bolstered his hope. Gently, he went on.
“I know...that you’ve been through something horrific...as of late. Freedom takes its toll on a host.” He started, trying not to stumble over his awkward tongue. “And I know how confusing everything must be right now, with your memories clashing with Qetesh’s, but I need you to try and understand something.”
He waited a moment but she didn’t give him any indication to continue or to stop so, he forged ahead.
“I know it’ll sound like just one more thing to tack onto your growing list of impossible things but...my friends and I are from an alternate timeline. In...that alternate timeline, the Tok’ra freed you from Qetesh a long time ago and we had...known you for the last three years.” Still no reaction. “We worked together, you and...us. We...we were very close. When my friends and I were brought to this timeline, Qetesh captured us but we overpowered her and brought you here so the Tok’ra could free you.”
Nothing, not even the mention of Qetesh or the Tok’ra bought him any more reaction than the small movements she’d given him earlier. It had been ridiculous but he’d been wishing for a moment to talk to her like this, praying that this contact would somehow make their mismatched band complete again, make him -
“I’m-I’m just telling you all this to lets you know tha-that you’re not...alone...here. You may not know us but we consider you one of our closest friends and we’re not going to abandon you. We’re here for you.” Daniel told her, his sincerity pouring into his voice. Still she stayed as still and silent as a statue. He tried to stifle it but a small sigh escaped him nonetheless. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy. He had serious doubts that he’d react well to some strange alien walking into his room with flowery words after he’d been traumatized either.
“Anyway, that’s...that’s all I wanted to say. Well, for now.” He stuttered quietly, shifting awkwardly in the hard chair, letting his head drop. “Do you...do you mind...I mean, would it be okay wi-with you if I just sat here a-a bit longer?”
He didn’t really expect an answer but to his surprise, he heard her hair rustle softly against her pillow. His head shot up just in time to see her settle her head back down from its slightly turned position, as is she’d been trying to look at him. Ridiculous joy spread through him at the silent acknowledgement.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He voiced quietly, a smile on his voice. “Thank you.”
It was probably his imagination but he could have sworn she nodded slightly in the darkness. He let himself believe it and settled deeper into the chair. Holding on to this cautious exhilaration, for the first time in many years, he allowed himself to picture the future, to dump all of his dreams into a vision to keep for the days and weeks to follow. He had no doubt that he’d need it.
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Sorry for the long wait! Moving turned out to be more of a hassle than previously anticipated. :S And I haven’t stopped replying to reviews, I’m going to reply to them all right now! Thanks everyone!
>> Next: Chapter 7