Some Things Change, Some Things Remain the Same: Chapter 4
Hello everyone, this chapter is one of my favorites in this fic. Same deal - even if some bits seem familiar, keep reading. I added things here and there. New readers, just ignore me.
Please enjoy. :)
TITLE: Some Things Change, Some Things Remain the Same (Chapter 4)
AUTHOR: aeryn_b
RATING: PG-13 or R (there are a few NC-17 chapters later on, I will put it in the warning)
WARNING: none
CATEGORY: Alternate Universe, Romance, Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
PAIRINGS: Daniel/Vala
CHARACTERS: Daniel Jackson, Vala Mal Doran
SPOILERS/TIMELINE: "Beachhead" through Season 9 to "Flesh and Blood"
SUMMARY/PREMISE: What happens if both Vala AND Daniel are transported to the Ori galaxy at the end of "Beachhead"? How will they survive and how will they get back?
Chapter 1 http://aeryn-b.livejournal.com/7859.html
Chapter 2 http://aeryn-b.livejournal.com/8109.html
Chapter 3 http://aeryn-b.livejournal.com/8411.html
Click here to read on FFN
Click here to read on alldanielfic.com
Chapter 4
She was kissing him. Vala was sitting there, straddling him, dragging him up by the shirt, and kissing him, and Daniel could think of no good reason not to kiss her back. Her breath was hot and he tasted the salty hint of sweat on her upper lip. He moved his hands from where they rested on her thighs up to her waist and felt her shiver beneath his fingers. In half a second he'd push her away and call her a fruitcake and she'd knock him out with a head-butt, but in this moment he relished the feel of her.
Yet he wasn't pushing her away. He was deepening the kiss, trying to taste all of her at once. Suddenly, Daniel was aware that he wasn't in control of his body. He wasn't recalling a memory, he was dreaming. He was dreaming the one nightmare that had plagued him for nearly half a year. And if that wasn't bad enough, he couldn't wake up.
His body was tense and relaxed all at the same time. He could feel himself hardening beneath Vala as she wiggled in his lap. Trailing kisses down her neck, he wrapped his arms around her and eased the zat-absorbing, super-soldier undergarment from her shoulders.
Daniel forced his lips from her skin and looked up at Vala. The form-fitting, super-soldier suit was replaced with the leather bustier outfit complete with buckled collar. Yet his fingers went to work on the straps as if it was the most normal thing in the world. He exposed her neck once more and nibbled at a sensitive spot below her earlobe, eliciting a wonderful purr from her throat. Daniel hated that he enjoyed the dream, he hated admitting to himself that he enjoyed the dream.
He lifted his head once more from her perfect neck and felt soft cotton beneath his hands where there had once been leather. Vala knelt in front of him, a single tear streaming down her cheek and he recalled her appearance-or rather Sallis, whom he was always able to envision as Vala-when she'd been brought back to life after being burned alive. He kissed her hard then, and he honestly didn't know if he was in control now or not. Daniel tried not to remember how scared he'd been for her, or how relieved he'd felt when softness replaced her crisp and charred form. He kissed her as if it was the only way to drive the fear away, as if his life depended on it.
When he broke the kiss for air, Vala was sitting in his lap, smiling seductively at him in a pink tank top and matching panties. She stroked his cheek and eyed his mouth. Fisting her hands in his collar she kissed him senseless, driving him wild. He was going insane with his body's need for her. He entwined his hands with hers and whispered her name between kisses. Vala answered him, equally entranced, equally breathless.
"Daniel? Daniel!"
"Wh-What?"
"Are you all right? You called my name."
Vala knelt less than a foot away, her hand covering his. He focused and sat up, instinctively clutching the quilt over his waist.
"I'm fine, just a dream…a nightmare, really," Daniel added quickly. "I can't remember all of it, but I think it was another Ori witch hunt."
Vala shivered. "Ooh, yes, that is a nightmare. But you're okay, now. We're both all right; that won't happen this time."
He nodded. "Right," dipping his head, he tried to avoid her gaze, "you're right, of course."
She patted his hand and replied, "Of course I am." Then she stood up and walked back to the bed.
"Vala…" Don't say it. Just. Don't. Say it. "It's a good idea to pretend to be married." Why was he admitting this? "It was quick thinking on your part and I should have realized that. I'm sorry. And…um…sorry about the 'soaking in the tub all day' quip too." Daniel glanced up at her, catching her surprised look. He tried to recall if he'd ever apologized to her and found that he hadn't.
But she recovered quickly. "Don't worry about it, Daniel. Oh, what's the saying? 'River under the bridge.'"
Daniel smirked in the dark and lay back down on the pillow. "It's 'water' - 'water under the bridge.'"
"Oh, well, whatever. Just forget about it and go back to sleep."
"Yes, dear," Daniel mumbled under his breath. Maybe it wouldn't be a complete nightmare.
He'd seen the rooster yesterday when he was working on the sty's fence, so really, Daniel should've been prepared for its crow at dawn. Unfortunately he'd only just found a comfortable position in which to sleep about two hours before, so the animal would have to be shot. Immediately.
"Could we kill it and make it look like it died of natural causes?" Vala asked groggily from the bed-the nice, soft bed with warm sheets and blankets. Although she did make a certain kind of sense.
"I doubt it."
"We could zat it. It would look like the offensive animal just keeled over and died."
"Vala," Daniel sighed, "you have no right to complain, since you got to sleep in the bed."
"Sorry," she said flatly, probably not meaning it at all.
"Let's just make the best of it." Daniel stood up and stretched, then gathered up the pillows and blankets to arrange them once more on the bed. Vala whined a bit more about the sun in her eyes but finally got up and helped too.
Daniel deliberately kept his eyes off Vala while they made the bed, but her clean scent was harder to ignore. It brought back memories of their run-in in the bathhouse and how he'd almost wished she had stayed to help him bathe, to help him reach the middle of his back and wash his hair. There really were times when the two of them got along just fine and then…there were all the times that he wanted to shake the nonsense out of her. It was just too bad that with every knowing smile from Vala, he remembered that he had to pretend to love her…to like her…well, to at least not hate her. And then the sleeping arrangements, and the dream.
Daniel sat on the edge of the bed and laced up his borrowed boots as he tried to prepare for whatever might happen that day. Vala was getting dressed on the other side of the room near the dresser.
"We need to get a few things straight, Daniel," Vala said as she brushed and braided her hair. "We probably should have thought of these things beforehand, but it doesn't matter now." She turned around and focused on Daniel. "What did we do in our other village? Were you a farmhand? You wear glasses, so were you a learned man, a village historian, perhaps? A schoolteacher, maybe? Did you spend hours upon hours reading the wisdom of the Ori? If so, you'd better be prepared with evidence of that knowledge."
"I…um…" Did he and the rest of SG-1 ever have to come up with cover stories this elaborate? Now that he thought about it, no, they hadn't had to because they usually weren't trying to hide from the enemy out in plain sight. And in any case, most of the time there were enough villagers willing to resist the Goa'uld and help the distinguished members of the Tau'ri. This was definitely a unique situation for Daniel, and he was beginning to believe that it wasn't for Vala.
"I suppose if I'd arrived alone," Vala continued, "I could've faked memory loss or something to get out of knowing much about my past, but we really couldn't have gone that route this time. I mean, who would believe joint memory loss? Anyway, we've decided that we're married," Daniel conveniently overlooked the notion that they'd come up with this story together, "so we need to come up with a consistent backstory. I imagine you will spend most of your days with Ber, while I'm with Kira. We cannot be giving them mixed stories."
"Agreed. I think I could pass as a schoolteacher, maybe an apprentice, who also found work as a farmhand. Maybe that's why we had to leave to find work, because the previous teacher came back or something."
"Good start. Let's say he was ill, and you had to take over for a few months."
"And you?" Daniel stood up then, walking over to the dresser to wash his face from the bowl of cool water.
"I don't want to pretend to have any more knowledge of Origin than the bare essentials, especially after what happened last time. No special tea prayers or ceremonies. I think we lived in my parents' house until moving on. I helped my mother with daily chores, that sort of thing. I think I can hold my own with Kira. They had a daughter who died, I can't tell how long ago, but I think Kira may see me as a kind of surrogate daughter. Anyway, that's what I'll play to."
"This isn't a game, Vala." He looked over at her, inwardly bristling over the word 'play.'
"Don't you think I realize that, Daniel? You seem to need a lot of pointers in this area of survival, and I might as well teach you."
Vala took a step closer to him, placed her hands on his shoulders, raised herself up on her tiptoes, and kissed him, not quite on the mouth, but not far enough away to be considered on the cheek.
"How do you feel, Daniel? Are you faint or dizzy? Do you feel like you might drop dead right where you're standing?"
Daniel stood there perplexed by her actions and frowned at her sarcasm-laced words. Glaring at her, he shook his head in response to her ridiculous question.
"Good," she said as she took a step back and smiled sweetly, ignoring his frustrated expression which was quickly becoming habitual. "Then let me remind you once again that we are supposed to be happily married. And if I'm not mistaken, happily married couples often do that sort of thing, as well as hold hands once in a while, or at the very least smile at one another. Do you think you can manage those things? We've just confirmed that kissing will not kill you."
"Vala-"
She cut him off, "Daniel, I'm talking about survival here. It's the same thing as hunting squirrels and stealing clothes. I do not want to be caught in a lie, I really do not."
Daniel took a deep breath and nodded. "I suppose I can manage the smiles and holding your hand," he began reluctantly, yet continued more forcefully as he squinted at her, "but don't expect more than that."
Vala let out an exaggerated sigh. "I'll take what I can get then."
A moment later there was a knock on the door and Vala moved first to open it. Ber stood in the threshold inviting them down to breakfast and reminding them that they would leave for prostration in the village soon afterward. Daniel felt the weight of the older man's gaze. Ber seemed to be continuously looking for some sign that he and Vala weren't on the level. Daniel quickly thanked Ber for the reminder and asked if they had an extra copy of the Book of Origin, as he put a hand on the small of Vala's back and led them from their room.
"Your copy was undoubtedly stolen with your other belongings," Ber replied.
"Yes, indeed." Daniel believed that Vala was letting him take the lead because she made no move to offer a story on this point. "We've felt somewhat lost without the wisdom of the Ori to guide us."
"We might have an older copy of Tulia's that you may use."
"Tulia?" Vala asked. "Was that your daughter?"
"Yes. Kira told you, did she not?"
Vala nodded. "She only mentioned that she'd died years ago. I didn't wish to upset Kira by asking further."
"Kira's grief is deep sometimes, but she seems to have found some happiness with you, child." He stopped on the stair landing and Daniel noticed a smile creep onto Ber's face only to be swept away the next instant. "I would warn you against hurting my wife, though."
Vala looked directly into Ber's eyes, she was all sincerity. "I wouldn't wish to cause you or Kira any harm. You should believe that."
Ber spent several moments regarding Vala, then looked at Daniel once more. "We shall have to see."
"Will you three be joining me for breakfast or not?"
Vala unlocked gazes with Ber and practically skipped down the stairs to the kitchen. "Why didn't you wake me, Kira? I would've gladly helped."
"Dear child, you are my guest." The two women grasped hands and hugged. Then Kira continued with a smile. "And I usually do not make a habit of intruding on newlyweds in bed."
Daniel really tried not to blush at Kira's comment or at Vala's knowing smile, but he still felt warmth flood his cheeks. At least they were covered by five days of beard growth. Married. For survival. They ought to teach this sort of thing in survival classes at the SGC.
Vala felt anxious walking arm in arm with Kira on the path to the village. They all were going to prostration, a six-hour event she had not wished to endure ever again. The event had been so entwined with her twice-traumatic burning alive that she'd pushed the memory deep into her subconscious. She summoned those memories now, replaying in her mind the words she'd heard months ago.
She and Daniel had been able to fake their responses in Ver Eger by folding their hands over their mouths and simply moving their lips when everyone else did. But Vala suspected they'd be stuck here for quite some time and concentrated all of her mental energy on remembering some of the key phrases from her last time in this galaxy.
"Here we are, dears," said Kira. "Welcome to Ver Isca."
Daniel had been right, this village was the spitting image of Ver Eger. She really hadn't gotten a good look at it the night they went 'shopping.' Staggering slightly next to Kira, Vala swallowed the lump in her throat, then plastered a sweet smile on her face, ready to meet the challenge before her.
"We shall introduce you to some of the villagers after prostration," Ber suggested. "It appears we have arrived too late to begin introductions now."
Both Daniel and Vala nodded and let Ber and Kira lead them to the courtyard. They all knelt, Ber and Kira flanking Daniel and Vala. She settled between Kira and Daniel and felt some of her anxiety melt away, as if the two of them would shield her from the other villagers' prying eyes. She was sure that Kira would forgive any mistaken mumbling on Vala's part and Daniel's presence always gave her a sense of peace, she just didn't like to dwell or rely on it most of the time.
Vala kept her hands folded close to her mouth and focused on the words of the service. Most religions she'd encountered over the years employed ritual worship such as this. The trick was to learn the catch phrases and use them appropriately. Fortunately for Daniel he could read the Book of Origin and follow along with some of the parables that were being told. Vala instead tried to memorize what was being said and to discover a pattern of prompts and responses between the magistrate and the people. About two and half hours in, she thought she had a few of the key phrases well in hand.
"Hallowed are the Ori," Vala intoned with the rest of the crowd as they all stood up and departed from the courtyard with hand clasps, hugs, and nods. Ber and Kira led Daniel and Vala around to meet a few villagers, introducing them and relating some of the tale as to why the two strangers were living with them. Both Ber and Kira glossed over the highway-robbery and simply stated that Daniel and Vala were newly married and came to Ver Isca looking to start a new life. Kira usually jumped in at this point and exclaimed that it was her idea to help get them on their feet, and so naturally, that's why they were living in their cottage.
Of all the villagers she met, Vala was most grateful not to meet the village magistrate. Simply thinking the word 'magistrate' caused terrible memories to come flooding back to her. She shuddered involuntarily as she watched the man who had led them in prostration mount a mule-like animal and trot out of town. Vala absently wondered where he was going.
Daniel however asked her question aloud as they all strolled toward a tavern for the midday meal. "Ber, why is the magistrate leaving?"
"He attends to three villages in the area," Ber replied. "He spends two or three days with each, then moves on."
"Kira, it is good to see you looking well."
Vala looked around for the source of the voice. It was a man, pushing himself off the tavern wall he'd been leaning against. He looked to be Ber's height, yet broader in the shoulders. He was probably near Ber's age too, but his distinguishing feature had to be his balding pate, and the obvious fake smile he gave to each one of them.
"Seevis," Ber acknowledged coolly.
"Ber, it is good to see you at prostration. You have been absent these past two weeks."
"Seevis," Kira piped up, "you know very well that I've been ill for that time. Ber would not leave my side."
"He knows, Kira, as do the Ori, Seevis. They know my faith is unwavering. I have read from the Book of Origin and reflected on the wisdom of the Ori in my home."
"Yes," Seevis replied, "but the magistrate is better able to lead us on the Path to Enlightenment, Ber, if we but open our hearts and follow him."
Kira broke the tension, "Very true, Seevis. Thank you for the reminder. Let me introduce Daniel and Vala. They are newly married and wish to start their life together here in Ver Isca. Naturally, as the Book of Origin instructs, Ber and I have opened our home and hearts to them, as they are in need."
"How very respectable of you, Kira." Seevis waved over a pretty blonde girl. "Daniel, Vala, this is Denya, she serves my customers here at the tavern. I imagine you are all here for a meal."
"Yes, Seevis, thank you." Kira took the younger woman's hand and enfolded her in a warm hug. "How are you, child? Are you well?"
"Very well, Kira, thank the Ori," Denya smiled easily.
The four of them left Ber and Seevis talking at the tavern entrance. Vala wasn't entirely certain, but she thought she'd overheard Ber tell Seevis they were from Ver Alta. But the din of the bar and the distance between her and Ber grew as she, Daniel and Kira were led to a table inside.
Kira chatted aimlessly about some of the family connections between the villagers; who was married to whom, who was whose son or daughter. Denya colored the connections with whispered gossip to which Kira would frown. Denya would then shrug her shoulders and say she'd heard it from someone else. Vala instinctively liked Denya, just as she instinctively liked Kira and even Ber. Their personalities matched their actions and mannerisms. She could easily read their emotions.
Seevis, on the other hand, she labeled a mystery. He had bullied Ber earlier, seemingly unprovoked. She couldn't help but wonder what sort of history lay between the two men. Her instincts told her she could trust Ber, and because of that and his reaction to Seevis, her instincts told her to be wary of the tough-looking barman. And Vala took great pride in her instincts.
Their meal complete and the day much more than half over, the four made their way back to the cottage, Kira on Ber's arm and Vala on Daniel's. She resisted the urge to lay her head on his shoulder. She was tired, weary and exhausted. She told herself it was six hours of prostration and another hour of being paraded around the village, but she'd been tired for days now. She ignored it and repeated to herself that it was just the long prostration. Kneeling for so long would tire anyone out. And she refused to look weak in front of Daniel.
Because of prostration the workday was shortened, yet there were still daily chores. Daniel and Ber immediately headed off to the barn to continue repairs and Vala and Kira went into the house to start dinner preparations and sort out clothes that needed mending. Suffice it to say, both Vala and Daniel were truly exhausted when they left the dinner table that night. Daniel's failure to protest when Vala undressed was further evidence that he was too tired even for exaggerated banter.
"You can sleep in the bed if you want, Daniel. I'm really much too tired to try anything."
Even that small innuendo didn't perk him up. "Maybe another time, Vala. Go to sleep."
Unfortunately, as she lay there on the bed completely exhausted, every time she closed her eyes she saw flames licking around her. If she ever did drift off to sleep, she always woke up with a gasp from the nightmare. She turned onto her side and tried again to close her eyes. But the flames appeared again and again.
Trying to sleep despite horrific nightmares was nothing new to her. There were many, many nights when Qetesh's actions haunted her. So when this happened, the trick was to find something else to do. She'd go to a tavern sometimes and spend the whole night drinking. Every once in a while there'd be a willing body to distract her for an hour or two. Some planets were safe enough that she could go for a leisurely walk, and if she discovered a valuable artifact, who could blame her really? More often than not though, she had to stay put and count the stars. The mind-numbing activity usually put her out in no time.
Even though she knew it would be cold outside, she had to try something to get some sleep because it just wasn't going to happen in this bed. She slipped on socks and shoes and wrapped a robe around her shoulders over her nightgown. She thought about leaving a note for Daniel telling him where she was, but he was snoring loudly enough, there was no way he'd wake up before she got back. And she planned to get back before dawn.
Easy enough really, she thought as she crept out of their room, down the stairs and out the door. The barn window faced the morning sunrise, she noticed as she climbed the ladder. She'd just lay down in the hayloft and fall asleep counting the stars. The first rays of sunlight would wake her up long before Ber's rooster. Then she'd just sneak back into the house and crawl into bed.
She focused on each and every star in the sky, determined not to close her eyes until she was too exhausted to dream. It really was the only surefire way to keep the nightmares at bay. She yawned for maybe the tenth time. Not long now, she thought, and slowly drifted off to oblivion.
Vala was entirely too grumpy when Daniel woke her the next morning, and he hated every one of her whines and groans. He was the one who was sore and stiff from sleeping on the floor. She was just a spoiled brat who had to rub it in his face every chance she got.
They spent the day apart from each other, he with Ber making more repairs, she with Kira tending to the vegetable garden and cooking lunch. When said lunch was announced, he thought he'd be going inside but Vala came out to meet him with a tray of food for them both.
"I felt nauseous in the house," she confessed as they sat down under the shade of a tree in the front yard. "Some of the herbs that are drying out inside have a very strong odor." She scrunched up her nose as she recalled the smell.
Daniel wasn't exactly sure how to react. Her reasoning seemed innocent enough, but he couldn't help feeling like he was being manipulated. Then suddenly, a piece of fruit was being held in front of his mouth.
"Here, try this," Vala offered sweetly. "It tastes a little like the cherry toppings at the sundae bar in the SGC cafeteria.
"Vala," Daniel groaned, "I can feed myself, thank you very much." He tried to swipe the fruit from her hand but she pulled it away.
"Daniel," she warned, keeping her voice light and her smile in place, "what did I say about married couples?"
"I still maintain that I can feed myself," he bit back, although he did offer her a half smile when he thought he saw Kira watching them from the window.
"I never said you couldn't, darling. However, let's pretend for a moment that your loving wife wants to spend a nice, quiet hour taking care of you, all right?"
"As if," Daniel muttered, but the cherry-like fruit was stuffed in his mouth as soon as he opened it. Vala's silly laugh accompanied his stuttering and he almost couldn't help laughing back.
"Practice that acting of yours, darling. They're still watching from the window," she said as she held up another piece of fruit for him and started stirring the stew with a thick slice of bread.
Daniel generously accepted the bite from her fingers with a fake smile, then took a sip of water she offered next. Torture, he thought to himself, having to pretend to be in love with this infuriating woman.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Daniel asked when he noticed she hadn't had anything yet.
"Haven't you noticed Kira the last few days? She always waits until you and Ber take a bite before she eats. I have a feeling it has to do with the culture, women serving men and all that." She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Why hadn't he noticed that? he wondered. He always picked up on cultural peculiarities before anyone else.
"Besides," she continued while shrugging her shoulders, "I'm not all that hungry right now."
"Well that is odd," Daniel replied with a genuine smile. "I've literally never known you to turn down a meal."
Vala shrugged again. "I'm sure it'll pass. These cherry things are good though." She popped one in her mouth. "You can have the stew while I finish these off." Then she scooted around and leaned beside him against the tree.
After a few moments she gently laid her head on his shoulder, and just like in the cave a few nights ago, he was about to shove her aside until he noticed that she'd fallen asleep. It was all so annoying, that she could sleep all night in a nice warm bed and then fall asleep against him sitting underneath a tree. Sleeping Vala was a much more comfortable companion than awake and babbling Vala, but it bothered him when he found himself craving these quiet moments with her. Then it annoyed him even more when her incessant chatter didn't bother him like it should.
He sighed and set the lunch tray on his other side. Then, knowing this was how Ber and Kira would find them later, he laid his head on hers and twined his fingers in her hand. Well, not dead, as Vala would say. Apparently, pretending to be in love with her would not, in fact, kill him.
********
Chapter 5: http://aeryn-b.livejournal.com/8747.html