The Games People Play Chapter 32--All That Glitters
Title: All That Glitters
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: AU Soon enough, however, Jack prodded them all back to the still wrapped presents. Sam raised a questioning eyebrow at him, but he only shrugged in reply. Her suspicions had been roused, though, and she shot a glance at Vala.
Rating: PG
Length: Around 1500 words
Category: Humor
Pairings/Characters: Daniel/Vala, Sam/Jack, team friendship, the beginnings of Cam/Carolyn if you want to see it.
A/N: Part 32 of The Games People Play. The series follows current canon to the end of 10x09, Company of Thieves. Takes place on Christmas Day. Written for fic101.
All That Glitters
Spike ran off to play in the snow as Daniel started back toward the cabin. He heaved a sigh and tromped up to the deck to wait, figuring he might as well allow the puppy the opportunity to do his duty before the chaos of gift-opening began. Leaning his elbows on the railing, he gave a little smile and watched the team's furry little friend come close to burying himself in a snow-drift. After a few minutes, he heard the door creak open behind him and turned to see Vala carrying a steaming mug in each hand.
"We're out of eggnog. I thought you might like some hot chocolate," she smiled.
"Thanks," he said, reaching to accept one of the mugs. He sipped it gratefully, then slipped his free arm around her waist, pulling her gently against his chest.
"You're welcome," she said, tilting her head to let her cheek rest on his shoulder. "Daniel, I'm sorry I tried to ruin your surprise."
"No you're not," he smirked.
"All right, no I'm not," she admitted. "But I do love him. He's wonderful. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Vala," he said. "I just hope that General Landry likes Spike as much as we all do."
"How could anyone not like Spike!" Vala laughed. At the sound of his name, the puppy's head popped out of the snow-drift and he waded his way as fast as his little legs could carry him back to the deck.
"Hey, he knows his name already!" Daniel laughed.
"Well, he's very smart. Takes after his Daddy," Vala grinned wickedly.
"C'mon, don't start that," Daniel sighed.
"You'd better get used to it, darling," Vala said as the dog hopped his way up one step at a time. "There's a very real possibility that this little fellow is going to be your new roommate."
"That doesn't mean I own him, Vala," Daniel shook his head
"Well, all right, but you're still going to have to convince him of that," said Vala as Spike reached the top of the deck and scurried over to them, his toenails clicking on the wooden surface. He pressed himself against Vala's leg, visibly shivering now, and she hurriedly bent to pick him up. "Oh, are you cold?"
His fur was wet with half-melted snow, and the couple quickly brushed him off, then Vala unzipped her coat and slipped him inside it. Once there, he squirmed and wriggled until his head was resting on her shoulder. She laughed softly and turned to give his still damp muzzle a kiss while Daniel glanced up at the sky, which was beginning to turn pink with the first hint of sunrise.
"Maybe we should head inside anyway," he suggested. "It's morning, and Jack's gonna want to get to the presents."
"What's he planning?" Vala frowned.
Daniel grinned. "You'll see."
She narrowed her eyes, giving him a long, dire look of warning, which she slowly allowed to melt into an answering smile. "You're becoming entirely too good at keeping secrets from me."
"Thank you," he laughed. Then his expression became serious as he leaned toward her mouth and whispered, "Merry Christmas, Vala."
"Merry Christmas, Daniel," she replied, tilting her head toward him in return.
Just before their lips met, Spike gave a plaintive yip and wriggled back off of Vala's shoulder. He gave her face a quick lap with his tongue and then twisted to bestow the same on Daniel. Both of them froze for a second, startled at the intrusion, then laughed, and bent together to give either side of the puppy's head a kiss.
***
Inside, Vala made everyone promise that they would watch A Charlie Brown Christmas as soon as the presents were opened. Then Teal'c took his customary place beside the tree and Jack produced a Santa hat from the fireplace mantle. Once he had donned the hat, Teal'c marshaled everyone into a loose semicircle around the room, with Daniel and Vala back on the couch, Spike stretched out between them with his body in Daniel's lap and his head on Vala's knee. Jack took the armchair, pulling Sam onto his lap as he lowered himself into it, while Cam reclined on the floor with Carolyn sitting beside him.
The handing out of presents took longer than Vala would have expected, first because Teal'c was careful to make sure that he doled out the gifts in order, so that no one received two presents before the next person had been given one. Spike's curiosity was peaked, and he kept springing off the couch to sniff at things or play with boxes and wrapping paper until Daniel or Vala called him back. The opening of each present also had to be accompanied by picture taking and a running commentary over the gift itself, especially when it came to Teal'c's Star Wars box-set. It was a new release, featuring extended versions of all six of the movies, plus a whole variety of special features and deleted scenes. Apparently, both Jack and Cam had tried to find it for him and been unsuccessful, so the entire team was impressed with Vala's cunning and ingenuity.
Soon enough, however, Jack prodded them all back to the still wrapped presents. Sam raised a questioning eyebrow at him, but he only shrugged in reply. Her suspicions had been roused, though, and she shot a glance at Vala. Her friend could only shake her head apologetically, and both women waited eagerly for him to spring his surprise. They were still waiting twenty minutes later when the last of the gifts had been opened and Teal'c took off the Santa hat, replacing it on the mantle.
Seemingly oblivious, Jack, Daniel, and Cam all rose from their seats, complaining good naturedly about how much they hated cleaning up after everything was opened. Carolyn started to help immediately, but Sam and Vala remained unmoving, frowning back and forth between their friends and each other. Finally, Jack turned to them with a disgusted sigh.
"Hey, are you two gonna sit there all morning or what?" he asked pointedly.
"What--oh--sorry, sir. Jack," Sam corrected herself, then planted her hands on the arms of the chair and pushed herself to her feet. "I'll go get the broom."
Cam managed not to snicker until she was out of the room. Daniel, who had until then been entirely straight faced, covered his mouth with his hand to stifle a laugh. Teal'c's mouth slowly spread in a smile. Vala jumped to her feet.
"All right, what is it?" she whispered fiercely.
"Where is it?" added Carolyn, glancing around the room.
"You gals are just gonna have to wait," smirked Cam.
Sam returned a few minutes later, and Jack was leaning over in an attempt at reaching a piece of blue wrapping paper which had somehow migrated halfway behind the tree. He finally grabbed it, straightened again, and took a few steps back. Suddenly he cocked his head and looked up at the tree, glanced toward Teal'c with a frown.
"Hey, T, you forgot one," he remarked.
"I did not," replied the Jaffa.
"Ya did so!" insisted Jack, pointing up at the ornaments on the branch he was looking at. "It's right there."
Teal'c walked over to stand behind him, peering in the direction that his friend indicated. He clasped his hands behind his back and studied the tree for a long moment, then said calmly, "I do not see anything, O'Neill."
"It's right--" Jack took a step toward the tree and snatched something off of it. "--here."
Teal'c frowned in surprise and took the object from his friend's hand, holding it up for examination. As he did, Vala saw a small red velvet pouch with white trim and a gold drawstring from which it had been dangling on the tree. She had noticed it before but had always mistaken it for an ornament. So, apparently, had Sam, whose face suddenly flushed as red as the pouch itself. Guessing what was in it as well, Vala began to grin and unconsciously reached for Daniel's hand.
"It appears to belong to ColonelCarter," Teal'c rumbled.
"Oh…?" Jack feigned surprise.
Teal'c carefully opened the pouch and peered inside, then extended his hand toward Jack, who repeated the display. Both of them then looked at each other with a deep frown. "Perhaps it is better that you give this to her yourself, O'Neill."
"Yeah," Jack said slowly. "I think you're right."
Teal'c handed it to him with a bow, then slipped back a few steps. Jack looked down at the pouch in his hand, took a breath. He stood there for a few seconds, then shrugged, turning toward Sam. Watching him, she bit her lip, but tears had already begun to slip down her cheeks. He slowly walked over to her, offered a half smile and looked into her eyes for a long moment. Then he sank down on one knee, shook the ring into the palm of his other hand, and held it up to her.
"Marry me, Carter."
Sam nodded, trying vainly to wipe the tears from her face. Jack took her hand, silently slipping the ring onto her finger, and then pushed himself back to his feet. Sam's hands slid over his shoulders, and he pulled her into a kiss that was the culmination of ten years of silent devotion.
"Yes!" Vala whispered.
Daniel smiled, leaning toward her ear to whisper, "Mission accomplished."
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: AU Soon enough, however, Jack prodded them all back to the still wrapped presents. Sam raised a questioning eyebrow at him, but he only shrugged in reply. Her suspicions had been roused, though, and she shot a glance at Vala.
Rating: PG
Length: Around 1500 words
Category: Humor
Pairings/Characters: Daniel/Vala, Sam/Jack, team friendship, the beginnings of Cam/Carolyn if you want to see it.
A/N: Part 32 of The Games People Play. The series follows current canon to the end of 10x09, Company of Thieves. Takes place on Christmas Day. Written for fic101.
All That Glitters
Spike ran off to play in the snow as Daniel started back toward the cabin. He heaved a sigh and tromped up to the deck to wait, figuring he might as well allow the puppy the opportunity to do his duty before the chaos of gift-opening began. Leaning his elbows on the railing, he gave a little smile and watched the team's furry little friend come close to burying himself in a snow-drift. After a few minutes, he heard the door creak open behind him and turned to see Vala carrying a steaming mug in each hand.
"We're out of eggnog. I thought you might like some hot chocolate," she smiled.
"Thanks," he said, reaching to accept one of the mugs. He sipped it gratefully, then slipped his free arm around her waist, pulling her gently against his chest.
"You're welcome," she said, tilting her head to let her cheek rest on his shoulder. "Daniel, I'm sorry I tried to ruin your surprise."
"No you're not," he smirked.
"All right, no I'm not," she admitted. "But I do love him. He's wonderful. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Vala," he said. "I just hope that General Landry likes Spike as much as we all do."
"How could anyone not like Spike!" Vala laughed. At the sound of his name, the puppy's head popped out of the snow-drift and he waded his way as fast as his little legs could carry him back to the deck.
"Hey, he knows his name already!" Daniel laughed.
"Well, he's very smart. Takes after his Daddy," Vala grinned wickedly.
"C'mon, don't start that," Daniel sighed.
"You'd better get used to it, darling," Vala said as the dog hopped his way up one step at a time. "There's a very real possibility that this little fellow is going to be your new roommate."
"That doesn't mean I own him, Vala," Daniel shook his head
"Well, all right, but you're still going to have to convince him of that," said Vala as Spike reached the top of the deck and scurried over to them, his toenails clicking on the wooden surface. He pressed himself against Vala's leg, visibly shivering now, and she hurriedly bent to pick him up. "Oh, are you cold?"
His fur was wet with half-melted snow, and the couple quickly brushed him off, then Vala unzipped her coat and slipped him inside it. Once there, he squirmed and wriggled until his head was resting on her shoulder. She laughed softly and turned to give his still damp muzzle a kiss while Daniel glanced up at the sky, which was beginning to turn pink with the first hint of sunrise.
"Maybe we should head inside anyway," he suggested. "It's morning, and Jack's gonna want to get to the presents."
"What's he planning?" Vala frowned.
Daniel grinned. "You'll see."
She narrowed her eyes, giving him a long, dire look of warning, which she slowly allowed to melt into an answering smile. "You're becoming entirely too good at keeping secrets from me."
"Thank you," he laughed. Then his expression became serious as he leaned toward her mouth and whispered, "Merry Christmas, Vala."
"Merry Christmas, Daniel," she replied, tilting her head toward him in return.
Just before their lips met, Spike gave a plaintive yip and wriggled back off of Vala's shoulder. He gave her face a quick lap with his tongue and then twisted to bestow the same on Daniel. Both of them froze for a second, startled at the intrusion, then laughed, and bent together to give either side of the puppy's head a kiss.
***
Inside, Vala made everyone promise that they would watch A Charlie Brown Christmas as soon as the presents were opened. Then Teal'c took his customary place beside the tree and Jack produced a Santa hat from the fireplace mantle. Once he had donned the hat, Teal'c marshaled everyone into a loose semicircle around the room, with Daniel and Vala back on the couch, Spike stretched out between them with his body in Daniel's lap and his head on Vala's knee. Jack took the armchair, pulling Sam onto his lap as he lowered himself into it, while Cam reclined on the floor with Carolyn sitting beside him.
The handing out of presents took longer than Vala would have expected, first because Teal'c was careful to make sure that he doled out the gifts in order, so that no one received two presents before the next person had been given one. Spike's curiosity was peaked, and he kept springing off the couch to sniff at things or play with boxes and wrapping paper until Daniel or Vala called him back. The opening of each present also had to be accompanied by picture taking and a running commentary over the gift itself, especially when it came to Teal'c's Star Wars box-set. It was a new release, featuring extended versions of all six of the movies, plus a whole variety of special features and deleted scenes. Apparently, both Jack and Cam had tried to find it for him and been unsuccessful, so the entire team was impressed with Vala's cunning and ingenuity.
Soon enough, however, Jack prodded them all back to the still wrapped presents. Sam raised a questioning eyebrow at him, but he only shrugged in reply. Her suspicions had been roused, though, and she shot a glance at Vala. Her friend could only shake her head apologetically, and both women waited eagerly for him to spring his surprise. They were still waiting twenty minutes later when the last of the gifts had been opened and Teal'c took off the Santa hat, replacing it on the mantle.
Seemingly oblivious, Jack, Daniel, and Cam all rose from their seats, complaining good naturedly about how much they hated cleaning up after everything was opened. Carolyn started to help immediately, but Sam and Vala remained unmoving, frowning back and forth between their friends and each other. Finally, Jack turned to them with a disgusted sigh.
"Hey, are you two gonna sit there all morning or what?" he asked pointedly.
"What--oh--sorry, sir. Jack," Sam corrected herself, then planted her hands on the arms of the chair and pushed herself to her feet. "I'll go get the broom."
Cam managed not to snicker until she was out of the room. Daniel, who had until then been entirely straight faced, covered his mouth with his hand to stifle a laugh. Teal'c's mouth slowly spread in a smile. Vala jumped to her feet.
"All right, what is it?" she whispered fiercely.
"Where is it?" added Carolyn, glancing around the room.
"You gals are just gonna have to wait," smirked Cam.
Sam returned a few minutes later, and Jack was leaning over in an attempt at reaching a piece of blue wrapping paper which had somehow migrated halfway behind the tree. He finally grabbed it, straightened again, and took a few steps back. Suddenly he cocked his head and looked up at the tree, glanced toward Teal'c with a frown.
"Hey, T, you forgot one," he remarked.
"I did not," replied the Jaffa.
"Ya did so!" insisted Jack, pointing up at the ornaments on the branch he was looking at. "It's right there."
Teal'c walked over to stand behind him, peering in the direction that his friend indicated. He clasped his hands behind his back and studied the tree for a long moment, then said calmly, "I do not see anything, O'Neill."
"It's right--" Jack took a step toward the tree and snatched something off of it. "--here."
Teal'c frowned in surprise and took the object from his friend's hand, holding it up for examination. As he did, Vala saw a small red velvet pouch with white trim and a gold drawstring from which it had been dangling on the tree. She had noticed it before but had always mistaken it for an ornament. So, apparently, had Sam, whose face suddenly flushed as red as the pouch itself. Guessing what was in it as well, Vala began to grin and unconsciously reached for Daniel's hand.
"It appears to belong to ColonelCarter," Teal'c rumbled.
"Oh…?" Jack feigned surprise.
Teal'c carefully opened the pouch and peered inside, then extended his hand toward Jack, who repeated the display. Both of them then looked at each other with a deep frown. "Perhaps it is better that you give this to her yourself, O'Neill."
"Yeah," Jack said slowly. "I think you're right."
Teal'c handed it to him with a bow, then slipped back a few steps. Jack looked down at the pouch in his hand, took a breath. He stood there for a few seconds, then shrugged, turning toward Sam. Watching him, she bit her lip, but tears had already begun to slip down her cheeks. He slowly walked over to her, offered a half smile and looked into her eyes for a long moment. Then he sank down on one knee, shook the ring into the palm of his other hand, and held it up to her.
"Marry me, Carter."
Sam nodded, trying vainly to wipe the tears from her face. Jack took her hand, silently slipping the ring onto her finger, and then pushed himself back to his feet. Sam's hands slid over his shoulders, and he pulled her into a kiss that was the culmination of ten years of silent devotion.
"Yes!" Vala whispered.
Daniel smiled, leaning toward her ear to whisper, "Mission accomplished."