BF Update - Chapter 15: Just Click Your Heels Together
Title: Being Found
Author: Milena D.
Rating: T for now
Genre: Romance/Action/Adventure, etc. Daniel/Vala all the way ;)
SPOILERS: Up to Prometheus Unbound which is the 12th episode of Season 8, I believe. And although I’m not using any parts of Seasons 9 or 10 yet, I am taking the creative liberty of bringing the team together to include Daniel, Teal’c, Sam, Cameron, Dr. Lam and General Landry. Jack will be making an appearance too! ^_~
Summary: What if Daniel and Vala had been reunited soon after Prometheus Unbound, before any of Season 9?
Author’s Note #1: Huge apologies for the lateness…apparently I need something to procrastinate (ie, school) to make my muse go at full speed ;) That will be remedied this Thursday unfortunately. :S
Author’s Note #3: This chapter deals with some completely vague nudity but if you’d prefer not to read I’d suggest you scroll down to the first scene breaker (the o’s in a row).
Author’s Note #2: This chapter is dedicated to Erin B. from GW!!! Happy Birthday…belatedly. ^_^
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
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Chapter 15: Just Click Your Heels Together…
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After an hour of watching Sam and Teal’c play chess while Jack and Cameron went late-night fishing, Vala had exhausted her last iota of patience. She was quite happy snuggling up to Daniel on the sofa but although he’d been relaxing his policy on PDA’s considerably as of late, he wouldn’t be comfortable kissing her like she wanted to be kissed in front of his friends so she was more than ready to leave. The atmosphere was calm and quiet and she didn’t want to disturb it so she simply raised herself up to press two soundless kisses along Daniel’s jaw before squeezing his hand and gesturing to the stairs. He smiled as he understood her meaning and he helped her off the couch before getting up himself.
They said their goodnights and Daniel let her lead him up the stairs, his heart pounding harder every step of the way. He knew nothing would happen tonight that hadn’t already but the very idea that there was no question that they’d be sleeping together was making his heartbeat slightly erratic. Vala came to a stop sooner than he expected and his heart fell as he realized that they were in front of his and Jack’s room.
“You don’t want-” he began with uncertainty but she silenced him with a squeeze of her hand and a nod toward the door.
“Why don’t you collect your things?” she grinned coquettishly with a very mischievous look in her eyes before releasing his hand and stepping away “I’ll wait for you in our room.”
She flashed him a wide grin and continued down the hall leaving him rooted where he stood, puzzled. He watched her disappear into their room and quickly entered his old room to get his bags. He heard the others move to their rooms as he packed and Jack came in just as he was leaving. The older man glanced down to the luggage in Daniel’s hands and grinned as he stepped aside.
“See you in the morning.” he said genially.
“Good night, Jack.” he said simply, determined not to get annoyed when there was a beautiful woman waiting in bed for him down the hall.
He walked the few steps to his new room briskly and pushed the door opened after only a moment’s pause. The room was dark but the moon outside was full and once his eyes adjusted, the soft light revealed a sight that caused his bags to fall out of his limp hands and to the floor. Vala was standing beside the bed, the shirt that had tantalized him was nowhere to be seen and, as he’d assumed, Vala hadn’t been wearing a bra under it tonight. His wide eyes stayed fixed on her but she didn’t address him, choosing instead to smile at his reaction and continue on about her business. Daniel noticed her hands moving slowly to the fastening of her leather pants and tugging down the zipper before he regained the presence of mind to realize that the door was still wide open behind him. He nudged his fallen bags forward out of the way and reached back to swing the door shut, his gaze never leaving her body, especially not now that the black leather was being pushed over her hips and down her legs. He was startled out of his blatant ogling only when he realized that Vala has chosen to forego all form of undergarment tonight.
“Enjoying the show, darling?” her husky voice asked him, her lips smirking at him.
Daniel swallowed thickly and locked his eyes on hers, forbidding himself from glancing down again though he was sure the image of her exquisitely nude form would be branded on his mind until the end of his days.
“Uh…yes actually.” he said roughly “What are you doing?”
Vala smiled seductively and stepped out of the pants pooled around her ankles to walk slowly over to the other side of the bed, stopping to stand in front of Daniel before reaching her bags.
“I warned you, Daniel, that I’d be forcing you to watch me change once my scars were healed.” she said sweetly, turning her now flawless naked back to him as she pulled out her sleepwear. She could feel his eyes raking over her back, hips and legs as she took her time and she eventually turned her head to see him. “And I don’t recall you protesting to those terms when you helped me heal them.” she reminded him cheekily.
“No,” he said softly, still drinking in the vision before him “no, I didn’t, did I?”
“Nope,” she grinned as she turned toward him once more holding a nightgown against her chest, hiding just enough to make him crave the sight again. Vala noted the subtle glaze covering his eyes and reached up to kiss him sweetly before pushing him back gently and slipping the gown over her head. Daniel frowned deeply at her actions.
“What are you doing?” he asked quickly and Vala tried to contain her laughter.
“I’m changing, darling, like I said I would, and now I’m done.” she said softly, raising a hand to graze his minimal evening stubble “Unless you have a better idea?”
Daniel leaned into her and inhaled deeply the scent of the perfume she’d worn tonight. He pulled away enough to kiss her but the victorious smile she wore drew him out of his hormone-driven daze.
“Hmm, I do actually: sleep.” he said bluntly and her smile was transformed into a disappointed pout.
“Oh come on, Daniel,” she implored as he picked up his bags and moved past her to place them beside hers. “I saw the look in your eyes just now, you can’t tell me you’re immune to all of this - this tension.”
He turned on the spot and pulled her roughly to him, snaking one hand under her gown and around her hips and using the other to anchor her face to his and he plundered her mouth fiercely with his tongue. She moaned deeply into his mouth and held on to his shoulders before reconsidering and moving her hands down to try to remove his shirt. Daniel felt her attempts and reluctantly unwound his arms from her body and let go of her mouth to help her but, to her dismay, he did not return to the embrace once the shirt was gone. Daniel stood before her and held her shoulders to keep her a few inches away but he couldn’t help her hands from wandering over his bared chest.
“I am not immune…” he began with difficulty “…to anything you do, Vala, though I really wish I was.”
Vala smirked and pushed past his hands to lean against his naked chest, pressing her lips to the first available patch of skin and delighting in his sharp intake of breath.
“Then why,” she kissed his collarbone, “do you,” she kissed his throat “resist?”
“Because…I’m sentimental about these things, remember?” he whispered lightly as her lips reached his chin. At his words, Vala moved back with a hurt look.
“And why do you assume wouldn’t it be special or-or sincere tonight?” she asked affronted. Daniel shook his head dismissively and ran his hands down her arms.
“That’s not what I meant.” he murmured as he tugged her gently to him. “I know it would be sincere.” he promised and dropped a kiss on her temple. “But it wouldn’t be as special as it should be.”
Vala opened her mouth to protest again but he cut her off before she had a chance.
“It wouldn’t be because the guys are all sleeping barely a dozen feet away and the walls of this cabin aren’t particularly thick. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to have to worry about keeping quiet with you, especially not for our first time.” he explained and felt relieved when her eyes sparkled with glee.
“Are you loud then, darling?” she asked completely amused. His face was blank despite his smile.
“You’ll know soon enough.” he promised before turning her around and moving her back until she fell onto the bed. She eyed him pensively as he walked away to their bags once more.
“Daniel,” she called out “what are you doing?”
He turned to her and promptly divested himself every other piece of clothing on his body before beginning his casual search for some sweatpants.
“I’m changing.” he said innocently and grinned as he took in the sight of her eager eyes roaming over his body. A very large, very happy smile grew on her face as she took in his every attribute but it quickly vanished when said attributes disappeared behind cotton drawstring pants.
“You’re evil.” she said throwing him a smirk “Glorious but evil.”
Daniel could only grin as he moved into bed with her.
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The rest of the week passed slowly for everyone but Jack. Sam was ready to get back to her lab, Cameron was itching to get his still new team out on missions, Teal’c could only meditate so much and Daniel, despite reveling in getting to know Vala, had never done well when removed from his books for an extended period of time…not to mention that he and Vala were quite anxious to get to more private settings. Jack, on the other hand, really wasn’t looking forward to meeting upon meeting with the IOA and would have been quite content to declare the vacation prolonged had the SGC not intervened and called them back six days after arriving at the cabin.
“Are you almost done packing yet?” Vala asked Daniel eagerly from the end of their bed. Daniel zipped up his duffel bag and turned to her with a wry grin.
“I am now. I’d ask you but I know you were done packing last night.” he noted teasingly “Eager to leave?”
Vala jumped up with a smile and sidled up to him.
“You know I am, darling.” she said, running a hand over his chest “This week has been possibly the most relaxing and peaceful one I can ever remember experiencing and I’ve loved every moment.”
“But…” he continued knowingly.
“But I’m more than ready for a little…excitement.” she purred as she nuzzled his neck.
“Aw geez, again!? Why can’t I walk into a room without you two making out?” came Cameron’s disgusted cry from the doorway. Vala let out an exaggerated sigh and moved away from Daniel.
“You know, Cameron, for someone who claims to be so disturbed by our little moments you do seem to intrude on them an awful lot.” she remarked and earned a perturbed glare for her efforts.
“Jackson, the General says the Prometheus is ready for us.” Cam said, redirecting his words to the person who wasn’t laughing at him.
“Thanks, we’ll be right down.” Daniel replied.
“Uh huh.” Cam drawled slowly, seemingly unconvinced but leaving the doorway nonetheless.
“I’m so glad we don’t have to drive back.” Vala enthused as she quickly grabbed her bags and made a beeline for the hallway.
“I don’t know, I kind of liked the little road trip.” Daniel mentioned, grabbing his own and following Vala out the door.
“Oh don’t get me wrong, the road trip was quite enjoyable but,” she said as she glanced back at him “driving back would mean two more days of minimal privacy…the ship will have us back in a few minutes.”
“Ahh.” Daniel nodded at her wisdom “That is very true.”
General Landry had sent the Prometheus to beam them back to the SGC directly under the pressure of the IOA; they were tired of waiting. It was no bother anyhow, the Prometheus had been returned to the planet’s orbit to run field diagnostics, Col. Pendergast simply had to beam them up and then beam them back down. They’d chosen to wait until noon so that the bright flash in the sky would be less conspicuous at both ends.
“Colonel, we’re ready to go.” Jack radioed up when everyone was present in front of the cabin. “Hold on to your bags, kids.”
In an instant their forest surroundings had been replaced with the bridge of the Prometheus and they turned to face its commander.
“General, SG-1, good to see you again.” Col. Pendergast greeted them, standing up from his chair to shake the General’s hand.
“Colonel, always a pleasure.” Jack replied. Pendergast nodded then turned his attention to the quiet raven haired woman beside Dr. Jackson and smiled warmly.
“Miss Mal Doran.” he greeted. Vala looked startled. She supposed the smiling man could have learnt her name from the others but he addressed her as if they’d met before. He seemed familiar with her but she was sure she’d never met him, unless…
“Hi there, it’s nice to meet you.” Vala responded brightly “I’m sorry I stole your ship.” she said, being careful to insert an appropriate level of remorse in her gaze while keeping her smile cheerful. “Obviously it wasn’t returned in the condition in which it was stolen but that actually wasn’t my fault, you see if Daniel hadn’t locked me up I could have raised shields and weapons much earlier.” she rambled.
“What?” Col. Pendergast asked dumbfounded and Daniel quickly intervened.
“Ah, Vala, Col. Pendergast assumed command of the Prometheus only after you…stole it. General Hammond was the commander then.” he said quickly.
“Oh.” she relaxed dramatically “Never mind then.” she told the Colonel with a smile which he returned hesitantly.
“It’s fine, I just wanted to say that I’m glad to see you healing well.” he continued and Vala raised an eyebrow with a grin.
“My, word gets around quickly on your fair planet.” she remarked lightly and Daniel stepped in again.
“Colonel Pendergast and his crew are the ones who beamed us up and brought us back to Earth from Plitis.” he said quietly and Vala’s eyes widened, shedding all of their suspicious glint and adopting instead the depths of honest gratitude.
“Oh.” she breathed in surprise “Thank you.” she said softly.
“Don’t mention it,” he smiled widely “I’m just glad to see you doing better.”
“Colonel, the beaming coordinates of the SGC have been fixed.” Lt. Marks said from his post.
The Colonel nodded.
“Well I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay.” he joked to the group.
“I didn’t much care for the in-flight movie actually.” Jack commented.
“I’ll see what I can arrange for your next trip, General.” Pendergast replied with a grin before giving the order to beam them down.
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“Jack! Nice of you to join us.” Hank Landry said as the General, SG-1 and their latest acquaintance rematerialized before him.
“Hank, you know me, idle hands… You couldn’t keep me away if you paid me to.” Jack replied glibly. The General was not amused.
“Oh, you’re a funny man Jack,” he began more amiably than he felt “but I’ve been babysitting many irate policy analysts and international representatives for nearly an entire week now. It’s your turn.”
“I suppose I should make an appearance.” he said and General Landry gestured to the door.
“Sometime between now and now works for them.” Hank informed him “Their words. I’ll have your things brought to your VIP quarters.”
“You know, I seem to recall the President telling me I’d be the one giving orders from now on when he made me the Head of Homeworld Security…” Jack griped good-naturedly as he made for the door.
“Have fun, Jack.” Daniel mocked delightedly, taking some small revenge for the week of little jabs he’d received from the man.
Jack O’Neill paused halfway through the door, his back to the group before turning back with an evil smile.
“And you have fun explaining to the good General here why the extra room he set up for Vala will be redundant.”
And with that, the former leader of SG-1 sauntered out the door with a smile on his face. Sam, Cam and Teal’c hid grins as they picked up their luggage and the ones Jack had left.
“Well, sir, it’s good to see you but we’ve got some unpacking to do.” Cam said politely as they all made their way to the door.
“You’re all dismissed.” General Landry bid them, watching curiously as Daniel never strayed far from the alien woman they’d taken into their charge.
“Ah…General, if I may, I think we need to talk…privately.” Daniel said, more than a little uncomfortably.
“I think you’re right, Doctor. As soon as you’re done packing will be fine.” Landry continued “And Ms Mal Doran, the airman will show you to your quarters.”
Vala bit her lip at the thought of separate accommodations but thought it best not to argue until Daniel and the General had had their ‘chat’ so she nodded her thanks and waved as Landry left the converted storage space.
“Shall we go, Miss?” the airman called, reaching out a hand for one of her bags. Vala gave one to him but looked at Daniel in askance, she didn’t know where his quarters were, how was she supposed to find him?
“Ah, Airman…Joseph,” Daniel read off the man’s uniform “she’s in the VIP quarters on Level 25, right?”
“Yes, sir.” the airman replied.
“Then yes, let’s go.” Daniel smiled and Vala shot him a questioning glance.
“All of our quarters are on Level 25 and mine are just across the hall from the VIP rooms.” he murmured as they followed the airman to the elevators.
“Well, that’s something I suppose,” Vala granted “but do you really expect to sleep alone tonight?”
“No, don’t worry, I’ll work it out.” he promised and his complete lack of hesitation in the matter warmed Vala’s heart.
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“Come in.” the General’s voice said through the door after Daniel’s knock.
“General,” Daniel greeted as he stepped in hesitantly “thank you for seeing me.”
“I take it there’s something you’d like to get off your chest.” Landry said, waving off his thanks and sitting back down in his leather chair.
“Um…I suppose so…in a manner of speaking.” Daniel replied, trying to stall for time as he had no idea how to start this conversation. Luckily, the General only let him suffer for a few moments before taking pity on him.
“Son, do you want to tell me that your relationship with Ms. Mal Doran has…evolved this past week?” General Landry asked him in a tone both amused and stern.
“Did Jack tell you?” Daniel asked with surprise. “I’m sorry General, I’d meant to tell you before you heard it second hand…honestly I didn’t think it would move quite this fast.”
“The relationship?” Landry asked.
“The base’s grapevine.” Daniel replied with a slight frown.
“Ah.” Landry said simply, leaning forward in his chair “You do realize that this woman is an alien about whom we don’t actually know anything…other than her penchant for crime.”
“Uh…yes, sir.” Daniel replied with a wince. He wanted to defend Vala but he had a feeling the General was just letting him know the stakes.
“But in these last seven days, you’ve come to find that you’d like to pursue a romantic relationship with her?” General Landry stated skeptically “Long talks during moonlit strolls?”
“Something like that, sir.” Daniel replied with a grin.
“Hm.” the General sounded “Wasn’t it you, Dr. Jackson, who reported on how convincingly Ms. Mal Doran had lied to you on the Prometheus?”
“Yes, General, but I believe in her sincerity now and I truly believe that everything that happened on the Prometheus was a product of circumstance,” Daniel enthused wholeheartedly “she didn’t just hijack the ship and lie because she-she felt like it, her actions didn’t stem from a natural desire to be deceitful.”
“No, they stemmed from a natural desire to acquire very expensive weapons-grade refined naquadah.” the General retorted but quieted Daniel from further protests “I can’t say I know her or her motives but I suspect the next weeks and her aid with the security modifications will go a long way in remedying that.”
Daniel nodded, though the idea of the General not trusting Vala, despite being warranted, didn’t sit well with him.
“However, until such a time when she’ll have proven herself and her intentions, I’d prefer if we could keep this as quiet as possible. Especially around Richard Woolsey.” Landry ordered subtly.
“Yes, sir, I was planning on it. I don’t make a habit of bringing my personal life into my work, I just thought it was…important to inform you.” Daniel replied.
“Thank you, Doctor, I appreciate it.” Landry said. Daniel nodded and got up to leave. Just before he reached the door, General Landry’s voice called out again.
“And…not to pry any further into your…relationship,” he began “but I think it would be a good idea if Ms. Mal Doran’s room at least looked lived-in, for appearance’s sake. You know the IOA will be dropping by to check in on her sooner or later.”
Daniel’s eyebrows were high and his eyes were wide despite his attempt to look innocent.
“Yes, sir.” he said quickly, leaving the office through the door that lead to the corridor with distinctly redder cheeks than when he’d gone in.
As soon as the door was closed again, both men let out a sigh of relief; one relieved with knowing that his new subordinates respected his command and the other relieved that his new commander was as understanding as his previous ones.
General Landry left his office and returned to the briefing room where the woman who’d been the topic of his conversation was just arriving to the meeting with her escort. She was a bouncing ball of colour and energy amidst a crowd of pressed civilian suits and stuffy etiquette but when Vala caught his gaze from across the room, her smile dimmed slightly. She bit her lip with worry but Landry gave her a meaningful nod and smile and her grin shot back to gigantic proportions, lighting up her face. She nodded back excitedly and skipped her way to the right side of the table to take the empty seat beside Jack.
“So,” she said loudly, clapping her hands once “let’s get started! I am at your full disposal.”
Several of the committee members exchanged curious glances and General Landry took his seat at the end of the table, readying himself for a very long meeting.
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Did you like? There's lots more to come, we'll be moving into Avalon 1 and 2 next, not sure if I'll include Origin yet, any thoughts?
Next - Chapter 16