The Games People Play Chapter 26--What's Worth Waiting For
Title: What's Worth Waiting For
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: AU Vala looked around wide-eyed with astonishment as they walked into through the double set of doors that led into the library. Just inside, there was a large, open tiled area. The walls on either side of the doorway were lined with display shelves. The one to the left read "Just In" and was filled with pristine, gleaming hardcover volumes. On the right side, a faintly yellowed sign read "Book Sale", and the shelves there contained books of every description, from battered paperbacks to old textbooks and reference materials to worn novels and biographical works.
Rating: G
Length: Around 800 words
Category: Angst
Pairings/Charaters: Daniel/Vala
A/N: Part 26 of The Games People Play. The series follows current cannon to the end of 10x09, Company of Thieves. Takes place a couple of weeks before Christmas. Written for fic101.
What's Worth Waiting For
Vala looked around wide-eyed with astonishment as they walked into through the double set of doors that led into the library. Just inside, there was a large, open tiled area. The walls on either side of the doorway were lined with display shelves. The one to the left read "Just In" and was filled with pristine, gleaming hardcover volumes. On the right side, a faintly yellowed sign read "Book Sale", and the shelves there contained books of every description, from battered paperbacks to old textbooks and reference materials to worn novels and biographical works.
"They let you buy them?" Vala frowned.
"Old ones, things they either have better copies of or don't need anymore. Outdated reference books and stuff," explained Daniel.
"Oh, you mean the things you like," Vala nodded.
"Yeah," Daniel chuckled.
"And this?" asked Vala, turning toward the shelving on the left.
"The library board buys a certain number of new books every month. Usually things people request, or books that the staff knows are popular," he said. "They all go here as soon as they come in."
"I see," she said, then looked again from one side to the other and bit her lip, scrunching up her face in an expression of eager indecision. "Where to first?"
"Come on," Daniel curved his right arm gently around her back, guiding her toward the circulation desk.
"What are we doing?" she asked, startled. "The books are that way!"
"We're going to get you a library card," he smiled.
***
Daniel spent thirty minutes explaining the library's circulation policies after the librarian at the circulation desk had gone over everything with Vala twice. She pressed a hand to her forehead, sighing as she listened to him repeat the list of rules and regulations. He reached across the table and gripped her arm, lightly but firmly.
"Vala. Are you sure you understand?" he asked.
She let her hand fall, and her palm smacked down on the smooth surface. "Yes. I can borrow as many books as I like, but they must be returned by the date printed on the slip they give me. If I can't get here, I may renew the materials twice by phone, but I must either return or renew by the date due or a fine will be levied at a rate of…ten cents per day."
"Which…?" Daniel prompted.
"Which you are not going to pay for me, nor am I to ask Sam or Mitchell or Teal'c to loan me the money," she repeated dutifully.
"Good. Now what about the rest of it?" he asked.
"Oh, come on, Daniel," she sighed.
"No, no, no. No 'come on'. Gimme the rest," he insisted.
Vala drew in a breath and heaved another sigh. "CDs and audiocassettes may be checked out with a limit of five each, and must be returned within two weeks. They may be renewed twice. DVDs may be borrowed three at a time and must be returned within one week. They may be renewed only once and must be returned in their proper cases with all enclosed leaflets and accompanying materials intact or a fine will be attached equaling the cost of a new copy. Now can we go? Please?" her voice rose with the last word, making it an eager squeal, and she waved toward the waiting bookshelves.
"Just a sec--"
"You know, Daniel," she rolled her eyes, pushing herself suddenly to her feet. "If you didn't think I could handle this, I don't know why you brought me here in the first place."
He gave her a stunned look. "Huh…?"
"The library card was your idea. I was quite happy just to come here with you," she reminded him, turning away. "Now I'm going to find something to read."
She walked off, and he sprinted after her, catching her arm. "Vala, wait."
She turned, raising both eyebrows at him with a pointed look and said softly, "I've run smuggling operations and conducted black market trades all over this galaxy, Daniel. The circulation policies at the local public library really aren't that much to absorb."
He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry. What I was going to say was that I'm--I was proud of you. It…seemed like a lot to me."
Vala tilted her head, and her expression softened. She raised a hand to his cheek. "I'm sorry, Daniel."
He nodded, then smiled hesitantly. "The books are waiting."
"I think they can wait a while longer," Vala said as her arms slid around his neck.
Daniel's smile widened. "I love you," he said as he leaned into her kiss.
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: AU Vala looked around wide-eyed with astonishment as they walked into through the double set of doors that led into the library. Just inside, there was a large, open tiled area. The walls on either side of the doorway were lined with display shelves. The one to the left read "Just In" and was filled with pristine, gleaming hardcover volumes. On the right side, a faintly yellowed sign read "Book Sale", and the shelves there contained books of every description, from battered paperbacks to old textbooks and reference materials to worn novels and biographical works.
Rating: G
Length: Around 800 words
Category: Angst
Pairings/Charaters: Daniel/Vala
A/N: Part 26 of The Games People Play. The series follows current cannon to the end of 10x09, Company of Thieves. Takes place a couple of weeks before Christmas. Written for fic101.
What's Worth Waiting For
Vala looked around wide-eyed with astonishment as they walked into through the double set of doors that led into the library. Just inside, there was a large, open tiled area. The walls on either side of the doorway were lined with display shelves. The one to the left read "Just In" and was filled with pristine, gleaming hardcover volumes. On the right side, a faintly yellowed sign read "Book Sale", and the shelves there contained books of every description, from battered paperbacks to old textbooks and reference materials to worn novels and biographical works.
"They let you buy them?" Vala frowned.
"Old ones, things they either have better copies of or don't need anymore. Outdated reference books and stuff," explained Daniel.
"Oh, you mean the things you like," Vala nodded.
"Yeah," Daniel chuckled.
"And this?" asked Vala, turning toward the shelving on the left.
"The library board buys a certain number of new books every month. Usually things people request, or books that the staff knows are popular," he said. "They all go here as soon as they come in."
"I see," she said, then looked again from one side to the other and bit her lip, scrunching up her face in an expression of eager indecision. "Where to first?"
"Come on," Daniel curved his right arm gently around her back, guiding her toward the circulation desk.
"What are we doing?" she asked, startled. "The books are that way!"
"We're going to get you a library card," he smiled.
***
Daniel spent thirty minutes explaining the library's circulation policies after the librarian at the circulation desk had gone over everything with Vala twice. She pressed a hand to her forehead, sighing as she listened to him repeat the list of rules and regulations. He reached across the table and gripped her arm, lightly but firmly.
"Vala. Are you sure you understand?" he asked.
She let her hand fall, and her palm smacked down on the smooth surface. "Yes. I can borrow as many books as I like, but they must be returned by the date printed on the slip they give me. If I can't get here, I may renew the materials twice by phone, but I must either return or renew by the date due or a fine will be levied at a rate of…ten cents per day."
"Which…?" Daniel prompted.
"Which you are not going to pay for me, nor am I to ask Sam or Mitchell or Teal'c to loan me the money," she repeated dutifully.
"Good. Now what about the rest of it?" he asked.
"Oh, come on, Daniel," she sighed.
"No, no, no. No 'come on'. Gimme the rest," he insisted.
Vala drew in a breath and heaved another sigh. "CDs and audiocassettes may be checked out with a limit of five each, and must be returned within two weeks. They may be renewed twice. DVDs may be borrowed three at a time and must be returned within one week. They may be renewed only once and must be returned in their proper cases with all enclosed leaflets and accompanying materials intact or a fine will be attached equaling the cost of a new copy. Now can we go? Please?" her voice rose with the last word, making it an eager squeal, and she waved toward the waiting bookshelves.
"Just a sec--"
"You know, Daniel," she rolled her eyes, pushing herself suddenly to her feet. "If you didn't think I could handle this, I don't know why you brought me here in the first place."
He gave her a stunned look. "Huh…?"
"The library card was your idea. I was quite happy just to come here with you," she reminded him, turning away. "Now I'm going to find something to read."
She walked off, and he sprinted after her, catching her arm. "Vala, wait."
She turned, raising both eyebrows at him with a pointed look and said softly, "I've run smuggling operations and conducted black market trades all over this galaxy, Daniel. The circulation policies at the local public library really aren't that much to absorb."
He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry. What I was going to say was that I'm--I was proud of you. It…seemed like a lot to me."
Vala tilted her head, and her expression softened. She raised a hand to his cheek. "I'm sorry, Daniel."
He nodded, then smiled hesitantly. "The books are waiting."
"I think they can wait a while longer," Vala said as her arms slid around his neck.
Daniel's smile widened. "I love you," he said as he leaned into her kiss.