Update - A Gift From Above - Chapter 4
Title: A Gift from Above
Author: Milena D.
Rating: T for now
Genre: Romance/Action/Adventure, etc. Daniel/Vala all the way ;)
SPOILERS: HUGE SPOILERS FOR DOMINION!!
Summary: Something went wrong and they’ve paid for it.
Author’s Note: Just a note to everyone, I haven’t died in my writing zeal again, I swear! I’m just in the process of moving across the country. The day has arrived - finally - and I’m boarding the plane tonight. My good friend Nat reminded me that I hadn’t posted the next chapter here and I figured it would be good to do so before I lose my internet so here we are. This was beta’d but I haven’t done 15 passes on it like I usually do so I’m sorry for any typos!
Author’s Note #2: Huge thanks to Susan for beta’ing this!
Disclaimer: I own the plot, unoriginal as it may be Don’t own the characters.
Chapter 1: Emptiness
Chapter 2: Friendship
Chapter 3: Turbulence
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Chapter 4: An Accomplice
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Daniel woke up tired the next morning. His mind hadn’t allowed him more than a few moments of peace at a time; if he wasn’t dreaming about Vala, he was kept awake by thoughts of her, and especially about the last time they saw each other.
.v.v.Five Years Ago.v.v.
“Vala!” Daniel called to her as he caught up with his fast-walking teammate in the hallway. He saw her shoulders slump as she sighed but she did stop walking.
“Yes, Daniel?” She asked bitingly. She knew why he was following her. Obviously he didn’t know what was good for him because she was furious with him at the moment.
“I just want to talk to you.” He tried to say diplomatically but she turned on her heels and stomped off again.
“I think you made your feelings perfectly clear. I don’t see what else you want to talk about.” She grounded out, feeling the vice around her heart tightened as she recalled how he’d all but blown up in front of the team about how her idea was stupid and the plan would never work.
“Well obviously I didn’t since you’re still going through with it!” He threw back, following her down the hall.
“Funny, I don’t remember when your opinion became the law. It shouldn’t matter anyway, I’m just a thief, what do I care about the law.” She retorted sarcastically.
“Vala, would you wait?” Daniel asked her, trying to grab her arm to hold her back but she kept shoving him off.
“Wait for what?” She returned, her tone deceptively light. “Wait to be told that I can’t be trusted to do this? Wait to be told you have absolutely zero faith in me? I thought we covered all of that. Remember, back in the briefing when we had an audience?”
Daniel winced. He hadn’t mean to go off on her then but he hadn’t really been aware of their friends once General Landry approved the plan.
“Look I’m sorry about that.” He said with all sincerity as she slowed to a halt. She turned around, her arms crossed, a glare pinning him across the hallway.
“Sorry about what you said, or where you said it?” Vala questioned him, her voice quiet despite her anger. His silence told her everything she needed to know.
“I can’t support you in this.” Daniel put his foot down, foolishly hoping that would change her mind.
“Well, I can’t say I’ll miss what I apparently never had.” Vala told him. She knew the hurt was obvious in her face - she’d been having a harder and harder time hiding her feelings around him as time went on - but she wasn’t about to stick around to give him the satisfaction of seeing the product of his work.
“Where are you going?” He asked her tiredly.
“Out.” She bit, not looking back.
“Topside?” He pressed incredulously. That was it.
“Yes, topside, Daniel.” She snapped, turning back to stalk towards him as her fury swelled up again. “Topside where I’m allowed to go now. I’ve earned that right and some people actually back up their faith in me concretely instead of throwing pretty, flowery words and rescinding that faith later on. Despite what you may think, some people on this base actually trust me after over a year of helping you, of not scamming anyone, of risking my life to help you and your cause!”
“It has nothing to do with not trusting you!” He yelled back, shoving the finger she’d been accusing him with aside and ignoring the airmen trying to discretely pass them in the hallway. “It has to do with it being a ridiculous plan that hinges on you doing what you’re supposed to! But hey, what am I worrying about? You’re just Little Miss Predictable, aren’t you?”
Vala’s eyes narrowed at him and he could see her clench her jaw.
“I do what needs to be done when it’s important.” She returned angrily.
“Yeah well you won’t know what’s important after you get your memory wiped! And we won’t be there to save the day when you screw up!” Daniel stressed with frustration.
“When!?” She echoed incredulously.
“Oh come on, Vala.” He scoffed. “You honestly think nothing will go wrong after we dump you on a hostile, alien planet with your memory wiped? Because things went so well after Athena did it, right?”
“First of all,” Vala bit out, counting on her finger, “I was on Earth when that happened and I wasn’t raised around societies like yours. The planet Adria will be on is one I’m familiar with, people that think like I do.”
“Thieves and con artists.” Daniel interjected with a derisive tone. Vala took a deep breath, resisted the urge to find another fire extinguisher and continued.
“Secondly, even without any knowledge about your world, its customs and without ANY knowledge whatsoever of who I was, I managed to do just fine for myself!” She pointed out. “I had a job, a place to stay, friends! Which is a lot more than I find myself having now.” She continued despite his eye rolling. “And we won’t be erasing my entire memory, just the part about how I left Earth.”
“And then you’ll be walking right into the path of your psychotic daughter whom you didn’t exactly leave on peaceful terms last time! Am I the only one who remembers her aiming at you before I pushed you out of the way?” Daniel’s voice rose as he reached his argument again. “You’d be dead now if it wasn’t for me!”
“She doesn’t have to like me, she just has to believe me!” Vala yelled back, ignoring the rest of his rant.
“And what if she decides to kill you when you’re done your little chit-chat? Huh?” Daniel pressed, stepping forward and forcing her back.
“It won’t come to that.” Vala said assertively.
“Because you know her so well?” He scoffed again in disbelief. “You’re not the one who spent weeks with her. She’s insane and when you get past that first, outer layer there’s just more insane, no gushy warm stuff in the center.”
“You would know, wouldn’t you?” Vala returned, her eyes steely. Daniel sighed with irritation as he realized they were off-topic but she brought them back to it. “And it won’t come to that because I’m not that stupid.”
Again he snorted and she glared at him, stepping forward in defiance and bringing her finger up again to stab him in the shoulder as she moved.
“I’ve survived decades out there without any of you, without anyone at all! I’m not going to turn into a simpering idiot just because you’re not there! I know that world, Daniel, a hell of a lot better than I know this one.” She seethed, staring him down. “I don’t need you. I will do just fine without you. Better probably, without your constant nagging and seemingly tenuous faith.”
With that, she tore herself away and stomped down the hall without looking back.
“Well good!” He yelled after her angrily. “Cuz I won’t be there! And don’t expect me to come save you when you screw up ‘cause I don’t need you either! I’ll welcome the peace!”
She never looked back before she rounded the corner and he knew he’d screwed up.
.v.v.Present Time.v.v.
Cameron’s knocking shook him out of him painful memories.
“Yo, Jackson, wakey wakey.” He called from the other side of the door. “I was just kidding about that beauty sleep stuff. It’s what’s inside that counts, honest.”
Daniel rolled his eyes, a small smile on his lips as he got up to answer the door.
“I was already up.” He told his team leader after opening the door. “And don’t kid yourself, I was always the pretty one.”
“So’s that make me the jock?” Cam asked with a roguish smile as Daniel grabbed his gear.
“I don’t think so.” Daniel reported with mock sympathy.
“What?” Cam returned from the doorway, scandalized. “I was the star quarterback in high school.”
“Yeah, well we’re a long way from high school. Some more than others.” Daniel returned, fighting his grin. “And Teal’c could tackle you without even raising a sweat.”
“That’s true.” Cam agreed with a disheartened sigh.
“Besides,” Daniel spoke as they left his room, unable to resist one final jab, “I can’t really see cheerleaders fawning over you.”
“Now that’s just crazy talk.” Cam declared as Sam came out of her room. “Sam!”
“Hey, morning.” She greeted them with a smile, already geared up.
“You’d fawn over me, right?” Cam asked. She would have been caught off-guard if she hadn’t heard their debate all the way into her room.
“Sorry, I don’t think so.” She said, shrugging apologetically and winking discretely to Teal’c as he joined them in the hallway.
“What? Have you no taste?” Cam argued, slack-jawed.
“And she’s not a cheerleader anyway.” Daniel interjected as Cam tried to nurse his pride. “She’s the smart one.”
“Well then who’s the cheerleader? We’ve got the pretty boy, the jock, the smart one, we need a bimbo cheerleader or a foreign exchange kid.” Cam declared definitively. His team all stared at him meaningfully. “Oh hell no.”
“Well you are from Earth so you can’t be the foreign exchange kid.” Daniel mused innocently.
“Then I could be the jock and Teal’c could be the foreign kid!” Cam stated happily, his smile only lasting until Teal’c raised a single eyebrow and conveyed his thoughts on the matter. “Or I could be the cheerleader.” He said sullenly.
“Hey now,” Daniel called as he descended the stairs, “cheerleaders don’t pout.”
Cam glared at him.
“You know,” Sam started with a cheeky grin, appraising him as they followed Daniel, “picturing you with pom-poms on a pyramid...I could fawn.”
“Shut up, nerd.” Cam elbowed her with a grin. Sam laughed her way into the kitchen but stopped abruptly when they came face to face with Siremi and Elom. There was an awkward moment but the chief dispelled it quickly from the end of the table.
“Good morning, friends!” He greeted them warmly, gesturing towards seats before him. “Sit, sit, you must be hungry. My wife tells me you’ve had an exciting night.”
“Ah...yes.” Daniel replied simply, the morning joviality quickly leaving him. The team slowly took seats around the table, unconsciously sitting in positions like they would during mission briefings, with Elom standing as the General. Siremi didn’t speak as she took out plates for them.
“I believe,” Elom started, leaning forward and interlocking his fingers on the tabletop, “that it is quite fortunate that the universe has brought you to us.”
His statement surprised them, being quite opposite to his wife’s...and Vala’s.
“You do?” Sam asked skeptically. Elom smiled gently at her.
“I do.” He assured her. “Our partnership now leaves me feeling like we are on even ground.”
“How’s that?” Cam asked with a friendly tone, not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Because now our exchange will be meaningful on both sides.”
“Our exchange?” Teal’c repeated gravely.
“Well yes.” The Chief said. When he saw that they didn’t understand, he came back a few steps. “Our original understanding left us taking much more from you than we could give back. Our technology, our medicine, our culture wouldn’t provide near as much for you as your help against the Goa’uld will for us.”
Daniel tried to speak but Elom cut him off with a wave of his hand.
“From knowing you I realize that full equality isn’t a preoccupation of yours, you’re happy to simply help and that’s admirable. But, even on behalf of my people, I am not comfortable accepting charity.” He explained to them and they nodded in understanding. “But now that there is something I can help you with, I feel like this partnership is more even-footed.”
“What? With Vala?” Daniel asked, his eyes jumping to the others to see if they thought differently. Apparently not.
“Exactly.” Elom smiled. “Her friendship means very much to you, does it not?”
“It does.” Cam agreed. Elom smiled wider and leaned back to gesture to Siremi.
“My wife told me of your separation and that she believes your intentions are honourable. That is all I need to know.” He declared. “I am at your disposal to help in any way I can.”
The team looked at each other in astonishment. They had figured he wouldn’t interfere, like his wife had told them she wouldn’t, but to actually have his help?
“Thank you, Elom.” Daniel finally said, a hopeful smile on his face.
“I need to tend to the children.” Siremi finally spoke, setting their food on the table and leaving the room.
“We don’t want to cause you any trouble.” Sam said to Elom, tilting her head in the direction Siremi had left.
“You need not worry. She respects my decision, as I do hers.” Elom assured them as he dug into his food. “She truly does believe you and wishes to see her friend put this ugly business behind her, but her loyalty comes first and foremost. It is an admirable trait to have.” He finished, smiling as he thought of his temperamental wife.
“It is.” Daniel agreed and he and the others took up their forks to start eating the omelette-resembling dish Siremi had made them.
“So,” Cam started after a comfortable silence of musing, “what exactly did you have in mind? About Vala, I mean.”
“Well,” Elom replied, “I am not so close to her that speaking on your behalf would do much good but I can assist you in your own plans.”
They were slightly disappointed that the man hadn’t come up with a brilliant move to get her back...mostly because they hadn’t either, but they wouldn’t refuse other help either.
“For instance,” he continued, “no doubt some of you will wish to speak with her today.” They nodded. Daniel and Sam had to go to the meetings with the other chiefs - Daniel as Earth’s representative and diplomat, and Sam to explain what technology they were willing to give - but Cam and Teal’c were free to visit Vala.
“Then you’ll need to know where she lives, won’t you?” Elom grinned.
“Very true.” Cam accorded him. They had planned on walking around and talking to villagers until one of them helped them or they found Vala on their own.
“What about how she got here? What you know about her?” Daniel asked, pushing for any information about her.
“What topics to avoid perhaps?” Elom added with a grin, having no problem with the hopeful man’s requests.
“That would be great.” Cam agreed with a deep nod. He and Teal’c would be up first and he didn’t want to screw it up for the rest of them.
They spent the rest of the morning talking about Vala. Elom told them how she’d wandered into their village, eight months pregnant, and didn’t have the time to take off her shoes and come in for tea before she went into labour. Nejaya had been born in their house and she and her mother had quickly become part of their family.
“That’s why they’re so close.” Cam surmised and the cheerful chief nodded.
“They stayed here for several months until the Kater family decided to live in the next village to be with their son after he married. Vala saved Mother Kater from a dangerous illness a few months beforehand and they decided to leave their house to her when they left.” Elom explained.
“She saved her life?” Teal’c asked. “How?”
“With a device she had with her, a Goa’uld device.” He replied. He’d been stunned to see the strange woman back to full strength the day after giving birth but she’d shown them the magic behind it and that was the end of it. “She became something of a healer in the village. Of course we have our own healers that take care of the sick but in life-threatening situations, Vala is called upon to help.”
“What does she do otherwise?” Daniel asked curiously.
“She does many things, she is too restless to settle with a single calling.” Elom grinned conspiratorially. They knew what he meant. “Yesterday she returned from the hunt. She goes both as healer and trapper, she has quite extensive knowledge on the chase, you know.”
“We know.” Cam said, sharing a smile with Teal’c and Sam as they recalled the time she’d tried to prove that to them.
“She trades in other villages and on other planets as well but she doesn’t do that often. She doesn’t like to be away from Nejaya for too long.” The chief continued.
“Yeah, about that...” Cam started. “Do you know anything about how Nejaya...came to be? ‘Cause Vala was definitely not pregnant the last time we saw her.”
Daniel looked at him quickly before turning his attention back to Elom to hear his response.
“We know nothing about the father other than he has passed away.” The chief said, his previously chipper face now wearing a certain sadness. “She never speaks of him, not to us or to Nejaya. The little one has learned not to ask and so have we.”
The team looked at each other with heavy hearts. They didn’t have a good feeling about this. The timing meant that Vala had to have gotten pregnant soon after leaving them and if she was left feeling so distraught over him, he couldn’t exactly be a fling. He either had to be someone from her past...or someone not so pleasant.
“That would be one of the topics I suggest you avoid.” Elom advised them and they were all willing to agree...for the most part.
“Good idea.” Cam said. “Anything else we should know?”
“Only that she planned to leave the village for the duration of SG-13’s stay and is likely waking up to do just that now that you are here.” Elom informed them.
“So we should get a move on it.” Cam inferred.
“It would be wise to make haste, yes.” He replied. “And those who are meeting with the council should hasten as well. The last are not due for yet a few hours but those who arrived early this morning will be anxious to meet with you.”
They got the message and all five of them hurried to finish their meals and clear up. Then, after Elom bid his wife and children goodbye, they left the house and separated.
“You must go down this way until you see the baker’s shop and then make a right. Our houses bear our family names so look for the Mal Doran insignia on the left-hand houses.” Elom directed Cam and Teal’c. “And she might be more willing to speak to you if you stop at the baker’s first. Nejaya adores the honey bread Minaj makes, he will not charge you if you mention me.”
“Thanks for the tip.” Cam said sincerely, fixing his hat on his head to escape the glare of the morning sun.
“The council will break for the evening meal, you should come meet the chiefs at the feast.” Elom advised them again.
“We will be there.” Teal’c agreed.
“Wonderful. Until then.” Elom greeted them.
“Until then.” Cam replied. “See you guys later.”
“Cam...” Daniel trailed off, his anxious voice speaking for him.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head off, we’ll bring the foreign kid back to the posse.” Cam assure him cheekily. His attempt at levity helped but didn’t fully dispel the solid knot of anxiety in Daniel’s chest.
“And you say you’re not a cheerleader.” Sam returned with a grin.
“Go team!” Cam cheered jokingly, before turning around and following the path the chief had plotted for them with Teal’c. Daniel chuckled and shook his head. Elom, confused but amused, began walking in the direction of the temporary council’s massive tent and was quickly joined by the humans. They still wore small smiles but it was obvious their thoughts were not all with diplomatic matters. He just hoped they could put aside their personal lives for the task at hand or they might be back to unequal footing.
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“I can see why she loves it, this is amazing.” Cam said, his mouth full of honey bread.
“Indeed it is. I do not understand, however, how you were able to eat three in two minutes when we have just come from breakfast.” Teal’c remarked, holding his own pieces and those for their bribe in separate bags.
“It’s a well known fact that carbohydrates are good for energy and I’ve seen her fight with Jackson, that woman’s got mental endurance like I’ve never seen.” Cam defended himself before passing his hand over his protesting stomach.
“Do you feel unwell, ColonelMitchell?” His companion asked him.
“I’m fine, just...nervous.” He admitted. “Hell I don’t think I’ve been more nerve-wracked in all my years on SG-1.”
“I find that difficult to believe.” Teal’c replied skeptically.
“Well, that’s probably because it’s not completely true.” Cam relented. “We’ve been through tougher times...almost every mission comes to mind. But you know what I mean.”
“I too am uneasy.” Teal’c said in reply. “But ValaMalDoran is a rational woman, she will accept our explanation. At the very least, she can have no rebuttal to the recording of herself DanielJackson brought.”
“That’s true.” Cam agreed, patting his backpack to reassure himself they hadn’t forgotten it. “But that won’t do much good if she slams the door in our faces. And speak of the devil...” He pointed to a house on their left with “Mal Doran” inscribed above the doorway. They stood before it a few moments before Cam all but sprinted for the door.
“Gotta do it like a band-aid.” He called back before stepping on the step and quickly rapping his knuckles against the heavy wooden door. Teal’c joined him on the step and they waited silently, trying to hear the sounds of life beyond their barrier.
“Perhaps she has already left.” Teal’c hypothesized.
“No way,” Cam returned, knocking harder against the door, “we did not get all worked up just to have to wait for her to get back from their mother-daughter camping trip.”
Teal’c lifted an eyebrow and Cam amended himself.
“Okay, I didn’t get all worked up...they’ve got to be home.” He said, not letting up on his knocking. Finally the door swung open and his fist fell through air as they were met with irate, stormy gray eyes.
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And that’s chapter 4, I hope you enjoyed it! I’m writing the next but I’ll probably only have internet next week. And the next chapter is still flexible cuz there are like 5 different ways to write it so if there’s something you’d like to see, feel free to leave it in the review, it might confirm something I wanted to write or give me a new idea. Have a good week everyone!
Next: Chapter 5