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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Not much could surprise Teal'c, but the scene before him was one that could. “Mal lo onak!”
Daniel and Vala jumped apart.
“Muscles!” Vala tried to straighten her twisted blouse. “We were … I... er... Daniel thought I was having a heart attack and he was doing CPR!”
Daniel's mouth fell open in awe at her absurd excuse, but as soon as Teal'c let out a deep laugh, Daniel couldn't stop himself from laughing.
Hands slamming on her hips, Vala looked back and forth between the two men. “What is so funny? I was in need of medical attention and you think it funny!?”
“Come on, Vala!” Daniel said with a grin. “Even you know how lame that was.”
“I meant to say, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, Daniel!” Vala turned her head away from Teal'c and whispered, “You said, no matter what, we can't get caught.”
“Vala Mal Doran, I assure you I will not tell.”
Quirking her mouth to one side, she studied the Jaffa. “Hmph! You came in shouting 'Oh my god!' Everyone on the base probably heard. And how did you hear what I just said? Do you have ears like a … a... a...”
“Rabbit?” Daniel offered.
“Perhaps an elephant?” Teal'c conjectured.
Shrugging, Vala looked at Daniel with a sheepish smile.
Realizing they were still standing too close, Daniel took Vala by her shoulders and set her back away from him. “Few people on the base even know what he said, and Teal'c doesn't shout...often. Why don't you go pick up those artifacts for me? Remember? The ones you were on your way to get before...”
“Oh! Heehee, I forgot.” Vala dashed out.
“I am sorry Daniel Jackson. I did not mean to intrude.”
“No need to apologize. It was...an accident. I mean, that it happened. Here. In my office. In broad daylight.”
Teal'c raised a brow. “Accident? I see.”
Daniel returned to his desk and sat. “I know we can trust you to keep this to yourself. It won't happen again. I was near the door, she was going out. We sort of collided. It just sort of got out of hand.”
“So, Daniel Jackson, if I may ask. This is the first...”
“Oh no. No, no, no. Hardly. I mean. Here? On base? Definitely! Never on base. Never on missions. This one sort of was a little unexpected, but with Vala, I guess I should have been more on guard. She can sneak up on me when I least...” Daniel blushed, took off his glasses, and sighed.
A broad smile slowly spread and Teal'c laughed again. “I am sorry, but it is good to see you two together again...” Teal'c paused for a mere second before rushing on. “I of course am referring to not being argumentative.”
“Right.”
“I shall keep your secret as long as you like. I am unclear as to why you are worried that this needs to be hidden from others,” Standing over the desk, Teal'c locked his hands behind his back, cocked his head to one side, and waited.
“Neither of us wants to leave SG-1.” Daniel looked up at his friend. “And I think that might happen if it gets out. I'm really not sure what we're going to do.”
“May I speak further on this issue?”
“Ah, sure, Teal'c.” Daniel was completely surprised when Teal'c took the seat next to the desk.
“You should weigh your options. There is no law against civilians fraternizing. You may consider speaking with Colonel Mitchell. Both of you have performed well on missions and here. And if, as you say, this has been going on for some time, does that not prove that your relationship does not interfere with your work? You and Vala Mal Doran...”
“Jackson.” Daniel corrected, his voice low and his tone reluctant.
The Jaffa's brows rose suddenly. “Am I to understand...”
“Yep.” Nodding, Daniel dropped his chin to his chest and lifted his eyes to Teal'c
“That you have...”
“Yep.” Still nodding Daniel followed with a sigh.
“Wed?” Teal'c's voice rose ever so slightly.
“Yep.”
“I am very happy to hear this.”
“You are?” Daniel's face lifted as he stared in wonder at his Jaffa friend. “Why?”
“I have thought for some time that you too were meant to be together. You are two opposites, but like the Earth's Poles, you balance your worlds. Together.”
Daniel grinned. “She definitely balances my world. Odd as that is. But she still drives me nuts most of the time.”
“You do know, Daniel Jackson, that there is speculation as to why you frequently allow Vala Mal Doran...Jackson, to accompany you home when we have free time. Colonel Mitchell assumes you have taken responsibility for keeping her out of trouble. Most, I have heard, think you are the only teammate who can 'handle' her and therefore, believe as Colonel Mitchell does. But some think differently.”
“Yeah, I know, I've heard the rumors.”
Teal'c rose. “I came to inform you that Colonels Mitchell and Reynolds and myself will be playing basketball this evening after dinner if you would care to join us.”
“Sure. I'd like that since we're on the schedule and can't leave the base. I could use it...since I...well, sounds good.”
With a slight bow, the Jaffa smiled and left.
“Damn!” Daniel muttered. She's like a drug, once she gets into your system you're addicted. Crap.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Vala brought a dinner tray to his office later that evening, Daniel looked up with a smile. “Vala. We need to talk.”
Setting the tray on his desk, Vala divvied up the food, gave him a curious pout and sat. “Well,” she said, examining her mystery meat, “this doesn't sound like fun.”
“I need your help.”
Her head jerked up, “Oh, that's all? I thought it was some lecture on...”
“It is, in a way.”
“And which way would that be, Daniel? Scolding me because I got to close to you and you were forced to kiss me, fondle me, in your office and we got caught... which of course is also my fault.”
“No,” he said simply, and couldn't stop the grin on his face.
“No?” Her brows furrowed.
“Nope, I just want you to stop me next time. I don't think we're ready to have everyone know.”
“Muscles won't tell.”
“I know, but we need to make sure we don't send the wrong signals to people. At least not right now. So, when we get back from P2X-564, let's try to argue more at work. Spend a little time apart during the day. Then try to find more time to be off base. In the meantime, let's...be careful.” He reached across the desk and took her hand.
She smiled sweetly, nodding. “Well, alright, if we must.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Teal'c, don't you think somethin's odd about those two? I mean, look at them. They haven't bickered once since we got here. They barely speak at all. I don't think they've so much as looked at each other.”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“No, I do not.”
“Not what!?”
“Colonel Mitchell, did you not ask me a question?”
“Sure.”
“The answer is no.”
“Damn, what was the question?”
“Teal'c, don't you think something's odd about those two?” Teal'c's face was textbook Jaffa stoic.
Mitchell shook his head, eyes closing tightly for a moment. “Okay. Got it.”
Up ahead of Mitchell and Teal'c, Vala followed behind Daniel towards the village. “I hope this goes fast.” She whispered.
“Okay...why?” he whispered back, not turning.
“Because, darling, we have five whole days off after this one! Muscles has to go to Chulak when we get back and he asked if we wanted to go. I...” Vala turned and smiled with a window washer wave at Cam and Teal'c, checking to be sure they were still far behind her and Daniel. “I think we should. We can have some out in public as a couple times there. Can we go?” She took another look behind her.
“No.” Daniel whispered and immediately tried to explain, “I mean I can't go, I..”
“Shh! Here they come.” Vala, face as guilty as a kid caught with their hand in a cookie jar, jogged past Daniel to take the lead.
“Hey, Jackson, what's up with the princess?”
“Dunno, I guess she's pissed off for who knows what.”
“Go figure,”
“Yeah, she's like that,”
“I've said it before and I'm sayin' it again, I don't know why you don't just marry that chick.”
“I did.”
“Did what?”
“Married that chick."
“What chick?”
“Vala!” Daniel stopped and yelled in annoyance.
Both Mitchell and Vala stopped and yelled. “What!?”
Teal'c who was on the six began to march quick time coming past Mitchel, then Daniel, and finally Vala. “We have little time until sunset.”
“I'm confused,” Mitchell said falling into quick time behind Teal'c. Leaving Daniel and Vala in the rear.
“It is quite simple, Colonial Mitchell, if we moved faster we will reach the Stargate while there is still daylight.”
“I know that!” Mitchell yelled as he pointed towards Daniel and Vala “I mean those two.”
“Ah, Colonial Mitchell. You are on your own to contemplate Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran, Jackson.. for I have nothing to say that I may or may not know.
~***~ THE END