so_out_of_ideas (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
so_out_of_ideas) wrote2006-09-13 09:37 am
so_out_of_ideas) wrote2006-09-13 09:37 am
Entry tags:
...the date would end...
No, not really. It's way too cute. I totally blame ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aruna7's new vid for this. I wanted to post the whole series together, but I have like 4600 more words written and they haven't even gotten to the picnic yet. Gonna use that part for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
scifi_five *sigh* Incredible amounts of thanks to nekkidchick for all the beta.
So, this is a new DV fic series. Post-ep for Memento Mori. I don't know about anyone else, but I love Sal. Possibly because there have been a few "Sal's" in my life--people who unexpectedly extended a hand of kindness to me and expected nothing in return. So, while of course the shippy stuff elicited the tears and squeeing and whatever from me, I think that the stuff with Vala's friends at Sol's struck as big of a chord with me. I felt bad because it seemed unlikely that she would ever be able to go back and see them again, but then (yay!) some of the typoteers came through with a way. *hugs friends* I think it works, although I was purposely vague about the nature of the cover story in case one is ever used on screen. Also, as far as I was able to find out the waitress chick didn't have a name, so I gave her one. Chalk it up to artistic liscence again. I'll change it if anyone can tell me what her real name was supposed to be I'd like not to have to take this series AU, although it might go that way if I can't keep my brain in check toward the end. heh. Oh, and I apologize if anything seems wonky. I wrote "Jealous" first and then went back to do the ones before it, THEN worked on the end.
Taking The Long Way
Title: Friends
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: Daniel slowly set the statue down and reached out to lay a tender finger along her jaw...
Rating: PG
Length: About 1000 words
Category: fluff/UST
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired byaruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 1/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone.
Friends
Vala paused uncertainly in the doorway of Daniel's office. The room had never been very well kept. It was usually scattered with artifacts from various offworld missions, cluttered with books and dusty old documents, and contained at least a week's worth of old coffee cups. Now, however, the mess seemed to have exploded.
Daniel himself was off in a corner, kneeling in front of a crate. There were several stacks of what she presumed were valuable historical objects around him, and as he removed each new item, he carefully unwrapped, catalogued, and then re-wrapped it before placing it with the others. He continued working for several minutes, oblivious to her presence, until finally she stepped inside and cleared her throat.
He looked up with a start, but quickly turned back to what he was doing. "Hey, um…if this is about dinner, I'm kinda busy," he said distractedly.
"Yes, darling, I noticed." Vala replied. She walked over to the desk and leaned against it, frowning. "What is it you're looking for?"
"A bracelet," he replied pensively, still not looking at her. "SG-8 brought it back from their last offworld mission and now it seems to have vanished."
"Well, don't look at me," Vala's eyes widened.
"Vala--"
"Really, Daniel. I swear. I had nothing to do with it!" she raised her hands innocently.
"Vala, I don't think you took it," he turned toward her, cocking his head slightly as he looked up.
"Really?" her eyes widened in surprise.
"Really," he smiled.
"Oh," she nodded. "Right, of course you don't. So. Shall I help you look?"
Daniel's eyebrows rose. "You…wanna help me re-catalogue all this?"
"Well, not really," she winked. "But friends do that sort of thing for one another, right?"
"Right," he nodded, hiding a chuckle.
Vala pushed off the desk and threaded her way through the stacks to kneel beside him. Peering into the crate, she bit the side of her lip and said thoughtfully. "You know, Daniel…"
"Hmm?" he looked up again.
"Never mind," she shook her head.
"Okay," he shrugged, stifling another laugh as he turned back to his clipboard. From the corner of his eye, he could see her frown, and was rather surprised at how long and companionably they worked before she made another attempt.
"Daniel, about dinner," she cleared her throat.
He sat back on his heels and balled his hand over his lips, barely turning the laughter into a cough. "Dinner?" he asked innocently.
"Yes…Friday? We did have dinner plans, didn't we? You mentioned when I came in…" she trailed off with an awkwardness that didn't quite seem feigned.
"Yeah," he nodded reassuringly. "What about dinner?"
"Well, you see, Daniel, I've decided I'm not sure I really want to have dinner with you," she said slowly.
His mouth popped open. "You--you don't?"
"Mmm-mmm," Vala shook her head. She paused for a few seconds, then broke into a wide grin. "I'd much rather we took a drive to the beach!"
Daniel raised his eyes to the ceiling, then dropped his forehead into his free hand. "Vala, that's--that's not a good idea."
"Come now, darling, of course it is. A nice, long romantic drive…a walk by the ocean--then we can we spend the rest of the evening under the boardwalk--"
Daniel's head snapped up, eyes bulging. His jaw dropped again, then began to work silently as Vala hurriedly amended,
"On! I meant on! Really."
"I think you've been watching too much TV," Daniel replied, kneeling up again to pick up a small statuette from the crate.
"So…that would be a no?" Vala asked ingenuously.
"That would be a no," nodded Daniel firmly.
She sighed heavily and set to work again. Daniel shook his head, holding the silence, but he stole several sideways glances at her and frowned more deeply with each one. He'd expected a show of disappointment, but if it had been false, he knew that Vala would have let it drop within a few minutes. In fact, she probably would have just shifted tactics and kept trying to wheedle him into taking her to the beach.
He let out a sigh of his own. "So, where do you want to go for dinner?" he asked softly.
Vala looked up in surprise, but didn't reply right away. Her brow creased in thought for a moment or two, then her eyes brightened eagerly. She smiled and opened her mouth to say something, then abruptly shut it again. This time, though, he saw resignation and pain, not the playful hope that he would invite her to continue.
"Wherever you like, Daniel," she said heavily, moving her eyes away.
Daniel slowly set the statue down and reached out to lay a tender finger along her jaw. Gently turning her face back to look at him, he asked, "You wanna go to Sol's?"
She nodded once, swallowing back a sudden wave of emotion. Her eyes blurred with tears, but when she tried to look away, Daniel brought both hands to her cheeks.
"Okay," he smiled.
Title: Victory
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: "Friends and co-workers out to dinner," reiterated Daniel, striding back to the other side of the table.
Rating: PG
Length: About 1000 words
Category: humor
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired byaruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 2/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone.
Victory
"Now--now, remember," Daniel cautioned as the car door clunked shut, "Stick to the cover story. And that's it--anything else they ask, you say it's classified."
"Daniel, I know," Vala sighed, her boots clicking rapidly on the pavement as they crossed the parking lot. "You've only reminded me three times already."
"Sorry," he murmured sincerely. "It's just--well, y'know Landry wasn't too keen on this idea."
Vala paused, turning back to face him. The fact was that no one at the SGC, including the rest of their team, had liked the idea of her returning here, even if they were only staying long enough to reassure her friends and grab a quick meal. Daniel had argued that for her to disappear without any explanation would only add fuel to the various conspiracy theories floating around and that he and Vala together could reinforce the official cover story that had been issued to explain the events following her abduction.
She smiled at the memory, genuinely touched that he was willing, once again, to be her advocate. He'd shrugged off her thanks--blushing slightly, which in itself was gratifying--but Vala still wished that he'd let her do something for him in return.
"I know what to do," she promised, turning again to open the door. "Now, come on, I want you to meet everyone."
The diner was still buzzing with the noise of its lunch crowd when they walked in. Daniel had insisted that the drive would have been too long to accommodate a dinner date--non-date, she corrected herself with a slight smirk--so he'd agreed to go with her on Saturday instead. Having his undivided attention during weekend downtime was a rarity for her, and she wasn't sure which pleased her more--a Saturday with Daniel or the chance to see Sal and the rest of her friends again.
The murmur of voices quieted at the sight of her, and she felt suddenly self conscious. Daniel's hand slid reassuringly onto her arm, but a moment later a familiar voice called from the kitchen, "Hey, Val! You're back!"
Her sudden nervousness dissipated as Sal's smiling face appeared, and she squeezed her way through the crowded restaurant as he came out to her. She quickly found herself enveloped by a crowd of customers, and Sal's meaty arms wound around her, threatening to crush her ribs as he plucked her off the ground.
It was several minutes before she could work her way back to Daniel, who was still standing where she'd left him, a satisfied little smile on his lips. Reaching eagerly for his hand, she pulled him back to Sal, who was beaming almost as brightly as she was.
"So, is this your husband or something, Val?" he asked when introductions were complete.
"Well," Vala grinned widely, tilting her head toward Daniel. "Maybe someday!"
"Or not…" Daniel forced a grin of his own, and tilted his head toward hers so that the two almost touched. Finally remembering to unlace their fingers, he cleared his throat and told Sal, "She's…still a little confused."
"I am not, darling," Vala shook her head firmly. "I clearly remember that we very recently had our first date!"
"It wasn't a date," he replied automatically.
"Now, Daniel, don't be so shy," urged Vala with a wink at Sal. "It was a very romantic restaurant, we were both quite dressed up…there was even candlelight involved!"
"Sounds like a date to me," grinned Sal, clapping Daniel jovially on the arm. "You kids order whatever you like--it's on the house."
"Oh!" Vala exclaimed in surprise, leaning over to kiss his cheek before he headed back to the kitchen. "Thanks!"
"Sure, Val, anytime," he nodded.
"It wasn't a date," Daniel muttered as he led her over to a table.
"Yes it was," she replied, waiting expectantly for him to pull out the chair.
He automatically walked around to do so, replying as he did so, "No, it wasn't."
"Even Sal says it was a date!" Vala retorted, sitting down.
"Friends and co-workers out to dinner," reiterated Daniel, striding back to the other side of the table.
Vala smiled knowingly and picked up her menu. Daniel slid into his chair, waiting with tense shoulders for her to continue the argument. She calmly perused the lunch options as if she hadn't spent weeks serving them to others, and he frowned, finally clearing his throat.
"Something wrong, darling?" she asked innocently, putting it aside.
"Aren't you--aren't you gonna…you know," he asked with an agitated wave.
"What?" frowned Vala.
"Aren't you gonna keep insisting it was a date?" he asked.
She grinned in response and returned her attention to the menu. Daniel narrowed his eyes and glared for several seconds, then finally picked up his own. He looked down the list for a while, contemplating, and then said without looking up.
"Stop grinning."
"I'm not grinning," Vala replied.
"You're grinning," he said firmly.
"You're not even looking at me," she pointed out.
"I don't have to be looking at you," he said as he made up his mind and laid the menu back on the table. Vala set hers down as well, quickly wiping the smile off her face, but he caught a hint of it and jabbed a finger at her victoriously. "Ah-ha! See? See? You're grinning!" he shouted.
Title: Surrender
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: ...Vala swallowed, trying to reign in the waves of heat and cold that pulsed along her nerves...
Rating: PG-13
Length: About 1000 words
Category: fluff/UST
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired byaruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 3/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone.
Surrender
Vala shifted her eyes slightly to the side, and Daniel turned to see the waitress poised with pencil in hand. Her eyes were wide with shock, and he realized with an inward groan that she had seen his whole performance. He quickly pulled back his hand, which was still pointed at Vala, and planted it on his chin, then smiled up at her as casually as he could.
"Are you folks ready?" she asked, her gaze flicking questioningly to Vala.
"Yes," she nodded. "He'll have the Monte Cristo sandwich; coffee, black, two sugars--oh, and pie for dessert. I think I'll have the grilled chicken. Is that new?"
"Yeah, Sal just added it a few days ago," the waitress replied. "Coming right up. You want the pie, too, Val?"
"Mmm, I think so," Vala nodded. "Thanks, Pat."
"Will do," she smiled, starting to turn away. "Good to see you, Val…"
"Uh…?" Daniel interrupted, raising a finger.
"Oh, did I forget something?" Vala asked, frowning.
"No…that's…exactly what I wanted," Daniel replied slowly.
"Of course it is," she nodded dismissively.
"Just friends, huh?" remarked the waitress.
The two women shared a wink, and Daniel let his arms fall to the table, dropping his forehead onto them in defeat. Vala smirked but carefully hid the expression when he finally looked up again. Setting his chin back in his hand, he studied her silently for a while, but shifted his eyes carefully away before the scrutiny became rude. Turning his attention to the napkin beside him, he picked it up and nervously began to shred bits off the side.
"You know, I--can sort of see why you wanted to come back here," he mused quietly.
"They're wonderful people," she agreed. "I don't--think I've ever really had friends who didn't… want something from me."
"Sure you have," Daniel smiled, but her eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?"
"Vala, I don't care who Adria is to you…or why you're here. I'm just glad you are," he said earnestly.
She smiled warmly, feeling her cheeks redden. "Thank you, Daniel," she murmured, ducking her head.
"I mean it," he nodded quietly. "Anyway, I'm happy you found this place--people who cared about you. I…"
She leaned closer silently, inviting him to continue with another smile. The flush returned to her cheeks, and she hoped that she wasn't really as red as she felt. He glanced down at the napkin, then back up at her, and wet his lips. "Well, I--really missed you. We--we were all worried."
Vala drew a breath to speak, but found her throat suddenly tight. Her vision blurred with tears again, and she dropped her eyes, giving her head a bewildered shake. "I don't know what's the matter with me lately…"
Daniel's had moved across the table, and she felt his familiar, strong fingers close reassuringly on hers. She looked up slowly and he shifted in his seat, leaning closer. Vala swallowed, trying to reign in the waves of heat and cold that pulsed along her nerves. She moved instinctively toward his mouth, but as she felt his breath, the door opened behind them.
"Hey, Val, how ya doin?" called Detective Ryan cheerfully.
The moment broken, both Daniel and Vala fell back against their chairs. She turned to greet her friend and he busied himself with the napkin again. The detective hurried over, and she adeptly assured him that everything had turned out well despite his unwitting part in the second kidnapping attempt. He recognized Daniel as having been with the "real" Lieutenant Colonel Carter when the team had arrived to bring her back to the SGC, so the introductions went smoothly, and Vala had little trouble convincing him that what, in her opinion, was a rather flimsy cover story was, in fact, the truth.
After a few minutes of chatting and a hug, the waitress arrived with their lunch, and Ryan went off to the counter to order his. Daniel was watching her with an appreciative smile, and Vala couldn't help but blush again. She tried to conceal it, turning her attention to the food in front of her, but he wasn't fooled.
"You did great," he told her.
"Hmm?" she looked up absently.
"With Ryan," he said with a look that said he was well aware that she had understood his meaning.
"Oh," she replied smoothly. "Yes, I did, didn't I?"
Daniel shook his head fondly and started to eat. Lunch passed surprisingly quickly and without any remarkable bickering. Since neither particularly wanted to go after dessert, they lingered over coffee at the counter. Vala chatted with Sal and a few of the regulars who hung around after the lunch rush had ended. Daniel said surprisingly little, despite her attempts to draw him out. Finally, as they prepared to go, she grinned and dismissed his reticence to Sal by saying he must be feeling shy again.
"That's okay, Val, you'll help him over that, won't ya?" Sal winked as he slid two more Styrofoam-lidded coffee cups across the counter to them.
"Oh, you just bet I will," Vala nodded, picking hers up. She took a long breath and sighed, picking up her purse as well and slinging it over her shoulder. Then she leaned over the counter to kiss his cheek again.
"You take care of her now," Sal instructed with a meaningful look at Daniel.
"Right," he sighed, offering the other man his hand before he turned to guide Vala outside.
Tears sprang up again as they walked out into the late afternoon sun, making her field of vision sparkle. Daniel's hand had drifted lightly to her back, and she drew comfort from the touch, letting him lead her back to the car. Once there, he took both coffees and set them on the roof, leaning quietly on his arms against it. Vala mimicked his position, resting her chin on her hands.
"Do you remember what you told me about Abydos being the first place you really felt as if you fit in?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," Daniel nodded.
She smiled a little and let the statement fall unspoken, taking a shaky breath. "Time to go home?" she asked.
"I have a better idea," replied Daniel as he picked up his coffee cup. "Let's go for a walk by the ocean."
Title: Jealous
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: ..."Daniel," she chided, hiding a smile of satisfaction at the hammering of his heart under her palm. "Even I know that a girl shouldn't kiss on the first date... "
Rating: PG-13
Length: About 1000 words
Category: Angst/UST
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired byaruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 4/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone.
Jealous
"Y'know, I always wanted to do this with Sha're," Daniel related, a bit surprised at how easily the words came off his lips. It had been over a month since he'd first told Vala about his wife, and the revelation seemed to have cemented a new bond between them. Still, he found himself more than a bit confused by how quickly this odd friendship seemed to be growing.
"Did you?" Vala asked, turning away from the window. She planted her elbow against it, propping her head on her hand as she looked at him.
"The concept of the ocean fascinated her," he nodded wistfully. "She couldn't conceive of that much water in one place."
"I…don't suppose she could," replied Vala, looking away again as she felt a sudden, irrational surge of jealousy. She'd felt it the first time he'd spoken his dead wife's name on the Ori warship; felt it again, albeit briefly, when she'd asked him more about her back on Earth.
You're the one who asked him, she reminded herself, angrily shoving the emotion aside. You invited him to tell you.
Daniel frowned, turning briefly to glance at her, but quickly returned his eyes to the road. "You okay?" he asked.
Vala bit her lip and nodded, then almost immediately shook her head. "Daniel, I have a confession to make," she said reluctantly.
He felt his stomach tighten at the guilty tone of her voice and sighed quietly. "What now?"
Vala said nothing for a moment, her eyes going wide with hurt at the question. She supposed it didn't particularly surprise her--what she didn't expect, though, was how deeply it stung. Feeling her cheeks redden, she turned away and stared down at her lap. If he'd sounded angry, she might have been able to muster some flippant reply. After a response like that, there was nothing she would rather have done but turn the whole thing into a joke. He hadn't been angry though; he hadn't even really sounded annoyed. He expected her to admit she'd taken the bracelet, and he was clearly hurt and disappointed.
Swallowing, she drew a reluctant breath, and told him softly, "When you…first told me about Sha're, I felt--well, I felt a little jealous."
Startled, Daniel twisted to face her again. "What?" he asked, rather nervously looking back out at the line of tail lights in front of them. There was an exit sign ahead and he flicked the turn signal automatically.
"Jealous," Vala repeated, shaking her head in self-recrimination. "That you cared so much for her--that she had you in a way that I…can't even seem to interest you in…"
She didn't look up even after he'd pulled into the rest area, and Daniel closed his eyes. He sucked in a long breath, his stomach twisting at the sight of her bowed head. Her hair was tied back in pigtails, and he could clearly see the blush on her cheeks.
"Vala, I'm--I'm sorry," he began apologetically, but she abruptly raised her head.
"I really didn't think I was that petty, Daniel," she said, her tone brittle enough to make him wince. "To be envious of a man's feelings for his wife."
"I don't think it's petty," he said gently.
She tossed her head in annoyance, more at herself than him. She opened her mouth to deliver some caustic retort, but before she'd managed to think of something appropriate, Daniel looked down, his lips moving in a soft, self-deprecating smile.
"Y'know, I…felt a little jealous today, too," he admitted.
"You what?" Vala stopped short, feeling her breath catch.
"When you were with your friends," he explained, slowly looking up again. "They--they were all so--I dunno, so--happy to see you, glad you were okay. It's like you had this whole life that I wasn't a part of…and--and I know that's ridiculous. I mean, you obviously had a life I wasn't a part of…before…"
"It's not ridiculous," she smiled tentatively, her hand slipping onto his cheek.
"No?" he asked, leaning slowly toward her mouth.
Vala turned her head, her free hand flattening against his chest in a halting gesture. "Daniel," she chided, hiding a smile of satisfaction at the hammering of his heart under her palm. "Even I know that a girl shouldn't kiss on the first date. It is still the first date, you know. The last one didn't count since we were interrupted."
"What?" his eyes widened. "You--you didn't seem to have a problem kissing me on the Prometheus!"
She pushed him back, her jaw dropping in a shocked expression. "That's your idea of a date?" she demanded. "Really, Daniel, I am surprised at you!"
Daniel raised his eyes to the interior roof of the car and shook his head, starting back onto the road again. Vala grinned impishly and turned away as well. She laced her hands victoriously behind her head and pointedly said nothing to remind him that he hadn't objected to the use of the word date.
Title: The Chase
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: ..."Just a little wiggle, Daniel...no one will ever know..."
Rating: PG-13
Length: About 1000 words
Category: Fluff/UST
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired byaruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 5/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone.
The Chase
"It feels good!" Vala insisted, holding out her hand to him.
She stood at the water's edge, barefoot, with her pant legs rolled up to her knees. She had been gleefully romping in the surf for almost twenty minutes already, chasing the waves as they receded and then racing back to the safety of the sand when they rolled in. Daniel stood watching on the dry sand further up the beach, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
Now she wanted him to wiggle his toes in the wet muck with her, and he sighed. Glancing down at his shoes, he looked back up at her and shook his head. "I still have my shoes on!" he called.
"So, take them off, darling!" she laughed. "What are you so afraid of?"
Sighing again, Daniel trudged down to meet her, but still didn't take off his shoes. "I don't want to get my feet all full of sand," he frowned. "It itches."
"You've got a whole ocean to wash them in!" Vala exclaimed, lifting her eyes to the sky.
"Yeah, but it's cold," he protested, his lower lip jutting out a bit in thought.
Vala caught both his hands in hers and matched his pout with a pleading one of her own. "Daniel, please! For me?"
Finally, he shook his head in disbelief and freed his hands, lifting up his foot to unlace his shoe and pull it off. As he carefully stowed the sock inside it, he began to wonder what he was doing--standing on a beach with Vala, letting her talk him in to squishing sand between his toes. That didn't stop him from pulling off the other shoe, though, and she bounced with eager delight at the sight of him standing in the wet sand.
He closed an eye, scrunching his face distastefully at the sensation, but Vala wasn't satisfied. "Now, wiggle them," she commanded.
"Aw, Vala, c'mon, this is…"
"Just a little wiggle, Daniel. No one will ever know," she winked.
Knowing there was no way out, he closed his eyes again and scrunched up his toes. The damp grit squoozed its way between them, and he wrinkled his forehead, struggling not to laugh at the vaguely ticklish feel of it. Vala stared down at his feet with an evaluating expression and looked up in surprise when he suddenly stopped.
"You call that a wiggle!" she cried, planting her fists on her hips.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," he nodded, moving his own hands to mirror her stance.
Vala rolled her eyes, tossing her pigtails in mock-annoyance. As she did, she caught sight of the retreating waves and let out a squeal of alarm. Quickly grabbing his hand, she dashed off after the escaping sea, dragging him behind her.
"What--whatsamatter? What's goin' on?" Daniel sputtered as they ran.
"We have to catch it, Daniel!" she exclaimed.
Despite himself, he laughed and let her pull him along. A few moments later, the water whooshed back toward them, and Vala shrieked, wheeling about to jerk him back toward the shore. Now he laughed aloud, finally unable to resist her antics. They barely made it far enough up the beach to escape the icy ocean, and Vala gave a gusty sigh, falling against his chest in playful relief.
This time, though, the water didn't stay safely beyond reach, and Vala shrieked again as the cold froth rose around their ankles as the tide came in. "Oh, it's cold, it's cold!" she squealed, hopping from one foot to another.
"What are you afraid of?" Daniel taunted, springing away just in time to avoid a swat. She ran after him, determined to wipe the smug grin from his face, and took a flying leap toward his back.
"Hey!" he cried, stumbling forward as her weight crashed into him. Her arms coiled tightly around his neck, and he made an awkward grab for her knees, attempting to hook her legs and keep himself from falling. Already off balance, he crashed face first to the ground, struggling not to laugh as Vala rolled off him.
"Oops," she said apologetically.
Daniel rolled onto his side, sputtering on a mouthful of sand. Her hand moved instinctively to brush the grit from his eyes, and his breath caught at the casual intimacy of the touch. He smiled, his own hand drifting up to touch her fingers as they came to rest on his cheek. Neither spoke as he drew her hand slowly, gently down, and held it between them. Vala's throat worked convulsively as he studied the shape of her fingers. He felt her fight a shiver as his index finger lightly traced the odd bump he found on her pinky. Guiding the hand toward his lips, he wondered why he'd never noticed it before--and suddenly froze, flopping heavily onto his back.
"Oh, no!" he moaned, burying his face in his hands.
Vala bolted upright. "What's wrong?" she asked, looking around in confusion.
"My shoes!" came the muffled reply.
Erm...heh. Note to readers. I actually did have a logical reason why I thought having them go to the beach would work. I know there's no ocean in Colorado. However, my thought was this:
We don't necessarily know that Sol's was still in Colorado. We don't know how far away the Trust took Vala, and there were five locations...therefore, I thought it would be feasible that if they'd started out very early Saturday morning to get there, Sol's could've been somewhere closer to the Pacific, which would have enabled them to get to the beach before the end of the weekend. I'm on the East Coast, and geography has never been my forte, so if that doesn't work for you, the series is on the verge of going AU anyway, at which point I shall use my almighty powers of narration to declare that in my universe, Colorado has an ocean. Or something. We do want to see Danny and Vala sleep on the beach, don't we folks?
aruna7's new vid for this. I wanted to post the whole series together, but I have like 4600 more words written and they haven't even gotten to the picnic yet. Gonna use that part for scifi_five *sigh* Incredible amounts of thanks to nekkidchick for all the beta.So, this is a new DV fic series. Post-ep for Memento Mori. I don't know about anyone else, but I love Sal. Possibly because there have been a few "Sal's" in my life--people who unexpectedly extended a hand of kindness to me and expected nothing in return. So, while of course the shippy stuff elicited the tears and squeeing and whatever from me, I think that the stuff with Vala's friends at Sol's struck as big of a chord with me. I felt bad because it seemed unlikely that she would ever be able to go back and see them again, but then (yay!) some of the typoteers came through with a way. *hugs friends* I think it works, although I was purposely vague about the nature of the cover story in case one is ever used on screen. Also, as far as I was able to find out the waitress chick didn't have a name, so I gave her one. Chalk it up to artistic liscence again. I'll change it if anyone can tell me what her real name was supposed to be I'd like not to have to take this series AU, although it might go that way if I can't keep my brain in check toward the end. heh. Oh, and I apologize if anything seems wonky. I wrote "Jealous" first and then went back to do the ones before it, THEN worked on the end.
Title: Friends
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: Daniel slowly set the statue down and reached out to lay a tender finger along her jaw...
Rating: PG
Length: About 1000 words
Category: fluff/UST
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired by
aruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 1/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone.Vala paused uncertainly in the doorway of Daniel's office. The room had never been very well kept. It was usually scattered with artifacts from various offworld missions, cluttered with books and dusty old documents, and contained at least a week's worth of old coffee cups. Now, however, the mess seemed to have exploded.
Daniel himself was off in a corner, kneeling in front of a crate. There were several stacks of what she presumed were valuable historical objects around him, and as he removed each new item, he carefully unwrapped, catalogued, and then re-wrapped it before placing it with the others. He continued working for several minutes, oblivious to her presence, until finally she stepped inside and cleared her throat.
He looked up with a start, but quickly turned back to what he was doing. "Hey, um…if this is about dinner, I'm kinda busy," he said distractedly.
"Yes, darling, I noticed." Vala replied. She walked over to the desk and leaned against it, frowning. "What is it you're looking for?"
"A bracelet," he replied pensively, still not looking at her. "SG-8 brought it back from their last offworld mission and now it seems to have vanished."
"Well, don't look at me," Vala's eyes widened.
"Vala--"
"Really, Daniel. I swear. I had nothing to do with it!" she raised her hands innocently.
"Vala, I don't think you took it," he turned toward her, cocking his head slightly as he looked up.
"Really?" her eyes widened in surprise.
"Really," he smiled.
"Oh," she nodded. "Right, of course you don't. So. Shall I help you look?"
Daniel's eyebrows rose. "You…wanna help me re-catalogue all this?"
"Well, not really," she winked. "But friends do that sort of thing for one another, right?"
"Right," he nodded, hiding a chuckle.
Vala pushed off the desk and threaded her way through the stacks to kneel beside him. Peering into the crate, she bit the side of her lip and said thoughtfully. "You know, Daniel…"
"Hmm?" he looked up again.
"Never mind," she shook her head.
"Okay," he shrugged, stifling another laugh as he turned back to his clipboard. From the corner of his eye, he could see her frown, and was rather surprised at how long and companionably they worked before she made another attempt.
"Daniel, about dinner," she cleared her throat.
He sat back on his heels and balled his hand over his lips, barely turning the laughter into a cough. "Dinner?" he asked innocently.
"Yes…Friday? We did have dinner plans, didn't we? You mentioned when I came in…" she trailed off with an awkwardness that didn't quite seem feigned.
"Yeah," he nodded reassuringly. "What about dinner?"
"Well, you see, Daniel, I've decided I'm not sure I really want to have dinner with you," she said slowly.
His mouth popped open. "You--you don't?"
"Mmm-mmm," Vala shook her head. She paused for a few seconds, then broke into a wide grin. "I'd much rather we took a drive to the beach!"
Daniel raised his eyes to the ceiling, then dropped his forehead into his free hand. "Vala, that's--that's not a good idea."
"Come now, darling, of course it is. A nice, long romantic drive…a walk by the ocean--then we can we spend the rest of the evening under the boardwalk--"
Daniel's head snapped up, eyes bulging. His jaw dropped again, then began to work silently as Vala hurriedly amended,
"On! I meant on! Really."
"I think you've been watching too much TV," Daniel replied, kneeling up again to pick up a small statuette from the crate.
"So…that would be a no?" Vala asked ingenuously.
"That would be a no," nodded Daniel firmly.
She sighed heavily and set to work again. Daniel shook his head, holding the silence, but he stole several sideways glances at her and frowned more deeply with each one. He'd expected a show of disappointment, but if it had been false, he knew that Vala would have let it drop within a few minutes. In fact, she probably would have just shifted tactics and kept trying to wheedle him into taking her to the beach.
He let out a sigh of his own. "So, where do you want to go for dinner?" he asked softly.
Vala looked up in surprise, but didn't reply right away. Her brow creased in thought for a moment or two, then her eyes brightened eagerly. She smiled and opened her mouth to say something, then abruptly shut it again. This time, though, he saw resignation and pain, not the playful hope that he would invite her to continue.
"Wherever you like, Daniel," she said heavily, moving her eyes away.
Daniel slowly set the statue down and reached out to lay a tender finger along her jaw. Gently turning her face back to look at him, he asked, "You wanna go to Sol's?"
She nodded once, swallowing back a sudden wave of emotion. Her eyes blurred with tears, but when she tried to look away, Daniel brought both hands to her cheeks.
"Okay," he smiled.
Title: Victory
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: "Friends and co-workers out to dinner," reiterated Daniel, striding back to the other side of the table.
Rating: PG
Length: About 1000 words
Category: humor
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired by
aruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 2/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone."Now--now, remember," Daniel cautioned as the car door clunked shut, "Stick to the cover story. And that's it--anything else they ask, you say it's classified."
"Daniel, I know," Vala sighed, her boots clicking rapidly on the pavement as they crossed the parking lot. "You've only reminded me three times already."
"Sorry," he murmured sincerely. "It's just--well, y'know Landry wasn't too keen on this idea."
Vala paused, turning back to face him. The fact was that no one at the SGC, including the rest of their team, had liked the idea of her returning here, even if they were only staying long enough to reassure her friends and grab a quick meal. Daniel had argued that for her to disappear without any explanation would only add fuel to the various conspiracy theories floating around and that he and Vala together could reinforce the official cover story that had been issued to explain the events following her abduction.
She smiled at the memory, genuinely touched that he was willing, once again, to be her advocate. He'd shrugged off her thanks--blushing slightly, which in itself was gratifying--but Vala still wished that he'd let her do something for him in return.
"I know what to do," she promised, turning again to open the door. "Now, come on, I want you to meet everyone."
The diner was still buzzing with the noise of its lunch crowd when they walked in. Daniel had insisted that the drive would have been too long to accommodate a dinner date--non-date, she corrected herself with a slight smirk--so he'd agreed to go with her on Saturday instead. Having his undivided attention during weekend downtime was a rarity for her, and she wasn't sure which pleased her more--a Saturday with Daniel or the chance to see Sal and the rest of her friends again.
The murmur of voices quieted at the sight of her, and she felt suddenly self conscious. Daniel's hand slid reassuringly onto her arm, but a moment later a familiar voice called from the kitchen, "Hey, Val! You're back!"
Her sudden nervousness dissipated as Sal's smiling face appeared, and she squeezed her way through the crowded restaurant as he came out to her. She quickly found herself enveloped by a crowd of customers, and Sal's meaty arms wound around her, threatening to crush her ribs as he plucked her off the ground.
It was several minutes before she could work her way back to Daniel, who was still standing where she'd left him, a satisfied little smile on his lips. Reaching eagerly for his hand, she pulled him back to Sal, who was beaming almost as brightly as she was.
"So, is this your husband or something, Val?" he asked when introductions were complete.
"Well," Vala grinned widely, tilting her head toward Daniel. "Maybe someday!"
"Or not…" Daniel forced a grin of his own, and tilted his head toward hers so that the two almost touched. Finally remembering to unlace their fingers, he cleared his throat and told Sal, "She's…still a little confused."
"I am not, darling," Vala shook her head firmly. "I clearly remember that we very recently had our first date!"
"It wasn't a date," he replied automatically.
"Now, Daniel, don't be so shy," urged Vala with a wink at Sal. "It was a very romantic restaurant, we were both quite dressed up…there was even candlelight involved!"
"Sounds like a date to me," grinned Sal, clapping Daniel jovially on the arm. "You kids order whatever you like--it's on the house."
"Oh!" Vala exclaimed in surprise, leaning over to kiss his cheek before he headed back to the kitchen. "Thanks!"
"Sure, Val, anytime," he nodded.
"It wasn't a date," Daniel muttered as he led her over to a table.
"Yes it was," she replied, waiting expectantly for him to pull out the chair.
He automatically walked around to do so, replying as he did so, "No, it wasn't."
"Even Sal says it was a date!" Vala retorted, sitting down.
"Friends and co-workers out to dinner," reiterated Daniel, striding back to the other side of the table.
Vala smiled knowingly and picked up her menu. Daniel slid into his chair, waiting with tense shoulders for her to continue the argument. She calmly perused the lunch options as if she hadn't spent weeks serving them to others, and he frowned, finally clearing his throat.
"Something wrong, darling?" she asked innocently, putting it aside.
"Aren't you--aren't you gonna…you know," he asked with an agitated wave.
"What?" frowned Vala.
"Aren't you gonna keep insisting it was a date?" he asked.
She grinned in response and returned her attention to the menu. Daniel narrowed his eyes and glared for several seconds, then finally picked up his own. He looked down the list for a while, contemplating, and then said without looking up.
"Stop grinning."
"I'm not grinning," Vala replied.
"You're grinning," he said firmly.
"You're not even looking at me," she pointed out.
"I don't have to be looking at you," he said as he made up his mind and laid the menu back on the table. Vala set hers down as well, quickly wiping the smile off her face, but he caught a hint of it and jabbed a finger at her victoriously. "Ah-ha! See? See? You're grinning!" he shouted.
Title: Surrender
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: ...Vala swallowed, trying to reign in the waves of heat and cold that pulsed along her nerves...
Rating: PG-13
Length: About 1000 words
Category: fluff/UST
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired by
aruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 3/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone.Vala shifted her eyes slightly to the side, and Daniel turned to see the waitress poised with pencil in hand. Her eyes were wide with shock, and he realized with an inward groan that she had seen his whole performance. He quickly pulled back his hand, which was still pointed at Vala, and planted it on his chin, then smiled up at her as casually as he could.
"Are you folks ready?" she asked, her gaze flicking questioningly to Vala.
"Yes," she nodded. "He'll have the Monte Cristo sandwich; coffee, black, two sugars--oh, and pie for dessert. I think I'll have the grilled chicken. Is that new?"
"Yeah, Sal just added it a few days ago," the waitress replied. "Coming right up. You want the pie, too, Val?"
"Mmm, I think so," Vala nodded. "Thanks, Pat."
"Will do," she smiled, starting to turn away. "Good to see you, Val…"
"Uh…?" Daniel interrupted, raising a finger.
"Oh, did I forget something?" Vala asked, frowning.
"No…that's…exactly what I wanted," Daniel replied slowly.
"Of course it is," she nodded dismissively.
"Just friends, huh?" remarked the waitress.
The two women shared a wink, and Daniel let his arms fall to the table, dropping his forehead onto them in defeat. Vala smirked but carefully hid the expression when he finally looked up again. Setting his chin back in his hand, he studied her silently for a while, but shifted his eyes carefully away before the scrutiny became rude. Turning his attention to the napkin beside him, he picked it up and nervously began to shred bits off the side.
"You know, I--can sort of see why you wanted to come back here," he mused quietly.
"They're wonderful people," she agreed. "I don't--think I've ever really had friends who didn't… want something from me."
"Sure you have," Daniel smiled, but her eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?"
"Vala, I don't care who Adria is to you…or why you're here. I'm just glad you are," he said earnestly.
She smiled warmly, feeling her cheeks redden. "Thank you, Daniel," she murmured, ducking her head.
"I mean it," he nodded quietly. "Anyway, I'm happy you found this place--people who cared about you. I…"
She leaned closer silently, inviting him to continue with another smile. The flush returned to her cheeks, and she hoped that she wasn't really as red as she felt. He glanced down at the napkin, then back up at her, and wet his lips. "Well, I--really missed you. We--we were all worried."
Vala drew a breath to speak, but found her throat suddenly tight. Her vision blurred with tears again, and she dropped her eyes, giving her head a bewildered shake. "I don't know what's the matter with me lately…"
Daniel's had moved across the table, and she felt his familiar, strong fingers close reassuringly on hers. She looked up slowly and he shifted in his seat, leaning closer. Vala swallowed, trying to reign in the waves of heat and cold that pulsed along her nerves. She moved instinctively toward his mouth, but as she felt his breath, the door opened behind them.
"Hey, Val, how ya doin?" called Detective Ryan cheerfully.
The moment broken, both Daniel and Vala fell back against their chairs. She turned to greet her friend and he busied himself with the napkin again. The detective hurried over, and she adeptly assured him that everything had turned out well despite his unwitting part in the second kidnapping attempt. He recognized Daniel as having been with the "real" Lieutenant Colonel Carter when the team had arrived to bring her back to the SGC, so the introductions went smoothly, and Vala had little trouble convincing him that what, in her opinion, was a rather flimsy cover story was, in fact, the truth.
After a few minutes of chatting and a hug, the waitress arrived with their lunch, and Ryan went off to the counter to order his. Daniel was watching her with an appreciative smile, and Vala couldn't help but blush again. She tried to conceal it, turning her attention to the food in front of her, but he wasn't fooled.
"You did great," he told her.
"Hmm?" she looked up absently.
"With Ryan," he said with a look that said he was well aware that she had understood his meaning.
"Oh," she replied smoothly. "Yes, I did, didn't I?"
Daniel shook his head fondly and started to eat. Lunch passed surprisingly quickly and without any remarkable bickering. Since neither particularly wanted to go after dessert, they lingered over coffee at the counter. Vala chatted with Sal and a few of the regulars who hung around after the lunch rush had ended. Daniel said surprisingly little, despite her attempts to draw him out. Finally, as they prepared to go, she grinned and dismissed his reticence to Sal by saying he must be feeling shy again.
"That's okay, Val, you'll help him over that, won't ya?" Sal winked as he slid two more Styrofoam-lidded coffee cups across the counter to them.
"Oh, you just bet I will," Vala nodded, picking hers up. She took a long breath and sighed, picking up her purse as well and slinging it over her shoulder. Then she leaned over the counter to kiss his cheek again.
"You take care of her now," Sal instructed with a meaningful look at Daniel.
"Right," he sighed, offering the other man his hand before he turned to guide Vala outside.
Tears sprang up again as they walked out into the late afternoon sun, making her field of vision sparkle. Daniel's hand had drifted lightly to her back, and she drew comfort from the touch, letting him lead her back to the car. Once there, he took both coffees and set them on the roof, leaning quietly on his arms against it. Vala mimicked his position, resting her chin on her hands.
"Do you remember what you told me about Abydos being the first place you really felt as if you fit in?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," Daniel nodded.
She smiled a little and let the statement fall unspoken, taking a shaky breath. "Time to go home?" she asked.
"I have a better idea," replied Daniel as he picked up his coffee cup. "Let's go for a walk by the ocean."
Title: Jealous
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: ..."Daniel," she chided, hiding a smile of satisfaction at the hammering of his heart under her palm. "Even I know that a girl shouldn't kiss on the first date... "
Rating: PG-13
Length: About 1000 words
Category: Angst/UST
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired by
aruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 4/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone."Y'know, I always wanted to do this with Sha're," Daniel related, a bit surprised at how easily the words came off his lips. It had been over a month since he'd first told Vala about his wife, and the revelation seemed to have cemented a new bond between them. Still, he found himself more than a bit confused by how quickly this odd friendship seemed to be growing.
"Did you?" Vala asked, turning away from the window. She planted her elbow against it, propping her head on her hand as she looked at him.
"The concept of the ocean fascinated her," he nodded wistfully. "She couldn't conceive of that much water in one place."
"I…don't suppose she could," replied Vala, looking away again as she felt a sudden, irrational surge of jealousy. She'd felt it the first time he'd spoken his dead wife's name on the Ori warship; felt it again, albeit briefly, when she'd asked him more about her back on Earth.
You're the one who asked him, she reminded herself, angrily shoving the emotion aside. You invited him to tell you.
Daniel frowned, turning briefly to glance at her, but quickly returned his eyes to the road. "You okay?" he asked.
Vala bit her lip and nodded, then almost immediately shook her head. "Daniel, I have a confession to make," she said reluctantly.
He felt his stomach tighten at the guilty tone of her voice and sighed quietly. "What now?"
Vala said nothing for a moment, her eyes going wide with hurt at the question. She supposed it didn't particularly surprise her--what she didn't expect, though, was how deeply it stung. Feeling her cheeks redden, she turned away and stared down at her lap. If he'd sounded angry, she might have been able to muster some flippant reply. After a response like that, there was nothing she would rather have done but turn the whole thing into a joke. He hadn't been angry though; he hadn't even really sounded annoyed. He expected her to admit she'd taken the bracelet, and he was clearly hurt and disappointed.
Swallowing, she drew a reluctant breath, and told him softly, "When you…first told me about Sha're, I felt--well, I felt a little jealous."
Startled, Daniel twisted to face her again. "What?" he asked, rather nervously looking back out at the line of tail lights in front of them. There was an exit sign ahead and he flicked the turn signal automatically.
"Jealous," Vala repeated, shaking her head in self-recrimination. "That you cared so much for her--that she had you in a way that I…can't even seem to interest you in…"
She didn't look up even after he'd pulled into the rest area, and Daniel closed his eyes. He sucked in a long breath, his stomach twisting at the sight of her bowed head. Her hair was tied back in pigtails, and he could clearly see the blush on her cheeks.
"Vala, I'm--I'm sorry," he began apologetically, but she abruptly raised her head.
"I really didn't think I was that petty, Daniel," she said, her tone brittle enough to make him wince. "To be envious of a man's feelings for his wife."
"I don't think it's petty," he said gently.
She tossed her head in annoyance, more at herself than him. She opened her mouth to deliver some caustic retort, but before she'd managed to think of something appropriate, Daniel looked down, his lips moving in a soft, self-deprecating smile.
"Y'know, I…felt a little jealous today, too," he admitted.
"You what?" Vala stopped short, feeling her breath catch.
"When you were with your friends," he explained, slowly looking up again. "They--they were all so--I dunno, so--happy to see you, glad you were okay. It's like you had this whole life that I wasn't a part of…and--and I know that's ridiculous. I mean, you obviously had a life I wasn't a part of…before…"
"It's not ridiculous," she smiled tentatively, her hand slipping onto his cheek.
"No?" he asked, leaning slowly toward her mouth.
Vala turned her head, her free hand flattening against his chest in a halting gesture. "Daniel," she chided, hiding a smile of satisfaction at the hammering of his heart under her palm. "Even I know that a girl shouldn't kiss on the first date. It is still the first date, you know. The last one didn't count since we were interrupted."
"What?" his eyes widened. "You--you didn't seem to have a problem kissing me on the Prometheus!"
She pushed him back, her jaw dropping in a shocked expression. "That's your idea of a date?" she demanded. "Really, Daniel, I am surprised at you!"
Daniel raised his eyes to the interior roof of the car and shook his head, starting back onto the road again. Vala grinned impishly and turned away as well. She laced her hands victoriously behind her head and pointedly said nothing to remind him that he hadn't objected to the use of the word date.
Title: The Chase
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: ..."Just a little wiggle, Daniel...no one will ever know..."
Rating: PG-13
Length: About 1000 words
Category: Fluff/UST
Pairings:Daniel/Vala
A/N: Inspired by
aruna7's best vid ever. Written for sg_challenges Post Ep for 10x08 Memento Mori, therefore possible spoilers. Taking the Long Way Part 5/8. Technically, these are follow-ups to my supposed one shot fics, Twist and Lick and More, but they can stand alone."It feels good!" Vala insisted, holding out her hand to him.
She stood at the water's edge, barefoot, with her pant legs rolled up to her knees. She had been gleefully romping in the surf for almost twenty minutes already, chasing the waves as they receded and then racing back to the safety of the sand when they rolled in. Daniel stood watching on the dry sand further up the beach, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
Now she wanted him to wiggle his toes in the wet muck with her, and he sighed. Glancing down at his shoes, he looked back up at her and shook his head. "I still have my shoes on!" he called.
"So, take them off, darling!" she laughed. "What are you so afraid of?"
Sighing again, Daniel trudged down to meet her, but still didn't take off his shoes. "I don't want to get my feet all full of sand," he frowned. "It itches."
"You've got a whole ocean to wash them in!" Vala exclaimed, lifting her eyes to the sky.
"Yeah, but it's cold," he protested, his lower lip jutting out a bit in thought.
Vala caught both his hands in hers and matched his pout with a pleading one of her own. "Daniel, please! For me?"
Finally, he shook his head in disbelief and freed his hands, lifting up his foot to unlace his shoe and pull it off. As he carefully stowed the sock inside it, he began to wonder what he was doing--standing on a beach with Vala, letting her talk him in to squishing sand between his toes. That didn't stop him from pulling off the other shoe, though, and she bounced with eager delight at the sight of him standing in the wet sand.
He closed an eye, scrunching his face distastefully at the sensation, but Vala wasn't satisfied. "Now, wiggle them," she commanded.
"Aw, Vala, c'mon, this is…"
"Just a little wiggle, Daniel. No one will ever know," she winked.
Knowing there was no way out, he closed his eyes again and scrunched up his toes. The damp grit squoozed its way between them, and he wrinkled his forehead, struggling not to laugh at the vaguely ticklish feel of it. Vala stared down at his feet with an evaluating expression and looked up in surprise when he suddenly stopped.
"You call that a wiggle!" she cried, planting her fists on her hips.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," he nodded, moving his own hands to mirror her stance.
Vala rolled her eyes, tossing her pigtails in mock-annoyance. As she did, she caught sight of the retreating waves and let out a squeal of alarm. Quickly grabbing his hand, she dashed off after the escaping sea, dragging him behind her.
"What--whatsamatter? What's goin' on?" Daniel sputtered as they ran.
"We have to catch it, Daniel!" she exclaimed.
Despite himself, he laughed and let her pull him along. A few moments later, the water whooshed back toward them, and Vala shrieked, wheeling about to jerk him back toward the shore. Now he laughed aloud, finally unable to resist her antics. They barely made it far enough up the beach to escape the icy ocean, and Vala gave a gusty sigh, falling against his chest in playful relief.
This time, though, the water didn't stay safely beyond reach, and Vala shrieked again as the cold froth rose around their ankles as the tide came in. "Oh, it's cold, it's cold!" she squealed, hopping from one foot to another.
"What are you afraid of?" Daniel taunted, springing away just in time to avoid a swat. She ran after him, determined to wipe the smug grin from his face, and took a flying leap toward his back.
"Hey!" he cried, stumbling forward as her weight crashed into him. Her arms coiled tightly around his neck, and he made an awkward grab for her knees, attempting to hook her legs and keep himself from falling. Already off balance, he crashed face first to the ground, struggling not to laugh as Vala rolled off him.
"Oops," she said apologetically.
Daniel rolled onto his side, sputtering on a mouthful of sand. Her hand moved instinctively to brush the grit from his eyes, and his breath caught at the casual intimacy of the touch. He smiled, his own hand drifting up to touch her fingers as they came to rest on his cheek. Neither spoke as he drew her hand slowly, gently down, and held it between them. Vala's throat worked convulsively as he studied the shape of her fingers. He felt her fight a shiver as his index finger lightly traced the odd bump he found on her pinky. Guiding the hand toward his lips, he wondered why he'd never noticed it before--and suddenly froze, flopping heavily onto his back.
"Oh, no!" he moaned, burying his face in his hands.
Vala bolted upright. "What's wrong?" she asked, looking around in confusion.
"My shoes!" came the muffled reply.
Erm...heh. Note to readers. I actually did have a logical reason why I thought having them go to the beach would work. I know there's no ocean in Colorado. However, my thought was this:
We don't necessarily know that Sol's was still in Colorado. We don't know how far away the Trust took Vala, and there were five locations...therefore, I thought it would be feasible that if they'd started out very early Saturday morning to get there, Sol's could've been somewhere closer to the Pacific, which would have enabled them to get to the beach before the end of the weekend. I'm on the East Coast, and geography has never been my forte, so if that doesn't work for you, the series is on the verge of going AU anyway, at which point I shall use my almighty powers of narration to declare that in my universe, Colorado has an ocean. Or something. We do want to see Danny and Vala sleep on the beach, don't we folks?
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