Chapter Seven

24 October 2008 — Earth: SGC — 21:25 hours

 

Daniel was healing well from his surgery and gaining strength much faster than Dr. Lam had expected.  Teal’c was working with him to build up his upper body muscles.  Cam took to hanging out with him, giving support with talking about how his father coped with losing a leg.  Daniel appreciated his effort, but didn’t really want to ‘cope’ at all.  He wanted his legs back.  After a few days of physical therapy he began to think that this was the stupidest decision he’d ever made.

 

With Daniel starting to do better, Vala was getting back to her normal annoying self.  Flirting with the guys on base, and teasing Daniel as he worked out.  He knew she was trying jolt him out of his funk, but it was just casting doubt on what her true feelings for him were.

 

“Vala,” Daniel quietly said late one night, “Do you… do you really love me?”

 

She was surprised by the question.  Putting her book down, she gazed at him.  Seeing the hurt etched on his scarred face, she realized how it must have looked to him.  Change was always hard for her to deal with.  And with him out of danger, she was feeling more like herself.

 

“Oh, Moswen, I’m sorry,” she said and snuggled up to him.  “Yes, I do really love you.  I’m just playing.  You know how I am.  It’s just— me.  Can you accept that?  Accept me?”

 

Daniel bowed his head for a moment.  She was getting worried until she caught his grin.  Looking up into her eyes, he pulled her down into a soft kiss.

 

“I accept and love you, Vala,” he said, resting his forehead to hers.  “Guess I just need reassuring from time to time.  I know you do what you do as a defense, I have my own too.  I hide in my books and don’t let my feelings out that often.  I suppose we will just have to figure this whole relationship thing out together.”

 

Vala smiled and kissed him again.  They laid quietly, wrapped around each other, getting use to the idea of being in love.

 

***

 

31 October 2008 — Earth: SGC — 14:25 hours

 

It was nearing the five-week mark in which the Nox told O’Neill they would be back.  The original members of SG-1 and the two new ones became very well versed in Celtic mythology.  Not a day went by that they weren’t studying and researching the fairy folk.  Jack was nonetheless against Daniel visiting the Tuatha and was quite vocal about it.

 

On the afternoon of the day the Nox were to come back, as Mitchell, Sam, Vala and Jack sat reading in Daniel’s room, the tension between O’Neill and the archeologist was palpable.

 

“Hey, Jackson,” Cam looked up from his reading, “how do you pronounce S-I-D-H-E?”

 

“Shee.  It’s another word for fairy,” he replied without looking up from his book.

 

“Damn, I wish these guys spoke real English,” the other man retorted.

 

Looking over the top of his glasses at the other man, he said, “It’s Gaelic, Cam.  An ancient language that’s almost disappeared.”

 

“Should’ve let it,” Jack grumbled to himself.

 

“That coming from an Irishman?” Daniel snarked.  “I hope your grandmother doesn’t turn over in her grave hearing you say that.”

 

“The Irish are nuts.  Even my Da says so.  Why do you think I’m the way I am, huh?  Or you for that matter!  I mean, come on— changelings, forest gods, and look at this, Nuada’s sword of Illumination?  It’s all just… rumors, lies and fairytales, Danny.”

 

Daniel rolled his eyes,  “I would think that with everything we’ve seen and done you would be more open to mythology, Jack.  Haven’t you learned anything?”

 

“Hey,” Cam said loudly to defuse the coming argument, “isn’t there a Celtic holiday of some sort today?  Ah… Sam-hain or somethin’ like that?”

 

Smiling, the scholar nodded, “Yeah… but you pronounce it sah-win… Samhain is very important in Irish mythology.  Excellent, Cam.  At least someone is learning.”

 

“Whatever!” O’Neill groused.  “I’m getting some coffee.  Anyone else?”

 

Four hands shot up in the air.  “Be right back, kids.”

 

“Daniel,” Sam piped up for the first time in awhile, “isn’t it said that mortal man should stay away from the fairy folk?  That they were malevolent and tricksters?”

 

Jackson peered over his glasses at Vala, worried.  “Um… well, yeah… some of them.  But the Tuatha are considered the fair immortals.”

 

Seeing his three teammates with blank expressions he elaborated, “Think Galadriel.”  Still no comprehension registered.  “Um… Elrond?  No, huh… Ah! Legolas.”

 

Finally, both of the women nodded with rapturous expressions and way too puerile giggles.  Looking at the other man and shaking his head, Cam mouthed the word— Girls.

 

Daniel laughed and then continued,  “The daughter of the king of Tir Na n’Óg describes her home as this:

 

Delightful is the land beyond all dreams,

Fairer than anything your eyes have ever seen.

There all the year the fruit is on the tree,

And all the year the bloom is on the flower.

There with wild honey drip the forest trees;

The stores of wine and mead shall never fail.

Nor pain nor sickness knows the dweller there,

Death and decay come near him Never more.”[1]

 

Jack stopped at the door taking in the scene.  Daniel’s face had a dreamy look as he recited the poem, but Vala watched Daniel with worried eyes.  She did not look happy.

 

“And we’ll all sing Kum-ba-Yah around the eternal campfire,” Jack said as he walked towards the table with a carafe of coffee and some cups.

 

“Funny, Jack.”

 

“Danny… can’t you see how this whole trip to fairyland is upsetting your girlfriend here?  For cryin’ out loud, you should see the look on your face… all dreamy and such…”

 

“Soooo… what is Samhain anyway?” Cam came to the rescue again.

 

Jackson and O’Neill glared at each other for a moment longer.  With a disgusted shake of his head Daniel turned away from the older man.

 

“Um…,” he said trying to get his brain back on track, “Samhain means summer’s end.  It was the principal festival of the ancient Celts and probably the oldest.  Samhain was and is a celebration of harvest, the closing of the year and the beginning of the New Year.  It’s also when the livestock were brought down from the summer pastures to be slaughtered for the winter.  The Celts would light bonfires to invoke protection and cleansing of the animals and families.  And when the veil between the human world and the Otherworld is at its thinnest.”

 

“And it’s on Halloween, Daniel?” Sam asked genuinely interested.

 

“All Hallows Eve, yes.  The night when October becomes November.”

 

“Who knew?” Jack snarked.

 

“Obviously not you, Irishman.”

 

“Children!  Do I have to separate you two?” Vala said hotly.

 

“Yeah, yeah,” Jack surrendered waving a hand at all of them.

 

“Hey, Daniel,” Sam said holding a book out to the archeologist, “check this out.  The Cauldron of Rebirth.”

 

Daniel took the book and read aloud, “Many stories revolve around the Cauldron of Rebirth, or Dagda’s Cauldron.  In innumerable mythological stories, the Cauldron is used to resurrect warriors slain on the battlefield.

 

“In a Welsh myth the tale tells of the Cauldron of Bran, where slain fighters are placed.  Overnight they would emerge unharmed and whole… save for the loss of their power of speech…” his voice faded and he glanced up at Vala.

 

“Will that happen to you, Daniel?” she asked.

 

“Well, many fairytales say that if a Sidhe offers you a gift, there is quite often a price that is expected and to a certain extent, drastic… but…,” Daniel saw Vala’s look of fearful concern and realized his mistake.  He gave her a smile, “Nah.  It’s just a myth.”

 

“Exactly!  That’s what I’ve been telling you for 12 years!” Jack shouted.

 

“Here we go again,” Cam sighed.

 

“For the last time, Jack, give it a rest!”

 

“Fine,” O’Neill steamed as he slammed his book closed, “but I’m not comin’ after you when you get into trouble.  And I WILL tell you I told you so when you come back without your voice!  Although— you without a voice is my fondest dream.”

 

The two men glared at each other for what seemed like forever.  Finally, Sam and Vala got in between them.

 

“All right now, boys,” Vala said forcefully, “let’s play nice.”

 

Both of them huffed at her and turned away.  Sam and Mitchell followed Jack into the hallway.  Vala sat down by Daniel.  He was still growling under his breath when she reached for his hand.

 

“What’s wrong, Moswen?”

 

He distractedly flips some pages of the tome he was reading.  Vala ran her hand down his cheek and pulled at his month growth of beard to look at her.  With a sigh, he turned sad eyes up and shrugged his shoulders.

 

“It’s just… he never has any faith in me, Vala.  Like I’m his problem child.”

 

“Welllllllllll…”

 

“Don’t!” he cut her off with just the slightest hint of a smile, “just don’t go there… alright?”

 

Vala leaned down and kissed him lightly, she purred, “All right, Moswen.”

 

Brushing her hand over his bearded face, her smile began to fade.  Daniel took hold of it and pressed a kiss into her palm.

 

“You don’t want me to go either, do you?”

 

She glanced away quickly.  Turning back to him, she had her cold as ice mask on.  But he wasn’t buying it.

 

“Hey,” Daniel whispered, “don’t hide from me.  I need you to tell me how you feel, Vala.  Please.”

 

Just as she was about to say something, the klaxons blared through the base.

 

“Unscheduled off world activation,” Walter’s voice rang out.  “General O’Neill to the ‘gate room.”

 

Jack stuck his head back into the room, “That may be the Nox.  I’ll let you know if it’s them.”

 

With a nod of the head, Daniel watched him leave with Sam and Cameron hard on his six.

 

***

 

31 October 2008 — 16:55 hours

 

As O’Neill entered the control room, General Landry was already ordering the iris open.  He turned to Jack with a concerned look.

 

“The Nox are here, Jack.”

 

The younger general gave him a curt nod and headed down with Sam on his six, meeting Lya and Nafrayu at the foot of the ramp.

 

“Greetings, O’Neill,” Lya bowed her head as he stepped up to her.

 

“Before we go and see Daniel, I want it to be entirely clear… I do not like this plan.  I don’t like the idea of Daniel going without a member of SG-1 accompanying him.”

 

Both Lya and Nafrayu inclined their heads in understanding.  Jack glared at them for a moment longer, then turned to lead them to Daniel’s room.

 

On the way, Sam asked Lya, “Do you trust these people?”

 

Lya gave her a little smile, “I believe that they will treat Daniel well.”

 

“But do you trust them?”

 

The silence that followed did little to appease their concerns.  Jack’s back visibly tightened and Sam winced.

 

The four of them turned into Daniel’s room.  Vala was sitting at the table, flipping through a book, as Daniel read the computer screen of his laptop.  Both of them looked up as the others came in.  Daniel smiled when he saw the two Nox following Jack.  He shut off his computer and wheeled over to greet them.

 

“Lya, Nafrayu, welcome back,” he said with barely restrained excitement.

 

“Daniel,” Lya kneeled down next to him, “How are you fairing?”

 

Daniel ducked his head and let out a long sigh, “I’m fine… I guess.”

 

“Are you ready to travel?”

 

Vala jumped up quickly, “Now?!” she nearly shouted.  “You’re taking him now?”

 

At the same time, Jack stepped over in between Nafrayu and Daniel.

 

“Whoa there!  Not so fast.”

 

“Jaaack!  It’s my decision, damn it!  I know how to take care of myself.”

 

O’Neill snorted at that, looking Daniel straight in the eye, “Yeah, right, Danny Boy.  You’ve done a bang-up job so far.  What are you up to in deaths now?  Nine… ten?”

 

“Fuck you, O’Neill!” Daniel shouted back.  “I’m going with them and there’s not a damn thing you can do to stop me!”

 

“Oh yeah?” Jack retorted, “one phone call, Daniel.  I make one phone call and the ‘gate will be locked.”

 

“This is nuts!  You’re nuts!”  Daniel yelled as he began to wheel himself away from the crowd around him heading towards the door.

 

“Where do you think you’re going, Jackson?!”  The older man grabbed the handles of the wheelchair, stopping him.

 

Daniel swung around and tried in vain to hit him, growing menacingly, “Let go, Jack… goddamnit!”

 

Lya came between the men and placed a gentle hand on each of them.

 

“Please, there is no need for this anger.  Nafrayu will be with Daniel, I assure you.  No harm will come to him.”

 

Jack set an icy glare on the small woman.  Clenching his jaw so tightly they all could hear it crack, he backed away from Daniel’s wheelchair.

 

Lya turned to Sam and asked, “Will you accompany Daniel, Nafrayu and I to the surface of this mountain, please?  We wish to clear our heads in the fresh air and speak with Daniel.”

 

Glancing over at O’Neill, Sam saw the mistrust, but also resignation.  He nodded once.

 

Vala came over to stand beside Daniel, “May I come also?”

 

Casting a glance at Daniel and seeing the care he had for this unknown woman, Lya smiled, “Yes, you may come also.”

 

The three women led the way out of Daniel’s room with Nafrayu pushing his wheelchair behind them.  When they reached the elevator, Jack gave a warning glare to Carter, stating that in no uncertain terms was she to let Daniel out of her sight.

 

The doors closed and the small party ascended to the top of the mountain.  Jack immediately took off for the security A.V. room.  He was going to pull up all the outside cameras and turn on the tracking device all SG members had embedded into them.

 

***

 

31 October 2008 — 17:15 hours

 

When they were outside in the beautiful but cool fall air, the three humans seemed to relax.  The sun was almost gone, but all could still see fairly well.  Vala took over wheeling Daniel to his favorite lookout point that was private, away from the eyes of the topside guards and video surveillance.  The archaeologist knew that Jack would be mad.  He was sure he went to the A.V. room to watch them on the security cameras.  Take that, O’Neill!

 

Once they found the right spot, Vala and Sam sat down on a fallen tree.  The two Nox wandered a little, investigating the flora.  It was a quiet place that had a view of Colorado Springs.  The breeze ruffled the crisp leaves giving off a soothing smell of timber.  Off to their right, the mountain wall jutted up even higher.

 

Daniel loved this location.  He had found it the first time he had come to Cheyenne Mountain to break the mystery of the cover stone.  There were Native American pictographs on the rock that he discovered years ago.  Whenever he needed a break from Goa’uld translations, he would head up here to study the markings.  After a bit of silence, all of them began to feel better.

 

Lya turned to Daniel and spoke softly, “Daniel, is it your desire to go with Nafrayu to meet the Tuatha Dé Danann?”

 

“Yes, it is,” he answered firmly.

 

Vala turned away from him, feeling caught between being pissed that he wanted to go and scared that he wouldn’t come back.  Lya noticed and gazed at the raven haired woman that sat holding Daniel’s hand.  She touched Vala’s arm, drawing her attention.

 

“Are you Daniel’s mate?”

 

The pair was surprised by the question.  They looked at one other, wondering what the answer really was.  With a flush of color rising in his cheeks, Daniel gave her a small smile and then turned back to Lya.

 

“Something like that,” he answered.

 

Lya nodded and turned back to address Vala, “And do you wish for Daniel to seek healing?”

 

Vala looked down for a moment, studying her hands.  She remained silent until Daniel reached over and placed his hand on her face.  Glancing into his cerulean eyes, she nodded her head in acquiescence.

 

“Yes,” she finally said with a strong voice, “it’s what he wants and I believe in him.”

 

With that said, Nafrayu stood and walked to the side of the mountain.  He placed his hand on the hard surface and ran it gently around until it came to rest on a specific point.  Turning to Lya, he motioned that he had found the place.  He selected a stone from the ground and proceed to draw a door on the stone.

 

“It is time then,” Lya said.

 

Sam and Vala’s faces were a picture of utter shock.

 

“What?” Sam asked in a squeaky voice.  “Here?  Now?  How?”

 

Daniel laughed at her, “English wasn’t your strong subject, huh, Sam?”

 

She playfully cuffed the back of his head, “But aren’t you going through the Stargate?  I don’t understand!”

 

Lya smiled at her with something that resembled sympathy, “We need not use your Stargate, Samantha, for the Tuatha Dé Danann are here and always have been.”

 

Daniel looked at them with surprise, “Then how have you been communicating with them if not by the Stargate?”

 

“There are many forms of communication that the Tau’ri have yet to discover.  The Tuatha have never left this world as so many others have.  They simply live behind the veil.”

 

“Samhain, when the veil is the thinnest…,” Daniel murmured to himself, “that’s why we had to wait.  Because now’s the only time I would be able to cross over.”

 

“You truly are a marvel, Daniel Jackson!” Lya told him with a smile.

 

A noise made them turn back to Nafrayu.  They all watched in inexpressible wonder as the drawn door on the cliff side rumbled open.

 

Nafrayu walked back to Daniel and smiled at him. “Are you ready, my friend?”

 

Dumbstruck, he merely nodded.  Nafrayu began to push the wheelchair awkwardly towards the door.

 

“Wait!”  Vala shouted.  She ran up to Daniel and kissed him hard, “You better come back to me, Moswen.  I don’t care if you have legs or not.  I just want you.  I love you!”

 

Daniel smiled at her, and wiping the tear on her cheek away he pulled her down into another long and meaningful kiss.

 

“I will, my love.  I promise.”

 

Sam went up and put her arm around her comfortingly.  With one last look, Daniel and Nafrayu disappeared into the darkness.  The door closed with a grating sound and the mountain was as it always had been.

 

***

 

31 October 2008 — 17:55 hours

 

The elevator descended taking the three women into the bowels of the mountain.  When the doors opened, it was as if a hurricane blew in.

 

“Carter. Your office. Now!  You too, Vala!”

 

They both waved good bye to Lya and followed the General.  The door closed and O’Neill rounded on them.

 

“I can’t believe you just let him go!”

 

Running his hands through his close-cropped hair, he let out an exasperated sigh.  As he continued to pace around Carter’s lab, the teammates watched his anger grow.

 

“It was his decision, Jack,” Vala finally said in a defiant voice.  “He wants to be whole again. Wouldn’t you want the same?”

 

Jack glared at her, as if trying to boor a hole through her with his eyes.  She didn’t even recoil.  Giving up, O’Neill hung his head in defeat.

 

“What happens now?” he asked.

 

Both Sam and Vala looked at each other and shrugged.  They didn’t know any more than he did.

 

“We have to believe that Daniel will do the right thing, sir,” Carter said a hint of worry in her voice.  “He’ll be okay.  He’s always come home.  You know he has an uncanny way of showing up… even when we were sure he wouldn’t.”

 

Jack nodded his head.  Looking back at the women, he waved a hand with a small shrug and left the lab.

 

Vala glanced over to Sam and let out a sigh, “Well… that was fun.”