Daniel & Adrienne #49 - Solutions

So we needed some sweetness after all of that....

Enjoy....

Yawning, Adrienne coded herself into the room and opened the door, covering her face with her free hand as she turned the knob. It was late but she knew he wouldn’t be asleep yet; he was like a vampire just minus blond hair, the ownership of a seedy Southern bar and control over an area of Louisiana.  As she pushed the door open she saw the light beside the bed was on, as expected, and that he was reading, again not a surprise. What was a surprise, however was what he was reading, a familiar book, a big familiar book, a big familiar book with pictures.  

“Shut tha door!” Adrienne shouted, realizing exactly what was poised in his hands, a smile spreading across her face. Startled, he looked up at her, dropping the volume to his lap and losing his place.  

“Dammit, Ad, you scared the hell out of me! What’s wrong!?!” he asked.  Unable to resist, this was just too good a thing to walk into, Adrienne fell to the ground dramatically, bringing the back of her hand to her forehead like a true Southern Belle. His expression changed and Daniel tossed the book aside, leaping from the bed, rushing over to take her into his arms. 

“It’s the end of the world...” she twitched, gazing up at him, her head hanging back as if she was going to faint. 

“Ja-wer, what’s going on? Is everything ok? Are you sick?” Daniel asked, his face furrowed, reaching for her head to bring her eyes to meet his, his palm resting on her face. 

“My boyfriend’s reading The Walking Dead; it is a sign of the end times!” Adrienne exclaimed, laying back in his arms.  He paused for a moment, realizing her ploy and let her drop to the ground.  

“You’re insane,” he said, frowning, standing and walking back to the bed as Adrienne rolled over to her side laughing, laughing hysterically. He just shook his head and pulled back the covers, getting back into bed, this time to sleep now that she was here. She sat up on the floor cross legged and peered over at him, still laughing uncontrollably, wiping tears from her eyes.   

“I’m glad that I amuse you,” he said, pulling the covers over his shoulder and turning his back to her, slinking down in the bed. 

“You should have seen your face,” she continuing giggling, untying her boots and tossing them into the corner.  

“Uh huh, I’m going to sleep. You’re welcome for waiting up for you. I love you too,” he grumbled, only half serious; he just needed to figure out a way to get even.

“How far into it are you sha?” she asked, pulling off her uniform to change into a junky tank top and shorts. 

“They just got to the prison,” he responded, still not turning around but clearly not angry Adrienne smiled as she changed out of her work clothes; he really was reading it, he really did care enough to try to share her interests. He did try, she thought, flushing at the gesture. Eager to be in his arms, she pulled on tank top, crawling over him to get into the bed.  He was pulling back the blanket so she could join him, so she slipped her legs down onto the cool sheets, she got under the blankets, turning to her side, slamming her elbow on the hard concrete wall as she did.  

“Merde, dammit, Indy, can we go to your place next time.  Or mine?” she asked, “This is getting ridiculous.” Sighing, Daniel reached out, rubbing her sore elbow sweetly, pulling her into his arms.

“I know, we should. It’s just that we live almost 45 minutes away, give or take.  By the time we get to either of our apartments, it feels like we have to turn around and come right back.  And I worry about being too tired to drive that far home,” he whispered softly, kissing her ear and pulling back, adjusting to their normal sleeping position. 

“Besides,” he continued, “if we get a bigger bed I’m afraid that you won’t sleep so close.” Smiling, Adrienne shook her head, resting it against pillow. 

“The clone died today,” she whispered quietly, holding her breath. She’d heard the news over two hours ago, long before her meeting with Rodney’s team, but wanted to wait to tell him in person and since he seemed to be in a good mood, she figured now was as good a time as any. She laid there silent, in his embrace, awaiting his response, a word, a sigh, but got nothing. 

“I’m so sorry Daniel,” she added, rolling over to face him, resting her hand against his cheek. 

“It was bound to happen,” he said with a sigh, “he stroked out weeks ago and you can’t just stay in a coma.” His words were confident but his eyes were his tell, especially with his glasses laying on the nightstand. With no glass impediment to block her line of sight, she could see the hurt there, the sadness at the loss of life. Yes, he might have been a clone, yes he might have worked for Anubis, but they hadn’t caught him trying to hurt anymore, in fact, based on the interrogations it appeared that he was a scout and Anubis had abandoned him and his shipmates, whom the later teams had been unable to find, to their fates.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she pried, gently, not wanting to make this worse but he shook his head, bringing her closer to him and kissing her gently on the forehead.

“No, you can’t do anything. It’s just sad when a person dies, no matter who they were,” he answered, pulling her into a tighter embrace. She laid there, letting him hold her, hoping their contact would make him feel better. She knew that he had been going down there as often as possible, to visit, to chat with the man, to keep him company, despite Jack’s clear orders not to. Undeterred, Daniel had made the argument that it wasn’t healthy for his mental state to be trapped in a cold dark cell, alone, his only human contact being Rodney when he needed to take more DNA samples or Jack and Teal’c when they wished to interrogate him. Daniel had even said that the man was kind, speaking of the wonders he had seen on other planets and how he desired to be away from Anubis to live as they lived here. Sensing the sadness as though she could feel it through his touch, Adrienne pulled back, leaning up to kiss him gently. 

“What if we get a bigger bed for here, a queen size?  I mean, Sam let’s us share quarters and I promise I’ll still sleep just as close, ” Adrienne decided to change the subject. still scanning his eyes for signs that he needed to talk, but he smiled, chuckling slightly. 

“Sam looks the other way because it’s so late when we do stay here, your room is technically still issued to you,” Daniel corrected.  

“It’s so stupid, the whole damn world knows.  I don’t see  whatthe big deal is...” Adrienne whined a bit more, determined to get him to cave.  Adrienne had abandoned her quarters shortly after Daniel’s spectacle with the intercom since they were no longer sleeping alone anyway.  She didn’t keep a whole lot there since she had moved into her apartment, but what little she did have she moved to Daniel’s room since it was bigger.  Neither of them really said anything about it, it just seemed like something they should do, so they did it, however, on base quarters were not made for two people in one room, let alone two people in the same bed.  

“You’re still my assistant ja-wer.  People aren’t supposed to date fellow team members, much less someone in my position dating their assistant.  Fortunately I have enough clout around here for us to get away with it, we’ve finally got Woolsey off of our backs, it’s just that having a giant bed delivered here sends the wrong message,” he replied, rolling over and shutting off the light. She felt the small bed move as he adjusted in the darkness, and sighed, reaching out for him to find his arms once more and move close into them.  I shouldn't complain, she thought, at least I get this every night.  Nuzzling close to him the best she could, she tried to shield her knees from pressing on the cold cinderblocks, wrapping the blanket up in her legs. 

*****

When Adrienne awoke the next morning Daniel was already awake and in the shower.  That was something else she noticed, he would dash awake in the mornings when they slept on base now so that he could shower, shave, get ready and get out before she got in there.  They had tried getting ready at the same time and regardless of where they were standing in the room, they always ended up feuding over the sink, the shower, the mirror, so much so that some mornings Adrienne wondered if it was even worth staying the night with him, knowing that just a floor down she had her own space.

“Almost done,” he shouted from the other side as she entered. How romantic, she thought, what ever happened to ‘do you want to join me’?

“Alright,” she answered, considering for a moment climbing in with him, choosing to join him herself, however, they had discovered that didn’t work well either when on base, discovered quiet painfully that it didn’t work. Adrienne’s butt still remembered the last try, painfully. Instead, she got out her arsenal of beauty products that Daniel loved to harass her about, his every gripe making her laugh, lining up her items as they went through their new, cramped morning routine. 

This morning Adrienne was working with Rodney, at her own volunteering, which had actually worked out fairly well for them.  It wasn’t an even time split like before, Rodney had to request Adrienne and she needed to accept, but it actually made them miss one another and that was nice.  Neither of them could imagine really living the together every waking moment of every day that they were heading for, even with Daniel planning to propose and Adrienne dying to know when he was going to do it. It was good to have time apart, she had learned, it made her miss him that much more when they were together. Daniel was sitting on his bed lacing up his boots when Adrienne walked over to say goodbye, squeezing his shoulder softly. 

“See you at lunch?” she asked. 

“No breakfast?” he answered. 

“I’ve got some stuff Rodney lets me keep down there, he knows he owes me for helping him with this cloning mess. I’m hoping to finish early,” Adrienne said as she pushed him back a bit on the bed, crawling into his lap, “so I can spend some time with you,” she whispered, kissing his cheek, “alone,” she added running her lips down his neck, noting that he had his hands on her arms, pushing her back slightly. 

“I’m probably going to be late tonight, Ad, I’m sorry,” he looked up at her sincerely, disappointment clear in his eyes. 

“It’s ok; I was late last night. How about I finish early, and we plan on dinner together. I can go get us something from off-base, bring it back?” Adrienne offered, pulling away and smiling, trying to make him feel better.  

“That sounds good to me,” Daniel smiled and pulled her back into his arms, kissing her more appropriately this time. She broke away and hugged him tightly, tucking her face into his shoulder.  

“See,” she informed him, kissing his cheek again, “we make this work, no matter how busy things get.”

“We do,” he answered, squeezing her once more, the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with, watching her as she glided out of the door. 

*****

It was about 10 a.m. when Daniel realized that he brought the wrong set of journals down from their quarters. 

“Dammit” he swore aloud, to no one in particular since Adrienne wasn’t there, looking over, wishing that she was, because not only did he have to stop what he was doing, but he had to get up himself and try to go find the thing, leaving the lab empty and unattended while he looked with no assistant to answer the phone.  He grunted in frustration and headed back to his quarters, hoping that Adrienne would be finished with this little favor soon.

The desk in there was a mess.  Granted, he was the type of person to spread out and create piles, but he could always find everything, however, the desk had been organized, Adrienne organized, in some system that she had yet to explain, her things intermixed with his piles.  His only saving grace was that he liked to write in leather bound journals and she in composition books so he just needed to get to said journals free without his world crashing down onto him. It took him about 20 minutes, but he got what he needed, tucking them quickly under his arm to race up to the lab.  As he was leaving he heard a crash behind him and he paused for just a moment at the door. There was no point, he knew what he would see without turning around, so he just didn’t bother, closing the door behind him.

*****

Adrienne had worked through lunch, determined to get finished in time to go get something really good for dinner, like Hibachi, but her stomach reminded her to stop.  Annoyed, but needing to control the rumble, she walked over to the small fridge and peeked inside.  She must have eaten the last of the healthy food at breakfast, or Rodney had finished in it during one of his many snacks but either way she needed to eat. 

“Rodney!” Adrienne shouted, loudly to get his attention, over since he was deep into something that she didn’t understand, she just translated.  

“Yes, Adrienne,” he answered, finally calling Adrienne as she had requested. It only took her volunteering to help him, trying to find an assistant and saving his ass from Anubis, but at least it was happening. 

“I’m going to get something to eat from the commissary,” she stated, “do you want me to get you anything?” she added trying to be polite, knowing he would refuse to leave what he was doing.  

“No thanks, I’ll head down in a little bit to get something else. Are we out in the fridge?” he inquired over his shoulder, no scowl, in fact, it actually looked like there was a smile on his face. 

“Yea,” she laughed, not placing the blame where she knew it needed to go. 

“Fine, but get back. I plan on holding you to your promise of finishing this today,” he responded.  

“Don’t worry,” she said as she left, heading for the elevators to the commissary, thinking that all she really wanted to do was finish as fast as possible to get back to Daniel, even if it was to hang out with him over take-out Japanese food while he worked. 

She could hear the commotion before she made it to the entrance, stopping in her tracks as she saw John Sheppard exiting the mess hall, shaking his head obviously frustrated over something. 

“What’s going on in there?” she asked, confused, trying to peek around his shoulder. 

“Broken stove.  People are arguing over toast in there,” he replied curtly, stopping in front of her to talk, annoyed. 

“Are you serious?” Adrienne clarified, trying to see around him yet again as the commotion was growing louder, shouts leaking out into the hallway.

“We are a hungry crew,” he shrugged, continuing his march down the hall. 

“Where are you going?” she turned around, her stomach ordering her to follow the colonel to wherever he was headed, hoping it was to a source of food. 

“To collect pizza money,” he answered over his shoulder without stopping.

“Gross, pizza,” Adrienne said, knowing that would tear her stomach up, changing directions to head for their quarters since she knew she had some food stashed in there. A quick jog down the hall, a brief ride on the elevator and she was coding herself into her room, opening the door. Disregarding the light switch, as she had the tiny room memorized, she stepped out, feeling something slick under her foot. 

And fell to the floor, landing,like she always seemed to do, on her butt.  

“Oo ye yi!” she exclaimed in pain, reaching under herself to pull out a composition book, one of her compositions book. Muttering a plethora of cajun swears under her breath she stood, carefully this time, and clicked on the light, her jaw dropping. Their desk had exploded, the contents shot like shrapnel onto the floor.  It would take some pretty careful maneuvering to get anywhere in the room through this mess, maneuvering that the very angry cajun was not willing to do. Adrienne had had enough. Reaching for her cell phone, she texted Sheppard to add her to the pizza count, storming out of the room to find Daniel.  

*****

He was sitting at his desk like it was just any other day, that same intense look on his face he always had, clicking away at the computer keys. 

“Daniel,” Adrienne said as she entered the room, “I can’t take this anymore.” 

“On it,” he responded, not looking up.  

“I mean, I get that we live far away, it’s just the layout of DC lends itself to either living in the city center or far outskirts for a decent apartment, but we’re either gonna have to just knock off early and decide where we are going for the night, or go to our separate rooms here on base.  I can’t continue to live in a closet,” she pleaded, not sounding rude or angry, just desperate, like a woman who had had enough.  

“I’m on it,” Daniel repeated, holding up a finger in her direction, his eyes still locked on the screen.  

“On what?” she asked as she walked over to the desk, trying to figure out exactly what he was on. 

“This,” he said, backing up from the computer on the screen picture of the inside of a living room.  Confused, Adrienne looked at him strangely.  

“What’s that?” she asked, tapping her finger lightly to the screen.

“Our solution,” he answered, smiling, seemingly please with himself.  Squinting, Adrienne peered closer, scanning the rest of the page, realizing what it was. Her heart stopped.

“It’s a townhouse,” she said simply, not wanting to jump to conclusions. 

“Yeah. It’s five minutes from here, we can even take the subway if we prefer, not that I ever expect you to leave the beetle behind and it’s not even that expensive with no maintenance, there’s an association for that, because we both work too much to worry about that on top of everything else,”  he explained as she stood looking at him shocked. 

“It has 3 bedrooms, so we can have separate offices, and two bathrooms, so no more feuding.  I can keep reading to you, but it is right here if you want to look at it.  I think I am going to call to see if I can see it tomorrow,” he said, sitting back in the chair awaiting a response but she said nothing, just stood there with her mouth open.  

“You don’t like it?” he asked. 

“No, it’s really nice and that’s a deal, but do you realize what you are saying?” she asked, hoping, well, no, he couldn’t be wanting to do it this way, could he?  

“Yes, I’m saying that this would be a better option than driving two hours a day or cramming ourselves into that cold, small, gray room,”  Daniel stated, trying to figure out her objection, Adrienne laughing as she shook her head at him. 

“Who exactly is going to purchase said townhouse?” she asked, smiling. 

“Us,” he replied quickly,  when it clicked, when he actually realized what he was saying. 

“Oh,” he said, looking back at her.  

“Oh is right,” she answered, “This is not how you are going to do it, is it?” 

“Do what?” he asked, lost again, why was he so lost with her lately. Her face serious, Adrienne grabbed a chair from the center table and sat down, looking him in the eyes. 

“Ask...” she led, Daniel quickly cluing in. 

“No, oh no, no, I’m still working on that, no, I,” Daniel answered flustered, breathing out a bit, “I’m just so bad at this. Why am I so bad at this?” 

Adrienne laughed, “I know you are; I try to overlook it,” she kissed him lightly, “ I should make you ask,” she taunted, “it will be good practice for the big day.” 

“So, is that the new etiquette?” he teased, “shall I get on one knee or would you prefer the intercom?” 

“Yes ass, call the realtor.  I’ll move in with you, but for the record we are totally doing everything wrong and out of order,” Adrienne joked, shaking her head as Daniel reached for his phone.  

*****

The next morning they were standing on the curb waiting for the real estate agent to arrive when Adrienne started to get nervous.  She kept looking over at Daniel, who seemed very calm and collected and organized and she just couldn’t believe they were doing this and neither could Sam.  She looked at them like they were both speaking a foreign language, kept eyeing Adrienne’s left hand for a piece of jewelry that wasn’t there, but she agreed to give them the time off to meet with the realtor and see the townhouse in person. She did inform then too that there would be paperwork they had to fill out, because apparently having the same address was something Sam had to make official, on paper, something the intercom and general public knowledge didn’t replace. Sensing her nerves, that tiny voice inside his head still telling him that she may bolt, Daniel reached out to her, peering over into her eyes.   

“We don’t have to do this,” he looked down at her, slipping his hand onto her back, “if it’s too fast we can slow down, I can try to think of something else.” Shaking her head, she stepped over, running her arm through his. 

“No, it’s just weird. Not only have I never owned a home myself, but, well, let’s just say I never thought I’d get one with you,” she answered, choking up a bit at the end. Smiling, Daniel wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him, the sound of a car coming to a stop interrupting their tender moment. 

“Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, sorry to keep you waiting,” a short well dressed man apologized, dashing out of a gray Volvo, his feet heavy as he plodded along the sidewalk.  Adrienne made a face at the salutation but Daniel just looked down at her, trying not to laugh. 

“Consider it practice,” he said, raising his eyebrows, as he walked over to the realtor.  

“We need to discuss that sha,” Adrienne said, to herself apparently, and followed.  

Daniel had agreed to purchase it an hour later, calling a military attorney from the Jeep before they were out of the neighborhood. So much for shopping around, Adrienne thought, although she had to admit she was excited and touched but more than anything she felt loved, really loved, for the first time in her life. 

*****

Over the next fews weeks, things for them proceeded as normal, or as normal as things could be considering the entire base was buzzing that Dr. Jackson was buying a house, with his assistant. While they were waiting on the paperwork to be completed, they worked as they would have normally, late most nights, staying on base and smashing themselves into Daniel’s tight quarters.  Once they had a closing date, they split what little free time they had between his apartment and hers, packing things and preparing to move, Adrienne on cloud nine the entire time. The big day came and went, Adrienne discovering at the signing, as she carefully scripted her name on the deed, at his urging, that there was no mortgage; Daniel had paid for the house in full, not asking her for even one cent. She didn’t know what to say, especially knowing how much it had cost, deal or not; this man had just bought her a home. This is really happening, she thought, as she set down the pen, sliding the papers back across the desk. 

Dr. Adrienne Rowan owned a home, with Dr. Daniel Jackson, who was going to ask her to marry him. 

It’s just funny how life works out. 

*****

“Ok, Jackson lives farthest away so we start there.  We’ll be picking up the moving truck promptly at 7 a.m.,” Cameron announced from the head of the cafeteria table the night before the move, of course making himself the self-appointed move director. 

“Cam?” Adrienne raised her hand, it was stupid, she knew, but it was just easier to get his attention that way, “they don’t open until 8 on Saturdays.” 

“I called ahead, we’ll be there at 7,” he answered without missing a beat, Adrienne leaning over to Daniel, reading his mind.  

“Sorry, I thought he could make this run more smoothly,” she offered, since she knew she was going to hear it from Daniel for not making him stop.

“Smoothly?” he questioned, looking at her over his glasses so she elbowed him, Cameron continued, oblivious to the exchange.  

“As I said, we’ll be getting Jackson’s things first and then moving onto to Addy’s place. Our goal is to get to the townhouse no later than 1 p.m.,”  Cameron continued. This time it was Daniel that elbowed Adrienne, who peeked over at him, glaring viciously with those eyes of hers.

“He’s set a time limit on our move.  Why couldn’t we just do this ourselves??” Daniel hissed under his breath, blue orbs darting around the room to see if he was being noticed, which he was not, as Cam began to give a minute by minute itinerary of the entire ordeal. 

“Everyone wanted to help. Jack and Sam just eloped but we’re - “ Adrienne stopped herself realizing that they were just moving in together, not getting married, not yet, her face flushing at her slip.  She must have said something right, however, as Daniel smiled and reached his arm around her.  

“I know what you mean,” he whispered back to her, “but just remember that you said you wanted everything simple.” 

“Ok, are we ready to go tomorrow?” Cameron finished, exaggerating his words, apparently having noticed the side conversation in the back. Adrienne just shrugged, elbowing Daniel, who quickly did the same. 

*****

Adrienne whacked her arm on concrete the next morning as she awoke, however, this time, she was bouncing up and down on the bed in glee, crawling right on top of him.

“I heard ow, are you alright?” Daniel asked as he rubbed his face, yawning groggily. 

“Yes!! That will be my last ow ever!!”  Adrienne exclaimed, diving across him to jump in the shower.  Daniel just rolled back over, knowing she must be truly excited if she was actually moving before 8 a.m., opening his eye slightly to see that it was 5:30.  Frowning he pulled the blankets back up over his head.  

“Come on Indy,” she begged, “wake-up. We’ve got moving to do!” Letting out a groan Daniel opened his eyes and there was Adrienne, standing over him, tugging at the blanket. 

“Fine, I’m up, I’m up,” he whined, standing, making his way to the shower, reaching behind him. 

“You need to hurry, I want to get in there too, moving or not,” she ordered, squeezing his hand before turning away to gather her things, surprised at the grip on her wrist, clasping her quickly, quicker than a sleepy man should, pulling her toward the shower, a mischievous grin on his face. 

“Really?” she clarified, puzzled. 

“Uh huh,” he replied, pulling her again, right to the room in question. 

“Can you not drop me this time, I actually have to lift and move things today,” she teased, smiling, waiting for his reaction. 

“I didn’t mean to drop you,” he defended, frowning, but not stopping his advance. Nice wake-up, she thought, as long as I don’t end up bruising my ass. 

*****

“Guys!!! Are you up yet!?! Why aren’t you answering your phones!?!” Cam was screaming from the other side of the door as Daniel worked his lips down Adrienne’s neck, the water pounding down his back and her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. 

“I’m a patient man.  But that’s going to get on my nerves, fast,” Daniel whispered, not moving, not pulling away, thankfully her body added so Adrienne tried not to laugh, despite the sheer ludicrousness of the situation. 

“Do you want me to get rid of him?” she offered, not really wanting to stop, after all, he had managed not to drop her yet. 

“No I want him to take a hint, go away, and let me finish what I was doing,” Daniel hissed, resuming his earlier movements. 

“I’ve ruined you,” she joked, returning her lips to his. 

“Dammit guys, this isn’t funny! I know Addy isn’t sleeping through this!!” Cam shouted again, banging on the door, Daniel’s head coming to a rest on her shoulder. 

“And he’s killed it,” he sighed, pecking her collarbone and turning his head to rest it there as he returned her feet gently to the floor of the stall. 

“I’m sorry sha, I’ll go get rid of him,” Adrienne apologized, disappointed, slipping away from his embrace, frowning as she exited the shower. 

She was in a towel when she answered the door, subtly trying to prove her point. 

“Oh sorry Addy, I didn’t realize you were in the shower. Where’s Daniel? Why didn’t he answer the door?” Cam continued, but Adrienne didn’t reply, just cleared her throat cutting her eyes down at her attire. 

“Oh.....” Cam replied, catching the hint, “sorry ‘bout that...” Smiling, Adrienne shook her head, still hiding behind the door.

“Cam, shug, I appreciate it, I really do, but can you just calm down a bit. Just a bit. I’d like for Daniel not to have a stroke. I’m kinda in love with him,” Adrienne finally spoke, hoping to ease his embarrassment. 

“I’m sorry, really, but we need to get moving Addy. I’m not trying to be annoying, I’m just trying to keep this going.  You wanna sleep here another night?” Cameron asked knowing the answer.  Adrienne often complained of not sleeping well anymore, she didn’t like their on-base room but she hated sleeping alone and he knew how to get to her, obviously, as she gave him a dirty look. 

“Go get the van, meet us at Daniel’s. We’ll take the Jeep,”  Adrienne answered, shutting the door on him before he could argue and turned to face Daniel, who had gotten himself out of the shower and was pulling a t-shirt over his head.  

“We’re going to meet him there,” Adrienne declared.  

“Thank you,” he answered, the tension still in his voice. So much for a last goodbye to their quarters, Adrienne thought, walking over to the dresser to pack herself. 

Nerves in their stomach they headed out, both from excitement and from the realization that this was happening, that they were taking this huge step together.  They grabbed the final boxes, opting for breakfast on the road, and made their way to the jeep.  

*****

Their moving crew was outside of Daniel’s complex waiting for them, each equipped in their own moving attire. Cam and Teal’c were wearing jeans and t-shirts like normal people, but Vala looked like something out of Fame, leggings, a blouse hanging off of her shoulder her hair in pigtails cascading down her shoulders. Adrienne decided to refrain from comment, she just knew that was going to be a bad wardrobe decision, in fact she believed that bad wardrobe decisions were something about her friend that she was never going to be able to fix.  When she looked over at Daniel, who had calmed considerably on the ride over. she could tell that he was trying not to kill Cameron, who was already approaching the Jeep, looking at his watch. She rubbed his leg up quickly, leaning over to peek at his face, but he didn’t say of word, so she just remained silent, trying not to laugh and making a mental note of the location of her phone, in case there was something blackmail worthy to photograph later. Sighing, he pulled the car up into a space in the lot, shifting the gear into park, finally looking over at Adrienne.  

“No going back now,” Daniel said, worried, leaning over to try to gaze into her eyes. This is huge, he thought, bigger than a ring and a promise. This, he knew in his heart, was really the step, that there would no longer be a Daniel and an Adrienne just Daniel and Adrienne, as a unit, a one. Her face, however, wasn’t what he expected, it wasn’t what he had worried about, she seemed calm even happy.   

“I was pretty clear on that when we signed the papers sha,” Adrienne noted, reaching her hand across. I’d hoped so, he thought again, considering I put your name as 50% of everything. Turning his hand over to take hers into his own, he squeezed it lightly, leaning over the console to kiss her lips, getting lost for a moment, forgetting where they were, reaching his hand behind her neck, before she pulled away, giggling. 

“We’ve got to go,” she whispered, pecking his nose lightly. 

“I love you Adrienne,” he replied, running his fingers down her cheek, turning to pull the keys out of the ignition. 

It was time to face their future.  

*****

“I’ve got it Teal’c!” Vala snapped, glaring up the stairs at her teammate as they carefully moved Daniel’s sofa down the steps to the next floor, Teal’c assistance making her more unsure of her footing that were he just holding half of the weight. 

“ValaMalDoran this is very heavy and I do not wish to crush you,” he yelled down below, thinking to himself he could have just gotten the piece of furniture down the side stairs by himself, however she had insisted on helping. Taking a breath, he relinquish more of the weight forward, and he was correct, it was more than she could handle, a slew of swears now flung in his direction.

“Keep moving people, this box is not light,” Cameron shouted behind them, a large cardboard container of wall decor in his hands, Daniel’s assortment of artifacts and replicas that Adrienne still had no idea where she would be putting in their new home. One’s face in a scowl, the other suppressing laughter, Adrienne and Daniel were shortly behind carrying his dining room table in between them.  

“This is insanity,” Daniel stated, frowning, glaring at Adrienne shaking his head. He didn’t even want to look at Cam, between the moving agenda and the fact he was now carrying a box of his prized possessions he was starting to wonder if he would have a complete meltdown before or after they got this table loaded. 

“Personally, I find it kind of amusing,” Adrienne answered, laughing again as she heard Vala refer to Teal’c as a muscle bound idiot from the back of the truck. 

“You would,”  he replied, grimacing as Adrienne lifted the table higher to adjust her grip, making a face at the effort. 

“Too heavy?” he asked, mocking her because he knew her answer, and that answer, to him, was as amusing as Adrienne was finding the rest of this fiasco. 

“No, too ugly,” she answered, winking at him, “I can’t believe we’re keeping this.” 

“Nuh uh,” Daniel responded, quickly, “we’re NOT doing this.  This is a move together, not a hostile Adrienne takeover,” he tried to sound serious but he was laughing knowing full well that despite his protests he was going to end up with faux grapevine hanging in his dining room, probably the entire house. 

“You watch it Indy,” she threatened, “I’ll let go and we’ll solve this argument right now.”  Raising her eyebrows, she dropped the table just a bit, just enough to make him gasp,  and pulled it back up, giving him an evil grin.  

“You do realize that’s a declaration of war ja-wer,” he stated, started down the stairs. 

“Bring it on,” she answered, giggling, following close behind. 

*****

Cameron was pleasantly surprised when they finished up at Daniel’s place early and moved onto Adrienne’s, very pleasantly surprised, ordering Teal’c to drive the van to the next stop while he rearranged their schedule, Daniel’s advance to choke him only stopped by Adrienne literally grabbing his waist from behind. 

“Play nice,” she ordered in his ear, feeling him breathe in deeply in and out but not turning around to face her. 

“Want me to chill Mitchell,” Vala offered, trying not to laugh at the vein throbbing on Daniel’s forehead. 

“Please,” Adrienne requested, turning her very annoyed beloved around, gazing into his eyes. 

“I’m going to kill him,” Daniel hissed through his teeth, continuing with what Adrienne swore was Kelnareen breathing. 

“He’s trying to help,” Adrienne reminded him, telling Vala with her eyes to get the moving truck out of here and fast. 

“He’s trying to give me a heart attack. This is OUR house, not his, and if a single one of my artifacts is broken..” Daniel began to rant, Adrienne standing on her toes to shut him up with a kiss, one hand wrapped around his neck, the other waving Teal’c to drive. Seeing the truck turn left out of the corner of her eye, she backed away, Daniel sighing as she did. 

“You’re trying to distract me,” he accused, himself trying not to smile. 

“Is it working?” she asked,rubbing his arms lightly. 

“Come on,” he replied, grabbing her hand to pull her over to the jeep. 

*****

Adrienne’s was pretty cut and dry, Daniel even managing to not go storming after Cam screaming, which was a plus, and they got everything moved out in record time. That was, until it came to her wine cabinet.  

“What is that?” Cameron asked, looking at the last thing in the apartment, a huge mass of bubble wrap setting beside three wooden crates.  

“That mon ami is my wine cabinet,” Adrienne stood with her hands on her hips, examining both the object and packaging with pride while Daniel shook his head.  That’s going in my house too, he thought, maybe I should have talked to Jack before coming up with this idea. 

“That is what AdrienneRowan?” Teal’c knew what wine was, and had seen the cabinet, but could not believe what she had done to prepare to move her precious piece of furniture, in fact, he never realized how big the thing was until he was staring right at it, alone in the dining room of her apartment covered in plastic. 

“That Muscles is her alcohol collection,” Vala clarified.  

“No,” Adrienne corrected, pointing to the neatly labeled crates, “THAT Is my alcohol collection.  THIS just holds my alcohol collection.”  Vala laughed, glancing at Daniel as she stepped forward to grab a crate.

“Adrienne’s loves in order: her car, her wine, running and then Daniel,” Vala joked.  

“Don’t forget fighting, somewhere after running,” Cameron added, stepping up to examine the encased mass he was expected to move. 

“And you must list her staff weapon close to fighting,” Teal’c chimed in, moving to join Cameron. 

“And I’ve just been moved to sixth place,”  Daniel sighed as he reached for a crate of wine.  Laughing, leaned over to kiss him, wrapping her arms right around his waist from behind.  

“No, you’re second sha right behind the car,” she teased and pecked his cheek, grabbing the last precious crate, turning to lead Vala to the truck. 

Cameron Mitchell, Supermover, was at a loss after about three minutes of struggling with the obscenely large final piece before he yelling for Daniel to help them.  Frowning, so what else was new, Daniel looked over at Adrienne before he went inside, an expression on his face she could have read before they were a couple. 

“You’ve wrapped that thing so much that it’s double in size, round as a ball, yet you didn’t think to construct some handles?” he asked, peering down at her over his glasses. 

“Good idea Indy, why don’t you go make some,” she smiled, patting his shoulder. Shaking his head, he walked back into the apartment. 

Somehow, and surprisingly only twenty minutes later, the boys got the cabinet into the truck, no suggested handles, no screaming, no fighting, with everything intact. Adrienne decided not to ask for details and since Daniel didn’t seem like he wanted to punch Cam in the face, it looked as though everything was alright. Smiling, she went to thank them, however, rather than speak, they each made a face at Adrienne as they entered the truck, faces that made her smile of gratitude feel a little silly. 

“We need to make a stop,” Adrienne ordered Daniel, as soon as he got into the jeep and shut the door behind her. 

“Why? Cam wants to keep to this schedule of his.”  Daniel answered, the sarcasm dripping as he tried to keep the moving truck in his sights.  

“Sha, have you ever moved?” she asked. 

“Yes, would you like me to start counting the times? Would you like me to count them with out without deaths?” he retorted, cutting his eyes over at her. 

“Then you should know that we must stop for pizza and beer.  Now I’ve already ordered and paid for the pizza by phone but in Virginia one cannot order beer with an iPhone,” she informed him, disregarding his smart remark. Resigning himself to the fact that Cam would have to wait, and God forbid be fifteen minutes off schedule, he pulled into the first grocery store, deciding to wait in the car. 

*****

Their friends were waiting for them when they arrived and while Daniel was expecting a run down of where they should be in the schedule, Cam was especially appreciative of the beer, opening a bottle and not saying a word. Laughing and joking, the real stress of it all gone, they sat together on the front stoop, eating every last slice of pizza before unloading. The rest was simple, since they had no idea how much space their things would fill, Daniel was finally able to take over, ordering the boxes to just be taken to the rooms that they were labeled as, a plan that Cam did not question. Pleased to finally be in charge of something, Daniel stood at the back of the truck, passing out orders and boxes and furniture. 

About an hour in, Adrienne’s arms were killing her, as it seemed that every box Daniel passed her was for the kitchen or an office, boxes full of dishes and book while he kept taking the boxes labeled bedroom for himself, disappearing in there for breaks as often as he could. She was really annoyed not only because those boxes were much lighter but because every time he needed to take a break she felt like he was just checking out of the entire process. He didn’t need to do that anymore, Cam had calmed down considerably and there was no reason to be stressed now that they were here. 

After she was on about her fourth trip to his office, a fourth trip of books upon books, she got to the truck to find that Vala was now distributing boxes, Daniel yet again no where to be seen. 

“Where did Daniel go?” Adrienne demanded, “Is he taking another “break”? He’s been taking the easy route all day long!” 

“I don’t know.  He said he had something to take care of and told me to read box labels.  Here’s more kitchen,” Vala passed her a box and Adrienne took it, annoyed, but delivered it to it’s destination. 

*****

At last the truck was empty and everyone gone, leaving Daniel and Adrienne standing in the foyer, in their foyer, looking at the mountain of boxes that didn’t have a home.  Both annoyed, still, at Daniel and overwhelmed, her compulsion to organize starting to take over her exhaustion. 

“Dear God,” she said, “Where in the hell to we start?”  Daniel, however, just stood there, smiling, not saying a word. 

“Offices? I’m thinking that books might be the least stressful.  Books and bookshelves,” Adrienne declared, looking over for his approval, but he shook his head, that same sillt grin on his face. 

“We can start unpacking tomorrow,” Daniel replied, turning to walk to the back of the townhouse, past the kitchen and down the hall, heading for the bedroom.  

“Daniel, where are we going to do anything?!? This place is a disaster! I can’t live like this,” Adrienne was fussing but following. Again, not speaking, Daniel just reached for her wrist and pulled her along, past the offices and the hall bathroom. 

“Daniel, I’m serious,” Adrienne pulled away, growling, angry and ready to have it out with him, “I’ve worked all day long while you took all of the easy stuff and now you just wanna sloth around when our home looks like a disaster.  What is wrong with you?”  

Shaking his head, he just smiled, walking the rest of the way down the hall to the bedroom and opened the door.  That grin plastered across his face, Daniel leaned against the doorframe gazing back at Adrienne as she continued to rant. 

“If you think that I’m even for a second in the mood for that, and on what I might add, you’re out of your mind,”  she stormed up to him and looked into the bedroom, her jaw dropping.   

Sitting in the center of the room was her beautiful dark carved canopy bed, completely reassembled, its sheer curtains pulled back to the side, pinned together by what looked like ornate grape decorated pulls, new pulls, pulls that she had never seen before. The curtains were a deep purple, wait, those weren’t her faded curtains with that coffee stain on them, these were new and obviously silk, as purple as the matching comforter laying across the bed, her comforter, he had matched it perfect. There were pillows spread about, new additions as well, each with gold accents and tassels. It was amazing, simply amazing. The rest of the room was an explosion of boxes and whatnot, but the masterpiece in the center made up for it.  

“No concrete walls,” he said, smiling as Adrienne finally realized what he had done.  Grabbing his hand, quickly changing her mind, she pulled him into the bedroom, shutting the door behind them when he stopped her, pulling away. 

“What’s wrong?” she asked confused, trying to figure out where he was going as he headed down the hall.

“Hold that thought, I need to put a note on the door,” he said over his shoulder, powering down the hall. 

“A note, for who?” she continued, stepping into the hallway. 

“For Cam, in case he decides he needs to be helpful again!!”