The Pentangular Gate

Five ways Daniel improves Atlantis (SPOILERS FOR SGA's S3 "VENGENANCE")

1) He helps with, of course, the translation of the database. When he finds two years worth of logs about an Ancient lab on MR2-330 chronicling the introduction of the iratus bug in the Pegasus Galaxy, the anthropologists and xenobiologists throw a party in his honor. They have more answers than they knew what to do with.

2) As an expert on Ascension, Daniel was more qualified to teach Ascension 101 to those interested, and it was a good thing, too, when it came to the case of Atlantis’ military commander. Daniel was in Elizabeth’s office at the time, going over a codex from the planet Vulci with her, when a commotion drew them from her office, only to find John Sheppard, lying in the middle of the gateroom, naked as the day he was born.

3) He helps Elizabeth smooth the relations between the expedition and the Genii. In the beginning, the treaty was touch-and-go and was almost dissolved more times than Daniel could count, but after fourteen months, Atlantis had the best espionage network at their disposal.

4) Nobody mends broken fences quite like Daniel. By the time Daniel has a chance to chat with Michael, they no longer have to worry about the superwraith coming to eat them.

5) The loneliness that comes with assuming and shouldering such leadership and responsibility of the Atlantis expedition is tough, but Elizabeth shoulders the sometimes-crushing weight, much like Atlas would, and without complaint. But the late nights she spends in her office with Daniel, discussing the history and origins of the Alterans and astria porta, begins to peel the layers of isolation that Elizabeth had felt since she stepped foot in the city. The morning Elizabeth wakes up to Daniel’s fingers teasing her clit and whispering Bright star, would I steady fast as thou art, not in lone splendor hung aloft the night into her neck only strengthens her resolve when later that day she has to send Colonel Sheppard on a mission that ended up saving the city, but ending his life.

1) He knows Vala likes small shiny things, things that fit in a fist or a pocket or in his pocket--and he's not going to ask how it happens he's always pulling stuff out of there. But when he catches her trying to hot wire a jumper, he's too shocked to do more than stare at her as she starts an explanation about borrowing, and being one big sort of family, and how...well, she starts complaining about her boots. He just shakes his head, grabs her by the belt, drags her away before anyone else can catch her. And he can't find the heart to do more than frown because he's got to admit she has a point about now nice it'd be if SG-1 had transport that fit through a Stargate. He's not saying anything, either, after he hears one of the jumpers now seems to fly faster.

2) It's another accident he's not going to admit. Because it came out of a fight with Vala--yes, another one. An argument that went from the two of them glaring at each other to Vala taking a swipe at him. And he probably shouldn't have grabbed whatever the hell she'd managed to fish out of the water. It might have been kelp, but it was black and tried to wrap around her neck in ways that did not look safe and had her choking. So never mind that he saved her life, she was still pissed at him--apparently the black market for exotic things is more than lucrative. He tossed the thing down a recycling chute, but that was before he'd read up on the city and learned nothing's ever wasted. When bits of black showed up in the food that night--and kept showing up--he and Vala swapped stares, pushed their plates away, switched to MREs. Everyone else loves the new 'pepper' seasoning. Thank god, Vala just keeps giving them that big smile.

3) Sam's the one who started it. She complained about the food selection in the cafeteria, but he's pretty sure it wasn't with the intent to do anything more than just bitch. She's working as hard as he is to come up with reasons why staying in Atlantis isn't something they want. But Vala was the one who went to Radek, charmed him into telling her about things she should not be allowed to know. Or touch. It's his fault, however, that every beverage started coming out with a faint coffee flavor. He shouldn't have sat up with Vala, talking about favorite things they'd found on Earth. But, really, coffee beats the hell out of black bits of god knows what.

4) He didn't discover it exactly--well, sort of. But Vala's telling everyone he did. In fact, what he did was lose his temper. Vala had broken his damn digital recorder, the one he really liked, the one Sam had bought him the year after...well, it was a welcome home present. But Vala stepped on it. He gathered up the remains, and he was so damn angry, so he turned and pitched them hard. And he wasn't aiming at her, but she moved, ducked--right into the line of fire. The metal bounced off her head, hit the wall. She went down, he went straight for her side--and then they were both staring at the hidden library. Now Vala's telling everyone he found it because she knows it makes him feel guilty as hell--meaning, he's caving way, way too much on just about anything she asks for or wants.

5) On the last day, he's the one who grabs hold of the back of Vala's jacket before she can give everyone one of her big, friendly hugs. He's already put back something from Dr. Becket's lab (once, and don't ask him what it was). The hug lets Ronan keeps any number of knives that have otherwise been liberated and discreetly returned--along with Teyla's fighting sticks yesterday (twice for them). Stopping the hug means Dr. McKay's communications headset will not go missing (Daniel lost count on that one). And no hugs for Sheppard means no more sidearms missing. However, Daniel's letting Vala keep the guns. Because she's right--a person needs protection in any part of any galaxy.