Trees Are Crying Leaves Into The Darkness by PinkyRidz
"I'm sorry we couldn't do more," Daniel apologised sincerely as he held his hand out.
Dakan reached and shook the proffered hand. "You have done more than you know, Daniel Jackson."
Daniel frowned as Dakan increased the pressure behind the handshake. "Ow." He bit his bottom lip when it became painful and Dakan immediately removed his hand.
"Please forgive me, Daniel," he bowed, "I did not mean to cause you pain."
Daniel flexed his throbbing fingers. "No, it's alright," he reassured when the blood supply returned to his hand. "Please, don't worry."
Dakan took a step backwards. "Have a safe journey. We will see each other really soon," he bowed again.
"Yes," Daniel continued to frown, not really sure what the elder was suggesting. "Thank you for your hospitality and give my love to Kamness," he finally said, convincing himself that he'd misheard what Dakan had said and, after hoisting his pack onto his shoulders, he turned and followed his team who had started the long journey back to the Stargate after finishing saying their goodbyes.
It had been a tiring mission and Daniel was more than ready to go home.
It had started off as one of those normal, run of the mill sort of first contact missions. The M.A.L.P had shown an almost barren desert landscape but after a full day's walk, SG-1 had come across a thick crop of trees that looked almost out of place on the world.
Jack had almost called a halt on the mission, figuring that to continue any further might be a little foolhardy as they really didn't know what they were walking into but the need for water had meant that they had gone in search of a stream or river amongst the lush, green forest.
It was while they were filling their canteens that Dakan had greeted them and had invited them to stay for the night.
Although Jack was still wary, Daniel had reminded him that it was now part of their mission brief to get to know other life forms, to learn from them and share knowledge. Reluctantly, and after Teal'c and Sam had reassured him that there were no signs of Goa'uld presence, Jack had agreed and Dakan had led them to a clearing deep in the forest.
The Tambraians, as Dakan had introduced his race of people as, were a self-sufficient race. Their two story dwellings, although wooden and primitive looking from the outside, were spacious and comfortable inside. They obviously used the environment around them to construct and make their homes as homey as possible, using the natural camouflage to blend in with the forest.
The small village consisted of thirty dwellings that were facing what turned out to be a communal hall where everyone gathered for prayers at sunrise and sunset. Other communal structures, including a library and what turned out to be warrior training halls, were interspersed among the forest all linked by winding lanes that framed the clearing.
The villagers wore long, brown hooded robes that helped blend them into their surroundings and carried hand carved bow and arrows. Each villager had a trade and a purpose among the community and carried on their daily lives in an unhurried existence.
Life in the forest seemed primitive and simple.
Dakan and his wife, Kamness, welcomed SG-1 into their home and as leader of the village; their house was the largest and most ornate. Impressive wooden fireplaces framed by animal skins were the main feature of the large communal living areas and the bedrooms upstairs were plush and bordering on luxurious.
Kamness had cooked them a hearty supper after which she'd invited Sam to meet with the other women of the village who were gathered in the hall for their weekly meeting. Premanta, as the leading warrior of the community had persuaded Jack and Teal'c to join him and his men in a sparring session and Dakan had taken Daniel to the village library to show him their ancestor's musings.
The collection of wooden books and parchments had fascinated Daniel. The writings were in no language he knew at first but after a few hours, he had actually managed to find a very familiar pattern among the words and had started to translate more than a page or two. Dakan had been overjoyed. He'd informed Daniel that the dialect the books were written in had disappeared generations ago and he was fascinated to learn how Daniel had managed to decipher it so quickly.
If it had been up to Daniel, he'd had spent the whole night pouring over the books just to confirm what he'd thought but Jack had put a stop to what he called Daniel's – 'little nerdy book party', stating that they needed to make an early start back to the gate in the morning. Daniel had argued that they could learn alot but Jack had reminded him that it was only a meet and greet meeting and that they would schedule a longer mission for some time in the future. Reluctantly, Daniel had agreed and had returned to Dakan's house, via the hall to collect Sam.
After one of the best night's sleep they had all had, they'd enjoyed a home cooked breakfast before bidding their new friends goodbye with promises to return as soon as they could.
"So, Daniel." Jack pulled the peak of his cap down, shielding his eyes from the rays of the desert sun as they poured through the branches of the trees. They were now nearing the edge of the forest after walking most of the morning. "What 'ya think – friend or foe?"
Daniel jogged the few steps between them. "Oh, definitely friends," he nodded. "I suggest we return as soon as possible. Those books are worth studying closer."
"I agree, sir." Sam joined them. "There's something fascinating about this planet. I think that we should come back with a few teams, explore area in depth. There could be more groups of dwellings."
"Yeah, but what do they offer us?" Jack shrugged.
"You mean apart from history?" Daniel questioned, pulling his boonie down over his eyes as the bright sun hit his retinas. "Their history is reason enough to return. I mean, they are obviously human and advanced. How did they get here? Why are they here?"
"I get what you mean Daniel but other than history, they ain't got anything we want," Jack shrugged again.
"Other than history!" Daniel exclaimed in frustration, waving his arms in the air. "Isn't history enough for you, Jack?"
"Well, history ain't weapons, Daniel," Jack retorted. "We're not going to destroy the Goa'uld with dusty history books."
"With the knowledge in those 'dusty history books' we might!" Daniel was getting exasperated with Jack. How many times had they had this argument? How many times did Jack totally ignore everything he said? "You know we have to come back, Jack."
"We'll see what Hammond has to say."
"But, I think they're..."
"Ack!" Jack turned and held a finger up. "We'll let Hammond make the decision, Daniel."
Daniel opened his mouth to continue his argument but, out of nowhere, a sickening pain shot though his stomach, twisting his insides and forcing him to his knees. "G'd," he gritted his teeth as the pain escalated.
"Daniel? What's wrong?"
Sam's voice came from afar as he desperately tried to keep his breathing deep and even to avoid passing out.
"My stomach," he managed to groan between grunts of pain.
"Carter?" Jack's voice came from behind him as Daniel felt his backpack being unclipped.
"I don't know, sir. Daniel – can you hear me?"
"Just give me a minute." Daniel massaged his abdomen as the pain started to dissipate. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he managed to uncurl and flop down on his back. "G'd that hurt," he moaned, his hands still clutching his stomach.
Sam tapped his hands away, lifted his t-shirt slightly and started her own examination. "I can't feel anything, sir" she turned and informed Jack as Daniel covered his eyes and took shuddering breaths. "How are you feeling now?" She asked as she took his wrist.
"Wiped out," Daniel admitted, shivering slightly in reaction to the memory of the excruciating pain.
"Your heart's racing," Sam tutted. "Do you feel sick?"
"No. Just really tired. Can I go to sleep?"
"No you can't," Jack knelt at his side and removed Daniel's arm from his eyes. Daniel slowly turned his head to face him. "Wanna sleep, J'ck," he slurred.
"No sleeping, yet Danny." Jack gently tapped his cheek when his eyes slowly closed. "We need to know what's going on with you."
"Sleepy," Daniel sighed, his eyes remaining closed as his face went slack.
"Carter?" Jack looked at Sam as she retook Daniel's pulse.
"I don't know, sir," she shrugged. "He's passed out. Maybe it's heatstroke?"
"He's been drinking lots of water."
"I know but, it is hot."
"Not hot enough to cause this." Jack tapped Daniel's cheek again. "Come on, Daniel. Wake up buddy," he urged but there was no response. "Right." He looked up at Teal'c. "Think you can carry him, Teal'c? I want him home stat."
"Of course," Teal'c nodded as he bent down and gently picked Daniel up.
"Let's go," Jack ordered grabbing Daniel's backpack, one eye on his archaeologist at all time.
What the hell had just happened?