This was the first Stargate story I wrote. I'm doing a bit of editing as I go, but it is a finished novella-length story. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks to Shazzz for the original beta, and to Jmas, who first published it in her zine, Landscapes.

COMPLETE

By Denny J

He paused in his story and let his eyes drift over his surroundings. Shafts of sunlight poured between tree branches, illuminating fluffy seed pods and tiny insects that filled the air.

The faces in the circle around him wore smiles as they waited for him to continue his story. Other sounds drifted to him—people beginning the task of preparing the evening meal, animals moving about their pens, lowing softly. He closed his eyes and felt the warmth of the sun on his face. He could also feel the warmth of the people around him like a comforting blanket. There was no sand here, but with his eyes closed, he could just as easily have been on Abydos.

The tug of a small hand on his shirt brought him out of his reverie, and he reluctantly opened his eyes and looked down into the face of the young child in his lap.

"Danyel, what happened next?"

He smiled and opened his mouth to continue his story, but was stopped by the feeling of another pair of eyes on him. He turned his head and saw Jack watching him from under a tall shade tree. Jack smiled and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. Daniel smiled back and nodded his head as Jack turned and headed for the river, where Daniel knew there was a fishing pole waiting.

~oOo~

3 Days Earlier

The Stargate came to life on P2R-171, its blue cloud billowing out in front of it before settling into the rippling waves of the event horizon. The four travelers stepped through and immediately took in their surroundings. Teal'c stood at the top of the dais, both hands gripping his staff weapon. Jack and Sam both held their P90s at the ready as they scanned the nearby forest; Daniel hesitated momentarily while they threat assessed, before descending the steps to check the DHD. They were beginning to feel comfortable as a team again and Daniel's memories of his place with them had pretty much all returned.

"Well, campers, there's a sight you don't see everyday," Jack said sarcastically, waving a hand to encompass the landscape.

"What's that, sir?" asked Sam, knowing what was coming.

"Trees."

"What have you got against trees, Jack?" asked Daniel.

"Nothing, they're just all the same. Why couldn't they be blue or pink for a change?"

"Pink, Jack?"

"Okay, not pink. How about red then?"

"Why do you wish the trees to be another color, O'Neill?" asked Teal'c.

"Well, you know what they say, 'variety is the spice of life'."

"To what spice do you refer, O'Neill?"

"Oh, for cryin' out loud! Just forget it! Let's get this show on the road."

"Which show are you referring …"

"T!" Jack interrupted. "Let's just move out."

Daniel glanced at Teal'c in time to see the corners of his mouth turn up slightly. He grinned himself, and glanced at Sam, who was also trying to hide a smile.

"The UAV showed a small settlement about 2 clicks in that direction," she said pointing straight ahead.

"All right, I'll take point. Daniel, you're after me, then Carter, and Teal'c's got our six."

~o~

They headed away from the gate under bright sunshine following a small, mostly overgrown path through the trees. Carter and Daniel were discussing the findings of the UAV while Teal'c silently scanned their surroundings for any threats. Just like old times, Jack thought.

He felt good, even with the uneasiness of possibly meeting an alien culture for the first time. He felt good because his team was together again. They had only gotten Daniel back a couple of months earlier after his year with Oma and company. Even though they had been on several missions since his return, Jack still got a warm feeling whenever he saw Daniel standing with the rest of his team. That year had been hard—harder than he had let anyone know. He had pushed his feelings of emptiness and loss down deep, but they were never truly gone. The gift of having Daniel returned to them was one Jack would be forever grateful for, and he had made a vow to himself that he would never lose Daniel again. He glanced at his friend now, still chatting with Sam. She had been hurt by Daniel's departure, too, as had Teal'c, and was just as happy to have him back.

His contemplations came to an end as they emerged from the trees into a large clearing. Not far ahead was the village. There were a few people working in a large garden and several more standing next to what appeared to be a home. They stopped their activities when they noticed the strangers approaching.

"Heads up, everybody. Daniel, you're on."

Daniel moved forward with Jack at his elbow. Jack, Sam, and Teal'c all took a firm hold of their weapons, but didn't raise them. Several villagers moved forward also, with a dark-haired, middle-aged man taking the lead.

"Hello, I'm Daniel Jackson. We are peaceful travelers. We mean you no harm."

The villagers looked at each other and spoke a few words among themselves that Daniel couldn't quite hear. Then the man who appeared to be their spokesman stepped forward, speaking in his own language. "We do not understand your words, but I am Ransha," he said, pointing to himself. "This is the village of Patras. Who are you and where do you come from?"

Jack could see the glint of recognition in Daniel's eyes as he listened to the man.

"Daniel?"

"Jack—the language sounds very similar to Greek. There are a few differences, but I think I can translate."

"Why don't you do that, Daniel? Now would be nice."

"Oh, sorry. Just trying to figure out some of the changes. I really need to hear more, but I'll give it a try." He turned back to face the man called Ransha. " My name is Daniel Jackson. We are peaceful travelers from a place called Earth. We would like to be friends."

Ransha's face brightened into a smile. "Welcome, Daniel Jackson. We are happy to have visitors in Patras. Who are your companions?"

Daniel translated for the rest of SG-1 before introducing them to Ransha. Other introductions were made and they soon found themselves following the group into the village.

As they walked, Jack quietly asked, "Does anyone else think it's a little odd that they just took our word for it that we're friendly?"

"They do seem unusually accepting, O'Neill."

"Sir, maybe the Goa'uld haven't been here—at least not recently enough for them to fear strangers."

"Jack, not everyone is as suspicious as you."

"I'm not suspicious, just cautious. Anyway, don't they worry about someone attacking them?"

"Maybe they have a peaceful co-existence with other villages," Daniel suggested.

"Well, everyone stay on guard and keep your eyes open." Jack was privately glad that after everything Daniel had been through, he hadn't lost his ability to look for the good in people. He noticed Daniel taking in his surroundings with a slight wariness, though, which meant he knew better than to be unprepared for anything that might happen.

~oOo~

Present time`

Daniel had been searching for a place to belong, a family, most of his life: after his parents died, after his grandfather refused him, after being alienated from his colleagues in the archaeological community, when he took the offer from Catherine, when he stayed behind on Abydos, and when he argued to be part of SG-1. In one way or another, that's what he had always been striving for—maybe even when he ascended, and possibly the reason he had descended. There were no family connections on the "higher planes." He didn't think he had even seen Shifu—the closest thing to family he would have there.

He looked down at the child in his lap. With her dark hair and dark eyes, he imagined this was how his and Shar'e's child would have looked. Would have. It was something he had wanted so much, and now his chance was gone. He would never have that unique experience of raising a child. He would never have that connection to the future. What would be left behind when he was gone? Translations, theories, cultural observations? Those were important, but not in the same way. He sighed. Maybe all that was important was the here and now. Thoughts of Jack, Sam, and Teal'c made him realize that he had his own unique kind of family. Family was not defined as being of the same blood.

Another tug on his sleeve ended his musings.

"Danyel, are you all right?"

"Sorry, Kaytah—just thinking. Now, where was I?"

He heard a few chuckles from the circle around him as he took up the thread of his story once again.

~oOo~

The sun crept further behind the trees and the shadows began to lengthen as Daniel finished his tale.

Kaytah jumped up and gave him a quick hug. "Thank you for the story, Danyel."

"You're welcome, Kaytah."

Kaytah's mother approached and placed her hand on the child's head. "It will be time for dinner soon. Go find your brother and tell him to come and prepare."

"Yes, Mama," the girl replied as she bounced off to look for him.

Daniel rose and stretched, accepting the hugs and clasps on the shoulder from the others in the circle as they began to prepare for the community meal being held in honor of SG-1.

Daniel knew Jack would soon be returning, reluctantly, from his fishing trip, and Sam and Teal'c would be coming back from their survey of a possible mining location.

Suddenly, a shout shattered the calm of the village, and Daniel saw a young man running towards them.

"Run! We are being attacked!"

Before Daniel could take another step, he heard the undeniable, and all too familiar, sound of staff weapons firing. Panicked villagers began to run in all directions, screaming for family members, as the Jaffa became visible through the trees surrounding the village.

Daniel couldn't see an opening—they had effectively surrounded the village. He reached for his gun and realized he'd left it and his pack in Kaytah's family's house. He and his team had been so sure they were safe here; the Goa'uld were only mentioned in the villagers' most ancient stories of being brought to this place by the gods.

Daniel darted behind a hut as two Jaffa passed, dragging a villager between them. Other Jaffa were herding more people towards the entrance to the village and the path leading to the Stargate.

What could he do? He had no weapon; Jack, Sam and Teal'c were still not back—where were they? Surely not captured. No! He refused to follow that line of thought, and instead focused on working his way to the edge of the village and the tree line, trying to stay out of the line of sight of the Jaffa. He couldn't quite make out the emblem on their foreheads, so he couldn't tell which system lord they served. Maybe he could at least follow them to the gate and get the address of the planet they were going to. They would rescue these people—they couldn't abandon them to whatever fate the Goa'uld planned for them.

As he made his way through the trees following the shouts of the Jaffa and the screams and crying of the villagers, another sound caught his attention—a moaning from the clearing in front of him. It was Jaynat, Kaytah's older brother, lying at the edge of the Stargate path. Daniel jumped through the bushes and knelt at Jaynat's side. He could see the young man was bleeding from a staff wound in his side.

"We have to get off this path, Jaynat. I'm going to have to move you, and it's going to hurt. Try not to make any noise or the Jaffa will find us."

"I understand, Danyel."

He lifted Jaynat up and slung the boy's arm around his neck. There was a soft grunt, but the young man made no other sound as Daniel pulled him off the path and into the relative safety of the bushes.

"We'll stay here until they've gone. Just hang on."

"Thank you, Danyel."

Daniel turned his attention back to the path just in time to see Kaytah dash into view, trip, and go sprawling. Before her name could leave his lips, two Jaffa stormed into the clearing, looming over her.

"She is too young to be of use and we do not have time to fool with this," said the first Jaffa. He pointed from the other Jaffa to the girl and said, "Shoot her and let us be gone."

The second Jaffa hesitated and looked at the first Jaffa.

"My lord?"

"We are doing her a favor—there is no one left for her here. Do it!"

As the second Jaffa turned back to the girl and lifted his staff weapon, Daniel leapt forward without thinking, the words coming automatically from his mouth in Goa'uld. "No! Don't hurt her!"

Both staff weapons came to bear on him as he gathered Kaytah in his arms.

"This one will do however. Take him and shoot the girl."

"No! She….she's my daughter, let me take her. Please!" He tried to think of anything that might spare her life as the girl shivered in his arms.

"Very well, but if she falls behind we will shoot her. Now, we must go—move!"

The second Jaffa grabbed Daniel's arm, pulled a pair of shackles from his belt, and snapped them on first one wrist and then the other. There was a short chain connecting the two and another short chain attached between them with the other end held by the Jaffa. Daniel looked up as the last shackle snapped into place and saw that the Jaffa was looking at him with—curiosity? It was not what he expected. He had expected disdain and revulsion, which were provided by the first Jaffa as he renewed his command, "Move!"

Daniel quickly bent and told Kaytah, "Climb on my back and put your arms around my neck."

She quickly obeyed just as the Jaffa tugged on the chain, pulling them forward.

Daniel stumbled along the path with Kaytah hanging fiercely onto his neck. His mind began to process what was about to happen. He had finally gotten a good look at the Jaffa's tattoo. It was a circle, representing the full moon, with the outline of a crescent moon inside of it. He now knew which Goa'uld these Jaffa served—Thoth, the Egyptian god of knowledge and scribes. He didn't think that would make any difference in their situation—they would still be slaves.

'God, Jack's going to kill me! Jack! Come on, Jack, now would be a good time for a rescue.'

It hit him how absurd that statement sounded. They might not even know he was missing yet and here he was hoping for rescue. There had been no sign of Jack, Sam, or Teal'c. Hopefully, they hadn't been captured, too. His thoughts abruptly focused on his own situation again as they entered the clearing where the Stargate stood.

Most of the villagers now stood in the same state as Daniel. Many were crying and hanging on to one another or looking desperately for other family members. The only positive thing was that he didn't see any sign of the rest of his team. Hopefully, that meant they were safe. He counted only about a dozen Jaffa. That must be why they're in such a hurry, he thought. They were a relatively small group and probably had no idea what they would be facing from the native population when they came through the Stargate. They must be desperate for slaves if they're willing to take that kind of risk.

Kaytah tightened her hold on Daniel and finally spoke, "What is going on, Danyel? Where's Mama?"

He could hear the hitch in her voice as she spoke and knew she was terrified.

"It's okay, Kaytah. I'm here. Don't be frightened, but I think we are going through the Stargate."

Her arms tightened even more and she began to sob.

"Shh, it's okay. I'll be with you and we'll find your mama."

Daniel began searching the crowd for Kaytah's mother. He was torn between wanting to find her and not wanting to find her. If she wasn't here, then she could be safe at the village and Daniel was taking her daughter away from her. Or she could be dead, and they might never know. If she was here, then she was about to be ripped from the life she knew and thrust into a totally different one on a totally different world. In which case she would at least be with her daughter, if only Daniel could find her.

Before he could finish scanning the crowd, the Jaffa leading him yanked on his chain, pulling him forward. Two other Jaffa were holding a bigger chain and were fastening each person's individual chain to it.

His chest fluttered briefly with panic and he fleetingly considered trying to escape. Chained, and with Kaytah holding on to him, he knew it would be futile. As his chain snapped closed onto the larger one, his thoughts again turned to Jack, Sam, and Teal'c. Any chance of rescue rested with them. He just hoped they would get here in time to see the coordinates for wherever they were being taken.

The sun was beginning to set as the Stargate flared to life. As the train of captives was pulled forward into the shimmering pool, Daniel took one last look around, hoping his team was nearby. He had faith in them—he knew they wouldn't give up until they found him. That's what family did.

Then he was pulled into the wormhole, followed by the last of the captives and the Jaffa. The gate shut down, leaving the clearing in twilight and silence.

TBC