Disclaimer: I don't own 'Stargate: SG-1' or any of the related characters; you should know the drill by now

Feedback: I'd appreciate it, believe me

AN: This is set just after '200'; hope you enjoy it

Child of the Ancients

As they stepped through the Stargate and came out the other side, Daniel smiled slightly in relief at what was on the other side; a large forest, filled with various examples of plant life (Including a few things that definitely didn't look like they had originated from Earth) and what looked like a fairly technologically advanced city a short walk from the Stargate, maybe no more than a few hundred metres away from them.

"Not bad," Mitchell said, smiling approvingly as he studied his surroundings, a broad grin on his face. "I can definitely think of worse places to drop into after diving through the 'gate."

"Indeed," Teal'c said, nodding briefly in agreement as he studied their surroundings.

"Yeah, there have definitely been less pleasant sights on the opposite side of several Stargates," Daniel smiled, as he stared at this new planet, even as a part of him wished he could just forget about the military purpose behind him being here and focus on appreciating the natural beauty of their surroundings…

"That's true enough; at least there's not a Prior standing directly opposite us on this planet," Vala commented, shuddering slightly at the thought; evidently, the Ori remained a particularly touchy subject with her. The fact that they'd been responsible for her nearly getting blown in the destruction of the Ori beachhead, causing an explosion that had left her out of contact with Earth for several months, was bad enough, but actually impregnating her with their child just because she was convenient

Even maternal instincts couldn't help her get over the disgust she felt when she thought about Adria, the new 'leader' of the Ori forces. Adria may have been Vala's daughter, but she could never see the child as anything other than an enemy, no matter what kind of biological connection the two of them shared due to sheer chance.

"Can we focus on our main issue here, please?" Sam asked, indicating the city some distance away from them as she looked critically at Daniel, who was still looking at their surroundings. "We have to find out whether the Ori have made contact with this world yet; what good is it to have reached a new planet if it's already been taken over?"

"Oh… right," Daniel said, chuckling in a sheepish manner as he looked back at Sam. "Sorry about that."

As she looked back at Daniel, Sam casually shook her head as she smiled at her friend.

"Just keep it under control, OK, Daniel?" she said, a grin on her face as the two of them began to walk towards the city, the others close behind. "If you get caught off-guard because you were admiring the scenery, I'm not pulling you out of trouble."

"I'll bear that in mind," Daniel said, smiling back at Sam with his typical small grin as they made their way through the trees towards the city.


Behind them, Mitchell and Teal'c exchanged glances, a small smile on both their faces, prompting a confused expression from Vala as she looked between the two men.

"What?" she asked, looking critically at both of them. "Is there something going on that I should know about?"

Mitchell just chuckled slightly as he looked at the couple in front of him.

"Just thinking how cozy those two can be at times," he said, as he glanced back at Vala. "You know, you really should have made Daniel the groom in that wedding scene you suggested to Martin; personally, I never got why you thought Sam'd be happy with General O'Neill on a long-term basis…"

"What?" Vala said, looking in confusion between Mitchell and Teal'c; Sam and Daniel were a couple of metres ahead of the others, leaving the three of them free to talk so long as they weren't too loud. "I'd heard they were practically already a couple before he left the SGC!"

"Let's face facts here, Vala," Mitchell said, smiling slightly as he looked at Vala with an expression that could almost be pity for making such a mistake. "Sam's the pioneer researcher in the field of Wormhole Physics- probably knows more about the how of the 'gate than anyone-, helped in the construction and develop of everything from the X-301 to the Daedalus… and General O'Neill? Well, from what I've heard about him- and seen, really- the guy's default explanation of a complex advanced technology is 'magnets'. If they ever tried dating, someone'd probably kill somebody out of sheer frustration at not being able to talk to the other about what they're interested in.

"With Daniel…" Mitchell shrugged. "Well, he's not in the same field of scientific research as Sam, but at least he makes more of an effort to understand what's going on even when the science stuff is out of his league. They're not in the same fields, but they can really understand each other's passion for learning about what's out here."

"Indeed," Teal'c said, nodding in agreement as he looked after Sam and Daniel, a small smile on his face. "I have long been surprised that there has not been more indications of their feelings for each other; Colonel Carter's grief over Daniel Jackson's Ascension was clearly more than one would experience for the passing of a friend."

"Well… they've always been close; every member of SG-1 seems to remain close!" Vala pointed out, knowing she was being a bit loud, but unwilling to admit that her attempts to win Daniel over were pointless. "You can be close without lusting after each other, you know; I mean, you all talk about O'Neill often enough, and Cameron's never even met him!"

Teal'c shook his head as they drew ever closer to the city.

"Not in this case, Vala Mal Doran- and in any case, the term you use is inaccurate; Daniel Jackson and Colonel Carter do not merely desire each other sexually, no matter how unaware of their feelings they are at present," he said, as he looked back at Sam and Daniel, who were still talking casually with each other as they approached the city. "I have worked alongside the two of them for many years now, and, having witnessed their closeness, it is evident to all who merely look long enough that the two of them."

Vala's eyes took on a brief flash of anger and jealousy at Teal'c's words- Mitchell privately noted that away for future contemplation- but, to her credit, her face remained otherwise calm.

"What are you trying to say here; that you think they're 'meant to be' or something like that?" she hissed at Teal'c, waving a hand after Sam and Daniel. "But-"

"We're here!" Sam's voice yelled back at the three of them, breaking off the train of discussion that had been going on between the three. Looking up, Mitchell noted that the five of them had arrived in front of some very sizable gates in the walls surrounding the city, although how anyone was meant to get any further was something that eluded him for the moment.

"Any recommendations for getting through that thing?" Mitchell asked, looking quizzically over at Daniel as he jerked his head towards the door.

"Uh… knocking seems to be the best option at the moment," Daniel said, as he reached out one hand to knock on the door in front of him…

And then, much to his surprise, just as his hand was approaching the gates, the door began to open. Surprised, Daniel drew his hand back, and the door instantly began to swing shut once more.

"What the…?" Mitchell said, stepping forward and raising his own hand to the door before Daniel could react himself. However, this attempt failed to receive any reaction; if anything, the door seemed to shut at a faster rate, and, once closed, seemed to be more secure against visitors than it had been earlier.

"That's odd…" Sam said, as she raised her own hand to the door. It shifted slightly as her hand approached it, but, despite this brief response, it refused to open any further; it was as though the door thought it was prepared to open for her, but wasn't sure if she was who it was expecting

A curious expression on his face, Daniel stepped forward and once again raised his arm to the door, and watched in surprise as it swung fully open, until it was of a size that would allow the five members of SG-1 to walk into the city.

"OK," Vala said, after a moment's pause, "that was… interesting."

"Mmm," Mitchell mused, as he glanced over at Daniel. "Any ideas, Jackson? I mean, you couldn't have met someone from this place and made a significant impression without knowing it?"

Sam shook his head. "That's unlikely, Cam; we're several light-years away from the nearest planet with a Stargate, and the odds of someone from this planet having met Daniel on a chance trip through the 'gate are pretty slim."

"Look, can we stop debating the whys of it and just go through the damn door already?" Vala asked, looking critically at Sam for a moment, although whether this was because of what she, Mitchell and Teal'c had just been discussing or because Sam had been wasting time with idle speculation when they could be going into the city wasn't entirely clear.

"Vala…" Mitchell said, glaring briefly at Vala before looking back at Daniel, Sam and Teal'c. "OK, since Jackson seems to be expected, he'd better take the lead on this one; might as well find out why that door seems to respond to him and not us."


Nodding in agreement, SG-1 stepped through the gates before them, Daniel in the lead, and were greeted by the sight of several assorted buildings, all of them gleaming a brilliant silver colour that reminded Daniel of their visit to Atlantis. The city wasn't quite as technologically sophisticated as the Lost City of the Ancients, of course- Daniel doubted they'd manage to find anything that advanced located at a seven-chevron address- but it was pretty close to what they'd seen of Ancient technology.

In the streets around them, several people had turned to look curiously at the new arrivals. They were of mixed genders, both male and female, and each dressed in long coats made of what looked like leather, with outfits made of a similar material underneath the coat. Their hair typically came down to around their necks whether they were male or female, but a few people had shorter haircuts, as well as a white gem hanging on a chain around their necks.

It was one of these people who stepped forward to talk to SG-1. He was a man, tall and in good physical health, his muscles evident under his coat. However, like Daniel, he gave the appearance of being a scholar first and a fighter second, his expression as he studied SG-1 resembling a scientist curious about a new discovery rather than a soldier eyeing up the latest threat.

"Greetings to you, my friends," he said, bowing slightly as he looked at Daniel. "I am Daanar; I speak for the city."

"Good to meet you," Daniel said, smiling at the man. "I'm Doctor Daniel Jackson, this is…"

However, further introductions were cut off, as Daanar's expression suddenly changed from the appearance of relative calm to the face of a Christian who'd just seen Jesus walking into his living room.

"Doctor Daniel Jackson?" he breathed, as he stared incredulously at the archaeologist before turning to Sam. "Than… you are Samantha Carter?"

"Uh… actually, that's correct, Daanar," Sam replied, as she and Daniel exchanged confused looks. "But… how do you know my name?"

For a moment, Daanar looked confused, but then the expression passed and a look of understanding appeared on his face.

"She said you would not know until the time was right…" he said, half to himself, before he looked back at Sam and Daniel. "You seek a means to vanquish the Ori, correct?"

If Daniel had been surprised before, he was becoming increasingly confused now.

"Uh… yeah, we do," Mitchell said, looking in confusion at Daanar. "Why do you ask?"

"Because we have been asked to protect something that you will require in your struggle against the Ori," Daanar replied, smiling at the team's leader as he turned slightly to look at the rest of SG-1. "Follow me, and I shall take you to what you seek."

The five members of SG-1 exchanged curious glances with each other at first, but eventually Mitchell shrugged and nodded.

"OK, Daanar; lead on," he said, as he looked back at the man.

"Thank you," Daanar replied, nodding back at Mitchell before he turned around and began to walk towards one of the nearby buildings. Glancing up, Daniel noted that it was fairly tall- probably around twenty or thirty stories in height- but it didn't appear to be all that different from most of the buildings around it, as far as he could see.

As they reached the door of the building, Daanar raised the gem he wore on his necklace, and, as light glinted off it, the door opened, revealing a long corridor with dazzling white walls, two silvery metal doors at the end of the corridor that looked vaguely like a lift.

"We take our duties as the guardians very seriously, Doctor Jackson, I assure you," Daanar said, noticing Daniel's curious expression, as he began to lead SG-1 down the corridor. "Only those of us who have been contacted directly are allowed to see what we protect, and even then only a select minority of those- of which I humbly count myself as one- are permitted regular access."

"Regular access to what?" Vala asked, looking in frustration at Daanar as the six of them stepped through the doors- which actually were a lift, Daniel noted with a small smile on his face- and began to rapidly ascend upwards.

"Patience, my dear," Daanar smiled as he looked over at Vala. "Simply wait…"

The 'lift' stopped, and Daanar smiled as the doors opened.

"Here we are," he said, waving SG-1 out of the 'elevator' into what at first appears to be a shorter, wider corridor with no other doors on it, until Daniel glanced to his right and saw what had to be the reason why they had been brought here.

There in front of them, on the other side of what Daniel presumed was a one-way mirror of some kind, sitting in a chair and reading a book- the title of which Daniel couldn't make out- as though he hadn't a care in the world, was a young boy.

He was maybe no more than eight or nine years old, dressed in a simple brown robe that looked like it would be better suited on Abydos than on this planet, and wearing sandals. The boy had blue eyes and light brown hair that hung down around his head, somehow managing to look both shaggy and sleek simultaneously, and had a dark red bandana casually looped around his neck.

Several other books were positioned on shelves around the room itself, and there was a bed in one corner with a chest of drawers, presumably containing changes of clothes, at the end of the bed. Glancing around, Daniel estimated that the room took up almost the entirety of the floor of the building they now stood on, and was filled with everything from books to exercise equipment; he even saw some kind of shooting gallery in one corner, although the targets were significantly larger than anything they had in the SGC. Evidently, this room served as the boy's primary living accommodation, although he must have left the room if only to eat judging by the lack of any kind of food dispenser.

"What the…?" Mitchell said, as he looked back in confusion at Daanar. "Are you sure this is the right building? This isn't exactly what I was expecting you to be 'guarding' for us…"

"Naturally it is not; we have gone to great pains to ensure his existence is kept secret, and I did not want to go into too much detail until I could be sure we would not be overheard," Daanar said, smiling slightly at Mitchell. "I assure you, Colonel Mitchell, he is what you have been looking for, even if you did not know it. We have long been aware that you and your friends would come to our world; the child has been waiting for you to take him back to where he is needed."

"And the reason he can't just go where he's needed himself is…?" Vala asked, staring critically at their self-appointed guide.

"Why, the time was not yet right for you to be aware of him, of course," Daanar replied, smiling slightly at Mitchell. "We were told that you would come when the aid of the child was needed; evidently, such a time is now, or you would not be here."

Sam opened her mouth to try and ask another question, but, before she could say anything, Daanar had reached over, triggered some kind of switch on the wall that SG-1 couldn't see, and suddenly, the wall that had been separating SG-1 from the child had vanished. Sighing slightly, without looking up, the child shook his head in an almost bored manner, as though he felt like he was tired of repeating himself, as he picked up a nearby bookmark, placed it in the book, and put the book off to one side.

"Y'know, Daanar, I thought we'd had today's lesson already?" he said, sounding slightly annoyed as he raised his head to look at the new arrivals. "I get that it's important that I learn about my limits and all that proverbial jazz, but I wouldn't mind a bit more time to myself on-"

As his eyes fell on the forms of SG-1 standing outside his room, the boy's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh my God…" he whispered, half to himself, as he stared at the six people before him, as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing in front of him. "It's… it's you…"

Then a massive grin split his face as the boy leapt onto his feet, charged towards the open window, and practically flew up to wrap his arms around Sam and Daniel's necks, bringing them together so rapidly their heads nearly collided with each other.

"God, Dad, it's so great to see you and Mum at last!" the boy smiled, as he leaned back slightly to smile at Daniel. "I've been wanting to meet you two for ages!"

It was a good thing the boy had grabbed onto him on his own; if Daniel had been holding the child up right now, he probably would have dropped him in shock at what he'd just said.

Did… did he just call Sam 'Mum'? Daniel asked himself, staring incredulously between the child in front of him and the woman on his left side.

And… I'm 'Dad'?

It was official; this had just become the most bizarre mission SG-1 had ever been sent on…