"I'm worried, too, Colonel, but what possible benefit could we get from going back to the planet?" General Hammond wanted to know. "They said he left."

"General, you and I both know that that's completely ridiculous," O'Neill said. He and the rest of SG-1 were gathered about the table in the conference room, debriefing, and Jack had stated that he wanted to go back to the planet to find Daniel. "After all this time of the both of us spent pounding it into his head how dangerous it is for him to go off on his own, you expect me to believe that that is what he did?"

"Well, Dr. Jackson is sometimes absent-minded," Hammond reminded him.

"Not about this," Jack persisted. "He understands that the Ga'ould would just love to get their claws on him because of all the stuff he knows about the Stargate program and the SGC. He even admitted once that he's had nightmares about what could happen if they found him on his own off-world. He wouldn't have left that planet until we'd gotten there, he wouldn't have even gone there if he'd had another choice, and he would not have left without us. No, I have a strong feeling that Daniel's still there. We've gotta go back and find him."

General Hammond appeared to think. "How dangerous would that planet be? Is there any Ga'ould presence there at all? Anything threatening?"

"There has not been a Ga'ould presence there for nine hundred years, General Hammond," Teal'c assured him. "I was able to examine some of their writings, and the date for Unspeakable's downfall was given."

"Unspeakable?" Sam said, surprised.

"That is how they refer to the Ga'ould who had enslaved their ancestors," Teal'c elaborated. "However, there are no longer any defining marks or symbols on the planet to tell us which one it was."

"So there's no presence of the Ga'ould?" Hammond asked, just to make sure.

"Neither I nor Major Carter mentioned sensing anything," Teal'c admitted.

"Major?" the general turned to her.

"That's true, sir."

"Okay, none of us sensed anything other than people lying to us," Jack said, bringing them back to the main point he wanted to address. "What about Daniel? How soon can we go back?"

"Colonel, are you certain—are all of you certain—that Dr. Jackson is still somewhere on that planet?"

"There's nowhere else he could be, sir," Jack said, as Carter nodded and Teal'c added an "Indeed."

"All right, you have a go to return. Your cover will be that your planet has sent you to discuss a cultural exchange among our two peoples. Ask questions about culture and watch their reactions to see if they've been asked that before."

"That way we'll know how long Daniel was there by how many questions he asked," Sam said thoughtfully. "Oh, good idea."

"While you're there, keep looking around for something to tell us where Dr. Jackson is," the general told Jack. "Daniel's the best expert we've got, we need him, and he's a good friend to a lot of people here. Bring him home, people."

"Sir?" Jack asked at the end of that little speech.

"Colonel?"

"Can we go now?"

The general chuckled. "Dismissed."

--

From Daniel's Journal:

I am very, very nervous. According to Karres (evil, maniac people shrinker!) my "parents" are coming for me today. He says that I've accepted what has happened to me (I have, but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it, nor does it mean I'm not going to try to find some way to reverse it), my full range of motion has been restored, I have no aches or pains, and I'm ready to go. I tried one last time to convince him to send me home to Earth. I told him that I won't immediately love these people, and the most they could ever hope for from me would be politeness. Besides, I wouldn't be there long. Eventually, I'll make my way home. They deserve someone who would love them and stay with them. What he said in response was extremely aggravating: "We'll see."

They've sent me some clothes to wear for today. Apparently, none of my own stuff will fit me now. The stuff they sent me isn't bad; I just feel like a kid in this outfit. Of course, they're kids' clothes. They're small enough to fit me, so of course I'm reminded how short I am and as a consequence, I feel like a kid. I'm wearing black pants, black shoes, a blue long-sleeved shirt, and there's a black jacket for me to put on when we go outside. Karres told me it's cooler now than when I arrived on this planet. Hurray. At least there's a pocket where I can put this book and my pen. They have ballpoints here, or some kind of equivalent that is as good as no nevermind, thank goodness. I can probably write during the car ride to wherever it is they're going to take me. I hope that it's not too far away from the Stargate.

"Daniel?"

Daniel looked up from his journal to see Karres standing at his side, with two people just behind him, a man and a woman. From the tears in the woman's eyes and the proud look the man was wearing, he guessed that these were his "parents" come to claim him.

Karres' next words confirmed it. "This is Karl, your new father, and Mara, your new mother."

Daniel put down his pen and closed his journal before getting to his feet and, deciding that there was no reason to be rude, held out a hand. "Pleased to meet you." He almost pulled it back when he realized that that gesture might not be understood, but Karl came forward and took his hand.

"It's wonderful to meet you, Daniel," Karl said, kneeling down to his height. "Mara and I have been waiting a long time to meet you."

Daniel didn't say anything as Mara dropped down beside him and gave him a hug and a kiss as soon as Karl released his hand. Karl turned to Karres and shook his hand. "Thank you, Physician, a thousand times."

"My pleasure," Karres assured him.

Daniel bit his lip to keep from saying anything.

"Well, let's get your things together, dear," Mara said, leading Daniel over to his bed. Karres had brought him a small leather satchel so he could carry out the few possessions he'd managed to accumulate during his time in the hospital. In it was the scrapbook he'd been sent, some toiletries, and he slipped his journal and pen into his jacket pocket. Mara checked under the bed and in the bedside table to make sure nothing had been left, and Karres walked them all out as soon as Mara was certain that everything was packed. He walked them to a car and bade Daniel goodbye as he was settled in the back seat.

"Goodbye," Daniel said quietly. He didn't trust himself to say anything else.

They drove away, and to Daniel's intense embarrassment he saw both Mara and Karl sneaking looks at him in the rearview mirror. Something had to be done about this. "Could we talk?"

"Of course, Daniel," Karl said.

"Look, how much did Karres tell you about me?"

"He told us that you came through the Ring, that you haven't been too happy about what's happened to you, but that you seem to be calming down now. Also, he said that you told him that you feel you have to go home."

"Right. Well, I do. I can't stay with you, even though I can tell that you're both very kind and eager to adopt me."

Mara turned around to look at him. "What do you mean you can't stay? Of course you can."

"My people are most likely trying to find me," Daniel told her. "When they do, they're going to want me to go home with them, and I want to go home. You two deserve someone who's going to love the both of you and stay with you for longer than I will. I mean, it's not very fair of Karres to fool you both into thinking that you're getting someone who'll be staying."

"I wouldn't worry about that, Daniel," Karl said, keeping his eyes on the road. "How about we make an agreement?"

"An agreement?" He didn't like the sound of this.

"You agree to stay at least a year. If you're still not happy at the end of that time, then we'll send you home without any argument on our part."

Daniel thought about this. Why were they in such a hurry to offer an agreement? They'd only just pulled away from the hospital! Suddenly, an ugly suspicion came to him. "Did Karres tell you to offer me that?"

Karl chuckled. "Karres was right. You're very quick."

"Well?" Daniel persisted.

"He did," Mara admitted. "He suggested that we offer you that agreement in an effort to help you feel comfortable."

At least they haven't lied to me, Daniel thought. He could remember one set of foster parents who'd been liars. They'd lied so much to him that he was certain they could have been certified pathological liars. Still, he wasn't sure if he wanted to commit to any sort of agreement about anything. "Could we talk about it later?"

"If you like," Karl agreed.

"Could you tell us about yourself?" Mara asked after a few moments of silence.

"What would you like to know?" It would be easier on him if they asked questions. That way he wouldn't be tempted to let something slip about himself that he didn't want them to know, such as his parents' deaths or the loss of his wife.

"What did you do before the procedure?"

Daniel wondered why they didn't call the "procedure" what it really was: a major life upheaval. "I studied ancient cultures, history, and languages on my home planet."

"Really?" Mara said, sounding impressed. Belatedly he remembered this planet's fascination for history.

"A historian going through the Ring?" Karl said, sounding perplexed. "Why would you do that?"

"Historians offered a perspective on the cultures we encountered," Daniel offered. They didn't need to know the whole reason.

"What would you like to do now? I mean, academic-wise," Karl asked, correcting himself.

Daniel fought to keep himself calm. What would he like to do now? That was a given, but not the answer they were expecting. "Perhaps more of the same?" he suggested. "I haven't really thought about it."

"What do you like to do for fun?" This came from Mara, who was still sneaking glances at him.

That was an easy question to answer! "I like to read."

This time it was Karl who sneaked a peek at him. "Just read? Nothing else?"

"I like music, and going to plays and music performances," Daniel said, not certain if they had television here. Would they even understand the concept if they didn't have it? Hmm.

"Anything else?"

"My friends and I would go out sometimes," he admitted. "See sporting events or a show, or we would go out to eat and spend time together. Sometimes we did other things. There were parks to hike in, and sometimes we went riding."

"Riding?" Mara sounded confused.

"Horseback riding. Do you have horses here?"

"I don't know. We might call them by a different name. What are they like?"

Daniel described them, but it was Karl who got it first. "Oh, equines! Yes, we have them. Perhaps we could take you riding someday soon, if you like."

"Sounds fun," he said, not willing to commit to anything just yet. He thought back to the first time he and Sam had gone riding. She'd shown up at his apartment on a Saturday morning last spring, saying that he wasn't going to hole up in his apartment as she knew he'd been planning on doing. Instead, she'd arranged for the all of them to have a day out. She bullied him into some jeans, a t-shirt, jacket, and boots before dragging him out to her car. They had breakfast at one of his favorite restaurants in town before meeting Jack and Teal'c at a park for, of all things, horseback riding. (How she'd talked the two of them into going riding was a mystery he had yet to solve. Perhaps she'd bullied them just as she'd bullied him?) Jack groused and complained and swore that the horse had it in for his bad knee, but at the end of the day he'd admitted that the whole experience had been rather fun. Since that time, every few months they went riding if the weather was good.

The memories made his throat close a little. "Do you live far away from the hospital?" That was the only way he could think of to ask "Are we there yet?" without actually saying those words.

"A short while yet," Karl told him. "The hospital was one of the few places that was equipped to do the procedure, and it was the closest, so we put in our application there."

"Oh." He thought about this. People had to put in an application for a "child"? How were applications approved? What criteria were used to determine if an application were denied?

At some point between thinking about the applications and their criteria, Daniel fell asleep and kept sleeping even after the car had stopped. He woke up as he was lifted from his seat and carried away from the car. He looked up at Karl, who was carrying him, and looked at Mara, who walked by their side, and for a moment or two he couldn't think what had happened. How had they gone from the car to walking?

"Feel better, sleepyhead?" Karl asked, seeing he was awake.

"Better. Why are you carrying me?"

"How were we going to get you from the car into the house?" Mara wanted to know.

"You could have woken me up. I can walk, you know." He wiggled, trying to get down, but Karl held on tight, saying he would save him the trouble. As soon as the front door was open he was set down in the vestibule and helped to remove his jacket. Once he had his bearings Karl and Mara showed him around the house: the sitting room, the kitchen, the library (he stared around that room for quite a bit before he was ready to leave), and then the upstairs rooms. There was Karl and Mara's bedroom, the bathroom (this one had two tubs, and Karl explained that the smaller one was for washing and the larger one was for soaking weary muscles), and then, of course, there was his room.

The room they'd set up for him almost made him consider staying. Almost. He had yet to see a more perfect paradise for a scholar! It was done in a restful blue and natural wood, and on the walls were maps and pictures of the planet, tons of books in built-in shelves, and there was a great view of a back garden from a windowed alcove that held a comfortable chair and reading lamp. In the next moment he felt very, very bad for Karl and Mara. They'd worked so hard to make a welcoming room for him, and he was only going to leave them. Karres had a lot to answer for by putting him, Karl, and Mara through this. Karres and whoever else that was responsible for this mess. He had a strong feeling that the Council was also responsible. After all, they'd sent him to that wretched hospital where he was shrunk. He pushed those thoughts away as Mara showed him a cabinet that was full of games and puzzles they'd picked out for him and a wardrobe full of clothes. He spent more than one moment reflecting that he was being terribly spoiled and hoped that they could both find someone who would be willing to stay and be spoiled.

"Do you like your room?" Mara asked hopefully.

Daniel stood in the center of the room, slowly spinning on his heel and taking things in. "I think it's wonderful," he said honestly. He sneaked a glance at the two of them and saw identical pleased expressions. Daniel put his bag on the bed and asked to be shown around the outside, hoping that he could see something that looked familiar, hopefully a landmark that would lead him back to the Stargate. Karl and Mara led him downstairs again and outside. The garden was nice, with lots of space, flowers, and a pond. He was examining the pond when he spotted the swing, and before he could ask about it, Karl scooped him up and set him on it. The next thing he knew, he was being pushed on the swing.

"Um, what are you doing?" he asked, holding on for dear life. He felt as if he were about to lose his balance.

"I thought you wanted to swing," Karl said, taking hold of the ropes and stopping the swing. "You didn't?"

"I wasn't expecting it," Daniel admitted. "Could I get down?"

Karl nodded and as soon as his feet were on the ground Mara suggested they go inside so they could start dinner.

"Dinner?"

"Of course," Mara told him, smiling. "Karl and I thought it might be nice if we all made dinner together tonight."

Daniel thought about the last time he'd made dinner with someone. He'd been at Jack's for a Friday night, and they'd made Oriental stir-fry for supper. It was a new recipe for the both of them, and before they'd sat down to eat that night they'd managed to catch a potholder on fire, burn a hole in Jack's frying pan, and ruin two batches of vegetables. Finally they managed to get a decent batch of stir fry together so they could eat, and it actually tasted all right. Daniel had a feeling that they wouldn't be making stir fry that night.

They didn't make stir fry, but they did make some kind of stew that tasted pretty good. There was stew, bread, salad, and some kind of dessert that tasted like a combination of fruit and vanilla cake. After supper they washed the dishes (by that point Daniel was certain he'd wandered into some Twilight Zone of Pleasantville) and headed into the sitting room for the evening. They brought out some kind of board game and Daniel played a few rounds before confessing he was tired. When Mara said she'd draw him a bath his embarrassment was completely overwhelming, so he said he'd prefer to skip the bath and go straight to bed. When they agreed, he went upstairs, changed into the first set of pajamas he could find, and crawled into bed, feeling certain that he'd gone crazy and was trapped in some mental foster home hell that his mind had created. He was half-asleep when Mara and Karl came in.

Daniel sat up. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Karl said. "Nothing's wrong. We just came up to say good night."

"Oh. Good night, then."

"Good night, sweetie," Mara said, giving him a kiss on his forehead. Karl did the same, and Daniel fought down the urge to slide under the covers and die.