Chapter 4

Jack had been sitting watching the stars for an hour or so when Daniel started talking to himself. The young linguist was shifting back and forth between a number of languages in a low singsong voice. O'Neill watched him for a while then shook his head. This was usually something that occurred when his friend was particularly tired or not feeling well. O'Neill could almost follow the scenario that was playing itself out in Jackson's wandering, subconscious mind. Familiar words in the more common languages of Spanish or French, some English phrases thrown in were always good clues and then the unrecognizable guttural middle eastern dialects would appear for no apparent reason just to throw him off track. And of course, interspersed throughout was Daniel's beloved Abydonian tongue, the language of his happiest days with his doomed Sha'uri. O'Neill shifted closer to his best friend's side, more for his own comfort than that of the other man. He reached over and touched Jackson's bare skin and when he found it a bit too cool, he removed his DCU Fatigue shirt and placed it over his friend's shoulders.

When he was satisfied that he had done all that he could, Jack stretched out flat on his back on the ground to resume his stargazing. He felt that if he did doze off, Daniel couldn't move away without waking him.

Later that evening something did rouse O'Neill from his light nap. He rolled over and immediately realized that Daniel was no longer in his prescribed place, only the fatigue shirt lying crumpled on the ground. Jack immediately sat up and looked around, to see Jackson standing on the very edge of the rock face precipice, gazing off into the night sky. Alarmed, O'Neill hurriedly climbed to his feet and eased himself over to stand quietly behind and beside his friend within easy arms reach.

"Daniel," He spoke quietly so as not to startle his friend. "Danny, what 'cha doing?"

Daniel turned and looked back at him, his eyes haunted. "Nothing, Jack. I'm just looking at the stars." His voice held an alarming tone of sadness. O'Neill's hackles rose at the tone of that voice. Daniel returned his line of sight to particularly brilliant star field.

"How do you feel?" O'Neill reached over with his right hand and gently grasped the other man's wrist. "Is everything okay?"

Daniel turned to face his friend and his eyes sparkled with tears in the moonlight. "Jack."

"You okay?" The older man repeated the question.

Jackson continued to stand on the precipice, looking up at the stars. "Jack?"

"Yeah, Danny?"

"Why are we here?" The younger man asked in a plaintive tone, sounding confused. He looked back at his companion

O'Neill tightened his grip on Daniel's wrist. "Where, Danny? On the cliff? For your Spirit Thing, remember?"

"No." the younger man sighed, shifting his feet. O'Neill caught his breath, ready to hold Jackson's weight. "Why are we here, on this planet? Why are we here at all?"

O'Neill leaned back, putting more pressure on his friend's arm trying to urge him farther from the edge. "Cause it's our job, Daniel. Remember we were sent to find out what's here. Look, why don't we step back from the ledge?" He tugged harder towards the trees. "We can sit and talk over here."

After a few seconds, the passive reply finally came. "If you want." O'Neill now put firm pulling pressure on Jackson, fighting against the other's resistance until he got the younger man moving back over to their initial starting point. He pushed his teammate until he sat down on the soft conifer needles. Jack picked up the shirt from the ground and hung it on his friend's shoulders against the damp. Jack looked into Daniel's eyes trying to see if they were still dilated. The blue eyes looking back were bleak.

"Daniel, tell me." He sat down cross-legged in front of the younger man. "So, what happened?"

Daniel looked dazed, as if trying to understand what was going on in his own mind. He then looked earnestly at O'Neill. "It was...disturbing." He hesitated, Jack nodded encouragement. "I got a little light headed in the Kiva, you know." The older man nodded back encouragingly. "But relaxed. Then when I ate the peyote button, everything got kind of hazy. When we walked up here, everything got really clear for a while; it all seemed to fall into place." Daniel shifted positions, wrapped his arms around his torso and started a minute rocking motion. "Like everything in my life has led to us being here on this planet with these people, our finding the tribe and being accepted, even my being here on this mountain with you, like it all had a purpose."

O'Neill watched his friend for a few seconds, and then he asked. "What was the purpose, Daniel?"

"As far as I could tell it was to help them survive another coming of the Goa'uld." The younger man shook his head slightly. "We were brought here to help save them, Jack." The blue eyes focused on O'Neill. "But I don't know how."

O'Neill was becoming concerned with the way this was headed. "Daniel," He grasped his friend's shoulders and insisted the younger man listen to him. "Danny. I've known you now for over 4 years. You think we should help everybody, save everybody." When he was sure he had his teammate's attention, Jack slid his hands down to the younger man's hands and held them firmly. "You have saved lots of people, my own sorry self being one of them. You've single handedly saved Earth once or twice. To keep on saving it, you, we have to keep on being there to do the job." He took a breath for emphasis. "Danny, these people want your help, not your sacrifice."

Jackson shifted the grip O'Neill had on his hands to hold them in his own, then he looked up earnestly. "I know Jack. But I don't know how...just like on Abydos, when they took Sha'uri. I couldn't do anything. All I can do is watch...again." Daniel dropped his eyes to the ground.

"No, Daniel." Jack looked down to where their hands reached across the space between them. "Not like on Abydos, we won't let it happen again!"

The blue eyes looked up and held Jack's sable ones. "Promise."

O'Neill was silent, thinking before he offered platitudes. Promises were his pledge, his and Daniel's truth. Promises here were for blood. Jack thought of their teammates in their camp, the people in the village that had accepted them, then farther back through the Stargate to the SGC. To their promises there, oaths of honor to their own tribe and Chief. He looked up at his friend. "Daniel, I promise. No more like Abydos. Never again."

Daniel nodded his head in acceptance. "Never again."

Jack shifted his position to beside Daniel, their shoulders almost touching. The two men sat next to each other for an hour or so, quietly watching the stars wandering into the morning sky. Finally, Jackson looked over at O'Neill. "Do you want to hear my vision, Jack?"

The older man turned to face his friend. "Can you tell me first, or do you and Painted Face have to do it together, you know compare notes?"

Daniel looked at him helplessly. "I haven't a clue. He didn't really say."

"Well, then...I guess it doesn't matter since he didn't say you couldn't." The older man gave him a grin and his complete attention. "So give. What did you see?"

"I'm almost embarrassed to say it out loud." Jackson looked sadly chagrined. "It was more like one of those old Disney films. You know the 'True Life Adventure' ones that used to come on Sunday nights."

O'Neill looked sidewise at his young companion and shook his head. "Only you would do Peyote Buttons and get a Disney story, Danny."

"I know." The younger man shook his head denigratingly. "But that's my luck, always the cartoon."

"Oh, stop it. Come on. Give." Jack insisted, teasingly. "What did you see?"

Jackson took a breath. "Well, it's confusing in the beginning. There's this skinny dog or wolf and he's wandering around finding things that he thinks are important, but nobody else does. He meets an old female dog that takes him to a cave. There, she introduces him to a pack of wolves. He and these wolves go on a journey through a tunnel. During the journey they meet up with a lioness and a bear." Daniel stopped and scowled for a second. "First they fight the bear, but he comes over to their side." He glanced at Jack who nodded for him to continue. "They become partners, the skinny dog, the old wolf leader, the lioness and the bear. Then they go around and have adventures. Every once in a while they go back to the cave and meet different animals that all live there." He smiled to himself, "There's a hawk, a raccoon and every once in a while a fox comes." Danny shook his head in depreciation. "Honest, Jack. I feel like it's a Bugs Bunny movie or something. It's embarrassing."

O'Neill had been watching Danny was torn between amusement and awe, but he prompted him to keep on talking. "So what happens next?"

Daniel thought a moment, then continued. "Well, they go on this trip through the tunnel and meet up with some deer. Lots of deer, and they're afraid, being attacked by some terrible thing that comes out of the dark. But the group decides to stay and help them." He shook his head. "I don't quite remember much from then on. I think they win but... It's not so clear now that I'm awake." He looked back up at Jack, self-conscious. "Loony -toons, huh?"

O'Neill shifted to a softer spot on his leaning tree and looked at the younger man with satisfaction. "Nope, makes perfect sense to me, Wiley."

"What?" Daniel asked, still confused. "I don't understand."

O'Neill spoke gently to his young friend. "The problem with geniuses is that you think everything has to be so hard, so complicated." Jack smiled over at Daniel. "Daniel, you have just given a succinct synopsis of our whole last four years." He allowed himself a small chuckle. "You can't see the SGC for the True Life Adventures, excuse the pun."

Jackson still looked mystified.

O'Neill sat forward, crossed his legs and leaned his elbows on his knees. "You were more right than you thought you were when you said you didn't know your Southwestern Cultural History." Jack sighed, continuing. "Indians deal with things right out of nature, things they know and recognize. Their religion is Shamanistic, totemic I guess you'd say." Daniel nodded at him, amazed at his friend and not saying a word. "Animals were their life symbols, their little gods. They use them to personify personality traits and even stereotypes. Subconsciously you must have picked up on that and with your own brand of outrageous imagination and a little 'herbal stimulation', you just mixed and matched what you needed to make a 'Spirit Journey'.

Daniel was looking at O'Neill as if he'd suddenly grown a second head right in front of him. "Jack, where are you getting all this?" He demanded of his normally not-historical-at-all friend. "You've never said anything about..."

O'Neill shook his head and put his hand up to stop the forthcoming flood of commentary. "Whoa, let me explain." He started in calmly. "When I joined Special Ops back in the Seventies, I had an instructor who was an Indian. I don't even remember what tribe he was, but he was the best survival and tactical instructor I have ever had the honor to be yelled at by." Jack smiled at the memory of his old mentor. "When we got to a point, where we couldn't get it, couldn't figure out what we needed... he'd pull out one of his old stories. Said his grandfather told them to him when he was a boy on the reservation to give examples with. All the characters were animals." Jack stopped and gazed fondly at his young friend. "The Coyote was the troublemaker, the trickster, always curious and sometimes he got caught in his own trap but he'd talk the other animals into helping him out of his problems."

"So," Daniel started out slowly, watching his friend for confirmation. "You're saying I'm the skinny coyote?" O'Neill nodded at him. "So you must be the Wolf?"

"Yea, the 'old' wolf thanks a lot, and if Carter isn't a girl mountain lion and Teal'c a great big grizzly bear I wouldn't know who would be."

Jackson shook his head. "But Jack, it's too cute. This isn't..."

"What? What isn't it?" He demanded. "Don't make this so hard, Danny. You got off good." O'Neill reached out and patted his friend's shoulder. "If it'd been me, I probably would have gotten an Alfred Hitchcock or Freddy Krueger flick. Don't complain so much about the luck of the Disney movie, my friend. Take it from me, Painted Face is gonna love it."

The two friends sat together on the rock face ledge that faced east off of the mountain. O'Neill pulled out a couple of granola bars from his shirt pocket and they shared a small breakfast, washed down by canteen water. The sun rose and warmed them in its time, giving them its ancient show of the early renewal of life. From the valley below, they could hear the voices of the women singing the morning song to welcome the sun back from its land of night. Daniel reached over and touched Jack's shoulder, then pointed out over the canyon where an indigenous hawk-like bird rode the warming air's updrafts looking for its breakfast. O'Neill smiled back at his best friend, enjoying the relaxed mood that had enveloped them in its grace.

Carter and Teal'c had gotten up early and returned to the Indian encampment in order to be there when the Vision seekers returned. Crow woman had welcomed them into the fire circle outside the lodge she shared with Grey Badger and began preparing a breakfast for them of the corncakes and a fragrant herbal tea. Though the two guests couldn't speak the same language, the older woman started talking to the pair as if they were her old next door neighbors, rattling on and laughing occasionally indicating something fascinating about Teal'c. From her hand signals Sam guessed that he was a subject of conjecture among the younger unwed maidens. The big man began to look a little uncomfortable after a while, but he was ultimately saved by the arrival of Moon Woman to the fireside. The Jaffa got to his feet and assisted her in sitting down safely on a log by Carter.

The woman was tired from the previous hard day's work but she was in good humor and asked Crow Woman for something. The older woman patted her on the back and went into the lodge to retrieve some dried leaves, which she then ground to a fine power and added to a gourd cup of warm water. Then more of the cakes were prepared and spread with a golden honey. Carter was interested in the interaction between the two co-wives of the old chief. They interacted as more a mother/daughter team than as equals with the older female obviously in charge of the Chief's home, while the other woman lived in another lodge.

Teal'c leaned over to Sam. "Major Carter, what is the actual relationship between these two women?" When Sam explained, he nodded. "I understand. The young woman is carrying a child that will be the older woman's child also. This is practiced to insure security for the old ones should something happen to their men. I have seen this before. It is a very interesting arrangement."

Sam thought about it and agreed. "I know, it struck me as odd that two women could be happy like this, sharing a man but...since they don't have medical or life insurance it would be a good way to prepare for their security in the future."

"This is true. If an old person had no young kin to help them during famine or other difficulties they could die from the privations without other support."

"Daniel said that Painted Face had a mother, a mother in law, a wife and three daughters in his home." She smiled at the morning chaos that must occur every day in his lodge. "That's a lot of responsibility for one man!"

"It is indeed, but he is a man of great power within his tribe. It is his duty to care for as many dependants he can afford to."

"No wonder we're such oddities." Sam mused as much to herself at to Teal'c. "Being that I'm the only female to three strong men, they must have all kinds of ideas about us."

"That is also why Danieljackson and I arouse so much interest among the women. They are looking for a good catch."

Carter patted him on his knee. "And I can certainly understand why." She giggled at his discomfited expression. "That's probably why the Colonel has been so antsy around me. I wonder if he's aware of the dynamics going on here."

"He is Major Carter." Teal'c gave an almost smile in her direction. "While we were working on the Canyon's edge several men approached him. A father with a marriageable daughter inquired about Danieljackson and another man spoke to him about you."

"They did?" She smiled broadly at the thought of O'Neill's reaction. "What did he say?"

"About Danieljackson, that we were on a long journey and the Shaman would be needed to travel with us. About yourself, Col O'Neill stated that they must talk to your brother as it was not his place to speak for a medicine woman who traveled her own trail."

"Hummm, passed the buck did he?" She shook her head. "That's the Colonel, never a straight answer to a straight question." She looked back at Teal'c. "Anyone ask about you?"

"Yes." He looked at her.

She looked back. "Okay, I give up. What happened"?

"He referred them to me and I answered that I am also traveling and would not be back for a long time. I said that I did not want to leave a wife behind. They understood and the subject was dropped."

"I bet."

More people were starting to gather around in the village circle not far from the fireside of Grey Badger's lodge. Carter could make out Little Bird, the toddler daughter of Painted Face. She was dragging another larger girl of about six years of age along with her. A few steps behind them, a beautiful Indian woman of about thirty years of age walked sedately along with a girl of about eight. This Sam realized must be Painted Face's household. Also, walking with them was a woman of about forty years, a large, handsome person she exuded character and charisma. When Two Spears' son, Young Deer, shouted something to her from a distance it was obvious she was his mother. The extended family came and spoke to Crow Woman and Moon Woman for a short time, but the clan was obviously waiting for something to happen and not just here on a social call. Carter could only think they were waiting for their men to return from the Sprit Quest just as she and Teal'c were.

As it turned out the wait was only a short one. A quiet murmur seemed to filter through the village and precede the returning group of four men. While the tribe didn't crowd around or ask any questions the return of the party was of great interest to everyone. Two Spears led the way; Painted Face was walking tiredly behind his chief. The Colonel and Jackson brought up the rear, O'Neill looking weary and very relieved and Daniel appearing introspective, as if trying to organized a difficult translation in his head without benefit of notes. None the less, all four men had returned apparently healthy and unharmed. It was good news to everyone on hand.

As the quartet arrived at the door of Grey Badger's lodge, the old Chief opened the Blanket door and stood back to let them pass into the hut. The cloth was allowed to drop back into place and cut off the outside distractions of the gathering crowd. Crow Woman then took control of the situation. She motioned the immediate family members into the fire circle and proceeded to chase the gathering group of people back out into the village circle area away from the lodge. She must have extorted them to leave them alone for a while because all of the onlookers went looking for other places to be and other duties to perform. The older people called back and waived, which she returned with ongoing commentary of her own.

Looks of relief positively warmed the circle of family that joined together around the breakfast fire. All the women became relaxed and chatted happily to each other. The younger children played in the dusty area outside the door with pebbles and sticks. The Vision, whatever it had revealed; had done no damage to the men of the house at least. Now it was up to the three chiefs and the two shamen to take what the Great Spirit had sent to them and to use the weapon against the False Gods when they came through the Gods' Mouth.

After several hours of being sequestered, the five main players emerged upon the stage of the Village's common area in the front of the Chief's fire circle. When Grey Badger, Painted Face, Two Spears, O'Neill and Jackson came out, the tribe gathered in earnest. After several minutes all the adults in camp were there, seated or standing; waiting.

Grey Badger started the speaking. He described the great journeys that the two young Shamen had set upon to find the Great Spirit's wise trail for them. He advised that indeed the False Ones were coming and that The People should continue to prepare for war. He then gave the floor to Painted Face who told of their two Journeys had been successful and the messages that they received from the Great Spirit were powerful and good. The shaman spoke and told the crowd that Yellow shaman had gone on his first Spirit Journey for the good of this tribe and that they would forever be of The People. Next Daniel Jackson spoke and told of his vision that four spirit animals had come to him and shown him that they were to stay and fight the evil ones with the people. That he had spoke with his Chief, and that it was agreed that they would lend the People all of their knowledge and powerful medicine to defeat the evil ones. And after the battle to come, they would speak to the head of their whole tribe and bring knowledge and strength to the People for the future. O'Neill nodded at his words and spoke one of two words of the people as a pledge of good faith. Then, finally, Two Spears spoke. He announced that the strangers were now of the tribe and they had new names for themselves. They would forever be known by their Spirit Animal names. Grey Chief would be forever Chief Grey Wolf, the Medicine Woman would be Mountain Lion Woman, the Large Warrior would be Great Bear and Yellow Shaman would be known as Wise Coyote.

The Tribe listened to the speeches then began to talk enthusiastically among itself. There were some questions shouted to the leaders and the answers were given quickly. The people were seemingly satisfied with the official debriefing and after a short while of discussion and a little debate they appeared to be satisfied and, went back to their various tasks. A new group of sentinels left for the 'God's Mouth and Teal'c, after a brief consult with O'Neill accompanied them.

O'Neill looked over at Daniel as he sat on the ground next to Painted Face talking. The younger man appeared to be tiring quickly and he himself had not slept in twenty-four hours. "Daniel." The newly minted Shaman looked over at his Chief. "Daniel, what's next?" Jack grinned depreciatingly, "I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the bedroll."

"Oh yea, that's sounds good." Daniel yawned slightly, covering his mouth. "We can eat here with them or go back and eat MREs but I'm starving."

As if on cue, the women of the clan who had left immediately after the crowd had dissipated appeared at the lodge fire circle. Crow Woman walked over to the five men and started her cajoling manner, shooing them to the seating area. When Daniel and Jack took their seats, Carter was assisting in passing out heaping clay bowls of food to the men. The food was rich and savory complete with a slice of honeycomb for desert. Then she brought out some gourd cups of a warm brown tea to them and sat down beside her men.

Daniel nodded his thanks and started in on the food without a word. O'Neill took the cup and looked down into it. Carter smiled at him. "It's Chamomile I think sir."

"Whatever it is, it's good and it's hot. I'll take it." He glanced around at the family circle. The women and children were gathered around their respective men, except for Crow Woman who was putting another piece of meat in Daniel's bowl. He said something back and she patted him on the head before she left.

O'Neill looked over at his second in command. "What have you been doing?"

"Blending, Sir. These people are easy to like." She took his empty cup and went over to the fire and refilled it from a leather flask hanging there. Sitting back down she noticed his expression. "I know sir, but its okay. You're tired."

"You're right, I am." He gave her an impish grin. "I won't tell anyone."

"So what was that at the end of the speech? Do we have a new status or has the mission changed?" Carter had picked up on the announcements.

"Well, we're clan members now, we have new names and we're gonna kick some Gould butt when they show up." He leaned over to look at Daniel who was sitting quietly with an empty plate in his hand.

Carter got up and went over to him. "Want something more, Daniel?"

"Uh gee, no Sam." He smiled up at her. "I'm just really tired."

"I'll bet." She glanced back to O'Neill. "New names? What are they?"

Daniel pronounced them for her, and explained their significance. But he was running down fast and she could see the Colonel wasn't far behind. "Look, why don't you go back to the camp and pull some rack time, Sir?" She smiled at their expressions. "You two look done in."

O'Neill stretched and nodded to Daniel. "Okay, come on Coyote-boy. Let's hit the den for the day."

"Okay, heap big Grey Wolf." Jackson slowly got up from the log he had been sitting on. "You'll get no argument from me."

As the two men trudged down the trail, Sam could overhear O'Neill asking for the date and time so he could write it down as the occurrence when 'he got no argument from Dr. Daniel Jackson.' She shook her head and followed Crow Woman into the village to help her with some errand.