By Rosenquist
Warnings: Some tissue warnings I think
A/N: See rest of the header from part 1. Thank you so much Eilidh for your help, I appreciate them a lot. Thank you Zats for your review :o)
While Daniel played in the sand and the natives prepared for the upcoming feast, SG-1, Dr. Fraiser, and Dr. Wells discussed the best way to convince Daniel to return to Earth with them.
"Colonel, if you want to earn Daniel's trust it's important you don't use force to get him back. It won't work and will only server to further alienate him. You need to approach him in a manner he'll understand and respond to. Remember, he's not functioning at an adult level now."
"And if nothing works? What are we going to do then? Sedate him? I don't really want to go down that path, but if that's what it takes then you have my permission to do it."
"Colonel let's cross that bridge when we get there."
"Sedation would be a method of last resort, colonel. Using them would mean it will take longer for you to get a positive connection to Daniel. Trust will be a bigger issue after that," Dr. Well's said.
"Better than not getting him back at all. Shamda promised me he'd help us and, right now, we need all the help we can get."
oOo
Shamda and Jack had agreed to wait to tell Daniel about him leaving Vis Urban till after the meal so everyone including Daniel could enjoy it.
Before they sat down for the banquet, Shamda told Daniel he would be sitting between him and the Colonel. Daniel tried to argue the point but Shamda would have none of it, and reminded him, once again, about their behavior towards guests. Daniel pouted at first but when he noticed Jack's yo-yo his curiosity got the better of him, and forgot about being mad. It was the first real unforced contact between Daniel and Jack so Shamda chose not to reprimand him for playing with the toy during the feast.
Once Daniel and the other children were finished with their meals they were allowed to go and play even though the adults weren't done. It would be the last time the children would have to play with Daniel.
"So Shamda. Do you use the naughty tent for all your children or did you start it all in Daniel's honor?" Jack asked.
Shamda couldn't help but laugh. "As you must know, Arrom can be a handful and quite a challenge. He touches things without thinking about the consequences and he wanders off. I have been tempted to use a leash but found the tent to be a more appropriate place for him to consider his action when he disobeys. So, yes, I guess we set it up in his honor."
Jack smiled brightly. "I can hear he hasn't changed much except from his mental state."
For the natives the feast ended to fast. Now it was time to tell Daniel what was going to happen. Shamda went with heavy heart to Daniel who still played with the other children.
"Arrom, O'Neill and I need to talk to you."
They went to Shamda's tent to talk in private. Dr's Fraiser and Wells waited close by in case they were needed.
Daniel looked worriedly at Shamda, and whispered, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, son, we needed the privacy to talk to you that is all. Jack and his people are here to take you back to Earth, the planet of your birth. You belong with your family.
"No!" Daniel yelled eyes wide in distress. "You are my family, Shamda. I don't know them. Please, don't make me go with them. I want to stay here."
"You cannot remember them at the moment Arrom, but they are your family. Jack is your friend and he wants to protect and to take care of you."
Tears started to flow freely down Daniel's cheeks. "You don't want me anymore. You hate me. What did I do wrong? I promise I'll behave and do anything you tell me, but please let me stay."
Shamda's heart was breaking. Reining in his emotions he put a comforting arm around Daniel's shoulders. "Arrom, I have been privileged to have you in my life. You are a son to me in every way, but sadly, O'Neill and his people are your true family. You did nothing wrong but I want you to give O'Neill a chance. In time I am sure you will look up to him as a brother, maybe even a father."
"We all care about you, Daniel," Jack pleaded, arms wide. "The team hasn't been the same since you left. If you come back with us we can show you who you were."
Daniel looked from Shamda to Jack, his sadness quickly morphing into anger. "No!" He shouted and stormed out of the tent.
Jack and Shamda followed Daniel at a distance, but Shamda pulled Jack up short when he realized Daniel was heading for the naughty tent. "Let Arrom digest what he has just been told. He quite often uses the tent as a place of solitude to think when he is angry."
"You mean Daniel willingly goes to the tent without being told?" Jack asked disbelievingly.
"Yes, O'Neill. The tent is not only for when he has misbehaved, but when he is seeking solace."
oOo
The evening slowly slid by but Daniel showed no signs of leaving the tent. When the hour grew late, Jack and Shamda decided enough was enough and went to talk to him again.
Throwing back the tent flap they found the room empty.
A quick search of the village revealed no sign of the wayward, recently descended archaeologist. Rallying the villages, a search party was hastily thrown together to search the man out. Everyone silently hoping they would find him safe and sound.
TBC
