Berag frowned, annoyed at the interruption – and confused by what Fisai had said – but the young man ignored his grandfather in his surprise.

"You carry the knowledge of the Ancients," he repeated, numbly. "That's why you're not afraid of being stranded here."

"What do you mean?" Berag snapped, drawing his grandson's attention from Ian. "The knowledge of the Ancients?"

Fisai hesitated, thinking, and then shrugged.

"All I know is that he knows what the Ancient ones did – somehow."

"You read his mind?"

"It's probably the first thing on Ian's mind," Daniel suggested. "Or maybe the strongest image… maybe that's why you managed to remember something."

Something besides swear words, that was.

Ian scowled at the thought of anyone being inside his head – even someone who'd healed his knee. Of course, Alexander and Dotty had both been there – and another woman once in a dream that he barely remembered – but that was different. He at least knew Dotty and Alexander.

Berag turned his attention from Fisai to Ian.

"Is this true?"

"Yeah."

There was no reason to hide it, after all. He'd already warned the old coot that he wouldn't be able to keep from leaving – might as well let him know why.

"You're Ancient?"

Ian shook his head.

"No."

"Then how do you carry the-"

"Just trust me on this one," Ian interrupted. "I do."

"We're not here to cause trouble," Daniel reminded Berag, quickly. "We just wanted to-"

"Do you carry this knowledge as well?" Berag asked, interrupting.

Daniel faltered, and shook his head.

"No."

"Jack?"

O'Neill shook his head, one hand resting lightly on Jaffer's shoulder since the big black lab was clearly getting vibes from the people around him and was starting to react with low growls and suspicious looks.

"Not anymore."

"But you did?"

"For a little while."

"And you gave this knowledge to Ian?"

Jack shook his head, amused but hiding it. He was pretty sure that between them they'd be able to escape from their hosts and get back home, but he didn't want to do anything to risk either his team, or any of the innocents that were watching the exchange so intently.

"No."

"I don't understand…"

"It was given to him," Fisai said. "But I don't know how."

"It's a long story," Daniel said. "But-"

"The storm is likely to last several hours," Fisai pointed out, just as interested in hearing the explanation.

Ian scowled, but Jack stepped forward.

"And if we tell it to you, you'll let us go?"

Now it was Berag's turn to frown, but he hadn't missed all the weapons that the team carried, nor had he missed the way that the two dogs were tensing up and watching them so intently. He didn't know exactly what to make of the looks, but he did recognize there was a danger involved – much the same way a young fawn could instinctively recognize the danger posed to it by a passing hunting cat or other such creature. He, too, was worried about the innocent people around them – and the havoc the dogs (not to mention the Jaffa) could create.

"Perhaps."

Jack had a feeling, though, that that 'perhaps' was a lot more of a yes than it might have been under other circumstances. He wasn't all that comfortable with telling a bunch of complete strangers too much about themselves, but none of the story had anything to do with Earth – or gave out any information about his people. Except for Ian, of course – which was enough to make him hesitate.

"I don't think so."

Ian looked surprised, but no more so than Berag, who renewed his frown for a moment and then seemed to realize something and lost the annoyed look once more.

"You're worried we will learn too much about you…?"

Jack shook his head.

"Let's just say I'm worried more about what you do with what you learn. I'll tell you this much, though. The Ancients left these things called repositories of-"

"Knowledge," Berag finished. "Yes, we know of them – although the Ancients themselves called them by another name. You used one of these to gain the knowledge?"

"Not on purpose."

The old man smiled.

"I'll bet. From our histories, it is not a pleasant sensation."

"Your histories?" Daniel echoed.

Berag nodded.

"We know of such – although we have no interest in seeking them out and regaining what we lost."

Now it was Daniel's turn to frown.

"What do you mean? I thought you said you weren't Ancients."

"We are not."

"But-"

"There were other races allied with the Ancients of the past, Daniel. My people are descended from one of them."

"Which ones?" Daniel asked, intrigued.

Now it was Berag's turn to hesitate – and for the same reason Jack had. Too much information to strangers wasn't necessarily a safe idea.

"I will not tell you."

Jack looked over at Ian. He had some knowledge of these people in his head, after all. Maybe he knew. Ian caught his gaze, and hesitated, probably checking that incredible memory of his to see what he could find out from what he'd learned of Fisai.

Berag frowned, having already forgotten about the fact that the youngest member of the group had already proven he knew about them. Fisai looked chagrined, and dropped his gaze to his feet, but Ian finally shrugged.

"I'm not sure…"

The old man lost his frown, and indeed, smiled – although it was slightly relieved. And it turned out just a little premature.

"I think the Furlings," Ian said. "But not exactly."

OOOOOOOOO

A knock on the door drew Nathan's attention from the view below him. He turned.

"Enter."

Doctor Janet Fraiser walked into the commanding General's office, and closed the door behind her.

"You wanted to see me, General?"

Nate nodded, and took one last look down at the embarkation room before walking over to his desk, gesturing to the chair across from it.

"Have a seat, please, Doctor."

"Thank you."

He pulled a sheet of paper from his in-box.

"It's about your leave request."

Janet smiled.

"I thought it might be, sir."

"You do understand that people are going to realize when you don't show up for work for a week…?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then I don't understand the request…"

"We – I mean, I – don't want everyone to know I'm taking the time off, sir. I realize they'll know I'm not here, but I'm hoping that by then it'll be too late for them to… um…"

"To follow you?" Nate asked, slyly.

Janet blushed, but couldn't help the smile that flitted across her expression.

"Yes, sir."

Nathan leaned back into his chair, amused. He loved being smart – and even Ian for all his genius probably wouldn't have figured this one out. Maybe.

"Between you, me and the fence post," He asked, pointedly, "Where are you going to go?"

"I have a sister who lives near Carson City."

"And do Jack and the others know about this sister?"

She nodded.

"Sam does. I'm hoping she doesn't realize it, though, until after the fact."

Nate snorted.

"They're not going to be happy with you, you know?"

She shrugged.

"I'll make it up to them. Does this mean I get my request granted, sir?"

He nodded, grinning, and signed his name at the bottom of her leave request.

"Of course. Far be it for me to stand in between a couple of love sick kids."

Now she looked relieved.

"Thank you, sir."