Disclaimer: Any characters you recognize do not belong to the authors. Some of the ideas were inspired by Xanthia Morgan's wonderful fic, Brother of My Soul.

Archiving: Please ask first!

A/N: This story is coauthored by Rina and Shade—we hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much to everyone who posts reviews. Feedback is greatly appreciated.

If you go to my profile, you will be able to read all of the stories together, along with seeing some artwork and joining a Med-jai Chronicles community! We currently have 14 stories of the Med-jai Chronicles done, and more are coming all the time, but most of them are not edited.

Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 9

Since the environment was so foreign, it took Rick a while to go to sleep, added to which his mind was racing from the day's events. Through his dreams played strange images of the stargate and the events that led him here and then the image of himself, Ardeth and SG-1 on this small strange ship. With Jack sitting at the helm, Rick and Ardeth were heading home, though how, he was not sure. When he woke up, it was still very dark and it took him a while to realize that he was still at Stargate Command. He sat up, stretching slowly and yawning.

Ardeth was still asleep, curled up under the covers, one hand reaching towards Rick. He had been resting his hand on Rick's forehead, like usual, but hadn't woken up when the older boy moved.

Rick looked over at Ardeth a little concerned but also taking into account that he had been through a lot the day before. Still, he searched the connection between them trying to assess how his brother was physically.

Sensing the contact through their bond, Ardeth stirred a little, enough to realize that he wasn't touching Rick. Nearly panicking, the boy sat up and looked around, only to sigh in relief when he found Rick still in the room and not injured.

Rick realizing what happened drew back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's all right. This is becoming a bad habit for me—you're waking up before me a lot recently," Ardeth said, around a yawn.

"That's why I was worried," Rick confessed.

"I think it's just because I drained my reserves by doing so much magic. Once I have a chance to recover, I'll be back to normal." Ardeth promised, rubbing his eyes.

"Okay," Rick said, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. "I can let you sleep longer if you need."

"No, I'm awake now, mostly." The younger boy slid out of the bed, and made his way into the bathroom. "I wonder if there's any way to get our clothes cleaned while we're here. It's nasty to stay in the same clothing for a while."

Rick chuckled, "I'm sure they could get us some extra clothes but I'm not sure if it'll fit us." He walked to the door and asked the guards if they could have a change of clothes and one of them ran off to fetch them. He was back in a few minutes with a pair of uniforms. Rick thanked him and brought the clothes into the room.

Ardeth held the pants to his waist, and laughed as he saw how long they were. "Well, at least they're clean." He slipped into the bathroom to figure out how to work the base shower and not scald himself.

After Ardeth was done showering, Rick took his turn. Afterward he tried to put on the uniform. Finally getting fed up with how uncooperative it was being, Rick took his suspenders from his pair of pants and attached them to the camo pair. Now that he wasn't fighting with them anymore he slipped into the jacket which swallowed him whole but wouldn't be as hard to keep on.

Ardeth was wearing the pants and shirt from the uniform, and had both rolled up a lot. He hadn't even tried the jacket on. He turned when he heard the door, and started snickering as soon as he saw Rick.

Rick shook his head. "Sure, go on, laugh. You know you look pretty silly too," he said as he placed his old clothes on top of his bed.

"I am quite aware of it. But I intend to make full use of my robes." To prove his words, the younger boy grabbed the black garment and slid it on, closing it completely for once, so that all that could be seen of the ill-fitting clothing was a sleeve that had come unrolled.

Rick stuck his tongue out at Ardeth for a moment, then sighed in resignation. "You're right, I should have let Jamilia make those Med-jai robes for me. He looked down at himself. I think they gave me Teal'c's spare uniforms."

"I wonder whose spare clothing I got. This is just ridiculous! It will be nearly impossible to have a proper duel in this." With a sigh, the boy pushed the sleeve of his shirt up. "Come on, let's see if we can find our way back to where they have the food."

Rick eagerly agreed with that, even though he was certain that he would get more than a few stares.

Ardeth opened the door and gave the guards his best pleading expression. "Which way is it to the food?"

"Follow us," the guards said as they began to lead the boys through the maze of tunnels towards the mess hall. Rick tried to keep Ardeth between him and people that passed them in the hall as best as possible all the way there.

"These passageways are almost worse than the tunnel network at Hamunaptra!" Ardeth whispered to Rick, doing his best to memorize the path they took.

"Yeah, and it doesn't help the all the hallways look the same," O'Connell agreed. Once they reached the mess hall, Rick had to abandon his position hiding behind his brother and get in line at the buffet. Once he had loaded up on the breakfast food, he moved to sit at one of the tables. He held in a groan when he noticed all the faces looking in his direction.

Ardeth paused next to him, and raised an eyebrow at the people staring at them, fixing them with his best regal stare. It worked—the people, embarrassed, turned back to their own food. "Come, brother—there's an empty table over there."

"Thanks," Rick whispered having seen his brother's influence on his behalf. Once he sat down, he looked over at Ardeth who sat across for him. "Well, from all the books that we looked through yesterday there isn't any reference, that I found at least, to Hamunaptra except as a legend or a myth," He said in a low tone that only the prince could hear. "I think it's safe to say that its existence has successfully been kept a secret and that our pal hasn't been awakened."

"That is a fairly safe assumption—and a wonderful one. Well, I suggest that we learn our way around here as best as possible, in case we're going to be here for a while. I want to look through the rest of the books from the Museum later, in case there's something we can use."

"I'll save a muffin and we can leave a trail of bread crumbs," Rick joked. "And we should see if we can talk to Sam today. From what Jonas said while you were out yesterday, she's the one in charge of trying to find a way to get us home. From what they said back at the infirmary, they indicated that they have traveled through time on multiple occasions. Now, it hardly seems possible that they could have done this so many times and make it back purely by accident, don't you think?"

The younger boy nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, we will definitely have to talk to her. There may be some way that we know about through our powers that they don't have available to them."

"But after breakfast you and I have an appointment on the dueling floor for your lesson in humility," Rick said as he eyed Ardeth challengingly, even though he knew he could still take Rick any day when it came to a battle with scimitars. He didn't mind either. Ardeth had been teaching him a lot over the past month. Then he looked down at his uniform. "Though I think we may have to ask if they can find a smaller size for both of us though, or we might end up impaling ourselves."

Ardeth laughed. "Yes, it will be rather difficult to work on your form if I can't see your limbs at all!" He poked cautiously at the bowl of jello on his tray, watching as it jiggled. "Do you think this stuff is really food?"

"I'm not sure," Rick said holding up a spoon of his own. Finally working up the courage, he shrugged and stuck half a bite in his mouth. "It tastes good, very sweet. The texture's kind of odd, but over all I'd say not bad." It definitely beat a meal at the orphanage, of that Rick was certain.

Shaking his head, the younger boy pushed it away. "I don't want to chance it. It reminds me too much of a few of my cousins' earliest attempts at cooking. Especially the green color."

Rick shrugged and moved Ardeth's serving to his own tray of food.

"Mind if we join you?" Jack's voice sounded behind them. They looked over and Teal'c and Jack were standing by their table with their breakfast trays.

"Of course," Ardeth scooted gestured the men to the two empty chairs. "Good morning," he said politely, as the adults sat down. One of the sleeves had come unrolled again, and he scowled as he wiped off the butter it had dragged in and rolled it again.

Jack was looking at the boys his usual bemused expression in place. "It might just be me, but I'm not sure that the uniforms fit."

Rick gave him a withering glare. "Well, we didn't think you'd appreciate us waiting until our own clothes are ripe for us to change.

"Oh, no, I applaud that decision," Jack assured him.

"Do we not have a few uniforms left over from the time we found your younger clone on the base?" Teal'c offered.

"Yes, I'm sure we could drag some of those out for you two." Jack said nodding.

"It would be very good to have some clothing that is clean and fits a little better. As it is, it will be difficult for Rick to provide me any challenge at all later during his scimitar lessons."

Rick shook his head in amusement. "Oh I'll provide a challenge. I'll just pull out my guns," he teased.

"And I'll just knock them out of your hands, like I do every time you try that trick," Ardeth told him, and decided that fruit loops did not really taste that great.

Rick shook his head, still amazed at his brother's skill. Even against a weapon that usually gave the greater advantage, he always seemed to find a way to tip the scales in his favor. Rick had been shocked the first time he had done this, and it had become somewhat of an inside joke between them. Then he turned to Jack and Teal'c. "By the way, I think we need to get your permission so we can get our scimitars back so we can practice after breakfast."

"Yeah, sure." Jack said nodding. "T, do you think you could bring their scimi-whatchamawhosits from the armory for them after breakfast?"

Teal'c paused in his stead eating to nod. "I will take care of it, O'Neill." The man said, then turned back to his food. Both boys watched the Jaffa eat with ill-disguised awe.

Jack looked back and forth between them and Teal'c. "Going off-world, or even back in time, builds up a big appetite," he said, assuming they were staring because of how much food he had on his tray.

"I think you would definitely win at the food-eating contest at the celebration each year." Ardeth told Teal'c, trying not to smile. "Father usually wins, but I am certain that you would be able to beat him."

Teal'c smiled. "The metabolism of a Jaffa requires a great amount of nourishment to sustain it."

Rick's eyebrows raised. From the mountain of fruits and breakfast foods, he would have thought it possibly to feed a unit of Med-jai soldiers on what to Teal'c was one meal.

Finally finding a bagel on his own tray, Ardeth ate that, relieved to have something relatively normal to eat. "Is there a trick for learning the way around here?" Ardeth asked, glancing around the room at all of the uniformed personnel.

Jack shrugged, "It takes a while to get used to how to get around this place. I had to study the blueprints a few times."

"Is there a version of those that we could see? That would help a great deal." The boy asked, leaning back in his chair to watch everything that was going on.

Jack thought about it for a second, then nodded. "I'll have Carter pull one up for you, though a good portion of the rooms will not be identified. We'll talk to Hammond, and if you get granted more access, we'll update them for you with the new areas you're allowed to visit."

Ardeth nodded. "That would be fine. Just so long as we have some idea of where to go. Are you done eating yet, Rick? I'm eager to get in a few rounds."

"Almost," Rick said. He turned to Jack a sly smile on his face, "Ardeth and I were wondering if you could help us with something,"

Jack eyed both boys warily. "What sort of thing?" the colonel asked, unable to repress his own smirk.

"We've been trying to come up with ideas for pranks we could play on the other people around here, but we're not exactly sure what would be the limits we should set on it to make sure we don't cause to big of a hassle for your people to run this place. And with the difference in technology, we don't want to do anything to put anyone in danger," Rick's smile broadened, "So we were looking to find some inside help."

Jack's eyes lit up and he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his hands together. "Well, boys, I would be happy to help you out with this matter. However, I think we should discuss it in a more private setting. Stop by my office later."

Rick shook his hand on it and started to finish up the last of his eggs. In between bites he began to ask Teal'c about Jaffa training, wondering if it was as intense as Med-jai training.

Also listening carefully, the young prince was comparing what Teal'c said with what he knew. He asked several questions, surprising the adults with what he knew.

Rick listened to the details and found he could picture Teal'c very well as a Med-jai warrior. A good deal of the phases of training sounded similar to the stages that Ardeth had told him about when he had started out.

"When exactly do you begin your primary weapon training? Before or after basic hand to hand?" Ardeth asked, completely immersed in the discussion now.

"We start out with hand-to-hand," Teal'c explained. "There may come a time in a warrior's life when no weapon will be available for him to defend himself with. Also, as children we are trained to believe that the weapon is merely an extension of our bodies, and that there should be no enemy that you could oppose with the weapon that you could not defeat without it. It is for this reason that it is essential that our soldiers master hand-to-hand with various opponents before he is given a weapon to train with."

"Yes, that is also how the Med-jai train. Often, a child does not even hold a stick sword until after they have completed the first three levels of training in hand-to-hand combat." The boy considered Teal'c for a moment. "I would be honored if sometime during our stay here, you and I could spar."

"The honor would be mine," Teal'c replied as inclined his head in respect to Ardeth. By this time Rick had finished up his eggs and took care of his and Ardeth's trays as he had seen Daniel do the day before.

Ardeth turned to Jack, who had just finished his fruit loops. "Clothes that fit?" the boy asked hopefully, trying not to snicker when he saw Rick's pant leg unroll and nearly trip him.

Jack nodded as he stood. "I'll bring them to your room." And with that he took care of his tray and left to find one of the base's many storage rooms. Rick sat down incredibly embarrassed but he didn't let it show on his face, trying to maintain his dignity.

"Come on, my brother. Let's get back to the room before our clothing succeeds where the temple guards and creatures have failed, and kills us."

Rick chuckled and stood nodding to Teal'c as he rose. "Thanks for sitting with us," he said. It set them more at ease in this strange place to be with people they knew.

Teal'c inclined his head. "It was my pleasure. I will meet the two of you in the training salle in two hours with your weapons."

"Thank you," Rick said with a smile. "We'll see you there." He turned to Ardeth as they headed out the door. And now we try to find our way back to our room. I think it was this way," he said, turning to the left at the junction.

"My friend, we must work on your mapping abilities. We turned left when we came in here, therefore in retracing our steps, we must go right."

"Okay," Rick fell into step beside Ardeth. He had been around places like Hamunaptra a lot longer than Rick had and those places were next to impossible for Rick to figure out. So he knew that Ardeth would remember better than he did.

It helped them to find their room since there was a new pair of guards waiting there to take over duty from the two that were following the boys.

It was both amusing and sent a chill down Rick's spine at the same time, but he held his composure as they walked into their room. Rick sat down on his bed as they waited for Jack to show up with the smaller uniforms.

As soon as the door was closed, Ardeth stripped off his robe and the shirt, and threw them onto the bed. Their dirty clothes had been taken, presumably to be cleaned.

Rick tossed his shirt to the foot of the bed glad to be out of the glorified tent. He walked over to the table and began to look again through one of the books that Dr. Jackson had left them the day before. After a few minutes there was a knock on the door.

The younger boy pulled his robe on and answered the door. Jack was there, holding a pile of clothing. "Thank you!" Ardeth snatched the clothing, very eager to have an outfit that was actually his size.

"You're welcome," Jack replied. "I have to go talk to Carter and then I have to talk to Hammond. Come by my office after you guys and Teal'c are done with your little sparring match. I already have a list on Daniel and Jonas, even got a few on T."

"Excellent. We'll be by sometime today," Ardeth promised, and closed the door, tossing Rick the slightly larger size clothing.

"Yes!" Rick said with a grin as he held the clothes up against himself. "Much better." He slipped out of the old clothes and into the new pair. It was almost a perfect fit. The sleeves on the jacket were a little long but the elastic in the cuffs kept them from sliding over his wrists. Sighing, he sat down in the chair at the table. "I feel better now."

Ardeth also changed, but only into the pants and the shirt. They were a little big on him, but not anywhere near as bad as the previous outfit. "This I can work with!" he declared, rolling the sleeves so that they wouldn't be in the way.

"Not bad. They look good on you." Rick was surprised actually how well the camo seemed to suit him. After all he had never seen his brother in anything but his Med-jai robes. "So, shall we head down to the training room?"

"Let's. I like your outfit—this style is much more appealing now that it actually fits us." Ardeth led the way out, and the guards did a double take when they saw the boys wearing clothing that fit.

Rick had to hold in his laughter at their surprised expressions. "Do you remember the way to the training room?" Rick asked Ardeth.

"I think so." Ardeth shrugged a little. "I'm sure if we get lost we can find someone to ask directions from," he said, trying not to smile. Since they would have two guards following them all the time, they definitely would have someone to ask.

.