Rayna, Daniel and Vala were sitting around the worktable pouring over photographs from the Well of History.

"I'm sorry that we haven't gotten anywhere Rayna. We're not giving up. I just think we need to figure out a way to approach this from another angle."

"Daniel, I understand. Other students of our planet, like me, have been trying to make sense of this for many years. Some gave up in frustration, some died without giving up and I fear that some were driven crazy."

"Well, I can relate to that! I'm a little into Crazy Land on my best days. This just might push me into the abyss."

Daniel kissed Vala, saying. "Crazy looks good on you."

"What about Rose? Did she think she could help? They have a pretty comprehensive research database covering clothing designs, material, sewing methods, etc. Perhaps that type of information, that often reflects different aspects of cultures, will provide some context for our work. She hoped to come up with a search algorithm or two based on your knowledge. Maybe the results could help us work out a time line."

"Rose and her crew are working on it, Vala. I worked with Marta for over two hours, she says she'll get back to me, but for now she needs time to process what I gave her. There is a lot of information in the database but working out a search strategy is difficult, it is an art not a science. I do think they'll be able to help but, as is it is with much research, when results will be produced is unpredictable."

"Vala and I are really stuck on coming up with some sort of timeline. Dating is difficult enough on Earth but on other worlds it's almost impossible. We're used to using tools such as carbon dating for items that were at once point carbon based life forms or thermoluminescence for crystalline materials. Our physicists work constantly on determining off-world radiation doses, rates of decay, etc. But even when we don't know the physical age of items we can ususally work out some sort of order, which came first, what was in between etc. We are able to make a guess at the relationships between artifacts, writing, language, technology."

"Daniel, I think that we need to take a rest. It's close to the time when we're to meet for dinner. Teal'c should be here soon."

"Food! What a great idea. I'll give Teal'c a call and tell him you're ready. I'll go by the Commissary and say hi to my friends, while you and Daniel freshen up, then I'll track down the rest of the guys."

"Saying hi to her friends means having a pre-dinner dinner."

Vala ignored Daniel's aside and called Teal'c.

"Teal'c'll be here in a flash he's in the gym with Mitchell. He'll talk to Sam while Teal'c takes Rayna to her room and we'll meet here in an hour. See you guys." Vala was almost out the door as she waved good-bye.

Daniefl and Rayna both stood up and stretched. "Does she ever run out of energy?"

"Ask Teal'c to tell you about the Energizer Bunny."

While they waited on Teal'c, Rayna and Daniel talked about the return to her planet. They were going back the next morning and both were excited about digging through the Well of History. Vala had decided to, as she put it, forego the magic of Planet van Trapp. She wanted to go back over her original inventory with Marta and bounce ideas off each other. There was a knock on the door jamb and Teal'c came into the room. He smiled and nodded at Rayna. Daniel tried to pay close attention to how often Teal'c smiled at her and if there was any major chnages in his demeanor. Both Vala and Sam had given him strict instructions, he was to report back any and all details that he observed. Normaly he would have refused or ignored such an asinine request, but Vala and Sam together were too scary. He was too much of a coward to even think about crossing them. His first thought was that Vala was a bad influence on Sam but there was something about the expression on Sam's face as she explained their demands that convinced him think that Vala was actually innocent this time. There was too much of Jack in that look not to make him incredibly nervous. And afraid, very afraid.

"I'm going back to our room and we'll meet you here in an hour." Daniel never noticed the eyebrow Teal'c raised when Daniel said 'our room.'

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There was a tray with an empty plate and glass on the desk, a half eaten bag of barbeque potato chips on the bed and two Hershey bar wrappers in the wastebasket. The shower was running and Daniel started to strip off his clothes while he walked towards the bathroom. As he pulled back the shower curtain, Vala turned towards him saying. "Okay, Daniel. What's up with you and showers? Do you have some sort of running water fixation?"

"It's more efficient, you already have your clothes off. The water is immaterial." As if to prove his point Daniel picked her up and carried her into the room, he was about to drop her on the bed when she yelled at him. "Daniel, I'm soaking. At least go get a towel and help me dry off." He hoisted Vala up over his shoulder and went back into the bathroom grabbed three towels and returned to the bed. He spread one towel on top of the bedspread, wrapped another one around her head in an attempt at a turban trying to capture all of her wet hair, stood Vala on the bed on top of the towel and proceeded to use the third towel to dry off the rest of her. Soon all three towels were in a damp heap on the floor and the two of them were in their own damp heap on the bed.

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Damp and out of breath Daniel and Vala raced through the hall towards Daniel's office almost sliding around the corner they tumbled through the doorway.

Daniel asked. "No one's here. We're the first ones?"

Vala jumped up onto the work table after shoving aside two large books, three file folders and a laptop. She pulled her legs into a Lotus position. Vala had started taking Yoga lessons offered at SGC. One of the new martial arts trainers had worked at a spa in another life. She was planning to convince Teal'c into joining the class. Vala thought that he might be interested in the meditation techniques especially one the teacher called 'steady gazing'. The description made it sound like Teal'c's usual behavior and had made her laugh when she imagined Teal'c listening to the teacher's description. She was trying to remember how to hold her hands once she had them resting on her knees palms up when Daniel said her name in an aggravated tone.

"Vala! I noticed that all the stuff you moved was mine. You could've pushed your laptop and files to the side just as easily. It's almost as if you think your work's more important than mine." He kept the scowl on his face for at least ten seconds before laughing.

Vala stuck her tongue out at him, closed her eyes keeping her tongue out while she tried to remember her Mantra. Daniel contemplated pushing a folder of her photographs off the table on to the floor and sitting next to her. Fortunately he was saved from what could've been a very dangerous move when Mitchell came in.

"Hi guys." Seeing Vala on the table he said. "Very flexible, Vala. I'm impressed." As he complimented her Mitchell looked at Daniel as if he expected him to make a comment.

"Sam, did either of you talk the General into letting us out for an evening?"

"Well Vala, Mitchell made the proposal but I cinched the deal." Sam smiled at Mitchell.

"Okay, maybe asking to go to the biker bar on the highway south of town wasn't the best suggestion. But it did make your idea sound more reasonable. He ended up arguing about where we could go and forgot about the whole question of our even going anywhere." Mitchell looked very satisfied with himself.

Vala opened her eyes and said "Did I hear 'biker bar'?" In her excitement she started to topple over until Sam pushed her shoulder to level her body.

Teal'c and Rayna walked in and Rayna asked what a 'biker bar' was. Vala explained to here that it was usually easier to hold off on your questions about Tau'ri culture and language until you had at least five, it was easier in the long run. Vala assured her if it was something she needed to know at that exact moment one of them would help her out.

"So Sam, where are we going?"

"Not really anywhere I'm afraid. The General was worried that if we went out to eat in public that our conversation might be overheard. And for some reason he feels we might have some compromising conversations, especially having added another 'space babe' to the group. That's Mitchell translation of another off world visitor with no previous exposure to Earth society."

Vala uncrossed her legs asking. "So what's the plan?" She smiled and said to Rayna. "Space babe. Question number two, after biker bar."

"If its okay with you guys Landry agreed to a class trip to the supermarket, Blockbuster and then back to my house. I realize it's the same old, same old to us, but nicer for Rayna then eating in the Commissary. What'd you think?"

Vala looked disappointed but quickly smiled at Rayna. Before she could say anything Rayna spoke up.

"Except for the 'blockbuster' I think I understand your proposal. I would be pleased to spend an evening with you in this manner. Preparing a meal together is an excellent way to develop friendships."

Mitchell broke in. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Let's get to the important part, the food. Right, Vala?"

"Absolutely. Let's make a menu." She unfolded her legs and reached for a pen and a piece of paper. Daniel handed her a blank tablet, taking the notes of his latest translations out of her hand. "We should each volunteer to make a dish. Sam, why don't you buy ice cream? Chocolate of some kind I think."

Daniel said. "That wasn't very subtle, Vala."

Sam laughed. "I know my limitations. That's sounds good to me."

"Okay. Move along. Time's a wasting." Mitchell and Vala were now fighting for possession of the paper and pen.

"I think that Rayna's people do not eat the flesh of animals."

Rayna put her hand on Teal'c's arm. "I'm really quite willing to undergo new and different experiences. Daniel, don't you feel that students should immerse themselves in a culture in order to better understand it?"

Sam and Vala exchanged looks when Rayna smiled up at Teal'c and said 'new and different experiences.'

Daniel looked confused. "Sure, I guess so." realizing that no one was going to help him out. "Why don't we go to the store and see what catches our fancy?" He took Vala by both arms and pulled her gently down to the floor. Vala mouthed 'catches our fancy' to Mitchell who shrugged his shoulders. The group followed Daniel out of the room and headed towards the elevator. Rayna was still wearing her jeans and had borrowed a tee shirt from Sam. The rest of them, including Teal'c, were also wearing jeans and tee shirts. Teal'c had on a straw cowboy hat, having explained to Rayna the need to cover his forehead.