Jack, Robert, and Teal'c were looking all over the marketplace filled with weapons, Armour, and various trade ware. A lot of it reminded Jack of a flea market. There may be something worthwhile every couple of stalls. They weren't looking for anything in particular, and Teal'c was pointing out objects he'd seen before. A man in a stall called out to them.
"You are new here." He claimed.
"Yes, your gatekeeper had told us that this clothing might be worth trade," Jack stated.
The man eyed the pieces.
"The gatekeepers grow old, and do not come to the market near enough, this is good quality, but we have higher-end goods now, I'm not sure what I can do with this." The man stated.
"Well, okay then…" Jack claimed and pulled the jacket away from the man.
"Well, since you're new here, I'll let you in on a deal.
"if you trade me all of what you have, I will let you have any 1 item in my stall.
Jack wasn't sure if he should bite or not.
"O'Neill, I believe this may be of value at home," Teal'c mentioned.
It was a set of crystals.
"Are these rare on your home planet?" The man asked.
"Not rare," Jack claimed.
"These Crystals are used in a lot of things back home. It's always good to have backups," Jack claimed.
"Very well, then do we have a deal?" The man asked.
"Yes," Jack stated.
"Look around, see what you can find, come back soon." The man stated.
The men did look for any strange or unusual objects. Some of the items the men were unsure of, and now they had nothing to trade, market vendors were unwilling to show what their objects did without anything to barter.
The men didn't see anyone for trade, so they took that as a good sign. They had made it back around to the entrance and headed back towards the gate. Jack didn't want to trade here ever again, but knowing the military, he had a feeling this may be a regular pit stop to see if there was some valuable weapon, although nothing stuck out in his mind that would be worth it.
Harati is there to greet them at the gate keeps home.
"So, did you find anything?" He asked.
"We did indeed," Teal'c explained.
"Good, so that you will help?" Harati asked.
"We were always going to help," Jack stated.
Harati let out a breath he had been holding.
"Thank you! Thank you!." He smiled.
The group of four walks back to where the rest of their team was trying to communicate with. Jack saw Sam with the girls, and his heart broke for them. Although he could tell the gatekeepers had tried to keep them clean, the dust still had a fine layer attached to their skin. Their hair was semi brushed, but Lupali had a big knot in the back of her thick hair. The girls seemed to be showing Sam some kind of game, and her smiled was the brightest he could remember. Daniel had talked to the Unas and seemed to be getting through, in a way that was purely Daniel. He loved the man for it. He didn't care what any alien looked like. He just wanted to learn. He wished he had the same ambition. Michelle was also trying to communicate with the winged creatures and get answers for basic yes or no questions.
After the group of 6 quickly agreed to take them all back to the earth, they went there separate ways, explaining what was happening. Soon enough, everyone was jumbled together. Harati kept an eye out for wandering villagers. Sam gave Harati a box and explained how to dial Earth. She had asked for the coordinates to the planet that Sorek was from and any other information that he thought maybe useful.
"It may not be us who come through the gate, but they will be wearing the same outfits," Sam explained.
It has been 12 hours since they first walked through the gate. Michelle had learned how to communicate with the fairy-like creatures, and even though it was crude, she was figuring them out the best she could. Daniel was almost positive the Unas came from the home planet of P3X-888, and they would be able to dial them back to their homeworld. The other creatures, though, Michelle wasn't sure if they could communicate in a way to tell them their planet or way to get there.
Jack dialed the gate and went through first, telling them to wait a few moments before walking through.
Jack walked through.
"Hold your fire!" Jack claimed and put his hands up. General Hammond looked at him oddly and seen a group of Unas come through, then Daniel, then Sam with two young girls Robert, then Michelle with winged creatures flying around her, and then finally Teal'c.
"What the hell is this?" General Hammond asks.
"Unknowing rescue mission. We have a lot to discuss." Jack explained.
"Can we please get these Unas back to their homeworld?" Jack asked.
General Hammond nodded.
"Dial the Unas homeworld." General Hammond claimed.
A few seconds later, a wormhole was established.
"Well, that was the easy part," Jack stated.
Michelle had explained to the fairly like creatures where they were, and when she said Earth, they seemed very enthusiastic. Michelle wasn't sure what to do with them, nor did Jack or General Hammond. General Hammond agreed that they would hold off reporting on the new creatures as long as possible because someone would want to get their hands on them. The girls were sent to the infirmary, and Sam explained what they were doing.
The girl's clothes were filthy, and Janet had asked one of the nurses to find something for them until they could get proper garments, and Janet has the girls blankets to wrap up in. She did the usual workup taking blood. The girls were not happy by the end of it but, they were safe. Sam escorted the girls to one of the VIP rooms with a tub and helped them clean off.
An airman had knocked on the door and had given her two t-shirts.
"Do you think you can find me some scissors, a needle, and some thread Sam asked?
The man nodded and walked off. Sam put the two shirts over the girls.
"This isn't regular clothes, but they're going to have to make due for a little bit, alright," Sam stated.
The girls nodded.
Myalah's shirt just needed cut at the sleeves and a little at the bottom, making her a dress. Lupali was different. The smallest size was draping over her whole body, so she wrapped around her instead of tucking it in until the Airman came back with the needed supplies. After a little while, Lupali had a dress too. Sam had cut off pieces to make straps and sowed the shirt together for her dress.
Sam called Janet to see when or if any supplies were coming for the girls. Janet had stated someone was getting them proper clothing, some toys, and other things to keep too young children entertained a the SGC.
The phone rang a little while later. It was from Jack. "Briefing as soon as the airman comes for babysitting," Jack claimed
Sam smiled and simply said, "okay."
The briefing was an interesting one. All 6 have their own story to tell. It was long and drawn out, and General Hammond wondered how they were always in the middle of everything. After the 2.5 hour briefing, it was decided that Michelle would learn as much as she could from the beings even though there was a communication block and try their best to get them home.
The kids were discussed in-depth. It seems like they've given several refugees to several allies recently, and General Hammond wasn't sure who to call the favor to this time. General Hammond had seen Sam's face fall when he said he would make some calls. He hadn't read too much into it but wondered if there would be a knock on his door in a few days.
By the time they were done with the briefing, Sam was getting up to go check on the girls.
Jack had to run to catch up with her.
"Carter, you coming home tonight?" Jack asked.
Sam looked at him for a second.
"I don't know," she admitted.
"Hey, there are people to watch them sleep, I know you," Jack claimed.
Sam smiled.
"We're here bright and early tomorrow," Jack mentioned.
Sam looked at him.
"I'm going to at least say goodbye," Sam mentioned.
Jack joins her.
The kids are clean, and since the briefing, they were put in some real clothes, and an Airman is showing the girls crayons and coloring books. Sam smiled at the girls, slightly in awe.
"Are you hear to color with us?" Myalah asked.
"Maybe for a little bit," Sam claimed. Jack quickly sat next down the girls, picked up a book, and began to color the white page, and Sam grabbed another book and started to color as well. It was actually quite soothing, and she regularly would look at the girls, and they would smile at her. It made her heart melt. She is as glad the kids were enjoying this.
"So, you guys are going to stay here tonight, and there will be people to check-in and see if you need anything. If you're tired, you can sleep in the bed right there. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask." Sam claimed.
"Won't you stay with us?" Myalah asked.
"Sorry, sweetheart, not tonight," Sam claimed, biting her lip.
Jack gave her a look, and she knew she couldn't be up all night with the girls and come back to work after such a long day.
"I'll be here tomorrow," Sam claimed.
"and you?" Myalah asked Jack.
"You betcha!" He said.
Although Lupali didn't say much, she started to cry.
"It's okay," Sam stated.
The little girl reached out to Sam, and she closed the gap and lifted the little girl on her lap.
Sam was ready to cry herself. It had been that kind of day.
Sam was rubbing small circles on her back.
"It's an okay, sweetheart. I will be back tomorrow." Sam said.
"No, go," Lupali claimed.
Sam looked up at Jack.
He was struggling too.
Lupali slid down off Sam and over to Jack, looking for a hug as well. She wasn't crying anymore but was still upset.
"Why don't we lay down, and morning will come faster, and you'll see Sam and me sooner," Jack stated.
The little girl nodded her head.
"You sleepy?" he asked Myalah.
She nodded her head.
"Alright, why don't you come over here too," Jack claimed.
The little girl looked at Sam; she nodded.
Jack tucked both girls into the bed.
"How about a bedtime story," Jack claimed.
"What's that?" Myalah asked.
"Were you ever told made-up stories about beautiful princesses and magical lands, and prince charming?" Jack asked.
The girls were both wide-eyed and shook their head no.
"Alright, well, let me tell you about the princess and the pea," Jack stated.
Sam watched in awe as the man told the fairy-tale, and Sam snickered a few times at his storytelling skills. When he was done, the girls seemed more riled up than sleepy, but they laid their peacefully.
"Good night, girls, we'll see you tomorrow," Jack stated.
Sam smiled, and the two walked out the door.
"Come on, let's go home," Jack stated.
Sam's first phone call is to Janet that evening, asking if Cassie could come and talk to the girls thinking it may help them get more comfortable. Cassie quickly agrees and is excited to meet the girls. Sam is hopeful that Cassie can explain to them whats going on.
Sam and Jack lay wide awake that night, with thoughts of the two girls rescued from the planet. They both knew the other was awake, but they didn't dare the conversation because neither wanted to think the other had gone insane. Would it really be so bad if two little girls came into their life?
A/N: This is a short hold over for the next chapter. I can't thank you guys enough for the reviews. I find it strange I am coming to the end of this. I worked on it for months, and there are just 7 chapters left!
