Settling In

Sg-1 stepped from the shimmering blue event horizon and stood on the platform of the gate to P4X-754. Standing before them was a welcoming committee made up of seven excited children and twice as many smiling adults. As the team stepped down from the gate, they were surrounded by happy people welcoming them with open arms.

The children congregated around Sam, all talking at once and trying to outdo each other with their questions and stories of the last three months. Anya, the youngest of the children, ran straight to Sam, who bent down and scooped up the child. "How are you doing sweetheart?" she asked the little girl. She was anxious to hear from her as Anya had not talked until the very end of their journey almost three months ago. Anya was happily clutching the small stuffed bear the Sam had given her before they left Earth.

"I'm very good Major Sam. Papa and I have a nice home and we live right by Bryson, so I can play with him whenever I want!"

"That's wonderful Anya. I can't wait to see all of your homes," she smiled at the children. "I also brought along a special treat for all of you that we can share later, maybe after lunch."

"What is it Major Sam?" asked Bryson. He was wearing his SGC jacket and looked absolutely adorable in it.

"Why don't you ask Colonel O'Neill to give you some clues? He guessed what it was before we left." She looked over her shoulder at the Colonel. He frowned slightly at her but she knew it was all show; he loved children as much as she did and had grown fond of these seven in the short time that he gotten to know them.

The little boy walked over to Colonel O'Neill and looked up at him. Giving a grin which still showed several missing teeth he asked, "What did Major Sam bring us?"

Jack scrunched down so he was more on the level of this little boy. "Well Bryson, it's in that container that Major Sam is carrying. The container keeps it cold. Teal'c here really likes it, as do all of you." Teal'c raised an eyebrow at this comment.

"I know what it is!" shouted Bryson. "Ice Cream!"

The other children gave shouts of joy as well, for they had all come to love this treat found on the planet Earth. They were hoping to have the opportunity to make it themselves someday. The adults in the group smiled indulgently at the children, then Treyem clapped his hands for quiet from everyone. He had been appointed leader of the surviving group of Kortaulians.

"Children, let's give Major Carter and the rest of her team some space to breath. We are all excited that they have come to spend a few days with us. There will be plenty of time to share news and spend time together. Come, let us make our way to the village so we can show our friends how far our village has progressed since we first came here."

Teegan, who had spent quite a bit of time with Daniel when they were on Earth, sidled up to the archaeologist and took his hand as they walked to the village. He began immediately asking the older man questions about the Stargate and SG-1's latest travels. Bryson hung on to Jack's hand as they walked, swinging it back and forth as he chattered about animals that he had seen on his new planet. Sam was surrounded by the girls; Kiera, Jalia and Anya. The two older boys, Kellan and Josef, walked slightly behind Sam, listening to the girls as they watched Teal'c guide the supply wagon down the narrow path to the village. Like most boys, they were entranced with anything mechanical and talked with Teal'c as to how this machine worked.

The new village was about a click away from the Stargate. They wanted to be close to the gate for when the Tauri visited, but not too close. There was always the threat of an attack, even though the Goa'uld supposedly didn't know about this planet. There was a well-worn path leading to the village: it had been made recently due to the building materials and workers traversing its length. There were open fields along the way and Sam looked with amazement at the crops that were already growing tall in the fields. Trees hugged the edge of the fields, providing protection from the wind and shade for the people who worked in the fields.

"Treyem," Daniel asked during a break in Teegan's questioning. "Have you given your new village a different name or are you still calling it Kortaul?" He wanted to refer to their new home correctly when he spoke to the people.

"We have decided to call the village Kortaul as we will always be Kortaulians. However, we have re-named the planet. I hope I cause no offense, but it is hard to remember the Tauri letters and numbers assigned as a name. We have decided to call our new home RAYE ABBAS – in our ancient language, this means NEW WORLD. Is this acceptable to you?" He certainly didn't want to offend the people who had saved his citizens from the Goa'uld.

"Of course it is acceptable Treyem; this is your new home. You should call it what you wish," responded Daniel. He was eager to learn more of their ancient language when they had some time.

The walk seemed short as they continued to visit with each other. They rounded a bend in the path and came to a large clearing where the new village resided. There were ten small homes set in a large half circle around the edge of the clearing. Each home had a small garden plot on the side of the house for growing the family's vegetables. There was an oblong shaped building to the right of the last home. Treyem pointed it out to the visitors and informed them that this was the guest quarters, where they would spend the next two nights. In the center of the clearing was a much larger structure that was still under construction. Maresa, Treyem's wife, told them that it was the new meeting house. They were hoping to have it completed in a few weeks time. It was not as ornate as the one on their old planet but it was large and roomy and would fit the needs of the village.

All of SG-1 were greatly impressed on how much had been accomplished in the village in the short time that the people had been here. They were escorted on a tour of the village, stopping off at the guest cottage last. Treyem held the door open as they stepped inside. The cottage consisted of a large central living space, a small kitchen with wood cook stove, a bathroom with running water, and three spacious bedrooms. A team of SGC engineers had made the running water possible in the village. After they carried their personal gear into the cottage, the team members regrouped outside to meet with Treyem.

"Treyem, General Hammond would like a report on how things are going in the village. I'd like to sit down with you and discuss some things if you have the time," said Jack. He knew that Sam would want to spend more time with the children but felt they should get some of their duties done right away.

"Of course Colonel O'Neill. Why don't we go to my home? I can show you some of the plans that we have drawn up for further work on the village."

"Sounds good. Daniel, I'd like you to come with as well. Carter, I know you need to take some readings of your own. Why don't you do that now and we can meet up at 1200 hours to go over what we've learned. Teal'c, you stick with Carter."

His team members nodded their agreement to his orders. A few of the children wanted to accompany Sam as she set about taking readings of the soil and water, but Treyem sent them off to study with the village teacher. Even though they were a small group, the need to educate the children was still of great importance to the adults. Treyem promised the children they could eat lunch with SG-1 after work and studies were completed. Sam and Teal'c went back to the wagon to get her supplies and Jack and Daniel followed Treyem to his home.

[]

After going over the plans in Treyem's home and discussing the village in general, Daniel asked how the people were adjusting to the new planet.

"It has been harder for some than for others, but we are getting along fine Dr. Jackson," Treyem responded. "All contribute to the building of our new village and share with others their strengths to help us become a strong people once again." He looked down at the table and sighed loudly, "All except one man: Baryon, the father of Roan and Shayla who were taken by the Jaffa. He barely speaks to anyone and keeps to himself. He has helped with the building but tends to take off into the woods to spend time alone. I fear he is still grieving deeply for the loss of his family. Sometimes I worry there is more to it though."

"What do you mean?" questioned Jack.

"I can not state exactly what I mean but sometimes, there is a look of great anger in his eyes; hated even. Almost as if he wants to physically hurt someone. It is odd because Baryon was always a very gentle man, even after he lost his wife several years ago. I fear that he will never return to the man he once was," replied Treyem.

"Grief can do that to a person," Jack quietly stated. He could well remember how he had felt after the death of his son. Maybe he would take some time and talk to Baryon on his own. He could certainly understand the other man's feelings, but wanted to make sure that Baryon didn't take his anger and grief out on the people of Kortaul.

Outside, they heard the cries of the children welcoming Sam and Teal'c back from their work gathering samples. The three men smiled at each other and got up to go and meet them. Jack grinned to see his normally serious 2IC swinging Anya around in a circle and laughing at something Kellan was saying to her. She sure didn't resemble to intense scientist or the fierce warrior that her knew so well!

Maresa came out of the house with platters of bread and vegetables for their lunch. The children and Sg-1 sat on some benches and ate together, other members of the village coming over with their own lunches and eating with them. There was much talk and laughter as they all got reacquainted with each other.

One man with black hair and dark eyes walked along the back edge of the group, keeping his eyes to the ground as he made his way to the shade of Treyem's house. He sat with his back resting against the house, peering up occasionally through the long bangs that framed his face. He surreptitiously watched the blond woman as she talked and laughed with the children of the village. He caught the large black man glance at him and lowered his eyes to his food. When he felt no eyes upon him, he looked up again at the woman. Dark thoughts entered his mind as he stared at her. She was the reason he was alone here on this new planet. She had saved all the other children yet left his to die. She would pay for abandoning his children; somehow, he would see that she paid.

Sam looked around the crowd gathered with a smile on her face. She was so glad that things had worked out for these people. Granted, they had lost many villagers and three of their children but they seemed to be faring rather well and were eager to rebuild their lives. Her eyes caught those of a man sitting by himself against the wall of Treyem's home. Her breath caught in her throat at the look of pure hatred directed at her. A slight shiver ran through her body as she quickly glanced away.

Teal'c had caught the exchange between Sam and the man in the shadows. He felt a small shiver run through himself as well. Something was not right here. He felt confident that he would find out eventually. But in the meantime, he would keep a close eye on Major Carter.

TBC