Author: Rysler
Date: 10/22/04
Rating: PG
Category: Adventure, Romance
Pairing: Sam/Janet, First Time
Summary: During a routine off-world mission, Sam loses Janet in a bet with the locals.
Notes: Plotted by Dawnie. Beta reading by Dawnie and Paul.
Feedback or criticism, public or private, desired. If you spend five minutes reading the story, please spend five seconds telling me whether or not it was worth it.
Chapter 1
Two members of SG1 stood side by side on a mountain ledge on an alien planet, looking down at the range of hills below them. 400 kilometers to the west lay a Stargate, beyond snow and pine forests.
"Is it a bird? Is it a plane?" Jack peered through his binoculars. "Why, no, it's the truck returning from it's eight hour round trip."
Sam shaded her eyes and peered down the side of the mountain. "I don't see them."
"It's that moving black speck. Cockroach-sized. We'll be able to hear them in another fifteen minutes or so." Jack lowered the glasses.
"Should we make preparations?"
The Colonel glanced at Sam. "What preparations didn't we make in the last eight hours, for crying out loud?"
"Sir." Sam rolled her eyes. "We've been through this. For the last eight hours. Two trucks would be a waste of resources and add to the cultural contamination. Didn't you see 'The Gods Must Be Crazy'?"
"Why yes, Carter, I did." Jack scoffed.
"There you go. We don't want our trucks stolen, do we?"
He grumbled. "I suppose not."
Sam took the binoculars and watched the truck crawl slowly up the mountain.
"I'll go make preparations," Jack muttered.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jack lifted the flap of the tent and stepped through the opening. Warmth surrounded him, brushing away the cold of the outside. The snow on his boots began to melt and drip into the thick fur he was standing on. "Truck's almost here," he said.
A woman holding an infant in her arms looked up at Jack questioningly.
"Doc's on her way." Jack said to the woman, knowing she couldn't really understand him, as he tried not to look at the baby, it's small face split unnaturally near the nostrils, and moved over to where Daniel Jackson was lounging on a cot on the other side of the tent, covered by a bear-hide blanket. "Wake up, sleepy-head."
Daniel groaned and rolled over.
O'Neill poked him. Or rather, poked at the mound of blanket, eliciting a squeak. "Wake up, butt-monkey."
"Jack." Daniel groaned again, shifted, and opened one eye. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Oh, an hour." Jack grinned.
Daniel parted his lips and wet them. "Truck's here?" He rasped.
"Almost."
"Okay."
Jack waited.
Daniel grumbled. "I'll be right there."
"Right." Jack turned and made his way out of the tent. The cold, dry air immediately found him, and he cursed. He could hear the truck now, its engine straining against the steep incline of the herder path. Carter was nowhere to be found. He sighed, standing still, savoring the final moments of peace he had before it was time to give orders again.
The truck came into view, steered by Teal'c, with the four members of SG8 huddled together in the cab. The truck was open-topped, and Jack wagered they were cold, despite the 40 pounds of armament and supplies they each carried.
Doctor Janet Fraiser climbed out of the cab as soon as the truck stopped, and headed toward O'Neill.
"You look a little pale, Doc," Jack said cheerfully. "Cold?"
Janet glared at him.
"Scratch that." He furrowed his brow. "You look a little green."
"You said there was a...rash, sir?" Janet ignored his jibes. "And need for a dentist?"
Jamie Chen, D.D.S, came up beside Janet.
"Inside," Jack jerked his thumb behind him, toward the tent.
Chen stepped toward it, and stopped as Daniel Jackson threw open the flap. "Oh, Jamie. Come in." He disappeared again. Chen glanced at Fraiser, and then followed Daniel.
Jack clapped his hands together. "Right, the rash. They're in a cave. Follow me." He started off.
"Where's Sam?" Janet asked as she followed. "I'll probably need her help."
"Is my help not good enough?" Jack snorted.
"She's a bit less likely to tell the patients to suck it up and walk it off, sir," Janet replied apologetically.
"Fine." Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Carter!"
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sam Carter escorted Janet toward the mouth of the cave. Two other members of SG8 trailed them. "The rash has obviously been a problem with the Helicons for awhile, but we offered your services as part of our trade negotiations, and they took us up on it," Sam reported.
"Gee, thanks." Janet smiled.
Sam chuckled. "It looks like gangrene, and it's obviously debilitating, but it doesn't seem to be fatal."
"Sounds like a fungus of some sort," Janet said contemplatively.
Sam glanced at her. "You have theories already?"
"I read the preliminary reports on the ride." Janet confessed.
"Ah." Sam nodded. "No wonder you look so green."
"Sam."
"Do you want to stop at the bushes before we go into the cave and see the rotting flesh?"
"Sam!" Janet covered her mouth. "Maybe I should--" she mumbled, and darted toward the treeline.
"The Colonel owes me twenty bucks," Sam muttered, as she ran after her friend.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
The cave stank of body odor, excrement, and rotting flesh. Fraiser had been examining patients for several hours. Sam was assisting her, holding various instruments and recording the examinations with a digital video camera. The other two technicians formed another team.
Janet crooned to a patient and urged him to lie on his back. "Sam," she murmured, "Why don't they speak English?"
"Daniel theorizes that they're indigenous...Not brought through the Stargate from Earth." Sam answered. "So the Ancients or the Goa'uld or whoever didn't imprint. It's also possible the dominant race here speaks a different language. The aerial surveys showed several cities more advanced than this camp."
"And the dominant group didn't think to settle closer to the Stargate?" Janet grumbled, as she examined the rash on her patient's abdomen.
Sam grinned. "Guess they don't worship the chappa'ai."
"Godless heathens." Janet grumbled.
Sam laughed. She helped Janet heft a patient onto the slab they were using as an examining table. "I gotta wonder if you're trying to turn me into a doctor."
Janet pursed her lips. "Hardly. You're the girl with the gun. Besides, I... think we work well together."
"We do," Sam reassured her. "We're a good team."
Janet grinned. "The best."
"Absolutely."
"Now, roll him over so I can get a stool sample."
Sam cringed. "The things I do for girl power."
"Just think," Janet chided. "You're on another planet."
Sam sighed. "Just think."
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Janet and Sam wandered out of the cave and rejoined SG1. In a nearby open-air tent, Doctor Chen was typing into a laptop.
"How goes the rash, Doc?" Colonel O'Neill inquired when Fraiser was close enough for conversation.
"It's not debilitating, at least not at this stage, and it's not contagious, so I think these people can resume...their normal lifestyles... Whatever those are." She handed several plastic vials and sample kits to a member of SG8, and then indicated he should join Chen in the tent.
"Not contagious?" Daniel asked. "Then how is it so widespread?"
"It's something in their environment," Janet said. "An allergen."
"That doesn't make any sense." Daniel countered. "They've presumably been here long enough to adapt to their environment. Even as hunters, their range is restricted to these mountains."
"I agree, Doctor Jackson. Given their urgency to have us look at it, I'd say the rash is recent. Though not so recent that they blame us."
"Well, that's good news." O'Neill rested his hands on his gun belt.
"Are you saying this could be a biological weapon of some sort?" Daniel interjected.
Janet exhaled. "It is a possibility."
"Great." Jack looked at the sky. "Why can't a mission ever go right?"
"We could always just leave, sir." Sam suggested.
"Yes, good point. Daniel, is there any reason why we can't just leave?"
Daniel Jackson frowned. "Well, the negotiations are going well. There doesn't seem to be a Goa'uld presence here, and friendly natives could assist us with evacuation sites. Not to mention, the Stargate's location gives us room for a possible beta site. Then there's the usual--native culture, unique biology--"
"For crying out loud."
Sam, who had been watching the exchange of data, smirked.
"Sir," Janet stepped in. "The contagion doesn't seem that harmful. As soon as Chen accomplishes the molecular analysis, we should be able to devise an antidote for ourselves and the natives." She shrugged. "Most of our time was spent doing general medical field work--unrelated illnesses, pregnancies, and hygiene. How did Doctor Chen's operation go, by the way?"
"Good," Daniel replied. "She showed the healer how to take the follow-up steps, but we'll need to come back in three months for another surgery. Another reason not to leave." He glanced at Jack. "At least they'll stop drowning the babies with cleft palates."
O'Neill cringed. "Hopefully." He clapped his hands. "Okay. These folk have invited us to a nearby town, where we can negotiate with people of more authority. Daniel says it's--it's..."
"Feudal." Daniel explained. "We're to be taken to the local warlord."
"Right. Drinking and feasting are apparently possibilities."
"As usual." O'Neill said. "Teal'c will stay behind at the remote post so he can drive SG8 back to the Stargate when it's time. Doc, you're with us. They like you. Unless you need to get back to Cassie, in which case, Teal'c'll drive you."
Janet paled. "A four hour truck ride..."
"Three hours. It's downhill."
Janet closed her eyes. "A downhill truck ride? Or a two-hour walk to a night on the town? I'll take you up on your generosity, Colonel. Cassandra's fine."
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SG1, minus Teal'c, plus Janet, were situated in a saloon with their guides and the "mayor" of the town, a warlord named D'rn. The place, a sizeable wooden box, served as town hall, Lion's club, and watering hole in one, where food, beer, and diplomacy flowed freely.
"What's he saying, Daniel?" Jack asked his friend while they eyed D'rn.
"He is willing to offer us the territory around the Stargate."
"Is it his to give?"
"I suspect it's no one's, but their approval can't hurt."
"What do they want in return?"
"Weapons." Daniel sighed.
"Weapons?" Jack frowned. "What for?"
"I haven't been able to translate that yet." Daniel grumbled.
"Well, you'd better figure it out before we--"
"Kant!" Said D'rn, who stood up and gestured at SG1.
"Uh..." Daniel leaned back quickly.
D'rn gestured, and the food was taken away. In place of the dishes a rough parchment was laid on the table, and two crude dice were thrust at Jack.
"They want us to play a game," Daniel murmured.
"You are a brilliant archeologist, Daniel."
Daniel rolled his eyes.
"Hey, Carter," Jack continued. "You're the hustler. You play." He took the dice from D'rn and nodded politely at the warlord.
Sam had been thick in conversation with Fraiser, and looked up, momentarily confused, at her commanding officer. "What?"
Jack tapped the map. "Come play."
D'rn grunted affirmatively.
"I..." Sam glanced at Janet. "I don't know how."
"You're smart. You'll figure out how."
Janet nudged Sam's shoulder. "Come on, Sam. I've always wanted to see you in action."
Sam's eyes widened, and then she shook her head. "Fine." She began to study the crude carvings on the dice.
Jack leaned back and, behind Sam's back, mouthed to the doctor. "Did you just flirt with her?"
Janet glanced at her companion, who was absorbed in strategy. "Worked, didn't it?" She mouthed back over Sam's head.
Jack winked, then straightened again. "Daniel, rules?"
Daniel furrowed his brow. "Well, the object is either to be high or to be low."
"They're just numbers on the dice, sir." Sam reported.
D'rn grunted affirmatively, and the patrons of the town cheered.
"Well, okay." Jack folded his arms. "Let's have a few practice rounds."
Sam caught onto the game quickly, much to the delight of D'rn and his people. They divided up in the room, about a fourth taking the side of SG1, and cheering on their alien team. Daniel kept a steady dialogue, occasionally giving instruction to Sam.
When it was her turn to roll again, Sam lifted the dice to her lips, thought better of it, and then turned to Janet. "Bless the dice?"
Janet grinned, and took hold of Sam's wrist. She exhaled, brushing the wooden pips with her breath, and tickling Sam's fingers in the process. "Win something for me."
Sam flushed. "All right." She leaned forward to roll, but a grunt from D'rn stopped her.
"He wants to up the stakes." Daniel translated.
O'Neill, who was now lounging at a nearby table, surrounded by attractive locals, suddenly paid attention again. "What's he offering?"
Daniel said something to D'rn. D'rn responded, making a circle with his index finger, and then pointing at Janet.
Janet frowned.
"I, uh, think he's offering us the territory we want. In exchange for our medical expertise." Daniel offered.
"I don't think that's what he said." Janet growled.
"Uh, well." Daniel ran his hand through his hair and spoke to D'rn. D'rn gestured at a woman at his right side, then at Janet again, and grinned toothily.
"I don't need a translation for that." Janet slapped the table.
"If he's really offering us the territory, I can win," Sam insisted.
Jack leaned forward, brushing off the entreaties of his escort. "It's a game of chance, Carter."
Daniel and D'rn exchanged words. D'rn pointed at his woman again, and then held up one finger.
"Okay," Daniel murmured. "I think we've got it all worked out."
"Daniel..." O'Neill warned.
"If we win, we'll get to stay the night, and continue negotiations. They're offering us... You know..." Daniel gestured at the woman. "We can always politely refuse. If we lose, I think they'll mock us mercilessly."
Jack grunted. "What are the odds, Carter?"
"It's like craps, sir," Sam responded. "50/50. Red or black. But I'm confident."
"You're confident. That's comforting." He glanced at Janet.
The doctor raised an eyebrow. "As long as I'm not going to be harassed by a warlord, I think I'm okay."
"Well, then, go for it." O'Neill sighed.
D'rn beamed.
Sam rolled the dice.
D'rn laughed.
Sam cringed. "I lost."
"What?" O'Neill stood up.
D'rn, apparently anticipating a threat, moved back, and bodyguards swarmed him, quickly outnumbering SG1.
"Uh..." O'Neill threw up his hands. "I'm just saying... What?"
One of the bodyguards reached for Janet.
"Hey!" She slapped the man away. "I'm not going anywhere with you!" Sam moved to place a protective hand on Janet's shoulder.
Daniel managed to put himself between D'rn's contingent and SG1, and kept speaking in broken dialect. "Okay, guys... Guys?" He looked over his shoulder to see Jack fuming. "Jack?"
"What!"
Daniel winced. "It's just for one night..."
"What's just for one night?" O'Neill growled.
Janet stepped backward, closer to Sam, who wrapped an arm around her chest. "Remember," Sam rumbled. "I'm the girl with the gun."
Janet's lips twitched.
"Janet stays in the main lodging. I will go with her, as a chaperone."
Jack folded his arms.
"We don't have to take D'rn's wife, especially as none of you speak the language. D'rn's okay with letting me represent... you... " Daniel nodded in Sam's direction. "Look, think of it as a cultural exchange. In the morning, we'll all have breakfast, continue negotiations, and Drn's people will mock us for our cultural stupidity and susceptibility to drinking and gambling."
Sam's arm tightened around Janet.
O'Neill rolled his eyes. "One night?"
"As a show of good faith. Playing along." Daniel lowered his voice. "I think they tricked us."
"No kidding." O'Neill muttered. He glanced at Janet.
Janet narrowed her eyes. "I'll have a gun, radio, and Daniel?"
Daniel nodded.
D'rn grinned.
"Just for one night," O'Neill reiterated.
"The things I do for my country," Janet grumbled.
Sam smirked. "Just think, you're on another planet."
"Just think." Janet sighed.
Daniel exchanged more words with D'rn, and then turned to SG1. "Okay. We can say goodbye, then we'll be escorted to our lodges."
O'Neill turned to Janet. "You can back out."
She exhaled. "I'll be fine, sir. Maybe there'll be...patients."
Sam's hand slid from Janet's shoulder, and rubbed her back. "Janet, I'm really sorry--I was stupid, I..."
Janet turned around to face the taller woman. "It's okay. You just owe me. Big time."
"Big time." Sam exhaled. "I'm sorr--"
"Stop." Janet found Sam's hand and squeezed it. "We'll talk about cockiness and boundaries after the mission."
"Okay." They looked awkwardly at each other for a moment.
D'rn cleared his throat.
Janet stepped forward and hugged Sam's waist. "If I call you on the radio, you'd damn well better be there."
"Before you even finish getting the words out." Sam whispered against Janet's hair as she returned the hug.
They parted, and D'rn wrapped one arm around Daniel's shoulders, one arm around Janet's shoulders, and laughed. He led them off, but not before Janet glanced over her shoulder at Jack and Sam, and grimaced, mouthing "body odor."
Sam covered her mouth.
Jack grinned. He leaned over to Sam. "Cockiness and boundaries?"
"I don't know what that's about, sir." Sam's face turned pink.
Jack looked smug. "I do. She likes you." He sang the last three words.
"She does not!" Sam blushed more deeply. "She's... Janet. Doctor Fraiser. She--"
"She likes you." Jack sang again.
"We're friends. Two women in our position, it's to be expected. Maybe even a survival tactic. It's--"
"For crying out loud, Carter." Jack interrupted her. "How do you sleep at night?"
"Sir!"
Their conversation was halted by the arrival of arrival of D'rn's woman, who smiled at them pleasantly, and placed her hand on O'Neill's chest.
"Why, hello, native," Jack purred.
Sam rolled her eyes.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
O'Neill was jolted from sleep by the crackling of his radio. "Jac--" said Daniel's voice. Static blocked the rest of Daniel's sentence, and then the feed went silent. Jack rolled over to pick up the radio from the bedside table, and it crackled to life again. All he heard through the new wave of static was a crash, a thud, and then, silence.
He sat up.
In the darkness, he could sense Carter sitting up as well. "What the--"
"Maybe they're just having a little too much fun?" Jack quipped, as he fumbled with his blankets.
Sam lit a candle, and the interior of the small hut became visible.
Jack held down the button on the radio. "Daniel, this is O'Neill. Is everything all right?" He clicked it off, and waited.
Silence.
"Daniel," he tried again. "Doctor Fraiser. Come in."
He glanced at Sam. She shook her head wordlessly.
They were dressed and halfway out the door when their guide, Andk, ran up to them, his breath white in the cold pre-dawn. He spoke rapidly, and gestured at O'Neill.
"Hey, buddy." Jack growled. "We don't understand a thing you're saying."
The native pointed, and then began running in the direction from whence he had come. Jack and Sam took off after him, their heavy footfalls marring the previous night's freshly fallen snow. They reached D'rn's hut and burst inside, disregarding the guards who stood at the doorway.
D'rn was dead.
Daniel was on his back on the ground, moaning. O'Neill knelt next to him, while Sam examined D'rn's body, which was splayed awkwardly against the back wall of the hut. She glanced around, seeing Jack, Daniel, and Andk. "Janet's gone," she reported. "And so are the other women."
"Yeah..." Daniel parted his lips and weakly wet them with is tongue so he could speak. "D'rn tried to stop them. He said they could take his wife, but not Janet. Whoever they were, they were affronted. He died trying to save her." Daniel cringed.
Sam knelt. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Daniel clasped O'Neill's arm, and allowed the Colonel to haul him into a sitting position. "I was just...unconscious."
O'Neill adjusted the askew glasses on Daniel's face, pushing them up his nose. "Who were they?"
Andk spoke, panic in his voice, but Daniel interrupted him. "I don't know," he said. "But they spoke English."