Chapter 3

Raphaella awakened hours later to the fussing of a hungry baby. She opened her eyes to see Daniel lifting the unhappy child from his crib. She watched as he changed Baram's wet diaper, redressed him, and settled back into the chair with a bottle to feed the baby. He talked softly to the baby, telling him about his new world: baseball, oceans, museums, mountains. Baram hungrily gobbled his bottle while waving one hand in Daniel's face. Daniel gently snatched the waving hand with his teeth and shook gently. Baram stopped sucking, his eye widening in surprise at the new sensation. Daniel released his hand and Baram returned to sucking down the formula. He waved his hand in front of Daniel's face again and again Daniel snagged it with his mouth. The baby, expecting it this time, released the nipple and grinned up at the man holding him. This was repeated several times until finally the baby was chuckling out loud. Daniel joined him in laughter, then happened to glance toward Raphaella and saw her tender smile. They both looked back down at the baby who was now rubbing his eyes and yawning. Daniel rocked him a few more minutes and then placed the sleeping child back in his crib.

"You are so good with him. Do you have children?"

"No. My wife died before we had that blessing."

Raphaella reached out and grasped his hand. She closed her eyes, apparently deep in thought. Daniel just sat and watched her. Her forehead wrinkled in thought and she began weeping again. When Daniel leaned over and wiped the tears from her face, she opened her eyes and looked deeply into his.

"You have had much pain in your life, Daniel Jackson. You lost both your parents… Oh, god, Daniel, you saw them die. You were so young." Sobbing openly now, Raphaella let go of Daniel's hand and took a deep, cleansing breath.

"Raphaella, you want to explain how you know that? I didn't tell you."

"My people are empaths. We can sense emotions of others, but when we are in physical contact we can read the thoughts of those people. We can also remain in mind-link with our closest blood relatives – parents, children, sometimes siblings – and our life-mate. Daniel, I have seen some of your pain, but not all. I didn't see your wife, I wouldn't invade your privacy that way. What has happened to you has made you a man who has great compassion for others in pain. I have seen how you help others in what you have done for me today."

"Raphaella, how can you live with feeling other people's pain? It rips me apart when I see others in pain, and I don't have your ability."

"It works just like your eyes. When you close your eyelids, you can't see. We are able to 'close our mental eyes' and not sense other people unless we chose. Daniel, you still haven't told me why you're so good with children."

"After my parents died I had no other family who wanted me. I was sent to a series of foster homes – people who take in children without parents – and there were frequently babies there. I enjoyed caring for them. They didn't make fun of me or expect anything from me." Daniel shifted uneasily in his seat, never comfortable when he was the subject of conversation. "Raphaella, I think you should get back to sleep. I'll be here all night if you or Baram need me."

XXXXXXXXX

The next morning Janet pronounced Raphaella healthy and said she and Baram were free to leave the infirmary. General Hammond requested a meeting with her to discuss her options for the future. Daniel offered to watch the baby while she met with the general, so Sam showed her the way to his office. As they approached the closed door, Sam reached out and gave Raphaella's hand a squeeze, letting her know she had a friend. Sam knocked on the door and opened it for her new friend when she heard the general's invitation to enter.

Raphaella stepped tentatively into the strange room. She took in the display shelves, the desk, and the friendly face behind that desk in one quick glance. General Hammond nodded a welcome and waved his hand toward a chair. She sank gratefully down, not sure her wobbly knees would hold her much longer, clasping her hands together in her lap.

"I know you suffered a tremendous loss, but I wanted to talk to you about your future and where you go from here. You're welcome to stay her at SGC as long as you need to. I'm afraid I can't allow you to leave the base yet because, well, Earth's people aren't aware of the existence of the stargate and the other worlds out there. It would be too much of a security risk to let you out and even a risk to you personally. There are some people in our government who would take you for interrogation.. and well.. it would just be a bad idea. Are there any other villages on your planet where you might want to go?"

"We were not aware of others on our planet, but we did not travel in a large area, just our island, where the stargate is. However, I think I have a skill that you might find useful." Raphaella explained her people's ability to sense others' emotions and read minds when in physical contact. "I think I may be of some use in your contact with new people. I do not have the ability to speak many languages, like Daniel, but I know when people are lying or hiding something. That could prove very useful to your people."

"Yes, it could. I'll give that some consideration. I think it would be wise to keep this ability of yours a secret for your own protection. In the mean time, I'll make quarters available for you and the child. Sam and Daniel can help you settle in and show you around. Take a week to adjust and we'll talk then." Hammond stood up and ushered her to the door, nodding good-bye as she left. Sam was still waiting for her so she wouldn't get lost.

Sam took her to Daniel's quarters, where he had been playing with Baram. Sam left to go make arrangements for quarters for Raphaella, leaving her with Daniel.

Raphaella crossed the room to the blanket Daniel had spread on the floor for the baby. Baram was lying on his back waving his feet in the air and trying to grab them with his hands. Daniel was sprawled on his stomach, his chin propped up in his hands, next to the baby, giggling at the show. Baram would occasionally turn toward Daniel's laughter and give him a toothless grin. Raphaella sank down behind the baby, across from Daniel.

"Raphaella, thank you for letting me watch Baram. I'd forgotten how much fun babies are."

"No, Daniel, I thank you for helping to make this transition much easier. If I can impose on you a little longer, I need somewhere to stay for a few hours while Sam makes arrangements for quarters for Baram and me."

"You're both very welcome to stay here. I need to get back to my lab to get some work done." Daniel stood up, offered a hand to Raphaella to help her up and showed her around the small room so she'd know where to find things while he was gone. He also showed her how to work the television set.

"I almost forgot. General Hammond didn't want me to tell other people about my 'special' ability. He felt it might put me in danger, so please don't say anything to anyone else. Also, if I'm going to stay on Earth I need to learn about your people and I thought maybe you could help me learn about things here."

"Wow, Raphaella, you just made my week! I love helping people learn about history and culture. I'll check the base library for books and video tapes that might help. Hey, do you know how to read?"

"Yes, Daniel, I can read," Raphaella laughed at him. "My people had met a few other people coming through the gate and we had long ago learned this method of recording history and stories, although I don't read your system of writing, I'm sure I can learn. Oh, I just had a thought. Maybe General Hammond would let us go back to my planet and recover the books and other things that play record our history. I would like to have those things to teach Baram when he's older."

"Good idea. I'll approach Hammond with that. I think he'll approve. He's really a pretty good guy, for a military man."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It had been a long and confusing week for Raphaella. She'd never realized how much work a tiny baby could be, even though she enjoyed most of it. Baram had settled in well and was sleeping all night. It helped that Raphaella was able to tune in to his emotions so she knew what he needed before he could cry too much.

However, her adjustment to this new world was overwhelming. She had been used to a simple, but very busy life. Her people worked all day long just to supply their basic needs while evenings had been spent in the company of friends, singing and telling stories. The longer she was on Earth the more she missed her old life. She often found herself sobbing at night.

Sam had been wonderful. She had taken her around the base and shown her how to work the showers, where to get food, and even taken her to the gym when Raphaella had mentioned her lack of usual exercise. Sam had helped introduce her to the new clothing, something called BDUs – ugly, but comfortable - although she much preferred her dress. She still kept her head covering as the women of her village had always done. She felt that this was one area where she could keep to her people's traditions.

Daniel had brought her a few books on Earth history and cultural and physical geography so that she might become a bit more familiar with her new home world. He had begun to help her learn to read English, for although she could read her native writing it was nothing like the books her brought her. He and Teal'c took turns watching Baram so that Raphaella could go to the gym or spend some time with Sam making friends.

All four of SG1 would invite her to eat with them when they were on the base. She'd actually seen a lot of Teal'c since he also lived full time on the base. He too had been through the adjustment she was making and knew how difficult it could be. He had introduced her to some of his favorite TV shows and videos. She still didn't understand how Star Wars figured into the history of Earth.

Finally, General Hammond had sent for her to discuss her future. She entered his office after her knock had resulted in his curt, "It's open." She seated herself and waited for the general to begin.

"Well, how have you been doing this past week?"

"Very busy. There's so much to learn. Sam, Daniel, Teal'c and Jack have been very helpful and everyone is friendly. I think the baby has been a good way to start conversations with people. They all stop and talk to him first, and then finally to me." Raphaella grinned at Hammond.

"Yes, I think you'll find most Earth people like babies. Well, I given your offer of help some consideration and I think we could use you, if you're still interested."

"General, I've been thinking about it a lot myself this week and I still want to try. If you find I'm not satisfactory then I could find something else to do, but I'd really like to contribute to my new home and family."

"I'll give you one more week to get adjusted and then I'll assign you to a simple mission with SG1. I'll put them on stand down this week so you can have a chance to work with Daniel on diplomatic procedure and Sam could teach you some self defense moves and get you outfitted. Unfortunately SG1 often finds itself in difficult spots where physical ability helps. I'll find someone to take care of Baram for you when you're off world, so don't worry about him. I think I know a certain doctor's daughter who would enjoy watching him occasionally. Also, I'm going to allow you to leave the base as long as you're with someone from SG1. You'll start receiving pay and Sam could probably help you set up a bank account and show you how our money system works. Don't put too much stress on yourself. I know this has been a lot to take in such a short period of time, but Daniel and Sam have both let me know how impressed they've been with your progress this past week. Good luck."

Raphaella left his office feeling both relieved that she had a purpose now and apprehensive about the unknown ahead of her.