"Do you really think these people are descendants from the Roanoke colony?" Jack asked Daniel about an hour later. They'd finished eating while Daniel answered a few more questions the villagers had – although they didn't ask him anything he really had a definite answer for – and then they'd excused themselves to return to their lodge.

Daniel shrugged, watching as Jack fed Jaffer and Jack (the dog).

"I'm not sure, Jack, but it certainly seems that way. Hopefully I'll know more after we see this cave."

"And then what?" Ian asked.

"What do mean?"

"So they turn out to be from Roanoke… do we take them home with us?"

Jack frowned.

"No."

Daniel nodded his agreement; slightly surprised that Ian would even ask that – although when he thought about it, it only made sense, since Ian hadn't seen such a situation yet. The rest of them had, of course. There were several worlds that were seeded from the Middle East that they'd found so far, and none of them had been brought back to reintroduce them into modern society.

"We'd be doing them a disservice if we even tried. These people are healthy and appear to be happy where they are, and unless they actually asked us to – which I can't imagine them doing – we leave things as they stand. Here and on other worlds."

Ian shrugged; it wasn't as if he'd really wanted to bring any of them back anyways, he had just been curious.

Jack slapped Jaffer's shoulder, and moved towards the doorway to look outside.

"Let's get some sleep, guys."

They could have posted a watch, but with the dogs they didn't really need to. Not in the middle of a village. If the villagers tried anything, the dogs would warn them – not that Jack expected them to try anything – and they certainly didn't have to worry about wild animals creeping up on them.

Ian was all for sleeping. Of all of them, he was the most worn out – even if he was the youngest. He flopped down on his pallet and immediately covered up against the faint chill that was creeping over the village. In minutes he was already asleep.

Jack looked over at the cadet as he slipped off his holster and other bulky gear, and then turned to Daniel and Teal'c, gesturing for them to follow him a little off to the side.

"Did you notice the looks that they were giving Ian?" He asked softly, not wanting to wake Ian – although he wasn't hiding the question from the boy. He just knew that Ian needed his sleep.

Teal'c nodded immediately, and after a moment, Daniel did as well.

"They're probably just curious about him. He's more vocal than you or Teal'c, obviously. And he's very good at explaining things – surprisingly enough."

Of course, Ian had no patience for people, so they didn't see that kind of thing happen. Ever.

"It is more than that, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said, his own voice gravelly, even in a whisper. "They are watching him… even when they do not appear to be."

Teal'c was much better at reading people than Daniel – although Jack was a fair hand at it, too.

Jack nodded his agreement.

"Keep an eye on him tomorrow, Teal'c. I don't want him alone with any of these folks."

"You don't think they're thinking of trying to do anything…?" Daniel asked. "They certainly don't appear to be hos-"

"I don't know, Daniel," Jack interrupted. "I just don't want them to have a chance to do something if they are planning on it…"

Jack, of course, was far more suspicious of people than Daniel was.

"Let's get some sleep."

The sooner they got to the cave and checked it out, the sooner they could find out. And then the sooner they could go home.

Daniel and Teal'c nodded their agreement and headed for their beds, while the dogs finished up their meal and took places near the doorway where they would sleep but still be able to keep an eye on things.

OOOOOOOOOO

At the same time, there was a meeting of sorts in another lodge. This one on the other side of the dark village.

"Are you certain the boy's leg was broken?" Richard asked. "I mean, he is a boy, after all, and while I'm sure it hurt, it's always possible that he is exaggerating a little, isn't it?"

"Taylor broke his wrist last year," Braxton said, reminding Richard of something he already knew. "He says he felt the bone snap – and then felt the bone heal again when the one named Ian rested his hand on it. He has to be a Healer."

"Plus they know about God," someone said, reverently. "How else would they know?"

"And he has a tame Jaffa," another member of the council said, speaking up. "Only someone with great powers could keep a Jaffa from killing him and his friends."

"Not to mention the creatures they have with them," Braxton said. "Dana says they are called dogs, and they obey the boy without hesitation – and that, too, speaks of great power."

"Why not just ask him?" Taylor's mother said, softly. "They are not a threat to us, that much is certain, and I don't see how it could hurt to ask."

"He might not want anyone to know," Richard said.

"Or he might be waiting for us to figure it out on our own."

Richard frowned, and reached up, rubbing his forehead.

"Let me think about it," he said. "We'll be able to watch him tomorrow when we take them to the caves. We'll see what happens then. Maybe we'll learn more if they can really understand the symbols on the walls…"

There was a little grumbling – most of them had wanted something solid to take home with them and let's wait and see didn't seem all that solid to any of them – but they left. It was getting late, and they would be up with the sun.

Certainly their guests would be. The one named Daniel seemed so eager to see the caves, after all, that he'd been willing to risk breaking his leg to go out in the dark. Of course, if one of your companions could heal your injured leg with a touch, then why not risk hurting yourself?