"Ian!"

Jack and the others constantly called his name while they moved the rocks. Well, Daniel and Teal'c did. The villagers were silent, frequently casting terrified looks up at the ceiling of the cave before returning to rock moving, and throwing fearful looks at the members of SG-1 every time one of them called the boy's name.

They kept calling, though. For one thing, if Ian was unconscious it might be a way to bring him around so they'd have some sign that he was really alive. For another, if he was conscious and pinned or badly injured and unable to speak, it was a way for them to let him know that they were coming. That they hadn't left him for dead, and abandoned him. And another… Jack just had to.

After several hours of this, they had the top layer of rocks moved, but the going was slow and the uneven floor of the cave made it hard to walk carrying a large rock at the same time so they could dump it somewhere out of the way. The dogs were whining softly, eager to help, but unable to get over the pile just yet. The labs would have their chance, though, Daniel knew. As soon as Jack had the pile of rocks low enough that it'd be safe, he was certain that Jaffer – and probably Jack (the dog) would be sent over to find Ian. And maybe take him something to drink, or a first aid kit. If they heard anything from him by then.

The pile was a lot bigger than it had appeared at first, however. Braxton admitted it was probably the worst of all the falls that had ever happened. He'd never seen so much rock come down at one time.

"We won't get it all moved by the time it gets dark…" he finally said, wiping sweat from his dirt-streaked face.

"We don't need to get it all moved," Jack said, moving another rock. "Just enough to allow the dogs through. They'll find him, and then we'll know exactly where to concentrate our efforts."

Braxton looked over at the dogs, who were sitting out of the way, watching intently.

"They can do that?"

"Yes," Daniel said, before Jack could get annoyed by the distraction and questions.

Braxton gave the dogs another long look, and then returned to what he'd been doing.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Something wet and cool touched his forehead, pulling Ian from a restless sleep. He'd been dreaming of falling rocks and old sailing ships with Ancients on board, and was only vaguely aware that he was hurting. Until he was woken up, anyways. As consciousness returned, he became aware that his head was killing him and that it felt like someone was poking him in the side with a pointed stick.

He groaned, and tried to move away from the stick in his side, rolling away from it, and felt strong hands holding him in place.

"Don't move…"

That wasn't a voice he recognized. He opened his eyes and found himself looking into a pair of clear blue eyes. Attached to a lovely face that was wearing a concerned and nervous expression. He didn't recognize her, but he supposed it was possible that he hadn't met every woman in the village yet, and he cast through his memories, trying to figure out what had happened.

"Rocks…" His voice was a croak, which was annoying.

She nodded, though, obviously able to understand him, and pressed a cup of water against his lips.

"You were very lucky. It could have been very bad…"

Embarrassed at being offered a drink like a baby with a sippy cup, Ian reached his hand up and took the cup from her before gulping the contents down quickly.

"Where am I?" He asked, looking around. They weren't inside one of the lodges. They were in some kind of tent, but one that opened to the outside on one side of it. Like a lean-to, he supposed. A temporary shelter.

"We're going back to the village."

Ian frowned. That wasn't what he'd asked.

"Where am I now, though?"

"In a temporary shelter. Joshua brought you here."

"Joshua?"

"My husband."

She reached out and ran the cloth along his forehead once more, and Ian pulled away. It was annoying enough when Fraiser doctored him; it was even more irritating to allow a strange woman to do it.

"He pulled you from the cave…" she added, uncertainly. "What were you doing there? It's a very dangerous-"

"Where is Jack?"

"Jack?"

Before Ian could say anything more, another person arrived at the lean-to. This one was male, wearing a loincloth and leggings and nothing else. His bare chest bore a few scratches but he smiled when he saw Ian was awake.

"Good! You're going to live, I see."

Ian scowled.

"Where am I?"

"I'm Joshua."

"That's not what I asked."

Joshua frowned.

"I pulled you from the cave after the rocks fell…"

Ian scowled, and sat up, feeling a lot of aches, but nothing that felt too serious. Nothing was broken as near as he could tell – although his head was pounding a bit and he was starving.

"That's not what I asked, either. Where am I?"

"In a temporary camp… it wasn't wise to move you too far with your injuries…"

"Where's Jack?"

"Jack?"

Ian's scowled deepened.

"The people I was with? Where are they?"

"They aren't here."

Ian looked around. The lean-to wasn't all that large, and it opened out towards a small fire which had some kind of meat spitted on several sticks leaning over into the flames to cook. It smelled delicious, but he wasn't going to be distracted by his stomach. As near as he could see, they were alone.

"Where are they?"

Joshua licked his lips, nervously, and Ian knew before he even spoke that he wasn't going to like the answer.

"They are at the cave… looking for you."

"What?"

"They think you are still buried…" the man admitted. "They are trying to find you."

"Shit!" Ian lurched to his feet, suddenly aware that someone had stripped his jacket and shirt off him while he'd been out – but had luckily kept his pants and boots on.

"You must rest!" Joshua said, quickly, reaching out for Ian's arm.

"Fuck you. I need to go find my friends. What the fuck were you thinking?"

"Please…" the woman said, softly, nervously. She'd come to her feet as well, stumbling away from Ian as though terrified of him. "We… need your help…"