Author's Note: I'm back, finally. I found this chapter a real struggle—I'm really sorry if it doesn't flow very well, but it's the best I can manage at the moment. More ship in the next chapter!

Chapter 6 - Refusals

It was always with a kind of cautious dread that Daniel watched General O'Neill walk into his office and approach his desk—even more so once upon a time when Jack had been a 'Colonel' and had often been bored with nothing to do—and he wasn't even sure why. As far as he could remember, Jack hadn't actually broken anything yet. But maybe that wasn't the point. Maybe he just knew Jack too well to be aware that he had the mere innocent ability to destroy something. From some of Sam's complaints over the years, which had often referred to various scientific objects and instruments, he definitely wasn't alone in this conclusion.

"Daniel!"

Quickly, Daniel glanced at the objects surrounding the marked parchment he currently pored over, and was pleased to see that none of them were either fragile or valuable. Blinking under his glasses, relieved, he looked up at Jack and smiled warmly.

"Hey, Jack. What can I do for you?"

"Well, actually, I'm here to give you an invitation."

Surprised, Daniel repeated, "An invitation? Really? Where to?"

"Minnesota!"

Yup, it had happened again. For the third time and no doubt still counting, Jack O'Neill had asked him to join him on a fishing trip… something that appealed to Daniel less than the idea of scrunching all these precious parchment pieces up and setting fire to them. Fishing really was not his thing. And from what Teal'c had told him of his own experiences, there wasn't much else to do. It was almost as though the concept was to fish or die of boredom. Daniel wasn't keen on either option.

"Er – really?" Daniel stalled, playing for words that wouldn't offend his friend. "To go fishing, you mean?"

"Oh, yeah!" said Jack eagerly, slapping his palms against Daniel's desk and awaiting an answer. "Fish, fish and fish some more."

Great.

"Well, that's really generous of you, Jack, thanks, but, uh—"

"Ah!" Jack held up a hand. "Don't say you've got work to do. SG-1 are after today on leave, and if I've banned Carter from this place, it's a little unfair to let you still be here, don't ya think?"

"Look, maybe Teal'c could go with you?" offered Daniel tactically, trying hard to suppress a grin at the untruthfulness of his next words. "I know he really enjoyed the whole… ah… art of fishing last time."

"Teal'c's already coming," said Jack. "I thought you could come, too."

"Teal'c agreed?" faltered Daniel, eyebrows raised.

"Sure."

Jack shifted uncomfortably under the archaeologist's searching, slightly crestfallen gaze, and winced. "Oh, all right, I haven't asked him yet," he admitted with a sigh, "but I know he'll say yes."

"Okay, let's agree on this then." Daniel looked up at Jack. "If Teal'c accepts, I'll come along. If he doesn't I'm staying—because he said he'd help me sort out my apartment this week," he invented swiftly. "And, obviously, it's no good if he's not here."

"So let me get this straight… I have to convince Teal'c, first?"

"Yep."

Letting out a low whistle, Jack swivelled around to exit the room, calling, "Nooo problem," and he left Daniel discreetly smirking down at his parchment.

Jack found Teal'c strolling along one of the corridors, and from then on, neither the jaffa nor Daniel was left alone for more than fifteen minutes at a time.

"Teal'c!" called Jack, catching up with Teal'c who turned slightly and bowed his head to acknowledge O'Neill's presence. "Buddy! Wanna come fishin'?"

The corners of Teal'c's mouth dropped as abruptly as a stone. "No, I do not wish to accompany you on this occasion, O'Neill."

"What?" responded Jack, incredulous. "How can anybody not want to go fishing in Minnesota?"

"Perhaps you could blame the mosquitoes. Or, maybe, the lack of fish, O'Neill."

"T, fella, we've been over this…"

"So, what did Teal'c say? No?"

"Yes."

Daniel dropped the book he'd taken from his bookshelf. "He said yes?"

"No, Daniel, you idiot."

"Jeez, Jack, you're a little confusing sometimes, you know."

"He said no. But when I told him that you might be coming, he told me to convince you to say yes, first."

"Really?" Daniel gave a small laugh. "Looks like you have a bit of a problem, then."

"So, will you come fishin'?"

"I assume that Daniel Jackson did not give you the answer you wished for, O'Neill."

They were striding along another of the SGC's numerous corridors. Jack frowned and looked down at the jaffa's moving feet. Was is just him, or was Teal'c walking morehurriedly than usual?

"No," he admitted tragically, "he didn't."

"Did I not tell you a second attempt would be pointless?"

"Yes, Teal'c, ya did… but you didn't say it would prove unsuccessful on you."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "My answer is, yet again, 'no', O'Neill," he said, and although he didn't sound sorry at all, added, "and I apologise."

"Aww, T, come on, it'll be fun."

"My answer," Teal'c repeated with forced tranquillity, "remains negative."

"Hey, you fancy a game of boxing?" suggested Jack thoughtfully.

"So suddenly, O'Neill?"

"Yup."

"Very well," Teal'c agreed, seemingly glad for a change of subject.

Hesitantly, Jack coughed slightly, and added, "There's just… one—tiny—condition."

Another strong and well-used eyebrow muscle was flexed in response. "Indeed?"

"If I win," began Jack loudly, leading the way to the gym and scratching the back of his neck, "you have to 'accompany' me on my fishing trip this week."

"You have never beaten me, O'Neill. What makes you think this game will be any different?"

"But a deal's a deal, right?"

"Indeed it is."

"Good."

All of a sudden, Teal'c appeared very smug.

"Daniel, wanna come fishing?" invited Jack as if he hadn't asked before, once again entering Daniel's office.

Daniel, exasperated, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I thought we'd established that I don't." He winced a little. "No offence or anything."

Jack brushed the comment aside with his hand, saying, "None taken."

"What happened to your face?"

Daniel had just looked up to find an angry, rather swollen welt covering Jack's left cheek, and the other man was also rubbing his jaw uncomfortably.

"Oh, I had a little boxing match with Teal'c. Apparently this time I didn't know when to admit defeat." He shrugged, prodding the sore area gingerly with his finger. "He got a little carried away, I guess."

"That's… nice of him," said Daniel. "Maybe you should go to the infirmary?"

"I'm fine," the General replied, now rotating his jaw as if checking it worked properly. "It's just a little sore."

"So, is there a reason you're here, again, might I add, or—?"

Jack looked mildly affronted. "Of course there is," he said. "I'm tryin' to persuade you to join me this week to go fishing in Minnesota."

Closing his eyes, very briefly, Daniel clenched his own healthy jaw together and inhaled deeply through his nose. "For the last time, Jack…"

"Soon enough, I'm gonna make you give in," smirked his current annoyance.

"Look at the time," remarked Daniel suddenly, jumping from his seat. "We're going to Hetora in an hour—I need to go see Sam."

Before Jack could ask him the same irritating question for the thousandth time, he hurried from the room, and distinctly heard Jack calling, "You're still not out of it, Daniel!"

Jeez, why had he ever risked his life for that man?

"Okay, kids, time for you to go to work."

SG-1 was assembled in the gate room and ready to embark on their negotiation mission to Hetora, dressed in waterproof gear to protect them from the expected torrential rain. The Stargate began to whirl and smoke as the individual address was dialled.

"Chevron six encoded," called Harriman. "Chevron seven… locked."

Sam smiled up at Jack, hitching up her backpack slightly and wondering if she would ever get used to the idea of she, Daniel and Teal'c stepping through the Stargate without him. Jack reached for the microphone again up in the busy control room as the transparent wormhole burst into existence.

"I think this is the part where I say goodbye, good luck, and see you soon," he spoke into it loudly. "Oh, and be careful not to drown."

The three standing on the bottom of the ramp smiled; Daniel gave a small wave, and the next minute they were stepping forwards and through the shimmering gate, pulling up their hoods as they moved. Despite the infinite number of times she had done this by now, Sam could never find travelling through a wormhole anything but refreshingly breathtaking. As she emerged on the other side, the thatch and mud-straw buildings and flimsy pavilions sprang into vision all around, and she felt heavy raindrops immediately splash against the well-covered top of her head.

Like many places on Earth, Hetora's villages were structured in scattered arrays of different suburbs. Centred around the Stargate, it gradually changed from urban, in their respects, to rural, which meant that the village's outskirts consisted of long and fertile stretches of productive farmland. She squinted her eyes and blinked forcefully to vanquish the rain, and glanced around at the landscape. Mountains richly-coloured in green vegetation even in the poor visibility of the weather could be seen as tall, sharp and erect against the low ground, with peaks that vanished somewhere in the hazy grey sky. Somewhere within the lower-levelled rocks were the entrances to the Hetorians' secretive mines. Sam wasn't entirely sure why, but the vague explanation she had been given when she'd enquired intrigued her even further. One of the villagers had merely told her that they mined a natural resource needed to help their people. She was exceedingly curious as to what the properties of this 'natural resource' were.

The constant pounding of the sky's water splattered against the sloppy land and flooded muddy puddles amid the scattered clumps of grass. SG-1 moved forward, and was immediately greeted by one of the native Hetorian people.

"Colonel Carter," welcomed a middle-aged woman whom Sam recognised as a villager named Nethayla. "Dr Jackson, Teal'c."

"Nethayla, isn't it?" replied Daniel with a smile, hands clasped around his hood to keep it in place. "The village healer."

"Yes. It is good to see the people of the Tau'ri return through the Ring." Nethayla possessed a voice that was warm and soft. She was a tiny, thin sort of woman with crinkly brown skin and deep lines framing small, hazel-coloured and kindly eyes, half-hidden beneath her own large hood draping over her hair.

"Come with me," she instructed in a friendly tone, and led them through sloshing mud until they reached a large nearby pavilion. In the relief of finding shelter from the perpetual pouring of the rain, SG-1 pushed back their hoods. Nethayla did the same, revealing her long, dry and tangled hair to be tied back in a loose and messy plait.

"I am sorry you have visited Hetora during its season of rain," she told them a little solemnly as she lit several candles around the spacious but empty-looking tent. The sheer size of it reminded Sam of a dull circus tent more than anything. There were straw-weaved chairs surrounding a table at its centre; Nethayla gestured for them to sit. "It truly is a beautiful and exotic planet in the sunshine."

Daniel smiled amiably. "I'm sure it is," he assured her, squirming slightly on the uncomfortable and rather itchy seat.

Nethayla ceased her bustling about the dark space once they were settled and sighed. "Kalek will meet with you today," she informed them quietly. "He is the governor of this village—the reason being for his absence upon your first visit that he was away and tending to important national matters—and he will speak to you on behalf of Hetora."

"Then your government have discussed the upcoming attack?" said Sam, surprised.

Nethayla shook her head. "I do not know for certain. I can only, knowing my planet as I do, assume. But I will say that it is probable. Now, you must be wary of Kalek. He is a good leader but he is quick to temper, offence and sometimes greed, and has also been known for his deception. To offend or insult him in any way would be most unwise."

Wincing a little, Sam shared a wary glance with Daniel and Teal'c. "Thanks for the advice," she told the healer genuinely.

"You must also understand," continued the other woman, "that if Kalek issues you information concerning the government's opinions and decisions, there is no possibility of persuading the average Hetorian to act against or in ill favour of their wishes. We would never seek a planetary split."

Daniel and Sam nodded in agreement. "No matter what, we respect that," said the former, "and we would never try to inflict trouble upon Hetora… but I'm just curious here… how much has the average Hetorian, as you call them, been told?"

Nethayla turned her gentle eyes upon him. "Only to be wary of an enemy," she answered softly. "Some, like myself, know more than others."

"Are you not frightened, Nethayla?" questioned Teal'c perceptively.

The healer of the village took small steps towards them, her face showing no emotion. "It is the way of my government to believe there is no need for fear, and therefore to them it does not exist." She brushed dry strands of hair behind her ears. "As for me… I am one hundred and seven years old and not once in this time have I encountered a single threat to our planet."

"That's what Saceti told us on our last visit," Sam observed, thinking back to their previous informative. "And that you have no interest in war because you've never experienced one."

"One hundred and seven?" Daniel repeated in awe. "You're kidding."

Nethayla smiled kindly as though she understood his curiosity. "My people often live to two hundred years of age, and even then we do not show noticeable signs of our years. I am surprised Saceti did not mention our lengthy lifespan to you."

"I hope you don't mind me asking," queried Sam in wonder, "but how?"

"Medicines," Nethayla offered simply, before continuing, "As I was saying, I do not know what to expect of this. I have read stories of battles but do not understand them, and therefore part of me wants to believe we can negotiate amiably with these people—your enemy. However, whether I like it or not, I trust you," she explained. "You seem wise and genuine with great experience. And that does make me fear what is to become of Hetora."

Daniel wore a sympathetic expression. "We have the power to help you," he said reassuringly, "but I'm afraid that without your government's co-operation we're unable to use it."

"Although you must take into account that it would be futile to try and negotiate with the Goa'uld," added Teal'c gravely, and Sam hastily expanded on his statement as a slight frown appeared on the gentle Nethayla's face.

"They don't have a lot of pity for innocent and flourishing civilizations," she offered. "The Goa'uld are parasites. They take what they want, including human beings to use as their hosts, without caring about the victims of their raids. We personally have never met this Goa'uld system lord before, but we know them in general well enough by now to know what to expect."

The female healer looked doubtful at this, and challenged very softly, "On the other hand, perhaps you are wrong, and this one is different?" For a fleeting moment Sam was reminded of the Nox.

"Nethayla," said Sam then, frowning, "if you trust us, trust this: all Goa'uld are the same. They're greedy with plenty of control at their hands, hands you do not want Hetora to fall into. It's essential your government understands this."

She nodded with her eyes towards the ground.

"Have you any idea as to why a race such as the Goa'uld would be attracted to Hetora?" Teal'c added. His large hands were folded serenely on the straw table top.

Confused, Nethayla said, "Did you not tell us last time that they wanted hosts for their symbiotes, and possibly a new spacious planet on which to thrive?"

"There are a lot of planets similar to yours," Daniel explained quickly, smiling, "and we were wondering if there was something special attracting them here. The Goa'uld don't really appreciate beauty of a landscape, you see."

The woman remained impassive and shook her head. "No. There is nothing…"

"Are you sure?" Sam watched Nethayla intently and tried to remain nonchalant as she suggested, "No significant history… discoveries… no natural resources…?"

Finally she seemed to come to a realisation and looked at Sam, Daniel and Teal'c cautiously. "The—of course—Hetora's mines."

Sam smiled, the answer satisfactory. "That's what I thought, too. What exactly do you mine in there?"

There was a brief silence.

"It must be very valuable if the Goa'uld are chasing it," Daniel urged thoughtfully. "We're just curious."

"We do not speak of our resource to foreigners," admitted Nethayla calmly, "not even to those whom we trust. It is our most valuable material. We would not be the same race if not for those mines. I am sorry," she added on impulse.

"Oh, no, it's fine," he reassured her. "But whatever it is, Geb—the enemy—he must have caught wind of it." He noticed her incomprehensive expression. "Ah, he must have heard about it from somebody else."

"I could not think who. Excepting you, there have been no visitors to Hetora for at least twenty years."

"Oh." Daniel frowned. "That's... interesting."

Teal'c looked sideways at his friend. "Indeed."

"We can ask the Tok'ra if Yan'kash has discovered anything new," suggested Sam reasonably. "Maybe he—"

"Governor Kalek!" Nethayla jumped suddenly, making SG-1 twist in their seats to look at the disturbance, and started towards the entrance. "These are the people of the Tau'ri."

A tall, lean man stood in the doorway. Compared to Nethayla's kindly features, his face was hard and set. His posture radiated domination and authority, as his dark, intent eyes observed their planet's visitors.

"Yes, I was informed they had arrived through the Ring." His eyebrows joined in a scowl. "Resume your duties, Nethayla," he ordered harshly.

"As you wish, Governor." The woman hastily slipped from the pavilion.

For a while he simply stood there and watched them, his eyes lingering on Teal'c; and then he strode forward and poured himself a glass of wine without offering.

"We had expected you would return."

"Governor Kalek," greeted Sam, and gestured to her two companions in turn, "this is Dr Daniel Jackson… and Teal'c."

"And you are?" he questioned in a bored tone.

"Colonel Samantha Carter."

"I see." He sipped his wine and strolled lazily to the darker side of the tent. "Well, well, well. Do you know my villagers spoke very highly of you?"

Flicking his eyes to Sam, Daniel said, "We've come to offer you our assistance."

"What makes you believe Hetora requires assistance?"

Sam grimaced inwardly. This was definitely not going to be easy. "You're about to undergo an attack and you have no means of defending yourselves. Your people will die."

"How would you be able to aid us?" Kalek asked lazily, drawing up his leg and resting his foot on a low stool, cloak drawn around his figure mysteriously.

"Well, your only real option is temporary relocation," said Daniel.

"We will not leave Hetora," the other man stated shortly. "This planet is too valuable for us to so rashly abandon its virtues." His lips curled into a slight sneer. "What else can you do?"

Sighing, Sam said, "If the worst came to the worst, we can help fight with our weapons… but we'd appreciate it if you would consider your other option, first."

"And why are you so eager to aid us?"

"The Tau'ri are a race continuously fighting the Goa'uld," answered Teal'c calmly. "It is not wished for that Geb becomes more powerful by claiming more hosts, land and servants."

Kalek's face remained hard, closed and impassive, and he swung his leg from the stool, placed his glass down with an obnoxious clunk and made for the exit once more.

"I will discuss your offerings to the other Governers," he told them uninterestedly, "but I sincerely doubt we will agree to leaving this planet." He halted and swung the curtain aside, gazing back at them with narrowed eyes. "Send an envoy within seven days."

With that he walked out.

"Wait!" said Daniel incredulously, getting up. "That's it?"

There was no reply.

"Kalek, wait—!"

"Leave it, Daniel," Sam ordered, also rising to her feet. "I don't think he's a man we can argue with, somehow."

"That has to be the shortest discussion I've ever had with a leader of a planet," the archaeologist complained as they lifted their hoods, preparing to trudge back to the Stargate.

She, too, felt the mission had been a waste of time, but said resignedly as they ventured outside, "At least he said he'll discuss it."

Five minutes later, they were emerging from the 'gate on their homeworld's side.

"That was quick," remarked Jack shrewdly, watching his team with a small frown and folded arms as they plodded down the ramp.

"Tell me about it," muttered Daniel with irritation.

"Suffice it to say that Kalek, the leader of the main village, is a jerk, sir," Sam told him, stifling a grin at Jack's look of surprise.

The SGC's commander quickly recovered. "I take it they didn't agree?" he asked.

"He said he'll present the options to the other governors, but he made his feelings pretty clear, sir. They don't want to leave."

"Ohh-kay." Jack clapped his hands together. "Well, there's no need for a debriefing, really. Off you trot… Oh, Daniel, wait!" he called as Sam and Teal'c left the embarkation room.

Daniel knew what the General was going to say even as he stopped in his tracks and said, "Jack?"

"Come fishing with me?"

"Ah… no."

"Please?"

"No."

"Are you going to make me say 'pretty please with a cherry on top'?"

"Not unless you want to."

"Okay, pretty please with a cherry and jello on top."

Dripping in water, Daniel was disbelieving. "No… Jack, how many times do you need me to say 'no'?"

"It'd be a good break, Daniel."

"Yeah, we've been over this."

A pause.

"So you're coming then?"

"No!"

"Damn."

"Jack, why are you so bothered about me coming with you, anyway?"

To his surprise, his friend heaved a heavy, awkward sigh and looked Daniel straight in the eye. "I cannot believe I'm about to say this!" he muttered through gritted teeth, folding his arms across his chest.

"What?"

"Okay… no, sorry, Danny, I can't."

"Jack—"

"I can't!"

"Jack, stop being an ass and tell me."

"Promise me you won't laugh," scowled the General darkly.

"I swear."

"All right." He took a huge, deep breath. "If-you-come-fishin'-I-think-Carter'll-come-too."

Very slowly, the corners of Daniel's mouth turned upwards in a half-smirk, half-grin, and he frowned mockingly, leaning a little closer as Jack regarded him warily. "Sorry, what was that?" he requested, smiling.

Jack looked at this point like he was about two seconds away from hitting him, but he seemed to contain his irritation and instead said, with forced calmness, "If you come fishing, Daniel, I think Carter might be more inclined to come fishing, too… because then we won't be left alone all the time, will we?"

"Ahh! Really?"

"Yes, really," Jack replied defiantly, glaring at him.

"Well… you know what, I may have to think about that…"

And cracking a gigantic and triumphant grin, Dr. Daniel Jackson turned away.