It had been an uneventful mission to P19-7371. Daniel had once again found himself wishing for a second box of tissues; the worst thing Jack and Teal'C had to fend off had been a persistent desert wind. Even Sam had been nonplussed when they didn't discover anything more scientifically advanced than a wheel. The planet was a barren and desolate place turned over-heated desert sand storm by a sudden change in the planet's orbit around their sun. all life had been wiped out and all signs of former civilization had long since been turned to sand. All in all, SG-1 was glad to return home, knock the sand out of their boots and kick up their heels while writing up their mission reports.

Shimmering through the Stargate, Daniel brought up the rear of the party as they returned to Earth. His mind had been fairly occupied with the scientific aspects of the trip while they had been off-world, but as he gazed around the embarkation room, resetting himself to "home mode", his mind was drawn back once again to M'erryne and the events of the previous day.

After he'd found Janet and updated her on their guest's condition, he'd gone down to the cafeteria and run into Sam, Jack and Teal'C who had all gotten the urge to eat at the same time. Joining them, he actually managed to remain out of the infirmary for a whole half hour before excusing himself to "go work on a translation." He'd missed the knowing smile that spread across Sam's face as he left. Jack hadn't though, and he spent the next ten minutes abandoning his Jell-O and grilling his 2IC. He had been quite surprised to learn that Daniel had willingly sat still in the infirmary for nearly six hours straight. Still, none of the team said anything about their observations to Daniel the next day while off world. The time would come for questions and comments and they would wait and watch patiently in the mean while.

As anticipated, when Jack detoured past Daniel's office on his way home around ten, Daniel's office was empty but not locked up. The archaeologist simply had not returned to it since his aimless wandering that morning. Locking up the door, Jack turned and headed home. He knew Daniel wouldn't be back at his office until the next morning before their briefing.

Janet found Daniel just before midnight. Head on his forearms, he was sprawled out across the tray table, his glasses pushed across his face at an odd angle. Gently placing her hand on his shoulder, she spoke softly, waking him.

"Daniel, you should try sleeping in a bed for the night."

An amused smile played briefly across her lips as she watched him groggily process her words. Nodding, and still half asleep, he clumsily adjusted his glasses as he peered at his work scattered around him. Moving with more purpose as he became able to focus on the papers, he gathered up his belongings quietly. All the dishes from the day had long since been removed, so there was very little to collect.

"Sorry Janet," he whispered sheepishly.

"It's okay," she spoke slightly louder as she followed him to the hall. "Are you going to be driving?" the words came out kindly, but he understood their message. Stay on base tonight, you're not fit to drive. She was probably right, but he'd never argue regardless.

Glancing at his watch, Daniel realized he'd been asleep for nearly two hours. If he stayed on base he could get a full night's rest and be ready for the mission the next… make that today. "I'll spend the night here," he replied, soothing the concerns he knew the doctor had. His subconscious ticked away at the thought she had let him stay there as long as she had, but he was sleep again as soon as his head hit the pillow and didn't wake up till 5am the next day, rested and ready for both briefing and mission.

"Dr. Jackson," the general greeted him at the foot of the ramp leading to the Stargate. The rest of SG-1 was disappearing through the blast doors, to the locker room most likely, as he spoke. This told Daniel he'd been lost in his thoughts for longer than usual when he'd arrived back on Earth. Shaking his head slightly to clear it, and focus himself, he answered.

"Uh…yes General, sir." He met the General's gaze, tilting his head unconsciously to the side just a little as he redirected his focus to what the man had to say.

"Dr. Fraiser informs me you spoke with our guest yesterday, and that she's apparently woken up enough to answer some questions this afternoon."

"Yes, sir. I did speak with her. Her name is M'erryne. I don't really know anything else about her except that on her planet she was some sort of historian, so I believe she's fairly intelligent, as are her people."

The General nodded, processing the information even as he continued to address the archaeologist.

"Seeing as how she appears to have bonded with you, and you're the only person besides Dr. Fraiser that she knows on this base, I was hoping you'd accompany me this afternoon when I ask her some questions. It won't be anything intense, but I think a friendly familiar face wouldn't hurt either."

Daniel nodded in agreement, mentally adding that it wasn't just her that had gotten attached. Secretly he wondered just how much Janet had told the General and how much was blatantly obvious to the whole world.

"Certainly General."

"Good, I'll meet you in the infirmary at 1500 hours."

Daniel nodded again and General Hammond turned and left the room. Daniel followed shortly after him, he had just over three hours to get cleaned up, grab some lunch and get his mission report started before he would have to be at the infirmary.

When Daniel arrived at the infirmary, the General had yet to arrive. He was pleased to see M'erryne sitting up in bed with a notebook. He supposed Dr. Fraiser had gotten it for her. He stood at the foot of the bed, beside the curtain that was still drawn halfway for her privacy, and watched for a moment as she sketched out as city. He wondered momentarily if it was her home world. Clearing his throat, he waited till she glanced up before speaking so he didn't startle her.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, returning the smile that crept from her lips into her eyes as she saw who it was.

"I did, thank you."

"You draw very well," he moved closer to the side of her bed and gestured to the picture that was resting on her lap. "Is that your home world?" he continued, making eye contact as she glanced up at him, processing the compliment and the question.

Nodding, she answered him, "It is the city I grew up in, Renia. There are over 5,000 people there, the largest city in our planet."

"That is where you work as a Keeper of the Word?"

"Yes, along with my father. He was the once to train me in the languages and writings of our ancestors. I prepared my entire life for the position. Many in our community do not even know how to read more than one of the languages before they are apprenticed. Our texts for the early schoolings are all written in the common language of our world, and most do not get the opportunity before their apprenticeships to study additional knowledges." Her eyes shone with happiness as she spoke of her planet. Daniel was pleased to see her so happy after everything she had been through, even if it was only for the moment.

"M'erryne," Daniel paused momentarily to ensure he had her full attention as he spoke. "If you are feeling well enough, my boss would like to ask you some questions about your world and about how you came to be where we found you."

He watched, fighting a guilty feeling, as the light behind her eyes dimmed and the smile on her lips became more forced. It was a very subtle change he wouldn't have even picked up on if he hadn't been with her the last few minutes and had gotten a glimpse of true happiness, however momentary, on her face. He could tell the exact moment when she made her decision. A straightening of her back and stiffening of her shoulders were the only outward signs she was steeling herself for the encounter.

"Of course," she replied. She said nothing else to him until she had methodically resumed her drawing. "Sit Daniel Jackson." She gestured to the chair he had spent the day before in, still placed to the side of her bed. "Let me tell you more about my world. Perhaps then you will understand what I will tell your boss."

Curious at bother her words and her apparent ease, Daniel leaned forward and tilted his head to the side, silently signaling her to continue.

"Several hundred years ago, my people encountered a being of great power claiming to be a god, Neper. He attempted to rule over our planet, but even the our people were diplomatic minded. In exchange for relatively undisturbed, free living, an offering of crops and servants from the best and brightest of the community were sent every full moon cycle. Once in our history, about 100 years ago, our people rebelled and refused to send the offering. Neper destroyed nearly and entire city in retribution. My have never failed to make an offering on time since. We do not believe him to be a god or worship him, but our disbelief is forgiven by Neper with our arrangement. Our forefathers believed it was a small price to pay for relative freedom.

Here M'erryne paused, noticing the General's presence for the first time. He smiled and introduced himself quickly but kindly, so as not to disturb her story.

"We've encountered similar beings in our travels, and believe their proclamations no more than your people," he added. "our people cast these false gods out several thousand years ago."

"Then you understand more than I expected, General Hmmond," M'erryne replied. "Daniel Jackson did not tell me this earlier." Here, she gave Daniel a playfully scolding glance. "But I digress."

Taking a deep breath, she sobered up immediately, her voice becoming flat and emotionless as she hastened to complete her story.

"I was chosen this moon cycle to bear the offering and to remain in the services of the false god Neper. I went willingly only out of fear for my people's safety. I was escoreted to the great stone circle, the delivery system that connects us to Neper. His servants arrive every cycle to collect the offering and bring a servant back to him. None of our people have ever returned once they have been brought to Neper. We arrived on the planet where you found me and I remained there for three days. The servants beat me, forced themselves on me, demanded compliance of me lest they report unfavorably to Neper about the offering when they brought me to him, and thus incur his wrath upon my people. By the third day, I couldn't take it. I did not believe they were ever going to bring me to Neper, if he even existed after all these years. I fled to the clearing where your people were arriving. I believe you are aware of everything that happened after that." Her voice trailed off at the end of her statement as she struggled to maintain her composure. She took several slow, deep breaths as General Hammond spoke again.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you M'erryne. I want you to know that if you can give me any more information about your home world, my people and I will do everything in our power to get you back home with your family."

"I regret I can tell you very little more other than my planet is called Dery'na. I thank you for your kindness and hospitality, General Hammond. I cannot be grateful enough for your people rescuing me. I only hope that my people do not pay the consequences too harshly." Again, her voice trailed off, her tone slightly wistful, and yet slightly pained.

"Thank you again for allowing me to speak with you about such a painful topic," the general said. "I'll leave you to rest now." Nodding at both of the people before him, General Hammond turned and walked out of the infirmary.

Eyeing her emotional state and expression carefully, Daniel spoke softly. "Are you okay? I know that it wasn't easy to have to recall everything so soon after it happened…" his brow furrowed with concern as he spoke.

Smiling faintly, trying to alleviate his concerns, M'erryne replied, "I will be fine Daniel Jackson. Do not worry. But now, I am tired…" she began to move her drawings to the bedside table as she spoke.

Daniel stood quickly, helping her with the papers. "Rest. I'll be back later when you're feeling better. Dr. Fraiser would have my head if we wore you out so soon after you'd woken up."

Glancing back over his shoulder as he left, he resisted the urge to turn back, take her hand and tell her everything was going to be all right. First of all, he told himself he didn't know her well enough to be that forward, and secondly, there was no way that he could guarantee it. Based on what he knew of the Gua'ould. From what he could tell, she knew it too. Sighing, Daniel left the infirmary and went to his office to work on his mission report and to do a little research on Neper.