Daniel stared.

"What did you just say?"

Unruffled, Jamal shrugged.

"We do not use the Stargate, Doctor Jackson."

"Daniel," Daniel said, absently. "You can call me Daniel…"

"Daniel."

"What Daniel's asking, Jamal, is what you meant when you said you were related to the people who built the Stargates…?"

"We are descended from them."

"You are Ancients?" Teal'c asked.

Jamal looked at him curiously; obviously uncertain about the Jaffa who did not seem to be like the other Jaffa he had heard of. Then he shook his head.

"My people are descended from them, but no, we are not Ancients."

"But-"

"We are called the Proginai."

Daniel frowned.

"That's Latin."

"Sounds Greek to me," Jack said, unimpressed. He looked back at the Stargate. "Jamal…? Are you sure we can't get back to our world with the Stargate right now?"

The young man shook his head.

"It would be a disaster if you tried, Jack. Really."

"If he's right about the gravitational flux, then there's every chance that we could end up anywhere, Colonel," Carter agreed.

"And we're sure he's right?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

"Wait," Daniel said, interrupting. "Tell me more about your people, Jamal. If you know that you're descended from them, then you must know about the Ancient's technology…"

"We know some things, yes…" Jamal said. "But-"

"We really can't get home?" Jack asked, interrupting.

"Not at the moment, I am afraid."

Jamal didn't seem at all concerned or annoyed by the fact that Jack kept interrupting. In fact, he seemed more amused than anything. He was certainly far more patient than Daniel, who frowned at O'Neill.

"Jack…"

"I was just asking."

Jamal smiled.

"Please. My village isn't far from here, and you will be far more comfortable there than you will be sitting here."

"We can talk there," Daniel agreed. It would be better than standing around in the dark.

"But…" Jack frowned.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked curiously, wondering why he was so hesitant. She knew it wasn't Jamal; he wasn't watching the young man like he would have someone he didn't trust, and he wasn't being hostile – which would have been another indication that Jack didn't trust or like him.

O'Neill sighed.

"Nothing." He looked at Jamal. "Lead the way."

Jamal smiled.

"It won't be too long, Jack. You'll be home before you know it."

With that, he turned and headed back the way he'd come, gesturing for them to follow. Daniel hurried to catch up, clearly hoping to continue the conversation, while Jack hung back a little.

"Seriously…" Sam said, softly, hooking her arm through his as Teal'c started walking as well. "What's wrong?"

"We're not going to be home any time soon…"

"It won't be that long. It's not like you have a dog or anything that you forgot to feed…"

"But it's Christmas Eve."

"You're worried about the orphans?"

"No. If we don't get back, Hammond will arrange for someone else to hand out the toys." Of course, Hammond was probably already aware that they hadn't ended up where they were supposed to be, and undoubltedly had people already working on the problem.

"What is it, then?"

"This isn't how I wanted to spend Christmas. I-"

"Come on, guys!" Daniel called back, interrupting. He was easily seen walking beside Jamal, the light of the torch illuminating both of them clearly.

"Come on," Carter said. "I could use something warm to drink."

Grumbling to himself and glancing once more at the idle Stargate, Jack finally let her pull him away, and they headed after the others.

OOOOOOOOO

"This is your village?"

Jamal smiled, standing beside Daniel and the rest of SG-1 at the top of a small hill that overlooked a little valley. Daniel had expected a small collection of huts – maybe even thatched cottages – surrounding a couple of town squares with maybe a community fire or something. What they got was something far different.

The village was well spread out, covering most of the little valley, and there wasn't a fire in sight – aside from Jamal's torch. What there were, were what looked like regular street lights lining straight and tidy roads running through the village. The very large village.

"It looks like home, almost…" Sam said, just as surprised as Daniel.

"Yeah."

"Not what you expected?" Jamal asked, amused.

"No."

"Come. The elders told me to bring you to them so you could be introduced."

"Elders?"

"Our ruling body. You'll see."

With that, he started down the hill toward the brightly lit buildings, content that the others would follow. Which they did after only an instant.

"This should be fun," Jack said, with a considerable lack of enthusiasm.