Chapter 3

Jack dropped down next to Daniel and took off his pack. "How we doin'?" he asked Daniel, but looked at the girl.

"I think we're pretty scared at the moment," Daniel said, squeezing her hand again.

"Well, we just need to stay quiet," Jack said putting his finger to his lips, still looking at the young child.

The girl appeared even more frightened now.

"Everything's going to be fine," Daniel reassured her in a soft voice.

"Yeah," Jack whispered to her, "You know, you should listen to Daniel. He's a pretty smart guy." Daniel looked at him with some surprise. Perhaps that was his way of apologizing for treating Daniel the way he had earlier.

Jack listened carefully to what was going on above them and then put his finger to his lips again. They could hear footsteps.

Daniel looked back down at the girl once he realized she was beginning to move. She had started rocking back and forth. Daniel wasn't sure what was going on. As the footsteps got closer and louder she took both of her hands, leaving Daniel's hand empty, and placed them firmly over her ears.

Daniel tapped Jack on the arm and pointed to her. Jack looked at the girl and then at Daniel with raised eyebrows. Daniel, looking back at her, slowly put his arm around her, hoping to give her some comfort. She was still rocking, but not quite as rapidly now.

Once the Jaffa had all passed by and Jack couldn't hear their footsteps any longer, he signaled to Daniel and the girl to still keep quiet as he silently pulled himself up back by the bushes. He peered through and saw the last of the Jaffa in the distance. When they were out of sight, he radioed Sam in a low voice. "Carter, they just passed out of sight here. I'd guess there's about 40 of them. Once they pass you and are through the 'gate, let us know. We'll slowly make our way toward the 'gate, maintaining radio silence until we hear from you. O'Neill out."

"Copy that, sir. Carter out."

Daniel looked at Jack. "We're going to move from our hiding spot?"

"Yeah. This stream bed goes in the general direction of the 'gate. We'll just walk slowly - and quietly - down it until we hear from Carter," Jack said as he jumped back down next to Daniel. "If she gets in trouble, I don't want to be far behind."

"Ahh," Daniel replied. He then looked back at the girl who was still rocking slightly with ears covered. He gently pulled her hands down. "It's OK now. They're gone." She looked deeply into his eyes as she had before. "You're going to be fine. We'll be home soon." She looked somewhat consoled. "Can you walk? Or do you need me to carry you again?" She thought for a moment. She then slowly stood up and reached for his hand. "Good," he said, smiling in relief. He and Jack put on their backpacks. Daniel took the girl's hand in his and said, "We still need to be quiet, though." He figured at this rate she wasn't going to make any noise, but it couldn't hurt to let her know the situation, just in case.

"Let's go," Jack ordered softly.

ooOoo

Sam was slumped down behind some thick bushes when the Jaffa walked by her. Thankfully they seemed totally oblivious to her presence. Once they went through the 'gate, Sam let out a big sigh of relief. She got on her radio. "They're gone, sir."

ooOoo

"Sweet," Jack returned. "We're about a third of a mile away from the 'gate now. We'll meet you there."

"Yes, sir."

Jack, Daniel, and the girl climbed out of the stream bed and got back on the original path to the 'gate.

"Let's pick up the pace." Jack said.

Daniel did so, making sure the girl was all right walking at a faster speed. She had her hand in his again. "So," he began, "do you feel like telling me your name yet?"

The girl just walked, keeping up with the men, but did nothing else other than stare straight ahead.

Jack glanced at her. "I don't think she feels like talking yet."

"I guess not," Daniel said as he watched her with concern written on his face.

ooOoo

The three of them met up with Sam at the Stargate, dialed home, and sent their remote code through. Sam was happy to see the girl was at least willing and able to walk.

The girl was confused and frightened as she looked at the event horizon of the wormhole. She held Daniel's hand with both of hers now as they stood looking at the 'gate.

Daniel knelt down next to her to look her straight in the eyes. "It's OK," he said, hoping to reassure her. "Our home is just through there. I know it looks kinda scary, but it's not." He tried to figure out from the look on her face if she understood.

The girl stared at the 'gate for a moment and then looked back at Daniel. She didn't seem convinced that it was safe.

Jack motioned for Sam to go on through the 'gate, and she did. He then walked over to Daniel and the girl. He leaned down by them so he could look the girl in the face. "Hey," he said quietly. "You can trust us. . . . I'm Jack, by the way."

She just looked blankly at him.

"Come on," said Jack, "It's actually kinda fun." He held out his hand for her to take. "It only takes a few seconds. And Daniel and I will be with you the whole time." He stood up straight, hand still outstretched toward her.

The girl looked up at Jack with a curious face. Daniel stood up, taking only one of her hands in his and motioned for her to take Jack's hand. She slowly did so.

"OK," said Daniel as they walked toward the 'gate. They paused at the event horizon. "Ready?" he asked her. She looked at him with doubt, but nodded slowly. "Here we go," he said as they walked into the wormhole.

ooOoo

Sam came through the 'gate at home. General Hammond was right there waiting near the bottom of the ramp. Teal'c was there too with one of his hats on, covering the gold emblem on his forehead. The medical team was also there, ready to go.

"Where are the Colonel and Dr. Jackson?" Hammond asked.

"They're right behind me, sir," she said as she walked down the ramp towards the General. "They were trying to reassure the girl we found that it was safe to go through the 'gate. She looked pretty scared."

A few seconds later the trio came through the Stargate.

"See?" Daniel said to the girl. "It wasn't that bad, was it?"

Jack let go of the girl's hand and walked toward Hammond. "I assume Teal'c filled you in, sir?"

"Yes he did, Colonel. Now, what about this little girl?" Hammond replied, glancing over at her. She had the hand that had held Jack's on her stomach now as she and Daniel were making their way down the ramp.

"Well, sir, Daniel hasn't been able to get anything out of her –"

Just then the child let go of Daniel's hand and threw up on the ground at the end of the ramp.

Daniel bit his lower lip and looked up at the General apologetically.

Jack turned to look at the mess on the floor and then back at Hammond. "Uh . . . let me rephrase that, sir . . ."

Dr. Fraiser rushed up to the girl to take a look at her. The girl quickly stepped back from her.

"It's OK," said Daniel. "She's a friend. She just wants to make you feel better."

"That's right," said Janet, seeing the fear in the girl's eyes. "I'm Dr. Fraiser."

Janet turned to one of the medics and asked for a cloth. The medic tossed one to her. She began wiping off the girl's face. The girl recoiled back and hid behind Daniel. She was obviously overwhelmed by all that was happening around her. She was breathing heavily and rapidly.

Daniel turned around and knelt in front of her, avoiding the mess on the ground. "I know you're scared, but you're safe here. You have to trust -" Just then the girl looked as though she was going to faint. Daniel caught her as her body went limp. "Janet!"

"All right, pick her up," she ordered Daniel. "Let's get her to the infirmary, stat!"

Daniel did as she had asked and ran with Janet and the medics toward the infirmary.

The others stared from the embarkation room as they hurried away.

Hammond looked at the other three members of SG-1 and said, "Debriefing in one hour." He then began walking toward the infirmary.

"Yes, sir," Jack said.