Chapter 8

Maylin had wanted to rest for a while, so Daniel went back to his office. He had a pile of work he needed to catch back up on.

After a couple of hours of working, Sam came in his office. "What'ca doin'?" she asked playfully.

"Trying to catch up on some work," he said, not even lifting his head to acknowledge her.

"Well, that'll have to wait for a while," she said with a grin on her face.

"What?" he asked as he finally looked up at her. He noticed that she had her jacket on.

"Come on Daniel, it's time for dinner and the family gathering."

He smiled with curiosity. "The what? What are you talking about?"

Sam grabbed his jacket that was lying nearby and threw it at him. He caught it.

"Come on!" she called as she went out the door.

Daniel sat still for a second, staring at the doorway. Then he decided he was just too curious about this 'family gathering' to pass it up. He put on his jacket and followed Sam.

She was waiting a few feet outside his door for him. Once he came out into the hall she led him to the guest quarters where Maylin was staying. The girl sat on the bed in the quarters with a jacket on.

"Sam?" Daniel said.

"Come on, or we'll be late."

Daniel shrugged at Maylin. He took her hand and they followed Sam as she continued down the hall.

They went up to the surface and out to Sam's car.

"Sam, will you please tell me what's going on." Daniel was very confused.

"It's OK, Daniel. Maylin has permission to leave the base. And I already told you what's going on: the family gathering," Sam said as she got into her car. "Now get in."

Daniel looked at Maylin and shrugged again. "OK."

They got in the car and Sam drove them to Jack's house.

Sam pulled into the driveway. "Let's go," Sam said as she got out of her car.

"This is Jack's house," Daniel explained to Maylin as they got out of the car. "Although, I have no idea why we're here."

Sam went up to Jack's front door and knocked on it. Daniel and Maylin joined her there just as Teal'c, with a hat on his head, opened the door.

"Hello," Teal'c said with a slight smile on his face.

Maylin didn't seem to be paying much attention to what was going on. She seemed to be off in her own world. Daniel, who stood behind her, put his hands on her shoulders. " Maylin, this is Teal'c. Teal'c, this is Maylin."

She looked up at him. Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice the bit of the gold emblem that was peeking from below the brim of his had. Or if she did, she didn't connect it with those who had attacked her village.

Teal'c bowed his head. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Teal'c motioned for them to come into the house, closing the door behind them.

Jack was standing by the dinner table. It was nicely decorated with a lovely tablecloth, lit candles as a centerpiece, nice dishes, and warm food all around.

"Hurry up, Daniel. The food's gettin' cold," Jack said.

Daniel looked at Sam as she took off her jacket and then helped Maylin take hers off. "OK, I give up. What's going on?" he said.

"You said we were your family, right?" Sam said as Teal'c took the jackets from her and hung them up in the front hall closet.

Daniel nodded.

"Well, we all feel the same way. And we know that Maylin needs a family to be a part of now, so, here we are," Sam answered.

"Can we eat now that we have all that straightened out?" Jack asked.

Daniel smiled playfully as he looked at Jack and shook his head. "There's one in every family."

Jack smirked at him.

Sam began taking Daniel's jacket off as he looked around the room at those that surrounded him, ending with Maylin. His jacket was off now and Teal'c was hanging it in the closet.

"Let's eat," Daniel said as he took Maylin's hand and headed toward the table.

They all sat around the table: Daniel, Maylin, Sam, Teal'c, and Jack. There they were: a family.

They each had a wine glass as a part of their place settings. Of course, Maylin and Teal'c had apple cider in their glasses rather than wine.

"A toast!" Sam said.

"Yes," replied Daniel.

All but Maylin began picking up their glasses. Sam motioned for her to do as the others.

"To new friends," Sam said as she looked at Maylin.

"To food that's not too cold to eat," said Jack.

The others gave him a funny look.

Daniel looked around at his friends once more. "To family," he said.

"To family!" the other three member of SG-1 said as they all clanged their glasses together.

That night they had a delicious dinner and wonderful conversation. Maylin was very quiet during her time there, but she did grin a few times. She liked listening as they recounted old stories. She was beginning to like these people.

ooOoo

The next morning Daniel went to see General Hammond about sending Maylin to Edora. He agreed that sending her there was probably the best thing for her. He and Jack were scheduled to take her there at 1100.

ooOoo

Daniel knocked on the door to the guest quarters. There was no answer.

"Maylin? It's Daniel. Can I come in?"

There was still no answer.

"Maylin? Are you all right?"

Nothing.

"I'm coming in," Daniel said and then opened the door slowly.

Maylin was lying on the bed, tears in her eyes.

Daniel walked up to the bed and sat on its edge next to her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Are you sending me away today?"

"If you're asking if I'm taking you to Edora today, the answer is yes."

"I don't want to leave," she said through the tears.

Daniel sighed. "I know."

"I liked being there with your family. It reminded me of . . ." She got choked up and couldn't continue her sentence.

"Look," he said, "that isn't just my family. It's yours too. We will always be your family."

She looked at him with a bit of hope in her eyes. "Really?"

"Yes. And I'm sure the Edorans will become family to you as well."

"You promise you will visit?"

"Yes, I promise."

She began wiping the tears off her face. "Will you tell me more about the stories you all were talking about?"

"The stories from last night? Well, most of them are pretty long."

She looked disappointed.

"But, I think I can think of a couple that aren't so long."

She managed a bit of a smile.

Daniel told her a couple of their missions that were on the lighter and slightly duller side.

ooOoo

At 1100, Jack, Daniel, and Maylin were ready to go through the Stargate.

"Well," Jack said quietly to Daniel as they waited for all the chevrons to be encoded, "Laira did ask me to give her a child."

Daniel shot him a look as he remembered what Jack had told him about what had occurred during the time he was stranded on Edora.

"What?" Jack said with a bit of mischievous grin. "She did ask me."

ooOoo

The three of them went through the 'gate to Edora. They found Laira in the village. She and Jack greeted each other and hugged. Daniel then introduced Laira and Maylin to each other. Next, Jack took Laira aside and told her the basics of how they had met Maylin and that she needed a new home.

"We were wondering if she could stay here," Jack said to her.

"Of course!" said Laira "We would be happy to have her."

"Good," Jack said. "Thank you."

The two of them walked over to Daniel and Maylin.

"Everything's all set," Jack told them.

ooOoo

The four of them walked back to the Stargate. Maylin stayed right by Daniel's side the whole time, firmly holding his hand. Once they arrived at the 'gate, Daniel let go of her hand to dial home and send SG-1's code through.

Maylin didn't want Daniel to leave. She grabbed his hand again and held it tight.

Daniel, sensing her feelings, knelt down beside her.

"Maylin, I have to go now," he said. He wanted to stay longer, but SG-1 had a mission to go on in a couple of hours.

She looked down at the ground.

Daniel took the hand that wasn't holding hers and made her look at him, gently cupping her chin. "I know this is hard. But remember, we're family. I'll be back to visit."

She paused and then nodded as tears began to run down her cheeks.

"Come here," he said as he began giving her a hug.

When they were done with their hug, Daniel kissed her on the forehead and stood up. He then put Maylin's hand in Laira's.

The two watched as Daniel and Jack walked up to the 'gate. They both stopped just at the event horizon and looked back at the friends they were leaving. Jack waved to the two of them and then went on through the 'gate. Daniel looked at Maylin for a moment. He then looked at Laira and said, "Thank you." She smiled and bowed her head slightly in response.

He looked back at Maylin. "I'll see you soon." He then turned and went through the 'gate.

THE END

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A/N: While this isn't the first fanfic I've written, it was the first Stargate story that was conceived in my mind.