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CHAPTER TWO

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Sam watched in amusement as O'Neill and Daniel continued their bickering, collecting their lunch and never skipping a beat. She shook her head; beneath all the arguing---or debating, Sam amended---was a level of comfort and trust, a deep abiding friendship that she wished she had with someone. What the two men shared they shared with no one else, not even with Sam and Teal'c. Their relationship was special, forged years ago when they'd stepped through the Stargate for the first time onto an alien world.

"So we're in agreement then," said O'Neill as he approached Sam's table with Daniel in tow. "You share some of your rock and squiggle wisdom with me and I'll share my fishing expertise with you."

"Agreed."

The colonel sat down next to Teal'c while Daniel sat next to Sam then both men took bites from their respective sandwiches.

O'Neill scowled. "So what are you two still doing here?" he asked around a mouthful of ham and cheese.

"Our female bonding ritual was postponed due to illness," replied Teal'c.

"Oh?"

Sam smiled and shook her head at her big friend. "Cassie's sick, sir, so Janet needs to stay with her," she explained. "What are you two still doing here?"

"We're 'gating out with SG-11 this afternoon," replied Daniel.

"To PJ6-877? I heard they'd found naquada in those caves where Keltar---I mean Korra was hiding. They think this might be a big find."

O'Neill waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, well, that's all very nice for them, but Daniel is going to explore some altar thingy and me? I'm going fishing."

Sam exchanged a glance with Teal'c. "So do you mind if Teal'c and I join you, sir? I'd really love to study the plant life, maybe take some soil samples."

"And I could lend my assistance as needed," interjected Teal'c.

"Okay with me," replied the colonel. "Daniel?"

"Fine with me," said the archeologist with a shrug. He glanced at the big Jaffa warrior. "You were really going to go through with it, the---um---female bonding ritual?"

Sam slapped Daniel's arm. "Hey, you've joined us before and if I remember correctly, you had a pretty good time, too."

O'Neill looked expectantly at the younger man. "Daniel?"

"Well, um---."

"'Well um' what?"

"Sam and Janet made me?"

"Daniel," scolded Sam. "We invited you and you said yes."

"There is no shame in the desire to understand the female Tau'ri better, Daniel Jackson."

Sam looked up at Teal'c. "Thank you."

"We have both experienced O'Neill's male bonding rituals on many occasions so it only seems appropriate to explore the female side as well, does it not?"

O'Neill still stared at the red-faced archeologist, his brows arched high on his forehead. "Daniel?"

"Oh, look at the time," blurted Daniel. He rose to his feet only to have O'Neill grab his wrist staying him.

"We still have three hours, Daniel. Sit---eat."

"I am curious, Daniel Jackson," continued Teal'c as the younger man reluctantly retook his seat. "What are the differences between the two rituals?"

Daniel canted his head, his blue eyes fixed on his tuna sandwich. "Well---um," he began.

"Yes, Daniel---do tell," prompted the colonel.

Sam smiled as she watched her younger friend poke at his sandwich with his finger.

"Do the females imbibe alcoholic beverages?" asked Teal'c.

"Yeah, except instead of cheap beer, they drink fine wine."

"Do they take nourishment?"

Daniel nodded. "Not pizza, though. We had a lovely selection of couscous and---," he faltered as his eyes met O'Neill's amused ones.

"Lovely?" repeated the older man. "And that beer wasn't cheap, by the way."

"Do they have competitions in---belching and flatulence?"

Sam choked on the sip of water she'd taken.

"Teal'c," admonished O'Neill sharply from one side of his mouth.

"No," said Daniel. "No competitions, Teal'c. Just good conversation---and movies, of course."

The big Jaffa tilted his head. "I am inclined to believe I would enjoy the female bonding ritual more so than the male."

O'Neill dropped his fork and it clattered on his plate. "Oh come on, big guy. You mean to tell me you didn't enjoy yourself at my place?"

"I am not saying that at all, O'Neill. Your gathering was indeed enjoyable if not a bit---disconcerting."

"Disconcerting?"

"Daniel Jackson's belching ability was most impressive, however, your ability to---."

"Uh, Teal'c," interrupted the colonel uncomfortably. "Not in the company of a lady, okay?"

"Oh, I've heard it all, sir," chortled Sam. "Literally---except for Daniel's belching ability. I had no idea." She turned to look at her friend to see his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

The archeologist shrugged. "I had one too many beers," he muttered.

"Well you certainly surprised the hell out of me," announced O'Neill. "Where did you learn to do that and more importantly---why?"

Daniel smiled, his eyes remaining downcast. "When I was little, I spent a lot of time with one of my parents' assistants. His name was Yousaf. He and I used to have these---um---competitions, much to my mother's chagrin, I might add."

"Where is he now?" asked Sam.

Daniel's brows puckered. "He died when I was six," he replied uneasily. "In his sleep. He just---didn't wake up one morning."

"I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago, Sam."

A silence fell over the table and Sam glanced at O'Neill, the colonel's sympathetic gaze fixed on their younger friend. She reached over and gently rubbed Daniel's back and was rewarded with a small grateful smile.

The archeologist stood and gathered up the remains of his lunch. "You know, I really have a lot to do before we leave, so if you'll excuse me---."

"Daniel?"

"Yeah, Jack."

O'Neill hitched his head to the side and eyed the younger man worriedly, but said nothing.

Daniel smiled and nodded. "I'll see you later," he replied then turned and walked away.

The colonel sighed then peered down at his half-eaten lunch. "So just so I'm straight on this," he said finally. "We have three days of down-time, three days of freedom from work to do whatever the hell we want---and we're going off-world with Daniel."

"That sounds about right to me, sir," replied Sam.

"I concur."

"Okay, just checking," said O'Neill. He lifted his eyes to look at the door through which Daniel had just passed then refocused on his meal again.

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SG-11 was a raucous bunch; Jack had to give them that. He sat on a log next to the fire listening to Major Frank Hawkins regale them all with stories from boot camp. Everyone was laughing and having a good time including Carter. Teal'c, well Jack thought Teal'c look bemused more than anything else.

Jack turned his head to the young man sitting next to him. Daniel was definitely in a different world than the rest of them at that moment, staring silently into the leaping flames. Then suddenly he rose to his feet and walked quickly out of camp.

"Sir?" prompted Carter on Jack's other side.

"I'll go," replied the colonel quietly. He stood up then followed the younger man out into the night.

The air was crisp and cool, but not uncomfortably cold, the sky overhead crystal clear. He'd only walked a little ways from camp when he came upon Daniel just stretching out on his back on a grassy knoll. Without a word, Jack lowered himself down at his friend's side, pillowed his head on his hands and stared up at the nightscape above him.

"I used to do this with my dad," said Daniel suddenly, his voice so hushed Jack had to strain to hear it.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah---we'd lie out under the stars and he'd show me all the constellations, tell me their stories."

"I did the same thing with Charlie when I took him up to the cabin. I guess all dads do that with their sons."

"I hope so," replied the archeologist wistfully. "When we came back to the States, to New York, I remember how sad I was that we couldn't do this anymore."

"Ah, yeah---all the big city lights."

"Couldn't see a damned thing."

"How long were you in New York, you know---before?"

"Before the---the accident? Only a week or so, I think. It seemed like longer than that to me."

"You were a little kid, Daniel, and apparently none too pleased to be there."

"It wasn't so bad---because they were there with me. After, though---well let's just say everything changed."

Daniel fell silent for a long moment and Jack could hear his uneven breathing as he struggled with his raw emotions, the loss of his wife exposing old hurts. He understood; it still hurt like hell to talk about Charlie. Sometimes the grief could still drop him to his knees.

"That first night in the orphanage, after---I remember curling up in my bed as tight as I could. I thought if I could make myself small enough, they'd forget about me, leave me alone---maybe I could disappear until my parents came back or----well, until someone came back for me. Sometimes I still feel like doing that, you know---disappearing?"

"Geez, Daniel---."

"God, I don't know why I said that; it was stupid. I'm sorry." Daniel sat up and removed his glasses, scrubbing one hand over his face. "What's wrong with me, Jack?" he implored. "I thought all of this was behind me, but losing Sha're---well---."

"Opened up old wounds---its normal, Daniel, there's no rule book that comes with grief," said Jack as he sat up at his friend's side. "I was all over the map after Charlie died, but then---I guess you know that already."

Daniel sighed, put his glasses back on then turned his face up to the stars again. "Thanks for coming here with me, Jack. I really thought I wanted to be alone, but---." He shrugged one shoulder.

"Hey, I'm here for the fishing, Dannyboy."

The archeologist turned his head and a slight smile curved his lips. "Yeah, and I am 'so' looking forward to your lessons, too."

Jack reached over and ruffled his friend's hair playfully. "Probably as much as I'm looking forward to staring at scribbles for hours on end," he retorted without rancor. He squeezed the younger man's nape. "Come on, let's get back before Carter and Teal'c organize a search and rescue."

Daniel nodded then pushed himself to his feet and reached a hand down to help Jack up. The older man took the proffered hand then stood. He took one more look up at the stars then adjusted his cap and turned back toward camp, his friend at his side.

The next morning Jack found himself sitting uncomfortably on the dirt-covered floor of a dilapidated old stone altar, brushing away debris from some intricately carved chicken-scratching.

"Gently," admonished Daniel who sat cross-legged beside the colonel watching his every move like a hawk. "No, no---don't dig, Jack---brush."

"Oh for crying out loud," muttered the older man derisively.

"Look at Teal'c, Jack. See how he's being so gentle? And Sam---look at the way she's caressing---.

"Daniel, so help me," grumbled Jack roughly. "I am 'not' going to caress a wall." He shifted on his haunches and grimaced. "How the hell do you do this all day, anyway?"

"I am finding it quite relaxing, O'Neill," announced Teal'c. The big man sat on Jack's other side, his movements oddly graceful and delicate as he concentrated on several particularly elaborate inscriptions.

"So am I, Colonel. Just slow down and---," began Carter.

"It's a wall, Carter---a 'rock' wall."

"Is 'this' the gentle touch you told me about, Jack?"

"It's a rock wall," repeated the colonel incredulously, his voice pitched a bit higher than he intended.

"It is someone's history, O'Neill."

"Teal'c---."

"What do these mean, Daniel?" interrupted Carter. She sat back and looked at the wall before her, her head canted to one side as she studied the exposed shapes.

Daniel turned his head away from Jack to his other side and reached out a hand, his long fingers immediately ghosting a hair's breadth above the symbols. "Oh," he said with a scowl. "Wow."

"What is it?" asked Jack.

"Um---," began the archeologist narrowing his eyes. "I think it's an evil spirit---a demon."

"In what context is this demon depicted, Daniel Jackson?"

"I'm not sure, actually. I need to see all of the shapes at once in order to decipher their meaning. You see each symbol is a syllable---."

"There's not much here," interrupted Jack earning him a scowl from his archeologist. He leaned back and regarded the entire wall. "Guess these folks didn't have much of a history, eh?"

Daniel pushed himself to his feet then absently brushed his hands over the seat of his pants to wipe away the accumulated dust and debris which clung to them. He moved to the top of the stairs opposite the wall then turned and stared back, sliding his glasses back up the bridge of his nose as he did.

Carter, Teal'c and Jack all scrambled to their feet and joined the archeologist.

"Well?" prompted Jack as he narrowed his eyes at the line of intricate symbols. He turned slightly and leaned his head way over to one side. "What's it say?"

"It's a warning."

"Now how did I know you were going to say that?"

Daniel cast Jack a quick but sardonic glance.

"Of what does it warn, Daniel Jackson?"

The archeologist frowned. "That can't be right," he muttered almost to himself then his eyes darted to his companions. "It says this is a---a prison and that all who enter should be wary."

"A prison?" repeated Carter.

"There's no one here, Daniel," announced Jack as he straightened. "You sure you're reading that stuff right?" He looked around the little altar, opened on all sides except for the side he was currently facing. "No bars, no prisoners---." He waved a hand absently. "A nice view---."

"No, it definitely says 'prison', Jack," replied the younger man assuredly. "Traveler be warned; here stands the prison of the demon of Chege."

"Chege?"

"I'm assuming that's where he or she---or maybe even 'it', came from, Sam."

"Sweet," grumbled Jack. He turned a full circle; nope, certainly didn't appear to be a prison to him. He took off his cap and scrubbed his fingers back and forth through his graying hair then put it back on with a sharp tug. "Well we came, we 'caressed' and now it's time for some real fun. Who's up for some fishing?"

"I was planning to take some soil samples when I finished here, sir," replied Carter. "And study the plant life. It's really quite unique in its---."

"Teal'c, you up for some fishing, big guy?" interrupted the colonel.

"I will accompany Major Carter, O'Neill."

Daniel looked dumbfounded. "That's it?" he squeaked. "Guys, aren't you the least bit curious here?"

"You'd rather look at dirt and weeds than fish?" asked Jack, staring first at the major and then his Jaffa friend, his expression incredulous.

Carter shrugged and Teal'c clasped his hands at the small of his back and canted his head, one brow twitching upward.

"Well, Daniel---I guess it's just you and me then. Now the pupil becomes the teacher."

"Jack---."

"I've already got the bait---dug them up in my flower bed---."

"Jack."

"Of course I brought some lures, too."

"Jack!"

The colonel looked at his young friend with empathy. "Daniel, there's 'nothing' here."

Daniel held Jack's gaze for a moment then he looked down. "I'll just stay for a while," he replied. "I'll join you later, okay?"

"Daniel."

"I won't be long. I just want to make some etchings."

"I will remain and assist you, Daniel Jackson," intoned Teal'c.

"I can stay, too, Daniel," offered Carter.

The archeologist smiled. "No, you guys have been tortured enough---thank you for that, by the way." He motioned absently toward the wall. "But I know you have no interest in this stuff. It's okay---really."

Jack regarded his friend for a long moment then he reached out and squeezed Daniel's shoulder. "I'll try to save some fish for you."

Daniel ducked his head and smiled. "After witnessing your 'gentle' touch, Jack, you won't have to try very hard."

"Hey!"

"I concur, O'Neill."

"Teal'c---aht," said the colonel sharply, his index finger extended. "Not a word, Carter---not one word."

"But I wasn't going to say anything, sir," replied Carter innocently then she winked at Daniel.

Jack shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder just who's in charge here," he grumbled.

"Why---that would be you, Jack," stated Daniel then he covered his mouth with his hand. "Not," he muttered.

Carter snorted and Teal'c canted an amused brow.

"No respect," declared Jack with a dramatic flop of his hands. "I get no respect."

"Go fish, Jack."

"Are you certain you do not require assistance, Daniel Jackson?"

"I'm sure, Teal'c, but thanks."

Carter reached out and rubbed Daniel's arm. "See you later then, okay?"

The archeologist nodded. "At lunch."

Jack watched as his second-in-command and his warrior friend moved down the stone steps to begin their trek across the small clearing in which the altar stood. He turned back to Daniel and regarded the younger man speculatively.

"What?" demanded the archeologist. He knelt by his backpack and rifled around in its innards apparently searching for something. "I'm used to doing this stuff alone."

"I can stay, you know."

Daniel shrugged. "Go fish, Jack. This will only take me a few minutes then I'll do my darnedest to soak up all your---um---expertise." He pulled out a field journal, set it on the stone floor then dug in his pack for something else.

Jack turned to go then cast a final look over his shoulder. Daniel was still busy digging around in his over-stuffed pack. The colonel shook his head with affection; Daniel never needed half the stuff he toted around with him.

The archeologist pulled out a hard-covered folder and held it up triumphantly. "Here you are," he announced then his eyes found Jack's. "You still here?"

"Just on my way---I'll have your fishing pole waiting, but 'you' get to bait the hook."

"Bait the hook?" gulped the young man.

"Oh, it's great, Daniel and its all part of the exhilarating experience that is fishing."

Daniel bobbed his head slowly. "Right---exhilarating---gotcha."

The colonel hitched his head and grinned. "Don't take too long." Then he left his friend and headed to the crystal blue pond that bordered one side of the little clearing, his brown eyes already focused intently on the fishing gear he'd left there earlier.

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CONTINUED

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