A/N 2 chapters for the price of 1! And a wee Ship ahoy! More like a Greek fishing boat really.

Chapter 14

General George Hammond tapped his desk impatiently. SG1 were never late. Well, that wasn't true. They were frequently late, but usually had a very good reason. He got up and strode into the gate room, where Walter Harriman sat at the dialling computer.

"Dial the co-ordinates to SG1's mission planet, Sergeant."

"Yes sir."

X x x x x

Wilkes leapt up as a strange sound came from behind him. His men got up too and looked around.

"Devil work!" A man gasped as the third chevron locked on the stargate. The men climbed onto their horses and Wilkes felt an urge to take charge of the situation.

"Nonsense. The sheriff has blessed the land – no devil works here."
"What about the outlaws!"

"And this forest!" Cried another.

The seventh chevron locked and the wormhole engaged. Panicked, the men fled rapidly, leaving Wilkes and his horse by themselves. He stared terror-stricken at the event horizon, before scrambling onto his horse and following his men.

X x x x x

"Sierra Gulf Wun, this is Stargate Command, do you read?" Walter's voice spoke out into the radio.

General Hammond waited tensely for a response. A smile broke over both their faces as Colonel O'Neill's voice crackled over the radio.

"Yo, Sergeant."

Hammond moved over to the radio and barked his reply. "Colonel O'Neill you're four hours overdue, what's going on?"

"Just a little problem sir. Request permission to remain here another 24 hours. Daniel reckons there's a little domestic we need to sort out."

"What's going on Colonel?"

The General heard shouts in the background and Jack's voice sounded again over the radio. "It'll make an interesting debriefing sir. Got to go – back in contact in 24 hours. O'Neill out."

The radio fell silent and Hammond stood there bewildered. Why could he never get a straight answer out of his 2IC? He turned and was back in his office before he realised he hadn't given permission for SG1 to remain.
"Request granted."

X x x x x

It was now midday and Jack ended his conversation with Hammond as the remaining men arrived back from Nott'am.

Daniel was pleased to see Will was among them – bloody but alive.

Will noticed them too. "Robin!" He walked up to SG1. "My liege. Little John. Lady Fitzwalter." He nodded to them all. "The sheriff's men have overpowered the villagers. There will be much bloodshed."

Daniel looked at Jack, who nodded.
"We'll lead you into a rebellion. Tomorrow. The people need to be freed."

Will nodded. "But first we eat. And the friar must see to the wounded."

Will and the men behind him bowed their leave and walked to the friar to get food.

Jack turned to Sam, reminded of her injury. "Are you ok to fight Carter?"

Daniel looked at Sam, concerned, and she shifted sheepishly under his gaze.

"Daniel, sort out Carter's wrist. And get her some decent clothes. As nice as the dress is…" He left the sentence and smiled. "T and I shall go and plot with-" He gestured to the men now eating.

"Will?" Suggested Daniel.

"Yes. Him."

X x x x x

"So, how did you do this?" Daniel asked, looking at Sam's bruised and swollen wrist. They sat at an edge of the clearing, away from the main group, and near a small pool of water.

Sam cleared her throat and smiled. She felt strangely embarrassed in front of Daniel. She bet her dreaming in front of the mirror yesterday had something to do with that.

"I landed on it funny when I jumped off the balcony."

Daniel's eyes jerked up from her wrist and looked closely at hers.

"You jumped? Willingly?" He sounded shocked, and she rolled her eyes.

"You're just like the Colonel. I did look before I jumped."

"Sorry, I just meant…" Daniel averted his eyes to her wrist again. "I'm going to need something to splint this with until we get home. I was coming to get you," he added quietly.

"You can rip the hem of this dress if you want. And I know you were – the Colonel told me. Got a bit testy up there though!" She said, trying to lighten the mood. She felt the air clear a little between the two of them and wondered why it had become strained between her and Daniel.

Daniel got his knife from his vest and gathered some of the blue material into his hands. He carefully cut some long strips of material and smiled when he'd finished.

"There. See, you can hardly see where I did it!"

Sam giggled and Daniel was pleased. He didn't head her giggle very often and it made him proud that she had giggled for him. And on a mission too!

"You'll need something straight for support." Sam mentioned practically.

Daniel nodded. "Shouldn't be a problem in a forest. A good twig will do nicely. I'll be right back."

He stood up and smiled down at her before disappearing into a nearby bush.

Sam had a longing for Daniel to touch her hand again. She shook her head impatiently. Daniel was her friend.
He was being weird as well though, the little voice in her head piped up.
It's this planet, she concluded. Everything will be fine once they got back on base.
What if they didn't, the little voice asked.
'It will' she thought firmly.

Daniel returned and she smiled warmly at him as he sat back down.

"Sam, this place is amazing. I mean, they are actually living out an old folktale. The chances of this happening are – very very small! Anyway. I've got a few sticks. Which ones do you want?" He asked. He was rewarded with another giggle and he chose out two sticks. He dipped the strips of material in the water to cool them and carefully started to bind Sam's wrist.

Sam watched Daniel's hands delicately wrapping the blue strips round her wrist, and released a breath she hadn't realised she was holding as his fingers danced over her hand.

Daniel gently bound Sam's wrist, marvelling at her small hand, and subtly brushing her hand with his fingers as he did so. She gave a small sigh and he stopped.

"Sorry, am I hurting you?" He asked carefully.

"No. I mean, no more than I would expect a broken wrist to hurt. You're being great." Sam fumbled; Daniel's outburst reminding her what a gentleman he was.

Daniel continued binding her hand and she smiled.

Looking up as he worked he saw the smile settle on Sam's face and wondered what she was thinking about. He followed her gaze back down to his hands and gently brushed her hand again.

"Sam, I've-"

Jack bounded up to them and Daniel broke off as his shadow fell over them.

"Guess what!"