Part seven – Pack

"You want to do what?" Jack exclaimed.

"I want to go back to P4X-523," Daniel repeated calmly, ignoring the incredulous stares being directed at him from his teammates.

"Daniel, we were there five minutes before you got bitten by the alpha wolf," Sam reminded him. "Why would you want to go back?"

Daniel hesitated, looking down at his hands. "It's hard to explain, but I think what happened was just a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" Jack repeated in disbelief. "It attacked you and turned you into a werewolf."

"I wasn't attacked," Daniel corrected. "When I got down at eye-level and put my hand out, it may have been misinterpreted as a request to join their society. I almost got a sense of ritual to it, like it was something they'd done before. The alpha was startled when we reacted negatively. What if they just thought I was asking to join the pack?"

His friends were silent for a minute, exchanging glances. "I never thought of that," Sam admitted.

"Are you sure?" Jack asked, looking extremely way about the idea. "If they want to hurt you for running off-"

"They can't," Daniel interrupted. "I think I've pretty much proved I can't be killed easily, and any injury is likely to be temporary. I'm more worried they'll try to change you as well, but as long as you don't get as close to them as I did you should be okay."

"Should be?" Jack repeated again.

Daniel gave him a sly look. "Don't worry, Jack, I'll protect you from the big, bad wolf." Before Jack could sputter out an indignant response, Daniel had a head start down the corridor.

Behind him, the rest of the team exchanged amused looks. "Do you really think Hammond will let us go back there, sir?" Sam asked.

"Well," Jack replied after a moment, "if he doesn't, Daniel's reputation of being the most manipulative person I've ever met will be taken down a notch. Betcha ten bucks we go back there by tomorrow."

"I can't believe this," Sam said later that afternoon, standing in front of the Gate as it dialed. Ignoring Jack's smug smile, she stuffed a ten dollar bill in his hand. Teal'c pretended he hadn't noticed, and Daniel hid a laugh under the guise of a sneeze.

With the usual loud roar, the Gate kawooshed open and SG-1 headed out.

The planet was exactly how they left it, wolves around the Gate and all. The military members of the team went on alert as they saw they were surrounded, but true to form, Daniel immediately approached the big white alpha and kneeled down to eye level. He bowed his head, and received a reciprocal response from the alpha.

Daniel was only slightly surprised when several of the surrounding wolves abruptly shifted form, becoming something halfway between wolf and humanoid. The alpha himself remained in wolf form, and Daniel suspected he might not be able to shift at all. Behind him, the team tensed and tightened their grips on their weapons at this unexpected development, knowing that they would be pretty much useless anyway if the natives were hostile.

The werewolves ignored the team's weapons, focusing all their attention. "Welcome back, D'an'l," a female next to the alpha spoke up, inclining her head. "We have waited long for your return. Are you finally ready to join us?"

"Yeah, about that..." Jack started, but fell silent at a look from Daniel.

"I'm sorry," Daniel apologized to her, realizing that she had to be the pack's beta female. "I'm afraid that our first meeting was a...misunderstanding."

The alpha barked out a command to explain, green eyes examining the man in front of him.

"We were not aware of your customs and rituals," Daniel elucidated. "I did not intend to offer myself to be changed; I was only attempting to communicate. I understand now how my actions were seen through your eyes, and I apologize for the confusion."

The beta frowned. "You do not intend to join us? The change cannot be reversed, and you are without those of your own kind."

They'd suspected there was no cure, but hearing it said straightforwardly like that made it seem much more final. "Yes, I know," Daniel said regretfully. "If the circumstances were different, I would be glad to join you." He glanced back at his team, who were watching the exchange with concern. "The truth is, I already have the best packmates I could ever ask for. I may be different from them now, but I would never give them up for anything."

"Why did you come to our world if you did not intend to join us?" the beta questioned suspiciously.

"We're travelers," Daniel explained. "We explore other worlds and make allies with some of the cultures we encounter, as long as they are honorable. We were sent to this planet to scout it out and discover if it had any valuable resources. Now that we know you're here, we won't impose on your sovereignty."

The werewolves exchanged looks, and the alpha wuffed quietly. "On behalf of this pack, I offer you our most sincere apologies," the beta said, her expression shifting from suspicion to regret. "We did not know."

"Hey, it's okay," Jack butted in. "We've seen worse."

"You intend to remain among humans?" the beta asked Daniel, giving Jack only a small nod to indicate she'd heard him.

"Of course," Daniel replied, frowning slightly.

The alpha made a snorting sound to his beta female. She then approached Daniel and touched the arm of his BDUs. "This clothing is inadequate for shifting," she declared, eyeing it skeptically. "If you would permit it, we would gladly furnish you with suitable cloth that will change shape as you do."

Sam's eyes lit up at the mention of this new technology. "You mean it actually shifts form along with the wearer?"

The beta pondered this. "Somewhat," she said at last. "Some changes will be impossible, but the fabric knows what shape to take to be most comfortable and convenient. We can supply you with as much as D'an'l requires. It is the least we can do in reparation for our error."

"Thank you," Daniel said. "I appreciate that." Inwardly, he was cheering. Yes! No more embarrassingly ripped pants!

End part seven.