&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&

CHAPTER TWO

&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&

Jack scowled. "Excuse me? Did you just say that 'you're' the Nir'auc?" he clarified tightly.

Caal exchanged a confused look with Dala then turned his emerald eyes back to the colonel. "Would not anyone who traveled through the Gateway know of us?"

"They would not," replied Teal'c then he canted his head. "You chose the name of a Jaffa warrior---why?"

Dala's eyes widened. "You are Jaffa, aren't you?" She pointed at her own forehead. "Your marking is different than his, but you are Jaffa."

"Indeed I am."

"Oh, this is remarkable. High Chancellor Thorgen will want to meet you. You will be revered here."

Jack reined in his impatience and tapped his watch. "We're on sort of a tight schedule here, kids, so you mind?"

Caal nodded with understanding. "We were not always called the Nir'auc, but that is all Dala and I have ever known. Well over a century has passed now since our namesake's sacrifice. Legend has it that Nir'auc returned hundreds of our people through the Gateway, freeing them from slavery under the evil god Cronus. He paid for his rebellion with his life. We took his name as our own to honor him."

Teal'c bowed his head. "Nir'auc would indeed be honored."

"Okay, all this---reverence is very touching, but let's get back on track here," Jack interjected curtly. "Have either of you heard of a woman called Janar?"

Dala's eyes widened. "You must not speak of her, sir."

"And why not?"

Caal grabbed his wife's hand protectively. "Janar is the leader of the Domorakai, the one who ordered them to slaughter us."

"Say again? She ordered them to slaughter you?"

"Yes. We gave shelter to her son."

Teal'c lifted his chin and inhaled sharply. "Karis," he said.

Dala nodded. "He came here five years ago through the Gateway and asked to live among us. High Chancellor Thorgen allowed him to stay."

"Five years you say?"

"Yes. He warned us that his mother would search for him, that she would seek retribution against those who sheltered him, but Thorgen could not turn such a lost soul away. He was confident that we could protect him from Janar, that a mother would never willingly do harm to her own child. Then one day, just over a year ago, the Domorakai came." Dala stepped closer to her husband and grabbed his arm, her other hand still cocooned tightly within the man's.

Caal whispered something soothing to his wife then turned back to Jack and Teal'c. "Dala's father was killed in the battle that followed. My own mother was wounded." He lifted his chin with pride. "We are a strong people and we are formidable warriors---'were' formidable warriors. Many Domorakai fell that day."

"And what became of Karis?" asked Teal'c.

"He fought beside our people. The Domorakai were all but defeated," continued Dala then she visibly shuddered. "That is when the second wave came through the Gateway. Janar was with them, leading them. They surrounded our warriors and Thorgen knew we were hopelessly out-numbered. Karis told his mother he would go with her willingly if she did not allow another drop of Nir'auc blood to spill. But she---." The young woman faltered and clung to her mate.

"She lied," Caal said simply. "She made Karis kneel before her and then she approached him, lifted his chin and smiled into his eyes---then she leaned down and kissed his forehead---and slit his throat."

Jack rolled his eyes skyward and frowned. "Oh for the love of---," he hissed bitterly. He set his jaw, his brow puckered. "Don't tell me---after that little show of motherly affection, Janar ordered her goons to attack."

Caal nodded. "Many Nir'auc died," he replied. "When the Domorakai finally left us, our rivers ran red. We buried our dead and made an oath that we would follow a righteous path, worship at the Gateway so that no more evil would come through it. We live in peace now. There are no longer civil wars amongst our people---and the Domorakai have never returned."

Jack looked around and heaved a heavy sigh then looked at his warrior friend. "Sounds pretty convincing, don't you think?"

Teal'c nodded. "I do not believe they are lying, O'Neill."

Caal threw his shoulders back indignantly. "I assure you we have only conveyed the truth."

Jack waved a placating hand. "Easy there big fella, we know. We were just told a different story by our mutual friend."

"As we have told you, she is 'not' our friend and if she is yours, you are not welcomed here," retorted Dala, her cheeks reddening in anger. She stepped away from her husband but still held his hand tightly; Jack couldn't help but be impressed by the kid's feistiness.

"Janar is not our friend," replied Teal'c. "She is in fact our enemy. She is holding two of our own as hostages on Domorakai."

Dala's eyes widened then she lowered them ruefully. "I am sorry."

"Why would she send you here?" asked Caal.

"We have clearly been sent on an idiot's errand," replied Teal'c tersely.

Jack took off his cap and scrubbed his fingers harshly back and forth across his scalp. He didn't bother to correct his friend; an idiot or a fool, Jack knew he was both. He put his cap back on with a sharp tug then looked to the sky, squinting at the blue; Janar had obviously wanted Daniel and Carter for something and he'd fallen for her ruse hook, line, and sinker. His stomach flip-flopped; without Karis or another Domorakai, the tok wouldn't work.

And without the tok, they had no way to return to their friends.

&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&

Daniel stood stock still, his stomach roiling in response to what he beheld. "What the hell have you done, Janar?" he whispered.

The premier turned to look at him, her expression expectant

"Oh, God," continued the archeologist as realization dawned. "Specimens---this is what you're going to do to us?"

"You will make lovely additions to my collection," replied Janar. She walked to the first large showcase and ran her hand lovingly across its glass front. "This is a Zirnoc. It is a fierce feline indigenous to a world far from Domorakai. My lord Cronus brought it to me as a gift. It proved to be a great challenge in the hunt, killing three of my sentries before I finally dropped it."

Daniel looked at Sam who returned his gaze with wide blue eyes.

"All of these were gifts from my god," continued Janar wistfully. "As I said, he is quite good to me."

The archeologist watched the woman walk to the next case in which stood a humanoid female, her hands lifted defensively in front of her body, forever frozen in time.

"You kill people for sport?" asked Sam incredulously.

Janar turned her eyes on the major. "If they are not smart enough to escape me Major, then they do not deserve to live." She looked back at her prize. "This one was an easy kill. She's quite beautiful, don't you agree? My lord only brings me the finest specimens." The woman looked back at Daniel and Sam again. "Just like the two of you."

"We aren't 'gifts' from Cronus," spat Daniel.

"Oh, but you are. You see, after your winged device came through our Stargate, I contacted my god. He told me who you were and that I was allowed only two of you. But he left the choice of which two to me. I chose you, Dr. Jackson, because you are not a warrior like your friends and simply because I find you pleasing to the eye. You have a gentle nature and a pure heart. I will enjoy looking upon you for years to come."

Janar moved to another case in which stood a young Domorakai male in battle gear, an ugly puckered scar visible just above and parallel to his neckline. "This one I found myself," she continued, her voice suddenly laced with venom. "Although he appears to be strong, he was weak. I keep him here as a reminder of a much darker time." She stared into the narrowed lifeless gray eyes with what Daniel could only determine was contempt.

The premier visibly snapped out of her reverie then looked at Sam. "And though your other two friends were 'most' appealing, I chose you, Major, because you are a female warrior like myself. Andbecause I already had a Jaffa and, well---your colonel was simply an annoyance. I would find it unsettling to look upon his face everyday."

Daniel waved his hand absently. "So this whole 'toxin' thing was just a ploy to get Jack and Teal'c to leave us here."

Janar smiled. "Yes," she replied smugly. "You were injected with a harmless solution."

The archeologist turned as a squat sentry brushed past him. The man handed Janar what appeared to be folded garments, bowed in reverence then turned and left the room. The premier separated the bundle of clothes and presented one set each to Daniel and Sam.

"What are these?" asked the major.

"Your clothing. You will be preserved in your original uniforms so they mustn't get bloodstained or damaged in the hunt. You will need to remove your footwear as well."

"And what if we don't go along with this hunt of yours?" asked Daniel crossing his arms over his chest in defiance.

Janar set her jaw. "You really have no other choice, Doctor," she replied tersely. "If you want to leave this place, then besting me in the hunt is the only way to do it."

"And we're supposed to trust that you'll let us leave if we win?"

"You have my word, Major."

"Well excuse us, but your track record for honesty doesn't exactly exude a great deal of confidence," retorted the archeologist.

Janar lifted her chin and regarded Daniel with indignation. "My word is all that you have."

&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&

General George Hammond stared through the protective glass at the Stargate as chevron after chevron lit up. He looked down at the young technician who shook her head in response to his unasked question.

Then the young woman nodded. "It's the Tok'ra's IDC, sir," she announced.

George tucked his chin in surprise. "The Tok'ra? What the devil could they want? Go ahead---open the iris." He turned away from the technician and headed to the stairs that led out of the control room. He took the stairs quickly then turned the corner and entered the big 'gate room where he was quickly surrounded by MPs, their weapons trained on the opening shield.

Moments passed then George's eyes widened as Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c appeared through the event horizon.

"General," greeted Jack tautly. "We've got ourselves a bit of a problem, sir."

"Colonel? What's going on? And where are Dr. Jackson and Major Carter?"

"Well you see, sir, their the 'bit of a problem'," replied the younger man.

"Premier Janar is holding them on Domorakai," explained Teal'c.

"Domorakai?"

"P6R-552," offered Jack helpfully. "Our little 'meet and greet', sir?" He lifted his hands and bent his first two fingers on each in a gesture George had come to know too well.

George looked from Jack to Teal'c then back to the colonel again. "Care to elaborate?"

"I will, sir, but first we need to have the sergeant here figure out how to make this work for us." Jack redirected his focus to Sergeant 'Sly' Siler, who stood just behind George's shoulder, and handed the engineer a small metallic box. "Apparently it acts as sort of a GDO except it's keyed somehow solely to the Domorakai. Janar says only one of her kind can open her 'gate's shielding with it. It must have to do with their physiology or something."

"We detected no shielding on their Stargate, sir," replied Siler.

"I know, Sergeant, but Janar insists they have it." Jack tapped the small device with his index finger. "And without this little baby, we have no way of getting back to Carter and Daniel."

George scowled and turned to Siler. "Run tests on it, Sergeant, any diagnostic you can think of. Figure out how it works then determine if it can be altered. Have Dr. Lee assist you and Dr. Fraiser too if necessary."

"Yes, sir."

"And we're on a tight schedule," interjected Jack. He rubbed his fingers against his forehead. "Janar gave us forty-eight hours of which we've used---." He glanced at his watch. "Oh, about six. Make it a rush job, Sergeant."

Siler nodded. "Yes, sir," he replied obediently then he turned and strode quickly from the 'gate room.

George eyed Jack with concern. "Forty-eight hours for what, Colonel?" he asked, dreading the response.

The younger man sighed tiredly. "Until Daniel, dies, sir."

The general swallowed. "Perhaps we should take this to the briefing room." He watched as Jack pulled his P-90 from around his shoulders and handed it to one of the MPs. Teal'c turned over his staff weapon then both men followed George through the big doors into the corridor.

"So what the hell happened, Jack," prompted the general as they climbed the stairs and entered the briefing room. "When you checked in after your arrival, everything sounded fine."

"Things went south pretty fast, sir," replied the colonel. He moved to a small table and poured himself a glass of water. He drained the glass quickly then slammed it back down on the table in anger. "I never saw it coming, General. Damn it, I should have, too. That's my job. Because of me, Daniel's dying and we're helpless to do anything about it."

"Okay, Colonel. Calm down and just tell me what happened."

Jack remained silent, his stiff back to George as the younger man stared out the window at the Stargate below him. George turned his expectant blue eyes to Teal'c then listened as the Jaffa explained what had transpired, his deep rumbling voice taut with barely controlled anger.

George leaned forward and gripped the back of the chair behind which he stood. "She killed her own son?"

"So it appears, General Hammond."

Jack turned finally and looked at George with weary eyes. "We 'gated from the Nir'auc's home world to Vorash then used the Tok'ra's IDC to get back here, sir. We're hoping we can use that 'tok' thingy to open Janar's 'gate then lead a rescue mission back to Domorakai."

"Why would she send you on a wild goose chase?"

Jack shrugged. "We haven't figured that part out, sir. Obviously she wanted Teal'c and me out of the way. Daniel and Carter are both scientists---maybe she needed some help with something." He waved a hand absently. "She's insane General, how the hell should I know?"

George frowned but let the insubordination slide; his colonel was exhausted, pushed to his limits with worry for his friends, a little defiance was acceptable given the circumstances.

"Perhaps Premier Janar has turned Daniel Jackson and Major Carter over to Cronus," suggested Teal'c.

"But why those two and not you and the colonel?" countered George then he shook his head. "No, she wanted Dr. Jackson and the major specifically and she went to great lengths to get them."

Jack sighed and dug the heels of his hands into his eyes. "I don't care 'why' she wanted them, she's got them and I want them back---alive."

"We all do, Jack," replied George compassionately. "And I'm willing to send every team at my disposal through to P6R-552 to get them."

The colonel dropped his hands and regarded George throughtired eyes. "Thank you, sir," he replied quietly.

"Why don't you two get cleaned up, get something to eat. I'll check in on the sergeant and Dr. Lee, see if they're making any progress."

"Yes, sir." Jack turned to the stairs and began a slow descent.

"Make sure he eats something, Teal'c," said George, his voice pitched for only the Jaffa.

Teal'c raised a brow and canted his head. "I will endeavor to do so, General Hammond."

&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&

Sam's mind was moving a mile a minute as she slowly changed under the watchful eyes of Janar and her sentries into the light-weight pants and tunic the premier had handed her. Her skin crawled in disgust as Janar's eyes traveled first over the major's body then Daniel's, carefully inspecting her two 'gifts'. Or rather, Sam corrected---her prey. She took a deep breath and centered her errant thoughts to the task at hand; getting her friend to safety.

She glanced at Janar. "If we reach the Stargate first, you'll let us both go---I have your word on that."

Janar tipped her chin back and looked down her curved nose at Sam. "You have my word, Major---'if' you reach the Stargate first."

Daniel pulled his tunic on over his head and pulled it down into place. "So how does this---'hunt' work exactly?" he asked.

"You will be taken into the center of the forest and left there. You will be given two hours lead time after which I will begin the hunt. I use an archaic weapon called a delf, a weapon quite similar to the ones used by your kind actually. I find using it to be much more satisfying than anything else."

"Oh boy---lucky us," retorted Daniel.

Janar glowered at the archeologist. "It does not, however, discharge a bullet but a poisoned dart," she continued. She canted her head and arched her delicate brows at Daniel. "The toxin I described to you earlier, Dr. Jackson."

"You slowly paralyze your victims," concluded Sam. "Make them suffer."

"The toxin takes a few hours to kill, yes, but it leaves my prizes undamaged and the hunt can continue until they succumb to its effects. Quite ingenious if you ask me."

Sam set her jaw. "You're insane."

The premier turned her icy gaze to Sam. "Perhaps I will use a bullet to kill 'you', Major. Seeing the hole in the middle of your forehead will be most gratifying."

Daniel cleared his throat. "We 'will' be able to reach the Stargate in the allotted time, won't we?"

"Of course, Doctor," replied Janar as she turned from Sam to Daniel and smiled. "Your confidence is impressive, I will give you that. I will remember it when I come here to gaze upon your preserved body." Her eyes raked over the archeologist. "Perhaps I won't even bother with all of 'your' uniform, Doctor."

The major swallowed hard. "Let's get this over with, Janar," she hissed.

The two team mates were ushered to a small Goa'uld tel'tak outside the back of the big government structure; no doubt another 'gift' from Cronus, Sam thought. She glanced up at the mountains that butted up against the edge of the township, knowing they were headed up there somewhere. She looked at Daniel and he returned her gaze with a tight smile and a slight shrug; they were in this together. Whatever happened, Sam knew they would face it side by side. Daniel wasn't a soldier by nature, but he was strong-willed and able to think on the run, two traits on which she'd be relying.

An hour later, Sam found herself standing in a small clearing with her younger friend. Janar had simply opened the door to the tel'tak, unceremoniously pushed them out then had ordered her pilot to return to the township below.

"So now what?" asked Daniel as he looked around at the thick forest that surrounded them. "She left us with no food, no water, and---," he looked down at his feet. "No shoes."

"We've been in tighter spots."

Daniel looked at Sam incredulously. "We have?" he asked, his eyebrows arching above his glasses.

The major pursed her lips and gave her friend a sheepish look. "Okay, so maybe not."

"Do you know which direction to go?"

"Yep," replied Sam. "That way." She pointed into the dark shadows of the trees. "By my calculations, if we travel through the night, stopping sporadically to rest, we could make it to the Stargate by mid-afternoon tomorrow."

"Home in time for dinner---oh boy."

"If Janar keeps her word, that is."

The archeologist smiled with trepidation. "I wouldn't count on that," he replied simply.

Sam's brows puckered with worry as she held her friend's eyes for a long moment then she looked in the direction she'd just indicated. "We should get going."

"Um---Sam, don't you think we should do something about these?"

The major looked back at Daniel and followed his pointing finger to his bare feet, his toes wiggling in the dirt for emphasis.

Sam looked down at her own bare feet. "Right," she replied. "Good idea."

They tore off their sleeves, wrapped them around so their soles were covered then nodded at each other in satisfaction. Then Sam led the way into the dark forest.

They'd been jogging for quite a while when Sam raised her hand to halt Daniel who was following close behind her. She narrowed her eyes and looked up at the sun.

"What is it?" asked the archeologist as he bent panting, his hands braced against his knees.

"Well, if this planet rotates at about the same rate as Earth then Janar will be starting the hunt soon," Sam replied breathlessly.

Daniel straightened and looked behind him. "Then shouldn't we be covering our tracks or something?"

"I don't think it matters. She knows where we're going. Covering our tracks won't do anything but delay us from getting to the 'gate."

"But what if we don't go to the 'gate?"

Sam looked at her friend askance. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it, Sam. Janar is 'expecting' us to make a run for the Stargate."

"So you're suggesting that we shouldn't?"

"Pretty much."

Sam scowled for a brief moment then her eyes widened. "Oh, I see where you're going. We circle around to the other side of the township and go for the government building."

"Might take a little longer, but we know Janar's not going to let us go and our gear is there---well if we can get to it, that is. It'll also have our GDO."

"Since when did you get to be such a strategic thinker?"

Daniel smiled contritely. "Contrary to what Jack believes, I 'do' pay attention, Sam," he replied. "But don't tell him that. I think he actually likes believing I'm a clueless geek."

"You know that's not true. The colonel is just protective of you---that's all."

"Because he thinks I'm a clueless geek---a royal pain in the ass."

"Daniel."

The archeologist smiled then ducked his head, but Sam knew he was only partially kidding. Somewhere inside, Daniel had always felt like he was lacking in O'Neill's eyes, like he was lacking in the eyes of the entire SGC. He was a civilian outsider in soldier's clothing. Sam hadn't really known how deeply he'd felt that was true until he'd let it slip one evening after one too many beers. After that night, the major had held the fervent hope that one day Daniel would see just what a valuable asset he was, just how unbelievably brilliant, and finally---just how important he'd become to a certain hard-assed CO.

"So from this point on, we cover our tracks?"

Sam snapped out of her reverie then nodded. "But only for the next few hours or so. I have a feeling Janar's very good at her little 'hobby', but if we can hide our trail well enough, she might not figure out where we're going until we've put a safe distance between us and her little hunting party."

"Okay then," replied Daniel with an assured nod then his brow furrowed and he looked around. "Um---Sam, you do know where the township is, don't you, 'cause---um---I haven't got a clue."

Sam snorted at her friend who managed a sheepish grin in response. She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze as she brushed by him then heard him fall into step on her six as they began jogging in the direction of what Sam hoped was their salvation; salvation from the maniacal woman who was currently somewhere behind them---tracking her prey.

&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&

"What the hell does that mean, you don't know how it works?" demanded Jack angrily. "I told you how it works." He looked at Hammond in disbelief and waved his hand at the short scientist. "Who is this geek, General? He's just wasted eight hours---hours, I might add, taken from Daniel's life."

"That's enough, Colonel. I know you're worried about your team mates, but that doesn't give you the right to be disrespectful."

Jack bristled and clenched his teeth. "Yes, sir," he replied curtly.

"This is Dr. William Lee, one of our foremost experts in alien technology," Hammond presented then he turned his gaze to the stocky bespectacled man. "Please explain your findings, Doctor."

Lee shifted uncomfortably on his feet as he avoided Jack's icy glare from across the briefing room table. "Well, uh, General, the sergeant and I have been over this device with a fine-toothed comb and all our results come back the same---we know its blood that triggers it, but we don't know how." He thumbed a switch on the side of the tok and the little box hummed to life. "This little button here has sensors like I've never seen before." He raised his other hand and pinched his index finger and thumb together, narrowing his eyes for effect. "They're microscopic, so tiny---."

"What do the sensors do, Doctor?" interrupted Hammond impatiently.

"Oh, uh---well, they read a person's blood, sir."

"Reads the blood?"

The stocky doctor nodded. "We believe it scans the mineral content right down to trace amounts. The problem is without a sample of Domorakai blood, we can't determine which ones activate the device---uh, trigger the shield---well, given more time maybe we could, but not within thirty-six hours---."

Jack stuck his tongue in the side of his mouth and bit back a harsh verbal retort; the four-eyed geek, he thought. Then he rubbed at his forehead, knowing he wasn't being fair to the other man. Another so-called four-eyed geek had reminded Jack not so very long ago to never judge a book by its cover. The colonel sighed; he'd been lucky enough to become that particular four-eyed geek's closest friend.

"You see, General, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Then we must begin the search for this needle immediately, Dr. Lee, if we hope to save Daniel Jackson and Major Carter," stated Teal'c who stood at Jack's side, his big hands clasped behind his back.

"I'm with Teal'c, General," added Jack.

"You don't understand, Colonel. It could be keyed solely to one particular mineral or a combination of two or more or it could be keyed to a mineral found only in Domorakai blood. We just don't know."

"Do your best, Doctor."

"General, in the short time I've been here, I've enjoyed Dr. Jackson's company immensely. And I've had occasion to talk with the major as well. There's nothing more I'd like than to be able to help get them back, sir---."

"I suggest you get back to work then."

Lee sighed then nodded. "Yes, sir---we'll need to have access to the 'gate to---uh---run tests," he said then he looked at Jack. "Was there anything the premier said, anything at all, no matter how insignificant, that may help us here, Colonel?"

Jack scowled. "Our conversation really didn't center around blood content, Doctor," he snapped tiredly.

"Cronus."

The colonel cast a sideways look at Teal'c. "What?"

"Premier Janar believes Cronus to be her god, O'Neill. Would it therefore not stand to reason that he can raise the shield at will?"

Lee raised his index finger, his eyes widening with interest. "So there could be something in Goa'uld blood that could trigger the device---good, that's good." He turned and headed for the stairs. "And Cronus was in the infirmary so Dr. Fraiser must have blood samples---yes, this is very good."

Jack shook his head as the doctor descended the stairs still muttering. His gaze dropped to his boot-covered foot which he used to kick in frustration at one of the legs of the big table.

"At least the haystack just got smaller, Jack," said Hammond kindly.

"Yes, sir---but we still only have thirty-six hours to find that damned needle."

&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&

Daniel placed his hands at the small of his back and arched, stretching tired muscles as he walked along behind Sam. "What time do you think it is?" he asked.

"Probably a little after midnight," replied the major, her voice hushed then she snorted softly.

"What?"

"Today's my dad's birthday."

In the bright moonlight, Daniel could see his friend's shoulders sag slightly. "Did you two have plans?"

"No. He's off on some all-important mission for the Tok'ra."

"Do I detect ahint of bitterness?"

Sam shook her head, her eyes cast out over the darkened woods ahead of them. "No, I know what Dad does is important. It's just that we missed celebrating so many birthdays over the years, it would just be nice to have one normal little party together."

"Ah---the life of a military family."

"Yep. Dad was gone a lot when my brother and I were growing up, but Mom always tried to do something for us even though he wasn't around. After she died, my brother and I just didn't do anything."

"I'm sorry, Sam."

The major waved a dismissive hand. "Don't be. That's all history now. Dad and Mark made amends and now we've all agreed just to move forward."

"Hey, that's good, right?"

"What about you? Did you have birthday parties?"

"We were usually on a dig so there weren't ever formal parties with other kids or anything, but birthdays were always special."

"How about after they died?"

Daniel bit his lower lip; it still surprised him at how painful it was to think about his parents.

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I'm prying."

"No, no, you're not, Sam. I had a few parties in the orphanage and some of the foster families gave me presents. It was just---different without Mom and Dad."

"Did you celebrate on Abydos?"

Daniel snorted. "Oh, it wasn't so much a birth 'day' as it was a birth 'week' on Abydos."

"Really?"

The archeologist looked up at the stars overhead. "Shar're's birthday's next month," he commented wistfully. "I wonder if she'll be home by then."

"I hope so, Daniel."

They continued on through the forest in silence and Daniel suddenly realized how lucky they were that the moon was so bright; traversing the heavy underbrush would have been impossible without its illumination. They'd stopped covering their tracks just as the sun had set deciding that Janar wouldn't be able to track them easily by moonlight. The going had been rough and Daniel thanked his lucky stars that he'd recently put in some strenuous work-outs with both Jack and Teal'c.

The sun was just beginning to color the sky when Sam stumbled and hit the dirt.

"Hey," yelped Daniel as he knelt by his friend. "Hey, you okay?"

"I---I think so."

The major tried to rise but jerked in pain and sat back down. "I twisted my ankle."

"Okay, okay," soothed the archeologist. "Let me take a look." He carefully inspected his friend's left foot, using his hands as gently as he could to probe around it. "I think you're right---it's just sprained."

Sam lifted her arm. "Here, help me up. We need to keep going."

Daniel obliged his friend and lifted her up then ducked under her arm to steady her. "You really think she's right behind us?" he asked.

"Well, I've been thinking about that and I have a theory," replied the major. "She gave us a two hour lead in late afternoon knowing full well we'd travel through the night. Why?"

Daniel frowned. "Because----," he prompted.

"She's a member of an alien species---," began Sam then she lurched forward as her foot refused to take her weight.

A gun's report split the cool morning air and bark exploded from a tree just over Sam's head or rather, Daniel thought with a shiver, just where Sam's head had been a moment before.

"Run!" hissed the major.

Daniel clamped his hand around his friend's wrist where it grasped his shoulder then tightened his arm on her waist and hauled her forward.

"You were lucky that time, Major!"

The archeologist felt his heart jack-hammering in his chest at the words that carried on the morning breeze; Janar. She'd caught up to them and she fully intended to make good on her threat of killing Sam with a bullet.

Another shot splintered the air and the ground to Sam's right erupted as the bullet impacted. They zigzagged their way through the heavy woods, running just as fast as they could and Daniel lost all track of time. The only thing of which he was aware was the weight of his friend against his side.

When Sam stumbled and hit the ground for the second time, morning had fully dawned. Exhausted and unbalanced, Daniel went down, too.

"Sam?"

The major struggled to get up, but collapsed back down at Daniel's side. "Damn it," she cursed harshly.

"You can't go on."

"Yes I can, Daniel---I have to."

"Listen to me, Sam. I'll lead her away, wind through the woods. You stay here---you can hide. When she follows me---."

"'If' she follows you," interrupted the major.

Daniel furrowed his brows. "'When' she follows me, you get back to the township."

"No, I won't leave---."

The archeologist waved a hand in frustration. "We don't have time to argue. You can't run anymore and I can't carry you fast enough to keep ahead of her for very long. Please, Sam---you know I'm right."

Sam's lips pursed. "All right, I'll get back and radio for help, get back-up. I can do that."

Daniel nodded then he stood and helped Sam up. They moved further into a thick stand of underbrush careful not to break any branches then Sam settled underneath.

The archeologist knelt and gave his friend's arm a reassuring squeeze.

"I'll find you, Daniel," whispered Sam with conviction. "I promise."

"I know," replied Daniel then he stood and backed out of the underbrush, covering any trace of their passing as he went. He cast a glance at where he knew the major was hiding, but could see no sign of her then he turned away from her and ran deeper into the woods.

&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&

CONTINUED

&&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&& &&&&&