Author's Notes: Here's another installment of this story. Trtlsoup2001 - I hadn't really thought about what season this story takes place, other than it was definitely before season 6. So I am going to go for season 5. :) Hope this helps!

Chapter 4

The settlers evolved over the years, preferring to stay with their own kind, although a few took the step and married the humans who saw past their alien appearance. Still, they were an oddity and they knew that most of the humans would kill them if they were caught.

They lived among the seas, settling down near the ocean's shoreline, laughing with delight when they heard the stories of mermaids and mermen that drifted back to them from the sailors who had seen them frolicking in the oceans. They enjoyed hearing the tales, and even encouraged them. Fooling the sailors was easy to do during the earlier centuries. The sailors who had seen the Mariner's ancestors swimming in the oceans believed the stories of people who had fins instead of legs. How else could they have survived in their homes among the fish and the sharks?

But eventually progress took over, and the Mariner's ancestors had learned to evolve with the times. Science and technology scoffed at the image of mermaids and the settlers had to resort to hiding once again, although they continued to integrate with even the most modern people. They moved out of the oceans and into the towns along the shores, blending into the sea of humanity as they bustled about in the cities, building ships and bridges, helping to keep progress moving forward. They still kept to themselves, but they were no longer outcasts as long as they kept their secrets hidden. Long hair and shoes did that fairly well.

They kept their secrets well, while a few of them moved into the fields of science and astrophysics, hoping that one day they would find a way to go back to the world of their ancestors, a world where their kind would surely be accepted. The possibility was there, they just needed to find the way.

The divers were packing up. Daniel didn't even try to hide his resentment as they packed up their gear and got ready to travel back through the Stargate. They had given up and he hated every last one of them. Jack was not dead, as far as Daniel was concerned, no matter what the others thought. Until they found a body, Jack was alive and waiting for rescue.

Sam was just as pissed. Daniel had joined her as she argued for a continued rescue attempt, but they wouldn't listen to her. She had been hampered by her rank and the fact she was 'arguing' with a Colonel. There was only so much she could say without going over the line. Daniel finally gave up in frustration when General Hammond's orders came through loud and clear via the MALP's radio link. Colonel Jack O'Neill was officially listed as Missing in Action and his teammates were ordered to return to Stargate Command.

"It's only been two days," Sam complained to Daniel and Teal'c as they stood and watched while the divers packed up. The diving gear and tents were loaded onto the gurneys that were designed to carry out equipment and/or people, if the need arose.

Daniel nodded in agreement as Teal'c turned toward the water, choosing not to engage in the conversation. Daniel knew the reason for this silence was that Teal'c was tired of trying to convince his friends of the futility of hoping for something that could not possibly come to pass. As far as Teal'c was concerned, Jack O'Neill could not have survived for two days under water.

"Teal'c," Daniel said in a last ditch effort to make him understand. "Jack may be held in a place where there is air, just like I was on P3X-866. Something grabbed him out there, maybe whoever it was took him to that place."

"The divers found nothing out there to support that theory," Teal'c responded, as he stared out at the waves. "They did not find a hidden room, nor did they find O'Neill." He turned to look at Daniel and Sam, then said, "O'Neill can not survive under water for more than a few minutes. How was he transported to this 'place' you 'think' might be out there?"

"Where is his body?" Daniel asked angrily, gearing up to take on this argument, the same one he had waged with the divers several times throughout the last two days. "Did whatever it was that grabbed him, eat him? There wasn't that much blood out there, Teal'c." Teal'c just stared at him, his face showing no expression whatsoever and Daniel wanted to beat the crap out of him. "Where is his body?"

"Daniel's right," Sam said. "We've been through so much during the last several years. We can't give up on him now." She turned to stare out at the water, then told them, "He's out there somewhere. I just know it."

Teal'c didn't respond and Daniel stood there staring right back at him. "It doesn't matter what we believe though, does it?" he asked his friend, sadness creeping through him as he realized that he had lost the game. "General Hammond feels as you do and God knows we can't go against him." This was said with bitterness, which had Teal'c raising an eyebrow at the display of anger.

"We could refuse to go back," Teal'c said, causing Daniel to gape at his friend.

"What?" Sam said, apparently just as surprised as Daniel was. "Teal'c?" she queried. "Would you do that?"

"We have survived against all odds many times throughout the years," Teal'c told them. "Perhaps O'Neill's luck still holds for him. Besides," he added, as he regally stood there, his hands behind his back. "He does not like it when we leave him behind."

Daniel smiled broadly at Teal'c as he remembered the time Jack came through the Gate bitching and yelling that he had been left behind on a planet full of dead and dying crystals. His smile dimmed though when he thought of what could happen to them once they did go back if they disobeyed a direct order. He was not military, but Sam was and Daniel didn't think he wanted her to end up disciplined for something he and Teal'c were willing to tackle.

He completely forgot all about what could happen to any of them when he heard a shout from one of the divers. He turned to see what all the fuss was about and saw something heading toward them from the ocean. Daniel couldn't squelch his excitement as he stared at the apparition that swam toward them. "Jack?" he called out, hoping against all hope that his friend had found his way home.

It wasn't Jack, Daniel realized as the apparition came closer. Two more heads popped up out of the water and joined the first one, as Daniel watched the three people swim closer. Teal'c had already palmed his staff weapon and was ready for danger, but Daniel only barely registered this. The three people stood up when they were close enough to shore and Daniel watched as a woman, a boy and a man walked up to them. Sam and Teal'c steadied their weapons as they aimed them at the strangers, and Daniel knew that the divers were doing the same.

The woman held out her hands to stop the other two as she took another step forward, before stopping and holding out her hands to show Daniel that she had no weapons. Daniel took a tentative step toward her, knowing that his companions weren't ready to completely trust her just yet. "I am Daniel Jackson," he told her, holding out his hands in the same manner to show her he wasn't planning on hurting her.

She smiled at him, then said, "I am Leata. You are friends of Jack?"

"Jack!" Daniel exclaimed, excitement building up as he realized he had been right all along. Jack must surely be alive! "Yes!" he said, as he nodded his head at her, excitement making him a little antsy. "Is he okay? We've been worried about him."

Her smile brightened, obviously picking up on his excitement then told him, "He is alive and worried about you."

Daniel waited, but she didn't elaborate so he took the bull by the horns and asked, "Where is he? Why didn't you bring him with you?"

"He is injured and almost did not survive the trip to our land," she said. "I came to see if your other face will help him to return to you."

"My other face?" Daniel asked, his expression showing total confusion and surprise. What the hell was she talking about?

Leata nodded, then cupped her hand over her mouth and nose to demonstrate.

"Diving masks," Sam said, as understanding dawned, "Something to help him breathe under water." Leata nodded again and Sam grinned as she pointed at the gurneys that were piled with equipment. "We have some over there, along with air tanks and whatever else you need."

"Now wait just a minute," Colonel Cranston spoke up, "You can't just give this equipment away to every person who shows up asking for it. My divers need…"

"You've given up and were going home, remember?" Daniel snarled back at him, still angry about the man's unwillingness to spend more time looking for Jack. "Your people won't need it."

"Colonel, please," Sam said, in an obvious effort to wheedle the permission she needed. "Colonel O'Neill is alive out there. We have to help him get home."

Colonel Cranston just wasn't ready to cooperate. "Where is he?" he demanded of Leata, who was now showing signs of running for her life. The man who had accompanied Leata moved in front of her in an obvious attempt to protect her and Daniel wanted to give in to his desire to beat Colonel Cranston into a bloody pulp. He wouldn't have gotten far, he knew, but he was sure he'd feel better for what little damage he could possibly inflict.

"Colonel, if you don't mind," Daniel said instead. He smiled at Leata when Cranston reluctantly nodded at him, then gave her a long suffering sigh as he rolled his eyes and grinned at her, obviously calming her down. "He's a little cranky," he told her, hoping to calm her fears. "Jack can be worse sometimes."

Leata nodded her head at that, then said, "Jack is not so bad. He only hurt Brenn when he thought she was trying to kill him." Daniel didn't know what to say to that, but he didn't have to respond, as Leata continued, "He is in danger, Daniel Jackson. He will be safer here with you and your friends to protect him." She looked over at Teal'c when she said that and Daniel grinned when Teal'c bowed his head in agreement.

"What kind of danger?" Sam asked, staring warily at the man who came with Leata. Daniel could relate to Sam's worry. That guy looked mean enough to take them all out.

"Jack is of the people, but he is unable to prove it," Leata explained. "Mordan believes that Jack is evil and wants only to destroy us. He blames me for bringing Jack to our land, and he has told me that he will kill him to keep the evil from spreading."

"Kill Jack?" Daniel asked faintly. They had just found out he was alive only to find out someone wanted him dead. What is up with that guy?

"What do you mean, he is of the people?" Sam asked. She had a puzzle to solve, Daniel realized with a small smile. He could see the wheels turning in her head and Daniel knew she wouldn't give up until she had all the facts and several possible solutions to the problem all laid out nice and neat.

"His people came to us many, many years ago," Leata said. Daniel couldn't help but wonder why he and Sam weren't considered to be a part of 'his' people. They were humans, just as Jack was. "They came at a time when our world was in danger of being destroyed," Leata continued, her eyes taking on a far away look. "The people saw that we were able to breathe under water and told us that they knew of a world where we could go to live and not be bothered by the monsters who threatened us at the time."

"Monsters?" Teal'c asked, intrigue making a rare appearance.

"Yes," Leata said. "Creatures that wanted to destroy my race. They have died off long ago, and my people were free once again." The boy said something in a foreign language and Leata rolled her eyes before turning back to respond to him in her native language. She turned to Daniel, then told him, "Jack is in danger. The fastest way to bring him to you is through the ocean, but it takes several hours and he is not able to breathe under the water as we can."

"Where is he now?" Teal'c thought to ask. "Can you take us to him?"

"It would take several days to reach our homes if we were to travel by land," she said. "The land beyond the sand is very rough. There are many…," she stopped then as she stared at Daniel for a second, confusion marring her features, then continued, "Trees out there, as well as many creatures who can kill." She smiled apologetically at him, then told him, "Your language has many words and I have only just learned to speak them."

"You are doing great," Daniel felt compelled to tell her. "Where is Jack now?" he asked, worry for his friend taking priority.

"He is resting in my home," she replied, as she sent a worried glance toward her companions. Daniel had to wonder why that statement scared her, and Teal'c must have felt the same way.

"Is he well?" Teal'c asked quietly. "There was blood in the water where he disappeared."

"Mordan accidentally cut him when he struggled to get away from us," Leata responded. "We were surprised when he could not heal himself. He is of the people. I know this."

"Mordan is the one who wants him dead, right?" Colonel Cranston asked.

"Heal himself?" Sam spoke up almost at the same time.

"Yes," Leata responded, nodding first at Cranston, then at Sam. "He did not want to kill him at first. Only when he realized that Jack may not be of the people. But he is!" she continued with conviction. "The brogon proves it. I can feel it in here," she added, as she placed her hand over her chest. "Jack is of the people."

"What people?" Daniel asked. He couldn't help himself, people and cultures were his specialty.

"The people who came to our world many, many years ago," Leata told him, her expression showing her exasperation. The man who had come with Leata said something then, and Leata nodded at him before turning to Daniel, "I must leave here. I came only to get the other face… the diving mask, so that Jack could make the trip back. May I take one with me?"

Everyone turned to stare at Cranston, who looked from Daniel to Sam, then nodded his agreement. "He'll need an oxygen tank. Does he know anything about deep sea diving?" Cranston asked. Daniel and Sam both shrugged their shoulders, while Teal'c stood there with a raised eyebrow. "I'll show you how to hook it up, just in case," he said to Leata. "Better yet, my team and I will come with you."

She smiled at him then turned to tell her companions what was going on. Daniel watched her as she spoke with her friends, his attention drawn to the boy who kept glancing over at him. Daniel could tell that the kid was fascinated, but of what was a total mystery.

The headache was gone and for this Jack was grateful. He lay on the bed as he tried to think of a way to get out of this place. He had awakened only a few minutes ago, and one look around the room told him he was still a guest at Hotel California – 'You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave'.

He briefly wondered where Leata had gone, but a more pressing need had him looking around for a place to take care of business. He gave up when he saw that there was no place for him to find relief, then limped over to the door, only to find it suddenly blocked by the two men who seemed to be permanently stationed outside his room.

"I just need to take a leak," he said, hoping they would understand, just this once. They didn't make a move and Jack knew total defeat. Things were pretty bad when a man had to beg to relieve himself. He went over to the bed and sat down, taking that opportunity to look at his leg. The wound seemed to be healing, judging by the pink skin around the angry red line running down his leg. The cut itself, looked to be nasty, but there was no pus, streaks or blood anywhere to be seen, so Jack grudgingly figured Brenn's ointment from Hell really did help. The fact that the leg still pained him when he walked on it, told him that it wasn't entirely healed, but things really did look good in that respect.

"You are awake."

Jack jumped a foot at the words, his heart racing as he glared at the man who stood at the door, quietly watching him.

"Yeah?" Jack growled, as he tried to calm himself. "What gave me away?"

"You were asleep a long time," the man answered, apparently ignoring the sarcasm as he walked into the room. He smiled at Jack, then said, "I am Rayner, Leata's brother."

"Nice to meet you," Jack responded sarcastically. He stared at the man for a moment, then asked, "You know my language?"

"Leata shared it with me," he said, a ghost of a smile showing through.

"Shared it?" Jack asked, almost afraid to find out what else the guy learned.

"Yes."

Jack nodded absently, as he looked away for a moment. He looked back at the man to ask, "Where is Leata?"

"She went to meet with your friends." Rayner said simply.

"Yeah?" Jack asked suspiciously. "Why didn't she wait for me? I'd have been more than happy to go with her."

"You can not breathe under water."

"Well, that's true," Jack conceded. "But then again, I made it here, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did," Rayner answered.

Jack was starting to get extremely aggravated at the man's unwillingness to participate. "Well?" he prompted.

This question caught the man off-guard, Jack noticed smugly. Two can play at this game.

"Leata will be back soon," Rayner responded, apparently deciding it would be easier to ignore Jack's question. "She will take you to see your friends." He stared at Jack for a moment, then said, "You must leave here. You are in danger."

"Danger?" Jack asked in surprise. Was Brenn heading back with her 'medicine', he wondered.

"Mordan wants you dead," Rayner told him. "He will kill you because he believes you are not of the people."

"The people," Jack responded. "Who are these 'people' you guys keep telling me about?"

"The people who brought the Stargate to our world," Rayner responded. "You are one of them, but you do not have the powers they possess." He went over to the brogon and picked it up, watching the pendulum swing back and forth, before turning to Jack to say, "This brogon has not moved for many, many years. Yet, it started to move a few days ago. We knew then that some of the people had returned."

"What made you think it was me making that thing move?" Jack just had to ask. "I came through with three other people. Why not one of them?"

"You were drawn to the water," Rayner responded, as he set the brogon back down on the table. "Leata tells me that she knew the moment she saw you. She could feel it."

"Feel it," Jack repeated, not quite sure what that meant. He remembered, though, the feeling of being drawn to the water, of needing to get into that boat. "I have to tell you that I am just like the others I came with… well, except maybe for Teal'c… but, my other two companions are human, just like I am. They are of the people, as well."

Rayner just shook his head. "Leata would have known it," he insisted. "She is a…," he stopped for a second, looking for the word he needed, then continued, "I do not know your word for it. May I look for it?" he asked, as he reached for Jack's head.

"No!" Jack growled, pulling back from the man. "Stay back."

Rayner frowned, but didn't push it. He backed up to give Jack some space, then said, "She is a prand. She is one of the leaders of our people because she has the powers and ability to communicate with others."

"Something like an elder," Jack said, almost to himself. Rayner smiled at that, nodding his head as he added a new word to his expanding vocabulary. "Does that mean that you are a prand, as well?" Jack asked, still trying to determine if this guy was friend or foe.

"Yes," Rayner responded. "It is my hope that my child will be an elder when it is born."

That just sounded too weird for Jack. "He… or she would have to grow up first," Jack mused out loud.

"The ability to communicate with others is passed down from parent to child, but not all of my children will have this ability. This sometimes causes…" He stopped as he stared at Jack, with the exact same look Leata had whenever she didn't know what word to use. "Problems," he said, apparently deciding on that one. The way it was said, Jack couldn't help but wonder if that was an understatement. But he didn't get a chance to find out one way or the other. Three men came bursting into the room, and Jack tensed up when he realized the leader of this little party was the same one who had sadistically stuck his fingers into his leg wound. This guy was looking for trouble; Jack could see it in his whole demeanor.

Rayner had already rounded on the men and was talking to them in his native language. He was using a considerable amount of words when talking to his own people, which told Jack that the man was able to produce intelligible sentences, after all. He just didn't know enough English words to communicate as well with Jack as he was with the three men. Jack watched as Rayner and the leader of the trio got louder and louder, while the two men at the door moved into the room, apparently ready and willing to help in case of an all out battle. Jack watched with interest, wondering whose side the two guards were on.

The leader jabbed a finger into Rayner's chest, causing him to stumble and both guards stepped in between them in an obvious attempt to protect Rayner. They were glaring at the three men, who gave up then and walked out, but not before the leader snarled something at Rayner.

Rayner nodded at the guards, who went back to their posts. He then turned to Jack and stared at him gravely. Jack stared back, a little stunned at the drama that had just played out. Stunned and worried, but above all, he was about to burst with curiosity.

"What was that all about?"

"That was Mordan. He says that you are not of the people and that you are evil. He says that you must die."