Sam and Vala were so intent on examining (and ogling) their teammates that they didn't notice the figures moving in the dark around them. Both brought their weapons to bear on various members of the tribe that had surrounded them with spears.
"Sam, Vala, stand down." Cam's voice was quiet and pained, but held a confidence that had Carter and Vala lowering their weapons without question. "They won't hurt you or us."
Jackson felt it was his turn to speak up; first contact situations were supposed to be his specialty after all. "Daphne, these are our teammates Col. Samantha Carter and Vala Mal Doran. They are no more a threat to you than Mitchell and I are right now."
"Gee thanks, Daniel." Sam made a mental note to try to cut back on the snarking, she'd been hanging around Jack far too long. But she breathed a sigh of relief when the other women of the tribe followed Daphne's lead and relaxed their offensive stance.
After numerous apologies and introductions, Carter and Vala were left alone to speak to Cam and Daniel.
"So, they have determined that you are not a threat, why are you still chained to the posts?" Vala was trying very hard not to find the situation extremely entertaining.
Daniel was busy shooing Sam away from his injured side, so Mitchell summoned the energy to answer her question. "Apparently the tribe council has to make it official before they will release us. They've never seen a man before," he finished with a shrug. Cam quickly came to regret his last statement as Vala's eyes lit up. "Vala, NO."
"What?" Vala put on her best innocent expression.
Vala's attempt at innocence caught Jackson and Carter's attention. "Vala, please don't give these women any ideas."
Vala was indignant. "I do know how to behave myself."
Sam and Daniel shared a 'yeah right' look. "Just like you behaved yourself with the senate committee chair?"
Vala was about to let them know exactly how well she could behave when she realized that Cameron had dropped out of the conversation. "Col Mitchell?"
Cam's chin rested on his chest and he gave no indication that he had heard Vala call his name. It was then that Sam noticed the sheen of sweat covering his upper body. "What exactly happened to him?"
"Well, his ankle was injured when he got caught in the snare and he must have taken a pretty hard hit to the head when he was trying to release my snare. He's been in and out since I woke up. I think he must have hurt himself when he landed too; he was moving really stiffly and he was barely putting any weight on that left ankle." Daniel went on to explain the remainder of their 'capture'.
Carter had moved to examine Mitchell while Jackson spoke. She could feel the heat starting to emanate from his body, there was an infection coming from somewhere. She gently ran her hands over his chest, sides and back. She stopped over his left shoulder blade and ribs when her light pressure elicited a groan from the younger man. She increased the pressure a bit and was not happy to feel the bones move under her hands. The nasty looking gash at his right temple had not escaped her notice either.
Daniel and Vala waited expectantly for a report.
"Well, you've both managed to break some ribs." She blew out a breath as she realized how hard it was going to be to get them both back to the gate, especially if Cam was only half with it. "I think that cut on his head is causing the infection."
"Well, now he can't say he's never broken a bone by falling." Daniel tried to lighten the mood.
"One's still better than seven."
"Hey, welcome back to the conversation, Sunshine. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, just peachy. How much longer are we stuck here for?
"The council will meet tomorrow night. Until then, ladies you are welcome to stay in the community hut. You will find everything you need for the night in there." Daphne turned her attention to the men, "unfortunately, you will have to stay here until the council has made their decision."
"But, they are injured, can't we make them more comfortable?" Both men were slightly surprised to hear Vala pleading their case.
"I will bring some blankets, but I have done all I can. Many of our tribe are still set in the old ways. I'll show you to the hut now."
Sam and Vala reluctantly said goodbye to the boys and promised to check on them throughout the night.
"Wait, shouldn't somebody brief General Landry?"
"Aw, screw him," Cam muttered with a dismissive wave of his chained hands.
Sam and Vala stared at him in shock; Mitchell was usually the model of military decorum when it came to the General.
Daniel just laughed. "That's nothing, you should have heard some of his comments earlier today. He says some very interesting things when he's only half conscious."