Hi ya'll. :) really sorry this took so long again, but I was busy with other stories and there didn't seem to be much interest in this one so...well, if you like it please let me know. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter; the action start now, lol. :) Enjoy!

Chapter 3

"Are you ready for this?" Janet grinned.

Travis shrugged and smiled. "I guess I'd better be."

It had been about a month now, and today Travis would go on his first mission. He'd never been through the Stargate before, and Janet could tell that even though he insisted he was fine, only excited, that he was also a little nervous. That was to be expected.

SG-1 was teaming up with SG-13 today. Travis had gotten to know the other members of his team: Cassie, Skaara, and team leader Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer Hailey, during his training, but they'd all decided that it might be easier--and more fun--if the first time he went out with all of them. It was just a simple reconnaissance to a new planet that didn't appear hostile, so having nine people instead of four or five didn't matter. Janet couldn't wait to see the look on Travis's face when he stepped (well, probably fell, sine it was his first time) out on the other side of the stargate.

Janet shrugged. "I've been doing this for three weeks, and I love it. You'll do fine," she encouraged.

The 'gate burst open, and General Samantha O'Neill gave the teams a go from the control room. Then Sam stood back and waved through the window. Janet waved back enthusiastically, and Travis tentatively raised his hand for a second, before turning and heading up the ramp behind the others. Janet stayed back with him, and the diminutive Colonel Hailey stood at the top of the ramp next to the open wormhole, waiting for her new team member.

Janet knew her dad had known Hailey since she was just out of the Air Force Academy, and Aunt Sam, Uncle Jack, and Uncle Teal'c had too. She had been the SGC ever since, and when SG-13's previous commander had retired about four years ago Jennifer had gotten her first command.

"Come on, kid; it's not that scary," Hailey said, addressing Travis, a slight look of amusement on her face.

He glanced at her. "Give me a break, ma'am, I didn't even know this thing existed until a month ago."

"I know, and I agree it is a bit much to take in, but you've had weeks, and you're holding the mission up." She sounded dead serious, but that smile was still pulling at the edges of her mouth. "So if you don't go through in the next five seconds, I'll push you."

"And I'll help her," Janet intoned in all seriousness, holding back a giggle.

Travis glanced at them, realized he was being ganged up on, and sighed. "All right, all right…here goes nothing." Then he stepped through. Janet and Jennifer exchanged amused glances and went through after him.

Daniel, waiting on the other side, had been starting to get concerned when suddenly Travis stumbled through the event horizon. He staggered to a stop several feet from the 'gate, admirably managing to keep his feet, and turned around quickly to look at the ring as Janet and Jennifer Hailey stepped smoothly through.

"Whoa."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Cameron smirked.

"No kidding." The wormhole disengaged, and Janet patted the ring affectionately. "I love this thing." Well, Daniel loved it too, but not that innocently or simply. She hadn't seen the things he and many of the others had while traveling through that thing…

He cut off the thought and focused on the mission at hand. Cameron was already starting to give assignments.

"Okay, there's nine of us, so lets do three groups of three. Two groups go, and one stays here. So Jacksons, you can stay together, my group stays at the 'gate and Teal'c you're with me, and…well, Colonel Hailey, the rest is up to you."

Jennifer glanced at her team. "I'll stay here and complete your group. Cassie and Skaara can take wonder-boy here," she said, nodding toward Travis.

"Hey, I resent that," Travis protested.

Janet elbowed him. "Deal with it, buddy."

Cameron interrupted them. "Okay, get a move-on people. Everybody meet back here in four hours."

"Yes sir," Travis answered.

"If you say so," Vala answered.

Cameron rolled his eyes. "That's what I get for having a team made up completely of civilians…"

Janet laughed, the others smiled, and Daniel chuckled and started toward the tree line with Vala. "Come on, Janet." She caught up with them, and they went on, checking their radio signals to make sure they were strong before they got too far away.

"Okay, so what's supposed to be here?" she asked.

"The M.A.L.P. didn't seem anymore than what you see," Daniel shrugged. "No evidence of civilization or anything, really. And the trees are too thick for a U.A.V. to have done any good."

"And there could be something in the woods, so that's why were here," Janet nodded.

"Exactly," Vala agreed. Daniel reached one around his daughter's shoulders and squeezed.

"Dad, dad, not on missions," she scolded, pulling away.

"Yes, dad, not while we're on duty," Vala agreed in amusement. Daniel shook his head and they started into the trees.

After a mile or two, Janet pointed out something almost hidden in the brush and vines from the trees, and once they got closer and pulled aside the vines they found themselves on the edge of a small clearing, where a small-ish stone building stood. It was too small to be any kind of real temple, but it had the appearance of a place of worship, like a shrine. The only inscription on the outside, in an alien language, was just above the door. It was probably a title for the place or the name of who the place was meant for.

"Whoa, hey look, dad!" Like the eager little girl Daniel still saw her as much of the time, Janet rushed to the structure. The front door was made of thin tree-trunks tied together, with ropes in cut-stone rings in the doorway for hinges. She pulled it open carefully…and behind the blank stone on the outside and the plain wooden door, there was a plethora of inscriptions and carved pictures on the inside walls and the side of a single stone alter-like platform in the center.

Janet's mouth opened. "Wow." That much was right for her, anyway. It was small, but it was more than they'd found in the three weeks since she'd began going out with SG-1. It was a great find. And the forms of the written language didn't look very familiar either; Daniel liked a challenge. It would be a great learning experience for Janet, too, and he found himself grinning.

"You can say that again," he answered.

Vala smiled for a moment, then shrugged. "Still a bunch of rocks and gibberish to me. You geeks have fun, and I'll be outside keeping watch."

"Good idea," Daniel nodded.

"Okay, mom," Janet said without a second thought. She was still looking at the walls, and didn't even turn to look at her mother before Vala retreated back out the door of the shrine.

Daniel set his pack down, pulled out a notebook and pen, and started his own observations. Now that they were inside, he could see the other walls, and the back one had several large windows. It was breezy inside, comfortable. He was going to enjoy this.

"You've got about 15 minutes before we need to head back!" Vala called inside.

Daniel sighed. "Yes, mother!"

"Don't push it, mister," her voice replied.

Janet giggled and continued rubbing over the paper she had set over a particularly interesting inscribed set of pictures. Daniel went over to take a look at her work. She was doing pretty well for a beginner. Not that he would have expected anything less. He complimented her, then wove back around to where he had been working, and picked up his camera to take more pictures and video before they had to leave for now.

After another few minutes, he looked up at Janet again, and she was gazing out one of the windows. "Hey dad, did you hear something? I though I--" There was a faint whizzing sound and she stopped short. Eyes wide, she turned to look at him, confusion and fear on her face. "Dad…?"

Then she crumpled.

"Janet!" Daniel lunged and just barely caught her before her head hit the floor. She was out cold. It only took him a few seconds to find the small dart stuck in her neck. He pulled it out and checked her pulse, which was fine; she was only unconscious. But his heart was already pounding much faster. There were hostile natives out there somewhere…

Vala vaulted through the door and gasped when she saw Janet on the ground. "Daniel, what--?"

Daniel looked up from his knees and motioned for her to get down like he was. "Shh!" he urged quietly. "Get down and be quiet! Hopefully they didn't see you. Since you haven't been knocked out even though you're outside maybe they're all on this side," he said, motioning toward the windows he was making sure to stay under.

Vala got down. "What are you talking about??" she whispered. "Is Janet all right?" He nodded.

"It was just a knock-out dart; she's fine."

"A dart??"

"Yes, a dart; why do you think I told you to get down!"

She sighed and frowned, looking worriedly at their daughter. "What should we do?" she asked.

Daniel racked his brain, but couldn't think of a better alternative than to run. "Go," he said.

"What?"

"Go. Get up, start running back toward the 'gate right now, and radio and tell the others what's going on. I'll come with Janet if I can, but I'm staying with her."

Vala looked at him like he'd grown two heads. "You can't carry her by yourself!"

"I'll have to," he hissed. "Somebody has to go get help, and you're the most likely candidate. You're in better shape than I am, and Janet's unconscious. Now get going."

"But--"

"Vala!"

She stared at him for another moment, then gulped and nodded. "I'll be back with the others soon. You probably shouldn't try to come; that could be too dangerous. Just stay in here and stay low, and we'll be back as soon as we can."

Daniel nodded. "Well, fine, as long as they don't come in here."

That didn't seem to sit very well with her, and she frowned. "I'm going as fast as I can." But he saw her reluctance to move.

"I'll take care of her; I promise," he assured her.

She swallowed, nodded once, and then was gone. He waited anxiously for the zip and thump that would tell him she had been knocked out too, but thankfully it never came. Vala had gotten away. Sighing, he looked at Janet and shook her a bit, patting her cheek and trying to rouse her, but of course it didn't have any effect. Now all he could really do was wait.

Vala ignored the leaves smacking her in the face until she was a few hundred yards away, and she stopped, breathing hard. She still couldn't be sure that whoever was outside of the shrine wasn't still near her somewhere, but she had to breathe. After a few moments, she was able to speak, and reached up and keyed her radio.

"Vala to Colonel Mitchell. Cameron, we've got a problem."

She let go of the button, and the radio crackled for a moment. "Vala, what is it?" Cameron answered.

"Daniel and Janet. They're trapped in a small stone structure about two miles from the 'gate, and surrounded by natives. We haven't seen any of them yet, but Janet was knocked out by some type of dart," she said in a rush.

"Whoa, calm down. I got all that, barely, but what are you saying?"

"We need backup--or they do. I'm coming back, and I'll lead you to where they're pinned down. We've got to get them out; we have no idea just what those natives want with them."

"Agreed. Hurry back; we'll meet you at the tree line."

Vala nodded to herself and started moving quickly. "On my way."

Daniel tensed when he heard several pairs of footsteps coming closer to the shrine and around toward the door. They were barely audible, as if maybe the feet weren't wearing shoes--either because the culture didn't call for them, or simply for stealth reasons. He pushed Janet against the wall in-between two of the windows and stayed in front of her, facing the door and glancing warily around at the windows.

We're not going with you without a fight…

He pulled in a silent breath when the door started to creak open. A moccasined foot stepped through the crack, answering the question he'd had in his mind. Then a bit of black hair was visible, and part of an arm…then there was another whizzing sound, and he felt a small, sharp stab in his neck.

Yelping, Daniel reached up and yanked out the dart, but it was too late. His vision was already beginning to blue and go dark around the edges. No no no! I'm supposed to be protecting Janet…

He didn't look to see who was coming into the shrine, but he could hear several of them coming in through both the door and the windows. Instead, Daniel's eyes strayed to Janet's unconscious body on the floor beside him. His vision went completely dark seconds later, and he sensed himself dropping to the ground, though he never felt the impact. But the image and the worry stayed with him into unconsiousness.