I'm sorry for the delay again! Work and class is kicking my butt already! I got some great reviews! Keep them comin', please! BTW, I have a great idea for another fic, more Sam and Jack centered, shippy of course, with a little AR that should spice some things up for our duo! I'll be thinking on that one while I finish this one!

Chapter 7

Freya led everyone into a one of the buildings that sat back behind the market. It was a large, open space with several tables and seating areas. Curtain-like cloths hung from the ceiling near the back of the building. The ceiling was only a few inches above Teal'c's head. The curtains hung so as to create individual rooms, but because they were sheer, it wasn't clear what their purpose was.

Large, brightly colored pillows lay all over the floor and several women and men were sitting on them in a meditative state. Candles were lit all around the room, their incense wafting towards SG-1 and filling their noses with the rich scents of sage and jasmine.

Only one person opened their eyes and looked at the visitors, but he didn't say a word. Freya scurried over to him and knelt down in front of him. She spoke quickly and softly, bowing her head several times throughout. "Danh'ai, these people came through the blue circle. I have brought them here to speak with you."

Danh'ai did not answer or move for some time. SG-1 didn't know what to do, so they waited for Freya to show them. Freya herself did not move from her kneeling position. Her head was bowed and she did not look at Danh'ai.

Several more minutes passed by. Jack was becoming more impatient. He rocked back and forth on the heels of his feet, hands in his pockets, playing with a piece of string that was still attached to the interior of his pocket.

Daniel was intrigued by what he was witnessing and could have stood there all day soaking in the visuals of the room, the scents, and the silence that was deafening, and the way that Freya bowed to Danh'ai spoke volumes to Daniel.

Just when Jack thought he wouldn't be able to take another moment of idleness, Danh'ai stood in one fluid motion and touched his palm to the top of Freya's head. Freya looked up, stood, and padded silently from the building, never once glancing at anything but the floor.

Danh'ai took several steps to SG-1, his hands clasped in front of him. The cloth robes he wore matched the pillows that were littered around the room. None of the people who were outside wore anything so intricate and colorful. "You are not from here," he stated simply.

When Danh'ai didn't say more, Daniel took the opportunity to step forward. "No, we're not. We came through the Stargate-your blue circle. We're from another planet called Earth."

"Earth?" Danh'ai said, letting the word roll around in his mouth. "Why have you come here?"

"We're explorers. We travel to other planets in search of friendship and technology," Daniel continued. "We thought this planet was uninhabited."

Danh'ai took a step forward, "then why come here if there was no possibility of friendship? Just for this technology you seek?"

"Well, we hope we can obtain both," Jack said.

"You wish to take our technology? Our way of life?" Danh'ai asked, displeased with this knowledge.

"No! Not at all," Daniel said hurriedly at the tone of Danh'ai's voice. "We would share of course. Provide you with knowledge and technology that would help you. Your village."

Danh'ai merely nodded. He walked over to a tall table that held a decanter of black liquid and poured some into a hollowed out orb. He took a drink and closed his eyes. When he'd drunk the contents, he opened his eyes and looked at SG-1. "Perhaps you should return to your Stargate."

Teal'c raised one brow. "That would be unwise to do so at this time, Danh'ai. Should we not address the problem of the inhabitants of your planet who live below you?"

"There is nothing to say on that matter." Danh'ai said, and then with a wave of his hand, he walked back to where he had been meditating earlier, sat down, and closed his eyes.

Apparently, their conversation was finished.

Rain had come down while SG-1 had been inside the building. When they stepped outside, most of the villagers appeared to have retreated in doors, but a few still remained, continuing their work despite the weather.

"Danh'ai is most certainly hiding something," Teal'c replied. "Would you agree, O'Neill?"

"I'd bet my life on it." Jack replied. "Since we're going to miss our check in with the SGC, we might as well get comfortable here and see if we'll get radio contact. So, first order of business: let's find Freya and get the hell out of these clothes." He then looked pointedly at Ba'al. "Looks like you're stuck with us for a while longer."

"You're cheerfulness, however false, is nauseating," Ba'al said. "I would rather take my chances."

SG-1 looked at each other, a form of silent communication transferring between the four. "Suit yourself," Jack said.

Jack, Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c turned and headed towards the square, looking for Freya.

They found Freya helping the other women cover the fruit and vegetables that had been set out. The wind was picking up, making it difficult to tie the covers down. SG-1 began to help.

"We were hoping there was somewhere we could stay to wait out this rain. And maybe a change of clothes?" Jack asked while securing his corner of the cover.

Freya looked up. "Of course." She motioned for two of the younger boys to finish the task and led SG-1 to another building a few minutes walk from the square.

She opened a door and led them inside. This building was much smaller, but had sturdier partitions creating rooms. It was more plainly furnished, but was cozier than Danh'ai's building. There was a fire pit in the middle of one of the back rooms and an older woman was slowly stirring something in a pot over the ember coals.

"Dake emu sa kei yasuh me cukiede, ma'aim." Freya said to the older woman.

SG-1 only stared in puzzlement. Teal'c asked, "Do you understand the language, Daniel Jackson?"

"No." Daniel replied.

Jack looked at Daniel, surprised. "No?"

Daniel shrugged. There are thousands upon thousands of different languages and dialects within a language, Jack. And that's just speaking on Earth. So, don't look so surprised if I don't recognize a few words on a different planet."

"Oi," Jack said under his breath. "Someone needs some coffee."

"Whatever, Jack." Daniel shot back, obviously just as irritated.

"Daniel. Sir. " Carter said softly but sternly through her teeth.

Both men looked a little embarrassed. They both nodded and returned their attention to the two women who were conversing in an unknown language.

"I'll see if I can decipher what they're saying." Daniel said and stepped forward to listen more closely.

The older woman was still stirring the pot. "Kesh elsa mi lai tuto morga se."

"Nom, si nom." Freya replied.

"Uh, excuse me?" Daniel interrupted. "I, uh, don't mean to be rude, but-"

"My apologies, Daniel Jackson." Freya said, looking up at Daniel with sincerity in her eyes. "This is my mother, Nanani."

Daniel bowed in the same manner as Teal'c. "It is nice to meet you, Nanani. My friends and I think you for the hospitality."

Nanani said nothing, but smiled.

Freya said a few last words to her mother in that unrecognized language and returned her attention to SG-1. "My mother says your are welcome here as long as you like. It is not often we receive visitors through the blue circle who wish no harm to us."

"Glowing eyes?" Jack asked.

Daniel gave Jack a look that told him not to joke right now. Jack shrugged and took it upon himself to check out the building's nooks and crannies.

"I can provide you with some clothes until yours are washed and dry. I'll have them returned to you."

"Thank you," Carter replied.

Freya disappeared into one of the partitioned rooms. Jack rejoined the group when she returned and handed them each their robes. They took turns changing in semi-privacy. The cloth was heavy and thick, but softer than it looked. When they had finished, Freya asked for their clothes and she motioned them to sit. As Freya left the building, Nanani retrieved cups and poured them each a drink. Steam rose from the cups, a rich smoky scent. Nanani then placed a saucer of a brown powdery substance on the table, followed by a plate of spongy looking squares, not unlike sponge cake and another saucer with a green paste-like substance.

They all eyed each item Nanani put on the table. Daniel picked up his cup with the hot liquid, hoping it passed as coffee. He gingerly took a sip and immediately started coughing. When he'd recovered, he found everyone was watching him, including Nanani. "It's good," he mustered.

Nanani replied with a faint smile and nod, and turned away to retrieve something else for them.

Curious, but weary, Carter picked up her own cup and sniffed. It didn't smell terrible, she thought. Not wanting to end up in a coughing fit like Daniel, Carter took a very small sip; barely a sip. It was actually very sweet with a smoky flavor. She didn't know if this drink would have the same effect as coffee, but she figured it could pass as an exotic coffee beverage.

When she didn't start coughing, Daniel raised his brows. He decided to try again, hoping against embarrassment. He didn't start coughing this time, so he took a bigger sip and let the liquid swish around in his mouth before he swallowed.

"How is it, Danny-boy?" Jack asked after a moment.

"It's actually not bad, Jack." Daniel answered.

When neither Carter nor Daniel keeled over from the consumption, Teal'c took his turn with the cup in front of him. Unlike Carter and Daniel, after he tasted, he tilted his head back and drained the contents. "It is indeed very good."

Thinking he could out do them, Jack reached over the table, picked up a piece of the spongy squares, and dipped it into the green paste. Without hesitation, he plopped the whole square in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. "Not bad."

"What does it taste like, Sir?" Carter asked.

"I'm not sure. It doesn't have much flavor-" he paused suddenly, looking like he might be in pain. He picked up his drink and swallowed the contents as quickly as Teal'c had. "On second thought, I take that back. Wow." Jack grabbed another piece of the spongy square and ate it without the paste. He swallowed and gave a low whistle.

"Are you okay, O'Neill?"

"Fine, Teal'c. That's a little hot," he pointed to the paste.

Carter tried to hide a smirk unsuccessfully, so she took another sip from her cup.

Together they sampled the different foods that Nanani continued to set on the table. Some of it was quite good, some of it was downright awful. For now, this would do. In four hours, they were going to miss their check in with the SGC. They hoped that their radio signals would reach where they were, but they weren't so sure. Perhaps had the Stargate not be surrounded by woods, they would be fine, but the signal would be severely weakened. They only hoped that they could come up with a plan C before Hammond decided to send another SG team through the 'Gate and right into Zombie land.