NOTE from the PHOENIX: Well, I hope you're all enjoying the story! I'm up late tonight cause my cough is back...and maybe my pneumonia. Sigh. It's not swine flu I swear. But it looks like if I'm not better on Monday I'll be going in for chest X-rays. Sigh.

Chapter Five

Daniel opened his eyes and stared up at the two full moons that were painting the night time forest blue and gold. He took a deep breath and noticed that the air didn't lance painfully into his lungs the way it had earlier that day. Although still feeling under the weather his illness had gone from critical to 'mild inconvenience'. Just as Janet has explained it was truly the fever that was killing him.

"Alright, I'm convinced on the powers of aspirin." Daniel chuckled to himself.

Sitting up Daniel rubbed at his still sore abdomen. At least the cool night air felt good on his skin as his body reset his temperature at a more normal set point. He looked over at Janet who was sleeping on the deer skin next to him. She was curled up tightly, unconsciously trying to protect herself from nip in the night air.

Pulling the deer skin out from under himself Daniel placed it over Janet as a blanket. He watched her as she began to relax into a deeper sleep under the warm fur. Daniel smiled at the peaceful look on her delicate features. It had been a long since he'd seen her with anything other than the patented 'look of medical concern' painted on her face.

When Janet twitched in some unknowable dream Daniel reached out and gently brushed her cheek. Stirring slightly Janet's eyes fluttered open for a moment. She glanced up at Daniel and smiled slightly before she lost her brief hold on consciousness. Daniel felt that she probably wouldn't even remember the brief encounter.

'She must be a very special woman.'

Daniel jerked visibly at Gaius's voice. It hadn't even occurred to Daniel that he was under guard. Gaius was sitting on a large stone about ten feet away. He stood up and drew out his sword as he slowly stepped closer. Daniel kept a wary eye on the dangerous man as he approached. He took a protective stance over Janet.

Smiling coldly Gaius stood over the pair. Daniel tensed every muscle even though he knew he'd quickly lose any fight against the armed warrior. The man still wore Daniel's stolen gun on its holster around his hip, although Daniel doubted he'd figured out how it worked. Gaius lazily brought the tip of the razor sharp sword over Janet as she still slept. Snarling angrily Daniel lashed out and grabbed the sword with his bare hand.

'I could take your fingers off.' Gauis chuckled.

'You don't have to threaten us to teach me that you have all the power.'

'I know. Besides if I do take your fingers, what good will you be as a doctor?'

Daniel didn't answer, he just stared spitefully at his captor. Gaius slowly withdrew his sword from Daniel's grip without causing any damage. He sheathed the weapon and put his hands on his hips as though he was considering what to do next. Daniel continued to act like an abused dog that wanted to bite his master but knew that it would only end in a beating.

'Relax, Dr. Jackson, I'm not going to hurt her. In fact you should be thanking me right now for ensuring that she stays untouched by anyone beyond yourself.'

'Thank you.' Daniel said dryly.

'Now, now. Say it like you mean it or I'll change my mind.'

'No, she's mine...'

'Now you're just lying.'

'Gaius...'

'You don't really think that our laws apply to you, do you?' Gaius interrupted. 'I may not know your culture, but I can see in your every motion that you hold this woman as an equal. You don't own her anymore than I own the wind.'

'So, the other night...that was all for show?'

'In a way. Don't mistake me for a fool, Doctor. My friends do not have the kind of open mind that I have, they can not conceive any other way than the one they were taught. I felt the best way to keep your female pure would be to show them that she is simply unavailable. Even to me. I was also testing you.'

'I hope I passed.' Daniel hissed angrily.

'Indeed, you did. Very quick thinking with the tattoo, although we mark our women with a branding iron.'

'You're disgusting.'

'I could say the same of you, lowering yourself to the statue of a woman.' Gaius shrugged. 'Once again you should be thanking me. What I really wanted to see was if you'd brand her yourself to spare her a...violent night. However, I decided that your quick thinking should be rewarded.'

'Why the game?'

'I have a lot riding on you, Dr. Jackson. I've abandoned my post, pulled my spies from the city, all to deliver you to our front lines. I could lose my status, possibly my freedom, if you prove to be a poor investment.'

Daniel's mind raced to try and find a way to make Gaius reconsider keeping them as captives. From what little he had learned of the man he was willing to bet that he wasn't one to kill off handily. Daniel took a deep breath, trying to settle his nauseous stomach. He wasn't sure if it was his infection or the cold look on Gaius's face that was causing the delicate organ to twist painfully.

'Gaius, I am not the great healer that you think I am.'

'Don't be so modest.' Gaius grinned. 'Eight hours ago you were on the brink of death, and now here we are speaking to one another as though nothing had occurred.'

'I just happened to have some medicine...'

'And you will make it work for us.'

'Do you...' Daniel hesitated. 'Do you know that we are not from your world.'

'I already told you that I'm not a fool, Dr. Jackson.' Gaius smiled. 'I know you are from a distant world, one beyond the great ring.'

'Okay, and you must realize that medicine isn't our only advance.'

'I've noticed.' Gaius nodded and pulled the gun out. 'This looks like a weapon. I will be giving it to Jahn as a gift, and you can show him how it works. You also had a device that squawked in gibberish.'

'A radio.'

'Whatever, I threw it in the river. It was most annoying.'

'Gaius, my friends they will be looking for us, and I assure you that they will find us. You must know that they can over power you.'

'They will not find you.'

'How can you be so sure?'

'Because I can hear the lie in your voice.' Gaius replied. 'You do not believe you will be found which is why you are trying to talk me into letting you leave.'

'I'm just trying to do what is best for everyone.'

'Alright, you can go.'

'Wha...'

'You may go, but the woman stays with us.'

'No.'

'She is the cost of your freedom. I must return with something, and she is a beautiful creature. So go, travel towards the rising sun, that will take you back to the Andiran city.'

'You know full well that I'm not leaving here without her.'

'I do.' Gaius mocked. 'However, now I can honestly say that the choice to stay is your own.'

'Will that help you sleep at night?'

'I sleep just fine, Dr. Jackson. I just happen to be on watch duty at the moment.'

Daniel sighed in frustration. Gaius was clever and was entertained by offering Daniel options he couldn't take. Daniel looked down on Janet who was still locked in sleep. He cursed himself once again for blindly throwing her into this situation. If he had taking his nose out of the past and tried to learn the present of this planet none of this would have happened. Daniel turned his attention back to Gaius.

'Please, Gaius...this isn't our war.' Daniel begged. 'I came here to learn about your past, not change your future. We are not allowed to interfere in your affairs.'

'And yet you saved General Ilis's life. Was that not 'interfering'?'

'I didn't know he was a General at the time, I had no idea there was even a fight going on.'

'If I send you back to the city will you kill him? Undo the 'damage' you've done?'

Daniel didn't answer right away. He wanted to say 'yes', but he knew that the cunning man would see right through that lie. When Daniel said nothing Gaius's expression turned to one of disgust.

'I thought not.' Gaius snarled. 'You will prove yourself to Jahn upon our arrival, you will tend to the men injured in our cause with the same skill and care as General Ilis.'

'And if I don't...or can't?'

'Don't mistake me for a decent man, Dr. Jackson.' Gaius growled dangerously. 'Fail me, and I will rape and slaughter both you and your woman, and if you are lucky I won't let the rest of my men abuse you two before slitting your throats and drinking the crimson river. Do we understand each other, Dr. Jackson?'

'All to well...unfortunately.'