Chapter Six

Daniel growled and noisily panted for breath in rhythm. Sweat rolled down his skin and stung his eyes as he pushed harder.

"Had enough yet?" Janet teased.

"Nearly."

With his muscles straining to the point of shaking Daniel managed to complete one last push up before collapsing. Janet had been perched on his back to make the exercise more difficult. She hopped off and offered him the tin cup filled with water. Daniel rolled over onto his back and took a moment to catch his breath before sitting up to accept the drink.

It had been three weeks since he'd been near death with the liver infection. After nearly a week of sleeping and then another one of simply being penned up in the cart the pair were both near insanity from sheer boredom. Exercise not long gave them something to do, but kept them from becoming increasingly weak from the increasingly lengthy captivity.

When Daniel was finished with the water Janet sat with her back against the side of their enclosure. Daniel did the same on the opposite wall and when Janet lifted up her bare feet Daniel placed his soles against Janet's. Using each other for resistance they made motions like they were riding a bicyle.

"Tell me again what this particular exercise prevents?" Daniel asked casually.

"Deep vein thrombosis."

"Sounds bad."

"Very. When you sit for long periods of time your blood can actually start to form clots, if one breaks free and gets stuck in an artery you can lose the affected limb. If it gets into the brain, heart, or lungs it can quickly prove fatal."

"Not good, better pedal faster." Daniel chuckled.

"I think we're safe. But people have died after really long car or plane rides from it."

"Speaking of 'really long rides', Barin wasn't kidding when he said the front lines were far from the city."

"It's been almost a month, hasn't it."

"At least." Daniel sighed.

"They aren't going to find us, Daniel."

"I haven't given up entirely on that. If I know Jack, and sometimes I think I do, he'll tear the entire planet apart if he has to."

"It's not often that any SG team makes it this far from the Gate."

"No, we always try and stick fairly close, which until now used to really irritate me. I mean even within the US there is a vast culture difference as you move from East to West, North to South."

"You said 'until now'?"

"I think I've had enough of the culture beyond this particular Gate." Daniel smiled. "Although oddly enough Gaius is fully aware of the Gate and the fact that it travels to other worlds."

"Isn't that a little strange for a non technology based planet?"

"It's a little strange for any planet. We very rarely come across anyone who uses the Gate for anything other than a glorified lawn ornament."

"Do you think the war is over the Gate?"

"I don't know, Gaius won't talk about it. However, it certainly wouldn't be the first war over the Gate we've encountered."

Having had enough of the bicycling for now Janet brought her feet back down. Daniel hunted out Janet's old t-shirt and poured some water on it and used it to clean some of the sweat off. Gaius was nice enough to allow them access to any of the water sources that they stopped near so staying clean hadn't been too much of an issue.

Leaning back against the wooden wall Daniel spent a few minutes staring at the ceiling. In the weeks since their abduction there hadn't been even a single good chance at escape. Now they were so far from the Gate that even if they did get away they'd be forced to live off the land for months while they tried to find their way back, if they even could. Without a good sense of which direction to guide them they could end up further and further from the Gate.

"Thinking about how to get out of this?" Janet asked.

"How'd you know?"

"Your eyebrows knit together when you're trying to figure out the impossible."

"No wonder I always loose at poker." Daniel smiled. "However, it's not impossible, I just can't think of a good way to do it at the moment."

"How long do you think we'd last out there with no food source, no direction to travel, no allies?"

"Don't go bringing logic into this."

"Sorry." Janet smiled. "I know you've been actively avoiding this, but I think the best thing we can do with our time is start training you to be a doctor."

"Janet, I honestly don't think I can do it."

"I'll make a deal with you, I'll teach you whatever I can and you teach me as much of the language as you can."

"You want to learn the language?"

"I think I should at least try. It's dangerous for me to have no idea what anyone's talking about, and if this is going to be our new lives we both need to adapt."

"This is not going to be our life." Daniel said firmly. "We're going to get home."

"Don't get me wrong, Daniel, I haven't given up on going home. However, the alternative is a reality we might have to deal with, might as well be as prepared as we can be."

Daniel stared at Janet for a moment. She looked like she was on the verge of a panic attack. She had been doing such a wonderful job of not showing any fear that Daniel had started to take it for granted that she truly was fearless. At first she may have even been unafraid, but the further they got from the Gate the lower their chances of being found became. Daniel hadn't given a second's worth of thought to living the rest of his life in captivity, but it was clear that Janet had.

"'Kais', means 'hello'."

"Kais." Janet repeated.

"'Tak' is 'yes', 'ni' is 'no'."

"Tak, ni."

"'Taris mi, A taken sprok tu labheir'." Daniel said and encouraged Janet to repeat it.

"Taris mi...um..."

"'A'"

"Taris mi, A taken sprok tu labheir." Janet managed. "What does that mean?"

"'Forgive me, I do not speak your language.'"

"A little ironic that I'd be saying in their language, but that one may come in handy."

"It's always a good start." Daniel agreed.

Janet moved to sit closer to Daniel. He gave her an odd look as she reached out to touch him. He didn't stop her as she traced a vaguely triangular shape on his upper abdomen and lower ribs on his right side. Just as she had repeated his words Janet encouraged Daniel to trace out the pattern she had placed on his skin.

"As I'm sure you know from your recent brush with hepatitis, this is the liver."

"Sounds about right."

"Any stab wounds between here and here," Janet drew a box over the center of Daniel's liver "are going to be one hundred percent fatal."

"Fatal?"

"You don't have the skills, and I don't have the tools to fix any major arterial or venous bleeds out in the field and the hepatic system runs right through here. You'll know one of these wounds when you see it, the blood will be very dark, almost black."

"It turns my stomach just thinking about it."

"No vomiting or passing out in the OR." Janet chuckled. "In med school anyone who did either of those things had to buy a round of beer for everyone after surgery."

"I have a feeling I'm going to owe you a lot of beer."

Janet smiled brightly and Daniel suddenly found his heart beating a little harder. He realized he'd never spent much time just talking with her. He was usually near death or comatose anytime they spent any kind of time together. Despite their situation he was enjoying her company more with each passing day. Daniel jolted as Janet's fingertips traced across his skin once again.

"I'm sorry." Janet apologized as she pulled back. "Did that hurt?"

"No, no, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

"I see."

"I'm...uh...having trouble focusing, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I understand." Janet looked down at the floor. "I'm having a little trouble focusing myself."

Daniel froze at the tone in Janet's voice, at the unspoken message that lay between their words. After a moment's hesitation he reached out and brushed her cheek so that she'd look up at him again. Janet brought her dark up to meet his light ones. She forced a brave smile despite the fact that he could hear that she was breathing quick and shallow.

'You never fail to amaze me, you have such a beautiful soul.' Daniel said softly in the alien tongue.

"Why do I get the feeling I should be blushing?" Janet as she flushed.

"Because..."

Daniel was interrupted as the carriage came to sudden halt. Janet looked around anxiously. Now that the noise from the hooves had stopped they could suddenly hear voices and noises of a large group of people. When the door opened to let in a blinding mid afternoon light Daniel instantly put himself between Janet and the door. Gaius jumped up into the carriage instead of asking them to come out like usual. Daniel pressed his back against Janet as if it could help shield her from Gaius's intentions.

'Gaius, what is going o...'

Gaius lashed out as quickly as a snake and back handed Daniel with considerable force. He reached down and grabbed a fist full of Daniel's hair and hauled him to his feet. Janet jumped to her feet to defend Daniel from the sudden violent treatment. Gaius was to quick and tangled his free hand in her hair as well.

"Daniel!"

"Janet!" Daniel cried. 'Gaius, please, don't...'

With surprising force Gaius used his hold on Daniel to jerk his head back hard enough to almost throw him off balance. Gaius put his lips up against Daniel's ear.

'You are not to use my name again until given permission to do so.' Gaius hissed.

Before Daniel could react or even respond to the demand Gaius pitched him forward and released him with a shove. Thrown through the door Daniel hit the ground hard. As he tried to get back to his feet several men grabbed him. Daniel heard Janet cry out in pain and turned on the men holding him.

Fighting for freedom he managed to land several decent blows. However he was simply far too out numbered and eventually his wrists were tied behind his back. Brought to his knees by a knee to the stomach Daniel gasped for breath. Gaius still had his hold on Janet and was forcing her to step forward. She looked ready to murder, but the man holding her was simply too strong to be fought against.

'Ezra!' Gaius barked.

A middle aged woman stepped into the chaos. She looked out of place in her deep blue dress with black lacing down the front. Coming up to Gaius she gave him a shallow bow. He shoved Janet into her arms.

'Clean her up, give her something descent to wear.'

'Yes, Lord Gaius.' Ezra said meekly.

"Daniel..."

'Please, child,' Ezra said softly 'come with me quickly.'

"It will be okay," Daniel assured "go with her."

Janet simply nodded and allowed Ezra to lead her away. Daniel watched her go, fearing it may be the last he was going to see of her. Gaius stepped into his line of sight and shook his head sadly. He reached down and once again used Daniel's hair as a purchase to get him to his feet.

'Your ridiculous love for that creature is going to be your downfall.' Gaius smiled brightly. 'Now then, behave yourself and I'll see to it that she stays safe.'

Not having very many options Daniel nodded. Gaius took Daniel by the upper arm and marched him through the camp like the prisoner he was. Stealing a few glances around Daniel found himself in a small city build of tents. Men wearing a multitude of outfits from full leather armor to practically nothing at all roamed the area. The whole place had the feel like it could be packed up in a couple of hours and be on the move.

All of the men moved out of Gaius's way and gave him slight bows of respect. Gaius didn't even acknowledge them as he made his way purposefully through the crowd. When they came to an area that held several large ornate tents Gaius led Daniel up to the largest one and stopped. A blond man standing outside the tent smiled broadly.

'Gaius, back early from your mission with a gift?' The man grinned.

'Yes, Yolin, please inform Lord Jahn of my arrival.'

'He will be pleased, he has missed you.'

Daniel could feel Gaius relax a bit. It was clear that he had been uncertain how he was going to be greeted. Yolin disappeared for a moment before returning and bidding them to enter. Gaius removed his boots, but Daniel didn't have any shoes to be removed. Daniel didn't offer any fight as they stepped into the large tent. Once inside Daniel was quickly forced to his knees.

The inside was amazingly luxurious. The floor was covered in soft animal hides and the walls with colorful banners. There was more than one room to the enclosure with beaded curtains dividing them. The main room was dominated by a throne made of bone, sinew, and animal fur. A man with a long silver mane of hair sat in the throne with a look of relief on his face.

'Gaius, I so hoped you would return early and safely. I apologize for sending you away in anger.'

'The fault was mine, my Lord.'

'Let us forgive the past. What news do you bring? And who is this young buck?'

'I fear my news is not all good. General Ilis still lives. I pierced him through the stomach, normally a mortal wound, to let his people watch him die slowly like a dog. However, his life was saved by a healer of great skill.'

'And might you be that healer?' Jahn asked Daniel directly.

Daniel's blood flashed to ice. He was fairly certain that he couldn't keep this lie going for very much longer. Eventually he was going to be asked to perform some great medical feat. Gaius reminded Daniel of the talk they'd had about proving himself by reached down and gently brushing his across the back of Daniel's neck as though drawing a knife across it. Daniel sighed heavily before looking back up at Jahn.

'I am.'