Note from the Phoenix: Sorry this update took so long. Honestly I found myself stuck as to where to go next. But I think I've come to a solution.

Chapter Thirteen

Daniel woke gently and took a deep breath, enjoying the ability to do so without pain. It had taken nearly two weeks for the slash marks across his back to heal. Rolling over onto his side he found that Janet was already awake. She was staring up at the tent ceiling looking lost in thought. Daniel reached up and brushed the side of her face with the back of his hand. Janet turned to face him and forced a smile.

"I'm sorry, Janet." Daniel sighed.

"For what?"

"Don't give me that, you're not happy here."

"Are you?"

"Yes and no." Daniel admitted.

"I was just thinking about Cassy."

Daniel's blood flashed to ice, he had completely forgotten that Janet had left family behind. Cassandra was in her late teens. She had already lost her birth parents, and now she was left without her adopted mother as well. Daniel's heart felt heavy as he watched Janet begin to fight tears.

"I know Sam's taking good care of her." Janet said halfheartedly.

"I'm sure she is, but it's not the same."

"Perhaps it's for the best," Janet smiled slightly "she'd kill me if I brought you home."

"What?"

"She's had a devastating crush on you since she was twelve." Janet chuckled.

"Oh dear."

Janet pushed playfully against Daniel's chest and managed a more genuine laugh. He retaliated by gathering her into a warm embrace. He rolled over on to his back, bringing her with him. Now laying on Daniel's stomach Janet leaned in and kissed him. Daniel was more than willing to return the affection. He reached up and carded his fingers into her now medium length hair.
"Janet, I think we should leave."

"Leave?"

"Without the stress of working for Jhan, and with my back finally healed I'm feeling strong enough for the journey."

"How will we find the Gate?"

"I've been thinking about that, and I realized that I've been a complete idiot."

"Oh?"

"We don't have to find the Gate, we just have to find someone from the other side of this war. They can point us in the direction of the city."

"That's so simple it might actually work."

"I think it has a good chance. Particularly since Ezra has informed me that the front lines are East of here."

"You've been planing this?"

"I've been toying with the idea." Daniel smiled. "I wanted to wait till I was healthy to bring it up."

"Your back must be better or you wouldn't be laying like this."

"Just another set of scars." Daniel shrugged. "We could leave tonight if you want to."

"I do. We don't belong here."

"No we don't, and we have a war of our own to get back to."

"It is hard to truly enjoying being here knowing that everyone else is still battling against the Goa'uld back home."

"It's been driving me crazy."

"I've noticed."

"Hey..."

Janet laughed and grabbed a pillow to smother Daniel with. He retaliated by reaching up and tickling her ribs. Helpless with laughter Janet gasped for breath against the assault. Free from the pillow Daniel sat up so that she slid down into his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. Janet looked into his sapphire eyes and smiled.

"I always wondered if this still existed." Janet mused.

"What do you mean?"

"The untroubled side. Ever since I met you you've had an air of agitated frustration about you, constantly thinking there was more you should be doing. Whatever you were grasping for always just out of reach."

"You know if we return to the SGC I'll become that person again, until the last Goa'uld is dead."

"I know."

"Still want to go back?" Daniel teased.

"Absolutely."

Daniel smiled and gave Janet another kiss. He heard Ezra outside their tent call his name and invited her inside. Ezra came in looking stressed. Her eyes were rimmed with red from tears and her usual confident manner had been replaced by anxiety. Janet gasped sharply.

"Daniel, she has blood on her hands."

'Ezra, what's wrong? What happened?'

'It's Tila, she needs help...please.'

'Of course, we'll do everything we can.'

'Thank you.' Ezra said gratefully as tears slipped down her face.

'Ezra?'

'Tila is my granddaughter...'

'Take us to her.'

"Daniel, what's going on?" Janet asked.

"Something is wrong with Ezra's granddaughter."

Janet nodded got to her feet. Although Ezra had thought it odd she had supplied Janet with a shirt and pair of pants usually reserved for the men to wear. She felt far more comfortable not running around in a dress. Daniel pulled on his own clothes and the pair followed Ezra back to her own tent.

Daniel was surprised to see how young Tila was, she didn't look to be older than thirteen. Laying on Ezra's bed under a layer of deer hide Tila whimpered in pain. Sweat beaded her forehead as she battled a dangerous fever. Janet went right to her and pressed her hand against the young girl's forehead to get an idea of how high the fever was. She put her fingertips on Tila's throat and counted out her pulse.

"Daniel, she is fighting a massive infection of some sort. Ask Ezra how long she's been like this."

'Ezra, when did Tila fall ill?'

'The ceremony was last night.'

'Ceremony?'

'It's a tradition that dates back to before anyone's memory. It's the official transition from girl to woman.' Ezra closed her eyes in pain as more tears traced down her cheeks. She glanced over at her granddaughter. 'She belongs to Jhan, he is particularly aggressive and has been waiting for this day since the day she was born...an event her mother did not survive. I don't know what to do, everyone who has ever fallen ill like this has died.'

Ezra broke down into true weeping. Daniel reached out and drew her into a comforting embrace. She cried bitterly against his chest, breathless with emotion. Janet watched them apprehensively, waiting for answers. Daniel looked at her with a heartbreaking expression.

"Daniel?"

"Jhan raped Tila last night."

"I was afraid of that." Janet sighed.

Janet reached out and lifted up the covers that covered the young woman. Her dark eyes brightened with tears as she caught sight of the blood. Tila opened her eyes and cried out in panic. Janet put the blanket back down and lifted up her hands so that Tila could see that Janet wasn't going to touch her without permission. Tila relaxed somewhat until she noticed Daniel. Her blue eyes widened in terror and started to tremble.

"Daniel, ask Ezra to help me. I need her to calm Tila so I can see just how much damage has been done. I think it would be best if you stepped outside."

"Of course." Daniel nodded and turned to Ezra. 'Ezra, Janet needs your help, she needs you to let Tila know that everything is going to be okay. I am going to wait outside.'

'Thank you, Daniel.'

Daniel forced a sad smile and turned to leave. Ezra returned to Tila's side and began reassuring her. Once outside Daniel noticed that none of the women were around, everyone was out of sight. Eventually Ina came out of hiding and approached him.

'Do not be alarmed, the women are not hiding from you.' Ina announced.

'I wouldn't blame them if they were.'

'You are trusted. They simply do not wish to see Ezra in this state, and Ezra does not wish to see them.'

'Ina, this can't go on. Tila's just a child.'

'Not anymore.'

'What do you think it would take to show the men that you deserve more respect than this?'

'We would have to prove that we could kill them before they can kill us. A few Mothers in the past have tried to stand up against them, but they are powerful trained warriors. There is nothing that can be done.'

Ina glanced sadly over Daniel's shoulder at Ezra's tent. Without another word she wandered away and back into hiding. Daniel ground his teeth together and gave serious consideration to hunting Jhan down and castrating him for everything he'd done. Before Daniel had a chance to act on his vengeful thoughts Janet stepped out of the tent.

"Is Tila going to be alright?" Daniel asked anxiously.

"No." Janet shook her head sadly. "She's dying and I don't have supplies I need to save her."

"Dying? From an infection?"

"No. Daniel..." Janet hesitated. "It was more than just a rape. Jhan cut her."

"Genital mutilation...that must be the 'ceremony' Ezra was talking about."

"I am sure it was." Janet nodded. "However, Jhan didn't do it right, the injury is too deep and has destroyed the urethra. Tila needs immediate surgery, but I have no way of doing it."

"There has to be something we can do."

"I'm sorry, Daniel. Anything I try will just add to her pain."

"Janet..." Daniel paused. "We can't leave leave these women like this."

"I was just thinking the same thing. However, I don't know what we can do about it. The women, even Ezra, seem to believe that they have no power against the men, and as much as I hate to admit it, I think they're right."

"I think I know something that might be able to change that."

"What?"

"My gun."

"As much as I love to, I'm not sure you killing Jhan would solve this."

"Not me, Ezra. A weapon like that could level the playing field. It's not an ethical way to influence a culture, but even if Ezra only fired it once it would prove to everyone that the women here have a powerful way to defend themselves. It could get them the respect they need to gain some rights."

"Solving a problem with violence...that doesn't sound like you Daniel."

"I know,

"Where is it?"

"Jhan has it."

"Why hasn't he used it?"

"Because he doesn't know what it is."

"Then we'd better get a hold of it before he decides to try and figure it out."