Children of the Chappa'ai Part One: Return to Abydos
by Setcheti

Category: AU, Drama
Spoilers: Stargate the movie, "Children of the Gods" (well, the first thirty minutes or so, anyway)
Rating: PG, minor swearing and gun violence, a little blood but no gore
Summary: What if the second mission to Abydos had gone…just a little differently?
Disclaimer: Don't own them, never did, never will. Don't sue me, I don't have anything you want. <g>
Author's Note: This is a Stargate alternate universe, a sort of 'what if' on Children of the Gods. Thanks to all those authors who've written Abydonian: I've borrowed bits and pieces shamelessly from you guys, hope you like the result. Anyhoo, this story doesn't follow canon, it supersedes it-you've been warned! Comments would be appreciated, but please keep the flames to yourself as I did not force you to read this.

**Note--translations of Abydonian phrases follow story**

General George Hammond stood alone in the conference room, staring down at the Stargate through the observation window. He frowned at the bomb sitting on the ramp, wishing it wasn't there; wishing it was back wherever Samuels had gotten it from…or safely detonated on Abydos. But there were people on Abydos, human people, descendants of human captives taken by Ra thousands of years ago as well as one presumed-dead archaeologist who had apparently gone native. The frown deepened. He didn't like loose ends-not the one living on Abydos, not the three being detained down the hall, and especially not the one down in the autopsy room. It was all O'Neill's fault, not following orders the first time…and now he was stuck with the decision, forced to do this moral balancing act because the now-retired colonel just couldn't have stayed suicidal for half a day more to complete his mission. A better part of him cringed away from that thought in disgust.

"General?"

Samuels. A man not likely to consider right and wrong in any light other than orders and non-orders; Hammond couldn't stand him. "Major?"

Samuels cleared his throat nervously. "Awaiting your orders, General." For now, anyway. "Shall I give the go-ahead to send the bomb through on schedule?"

"I'm still considering all the ramifications," Hammond replied stiffly. "We have some loose ends to tie up…and I want to make damned sure we don't tie our own hands at the same time. If something larger is going on here…"

"Begging your pardon, sir," the major interrupted. "But I don't see how we can put any faith in what O'Neill says. He's already proven himself to be a traitor…"

"I'm not sure about that," Hammond cut him off sharply, fixing the nervous man with a cold eye. "We have no way of knowing what happened out there; he may have had good reason for what he did…I believe he was telling the truth about Ra, at least. And if those hostiles didn't come from Abydos…"

"There is nowhere else they could have come from," Samuels reminded him smoothly. "Our scientists…"

"…may not be correct," Hammond interrupted firmly. "We don't even know how the damned thing actually works, Major; not to mention that the one person who might be able to tell us more has effectively placed himself beyond our reach."

"Possibly not." Taking the General's raised eyebrow for permission, Samuels continued, "Sir, we still have the Stargate. If we send a probe through with a camera and verify that the Gate is operational on that side, it should be a simple matter to send a small team through to retrieve Dr. Jackson…and we could send the bomb through as soon as they return." He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "And sir…Daniel Jackson was declared dead over a year ago. No one would ever have to know…"

Hammond's eyes flashed, and Samuels took an involuntary step backward. "I would know," the General said in a low, angry voice. "Let's get one thing straight right now, Major; I don't know what you did in your last posting for NID and I don't want to know, but as long as you are under my command you will bear in mind that we serve the greatest country in the world and that it is our duty to uphold that country's ideals to the best of our ability. I will not accept less. Understand?" Samuels nodded, eyes fixed on the floor. "Good, now come with me; I have some more questions for Colonel O'Neill."

"Retired," Samuels corrected, falling into step behind the older man as he swept out of the room. "O'Neill is retired."

Hammond smiled grimly. "Not anymore."

* * *

Jack stepped through the Stargate with a feeling of deja vu, casually wiping frost off his face as he looked around. Ferretti and Kawalski were okay-he had known they would be-and Lieutenant Michaelson was recovering. Captain Carter complained vociferously about being sick until she saw O'Neill looking at her with 'I told you so' written plainly on his face; she shut up in a hurry and started looking around. Jack shared a smirk with Kawalski before gesturing him to take point.

Signs of habitation were plain to see; a firepit and a cooking tripod surrounded by cushions and eating utensils, pallets against some of the walls, a ragged curtain blowing idly in an alcove doorway-but not a sight or sound of the humans who had obviously been there in the recent past. Guns raised, the soldiers began to advance across the apparently empty room, heading for the exit…

…When a volley of sharp clicks heralded the appearance of more than a dozen young men pointing very familiar weapons at them. The soldiers froze, and for a long moment no one breathed. Then a robed figure leaped out into the center of the stalemate, arms upraised. "Cha'hari!" he shouted to the young men in a strange, musical language. "Cha'hari. Lower your guns," Daniel Jackson repeated in English. He saw the shocked and suspicious looks he was getting from the intruders and grimaced. "Hello, Jack. Welcome back."

O'Neill looked past the man in front of him to the grinning boy standing a few paces behind. Ignoring Daniel's outstretched hand, Jack pushed past him to greet Skaara with a big smile. He's grown. "Skaara."

"O'Neill!" Skaara threw his arms around his friend with uninhibited affection. "It is good to see you again."

Daniel wrapped his arms around his chest in a near unconscious gesture of self-protection; Jack turned from his reunion with the spunky Abydonian boy and looked him over thoughtfully. "Daniel…how you doin'?"

"Uh…good." The archaeologist managed an echo of the smile he'd worn a minute ago. "You?"

O'Neill grinned. "Better, now that I see that everybody's okay."

"Greetings from Earth, Dr. Jackson," Ferretti said, saluting.

Daniel's smile became genuine, creeping back into his blue eyes, and his self-protective stance relaxed. "Hello, Ferretti."

"Brought you a little somethin'," Kawalski told him, holding out a small plastic package with a smile.

Daniel took the pocket-sized packet of Kleenex and made a face, knowing he was being teased. "Kawalski," he drawled in a long-suffering voice. Movement from the curtained alcove to his left drew his attention away from the reunion at that moment and all the uncertainty fled from his face and posture as a dark head appeared, wide dark eyes looking at him questioningly. His smile was tender as he extended a beckoning hand. "Sha'uri, don't be shy."

She was at his side without an instant's hesitation, insinuating herself under his protective arm and lifting her face to his for reassurance. He met her gaze with a loving look and for a moment seemed to forget there was anyone else in the room. Jack cleared his throat and extended his hand, smiling a little ruefully; he hadn't been sure what the relationship between the renegade scientist and his 'gift' would be after a year, but the sight of them together told him that there was no way in hell Daniel Jackson would be leaving Abydos. So much for the mission objective. "Hi," he said inanely. Sha'uri looked to her husband for approval before taking the offered hand; Daniel nodded but looked embarrassed. "Good to see you again."

Daniel glanced at the soldiers nervously. "So, I uh, figured it was only a matter of time before you had to tell the truth about us still being here."

"Yeah." Jack took an assessing look around of his own. "So why the militia?" he asked evenly. "Something else come through?"

Suspicion dawned in the blue eyes, and Daniel's open expression became wary. "No, we're just taking precautions. Why?"

"Amazing! This is what was missing from the dig at Giza." Captain Carter's enthusiastic voice interrupted whatever answer Jack was going to make, and he grimaced in irritation. "This is how they controlled it! It took us fifteen years…"

Daniel raised an eyebrow at Jack, who shook his head. "Captain."

"…Look how small it is!"

"Captain!"

That had been an order, and her head snapped around to look at him; Jack rolled his eyes and jerked his head in Daniel's direction. "Oh, right." She hurried over and beamed a little too enthusiastically at the archaeologist, smiling and extending a hand which he took as cautiously as though it were a snake. "Dr. Jackson I presume. I'm Dr. Samantha Carter."

Sha'uri pressed closer to her husband's side, her eyes narrowing slightly with a different kind of suspicion. Daniel looked at Jack, who rolled his eyes again. "I thought you wanted to be called 'Captain'," he said peevishly, suddenly wondering if the inclusion of a blonde-haired blue-eyed and very bouncily enthusiastic female scientist on the mission had more to do with the archaeologist than with the Stargate. The irritated look Carter shot him said it probably did and Jack groaned internally, hoping that the captain was smart enough to back off on her own; he knew for a fact that Sha'uri was tougher than she looked.

Daniel was starting to look worried. "What's going on, Jack?" he asked suspiciously.

Jack glanced at Skaara and sighed. "Six hostile aliens came through the Stargate on Earth," he said heavily. "Four people are dead, one's missing."

"One of them looked like Ra, Daniel," Kawalski added apologetically.

The archaeologist frowned. "Well they didn't come from here," he said slowly, not liking where this was going. "I mean, the boys take shifts guarding it thirty-six hours a day every day-we'd know if they came through here."

"Well, they came from somewhere, Daniel," Jack told him flatly, keeping his expression neutral with an effort. "I'm going to have to look around."

Daniel just shrugged, his mind focusing on the ramifications of this new problem. "I think I can help you find out who it was," he said thoughtfully. His eyes, serious now and even more concerned, locked onto Jack's. "Uh, we were about to start preparing the evening meal, why don't you join us? Afterward I'll take you back home so you can check things out."

"Sounds good." Jack cocked his head at him. "Are you making that lizard that tastes like chicken again? I've missed that."

Daniel grinned and spoke softly to Sha'uri in Abydonian; she laughed and hugged him before hurrying from the room. "Sure, Jack; we'll put some in the stew for you."

"What a guy," Jack said wryly, but his eyes were twinkling. "Mind if we take a look around outside while you kill the lizard?"

"It's jerked, but no, I don't mind," Daniel responded. "And I'm sure Captain Doctor Carter wants to get her first look at a new planet, too." The not-so-subtle request to remove the enthusiastic captain was not lost on Jack; he nodded understanding and saw the younger man relax. "Just don't wander too far; I'm sure you remember how fast a sandstorm can blow up around here."

"I will go with them, Dan-yer," Skaara offered, re-shouldering his weapon with a casual shrug. "Someone must make sure O'Neill does not get lost."

Kawalski and Ferretti both snickered, and even Daniel stifled a laugh behind his hand. Jack sighed, trying to look put upon. "I get no respect."

"I'll stay behind, sir," Ferretti said, shifting his eyes ever so slightly in the direction of the silent lieutenant who had been a last-minute addition to their mission. "I want to check over some of these guns, see if they need any maintenance."

"Good idea," Jack approved, acknowledging the man's desire to keep an eye on Lieutenant Michaelson as well as the Stargate. "Okay, I guess it's myself, Kawalski, Skaara and Carter. We won't stay out long."

"Dinner should be ready about the time the first sun sets," Daniel called after them, and Skaara waved a hand in acknowledgment as they exited the room.

Jack experienced an overpowering feeling of deja vu as he stepped out of the pyramid into the hot afternoon of Abydos; a glance at Kawalski told him he wasn't the only one. "Looks the same," the major said with a smile. "Nothing but sand and sky, as far as the eye can see."

"This wasn't the way it looked when we left, though," O'Neill corrected. "Daniel and I came out to see what was left of all of you, and the entire population of Abydos was standing right there waiting to see what was left of us--with you and Skaara right up in front and grinning like a couple of idiots."

Kawalski had to laugh, and he slapped Jack on the shoulder. "If you think we were funny, you should have seen yourself, Colonel; the look on your face when you turned around and saw Daniel and Sha'uri…"

"Trying to suck each other's tonsils out?" Jack finished for him, making a face. "I guess there's nothing like defeating an ancient Egyptian god to get the ol' juices flowing-or maybe that's just an archaeologist thing. Heaven help Sha'uri if that's what it takes to turn him on…"

Carter turned away from her openmouthed wonder at the double suns to frown at her commanding officer. "Was she the reason he stayed behind?"

Jack's eyes were fixed on the gentle slope of the dunes, remembering. "They're married, Captain," he said softly. "It was love at first sight, and her father gave her to Daniel as a gift our first night here."

"And he accepted?" she exclaimed, scandalized. Her frown deepened. "And you let him…sir?"

"I didn't know." He spared her a slight scowl. "At the time, neither did he; he couldn't speak the language then. Sha'uri is the one who taught him Abydonian; he learned it in a single night, pretty remarkable if you ask me. It wasn't until the next evening that he realized they were married."

Carter wasn't mollified. "But still…"

"Dan-yer is a good husband to my sister-and a good brother to me," Skaara interrupted, mirroring Jack's scowl. "He is devoted to our family, and we to him."

The captain pasted her smile back on, albeit a little condescendingly. "I'm sure he is, Skaara; but that doesn't make what he did right."

The young man's jaw tightened and his dark eyes snapped with anger. "My brother is an honorable man."

Jack held up a hand to forestall Carter's next comment. "We know he's an honorable man," he told his young friend firmly, with a gesture that included Kawalski. "Just ignore Captain Carter, Skaara; she doesn't know Daniel and she doesn't know what she's talking about."

"We know how much Daniel loves your sister," Kawalski added over Carter's offended spluttering. "Hell, it's obvious to anyone who looks at them!" He snickered and elbowed O'Neill. "Wasn't it cute, Colonel? I mean, I knew he had it bad before, but the kid is terminal now."

"Yeah," O'Neill said, his expression softening. "Fate's a funny thing; Daniel had to travel to the other side of the known universe on a fool's errand to find the other half of his soul."

"Gettin' sentimental in your old age, O'Neill?" Kawalski chuckled. He dodged the mock swipe Jack aimed at him. "Ooh, slowin' down, too."

Jack growled at him, but he was grinning too. "I could take you with one hand tied behind my back, Kawalski, and don't you forget it."

Carter cleared her throat. "Begging your pardon, sirs, but I think you're forgetting our mission objective. We're supposed to take…"

"We're not taking anyone anywhere unless they want to go, Captain," O'Neill cut her off brusquely, his grin disappearing. "I still want to have a look around, but I don't think we'll find anything here. Those hostiles must have come from somewhere else-just like I told the General before."

The captain frowned. "That isn't possible, sir."

"Anything's possible, Captain," Kawalski said dismissively. "Except the idea that Daniel or any of these people would help someone like Ra."

"Never!" Skaara agreed. "Dan-yer has given us back the knowledge that the false god took from us; we will never be slaves again!"

"Ra had forbidden his slaves, the people of Abydos, to read or write," Jack explained to the still-frowning captain. "That was the other reason Dr. Jackson stayed; he wanted to give them back their heritage, all the things that had been denied to them during all those generations of slavery and suppression."

"Dan-yer is one of the Council of Elders," Skaara said proudly. "Kasuf says his teachings will help us shape the future of Abydos."

"Kasuf, flattering Daniel?" Jack ruffled the young man's hair. "Sounds like he wants grandchildren."

Skaara winked at him. "Badly, O'Neill, very badly."

* * *

Lieutenant Michaelson largely ignored the 'natives' milling around the gateroom while he completed his own reconnaissance; he observed Ferretti's enthusiastic interaction with the young militia members with disdain while being glad for the distraction it provided. Major Samuels was right, he thought. The General shouldn't have trusted these guys; this unprofessional attitude I'm seeing is probably why the first mission was such a disaster. Well, that's why I'm here, to make sure our orders get carried out this time.

Once he had finished assessing the area and was positive that all possible threats were accounted for, Michaelson approached his main mission objective and pulled him away from the others. "Dr. Jackson, if there's anything you want to take with you, you'd better get it now; we'll be leaving directly once the colonel comes back."

Daniel frowned. "I'm not going anywhere, Lieutenant," he said seriously. "I don't know what you were told, but I won't…"

"I have my orders," Michaelson interrupted, unperturbed-he'd been told to expect this. "I was told to retrieve you, so you will be going back to Cheyenne Mountain with us-as a prisoner, if necessary. Don't make this harder than it has to be."

They were starting to attract attention. "Don't you understand?" Daniel argued. "I couldn't leave even if I wanted to-which I don't. I have a wife and family here that need me. I have responsibilities that I cannot and will not walk away from."

Lieutenant Michaelson raised his gun. "Sorry, Doctor; if you'd come back when you were supposed to that wouldn't have happened. Now you're coming with me."

Wide blue eyes narrowed, and Daniel took a deliberate step backwards, folding his arms across his chest. "I will not," he said flatly. "Abydos is my home now, and I won't go along with this. I'll be glad to do what I can to help you find out where your Ra look-alike came from, but there's nothing you can say or do that will make me go back to Earth."

"I have my orders," Michaelson repeated coldly. "I was told to retrieve you…by any means necessary."

* * *

The sound of a gunshot from inside the pyramid hit Jack almost like a physical blow; he was running before he even knew he'd moved, feeling the sand slide under his boots. Skaara was running beside him, his face pale. "O'Neill, what…"

"I don't know, Skaara…but I have a bad feeling." They raced up the ramp and into the Gate room, emerging into chaos. Jack and Kawalski immediately dove into a pile of furious Abydonians and pulled out a battered but still yelling Lieutenant Michaelson. "What the hell is going on!" Jack roared. "Skaara, would you…"

Kawalski's suddenly painful grip on his arm cut him off in mid bellow. Jack followed the Major's horrified gaze across the chamber to see Skaara kneeling beside someone on the floor, someone whose head was pillowed in a sobbing Sha'uri's lap. Ferretti was there as well, pressing a piece of cloth over a growing crimson stain and yelling for a first aid kit. "Neet bene wa, Dan-yer," Skaara was pleading softly, holding his brother-in-law's hand tightly. "Neet bene wa!"

Daniel opened his eyes with obvious effort. "Don't…let them take me, Skaara" he whispered. "I won't leave…my home."

"No one will take you anywhere, my brother," the young man promised. Daniel nodded, his eyes drifting closed again. Skaara looked up at the other young men. "Nehu, you must go get our father and the healer at once. Retua, take my place." He allowed the other boy to take Daniel's bloodstained hand and slowly stood up, locking eyes with his sister briefly before turning away to face the group in front of the Chappa'ai. "O'Neill, I demand to know why one of your men has tried to kill my brother."

"Oh, he's not one of my men," Jack said grimly. "Michaelson, you heard him; I'd suggest you do your best canary imitation."

The lieutenant sneered. "I'm not here to humor children, Colonel."

Kawalski gave the man a rough shake. "Then how about the leader of the Abydonian militia?" he snarled. "Since that's who's asking. And I think the Colonel and I would like to hear this story too, Lieutenant."

Michaelson tried to yank his arm away from the angry major without success. "I was following my orders," he said coolly. "Our mission objective was to retrieve Dr. Jackson and I was authorized to use force if he resisted. Any means necessary."

"And you thought it was necessary to shoot him?!" O'Neill exploded. "Just how exactly did he resist you, Michaelson? What did he do?"

"Dan-yer said he would not leave," one of the other young men reported, coming up beside his leader. "He told this man that Abydos was his home."

"He said that he would help you," another chimed in. "But he would not return to Earth."

Skaara's eyes were blazing. "I know Dan-yer was unarmed," he said slowly. "My brother does not carry a weapon except on the open desert." Skaara looked at Michaelson for a long moment, studying him; the officer's bland, contemptuous expression did not change, and the young man's gaze returned to O'Neill. "The crime this man is guilty of is very great. We must talk before Kasuf comes." He gestured at the watching men. "Secure him and stand watch. He should not move."

The lieutenant snorted. "You're not in charge here, kid. They won't just hand me over because you say so." O'Neill looked at Kawalski over the man's head and nodded; with a shove, they propelled Michaelson into the arms of the young men who had attacked him earlier. "Colonel! You can't…"

O'Neill's fist was suddenly twisted in the front of his jacket, pulling him up close. "You just shot an unarmed man for telling you 'no'," he spat. "You don't seem to think that's a very big deal, but I do-and if being tied up is the worst thing that happens to you today, I would say you're damn lucky." He shoved the openmouthed lieutenant back to his guards and put an arm around Skaara's shoulders, turning him back toward Daniel. "Kawalski, I'll trust you to keep things clean," he called over his shoulder.

"Of course, Colonel," Kawalski said happily. "I promise not to see anything I'm not supposed to."

Jack knew he was seeing something he wasn't supposed to as he and Skaara knelt on the sandy floor beside the wounded archaeologist and the boy gently laid his hand on Daniel's chest, over his heart. "Dan-yer?"

"Neet bene wa," Daniel murmured weakly. "I won't go to sleep, Skaara, I promise."

"I will not let him," Sha'uri said quietly, stroking her husband's hair. "The healer will be here soon, my Dan-yer; then you may sleep."

"Um-hmm, shee bene wa," Daniel replied, smiling slightly as he covered Skaara's hand with his own. His eyes cracked open, taking in all the people around him. "If I was wearing my glasses…this would be embarrassing." He blinked, trying to focus. "J-ack? That you?"

"Yeah, it's me. This blur over here." Jack put his free hand on Daniel's uninjured shoulder and squeezed gently. "Sorry, Daniel."

"Not your fault." The eyes slid closed with a sigh, but he was still smiling. "It was good to see you. Didn't think I ever would again…'cept in dreams…"

"Dan-yer, neet!"

The archaeologist jumped, wincing. "I'm awake, I'm awake." His eyes were back open, shadowed with pain. "God, this is just like my na gnee, Sha'uri. I knew I shouldn't have opened the damned gate…just to satisfy our curiosity."

"Curiosity?" Jack shot Carter a dirty look, but she ignored him. "Dr. Jackson, did you find something new? What did you think it was?"

"A…map room." Daniel glanced in the excited scientist's direction before returning his gaze to Jack. "Lots of addresses. Thousands. Must be…Gates all over the Universe."

Jack just stared. Ferretti's mouth had fallen open. "Th-thousands, Daniel?"

"Yeah. I haven't even translated…I mean, it'll take my whole life…just to read them all."

"All over the Universe," Jack whispered. He grinned down into the blue eyes. "Danny my boy, sounds like you just gave us the stars."

"No." Carter was shaking her head. "No, that isn't possible; you must not have read it right."

Four sets of hands stopped Daniel from sitting up, the aborted effort draining away what little color remained in his face. "Thank you , Captain," Jack snapped sarcastically, trying to ignore the pained moan forcing its way between the younger man's clenched teeth. "I'm sure we're all glad that you took this opportunity to tell Dr. Jackson he didn't know what he was doing. I can tell it meant a lot to him."

Captain Carter flushed. "I didn't mean that…I mean, my team tried hundreds of permutations and none of them worked. Statistically speaking, if there were other Gates we would have stumbled across at least one or two of them, so we were forced to conclude that there are no others. It's all in our report."

"Your…report?" Jack suddenly had a horrible thought. "Who's read this report, Carter? The General?"

"Oh, we briefed the entire command staff thoroughly. At first they didn't want to believe us, but we finally convinced them…"

Jack wasn't listening any more. He saw Daniel shaking his head weakly, saw Ferretti's sickened look and knew they both understood. Okay, O'Neill, decision time. First we get rid of… "Captain, I want you to relieve Kawalski and send him over here. Stay out of the Abydonians' way." Looking a little offended, the blonde officer did as she was told and Jack repressed a sigh. "Shit."

"O'Neill? I do not understand." Skaara was plainly confused. "What is going on?"

Daniel cleared his throat. "She…told their leaders that there could be…no other Stargates," he managed. "They believe that we…are hiding those who attacked them. They think we are the enemy."

Skaara and Sha'uri both looked horrified. The young woman looked pleadingly at O'Neill. "This is why they tried to kill my Dan-yer?"

"Weren't…trying to kill me, Sha'uri," her husband said softly. "Trying to force…me to go with them. Then…" His gaze drifted back to O'Neill. "They have another bomb?"

"I stopped them from sending it through," Jack said, shaking his head. "I thought I'd made the General see reason…but I think they were using us. To get you. Hammond ordered me to bring you back right before we came through…"

"…which you know he wouldn't have done if you didn't want to come," Kawalski said, taking the place that Carter had vacated. "Hangin' in there, Daniel?" A nod, and the major patted his arm. "Knew you would be. Colonel, what's going on? The captain didn't look to happy."

"I'm not too happy with the captain," Jack said. "This is all her fault." Kawalski's eyes widened and Jack shook his head. "She and her team of scientists convinced Stargate Command that there 'couldn't be' any more Gates-just ours and this one. They didn't believe a word we said…and they'll probably send the bomb through the second we get back."

"We can't let them do that! All these people…"

Jack held up his hand, silencing the other man. "We're not going to let them do that." He was thinking hard. "When I signed my reactivation papers I noticed that they were dated almost four days ago, so I'm pretty sure that I'm slated to do a disappearing act in the near future." He grinned, eyes twinkling. "Maybe I'll just do it early-on my own terms."

Kawalski looked at Ferretti, then both men started to grin as well. Straightening, they saluted the colonel. "Permission to transfer to the Abydonian militia, sir?"

O'Neill's raised an eyebrow. "You sure? It'll be no going back." The two men nodded and he shrugged. "Okay by me. Skaara?"

The young man looked at the two soldiers with wide eyes. "You would stay? Here with us?"

"They'll be killed…if they go back," Daniel whispered. "I'm so sorry, guys."

"Nothing to be sorry for, Daniel," Jack reassured him. "You didn't cause this. So, Skaara, can we stay?"

"Of course!" Jack suddenly found himself with an armful of militia leader, and he blinked to clear his misting vision as he returned the hug. "I think we're welcome guys."

"We'll need to…rebury the Gate," Daniel managed. It was getting harder to focus, harder to talk. "The stones…are still here." A hard shudder shook his body, and another; he could feel Sha'uri's hands cradling his head, smell her sweet scent as she leaned over him. "Neet…bene wa."

"Stay with us, Daniel." O'Neill's voice, worried. About him? The strong hand back on his uninjured shoulder…trembling? No, not Jack. Jack hadn't even seemed that glad to see him earlier. "You're not going anywhere."

"Nope, not going…needed here…"

"Damn straight you are, Daniel." O'Neill fought to keep his voice steady; he vividly remembered what he had done when they'd first seen the archaeologist, the way he'd brushed past him, the flash of hurt and embarrassment in the younger man's face. "You've got to show us the ropes around here. And you've got a translation to finish."

Daniel forced his eyes back open, pushing back the blackness to squint at O'Neill. "Believe me? Really?"

"Of course. You're the expert, right?"

The archaeologist smiled. "Interstellar…drift." He received four blank looks. "Stars…move. Coordinates…have to compensate for…drift." His eyes narrowed, only partially with pain. "Don't tell her."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Jack reassured him. His face was alight. "Daniel, were you able to…"

"No. Couldn't manage…calculations. Didn't…even know where to start." He sighed. "Sorry."

Jack shrugged off the unnecessary apology. "You can show me the calculations later; maybe I can help." It was his turn to get blank looks. "Whaat? Astronomy is my hobby, okay? But right now we need to get ready to bury that gate and decide what to do with our trigger happy lieutenant. Skaara, what was it you wanted to tell me about that?"

The young man's face grew grave. "Our father will be here soon, and he will demand a'hoet gnau su for this man's crime."

"To die alone in the desert," Daniel translated softly. "Oh god…the tee gnau sh'an. Skaara, neet wae an…please, neet wae an!"

"That is why he will demand it," Skaara responded, leaning over the injured man to look down into his eyes. "I could not, because you were not killed; but our father…you are the son of his heart, Dan-yer. His anger will be great." He paused, eyes darkening. "My anger is great as well, brother."

"And mine, husband." The blue eyes filled up and overflowed; Sha'uri wiped the tears away gently with her hand. "I understand, my Dan-yer," she told him gently. "You are kind even to your enemies; it is your way. Please do not be angry with us."

"I…cannot be angry…with my family," Daniel replied brokenly; he had started to shake again. "But…this man is not…" his eyes sought out O'Neill, "…does not belong here. We should…send him back."

Jack nodded slowly. "I agree," he said quietly. He held up a hand to stop Skaara's objection. "No, just listen, Skaara. If we send him back with Carter, he can take a message for us-a message that might save us all a lot of trouble. I have a plan…"

* * *

Carter was worried. The boy called Skaara had moved Lieutenant Michaelson and herself farther into the pyramid's winding corridors and had then taken all but five of their guards away with him; she'd been hearing a lot of activity ever since. Their guards. No one had said anything and she still had her sidearm…but the young men weren't hiding the fact that they were watching her as well. What could possibly be going on out there?

Footsteps approached, and O'Neill and Skaara walked into their little detention area flanking an older man in long robes; she noticed that the angry lines of the man's face bore traces of recent tears. "Colonel?"

O'Neill just held up a hand. The man's dark eyes raked over her briefly before turning to Michaelson, giving her a glimpse of rage like she'd never seen before. He said something in Abydonian and Skaara translated. "He says this man does not seem to care what he has done. His eyes are cold and without feeling." The man abruptly turned away, punctuating what was plainly a demand with a violent downward slash of his arm. "He wants the a'hoet gnau su begun without delay, O'Neill."

"I can understand that, but it's not that easy. Our laws say he has to be tried by our people…but of course if Daniel dies…"

The young man's face hardened "When he dies, O'Neill," Skaara spat. "You heard what the healer said. My brother will not live past this day-and the second sun already sinks in the sky. Our family has a right to claim this man's life!"

O'Neill was nodding, and all the color drained from Michaelson's face. Carter decided it was time to jump in. "Colonel, what exactly is going on here?"

"A lot, Captain," Jack responded, his mind obviously elsewhere; he was looking thoughtfully at the firmly tied lieutenant. "Kasuf here is the chief elder of Abydos-and Dr. Jackson's father-in-law. If," he glanced at Skaara and sighed, "when Daniel dies, Abydonian law says they can demand that 'wet-nawss' thing on behalf of the family."

"Wet…"

"It means they leave Michaelson alone in the desert and let a pack of very large animals have their way with him." His eyes met hers briefly, troubled. "Daniel had a fit; he wants the lieutenant sent home, but his family doesn't agree with him. They want blood for blood, and I can't really blame them." The sigh again, and something that had been smoldering in his brown eyes ignited as he addressed Michaelson. "Your bullet ricocheted off Dr. Jackson's clavicle and tore up his insides, Lieutenant; he's dying slowly and painfully…because he told you 'no'."

Dead silence. Michaelson's expression remained neutral, but there was fear in his eyes. "Colonel, you can't give him to these people!" Carter exclaimed. "Dr. Jackson is right, we have to take him back with us."

"That might be easier said than done, Captain," Jack responded, still looking at the lieutenant. "In case you haven't noticed, we're outnumbered here."

Carter thought fast. "What…what if we could save Dr. Jackson? If we take him back through the Gate with us, our doctors could…"

"I believe that was part of Michaelson's plan, too" Jack said quietly. "Right, Lieutenant?"

Whatever Michaelson might have said was interrupted by a hair-raising wailing noise coming from the direction of the Stargate. Kasuf uttered a sharp cry and rushed out of the room, followed closely by Skaara. O'Neill's expression was stricken, as were those of the guards. "Colonel?"

"I guess this is it." He gestured for the young men to bring their prisoner and took Carter by the arm, pulling her down the corridor while speaking urgently in her ear. "Captain, start dialing the Gate as quickly as you can and take Michaelson through; we'll try to follow you later."

"Sir, I don't…" They emerged into the gateroom and their guards deserted them, their prisoner forgotten. Kawalski was leaning against one of the pillars, one arm covering his face, and Ferretti was nowhere to be seen. Carter suddenly understood. She raced to the dialing device and began tapping the glyphs that led home.

Jack caught Michaelson's arm in a firm grip as his guards hurried to the center of the room to join those already mourning. "Take a good look before you go," he hissed. "I want you to remember how much pain you caused these people. This was Daniel's home." Jack's eyes misted up as he watched Kasuf gently stroke his son's pale cheek one last time before covering the still face with a cloth. Skaara was holding Sha'uri tightly as she wailed, his own face a mask of grief. "To you he was a mission objective; to them, he was family."

Something flickered across Michaelson's face and then was gone. "You've gone soft, Colonel," he said coldly.

Jack almost smiled. "Yeah, I think I have," he replied. Behind them the Stargate engaged with a roar, sending people all over the room diving for cover. He dragged the lieutenant up to the event horizon and stared down at him with icy eyes. "Or else I'd just give you to these people and let them have their revenge. Hell, I think I'd even watch." Several of the young warriors had recovered and were rushing toward them; Jack stepped away from the Gate, holding out his arms to bar their way. "Carter, take him through! Now!"

Carter leaped through the shimmering field, pulling Michaelson with her; the Gate disengaged behind them. Skaara reached O'Neill and threw his arms around him with a whoop of joy. "We did it! O'Neill, we did it!"

"Yeah, we did!" Jack returned the hug, grinning from ear to ear. Large slabs of rock were already being moved into place, blocking the Stargate so it could not be opened again. "Kasuf!" he called across the room. "How's he doing?"

The older man pulled the cloth away from Daniel's face and laid a hand against his cheek; blue eyes blinked open and tensely held muscles relaxed. He drew in a deep, shuddering breath. "Father?"

"It is done, my son," Kasuf told him, smiling. "Now you may sleep. Shee bene wa." Daniel returned the smile drowsily and his eyes closed again, his breathing evening out almost immediately. "He will be fine, O'Neill."

"Glad to hear it-you guys almost had me going for a minute there." He ruffled Skaara's hair affectionately. "That was some performance you put on, kid, real Oscar material."

"Os-ker?"

Jack sighed, shaking his head. "I'll explain it…tonight at dinner. Let's get busy on these rocks so we can all go home."

Fin

Children of the Chappa'ai Part Two: The Best Laid Plans in progress!

Meanings of Abydonian phrases used in this story:
neet……………....no, don't
na gnee………….nightmare
neet bene wa……don't go to sleep; also a euphemistic way of saying 'don't die on me'
shee bene wa……to sleep with beloved ("Sleep well knowing I am near")
a'hoet gnau su….'to die alone in the desert,' the Abydonian punishment for murderers
tee gnau sh'an…..territory of the tee gnau, large wolflike predators; place where a'hoet gnau su occurs
neet wae an……...not for me, not on my behalf
cha'hari…………..opposite of cha'ouhra

Feedback is always appreciated!
(although critiques of my Abydonian may not be)