SUMMARY: SG1 has a conflict of interest

Author's notes: Once again, Chris. For everything (especially the title)

Daniel sat huddled amidst the bundle of blankets piled on his bed. His back was pressed against the headboard, his knees drawn up to his chest with his arms wrapped protectively around them. His chin rested on his knees. His gaze fell unseeingly on the wall at the far end of the room. Instead, his mind returned to the scene of the last mission. A time he knew he would never forget.

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The mission was supposed to be an easy one. A quick go in, say hi to the natives, and return. If they were lucky enough to secure a mining treaty on their first visit, all the better. It should have been simple. The inhabitants had no technology, or weaponry to speak of. What they did have was a beautiful, unspoiled world, full of resources. Just the kind of place that Earth was interested in.

The mission began as planned. The gate opened to a clearing, surrounded by lush trees and heavy underbrush. A slight path meandered off into the distance, forming an alley between the trees. Birds were chirping and insects trilled. It was very peaceful. Within minutes however, the team heard some soft noises, and was greeted by a handful of natives coming down the path towards them

The team had gone into a defensive position, weapons at the ready, but on Jack's cue, relaxed their stance as they took in the approaching group. Three men entered the clearing. They all wore loincloths of tanned leather, liberally decorated with beads. All sported dark hair and eyes. To Daniel's eye, they reminded him of North American West Coast natives. None of the natives appeared overly surprised at their arrival. While they seemed nervous, none seemed hostile.

Jack spoke over his shoulder to the others. "Anyone else get the impression that we were expected?" He continued to eye the group that hung back at the entrance to the clearing. After a quick exchange amongst themselves, one of the men broke ranks and took a step in their direction.

The eldest among them approached tentatively. He was a large man, although not as tall as O'Neill, or as broad as Teal'c. His face was weather worn, yet kindness was apparent in the crinkles around his eyes. He held out his hands in a cupping motion as he closed the distance. "Eeway nu denay?", he spoke, addressing his words to the group.

SG1 turned to Daniel in concert. He looked at the man approaching and mimicked the hand motion. "Ipuway ne sat joorfo. Icklick ba Daniel." Daniel cast a side glance as his questioning team. "He asks 'Who are you' and I answered 'We come in peace. My name is Daniel'." Daniel looked at the native in front of him with interest, before turning back to his friends. "He's speaking a pidgin dialect. Almost like Spanish, or rather, a derivative of it." Excitement made his words come faster. "I think they came from Earth."

The man in front of Daniel waited patiently for him to stop speaking, before resuming. "Oprem ne a retrium?"

Daniel turned to the team. "He asks if we will follow him?"

Jack raised his hand as he stepped forward. "Lead the way."

The native apparently understood the gesture, as he turned and started walking down the path. SG1 followed, and the rear of the group was brought up by the remaining locals.

The path wore on for quite a distance, with the scenery staying constant. Trees and underbrush surrounded them, opening only to reveal the sky above. Daniel moved up to converse with the native at the head of the line. Jack, Sam and Teal'c kept a look out, but found nothing of concern.

Gradually, the forest gave way to open space, marked by agriculture. They were led through fields of corn and potato until they came upon the settlement. All around were signs of life. Men, women and children moved around at their tasks and play, until they spotted the four strangers. Movement abruptly ceased and the eyes of all turned to look at them.

The team stood awkwardly, until a man stepped forward. He appeared to be very old. The skin of his face resembled old leather, worn and tough. He was bald, and where his hair should have been he wore an elaborate cap decorated with beads and feathers. On his bare chest hung several amulets, held by cords of sinew.

Sam caught her breath when she saw the shape of the largest amulet. She nudged the Colonel with her elbow, and whispered under her breath "Sir."

Jack looked at her and noticed the object of her attention. It was the symbol for Earth. Daniel and Teal'c took notice of it as well, but none remarked on it. This did not appear to be the time for discussion.

The old man approached. He came to a standstill in front of Daniel who was slightly ahead of the others. "Icklick ba Sulet. Meya po retru novanue."

Daniel gave a slight bow, and reintroduced himself. He gestured towards Jack. "Mynov ho Jack. Pa mo retru novanue." The old man directed a bow at Jack who returned the action.

Daniel continued to introduce the others who also received and gave bows. The old man turned to the lead escort and spoke, too rapidly for Daniel to completely follow. He then turned and walked away. Their escort looked them over. He spoke directly to Daniel, but meant his words for them all. When finished, he and the rest of the escort party bowed, then dispersed leaving the team alone.

"So what was all that about Danny?" Jack asked without his usual sarcasm.

"That old man was Sulet. He is the leader of this tribe. He has given instruction for us to join him in at dinner tonight. By speaking his language, we have proven our worthiness to be here amongst them. Until then, he has allowed us the freedom to look around the village. We will be shown a place to rest when one has been prepared."

Sam looked at him. "Did you notice his amulet?"

"Yeah. I think these people are another transplanted Earth culture. They appear to follow the path of the Quaqutil people. Certainly the language is similar."

Jack looked at his friend and the thought occurred to him that once again, Daniel's unique skills had paved the way for a peaceful encounter. "Good job Danny."

Daniel flushed slightly under the unexpected praise. Jack didn't give compliments often, and when he did, they were not to be taken lightly.

"Okay gang. The man said we could look around, so I say we do just that." With that, Jack started to move in the direction the leader had taken.

The locals had since stopped staring, and gone back to their routine, although more than one looked up to watch curiously as the friends walked by. Several women were pounding grain with heavy mortar and pestles. Two would lift the heavy stone, while a third fed grain into the bowl. They passed two more women, this time much older, weaving baskets in the shade. The women barely gave them a glance. Delicious smells wafted up from skins, hanging supported on wooden tripods over fire, and wisps of smoke curled up from cooking pits. Young women tended these under the expert eye of an elderly lady. She gave them a nervous look as they came close. The team continued on to pass by huge, lashed wooden frames that stood supported over small, smoky fires processing fish. Naked children ran to and fro amongst the frames, alternately laughing and screaming as they played some sort of game.

Jack noticed the low slung, thatched mounds they were passing at regular intervals. He pulled to a stop in front of one to take a closer look. The circular shape was quite large, It measured around 15 feet at it's diameter, and was broken only by two holes. One at one side with a rough ladder protruding from it, the other was smaller and in the centre.

Daniel noticed his CO's attention. He walked closer. "It's a hut Jack. These people dig out holes in the ground, or the side of a hill depending on the terrain. The dirt helps to act as an insulator. These will house quite a large family. They need to as generations of a family will live in a single dwelling."

Jack gave a final glance at the 'house' then nodded at Daniel who made way for the Colonel to move ahead.

As they continued through the village, Jack took note of the furtive glances directed their way. While he knew they were a curiosity, and expected to be watched, he was aware that something else was there. He sensed an undercurrent of fear.

Sam had also noticed something, but it wasn't the same. "Has anyone else noticed there are no men here?"

Again Daniel spoke. "They are most likely hunting or fishing. Typically, all men participate in such activities, with only the young and old staying behind. As with Earth cultures, they most likely have to rely on their stores to survive the winter. This is fascinating. It's like looking into Earth's own native history, only not in a museum or books. We are getting a glimpse of life as it really was lived." Daniel's enthusiasm brought smiles to all members of the team, including Teal'c, although his was slight. Really, it was an uplifting of eyebrows, but the motion was understood.

Teal'c glanced around as they continued on. They were approaching a huge fire pit, with it's contents ready to be lit. Crude wooden benches surrounded the pit. It appeared to be a gathering place. He started to approach but was stopped by motion caught in the corner of his eye. A man, similar in dress and age to the leader, was peeking at the team from behind a tree. His expression was decidedly unpleasant. Teal'c motioned to Jack, but the man had already left. Teal'c studied the area, but could spot nothing to indicate where the man had gone.

The team meandered around, finally ending up in the same location where they had met the leader. It took a while. The village was larger than it had initially looked. Once again they were approached, this time by a young women. Daniel spoke to her, but she declined to answer. Instead, she beckoned them to follow. The four were led to a hut near to the fire. She indicated for them to enter. Jack gave her a quick, searching look, but found nothing alarming in her countenance. Shrugging, he climbed down the ladder into the hut.

The dim room was low slung, forcing both Jack and Teal'c to stoop. The only light came in from the dual openings. Pallets covered with furs lined the outer edges of the room. A small, unlit fire ringed with stones sat waiting in the centre. Several clay pots of various sizes sat near the fire pit. Jack moved closer to check their contents. One appeared to contain water, one held a black, greasy substance, and the third held small pieces of heavily pitched bark. Apart from that, the room was empty.

"Cozy," Jack muttered. He moved to a pallet and lowered his weight upon it. The rickety looking structure was surprisingly sound. Quickly, Jack flopped on to his back, his head resting on the furs. "You know, I could get used to this," he remarked.

Teal'c, Daniel and Sam sat together on the nearest pallet to their friend. As the room dimmed, Daniel looked up and saw Sulet approaching the entrance, his bulk blocking the light. "Jack, we have company."

Jack sat up and watched the leader approach. Daniel stood, his head almost brushing the ceiling. He gave a slight bow to the elderly man.

Sulet studied the group. He felt they had not come to help, but their demeanour did not strike him as hostile. He came to see what it was they wanted. Through a long conversation, understood by only two of those assembled, Daniel managed to explain their desire to the elder. When the talking finally ceased, he gave them a final look, a slight bow, then left.

Daniel looked at the others. "Well.........that was interesting."

Sam looked at him. "What was? What did he say?"

Daniel sat down. It was going to take a while to translate. . "I told him what it was we were here for. He seems agreeable enough to us mining, but says it's not up to him, at least not right now."

Jack looked at Daniel, confusion plainly written on his face. "I don't understand. I thought you said he was the leader?"

"Yeah, I did, and he is. It's just that...........well, it seems that there have been some strange occurrences going on here."

Jack cocked his head to the side. Something told him he wasn't going to like this. "Strange how?"

"It seems as though people have gone missing."

Sam spoke up. "This is a forest. People have been lost in them. I don't know what's on this planet, but on ours, people have run into wildlife that have unfortunately cost them their lives. It's sad, but it happens."

"They know that too Sam. That's not what he means. These disappearances have been too regular for that. Sulet said that the village has about 250 inhabitants. They have lost one person a month, for the last year . Always young women, all twelve of them."

"And yet they leave them unprotected," Sam muttered.

Daniel caught her words. "It's not like that Sam. It only happens during the full moon. At that time, all the men are returned home to protect the people."

It was Jack's turn to mutter. "They don't seem to do a very good job of it then."

Daniel knew that Jack felt strongly about protecting the innocent. It was just that feeling that had saved his butt on more than one occasion. "It's not that simple Jack. Apparently it happens in that night when the people are asleep. No one is woken up, yet a girl is always missing. If it happens again, it will be number thirteen, a very powerful number to the spiritual."

"When is the next full moon on this planet Daniel Jackson?"

"Actually Teal'c, it's in two days."

Teal'c looked at Jack. "Then perhaps we can stay and see if we might be of some assistance." He phrased it as more of a statement that a question.

"Sure Teal'c. Hammond gave us whatever time we needed to clinch a treaty with these people. If we can help them out in the meantime, why not. It can't hurt the negotiations, now can it?" With that, Jack lay back down and covered his eyes with his arm. "If we're going to stay on, I'm grabbing a nap. This bed feels really good on my sciatica."

The three friends grinned. Jack was such a pushover. It was a part of his nature to help the underdog.

"You guys can go mingle if you want. Make some friends." Already Jack sounded sleepy.

"Shall we?" Sam asked, already ascending the ladder. She blinked as the brightness of the day hit her eyes. Spying the women pounding grain, she walked over to offer her help. Through a series of pantomimes, she conveyed her desire to help to the women, and was soon sweating as she repetitively lifted the heavy stone.

Daniel smiled as he watched. He was impressed with how Sam had made herself understood. He decided to seek out the Leader and see if he couldn't get some more information.

Teal'c looked around. He spied a well that he had previously missed. A pretty young woman who appeared to be in her late teens was approaching, a heavy pot balanced on her head. He approached. The girl's eyes widened at the sight of the huge Jaffa, but his outstretched hands served to placate her. He slowly reached up to relieve her of her burden, and carried it the rest of the way to the well. He dumped the contents into the deep hole and indicated for her to show him more. Timidly, she complied and led the way to the nearby lake where he began a series of trips, refilling the well in short order.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. Dinner it seemed was a communal affair. After pounding the grain, Sam was shown the art of making wheat cakes. She caught on quickly, having made a similar bannock as a youngster.

Dusk was falling as Jack emerged from the hut, refreshed and alert. Mouth watering smells came from the cooking skins and pits, and wheat cakes baked on rocks ringing the fires. The men who had been out hunting were arriving in groups, some sporting game slung over broad shoulders, others empty handed, while others carried clutches of fish. All took their bounty to their huts to present to the women who would prepare the meat for consumption and storage.

Sulet emerged from his hut, followed closely by Daniel who had spent the afternoon in conversation with him, much to the younger man's delight.

The team was led to one of the benches surrounding the huge unlit fire. As they sat, they were presented with clay plates, heaped with food. Soon they were joined by the leader. As they started to eat, another man joined their ranks. It was the one Teal'c had noticed previously. He was dressed in the same style as the Chief, with the exception of the large stone knife that hung from a cord around his waist. In fact, he looked to be related. The exception was his eyes. While those of the Chief's twinkled with humour and wisdom, those of the new arrival were clouded. His appearance was harsh. His nose appeared hawk like and his mouth a grim slit. He bore a look of utter distaste as he eyed the three male members of the team. A discomforting look crossed his face as his eyes lit on Sam though, a look that was not missed by the team. As Jack looked at the man, he realised that this one bore watching, carefully. The man took a proffered plate, and sat in the shadows. While the team felt his continued scrutiny, they chose to ignore him as set about eating their meal, which they heartily enjoyed.

The plates were taken from them by the same girls who had delivered them. It appeared as though families took their meals together, at their own hearths. They were allowed to join the Chief as his guests. As they sat in the dimming light, the Chief began to talk. He paused frequently so that Daniel might translate. He began by introducing the other man. His name was Ezamane. He was the Shaman, or Holy man of the tribe. He tended to the spiritual needs of the people. It was his job to explain the ways of their spirits, and to tend to the sick, although a woman versed in the healing properties of nature also contributed to the welfare of the people. Sulet broke off the conversation when men arrived bearing torches, the flames illuminating the immediate area. Their job done, the men faded back into the night.

Daniel took the break in the conversation to inquire about the curious reaction of the people to the team's appearance on the planet. No-one seemed particularly surprised by their arrival, and certainly not frightened by it. Sulet explained that Ezamane had recently had a vision. In it, a monumental event occurred, marking the start of a new age. The arrival of the team was taken to be the fulfilment of that prophecy. No one had come through the great circle in all the years of their memory, and to have it coincide with the prophecy could not be ignored.

The Chief went on to explain some of the history of his people. He talked for a long time, and night had fallen heavily by the time he rose to leave. He finished by inviting the men to join in the next days fishing expedition. Jack didn't need to be asked twice. Good food and fishing fell into his definition of an ideal mission.

The team were led back to their hut by an escort bearing a torch. The native followed them inside and reached in to the pot beside the fire which contained the bark. He placed a piece of the heavily pitched wood in the centre of the unlit fire. He then touched the torch to the bark. The pitch instantly caught and the blaze was established. The man then left. The crackling fire cast a warm glow about the room and the heat lost no time chasing away the chill. Having spent the day working, Sam and Daniel needed no encouragement to lay down among the luxurious furs.

Jack on the other hand was wide awake. His nap that afternoon had served to invigorate him, which was his plan. He wanted to scout out the area a little. People didn't just disappear without a trace, and he wanted to see if he could find any. He approached Teal'c who had an inkling of the Colonel's intentions.

Teal'c pulled his flashlight from his pack, while Jack tucked his sidearm into it's holster, having already retrieved his flashlight. Together they made their way quietly up the ladder, and into the night.

Jack had spent many years practising survival techniques, tracking being one of the main skills. Teal'c was also well versed in the art. They quickly spied the broken twigs and snapped bracken that spoke of movement through the woods and moved to follow the trail. After going some distance, they stopped to rest, the trail abruptly going cold.

Teal'c looked at Jack's determined expression. He had seen it before. "What is it O'Neill?"

Jack looked at him a moment before speaking. "I don't know Teal'c. There's something about this place. I can feel it in my gut."

Teal'c understood what Jack meant. He had been told the meaning of that phrase some time earlier, and had experiences similar feelings through his symbiote. "What does your 'gut' tell you this time?"

"It's telling me we're on the right track to finding those missing girls." Jack looked around. He closed his eyes and listened to the night.

Teal'c watched him curiously. He had noticed on many occasions that Jack seemed to have a heightened sense of intuition. Whether it came from years of training, or was just a part of his make-up was unclear, but he did know that more than once, the Colonel had led them to findings that others would have passed by, Teal'c included.

As Jack ignored his other senses and concentrated on his hearing, he noticed a strange silence ahead and to his left. He opened his eyes and grabbed Teal'c's arm. He pointed in the direction his feelings were leading him. "Let's go."

Some time later, they came upon a small clearing. The moon was bright and illuminated the area clearly. A large flat stone sat in the centre, surrounded by four sturdy poles sunk vertically in the earth. The woods wrapped around the place fully, with the exception of one side. That was dominated by a large, craggy rock wall, full of indents and hollows. The whole place had an eerie feel to it, and a shiver found it's way up Jack's spine. Not a sound was heard, save the heart beats and breathing of the two men.

"Let's spread out and look around," Jack whispered. The quietly spoken words seemed out of place.

Teal'c nodded his acknowledgement. He moved to the left while Jack took the right.

Only moments passed before Teal'c called out. "O'Neill. I have found something."

Jack wasted no time in moving to the Jaffa's position. What he found upon arrival, was the mouth to a cave. The entrance was low, and the stench overwhelming. Jack recognised that smell, as did Teal'c. A look of deep sadness was apparent on both faces.

Jack untucked his T-shirt and raised the bottom up to cover his nose and mouth. He held it in place as he lowered himself to his knees. With one hand holding the shirt, and the other taken up with a flashlight, he shuffled awkwardly into the cave. The narrow entrance opened up to a wider cavern. Jack panned the light about. Only conditioned response kept him from dropping it as he caught sight of the grisly scene in front of him. To one side, a small altar had been established. Torches waiting to be lit stood on either side of a stone shelf. It was adorned with the heads of the missing girls. As Jack fought to hold his gorge, he shone the flashlight around the small room. The bodies, in varying stages of decay, had been dumped in a heap at the far end, discarded and forgotten. Even in the dimness of the cave, Jack could see cuts on the nearest girl. Her bare torso faced him, the cuts forming a pattern he didn't understand. From the amount of dried blood, it was obvious the marks had been placed while she still breathed.

Jack backed out of the cave as fast as he could, and barely made it to the tree line where he wretched uncontrollably. Finally he moved a few feet and slumped down to the ground, resting his back on a stump.

He looked over at Teal'c who stayed discretely away. "We found them."

Teal'c looked on. "I surmised as much."

"They weren't much more than children Teal'c."

The Jaffa was more than aware of the Colonel's fondness for children. His whole demeanour changed when he was surrounded by the young. The burden of leadership seemed to slip away, as did the lines cause by a lifetime of seeing the dark side of the world.

Jack continued. "We need to find out who did this." He started to rise and pull up his shirt once again.

"What are you doing O'Neill?"

"I have to go back in there."

"For what purpose? You have seen what lies within."

"I need to look around. There has to be something in there that will tell us who did this." Determination stamped itself on Jack's still pale features.

"I will go O'Neill. I think that one time in that place is enough."

Jack couldn't argue. In fact, he was grateful to not have to go back. He knew that one view would be forever stamped in his mind, finding it's place among the many atrocities he had witnessed in his career. Jack had seen much death in his life. It was a harsh fact of life, especially when brought about through violence, but the death of children was one pill he always had difficulty swallowing.

As Teal'c entered the cave, his large frame having difficulty with the small opening, Jack moved to the stone tablet. At the head of the stone was a small indentation. It was circular in shape and worn flat at the bottom. Not understanding it's purpose, Jack turned his examination onwards. Dark areas hinted at by the moon proved to be deep brown stains when exposed to the glare of the flashlight. They were somewhat faded by the elements, and dry to the touch, but there was no mistaking the fact that it was blood. Apparently this stone was the site of the executions.

When Teal'c emerged moments later, he too appeared shaken. He looked at Jack squarely. "You are correct O'Neill. We need to find this person."

"Did you find anything that might tell us who it is?"

"I could see nothing except for this." Teal'c held up a flint flake.

"What is it?"

"It appears to be a stone shard. I believe it to be from the instrument responsible for the deaths." Despite his stoicism, Teal'c was disturbed by what he had seen. In his years with Apophis he had seen much. More than he wanted to in fact, but nothing as deliberately brutal as this.

"Where was it?"

"I found it embedded in a girl's neck."

Jack looked at him in shock. Already the faces of the girls haunted him.

Silence fell over the two who stood lost in thought, matched by the absence of forest sounds. Even the creatures of the wild seemed to recognise the evil of the place.

Finally Jack stirred from his trance. "I think we should get back. Teal'c, I don't think we should tell the others how bad this place was. I'll let them know we found the girls and leave it at that. They don't need to know any more. I think we need to watch the villagers carefully between now and the full moon." Jack had an idea who in particular he would watch. A face flashed in front of him. A man who wielded a rather large stone knife.

It was almost dawn before the friends arrived back in their hut. They had watched the village carefully to make sure they weren't spotted before entering. They had barely made it to their pallets before the sounds of life came from outside. It seemed they had just managed to beat the early rising people.

Just as Jack closed his eyes to grab a quick rest, Daniel woke.

"Good morning everyone. Rise and shine. We have things to do today." Clearly Daniel had slept well.

Jack reached to the ground and grabbed his boot which he threw with deadly accuracy.

"Ouch. What did you do that for? Man, you are really not a morning person are you Jack?"

Sam had just woken to take in the scene and was grinning childishly. "Naw. He's more of a night owl. Aren't you Sir?" Her smile faded quickly when she took in his expression.

"Stow it Major," Jack growled.

"Hey Jack, come on. It was just a joke." Daniel was shocked by Jack's behaviour. It might be early, but still.........

Teal'c stepped in. "We have in fact just returned Daniel Jackson."

"Returned from where?"

Jack felt badly about his previous reaction. They had no way of knowing what he and Teal'c had done. "Sorry guys. We went out last night to see if we could find out anything about the missing girls."

Daniel sat waiting for him to continue, which Jack did not. "And.......," he prompted.

Jack's expression was frightening. "And.......we found them. All of them."

Sam knew instantly what he meant. "They're dead, aren't they Sir?"

"Oh yeah". Jack's face went blank for a minute as the horrific image flashed in front of him. "They're dead."

Daniel looked sadly at his friend. It was obvious that Jack was greatly disturbed by his discovery. "How?"

"They were murdered Daniel." Those words were spoken with the finality of the subject being closed.

Daniel knew better than to push it. "So. Now what do we do? Do you want to tell Sulet?"

"Not yet Daniel. We don't know who did it, and until we do, I don't want anyone to know what we found. For now, I want you to go about the day as planned. Just keep your eyes open for anything suspicious." With that, Jack lifted himself tiredly from the bed and moved to the base of the ladder. "Remember, be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with yet." Jack turned and climbed the ladder.

Daniel and Sam wondered about the cryptic nature of that last remark. Looking at each other, they gave a little shrug and followed.

The three men spent the day fishing with some of the tribesmen. Even Jack broke a smile when he finally managed to spear a fish, much to the delight of his instructor. Despite the language barrier, they had found ways of communicating. Teal'c taught the Jaffa technique of fishing. He found a large, flat branch which he used as a paddle. He slapped it down on the water with a tremendous blow. After a moment, several stunned fish floated to the surface to be scooped up into nets. He received many admiring looks after that, and many of the men jokingly tried to repeat the performance.

Sam similarly spent the day learning. The women proved to be very knowledgeable, and friendly. They showed her how to do some rudimentary weaving, and how to skin a deer. The men had brought home several the night before, and the meat and hides needed tending to. Some meat was salted and packed, while the rest was cut into strips and hung on frames. The fires were tended to burn slowly and produce lots of smoke. The trick was to cure the meat over time, and not cook it too quickly.

The team met up over dinner which they once again took with the Chief, and the Shaman. Jack tried to eat, but every time he caught sight of the knife at Ezamane's waist, he pictured the girls. Finally he gave up the pretence of trying and set the plate on the ground at his feet. He would liked to have left, to have gone off for a walk and work off some of his frustration, but knew that any such action might be misconstrued. Instead, he forced himself to sit. The tension he felt manifested itself in the constant clenching and unclenching of his jaw.

Teal'c caught the motion and nodded slowly to himself. He understood the reason behind the action. He too was plagued by feelings of rage. He had seen and been responsible for too much death to believe his own hands were clean, but this was different. It seemed so senseless, and that was intolerable.

The team was tired after their meal. While the Chief had invited them to sit and talk, they declined and went to their hut. Only a short time passed before the rhythymic breathing of sleep could be heard. Jack was not among them, nor was Teal'c.

Despite his fatigue, having not slept the night before, Jack was too keyed up to rest. Visions of the girls came and went disturbing any chance he had. Finally giving up all pretence of trying, Jack left the hut. He stood in the cool, dark night air. Looking up at the stars, he tried to draw some comfort from their familiarity. While the constellations he knew so well had moved significantly, he was able to spy them. The sight helped to calm him with their timelessness.

Jack had learned a long time ago to trust in their constancy. When things got out of hand, he looked to the stars. He had set up his own rooftop observatory for that very reason, and found that he spent more time there than in his own home. Jack's life had consisted of one battle after another. Efforts to end a war that wouldn't die. Hatred seemed to be one thing that never diminished. It fed on greed, and despair, and seemed to be as universal as the stars. It was only lately that Jack had discovered another constant, and that was hope. It was something he worked to maintain. The friends he surrounded himself with contributed to that. They each brought with them different versions of hope, but all served to bolster him, and he tried hard to reciprocate that gift. Events like the discovery of the girls served to chip away at that, and Jack was determined to see an end to this particular horror.

Teal'c softly ascended the ladder and moved to stand beside his friend. He stood quietly, not wishing to disturb Jack's thoughts. He was taken by surprise when he felt a strong hand come to rest on his shoulder in unspoken gratitude.

Gradually Jack withdrew his gaze from the heavens and turned to his friend. His thoughts returned to their present task. "I think we need to learn more about this Shaman."

Teal'c nodded his approval and together they made their way to the man's hut. Jack lay down in the dirt around the entrance, and cautiously lowered his head in to take a look. In the dying light of the fire, Jack could see the Shaman curled up in a ball on the floor, sleeping. All around him on the floor were bowls of leaves, roots and things Jack didn't want to even try to identify. The man appeared to have fallen asleep where he stood. Glancing again at the bowls, Jack had to wonder if it was fatigue, or something else. He continued to scan the room. It was almost the same as his. Jack was about to withdraw his head until something caught his eye. Peeking out from under the unused pile of skins on the bed, was a statue. Jack didn't recognise it, but judging from the face, if it represented a deity, it probably wasn't a nice one. Pulling himself out of the opening, Jack reached out and grabbed Teal'c's proffered hand, and stood. With a quick incline of his head, he signalled for them to put some distance away from the hut.

The two moved to just within the tree line, but continued to speak in muted voices. The night air was infamous for carrying sounds.

Jack told Teal'c of his findings, few as they were. "I think I will ask young Daniel to spend some time tomorrow with this fellow. Maybe he can find out something about that statue". Jack chewed his lower lip as he thought. "You know Teal'c, I just know that's our guy. What I don't understand is what would make a Holy man turn on his own people."

"Power makes people do strange things O'Neill." Teal'c spoke from experience.

"I know Teal'c, but what does he stand to gain from this. Look at these people. They're not Goa'uld. They don't have money. Does he do it just for kicks, or is there some deeper meaning to all of this? Something we don't know about?" Jack thought back to the scene in the cave, forcing his mind past the horror, and concentrating on the facts. "The cuts on the girl's body. They didn't look random. I think they might have meant something." Jack bent down and cleared a small area on the forest floor. He grabbed a stick and drew the lines as he remembered them into the exposed earth. He stood up and took a step back. "Do you remember these Teal'c?"

"Yes O'Neill. I believe you remembered them correctly."

Jack felt around his pockets for something to write with. He finally came up with a pencil, but no paper. He looked around for something that would do. Finally he picked a broad leaf from a low lying plant, and copied the markings on to it. He put the leaf in his pocket to show to Daniel in the morning. Looking up through the tree tops, Jack spied the moon. "The full moon is tomorrow. Whatever is going to happen, will happen then. Keep a sharp eye out Teal'c."

"I will O'Neill. I do not believe we can do more tonight. Perhaps we should try to get some rest."

Jack nodded agreement, although he doubted he would sleep. Together they made their way back to the hut.

Morning came early. This time it was Jack who gave the wake-up call. One look at him and it was apparent that sleep had in fact eluded him. His eyes were red rimmed and sported huge bags underneath.

Teal'c looked at him with concern. While he had not slept either, he had managed to achieve a certain level of meditation. Enough that his body had rested and regained it's strength. This was the second night that Jack had not slept, and Teal'c knew it had to be taking it's toll.

Jack seemed unaware of his appearance, as he splashed some water on his face from the jug by the fire. Feeling somewhat refreshed, he moved over to Daniel. "I have something I need you to look at." He pulled the leaf from his pocket. "Do you recognise this?"

Daniel looked closely at the markings. "Not really Jack. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it resembled Mayan script. They had a similar marking."

"What would it mean in Mayan?"

"Loosely translated it means soul. I don't know what it means in this language. I don't think it's actually part of it. Where did you find it?"

Jack debated about saying anything, but decided to wait. After all, they could have been random markings. It didn't make sense that a Quacutil Shaman would have knowledge of early Mayan writings. "Just around. Listen, I have a job for you to do today. I want you to find out more about this Ezamane."

"The Shaman?"

Jack nodded.

"Why?"

"Just humour me would ya? That guy just rubs me the wrong way."

Daniel looked sceptical. "Jack, you haven't even spoken with him. Not that you could what with him speaking a different language and all. What I mean is, you've barely even been around him."

"What can I say Danny. It's just a gut feeling." Jack decided to end the discussion before he was pressed any more. He scaled the ladder, leaving his team-mates to follow.

Daniel was the last to leave the hut as he pondered Jack's words. He was annoyed that his friend had chosen to leave him in the dark. He knew there was a reason that Jack wanted him to talk to the Shaman, and it was more than just Jack having a feeling. Sighing, he realised that Jack would tell him when he was ready. In the meantime, he had hoped to talk to Ezamane. Jack just echoed his own wishes.

The day of the night of the full moon was a particularly special one for the people of Ecirp. They led hard lives, full of work and harsh conditions. Once a month they held a celebration. It was much anticipated, and heartily enjoyed. The women spent the day preparing special foods, singing songs and taking a break from their usual chores. The men held games of skill, strength and daring. Teal'c and Jack were coaxed into joining.

The games were more than just fun. For the locals, they were a relaxed way to practice life skills. If a man could not hunt and provide, he became a burden to everyone. The natives were curious about the strangers and how they would fare. More than once the two friends both shocked and surprised them with their quick reflexes and skill. Jack threw a crude tomahawk with remarkable precision, while Teal'c launched the bola with great speed and accuracy. The games quickly turned to contests with each competitor closely judging the prowess of the others. Running contests were held, as well as marksmanship, using the bow and arrow. Jack and Teal'c were as impressed with the abilities of the men of Ecirp , as the men were by them. By the end of the day, mutual congratulations were given and received.

Sam's day was not as much fun. She looked on the men's activities with envy, knowing that her own skills rivalled those she watched. Early in the day she had tried to join in, but was soon shown that she was not welcomed. The people had a strict hierarchy. Men hunted and trained with men and the women tended the chores and raised the young. She ended up learning new ways to make venison stew, all the while wishing she could be somewhere else. The domestic scene was one she could do without.

Daniel was relieved to not have to participate in the games, knowing that was not his forte. When he first approached Ezamane, he was rebuffed. It took hours of following and speaking to the man before the Shaman finally relented and took the time to speak with him. To Daniel's delight, the man had many stories to share. As the Shaman spoke, they moved into his hut. Daniel noticed the same bowls as Jack.

It seemed that the life of a Shaman was a lonely one. As a holy man, he was not allowed to wed. Ezamane was very surprised when Daniel told him that there was a similar practice on Earth for many religions. Since Shaman produced no offspring, they were chosen for the position as children, and were apprenticed until they finally inherited the post. It seemed that all children of this world exhibited some enhanced intuitiveness at birth, but lost it as they grew, except in rare cases. In those children the intuitiveness actually grew. They were the children chosen to be Shaman. In the history of the civilisation, there had never been more than one child in a generation. They were raised apart from the rest of the villagers, in the Shaman's hut. For the parents it was a huge honour, for the child it was the end of their youth. Instead of playing and learning to cook, or hunt, the days were spent learning about the natural, and the supernatural world. They learned the narcotic and healing properties of plants, and rituals dated back to the dawn of time. They learned to enhance their own powers, usually with the aid of drugs. Thus they could speak to the spirits and relate the words to the people. In some extreme cases, the Shaman had actually been known to move things with their minds. Ezamane looked sideways at Daniel when he said this. "Or so say the legends. I have not witnessed it for myself". He began to grind the contents of one bowl with a smaller version of a pestle than the women used.

The story continued. In Ezamane's case, his mentor died when he was still young. Ezamane had been taught only the rudiments of the job, and had to learn the rest on his own. Not an easy task when one dealt with the spirit world. He was too old to go back to being a regular child, and too young for the position he held. Anger touched his voice as he said this, causing Daniel to look closely at him. The man seemed unaware of the scrutiny as he turned his attention to measuring the contents of different bowls into an empty pouch.

"Did you not still have your family to help you?"

Ezamane looked at him, bitterness in his voice. "My parents died not long after my mentor, and my only brother you have already met." At Daniel's quizzical expression he gave a grim smile. "My brother is Sulet. A man of greater power than myself. He speaks for the people. He can wed. He can sire children. He has the life that I do not." The Shaman's gaze turned inwards as he lost himself momentarily in self-pity.

Daniel glanced about the room. The statue Jack spied had not moved and Daniel got a good look at it. It appeared to be Mayan as well. Daniel was puzzled how it came to be in this culture.

Ezamane moved beside him, turning Daniel's attention away. The man was fastening the pouch to his belt where it hung alongside the knife. He looked up to catch Daniel's attention. "You must leave now. I have to prepare myself for tonight's festivities."

Daniel thanked him for taking the time to talk, and began climbing the ladder. He could feel the intense stare of the Shaman boring into his back as he reached the entrance and entered the sunshine. As he stood under the unspoilt sky, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. Orphaned and left by his mentor to learn skills that required a lifetime of study. He wondered fleetingly how the man had learned to cope so well. The sounds of men cheering soon attracted his attention and he left to watch the games, all thoughts of the statue forgotten.

Dinner was shared by all for the celebration, aside from the children. They had been fed earlier and sent to bed. It was indeed a feast worthy of a special occasion. It went on for some time with one tantalising dish following another. The team was quick to realise that most of the dishes contained meat of some sort.

The people relied on the land to provide for their needs. Game was caught and all parts were used. The fat from the animals was particularly important to their survival, and was not allowed to go to waste. Without having the benefits of technology to provide heat, fire had to suffice. That and the combination of a high fat diet helped the people to survive the long cold winter.

All indulged happily with only two exceptions. Jack found the food impossible to swallow. This was the night the next disappearance was to happen, and he was too wound up knowing the potential results of that occurrence. The other one foregoing the feast was the Shaman. He had begun his fast at dawn, a requirement for easier connections to the spirit world.

At the conclusion of the meal, the Chief brought forth a pipe, which he lit and sucked on with great relish. This appeared to be a signal to the rest of the village, for at that point, several men joined them at the fire. The men seated themselves in a circle around the unlit pile. They set drums on the ground in front of them. They looked to the Chief who gave a nod. One at a time, they started to bang out a rhythm. Each man had his own beat. The tempo started out slowly, then built to interweave into a gripping frenzy. At the height of the music, it suddenly stopped, the tones lingering on the night air.

A figure stepped forward in the twilight, holding a torch. It was Ezamane. His face was marked with bands of black, as was his bare chest. Jack wondered if it was the same substance found in their hut. He had no time to ponder the thought as Ezamane began the ceremony. He started to chant, slowly, methodically. Gradually he increased the tempo. He started to dance at which point the drums joined in. As before, the music and dancing built, the Shaman sweating visibly from his exertions. Finally the Shaman came to a halt in front of the fire, still holding the torch. He lifted it high overhead then stepped forward, stopping only when he touched the wood. The clearing was silent as the onlookers waited. Ezamane placed the torch in the heart of the woodpile, and started once again to chant. He tilted his head back to take in the stars, and let out a yell as the fire came to life. The villagers let out a cheer as the Shaman stepped back out of the heat of the flames. At his nod, the drummers once again took up their instruments and began to play. This time the music was lively and light. Even the Chief began tapping his toe.

The team looked around as the music took hold of the people. All around them couples started to dance in the light of the flames. Sam and Daniel decided to join them and were soon trying to match the steps of the intricate native dance.

Jack had other things on his mind however. He caught sight of Ezamane who stood on the other side of the fire. The Shaman was staring intently at the sight of Sam dancing. It didn't escape Jack's notice that the Shaman was fingering the small pouch hanging from his belt in a rather possessive way.

As the drummers continued to play, the people became more and more relaxed. None, save one, noticed when Ezamane once again approached the fire. This time he held the pouch in front of him, the drawstring no longer holding it shut. The Shaman closed his eyes and started to chant under his breath. He swayed slightly in time to his own music. When he finished, he opened his eyes, and reached into the pouch. He withdrew a small handful of it's contents and threw it into the fire. He walked around the fire until he stood on the other side of it, where he once again threw powder into the flames.

Jack watched his actions carefully, not understanding what was going on until he began to feel light-headed. Then it hit him that the Shaman was drugging them. He pulled his T-shirt over his nose to filter the smoke, then ran to find his team-mates. Sam and Daniel were already lying on the ground, eyes closed. Teal'c was near them sitting up against a bench. He was not yet asleep, but the drug had him securely in it's grip. As Jack tried to rouse him, he too succumbed to the effects. The fire in front of him blurred, then went dark.

***********************

Jack became aware of a yanking motion on his arms. He opened his eyes. They were blurry, but started to clear quickly. He didn't take long to recognise the clearing he found himself in. It was clearly recognisable by the stone tablet in front of him. Torches were set around lending light to the full moon. Jack could see Teal'c and Daniel were leaning against poles beside him, still asleep. Jack could see the ropes around their ankles that bound them to the poles, and he assumed their hands were similarly tied from the way their arms reached behind them. That thought turned him to his own situation. He must have been the last one brought, as the ropes were not yet snug around his wrists. He flexed the muscles as much as possible down the length of his arms. The ropes were tightened and his captive moved into view. Even as Jack looked at the grinning face of Ezamane, he relaxed his wrists in the hope of creating some slack in his bindings. While keeping his face neutral, he worked furiously at weakening his bonds. Beside him he heard Teal'c stir.

Confident that his captives were secure, Ezamane left the clearing.

"Teal'c. You awake?" Jack hissed.

"I am O'Neill."

"What about Daniel?"

Teal'c looked at the man still slumped against the pole. "He is not. Where is Major Carter?"

Jack looked worried. He was wondering the same thing. "I don't know. She wasn't here when I woke up. Ezamane put something in the fire. Some sort of sleeping powder. Your symbiote must have help to neutralise it for you to wake up when you did."

Teal'c wondered why Jack was also awake. "You do not have the benefits of my symbiote. Why then are you awake?"

"I saw him use the drug. I covered my nose and mouth. Maybe that cut the dose back. I still don't know how he got all of us here though."

The question was answered moments later when Ezamane re-entered the clearing. Hovering beside him was Sam.

She lay flat, her arms crossed over her torso. She appeared to be untouched. The Shaman was chanting softly, holding a hand above her, as thought to guiding her. He continued to move towards the tablet, Sam drifting in the same direction.

As he moved beside the stone, Sam moved to levitate above it. Ezamane lowered his hand, and Sam came to rest on the hard stone. The Shaman took lengths of rope and fastened her limbs, one at a time to small notches on the sides of the tablet. There she lay, still asleep, spread eagle.

Ezamane reached below the tablet, to a spot unseen by Jack and Teal'c. His hands came back into view holding the statue Jack had seen earlier. The Shaman gazed at the figure lovingly, stroking the carved hair lightly. He placed the figure in the indent at the head of the stone where it could look down at Sam.

Jack felt the bonds at his wrists start to give. The Shaman had most likely never tried to hold a determined Colonel before, and made some classic mistakes. His ropes were now snug, but not tight.

Ezamane began to chant. The sound seemed to be getting to Sam as Jack could see her starting to waken. Her eyes were beginning to flutter until they finally opened. "Carter?"

Sam was disoriented. She was lying down and the ground underneath her was hard. She tried to move, but her limbs were held in place. A face came into view, backlit by moonlight. It was Ezamane. His expression was frightening. He wore a maniacal grin which promised great unpleasantness.

"Carter?" Jack called again.

Sam was relieved to hear the familiar voice. "Sir."

"You okay?"

Ezamane seemed caught up in his ritual. He didn't appear to notice, or care about the conversation.

"I think so. What's going on?"

Ezamane was now humming. He looked at his waist and released the knife that dangled there with a practised flick of his wrist. He began to dance in slow circles, moving the knife through the air in intricate patterns.

"Meet our murderer Carter. This is the guy responsible for the deaths of all of those girls." Jack's hands were almost free.

Carter studied her predicament, then looked at the Shaman who moved ever closer. The knife he held was beginning to glow, seemingly from within. "Uh Sir. Do you have a plan, because I'm pretty sure he does and I think it's me!" Sam was trying not to panic, but the knife was coming frighteningly close, and the glow was brightening rapidly. Whatever he had in mind, she was pretty sure he was going to act quickly. Above her, the eyes of the watching statue came to life with an otherwordly glow as well.

Jack gave a final twist of his wrists, and felt the ropes fall away. He reached down to release his ankles, unnoticed by the dancing Shaman.

Teal'c was trying to loosen his own bonds, but Ezamane had taken care to secure the ropes tightly. He had seen the strength in the Jaffa, and had taken no chances. Beside him, Daniel was starting to waken. He heard the humming, and fuzzily saw the dancing figure. His eyes were still blurry, but clearing rapidly.

Ezamane moved in. He swung the knife close enough cut a slice in Sam's shirt. It grazed her abdomen enough to draw a thin bead of blood. She watched him twirl away, and approach once again while she held her breath against the next strike. When it arrived, the blade moved too quickly to follow. This time the knife slipped deeper into her flesh. Sam tried not to cry out, but the cut stung, and she could feel the blood trickle over her ribs and down her side. The Shaman also cried out, although his was a cry of ecstasy. His dancing was frenzic, and the knife he wielded was beginning to pulse with colour as it fed on Sam's blood. Ezamane danced back with both hands raised over his head, in what appeared to be his final strike.

Jack managed to break the bonds holding his ankles.. Quicker than thought, he was behind the man threatening his Major. His grabbed Ezamane's arms and pinned them behind his back, the stone knife falling harmlessly to the ground, the glow slowly fading to nothing. In a smooth manoeuvre, Jack slid his arms up to catch the man's elbows in his own, leaving his hands free. He raised those up and caught the man on either side of the head. He made a subtle wrenching motion, then released his captive. Ezamane slumped bonelessly, his neck broken, to lie in the dirt. Jack never gave him a second glance as he stepped over the fallen form to release Carter. The whole thing had taken less than a minute.

Daniel expression turned from one of relief to horror as he watched. He stomach turned as he looked upon the impassive face of Colonel Jack O'Neill. The man hadn't so much as broken a sweat, and showed no remorse for his deed. Thoughts warred in Daniel's head. He knew that action needed to be taken. He also knew that Jack had killed before. So had he. But somehow the circumstances seemed different. Killing the enemy with staff weapons, zat's and guns from a distance seemed more....... detached. In his heart, Daniel still mourned for every victim, but it was war, and he didn't know them to care. This man was someone with whom he had talked. He had a face, a brother, a name, and Jack had killed him with his bare hands and not even blinked.

Daniel looked to the man he had called friend. Was this man a hero, or a killer? His thoughts vied for supremacy, until they threatened to overwhelm him. Daniel fell gratefully into the blackness that engulfed him.

****************************

Daniel awoke to the familiar sights and sounds of the SGC infirmary. He tested his limbs and realised that he was apparently unharmed. He was also alone, although that changed quickly as Janet arrived.

"I see you woke up. How are you feeling?" Janet picked up Daniel's wrist and checked his pulse while she waited for a response.

"I'm fine. Why am I here?" The last few moments of his memory surged forth and Daniel answered his own question. "The Shaman was killed." Daniel couldn't bring himself to admit that Jack had murdered the man. "I don't know what happened after that."

Janet wrote down her findings, and appeared satisfied with Daniel's condition as she turned to leave. "I know some people who do." Before Daniel had a chance to protest, she was gone.

It was not long before the sound of friendly banter fell on Daniel's ears. He cringed as one particularly strong voice spoke. He had only enough time to try to compose his thoughts before the curtain opened once again, and Sam, Teal'c and Jack entered.

"Hi Danny Boy. How are you doing?" Although he appeared tired, Jack was smiling and looking pleased to find his friend awake, not the profile Daniel would have fit on a murderer. The smile started to fade quickly as Daniel declined to answer.

"Daniel?" Jack asked quietly, a sombre note in his tone.

Daniel turned to look at him and Jack was taken aback by the look in his friend's eyes. Loathing, betrayal and a bit of fear showed clearly amidst the blue. Still not bothering to answer Jack, Daniel turned his attention to Sam, who stood with one hand resting lightly against her abdomen.

"What happened?"

Sam looked at him, confusion at his reaction showed clearly on her face. "You passed out. Teal'c and I wanted to take you back to the village, but the Colonel wanted you here instead. We wanted to let Sulet know what happened, but none of us knew how to tell him. Not knowing what was wrong with you, we decided to bring you back. We figured we could tell him when you were feeling up to it." Sam neglected to mention her own wounds which Jack had insisted on having checked right away. One ended up being only a scratch, while the second cut had required stitches. "The Colonel ended up carrying you all the way to the Stargate Daniel." Noticing the lack of reaction on Daniel's face, Sam flashed a look at Jack, who simply shrugged. We'll go back once you've recovered, and explain what happened. We have a lot to discuss with the Ecirp people."

Daniel tried not to scoff. //"I'll bet you didn't want to go the village and tell them what you did. Killing their Shaman is probably not the most diplomatic thing you've ever done, but to run and leave them hanging is unforgivable."// Daniel couldn't help the thoughts that ran through his mind. He chose not to listen to the part about Jack carrying him. He remembered the look on Jack's face as he killed the Shaman. He didn't want to hear about the nice thing his friend did for him. He didn't want to think of him as a friend at all. As a rule, Daniel made it a point to not have cold blooded killers as people he cared for. Somehow, the years of fighting side by side, nightmares that were interrupted and moral and physical support given freely by his friend paled when compared to that act.

Looking past his team to Janet, Daniel called her forward. "I'm kind of tired. I'd like to be alone now."

Janet was confused by Daniel's actions, but honoured his request. "Okay. The patient needs his rest. Time to go."

Jack watched as Sam and Teal'c filed obediently past Janet. He had made up his mind that he would stay and talk to his friend. Obviously something was bothering Daniel, and he wanted to know what it was.

Daniel understood Jack's actions, and wanted no part of them. "That refers to you, Colonel." He turned to Janet. "Doctor, can you please remove him from my room." Daniel didn't wait for an answer as he turned his head away.

Janet stared at the man in the bed in disbelief, then turned to the Colonel. He made his way out of the room, his shoulders slouched. She caught up to him and stopped him a hand on his shoulder. She moved around to see his face. His eyes were brimming with hurt, which he quickly tried to mask. "What was that about?"

Jack looked at the closed curtain, then back at her. "I have no idea." He straightened up and walked out of the infirmary.

*****************************

Jack slouched against the frame of Daniel's open door. The man at the desk was not yet aware of his presence, giving Jack the opportunity to study him. Daniel's tousled head was bent as the man poured over his report. As Jack watched, Daniel's left hand moved to slide his glasses down and pinch the bridge of his nose. Eyes closed and hand still in place, Daniel leaned his head back until it came to rest against the back of his chair. To Jack's eye, he looked pale and the dark circles under his eyes were mirrored only by his own.

Daniel had been released that day. Not finding anything wrong, Janet had kept him in for 24 hours for no other reason than his strange behaviour. Jack had tried repeatedly to see him, and was refused each time.

Uncertain how to start, Jack decided to announce his presence. A quick clearing of his throat startled Daniel and the archaeologist's eyes flew open. A smile started to come to the fore, but quickly reverted as Daniel realised who stood in front of him. Instead, a flash a fear crossed his face, but was quickly sublimated as Daniel replaced it with a mask of indifference.

The look had not been missed by Jack however, and the pain it caused was easily read in his eyes. He stood tall, and entered the room, but declined to sit. He had not come to upset his friend, but realised that was exactly what he was doing with his presence. Part of him wanted to leave right then, but part needed to stay and try to work on things.

"Daniel. I think we need to talk."

Daniel flinched at the sound of Jack's voice. "There's nothing to talk about."

"I think there is. You have been upset with me ever since the planet." Jack quickly corrected himself. "Ever since Ezamane."

Daniel straightened himself in his chair at the sound of the name. "Why would I be upset about that?" Sarcasm laced his words.

"You know why I had to stop him Daniel. He was about to kill Carter, and the rest of us would have followed." Jack's words hung in the air.

Daniel looked Jack straight in the eye, accusation heavy in his voice. "You could have restrained him. You could have knocked him out and brought him to his people to be dealt with. No Colonel O'Neill," contempt blatant in his words. "You took it upon yourself to play God. You decided his fate. You became his judge, jury and executioner. What gave you the right?". Daniel swivelled in his seat to turn his back on Jack. "Death follows you wherever you go, and I want no more part of it. Please leave my office Colonel. This conversation is over."

Jack stood indecisive for a moment as he wondered what he could say. It took him a moment to realise that there was nothing. Sadly, he turned and left the room. A short time later he was driving down the mountainside towards home.

Daniel turned back and stared at the empty doorway. Part of him regretted the hurt he was causing his friend, but he shook the thought away as he replayed the final scene on the planet in his mind.

******************************

Jack spent the night in thought, at the top of the hill some miles behind his home. He often came here when he needed to get away and clear his thoughts. He sent his mind back to P39 281. He liked the people he met there. They were kind and innocent for the most part. It was unfortunate that even the most wonderful planets always seemed to house some sort of snake. In this case, it came in the form of Ezamane. Jack had met his type before. Power hungry to the point of losing all sense of morality and judgement. The man had killed many, and many more would have fallen if Jack had not stopped him.

Daniel's voice came unbidden to his mind.

//'You became his judge, jury and executioner! What gave you the right?'//

As Jack stared into the night sky, those words rang unendingly in his ears.

As dawn approached, heralded by the slight glow in the horizon, Jack finally stirred from his reverie. His night had passed in a montage of faces. Those who had died while serving with him, and those he had killed, the staring eyes of those young women and Charlie's face interweaving through them all. Daniel had been right. Death did follow him. Some he caused, some he fought to prevent. Jack lifted his hands, palms up to the lightening sky. He could see the blood that tainted them. As he studied them, he came to realise they had also done some good. They had served to give as much as much as they had taken. The symphony of colour that grew to grace the morning sky also served to lift the weight of his thoughts. The morning hues finally gave way to the blue of the day, and with that, Jack made a startling revelation.

"I did the right thing." With that thought, he began to descend the hillside.

*********************************

The team met in the conference room joined by Hammond. As a result of Jack's actions, he had debriefed the team individually. He needed an honest assessment of the events. He was shocked by Jack and Teal'c's recounting of the past three days. It was clear to him that Jack had acted in the best interests of his fellow team-mates, and the civilian population. It was also clear that the Major and Daniel had been protected from the more gruesome aspects of the situation. What he didn't understand was Daniel's current attitude. He decided to postpone the return to P39 281 until some sort of normalcy had been restored.

"SG1. I am postponing the return to the planet for 48 hours. I think that will give the indigenous population a chance to come to grips with recent events." He took note of the shadows under Jack's eyes. It was obvious that Jack hadn't slept well, if at all, in some time. "I want all of you to take this time to get a thorough physical. You might also want to try to get some rest Colonel. You look tired."

"Yes Sir." Jack replied. No one, including the General believed him. Daniel pointedly looked away, as much in anger as not wanting to see the lines of worry and fatigue on Jack's face. Lines he knew he was partially responsible for putting there.

"All right then." Hammond picked up the files in front of him. "Dismissed."

The team filed out, Jack being the last. He was stopped by an inquiry from behind.

"Colonel?"

"Yes Sir?"

"You do know you did the right thing don't you?"

Jack sighed. "Yes Sir. I do. I just wish my conscience understood." With that he continued out the door.

Hammond watched him go, thinking about that last comment. Somehow he didn't think Jack had directed it at himself. Shaking his head, he left the room to continue the business of running the Stargate.

**************************

Feeling the need for privacy, Daniel decided to use his downtime to hide out in the SGC storage area. There he worked on cataloguing some of the backlog of artefacts they had collected on various planets. Daniel looked up from his current object of choice, to take in the sight of Sam and Teal'c darkening his doorway. Knowing what was to come, he tried to avoid it by turning his attention back to the stone statuette in his hand.

"Daniel?" Sam called.

He ignored her.

"Daniel Jackson." Teal'c tried.

Again Daniel ignored them, until he felt himself spun around by a huge hand with a powerful grip.

"What?" he asked innocently.

Sam only looked at him, disappointment clear in her face.

Teal'c broke the silence. "We have come to talk to you about the situation between Colonel O'Neill and yourself."

"There's nothing to talk about." Daniel grumbled.

Sam piped up. "Yes there is Daniel, and you know it."

"So what if there is? It's not like it matters." Daniel tried to turn away, but was stopped by Sam this time.

Sam kept her hand lightly on Daniel's arm as she spoke. She wanted him to know they had come as friends, and not to put him on the defensive.

"Daniel. I don't know what's going on here, but something needs to be done. You're down here hurting, as is the Colonel."

"So why don't you talk to O'Neill about it?"

Sam was taken aback by Daniel's use of Jack's surname.

"I would, but you know the Colonel. He won't talk about anything."

Daniel muttered "Yeah. Why talk when actions will do?"

Teal'c caught the remark, and was beginning to understand.

"Daniel Jackson. Are you still upset about the incident concerning Ezamane?"

Daniel looked at him incredulously. "Upset. No. I mean, why would I be upset about that? Jack just broke the man's neck like a toothpick. Why would that bother me?"

Sam was beginning to get angry. While she could sympathise with Daniel's point of view, she knew that he was being unfair. Since she was to have been the man's next target, she had also had a vested interest in the outcome.

"Daniel, what would you have had the Colonel do?"

"He could have taken him before the Chief."

"And do you really think those people could have dealt with him? Daniel, they would have had no way of dealing with someone like that. The man had powers that we don't understand. He could have set himself free."

Daniel had no argument for that. "We could have brought him back with us."

"For what purpose Daniel Jackson." Teal'c was curious about Daniel's reasoning.

"We could have tried him here."

Sam spoke softly as she tried to make her point.

"We couldn't have kept him here Daniel. Nor could we have tried him. We would have turned him over to NID, and what do you think would have happened to him then?"

Daniel was shocked by the words. He hadn't really given any thought to what they should do. He scrambled to think up alternatives.

"We could have sent him to Hudante."

"To what end Daniel Jackson. So that he might take his revenge on the inhabitants of that world? Or that they might take his life? Are those options any more correct than what O'Neill did?" Teal'c understood Daniel's frustration with the situation, but did not think that the man was thinking clearly. Daniel was not military, nor had the burden of leadership fallen on his shoulders. He was not used to making snap judgements, to weighing out a situation in the blink of an eye, and living with the consequences afterwards.

Daniel listened to Teal'c carefully. The words did not change his mind concerning Jack's actions, but they did make him think.

Sam looked at him and shook her head. She was having a hard time understanding his arguments. Surely even Daniel couldn't believe some of what he was suggesting. She decided to try another tact. "Daniel, I need to ask you something and I want you to really think about it. Okay?"

Daniel shrugged non-committaly.

Sam sighed, then resumed. "When you realised that it was Teal'c who chose Sha're for Apophis, did you hate him?"

Daniel looked at his Jaffa friend, wondering if the man still felt guilt. Teal'c's face was expressionless.

He looked back at Sam. "At first, but not in the end. Teal'c had no more say in that action than I did."

Sam nodded. She already knew this. Now came the next test. "When Teal'c shot and killed Sha're to save your life, did you hate him then?"

Daniel could see where this was leading, and he didn't like it. "Yes............no........ maybe, but not in the end. Teal'c did what he had to do to save my life."

Sam gave a sad, knowing smile. "The Colonel did what he had to, to save my life Daniel. Was that any different?"

Daniel looked at her, for once unsure of what to say.

Sam understood that she had just given him much food for thought, and wisely chose to leave him to sort things out. Teal'c followed closely and closed the door behind him, leaving one very confused man alone with his statues.

Daniel stood, unmoving while he thought about Sam's comments. She was right. He forgave Teal'c for killing his wife, yet he couldn't reconcile Jack's actions. It made no sense to him, but his feelings of anger were too powerful to ignore. Daniel moved to the safety of the shadows, his back against a wall. Slowly he slid down, to sit bent kneed, staring in the dark.

Ezamane's face appeared in front of him. Not the painted face of the man who murdered twelve young women, but the image of a man telling of his burdened youth. A youth that closely resembled his own, Daniel realised. Both men had been orphaned at a young age. Both had spent their formative years trying to find their way, with little understanding from those around them. Daniel at least had his parent's path to follow, but Ezamane had grown up with no real guidance. He had tried to forge his own path. Somewhere he had taken a wrong turn, but what could he have accomplished had that not happened? What if someone had taken his hand and guided him along the proper course? Daniel realised that his anger was not only about Jack's actions, but about the waste of a life. As he replayed the scene in his head, he put himself in Ezamane's place. It was not the Shaman's neck being broken, it was his own, and it frightened him to think that the possibility was not so remote. What stopped him from taking the wrong path? Was he even sure he was on the right one? Who was to say that there wasn't a Jack O'Neill waiting out there to leave him lying lifeless in the dirt?

Daniel tried to sort out the conflicting emotions within him. The incident on the planet shook him, and his belief's, and at the centre of all of that was Jack. Daniel tried to picture him with a smile on his face, or his laughter, or even with a beer in his hand watching yet another hockey game. He couldn't do it. All he could see was the impassive face of a killer, leaving a misguided and lonely man lying dead.

Hours passed, and Daniel had not yet emerged from his hiding place. Teal'c had watched the door, undecided what he should do. Finally, he made a decision. He knocked, but received no answer, as he had expected. He opened the door and quietly entered the room, closing it behind him. He scanned the room searching for the archaeologist, finally spotting him sitting against a wall, hidden in the shadows.

Teal'c approached him slowly, trying to gauge the man's state of mind.

"Daniel Jackson. I wish to speak with you."

"If it's about Jack, I'm not interested. Everyone is so worried about Jack". Daniel spat the name out. He rose up from his position on the floor and pushed away from the wall. "If there's nothing else Teal'c, I have work to do."

"As you wish." With a heavy heart, Teal'c turned and walked away. He didn't understand how such a strong friendship could have crumbled so quickly.

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