“Daniel!” Jack cried, shocked.
“Are you all right?” Sam asked, her worried eyes scanning him.
Daniel looked over at them and nodded. “I’m fine. I’ll explain everything later. I don’t think Teal’c has a lot of time right now.” Jack and Sam shared a startled look as Daniel returned his attention to Prespos Talyn, just noting out of the corner of his eye that Teal’c was watching him intently. “I believe I was the one who was to undergo the test to determine my truthfulness,” he declared, switching to ancient Greek.
“This one speaks with the tongue of the evil that comes through the Great Ring,” Prespos shot back with a scowl. “You may not have known of this; I am willing to concede this fact.”
“Teal’c is an enemy of the evil just as the rest of my team is,” Daniel said. “He has chosen to fight at our sides to defeat it.”
“Yet he speaks with the evil tongue.”
Daniel took a deep breath before continuing. “He was once in the service of the evil, but no longer. He gave up everything to turn against them and join us, saving our lives in the process. He is truly one of us now.” There were gasps and murmurs from the crowd at the startling piece of information.
Prespos looked deep into Daniel’s eyes for a long moment. “What would you have me do, Daniel Jackson?”
“Allow me to take his place,” the linguist replied, pointing at Teal’c’s bruised and bloody form. Even more astonished reactions rippled through the crowd. “Allow me to complete the test you originally came to summon me for.”
“You would freely take this man’s place, knowing what these people will do to you?”
“Yes.” Daniel stood tall and waited for what would happen next. He did his best to hide the fear he felt.
The militia leader gave the man on the ground a wry half-smile. “This was not the test we had in mind for you, Daniel Jackson.”
Daniel blinked. “It is not?” he asked, flabbergasted.
“I must admit that the outrage I and my people felt when we heard the language of the evil ones led us to... this.” Prespos gestured to the scene they were in the middle of. “The elders approved the use of an herb that grows near our fields that induces truthfulness. I intended to have you take this herb then ask you questions.”
“I... see.” Daniel frowned slightly. He failed to notice the controlled panic his expression produced in his teammates. “I take it something has changed.”
“Possibly. I must speak with the elders once again.” The man with the dirty blond hair looked down on Daniel speculatively. “You would truly take the place of this one?”
“To save him any more pain? Yes, with no hesitation.”
Prespos nodded. “Then I will go and discuss this with the elders.” He turned his attention to the milling crowd. “You have heard what Daniel Jackson has offered. We will continue the actions of this evening only if the elders can see no other way. I will go now and speak with them.” With that the leader of the people gave Daniel one more nod, stepped off of the platform, and disappeared into the murmuring crowd. One last gesture before he left had Jack and Sam’s arms released from the hold their guards had firmly kept up through the previous exhibition.
“Daniel, are you all right?” Sam asked again as the guards around Teal’c closed their ranks and she and Jack hurried over to the man who had caused such a sensation upon his arrival.
“What the hell did you say?” Jack asked, eying the archaeologist somewhat suspiciously.
Daniel considered it for a moment, his gaze shifting to lock with Teal’c’s. “I told him I’d take Teal’c’s place. He went to talk to the elders about it.”
“What?” Jack exploded.
“Daniel, you can’t!” Sam added.
“I cannot allow this, Daniel Jackson,” Teal’c said softly, stopping Jack and Sam from continuing their arguments. “I have been the cause of the loss of your wife and brother. It is only just that I take this punishment in your place.”
Daniel sighed and his features softened. “No, Teal’c, it isn’t just that you suffer because of a people’s paranoia. There’s nothing you can say that would convince me of that. You see, I did a lot of thinking after my little explosion in that root cellar, and I realized a few things. I realized that you turned away from everything you were taught to believe in, walked away from everything you knew when you decided to help us on Chulak. You rebelled against your god.”
Teal’c shifted slightly, obviously uncomfortable and in pain. “That does not exonerate me nor lessen the enormity of my actions.”
The brown-haired man shrugged. “I’m not saying that it does. But it does explain a few things. And when it comes down to it, you listened to Jack’s plea and helped all those people in the cell with us. And you’ve continued to help us in any way that you could, even when some of our people treated you horribly. I came to realize that you were mostly helpless in regards to Sha’re and Skaara. Jack was right, you didn’t implant the Goa’uld. The person who’s truly to blame for all of this is Apophis.” Daniel spit out the name with total distaste.
“But my actions...”
“Teal’c, you’ve wronged me, right? You’ve committed acts that demand retribution.” Daniel waited for Teal’c’s nod before continuing. “I take that to mean that you owe me. You owe me anything I could ask for. Would you agree?” Teal’c nodded again. “Am I right in thinking you’d offer up your life to pay me back for the loss of my family?”
“As I have taken your family, you are free to take my life,” Teal’c said solemnly. Jack and Sam just looked on wordlessly, neither of them knowing where this was headed.
Brown eyebrows rose. “What good would that do me, Teal’c? If I took your life, my wife would still be just as lost to me. But since your life is mine, I have a demand to make. You have to live. You have to live and help me find Sha’re and Skaara, help me bring them back. That’s how you can repay me.” Daniel gave the Jaffa a small smile. “Is everything clear?”
Brown met blue for a long moment before Teal’c bowed his head. “As you wish, Daniel Jackson. You have my pledge that I will do everything in my power to assist you in your quest to recover your wife and brother. I will not fail you.”
“I never thought you would.”
Jack grabbed Daniel’s arm. “Daniel, could I speak with you for a moment?” He dragged the younger man away without waiting for a response. “Are you sure about this? Are you sure you can do this?”
Daniel returned the colonel’s piercing gaze with a calm one of his own. “More than sure, Jack. I meant what I said. I did a lot of thinking about this after you guys were dragged away. There was just no other conclusion to come to.”
“You are a very good man, Daniel Jackson,” Jack said with a touch of awe in his tone.
“Don’t think that this is the action of a saint, Jack,” Daniel responded with a derisive laugh aimed at himself. “I woke up just as Prespos and his men came into the cellar. When I heard everything that was being said by you and all the members of the militia, I decided to fake unconsciousness. They were talking about doing some pretty vicious things to Teal’c actually, and I was more than willing to let them do it. And then I started thinking. I thought about how Teal’c was determined to protect me even after what I’d said and how I treated him. I thought about what you said even though I knew it had hurt you pretty deeply when Skaara was chosen. I considered the fact that if Sha’re hadn’t been chosen there would be no hope at all for me to get her back, because she’d be dead, either by Apophis when Amaunet rejected her or Teal’c and the other Jaffa when someone else was picked in her stead. And I realized just how choiceless Teal’c really was in all of that. If he’d refused, the only thing that would have changed is that Apophis would have killed him and replaced him with someone more willing to obey his god. And I came to truly believe that if he’d known and it had been in his power, Teal’c would have gone to the ends of the Earth... Chulak... to get Sha’re back for me. He would have saved her like he helped save all of those prisoners with us in the dungeon. If Skaara had been with us Teal’c would have helped him too. And that makes all the difference.”
Jack held the gaze of this amazing man for a long moment, considering everything that had been said. “So you’re going to be okay with him, okay with Teal’c being part of SG-1?”
Daniel gave him a genuine smile, although it was small. “I forgave him, Jack. I meant what I said. Apophis is to blame for what’s happened to my family. And Teal’c has a promise to keep, doesn’t he?”
Jack shook his head. “You’re a better man than I, Daniel Jackson. Better by a long shot.” He cocked his head to the side as he thought of something. “So how is it you managed to join the party? I’m guessing the militia left you in the cellar.”
“Well, yeah. Once they were convinced they weren’t going to wake me up any time soon, they hurried off so they wouldn’t miss any of the excitement. But they didn’t lock me in. So when I came to my senses, I just walked out and ran over here hoping I’d be in time to save Teal’c.” Daniel shrugged.
“Which you were,” Jack said with a decisive nod. He started to lead the linguist back to where Sam stood waiting in front of where Teal’c was still strapped to the metal contraption on the recently constructed platform. “I can’t believe they were going to make you go through all this to see if you were telling the truth.”
“They weren’t,” Daniel replied as they stepped up next to the blonde captain.
“What are you talking about?” Sam asked.
Daniel met her gaze with a slightly apologetic one of his own. “Um, Prespos told me that he and the elders weren’t originally going to make me go through what they’ve done to Teal’c, actually. I think that’s what surprised him so much when I offered to take Teal’c’s place.”
The sight of Daniel’s bare gaze reminded Sam that she still had his glasses in her pocket. “So that’s why they put everything on hold?” she asked as she handed back the wire-framed spectacles.
Daniel nodded as he slipped on the eye gear. “Basically.”
“So do you think we can get Teal’c down from there while they’re deliberating?” Jack asked, looking at the Jaffa with an uncomfortable flinch.
“That is not necessary, O’Neill,” Teal’c declared stoically. “I will wait until these people have made their choice as to my fate.”
Daniel gave the dark-skinned man a rueful look. “I don’t think he has much of a choice, Jack. When they heard him speak Goa’uld, they saw him as one of the evil ones that must have come through the gate at some point in their history, although I don’t think it’s been any time in any of these people’s lifetimes.”
“I tried to help him while you were talking to Daniel, sir,” Sam offered. “The guards wouldn’t let me anywhere near him.” She turned to look at Daniel as Jack nodded with a resigned expression. “What makes you think it’s been that long since the Goa’uld have been here?”
“They didn’t recognize Teal’c as a Jaffa. I don’t think they realize that even now. All they know is that he speaks with the tongue of evil. My guess would be that these people’s ancestors passed down snippets of the language so that the following generations would recognize it on the off chance the Goa’uld came back. And I’m willing to bet that they understand the language better than they speak it.”
Jack waved his hand in a gesture that drew the others’ attention. “Wait a minute. So you’re saying they understood Teal’c’s offer in the cellar, and they still did this to him?”
Sadness touched Daniel’s expression. “I’m sure the hatred that led to this level of paranoia was passed down with the language - which would also explain why they most likely can’t speak it, thanks to the stigma against it - so I would think that it wouldn’t have mattered what Teal’c said. No matter what they would have responded the same way.”
The conversation was cut short by Prespos Talyn’s return. “Daniel Jackson,” he greeted the brown-haired man as he stopped at his side. “I have spoken with the elders and they have agreed that your companion may be freed.” He gestured to the men that surrounded the Jaffa, and they began to free him from his restraints.
“Um, do I have to take his place?” Daniel asked warily.
“No, Daniel Jackson, that will not be necessary,” Prespos answered with a small smile.
Daniel’s shoulders sagged a bit in relief. “So I will have to take those herbs?”
“That will also not be necessary. Your willingness to take the place of your teammate, even knowing it could kill you, spoke more highly of you and your team than any answers you may have given while under the influence of our medicines. And the fact that your teammate offered himself in your place to begin with, not knowing our plans for you, proved your assertions as to his integrity. The four of you are free to go, Daniel Jackson. We only hope you will choose to return. Your offer of an alliance against the evil that comes through the Great Ring has intrigued us, and we would gladly speak of it with you.” Prespos Talyn’s smile grew wider, and he offered his hand to Daniel as four more of his men arrived with SG-1's gear.
The younger man grinned and accepted it. “I believe we must return home to tend to our injuries, but we will return. Now that the misunderstandings have been cleared between us, I believe we can become friends.”
“That is our hope as well.”
Two of the guards helped Teal’c to rejoin his team, and Jack and Daniel took their places to support him between them once they’d replaced their packs and weapons. Sam did the same with hers and carried Teal’c’s. “Come on, guys,” Daniel said to his team. “Let’s go home.”
“You’re sure everything’s okay?” Jack asked.
“Yes, Jack. In fact, they want us to come back and discuss an alliance. Maybe we can find out how they power the current that runs through those spears and that light globe they gave us in the cellar.”
“That could be valuable information, sir,” Sam agreed as they made their way through the parting crowd, the mood extremely subdued as they watched the quartet go.
Jack frowned slightly. “We’ll see. For now I’ll just be glad to get home.”
Sam and Daniel could only nod their agreement, and SG-1 headed on toward the Stargate.
* * * * * * * *
Later the next evening, Daniel made his way through the halls toward the quarters Teal ‘c had recently been assigned. He’d been cleared with an extremely mild concussion and admonished to stay on the base for the next forty-eight hours as a precaution and given a list of symptoms to watch out for. Thankfully none of them made an appearance, and now Daniel had a few loose ends he needed to tie up.
He opened the door and took a few steps inside after he’d heard the muffled invitation to do so. Teal’c was in the middle of placing a large number of candles of all different sizes around the sparse room. “Hey, Teal’c,” Daniel offered as a greeting. “What are you doing?”
“I am placing these candles to better prepare my personal space for the act of kel’no’reem. I have found that the lighting prevalent here at the SGC is too harsh to be conducive to such a state.” He placed one last candle on the stand next to his bed and turned to face his visitor.
“What’s kel’no’reem?”
“It is a state of intense inner focus which allows me to reach an inner balance and also allows my symbiote to calm and function more effectively. This is how I have recovered from the injuries I received on P3A-575.”
Daniel blinked at the reminder, flinching slightly with leftover guilt. “So you’re okay then? I wondered why I couldn’t find you in the infirmary.”
Teal’c bowed his head briefly. “Indeed. Such injuries were minor compared to some I have endured previously.”
“I can imagine.” Daniel took a deep breath and closed the door behind him. Teal’c raised an eyebrow at the action. “I need to ask you a question, Teal’c.”
“If I am able I will give you an answer, Daniel Jackson.”
The young archaeologist took another deep breath, met the Jaffa’s gaze, and spoke quickly. “What made you pick Sha’re?”
Teal’c blinked and took a long moment to formulate his response. “When I returned to the chamber where the women Apophis had collected as possible hosts for his queen were kept, I allowed my gaze to travel around the room, taking note of each of them. Sha’re was seated near the far corner, separate from the others and with her back to me, even though she was aware of my presence in the doorway. Her back was straight, and I could sense the strength of her spirit through her small act of defiance. This drew my attention, and I chose her. Beyond that I cannot tell you for certain, Daniel Jackson. I can only reaffirm my vow to return her to you.”
Daniel took a shaky breath when Teal’c was finished, his eyes dropping to the bare concrete floor. “Thank you, Teal’c,” he said softly. “I needed to know that.” He brought his eyes back up to meet those of his teammate. “She is so strong, so very strong. Stronger than I am, than I’ll ever be.”
“Then we shall surely succeed in freeing her,” Teal’c said simply.
Daniel nodded. “I have one more thing to admit to you, Teal’c. Back on the planet I knew what Prespos and his people were going to do to you when they took you out of the cellar, and I laid there and let them. I was awake. I was so angry I just let them.” His blue eyes were wide behind his wire-framed glasses and filled with shame at his actions.
“You were justified in your anger, Daniel Jackson,” Teal’c replied gently, his dark brown orbs reflecting his understanding that this greatly bothered the man standing before him, even if he couldn’t quite understand why. “I would not have blamed you if you had allowed them to complete their trial.”
“Teal’c, I meant what I said back there. Apophis is the one to blame for what’s happened to my family. You’ve made your promise to me, and that’s all that matters. I just shouldn’t have let my selfishness put you in the position to get as badly hurt as you did, especially since you were trying to take my place.”
“There is no need for this to concern you any longer. You came to my assistance before any permanent harm was done, and I have fully recovered. I may never fully comprehend your motivation for doing so, but I am grateful nonetheless.”
The two of them shared a long, silent look, a sense of peace settling over the pair. “Well, then, Teal’c,” Daniel began, his tone and bearing much lighter, “I guess that just leaves one last question.”
Teal’c’s eyebrow rose again. “What would that be?”
Daniel gave him a small smile. “Would you be willing to teach me Goa’uld? In exchange I can teach you how to read and write English, and any other language I know.” He gave a short laugh. “I might even be able to explain a few of those weird sayings Jack keeps randomly throwing out.”
“I would be honored to exchange such knowledge with you, Daniel Jackson,” Teal’c replied almost reverently, his eyes wide.
“Then I guess it’s a deal,” Daniel said, his smile growing slightly. “We can set up a regular time later. For now, I should get back to a project I’ve been working on, and I’ll let you get back to your kel’no’reem.” He paused for a moment and let his expression fade to something more serious. “I’m glad you’re one of my teammates, Teal’c. With your help we can do a lot of good out there, and my chances of finding Sha’re are so much more improved. I want you to know that.”
“And I wish you to know it is a great honor to fight by your side, Daniel Jackson.” Teal’c bowed deeply.
Daniel returned it before offering his hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Teal’c,” he said once the Jaffa had shaken it. He then gave a short nod of his head and left the room, closing the door behind himself. As he headed back to his office and the project he’d mentioned, he realized that everything would be okay, and that he had just taken the first step in the most unique friendship he would probably ever know. All things considering, he had a lot to look forward to in the days to come.
Back to Gen Fiction