Title: Hammurabi's Code
Pairing: Jack O'Neill/Daniel Jackson, Teal'c/Samantha Carter
Rating: NC-17, please.
Spoilers: Beneath the Surface
Categories: m/m
Summary: SG-1 discovers a planet who's society was pulled off earth at the height of Mesopotamian development. The ruler of the world, King Hammurabi, is hiding something from them, and Jack must protect his team while finding out what that is.
Notes: co-written with Diana.

- = - = - 

Jack's ears were still ringing from the dressing down that Carter had tried to give him about not climbing the temple stairs again so soon. And he had told her, in very few, slightly unkind words, to shut up, mind her own business, and get checked over by the physician. He'd picked up the zat as well as the P90, and the black snake-like weapon was tucked safely in his vest as the gun stayed over his shoulder and his hand rested on it.

Daniel was in front of him, pushing limbs out of the way as he followed the other two princes, and as Jack brought up the rear, it gave him entirely too much time to think.

Something rang so wrong in this place. The physician, Oneh, had nearly crapped himself when he'd seen Teal'c, standing at the foot of Carter's bed, and he could barely be convinced to enter the room. Lin and Daphon, on the other hand, had seemed entirely at ease with the Jaffa, and that bothered him. Yilenna still bothered him, as did the whole issue of slavery, but he didn't quite have the lung capacity to bring it up while hiking through the jungle again.

The heat of the day had just started, and Jack knew it was going to be tropical before the end of the day. He was already sweating under his hat and his gloves, and his boots were crunching the terrain as they hiked.

He did not like the fact that the prince, Lin, seemed to be giving all of his attention to Daniel as the other, Daphon, led the way. He wasn't quite sure why that bothered him, but it did. Oh, it did. He just figured that he was jumpy, having his team split up and left behind at the palace, but he was doing the best he could, dammit.

Daphon was indeed leading the way, following behind the ten year old boy who had agreed to show them the shortcut. He had seen the off worlders take out large masks from their packs, with clear face plates and large black *things* on them, with flaps that covered their heads. The masks were off now, but still easily accessible in their backpacks, and Daphon did not like them. He knew what they were for; protection from the bog fumes, but they should not be needed as they skirted through the shortcut.

Part of him was excited to see the Great Ring activated, if these people could do it and were not lying to them about it. It had not worked in many years, but there were stories of how the Ring spun in circles, and then a great light came out of it, and let you pass to the other world.

Perhaps the newcomers would let him pass through the Ring, someday.

And Daniel was thinking in circles. It was already getting too hot to talk to much, and besides, he and Lin had nearly talked themselves hoarse. For being a Prince, and a spoiled one at that, Lin had a surprisingly sharp mind and agile wit about him, with that never ending positive attitude that normally would have grated on Daniels nerves, but worked on him this time. Lin had charm to spare and arrogance sweating out of those magnificent pores of his.

And right at this moment, lugging his pack with sweat gathering in all the special places, Daniel envied his half naked state.

He let himself fall slightly behind, the two princes cutting through the underbrush where it had grown over the deer path through the forest, and walked alongside Jack for a moment. Something had been nagging him constantly since the conversation a few hours before, and he addressed it now, glancing at Jack with a low frown. "Jack?"

Finally. The little shit was deigning to leave his Royal Fuck-- Jack sighed. Not the attitude to have with Daniel, because it wasn't really his fault that Jack was hot, cranky, and not looking forward to the climb again. "Yeah, Daniel?"

Daniel wanted to ask him about the 'drooling' comment. He really did. It was no secret that half the SGC thought he was the SG1 bicycle. He wanted to know if Jack thought them too, despite Daniel being a widower, his wife a year in the ground. He lost his nerve at the last second, and instead he said, "You've been quiet."

"I'm not quite as talented as you are, Daniel. I can't talk, breathe, and hike at the same time."

Heat made him sarcastic. Daniel let it slide. "I mean, before the hike. What's bugging you?"

Jack gave him a glare. "You want a list?"

"So long as you check it twice."

"I know which side you're on and it's not the nice one." Jack's glare didn't wither. "Something about this place is nagging me. I don't like having the team split up. Prince Valium up there is all but tripping over his damn tongue at you, and from the best I can figure, the doctor is terrified of Teal'c because he's a Jaffa, but the rest of these guys seem easy as the breeze around him and that doesn't add up."

"Something is definitely going on that we don't know about. The puzzle pieces are here, but they aren't fitting right." He glanced up, huffing and wiping his lips with the back of his hand after a long, hard drink.

"No kidding they're not fitting," Jack grunted, taking Daniel's canteen and drinking from it, then handed it back to him. "This whole situation makes me jumpy, and I really don't like it."

Daniel panted, capping it and stepping over a particularly large log standing over the path. The princes may have been used to this, but Daniel was only a quasi soldier armed with his books and words. And a gun. He could walk ten klicks no sweat, but that was a different story on terrain like this. And the temple. God he wasn't looking forward to that. "Maybe I can talk to Daphon... the scholars, or the priests. Get some history out of them."

Jack reached out and steadied Daniel as he stepped over the log, and then stepped over it himself. "Be careful. We don't want them thinking you're too nosy and clam up on us. Find out what you can, but don't get in too deep." His grip tightened on Daniel's arm. "And, uh, just for your own protection? I wouldn't be in a room alone with Mr. Feathers." A quiet snort.

Daphon gave his brother an elbow in the ribs as they walked, gesturing with his chin over his shoulder at the two men walking together, sharing the same water skin. "Looks like you may already be out of luck, Lin."

Daniel's lips curved into a condescending smirk. "You are worried about my virtue. If it weren't so infuriating and insulting, I'd actually be flattered."

Lin caught the look, the hand, the touch, and gave a great, lusty sigh of sadness. "How could anyone resist his charms? I am devastated. My heart is broken." He suddenly waggled his brows. "Did you see the large dark man!"

Jack held up a hand. "Hey. I don't ask, and you don't tell me. I'm just sayin', since you didn't seem to notice, he's been yanking your clothes off with his eyes ever since he walked in. If you want it? Go for it." And I'll snap your scrawny little ass in two, he snarled in his head, and didn't even seem to notice it.

Daphon nodded. "It was hard to miss him, guarding the woman as he was." A pause. "He is a Jaffa; did you not see the seal upon his forehead? These men may well be Gou'ald themselves, testing us as they leave their servants to protect the weakened one." He made sure to keep his voice pitched low, so that no one but his brother would hear his words. "If they have come back to this world, attempting to befriend us, then we must watch carefully, and see what their true means are."

Oh, and there was the cool fury, making Daniel's normally warm eyes hard as flint. Bruise to the ego? Oh yes. "I'm open minded enough not to punch you in the face, Jack, but only just. I thought maybe as my best friend you'd see past the stereotypes in a military facility like the SGC, but once again I have woefully misjudged you. Thank you for insinuating that I would A, want it, or B, go behind your back for a little alien ass." And with that he sped up, leaving him almost quite literally in the dust to catch up to the two men.

Lin shook his head at his brother. "You always think the worst, little brother. They do not act as Goa'uld do, nor speak it. If they were true Goa'uld they would have legions of Jaffa with them -- instead, they only carry one, who as you and I have plainly seen does not guard a Goa'uld anymore. No, I believe we may trust these men, and -- ahh, Daniel!" Lin said, rueful smile covering his face. "A beauty to strengthen my legs as they grow weak. Has anyone told you how utterly stunning you are?" he asked, smiling charmingly as he took Daniel's arm and led him ahead of his little brother.

Jack didn't have the chance to say a single word to Daniel, but oh, he was fuming about it. The little son of a bitch, how dare... stop. Jack made himself stop the silent tirade, and kept his eyes on Daniel and the two princes, because he was going to be damned if anything happened to anybody on his team this time. Jack just shouldered the gun and moved a little faster to catch up, but left enough reaction distance between them that he could react, shoot, or do what he needed to do.

Daphon merely rolled his eyes. "If they haven't, brother, I am sure that he has heard it from you, on more than one occasion today."

Daniel could feel Jack's glare between his shoulder blades and he was glad, viciously glad he had pissed Jack off. The son of a bitch! It would be as if Daniel had just mockingly accused Jack of being a homosexual! How'd he take those apples? Probably with spit and fire, that's how!

He was polite and smiling when he said, "I appreciate your advances, Lin, but I'm not in the market for a...significant other."

"Taken?" Lin asked, looking back at the grouchy old man stomping behind them.

"Hardly. I was...ah, married. My wife died a year ago," he said that part a little extra loudly, so Jack would overhear his proclamation of raging heterosexuality. "I'm not ready to be with anyone."

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," Lin said, and looked it. He squeezed the elbow in his hand.

Yeah, Jack heard it all right. That was the fucking point, you hard-headed BRAT. Jack seethed silently to himself. He knew Daniel still had issues in his heart over Shau're and he did NOT want his little archaeologist further screwed up by the first pretty face that showed an interest in him after Shau're's death.

But no. Hardheaded little prick wouldn't HEAR of Jack being concerned. More seething, and Jack made a rude gesture to Daniel's back.

Which Daphon caught, and could well imagine what the single raised middle finger was implying. Oh, he liked this Colonel Jack O'Neill, if his behavior now was a sign of anything, and he was just determined to bring the man into the fight, one way or another. "I am sorry to hear it too," Daphon added, as he had been listening with half an ear. "It is nearing midday; when we reach the base of the temple, we will stop for an hour, to rest and to have a meal, before we begin the climb."

Daniel was too professional to call back and ask Jack if he wanted to stay at the base of the temple to rest his knees. ...Okay, no he wasn't, but Daniel himself needed a rest before they attempted the climb, so he just nodded, and if Lin gave his rump a squeeze, well, it was impolite to smack away alien hands. At least, more than Daniel did, swatting him away as he did.

Lin smiled broadly, an amused look in his handsome face, and called ahead to the little boy as they broke through the brush of the forest to the meadow where the lovely temple stood. "Enwah! Home with you, and take care not to spend all of your money all at once!"

Daphon stopped the boy before he ran off, and pressed extra coins into his hands. "And make sure that your mother gets some of this, Enwah, as our thanks for her letting us borrow you from your duties today." He ruffled the boy's hair, and watched him run back towards the city. "Daniel Jackson, Colonel Jack O'Neill, please make yourselves comfortable," he said, perching on the bottom stairs of the ziggurat. "We have food, shade, and water."

Jack glared at Lin and Daphon both for good measure, and gave his dirtiest look to Daniel before he sat on one of the lower steps as well. "Water, please, would be great."

Daniel didn't sit, just opened his own canteen, took a long hard swallow from it, and dumped a good splash of it on his head. He tugged his glasses off and exhaled, panting softly as he ran a hand through his hair, taking the dirty bandana off at the same time. Oh that cooled him off and he sighed with the softest pleasure before looking at Lin again. He tried not to notice the man had been staring. "The temple is beautiful, Prince Linelos. If I may ask, what is its use?"

Lin exchanged a glance with Daphon and smiled. "It was once an important religious center for my people, many, many, many years ago. None are alive still who remember it in use. The man who once used it for his sacrifices and offerings has moved on."

That rang Daniel's bells. "Man?"

Jack was tempted to snap Daniel with his own wet bandana, but reigned himself in admirably. He dug in his backpack and came up with candy bars, four of them, sweet chocolate with caramel, and he tossed three of them to Daniel without a word. He was listening, instead, to the brush around them, and to the princes.

Daphon nodded. "Many, many generations ago, far more than we can remember, the god Ba'al came to our forefathers and established his worship here. Unhappy with our meager offerings and our climate, Ba'al abandoned us. Years later, though, he sent a man here to rule in his name," he explained. "That man is named Nebuchudnezzar. He chose not to remain here, in this temple, but moved to one of the other great cities, and rules from there. Our temple has laid cold and unused for as long as our people's memory goes back, and we have not offered to Nebuchudnezzar for many moons."

Jack nearly fell off the steps at the mention of Ba'al, and he traded a very sharp glance with Daniel.

And there went the rest of Daniel's bells, alarms and whistles. His eyes widened impossibly before shuttering, hiding everything from the two innocent men standing before them, and instead handed over the candy bars with a smile. "It’s a beautiful temple."

Lin had caught the look that passed over Daniels face like a flash. These two knew something. "It is indeed a lovely temple, but the people are unhappy with the ruling now, and so do not bring any more offerings to the God who had once resided here."

"He... uh... resides close?"

Lin inclined his head. "A few days' ride."

"The people in his capital city still offer to him, but it is more to escape his angry wrath than to win his favor or prove their adulation," Daphon added. "But even they are not loyal any longer. They live in fear, not loyalty." He didn't miss the newcomers' reactions either, and traded a significant stare with his brother.

Jack cocked his head when he heard that. He couldn't remember a time when the people of a Gou'ald controlled planet hadn't been terrified of the Gou'ald God they worshiped, if he was actively still on the planet. More and more pieces of the puzzle that didn't make sense, and his instincts were telling him to hurry the hell up and get up the stairs to call Hammond. "Daniel and I can go the rest of the way ourselves, if you don't want to make the climb," Jack said, getting to his feet. "But we're late calling in and we need to get moving now."

"Ah, but we wish to see the Great Ring!" Lin exclaimed, all smiles, despite knowing that Jack O'Neill wished to go alone. He was good at the empty headed charm, and just smiled sweetly and began to hike the steep cliff-side of the temple.

No, things weren't making sense, and yet making a great deal of sense at the same time. Daniel didn't know what to go on, so he went with his gut. As Daphon and Linelos began to ascend, he hung back with Jack. Now was not a time to punish him for assuming Daniel was gay -- that would come later, with a lot of cold shoulders and no talking. Now, they were on an alien planet and couldn't afford to risk their lives in a strange situation for a matter of pride. "Something is wrong."

"Yeah, no kidding it's wrong," Jack growled as he let the two princes get a good five or ten step head start on them. "And those two are part of the problem," he added, dusting his hands on his pants. "I'd be willin' to bet good money they know exactly what this Ba'al is or was, because they recognized Teal'c." Then he paused. "And another thing. SG-13 said these guys were advanced--seriously so, in fact, and yet..." Jack gestured vaguely around. "Whatever 13 saw, we're not seeing, and that's bothering me too."

"The King is hiding something, and so are these two. They knew exactly how to get here through the brush -- the child was a cover up. There's a reason the bogs are where they are, Jack. I'd be willing to bet they're manmade -- in fact, I'd stake what's left of my career on it."

Jack nodded. "I'd bet the same thing, and neither one of us would lose," he agreed. "And it's not for protection--at least, not from anyone on this planet, because the King told us his people are immune to it." Jack sighed, and motioned for Daniel to start climbing as he did. "Those bogs are there to stop anybody coming through the Stargate from getting to the city. Including Jaffa, considering they took out Teal'c, and I'd bet again that they take out Gou'ald too."

Daniel nodded, breath speeding up again as they began to hike up the enormous side of the ziggurat. He envied the young men for their boundless energy, and wondered if this was how Jack had felt when he'd first let Daniel on the team. Annoyed at their energy and exuberance.

Then again, Daniel was only thirty five. He wondered how Jack, a man almost twelve years older than him, was feeling. For a moment he felt something close to sympathy, but then he remembered the effortless way Jack had cut down his masculinity and he got pissed off all over again. Fumbling jackass.

He reigned in his temper, barely, and said, "We need to find out more, and the princes here are our ticket. They're too arrogant and self assured not to eventually talk."

"Yeah. Or we could just beat it out of them," Jack offered, which was looking like the more appealing option at the moment. "We'll just have to keep them talking and hope one of them spills something we can use."

Daniel inclined his head, lips tight. This wasn't over, and Jack knew better than to think it was. Daniel left him and walked up ahead alone, pushing his overtaxed and tired body harder. The sooner they got to the top, the sooner they could talk to Hammond, the sooner they could find somewhere to rest.

One of these days, Jack was going to end up killing Daniel in his sleep. Just for the sheer enjoyment of it. "Don't--get too far ahead!" he yelled out, making sure his gun was close to hand as he pulled himself up each step.

Yes, like Daniel was going to get into trouble walking up the face of a manmade hell. Of course. There were some days Daniel wished he'd just become a stuffy professor in some university somewhere. Everything would be normal -- hell, he'd probably be married and have kids by now. ...And he'd be miserable. Daniel had always seen what other anthropologists hadn't -- the existence of something else. There was too much evidence to show that human beings hadn't been alone on Earth. So rather than be alone exploring the universe, he'd have a wife and children to worry about.

Why was it that every road led here?

And Daniel had believed her. And he'd let go of his inhibitions, his fears, his bitter disappointments. And for his trouble his heart had burned, broken into tiny pieces that had been swept into the grave he had buried his beautiful Shau're in.

Too much old pain today. Too many questions about his sexuality, assumptions from his friend and this uppity young buck of a guy who flirted shamelessly. Too much after their last mission, sitting in his lab sobbing hysterically when Carlin became Daniel, and Daniel's heartache's filled the light, happy place that had been at the center of him. A month of relief, shattered by the photo of his beautiful wife who he had buried, his parents in Egypt who he had never really known, a grandfather who hadn't wanted him, and his peers who hadn't accepted him.

He rubbed his face and forehead both with the handkerchief in his hand, and paused long enough to take antihistamines from his vest to clear his sinuses.

Jack was following Daniel, speeding up where he could, scrambling up two stairs instead of one, pulling himself along so that finally, when Daniel paused, of course Jack was there.

He was always there, not just for his team but for Daniel. He couldn't help remembering how they'd met, the fact that Daniel had died for him, in fact, and he always felt like Daniel was his responsibility, to make sure that didn't happen again, to make sure Daniel didn't do something stupid like toss away his life for an old colonel who at the time sure as hell didn't want the life Daniel had sacrificed himself to save.

Had Daniel to thank for that, too, sure, maybe that's why he'd been a little... coddling, lately, but hell... if Daniel hadn't told him the facts of life after Charlie's... well, Jack let that thought trail off before it could disturb or upset him any further. But if it hadn't been for Daniel telling him the facts of life, then Jack was fairly certain he wouldn't have been around to lead this mission. And if he could do the same thing for Daniel, piss him off so that he didn't hurt for Shau're, then he could do that. Because what else was Jack good for, if not pissing people off?

He paused alongside Daniel while Daniel was popping his pills, and he put his hand on Daniel's shoulder. "You okay?"

"Fine," Daniel said shortly, taking another drink from his almost empty canteen and vowing to grab more water from the MALP before they headed back.

Jack heard the empty sloshing in Daniel's canteen, and quietly took it, giving Daniel his own, which was better than half full. "Save your breath and keep moving."

"I don't need you to take care of me," Daniel said, for what felt like the millionth time in the last twenty four hours, but took the canteen anyway and began climbing once more.

Of course you don't, little hardheaded runt, Jack growled to himself, but slung the canteen strap over his shoulder and kept climbing behind Daniel. "I'm the leader," he finally said. "Whether you like it or not, I have to make sure my team is taken care of."

"And normally," Daniel huffed, climbing over a broken step, "I'm fine with it. But I'm not a child, Jack." He hadn't been one in a long time. He didn't think he'd ever been one, actually.

Jack didn't answer until he'd carefully passed the broken step, and didn't feel like he was going to have a heart attack after a few deeply drawn in breaths.

Christ, he was out of shape.

"Nobody said you were a child, Daniel," Jack said, trying very hard NOT to be patronizing.

"You didn't have to say it," he huffed, and paused on another step. Linelos and Daphon were long gone, scrambling like bears up the rock face with skill. "And for your information, Jack, I'm not gay and I didn't appreciate your insinuating I was. I can't help it if the Universe at large wants to pants me."

Jack almost lost his footing at that. "Okay, what? First of all? Who the hell said you were gay? Second of all, when did I do that? I just told you that in case you didn't notice, Prince Featherhead up there was hitting on you with a sledgehammer because you never seem to notice these things until naked bodies are rubbing against your uniform." Jack rolled his eyes. "Third? Even if you were, why the hell would I care?"

"You didn't have to say it. Linguist, remember?" Daniel huffed and had to kind of squirm up the next step, which had cracked and splintered bad, and he offered Jack a hand to hoist him up so he didn't get banged up trying to get up beside Daniel. " I'd have to be a one eyed llama not to see Linelos was coming on to me. And don't give me that crap that you wouldn't care, Jack, because we both know its that -- crap."

Jack took the offered hand gratefully, pulling himself over the damaged step with Daniel's help. Detested the fact that he needed help, and absolutely despised the fact that Daniel could read him well enough to know when to offer it, but he wasn't stupid enough to actually turn it down. He just glared as he pulled himself up alongside Daniel, and curbed the urge to stick out his tongue.

Barely. Because he figured he could better use the energy for other things, like breathing and not passing out. "Okay, yes, I would care, but no, I really wouldn't. Don't ask don't tell is in place for a reason, Daniel, and you certainly wouldn't be the first--or the last--person to decide he needed to sample the other side after losing someone he loved." And then a snort. "Linelos you notice, and every other person we come up against, you don't."

"Fuck you, Jack," Daniel said, calmly, shoving up another step on the rocky face. "I'm not going to be sampling anything, man or woman, least of all some alien horn dog with a penchant for risqué commentary."

"Yeah, well, being as you're the one who steeps himself in history? Let me be the one to remind you that the guy in charge doesn't always ask if his advances are welcome, if you get my drift and that's a situation that I don't want to deal with because killing the locals for hurting my team doesn't exactly win me diplomatic points." Jack was all but growling out every word as he pushed himself to keep pace with Daniel, and his boots kicked roughly at the steps, because if he didn't kick something, it was going to be Daniel's ass.

"And here we go again, Jack. I can take care of myself. What do you think I was doing all those years before I met you, hmm?" Daniel asked, and pointed out another rough spot as they stumbled upward. "Before I ever met you I'd gone on digs with questionable men. If its my virtue you're worried about, you don't have to. I haven't got any." Because what was left of it was buried and long gone with the dust of his wife. "As for, what, being chained like some love slave... You've been reading too many trashy novels again, that's your problem. Did you get into Sam's stash again?"

"You know something, Daniel? You're absolutely right. I don't have to worry about you, I don't have to be concerned about you. I mean, we're not friends, right? You didn't die for me at any point, so really, I don't have anything to worry about, no reason to be overly concerned." He ground his jaw tightly together and started pushing himself harder up the steps, managing to get one or two ahead of Daniel, but never any more than that. Fucking kid, climbing better than he was.

"Oh please, I've died for you three times to date and you've never been this overprotective," Daniel announced, as if his revolving door through the afterlife was normal, everyday stuff.. Which sadly, it was. "Jack, look. It all comes down to the simple fact -- do you trust me or not?"

Did he trust Daniel Jackson? Of course he did.

He trusted Daniel to find trouble within five seconds of passing through the Stargate.

He trusted Daniel to find the biggest, meanest, most dangerous creature on said planet and domesticate it with chocolate. He trusted Daniel to be the center of any debate on the planet, and he trusted Daniel to geek out, at least three times, every mission.

He just didn't trust the rest of the universe not to screw with Daniel's usual pattern of behavior.

"Yes, I trust you, and you know it," Jack answered with a gusty sigh. "But that's not the point and you know it."

Daniel could almost read Jack's train of thought, and for the first time since they got to the planet, his lips quirked. Then again, they were in an impossible situation, climbing the face of an ancient ziggurat, behind two rich spoiled brats, on a planet a couple of million light years away from Earth, trying to get to an alien artifact which they willingly jumped through, had their molecules scrambled, and then matched back up at the end. And for a moment Daniel found it so hysterically funny that he snickered... coughed... and couldn't help it. He got the giggles. He stood there, leaning against the stone steps, snickering like a loon. Like he hadn't in a long, long time.

"Oh, yes, you're perfectly fine, because you never go into hysterics," Jack grunted. He grabbed Daniel's elbow and dragged him up the last three steps, to the platform that led to the next set of steps, and pushed him to sit down before he climbed up any further. He figured it was the heat getting to Daniel, so Jack pulled Daniel's bandana off his head, soaked it water from the canteen, and draped the cool wet cloth around Daniel's neck.

Barely resisted the urge to strangle him with it.

"Leave it there for a minute; it'll help you cool off."

Which just made Daniel laugh harder, and he shook his head, pulling his glasses off to wipe his face. "Jack, this is all utterly ridiculous."

"You just figure that out now?" Jack took Daniel's glasses and wiped them off on his t-shirt, drying the water smudges before tucking them into Daniel's vest pocket.

Daniel shook his head and rubbed his eyes. "It's like we're the butt of this big cosmic joke, you know?" He peered up under his wet bangs. "Did you know the Jaffa have dirty jokes about us?"

"No, but I'll make sure to ask Teal'c about it when we get back," Jack answered, humoring Daniel with a smile. "But if it starts with, why did the Tau'ri cross the road, I'm going to have to hurt somebody."

Daniel shook his head again and stood, taking a big drink of water and hanging Jack the canteen so he could get one before the climbed the last thirty steps. "You know Jaffa jokes. They make absolutely no sense, but Teal'c was laughing like some bizarre pod Teal'c."

"Yeah, I know 'em. Unfortunately." Jack took a small drink from Daniel's canteen and then combined his and Daniels' together, and kept the empty and handed Daniel back the full one. "We'll fill 'em both back up when we get there, and maybe I can convince Hammond to send through a couple of motorbikes. Or something.  Can't you just see us doing an Evil Knieval off the top of the pyramid here? Beats climbing back down."

"Oh, that suggestion would go over well." He pretended to tap his ear, and did a passable imitation of Jack's swagger as they began to climb again. "General Hammond, sir, I'd like to request motorbikes. Why? Because I'm tired of walking, that's why. All we do is walk. All this technology, and we walk!"

"I do not sound like that!" Jack huffed, but he was laughing as he did it. "Besides, I wouldn't be that shallow. I'd give him a good reason. Like inviting him through to climb down himself and see how fast he calls for assistance."

"Ahhh, but there's a reason he flies a desk, Colonel Jack," Daniel scolded, and yes, the heat was getting to him, but in a relaxing sort of way. It was nice, actually. He needed to let go for a while, especially after the depressing thoughts of his dead wife all morning.

"We could get a snowblower and slide down on our asses," Jack suggested, just to get Daniel to laugh again.

Daniel's grin was complete with dimples. "You're thinking low scale, Jack. What we need is one of those nifty ships Bra'tac has that fits through the gate."

Jack gave a regal wave of his hand. "Oh, who needs that horseshit. I'm telling you, Daniel. Nothing like sledding down thirty stories on your ass and landing headfirst in a snow bank to give a real sense of fun."

Daniel was just tired enough to give Jack a smirk. "I think it's you who have been hiding something, what with all this talk about fun with your ass."

Jack waggled his finger scoldingly at Daniel. "See? There you go, getting all concerned with my ass again. Think about your own ass, Mister, and leave mine out of it." He put his hand at the small of Daniel's back and steadied him as he turned around to smirk.

"I get a feeling all four of us are going to be concerned once we drink the water on this planet," Daniel muttered, and finally, finally made it to the top.

He wanted to fall somewhere and sleep for a week.

Instead he exhaled noisily, rubbed his face as he took in Linelos and Daphon who hadn't even broken a sweat, and grumbled to himself as he walked over to the DHD and waited for Jack's instructions.

Jack had absolutely no idea what the hell Daniel meant by that last mutter, but he pulled himself up after Daniel, and looked around.

Everything seemed to be where they'd left it, which meant the princes hadn't fiddled around with anything. "Well? Dial it up, Daniel," Jack said, waving towards the large pedestal while he fiddled with the radio, moving it around so that the antenna faced the Stargate.

"Yes, please do so," Lin said, delighted to get to stand next to the sweating, heaving, delicious specimen of man again. Taken or not he was a fabulous example of masculinity, and Lin sidled in just close enough to be politely snuggled up. He beamed. "These light the Great Ring, yes?"

"Yes," Daniel said, and curbed his annoyance. Tired, sweaty and cranky as he was, he didn't want anyone this close but Jack. He tried hard not to elbow the almost completely sweat-free man beside him as he began to dial from memory.

Yeah. Like the corner of Jack's eye wasn't twitching insanely. He was just certain that he was going to have to kill Prince Featherbottom or whatever the fuck his name was because if he did one single thing that hurt Daniel or anyone else on his team... yeah. Jack was going to have to hurt somebody.

For some reason, the Stargate opening on other worlds didn't cause the entire structure to shake as it still occasionally did in Cheyenne Mountain, but Jack still found himself bracing against the wall just in case.

Daphon was watching with barely concealed excitement, bouncing on his toes as he committed to memory the sequence of symbols that Daniel Jackson keyed in. "This will let you see your home?"

"Er, no. Not see, per say. Our expert on the wormholes, Major Carter, could tell you about it in depth, but the gate is a wave of energy connected over a long distance -- what we call a worm hole because of its cylinder shape, like a worm crawling through a piece of fruit." Pleased to see the understanding in their eyes, Daniel went on. "This energy has the power to send people over vast distances of space. We use the gate to explore other worlds, other cultures, which is why we came to meet you, and hopefully begin a trade between our two peoples."

"Fascinating," Lin said, all wide eyed as he watched Daniel Jackson punch the symbols on the strange device. "Have you met the other Gods, then?"

Daniel nearly choked, and glanced at Jack with wide eyes.

Oh, how to answer that. "Yeah... we've met some of them," Jack said carefully, turning the radio on as soon as the tunnel exploded outwards, and then settled to the usual watery-like glassy calm. "They don't usually like us very much."

Daphon's eyes lit up brightly, at that. "Really? You live in defiance of the gods also?" He couldn't help another look towards his brother, all but screaming, now will you listen to me and let me recruit the newcomers?? "That's wonderful to hear!"

At the obvious silent communications between the brothers, Jack gave his own glance at Daniel.

Daniel paused before hitting the last symbol on the DHD, and glanced at the Princes both. It wasn't his place to tell them anything -- that was Jack's decision. But he let his opinion be known with a gentle nod of his head at Jack before he hit the last symbol that signified Earth.

What spilled forth was the most magnificent thing Lin had ever seen in his life. Like rushing waterfall water spewed forth in a funnel, so hard and fast and loud that had Lin been anyone but himself he'd have cried out. It was the magic of science that created this.. this beautiful thing which could transport others through space itself to other planets. Lin had learned of such things from his brother, who attended University, but never would he...could he have dreamed... "How do you keep yourselves from drowning?" he breathed, stepping around the device Daniel had used to call forth the water, and walked up the steps to the water.

"Well, its not really water. It's actually an illusion."

"Yeah, but it's a dangerous illusion, so be careful." Jack glared, first at the princes and then at Daniel, then spun the dials on the MALP. "SGC, this is Colonel Jack O'Neill, checking in. Over."

Daphon followed his brother up onto the platform, holding his hand out and watching it pass through the Stargate. He jerked it back quickly, flexing his fingers against the cool slick feeling he felt, and then grinned at his brother like a child. "It's cold!"

Hammond glanced up as the claxons blared and left his office quickly. SG1 was already two hours late for their regular radio in, and he'd just been about to sign the order to get the marines in there for an extraction. Jack O'Neill's voice, and his big mug in the camera, was the best thing Hammond could have hoped for. "SG1, this is General Hammond. You're two hours late, Colonel."

Lin wasn't at all surprised to hear the voice -- he could see the strange magnifying device on the gray machine in front of the blue puddle blinking with a small red light. He played dumb anyway. "Ahhh, can he see us?"

"You should see the bitch of a climb we've got here, sir." Jack was nearly plastered face-first against the camera. "Thirty damn stories of stone steps to the top of a pyramid and the Stargate," he continued, giving Hammond a general, but subtle map of the immediate area. "Not to mention it's a hell of a hike to the city, and we brought a couple friends along for the ride."

Daphon was still standing on the platform in front of the Stargate, but he couldn't help giving a little wave to the camera. "Hello, friend of Colonel Jack O'Neill!"

"Hello!" Lin echoed his little brother, and put on his most winning smile.

Daniel glanced at them once before looking back at the General. "Princes Lin and Daphon, General, from the city. Their father, King Hammurabi," subtle highlight of the name, "helped us after we fainted from swamp gas that protects the area."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Major Carter, Teal'c?"

"Still in the city," Daniel said, and nudged Jack a little to give him some room in the camera.

"Well, then. Is there any possibility that King Ham'rabi would meet with us and discuss trade?"

Jack elbowed right back, and gave a little ‘oof’ as he shifted to give Daniel face time with the General. "I don't know, sir." Jack wondered how to say this, and then flat out decided not to sugar coat it. "I get the feeling they're hiding something from us, sir. Half of them are terrified of Teal'c and the other half just nod their heads as if they were expecting a Jaffa to walk through that Stargate one day. Not to mention these swamps, sir, they affected Teal'c as well as the rest of us, but not the natives." Quiet pause. "And they used to worship Ba'al."

At Jack's casually spoken words, Daphon pulled his hand away from the Great Ring and bristled slightly at his brother. "They know of the other Gou'ald," he hissed softly, for his brother's ears only. "And they serve with Jaffa, so if they are not Gou'ald themselves, they are like us and fight against their reign! They belong in our resistance!"

Lin grinned in delight. He'd only known these people for a few hours, and already he loved them. The gray one, with the matter-of-fact words despite his company, and Daniel, who blushed for the both of them. He beamed down at his brother's frantic words, gave him a slap on the shoulder, and said to Jack O'Neill happily, "Of course we know of the Jaffa. They are the army of the God of this world, Nebuchudnezzer. We fight him, and are in his disfavor."

Daniel's eyes widened and he glanced over his shoulder. "You're telling us this now?!"

Hammond's eyebrows arched. "Colonel, do you think you're going to need SG6?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna need 'em to hold me back from killing somebody," he growled into the camera, and turned that glare on Lin and Daphon next. "You guys are only now volunteering this information instead of, I don't know, back at the palace when we were talking about your gods in the first fucking place?" Jack's hand tightened on his gun. "How do we know you're not in league with them and have tried to separate us?" Jack swore softly, at that. "Shit. Daniel, call down to Teal'c and make sure he and Sam are all right." He raised his gun a little higher and he looked at Lin. "Talk. Now."

Daphon moved to stand between Lin and Jack. "Lower your weapon, Colonel Jack O'Neill. I cannot allow you to threaten my brother in this manner."

Hammond's brows arched almost to his forehead. "Colonel, what in Sam Hill is going on over there?"

Lin ignored Jack O'Neill as Daniel Jackson moved aside to use the primitive device on his clothes. He spoke, instead, to the... Gen'ral. "Mighty Leader, my name is Prince Lord Linelos. I am the leader of the rebellion of the evil Gods and their warriors. My people have vast technology far exceeding that which your men and women use."

"So I understand, Prince Linelos. But you need to know that the safety of my people comes first, and I can't sanction a trade if they're in danger."

"They are not. This I swear on my family name," Linelos said, a fist over his feathered chest. "We are an underground resistance. We would like to trade with your world, but first we must speak with our father."

Daphon moved when O'Neill did, mirroring his motions so that he stayed between Linelos and O'Neill. "Do not worry, Leader Hammond," Daphon said, speaking into the camera's eye. "Your people will not be harmed."

"Thank you. Colonel?" He addressed his 2IC. "I want you to find out what's going on over there, and report to me again in twelve hours. Is that understood?"

Jack didn't take his eyes off Daniel as he moved back into the MALP camera's range. "I understand, sir. Twelve hours on the dot. If we don't show, send in the extraction team because I'm tired of having to check in and out with Tweedledee and his brother here," he growled. "We'll be here, sir." He edged a little further around the room, until he was standing close to Daniel, but still in the camera's range.

Daniel was listening with half an ear as Hammond said something mildly rough, because Lin just bounced on his heels all the happier. He frowned, clicking his radio, and said, "You're sure everything's okay, Sam?"

"Yup," came the chirpy voice. "Teal'c is in Kel-no-reem, and the doctor gave me some herbs that woke me right up. How are you and the Colonel? Over."

"Embarrassed. I'll check in in an hour or so before we leave the temple, all right?"

"Don't forget the portable radio. And be careful! Carter out."

Daniel turned around and sighed just as the wormhole closed and left Lin standing there, hands behind his back bouncing on the heels of his feet, and Daphon trying to talk to Jack down from shooting them. Not that Jack didn't try to shoot everyone all the time.

He touched Jack's hand, the one on the gun, and lowered it slightly as he turned his head to look at the princes. "Talk."

"We had to be certain of your alliance. If you too were evil Gods, then we would have given away our secrets. But I see now that you are not, and are in fact in a position to help us as we may help you," Lin said as he strolled over to the entrance of the ziggurat energetically. "My father is in delicate talks with the evil God Neb to bring peace, but he says there will be no peace without death. Menua is one of the last cities on the continent not under Neb's rule, but only because we drove him away. Our technology is superior to anything else on the planet, and this is the only reason we are still here," Lin said, all seriousness in his voice.

The only reason Jack's gun stayed lowered is because Daniel's hand pushed it down.

Well, and because Daniel was standing half in his line of sight. Otherwise?

Yeah.

"Let's cut this god crap," Jack said testily. "Nebuwhatever is a Gou'ald, right?"

Daphon nodded. "He is. His Jaffa bear not a snake, but a bird, with wings outstretched. We knew by this that your Jaffa did not serve the god Neb, but another."

"Teal'c doesn't serve anybody anymore," Jack pointed out. "He's a free Jaffa, and he's made the choice to help our people fight the Gou'ald."

Daphon inclined his head. "Then we and your Jaffa have much in common. We serve no God or Lord, and we rebel against the God Neb and his army of Jaffa."

"You came to our world seeking these answers, correct?" Lin asked, arching one perfect brow at the sweaty men. "And seeking weapons with which to defend yourself. We have those weapons. All we ask in return is your help."

"We came to learn, and to explore, and fight if we had to," Jack corrected. "Not that we don't like finding new allies when we go through the 'Gate, but that wasn't our primary objective, to come in with all guns blazing, and start a fight." Jack's grip on the gun tightened, even though it was still pointed at the floor. He was just dying to shoot something, dammit.

Daphon nodded. "Your leader, Hammond? That is his name?" At Jack's terse nod, Daphon continued. "He, like our father, is in charge of many men?" Another terse nod. "As we thought. As it stands now, we are few in number, though our ranks grow every day, as Neb's power slowly wanes over the other cities. If you help us drive that creature from our midst once and for all, we will gladly provide you weapons with which to drive him from your own worlds as well."

And instantly, Daniel believed them. Believed them both. Because the things that weren't matching up suddenly did. The rich textiles of their clothing, the indoor plumbing, the bogs, the homes. Everything had spoken of modern ways, without losing sight of the ancient customs. They were hiding their weapons, because of Neb. This was what Jack and the General had been looking for -- what all the SGC had been dreaming for, tools to fight the Goa'uld and protect the planet.

They couldn't just turn the other cheek.

"No," Jack said, because he could literally see the wheels turning in Daniel's head. "No. We don't know anything about them, we haven't seen anything they're offering us, and I'm not going into it and blindly agree to something when it may end up with my men carrying the shit end of the stick," he finished.

At that, Lin cast an uneasy glance at his brother. "We cannot show you until tomorrow's new moon, when the celebration will mask the energy signals of our weaponry. Will you be our guests until then?"

Daphon nodded his agreement. "You have our words, gentlemen, as the princes of Menua, we will not treat you ill," he added. "You will be honored guests, and we will have men ready to show you the way to the temple whenever you must check in with your King Hammond."

Jack almost protested that Hammond wasn't a king, but figured that the long explanation of military rankings was going to take up too much time. "Yeah. We'll be your guests until then." Jack let the gun fall to his side, but he didn't take his hand off it. "Daniel? Let's refill the canteens before we go, hmm?"

- = - = -

go on to the next part