This is the standard disclaimer. They don't belong to me. This story is not intended to violate any copyrights held by Showtime/Viacom, MGM/USA, Double Secret Productions and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement is intended.

WARNING-This story contains corporal punishment. Be warned.

Thank you to my beta Spacepixel, for all her hard work and marvelous suggestions.

Daniel raced after the marines of SG-4, lungs burning, muscles straining, his mind repeating the same phase over and over again.

He and two other archaeologists from SG-11, along with SG-4 as protection, had been exploring and video taping a deserted temple ruin located half a mile from the gate on G45-726. Weathered and worn with the ravages of time, the building was still in remarkable shape considering it was easily several thousand years old. It housed numerous beautiful mosaics, a cache of metal items of various purposes and several hidden alcoves containing a form of writing Daniel had found vaguely familiar but just out of his reach to decipher as yet.

The temple had been discovered three weeks ago by SG-7. They had requested a team of researchers to return and unearth the amazingly intact find. They had stressed the many drawings of warriors in an obviously militaristic culture, appealing to the Air Force's desire to find information about weapons with which to defeat the Goa'uld. The immediate area had been explored and deemed uninhabited and safe, save for the rare sightings of a single foraging beast that looked like a four-foot tall cross between a wolf and a wild boar.

The small band of scientists and their defense forces had returned to the planet a mere four hours ago and had begun exploring the temple. Long enough for Daniel and his fellow researchers to get really, really involved in their work. So involved it took several shouts from Major Wilson to break through Daniel's intense concentration and actually get his attention. If truth be told, it was probably Wilson bodily grabbing and dragging Daniel away from the alcove he was examining that finally got his attention more so than the gunfire echoing off the temple walls. By then, each armed member of the team had a startled scientist in their grasp and was running for the gate and the DHD.

Being the farthest from the opening to the temple and working in a hidden alcove, Daniel had been difficult for Wilson to locate immediately. Remembering Colonel O'Neill's parting words promising dismemberment and slow death if he returned without a healthy, happy Doctor Jackson, Wilson was more than prepared to spend eternity looking for the absentminded young man. Heaving a sigh of relief, the beefy major physically removed Daniel from his perch on a narrow shelf carved three feet up the wall and had him halfway out of the temple before Daniel managed to regain his power of speech.

"Major? What's wrong?" Daniel's usual wide-eyed, innocent stare blinked up at the towering marine from behind his dusty glasses.

Wilson set Daniel back on his feet and tugged at the front of his vest to get him moving in the direction that he needed the hesitant young man to go.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Jackson, but we have to get back to the gate. Now."

"Why? We just started." The sound of firepower reached their ears the closer they got to the temple opening. Daniel's confused gaze intensified. "Is that gunfire?"

Wilson sighed under his breath and continued to urge Daniel out of the building.

"It ain't fireworks, sir. We're under attack."

Wilson edged Daniel behind him and looked for the rest of his men. Halfway to the gate four men were running, two each clearly protecting the two while a fifth man attempted to hold back a dozen or so large, snarling wolf creatures.

"Under attack? By what…oh, my God."

"Yes, sir."

Daniel got his first look at the monstrous animals. They had caught only glimpses of the beasts on video footage brought back by SG-7 on their maiden trip to the temple. The beasts were huge, easily four foot tall on all fours, the smallest weighting at least 200 pounds with thick, matted black fur, razor sharp extended canines and powerful looking jaws. Large blue eyes stared malevolently out from their tapered skulls, chin line ending in twin twisted tusks, obviously used to hold prey in place while tearing it into edible bites.

"Looks like about forty of them. It's a hunting pack. We gotta make a run for it, Doc. It's going to take a lot more fire power then we have here to stop this many of them." Wilson tightened his grip and made ready to move out quickly with the slim doctor in tow if necessary.

"I can see that." Daniel nervous brushed his hair back from his eyes and stared at several approaching animals that had been lured back to the temple at the scent of new prey.

"Move, sir, move."

Wilson pushed Daniel protectively out in front of him and turned to fire repeatedly into the rapidly advancing pack of animals behind them, while staying as close to the young doctor as possible. Wilson managed to drop one of the pack but two more took its place. Latching onto Daniel's vest again, Wilson turned and shot across the rough, pitted field, hoping they could at least stall the pack long enough to make it to the gate.

Daniel shot a terrified look at the pack and began to silently repeat his mantra. Jack's going to kill me. If I don't make it back in one piece, Jack's going to kill me. Jack IS going to kill me. He will never let me go ANYWHERE without him again.

Sparing a glance ahead, Wilson snarled when a hairy beast managed to come close enough to sink its teeth into one of the other archeologist's leg. The man's appointed guardian emptied his gun into the animal before it would release the screaming scientist. The marine wasted no time in hefting the other man over his shoulders and running. Several more beasts flanked the two men, their attempt to cut off the injured from the others failing as more gunfire drove them back.

Determination raised up another notch by the scene, Wilson literally began to drag his stumbling responsibility faster through the knee-high brush.

Panting and heaving with every fiery breath he took, Wilson sent up a silent prayer to whichever saint protected lowly majors from possessive, over-protective Colonels as the gate came into view. Tucking the startled and protesting doctor closer, he poured on more speed.

Watching the first of his team hit the DHD and dial up the gate, Wilson felt the first flicker of hope that they were going to make it bloom in his chest. Wilson made a jump for the gate just as a tremendous force barreled into him from the side of the portal. Without losing his death-grip on Daniel's vest, Wilson hurtled through the wormhole, the last of the band of travelers to make it through the gate.

Rolling down the gate room ramp, Wilson had exactly 3 seconds to take in the sight of the usual fully-armed welcome home contingent and the unhappy faces of Colonel Jack O'Neill and the Jaffa, Teal'c, before a huge mass barreled into his back. Massive teeth tore at his backpack as the command to seal the iris blared over the PA system. Two more animals from the planet followed through the open wormhole and into the command center before the iris closed.

After several tension filled moments of hand combat and selective marksmanship, all three beasts lay slain. Both incoming travelers and home world combatants were covered in blood and torn flesh, the ramp slick with the nauseatingly bright body fluids.

O'Neill looked breathlessly around at each of the returning travelers and turned a hard glare on Wilson that made the major reconsider the thought that he was happy to have survived the brutal onslaught. O'Neill's words were slow and measured, ominous in their quiet delivery.

"Major, where's Daniel?"

O'Neill may have been winded from the fight but his voice was rock-hard and unforgiving. Even a big man like Wilson could be made to stutter at the searing look that O'Neill pinned him with.

"I-I had a hold of him the entire time, I swear. I never let go, Colonel, never."

Wilson raised his left arm and every person in the room stared at the battered and bloody fragment of torn black vest Wilson held in his fist, the only piece of Daniel Jackson that made it through the gate before the iris had closed.

Jumping to his feet, O'Neill yanked the bloody fabric from the marine's frozen hand and clenched it in his own. Turning to look up at the observation window, O'Neill zeroed in on General Hammond's shocked face.

"Sir, requesting permission to take SG-1 and 5 through the gate immediately to retrieve Doctor Jackson, General."

Jack mentally began to list all the ways he was going to make Daniel pay for this stress once he had the young man home and safely under his own form of house arrest. Namely at his house and grounded, possibly for the rest of his life.

Hammond sighed, his expression reflecting sympathy and understanding mixed with regret.

"I'm sorry, Colonel. I'm not sending you in until we have some idea of what the hell happened here. Until the extent of the danger from these creatures is fully determined, I can't expose anymore personnel to the threat of another attack."

"Sir, I--"

"Colonel, we'll send a MALP through first. We don't know how many of these creatures are waiting on the other side. There could be only a dozen or there could be hundreds. If the telemetry shows the danger has removed itself from the immediate vicinity of the gate, you and your teams can go through."

"Yes sir." Jack tore his eyes away from the window and began bellowing orders to the uninjured personnel in the room, wiping sweat and drying blood from his face and hands without a thought to the gruesome picture he presented.

"Let's get that hunk of junk in here, people. Move it. I want that thing through the gate in the next 30 seconds. Dial it up, folks. Daniel's waiting."

Marines scrambled to remove wounded as well as the dead bodies of the beasts.

Yelling for Carter and Teal'c to be ready to go in ten, O'Neill began stripping soiled clothing from his body before he even exited the gate room doors, intent on returning to the Stargate fully geared up before the MALP even landed.

He found he had difficulty unbuttoning his shirt for some reason and raised a hand to glare at the uncooperative limb. Jack was taken back to see Daniel's torn vest still clenched tightly in his hand. Glaring at the traitorous scrap, Jack jerked his shirt open sending buttons flying and airmen scattering in his wake as he thundered down the hall. Teal'c followed with a less dramatic but just as intimating exit. The two men were guaranteed clear hallways all the way to their locker room and back.

Whatever awaited them on the other side, the remaining members of SG-1 would be there to gather up their youngest member. No one was ever left behind, especially young, naïve archeologists that belonged to Colonel Jack O'Neill and the SG-1 team of the US Airforce.

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

Hurled bodily back from the gate, Daniel cried out as he felt his left foot twist, a nauseating pop clearly heard over his yelp of pain. His cry was muffled by the 200-pound weight that landed on his back and latched onto his shoulder, tearing muscle and grinding against bone. Agonizing pain ripped through his body making black circles swim behind his clenched eyes.

Daniel fought for breath as the sinuous weight of the attacking beast ground his face and upper body into the dirt and weeds. He had been bodily hurled off the platform when Wilson had been forced through the gate without him. He remembered the flash of pain that burned across both shoulders as his vest had been partially torn from his chest, razor sharp jaws severing fabric instead of soft flesh. Daniel fleetingly wondered if Wilson still had his hand.

Clawing desperately at the hard packed ground, Daniel tried to find something to fight back with, fingers digging into the grass and weeds, fumbling over pebbles and rocks too small to be considered a weapon against these vicious monsters. Then, at the far edge of his grasp, a rock large enough to make a reasonable weapon teased his hand. The prize slipped from his raw and bloody fingertips seconds later.

Suddenly the burning pain in his left shoulder became a blinding spasm of unbearable description. He was lifted and flipped over by the massive jaws clamped tightly in his body. Unable to stop himself, Daniel opened his eyes to stare into the face of what would become the starring character of most of his nightmares for many a night to come.

Heinous breath, heavy with the scent of blood, puffed hotly in his face, calling bile up from his stomach to bubble at the back of his throat. Salvia and thin strips of flesh, undoubtedly his own, hung from three-inch long protruding canines, twisted and stained an ancient brown. Thick, black fur hung in matted clumps off the massive shoulders, tangled with layers of dirt, fresh blood and old bits of decaying matter. As Daniel's horrified mind reeled from the sight, he could see lice-like insects crawling through the animal's mane of fur.

Ice blue eyes, triumphant and cold at the approaching kill, reflected the primal thrill at the submission of its downed prey. Confident in his kill, the beast lunged for the tender meat of Daniel's throat.

Daniel threw his arms up, jerking back and to the right to avoid the full thrust of the attack. He avoided the deadly snapping jaws only to strike the side of his head hard against his lost treasure, the sizable rock that only moments ago had been destined to be his lifeline to possible escape. The sharp crack of his skull making contact with the dense mass snapped crisply in the chill air. As Daniel's eyes rolled back, the sight of the grotesque beast morphed into a faintly humanoid face covered in the same black fur.

Morage, leader of his village's hunting party, effortlessly heaved the lifeless body of the beast off to one side and peered down at the dirt and blood covered creature lying beneath his intended prey. Crumpled and filthy, the small creature turned startlingly blue eyes up to meet his dark gaze before slumping into a boneless heap of mangled flesh and twisted limbs.

Morage motioned to the other members of his hunting party and gestured down at the small form on the ground. Four other men joined him in the appraisal of his find. Kneeling on the dirt beside Daniel, Morage gently poked at Daniel's shoulder wound and ran a brief cursory look over his body for severe injuries. Finding nothing that would be aggravated by movement, the huge man slipped his arms under Daniel's back and legs, drawing him up and to his chest in one graceful motion.

Tucking Daniel's head to his shoulder, Morage transferred all of the young man's weight to one arm, Daniel's backside resting on one heavily muscled forearm like a father carrying his sleeping five-year-old.

Reaching down to grab hold of the fallen beast with his other free hand, Morage shook his head in disgust as he steadied the pliant body in his grasp. Some tribes didn't value their offspring the way his people, the Ramord, did. Angered that one so young and defenseless would be left to wander on his own, Morage trudged off, surrounded protectively by his fellow tribes men, each of the others dragging a beast in either massive hand.

The mood of the hunters was jubilant. A full day's quota of prey in one hunting raid was a very good day indeed, even with the added burden of the strange-looking, injured child they had found. Moving easily through the dense brush, each man carrying between 400-600pounds of fresh meat apiece, the party of five Ramord hunters began a rapid retreat to where their horses awaited.

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

Morage's people had sent hunting parties to the thickly wooded area around the 'devil ring' or stargate for hundreds of years. The territory, shunned by all humanoid life on the planet for generations, was heavily populated by herds of wild beasts of all types, making it rich in fresh game both furred and fowl. Morage himself had led hunting parties into the area known as the Shadowed Lands, for over twenty years.

Each expedition was timed for just before the snows fell leaving the land blanketed in hard layer of ice and snow. The men of Ramord hunted quickly and efficiently, never taking more than what their people needed, but never returning with less then would set a comfortable table in each home until the next hunt could occur.

Ramord prided themselves on two things, their hunting skills and their family units. They were providers, protectors and nurturers, the men as well as the women. Most adults within their culture were mated early in life and each mated couple produced offspring in numbers that the clan could sustain comfortably. There was never to be a lack of shelter, food or affection for their people. Every adult worked together to ensure that all the children of the clan were safe and happy, with equal measures of discipline and love.

Finding a stranger, a mere child to the Ramord, who had been left to fight the vicious lupars on his own, injured and abandoned in an area that was forbidden to all outside of strictly scheduled hunting parties, had greatly disturbed them.

Morage entered the large lodge and gently deposited his unexpected find onto the smooth worn surface of the huge table in the center of the room. With the help of his best friend and second in command, Safma, he quickly stripped Daniel of his ruined clothing. Their youngest hunter, Jagi, heated a small container of water over the intense fire that burned constantly in the lodge fire pit in the center of the great room. The last two hunters wasted no time hanging their collective kill in the next lodge for skinning and dressing so the meat could be dressed before the trip home.

Morage and Safma efficiently examined Daniel's limp body for injuries and breaks; washing away dried blood and matter as they probed wounds and prodded bones and joints. The wound in Daniel's shoulder was raw and torn, an area of muscle and flesh hung in ribbons sliced by the lupar's razor sharp teeth, but the bleeding had thankfully stopped. One smooth jerk and rotation of Daniel's arm and Morage reduced the dislocated shoulder beneath the deep puncture wound created by the animal's tusks.

Even unconscious, Daniel moaned and rolled his face away from the source of the searing pain, panting with the agony the action caused. Morage stilled his examination and softly stroked Daniel's pale, sweaty face, murmuring calming nonsense words meant to comfort and reassure the very young. He waited until Daniel had slipped back into a more restful state before continuing the exploration. He finished by binding Daniel's left arm to his chest to immobilize his shoulder.

Morage received a similar, but even more intense response when touching Daniel's left ankle that included a lone tearful cry of "Jack." Morage splinted the swollen and heavily bruised limb, using sinew and wood wrapped in fur strips from a pouch that hung on the lodge wall.

Wrapping the naked and shivering, but finally clean and bandaged young man in a soft animal skin, Morage transferred the small bundle to his own bed. Each of the beds in the room was positioned circular to the fire pit, so each man slept in equal warmth within the damp lodge. Tucking a thick fur over Daniel, Morage sat beside him and stroked gently over Daniel's forehead, wiping his fringe of long bangs off his face and soothing away the wrinkles of pain lining the pale, silky skin.

Glancing up at his companions, Morage scowled. "He is very young, this one. He has not seen sun, his skin is like that of our newly born."

Safma walked over to the cot and ran a fingertip down Daniel's cheek, trying not to disturb the fevered sleep the young man had finally drifted off to.

"It is fine and tender. He is too young to be here, within the Shadowed Lands. Why would he be at the devil's ring? Is he out cast from some heathen tribe that does not cherish its young?"

Morage slowly shook his head in disagreement. "He is well fed, if small. Well-cared for, at least before his meeting with the lupar. His clothing, though strange, is of good weight and fit, his body unmarked by beatings and free of parasites. He has had a good home until now."

"Where is his father then? What manner of man nurtures a young so carefully then loses it?"

"I do not know. He is not of our kin. He could be lost. Maybe he was stolen. He is a fine looking young one, but very slight of frame."

"Maybe his people are searching for him." Safma gently propped Daniel's injured ankle on a rolled fur.

"Maybe. But if his people do not arrive within one day's time, then they will have to track us to our village. The time for the hunt grows to an end. We must leave the Shadowed Lands at the chosen time. He will become mine until his people reclaim him."

Safma smiled at the proclamation. Morage was well known for his fondness for lost waifs. Add an injury and Morage's protective instincts went into overdrive.

"I rejoice in the honor of your new son, Morage. Your wife will be overjoyed even if it is for a short time and your four sons will burst with pride at the gift of a little brother."

"Thank you, old friend. He is very small. I will have to remind them to be careful with him. Ama could add much needed pounds to this slight frame."

Safma grinned and mischief danced in his dark eyes. "Ama's cooking has done so with yours, my friend. More than a few, if your belt is any guide in the matter. She will be tooling you a new leather vest if you are not careful."

Morage puffed his chest out in a pretentious exhibition. "It is my strength that increases, Safma, not my girth. Muscle."

Safma patted his large friend's waistline. "In your stomach?"

Morage slapped away his friend's hands in mock anger. "You should check on Chafe and Futog's progress, they will need help with the beasts. We need to be ready to leave at the appointed time. Delay and none of us will return to the comfort of our wives and children. This little one would not benefit much from our lack of judgement."

Safma smiled and prepared to leave the lodge. "You are just irritated at the truth of my words, Morage. We will pick out a hide from the kill that Ama may use for your new, larger vest and waistband, my friend."

Chuckling heartily at the wounded look of indignation thrown his way, Safma slipped quietly out of the door so as not to disturb the young one's restless slumber.

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

Daniel became aware of his surroundings in degrees. The warmth of the room and the heat from the fire on his face were the first sensations that registered. A dull throbbing in his left leg steadily increased until a moan lodged itself in the back of his dry, swollen throat.

Shifting his body to try and ease the pulsing ache that consumed his entire lower leg caused a sudden blaze of agony to sear through his left shoulder, chest and arm. A sharp gasp of distress burst from him as pain replaced the sweet lethargy of sleep.

Daniel's dazed blue eyes popped open only to snap tightly closed against the bright light of the fire's flames and the sudden pain of his injuries. Panting, throat raw from the lack of fluids for so many hours, Daniel tried hard to fight back the overwhelming sensations. Dizzy and nauseous, unable to focus, Daniel felt the room begin to spin.

A cool hand suddenly rested on the side of his face, the touch firm and reassuring.

"J-Jack?"

"Hush, child, you are safe."

"H-hurts, Jack. Hurts."

Morage stroked the fevered skin beneath his palm before slipping his fingers underneath Daniel's head and lifting a cup to the young man's parched lips.

"Drink."

Morage allowed Daniel several sips of the cool water before removing the cup from Daniel's reach. Daniel moved his head forward searching for more until the movement reminded him of his wounds.

Tears washed over Daniel's pain-glazed eyes and his breathing became rapid and hitched. Soft sobs of distress and fear filled the air and pulled at the large man's heartstrings like no other sound could.

Morage moved closer to Daniel and gently cradled the young man's head in his huge hands. Brushing back the fine blonde-brown hair that was now darkened by sweat with his thumbs, he rubbed small circles over Daniel's temples to soothe the pain away until sleep reclaimed him. Daniel settled into the touch and Morage watched as his eyes fluttered in an unsuccessful attempt to open again.

"J'ck?" Equal measures of both hope and fear were clearly evident in the small voice.

"No, child, there is no 'Jack' here."

"Want J-jack." Daniel tried to sit up forcing Morage to gently tighten his hold on Daniel's head to keep him still.

"Hush. You must sleep now."

"No… want Jack."

Daniel pushed against the firm hands holding his head immobile, fear swelling up to fuel his struggle. Morage continued the rubbing of his temples even as he pinned Daniel gently to the bed to keep him from reopening his wounds.

His voice low and non-threatening, Morage questioned his new addition to his household.

"Is this 'Jack' your father, little one?"

"…mine gone … long time."

Even though the words were spoken in a whispered stammer the older man understood their meaning by the sadness in Daniel's voice.

"This Jack is now responsible for you?"

"J'ck… responsible…takes care of me."

"Good. Obey me, little one. Sleep. 'Jack' is not here, but I am sure he will be soon. Sleep."

"…want…home… want J'ck"

The hypnotic touch of Morage's hands at his temples began to work their magic. Daniel slipped into a deep slumber, trailing mumbled words too soft for Morage's hearing to decipher. One deep, soft sigh signaled Daniel's shift from fevered semi-awareness to deep slumber.

Morage slowly removed his hands, pausing to push back Daniel's bangs one final time. Tucking the thick furs more securely around the slight shoulders, Morage remained at Daniel's side for many long moments studying the fine features of Daniel's face and skin.

This young one was not built like the Ramord. He was long but slight and small of build. Bones light and fragile, skin pale and delicate. Even his eye color was strange. All Ramord had black eyes, thick, straight black hair and tanned weathered skin. Even the children soon grew dark and thick-skinned after a season of life. His youngest son, only five seasons old, was heavier than this one.

No, Morage decided, this fair child was definitely not of the Ramord.

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

Jack O'Neill stared hard at the monitor screen and muttered a number of things under his breath. The last few mutterings rose to a clearly audible level, frustration and anger winning the battle over professional decorum.

"God damn, flea-bitten, over-grown jackals. Damn it! When in hell are they going to leave already?"

Teal'c moved a scant inch closer to the screen and continued silently observe. The beasts that had attacked the teams on the planet's surface lingered around the stargate, gorging themselves on their fallen pack members and impeding the return of the search and rescue party.

A large number of the animals could be seen surrounding the area, stripping flesh from the dead and making short work of hides and bones, as well. Most of the time was being consumed by the wolf-like creatures' infighting and posturing, each male showing its rank in the pack by running off the weaker members.

"DanielJackson does not appear to be in the immediate vicinity. He must be well enough to have removed himself from harms way, O'Neill."

"Or one of those things dragged him off." Jack continued to stare at the screen.

"I do not think so, O'Neill. No other has removed a carcass. They appear to consume their meal where it falls."

"Yeah, well, that's good for Daniel and bad for us. We need to get through the gate and find him. Who knows how many of those things there are? They may have him pinned down somewhere. Wilson said he didn't think Daniel had his weapon with him when he pulled him from the temple. He must have laid it down somewhere, as usual."

"Most unfortunate."

"Ya think?" The biting sarcasm was lost on the stoic Jaffa.

"Indeed. We must find him immediately, O'Neill. Would not the simplest course of action be to engage the beasts in battle? Our weapons are sufficient to eliminate this pack."

Captain Samantha Carter entered the control room in time to overhear Teal'c's last comments. She silently joined her teammates at the monitor and studied the scene before her, grimacing in distaste at the carnage.

"I like the way you think, Teal'c." Jack rubbed his head in frustration, leaving his hair a disheveled mess. "However, General Hammond won't authorize a trip back to the planet until those overgrown mongrels leave the area. There looks like there are about thirty of them, but it could be as many as a hundred. We can't be sure. He can't risk the safety of several teams just for one man, even if it is Daniel. He would prefer we come up with a better idea and soon. I'd just as soon send a bomb through and blow the ugly bastards into next week, if I knew for sure it wouldn't be a risk to Daniel."

Carter studied the creatures that came into range of the MALP's camera. A sudden eager look settled over her face. She turned to her commanding officer with a new light in her eyes.

O'Neill recognized the look of one Carter's brilliant ideas about to burst forth. Inwardly, a part of him groaned in anticipation of the expected convoluted scientific explanation while another part of him eagerly awaited a possible solution to their dilemma. Grimacing, only half in jest, he turned to his second in command.

"Okay, out with it, Carter. Don't leave me in suspense here."

Carter twisted her lips in a wry smile not bothering to even ask him how he knew what she was thinking. The team was becoming too close to waste time on coy denials of understanding. Even though they had been together only a few months, O'Neill knew his people well.

"Colonel, these animals look very similar to our canines. I'll bet their hearing range is very similar too. What if we sent a sonic amplifier through? Blast the surrounding area with a high-pitched tone designed to affect the animals' hearing comfort range? If it was powerful enough, we could just chase them away without firing a shot. Then we could take a team through and start looking for Daniel."

"Like a dog whistle?"

"Well, essentially, yes. A really big one that assaults their hearing. Humans can't hear in that range so it wouldn't affect us."

Jack grinned and lightly touched Sam's shoulder for a brief moment in recognition of her plan.

"Sweet. Carter, get busy. Teal'c, give her a hand. I'll let the General know. How long before you can have this thing ready?"

"I have something in my lab I can convert but it will take a bit of time to get the frequency right. We may have to send a couple of them through if the range is different than what affects our canines."

"The sooner the better here, Carter. We don't know what kind of defenses Daniel has available to him. He doesn't really know how to make use of things around him to protect himself. That's what we're supposed to be for." O'Neill lowered his voice on the last sentence, worry and guilt reflected in his expression as well as his words.

Carter noted the change in Jack's tone and exchanged resigned expressions of worry with Teal'c, each suffering their own version of guilt over their young, naïve teammate's disappearance.

"Let's go, kids. Daniel's waiting."

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

The next time Daniel opened his eyes all he could see was leather. Smooth, brown leather and a collar of black fur. Suddenly flashing back to his struggle for his life at the edge of the Stargate, Daniel jerked upright slightly, hampered by a tight band around his waist and automatically called out for the person he had come to depend on most for protection these last few months.

"Jack." Pain lanced through his shoulder and arm, awakening every ache in his battered and sore body. "Oh, God. Jack, it hurts."

Morage threw a hand signal to the men riding behind him and the small procession came to a halt. Stroking his free hand over Daniel's head, Morage loosened his grip around Daniel's waist and allowed the young man to straighten up against his chest.

Daniel sat sidesaddle on Morage's lap, cradled firmly against the man's chest, his injured side protectively tucked under the man's arm and layers of furs cocooning him in warmth against the icy wind. A deep voice rumbled up from beneath Daniel's ear, sounding like it was originating from beneath the ground.

Morage pulled a flask from a pouch at his waist and removed the stopper. "We will be home soon, little one. Drink, it will help the pain."

Daniel's head was forced gently back. He gasped and blinked uncomprehending at the blurry face above him. The man took advantage of the moment and slipped the flask between his open lips. Cool, sweet water flowed over his dry lips and down his throat before he could react. Daniel swallowed convulsively to avoid choking until the flask was removed.

Unable to see clearly, he tried to focus on the people farthest away, relying on his farsightedness to compensate for his missing glasses. He could see several men on horseback; each covered with long black hair. Full beards and mustaches covered most of their features making it difficult to tell them apart. The men wore clothing made from tanned leather and furred hides. Well-made bows and quivers of arrows were strapped to each horse's saddle. The horses were adorned with tooled leather bridles with colorful woven blankets peeking out from underneath

Darting his wide-eyed stare back to the man holding him in his grasp, Daniel squinted to try and bring him into focus. No matter how hard he tried, the man blurred and wavered before his eyes, swaying with each wave of nausea that rolled through him in accompaniment of the reawakened pain. The man seemed out of proportion, large and looming, like the villains in some of his more frightening nightmares.

Leaning back as the band restraining him loosened, Daniel brought his own hand up to touch tentatively at the face above him, checking to see if the man was even real.

Just before his hand met a heavily bearded cheek, Daniel realized something was indeed wrong. His hand looked smaller than normal. Drawing it back, he looked down at where he was sitting and realized he was cradled in the man's lap like a five-year-old. Looking up again Daniel saw the bemused expression on the man's face. He pushed aside the throbbing pain and nausea to stammer out a shocked statement of newly realized fact.

"Y-you're…you're g-giants. I'm not smaller, you're…you're just huge."

Morage smiled down at Daniel, amused at the open-mouthed amazement on the pale face and nodded. "You are small, little one. I am large, but not unusually so for my people. You are not of the Ramord."

"Um…n-no…no… I'm… not."

Daniel's vision began to waver and spin yet again, the drugged water making its affects known. His tongue thickened and refused to cooperate with the dozens of questions that flooded his mind.

"How…tall are y-you?"

"I am your length more than half again, little one."

"Holy…gives… a w-whole new… m-meaning to feelin' ten…t-ten feet t-tall."

The awe in Daniel's voice caused Morage to smile even broader. Morage tightened his hold and drew Daniel's now shivering body closer to him. At a signal from him the small band of hunters began to move on, the skies darkening ominously, threatening a snowstorm before the day's end.

The hunters had waited until the last moment to leave the hunting grounds determined to pad their larders for the coming season. Now the snows would soon be upon them. If they rode fairly hard the next few hours they would just make it to their village before nightfall and the coming storm.

Daniel started at the first rocking motion of the horse and pushed at Morage's chest frantically.

"Wait…where… t-takin'…me? I need…need…back to…Stargate."

"Rest, little one. The pain will fade now. You just need to rest."

Morage tucked the fur robe more tightly around Daniel and repositioned him closer so Daniel could benefit from his own body heat. It also had the added benefit of severely restricting Daniel's movements without aggravating his healing wounds, much like an Indian papoose.

"I…need…I need Jack… and my name-my name is…Daniel…not …l-little one." Daniel struggled weakly against the restraining hold and tried to push away from his captor.

Morage settled him into the crook of his arm and pushed Daniel's head down under his chin, gently pinning Daniel in place until his squirming stilled.

"Yes, little one."

Realizing he had no chance of escaping the giant's embrace especially while injured and under the influence of drugs, Daniel still continued to fight until exhaustion and drug-induced numbness claimed him. Confused and disoriented, his last clear thought was still back on earth with his 'family'.

"Great…'nother 'ick'ame…l-like Jack's b-bet'er."

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

The whoosh of the event horizon closing behind them barely registered with the group of seasoned gate travelers. Colonel O'Neill, Captain Carter, and Teal'c, accompanied by the marines of SG-4 stepped off the gate pedestal.

Jack had requested SG-5 for the search and rescue mission, but Major Wilson had been adamant in his request that he and his team be allowed to return to the planet and find Daniel.

Familiar with the burden of guilt when a commander failed in a mission, O'Neill had relented and accepted SG-4 in place of SG-5. Wilson had tried his best to get Daniel home safely. Jack would be the first one to admit that keeping his young, overly curious, overly enthusiastic, non-combat trained, naive archeologist out of trouble was not an easy task.

Jack surveyed the silent, grizzly scene that greeted them. After three attempts and several hours, Carter's frequency modulator had finally worked. With an ear splitting calliope of yelps and howls, the pack reluctantly moved off from the area en mass. O'Neill had Sgt. Davis dialing up the gate and his teams ready to move out within moments.

Walking quickly through the savaged remains of the dead beasts, each member scoured the ground for signs of their lost archeologist. Spying a strip of black fabric entangled in the tusks of a carcass, Teal'c knelt down to examine the animal remains more closely. Turning the body over with his staff weapon Teal'c reached down and picked up an item from the ground.

"O'Neill."

Jack snapped his head around to search for the Jaffa in the wandering group of SG soldiers. Pinpointing his friend to his left he picked his way over to the Jaffa's side.

"What ya got?"

Extending his hand, Teal'c passed Jack a twisted mass of metal with small pieces of glass imbedded in some of the edges.

"I believe these were once DanielJackson's glasses, were they not?"

Jack pulled and tugged at the ruined frames, subconsciously trying to fix whatever trouble Daniel had gotten into. The lines of his handsome face became more drawn and a steely glint hardened his stare.

"Yeah, these would be them. Or used to be them, whatever. Any signs of where he went from here?"

Teal'c was already scanning the ground around the animal, slowly widening his search until he reached an area well outside of the recent carnage. Off to one side, several huge footprints could be seen in the dirt.

"O'Neill. There are many footprints here. They appear humanoid but the prints are very large in comparison to yours and mine."

Jack called over his shoulder to the other searching team members.

"Carter. Wilson, bring your men over here. Got something."

Carter hurried to their side and grimaced when Jack handed her the mangled glasses. Peering over Teal'c's shoulder as he knelt on the ground, her eyes widened at the size of the prints.

"My God, those are huge. They must be wearing something along the lines of snowshoes, maybe."

"Ya think, Carter? Or maybe they just have really big feet."

"Highly unlikely, sir. There's nothing here to suggest a society of abnormally tall or large inhabitants. No abnormally large structures or altars, even the stargate and its surrounding platforms are the same size as every other stargate we've come across. This is a high mountain region and the snow line is very close. It's quite possible they came down from the upper levels and were wearing something to protect their feet and stabilize them while traveling in the heavy snowfall and ice."

Jack squinted at his second in command, only half listening to her, depending on her ability to draw conclusions from small bits of information and arrive at a valid point of reasoning like she usually did. When Sam stopped, Jack tilted his head to one side and raised his eyebrow in casual acceptance.

"If you say so, Captain. I'm just hoping you're right and Daniel wasn't carted off by a band of Neanderthals. I will be so unhappy if you're wrong." Jack picked the obvious trail out of the dust and gestured into the thickening forest.

"Teal'c, keep on their trail. Wilson, leave two of your men to secure the gate. The rest of you take our six. Carter, you're with me on point. Keep your eyes open people. I don't want any more run-ins with those mutant werewolves…things…whatever they are."

Sam pulled a small generator from out of her pack and held it out for the Colonel to inspect. "Sir, I made a portable version of the frequency modulator so we could take it with us. As long as it's on we should be safe from another attack, at least from the creatures we saw here."

Jack turned a twisted half grin on and looked appreciatively at his oh-so-eager scientist/captain. "Ya know, Carter, I always knew there was a reason I insisted you be on SG-1."

"But, sir. You didn't. You asked the General to take me off. You said you had a problem with scientists. You said--"

"Oh, for crying out loud, Carter. What are you, a tape recorder?" Jack pulled a face and turned away from the snickering group of men. He strode off to follow Teal'c, muttering all the way to the tree line. "Hell, you make one little comment and they never let you forget."

Throwing an amused look at her marine backup, Sam switched on the generator and jogged after her rapidly disappearing teammates, summoned by an impatient yell from Jack.

"Hurry it up, Carter, Daniel's waiting."

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

Morage's band arrived at their village just as the sun was setting. A frigid wind had blown up and carried a heavy burst of snow with it as the hunters finally reached their destination. Their hunting lodge had been half a days ride from the gate and their village another full day from there. They were all pleased to be home.

Their bounty was turned over to the people skilled in the care of the kill and the weary hunters all reunited with their relieved families. A celebration would be held the following day to give thanks for the plentiful meat and the safe return of the hunting party.

Heartily greeting his wife while still astride his horse, Morage slid cautiously to the ground. Earlier in the trip he had pulled a fur over Daniel's head to protect him from the icy winds. Wrapped from head to toe in hides and furs, Daniel was completely indistinguishable.

Ama stood in the doorway of their lodge and anxiously shooed her four sons away from the opening. Asid, their oldest, hurriedly pulled on a set of furs and ran out to greet his father. Taking the reins of the horse he immediately headed off with the animal to settle it in for the night in the stable behind the lodge. He was twenty seasons old and stood just over nine feet tall, broad of shoulder and stout. A solid wall of muscle and mass, Asid was Morage's pride and joy as first-born son.

Morage murmured his thanks to Asid and hurried in to the warmth of his home. His other three sons gathered around him, each patting their father's arm or back in a warm greeting, careful of disturbing his mysterious burden. Garpa, who was seventeen seasons, Wim, eight seasons, and Hafa five seasons, all hovered close, anxious for their father to settle in and entertain them with the tales of the hunt.

Pausing to bestow a lingering kiss on his wife's cheek, Morage winked playfully at the blushing woman and nodded down at the bundle in his arms.

"I brought you back a gift, my woman."

Ama's expression turned from delighted to disbelieving in an instant as only a wife can do when faced with an obvious impossibility presented to her as fact by her loving spouse.

"A gift? An armful of my own furs? I'd hardly call that a gift, my husband."

Morage smiled and winked at Ama's gentle chiding. Crossing the room to Hafa's bed in the far corner of the room nearest the fireplace, Morage placed his gift onto the bed and slowly drew back the top layer of furs.

Daniel's golden brown hair fluttered across his face as the blanket was removed. The light from the fire was captured in the fair strands and the pale smoothness of his skin was highlighted by the soft glow. Slowly awakening from the effects of the drugs, Daniel still remained pliant and limp, mouth slightly opened and breathing soft and shallow.

Morage pulled back a second covering to reveal the shoulder wound's dressing, causing a soft whimper to escape from Daniel. A warm hand to his forehead quieted the whimper until it faded into a hitched sigh and Daniel relaxed back to sleep.

"My Gods, Morage, a child."

"Aye, my love. We found him by the devil's ring. He was alone and unarmed. A pack of lupar had found him. It is fortunate our hunting party arrived when we did. I have no idea where he came from or how he got there. He has been sick with fever until now and unable to tell us much."

"Poor child. How could his people leave him alone and unprotected? He is but a babe. See how fine his bones and skin are."

"I know, woman, I know. He is called Daniel. He said he belongs to a protector called 'Jack'. One who has cared for him after his own father died. I believe him to be lost or stolen. He has been well cared for until now. He calls for this 'Jack' whenever he is awakened and sometimes cries for him in his sleep. He looks for this protector to comfort him when he is in pain and afraid. This 'Jack' must be a good father."

"But where is this father?"

"Searching, I think. His people must be looking for him. No one would easily lose a young one such as this. He wanted to return to something that he called 'the gate'. I think this Jack is there. The snows were upon us and we could not wait for his people to come, but we left a trail even a blind man could follow. If his people are looking for him they will find us soon enough."

"And if not?"

"Then our family grows and we will have another son."

Ama smiled at Morage's pleased grin and nodded in delighted agreement. She moved to sit down at Daniel's side and smoothed his hair back from his face, marveling at the small features and light hair. She stroked her work-roughened hands over his skin checking for fever and inspecting bandages in need of changing.

Morage gently freed Daniel's feet and he silently showed Ama the swollen ankle and rough splint. Clucking over her new charge, Ama waved her gawking brood of males away and settled into her role of caregiver and comforter.

Morage drew his excited offspring to the far end of the large room and distracted them with tales of the hunt and the finding of their temporary sibling.

Soon Asid returned from the stables and the entire family patiently waited as Ama examined and redressed their strange child's wounds. Ama finished her work and smiled back at her curious audience.

"He is healing well. You did a fine job with the wounds, my husband."

"Many a season's training comes from the hunt. We were fortunate his were the only injuries this season."

Ama nodded her agreement and motioned at her oldest son.

"Asid, find me one of Wim's nightshirts. This Daniel is slight. He needs warm clothing and many furs. He weighs less than Hafa but is as long as Wim. We must all remember to be gentle with him. His bones are delicate and he will injure easily."

All the boys nodded eagerly and raced off to pull nightshirts and extra blankets from trunks and beds. Morage helped his wife pull the gown over Daniel's body and settle him more comfortably under more warm blankets and furs.

Cushioning Daniel onto a plump pillow, Ama let out a soft gasp of surprise when two confused blue eyes stared back at her. Awe tinged her whispered response.

"His eyes, Morage. They are the color of the lake."

Standing at the foot of the bed, Morage grinned down at Daniel and touched his uninjured leg to draw his attention and let him see a faintly familiar face.

"Yes, he is not Ramord or any other tribe that I have ever seen or heard of. That is why I think him stolen. A young one such as this could not wander far alone and he is from very far away indeed."

"The poor child. How frightened he must be, stolen from his home to be lost in a land so far away form his own kind."

"He is safe now, my woman. We will care for him until his people seek us out. And I will know why such a little one was left at the devil's ring alone before he is returned." Fierce outrage gave Morage's pronounce a stern warning edge.

Daniel tracked the conversation between the couple until his head cleared and he found the ability to form words again past his thick tongue and dry throat. Locking his gaze on the closest person, Daniel turned his head to face the huge woman at his side.

She was easily twice as wide as he was, full breasted with ample hips. Her black hair was braided and coiled on top of her head, held in place with a colorful scarf and leather lacing. Black eyes full of kindness met his blurry ones. Blinking back the sleepy haze of the barely awake, Daniel gave her a small smile as she gently stroked his cheek with her callused thumb.

"H-hello. I'm Daniel Jackson. What's your name?"

Morage deep voice answered for both of them. "I am Morage. My woman is Ama, Daniel, son of Jack."

"Um, hi…ah…That's Jackson, Daniel Jackson…I-I wasn't stolen. I'm a traveler, an explorer, and a scientist. My people …use the gate, the Chappa'I, to travel…to other worlds and m-meet new people such as…as yourselves."

Ama caressed his cheek and cast Morage a worried glance. "The fever still talks, but his skin does not burn."

"I'm not hallucinating. I don't have a fever…Please, listen to me. I am not a child." Daniel's voice rose and his tone turned slightly biting, frustrated by being treated like an addle-minded infant.

"Aye, there. Fevered or not, little one, there will be no disrespect to your elders in this lodge." Morage turned a stern frown on Daniel and leaned imposingly over the end of the bed.

Daniel retreated quickly, pushing down his impatience and frustration.

"I'm sorry, I-I meant no disrespect. There was an accident and I was separated from my people when the gate closed. I really have to go back. They'll be looking for me. And I…I-I really need to go back home. Jack is going to kill me for this."

Horrified, both Morage and Ama gasped at Daniel's casual overstatement of the facts.

"Your protector would harm you for being lost?"

Daniel stammered over the sudden misconception. "No, no, that's not what I meant. Not at all. Jack would never hurt me. It's just-just an expression my people use. I meant Jack will be really, really angry I got lost. Probably more so at the marine he had babysitting me, but I can count on getting a little…or a lot…of the fallout myself too."

Daniel darted his gaze between the two very large people and swallowed down his frustration. The pain in his shoulder and ankle jerked to life as he struggled to sit up. One gentle nudge from Ama's hand and Daniel was flat on his back instantly. A muffled groan from the back of his throat betrayed his efforts to rise again, desperate to make these people understand his need to return to the stargate.

"Please. I have to go back. Your 'devil's ring' is the gate I spoke of. We use it to travel to distant places. You said it yourself, I'm not from around here. Jack will be looking for me. And Sam and Teal'c. He'll expect me to at least try and get home. Can someone help me back to the gate…the devil's ring?"

Morage shook his head in denial. "The first snowfall of the season has begun and night has fallen. Even if you could, there would be no travel this night."

Daniel heaved a sigh and looked around the large room trying to get a handle on where he was. "I remember being attacked just as Wilson tried to pull me through the gate, but nothing much after that. How long have I been here? How far away is the gate?"

"We found you yesterday, after the noon meal. My men and I took you to our hunting lodge. It is less than a half-day's ride from the ring. We tended to your wounds and rested the night. We waited for your people to come, but the snows were soon to be upon us and we had to take leave and move south. We left a trail for any followers to easily find. The hunting lodge is a full day's ride from our village. If your people do come through this 'gate', it should not take long for your father and his people to find you."

"M-my father?"

"Jack."

"Ah…Jack-jack's not my father." Daniel blushed and ducked his head at the idea that someone else would see Jack in this role outside of his own private thoughts. Blushing brighter red, Daniel suddenly realized these people thought Jack was his father as a result of information they had gleaned from Daniel himself.

"He protects you?"

"Ah…well…yes. That's his job."

"Ah. He cares for you when you are ill?"

"Um…ah…kind of…if I get…y-yes."

"He sees to it that you have food and drink and rest?"

"Well…ah…if he can get away with it…yes."

"Do you listen when he orders these things done?"

"Well…kind of…s-sometimes…usually, eventually…y-yes."

"He does these things because he cares for you?"

"Yes, absolutely. That and…"

"Do you care for him?"

"Ah…y-yes."

"Then he is your father. A man's heart creates his family, not his loins."

"Yes, but…"

"You need to eat and then rest. Your wounds are healing well, but one so young as you needs much sleep. Tomorrow will be a very busy day. The celebration of the hunt will go long into the night. We will all need sleep tonight. You will eat now, little one."

"Daniel. My name is Daniel. I'm not a child, really. I know I'm smaller than your people are used to seeing, but I am a full-grown man among my people. I'm almost thirty, kind of. What I need is to go back to the gate."

"After you eat and drink, you will sleep. Your struggle with the beast has taken much out of you." Morage straightened up from his post by the bed and turned his attention away to other pressing matters, the conversation over as far as he was concerned.

"I'm trying to tell you…and…you're not…listening …to me anymore... are you?" Daniel watched stunned as Morage turned away, dismissing him from the conversation.

Ama rose and after a gentle pat to his cheek, went to get him food and more water. She shooed her own sons off to their beds, bunking the younger two together for the night. Daniel continued talking even though he was aware he had lost his audience long before they had left his bedside.

"Must be an alpha male hearing problem. Testosterone must clog up their ear canals. Can't be a genetic thing because Jack has the same problem. God, this is just like being back home."

Sinking wearily back into the pillow, Daniel occupied himself with plans to find the gate on his own. Morage said the gate was north of the village. The next day's celebration was planned late into the night so the whole village would be occupied, probably from early afternoon on. That would give him a number of hours to make his escape and find his way back to the gate on his own.

As painful as his ankle was, Daniel was certain it wasn't broken. The swelling had gone down and it was almost back to normal size. Well, almost normal size. Morage has unpacked his bundles and one had contained Daniel's boots, the only part of his uniform that had survived. He felt confident that once he had his high topped boots on and laced, he could tolerate the discomfort from his injured ankle.

They had come on horseback so there must be a stable or barn near the lodge. He knew how to ride on his own. If he could borrow one, he could have some one return it after he made it to the gate. Once there he would have to wait for Jack to come through because he didn't have a transmitter for the iris code, but he would worry about that then. Daniel fervently hoped the lupar had moved their pack away from the gate to flee the coming snows, too.

Content that he had a workable plan formulated, Daniel allowed Ama to help feed him. He even accepted the drugged tea she made him for the pain to be sure he was well rested for his up coming travel plans. Daniel soon found himself slipping off to sleep to the sounds of deep rumbling murmurs of conversation between Morage and his wife.

Suddenly a warm hand stroked over his forehead, checking once again for fever and Daniel allowed a little sigh of relaxation to escape along with a whispered, "'night, Jack."

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

Five miles away from the gate, the storm hit with a vengeance. It had been lightly snowing since they arrived through the gate, but nothing more than a soft sprinkling of large fluffy flakes, delightful to look at but of no real consequence. By early evening, O'Neill, Carter, Teal'c, Wilson and the rest of SG-5 were forced to take shelter from the worsening storm.

"Sir?"

"What is it, Carter?" O'Neill turned away from the tent opening, zipping the flap back in place with more energy than was really needed.

Sam watched the frustrated movements of her C.O. and softened her voice just a bit. "Any sign of it letting up?"

A deep scowl and a worried downturn of Jack's lips were all the answer she needed. "No, Carter, it's not. Visibility is still crap and if the temperature drops any lower, the silver on my head will be icicles not gray hairs. As if I needed a few more of those."

Jack shook the large flakes from his head and shoulders that had blown in; irritated with the way they clung to his eyelashes and hair. Muttering loud enough that only Sam could hear Jack vented some of his anger at finally making it through the gate only to be sidelined again by the bad weather. A worried murmur voiced his dark thoughts.

"Christ, Danny, where the hell are you?"

"Sir. At least Daniel wasn't at the gate. He survived long enough to get away from that slaughter. Whoever he's with isn't trying to hide their trail. That means they aren't trying to keep him a secret. I mean, they did leave a piece of his uniform to mark the trail."

"Or they want someone to come looking for him. We don't know anything about the inhabitants here, Carter. We didn't even know there were people here before we saw the broken spears. If those were spears."

Teal'c turned his head and nodded at Jack. "I concur, O'Neill."

Carter's forehead wrinkled as a frown creased her face. "Sir? You don't think they were spears? What else could they be?"

"Look around you, Carter. We're traveling to the south, away from the snow line, so whoever took Daniel didn't come from the north and didn't need snowshoes. The trail we're following is make by animal hooves, like horses but as big as elephant footprints."

Carter shook her head and plunged on. "That isn't conclusive evidence by itself, sir. They could be like the camel-like creatures on Abydos. Their hooves were twice the size they needed to be for an animal of its body weight."

"That because they needed to be for a base on the shifting sands of that planet. There isn't any sand here, Carter. It's good old terra firma here. And those prints are huge. The people with the really big footprints are riding them."

"Okay, sir. What does that make the spears?"

"How about arrows, Carter? We only took a quick look at them and all the ones left behind were broken, non-salvageable."

Teal'c cast a firm glance at Sam and gave a slight bow of his head. "I agree with O'Neill, MajorCarter. I too believe the weapons to be arrows not spears. A primitive, but extremely effective weapon. Did not their slender and lightweight construction provide an effective defense against the beasts? The evidence of their great numbers suggest they were used as arrows as O'Neill states."

"And that Carter, all adds up to some very big inhabitants."

"But, sir, the gate--"

"The gate isn't a good gauge here. They're used by people that look like us, kind of. It is 15 feet tall. Maybe the original builders were giants. We have no way of knowing."

Half convinced by the two men's argument, Carter worried her lower lip as she drew the logical conclusion. "Then that means--"

Worry etched into every line of Jack's face and was reflected in both of his teammate's eyes as well. "That means, kids, Danny's off playing with some really big boys this time. I just hope they're careful with their new toy." Jack bit back a frustrated sigh and turned away. "Let's get some rest. Daniel's waiting."

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

Daniel watched the growing excitement as Ama and her two youngest sons bundled up platters of sweetbreads and candy the woman had made for the festival of the hunt. Ama had been cooking, baking and mothering since the crack of dawn.

Once she was aware Daniel was awake, he had been bathed, much to his embarrassment, then changed into a fresh nightshirt and his wounds cleaned and dressed. Then his stomach was filled to near bursting with porridge, berries and sweetbread buns all washed down with a thick, sweet liquid similar in taste to milk.

Daniel's attempts to wheedle a cup of a dark, rich smelling drink both Morage and Ama sipped with their meal only produced a chuckle from both adults and a head shake of denial that he saw repeated when their youngest asked the same question. Daniel sighed, half resigned to being 'just one of the kids' for the length of his stay with these kind and generous, but strict and protective people.

Ama bustled her sons out the door and came over to sit at Daniel's bedside. Running a hand gently over his forehead, Ama smiled and brushed back his hair from his face.

"We are leaving to help prepare for the evening festival. Morage will be back to check on you. I want you to stay in bed and rest. You will not be left alone for long, I promise, little one. You are safe in our home and in our village."

Daniel returned her smile before dropping his gaze to the blanket's edge held loosely in his good hand, letting the woman see how tired he was. It would have made him happier if it had really all been an act for her benefit.

"I'll be fine, Ama, really. I'm still very tired. I'll probably sleep most of the day. You don't need to leave the festival. Enjoy the day and the fruits of your husband's labors. I'll just rest. I feel very safe and comfortable here."

Ama patted his check affectionately and stood up. "Nonsense. No child of mine will spend the day unattended, especially when he is injured. Morage will check on you and make sure you have a warm meal and help you attend to any personal needs before long, child."

Large gentle hands pulled comforters and furs closer to Daniel's body tucking the edges so tightly around him that he was practically imprisoned in their warmth. The soft touch of the large woman's callused hand on the top of his head as she ran her fingers through his hair caused a burst of guilt over his coming escape to rise to the forefront of his emotions.

"You and Morage have been very kind. I-I appreciate everything you've done for me. Your husband saved my life and you've been nothing but generous and kind since the moment I arrived, even your sons have been wonderful."

"That is the way of our people, child. We protect, care for and provide for those that can not do so for themselves. Especially a child. Young ones are not so many that we can treat their lives callously or one day there will be no more Ramord. Each life is precious. Yours is no different, lost child of another land or not."

Daniel threw back his head in frustration. "I'm not a child, really, I'm not."

Seeing look of tolerant amusement settle over the woman's weathered face, Daniel sighed in defeat and tried again to convey his thanks without alerting her to his intent to leave and make his way back to the gate. These outbursts of frustration weren't helping to convince people he was an adult.

"Never mind. It doesn't matter. I just wanted to say thank you, thank you for all you've done. I'm honored to have been a guest in your home."

Ama beamed a dazzling smile at him and pulled a fur robe around her shoulders. Pausing for a moment at the foot of his bed, her expression softened. "If your people do not come for you, Daniel, you will no longer be a guest. I think five sons will be just right. Now stay in bed and rest."

With a twinkle in her eyes and lightness to her step her sized betrayed, Ama blew Daniel a kiss and slipped out of the door, closing it firmly against the swirling snow and wind.

Daniel blinked as the significance of her parting words registered. The sudden thoughts of a lifetime of being treated as if he were five years old and made of glass spurred him to set his plan of escape into action.

A quick scan of the room revealed his boots beside the foot of his bed, neatly tucked under the end. With much one-handed pushing and pulling, Daniel managed to disengage his upper body from its prison of warmth and slowly worked the heavy coverings off his legs. Gingerly, Daniel pulled himself to an upright position and slid his legs off the edge of the bed. A throbbing ache immediately pulsed in his injured ankle and Daniel had to bite back a groan as blood rushed to the offending limb. Knowing he had to get his ankle into the high topped boot before the swelling returned, he quickly reached down and dragged the military issue footwear out from under the bed, careful not to topple over to the floor in his haste.

Hobbling on one foot and bracing himself with his good hand on the surrounding furniture, Daniel forced himself the short distance to the cupboard between the beds that held the boys' clothing. His present attire of nightshirt had come from this and he was sure a pair of pants could be found here as well. A quick inspection awarded him a prize of a pair of thick woolen trousers probably belonging to Wim, the seven-year-old. The cut was full and loose, held closed by a cloth belt sewn to the back of the waistband. The fit would be too large but the length was close and the belt would keep them up. Finding a brightly colored sweater among the shelves, Daniel snagged it along with the pants.

Hopping back to the bed with his treasure, Daniel sat on the edge and worked the pants over his injured leg first and then up his good leg. Hiking them over his hips and tucking in his nightshirt without the use of both hands was a challenge but he managed. By the time he was done, he was panting from the exertion and sweating from the increasing pain in his shoulder and ankle.

Pushing aside his growing discomfort and a slight nausea, Daniel plunged on with dressing. The sweater hung down his frame, three sizes too large coming to his knees, but covered the nightshirt and cushioned his wounded shoulder and arm in soft wool.

Five minutes, and a lot of strangled gasps of pain later Daniel awkwardly stuffed the tightened laces into the top edge of the boots. He had found it impossible to tie them one handed and his ankle was more than a little painful since the removal of the splint.

As he sat back up Daniel gasped as the room spun and dimmed. Grabbing a hold of the nearest fur, Daniel eased himself down sideways on the bed and lay there until his breathing became less labored and the black spots faded from behind his eyes. The room slowed to a halt and then tipped sideways before settling back to normal. Nausea rose to the back of his throat and then receded, leaving Daniel with a bitter taste and a pounding headache. He gingerly pushed himself upright and took in a deep breath to steady himself. Jack would be looking for him, as would Sam and Teal'c. He had to make it back to the gate.

Drawing the fur in his clenched hand over his healing shoulder, Daniel shrugged it into place across his back and pushed himself to a wobbly stand. Staring straight ahead and taking slow deep gasps of air, he worked his way unsteadily to the lodge door, picking up a half-eaten loaf of sweet bread off the table as he hobble and swayed past it.

Daniel rested against the massive door, face pressed to the cool wood surface and tried to stop the room from spinning again. The pain in his ankle was nearly unbearable now and his clothing was damp with sweat the short trip from bed to doorway had produced.

Confident the brisk chill air of the outside would clear his head and numb the pain, Daniel fumbled for the handle and managed to work the heavy door open a few inches. Leaning heavily into the thick wood to open it wider, Daniel gasped as a searing pain tore through his shoulder making bile rush to the back of his throat.

The surrounding scenery wavered and swirled as Daniel fell to his knees, vomiting into the fresh snow outside the doorway. Pain burst through his head in the form of bright lights and black spots, blocking out the whiteness of the crisp winter day he had fallen into. Agony took hold as his injured ankle caught and twisted on the threshold as he tipped forward to vomit again.

Sound rushed and buzzed in his ears overpowering the wind and disorienting him. Crumpling sideways into the drift outside the opening, Daniel was barely conscious of the cold that seeped into his face and hands. Gagging back another round of nausea, Daniel held on tightly to the last fringes of awareness.

A muffled roar sounded somewhere nearby and Daniel suddenly felt like he was flying, weightless and free, gliding effortlessly through the chill, damp air and into wondrous warmth. Black spots continued to dance behind his closed eyelids and a deep rumbling voice kept up a continuous trail of murmurs, sometimes comforting in tone, sometimes worrying, but always there, allowing him to hang on to them like a lifeline to safety.

Rough hands gently but quickly returned him to his bed and divested him of his stolen clothing, returning him to his blankets and furs naked as the day he was born. Warm water washed over his face, cleaning off the worst of the vomit left behind and making his cold skin tingle with the heat.

Dazed, Daniel forced his eyelids half-open to meet the unhappy face of his new protector and benefactor. Morage stared hard at Daniel, conveying his feelings at finding the young archaeologist in his present state. Daniel lower his eyes, surprised at the amount of shame and embarrassment that simple look from the caring giant produced.

As Morage tucked blankets and robes around him, Daniel realized his shoulder had been redressed and his ankle re-splinted and propped up on a mountain of soft furs again. A cup touched his lips and sweet, warmed liquid trickled into his mouth.

Daniel's startled, unfocused gaze met Morage's one more time and the tenderness in the rough man's expression brought a sudden sting to Daniel's eyes. After Daniel had drunk down several swallows, Morage lowered the cup and frowned at his wayward charge.

"So you were thinking to leave us, little one." Morage's tone was carefully neutral, calm and quietly spoken.

Daniel bit at his lower lip and nodded. "I-I have to go home. My people will be looking for me."

Morage pinned Daniel in place with a hard look and lowered his voice another decibel. Daniel flinched at the brittle edge in the deep voice. "In two feet of snow, alone and injured."

Daniel had the fleeting thought that the voice of doom must sound very similar to Morage's present tone. "If I have to. I tried to explain it to you, but you won't listen. I need to reach the gate. Jack will be out there, in this storm, looking for me."

"Aye, he will, if he's any kind of a father. And he'll find you. Safe and secure, in this bed, in this lodge, in this village. Resting and healing, not half-dead in a snow mound halfway to the devil's ring." Morage's voice had become softer and colder as his words slid out between lips pulled thin with displeasure.

"I realize my actions m-might have been… a little h-hasty… considering the way you found me, but-but that doesn't change the fact that I-that I… need to l-leave."

Each stammered word grew more hesitant as the giant rose quietly off the bed until he stood straight and tall beside Daniel. Silence descended on the room as both occupants stared at each other, one considering and evaluating, one hesitant and questioning.

Suddenly coming to a decision, Morage crossed his arms on his broad muscled chest and looked tenderly down at the shivering form of Daniel Jackson, lost child of a people Morage had never met and currently his newest ward.

"You felt well enough to dress in stolen clothes and drag yourself out the door, pinching bread from my table and throwing my families kindness to the wayside, I'll be thinking you are well enough to bear the burden of the consequences of your young and foolish actions, little one."

Daniel's eyes popped open wide and he anxiously licked his lips as a touch of fear tingled up his spine. "It's not like that. I-I didn't really steal the clothes, I b-borrowed them. I would have returned them… after I found Jack. I do appreciate everything you've done for me, I do, it's just that I need to--"

"You need to understand that this kind of behavior is not permitted in this household or any other in this village. Children are taught to be respectful of their elders and do as they are told. They learn this for their own safety and the good of the entire village. If you had managed to make it off into the storm on your own, how many Ramord could have been lost looking for you? How many would lose a loved one in the hunt for one child so foolish and thoughtless to runaway from the safety of home?"

Daniel stared, stunned by the giant's concerns and confused by his calm pronouncement of facts. "I'm sorry, Morage. I-I didn't think about anyone following me. I didn't…I didn't mean to endanger anyone else. I just need to go h-home. I am grateful for your help, and I-I am sorry."

"Aye, you will be lad, you will be indeed." Morage nodded his head sharply and pulled back Daniel's covers, leaving him covered in just soft, flannel-like sheeting.

"W-what?" Daniel stuttered in surprise as the bedding disappeared and Morage moved closer. Daniel found himself sudden lifted from his warm nest. "What are you doing?"

"The same thing I would do if Asid, or one of the younger lads had violated my trust and endangered their lives, punishing you."

"P-punishing me? W-what--Ouch!"

Daniel found himself looking at the rough boards of the flooring as his body was tucked securely against Morage's large form, sprawled face down over the giant's one knee. His injured shoulder was facing out to the open room while his good arm was pinned between the man's waist and Daniel's chest. His splinted ankle dangled in free air, partially supported by Morage's other thigh.

Cool air touched Daniel's skin as the sheeting was pulled up to his waist, making him tense and shiver involuntarily. A sharp slap broke his panicked questioning. It took several seconds before Daniel registered the stinging burn on his exposed backside. Several more painful swats followed in rapid succession, warming his chilled skin and shocking him into stunned silence.

Daniel's silence lasted only as long as it took for the sting to turn into an incessant burn. The usually articulate archaeologist found it increasingly difficult to pull together an intelligent rebuttal as the giant methodically and patiently spanked his bared bottom.

Gasps of surprise and disbelief filled the air as Daniel struggled to find the energy to force out a few words in between swats. Failing to come up with an argument to dissuade the obviously determined and committed man, he decided to conserve his flagging energy.

Just as quickly as he found himself across Morage's lap, Daniel was lifted and gently plunked back into bed. Hurriedly wiping at the tears streaming down his flushed face, Daniel pulled in air in gasped puffs. No one had spanked him since his father, no foster parent had the energy to waste on correcting his occasional misbehavior or felt the desire to help guide him through the turbulent waters of growing up. Physical contact with Daniel Jackson was not allowed, be it a spanking or a hug.

Blinking owlishly at the huge man hovering over him, Daniel allowed Morage to cover him and settle him back against the soft pillows. A callused palm wiped away more tears and Daniel raised his eyes to meet Morage's sad expression.

"I'm sorry I had to do that, little one. I always am when one of my own needs to be reminded that the good of the clan outweigh their own wants and desires. While you are part of this family, the rules apply to you as well. I'll not have a corpse to give your people when they arrive. I doubt your father would understand how you survived a lupar attack to be allowed to die by your own childish foolishness."

Still speechless, Daniel could only nod and worry his lower lip, fighting the pull of a fog that had started to settle over his stunned mind.

Morage watched as Daniel's eyes fluttered and reached down to brush back the disheveled hair from his tear stained face. "You tore open your wound and twisted your ankle in your disobedient stroll to the door. I put herbs for the pain in your drink. You will sleep now. I will sit with you."

Daniel sniffed and let out a long hitched breath, shifting his tender backside restlessly as he settled into a more comfortable spot to snuggle down. Surprisingly, despite the burn in his butt and the shock of the sudden act, Daniel felt safe and protected, secure in this close knit family's home and heart.

"Do you want anything, little one?"

The thought of family turned Daniel's mind to missing members of his own patchwork family. "I…I-I…want to…go…home. I want…Jack."

Morage sighed and tucked in the furs, imprisoning the young man in bed one more time. "Soon, child, very soon."

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

Pushing through the crust of ice over snow, Jack winced when the action jarred his sensitive right knee. They had been traveling since daybreak. The moment the storm had broken, they set out and had covered mile after mile of rough terrain blanketed in 2 feet of snow.

On the evening of the first full day they had come across the Ramord's hunting lodge and spent the night in the shelter the structure offered them. There was no longer any question as to the size of the people they were tracking. The lodge clearly belonged a much bigger race of people based on the size of the lodge and the few pieces of furniture within. Anxiety levels within the both teams rose a notch as they faced the fact Daniel was indeed being held by a race of giants.

Two more days of struggling against the barrier of deep snow left every member of the team exhausted and sore, with the notable exception of Teal'c. The tall Jaffa still looked as cool and composed as he did when he had stepped through the gate three days ago.

Glancing up at the gathering gloom of nightfall, Jack reluctantly signaled to his team and SG-4 to come to a halt. Gesturing towards an area more protected from the winds by a type of evergreen tree, Jack directed the exhausted group to set up camp for the night.

Huddled around the warmth of the campfire with Sam and Teal'c reassuringly close beside him, Jack stared off into the blackness of the surrounding forest. His mind began working over every conceivable scenario Daniel's rescue brought to his soldier's mind, working out strategies, possibilities and battle plans, trying to cover every option and avenue to assure the return of his youngest to the fold of O'Neill's own electic family clan. His fourth and most drastic plan was interrupted by a deep, insistent voice.

"Colonel? Colonel O'Neill?"

"What?" Startled from his mental vision of having to work his way through an entire village of giants one by one to find Daniel, Jack growled out a harsh reply, refocusing his hard stare at the source of the irritation. Major Wilson returned the stare, hesitant but determined to say his piece.

"What do you want, Major?"

"Sir. I want to apologize for losing Dr. Jackson. I know he was my personal responsibility and I failed to bring him back safely. I'm sorry, sir. I know how much he means to you and everyone at SGC. He's a nice little guy, even if he is a little…ah…absent-minded and, well, spacey most of the time."

"Spacey?" The undercurrent of disapproval wasn't hard to hear in O'Neill's voice. He could call Daniel a hundred different nicknames as an expression of affection or frustration, but he was the only one who could. He demanded respect for his young, brilliant friend from every other living soul.

"Ah, maybe eccentric is a better word. But it doesn't matter what word I use, Colonel. Dr. Jackson is all right, a good kid. I'm just trying to say I'm sorry I lost him. I won't fail him again. You can count on me and my unit to be there for you. No matter what course of action is required to get him back. With all due respect, nobody as guileless and trusting as he is should ever be on his own, here or anywhere else. Sir."

Jack stared hard at the burly man and grudgingly judged his sincerity to be true. The marine was upset by Daniel's loss and not just because he felt he had failed to do his job. He truly liked Daniel and understood and felt the same need to protect and watch over him as Jack and his team did. Jack thawed slightly at the realization.

"It's not safe, sir. I know he's old enough and certainly smart enough to have a couple of Ph.D.s, but he's still such a…such a …little kid." Frustration radiated off the conflicted soldier.

Jack sighed and nodded his agreement, rubbing a hand roughly over his face. "Yeah, Major, it's a full time job."

Sorrow flickered across Wilson's face momentarily before settling into a determined expression. "I am sorry. We'll get him back, Sir."

O'Neill's face froze into a deadly mask. He words left no doubt that he believed every syllable he spoke. "We are so going to get Daniel back. There is no other option here, Major. None at all. Whatever it takes."

"Yes, Sir. My men are ready, Sir."

Dropping the impassive mask just as quickly as it had been put in place, Jack smirked back at the soldier seeking to lighten the oppressive mood.

"Peachy, Major. Let's all get some sleep so we can play nice with the big boys when we meet up with them." Casting a sharp look at Sam and Teal'c, Jack softened at their identical expressions of grim determination. He sometimes forgot he wasn't the only one feeling the loss of their youngest family member.

"Let's call it a night. Wilson, you have first watch. We'll use the same rotation as last night. Turn in, kids, Daniel's waiting."

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

Daniel covertly watched Ama as the large woman clucked and hovered about her home. He was well aware that the kind woman was upset with him over his ill thought out attempt to return to the gate yesterday. It made Daniel sad to know he had offended and disappointed her. Mentally he chalked up one more 'foster family' that he had failed to meet the expectations of. Daniel sighed and fought back the sudden familiar tightness of regret in his chest.

Ama's children darted about the lodge, merrily helping her with chores. Asid and Garpa were outside tending to the horses and livestock, while Wim restocked the pile of wood for the fire and generally tidied up the lodge. Even young Hafa joined in the daily routine by working the butter churn. Daniel quickly understood how even the youngest of these people developed such impressive strength and muscles. He doubted he could have kept up with even a small portion of the needed chores.

Morage had left a short while ago, summoned on some unknown errand by a man Daniel recognized as Safma, Morage's second in command on the hunt. Safma had smiled at Daniel and playfully tousled his hair in passing, commenting teasingly about Daniel's ability to sit so comfortably.

Daniel had tolerated the friendly touch without fuss, resigned to his role as the chastised child for the present. He had blushed fiercely at the open reference to his spanking, involuntarily darting panicked eyes to meet Morage's softly amused gaze.

"It is how any adult here would have handled the situation, little one. Safma knows this. I have not spoken of your punishment. I do not need to for him to understand. Disobedience and reckless behavior are not tolerated within our clan. Our young are too precious to risk by allowing thoughtless and dangerous behavior to continue. Any Ramord child would be hard put to sit today if he was in your place. Be grateful your wounds and delicate bones spared you the worst of it."

Daniel nodded and swallowed hard, suddenly embarrassed all over again, but this time the blush was caused by the thoughts of his own reckless actions not Morage's punishment. Daniel unconsciously shifted in bed, moving his weight onto one hip to lessen the reminder of the faint but persistent burn in his backside the conversation had magnified.

"I-I understand. And I'm sorry for the trouble I caused. I just didn't think about anyone w-wanting to follow me. Nobody has ever done that, except Jack."

Sorrowful blue eyes blinked back tears and even Morage's and Safma's matching stern expressions melted like the spring thaw. Tucked into the oversized bed, blanketed by a mountain of furs, wrapped in bandages and a too-big nightshirt, wide-eyed and looking so lost and small, Daniel captured the heart of every person in the room. Instant forgiveness replaced the last lingering traces of disappointment at the sound of a barely stifled sniffle. Daniel managed a small smile and cleared his constricted throat to bleat out a whispered plea.

"Sorry. I just really, really want to go h-home. I miss my f-family. I-I miss Jack."

Ama rushed to his bedside to wrap strong arms around him, treating him with the gentle care a mother gives her newborn child. Rough but gentle hands rubbed his back and smoothed his long bangs back from his reddened face. Ama murmured soft, cooing sounds meant to soothe and reassure and traded sorrowful glances with her husband and his best friend.

Allowing Ama to hold him against her shoulder, Daniel tightly closed his eyes and fought back feelings of loneliness and abandonment.

Safma whispered something in Morage's ear that brought a thoughtful but slightly disappointed expression to his weathered face. Silently motioning to Ama that he was leaving, Morage pulled on his cloak, hugged both Wim and Hafa a little tighter than normally and followed Safma into the chill morning air.

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

Two hours into their morning travels, O'Neill's less than merry band of rescuers stopped short in their snow bound tracks as a horse and rider appeared in their path 500feet ahead of them.

The horse was huge, muscle bound and easily 4000pounds of hard flesh with hooves the size of manhole covers and a height of close to 14 feet to the top of it's mane covered head. Festive blankets and thick furs hung from its saddle and added extra bulk that made the animal appear even larger.

Astride the horse's back sat a literal mountain of a man, all thick black hair, head and face, with a massive chest and legs as stout as many of the surrounding tree trunks. He, too, was wrapped in furs and leather bindings, a fine layer of snow settling over his still form.

The rider patiently watched the approaching band of armed travelers, seemingly indifferent to the freezing winds or the cautiously clutched weapons of the slowly advancing strangers.

Futog watched as the group of small men approach and quickly picked out the leader as Jack silently signaled his units to take defense positions and to tighten their guard. Their pace never altered, but their formation changed slightly and their attitude subtly shifted to one of increased wariness. Futog congratulated himself on his pick for their leader as Jack came to a halt fifty feet from Futog's position.

Stepping forward slightly while the marines held their ground, Jack pulled down his wind goggles to hang loosely around his neck and squinted up at the impressive sight blocking their path. A slight movement on either side of him reassured him that Carter and Teal'c were bracketing his flank.

Cradling his P90 affectionately in his gloved hands, Jack eyes darted to a pair of SGC military issue boots hanging loosely from one of the saddle's many metal rings. Jack's vision narrowed at the sight and his expression hardened. He had to forcibly remind himself that they didn't know if these people had harmed Daniel or helped him. Gesturing to the footwear with the tip of his weapon, Jack locked stares with the man before him and tried hard not to launch himself at the figure.

"It looks like you have something that's belongs to me."

Futog studied the expressions racing over the strong, lined face of the man and decided he liked him. Aggressiveness was tempered with intelligence and caution, need was held back by training and experience, want was checked by duty, but underlying love, anger and fear for his lost child shadowed this man's every thought.

Futog empathic ability to sense emotions served him well today. Having never met a distant traveler before, he hadn't been sure he could sense these beings as well as his own kind. A few moments of exposure to the found child had convinced him he would be hard pressed to keep these passionate creatures' emotions from making him dizzy if all of these people were like their young one. Distance had been the best defense for Futog. He had not been in Daniel's presence since they had returned from the hunt.

Jack continued to stare unflinchingly at the living mountain before him. Just as he was ready to bring his weapon a little more aggressively to the giant's attention, the mountain spoke.

"You are the 'Jack' the little one calls for? He belongs to you?"

Jack gave one curt nod of his head never breaking eye contact with the giant. "Yes, to both questions. Is he all right? Is he injured? What do you mean 'calls for me'?" Jack unconsciously stepped forward confrontationally until a sudden restraining arm from Teal'c stopped him.

"O'Neill." Teal'c warning tone snapped Jack back into focus. He shrugged off the restraining hand but reluctantly stood his ground.

"You will follow me. Our village is just a short distance. All questions will be answered once we are warm and dry again."

"Why do you have Daniel's boots?"

"So that he will not." Futog's cryptic reply brought a puzzled frown to Jack's face.

Futog turned his horse and headed off to his village. Jack stared after the retreating form and bit back an oath of frustration.

"Carter?"

"Sir?"

"He wasn't wearing snowshoes."

"No, sir. Definitely not wearing snowshoes, Colonel."

Jack exchanged wary glances with both Carter and Teal'c, their conclusions not boding well for their stray archaeologist. Pulling his goggles back into place, Jack's curt, "Come with, Daniel's waiting," gathered his teams more closely behind him. O'Neill began to trudge through the heavy snows again.

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

Jack followed the rider into the center of a large sprawling village. At every doorway he passed a massive man similar in build and identical in coloring to the rider they were following stepped out of a lodge. Impressive and intimidating at first glance, each giant quietly nodded in greeting and silently took up a defensive stance in front of his own home. The message of ownership and the intent to protect was clear. Jack nodded silently back at each man he made eye contact with, acknowledging the message, but clearly refusing to be intimidated by the delivery.

In front of Morage's lodge, Asid did his duty as the oldest male at home and represented his household in the traditional stance. Wim peeked out from behind Asid's back, stealing an excited look at the band of newcomers. He couldn't see much of them, but they were small and slight like Daniel. Asid whispered that they had come for the injured boy. Wim slipped back inside to share the news with Hafa.

Several minutes into the march, they arrived before a central lodge, slightly larger than the others and boasting an impressive, if threatening, rack belonging to what was once a tremendously huge, horned animal hanging over its front doorway. It was the only dwelling with any such ornamentation and it signified it as a place of communal meeting.

Brushing off the gathering snowfall from his hair and clothing, Futog gestured toward the lodge after dismounting from his horse. He waited patiently for a curt nod from Jack and then entered the lodge as the others followed. Jack had Wilson station two of SG-4's marines outside of the lodge. A small contingent of 6 male clansmen brought up the rear of the procession. One elected to stand outside with Wilson's two men.

Jack entered and motioned Carter and Teal'c closer as the cavernous room filled with the giants. Two more men were already in the lodge. Futog moved to the rear of the room and spoke briefly with a man crouched low by the fire pit. As the very large man stood from tending the fire to walk into the light of the blaze, Jack instinctively knew this was the man he would have to deal with to find Daniel.

Eyes locked, each man sized up the other and both satisfied themselves that they could respect what they saw. Iron will and a primal sense of territorial possession shone brightly in each pair of unblinking eyes. Morage broke the standoff first.

"You have finally come for the little one. Futog tells me you are his Jack?"

O'Neill narrowed his eyes and slowly pulled off his cap and foul weather gear, setting the items on the large bench beside him. The table was too high to casually toss them on.

"If by 'little one' you mean six feet of absent-minded archeologist, golden brown hair, blue eyes, talks a lot, doesn't listen much, and obeys even less than that you're right. Probably squints a bit right now. Wanders off a lot too." Jack cocked his head to one side and altered Morage's other question to suit Jack's version of the truth. "And yes, he's mine."

Several of the men standing along the back of the lodge's wall traded amused glances and hid smiles deep within their beards. The story of Daniel's attempt to leave was common gossip throughout the village these last two days.

Morage snorted in agreement and extended his hand in welcome.

"You are indeed this Jack he speaks of. Welcome to the village of the Ramord. May your visit here be pleasant. Warm yourselves by the fire. We will bring you refreshment."

"Ah, ah, ah." Jack held up his index finger to halt Morage in his tracks. "No. Look, this is all peachy and sweet, but I want to see Daniel. Now. We can do this whole…" Jack wove his hands in the air, "making nice after I see Daniel. Is he all right? We found strips of his uniform at the gate along with a whole lot of dead whatever they are--."

"Lupar. They make good roasting."

"Ah, o-kay. Lupar, whatever." Jack waved his hand dismissively through the air. "Is Daniel hurt? Where the hell is he?"

Morage refused to answer the question directly, carefully baiting the other man, looking for proof that this father did indeed care enough to deserve to have his young son back.

"How did one so young come to be alone and unprotected at the Devil's Gate? Do you not value his life that you allow him to wander so far from home and your protection? Is there no love for this child in your heart?"

"HEY! He wasn't alone!" Jack stepped towards the giant and pointed a finger at Morage's face. Jack made a cutting motion behind him as Major Wilson took a few steps forward, too. A soft growl rumbled in the Major's throat and Teal'c fell back a step to silence the affronted man. Jack took a deep breath and dropped his voice a decibel, making a valiant effort to stifle his anger.

"Daniel was exploring the ruins of the temple by the gate. He had a team of archeologists with him and a full marine unit for protection. I wasn't there, but Major Wilson was in charge of his safety. It was an accident that he got separated from the group. For crying out loud, they were retreating from that overgrown mangy pack of werewolves you hunt."

An idea dawned on Jack and he went on the offensive with the condescending giant of a man. Jack menacingly advanced one more step.

"O'Neill."

"Colonel."

Jack waved off both low, cautioning protests and continued to stare the big guy in the eye.

"You were hunting them. You and your men. You drove that pack into Daniel's path. You're the reason they got attacked in the first place, aren't you?" Jack was right in front of Morage now, finger jabbing forcefully into the giant's lower chest.

Morage glanced uncomfortably at Safma. Taking a page from Jack's book, he too, decided on an offensive strategy. "The Shadow Lands are a forbidden place except for hunting parties. Your child should not have been brought to play there."

"For crying out loud. Danny isn't a child and despite what it looks like half the time, he wasn't playing. I want to see him AND I want to know if he's okay AND I want to do it now. And yes, I value him, and yes, I love him." Jack looked at the self-satisfied smirk on the shaggy face above him. Weakly, he finished his rant. "So give him back."

"My wife is very taken with him. He would be truly protected and care for in our home. Kept safe from danger. He would learn to both listen and obey as my other children do." Morage stood tall at the boastful praise of his own parenting skills.

Jack snorted at the dream world Morage painted. "What? Has Daniel been unconscious all this time? Because you can't possibly be talking about an awake Daniel Jackson."

Morage frowned at Jack's sarcastic tone. "No. He was injured but he heals well. He is awake."

"So, you're trying to tell me he's been lying in bed quietly, doing everything you tell him to do and meekly obeying your every command?" When Morage hesitated to answer Jack snapped back into the giant's personal space, misinterpreting the silence. "Did you drug him? So help me, if you drugged that kid--."

"He has not been drugged outside of a mild potion to ease his pain. And no, he has been neither quiet nor obedient."

It was Jack's turn to smirk in relief. "Now that's my boy."

Further argument was halted as Wim burst through the lodge door. Racing to his father's side, Wim tugged his father down low enough to whisper in his ear. Morage straighten back up and scowled, his expression very displeased with the child's news. Shooting Jack an exasperated look full of sympathy, Morage motioned for him to follow him out the door.

"Maybe returning him is for the best. Your hand must hurt and your arm tire frequently Jack, father of Daniel Jack-son."

"Father?" Jack's confused expression at this cryptic comment went unnoticed.

Carter shot Teal'c a curious glance as the silent warrior tilted his head to one side and raised his eyebrow, understanding lighting his eyes.

Morage turned impatiently at the delay. "Come. Your Daniel is most anxious and apparently, tired of waiting."

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

Outside of Morage's lodge Teal'c stepped in front of Sam, stopping a number of feet from the doorway.

"I believe that O'Neill should attend to this meeting alone, CaptainCarter."

"What? Why, Teal'c? I want to see Daniel."

"As do I. However, I believe DanielJackson would prefer if O'Neill was the only one present at this time. We will know when it is permissible to enter."

Carter's confused expression slowly faded into wary acceptance. "Okay, Teal'c, if you're sure?"

"I am sure." The amused quirk of the warrior's expressive eyebrow confused Carter even more than his words did, but she relaxed her stance and reluctantly watched Jack and the leader of these huge, but gentle people, enter the lodge.

With Jack hard on his heels, Morage opened the door to his home and scanned the interior with a critical eye. His gaze immediately fell on the less than contained confrontation taking place near what should have been Daniel's bed. The place where the still recuperating young one was to be resting. The place where the irritatingly persistent little scrap had promised to remain. The place that was now totally disheveled, dismantled and displayed as a pile of tangled bedding, furs, mattress and wood, turned on its side on the cold floor.

Its occupant was half-sitting, half-lying on the floor, currently still involved in alternately struggling with the tangled blankets and struggling with Morage's oldest son, Asid. It appeared the blankets were winning the scuffle. Raised voices filled the air as a verbal struggle waged along with the physical one.

"If you would just let me help--"

"I don't need any help. I can do this myself."

"You obviously can not, little one. I--"

"Stop calling me that. Please. I am NOT a child."

"You shouldn't be out of bed. You promised my father--"

"He promised to return me to my family. Jack is here and you still won't let me see him. Wim said your father isn't going to let them have me back. I appreciate what your family has done for me, but I'm not staying here. I'm going to find Jack on my own."

"You weren't listening. Wim said he didn't want father to let them have you back. Now calm down. I'll pick you up and put you--"

"PUT ME DOWN." Daniel pulled away from Asid's gentle hold and balanced himself precariously on one foot. Even in this unstable state he managed to bounce in place throwing his free arm up in the air, and bringing it down forcefully with a clenched fist to his side in an oh so familiar frustrated Daniel rant while demanding an explanation from the heavens above.

"Why does everyone here keep treating me like a naughty child?"

Two deep, unhappy rumbling growls from the unseen gods behind them answered, startling both young men so much that they jumped and slithered to the floor in a heap, slipping on the piles of bedding still entangled around their feet. Two intimidating, displeased, stern faces stared down on them from above.

"Maybe, Danny, it's because you sound like a petulant brat. Or maybe, it's because you're acting like one."

"Or maybe, little one, it is because you are one."

Neither voice held an ounce of sympathy that Daniel could detect. He was vaguely disquieted by the fact that both men's answers had been statements and not questions. Daniel pushed aside his misgivings and allowed his relief at seeing Jack take over his emotions for the immediate moment.

"JACK." Daniel's delighted smile that he kept for only extremely special occasions shone out from under a mop of wildly disarrayed golden brown hair and slightly squinted blue eyes.

Asid scrambled out of the way and quickly pulled his younger brothers from the room, knowing from experience that very soon Daniel would want no spectators near.

Pushing up off the floor with his good arm and leg, Daniel prepared to launch himself in Jack's general direction. Somewhere in mid-launch, his body changed direction and Daniel found himself dangling in midair, facing one highly aggravated giant of a man. Huge hands held his waist as incredibly strong arms held him out in space, both feet dangling free above the mess on the floor.

Daniel looked directly into Morage's fiercely scowling face, his eyes widening as he quickly understood what that particular look meant. He managed a brief, outraged yelp before he was turned and transferred over one of the giant's arms, the solid muscle wrapping around his middle and tilting him so that his head dropped down and his backside came up. He hung suspended in this position, dizzy with the rush of blood to his head, while Morage calmly discussed the action with Jack.

"I'm not one to discipline another man's child while he himself is present to do the chore."

"Thank, God. Please put me down." Daniel's voice was faint with relief.

Morage ignored the comment and concentrated on Jack's curiously silent response. "At least not without that man's permission."

"What exactly did you have in mind?"

"JACK!"

Jack calmly took in Daniel's beseeching face, noting the wild-eyed expression and the clenched hands scrambling for a hold on the giant's massive body. A lot of embarrassment and a little bit of fear played across the expressive young face. It occurred to Jack that Daniel knew what was about to happen and it wasn't the first time he had been in this position during his stay with the Ramord. Morage's cryptic comment about hurting hands and tired arms flashed through his mind and suddenly made sense.

"A firm palm to his backside until he understands the importance of doing as he is told. Your little one shows an alarming passion for refusing to see the need for following orders. He possesses little instinct for self-preservation. I am amazed he has survived to even this young age. Your vigilance must be great."

Jack drawled out his answer as he peered at Daniel's increasingly panicked look. He found himself actually considering the possible benefits of this new approach to getting Daniel to pay attention. He had to admit Morage certainly looked like he had Daniel's complete attention.

"Ya think? Well, it's been kind of touch and go, I'll admit. I've tried to impress on him the importance of listening to his elders, but you know how it is, the very young rarely listen."

Jack quoted another alien race, disregarding that fact that the comment had been aimed at him originally. The look of pure outrage on Daniel's face was worth the small deception. Jack struggled to keep the smirk tugging at his lips from escaping and ruining the moment.

"JACK!" Indignation dripped from Daniel's voice.

"Just a minute, Danny, we're having a conversation here. Don't interrupt."

"JACK! Aaaaaah!" Indignation quickly turned into frustrated anger.

"Do I continue or do you claim the right as his protector and father?" Morage exchanged winks of amusement with Jack and lightly swung Daniel in the air. He teasingly tugged at the edge of Daniel nightshirt. Daniel flung a hand behind him to fumble desperately in an effort to keep his backside's only covering in place.

"Well, he really did disobey you--"

"JAAAAACK!" Jack hadn't realized Daniel's voice could go that high.

"But I think it would be best if I took care of the problem myself."

"Jack?" Worried and unsure, Daniel peered up at Jack and licked nervously at his lips.

"When we get back home."

"Jack." Daniel's sigh of relief was audible.

Daniel assumed Morage's bluff had been called. He tensed as Morage began to lower him to the floor then relaxed as he realized he had been given a reprieve. Just before his feet touched the ground, a massive hand smacked heavily across his bottom. The indignant yelp of distress and surprise could be heard all the way outside.

"That was so you'll remember the ways of the Ramord, little one. If ever your father allows you to return here, I expect you to be better behaved." Morage swung Daniel around and plucked him down on a small wooden stool that hadn't been turned over in the struggle to escape the bed.

Fire ignited anew in Daniel's tender butt causing him to gasp out loud. He shot a mortified glance at Jack then hung his head to hide behind the curtain of tousled bangs while he fought back tears. Even Daniel couldn't decide if they were from embarrassment over the swat or relief at being reunited with Jack.

A strong hand caressed the side of his head, ruffling through his hair as muscled, but not massive, arms gently encircled his shoulders. Risking a quick look up into the face of his comforter, Daniel hitched a sob at the look of affection and tenderness that Jack wore. Harsh lines of worry had etched themselves deeper into the area around the older man's eyes and mouth but his stern expression softened instantly. Daniel clutched frantically at Jack as the colonel dropped to one knee and allowed himself to be pulled into a tight embrace. Neither noticed as Morage slipped from the room.

Jack stroked a soothing hand over Daniel's head and tugged it down to his shoulder, effectively muffling the unrestrained sobs in the fabric of his clothing. Jack tightened his hold and rocked gently to try and still the tremors of emotion racking his young charge's slender body.

"Hey, hey. We're here. I'm here. No one ever gets left behind, you know that. I'm here, Danny. I'm right here."

After several minutes, Daniel heaved a heavy sigh, nodded and choked out a few more ragged sniffles. Pushing himself back from Jack's loosening embrace, Daniel ran a hand over his tear-stained cheeks and shyly looked up through spiky, wet lashes.

"I was getting a little scared…worried that I wouldn't see you again. What took you so long?"

Jack shook his head and smiled at the petulant whine that crept into Daniel's words. He ruffled the long hair under his hand, taking a moment to actually shake the head beneath gently. "Stuff got in the way, Danny, just stuff. We can talk about it when we get you home."

"We? Are Sam and Teal'c here?"

"Right outside the door. I think Teal'c had a sneaking suspicion what the big guy had planned for you. This might be a familiar form of correcting a child's behavior even in places like Chulak. He kind of distracted her until you were ready for company."

"Oh, god." The petulant whine was now a moan of humiliation.

"Don't worry about it. Teal'c won't say anything. What say we let them in before Carter climbs over him to get in here? That yelp you let out earlier probably has her slipping the safety off of her P90 and daydreaming about strafing the area."

Daniel smiled softly and nodded agreement as he wiped nervously at his still reddened and puffy eyes. After a moments thought, he slipped back along the stool on a still tender backside and propped his splinted foot up on the edge. What if Jack hadn't been bluffing? Daniel shoved that idea to the back of his mind and concentrated on greeting the rest of his family members.

If Teal'c and Jack accepted the thoughts of a spanking as standard and acceptable, he knew his only hope for sympathy was from Sam. He planned on milking all the TLC from her that he could. Maybe that would distract Jack from continuing the promised 'discussion' about his behavior once they reached home. A little "Jack is worried about Daniel's health" was called for.

"I really don't think my ankle is broken, but I guess it might be. Ama says my shoulder is healing well. I might even be able to use my arm in a week or two. Dr. Frasier will probably ground me forever."

"She won't be only one." Jack's ominous tone made Daniel swallow hard.

"Jaaack. I'm injured." Daniel turned his confused, innocent stare up to full power.

Jack smothered a smile at Daniel's obvious tactics and walked to the door. If the thought of an old fashioned spanking instilled that much panic in the impulsive, headstrong kid that he actually tried to remind Jack he was hurt, then Jack just might have to reconsider his options.

Sticking his head out the door, Jack spied Teal'c and Carter attempting to stare Morage down. "Carter, Teal'c, come with. Daniel's waiting."

End