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.

Thank you to my betas Spacepixell, Loopy and Rponda, for all their hard work and efforts.

# 3 Paternal Instinct Series

By Amethyst

Part 2 of 3

It had been long years since someone had crossed the portal to their planet that was not versed in the ways and purpose of the Marr, but it did occasionally happen. In any case, Talmac knew it would be best to entertain the visitors, let them see the temple and most of what it had to offer, then send them merrily on their way, blissfully uninformed about the Marr and the way of the Blessing.

This group was obviously a family of explorers. Their leader was strong and more cunning than he let on. Talmac could see it in the steady brown eyes that never wandered from his and Draco’s positions, even when Talmac had purposefully separated them by wandering while he talked. The graying, brown-haired man merely divided his attention equally between them and silently signaled the Jaffa to cover Draco when the distances became too great. He possessed a power beneath the casual facade of humor. Its energy had practically blinded Talmac when the man vented his anger and outrage at the containment of his child.

The woman was also very aware of the tone her male counterpart set and appeared quite comfortable with the weapon in her hands. Though beautiful and youthful in her years to have given birth to the young one in their protective midst, she too possessed a cunning edge to her graceful bearing. A worthy mate for the alpha male. He had chosen well.

If there was one thing Talmac appreciated, it was good breeding stock. After all, it was his job. This pair of warrior explorers made him feel giddy at the thoughts of their mating. Oh, to be a pillow in that bed. Talmac absently wiped non-existent drool from one corner of his mouth, hiding the gesture in a casual stroking of his carefully trimmed beard.

The Jaffa was a prime specimen of muscle and strength, his characteristic expressionless stare honed to deadly menace, being both intimidating and aggressive without so much as a blink being expended. Talmac found himself regretting the fact that he could not obtain a specimen of each of their reproductive cells for the blessing ritual.

The product of the humans’ union was handsome, the blue eyes startling in their coloring, even more so than his mother’s were. The boy’s long, shiny hair appeared to be changing from his mother’s blonde to his father’s brown, as human children were known to do as they matured. His build spoke of the mother’s slenderness and both of the parent’s taller statures.

His body language and actions told of enthusiasm and intelligence ruled by impulsive, barely restrained curiosity. A keen mind burned behind the slightly smudged lens that protected the youth’s eyes, magnifying the child’s natural innocence and impetuousness to the measuring eye of a trained observer. When maturity peaked, this one would be an impressive asset to his people. If he lived that long, that is.

No wonder the family had obtained a Jaffa to guard their offspring. The reckless rarely achieved adulthood in any species. It would be a pity to waste the product of such a magnificent coupling. Hopefully the parents knew the meaning of discipline in their household. Despite the fact that the youth had been literally bouncing on his heels with impatience moments ago, the boy had seemed quite cowed when he had been released from the energy beam. It appeared the boy practiced the ability to merely ignore those things not to his liking. They must indulge him too much.

Talmac seated himself at the head of a long, low square table and indicated pillows scattered around the edges for his guests to sit on.

Jack stifled a groan and momentarily wished Daniel were the one suffering through hours of talking and cultural tiptoeing around potential disasters like the married thingy. Who knew the Marr were part of the moral majority? More importantly, how long were his knees going to take the abuse of sitting on the floor? Right about now he would prefer to be the one off playing with the children in the Temple.

Tearing his mind back to the matter at hand, Jack smiled weakly at the indicated seating and lowered himself down onto a pillow. He managed to mute the low grunt of pain that escaped when one of his kneecaps banged the table edge. His pained grimace was meet with an overly sunny smile from Carter as she gracefully folded her long legs Indian style and sat down across the table from him.

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

Draco walked over to the entrance to what was apparently the ‘kiddie palace playroom’, as Jack had called it. He turned to make sure Daniel was following him. A frown of disappointment marred his sharp-angled face when he noticed the young man still stood frozen to the spot where he had left him. He motioned for Daniel to follow, his gesture full of exasperation and amusement.

It seemed the child was not happy to be left behind nor was he used to it. Draco watched Daniel look longingly toward the hallway the others had disappeared down, then heave a sigh, adjust the object on his face, and trudged toward the children’s hall. Draco waited until the boy walked past him before entering the great room. The entrance to the room disappeared back into stone as silently as it had appeared. So silently Daniel didn’t even notice it.

The room was covered in bright colored veils and curtains. Every available space was used for low tables and pillows. On many of the pillows were perched small children, most appeared to Daniel’s untrained eye to be around the age of 7-12 years of age. There seemed to be an equal number of boys to girls. If Daniel had to pick one trait that stood out in all the children, he decided it would be that they were all beautiful. Dark hair, fair hair, redheads and blondes, all with smooth, beautiful faces and tall, graceful bodies sat, stood or walked around every corner of the room. There were easily a hundred children here.

Draco’s deep, but soft voice shook Daniel from his thoughts. "You may go anywhere in this one room. Play with anything that is contained within. All other rooms are forbidden to you at this time. Do you understand?"

Draco pointedly ignored Daniel’s impertinent question. "Although they rarely have visitors, the children will welcome you."

Daniel squinted up at the guardian and tilted his head in confusion. "Do they live here? All the time? Don’t their parents ever visit them? I mean, they’re very young."

"As are you, child. Not everything is easily understood when you are this age. Your parents can explain it all to you when they are done with their discussions with Talmac."

All around them kids began to gather and sit quietly nearby, listening and watching the newcomer with great interest.

"Yeah, riiight." The condescendingly tolerant smile on Draco’s lips made Daniel want to punch out the man’s lights, but he settled for giving him a shy, innocent smile of his own hoping to draw more information from the guardian. "About those discussions…how long do they usually last? Do you have guests here often? Talmac recognized Teal’c as a servant of the Gods. Do Goa’uld visit here? Are you expecting some anytime soon?"

Daniel nervously cleared his throat and fussed with his glasses, pushing at the nosepiece to set them more firmly on his face.

Brow furrowed in concentration, he waited expectantly for an answer to any one of his questions. What he got was a pat on the head and snort of laughter.

"You are very curious and bright. I’m sure you will be able to find many here that will enjoy your company while you await your parents return." With that blatant dismissal, Draco turned to walk down into the sea of children.

"Ex…excuse me, I…Would you…" Another pat on the head stopped Daniel cold, but his temper flared to white hot. "’Cuse…me." His words trailed off as Draco’s back receded across the room.

Daniel’s face pinched tight in anger. He squinted to try and keep the haze of red that matched his temper from his vision.

Unfazed, Draco casually made his way to the far side of the room towards a group of boys gathered around one low table, talking to each child he passed, his deep voice soft and playful. Daniel could tell by the bright smiles and easy answering voices that the large imposing man was well liked and respected by the children. Not a single one looked afraid of him.

Spying a group of older boys openly staring at him, Daniel wove his way through the throng of small bodies to stand next them, making sure he said hello and smiled at each child he passed. He would need all the good graces he could muster if he managed to pull off what he wanted to do.

The tallest of the boys moved forward a little at Daniel’s approach, a small smile on his handsome young face. Dark-haired with eyes so dark brown in color that they almost looked black, he was quite striking. His slender frame was dressed in emerald green and silver robes.

When Daniel stopped before him, the boy raised his fist to his chest and bowed in the traditional form of greeting Daniel had seen Talmac and Draco use earlier. Daniel smiled his first genuine smile since entering the temple and nodded as the five other boys behind this one imitated the welcome.

"Ah, hi. Hello. I’m Daniel Jackson."

"I am called Odnalro. Welcome to the Temple of Marr." The boy moved aside and indicated each of his companions with a swept of his arm. "This is Mod, Naes, Hajile, Yllib, and Oggiv. Are you new to the Temple? Will you be staying to be trained in the ways of the Marr for a new master?" The boy’s words were direct and uncensored, but Daniel couldn’t help feeling there was an underlying message behind the words. "If so, as one of the oldest you should get to know us. We are the oldest ones left."

One glance around told Daniel Draco was still out of hearing distance. "Ah, no, no. I’m not staying. Ah, we’re just visiting. I’m just waiting for Talmac to finish discussing things with the leader of my unit."

"They sent you here while the olders talked. They sent you to be with the other children and you are not pleased." Odnalro gave Daniel a knowing smile that brought a pink flush to the archaeologist cheeks.

Daniel gave a small snort of defeat at his needless attempt to save face and nodded. "Ya think?"

Odnalro nodded. "I think, yes." The unnecessary answer to Jack’s standard ‘duh’ rhetorical question made Daniel laugh out loud.

"You’re right. It’s a little embarrassing. I’m considered an adult where I come from. At least by most people. Not by Jack, but I think I could be a hundred and Jack would still treat me like a child. It’s difficult to tolerate being excluded from things. Learning about new planets, cultures, languages and people is my job and Talmac won’t let me." Daniel rubbed absently at his head, distantly aware that a headache was forming behind his eyes. "I don’t even know why. What made them decide that I was too young?"

"Oh, that’s easy." Oggiv dropped down onto a pillow and the rest of the boys followed suit. Daniel picked a cushion near the middle and sat down Indian style. "The veils told them."

"The veils? You mean the miles of fabric out in the main hall?" Daniel blinked several times to clear his memory trying to think if he had noticed anything strange about the light wispy curtains of cloth. They were everywhere, so numerous that he had brushed up against several on them just walking across the room. And the last one he had touched had set off the security force field.

"Yes. They scan for certain chemical levels in your body. They can tell if you are young or old. If you’re young, you get sent here and it locks you out of special rooms. If you try to enter a blocked room, a force field captures you and holds you until Draco comes and frees you. Then you get punished."

Daniel tilted his head to one side and picked up on the thread Oggiv had left off with. "Punished? How? I got caught in an energy field earlier and nobody punished me for it." Did this planet practice the same theory Jack and Teal’c subscripted to for attitude adjustments as well, he wondered.

Mod answered this time, his tone taking on a cocky, know it all attitude, clearly getting into the conspiratorial mood of the conversation. "Whatever fits the deed. Restrictions of privileges, extra school assignments are Draco’s favorite punishment. He probably expects the olders with you to punish you. You don’t want to know what he does if it’s really bad." A note of uncertainty wavered in the boy’s voice.

"What does he do?" Daniel swiveled his head around to look at Mod.

The boy blushed and ducked his head sheepishly, his bad boy bravado suddenly disappearing into thin air. "We don’t know. No one has ever done anything really bad."

"No one’s been caught you mean. Remember? When we tested Oggiv’s theory about the veils. We walked right through the scanner and into the Chamber of Blessings and back out. Nobody ever found out about it." Hajile beamed a satisfied grin of adolescent triumph at his cohorts and they all basked in the knowledge they had gotten away with breaking a major rule and no one was the wiser.

"You know how to get past the force field? Into a room? Without being trapped?" All three questions pulled a nod from six bobbing heads. "God, wouldn’t I love to get into the Chamber with that tablet. There’s something about these symbols that is so familiar, but I can’t seem to get it. I…I think if I could get a closer look at the tablet in the next room, I could translate it. It would probably tell us more about things than anyone is learning in the ‘Chamber of Words’." There was a distinct tone of bitterness in Daniel’s words.

Despite all his best efforts, a lingering resentment at being told he couldn’t do his job ate away at the insecure, young linguist. Daniel couldn’t help thinking that if he found out more about the planet on his own than the rest of his team found out through the meetings Daniel had been denied attendance to, he could reestablish his value to them all. Not that Jack didn’t value him, he knew Jack did, but it never hurt to remind the overprotective colonel that Daniel was a capable professional, too.

"The tablet contains the Way of the Blessing. It is the sacred language of the ancient Marr. No one besides Talmac knows what the tablet says." Naes piped up, pleased he could add something to the conversation with this interesting newcomer.

"Wellll, I speak 23 different languages. That’s my job. I figure out languages and learn them pretty quickly." Daniel smiled in his self-depreciating way and shyly looked down to hide his embarrassment over what seemed like bragging to him. "It’s just a natural talent I have. One of the few talents I have." The last was whispered mainly to himself, but the boys heard it. "I think I could do the same here. Learn the language, I mean. But I need a closer look at something with a lot of repetitive symbols and actual text to figure it out. The Tablet is perfect for that."

It was easy for the boys to hear the longing and desire to prove himself in Daniel’s frustrated, soft sigh that followed. What child didn’t want to show their elders they were capable and smart? What authority figure wouldn’t be impressed with initiative and diligence from a subordinate?

A conspiratorial glance flickered among the group of youngsters and landed on Daniel. A thread of building excitement rippled through the huddle of young souls.

Odnalro’s sweet smile turned sly as he drew Daniel’s attention back to him. "We can get you in. Into the Pool of Blessings Chamber."

"You can? Without triggering the force field? How?" Daniel’s eyes widened. He ducked his head, looking at the boys over the top of his glasses, mouth slightly parted in surprise.

"It’s easy really, but it will take all of us to do it. It’s right there." Odnalro nodded and glanced at the archway forty feet away that led into the Blessings Chamber, heavy burgundy veils draped across the twelve foot opening.

Yllib shifted closer to Daniel, dropping his voice down to a mere whisper. "Pretty soon we’ll be expected to lay down and rest. Most of the young ones fall asleep then, they don’t know how to keep the slumber chimes from invading their heads like we do. We’re older." Youthful pride showed in Yllib’s every gesture and words making Daniel smile just a little at the bravado.

"We’ll have to wait until Draco is out of the room after that. He usually gets called away to attend to official matters before too long, especially if Talmac is busy elsewhere like today."

Hajile leaned closer and added his own words of sage advise. "Then we’ll have to move quickly. They’ll never suspect a thing."

"Are you sure? I don’t want to get any of you into any trouble on my account." Anxious, but wanting to be fair, Daniel could barely keep the desperation of his voice.

"We did it before and didn’t get caught, I don’t see why today should be any different." Oggiv grinned and looked to each of his companions for support, receiving it full force from the enthusiastic group of youths eager to partake of some mischief making. Children were children everywhere it seemed, no matter what planet they lived on.

Daniel’s rational mind formed a mature argument for why they shouldn’t risk it. He almost had the words out when Mod tapped his shoulder. "Oh, you’ll have to remember not to touch the water. There’s a teaching that says that ‘true understanding of the words of Marr can only be seen through the eyes of the Pool of Blessings’. We think something lives in it."

Daniel’s eyes widened and his mouth popped partially open in surprise. "In the pool?" Six heads bobbed in agreement at him. "Oh. Well. Okaaay." Daniel cleared his throat and shot another glance over to the very thin, shimmering curtain of mere fabric that separated them from the pool chamber. He swallowed and readjusted his glasses. "There’s no need for us to test that theory today. I…I just won’t go near the pool, that’s all. Riiight. Ah, thanks for the warning."

Mod slapped his shoulder and grinned. "It would be difficult to keep this a secret if you get eaten while you’re there."

Daniel slowly smiled at the joke and twisted his mouth into a wry expression of amusement. "Ya think?" His grin widened at the six simultaneous responses of, "Yes, we think."

An unseen gong suddenly rang three times causing a scurry of activity all around them. The group of boys Daniel was with automatically stretched out and found comfortable spots to lay down in. An odd chiming drifted on the air, immediately capturing Daniel’s attention. He found it both soothing and lyrical. Oggiv motioned for Daniel to lay down and he did so, shifting gingerly to his side to remove his backside from contact with the firm cushions and floor. Soon the entire room was silent except for the soft shushing sound of slippers traveling slowly around the warm stone floor.

Draco eventually passed by their group. Looking up at the towering man, Daniel caught him looking directly at his face. When Daniel made as if to speak, Draco simply placed a finger over his own lips and murmured a firm, "Sshhhh," a gentle smile reflected in his eyes.

Taking the hint, Daniel obediently closed his eyes and lay his head back down until the sound of footsteps faded away. Or maybe it was actually Daniel that faded away, pulled down into a light sleep aided by the faint sound of tinkling chimes.

A small hand was shaking his shoulder urging Daniel awake.

"Jack?" He blinked the sleep from his vision and sat up, pushing his glasses back into place and looking around to regain his orientation.

"No, it me, Naes. It’s time. Draco’s been called away and none of the servants have stayed behind. Let’s go."

After a quick glance around to be sure none of the other children were aware of their adventure, Daniel quietly struggled to his feet. He cautiously followed the group of excited youths to the edge of the archway to the chamber.

"Now what? You never explained to me how we were going to do this."

"Only because you fell asleep. The chimes got you."

Daniel felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he blushed. "Well, they work pretty well. There’s a fortune to be had in sales of those things to daycare centers alone." Daniel bit his lower lip, a thoughtful pensive expression on his face. "Uh, if you happen to meet Jack this trip, don’t mention those chimes, okay? He’s a tall guy, brown hair, scowls a lot, always carrying a big gun. I have enough trouble with enforced nap times as it is without him getting a set of those things. Come to think about it, don’t talk to a big bald guy, either. Or—on second thought, just don’t mention them to anyone."

"Okay, Daniel, if you say so. Now we need to hurry." Bewildered, but unconcerned, Odnalro shrugged his shoulders then turned to face Daniel. "Can you control the beating of your heart?"

"Control it? You mean like alter it at will?" Odnalro gave a terse nod. "No, no, I can’t. Can you?" Odnalro’s dark head bobbed again, this time in the affirmative. "Do I need to be able to for this to work?"

The boy smiled and shook his head again, stepping close to the veils blocking the archway. He motioned Daniel over to stand in front of him. Odnalro placed one hand over Daniel’s heart. "No, but we can. The veils detect heartbeats and chemical levels. We’ll match our heartbeats with yours. If we all have one heartbeat, the veils see one person. If we press our bodies closely together, flesh to flesh, like this," He pressed the palms of their hands together, interlocking their fingers, "it will see only one person of many years."

"What about the chemical levels, the hormones and other things it uses to tell age?" Daniel watched as the remainder of the boys formed a line next to Odnalro. Each reached out to take the hand of the boy beside him, then closed his eyes. Odnalro made sure they were in line with the archway then pulled Daniel closer to him. "As long as we are of the same heartbeat, we think it only sees the sum of us, not the individual parts."

Daniel darted a look behind him at the room full of sleeping children, then nervously glanced at the still, blank faces of his companions in crime. "What… what are you doing?"

Barely moving a muscle, Odnalro whispered back. "Matching our heartbeat to yours. Be quiet and move when we move. You’ll be inside the chamber in a moment. Are you ready?"

Daniel swallowed hard at the mountain of second thoughts that piled up in his mind. What would the Marr say if he were caught? Would it affect negotiations? What would Jack say if he were caught? More importantly, what would Jack do if he were caught?

Just as Daniel decided that maybe this wasn’t the best way to prove his worth and abilities, Draco’s amused chuckle and condescending pats on the head pushed their way into his thoughts. He tightened his grip on the fingers firmly entwined with his left hand. "Ready. Let’s see what’s behind curtain number one."

A small tug on his hand signaled the start of their adventure and the boys moved as one to the veils. Without hesitating, they slipped through the opening, making sure a veil brushed over an area of bare skin on each of them. A second later, they were on the other side of the veil. No blue/green light shone down from above, no invisible walls of energy surrounded them, and no disapproving headmasters assaulted them. Best of all, no anxious, angry Air Force Colonels appeared out of nowhere to fret and worry and yell at them. They were home free.

Daniel opened his eyes and took in the sight of the large granite-like stone tablet towering over a placid, rectangular shaped pool of crystal clear, blue water that was situated at the very base of the tablet. Mesmerized by the glistening display of craftsmanship and ancient writings, he barely felt the loss of heat when Odnalro slipped from his grasp. A light tap on his shoulder startled Daniel back into focusing on his younger companions.

"Told you we could do it!" Oggiv smiled brightly, his young voice full of triumph at winning the first round in the game they were playing.

Hajile glanced meaningfully over his shoulder at the playroom, checking for possible witnesses. "We’ll come back when you’re ready to leave. It’s too suspicious if many of us are missing. You have until the noon meal. Someone will surely return by then. Work quickly and learn much, Daniel."

After taking a moment to synchronize their heartbeats, the small pack of self-satisfied youths disappeared through the barrier veil. Daniel watched as they carefully picked their way back to their previous spots and settled down onto cushions.

Odnalro paused a moment to wrap Daniel’s discarded vest around a pillow and position it partially behind a low table. He flopped the boonie hat on top of another small cushion at the neck of the vest and stood back to admire his work. From a distance the arrangement could pass as Daniel sleeping curled up. Dark eyes dancing with delight at the subterfuge, Odnalro grinned at Daniel. He took his place on a cushion, his eyes trained on the chamber opening awaiting Daniel’s signal to return.

Amazed, but delighted that the boy’s plan had worked, Daniel had to smile at their ingenuity. He doubted there were many opportunities for the growing boys to be free or wild in this structured culture. The opportunity for adventure, even a little one, must be a divine break from the monotony of everyday school life for them. Tricking the system of authority was a thrill unto its own when young. Daniel still enjoyed it himself, especially if the ‘authority’ was wearing an Air Force Colonel’s uniform.

Daniel shook his head to clear his thoughts, searching through his many pockets to retrieve his a pad and pencil. Walking to the water’s edge, he was suddenly reminded of Mod’s warning and took a cautious step backward. However, fear of an unseen, phantom danger couldn’t overshadow the excitement of being near a linguistic archaeologist’s dream. The myriad array of complex symbols and text called to him like a moth to a flame. Before too long Daniel was engrossed in the language of the people of Marr.

Half an hour later, frustrated to the point of a migraine headache, Daniel gave in to the need for caffeine. Kneeling before the tablet on the slender ledge that separated it from the pool, he pulled a candy bar from his pack. Disgusted with himself for the lack of progress he’d made, he turned his back to the stone slab and stared off into the beautiful, still water of the deep pool.

The symbols were so familiar, yet Daniel couldn’t place them. He knew he’d seen something similar in his years of language studies, something buried and ancient. More ancient than even Shau’ri’s native language had been. But the thin strand of memory that told him he knew this language wasn’t strong enough to show him the key. The vague, but sure feeling that the knowledge was there teased at the edge of his thoughts. Like Mod’s suspected water monster, thought to exist, but still forever unseen.

Thoughts of the water myth drew Daniel’s attention back to the pool. He remembered Mod’s words about the teachings and repeated them to himself. The boy had said ‘true understanding of the words of Marr can only be seen through the eyes of the Pool of Blessings’. He searched the surface of the pool looking for evidence that something had disturbed the calm water and slowly became aware that he did, indeed, see something in the water.

But it wasn’t a monster. It was the answer to his puzzle.

Daniel stood up and quickly strode to the end of the pool opposite the Tablet and stared into the water. Water so still, so clear, and so smooth, it was like looking into a huge mirror.

The thin strand of memory swelled and blossomed into a solid reality. There in the crystal blue water, ‘through the eyes of the Pool of Blessings’, shone the language of the Marr.

In his excitement Daniel began to talk out loud to himself. "Or more correctly, the now extinct Coptic language, a form of ancient Egyptian spoken in early Christian times and superceded by Arabic. My God, it was just upside down and backward the whole time. You just have to read it in the water, ‘through the eyes of the Pool of Blessings’. How stupid am I? I can’t believe I didn’t see it until now."

Excited and flustered, Daniel scrabbled for his notepad and pencil, then decided on his hand held recorder instead. Readjusting his glasses, he searched his mind for the right dialect and began translating the Tablet before him. He mumbled to himself occasionally, but most of his words were clearly audible throughout the vast room.

"Copts, no wonder they had a fit about whether or not my ‘parents’ were married. Talk about a strict Christian culture. No wonder they died out." Daniel clicked on the recorder and started a halting attempt at translating the symbols. "This is just a rough guess, but I think I’m seeing a reference to Apollinarianism here. We already know the Marr are familiar with the Goa’uld and Jaffa. Talmac recognized Teal’c as one and wasn’t afraid of him, so I’m guessing they’re friendly with the Goa’uld. Maybe this is Apophis. Interesting. I wonder what the Goa’uld would need a school for. They take their hosts already matured and educated."

Daniel squinted at the lines farthest away, turning his head slightly to focus better. After a few more moments of study he clicked the recorder on again and rested it near his mouth. "I’m getting something about the Marr establishing this school as a tribute to the Gods. They choose the best looking and the brightest of their children to be educated in the ways to serve their God. The way of the Marr. That doesn’t make sense. They aren’t training slaves or personal attendants here. Not with the kind of knowledge those boys are showing. Servants don’t need to know chemistry, bio-physics, astro-physics--."

An unwelcome idea suddenly occurred to Daniel. He slowly lowered his still running recorder to his side and stared at the Tablet, each word he gleaned from the text making the idea that much closer to a reality. "They’re training children to be taken as hosts for the Goa’uld. They’re offering them as sacrifices. Every single one of them will become a host to one of those snakes. Odnalro, Oggiv,…" Stunned disbelief made Daniel’s voice sound almost reverent, but the horror in his eyes quickly rescinded that impression.

Daniel was overwhelmed by the need to tell Jack about his discovery, before negotiations tied them to something that the SGC would never agree to deliver. He turned abruptly on his heel, frantic to leave this place and find his team, but was forced to an abrupt halt before he even took a step. A mere two feet away stood one extremely hostile looking, angry, turban-wrapped guardian.

Realizing the man had heard everything he had said, Daniel knew he was in deep trouble. Wondering just how much of this he could successfully deny, he casually brought his arms behind his back and slipped the tape cartridge out of the recorder. Sliding the small cassette up his sleeve, he prayed it wouldn’t fall out at an inopportune time.

Draco stared down at Daniel making the archaeologist squirm in place. Swallowing hard, Daniel tried the reasonable, adult approach. Maybe he was overreacting. Maybe they wouldn’t mind him flaunting their rules, trespassing into their forbidden sacred chambers, and learning their secret language.

Yeahsureyoubetchya. He didn’t have a prayer of surviving this.

"Ah, hi. Ahhh, I-I can explain. I can. Really. Would you like to hear it?" When the only response he got was Draco taking a step closer, Daniel decided to remind his stalker of the threat Jack made before leaving. "Ah, um, are my p-parents, ah, are they done yet? Is m-my dad available for a minute, maybe? Tall guy, big gun, likes shooting things? He, he gets cranky and bad-tempered when he sits on the floor for too long. Bad knees, comes with age. You might want to get him to discuss this little problem I’m having here."

Suddenly both of Daniel’s upper arms were locked in Draco’s hands, his grip painful enough to made Daniel gasp with the fierceness of it. The recorder was jarred from his hand, smashing to the floor in pieces. Draco began to shake his captive hard enough to send eyeglasses flying. A slight plunking sound told Daniel they had landed in the pool, but he had no time to protest their loss.

Voice low and menacing, Draco increased the intensity of his assault. Daniel head began to ache and his ears were ringing. "Stupid, stupid, child. Very bright, very clever, very ingenious, but very stupid. You can read the sacred Tablet. No one but Talmac is entitled to read the sacred words. They are only to be spoken during the ceremony of the Gift to the Gods."

"S-sssorrryy. Ssstooop!" Blood trickled down Daniel’s lip where his chattering teeth caught and tore the tender skin. It splattered in all directions with each new forced vibration of Daniel’s head.

"Sorry is meaningless, child. If Talmac finds out you have desecrated this place, by entering, by reading the tablet, by speaking the words out loud, he will see you put to death. Why do children always need to defy the very rules that are in place to keep them safe?" Draco gave an extra hard shake on each emphasized, angry word. Draco’s grip suddenly shifted from Daniel’s arms to his wrists.

A jerk that almost knocked him off his feet started Daniel on his way. Draco proceeded to drag him toward an archway on the opposite side of the room.

"Hey, wait, just wait." Daniel dug in his heels and tried to twist free of the iron grip.

"Be silent. You are in enough trouble as it is." Draco never slowed his pace or altered his long stride, towing Daniel along like a pull toy.

"Where are you taking me? I have some stuff here I’d like to--. Hey, stop dragging me. Okay, at least stop hurting me. Stop!" Daniel’s head spun as his position changed once again.

Twirling his young offender around until Daniel’s back was against his chest, Draco paused long enough to wrap a beefy arm around Daniel’s waist to restrain him. He clamped a large hand over the boy’s mouth to silence the loud cries, noticing the bloody lip for the first time. "Be silent. You haven’t even begun to feel hurt from me yet, boy. For that we need someplace more private." Draco bent his knees slightly, lifting Daniel off the ground, hand still clamped tightly across Daniel’s mouth.

As he was carried struggling past the archway he had used to enter the room, Daniel noticed a small crowd of bodies on the other side of the veil. Not sure if it would penetrate the barrier, but determined to leave something of relevance for Jack and the others to find him with, Daniel covertly tossed the tape through the archway. Thankfully, Draco seemed too intent on leaving as quickly as possible to notice the movement as any thing other than Daniel’s continual squirming to free himself.

Unable to see the archway for more then a few seconds, Daniel had no way of knowing if one of the older boys had seen him toss it or not. The only thing Daniel could see was a long dark hall before him, and even that cheery sight was blurry.

Unable to catch himself, Daniel landed hard. Face down, nearly smothered by the large number of silk and satin coverings on the huge bed, he bounced twice before he managed to turn over to face his kidnapper.

Draco completely ignored him, pacing wildly back and forth across the width of the bedchamber. Uttered oaths and words Daniel couldn’t translate, but was pretty sure he knew what they meant, flowed continuously from the guard’s mouth. Each new edict pushed the big man’s temper a notch higher until at last he turned to address his unfortunate captive. Just in time to catch Daniel making a break for the chamber door.

Daniel slid off the satin covered bed and hit the ground running. Whatever it was that Draco was mumbling death threats about, the future didn’t look good for one young linguist. Daniel knew he stood a better chance of surviving this if he could find Jack. Daniel never even saw the man move before he was bounced back onto the surface of the bed.

"All right, all right! Listen, I know you’re upset. I’m sorry I broke some of your people’s sacred rules." Daniel looked up into Draco’s increasingly stormy face and began to inch his way up the bed, away from the man. "And-and I admit I disobeyed a couple of other rules too, but you have to know what you’re doing here is wrong." Daniel passionate demand made him forget his anxiety of the moment and he moved to sit up to get closer to the man he was arguing with. Jack was convinced that the young man had no sense of self-preservation and Daniel was about to prove him right, yet again.

Draco stalked over to the side of the bed Daniel had inched over to, frustration and anger mixed with equal parts exasperation written on his face. "You know nothing of the Way of the Blessings. You are an outsider. A child even. It is easy for you to judge without knowledge of our people’s customs. Children need not concern themselves with the actions of their elders, boy."

Irate and indignant, Daniel began to shout, all caution and thoughts of escape set aside for the sake of defending the rights of the innocent children. Daniel couldn’t imagine sacrificing the boys he had met today and he had only known them a few hours. Draco had lived with them for years. "Somebody needs to be concerned. You can’t give these children over to the Goa’uld. You’re condemning them to a living hell."

Draco frowned and waved Daniel’s plea off. "They know what their fate is and all are proud to serve. None are here against their will."

"I don’t believe that. They’re too young to understand the full implications of what they’re letting themselves in for. This isn’t right. How could their parents do this? How can you?" The horror of what fate awaited these bright young children was reflected in Daniel’s blue eyes. "You’re monsters if you do this, knowing what will happen to them. Nothing but monsters."

Draco stared at Daniel a full minute before the anger drained from his face and was replaced with a resigned determination. "You are like our children here, bright, inventive, curious, too curious. You deserve to grow up to serve your people well, as ours do. I am not a monster, but I am in charge of discipline here. Talmac would kill you for this, boy. I don’t think it’s necessary to be so extreme. But… you may wish I had left you for Talmac when I’m done."

Daniel’s ankles were suddenly locked in an iron grip that Draco used to drag him to the end of the bed. Unable to find purchase in the silky sheets, Daniel’s body easily rocketed down into Draco’s waiting arms.

"Stop. If you would just listen—hey!" Flat on his back one minute and moving through the air the next, Daniel found himself stretched across Draco’s hard thighs, both wrists pinned behind his back in one large, hot, sweaty hand.

"What do you think you’re doing? Stop it. Let go of me. We can talk about this. STOP IT!" Daniel’s long legs kicked out, looking for something solid to brace against for leverage. They instantly found themselves trapped by one of Draco’s powerful thighs. Daniel shuddered, but refused to cry out as something thin and supple landed hard on his khaki-clad butt.

The pain was amazing, the blow heavy and stinging, leaving a burn that made Daniel think of sulfur igniting at the end of a match. A burst of agony followed by a bright flare of roaring flame that disrupted every skin cell it came in contact with. By the second blow he was gasping raggedly. The third brought out the first of many cries of distress. Before the tenth landed, Daniel could barely think, the panic of not being able to catch his breath making him lightheaded and nauseous. After one desperate scream of, "Jack!" Daniel’s ability to cry out disappeared with his last normal breath. Tears streamed from his blurry eyes, making the colorfully decorated room swim like a kaleidoscope.

When the final blow landed, Daniel was beyond reason. His lungs screamed for air, his throat felt unbearably tight and painfully dry, and his swollen, still leaking eyes throbbed painfully. Speech was impossible. Sometime during the flogging, Draco had released Daniel’s wrists and he now clutched desperately at anything his hands came in contact with. Daniel’s body trembled and shuddered uncontrollably, nerve impulses scrambled by the torturous paddling reed Draco favored.

Time had lost definition. Daniel had never felt more out of control or lost in his life. He had no control over his body’s reactions and was helpless to stop the needy whimpers and sobs that were beginning to work their way out of his constricted throat. Whimpers that mutated into disjointed cries of agony as he was moved face down, onto a softer surface. He buried his face in the surface under him, thankful for the darkness that eased the throbbing behind his gritty eyes.

One corner of his brain that was functioning rationally prayed the beating would end soon, his body’s fried nerve endings denying the fact that the punishment had indeed stopped. The act itself had ceased, but the punishment Daniel had received would continue for days. Every turn, every movement, every flex of a muscle would re-ignite the fire in his backside. Even breathing did it.

The great gasping sobs Daniel was forced to take rocked his entire body in the effort set up a regular rhythm that didn’t leave him dizzy and frantic for his next breath of air. Daniel dug his fists into the fabric under his hands. He twisted them into its folds to anchor himself and stop the spinning sensation in his head. He flexed one leg to ease the strain on the abused muscles of his lower back, crying out at the agony the small movement produced. One hand flew to cover his burning cheek only to be instantly torn away at the increased agony the act caused.

Daniel slipped the offending hand up and buried it in his long hair, pulling hard at the strands to try and divert his pain receptor’s attention for a brief moment from the tortured flesh of his backside. Unable to compete with the intensity of the flogging pain, Daniel gave up and gave into the reality of his condition. Sobbing uncontrollably, he let himself slip into misery. Sleep claimed his exhausted mind quickly, a soft, but distinct murmur of "Jack," his last audible thought.

Draco silently watched the suffering boy deal with the unexpected punishment. He had been harsh, he knew that, but Talmac would demand that and more once he learned of the youth’s actions. It was better that he punish the child severely now. Talmac would then be less inclined to demand the usual death sentence for such transgressions.

The child was an outsider, without knowledge of their laws and customs. His death wasn’t necessary. And if Draco was any judge of character, the boy’s father was going to be inclined to want their deaths for this punishment alone. He didn’t want to think about what would happen if Talmac insisted on the child’s life as payment.

These outsiders were obviously a military culture to begin with. This wasn’t worth starting a war over. Their leader had barely lowered his weapon the entire time he had been here, let alone put it down. They were aggressive, curious creatures. Good attributes for making war and making love, but little else.

Mating between two warriors such as this boy’s parents was usually fierce and productive. Listening to Daniel whimper and sob in his sleep, Draco idly wondered if the parents had more unruly children at home. He laced the short, reed-like crop back into place on his waistband, automatically testing the ridged implement’s flexibility as he did so.

Sitting beside a huddled Daniel, Draco draped a comforter over his shivering body. He smoothed the hair back from a sweat-slicked cheek, brushing the strands back until Daniel’s temple was exposed. Removing a thumbnail-sized black disc from a thin compartment in his thick, ornately jeweled waistband, Draco pressed it firmly into Daniel’s skin, forcing yet another ragged whimper from the traumatized young man.

With a grunt of satisfaction, Draco rose from the bed and retrieved a set of chimes from a cabinet in the room. He paused a moment to adjust their frequency to match Daniel’s brain wave patterns then placed them on a stand beside the bed. Soft, dulcet tones began to fill the room.

Daniel’s unconscious mind responded to the soothing sound. Tension flowed out of his huddled frame, and he visibly relaxed into the bed, his breathing becoming less rapid and strained. Harsh sobs tapered off to become low moans, and little gasps and sniffles, but they never ceased entirely.

Although his actions had been harsh, Draco felt they were justified considering the severity of Daniel’s offense. Now he just needed to convince Talmac it was enough, and the boy’s parents that it hadn’t been too much. His next problem was the need to keep the parents occupied for several more hours before he could release the boy.

Draco reminded himself that the female of most species was usually more dangerous than the male when their children were at risk. With this pair, he doubted there would be much of difference between them in the risk of being assaulted over this. Then there was the Jaffa to deal with as well, the large, heavily muscled Jaffa.

Heaving a long-suffering sigh, Draco locked the bedchamber and went in search of Talmac, puzzling over the mystery of how the boy had managed to enter the Blessings room without the scanners realizing it to begin with.

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

Jack tried to covertly stretch his legs without looking like he was restless. Even though he was very restless. Sore and stiff, too. His knees weren’t fond of sitting still for any length of time, no matter what the position was, but Indian style was torture under the best of conditions.

Talmac had been talking in circles for what seemed like days. He skirted questions about the Marr’s origins with lengthy dissertations on ancestry. He blatantly ignored ones about why the temple was so near the gate. He gave enough tidbits of information about the energy fields and the technology that protected and fueled the temple to keep Carter interested and Jack quiet. He talked endlessly about the training of the children at the school and the value of discipline and obedience in the young. At least there, he had Jack and Teal’c’s attention, if not full agreement. Spacing out on sheer boredom, Jack hadn’t quite caught the entire lecture about paddling and temporary nerve cell disruption, but he hadn’t liked the sound of it. Didn’t these people think a paddling hurt enough without adding biological engineering to the process?

A long morning dragged into a longer afternoon. Draco had briefly interrupted the meeting midway through their session. He and Talmac excused themselves, but shortly after he had departed, Talmac returned, a tight, wooden smile on his dark face. Once Jack thought about it, the look wasn’t really all that different that the one Talmac wore normally. This one was just less sincere. Jack hadn’t thought it possible, but the discussion became more vague and rambling from that point on.

By mid-afternoon hunger started interfering with comfort and Jack suggested a break. He was anxious to check on Daniel and see what the young man had learned. Jack didn’t feel they were learning anything here. Besides, a Daniel out of sight for long, was a Daniel on the verge of trouble.

Talmac clapped his hands together three times and a bevy of female servants appeared carrying trays of food and drink. Jack had never been so glad to see a group of giggling women before in his life. The barely-there harem outfits the young women wore might have had something to do with it, but he wasn’t betting on it. Jack sighed audibly, ruefully thinking it was a sorry day when he thought standing up was more enticing a notion than scantily clad young women.

"Speaking of Daniel…" Jack looked up and caught the confused glances of everyone at the table.

"We’re weren’t talking about Daniel, sir--, dear. We’re discussing energy field stasis." Carter threw a panicked sideways look at their host, then turned exasperated wide eyes on the colonel. "Talmac was promising us specifications, documents, diagrams. Important, concrete information, finally, s-, sweetheart." Carter’s smile was as false as Teal’c’s tiny smirk was real. Jack was sure Teal’c’s eyebrow had actually wiggled when the Jaffa had raised it its usual micrometer.

Jack gave Teal’c an unforgiving glare then turned a small, contrite smile on his lovely …wife. Wow, hard to even think those words. "Yes, I know. But Daniel’s important, too, dear. Let’s not forget about our youngest." Jack gave Talmac a mildly condescending look. "Career women. You know the type. They get so excited about their little scientific projects they forget all about the kiddies."

Ouch. "Frostbite" and "Carter" were going to be synonymous for Jack before this trip was over. Jack shrugged off a sudden shiver as he imagined his flesh prickling under Carter’s icy stare. Rolling his shoulders to shrug off the chill, Jack muttered, "Must be a draft in here. Are any of you cold?" Jack looked at his companions’ silent, uncomprehending stares and cleared his throat. "Never mind." He switched his gaze to Talmac saying, "I thought we were joining the kids for lunch. I’d like to check in with Daniel."

"The children are all resting, including yours. Surely you would not disturb their slumbers." The dark face took on a solemn expression. "Growing minds and bodies need it. Let us eat and relax before we resume our discussions." The servant began heaping food on their plates and filling their cups with a thick, dark red wine.

Jack popped a few pieces of what tasted like grapes in his mouth and exchanged concerned glances with Carter and Teal’c. "Actually, I really want to see Daniel. He can nap at home. Besides, he hates it when we leave him alone too long. He’ll be acting out for weeks after this if we don’t at least check on him." Jack rose to his feet, hearing his knees popping loudly as he stood. Teal’c and Carter hastened to follow his lead.

Talmac remained seated. "I assure you all, they are in good hands. We have much to discuss yet. Our--."

"No." Jack cradled his P-90 suggestively and allowed his face to harden into a determined glare. "I want to see Daniel. Now. Not in a few minutes, not a few hours, but now." Jack saw the flicker of indecision cross the man’s face and read the unhappy look in the dark eyes. "Okay, Carter, Teal’c. I gotta bad feeling about this. Let’s get Daniel. Discussion’s over."

Talmac appeared genuinely flustered and upset by the sudden turn of events. "Gentlemen, Mistress, please. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I have only acted in good faith. I’m sure your young one is fine."

"I believe you are correct, O’Neill. It appears we are being detained under false pretenses." Teal’c and Carter dropped into defensive mode, weapons raised and attitudes hyper alert.

"Yes, sir." Sam turned her blue-eyed, icy glare on Talmac, causing the man to slowly lick his lips. Coupled with a smoldering look from his black, hooded eyes, the gesture looked perverse. Sam raised her own weapon and allowed all the disgust she felt to show on her face. She was rewarded by Talmac freezing in mid-lick and swallowing hard, his eyes darting rapidly up to gauge Jack’s reaction to his unthinking show of lust at the sight of the beautiful, female warrior in dominant mode.

Jack merely leaned forward to get into the sitting man’s face and coldly told Talmac, "I’d let her beat the crap out of you for that, but I think you’d enjoy it too much." Talmac flushed and shifted the folds of his robes to conceal more of the front of his body. Jack grimaced in disgust. "Make a move like that on her again and I’ll personally take you so far over the edge that pain really will be pain." Jack narrowed his eyes and butted Talmac’s chest with the tip of his rifle. "And you’d better hope Daniel is where I left him."

Talmac gave an indignant huff. "I assure you, Colonel, he is with the other children. Draco has been personally safeguarding him."

A slight wave of the colonel’s finger, and Carter and Teal’c broke off in separate directions and the three of them began the trip back towards the main room at a fast clip, checking hallways and rooms as they worked their way down the hall.

Talmac hastily rose from his cushion and followed. "I can assure you, he is in good hands. Draco would make certain your child was well cared for, no matter what unforeseen circumstances arose."

Jack stopped in tracks and spun on the flustered man. "What kind of ‘unforeseen circumstances’? What’s happened to Daniel?"

"To my knowledge, nothing has happened to him. If something had, I would have been informed."

Jack got up close to Talmac, literally in the dark man’s swarthy face. "You’d better hope so." With a small shove from his hand on the other man’s chest, Jack stalked away.

Talmac rocked backward, regaining his equilibrium before chasing off down the hall to catch up. He pulled up short when he bounced off a solid wall of immovable muscle. Teal’c had stepped in front of Talmac to silently convey his stoic displeasure at the new turn of events.

"If harm has befallen the boy in any way, Talmac, ten times that which befalls him will be returned to you. That is, if O’Neill permits you to remain alive." Teal’c merely stared, one corner of his mouth faintly curled in disgust, until Talmac edged around him and hastened down the hall.

The three SG-1 team members covered every inch of the path leading back to the main hall. No room was left undisturbed. Servants and teachers slowly joined the group trailing behind the outsiders until a harsh word from Talmac sent them scrambling back to their duties.

Arriving at the main hall, Jack dismissed the empty chamber and barreled into the palace playroom, stopping only when he realized there were over a hundred young faces staring up at him with mixed expressions of fear and curiosity. He slowly wove his way through the scattered cushions, checking for the one face that he most wanted to see. "Daniel?"

Catching sight of a patch of standard issue fatigues by a low table, Jack called to the others to join him. "Carter, Teal’c. Over here, I see him."

Talmac followed, indignant and haute. "I told you, nothing was amiss. As you can see, your son is merely resting, along with the rest of the children. Please, let us return to our task and allow them to return to theirs."

Ignoring Talmac, Jack strode nearer calling out to his youngest as he approached. "Daniel? Danny. Daniel." Still thirty feet away, Jack realized something wasn’t right. Holding up one hand, Jack stopped Teal’c and Carter from coming any closer. Teal’c took great relish in restraining Talmac from interfering.

Edging his way through the small group of lounging older boys who seemed reluctant to let him near his quarry, Jack finally managed to kneel beside the familiar vest and crumpled boonie cap. With a grunt of surprise, Jack pulled the hat and vest from around the cushion it was arranged on. "Sweet." He cast an admiring glance around the circle of expectant young faces closest to him. "Clever. Whose idea was it? Daniel’s?"

Several pairs of nervous eyes shifted to look at one of their companions. The guilty party grinned at the compliment, sitting up to face the stranger Daniel had told them about. "It was my idea. It worked very well, Jack, did it not?"

O’Neill raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You know who I am?"

"Daniel told us of you. I am Odnalro." The boy’s quick smile and trusting manner charmed Jack.

From the front of the room, Talmac nervously called out to Jack. "I must protest your interrogations of the children. They are but innocents, they have nothing of value to tell you."

Teal’c shifted his impressive bulk more fully in front of Talmac as Carter turned her glare of contempt up to full power saying, "You really are anxious to lose your tongue, aren’t you, Talmac." The man paled enough for her to see it beneath the olive complexion.

Jack ruffled the boy’s thick dark hair. "Since it looks like you’ve been covering for him, do you know where Daniel is?"

The boys exchanged glances between them and then cast their eyes downward to study the patterns of the fabric beneath them. Jack gently used one finger to tip Odnalro’s face back up. After a moment of indecision and quick glance at his headmaster standing so very close to him, the youth barely whispered, "Draco might know." Wide, pleading eyes locked on Jack’s, begging the man to understand the message. Draco might know. Draco would know. Draco had Daniel.

Suddenly finding his courage, Talmac darted around the living barrier blocking his path and raced to Jack’s side. "Really, Colonel. I must insist the children be left out of this. Your presence and behavior is frightening them." Talmac clapped his hands and several servants raced out from the corners of the room to attend to him. "Return the children to their classrooms. Stay with them, none are to be allowed to roam the halls or to be on their own. Hurry."

Jack stood, Daniel’s discarded belongings dangling from one hand. "Talmac, where the hell is Draco? I want to talk with him, now. I left Daniel with him. You said he would protect him and now Daniel’s missing and so is Draco. Where is he?" Teal'c and Jack moved to flank the dark headmaster, using size and anger to sway the man into assisting them as quickly as possible.

The headmaster merely cocked his head arrogantly to one side and stared Jack in the eye, all earlier playacting of the nervous, hesitant, schoolteacher gone. "I have no idea. As you know, I haven’t seen him since early this morning. If you would be so good as to wait here, I’ll have my staff search for him and your child." Talmac waved off three staff members who had lingered nearby and the men hurried away, apparently to do his bidding.

"I really must protest, Colonel. Your child appears to have deliberately wandered off. He was not to leave this room. He was told that. You were told that. When he is found, I’m afraid I must insist that you leave the Temple immediately. Perhaps future contact with our people should be made without the addition of children in the visiting party. Your child isn’t very well behaved. A little discipline will do him good." Talmac’s smug, condescending tone grated on every nerve Jack had.

"You’re right. Sometimes Daniel isn’t very well behaved, but that’s okay, because he gets his manners from me." Jack gripped his P-90 tighter and set off for the next chamber, shoving a surprised Talmac aside in the process. "Come, kids. Find Daniel. Tear the place apart if you have to. Just make sure none of the kids are in the way."

Teal’c matched the brisk, curt pace Jack set, following the irate man into the Pool of Blessings Chamber. Talmac was close on their heels while Carter grabbed Daniel’s vest Jack had tossed to the floor. Searching through the pockets she noted Daniel’s usual notepad and pencil were missing, as well as his voice recorder. The young archaeologist had gone prepared to find data worth recording, wherever it was he had disappeared to.

Oggiv whispered in Odnalro’s ear and both of them stole a quick glance at Carter. Odnalro moved quickly to Carter’s side as a servant tried to guide the group towards the archway leading to their classrooms. "The servants say Daniel belongs to you and Jack." He shoved a small fabric wrapped parcel into Sam’s hands and closed her fingers tightly over it. "A gift, to honor your beauty. It is for your eyes alone, Mother of Daniel." Multiple young faces gathered around a surprised Carter, heads bobbing in agreement, solemn faces painful in their sincerity.

Sam gave them a hesitant smile and tipped her head in agreement. She was confused, but willing to play along, convinced that more than a childish game was going on. Daniel had interacted with these boys before disappearing. Maybe they knew something she didn’t. Slipping the gift into a vest pocket, she nodded thoughtfully and hurried after her CO and Teal’c.

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

Jack used the end of his P-90 to shove aside yards of gauze veiling to clear a path into the Pool of Blessings chamber. Ignoring Talmac’s indignant protests, he and Teal’c began to search the perimeter of the room, moving inward in ever decreasing circles at a rapid pace. Outside of the pool of water, the engraved stone slab and a few scattered pillows and plants, the room was bare except for the ever-present veils.

Jack stopped beside the tablet that Daniel had been so fascinated with when they first arrived. He glared at it, hoping to glean some clue as to where his youngest had disappeared. Teal’c joined him and they exchanged frustrated glances. The language was completely unlike anything either of them had seen before and whatever clue it may have held was destined to remain a secret from them.

Carter arrived at Jack’s side and lightly touched her CO’s arm, her voice pitched low to prevent from carrying in the cavernous room. "Sir, Daniel’s recorder and notepad are gone from his pockets. That tells me he went off to investigate something on his own. Something he shouldn’t have, or he wouldn’t have needed to use the ruse with his hat and vest."

Jack sighed, knowing Carter was right. Daniel wouldn’t have been able to resist investigating the Temple when left to his own devices for hours on end, especially if his alternative was forced "quiet time" with the kiddies. Even operating at his usual sleep deficit, Daniel resisted any form of downtime if he could be working. The kid had a definite defect in the guilt overload department. Jack suspected it had more to do with Daniel needing to prove himself, to establish his worth and value since he wormed his way onto the team than actual guilt, but Jack had learned on Abydos never to underestimate the young man.

"You’re probably right, Carter. This room is the one he wanted to be in so bad he could taste it. It’s also the one room he knew he couldn’t get into."

Teal’c studied the room. "Indeed, O’Neill. I have observed DanielJackson’s single-minded determination undermine the strongest of authorities, yet it still can not disable force fields."

Sam nodded, letting out her own exasperated sigh of defeat. She racked her brain for possible scenarios that would allow a determined Daniel a way into the forbidden room past the force field. She shifted her gaze off Jack’s worried, truly unhappy face to focus on the pool. The still, crystal-clear water reflected the pale blue of the ceiling and walls, giving the pool the illusion of a solid surface, almost to the point where a person could walk on it. Sam absently scanned the water looking for an imperfection in the illusion and finding one.

"Sir. At the bottom of the pool, A pair of eyeglasses."

Turning to stare at the pool, Jack immediately found the telltale eyewear. They hadn’t seen a single man, woman, or child on this planet that wore lenses. The round lens and slightly bent gold frames were Daniel’s. Jack had no doubts about it.

In anticipation, Teal’c moved to stand close to Talmac to prevent the man from escaping the colonel’s wrath. Talmac acknowledged the maneuver with a disdainful sniff and unconcerned glare. Teal’c mused that Talmac might have more courage than he gave him credit for. He was going to need it.

"All right. That does it. Teal’c, Carter. We’re done making nice." Jack strode up to the scornful man. "I want Daniel back and I want him now. I want to talk to your man Draco and I want both of those things in the next 60 seconds."

"Or what, Colonel? Is our technology of no interest to your people? Do you not wish a trade agreement in the future? Do you risk an alliance between your people and mine over what is probably a small misunderstanding? Will your kind storm a Temple full of children?" Self-righteous and smug, Talmac wore his audacity like a shield of honor, making the three team members bristle at his willingness to use the children as an excuse instead of taking responsibility.

Jack took a deep breath to steady his anger. "No, we won't involve the children, but what we are going to do is search this place from top to bottom, sacred chambers or not, until Daniel shows up. We'll worry about an alliance after we find Daniel. And if we don't find him, I'm sending for re-enforcements through the gate to help take this place apart piece by piece until we do. Starting now." Jack turned on his heel and ploughed through another veil-covered archway, Carter on his heels.

Teal'c paused a moment to pin Talmac in place with a disgusted look. "On my home world, one who would hide behind a shield made of children is no longer considered a man. And he is relieved of all body parts that might allow others to mistake him for one. I believe it is a reasonable practice. I will make O'Neill aware of it." Pleased at the sudden paleness of the man's coloring, Teal'c merely narrowed his eyes slightly and jogged after his teammates, leaving Talmac to clutch nervously at his robes before following him.

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

The eleventh door they tried was locked.

They had moved from the main chambers that had no doors, to the private chambers that did. It was the only door they had found in their search that wasn't readily accessible. Even private bedrooms of the servants and staff, as well as the ones belonging to the children had been unlocked. Many of the doors didn't even have locks on them.

Pressing an ear to the wood panel, Jack heard the faint melody of the same kind of chimes that he heard in the playroom during the children's naptime. He turned to Talmac. "Open it."

"I don't have the key. It is a bedchamber for guests to the Temple. It is unoccupied at present, which is probably why the staff has locked it. I will send for a key." Talmac reluctantly signaled one of the waiting staff who trailed behind the marauding entourage.

"Don't bother." Jack's smile was more of a grimace. "I have a universal key right here. Opens just about every door with just a touch." Jack immediately used the butt of his rifle to smash the ornate door handle off of the heavy door. One swift kick from his right foot and the door swung noiselessly inward.

The sight that greeted Jack filled him with fear and relief. Draco stood hovering over a prone body that was stretched out in the middle of a large bed, its identity hidden by Draco's body and a number of satin comforters and pillows.

Startled by the sudden influx of unwelcome witnesses, Draco quickly pried the memory disc from Daniel's temple, leaving a circular, reddened patch on his skin. Draco jerked away from the bedside to stand beside Talmac. The two men exchanged guarded looks and Draco gave a covert, negative shake of his head, mouthing the words, "Too soon."

Talmac pressed his lips into a thin, unhappy line.

Draco's departure from the bedside revealed the top of Daniel's head and a little of his face.

"Daniel." Jack moved quickly to take Draco's place, Carter making it there a second behind him. A gentle touch to the still figure's cheek reassured Jack that the young man was alive. Jack let his hand slide down and feel the puff of warm air as Daniel breathed. Not trusting any forthcoming explanations about why his handsome, naïve, young archaeologist was found in a locked room, unconscious in a bed, Jack lifted the comforter to be sure Daniel was fully clothed. Noting the mildly rumpled state of Daniel's uniform, Jack was relieved to see the high-topped boots laced and all the buttons and fasteners in place. He shot Carter a questioning glance.

Carter continued assessing the unconscious youth, a frown slowly taking over her concerned face. Daniel's pulse was steady and slow, very slow. His respirations the same, slow and regular. His skin felt warm to the touch and his nail beds blanched quickly. However, his pupils were both dilated and slow to respond to the small penlight she flashed in them. Most importantly of all, Daniel refused to react to any stimulus. The young man just continued to sleep.

"I don't know sir, he's not responding. He isn't waking up." Carter gave Daniel's shoulder another rough shake and he flopped bonelessly onto his back, eyes closed and mouth partially open, limbs completely relaxed and limp. "I think he's more unconscious than asleep, sir. Something's knocked him out. I can't find any evidence of a head injury beside this small, reddened patch, so I think he's been drugged. Whatever it is, he is totally out of it, sir."

Jack turned to face Draco. In two strides he was in Draco's face and had the man's robes twisted firmly in his one hand. Pulling the unflinching man still closer, Jack tightened his hold until the fabric twisted into the flesh of the henchman's neck and unnecessarily began yelling in his best Commander tones guaranteed to send experienced soldiers running for cover. "What is he doing here, why is he locked in here, and what did you do to him? Obviously you didn't take my earlier warning seriously. You should have."

As calmly as possible while having his air intake restricted, Draco formulated a reasonably logical lie to explain the situation. "He is here because he did not feel well. The room was locked to prevent any staff from disturbing him while he slept and he sleeps so deeply because of the chimes. They allow him to relax and put him into a deep slumber so that his body and mind can rest. He is unharmed, Colonel." These people wouldn't find out about the boy's punishment he had delivered until the young man awoke, which would hours from now, or when a complete physical examination of his body was done.

When the boy awoke, if the memory disc had enough time to work properly, he wouldn't remember the tablet, reading it, or Draco punishing him. Yes, the boy's backside would be unbearably painful for several days to come, but he wouldn't remember the harsh spanking.

Draco felt that was a pity, really, the unruly child could benefit from some discipline. But then the disc hadn't been allowed to remain in place for the needed period of time. It was doubtful if the memory wipe had worked completely.

Allowing a warrior culture any amount of access to the knowledge the boy had learned from the tablet was risky. They did not serve the Gods, despite the presence of the Jaffa. If they didn't serve the Gods, they were destined to become enemies of the Marr.

"What kind of 'not well' was he? What did he complain about? Why didn't you come and get us?" Carter ran her hand through Daniel's hair and over his face, again checking for a fever. "What's this red mark on his temple from?"

Jack stared into Draco unperturbed, pointedly silent face and slowly loosened his hold on the man's clothing. When the hold had loosened enough that Draco felt comfortable again he replied to Carter's questions.

"He said his head hurt. The noise of the other children bothered him. I offered this room to him for quiet. He accepted. I don't know what the mark is from. He didn't mention it to me." Draco exchanged satisfied looks with Talmac.

"Shut the damn chimes off. Carter, can Daniel be moved?" Jack was edgy and Draco's vague explanation wasn't making him any less tense.

"I think so, sir. He doesn't appear to be injured that I can see. Just out." Sam began removing the blankets and pillows surrounding their teammate, checking for broken bones as she uncovered each limb.

Jack nodded and glanced at Teal'c. "Teal'c, think you can carry Daniel as far as the gate?" Jack wordlessly accepted the staff weapon that was handed to him.

Teal'c moved Daniel's unresisting form to the edge of the bed in one smooth maneuver. He effortlessly slid the long, slender body up and over his shoulders into a fireman's carry. He paused briefly when a whimper escaped the youth as he placed a hand on Daniel's backside to steady his weight. When Daniel quieted, Teal'c moved out of the room with his treasured burden. Sam followed, weapon at the ready for any interference.

"Colonel, a moment, please." Talmac's grating voice pulled Jack to a reluctant halt.

"I'm not buying the load of crap your man here is selling, Talmac, so just give it up. None of this explains why Daniel's glasses are in the pool or why no one came to tell us there was a problem with him to begin with. Our 'talks' are on hold indefinitely until this whole fiasco has been sorted out. I'm not risking any more personnel until then." Jack made to turn away but Talmac stepped around him, a beseeching expression on his face.

"Please, Colonel, I do understand. I had no knowledge of Draco's actions." Talmac shot Draco an accusing glare. "I assure you, if I had been, you would have been informed of your child's illness. You are wise not to risk any more of your people until you feel it's safe. I am offering to accompany you personally to your gate and continue our talks there. You have made the effort in good faith and I would like to return the gift." Talmac saw Jack's resolve waver in the face of the unthreatening gesture and the promise of the amazing technology he had seen in use here. "Surely, our people can find things of mutual benefit. Your wife seemed eager to learn more about the energy field we use."

Swallowing down his first impulse to flip the man off, Jack slowly nodded in agreement. "Fine, but only you. And if my boss doesn't want to talk when you get there, you come straight back here, no arguments. Understood?"

Talmac nodded solemnly, masking his delight. He needed to make sure the boy had no memory of the events that lead to all of this. If he did recall anything when he awoke, Talmac would deal with it somehow. Despite his appearance of a smug politician, he was a formidable fighter. When dealing with alien cultures, he had found over the years that it was always wise to keep a few details hidden.

"I understand and I accept your terms. Shall we?" Talmac gestured after the retreating forms of Jack's comrades.

Jack graciously waved an arm in a sweeping gesture to indicate that Talmac should lead the way. Once the swarthy man had moved to the doorway, Jack turned back to face Draco, a large smile on his face. "Oh, hey, I almost forgot. Thanks for taking care of Daniel for me."

Without waiting for a reply, Jack landed a crushing roundhouse punch to the man's jaw. The satisfying thud of Draco's body and head meeting the floor hard, put a little of the sparkle back in Jack's eyes. Flexing his aching hand and muttering 'ow, ow, ow, ow", he joined the rest of his family for the trip home.

Jack even consoled himself with the knowledge that Carter would be too concerned over Daniel to attempt to kill her CO on the way. If she killed anyone it would likely be Talmac.

God damn it, he did love being 'married' to the woman.

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

Continued in Part 3