Daniel squinted up at the gate, writing notes concerning the glyphs studiously in a notebook as Pirelli kept watch over the area. The other team members were walking a wide perimeter, keeping their eyes open for any signs of trouble.

"Are you sure these symbols are constellations?" Daniel asked Pirelli as he worked.

"It's good to know I picked up some astronomy somewhere along the line," he said. "This isn't much to go on. We have the seventh symbol for certain, and what are probably the other six, but we're only sure we have the first two and maybe the next-to-last one in the right order."

"So start trying addresses, Doctor."

"That's a lot of addresses, assuming that we even have these four correct," Daniel said.

"Then you better get started," Pirelli said. 

Suddenly, a chevron locked into place. The gate began to spin in its framework.

"Is it time for them to be checking in again?" Daniel said, as Pirelli pulled him away from the gate.

They watched as the gate slammed into existence. After a moment, several men stepped through. Their appearance, similar to that of the men they met earlier, left little doubt that this was the opposing force in the war the tribe had told Daniel about. A large party of men poured out of the gate, and headed south, toward the village.

"The rest of SG-11...." Daniel said as they disappeared into the forest line.

"They'll be fine - they'll lay low when they see them coming," Pirelli said, assuring himself more than Daniel. "Guess they were right about that war party, huh?"

"Looks like it," Daniel said grimly.

The team silently stared at Pirelli as he clicked on his radio. "Major Pirelli here," he said.

"Lose track of time again, Major?" Jack O'Neill did not sound happy. They'd missed another check-in, and he wanted answers.

"No, sir." Pirelli paused, and the team waited expectantly. "We've had a little problem here."

What kind of problem?" Jack asked, as General Hammond listened in.

"We can't seem to get the DHD to dial out. Dr. Jackson has been working on it, but hasn't made any progress," Pirelli said.

"Do you need assistance, Major?" General Hammond said.

"Negative, sir - I don't think it's a good idea to send anyone through right now, since we can't guarantee when we can go back. And we're fine on supplies now."

General Hammond looked over at Jack. "Funny how they didn't mention this before," he said.

"Yeah - real funny," Jack said. "I'd like to speak to Daniel, Major."

"Dr. Jackson's not available right now, Colonel, but I'll let him know anything you need to pass along," Pirelli said, clicking off his radio and motioning to Daniel to keep quiet.

Jack looked over at General Hammond quickly before switching off the mike. "General, can I have a word with you, over here?"

"What is it, Colonel?"

"Sir, do you really think there's a problem with the DHD?" Jack asked in a low voice.

General Hammond's eyebrows shot up. "You don't trust Major Pirelli?"

"Not as far as I can throw him. I think something's up with Daniel - he's either injured or there's some other reason they won't let us speak with him. But I don't believe for a minute the DHD is out of order."

"That's a serious charge, Colonel. I'd like some evidence to back it up," General Hammond said.

"I don't have that evidence now, sir - but if I could talk to Daniel, I think he could clear this up. Can you let me know the next time you check in with them?" Jack asked.

"Absolutely," General Hammond said, as he clicked the mike back on. "Major, we'll establish a wormhole periodically, and make sure you're still okay and don't need supplies. Keep us informed. Hammond out."

Pirelli ignored the condemning looks of his team as the wormhole shut down.

"What the hell are you doing?" Daniel asked, expressing what all of them thought.

"We don't need any help," Pirelli replied. "Back to work, Dr. Jackson." He looked around at the rest of SG-11, who were looking at him with barely disguised disbelief. "And don't you guys have a perimeter to walk?"

Pirelli watched as Daniel tried dialing various Stargate addresses, and hoped against hope they could find the right one for Earth before the SGC checked in again, because he was doubtful that he could keep them from talking to Daniel the next time without gagging the archaeologist.

Maybe there was still a chance he could save his ass after all. Jackson might come up with the right coordinates. But he knew in either case he would have trouble regaining the trust of his men. His decision not to confess earlier had stranded them as surely as Jackson's amnesia. He knew they were on the edge of an outright mutiny.  And all because of that damned geek, he thought.

The event he'd been dreading finally came. The Stargate's chevrons started lighting up, and he and Daniel watched as the wormhole spun into view and the signal he knew was coming sounded loud and clear into his radio.

"Major Pirelli, this is the SGC," he heard Colonel O'Neill's voice. "Do you read?"

Pirelli looked over at Daniel. "We read you, Colonel."

His transmission was suddenly interrupted as an arrow hissed by his ear, bouncing off the Stargate. He looked up in shock as the tribe they'd witnessed earlier came out of the woods, obviously in retreat and headed for the Stargate. And they weren't going to let anyone stand in their way.

"Daniel - get down!" Pirelli said, pulling him down as more arrows rained down. "Shit - where are the others?" He looked over his shoulder at the Stargate, which was open. The warriors approaching them couldn't dial through to their own planet while the gate was open. Of course, they'd have to go right over him and Jackson to even reach the DHD.

He clicked on his radio. "Command, this is Pirelli - we are under attack and need reinforcements - repeat, we...."

Daniel suddenly clicked on his own radio. "Shut the gate!" he yelled. "Shut it down!" he said, as Pirelli stared in shock.

The control room had come to life as Pirelli's message had come through, and the marines poured into the gate room, setting up around the gate in anticipation of rendering aid. The gate, its iris tightly closed, stood impassively.

"What is it - what happened?" General Hammond said. The radio officer played back the message from Pirelli and Daniel from a minute ago. "Then I closed the iris, sir. The wormhole is still active - we can send through troops at any time..."

"What was Daniel thinking, General?" Jack asked. "We need to get reinforcements in there now."

"No, Colonel. We're going to do as he says," General Hammond said,. "Shut it down, and open the iris."

"Sir...."

"Trust me, Jack," General Hammond said.

"What the hell are you doing!" Pirelli roared at Daniel. "And I thought you said your radio was busted?"

Pirelli noticed that his team was coming out of the woods to the sides of the tribe, trying desperately to reach the gate. He scrambled to reach his rifle as more arrows came his way. Behind him, the gate blinked out of existence. "Yeah, looks like they heard you. Great job, Jackson. Brilliant."

"If reinforcements had come through from Earth, there might have been casualties, and we are not at war with these people," Daniel said.

"Casualties? What about what they're going to do to us?" Pirelli shouted.

"Cover me," Daniel said, running for the DHD. Pirelli cursed, but did as he asked. Daniel made it, and ducked behind the console.

"NOW you remember?" Pirelli said, laying down cover fire as his men scrambled to get back to the gate.

"I never forgot," Daniel said, intent on dialing in the coordinates. The Stargate rolled into view again behind them, and Pirelli clicked on his own radio.

"Command, this is SG-11," he said, diving behind the DHD as arrows shot over his head. "We're coming back through the wormhole and we may have company. Have security stand by," he said, fumbling with the GDO.

"Yes - that's the general idea behind a team, all right. Working together - getting one another out of messes, not into them." Daniel fired above the approaching tribe's heads, causing them to pause in their attack. "Good to know you finally have the whole team concept thing down, Pirelli!"

Stevens reached the platform, and Pirelli motioned him through the gate. "Go through - go through!" he said, pushing the man toward the gate. "Dr. Jackson, get through that gate."

"Not until those men get back here," Daniel said, as Jones and Adams sprinted toward the gate.

"They're my team, Jackson!" Pirelli said.

"You don't deserve them," Daniel said, firing again.

"I said get through that gate!" Pirelli said, half-standing to grab a fistful of Daniel's jacket. As he did, an arrow thudded into his shoulder, and he stumbled, dropping his weapon.

"Damn!" he said, clutching at his shoulder. Daniel steadied him as Adams ran up to the platform. "Take him," Daniel said, motioning to the two of them to go. "I'll wait for Jones - we'll be right behind you."

"No," Pirelli said, but Adams had already pulled him through the gate. The next thing he knew, he was crouched on the ramp outside the wormhole. A medic ran to him, gently moving him away.

"Where are they - Jackson and Jones? Did they come through?" Pirelli asked, clutching his shoulder.

Jack eyed him malevolently. "You better hope they're right behind you, Pirelli," Jack said, as Pirelli was taken to the infirmary.

A tense moment passed, and then the two men came flying out of the wormhole, ducking as they went. "Close the iris!" Jack yelled, as an arrow whizzed by his ear, narrowly missing one of the medics.

The iris closed, and behind it the team heard the 'clink, clink' of arrows as they hit the inside of the shield. The Stargate shut down almost immediately.

"Are you all right, Daniel?" Jack went to his side, checking him over. "No holes?"

"No holes," Daniel said, smiling over at Jones. His face suddenly sobered. "How's Pirelli?"

Jack shook his head in amazement. "He's fine, Daniel - they took him off to the infirmary to get that arrow taken out. Didn't look like it hit anything vital."

"And the rest of the team?"

"Okay - none the worse for wear," Jack said, looking them over. "I guess they have you to thank for that?"

"Sort of," Daniel confirmed. 

Adams came over and gave Daniel a rough hug before going off to the showers.  Stevens clasped him on the shoulder as he passed.  "Glad we didn't shoot you, Daniel."

"Me too," Daniel said with amusement as Stevens followed Adams.  Daniel pointedly ignored Jack's interested look.

Jones gave Daniel a playful punch to the shoulder.  "So you remembered?" he asked Daniel.

"Yeah, something like that," Daniel confirmed.  "Listen, I...."

"It's okay, Dr. Jackson - whatever happened, we're just glad you got us home," Jones said, as he followed his teammates out of the gateroom.

Jack turned to Daniel as he left.  "Mind telling me what happened on this little mission?"  he asked Daniel.

Daniel thought for a moment.  "Later," he said to Jack as he turned to go to the infirmary.  

Jack turned with a sigh and followed.

"Just a few minutes, Daniel - then he should rest," she said, leaving Daniel alone with Pirelli.

"How are the rest of the team?" Pirelli asked quietly.

"They're fine - no injuries. How's the shoulder?" Daniel asked.

"No permanent damage," he said, preoccupied with a space off in the distance. He spoke after a moment. "I'm going to lose my command, aren't I?"

Damn right, Jack thought to himself from across the room. But Daniel answered him in a more neutral voice.

"I think it's likely, yes," he said.

"You sold me out, didn't you Jackson? Your being assigned to our team was just a way to get me out of the SGC," Pirelli said.

Jack's ear's perked up across the room at Pirelli's accusations. God, this guy was paranoid, he thought. The military would never send a civilian in to do something like that.

"That's called entrapment in some quarters, Doctor," Pirelli said bitterly.

"That's funny, they called it undercover work when they assigned me to SG-11," Daniel said.

Across the room, Jack's jaw hit the floor.

Pirelli looked over at Daniel, his expression speaking volumes about how the man felt about him. Daniel felt the hair rise on the back of his neck as he realized he'd just made a very dangerous enemy.

"I won't forget this, Jackson.  You'll pay for taking my command away from me," he hissed.

"Major Pirelli, I hope you're thanking Dr. Jackson for his quick thinking back there on the planet," General Hammond said, walking into the infirmary.  

Pirelli straightened as he realized Hammond may have heard his last words to Daniel.  "Yes, sir."

"There are some serious charges awaiting you, son.  If you're willing to learn from this, you might have the opportunity for a command again one day. But for now, I'm going to have to recommend your deactivation from front-line service," General Hammond continued.

"Yes, sir," Pirelli said to General Hammond. "All I've ever wanted to do is lead an SG team, sir. I hope I can win back your trust."

"We'll see, Major," General Hammond said, turning to leave. Daniel followed him out, meeting up with Jack in the hall.

"I think I've made myself an enemy, Jack," Daniel said, in a voice too low for General Hammond to hear.

"Dr. Jackson agreed to become part of SG-11 temporarily to see if there was any truth to the rumors we'd heard of Pirelli being a poor commanding officer. This last scenario very effectively showed that he wasn't willing to put the welfare of his team above admitting a mistake. You took some liberties with your standing orders, Doctor," General Hammond said, "But it was effective. Good work. Next time I'd like a less spectacular ending, however."

"Yes, General," Daniel said, as Hammond left.

Jack looked at Daniel in disbelief. "They drafted you for an undercover sting operation? A military undercover sting operation?" he asked.

"They needed a civilian to do it - that was part of Pirelli's problem, a dislike of civilians. You know, Jack - like scientists, linguists, that sort of thing," Daniel said.

"I guess I should consider myself lucky they didn't investigate me," Jack said.

"How do you know they didn't?" Daniel shot back, then relented when he saw Jack's face. "I was joking, Jack."

"And when were you going to tell me about this?"

"Well, it was undercover - undercover as in 'don't tell anyone'," Daniel explained. "You should be familiar with that concept."

"But you could have trusted me to.." Jack started, then noticed Daniel's expression.

"Just like you trusted us when you went after those rogue SG teams?" Daniel said.

Jack winced.  "So this was all about paying me back for that mission?"  he asked.

"No, Jack - this was about getting a poor commander out of the field," Daniel said.  "I didn't have retribution for past wrongs on my mind when I took the assignment.  Although now that you mention it..." he said thoughtfully.

"Point taken," Jack said. "For what it's worth, good job. I'm glad you got him. Couldn't have done better myself."

Daniel smiled faintly. "Thank you."

"What talk was that?" Daniel asked.

"Oh, the one about how to deal with bullies, you know."

"Yeah - you can put that one off, Jack," Daniel said with a small smile.