Jack glanced at Daniel as a lovely young woman knelt in front him speaking softly, her eyes moving covertly to the colonel as she spoke. O'Neil remembered seeing her keep pace with them as they had passed through the village that afternoon. She rose as Daniel finished speaking, openly smiling at Jack as if he had personally hung the moon before she hurried away.

"Daniel?...What was that all about?" The last time a native had looked at him like that, he'd ended up married and rapidly aging from a Goa'uld experiment.

"Her name is Janala. She wanted to know if Sam was your...woman."

"And?"

"And what?" Daniel gave him a look of complete innocence.

"And you said..."

"Oh..."Shrugging nonchalantly Daniel grinned. "I figured it might be better for both of you if I just evaded the question."

"And just how did you do that?"

"I...I told her yes but you hadn't yet mated."

"Daniel!" O'Neill's growl spoke volumes.

"You will come with me please." Shelaya blushed as the four of them stared at her in stunned silence. "Did I not say the words correctly?"

"You just..." Daniel was the first to recover, "spoke English." "I have been attempting to learn your language." She switched back to her native tongue. "My language is easier."

She led the four guests of honor to the fur cushions placed to the left of Meelay. A large fire blazed, lighting up the night as the women efficently passed bowls of food to their families, Shelaya serving the members of SG-1; first Jack, followed by Daniel, Teal'c and then Sam. Jack pretended not to notice that after his lecture on manners, Daniel still had trouble looking at the young woman who resembled the wife he'd searched for so long only to lose to the finality of death.

Taking the bowl Shelaya offered, Daniel nodded his thanks with a forced smile, quickly glancing away. He had seen her at a distance, watching as he wandered through their encampment. Had felt her eyes on him as surely as if she were touching him. The sight of the native woman Shelaya filled his mind with thoughts of Shau're. Happy memories of Shau're forcing him to leave his work to rest and eat. Laughing as he clumsily attempted some new activity that the people of Abydos took for granted. Never forgotten memories of Shau're sleeping peacefully beside him, her head resting on his chest, her long hair tickling his cheek as he lay watching her sleep.

The sudden silence pulled Daniel from his reverie and he looked up to see a man in a robe ornately decorated with beads and feathers step up to the fire. On his head he wore the skin and head of what resembled a wolf. Earrings made of bone and feathers dangled from his ears and around his neck hung a larger version of Shelaya's medallion.

His leathery, weather worn face made it impossible to determine his age but knowing how long these people lived Jack couldn't even begin to judge if this person was middle aged or ready for a retirement home. Intelligent dark eyes raked over the members of SG-1, glittering as if he held a special secret that he would disclose only when he was good and ready. There was an arrogance about this man that instantly put O'Neill on edge. It was the same feeling of distrust and disaster about to happen that rushed through every nerve ending whenever he saw Maybourne.

All eyes watched as the man slowly turned in the direction of the Stargate and raised his arms to the sky. "Shaman." Daniel whispered lowly. 'This guy would be great as a carnival barker' Jack thought as the man's voice built with fervor, the words almost hypnotic in their rhythm. Glancing at Daniel, Jack's first thought was that he had fallen under some sort of spell. A closer look revealed that the young linguist was simply concentrating on translating the prayer; yet Jack was confused by the puzzled look in his friend's bright blue eyes. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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