�
Author�s Note: Most of the characters in this story (other than those I created) belong to the creators and distributors of Stargate SG-1 and I am in no way trying to infringe on their copyrights. I borrowed these characters and some settings for the story. This was done for the enjoyment of others and not for profit. As a note, this story takes place later this year. It would be considered a second season episode if you think of fanfic as just episodes we�ll never get to see on the show! Also, I would like to thank Jennifer C. and Raine for beta reading this. Their feedback and suggestions were greatly appreciated!
�Please go,� the man lying in his bed said, �They�ve already taken so many of your people away from me. Go through the Gate, child.�
�Yes, decan,� the young woman at his side replied, �as you wish.�
A tall, muscular man stood beside her. �Shall I get your things?� he asked.
�Yes, of course,� she answered through her tears, �and yours as well.�
The man looked puzzled. �Am I going through with you?�
The woman nodded. �You�re my guard. You must.�
�Yes, Tou�ran,� the man replied before leaving the room.
�Sweet child,� the older man stated, �be weary. I am sending you through on good faith. We must believe these warriors will help you get to my home. Other warriors will await your arrival. Be safe.�
�Get well, my decan,� Tou�ran replied.
The man raised a frail hand and gently touched her cheek. �I could never get over the beauty of your people,� the man said, �but yours is beyond all that I�ve seen in all my years here. Eyes blue like the sea and hair gold like the sun. Far too beautiful to die so young, child. Take care for my sake.�
Tou�ran nodded and rose. Her guard, Cifer�re, carried a sturdy canvas bag like those the man taught them to make. She turned to Cifer�re and nodded. Before leaving, she kissed the man�s forehead and blew out all the candles.
*** *** ***
�Which do we push, Tou�ran?� Captain James Hale asked.
Tou�ran consulted the notebook given to her by the man. It was a handbook of all that he knew of the world beyond the Gate. �These seven here,� she said, showing them the symbols in the book.
While Captain Hale entered the chevrons into the DHD, another of the men from the planet they called Earth used a device to send a secret code to those on the other side once the Stargate was opened. Captain Hale nodded to his men and each passed through, one by one.
�Tou�ran, go,� Captain Hale ordered, �My men should have informed the others of your arrival. I�m going through last so they can�t shut the Gate before you get through.�
Tou�ran nodded and turned to Cifer�re. �I will go first,� her guard offered, �Wait a few moments before going through.�
Tou�ran again nodded and watched him pass through the Gate. �Bless our journey, Mercury, and make us safe,� she softly prayed, �Bless our journey, great Jove, and make us safe.� Taking a deep breath, Tou�ran then stepped through the Stargate as well, followed by Hale.
*** *** ***
�Has SG-5 returned yet?� Hammond asked.
�Yes, sir,� Lieutenant Willis replied, �We just received their transmission.�
Hammond and the others in the control room watched as members of SG-5 returned to Earth. Cifer�re followed several members of the team through the Gate. Hammond immediately called for Captain Samantha Carter.
Sam, who had been waiting to speak with Hammond, immediately entered. �Should I get the others, sir?� she requested.
Hammond waved her off. �I wanted you to see this. Everything should be fine,� he said, �Captain Hale had better know what he�s doing, though.�
Soldiers stood with rifles in hand at the bottom of the ramp. Cifer�re briefly regarded them, then turned back to the Gate and waited for Tou�ran. She stepped through the Stargate shortly after him and was immediately followed by Hale.
Looking around her and noticing the soldiers, Tou�ran pulled her guard close. �The man warned us about this,� she whispered, �These are the warriors waiting for us.�
Hammond briskly entered the room. �Stand down,� he barked to the men. �Take that pair to a holding cell and send for O�Neill. I want his team to talk with these . . . people. Captain Hale, we need to talk about this. In my office . . . immediately.�
*** *** ***
�I think the others do not know we understand their words,� stated Cifer�re, �Shall I tell them we do?�
Tou�ran playfully giggled. Her aquamarine blue eyes sparkled with excitement. �No,� she said, �let�s make them think we don�t understand them for as long as possible. It�ll make the fact that we do all the more interesting to them.�
Cifer�re shook his head. �It is a wonder our people respect you so, child,� he said, �You do not act as honorable as you are said to be.� The sentinel inspected the cell the pair had been left in. There were two bunks, a table, a chair and a mirror. Certainly not luxurious quarters, he mused.
Tou�ran ran a brush through her golden blond tresses and adjusted her midriff top. �I look to these people like an unrespectable woman, Cifer�re,� she said, �My attitude might as well match their expectations.�
The lock clicked loudly as it was turned . The door unlocked and swung open. Colonel Jack O�Neill was the first in the room. He was followed by Sam and Teal�c. Dr. Daniel Jackson took up the rear. As he closed the door behind him and turned to face the room, his jaw dropped. He seemed bewildered by Tou�ran�s apparel, or rather, lack of it.
�Did they come through the Gate like this?� he asked.
Sam nodded. �Exactly like this,� she said, �Why? Does it bother you?�
Daniel shook his head and adjusted his glasses. �N-no, not at all,� he replied, �It�s not that. It�s just that we�ve never come upon any civilizations that have their respectable women dressing like this.� He subtly pointed out Tou�ran�s lack of clothing.
�How do you know she�s respectable?� asked Jack.
�She, uh, she has a guard with her,� Daniel replied as if it should have been obvious to them, �Many societies give their respectable women guards to watch over them. It�s often asked for by their fathers.�
Tou�ran slightly smiled. She wanted to laugh at the man in the glasses. He may have known a lot about her people, or more than the others, but she made him nervous. The clothes she wore were more revealing than he probably had expected.
�Do you understand us?� Sam asked.
Tou�ran and Cifer�re exchanged glances. Teal�c regarded them with curiosity. Cifer�re then asked Tou�ran a question in their native tongue; she nodded in reply.
�Their language sounds like a muddled mix of ancient Greek and Latin,� Daniel suddenly stated in amazement, �I wonder how.�
�The gods brought those people to our lands long ago,� stated Tou�ran, �and yes, we understand you.�
Sam seemed more surprised than anyone that Tou�ran could speak their language. �Where did you learn English?� she asked.
�A man from this world came to mine and taught me as a child. I was four,� Tou�ran replied.
�How long ago did this man come to you?� asked Daniel.
�Maybe 16 years ago,� Tou�ran answered. She paused a moment before realizing she had forgotten something. �I�m Tou�ran,� she added, touching her collar bone, �This is my guard, Cifer�re.� She motioned towards her guard as she spoke his name.
They all nodded their understanding and introduced themselves.
�Where are you from?� Daniel asked.
�Wait,� interrupted Jack, �Did you say 16 years ago? We didn�t figure out how to use this thing to get to Abydos until 2 or 3 years ago.�
�The man said that it was a test run made by those who found the Stargate,� explained Tou�ran, �They randomly chose the symbols until it worked. When it opened, the man took as many books and learning devices as he could and went through without authorization. It was never, to the man�s knowledge, reported. He landed on my world, Oret, and gathered all the children under the age of 16 so he could begin preparing us.�
�Preparing you?� Sam asked, �For what?�
�Preparing us to go through the Stargate,� she replied, �He taught us English and some of your customs as well. Some of the people on Oret were angered by the man and many of his students aren�t well-respected anymore. I, however, am not one of those who has lost the respect of the others.�
�Why?� asked Daniel.
�Because I can heal with my hands,� Tou�ran replied, �My parents believe that Apollo came down and touched my mother to bless me with my gift.�
�Heal with your hands?� Jack scoffed, �How?�
Teal�c understood what she meant. �Daniel Jackson,� he said, turning to the doctor, �Give me your hand.�
�Why?� Daniel asked as he absently extended his arm toward Teal�c.
The Jaffa pulled out a knife and cut Daniel�s palm. Daniel yelped and glared at Teal�c. Tou�ran saw what he had done and nodded at Teal�c. She then reached out and touched the cut on Daniel�s palm. It quickly healed itself, leaving no scar. Daniel couldn�t believe his eyes.
�That�s what I can do,� state Tou�ran, �That�s why my people respect me so.�
�What else happened to you that we should know about?� Jack asked. He, too, was in awe of her ability.
Tou�ran sighed deeply. �Well, sir, there are many things that have happened to me that have affected my life. Where should I begin?�
�Why did you come through the Stargate?� Sam asked.
�The man wanted to send what he called enlightened people through the Gate to help those on the other side,� she explained, �The man told us each where we would go -- with whomever we had chosen. I was to take my husband . . . .�
�Y-your husband?� echoed Daniel.
�Yes, but the gods got to him first,� Tou�ran continued, �They took Jalhi and my sister, Kor�re, to replace the older gods. I was rejected by the Goa�uld.�
�Why did it reject you?� inquired Daniel.
�My ability to heal keeps the Goa�uld from maintaining control over me as a host. It realized this and refused to take me,� she said, �It�s a blessing.�
�Does everyone sh are your thoughts on the Goa�ulds?� Jack requested.
Tou�ran stared down at the floor. �All but the Ancients,� she replied, �They want us to keep the old ways. If I should return, they would kill me. No one but the gods are allowed to use the Gate, but I went through. If I am to return, they would use me as a martyr and a sacrifice for the gods.�
�Our General already told us we have to return you to your home planet,� Jack announced, �Do you know the combination of symbols to get you there?�
�You�ll find them in this book,� Tou�ran said, handing a notebook to Daniel because he was closer. He handed it to Jack. �The man made it for whomever was to come here. It contains the symbols that would take us here, some of your customs in contrast with ours and the symbols to return us home if we should ever have to return,� she concluded.
�I�m sorry,� Daniel said, �If it was my decision, I�d let you stay. There are so many things we could learn from each other.�
�That�s why I was sent here,� stated Tou�ran, �To teach and learn, not to destroy.�
�What was the man�s name? The one who taught you all these things,� Jack asked.
�He never told us,� asserted Cifer�re, �He never thought it was important to tell us that. All he wanted to do is teach us.�
�You don�t know his name,� Sam inquired, �and you never asked him for it?�
�His name was never as important to us as what he taught us,� Tou�ran replied, �Never. When we left him, the man was lying in his bed in the only home he�s ever known on a planet he feels is more beautiful than any he ever could�ve imagined and he�s dying. No one here cares. No one here remembers him either, but he has done things for me and my people that have changed us forever.�
Daniel nodded. �I wish we could help you,� he said, �but we have our orders.�
Jack gave Daniel a confused look. �I�m sorry about your friend, kid, but . . . .�
�My name�s Tou�ran, not kid, man.�
�I�m sorry for calling you kid, Tou�ran. It�s Jack O�Neill, all right?� he stated.
Tou�ran frowned. �You would fit in on Oret,� she said to Jack.
�How so?� Daniel asked, adjusting his glasses again.
�The men on our planet are very demanding,� Tou�ran replied, �The women are submissive. It�s the way things work on Oret. The men get what they want and the women have no choice by to give it to them.�
�So how would I fit in?� Jack said, not seeing the connection.
�You seem to be quite demanding yourself, sir.�
Daniel softly chuckled to himself. Jack shot him an angered look.
�Are you upset because it�s true,� Tou�ran innocently asked, �or because someone found it amusing?�
�I�m not upset,� he replied, �I�m rabid.�
�Oh, so you�re extremely upset instead of just upset,� stated Tou�ran, �Correct?�
Sam and Daniel each stifled a laugh.
�You thought I wouldn�t understand if you used a different word which meant the same thing,� Tou�ran announced, �I�m surprised you haven�t come to expect more from me yet.�
�I can�t wait to take you back and leave you on Oret,� mumbled Jack.
�As long as it doesn�t bother you that the moment I return, the Ancients will be waiting to kill me,� said Tou�ran, �I hope you don�t mind the blood being as much on your hands as on the hands of the ones who actually kill me.�
Jack slightly smiled. �You�re good with the guilt thing.�
�The man taught me well.�
Just then, Hammond entered the room. �Captain Hale claims they�re refugees and wants them to remain,� he announced, �but you will carry our your orders as instructed unless otherwise notified by myself. So, what have you learned from our guests?�
Jack handed Hammond the notebook Tou�ran had given him.
�It�s a guide given to her by someone else. It has the symbols to return them home again,� Daniel explained.
�Good, at least we know we�ll be able to send them back,� Hammond commented.
�Are you sure that�s a good idea, sir?� Daniel asked, �Captain Hale might be right. It might be possible she defected for a good reason.�
�Is he serious?� Hammond asked Jack.
�Actually, sir, I agree with him,� replied Jack, �She doesn�t pose a threat to us. Why can�t she stay?�
�You�ve been given your orders, Colonel,� Hammond firmly stated, �Now, go home. Tomorrow we�ll be sending these two back.�
*** *** ***
�That little brat,� a young Lieutenant told Daniel the next morning, �won�t let anyone near her! What�s wrong with her?�
�She�s understandably upset. Can I get in to see her?� Daniel requested.
The lieutenant laughed. �Have fun, doc,� he replied as he opened the door.
Cifer�re was posed to attack. Once he recognized Dr. Jackson, Cifer�re backed down.
�Sorry to startle you,� Daniel said, �Is Tou�ran awake?�
Tou�ran stood. �What is it, Daniel?�
�Um, I didn�t sleep well last night,� he replied, �We�re still dropping you two off to die and I don�t want the blood to be on my hands.�
�What do you suggest?� Tou�ran requested. She stood directly in front of Daniel, leaving almost no space between them.
Daniel gazed down at her and couldn�t help noticing how lovely Tou�ran was. She was very petite but very beautiful. �Well, is there some place where you could hide?� he finally asked, �You could show us where you would be hiding and we could come back for you in a day or two . . .�
�How would you manage that?� Tou�ran asked, absently raising her hand and running it through Daniel�s fine brown hair.
He stepped back. �What are you doing?� he asked in a sharp whisper.
Tou�ran deeply sighed. �On Oret, only men can do such things,� she explained, �I�m sorry. I only wanted to know how it felt.�
Daniel relaxed a bit and walked towards her. This time he left a slightly larger gap between them. Tou�ran�s eyes were shamefully cast down. He touched her shoulder and lifted her jaw until she was looking into his eyes. �It�s all right,� he said and smiled. �Now where could you hide?�
�At the man�s house. One of the rooms has a trap door to a secret room below,� replied Tou�ran, �We could hide there -- Cifer�re and I.�
�Do you know which room?� Tou�ran shook her head. Daniel sighed. �We�ll find you somehow.�
Tou�ran ran her fingers through Daniel�s hair again. Pulling his head closer, she touched his lips with her other hand. �Kiss me,� she whispered.
Daniel was astonished by her request. �I-I shouldn�t,� he replied.
�Then I�ll kiss you,� she asserted. Then Tou�ran firmly and passionately kissed him.
Daniel pulled back and touched his lips. �You�re married and I�m --�
�My husband was taken by the Goa�ulds,� stated Tou�ran, �Jalhi and I never consummated our marriage so we�re not officially married. Your wife, Sha�re, is gone as well. We can never get them back.�
�How do you know about Sha�re?� Daniel defensively asked, pulling away.
�Jack O�Neill told me,� she replied, �He came to talk with me last night because he couldn�t sleep either.�
Daniel nodded. �Uh, it�s -- it�s all right. I just didn�t know about you or how you knew about me.�
�I shouldn�t have pushed you,� Tou�ran whispered, �You must still love her.�
Daniel stared down at his shoes in shame. He actually enjoyed the kiss they had shared. More than that, he felt he was somehow betraying Sha�re because of it. �I don't know anymore,� he quietly replied, �Don�t worry about the, uh, the kiss.�
�I won�t tell if you won�t.�
Daniel looked up. �Is everyone on Oret as attractive as you?�
Tou�ran smiled. �Are you saying you think I�m beautiful?�
Daniel blushed a little. �I guess I am.� He reached out and brushed some of her hair away from her eyes.
Just then, the Lieutenant guarding the door barged in. �Looks like she goes for the scientific type,� he laughed. �The Gate�s ready, Dr. Jackson.�
*** *** ***
�What do you have in that bag?� Jack abruptly asked.
�Clothes,� Tou�ran replied, �Why?�
�Why didn�t you change then?� Jack wondered.
�Why should I if I�m just going back home,� she said, �to die?�
Jack shook his head. �Keep bringing it up, kid,� he said under his breath, �and maybe I�ll start feeling sorry for you.�
�Why are you wearing that . . . outfit?� Sam asked since they were on the topic of clothing.
�It is the traditional wedding suit of the women on Oret,� Teal�c replied. Noticing the raised eyebrows of his teammates, he added in explanation, �I have been there.�
�Why are you still wearing it then?� Sam asked again.
�The man called for me that night, after the wedding. I had no time to change,� replied Tou�ran, �Yesterday was my wedding day.�
Jack and Teal�c began to move toward the ramp. Daniel stepped behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist to guide her in the same direction as the others. Tou�ran gasped and pulled away.
�What did you do?� Jack asked in mock-seriousness.
Daniel shrugged and turned to Tou�ran. �What did I do?�
�Placing your hand on a woman�s abdomen like that,� explained Tou�ran, �is the Oretian way of proposing marriage.�
Daniel�s face flushed scarlet. �I-I didn�t know. I didn�t know,� he uncomfortably stated, �We know so little about your customs.�
As if on cue to lighten the mood, his nose began to tickle and Daniel sneezed. Both Tou�ran and Sam tried to stifle their laughter but couldn�t. Daniel blushed again and laughed at himself as well.
Just then the Stargate burst open. �Well, we can�t sit around chatting now,� Jack announced, �Hopefully the man�s calculations are still correct so we can get to Oret.�
*** *** ***
The sky was a clear, powder blue. A light breeze blew through the clearing to counteract the heat of the sun. Tou�ran took a deep breath of the sweet air and sighed.
�Wow,� Sam exclaimed, �It�s so beautiful here.�
�Yes. Beautiful, tranquil and clean,� Tou�ran said, �The man told us it�s a lot like Earth.�
The group exchanged knowing glances and stepped off the platform onto the soft grass below. It was still wet with morning dew.
�Where�s your home?� Daniel asked.
�Just over this hill,� replied Tou�ran. She was pointing to her left.
An unexpected blast from a staff weapon whizzed by them. Tou�ran knew it was the Ancients. Cifer�re jumped in front of her as another blast was shot. He was hit and died instantly.
�Come on,� Jack ordered and grabbed Tou�ran�s arm.
She had already begun to cry. �No, I can�t,� Tou�ran sobbed, twisting to get her arm free, �Cifer�re! I have to take care of him. I can heal him! Let me go -- please.�
Daniel shook his head, rushing up to them. �We can�t risk it,� he said, taking her other arm. Tou�ran stopped struggling. �Come on,� he beseeched her.
Tou�ran took a deep breath to suppress the sobs. �If we get to my village, we�ll be safe,� she said, �The Ancients refuse to step foot on that land unless they must.�
�Come on then,� Daniel pleaded, pulling her arm.
�Be swift, Pluto,� Tou�ran quickly prayed, �Cifer�re was a good, brave, strong man. Keep him well until his path and mine meet again, great Pluto.�
�Come on,� Jack shouted, �now!�
*** *** ***
�Is this the man�s house?� Jack asked. Before them was a large adobe home.
�Yes, it�s all one floor,� Tou�ran returned, �other then the secret room below. Don�t let the exterior dimensions fool you. It�s not as large as it looks. Thick walls and ceiling.�
They followed her inside. Candles burned in one room which appeared to hold a shrine to some god. Tou�ran instantly noticed this and entered the room.
�Great Pluto, take care of this outsider as he makes his way to you,� she prayed to a golden statue, �He was a good, wise man who taught many. Keep him safe and well until his path crosses mine again, Pluto.�
Daniel stood by and watched her light one of the candles. Once she left the room, Daniel asked, �What were you doing?�
�Praying,� Tou�ran plainly answered, moving on to the next room.
�To whom?� he asked again.
�Pluto, god of the dead,� she replied.
�Um, he�s a Roman god, isn�t he?�
Tou�ran shrugged. �People the man called Roman and Greek have been to Oret. The Goa�ulds took too many of the young so they brought others here to help populate the lands. Both cultures changed our ways some. The man claimed it began with the people of Persia, but I couldn�t tell you for sure.�
Daniel nodded. �Your clothes seem to be Persian in style,� he said, �The bare midriff was said to have been common among the people.�
�Women bare the stomach to prove they�re respectable,� Tou�ran explained, �If they don�t do so, the men believe she�s a whore. It�s done to prove she�ll give a man many healthy children.�
�What kind of gods do you pray to?� asked Daniel.
�We have many gods for different things,� Tou�ran said, �Each controls certain aspects of our lives. We pray to the necessary god.�
�Very interesting,� Jack interrupted, �but we have to get back.�
�You will come for me,� Tou�ran pleaded, �won�t you?�
Jack sighed. He felt sorry for her. �We�d need a good reason to return,� he said, �and an even better one to return with you.�
�Leave something behind,� Tou�ran suggested, �and tell your general you must return for it�s important.�
�We can�t leave anything behind,� said Sam, �We need everything we have with us.�
�Tell him I gave you one of the books here to learn more about Oret,� Tou�ran exclaimed, �In the confusion of the attack by the Ancients --�
�-- we left it behind,� Jack concluded, �The man did teach you well.� He patted her shoulder.
�Good,� said Tou�ran, �now leave before the Ancients decide to take a chance.� She guided them out of the house.
�Go ahead,� Daniel said, �I want to find out what room Tou�ran will be in and what book we�ll need.�
�We�ll wait for you at the Gate,� Jack said, �Don�t take too long.� As they left, Jack muttered, �Just like a sailor, only he has to have a woman on every planet.�
Once they were gone, Daniel and Tou�ran searched every room until they found the trap door in the library. Tou�ran grabbed a book and placed it on the desk. It would be the book the team would return for.
�I can see why the man stayed to teach your people,� Daniel commented, �It�s so peaceful and beautiful.�
�It�s home,� said Tou�ran, �but it shouldn�t be mine. I belong on Earth to help educate your people.�
Daniel smiled. �We will return for you, Tou�ran. I promise.� He took her hand.
�Will you kiss me now, Daniel?� Tou�ran asked.
�Do you want me to?� Daniel replied. He seemed a bit nervous about her question.
�I wouldn�t have asked you if I didn�t want you to,� Tou�ran stated with a sweet smile gracing her face.
Daniel guided Tou�ran towards him. Then he lifted her chin towards his lips and kissed her. It had been sometime since Daniel had kissed a woman. He had to admit it felt good to do it again.
When he pulled away, Tou�ran reached up and brushed her fingers across his lips. �No man has ever kissed me that way before,� she breathlessly announced.
�Was that a compliment?� Daniel asked with a nervous laugh.
Tou�ran smiled brightly. �Yes,� she replied, �now go, Daniel. The others are waiting.�
�We�ll return for you in a few days,� Daniel called, �I promise you we will.�
Tou�ran watched him walk away. She leaned against the cool wall and slid down once he reached the hill. �Bless their journey home, Mercury,� Tou�ran prayed, �Bring them swiftly back to me.�
*** *** ***
�What did you find?� Hammond asked.
�Tou�ran gave us a book,� Jack reported, �She said it would help us understand Oret and the people there. Daniel, give him the book.�
Daniel looked lost. �I thought Sam took it,� he stated, �I don�t have it.�
Sam frowned. �I thought Teal�c took it,� she said.
�Jack O�Neill told me Daniel Jackson was to take it,� Teal�c added, �I do not have it.�
�Tou�ran said it was important,� proclaimed Jack, �No one took it?� They all shook their heads in reply.
�I�ll send you back in a few days,� Hammond replied, �I�ll have to clear this with the President.�
*** *** ***
�Where is she?� Jack asked.
�The library,� Daniel replied, �The door�s in the library. We found it when you left.�
�What else happened when we left?� Jack pried as Daniel led them to the library.
�N-nothing,� he defensively replied. �Well, Tou�ran chose the book we�d return with,� Daniel added, �How do we explain her returning with us?�
�There�s people here who want Tou�ran dead,� said Jack, �I think that�s reason enough.�
Sam opened the trap door. �She looks sick,� Sam proclaimed, �Teal�c, pull her out of there.�
Tou�ran�s eyes fluttered open. She had to adjust them to the light again. Weakly, she smiled. �You�re back,� she softly said.
�You�ve been down there for three days,� Sam said, �Haven�t you?�
�Y-yes. Well, my mother brought me food once and I did get out twice,� explained Tou�ran, �I�ll go to change my clothes.�
�Clean yourself up, too,� confirmed Jack, �We can wait.�
Tou�ran wearily walked away. She barely made it to the bathroom.
�Anybody got food for her,� Jack asked, �She�s got to be starving.�
Daniel pulled some things out of his bag as he searched it for food. �She waited for us for three days,� he said in awe, �She spent three days down there on good faith.�
Sam laid out an MRE and a candy bar. �I know it�s not enough,� she said, �but she can still have that.�
Jack took the MRE away. �These things taste like dirt,� he said, �I�m not making her eat it.�
Daniel placed two more candy bars next to the other. �We�ll rot out her teeth this way,� he added with a soft laugh.
�When we get back, we�ll get her something better,� said Jack, �Until then, she can eat those.�
Tou�ran teetered back and slid to the floor to sit. �How are you going to smuggle me back?�
Jack smiled. �We�ll tell Hammond you were being attacked, �he said.
�You�ll need an interpreter for that book as well,� added Tou�ran, �Look at it.�
Daniel flipped through the pages. He laughed and kissed her forehead. �You�re a genius,� he exclaimed, �We can�t read it without Tou�ran.�
�Yes, you can,� Tou�ran replied, �The translated version is in another book. All of these books have been translated. Take all you want. The man can�t use them anymore.�
�Here,� Sam stated, �Eat these.�
Tou�ran took the candy. �Can you hand me that pitcher?�
Sam nodded and gave it to her. �What is it?�
�Something I�m not supposed to drink on Earth for at least another year or so according to the other warriors I met,� Tou�ran slyly replied.
Sam took it back and smelled it. �Who taught you to make this stuff?� She cautiously handed it back.
Tou�ran took one long drink. �The people brought here by the gods.�
Sam shook her head and helped the others look through the books to find the ones they should take. Tou�ran sat and happily ate the candy given to her. When she finished the last candy bar, Tou�ran took another drink from the pitcher and stood up.
�Need any help?� Tou�ran asked.
�Not from a drunk,� replied Jack as he scanned another book.
Tou�ran pursed her lips. �Unlike you,� she stated calmly, �I, like the others here, have a high tolerance level with alcohol.�
�Meaning?� Jack absently asked.
Tou�ran looked at the binds of the books they set aside and grabbed the counterparts to them. �Meaning it takes more than that to get me even remotely drunk,� she replied as she placed the English versions in her bag.
�What are you doing?� Sam asked, �We need those.�
�I�ll hang on to the books in English,� replied Tou�ran, �so I can stick around. A lot of good a translator would do you if you had the English versions with you.� She slightly grinned.
�I think we have enough,� announced Jack, �Let�s go.�
*** *** ***
�What�s she doing back here?� Hammond asked, �I thought we already sent her back.�
�We did, sir,� Jack replied, �but when we returned, we found her under attack. We couldn�t just leave her there.�
Hammond sighed. �Did you get the book?�
�Yes,� stated Daniel, �and a few others, but there�s a catch.�
�What is it?� asked Hammond.
�Well -- well, all the books are in her native language,� explained Daniel, �Tou�ran will have to help me translate them before we can use them.�
�I guess you�ll be good for something after all,� Hammond said to Tou�ran. �Where do you want the books?�
�It, uh, would be easier if I took them home with me,� Daniel answered, �Would it be possible if Tou�ran stayed with me as well?�
Jack slightly smiled and shook his head. �Is the translations the only reason you want Tou�ran to stay at your place, Daniel?� he quietly murmured.
Tou�ran heard Jack and jabbed him with her elbow.
Jack got the message. �Withdraw the question,� Jack whispered in discomfort.
�Dr. Jackson, if it will speed up the process of translating the books,� Hammond stated, �by all means take her with you.� Then he marched off.
�Do you think we should just recopy the translations I brought,� Tou�ran asked once Hammond was gone, �or give him the actual translations?�
�Unless you want to go back again,� suggested Jack, �I�d say you both should recopy the translations.�
�How long would that take?� asked Sam.
Tou�ran sighed and considered the question. �A week,� she uncertainly replied, �maybe longer.� She smiled and added. �I could work on it while you go through the Gate . . . until your General gets the idea that I want to join you and does something about it.�
�How are you going to do that?� Daniel asked.
�Let him know?� she asked. Daniel nodded. Tou�ran deviously grinned. �I can be very persuasive,� she ambiguously stated.
�She means she will annoy Hammond until he agrees to her demand,� Teal�C translated.
Tou�ran snickered. �Exactly.�
Jack playfully rolled his eyes. �Is this what we get the pleasure of dealing with from now on?� he jested with a wink.
�Yes,� Tou�ran firmly replied with a half-smile, �I�m sure you�ll get used to it.�
Jack smiled. �I think I already have.�