As the two men made their way through the rubble, the sounds became slightly louder and more frequent. It sounded almost like the whimper of a wounded dog, or that of a person in pain, trying desperately to remain silent. O'Neill halted their progress as they came to one of the few walls that were left standing near the middle of the dwelling. Using basic hand signals, he directed Daniel to stay put while he confronted whatever was to be found on the other side of the wall.

With a speed that belied his age, O'Neill rounded the thin barrier that separated them from the unknown and brought his weapon to bear upon the being on the other side.

"Whoa!" O'Neill exclaimed, instantly snapping his weapon up so the barrel pointed safely towards the sky. "Daniel!"

At his team leader's shout, Daniel rounded the wall to offer whatever assistance was needed. The sight before him consisted of Colonel O'Neill crouching in front of a distraught young woman. Jack quickly relinquished his position to the younger man and radioed Sam and Teal'c.

"Don't be afraid," Daniel crooned as he knelt before the woman. He held his hands out before her, demonstrating that he had no weapons. "My name is Daniel, Daniel Jackson, from Earth." Confusion marred her delicate features. "Our people have been communicating through the stargate - the stone circle." Daniel made a circular gesture in the air with one hand.

The confusion lifted and the young woman's dark eyes brightened in understanding. She nodded. "Yes, my husband, Kam, has spoken of your talks."

Daniel was taken aback. "Kam is your husband? You must be Paran."

"Yes, but he is dead now, as are the rest of my people." The woman bit back a sob that changed into a pained hiss.

Much to his shame, Daniel felt relieved. He knew it was more than likely that this young woman had lost her family and, eventually, they would have to find their bodies to give her some closure, but he didn't want to be the one to have to tell her, right here and now, of Kam's fate. Paran already knew, and that lifted the burden from his shoulders.

An ominous creaking sound from one of the remaining walls of the structure pulled them from their bleak thoughts.

Daniel held a hand out for Paran. "Please, we need to get out of here. It's not safe."

Read the full story.