Author Notes: As with parts one and two, this piece was written with the opening and closing sentences already provided.

He could try to cross the clearing alone, Daniel thought, though the twisted and torn ankle would make him a pretty easy target. Daniel shuddered. He still wasn't quite sure what had happened. One minute he'd been checking out a pile of rocks that looked like they had been purposefully stacked by an intelligent being, the next he was waking up with his face in the dirt and a pain in his ankle that had him groaning out loud. He'd found himself alone in the woods, but not for long. A creature had soon approached. Daniel thought it looked like an illustration he'd once seen of Beor, the bear-man from the Saga of King Hrolf Kraki, his childhood favorite of the Icelandic tales. The creature had held in his hand what appeared to be a gun of some sort - weapon, Daniel corrected himself mentally. How many times had Jack told him since he'd come back from Abydos? Gun and weapon mean different things to a military man. Maybe he should start cataloguing military terms like a foreign language.

Daniel shook his head a little to clear it. He'd been spacing out intermittently ever since he'd escaped, and now here he was lost, hurt, alone and probably being pursued by frightening aliens, daydreaming about military terminology. Too bad his radio had been smashed somewhere along the way. He could have called for help - no, back-up - like Jack had reminded him to do if he needed anything during the mission. Of course, Jack had also told him to do exactly what he was told on missions or he'd be off the team. This time Jack had told him to stay in sight. Daniel started to consider a strategy for getting on one of the other teams if Jack kicked him off SG-1 until he realized he was spacing again. Fed up with his lack of concentration, Daniel took a deep breath and stepped into the clearing.

He looked around him furtively as he walked, the alien weapon clutched in his sweaty hands. He couldn't believe he'd managed to twist the weapon away from the bear-like creature. He thought he must have taken it by surprise; it wasn't expecting him to try to escape. Not that his aim was any good. He'd figured out how to fire the thing surprisingly quickly, but his shot had disappeared into the woods with a loud crack, and in the distance he could just make out a brief burst of fire where he hit a thick tree branch. Still, the alien had left him alone and with a gun - weapon. That was two points better than before, Daniel thought with some satisfaction as he limped his way across the clearing. He had seen smoke by the hillside several minutes earlier and though it was gone now, he headed in that direction. Intelligent beings made fires. He only hoped it wasn't the bear-aliens.

Daniel winced as he tripped over a molehill - or whatever they had on this planet that burrowed in the ground. He caught himself on his bad ankle and had to stop for a minute to catch his breath from the pain it caused. He wondered how bad it was. His pant leg was torn up, and even the incredibly sturdy black military boots he wore hadn't protected his ankle from the strength of a Beor, or the creature's incredibly sharp claws. It suddenly occurred to Daniel that he should have tried to bandage his injury, but it was too late now. The sun was beginning to set, it was getting cold out, and he was in the middle of a meadow. He plunged on toward the tree-line, stumbling as he walked but making progress nonetheless. He could already hear Jack's `I told you so', and he vowed to himself that next time he would do as he was told and stay in sight of his teammates. Because he was determined that there would be a next time.

Daniel heard movement behind him and swung around awkwardly. He raised the weapon he held as an afterthought, scanning the clearing with wide, unblinking eyes. Nothing. He turned back around and continued forward. His breathing sounded loud in the quiet of dusk. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and stopped again. He listened intently, holding his breath, eyes moving rapidly but the rest of his body perfectly still. A moment passed. Nothing. Daniel licked his lips and thought over his situation. What should he do? He could try running across what remained of the clearing, but he doubted his bad foot would allow him to go very fast. He heard another noise to his right and his head jerked reflexively in that direction. A Beor stood a short distance away him, also holding a weapon.

Daniel considered his options. He couldn't run away, he couldn't aim straight - he'd have to talk to Jack about that when they got back - he couldn't even think straight at the moment. Daniel forced himself to relax his stance, letting his hijacked weapon hang from his hand at his side. He cleared his throat.

"Hello!"

The Beor didn't respond.

Daniel took a cautious step toward the creature. "My name is Daniel Jackson. Daniel," he repeated, pointing at his chest. "I'm from a planet called - "

A gunshot rang into the night and the Beor staggered backward. He let out an enraged growl and lunged toward the trees in the direction the shots must have come from, coincidentally also the direction Daniel had been headed. Two more bullets caught him, one in the chest and one in the head. He stumbled but continued forward. Then a very long, thick arrow stuck into his stomach and he stopped. The creature looked down at the arrow as if in curiosity, then fell to the ground and lay motionless. Daniel stared at it. Something came into view just beyond the creature and he raised his eyes to see. There stood a young man, joined shortly by Jack, Teal'c and Captain - or should it be doctor? - Carter. Daniel grinned as they entered the clearing at a jog, heading straight for him. He noticed several large shapes emerge from the woods behind his teammates and his smile vanished. No one noticed in the dusk. Daniel pointed, unable to find words. The unknown young man whirled around suddenly and began firing arrows at the advancing Beors. Teal'c and Sam followed his lead and started depositing bullets and energy blasts into the creatures, while Jack ran to protect Daniel from a creature approaching from the side. The creatures came dangerously close, and Daniel saw one catch hold of Sam and drag her a short distance away before the young man killed it. The creatures finally retreated after several were killed. Jack frowned at Daniel when the clearing was calm again.

"You okay?"

Daniel nodded absently. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just, uh, just hurt my ankle a bit," he amended when Jack gave him a look. Jack nodded.

"Daniel, how many times before we left did I tell you - "

"I know. I'll stay in sight next time. I promise."

Jack seemed a little taken aback. "Good," he said simply when he finally replied.

Daniel smiled at him. This was one time he didn't mind hearing the words, I told you so and was simply grateful to be alive to hear them.

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