1) Hang on to the reins, but do not pull them back hard to stop the camel. Yanking on the reins can tear the camel’s nose- or break the reins.
2) If the camel has sturdy reins and a head halter, pull the reins to one side to make the camel run in circles.
3) Hold on until the camel stops. Whether the camel is running in circles or straight, it will not run very far. Simply hang on until the camel slows and sits down.

The air was dry and the skies over head were clear; for once it was a nice day trip to another planet. No rain, no bugs, and no Goa'uld for that matter. It was a simple mission, grab some samples, and then we'll be done for the day.

I yawned, stretching slightly before I turned and doubled back, walking the perimeter. I smiled as I passed Carter and then stopped as I neared Teal'c. I nodded once and he squared his shoulders, bowed slightly and continued walking the perimeter.

Yep, it's a good day.

Glancing around the temple grounds I noticed that Daniel was no where in sight. Just peachy. "Carter?" I began as I looked back toward her. "Where's Daniel?"

"Sir?" She questioned as she looked up at me, her thoughts clearly on the samples she was gathering.

"Daniel? You know our resident linguist aka archeologist, and budding warrior? You know, Daniel?"

She rolled her eyes slightly and then sighed. "I believe he went into the temple, sir."

"And you didn't stop him?" I groaned as I glanced back at the entrance of the temple and then turned back to her.

"Like I could?" She questioned with a soft laugh. "It's Daniel."

"Point taken," I sighed as I rubbed my forehead. "Carter, how much longer will you be?"

She studied her samples and equipment briefly, before she glanced back up at me. "Another thirty minutes should do it sir."

"Kay," I drawled as I pivoted toward the temple entrance. "You do that, and I'll go find our wandering doctor."

"Yes, sir." She nodded, returning back to her work and I headed to the entrance of the old temple.

"Daniel?" I called out as I stooped to get in, coughing slightly as the dusty debris flew up into the air.

I strained to hear a muffled reply as I crossed into what appeared to be the throne room. "Over here." Daniel shouted and I followed his voice back into an adjoining room.

"I told you to stay away from here," I stated. "The building is about to collapse."

"I know," he whispered in reply, ducking his head slightly as I watched him reach out his fingers to the engravings on the stone thingy. "But, Jack-"

"Damn it, Daniel!" I grated as a light flashed before our eyes. "What have I told you about not touching-" I began, my voice fading as I glanced around us, we were definitely not in Kansas anymore.

"Jack," Daniel gasped as he turned to me, his hand grabbing onto my jacket.

"Where are we?" I questioned, blinking once more, hoping that our surroundings would change back to where we were.

"Manhattan Museum of Art," he whispered faintly, his fingers digging into my arm, his eyes fixed before us.

"Manhattan Museum of Art?" I repeated as I followed his gaze, my heart constricting as I realized why that sounded familiar. "Oh, for crying out loud!" I groaned as I glanced at Daniel's stricken face. Not again, not this.

"Jack," he hissed as we stood transfixed in our positions, everything was moving around us as if we weren't there.

"Is this real?" I questioned hesitantly, as Daniel closed his eyes and shrugged. "Daniel?"

"I can't see this again," he whispered tersely and I covered his hand with mine.

"I don't know how you survived it last time, but we aren't on P7J-989, the Keeper is not here, this isn't real, is it?" I rambled trying to make him clear his thoughts on the present.

"I'm impressed," he replied with a tight smile, his eyes on me.

"Impressed?" I questioned, slightly confused, but happy that he was coming out of his funk.

"You remembered the right planet," he chuckled and rubbed his hand over his face. "Okay," he sighed, pausing to take a deep breath and to review our current situation.

"Okay," I repeated. "Um, any idea how we got here?" I questioned as he frowned.

"From what I could translate, the stone dais was for reflection- to remember your past and to learn from it." He began as he looked around us once more. "I think we are remembering my past."

"Why am I here with you?" I asked as I noticed the lights flickering and I could hear faint whimpering, it almost sounded like someone was crying.

"Reflection by approximation?" He offered, shrugging his shoulders as he closed his eyes briefly. "Do you hear that?"

"I hear someone crying," I replied softly as he shuddered and then ran down the hall and opened a small door. I followed him quickly, coming to a halt behind him. "Danny?"

"It's me, I barely even remember this-" he groaned as he gazed into the room. My eyes focused on the boy huddled in the corner of the room, his arms wrapped around his small frame. I pushed past Daniel, not able to watch the small boy hurting, my Danny hurting.

I glanced back at Daniel once more before I reached out to the boy, my fingers brushing against his hair. I gasped at the touch, not thinking I would be able to actually touch him. "Danny?" I whispered and the boy looked up at me, his face was streaked with tears and his body was shaking with each sob. "Oh, Danny." I gasped as I pulled the young boy into my arms.

He calmed slightly, but he continued to tremble in my arms, mumbling in a language foreign to my ear. I looked up and I was shocked to see that Daniel was no longer standing at the door.

"Daniel?" I shouted and the boy in my arms froze, gazing up at me with wide blue eyes.

"What?" He questioned, his head titling and his eye brow arching ever so slightly. Mannerisms that I recognized at once, but they seemed so troubling on such a young face.

"No," I sighed as studied him. "Did you see the other person with me?" I asked, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

He frowned in response and twisted in my lap, turning toward the door. "No."

"Oh," I gasped as he looked back up at me. "Um, Danny?"

"No." he whispered, shaking his head.

"Daniel," I corrected and he calmed slightly. "Can you tell me what's wrong?"

He stared at me for second, before he started rocking slightly, closing himself off to me. His voice was clear and charged with so much emotion for someone so young. He began reciting something in another language.

The only thing I knew to do was wrap my arms around him as he continued to repeat what seemed like gibberish to me. After awhile I finally recognized it as Arabic and I was able to slowly translate brief portions of it.

Camels?

I laughed in spite of the situation, only Daniel would recite how to control a runaway camel in Arabic.

He paused, wiping at his teary eyes and stared at me. He looked perplexed at my sudden outburst and he smiled slightly.

"Do you like camels?" I asked as his smile brightened, but he still didn't respond to me. "Have you ridden on many camels?"

He nodded his head, "they spit."

I laughed, "yes siree they do."

"And they have a hump," he grinned and I started to relax slightly at his obvious change in demeanor.

"Most do," I agreed.

His eyes seemed to glow as he rambled off more random facts about camels, how to ride them, how many times he has ridden on them, and what to do in case one should run off.

"What are you doing in here?" A voice interrupted and we glanced up at a lady in museum uniform.

"Just talking," I shrugged and Daniel laughed in response.

"Danny?" she questioned and he tensed immediately in my arms.

"He prefers Daniel," I stated firmly and Daniel smiled in response.

"Well, Daniel, we've been looking for you," she sighed. "It's time to go."

His eyes started to water and he clung to my jacket. It was at this moment that I realized I was wearing civilian clothes and not my BDU's. "It's okay," I whispered, hoping against all odds that I was speaking the truth.

"I wanna stay with you," he pouted and for the first time acted more his age.

"Now, Daniel, this man was nice to sit here with you, but it's time to go." She encouraged softly, and I knew it was time to part.

"Daniel," I began as I managed to stand up and place him on his feet. "You be a good boy and study hard. You hear me?"

"Yes, sir." He sighed and glanced at the lady. She offered her hand and he reluctantly took it. He watched me intently as they started to cross the room.

"Bye, Daniel." I waved and he suddenly stopped, dropped her hand and ran to me. "Ugh." I groaned as he threw his little body against me, hugging me tightly. I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight.

"Bye," he whispered as he pulled away. "Will I see you again?" He questioned and I nodded in response. "Oh, good."

"Daniel," the lady insisted, holding out her hand to him.

"Bye," he sighed sadly, taking the lady's hand.

"Bye," I smiled and watched him walk out the door. "See you soon, Dannyboy." I whispered more to myself, hoping I had made a little difference in his troubled start.

Before I could do anything else I felt a buzz of electricity in the air and then another flash of light encompassed me.

I blinked as I heard my named being called and I glanced over to see Daniel. "Jack?!" He repeated once more, relief written on his face.

"Daniel?" I groaned, rubbing my head as I glanced around the room. We were back in the temple, almost like it never happened.

"What happened?" I questioned as I began dusting off my uniform.

"Thank you," he whispered, blinking back tears.

"For what?" I groaned as he grabbed my arm and held me still, his gaze piercing mine.

"For talking to me," he smiled. "It changed so much. I'm still not sure how it worked, but it took us back to my worst memory, I guided you to help me- and you did."

"You disappeared when I touched him," I mumbled, trying to fit the pieces together.

"I was there, I was the little boy rambling about camels-" he laughed. "You brought me out of the trance like state I had placed myself in. I still remember both realities- the older one is fading even as we speak."

"Trance what?" I repeated as he leaned over and hugged me.

"That small moment in time, changed my life Jack. You were the first adult ever to try to talk to me- I was talking and I wanted to learn so much, to prove to you that I could." He began, his words running together as he pulled away. "I learned to talk and express myself earlier; I was able to connect with my first foster family- Jack do you realize what you did?"

"I'm getting there," I whispered in response. "But, how can we be here now? I thought we weren't supposed to change anything in the past."

"I don't know, Jack." He shrugged. "But, I had a happier childhood, I still progressed and grew- I knew one day we'd meet again, but I had to prove myself."

"Sweet." I grinned. "Do you think it would work again?" I questioned as the temple around us began to shake.

"Um, probably, but I don't think we'll get a chance to do that."

I opened my mouth to reply when my radio buzzed to life. "ColonelO'Neill, DanielJackson?" Teal'c deep voice resonated in the air. "The temple will not stand much longer-"

"Roger that T," I cut him off as I motioned for Daniel to move it. "We are on our way out."

"That is good news," Teal'c replied as we took off in a jog and made our way through the temple entrance as the rest of the temple caved in.

"Sir?" Carter began as she quickly crossed over to us. "Colonel, Daniel? Are you two okay?"

"Just peachy," I replied with a shrug as I looked over at my team, my gaze lingering on Daniel's grin. Guess this wasn't such a simple mission after all. "Let's move out. It's been a long day."

the end