The first thing Rhea noticed when she stepped onto the platform was how overwhelmingly *green* the planet was. Although it wasn't a great deal greener than any of the others she'd visited. Looking around she took in the...

Cows?

'Oh good grief,' she thought. This place had cows? Slipping her sunglasses out of her pocket, she gazed over the fields. They were divided by low stone- pitch walls from where she stood.

"Looks rather innocuous," Tim remarked, stepping over to join her after his little job of securing the 'gate with the aid of Hunter.

"But innocuous places can be the most dangerous," she replied sagely, recalling the planet from which she'd returned a paraplegic. She was going to have to tell Jake that story, particularly the way she'd gone about distracting the Jaffa in order to give SG-1 a chance to escape. So what if it'd resulted in her taking a tumble of the worst kind? She doubted that wiggling her backside was going to have the same effect ever again...

"Good point," he murmured. "Let's hope that this place manages to stay innocuous."

"What now, oh great and illustrious leader?" Rhea called to Jake, who was standing on the ground in front of the 'gate platform.

"There's that settlement ten clicks to the north of here," he stated, turning to look up at her.

"So we're going to visit?" McNamara asked, looking decidedly better after this trip than the last one.

"Unless someone has a better idea..." Jake's voice trailed off and he fixed them all with his gaze. "I'll take that as a 'no' then. Let's get moving, and stay alert."

Gesturing for Hunter and Mina to lead off, he moved to flank McNamara as she followed. Diens moved to the anthropologist's other side, leaving her and Tim to bring up the rear. They walked in silence for some time, the only major event being the traversing of one of the walls.

"You know, this place reminds me of somewhere..." Rhea murmured.

"Where's that?" Tim asked, glancing over at her.

She thought for a moment. "Yorkshire... Except that they had more sheep than cows when I visited." Looking out through her glasses, she grinned as a spindly- legged calf trotted unsteadily behind its mother.

"You and your James Heriot obsession," he said with a soft snort.

"Just 'cos you wouldn't know a good book if it fell on your head," she grumbled, then grinned at her friend. He chuckled and slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as they walked. Her arm went around his waist and she joined in the soft laughter. They received a few odd looks from the rest of the team, but only responded with shrugs and grins. Angel was the only one who smiled back - although she rolled her eyes - since she'd lived with the pair of them for a week and knew what to expect from them.

Another hour's worth of walking bought a large structure into view in the distance. Jake pulled out his binoculars and called them to a halt so that he could peruse it. When he was done, he held the device out to Rhea, who mimicked his actions.

"Is there anything there that Asreal recognises as being a threat?" he asked her in an undertone as she took in the massive castle... thing.

"Nothing obvious," she replied in a soft tone. "But you don't need me to tell you that that place is enormous enough to hide quite a bit inside." Lowering the binoculars, she flicked a gaze between Mina and Jake. "So, are we still going a-visiting?"

~*~*~

As he studied the castle-like structure Mackenzie asked Rhea is Asreal saw anything that could suggest a potential threat. He handed her his binoculars.

"Nothing obvious," Rhea replied softly. "But you don't need me to tell you that that place is enormous enough to hide quite a bit inside." Rhea glanced between him and Stowe, asking, "So, are we still going a-visiting?"

"Good question," Mac murmured as he retrieved his binoculars and returned to his examination. He knew he wasn't too keen to just walk down there and knock on the door. Even such an impressive door as the one he was currently studying.

"We'll move in a little closer," he decided. "I wanna make sure we're not about to get sprung or anything before we commit ourselves." He glanced at his second-in-command in worry. She hadn't spoken to him at all since... Since that damned night that he'd sooner forget ever existed. He knew he hadn't been forthcoming either, preferring to avoid her rather than to face up to what had happened between them. But her words still held a powerful sting for him and he knew he needed jabs at his confidence about as much as McNamara needed lessons in acidity.

He glanced away quickly before she was aware of his scrutiny.

"Hunter," he called. "Take point. We'll head for that rocky outcrop to the east of the castle."

"Yes, sir," came her immediate response. The rest of the team followed after her with Mackenzie bringing up the rear. Somehow the scene felt too peaceful. Surely this wasn't going to be as straightforward as it appeared on the surface? Stranger things *had* happened. But not many and certainly not lately.

~*~*~

McNamara came through the Stargate and felt sick… again. She despised Gate travel and nothing was about to change that. However, the anthropologist managed to prevent herself from emptying the contents of her stomach. Instead, she sat at the bottom of the stairs, lowered her head and took a few long, deep breaths. That task out of the way, she got up slowly and began to look around.

Angel was aware of the military types watching out for her. She still refused to carry a firearm, despite all of the protesting from the higher ups. They couldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want to, so the issue hadn’t been pressed – yet.

The area around the Stargate was open – most likely for grazing… a theory that was basically proven by the presence of cows. If you could call them that. The cows – which appeared to be well looked after – didn’t seem to be fazed by SG-15’s presence. Civilisation was obviously present on this planet. That fact had a mixed reaction with McNamara. It meant that there was going to be something for her to do on this mission…but then again, it meant that she *had* to do something on this mission. And she knew better than ever that with SG-15, if something had to be done, there were usually problems.

“Hunter,” Mackenzie’s voice called, breaking the silence. “Take point. We’ll head for that rocky outcrop to the east of the castle.”

Blinking, McNamara looked up quickly. There was a CASTLE?? She supposed that she had better start paying attention to her surroundings rather than… well, cows. The team headed off and the anthropologist followed dutifully.

As they travelled at a brisk pace, Angel found herself looking around again. There were now small buildings, reminiscent of farmhouses that could be seen through some trees. She hoped they didn’t have a run in with any farmers complaining about them trespassing on their land. Whether their weapon of choice was a gun or a pitchfork, McNamara would have rather sidestepped that particular possible incident.

“Uh… Mac… Major?” she called quietly after seeing a rustle in the trees nearby. “Mac!” she whispered forcefully. Man, this was turning into one of those missions.

~*~*~

Mackenzie turned back to face the team's anthropologist as McNamara's voice reached his ears.

"Uh... Mac... Major?" he heard her call in a soft voice. "Mac!" she hissed, a little more forcefully.

He jogged back to her side as the rest of the team followed Hunter towards the ridge. "What is it?" he asked as he drew close.

McNamara pointed towards the trees. "I heard something. Movement," she told him. Mac glanced at the others as they walked on oblivious to what was happening here... not that he was unduly concerned. He knew it was likely to be something harmless enough, but worth checking out all the same.

He looked deep into the trees, bending slightly to get a better viewpoint. "Where?"

"That way," came the response. Angel's index finger directed his eyes to his right. Frowning slightly Mackenzie tried to make out the cause of the sounds in the gloomy light. Although the sun shone brightly on the track, the thick trees effectively cut 99% of the light out of the forest. He'd been about to tell her she had an over-active imagination, when he heard the rustling sounds himself.

His head snapped round towards the source, seeing something making its way towards them. He couldn't make out what, but that something *was* heading their way was clear, if the thrashing undergrowth was anything to do by. Mackenzie started to pull out his side arm, half turning to address McNamara at the same time. "Behind me," he hissed, noting she obeyed him instantly and without question. He felt her lean against his back slightly as she peered over his shoulder... or tried to.

Without warning something emerged from the undergrowth at a rate of knots. Mac had no time to get out of the way or to shout a warning to McNamara before the beast ploughed into them. He fell back, taking the slight woman with him, as the creature landed on his chest, pinning him down as he himself pinned the Angel beneath his back. He heard her yelp in terror and pain but there was little he could do about it. He had his hands full with the wild boar-like animal that seemed intent on ripping him open with his tusks. Mackenzie grabbed it around its neck and shouted for help.

"Stowe! Could do with a hand here!" he yelled as loud as he could. He was managing to hold its savage snout away, but realized it had the upper hand - namely brute force and gravity. Apologizing silently to McNamara as he half crushed her, he grappled with the animal as he heard running feet. He mentally urged them faster...

~*~*~

"Stowe! Could do with a hand here!"

Mina's head whipped around at the call and she was off and running a split second later as she spotted the animal on top of Mac and McNamara. Instead of heading straight for them she moved at an angle, getting close, but also moving so she had a clear line of fire. She unslung her staff weapon, and extended it to it's full length as she moved, and took the shot the second she could.

The force of the blast knocked the now dead animal off Mac, and he rolled off McNamara. Mina trotted over to them as the rest of the team showed up. She shook her head and smiled at Mac.

"I can't leave you alone for a minute can I?"

Standing slowly, Mackenzie brushing his hands down his vest front before reaching down to help the squashed anthropologist to her feet. "Seems not, Mina," he said, grinning at his 2IC. "Animal attraction, maybe?" he added with a raised eyebrow.

He glanced down at the now ex-boar and took in the length and sharpness of its tusks. "Ahhhh... thanks," he said, knowing Stowe had arrived in the nick of time. A few seconds more and those self same tusks would've been well buried in his throat.

Mina suppressed a groan at the lame joke, but smiled when McNamara did it for her.

"No problem boss. Are you both-"

Mina spun and levelled her staff in the direction the animal had come from as the branches rustled again. She watched the movement for a second, then something clicked in her head. She collapsed the staff weapon and reached for her Zat instead.

"People, ten, maybe twelve, a hunting party. Probably after the boar," she said as she freed her Zat from it's holster.

Mac cast a worried look at McNamara, gesturing for Tat Diens to come over and take a look at her before turning to look where Stowe was pointing. He pulled up his side arm, not wanting to use it against the natives, but fully prepared to defend his people at the same time.

"Diens," he hissed. "Move back." he barely saw the medic help McNamara out of immediate danger as the party drew closer. "Minimal force, Stowe," he whispered as he crouched next to her.

Mina watched as the first hunter broke through the bushes and saw them. She saw the frustrated look on his face, and guessed immediately what he was thinking. Standing slowly, she pointed to the carcass.

"Sorry, I beat you to it, but it was about to gore one of my friends."

The hunter's eyes flicked to the carcass, and his frown deepened. Mina shook her head. "No, you're welcome to it. We don't need it."

The hunter looked right at her, then saw Mac. Mina felt her temper rise as he ignored her, and spoke to Mac, but she stepped firmly on it. He was the CO after all.

"Do you want the animal?" the hunter asked.

Mackenzie's eyes narrowed slightly as the lead hunter approached him. He hadn't missed the way the guy'd ignored Mina and spoken directly to him. That told him volumes about this society.

"The beast is yours," he replied. "We have no need for it." Mac watched as the group mumbled amongst themselves before the leader turned back to face him.

"Then we accept your gift. You will be our guests...?" The question was worded more in the form of a statement and Mac knew he'd be hard pushed to refuse.

"Sure... I mean... Yes, we accept your invitation." This appeared to be the right response as the native nodded slowly and called to his men to pick up the carcass.

"Gather the troops, Mina." Jake said softly. "I think we've just been invited to dinner."

Mina nodded and turned back to where the rest of the team had taken cover. She jogged towards them and stopped next to Tat. The medic told her McNamara was okay, just a tad winded and a little bruised. Mina nodded and told the team to form up for the march to where ever it was they were headed.

She addressed her next remark most directly to O'Shea and McNamara, knowing Hunter and Diens would pick up the tone and take it as an order. "The culture is medieval. Patriarchal. We get to play the little women. Be nice and play along. If someone starts something you can defend yourselves, but otherwise just deal with it.

"This should be a short one, I don't think we'll find any technology we can use, but this might make a good refugee planet, so try and keep it friendly. Once we find out if there's a Goa'uld presence we can leave, but while we're hear, defer Marks and Mackenzie as long as we're in front of the locals.

"If Tat or I need to issue orders we will try to pass them through Marks for safety's sake, so for now, his orders has the same force as mine or Tat's. Let's go."

Mina brought up the back of the group as they headed back to Mac's position.

Mackenzie stood silently, arm folded, as the rest of the team regrouped. "Heads up," he told them. "Looks like we'll be seeing the inside of that castle sooner rather than later."

The hunting party - plus pig - led them towards the open drawbridge and Mac hung back to talk to Stowe.

"Before we get inside this place, we need to talk," he told her firmly. "I've been wanting to thank you for getting my tail outta the mess I dumped myself in," he added - carefully.

"No thanks are necessary Mac."

"I should actually be apologizing to you. I screwed up, big time."

Mackenzie frowned at Mina in confusion. "Mind explaining that statement?" he said, tilting his head to one side.

"I was upset when I chewed you out that morning, and I was lashing out. I ended up saying something completely different from what I meant."

Biting his lip in worry, Jake looked at his second in command - and friend. "I know that," he told her. "Did you think I was pissed at you or something?" He looked away and cast his eyes to the ground. "Hell, Mina...I thought you were mad at me for upsetting the w... Chayse," he said in a low voice. He glanced up at her as he continued.

"You were way off beam though, but right now I can't think of anything less important... can you?" He was offering an olive branch... Question was, would she accept it?

"Thanks Mac." Mina sighed. "I hate this."

Half laughing, Jake stopped in his tracks, causing Mina to mimic his actions. "*You* hate this? Shit... so do I!" he said. "This whole damned fucking business has almost sent me insane! Face it, Mina... please... for both of us... Chayse and me - its just not gonna happen. I swear I will treat her the best I can... I just hope the same can be said for her." He looked away. "Somehow I doubt it. She's always hated me. From the second I took over the team. I can live with that... Can you?"

Mina shook her head. "She doesn't hate you Mac. She's just hurting, a lot. The way she loves Rhea... God I hope she looks at me like that some day.

"We talked about this for a long time last night Mac. She told me the whole story, and the thing is, Rhea'd done it to her before. I think, deep down, Chayse knew Rhea was in love with you before Rhea did. I also think she knew deep down, no matter how much Chayse loved her, Rhea's just straight.

"She didn't hate you, it was just that if she blamed you, she didn't have to give up hoping."

Raking a hand through his hair in frustration, Mac turned to face Mina. "Just tell me one thing, can ya?" he said, tersely. "Why?"

He saw Mina's confusion and clarified, "*Why* should she hate me with such an intensity? Hell... I didn't encourage Rhea... I didn't *ask* her to be with me... It just happened." He turned away sharply. "I even tried to push her away. You have to believe me..." he whispered.

"She *doesn't* hate you Mac. Let that sink in. She doesn't even *blame* you anymore, but think how you would feel if you found out Rhea was in love with someone else.

"She knew, before she ever started it up again, on some level she knew it wouldn't work. She's just so in love with Rhea, that she didn't care how much it would hurt when it fell apart, as long as she got to be with her for a while.

"Just because it's over between them though, it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt her when she sees the two of you together."

Mac spun back sharply, seeing the startled expression in Mina's eyes as he grasped her upper arms. "Just how the *hell* d'ya think that makes me feel, huh?" he hissed. "Knowing that Chayse begrudges our each and every minute together? That she blames *me* for what happened?" He gripped her arms a little harder. "Come to think of it, how do *you* feel about that?"

He turned away, not wanting to see her anger. To feel it again. He'd had enough of it lately but could understand where it came from. Hell, it must hurt to feel what Chayse was currently pushing out... hurt like god knows what.

"I didn't ask Rhea to leave her... you have to understand that, Mina," he concluded in a low voice. "And Rhea will always be there between us... I can't stop that happening. Chayse has to learn to move on."

"To be honest Mac, I don't care how much she loves Rhea. It just doesn't matter to me. It's not the point. The point is I love her, and she loves me, and I'm grateful for whatever piece of her heart she can spare for me.

"As for how it feels knowing Chayse begrudges you and Rhea your time together, how do you think I feel every time I want to touch her, or kiss her, or hold her? How do you think it feels knowing that I could lose everything that means anything to me, just because I love her?

"If someone finds out you and Rhea are together, do you *honestly* think that it would get anything more than a wink and a nudge? Half the base thinks that O'Neill is doing his 2IC, and Hammond hasn't broken up SG-1.

"But if you would *listen* to me for a second, you would know, she *doesn't* blame you Mac. She's as tired of the whole thing as you are.

"She asked me, practically begged me, to drop it. *I'm* the one who wanted to tear in to you that morning." "Do you have any idea what it feels like when the two people who mean more to you than anybody else it the world are at each other's throats?"

Mac laughed without an awful lot of humour. "Like a family, maybe?" he offered. But he knew it wasn't what she hoped to hear. *Needed* to hear.

"Listen to me," He said, pulling her chin up so he could look into her eyes...and vice versa. "I swear I will try... Okay?" He knew it was the best he could do.

Mina nodded. "I just... I love you both Mac. In different ways, but I do. I want to be able to spend time with both of you without feeling guilty about it. I want to be able to bring her along the way anyone else could bring a date if the team got together.

"I just, I want some kind of normal in my life, and I can't have it with the two of you tearing at each other.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but will you just talk to her? Please?"

Sighing deeply, Mac spun away from her. She was asking a lot. One *hell* of a lot. But he also knew how much she was hurting. "Jeez, Mina. You don't ask for bite sizes, do ya?" he murmured.

He could understand her situation... really he could. He just wished she could see it from *his* side of the fence, but, it looked like that wasn't going to happen. "I'll talk to her..." he said softly and oh so reluctantly, "...but as soon as she starts on at me I'm outta there. Right?"

If he was totally honest, he'd admit he'd rather stick his head in a microwave than initiate a conversation with Chayse, but it was important to Mina... and she was important to him...

"That's all I'm asking." Mina reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you Mac."

Mackenzie turned away quickly... more so than he'd intended. He didn't want Mina to see the heartache her request had brought him. "Sure... it's okay," he said softly. "Guess we should catch up with the others, huh?" He glanced at the rest of the team as they began to enter the castle. He hung back once more as Mina walked on ahead. His face creased in worry and frustration at what he knew awaited him on hi return to the base.

But, shit... it was important to Mina...

Mina stopped and turned back to look at him . There was something else she needed to say. "I'm sorry Mac, about Tiz. I know how much they mean to you. That's what I was trying to say that morning. I didn't mean to threaten to leave. I was offering to get out of your way.

"If my being here... If it's too much, me and her..." Mina had trouble saying it. SG-15 meant so much to her, but she had to. "If you can't take care of our kids with me here, I'll leave so you can, but god Mac, I don't want to go. I never wanted to go."

"For crying out loud, Mina!" he said in exasperation. "Why the hell do you think I pushed for your promotion, huh? Because I was welcoming the grief maybe? I doubt that!" He placed his hands on her shoulders as he continued...

"There was only one reason for it," he continued. "I knew you could do the job. Hell, I *needed* you. Can't you see that?" He looked into her eyes and saw her worry and doubt. "The team needs you," he added. "Hell, *I* need you. There's no chance of you leaving... is there?"

"I'm not going anywhere as long as you want me here Mac, but I expect the same from you. If they need me, they need you twice as much."

Mackenzie laughed at her comment, feeling his humour die as soon as it'd started when he saw how serious she was.

"Deal," he said softly, wondering whether it was the done thing to hug your 2IC... but Mina was more than that to him... His arms half rose before he turned sharply away. Hell, like Mina needed to see him get all emotional and stuff. "Lets catch up with the others," he added gruffly.

Mina glanced forward, making sure the rest of the team was already inside the castle, then grabbed Jake and spun him to face her. She slipped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"You don't get off that easy Mac."

She let him go, and headed towards the castle.

~*~*~

"So, are we expected to do all your bidding or something?" Tat said off-handedly to Marks as they all made their way into the castle.

"I guess so. Patriarchal remember?" Tim answered.

"Well that sucks. Unless there are some really good looking men around here then they can bid all they want!" Tat said.

"Diens!" Angel said, almost shocked.

"Hey! The SFs outside the infirmary told me that if you don't get it every seven days you go crazy. And unlike you lot, I've been stuck on the base since I joined 15," Tat told them.

"Break out the straight jackets," Hunter said.

The majority of SG-15 walked into the castle.

"Wow! This place is... big," Tim said.

"I almost feel like I should be in period costume or something," Tat said.

"If we stay around here long enough then it's likely that we'll have to dress in native clothing."

"I've always wondered what Mac would look like in Bridges," Tat said, almost laughing at the thought.

"What was that Diens?"

She turned around to see that Mac and Stowe had just walked in. "Uh, nothing sir. I just wondered if you would like us to look around... by the bridges - the moat, and everything. To check that everything's Ok around here."

//Stupid Tatyana. Very stupid. What did Dr. Mackenzie say about being too loud and cocky? Next time I think I should listen.//

~*~*~

'This place is awesome,' Rhea said mentally, reverting back to teen-speak in her amazement. Tipping her head back, she took in the high, vaulted ceilings of the meeting chamber that they'd been shown into. She only looked down when she almost tripped over her own feet, and found herself gazing at a man sitting in a throne. Guessing at the etiquette of the place, she dropped to one knee and bowed her head in deference. Beside her, Tim mimicked her action and soon they were all kneeling before the man.

"Why are we doing this?" Hunter hissed out of the corner of her mouth.

"Because that guy runs this show and we *don't* want to piss him off," Rhea replied just as quietly.

"Is he a Goa'uld?" another voice, one from behind her, asked. She shook her head slightly, and slowly got to her feet when one of the hired goons flanking the throne gestured for them to do so. Rhea stood to one side to allow Tim to step up to join Jake at the front of the group.

"You are not from here," the guy in the throne commented mildly.

"No, we are not. We're explorers from a planet called Earth," Jake said, going into the usual spiel. "We mean you no harm."

"Oh, I don't doubt that for a moment. Even if you did we outnumber six to one." He waved at hand at the guards standing either side of him. "So I suggest you don't try any such thing." Steepling his fingers, he fixed the two guys with a hard stare from this pale green eyes. "You have come at a fortuitous time. My daughter has just been wed to a neighbouring lord and tonight we are to have a celebration in their honour. My hunting chief informed me of your giving us your kill and as such I would like to invite you to the celebration." His eyes narrowed slightly. "But you will have to change from those clothes that you are wearing... It will not do to have the women of your group in the garb of men."

Flicking a hand, a whole mess of maids came out of nowhere and ushered them out of the meeting chamber. The team in its entirety was whisked up a large staircase and along a corridor.

"Sir?" Diens asked in a concerned tone as they came to a halt suddenly.

"Stay alert, but go along with whatever they suggest. We're here to make friends, not antagonise people." Even as he spoke, Jake was all but shoved through a doorway.

~*~*~*

Five hours later, it was finally over and done with. She'd been bathed in lavender-fragranced water by the masses. Her hair had been adjusted and readjusted for nearly two hours. The dress that the maids had pulled seemingly out of nowhere had been adjusted to her smaller size and greater height over its previous owner. Standing in it, she let herself be lead over to the 'mirror' that a two pageboys had bought in. And gawped when she saw her reflection.

The dress, a simplistic dark forest green velvet creation, they'd pretty much had to pour her into hugged her torso so tightly that she didn't need any kind of undergarment for support. As it was she was in serious danger of just about bursting out of the box-shaped neckline if she breathed in the wrong way. It somehow managed to reach the floor with its skirt, even given the fact that it had been at least three inches too short when they'd first tried it on her. The lines were simple and there was little ornamentation aside from her chain and pendant, which she hadn't taken off since she'd gotten it from the jewellers.

"Oh wow..." she breathed as she took in what they'd done to her hair. It hung loose around her shoulders, but had been pulled back off her face with mother- of-pearl coated combs. Beads coated in the same stuff were strung between the two combs to create three strands that went around the back of her head. Simplistic, but lovely to look at. All in all, they'd done a wonderful job of turning scrawny, old Rheannon O'Shea into a period-style princess. "Double wow."

The maids that had formed a semi-circle around her as she'd perused her appearance all nodded in unison. Then they whisked her out of the main door to the rooms and almost straight into Jake. He managed to keep them both from falling on their respective backsides by grabbing her by the upper arms. A few uncomfortably heartbeats later he released her so that she could step back - and when she did so she had to physically retrain herself. He was clad it black hose that clung to his muscular legs perfectly and a sapphire blue velvet doublet that bought out the colour of his eyes. Swallowing hard, she forced herself not to ogle him and instead smiled at him a touch uncertainly, her hands smoothing out her skirt so that she'd have something to do with them.

"You look... very handsome," she said softly, averting her gaze. They were going to remain professional on all missions - that was their deal. And they'd do it too because there was no way the rest of the team could find out. Flicking her eyes up to his face again, she smiled uncertainly and then grinned. They could do this.

They had to.

~*~*~

Mackenzie had been startled - make that *shocked* to see what was put out for him to wear. He bathed, but not before ordering the giggling females out of the room. Their intention had been clear, but he wasn't in the habit of needing assistance in that regard. Sighing heavily, he'd pushed the door closed on them and quickly taken a bath. But the damned outfit left little to the imagination.

His own clothes had been removed, otherwise he knew he'd've put those back on and to hell with etiquette. But the alternative was the drying cloth he'd been given... Scowling, he pulled on the clothes, muttering darkly all the time.

He left the room some time later, ignoring the amusement he was bringing to the girls assigned to care for his well-being, and prowled the corridors. None of the team had surfaced and he could only assume they were each facing a similar struggle - against too helpful hands and ridiculous clothing.

Eventually, he returned to his room, almost ploughing into the figure that emerged from the one opposite. He mumbled an apology as he glanced up, taking in the dark green dress as his eyes travelled north.

"Rhea!" he said in surprise, grabbing her arms tightly to stop her rebounding from their collision. "Wow... you look... amazing," he said, mentally kicking himself for sounding a total dufus. He saw her take in his outfit and he felt himself cringe in embarrassment. He dropped his hands from her arms and tugged at the doublet and frowning slightly. He was all too aware of what a sight he presented and waited for her laughter to ring out. He ran his other hand under the collar of his costume.

"You look... very handsome," he heard her say in a soft voice. He glanced up to meet her eyes, sure he'd see them brimming with amusement. But she wasn't laughing. Although *why* precisely, he had no idea!

The women with Rhea escorted them downstairs to join the rest of the team. All were dressed similarly. All except...

"Where's Stowe?" Mackenzie asked looking around.

Diens spoke up from the far side of the room. "Not seen her, Major. But I *did* hear raised voices coming from her room. Something about where *exactly* she was going to shove their dress... or something."

Mac muttered and looked back over his shoulder, hoping to see his second in command drift down stairs. He was disappointed.

A young girl entered with a tray of refreshments, offering a metal goblet to each of them in turn. Jake took his and sniffed cautiously. "Will it be ok, Mac?" He glanced at McNamara as she stood nearby, also looking at her drink dubiously.

He sipped cautiously. It seemed fine and they host was hardly likely to get them all spruced up just to poison them... was he? His reasoning decided it for him and he slugged back a little more. All eyes seemed to be waiting for him to drop down dead on the spot.

"Sorry to be a disappointment," he said dryly, "but I don't think I'm going yet. It's clear. Wine or something." He watched in amusement as the rest of the team - minus Stowe - tasted their drinks. Actually, it wasn't all that bad. Heineken would've been better, but it was a step up all the same on that crap Mina usually got stuck into.

While they waited for Stowe to join them, the girl ensured their goblets remained pretty full. Jake could see they were in for a long night.

~*~*~

Mina stood in front of the room full of woman, naked as the day she was born and red faced with anger.

"Absolutely not."

"But my lady, you must."

"I don't, and I won't. I'll walk into that party like this first." They seemed appropriately mortified at the thought, but she looked down at the dress and... "No. It's bad enough that it's a dress, but pigs will fly before I wear *that* dress."

"What is wrong with it my lady?" Mina sighed. This had been going on for nearly an hour, and she'd been about ready to shut up and wear the stinking dress until they showed it to her. It was just so... "Pink."

"My lady?"

"First, I have a name. It's Mina. If you have to be formal, the proper address is Captain Stowe. Second, I will were a dress, if you can find one that *isn't* pink."

~*~*~

Mina stood in front of the room full of woman, naked as the day she was born and red faced with anger.

"Absolutely not."

"But my lady, you must."

"We've had this discussion before. I agreed to were the dress. Not saddle bags."

"But my lady, the penne will give your hips a full, child bearing look. They will make it much easier to attract a man."

"No."

"But the skirt will drag the floor."

"Hem it."

~*~*~

Mina stood in front of the room full of woman, dressed in a freshly hemmed Burgundy brocade black gown and red faced with anger.

"Absolutely not."

"But my lady, you must."

"We've had this discussion before. I agreed to were the dress. I'll break my neck in those."

~*~*~

Mina stood in front of the room full of woman, dressed in a freshly hemmed Burgundy brocade black gown and red faced with anger.

"Absolutely not."

"But my lady, you must."

"We've had this discussion before. I agreed to were the dress, I agreed to wear the shoes, I will not let you smear that crap on my face."

~*~*~

Mina walked down the stairs very carefully. She was dressing in the gown, wearing two inch heels, her hair swept up in an elaborate coif, face covered in subtle and skilfully applied cosmetics, and feeling like a complete idiot. She was only managing the heels because she'd been practicing with the ones on her full mess dress uniform, but the makeup itched, and she wanted desperately to wash her face.

She stepped off the bottom step and all eyes turned to her as the sound of her heels on stone echoed through the room. She suddenly became very aware of just how prominently the tight, low cut dress displayed her body, and was glad the makeup was there to cover the blush.

She was never sure who gave the wolf whistle, but she pinned Marks with a glare that made him flinch, then turned it on Mac, and gave Hunter, McNamara, Diens and O'Shea a taste just for good measure.

"The first person who laughs when I trip and break my neck is going to die a slow and painful death. Now can we please get this over with. I hear the coach turns into a pumpkin around midnight."

~*~*~

Mackenzie winced a little as he saw Mina Stowe's less than enthusiastic entrance. He could tell his second wasn't overly amused - something not helped much by the whistle that cut through the air. Stowe scowled at them all in turn and Mac decided he shouldn't point out which of the team had dared to incur her wrath. He stifled his smirk admirably as Stowe's glare headed back his way.

"Nice, Mina," he stated as he walked over to her. "Really," he added quickly, concerned that she was about to let fly with a right hook. He ignored her muttered comments about his parentage, instead sipped some more of his wine and peered at her over the rim of his goblet. He cursed his bad luck that saw not a single camera in the group. This was one for the album, he knew that.

A young man entered the room and walked over to Mackenzie.

"Sire," he said. It was Mac's turn to scowl at Stowe as she snorted in amusement at the form of address. The man ignored her and continued. "If you would come with me, I will lead you to the banquet hall." Nodding at their guide, Mackenzie called the rest of the team together. He hung back to make sure everyone was accounted for, noticing the unhappy scowl worn by just about all of the team. Diens looked fit to kill and McNamara kept her eyes cast down to the ground. Marks walked with his head held high. Hell, the guy even seemed to be enjoying himself! Hunter appeared to be taking everything in her stride, but Mac noticed her eyes flickering from side to side. She was alert - that was clear. Mina was pissed and Rhea kept fiddling with her bodice. As for himself. He knew he'd be glad to get out of the stupid outfit. It was too bright and too itchy. And the collar rubbed like nobody's business.

He clenched his hands into fists at his side and trailed after the others. The banquet hall was enormous and packed with people. Long tables stretched down either side, with a large one along the top end, forming a horseshoe kind of shape. The lord... or whoever... sat at the top, with several people on either side. Jake looked at the young couple - the newlyweds, he assumed. The young girl was their host’s daughter and the man was the son of a nearby family. Or so he'd been told by McNamara... although hell knows where she got the information. By all accounts, the two families had been fighting viciously for years, and this arranged marriage was set to end that conflict.

Standing to one side, Mackenzie watched as willing hands led his people away, showing them seats in amongst the rest of the diners. He particularly watched as Rhea was led away by a giant of a man... at least 6’6”tall. His eyes narrowed briefly, before he quickly pulled himself together. A hand on his own arm caused him to glance away.

"You will join us, I hope?" the elderly man stated.

"I'd be honoured," Mac replied, allowing himself to be led away. He sat directly opposite Rhea and had to endure the sight of the oaf engaging her in some half-assed attempted conversation all through the meal.

It did wonders for his appetite.

For getting on for three hours the meal continued, during which time Mac poked and prodded at his food, frowning for the moist of the time while trying to be pleasant to his elderly companion and his wife. It was difficult, but he knew they were trying their best to entertain an obviously bad-tempered man.

Entertainment was provided throughout the meal and it took place in the space between the 2 rows of tables. Jugglers, singers, dancers, acrobats... the works. Mac hardly saw them.

A hand on his shoulder dragged his attention back to the present and a voice spoke softly. "Sire, the master asks for one of the visitors to favour him with a song."

"He *what*?" Mackenzie's frown darkened.

"A song... the master asks."

'Shit,' he thought to himself. There was no way this side of hell that he'd get up and sing for anyone. He looked at the others, wondering who he could ask... order... beg.

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