Friday

Last chevron locked in its place. The Stargate opened with a loud noise. Colonel Jack O`Neill was impatiently waiting for his team in front of the Stargate, which was illuminated by its blue light. He slowly put on his green cap and nodded when Major Samantha Carter and Teal`c entered the room. Jack expected one more person, but there was no one behind Teal`c.

"Where´s Jonas?"

Jack nervously clattered his fingers on the gun, he was quite irritated. After meeting Daniel on Abydos, he was in an awful mood for weeks. He mourned Skaara and others who died – well, who ascended, thanks to one Oma Desala. But he was also furious that Anubis is probably out there, trying to hurt others, like he did to people from Abydos. Jack was also afraid for Daniel. He surely did some other things which other ascended wouldn´t be happy about. Big problems always appeared when young archeologist was around. Jack hoped that Daniel was okay.

Sam was about to answer when Jonas ran into the room, nearly out of breath. His vest was only on one of his arm, his gun dangerously stuffed in a holster and he was dragging his backpack on the floor. Finally he stopped before the ramp while trying to get everything in order. He started to talk rapidly.

"Sorry I´m late, I tried to translate tablet from Abydos which we found thanks to Doctor Jackson. I only started and there are some mentions about Lost City, but…"

The sentence wasn´t finished. Jonas managed to put on backpack just in time to see Sam and Teal'c stepping through the gate. Colonel O´Neill was already gone. Jonas turned back to the control room. Sergeant Harriman was sitting behind console as usually and he was talking to Captain Benjamin Greyson. Captain was on of the men who tried to get Jacksons place on the team, but as many of others he was rejected by Colonel O´Neill. Jonas realized that he is still standing on the ramp, alone, while the rest of his team is thousands of light years away. Harriman gently pantomimed him to get through the gate, while Greyson satirically waved goodbye.

Jonas raced through the gate. Second later he was standing in a long and high cave. On both sides of gate were entrances to the smaller rooms. The cave wasn´t too long and Jonas could saw the sunset. Teal´c headed for the exit from the cave while Sam was making a video. Jonas disappeared in the room on the left.

"So," started Jack while he was scanning drawings on the wall. "We are here cause there are some drawings which looks like some three year old made them?"

Jack didn´t even try to hide his glumness.

"Sir, we had missions where we found only relics or ruins. There isn´t a civilization on every planet. But we are going to explore the world outside the cave anyway," Sam finished the video and came closer to Jack.

"Well, I don´t mind that. There´s just this tiny problem I got, you know, being in Special forces just to get home some rock."

"It´s not a rock Colonel," Jonas appeared from the small room.

"It´s tablet similar to the one we found on Abydos. MALP showed shots from the room on the left, the tablet was there on the pedestal. The pedestal probably has some meaning too, there are symbols which look like icons, maybe if we can decipher them we will know…" his voice trailed off when he saw Jacks expression.

"Okay, to the point," Jonas continued. "I managed to decipher some words with the help of pictures from MALP before we got here. There are definitely mentions of Lost City," Jonas pointed at the tablet he was holding.

"Great, we have the rock. Let´s have sightseeing tour," Jack walked around Jonas, Sam was closely following him.

Teal´c was already at the threshold. The scenery was beautiful. Narrow dusty road was disappearing behind trees every few yards. As far as they could observe, the trees were everywhere. In the distance they could see a faint horizon of the mountains and smell light scent of the sea. There were some ruins of houses below them in the valley, just barely visible through the trees. Ruins were enclosed by black plantations.

"But Colonel, I haven´t had time to study the drawings on the wall, not alone the second small room," Jonas appeared from inside the cave.

"Cave is not going anywhere, nor the drawings. Teal´c did you found something?"

"There are remains of habitations below us."

"Saw people?"

"I have not saw anybody. However the footprints around the cave indicate there are inhabitants."

Teal´c gave Jack binoculars. Jonas was standing next to Jack, patiently waiting to get his attention. Finally Jack noticed him and turned to face him.

"Yes?"

"Colonel, can I stay here? If you´ll find something down there I´ll join you."

"We are going into the valley. After we are done, we´ll get back here."

"Colonel…"

"No-o."

"But…"

"No."

"Can I at least take the tablet with me? So I can study it on the way."

"Yup. Okay campers, due ruins. Pay attention, don´t get lost and if you do, don´t forget to leave a trail of breadcrumbs."

Jack handed binoculars back to Teal´c, pointed to the road in front of them and went ahead in a better mood. Sam joined him with little shrug. Teal´c tilted his head to the side.

"O´Neill, it is not wise to throw food on the ground."

Jack and Sam smirked. Jonas was last one in the small procession. He was sullen. Although he has been working with Jack O´Neill for more than a year, he still felt that Colonels attitude to him haven´t changed. He felt like an alien. Like he was just one of those guys which doctor Jackson saved and also died because of. And people from his home planet expressed their thank you by falsely accusing and insulting him. Jonas was eternally grateful to Jackson for saving his planet, but was ashamed that he couldn´t have done that by himself. A year spent on Earth helped him to learn new things. He found some new friends also and everybody was nice and friendly to him, well maybe except Jack sometimes… Jonas shook his head to concentrate and followed others.

Sam was walking next to Jack.

"I heard that general Hammong granted Rya´c a visit. So he is coming too."

"Hm?" Jack wasn´t paying attention.

"Your grill party? On Sunday. You have been planning it for a week?"

"Oh. Yeah, I remember. Stop saying it like it´s some kind of big event."

"Yes sir," Sam chuckled.

"Just few people with beer, large juicy steaks and beautiful sky overhead."

"Do you have a plan?"

"Plan? Carter I´m planning a small party, not an invasion. How hard can that be?"

Sam chuckled again.

"Do you need help? I can go shopping with you."

"Fine, if you insist," Jack motioned with a smile that he gives up. "We can go in the morning, I hate full malls."

Sam suddenly had an image in her head of colonel maneuvering big cart through narrow aisles full of people. She grinned, but than another image popped into her head. It was another time when colonel made a small picnic – when they thought that Daniel died on one planet, but was fortunately only captured by Nem. Her grin disappeared. The memory of Daniel made her sad. She was happy to see him few weeks ago but she also missed him so much. Sam was afraid that after helping SG1 and people on Abydos something happened to him. Something really bad.

Sam continued to walk next to Jack, both of them lost in their own thoughts.