This is my first Stargate fanfic so don't expect too much. Criticism is always welcome. Oh yes and I'm infamous for OOC.

I don't own Stargate blah blah blah. You've probably heard this several million times now.

The team trudged through the undergrowth, hacking away with machetes. It was incredibly thick undergrowth, snaring their feet like fish in a net, dragging at their legs.

"If it gets any thicker we'll have to turn back!" said Sam.

"It will indeed get thicker." answered Teal'c.

"Oh nonsense, it's already as thick as it will get and I'm stuck!"

"Oh great. That's the third time today. Are you sure there's an Ancient outpost here?" lamented Daniel as he freed the stuck former space pirate-turned-intergalactic hero.

"No, but- OOF!" Mitchell replied as he fell flat on his face. As he got up he said, "We can't keep going much longer."

"But-" said Daniel and Sam at the same time, both falling over.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the team turned around and began their march.

And Vala got stuck yet again.

"What do you mean you can't dial out?" asked Mitchell in a concerned voice.

"I can't. The DHD doesn't respond."

"Great. We're marooned, aren't we? There isn't even so much as a primitive village here, so good luck finding a power source." Daniel said, examining his surroundings. They were among the ruins of some sort of temple. Then something caught his eye. It was a patch of text showing behind a layer of dust. And it was in Ancient.

"I think I've found something," he said, pulling out his notebook and adjusting his glasses.

"Indeed."

Daniel dusted off the stone and was greeted with a few more characters and a gate address.

"I'm bored already. What does it say, what does it say?" inquired Vala.

"It says: 'power source, seek here'. That's a rough translation, but I think it means that we can find a ZPM there."

Sam suddenly perked up. "ZPM, where?"

Daniel had recorded the message and address and was pulling out a camera. "It's an address. And I don't think it's on the map."

"Well, I guess we'll just sit tight and wait for rescue."

They didn't have to wait long. Less than an hour later a naqahdah generator and care package had arrived. By this time Daniel had a clearer translation and Sam had figured out what was wrong with the DHD ("Sam, I'm glad that you figured it out but I don't understand a word you're saying."). Vala rushed through first and greeted the team with a cheap plastic whistle ("I just love dollar stores! You know, I bought a lot of your gifts there!").

The team was just starting to relax in the briefing room when General Landry walked in. Vala tried to salute and managed to hit herself in the face.

"We just tried to dial the address you found. It's an orbital stargate."

"They have orbital gates in this galaxy?" asked Daniel.

"No, what I meant was that the planet is in pieces. Off topic, your leave has been granted. I'd advise you to get wrapping, because Christmas is only a week away!"

And with that, they left the room.

It was already late, so Sam went home, changed, took a shower, and ate (in that order). She was about to retire to bed when the phone rang.

"Carter."

O'Neill's familiar voice crackled from the other end. "Sam, I was gonna throw an Xmas party. (I call it Xmas!). I'm not getting leave for another couple of days, so I thought that I'd let someone else do it."

"What about Mitchell?"

"Drunk. Anyway, I thought you should do it this year. Daniel did it last year, and I'm not letting Teal'c do it. He tried to throw it on Chulak! Then his 'traditional Jaffa treat' made Daniel throw up in the-"

"I get the picture. I'll do it."

"Great. Just don't invite Woolsey like Daniel did before."

Reviews please! Next chapter: Gifts!