Author's Notes: Imagine all the standard disclaimers here...

I'm not sure where exactly this story is going quite yet; I have a sort of vague plot, but details are sketchy, and I have no idea how I want it to end. I'm open to suggestions... ;)

Can I take a minute to plug the other story I wrote? She Who Erases. I'm really quite proud of it.

SG1, minus one archaeologist stood in the embarkation room, geared up and ready to go. Colonel Jack O'Neill turned to his second in command.

"How much time, Carter?" he questioned.

The major looked at her watch. "He's got five minutes, Sir." Sam answered.

"I'm taking bets." Jack smiled. "Ten says he'll been fifteen minutes late." He turned to the imposing figure to his side. "Teal'c?"

The jaffa turned to face O'Neill and cocked an eyebrow.

"You want some of this action?" Jack questioned.

"I do not." Teal'c replied.

The colonel turned back to Sam. "Carter?"

"Make it twenty and you've got a bet." she challenged, extending her hand.

Jack shook it. "Overconfidence can be dangerous, Major."

"Oh, I think he'll be on time for this one, Sir." She replied. "He's awfully excited about it."

Jack adjusted his P90. "More excited than usual?"

"Yes, Sir. An aerial survey sent back images of some interesting ruins. He discussed it at length in the briefing. It uh..." Sam smiled slyly, "...it was in your copy of the report."

"Ah." Jack nodded. "Yes." He paused. "I wasn't really paying attention."

Sam continued to smile and looked at her watch again just as Daniel came running into the gate room, cramming things into the pockets of his fatigues. "Right on time, Sir." she informed her commanding officer as Daniel secured his boonie hat and the chevrons began locking into place.

"SG1, you have a go." Came General Hammond's voice.

Three members of the team all looked expectantly at Jack, who held out his arm in an 'after you' gesture. While Daniel and Teal'c started up the ramp, Sam hung back a moment, her eyebrows raised. Resting his arms on his P90, the colonel finally met her gaze and gave a half-smile, to which she grinned broadly.

"I'm going to want that twenty dollars as soon as we come back, Sir." She told him as she began walking backwards up the ramp. "And I'd like it to be a nice, crisp, new bill. Not a bunch of crumply fives you got back from the mini mart... Sir."

As Carter disappeared through the gate, Jack turned and raised his eyes to the control room, where the General was chuckling to himself over the exchange. Giving a lazy, two-fingered salute, Jack sighed and started up the ramp himself.

----

As Daniel stepped through the event horizon, he immediately took in his surroundings: Teal'c was next to him, beginning to descend the small set of steps leading up to the gate on P79-453, making himself acutely aware as they explored this new planet; the MALP could be seen a few yards off; the sky had purplish hue... Daniel himself began down the steps, scanning the scenery, looking for some sign of civilization. Moments later he heard Sam step out of the event horizon, followed by Jack a few seconds later. Daniel turned to look at them: Sam had an impish grin on her face, and Jack was already looking impatient.

"Carter?" Jack called out, making his own survey of the area.

Sam already had her equipment out. "Daniel's ruins are located in a small valley almost three clicks that way, Sir." She pointed in the direction of the planet's rising sun.

"Alright." Jack sighed. "Teal'c, keep point." he instructed.