Title: I Hate It When This Happens - Take One
Summary: Back-story to Daniel's exclamation upon finding the rest of his team missing in Season 1, Episode 20.
Rating: K+
Characters: SG1
Parings: None
Warnings: None
Late afternoon – P3X-782 (or something like that)
Jack sighed as he checked his watch for what had to be the umpteenth time this last hour, yup they now had less than an hour to make it back through the gate before Hammond sent out the search parties. The mission was a simple one of the look and see variety, meaning that they were to conduct a three-day preliminary assessment of the planet to determine what further resources could be gleaned from it. They had left the gate hiking north and had found the planet to be void of human life as they followed their chosen route. Two days had passed quickly as they circled around through the relatively easy terrain. The mission was shaping up the be just what the doctor ordered (quite literally); three days of not being shot at by unfriendlys, contracting rare and obscure diseases, and no perilous situations as far as the eye could see.
When they broke camp this morning Jack had been sure that this last day of surveillance would play out like the preceding two and have them back through the gate and home before sundown, needless to say good things never last and the team had hit a major snag that was putting them perilously close to missing their intended return deadline. The day had gone well at first and they had nearly reached the gate before the sun had reached its peak. They had just rounded the final bend in the path when much to the team's absolute horror (OK, maybe just Jack's) it came into view. The ruins of an ancient looking temple complex became the first signs of human habitation found thus far on the planet. Needless to say their resident archeologist just had to stop and investigate.
That was six hours ago and a glance at the position of the sun was all Jack needed to make his decision. Turning in the direction of the ruins he called out, "Time's up Daniel, we're heading home." To his dismay, but not surprise, the answering reply was not "yes, sir." But "Five more minutes Jack, I still have inscriptions to document and..." as Daniel's reply delved into the realm of archeology Jack tuned it out in favor of addressing the rest of his team who where currently ignoring the situation in favor of catnapping and meditation. "Carter! Teal'c! Grab your gear, we're heading home!" That provoked an immediate response, "But, Sir…!" "Should we not…?"
Jack cut the pair off mid sentence, "You both know we won't be prying Daniel out of there anytime soon and our deadline for returning home is in less than half an hour. I would rather explain to Hammond that we left Daniel exploring a ruins five minutes from the gate on an unoccupied, non-Goa'uld infested world than explain why we're still here to a search party! Am I clear?" Not waiting for a reply Jack turned and headed for the gate. Carter and Teal'c exchanged a look before reluctantly agreeing and following Jack. Five minutes later the signature sound and sight of an active wormhole briefly illuminated the area.
One Hour Later
"Jack? Sam? Teal'c?"