A/N: I should kick myself for not doing this earlier. This is the long-awaited start of the AU. I decided to forgo the prequel and dive straight into it. Thanks to Neuropsych for giving me the guts (and the starting idea) to do this. As I have my own camp experiences to dwell on, this is the best place to start.

A/N 2: I was at Camp Easter Seals for 12 years (14 weeks), so I have a lot of experiences as a camper and a camper/counselor the last year I was there in 1992. I was easily the most popular camper there, due to my poster child status in 1986-87.

Disclaimer: I don't own them. I do, however, live in their world (have since 2003). SG1 is not mine, but the camp characters are.

Warnings: Major whumpage alerts incoming for Jack and Daniel (Teal'c too, but he has Junior, so he'll heal quick, much to the nurse's surprise and chagrin). Definite J/S relationship in the series, beginning in this story. Others possible. Crude humor, camper bashing, sexual tensions abound, popularity contests, well, just read on...

The Stargate Chronicles

Part 1

Camp Misery

Chapter 1

The gate flared up for SG-1 on their 21st consecutive mission. They were getting used to being off world, so much so that Colonel Jack O'Neill was ready to grovel to the general about getting extended down time. Problem was, they were notorious around the base for spending their down time on base.

This time, they had just finished a mission to PBJ-087, a standard recon mission that O'Neill was too exhausted to finish. About halfway to the village they were to go to to meet with the locals, O'Neill turned around and went back to the gate. Not before he said to his second-in-command, Major Samantha Carter:

"Take charge, Carter."

Of course, she noticed the lethargy immediately. "I know we haven't had a break in eight months, sir. However, with the threat that the Goa'uld now pose..."

The colonel put up a hand, "Ah, I'm too aware of the threat, Carter. My body feels like a leather hide right now. I've got knots in my back and neck, my stomach feels like a river of Pepto and my head feels like a balloon ready to pop."

With that he turned back to head back to the gate. "I'll tell the general we need a break," he said, adding "You're all welcome to join me." Daniel did a 180 and joined the colonel. Teal'c stood in place, and Carter kept going. For a few steps, anyways.

"We should keep going...", she said.

"Right. Carter, is this a Goa'uld planet?" O'Neill asked.

"No, sir.", she replied.

"OK. Time for a show of hands. Who wants to go home?", he asked, his hand already raised.

Daniel raised his hand, glad to be done with the constant trips through the gate. Of course, a part of him was disappointed. He was an archaeologist by trade, which meant going to different planets was always fun. He felt like this until the 18th mission.

Daniel had managed to let his curiosity with ancient ruins run away with him on the mission to PRS-476. He had discovered a fully preserved site of ruins that had both Ancient and Goa'uld writing on it. While he was gawking at the ruins, the team had been ambushed.

Daniel had noticed the Ancient writing immediately. Unfortunately, he failed to notice the Goa'uld writing until it was too late. O'Neill managed to save them, but not before the ruins fell in the shooting gallery as the team raced back to the gate. After that mission, O'Neill gave Jackson an ass-chewing worthy of a god.

Needless to say, Daniel was subdued and withdrawn until now. He was ready for a break then, but the general had other ideas. Carter and Teal'c went along with the general, knowing that the threat was real. That was two missions ago. Now, even Teal'c was showing signs of wear and tear. So much so that Carter stopped walking.

"I suppose I could use a break too," she said.

"Thank you, Carter." O'Neill said, relieved to be headed home. Ah, a real vacation, I can't wait to get to my cabin, he thought. With that, SG-1 went to the gate.

"Sam, dial it up." O'Neill said.

"Yes, sir." Carter said, catching the use of her first name. "We're still off world, sir."

"And I'm officially on vacation.", O'Neill retorted.

"But..." Carter started.

"Ah! I want home. I don't care what the general wants. We've been at this for eight months straight, with maybe a day off. If the general wants to throw me in the brig, so be it.", O'Neill fumed. "Now, dial the gate.", he finished.

If he was going to the brig for insubordination, O'Neill was prepared.