Warnings and disclaimer in chapter 1. Enjoy.


Jennifer

It's been a little over two weeks since my summer vacation began. I never thought that I would be having this much fun, or be bored out of my mind this much. It's ironic, I know, having fun being bored, but SG-1 is like that.

When I agreed to come here for the summer I knew I was going to be part of SG-1, but I never thought that I would really see them as my teammates. I thought that I was going to be spending most of my time in the labs with Major Carter, and then just follow her when the rest of the team was around. Thanks to their little accident, I was forced to spend more time with the guys than I was planning.

General Hammond decided that we should proceed as planned, so I started spending my time with Daniel. He began by teaching me about the Goa'uld, different mythology, and he even discussed some of the alien races and cultures they had met.

Culture is never something I thought I'd need to know. I know some of our bases in other countries stress cultural understanding and abiding by their cultures practices. But also the power and weight of the United States lets us skirt and compromise a lot of the ancient traditions that normally would be set in stone. On other planets you have no strength to back up position. It's amazing how many teams got in trouble for doing or saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. And talk about zero tolerance. I never thought I would need to know so much about other cultures, but after hearing some of the stories and mishaps that happened due to simple cultural misunderstandings I decided maybe I should spend more time learning about different cultures.

When Teal'c was well enough, I started spending time with him. He taught me about the Jaffa and the Goa'uld. Their weapons and tactics and anything else I wanted to know. I even did a little physical training with him. Man, is he tough to bring down. The first time I sparred with him, I thought I would be easy on him since he just got released from the infirmary. He had me down on the mat in seconds. Since then he has been going easy on me, showing me new ways to fight and new methods to try. He even hit the floor a couple of times, though I think it was more his acting like I got him than me actually bringing him down.

When Colonel O'Neill returned to work, he started showing me different strategies and tactics. He even showed me how to do paperwork, though I have a sneaking suspicion he just didn't want to do it himself, and the general operating procedures of the base. Maybe he'll feel guilty about making me do his work and say yes when I ask him about a trip through the Stargate. In a couple of days, Major Carter is going to be released from the infirmary. Dr. Fraiser says she still needs to do therapy, but she can work in her lab for a few hours each day. I'll be able to help out in her lab which will be awesome. I mean, I've helped out in the labs a few times while she's been laid up, but I always felt like the outsider. But it just doesn't hold a candle to working side by side with Major Carter. Despite the way I treated her when we first met, I do truly respect her.

Besides, Colonel O'Neill has just given me my first official assignment. Don't let Major Carter overwork herself, make sure she gets to rehab on time, and make sure she takes plenty of breaks and gets to the commissary for lunch.

Definitely not what I thought I would be doing with my summer vacation, but I wouldn't change a thing. Well, except for maybe the Stargate trip that I'm still waiting for.


Jack

It's been two weeks since our vacation ended. Two weeks since Daniel had insisted on going to look at that pile of rocks. During that time, Daniel and Teal'c have been on a couple missions with other SG teams. Luckily for my sanity they always went together and I knew Teal'c wouldn't let anything happen to Daniel. I didn't think that little combination would work for my anxieties, but I was able to sleep at night knowing Teal'c was looking out for our accident prone archeologist. I shift my attention away from my blank paperwork toward the door when I hear knocking.

"Enter." A few seconds later an airman stands at attention in front of me.

"Colonel O'Neill Sir. General Hammond wants to see you in his office Sir." I nod and he quickly leaves. Okay, I wonder what this could be about. Leaving my paperwork behind, I make my way towards the General's office, knocking on the door when I reach it.

"Enter."

"You wanted to see me Sir?"

"Yes Colonel, I did. The Tok'ra have requested our assistance in a small matter." The Tok'ra. Great. What did they want, and more importantly why does it always involve me and my team.

"The Tok'ra want to participate in something of an exchange program. They want one of their operatives to work with the SGC staff for a while. Since SG-1 is already training someone, I thought they could join your team." He said it with a bit of a smirk, clearly enjoying himself. "The Tok'ra representative is down in the infirmary getting checked out. Why don't you go introduce yourself." I mumble a reply which the General wisely chose to ignore before turning towards the door. Just as my hand reached the doorknob, I heard Hammond's voice again.

"Be nice Colonel."

Again I mumble some sort of reply as I step out of the room. I stalk my way toward the infirmary, dreading opening that door and seeing someone like Anise there. My relief was palpable as I opened the door and saw Jacob Carter sitting on the bed.


Jacob

I don't know what kind of reaction George would have at my request. Probably not the same reaction he would have if Anise made the same request. When I told George about the High Council's request, I saw the unmistakable look of bewilderment. In my mind, thanks to Selmak, I could hear what he would be saying if it was anyone else making that request and it took all my concentration to not break out in laughter. After a few minutes of thinking, he said I could join SG-1 and sent me down to the infirmary. It's going to be weird, following orders from him and from Jack, but that's why I'm here and not someone else. I know how the military works. I look up when the door opens and Dr. Fraiser comes in.

"Congratulations Sir. You are in perfect health." Dr. Fraiser did the normal physical on me, but before I could ask her if I passed she left the room to give me some privacy to put on my dress uniform.

"It's all Selmak's fault." Before she could respond to my joke the door opened and Jack came in. The dark cloud that seemed to be following him lifted as he saw me, but the trouble in his eyes stayed put. Dr. Fraiser wisely excused herself and quickly left the room.

"Jacob, it's nice to see you again." He crossed the room and was over to my side, looking at me.

"I take it you've talked to General Hammond."

"I have. He explained the situation, but the reason why was kind of blurry." He looked around as if expecting to find another person lurking in the corner. "First things first, let's get one thing straight. You're the new member of SG-1, right? I don't want to have to deal with some other good for nothing Tok'ra who doesn't care about the other members of this team."

"Jack relax. It's me. I'm the new grunt you'll have to worry about." Jack visibly relaxed and I could see that the idea of having me on the team wasn't as bad as having another Tok'ra there.

"Well then, trainee, let's get one thing straight. When you address me, it's Colonel or Sir."

From the smile on his face I knew he was joking around with me, but I couldn't help myself when Selmak wanted to take control. I almost laughed out loud when Jack jumped in the air as Selmak shouted out 'Sir Yes Sir.' in boot camp lingo.

"What was that?" he asks.

I quickly take control again. "Sorry Jack, Selmak has wanted to do that for a while, ever since rifling through my memories of boot camp."

"Well warn me next time, and that goes double for Selmak." Jack raises his voice, flaunting his Colonel status. "You got it in there?"

A small laugh escapes before I can hold my hand up in surrender. "She got it, she got it."

"Good." He smiles before becoming serious again. "So what's going on with this exchange program?"

"It started about a week ago. One of our bases was discovered and a system lord was going to attack it. Fortunately for us there was an operative in that system lord's service and she was able to warn us well in advance, but that led us to the question as to where we should move the base. You see Jack, none of the Tok'ra are really good scouts. They don't quite understand the concept of just looking without anything specific in mind to find.

"We were discussing it in the Council room and one thing led to another until they mentioned the Tau'ri. You guys stuck in their minds and they started wondering what exactly you do, besides kill every system lord you can find. They asked me, and I told them how we sought military and scientific discovery, but I couldn't give them specific details. Anyway, someone thought it would be good to know exactly what you guys do and suggested that one of us accompany you on some of your trips through the Stargate. So here I am."

"Okay, I get why they chose you, but I'm still a little fuzzy on what you want to accomplish. Do you want us to find a new home for you?"

"Not quite like that Jack. We don't expect you to find a new planet for us, but maybe you can pass along some addresses that could be suitable for us. You do planetary surveys anyway, you could just pass along your findings."

"So what's in it for us?"

"I'll tell you some of the things I know, show you positive signs that the Goa'uld are on the planet, things Teal'c might not even know, and generally answer all of the questions that you guys have. Plus, this gives me the added bonus of spending some quality time with my daughter. Speaking of which, where is she?"

"Carter? If you stay here she'll be along soon. She has an appointment with the doc in about ten minutes." His face darkens as a thought crosses his mind. "Jacob, you're not going to flake on the whole knowledge thing are you?"

"No, Jack. Everything I know I'll tell you. Selmak might be another matter though." He nods in understanding as the door opens. I watched as a young lady, dressed in street clothes came walking through. She quickly stood at attention when she saw us.

"Perfect timing Hailey. Jacob, I would like to introduce you to Cadet Jennifer Hailey. She's also joining SG-1 for the summer." She looks shocked at the statement, but quickly schooled her features into the impartial mask the military favors. I walk over to where she's standing, offering her my hand before I remember I'm in my blues and throw a salute instead.

"Nice to meet you Cadet." The door opens again and I see my daughter come through and rush over to give her a big hug.


Sam

What a day. I had just finished a therapy session and was on my way to see Janet when I see dad. Turns out he's going to join us for a few months or so. How cool is that. It will be strange having him around so much. Two months of him here is almost the entire time I was growing up, at least until mom died. He tried to stay home more after that, but it was always awkward. Selmak really was the best thing that ever happened to him, not counting mom.

My leg is healing fine. Janet says it's almost back to full strength. In a few days, I can lose the crutches, and hopefully in a couple of weeks, she'll clear me for gate travel.

It'll be weird having dad on missions with us. Don't get me wrong, I love him and everything, but it'll just be weird. I think Cadet Hailey thinks I'm nuts for rushing up and hugging a General instead of saluting like the good little soldiers do, but as soon as I told her who he was, she started to relax.

I'm taking dad for a ride now, or is it the other way around. General Hammond thought it might be interesting if dad looked around Area 51 while he's here. Maybe he knows what some of that stuff is that we keep bringing back. Since my leg is hurt, dad has to do the driving from the airport to the base, but he convinced General Hammond to let me come along for some quality father daughter time. Not that I mind tagging along.

The guys will be going on their first mission in a few days. It will be the first one for SG-1 since we went to that planet. I'll be staying behind with Hailey, while everyone else gets to go play on another world. Sometimes life just isn't fair.