xxxx

Carter picked up the story, "Nothing... really. We've just been going through some of the artifacts that were brought over from PX3-2589."

At the boys' blank looks, Daniel elaborated, "Another planet. I was thinking about cross-referencing the local lore against some old Earth legends, to see if there were any blatant similarities. We were drawing a blank when Sam had to leave..."

"So... you were messing around with ritual artifacts?" Sam asked, frowning.

"Dude, that's usually not a good idea," Dean agreed. "Any idea what you pissed off?"

Daniel shook his head, "The writing was in ancient Latin. I haven't had time to translate everything, yet."

Dean thought that one over and glanced at his little brother, "So, Sammy. How's your Latin?"

Sam snorted, "Better than yours."

Dean replied with something highly uncomplimentary... in ancient Latin.

Sam responded in kind and Daniel was caught between shock that these two even knew the language (he'd assumed that the exorcism was simply memorized words), awe at the amazing fluency they showed with it, and amused horror at the use they put it to.

Carter looked so confused that he couldn't help it. He gave a strangled snicker as he struggled to keep from laughing out loud. "They're, ah..." he choked at a particularly vulgar phrase, "Insulting each other in Latin..."

"Right. Anyway... can you get the things you were messin' around with brought here, or do we have to go there?"

Sam shook his head slightly, "It's... it's still weak, right now. It might be better to go there and 'lock' that room, too."

Dean grunted noncommittally. "You're the psychic..."

"Shut up, jerk."

"Yeah, whatever." A beat. "Bitch."

Daniel started and Carter frowned, remembering the exchange in the car earlier.

Sam seemed to understand the misgivings. "This is normal," he assured the two scientists.

"Dude, Sam, we don't do 'normal'."

Daniel shook his head slightly, "Right."

Carter had a slightly different reaction. "Just... what are you?"

"Hunters." Dean's answer was prompt and to the point.

Sam elaborated, "That's what we call people like us. We hunt things... all the things that no one else believes in."

"Such as?"

"Vengeful spirits, werewolves, demons... you name it, we've probably hunted it."

"Grim Reapers?" Jack asked from the doorway, sounding sarcastic.

Sam and Dean exchanged glances, "Well..."

"Not exactly..."

"The one run-in we've had with a Reaper..." Sam hesitated, glancing at his brother.

"It's not one of our proudest moments," Dean finished.

"The Grim Reaper's real?" Jack sputtered, "I was joking!"

"Well, Reapers--there's more than one--aren't robed skeletons with scythes, that's for sure." Dean shuddered, "You can only see the damn things while they're coming for you... and that's not an experience I'd care to repeat."

"Anyway," Sam butted in, not wanting to go over one of the few hunts his brother had regretted in the end, "What are you doing here, Colonel?"

"Just checking up on the kids before heading offworld to take more pictures of Danny's rocks."

"Artifacts, Jack," Daniel sighed.

"Yeah, well... what am I looking for?"

"The statue of Mertseger with the Latin--the one that I thought was odd because it's Egyptian but has writing form a few thousand years later on it?"

"You mean the snakey-looking thing?"

"Yeah, that one."

"OooK. Yeah. Sure. You betcha. Bye." Jack waved jauntily as he left the room.

Sam and Dean eyed the closed door for a few moments longer, then Sam glanced at his brother. "I'll go with Daniel to wherever they're keeping the research if you'll get some supplies from the car with Samantha."

Dean shrugged, "You're the geek."

"Yeah. Thanks." The sarcasm was evident.

"What am I going for, Psychic Wonder?"

"Dean," Sam groaned, "Will you knock it off? Standard junk, I guess, rock salt, crossroad dirt, hyssop, the herbs Missouri gave us... Dad's journal..."

"The usual for a cleansing, huh?"

"Binding, actually. This thing isn't pinned down."

"Right..." Dean eyed his little brother for a moment, then shook his head, "I don't even want to know what's going on in that freaky head of yours."

Sam half-glared, "Nice. Thanks. And we'd better make this quick, because our invisible friend is getting stronger."

"Right," Dean cut the commentary and headed topside with his 'military escort' while Sam and Daniel headed for Daniel's office.

xxxx

So. Any suggested reading in either Stargate or Supernatural fandoms would be helpful... I need inspiration, people, or this will take me FOREVER!