Giles hadn't really been surprised when Paul Davis called him. But he had been surprised when Davis insisted that he, Buffy and Faith go out to Colorado to be briefed on a project the Pentagon was involved in. Giles couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with Daniel. But what could a translator for the U.S. military be involved in that was so important?

He was packing his suitcase when Buffy, Faith, Willow, Xander and Dawn trailed in.

"Hey G-man!" Xander greeted. "We are ready for a road trip."

Giles polished his glasses and pinned Xander with a stern look. "Xander, you do realize that you, Willow and Dawn weren't asked to come."

Xander looked at Willow and Dawn, then Buffy. He shrugged. "Sure, but you do realize we're coming anyway."

Giles sighed. "I thought as much."

"They'll just have to handle it," Buffy said with a shrug of her own.

"And please, everybody, when we get to the base, no confrontations." Giles looked at Buffy and Faith primarily. "It didn't work too well with Daniel."

"Yeah, in fact, I think that's what this is about," Buffy admitted.

"Yes, me too," Giles agreed.

"Ooh, do you think he translates demon languages and didn't want to tell us?" Dawn asked sounding excited.

"I have no clue."

"Do you think we'll run into Dr. J while we're there?" Faith asked. "Cause I'm betting this is about him. And I think that O'Neill guy will be playing guard dog still."

"Ah, yes," Giles agreed rubbing his forehead, not pleased with the thought. The colonel had insinuated himself in the middle of their affairs with Daniel. Giles wondered if Daniel would have been more receptive without Jack there. But then again, Daniel had been angry when he assumed they had contacted him to work for the council. "Let's not think about that."

"Well, ya gotta admire the guy," Xander offered. Off everyone's looks of disbelief he explained. "He's gonna protect his own. Dr. J obviously works under his command. And I think the good doc is more than a translator."

"I think it's safe to say we all got that vibe," Buffy said wryly.

"When I read him after dinner I did get the impression that he wasn't lying outright though," Willow explained. "But he was leaving out a lot of details. It was close enough to the truth that I could have missed it."

"I get the feeling we'll get our answers when we get to Colorado," Buffy said.

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Giles was more than glad when they disembarked in Colorado. Hours cooped up on a plane with Buffy, Dawn, Faith, Xander and Willow was a true test of his patience.

"Okay," Faith said grabbing the two duffle bags of magically shielded weapons off the luggage carousel. She handed one bag to Buffy. "They had better send someone to pick us up since the Air Force couldn't spring for a plane to bring us out here instead of making us fly commercial."

"I'll say," Buffy agreed.

"I think it's all just part of a psychological move to get us so irritated and tired that we're more susceptible to their interrogation," Xander offered, only half joking.

"Dr. Giles," a voice called out from the crowd of people.

They turned to see Major Davis making his way to them through the mass of people. He paused for a moment when he saw Dawn, Willow and Xander had come as well.

Damn. How the hell was he getting out of this? He decided to play ignorant.

"We can go to Cheyenne Mountain after we drop off the others," he began, mentally begging them to give him a break and go along with it.

"We're all going," Buffy insisted almost menacingly.

Paul fought back a sigh. "Excuse me a moment," he said as he pulled out his cell phone and walked a few yards away from the group.

It didn't matter, because Buffy and Faith, with their slayer senses, could hear every word he said.

"He's explaining to somebody that we're insisting on bringing Dawnie, Xan and Will with us," Buffy supplied for the others.

"Yeah, and he's not happy. I think he's getting his ass chewed," Faith offered.

After a few more minutes of frantic conversation Paul ended the call and came back to the group. "Miss Summers, Miss Rosenberg and Mr. Harris should have clearance by the time we get to the base," he said with a forced politeness. God, his job sucked sometimes.

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Daniel was precariously balancing the files he thought important for the debriefing in one hand and a mug of coffee was clutched in the other one when he entered the briefing room. Paul had called to inform the General that he was on his way with Giles and his people, and the General in turn informed him and the rest of SG-1.

He wasn't sure how he felt about his new-found "family" being briefed on the Stargate. But as he thought about it, Daniel thought maybe he could see the reasoning behind it. The Goa'uld were often referred to as demons in many of the cultures they had come across. Perhaps that was carried over with their culture when the Goa'uld transplanted the people to other planets. And the Goa'uld were on Earth for centuries. Maybe they had been seen by the various Slayers during those times as demons themselves. In ancient times no one would have known an alien from a demon. Maybe if he could get his hands on more of Giles' texts…

"Ready to see good old uncle Rupert?" Jack asked from where he was seated across from Carter. Despite the teasing there was an edge to his voice that told Daniel he was not happy.

"Actually, he's a cousin."

Jack waved his hand. "Whatever."

Sam looked at Daniel. "Are you sure you want to do this? Nyan could brief them on the history of the Goa'uld. General Hammond would understand."

When Jack had informed him that SG-1 was going to brief Giles and the senior Slayers on the Stargate Program Daniel knew he needed to tell Sam and Teal'c about his apparent family history.

"I'm sure. It shouldn't be a problem."

"Unless they want to compare near-death experiences with Daniel again," Jack offered deceptively casual.

Daniel pushed his glasses back up his nose. "I owe them an apology for my behavior."

"You don't owe them squat," Jack insisted. "They want to use you Daniel. They're the ones who contacted you under the pretense of wanting to find a missing family member when all they wanted was a librarian and punching bag for a bunch of freakishly strong teenaged girls! They didn't care that maybe you're doing something worthwhile with your life – making a difference."

"And them saving the world isn't worthwhile?" Daniel asked sharply.

Jack sighed, leaned back in his chair and threw his hands up in the air. "I'm not saying that. Hell, if anything they should have a worldwide holiday dedicated to them. But I don't like how they treated you Danny. Like all this," Jack spread out his arms, "doesn't matter. They may not have known about it, but they should have considered that you could already be doing great things. They don't know you, and they don't want to! Not really!"

Daniel hung his head and shook it before looking back at Jack. "Just please, don't start an argument. With me or them. I don't have the energy for it. Not today."

Jack nodded. "Okay. Fine."

Daniel placed his folders down on the table and took a seat next to Jack. Teal'c's coffee mug conspicuously sitting next to Sam, even though there was no sign of the Jaffa yet. It conveniently placed Daniel in position away from where Giles and his crew would sit with Jack, Sam and Teal'c acting as buffers between them and Daniel.

Hammond entered the room with Teal'c following stoically in his wake.

"I've just been told Major Davis and our guests have arrived at the check-in. They'll be here shortly."

"Oh joy of joys," Jack muttered.