Authors' Note: Hi there, just so you know, this story was co-authored with my friend Nimeria. This story is as much hers as mine.

Disclaimer: We don't own anyone or anything you recognize. Except for ourselves. And that last bit's only a "maybe" on a good day.

Why to Always Have an Escape Route

Chapter 11

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(Back with the others)

(Mary leads way down hallway with the twins following close behind. Daniel is walking behind them. Sheppard is behind him and keeping and eye on their six. McKay is still trying to figure out why Sheppard called him despicable. Then the hallway dead ends.)

Daniel: Now what?

M: Ummm...say Taylor, come here.

Taylor: What?

Mary: (grabs Taylor's elbow and walks into wall. And through it. And back.) Hee hee. Sweet!

Sheppard: Hey, what was on the other side of that wall?

Taylor: (gently pulls arm out of Mary's grip) I don't know. I was back through it almost before I knew I'd gone through it in the first place.

Mary: What? I had to try it; it's cool.

Jess: It is.

Taylor: I can go look again if you want.

Sheppard: (pauses) Actually (hesitates) could you maybe take me with you? (Rodney snorts) …to have a look around and for back up if she needs it.

Taylor: (grins) Absolutely!

(Sheppard takes hold of Taylor's shoulder, and the two step through the wall into...)

Sheppard: Whoa.

Taylor: (gasp) Wow... (pause, followed by giggling) I so have to tell Jessie!!!

Sheppard: Hey, no, don't- (Taylor walks back through the wall.) -leave me in a strange room alone. (sigh) Well, at least I have a gun.

(Sheppard makes a quick search of the room, and after making sure that there is no one unfriendly - or friendly, for that matter - present, goes back to waiting by the wall they came through.)

Sheppard: What's taking them so long?

(On the other side of the wall…)

Taylor: Oooh! Jessie!!

Jessie: What!!

Taylor: It's so pretty!!

Jessie: Shiny?

Taylor: Yeah!

(They squeal happily.)

McKay: What is in there? Where's Sheppard?

(The twinlings do not hear him.)

Daniel: Jessie?

Taylor? GIRLS!!

Mary: Minions! Attention!

Taylor and Jessie: (immediately stop and snap to attention) Aaaahhh! What?

Mary: They asked you a question. Please answer them. Well, Rodney. Daniel just tried to get your attention.

Taylor: (to McKay sheepishly) Sorry. Umm. It's, uh, pretty room, with the lights, and-

McKay: Shep-pard. SHEPPARD. Where did you leave him?

Taylor: (surprised) Oh, uh, here.

(With Taylor's aid all are taken through the wall of the dead end, from the dank and dusty darkness into a bright room full of lights. Sheppard stands waiting nearby.)

Taylor: (looking at him sheepishly) I'm sorry. I just kinda reacted to the shiny. I wouldn't normally...

Sheppard: S'ok. Nothing happened and you came back so...

Daniel: Did you look around at all?

Sheppard: No. just stayed put. But that big thing in the middle of the room looks important and horrifyingly familiar in a way.

(All heads turn to regard the pedestal in the middle of the room that looks somewhat like a cross between the puzzle one from Dagan and the one from Window of Opportunity.)

Daniel: I'll have to agree with you one that.

(Taylor, Jessie and Mary groan)

Sheppard: What?

Mary: It's just that those pedestal thingies always lead to treasure hunts of some sort.

(Mary, Taylor and Jessie's faces perk up.)

Taylor: On the other hand, they always lead to treasure hunts. (grinning madly)

Daniel: Mary, will you help me translate these symbols?

(Mary nods and goes to help him. Taylor goes to Sheppard looking apologetic still and the two of them take to a corner of the room and begin discussing something that might have had to do with flying a puddle jumper if the way Sheppard was moving his hands was any indication. McKay glared at Jessie and she grins, bounces, and then wanders over to examine and odd air vent in the wall.)

McKay: So, Mary is it? What do you know about this altar-device-thingy?

Mary: That it's a big altar-device thingy?

McKay: Oh wonderful, we're resting our hopes on an idiot!

Sheppard: MCKAY!

(Daniel glares)

Mary: (smiles) Oh! Thank You! That means so much to me!

Taylor: Hey? What about us? We're idiots too!

Jessie: Yeah! That's not fair... (pouts)

Mary: Uh-oh.

McKay: What? (still very embarrassed, but now also confused in a 'crap-what's-gonna-hurt-me?' way)

Mary: Well, Jessie is pouting.

Sheppard: And that's bad?

Daniel: (rubs eyes in exasperation) Can you Not make this worse please?

Mary: Well, Jessie pouts, and Taylor gets angry.

(Indeed, Taylor is now glaring murderously at McKay and Sheppard.)

McKay: But all I did was-

Mary: -call me an Idiot. I know. Just be glad I'm not mad at you too. Now, offer her a cookie before Taylor takes a tennis racket rim to your head.

Taylor: What? I wasn't planning on that. Hmm...That's actually a good idea...

McKay: (with his voice breaking in fear) Jessie, I'm sorry and the next time I can I'll get you a cookie. Three in fact!

Jessie: (immediately perks up) Okay! (wanders off pointedly, back to the air vent)

Daniel: Uh, Mary? Little help here?

Mary: Hmm? Oh, sorry. (returns to device)

(Sheppard walks over to McKay, where he is standing apart.)

Sheppard: That was close.

McKay: Yeah. Wow. We do have cookies here somewhere, right?

Sheppard: I'm sure if we don't we can get some.

Taylor: (walks over) Sorry about the look of death guys.

Sheppard: You're not mad anymore?

Taylor: Nah. It was really more of a matter of honor.

McKay: But? But? I insulted you?

Taylor: Nah. You insulted Mary, and she was the first Overlord.

Sheppard: But she wasn't mad.

Taylor: (wide eyes) Oh no. We've never seen her mad.

McKay: Never?

Jessie: Umm. Guys? Am I going crazy?

Mary: (from device) No more than Usual.

Jessie: Then I think You might want to come over here.

(Sheppard and McKay and Taylor walk over to Jessie, conveniently located by an air duct, through which can be heard...)

Jack: Fine. I'm just saying that when we get out I'd rather make the coffee. Daniel always makes his coffee too strong.

Taylor: (into air vent) Jack?

Jack: (through air vent, echo-y and metallic) Taylor? You there?

Mitchell: Where?

Jack: I dunno, that's why I'm asking.

Taylor: We're not there. We're here. But we can hear you. You guys ok?

Teal'c: We have been captured and imprisoned.

Taylor: Ah. You guys alone? No Bad Guys?

Jack: No. Say, here's an idea, if you're not too busy, can you Get Us OUT Of Here?

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