After 4 weeks of down time, the base was back to being fully operational after being over run by a gerbil size alien rodent. Several of the creatures had hitchhiked in Team 14's gear on their return trip. Team 14 had been documenting the weather of a moon that was being seriously considered as a type of asylum planet. After 2 months of long work they were being rotated out so another team of land developer type people could start work on permanent habitats and defense installations.

While they took all the usual precautions while packing up and returning from an alien planet a few of the creatures made it to the base. They not only escaped being noticed during unpacking, but also managed to stay stealthily hidden in an unused lab while their numbers grew. Thankfully security protocols kept them from escaping and taking over Colorado. However, given their quick gestation, maturity and voracious appetite, they were difficult to exterminate.

Jack was wandering the base enjoying the fresh paint smell. He could tell where maintenance had painted over the scorch marks from burning out he critters. Jack had spent his time off at his cabin courting the fish in his pond and nursing a beer. It was bliss. On his last lap he'd ran into Carter and Teal'c who were both happy to be back. Teal'c had been off world escorting VIP Jaffa at the Alpha site and Carter had been playing at Area 51. During this lap it looked like Daniel was back.

"Hey Danny Boy. Enjoy your vacation?" Jack leaned against the open door frame to Daniel's office.

"Yup, sure did." Daniel ended his sentence with a small grunt as he lifted a smallish chest onto a table, his back was to Jack.

"What did you do?" He was leaning in closer, curious about the chest.

"O, I went on a dig. It was in this tiny, remote village in the Himalayas. I brought a few things back that I suspected could be from Yu's early reign."

"Anything good?" Jack was right behind Daniel now and stepped back quickly when Daniel turned around to face him.

"Yes." Daniel held a small jar in his hands and did that pursed lip & furrowed eyebrow thing. "Jack?"

"What's with the beard?" Jack pointed to the monstrously full, slightly curly, mass of chestnut brown hair that was coming out of Daniels face.

"O, yea I should shave huh?" Daniel ran his hand down the side of his face and down the length of his facial hair.

"Why did you grow it all?"

"Protection."

"From the cold?"

"From the locals."

"How does that" – firm finger pointing – "protect you from people, is it bullet proof?"

"They fear the beard."