"What did he mean by 'protect ourselves from them'?" Vala asked. "What extra knowledge do you have?"

"I don't know exactly why they've told me this, but I guess it is because they believe that if we don't view them as a threat we will return the Arks." Daniel said slowly. When he stopped speaking and didn't expand on his comment Cam asked.

"Told you what exactly?"

"Oh right, sorry. That gate address is for a planet that has a lab belonging to one of the nine. The lab itself was cloaked and shielded, like Janus' lab, and should have survived Wraith attacks."

"And this is important because?" Cam asked.

"Because it should contain eight fully charged and operational ZPMs."

"That would be enough to have both Atlantis and Earth fully protected." Sam said.

"And they've just handed this over to us?" Cam asked dubiously.

"Yes. I believe they are telling the truth. They want the Arks to be reunited with the planet, but have no desire to start a war. They want to be left alone." Daniel said, his words not appeasing Cam. "I think that they truly believe that we will cooperate more if we are not scared of retaliation."

"We should return to Atlantis." Teal'c said. "Their database may shed some light on this address."

"Aren't they going to give us a deadline for returning the second Ark?" Vala asked. "I mean now we have the knowledge I would have thought they'd be pretty keen to get it off us."

"Unless they've programmed Jackson to return it." Cam pointed out.

"Which is another reason we should return to Atlantis." Sam said. "If there is a hidden command implanted in his brain Jennifer may be able to detect it."

"Failing that the temptation will prove too much. And he'll try and steal the Ark." Vala commented.

-00-

Five minutes after SG1 stepped through the gate Jennifer wearily limped into the infirmary where Cam's team, Sheppard and Ronon were waiting.

"Hey." Daniel waved from a gurney. "Sorry to wake you."

"It's alright. Is everyone ok?" Jennifer asked, her eyes scanning everyone, but lingering for a moment on Cam, who silently nodded before saying.

"It all went according to plan. It was only Jackson who got hooked up to the machine."

"I'll run some scans."

"How long do you think it will take?" Daniel asked, earning a frustrated scowl from Jennifer.

"It depends how thorough you want the scans to be." Jennifer said. The statement directed to Woolsey who asked.

"Is Major Lorne showing an adverse reactions?"

"No, his scans appear completely normal." The words causing Woolsey to look at Jennifer for a moment before saying.

"I'd like Dr Jackson to attend a briefing in thirty minutes. Run all the scans you can in that time."

"And if I find something unusual?"

"Let me know." With that Woolsey looked back at SG1 and John.

"I'll see you in the briefing room in thirty minutes." He then turned and left the infirmary, quickly followed by John who said.

"I'll hurry McKay up."

Cam stood watching Jennifer run her scans, desperately wanting to talk to her. However, not wanting to interfere with her work he instead chose to leave, stopping at Teal'c's side on the way out and saying.

"Keep an eye on him. I'll see you in the briefing."

-00-

"Okay, the address is in the database, but there is no mention of a lab." McKay said half an hour later, as he entered the briefing room and headed to his chair.

"That's because the knowledge of the lab was kept a secret." Daniel explained.

"Or because something terrible happened and they erased it from the database." John suggested.

"Either way I take it you wish to go to the planet?" Woolsey asked.

"That many ZPMs makes it worth the risk." John replied.

"Which could be what they're hoping." Cam pointed out. "Dangle a big fat juicy carrot that we can't resist, which will lead to our destruction."

"Colonel, did you have a particularly traumatic childhood?" Woolsey asked. "One that has led you to be the sceptical, untrusting man you are today?"

"Are you saying you buy their story?" Cam countered.

"No. But if this is as it seems I don't want to jeopardise a possible alliance that would be beneficial to both us here in Atlantis and Earth. Currently you can describe me as cautiously optimistic. Dr Jackson, I assume that you will need to be on the mission to recover the ZPMs. Are you expecting any hostile forces?"

"No, but the information I have dates back to before the Ancients left the Milky Way."

"So we send two teams." John said. "SG1to do the recovery and my team to stand by in a Jumper, just in case."

"Shouldn't I go with SG1 to test the ZPMs and make sure they aren't dangerous?" Rodney asked, not wanting to miss the opportunity to explore an Ancient lab.

"It would speed things up if we were both checking." Sam agreed.

"Are you okay with that Colonel?" Woolsey asked Sheppard.

"Sure, but if the solar system blows up it's your responsibility." John replied looking at the two full Colonels in the room.

"Don't worry I have a lemon." Cam commented, earning a scowl from McKay.

Sighing Woolsey looked at his clock and said. "Well seeing it is now four AM-"

"We might as well go now as no one is going to get much sleep." Rodney suggested.

Woolsey opened his mouth to argue, but saw similar sentiments mirrored in the eyes of everyone in the room.

"Very well." He agreed. "As soon as you're ready you have a go."

Nodding the occupants left the room. As they did so Cam looked at Carter and said. "I'll meet you back here in ten minutes." With that he jogged out of the Gateroom.

-00-

When Jennifer saw Cam jog into the infirmary, professional panic took hold.

"What happened? Has Dani-" She started to ask only for Cam to put his hands on her shoulders and say.

"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to see you before my mission."

"Mission? I thought you'd just come back from a mission?" Jennifer questioned, wondering if the early hour was playing tricks on her mind.

"I have, but we've got a lead that needs following."

"At four in the morning?"

"It's a big lead that has everyone too excited to sleep."

"Including you?"

"If you replace excitement with worried." Cam sighed.

"Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I always am." He said before moving his hands to cup her face and kissing her. "I'll see you soon."

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up tomorrow.