"They're quite excited," Hammond told them. "The Joint Chiefs see this as an opportunity to strengthen our ties with the Tok'ra."

"I told you so," Tal'rek poked him.

"Oh shut up!"

"Really Sir?" Jack responded. "So, they're going to look for someone?"

"We-ell," Hammond grimaced slightly. "They've actually asked me to try and convince you to remain blended."

"You've got to be kidding!" Jack reacted angrily. "I hope you made it clear that that isn't an option. Sorry Tal'rek – you know this isn't about you!"

"I know, Jack. It seem your people are very similar to mine."

"Unfortunately, I'm not kidding," Hammond told him. "I tried to explain to them that there was no way you would agree to do this, but they weren't predisposed to listen."

"They're a bunch of arrogant asses!" Jack cried angrily. He expected Hammond to tell him off for being disrespectful of his superiors, but the General once again surprised him.

"Yes, they are," agreed Hammond, "but they weren't about to listen. I did however, get them to agree to a time limit."

"A time limit?" asked Tal'rek. He'd stepped in since Jack was so angry, he was finding it difficult to speak.

"Yes, they've asked that Jack and you stay blended for at least the next couple of weeks. In exchange for that, they've agreed to start looking for an alternate host."

"Two weeks," Jack exclaimed. After a couple of deep breaths, he calmed down. "Okay fine – two weeks. Are they really going to look for someone?"

"I spoke to General Fielding and he gave me his word. He and I go way back, Jack, and I trust him. Can you hold on for a couple of weeks?"

"We don't have much choice, do we?" Jack said bitterly.

"You do realize, General Hammond, that the longer we are blended the more difficult it will be for us to separate," Tal'rek told him. "It can be quite traumatic for a human host to lose his or her symbiote."

"What about for you?" Jack asked.

"For me, as well, although in your case I might be relieved."

There was a pause and then Hammond laughed. "I don't know Jack – I think you may have blended with your twin," he said.

Jack chuckled as well. He was really getting to quite like Tal'rek, who could give as well as take.

"See, I'm growing on you, human!"

"Don't get your hopes up, snake!" Jack replied. "Uh General – I – we – don't have to stay on base the whole time, do we?"

"No. As long as you don't give away Tal'rek's presence, you can leave. In fact, why don't you go on that vacation you were planning to your cabin.

Jack decided he liked that idea. It would mean minimal human contact, especially with people at the SGC who would know about his passenger. He was about to agree to the General's suggestion but then realized it would only be polite to ask Tal'rek. "Does that sound okay to you?" he asked.

"Will your people and mine be able to get in touch with us, if need be?"

"Yeah – Hammond knows where I'm going so he'll make sure we get any messages from the Tok'ra or from my people."

"Then I would be pleased to go to your cabin."

"Okay General – I'm – uh, we are going to head to Minnesota. I'll head out tomorrow in my truck. Call me, Sir, if either the Tok'ra or the Pentagon find a host."

"Will do Jack. And take care."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Thank you, General Hammond," Tal'rek added. "We appreciate your help and support."

"Now you're trying to suck up to the General too!"

"Being polite is not sucking up, O'Neill. Manners will take you far in life – something you might consider trying."

"Bite me!"

That evening Jack crashed as soon as he got to his house. Fortunately, Tal'rek was also tired so they were both able to go to sleep. Jack didn't relish another night sitting up while sleeping.

"Your bed is comfortable," Tal'rek told him after he turned out the lights.

"How do you know? I mean – you're in my head, not my body."

"I can feel sensations through you – and tastes and smells. I wish the Tok'ra had beds such as these!"

"Yeah, well, I've spent too many years sleepin' on the ground or in other hard places. When I'm home I like to be comfortable."

"Your home is very comfortable, O'Neill. I envy you. We do not really have homes."

Jack was silent, although he knew Tal'rek could sense his pity. He couldn't imagine spending your whole life moving from one planet to another.

"It is the only life we know," the symbiote told him. "but I do dream of one day having a home with a small garden and never having to leave it."

"What would you do?"

"I would read, listen to music, maybe find a companion."

"Mmm – that all sounds great. I'd just add a dog."

"A dog? Oh, you mean the small animals that humans seem to enjoy keeping as pets."

"Mmm. Hmm. Dogs are great. If I didn't have to do so much travelling, I'd get one. When I retire I plan to buy a rescue dog." He could feel Tal'rek searching through his head until he came across the definition of rescue dog.

"That sounds wonderful. Maybe soon both of us can have our dreams come true."

"That'd be nice," Jack said sleepily. "Now shut up and let me sleep."

He felt a soft chuckle and was soon in the arms of Morpheus.

Jack locked his door and headed to his truck. He'd thrown some snacks and drinks in a cooler and had packed a small duffle bag, although he didn't need to take much as he had clothes and supplies at his cottage.

He could feel excitement coming from Tal'rek, who was about to go on his first road trip in a human automobile. It was something that only Sel'mak of the Tok'ra had ever experienced.

As Jack pulled out of his driveway he laughed. In some ways he decided that having a companion on his usual trip to his cabin was going to be interesting.

"See – you're growing to like having a symbiote."

"I'm making the most of it," Jack told him. "Now let me drive."

Jack found himself telling Tal'rek all sorts of facts about Earth and about the places they passed on their trip to Minnesota. He'd had to drag out all sorts of forgotten facts and trivia. It was kind of fun, although half-way into the trip he wished his companion could drive.

"But I can, O'Neill," Tal'rek reminded him. "Do you not remember the Tel'tak?"

"But you don't know how to drive an Earth truck."

"Yes I do. Remember that I can access all your knowledge and abilities."

"Then why did you have me tell you all about Colorado and America?"

"Because it was fun – and I do not know what to look for to access new information. As for driving – that I can do. Why don't you rest and I shall drive for awhile?"

Jack shook his head, but finally agreed. Tal'rek turned out to be an excellent driver, although Jack found it utterly bizarre to watch himself drive and not be in control. At first it was scary, but after a while he relaxed.

It was surprising how much he and Tal'rek had in common – except they did find one thing they differed on, and that was music.

"Country – over my dead body!" Jack exclaimed.

"I refuse to listen to what you call "classical" music all day," Tal'rek argued. "I want something lighter."

"There are light classics."

"I do not want light – or hard or any kind of classics," Tal'rek said loudly. "How about some of the music we heard a few minutes ago on the radio?"

"Rap? Nope," Jack shook his head. "I'm too old for that. How about pop?"

"Is it boring?"

"Boring? No – it's great. Here." He leaned forward and put in a CD. "There, you can't go wrong with the Beatles."

"The Beatles? Is that not an insect?"

"Nope – the insect is spelled b.e.e.t.l.e.s – this is the B.e.a.t.l.e.s. They're a famous Earth band from the 60's."

"What are the 60's?"

"The 1960's. That was a decade that was famous for rock and roll music."

"Rock and roll? I thought you said "pop".

"Yeah – well – just listen."

Over the next few hours Jack and Tal'rek argued about what music to listen to as well as what to eat when they stopped at a restaurant at the side of the highway. In the end they decided to take turns making the decisions. It was the best way to work things, Jack knew, although if he had to listen to Toby Keith or Willie Nelson one more time he'd scream. He realized that Tal'rek felt the same about Mozart.

They finally arrived at his cabin late that night. It was the fastest he'd driven the route on his own. Sharing the driving with Tal'rek had sped things up considerably.

"I'm sorry – it's dark so you really can't see anything," Jack told him as he climbed from behind the steering wheel. "I'll take you on a tour tomorrow."

"I look forward to it," Tal'rek told him. "Although I cannot see much, I must say that it smells amazing and the pictures in your mind are beautiful. This is a very special place for you."

"Yeah, it is," Jack answered softly. "Come on – let's get in and get to bed. I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted.

The next morning Jack took Tal'rek on a tour of the cabin and the surrounding area. He knew the Tok'ra symbiote was impressed – he felt his companion's happiness at being in such a beautiful location match his own. It made him like Tal'rek a little bit more.

"If there are no fish, then why do you sit here with a fishing pole?"

"Because it's the actof fishing that's important."

"That is ridiculous. You could simply sit by the water and enjoy the scenery, the quiet and the fresh air. Casting a line into the water for no purpose is a strange thing to do."

"Hey – if this was your cabin you could do what you want. I like to fish."

"Okay – fine, although I still think you're crazy, Jack O'Neill. I am going to sleep!"

Jack enjoyed the next couple of hours as the symbiote (he refused to say his symbiote) slept. It was suddenly peaceful in his own mind, something he dearly missed. He wondered briefly if Tal'rek felt the same when he, Jack, was sleeping?

It was true that he'd gotten used to having Tal'rek in his head – and he was a pretty decent snake – except for his taste in music – but Jack was by nature a solitary person. Having someone hear all his thoughts and know his feelings was exhausting. He didn't wish Tal'rek ill, but he was counting the days until they found another host.

The next few days they relaxed and puttered around the cabin. They also went on a few hikes around the area, although since both of them spent their lives fighting the Goa'uld, they were enjoying the rest and relaxation and didn't need to be active.

Jack was also able to introduce Tal'rek to the joys of eating American vacation food. He had to laugh when he made and ate S'mores. He was pretty sure that Tal'rek was in ecstasy.

"We do not have such food," the symbiote said. "Our food is sustaining, but we do not have time to worry about taste – and often don't have access to a wide variety of foods."

"No? What about when you're undercover?"

"Yes, sometimes we are able to enjoy the abundance that the Goa'uld ensure for themselves – but that is rare. And I have never eaten S'mores. Shall we have them again tonight?"

Jack grimaced slightly. "Uh – they're awfully sweet." He rubbed his stomach. "I have to watch my sugar and calories," he told Tal'rek.

"Why? I can take care of that for you. You may eat what you wish, and it will not affect your health."

"Really?" Jack thought a moment and then grinned. "Then let's go to the store! I have some groceries to buy."

That evening he cooked up a storm. He barbequed a huge steak accompanied by corn on the cob, baked potatoes slathered in butter and sour cream with cole slaw and garlic bread on the side. For dessert he had warm apple pie with whipped cream and ice cream. At the end of the meal he sat back and sighed. He was stuffed.

"So, how was that?" he asked the Tok'ra? "Tal'rek?" he asked worriedly. "Are you there?"

"I am – digesting – O'Neill," the symbiote answered.

"You're – wait, no you're not. I'm digesting. You may be helping – but it's my body that's doing the work."

"Well then, I am relaxing. That was – amazing," Tal'rek said. "I am sleepy."

Jack grinned. He'd just sent the snake into a post gluttonous stupor. "Go ahead – sleep. I'm going to watch a movie."

So, some things about having a symbiote weren't bad, grinned Jack.

The next day they did more of the same – which was not much of anything. They had leftovers, which was just fine by Tal'rek, as Jack didn't feel like cooking again. Instead, he decided to read a book he'd been wanting to get to for a while.

"What is a mystery?" asked Tal'rek. "Oh, I see. It sounds like it might be fun."

"It is. Now be quiet and let me read!"

Tal'rek was able to abide by that for a little while, but after 45 minutes he interrupted Jack by asking him questions about the story.

"You have to wait and see," Jack told him. "Now stop bugging me. I can't concentrate."

"I believe it is the husband who did it," the Tok'ra said close to an hour later. "The clues all point -"

"Aaack! You just spoiled it for me!" Jack cried, sitting up and throwing down the book. "The whole point of a mystery is to not have someone give it away for you. Haven't you ever read a book like this before!"

"Of course," Tal'rek answered, sounding offended. "But you did not have to be so snarky. I was just guessing!"

"Then guess in silence!" Jack stood up and stretched. "I'm going to get something to eat," he murmured.

"Shall we have S'mores?"

"Nope!"

"But I would like one!"

"And I wanted to read my book in peace. We obviously don't always get what we want."

"So, you are going to exact revenge by not allowing me to eat a S'mores?"

"Yup – that's right. Maybe next time you'll let me read in peace!"

Just as the argument was taking shape, Jack stopped and frowned. "Sounds like a car," he said. "I wonder who it could be. Hardly anyone ever comes here." He walked to the front door and stepped outside, just in time to see a dark sedan drive up his driveway and park in front of the cabin. "Who -"

A moment later Sam, Daniel and Teal'c had all exited the car. His team had arrived.

Hey – I couldn't do a Stargate story without the whole team now, could I?