"Daniel Jackson, I have heard mention of a zoo before but why would the Tauri wish to encage it's animals. This seems most cruel and unwise." Teal'c asked as they pulled up at the zoo.

"Zoos are for people to see animal's that they wouldn't get to see. You see the cage bars are to protect them from us and as much as to protect us from them. Some of these animals can't live free because people want to kill them, but by letting them live in a zoo they're safe and well fed and looked after." Daniel explained.

"I see, thank you Daniel Jackson." Teal'c replied with a head nod.

"Any thing you want to add Carter?" Jack asked.

"No sir." She paused. "I was just thinking I can't remember the last time I went to the zoo."

"I brought...." He trailed off. Daniel gave him a supportive smile. "Watch the kids make sure they don't get into trouble while I go and get the tickets." Jack instructed Sam.

"Yes sir." Sam replied. She waited until he joined the queue before turning to Daniel and Teal'c. "Okay guys what's really going on?"

"We're in Denver and we're going to the zoo." Daniel supplied.

"I know that, but why did the Colonel suddenly decide to bring us to Denver for the weekend? And why do I seem to be the only person who didn't know about it before hand?"

"Because he thought you'd come up with an excuse if you had time, besides it will do us good to be away from the base for a while."

"There is something you're not telling me." Sam said crossing her arms.

"Sam don't even think of trying that military stuff with us." Daniel saw where she looked like she was about to go. "We're not Air Force, and we have the weekend off."

"Here you go." Jack handed them their tickets. "I got us all maps too. If you get lost we'll meet at the Penguin house at 1600. Teal'c stay with Daniel otherwise he's liable to get lost completely."

"Jack." Daniel started to protest.

"Daniel don't start, you know you have no sense of direction. It took you three and a half weeks to be able to find you lab without someone showing you the way. Besides Teal'c could use a guide." Sam bit her lip to hide a smile.

"Fine. Let's go to the zoo. Captain ladies first."

"Thank you sir." Sam handed her ticket to the guard and went through the turnstile. Daniel and Jack quickly followed but as Teal'c tried to move through he became stuck.

"Excuse me sir, I'm every so sorry sir." The flustered guard quickly tried to extradite him.

"Release me from this device and we shall speak no more of this matter."

"Yes sir."

"It's like watching the young airmen around him." Daniel whispered to Sam.

"I know what you mean. But he has a worse effect on my lab techs, but not quite as bad as the effect the Colonel has on them." Sam whispered back, Daniel nodded in agreement.

"What was that?" Jack asked.

"Nothing sir. What do you want to go and see first sir?" Sam changed the subject.

"What you should see first every time you come to the zoo - the ape house. Do you have a preference?" he asked.

"As long as I get to see the camels, polar bears and the penguins I don't mind sir." Sam replied.

"I'm not sure about the camels, but then again it can be as bad as Kasuf's smelly Yak thingy." He looked at Daniel. "Sorry Daniel." He apologised for the mention of Daniel's father-in-law.

"No problem Jack, but you stop noticing the smell after a while. I think we should introduce Teal'c to the giraffes." Teal'c who was free from the turnstile joined them.

"Okay kids we'll start at the ape house which is to the left and we'll work our way round from there."

TBC

A/N : Thanks for all the reviews so far. This story is going to involve lots of places on their trip to Denver. All the animal's which are mention in this part and subsequent parts when I finish writing them are actually at the Denver zoo, I look at their website