It was fall, the aspens were turning bright gold in the foothills of the mountains and the air was getting cooler. Buffy woke early one morning, automatically feeling for her husband before remembering that he was off world. She groaned and rolled over, smiling at their wedding picture. It showed Jay, resplendent in his uniform, his cap off and in his hand while he looked into Buffy's glowing face. The setting sun had touched them and the rock formations behind them with a rosy glow making the picture quite beautiful. She got out of bed and was briefly dizzy but shook it off and headed into the bathroom.

Dawn was attending college and living on campus and without Jay home the house was really lonely. They needed a cat or something. She was showered and dressed, ready for Daniel who beeped his horn outside. Ever since the accident she wasn't really keen on driving alone, and they still hadn't replaced their truck so Daniel was letting her ride into the mountain with him.

"Good morning." He said with a smile and she got into his aging Honda Civic.

"Yeah yeah, get me some coffee." She muttered, leaning over to kiss his cheek before putting on her seatbelt.

Daniel chuckled and drove directly to Starbucks drive thru window for extra large latte's. They both took their sips and moaned in satisfaction, then grinned at each other. They arrived at the mountain pleasantly buzzed with caffeine, took the elevators down and went their separate ways, he to his office and Buffy to the locker rooms.

Buffy supervised a new advanced self-defense class, pleased at Lt. Overton's progress in becoming a 'real boy'. Pretty soon she'd turn the program back over to him secure in the knowledge that he'd really improved and was proving to be an excellent instructor.

She stopped in Jay's office and did her daily check of her pretty blue 'beach ball', playing with time for a few minutes before placing it back into the bucket and placing the newspaper over it. Then she noticed it was lunch, and that she'd missed a meeting. 'Oops, gotta stop accelerating time', that was the second meeting she'd blown by.

She locked up and headed to the cafeteria for lunch, waving at SG-1 as she came in to stand in line. She flirted with Ferretti, making him grin and then lightly booted Lt. Zuber in the ass, startling a surprised laugh and a hello from him. (After what happened at O'Malleys he had come to her the next day with a bouquet of flowers and a sincere apology.) She piled up her plate and headed over, seating herself beside Jack after saying hi to everyone. As she ate she zoned out as they talked about their next mission, occasionally stealing Jack's french fries, getting poked with his fork when he finally caught on to what she was doing.

"Stop that you brat." He complained mildly.

She smiled as he stood and suddenly she felt something off, something that was coming for Jack. She yelped and grabbed him around the chest and they both abruptly disappeared.

Daniel and Teal'c gaped for a moment at the empty space, while Sam jumped up and pressed the emergency button, causing the klaxons to sound.

"How did she do that?" Daniel asked in awe.

Teal'c cocked his head, "Buffy Coburn is incredibly swift."

"She must have sensed the Asgard transportation device and thought that something was happening to the Colonel." Sam added thoughtfully.

"I wonder what the Asgard will think of Buffy?" Daniel asked with a grin.

****

Jack felt Buffy go 'oomph' as they arrived in the cavernous room on the Asgard ship.

"Um, why did you do that?" he asked her, eyeing her with a wry smile.

Buffy huffed and stood, straightening her green jacket, "I thought you were being kidnapped or something." She glanced around, "Asgard?" and Jack nodded absently.

Suddenly Thor appeared and eyed them quizzically.

"Thor! How are ya?" Jack asked jovially.

"I am well O'Neill. Who is your companion?"

Jack sighed and jerked his thumb towards Buffy, "Her? She's a hitchhiker. Her name is Buffy Coburn and she works at the SGC."

Buffy and Thor regarded each other with curiosity. "I am Thor, welcome to the Beliskner Buffy Coburn."

"Um, thanks." She replied, a little intimidated now that she knew who this was, and where she was.

"So whadya need Thor?" Jack asked.

Thor's big eyes regarded Jack, "We would like to borrow Major Carter. We need her help for a problem that we are having in regards to our cloning process."

"Ah, you need it dumbed down do ya?" Jack asked cheerfully. Buffy snickered and she could have sworn that the little gray alien smiled slightly.

"Yes, I will return you to gain permission from General Hammond."

Buffy cleared her throat, "Thor, can you send Jack down first, I need to ask you something."

"Very well. O'Neill?"

Jack nodded, "Ready. See ya in a few Buffy." And he was gone.

Thor looked at Buffy, "What can I do for you Buffy Coburn?"

She looked at him seriously for a moment, "The Tok'ra and the SGC found a machine call the 'Balancer of Fate'."

Eyes widening slightly Thor nodded, "We have known about this device but it was thought to be lost in battle."

"Well, the Tok'ra were going to keep it, but I," she looked down at her boots, "I sort of took it apart and hid it from them."

Thor was speechless.

"Oh, I didn't throw it away or anything, I recycled the parts but I'm stuck with the blue swirly orb thing." Buffy hurriedly added.

"You have a Temporal Dilation orb?" Thor's voice actually rose with surprise.

"Um, I guess. Blue, swirly, about 'yea big'," Buffy held out her hands to approximate the size, "It can speed up or take you back in time. You might want to use it in your cloning process, making them faster or something."

"We are most grateful for your contribution. Using it in our cloning process is indeed a possibility, and one that we would not have thought of." Thor said sincerely.

"Oh good, I have it in a bucket in my husbands office." She was amused to see the alien resist sighing, "Your husband is Colonel Coburn?"

"Yep."

Thor transported her to Jay's office and she went to get the bucket, then said, "Got it." And was transported back to meet Sam.

"Hey Sam!"

"Hi Buffy, what are you doing here?"

Buffy realized that she still was holding the bucket when Thor walked up and peered inside, "Well done Buffy Coburn. I'm sure that Major Carter and our scientists can use this in our efforts."

"Ok, I'm confused." Sam said, and she walked over to look into the bucket also. "What is it?"

Buffy sighed, "Um Thor, can you send me back and explain it to Sam? Oh, and don't look at the blue swirlies for too long, it kinda messes up time."

"Of course, thank you again."

She waved a hand, "I'm glad someone can use the thing." And she was suddenly inside the gateroom.

Sgt. Davis gave her a big smile, "Hey Buffy, what did you think of the Asgard ship?"

"It was awesome! Do you want to let General Hammond know that I'm back?"

"They're expecting you in the conference room already."

"Crap." Buffy said, making Davis chuckle.

At the door to the conference room Buffy sighed and knocked.

"Come on in Xena!" Came Jack's cheerful voice.

Buffy walked in and closed the door, "Jack, if you don't knock off that Xena stuff I'll tie your tongue in a knot."

Daniel and General Hammond laughed and Teal'c inclined his head, "I would hold him for you Buffy Coburn."

"Thank you Teal'c." Buffy took the seat next to Daniel and grinned at Jack's indignant expression.

"I get no respect." He grumbled.

General Hammond glanced at Jack, "Are you ready?"

Suddenly brightening Jack sat up, "How would you like to be a temporary SG-1 team member while Carter's playing with the Asgard?"

"Eww, you couldn't have said that any other way?" Buffy complained and Daniel snorted his coffee suddenly then coughed violently. She helpfully thumped him on the back until he waved her off, gasping for air and laughing at the same time.

"God Buffy, you are so bad."

Jack shook his head, "Answer the question."

Buffy thought it over for all of about 10 seconds, "Sure. Lt. Overton is doing great, I feel pretty comfortable leaving him in charge. Do you know how long Sam will be gone?"

"With Thor no telling. Oh, did you enjoy your little visit with Thor by the way?"

Acutely aware of all eyes on her she nodded, "I just had a question to ask him. That's all."

"Uh huh." Jack's disbelief was plain but he didn't push.

"Our mission is to help the Tok'ra get settled in at their new base."

Buffy sank into her chair, "Oh crap."

Jack grinned mischievously, "Something you want to share with the class Buffy?"

"Nope."

General Hammond snorted, "Very well. Mission is approved. Meet in the gateroom in 20 minutes." And he stood and left before he lost control and began to laugh.

20 minutes later in the gateroom Jack smiled as he checked Buffy's gear, "So, you gonna tell me?"

"Tell you to get bent? Sure Jack, get bent!"

Teal'c let out a small chuckle, but he was appropriately stone faced when Jack glared at him.

Daniel however laughed outright and shoved Jack affectionately, "It'll be a cold day in hell when she calls you Colonel, eh Jack?"

"I miss Carter all ready." Jack whined.

In the control room General Hammond was chuckling and Sgt. Davis shook his head and started the gate activation sequence with a smile. The General leaned forward to speak into the microphone, "SG-1, you have a go."

Daniel gestured like a gentleman, "After you Mrs. Coburn."

"Get bent Daniel." Buffy grumbled and stomped through the even horizon, the rest of the team chuckling as they disappeared.