They found themselves standing under a sign taped to the wall that said 'China'. There was a table with a clipboard, and a list of 9 names on it. Next to the clipboard was a nametag for each camper that would be given to him when he was signed in. The kids were starting to arrive, and the room was filled with the murmur of kids talking excitedly and parents giving last minute instructions. Then the men of China had their first camper show up and they joined in the murmur as two anxious parents and a very small boy walked over to them. The father signed his son in on the clipboard, and the mother looked up at Teal'c, who looked down at the youngster with the friendliest expression he possessed. Which, Daniel had to admit, was rather intimidating.

"Hi. I'm Daniel, and this is Murray," he said, holding his hand out to the mother. She smiled, relieved to be addressed by Daniel and not Teal'c, and put her hand on her son's bony shoulder.

"I'm Miyra Stephens, and this is my son, Andrew."

"Hi." Andrew held out his hand to Daniel, but he was still looking up – way up – at Teal'c. The big Jaffa reached out and took the mother's hand.

"It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Uh, yes. You're going to be one of Andrew's counselors?"

"Indeed."

The father took his son's nametag and pressed it onto his son's shirt. Smiling at Teal'c, he shook his hand. "Andrew's a little small, but he's scrappy. You'll see." Jack wasn't sure whether he was trying to convince Teal'c or himself, but the Jaffa nodded, although he had no idea what 'scrappy' was.

"I am sure he is. He has that look."

The boy gave him a nervous smile, but whatever he might have said was interrupted by the arrival of yet another youngster, and another set of parents. Then another. Soon they had nine young boys standing in front of them, and nine sets of parents standing against the wall to see how they'd fare.

"So!" Jack took the lead, something he was used to doing, even under such a situation, and pointed at the piles of backpacks and pillows and duffle bags. "Let's get this stuff put away, shall we?"

Mrs. Stephens came over and put her hand on Teal'c's arm. The Jaffa looked down at her.

"You will take care of Andrew, won't you, Mr. Murray?" She asked. "He's never been to camp before."

"Indeed I will. Fear not for his safety, I will die before I allow anything or anyone to harm him."

She wasn't exactly sure how to respond to that, but the sincerity in Teal'c's voice was clear to see, so she just smiled, and gave her son a final hug before she and her husband left.

"You'd really die?" Andrew asked, dubiously, as he and Teal'c walked over to the pile of bags with the other boys.

"You have been placed in my care and I have given my word to protect you." Teal'c said as if that explained everything.

"What if I was attacked by a bear?"

"Then I would kill it."

"What if I was attacked by a mountain lion?"

"Then I would kill it."

Jack grinned, knowing that Teal'c had just opened himself up for a long night, and reached down to help one of the other boys with his bag.

"What if I was attacked by a wild boar?"

"Then I would kill it..." Teal'c's voice drifted off as he picked up Andrew's bag for him and the two walked out the door and up the hill. A couple of the other boys ran after them, each yelling out things that might attack Andrew that Teal'c could kill for him.

"Your friend's awfully big." One of the boys said to Jack. He was a sturdy youngster with brown hair and eyes, and a slightly guarded expression. His nametag said Shawn.

"That he is." Jack grinned, and held out his hand. "I'm Jack."

"Shawn."

"How old are you, Shawn?"

"Nine."

He reached down and picked up his duffle bag. "So... if I was attacked by some crazy wild animal would you kill it for me?"

Jack grinned and grabbed up the boy's backpack for him. "If you promise to do the same for me if something attacks me."

Shawn laughed, and nodded, "Deal."

They walked out the door, following the crowds of children and counselors that were all heading up the hill towards their cabins. The other boys were already in the cabin when Jack and Shawn entered. Not surprisingly, Andrew had chosen the bunk above Teal'c's and was laying on it, looking over the edge at the Jaffa, who was sitting on his own, watching the boys unpack their stuff as well as they could. Which meant doing what Jack had done and sticking most of the bags under the beds.

"How about a wild horse?"

"I do not think you have to fear attack by an equine, but if one does attacks you I will kill it."

Shawn looked at Jack, and grinned, and O'Neill couldn't help but smile when the boy took the bed above his.

"What do you do for a living, Jack?" Shawn asked.

"I'm in the Air Force."

"Really?" The rest of the boys seemed to be impressed by this as well, and even Andrew stopped his litany of all the ferocious animals that might attack him.

"Yup."

"What rank are you?"

"Colonel."

"Wow. Do you have a gun?" One of the other boys asked.

"Can I see it?"

"Can I shoot it?"

"Can you fly planes?"

"Would you kill a wild bear with it if it attacked Andrew?"

Jack looked over at Daniel, who just grinned.

"You know, guys, Daniel here is an Archeologist."

"A what?" The boys all turned and looked at Jackson, who cleared his throat.

"An Archeologist."

"What's that?"

"It's one of those people who you call and they tell you your fortune." Said one of the boys.

"Nah, it's a guy who builds boats. Like Noah's Ark. Right?"

Daniel shook his head, ignoring the grin on Jack's face. "No, guys. I dig up ancient ruins and study ancient cultures."

"Why?"

Daniel was floored. "Why?" He asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Be-because it's interesting to see how they lived. What they did. To learn about them."

"But they're all dead, right?"

"Right."

"Then why do you care?"

"Because it's interesting." Daniel said, unwilling to get into much more of an explanation just then. "You know, Jack has more than one kind of gun."

The boys instantly turned their attention back to the Colonel.

"Really?"

"What kind?"

"Is it an automatic?"

"Can I see it?"

Jack scowled at Daniel, who simply gloated.