"Hi, Jack! Hi, Daniel! Hi, Murray!"

"Hey, Shawn," Jack smiled as the three of them walked up the sidewalk to the door of the Adams' house. Dotty was standing there with her son, but there was no sign of James.

"Good morning, Jack," Dotty said, opening the door for the three, a silent invitation to come in out of the snow.

"Hey pretty lady," Jack said, leaning in to give her cheek a kiss as he looked into the living room. "Is the husband around? Or are you finally going to run away with me? We could leave Daniel and Murray with the kid."

Dotty laughed, and swatted him playfully as the others all exchanged grins. There were so few people that Jack really got along well with, but Shawn's parents were definitely some of his favorites. It was most definitely an automatic extension of his true fondness for their child. And Dotty and James were well aware of Jack's feelings towards their boy, which made him an automatic favorite in their house.

"He's working, but I'll tell him you said hello."

"You ready, Shawn?" Daniel asked the boy.

"It's very nice of you to take him with you Jack. I wouldn't have minded driving him up-"

"We're going, and we have the extra space, since Sam's not coming, so it's not a problem." Jack watched as Shawn went down the hallway to his room, followed by Teal'c. "Besides, we like his company."

"Yes," Daniel said, "It'll give me someone interesting to talk to."

Jack gave him a hurt look that none of them bought, and Shawn and Teal'c came back, Shawn carrying a backpack, Teal'c carrying a small duffle bag.

"Do you have everything?"

"Yes, mom."

"Do what Jack tells you."

"I always do."

Jack nodded his agreement.

"I'll take care of him, Dotty." Jack promised. He always made the same promise when he took Shawn anywhere, and Shawn's mother always had a feeling when he said it, that he truly meant he'd make sure nothing stopped him from bringing her son back to her. It was another reason Dotty liked Jack so much. Mothers know, after all.

"Barring bad roads and too much birthday cake, we should be back some time Sunday afternoon."

"Just drive safely, Jack."

"I always do."

He waited while she hugged her son, then the four went out to Jack's truck and loaded Shawn's stuff in the back with the rest of their things and Jack covered it all with a tarp to keep the snow off it while Daniel and Shawn piled into the club cab, and Teal'c got into the passenger seat.

"There should be a lot of snow in the mountains, hey Jack?" Shawn asked when O'Neill got behind the wheel and pulled the truck out of the driveway.

"Should be." He didn't sound quite as excited as Shawn did, and Daniel grinned.

~*~

"Teal'c? You got that map?"

Jack was lost. Nothing new, really, but it was a pain in the butt to be lost in the Rockies when it was snowing. At least it wasn't dark yet. Although it would be soon.

"Here, O'Neill."

Teal'c handed over the map that Miyra had faxed to Jack, and O'Neill glanced down at it without bothering to slow the truck. Of course, he was going all of fifteen miles an hour, so it wasn't too dangerous.

"Huh. Maybe we're not lost, after all." Jack mumbled, more to himself. "The road should be around here somewhere."

"There is a sign, O'Neill," Teal'c said, pointing ahead. Sure enough, there it was. A regular Highway sign and attached to the wooden post that was holding it up was a bright neon yellow sign as well. This one stating that the Stephens' party was on the turn coming up.

"We had faith in you, Jack," Daniel said.

"Yeah," Shawn agreed.

Jack looked over at Teal'c, who said nothing.

~*~

They pulled up to the lodge about half an hour after taking the turn off the main road, and as Jack parked the truck he couldn't help but be impressed. He wasn't the only one.

"Nice place," Daniel said.

"It's Andrew's grandma's. They rent it out in the summer for hunting parties, and in the winter for skiing trips, but it's closed for this weekend." Shawn, of course, knew everything about the place.

As they got out of the truck and started gathering their stuff from the back, the door opened, and a small swarm of people came out, both young and old.

"Jack! Daniel! Murray!"

Boys came running up to them, demanding hugs that the three were more than happy to give out, and Jack grinned as he swept Simon up into his arms and hugged the boy close.

"Hey you guys! How are you?"

"Great!"

"Did you get lost?"

"We almost did."

"I knew the way!"

A large black lab came ambling up, barking excitedly and stopping at Teal'c, who set Andrew down and reached down and scratched her.

"This is Andrew's canine, Shadow." Teal'c told Jack and Daniel, who hadn't seen the dog before. "Although she has gained some weight since I saw her last."

"She's going to have puppies," Andrew informed them, proudly. "Champion hunters, too. You'll see."

"Boys! Let them get inside before they freeze!" A voice came from the porch of the lodge, and the boys all gathered up the luggage and took off with it back inside, taking Shawn with them and leaving Jack, Teal'c and Daniel to walk at a more sedate pace with the black lab waddling happily next to Teal'c.

"Mr. Stephens," Jack said with a smile, holding his hand out. "It's good to see you again."

"You, too, Colonel." David Stephens said with a smile. Andrew's father was a Captain in the Colorado Army Reserves, and it showed in his bearings. He was a strong, slender man, who was deeply tanned, and had a ready smile. Especially for the guys that his son was so fond of.

"Daniel. Murray. It's a pleasure to see you both again. Come inside, and I'll introduce you to everyone you might not know."

He turned and led the way inside, followed closely by the other adults that had come out to the porch to greet them. Shadow was on Teal'c's heels as they walked in, and Daniel and Jack entered last.

"So far so good, Jack," Daniel said, grinning.

"It's still early."