Author's Note: You guys are being just a little spoiled right now, since I've had the last couple of days off, so I've been able to post even more than usual (yay). But I go back to work tomorrow… awww… so it's back to twice a day – hopefully.

OOOOOOOOOO

The building Jacob and the others led them into was one of the large ones, and it was empty. It was also a lot smaller than Jack had expected it to be, barely large enough for the shelving that was against one wall and the large table that was dominating the middle of the room. Obviously, this one had been turned into a sort of supply room by the Tok'ra to store things in while they waited for their tunnels to be finished.

"Have a seat," Jacob said, motioning them all to the table – which was surrounded by chairs. The Tok'ra sat down on one end of the table, with Jacob taking the spot at the end, and wondering how things had managed to get so tense so quickly.

Jack sat next to Sam, motioning for the others to spread out just a little. Teal'c didn't sit down at all, but Daniel and Ian took chairs across from Sam, and Pia sat beside Ian.

"Don't mind Cato," she told him, softly, reaching out and patting his hand before he could realize what she was doing and move it out of her reach. "He's just testing you. He's not so bad, really."

"Great."

Ian took his hand back and moved his chair an inch or two over towards Daniel's, and before Pia could move hers accordingly, a couple of Tok'ra brought trays holding fruit slices and glasses of water, which were set in the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves. Of course, they'd only walked a mile at the most, and all of them were in good shape, even with the dry, windy conditions, so none of them were desperate for refreshments.

Always willing to try new things, Daniel caught up a slice of something that looked like a red orange and popped it in his mouth, but Teal'c just watched those in the room, his face impassive to everyone except those who knew him best, and Jack and Ian both watched Cato – who was watching them.

"So…" Sam said, more to break the deafening silence and tension than anything else. "Why don't you guys show me what you've found?"

Jacob nodded and stood up, as did Sam, Veda and Cyril. Jack stood up as well, having no intention of letting Sam go anywhere without him.

"The hanger isn't really all that large," Jacob said to Jack. "With the ship in it, there's barely room for more than a few people to-"

"I'm going, Jacob."

"I know, Jack. I was just thinking that maybe a couple of the others might-"

Jack scowled.

"Daniel, you're with me and Sam. Teal'c, Ian… why don't you get to know our… hosts… a little better?"

Ian scowled, looking over at Cato – who obviously didn't like Jack giving out orders on his base – and wasn't bothering to hide the fact.

"Cato, you stay here," Jacob said, his voice deep once more. Now Ian knew that this had to be the symbiote talking, and made a mental note to have a long talk with Jacob about that when this mission was over.

"I would prefer to go with you," Cato said, standing.

"There is no room. I will let you know if we find anything."

Apparently, Ian decided, Jacob was in charge around here – or maybe his symbiote was – because Cato made sure Jacob didn't like the order, but didn't disobey it or say anything else. Instead, he sat back down, glaring at everyone in the room.

Jack gave Ian a look he couldn't decipher – probably telling him to behave himself, the cadet decided – and gestured for Jaffer to follow him as he and the others filed out of the room, leaving Teal'c and Ian and Jack (the dog) alone with Rach, Bern, Pia and Cato – all of whom were staring at them, although Pia was the only one who didn't look at them suspiciously.

There was a long silence, and then Cato spoke up, looking directly at Ian.

"If you are so smart, why didn't O'Neill take you with him to look at the ship?"

Ian met the Tok'ra's malevolent gaze with his dark eyes. Still stinging from being called a boy, he wasn't in the mood to make friends. Besides, he didn't know, really, and would have liked a chance to see what the Tok'ra had found, since he'd missed out on looking at the pictures during the briefing thanks to Pia's distractions. Of course, he wasn't going to admit that he didn't know. That just wasn't something he'd do.

He shrugged, affecting the lazy drawl that he knew pissed people off and leaning back in his chair just a little.

"He must have decided you'd miss my company if I left."

Cato made a noise deep in his throat that sounded almost like a growl, and Ian knew he'd scored a hit. It almost made him smile.

"You're impertinent, boy," the Tok'ra said in his deep, arrogant voice – still the symbiote speaking Ian noticed, although all the other Tok'ra had used regular voices when they'd been talking. "I don't like that. Or you."

Ian shrugged, again, not at all annoyed at being called a boy, now, because he knew the guy was trying to piss him off. Why not call him a nose-picker, or a fart sniffer?

"What's not to like?" Ian asked, innocently – it was the best innocent look he'd ever managed to pull off in his life. "I'm cute and funny and old people and little kids flock to me at the park."

Well… one out of the four wasn't too bad, he supposed.

Cato started to stand up, but Teal'c simply shifted his position slightly, which made the staff weapon in his hand dip just an inch or so – reminding the Tok'ra that Ian wasn't the only one in the room, and definitely not the one he needed to worry most about. A low growl from beside the Jaffa reminded Cato as well that the yellow lab was still in the room, too, and although Cato didn't recognize the danger the dog posed, he was well aware the damage a staff weapon could do. And he sat back down.

"Perhaps you would be more comfortable outside?" Pia asked Ian and Teal'c. "We could give you a tour of the buildings. You might find them interesting."

Ian shook his head at the same time Teal'c did. This was where Jack would come looking for them if he needed them, and this was where they'd be. Besides, Teal'c had already decided that wherever Cato was, that would be the place that needed watching most.

"We are fine here, thank you," Teal'c said.

Ian nodded his agreement; young enough and cocky enough that he was pleased that he'd managed to get a little dig in on 'ole Cato. Even if it meant being left out of the loop on the alien ship…