11/?

Daniel, along with Teal'c, stood staring at the gel like pool of the Stargate. As they walked through the gate, two weeks after Daniel proposed the idea to Gen. Hammond, Daniel smiled at Teal'c and said, "Let's find it Teal'c."

With a regal nod, Teal'c agreed.

Jack sat on his couch with a warm beer in his hand. He hadn't even taken a drink out of it. Retirement sucks. Jack thought. He sat the can on his coffee table and sighed. He had never been so bored in his life. Rooster slumped next to him on the couch, resting his head on Jack's hand. "Let's visit the mountain. What do you say?"

Rooster sat up and wagged his tail, barking agreement. Jack called a cab, then waited. The minutes seemed to take hours, but eventually, Jack heard the horn blow outside his house. Rooster bolted towards the door, making Jack stumble. "Slow down boy!" Jack bellowed goodheartedly. He was excited to get out of the house too.

Paying the driver at the gate entrance, Jack and Rooster stepped out and went to the doors. As he suspected, Jack was not stopped. Everyone knew his face, and Hammond had given Jack an open invitation to the base anytime.

Jack was greeted pleasantly by the base personnel on his way to his old office. Rooster barked at the more familiar people, begging for attention. Before he reached his office Jack ran into Janet. "Hey Jack. What are you doing on base?" She asked as she bent down to pet Rooster.

"Bored." Jack stated.

Before Janet could say anything, Sam came around the corner. Rooster was the first to see her, and he barked loudly, wagged his tail, then rushed to her, jerking his harness from Jack's hand. Jack turned in the direction Rooster went running and smiled. Roo only left him like that for one person. "Good morning Sam."

Sam smiled from her hunched position petting Rooster. "I wasn't expecting to see you today Jack." She exchanged glances with Janet who shrugged.

"Yeah, well, you know."

"So, where's Danny boy and Teal'c?" Jack asked.

More looks exchanging between Sam and Janet before Janet cleared her throat and answered, "They are just about to leave for a mission actually."

Jack raised his eyebrow in interest. "Well, let's go." Jack called Rooster over to him and the dog made his way back to Jack slowly. "Trader." Jack said grabbing the dog's harness. Sam shrugged her shoulders. He didn't ask where they were going, so what was the harm in him going to the gate room. Janet excused herself to check on her patients as Sam and Jack started to walk towards the elevator.

The gate was activated when they walked into the command center and all commotion stopped as the personnel saw Jack enter the room. "Let's find it Teal'c." They heard Daniel say as he went through the Stargate.

All eyes fell upon Jack, unbeknownst to him. "What are they trying to find?" He asked innocently.

Gen. Hammond looked to Sam for clarification but she shook her head. She didn't know what to say to him. "Jack, good of you to stop by today." Hammond said, catching the hint that this was just an unannounced visit from Jack and that he knew nothing.

"Thanks George." Jack gave him an impish smile. "General." He amended.

Hammond slapped him on the back and tried to lead Jack out the door. "Let's get a cup of coffee and you can tell me all about retirement."

"I'd rather talk about this mission Daniel and Teal'c went on. Retirement sucks." Jack said, finding a chair and sitting down. Rooster took that as his cue that he didn't have to be by Jack's side, so he went to stand next to Sam and beg for attention. She absentmindedly reached down to pet him while trying to figure something out.

"Just a rou-" Hammond started.

Jack raised his eyebrow. "Where are they going then?" Why weren't they telling him?

Sam sighed. He'd find out the truth eventually, and then he'd get pissed that they tried to hold it from him. "They are going back to QR56."

Jack jerked his head towards her. Oh yes, he remembered the name of that planet. "Why?" He asks suspiciously.

Hammond cleared his throat. "They are going to study the ruins again."

"What? There might be more curses." Jack was standing now, concern clear in his voice.

Hammond was nodding. "We know the risks. They are going back to try to find a...cure." Hammond said, not knowing how to phrase it.

Jack, knowing the damage was already done and he couldn't stop his friends from going said, "I want to go."

Hammond shook his head. "Absolutely not."

"Look, I haven't been through the 'gate in over a year. My life is boring. I need this. Besides, they have put themselves in danger on my behalf. Let me help them." Jack said calmly. He knew yelling wouldn't get him anywhere this time.

Hammond studied him for a minute. "Fine, but Rooster goes too, and I'm assigning someone to watch you."

Jack nodded. Whatever he wanted. He was going to go through the Stargate again. Jack broke out into a smile. This would be Rooster's first trip. He reached to pet the dog but remembered that he was standing next to Sam. He called the dog over and Rooster jumped up on his lap, licking his face. He seemed to sense Jack's emotions and moods better then anyone. If Jack was excited, then so was Rooster.

"I want to go too." Sam said determinedly