16/?

The next morning Sam found Jack and Daniel holding their heads at the briefing table. "Want to tell me what happened?"

Jack waved at Daniel to explain while he sipped his coffee. Daniel didn't notice because his head was resting on the table. Teal'c looked at the general and told him that after Jack had thanked the scientist, they didn't have any time to further their political relations due to the invitation to join the scientist at his daughter's wedding.

"And the rest is history, Sir." Jack added, his eyes closed.

"Sir, We should go back." Sam said.

"We will. When these men get over their hangovers." Gen. Hammond stood up to leave. "You have two days to relax before you go back. Dr. Jackson, go home and see your family. Col. O'Neill, please take this dog home." The general pointed to Rooster, sitting at Sam's feet.

Sam drove Jack and Rooster home. The ride was quiet except for Rooster's excited panting. Jack thanked her, then asked if she wanted to come in. She declined, knowing he really wanted to get some sleep. "Come over tomorrow? I've invited the Jackson's and Teal'c." Sam agreed to be there for lunch the next day, then watched Jack open his door and close it behind Rooster.

Rooster barked when they walked in and began to wag his tail. "I agree boy. It's good to be home." Jack walked to his bedroom, too worn out to even remember that he hadn't seen the inside of his house for over a year. He crashed on the bed with his shoes halfway off. He'd fallen asleep as he started to kick them off. Rooster climbed onto the bed next to him, but when he nudged Jack's arm and it didn't reach out to hug him, Rooster jumped off the bed.

Jack woke later that night to the most horrific sound. He blinked his eyes and looked at the clock. But it wasn't there. "Damn. I'm going to have to redecorate." He said to himself as he pressed his talking watch. He groaned when it said the time was five minutes till ten. Then the noise got his attention again.

Sliding back into his shoes, Jack grabbed his pistol and headed towards the noise. It was by his front door. All he could see was Rooster sitting in front of the door. Then he figured it out. Rooster was whining. "Roo! What are you doing?"

The dog jumped then wagged his tail. He walked to Jack, then back to the door. He looked back and forth from Jack to the door. He barked loudly when Jack asked him what he wanted.

"Do you want out?" Rooster had never behaved like this before. "Come on, let's go." Jack pretended to be excited about going out while he headed to the back door. No luck, the dog wasn't going to budge from the front entrance.

After two hours of trying everything to get Rooster to quit his whining, Jack finally figured out what the problem was. He hated to call her this late, but he'd already gotten one call from his neighbor.

"Hello?" Her voice still held sleep in it.

"Sam."

"Jack, is everything ok?" There was silence for a moment, then she heard what sounded like whining coming from Jack's end of the phone. "What is that?"

"It's Roo. He won't stop." Jack sighed. "I'm sorry to wake you, but I think he wants you."