Again timeline is season 6 of Buffy, before dead Tara but after Buffy breaks up with Spike. In Stargate it's season 5 before Daniel dies cause I love him to bits!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of them, but if I did Daniel would definitely be in that slave outfit from when he went with Yu to kill all the system lords. You know, the one that shows his biceps…….drools

Sorry! slaps self Read, review and enjoy! (But not necessarily in that order!)

Sam smacked the snooze button on her alarm clock for the millionth time that morning. She did not want to get up, and she did not feel good.

"Ugh. Just one more minute. That's all." She slurred to herself and promptly fell back asleep.

A car horn blared outside her window in some feeble attempt at a tune.

"Thanks sir." She muttered angrily under her breath. She rubbed her eyes and lifted her head barely an inch off the pillow to look at her clock. The glowing digits read 09:12.

"Holy Hannah!" she exclaimed. Her 'one more minute' had quickly turned to over an hour. Thank God she'd packed the night before.

With no time to shower she splashed some water on her face and grabbed some faded jeans and a baby blue tee from her drawer, all the while ignoring the various new songs O' Neill was trying on the car horn. Snatching up her purse and suitcase, Sam ran for the door and flung it open.

"Ready!" she called cheerily. Daniel jogged over to carry her case as she pulled on an appropriate pair of boots; black leather with sturdy heels, high enough to look good but also not too high to run in.

"I called shotgun!" Jack did his best five year-old impression and Sam wasn't entirely sure it was on purpose. Daniel and Teal'c looked way too worn out and the realisation that O'Neill was going to be this annoying for the whole journey suddenly dawned on her:

"Oh God. If this is what he's like without coffee, what's gonna happen by the time we reach the freeway!"

"You can drive" Daniel offered whilst jumping into the backseat, leaving Carter with no other option.

For the first time in hours there was silence. Carter had managed to fall asleep, and Jack was watching her in the rear-view mirror. Daniel tried in vain to hide his smirk, and Teal'c just gazed knowingly out of the window, eyebrows raised in what he classed as a smile.

They'd been driving for close to twelve hours now, each taking two-hour shifts. Daniel had the last shift of the day and Jack was navigating. Alright; Jack was supposed to be navigating.

"You're supposed to be finding the motel, not the person you want to share a motel room with" Daniel quipped.

"Watch it Space-Monkey" Jack threatened in a hushed voice, trying to sound scary, but also not wanting to wake the woman on the back seat. She was gorgeous. No, he thought, she's your SIC. But why can't she be both?

"All I'm saying is now might be a good time to start opening up about…"

"Motel!" Jack yelped as they drove straight past the turning. "Great Danny. Any idea how far away the next turning is?" Jack glared. Daniel had a feeling he didn't want to know.

"Spike, come back! He was just playing" Dawn whined as Spike swept downstairs.

"Not a chance. That thing is more bloodthirsty than I am!"

"Now now, Spike" Xander interjected as he strolled through the front door and crashed onto the couch in the front room. "Just cause you're jealous the kitten's been left un-neutered"

Xander didn't even blink as Spike flew into the room and took a swing at him; his arm didn't get within a foot of Xander before it flew back to clutch his now splitting forehead.

"That smirk on your face is almost worth a second shot" the vampire glowered whilst doing his best impression of a wounded puppy. Xander's grin only spread, egging him on. "Almost, but then I remember exactly how much you are worth."

Spike sneered nastily as Xander's smile disappeared. Dawn slunk into the armchair opposite Xander and her new pet curled up in her lap. Spike leant against the wall and pulled a crumpled packet out of his coat pocket. Opening it he hissed slightly at the sight of his one remaining cigarette. He was just sparking it up as Buffy opened the door. Violent memories of the last time he'd tried to smoke in her house sprang vividly into his mind, and the cigarette was out of sight before she closed the door.

"Hey Dawnie" Buffy ignored the indignant look her sister threw her way as she ruffled Dawn's hair. Buffy also, much to his dismay, totally ignored Spike. Throwing her bag down on the table she sat down next to Xander and leant her head on his shoulder.

"Tough day? Wanna talk about it?" he inquired in his best bartender impersonation. She smiled weakly in response.

"Just a couple of vamps, no big demons or anything"

"Hey!" Spike objected and Buffy started, suddenly aware of his presence. "Vampires can be just as much of a threat as demons!"

There was silence for a moment before everyone turned their attention back to Buffy.

"I thought someone was being attacked, but it was just a group of alley-cats. They sounded like people; it was really unnerving. Have you ever heard cats screaming?"

"Yep" Spike replied way too quickly. Dawn's eyes widened and she hugged her kitten protectively. "That's not…it was more Dru's thing"

Dawn's eyes grew wider still, and Buffy and Xander looked at Spike in disgust.

"Oh, bugger. I'm gonna go kill a demon."

Buffy just stared: "Good for you…I think"

Spike was halfway out the door as he paused: "Know of any that smoke?"

Ta-da! Sorry it's been so long, didya miss me? (Just say yes, if only to spare my feelings!) I'm already part-way through the next chapter so I promise I won't take so long this time. Review! puppy-dog eyes