Jack waited only for the dust to settle, then he headed back for the pile of rubble and rocks once more, Teal'c and Daniel right beside him.

"You can't stay in here," Braxton told him, almost desperate. "The ceiling is going to cave in even more if-"

"I'm not leaving them behind the rocks," Jack told the villager, already reaching for the first rock. There was still a sense of urgency to get the rocks moved out of the way, but now there was also a ray of hope. If Jaffer and Jack (the dog) were still alive after a cave-in, then there was every reason to believe that Ian had survived as well. Maybe Jaffer was with him even then.

"It's a miracle they're even alive," Aaron said, from the entrance to the cave, looking up at the ceiling. "But you're pressing it by remaining. Surely the-"

"It's not a miracle," Jack snapped, heartily tired of the superstition of the villagers. He moved to the side and dropped the rock in his hands before going back to the pile. "There must be a nook or something back there. Ian's probably in it, too."

"It's been several hours…" Braxton said, inching forward and hesitantly reaching for a rock from the pile, all the while watching the ceiling. "If he was alive, he'd have-"

"He's probably just knocked out or something," Jack told him as he grabbed another rock. "If he's unconscious then he's not going to – move Jaffer," he said, interrupting himself as his black lab was suddenly underfoot, sniffing the rock pile and stepping between Jack and the pile of rocks he and the others had made moving the first set of fallen rocks. Jack actually dropped the rock before he realized what he'd just seen, and he looked down again in surprise.

"Jaffer!"

The big lab wagged his tail cheerfully, and Jack crouched down to wrap his arms tightly around him for a long moment. He was dirty and dusty, but it was definitely him. As he ran his hands along the dusty black fur, checking for injuries, O'Neill looked over and saw that Teal'c had grabbed Jack as well, greeting him with a cheerfulness that was almost exclusively reserved for his yellow lab. Both dogs seemed to be fine.

"How did they get out here?" Daniel asked.

"It's a miracle," Peter said. "They came from out here."

"What?"

"I saw them come from the other side of the mound. God has-"

"Come on," Jack interrupted, walking out of the cave, and looking down at Jaffer. Obviously there was something going on, but he was pretty sure it didn't have anything to do with God.

"Where'd you get out, little man?" Jack asked Jaffer, who had followed him out, Jack (the dog) right behind him and the others just as close.

Jack barked excitedly, understanding the question as well, and both dogs scampered off, heading to the right and around the large mound.

Following them, the six of them trotted around to the other side, almost completely the opposite of the entrance to the cave, and saw Jack's blonde butt just vanishing into some heavy brush.

Teal'c moved into the brush first, pushing branches and vines out of the way.

"There is a tunnel, O'Neill."

"What?" Braxton asked. "A tunnel?"

The big Jaffa moved aside, calling Jack and Jaffer to do the same so the others could look. Sure enough, hidden in the brush was a small opening.

"We can get in through here," Jack said, shining his flashlight into the tunnel. "It'll be a tight fit – especially for Teal'c – but we-"

Jaffer made a low wuffing noise deep in his throat, his nose to the ground and his tail wagging furiously. Jack (the dog) was with him in an instant, the yellow lab just as excited about whatever it was they were sniffing. Jack frowned.

"Hey. We've got to get to Ian…"

Jaffer sneezed, not looking at all interested in going back into the tunnel; instead looking off towards the forest – which was getting dark.

"You don't suppose Ian found this tunnel and made his own way out…?" Daniel asked, correctly interpreting the dogs' body language. He'd been around them since they were puppies, after all.

"And wandered off?" Jack asked. "Why would he do that?"

"Perhaps he received a blow to the head…" Teal'c said.

Jack frowned, looking at Jaffer once more. He'd long since learned to trust the lab, but if Jaffer and Jack were wrong and Ian was in the cave, still, this might be their only chance to get him out before the rest of the roof came down on him.

"Where's Ian, Jaffer?"

The black lab bounded off towards the forest, barking excitedly – something he didn't do very often – and then stopping, looking over his shoulder at Jack, his tail wagging so hard that it was bound to fly off and hit someone in the head any minute.

Jack shrugged, and made the decision.

"He must have hit his head or something. Let's go find him before he gets too far away."

Besides, he was probably hurt. And the last thing Jack wanted was for Ian to stumble into one of those snake holes and break his own leg or something.

Jack (the dog) and Jaffer headed off into the forest, and the humans followed the sound of Jack's excited barking.

OOOOOOOOO

"How did you get me all the way out here?"

"I carried you."

Ian looked at the man who was walking beside him. Joshua really wasn't all that much bigger than he was – and Ian knew he wasn't huge by any means. Apparently these people were a lot stronger than they looked.

"How much further is it?"

"Not far."

Ian scowled. That was what he'd said twenty minutes ago. God only knew what was going on at that cave. Jack and the others probably thought he was dead or something, and if they'd been hurt trying to dig him out, Ian was going to be incredibly pissed.

Before he could say something to that effect – and it wouldn't have been the first time – a shadow disengaged from the darkness around them and pelted towards the two of them. Joshua screamed in surprised fear – there wasn't anything like that in the forest, and the form was impossibly large and evil-looking – but even as the villager cringed away, Ian crouched down, recognizing Jaffer immediately.

"Jaffer!"

A moment later the cadet was swarmed under, not only by Jaffer, but by Jack, who had materialized with a joyous bark and had come over to get his own share of attention. Attention Ian was happy to give them, since he was certain that if the dogs weren't in the cave, then Jack and the others weren't either.

Joshua simply stood there, rooted to the ground and uncertain if the boy needed rescuing or not. The creatures were surely mauling him, but he didn't seem to mind.