"Are you certain you have to leave?" Braxton asked several hours later as they were beginning to approach the village. "You only just arrived…"

Jack nodded, glancing over at Ian, who was walking beside him. The cadet was almost asleep on his feet – although he hadn't complained or anything since they'd started walking – and Jack was anxious to get him back to the SGC before he collapsed.

"Yeah, we need to get back," he told Braxton. "We have to check in with our people and let them know what we've found here."

"And then what?" Aaron asked, looking at Ian. "Will you return?"

Considering Jack knew Ian would rather eat a bowl of salt, he was impressed that the cadet simply shook his head.

"I don't know. Probably not."

"Oh."

"But someone will," Daniel said. "I might."

He was hoping to, anyways, because there was still plenty of things left to learn about – and he was really curious about what else they might have found in the cave. Maybe if he brought back a team of excavators or something – someone to help keeps the ceiling from coming down on them and help move the rocks that had already fallen – he'd have a chance to see what was written on the back wall of the cave and maybe learn more about why these folks had been brought from the Americas. There was so much he wanted to know, and the cave had to hold the answers.

Ian scowled, well aware that if Daniel returned chances were he was going to have to come, too. Not that these people didn't beat the shit out of being chased by Jaffa and shot at, but being called God – or Jesus, or whatever – wasn't much better. He didn't like it.

"Will you come and say goodbye?" Braxton asked, as they all stopped on the very outskirts of the village – just out of sight of the lodges. "I know that Taylor would like to thank you," he added, looking at Ian.

"No," Jack said, much to Ian's relief. "We're already running behind." He offered the villager his hand. "It was nice meeting you."

And really, it hadn't been that bad, had it?

The villager beamed, and shook hands with the others – as did Aaron and Peter, who reverently took Ian's hand, making the cadet's scowl deepen and causing Jack to smile – just a little. He couldn't help himself.

OOOOOOOOO

"You sure you know the way?"

"Yes."

"Positive?"

"Yes."

"Because I don't want to get lost."

"I'm not going to get us lost, Jack."

"We could always go back and have the villagers give us a guide."

"We don't need a guide, Daniel. I know the way."

"You're tired, though. Maybe you-"

"Daniel, I know the way, okay? Just keep walking this way and we'll be at the gate in less than an hour."

Of course he knew the way. He'd already been here, right? Once Ian had been someplace, he could find his way back to it – as long as he'd been watching the directions they'd gone and could spot any landmarks his mind made for him as he catalogued directions and distances as he went someplace new.

"Just don't fall asleep on us," Jack said.

"I won't."

He wanted to, though. And he was still hungry – although he didn't pull anything to snack on out of his pack, since he knew a full stomach would just make him that much more tired. Better to be hungry and awake. Oh well, it wouldn't be too long, now.

OOOOOOOOOO

"It shouldn't be too long, now, Sam."

Sam nodded, and tried to look like she wasn't worried. Usually if something bad was going to happen on a mission it happened within the first couple of hours – and they would have certainly had word from Jack or the others if something had happened.

"I know, Janet."

Which didn't make her any less anxious to get them all home safe. This was the worst part of not being out there with SG-1 anymore; she hated waiting more than anything, and never felt more helpless.

"Ian's with them."

Sam smiled. She must really have looked worried if Janet was bringing up Ian.

"I'm fine, Janet. Really. It's not like they're late, or anything."

They were getting close to it, though.

Janet nodded, and looked over to the basinet, where Jake was sleeping soundly.

"Why don't we go get some lunch?"

Sam looked over at the basinet as well, an automatic reaction. Seeing that her son was asleep, and knowing that the medical staff would make sure someone was always around in case he woke up, she nodded.

"Sounds good."

They'd no more than told the staff where they were going, however, and had just headed out the door and down the corridor when alarms started blaring.

Janet looked at Sam and smiled.

"Right on time."

Sam smiled as well.

"It can't be them, then… I don't think Jack's ever been on time for anything."

Nonetheless, the two women headed for the command center at a quick trot.

OOOOOOOO

"It's SG-1, sir," the sergeant at the computer said, looking over his shoulder at Hammond, who had come down the stairs from his office at the first sound of the alarm.

"Open the iris."

As the iris opened, Major O'Neill and Doctor Fraiser both entered the room, and Hammond nodded.

"It's SG-1, Major. No alerts, so chances are they're not being chased."

Which was a relief.

The three of them headed for the stairs leading to the gate level, and by the time they walked through the heavily guarded door SG-1 was already emerging from the gate. First the dogs, who wagged their tails cheerfully when they saw where they were, and then Daniel and Ian and finally Jack and Teal'c. All of them were on their feet and none seemed to be limping – which was a wonder on its own.

Sam smiled, bracing herself when Jaffer came charging over to her, all his training forgotten at the excitement of seeing his Sam after two whole days. He whuffled her and snuffled her and pretty much did everything but knock her down and lick her to death.

"Jaffer."

Jack was amused at the greeting – it never got old to see the big lab so happy to see Sam – and wished that he could get away with greeting her like that, too. When Jaffer pulled away with a quick hello for Janet and Hammond as well, Sam met Jack's brown eyes, learning from the expression in them that everything was fine, and receiving a reminder of just how much he loved her. She felt warmed to her very core, and returned the look, losing herself in the moment.

"How did it go?" Hammond asked as Jack led the others down the ramp.

O'Neill snorted, casting an amused glance at Ian, who scowled immediately. Even around the scowl, the General decided the cadet looked a lot more tired than the rest of the team – and wondered what the story was behind that.

"Oh, it was unforgettable, sir," Jack said.

"Get checked out," Hammond told them, gesturing towards Fraiser. "Debriefing is in an hour."

"Yes, sir."