"How'd it go sir?" Sam asked as Jack and Teal'c walked down the platform in the SGC.

"It's all good," he replied, "We drop the bomb, take out the canons, Baal shows up with the cavalry, Anubis is toast and we all go home. Me and Baal are thinking about having a barbecue afterward too, the usual you know? Burgers, barbecue chicken, hot wings, some acid…" Sam just nodded and waved him over to his pack where his faithful P-90 had been replaced with a newer model P-91.

"You like it sir?" Sam asked, waiting to see the look on Jack's face. Her CO always loved new and improved weapons, and the fact that he had gone without one for three days brought an even bigger smile to his face.

"Why-"

"A birthday present from General Hammond and Sg-1. Actually sir, the whole SGC pitched in to get you the prototype." Sam said with a smile.

"My birthday's not for a week Carter."

"So it's an early birthday present." She said playfully. Jack swung the weapon around in his hand and looked it over.

"We get to blow Anubis to hell, save earth, and I get a shiny new gun! This is the best birthday ever." Jack said sarcastically, but he couldn't hide the happiness and gratitude he felt.

"Sg's 1, 3, and 9, the people of this facility and of this planet offer their thanks for what you are about to do for your country and your world." The Secretary said.

"Good luck and Godspeed." General Hammond finished. The group of SGC officers and enlisted personnel standing behind the General joined him in a salute as the teams went through the event horizon to Heunalla. On the other side, two Tok'ra guards escorted the teams to two cargo ships where they settled in for the long journey to Anubis' planet.

Remind me again why do we have to go by ship?

The stargate on the planet is heavily guarded. We must arrive on the night side and cloaked or we will risk causing the fleet to leave early. From there it is a two-day journey to the encampment, leaving us two days to complete our mission.

And why do we need two days?

It should only take a matter of hours to place the bomb and destroy the ion canons; the extended period of time is just a buffer zone.

A buffer zone?

In the event that something goes wrong. Jack didn't even bother replying to this comment; Kanan knew he wasn't pleased by it just by the odd feeling in the stomach they shared.

"Feeling okay Jack?" Jacob asked, seeing Jack shift in his seat.

"Yeah, just dandy. Hey, do you and Selmak ever disagree on stuff?"

"Of course why?" Jack ruffled his own hair.

"It's really…weird." Jacob laughed and clapped Jack on the shoulder understandingly. "How do you deal with it?"

"We debate for hours until one of us gives up." Jacob replied laughingly. "I'm just kidding, we don't disagree that often. And even when we do, we feel each other's feelings so we just kind of drop it."

Why don't we do that?

As I will be leaving your body after this is over, I thought it best that I did not fully blend with you. This will ensure that you do not have mixed feelings that may cause depression or anger after I depart.

You're gonna leave? Why?

Because we have our own lives to live, Jack, and we must get on with them. I know you do not wish to continue serving as my host and live in service to the Tok'ra nay more than I wish to abandon my people and serve at the SGC. It must be done so we can continue to fight the Goa'uld, and God-willing, defeat them one day.

Thanks. I don't really know what- did you just say God-willing? Jack practically laughed aloud, or rather Kanan did.

It is my favorite of your earth sayings.

"Sam, Teal'c, Daniel; you guys better get some sleep before we get there. It's gonna be a long walk to the other side of the planet." Jacob said, tossing them each sleeping bags. Jack looked longingly at the bags and then sighed.

"What?" Daniel asked.

"Well I haven't slept in four days Daniel."

"It's not like you need to…" he replied carefully.

"I know it just feels wrong not to." Jack ended up wishing even more he could still sleep as the evening dragged by. The trip was twice as long and boring with only Jacob to talk to, and much of that time, Selmak and Kanan were in deep conversation about something Jack didn't even bother listening to.

"We have arrived." Selmak said, looking over his shoulder at the controls.

"I will wake the others." Kanan replied. He walked into the cargo bay where Daniel, Sam, and Teal'c were peacefully sleeping. He tapped the perfectly still form of Teal'c on the shoulder and then moved over to Daniel, who needed an extra prod to be roused. He moved to Sam last and gently shook her to awakening. She smiled sweetly at him and allowed him to help her to her feet.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked.

"Um, yeah, thanks." She answered awkwardly. Jack struggled for control, it seemed to be harder for him to take control than it was for Kanan, understandably so; but he won out and cleared his throat quietly.

"Uh, sorry Carter. I'll-"

"Yeah…" she finished as he pointed out of the room. Daniel saw this uncomfortable moment and hastened to change the subject so Jack had time to flee.

"Sam, explain to me again how the naquadah is gonna make the explosion bigger?" Jack shot him a grateful thumbs-up and jogged back to the peltac.

What do you think you're doing?

I'm only trying to help-

Then help by not ever pulling that or anything like it again.

"We're going in for a fast and rough landing everybody, so hold on tight." Jacob yelled from the pilot's seat. 'Rough' was probably not a strong enough word for the landing Jacob made to the planet, Jack thought. When they met Sg-3 and Sg-9, it seemed their landing had been just as rattling.

"So now?" Daniel asked, absentmindedly trying and failing to tie his boot. Jack's eyes glowed and Kanan looked off into the trees.

"Now we walk."