When Jack and Jamal returned to the great hall, Sam had decided to take a break and was sitting in one of the many chairs that were positioned for those who just wanted to watch the dancing rather than participate.

"Enjoying yourself?" Jack asked as they came over, carrying drinks – and a couple of those cheesecake type cookies.

She smiled and nodded.

"These people are amazing."

"Yeah. And they've been around forever."

"What do you mean?"

He offered her his cup – which was filled with a fruity beverage that may or may not have been alcoholic. Whatever it was, it was good, and hadn't given any of them any problems yet.

"Over a million generations," Jack said, quoting Jamal, who was close enough to hear.

"Really?"

"That's what he told me."

"That's a long time."

Jack shrugged.

"Maybe they don't live as long as we do."

After all, a million generations to a fruit fly is only a million days, right?

"We live as long as your people do," Jamal assured him with a smile. "In fact, we probably live-"

He was interrupted by the arrival of one of the others. The woman hurried up to him, giving Jack and Sam an apologetic smile at the interruption before touching Jamal's arm to get his attention. She whispered something, and Jack knew from the sharp glance at him and Sam that it had something to do with them.

Jamal confirmed that almost immediately.

"The gravitational field has dipped to an acceptable level, Jack. The Stargate's emission is prevailing at the moment, and the event horizon should remain constant."

Jack looked over at Sam, who smiled.

"He means we can go home."

"If you hurry," Jamal said. "Otherwise it will undoubtedly be a few more days. We expected there to be a temporary lull – which is why I had people watching for one – but I cannot promise it'll happen again any time soon."

"Let's get Daniel and Teal'c."

Jack was more than willing to leave – despite the open friendliness of these people.

"Shanna will take you to get them," Jamal told them, gesturing to the woman who had delivered the message. "I will get your things for you."

Since it would save time, Jack nodded, and the woman gestured for them to follow her, while the room was suddenly a bustle of activity as the rest of the people heard the news.

OOOOOOOOOO

"But I just got started…"

"Daniel, we have to go."

"Sam…"

"It's a very small window, Daniel. We don't have a lot of time."

The archeologist looked down at the paper he'd been writing on.

"I don't mind waiting until the next-"

"Daniel. There are kids waiting for us, remember?" Jack asked, ruthlessly, even though he could practically feel his friend's agony at the thought of leaving what he was doing.

"But Hammond will probably-"

"You wouldn't want to disappoint them, would you?" Sam asked.

"Well, no, but-"

"You wouldn't deny Teal'c a chance to be Santa, would you?" Jack added.

"I did not agree to-"

"Besides, we need to get word back to the SGC," Jack interrupted. "Hammond and the others are probably going out of their mind trying to find us."

"And we don't want to risk anyone else going through the Stargate while the gravity is fluxuating," Sam added.

"But…"

He looked like a kid being pulled out of a toy store, and Sam felt guilty for making the arguments she had. But they were the truth, and they needed to get home as quickly as possible, or risk trying the wormhole when it wasn't as stable – and who knew where they might end up the next time?

"Are you ready?" Jamal asked, coming around the corner of the corridor with his hands filled with their equipment.

"Just about," Jack said. "Come on, Daniel, we've got to go…"

Gathering up all his things, and tossing them mournful looks every time he put something else in the rucksack Jamal handed him, Daniel finally was ready to go as well.

"You do not have much time, I'm afraid," Jamal said, reaching into a pocket and pulling out a small device that looked like a garage door opener.

"What's that?" Sam asked.

In response, Jamal simply smiled, and pressed a button – or a switch, or something. They all felt an odd sensation, and everything seemed to go black around them – although they clearly heard Daniel's surprised gasp, which told them they hadn't passed out or anything. When they could see again, they found themselves outside – with the large form of the Stargate looming just off to the side and a group of people watching them, each holding torches and lighting the area up almost as if it were daylight instead of the middle of their night.

"How did you do that?" Sam asked, amazed.

"It is simple technology," Jamal said, showing her the device, even though he knew there was no time to explain it – even if he'd been inclined to do so.

"Like the Asgard's beaming technology?" Sam asked. "That's-"

"The gravitational field is beginning to oscillate," one of the others said, looking at some other device in his hand. It was the first sign – aside from the energy pod that powered the city – of any real advanced technology, and Sam was suddenly as reluctant to leave as Daniel had been.

"You need to get going," Jamal said, gesturing to the DHD. "As it is, your trip might be a little rough – although I assure you that you will arrive at your home, or we'd never attempt the dial."

Daniel stepped up to the DHD, anxious to get them home safely despite his desire to stay and as he dialed, Jack turned to Jamal.

"Thanks for the hospitality."

"It was our pleasure," Jamal answered. "You and your team have been refreshing guests, and I hope you somehow manage to return again, some day."

Jack nodded, just as the gate flared to life, and he gestured for Teal'c to head through the gate as he started entering his GDO code.

"Let's go, people!"

Teal'c gave the watching people a nod of thanks and ran for the gate, followed by Sam and Daniel who did the same. Jack waited just long enough to make sure they were safely on their way, and then he, too, dove through the gate, noticing as he did so that the normally smooth water-like substance seemed to be rippling just a little.