"They what?"

Jack pulled the phone a little away from his ear, and then put it back once he was sure Hammond was finished with his initial outburst.

"They want us to hide one of their people, sir," he told him. "I'll explain it more fully when I actually see you, but for now I just want authorization to bring him onto the base."

"Are you out of your mind, Colonel? The SGC isn't a tourist attraction."

"I know, sir, but Sirius already knows about the SGC, so it's not like he'd be seeing something new – and he doesn't have to see everything. I just don't want to keep him here at the house unless I'm here, too."

"You don't trust him?"

"Of course I trust him, Sir. I'd just rather have him close by."

"Even if that means taking him to the SGC?"

"Yes, sir."

There was an audible sigh, and Jack knew the look that was on his commanding officer's face just then. He smiled, despite the seriousness of his request. He knew Hammond trusted him.

"Very well, Colonel O'Neill. You have my permission to bring him to the SGC."

"Thank you, sir."

"But you report to me – with him – first thing in the morning. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good night, Colonel."

"Good night, sir."

He hung up the phone, and took a deep breath. That hadn't been so hard, after all. No problem!

OOOOOOOO

"This could be a problem…"

Sirius and Sam walked across the kitchen to stand behind Daniel, who had just opened the fridge.

"I'm not eating that…" Sirius said, looking in.

"You can't eat that," Sam said, shuddering.

"That's not Alpo, is it?"

Sam shook her head, smiling despite herself.

"No."

"We'll have to order out," Daniel said. "Or go out…"

They were interrupted when Jack walked into the kitchen.

"Well, it's a go. Hammond says you can come to the SGC with me in the morning."

"If he doesn't starve, first," Daniel said, gesturing to the fridge.

"What are you talking about, Daniel? Of course he won't starve."

"Sir, you don't have any food."

Jack looked past her into his fridge.

"Yes I do."

"That's not food," Sam objected. "It's a science project."

"I just don't have any in the fridge," Jack objected. "I have plenty in the cupboards."

He walked over and opened one, showing them a can of soup and a box of Hamburger Helper.

Sam raised an eyebrow, and he shrugged.

"I was planning on doing my grocery shopping this week."

"I'll order pizza," Daniel said, closing the fridge door and heading into the living room.

"What's pizza?" Sirius asked, following.

Sam smiled, watching him go, and then turned to Jack.

"General Hammond said it was okay?"

"Yeah. He wasn't happy about it, though…"

"I bet."

Neither of them was concerned, though. It was hardly the first time Hammond wasn't happy – and undoubtedly wouldn't be the last.

Sirius was leaning against the back of the sofa, stroking Fawkes' breast feathers while the Phoenix closed his eyes in pleasure and continued shredding the back of Jack's sofa.

"Where's Teal'c?" Sirius asked. "I kind of expected him to be here – given his curiosity about us the last time we met."

"He's… out of town," Jack said, uncertain if that spell that Dumbledore had made to keep people from listening in on the conversations in the house was still in effect with him gone. "A friend of his needed some help, and Teal'c is uniquely qualified to give it."

"He's going to be sorry he missed you," Sam said.

"But he should be back any day, if all went well," Daniel said, hanging up the phone. He'd been able to order pizza and listen in on the conversation at the same time. "So he might see you before you go."

"That'd be good," Sirius said. How many aliens did someone meet, after all? It'd be a shame to waste the opportunity when it came up.

"Why don't I show you the house while we wait for the pizza to come?" Jack said, slapping Sirius lightly on the back and glaring at the bird that had single-handedly turned his sofa into a piece of garbage.

"Good idea."

The two men walked down the hall, and Daniel moved over to take Sirius' place, reaching out to touch Fawkes. It wasn't all that often one had a chance to touch a bird that was purely legend, after all, and it was a shame to waste the opportunity when it came along.

OOOOOOOOO

"This is the guest room," Jack said, opening the door to the room on the far end of the hall. "Not much, but it's got a bed." He'd already shown the wizard the bathroom and the closet that held all the towels and supplies.

"It's better than some places I've slept," Sirius said. "I assure you."

Jack nodded. He knew that feeling.

Sirius looked out the door and down the hall, and then turned to O'Neill.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Jack shrugged.

"Sure."

"Is Major Carter married?"

"No."

"Boyfriend?"

Jack hesitated.

"You'll have to ask her that, Sirius…"

"You don't know?"

"It's not my question to answer," he said.

"She seems like quite a woman."

"She's the best," Jack answered. "Come on, I'll show you the yard."

Which was his way of telling Sirius that that particular conversation was over. And Sirius got the message quite clearly. He smiled, and followed Jack back down the hallway.