"You know," Daniel began as Sam piled another piece of wood into his arms, "I'm not sure hiking through miles of forest and carrying logs was what Janet had in mind when she said to go home and rest."

"Probably not," Sam confirmed as they continued walking. "But you can always look on the bright side," she smiled as she picked up a log of her own, "at least you're not fishing."

"Fair point." Daniel replied. He glanced down at the pile in his arms, becoming more aware of the soreness in his abdomen. "You know, how much do you think we should take back? I mean, you don't think Jack was really serious about –"

Daniel was cut off when the unmistakable sound of gunfire rang out. Both Sam and Daniel dropped their bundles and ducked behind nearby trees. The forest became eerily quiet.

"Daniel!" Sam whispered loudly, "You okay?"

He nodded in response. "You?"

"Yeah."

"Who's shooting at us!" Daniel asked.

"I don't know." Sam answered breathlessly, looking around. "Go down toward the ridge… maybe it'll draw them that way. I'll double back around; try to get them from behind."

Daniel nodded and Sam watched for a moment before heading in the opposite direction. She didn't have to go terribly far before she saw movement and the glint of metal as the shooter came round for another shot, presumably at Daniel's retreating form. Springing from her hidden position, Sam took the attacker by surprise, knocking the rifle from his hands and causing the shot to go wide. A quick sweep of her leg easily brought him down.

"Who are you?" she shouted as she pinned him, arms behind his back, face first into the forest floor.

"Jason Fuller!" he cried out, voice muffled, "Jason Fuller!"

"Sam!" Having heard the shouting, Daniel was running back. "You got 'em?" he paused, panting. "That's… that's him?" he asked incredulously after seeing the single, slight form.

"Why were you shooting at us?" Sam asked angrily, pushing him down a little more forcefully.

"That was you? Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Jason answered. "I thought you were a deer!"

Sam looked up at Daniel, who stared back, brows raised.

"Well, that's a new one." He said, shrugging.

Sam looked back to Daniel. "You okay?"

He nodded, patting his chest and abdomen in a quick check. "Yeah… no bullet wounds." He replied. "Well, no new ones…"

"We'll call that progress." Sam encouraged.

After a brief pause, the muffled voice returned. "Can I um… can I get up now, please?"

"Yeah." Sam released her hold and stood, brushing herself off. "Sorry."

Jason, in his early twenties at best, looked absolutely terrified as he clambered back up to his feet, taking a few steps back from Sam, nearly tripping over himself. Sam looked downright pleased at his intimidation.

"Look, I'm really sorry." He repeated, glancing nervously from Sam to Daniel and then back to Sam again. "I was out here hunting… I thought you were a deer. Honest."

"Shouldn't you have some kind of orange vest or something?" Daniel asked.

"Shouldn't you?" Jason returned, a little defensively.

Daniel frowned and looked to Sam, who just shrugged.

"Can I…" Jason looked nervously back to Sam. "Can I go now?"

Sam coolly nodded her head once, trying to keep a smug smile from covering her face as the kid stumbled in his haste.

"Jason." He turned quickly and nearly fell as she called him back. "Don't forget your weapon." She picked it up and held it out to him.

Jason looked a little afraid to receive it, lest Sam take him down again. After a little more hesitation, he reluctantly took the rifle and backed away.

"Careful!" Sam warned as he took off into the woods.

Daniel shuffled up to her as both watched Jason speed off. "Good job tackling the poor kid."

Sam turned and glared defensively. "He was shooting at us!"

Daniel also turned. "Yeah, but did you have to go all special ops on him?"

"Saved your ass." She mumbled as she began to walk.

Daniel followed, giving her a small nudge. "Thanks for that, by the way."

Sam smiled to her side, where he was. "You're welcome."

After a few moments of silence, Daniel stopped walking and looked around him. "So… question: where are we?"

Sam also stopped and took in their surroundings as well. "I don't know."

Daniel stared at her incredulously. "You don't know?"

Sam stared back. "Why am I supposed to know?"

"You're the air force officer!" Daniel answered. "I'm just the… wayward, civilian archaeologist."

Sam seemed to think on that fact a moment. "Okay, well, the sun's setting that way." She gestured, "The colonel's cabin is to the west, so we'll head in that direction. At some point we'll find the stream that feeds into the pond, and then we'll be able to follow it North until we hit the cabin."

Daniel nodded. "Sounds good."