"Sir, there's no one here." Sam said as they searched the cavern for the second or third time.
"Yeah, I noticed. Let's go."
"Sir, we can't go. The meteors are still bombarding the surface. We're safer in here."
"Carter!" He grumbled.
"Sir, trust me. We'll still be able to dial home when we reach the Stargate. But I can't guarantee that we'll reach the Gate if we leave now."
"And if the Gate's buried?" He asked.
"Well, let's just hope that's not the case." She said, shrugging as she tried to appear more confident than she really was.
The meteors seemed to stop showering on the ground a few days after they had begun. "So, Carter, it's safe, right?"
She took a deep breath. "I think so, sir."
"You think so?"
"Well, we haven't felt any tremors for about eight hours. I would assume that it's safe."
"Well, then…to Kansas!"
She grinned. "Yes, sir."
They stepped out of the cave and squinted at the bright sunlight that attacked their eyes. On their way to the Stargate they passed a lot of debris where formerly picturesque houses once stood. "It's too bad that they won't have houses to come back to." Sam said, eyeing the damage.
"I'm just glad that Laira was able to convince them to go through the Stargate." Jack said, looking ahead.
"Yeah. I guess we'll be sending some SG teams to help rebuild."
"Yep." He said, curtly.
"Sir? Is there a problem?"
He looked at her. "Why?"
"You seem…a little short-fused today."
"Nah, I'm fine. Just…kinda touchy about the fact that we spent all of that time in that cave looking for a kid who…" He stopped. "Carter, this IS where the Stargate was, right?"
She looked around the crater. "Yes, sir. It is."
"And we DID hope that nothing would happen to the Stargate, didn't we?"
"Not hard enough, sir."
"So, what now?" He asked, more of himself than of her.
"My suggestion would be to find supplies and shelter from the village- basic survival first. Then, we worry about the Stargate."
Jack nodded. "That's just what I was going to say. After all, the SGC will undoubtedly contact our allies. A couple days or weeks, and we'll be home."
"Actually, sir…"
He gave her a look that told her that he really didn't want to know. But she continued anyway. "It might take up to a year before our allies can reach us."
"Well…we've been in this predicament before. Just with a lot more ice, injuries and less supplies."
She bit her lip, nervously.
"What?"
"Well, it's not exactly the same situation. First of all, there was a stargate there. If I'd just realized that we might have been on Earth, we could have dialed to another planet, say the Land of Light- and we could have gotten home. And once they realized that we were on Earth…"
"Carter!"
She stopped. "Sorry sir."
"You know, you said something last time that would be appropriate to throw in here. You think way too much!"
She nodded. "Yes, sir. I do."
"Now, let's go see what's left of the town. Okay?"