It's been a tough week so this is a short one tonight. I did want to give you something as a special thank you to all the wonderful folks who reviewed. Thank you and keep em coming. It sooooo helps me write.

"Come", Chkoltay stood at the door to the guest-house and waited while they grabbed their things. Daniel was the first one out, excited about what they were going to see. He was followed by an inscrutable looking Teal'c, who stood ready to defend his comrades from anything and everything they might possibly encounter.

Sam was next – the good soldier, prepared and ready to do whatever was required of her. She also stood in support of her commander, her friend and her comrade.

The last person to leave the guest-house, and the most important for this mission, was O'Neill himself. It was not usual for him to be last. He tried to always be ready and waiting for his team, to show them the way and lead them to whatever adventure was next for them. This time, however, he waited until the end because this was not about Earth, not about his team or his people. No, this was about him and he hated it. He didn't want this thing – this whatever that had been given him. He wanted to go back to the way it had been with him the soldier, the leader, but not The One.

He sighed as he walked – slowly – towards his team. "Okay campers, let's get this over with."

"You okay Jack?" Daniel stepped in beside him as they followed their alien host out of the building.

"Fine Daniel. I just want to get this over with so we can figure out what to do about the NID."

They watched as three other Senecksi, who had been standing outside waiting, approached and began to walk with Chkoltay.

"My fellow elders will accompany us", the alien man informed them. "You have met Tirania. This is Tirrel. He is our expert on the ancestors."

Jack could feel Daniel perk up at that and the archaeologist, linguist and resident scholar immediately made his way over to Tirrel and started a dialogue with him.

"I think Daniel is enjoying this", Sam spoke softly at his side.

"I'm sure he is", Jack answered, glancing dow and giving Carter a smile. "There's nothing he loves better than uncovering some civilization's ancient mysteries." He sighed again. "I just wish I wasn't involved."

"Hopefully it will prove to be nothing Sir", Carter attempted to set his mind at ease.

"Oh, with my luck I expect it will be something", he answered gloomily. "I'll probably be expected to undertake some kind of test to 'prove my worthiness'."

"I think you've been reading too many Fairy stories Sir", she answered with a grin.

He smirked but then grew serious. "I don't know Carter, this looks like that kind of place. Yeah, it'll be ten highly dangerous tests of courage and strength. I'll have ten days to perform all of them and will come close to dying many times, but in the end I'll be victorious!"

"I have no doubt you will be Sir", she laughed softly. "And what then?"

"Then? Well, I'll be given the keys to the kingdom."

"What kingdom?"

He stopped and stared at her in shock. "What kingdom? Carter, Carter, Carter – the magic kingdom, of course."

"Oh, of course Sir. Silly me."

"Just don't let it happen again Major."

"I won't Sir. And after you get the magic kingdom, what then?"

"Then? Well, I'll get the girl."

"The girl? Of course there's a girl. Uh, who is she Sir?"

"Well, I'm glad you asked. She's the princess of the magic kingdom, who has been kept locked up by the evil witch – who is a Goa'uld by the way – but who was able to escape because of the handsome – uh – me. So then she's mine."

"Is she nice?"

"She's a princess Carter – and one that's been locked up by an evil witch. It doesn't matter if she's nice."

"But is she beautiful?" she giggled.

"Of course she's beautiful. She's a –"

"- princess, I know. And I assume she has skin as white as snow, hair as black as coal, and lips as red as blood?"

"Uh no. Skin – yeah sure. Lips yeah - but her hair is as fair as the sunlight. And then there are her eyes."

"What about them Sir?"

By this time O'Neill was staring off into space, caught up in his own story. "Eyes as blue as sapphires", he murmured.

There was a brief pause and then Sam spoke, a strange tone to her voice. "So you prefer Rose Red to Snow White?" she asked softly.

"What?" he looked at her in surprise, suddenly realizing that he'd gotten a bit carried away by his 'fairy tale'. "Oh – uh – yeah, I guess. I mean – I never – hey, it looks like we've arrived."

Sam watched as Jack hurried ahead and didn't know whether to laugh or to scream. Why the hell did the Air Force –

"So, what were you two talking about so intently?" Daniel quirked an eyebrow at the Colonel.

"Fairy tales", Jack answered curtly.

"Fairy tales? What, like Cinderella?"

"Rose Red. So, is this the place?"

Daniel looked at him curiously and then over at Sam, who was talking to Teal'c. Sometimes the two of them confused him. At that moment Tirania, who had been speaking softly to her two companions, approached them.

"We are ready to enter."

"Okay – good. Come on guys, let's get going." Suddenly Jack sounded eager to see whatever they'd come to see.

"They cannot enter" Tirania told him, her eyes flashing something almost sinister. "It is only you who may cross the threshold."

"Just me? No way, I don't think so."

"It is written that The One is to enter. The rest must remain here."

"I do not believe that is wise O'Neill", Teal'c said softly.

"Yeah, me either. Look, I'm perfectly happy not to go in", Jack explained. "Since I know I'm not this One – or that one", he smirked, "it doesn't really matter to me." He turned to his teammates. "Let's go guys."

"But Jack -"

"What Daniel? You want me to go in alone?"

Daniel scowled but finally shook his head. If there was any rule Jack was firm about, it was no one went into dangerous or unknown situations on his or her own. He rather suspected that Jack was perfectly happy to use that as an excuse to forego the visit, but he knew enough not to suggest that.

"No! You must enter", Chkoltay looked terribly upset. "It is written!"

"Sorry – not written anywhere in my book", Jack answered. He gave a small salute and started to turn back.

"Wait!" Chkoltay was looking panicked and turned towards his fellow elders. After a moment Tirell called him over and the three of them spoke softly to one another. Jack and the others waited, some more patiently than others.

It was Tirania who stepped out of their small circle and approached the humans from Earth. "We have conferred."

"Well, isn't that nice -"

"Jack", Daniel gave him a nudge.

"Okay – fine. And about what did you confer?" Jack asked, ever so sweetly.

"The woman may enter with you."

"The – you mean Carter?"

Said woman – Carter – frowned at her Commander. He didn't have to sound so shocked she thought. What was wrong with her going in with him?

"Uh – why her and not the others?" After a brief heartbeat of a pause he seemed to realize something and turned to his second in command "It's not that I have a problem with her – in fact she's the best damn soldier I've ever worked with – but I'm wondering why my other friends can't go?"

"It is written", was all anyone would answer.

"Jack I think you and Sam should go inside", Daniel reasoned. "I mean, who knows what you might find. And you'll have backup and she is good at figuring things out – if you need to that is."

Jack shook his head. He should have known that Daniel's insatiable curiosity would make it hard for him to resist having someone see whatever was inside. He looked over at his 2IC. "So Carter – what do you say? Are you game?"

"Of course Sir", she answered, trying not to sound excited at the prospect. "And as Daniel said, I can give you back-up."

"Mmm", Jack answered. "I guess that settles it then." He turned to the aliens. "Okay, fine. Carter'll come with me as my back-up."

"That is acceptable", Chkoltay said, sounding relieved. "We shall wait outside until you are ready."

"Uh, okay. So, do we have to do anything special?" Jack eyed the simple looking wooden door in front of him.

"No, you simply enter the room. You will know what to do then."

"Okay – fine. Carter – I'll bet you anything there are tests."

"I'm happy to take that bet Sir", she replied with a grin. "I say there are just a few old musty writings on the wall, some dusty artifacts and not much else."

"If I win Major, what'll you give me?" he grinned, knowing he was putting off opening the damn door.

"Uh – what would you like Sir?"

His eyes narrowed for a moment and then he got a knowing look on his face. "You'll come fishing with me."

She stared at him in shock, but before it grew obvious she nodded. "Okay fine. But if I win -"

"Yeah – if you win?"

"You'll have to come with me to the Conference of phototonic crystals and plasmonics."

Jack regarded her with a completely blank expression – which accurately reflected his level of understanding of what she'd just said. "Uh – that's really cruel Sam", he finally told her. You realize that I'll make sure there's something in there now."

"You're that worried about losing?" she chuckled.

"Oh yeah!"

"Hey you guys, are you ever going to open the door?" Daniel called.

Jack glanced back and realized that everyone was regarding them impatiently. With a sigh he turned to his major. "Shall we?"

"Yes Sir!" She stood straighter and watched as the Colonel placed his hand on the door. She gave a brief prayer that Jack would indeed have to do some 'tests'. She would finally have no way out of going fishing.

"So – this is – boring." Jack was checking out the small room but so far there was nothing to see. Nothing that is but a musty room and dusty – junk. He sighed, figuring that he was going to have to go to a physics conference. Having to go to it wasn't what was depressing him however. It was actually the fact of losing out to Carter. He'd really hoped that this time she'd have to go fishing with him.

"There's nothing here Sir", Sam finally told him after examining the room carefully. "It must have been nothing more than a myth."

"Yeah", he agreed, checking out the room one more time. "I wonder if any of the Senecksi have actually been in this room", he commented softly. "It doesn't look like anyone's been here for years."

"Probably not, especially if they've been waiting for this chosen person."

Jack sighed and wandered slowly over to what looked like a small cabinet placed up against the wall. "I wonder if there's anything in here." He reached out to pull open a drawer when suddenly things changed.

"Sir?"

"I don't know Sam." The lights in the room suddenly dimmed, although a moment later Jack realized there were no lights. Why then did things suddenly go dark? The next thing he noticed was a noise –a soft sound almost like someone was shuffling across the floor. It sent chills up his spine and he instantly wanted to turn around and leave this place. Instead, he stayed frozen in place.

"Any idea what's happening?" Sam whispered voice almost caused him to leap out of his skin. She had appeared at his side without warning and it had scared the pants of him.

"No", he whispered back. "Stay close." Of course he wanted her to think he wanted her beside him to protect him – which was definitely true – but he also liked having her close. It took some of the creepiness away.

The next thing both of them knew, there was a hole in the floor – and light was shining out of it. Jack walked tentatively, carefully forward, Sam walking directly behind him. Once at the edge of the hole he leaned over.

"What is it Colonel?" she asked softly.

"Stairs", he told her with a comforting smile. "Just stairs. I guess this is a passageway and I have a feeling someone or something wants us to go down."

"One of the towns-people?"

"No way of knowing. Could be someone long gone. I guess we'd better go down."

"But Sir -"

"I know Carter but – Daniel will kill us if we don't check it out."

"He wouldn't know unless we told him" Carter murmured.

"Hah! He'd know. I think he can smell artifacts and mysteries and all that stuff. And anyway, there may be technology", he told her, as if offering a treat. He almost laughed when her eyes lit up. Oh yeah – both his geniuses were so predictable. "Wanna go now?"

She laughed. "You know me too well Sir. Yes, I definitely want to go."

"Okee dokee then. Let me just radio Teal'c and Daniel and tell them what's happening." He took his radio out of his vest and quickly gave them an update. He could almost feel Daniel's disappointment at not being able to go down the magic staircase. "All right Major, let's go."

They walked down the eerily lit stairs, Jack in the lead with his weapon drawn. You never knew what you might find on alien planets. He also kept his eyes open for anything that might want to get close and suck his head. There was no way in hell he'd do that again.

When they arrived a the bottom of the short staircase they came up against a door – but this time it wasn't made of wood, but of some other substance.

"Nacquada", Sam said softly. "The door's made of nacquada."

"Hmm and I don't see a handle or anything." Jack was looking at it closely, although not yet touching it. "I don't see any way of getting in."

Sam stepped forward and also looked but couldn't find any kind of handle or operating pad. "I don't know", she said with a frown. "Surely they must have something that can open it."

Jack moved closer and held up his hand. He didn't think he'd been planning to touch the damn thing, but he'd wanted to do something. What he hadn't expected was that the door would suddenly slide open, soundlessly.

"Well that's convenient", he muttered. With a swift lift of his eyebrows he stepped forward into the dark room. Instantly the room was illuminated and the two travellers from Earth could see everything.

"Holy Hannah Sir", Sam breathed.

Jack slowly scrutinized the room. He took a deep breath and turned to Sam. "Carter, what the hell is this?"