"Uh Jack?" Burke asked carefully. He was worried about his friend. If something happened to Jack, he'd be stuck all alone on a space ship. God – he couldn't believe he was even thinking that. A few days ago he didn't even believe aliens existed, now he'd met one and was travelling through space to other planets. He wondered if he'd wake up sometime soon, with a massive hangover and this would all have been an alcohol induced nightmare.

"What?" Jack answered, his eyes looking bleary and tired.

"I just wondered – you know – about the weapons?"

"Weapons?"

Oh God – Jack really was in bad shape. "Yeah, you know – the weapons we brought up to the ship? The ones you said were booby trapped."

"Oh, those weapons." Jack continued to stare out into space. A second later he blinked – and then he grinned and looked sideways at Burke. "You thought I forgot them, didn't you?"

"You jerk!" the other man said with a snort. "So what are you going to do with them?"

"I'm going to leave them on that planet down there," Jack nodded with his head to something outside the window of the spacecraft. Burke turned and looked and could see a small round globe getting bigger by the second.

"Uh – what is that planet?"

"I don't know the name of it – in fact I don't think it has a name. Anyway, it's totally deserted – no life whatsoever," he told his companion. "The weather is really crappy – freezing cold. I figured they'd be safe there for now. I thought about destroying them, but figured I might need to produce them at some point. I hope not though. At least down there no one will find them."

Jack slowly stood up. "Come on – help me send them down."

"Uh – who's going to fly this thing?"

Jack stared at him for a moment and then blinked. "Ever heard of autopilot?"

"Aliens have that too?"

Jack sighed and shook his head – although stopped that abruptly at the twinge of pain. "Come on – I'd like to get this over with and then get home."

"Home?"

"Earth," Jack clarified. "I want to clear everything up before I go get Sam."

"Jack, you said she's pregnant?"

"Yeah."

"How far along? I mean, when's the baby due?"

Jack stopped briefly, but then kept going towards the stash of weapons. "In about five months," he told his friend. "That's why I want to get this done. I need to be with Sam."

"Yeah – well let's do it!"

It took a couple of hours for all the weapons to be sent to the planet below. By the time they were done Jack was really ready to collapse. At one point Burke had made him sit down and "direct" rather than lift any more boxes. Finally they were ready to head back to Earth.

"Where are we going to go?" Burke wanted to know. "They've probably discovered that Hubbard and Caine are missing. They'll be looking for you."

"Probably, but they don't know about the Tel'tak," Jack murmured.

"Tel'tak? What the hell is that?"

"Hmm? Oh – it's the name of this kind of ship."

"Tel'tak – right. Okay, but you need to see a doctor," Burke reminded him. "You're still bleeding."

"Yeah – and I have just the one," Jack smiled, although it was a feeble attempt. He was so tired. He knew he needed to get help, but didn't know what would happen if he flew directly to Earth. There were too many people involved in the conspiracy and he could quickly find himself arrested.

He checked the ship's coordinates and realized they were getting close to Earth. He took a shaky breath and then made a decision.

He fiddled with the controls and turned the ship around. Burke, who had been watching in awe out the window as Earth drew closer, exclaimed when he realized that Jack was now heading the opposite direction.

"Hey, where are you going? Earth is the other direction."

"I know," Jack sighed. "But we can't exactly call down and ask to land. I'm still wanted and until we clear up this mess, I have to keep my head down."

"But where are we going to go?" Burke asked. "I really don't want to spend the rest of my life on some other planet. And I can't believe I'm even worried about that!"

Jack glanced over at his friend and colleague. "Don't worry – we're not going to. I just figured it's better to arrive directly at the SGC rather than by air. I trust George to help."

"George?"

"General Hammond," Jack grinned and leaned back, even more exhausted. "We'll go to PXK 3N0 and go from there. We should be there in just a few minutes."

"And where the hell is that, and why do we want to go there?"

"It's a planet with a gate and with no people," Jack explained. "A stargate. We'll land the Tel'tak there and hop through the gate to the SGC. Well, we'll take a detour first as I don't want anyone knowing where we're keeping the Tel'tak."

"And how long is this going to take?" Burke was tired – tired and worried about Jack. While it looked like the bleeding had stopped, the Colonel was pale as a ghost and shaky as hell. And he himself was tired – and ready to get back to Earth. This travelling around the galaxy was not his cup of tea.

"About – 20 minutes," Jack answered, sitting forward and carefully adjusting the ship's trajectory. "Hang on – we're going to land."

"Hang on? Hang on!" Burke scrambled, looking for something – anything to grab onto. "There isn't anything to hang on to!"

"I know," Jack answered, sounding distracted as he paid attention to the controls. "I've always said they need seat belts on these things. Okay – here we go."

Burke had finally wedged himself into a corner between the bulkhead and a small storage cabinet. He was sweating and looked terrified.

A moment later Jack leaned back and sighed and patted the control mechanism. "She's a good ship."

"Why are you taking your hands off!" Burke yelled. "We're going to crash!"

Jack turned slowly and grinned at the other man. "Uh – we've already landed."

"What?" Burke looked confused, and then slowly stood up. He looked out the window – to see a flat, desolate landscape in front of them. "But I didn't feel anything."

"That's because I'm an amazing pilot!" Jack grinned. "Eat your heart out Teal'c!"

"Teelk? What's that?"

"Who. He's a friend and one of the best Tel'tak pilots I know."

"Okay." Burke looked out the window again. "So – you said we could get home from here?"

"Yup – through the Gate." Jack swiveled his chair all the way around and went to stand up – and almost did a face plant. Fortunately Burke grabbed him in time.

"Whoa! Take it easy. You've lost a lot of blood."

"I'm -"

" – okay, I know. Don't be an ass Jack – let's get you home."

"Fine. Just – give me a minute and then we can go. The Gate is close."

"And how does it work?"

"You just dial it up and walk through."

"Dial it? Like a telephone? And you walk through it, and then what?"

"Sort of like a phone and yes, you walk through it and then you're back home."

Burke looked at him as if he were crazy – but then everything today had been crazy. He sighed. "Okay – how do we get out of here and to this Gate of yours?"

Jack turned – still leaning heavily on his friend, and hit a button on the control panel. There was a hiss – and the door to the outside opened. Both men could feel a wave of heat envelope them.

"Geesh, it must be a 100 degrees out there."

"More like 120," Jack said. "It's not a very hospitable planet. That's why there's no one here."

"Okay – well then let's get out of here. Lead on Jack."

Together the two men headed out the door. Jack hit a panel in the side of the ship and the door hissed shut. After that they headed towards the Gate – which Burke could now see.

"That's it? It doesn't look like a gate at all. It's just a big circle."

"Yeah – but a circle that leads to thousands of other worlds."

"Thousands?" Burke whistled. "How many have you been to?"

"Oh, maybe a hundred or so. I kind of lost track." The two men continued to limp towards the Gate, although Jack was breathing heavily and was clearly struggling. The heat of the planet added to the dizziness and weakness he felt.

"Okay – here." They had reached the DHD and Jack let go of the other man and leaned against the stone. "Ow – damn that's hot!"

"Now what?"

"Now I dial the address for -" he stopped and thought for a moment – "for P4R 3J9. "That's just it's designation – its name is unpronounceable. But don't worry, it's a safe planet. From there we'll dial Earth," Jack told him with a small grin. He took a deep breath and leaned forward, ready to dial the planet.

"How the hell do you know what buttons to push?" Burke asked, as he watched Jack slowly push a sequence of buttons.

"I know quite a few addresses," Jack explained, without telling him about the Ancient download. "I told you – I've been to dozens of planets through the Gate."

"And you remember them and can just dial a number and head to all these planets? And what about Earth? What if aliens know the address and go through the gate. Isn't that dangerous? Aren't you worried they'll invade?"

"Mmm hmm. That's why we have an iris that covers the Gate on Earth. If anyone tried to go through without sending the right code, they'll go splat."

"Uh Jack?"

"Mmm?"

"Do you have the right code?"

"No," Jack told him as he pushed another glyph. "Don't worry – I have a plan."

"A plan? What plan?" Burke was looking at him with real concern. He wondered if Jack was so out of it that he didn't know what he was doing. A second later there was a loud "whoosh" and what looked like a huge wave flew out of the circle.

Burke yelled and fell backward – startled at the sound and fury of the Gate. "What the hell!"

"Sorry – forgot to warn you." Jack stared at the blue of the event horizon, wishing he could just walk through to Earth. He so wanted to go home. He was tired – not just because of the wound and the busy day and night he'd had – but because of the months of being exiled. Although the fact that he and Sam were now married and were together – and expecting a child – had made it bearable – he still missed Earth.

"Okay, let's go."

"Go – through there?" Burke looked in fear at the blue event horizon.

"Yes. It's okay - I promise. I told you, I've been through hundreds of times."

"Damn! This is just weird!"

"Come on. If we don't go now it'll shut down." Jack stepped back and turned towards the gate. Burke quickly grabbed on to him and the two men headed up the short staircase to the wildly undulating blue – whatever it was.

"You're sure it's okay?"

"Positive. Come on – let's go." With a highly reluctant CIA agent at his side, Jack stepped through the event horizon. A few seconds later they exited to a whole new world.

And Burke stumbled over to the side and retched miserably. Jack looked on in sympathy. He'd forgotten what it was like to go through the Gate for the first time.

"Sorry – forgot to tell you about that," Jack grimaced. "The first few times can be a bit difficult."

A second later Burke stood up and stumbled back towards his friend. "Wow – what a ride. Is it like that every time?"

"Mmm. I don't get sick when I go through now, but other than that – yeah."

"When we get home you have to tell me how it does that!" The agent then stood up straighter and looked around him. This time the planet they were on was green and lush. He could hear the sounds of birds and small animals. If he didn't know better he would have thought he was back on Earth.

Suddenly his eyes narrowed. "Wait a second – how do I know this isn't all some kind of joke? This is Earth, isn't it?"

Jack raised an eyebrow and then looked up. "Uh – no, not unless Earth has suddenly developed two suns."

Burke looked up, squinting. "I'll be damned. We really are on another planet."

"Yes – and as much as I'd like to let you sightsee, I really do want to get home. There's the DHD – dial home device," he explained quickly. He then hobbled over to it – feeling increasingly dizzy. It really was time to get back and get some medical assistance.

He waited for the other man and then quickly dialed Earth's address. Burke again flinched when the wormhole exploded outward. They stood in silence, watching the blue and then a moment later the wormhole shut down.

"Now what?" Burke asked.

"Now we dial it again." With that Jack again pushed the glyphs. The wormhole exploded out and this time Burke didn't react.

"That's pretty amazing," the CIA agent said. "What happens if you stand in the way of the – wave, or whatever it is."

"You die," Jack told him. "I definitely wouldn't suggest it."

"No, I guess not. But what is it?"

"It's – too complicated to explain right now," he said. "And anyway – we've got company!" He glanced up as a machine appeared out of the event horizon.

"What the hell is that?" Burke wanted to know.

"That, my friend, is a MALP – otherwise known as a mobile analytic laboratory probe." Jack moved from behind the DHD and headed towards the mobile unit. He leaned over and looked into the camera. "Hi there."

"Colonel!" a voice came from the other side, causing Jack to grin.

"General – it's nice to hear your voice!"

"Likewise Colonel. Uh –what can we do for you?"

"Well, if it's okay, it would be really nice if you would keep the iris open and let me come through. I don't really feel like going splat today."

"No, I can understand that," Hammond chuckled. "I guess we can do that, Jack. Are you alone?"

"Nope – I've got a friend with me. Uh Sir – are things – safe there for me to come home?"

"Yes. We've been watching for you Colonel. When you dialed in the second time I cleared the Gate room. It's just Walter and me here. Our friend Hubbard isn't around, although he has a couple of lackeys here. Right now they're busy doing inventory."

"Got em working have you?" Jack snorted. "And hi Walter!"

"Hello Sir," the Sergeant's voice could be heard through the MALP. "I'll make sure to keep the door open for you."

"Thanks, I appreciate it! Okay General – if you close the Gate down we'll dial 'er up and come home."

"I look forward to seeing you Jack – uh, and your guest."

"Likewise Sir." A moment later the horizon closed and Jack limped back to the DHD. He stumbled once but managed to grab on to the side of the pedestal so as not to fall.

"You okay?" Burke asked.

"I will be shortly. And as soon as I get home I'll have a nice visit with my favorite doc. She'll fix me up."

"She?"

"Yeah – Janet Frasier. Don't tell her I told you," he said as he began pushing the glyphs, "but she's the best damned doctor I've ever met. Although she can be a power-monger," he frowned.

"So, she knows how to keep you under control, does she?" Burke grinned.

Jack gave him a foul look and pushed the last glyph. The event horizon shot out – and this time Burke looked as if it were a run-of-the-mill occurrence. How quickly the unusual became mundane!

"Okay – let's go home." Burke took his arm to steady him and then, together they stepped through the event horizon.

"Colonel!" Hammond was approaching the bottom of the ramp – a smile on his face. But the smile faded when he caught sight of his Colonel.

"Jack – what the hell happened?"

"Noth -"

"Don't believe him, General," Burke interrupted. "He needs a doctor. The damned snake just about chewed through his neck!"

"Snake? Jack?" Hammond stepped closer, although he looked worried.

"Yeah – a Goa'uld decided he wanted me as host. I didn't agree. We had a bit of a tussle, but in the end I won. I'm afraid he's – uh – gone now Sir."

"Dead," the CIA agent said bluntly. "Jack ripped him apart."

The General grimaced, but nodded. "Walter," he called. "Get a med team down here right away."

"I'm okay General," Jack said – and took a step – and promptly collapsed down onto the ramp.

"Jack!" The General knelt down beside him. "You're clearly not okay," Hammond frowned and glanced up at the stranger standing beside him. "You're sure the Goa'uld is dead?"

"Yeah – he killed it."

"Okay - just hold on a minute Jack," Hammond told him calmly, giving his arm a pat. "The med team will be here shortly. Unfortunately you know they're going to have to check you for a Goa'uld" Hammond said. "Just to make sure."

"Of course Sir," Jack said, closing his eyes. He was going to stay where he was – even though the metal ramp was hard on his butt. For once he was looking forward to the Infirmary.

The General – knowing there was nothing he could do to help Jack for now, glanced at Burke and frowned. "And you are?"

"David Burke, CIA – and long-time friend of Jack's."

"I – see. Welcome to the SGC Mr. Burke. Uh Colonel O'Neill– you and I are going to have a little chat about the word 'classified'. I have a feeling Agent Burke wasn't authorized to learn about the stargate – and everything else he seems to know."

"No Sir. But there wasn't much else I could do. I needed to have someone I could trust and that Hubbard and his folks weren't following. And the fact is, if it hadn't been for him I wouldn't be here. He saved my butt!"

"Well then, you are certainly welcome, Agent," the General said. "I wouldn't want to lose Colonel O'Neill. And please don't take what I said the wrong way. I'm glad you were able to help the Colonel. I am afraid though, that there's going to be a long debrief."

"That's okay General," Burke said with a grin. "Nothing I'm not used to – especially when I work with O'Neill. He seems to get into the wildest adventures."

"That he does Agent," the General said, glancing down at his headstrong Colonel. "That he does."

At that moment the emergency doors opened and Dr. Janet Frasier – followed closely by two staff pushing a gurney – flew into the room.

"Colonel! What happened Sir?" The little doctor raced up the ramp and knelt by the Colonel – who opened one eye and looked at her.

"One of those Goa'uld's tried to eat through his neck," Burke told her. "But it didn't make it. Jack killed it."

Janet's eyebrows went up and she glanced up at the man standing beside the Colonel. She then looked down at her patient.

"Sir?"

"He's right," Jack said tiredly. "It didn't manage to take me as a host, but it tried hard. I think I probably need some stitches."

"Mmm. I think you'll need more than that Sir! Lieutenant, Airman – help me get the Colonel up on the gurney. Just lie back Sir, and let us help you. I'll have you in the Infirmary and fixed up right away."

Jack again looked at her, his eyes almost shut. But he had reached his limit and he was willing to let Frasier look after him. Right now he wanted a shot of some of her happy juice and a nice soft bed. With his last remaining moments of awareness he turned to the man who had helped him so selflessly and spoke.

"Thanks."

"Anytime Jack. Now go get yourself fixed up." He patted Jack on the shoulder and watched as he was wheeled out. He turned to the General. "Sir – if I can impose on your hospitality - ?"

"Of course Agent Burke. First we need you to get checked out in the Infirmary – standard procedure I'm afraid. I'm afraid I'll have to have an Airman accompany you. Also standard procedure. After that Walter will make sure you get showered and something to eat – and then I'd like to hear what happened."

"Of course Sir. And thank you. Right now a shower and meal sound great." As the Airman approached he turned once more to General Hammond. "I gotta say – this is one adventure I will never forget!"

"No, I'm sure you won't," Hammond chuckled. He watched as the other man left and then sighed. Life certainly wasn't boring with Jack O'Neill around.