SG-1

"Good news guys!" Daniel said approaching the rest of his team as they stood outside yet another village.

"Ra is dead?" Jack asked. "Earth is free? We can go home and stop in Chicago in 1908 on the way back?"

"Very funny Sir," Sam said.

"Uh no," Daniel replied. "But I do think that I found a place for us to live."

"Not sure I would consider that good news," Jack grumbled.

"Well would you rather just keep wandering aimlessly around Egypt, Jack?" Daniel asked, crossing his arms.

"I'm sure there's a lot of things we could see! How about the lion guy who's missing the nose?"

Daniel closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "The Sphinx won't be built for another 500 years Jack."

"So," Sam said, clearing her throat. "Where is this house Daniel?"

"Not sure that I would call it a house… But it's on the far side of the village," he said brightly starting off. "The owners were apparently smote down by Ra about a year ago, which is why none of the other villagers have moved in, they're scared. But from what they were describing, it sounded like they may have actually died from the plague."

"You want us to move into a plague house?!" Jack asked incredulously.

"Relax Jack," Daniel said, "it was over a year ago and none of the other villagers seem to be sick."

After circling back around the village they came across a rather ramshackle hut sitting away from the rest of the village. "I think this is it," Daniel said pointing.

"Ah, home sweet home," Jack said ironically.

"Common Jack," Daniel said. "It's not like we can use an ancient Egyptian realtor. We're lucky to find this place. Now we don't have to build our own house. Just give it a chance." Daniel didn't miss the sidewise glance that the General threw at Sam before he sighed. "Yeah, all it really needs is a fresh coat of paint. Picket fence. Some flowers you know. Maybe a dog."

The good thing about having all your friends be military in some way or another, Daniel thought several weeks later, was that no one really complained about sleeping on the dirt floor of a one room run down hut in the middle of the desert. Sure Jack made the occasional quip about the lack of electricity and indoor plumbing, and they all forbade Sam from ever cooking again after her disastrous attempt at dinner one evening made them all sick. But at least they were all trying to make the best of it.

During the day they repaired the house, made furnishings and planted the small plot of land nearby. At night they sat around the fire and worked on their Ancient Egyptian. Though Daniel said they really should just refer to it as Egyptian. Teal'c had picked it up the fastest, probably because of its similarity to Goa'uld and was seemingly fluent within a matter of days. Sam had approached learning it the same way that she did everything, with a single minded determination. And while she was improving Daniel privately thought language might be the one thing in the world that didn't come easy to her. Not that he would ever tell her. Jack mostly refused to try. He said spending three months learning Ancient was the most he ever wanted to spend learning anything, ever.

It was strange Daniel reflected one night as he watched Sam and Teal'c laughing over the fire, but this was almost relaxing. After eight years of countless missions, close calls, and saving the Earth, they finally had a chance to put it all on hold and sit down together without the constant threat of peril.

One evening Teal'c came back from the village with a large ceramic vase.

"What's in the pot Teal'c?" Jack asked

"It is beer O'Neill," Teal'c answered proudly.

"Beer?" Sam asked unbelievingly.

"Indeed Major Carter. I acquired it from some traders in the village. A housewarming present for you all and an acknowledgement of all our hard work."

"Oh this is great!" Daniel said excitedly uncorking the pot and peering inside. "Historically speaking the Egyptians were known for being quite excellent brew makers. I always wondered what it tasted like."

"Just what you need Daniel," Jack said sarcastically. "I assume your ability to handle ancient liquor will be just as poor as with the modern stuff?"

"Ha ha Jack," Daniel said. He tipped the jug back and took a small sip. "Whew!" He exclaimed. "That's strong! Better than I was expecting it to be though." He handed the jug to Jack. "Here, try it."

Jack hesitated then took a gulp as well. "Have to say that I prefer my beer to be frosty cold. But, beggars can't be choosers." He took another long sip before handing it to Sam.

"Will you be partiaking as well Teal'c?" She asked him.

"I will not," he said amusedly.

"Well then," she said, "bottoms up!" before taking a long drink.

Their laughter was louder than ever around the campfire that night. Teal'c told Jaffa jokes which still didn't make any sense but were much funnier under the warm haze of inebriation.

"You know what, you know what?" Daniel said loudly after several hours, his words slurring together. "I love you guys. You know, I love you guys. You're my family."

"We love you too Daniel!" Sam answered, sharing a knowing smile with Jack.

"Sam," he continued, "Sam. You're the smartest person I know. And Teal'c, you are the bravest. And Jack, you're, you know you're a pain in the ass." He tried to shift positions on the rock he was sitting on and ended up falling off the side onto the sand underneath. "Whoopsie!" He called out.

"Ho boy," Jack sighed, "for sure no more beer for you Daniel."

"I will help Daniel Jackson inside," Teal'c said, extending a hand and pulling an unsteady Daniel to his feet.

"What? I'm fine," he protested.

"Go to bed Daniel!" He yelled as Teal'c led him into the house.

He looked over at Carter who was staring up at the sky.

"Whatcha looking at Carter?" He said sliding onto the rock next to her.

"I can't get over the stars here. Now. You know." She corrected. "I just never thought the stars would be different on Earth. You know, we've seen stars across the galaxy but coming back, always seeing the same stars, just made it feel like..." she trailed off.

"Like coming home," Jack said, also looking upwards. She looked sideways at him. "Yeah," she said quietly.

He settled an arm around her shoulders and she leaned her head against his chest. They sat there watching the night sky turn overhead as the fire died down to glittering embers.