The atmosphere in the gate room was thick with tension and nobody was speaking – even Jonas's normal ebullience was muted. Jack glanced across his team as they waited for the final chevron to lock. His eyes caught on the bowed head of the man they were escorting back. The sooner the better, Jack thought bitterly, as the wormhole mushroomed outward in front of him. He shifted his weight and fingered his gun lightly.

'MALP is en-route.' Walter Harriman's voice washed over Jack and he glanced up at the control room. Hammond stood behind the glass for the teams' departure. Jack watched as Walter reported the MALP readings to Hammond who nodded. It was the General who stooped to the mike.

'The gate is clear. You have a go. Good luck and Godspeed.' Hammond straightened.

Jack sketched a salute and turned back to the waiting soldiers. 'Reynolds, you and SG3 take point. Secure the gate.'

'Yes, sir.'

Jack waited a few minutes and nodded at his own team. 'Let's go.' He watched as Teal'c hefted his staff weapon and strode through the blue horizon with Jonas at his side. Jack hid a grimace as Sam nudged Daniel and they walked up the ramp together. He shoved his sun-glasses on as he followed them.

The wormhole blinked out as soon as he stepped through to the other side. His training asserted itself as he made a quick survey of who was where; the potential dangers surrounding them.

'Gate's secure, sir. No sign of any life in the immediate vicinity.' Reynolds reported briskly.

'Leave two of your men here to watch the gate.' Jack ordered. 'The rest of us will head to the caves.' He motioned for Teal'c to take point. The Jaffa would be able to spot the tell-tale signs of an Unas quicker than anyone else; Reynolds and a young Marine brought up the rear. Sam and Daniel walked behind Teal'c and Jack found himself marching alongside Jonas.

He was thankful that the Kelownan was remaining silent as they walked along at a steady pace. Sam laughed at something Daniel said and Jack's jaw tightened at the sight of Daniel's hand on her arm. It had been a long time since he had heard Sam laugh that way. The thought slid into his head insidiously. He wondered if some of what the other man had said the day before wasn't true. Would he stand in her way if she found someone else? He hoped he had enough honour to stand aside if she ever did. So long as she was happy that was the important thing. He sighed.

He was honest enough to acknowledge that he hated the idea and that maybe he wouldn't be honourable at all when it came down to it. Maybe he would be that selfish; get down on his knees and beg Sam to wait for him anyway. Just the idea of Sam being with someone else was like a knife to his heart; the idea of Sam being with Daniel twisted that knife a little further.

Had they slept together when he'd pushed them away during his undercover op a few years previously? It wasn't any of his business, he reminded himself harshly. He had been brutal with them; he'd had to be to push them away and out of danger. Had they sought comfort in one another? A rush of nausea stung the back of his throat with bile and he swallowed down with difficulty. None of his business, he repeated.

'You never were there for her when she needed you. I was.'

'You know Sam and I chalked that night up to just the need to be with someone and we would have probably moved on, stayed just as friends, but she ended up pregnant. Maybe your Sam didn't.'

Jack almost stumbled and only just caught himself. If they had slept together…if they had…he had no right to say anything. He had no claim on Sam other than the fact that he loved her and hoped to God she felt the same way about him.

'Colonel.'

Jonas's concerned voice snapped Jack out of his thoughts and Jack pushed his personal turmoil aside to focus on the mission.

'Are you OK, Colonel?' Jonas asked bluntly. 'You seem a little preoccupied.'

'Just getting my sea legs back.' Jack responded casually, hoping Jonas wouldn't push it.

'Sea legs?' Jonas asked, his eyes clouding with confusion.

'It means adjusting to a new situation.' Jack explained crisply. 'This is the first mission since.' He cut himself off abruptly but he saw a look of understanding drift over Jonas's smooth features. Jack searched for something to divert the younger man. 'This is a first for you too, isn't it? Your first time travelling between universes?'

'First Unas too.' Jonas agreed cheerfully, happy acquiescing to the Colonel's evident need to move the subject along. 'You know Doctor Jackson's journals on them are fascinating and…'

Jack let Jonas ramble on until Teal'c brought them to a halt at the entrance to the caves. The Jaffa's fist gave the signal for silence before he gestured for them to drop to the ground. Jack made his way to the front and looked at Teal'c questioningly.

'What have you got?' Jack asked, keeping his voice low.

'An Unas footprint.' Teal'c replied, gesturing at the track. 'This is fresh. Within a day.' His face twisted. 'It is a large Unas.'

'More than one?' Jack asked concerned.

Teal'c considered the ground and tracks for a long moment. 'No.'

'It's probably a scout.'

Daniel's whisper made Jack jump a little and he turned to the archaeologist with a scowl. 'What?'

'The tracks.' Daniel adjusted his glasses. 'The Unas must have sent a scout after me. If he returns then they'll know there's a whole other territory here for them to claim.'

'Or not.' Jack muttered. He pulled down on his cap. He turned to the rest of the group. 'OK. Heads up, people. We may have a large Unas on the loose. Reynolds, contact Bydon and Ellis at the gate. Let them know.'

'Yes, sir.'

'You do know what this means, sir?' Sam said, creeping up to Jack's other side.

'No.' Jack admitted with blunt honesty.

'If one of the Unas came through and they're all waiting for him to return on the other side…'

'Then we've got a welcoming party of Unas in the other universe.' Jack completed with a frustrated sigh.

She nodded.

'One thing at a time, Major.' Jack decided. He motioned at Daniel. 'Can you find the way through the caves to the rift?'

Daniel gave a tight smile. 'No.'

Jack bristled. He would bet his whole Simpson's collection that the archaeologist was lying. Instead, he turned back to Sam. 'Can you find the rift with one of your doohickey's?'

Sam smiled at him. 'Yes, sir.' She reached into her pack and pulled out some sensor equipment that looked vaguely familiar to Jack. She switched it on and pointed at the entrance. 'I am picking up some kind of energy signal, sir.'

'OK. You lead.' Jack motioned for them to follow her. They were half-way down the first tunnel when Sam stopped and felt the walls with a frown. 'Carter?'

'These aren't a natural formation, sir. Someone drilled them.' Sam explained.

Another five minutes passed as they progressed slowly down the dark tunnel, the beams from their flashlights bouncing off the walls. They reached a fork.

'Which one, Carter?' Jack asked, rolling his shoulders a little to ease the tension that had them in knots.

'This one, sir.' She pointed to the right with complete certainty.

An angry howl came from the left.

'It must be the Unas.' Daniel suggested.

'Ya think?' Jack sighed.

'I believe it must have become disoriented and entered the wrong tunnel.' Teal'c noted urgently.

'If this Unas doesn't make it back,' Jack asked Daniel, 'will the others give up?'

'Probably.' Daniel admitted. 'But they could wait some time for him.'

Jack nodded suddenly. 'Carter, you take Jonas and Doctor Jackson. Find the rift and start figuring out ways to close it.'

'Yes, sir.' She said.

'The rest of you, follow me.' Jack ordered. 'We've got an Unas to kill.'

Daniel reached out and snagged Jack's arm. 'You're just going to kill it? It's an intelligent being.'

'You have a better idea?' Jack asked pointedly. 'You think it'll come willingly?'

Daniel dropped his hand and stomped off.

Jack caught Sam's arm as she moved off after the archaeologist. 'Carter…'

Sam held his eyes in the darkness. 'I know, sir.' She gave him a bittersweet smile. 'I'll watch him.'

Jack watched as she led the two men into the right tunnel. It was the right deployment of personnel, he assured himself. Sam could handle herself. He gave a grimace and made the signal to move, leading his small team into the left hand tunnel, after the deadly Unas.