AN: Well, howdy, Kats and Kittens! Still hanging in there? Thanks so much for all of your reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. Hope it keeps your interest! Enjoy the next couple of chapters, yea?

Chapter Four:

"Janet!"

The small doctor jumps as her name is shouted from across the infirmary. She has been on edge all morning, attempting to explain it off as too much coffee to everyone who asks. As she turns in the direction of the voice, she finds her best friend.

"Sam," she says in a sigh of relief, relaxing immediately.

"You okay? You seem a little . . . jumpy," Sam asks as she approaches the other woman.

"Coffee," Janet says without thinking. "Um . . . Too much coffee."

"Oh," the scientist nods, not completely convinced but deciding to drop it. "Did you hear about Daniel's ring?"

"R-Ring?" Janet stutters, sweat beginning to form on her forehead. "W-What about it?"

"It's missing! He left it in his locker before we went to the Unas planet," Sam explains gushingly, happy to be able to gossip about the incident. "It just . . . disappeared! We don't know what happened."

"Do . . . Do you think someone might have . . . stolen it?" Janet asks nervously.

"That's the main rumor," Sam nods. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't look so well."

"F-Fine. I'm fine."

They stare at each other a few minutes longer until, finally, the small woman can take it no longer.

"Oh, shit, Sam!" She whispers, pulling the major into her office and closing the door.

"Janet?" Sam asks in concern. "What-"

"God, he's going to kill me!" Janet moans.

"Janet . . . you didn't," Sam pleads, shaking her head. "Tell me you didn't take Daniel's ring!"

"I didn't mean to!" Janet whines. "It's just that . . . we made such a big deal out of it at the briefing the other day, and you were all gone. I just wanted to try it on! Just once!"

"Oh God, Janet!" Sam says, her face taking a look of distress. "What were you thinking?"

"I don't know! God, Sam, what do I do?"

Sam stops to think for a moment.

"Do you have the ring with you?" She asks quickly.

"No, it's at home," Janet shakes her head. "I thought I'd put it back when you and SG-1 go off world tomorrow."

Sam nods.

"That's not a bad idea," she says quietly. "Wait, wait, wait! What are we saying? Janet, just tell Daniel what happened! He'll understand! You know him. He's just freaked out about the ring. He'll be so happy to have it back, he won't have time to be mad at you."

"Daniel?" Janet asks hysterically. "I'm not worried about Daniel!"

"But-"

"Sam, Jack is the one that's been waiting for this. Ever since he met Kaara, he's known that she and Daniel belonged together. Daniel would understand, but Jack would rip my guts out!" Janet nearly yells.

Sam sighs in realization.

"God, I hate to say it, but . . . you're right," she winces apologetically. "Alright, we'll do it your way. The moment we go off world, you've got to get that ring into his locker again."

Janet nods, her breaths coming fast.

"Don't worry, Janet," Sam says comfortingly. "This will all work out."

Janet can only nod again, her stomach twisting into a sickening knot.

0 o 0 o 0

"Uncle Jack!" Cassie yells as she enters the colonel's home.

"In the den," comes the reply.

She drops her bag and sluggishly makes her way to the room.

"Good day at school, kiddo?" Jack asks as he sees her. Cassie rolls her eyes.

"Don't ask," she sighs.

"Better than my day, I'll bet," Daniel whines, walking in from the kitchen with two beers and a Coke in hand.

"Thanks," Cassie smiles as he hands her the pop. "Something happen today?"

The two men exchange an exhausted glance.

"Nothing . . . you should know about," Daniel sighs, his shoulders sagging.

"Well, I'm sure it isn't as bad as AP English," Cassie says, taking a swig from the cold bottle. "I swear, that class is going to be the end of me! Our teacher is making us memorize sixteen lines from Shakespeare."

"No kiddin'?" Jack smiles. "Me and Danny can help you there. We sang one of those sonnet things for the SGC talent show one year."

Daniel chokes on his beer.

"Jack, please don't bring that up!"

"C'mon, Daniel, we won first place!"

"Because you bet the entire base that you could get me to sing on stage!" Daniel protests.

" 'Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more'," Jack belts out in a low, baritone voice. He motions for the archaeologist to continue.

Daniel rolls his eyes but sighs and sings in a soft, tenor, " 'Men were deceivers ever'."

" 'One foot in sea and one on shore'."

" 'To one thing constant never'."

" 'Then sigh not so and let them go'."

" 'And be you blithe and bonny'."

" 'Converting all your sounds of woe'."

Daniel stops, glaring at the other man.

"Come on, Daniel. It's the best part. 'Converting all your sounds of woe' . . ."

Daniel sighs and shakes his head.

" 'Into Hey, nonny nonny'."

Cassie bursts into laughter.

"Oh my gosh! That's so awesome, you guys!"

"See?" Jack smiles widely.

Daniel rolls his eyes, taking a draught off of his beer. He slumps into one of the couches and rests his head back.

"You okay, Danny?" Jack asks worriedly.

"Just a headache," Daniel replies. There is a lingering silence.

"Hey, Cass, why don't you go do homework or something?" Jack asks quietly.

"I don't have any," Cassie says.

"Then . . . Go raid the fridge or somethin'. I've got to talk to Daniel."

"Oh. Right. Gotcha," Cassie slowly backs into the kitchen, smiling as she does. Jack turns back to the other man.

"Kids today," he shrugs with a smirk. "Couldn't take a hint if it bit them on the ass."

Daniel temporarily smiles at this.

"Seriously, Daniel, what's the deal about getting another ring?"

"I don't want another ring, Jack," Daniel says testily.

"Daniel, a ring is a ring," Jack sighs. "They probably make thousands just like the one you have."

"No . . . no, there's only one ring of that kind in the world," Daniel says drearily. "Only one."

"What do you mean?"

Daniel stares at Jack over the top of his glasses from his slumped position for a moment before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

"My father had that ring made for my mother, Jack," the young man explains. "The band is compressed sand from the Sahara desert and the diamond belonged to Cleopatra. He found it on a college dig . . . Jack . . ."

"We'll get the ring, Danny," Jack promises quietly. "Even if we have to turn the SGC inside and out . . . I'll go to every house of every person who works on base if I have to . . . but we'll find it."

"I hope so, Jack," Daniel sighs, finishing his beer. "I hope so."

AN: Questions? Comments? Vague disregard for any or all words written and established in the mind of one who has no sanity?

Oi. Hope you guys aren't getting too bored. This story is progressing a little slower than I thought it would, but hopefully it should pick up soon. I'll let the ring bounce around a little more. :) And at least you know why Daniel needs this ring so darn badly. All right, on to the next chapter, Kats and Kittens. Mush! . . . Or whatever it is they say.