They had climbed up at least 1,000 stairs, they knew this because Jack had begun counting them aloud after the first ten minutes had passed and there had been no end in sight. It didn't even look like they'd reached the halfway point yet.

How much longer! My knees are killing me...

I'm aware.

What?

You started complaining about 800 steps ago.

Well you'd be complaining too if you knew how my knees were doing... Daniel isn't helping either.

Yeah, I've had just about enough of his questions too...

"So, why do you think it left? When did it come back? Do you think that dragon's coming after us? Where's the grail?" Daniel reiterated the same questions he'd been asking for the past hour. Jack had refused to tell anybody where he'd stashed the Sangraal, mostly because he didn't trust Ba'al. He'd moved it from his vest pocket to his pants pocket, keeping the bulge hidden beneath his hip holster even though it was uncomfortable.

"All right, lets take a break," Sam announced, giving in to Jack's complaints. He would never have admitted he was tired, or sore enough for a break even though he was in desperate need of one. They sighed with relief, sitting down on the steps they'd just been walking up.

"Are you going to answer my questions?"

"Please answer his questions!" Vala cried out before adding, "He's getting on my nerves."

You're telling me... Jack sighed.

Sam threw him a look before answering the questions. "Okay, Daniel. As far as I can guess it left because we entered the cavern back there where the dragon was. It came back when we started doing that shield thing, no idea why it came back or how the shield thing itself works. I don't think the dragons coming after us," she finished.

'Shield thing,' nice.

I thought so too.

I was being sarcastic.

I know.

Daniel was obviously not pleased with the answers he got because he bombarded the pair of them with even more questions. "Shut up, Daniel," Jack ordered and his friend closed his mouth, glaring. Ba'al chuckled and found the glare redirected at himself.

"So, why are you still here?" Jack asked the fallen system lord.

"There is no other way out," was the reply. Jack snorted, disappointed that it was true.

I'd like to kill him.

He just helped us defeat the dragon.

Yeah, well... we could just push him down the stairs and hope he falls onto that dragon.

There's too many stairs. He'd probably just roll to a stop about halfway down and come up a few hours after us, out to kill us all.

Again.

Yeah. Their minds were silent for awhile while they shared memories of the time that Ba'al had captured and tortured Jack. It was my fault. Sam informed him.

No it wasn't. It was that damned Tok'ra.

But I was the one who convinced you to take the symbiote.

To save my own life.

But still...

You're the only one who could've convinced me to share my head with a snake... The though crossed over without permission. Sam was silent for a minute. It's still not your fault, Sam.

It is.

Don't... He looked at her meaningfully as she looked anywhere but at him.

"So tell me- what is this thing between you Dr. Jackson has been referring to?" Ba'al asked, observing their silent conversation with curiosity. Another silent look passed between the two officers, but no thoughts were needed to explain this denial.

"Let's move out, campers," Jack said, getting back up and starting up the stairs again.

Are you sure you don't want something for your knees?

Yeah, it'd be a waste. Nothing will help with all these steps.

If you say so.

They continued on, taking three more breaks before reaching a huge stone door. Daniel leapt at the sight of it. "This is Ancient!"

"Oh, good. Daniel, you figure it out; I'm going to take a nap," Jack informed them. They were all tired, but none quite so much as Sam and Jack; shielding them all from the fire had taken more out of them than either would admit. Daniel looked at Sam for some help, or at least pity, and found that she was already sitting against the opposite wall with her eye's closed peacefully.

"Gee thanks guys," he mumbled as he began looking over the text.

- - - - - -

A half an hour later they were all still sitting there. Sam and Jack hadn't moved, not even an eyelid The pair of them seemed to be out cold. Vala had joined them after ten minutes, though she was constantly trying to find a more comfortable position on the hard, smooth marble. Teal'c was standing guard as usual, watching over his team and throwing glances back the way they had come. Ba'al was sitting on the floor as far away from them as he could get, pretending to sleep, but truly watching them all with half-closed eyes; he didn't want to be left behind. Mitchell was pacing, making the process take longer with constant interruptions.

"Almost done, Jackson?" He asked again. Instead of responding, he began twisting some of the characters around and pushing them into place.

"Finally," Jack said, leaping to his feet as though he'd been awake the whole time. He walked over and helped Sam to her feet, kicking Vala gently to get her moving.

The door swung open, revealing the town square full of Ori soldiers.

I know its short, please don't shoot!