SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

The group watched the sun go down together while the fish sizzled in the pan. Sam poured out some of Daniel's special blend coffee and Daniel got out some MRE's to go with the fish. Teal'c had set up some fold out chairs around the camp fire and Jack was resting his leg on top of one of the smaller boulders that lay around the camp site.

Jack thought they had all settled back into routine really well. In fact he was finding himself startled by Carter's greying hair, Teal'c's wrinkles and Daniel's grey side burns and the feeling that everyone was out of uniform. He was so back into the swing of things that he almost had to kick himself to remember that this wasn't another mission, and SG-1 was really retired.

Jack eyed Daniel carefully. There was no obvious sign that his friend was ill. He still looked fit and healthy and would put most twenty year olds to shame with just how fit and healthy he looked. He was maybe thinner than he had been, although it was hard to tell with the layers of loose clothing that he wore – probably deliberately. Jack frowned. Usually, it was the eyes that gave things away with Daniel, and they looked … pained at times. Actually, Jack would lay bets on Daniel being in a great deal of pain, but as usual, as had always been usual; Daniel was keeping his pain to himself.

Jack sipped at his coffee and shifted his aching knee a little. "You know this is really great. I wish we could have gotten together and done this more often," He lifted his bad leg with both hands and settled his foot onto a large flat boulder and leaned back more comfortably in his foldout chair.

Daniel guffawed a little. "You have a habit of taking the words right out of my mouth, Jack."

Jack shrugged. "It's a leadership thing. You get to learn your team so well that you can think what they're thinking after a while."

Sam shook her head. "It's not a talent most leaders have you know. Only the best ones can get that kind of an edge." She shared a knowing smile with Teal'c and Daniel as Jack hunched himself lower in his chair with a look of embarrassment. "I have to agree though," she nodded around at the campsite and their team, "This is really great."

"I'm finding myself a little overwhelmed with realisations now that … well," began Daniel. "He picked up a stick and stirred the coals of the campfire. "I've been so busy saving the world and buried in my work that life sort of passed me by. I'm … regretting a lot."

"The saving the world thing took over all of our lives," murmured Sam, wrapping her hands around her mug of coffee. "I think I panicked a bit for a while there, you know, when I was getting close to forty and I had no kids and no life outside of work. I nearly married Pete before I thought it all through properly. But I figured out that what we did was vital for the whole planet and not too many people can say that. What I do have is friends that are as close to me as family, and not too many people get to have that either, so ... yeah, I can live with the rest."

Daniel eyed her wordlessly for a few moments and then nodded his head slowly, "Yeah," he said simply.

"Perfectly said,Carter. Couldn't have said it better myself," said Jack toasting her with his mug.

"Regretfully, my duties off world often interfere with my ability to attend such occasions," said Teal'c. "I much prefer the company of our team over such."

"I wish Cam could have made it. And Vala," murmured Daniel, stirring more sugar into his coffee."

Sam chuckled, "Vala would have loved this too. She wouldn't have missed this for …"

Daniel sobered. "Yeah."

"She'll turn up one day," said Jack, serving out platefuls of cooked fish. "That girl's just too stubborn to die."

"She's been missing for four years, Jack. I think she would have found a way home by now."

Sam exchanged a glance with Jack and Teal'c. "Why isn't Cam here? I wanted to congratulate him on his promotion."

"He's still settling into his new job," said Daniel breaking up the fish on his plate with his fork unenthusiastically. "He's gonna try to make it tomorrow, but you know him and the Hammond, he wants to do the job one hundred percent right."

"He's taking it that seriously?" murmured Carter in surprise.

"I would sure hope so," said Jack. "Home world security is a big responsibility. Huge."

"I told Cam he was made for that centre chair the first time he sat in it and did that Captain Kirk thing – you know?" said Daniel with a grin.

"Indeed," agreed Teal'c. "I believe he will perform very well in his new position."

"You know, if he does turn up tomorrow he'll bring along a manual's worth of reading material," said Jack wiping his plate clean with a piece of bread. "He was always very fond of files," he added thoughtfully.

Carter nodded. "Yup, that's Cam."

"Cameron Mitchell will put aside his work and arrive tomorrow," said Teal'c with firm conviction.

Jack's eyebrows rose. "Cam said something to you? He didn't say anything to me."

Teal'c looked pointedly towards Daniel. "Some occasions must never be set aside for other things of lesser importance. He will want to be here for Daniel Jackson as well. He is after all, part of our family."

Daniel's head ducked again. And for a long moment the silence was a little strained.

"I kinda miss the SGC these days, murmured Jack, sipping at his coffee. "I hear good things about General Fairall though."

"She's good. Great actually," said Daniel. He sat back in his camp chair and stirred his coffee thoughtfully. "I'm glad that Sam recommended her. She's not half as busy as you or General Hammond were though. She can afford to spend time on the issues that come up. There are only eight teams left now you know."

"Eight teams? I must have missed the memo."

"It's been reduced only this last month. Now that the rest of the world governments know about the Gate there are committees everywhere you turn. The UN oversights it all. They decide where and what gets priority now be it a geological, exploratory, diplomatic, archaeological mission or whatever. With all the delays for committees and debates, the Gate gets opened only once or twice a week or so now."

Carter nodded her head. "The new UV's are turning out to be fantastic though. They've got on board computers and highly sensitive sensors that analyse the atmosphere and terrain really accurately. They can pick up a gopher sized heat signature from nearly fifty kilometres. It means that there are a lot less surprises happening now. They're also programmed to return to within fifty meters of the Gate so we've … they've only lost two UV's in the last year. The kind of data we're getting off them means we know a lot more about the planetary conditions and the terrain. We know ahead of time if there are any people or alien life forms and we can get good indications of the types of minerals from the air before anyone even has to set foot on the planet."

"Where's the fun in that?" murmured Jack.

"It means there's less expenditure for opening the Gate so often and there are fewer fatalaties."

"Well that's a definite plus," said Jack. 'Actually, word is a lot of the UV advancements are down to you, Carter."

Sam gave a quick grin and a nod and sipped at her coffee. 'We've added a few features that the Asgard used and some of the ideas from some of the other races we've encounter … .'

Daniel interrupted by coughing hard over his coffee cup, reaching for a handkerchief and Sam shot him a worried glance.

'I'm fine,' said Daniel after a few moments. 'Just … the coffee went down the wrong way.'

Jack eyed Daniel carefully over the top of his own coffee. 'That or the meds you were taking.'

Daniel ducked his head a little looking away from the three sets of concerned eyes staring at him. "I could never get much past you, Jack."

'Yeah, although I still don't know exactly what type of cancer you have."

'Would it make any difference?'

Jack shrugged. 'I don't suppose so, no.' He took another sip of coffee. 'But we never really kept any secrets from each other,' he added quietly.

Sam held her breath. Daniel was a private person – even with them. But Jack had always had a knack for bringing Daniel out of his shell. Still, this one was going to be harder than most.

Daniel shrugged. 'It's colon cancer. It's inoperable, aggressive and it's spread to my bones.'

There was silence around the camp fire. Daniel leaned forward and poked at the burning logs with a stick before adding another piece of wood.

Daniel glanced up at them. 'Can we not talk about this tonight, Jack? I'm taking meds and I feel fine. I … really, I just want to enjoy being together as a team again without … this getting in the way.'

Jack nodded slowly. He could understand that, really he could. This week they would be a team again – the closest of friends again - for the last time. There was nothing they could do to help Daniel this time. This week was for Daniel and he'd give anything to make it what Daniel wanted. A shared glance with Teal'c and Carter confirmed that that was exactly what they were both thinking too and Jack marvelled at how they still had the team silent communication thing down so well after all the years.

'Anyone … anyone want more coffee?' asked Sam moving to grab the coffee jug. No one said anything about the way her voice cracked mid sentence.

Teal'c shook his head. 'I have never understood the reason why this bitter beverage has become so popular on this world. I much prefer your mint teas.'

Jack shook his head. "It's that commissary stuff that they used to serve, Teal'c. Most people don't consider instant to be real coffee. Daniel's stuff is the real deal and it's far better. I have to admit, I can't face a cup of instant either these days.

"I'll pour you some if you'd like to try real coffee, Teal'c?"

Teal'c considered for a moment and nodded his head. "I shall sample a small serving."

Daniel ducked his head self consciously and tipped the dregs of his coffee out onto the fire. "Much as I'm loving the conversation, it's getting late guys, and I could use some sleep. I'll cook us all some breakfast in the morning, okay?"

Jack shared a glance with Teal'c and Carter. Daniel never got tired – at least he never had before. Daniel used to be famous for his all-nighters and his tendency to forget to sleep for a day or three.

"Night Daniel," murmured Carter.

"Night all."

Jack nearly bit a hole through his tongue as he watched Daniel walk over to his tent. There was pain in every step that Daniel took. His best friend was dying – right in front of his eyes and there was nothing they could do about it except be there for him. And no matter what Jack was going to see to it that Daniel didn't die without family around.

SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

Hope you guys take the time to review. Just LOVE reviews ...