CHAPTER 62

(A.U. For those who read these and or watch the series still, there is some big changes from here on out. I really liked Jack being the General in charge, and then they changed things, and so did I. I tried it this way when the other way didn't seem to be working all that well. In my opinion, this way works better, and I like the out come so far. If you think I went overboard on what you'll read pretty soon, then you can tell me, but I doubt I'll change it. It's the same with the spoilers as before, and the same with there being completely different stories that I made on my own in the episodes or a chapter devoted to one I came up with. I think what I am doing is turning out well here, so, enjoy and send some feedback. Thanks to whoever is still reading and continues to do so. And yes, crossovers continue to ensure, every so often.

On a further note, some of the endings of the chapters aren't that great, but the story turns out pretty well.)

One week later……….

SG-1 walked up the briefing room seeing Jack was not there yet. He called them all last night telling them to be at the briefing room for an important meeting, at 10:00 o'clock. Jacob was even to attend. There had been no off world activity for SG-1 since the alternate Ford had given them and/or given back certain things. Jack and Sam were the happiest people on the planet, they just had to really keep quiet about it off base.

"So, anyone here know what we are going to get told or what?" Jacob asked as they came into the room.

"Not a clue dad. The General never said anything other than to show up."

"All he told me was it was extremely important." Daniel said sitting down in his usual seat near Jacks seat. Teal'c sat down next to him then Jacob by him. Carter sat on the other side with Ford.

"He never told me anything. Just talked to Sam." Ford said leaning back in the chair. "He say anything to you Teal'c?"

"Indeed."

"And?" Sam asked.

"I am not allowed to disclose such information at this time."

"Well, Teal'c was let in on this little secret. That's different, but not surprising." Ford said sitting up. "Out with it Teal'c. Don't leave us in the dark here."

"I cannot say." he said smiling lightly.

"This must be really important then." Daniel said.

"It is, so quit bothering him. And she doesn't know anything either." Jack said entering the room with two bottles and several glasses. Janet walked in, said hi as did they and sat down next to Ford.

"Sir?" she asked confused as everyone else was.

"One moment Carter." he said setting the bottles on the table with the glasses. "Everyone stand. Okay, we have two bottles here. One is a nice wine, Don Peron Yon."

"Expensive." Ford said.

"Yes. The other is a nice old sparkling cider, for those of you who can't drink alcohol. Mostly two of you." he said looking at Ford and Carter.

"Actually, I can have some of that. Sam and me have been drinking wine on and off. Helping me get a tolerance in some senses." Ford said smiling.

"Great! About time too." Jack said smiling as he popped the wine bottle open.

"What's the occasion Jack?" Daniel asked as he was given a glass of the wine.

"You'll see. Now Teal'c, this is a special occasion, so can you, for this once, have a glass?"

"This once, I will indulge you O'Neill." Teal'c said nodding as he was handed a glass. Though it was only a couple of swallows, if that.

"Thank you Teal'c." he said handing a glass to Jacob. He filled two more glasses, handed them to Ford and Janet, then opened the cider, poured a glass and handed it to Carter.

"Now everyone, this is a toast, to all the great years we had together. The times we shared, the fun we had, more good times than bad. Or did they equal out? Whatever the case, I enjoyed it all, with some exceptions. This is to you all, my great and loving friends, who shall continue to save the planet, without me." he said, then took a drink.

"Sir?" both Janet and Sam said together.

"Jack?" both Daniel and Ford said together.

"What?" Jacob asked at the same time.

"It's not sir anymore Sam. As of this morning, I retired. Thanks to your future…or past version of you Ford, whatever he is, I now have what I always wanted and plan to spend the remainder of my days doing what I couldn't then. Being the father I always wanted. And the husband I should have been. Now drink up, because we won't be doing this again. At least not here."

They did so as he pulled a folded up paper from his pocket.

"Then who is taking over sir?"

"It's not sir anymore Samantha. I quit. I don't have a rank." Jack said capping the bottles with a smile.

"Okay, Jack. Who's taking over?" she asked smiling.

"Well, it's someone who really knows this place and no it's not Hammond. Me and Sara are moving to my house in Minnesota to raise Charlie."

"You're avoiding the subject Jack." Daniel said.

"I know. I'm enjoying torturing you all for one last time. But seeing as I need to get home and pack, that sort of thing. After the short going away party that is planned, I'll be gone from your lives. I'll miss the seeing you all, but I have more important things to go onto."

"Okay Jack. You've made your point. Let hear who this person is that's taking over so you can get home." Ford said putting his glass down.

"First off, I have to tell you they thought about giving it to Sam, but I told them that she would most likely decline and becoming a mother…..anyway, paper work isn't your thing." he said shrugging at her with his glass.

"Definitely not si….Jack. Besides, I soon won't be doing much work anyway." she said rubbing her visible belly.

She wasn't the only woman on the base with child, but she was the only SGC member, of an off world team that was. She was now restricted from going through the gate, Janet's orders. Janet was reinstated just to take care of Sam, per request.

"Scientific analysis of acquired technology or some new computer system is what you like. I suggested Daniel to try at a chance to have, but he's more into his artifacts, ruins, and other languages. They said no to that thought. Anyway, despite the strangeness of the idea and shocking fact that I'm still trying to get over, they gave the job to you Ford. Now if you want it…" he said surprising everyone.

"They gave Ford the job?" Daniel asked surprised as he put his glass down.

"What?! Me?! Why?" Ford asked as Jack held a hand up. "I'm more hated by people up there than……."

"You know this place better than most people here and better than any other General back in Washington. Hammond is on the Prometheus and staying there at the moment. And since I retired, I don't count. Also, some people that I wasn't told the names of, pulled some strings to have you instated, if you'd take the job. Now if you want the job, just sign this here and the place is yours. Originally, I recommended you for it so you could stay on the base and keep it protected, though I was somewhat joking at the time. But since it is a possible reality, I trust you can handle it, beyond handling if you catch my meaning. Sam won't be going off world for quite some time and Teal'c here will be helping the Free Jaffa Nation so…..SG-1 will be on downtime for quite a while."

"If not permanently." Ford said slowly. Everyone but Jack looked at him, then nodded slowly realizing it was true.

"Yeah." Jack said slowly not looking up from his empty glass. "After eight years of fun, SG-1 may be through. Have to give the job to someone else I guess."

"Maybe. Then again, since I'm in charge now." he said stroking his chin in thought, with a smirk. "I have a few ideas. But I'm only taking the job if you want me to Sam."

"Sure. Actually it's best you did so the planet stays safe for our child, and everyone else. With you here, I can sleep peacefully knowing who's keeping the planet safe, from behind a desk anyway." she said grabbing his hand.

"Ouch. Grounding the poor boy already. Enjoy the wonders of paperwork. Nice call Sam." Jack said patting her shoulder as Ford signed the document. "I'll call the President and have this sent to the Joint Chiefs right away. In your room is your new uniform and all that stuff since I figured you'd do it anyway. I'll have everyone assembled in the gate room within half an hour."

"How? You're just a civilian now like me Jack." Daniel asked.

"Technically, though only you people know that. So keep quiet until it's announced, okay. Ford, come here a moment. We need to talk about something while we call the President. General stuff." he said emphasizing the word General.

"Wait, don't I out rank you then? You can't order me around anymore." he said with a funny smile.

"Indulge me. Think of it as a last order."

One hour later……

Everyone on the base was assembled into the gate room. SG-1 was standing near the end of the ramp. Jack was behind the podium, but in SGC BDU's. Ford wasn't in the room, but only six people knew why. Jacob and Janet were standing next to SG-1.

"Hello everyone. First off, I want to say how much fun it has been serving with you all. You've all been great to work with, but I'm going home to have that life I've always really wanted. But I leave you all in good hands. This person actually took over this morning since as of yesterday night, I officially retired."

Several people actually gasped, a few other's spoke amongst themselves quietly.

"But, I know you were all willing to indulge me this one last time because I'm such a great guy."

This got most of the room to chuckle.

"It was an honor to serve with you sir." Colonel Reynolds said stepping forward and saluting.

Everyone that was enlisted also saluted, and some that had not. Jacob saluted and even though not in the service anymore, Janet did the same.

"Thank you all. I really will miss all of this, but…I go onto a far, far better place." he said making the room laugh at his remark as he made a wave of his hand. "Anyway, this person has given me their assurance that this place will continue to be fun to work at and even has some nice ideas that I should have implemented myself. Unfortunately, I…didn't have the brass to think about actually trying these ideas. But then this new General will get the job done." he said clearing his throat and waving up at the briefing room. "After he speaks, there will be cake and a small going away party, done by me in my own honor. After that, I'll be out of your hair. Without further ado, here he is."

Jack stepped down and stood next to Carter as the door opened. Several people were not surprised, other's were shocked, except Reynolds who already knew. But all the enlisted instantly saluted, when they saw Sam, Janet and Jack do it as Ford walked into the room. He gave them a quick salute then walked up to the podium. He was in full uniform, minus the tie and hat. As a last request by Jack, he was wearing all his medals. Jack also requested he do the tie, but Ford flat out refused.

"You said you'd wear a tie?" Jack asked waving a hand at him.

"No, I said I'd wear the medals. That was it Jack. I never promised anything beyond that." he said resting his arms on the podium slowly. "We went through this already. I didn't want to wear them. What still bothers me is that you tried to get me to have my hair cut short. Keep it up, and I'll come up with a reason to toss you in the brig. You're a civilian now. And this is my base."

Jack shrugged.

"I told you to leave his hair alone Jack. I don't like it short." Carter whispered.

"Relax Sam, I was just playing with him." he whispered back.

"Okay, fun aside, first off, I have to say I have a lot of respect for the Air Force, Marines, Navy all those branches, the honor that comes with them and the rules that apply to each one. To certain points which some of you know. Now, unless really important people show up, no one has to salute me, unless I salute first. And for those who do not know this, please." he said stressing the word please. "Don't, call me sir. I hate that. Makes me feel old. That's my first order."

Several dozen people, mostly SG teams knew what he meant and laughed. They also commented on him being serious.

"Just call me Brigadier, or General or just Ford. Okay, next thing. I have ideas, as Jack said, that I want to put across to you all, and get votes on whether it's okay or not. Some of these will be possible and can get approval. But that's in a moment. Several people in here are going to get promotions. I'll be doing that in a moment as well. And for those who might ask, Colonel Reynolds is not getting promoted. He gave me that line from Star Trek or close enough anyway. What was it you said Colonel? I forget."

"I said a promotion will lead to a desk job. Out there…" he said pointing at the gate. "I can make a difference."

"Glad to hear it, again. Now everyone knows. Now, I wanted to promote Carter, but I was told it was not going to happen. Sorry Sam."

"Not a problem. I'm fine as I am." she said happily.

"Alright, now onto everyone else who I could after the ideas."

Ford proceeded to tell them his ideas for the place. Most of them people agreed to. Then they went through the promotions. Several Captains became Majors. A select few Majors went up to Lieutenant Colonel. And two went from that rank to full Colonels. After the idea suggestions, everyone went to the party, on and off for the next couple of hours. Just after 1:00, Jack said a finally farewell to everyone and left the base.

The next day they all came to work and SG-1 was sitting at the table, with Ford at the head now. Ford had his armored coat on, minus all the ammo, weapons and stuff, with General pins on it and his name pin in place. He kept his personal cannons on him now at just about all times. Other than that, he had the SGC issued BDU'S on under it, but just the black shirt. He explained, yesterday, that being in charge, he used to wear it all the time back home. Even went shopping in it. Now he could again without being told not to. Jack just hated seeing him in it because it weighed so much that it made Jack's knees ache thinking about it. Jack tried it on once and his knees made him pay for three days. Good thing at the time they didn't need to go off world then.

"Never thought I'd have this chair. Though nothing about it is really different. Though I need to get it worked on." Ford mumbled as he took the coat off and set it aside. "Okay, first off I called you all here to tell you the situation surrounding the SG-1 team. For the moment, they are on stand down until further notice. This will be a few months on going. Sam is not allowed through the gate at all until Janet says otherwise."

"Because Sam's pregnant." Daniel said.

"That and other circumstances. Though I have taken over, I have talked with Colonel Reynolds and a couple other Colonels. If the need arises for SG-1, then we will go. With the exception of Sam who will not go through the gate at all unless the planet comes under attack and we have to evacuate."

"Wait a minute General. You said we." Sam said.

"Yes we. Now for you, my first order is don't call me by rank. You don't have to ever do so even if the President is here, unless he says otherwise. You don't have to stand at attention either or salute, unless I say otherwise to all that. Besides, between us, the rank is just a technicality." he said with a suggestive smile that the other's didn't get.

"Yes sir." she said with a semi mocking salute and a smile that she got the picture.

"Good. Now, as to the we part, I am still part of SG-1. Let me finish." he said as Sam and Daniel got ready to speak. "Since I cannot die and the Goa'uld don't know how to actually kill me, so far, it works out. If and when I leave on a mission, then Reynolds will take over. If not him, one of the other Colonels. There is always a backup leader for this place when and if the commander gets sick or is called away. When something happened to Hammond, Jack took over briefly and Reynolds if Jack was down too. Get it?"

"Well, yeah, but…." Sam started saying, but seemed to be stumbling over words.

"You are and still will be until you quit, team leader of SG-1. I do not want the job at all. I never did. Bad enough the paper work I have now. You haven't seen the mountain Walter gave me. Thank god I can speed read. Anyway, when we finally go through, with you going again, you will be in charge even though I'm there. I'll still be second in command of the team as before. It's either that or you can add another team member, but I'd rather be there with you all."

"Yeah. You just want to keep Sam safe." Daniel said, but not being offending.

"I admit that is true. But I also want to keep you guys safe. I said it once before, though not by blood, you and Teal'c are the only family I have. Jack still is, but…you get the picture. Besides, I don't want to end up like Jack was, looking at the gate with a wanting that may never get filled."

They nodded.

"Okay, so what's going to happen to SG-1 for the moment?" she asked.

"Well, that really depends on Teal'c. Now you can stay here and if it becomes possible, SG-1 with me in charge will go off world until Sam is cleared. But I figured you will be working with your people to help keep feuds from happening and be making some sort of government like establishment to maintain order within the Free Jaffa Nation."

"Indeed. I will be helping them for some time. How long that will be is uncertain. We are still finding suitable leaders."

"Good. If help is needed, just let us know, otherwise keep me apprised on what you can."

Teal'c nodded with a smile.

"As for you Daniel, you can consider yourself like a free agent at the moment. Go with any other team or just stay on the base and do your work."

"Sure. I got some things I've been setting aside to get to when I had time. Now I have it."

"Great. Well, that's about it. I got to do a debriefing with SG-4 in about an hour so go do whatever you need to. Except you Sam. I need your help with something. Daniel, I also need to talk to you about something, so I'll have Sam get you after I'm done."

He nodded and once they left.

(A.U. For what I have wrote below ,is based on what I have seen and so far in the show, and I have not seen evidence that points to this fact being wrong, so I did something about it).

"If you haven't noticed, which is unlikely, you're the only team leader that is female."

"Yeah. I have noticed." she said with a tone Ford couldn't figure out.

She was either insulted by the fact or impressed, but he couldn't tell. There was a subliminal hint that she was jealous of the fact he noticed it.

"I heard that."

"Heard what…." she started saying when she recognized the look on his face. "Okay, I admit it. I can't help it. Must be hormones."

"You don't have to worry Sam, I'm not ever going to leave." he said grabbing her hand.

"I know. I think I just like hearing it a lot." she said smiling. "Anyway, what was this idea you must have?"

"Well, I want to change it so you're not the only female commander. We have near about thirty SG teams. I wanted you to help me look through the SG team personal files to see who looks to be a capable team leader."

"You want to make another team with a woman in charge is what you're saying."

"More than one team with women in charge if possible. From there we see if they want to do it and then get them set up with team members of their choosing, depending on who they want and such and if that person wants to serve under them. I'm looking mostly because of fairness and I don't want a discriminatory problem later."

"That's actually a great idea. Should boost morale, for the women anyway. When do we start?"

"Now if you want."

"Let's go."

About an hour later, they got finished and Sam left. Daniel showed up moments later and sat down across from Ford who was now behind the desk.

"Okay Daniel, there is one big ground rule I have for you…."

"Oh no." he muttered with a shake of his head. "What did Jack say?"

"It's definitely not what you're thinking it probably is. As much as we both think you should cut down on your coffee intake, it's your body so, it's up to you what you do. Besides, Sam may or may not know it, but I do the same occasionally with coffee and chocolate, more on the chocolate though. But you have to get out every so often and eat, or else I will come get you. Understand?"

"Yeah. With food that is edible, I go, once I remember or get told."

"Yeah, same with Sam. Or was, now she has cravings and actually leaves. Okay, now I didn't talk to Jack about this or even know if you talked to Jack about this subject. Whatever the case, here's what you'll need to do for me when and if certain diplomatic situations arise. If it suddenly turns up that whoever the diplomat's are and whatever their food preferences are, I AM NOT eating anything that is bug like or from something's body, such as liver or other organs. You got it?"

"Yeah, you once told us all what you won't eat." he said relaxing.

"Good. I only hope that nothing comes up where there tradition says eat this or no negotiations or…you get my drift." he said waving hand.

"We can only hope." he said standing up.

"Yeah, cause you'd have to eat it or someone else. Last thing I need to do is hurl for trying to eat food I won't touch with a ten foot pole."

"If you had all that government training for being in the Air Force and other programs, how did you get through it without…."

"I refused to eat that stuff. Sometimes I starved, but I survived." he said with a small smile. "But mostly I got stick at the thought."

"Don't know whether to say lucky you or not. I've had some of those foods you've never touched, and they are actually pretty good. Such as…"

"Don't tell me, please! I'd rather not know." he said waving a hand frantically. "I don't even want to think about it. That's all I needed to tell you though."

Daniel nodded and walked out.

A few days later…..

"Who were you talking to?" Sam asked as she entered the General's office. She sat down and set the folders she brought with her in her lap. Since it wasn't the red phone, it had to be someone else.

"I learned….a friend, died in the line of duty yesterday." he said hanging up the phone slowly, sadness in his voice. "She, was killed….by some jackass who turned traitor. I was having flowers, sent to her memorial service with my condolences. I'd go, but being in charge here now…"

"I'm sorry Ford." she said after a moment, with sincerity. "Was it anyone I know?"

"Yeah. That NCIS agent, Kate Todd. She was here during that incident with…"

"I remember her. Nice lady. What caught me as strange was that she didn't even look at you like I've seen other women."

"If she had, I doubt I'd even notice. Hell, Lara Croft told me she'd rather go out with Daniel than me. I took that as compliment." he said opening a file.

"Daniel? She was interesting in him?" Carter asked in surprise.

"She once saw him speak and did look into his work while it was available. When she found out about what he really did and was capable of, she said she saw something of herself in him, a part she liked. She said she'd probably come by sometime and ask him out. Though she never has as far as I know."

"Well, they certainly would get along well. Common interest and all."

"Kinda like us."

"Yes." she said smiling.

"Not that I don't mind the company and the much better view, but were you here because you needed something or…?"

"No. Just had paperwork myself and didn't want to do it alone."

"Great! I don't like being in here alone either. I would have came down to the your office, but I have to stay here in case the phone rings, I'm waiting for a few calls. How's the nursery thing going?"

"Quite well actually. They should have it built and ready within the next week. Building a new section onto the base isn't all that hard once you've taken out a wall or two."

"Yeah. And those Tok'ra crystals can help pretty easily when we have them around."

"Oh yeah. You know, other than the new team leader idea, I think the nursery idea was one of the better ideas you had. I'm not the only woman on the base that is that is pregnant. And several other's have to more than request leave to be with their babies." Sam said as she was looking through some files.

"Well, when I realized I would be needed at home more than here and a emergency might make me come here, I figured it be better if you were able to be here with me. Just in case, you know. Besides, you'd get frustrated quickly when she's asleep and knowing there is some new bit of technology sitting on the base to be looked at."

"I wouldn't say frustrated. More like extremely curious. K-9 can always alert us to if she's in trouble. Get us on the com links."

"That's right. And her being on the base will certainly work in our favor since if there is problems with her, the medical bay is just some floors down."

"It's one of the best ideas." she said smiling as she stood. "I really love you."

"I love you too. If it wasn't for all this, I'd take you someplace special." he said as she leaned over and kissed him.

"I miss Jack being here." he said as she sat back down.

"So do I. But he's got what he's always wanted. And soon, so will we."

"Yep." he said as she rubbed her belly. "What about the rec room being expanded? What have people been saying? I mean have you heard anything?"

"Actually a lot of people like it. Those game systems help some people relieve stress. Especially the pool table."

"I'm seriously thinking about removing that game." Ford muttered signing another paper.

"Huh? Why? People like that game. So do I." she said confused and upset. She loved to play pool. "Why do you want to get rid of it?"

"Truthfully." he said looking her dead in the eyes. "I'm tired of loosing to you. No matter what I do, I can't win."

"Oh well." she said smiling realizing he was being serious, but joking about taking the game away. "I told you before we started dating, I was very good at the game and more than likely win."

"Yeah, but we've played hundreds of times Sam. You still keep kicking my ass. Hell, I lost five hundred dollars the first time we played. I should have took Jack's advice and said no when you asked me to go out with you that night to play."

"I don't regret it." she said smiling. It was the most she ever made on playing with anyone.

"I'm not surprised. Want to hear something actually surprising?"

"Sure." she said looking up.

"Now, I called Jack the other day, to ask him a few things about certain stuff concerning General duties. How he dealt with them and such." he said waving a hand absently. "All the time Jack sat at this desk and did whatever it was, he never opened any drawers and he had no idea what is even in them."

"Okay." she said slowly. "Not surprised yet."

"He didn't open them because he didn't have a key, didn't look for it and never asked. He also never had anyone try to open it."

"That's surprising. I'm guessing you asked?"

"No. I picked the lock. Other than some papers and folders and other stuff usually in desk drawers, I found an old box of molding chocolate candy. Probably something Hammond left by accident. Which reminds me, I'm hungry. Are you?"

"Getting there." she said as he closed a folder and put it aside for Walter to come get later.

"You know, I have an idea for our second child."

"Second? We haven't even got the first one here and you're thinking that far ahead?" she said surprised.

"Well, this is just an idea mind you. Since you'll have plenty of time to consider it. And if we do consider it, I think it's best the less people know the better." he said hiding his smile behind his cross linked hands.

"Less people know? What are you thinking?"

"That Machello machine." he whispered looking at a file on his desk as though it became interesting. But he never opened it.

"You mean…?" she said slightly shocked at the idea.

Part of her actually thought the idea was interesting if not strange too, showing true commitment on his part. Very few men, she had heard anyway, had ever said they'd take the wife's place on the next baby if it was possible. Though the idea was never able to be put into practice before, it certainly was now, in a sense.

"You're actually considering it? We switch..…" she whispered back.

"That's if you want to. I'm willing. But if we did this, it would be nine months of not going back. More or less." he said looking at another file closely. "Sure it'd be really awkward…"

"Wow. When I said you were a strange man, I never thought you'd go this far into it that realm." she said sitting back again.

"We have plenty of time to think about it. I'd say we wait a couple of years after the princess arrives then we can have a boy or another girl."

"A couple of years does sound good. Right now, I'm starting to feel like I'm starving myself."

"I'll make you whatever you want." he said walking around the desk and helping her stand up.

"Always there to help. That's one of the reasons I really love…" she started saying when he quickly turned away and sneezed.

"Sam, stay behind me. Just in case." he said pulling one of his gun and getting in front of her.

"You carry those around on the base?"

"Always now. You never know. Besides, it's second nature to have them with me."

"Right. Should have figured on that. Being in charge now and everything."

"General. There is someone…something wrong?" Walter said walking and seeing him with his gun out and pointed at the doorway.

Walter ducked slightly and looked around and saw Carter behind him, but no one else around as Ford lowered the gun quickly.

"Sorry Walter."

"Is there something wrong General?" he asked standing back up.

"Maybe. Tell me what you're here for first."

"Someone is here to see you General. Apparently you sent them here. Or they say a future version did." Walter said confused as he handed over a yellow envelope. "This came in the mail this morning. Said to be given to you at this time. Your signature."

"My future version? Oh! Wait a minute, he told me someone would be showing up." he said opening the envelope as he laid the gun on the desk. "Send them in Walter. And thanks."

"Yes General."

"Oh my god." Sam muttered walking out from behind him.

"Oh my god is right." he muttered looking through the papers. "Didn't expect this."

"Can we get on with this please? I'm really tired and everything I just learned is still mind boggling. Aliens being real is one thing I've learned to handle, but learning…"

Ford looked up seeing Kate Todd standing in the doorway with her arms crossed and a upset look on her face, other than weariness. She had a white blouse with black slacks and black coat to match. Some expensive black shoes as well. Walter was standing behind her.

"Well, this is going to be interesting." Ford said setting aside the folder and putting his gun away.

"I thought she was dead. She's not….like you is she?" Carter whispered looking at him.

"Yep. Had you showed up about ten minutes ago, I wouldn't have sent flowers to your grave." he said waving hand at her.

"My grave?"

"Technically, to the world. You died when you got shot in the head."

"Walter, how did she get into the base?" Carter asked.

"She had papers that said to allow her in. Signed by the General himself. And she did have clearance once and told the guard things only the General would know Colonel."

"You're going to have to excuse me for the moment Sam." he said picking the envelope back up. "I'll try to get down to the mess hall and join you later. Unless you want to stay here?"

"I can wait." she said sitting down with his help.

"Take a seat Kate." he said going around and sitting himself. "So how much do you know about this place and us?"

"Your alternate self as he called himself told me about this place and that I am Immortal now." she said sitting down and crossing her legs. "Though I didn't understand a lot of it. And seeing an actual alien, an Asguard named Thor I believe. Something to do with my clone being sent back and me being brought here. Though he said I got shot in the head, I don't remember it well. Part of me thinks I'm dreaming still, though all the pinching hasn't woken me up, so you'll have to excuse me if I take awhile to grasp this new aspect of life."

"That's him." Ford muttered as he looked through the information in the envelope. "All this here is stuff you need to fill out to work here and to have a new identity. I'm going to guess that my, alternate self, send you here to keep you safe."

"That's what he said. Can't go back home or talk to former friends, can't call parents or any other relatives, even though they aren't really family members. Told me all the reasons why that would cause trouble and the possibly of being a genetic experiment for the government if I went back." she said ticking off her fingers. "Despite all my years of service and such."

"Yeah. That will raise to many questions. Though usually not a great idea, you can keep your first name, but the last name has to change."

"You're going to hire her?" Carter asked.

"What else should I do?" he said turning to her with a surprised look. "I can't send her out into the world with her knowing about this place. Any other Immortal kills her, than they'll know about this place and might tell people. Or use the information wrongly. Besides, I'm assuming all she has is the clothes we see."

"I see your point." Sam said.

"Besides, she used to protect the President and worked as a profiler once before working at NCIS. Doing work off world as a SGC team member wouldn't be a bad idea. Certainly has the, courage and open mindedness to try."

"Put her on a team? Without training?"

"No. She'd have to go through the same training like everyone else. Just like I did. Two weeks or more depending on how well she performs." he said sorting through the mess of papers that were in the envelope. "That's if you want to do off world…"

"Sounds interesting enough to try. Can't do anything else in the world for awhile. Or so your alternate you said. And he did explain why he's a alternate version, though it didn't make much sense. So don't you try either. He did give me some money to do things with, and you were suppose to take care of everything else."

"Good to hear you're financially set. As for trying to explain, I won't bother. Not many people can grasp alternate time line theory, temporal mechanics, quantum mechanics and theory and the things that go with….with….what is this? Oh no, he didn't." he muttered.

"What?" Sam said leaning forward.

"Damned unspoken rule. Can't believe he pulled that on me." he muttered dropping the paper on the desk. "Figures."

"What rule?" she said picking the paper up and reading it as he rubbed his forehead like he had a headache. "This isn't…you can't be serious."

"What?" Kate asked. "I know this has to do with me. Can I see that?"

Sam almost reluctantly handed it over, but Ford nodded saying she could.

"You've got to be my teacher? In what? What the hell does that mean?"

"He never explained it?!" Ford asked in shock.

"No. He never said anything about teaching. Teaching what?"

"I'd kill him if he was here. Though I'd probably lose." Ford growled. "Damn. Okay, the unspoken rule states that any Immortal that finds a pre-Immortal and is there when that pre-me dies. They have to teach them the ways of Immortality until that student feels ready to go off on their own. This could take a few years, decades to…centuries." he said muttering out the last part.

"Centuries?!" both woman exclaimed.

"Hey, hey!" he said quickly holding up a hand as they both looked ready to speak. "Here's how this is going to work. I have classes during the day where I train other's in fighting techniques. A variety of them. Only last about an hour, now anyway. You will attend those classes to learn how to protect yourself from other Immortals, other people, and aliens. Beyond that, I'll try to find time to give sword lessons that are a must."

"He told me why that was. Killing other's to protect friends was one thing, but to keep my head from being taken…." she said running her hand through her hair tiredly and absently rubbing her neck.

"Good. I was working on some sword lessons with a girl named Rebecca, but she went to Atlantis so I haven't been teaching anyone lately. Now before anything starts, I'm letting you know right now that I am a very happily married man…" he said placing his hands on the desk intertwined.

"I know, I know." she said waving one of her hands. "Your other version told me. You're off limits unless I want the Colonel here to take my head off. And he said she would do so and has access to a sword."

"In that case. I'm glad we got that out of the way." he said with relief.

"If it helps any, I don't find you attractive."

Sam actually smiled as Ford looked at her with confusion. He wasn't sure how to take that. Part of him felt insulted.

"I have to ask, why?" he said leaning on the desk with his elbows.

"You're not my type."

"Oh, well, good for me then. I'm going to guess that he told you about the Presidential pardon?"

"Yes. In great detail. Is there anything else you need to ask right now?"

"Not really. Nothing that comes to mind anyway."

"Good. Let me sign all those things that he said I had to do, then I'm going to go get some sleep. Maybe for a few days." she said yawning. "After that, I'll figure out what I'm going to do if my mind finally tells me this is all reality now."

"Fine with me." he said handing the papers over. "Just take them with you to the room, fill them out there and then get that rest. I'll talk to the President later and tell him what's going on. If you need anything, just ask any airmen and if there is any problems…"

"Get hold of you. Got it." she said hiding a yawn.

She smiled lightly and left after Ford called Walter to take her away.

"Well, I don't have to worry about her looking at you."

"I would never have noticed anyway. You know Sam, maybe I should get you a sword. With the way I've seen you fight, you'd be dangerous."

"Me? Well…it would help me get my figure back." she said looking down at her belly.

"Sam, we have had this conversation. I'm betting ever man has it every time a baby is on the way. You're not fat and nowhere near it. You're carrying our bundle of joy, not a mass of fat build up. Janet even told you, you have more muscle than fat, if any is on you at all." he said getting up.

"I know. I guess I just need to keep hearing it. Still doesn't help that I feel like I'm overweight, though I know it's not that."

"So, what is it you're craving?"

"Well, bread, peanut butter, jelly, onions, cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, ketchup …"

Ford walked with her listening and nodding, then as it started sounding like bad combo's, he lost his appetite and kept from feeling sick as she kept going.

"Orange juice, tomato juice, carrot juice…all in the same glass. Maybe some chocolate and some blue Jello, chocolate on the Jello."

Ford cringed in disgust but kept quiet. Luckily, she didn't notice, at least until she noticed he wasn't eating with her. She did say sorry, but she didn't stop eating.

One month later…………..

EPISODE………..AVALON…….or somewhat close.

General Ford Carter had just gotten out of a meeting with SG-12. Daniel was on his way up from his office, that we was currently packing at the moment as Ford looked out the window seeing a Lieutenant Colonel looking at the gate as he walked up the ramp. Despite Ford's objections, Daniel still wanted to go with the new Daedalus ship, that Carter and K-9 were currently getting prepped for launch. She'd been there for just over two weeks now helping them. K-9 was mostly there because he was monitoring her pregnancy, other than helping. She was doing okay and still had just over a month to go till she would fill her nine months and Sally would arrive. Ford had some trouble with her leaving, but didn't stop her. Teal'c left just shy of three weeks ago to help with the New Jaffa Nation government being made. He hadn't really been heard from since, personally, but reports from other teams helping them at Dakara said that Teal'c was fine and doing well. Daniel was going with the Daedalus and one of the ZPM's. The other ZPM was to be used to fire the Ancient weapon down in Antarctica or to open the Stargate to Atlantis if need be. Ford mentioned he could order Daniel not to go, but he wouldn't.

"What's up? I really need to get packing." Daniel said walking in. He was now sporting a beard that covered his face, though trimmed well.

"Hey Daniel. Really going to miss you here you know. Still getting used to seeing the beard though. Even Carter let her hair grow out some, which is different."

"Yeah. Figured why not. Sam does look good with the new look. Anyway, you can all get on without me. Besides, you've gotten down Ancient language pretty well lately as have several other people."

"True. With her being gone and only being able to contact her every so often, it does give me more time to do other things."

"Such as catching up on learning Ancient?"

"Amongst other things." he said shrugging.

"So, I'm guessing you didn't call me up here to talk."

"Not really. Wanted you to see someone. Remember him?" Ford said pointing out the window.

"Um…." Daniel said looking with a squint. "Yeah, we visited him in the hospital some time ago. What was his name…."

"Cameron Mitchell. Lieutenant Colonel who flew in Antarctica to keep the Goa'uld off our ass two years ago when we went after what we thought was the Lost City."

"That's right. He got shot down." Daniel said nodding as he remembered.

"Yep. Survived and is walking again despite what doctors said. Had a motivation to move again, to survive. Jack once told him he could have anything post he wanted, professionally, to a point. He picked here."

"Another former flyboy huh? At least he's a good one. Did he ask for something specific or a team of his own or what?"

"Well, I've been being pressured lately by the higher ups. Not as bad as when the budget meeting came up though after my first week of being here and the several request orders."

"Oh yeah. That was rather funny what us three got to see. The looks on their faces was incredible." Daniel said.

(A.U. I wrote what you're about to read, long before the episode that happened with this thing in mind. Hopefully you know what I am referring to.)

Flashback………….

Ford had gotten a call, by the President, telling him that several people in the budget appropriation committee needed to talk to him about some of his ideas, right away, and that he had to leave the SGC in someone else's hands for a couple of days. Mostly it had to do with taking away funding and using most of it for the Atlantis expedition. Ford turned around saying he'd be there in a few hours with some friends to fix the situation permanently. After a quick call to Thor, he got Daniel and Carter together and they beamed over to the Oval office. A couple hours later and the few people who actually ran the budget for the SGC and anything to do with the SGC and alien stuff were together in the Oval office. This all happened three days after he took over as the new commander of the SGC.

"General Carter, I don't see why your former team members are…."

"Quiet!" Ford said quickly.

Daniel was in his normal SGC BDU's as was Carter. The President didn't mind that they were not in formal attire. Neither was Ford, but he had the coat as always.

"Mr. President, I'm going to talk to these wonderful people on…Thor's ship, if you don't mind."

"You're not intending to hurt them are you?" Hayes said with a chuckle.

"No. Thor has a gift of sorts."

"Go right ahead then General." Hayes said with a wave.

Though slightly frightened and about to say something, the five person team of people that made up that particular budget committee had little say as they and SG-1 were instantly transported up into the Daniel Jackson.

"Hello again Thor." Carter said as Thor walked over.

"Hello Colonel Carter. The item you requested is in the cargo hold General Carter."

"Thanks Thor." Ford said turning to the astonished group. "Ladies and gentlemen, this way please."

"What is the meaning of this?" one of them asked.

"I know what your job is and how difficult it can be to sign things that need to be taken to a 'Deep Space Telemetry facility' and that some of the items we are going to ask for later are going to seem strange. But after what I show you, you'll do whatever is needed to get them. Unless the order seems really strange, then call ahead and ask, otherwise, you'll pretty much be…giving us whatever we need from now on." Ford said as they walked down the hallway.

"Where are we going?" Daniel asked as the group mumbled to themselves.

"Cargo hold."

"I heard that, but what's there…."

"In good time Daniel. And no Sam does not know either."

"He won't tell me." she said as he looked at her.

"Give you?" one of them asked. A different person this time.

"Yes, as in give freely! From now on anything requested for the SGC or by anyone in the SGC for places like Area 51 and….where ever that place is that we are building new ships is. Name escapes me at the moment." he said as they stopped by the doorway. "Wait Daniel."

"Oh, okay." Daniel said pulling his hand away from the button.

"Freely? You're joking General. We know about the exploits of this team, but you do not have the pull to even make that possible. A presidential decree couldn't….

"In this case I can." Ford said with a commanding tone that made Daniel and Carter really wonder what was going on and more importantly what was behind the door. "From now on you will do so…or else."

"Is that a threat General?" a man asked.

"We will make sure that you never…." a woman began saying.

"You all will do nothing." he said waving a finger at them. "Nothing except what I say. I'm pulling in a few favors whether you like it or not. What is behind this door will give me what I ask, which will also include a pay raise for everyone that works at the SGC and some of its affiliates such as the ship making and being posted on them. I'd say about…10 more dollars an hour should suffice."

"You're crazy! There is now way…."

"Shut it sir! I've talked to former General Jack O'Neill and heard some of the crap you gave him about what could and couldn't be paid for! He told me about something going on about cutting the SGC budget and sending more money to the Atlantis project. We're out there risking our lives to save this planet and all you people do is sit on your asses and fill out paper work and line your pockets! Until you go out there and see what we really go through and what we are risking, you'll never understand! Atlantis is so f….far away, whenever they get home, they'll have more than enough money to do almost whatever they want! This project has been going on for nine years, and after everything we've done to save the planet, you all want to cut it back. We don't go out, risking our lives, not to mention our personal lives to save this planet and everyone that has no idea what's going on, for the fun of it!"

"That's not entirely true Ford."

"Yes Daniel, I agree. But unlike all the other times, right now, you're not helping. Anyway, it is not all fun and games out there like a lot of you think. I don't know what that bastard Kinsey told you, and I don't give a damn either. We go out there, to places where we could bring home the greatest discovery in the world that could save everyone. Or we could bring home the most devastating weapon ever seen that could wipe out this planet because we worked with it wrong. That's how we work. That's what we risk out there. Now, here's what your going to do…."

"How dare you threaten…."

"My threat is simple," he said cutting the person off quickly. "And points it self out enough a child could understand it. What is behind this door will be used for whatever the government wants and we get what I want done."

"Ford, what are you doing?" Sam said pulling his arm. "Have you gone power hungry already?"

"No. I've got this all planned out Sam. Trust me." he said then turned back to the astounded group.

"A Julia Donovan, I think that's the name, is ready to summit a message, pre arranged of course in case you…decline my deal." he said rubbing his hands together.

With a nod from Ford, Daniel pushed the button. What they saw laying inside, shocked them all. Except Ford of course.

"Oh my….."

"Whoa." Daniel said quietly stepping in with everyone else. "This is…."

"This is……."

"Where did…"

"This is that secret stash you said Thor could only get." Sam said still trying to pick up her jaw. Ford gently closed it with one finger.

"Yes. The Asguard have little use for the stuff and they mined if off a moon nearby their new home planet. Thor and I made a small deal, you could say." Ford said shrugging as everyone still was looking at the massive mountain of pure, solid, refined gold. All nice bricks stacked neatly. There was no stamps or insignia's. Just pure, clean and shining brightly.

"How much is here?" Daniel asked picking up a brick.

"Taking into account the value of gold right now and we say it's….300 dollars a troy ounce. Ah….100 trillion dollars. So Thor tells me anyway, as does K-9. Takes a couple billion a year to run the Stargate program, which doesn't include Atlantis."

"So that's why you took K-9 away from me for an hour after Thor showed up."

"Right Sam. Had to check figures as the saying goes."

"That's more money than….." one of the two women said picking up a bar with the others in the group.

"Yes, lots of money. I know the government says it's somewhere around 400 billion in debt, so this more than covers that problem. Now, if you do not take this nice deal, Julia lets the message out, and I will kill the money market within seconds as I become, correction, my partners and I become the majority shareholders of at least 99 of the stock market, if not it all. Which if I'm right, you'd mean we would own just about everything, then you'd be out of jobs. Please nod if you understand?" Ford said sweetly.

They did quickly realizing the ramifications.

"Excellent." Ford said smiling as he clapped his hands once. "Thor will beam this mountain down after you decide where to put it all. He'll beam you all down when you're done and then you can write up whatever is needed for the deal. Remember, everything is free, or else. As for us, we have work back at the SGC, where risking our, personal lives is what we do."

They started walking out and Ford stopped in the doorway.

"Oh, and just in case, because I don't trust you as far as I can throw you."

"Which might be pretty far." Daniel said.

"Yes, anyway, Thor can bring two more ship loads if you all try anything. This meeting was short, but oh so fun. Goodbye." he said sarcastically.

"Who would be these, other shareholders?" Carter asked.

"SG-1, Jack, Hammond if he wishes, and Janet."

"Wow. I wouldn't know what to do with all the money." Daniel said as they walked out.

"Probably the same as now. You have a lot of money, but barely buy anything big."

"Maybe the rain forest. Could find all those hidden temples and such…" Daniel muttered on as they left.

"Considering how much it's getting burned and butchered, maybe I should buy it."

Present……..

"They haven't tried to back out yet have they?"

"No Daniel. They knew their place. Would have been nice to see what owning the world would be like though."

"Well, moral certainly went up that day everyone found out about the pay raise." he said putting his hands in his pockets. "So, what was the higher ups telling you this time?"

Ford cleared his throat before answering.

"Seeing as Sam is on maternity leave, for maybe another two to three months depending on things. And the fact that you're leaving and Teal'c left." he said then kept moving his mouth, but not speaking as he thought.

"Yeah. And?" Daniel asked after Ford didn't say anything for almost a minute.

"They….want SG-1 back out there….even if it's a whole new team."

"Oh." Daniel said nodding slowly.

"Well, it gets better. This guy down there, he wanted to be on the SG-1 team."

"A fan I take it?"

"Something like that, more in some ways. He wanted to work with the group specifically." Ford said using the two fingers on each hand to signify the word group.

"And now we're all gone, split up."

"He doesn't know either. Sam was actually thinking about quitting the off world stuff and becoming the head of R&D for Area 51. Which I hope she changes her mind on because the house is just about finished."

"You mean those extra rooms and second floor?"

"Yeah. It's not the money, it's the fact it's her or I should say our first house seeing as it's both our first time being married."

"Yeah."

"Anyway, if she decides to stay, I'll probably leave, like you are and we'll have to sell the house. That would pretty much officially mean the end of seeing each other anymore unless Teal'c, Jack or you stopped by."

"Ouch. Well, Jack did say that the end of SG-1 was probably that day we had that party for him."

"Yeah. I never wanted it to end either." he said sadly. "Anyway, just wanted you to know in case he comes to talk to you. For the moment, he is going to be temporary commander of SG-1 until Sam makes her decision on whether to stay in command or….move on."

"Yeah. Why are you still wearing the SG-1 patch on your arm?"

"Because I still consider myself part of SG-1, even though there is no actual team at the moment. None of you know this, but I have been saving these patches since I started working here. From the very beginning. This is just one of the few that aren't that badly damaged."

"Wow. That explains why it looks a little worn. How many do you have?"

"A few dozen actually. This one I've had on for a couple of months now."

"It does suit you. Well, I've got to get back to packing. Good luck, and thanks." Daniel said starting to walk out.

"I forgot to tell you one other thing which I told Sam already. A few days after getting this unusual promotion, I was called by a group of people, probably those rogue N.I.D. Whoever they are called and told me they only allowed my special promotion to make it so I would do certain things for them, and get them things, or else you guys and Sam would pay dearly."

It took Daniel a moment before he spoke.

"And what….."

"I told them to go ahead and they'd bring about a side of me they'd never want to see. A side I explained in great detail, a side I never want to have come out. Point is, they got the message, left me and you guys alone and so far haven't bother me or you guys. And I still get to keep this promotion."

"Okay. Wow. I didn't even think they'd try something like that."

"Yep. Devious and stupid. Anyway, I'm going to miss you Daniel." he said shaking his hand.

"So am I." he said walking out again.

"Oh, Daniel."

"Yeah?" he said turning around and walking back in.

"Have fun, send a souvenir and be careful. Call if anything happens to you, in a wrong way."

"Yeah. No problem." Daniel said as he walked out again and Ford went to his office.

"Walter, send the Lieutenant Colonel up please."

"Yes sir." Walter said through the com line.

Walter walked in with the Colonel as Ford sighed looking at a mass of folders inside a small wire crate.

"Here he is General."

"Thanks Walter. Um, is this stack really necessary?"

"Yes General."

"Okay." he mumbled shaking his head as Walter left. "Hello Colonel. Read your file. Nice work all around. Great actually."

"Ah….General Carter?" he said confused as he shook his hand as Ford stood up offering it.

He glanced around seeing the office barely had anything really in it. There was a desktop computer in the far corner, far from the doors, and a large book shelf behind the General's desk which had a large bowl of various chocolates in it. The same desk Hammond and Jack used. The bookshelf had a picture of Samantha Carter in her uniform on the middle shelf and next to it was some tall semi truck looking robot holding some large plastic rifle. On the other side was a model of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A. There was no other furniture other than two chairs in front of the desk and nothing under the window. In the corner were three flags, Air Force, American and the SGC. He also noticed something strange about the chair the General sat in. It looked a lot like most chairs General's sat in, but this one was a bit bigger and maybe even….what would be the best word, buffer? It even had some controls on the side of the right arm.

"Yeah. Something wrong?"

"I…thought that a General….Landry I think it was, was being placed in charge."
"No. He took over the Home Planet Security department. Have a seat." he said sitting back down. "Can I have anything brought to you?"

"No thanks." he said sitting down. "Can I ask why your chair looks…strange?"

"I had to…make some modifications to this thing. Couldn't support me and my heavy coat. Now I can lay back in it and it won't break. Same with the chair I have out there. Though this one has vibrating controls. For when the stress gets to bad." he said with a smile.

He shook his head obviously understanding, but somewhat lost.

"Well, I know why you are here. Can't say I blame you Colonel."

"Sir?"

"Heard it through the grapevine, as it were. Jack told me really." Ford said with a small smile. "That you wanted to be part of this place and become a team member for going off world."

"That's correct sir."

"First off, from now on, please don't call me sir. General will be fine or just call me Ford. I swear I'm going to have to put up an add for newcomers." he muttered as he shook his head. "Actually, I better write that down for Walter to put up."

"I don't understand…General." he said as Ford wrote a note.

"I don't like being called sir, anyway what I heard specifically was you wanted to join SG-1 actually."

"I still wish to General. If it's possible."

"Well, you're getting that, to a point. Until Sam decides what she's going to do, you're in command of that unit."

"Where is Lieutenant Colonel Carter?" he asked surprised.

"She's helping the Daedalus get ready to leave for Atlantis. After that, she's going back to Area 51 where she is currently helping their Stargate R&D department. She's….seriously thinking about taking over as head of it, after maternity leave."

"Oh." he said slowly.

"Yeah." Ford said looking at his hands as they played with a pen. "Not what I want her to do, but not my call."

"What about Doctor Jackson and Teal'c?"

"Well, Teal'c is currently and has been for the past couple of weeks working with the New Jaffa Nation to try and make some form of government for his people. Heard it hasn't been going well. Point is, he pretty much has….quit the SGC. Unless things turn out great suddenly and such."

"Oh. I'm guessing Doctor Jackson did the same then?" he asked sadly surprised.

"Close. He's going to Atlantis."

"The Lost City. I see General." he said looking down slightly.

"Yeah. There was a plan to keep the team together, but as they say, plans change. If Sam takes that job, I'm leaving with her and then someone else will have this place. Though I am hoping she comes back. I'd hate to leave this place. So many ideas and its had its fun days."

Mitchell shook his head as he looked at his lap.

"I was really hoping to work with you guys. The best of the best." he said looking back up.

"Considering what you did for us out there two years ago. You deserve it. Unfortunately, it's not up to me. Though from what I learned about you through some phone calls and your files, you seem like someone I'd like to have as a team mate. At the moment, I got pressured by the higher ups to get SG-1 back out there, even if it meant having a new team. So, just in case…" Ford said grabbing the metal box with the files and handing it to him. "Look through these to see who you want to have as your team mates. If you need anything, just ask."

"Can I try and talk Doctor Jackson out of not going General?" he asked looking up from the pile.

"Be my guest. Doubt he'll listen, but you never know." Ford said with a wave at the door. "Good luck."

Mitchell got up and saluted him, then walked out, with the folders.

Daniel's office was a complete mess. There was boxes upon boxes upon boxes….quite frankly, the man had little organization skills when it came to packing. There was items sticking out of boxes, some boxes damaged, others completed but in the way of packing others. Daniel was setting a not complete box aside when he looked up hearing someone knock on the filing cabinet being left behind. It was SGC property.

"Doctor Jackson." Colonel Mitchell said coming in. He had set the files aside for the moment and changed to wearing BDU's like everyone else.

"Colonel." Daniel said walking over.

"My friends call me Cameron." he said shaking Daniels hand.

"Daniel. So, how are you?" Daniel said going back to the box and writing on some paper.

"I'm good, thanks." Mitchell said stepping back with his hands in his pockets as he looked at the ground.

"I…talked with Ford before he talked to you. Told me you were coming and why."

"Oh. Well, he told me you were leaving, going to Atlantis." he said as Daniel continued to write.

Daniel put the cap back on the pen as he stood up.

"Yep. Finally get to go see it." he said walking over and taking books off a nearly empty shelf. "You don't want to help…"

"No." he said smiling. He dropped the smile as Daniel placed the books in the box. "Actually, I came to see if I could convince you to stay. General Carter gave me the impression that it was most likely not going to happen, but….."

"He was right. I'm leaving. Ford did tell me that you were getting command of SG-1, apparently, if Sam refused to come back. Congratulations."

"Yeah." he said sadly. "Told me that too. But I personally think that the SGC still needs you and that's why I'm here."

Daniel chuckled as he grabbed a few more books.

"Yeah, nice try but there are a few people here that can do the same things I do."

"Yes. But you're the foremost expert on the Ancients."

"Yes! And that's why I am going to Atlantis." he said happily as he placed more books in the box.

"Look Daniel, General O'Neill gave me a choice of any post I wanted. I chose SG-1. The whole group. Not a two letters a dash and a number." he said stepping forward with an upset tone.

"That's nice." Daniel said looking up a moment.

"I wanted to be on the front line, working with the best. Working with you." he stated.

"Look, this is all very flattering, but ah…" Daniel said dropping more books in the box.

"That's not the point."

"I'm sorry." Daniel said sincerely. "I know I owe you one. We all do."

Mitchell thought back to a moment during the firefight over Antarctica where his X-302 shot down a Al'kesh that tried to attack the ship SG-1 was in as it made a hole in the ice to get to the Ancient outpost.

"Listen Jackson. I don't want you to stay, because you think you owe me one." he said slowly as he walked closer to the table. "Unless of course, you're thinking of considering it."

"Ah, no. I was just ah…" Daniel said walking forward as he raised his hand holding a set of keys. "I was just going to offer you my house."

He set them down on the table and walked past him leaving the room.

"Right." he said walking out himself.

"You want to what?" Ford said after going over some of his rules for being around him. Mitchell rose an eyebrow but didn't argue with him.

"Go and talk to Teal'c. See if he'll come back and work here. Specifically, SG-1."

"Oh. Go ahead. Just tell Walter I said it was okay for you to go. How'd it go with Daniel?"

"He gave me the keys to his house."

"Ouch. He is serious then. Well Mitchell, good luck Tell Teal'c I said hi."

After Walter dialed Dakara, he walked out finding Teal'c after a few minutes. The entire area around the Temple and mountain that used to have a functioning weapon was rebuilt. New buildings erected and rebuilt. Kinda looked like Rome back in its glory days, except everything was darker in color. The two were talking as they walked through the newly rebuilt halls of the Dakara Temple.

"Brother, I love what you've done with the place." Mitchell said looking around at the nicely shining walls and the columns that had been fixed.

"Indeed. These columns were restored from the original Ancient monument." Teal'c said walking beside him in his cloak. Most of the Jaffa wore cloak over there normal clothes at the Dakara settlement.

"Well, it does have a real high council feel to it. Hope you took lots of before and after pictures."

"Where is the rest of your team Colonel Mitchell?" Teal'c asked as they passed several Jaffa that stood guard.

Mitchell turned around walking backwards, mostly still looking around as he talked.

"Well, it's still kinda SG-me. That's the reason I'm here." he said turning back around and standing in front of Teal'c. "I'm seeing if you can kinda help me."

Teal'c nodded then started walking.

"I can offer some names of those I consider to be honorable warriors."

"I appreciate that. I know you're busy." he said walking along with a sad tone.

"We are attempting to build a whole new system of government to expand to all Free Jaffa worlds across the galaxy."

"Yeah, how's that going anyway?"

"Not well." Teal'c stated.

"Heard that from General Carter. From reports he got anyway."

"Indeed. Major Davis and SG-7 have not been as helpful as they wish they could be. Many Jaffa are still stuck in the old ways and see the idea of government as another way to subvert their newly acquired freedom."

"Ah." Mitchell said as they entered a couple of large metal doors into a room with four exists in the center of each wall. Other Jaffa were walking around, there was some tapestries on the walls and the upper levels of the room.

"My allegiance to the Tauri is not as helpful as you might think in winning votes from the most traditional of the Jaffa electorate." Teal'c said turning to him.

"I guess politics suck everywhere you go."

"Indeed."

"Listen. Maybe it's a good thing that I came by, because it this thing doesn't work out…" he said walking over to Teal'c. "Before all the spaces on my team fills…"

He was stopped as another Jaffa walked up.

"Teal'c, the Council has returned from recess."

"I must go." Teal'c said nodding to the Jaffa.

"Sure."

"I will see you later Colonel Mitchell."

"Yeah." he said looking at the ground as Teal'c kept walking away.

"I will forward a list of names as soon as I am able." Teal'c called over his shoulder.

"Thanks!" he said turning away and looking up at the ceiling. "Did I mention I was on a mission from god?"

He tried to talk to a few of the Jaffa that walked by, but they all ignored him.

"Hey, can anyone tell me where the Stargate is? Chap'pai?" he asked aloud as he tried to get anyone to say something.

"Just point a finger."

"So, how did it go?"

"It was…an experience General." Mitchell said walking off the ramp.

"How so?" Ford asked crossing his arms as he followed Cameron out of the room.

"Well, though I got to talk to Teal'c, nice guy, really. I never really got the chance to ask him about coming back."

"Damn. Why not?"

"He got called away to a Jaffa council meeting."

"Hmm, figures. So, why'd it take you so long to get back?"

"Couldn't get anyone to tell me where the Stargate was. I mean I eventually did, but I had to mention that you wanted me back as soon as possible to get help."

"I'll cover for ya if they ask." Ford said with a chuckle. "I know what you mean though. With some of them, it takes time to gain their respect. For me, when I showed up all those years back, with Daniel, it didn't take long. Sam…..well, let's just say that my nervousness around her made things difficult for me, but she had no problems after the two weeks of training. Jack, I think it took me a couple of months."

"And Teal'c?"

"That didn't take long at all. After I managed to knock him down several times, and apologized profusely after hurting him once, not badly mind you, but I was scared Jack was going to come down on me. That's when I gain Teal'cs respect I think. He saw the warrior in me, the honor I had that went with it and the respect I had for him."

"Hmm. Forgive me for asking this General, by why do you seem to be…ah…"

"Giving you a lot of attention in a sense?"

"Yeah. I guess you can put it that way. I hope it is not out of pity."

"It's not, I do it to everyone new, to a point. With you, I see potential. You have the makings of a great leader, but no cockiness like some I've seen. I can tell what you wanted doesn't seem to be turning out like you would like and you're trying not to be discouraged by it."

"That obvious?"

"Everyone can see it Mitchell. Try not to take it too badly. I know how it feels. Jack just up and left quickly, not surprisingly. Teal'c said bye and then was gone. Daniel's leaving and may never come back for a long time. That is if Atlantis survives. And about to become a father makes it so me and Sam may both just quit and come in for special cases. They all put nine years into this place. I only pulled the two now…..and it looks like that will be it soon. Unfortunately, it can't last forever."

"I see what you mean."

"If you need anything, just come by the office. Right now, I need to know who you might be picking for the new members. Higher ups are hounding my ass."

"I'll get right on it General. Hey, can I call Colonel Carter?"

"Actually, please do. Though I'm married to her and being a General, it doesn't give me the ability to call her whenever I want. Unless I need some information that helps the base or someone else. I can't make personal calls. In this case, I can bend the rules."

"I'll do it after the infirmary visit."

"Great!"

Mitchell was sitting at the console to the Stargate controls in the Gate Control room. Ford got to talk to her for a few minutes before having to give it over to him to talk business. Walter was sitting a few feet away working on the gate console. Several other people were working around them. Before the two got to talk to her though, they had to wait till Carter got done with some project.

"Hey Cameron."

"Hey Sam. Good to see you. How you doing?"

"I'm doing much better now. Little tired. Sorry it took so long. We have been up to our ears double checking the new hyperdrive. Then the uplink was jammed with the long range plotting program being transmitted by the Asguard…." she said stopping suddenly. "No need to bore you with that. How you been? You look good."

"Thanks." he said smiling. He dropped it as he leaned a little closer. "Listen Sam. I want you to come back and join SG-1."

She laughed lightly.

"Ford said he gave you temporary command. Congratulations. I'm really thinking about staying in R&D though. It's…..a little safer."

"Please think about reconsidering. We really need you here."

"Ford knows how to do everything I do, if anything came up that I would normally do."

"Then he didn't tell you…"

"Tell me what?" she said more than just curious.

"Ah, I better let him….

"Tell me Lieutenant Colonel." she said in a command tone.

"He mentioned that if you took that job, he was leaving the SGC to work in Area 51 with you."

"That figures." she grumbled. Part of her knew it was true but she never really admitted it to herself.

"Look, I know you're on maternity leave, or from what I gather, leave from using the gate anyway, but I joined the SGC to work with you. And please don't say that's nice."

"If I take the job, we'll still be working together."

"It's not the same. What if the world needs saving?"

She smiled as she shook her head lightly.

"If the world needs saving, me or Ford, probably both considering what you just told me, will be there to help if we are needed."

"What if the world needs saving because I screwed up because you were not there in the first place." he said a little forcefully.

She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to the side.

"How about we pretend I didn't say that." he said after looking away for a moment.

"Done."

"Lieutenant Colonel Carter to the Bridge please. Lieutenant Colonel Carter to the Bridge." a female voice said on the intercom system on the screen. Carter looked away then back at the screen.

"Sorry, I got to go." she said.

"Yeah. I'll talk to you when you get back on the ground."

"See ya then." she said walking away.

The screen shut off as the signal was terminated and he sat back groaning as he rubbed his face.

"Well Walter, it doesn't look like we are getting the band back together."

"After what you just said about the General, I don't think so sir."

He got up and walked away thinking about his crash. His F-302 was hit and the turbines failed, his co-pilot in the back got knocked out, the ejection system failed, and then finally hitting the ice and passing out as his plane slid to a stop after a good mile or more. Though the plane survived, its windows on the cockpit broke letting the cold Antarctica air in.

Ford heard about what was said between the two of them in the Control Room. Needless to say, Carter was going to possibly chew him out, or possibly be very happy to see him more than just at night, which hadn't been very often. The last time they got to talk was about five days ago. Before that, they got to see each other over a week ago before she went up to help them with the ship. K-9 gave him updates when he asked about Carter was really doing. He asked about three times a day and made sure she actually ate, which considering how much cravings she sometimes had, that wasn't really much of a problem. Thankfully, someone else was dealing with the….exotic to extremely strange cravings she'd been having. He'd been hungry a lot lately too, but nothing exotic. He had just finished another batch of paper work and was watching Mitchell go through the other files for personal in case Carter never returned. Considering how much she really wanted to spend time with the baby when she showed up, more than likely, they would not be doing anything in the SGC or otherwise for sometime.

Cameron Mitchell's first interview wasn't promising. Though the woman was very fluent in languages, she didn't look to have very much in ground tactic training. The guy after was too soldier oriented. Another guy, sometime later, was just like the woman he interviewed first. All scientist, but didn't look to have a backbone at all. If he was took into a fight, he'd get himself if not everyone killed, by Mitchell's standards. Another guy showed off by doing push ups. Another couple of guys, real scientist, talked about an android, that though at first was fascinating, ended up being a bust because they lacked funding, to a point. General Carter had them working on the project, but had them going over every detail with extreme scrutiny because of how dangerous a android could turn out if programmed wrong. Mitchell figured that the personal folders for these two was put in his pile by accident.

He got up and looked out the window as the two guys kept talking about how it functioned or something along those lines. Mitchell was actually thinking about the time where he was still in the cockpit of his downed plane. The cold air was coming through the shattered cockpit window as he was barely conscious, listening as some man spoke about how some bright lights were trashing the enemy fleet. Other memories floated to the surface about his time in the hospital. Coming in and out of consciousness briefly, seeing doctors talking about him having problems, his co-pilot, his mother, another doctor saying something about never walking again. Most of those memories were barely there, but he really remembered SG-1 showing up. Daniel thanked him for saving them more than once. Jack spoke to him about when he got better that he was going to be able to choose whatever assignment he wanted, professionally, to a point. He distinctly remember Samantha Carter, Lieutenant Colonel at the time and Major Primus being there giving him the Congressional Medal of Honor. He passed out again as she said something about the President.

Ford was….bored. That was until Walter called him down because of a off world activation. It was scheduled, but there was a request they needed an answer to. Before the call, he was pacing the upstairs. Hoping something would happen soon, something good. When the request came through, he told Daniel and Daniel said fine, after hearing the rest of the information. Now he was standing at the end of the ramp waiting for two SG members to exit with friend.

"What's up General?" Mitchell asked walking in quickly.

He stood beside Ford seeing soldiers behind them both. What caught him as odd was that Ford was wearing sun glasses, that looked strange. But then he heard word on the base that Ford was a little weird and road the edge of the rules and regs.

"I wanted you here to see this. SG-12 just called a few minutes ago and should be arriving momentarily. Friend of Daniels is coming." Ford said with his arms crossed.

Mitchell didn't get what Ford meant seeing as the tone with the word friend wasn't right.

"SG-12's IDC confirmed sir. Opening the Iris." Walter said from the Control Room.

"For some reason, I'm getting really hungry again." Ford muttered as he glanced at his watch.

The Iris opened and a woman in tight black leather stepped out with two men behind her. Her arms were bare as was just above her breast. A thin black piece held the garment up as it cris-crossed under her neck and met up with a large leather collar. She turned around carrying her coat over her shoulder. The soldier on the right of her held a large metal briefcase that had some important artifact that she said was in Ancient.

Ford dropped his glasses down with a small chuckle and slid then back up as she walked down slowly.

"General? What are you doing?" Mitchell whispered.

"Not what you think Colonel. This is that lady that stole the Prometheus and Daniel was still on it."

"Oh. I don't get it."

Mitchell had read the report, but still didn't understand what Ford meant.

"I'll tell you later. Welcome to the SGC. I'm General Carter." Ford said stepping forward. "Daniel told us your name, but I forgot it. Sorry…"

"Vala. Vala Mal Doran." she said as she neared the end of the ramp smiling brightly. "Thank you ever so much for the greeting party. We all had a wonderfully time strip searching each other, didn't we boys."

Ford's smile dropped as he looked at the two men behind her. They shook their heads quickly. Daniel was right. She doesn't pull punches. he thought.

She looked at Mitchell as she stepped off the ramp.

"I know we haven't met. That I'm sure I would have remembered."

"Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell. Current leader of SG-1." Ford said as she looked at the Colonel.

"Nice outfit." Mitchell said.

"Thanks." she said smiling as she walked past them. "While I would normally be thrilled to have so much testosterone at my disposal…"

Ford raised an eyebrow as did a few of the soldiers as he and Mitchell turned around to watch her.

"Where's my Daniel?" she asked like she owned him.

Ford visibly jerked, coughed into his hand a few times as he quickly turned around and asked for the case. The man handed it over and left after being dismissed. Ford very quickly told Mitchell to bring her to the briefing room, after the medical checkup. He left the room quickly and laughed before he got into the control room. Despite the stares from some of the people he kept laughing all the way to his office.

After the check up, he and Mitchell were looking at the items in the case at the table. Other than the open case, there was a bowl of strawberries and a bowl of chocolate for dipping Ford had brought up. He really wasn't sure why, but he was really hungry a lot lately and had been for the past couple of months or so.

"Well, these our Goa'uld. This looks like Ancient, but it's…..strange. Like a riddle I guess or in code." Ford muttered as he looked at it over his glasses and ate one of the strawberries.

Daniel walked in holding his hands together. She smiled as she stepped forward. Daniel barely gave her much noticed. He did think that seeing food on the briefing table was different.

"Okay, where is it?"

"Nice to see you to. How have you been?" she tried to say politely.

Daniel didn't care.

"Were is the tablet that has the location of Ancient buri….is this it?" he said taking the one Ford was looking over as he suddenly noticed it. "What's with the food here?"

"I can't read it. And the food is because I'm starving, for some reason. Anyway, I can tell it's Ancient, but it makes…"

"There is no tablet." she said leaning onto the table with one hand.

"What?" Daniel said as Ford stood up.

"I lied. I had to tell you in person. I'm pregnant. And it's yours."

Ford whipped his sun glasses off as he turned to Daniel.

"Daniel?!"

"We did not have sex! She's lying." Daniel yelled pointing a finger at her. "And I'm leaving now."

"Wait Daniel. Sorry. I should have realized she was lying."

"She has that effect." he grumbled loudly.

"Now that you're here, what is this?" he said tapping the tablet. "I can't understand it."

"It's gibberish. Worthless."

"It's written in code." she said.

"Explains why I can't understand it. What's the code?" Ford asked as he put his glasses in his outer breast pocket.

"She knows the code?" Daniel asked.

"I assume she does."

"I do." she said.

"Then why do you need me?" Daniel asked.

"Reading it is one thing. Understanding it is your job. The individual that I got this from assures me that the treasure it describes in here on Earth. I could have gotten a ship and came to Earth, but I know little about your fair planet…" she said as the three continued to look at the tablet. "But you have somewhat interesting, if not limited gene pool."

The three men looked at each other confused.

"You obviously haven't seen the rest of the planet then. Let's take this to your office Daniel." Ford said closing the case. He picked the two bowls up quickly as she reached for the berries.

Down in Daniels office, where he was still boxing up his stuff. Daniel and Ford were still looking at the tablet as she told them more. The bowls were now empty.

"So, where did you get this?" Daniel asked setting it on the table.

"The Jaffa may have won their freedom, but there are still more than a few Goa'uld out there." she said looking in one of Daniel's boxes. "Most of them have lost their dynasties though and are in hiding."

"Yeah, probably trying to come up with an idea to regain their power." Daniel said still paying attention to the tablet.

"Yes, and in the meantime, they are having trouble adjusting to the lifestyle they have grown so accustomed to over the last five thousand years or so." she said picking some artifact of Daniels out of a box. She put it back and turned to them.

"And as such, there are some very interesting artifacts on the current market."

She put her elbows on the table making them both look up at her.

"Bum-mer. Wish we knew who to ask for such stuff. Anyway?" Ford asked.

"Ah, that isn't the issue here, what is, is what is it worth?"

"Well, we know the Ancients weren't known for their secret stash's of gold." Daniel said looking at the tablet a moment longer, then getting up and taking another object from the box. "Like these for example."

"That doesn't look right Daniel. Those don't look like Ancient language writings. I'd swear they are Goa'uld."

"You're right. These marking's are Goa'uld." he said looking at some strange metal object that was about the size of an open cell phone, and just about as thick. "This is suppose to be Ancient items you said. What do they have to do with this?"

"These are actually only loosely related to the tablet."

"In what way?" Ford asked suspiciously as he took the one Daniel was holding. She held the other that looked just like it.

"Have you ever heard of the Goa'uld Nut?"

"No. There is no such…"

"Actually there is or was. She was the Egyptian sky goddess." Daniel said taking the item back from Ford as he chuckled. "But we never heard of her really."

"And her name was Nut? No wonder I've never heard of her." Ford asked with a small laugh.

"I don't get it either. Good thing too, Jack would have made fun of her, had we ever seen her anyway."

"I'd probably do the same." Ford said with a cough. "Anyway, I take it you mean to tell us these were hers? What are they?"

"Her ceremonial marriage bracelets. She wore one and her husband of the moment wore the other."

"Of the moment?" they both said.

"Yes. She had many."

"Sad." Ford muttered.

"Yes, it's one of the many things I admire about her." she said then quickly slapped the one she was holding onto Daniels wrist. It wrapped around his wrist quickly.

"Ow. What are you doing?" Daniel asked calmly as he tried to remove it.

She smiled as she tapped the one she held in her hand.

"Would you help please?"

Ford tried and even he couldn't get the object to break. Though he barely had any grip to begin with.

"I could cut it off."

"Without taking my hand as well?"

"Ah…..maybe."

"How does it come off?" Daniel asked turning back to her. She still stayed silent. "Take it off."

"Not until we find the treasure." she said with the same smile.

"Shoot her please."

Ford looked at Daniel at first, and seeing the extreme seriousness in his eyes, pulled his gun out and cocked it.

"I know she's being a pain in the ass, but are you really serious?"

"Yes." he said with conviction.

"Are you sure? It would be very messy."

"Is it loaded with your special rounds right now?"

"No."

Daniel took the gun quickly and she slapped the other on her wrist as he pointed it at her head.

"Ah, ah. These bracelets link us together. The tablet belongs to me and I want my fair share of what it leads to. That's the deal."

"Wait Daniel." Ford said putting a hand on the gun. "That link could be dangerous. Is it?"

"Perhaps." she said smiling.

She wasn't fazed by the large gun pointed at her face. Probably because Daniel lacked that killer instinct.

"Airmen!"

"Yes General."
"Take this woman to a holding cell. If she wants anything, low standing rule."

"Yes General." the two airmen said grabbing her arm and taking her away as she glared at them. Ford took his gun back as Daniel sighed.

"Let's go see if we can cut it off."

"I don't want you cutting me." Daniel said hesitantly as he hide his hand under his arm.

"We'll use a small buzz saw. Doctor Lee has one."

Doctor Lee tried three times, dulling all three small blades in the attempt.

"Well, that's it. I can't cut it off…the hand. We could cut off the hand. I know it sounds…"

"Crazy Doc, yes. That option is not viable. Not happening."

"But…"

"No." Ford said as Daniel took the plastic glasses off his face and put his on. "Besides, I already asked him about that idea."

"Oh."

"I thought that SG-12 checked everything on her before they let her bring this all here?" Daniel asked standing up.

"They did, but in their defense, there was no energy signature emitting from them at that time. Even now, it's barely measurable." Lee said pointing at the laptop screen behind him.

"And those readings mean what?" Ford asked.

"Ah….I don't know."

Daniel sighed as Ford rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Let's go ask her again." Daniel said as they started to walk out.

"Want a stun gun this time?"

"Yeah, that…." Daniel started saying when he suddenly stopped and started falling forward. Ford caught him before he went down face first.

"Daniel?" he said checking his pulse. It was weak. "Lee, call medical, quick! Tell them I'm on my way."

The airmen, two of them, were stationed outside the room with her in it. Both of them stood at attention quickly as they saw Ford coming down the hallway with a upset to angry look. He made a quick motion and they both opened the door quickly.

"Come to torture me?" she asked as Ford stormed in and turned to her quickly. She was sitting on the desk against the wall.

"Lady, you have no idea the things I could do." Ford snarled out as he practically ripped the flashlight she was holding from her hand.

"Ooh. Tough guy act." she said stepping away from him and walking over to the bed.

"You lied to us!" Ford said pointing at her with visible anger.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm here to find out what that treasure is and to get my share…."

"I don't care if it was a genie in a bottle with infinite wishes! Whatever the treasure is, it's up to me if you even get to see it!"

"If I don't get my fair share, you won't get my help." she said crossing her arms defiantly.

"First off, if it is an Ancient treasure. There is probably not a damn thing that you could use or sell since it takes someone with Ancient genes to activate the objects or whatever is there. And if we find anything like that, then we are keeping it to keep this planet safe."

She looked away, apparently thinking, then looked back at him a few moments later.

"Fine then. We compromise. You give me something I want or ask for in return for whatever items we find and you have to keep."

"Dammit woman! You don't get it do you? On this planet, you have no freedom. Right now, you're a prisoner. And I'm leaving it up to Daniel to figure out what to do with you, unless he dies suddenly." he said getting in her face. She only leaned back.

"Dies?" she said with obvious confusion.

"Whatever the hell those bracelets are, Daniels now in some sort of deep sleep to coma and won't come out of it. Now how do they come off?!" he said keeping himself from grabbing her.

Her eyes rolled up and she dropped before she could say anything. Lucky for her the bed was behind her.

"General?" one of the airmen asked coming in quickly with his gun ready. "What happen…."

"Get medical." Ford said, then sighed as he left the room.

He went back to his office, to call Teal'c back for help and to get through a debriefing as quickly as possible.

Daniel woke up and noticed he was in the infirmary. Turning his head to the left he spotted Teal'c sitting next to him.

"Teal'c?"

Teal'c looked up relieved as he stood.

"Daniel Jackson."

"How you doing?" Mitchell asked standing up from the bed he was sitting on behind Teal'c.

"Uh….fine. I think. I don't know what happened. I was…"

"It was the bracelet." Mitchell said.

"They are called Kor Mok." Teal'c said as Daniel looked to see it was still on his wrist.

"The General sent me to get Teal'c figuring he might know something." Mitchell said walking to the end of the bed.

"Yeah, she said they were some sort of weird Goa'uld Nut marriage thing." Daniel said still looking at it.

"I do not believe that to be the case."

"No?"

"No."

"Should have known." Daniel said dropping his hand on his chest.

"I have only heard of them in passing a very long time ago. I believe…."

"Daniel! They said you were awake. You okay?" Ford said rushing in startling the them. He walked up to the bed and placed both hands on the edge.

"Yeah, fine I think."

"You guys didn't tell him then?" Ford said looking at the two.

"I do not know to which information you are referring to." Teal'c said.

"I didn't tell him General. I was leaving it to you." Mitchell said quickly.

"What? What's wrong?" Daniel asked quickly.

"Ah….Teal'c, did you tell him why he passed out?" Ford said changing the subject as he stood up.

"I have not."

"He was trying to when you walked in General."

"Oh, well…I'll make it short Daniel."

"It's something serious isn't it? Am I going to die?" he asked a little scared.

"No. No, thank god, no. Ah, Teal'c told me, while you were still unconscious that these were used on slaves by….ah.."

"Chronos General Carter. They were used to keep slaves from escaping. If the slave was to run away, the bracelets would make both parties ill until they died."

"But only if the two people were far apart too long." Ford said.

"That's just about the stupidest thing I have ever heard." Vala said making them look across the room to see her in a bed.

"You didn't know?" Daniel said sitting up and leaning on his left arm.

"Well, I knew it would make you sick. I didn't know it would effect me too."

"How could you not know?!"

"Because the person I stole it from didn't tell me that part!" she spat out.

"Stole?" Ford muttered. "That figures."

Daniel took an extra pillow and threw it at her. She kicked it with a grunt of frustration before it could hit her. He sat back into the bed fuming.

"Question, why would the Goa'uld design the things that way?" Mitchell asked with a finger in the air.

"To punish a Jaffa for his incompetence." Teal'c said looking at him.

"Right." he said rolling his eyes.

"Can you take it off?" Daniel asked Teal'c.

"No, he can't. I asked already." Ford said.

"Please tell me you know how to take this off?" Daniel growled out at her.

"Yes, of course I do. That is if the person I stole them from was honest about that part." she said still smiling.

"Just do it!"

"Alright." she grumbled, then smiled again. "I'll do it after we find the treasure, and I get my fair share, or something for my troubles."

"Please tell me, if we kill her, I die to, right?" Daniel said looking at Teal'c.

"Indeed."

Daniel sighed as he dropped back onto the bed.

"In that case, we go look for the treasure." Mitchell said looking at what was SG-1, once. "It's about the only choice, right."

"I've got to go get finished pack…."

"I'm sorry Daniel. We really, really, tried to get you to wake up, trust me. I even helped, but you were….well. Anyway, the Daedalus is gone. She couldn't wait." Ford said putting a hand on his shoulder. "I know how much it meant to you."

"What?!" he said sitting up again quickly.

"She left two hours ago." Mitchell said.

"Wonderful." he said dropping back.

"Look, it isn't the Lost City of Atlantis, but it is something of the Ancients, or so you say the tablet says Doctor. Maybe it's worth something to check out." Mitchell said.

"The plan was to check it out anyway." Ford stated. "It was going to be other people, now Daniel will be coming and Teal'c if you wish to come to?"

"I will have to check with the Council to see their plans."

Teal'c changed clothes as Daniel was let out of the infirmary along with Vala. They met up in Daniels office, which was more unpacked now. The former SG-1 team, with the exception of Carter was standing around the table as Daniel looked at the cipher and tablet. Vala was wandering around his office looking at things. Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell was standing at the table watching.

"Are you sure you got the cipher right?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"I can't believe I missed the Daedalus for this." he muttered going to his desk and pulling Ford with.

"Get over it." she said walking by him.

"So, I'm guessing you don't have to be at Dakara then?" Mitchell said looking at Teal'c.

"Indeed. The Council is in recess until tomorrow." he said with his hands behind his back.

"Curious?"

"Indeed."

"See? This is good, isn't it?" Mitchell said happily, not looking at him. "Being part of a team again, unraveling some cool Ancient mystery."

Teal'c looked at him with a raised eyebrow as Mitchell leaned on the table with one hand.

"I mean, we are not working together yet, but any minute now, I bet Doctor Jackson finds some key piece of information that will send us on a exciting adventure."

"This can't be right." Daniel said making the other three look their way.

"What do you mean?" she asked walking over and sitting on the desk beside Daniel.

"Well, this is the information we got back from Atlantis."

"It contains a log of the Atlantians that came back to Earth when they left their city in the Pegasus galaxy." Ford said.

"Thousands of years ago?" Teal'c said.

"Yes." Daniel said.

"And what does this have to do with us?" she asked.

"You see, the tablet talks about a treasure, but it doesn't tell where it is." Daniel said.

"Well, it is suppose to be here. At least that's what the person I stole it from said."

They all looked at her.

"I got the information before I stole it." she said quickly. Ford didn't believe that at all, and snorted in disbelief. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"I think it is here and I also think I know where it is." Daniel said looking at the screen again with a small smile.

"Time out." Mitchell said making a time out signal with his hands. "If it doesn't say…"

"No it doesn't say. But it is signed by a guy named Myrddin." Daniel said looking up at him.

"I know that name sounds familiar." Ford said.

(Author's Note: I have heard of that name before, well before this episode.)

"Might be something your parents once told you."

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"Myrddin was one of the Ancients that came back through the Stargate."

"Still don't get it. I've never heard of him either doctor." Mitchell said.

"Actually you have. But you heard of him by his English name, Merlin." he said smiling.

Ford coughed with a chuckle.

"Yeah right. Better keep looking Daniel." Ford said.

"No, I'm being serious."

"You're not talking about Merlin, as in Knights of the Round table?" Mitchell asked.

"Yes. There was once a King Arthur and he did have a group called the Knights of the Round table."

"And Merlin was a Ancient helping him?" Mitchell asked.

"I think so."

"Daniel, I have complete faith in you, but in this case, I have to see this to believe it." Ford said patting him on the shoulder. "I'll be waiting in my office for the post mission briefing. No offense, but you better find some proof."

"Why does it seem so unbelievable?"

"Excalibur was a very valuable sword that supposable couldn't be damaged or destroyed. Depending on what story you heard or read. Only my sword is that way and the Ancients never found Adamantium. If they had, Atlantis wouldn't be in trouble." he said then left.

"He carries a sword?" Mitchell asked surprised.

"He carries a lot of weapons, or did when we went off world anyway. Once referred to himself as MacGyver, but with guns."

"I heard the rumors, but I didn't ever ask him if any of it was true."

Daniel was showing them information on the large plasma TV screen that came down in front of the General's office. He was explaining the theory and story about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table as he pointed out the different pictures. The lights were off and the former SG-1 was there including Vala, all sitting as Daniel talked. Carter was still at Area 51.

"Arthur was then carried off in a barge by Merlin. Saying he was headed for the vale of Avalon. Which according to legend is a magical place where the dead would meet. Now at the time, some say Arthur never actually died, but in fact, would one day return."

Ford rubbed his forehead and kept from yawning in boredom. He already knew this stuff, but Teal'c mostly didn't know about it and it was apparent that Vala didn't either. Mitchell was interested, by the looks of it though.

"From what we know about the Ancients, it's possible that Avalon was actually a place where Merlin helped Arthur, a mortal, ascend."

"Now that sounds right. This is starting to sound more believable Daniel." Ford said.

"Are not the Ancients prevented from helping in the existence of mortals?" Teal'c asked.

"He was probably like Oma, I take it?" Ford asked.

"Close, but I think Merlin wasn't actually ascended though. I think he was just a human, just very far along the evolutionary path."

"Okay. Considering the historical past and the things he did to help Arthur. Helped him with knowledge way beyond anything anyone had seen at the time, depending on the story."

"Right." Daniel said.

"As interesting as this information is Doctor Jackson, it doesn't tell us where the treasure is." Mitchell said.

"Well, there are a number of interpretations but there is enough threads that point to the Knights of the Round table gathering treasures from the far reaches of Arthur's domain and hiding them in a magical place at Avalon."

"Including the Holy Grail." Mitchell stated.

"They had it once. Back in….ah…what year…the Nazi era and that war, a Doctor Indiana Jones and his father found the Grail. The Knight that lived to protect the Grail died when Jones lost the cup to some power hungry woman who walked to far past a point that the Knight specified not to cross. Jones and his father made it out with a few other people, but the Grail was…essentially swallowed by the earth."

"Is this true?" Mitchell blurted out looking at Daniel.

"Yes. According to Doctor Jones's father, in his notes, they found it and lost it. The Ark of the Covenant was also located by Doctor Jones, but it is hidden away in a government storage building. It's since been returned back to the Middle East region, right?"

"Close. I don't remember who has it really, but it's some group in that region of the world. I think Israel has it back, or it's in that country. Don't remember at the moment. Anyway Daniel, where is this location for the treasure? Specific place please."

"Ah….from what I have gathered about the legends, it's at Glastonbury Tor."

"Okay, why?" Ford asked standing up and walking over.

"The people there believe that this place is hollow and is where Avalon is." Daniel said showing a picture of a very large grassy hill with a large rectangular object that was unidentifiable on it.

"Wasn't there any archeological digs done at all?"

"There have been several scientific surveys that have disapproved the myth.."

"How scientific?"

"Enough they never found anything that could prove it to be true. But we are talking about the Ancients here. They most likely used some of their technology to seal the entrance and that's why its never been found."

"General, how about we use the Prometheus's sensors to check the area out?"

"Excellent idea Colonel. You go call the Prometheus, have Daniel help if you need to. I have to call the President with this info." he said rolling his eyes.

"What was that eye roll thing?" Daniel asked.

"We are going to scan foreign land Daniel. I'm more than willing to bet that the British Prime Minister is going to want to know what's going on. Unfortunately, this may lead to claim problems."

"Good luck."

"Yeah, I got to tell him I'm going as well. Airman! Go get Colonel Reynolds please."

"You're coming then General?"

"Yes Colonel. I haven't had a chance to do anything out of this place in some time. Not to mention, I'm the only one here that can access Ancient tech."

"Are you leading then General?"

"No. You are Colonel. I just run this place. If Sam comes back, she'll take over command again, if she wants it, and I'll try to go with still. But I'm going to be….backup in a sense." he said then walked away.

"Nice." Mitchell said walking out with Daniel and Vala following.

A couple hours later they were on the Prometheus. The Colonel in charge of the ship was surprised when he saw the General in the party. But Ford assured him he was not taking over the ship and to, in some senses, just forget he was even there.

"So what do you reckon the range of those things is?" Mitchell asked as he tossed a vest to Daniel.

They were in the armory getting prepped for the mission. Daniel and Teal'c anyway. Vala and Ford were on the bridge.

"Well, Dr. Lee thinks we have to stay within a hundred feet or so." Daniel said putting the vest on. Teal'c was getting ready behind them as they talked.

"You know, if we do find something, maybe Teal'c and I should check it out." Mitchell said zipping his vest.

"I missed the Daedalus because of this. If we find a secret Ancient base, I'm going." he said doing the same.

"So is the General, but if you go, then we have to take her with us." Mitchell said grabbing a PC-90 off the wall.

"Good point." Daniel said after a moment.

"Look, I want you there, you know that. I'm just thinking we could stay in radio contact."

"Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell. Please report to auxiliary control room 2." a voice said over the ship com.

After meeting up with Vala and Ford in the hallway, they proceeded to the auxiliary control room.

"Ah, now this brings back memories." Vala said walking in with Daniel beside her.

"How's that?" Daniel asked checking the PC-90. Teal'c walked past them both. The other two were stopped because Daniel and Vala stopped.

"Isn't this where I beat you up?"

"No." Daniel said seeing Ford was not stopping her. He actually looked interested in hearing the rest while Mitchell was getting irritated.

"No. I'm pretty sure is right there were I crushed your…" she said standing in front of him.

"Alright, excuse me kids." Mitchell said pushing between them "Mark what have you got?"

"Bum-mer, I wanted to hear her side." Ford muttered getting a glare from Daniel.

"Well, thanks to the Asguard sensors, we were able to map out around the energy distortion that would have fooled deep ground sonar." Mark said pointing at a graph on the screen showing the scanned location. They all watched as Mark spoke.

"I was able to determine a large main cavern, and a network of tunnels and some underground caves."

"Well done Lieutenant." Mitchell said.

"Can you see what's in there?" Vala asked leaning down next to him. "Say, like large piles of precious metals?"

Daniel pulled her back after Ford nudged him.

"Like I said, we could only map the exterior of the structure." Mark said.

"Can you put us, in there?" Mitchell asked pointing at the screen.

"It's almost a half mile underground and there is no visible access to the surface." Mark said.

"Asguard beams." Daniel suggested.

"Tried that. It seems to be blocked by some sort of energy shield that is disguising the caves."

"There isn't a Stargate in there either, is there?" Ford asked.

"Not that we could scan sir."

"Damn. Well digging is out of the question. Take to long and too many people over there would see and learn what's happening."

"Maybe the Asguard can help?" Daniel suggested.

"It's worth a…."

"If I may suggest..." Vala said.

"What?" Mitchell, Daniel and Ford asked.

"What about the rings?"

They now gave her curious looks.

"The Ancients were the gate builders right? They built the rings too. They had too get in and…."

"We got the point. Thank you. Lieutenant, please check for a ring in site."

"If there's rings sir, we should be able to lock on, but your radio's won't work."

"That's fine. We'll figure things out when we get down there."

"Yes sir." Mark said turning to his console. "Oh, you do know you'll all be on your own?"

"Yes." Ford said as he motioned the rest of the group to get moving.

"This will be fun, right?" Mitchell said happily.

"Better than a mountain of paperwork. Might even see the fabled sword too. And if so, we'll see what it really looks like."

A ring site was found and they were beamed down quickly. Everyone brought their guns up, with the exception of Vala who had nothing. The entire room was a huge cavern with several paths branching out into the walls.

"Wicked! And empty." Mitchell said as he looked around with a flashlight.

"Well, I haven't been this disappointed since Daniel and I had sex." Vala said following him. They all walked forward toward a large square rock with faint light shining down on it.

Teal'c looked at Daniel who shook his head. They walked forward slowly, still shining their lights when they heard a sound similar to a sword being pulled from its sheath. Instantly, through what looked like a transporter beam, there was a long sword standing in the middle of the rock. It was double bladed, with a hilt that had a four inch metal spike coming off either end of the hilts, pointing up toward the blade. The handle was two handed and had a rounded crystal on the end.

"What's that suppose to mean?" she asked.

"Well, King Arthur once pulled a sword from a stone to prove his righteousness and loyalty." Daniel said as they gathered around the stone shining lights on it.

"Excalibur." Mitchell said.

"Actually, that's a common misconception. Excalibur was forged by the lady of the lake at Avalon, but it wasn't given to King Arthur until after the sword in the stone was broken in battle."

"I saw the movie for that idea. Kinda makes more sense considering the sword's history." Ford said as Mitchell walked forward with a chuckle. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to try and pull it. If you will let me General."

"Go ahead." he said waving a hand.

Mitchell spit into his hands and then gave it a few tries.

"Yeah, it's in there pretty good." he said giving up.

"You give it a try Ford." Daniel said.

Ford cracked his knuckles, grabbed it and gave it a tug. He tried a little harder and then got up on the block and pulled like his life depended on it.

"Yeah, it's not coming out. I'm not worthy apparently." he said getting off. "Though I have to say, if this is suppose to be Excalibur, I'm saddened by the craftsman ship that went into it."

"What?"

"Sorry, the sword is ugly Daniel." Ford said wiping his hands. Daniel gave him a strange look.

"Welcome, ye Knights of the Round table." a voice said as a hologram appeared. They pointed their weapons as the hologram of a man, who had to be Merlin by the clothes he wore, kept talking from behind the stone block. "Men of honor. Followers of the paths of righteousness."

Mitchell walked over and looked up above the hologram of Merlin as he kept talking. He didn't see anything though.

"Only those, with wealth of knowledge and truth of spirit, shall be given access to the underworld. The store house of riches of Ambrosias Aurelianus. Prove ye worthy, and all shall be revealed."

"That's incredible." Daniel said not raising his voice, but obviously excited by the news.

"No kidding." Ford muttered.

"Certain scholars speculated that Ambrosias and Arthur are one in the same, but that would have made him 74 years old at the battle of Mount Badon."

"It's possible considering the legends." Ford said glancing around the room. Vala stepped forward and sat on the rock placing a hand on the sword.

"Yes. It's actually quite fascinating too, you see Ambrosias was the son of the Emperor Constantine…."

"Yes, yes, yes. Fascinating is the one things it is not." she said grumbling. "How do you prove your worthy and get all to be reveled?"

"You'll have to tell me the rest of that story later Daniel." Ford said.

Teal'c walked back down the small incline looking at the other passage ways. Ford kept looking around with his flashlight trying to look for something. Mitchell was looking at the area where the hologram was at.

"I do not know Vala." Daniel said. "But something tells me that 'truth of spirit' might be a problem for you."

"You know nothing about me!" she spat.

"Because everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie." he said ignoring her response.

"Don't, make me separate you two." Mitchell said slowly as his patience with their arguing got on his nerves. The two shut up and looked away from each other.

"Perhaps there is something in these tunnels." Teal'c said looking at some off to their right.

"Yes! That is why he's here. Genius. We're going to spilt up. I'm with Teal'c. I'm sure you can handle them General."

"Yeah, easily." he said stepping down and looking around.

"Yo Teal'c, wait for me!" Mitchell said running after.

"What are you doing Ford?"

"Well, I've read a lot of the stories about King Arthur and such. One of the reasons I like swords. Anyway, there was a story that talked about Arthur having a special sheath, for Excalibur, that had healing properties. No matter how much injury Arthur took, he wouldn't die. I'm wondering if it might be another part of that technology that came from that device that is the Fountain of Youth."

"I guess it would just have been too easy for them to just leave there stuff right out in the open." Mitchell said as he and Teal'c walked down a narrow path, shining their flashlights at everything.

There was several path ways to other directions they passed as they continued on. Mitchell was mostly following Teal'c, who was not speaking.

"Maybe it's just me, but…..I'm digging this rapport developing between the two of us."

"That is a possibility. We still haven't figured out all the capabilities of that device." Daniel said as they walked down a tunnel of their own. Ford was in the lead, one gun ready just in case.

"I really hope the sheath exist. Then we could find out how it works and possibly make more to help other people, maybe even fix the handicapped."

"Or maybe, you could use that technology to help other's and make them pay for the treatments."

They both turned to her quickly.

"What?"

"Damn, you are heartless." Ford said shaking his head. "Do you care for anyone but yourself?"

"A girl has to do what a girl has to do to survive out there." she said crossing her arms.

"You know, you'd be safer and probably have a much better life if you stayed on this planet, as primitive to you as it may seem, and you know, you might even enjoy it too."

"You're not suggesting she stay here with us?" Daniel said really hoping that was not the case.

"It wouldn't be too bad. There'd be a lot to work out, mostly making her keep her mouth shut about there being life on other planets."

"So, the people on this planet don't know the real truth then?"

"No. And we keep it that way to keep the planet from collapsing into chaos. Let's keep moving. You know Daniel, when you two were talking about reminiscing about being on the Prometheus.."

"Yeah?" he asked skeptically.

"What is this? Did you have a similar experience?" she asked.

"Too long to explain, but when me and Sam got back, you know which mission I'm meaning, right Daniel?"

"Ah….oh yeah. You both were stuck on the ship for…what was it, a day or maybe two alone before managing to get the ship out of that nebula."

"Yeah. Jack had the nerve to ask me, if I had taken advantage of her during that time."

"You're kidding?!" Daniel exclaimed stopping. "What did Sam say?"

"She doesn't know. But I smacked Jack upside the head and told him to think about what he asked and how much he knew about me."

"Is there a point to this?"

"Are you sure she and you…"

Daniel gave him a really cold glare.

"I'm kidding. I saw the surveillance tapes and know you didn't do that."

Teal'c and Mitchell came across a doorway finding a well cut square column like table in the middle of a small room. Two stairs lead up into the room, which was dark until they stepped up to it. Small bowels on the ground, going around the room lit up quickly with fires. Mitchell smiled at Teal'c then walked in. Teal'c stayed outside. Mitchell looked around with the flashlight and shined it on the stone table finding Ancient writing and a set of small tile like panels with markings on them. 8 of them. They were set in small niches in the table.

"Check this out."

Teal'c walked in slowly, turned to look behind and then came into the room next to Mitchell. A stone door slammed down quickly trapping them in the room. They both rushed over to stop it and failed, even as they tried to push it up again.

"Okay, that can't be good." Mitchell said looking around the door with the light. He grabbed his com as Teal'c looked with his light. "Jackson, come in."

There was a small amount of static.

"Jackson, General, can you hear me?" he asked getting only more static.

At this time, the three came across a similar room after coming around a corner. Ford and Daniel approached it slowly.

"So, what did Jack do?"

"He said sorry and went back to his office after telling me not to do that ever again. What do we have here?"

When Daniel put a foot just inside the door, the small bowls inside lit up.

"If you immediately know the candle light is fire…"

"Then the meal has already been cooked." Ford said looking inside the room without entering. He turned to Daniel with a questioning look. "That is what you said to her, right?"
"Yeah. How did you know?"

"I don't know. Just sounds right. Actually, I've heard it before, but I'm not sure where."

"What does that mean?" Vala asked.

"Nothing." they both said.

"Hmm." she said pushing past them both and walking in.

"Hey, get back over here. You might set off a trap." Ford commanded.

"What trap? There is nothing in here but this." she said pointing at the table, which was the same like the one with the other two members.

But in this case there was two small bowels with lids. One was silver with Ancient words under it and the other gold with a different Ancient words under it.

"It does look safe. I don't see anything." Daniel said.

Ford gestured for him to go first and turned around going in backwards, watching their backs. He started to turn when they heard something and all saw the doorway closing as the door came down from above. Ford dropped his gun and grabbed it as it dropped. He slowly sank to his knees, held it for almost ten seconds, and let it go quickly.

"If I still had Herc, I could have stopped it. Or maybe better leverage, like being under it better." he said wiping his scrapped hands on his coat. He picked the gun up and put it away.

"Nice try though." Daniel said looking at the door.

"Who's this…Herc?"

"Hercules. He's a Tok'ra." Ford said looking around the room from where he was standing. He grabbed his com after telling Daniel to look at the unknown objects. "Colonel, Teal'c, come in."

"Anything?"

"Just static. What is this?"

"Okay, we heard that hologram say that only those with the wealth of knowledge and truth of spirit shall pass." he said looking at the writings under the two bowls.

"Yeah. We both have that. And I can see this says 'the universe is infinite." he said pointing at the writing under the gold bowl.

"This one says, the treasure is in this pot." Daniel said reading the one under the silver bowel.

"Then this is what we want." she said reaching for the silver.

"No!" Ford said grabbing her hand quickly.

"This is a test. Remember?" Daniel said.

"Fine." she said taking her hand back. "What's the answer?"

"I'm going to assume, this is some kind of puzzle." Mitchell said as he set his flashlight down on the table and looked the tiles over. Teal'c kept looking at the walls with his flashlight as Mitchell leaned on the table with both hands, scrutinizing it.

"Can you read this writing?" he said pointing at the language just under the tiles.

Teal'c walked over looking at it as Mitchell watched his face.

"No." he said flatly.

"Well, I suppose that we are suppose to arrange the stones in some sort of order." he said grabbing one as Teal'c looked at the door.

He started to pick the end one on the right up when Teal'c opened fire on the door. He grabbed his gun and spun around thinking they were under attack. Seeing that wasn't the case.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa man!" he said waving his arms as he yelled. "Bullets bounce!"

He made another zig zag motion in the air then put his gun back on the table shaking his head.

"I believe General Carter would have done the same."

"Why?" he asked not understanding.

"His bullets do not bounce."

"Right." he said now understanding. "But he isn't here, unfortunately."

He shook his head again as he removed the tiles and put them in front of the small niches.

"Well, I think it's the gold pot. True treasure is knowledge, and as the saying goes, knowledge is power. You have enough knowledge, you can make treasure." Ford said as they both looked at the table. "Like in the stock market."

"It's possible."

"How about we just open them both, and then we'll see which one the treasure is really in and it will be the right one." Vala said as she stopped pacing on the other side of the table.

"No, I think that is the wrong idea." Daniel said waving finger. She let out a exasperated sigh. "There are two pots here and I think the point of the exercise is to only open one."

"But is says the treasure is here!" he said pointing at he silver.

"And because of your obvious profession, you would pick that without thinking." Ford said.

"Then it's over to the gold." she said pointing.

"No." Daniel said.

"Back to the silver then." she said reaching.

"No. Don't!" he said as she picked up the lid anyway.

There was nothing inside.

"We should have sedated her." Ford grumbled as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Agreed."

"There's nothing in there." she said looking inside. She looked up at them very disappointed. "There's nothing I hate more than a bold face lie!"

The two men shook their heads as she put the lid back. She then reached for the other one. Daniel got his gun up quickly as Ford put his hand on the top of the gold.

"Would you stop?" Daniel said ready to shoot her anyway.

"What?! We're already trapped in here, how much worse can it get?!"

"Idiot! You never say things like that in…." Ford yelled as he removed his hand and pulled his guns.

The room suddenly rumbled and sand fell from around the corners of where the walls met the ceiling. The ceiling was coming down at them they noticed rather quickly.

"See what I mean?!"

"I knew it was a mistake the moment I said it." she said fearfully.

"It doesn't help us now. Daniel, figure a way out before we get squished." he said dropping his guns and pulling the sword.

"What are you doing?"

"Buying time." he said sticking the sword into the wall, blade flattened out just under the ceiling. The falling ceiling touched the blade and tried to push against it, not bending it. They could heard the ceiling straining under some pressure.

"Better hurry, don't know how long this wall will hold."

Mitchell, at this time, was putting the final tile into the niche, hoping he got it right.

"Okay, that didn't work." he said looking at the door then at the tiles again.

They both looked around slowly as there was a rumbling that got louder quickly.

"Indeed." Teal'c said as he saw the ceiling falling.

"Oh, come on." Mitchell said with a sigh. He quickly removed the tiles and started over.

Vala took the time, with the distraction, to open the other pot and shine a light in.

"This one is empty too!"

"I know!" Daniel said as the straining got more intense.

"That doesn't make sense!"

"I know!" he said shouting louder.

"Uno momento." Mitchell said as he replaced the tiles in a different order. Nothing changed as he saw the ceiling still falling a Teal'c trying to stop it.

"Two down! And a billion more combinations to go!" he said trying again.

"Are you still having fun Colonel Mitchell?" Teal'c said grunting.

Mitchell glanced back at him, wondering why Teal'c was trying to be humorous.

"So what do we do?!" she asked as the ceiling was a few inches from their heads. Ford's sword had broken a chunk out of the wall and he was shoving it into a new location. It was buying time, until the wall cracked and gave out.

"I don't know!"

"Well, figure out something!" Ford yelled.

"This is probably a bad time to tell you, but I hate small places!" she yelled.

"Very bad time!" Ford yelled back.

"Do you ever get a bad feeling about something?" Mitchell said as the ceiling came down despite Teal'c's efforts.