Cassie's eyes snapped open, leaving the nightmare behind. She stifled the cry in her throat before it could escape and wake the man lying next to her in the bed. Her body trembled with the memory of her nightmare and Cassie forced herself to take deep breaths; trying to shake the fear that filled her. She glanced tentatively over her shoulder and saw Jonas stretched out on his back, one hand tucked behind his head and the other lying relaxed over the covers on the flat canvas of his belly. He was fast asleep.

She turned her head cautiously; careful not to wake him. It had been a little awkward climbing into bed with him the night before even if she knew it had been to maintain their cover. Jonas had been a complete gentleman about it and had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. She had spent an hour in the darkness with her mind spinning and the craving for a drink, to take the edge of her unrest, crawling through her.

Her eyes adjusted to the near dark and she realised from the pale light creeping in the various cracks and gaps in the shutters that it must be early morning on Cartegia. Sounds filtered into her awareness; bird song, a creak somewhere above them. There was a soft thud from Rya'c's room and Cassie deduced he was awake. Jonas emitted a soft snore and her lips twitched.

The urge to move; to get some air filled her up and she slipped out of the bed, careful not to disturb Jonas. She padded out of the bedroom and across the hall to the communal bathroom. She changed quickly into an old pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, securing her auburn hair into a ponytail. She opened the bathroom door and found herself face to face with Rya'c.

He raised an eyebrow. 'You are going somewhere?' His voice was low but reproving.

Cassie tried to shake off the feeling that she had been caught about to do something wrong. 'For a run.' She whispered.

'I will come with you.' Rya'c said firmly. His dark eyes twinkled. 'We are travelling together for protection, are we not?'

Cassie rolled her eyes but acquiesced. Even without SG1s disappearance, going for a run alone on a strange planet possibly hadn't been her best idea. She silently signalled that she was just returning her bag to her room. Rya'c answered as silently, gesturing to show her he would remain waiting for her outside. Inside the bedroom, she took a few moments to scribble a message for Jonas so he wouldn't freak at finding them gone. Within minutes, she and Rya'c were outside of the inn, stretching, before they set off at a fair pace.

They headed back through the town and through the guard gate with a wave to the sleepy soldier on duty. Their footsteps pounded on the ground, kicking up small clouds of dust. Cassie gripped her water bottle tighter as her lungs began to burn; her muscles protesting at the incline as she led Rya'c toward the East and the path that would take them to the mountain.

Sweat slicked over her body as it warmed despite the brisk breeze that stung her eyes and sent her ponytail flying like a red banner behind her. She was grateful as her mind quietened and her thoughts focused only on the run; on breathing; on putting one foot in front of the other.

Eventually, she slowed and stopped, dropping to sit on a large boulder on the side of the path. Rya'c stopped with her. He barely looked out of breath; a thin film of sweat clung to his skin though and she noted that he took a long draught from the water flask that he had secured to his belt.

She followed his example before capping the bottle and raising her face up to the sky. The early morning sun beat down on her but she could feel the chill of the breeze through her thin clothing, congealing the sweat on her skin. She breathed in the scent of wood and grass; dirt and dust. Her mind felt clearer; devoid of the fog of her nightmare.

The last time Sam had visited her they had gone running; two circuits of the parkland by Cassie's apartment. They'd stopped for ice-cream on the way home and talked about Sam's plans after the abrupt end to her time in Atlantis; what a tool Richard Woolsey was; how happy Cassie was with Will and his easy laugh and cocky smile. It didn't hurt so much to think of him, Cassie realised with a start. His loss was like a minor bee sting compared to SG1 being missing. She had to find them.

Rya'c stopped abruptly. He had walked further up the path they had been following. 'I have found something.'

Cassie struggled to her feet and winced at the fatigue in her limbs. The run back was not going to be pleasant. She tried not to limp as she made her way to where Rya'c had stopped. 'What is it?'

'Here.' Rya'c pointed towards the ground.

Cassie frowned at the mess of footprints. 'I don't know what I'm looking at.'

'This path is well-travelled.' Rya'c said. 'There are many footprints.' He crouched and pointed to a set. 'These are consistent with Cartegian footwear.'

'I thought the Cartegians believe walking on the mountain is bad luck?' Cassie mused out loud.

Rya'c smiled and moved his finger to another smudge in the dirt. 'These are prints made by Tau'ri issued boots.' He explained. 'I saw some on the path earlier but these...they are going off the track and behind those bushes as though they were hiding.'

She followed him into the undergrowth.

His fingers grazed the edges of another bush further off track. 'They went this way.'

They walked a little distance.

'Here.' Rya'c said. 'And here.'

'They were following the path on a parallel course.' Cassie realised.

'But out of sight.' Rya'c frowned.

They looked at each other sharply.

'We thought they had been taken from the rooms.' Cassie stated urgently. 'But what if they left the rooms voluntarily because they were investigating?'

'I believe you are correct.' Rya'c agreed excitedly. 'The footprints are consistent with a hunter stalking its prey.' He made to move further up the trail.

Cassie reached out and caught his arm, absently noting the firm muscle under Rya'c's skin. 'We should get back.'

'But we could find them!' He gestured at the trail. 'We can follow their footprints and...'

'And what?' Cassie broke in. 'We have no idea what we're going to find and the research in the library might help forewarn us. Whatever happened to SG1, they knew that research and they still went missing. We definitely need it before we go haring off after them.'

Rya'c scowled and jerked his hand away. 'We should...'

'Rya'c,' Cassie placed her hands on her hips and shook her head, 'we'll come back, I promise, but whatever this is, it was dangerous enough that SG1 went missing because of it. We need to go back, do the research and come back with Jonas and Vala as back-up.'

The young Jaffa glowered unhappily and strode away, back to the boulder where she had rested. He sat down and stared at the ground.

Cassie made her way to him cautiously. 'Rya'c.'

'You are right.' Rya'c sighed heavily, turning back to look at her. 'I know you are right. It's just...my father.'

She softened at the evident worry in his eyes. She wondered at how expressive he was compared to Teal'c who rarely gave away what he was feeling and thinking.

'His tretonin would not have lasted this long.' Rya'c noted.

'They would have packed spare.' Cassie reassured him as she sat beside him and placed squeezed his shoulder. 'Just like Vala and I did. He'll be OK.'

Rya'c nodded slowly. 'I know you are worried about him too.'

'I'm worried about all of them.' Cassie confessed, trying hard to keep her voice steady. 'They're all I have left.'

'Not all.' Rya'c said softly.

She looked at him questioningly.

'Are we not family, Cassandra Fraiser?' Rya'c smiled at her surprise. 'My father considers you as a daughter of his house and that makes you my sister.'

Cassie couldn't speak; she had no idea what to say.

'You will always have a place with Karyn and I.' Rya'c promised.

'That's...' Cassie felt tears prick the back of her eyes and she shook her head as though to shake them away. 'That's just...I can't believe you'd do that for me.'

'I know we do not know each other well but I believe you would do the same for me or Karyn.' Rya'c said. 'Or for Vala Mal Doran and Jonas Quinn.'

And she would. Cassie placed her hand on his arm and smiled at him tremulously. 'Perhaps we should get to know each other better.'

'I would like that.' Rya'c said.

The wind brushed over them again and Cassie shivered.

'We should return.' Rya'c stood and offered her his hand.

She took it and he pulled her to her feet. She began her stretches again, warming up for the run back. She followed Rya'c's glance back towards the bushes.

'We'll be back.' She promised.

Rya'c lifted an eyebrow. 'Indeed.'