2200

"We will stop here."

Cam managed to stumble over to a tree in the failing light and leaned against it to keep upright. "Are you sure? I bet I could make it another, I dunno, thirty feet before I just fall over and die there."

Teal'c merely cocked his head. "This will do."

"What is this, some kind of hazing?"

"I am unfamiliar with that term."

He thought it was pretty clear. Walking at that speed for a solid twelve hours was a rare form of torture. "Did you do it to Jackson? Make his life miserable to prove himself?"

"I did not."

The officer slid down to sitting. "So I'm special. Great."

"Indeed."

The smile that made its way across the Jaffa's face was even creepier at dusk, and Cam frowned. "Don't even think about asking me to get back up right now. I'm armed."

Settling in himself, Teal'c started on another protein bar. "I do not believe there is reason to at the moment. Eat. We will need to move again later."

"You make zero sense, you know that?" But he dug through his pack for food, as well. "How long did it take SG-1 to figure you out?"

"Several years. But I was different then," he said with what might have been a Jaffa shrug. "I do not believe it will take you as long."

"Well, then, there's hope yet. How long, you think?"

"Not before you eat."

Cam snorted. "That's a joke. Nice. I get it."

He'd even get a chance to eat his dinner hot this time – which was good, as cold military mac 'n cheese was never, ever appetizing. It wasn't exactly gourmet warmed up, either, but it could have been far worse. He took the opportunity to savor each bite, washing it down well with his canteen - stalling. He was one hundred percent positive that Teal'c would set him back on the death march the moment he finished, even in complete darkness.

It was a good fifteen minutes later when he tucked the remnants away. "Okay, crazy alien man. I'm ready to resume my torture now."

"That will not be necessary."

"Could you be just a little less-"

"Hands in the air, gentlemen." The order came from the trees, which deflected and altered it until it had no specific direction. Four bodies emerged from the darkness, all armed.

And all Air Force. "Mitchell?" the voice asked again. "Teal'c?"

"Colonel Dixon?" Cam asked, scrambling to his feet.

The voice lowered his rifle first, followed quickly by the other three. Yes, that one was definitely Dixon. "What the hell are you two doing all the way out here?"

"Looking for you. Radio silence, and all. We had to come after you."

"For what? We're not due to check in until tomorrow, if my watch is right."

"No, you're... right." It was too dark to see bruises at this distance, so Cam stepped closer. Closer. By the time he stopped, he was staring at Dixon's ugly face from mere inches away. The colonel merely raised an eyebrow.

It was Teal'c who broke the silence. "Colonel Dixon, are you not ill?"

The ranking man planted a hand solidly on Mitchell's chest and moved him backward an acceptable distance. "Say what, now?"

"Every member of the SGC who has set foot on P4X-124 is gravely ill, yet you seem to be well."

He shrugged. "I feel fine."

"Any weakness, fatigue?" Cam asked. "Unexplained bruising?"

"Hell, we've got bruises out the ying-yang," Dixon said with a chuckle. "But we've got damned good reasons for all of them. Bosworth here got into a tangle with a couple of Ori followers, and Wells tripped and busted up his elbow. The luck of that one, I'm tellin' ya."

"Sorry, sir," the dark figure to Cam's left said.

"I believe you should return to the SGC immediately," the Jaffa spoke up. "Perhaps your symptoms have not yet manifested. But if you are truly unafflicted, your condition may be of use to Doctor Lam in her search for a cure."

"Sure. Let's move along, fellas." Turning to Teal'c, he swung an inviting arm in the direction of the Stargate. "Age before beauty."