Annika's eyes blinked open once, then dropped shut again. Even that tiny movement only enhanced what the rest of her body was feeling. Totally and utterly exhausted. The battle with Anubis and the reanimation process must have taken more out of them than they imagined. But at least they were alive and she assumed they were mortal; she didn't think the immortality of Ascension would come with such physical repercussions. How long had they been out for the count? Was everyone else okay? Unable to look for herself due to the bone weariness, she concentrated on the only sense that didn't require movement. Slowly she was able to distinguish four other breathing patterns. Calm and steady, with... she heard a low rumbling noise...the occasional snore. She gradually became aware of the soft mattress beneath her, guessing that at some point the Jaffa had relocated them from the hallway back into the cell. Whether that was while the device had been in use or afterwards she couldn't hazard a guess. Not that it was really important. Trapped in a cell was trapped in a cell. Something warm was pressed against her hip.

Her eyes sprang open. Daniel! She managed to move her head just a little to see her husband lying beside her. Pure stubbornness to hold him close gave her the oomph to roll over and snuggle into his side. If her arm more flopped across him rather than an actual hug, well, no one was actually conscious to see. She drew comfort from the gentle rise and fall of his chest, needing the evidence that he was alive after a day, no matter how twisted her mental state had been, of knowing he had been dead. A loud snore echoed in her ears, and she grimaced a little, her eardrums just a tad sensitive. The snoring however she could do without!

Despite how exhausted she was, her mind would not let her drift off to sleep again. Instead she simply enjoyed having Daniel back. Her eyes once again blinked open, just to confirm that there was no ethereal glow infused with his skin. Nope, the Ascended light was gone. Habit had her trying to send her love to him through their bond. What she felt was a horrible numbness. A lump formed in her throat. Tried to focus on the good. Their bond may be gone, but at least she had him back, that was the main thing.

Wait, being numb was different to the gaping hollow that had been there all day. The emptiness meant their bond had been severed, but 'numb' meant something was there! Hardly daring to hope, she carefully probed the area beneath her heart, tried again to send her emotions through. After a second they bounced back, which gave her more hope. The emotions hadn't dissipated into nothing when she'd released them, they had come back to her. That, plus the minute delay, meant there was something for them to travel down, it was just 'blocked' for whatever reason. Blocked could be unblocked! Maybe it just needed time to reestablish itself. Daniel after all had been dead for the better part of the day... She fought back tears... And technically she had been dead for the last couple of hours too. There had to be some recuperative time needed after that. Right? Clinging to that wistful theory, Annika gave a happy sigh, her arm tightening a fraction around her husband, which was the most energy she could muster.

There was a low groan in response and Daniel's hand lifted from the mattress and fell heavily against hers on his chest, his fingers weakly entwining with hers. Clearly his body was just as much like lead as hers was. His eyes slowly opened and he smiled at her. Both were too tired to talk, but the light in their blue and violet depths was enough. By the time the others began to stir they had gathered enough energy to sit up.

Daniel blinked dazedly around the golden room and the Jaffa silently posted behind the cell's shield. "I see Ba'al didn't waste any time ending the alliance."

"At least we're all together," Annika said softly, visually confirming that the rest of SG-1 were accounted for. Sam and Jack had collapsed on the floor, while Teal'c had fallen forward across the top of the device. Guess that answered her earlier question of when they had been shoved into the cell. They hadn't been dumped in, they had been left as they fell once the device had turned off.

In typical Teal'c manner, the moment his eyes popped open and he was able to speak, the first thing out of his mouth was, "We were successful?"

Daniel gave a single nod. "Anubis is no longer part of the Ascended. Providing he found a host quick enough, he's just an ordinary Goa'uld."

"Oh, he found one," Annika sighed. "We could not be so lucky that he didn't."

Teal'c twisted his head, still not trusting his legs to support him just yet, to look down at their two remaining teammates. "Should they not have awoken by now?"

"I think it took more out of them than it did us," Annika theorized. "I astral travel, you meditate and Daniel has been Ascended before. For Jack and Sam it was like using muscles they'd never used."

Teal'c tentatively tested his legs. Determined that they felt a little more cooperative, at least he hoped they were strong enough that he could remove himself from his undignified position on the device. Cautiously he raised his torso, using the weapon base for support. It took a few seconds for his still sluggish brain to compute what his body had been hiding. "This does not bode well."

"Why? What is it?" Daniel heaved himself to his feet, fighting the urge to crumple to the floor. Catching himself against the device, he peered into the inner section of the device where the diamond still sat. A ring of glyphs, which he would have sworn had not been present before, was now steadily lighting up. Ten of the twelve tiles were shining brightly. As he watched the eleventh lit up. "Fuck. Jack, Sam, wake up, we have a problem."

The military couple barely stirred.

Annika considered trying to crawl over to them, then thought of a less strenuous method. Her hand latched onto one of the scattered pillows from the bed and she pegged it at them. "Rise and shine! We've got a new emergency." She didn't know quite what the emergency was yet, but for Daniel to swear in English it had to be bad.

Sam came awake with a start, but Jack rolled over, mumbling, "Just a couple more minutes, ma."

"Jack! The device is on self-destruct."

In an instant the colonel was back in the world of the waking. "Crap. If it's not one thing, it's another," he groused groggily. "How long?"

Teal'c replied. "Approximately five minutes and twenty seconds."

Sam's lips twitched at the precise 'approximation'. She wobbly knelt, using the bed to pull herself up and saw the Jaffa lined up like tin soldiers outside the cell. "Lower the shield."

"You are now Lord Ba'al's prisoners," the ranking guard replied stoically.

"Well, you've also made a prisoner of a ticking time bomb, you stupid morons."

Despite the dire circumstances, Jack chuckled. The comment had come from Annika. It was damned good to have Casper back to her old self.

"You expect us to believe that?" the Jaffa scoffed. "Your acts of deception are well known."

"Oh, I'm done with diplomacy for today," Daniel grumbled. Before anyone could stop him, even if they had the energy to try, Daniel tottered towards the shield, arm extended before him.

"Daniel!" The scream tore from Annika's throat as his palm connected with the force field.

The others were just as horrified. Teal'c the closer of them, was about to launch himself at (well, it was more fall towards,) the archaeologist to prevent the foolhardy act, knowing that he'd never make it in time. But he staggered to a halt when the inevitable electric shock and loss of consciousness didn't occur, at least it didn't happen to Daniel.

The second Daniel's fingers touched the electrical field, there was a loud crackling, followed by a lightning pulse. Attracted to the metal of the Jaffa's armor the lightning arced out to shoot through the warriors lined up so neatly. The force field then flickered out.

The silence that echoed after the Jaffa's very loud falling, lasted all of a second as Jack bellowed, "Daniel, good job, but what the hell were you thinking?"

The archaeologist blinked at them all in confusion. "When I stepped through the shield when I was Ascended, I rigged it to short out when my mortal hand touched it."

"A little warning would have been nice," Sam snapped.

"I thought you knew...when our minds were joined..." his voice trailed off, taking in their pale faces, especially his wife's. "I'm sorry, I honestly thought you knew." He stepped back to the bed to give Annika a hug. "Didn't anyone wonder why I walked in, rather than appear straight away in the cell?"

"Other things on our minds," the redhead replied dryly, calming the racing of her heart.

Jack was already shakily moving to the fallen warriors, intending to arm him and the others with their weapons. He was totally disgusted that his muscles were so weak he couldn't even pick up a staff weapon. His pride was somewhat mollified when Teal'c couldn't manage it either. He searched for and found three zats'. "Okay, let's hit the road."

Sam paused as she gripped one of the zats' which felt like lead in her hands. "Sir, if we come across any Jaffa we're in no fit state to defend ourselves."

"We'll be in a less fit state in four minutes when that thing blows," the colonel pointed out.

"We need a distraction." Teal'c had been able to work one of the staffs upright to use as a walking stick.

The ship shuddered, clearly the battle been waged between Ba'al's and Anubis's ships was still going on.

"Suggestions?" The colonel leant against the wall needing the support.

"Tell Ba'al," Daniel said quietly, regaining his balance

"Are you nuts?" Jack demanded. "Why warn him? It's a sure fire way to get rid of him once and for all."

"Tell Ba'al and his priority will become getting the weapon off his ship, not keeping us on."

Jack gave a reluctant nod. The man did have a point.

"If we can suggest to Ba'al to eject the weapon at Anubis's ship..." Sam let the sentence hang.

"Its detonation would accomplish our mission goal, to destroy Anubis," Teal'c finished.

"Would the blast penetrate his shields?"

Annika had been leaning against the weapon while they determined what to do. At Jack's question a dull ache pounded her head and in her mind's eye she saw two mushrooms inside a Stargate. "The blast will be the equivalent of two naquadah enhanced atom bombs."

"That'll do it," Sam confirmed.

"If the device goes off in here, won't it take out both Ba'al and Anubis?" Annika asked.

Sam considered the possibility. "It may, but Ba'al's shields will act as a containment field. Even in that split second before they collapse it may be enough of a reduction to the strength of the blast for it to do significantly less damage to Anubis."

Daniel could read the conflict on Jack's face. One Goa'uld would be destroyed, it was a case of which one. "Anubis may no longer be half-Ascended but he still has their knowledge. He's still as much a threat now as he was before. There’s a very good reason that he was banished by the other System Lords pre-Ascension."

That cinched the decision for all of them.

Teal'c was about to activate the comm unit to the bridge, but his hand hovered over the button. "Ba'al's response will be quick. We need to vacate this area and be near the Stargate to escape in the melee."

"I'll do it," Annika said quietly. "Once we get to the ring room, I'll astral travel to Ba'al."

"I dunno, Casper. You looking pale as a ghost as it is," Jack frowned.

"I can do it," she said, trying to make her words firmer. Didn't really succeed. "Please, Jack. Regardless of Ba'al's motives...I can't be indebted to a snake."

"I'll help her, Jack." Daniel's fingers closed around his wife's, supporting her. He understood her need to do this. "Between us we should have the strength to do it."

Annika squeezed his hand in return, thanking him. Found it amazing that he knew her feelings without their bond in working order, knew how repulsed she was at the idea that Ba'al had been the one to rescue and protect her from Anubis's mental attack.

He didn't like it. All of them were as weak as kittens with barely the strength to walk. But the delay would buy them the precious time they needed. The colonel reluctantly nodded. "Alright, let's go."

They moved out as quickly as they could, which was nothing more than a shuffle, the countdown ticking down silently in their heads. The corridor was blessedly free of Jaffa, all the guards having been rendered unconscious due to Daniel's party trick. When they reached the ring room, they hid in the shadowed recess.

"Okay, Casper, do your thing," Jack said quietly. As an after thought he added, "If you can work it in, tell Balls we're already off the ship so he won't be chasing around after us."

Annika took a few deep breaths centering her weary mind. It took a few seconds longer than usual, but her astral self blinked in front of them. It was paler than any of them had seen before and as soon as it appeared it began to flicker like a candle going out.

Daniel wrapped his arms around her. "Take what you need," he whispered.

She leant into him and the image became a little stronger though the flickering remained. Knowing they didn't have much time, both with the countdown and in maintaining her astral self, Annika zipped up to the bridge, her astral self not having the movement 'issues' of her physical body.

On the bridge she could see Ba'al off to one side coordinating a battle strategy. She drifted closer to him.

The Goa'uld's eyes widened in surprise at her astral state, given that he was sure the cell's force field blocked any of her mental abilities. Nevertheless he spoke as though he had planned for this. "You failed, Anubis still attacks."

"We succeeded," Annika contradicted. "Anubis is now physically nothing more than any other pain in the ass snakehead, and I can guarantee you that at this moment he is physically weak as well."

Ba'al's gaze swished to the Jaffa manning one of the weapon consoles. "Increase the bombardment."

"But as much as I'd like to shoot the breeze with you and all, I'm here to even the score. Eye for an eye and all that jazz," Annika shrugged. "The weapon went into auto self-destruct mode the moment we stopped using it. You've got less than three minutes to evacuate or get rid of it. Not that it matters to us, since we escaped your rat trap and are already safe and snug on a planet, but we'd suggest ejecting the weapon in the vicinity of Anubis's ship." She didn't wait for Ba'al to reply before her astral self dissolved into thin air. Her eye's flickered open in the shadows with the rest of her team. "Done."

It took less than a few seconds before they witnessed the impact Annika's little visit had caused. In the next room they heard the whine of the ring transporter and the moment the Jaffa had re-materialized they set off at a run towards the cell and weapon. SG-1 waited until they had cleared the room.

Jack gave the hand gesture and they slowly moved out. Lucky for them, the Jaffa weren't expecting a return transport from that part of the ship so quickly. That second of surprise was all the advantage that the team had and they used it. Zat' blasts rang out taking down the two Jaffa on guard.

Teal'c leant against the doorway, needing to brace himself to remain upright, and peeked out into the hall. "Four Jaffa, stationed either end of the hall. More than likely another two will be guarding the 'gate."

"Any chance we can just sneak across and just take out the ones in the 'gate room?" Sam asked. With only three zats' even if the energy weapon could reach the Jaffa at the corridor ends, which was doubtful, that left one Jaffa who'd have time to fire back. With the way their reflexes were at the moment, they'd be lucky to get off the first shot let alone a second.

"Possible," Teal'c considered. "If we were to time it correctly."

Jack took a peek for himself. "Okay. We go as one." The colonel didn't like it. He'd prefer to stagger their crossing, for five single persons sneaking were less likely to be seen than the larger mass of five moving at once. But they now had less than two minutes before the device blew, and any second now the Jaffa sent to retrieve it would be arriving back down here. Anxiously they waited for the Jaffa to turn slightly away as they paced at their posts. "Let's shuffle."

As quietly and as quickly as they could they started crossing the corridor heading slightly to the right to the 'gate room. They had almost made it when they were spotted by one of the hall Jaffa. His warning cry rang out in sync with his staff blast firing.

With the alarm raised, Teal'c entered the 'gate room firing, managing to strike the first of the Jaffa within. The second however, was more wiry and ducked behind the Stargate, using it for cover while he fired his staff at them.

"Carter, get this door closed." Jack fired at the Jaffa running down the corridor towards them, but the zat' was out of range.

Sam slid her zat' across the room to Annika, for her to help lay down cover fire while she worked the wall panel controls to seal them inside. The redhead managed to scoop it up, dodging a staff blast. Daniel built up what momentum he could and practically skidded over to the DHD.

Jack glanced back into the room. They had to get rid of the Jaffa behind the 'gate. Supposing they were able to dodge him until Daniel entered the 'gate address, once the wormhole opened, he'd be able to take them out like ducks at a shooting gallery as they staggered towards it. The colonel exchanged a look with Teal'c, who gave a nod.

Teal'c stepped up his firing at the Jaffa, keeping his attention on himself rather than the rest of the team. Jack edged around the side of the room, slowly creeping up on the warrior. At the last second, the Jaffa caught sight of the colonel in his peripheral vision, but it was too late. The last thing he saw was the blue lightning crackle of the zat' discharging before he collapsed.

At the same time Sam managed to activate the locking mechanism on the doors, and as they slid shut Annika managed to zat' one of the Jaffa through the diminishing crack in the doors.

Daniel now not needing to be looking out for staff blasts, could solely concentrate on the glyphs. In a couple of seconds he tapped the last symbol and the wormhole billowed out.

Together they staggered up the small dais, exhaustion had them more falling than stepping through the shimmering mass.

When the Stargate activated the remaining soldiers at the Alpha site warily trained their guns on it expecting the worst; that a new wave of Kulls and Jaffa would emerge. Their wariness turned to surprise when the five bodies tumbled out into a heap on the ground, then immediately turned to concern as none of them moved.

Colonel Pierce bellowed for the medics while two of the marines cautiously approached the team. The rest of the soldiers kept their weapons trained, their concern not being outweighed by the possibility this was a trap of some kind.

Pressing his fingers to Teal'c's neck, the first marine heaved a sigh of relief even if it was more than a little bewildered. "Colonel, they appear to be just sleeping."

"Sleeping?" Pierce raised an eyebrow. He knew that they had all been trained to catch sleep wherever the opportunity presented itself during combat, but nodding off in the middle of a 'gate jump was taking it a bit far. Of course it did make him wonder what had tired them so much they couldn't stay awake to arrive home.

The medics confirmed that the team was merely suffering from exhaustion and the colonel ordered for them to be relocated to the temporary medical tent. As Pierce was helping to lift Jack onto a stretcher, he saw the man's body tense slightly, though his eyes didn't open. "Relax, Colonel," he said softly. "You and all of your team made it to the Alpha site safely."

Upon recognizing Pierce's voice the tension immediately seeped from Jack. His eyes blinked open and he drowsily scanned the surrounding area needing to confirm for himself that what Pierce said was true, then his gaze landed back on the Alpha site commander. "Anubis is no longer Ascended. Hopefully both him and Ba'al have now been blown to kingdom come. Need to confirm that."

"We'll get word to Hammond," Pierce nodded at the sit rep. "Thought you'd like to know that Doctor Fraiser and Captain Richards have been found with only a few bumps and bruises."

"Sweet." The smile Jack offered didn't do justice to the relief he felt at the news. He was just too damned tired to muster anything more.

"Colonel, if you don't mind, we'll wait to send you back to the SGC." Pierce launched into an explanation. "There were a few minor injuries in the mountain when it collapsed, it'll be quicker to send them through the underground 'gate than to dig them out. They're hooking up the super computer now, shouldn't be more than two hours..." His voice tapered off as a soft snore erupted from Jack's throat. A wry grin tweaked his lips. "I guess you don't mind at all."

Sam and Annika were the first to make it to their intended destination.

"I could sleep for a week," Annika yawned as she gathered her toiletries from her locker.

The action created a chain effect with Sam. "I hear that. Heaven help the soul who stands in the way of me and my bed." She grabbed two towels and tossed one to her friend. At the soft thump of the terry cloth hitting the floor she looked back to see that Annika hadn't even made a move to catch it. "Annika?"

The redhead didn't hear her. Her attention was on a major at one of the far lockers that Annika knew wasn't hers. The solemn woman had a small storage box and was removing the personal effects of a captain who had been one of the casualties from the Alpha site.

Sam saw the days events crashing down upon her friend, whom she just realized hadn't before experienced a true aftermath of a battle with multiple 'good guy' fatalities. With the adrenaline no longer pumping and now that they were all safe and sound, there was nothing but time to take stock of just how close they'd come to not coming home. Sam couldn't say that she would ever get used to it, but she had been expecting it, both from herself and the rest of her teammates, though they each dealt with it in different ways. At the devastated haunted pain on Annika's face, her own churned up emotions threatened to break through. Wanting privacy as much for herself as for Annika, she waited until the major had left before approaching. "Annika, are you okay?"

The redhead jumped at the comforting hand on her shoulder. "So many people gone in the blink of an eye...but for a twist of fate..." she drew in a haggard breath."...we almost lost him today. We did lose him today."

"We almost lost you today too," Sam replied her voice more than a little wobbly.

"All of us..."

"But we survived," Sam interrupted, clearing her clogged throat. She gave a weak smile, "Well, we came back."

Annika didn't try to stop the tears from falling. "But it was so damned close."

Sam's own eyes were rimmed with tears. "I know."

The two women silently hugged each other, letting the tears flow freely, releasing all the emotions the day had bottled up.

Neither heard the footfalls approach, but Annika felt a familiar strong pair of arms wrap around her from behind. Keeping one arm still around Sam, she twisted a little so she could return the embrace of her husband. "How did you know to come?" she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder. Their bond was still worryingly numb; there hadn't been an ounce of emotional transfer through it since they'd been resurrected.

Daniel placed a lingering kiss to her forehead. "I don't need our bond to know what you're feeling." His other arm shifted to include Sam in his hug. "What either of you are feeling."

There was the sound of rushing feet. Not breaking apart, the three of them looked up to see Jack and Teal'c hurry in.

Teal'c gave an apologetic head bow. "We were detained by Doctor Felger."

"Never underestimate that man's ability to talk about nothing," Jack quipped.

To Annika's surprise, neither man commented on her or Sam's blotchy faces and red eyes. Jack simply sidestepped around the trio so that he could reach his preferred spot at Sam's side. One arm snaked around his fiancée holding her reassuringly tight. His free arm hung loosely over Daniel's shoulder.

"You knew we needed you too?" Annika sniffed.

The colonel shrugged. He and Teal'c had caught the tail end of the conversation as they'd approached. "We're SG-1. Knowing when we need each other goes with the territory."

Teal'c nodded in agreement, his arm span large enough to make contact with each of the huddled four. "SG-1 has its own bond."

How long the group hug lasted, no one could say, and not that they cared. Time was irrelevant because none of them had any intention of shifting an inch until the myriad of emotions had played out, until they could reconfirm that they were all unharmed, that they really had survived, that all was okay between their closer than family unit.

When the page came over the loud speakers for them to report to the infirmary they didn't immediately break off.

"Everybody good?" Jack asked quietly. He didn't care if the klaxons started wailing announcing Ba'al had invited them to high tea. Nothing would budge him until he was sure his team was ready to move on.

There were four murmurs of yes. Their hold tightened briefly then they stepped back, each sharing a warm, grateful smile.

"Right, let's check in, so we can check out." Jack, with Sam's hand tucked snugly in his, led the way. "I'm voting for Mexican before we crash into our respective beds."

"Nachos sound good," Daniel agreed, his stomach rumbling at the thought. He hadn't eaten anything real since breakfast, the Ascended waffles had been just a tasty illusion.

"Burritos and one huge sangria," Sam gave her opinion.

"There's an icy Margarita with lots of salt with my name on it," Annika licked her lips in anticipation. "Teal'c, has Keelah experienced the culinary delights of Mexican cuisine?"

"I do not believe so," Teal'c said thoughtfully. "But she is most eager to experience new things."

"Sweet," Jack smirked. "That was the easiest decision made all day."

Exiting the elevator the relaxed banter abruptly stopped when they saw Ferretti beside the infirmary doors, sitting on the floor, his back leaning against the wall like his legs wouldn't support him. Missing from the base's resident bookie was the usual happy-go-lucky expression, replaced by a dazed troubled look.

"Lou, what's happened?" Jack asked. "Complications with Dodger?" During their debrief Hammond had reiterated what Colonel Pierce had said, that the doctor and captain had been found with relatively minor injuries. However minor things tended to snowball into giant avalanches lately.

A brittle laugh spat from the major's lips. "The complication's not with Dodger."

"Janet?" Sam's voice reflected all of their instant concern.

"Nope. They're both dandy except for a crack to the head."

"Then what...?"

Daniel's question cut off as the infirmary doors swung open and Brooklyn walked out. The farewell that he tossed over his shoulder was a clear indication that he had just finished checking on Dodger. Which left the curious question of why SG-2's leader had remained in the hall. The captain didn't looked surprised by his leader's bizarre state, just gave them all a smile. "We're heading to O'Malley's for a drink."

Ferretti pushed himself up the wall to his feet. "Get rip-roaring fuckin' drunk is what we're gonna do."

Brooklyn grimaced. "That's an option, Lou." The two started to stride away. Brooklyn turned partway back to the team giving them a reassuring smile that was oddly amused. "Don't worry. We're celebrating."

The scowl Ferretti directed at his smartass teammate only served to add to SG-1's confusion.

Annika's hand on his arm stopped Jack from speaking.

"Just leave it, Jack," she said softly. The aura around Ferretti was plain for the psychic to see. The man had been sucker punched by emotions he never knew he had. She could see his complete shock and disbelief warring with denial. But amidst that was a very strong and bright streak of purple, that now it had been recognized by the stunned major, was firmly wrapped around his heart.

Though he was totally confused, Jack let the men go without further explanation. A glance at Daniel, Sam and Teal'c made him feel a tad better because they were just as baffled. Shaking the feeling aside he caught the still flapping door, holding it open for the others.

Entering the infirmary they weren't greeted by Jenkins as they expected. In his stead was a much shorter, much more familiar face.

"Janet! We wondered where you'd got to." Sam beamed to see her friend.

"Oh, you know me, busy, busy." The doctor smiled back, leaning against an empty bed. Her eyes visually assessed all of them as a doctor but more as a friend. "It's good to see you're all okay."

"Right back at ya', Doc," Jack grinned. "Got a bit of a bump to the noggin', I see." The colonel gestured to the stitch on her cheek with a butterfly band aid on either side.

"Nothing to worry about." She brushed their concern away. "I'll be out of here soon."

Dodger, who was in the only occupied bed in the room, gave what suspiciously sounded like a laugh that was hastily covered by a cough.

Janet arched an eyebrow at him. "Something you'd like to add, Captain?"

"No, ma'am," he hastily assured, sliding deeper under the blanket.

Perplexed by the strange undercurrent between the exchange on top of Ferretti's behavior, Daniel changed the subject. "Are those our results?" He nodded to the files sitting on the bed. "Can we go home now?"

Before Janet could answer, a stern voice from behind them butted in. "Major Fraiser, get back in that bed."

If SG-1 was surprised by the use of Janet's rank rather than the traditional salutation of doctor, it was nothing compared to seeing the guilty start Janet gave. It only then hit them that Janet wasn't dressed in her usual white coat or even in the BDUs she'd worn off-world. Rather she was wearing green loose fitting infirmary pajamas.

"I'm still the CMO on this base," the diminutive woman groused.

"Not today you're not," Jenkins replied firmly, stepping up and scooping up the files. "Not until you get the all clear from me." The more seriously injured patients had been transferred to the hospital topside, clearing the rather small medical facility of the SGC of all but a few minor injuries. Most who remained on base would either be given the all clear in a few hours or had already been released to their quarters for a night of observation as a precaution. However, Janet wasn't going to be one of those and neither would Captain Richards. Both had confirmed concussions and the acting CMO wanted them where he could keep a close eye on them, especially Janet. His boss was not being the most cooperative of patients, as the last few moments had shown. He'd only left the room for a minute! He fixed her with a look. "Bed. Now."

"It's just a little bump to the head," Janet protested, though she was reluctantly climbing back under the covers. "I'm fine."

"Of course you are," Jenkins placated.

Annika grinned, not the only one in the room finding the role reversal amusing. "So the doctor becomes the patient."

Janet didn't reply, but Dodger piped up from the debatable safety of his bed. "And there's truth to the adage, 'doctors make the worst-'" He cut off at Janet's glare and ducked for cover, literally, under his blanket.

"Don't make me have to separate you two." Jenkins didn't even glance up from scanning the results that Janet had snuck from the in-tray. When he finished he turned his attention to the primary team. "Your tests have come back normal. Actually, better than normal. You're free to go."

"Wait, wait, wait." Janet started to get up then at the warning look Jenkins gave her, she stopped moving but continued talking. "There could be residual effects, delayed side effects..."

"Um...Janet, the side effect is that we lived," Sam pointed out.

"And the residual effect is that we have returned in perfect health," Teal'c felt obliged to add.

"Ascension has that effect on people," Jack quipped. "Consider it a perk for dying in the first place."

"Artificially induced Ascension," Janet pressed.

"Followed by an artificially induced Descension," Daniel shot back, then frowned at how wrong that word sounded. "Descendation? De-Ascension?"

"You're the linguist," Annika shrugged, returning her attention to Janet. "Point is it balances out."

The acting CMO could see his patient's fingers once again reaching to flick the blankets off. "You, Major, however have a concussion. You're not going anywhere and that's that."

Janet conceded defeated and flopped back against the pillows. "You're all enjoying this way too much."

Daniel thought he did a remarkable job of sounding serious, when he leant conspiratorially close to Janet's ear and whispered, "Keep trying the nagging, it sometimes works with you."

"I'm immune to such tactics," Jenkins replied though he turned away under the guise of signing off the results, to hide the grin that tweaked his lips.

"If I see even one smirk from you lot..." Janet warned.

"No smirking here," Jack promised, though his cheek was twitching uncontrollably.

Totally unconvinced, especially when even Teal'c appeared to be biting the inside of his cheek to keep a straight face, the grumpy doctor added, "Just remember tomorrow is a new day and things will be back to normal."

All of SG-1 could no longer hold back their grins. But while their mirth was primarily due to Janet receiving a dose of her own medicine, there was also a poignancy to their smiles from her comment. Tomorrow would be a new day. Hopefully it would be better than its predecessor. Yet if it wasn't, then whether it was in body or spirit, they would have each other to help them through.