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Casey rolled over, reached out to find him. The bed beside her was empty. She opened her eyes. The room was still dark. She listened, but heard nothing from the monitor in Nicholas' room. She pushed the blankets back, padded barefoot into the living room. The French door in the dining room was open. She stepped outside, shivered as the cool night air moved over her skin.

He was lying on the deck, staring up at the stars. They had lain like this earlier in the evening, after the kids had gone to bed for the night.

She lowered herself to lay at his side, cuddled gratefully against his warm skin. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Angel. Just have that damned paper on my mind, I guess." He had been asked to write a treatise on the Stargate, and it was to be published in nearly a dozen scientific journals and magazines.

"I thought you were almost finished with it," she said. She moved so that her head was on his shoulder. He shifted so that he could hold her, his arm tightened around her.

"I am. But I'm not sure I've covered all that I should have, and it's already mind-numbingly long," he replied.

"What if you did it as a series? Would that be easier?"

He was silent for a moment as he thought about her suggestion. "Might be. I could focus on a particular subtext in each 'installment' of the series. Thanks for the idea, babe. I'll contact Dr. Browning. She's the one in charge of this project."

"You're welcome. Think you can sleep now?"

He smiled into the darkness. "Guess I could try."

"Good. I'm cold. Come back to bed, My Heart. Warm me up," she whispered.

She stood to her feet, waited for him to join her. She took his hand and led him back into the bedroom. She sighed contentedly when they were settled beneath the blankets. Within minutes she was breathing slowly, steadily.

Daniel continued to stare into the darkness. After so many years of working in secrecy, accepting the fact that his work would never be known, that his theories would never be proven correct to the scientific community, events around them had changed. He was now hailed as one of the most independent thinking archaeologists in the field, had been the keynote speaker at a conference at UCLA, although the NID had interrupted that particular event. He had published nearly a dozen articles, several of them he had written years ago, just to placate himself, never believing they would ever be read by anyone but him, or Sam. He felt vindicated; but now he was also feeling the pressure of the position his fame had put him in. He was receiving requests for information, or insight, or guidance, from dozens of archaeologists from every country on Earth. The project he now found himself involved in was one of concern to all scientists on Earth: the continued availability of the Stargate for scientific research and exploration.

He kissed the top of the blonde head on his shoulder. Leave it to Casey to come up with a simple, brilliant idea. She called him a genius. He thought she was pretty damned smart, too. She was doing the bulk of the translation work at the Center right now, while he worked on this treatise. For the past three days she had insisted that he remain in his office, undisturbed, while she and the rest of the 'crew' at the Center dealt with the increasing volume of artifacts. God, what a woman! She had no formal training as an archaeologist, or a linguist, only the memories and experience of forty-three years of working with him. He remembered those years as well, how eagerly she learned all that he could teach her. She was the assistant that every scientist dreamed of. The fact that she was his Wife only made everything even more pleasant.

Duncan had given him permission to take a team and return to P7X 411. Ruins reminiscent of those of the Hopi Indians of the American southwest had been found there, and he wanted to study the village in further detail. It was safe enough that they were even going to take Emily.

Daniel sighed. He needed a break from that damned paper. He'd call a meeting in the Center tomorrow, and they'd get ready to go. They would leave on Wednesday. Home no later than Saturday morning. He'd take Mike and Terry, and leave the Whitman's in charge of the Center. Damn, he hoped that the three archaeologists interested in moving to Gamma to work at the Gamma Archaeological Center would be arriving soon! They needed the help!

The decision made, he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep. He felt her cuddle closer just before he lost all awareness.

A  A  A  A  A  A

Casey was checking the gear one last time. Erin was waiting in Daniel's office, a very excited Emily with her.

"Got everything, babe?" He stopped beside her shoulder.

"Yep, looks like it. I have Emmie's clothes in my pack. Do you think one extra pair of shoes is enough for her?"

"We're only going to be gone three days at the most. One extra pair is fine." Daniel leaned over and kissed his wife's cheek. "I'm not positive, but I think I was about Emmie's age when I started going with Mom and Dad on their digs," he said softly.

"With luck, she'll be able to go on more with us. When she's old enough, she might even choose to work with us," Casey replied.

"That would be nice, wouldn't it?"

"Very. Okay, you take this stuff to the 'gate room, I'll go get our daughter."

Daniel gathered the packs. "Meet you there."

She nodded, then hurried down the corridor, up the elevator to his office. She smiled when she walked in - Emily was literally running in circles.

"We go now, Mommy?" the tot asked excitedly.

"Yep. Kiss Meemaw goodbye, Baby."

Emily raced to where her grandmother was sitting, climbed up onto the woman's lap and hugged her tightly. "Be good, Meemaw. I be home soon."

Erin laughed. "I will be, my precious. You be good as well. I'll miss you while you're gone!'

"Miss you too, Meemaw!"

Casey waited until her mother was standing to hug her. "We should be home no later than Saturday morning."

"We'll be here. Nicholas will be fine," Erin added, noting the look in her daughter's eyes.

"I know. I just wish we could take him as well."

"When he's older, you will. Now, you must go, and have a wonderful time. I hope that you find many interesting things."

"Thanks, Mom. Love you," Casey said.

"Love you too, my darling daughter." With a wave, the Ancient turned and left the room.

"Let's go, Baby. Daddy is waiting for us." Emily took her mother's outstretched hand, and they made their way to the 'gate room.

Sam and Jack were there to see them off, and exchanged a smiling glance when they noted that Emily's hair was braided the same as Casey's long locks. Casey had mentioned that when Daniel had braided her hair that morning, Emily…knowing that she was 'going to work' with them…insisted that he braid hers as well.

Duncan insisted on sending SG-6 with them, and the men all greeted Emily, grinning when she hid behind Daniel's leg, peeking at them shyly.

"Okay, SG-1 and SG-6, you have a go. Godspeed," Duncan said from the control room.

"Bye, Unkan!" Emily called, waving her little hand as she looked up at the window where the Scot stood watching.

"Bye Emily. Have fun!" Duncan responded, a wide grin on his face.

The tot ran to hug her 'Unka Jak' and 'Auntie Sam', then grabbed her mother's hand. Casey picked her up and carried her across the event horizon.

The men pushed the ATVs down the steps that led to the 'gate. Daniel put the bicycle helmet that he had purchased for her on his daughter's little head. He put his own helmet on, then climbed onto the vehicle that held their gear, leaned forward as Casey climbed on behind him. He picked Emily up and settled her just in front of him. With a nod, he started the engine, the other ATVs roaring to life as well. He led the way toward the ruins where they would be spending the next two days.

Once again the planet seemed to resemble the landscape of New Mexico and Arizona. Casey was sure that somewhere they would find different climates. Possibly even tropical. She glanced at Texas and Tony and grinned. She hoped that when they found such a place that those two men were with them.

They had arrived on the planet just after dawn, and as the sun rose in the sky, the temperature climbed as well. During one of the rest stops Casey made sure that any exposed skin on her daughter was heavily covered with sunblock. Daniel made sure that the tot drank water, and wouldn't let her run around, as she wanted to do. He explained to her that it was too hot to run, and that she could do that when they camped for the night.

Daniel gave the word, and the team resumed their journey. His heart was pounding with excitement. He loved going on digs. And to have not only his beautiful Wife at his side, but his daughter as well, made him almost giddy with happiness. He looked down at Emily, just as she looked up at him, her blue eyes wide with excitement. She flashed a smile just like her mother's, then looked around them again as they rode across the desert floor. He felt his heart swell with pride and love. Casey's arms tightened around his waist, he could feel the breasts that he loved so much pressing against his back. He grinned. This had been a very good idea. He needed this!

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