Lions and Tigers and Jaffa, OH MY!

A Stargate SG-1/NCIS crossover

Chapter 1

"Hey Gouldie, guess what?"

Major Thomas Merrigoold cringed at the nickname his CO gave him. Ever since he'd joined SG-15, Colonel Michael Langton insisted that the last part of his surname sounded like Goa'uld. Merrigoold didn't mind, though – he'd been called worse over the years. And besides, he'd been through enough with Langton to trust the man with his life.

"What?" Merrigoold responded, turning as his CO caught up with him.

"General Landry finally cleared our vacation time. You know what that means, right?" Langton grinned broadly as he spoke.

"Merrigoold smiled back. What the blonde – haired colonel was referring to was a trip they'd been planning for months. Both Marines had grown up near D.C. and shared a love for a certain local campground. "Yep. There's no place like Perichase." He said. "When do we leave?"

"The next flight leaves tomorrow at 0800. Be there, or be square." Langton said, playfully punching Merrigoold in the shoulder before trotting down the hall.

Merrigoold shook his head. He was often amazed at how many colonels like Langton the SGC managed to pick up. It made his job all the more enjoyable.

"This looks like a good spot" Langton declared, examining his surroundings. They were in a clearing near the main Perichase campground, surrounded on all sides by oak trees. They were the only people around for a mile, since it was Wednesday.

"Seems as good as any" Merrigoold agreed, setting down the camping gear. "And if memory serves me right, there's a river a few miles south that makes for good fishing."

Langton laughed. "You sound like General O'Neill."

"Hey, at least this river actually has fish in it." Merrigoold shot back.

"Just set up the tents while I get the firewood, will you?" Langton said, chuckling as he walked away from the campsite.

It was now dusk as Langton wandered back to the campsite. The sun shown through the trees in botches of orange, pink, and purple.

Langton couldn't help but take note of his surroundings. He'd spent too many missions running from Jaffa that had hidden in the woods to not feel a little jumpy even now, when he knew he was safe on Earth. He picked up his pace, not wanting to be alone any longer than he had to be.

When he finally broke through the trees surrounding the clearing, Merrigoold said, "There you are. If I didn't know any better I woulda sworn you'd run into some Jaffa." His 2IC teased.

"You know what they say - a colonel is never late. Everyone else is simply early." Langton said as he dropped the firewood on the ground.

Merrigoold shook his head. "No, that's what they say about wizards. Get a fire going will you? I want to eat at some point tonight." But a look at his commanding officer told him that something was terribly wrong.

Langton was staring into the trees. "Did you hear that?" he asked hesitantly.

"Hear what?"

"It sounded like a ring device."

Merrigoold snorted. "On Earth?"

"No really –" was all Langton said before he and Merrigoold were shot by staff weapons.