A/N: A companion drabble to "Tears of Joy". Enjoy.

THE THING FROM M3A-210

Evan was tired, sore, and craving a hot shower. It had been a week since the Senior Staff had disappeared into thin air, and he had just gotten back from M3A-210. Not only had he had to deal with the alligator-like creatures found there, one had managed to slip through the Gate behind his team and had caused havoc for the better part of an hour in the Gate Room. The damned thing had finally been dispatched by a fast-moving Marine armed with a P-90 and a wickedly sharp knife; they were still cleaning blue-green ichor off the hard floor in front of the Gate.

He passed Elizabeth's office, and out of habit glanced over to check on Sasha, who had taken up the post during the diplomat's absence. It surprised him to find the lights dimmed and the door shut; a sign taped to the outside both warned of the door's presence (it was clear, just as 3/4 of the walls were) and showed that the Gate techs were slowly regaining their subtle sense of humour once more.

The sign read "CAUTION: Sleeping Sociologist Within! Wake at your own risk!". Evan laughed, and then waved his hand over the door controls, snagging the sign before it got caught as the door retreated into its housing. Sasha was indeed sleeping within, her head pillowed on her crossed arms. She lay on a massive amount of paperwork, some of which threatened to shift and cause an avalanche should any movement save for Sasha's breathing occur.

Evan grinned, and then stepped away from the door, closing it once again. Sasha needed the sleep; come to think of it, they all did. Better let sleeping sociologists lie, then.