Moving On

By Leesa Perrie and Jayne Perry

After Irresponsible

"Long ago it must be, I have a photograph

Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you."

- 'Bookends' by Simon and Garfunkel

Chapter One – Goodbye and Hello

Two months had passed since they had been kidnapped by rogue government agents and found out about the SGC and Atlantis. Two months of thinking and wondering by both of them; not that they had spoken much about it to each other. They had talked through some of the fears they'd felt, and about how to avoid being kidnapped again, but not about the SGC, Atlantis or whether they should have accepted the offer and joined the Stargate project.

During that time there had been changes back in Cascade. Simon had finally given in to the temptation of promotion, and the pressure was on for Jim to take his place. Something he most definitely didn't want.

Jim and Blair had returned to the loft after a day spent chasing a lead that had led nowhere. It was frustrating, but not unexpected. The case they were working on was one of those cases; one that would be difficult, if not impossible, to solve.

They had grabbed a couple of beers and headed out onto the balcony, watching the dusk as it moved into darkness.

"I've been thinking," Jim started.

"Dangerous," Blair immediately replied and grinned. Jim just rolled his eyes.

"Are you happy here, Chief?"

"What?"

"Here, in Cascade."

"I…" Blair looked at Jim, deciding on truth, not obfuscation, "I thought I was. But now… a part of me can't help but wonder if what we are doing here is… I don't know, I mean, I know it's worthwhile, but… compared to what we could be doing…"

"Yeah," Jim sighed. "Somehow Cascade doesn't seem like the place I belong anymore. The SGC however…" he turned and looked at Blair. "I don't want to become the Captain of Major Crimes, I don't want to start moving up the ranks. I like being on the streets and not trapped behind a desk. And I like having a partner, which I wouldn't have as Captain. But what else is there for me here? I could stay as I am, doing what I'm doing now, but how long before the pressure to become Captain becomes too much? Next time, or the time after?"

"I knew you weren't happy," Blair said. "This time you can turn the position down, but how long can you keep doing it for?"

"Forever, in theory, but I don't want to have to deal with all of this, and the more I turn down promotion, the more I'll lose respect. Not the mention that I won't be able to stay on the streets forever."

"And you need an excuse to leave Cascade," Blair said quietly.

Jim looked at him in surprise.

"What?"

"I mean," Blair said, looking out over the city, "You feel you should stay in Cascade, that you are this city's protector. But, maybe, it's time to move on. You were the protector of the Chopec before becoming the protector of Cascade. You've moved on once, due to circumstances. Maybe it's time to move onto something new, only you feel like you need an excuse. Circumstances to push you out of here."

Jim thought about this for a few moments.

"What do you think, Chief? Is it time to move onto something new?"

"Yeah, I think it is. I've been feeling unsettled since we returned from Cheyenne Mountain. Torn, even. My place is with you, not just because of the sentinel thing, but because that's the choice I've made. You're family and I'm sticking by you. But at the same time, there's Rodney. And he's like family to me as well. I know we haven't kept in contact as well as friends, or family, should but… now that I know what he's involved in, the danger for a start, I want to be near to him as well."

"Well, there's a simple solution to all of this," Jim said. "We join the SGC and ask to go to Atlantis."

"Just like that?" Blair said, smiling at the thought.

"Why not?" Jim looked over the city once more. "I don't want to deal with the pressure I'm coming under at the PD, and I agree; I think it's time to move on."

"So…?"

"We contact General Landry and see if the offer is still open, and take it on the proviso that we are sent to Atlantis."

"Cool."

"I don't think Naomi will think so somehow," Jim grinned.

"Oh, well, she's surprised that I've stayed in one place as long as I have. Anyway, I'll just have to make up some cover story about helping the indigenous tribes or something, make it out that we're actually doing something to make the fascist military less fascist in foreign countries."

"Well, rather you than me when you tell her."

"Coward," Blair said teasingly.

"Where Naomi is concerned? Too right. Sage is dangerous weapon when she waves it around," Jim said with a smile.

"Hmm, well, she is a force to be reckoned with, but I can handle her… I think. So, let's make contact with the good General then," Blair said, adding with a smirk, "Just so long as I don't have to cut my hair, of course."

"We also need to make sure he knows I can't just up and leave straight away. I have commitments here, as Acting Captain," Jim looked pained at the title. "I need to wait until the new Captain starts before resigning, and then I have a month's notice to work."

"Yeah. Just upping and leaving everyone in the lurch wouldn't be right. I'll make sure Landry knows that, but we can at least get things started… and contact Rodney to let him know we're coming," Blair laughed. "Oh, I wish I could see his face when he finds that out! I don't know whether he'll be pleased or horrified!"

"Why would he be horrified?" Jim asked.

"Because Atlantis can be a dangerous place to be, and also because I have lots and lots of embarrassing stories I can blackmail him with!"

"Poor McKay, you'll have him quaking in his boots." Jim grinned. "Maybe I could provide him with some blackmail material on you… for a price."

Blair glared at him before bursting into laughter.

"Atlantis, here we come," he said, raising a toast with his beer bottle. Jim raised his to clink against Blair's, smiling in relief. It felt like a load had been removed from his shoulders; that they were finally heading for a place that, although they had never been to, somehow already felt like home.

Blair looked around the empty loft and quietly said goodbye to it. He had wondered if this day would ever come. The Board had finally settled on a replacement for Simon after much discussion. They had seemed to take their time as if hoping that Jim would change his mind and accept the Captaincy for Major Crimes. However, Jim hadn't and they had finally appointed someone else to the position.

With the appointment, Jim had felt free to hand his notice in, and Blair had followed suit. A month's notice had been required, during which time Jim handed the reins over to the new captain, and Blair had suggested possible candidates to replace him as a consultant to the PD.

Jim had been transferred from the Army to the Air Force, by order of the President, as this made things easier for the SGC, and he had also been given a promotion to Major on the recommendation of General Landry; it had been a sweetener on the original deal to try and tempt Jim to consider returning to the military life.

Blair had been taken on as a civilian Anthropologist, with a view to becoming Head of the Department when the current Head eventually moved on. The only downside to this was that he would be answerable to Rodney, as his friend was in charge of the Science Division, but he didn't really think that would be a problem; or at least their friendship would smooth things over if it did. Blair was fully aware of his friend's attitude to the 'soft' sciences, but it had never really been a problem to them in the past; they argued good naturedly about it from time to time, and he knew exactly which buttons to push when he wanted to really wind Rodney up and Rodney knew how to retaliate in kind.

In fact, Blair believed that it was due to his and Rodney's bantering in the past that the Canadian had developed and honed his ability to make lightning fast come backs that were smart and witty, even if they could cut to the bone sometimes.

Rodney had suggested during one of his brief visits to Earth that Jim and Blair buy an apartment in Colorado Springs, as he had done, so that they had a place to go to when back on Earth. So they had located a suitable place, that was in fact an old house divided into two apartments, and most of their belongings were already en route.

They would have a week to settle in before reporting to the SGC for three weeks of induction and alien weapons training, before then heading out to Atlantis via the Intergalactic Gate Bridge.

There had been a bad time several weeks ago when the Ancients had kicked the Expedition out; Rodney had been depressed, and Blair had been unhappy to find out that they would not be working together in the same place after all, with Rodney being at Area 51 and him being at the SGC with Jim.

A run in with the Asurans and a crazy unsanctioned rescue attempt had worked, and Atlantis was now back in the hands of the Expedition members, and Jim and Blair were back on course for another galaxy, much to their relief.

Now it was time to say goodbye to the loft. If it was hard for him to leave this place, with all the good, and bad, memories; it must be even harder for Jim who had lived here for much longer. Not to mention that Jim's family was based in Cascade.

But it was time to go, to move on to the next stage of their lives.

They stood on the porch of the place they would call home in Colorado. Blair had tried to make his apartment feel like home, but due to the short time he was there, it still didn't feel quite his, and he doubted it ever truly would. His new home would be Atlantis, not here.

He picked up his duffle bag and followed Jim to the car that had been hired for them by the SGC. He felt nervous, but excited too, like a kid finally going on a promised treat. The induction was over and today was the day they were going to Atlantis, and he couldn't help bouncing on his toes in anticipation. He suspected Jim was just as excited, but of course, he was keeping it under wraps - which was just typical of the man.

The journey seemed longer than normal, but he knew that was down to his impatience and not to Jim's driving, but eventually they arrived at the SGC and made their way to the bay above the gateroom where the puddle jumpers were stored. New recruits to Atlantis tended to be transported by the Daedalus, but Rodney had arranged for them to use the quicker route via the Gate Bridge, as eager for them to arrive as they were to get there.

When the jumper arrived, to his surprise, Rodney was flying it. Of course, he'd known that Rodney had the ATA gene and could fly the jumpers, he just hadn't expected him to come and collect them himself, being the Head of Science and all that.

"Hey, Rodney. They let you fly one of these on your own, then?" he teased.

"Of course they do! It has nothing to do with bribing Sheppard with the latest college football magazines," he smirked.

As they talked, a couple of airmen started moving three heavy-looking crates into the back of the jumper. Rodney glanced at them, knowing that one of the crates held items that had been requisitioned and were urgently required back on Atlantis. Hopefully one of those items was coffee, as they appeared to be running dangerously low on that particular necessity.

"Two of these are yours. What have you got in them?"

"Oh, clothes, personal items, resource notes, books…" Blair started.

"More books," Jim added dryly.

"And let me guess," Rodney said, catching on. "Even more books?"

Blair nodded, grinning unrepentantly.

"Well, I didn't know which ones I might need, so I brought them all. We've also brought some items for bartering, as per your suggestion."

"Oh, what have you got? Chocolate, coffee…" Rodney looked dreamy-eyed.

"The latest physics journals," Blair added, watching Rodney's eyes light up. "But I could always take them out and leave them…"

"No, no, you don't want to do that!" said Rodney hastily. "Bring as many books and journals as you like."

By this time the crates had been safely stored away and they were ready to go. Rodney moved into the pilot's seat and Blair jumped into the co-pilot's chair, grinning at Jim, who he'd pushed past to get to it. Jim just shook his head, taking the chair behind Blair's.

Permission to descend into the gateroom was given, and as the ship lowered to face the open wormhole, Blair turned to Jim.

"Better dial back your senses for now to be safe. We've no idea how wormhole travel might affect you, or even if it will affect you at all."

"Already done," Jim answered.

"We'll do some tests once we're settled into Atlantis."

Jim groaned, knowing how much Blair loved his tests.

"Ready?" Rodney asked, and on receiving nods, took the jumper through the gate.

The jumper appeared at the mid-way point, and after a quick check by Blair to make sure Jim was handling gate travel with no ill effects, they continued on the last half of the journey.

Jim and Blair's first view of Atlantis was the gateroom, quickly followed by the less glamorous jumper bay. Well, technically less glamorous, but judging by their reactions, not that unimpressive. Rodney thought that Blair was going to strain his neck as he stretched forward to see as much as he possibly could through the view screen.

Blair was in fact so busy looking forward that he was unaware of the tailgate opening and was therefore startled when he heard a feminine voice behind him say, "Welcome to Atlantis. I'm Dr Elizabeth Weir."

"You'll have to forgive Blair, a cat has nothing on him when it comes to curiosity," said Jim smoothly, who had noticed the tailgate being opened when he was assailed by a myriad of strange odours, sounds, tastes even, as well as feeling a change in the gravity and air pressure.

Standing behind her, Jim recognised Colonel Sheppard.

"I'm afraid all new arrivals have to check in with our Chief Medical Officer. McKay will show you the way. In the meantime I'll arrange for your belongings to be sent to the rooms you've been allocated," drawled Sheppard with a smile.

Rodney pushed past them, calling over his shoulder, "Well, come on then. Let's go see the quack and get it over with." They followed him, but he had to keep pausing, waiting for them, well, for Blair mainly, to catch up.

Blair wondered if he'd ever find his way around, but then reminded himself it was no different from when he started at Rainier; before long he would know the corridors like the back of his hand.

As they reached the infirmary, Jim pulled Blair back for a second.

"Keep it cool, Romeo," he whispered, noticing Blair noticing the pretty nurses passing by. Blair merely grinned at him mischievously.

"Here we are," Rodney said loudly.

"Ach, keep it down, man," Carson complained, turning away from his patient to scowl at him. "You must be Jim and Blair," he said, turning his attention to them. "Rodney's been like a cat on a hot tin roof since he heard you were coming."

"I have not," Rodney protested.

"Come this way," Carson said, ignoring him and leading the group to an examination room, picking up their medical files as they passed by his office.

"As you've come straight from the SGC, I only need to do a cursory check-up, however I will have to do a more thorough exam in the near future," he said while glancing through there records. "I notice Jim has a lot of sensitivities that I'll need to take into account should he require treatment at any time, but that shouldn't be a problem. And I'm more than willing to help test for any adverse effects that may be caused by the native remedies we use to supplement our supplies, as well as the local food. Oh, and I notice that Blair has the ATA gene naturally, though the strength of said gene has yet to be fully determined."

"He has the gene, where does it say that?" asked Rodney, grabbing the notes.

"Get your mitts off," Carson said, pulling the notes away with a glare. "Do the words 'doctor/patient confidentiality' mean anything to you? Or would you like me to tell everybody about your…" Carson left the words hanging in the air, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Okay, okay, no need to get nasty," Rodney said, backing off.

"Go and annoy Zelenka for a while, your friends will be here for a half an hour or so yet," Carson suggested.

"Fine. I'll be back later," Rodney said grumpily, leaving them to Carson's tender mercies.

Rodney had intended to catch up with Jim and Blair as soon as they were released from Carson's clutches, but was sidetracked by a minor crisis in the labs and asked Sheppard if he would go in his place, passing on a message that he would see them later.

Sheppard led them down various corridors before stopping at their allocated rooms.

"You've been given quarters opposite each other. Just take your pick and then let me know who has which room."

Entering one of quarters, Blair headed to one of the windows and whistled at the view that lay before him. He could see across part of the city and out to the sea, the vista breathtaking. Atlantis was big, he'd been told that, but seeing was believing. Majestic towers rose, and in between were glimpses of the bluest of oceans.

Oh man, he hoped Jim would be okay with this. He hadn't thought about his fear of deep water and what living in a city on the ocean might mean for him, but Jim seemed alright, perhaps because Atlantis was such a big city; it wasn't really like being on a boat or, even worse, an oil rig, it was more like living on an island. A beautifully sculptured island, with cool technology which, even better, he could control with his mind, and wasn't that going to take some getting used to? Not to mention being totally… cool.

As for the alien civilisations he would encounter, with all their different customs and cultures to explore… Yes, he knew danger lurked in this galaxy, but right now, he was just so excited to be here, in this alien place, with two of his best friends.

Amused, Jim watched his friend, then turned his attention back to Colonel Sheppard.

"Here is the standard 'Welcome Pack'; one for each of you. It includes a list of do's and don'ts, how the plumbing and transporters work and a map of the place. In your pack, Major, I have included a list of your duties for the next week while you settle in, though these are, of course, subject to change," Sheppard had obviously been through this many times, and was speaking from rote. "You can have a couple of days to find your way around and then I want to check you both out on the firing range."

"We were checked out at the SGC," Jim informed him.

"That was at the SGC, this is here. I need to know for myself what I can expect from both of you. I also need to know how to make best use of your enhanced senses," John smiled ruefully. "But I'll make sure you're treated as a person, not a weapon like certain military people might be tempted to." He frowned, knowing that Caldwell had been one of those people. "And I'm sure McKay will keep the science geeks away from you. I've heard some of them would love to do tests, but McKay won't allow it. Nor would Beckett, though he will need to get some baselines, being your newly designated doctor."

"I'll show him my notes. He's already got the ones about allergies and drug sensitivities. If that's okay with you, Jim?" Blair said.

Jim grimaced slightly but nodded.

"Yeah, pass them on. I'm assuming he'll keep them confidential?"

"Of course. Doctor/patient confidentially and all that. You can work out with him what he needs to share with his staff, and what you'd prefer he didn't share. He'll understand your need for privacy, as do I."

"When do we get to go off world?" Blair asked, excitement in his eyes.

"Hold on, tiger, you are off world," Jim said with a grin. "Let's get settled in first and then you can go planet hopping."

"I'm assigning you to join Major Lorne's team for your first few trips off world, with the first one scheduled for later next week. Eventually I want you," he said, nodding to Jim, "To lead a team of your own. In the meantime, I've set up a meet and greet for tomorrow afternoon. I know that Dr Corrigan has some projects he'd like you to look at, Sandburg."

"Oh man, I can't wait to start learning about the cultures in this galaxy," Blair said. "It must be fascinating to see how they have developed, especially with the threat of the Wraith to cope with."

"Yeah, I'm sure it's fascinating to anthropologists," John drawled, shaking his head at Blair's enthusiasm. "You both have headsets?"

"Yes," Jim replied. "And Dr Beckett kindly showed us how to work them."

"Good. Then I'll leave you to get settled in."

A few hours later, Rodney came by and took Jim and Blair to the mess hall to get lunch. Grabbing food and drink, they were hailed by Sheppard, who was sitting at a table with Teyla and Ronon, and they went over to join them.

"Settling into your quarters okay?" Sheppard asked.

"Yeah, no problems. Thanks for sending our stuff down with some of the marines," Blair answered. "Still got some unpacking to do."

"Books, mainly," Jim said with an amused look on his face, which Blair ignored.

"That's good," Sheppard said. "Hey, Rodney, going to do the introductions?"

"What am I, an introduction agency? Very well," he sighed, pointing to each person in turn.

"Teyla, Ronon, meet Dr Blair Sandburg and Major Jim Ellison."

"Welcome to Atlantis," Teyla said with a warm smile.

"What she said. You that guy with enhanced senses?" Ronon asked Jim.

"Yes."

"Ronon's got really good hearing," John added.

"He has?" Blair said, eyes lighting up. "Hey, maybe there are sentinels in this galaxy as well? Certainly people with one or two enhanced senses. I mean, why not?" He turned to look at Ronon, clearly not the least bit intimidated by the man before him as excitement at the possibility of finding sentinels took over. "Maybe I could do a few tests, see how good your hearing is? Were there many on your world that had good senses as well as you? What about in your family?"

Ronon scowled, not that it put the anthropologist off any.

"I wonder if your people have any sentinel myths…"

"Chief, I don't think he's too keen on the idea of tests or answering questions," Jim pointed out to an oblivious Sandburg.

"Huh? Oh, right, well…maybe you'll change your mind?" Noticing at last the glower being sent his way, as well as the size and muscle on the man in front of him, Blair backed off, albeit reluctantly.

"I wouldn't bet on it," Rodney muttered to him.

"I believe there was a story amongst my people about one with very good eyesight, though she was not Athosian. I will ask about it next time I visit with them."

"That would be good of you. And, um, maybe we could get together and talk about your people and their customs? I've read a little before coming here, but it's not the same as talking to the people themselves."

"I am sure I could arrange some time to talk to you."

"Great. We could do it over dinner one night."

"Flirt," Rodney groused.

"Hey, no, purely on a professional basis," Blair defended himself.

"Huh, right. You do know she could kick your ass with both hands tied behind her back, don't you?" Rodney warned.

"Rodney…" Teyla said, trying to look stern despite her amusement.

"What? Are you saying that you couldn't?" he responded defensively.

"I have no wish to harm Dr Sandburg, but if he would like a demonstration of bantos fighting,then I would be happy to show him and also tell him some of my people's history."

"Call me Blair."

Teyla nodded her head in response.

As he watched Blair, Jim could see his friend's head filling up with questions to ask her, and knowing that once Sandburg started he wouldn't want to stop, he thought it would be a good idea to divert the conversation in another direction.

"Nice to meet you both. So, Ronon, I hear you always go round with several knives, is that true?"

"Never know when you may need them." Ronon smiled back at him, taking one out from his belt for Jim to examine.

"Nice craftsmanship," Jim said admiringly, returning it hilt first to its owner. Conversation about native weapons and what they could expect to find off world ensued, with Sheppard and Ronon trying to outdo each.

During their meal, a pretty brunette walked past the table and Blair's eyes followed her out of the room. Shortly after, he was caught watching another woman, this time with blonde hair, walking by.

"Dog," Rodney muttered, elbowing Blair in the ribs.

"Am not."

"Huh, right, you're worse than Kirk over there," he said, looking pointedly at Sheppard.

"Hey," Sheppard said in mock outrage, "I am not Kirk!"

"Yeah, keep thinking that," Rodney said with a snort. "Most Ancient females, and I am talking about the Ancient race here, not ones ready to draw a pension, find him irresistible. I don't see what they see in him myself; must go for brawn rather than brains."

"Hey, could have been Mensa here!" John retorted, and then continued with a sly grin. "Beside, I can't help it if they're attracted to me. Perhaps it's because of my superior gene."

"Your gene is not superior," Rodney disagreed loudly, before muttering truculently, "It's just more natural, that's all."

"I hear there's a gene therapy you can have. Might be worth trying it out myself," Jim said.

"Er... Jim, it might not be a good idea for you to have the gene therapy. I have no idea what effect it will have on you and your senses. After all, they are a genetic trait. I need to talk to Dr Beckett and see if there are any tests we can do that will help to predict how your senses will react. Also, I need to look into how someone with enhanced senses will react to interfacing with the Ancient technology."

"I take it that means I won't be getting the gene anytime soon," Jim groused.

"Sorry, Jim," Blair replied. "But we don't want you to have a bad reaction to the therapy."

"Well, nice meeting you two again," Sheppard said getting up. "But the Daedalus has just got in with a whole batch of paperwork from Earth that I need to look over."

Leaving them to finish their meal, he made his way to his office.