A/N: Sorry if this chapter seems rushed, but my muse decided to take a vacation for this chapter, plus I haven't slept in two days – God insomnia sucks.
--
Four days later after his talk with the general, Skyler was in Antarctica. Stepping off the helicopter that had brought him and a few scientists from McMurdo to the Ancient outpost, he had to bite his tongue to keep from swearing out loud at how cold it was; he was really not a fan of the cold having grown up in warmer climates.
Shoving his hands into his jean pockets, Skyler hunched his shoulders forward slightly trying to conserve body heat. Stepping onto the elevator that would take the group down to the research facility, it took every once of control Skyler had to keep himself from visibly shivering. He was a major in the United States Air Force and there was no way in hell he was going to let a bunch of beakers see how much the cold was getting to him.
When the elevator reached it's destination Skyler watched as the scientists stepped out and looked about with wonder and trepidation at all the strange objects and technology in the room. Yeah, this bunch was definitely a batch of newbies with no knowledge of the Stargate or anything associated with it.
It wasn't long before he spied Elizabeth, followed by Grodin - if he remembered right - moving to greet the group. After a quick welcoming speech from Elizabeth, the scientists were off, following after Grodin to the rooms they'd be staying in so they could unpack.
"About damn time." Skyler muttered as he pulled his hands out of his pockets to blow some warm air on them and started bouncing on his feet a bit trying to get his blood flowing to warm himself up. "God, I hate the cold. Have I mentioned that fact?"
"Numerous times, but you're the one who wanted to be here." Elizabeth couldn't help the small smile that formed as she took in here nephew's choice of clothing. "It wouldn't be so bad if you were actually dressed appropriately for the climate."
Skyler was currently wearing a pair of mangled sneakers that were more duct tape than shoe; she couldn't believe he still had the damn things - he'd had them since high school, said they were the most comfortable shoes he'd ever worn and would wear them to the grave, no matter how roughed up and mangled they got - that's what he had duct tape for. He had on black colored, slightly loose fitting jeans, a skin tight black t-shirt, which showed off his muscular build nicely, a red, unbuttoned, button up shirt; long sleeved or short, she couldn't tell due to the light weight leather jacket he wore to finish off the outfit.
"Hold it right there before you go lecturing me." He held up a finger to halt any oncoming lecture. "There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for why I'm not dressed appropriately; the military lost my bag." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at that. "I know it's a shock the military loosing something. Somewhere along the line there was a mix up and my bag was put on the wrong military transport, but they assure me the matter is being looked into and hope to have my bag back to me by the end of the week. 'Til then I literally have nothing but the clothes on my back, that I'd been wearing when I left Colorado - I was off duty at the time and there was no way in hell I was wearing my uniform for the trip all the way out here.
A fully formed grin on her face Elizabeth gently grabbed Skyler's arm leading him away from the elevator. "C'mon I'm sure we can find somebody around here that's about your size and would be willing to lone you some warmer clothes for the time being."
--
Standing topside of the out post – but still within the glass dome – Skyler kept his hands jammed deep into the pockets of the coat he'd barrowed off one of the military grunts – it had been over a month and still no sign of his bag. He hated Antarctica, it was his least favorite place to be, it was so bleak and cold and…cold, but it was where Elizabeth was, which meant no matter how much he hated the place he wasn't going anywhere. It was like he'd told O'Neill, Elizabeth was family and like his dad had always said family looks out for family.
Speaking of O'Neill, Skyler quickly pulled his hand out of his pocket to check his watch, damn it would be another ten minutes before his helicopter landed. Why he was the one that had to greet the general topside Skyler didn't know, but if he ever found out who had "volunteered" him for the job, they were going to get their ass kicked.
Pacing around Skyler paused, the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Not questioning his instincts – years of working at the SGC made sure he never did – Skyler dove to the ground just in time to miss being hit by the drone that had shot out of the elevator shaft and then broke through the glass dome above his head.
"What the hell is going on down there?" He called into his radio, pulling himself up and heading for the elevator only to find that it was on it's way back down. Stuck topside for the time being all Skyler could do was listen to the chatter over the radio.
"We have a rogue drone on the loose, sir." Lt. Ford's voice came over the radio in response to Skyler's question.
"Shit," Knowing that there were at least two inbound crafts in the air Skyler quickly switched his radio to the channel that all inbound crafts used. "All inbound craft, we have a rogue drone that could seek a target on its own. Land immediately and shut down your engines. This is not a drill. I repeat this is not a drill."
After waiting several tense moments Skyler let out a sigh of relief when Major Sheppard's voice came over the radio reporting that drone appeared to have been incapacitated and the helicopter was unharmed and on its way again, only seven minutes out.
--
"General, sir it's good to see you're alright." Skyler greeted as he approached the man getting out of the helicopter.
"Yes it is." Jack paused before ducking back into the helicopter. "Have something for you Major." He pulled out a duffle bag, tossing it to said man.
"It's about damn time." Skyler muttered as he did a quick inventory to make sure nothing was missing from his bag.
Shaking his head Jack headed for the entrance to the dome, "Daniel waiting at the bottom of the pit?"
"Where else, I don't think that man has left the out post since he got here." Skyler slung the bag over his shoulder following after the general.
"Right." Seeing that Sheppard was still standing by the helicopter Jack motioned for the man to follow.
"Sir?" John was surprised that the general wanted him to follow, especially since he didn't have the security clearance.
"If it's your clearance you worried about, consider yourself cleared, Major." Jack called over his shoulder as he entered the dome headed for the elevator.
Seeing the confused look on Sheppard's face Skyler patted the man on the shoulder before pushing him towards the door. "Don't think about it too much, you're liable to give yourself a headache. Just go with the flow."
--
There should be a law against people being so bright and cheerful first thing in the morning. Really–there should. As it was, all Skyler could do was lean against the wall of the SGC elevator and attempt to block out the enthusiastic squawks of the girl next to him as the elevator descended to level 28. He couldn't get off the elevator fast enough when it finally reached its destination – he couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped when the woman didn't get off with him.
Navigating is way through the maze of people and equipment being prepared and checked for the trip through the gate, Skyler reached the Control room only to be greeted by another overly bright and cheerful person. Glaring at Elizabeth he grunted, shamelessly swiping the cup of coffee out of her hands.
"Morning to you too." Elizabeth was too excited to let her nephew's mood dampen her mood. She had been waiting for this day for months.
Giving another grunt Skyler finished the coffee handing the empty cup to a passing airman to deal with. Shaking her head Elizabeth turned to look through the window down at all the activity down in the Gate room. Seeing Colonel Sumner in the gate room Skyler decided he should probably go report in.
A short time later after getting geared up Skyler stood in the Gate room, which was filling up with scientists, military personnel, and equipment, watching as Elizabeth entered calling for everyone's attention moving to stand on the gate ramp.
"All right here we go. We are about to try to make a connection. We have been unable to predict…"
Listening as she gave her speech Skyler allowed his gaze to travel over the room taking in the faces he would get to know over their indefinite time together.
"Begin the dialing sequence."
As alarms sounded and the Gate began to spin he watched Elizabeth step off the gate ramp and exit the room headed for the Gate room. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her this excited or nervous. Not even for her first diplomatic mission to a foreign country had she been like she was at that moment.
"As long as you remember who's giving the orders."
Colonel Sumner's voice brought Skyler out of his thoughts. Looking to see what had the man in a huff already, he wasn't surprised to see the colonel staring Major Sheppard down.
"That would be Doctor Weir, right?"
Score one for the major. It was no secret that Sumner didn't want Sheppard as a part of the expedition, but the major didn't seem to be bothered by the man's obvious distain, just let it all roll off his back.
When the Stargate activated the scientists in the Gate room applaud and some of them even whistled. It wasn't long after that that Sumner started to give orders for the first security team to proceed.
"Security teams one and two, you're up first. All other personnel will follow on our signal. Once on the other side, keep moving, clear the debarkation area. On my lead."
Raising his P-90 into a ready position Skyler prepared to follow Sumner through the gate, but stopped when Elizabeth entered the room saying they would go through together. That had Skyler tensing up – that had definitely not been apart of his plan. Knowing that it wouldn't do any good to try and talk her into waiting he stepped up to the wormhole hesitating slightly to glance over his shoulder at Elizabeth before stepping through the gate.
--
Skyler knew from the moment Sumner recalled all of the security teams back to the Gate room that something was going on, but since he'd been put in charge of making sure all the equipment got stored away safely and that none of the civilians wandered off he wasn't sure of the exact details.
Seeing the little wave that Sheppard gave Elizabeth before he stepped through the gate after Sumner's team Skyler made a mental note to keep an eye on the major, incase the man got any ideas – it was one thing for the man to be friends with his aunt, but quite another if he thought there could be something more. Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind Skyler went back to work.
"Attention all personnel. This is Weir. Stand by for immediate evacuation"
Skyler's head snapped up from the small handheld computer he'd been looking at when he heard Elizabeth's voice over the radio. Evacuation…just what the hell was going on? Handing the handheld off to another soldier he was about to make his way up to the control room to find out what was going on when the city started to shake. Stumbling he braced himself against the large staircase in the Gate room just as the gate activated and Sheppard came through followed by the rest of the marines and who he assumed were the natives of the planet they'd just been on.
Getting his feet under him again Skyler started walking again when suddenly the city jolted so hard that many people were thrown off their feet. One of the civilians that had been in front of him fell backwards and with out thinking about it Skyler threw his arms out to catch her. Getting a look at the woman in his arms he felt his breath catch. She had shoulder length black hair and the greenest eyes he'd ever seen, she was obviously of Asian decent – probably a paternal grandparent.
Snapping out of his haze Skyler helped steady the woman on her feet then headed for the control room. He made his way over to the huge window, and crowded around with the other expedition members. They were high up, in a tower, looking down over a an endless ocean of dark blue water.