Disclaimer: All SG characters are property of their creators. Ebony and the plot, if you can call it that, is of my creation. :)

Her previously determined, quick pace began to slow as she drew nearer to the Main Control Room. Ebony had been psyching herself up for nearly an hour before finally deciding that she could no longer put off the inevitable. Considering the fact that she had never personally conversed with the man, Ebony was clueless as to why she was so nervous about consulting him; the rumours she had heard from her colleagues fuelling her fear.

As she reached the door of the Control Room, she paused and took a deep breath before pressing the entry pad. Inside the room, Eli and Brody were in discussion about football, apparently discussing the latest scores that had been relayed to them from Earth. Rush, meanwhile, was staring down at a console, his face one of pure concentration. Brody noticed her enter the room first and waved in greeting.

"Ebony! Hi! How are you doing?" he called, causing Rush to look up from his work. Rush briefly looked Ebony up and down before returning to his figures.

"Hey, Brody. Eli." She nodded in his direction. "Nice to see you again. I'm doing fine thanks, and yourself?"

"Good, good." replied Brody. "Recovering from last night a little though, I guess!" He laughed. Camille had discovered the alcoholic properties of a new plant on board Destiny which created a stronger drink than their previous substitute. On the discovery of it, the crew had decided to test the new drink and many were feeling the after effects.

"Ah, you as well! Most of the crew seem to be suffering a great deal this morning. I'm personally feeling pretty chirpy. I think keeping to only a couple of glasses was the right idea." Ebony stuck her tongue out at Brody, mocking him. "How about you, Eli? Feeling the repercussions of a heavy night?"

"You have no idea." replied a tired looking Eli. "My head feels as though I've been hitting it against a wall all night."

Ebony laughed in reply, her stance far more relaxed than it had been when she first entered the room.

"Anyway, I'm not here to discuss last night. I'm sure you two can see your idiocy on the Keno footage, unless Eli has already removed the evidence?"

"Way ahead of you there!" said Eli, flushing slightly.

"I'm actually here to talk to Dr. Rush." Rush looked up at the mention of his name. "Do you have a minute?"

Rush put down his notebook, resting his hands on the edges of the console in front of him. "What could you possibly want to talk to me about?"

"Well, basically about assisting you in your research. Linguistics is my specialty, and both Camille and Colonel Young suggested that I'd be best suited to helping you." She paused. "I've been washing dishes and growing plants since I got here, which isn't exactly the career path I had picked out."

"How much experience do you have in the field? You look too young to have major Stargate experience." Rush looked at her sceptically, his estimations of her were clearly low.

"Not much to speak of, I guess." Ebony paused, clearly feeling inferior and bashful. "I was being interviewed for a translation post at SGC when the whole Destiny business began. Dr Jackson had recommended me for the position and I was to begin learning Ancient from him. I was always most interested in xenolinguistics."

Rush moved from his console, and walked over to Ebony slowly, stopping a couple of metres from her. "So, what you're saying is that you have no real experience and you don't know Ancient? Excuse me for being so blunt, but what is it, exactly, that you feel you would be useful for?" Rush was staring at her, his eyes boring into hers, challenging her.

"Rush, give her a break. She's only trying to help." interjected Eli.

"No, Eli. That's exactly what I'm saying. As far as xenolinguistics are concerned, I have little experience. However, before applying for SGC I worked as a translator for diplomats and delegates from around the world. I learn languages quickly. It's what I do and if I don't do it right, wars could be started easily. It's tough, but it's what I do." She punctuated the last three words clearly, emphasising her point. Passion and a degree of anger causing her voice to rise. "I'm not washing dishes for the rest of my time here. If I have to learn Ancient before I can help, then so be it. Teach me, and I'll learn."

Rush was speechless and his glare had turned to a dumbfounded look which was slowly morphing into one of respect. Both Brody and Eli were, too, staring at Ebony, neither quite believing that she had stood up to Rush like that.

"So. May I be of any assistance, or do I have to go and put my rubber gloves back on?" This time it was Ebony who sent a challenging glare towards Rush, which he met.

"I think, Ebony was it? That your assistance could prove to be of use." Eli and Brody turned to face him, disbelief etched into their features. "These two are pretty hopeless with Ancient, so let us see if you're really as good as you claim to be. Be here at 0600 tomorrow." With that, he walked back to his console, picked up his notebook and began scribbling symbols.

"0600. I'll be here." Ebony took a deep breath, turning to Eli and Brody. "See you guys in the Mess tonight?" They nodded and watched as she walked out the door, head held high.

"Wow." exclaimed Eli. "She's got balls."

Eli and Brody laughed together, oblivious to Rush's silent brooding. He hadn't been spoken to like that in a while and he was intrigued by her insolence and her determination. She was one to watch.

A/N: Sorry for the wait guys! And sorry if chapter lengths are huuuge. I never know whether to post them as separate ones, or to put multiple chapters in one. So for now I'll do them this way, and attempt to update regularly! :D I hope you're all enjoying it! Please r+r. Any ideas etc. send 'em my way.