I know you guys have been so good waiting for this chapter. I warned you I would be travelling a lot and still am. I apologize for the wait and hope you will enjoy this chapter. The end is near!

This chapter was written in between two interviews so hopefully I won't have rushed it too much. It is also longer!

Thank you ellymelly my awesome beta!

I am also very grateful to my regular and new reviewers: asdeed, Samisim, Miss Pookamonga, saphiretwin369, Sam Carter McKay,Cody Smith and Lysiam.

Your reviews are always a pleasure to read!


Previously, in chapter 7…

The feeling that something big was happening, a revelation or a confirmation maybe… Maybe she did love him after all, maybe she could not prevent herself from falling in love with him. She considered leaning closer but was interrupted by Radek clearing his throat.

"Huh-hmm. Did you hear a word of what I said?"

Carter looked away from Rodney and blushed a deep crimson red. Rodney sighed and turned to snap at the Czech scientist, "WHAT?"


Chapter 8

Radek was surprised that both of the scientists had been oblivious to his previous words. This was not their usual behavior, they were always so focused... His musing stopped short at Rodney's annoyed tone snapping back at him, "WHAT?"

Radek sighed, "The data from the DHD of the Furling planet is either hidden or encoded. I have been working on it since yesterday and the little I can get makes no sense but I have a theory..."

Rodney rolled his eyes, he had been interrupted for this?

"So?" he asked, even more annoyed.

"This race altered the DHD so it would modify its data every time someone comes through the gate. There must be some device hidden to prevent us from getting the information we need."

Carter still hadn't said a word, and had a hard time focusing on the conversation. Still in shock from the appearance of her feelings for Rodney, her brain was still trying to comprehend what it had almost wished to do. The sudden surge of feelings had thrown her off balance and now she was left blushing despite herself. She looked at Rodney who seemed to be unaffected by their connection a few minutes ago and wondered if she had not imagined the whole thing. She finally managed to compose herself before looking Radek in the eye.

"You are sure that this data was altered by another alien device? The MALP showed nothing that could confirm any presence of foreign technology and Major Lorne's team didn't report anything of the sort."

"Yes. This data is compromised by something but the DHD still has the information I need. I suggest you send a team now. I could come with them to find the original data and get it back here."

Carter nodded and left the room without sparing a glace at Rodney.

Radek stared curiously at her retreating form before turning to Rodney.

"Do you want to take a look at the data?"

Rodney was staring blankly at the spot Carter had occupied a few seconds ago, "No, I need a break." With that, Rodney left the lab leaving Radek even more puzzled than he already was.


Two hours later, Radek and the team led by Captain Vega came back with an interesting report. They had found a device embedded in the DHD. Radek's suspicions had been right but the device had been a bit problematic to turn off. Radek informed Carter and McKay that the device had a similarity to their time travelling device and he actually didn't know how he had managed to turn to disable it.

"It just turned itself off," the Czech scientist had said, helpless.

Radek had managed to bring back a very large amount of data from the DHD memory crystal and left directly to the lab as soon as the mission report ended.

Rodney was still in the conference room waiting for Captain Vega and her team to leave. He was sitting there, watching Carter gather the few papers scattered before her. She took notice of his eyes watching her and finally asked him, "Is there something that you needed?"

To tell the truth Rodney wasn't sure why he was waiting here. He had been surprised by their connection in the lab and had not been able to think properly since her sudden departure earlier.

"I…" began Rodney. "I think we need to talk."

Rodney felt the blood rush from his face at his sudden bold behavior. He never had been one to talk but the past days had been too much for him and he needed to know where he stood right now.

Carter looked up at him with a surprised look flashing over her face. She gave a small nod and said, "Has she talked to you too?"

No need to say who she was referring too. Future Sam had managed to break the emotional shell between them and talking was actually becoming necessary at this point.

"She did," answered Rodney. "She told me a few things but they don't really matter here." He stopped for a moment.

"I wanted to talk about what happened…" he sighed. "Did you fell something in the lab?"

Carter opened her mouth but was too shocked to answer him.

Rodney dropped his gaze and continued, "I felt something when I looked in your eyes. I hope that doesn't sound too cheesy. It does sound cheesy! Oh great, this was a bad idea…now I'm rambling."

Carter smiled despite herself and let a small chuckle she quickly tried to stifle with her hand.

Rodney looked up at her, outraged by her reaction but quickly saw the smile on her face and smiled back.

"Sorry!" they both whispered.

Rodney continued, feeling a bit braver now that she was smiling, "Look, I know this situation is not the best but I have come to realize that maybe…"

"I like you too," blurted Carter.

"Oh!" was all Rodney could manage at this point.

Carter was biting her lower lip, not believing what she had actually said. She was not acting rationally and blamed her brain for that. She waited to see what Rodney would say next.

Rodney grinned at her and took a step closer to her, "Really?"

She released her lower lip from her teeth and smiled.

A buzz coming from her earpiece told her that someone was calling her, she gave a sad smile to Rodney before answering.

"This is Carter."

Rodney watched with fascination as she tucked her hair behind her ear and continued her conversation with whoever was calling. Right now, Rodney was felling pretty smug but that was until he heard her end her conversation.

"Sure Radek, we will be right there."

Rodney sighed, their talk would have to wait.

"That was fast," said Rodney, trying not to sound disappointed.

"Radek mentioned something very interesting. We should go."

They both left the room, a bit frustrated for not being able to finish their discussion but still happy they had managed to acknowledge that something was happening between them.


Radek frowned at the pair who entered the lab wearing the same little smile on their faces. Rodney was the first to recover upon seeing Radek gaze seriously in their direction.

"So? What did you find?" he asked abruptely.

"There's a gate address present over a hundred times in the DHD memory crystal."

Carter and Rodney looked at each other for a second before shifting their gaze to Radek, finally focusing on the meaning behind Radek's words.

"Really?" both asked in one voice.

Radek gave a small chuckle at their reaction.

"Yes. There are many gate addresses on the crystal but one has been dialed too many times to be a coincidence, so I assume it could lead us to these Furlings or someone who knows them."

Carter nodded and smiled, this was good news. Finally things seemed to be turning to the better.

Too happy about finally having a lead to the Furlings, she turned to leave before saying, "I'm going to schedule a recon mission ASAP. I can have a team ready in one hour."

Carter was already at the door when Rodney stopped her, a trace of hesitation in his voice "I…I want to go!"

Carter snapped her head back to watch him. Surprised she raised her eyebrows, unsure of Rodney's motives behind his uncertainty and desire to go on a recon mission.

"Alright, I will talk to Sheppard."

She left the lab and Radek looked at Rodney suspiciously, "What was all of that about?"

"What?"

"You…her… you are both acting weird… distracted."

Rodney's mouth opened a few time but didn't know what lie he could give Radek. He wasn't sure what was going on with himself either.

Radek shook his head and muttered, "Never mind." The Czech scientist took his laptop and left the lab for the control room leaving a perplex Rodney behind.


One hour later, Sheppard's team was in the Gateroom along with Future Sam and John. Everyone seemed to be in a different range of nervousness when Rodney finally joined them

Rodney took a second to notice that his team and the future visitors were all going on this mission with him. Rodney grunted and looked at Sheppard, "So everyone is going?"

Sheppard smirked at Rodney's reaction, "Yep. We are all bored and this could be a huge mission if we finally get to meet the Furlings. You didn't think we would leave you to have all the fun?"

Rodney shrugged and avoided Sheppard's teasing gaze.

Colonel Carter was watching them from the Control Room, feeling a bit worried. This was just another lead and she knew that she shouldn't be overconfident about it but somehow she had a feeling this mission would have a better outcome than the other. She gave Chuck the go-ahead to dial the Gate and stared pensively as the glyphs slowly lighted themselves.

The wormhole established without problems and connected to the planet. However, a few seconds after the usual blue glow materialized a weird greenish glow came from the wormhole. The team looked at each other before turning their focus on Rodney who was already theorizing about what this could mean.

Carter turned to Chuck, "Are you getting any energy readings from the wormhole?"

"Yes, there's an EM reading emanating from the event horizon but not strong enough to affect our side of the wormhole."

"It could be an integrated shield with electromagnetic properties," proposed Carter to her audience below.

"A weapon disabler?" yelled Rodney from the Gateroom, thinking of a report he had read from SG1.

"An MRI?" suggested Future John after watching Future Sam nod at Rodney's guess.

"Send The MALP," ordered Colonel Sheppard

"WAIT!" yelled Rodney. "The electromagnetic field might disable the MALP, we should not waste technology for nothing!" he argued, a bewildered look on his face.

Sheppard shook his head, "I'm willing to take the risk, send the MALP."

Colonel Carter nodded at John. He was right, they had to try something. They had lost enough time already.

The MALP slowly went through the wormhole and disappeared.

Every head turned upward to the Control Room, waiting for Chuck and Carter to say something.

"Receiving telemetry…"

A relieved sigh came from Rodney's direction.

"We have a connection," said Carter.

A white glow was coming from the computer screen where a middle aged man could be seen wearing a white robe as he was standing in front of the MALP, an expression of curiosity in his eyes.

"Hello?" The voice of the man came through the computer's speakers. He spoke in a thick accent and seemed careful not to move any closer to the MALP.

"Hello?" answered Carter.

John and Rodney ran up the stairs soon followed by everyone else.

The man was speaking again, "My name is Delios Naphrati, I'm the guardian of this planet. What is your purpose here?" he said, still watching the MALP with what Rodney could take as scientific interest.

"Hi! My name is Colonel Samantha Carter from Atlantis. You are talking to us thanks to a communication device we use to explore other planets. We are explorers searching for a race called the Furlings or maybe known by another name. We found this address on another planet known to have been inhabited by this race."

Delios was standing unmoving. His face seemed not to show any emotion upon hearing Carter's words. "I see. And why do you need to find those … Furlings?" asked he man cautiously.

"We found a device created by them that has caused some problems and we now need their help."

"I'm afraid I can't help you with this matter."

"Please. If this address is right you must know about this race. They have come to your planet many times. Maybe they are trading partners or are related to you. We need you to help us with this device."

The man thought for a while before speaking again, "What is the problem this device is causing to you?"

"It brought time travelers to our planet."

"… I see."

Delios didn't seem surprised by this information which led Rodney to think the guy was actually a Furling himself. Delios continued to stare at the MALP and gave a stern look in the video.

"Some events are not meant to happen and this is a bigger problem than your mind can comprehend. Send one of your people with this device and I will see what I can do."

Carter quickly tried to intercede.

"We usually don't let people travel alone for safety reasons. Allow me to send a team."

"Which number would satisfy your safety procedures?"

"Four people," said Carter thinking of sending SGA-1 only.

Delios seemed to think for a long time and the silence grew unpleasant on Atlantis.

"I accept. Do send the time travelers you mentioned. I need to talk to them personally."

Carter sighed, "Fine."

She nodded at Sheppard who looked at Ronon and Teyla, "Sorry guys. Better luck next time."

Ronon grunted, "You sure you don't want me to come instead of McKay?"

"As much as I hate to say it, he will be more useful on this mission."

Carter addressed Delios via the MALP, "They are coming through now."

Delios nodded and walked away from the Gate, leaving outside the MALP video range.

Rodney, the two Sheppards and Sam walked down the stairs of the Control Room and crossed the event horizon, the wormhole shutting behind them. Carter stood still watching the now empty room and wondered what could possibly happen now.


Next chapter… soon enough!

A/N: I actually had two different ideas for this chapter and choose more Furlings to the plot over a more philosophical discussion.

Do tell me if you liked. I will try to post next chapter next week (if I don't have to go across the country again!)