"Colonel take a seat." Landry ordered two weeks later. Nodding John sat opposite the General and waited.

"I hear Dr Keller is being released from here in the next twenty-four hours." The General started.

"Yes Sir. She's looking forward to seeing her father."

"I'm sure she is. Dr Lam said she's making good progress and you were responsible." Landry went on. The formal reference to his daughter made John wonder if the Landry family was a screwed up as the Sheppard family.

"Seeing I'm responsible for her being in her current state it only seems right I help her get out of it."

"Noble sentiments. How are you doing?" Landry asked.

"Fine Sir, I came out with barely scratch." John said avoiding the question the General wanted answered.

"Tell me something Colonel, do you think you made the right decision?"

"That kind of depends from your point of view. It kept Atlantis safe." John said.

"To the detriment of Dr Keller." Landry pointed out. "Tell me, if you found yourself in a similar situation would you make the same decision?"

"Yes Sir."

"You sure?"

"I'd still feel like crap for doing it. But I'd still make the same decision."

"Just remember Colonel, sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision right." Landry said before adding. "Dr Phil."

"Yes Sir." John said politely not sure how to respond. For a moment the John felt an awkward silence in the room before Landry opened a file and said.

"All your assessments are back and you've passed."

"I always was good at tests." John replied.

"And, based on your file, you've always been good at being a smart ass, but that's not a good thing. But regardless we are left with the question do you want to go back? If you feel you need more time I can always lose your file on Walter's desk for two or three weeks."

"I'm ready Sir." John said.

"You sure? You see I grew quite attached to Colonel Carter and I wouldn't want to do something that will cause her any headaches, it sounds like she has quite enough of those already."

"I'm sure." John said. When Landry remained silent John felt compelled to explain. "I admit I may have loss my way for a bit. And I will always feel responsible for what happened, but that doesn't mean I can't make a valuable contribution to Atlantis."

"Fair enough. In that case you can transfer to Midway at 21:00."

"Thank you Sir." John replied. When he didn't move Landry asked.

"Something else on your mind?"

"Actually Sir, I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

-00-

"Mr Keller?" John asked as the door opened.

"Yes. Can I help you?"

"I'm Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard with the US Air Force." John greeted.

"Jennifer?" The elder Keller asked as he paled.

"I was hoping by not wearing uniform you wouldn't jump to the worse conclusion." John said. "This isn't one of those official visits."

"So she's okay?"

"Can I come in?" John asked, wondering how he was managing to screw the visit up so much.

"Sure." The still pale man responded, desperate to know why John was there. Directing John to a chair he waited nervously for John to begin.

"I serve at the same base as Jennifer. Recently we were taken by hostile forces and she was badly beaten. She's got some cracked ribs and bruising and is currently in an Air Force hospital. She should be released tonight or tomorrow. After which she'll be returned here until she is recovered, assuming she wants to go back." John explained before standing and pacing.

"Why would she be taken? Why was she attacked and not you?" Jennifer's father asked sinking down onto a chair.

"Because I failed her. I'm responsible for her safety and I let her down. She was attacked to make me talk. I can never make up for that." He paused and stopped pacing. "The reason I'm here….This seemed like a good idea at the time." He said more to himself than Jennifer's father. "When we were captive you were the thing that kept her going and she told me the part she hated most about her job is having to lie to you. I can't tell you what we do or even where we're based. But I wanted you to know that what Jennifer does is important and she's damn good at her job. I'm sure you are, but I just wanted to tell you that you should be proud of her." He paused again and then said. "I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have come. I just thought this might help Jennifer. I should go." John started to turn to the door before pulling out a card and turning back to Jennifer's father. "Regardless of whether she chooses to come back, if you ever need to talk to someone I can be reached on this email. I can't guarantee to respond quickly, lines of communications tend to be slow, but I will get back to you and help in anyway I can. I'm sorry." With that he left, wondering if he had just made things worse.

-00-

"All packed?" John asked Jennifer having returned to the SGC.

"Hey, I thought you'd left." Jennifer said looking round at the Colonel.

"Without saying goodbye?"

"I heard you'd been cleared and were returning to Atlantis and you had left the base."

"I had something to do on Earth before the trip back. I don't leave for Midway for another twenty minutes." John said, not having the courage to confess his visit to Jennifer's father.

"Twenty minutes? Shouldn't you be packing?"

"Not of all us pack for Armageddon." John smiled before sobering and asking. "You going to be okay?"

"I think so." Jennifer said after a pause before saying. "You've never asked."

"Asked what?"

"If I want to go back."

"No I haven't." John confirmed. "I was figuring that if you had decided you'd tell me. I know what I hope you're answer will be, but I'm not going to pressure you one way or the other. Anyway I'd better be going. Good luck and have a good trip back to your dad's."

"Wait." Jennifer said. "I've never thanked you properly. I don't think I could have come through this without you."

"Sure you could." John said. "I just offered a bit of support. You did the hard work."

"Thank you anyway."

"You're welcome." John smiled, just as he was summoned to the gate room. "I really have to go."

"Colonel." Jennifer called after him.

"Yeah."

"Take care of yourself."

"When do I ever not?" John smirked before walking away from Jennifer for, what he worried was, the last time.

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Penultimate chapter up tomorrow.