Epilogue - Three Months Later...

"So, how is she?" General O'Neill's voice came through a touch of static on the newly placed MALP.

"The wee lass is amazing!" Doctor Carson Beckett beamed, rocking back on his heels. "We could really use someone of her particular talents on Atlantis."

"I'm sure you could," O'Neill responded dryly, "and I'm also sure she doesn't take kindly to being referred to as 'the wee lass'."

"No, she doesn't."

"Doctor Fraiser!" Beckett jumped. "I didn't know you were there."

"One of my many 'talents'," Janet nodded toward the MALP. "The general is waiting for your report."

"Oh. Right." Beckett turned back toward the questioning camera, and cleared his throat. "I've found nothing abnormal, other than a slightly elevated body temperature, which she tells me has been constant from the beginning."

"And the whole... DNA thing?"

"Well," Beckett rocked back on his heels again, giving the appearance of being about to address a lecture hall. "As I don't have access to the original notes, and the tests she performed on herself in Ba'al's laboratory, I can only tell you that based on what she's said, the changes appear to be stable. And quite remarkable. Similar in a way to the retrovirus I developed for the ATA gene, but with a 100 percent success rate so far. If I only had access to the notes on the formula..." he gave Janet a reproachful look.

"Yeah Doc, we know you're the big fancy genes guy," Jack cut in. "That's why Elizabeth Weir hired you in the first place, that and your own genetic mutation." One could almost hear a smirk in the general's voice at that last. "But Janet destroyed Ba'al's lab for a reason, right?"

"Right, General." Janet gave Carson a stern look.

"So all I want to know," O'Neill continued, "is that she's healthy, and going to stay that way as far as you can tell."

"Aye," Carson muttered.

"Aye what?"

"Aye, the lass is fine."

"Good. The Daedalus is on it's way to pick you up - rendezvous in one hour. O'Neill out." The light on the MALP winked out.

Beckett picked up his bag. "One thing I don't understand. How did your daughter know where to find you? General O'Neill said she saw you in a dream."

"Nirrti experimented on Cass years ago," Janet said quietly. "One of the reasons I didn't want her research to survive. Perhaps with my attempts, some sort of connection was formed."

"But Cassie's DNA reverted."

"Then I guess some things will remain unexplained."

Carson sighed. "And you can live with that?"

"I can."

"If ye ever change your mind..."

"About the research? I won't. About the Pegasus Galaxy? I might like a change of scenery some day," Janet smiled.

"Well there's a cup of tea in it for you if ye do."

Janet made a face. "Make it coffee and you're on."

Carson's face brightened. "I happen to know where the absolute worst coffee is on Atlantis."

Janet laughed. "Goodbye Doctor."

"Bye just now."

As Beckett trudged off to his rendezvous point, Janet turned back toward the small hut she shared with her daughter. She tilted up her head and felt the sun on her face. And felt alive.

the end