"I don't really understand why you wouldn't take us with you!" Rodney whined following Sam through the corridors of Atlantis towards the pier where the Hammond was waiting and preparing for the take-off. "We're free!" He motioned to himself and Sheppard. "And we can help if anything needs…"
"Rodney, I know you're free. I believe that was the purpose of your team getting several days off." Sam barked turning around and blocking his path. "This is just a test drive for our systems to check if everything is working as it should be. We're not even taking the full crew with us. And no, Rodney, you're not going along this time."
"Sam, it's fun!"
"General O'Neill made it clear." Sam whined. "You're to get some R&R before you return to duty and we all go in search of this strange machine."
"FINE! Go by yourself and have a horrible time there!" Rodney growled and stormed back towards the nearest transporter.
John waited and looked at Sam when she cooled down from confrontation with the scientist.
"And you, John." She said quietly and wearily. "What are you still doing here? You should be getting back just like him. Jack wanted you resting as well."
"I will go, don't worry." John put his hands up as if to indicate that he was not a threat to her sanity. "I'm just under impression that there is something you're not telling us. That you have some agenda and your course is not really random. I would like to say, for the record, that I don't like it at all. Don't get me wrong, I get the need for secrecy sometimes but I don't have to like it."
"John…"
"Just… just tell me if I need to worry much about what you're expecting to find where you're going?"
"I hope there would not be much to report. But I know this would not be pleasant either way." Sam answered thruthfully. "But I have my orders and I happen to agree with them however heartbreaking they may be."
"So, if you find what you're checking for?"
"I am to destroy it immediately and completely."
"And if you don't?"
"Then we can be royally screwed, John, although I wouldn't have to make hard choices." Sam admitted when they started walking again towards the pier. "John, I know you probably should go there with me but at the same time I think you need your rest, physical and emotional, because next couple of days, maybe weeks are going to be hard."
"Sam…" John struggled to say what he though and Sam could see it in his eyes. He started connecting the dots. In the end he decided to keep it inside. "Be safe out there and come back quickly." He smiled. "Rodney will be unbearable if he stays cooped up too long."
"It shouldn't take more than a day if our drive is fully functional again, so be prepared to go on a mission rather quickly."
"We'll be. Good luck."
John waved her good bye and left towards the transporter at a brisk run. Probably was going to get to Rodney before the scientist got to the transporter. She was almost at the exit to the pier where her ship resided and she could already feel the gentle vibrations that carried through the walls of Atlantis from Hammond's engines. The ship was already powered up just like she ordered the crew. The sound was a music to her ears. Instead of the erratic sound that greeted her when she came for repairs there was a steady and fine hum that she was used to. She neared the hull and started her final brief inspection. She could have just beamed directly into the bridge but decided to take a little time to see for herself that her ship was once again ready to fly and face anything the world threw at her. The hull was battered, this was to be expected but all the damage was under control now and smoothed enough not to be of importance in battle conditions or during hyperspace travel.
Nearing the entrance into the ship in the lower cargo bay she took the most direct route through the ship to get on the bridge.
"Okay, kids." She said a little breathless from running and climbing the ladders. "Take us up gently. Try to keep from damaging the city, please. We did enough damage getting down."
"Hammond, you going?" O'Neill sounded in her earpiece. "You sure the ship is ready?"
"As ready as she'll ever be, general." Sam smiled. "See you in a day."
"See you soon, Carter. Have a nice trip. Atlantis out."