CHAPTER 25 – THOSE MAGIC HANDS

He had awakened with a sense of calm and stretching slightly to ease the kinks, he had felt that instant warmth flood through him. A long night with her in his arms. She had awoken him twice during that night, needing more from him, and needing the same thing from her – they had simply taken from each other until sated, and slept again. Then had come the calm understanding in his mind. It was not just need. It was the beginning of something more than just physical and it was with this thought on the tip of his consciousness that he had rolled over that morning, reaching for her body again, to find the bed empty.

Therefore it was a slightly disgruntled Colonel who, after spending a half hour trying to find her, had at last made his way to the jumper bay, where all measure of activity was taking place.

Walking up to one of 302's, he had seen her slim legs stretching out underneath the bottom, one of the feet tapping a rhythm that only the owner could hear. A smile came to his face then, and reaching down, he ran his hand up that leg, hearing a muffled oath, a crashing and then the flushed face of one very delectible grease monkey scooted out from underneath the ship, silver eyes flashing molten steel.

"Damn it John! I nearly short circuited something... damn."

His grin grew wider and he was pleased to bring a little of his own angst to her. Payback was a bitch.

"Serves you right for leaving me... alone... this morning. The bed got cold, and hell – I was expecting a warm body to still be there."

"Excuse me you two... if you've quite finished with the analogy of last night's activities, which incidentally is of no interest to the rest of us here?"

Rodney's acerbic comment caused a sardonic lift of his eyebrow, and flicking a glance around the jumper bay, found that Lorne and Sam were both there as well, amused smiles on their faces.

"Ok, so … consider that the equivalent of a public announcement. Citywide." The Colonel was unrepentant. If the rest of the gang knew about them, then so be it. He'd happily shout it from the highest tower in Atlantis – if anyone gave a damn. And he was pretty sure they didn't... except maybe General O'Neill. That particular annoucement could be a little awkward.

"Anyway... what is going on here, and why does this particular party not include me... hmmm?"

"Seems Jo had an epiphany in the early hours of the morning..." Rodney began...

John's eyebrows shot skyward. An epiphany? His recollection of the early hours of that morning brought other things to mind... but perhaps it was being called an 'epiphany' these days. As if catching his train of thought, Jo scowled at him, bringing a delighted smile to his face. It was fun rattling her. It brought out those violet highlights in her eyes and made her all flushed... which brought other things to mind.

"...and she wanted to strip down the 302's and see if her theory panned out. Apparantly she tried to wake you but you were sleeping like the proverbial baby. Anyway, long story short... magic hands here has found something."

'Magic hands' was indeed almost beside herself with glee and John made a calming motion with his own hands to try and get her to bring it down a level before she exploded. Lorne was outright grinning, and shaking his head. Despite their earlier rocky start, he had become good friends with the young mechanic and while he certainly did not envy the Colonel what he was taking on, as a friend, she was proving to be most entertaining.

"I got to thinking John – why the 302's? Yeah, they have basic Asgard technology, at least that is what I understand from studying the manuals – but they must have something more to make them a deal breaker. So...Rodney and I have pulled the drive system apart."

Absently, she rubbed a hand across her cheek and it came away smeared with... something and he stepped forward to run a thumb down her cheek to remove whatever it was. She looked at him distractedly.

"We found something John..."

"You found something, Jo – I just helped you to sort out what it could be..."

John looked at Rodney in surprise. It wasn't like the scientist to allow anyone else to take any credit whatsoever for anything that he was even partially involved in.

She reached down under the craft and brought out a small piece of equipment. Innocuous looking, it was oval shaped and had small fibrous wires attached and to John it looked like a spider... or a bug – and he gave a shiver of disgust. He did not like bugs of any description, metallic or otherwise.

"Ok you two – can you break the suspense a little.. I may be slower than the pair of you, but my brain can generally follow along at a reasonable pace, so please – don't hold back on my account."

Jo carried on, giving Sam a quick look in order to get her approval. They had been chatting earlier and Sam had told Jo about her talk with Jack the previous night and had been able to lay the girl's concerns at rest as to whether he was involved at all in her father's disappearance. She hadn't divulged much else to her, preferring to fill John in first.

"This is Asgard technology John – and not on the approved list – at least that's what Rodney tells me. Weapons technology, not used on either of your battle cruisers and not sanctioned at all by the Asgard. It's been fitted into the 302 – and there are some other modifications. Essentially? These are not the same ships that you know the 302's to be."

"But when I flew it yesterday... I didn't feel anything different."

"Likely because you didn't have to access these additional features. Weapons for one – and pretty powerful weapons. More powerful than the drones you use here. A specialised tracking device has been added, and the kicker? Hyperspace capability."

John's mind was reeling. For two reasons. Firstly? How did this young mechanic from earth, who a short time ago had no knowledge whatsoever of the stargate programme, understand and accept so readily, the technology and capabilites of an alien race. That more or less blew him away. And the second – this information made the F302 an extremely formidable ship with capabilties beyond anything that they had at present or had come across in this galaxy.

This would make the F302's an extremely desired bargaining chip. And the pilots? Icing on the cake as part of the deal. Access to the ancient gene. So the little deal that had been put on the table? Just seemed a whole lot sweeter for whoever was on the receiving end of it.

But Jo wasn't finished dropping her little bombshells yet. Not by a long shot.

"I found what could more or less be called, a signature. Not on the technology I just showed you – but on some of the basic functioning systems that have been upgraded and modified to make them a whole lot more efficient than your original 302's. Given what Rodney has told me – it seems unlikely that these particular modifications were sanctioned by your government."

He waited for her to finish. Her eyes sparkled now and he felt himself spiralling down into a tunnel that he doubted he would find his way out of. Feelings and emotions and a connection with her that was strengthening by the minute.

"Some of these components, John. Only accessible by one group." It was Rodney who took up the explanation now, his own enthusiasm showing as he theatrically waved his hands to emphasis his words. "The Trust... ring any bells?"

John thought back. The Trust - a shady interplanetary terrorist group composed of rogue ex-NID operatives and the international business and political cabal which funds them. The Trust were more radical in their methods and objectives than the Rogue NID, and had been particularly active several years ago, before earth set it's sights on Atlantis and John recalled that O'Neill and Sam had come up against their methods several times in the past.

"Sam?"

She knew that he looked to her for confirmation as the only one to have contact and knowledge of this group. Sam nodded.

"I think they're right John. Those components? I bet if we get Jack to track them back to their source, it'll be one of their private company's that have provided materials to the stargate programme in the past.

John sighed. The morning that had begun so well, sought now to spiral out of control and it seemed this whole mess was showing no signs yet of being cleared up.

"That's not all John..."

Something flashed in Jo's eyes. He wasn't going to like it. He knew that now.

"While you slept... Rodney and I came up with a plan. Pending your approval of course..."

This last had Lorne chuckling a little. He wasn't privy to this plan yet, but knew by the tone of her voice that the Colonel was not going to like it and she would be battling for more than just approval of her plan.

Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he opened them again feeling a little like he was just an observer in the very much larger than life game that was Miss Josephine Barlow.

"We're gonna set a trap. And I know just how to do it..."

Her self satisfied smile was the straw that broke the camels back. Striding toward her he gripped her upper arm and tossing a look over his shoulder, went to march her out of the room.

"You and I Jo? We're going to have a little private talk. Because there are few things I would like to say to you that I'm sure you would rather was in private. Very very private."

She chose silence. If the look on his face was anything to go by, she had a lot of explaining to do.