The stargate on the Genii homeworld was working with the speed and efficiency of a fast food drive through. The number of people and ships that were shuttling back and forth was as busy as a bus terminal. The Genii had risen to the occasion, providing tents for shelter, and food and drink for all their visitors. John had a feeling there was an underlying negotiation going on beneath the neighbourly offer-we're returning your people, so how about we make a trade deal-but he didn't mind. The Genii were making the best of a bad situation for the visitors and their families, and that was all that mattered.

Thea had taken over thirty women from worlds across the quadrant, spanning back close to twenty years. It was a complicated mess to sort through, but they were making good progress.

Ronon hadn't been happy at being forced to leave Jennifer behind on Atlantis, but John had pretty much forced him out of the city. Carson was sending regular updates, but Jennifer's condition hadn't changed. She was still unconscious...which meant John needed Ronon to take his anger and frustration out on someone other than the new recruits. Sending the newbies to the infirmary would take Carson's attention away from Jennifer, so John made Ronon a better offer.

Thea's soldiers.

It hadn't taken the Satedan more than a few minutes to work his way through the ones who refused to talk. By the time Ronon was finished, he had all the answers they were looking for on what planets to contact to find the missing families of the kidnapped women.

Not all the women wanted to return to their old lives. Not a single one remembered anything of their lives before Thea's village. Most had children, and many were happy. A few-those who had lost husbands, or who were in cold or unloving relationships-wanted a chance at freedom, while a couple of others were willing to explore the possibility of a second chance at a new life.

Most of the reunions were teary and amicable, others awkward and uncomfortable. There were a lot of tears, some smiles, and lots and lots of talking.

Shaana and her brother Daro mediated the reunions since Shaana was the only who both understood what the village women had experienced and remembered what the outside world could offer.

John hadn't been all that surprised to learn Shaana was a ranking member of Ladon's military force. She'd played along with Thea's plan, pretending to be under the influence of the soup, taking a husband, doing his bidding, just so she could keep Mina safe. She'd helped Cadman and Ellis escape the village. And she was organizing the evacuation of the ladies to their home world.

If Ladon didn't give that woman a promotion, John was going to offer her a position with his teams on Atlantis.

Working his way through the crowd, John headed over to where Shaana was standing with Ellis and Mina. The little girl was sitting on Ellis' shoulders. He held onto her her ankles, while she twisted around, trying to see everything at once.

John figured the poor kid was probably desperate to catch sight of her family, but with the number of people coming and going, it would be like finding Waldo when he was dressed like everyone else.

Suddenly, Mina let out an ear piercing screech. Somewhere across the crowd to his left there was an equally high-pitched shout. John couldn't see who it was through all the bodies, but with the added height of being up on Ellis' shoulders, it was obvious Mina could.

The crowd parted with a host of grumbles and grunts as a petite woman with crazy blond curls burst through with the skill and finesse of a mini-ninja linebacker. And she didn't stop running. Ellis had to twist sideways and brace himself when the woman launched herself at him at the same time as Mina kicked herself off of his shoulders.

The tears and hugging went on for a good minute before a lumbering giant of a farmer joined the fray, picking both the ladies up in a giant bear hug. Mina squealed, laughed, cried, and tried to hug them both at once with her small arms.

The giant set the woman and girl down, leaving them laughing and hugging, then in one stride he grabbed Ellis in an equally boisterous hug.

"Oh...we're...we're doing this are we..." Ellis muttered.

Pinning Ellis' arms to his sides, Mina's father picked Ellis straight up off his feet, shook him up and down, planted a kiss on his cheek, then dropped him so quickly he nearly fell over.

Ellis took a safety step closer to John. "I'm guessing that's probably close to what it feels like to be hugged by Ronon."

John shook his head slowly back and forth. "That...I wouldn't know."

Mina's father lifted his daughter and sat her down on his shoulder, then placed his arm around his wife. He turned towards the gate, but Mina wriggled down. "Wait!"

She turned, and with her curls flying out behind her, ran straight at Ellis. Ellis dropped to his knees and opened his arms. Mina smacked into him, hugging him tightly. "Thank you," she whispered.

Ellis gave her a quick kiss on the side of her head. "You're very welcome, Mina Chrissa Cait Drican, of the planet Syawa."

Mina giggled. "You remembered!"

"With a name like that? That's totally a princess name. I never forget a princess name."

"Princess Mina? I like that." She smiled and let him go, then she wiggled her finger at him. "Remember, you promised to come visit me. Don't forget."

"Not a chance."

Mina laughed and ran to her mother.

As the crowd swallowed them up, John glanced over at Ellis. "You good?"

Ellis nodded slowly. "I am now."