Time Heals Most Wounds

On Earth, Danni was becoming deeply imbedded in a rather interesting debate with her parents. One of the key ingredients in that debate was being cleverly left out. Of course that particular ingredient was on Atlantis, slowly stewing in melancholy.

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"John?"

Colonel Shepherd never looked up from Colonel Carter's old desk where he sat staring at nothing. "What?"

"Are you…OK?" Rodney questioned slowly as the office door shut behind him.

Shepherd finally looked up with a gruff tone to his voice. "I'm FINE. Now if you don't mind, I'm trying to write my report."

"You don't even have a pen." Rodney snorted.

"Which is why I said 'trying'."

"I'm just trying to help."

"I don't need help." He huffed, "But she did…and I wasn't there."

McKay frowned, "Shepherd, there was nothing you could have done."

John shot out of his chair. "How do you know that?!"

Rodney wasn't backing down easily. "I don't, it's just…I feel guilty too."

John looked away. "You don't feel the same way I do."

Rodney shook his head and began to ramble. "No, I know that. I mean I lost a friend, a really good friend, almost family close, but you lost something else."

"Rodney…just don't"

"No. Listen to me, for once, just listen. I can't begin to imagine what this is doing to you. I know it's killing me…but you were a wreck before she even…"

"Died?" John almost shouted as their eyes met, both full of sorrow.

McKay looked down. "Yeah…"

"Face it Rodney, she's gone. I told her it wasn't a forever goodbye and I was wrong."

"Forever goodbye?"

"Something Liz said."

Rodney let a small smile slip across his face. "Man did she have a way of saying things. Even when she couldn't speak."

"Those eyes." Shepherd said lightly, now with a slight smile of memory as well.

"Which ones?" Rodney laughed. "I mean one minute she was lighting up a room with the brown ones, the next minute she was scaring the crap out of someone with the blue."

"I kinda liked the brown I guess…" John stopped. "Rodney?"

"Yeah?" His smile disappeared for what he feared may be coming, but wasn't.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Rodney knew it was time to bow out and did so.

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After finally deciding what they were going to try to do, Jack and Sam were seated in the two chairs across from Landry's desk. Danni stood nervously behind them as they waited for the General to get done with his conversation with someone on the other end of the red telephone.

"Are you sure Mr. President?"

There was a pause while he listened to the reply.

"Alright then, we'll get everything together immediately. Thank you Sir," he looked across his desk, "from all of us." Then he hung up the phone.

"So what did he say?" Jack questioned Landry.

"In short, he said yes." Landry took a deep breath and stood up, motioning for Sam to remain seated and Danni to stop standing at attention. "Of course, he also said this little favor is going to erase any and all debts to the three of you…"

Jack and Sam looked at each other and replied in unison. "We're OK with that." Both smiling back at their daughter who was obviously about to burst with excitement.

"Well, let's get you packed up then." Hank said with a air of urgency.

Danni raised a finger, "Um, General Sir?"

"Yes Captain?"

"There is just one more thing, a favor, which I realize is more than a lot to ask right now, and I'm not trying to be ungrateful…it's just that…"

Hank smiled at the girl who was a rather interesting blend of her parents that he couldn't help but find amusing. "Go ahead Danni." He used her name to calm her down.

"I was wondering if I could by chance, or better yet WE, could go back together to retrieve the chambers? With Daniel and Vala that is."

"Danni, we'll get them home, you already opened the vault, you don't have to do anything else." Jack tried to coax her away from something he feared would keep her depressed.

"No, I know that, it's not so much what I have to do, but I think it may help Daniel and Vala." She gave her parents a meaningful glance.

Sam gave Landry a pleading stare. "Sir?"

"I don't have a problem with it, but the President said we have to get her on her way by tomorrow morning."

Danni jumped forward. "It won't take more than a few hours General, I promise."

"Well get your gear together. Jack, you're going with her I take it?"

"Yeah Hank, I am." Jack would stand by his daughter no matter what her plan entailed.

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Silently the team gathered once more in the gate room. Danni stood by Jack, Mitchell and Teal'c while Sam looked down from the control room. She avoided eye contact with Daniel and Vala as they came into the room.

"I'm not so sure Vala should be on this one Jack." Daniel said immediately.

"Look Daniel. I've been assured that nothing is going to go wrong." He looked to Vala. "You're not going to be hurt; either of you." He motioned to her stomach.

Vala nodded that she understood. She had watched Jack's own reaction when he thought that it was his child who was killed. She knew that he understood what they were going through, especially after Daniel told her about Charlie. "I understand. I would just like to know what this is all about."

Danni stood tall. "This is my way of apologizing."

"You really think that is going to change anything? I mean if it was the future maybe, but this is the past we're talking about." Daniel informed her in a cool tone.

"I realize this doesn't mean much to you right now. But trust me." Just then the event horizon rushed forth and formed behind her. She turned and led the team back to the Delta site.

Danni continued to lead the way. Jack took up the rear position with Mitchell and Vala and Daniel took up the middle. Teal'c slowly made his way forward to walk beside the daughter of two of his greatest friends. He did not know what to say, but he too had been in a similar situation with Daniel Jackson and knew in his heart that he had to say something, even if it was off topic.

"You are indeed a brave warrior Danni O'Neill."

She turned with a smile. "Thanks Uncle T. Believe it or not, that's not the first time you've said that."

He gave a slight smile and bow. "Would it be problematic for the future if I were to ask you a question?"

"Depends on the question."

He raised his eyebrow ever so slightly. "I was curious as to where your pertained your fighting skills."

She slowed a bit. "Well, I have to say I wasn't expecting that one." She giggled.

"What do you mean Danni O'Neill?"

She smiled and shook her head. "I'd like it if you just called me Danni please; you'll get use to it, trust me."

"Understood… Danni."

"And I thought you might be asking about your grandkids."

"Grandchildren?" He asked.

"Ry'ac's children." She smiled. "I can't tell you much, but you do have a few." She winked and he smiled again.

"That is indeed pleasant news."

"I thought you might like that. Now as far as the fighting skills, it's a mix. I was born with a lot of knowledge so to speak, including some military tactics that just came naturally. Now I learned a lot of other stuff from Mitchell…but don't tell him just yet."

"I will not. Is there anyone else from whom you learned such great skill?"

"Oh, I'd say so."

Teal'c cocked his head.

"Uncle T you taught me everything you know. And I thank you ahead of time for that."

A large smile grew across the jaffa's face in an unusual display. "You are welcome Danni."

"Just never go easy on me…" She stopped as the reached the gap in the ground that led to the chamber below.

"What is this?" Daniel asked as he looked at the writings on the broken pillars.

"You'll see. You two follow me." She pointed to Vala and Daniel. "The rest of you wait up here please."

The other men nodded. Danni slowly led the way down to the tombs. As the three entered the unnatural light once again began to flood the room as the deathly silence grew stale.

"Where are we?" Vala asked as she took Daniel's arm.

"This is where my team, both living and dead, are waiting." She quickly began to place beacon markers on each tomb for the Orion to come by and beam up when it arrived.

"Waiting for what?" Daniel eyed the room.

"The future." She answered as she made her way back over near them.

Vala scanned the crypts, thinking with a sick feeling of the thought of her child being in one. "Why did you bring us here?"

There were tears in Danni's eyes as she looked at both of them, hoping that this action would heal their pain, and the pain that was growing between them. "Because there's someone you need to talk to."

"Who?" Daniel and Vala both questioned.

Danni turned away from them. "Nicky?"

A faint ball of light appeared and slowly took the form of a man. "Hello Danni. Work everything out?"

"Just about." She looked towards his parents. "But there is one thing we need to deal with before you go back to sleep."

Looking towards Daniel and Vala, Danni could see a tear rolling down the latter's face. Daniel's eyes were wide and his mouth was forming an 'o' as they both stared at their son.

Danni slowly began to walk back towards the stairwell. "Bye Nicky. I'll see you soon."

Her old friend smiled at her. "Bye Grace."

She shook her head as he used her name to tease her one last time until they would see each other again.

Both Vala and Daniel looked at her as she began to ascend the stairs and she nodded to them both. Heading up she could hear a conversation finally begin, one that would mend a relationship before it even began.

"Nicky?"

"Hey Mom. Hey Dad."

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After what seemed like ages, Vala and Daniel appeared at the head of the stairs. The rest of the team was sitting around on various pieces of rubble. Jack was almost asleep and Mitchell was tossing a power bar back and forth with Danni while Teal'c watched for danger that would not appear.

Daniel coughed to make their presence known and all roused but only Danni stood. She was a bit shaky at their presence. Then something incredible happened. Daniel walked straight over to her, followed closely by Vala.

Slightly on edge Jack began to stand as well. "Um…Daniel…"

But before he could say anything else, Daniel had pulled his namesake into a tight embrace. "Thank you."

Danni hugged him back. Then she was quickly sandwiched when Vala joined in on the embrace. It took a moment before they let her go.

"So how's Nicky?" she asked with an uneasy smile.

"He's sleeping." Vala said with a smile.

Danni breathed out deeply.

"Everything's going to be fine." Daniel nodded. "We talked about everything…I'm sorry that I ever doubted…"

Danni cut him off. "You had every right to be mad at me. I'm just glad everything is worked out now." She smiled, a few tears falling from her face from the pure joy that she would one day see her friend again and that her relationship with her non-biological family was almost back to normal.

"Well almost worked out." Daniel crossed his arms. "What about you?"

Jack stepped forward. "Yeah…about that guys."

I realize this was probably the shortest bit ever, but it really doesn't go with anything else so…yeah. LOL. Also, the conversation with Teal'c was meant to be Teal'c's way of trying to help Danni with the situation of having killed Daniel's son for the reason she did, because that was the same reason he had killed Sha're. I just wanted to emphasize the unspoken connection they now shared, as sad as it is.

One more chp to go!

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