"Secrets and Challenges"

Ch. 37

(Atlantis Future, Gate Room)

Everyone was gathered around the Stargate, seeing Daniel and Stacey off. Jessica had, indeed, managed to predict the next Solar Flare. Their was a graying man, holding baby Jack. He looked very familiar to Stacey. He steed forward.

"Stace," His voice was crackly and tired.

"John?" Stacey gasped.

"Yeah," he said. "You told me that you and Dr. Jackson went into the future. You just never told me when. Now I know."

"I told you about this little side trip?"

"When you get back from the archeologist adventure. You only told me and Elizabeth," Te old John explained.

"So, you knew I was here and you didn't come by to say hi earlier?" Stacey asked.

"I was on vacation visiting the kids," John handed her a small computer with his free hand. "You'll want this. Don't show it to anybody but Dr. Jackson and my younger self."

"Okay," she put away in one of her crates.

Jessica, Adam, Emily and Allison came down the stairs from the Control Room.

"I put the specific dialing program I created into the computer and it's ready to go," Jessica told them.

"Dial the Gate, Sergeant Ford," John ordered a black man in his mid-twenties.

"Dialing now, Sir," he announced. "Chevron One encoded."

Daniel turned to Sam.

"Sergeant Ford?" Daniel asked.

"Lt. Ford and Teyla's son, Ben," Sam told him

"Hmm. . ." Stacey commented.

"Chevron Two encoded," Ben announced.

"Well, I guess, this is it," Adam said. He hugged Stacey. "Bye, Mom."

"Bye, Mom," Allison hugged her too.

"Bye," Stacey said. "I'm glad you two turned out so well."

"Chevron Three encoded,"

"Bye, Dad," Jessica and Emily hugged Daniel.

"Bye,"

Sam stood in front of Daniel. She looked at him for several minutes and then gave in completely. She hugged him and didn't want to let go.

"Chevron Four encoded,"

John gave baby Jack to Adam and went over to Stacey. He cupped her cheek with his hand. John gently rubbed his thumb against her soft skin. He then hugged her as well.

"I wish we could have spent more time together," Adam said to Stacey.

Adam touched her pregnant belly gently.

"Chevron Five encoded," Ben announced.

The group at the edge of the Stargate remained silent as the remaining Chevrons engaged. Sam and John shielded their aging eyes from the vortex. Stacey and Daniel waved farewell and went through the Stargate once more.

To be continued . . .