Chapter 49: Suicide Mission 2.0

McGee and the three Buchanan sisters gather around the hologram, studying the last floor trying not to show their horror as they imagine how bad things are down there.

"How do we get there?" Faith finally voices what's in everyone's minds. She glances at Joy briefly, noticing how her sister is zoned out, totally focused at the problem at hand. She looks at McGee, who is very concerned about Joy. Finally Joy nods, as if she had finally reached a decision.

"Sam, what's in that room?"

Rodney is first to check the base schematics, bites his lower lip and turns to look at Sam with huge eyes, "That's exobiology 12."

Sam smiles, closing her eyes for a moment as she considers the information at hand, "It's a biology lab specialized in Alien Flora. Due to its very nature, it was specifically designed to, in any case of a threat of biological contamination, seal itself off from the rest of the base."

Rodney rushes to another computer, bringing a delicate rendering of the structure below to the larger screen. Gibbs, Tony and Ziva approach the scientist, noticing his increasing excitement, "that lab was built with extra thick walls, and is… miraculous… not presenting any signs of structural damage according to our scans."

"What about the air supply?" Jack comes to stand beside Rodney, looking over the map and not understanding anything of it, but he glances at Sam, sure that she will explain it in a way that he will.

"Sir, that specific biolab has two EPA filters, completely independent from the main ventilation system. If she is in there, if the filters are still working, there's a substantial chance that she might be alive, having been exposed to minimal levels of radiation when compared to the one found outside that sealed lab. However, I don't see how we can reach her in there, as we can't get any readings of anything alive due to the radiation and we can't beam her out."

Joy finally turns around and looks at McGee, who meets her eyes and feels a shiver as he sees the decision in her eyes, and her silent request for forgiveness.

"Joy, no." He leaves his place by the holograph and approaches her in hurried steps, towering over her and watching her eyes filling with tears, but she stays silent and there's no change in her face. She's reached her decision.

"You can't go in there, it's suicide," he whispers, studying her face as she looks at his desolated.

"But Timothy, it's my mom." She says in a quivering voice, her eyes pleading him to understand. He shakes his head in denial, not willing to accept the crazy stunt she's about to make. She bites her lower lip and turns her head, refusing to meet his eyes, "Sam, how long will the HazMat suit hold in the radiation levels down in SL35?"

"What? You can't possibly be thinking on sending someone down there?" moans Rodney, looking at Sam horrified.

"Can you transport someone to the office immediately above the exobiology lab and use a beacon to transport this person out?"

Sam looks at Jack, who is staring at her waiting for her answer, "We could transport someone in, but as I've said, the transport is having difficulty reading life signs once in there."

"Besides, the radiation levels are way above anything that is acceptable to human life, that's insane. No marine will go down there to rescue someone who is already dead."

There is a sepulchral silence in the bridge, as well on radio. Sheppard glares at his friend, at the same time that Sam and Jack look at each other for a moment, both of them with an inkling of what is in Joy's head.

"If you do not have anything positive to add, I'd suggest you to remain quiet," comes the furious voice through the radio, and McKay looks around hurt.

"McKay," growls Sheppard, again mad at the insensitivity of his friend.

"I'm just saying the truth. It's common sense. You simply don't send people in boiling pits of radiation. It's not done."

"It's her mother we're talking about." Tony looks sadly at McKay, who suddenly sobers up, properly chastised.

Down on base control, Joy lowers her head and starts silently praying, trying to think of a solution to their situation. McGee sees her shivering for a second, before she lifts clear eyes to him, "You haven't answered my question, how long will the suit hold?"

"It's hot, cumbersome and it's necessary training to properly use the HazMat full body suit."

"I've received the necessary training while working for the BAU, and I also was part of the task force working on the Anthrax investigation while I was still FBI. Just give me a number. Any number." Joy insists, opening her eyes and glancing at the Major standing a few feet away, just observing the proceedings.

"Ten minutes." McKay folds his arms, irresolute.

"Fifteen," Sam glares at McKay, who glares back at her, throws his hands up and walks away to the other side of the bridge, all the time muttering about suicide missions. "At the levels we're registering here, with overlaying HazMat suits you might be safe for fifteen minutes, but still you would have to reach the sealed room two floors below."

Joy shakes her head and approaches again the hologram, "that's must be enough," she looks at the Major O'Donnel, "do you have rock climbing gear here?"

"Just the gear we use for firefighter's training, as well as the Air Force security officers gear they use for training in the desert."

"Bring me all the equipment you have: ropes, kongs, chest ascenders, harnesses, everything. I'll also need a pulley and a small engine that I might connect to a rope able to lift something of about 300 pounds. Halogen flashlights, glow sticks, everything you think I might need, I need it here and I need it in the next five minutes."

The Major nods before leaving to arrange the necessary equipment. Joy then glances at her sisters, and at McGee, before sharing what's on her mind.

"Guys, hear me out, we're going to do the following…"