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Lacy here with Air Part 3. Finally. Took long enough. So, here the only off script thing is the part I'm gonna throw in with Sam. We had Jack's reaction last chapter, now we get Sam's. It'll be a bit more emotional then Jack's but it'll be good. Have fun.
Disclaimer: Nope.
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Everett and TJ watched as Grace laid sleeping, or at least they hoped she was sleeping. She kept huffing and moaning. Everett could remember Grace saying nightmares were a regular thing for her when she slept and since she wasn't holding her ribs, he assumed that's what it was. She'd finally agreed to sleep when the pain from her ribs was bringing tears to her eyes.
"Can we do anything for her?" TJ asked softly.
Everett shook his head. He was quite familiar with nightmares. "The only thing we can do is wake her if it gets worse. She needs the sleep, even if it isn't the most restful." he sighed. "I'm gonna go check on Chloe. Stay with Grace?"
TJ nodded. "Of course."
Everett squeezed TJ's forearm before limping out of the room. TJ sat at Grace's bedside and stroked her bangs away from her forehead. She was sweating but TJ didn't know if it was from a nightmare or a fever.
"You gotta be okay Gracie," TJ said softly. "just like we need Everett, this team won't survive without you."
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Grace sat up on the bed she'd been sleeping on and listened to Everett explain that he and Chloe would be going back to Earth.
"I'll talk to Chloe," Grace said, moving to get up. "let her know what it's going to be like."
Everett put his hand on Grace's shoulder. "You are not moving from this bed, Grace. You need rest."
"If I'm right," Grace said. "you're gonna end up switching with Telford and the last thing this command needs is for him to try and take over."
"He won't." Everett said. "Not with you here."
Grace rolled her eyes. "Everett, we both know if he sees I'm down, he'll take command, saying I'm not fit. That will lead to two things, everything ending up in even more disorder and,"
"You taking a swing at him." Everett finished. "Alright fine. But seriously Grace, take it easy."
Grace nodded. "I'll keep TJ with me as much as possible."
Everett sighed. "Between the two of us and the scrapes we get into, it's no wonder she wanted out."
Grace snorted. "While normally I'd love to take the credit for driving someone nuts, that was all you." she looked at Everett, her gaze completely serious. "And I told you how to fix that."
Everett cleared his throat. "Why don't you go talk to Chloe?"
Grace barely resisted the urge to smack Everett. Instead she shoved herself off the bed, perhaps a little too hard, and left the room.
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Grace stood in front of Everett's body as he switched with who she was sure was Telford on Earth. Using the link, she could the moment it was no longer Everett.
"Welcome to Destiny, David." Grace said as she picked up Telford's mind in Everett's body.
Telford looked at his hands. "This is different."
Grace shrugged. "You always preferred the video link." she held his arm as he stood. "Careful, Everett and I didn't have the best of landings coming through the gate."
Telford groaned as he stood. "Christ, what did he do to himself?"
Grace held back an eye roll. "You try landing on a hard floor after getting blasted through the gate by a planet exploding. He's a lot better off then he would be if I hadn't been here."
"You weren't supposed to be." Telford said. "Your mother ordered you back to the ship."
Grace glared at the man in her friend's body. "Yeah and Mom knew, order or not, there was no way I was leaving my team." she exhaled and held her middle.
"Grace," TJ said, coming up to her side.
Grace shook her head. "I'm fine. I tend to breathe deeply when pissed."
TJ looked at Telford then back at Grace. "Alright, just remember what Colonel Young said."
Grace straightened. "I know." she looked at Telford. "How about we agree that what happened on the base and Everett are no-go topics?"
Telford nodded. "Fine. Are you alright?"
"I'm alright enough to command my people." Grace said, seeing the underlying question. "You're just here until Everett gets back."
Before Telford could say anything, the person Chloe switched bodies with made her presence known.
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Grace leaned against the wall outside the gate room, her breathing shallow, her eyes pinched shut. She had tried to listen to Everett but damnit if Telford wasn't making it as hard as humanly possible. Her ribs were on fire and she knew she should rest but until Telford was back in his own body on Earth, there wasn't a chance in hell of that happening.
"Grace,"
Grace cracked an eye open to see TJ in front of her.
"I sedated him." TJ said. "Everett's body needed rest."
Grace exhaled slowly. "I'm betting Dr. Mehta wasn't happy about that."
TJ shrugged. "I don't care. My patient needed rest and I made sure he got it. Now," she helped Grace off the wall. "my other, probably more stubborn, patient needs to rest also."
Grace leaned on TJ. "Just until Telford is up."
TJ sighed but nodded. "Fine but once Everett and Chloe are back, I want you sleeping for as long as your body will let you."
Grace smiled. "TJ, I'm my father's daughter. If I let myself, I could sleep for a week straight."
TJ smiled also. "Don't give me any ideas."
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TJ looked over Everett as he groaned.
"Why do I feel like I've been drugged?" he asked.
TJ smiled. "Good to have you back sir."
"Son of..." Everett sat up with a groan. "What the hell was Telford doing?"
TJ handed Everett the rifle he'd been using as a crutch. "Here. Mainly he was putting Grace through her paces and wearing you both out."
Anger crossed Everett's face before concern took over. "Where is she?"
TJ pointed over her shoulder. "Sleeping in her quarters. After I drugged, well you, she agreed to rest."
Everett finally stood all the way. "Remind me to hit David the next time I see him face to face."
TJ smiled. "Yes sir."
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Everett took a breath of air as it started flowing through the vents. He looked to TJ at his side and saw her smiling.
"I know Grace needs rest," he said softly. "but I think she'd like to be awake for this."
TJ nodded. "I think you're right."
The two headed into Grace's room and carefully woke her up.
Grace groaned as she sat up. "What?"
Everett smiled. "Take as deep a breath as you can Grace."
Grace frowned but did what Everett told her too. It took a moment but a smile spread across her face.
"They did it." she said.
Everett nodded. "It was close but they got back in time and with everyone."
Grace swung herself around and let TJ help her up. "Good, now that we're gonna live, there's something I have to do."
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Sam sat on the couch of her and Jack's D.C. house. She'd gotten a call from Jack saying Grace had arrived and he was bringing her to see Sam. Sam knew she wasn't going to be actually seeing her daughter but it would be nice to at least talk to her. And she had Jack, with the link, to let her know it was actually their daughter in whomever showed up.
"Sam,"
Sam had gotten so wrapped up in her thoughts that Jack's voice startled her. She turned and saw him with the normal Lt. that Grace traded with. Sam felt a smile taking over her face.
"Hey Gracie." she said.
Grace smiled. "Hi Mom."
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I didn't know what to actually write for Sam and Grace's talk so I figured leaving it there would be good. I'm pretty sure this will be the only SGU chapter that will be this short. Since most of it took place off world and Grace was on the ship, there wasn't a lot I could do. Anyway, let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading. Next up is Darkness.
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