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Lacy here kids. Look! We're finally out of the first three episodes! Yay! *pauses* Not sure why that's cause for celebration. Onto the next episode. Darkness. Yay, another visit from Colonel Stick Up His Ass, I mean Telford. In case you can't tell, he's not my favorite character. Grace will be a bit more on her game this time so she'll once again be informing Telford of just who calls the shots on Destiny. *grins* Always fun to watch Grace go up against people who think they stand a chance. Have fun.

Disclaimer: Grace is all that's mine.

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~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Grace laid as still as possible while TJ did the best she could checking her ribs.

"Well," TJ said. "it feels like you're healing okay and nothing feels out of place but that's about all I can tell you."

Grace sat up carefully and pulled her t-shirt down before grabbing her uniform shirt. Sliding the button up shirt on, she sighed.

"That's good enough Teeje." she said. "As long as I can continue to help Everett."

TJ helped Grace stand up. "Well he and Camile have started talking with everyone in the mess. He asked that I bring you down when we were finished."

Grace straightened her collar. "Then let's not keep the good Colonel waiting."

TJ chuckled as the two headed down the hall.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Everett watched Grace as she settled herself down beside him at the table.

"How ya doing Grace?" Everett asked.

Grace sighed. "As far as TJ can tell, I'm healing just fine. All I can say is, it'll be nice to be able to take a deep breath again without my chest feeling like it's on fire."

Everett looked at TJ, who was standing behind Grace. "Is there anything you can give her?"

TJ shook her head sadly. "No. We don't have anything strong enough for broken ribs."

Grace groaned as she dropped her head to the table. "Remind me to have a talk with Dad about what needs to be in medical field kits."

Everett chuckled and ran a hand over Grace's head. TJ and Everett stayed close to Grace while Everett talked with the rest of the groups. True, Grace had planned on being part of the talks but because of her ribs and oh so charming nightmares, sleep was short and not helpful so she was wiped.

TJ sat down across from Everett and Grace as the last group filed out of the mess. Camile gave the three a look before moving to an empty table on the other side of the room. Everett noticed her watching but held back the eye roll that was threatening.

"So, how is she doing?" Everett asked about Grace, who seemed to have dosed off on the table. "Really?"

TJ looked at the young girl. "From what I could feel, she's healing faster then normal. I'm guessing that has something to do with her advanced gene. If she can just get enough rest, she'll probably be completely healed in a couple of weeks tops."

Everett let out a low whistle. "That's one hell of an advantage to have."

TJ nodded. "I remember Colonel Carter saying once that as soon as Grace found out about her abilities, she worked as hard as she could to master them so she could be of more help."

Everett looked at TJ. "Well, I certainly don't know what we'd do without her."

TJ could tell from the look on Everett's face that he was talking about more then just the crew and she nodded.

"Me either." she said.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

"Colonel, Grace."

Grace almost let out a groan of annoyance as Camile called her and Everett.

"Claws away Gracie." Everett said softly. He turned to Camile. "Thought we were done."

"There's still dozens of human resources issues we need to talk about." Camile said.

"Pick one." Grace and Everett chorused.

Camile crossed her arms. "The matter of Lieutenant Johansen resigning her commission."

Grace looked sharply at Everett. She knew he didn't know the exact reason of TJ resigning but had a feeling it had to do with him. Grace knew, TJ had confided in her but she hadn't shared with anyone at TJ's wishes.

"Consider her reactivated." Everett said.

Camile looked unsure. "Well, I don't know if that's up to..."

Everett stopped her. "Up to me? Yeah, it is. We need a medic."

Camile sighed. "I don't even know why she resigned in the first place."

Everett cast Grace a look before responding to Camile. "Well, it's none of my business."

Grace and Everett continued down the hall as Camile stopped and watched them.

"Is too your business." Grace muttered.

"Not now kiddo." Everett said, ever mindful of the IOA rep behind them.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

"You should be resting." Everett said as they made their way to the control room.

Grace looked at him. "Says the man using his rifle as a crutch."

Everett laughed. "Okay so we should both be resting. But seriously Grace, one of us up at a time is good enough. We both don't need to push ourselves."

Grace shrugged, wincing as she did. "Pushing myself and focusing on other things is keeping me from focusing on the fact that I'm billions of light years away from my family. I mean, the furthest from home I've ever been is Atlantis."

"We will get home Grace." Everett said, picking up on a bit of fear over the link. It was still new to him but Grace was pretty open with sharing. At least, from what he could tell, she was.

Grace nodded. "I know we will but until then, I have to focus on other things."

They walked into the control room where Rush was working alone. Again.

"Scott's checking out the shuttle, seeing if it's operational. Everyone else is holding the work until you give the green light." Everett filled the other man in.

"Thank you." Rush said in an almost clipped tone.

Grace wanted to roll her eyes but everyone was a little stressed so she let it go.

Everett ignored the tone. "Look, I want you to know that I'm well aware that in the field of Ancient technology, you're pretty much - and any other subject I can think of - you're the best I've got." Grace gave him a look. "Well, next to Grace that is. But we can't be working at cross-purposes."

"All I ask is that you check with me before issuing orders." Rush said.

"Check with you?" Grace laughed. "You've got that a little backwards Rush. If you're doing something, Everett and I need to know about it and that's not a request."

"Done! Fine! I'll tell you everything." Rush snapped irritably.

Everett pressed on. "If there is an issue that affects everybody on this ship, like we're running out of power..."

"I think I already told you that." Rush said sarcastically.

Everett and Grace exchanged a look. This was odd, even for Rush.

"I'm not here to snipe your back or piss you off, but if we're gonna be on this ship for any length of time, we need to be on the same page." Everett said.

"I think our length of time together on Destiny may be shorter than you think." Rush said.

Grace crossed her arms, holding back a wince. "Okay."

"Who can we bring in to help?" Everett asked.

Rush let out an irritated sigh. "Honestly? It may take longer than we've got to bring someone else up to speed."

Everett slapped his hand down on the console, as if saying things were decided.

"Volker it is." he said.

Grace bit back a laugh.

"Perfect! Terrific!" Rush said, again sarcastically.

Grace and Everett turned to leave the room.

"You can tell him to sit on his hands if you want to." Grace said over her shoulder.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Everett looked up from his writing as Grace coughed and then groaned, her head hitting the desk with a 'thump'.

"Oh, that hurt." Grace said.

"You should probably avoid doing that again." Everett said.

Grace lifted her head and glared at the man. "Why thank you Everett. I was actually considering continuing because it seemed like so much fun." she went quiet for a moment. "Volker is coming."

Everett looked at the door just as said man walked through.

"You - you've gotta be kidding me." Everett said.

Volker shook his head. "Oh no."

Grace sat up. "You were in there five minutes."

Volker shrugged. "He kicked me out."

"What's the matter with you?" Everett asked. "You're a grown man."

"I know that!" Volker said. "But he said, 'Out!'"

"Well, what the hell did you say to the man?" Grace asked.

"I didn't say anything!" Volker defended himself. "I was just trying to figure out what his problem was."

"It's our problem, Volker, it's not just his. I need you to get your ass back in there." Everett said.

"I'm telling you, he's gone crazy." Volker said.

Grace snorted. "Well we already knew that. Go."

"This isn't the old crazy." Volker said. "This is a whole new crazy."

Grace stood up. "Come Volker, he can't be any worse then my dad on his worst day."

Volker, who'd worked with Jack a few times, nodded fast. "Oh yes he can."

"Alright," Everett said standing up. "Here we go. Let's do this. Grace and I will take you there ourselves."

Grace and Everett started to leave the room but Volker stayed firmly planted in his spot.

"Oh, for God's sake, Volker. If you people can't stand up to the son of a bitch..." Before Everett could finish his sentence, Destiny fell out of FTL and the power went out, leaving only emergency lighting on.

Grace and Everett exchanged a look before they, plus Volker headed for the Control Room.

"Did you do that Rush?" Everett asked as they arrived.

Grace drowned the two out as she concentrated on the ship. It was ancient, sure really old ancient but she'd still be picking on signals and feelings from the ship since they arrived.

"I don't think you seem to understand what's going on here, Colonel." Rush's voice broke through Grace's concentration. "Our 'reserves' are gone. All of our power is gone."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Grace walked with Rush, Everett and Volker as they headed for the gate room. She wasn't participating in the conversation because she was concerned about Rush. He was spiraling downwards and fast but Grace couldn't figure out why. They arrived in the gate room and Grace tried to make her way into Rush's mind. Unfortunately, after stopping him from taking the stones when they first arrived, Rush had started putting up mental blocks when around Grace to keep her from getting in. Though, Grace focused a little harder, given his obvious emotional distress, he wasn't paying much attention to Grace so she easily slipped in.

Before she could see anything though, Rush collapsed to the ground and Everett hit his radio, calling TJ to the gate room again.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

"Come on," Grace whined. "I do not have the patients to deal with David today."

Everett sighed. "Grace, I have to report this and," he paused.

Grace's face grew serious. "And what Everett?"

"I'm going to talk to Emily." Everett said.

Grace crossed her arms, not even noticing the pain this time. "Okay, I'll handle things while you're gone. You," she paused. "do what you feel is right."

Everett nodded. "I plan to." he motioned to the rifle he was leaning on. "Make sure the idiot uses it this time."

Grace laughed. "You got it."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

"What do you mean he had a nervous breakdown?" Telford asked.

Grace looked at Riley. "I didn't stutter. Did you hear me stutter Sgt.?"

Riley cleared his throat but didn't say anything.

Grace looked back at Telford. "With all the pressure you put on him plus what he put on himself, the man crashed. It was gonna happen sooner or later."

Telford glared at Grace. "Fine, take me to Lt. Scott."

Grace crossed her arms, giving Telford a look. "Why yes David, I can take you to see the Lt. How nice of you to ask."

"Grace," Telford all but growled.

Grace stepped up to him so they were almost touching. Sure, the colonel was taller then her but Grace wasn't one to back down because of height.

"Get it through that seemingly thick skull of yours David." Grace said in a low, dangerous tone. "I outrank you. I don't care if you don't like it, I don't care if you think it's ridiculous. It's the way things go and you will start respecting that or I'll report back to the President himself and have you reassigned. Are we clear?"

Telford kept glaring at Grace but responded. "Yes ma'am, we're clear."

Grace stepped back. "Good, now let's go see Matt."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Grace stepped into the shuttle as Telford repeated that he gave Matt a direct order.

"Well good for you David." Grace said. "But the people on this ship take order from me and Colonel Young. Not you."

TJ stepped forward, noticing a look pass over Telford's face. Grace focused and nodded to TJ.

"Colonel Young?" Matt said.

"Sir?" TJ said.

Everett nodded. "Yeah, it's me." he looked at Matt. "What was Telford ordering you to do?"

Matt sighed. "Use the communication stones to report that you need to be replaced."

Everett gave a humorless laugh. "He's probably right about that."

Grace snorted. "Yeah and I'm the Queen."

The three smiled.

"So, the ship came here for what reason?" Everett asked.

Matt jerked his head towards the front of the ship and he and TJ let Grace and Everett there.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Grace followed Everett out of the shuttle and waited till they were a good distance away before talking.

"How'd it go?" she asked.

Everett ran a hand over his face. "I've had easier talks but it needed to be done."

"Gonna give me any more then that?" Grace asked.

Everett looked at Grace. Before he met the 18 year old, he was a private man, not sharing much with anyone but there was something about her that made people open up. She made it easy to trust her.

"Let's just say," Everett said. "my marriage was over long before TJ came into the picture."

Grace patted his arm. "You won't regret it."

Everett raised a brow. "You know something I don't?"

Grace smirked. "Oh, I know a lot of things you don't."

The two continued walking.

"Do share." Everett said.

Grace laughed.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Grace clenched her jaw hard as the ship shook hard. Oh yeah, this was great for broken ribs, really wonderful. Everett put a hand on her back.

"Breathe Grace," he said. "you'll pass out if you keep that up."

Grace huffed out a breath. "I'm thinking passing out would be nice at the moment. This hurts like you wouldn't believe."

Everett helped her continue moving down the corridor. "This is why people with broken ribs shouldn't fly."

Grace glared at him. "Don't make me hit you."

They finally made it back to the shuttle as the shaking stopped.

"We clear?" Everett asked.

"Yes sir." Matt said. "Did you two catch any of that?"

TJ, taking one look at Grace, stood and let her take her seat. Grace tried to fight but TJ and Everett both put a hand on her shoulders, pushing her down.

"No," Everett answered Matt. "we couldn't get back in time."

Rush stared at the screen on the console. "This is - this is unbelievable. Look at this."

Grace frowned, hearing the tone in Rush's voice.

"Please. Please, everyone, be quiet!" Rush basically shouted. They all fell silent. "Our trajectory has changed."

Matt looked at the screen. "Oh no."

"Changed?" TJ asked.

"The planet has altered Destiny's course more than we hoped." Rush said.

Grace's frown deepened. "What are you talking about, Rush?"

"Lieutenant, what the hell's he talking about?" Everett asked Matt.

Grace flitted through Matt's mind and paled.

"We're headed for the sun."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

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I hate it when episodes end like that. But what can you do? Well, when Katie reads this, she'll say I could have gone on to the next episode. Let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading. Next up is Light.

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