{002}

"All Atlantis personnel report to the gate room for departure." The Airmen's voice rang loud throughout the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. It was time to dial the gate. "I repeat, all Atlantis personnel report to the gate room for departure."

Charlie eyes sparkled in excitement. Quietly she moved throughout the room checking equipment, making sure her team was packed, and that everything was in order. The Gate Room was bustling with activity. Hundreds of scientists and soldiers, whose faces were a mix of anxiousness and eagerness, prepared for what was essentially a one-way trip.

From her position on the ground Charlie could see Daniel animatedly trying to convince O'Neil to let him leave on the expedition. Jack wasn't budging. Charlie let out a quiet, breathy laugh, imagining the myriad of reasons Daniel was currently spewing to Jack on why he should go. It was in vain. Jack needed Daniel on Earth and that was that.

Giddiness wracked her system the closer it came to countdown. With sweaty palms, Charlie reached down for her pack. Her muscles groaned in protest. The weight of the bag proved heavier than she originally thought. Taking a deep breath in and closing her eyes; she grabbed tight to one of the straps. She lifted with all her strength only to stumble forward as the load became unexpectedly lighter. Pain caused her to wince as the side of her head made contact with someone's jaw.

"Ford!" A blush crept across her cheeks. "I am so sorry!" Lieutenant Aiden Ford held a thumbs up as he adjusted his jaw. At least it wasn't broken.

"No problem," He smiled; his pearly whites on display. "Graceful as ever I see."

They stared at one another. Assessing each other for a moment before bursting in laughter and stumbling into an awkward one-armed hug. The two friends had practically grown up together, his parents having served on many of the same bases as her father. After his parent's death, him and his sister went to live with their Gran and the two lost touch. It would be many years before they reconnected.

"I heard a rumor you volunteered for this mission." Aiden shrugged nonchalantly.

"Couldn't let you have all the fun without me," He smirked. "Heard you were the head of some fancy department and thought, 'what would she do without me?'."

"Not get into any trouble," she joked dryly. "Despite past occurrences; this is a pleasant surprise."

And it was. There were very few people on her staff she could call friends. Charlie loved the people she worked with, she had picked them, but it wasn't often that the head of the department was invited out for drinks or game night. Especially considering how she landed the job. She had been lonely since joining the Atlantis Expedition. Her missions with Sg-1 had ended and being in the Arctic hadn't helped her social problems.

"Speaking of surprises…" Aiden rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "You know that…" Someone behind her cleared their throat. Ford came to attention passing Charlie an apologetic look. The guttural clearing of the throat was all too familiar to her. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Charlie faced the man who had raised her; stunned to see him in full gear.

"Lt. Ford," Colonel Sumner addressed Aiden formally. "I believe you have somewhere to be." It wasn't a question. Ford nodded before giving her a brief smile and heading off to do as he was told.

Sumner glanced down at her. Pursed lips assessing her the same way she was assessing him. It had been years since they had last spoke. He had changed. He was somehow taller than she remembered. More imposing. If that was even possible. And older. More worn down. He was still handsome though. Same steely gray eyes and stubborn jaw. She had never seen this side of him before. The military leader. This was a side of himself that he had never brought home. The look on his face now was something akin to disappointment. The same look she had received time and time again throughout her life. Becoming an archaeologist. Joining the SGC. It never changed.

"Charlotte," Charlie cringed at the use of her full name.

"Marshall." She returned to the greeting.

"I raised you since you were a toddler," He pinched the bridge of his nose; letting out a long sigh. "Would it kill you to call me dad?" Charlie let out a humorless laugh.

"Would it kill you to call me Charlie?" She watched him rub the back of his neck. He was frustrated. It had been nearly five years since they had really spoken. The tension between them palpable. The hurt in his eyes was evident and Charlie immediately regretted going on the defensive.

"Look," She struggled to find the right words. "I'm sorry. No one told me you were going to be here. I was just surprised." He smirked.

"Not as surprised as I was to see your name on the roster," he countered, his eyes focusing on hers. "The General didn't give me the full list until yesterday." Charlie frowned.

"Why?"

"I would have made sure you didn't go." Charlie took a step back. There was no hesitation in his words. He meant it. She stared at him dumbfounded. Racking her brain as to why he would want to hold her back.

"I don't understand," Her blood was boiling even as she hesitated over her words. "Why would it matter to you if I go or not?"

"You don't belong here." Again, no hesitation. No warmth in his words.

"I don't belong here," She hissed leaning towards him. Her voice low so that others didn't overhear. "Why Marshall? Because I'm not going as a medical doctor? Or is it that you don't think I am good enough? Huh? What would have been your excuse to det me denied?" Sumner distanced himself from his daughter as he took a ragged breath.

"It's too dangerous." As if she wasn't already aware of that fact. "I've seen your resume. You're underqualified and receiving special treatment. That can get people killed. You don't

have the skills needed for an expedition of this nature."

Charlie felt as if he had slapped her in the face. Her eyes swam with tears before she had a chance to stop it. This was the man she had called father for longer than she could remember. The man who had rescued her from an orphanage when her parents died. This was the man who once told her she could be anything her heart desired.

"Go to hell."

O'Neil looked down at Sumner from the Control Center. There were secrets there, but Charlie was too infuriated to notice the odd exchange between the two. Leaned back against the concrete wall, she closed her eyes. Deep ragged breathes were all that she could manage as she tried to clear her head.

Special treatment? Underqualified? Charlies fingers ached from gripping the straps of her pack with silent fury. Who did he think he was? It didn't matter if he was right or not. These all thing she already knew—but coming from him made it feel as she had somehow been betrayed.

"You okay?" Charlie's breath hitched in surprise as Sheppard rested against the wall next to her. Damn he was quiet. Hastily, she wiped away the tears before he could see them. Plastering a smile on her face as if nothing was wrong.

"Of course," She shrugged it off. "Nostalgic is all. Leaving this place is hard." Sheppard narrowed his eyes at her. He knew she was lying.

"Really," He prodded. "Because I am under the impression you are over here trying not to cry after that doozy Colonel Sumner laid on you." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Eavesdrop much?" Sheppard held up his hands in surrender.

"He caught me," he admitted Unashamedly. "To be fair though, everyone in that vicinity heard."

Dread. That was the color of her face. Pale faced dread.

"Great." Charlie muttered. That was all she needed. Everyone in her department would no know that even her own father didn't have faith in her. Before the conversation could go any further Weir stood up to make her announcement.

She could sense her father's eyes on her when Weir mentioned the opportunity for people to stay behind. He was hoping that his confession would cause her to opt out. Pride, however, took over and she did nothing more than straighten her shoulders and raise her head in defiance against him. Sheppard chuckled in amusement next to her.

"How are you feeling?" Charli asked Sheppard as the gate began to dial. She was curious. Plus, it would help take her mind off of her father. Sheppard took a deep breath and gave her a nervous laugh as they walked towards the ramp with Ford not far behind.

"I'm about to travel through a large ring that is going to transport my body to a different galaxy," He sighed nervously. "How do you think I feel?"

Despite her current mood Charlie couldn't help but laugh. She watched, a small smile playing on her lips, as Sheppard's mouth fell open in awe. The gate activated filling the room with the icy blue light of the event horizon. Her smile fell when her father approached frowning.

"Let me make myself clear, Major," Sumner asserted as Lt. Ford helped him clip his pack into place. "You are not my choice for this mission."

Biting her lip was all she could do to keep from spilling a choleric reply. He wasn't her father at the moment. In this moment he was the military commander. Sheppard merely smiled ironically and shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm sure you'll warm up to me once you get to know me, sir." He smirked.

"Just remember who gives the orders."

"That would be Dr. Weir, right?" Sheppard goaded him. Sumner glared balefully at Sheppard as he retreated towards the Stargate giving orders. There was silence for a moment before Aiden let out a small laugh.

"He's a giant teddy bear on the inside," Ford elbowed Charlie's side as if he had shared an inside joke. Charlie couldn't keep herself from smiling. "Lt. Aiden Ford, Sir." Sheppard grinned at the young enthusiastic officer.

"Pleased to meet you, Lt." Sheppard shook Aiden's hand.

The three of them fell silent as they walked up the ramp behind Sumner and Weir. They were all nervous.

"What does it feel like?" Sheppard inquired, genuinely curious. Ford stepped up and turned to face his superior officer.

"Hurt's like hell, sir." Aiden gave Sheppard his most serious look before Charlie laughed, pushing him backwards through the event horizon.

"Let's go." Charlie nudged Sheppard through the event horizon.

Looking back at the command center she could see O'Neil and Daniel waving goodbye to her. They had all said their rambling and maudlin farewell the day before with pizza and beer. At the moment though, all Charlie wanted to do was shuck her pack and embrace them once more. If she did there would be no going back. Her father would get his wish. With a small trembling smile Charlie turned back towards the event horizon and crossed the threshold to the start of a new adventure.

Another chapter up. First few will come in quick succession as I have been working on them for a while. Hope you like it. I promise you this story will get off the 'following', I just need the first few chapters to set everything up! Plus, little things change and new things happen!

See you next chapter and as always: please review!