A/N Exposition and moral quandariessssssss. I mean this entire story is a moral quandary, really, but whatever. WE HAVE SURVIVED CHILDREN OF THE GODS. I think. I mean Daniel's pissed and Jack's mad but they'll get over it eventually...kind of? Just trust me, we'll get there. I promised massive Daniel/Bonnie friendship and that's what y'all are gonna get god dammit!

In other news, Pelennor is breathing down my neck but it's gonna be like half a day of work to get through it and I have actual work to do that's keeping me from starting it and it's dumb. Why have to earn living? Just write fic. Have more fun.

Annnyway, lol. This is all leading towards Archaeology Bros (tm) and it's gonna be the best thing ever. Hang in there kids.

The General's decision meant she had a very short list of approved areas she could be in on base, an SF as a leash, and the only good part about it was she had her own room. Granted, having her own quarters was probably just because he didn't want her having a lot of people around to talk to about future stuff but she'd take it she supposed.

She didn't see or hear from Daniel or Jack since General Hammond had told them of his decision and sent her off. House passed without news while she stared up at the ceiling from an uncomfortable military issued mattress. Being underground without any windows or daylight was gonna drive her insane if not knowing where they were in Children of the Gods didn't do it first.

She knew she didn't have the right to, but she'd been hoping Daniel would come and say goodbye before leaving for Chulak. On Abydos she'd been welcomed into the community, she and Daniel had bonded over Earth and archaeology, there'd been a feeling of support around her. There was nothing like that left now and she was half wondering why she'd even come back. She should've stayed on Abydos.

Even if she thought she could safely change anything, what was the likelihood anybody would believe her? Or that they'd even take her advice instead of finding some way to exploit it? Since when did the higher ups do anything without being skeevy and political about it in the show? If people like Maybourne and Kinsey caught wind and believed it was true, she'd be thrown head first into the shit.

She decided to start counting time by meals instead of hours. Breakfast. Second breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Late night snack when anxiety woke her up. Hopefully her SF friends who guarded in shifts liked the break to the mess hall every few hours.

And still the debate was raging. What about Kawalsky? He was going to die soon and all she had to do was convince them not to operate. The Tok'ra would be found soon enough and they could remove the symbiote from him. But she couldn't tell him he would be free of it one day without the Goa'uld in him finding out so how would he be able to consent to it? He was terrified, demanding they operate and get it out.

Could she risk the symbiote finding out? All Sha're had known was she was an anomaly, not that she knew the future, which wasn't ideal but it was as safe as possible. The Goa'uld would probably die after it was removed by the Tok'ra but if it wasn't? Or if it escaped? She couldn't tell Kawalsky.

So then she could tell the General, let him make the call and then what? Ask Charlie to choose between an unknown number of years of slavery and mind rape without a surefire guarantee he'd be set free, or probable death in the attempt to escape?

Or if the General trusted her enough to override the surgery (if he could even do that) then did she have the right to make that decision for Charlie? He'd still live through almost two years of the same slavery and experiments and imprisonment before they found a way to help him. Bonnie would say yes, wait it out, he'd live through it that way. But it wasn't her life, her mind, her body. Did she have the right to make that choice for him?

Late that night a call came and she was escorted to General Hammond's office. He sat behind his desk with a deep frown and his hands folded. The SF closed the door as she sat down, leaving them alone. Given the amount of time that passed and how worried he looked, Bonnie had an idea what was going on.

"SG-1 and SG-2 are running out of time to come back, aren't they?"

"Yes." He said, leaning back in his chair. "They are."

"How long until you lock their codes out and seal the gate?"

"Less than an hour. Is there anything you'd like to add to my intel on the situation, Miss Grayson?

She could safely put him at ease, and potentially earn a little trust in the process at least. Telling him SG-1 was just running a bit behind schedule wouldn't be nearly as much of a moral quandary than some of her other debates.

"They'll cut it close. Really close, like you give the order and just barely belay it in time for them to come back." Maybe a bit more? Couldn't hurt, right? "They're bringing refugees and a new friend, who you should recognize from back in 1969 by the way."

"The fourth prisoner?" He said with surprise.

"Teal'c. He's the best, Jack's gonna want him to join SG-1 and he definitely should. If that helps." She shrugged. "They'll be back by the skin of their teeth but they'll be back."

He went silent for a long time and looked down at his hands, Bonnie didn't dare interrupt while he thought. But he seemed to be a little bit more at ease, and his firm nod as he stood was determined.

"Alright Miss Grayson, I will take your advice to heart and give them a generous hour. If you'd like, you can stay in the briefing room until they return and we can see how truthful your predictions are."

Staying in the briefing room ended up translating into pacing the briefing room. From there the General extended her reach to the control room where she hovered behind Walter with a crappy cup of coffee in her hand while she stared at the gate.

The situation was surreal and the room was so…familiar it was almost like home. A part of her realized how alien she was to it and how little she belonged there, but then another part that had spent countless hours watching things happen there, felt the same warmth and comfort as always. Even General Hammond's gruff command had an air of security and a vague almost paternal concern about it.

Bonnie loved it all. Every ounce of it, from the drab ugly cement walls to the shitty coffee to SG-1 and General Hammond. There was a reason she'd put so much of her time into watching them. She hated being ripped from her life, thrown into it all without reason or regard. She hated the choices she was having to make and the things she knew. But that couldn't stop her from loving the place she landed.

"Sir?" Walter said hesitantly as General Hammond walked up beside her. "SG-1 and SG-2 have hit the twenty-four hour mark."

Hammond looked over at her and she shook her head. Skin of their teeth, just like she said. A bit more time. Best to start the precedent of that now cause they'd do it to him for the rest of forever.

He nodded to her. "I think we can afford to give them a few more minutes, don't you, Sgt. Harriman?"

A relieved smile tugged at Walter's mouth. "Yes, sir. I do."

It was three minutes later that the gate began to spin. It opened in a flash and everyone crowded around the window.

"I'm receiving SG-1's transmitter signal." Walter said.

"Open the iris!" Hammond said quickly, turning on the intercom to the gate room. "Defense team stand ready!"

Moments later Sam rolled through, waving back the airmen as refugees tumbled in. Then finally Daniel joined them and Teal'c wasn't far behind. Last came Jack, Kawalsky, and the injured team member after which Sam yelled for them to close the iris. Several thuds hit the iris before the gate shut down and Bonnie let out a breath. Something hot and wet soaked into the front of her jumpsuit and she quickly righted her coffee mug which she'd curled against her shoulder and not noticed had tipped during the teams' return.

Bonnie watched from the control room as the refugees were led away, Jack talked to General Hammond, and she got her first full view of the team. When they turned to walk away Daniel caught sight of her and paused. Their eyes locked and she mouthed a silent 'I'm sorry' which was probably useless at that point and likely just made it all worse, but she didn't know what else to do.

He just pursed his lips and followed the rest of the team, whether he found the apology appropriate or not she couldn't tell. He probably didn't. If she was in his position she probably wouldn't wanna see her either.

Looking around somewhat aimlessly, Kawalsky was the last to leave. He sauntered down the ramp as Bonnie watched, and for a second she could've sworn she caught a glow in his eyes. Her decision about his life would be there within days whether she was ready or not.