There were very few times when the personnel of the entire SGC got
together. Since the most frequent reason was a funeral for a lost team
member – or members – it was always more enjoyable when that reason for
getting together was something that didn't involve pain, or tears.
Colonel Mitchell's going away party was well on its way to becoming a legend. Only one SG team was off-world, and every one of the ones that wasn't was represented at her party by at least one member - and in most cases, more than one. Her backyard, which was huge, was filled with people. Marines and Air Force for the most part, since they were the majority of the people that made up the SGC, but there were also quite a few civilians, as well. Everyone that came was made welcome, and there was plenty to eat and drink, and plenty to do.
SG-2 was all there. Simmons and Williams had absolutely no intention of letting her leave them without a chance to say goodbye. Even though they looked battered, still, and Williams was scheduled for a surgery on his knee just the next day. The three of them – Anderson, Williams and Simmons – stayed at her side almost the entire evening, and no one held it against them that they monopolized her attentions. They were the ones that were closest to her, after all, and they would be the ones that would miss her the most once she was gone.
There were gifts, too. It was a sign of just how well everyone knew her when the majority of her presents were her favorite coffee bean, all packaged so that she would be able to take them with her. There were photos taken, photos shared, and photos that were giggled over.
Jack was the cook. This gave him something to do besides brood – which he definitely would have done if given the chance. Mitchell announced halfway through the evening that her affairs were as in order as they were going to get, and that she and Talon were going to be heading through the gate the next morning. Apparently, Brad Anderson had been asked to take care of Melony's house, and while Jack knew it was a good idea, he couldn't help but think it wasn't going to be the same as having Melony herself here. The younger Colonel was leaving, and was going to be someplace where Jack couldn't protect her. So instead of thinking about that, and worrying about that, he cooked. He barbequed for the people assembled, and was at his outrageous best, hiding his feelings as he always did, although the few who knew him the best knew better.
Mitchell knew better, of course, but she gave him his space. They'd already talked about her leaving, and there wasn't anything more to be said, really. She was ready to go, and he knew it. More importantly, she wasn't going to be completely inaccessible, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Jack knew this. Melony knew this.
The only person that had more fun at Mitchell's party than Melony was Talon. He'd never seen so many of the Tau'ri together before, and had never seen so many different kinds of people and styles of mannerism and dress. The Tok'ra was watching everything, and had convinced Melony to try everything – at least a taste – so he could know what it was like. This also included the different beers and ales that Jack had bought for the party, so Melony would open a bottle, take a drink and hand it over to one of the other people at the party to finish. She didn't want to get plastered that night, not even for the curious symbiote. It turned into a game for the members of the SGC once they found out what was going on, and people started bringing all sorts of things for her to eat to let her symbiote to try. Some were even things that Melony didn't even like. But she tried everything, grumbling the entire time, and reminding Talon that if she got sick, he was going to get sick, too. And he wouldn't like that very much. He wasn't worried – he was in charge of keeping her healthy, and he would, but he was really enjoying what they were doing.
As evening turned into night, and then night turned into late night, the party eventually started to wind down. People started leaving, and there were many hugs and handshakes, and well-wishes. Mitchell was close to crying by the time the members of SG-2 gathered around her for the night. Williams wouldn't be at the SGC the next day because of his surgery, and the young Lieutenant grabbed her up into a long bear hug and held her tightly.
"You'll be back, right?"
"You know it." She assured him, running her fingers through his short spikey hair. "Every holiday for sure, and maybe sometimes just to pop in and say hi."
He'd nodded, and hugged her again, then had limped away painfully, supported by Simmons, who'd also hugged her tightly, even though he was going to be in the gate room the next day to see her off.
She was glad that there were very few people left to see her crying, now. One more good-bye and she'd be bawling like a baby, and she knew it.
A tissue was waved in front of her blurry eye and Melony reached for it as she turned to see who it was. Jack was smiling, slightly, but it wasn't a real smile. It was as forced as the one she gave him in return. He caught her in his arms and pulled her into his embrace, and held her. Held her like her own brother would have held her, had he been here for this moment.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear.
She nodded. That was no secret.
Brad Anderson came over and put his hand on her shoulder, and the two men – the two people – that Melony loved most in her world made sure without words that she knew they'd always be there for her, no matter how far away from them she was. It was all they could do. And it was enough.
Colonel Mitchell's going away party was well on its way to becoming a legend. Only one SG team was off-world, and every one of the ones that wasn't was represented at her party by at least one member - and in most cases, more than one. Her backyard, which was huge, was filled with people. Marines and Air Force for the most part, since they were the majority of the people that made up the SGC, but there were also quite a few civilians, as well. Everyone that came was made welcome, and there was plenty to eat and drink, and plenty to do.
SG-2 was all there. Simmons and Williams had absolutely no intention of letting her leave them without a chance to say goodbye. Even though they looked battered, still, and Williams was scheduled for a surgery on his knee just the next day. The three of them – Anderson, Williams and Simmons – stayed at her side almost the entire evening, and no one held it against them that they monopolized her attentions. They were the ones that were closest to her, after all, and they would be the ones that would miss her the most once she was gone.
There were gifts, too. It was a sign of just how well everyone knew her when the majority of her presents were her favorite coffee bean, all packaged so that she would be able to take them with her. There were photos taken, photos shared, and photos that were giggled over.
Jack was the cook. This gave him something to do besides brood – which he definitely would have done if given the chance. Mitchell announced halfway through the evening that her affairs were as in order as they were going to get, and that she and Talon were going to be heading through the gate the next morning. Apparently, Brad Anderson had been asked to take care of Melony's house, and while Jack knew it was a good idea, he couldn't help but think it wasn't going to be the same as having Melony herself here. The younger Colonel was leaving, and was going to be someplace where Jack couldn't protect her. So instead of thinking about that, and worrying about that, he cooked. He barbequed for the people assembled, and was at his outrageous best, hiding his feelings as he always did, although the few who knew him the best knew better.
Mitchell knew better, of course, but she gave him his space. They'd already talked about her leaving, and there wasn't anything more to be said, really. She was ready to go, and he knew it. More importantly, she wasn't going to be completely inaccessible, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Jack knew this. Melony knew this.
The only person that had more fun at Mitchell's party than Melony was Talon. He'd never seen so many of the Tau'ri together before, and had never seen so many different kinds of people and styles of mannerism and dress. The Tok'ra was watching everything, and had convinced Melony to try everything – at least a taste – so he could know what it was like. This also included the different beers and ales that Jack had bought for the party, so Melony would open a bottle, take a drink and hand it over to one of the other people at the party to finish. She didn't want to get plastered that night, not even for the curious symbiote. It turned into a game for the members of the SGC once they found out what was going on, and people started bringing all sorts of things for her to eat to let her symbiote to try. Some were even things that Melony didn't even like. But she tried everything, grumbling the entire time, and reminding Talon that if she got sick, he was going to get sick, too. And he wouldn't like that very much. He wasn't worried – he was in charge of keeping her healthy, and he would, but he was really enjoying what they were doing.
As evening turned into night, and then night turned into late night, the party eventually started to wind down. People started leaving, and there were many hugs and handshakes, and well-wishes. Mitchell was close to crying by the time the members of SG-2 gathered around her for the night. Williams wouldn't be at the SGC the next day because of his surgery, and the young Lieutenant grabbed her up into a long bear hug and held her tightly.
"You'll be back, right?"
"You know it." She assured him, running her fingers through his short spikey hair. "Every holiday for sure, and maybe sometimes just to pop in and say hi."
He'd nodded, and hugged her again, then had limped away painfully, supported by Simmons, who'd also hugged her tightly, even though he was going to be in the gate room the next day to see her off.
She was glad that there were very few people left to see her crying, now. One more good-bye and she'd be bawling like a baby, and she knew it.
A tissue was waved in front of her blurry eye and Melony reached for it as she turned to see who it was. Jack was smiling, slightly, but it wasn't a real smile. It was as forced as the one she gave him in return. He caught her in his arms and pulled her into his embrace, and held her. Held her like her own brother would have held her, had he been here for this moment.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear.
She nodded. That was no secret.
Brad Anderson came over and put his hand on her shoulder, and the two men – the two people – that Melony loved most in her world made sure without words that she knew they'd always be there for her, no matter how far away from them she was. It was all they could do. And it was enough.