"You can't let her go, Jack."

"I don't have a choice."

"Stop her."

"I can't."

"You have to."

Jack scowled, truly frustrated at this conversation. Of course, it was the same one he'd been having with himself since Melony had told him she was leaving, and it was going to have the same outcome.

"What am I supposed to do, Daniel? Clap her in irons and toss her in the brig? She's going to go, and I can't stop her."

'Talon-"

"Has already told me he's not going to impose his will on her to stop her from going. It's her life, and she's free to do whatever she wants with it."

"She's going to self-destruct," Daniel said, worry plainly evident in every part of his expression and body. "Have you looked into her eyes lately?"

Of course he had. They were old, and sad, and dead.

"Talon's not going to let her hurt herself, Daniel. He told me he'd bring her home safely."

"Why does she have to leave? She could have Tao do this peace treaty thing, couldn't she? He's done a few others, I know."

"Why didn't you go back to Abydos once you knew Sha're wasn't coming back? Why did I have such troubles with Sara when Charlie died?" Jack shrugged. "It's painful for her to be here, Daniel. Everything she sees reminds her of Brad. I can understand that. Besides, I think she needs something to do – to keep her mind off things."

"That's not very healthy..."

"I know. She knows. It's just the way it is. At least she'll have Talon to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid."

Daniel sighed, aware that he wasn't going to be able to talk Jack out of letting Melony go. Of course, he could also plainly see that Jack wasn't all for her going, and had probably tried to figure out a way to keep her from leaving – and just hadn't come up with anything.

"Maybe she'll let me go with her." He said, suddenly.

"What?"

"You know. To help her. It wouldn't be the first time we went on a mission together."

"She won't let you."

"She might."

"I already asked her if I could go and she said no."

"But-"

"Daniel, stop." Jack sighed, and put his hand on the archeologist's shoulder. "She's going to go, and we're going to all gather around and tell her good-bye, wish her a safe journey and remind her that we love her without driving her away with our guilt trips. Understand?"

"But, Jack..."

"It's not like you and I can't keep in touch with her." He held up his wrist, which had the device that Talon had helped Melony make to allow her to keep in touch with Jack while she was off-world with Talon. Daniel had one, as well, and it had never left his wrist. "She's going to go, and we'll have to hope that somewhere out there Talon will be able to help her find peace. Because I don't think she's going to find it here."

Daniel had to agree with that. He'd tried talking to Mitchell, and even though she'd been more than willing to talk, she hadn't opened up to him, and she hadn't lost that hopeless look in her eyes. She really didn't think there was anything left on Earth for her. Maybe if she went away for a while, Daniel conceded, she'd decide there was.

"All right, Jack..." he rubbed his face. "Maybe I'll go see if she needs help gathering supplies."

"She did that yesterday." Jack told him. "Go up top and help her pack the ship."

Daniel nodded, and headed for the door of Jack's office.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Fuglier was just as dangerous a ship as her predecessor had been, Daniel knew. True, she'd never been in a major combat scenario, but she had more weapons, and over the last two years, Melony had added a couple new advances in technology that made her shields almost as good as the ones the crystals had given Fugly. Since the explosion that had been the decisive blow to the System lords had also destroyed the majority of the augmenting crystals, there was no way to repeat that little trick with the shields, but Talon had adapted well, and had made do without. Daniel knew that nothing would pose a threat to Melony on her trip. And she knew it, too.

The little ship was in a closely guarded hanger. Mostly this was because it was lethal for someone to get to close to it unless they'd been 'introduced' to the ship. There was a bug zapper-like security device installed on it, and it couldn't be shut off, even when they were on Earth and doing nothing. This was to keep the technology from falling into the wrong hands, and Daniel could appreciate that. He nodded to the guards and walked through the little door on the side of the hanger, looking for Melony.

She wasn't in sight, which meant she was on the ship. Daniel walked across the hanger – it was rather large, and the ship was fairly small – and right up to the ship. He didn't fear the security device – he'd been introduced to it longer than anyone, after all. He felt a tingling as he crossed the barrier, and then went to the hatch.

"Melony?"

"In the hold."

The 'hold' wasn't really a hold. It was a small room she used to hold supplies. A storeroom about the size of a large walk-in closet. Daniel went inside the ship and found her right where she said she was.

"Hi."

She looked up from a package she was securing.

"Hi."

"I... thought I'd come by and see if you needed any help?"

"You thought you come by and see if you could talk me out of leaving..."

Daniel nodded, not at all surprised that she saw through him like that.

"That, too, I guess."

"I'll be back, Daniel."

"So I've heard. When?"

"A month or two."

"Why do you have to go?"

"Because I can't stay."

She turned and finished securing the box, and then moved on to another one. Most of the supplies she was taking were simple MREs, nothing too complex. A couple of books, and a few changes of clothing – all field utilities – and that was about it. Along with a large supply of coffee.

"Can I help you?"

If she was surprised by the lack of an argument, she didn't show it. She shook her head.

"I'm almost done."

"When do you leave?"

"In about an hour, I think."

She wasn't really on a schedule or anything, but it was the next day, and that was all she'd promised Jack. One day. She was ready to go, and anxious to leave.

"Got time for a last cup of coffee?"

"Sure."