"So who's in charge of the Military aspect of the Atlantis team?" Mitchell asked more than four hours later. She was standing in Carter's lab with Daniel and Sam, studying the mostly dead ZPM.

Daniel looked over at Sam, knowing she would know. He wasn't sure.

"Colonel Sumner." Sam answered, watching as Mitchell attached some kind of crazy device she'd retrieved from Fuglier before coming to the base with Daniel and Jack.

"Wayne Sumner?"

"That's the one."

They all looked up at the sound of O'Neill's voice. He'd just walked into the room as she asked the question.

"That's good." She said, turning back to the device and jotting down a note on a piece of paper she had close by. "He's a good man."

"Yup."

"And he was commissioned long before I was, so he outranks me." That meant there was no worry that she'd have to be in charge of anything. Melony wasn't going to Atlantis to be in charge of things.

"True."

"Good."

"How's it coming?" Jack asked, changing the subject. He didn't like thinking about her going off to Atlantis and there was no point discussing who was running things there – especially with a dead ZPM that he was pretty sure wasn't going to have enough juice for anything, even with help of those crystal things.

"There's power in it," Melony told him, checking the device in her hand once more.

"Enough power?" Daniel asked.

Melony shook her head.

"Not on its own."

"We knew that, though," Sam said, reasonably.

"What about the crystals?"

Melony shrugged.

"I need to do some calculations with the gate, and then run a couple of simulations..."

"When will you know, Melony?" Jack asked. The sooner she found she couldn't go, the better.

"Give me an hour or so, Jack."

He nodded.

"I'll be in my office."

"I'll come find you."

She didn't watch him leave; she'd already turned back to the ZPM.

OOOOOOOOOOO

It was closer to two hours before she finally knocked on his door. Jack looked up from the paperwork he was working on – God, he hated paperwork – and waved her in. Daniel and Carter were both with her, still, and both were looking excited – which told Jack far more than he wanted to know.

"We can do it," Daniel said.

"Do what?" Jack asked, putting his pen down.

"Send Colonel Mitchell to Atlantis." Sam told him.

"There's not much of a window," Daniel interjected. "We wouldn't have the energy to keep it open long, but if we move quick enough once we dial the gate, we can send them a lot of supplies."

"And maybe even have a chance to send a message to them – even get one back."

"Maybe." Sam temporized. "I'm sure we can get a message to them, but we have to assume that the gate on that side has something to keep enemies from coming through – and that by now, the team would have found it and figured it out – so we have to let them know that it's us, first, then we can send stuff once we've given them a chance to open their shield."

"You mean they might have an iris...?" Jack asked, scowling. "I'm not going to risk-"

"Jack. If they have one, they can open it, just like we do." Melony said, speaking for the first time. "We send them a code – or a message – and then start sending shit through. Hopefully, by the time I go through, they've already got the thing open."

"And if they don't, you're dead."

"They might not even have one. We don't know."

"I'm not willing to risk that, Melony." He said. "I'm not willing to risk you."

"It's not that big of a risk," she told him. "We tell them it's Earth, and send a code that an SG team would have and recognize. They'll know it's us, and open up. You would, right?"

"Yes."

Of course he would.

"So will they."

"Why don't we just send them the ZPM and the crystals and a note on how to use it to get them home?"

"Because the crystals and the ZPM will be attached to the Stargate," Melony told him.

"And the ZPM will be drained completely by this dial up," Daniel added. "For that matter... we're not going to have a lot of time as it is. Certainly not enough to enjoy lengthy radio conversations. I'm thinking that it might be better to send Melony through first, before the supplies, just in case the crystals lose their strength sooner than we expect them to."

"What?"

"Just as a precaution, Jack." Melony said, taking over. "The supplies are important, of course, but I'd rather I was on the other side before the gate lost power – if the crystals failed."

"I'd rather you were on this side."

"Jack."

They'd discussed that, already. He scowled, and looked into her pale eyes for a long moment. There was no doubt she was eager to do this. No doubt that she wanted to go. God, she was more animated than he'd seen her in... well, since the accident, for sure – and maybe before that, even.

"Are you that eager to leave me?" He asked her, softly.

Melony turned and gestured for Daniel and Sam to leave them alone for a minute, and the two scientists left without a word, knowing that what was going to be said was personal. Daniel shut the door behind him, and Melony turned back to O'Neill.

"I'm not doing this to get away from you, Jack. And you know it."

He sighed, and nodded. He knew it. He also realized the conversation was turning into a guilt trip – which was the one thing he'd sworn to himself he wouldn't do to her – but he couldn't help it.

"But you're leaving me..."

"I'll be back."

"I need you here."

"No, you don't." She rested her hand on his. "You're surrounded with people who love and respect you, and you know it. I love you more than anyone, and you know that, too, but you don't need me. I haven't even been around all that much the last couple years."

"But I always knew you were going to come back."

"And I'm going to come back, again."

"You can't be sure."

"I'll be back."

She was sure. He could see it in her eyes, and in the set of her posture. She'd already survived far more than anyone had ever believed possible – done more than anyone could ever imagine – what was Atlantis going to throw at her that she and Talon couldn't face?

Jack sighed. The thing was; he knew she was right about being the best suited to go. With Talon to keep her safe if she got hurt, and with the added strength and intelligence the symbiote gave her, there really wasn't much they couldn't handle. Maybe they'd even find a way home. Maybe even with the members of the lost team?

"If you don't come back, I'm going to be pissed."

Melony smiled. The first true smile Jack had seen on her face in far too long.

"God forbid I piss off a General..."

"That's right... You'll find yourself stationed in Siberia."

"I like the cold... maybe I could learn to snow ski."

"Just come home as soon as possible, okay?" He told her, ending the banter, but also telling her with those words that he'd decided to let her go.

"As soon as I can, Jack."

"And tell Sumner I said to put you on the stinkiest, crappiest detail he can find for you."

"Oh... I don't think I'll pass that order along, General Sir..."

O'Neill smiled, and touched her cheek. Her eyes were tinged with sorrow, still, but there was a spark in them as well. One he was glad to see – even though it meant she was risking her life.

"When do you go?"

"How long will it take for you to get the supplies together?"

"A day."

"I'll leave tomorrow."

He nodded.

"Tomorrow night."

She nodded her own agreement.

"Better recall all your teams that are off-world. I'm going to have to do some fancy fiddling with your dialing computer, and we don't want them stuck off-world."

Good idea.

"Don't break it."

"Moi??"

"Smart ass."