"Good." Mitchell had already decided that protecting Earth from the Wraith was far more important than getting the Atlantis team back home. For that matter, it was more important than anything else. "What message did you send back to Earth when I came through the gate?" She asked. "Did you tell them about the Wraith?"

Weir looked more than a little chagrined.

"We... didn't get a message off to them..."

"What?"

"We were so surprised by the beam that attacked you and your... um... Talon... that we didn't get a message off to them."

"You're kidding..."

Weir shook her head.

That means Jack doesn't know we made it...

Sure he does

How?

Fuglier is still orbiting Earth, Talon told her. Since the ship is triggered to blow if you die, he'll know you're alive because there won't be an explosion

What about the distance?

It doesn't matter

You're sure?

Positive

She sighed, but shrugged. No sense raking anyone over the coals about it.

"Sorry, Colonel, we were caught by surprise."

"It's no big deal, Doctor Weir. Better that you managed to disable the beam, anyways, as far as I'm concerned." She looked around the hall. "So the Wraith can't get to Earth unless we tell them how to get there, or let them through the gate – "

"Which won't happen," Sheppard said.

"Which won't happen," Mitchell agreed, nodding. She'd blow the Stargate, the city and everyone in it long before she allowed that to happen.

Sheppard told her the rest of the story of their initial meeting with the Wraith, and how he'd shot Sumner once he'd realized there would be no way to rescue the Colonel, and then how the Wraith had captured him, and his own subsequent rescue.

"Lieutenant Ford saved my life."

"He's a good man," Mitchell agreed.

"You know him?" Weir asked, surprised. She hadn't been there when Mitchell and Ford had met in the hallway, after all, so this was news to her.

"I was his training officer when he first came to the SGC," Mitchell said, explaining how all newcomers were subjected to a series of tests to see if they were compatible for off-world working conditions and to check temperament and how they'd deal with pressures, and how each SG team took turns being the instructors.

"Well, it must be a pleasant surprise to find someone you know here, then," Weir said. She realized belatedly that Mitchell had expected to find someone she knew – Colonel Sumner – but the Colonel Mitchell didn't say that. She was a bit more diplomatic than that – at least she was now that her head wasn't pounding.

"It is," she agreed, smiling slightly. A smile that didn't reach her eyes, but this wasn't a big surprise to Weir or Sheppard. There had been a lot of bad news to hand out to the Colonel in the last hours, and only someone with serious problems would be able to smile after all that – not to mention being attacked by that beam only seconds after arrival.

"Well, why don't I give you that tour?" Sheppard suggested. "I can tell you more about what we've been doing while you take a look around, and maybe we can find you a cup of coffee?"

"That sounds like a plan."

"I'm going to leave you in the Major's capable hands, Colonel," Weir told her. "I have some things I need to take care of – unless you have any questions?"

Mitchell shook her head.

"I'm sure I'll have more later, but I'd like to get a look around, first, and think about what I've heard."

"Understandable. I'll be at your disposal, just come find me, or ask someone else to."

"Thank you, Doctor Weir."

The two officers watched as she left them, then Sheppard gestured towards the hall and the tour that had been interrupted by the report on the Wraith.

"Coffee first? Or the rest of the tour?"

"I can drink a cup of coffee while I'm touring," she told him.

OOOOOOOOO

"This is amazing..."

The two of them were standing at one of the many balconies that overlooked the water, and Mitchell was leaning way over, looking down at the water that was crashing against the base of the city.

"You should have been here when it was still underwater," Sheppard told her. "The view is a lot different from below."

"I bet."

She took a quarter from her pocket and dropped it, watching as it fell and counting softly to herself.

"We're at least three hundred feet up..."

Sheppard nodded.

"Good thing you're not afraid of heights..."

Good thing I'm not, either

Mitchell smiled.

"Have you tested the water?" She asked. "Are there fish in there?"

"The scientists have made it so we're converting sea water for drinking and bathing and stuff," Sheppard told her. "I haven't found a fishing line long enough to fish from here, yet."

I like him

Mitchell found herself smiling again. Smiling wasn't something she'd been doing a lot of lately, but it felt good.

I do, too.

He had a good sense of humor, and as far as she could tell, he'd done a good job taking over for Marshal.

"We'll have to try it sometime..."

She drained her coffee cup, and sighed.

"I should probably go take a look at those mission reports, Major. I have a lot of catching up to do..."

He nodded.

"I'm going to get a bite to eat, and then I'll be in my quarters if you have anything you have a question about."

"Thank you." She turned and headed inside.

"Do you need me to walk you back to your rooms?"

She shook her head. Even if she hadn't been paying attention to where they'd been going, Talon had a fine sense of direction, so she was pretty sure between the two of them they'd get where they needed to go.

"You go eat," she said. "I'll be fine."

"Yes, Ma'am."

They separated, and Mitchell headed for her quarters.