"She has the strongest life force I have ever felt," Halling said, softly, to avoid being overheard by Jinto – who was pretending to be asleep but was trying to listen in on the conversation between his father and Teyla. "Even Jinto felt it, I am certain."

"I've only heard a few things of her," Teyla said, interested – as she had been when Halling had called her, asking her to come by his quarters. He would have gone to hers, but they were close to Sheppard's and Jinto had told them that Mitchell's rooms were right next to his and he didn't want the newcomer to overhear what he was saying any more than he wanted Jinto to. "I am certain I will have a chance to meet her, soon."

"Jinto could introduce you to her. She doesn't seem to mind him."

"Then she is patient, indeed," Teyla said with a smile.

"You must warn her, Teyla. If she's going to be around here, then she needs to know the danger she's in."

"I'll tell her, Halling." The Athosian promised.

The older man nodded, and Teyla decided that he'd told her what he'd asked her to come hear.

"I'm off to find my bed, dear friend. If I cannot meet this... Colonel... in the morning, I will come seek out Jinto to introduce me to her in the afternoon."

"I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding him..." Halling drawled as he walked her to the door. "Just look for trouble; he's sure to be in the middle of it."

She smiled, and told him goodnight, and left.

OOOOOOOOOO

"Good morning, Colonel."

Mitchell had barely left her quarters when she was intercepted by Sheppard, who had been lounging outside his quarters – and presumably her own – waiting for her.

"Good morning, Major."

"How was your first night's sleep in Atlantis?"

"Not bad."

It hadn't been, either. Once she'd managed to fall asleep, it had been dreamless and refreshing. She'd woken, taken yet another long, hot shower, and had felt more than ready to face what was probably going to be a long day.

"I thought I'd see if you wanted to come have breakfast with me?"

"I would – but I need to go find Doctor Becker, first."

"Oh? You feeling okay?"

She nodded.

"He's going to inject me with that gene therapy thing that he gave Dr. McKay."

"Did I hear someone say my name?"

They both looked over and saw Rodney McKay walking towards them.

"Colonel Mitchell," Sheppard said, gesturing to Rodney. "You remember Doctor McKay, right?"

She nodded, both in response to his question and in greeting.

"Of course. Good morning, Doctor McKay."

"Good morning, Colonel Mitchell."

"We were just going to head for the infirmary," Sheppard said.

"Oh? Are you feeling all right, Colonel Mitchell?"

"I'm fine."

"Talon?"

"He's fine, too."

"I've really heard a lot about you and Talon, Colonel," McKay said. "I'd love a chance to sit and discuss your exploits sometime."

Mitchell nodded. She was used to people wanting to sit and discuss her exploits – usually they were doctors who were curious about the Tok'ra and had a handy way in Mitchell to find out more about Talon without worrying about offending some alien.

"I'm more than willing, Doctor," she said agreeably. "But not at this moment, I'm afraid. There's still a lot I have to do, and a couple of things I need to figure out –"

"I could help you."

"You're welcomed to come along." He was right, after all; he might be able to help her with logistics she didn't understand yet. He was – apparently – the smartest guy in the city.

He fell into step next to her, and the three of them headed for the infirmary, where Carson Beckett was already at work, despite the fact that his infirmary held no patients, and it was pretty early, still. The Scot smiled when he looked up and saw them all walking in, and gestured with his bearded chin for them to head over to the examination area and to stay clear of his workstation.

"Good morning, Melony," he said, sparing her another glance before turning back to what he'd been doing.

McKay's eyebrows rose in surprise at the warm familiarity of that greeting, and rose even more when Mitchell responded with a smile of her own.

"Good morning, Carson. You're up and at them already?"

"Aye. The early bird gets the worm and all that, you know." He nodded a good morning to Sheppard and McKay. "I'm almost finished."

"Finished doing what?" McKay asked.

"He's getting that gene ready." She said, explainging that she was going to be injected with the Ancient's gene.

"Already? Don't you have to have other injections, first? Anti-rejection drugs? Things like that?"

"Melony won't need them, we think," Beckett said. "With her symbiote able to control what reaction her body has, she should be able to take a direct injection."

"How long will it take?" Sheppard asked. He'd never needed the gene injection and was glad for that. He hated needles.

Beckett shrugged.

"No clue."

"I have plenty I can do while I'm waiting for it to work," Melony told him. She wasn't worried. Talon would make sure it didn't take any longer than necessary.

"Like breakfast." Rodney said.

"Like talking over my next step," she corrected, hopping up on one of the exam tables.

"What do you mean?" Sheppard asked.

"I've got a couple things I need to discuss with you, Major – and with Doctor Weir – but I'd prefer to talk to you both at the same time."

"Would you like me to go find her?" McKay asked. Not that he was used to being the gofer guy, but he was curious what she had on her mind, and was impatient to hear it.

"Nah. She's probably just getting breakfast herself, and I don't want to rush Carson."

"It's no rush," Beckett said, coming over with a syringe in his hand. "I'm ready when you are."

Melony eyed the needle with the usual distaste she had for such things.

Baby. It's not like you won't heal almost immediately, and it's only a tiny sting

It still hurts.

"Please tell me that goes in my arm...?"

Sheppard grinned; he'd been hoping the same thing.

"In your shoulder," Beckett confirmed, smiling as well.

"Good."

She pulled off her BDU jacket, and rolled up the short sleeve of her t-shirt, revealing a well-muscled shoulder.

"It shouldn't hurt." Beckett assured her.

"I'm not worried."

Liar

She told him to hush, and turned her attention to Sheppard to keep from watching the injection.

"What's for breakfast?"

"Powdered eggs and toast."

"My favorite."

A quick prick, and she looked back in time to see Beckett drawing the needle out.

"There."

He swabbed the spot, and put on a band-aid in case there was any bleeding, then smiled.

"That's it?"

"That's all I can do. The rest is up to Talon."

Talon?

Give me a bit to see what it is and where to put it

"Then let's get some breakfast while he figures it out." She said, putting her jacket back on. Hopefully they'd run into Doctor Weir there, and they could kill two birds with one stone. "Would you care to join us, Carson?"

"I would, but I've got to finish up things here." He looked pleased by the invitation, however. "I'll try to catch up with you later."

She nodded, and stood up, and they all left the infirmary to find some breakfast.