They ended up sitting side by side, leaning against the wall at the head of her bed as they ate their meal. Since Melony didn't have as much to eat, she finished first, but she was more than willing to have another cup of coffee and cuddle lightly against him while he finished his own dinner. They didn't say much while they were eating – and they really didn't need to – but once he was finished, Beckett took one of the cookies from her plate and smiled.

"So... am I ready for your advanced class, yet?" he asked her.

She shook her head, and took another sip of her coffee before setting it to the side next to his cup.

"Probably not, but you're doing a lot better than you were. At least it's a bit harder to sneak up on you than it was."

"You really think we need to learn this?" He asked. "I know that Major Sheppard has a good reason for wanting us to know some of it, but how often do you really think we're going to have to pick up guns and defend ourselves?"

"Hopefully never," she said, shrugging. "Best case scenario; something happens – someone who doesn't belong on base comes in – either through the gate or from outer space – we military types find them before they can do any damage and we stop them before they get anywhere."

"Worst case?" Beckett asked.

"Worst case, we get overrun and have to retreat – or we're disabled and you and your staff are on your own without much help." She took his plate from him and put it next to her coffee cup. "In that instance, not only do we need you and your people to be able to protect the base, but we need you to be able to protect yourselves, because if we're injured, you're going to have to be healthy enough to put us back together."

He nodded.

"I never thought of that."

"Best case scenario, you wouldn't have to," she reminded him, taking his hand. "You and the rest of the expedition would have landed here and found a thriving city filled with Ancients who were more than ready to welcome you into their community – and come back and help Earth with whatever they needed."

"But not help with the Goa'uld, since you already took care of that for us."

She shrugged.

"I had help."

"So... do you miss being the most powerful system lord around?"

She smiled, knowing that he'd gotten that particular phrase from Rodney McKay – who loved to tell stories about her exploits to anyone who'd listen, no matter how many times she told him to stop.

"Well, technically, I'm still the most powerful system lord around here, you know?" She told him. "It's not like there's any competition, after all."

"Good point."

He yawned, and she looked at her watch – it was far later than she'd expected it to be, and she knew he'd been up since early that morning. She figured she'd better let him get to bed.

"I'm going to take the dishes back to the commissary," she told him, looking over at him. "You need to get some sleep."

"Kicking me out already?" He asked her, turning his head to look at her. Melony smiled, because he looked cute sleepy, too.

"Nope. You can sleep here if you want."

"With you?"

"In my bed," she corrected. "It's not quite the same thing."

"Will you be in it, too?"

She shook her head, smiling.

"I'm going to take the dishes back to the commissary." she repeated.

"Then what?"

Sleep with him

What?

She felt Talon's amusement at her surprise.

I didn't say have sex with him – although it probably wouldn't kill you – but you're right about probably not being ready for that kind of intimacy. Just spend the night in his arms and see how it feels. It's been a long time since you've had that kind of contact and it'd be good for you

You think so?

Why not?

She was quiet long enough that he turned, wondering if she thought he was trying to press her into something she didn't want to do, and he saw the introverted look in her expression that usually meant she was conversing with Talon.

"Is he telling you to tell me to leave?" He asked, only half-joking.

Melony grinned, and leaned over and kissed him lightly.

"No. On the contrary, he's telling me that it'd be a good idea to spend the night snuggled up beside you – to see how I handle it."

"I always knew I liked him."

She laughed, and pulled away from him.

"I'm going to take these dishes back."

"Are you going to come back?" He asked. "If you don't want to, I understand – and I don't mind. I'm not so tired that I can't make it back to my own bed."

She shook her head.

"You stay here, Carson. I'm not... well... I'm not completely sure I'm brave enough to come back, but if I am I'd rather not have to track you down..."

He nodded and Melony gathered up the dishes – and the used cups – and left her room.