"Really, it was so simple," Rodney called a few minutes later as Melony waited in the sitting area of his quarters while he was in his bedroom changing, "I'm surprised you didn't think of it yourself."

"What's that?" She asked, curiously.

He came out of the bedroom, looking a lot drier than he'd gone in looking – although he still looked just as smug. He tossed her the personal shield device that he'dset up for her awhile back.

Mitchell caught it reflexively, and stared down at it, feeling completely stupid – and feeling Talon's chagrin as well.

Why didn't we think of that?

Well… I always wanted to know how you'd look going through a glass window, myself…

She stifled a chuckle, although she didn't bother to hide the grin. The first one of the morning.

"If you're wearing that, it doesn't matter what you crash into," McKay told her, needlessly. "You won't get hurt, even if it's a brick wall."

"Why didn't I think of that?"

McKay shrugged, looking – if possible – even more smug than he had a moment before.

"No clue. Major Sheppard said your harness wasn't damaged in your fall, so it's ready to go whenever you're ready – if you'd care to test this theory?"

"Definitely."

She palmed the device, and her and Rodney left his quarters, heading for the command area where they were relatively certain they'd find Sheppard, and hopefully, Kale.

OOOOOO

"Colonel Mitchell," Weir greeted her as the two entered the upstairs area of the command center. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, Doctor Weir," Melony said, "Thank you."

Weir didn't think she looked all that fine. There was a bleakness to her expression that she hadn't seen there before – or not since after she'd arrived in Atlantis, maybe.

"Doctor Beckett released you from the infirmary?"

Mitchell shrugged, "More or less. Have you seen Major Sheppard? Or Kale?"

"Major Sheppard is right behind you," a cheerful voice said from behind her as Weir reddened slightly for no reason at all. Melony turned, and saw Sheppard walking over. "It's good to see you're out of bed. Did McKay tell you about the idea we had?"

Mitchell nodded.

"I was hoping to try it out. Are you interested in watching?"

"Promise not to crash into me?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'd love to."

"All we're missing now, is Kale," Rodney said. "Can't do much without hi-"

The door swooshed open and Ford entered with Kale beside him, the Light One dressed in his ill-fitting clothing and smiling at whatever it was that the Lieutenant had just said. His smile widened when he saw Mitchell.

"Colonel! It is good to see you are up and about. How do you feel?"

"I'm fine, Kale," Melony said, giving him the best smile she could muster. It wasn't his fault she was in the middle of an emotional backlash that she hadn't felt the likes of in forever, and she wasn't going to make him deal with it. None of them. "I'm interested in trying out the Ancient's shielding device, if you're willing to give it another go?"

"Of course. When?"

"The sooner the better. I'd like to get the plan in motion now that we have a few destinations in mind – at least once we can make sure I'm not going to crash and burn every time you need to drop me."

The Light One smiled and nodded.

"I am ready whenever you are."

"I'll get your harness and meet you at the same place as last time," Sheppard said, heading out of the room as soon as Melony nodded.

"Well, let's go see what we can find out…"

The rest of them headed for the door.

OOOOOOOO

"Major Sheppard!"

John stopped when he heard his name, and shifted the harness to the other shoulder. It wasn't all that heavy, but it was bulky and awkward to carry. He turned and saw Carson Beckett coming down the hall, eyes on the harness he was holding.

"Yeah?"

"Have you seen Colonel Mitchell?"

Wondering why the doctor looked so uncomfortable asking such a simple question, Sheppard nodded.

"She was just in the command center and now is on the way up to one of the observation balconies to give the harness another try. That's where I'm heading."

Carson hesitated. He wanted to talk to Melony, but he didn't want to do it in front of a crowd.

"Uh… just tell her that I need to see her, will you? When she's finished with the test? I'll be in the infirmary…"

"Well, you might see her sooner than you expect to – if the device we're using doesn't do what McKay think it will." Sheppard told him cheerfully. He really wasn't worried about it this time. He'd seen what the shielding devices could do, after all.

"It's important, Major," Beckett told him. "Please don't forget."

Sheppard frowned; wondering why he didn't just come with him and watch – then he could talk to her after that. But he shrugged.

"I won't forget."

Beckett turned and headed back the way he'd come, and Sheppard went on his way, shifting the harness once more and smiling in anticipation. If it worked out, he might give the harness a go himself sometime, because the thing looked like a kick – not as great as flying and being in the control seat, but it had certainly looked like fun when he'd been watching Mitchell. Right up until the whole flying through the window thing.

OOOOOOOOO

"I just saw Doctor Beckett," Sheppard said a few minutes later as he handed over Mitchell's harness to her. She paled slightly and dropped the shielding device in her hand.

"Damn it."

Reaching down to pick it up, she hid her reaction as well as she could.

"What did he want?"

Sheppard wasn't the only one to notice the reaction, but none of the others said anything – although Weir tossed a look over at Ford, who knew Melony best of the group, to ask him silently if he knew what that had been all about. Ford correctly interpreted the questioning look, and shrugged; he didn't have a clue.

"He said he needed to talk to you – and that it was important," John told her, watching as she got the harness on and tightened all the straps and buckles carefully.

"He did release you from the infirmary, didn't he Colonel?" Weir asked.

"Not in so many words," she admitted, jumping on that as an excuse for her reaction. "But I'm fine, and Talon agrees. We're ready to get going."

She pressed the shielding device between her breasts and it glowed green with activation. Satisfied, Melony turned to Kale, who had already undressed in anticipation of the need to transform.

"Ready?"

The Light One nodded, and a moment later the large bird was there.

"Aim for the stone wall this time," McKay said as Kale launched himself into the air and wheeled about to give himself a little altitude and a quick warm up before heading back to snatch her from the balcony. The remains of the shattered glass wall had been removed, and now there was a gaping hole where before there'd been a large window.

"I'll do my best," Mitchell said, sarcastically.

She moved to the edge of the balcony, and made sure the loops were in a good position for Kale to grab them. Then braced herself as he came screaming in, giving a shriek of warning. The others backed against the stone wall, giving them all the room they needed, and Kale grabbed her from the balcony with a quick jerk.

Here we go…