"Is everything all right, Colonel?"

Mitchell nodded as she walked into the briefing room once more and resumed her seat next to McKay.

"Yes, sorry about that. I forgot something that needed taking care of."

She saw that Rodney had the papers in front of him, now, and from the pen in his hand and the half-completed sketch, she could see that he was trying to explain to the others the thermal room they'd found.

Thermal room. Good name

It's certainly too hot to be the bedroom.

She was still a little edgy after her visit with Carson, but the walk back had done her some good, and she'd managed to get herself back under control by the time she'd returned to finish the briefing. Talon, of course, was helping. Not only because he considered it his responsibility to keep her sound of mind and body, but because he knew his own antagonism towards Beckett hadn't helped things. As much as he was unhappy with the doctor, he knew better than to allow his own feelings to rub off on Melony like that – and he'd still managed to do it. So it was his job to fix things. And he did.

But he wasn't finished discussing it with her, and Melony knew it. She could feel him waiting for the right moment. But it wasn't while they were in the middle of a briefing.

McKay outlined what he presumed to be the best way to rig up lines to tap the geothermal energies of the room, and Mitchell listened closely, because he was a genius, after all, and this kind of thing was right up his alley. She could do it – with Talon helping her, Melony was a genius, too – and even before her blending with him, she'd been smart – but why muddle through something that would take her weeks, when Rodney was certain he could have it done in a matter of days?

"I'd still like to see where that tube that Major Sheppard and Doctor Beckett were exploring leads," Melony said, when Rodney was finished.

"It leads to a big crack in the floor." Sheppard told her, his eyes filled with amusement.

He'd checked with the doctors before coming to the briefing and knew as well as Melony did that Beckett was going to be fine. Which meant that there was nothing wrong with a little good-natured teasing about the whole thing.

"Yeah. But beyond that there's probably something else."

"A bigger crack?" Ford asked, catching the theme of the joke easily and more than willing to join in.

"Another bolt hole, maybe?" Weir asked.

Melony shrugged.

"It might lead deeper into the flow, for all I know. I was turned around pretty quickly in our tunnel. But it definitely should be searched."

"You can do that while the teams are rigging up the power source," McKay suggested.

Which was a good idea.

"How long do you think it will be before you're ready to start that project, Rodney?" Elizabeth asked.

"A few days to gather the manpower and necessary supplies."

She turned to Mitchell.

"Can you wait that long?"

"Sure."

"Then we'll stop here for the day," Weir decided, taking all the sketches and notes and stacking them so she and Mitchell could study them later. "Thank you for the briefing everyone."

Since it was as much of a dismissal as any of them needed, the others started standing up and leaving. Melony reached for her abandoned coffee cup and drained it – it was cold, but this stuff actually tasted almost better cold – although she preferred all coffee hot. She looked over at Kale, who was still seated – as was Weir.

"I don't know how to repay you, Kale."

The Light One waved away any need for that.

"I'm happy to help, Melony. I've enjoyed this time completely – both your company and the chance to get to know the people who you serve with." His smile was for Weir only, then.

See? They just went off the charts, Talon told her.

She didn't see, but she knew he could – and there was no denying the sudden flush on Elizabeth Weir's cheeks.

If you had any feelings for him – physically – then you'd be more susceptible to his… charms

Melony didn't reply, but she could tell that Weir obviously did – and was. She stood up.

"I'm going to head back to Zalinka and get another cup of this coffee."

"No adverse affects so far?" Weir asked.

Talon?

Nah

She shook her head.

"I'm pretty sure there won't be, but I think I'll spend the rest of the day doing nothing, just in case."

"I'm going to return home soon, Melony," Kale told her. "Perhaps tomorrow…"

Melony nodded; she'd expected he'd want to as soon as he wasn't needed.

"Don't go anywhere just yet, okay? I want to talk to you, and I have one more… assignment… for us, before you go."

"Today?"

"No. How about tomorrow morning?"

"Are you going off-world?" Weir asked, curiously.

Melony shook her head, smiling even though Talon was already seeing what she had in mind and was reminding her that he wasn't God, and could only fix so many injuries at one time.

"Nope. I just have a hankering to try something – and I need Kale's help."

"Tomorrow."

"Yes."

"I'm at your disposal, Melony," The Light One told her. "You know that."

"Then I'll see you in the morning, if not sooner," she told him, giving him a smile and ignoring Talon's muttering about crazy hosts with death wishes.

Hush, it'll be great.

He snorted, but didn't say anything else.

Melony nodded goodbye to the two, and left the briefing room, and Kale turned his attention completely on Weir.

"So…" he asked, smiling as he reached for her hand, lightly. "Do you have time for another walk?"

Amazed at her audacity, but unable to smile even though she was blushing furiously as well, Elizabeth squeezed his hand lightly.

"Or something…"