Epilogue

You remember when we were walking through that lava tube without lights and absolutely no idea what was down there?

Yeah.

And there might have been a sharp drop that left us completely at the mercies of gravity and whatever creatures might have been down there?

Yeah.

And I told you that it wasn't the most intelligent thing we've ever done…?

Yeah.

Well… I've changed my mind. This is by far the craziest thing we've ever done

Melony smiled, although she had to agree with him. She was standing alone on the highest balcony they'd yet to find access to on Atlantis. Wearing her harness and a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and nothing else, the light wind that was blowing off the water far below them and around them was a little chilly, but nothing she couldn't handle.

Turn on the device, Hot Shot

I wasn't going to forget.

She pulled the Ancient's shielding device out of the pocket of her shorts and pressed it against her collarbone, checking to make sure the light on it turned green to indicate it was working. Then she raised her right hand and waved that she was ready.

Far out over the water a small shape came out of the newly risen sun, and grew steadily larger as the giant bird that was Kale came soaring closer to the balcony she was standing on. She double-checked the straps to make sure they were tight and checked the handles he was going to grab with his talons, and then braced herself.

A moment later she was snatched off the balcony and was being carried out over the water.

This is nuts

It's awesome!

You're going to splatter us all over the city

Just me – you're small enough they probably wouldn't be able to find anything left of you.

Oh, that's much better

She smiled at the sarcasm, and spread her arms wide, enjoying the flight as Kale carried her out and away from the city a short distance before turning in a wide circle and bringing her back. Far below them she could see a small group of people watching – at least she assumed they were watching – and knew that most of them were just as certain as Talon was that they were going to end up splattered. She had more faith than that – and there were some things that you just had to do when the opportunity arose.

"Now, Kale!" She yelled.

She felt the powerful talons that had been holding her release the harness and then she was falling. Melony flipped herself over so she was spread-eagled in a classic skydiving pose – although it wasn't exactly the same.

Yeah, we don't have a parachute

We'll be fine.

She looked down, and saw that the water was getting close really quickly, and shifted positions once more, now going headfirst.

You realize I can't heal your brains if they're not inside you, right?

Hush.

Her hands came up – or down, whichever way you looked at it – and she watched the water rushing at her, trying to figure out when to take that deep breath she would need.

Last breath, you mean

She grinned, because she could feel his excitement, too, and knew he was enjoying the fall as much as she was.

Brace yourself.

I hope the device doesn't fall off

Me, too.

With a terrific impact, she slammed into the water, her hands breaking the surface enough to allow the rest of her to hit cleanly and her body rigid enough to slide right in instead of doing a belly flop or something. The Ancient's device did exactly what it was supposed to do; cushioning the blow that should have killed her no matter how cleanly she landed, and Melony was completely unharmed when she hit the water. They sank quite a ways before the momentum of the fall was broken and the water slowed her descent, and then she paddled her way back to the surface, grinning crazily the minute her head broke free and she could see those who'd been watching.

There were assorted looks of relief, and she could feel the same relief coming from her symbiote.

I told you it wouldn't kill us.

I wasn't worried

She snorted, and started swimming for the edge of the water – a place that the city met the ocean, and where everyone had been standing.

"That was crazy!" Ford told her, stepping forward as soon as she got close enough and reaching his hand down to help her out of the water. He was grinning ear to ear, though, and Mitchell knew he had half a mind to ask if he could go next.

"It was fun, though," she said, grinning, reaching for his hand and using his help to drag herself onto the dry surface the city was resting on.

"What did you prove?" Weir asked, curiously, relief and amusement warring in her expression.

"That the Ancient's device will cushion a fall of several hundred feet…"

"We were pretty sure it could already do that," McKay said, tossing her a towel.

"Yup, but now we know it will."

"And besides, you wanted to freefall…" Sheppard added.

She nodded, still grinning.

"Yeah. It was great."

She didn't even feel guilty for doing it. Of course, Kale was the only one that had actually had to do any work, and he'd been willing to do it once she'd reminded him that she'd be using the shielding device and wouldn't be hurt.

He was going to leave Atlantis that morning, and she'd known she was only going to get once chance to try it… so what the hell? The worst that could happen was that she'd miss the water.

The worst that could have happened was that the device failed at the last minute

That too.

"Are you going to go again?" Ford asked.

She shook her head, almost sorrowfully. Another go would be great.

"Kale's got to get going, and I want to get dried off and changed, so I can see him off."

Do'h.

She got to her feet, and pulled off the harness, which she handed to Ford. He'd take it and hang it up to dry – in case they ever needed to use it again. And who knew? They might some day. He and the others started heading back into the city so they could meet up with Kale, who had landed on the upper balcony and would make his way back to them, and Melony started dry herself off.

"Please tell me you're not going to be doing too much more of that?"

She looked over at Carson, who was leaning on a pair of crutches, and shook her head.

"I can't dive off the balconies and be certain I'd land in the water… so without someone flying me, I'll never get to do it again."

Which was why she had to do it at least once.

He nodded, and she walked over to him, wrapping the towel around her waist.

"You weren't really worried, were you?" She asked. "You know that between Talon and the Ancient device there's very little that could have happened."

"Were you worried?" He asked her.

"Nope."

"Was Talon?"

Bah.

"A little."

He gave her a slightly triumphant smile and the two of them started walking towards the door that led into the city, moving slowly because he wasn't all that steady on his crutches just yet. The swelling was still too dense to allow an accurate x-ray of his ankle, but the air cast was holding everything in place so he could move around.

"Rodney tells me he should be ready to start rigging power in your caverns within a week," Carson said, making it more of a question than a statement.

She nodded.

"Which will give you time to get a little better, so you can come with us, if you want to."

He smiled at that, as she'd hoped he would.

There was no real reason for him to come, but she'd suggested to Weir that it might not be a bad idea to have at least one medic along while they were doing the rigging – in case they had another accident. Weir had agreed, and told her to take whoever she thought she might need, so Mitchell had told Rodney to conscript whatever people and supplies that Atlantis didn't need and have them prepare to spend a few days at least in the lava flow – which meant finding people who weren't claustrophobic.

"I'd like that."

She nodded, and the two of them walked to her quarters so she could get dried off – and maybe have a cup of coffee.

OOOOOOOOO

"Are you sure you have to go?"

Kale nodded, looking down at Weir with genuine affection in his expression.

"I'm not needed here, and I miss the others." He certainly wasn't going to go back to the lava tubes if he wasn't absolutely needed. And he wasn't. He reached out and touched her cheek, his fingers as gentle as the smile on his face. "You can always come visit me, you know?"

She nodded, and smiled.

"We'll have to do that."

Of course, they'd want to come visit anyways. There was the small matter of those pregnant Light Ones, after all.

He took her hand.

"I had a wonderful time – here, and with you, Elizabeth. Thank you."

She squeezed his hand.

"You're welcomed back anytime."

The two of them left her little office and went out into the command center, where Sheppard and McKay were waiting with Teyla and Ford and several others. Almost the same time they entered from one direction, Mitchell and Beckett entered from another, Carson on crutches and Melony with still damp hair and a cup of coffee in her hand. They all converged at the bottom of the staircase, and Kale looked down at Melony.

"If you ever need me to fly you around again, call and I'll be here as soon as possible."

"I'll remember that, Kale. Thank you. If you ever need us, call and we'll answer."

The gate flared to life as the Light One gave the Colonel a hug, and then stepped back. He looked at the others, nodding a goodbye to them one by one, and then at Weir once more.

Before he could help himself, or she could step back, Kale had her in his arms, and had bent his head to kiss her once more. Elizabeth tensed in surprise for just a moment, and then melted into the kiss, sighing softly as he gave her a last goodbye. He smiled as he pulled away, and then headed through the gate, already reaching for the clothing he was wearing so he could undress when he came out the other side.

The others stared at her, and it took Weir a moment to be able to do anything more than watch as the Stargate disengaged. Then she realized they were all watching her, and she cleared her throat, to give herself a moment to try and think of something to say.

"Well… we should all… get back to work… I suppose…" was all she managed.

Melony smiled, and turned; ready to walk with Carson back to his quarters. He's been on his feet long enough, and needed a break. Ford and Teyla turned as well; Ford grinning so broadly that Teyla was certain his face was going to split in two. Sheppard and McKay, however, stayed right where they were, both looking at her, a mixture of expressions on their faces.

"You know…" John said as soon as everyone else besides him, Rodney and Elizabeth were gone. "I seem to recall someone lecturing me about how unprofessional it is to become involved with members of a species we know so little about…"

"Actually," McKay said, "I believe what she said was that we weren't in this little area of the galaxy for our own little sexual amusements – or something like that…"

"Something about keeping ourselves aloof from those around us…"

"And not becoming emotionally attached…"

"Or attracted…"

"No matter how much we-"

Her cheeks reddening, but more from amusement and the reaction to Kale's last kiss than anything else; Elizabeth Weir headed back up the staircase, the two men right behind her.

"Something about… keeping our pants on…"

"Yes, I seem to recall that, as well," Rodney agreed.

They were still following her as she headed for her office…

The End

So! Obviously there's more to this story as well, because the Wraith aren't defeated yet – but we'll get there, eventually! Let me know what you think, what you thought, and if there's anything you would like to see. (No Weir babies, sorry)