"What happened to you?"

They had reached the Jumper fairly quickly – it was a lot easier walking through jungle when you had a destination in mind and a reason to want to get there fast. And walking in soaked clothing that was hanging off you just wasn't fun.

Sheppard answered, even though Carson had been looking at Melony – obviously checking for injuries, and looking relieved when he didn't find any.

"Let's just say we figured out where the Moks bathe."

"The hard way," Duck added.

Beckett looked at Melony again, and she smiled.

"We fell into a hot spring, Carson. One filled with soaking Moks."

"You're not hurt?"

This time he was addressing all of them, and they all shook their heads.

"Just wet." Sheppard assured him, heading for the pilot's seat. "We're ready to head back to the cavern."

Which was fine with Beckett, because he was, too. He'd spent the better part of the last few hours doing nothing but worrying, and that wasn't fun. Especially alone and with nothing and no one to distract him.

Melony hung back in the cargo are with Carson while Duck went up and sat in the copilot's seat – carefully not touching anything as he did so.

"Did you find anything interesting?" Carson asked her.

"Nothing dangerous. Talon and I are both satisfied that this planet is deserted – at least this area of it is."

"So you're done exploring it?"

She nodded.

"We wanted – mainly – to make sure it wasn't inhabited, and I'd say after this many days of flying around and crawling all over it, we can assume we're not going to hurt anyone else by being here."

They felt the Jumper rising into the air – Sheppard wasn't wasting any time getting airborne – and Mitchell grinned. She was soaking wet, too, after all, and was more than ready to get back to the warm cavern and maybe even spend a little time in the thermal room – which was more than hot enough that it'd probably dry them off quickly.

"McKay said they were getting pretty close to being done with the wiring and everything as well," she said, taking Carson's hand as she walked over to sit down against the hull. "We should be ready to go soon."

She sounded so cheerful about this, but Carson felt yet another stab of anxiety at the news. That much closer to the time when she'd be going off to look for the Wraith – on her own. He didn't say anything, though, knowing that it was something he was going to have to learn to deal with. He'd known from the start of the relationship that she had one goal – and that was to avenge the murder of her friend. She would spend as much time with him as she could – and he knew she was keeping that promise – but she wouldn't let him or anyone else stop her.

And no one seemed to want to. Look how eagerly they'd all jumped on the idea of helping her with her base. They were all certain that she had a chance to do what she was planning on doing – she'd destroyed the Goa'uld, after all, what were a few million Wraith? Or however many there were. He wasn't so certain, though. And that thought scared him.

He squeezed her hand, though, and tried to look a little less worried. Luckily, Melony didn't seem to notice, and the rest of the way back to the cavern, they were silent, simply being together and holding hands.

OOOOOOOO

"Doctor McKay wants you to find him, Colonel."

Mitchell nodded.

"Thanks."

"Wonder why?" Sheppard asked coming up beside her as they all started towards the entrance to the main lava tube.

"Maybe he found something interesting?" She hazarded.

"Maybe he discovered his lost humility?" Sheppard countered.

Mitchell grinned.

"When you're a genius like that, humility is a four letter word, Major."

"I can think of a couple of other four letters words that-"

She laughed, interrupting him with a hand on the arm.

"He's accomplished a lot more than I could have done on my own. I owe him."

"Yes, Ma'am." He told her with a wry expression on his face. "I'll try to remember that when I'm tripping over his ego."

She smiled again.

"You do that, Major. Let's go see what he wants."

They waited for Carson – who had been stopped by one of his medics who had a question for him – and then the three of them headed down the lava tube (Duck having been excused to go get dried off and changed).

OOOOOOOO

They could tell the difference immediately. Not only was the tunnel they were in even better lit than it had been, when they entered the main cavern it was filled with the soft hum of machinery working and lights on several computer terminals and diagnostic apparatuses blinking at odd intervals. The place actually looked like a lab, now, and not a cavern, and even Sheppard couldn't help but be impressed as they looked around.

"Wow…"

Mitchell and Carson were looking around, too. One entire side of the large cavern had been left bare – that was where she'd be parking the stolen Dart – if she could steal one – but the other side was filled with open tables and surfaces, as well as everything McKay had thought she'd need that they had to offer her without cutting Atlantis' supplies short. Including the Ancient diagnostic machine that he still had to show her how to use.

"Welcome to your own private, secret lab…"

All three of them turned and saw McKay walking towards them, grinning smugly.

"It looks great, Rodney," Melony said, still looking around. She could feel Talon was impressed with what he'd accomplished as well, and that was sending echoes through to her, making her even more satisfied with the progress.

He tried to look modest and failed.

"It's all set, Colonel. All you need now is something to study." He gestured towards the thermal room. "We set you up a sort of bedroom in the tube on the way to the thermal room. I didn't think you'd want to be in it, but it'll never need to be heated, that's for sure. When you bring in your food supplies, there are shelving units just outside the cavern in the corridor that leads to the place Carson tried to break his leg. That's the coolest area, and the one most likely to keep your food from spoiling the longest."

"Good thinking."

Of course it was good thinking, Rodney thought to himself. Duh. He didn't say it, though.

"So… we're ready to head back to Atlantis, then?" Sheppard asked.

McKay nodded.

"The others have been packing their tools and equipment since we finished. A quick lesson on the Ancient diagnostic device, and you'll be able to run this place by yourself. There are safeguards on all the power transfers, and backups everywhere." He hesitated. "Of course… if you want help in what you're doing… I'd be more than willing to stay…"

Which was saying a lot for him, and they all knew it.

She shook her head.

"I appreciate it, Rodney." She did, too. "But this is something that's probably better left to one person – for now at least. Besides, Weir and the others need you more than I will."

And she didn't want to get him killed.

"Let's go gather up the coffee pickers and get back to Atlantis. I could use a hot bath."

"Another one?" Sheppard asked.

Melony grinned, and resisted the urge to mention Mok sperm sacks as McKay started issuing orders to the assembly crews to get them headed back to the Jumpers.