Epilogue

"Welcome back."

The group of scientists and various medics and security personnel all acknowledged Weir and Ford with various degrees of greetings before they all dispersed to their quarters to get warm showers and naps, or to the cafeteria to get a much needed hot meal. Several large canvas sacks filled with the coffee berries that had been harvested were also carried to the cafeteria, where they'd be taken care of and processed and roasted into real looking coffee beans – which would be a welcomed addition to the dwindling supply of coffee.

Mitchell, Sheppard, McKay and Beckett didn't follow the others. They knew Weir would want to know how things had gone and they were the ones who would know better than anyone. Sure enough, before the doors had closed behind the last of them, she asked her first question.

"So? How was the weather?"

The fact that Mitchell and Sheppard were both wearing fairly wet clothing told her that it had probably still been raining, but you never knew.

"Drizzling," Melony answered.

"It must be coming down pretty hard for you to be so wet."

"They fell into a pool of hot water," Carson said.

"Figuratively, or actually?"

"Actually." Melony answered, running a hand through her still damp hair.

"And we found Moks." Sheppard added.

"What's a Mok?"

"A big cow looking thing with a taste for physical affection," Melony said, giving Sheppard a sidelong glance that was filled with amusement. Enough amusement that Weir and Ford both knew they were missing something. Ford figured he'd find out eventually, though. Mitchell couldn't keep a funny story to herself forever, after all.

"Is it something we might be looking at as a food source?"

No

Melony could feel Talon's annoyance immediately, and she found herself agreeing. Mok steak just didn't sound appealing – especially when they were apparently so rare. And not medium rare, either.

Obviously Sheppard felt the same distaste, because he shook his head.

"I don't think so. They're supposedly extinct everywhere else – Talon told Colonel Mitchell that, anyways. I'd feel like I was eating a dodo bird or something if we tried it…"

Weir looked at Mitchell, who nodded her agreement.

"It's not a good idea."

Besides, they didn't need to eat the Mok. They had already found several planets that were willing traders with them, and all of these were meat suppliers, too.

"How about your lab?" Weir asked, accepting the answer and changing to another subject. "Did you get it set up?"

Before Mitchell could answer, Rodney spoke up.

"We ran conductors through the place, originating from the Thermal room – which is definitely going to be a source of plenty of energy for Colonel Mitchell – and lit up the main cavern as well as parts of the lava tubes. The diagnostic tools and devices are all in place as is a –"

"Rodney…"

He scowled. No one ever listened to him – making him wonder why they even bothered to ask.

"Yes, Elizabeth. The lab is set up and ready to go."

Weir turned to Mitchell, her expression concerned and very serious. One that Carson used when he looked at Melony almost all the time.

"So it's a go?"

Melony nodded.

"I'm going to gather up the supplies that Kale and Arin sent me, take a day or so to get things in order here, and then I'll be heading out."

Since they already knew where she was going to start looking for the Wraith, none of them needed to ask – although now they were all giving her that worried look.

You'd think we were going looking for life sucking aliens or something, Talon told his host.

Melony didn't smile, but his easy confidence was one of the reasons that she wasn't as scared as they seemed to be for her, and it definitely kept her from panicking most of the time.

"You sure you don't want company?" Sheppard asked – again.

She shook her head.

"You're needed here, Major." Just like the others were, too. Besides, the plan was dangerous, and there was no way she'd risk someone else unless it was absolutely necessary.

He scowled, but he didn't argue. For one thing; she was right, and for another; he'd already had this conversation with her.

"Well… you'd probably better go get dried off and into clean clothes," Weir said – to Melony and to the others. "I'd like a full report on the new lab, though, if you don't mind?"

"I'm sure Doctor McKay would love to give you one," Sheppard said, giving Rodney a pat on the back as he headed for the door and his quarters. A shower sounded great just then.

"What?" McKay frowned, and realized that he'd pretty much been caught by that one. Who else would give the report, after all? He was the one that had done most of the supervising, really. "Yes, of course I will."

Damn.

"After you get rested up and have a hot meal," Weir said.

Rodney smiled.

"I knew there was something I liked about you, Elizabeth."

She smiled as well, and they turned and headed for the door as well, leaving Melony and Carson standing alone in the Jumper bay. Melony turned to him, bringing her hand up to rest lightly on his arm.

"Are you going to go eat?"

"Whatever you're going to do."

He was only going to have another day with her before she left him, after all, and he wasn't going to spend any of it away from her if she wasn't going to make him.

"A shower, then."

He nodded, thinking that she'd like a chance to get warmed up before eating. And maybe he'd go to the cafeteria while she was showering and get them something to eat so they could spend a little time-

"Together," Melony clarified, squeezing his arm with a somewhat naughty smile. One Carson echoed as he realized that she had meant that all along.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea."

He would worry about tomorrow later, and enjoy today while he could.

The End.

So! The End. Everything's in place, now. Mitchell is ready for the Wraith - as much as she's going to be able to be, anyways. Let me know what you thought. Sorry this one seemed to be put on the back burner so much, it always seems to happen that way, doesn't it?