The Atlantis expedition had been there for a long time, and it was apparent to everyone – Jack, Sam and Teal'c in particular – that they hadn't wasted that time. They'd sent several teams to many different locations looking for trade, power supplies and allies, and for each trip through the gate there was a record. In many instances a video record as well as a paper record – and a record transferred to a computer file. As they watched the videos, Weir had brought in the other records as well, a laptop for O'Neill to peruse files and the paper copies as well in case he preferred the older method.

After an hour or so, McKay grew bored with the whole thing, and left, mumbling something about checking the power supply devices that the Light Ones had brought – although there was no doubt in Weir's mind that he was going to go find some candy and probably something more filling as well to eat. After McKay left, Daniel showed up with Teyla, smiling at the novelty of the city they were in – although he murmured to Sam that he hadn't even seen a fraction of it in the tour that he'd been given. The city was too immense for a single tour – and Teyla had told him that they hadn't even seen all of it yet.

Weir excused herself a short time later to work on some paperwork of her own, and Jack asked for something to eat to be brought in, his eyes never leaving the paper he was looking at. Kale left with Weir, as did the other Light Ones, and Ford soon thereafter. Eventually, it was Jack and SG-1 left in the room with Sheppard – who was there in case O'Neill had any questions.

Jack had to admit that Sheppard was far better at reports than he was. It was obvious that the Major had written all the paper ones out, because they were all written in the same neat, small handwriting that was far easier to read than Jack's own chicken scratches were. In his reports, Sheppard also added his own personal opinions – usually on a separate piece of paper, telling the reader what he thought he might have done differently, or commenting on a particularly brave or selfless act performed by one of his command. Jack was surprised to see in the notes that McKay seemed to be showing some aptitude for field work, and seemed to be a little less of a self-centered weasel then he had been. Only a little, though. Weasels never changed their whiskers, after all. And McKay still had beady eyes.

Finally, several hours later, Jack finally looked up from the last of the reports, and over at Sam, who had dozed off beside him, her cheek resting against the back of the sofa they were sitting on and her head tilted slightly back. Chagrined, he looked over and saw that Daniel had fallen asleep as well, stretched out on another sofa with an empty coffee cup on his chest, rising and falling with every breath the archeologist took. Teal'c was awake, however, looking through a computer file on Steve – the Wraith that Sheppard had captured, Sheppard himself was quietly sitting at a table, working on paperwork of his own. No doubt writing a report on the events of the last day. But the Major looked tired, too.

And Jack realized that it had been a long day for all of them.

He cleared his throat, gaining Sheppard's attention as well as Teal'c's as he reached out and gently shook Sam's shoulder. She came awake instantly, even as Teal'c and John turned to look at him.

"I've seen enough."

"Indeed," Teal'c agreed. He turned to Sheppard. "The Wraith have long been thought to be a myth by the Goa'uld – I can see they are quite real."

"And even more dangerous than I first thought," Jack added, grimly. "I do have some more questions, but they can wait. It's been a long day, and everyone's tired."

Longer for them than for the Atlanteans, since it was only evening Atlantis time, and long after midnight SCG time.

Sheppard nodded.

"I checked to see what rooms Doctor Weir assigned your team. Would you like to go get some sleep?"

"I'm going to head to the infirmary before I do," Jack said, standing up and stretching muscles that were a little stiff from being inactive for so long. "The rest of you might as well call it a night, though, and get something to eat and take some down time."

Sam stood up as well, annoyed with herself for falling asleep – even though her day had been even longer than O'Neill's. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that the simple snacks that had been brought to them while they'd watched the videos and read the reports hadn't been all that hearty a meal. She reddened when Jack looked over at her; amused by her rumbling stomach, and to hide that she went over and knelt beside Daniel, waking him up as well.

"You can find your way to the infirmary, Sir?" Sheppard asked.

"Yeah. Go ahead and show them where we're going to be sleeping."

He had no intention of sleeping too far away from Melony that night anyways. Beckett wasn't Fraiser, and wouldn't be able to keep Jack away from Melony's bedside.

OOOOOOOOO

A loud argument woke Mitchell from what had been a very restless slumber.

"She needs sleep, General."

"I'm not going to wake her up."

"General-"

"Doctor Beckett, if you don't let me see her I'm going to toss you off-"

"You're going to wake her-"

"No, I'm-"

Her head pounding in time with her heartbeat, Melony closed her eyes even tighter, trying to ignore the voices, which were getting louder as both men got angrier.

Relax, Hot Shot, Talon said, not bothering to hide his amusement when O'Neill's next threat involved feeding Beckett to Teal'c. I can take care of the headache if you relax a little

Take care of the headache and I'll be able to relax…

Not with all that going on

True.

She did as he told her, though, knowing that it was easier for him to heal her when she wasn't fighting it – or tense. Which was why he usually put her to sleep when she needed healing. A moment later the pounding faded into something a little more manageable, and Melony was able to open her eyes without feeling like daggers were being stabbed through her ears.

She was in a small area, surrounded by curtains – presumably to close out any sounds and keep the real world from intruding on her sleep.

How's that for irony? Talon asked, still amused as the shouting match raged on just outside the curtain.

"Jack?"

He didn't hear her over his own grumbling, or couldn't hear her through the curtains – one or the other – and Melony sighed. Her head wasn't pounding so bad, but she still didn't feel like shouting for their attention.

You don't need to, Hot Shot, Talon reminded her. You're in range, now…

That's right; she'd forgotten. She raised her wrist, pulling back the Velcro covering on the special wrist communicator, and keying in the signal that triggered the watch-like device on Jack's own wrist – if he was still wearing it, of course. They didn't have voice to voice abilities like the one she had with Daniel, but she could still get his attention with it.