Breakfast was a fairly quiet affair. They didn't discuss plans, and they didn't really go into detail about anything that had happened, deciding by unspoken agreement that it would be a time for them to spend a little time together to renew their friendships and take it easy. Melony did ask about her car – and Jack told her that it was great – and she asked about mutual friends who were with the SGC, and Jack was grateful to be able to honestly tell her that everyone was doing well.

When Carson came in and joined them about halfway through the meal, he hesitated, really wanting to sit beside Mitchell, but unwilling to make a fuss. Instead, he sat down beside Sheppard, across from Melony, who gave him a warm, welcoming smile that made Sam give her a look she didn't notice, and made Daniel smile. He was in on the secret – and he was pretty sure that Jack wasn't, because O'Neill didn't even look up from his breakfast.

"What are you doing today?" Carson asked the group in general – although most of them knew he was asking Melony.

"Some of us are heading back to Talonopolis."

He looked at Rodney, who scowled.

"No. I'm staying here for now. Colonel Carter and I are going to work on the Light One's power sources."

He didn't sound as if he was certain if it was good or bad that he was staying – and truth be told, he wasn't sure. He liked the lava base, and felt a little possessive of it – since he'd helped bring it up and running he had a right to, after all – but he also was staying and getting to spend the day with Carter, who was pretty much the perfect match for him as far as he was concerned. And he'd have the day to maybe get her to realize it as well.

"Melony?"

Mitchell nodded.

"Yeah. I'm going to check out the darts I stole."

She purposely avoided mentioning setting off the self-destructs on the Wraith ships, but it was obvious she wasn't the only one thinking of it.

"It might not be a bad idea to bring Doctor Beckett or one of his staff with us," Jack said, looking over at her from his spot beside Sam. "In case you trigger an explosion…"

He wasn't quite as worried about her hurting herself as he might have been. The fact that she was up and around the day after he'd pretty much shot her out of the sky in a fireball of wreckage showed him that the shielding devices she was using were good for something. He would still like to have medical staff handy, though.

"An explosion?"

Mitchell shrugged, tossing Jack a scowl that he returned with an innocent look.

"Just in case the darts have self destruct mechanisms. Chances are, if they do have some kind of remote auto destruct, they're already blown up, though. The Wraith have to be missing their dead patrol by now…"

Carson couldn't help but feel a stab of concern – although like Jack, he was pleased by the fact that she was already up and about after being shot down the day before. He hadn't seen the explosion she'd survived, however, so he wasn't as certain as Jack was about what the shielding devices would do.

"I'll come with ye."

Melony nodded, not at all surprised.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Sheppard piloted the Jumper through the Stargate with Jack sitting in the copilot's seat, watching and learning the controls. Already possessing the Ancient's gene, Jack would have no trouble making the Jumper and other technology work for him, so it was definitely a good idea for him to learn how to fly it. Besides, he hated having anything around that he couldn't fly.

Mitchell and the others sat in the jump seats in the cargo area, Melony sitting beside Carson and checking a few diagnostic tools she'd brought with her, while Daniel chatted with Teyla – obviously continuing a conversation they'd already started while the Athosian had been giving him his tour of Atlantis. Teyla broke off, however, and turned to Teal'c, who was sitting beside Melony.

"I was wondering, Mr. Teal'c…"

"Just Teal'c will suffice," the Jaffa told her with a slight smile.

Teyla nodded.

"Forgive me for being forward, but you carry another life form within you, don't you?" She asked. "The same way Colonel Mitchell carries Talon…?"

It was apparent from the way she spoke of it that Teyla wasn't completely sure of just how great a thing it was to share a body with another, but she could definitely see the advantages of it as well. Mitchell healed a lot faster than anyone she'd ever seen.

"The symbiote I carry is a Goa'uld larvae," Teal'c told her.

"It heals you, though?"

"Indeed. However, it does not communicate with me in a similar fashion to the way Talon speaks with Colonel Mitchell."

"It increases your life force, though…"

"Yes. Because of the symbiote I have already lived longer than a human's lifespan."

"I must warn you," Teyla said, softly. "The Wraith sense the life forms of those around them, and yours – like Colonel Mitchell's – shines much brighter than the others. You will be an obvious target should you encounter any of them."

Something Melony and Talon already knew, but both had overlooked.

Which explains why that patrol found us while we were hiding, Talon said, chagrined.

Probably. Or I stunk so bad from three days in the swamp that they simply smelled me.

"Your warning is duly noted," Teal'c told her, inclining his head in a small bow. "Thank you."

Teyla nodded.

"You are welcome."

The two of them were still looking at each other when the Jumper landed in the ravine a few minutes later.

OOOOOOOO

"How much of the lab did you get a chance to see before you decided to shoot me out of the sky?" Melony asked as they all disembarked and she settled her P90 more comfortably in her hand.

Jack scowled.

"We'd just landed."

Carson followed Jack's gaze over to the wreckage of the dart that Melony had crashed, and then looked at the other two as well.

"They're still there."

Melony nodded, relieved. Maybe the Wraith couldn't blow their ships up from a distance after all.

"Let me show you around, Jack, and then I'll get started on the ships."

The others all joined them, and Melony and O'Neill walked into the lava tube side by side, Jack shining his flashlight up at the ceiling, noticeably impressed by the size of the tunnel itself.

"How are you going to bring the darts in here?" He asked her. "I assume there aren't ay sharp corners?"

"Nope. I'm going to fly them in – I hope."

"Fly them, huh?"

She smiled.

"They're the most maneuverable ships you'll ever see, Jack. Better than anything I've ever flown before – and that's saying something."

"Really?"

That was saying something.

"It's too bad Fugly won't fit through the gate, though, because I'd love-"

"What the hell is that?"

As they'd rounded the only bend in the tunnel – a very gradual one – Jack had taken the lead as Melony had turned to check on Carson and the others. A large looming creature was suddenly blocking the way, its eyes reflecting the light of Jack's flashlight and a sudden startled grunting noise making it clear it was alive whatever it was.

Mitchell reached out, quickly, stopping Jack from bringing his P90 to bear.

"Easy, Jack. It's just a Mok."