"Welcome back, General O'Neill."

Weir and Daniel were the only two that had arrived at the Jumper bay to meet the returning travelers, but they were the ones that Jack and the others needed to see the most, so that was fine all around.

"Thank you, Doctor Weir."

"How was the trip, Jack?" Daniel asked.

"Successful."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. What about you? Any luck?"

"Quite a bit," Daniel said, losing his smile of welcome. He wasn't at all surprised that Sam and McKay had retuned to Atlantis with the team Jack had taken Wraith hunting. They would have stopped at Talonopolis first, and Sam would have mentioned to Jack that there was bad news to be given, and only the fact that she needed to be in on any planning was enough to drag Sam from the Wraith technology that had been almost all she'd been talking about every time Daniel had spoken to her the past week.

"But bad news, too…?" Jack asked, confirming Daniel's guess.

"Yeah." He wrinkled his nose a little, frowning. "It can wait, though, until you and the others have a chance to get a meal… and maybe get a shower."

Jack wasn't fooled. None of them had had a chance to bathe in a week, so it was hardly their fault that they weren't smelling like roses just then.

"If you're sure…"

"Definitely," Weir added.

Mitchell smiled from the position she'd taken beside Jack, and O'Neill shrugged.

"Okay, guys – and ladies. We'll take a couple of hours and eat and get cleaned up. Then meet back in the briefing room in…" he looked at his watch. "Three hours."

Melony smiled, because that would give her enough time to get cleaned up and go look for Carson.

He probably did that on purpose, you know?

Probably, she agreed.

That was the kind of person Jack was, after all.

No one said anything. They all just separated, heading for various quarters, and Melony heard Talon's purely mental snicker when she and her symbiote noticed Teal'c and Teyla heading off in the direction of her quarters – which were completely on the opposite side of the Jumper bay from Teal'c's.

I was wondering how long it was going to take those two, the symbiote said, still amused.

What do you mean? Mitchell asked as she slapped Jack on the shoulder and gave Daniel a smile. There'd be time to chat with him later, but she really wanted to get cleaned up – and really wanted to see Carson. As she headed for the corridor that lead to her quarters – followed by Jack and Sheppard who were just as eager to get cleaned – Talon snorted.

Oh, please. There's an attraction between those two a blind man could see, and they've just spent a week hanging out with Kale, who is throwing pheromones out left and right. Teal'c's symbiote is in larval stage and doesn't have anywhere near the control over his system that I can take over yours when necessary, and the Athosians are a very passionate race as far as I've noticed. I'm surprised the two of them didn't run off into the bushes five or six days ago

Melony smiled, because she hadn't even considered how Kale was affecting those people with her. She knew that Jack was aware of the problem, and handling his own reaction fairly well – of course, Sam wasn't there to compound his problems, so it made it that much easier. Sheppard was probably used to Kale by now – he'd been around him quite a bit, and besides, John didn't have any romantic interest in those that had gone with them Wraith hunting. At least Melony didn't think he did – and she was a fair judge of that kind of thing. And if she wasn't, Talon was. As he'd just proven.

"Three hours, Colonel," Jack admonished as she stopped in front of her door, the knowing look in his brown eyes confirming what Talon had guessed.

She smiled and gave him a salute.

"Yes, sir."

He reached out to cuff her, sending her into her quarters laughing, and she headed straight for the coffee pot. Some things never changed, after all, and no matter how dirty she felt she'd never pass up a chance for a fresh cup of coffee.

You're pathetic…

You like it, too, so don't even start in on me.

I like it, but I'm not addicted to it

Yeah, yeah.

Go get showered, Hot Shot, Talon said once she'd started the coffee brewing. You'll feel better clean, and even I can smell you – and that's saying something

She laughed, but headed for the bathroom, already stripping off her dirty clothes.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Twenty minutes later, wearing a clean uniform and holding a steaming cup of coffee – her third – Mitchell entered the infirmary, and stopped at the doorway, looking around. Immediately she saw who she was looking for, and smiling despite herself, she headed across the room.

Although he'd had his back to her, Carson turned when Melony crossed the room, and his welcoming smile made her feel almost giddy.

"I heard you were back," he said, looking her over carefully. "But I couldn't get away to come see you."

She smiled, feeling almost shy.

"It's better that you weren't there. We were looking pretty rough when we got back." And a girl always wanted to look her best for her guy, after all.

"No injuries?"

She shook her head.

"It went smoothly. Very smoothly."

"Good." He looked around, but his staff had made themselves scarce, and Carson reached for her hand, pulling her gently closer. "I missed you…"

She hugged him, glad to have her arms around him, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I missed you, too."

"You're sure you're not hurt?"

"Positive." She smiled, tilting her head up just as he was bringing his down, and he kissed her softly. "How's Duck?"

He snorted.

"Wishing he'd never even heard of fish, I'll tell you what…"

Melony smiled.

"He's going to be okay?"

"Aye, he'll be fine – in a day or so."

"Does he need you to stay here?"

"No."

"Good."

His smile was just as broad as hers was, and the two of them left the infirmary arm in arm, heading across the hall to his quarters.