The gate flared to life and Mitchell turned to those watching.
"I'll be back in a couple of weeks," she said to Jack. "No more than that. If you need me sooner, send word with Beckett when you send him through to Melonyville and I'll come running."
Jack nodded, and handed her the rucksack she'd loaded with the few supplies she was going to need – and files and reports outlining the situation in Atlantis to date. She'd give Hammond a short briefing when she reached the SGC, but that wasn't her primary mission and she wouldn't stay at the SGC any longer than it took to get Fuglier back on auto pilot and bring her down to the landing area near Cheyenne Mountain so Melony could get going.
"Have a safe trip," Jack said as she shouldered the rucksack.
"I will." She hesitated, looking at the others who were all a step or two back from them. Then, lowering her voice just a little, she said, "You know… whatever we come up with for the Wraith is bound to be dangerous…"
"Yeah."
"Maybe you should take advantage of what little time I'll be gone and have that conversation we were discussing…"
He looked like he was going to say something, and then hesitated, and then shrugged, but was careful not to look over his shoulder.
"I'll think about it."
Melony smiled.
"You do that, Jack. I'll see you in a bit."
"We'll get things ready here."
She knew he would. It wasn't like they knew exactly what they were going to do, but they'd sift through the Wraith technology and the Ancient technology and see if they could find anything else that might help them mount a defense when the Wraith came.
She nodded, and turned and headed through the gate.
A moment later it disengaged, and Jack looked at the others.
"Okay, people. We need to start deciding who stays and who goes, and we need to start getting things ready to be moved if it's going back to Earth."
They nodded, and Ford led a group containing several scientists and Grodin towards the supply rooms, where they'd start putting the things slated to go to Earth, while Sam, Weir, Daniel and McKay all headed for the labs. They were still hoping to find that one piece of technology that would save the day.
Jack turned his attention to Beckett, who had already said his goodbyes to Melony that morning and hadn't needed to crowd her as she was leaving.
"Lets get you set up, Doc," he said. Beckett would be bringing the food supplies to Melonyville, since Melony was going to head straight for the meeting with the Jaffa and wouldn't have time to stop and gather supplies herself. Carson nodded, and accompanied by Teal'c, he and Jack headed for another supply room.
OOOOOOOO
"Incoming traveler!"
Hammond looked down at the sergeant and then at the gate, which had flared to life behind the iris.
"Who is it?"
"It's coming through, now, sir…" the sergeant told him, looking at the screen of his computer and then pressing a couple of buttons. "It's SG-2's signal…"
"Colonel Mitchell?" Hammond asked, surprised.
"Yes, sir."
"Open the iris."
Hammond headed for the stairs as the iris swooshed open, feeling a wave of relief flood through him. Jack O'Neill was undoubtedly with Mitchell, and he'd be ready to take back the reins of the SGC – and Hammond could go back to his retirement. Not to mention that SG-2's code meant that O'Neill had found Mitchell – and presumably the Atlantis expedition – alive and well and would likely be sending some of them back as well.
He was surprised, therefore, and maybe a little dismayed, when only one figure emerged from the gate a few moments after he reached the bottom of the ramp, flanked by armed guards – just in case.
Mitchell stopped as soon as she came through the gate, standing at the top of the ramp and looking around as the gate disengaged – telling those present she was the only one coming. She smiled, when she saw Hammond waiting for her, and headed down the ramp towards him. The guards on either side of Hammond both recognized her as well, and immediately went into a less defensive posture, their expressions filled with relief and welcome.
"Colonel Mitchell," Hammond said, ignoring her salute and offering her his hand. "I'm very glad to see you're alive and well."
Melony's smile widened.
"Thank you, General Hammond, I am, too."
He laughed, and pulled her pack off her back.
"How's Talon?"
"A pain in the neck."
I heard thatMelony grinned, and reached for the rucksack before Hammond could hand it off to one of the guards.
"I need that, sir. You do, actually…"
"Oh yeah?" He looked at it curiously, but didn't ask why. Instead, he asked the other question that was even more important – at least as far as he knew. "Where are General O'Neill and SG-1? And the people from the Atlantis expedition? Are they safe?"
She grimaced.
"They're alive, sir, and safe for the moment, but they ran into some serious problems… and we need to talk about it."
Since she had Talon it was very unlikely that she'd need to go to the infirmary and get checked out, but Hammond had one of the Marines go call Janet Fraiser into the briefing room. Not only because she could give Mitchell a quick once over to make sure things were as they should be, but also because Daniel had gone with O'Neill to Atlantis, and Janet Fraiser would want to know his condition and make sure he was okay. Hopefully Melony could reassure her on that score.
"What kind of problems, Colonel?" Hammond asked as they walked up the stairs towards the briefing room. "Did they find the city intact?"
"Yes, sir. And they've found quite a few interesting things there…" She trailed off as they entered the room, and Hammond gestured for her to take a seat.
"Hold on to that thought, Colonel," he said. "Let me get a few more people in here – and you'll probably want a cup of coffee, I'm guessing…"
She smiled, despite the seriousness of the situation. How well he knew her – even after so much time.
"Thank you, sir."