The gate flared to life, and everyone in the control room turned to watch as Grodin glanced at the computer screen.

"It's SGC, Doctor Weir," he confirmed.

Elizabeth nodded.

"Lower the shield."

General O'Neill and Colonel Mitchell hadn't actually moved since Talon transferred back to Melony – almost twelve hours earlier – but while they'd slept Carson Beckett had been monitoring their progress as closely as he could considering Jack wasn't hooked up to any machinery. His color was good, as were what vitals signs Carson could check – and Melony had improved dramatically in the short time.

They were well enough that Beckett felt he could safely pronounce them both well on the mend, and with that information in hand, Weir opened a connection with Stargate Command, sending them what information they had on the fate of the Wraith – cautiously optimistic that things had gone according to plan – and the go ahead to send back the Athosians and the staff that had been evacuated as nonessential personnel.

The first person to come through the gate, however, wasn't Athosian, and wasn't nonessential personnel. Doctor Janet Fraiser emerged holding a medical kit and looked around with great interest at the city of the Ancients. Immediately behind her came several Athosians, including a large handful of children, and then a group of technicians. Behind these came several large pallets of supplies, which would come in handy with the extra mouths to feed – especially since what little had been left of the supplies the Jaffa had brought with them had been blown to hell with the Wraith.

Daniel hurried down the stairs the moment he saw who it was, a surprised smile on his face, and Sam followed only a little slower.

"Janet!"

If Fraiser had been hoping for a warm welcome to Atlantis, she wasn't disappointed. Daniel hadn't seen her in weeks, and with the roller coaster of events that they'd all been through, he was feeling relieved and giddy to have Janet close at hand. Ignoring her protest, he wrapped her in a bear hug and held her for a long moment, until Sam reached them, smiling broadly.

"Let me go, Daniel," Janet complained – half-heartedly, since she was just as glad to see him as he was to see her. "I can't breathe."

He did, but only after brushing a kiss against her cheek, and even then he kept an arm around her, only partially aware of the greetings that were taking place around them as Athosians were reunited with their families and techs that had remained greeted those who were returning.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asked curiously.

"It's nice to see you, too, Sam."

Carter smiled.

"You know what I mean."

"General Hammond sent me. He says that while he's certain Carson Beckett is a fine doctor, he has personal reasons for wanting to make sure that General O'Neill makes a full recovery – and to that end, he sent me to make sure that it happens as quickly as possible."

"Meaning Hammond's tired of running the SGC while Jack goofs around here?"

Fraiser smiled, and nodded.

"Exactly. Besides, I'm as much of an expert on symbiotes and hosts as there is – so I might come in handy if Colonel Mitchell relapses or something."

"Doctor Beckett will probably appreciate that," Sam said. "He told me he'd never seen a Tok'ra before he met Melony."

"Where is he?"

"Probably in the infirmary."

"I'll go make my manners, then, and then someone can give me a tour." She looked around again, and shook her head. "This place is amazing."

Daniel smiled.

"You haven't seen anything, yet."

OOOOOOOOOO

"How long have they been like that?"

Carson looked at the clock.

"About thirteen hours."

"Neither has shown any sign of waking?"

"No, but Colonel Mitchell's vital signs have improved noticeably. Enough so that I'm disinclined to move either of them until one of them wakes up and wants to be."

Janet looked at the two sleeping forms and ran her hand lightly against O'Neill's cheek, checking for any sign of fever. He was warm, but not dangerously so.

"We've been keeping track of his temperature," Carson said, correctly identifying what she was looking for. "And his heart rate and blood pressure. Considering how badly injured he was, he's doing remarkably well – and I have no reason to believe he won't continue to recover."

"Talon does good work," Janet said, smiling slightly.

"Aye, that he does."

"There's no sign of stress to him?"

"Talon? No." Carson pointed at the monitor that was keeping track of Melony's vitals. On it there was an echoing readout; one that Janet knew was Talon's own vital signs. "He's fine as near as I can tell." Carson shrugged, looking just a little sheepish. "Of course, symbiotes are not my specialty…"

Janet's smile was more certain, and she put her hand lightly on his arm.

"You're doing fine, Doctor Beckett."

She turned and led him out of the room, closing the door gently behind them. Sam, Daniel and Teal'c were all standing there, waiting.

"Well?" Daniel asked.

"It looks good," Janet said. "It's not something I ever would have bet on working – except that Talon was healthy and Colonel Mitchell was in good shape before the transfer – but it seems to have worked fine. We'll know more when they wake up, but like Doctor Beckett, I'm inclined to keep them where they are until that happens."

Daniel smiled.

"That's good news."

Janet looked at Teal'c.

"How are the Jaffa?"

She, of course, knew everything that had happened. More or less, anyways. Daniel and Sam had filled her in as they'd walked to the infirmary.

"They are waiting to be informed if the plan has succeeded. I have told them it looks promising."

"What will they do without Tao?"

"Colonel Mitchell will choose his successor," Teal'c said. He didn't have any problem discussing this sort of thing with Janet – she was as much family as SG-1 was. "The Jaffa are used to losing First Primes."

"Melony isn't, though…" Daniel said, softly, wondering – and not for the first time – how she was going to handle the knowledge that Tao was dead. As far as he knew, nobody had told her, yet. Or Talon, for that matter. There hadn't been any opportunity.

"No."

Teal'c didn't say anything else about that, though. That wasn't something that needed to be shared – or discussed. Especially without Mitchell there.

Daniel put his arm around Janet's waist.

"Why don't we give you that tour now?"

"Sounds great."