Only a few minutes after Janet Fraiser had settled her unwilling patient back into his bed – with Sam in attendance to back Janet up if she needed it, the door to the infirmary opened and Daniel and Teal'c came through, Daniel looking curious and Teal'c's expression as unreadable as always. The two headed for Jack's bed, and Teal'c gave Carter a slight bow in greeting as Daniel looked at Jack.

"Got a minute?"

Jack scowled, wondering if Daniel was being a smart ass. It wasn't like he was going anywhere in the next half hour, now was he?

"I think I can spare some time," he answered, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice in case Daniel hadn't been trying to goad him. "What's up?"

"I don't know," Daniel said, looking at Teal'c. "I was just asked to come."

Jack and Sam both looked at Teal'c, too.

"I wish to leave the SGC," Teal'c said without preamble. "Since it is an issue that will affect all of you, I deemed it best to have you all present when I spoke to O'Neill."

They all stared at him, and Daniel was the first to find his voice.

"You want to leave?"

"Where will you go?" Sam asked.

"With the death of Tao, Colonel Mitchell will need a new First Prime," he answered.

"And she asked you?" Jack asked.

"I asked her," Teal'c corrected. "She did not give me an answer, but instead told me that she would prefer I spoke to you."

Which didn't surprise Jack at all. Melony wasn't the kind of person to go behind anyone's back, after all, and she wouldn't want him to think that she had approached Teal'c about coming to work for her.

"Do you want to be her First Prime?" He asked.

"What about the SGC?" Sam asked.

"I am not needed as much at the SGC as I once was; with the fall of the System Lords there is little danger of a Goa'uld threat."

"We still need you, Teal'c…" Daniel said, not wanting the Jaffa to feel unneeded.

"As much as Colonel Mitchell does?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Daniel hesitated.

"Will the other Jaffa accept you as a First Prime?" Jack asked, curiously. "You know… with the whole Shol'va thing?"

"They will not be consulted," Teal'c said. "It is not for the Jaffa to decide who will replace a fallen First Prime, but for the System Lord – in this case, Colonel Mitchell – to decide who will be Tao's successor. The Jaffa will accept him, no matter what, because they know to do otherwise would be to risk the Wrath of their goddess."

"Even though she doesn't want them to believe in her…" Daniel said.

"She is making an effort in that direction, yes," Teal'c said. "These changes will come slowly, however, and it is another area where I feel I could make a contribution to her. More than what I can do were I to remain with the SGC."

Jack understood why Teal'c wanted to go. He just didn't really want to let him go. They'd been friends for a long time, after all, and had saved each other countless times. Which tended to bond you tight with someone else. However, he didn't own Teal'c. No more than Apophis had – and it wasn't Jack's decision what Teal'c did with his time. If he wanted to go, Jack wasn't going to try and keep him – and he wasn't going to give him a guilt trip about leaving. However…

"You're sure this is what you want?"

"It is, O'Neill."

"Then for what it's worth, you have my blessing to go. As long as you understand that we still expect you to come visit…"

Teal'c smiled, and nodded.

"I will."

"We're going to miss you," Sam said, reaching out and taking his hand and squeezing it.

"I will only be a call away."

"Promise?"

"Indeed."

She smiled, and let his hand go.

"When do you leave?" Jack asked.

Teal'c shook his head.

"I have not been made First Prime, yet."

He couldn't make plans to go until he had.

"Want me to talk to Melony?"

"She will undoubtedly come find you."

"Good."

He'd make sure she chose Teal'c – whether she wanted to or not. Most powerful System Lord ever or not, she would do what he told her. Or he'd… give her a noogie or something.

"You could do a lot as First Prime," Daniel said, thinking it over now that he'd gotten over the biggest part of the surprise that Teal'c had asked to leave. "Especially with Melony…"

"There is much to be done. Including finding a home for the Mok as soon as possible."

It was obvious he was looking forward to the challenges ahead of him, though, which made Jack feel better about losing him.

"When Melony gets back from the mainland I'll talk to her," he promised.

"Thank you, O'Neill."

OOOOOOOOOO

The fire had completely burned itself out, now. All that was left were smoldering ashes and coals, and soon even the coals would be burned down to the smallest ashes and would blow away on the wind.

Melony watched as the wind began carrying away those ashes that were already burned out and feather light, and she swallowed the sorrowful lump in her throat that seemed to be keeping her from breathing or speaking. Beside her, Carson shifted where he stood, and watched some of the ashes blow away.

"What do you do now?" He asked Melony when he saw her look over at him.

She shook her head.

"Nothing. There's no ceremony or anything… the wind carries him away…"

"I didn't mean it that way," Carson admitted. "I meant, what do you plan on doing next?"

"I have to choose a new First Prime and get on with things," she said.

"Do you have one in mind?"

He wondered how she was going to choose out of so many Jaffa. He'd seen three hundred, but he knew there were millions.

"Teal'c."

"Really?"

That hadn't crossed his mind.

"If Jack doesn't need him…" she qualified. "He's already expressed an interest…"

"And if General O'Neill doesn't allow him to go…?"

Melony smiled. It was a sad smile, but it was, nonetheless, a smile.

"Jack's not like that. Teal'c isn't his to order around, and he knows it. If Teal' wants to be my First Prime, he will be."

"And me?"

She looked over at him.

"You're not a Jaffa… my First Prime needs to be a Jaffa."

Carson smiled, knowing she'd misunderstood – probably on purpose.

"What does the future hold for you and me?"

"Whatever you want it to, Carson. I'm not going away for good tomorrow, and what I have with you wasn't intended to just be a distraction while I try to beat the Wraith… there's plenty to be done, and no reason you can't do it with me – if you want to, that is."

"But you're leaving tomorrow…"

She nodded.

"I have to go back with the Jaffa. They need me." She hesitated, looking at the ashes again. "And I need to talk to Tao's family…"

"Can I come with you?"

"No." It was obvious from her tone of voice that she wished it were otherwise, and Carson didn't feel the stab of rejection that he might have otherwise. "The next time, maybe… but I don't plan on being gone long. There is plenty to do here – as well as back home."

He nodded.

"And tonight?"

She smiled again, and this time there wasn't so much sadness in the expression.

"Tonight I'm going to spend with you."