Here's the final part to the series. :)

A/N: Special thanks to Krisztina. She helped me figure out what was wrong with this chapter and gave a wonderful suggestion for an added bit. :)

A/N2: There will be a sequel to this fic, but it will center on Buffy and her experiences in the Pegasus Galaxy. However, it's far down on my list of fics to work on so don't expect to see it anytime soon.

Review Responses:

Merlin71, szhismine, Kala, bemeka, thank you for your reviews!

anonymouse, so so so sorry about misprinting your name. Sometimes my brain sees something that's not quite right. And I loved the Deluise brothers on seaQuest. They were the best thing about season two. And yes, there will be a sequel. :) I've actually been wanting to write a Buffy/Atlantis cross for a while, I just couldn't figure out how to get her there. This fic gives me a wonderful jumping point.

Malaskor, I'm afraid no Xander in this part since it's Rodney's turn. And there may not be much of him in the sequel either. I'm not a big fan of his character and every time I write him in more than just a tiny part it turns into Xander bashing time and I hate character bashing type fics. So out of respect I just don't use him much.

MzPink, there will be Buffy/John goodness in the sequel. :)

Part Four

Rodney rocked back and forth on his feet as he waited for his sister to answer the door. His experiences in Atlantis had changed him. Not in the way that most people would notice, but his sister would see it almost immediately. He was thankful that he got the chance to see her again... and maybe even Lucas.

He winced as he thought about what Jeannie's reaction to the video he had sent might have been. She had to have been near hysterical over it. When he had left, he had given no indication that his life would be in danger. He could only imagine the shock and fear she felt. But he had meant what he had said and he was determined to build a closer relationship with her. She and Lucas were the last of his family and he wasn't going to lose them.

His sister opened the door and he quickly moved in to give her a hug. "Surprise," he whispered.

"Rodney?" She asked in shock, standing still.

"It's me," he assured her.

"Thank god," she choked before returning the hug. She squeezed so hard that he was almost positive that she had cracked a rib. He didn't care though. He had made it to this moment.

"I was so worried. You were so vague on that tape about what was going on. When I didn't hear from you again I thought you were dead," she sobbed, soaking his shoulder with her tears. "You scared the shit out of me. And Lucas kept asking when you were coming back to visit him and I didn't know what to tell him."

Rodney silently cursed himself. He had no idea that his message would have this big of an impact. Plus, he couldn't believe that Lucas remembered him. His last visit had been brief, but he had apparently made some sort of strange connection with his nephew.

"I'm sorry," he said with a sigh.

"Don't apologize," she admonished. "It creeps me out," she said, releasing him and taking a step back. She hastily wiped her eyes. "Where are my manners?" She asked with a shaky laugh. "Come in."

"This isn't a bad time is it?" He asked.

"Of course not," she said with a smile. Jeannie's bright demeanor seemed to begin taking over her initial shock of seeing her brother alive and well. She looked up the stairs and called out. "Lucas! We have company!"

A moment later, the sound of small feet running down the stairs could be heard. As Lucas hit the bottom step, Rodney braced himself. Bright blue eyes shone out over a huge grin. "Uncle Ro'nee!" Lucas cried before tackling his uncle.

Rodney let out a grunt as he fought to keep himself upright. For a small kid, Lucas could sure pack a wallop. He awkwardly hugged the blond boy. "Missed having another genius to talk to, I see."

Lucas grinned up at him. "Wha you bring me?"

"What do you mean?" Rodney asked.

"Wha you bring me?" Lucas asked again.

Rodney suppressed the urge to scream. He had forgotten that talking to Lucas was sometimes like going in circles. "Help Jeannie."

Jeannie let out a chuckle before taking pity on her brother. "Whenever someone visits they bring him a present, so he's just naturally assuming."
"And we all know what assuming does," Rodney said.

"Wha you bring me?" Lucas asked, tugging insistently on Rodney's pants.

"Lucas, I... Well, I didn't... If I had..." Rodney groaned. "I'm sorry, I didn't bring you anything." He was shocked when Lucas' eyes filled with tears and his lower lip began to quiver. Quickly Rodney continued, "Because I thought I'd let you pick out a puzzle at the store."

As if they had never happened, Lucas' tears vanished. "Any puzzle I wan?"

"Any puzzle," Rodney said, thankful that disaster had been adverted.

"Tanks, Uncle Ro'nee!" Lucas squealed before scampering off.

"You are in big trouble now," Jeannie said with a laugh.

"Why is that?"
"Because he knows," she said, heading towards the kitchen.

"He know what?" Rodney asked, clearly confused as he followed her.

"That you'll fall for it."

Rodney gritted his teeth, it was obvious where Lucas got his circular conversation habits from. "Fall for what?"

"The puppy dog act," she said simply, pulling two glasses out of a cabinet.

"The what?"

"The guilt trip he just laid on you - teary eyes, the pout. It's his not-so-secret-weapon. Tea?"

"Yeah, sure," he said absently, taking a seat at the table. "So he wasn't really upset? That was just an act?"

"He probably was a little," Jeannie said, handing him a glass before sitting herself. "He was just testing you. Kids his age are always testing boundaries."
"And how does William handle that?"
Jeannie frowned. "Poorly."
"How so?"
"We're getting a divorce."
"You know, I never liked him."
"Rodney.." Jeannie began.

He continued as if he never heard her. "I never thought he was good enough for you. Granted, he's an intelligent guy. Of course, he's not a genius like myself..."
"Rodney.." She said a little louder.

"But something about him just never sat right. Maybe it was his haphazard approach to science..."
"Rodney!"
"What?"

"Can you not do this right now?"
"Do what?" He asked, confusion written on his features.

Jeannie sighed. "Still having problems being sensitive to other's feelings, I see."

"I'm getting better," he said indignantly.

"I'm sure," she said, a light smirk playing on her lips.

"No, really, I am."
"If you say so," she said teasingly.

Rodney glared at her for a moment before calming. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

"For what?" Jeannie asked, her turn to be confused.

"That things didn't work out for the two of you. He must have made you happy once and now... Well, I'm sorry," he finished lamely.

Tears filled Jeannie's eyes as she rose and crossed to him. She wrapped her arms around him and said, "That's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."

Embarrassed, he patted her on the back.

"Maybe there's hope for that hard heart of yours after all," she said.

"Hey!"

"But you have changed," she said, moving back to her seat. "What brought that on?"

"The team I work with," he said with a small smile. "I've actually gotten somewhat close to a few people. I find myself trusting them and vice versa. They actually... I... Well, it's opened my eyes some."

Jeannie's blue eyes studied him for several long, minutes. Then she smiled and wistfully said, "At least someone got through to you. God knows I tried for years."

"Don't blame yourself, it was me." He frowned. "And if you ever repeat that, I'll..."
"Your secret is safe with me," She said before taking a drink of her tea. "Do I get to meet your team?"
"Maybe. One day."

XXXXXXXX

The next afternoon, Rodney collapsed bonelessly onto the sofa. "Who knew there were that many puzzles to choose from?"
"I warned you," Jeannie said with a laugh.

"And I didn't think he'd be so picky."
"He gets that from you," she said, sitting next to him.

"Does not."
"He certainly does. You were always very specific in which 'educational toys' you just had to have."
"That's just common sense," he sniffed. "I wanted to make sure I'd learn the most from each toy."
"Right," Jeannie said, patting him on the knee.

"Uncle Ro'nee," Lucas said, running into the living room and jumping onto his uncle's lap.

"Lucas, please don't do that," Rodney gasped.

"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"Why?"
"Because it hurts when you do that!"
"Oh," Lucas said, chastised for a brief moment. Then he quickly cheered up. "Holp me."
"What?"
"Holp me."
"With what?"

"My new puzzle."
"Not right now."
"Pwease," Lucas begged, his lower lip starting to jut out.

"Uncle Rodney is tired," Rodney said, closing his eyes. "I'll help you in a little bit."
"Pomis?"
"Yes, I promise."
"Yippee!" Lucas cried, climbing down and running out of the room.

"You fell for it again," Jeannie said, suppressing a laugh.

"I did not. I had every intention of helping before he began begging."
"You fell for it, admit it."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"What are we? Four again?" Rodney asked irritably.

"Yes, cause you won't admit I'm right."
"You are not."

XXXXXXXX

Two days later, Rodney looked down at the sobbing boy clinging to his leg in bewilderment. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why his nephew was so attached to him. Other than the horrendously long shopping trip and the short time they had spent on assembling the puzzle, he hadn't really spent any time with the kid. Yet, here Lucas was, acting as if his best friend in the world was leaving him forever.

"Lucas, I'll come back and visit," Rodney said, trying to reason with him.

"Don't go!" Lucas cried.

"But I have to."
"Why?"
"Because there are people who need me."
"I need you!"
Rodney looked at his sister in shock. Her blue eyes looked just as perplexed as she knelt down next to her son.

"Lucas, honey, why do you need Uncle Rodney?"
"'Cause."
"Because why?"
He shrugged. "Jus cause."

"Lucas, I have to go because I promised those other people that I'd be there to help them. You wouldn't want me to break my promise to them would you?" Rodney asked, remembering that promises were important to the small boy.

"You pomised?" Lucas asked, turning his tear streaked face up to his uncle.

"I did. Just like I'm promising to visit you again."
"Pomis?"
"I promise."
"Otay," Lucas said sullenly. "I wuv you, Uncle Ro'nee."

Once again, Rodney found himself startled by his nephew's admission. "I, uh, love you, too." He watched in wonder as Lucas ran upstairs.

"Will it be another year until your next visit?" Jeannie asked, standing back up.

"Shouldn't be. Communication and travel will be easier now. I can't get here a moment's notice, but it's better than it was." He reached into a pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "If you want to send letters or messages, this place will forward them to me."
"An Air Force base?" She asked in surprise after reading it. She looked back at him and smiled sadly. "I know, it's classified. Whatever you're doing, it must be a good thing - you've changed for the better."
"The best."

Jeannie pulled him into a crushing hug. "Take care, and no more scary messages."
"I will. And I promise."

Finis