It only took a little bit of thought before Mac agreed, as did Jonathan and Tagan. The four members of AG-14 met up in one of the rec rooms that night to discuss their plan.

"I've got all of the calculations that the science team did," Mac explained. "I know what modifications we need and how to make them. First off, the safeguard blocking the gate from using the ZPM for a seven symbol address has to be removed. That's your job," she told Abbie, handing her a printout. "There are a bunch of other modifications I have to make to the Stargate's control system in order for us to actually be able to dial. You guys have the easy job," she told Jonathan and Tagan.

"AG-9 said they would help," Jonathan told her.

"Good. But we're going to need more people."

"We're aiming for 2700-hours tomorrow night," Abbie added. "So we need to switch shifts with people who should be on duty so that we're the only ones manning the control room. And a couple friendly marines in the hall wouldn't hurt, either, to give us warning of any random visitors."

"We'll get it done," Tagan promised.

"We're only going to have one shot at this," Abbie told the other three. "But we could fix everything that's gone wrong in our lives if we get it right."

Abbie hadn't exactly mentioned her plan to John yet. She and Jonathan decided to keep it that way until they were sure that everything was set up. Abbie went to find him around dinnertime the following evening. "Are you hungry?" she asked him as the door to his quarters opened.

"I could be. Are you?"

"Sort of. But I probably should eat something anyway. Jonathan said he'd meet us in the mess."

"Well, then, let's go." They were quiet as they walked the halls together. "What have you been up to all day?" John asked.

"Working on stuff."

He smirked. "Could you vague that up a little?"

Abbie glanced around; the halls were near empty. "Working on how to get you back to your own time." John stopped in his tracks.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know Colonel Garrett said it was too risky, but we know we can do it. And it's what you want, right? We have everything planned," Abbie told him as they started walking once more. "You just have to say yes."

They rounded a corner, arriving at the door of the mess hall. They could see Jonathan waiting inside. "I'm guessing this is going to be off-the-books, right?" John asked. Abbie's silence was his reply. "Right…So when are we doing it?"

Throughout the evening, everything went perfectly according to plan. As zero-hour approached, everyone gathered in the control room. While a couple members of AG-9 worked with Mac in the control room to make the necessary modifications to the gate, John pulled Abbie aside.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked her. "I mean…I want to go back, but I can understand Colonel Garrett's point. It's not worth sacrificing your future in order to do it. Even if this does work, you're barely going to have enough power left to for the drone chair. The shield would probably be out of the question. And if it doesn't work…"

Abbie smiled. "As soon as you get back where you're supposed to be, this future will cease to exist. It won't matter how much power we have."

John considered that. "Oh…"

"You'll get a chance to do things over, Dad. Fix the things that went wrong, and be there this time…Do you know what my name means?"

"No idea."

"Father's joy. Mom…she knew how much we would have meant to you. I've grown up my whole life with everyone always telling me how much I was like you."

"I'll apologize for that right now," John said.

Abbie smiled. "Mom was good at telling us stories, but…I'm looking forward to being able to grow up hearing them from you instead." He returned her grin, nodding.

"Abbie!" she heard Mac call from downstairs. "We're ready." She started to head for the stairs, but John caught her by the shoulder.

"Just…before we do this…I'm trusting my life to someone who isn't even old enough to drive on Earth…You're sure this is going to work?"

Abbie laughed. "She's good. Mac's been giving Zelenka a run for his money since she was ten."

"And ten was how long ago?"

She shot him a Look. "Dad. Come on." He relented, and they headed down the staircase.

"Harrington to A-Sheppard," Abbie heard one of the marines say over her headset. "You've got incomming."

She immediately turned back to Tagan, who was still up in the control room. "Seal the gate room!" she called. "Someone's coming." The doors began locking shut.

"Dial the gate," Jonathan told one of the other team members that was in the control room. He punched in the seven chevrons for Atlantis, and only hesitated a moment before executing the address. The laws of physics temporarily went out the window as the wormhole actually connected. Mac monitored the effects of modifications that she'd made.

"Are we good?" Abbie asked her friend.

She nodded. "Yeah, but I don't know how long it's going to stay stable."

"Someone's trying to override the lockout," Tagan reported. "Now would be a good time to do this!"

John looked to his two children, not quite knowing how to say good-bye, especially on a time crunch. Jonathan offered him a little smile.

"See you soon, Dad?" he said. John nodded.

"Yeah. See you soon." And then he stepped into the event horizon.

TBC... (warning: fluff ahead)