AN: Well, we've had the mission brief, the introductions, and some drama, now we have a little processing. I love not having a 44-minute running time. Atlantis also gets some action from her personal Boy-Toy, John must work hard to sweet-talk his Mistress. If anyone, thinks John or Elizabeth is OOC, take it up with "Ghost in the Machine" I didn't write that.
"Why aren't you shocked?" John asked his Second-in-Command as they prepared for his departure.
Evan Lorne suppressed the urge to laugh, settling for a wry smile. "Sir, you forget I was stationed at the SGC for years. People coming back from the dead like this is nothing new to me. Doctor Jackson has ascended and descended twice, Oma Desala saved the entire population of Abydos through ascension. Why should it shock me that Sha're also ascended and that she would save Doctor Weir?"
"You couldn't have known Mrs. Jackson," Sheppard replied, frowning in confusion. "From what I remember she was captured before you joined the SGC."
"Colonel, one thing you should know is that there is nobody at the SGC that doesn't know of Sha're. She is quite literally the reason all of this," he motioned to their surroundings, "exists."
John ran his hand through his wild hair and sighed. "I should have thought of that."
Over the years, Evan had worked hard to earn Sheppard's respect and trust. He could safely say that he knew his boss as well as the man allowed anyone to know him, perhaps with the exception of Doctor Weir. He knew that Sheppard still harbored a great deal of guilt for leaving her behind on the Replicator home world. Not only did it go against his personal moral code, but anyone with half a brain could see the depth of the bond he shared with Atlantis' first and greatest leader. The fact that Sheppard not only failed to save her, but actively championed to destroy her replicator form F.R.A.N. had affected him deeper than anyone would ever see.
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" he requested, making sure his tone conveyed that he would anyway.
"Of course," John permitted, raising an eyebrow.
"Unofficially, the SGC considered Sha're to be one of our own. When she died, the base held a memorial for her and put her on our own little wall for those we lost in our battle with the Goa'uld. John, when I joined Atlantis, I made this my home. The loss of Doctor effected every person in the city, and there's not a man or woman here who would not have sacrificed everything for a different outcome. However, just because we couldn't save her, doesn't mean we shouldn't rejoice that we're getting her back."
"You think I'm not glad she's alive!" John snapped.
Evan stared him down and took a deep breath to gather up a little false bravado. "I think you're pissed that you weren't the one to save her, sir. Frankly, sir, I don't see how it matters," he answered.
John glared at his friend and subordinate. "She woke up with strangers. How can that not matter?"
"If I had to wake up with strangers, Sha're and Shifu would be at the top of my list," Evan assured him.
"But you never met them!" John snapped.
"No, but I've known Doctor Jackson much longer than you have, sir. He saved my team and prevented us from a massacring an entire indigenous population. I know he couldn't have married a woman who is anything less than exceptional. Shifu, lives with the genetic knowledge of all Goa'uld from their beginning up until the moment he was conceived. I don't have to tell you that in combination with his powers as an Ascended being, that knowledge could make him the greatest threat to the universe since the Ori. A threat that could make the Wraith insignificant in comparison, if he chose, and he chooses to deny one of his most basic traits. I call that commendable. Do you think Doctor Weir could be in more capable hands?" he asked.
"She didn't wake up with the people who love her there, Evan," John muttered.
Even put his hand on Sheppard's shoulder and spoke as gently as he could. "I know that you and your team would have been the first people she wanted to see, John, but what good does being angry about that do?"
"None," John admitted, with a sour tone. "I can't help it. Do you really think Mrs. Jackson is taking good care of her?"
"One of the best kept secrets about the SGC is that like when we were in Pegasus, people could request shore leave on allied worlds. A lot of people used to go to Abydos before Anubis attacked. Despite being a desert world, the people there could give the Athosians stiff competition for hospitality and a good time. General O'Neill used to pick people he liked to accompany Daniel whenever he went to visit his relatives, because of his ability to find trouble in unexpected places."
"And he picked you?" John asked, a small grin curling the corner of his mouth.
"Twice, and I went to paint many more times." Evan affirmed. "I spent time getting to know his father and brother-in-law, from the stories and memories they shared about Sha're, I wouldn't be surprised if she considers Doctor Weir to be as good as her own flesh and blood. From everything I know about the culture and what I've heard, Sha're is fiercely protective of family, even willing to fight to the death to keep them safe."
"It's true," Jack's voice interrupted as he stood in the doorway. "Ra killed her once for trying to save Daniel, and they were only married in name only at that point."
"General," Evan chirped, coming to attention.
"At ease, Evan, for cryin' out loud!" Jack groused. "Sorry for interrupting, but I thought I'd offer to help you guys get things squared away while Carter and McKay do their thing, Teal'c and the family decide what they're doing, Daniel and the kid have a few last private moments, and Cam and Vala do whatever it is they do."
"Not at all, General. We're basically finished," John answered. "I realize my attitude about this probably leaves a lot to be desired—"
Jack waved away the half-hearted attempt at an apology. "Sheppard, the whole ascension 'non-interference' crap leaves a lot to be desired. The glow club automatically comes with loads off mixed feelings. Believe me, I speak from personal experience when it comes to their rules. Personally, I can't say I've liked any of them that I've met. Although, the truth is I've only met Merlin, Orlin, and Oma. Oma isn't too bad, but the cryptic sayings get annoying after five minutes, Orlin was a good guy, but a bit of a pretty boy, and Merlin was just full of himself."
A weak smile broke out on John's face. "You're leaving out Shifu and Doctor Jackson, sir."
"Nah, they're not Ancients. Well, the kid is part Ancient, if Oma really is his grandmother," Jack smirked.
"You mentioned you weren't too keen on Shifu's methods in the past, can you explain that, sir?" John asked, wanting to understand Shifu, and the situation better.
"Sure, do you guys mind if I sit down? The knee is acting up today."
"Of course, sir," the two men answered at once, embarrassed that they hadn't offered.
Jack sat down, motioning for them to do the same. "When Shifu decided he wanted to learn about Sha're, we wanted to convince him to share the knowledge he has from Apophos to help us fight against them. The kid spoke in a lot of riddles and put Daniel into a deep sleep. When we naturally asked him what he thought he was doing, all he'd say was, 'sometimes dreams teach.' Let me tell ya, that wasn't a good answer for me. It turns out, Daniel's dreams explained that if Shifu remembered any of it he'd eventually succumb to the genetic lust for power all Goa'uld have. Daniel never told me what was in his dreams, but I know him well enough to know they were about as bad as it gets. I don't know if the kid put Daniel to sleep because that was his only way not to break the rules, or because he knew it would work. In the end, it worked out for the best. As much as I wanted the Intel, the idea of making a boy face what Daniel called, 'the knowledge of a thousand Hitler's' was distasteful to say the least."
"Understandable," John shrugged.
"No, sir," Evan interjected. "With respect, Colonel, you've never come face-to-face with a System Lord. I'd never try to draw a comparison between the Wraith and the Goa'uld in terms of a threat to the galaxy, but as individuals, the Goa'uld not only hunger for power, they take pleasure in the suffering and the enslavement of the people they conquer. The Wraith may be bad sir, but at least most of them do what they do for survival, not out of extreme megalomania."
John bowed his head, conceding to Evan's point. "And all this is inside, Shifu?"
"They call it 'genetic memory,'" Jack confirmed. "To tell you the truth, I'm sure a biologist could explain it better. Anyway, Daniel has a theory that if Shifu were to get kicked out of the glow club eventually the genetic memory would overwhelm him, and he'd become everything his father was and worse. To put it bluntly, he has to do things his way."
"Understood," John sighed. "I feel like a real jackass for being so angry with the kid, but I can't seem to get past the fact that I didn't save her."
"Look at it this way, I think everyone knows my distaste for the Tok'ra, and if you don't, then Evan here can tell you about it. Right, Evan?"
"Aye, sir," Evan chuckled.
Jack leaned forward placing both his hands on the younger man's shoulders. "If Carter was hurt or went missing on a mission, and the Tok'ra brought her back to us complete with a new snake in her head, I can guarantee the only thing that would matter is that she came home. When you see Doctor Weir, I promise all the guilt and anger will melt away."
"I hope you're right, sir," John whispered as he gently shrugged off the older man's shoulders.
******
"Amazing, absolutely incredible!" McKay exclaimed in delight as they hooked up the last ZPM.
"As much as I hate to agree with you about anything, I will say that having these ZPM's will change everything," Sam smirked.
"Do you think that the IOA will let us go back and do our jobs now?" Rodney groused.
Sam sighed and reached out to pat him on the back. "I really don't know, Rodney. General O'Neill's goes up against them every day, trying to make them see reason. Now, that we have more than enough ZPM's to power Atlantis and the outpost in Antarctica, at least they can't use the excuse of not having a strong enough power source to return Atlantis to the Pegasus galaxy."
"They fired Woolsey, you know," he snapped. "Don't get me wrong. After Elizabeth—" he paused to take a deep breath. "You were an amazing leader, Sam, and at first, nobody liked Woolsey. However, he grew to understand what we can accomplish here, and he proved himself to us."
"I understand, Rodney. That must've been what had Jack so mad when he came to the Hammond this morning," she muttered.
"Jack?" McKay smirked, waggling his eyebrows.
"So, how are things going with you and Doctor Keller?" she stammered.
"Quite well actually," Rodney grinned. "So, the rumors are true? I have to admit, I thought he'd bore you to tears in less than a week."
Sam turned a glare on him with the power of a Naquadria warhead. "Not that it's any of your business, but the last word I'd use to describe General O'Neill is boring."
"Okay there's no need to get touchy," he stuttered, raising his hands in surrender. "I hope you're both very happy."
A tiny smile played at her lips and her eyes radiated the joy and contentment her life now held. "Thank you, Rodney, we are," she whispered.
"Well, let's finish up. Any second now Sheppard will be chasing after me with a lemon," Rodney chuckled.
Thirty minutes later the inhabitants of Atlantis and their visitors let out a joyful shout as the magnificent city came back to life. John held back tears of joy as he reached out to touch the city with his mind, feeling her completely restored amplified the connection to his ATA gene. "It's good to finally meet all of you," he muttered under his breath.
"Hey, am I the only one with this warm, fuzzy, tingly feeling all over? Not that I object it just doesn't seem fair," Jack grinned.
"I have a feeling everyone with the ATA gene is feeling the same way, General. Isn't that right Evan?" John assured.
"Yes, Colonel."
"Well, you have your orders, Major. General, with your permission we'll gear up and get on our way," John asked, barely able to stop himself from standing before his higher-ranking guest.
Jack stood, rubbing his hands together in excitement for some action. "Let's go! See you later, Evan, and thanks for everything."
Evan smiled. "You're welcome, General. It's always a pleasure."
"So, Sheppard, tell me your plan while we walk," Jack ordered, slapping the younger man on the back.
"Basically, sir, it's like you said, S&R. We go in with two jumpers and find Elizabeth and Mrs. Jackson," John shrugged.
"Sha're," Jack corrected. "Abydonian culture doesn't do the whole Mister and Missus thing. She sees herself as Sha're 'wife of Daniel.' The given name is more important to her than any family name."
John nodded, not breaking his stride. "I'll remember that, sir."
"Relax, Colonel. She'll like you. Just don't piss her off and you'll be fine."
For the first time since Shifu appeared in the briefing room, John felt a full-blown cocky grin stretch his lips. "Sir, that's my Standard Operating Procedure with every woman I meet."
"I know, I read the mission reports," Jack smirked as the smile vanished from John's face.
"I'll have to leave you soon, Daniel. The time has come to face the consequences of my actions," Shifu said as they looked out over the view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Daniel turned sharply, taking hold of him by the shoulders. "What do you mean?"
"The others couldn't stop me from returning to you and helping you find mother, nor could they stop me from providing you with ZPM's to power Atlantis. However, it doesn't change the fact that they consider the two of you together to be very dangerous. It's unlikely that I will be allowed to take corporeal from ever again," he answered, wrapping his arms around the older man for a hug.
Daniel held him tightly against his chest, pressing a kiss against the top of his head. "I don't understand. They don't believe in interfering with 'lowers,' so why would they care about your mother and I finding each other again."
"You and mother are not ordinary humans, but I do not understand all of it. Mother will be able to help you see when you find her. I will not be completely gone. Do not fear for me. I have grandmother, grandfather, Skaara, and the others to look after me." He pulled back and smiled. "All I have ever wanted is for you and mother to be safe and happy. Promise me that you'll both seize your happiness and never let it go."
"I promise, I'll do everything possible to make your mother happy. Be careful. We both love you so much," Daniel croaked, blinking back tears.
Shifu's deep brown eyes grew into large, glistening black pools. "How can you love me? I am—"
"You are my son!" Daniel gasped, pulling him closer again. "Before, I wouldn't let myself say it or think it, because I couldn't handle losing your mother and not being able to have you live with me, but you are everything I ever imagined my son or daughter would be! I don't care about genetics. The first face you ever saw was mine, and I've loved you as my own ever since that day. You're mine, and I won't let anyone say any differently."
Daniel blinked back his own tears, knowing if he let them fall now they wouldn't stop. "I should have told you that the day you came to Abydos. Forgive me."
Shifu gazed into the sky-blue eyes that to him represented the infinite potential of a pure spirit. "You were not ready to speak, nor was I ready to hear. Now, we are set free of the past and may continue walking on our paths. I am glad to know my mother will now be walking with you once more," he smiled, stepping out of what could be his final embrace in corporeal form.
"Can't you just stay until we bring your mother home?" Daniel begged. "She should be able to hold you once! She never got the chance. Please, let's give her that," his voice cracked.
"I will ask grandmother, if I can, I will meet you at the planet," Shifu answered. "There isn't much time."
"Okay, I'll speak with Jack and John, to see if I can help things move along. You get back to Oma and Kasuf. Give them my love."
"I will, father. Colonel Sheppard seems very angry. Is he not happy to have Elizabeth return to him?"
"Oh, he is overjoyed to have Elizabeth back," Daniel assured. "Regular humans are inherently irrational beings. As much as John and I are glad that Elizabeth and your mother are once again human, we're both not happy that we weren't there with them when it happened. It's difficult to explain," he sighed, feeling a hot flush creep into his face. "I don't remember enough of my time ascended to remember if there were many mated pairs or people with those feelings for each other. I wonder if cutting ties to ordinary human existence makes certain needs disappear—" he trailed off his mind spinning with theories and possibilities.
"Your memories are there, you only need to want to remember them," Shifu prodded him with a raised eyebrow.
"So, you, and your grandmother keep telling me," Daniel frowned, frustration nipping at his calm.
"As Replicator Carter proved to you," Shifu smirked. "In any case, there are pairs where I am from, but none display this type of behavior at least in front of me."
"As I said, normal 'lower' humans are inherently irrational creatures when it comes to those they love," Daniel chuckled.
"You and those you love, are anything but 'lower,' father. That's why the others are so afraid of you," Shifu grinned.
"Oma, go easy on me. I never realized I was fighting with my mother-in-law!" Daniel shouted, as he watched his son vanish.
Carter and McCay approached their respective team leaders while having their geek version of a knock down drag out fight about using Naquada generators in place of ZPM's. "All I'm saying is that it's like filling the tank of an Italian sports car with Diesel. It's crude, inelegant, and eventually destroys the engine!" McKay shouted, his hands flying wildly, dangerously close to invading her personal space.
"I'm not trying to be insensitive," Sam retorted through clenched teeth. "Remember, I lived here for quite a while, and I know how infinitely more sophisticated Ancient technology is compared to ours, but we deserve a little credit for keeping the city running for the last five years!"
"What good is it if the systems are damaged beyond repair?" McKay snarled.
"WE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE!" Sam roared well past her breaking point.
"Excuse me, kids. What's going on here?" Jack asked, waltzing toward the pair and settling himself next to his favorite geek.
"Rodney, use the inside voice," Sheppard warned, patting the man on the back to offer support.
Sam tossed her messy braid off her shoulder and sighed. "We've cleared all of our MacGyver-ed power systems away and all the ZPM's are in place, but ninety percent of the city's systems appear to be in some sort of sleep mode, not unlike what a computer does if left on and unattended for a certain amount of time. The shield is still operative, as is the cloak, and any life-support systems should we need them, but everything else has stalled."
"Your generators ruined EVERYTHING!" Rodney wailed.
"Hey now, calm the hell down!" Jack snapped. "Carter, are you sure we didn't fry everything?"
"Eighty percent sure, sir!" she hissed, shooting a death glare at McKay.
"Twenty percent NOT SURE!" McKay shrieked. "But what can you expect of a person who's best known for blowing up a sun!"
"McKay!" Sheppard barked before anyone could throw a punch at his geek. "There might be a way to know for sure," he said with a tiny grin.
Rodney went pale and his mouth dropped open and closed several times before a sound came out. "I know that look!" he stuttered. "That's his 'I'm about to do something insane that will probably result in my death and the deaths of my team,' whatever you're going to say, John, DON'T!" he babbled.
"Relax, Rodney, I'm sure that the only person even the least bit in danger from my idea is 'yours truly' even then, my girl would never let me down," John grinned, raising his eyebrows. "My idea is that I use one of the neural interfaces' and I'll ask my girl what's wrong."
"Did you not just here us?" McKay exclaimed, getting up in the bigger man's face. "There's no POWER!"
Quick as a flash, John's hand whipped into a pocket of his TAC vest and pulled out a lemon. "Rodney, don't piss me off today. I just might do it," he growled. Turning back to O'Neill and Carter he grinned. "Sometimes she'll wake something up if I poke gently."
"Sheppard, this is why it was so hard to stay here. How can anyone hope to command Atlantis when you're her lover?" Sam teased, using a sultry tone.
"I'm just her boy-toy, Colonel, but I can't help it if she likes me best," he chuckled. "Come on, Rodney, hook me up and let's get the show on the road."
"I'm going on the record that I warned you that this is a bad idea and it probably won't work," he muttered, stomping to the nearest interface. "And by the way," he sneered, facing Sheppard. "You might be Atlantis' boy-toy, but this city loved one person above anyone else, Elizabeth—" he choked on the name. "And you know it, so just dial down the flyboy charm."
"I'm bringing Elizabeth HOME, RODENY!" John roared. "Now hook me up, and then I don't want to hear a word from you until we dial the gate," he continued at a normal volume. He tossed the lemon to O'Neill and put on his headset connecting him to the main computer system. "See you all in a jiffy," he muttered.
As he reached out with his mind and felt a surge as the computer system came to life. 'Hello, darlin',' he thought. 'Now, can you tell me why you're being shy when you got such a nice present from our friends?' The system wrapped him in a cocoon of safety and showed images of the power from the ZPM's slowly filtering into the power centers of the entire city. 'Okay, darlin, I get it. We've mucked up the systems with the funky Naquida reactors and now you must slowly cypher power from the new ZPM's to the systems before you can get back to your glory. Sweetheart, I know you're delicate after five years of our tampering, but I want to bring Elizabeth home, and I can't do it without the gate. When can you give me the gate?' his mind whispered like a gentle caress. He felt a surge, which always made him believe his girl was happy. Instantly, she showed herself increasing the flow of power to the gate and decreasing the flow from non-critical systems to preserve the balance.
Jack stood watching the young man connected to the very heart of Atlantis. "Carter, will he be okay?"
"Sir, as much as I joke about John being Atlantis' lover, he really does have the strongest ATA gene of anyone among us Tau'ri. The city has many safeguards, the Ancients were nothing if not cautious. Besides, as crazy as it seems, John does have a bond with this city unlike anything I've seen. Considering everything I have seen since you tossed me through the gate eighteen years ago, I'm willing to stake my life on the fact that Atlantis would never hurt him," Sam assured him with a soft smile.
"You do know that he's got a bed in the infirmary where a plaque hangs with his name engraved on it!" McKay scoffed.
"Hey," Jack snapped, brandishing the lemon. "No talking the man said." He turned to Carter. "Is that true?"
"Yes, sir. But, I know he can do this," she insisted.
Before he could ask more questions, John disengaged the interface and smiled. "We'll have the gate in fifteen minutes," he cheered, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "General, I say we round up our troops and get out the jumpers!"
"You got lucky, you son-of-a— I REALLY HATE YOU!" McKay whined.
Ishta, Rya'c and Kar'yn stood transfixed as Teal'c battled both Ronan and Teyla with their traditional fighting sticks. The Steadan's brute power, and the Athosian's cool grace made a formidable combination. "I think we know where Teal'c learned all of the new techniques he now uses when sparring with us," Ishta said to them as her eyes glittered with desire and envy watching her mate.
"I now want to stay here and learn for myself!" Kar'yn gasped.
"I as well," Rya'c agreed, flinching as the tiny woman landed a blow that knocked his father to the ground.
"I'm putting bets on the hairy brute Vala yelled, standing in the middle of a rowdy group of New Lanteans frantically placing bets.
Mitchell pushed past some Marines in the crowd, grabbing Vala's arm. "You better not be using my cash!" he warned.
"But, darling, I have none with me. I'll pay you back. I promise," she giggled, kissing her irate Colonel on the cheek.
"One of these days. Vala Mal Doran, I'm going to ring your beautiful neck!" Cam growled. The veins in his forehead nearly pulsing with the force of his indignation.
"You're not man enough to handle the likes of me, Cameron Mitchell. Besides, your mother adores me. She'll be very angry if you kill me before bringing me home for Easter. Whatever that is," she smirked, tossing her head back and laughing as his jaw dropped.
"If you lose my paycheck this month, I'll get even!" he pouted.
A wide grin threatened to split John's face in half as he entered the gym. The mob surrounding the visiting Jaffa from SG-1 and two of the Pegasus galaxy's most famed warriors maintained just enough order to be respectable while a fierce rivalry between the New Lanteans and the SGC visitors seethed as each side shouted taunts, encouragement, and bets at the speed of sound. He chuckled hearing his former Commanding Officer groan.
"Oh, God, not again!" she pleaded.
"Don't worry, Sam," Sheppard soothed. "This one's not a grudge match. Teyla's above such Neanderthal behavior."
"What the hell are they doing?" Jack snapped, both enthralled and feeling the creeps.
"Stick-fighting," Sheppard grinned as Ronon and Teyla put Teal'c on the defensive. "It's the best workout I've ever found. Sam was getting pretty good before she left us. I'll never be as good as those two, but I can hold my own against them one at a time."
"Carter, you've been holding out on me," Jack accused, his voice taking on that familiar edge when he came close to crossing their professional line.
"There didn't seem to be a good reason to tell you, sir," she muttered, cursing the blush she knew showed on her face and neck. "On the Hammond there's nobody to practice with, and well—" she stammered. "Oh, holy Hanna, John stop them, so we can move on!"
"Aye, ma'am!" he replied, giving her a jaunty salute.
"You hid this from me," Jack hissed into her ear.
"I'm not even close to even a child's level, Jack," Sam squeaked as his hot breath hit the most sensitive place on her neck.
"I'm going to ask Teyla to convince you to give me a demonstration of your skills, Colonel," Jack whispered, tugging at the end of her braid. "When we get home, I'm taking a weekend of leave and I will have thought up some very creative ways to make you pay for keeping secrets," he warned, smiling when he felt her shudder.
"Aye, sir," she stammered.
As John made his way through the crowd, he felt a surge of pride to see the people of his city behaving as they once did before leaving Pegasus. Coming back to earth had been bittersweet for every man and woman who had devoted their lives to the dream they all shared. Everyone loved being able to have real contact with their families, and the comforts of their native home. On the other side, each ached to go back to their new home to explore, discover, and defend. Five years on earth, being scrutinized by the petty bureaucracies and used as a political pawn for the warped politics of earth had taken its toll on them all. Now, with Elizabeth coming home, he had hope that maybe, just maybe, they would get home.
"Teyla, Ronan, wrap it up we gotta go!" he shouted over the din.
"Do you think they heard him? I didn't," O'Neill asked.
Sam flashed him a feral grin. "Oh, they heard him."
Within seconds, Teyla and Ronan moving as one had pinned the mighty Jaffa down and claimed their victory. "Thank you, Teal'c," Teyla said, bowing deeply before extending a hand to assist him. "You are a most worthy challenge and we have learned much."
"As have I," Teal'c assured, bowing in return. "Ronan Dex, your discipline is much improved. I believe there is much you could teach my son. If I may be so bold to ask you to consider it, I will discuss the matter with him."
"Sure," the younger man shrugged. "I'm always up for someone new."
"Come on, people, the gate will be up in ten minutes," Sheppard barked.
Daniel stood in the gate room listening to Cam scream at Vala for losing one hundred fifty dollars of his paycheck on the sparring match. Every so often, when Cam got too close, he let Vala scoot behind him. "It wasn't my fault! When was the last time you saw Muscles lose a fight when we weren't hopelessly outnumbered?" she shrieked.
"She's got a point," Daniel sighed, automatically slipping into peacemaker mode.
"She blew my money!" Cam growled.
"How is this surprising?" Daniel asked.
"Hey!" Vala yelled, smacking Daniel hard.
"Be honest," he retorted.
"She usually lifts your wallet!" Cam pouted.
"I didn't bring mine this trip," Daniel shrugged.
"Hey where's the handsome little man?" Vala asked.
"He had to go to his grandmother," Daniel answered, his voice tight with repressed emotion.
"Dang! I wanted to properly meet your son," Cam sighed.
Sheppard, O'Neill, Carter, and the others entered, showered and in full gear. O'Neill grinned and rubbed his hands together, betraying his excitement. "Okay, kids, here's the plan… Teal'c's family wants to explore the city, and Kar'yn was even persuaded to get checked out by the doc here."
"I will not teach our way of fighting to a woman with child unless I am assured the child will be safe," Teyla explained.
"Wise indeed oh, lovely Teyla," Jack chuckled. "So, the plan is SG-1 plus me, and SGA-1 will go to the planet Shifu gave us. Hopefully, nothing crazy will happen, but knowing both teams' records the odds of this being a milk-run aren't too great. Still, as everyone within the SGC, and Atlantis," he clarified with a nod to its flagship team. "We do not leave our people behind. It doesn't matter if they died years ago, or not. Right, Danny Boy?" he winked.
"May I just say that I am hardly the only person in this room who has died," Daniel exclaimed.
"No, Doctor Jackson, but you have died more times than all of us put together," Sheppard answered.
Daniel rolled his eyes and shot a murderous glare at Jack. "My name is Daniel, John. While that may be so, it's hardly a distinction I am proud of."
"Ah, Danny, always so modest," Jack taunted. He turned to Sheppard. "Okay, Colonel, how do you want to do this?"
John grinned. "Chuck," he yelled up to the operations center. "I need two jumpers please, and don't scratch the walls."
"Right away, Colonel."
Two jumpers lowered from the ceiling in right in front of the gate. "Well, General, I know you know how to fly one of these. I think it's silly to segregate we're all on the same team for now. Would you mind if Doctor Jackson comes with me?"
Contrary to the face he presented to the world as the irreverent, unconventional, slightly dense, and often outrageous flyboy-turned-General. Jack O'Neill read people as easily as he read his Sunday paper, and understood more than he let most people know. He knew Sheppard needed to talk to Daniel. Daniel would have the team to help him and Sha're, but Sheppard needed someone to help him process getting Elizabeth back, and the way she came back.
"Sure, take him along. He'll drive us all crazy bouncing around. Cam, Carter, Vala, Teal'c, you all pile into the second jumper. Sheppard, we're headed to your galaxy. You lead the way."
"Let's go, Daniel. Come on, guys," Sheppard chirped, motioning his team to their jumper. He nodded his thanks to General O'Neill and winked at Cam to assure him that Daniel would be fine. "Daniel how would you like to ride shotgun? As I recall, your last two times with us you never got this experience."
"Thank you, John, that's very generous of you," Daniel smiled, as he made his way to the co-pilot's chair. "I hate to disappoint you, but I actually have been in one of these before in this chair, only ours had a time machine in it," he chuckled. "Do yourself a favor, if you ever find one of those things run! I apparently lived out the rest of my life in Egypt 3000BC with a Jack and Sam from some whacked out alternate timeline. You know, I prefer death to time travel. Time travel just gives me a monster headache."
"Elizabeth was the only one of us who did time travel," John whispered. Gathering his nerve, he cleared his throat and pressed forward. "Dial it up, Daniel! It's rude to keep ladies waiting!"
Daniel shook his head a smirk playing on his lips. In many ways, John reminded him of Jack. He took a deep breath as his heart began to pound, in a matter of seconds he'd be at the far end of the Pegasus galaxy in orbit around the planet where his wife lived. 'I just hope my hand doesn't shake dialing this address,' he thought as he entered the address into the jumper's DHD. As each chevron locked his breath became shallower and rapid. Glancing over to John he saw an image of calm confidence that he'd seen any time Jack, Sam, Teal'c, and Jacob flying anything. However, John Sheppard had a tell that anyone less observant than him would see. At the very corner of Sheppard's strong mouth, a tiny cease formed between the two tight muscles betraying the chaos of his emotional state. The last chevron locked, and the event horizon formed with its distinctive kawoosh, stabilizing in its shimmering wall!
"God's speed to us, John," Daniel murmured, echoing the oft spoken words of General Hammond. 'If only he could have been here for this,' his heart mourned.
"Amen, Daniel," John answered. 'Okay, little buddy,' he thought to the small craft's computer. 'Let's bring them home.'
