AN: Thank you so much for reviewing! And of course to those of you who take the time to read the story, even if you don't leave a review (of course that could always change…riiiight?) I hope you enjoy this part!

Chapter III: Gone (But Not Quite There Yet)

"I'm sorry."

Carolyn Lam lowered her eyes, and moved away from the bed. On her way out of the infirmary, she walked into the general. She raised her tearful gaze, and he reflected it in his own eyes.

Behind her, SG1 stood in silence. The nurses cleared most of the tubes and wires and then discreetly left the four to say their wordless goodbyes. The only sound was the dull beeping of a monitor someone had forgotten to unplug.

Tears running down her cheeks, Sam moved an errant strand of dark hair from Vala's face. Mitchell simply gazed down at the raven-haired woman, sadness mixing with anger behind his guarded gaze. Teal'c had lowered his head—in respect, or perhaps so that no one could see his expression. Daniel stood half a step behind them all, his face stony and expressionless. Only his eyes were open wide, not in sadness but in shock, pain and anger.

Eventually they all left, one by one, until Daniel was the only one left standing by Vala's bed. Silently, he pulled a chair and sat down beside her, lowering his head in his hands in a mute cry of desperation.

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"What's this? Where am I?"

"Don't be afraid."

"Oh…I know you."

"Yes. We have met before."

"Morgan…Morgan le Fey, right?"

The Ancient nodded, and Vala gave her a long look.

"You're looking…corporeal!" Recalling how she had first met Morgan as a hologram on Atlantis brought up another idea to her mind. "Weren't you being punished for helping us? Not that your indications were much help, mind you. I hope you can appeal your punishment," she added as an afterthought.

"The others thought I am best suited to talk to you, since we were…familiar."

Vala held up her palms in an almost defensive gesture.

"Uh, I wouldn't go that far. Passing acquaintance, maybe."

Again, Morgan bobbed her head, and the raven-haired woman gave her an impatient look.

"Would you stop nodding and tell me where I am? Actually, don't! I know what this is." She'd heard plenty of stories, from Daniel, from the Ori and their followers, enough to figure it out. "I'm…ascended, right?"

She made a show of looking around at the old tavern, then traced one of her fingers along the dusty counter.

"Well," she drawled, holding up the now-dirty finger, "this is certainly not what I would have imagined."

"That is because you have not ascended…" Morgan provided, and Vala lowered her head, before cleverly completing:

"…yet."

Another nod came from the Ancient, and she rolled her eyes.

"Alright, so what now? Do I have to file a petition? Take a psychiatric evaluation? I'm good at those! Pull a sword out of a stone? How do I leave this place and ascend?"

"You must make the decision," Morgan spoke in her usual matter-of-fact tone.

"Decision." Vala tilted her head, with a small frown. "What is there to decide? Between this and being dead—"

"Hello, mother."

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AN: I know, bit short, right? But, next chapter is already written, and it will be up in a couple of days! Meanwhile, let me know what you think of the story! Feedback really motivates me to write more—not to mention that your words always make my day! So please take a second to leave a comment!

Hugs,

Myosotis