The penultimate chapter. We're heading towards the end of the journey. Thanks as ever for all my reviewers and your kind comments.

The Archives room was still a mess and Cat didn't suppose it would back to normal for some time. Finding what was missing was the hardest task of all, because Janet had a pile of artefacts, documents and other miscellaneous items ready to catalogue, but she now at least had four lists: one for definitely missing, one for definitely broken and irreparable, one for broken and mendable and lastly the 'could be missing but might still be somewhere' list. She'd interviewed all the soldiers and scientists who had accompanied Janet on recent missions and added their information to the pot as well. The Ancient database was a little help too, cross-referencing likely targets for The Genii and while it was true to say that you could never entirely judge what was of value and what wasn't, a wooden plate from a distant and long extinct settlement was likely to be of less importance than a silver and platinum amulet with possible Ancient purpose. And they had to be small enough to be carried and hidden under a jacket.

So, she had ended up with a fifth list of five likely objects. One was a small necklace with a purple stone looking, as John described it, like one of those old fashioned pear-drops you used to be able to buy from big glass jars in dusty sweet shops. There was a small vase, a sketch of it drawn by Janet, made out of a metal even golder than gold, with small droplet shaped stones in red, blue and green around its rim and two interesting looking twin rings which had been found in different locations but remarkably had been found to interlock and glow as they did. All were possible, but the last was for Cat the most likely and the most worrying: a square box, about 10cm across, made out of a silvery-pewter- like metal with raised Ancient writing and symbols on each side. Janet's notes and drawings were thankfully very detailed and she had also committed the object to the virtual world so that it was as good as having the real thing, except that it had no power of course. There was something in the Ancient that caught her attention. Not an expert by any means, she had some knowledge and she would need to have it translated more accurately but she could clearly make out the word 'time' on each surface.

She immediately contacted Evan Lorne on her radio. 'Major? Could you do me a favour please? Can I have the footage from the camera in the gate room of the moment The Genii left the city? I just want to have another look at what that soldier was carrying.'

He did better than just download the feed, coming himself to the Archives room, never one even now not to take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time alone with Cat. He'd harboured a rather strong crush for many years and would certainly protect her with his life if the occasion arose. They managed between them to freeze and enlarge the moment of the small glimpse of the artefact and there it was. Yes, there was the tell-tale corner of a silvery box. Immediately, Lorne radioed John who ran down to the room, smiled proudly at Cat and patted her on the arm then clicked his radio. 'Mr Woolsey? I think we've identified the object.'

So, in an attempt to find out more, Richard Woolsey immediately put in a request for the one person who they could rely on to translate Ancient. In fact, Daniel Jackson was possibly the Universe-wide expert, excluding the handful of Ancients who occasionally decided to show themselves, and at this moment an excited group were waiting for him to arrive through the gate, not least Rodney, who still feigned resentment for the affable Doctor, while genuinely looking forward to his company.

John stood silently and in relaxed attention next to Cat. Last time he had visited them, when they were attacked by the renegade Asgaard, Daniel turned out to be as much a trouble magnet as Rodney and he found their competitive bickering tiring and irritating, but he had great respect for the man who had re-discovered the Stargate and who was hard not to like. He just hoped that Rodney would temper his snarkiness and, concerned as a friend too, that he wouldn't burn himself out in his attempt to win the intelligence battle. Last time, Rodney had slept for several days after Daniel's departure. There was more though. His 'spidey' sense was in overdrive. Logic of course dictated that The Genii must consider the object to be of some value and use against Atlantis, and that was bad enough. No, he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he would lay a level bet that it was something to do with the Ancient gene and that meant his family could once again be in the firing line. He glanced sideways at Cat and met an equally worried expression in her eyes. Oh yes, they would need to take great care with this one.

His uncomfortable reverie was broken by the sound of the gate's symbols encoding and Amelia's announcement of the off-world activation. Minutes later, Doctor Daniel Jackson strode through the gate, welcomed them all warmly and then, as was his wont, in a blink of an eye he was off down the corridor towards the Archives room, Rodney breathlessly in tow.

Impatiently, they awaited some news from the two scientists. Every now and then, when someone walked past their door, the sound of rapid 'gun-fire' talking could be heard: the two of them using up more words in the space of a minute than Ronon probably used in a lifetime. Eventually, after a tense couple of days, they emerged, triumphant but concerned, and called a meeting with Atlantis' important people.

So, now, in the conference room, those people were set around the large mahogany table. John was leaning back, feigning calm and relaxation, a coffee as ever in one hand and a long leg tipped with a booted foot resting on the table. Next to him sat Cat, here in her capacity as ex-archivist and ancient gene holder. She was less calm. There were words on the box that worried her, some of which she'd worked out for herself since Daniel's arrival: past, present and future. She just hoped that they would have a clearer understanding of what they were facing in the next hour or so. Ronon and Teyla were also present: the top team always there for anything important to do with the safety and security of the city. He stood to the back of the small room, leaning against the wall, neither impatient nor expectant, at least on the surface. Teyla helped herself to a glass of water and nervously sat down on the other side of John.

The doors opened and the two doctors and Richard Woolsey appeared. It was clear from his face that he had still to be briefed on their findings. Certainly, the combined arrogance of Daniel Jackson and Rodney McKay would ensure that the circus that was to follow would be designed to enhance and show off the magnitude of their findings and the might of their combined and single intelligences and would, at times, be long-winded and combative. Cat felt John's arm tighten in irritation, a small twitch of his bicep which showed that the relaxed facade was just that.

Rodney fiddled with his laptop and the large hovering screen lit up with a blue flash and the briefest glimpse of his screensaver, a moving image from the original Batman series, complete with cartoon 'splat's and 'bang's, to be replaced by a large 3D image of the Ancient box, causing John to emit an amused snort which in turn made his friend glare in his direction. 'As you all know,' he began, pompously, 'Doctor Jackson and I,' here with a convivial sweep of his arm he introduced Daniel who glowered back, 'have been working tirelessly on decoding what this device is intended to do. So much so that I haven't really slept in two days and, as for eating, if I don't get a sit down meal soon my stomach is going to think it's cut off from my mouth let alone the danger of having a hypoglaecemic attack, which no-one,' here another and now pointed look at Daniel who raised his eyebrow to their audience as if to say "look what I have to put up with", 'seems to care about.' Rodney finished breathlessly and allowed silence to descend dramatically. John took a breath and was about to hurry him, no doubt with some snarky comment, but Rodney knew by now how long to pause before being berated or told off and continued.

'I have been working on what the object might actually be capable of. Doctor Jackson has translated the words and I, we, believe we have now solved the mystery of its purpose. So, without further ado, I pass you over to Doctor Daniel Jackson.' Here there was another dramatic and, no doubt well-practised in the mirror, sweep of the arm towards Daniel who let out an exasperated sigh.

'Thank you Doctor McKay for that full and helpful introduction.' Several anxious faces now looked in his direction. 'It took a while to translate the words correctly, although Doctor Sheppard was quite correct in that the word 'time' is a common factor on all six sides. It would seem that each represents a particular moment in time. In conjunction with the image it is possible to work out that there is one side that represents past time, one for the present and one for the future, but it was difficult to work out beyond that at first. It was only when I was able to translate this,' here he pointed at the screen which immediately enlarged one of the Latinate words,' which means 'change' and this,' pointing to another in the same way, ' which means 'alter' that it began to come together. And so, I was able to complete my translation literally. It made no real sense until I considered the difference in syntactical order and grammar of Ancient.' He stood back, as though expecting some kind of applause for his efforts and stopped talking.

Woolsey was the first to speak. 'And, what have you discovered, Doctor Jackson,' he said calmly, but through evidently gritted teeth. 'Doctor Jackson?' he prompted again.

'Oh yes, well, I think the best way is just to put up the translation.' Again he touched the screen and the Ancient magically metamorphosed into English.

In front of the small audience the box slowly spun, for each side of the cube a metallic and headless voice speaking the translation from somewhere inside the program.

Side one translation of Ancient into Earth English commences:

All the time of the past comes to the worthy

Side two translation of Ancient into Earth English commences:

And in our goodness we will receive future time with gratitude

Side three translation of Ancient into Earth English commences:

Now in our present time past and future will combine in magnificence

Side four translation of Ancient into Earth English commences:

And when past, present and future time combine by the grace of The Ancestors

Side five translation of Ancient into Earth English commences:

By the power given to the chosen ones and their inheritors

Side six translation of Ancient into Earth English commences:

All will alter and change to erase the sins of our children and children's children

A grim silence descended on the room, each trying to work out the ramifications of the message in front of them. Finally, Rodney spoke. 'This isn't, as Doctor Jackson has said, a word-for-word translation and it is possible that we have missed some of the nuances, but the gist is fairly clear I think. This device is supposed to change time, to alter it somehow. How far from the past or the future we can't say and we haven't been able to ascertain. It could be like the Omega 13, you know from Galaxy Quest, the device that turns back time by a few seconds?' Again he glanced at John, possibly the only other person in the room who understood his reference, though the snort from Ronon suggested that John had once again been introducing his friend to what he considered to be a 'classic'. 'That would make perfect sense as a weapon, which much of this Ancient technology seems to be designed for and would be a really good weapon if it works. I say 'if it works' because, as we know, The Ancients had something of a tendency to make mistakes and this one was buried in our vaults. We don't even know where it came from. But what is fairly clear is that it is somehow powered by The Ancient gene, or more especially that of 'the chosen one.' Here Rodney paused and looked anxiously towards John and Cat, seeing from the horrified looks in their faces that they knew exactly what he meant.

John felt Cat's hand move to his under the table and he squeezed it gently. 'You mean, Mona?'

'I think we have to assume that, Colonel,' grimaced Rodney. Since the little girl had been born, and even before, there had been something different, unusual, about her and her abduction a few years ago had confirmed that someone, somewhere, thought she could be quite useful. 'What we don't know is if the device needs to be powered by direct contact or remotely. It is odd that The Genii chose to steal it and not take Mona with them. That suggests either it can be powered from a distance or that they may come back for her. Either way, we need a plan.'

This was said in an 'over-to-you' tone of voice and all eyes turned to their military commander. The deep frown furrowing his eyebrow was evidence of his unease but he kept his eyes lowered. Cat knew why. She understood the worry and the fear that was flashing through his expressive eyes, the emotions that he didn't often let others see. Just as she understood that he would take his time, would come up with some sort of plan, would not let his daughter be taken again if he could help it. Underneath the table, their grasp strengthened in mutual support and understanding, unseen by the others around the table. Anyone who didn't know them would think them uncaring or unconcerned, but those closest, those in this room, knew better and also knew to leave the Colonel to methodically decide on a strategy. Even Richard Woolsey, who once upon a time would have pushed for a response, stayed silent.

After a few long minutes, he released his hold on her hand and looked up. 'Tell me, McKay? In your opinion if, and I say if, the device is triggered remotely, do you think that it is just Mona who has that capability and is this a case of a gradual build up of power or a one-shot?'

Rodney bit back a snarky comment: something about how in the Pegasus Galaxy should he know. He was, after all, being given the respect and trust from a long-time friend and colleague who valued his opinion. 'In my opinion? I believe that the fact that they took the device and not Mona implies that it is the gradual build option, like an energy pack being filled. And, that is very worrying. Do you remember how important those women thought Cat was? And, I do know though you never talk about It could be that every time you individually, or more powerfully together, experience one of your 'moments' that you fuel the device. What I can't say is how long it will take to fill the tank, so to speak.'

John frowned at no-one in particular and Richard Woolsey coughed awkwardly. 'Well, Colonel, it would seem that you and your family need to avoid getting into any dangerous or, ahem, exciting situations until we can find and destroy the device. We can't risk setting it off before we find it.'

Cat left the conference room with a deep sense of unease, determined to see her daughter as soon as possible, not really sure why other than the need for some kind of reassurance and comfort. Neither she nor John had ever fully told anyone what it felt like when the three of them combined but it now began to make sense: that the power they were able to channel to help each other was also afterwards in some way sucked from them; yes that was how it felt exactly. John and his team were left behind to formulate plans, come up with strategies, and she envied them that: it would occupy him especially and keep his mind off more personal worries.

Mona was old enough now to join Atlantis' little school. Most of the pupils, numbering about a dozen now, were about her age, Torren being the oldest. She was already proving to be very clever indeed, able to work out mathematical problems in a nanosecond and irritatingly good at creative writing and painting too. Unfortunately, her fiery personality meant that she had frequent clashes with the teacher, a certain Ms Rodriguez brought in from Earth especially. Once Stargate Command had grasped the direction Atlantis was moving, away from just a base and towards a settlement, they had immediately employed her. She was an old-fashioned lady, rather terrifying in her efficiency, but still no match for Mona with whom she frequently clashed and came out worse. In fact, Cat wondered whether the woman really had anything she could teach her child that Atlantis' database couldn't already. Torren, on the other hand, though quite astute, struggled more with reading and writing and as Cat arrived, his teacher was sitting with him helping him through a fairly simple geometrical puzzle.

'Ms Rodriguez?' asked Cat, concerned about the distinct absence of her daughter. 'Where's Mona?'

The little woman raised a tired eye. 'She finished her Maths for the day and wanted to go to the astrology lab. I thought that might keep her more occupied than I can do here.' This was concluded with a sigh and Cat wondered how long the poor woman would last here, the stress caused by Mona as a pupil clearly showing on her face and she simply thanked her with a smile and headed off towards the lab.

This was one of Mona's favourite places and Cat could clearly see why. Ancient screens glimmered bluely in all corners of the room lit up with stars and moons from across the galaxy, shimmering and fluttering with Ancient power. It had been built in the first hologram room found by them and in the middle stood the pedestal where the Ancient woman had told of The Wraith and her people's defeat. Rodney and his team had modified the systems so that a gene carrier could stand on it and watch the stars shimmer above them and around them at a thought. It was even possible to look at skies from different known galaxies from all different planetary perspectives. Mona was standing there now, a glittering array of stars shining around her and a beatific smile of pure pleasure on her face. With a thought, she shifted her perspective to a different place and the stars shifted and moved. Blues, greens and reds sparkled some sending out little shards of light towards the floor like phantom bolts of lightning. She was oblivious to everything else and Cat just stood back and watched, unwilling to disturb her or, to be honest, a rare moment of peace and calm in the little girl's life.

Suddenly Cat had a thought. 'Oh my God, I must see Rodney,' and rushed from the room.

The group were still huddled around the end of Woolsey's ridiculously large mahogany table when Cat rushed in and John looked up startled.

'What's up? ' he questioned, leaping up and taking her shoulders with his hands. 'What's the matter?'

Breathlessly Cat explained what she'd just seen. As she did, she could see growing realisation appear on John and Rodney's faces almost simultaneously. After years of working together, they were able to almost second guess each other and were probably the most effective 'team' in the Stargate program. Rodney's scientific and quick brain and John's natural problem solving intelligence had combined to an almost telepathic degree. To one side, Daniel Jackson looked on with amusement. The Rodney McKay he'd first met all those years ago was certainly a different man to the one he saw before him. Mind you, Daniel wasn't unused to strange friendships himself and it was rather wistfully that he saw the communication between the two.

It was Rodney who spoke first. 'So, if 'we can somehow 'tune-in' to the device via the Galaxy Program, for that's what he'd called his little adaptation to the holographic room, 'then we might just be able to track it.'

'Yes, but,' replied John, or was it continued, Cat was never sure,' we would need to activate the device in order to see it, wouldn't we? And that won't be easy given that we've never tried to work together in normal circumstances, if you see what I mean.'

'Yes, and we don't want to create a drama for you three to cope with to do this. It might be dangerous too, given that we don't know how much power is needed to activate it. We could risk doing the very thing we're trying to stop and then seeing where it is won't be much help.' Rodney paused for breath, a worried and triumphant look on his face causing a rather peculiar and manic expression.

There was a moment's pause as the others took in what had been said. Dawning understanding spread across Ronon's features and Richard Woolsey nodded his head and stood up. 'Well then, I don't see that we have much choice.'

All eyes turned to Rodney. He paused for a dramatic moment, then said, 'Okay, okay, I get it. And before you ask, I think I can do the modifications in a few hours with help.' He turned pointedly to Daniel who raised an eyebrow in mock surprise that his experience should be needed by his arrogant competitor. 'Doctor Jackson?' Daniel smiled and nodded his head and the two set off, the larger man running ahead with Rodney panting behind, desperate to keep up.

'Well then,' said Woolsey grimly. 'Tomorrow it is.'

That night, in bed, after Mona had happily settled into an earlier than usual sleep, dreams of stars and moons no doubt easing the way, John took Cat in his arms and held her tightly, as though afraid that she might disappear if he didn't. For a long time they lay there, her head resting against his chest, listening to and feeling the gentle rise and fall but aware too that he wasn't asleep, their naked bodies pressed firmly together, moulding familiarly almost as one. Each knew that this was a period of great danger; that things might change forever once they did what needed to be done. They were mutually afraid and this was the best way they had to comfort each other. As she lay there, Cat reflected on their years together: that first look at the bottom of the gate room stairs that sealed their future; their ups and downs, the arguments and the makings up, losing and finding each other more times than was right, their wedding, Mona and all those wonderful moments on the East Pier. They had, indeed, rescued each other from an emotional vacuum. Lying here, next to him, feeling him so physically with her, she began to cry, not for sadness she didn't think, but for what they might have missed had they not begun this wonderful journey together. Aware of the gentle shaking, he leaned back a little and raised her chin to look at her. Words weren't necessary as she saw matching tears forming in his eyes and then he kissed the wetness away and leant forward to kiss her lips. A kiss which became deeper and more demanding as they both took comfort in each other's body.

Waking slowly the next morning, Cat reached out an arm to find an empty but still warm bed and sat up, wrapping the covers around her in an attempt to keep out the early morning chill. Neither of them liked to sleep in the tepidity that Rodney preferred, needing the homely comfort of a cool room. John was attempting to dress silently and failing as a running shoe dropped to the floor. He cursed under his breath, bent to pick it up and caught her smiling reflection in the mirror.

'Sorry! Tried not to wake you.' He smiled back, pulled up his track suit bottoms a little more from the rather dangerous place they were hanging on his hips and walked over to the bed. 'Just off for a run. You alright?' he asked, then he crawled across the bed towards her and kissed her, peppering littler kisses across her neck and chest, causing her to giggle.

'Mmmm! I'm fine. But can't you stay here for a bit?' For a moment the look in his eyes said 'yes please' then he coughed and stood up. 'Sorry, sweetheart. Big day. Things to do. Ronon's expecting me. See you at breakfast?' She nodded and regretfully watching his bottom run from the room. Only when he'd left did she have a strange feeling so powerful that it caught her breath and she almost ran after him.

'Now what was that about?' she thought.

Cat had a long shower, putting off the moment of waking Mona who was sleeping more peacefully than usual. She had to talk to the little girl urgently. Today was the day when they would try to make the device show up on the screens and she had a really bad feeling about it. 'C'mon Cat!' she said out loud. 'Just get on with it.'

Mona was stirring as Cat entered the room, her starry night light still spinning on the table next to her, sending pale imitations of the images in the astrology lab flashing around the walls. A pair of knowing green eyes looked up at her mother who sat down gently on the edge of the bed and Cat knew she didn't have to say anything. Somehow Mona knew what needed to be done. So, she simply leant forward and gathered Mona into her arms. The little girl responded by hanging on tightly and they sat there silently for some time preparing themselves for the day ahead before they mutually decided to get on with basic practicalities and dressed to join John and their extended 'family' for breakfast.

The rest of the morning passed uneventfully but tediously and Cat wondered how long she'd be able to cope with the tension of waiting. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of empty space and no John, her radio buzzed and his familiar voice, calm to the outsider but etched with worry for those who knew him, told her that it was time to come to the lab. Rodney was ready. She gathered up Mona, smiled in as comforting a way as she could and the two of them strode in that 'Sheppard woman' way towards the old hologram room.

Inside was a veritable who's who of key personnel. The team of course, Teyla smiling encouragingly and putting her arm around Mona as they entered, Ronon leaning with huge casualness against the far wall and Rodney McKay making the last adjustments with Daniel and Radek Zelenka standing close by. Richard Woolsey was pacing nervously up and down the length of the room. Cat met John's eyes and he smiled in encouragement as she and Mona joined him in the centre. She took a moment to appreciate his handsome face, the hair more grey around the edges than she remembered noticing before, but still 'her' John, his hazel eyes expressing all the love he felt for her as they made contact with her blue ones.

Then, at a nod from Rodney, the three joined hands. At first, she felt nothing, and then a small tremor began to shiver through her fingertips, spreading up her arms before shimmering across her skin. Suddenly, she felt the familiar surge as they seemed to join as one, a warmth and a comfort rather than an invasion of person. She felt stronger than she'd ever felt. John's hand grasped hers more tightly as all the bonds of family were strengthened by the gene that flowed powerfully through them.

From a distance she heard a shout then hands pulling her away. She was aware of being thrown back against a hard surface and a voice screaming, 'No! No! No! This is not good.' Then everything went silent.

Nearly there...one more chapter of this story. I hope you liked it. Please R and R. You know I appreciate it.