A/N: Set after Enemy at the Gate.

Puzzles

"Colonel, we are approaching the system."

Sam set her data pad on the arm of the command chair and settled back. "Take us out of hyperspace." Her bones vibrated as the ship decelerated into normal space. "When we reach the planet, put us in a geosynchronous orbit over the beam down site."

"Yes, ma'am," the helmsman replied.

She took a sip of coffee and picked up the data pad, confident in her people's abilities to carry out her orders. Ferrying a stargate across the Pegasus Galaxy wasn't exactly the most exciting assignment, but it did give her crew the chance to gel in a relatively safe environment, and she got to catch up on her reading. She'd finished the SG-1 mission reports during the trip between galaxies, pleased to note that Captain Hailey was keeping Mitchell on his toes, and Richard had been kind enough to upload the Atlantis reports to the Hammond's Asgard core. Sam had downloaded the more colorful ones to her data pad.

"In orbit as ordered, Colonel."

"Thank you, Captain. Lieutenant, contact Doctor McKay, please."

Her comms officer nodded, already moving to comply. Moments later, he turned back to her. "I have Doctor McKay."

"On speaker, please."

Static hissed then McKay's voice filled the bridge. "…told you to not touch anything. Did you actually earn your PhD or did you just find an extra one on the copier? I-"

"Hello, Rodney," she called.

"Sam? It's about time you got here. Did you bring the gate and the DHD?"

"Damn. I knew I forgot something."

"Tell me that you're joking."

Sam grinned. "I'm totally joking. We actually stopped for pizza."

"Really?"

"Yes, but we ate it all already. Sorry."

"Figures. Well, I don't have all day. You have the coordinates?"

"Yes. Have the aftershocks stopped?"

"Would I be here if they hadn't?"

"Good point. Standby." Sam switched channels. "Cargo bay, are we ready for beam down?"

"Affirmative, Colonel."

"Then beam the gate and DHD to the specified coordinates."

"Yes, ma'am."

Sam toggled back to Rodney's channel. "McKay, we are commencing beam down."

"Copy," Rodney replied. "Gate and DHD are here."

"Have fun. Carter out."

The connection cut, and Sam stared out the viewport at the planet below, trying to imagine how the settlement had changed since she had last seen it. She turned back and caught the wide-eyed look of her comms officer.

"Something bothering you, Lieutenant."

"Is he always like that?"

"McKay? Actually, he's softened a lot in the past few years." Sam chuckled to herself, remembering their first encounter. "He…grows on you."

The lieutenant didn't look convinced as he turned back to his console. Sam picked up her coffee cup then set it back down, unable to shake the restlessness that had been growing inside her since they'd left Earth. Her crew might mutiny if she ran them through another battle simulation or training exercise. She needed a puzzle to solve, research to do, something to occupy her mind while they waited on McKay to get the gate working.

"Have you been here before, Colonel?" the helmsman asked.

"A couple of times. The Devikans are one of Atlantis's longest-standing trade partners. They grow a variety of produce, including a bean for a near-chocolate that's to die for."

"Did the quake destroy their crops?"

"I don't know. The rift swallowed their gate and about half the settlement, but I haven't heard about their fields." Sam drummed her fingers on her thigh, glancing between the viewport and her command chair. "I think I'll go find out. Inform Colonel Sheppard that I'm on my way."

She left the efficient bustle behind as she grabbed a radio and headed to the main transport area. Minutes later, she was standing in what used to be the center of town. The left side of the village was missing, not simply destroyed but completely gone. She grimaced when she peered over the edge of the gorge the quake had created. A landslide had buried everything that had fallen in; only the scraggly roots of a few trees poked through the tons of black soil. The right half of the village looked like piles of sticks scattered on top of square carpets of green. Toys, potted flowers, random articles of clothing, and shards of pottery were strewn in every direction.

"Colonel, good to have you planetside." John wiped a dirty hand over his face, smearing grime from his hairline to his cheek. "Such as it is."

"I haven't seen devastation like this in a while. Anything salvageable?"

John walked toward a circle of standard military tents where doctors weaved through dozens of cots. "Not really. I have a couple of teams going through the debris to recover what they can, but the village is a total loss."

Sam fell in step with him. "I'm glad we were still around when word of the lost contact reached Atlantis."

"Yeah, but they'd gone almost a week without any help before we got here." John's jaw tightened. "We're still pulling bodies out of the rubble, and we've got so many dead that we couldn't bury them all. Had to burn them."

She sucked in a breath. "How many?"

"Over a thousand." John scrubbed at his eyes. "That doesn't include the five thousand that are missing, swallowed up by the quake."

"God," Sam sighed. "And the rest want to stay?"

John nodded. "They think they can rebuild."

"You don't think so?"

"Actually, I do." He shook his head, a half-smile forming as he watched the villagers around him. "Never seen people as resilient as the ones in this galaxy."

"Sheppard, this is McKay."

John stopped and tapped his earpiece. "What's wrong, Rodney?"

"Wrong? Who said anything was wrong? You've got to come see this."

Sam hid a grin at Rodney's enthusiastic tone and John's long-suffering sigh.

"Are we in imminent danger?" John asked.

"Um, no."

"Are the Wraith coming?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Are you or anyone around you gushing blood?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

John pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can this wait?"

"Sure. I'll just sit here in the middle of all the Ancient technology until you can find time to-"

"Why didn't you say that in the first place?" John grinned at her as McKay spluttered in outrage. "We'll be right there. Sheppard out."

Sam laughed. "He's easy to wind up, isn't he?"

"Yep. Hours of entertainment right there." John headed in the direction of the gate.

"What Ancient tech?"

"No idea. We haven't spotted any before now."

"Maybe it was uncovered by the quake," Sam mused.

"Then it would be the only good thing to come of it." John paused when a young sergeant jogged toward them. "What is it, Brukowski?"

"Major Teldy needs you, sir. Seems there's a disagreement between two of the elders about crop ownership."

"Tell her I'll be right there." John blew out a breath as he stared up at the sky. "Don't suppose you brought Teyla with you."

Sam shook her head. "Sorry."

"Do you want to talk with-"

"Oh, no. They are all yours. I think I'll go see what McKay has found."

"Tell him not to blow up anything." John trudged back toward the tent city then turned. "Follow that path over the next ridge. Gate's over there."

"Why so far?"

"Give the people a chance to hide if the Wraith come."

"Right." Sam waved at him then hiked her way over the hill. When she reached the bottom, she spotted tracks amid the freshly churned dirt from the quake. Trees had been snapped in half and boulders the size of jumpers had shifted enough to reveal the outline of a door in the hillside that slid open when she drew near. She stepped in, squinting while her eyes adjusted to the darkness. "Rodney?"

"Sam?" a muffled voice called. The beam from a high-powered flashlight danced then Rodney's dusty face peeked over a console. "What are you doing here? Where's Sheppard?"

"There was an issue with the elders." Sam peered down at Rodney over the row of consoles that split the room. "I thought I'd keep you company until he could get away. Aren't you supposed to be setting up the gate?"

"Please," Rodney snorted. "I've already done the majority of the programming. Radek and the other minions-"

"Minions?"

"-are doing the testing. This is much more interesting."

"What have you found?"

Rodney crawled back under the panel he was working on. "I don't know yet. I'm still trying to get the power on." He clipped connectors from his tablet to various crystals in the array. "The power source registers on my scanner, somewhere back there." He gestured toward a rear door.

"Several of the crystals are burned out."

"Yes, yes, I noticed that. A few are cracked, too. That's why I'm testing them."

Recognizing that Rodney was working on the main control panel, Sam opened the crystal array on the next console and pulled out the intact ones. "We didn't get much of a chance to talk on the trip here from Atlantis. Are you glad to be back in Pegasus?"

"Yeah," he murmured. "It's good to be home."

She still marveled at this Rodney McKay – the one who would think of another galaxy as home, the one whose face softened when he talked about his team, the one who wouldn't leave you behind even if your leg was broken and his hands were shredded.

"Though we had some severely pissed off allies when we got back," he continued. "We're supposed to be the military arm of the Coalition, but it seems we forgot to mention that we were leaving town for a couple of months." His hands stilled, and his chin dropped. "The Wraith had a field day while we were on Earth."

"I heard. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well," Rodney lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug, "it hasn't been our best year. To be honest, we've never really had a good year. But this one…" He scrubbed his hands over his face. "I guess Daniel told you about the Attero device. We went to all the worlds where I blew up-- where a stargate exploded, but there was nothing left. No people, no homes. Nothing. It's where we got the idea for reseeding the gates we used for Midway, but the worlds are uninhabitable."

"Not your fault, McKay. And don't," she held up a finger, "argue with me. I've already had this conversation with Daniel. I've read the reports. You couldn't have known-"

"I knew, Sam," he said quietly. "I knew Janus shut it down for a reason, and I turned it on anyway."

"To save Daniel's life."

"And mine. Do you know how many people died as a result?" He looked up at her, his eyes filled with guilt. "Do you?"

Sam shook her head. She hadn't wanted to know.

"Thirty-six worlds. Over two million people. And that's the ones we know of. We still hear occasionally from our trading partners about a planet they can't contact. When Halling called about this one…"

She squeezed his arm gently. "Can't blame yourself for this one."

"No kidding. Engulfed by a massive quake." He blinked a few times then turned his attention back to his tablet. "Now, if I could just-" His head popped up when the dim illumination that lined the room came on and the consoles whirred to life. "Hello."

Sam hurried around the bank of panels, the rush of a new find coursing through her. Lines of data in Ancient scrolled by too fast for her to follow on the main display while other monitors continued to boot up. She glanced at Rodney whose pinched expression was slowly morphing into a smile while his fingers blurred over the keyboard.

"Are you getting all this?" she asked.

"Every. Last. Word." He accentuated each word with a jab to a key, and the feed on his tablet flipped from Ancient to English. "Much better."

While Rodney busied himself with checking the main controls, Sam wandered around the room, wiping layers of dust from various displays. She caught a word here and there and was almost back to where she started when the niggling in the back of her mind solidified into a conscious thought. Some of the displays were duplicates. She frowned, backed up, and retraced her steps. Two consoles dealt with population, another two with climate, and yet another two with technology. A few were still powering up, but she suspected she'd find more duplicates when they went live since each set were back to back.

She moved to the population console and studied the readings. One word flashed repeatedly, and she finally dredged it from her mind: Updating. The rest of the data seemed to deal with age and health statistics, and after several minutes she decided it was looping – gathering information on the same set of records. People, she guessed, a few thousand. She walked around to the adjacent population console, gaping as the data stream flew by. It was also updating, but its set of records was much bigger, not repeating after ten minutes of careful scrutiny.

"McKay, I think this might have been some type of research facility."

Rodney glanced up, dabbing at his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand. "Yeah. I found some mission logs. The translation is still running, but it appears the Ancients were studying the sociological and technological impact of having a stargate."

"Really." Sam rounded the bank of consoles and peered over Rodney's shoulder, tingling with excitement as her brain latched onto the puzzle. "So they were monitoring this world, watching how using the stargate affected the people." Her gaze wondered over the panels in front of them. "I think these read-outs tell that story."

"Hmmm…" Rodney stood and dusted off his trousers, his eyes flicking from one display to the next. "I think you're right. But what were they comparing it to? I mean, there has to be a control subject. We've seen a few worlds with space gates, but the Ancients were manipulating their development."

"I don't know, but I think these consoles," she waved at the adjacent row, "contain their data."

Rodney scurried around to the other side. "Have you seen this – the population totals, the technology levels, the different pollutants in the atmosphere? This world would be more advanced than Earth." His eyes lost focus. "Elizabeth said there were technologically advanced planets in this galaxy, but we haven't been able to locate any." A sour expression twisted his features. "Except for the damn Asgard."

"Have you found any information on where this world is located or is this just a simulation?" Sam asked, hoping to drag Rodney away from the memories.

He blinked at her then shook himself. "Oh, um…" He typed a couple of commands in his data pad. "Not a simulation. The data is downloading." His eyes narrowed in thought. "The worlds the Ancients were manipulating used a series of satellites in orbit to upload and download information."

"There are no satellites around this planet."

"No, but this facility is here. The sensors are sensitive enough to monitor the entire planet. I'm sure it was cloaked so the population was unaware of being studied."

"So you think satellites on the other world were transmitting-"

A loud hum from the rear reverberated through the room. Sam and Rodney exchanged curious glances and turned as one toward the sound. When they neared the door, she heard a voice speaking, but it was echoing so badly she couldn't make out the words. She arched a brow at Rodney, and he shrugged. While he worked on opening the door, she wandered back through the consoles. The main console for the unknown world was flashing a warning.

"McKay, I've got something here."

"What?" Rodney looked back at her. "I can't hear you over that racket."

Sam moved forward a few steps. "The read-out over there says something about a sequence being interrupted."

"What sequence? Oh!" The door slid open and he stepped in to a large, empty room with a single console in the corner.

"I don't know. I-" Sam frowned, trying to decipher the announcement blaring, the voice now clear since Rodney had opened the door. Sequence…reaquire…fifteen… Sequence stopped – no, interrupted. Sequence interrupted. Reaquire…ten…

"McKay!" She took a step forward. "Rodney!"

He glanced up from the console. "What?"

"I think we need-"

A bright light flashed.

"-to get out… Uh oh."

They were standing in the same room, only different. Sunrays peeked through gaps in the ceiling, illuminating an otherwise darkened area. Dead leaves blanketed the floor and vines looped around the crumbling remains of the back wall. The air was thick with humidity and the scent of damp vegetation.

"Oh, God." Rodney's face was bone white as he stared at the dead console. "Please, not again." He dropped to his knees and ripped open the array. "This is so not good."

"What do you mean, 'again'?"

Blackened shards of crystals shattered against the wall. "Last time something like this happened, we were trapped on the Daedalus as it moved between realities." He pulled out another crystal and tossed it over his shoulder. "My team, one from another reality, was on there, dead." He closed his eyes and swallowed thickly. "All four of us… them. We – my actual team – barely got off alive." His eyes grew wide as his hands stilled. "No, this is different. The lab didn't move. It changed. We moved through time, didn't we? Oh, damn. And we're the only two with any hope of fixing this." His breath came in quick gasps. "We are so screwed."

"Relax, McKay. I don't think we moved through time." She walked to a sunny spot and glanced up through the hole in the ceiling. "Yep, just like I thought. Different planet."

He rounded the console and stood next to her, following her gaze. "Are you sure?"

She pointed. "Twin suns. Can you see the second one in the distance?"

Rodney squinted then nodded. "Yeah." He tilted his head, his nose wrinkling as he studied her. "How'd you know?"

"That's what happened the last time I was in an Ancient lab. Well, except for the ones on Atlantis."

"You mean Merlin's labs? I read about that, but I thought they were tied into the gate."

"They were." Sam headed back to this lab's main control room. "This isn't quite the same scenario. Merlin was trying to hide his research by constantly moving." She kicked through the brittle leaves toward the dead control panels. "These scientists were going back and forth between two specific worlds. Assuming we're on the control subject world."

"Long range transporter? I wonder how far…" He moaned and muttered something that had to be a curse that sounded vaguely Satedan.

"What else is wrong?"

Rodney heaved a sigh. "My tablet and backpack are still on Devika."

"Well, that sucks."

"Yes," he snapped, "yes, it does. We don't know where we are or how to get back and the only tools that could help us do that aren't here."

"McKay, take a breath," Sam said in her best command tone. "You're so fond of reminding everyone that you're a genius. Act like it."

Rodney's face flushed scarlet, but his breathing slowed and his eyes speared her with a death glare. Good, at least he was focusing.

He stomped over to the power console and pulled open the access panel. "Great. This is completely fried."

"Are you sure?" Sam asked, moving around to peer over his shoulder. "Maybe… Oh, yeah. That's never going to work again."

The inside was a blackened mass of melted circuits and charred crystals.

Rodney rubbed his eyes then stared at the room they'd been in. "The problem isn't power or this place wouldn't have been able to transmit data or materialize us."

Sam nodded, following his train of thought. "This panel overloaded when the system came on and suddenly had to deal with us."

"Exactly. Between the exposure to the elements and the damn humidity," he paused to wipe his brow, "it's a miracle it managed to do that." He stood, snapping his fingers as he paced in a tight circle. "This planet is supposed to be technologically advanced, right?"

"Yeah, but nothing's going to... Ahhhh. They might have a way to contact Atlantis." She grinned. "Let's go for a walk."

After a bit of searching – and a lot of cursing while they tried to pry it open – they found the manual release for the entrance. The doors screeched apart, and Sam gasped as a wave of heat blasted through the opening. She dabbed at the sweat that popped out along her hairline and stepped out into a pristine rainforest. Trees towered above her, their limbs heavy with fruit and chattering wildlife. Vines choked the space between trunks and dangled over thick underbrush dotted with fragrant flowers in a riot of colors.

"Where's Ronon and that sword of his when you need him?" Rodney grumped as he pulled his scanner from a vest pocket. "Oh, wow." He tilted it so she could see the screen. "I've never seen energy readings like this anywhere but Atlantis. Not a ZPM, signature's wrong, but something more powerful than our naquadah generators."

"Really." Sam took the scanner and studied the wave pattern. "I don't recognize the signature, either." She adjusted the settings to capture atmospheric contents. "But whatever it is, it's more efficient than anything we have on Earth. Levels of toxicity are minimal, no radioactivity to speak of." She flipped back to the original settings. "It's all around us."

"Yes, I noticed that." Rodney took the scanner from her, fine-tuning as he turned around. "It seems to be strongest…this way." He waved vaguely to the left.

They pushed and kicked and tripped their way through the jungle for over an hour toward the energy readings. Sam hadn't been in the field for months, and despite the buzzing insects, the lack of water, the ungodly humidity, and the non-stop ranting of one Rodney McKay, she found herself grinning from ear to ear.

"What?" Rodney demanded.

"What?" Sam echoed back.

"You're smiling. Why?"

"I'm having fun."

His eyes narrowed. "I don't get it."

"Get what, McKay?"

"The joke. There has to be a punch line in there somewhere," he bent over to catch his breath,
"but I don't get it."

She patted him on the back then pushed a giant frond out of their way. "No joke. I haven't been off-world like this in a while. I miss it." She pulled him away from the hissing critter curled around an overhead branch. "Don't get me wrong – I love my job. Commanding the Hammond is incredible and a natural progression for me, but I spent a lot of years in places like this," she gestured around them, "and I miss the excitement. Wouldn't you, if you couldn't go off-world anymore?"

Rodney looped a vine around his arm to pull himself up the steepening terrain. "My team? Yes." He slipped, clawing at the ground until his feet hit a tree root and he scrambled back up. "Hiking in a hotter than hell rainforest with no supplies? Not a chance."

"Liar," Sam snorted. "You'd…" She trailed off as they crested the hill. "Oh, my."

A massive city sprawled before them. Spires that rivaled Atlantis rose in the distance, but the closer buildings were as impressive: architectural wonders of glass and gleaming metal that reached toward the sky and a plethora of smaller structures that were equally stylistic. Instead of a concrete carpet like most cities she'd seen – both on Earth and elsewhere – this one was filled with trees, flowers, and grass. Streets lined the perimeter while an elevated transit system connected the larger buildings. The sidewalks bustled with people, thousands of them everywhere she looked.

"My God," Rodney breathed. "I didn't think places like this actually existed in Pegasus."

"How have the Wraith not found this world?" Sam asked.

"Probably sheer luck," Rodney pulled up the hem of his shirt to wipe his face, "though they'd have to be looking in the right spot to know all this is here. Without the gate system to point the way, they'd have to stop nearby and detect the life signs or energy output. It's a big galaxy." He shrugged. "The goa'uld didn't find Earth until we opened the gate."

"Good point." She grinned at him. "Let's go say hello."

After a few minutes of slipping down the hillside, Sam spotted a footpath through the trees that eventually led to the outer road. Tasteful landscaping bordered and separated the two lanes that ran in each direction. Vehicles that resembled round, opaque Smart cars zoomed by at a steady speed.

"I really want one of those," Rodney whispered.

"You have jumpers."

"Sheppard won't let me fly them from building to building. These are small enough to drive down the hall."

Sam laughed and shook her head. "You are very sad."

Rodney rolled his eyes. "That's the best comeback you've got? You are out of practice."

"I know," Sam said. "The price you pay for being in charge."

"Speak for yourself." He stopped and stared at the traffic. "You think they'd understand thumbing a ride?"

"I'm not sure they know we're here."

"Because you can't see in the windows?"

"No, because no one is speeding." Sam lifted the braid off her neck and sighed as a slight breeze stirred. "Makes me wonder who's controlling the vehicles."

Rodney pulled out his scanner. "They don't register."

"Or they are powered by whatever is powering the city." Sam looked over his shoulder. "Does the energy signature wrap around the jungle?"

"I think so. Though why anyone would put a jungle in the middle of a city is beyond me."

"Reminds me of Central Park in New York – a sprawl of green in the middle of all the concrete."

Rodney snorted. "Except without all the smog."

"The only advanced worlds I've seen with air this clean were the Tollans and the Nox," Sam said. "I always wondered how they did it."

While she and Rodney walked toward the nearest group of buildings, they tossed around various ideas on vehicle propulsion and the intricacies of auto-pilot on roads. When the street turned away from the city center, they trekked through a park filled with laughing children chasing each other. Rodney stopped, a bemused expression on his face.

"What is it?" Sam asked.

"Nothing." His cheeks reddened and he hurried toward the sidewalk that would take them farther in. "It's just…we don't see that a lot here. I mean, kids are kids, I guess. Smelly and dirty."

"Rodney."

"Well, they are. Mostly. Anyway, the ones in Pegasus play but not with such, I don't know… abandon. The ones I've met usually have one eye on the sky the whole time. It's kind of depressing."

Sam understood. She'd noticed the same thing in the Milky Way when she'd first started going through the gate. One of the highlights of her work had been watching the children of many different worlds run carefree after so many years of oppression. She hoped Rodney would have that opportunity in Pegasus one day.

As they made their way toward the heavier populated areas, the sidewalks grew busier. People flowed around them in a wide range of dress – simple tunics of beige, vibrant shirts over matching trousers, swirling pastel dresses, work clothes and play clothes and severely cut business clothes – speaking in a language she had never heard before, barely giving them a second glance. Sam listened closer and was surprised to discover they were not all speaking the same language, but several different tongues.

"Do you recognize anything they are saying?" she asked Rodney.

His head tilted and his eyes lost focus. "No. Languages are more Teyla's area, but I know it isn't Ancient, Satedan, or Athosian."

She tried to concentrate on the conversations, but the scenery stole her attention. The elevated train whispered by overhead. Small teleport pads moved riders from ground level to train level instantly. With the touch of a finger, pedestrians guided hovering totes filled with their belongings, and several folks had a device that clipped over one eye, like a combo cell phone/video conference monitor.

"I'm in geek heaven," she murmured.

"No kidding. What do you-" Rodney sucked in a breath. "It's our lucky day."

He grabbed her wrist and dragged her across the street. She tugged but couldn't pull free from his grip; she always forgot that he was stronger than he looked. Prepared to break his arm, or at least sprain it a little, she reached for him then noticed where they were headed. One of the transport vehicles was parked on a side street, open, with puffs of steam escaping from its front.

A man and a woman were having a heated discussion off to the side. Rodney shot Sam a grin then casually walked by and peered inside. Sam followed. Most of the displays were dark, but a few glowed a soft green with blue squiggles that she assumed were symbols or words.

"I'd love to see this powered up," Rodney whispered. "I bet the window is some kind of viewscreen."

"Let's see what's under the hood."

They moved to the front and leaned over the raised cover. Rodney glanced around then pointed his scanner at the mass of circuits and clear tubing. The steam was coming from a crack in one of the lines, and an iridescent liquid dripped from it to the ground.

"Anything?" Sam asked.

He adjusted the parameters and tried again. "I'm getting some kind of faint, wireless signal, and that liquid is ionized. Now, if I had a way to test it." He slapped at his vest pockets. "To see what it's made of."

When the woman took a break from berating the man and glanced their way, Sam offered a weak smile and pulled Rodney away. He grumbled but followed her lead down the street and around the corner. Halfway down the block was a construction site. Dust wafted toward them as a large version of the hover tote deposited several pallets of metal beams around the lot. Mechanical constructs placed the beams while a few human workers applied a thick electric blue gel that hardened, holding the struts in place.

"What do you think they're building?" Rodney asked.

"I have no idea, but I really want some of that gel. Do you know how much faster we could construct new 304s?"

"If it's space worthy," Rodney replied.

Sam scrunched her face. "You don't think people this advanced have developed space flight?"

He shrugged. "It's possible, but don't forget the power the Ancients had over the people of this galaxy. They may have left some kind of instructions, making space travel taboo."

"You think they'd do that?"

"Hell, yes. I've seen several cultures with ridiculous practices based on their interpretation of 'Ancestor guidelines'." He shook his head. "The Ancients are a hard group to figure out. They had the foresight and ability to create stargates yet they also managed to create the Wraith and the Replicators. Then they skipped town when things got rough, leaving the humans here, alone." His face darkened. "Cowards."

She nudged his shoulder. "You big softie."

"I am not." He sounded insulted and pleased at the same time. "I'm tired of cleaning up their mess. That's all."

She leaned close. "I don't believe you."

The flush at his neck climbed to his ears. "Fine. Don't. What makes you think I care-"

Shouting interrupted him. When they turned, they found a tall man with heavily muscled arms waving and yelling at them. Unable to understand what he was saying, Sam smiled politely and held up both hands as she walked in the direction they'd come from, Rodney at her side. Instead of being appeased, the man seemed to get angrier, his shouts and gestures harsher.

"What is this guy's problem?" Sam asked, glancing at Rodney.

"I have no idea, but-" Rodney's eyes grew wide and he yelled inarticulately as he launched himself at her, knocking her to the ground and landing on top of her.

An explosion rocked the area, and everything went black and silent.

xxx

She gasped as the world roared around her and dirt and silt rained down. Her ears rang painfully. Acrid smoke filled her nostrils and stung her eyes, making them water. Her left hand was pinned under her, the right flung wide. She couldn't breathe. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't draw in enough air. Something heavy was pressing on her chest. She wiped her eyes and raised her head.

Rodney was lying on top of her.

Sam dropped her head back. "McKay, get off. I can't breathe."

He didn't move.

"Rodney?"

She shoved at his shoulder, but he still didn't move. She shoved harder and her hand slipped, landing in something warm and sticky on his back.

"Oh, God, McKay." Sam wriggled in earnest, ignoring the gouging pain in the hand underneath her, finally getting enough of her upper body clear to sit up. "Oh, Rodney."

Several slivers of metal were embedded in his back, the biggest lodged in his left side below his shoulder blade. Blood, dark and thick, was pooling under him. Sam screamed for help, twisting until her shoulder popped and her hand was free. She scrambled to Rodney's side, trailing her fingers over the exposed part of his neck. Nothing broken that she could feel, but that didn't mean much. His vest had caught most of the shrapnel; his injuries seemed confined to the jagged shard protruding from his side.

"Help me!" she screamed again. "Please!"

People converged from everywhere, touching and pulling and babbling in languages she didn't understand. Sam shoved the panic away and tried to focus. The men and women nearest her were dressed in blue uniforms with various devices hanging from their necks and pockets. Please be medical personnel, she prayed. One of them turned to her, asking questions that she ignored. He poked and prodded then dabbed something cool on her face and hand. She looked down, surprised to see him washing blood from a deep cut near her thumb. The liquid he was using smelled like antiseptic but didn't sting. She wanted to take a bath in it later.

She left him to finish, turning her attention back to Rodney. The people helping him had wrapped something around the shrapnel to secure it and were gingerly loading him facedown onto a hovering gurney. Bags of liquids dangled from a pole near his head, their contents running through a tangle of wires into his arms.

When they moved toward a large transport, Sam dashed after them. "Wait! I'm coming with him." She pushed through workers to Rodney's side and grasped his hand. Someone tried to pull her away, but she jerked out of their grip. "I'm not leaving him."

The transport opened and she scrambled inside when they pushed the gurney in and latched it to the sides. A woman sat on Rodney's left, attaching something to his forehead and then to some type of diagnostic equipment.

Sam sat on his right, still holding his hand. "Hang on, Rodney. You're going to be fine. These people are going to take good care of you, and I'll be with you the whole time."

The woman glanced up, smiling uncertainly. "Mapre zhul gowriot?"

"I'm sorry," Sam said. "I don't understand."

"Niby?" The woman frowned. "Liisshel ut mo?"

Sam shook her head, swallowing hard. How was she going to tell them what they needed to know about Rodney, his allergies, his medical history? Charades wouldn't explain hypoglycemia. She massaged a temple and took a deep breath. There had to be a way. She knew more about Rodney than anyone except maybe his team and his sister, and she had to make these people understand.

"Daniel, where are you when I need you?"

She had to assume they were racing through the city since she couldn't see outside and the transport had better inertial dampeners than the Hammond. Machines beeped around her, and the woman glanced her way occasionally but didn't try to communicate again.

Suddenly the back hatch flew open and workers hopped inside, unlatching the gurney and hurrying away. Sam jogged alongside them into a large building with the universal sterile scent of a hospital. They strode down a corridor then took a quick left. Her hand was ripped from Rodney's as he was whisked away behind closed doors.

Cut off, she slammed a fist against the doors and yelled then paced the length of the hallway and back, ten steps each way. A couple of people gawked as they passed, and she glanced down to find her right pants leg soaked in blood. Rodney's blood.

She slumped on a long green bench, cradling her spinning head in her hands. "Get it together, Carter. You've been in tougher spots than this."

And she had, many times, but usually with a teammate or four covering her back. Helpless was not something she did well, something she tried to never do at all. Most of the time when the outcome looked bleak, she had a task to focus on, a crisis to fix before the universe imploded. Now, all she could do was sit in an alien hospital and hope the people she couldn't communicate with weren't accidentally killing her friend.

When had Rodney McKay become her friend? Somehow, over time, he had moved from annoying fellow scientist to subordinate and had now landed solidly in the dependable friend category. Commanding Atlantis had been one eye-opening experience after another, not the least of which had been seeing the real Rodney, the one lurking underneath the prickles and barbed comments and occasional leers. Being on a team had changed him; this was definitely not the man who had written Teal'c off as dead so many years ago. Being in command had changed her as well. Standing alone at the top gave her a different perspective on just about everything, including the people around her; it had forced her to take the time to see what lay beneath the surface.

Voices pulled her from her musings. Two women dressed in what seemed to be the standard uniform of the medical personnel – navy blue short-sleeved tunic over matching pants and sturdy black shoes – walked out of the doors where they'd taken Rodney.

Sam leapt to her feet. "Excuse me." She waved a hand and smiled. "I know you don't understand what I'm saying, but they took my friend in there. I'd like to be with him."

They looked blankly at her and whispered to each other.

"My friend. He's a little taller than me," she held her hand over her head, "and has broad shoulders and something stuck in his back." She gestured toward her side where the shrapnel had been then pointed at the blood on her pants. "Where is he?"

One woman's eyes widened when she saw the blood and she hurried to Sam's side, pushing her gently on the bench and probing her leg.

"No, it's not mine." Sam pulled the woman's hands away. "My friend," she emphasized Rodney's height and shoulders again, "was hurt. He has short, dark hair," she pointed to hers then at the woman's brown curls, "like yours."

The woman exchanged glances with her co-worker then touched Sam's arm gently and held up a placating hand. She pushed Sam's hair back and ran her finger behind Sam's right ear then pulled back, her eyes wide with surprise.

Sam unplugged her earpiece from her radio and took it off her left ear. "Are you looking for this?"

The woman took it, brow furrowed, and turned it over in her hands then placed it near her ear and spoke at her friend. The other woman said something in reply. The first woman shook her head and handed the earpiece back to Sam then chattered with her co-worker who scurried away. She kept her hand on Sam's arm and smiled. After a few awkward moments, the other woman returned with a device similar to a large hearing aid. She placed it in and around Sam's right ear then pressed on it lightly.

Sam heard rather than felt a small charge zip through the device. The woman studied it for a second then sat back with a satisfied smile and spoke. When Sam didn't respond, she checked the device again and said something to her co-worker. The other woman looked at it and shrugged, responding rapidly in a language that sounded completely different than the first woman's, like someone speaking Chinese to a person who answers back in German.

The first woman waved her hand in front of her mouth. Sam raised her brows then shrugged.

"Hi. My name is Samantha Carter. I'm from a planet called Earth in the Milky Way galaxy."

The two women stared at her then each other. The first one patted Sam's hand and gestured for her to continue. So, Sam started to talk, glad to have something to occupy her mind at least. She told them about growing up as an Air Force brat, joining the stargate program, being on a team with three men who couldn't be more opposite, about her dad becoming a Tok'ra, about fighting the goa'uld and the Replicators, about flying 302s and designing 304s. She was in the middle of telling them about Daniel dying for the third time when suddenly their eyes went wide.

The first woman smiled, babbling a mile a minute. "Outrak ehsih adip ekjas copi. Pres never met anyone who spoke an unprogrammed language."

Sam gasped when the device in her ear suddenly rendered the words in English. "I can understand you!"

"Of course you can. What happened to your translator?"

Sam blinked back tears, overwhelming relief robbing her of her words long enough for her brain to kick into gear. She came from a world that didn't know the existence of the stargate or of people from other planets. How would these people react if she told them the truth? She couldn't put Rodney at any more risk.

"I don't have one," she hedged then plowed on. "I came in with a man who was hurt in an explosion. How is he? Can I see him?"

The woman nodded. "Krita, can you check?" After the other woman hurried back into the secured area, she sat on the bench next to Sam. "What's your name?"

"Samantha Carter."

"Hello, Samantha Carter. I am Astriv Delra. I serve as the chief nurse for the operating unit."

Watching her speak one language and hearing another was disconcerting, especially since Sam was actually hearing English in both ears, like surround sound for a dubbed movie. Her fingers itched to take the device apart to see how it did that.

"Is there someone who can bring you a change of clothes?" Astriv asked.

Sam glanced down at her bloodstained jumpsuit. "No. I'm…not from around here. I don't have anything else to wear."

Astriv's sharp eyes flickered over her, but her smile was warm. "Don't worry. I'll find you something in a minute."

Krita breezed through the doors and whispered to Astriv who nodded, her smile unwavering.

"Thank you," Astriv said to Krita who bobbed her head at Sam and continued on. "Your friend is out of surgery. I will take you to him."

Sam followed Astriv to a bank of transport pads. They stepped on one and stepped off on a different floor. She had been in enough critical care areas to recognize the quietness and the efficient bustle of personnel. Astriv led her to a private room where Rodney was sleeping on his stomach, strips of gauze covering his back.

"How is he?" Sam asked.

Astriv pressed a button on an overhead monitor and studied the readings. "He came through surgery well, but he has lost a lot of blood and we can't find a matching donor. His chemical makeup is different than anyone we've encounter." Her gaze flicked over Sam again. "He had a reaction to the platelets he was given en route. That's never happened before."

Sam turned away, knowing her eyes would betray her. "He has several allergies you should know about, and he suffers from hypoglycemia, um, low blood sugar. His pancreas secretes too much insulin."

"Yes, I am familiar with the condition." Astriv moved to a side table where Rodney's belongings were piled. "His clothes were too badly damaged to save, but these things were in them." She picked up the life signs detector. "We removed the shrapnel from his back and arm."

Sam grimaced when she saw the bandage where Rodney's sub-cu transmitter should have been.

Astriv put the LSD down and turned back to Sam. "Why don't you sit down while I find you something to wear?" She patted Sam on the arm and slipped out the door.

Sam squinted at the monitor but couldn't make sense of anything there. Field experience, and years of hanging out with Janet, told her that Rodney was stable. His face was pale from blood loss instead of being flushed with fever, and his breathing was easy.

His face was turned toward her, and she was struck by how young he looked as she pulled a chair to his bedside and sat. A few wild tufts of his hair were standing on end, and she brushed them into place while she told him about the transport, the hospital and the translator, knowing how jealous he would be that she got one first. His hand was palm up, and she traced the faint scar left from the rope burns when he wouldn't leave her behind in that mine. She slid her hand in his and, exhausted from the heat and the stress, promptly fell asleep.

xxx

She woke three hours later, according to her watch, when a nurse entered to check Rodney's vitals and placed a bowl of something aromatic and steaming in front of her.

"Thank you," Sam said, digging in. "How is he?"

"Better," the man said. "His pressure is up a little though it's still too low. His heartbeat is too fast but not dangerous."

Sam pressed her fingers to Rodney's wrist. "Actually, that's normal for him. Weird, I know." Her taste buds danced as she savored the chunky stew. "This is delicious."

The man's brows arched in surprise. "Really? That's a first."

She shrugged. "Compared to MREs and ship's stores, this is heavenly."

He scrunched his face in confusion. "MREs?"

"It's not important. I appreciate your kindness."

"I'm glad you likes it." He checked Rodney's bandages and injected something into a port. "I'll be back to check on him in a few hours. Call if you need anything."

Sam demolished the rest of the stew then gathered the clothes Astriv had left on the side table and headed to the small room in the corner. She peeled off the jumpsuit and crammed it into what she hoped was a trash receptacle then spent several minutes scrubbing blood off her skin and from under her nails. The cool water was refreshing. She gulped a couple of handfuls then splashed it over her face and eyes. Shampoo was too much to hope for, but she undid her braid and combed her fingers through her hair. She slipped on the yellow blouse and flowing black trousers, rebanded her hair, and headed back to her chair. Rodney was shifting restlessly, twitching and moaning in his sleep.

Sam stroked his hair like she used to for Cassie when she had nightmares. "It's all right, Rodney. You are safe. It's okay to sleep."

He snuffled, rubbing his face on the pillow, then settled deeper into sleep.

She poked through his belongings, hoping to find something useful. Discouraged, she grabbed the scanner and took a seat. It lit when she keyed the power on and she spent an uneventful hour running diagnostics and taking readings. Satisfied it was in good condition, she began to tinker, planning on finding a way to make it emit a subspace signal that her ship or Atlantis would pick up.

Her hands stilled. If Atlantis could pick up her signal, so could the Wraith. It would be like painting a bull's eye on this world, and she didn't have the right to do that. She couldn't place her desire to go home above these people's lives. John and Radek were smart enough to figure out what had happened to them and how to get them back, but if not, she and Rodney would have to stay. The technology on this world was enough to occupy them for years, maybe even the rest of their lives.

She refused to think about the people they would leave behind.

Sam placed the scanner on the side table with a sigh. She hoped Rodney would understand.

xxx

The next fifteen hours crawled by. Rodney would wake up long enough to blink at her then fall back asleep. She snatched her hand away from the scanner so many times she was getting carpal tunnel. She finally raked all of McKay's belongings into a drawer and slammed it hard enough to knock his water glass to the floor. With a sigh, she mopped up the mess and refilled the glass.

McKay eventually remained awake for longer periods of time, but he retained very little of the explanation she gave on what had happened. After reciting the story for the sixth time, she gave up and told him he was dreaming. He smiled and mumbled something she decided to not hear then snuggled into the pillow and slept.

She took a break to stretch her legs and get a breath of fresh air. A clean-shaven young man pointed her to the exit, and she stepped outside. The sweltering heat had cooled off to almost tolerable since the suns had set. She walked forward a bit, bracing her hands on the small of her back as she looked up and gasped.

No stars. Not a single one shone in the sky. No moon either. Even the brightest cities on Earth let a little starlight in, and this city somehow managed to glow warmly without being garish.

Was it a trick? Had the Ancients somehow prevented the people of this planet from seeing the stars or had they picked a planet in a void of space? Her mind raced through possible scenarios until with a guilty jolt, she realized how long she'd been gone.

Sam hurried back inside, relieved to find Rodney still fast asleep and happy to discover a tray filled with food, including more stew. She was scraping the bottom of the bowl when Rodney sniffed then scrunched his face and opened his eyes.

He looked at her in bewilderment. "You're not Sheppard."

"Wow. Nothing gets by you, McKay."

He frowned at her and craned his neck. "It's just…usually when I wake up feeling this bad, Sheppard is sitting there pretending to not look worried." He slumped down. "What happened?"

She tilted her head as she observed him. His eyes were bruised but clear, and he sounded lucid. "What do you remember?"

Rodney sighed loudly. "Sam, I'm really not in the mood…" His eyes flew to hers and widened. "We're stuck on a world with no stargate."

"That about sums it up."

Sam spent a few minutes telling him about the explosion and the translator. She convinced him to not call the nurse to demand one, promising to ask the next person who came in if he could have an extra.

Then she told him about the lack of stars, ending with, "Regardless of why, it might explain why they haven't tried spaceflight."

"You're assuming they haven't."

"Yes, I am, based on the fact that the Wraith aren't gorging themselves here. Which brings me to the next thing." She looked at him and grimaced. "I don't think we should try to contact our people."

Instead of the squawk she'd expected, Rodney nodded. "I know. Too risky." At her gape, he offered a tired smile. "I've lived in this galaxy for over five years, Sam, and this is the first world I've been to that the Wraith haven't…butchered." Bitterness crept over his features and into his voice. "I'll be damned if I let another world be destroyed to save myself. I knew the minute we saw the city that unless Sheppard and Zelenka pull some miracle out of their asses, we'd spend the rest of our lives here."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"Because I knew you'd figure it out."

"You know, John and Radek are pretty smart," Sam said. "They'll figure it out, too."

"That's what I'm counting on." His brows drew together. "Did I just imply I thought they were smart? Must be the drugs."

"Right." She poked through the food on the tray. "You hungry?"

He groaned as he rolled onto his side. "What do you have?"

"Some fruit, a pastry, a couple of biscuits."

Rodney wrinkled his nose. "No, thanks."

She stood and stepped toward the door. "I can call-"

"No." He swallowed thickly as he waved at her to sit. "I don't think eating would be a good idea after all. Maybe a drink of water?"

"Sure."

He took a sip from the cup she held then sank back into his pillow with a yawn. "Are you sure, Sam?"

She set the cup down. "Sure about what?"

"Giving up everything and staying here, just you and me."

A witty retort died on her tongue when she turned to look at him; all arrogance had been stripped from his face, his eyes completely vulnerable. She eased into her chair, placing a hand on his arm. "I know what you…what we are giving up, but it's the right thing to do." She smiled gently. "And if John and Radek don't come, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather be stuck here with than you."

Rodney held her gaze for a long minute then glanced away, his cheeks pink. "Right back at you, blondie." He yawned again and his eyes fluttered shut. "Think they'll let us have our own lab?"

Sam patted his shoulder and pulled the sheet over him as his breathing evened into sleep. "How could they not?"

xxx

The next few days consisted of rest and physical therapy, which Rodney pronounced to be cruel and unusual punishment. They passed the time studying the monitor over his bed, trying to decipher the readings. When they got bored with that, they used the precision tools Rodney kept in a vest pocket to take apart the translator he had been given; of course, it never worked after that so he was given another, but he kept the first one to tinker with later. Only once did they allow themselves to think about being rescued.

"So, I'm standing there with Ronon's blood all over my hands while Teyla explains to him that Ronon's dead," Rodney frowned at the pieces of the translator, rearranging them for a third time, "and Sheppard just looks at us. Then he insists on going back for him." He shook his head. "The man refuses to leave anyone behind. I mean, he was adamant about it before…before Elizabeth, but since…"

Sam hid a smile, wondering if Rodney knew how much admiration was reflected on his face. "John's a good man."

"Yeah." Rodney glanced up at her. "Don't tell him I said that."

"I don't think that's going to be a problem."

His eyes widened as he realized the implication then a crooked smile appeared. "If anyone can find us, Sheppard can. He doesn't know how to give up."

She pondered that as she studied the translator's circuitry chip. "What if they do come?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if the facility on Devika wasn't overloaded like this one was and John finds us. Do we tell these people who we are? Do we land the Hammond in the middle of the city and ask to speak to whoever is in charge?"

Rodney set his tools down and looked at her. "I think we have to. Just because the Wraith haven't found this world yet doesn't mean they won't. These people need to know the threat."

Sam arched a brow. "Like the people of Earth know?"

"Well, some of us know."

She stood, needing to move to get her brain in gear. "Be realistic, McKay. We can't just waltz in and announce that they aren't alone in the universe. They'd freak out."

"We don't know that they think they are alone."

"True." She paused in her pacing to consider that. "We should ask some of the nurses. Subtly."

"Don't look at me like that. I can do subtle."

Sam rolled her eyes. "You're as subtle as a freight train. Anyway, assume for the moment they think they're alone. We'd have to talk to the head of their government if we can figure out who it is and where to find them."

"And risk the chance of them covering it up?" Rodney folded his arms over his chest.

She nodded. "That might happen. In fact, I've seen it happen. But I've also seen an entire world ripped apart because we showed up and destroyed their belief system. The SGC has first contact protocols for a reason."

"These people need to know," he repeated quietly. "They have the right to defend themselves against the Wraith."

Sam sat down and stared at the disassembled translator. "I know. Let's do a little digging. See what we can find out."

A few casual questions confirmed her fears. The people of this world had no idea life beyond their planet existed, at least none of the people at the hospital believed it. The seat of government was in a section of the city that bordered a different edge of the jungle, and the ruling council consisted of elected officials from the different cities of the planet, twenty-five cities in all.

She and Rodney decided to take it slow and easy. They would establish themselves, prove they were trust-worthy people. They'd have to work their way up in the scientific community, have to be taken seriously before revealing the existence of the Ancient facility to someone open-minded enough to listen. Only after the concept of alien life was accepted would they admit who they were and warn of the danger of the Wraith.

The first step was getting released from the hospital, and nine days after the explosion, Rodney was declared healed enough to go home.

Rodney winced as he shifted in the chair, tugging at the neck of the pale blue tunic he'd been given to wear. "I see bureaucracy is another word for incompetence on this world, too."

"Be nice, McKay," Sam warned. "These are the people who are going to help us find jobs and a place to live. They've already agreed to waive the fees for your medical care. You can afford a little patience."

"I know," he sighed. "I'm trying. It just finally, I don't know, seems real. Until now, we've been here because I was injured when I saved your life."

"I've said thank you at least a dozen times. I'm not saying it again."

A smile flashed then faded. "We're really not going home." He scrubbed his hands over his face then clasped them in front of him. "I left an experiment running in my lab. Zelenka will probably take credit for it and win my Nobel Prize." His head dropped. "I didn't get to say goodbye."

Sam laced her fingers through his, understanding how he felt. Up to this point, everything had been theoretical, but now they were going to have to settle into society, have to accept this place as home. She'd left a video for Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c, letters for Mitchell and Vala, and everything she owned to Cassie. She said her mental goodbyes every time she stepped through the gate or onto a ship, but the anticipation of seeing them again remained. This felt final, and yet that little sliver of hope for rescue hadn't gone away.

"The administrator will be here soon," Sam said. "We're going to have to answer some of those questions we've been dancing around."

The corner of Rodney's mouth quirked up. "You mean you don't think they're going to accept our 'lost it all in a fire' story?"

"Um, no. They're pretty smart."

"Amnesia?"

Sam punched his shoulder. "Be serious."

He heaved a sigh. "We've been over this a hundred times."

"Then make it a hundred and one."

"We're part of a sociological experiment. A group from one of the rim cities…"

"Aloosh."

"Right. A group from Aloosh isolated themselves from society several generations back to compare development of language and social mores. We are their descendants. We are here to gather information and eventually take it back." He looked at her askance. "You think they'll buy it?"

"I hope so. I-"

When the silver light of an Asgard beam filled the room, Sam thought she might be hallucinating. Then John and Ronon appeared, guns drawn and aimed at Rodney.

Pure joy lit McKay's face then his typical mask of annoyance asserted itself. "What took you so long?"

"Rodney?" John gaped as he stared at McKay then a huge grin blossomed before worry took over. "You okay?"

"No, I…" Rodney trailed off at the concern on John's face. "I'm fine now." He glanced at Ronon. "But wait until you see the scar."

Ronon ruffled his hair. "Thought you might be dead."

Rodney's brows shot up. "You did? Why?"

"Transmitter's not working." Ronon jerked his chin towards Rodney's arm. "We were only picking up Colonel Carter's."

"We located the Ancient facility a couple of days ago, and we've been searching for you since then," John explained. "The Hammond's sensors had difficulty penetrating the interference from the city's energy output."

Sam held up a hand. "Please tell me my ship is cloaked."

John nodded. "It's cloaked. Didn't want to attract the Wraith."

"We need to go. Now," she said.

Ronon whipped his blaster up. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she answered. "We need to go before anyone sees you. It's a long story."

Rodney grunted as Ronon pulled him to his feet. "Sam, what about-"

"Later, McKay." She nodded to John. "Let's go."

He keyed his comm. "Hammond, this is Sheppard. I've got Carter and McKay. We're ready to go."

xxx

Sam had never been so happy to see the cramped corridors of a 304 in her life. Her XO and Chief of Medicine were waiting in the transport area and immediately escorted them to sickbay. Other than the typical signs of stress, the examination showed her to be in good health. Ronon was suitably impressed with McKay's scar, but Sam didn't miss how John's jaw clenched when he saw it. The doctor ran a few tests, insisting that Rodney stay until the results came through, but said his initial exam indicated that McKay was fine. The care he'd received was exemplary.

She watched from the doorway as Rodney tried to get comfortable on the tiny bed, complaining loudly about the thin mattress, while John and Ronon pulled chairs up and tried to look nonchalant. She wondered if they realized that they hadn't stopped touching McKay since the moment they beamed in. Even now, both men had an elbow pressed against his ankles while they leaned on the foot of the bed. Tension seeped out of Rodney as he relaxed against the pillow and the worry lines by his eyes smoothed. He glanced up, caught her watching, and smiled.

Sam smiled back and waved then left the three men to catch up. The ship had jumped into hyperspace while she'd been in sickbay, and a check of a nearby monitor showed the ETA to Atlantis was a little over two hours. Each crewman she passed in the halls offered a smile, a handshake, and a, "Welcome home, Colonel." She was in her quarters and letting the shower pound at the knots in her shoulders before she realized this was home – her ship, her crew, her slice of the universe. When she finished, she put on a clean uniform and stopped to stare at the array of photos on her nightstand. She trailed her fingers across the faces of her dearest friends and family, missing them as always but knowing she was where she needed to be. When she got to Atlantis, she would discuss the planet they'd just left with Woolsey, certain that a call to the SGC and the IOA would be in order before they proceeded with first contact.

She removed the translator, wondering what Daniel would make of it, and placed it in her safe next to the goa'uld healing device Vala had liberated for her. She left her quarters and took her time, greeting her people as she wandered the ship. When she finally reached the bridge, she blushed at the applause she received. After thanking them for their efforts, she stepped to the command chair and sat, surprised to note that her usual feelings of restlessness were missing.

Sam settled back and listened to the sounds of her crew and her ship, happy to be home.

Written for astridv who wanted a friendship fic featuring Sam and Rodney. Many thanks to coolbreeze1 for the lightning fast beta. All faults mine.