The Best-Laid Plans – Chapter 12

Author's Notes – Refer to Chapter 1 for all the thank yous. I've really appreciated everyone that has read this so far. Reviews are always appreciated.

Disclaimer – Refer to Chapter 1

Once they were gone, Everett went and changed each baby's diaper. He brought Katie to Missy and then brought Matthew to the bed and sat down with his wife and daughter. Addressing his son, he said, "Hi little buddy. Are you hungry?"

Matthew squealed excitedly and grabbed Ev's finger as his mother softly chuckled. Missy remarked, "I bet he is, Ev. Katie is making sucking movements with her lips. Can you get me the carrier please?"

"Sure honey." He went and got the carrier and helped her buckle it on. After he had done that, she laid Katie in it buckling her in securely before loosening her shirt and bra so the baby could find her nipple. Once her daughter was comfortably feeding, Melissa held out her arms, and Everett handed her Matthew who she also placed in the carrier. It didn't take long for him to find the other nipple, and he began feeding as well. Missy then lay back on the pillow as Everett scooted next to her on the bed. He noticed her relaxed posture and chuckled. "Relaxing, are we?"

Shrugging her shoulders and flashing him an amused grin, his wife replied, "This thing…" She pointed to the carrier. "Is so cool! If it was ever marketed on Earth, whoever started it would make a fortune."

Ev grinned and winked at her. "Maybe you can ask for the patent, baby. Then I can live in the lap of luxury."

"Ha! Ha!" She brushed his cheek gently, telling him, "I thought that went pretty well. What do you think?"

"It did, but we're probably gonna see some of the same initial reactions from people especially when the IOA gets a hold of it."

"You're right. How are we going to handle it?"

He looked at her hesitantly knowing how she was going to react to what he was going to say. "Since I will probably be involved with the negotiations, I would like you and the children to stay in here so you will have help if you need it." He saw the look of protest on her face. "I will stay in here at night with you and come back as often as I can during the day, but I need to know you're safe and that you'll be able to rest and recover from the delivery. Missy, I was so scared when I saw how much you were bleeding after they were born. If I had lost you after losing Matthew, I don't know what I would have done." He tenderly stroked her cheek. "Please."

His plea stopped any other comment she would have made, and she smiled at him gently. "All right."

They heard a voice from the other bed. It was Mac who had stayed in the infirmary with TJ. "Thank you, Sir. I was trying to persuade TJ to stay in here too, but wasn't having much luck. She said that doctors make the worst patients."

A voice interrupted them. It was Dr. Giovanni who said, "Lieutenant Johansen is correct. I was coming over here to tell you though that your argument is pointless anyway—neither of you are going anywhere. You need more rest."

Everett and Mac gave Missy and TJ triumphant glances as Missy stuck her lower lip out at her husband in a fake pout. She then turned to TJ and said, with a grin and a wink, "I guess we'll just have to make sure they wait on us hand and foot when they are in here."

A panicked look came over Mac's face as his girlfriend nodded in agreement with Melissa. He turned to Ev and asked, "Sir, exactly what have we let ourselves in for?"

Leaning over to kiss his wife's forehead and touch the babies' heads, Ev replied, "We're gonna be waiting on them hand and foot, Lieutenant." He addressed Missy. "Baby, I'm gonna make sure I'm caught up on my paperwork." Pointing to the babies who were still vigorously feeding, he told her, "I want you to finish with them, eat yourself, and rest while they're resting. I'll be back later, okay?"

Melissa warmly smiled at her husband. "Sounds good. Love you."

"Love you too."

The two men left the infirmary after Mac said farewell to TJ. For the rest of the day, the crew prepared the ship for their probable visitors with everyone checking all of the parts of the ship that had been explored. Supplies were enhanced by the supplies on the Caprea, and cleaning was also completed in the room where they were going to be holding the negotiations. Towards the end of the day, Dr. Rush and one of the technicians from the Caprea discovered some information on one of the consoles that led them to the bridge of the Destiny. Everyone—human and Alteran—was excited about the discovery, and once Everett had seen it, he knew Missy would want to see it too. He and Mac walked back to the infirmary discussing plans to take the girls over there after they had all had dinner. When they arrived there, they saw Melissa and the babies asleep on their beds and TJ talking quietly with Dr. Giovanni. The doctor looked up when she heard them enter. "Hello Colonel, Lieutenant."

Smiling, Ev said, "Hello Doctor." He motioned to Missy and the babies. "Are they okay?"

"They are. You should know that feeding them will be all your mate will be doing for a while. It's taking a lot out of her. That's why she's asleep. She will start feeling stronger though as her body adjusts."

"Oh, okay. Will she be all right to take a short walk after dinner? We wanted to show both…" He indicated Missy and TJ. "Of them the bridge."

"That will be fine. Just make sure you bring them back here when you're done."

"Understood."

He went over to the bed, sat down, and started rubbing Melissa's back. A few moments later, she turned over and smiled when she saw who it was. "Hi sweetheart."

Everett helped her sit up giving her a hug and kiss in the process. "Hi honey. How are you feeling?"

"Still tired, but better. It's taking a lot out of me to feed them." She pointed to the babies. "The doctor said that as my body adjusts, I'll start feeling stronger."

"That's what she told me too." He scooted next to her and put his arm around her. "I don't know if you heard or not, but we found the bridge. Mac and I thought we'd take you and TJ to see it after dinner."

An excited look came over Missy's face. "Oh, that's wonderful, Everett! And, yes, I would enjoy going to see it."

"Me too!" piped up TJ from the other bed. "I'm starting to get terribly bored."

Mac rolled his eyes. "I thought we agreed earlier that you were going to stay put."

"I am, but I'm still bored."

The others laughed at their antics as Melissa grinned and winked at her friend. "TJ, you forgot. They're supposed to be waiting on us hand and foot."

"That's right." TJ gazed at Mac and batted her eyes. "Oh honey, will you get us some dinner please?"

When Missy joined her in batting her eyes, the men shook their heads bemusedly. Everett chuckled and hopped off the bed. "Let me go and ask when dinner's gonna be here." He went and spoke with Dr. Giovanni who handed him four rations and four bottles of water. Once he got back, Mac helped him sort out the food and get it passed out to everyone. The four friends and colleagues had a good time talking and laughing while they ate. About halfway through their meal, whimpers and cries were heard from the bed where the babies were. Ev helped Missy buckle the carrier on and then brought the babies to her one by one after changing their diapers. When he lifted Matthew, he tickled his stomach and asked, "Are you hungry, Matthew?" That sent the baby into excited giggles and squeals. He walked over and handed him to Melissa who had already placed Katie at one of her breasts. "Here you go, honey."

She took him and placed him at the other breast saying to her husband, "Thank you, sweetheart." The babies fed while the adults were finishing their meal. Once the adults and babies had finished eating, Missy and Ev took the babies out of the carrier and placed them on the bed. They placed the smaller slings on themselves. Then Missy turned to Everett and asked, "So, who's going with whom this time?"

Everett grinned at her. "Well, how about we switch? I'll take Katie, and you can take Matthew."

"Sounds good."

They put the babies in the slings and left the infirmary with TJ and Mac. Once the group arrived at the bridge, they found several human and Alteran crew members working at the different consoles. Missy walked up behind Dr. Rush and stared at the brightly lit panel. "This looks fascinating, Nicholas. I know you have to be ecstatic."

Gazing around at her, Rush grinned and said, "Lass, you're here. The colonel said he was gonna bring you. You won't believe what we found." He stood up and offered her the seat.

Melissa sat down and looked at the various schematics translating each of them in her head. After she realized what it said, she stared at him in amazement. "You've figured out how to open up the rest of the ship and power it."

"That's right."

The Alteran technician who was sitting at the next station spoke up. "Finding this ship is going to be revolutionary for my people. We have already gained much knowledge thought to be lost to the sands of time." He addressed Missy. "You are familiar with our language?"

"I am," said Missy with a warm smile.

"Oh, I'm sorry," apologized Nicholas. "Cyrus, this is Dr. Melissa Young, Colonel Young's mate and one of the scientists on our crew who is fluent in Alteran. Lass, this is First Technician Cyrus Lucan."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, First Technician." She held out her hand.

Cyrus gazed at her hand and then over at Rush. When he nodded, the Alteran clasped her hand and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Young." He noticed the baby sling. "Oh, I know who you are. You are one of the Alterans the Caprea was sent to find."

"Yes, that is what I understand." She folded the sling back so he could see the baby. "This is our son Matthew." She motioned to Everett who was standing behind her. "And the Colonel is holding our daughter Katherine."

"They are both beautiful children. Would you like to see what else we have found?"

After glancing back at Ev and seeing an assenting nod and smile, Melissa said, "Sure."

Cyrus and Dr. Rush spent the next few minutes showing Missy the different panels and all the things the ship was capable of doing while Mac showed TJ the other parts of the bridge. While they were looking at everything, Everett's radio came on. "Colonel Young, this is Sergeant Riley in the gate room."

Picking it up and activating it, Ev replied, "This is Young. Go."

"Sir, we just had a communication from Lieutenant Scott. General O'Neill was pleased to receive your report and will be bringing a negotiating team and a team of doctors here tomorrow morning at 0900. He said that once people were medically cleared, they could start rotating home!"

Cheers were heard in the gate room and from the human personnel on the bridge. Ev clicked his walkie once more. "Very good, Sergeant. Could you please communicate that to Commander Aurelius on the Caprea with my respects?"

"Yes, Sir."

Everett shut his radio off and looked around at everyone on the bridge. "That certainly is good news. Let's make sure everything is in order up here. I'm sure the negotiating team will want a tour. He heard his daughter gurgle and felt her squirm. Touching her head gently, he gazed down at her. "Do you want to see what's going on, Katie?" He carefully lifted her out of the sling and held her where she could see out the window.

His wife joined him there, smiling at her husband and daughter affectionately. "It looks like Katie is enjoying the view."

"I think she is." He noticed Matthew squirming and told her, "You might want to lift him out and do the same thing."

Melissa did so, and then both children squealed and batted their hands enthusiastically at the view. "I think our children are going to be space babies."

"They sure are." He gazed at his wife. "You doing okay, baby."

"I am. Just a little tired, but other than that, I'm fine." An excited expression came over her face. "Listen, I had a question. Nicholas said they were having problems with some of the translating since it's in an ancient form of Alteran and was wondering if I could help. You know, that was most of what Daniel taught me." Everett raised his eyebrows as Missy continued, "Nicholas said he could put it on a laptop and bring it to the infirmary. I know I'm supposed to rest, but it would be nice to have something to do while you're negotiating. Please." She gave him a pleading look.

Noticing that Dr. Rush and Eli had come up behind them, Ev told Rush, "Doctor, I should shoot you." He grinned and winked at him. "But I won't because Missy's right. She does better when she's occupied."

The other men chuckled as they nodded in agreement. Rush said, "I've known that of the lass since we were all on Icarus."

"And I've known it since we've all been here," said a grinning Eli. "Does anyone remember how hard it's been to get her to go take naps?"

Missy stuck out her lip in a fake pout and raised her hand. "Guys, Missy's right here." She put Matthew back in the sling.

After he put Katie back in her sling, Everett put his arm around Melissa and hugged her close to him. "We're just giving you a hard time, honey. I wouldn't want you to change a thing."

"Thanks, Ev." She turned to Dr. Rush. "I'll do whatever I can to help."

Nodding, Nicholas replied, "I'll bring the laptop to the infirmary later."

"That's fine." Ev and Missy said farewell to the other men and went to rejoin Mac and TJ. A few minutes later, they walked back to the infirmary.

Once Melissa and TJ had been settled back in their beds, Everett took each of the babies and laid them on the bed they were using as a crib. He then came back to where his wife was and sat down next to her putting his arm around her. "What can I do to help you get ready for bed?"

Missy turned and faced him, smiling at her husband tenderly. "I was hoping to be able to clean up a little bit before tomorrow as I'm sure there will be plenty of people in here."

"I can do that." He and Mac helped Melissa and TJ get ready for bed after which Mac told the others good night. Once he had left, Ev got ready for bed himself coming back to climb in the bed with Missy. He put his arms around her, giving her a hug and a kiss. "Good night, Missy. I love you."

"I love you too, Ev. Good night."

The two of them drifted off to sleep content in their love for one another and for their family. Melissa woke up the next morning when she felt her husband gently nudge her. Since she had only been up four hours earlier, she turned over and murmured, "The babies aren't crying. Why do I have to get up?"

Everett softly chuckled so he wouldn't disturb anyone else. "You don't have to get up, baby. I just wanted to tell you I was leaving. The delegation from Earth will be here in less than an hour."

Opening her eyes, his wife replied, "Oh okay. I hope things go well."

"I think they will. Now, Dr. Giovanni is going to help you with the carrier and the babies. And Dr. Rush left the laptop over there." He pointed to the night stand next to the bed and then reached down to hug and kiss her. "I'll be back later on. Love you."

"Love you too."

He turned and left the infirmary, meeting Mac and Greer outside the door. "Good morning, gentlemen. Is everything ready?"

"Yes, Sir," replied Greer. "We are spic and span. Dr. Rush, Commander Aurelius, and his team will be meeting us in the gate room. General O'Neill will be making brief remarks as to what the crew is gonna have to do in order to rotate home. Then everyone will be dismissed. We'll need to have the doctors escorted to the infirmary, and you and Commander Aurelius will meet with the team to begin the negotiations."

"Excellent." He turned to Mac. "I want you to be one of the escorts to the infirmary. When you get there, make sure Dr. Giovanni keeps an eye on Missy and the children. I know she and I have passed for human all these years, but I don't want to take any chances right now."

The lieutenant replied, "Yes, Sir. I'll take care of it."

"Thank you."

They arrived at the gate room a few moments later and noticed that several of the crew had already gathered. The room gradually filled with people having happy and excited conversations. Once the room was full, Ev looked at his watch and showed it to Mac and Greer. "It's 0900. They should be dialing in any minute."

At that moment, the chevrons of the stargate started to light up. Sergeant Riley said, "Incoming wormhole."

The crowd cheered while the chevrons lit. After they were finished lighting, the wormhole kawooshed and established itself. Nothing happened for a few moments, but then the group that was waiting saw people start to step through. The people that came through the gate were greeted with applause. A grey-haired man in his fifties approached Everett and held out his hand. "Nice to see you again, Colonel."

Shaking that hand that he was offered, Ev replied, "Likewise, General O'Neill." He greeted the people he had sent through the gate. "Nice job, Lieutenant, Miss Armstrong, Miss Wray." They nodded as he continued the introductions. Indicating the man and woman on his left, he said, "General Jack O'Neill, this is Commander Gaius Aurelius of the Alteran ship, Caprea, and his first officer, Leia Caligula."

O'Neill shook the Alterans' hands and made his own introductions. "It is a pleasure to meet you. This is my chief negotiator, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and these people are members of the International Oversight Authority which is the civilian committee that oversees anything to do with offworld travel on our planet." He pointed to the people as he introduced them. "This is the head of the committee, Edward Strom, and two of the ambassadors on the committee, Bryan Wells and Chao Li." Nodding in greeting, Aurelius shook the others' hands as O'Neill continued to speak. "The others are medical and security personnel." He gazed at Everett and the other humans. "I think the plan was for me to make a brief statement and tell the crew what they were gonna need to do to rotate home."

"That's correct, Sir."

"After that, we can begin the negotiations."

The Alteran commander replied, "We will be ready to begin when you are."

"Excellent." The general signaled for the crowd's attention. When they had quieted, he began speaking. "Good morning. I cannot tell you how happy I am to be here in my own body…" Everyone laughed. "And to be able to offer you the chance to go home. There will be just a few things that you will need to do." He motioned to one of the groups with him. "These people are doctors from the SGC. Everyone, but Dr. Ziegler, will be going to the infirmary to get set up while he and Miss Armstrong will be going to your Mess. You will need to go there to schedule a time for a physical. Once you are determined to be in good health, we will start sending people through the gate. Our doctors estimate that it will take two to three days to complete the exams. When you are back at the SGC, you will all see counselors to help you get re-acclimated. I'm estimating that you will be able to see your families in five to seven days." The group broke out in applause. "I have been in awe of the courage that each of you has displayed since you have been here and how you have banded together as a crew to make some of the most significant discoveries of our generation. Your service will not be forgotten. That is all."

The crowd applauded the end of the speech for several minutes after which they started filing out of the gate room. When most of them had left, Ev gazed at the people gathered around him and gave instructions. "Lieutenant McDonald, Sergeant Greer, I would like you to escort the doctors to the infirmary. Please have them coordinate with Dr. Giovanni on scheduling the exams. He turned to O'Neill. "Dr. Giovanni is the head doctor on the Caprea. She's been helping us out since our medic was injured in the Lucian Alliance attack."

"Very good. How many are in the infirmary right now?"

"Five, Sir, but there's plenty of room for the exams to be done too."

O'Neill nodded with approval. "Excellent. I am assuming the newest members of your crew are there. I was hoping to get a peek."

The other man grinned at him. "I thought it would be a bit much for them to be in this crowd, and Missy and the babies are still…"

A voice interrupted him. It was Edward Strom who said, with a sneer, "Don't you mean the bastard babies that you had with the whore."

Raising his eyebrows, Everett faced him squarely. "I would be very careful what you said considering that you are talking about my wife and children."

Strom gestured towards the group that had come through the gate. "We have someone with us who might feel dif…."

An angry voice came from the group. "Shut the hell up, Strom!" A tall brown-haired man with a slim dark-haired woman beside him stepped towards Ev, O'Neill, and Strom. "Yes, you heard me. Shut up! The end of my marriage is my business and NOT Homeworld Command, the SGC, or the IOA's business." He walked up and held out his hand. "Hello Everett." Seeing the other man's look of hesitation, he said, "I'm not here to hit you. You could hit me too so I just figured we could be grown-ups and move on."

An expression of relief came over Ev's face, and he shook the hand that was offered. "Hello Cameron." He then smiled at the woman who was with him. "Hello Patricia. Missy will be glad to see you."

O'Neill touched Everett's shoulder. "Before we go any further with this, I want to reduce our audience." He instructed Greer and Mac, "Sergeant, Lieutenant, please take the doctors to the infirmary." They nodded and took the group out which left Everett, Scott, O'Neill, Daniel, the IOA members, Cameron, and Patricia in the gate room. Once everyone else was done, the general turned to Strom and asked, in a clipped tone of voice, "What did President Hayes tell you?"

The IOA committee head replied, "I felt I needed to…"

"What did he tell you?"

"He said to stay out of the private business of Colonel Young, Dr. Young, and Colonel Mitchell and that their situation has no bearing on the negotiations."

"Exactly, and if you can't do that, I will dial the gate myself and toss you through it. Do you understand?"

Strom gritted his teeth. "I understand."

"Good." He gazed at Everett. "Why don't we get this thing started?"

"Of course, Sir," replied Ev. "If you would just give me one minute." He motioned to Scott, Cameron, and Patricia, and they walked a few steps away. Then he addressed the two who had come from Earth. "I'm assuming that you want to go to the infirmary to see Missy."

"Yes," said Patricia with a warm smile. "Like I told General O'Neill, I really wanted to be here for my sister when the babies were born."

"Well, the three of them are doing quite well. I'm gonna have Lieutenant Scott take you over there." He motioned to Scott. "And I'll catch up with you later."

"That's fine," said Cameron.

Scott motioned for the other two to come with him while Ev went back to the negotiating team and the Alterans. "This way, Colonel Mitchell, Dr. Somers." They left the gate room to go to the infirmary."