"Secrets and Challenges"

Ch. 26

(Atlantis, Puddle Jumper Bay)

"Major, meet me in the Commissary," Weir's voice piped up. "Dr. Beckett has set up a containment field there."

"Is that where the outbreak happened, Liz?" Stacey asked.

"Yes,"

(Commissary)

When Stacey entered. The least thing she was expecting, happened.

"Surprise!" Elizabeth, Teyla, Carson, Rodney, Radek, Ford, and several others all leapt up out of their hiding spots and shouted.

Stacey jumped several feet in the air.

"Okay," she panted. "Who's smart idea was this?"

Stacey instinctively turned to her husband and put her hands on her hips.

"It wasn't me! I know you don't like surprise parties," John said. He pointed at the Scottish doctor "It was Carson,"

Stacey gave Carson an evil glare. He knew she hated surprises. Teyla stepped forward and pulled Stacey toward the table full of food and drinks, saving Carson from the feral's evil stare.

"Here, have some food and drink. You must be hungry from your trip to the Mainland," Teyla said.

"Starving, actually," she told her as she grabbed some food.

Later . . .

"Time for presents!" John announced childishly.

Stacey gave a slight giggle as Weir shook her head at him.

"This is from my people," Teyla said. "See it as a thank you for all of the help that you have provided."

Teyla passed a wooden box, medium in size. Stacey opened it. Inside was a pair of beautiful, hand carved Sai's. Each had an earth symbol that kept the two "arms" and middle point together. The long metal point was wrapped with a vine that stopped mid-way.

"These are beautiful. But, Teyla, I have no idea how to work these things," Stacey said. Picking one up and running her fingers through the engravings.

"I will teach you. I have a pair that belonged to my father," she told her.

Stacey nodded, putting them back and saying softly, "Thank you."

Teyla bowed.

"Halling and Jinto also have a gift for you. But, it is not done," Teyla told her.

"Well, I am looking forward to seeing it soon then," Stacey smiled and then looked over at John. "Your present, I take it, got lost in the mail somewhere?"

John grinned. "No, mine arrived about three months ago."

Stacey kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"And this is from everyone," Elizabeth gave her a large wooden box.

"Another set of weapons?" she asked jokingly.

"No, it's something better," McKay said, eagerly. "Open it."

Stacey happily obeyed. Inside was a beautiful art set. It has several sizes of canvases and paint brushes, along with different color naturally made paints. She gasped and clasped her hand to her mouth.

"This is gorgeous!" she said, tears of joy swelling in her eyes. She looked around her. "Thank you, everyone. This truly is the best birthday I have ever had in a real long time."

"Even if it is a surprise party," Carson grinned sheepishly.

"Definitely," Stacey jumped up and gave him a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek.

To be continued . . .