Ch. 54

(Ext. Atlantis, Commissary Balcony)

Stacey Grayson stood on one of Atlantis' many balconies and gazed out into the water. The rain had finally stopped and the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. She closed her eyes as she breathed in the air as beam of sunlight warming her face.

The newly promoted Lt. Colonel John Sheppard walked out onto the balcony. He went over to his wife and slid his arms around her waist. John held Stacey tightly in his arms, resting his head on her shoulder.

"What's on your mind?" he asked.

"Huh? What?" Stacey blinked out of her stare. "Oh, nothing important."

"Come on," John nudged.

Stacey sighed and turned to face John.

"I got the test results back from Carson this morning," Stacey told him.

"And . . .?"

"From what Carson told me: my Feral DNA is slowly deteriorating," she told her husband.

"Really?"

"Yeah, just not in so many words,"

"How slowly?" he asked.

Stacey shrugged, "Not sure yet. His preliminary report says that it should take up to 3 maybe 4 months. Carson wants me to come in tomorrow morning for some more blood tests to get a more accurate timeline."

"So, what do we do?" John asked.

"Tonight we have Christmas Dinner with our friends and colleges," Stacey told him.

"Tomorrow?"

"Let's just get through tonight, shall we," Stacey grinned.

"Mmmm, good idea," John said.

He kissed her on the forehead gently before the two stepped back inside. It immediately started raining again.

(Atlantis, Commissary)

Everyone in the room is having a great time. The Commissary is filled with people talking, eating, and laughing. Over at their own table sat the members of SG-1, Sheppard's team, Elizabeth, Col. Caldwell, Carson, and Stacey. In Stacey's lap was baby Adam, drinking a bottle happily.

"Stacey, thank you again for cooking this meal for us. It's delicious," Elizabeth said.

"It was my pleasure. To tell you the truth, I kinda missed being in the kitchen," Stacey told her.

Stacey spotted Rodney whispering into Peter's ear. She extended her feral hearing so she can hear what they were talking about. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her head, so she stopped. She squinted. As quickly as the pain came, it went in a flash. Peter nodded and got up to leave.

"Stace?" Daniel asked.

"I'm fine," Stacey told him.

Adam was done with his dinner.

"I got him, this time," John said, throwing a burp rag over his shoulder and picking up the baby boy. "You eat."

"Thanks, Hon," she kissed him on the cheek. She turned her attention to Teyla, who was finally eating something, "You're feeling better, I see."

"Yes. Although, I am still a little tired," Teyla told her. "Ronan, slow down."

Ronan was sitting next to Teyla, devouring his large plat of food. He didn't respond. Stacey rolled her eyes at him.

Rather suddenly, the citywide speakers came on.

"This is Grodin and I will be your DJ on this lovely Christmas Eve night. Before we get started on the music I would like to than Dr. Grayson for the lovely dinner. I'm sure Rodney and Ronan managed to get full. Also, a weather update: It's snowing in the high mountains on the mainland. I sense snowball fights in our future. And now enough of me babbling. Here's the music,"

The music began to play as John came walking in with a baby monitor clipped to his belt. John extended his hand out to Stacey. Smiling, Stacey took it. John escorted her to a large empty space of floor and began to slow dance.

Soon, Daniel and Sam began to dance. Teal'c and Teyla followed. Eventually almost everyone was dancing. Peter played both slow and fast Christmas-type songs.

"I don't mean to sound like a party pooper, or anything. But, I've got the early morning shift in the Infirmary tomorrow," Stacey told John and everyone else.

"Okay, good night, Stace," Daniel kissed her on the cheek. "Merry Christmas."

John kissed her deeply, lifting her up. Stacey gave a light squeal.

"'Night,"

Just as a fast-paced song came on, John went over to Elizabeth and started dancing with her.

To be continued . . .