A/N: I want to thank everyone for the follows, favorites and reviews. This is a longer chapter I hope you enjoy.
It had been 3 days since Atlantis took off. Rodney was no closer to finding a way to communicate with Earth. Sam had tried to help as well after checking with everyone on the ship. They couldn't plan anything but to be ready at a moment's notice. Jack was wandering around the ship taking it all in. He only bugged Daniel and Teyla a few times a day and hung out with whoever would let him the rest.
It was yet another journey that Jack had neve planed on taking. He hoped that this wouldn't be the last but who knew in this line of work. He was really beginning to think Daniel was the bad luck charm, it could be Jack himself because he would have never gotten Sam if so.
"Rodney McKay to the Control room." Was heard over the intercom. Rodney sighed hoping the ship wasn't falling apart and made his trip to the control room.
"What do you think of this?" Sam asks.
He looks at the screen it is a map more or less to the edge of the Galaxy, with the distance shortening more and more stars and planets came to view, but also something else, that they had never quite seen before. It more or less looked like a blob on the screen.
"I don't know never seen anything like it," Rodney claimed.
"Well don't look at me, I was asking you!" Sam explained.
Rodney wasn't sure what the blob was but the alarms weren't sounding. John had been on his feet rushing around and checking on everyone. He was high energy all the time but ever since Atlantis took off from the moon he seemed even more happy-go-lucky. John insisted the frequency of the ship was a lot less than what it had been back on Earth and the annoying sounds have all had asked John if he felt anything different but assured Rodney everything was fine. Sam and Rodney kept trying to figure out what they were flying into.
Daniel and Teyla had read over several texts and found nothing of the legend she was told as a child. They had also went through the system trying to see what failsafe operated to see if they could override it at least long enough to talk to Earth. Although they found nothing of what they were looking for they did find some other important information simple guides to basic programs. Teyla found out there were shortcuts to several everyday things in Atlantis such as the transporters. It was thought they were like elevators only going to local areas, when in fact any transporter could take them to any spot on the ship you just had to manually enter it. She also found that several systems were unnecessary as they were rolled into bigger programs but never labeled that way unless looking specifically at the guide they had found. It seemed a few scientists ahead of their time even for the ancients had put in command codes that commanders didn't embrace.
No one had much sleep, and Wolsey insisted that Sam, Jack, Daniel, and Rodney John, and Teyla all take a break, everything was stable they weren't in any known danger.
It was day 5 on the ship, they were coming into contact with the "blob-like area" on the map. Jack, Sam, Daniel, Rodney, John, and Wolsey were all watching as the Atlantis fully made contact, the outside looked distorted like they had fallen out of hyperspace, but by all accounts on the machines, they were still going the same speed. No alarms sounded, and nothing weird happened. Everything appeared fine. The only theory Sam and Rodney had was this was part of a nebula they were going through.
As the group was about to break to proceed for the day out of nowhere a large box with multiple storage devices suddenly appeared in the control room with a letter on top.
To: Sam Carter and Rodney McKay
"That's my writing!" Rodney claimed.
Sam looked at it and seen each of the storage devices had names.
Sam opened the letter that Rodney recognized and began reading out loud.
"We hope this letter finds you within the first 2 days of going through what you thought was a nebula. It is not a nebula, it is a time dilation. I know you have a lot of questions and concerns immediately. We, you have been stuck in the dilation for 9 years now, safe but with no way home and no way to contact the outside world. We have survived on very low rations and found ways of growing what produce we had on board as well as some other advancements we have found. Luckily when all the researchers left in a hurry they left behind a lot of what we needed. In these 9 years we have found a way to send this back to you, and enclosed are the calculations and major findings. Sam, I know that in the last time dilation you thought everything needed to be forgotten but with our research trust us, this timeline is different and you are different but we want you to know what your lives can be, please take this research and use it to the best of your ability. Allow everyone to listen to the recordings of themselves. It will be best to move forward. We tried to make them as detailed as possible with enough time for you to get out of it, the sooner you start the greater your odds. You will need to maneuver Atlantis to an edge, we have no idea how slow or fast this time dilation is, so it's unclear how long we've been out of range by Earth standards. We have estimated that we will get out of the dilation naturally in another 2 years. Despite being stuck, we have made the best of it with no causalities. Good Luck. (You should probably view these privately they should be listened to in your quarters.)
Dr. M. Rodney McKay.
Sam smiled and looked at her soon-to-be husband who also smiled.
Sam looked at the storage devices, there was a large group, not just for those she was with but also Zelenka, Ronan, Teyla, and Jennifer, and as it kept going there was one for everyone currently on board except Torren.
Rodney agreed to test his to make sure this wasn't some kind of trap, it was free from any known virus and the audio started.
"This is Dr. McKay, if you are listening to this in public, there is a lot of information that most people just won't understand, I don't have a whole lot of time as you need at least 24 hours, so I am going to try to explain what is needed to do, and I from 9 years ago is totally different than today me, so I hope you can understand what I am about to explain." Rodney scoffs at himself and stops the recording.
Sam smiles knowing that for sure that was their Rodney. They called everyone to the gateroom. The room was filled with people looking at the devices and no one had been told what they were yet.
"It seems as though we are currently stuck in a time dilation field, and that was the blurry image we have been seeing. At approximately 1300 hours a box containing a letter written by Rodney McKay claims we end up stuck in this time dilation but we have learned how to send messages back to this current time. The future us, believe the key to getting out is within the next 48 hours. It seems everyone plays a part and based on everyone having a file it seems that there may be provisions in case we fail. Please go back to your quarters and listen to the message and meet back in the gate room when you are finished. Please follow whatever direction is given in the audio, I hope our future selves give us the best chance out of it, if not it looks like we can be stuck in here for 11 years." Wolsey explains
Everyone started talking and gasping looking down at the devices.
Jack Whistled loudly
"You heard the man, let's move!" He yelled in his best General voice.
"Thank you," Wolsey stated and simply walked towards his quarters.
John got to his room and put the storage device into the speaker system.
"Uh, Hi, me I guess. Listen, I want us out as much as the next person, the past nine years have been rough there have been tough times but it's also been some of the best years of my life. I want us to make it out of here. I want you to be able to have the freedom and less worry than I have now. As you know Rodney and Sam have the technical aspect taken care of and they are currently telling their selves in meticulous detail how to steer this city back out into hyperspace. You will need to help manage everyone to stay on task, there are a few people who got stuck and weren't given the full story of the stargate, some people were just told that we have an advanced tech to get to the moon. So, some people are going to be shocked and scared. Luckily most of the people on the ship have been here a long time or at least been at the SGC long enough to know this is par for the course. Not that we've been taking it very well either but keep an eye on Wells, Lilly, and Johnson. Also make sure that Melinda Flowers, the biologist is doing okay. Apparently, we know how to calm down a situation. You have been in tougher positions before. We didn't know what this thing was until it was too late and we got stuck in the middle. Knowing what it is now should make getting out of it a breeze. At least that is what Rodney and Sam keep saying. Although if McKay and Sam screwed this up you may already be too far gone. If that is the situation you guys need to start saving any fresh fruit and vegetables and trying to regrow them. Jennifer and a few of the scientists were able to figure out how to grow some things out of proteins as our rations wore thin but the grown stuff is much better. Also, Jack will try to take command, let him. He knows a hell of a lot more than you do. He will eventually hands back the reins, although at the point you won't feel like you deserve them. I have no idea what anyone else has told each other, Sam was weary of too much personal information but I got to tell you, if you do get stuck it's not the worst situation, food sucks, but power is good. Life is good, and family is the most important thing."
John furrowed his eyebrows at that comment.
"Can we say hi dad?" A voice came on.
"Yeah can we?" A younger voice came on.
"I think you already did."
"Hi dad!" The voices rang.
"There you boys are! Your father is doing something important and shouldn't be bothered." Teyla's distinct voice sounded.
"Sorry, mom." The boy's voices rang out.
John's heart quickened and his stomach dropped. In the future, he has kids, with Teyla?
"Any way where was I, oh yes, it's important to mention the shields should be let down there is nothing in here with you, apparently any other ships knew not to come this way or are stuck far enough away that they can't see you. It will save you on power and give you more to thrust out of the dilation. I'm sure Rodney and Sam will tell themselves but it doesn't hurt who knows what details they could leave out, I am sure they have a lot more to say than I do. These past 9 years I've just been doing the best I can to make sure that this is more than just surviving."
John then hears a baby crying in the background.
"I got her," Teyla states.
"Good Luck."
John was dizzy, he gets stuck in a time dilation and has kids with Teyla? John had to admit she was one hell of a woman, but he wasn't dad material, how the hell did that happen? That, was just his future if they get stuck there… Maybe it was just easier to… he stopped he couldn't dwell anymore, and he returns to the gate room.
Rodney listens to his recording, from where it left off.
"Okay first off let me be clear, Sam thinks we, well you have 60 hours to get this done I think it's closer to 80 so we said 72. We approximated calculations with the space dilation but we have no way of knowing how accurate they are without testing, we have sacrificed a few unmanned ships but instantly lose contact when getting out of the anomaly. We assume they made it and that is what the calculations are based on. You and Sam have to figure out the calculations, and how to redirect the ship out of this time dilation, I have included all the calculations and data in several folders you can access in the lab it is much faster than telling you. You would be surprised but both Dr. Daniel Jackson and Jack really will come in handy with research and should be able to help speed things along. Have them help us, but kick O'Neill out when he gets talking about all kinds of food we can no longer eat, and how much he misses lemons. He is just a sour old man pay no mind to him except when he finds something useful. If Carter gets cranky though have her go to him, I'm not sure what the man does but she perks right back up after seeing him. I hate to admit but Zelenka found a way to send this back he worked on that while Sam and I worked on trying to get out of this time distortion as quickly as possible. If you don't get out of this for whatever reason, please make sure you hold Jennifer close she needs you, it's rough being lost out in space and dealing with everyone's aliments including her own. If you don't make it out, life is still okay don't worry too much although I am sure our sister is worried sick. Make sure you and Jackson look into the information storage lab 4c3 when you can as well as the protein molecules. John has quite the green thumb, and you become well, you become someone you aren't now but soon will be. I have to say I am pretty proud of myself and not just for all the amazing information I have found, and theories I have created. If I remember correctly at this point we're wondering if this is finally our time. It is 100 times over. The next year is going to be whirlwind, even if you don't end up stuck here there were already somethings that you don't know have happened yet. Not going to ruin the surprise, Jennifer would kill us. Read over the files and make sure you follow Sam's plan more dangerous but more likely to succeed. Don't tell her I said that though. You're on a time frame, saving us for the 100th time I have no doubts.
Rodney smiled wondering about his future self and what could possibly make him so happy. He could see it as a more relaxed version of himself. He had found himself with Jennifer the past few years but it seems the 9 years in this time dilation has done him some good. He suspected he married Jennifer in that time. That must be what made him so relaxed in the video, but with all that being said was it really so bad to be drifting off into space with the love of your life, they've been in worse situations.
Teyla wonders what she is going to say, how she plays a part in all of this.
"Hello, it's very odd to be talking to myself. Make sure you back John and whenever you have concerns voice them we have saved Atlantis from catastrophic failure twice in the 9 years because the voice of reason doesn't always prevail. Do not worry about this as we are fine in this timeline as you will be in yours I don't know what your timeline holds but here we are happy and we have found everything we have dreamed of, despite losing contact with some loved ones. I remember as we first learned we were stuck in the dilation John had really come to care for our son like Torren was his own. Let him. Let him be there for him, John needs it just as much as you and Torren, don't feel guilty. I had hurt John in a horrible way after about 6 months adrift. We have more than made up now and if things don't go well and you don't get out, you seem to be able to explain to everyone especially Samantha Carter the joys despite everything going on. When Jennifer starts making modified food avoid the corn and don't let her test the cabbage. I know that everyone in the science department is including their breakthroughs hopefully advancing you 10 years in the future when you get out of all this. I don't know what role you play in getting out as we have yet to do it in this timeline. If something goes wrong and you don't get out, start informing people of food preservation, there is plenty of storage containers and canning materials you just have to be creative.
I am not sure how much you are to know of our time it has been a bit of a struggle but more than worth it. We find true love and so much more. Let him love you Teyla, you already love him.
Teyla's eyes widened the recording stopped she doesn't know what she's going to say when they meet back up, she has been denying herself for a long time.
Sam scurries into her living space Jack goes with her. She looks at him questioning why he went with her.
"Please like I have anything meaningful to say." Jack claims.
Sam rolls her eyes knowing full well that he probably has just as much useful advice as she does, albeit in different areas. Sam pops the device in and starts listening.
"This is Samantha Carter-O'Neil." Sam smiles broadly knowing that being stuck on the ship wouldn't have stopped them, they would have kept the wedding date. Teyla would help her with a dress because Jack would rather she wear a T-shirt and pajama pants than her dress blues.
The time dilation field seems to be static, but we can't be certain while we are contained inside. It has been approximately 9 years since we entered the current field, We're not sure if the time dilation field is interfering with our sensors. We tried to send a message to Earth. We do not know if ours ever went through. We have spent countless hours working on the calculations. Rodney and I both have added the files that can be accessed in the lab. He and I both agree it is quicker to read than explain them in this recording but it will take at least 4 hours so get with Rodney as soon as possible I can not press enough about how time sensitive this is. I know McKay implied that we can say anything we want on here, but I still think it's best to let our personal relationships naturally unfold. The data is in order in what Rodney and I feel is the best way to get you out the fastest but there is plenty of other information in case things don't work out.
"I'm going to the lab to meet Rodney tell Wolsey we don't have time to waste, and our information doesn't have anything immediate for him or the rest of the team," Sam claimed.
Jack nodded let his future wife walk out the door and put his clip in.
"Hiya, I don't really know what to say this has been a crazy 9 years, but some happy 9 years at that, so much so, I don't know if I want your timeline you, to get out. Yeah, the food is shit, and Danny gets pretty annoying from time to time but there is so much I've or we've, I don't know how to phrase this. We have grown so much and I'm not sure how else that would have happened without getting stuck in this thing. I mean I know it's best especially for a few people on the ship to get out as soon as possible, but this has almost been a vacation compared to our other outings. It is nerve-racking to see some of the children that have come to only know life on this ship. It's kind of odd explaining mundane things like the grocery store, or a car. It's hard to explain if and when we ever get back to earth, they can eat a Steak. A STEAK, I haven't had one in 8 years 11 months, and 15 days. We're getting old. Carter though fit as a fiddle, and the Doc, Jennifer, Rodney's wife top notch. In all the time out here she's found a way to fix my knees. I hope she included that in her findings. She is just as good as Janet so if you're weary just relax she knows what she is doing despite being young, and foolish enough to marry McKay. Sam won't admit it but she has a rough time, not so much because we're stuck but she hasn't gotten us unstuck and you know how she is with a puzzle she hasn't solved. I hope your Carter does get it done because I think it will save her a lot of heartaches. If your team doesn't beat the odds this time you'll be fine. Just a few notes, even if you go get out you're going to be in Pegasus for a little bit anyway. John is young but he is talented probably 100 times more than I was at his age. We've seen his file but through years of becoming his friend, there is a lot of personal matters that make him the best man out here. He might need some guidance but he's one hell of a military man, and the father I always wanted to be. I know what you're thinking, and Carter would kill me if I answer but I will say this life is 100 times better with her than without her. McKay will grate on both you and Sam's last nerve but you can't kill him, even though Danny and I had made a few plans without anyone knowing the wiser. I didn't include them. I did include some data I could obtain, that I was fearful no one else would include. It's on this drive, and as far as I know, has nothing to do with getting out of this time vortex. Do me a favor will you, as soon as you can get the biggest Steak you can find and a pitcher of Guinness.
Jennifer wondered when she popped her device in, what her role would be. She assumed that a lot anxiety medication would be prescribed and she wasn't sure if they had enough to go around.
"Hello, past me. Wow, a lot is happening to you right now, and I know it has to be hard to process it took me almost 3 years for it to sink in that I would be stuck on this ship possibly forever. A lot of crew is speaking out, and Dr. Monroe was the only therapist she got off the ship before it left Earth Orbit, not that I blame her but I have been doing a lot of therapy, more so than physical medical work. Your medical team is top notch and I have learned to trust all of them over and over again. There is so much research that I am sending back with our team we've made so much advancement along with a lot of Daniel Jackson's findings, we've eliminated a lot of common ailments including the cold. We've taught the body to regenerate cells so injuries can easily be cured. It's all there in the files which will take years to read themselves. I have also included files of everyone on board as of the time we started this journey. I know that the situation isn't the same but I have included everyone's medical file, there are a few surprise diseases that pop up and some other issues, it's nice to have a future health guide. Keep Rodney from drinking too much coffee he thinks he needs the caffeine of 6 people when he doesn't. Also, you need to stay away from caffeine. I know you don't know this yet and I've been battling if I should tell you this at all but here but in about 6 more weeks in my timeline I found out I'm pregnant. I had noticed a lot of the signs attributing them to high stress. You have a baby inside you and it's the strangest thing. It's crazy. Teyla really helped me through and I know she will your timeline too no matter what happens. I know I just dropped this huge bombshell on you I am sorry but you know as well as I the earlier you know the more healthy the baby will be or if you don't think it's the right time well it's easier. Rodney and I are doing fine and this time line. Good luck its a different time line I don't know whats next. Here though we have a happy family. With everything going on remember you are strong, you are beautiful and you are the leader of a medical team on a ship in the middle of space, there isn't anything you can't do. Please wait to tell Rodney you know how bad he panics.
Jennifer was at a total loss, pregnant, but they had been so careful. She closed her eyes if she was already pregnant she must of found out around the 10-12 week mark. It had to be after the moon landing. They were having a moon baby. What nationality would that be? What would Rodney think, what about Wolsey and the rest of the team. She hadn't meant for it to happen. Apparently in that time line she kept the baby. She was dizzy with emotion, she took some deep breaths and went back to the gate room. She quickly found Wolsey told him she had a lot to cover and nothing to inform anyone of yet. She hurried back to the infirmary with her secret safe and attempted to read the first file.
Many people come back to the gateroom worried, claiming they don't have much they can help with. Wolsey ensures them that the scientists here that could help were already in the process.
John is already checking in on people his future self mentions and sees some of them are okay for now and others are already a bit freaked out. Jack is taking over the military groups making sure everyone knows where to go and what their duty is as of this moment stuck in time dilation.
Daniel felt a bit useless at the moment as his future self already did the work needed for translations. He scrolled through amazed by how much he had figured out. He didn't talk too much in his recording. He just said that it was great seeing his best friends love finally flourish, and that he was uncle Danny to a lot of kids running around on the ship. That made him happy. He mainly talked about the future of Atlantis and all the stuff he finally had time to translate. Now that it was all done for himself he took the time to see who needed help.
Richard Wolsey sat in his office wondering for the 1000th time why he agreed to oversee this operation. He thought he was ready for the undertaking he had seen what the SGC did on a regular basis read all the Atlantis reports EVERY SINGLE ONE. At the time he felt like he was doing his best, and what was best for Atlantis by becoming lead but now he wasn't so sure. He felt like he had taken the back seat and listened to everyone else. It was frustrating, to say the least, and his playback of the tape was good but it wasn't like everyone else described. He supposed that after 9 years of being leader, it would wear thin, but he had actually played the video in his office. He barely recognized himself. He had a grizzly beard and looked about 80 years old. He smiled and assured himself that it could have been a "hell of a lot worse." but he looked unhappy overall. He had told himself to trust Rodney, and Sam that John and Jack knew exactly what they were doing. He warned not to micromanage and let everyone do their thing because he really didn't have a lot of experience in anything that was happening. His older self was completely right. He was seriously grateful that Sam, Jack, and Daniel were still aboard. He did trust Rodney and John with his life as they proved over and over again, but he doubts that without the three former SG-1 members there, the 9 years adrift would be as happy-go-lucky as it seemed. Richard Wolsey decided that as soon as he was done, as soon as this ship landed whenever that was he would not ask to renew his stay on Atlantis. It was fine he did the best he could but now he highly doubts it's good enough. He sighed closed his eyes and waited until anyone called for him. For now, he would let people work, and if he hadn't heard anything in 12 hours he'd call a meeting to see where they were. There was no time to waste.
"I'm reading as fast as I can McKay!" Sam claims as he asks if she's gotten to various parts but it seems McKay does have the one up in reading speed and she is getting annoyed by the spoiler alerts every now and again as he starts wildly typing and calculating various scenarios.
Zelenka is the only human that is able to put up with the two of them together for more than 10 minutes at a time and sighed, as he is about 20 pages ahead of them and can almost act out each of their parts when they get to an interesting part. He knows that Rodney's calculation is off because he has already found out that the variables Rodney is putting in are too high based on several hours of research mentioned.
Sam and Rodney keep acting as if the part is bigger than the whole and it's driving Zelenka mad.
"RODNEY, you're wrong both of you, stop overthinking and read, you're future selves have had 9 years of all the hard work. Keep looking and they will supply you the answers." He claims.
Rodney looks up at him and frowns. Sam raises an eyebrow but seems to trust him and puts her pen down and begins to read.
It had been 36 hours since the box mysteriously appeared in the control room, in that time Sam and Rodney had made their final calculations and had since started formulating a plan, the clock was ticking they both knew and although Rodney wanted to disagree with Sam he remembered his older hopefully wiser self to go with the plan. He bit his tongue something he's only done a couple of times he could remember. He allowed her to take the lead. When Sam presented the idea to the scientists one board Zelenkia was fully on board and wished that Sam hadn't left the project. He knows it was never her decision. He shakes his head and knows this is their only chance.
Sam explains to Jack and John what they're doing. John looks at Sam as if she has three heads and Jack just smiles.
"Did you get any of that?" John asks.
"No idea, but it's Carter so it's bound to work." Jack smiles.
John shakes his head and knows that for the past 15ish years, something with that group had to be going right. So he shook his head said a quick prayer hoping something in the universe hears his plea and then follows the list of orders Sam had laid out, to get Atlantis where it needs to be.
6 hours later Sam and Rodney say everything is ready. They turn off various systems, divert power and they push Atlantis as fast as they can without jumping into hyperspace. The ship is shaky the alarms are going off but Sam and Rodney insist it's the only way. The haul is breached on one of the spires far from the city's center, the ship shakes more violently, and everyone who can resorts to sitting on the floor. Items are crashing around them. Sam hopes nothing too volatile has spilled in a lab. They keep going. They are right on the edge of the time dilation if the map is correct. They reach the very edge and it is pushing them back. They knew it could they even thought it would, and Rodney and Sam look at each other and nod their head. The whole ordeal has been over an hour now and they turn off everything except life support and boost themselves the last little bit. The amount of speed is rattling Atlantis apart and it won't survive for more than 5 minutes heavy equipment is falling. Jack is yelling that they need to call it. Sam and Rodney ignore the man, as they can no longer stand at the controls and fall to the floor unable to keep their balance. The time seems to go in slow motion, the noise is like an explosion.
For a minute Sam thought she exploded Atlantis and had just killed everyone on board, but things were quiet and she wasn't quite sure if that was because she went deaf from the sound or she was dead.
Sam felt her heart racing and realized dead was out of the picture at least for a second, then she realized the whole place wasn't shaking anymore.
She stood up and looked at Rodney who had the biggest grin she had ever seen on the man.
"WE DID IT!" He said.
They looked at the map and they were out of the time dilation.
"Is everyone okay?" John and Jack ask at the same time.
"We're good," Sam answered for both herself and Rodney. Helping the man off the floor.
Jack and John make their rounds around the ship accounting for everyone seeing who was injured and what was destroyed.
It wasn't until John and Jack get to the medical bay, that they find Jennifer pinned under a piece of medical equipment.
"Jennifer?!" John yelled.
"I'm okay John, I'm just trapped and I'm claustrophobic." She said breathing hard.
"Are we out?" Jennifer asks.
"Well, yes but you aren't."
"I need help in here!" John called out.
Several military men came in and moved the heavy equipment off Jennifer. No one else was in the medical area at the time but it seemed pretty banged up.
When Jennifer was finally unpinned she had a large bruise across her forearm and her shoulder was dislocated.
"You told me you were fine!" John exclaimed.
"Well I am, for the most part, it could have been worse. A lot worse," Jennifer said and put her hand over her belly.
The two men didn't notice and called for Carson who had been out of the medical bay when it happened.
As they continued looking through the ship, they found Daniel had been in his room and jostled around causing multiple bruises and scrapes. One of the scientists had been in their lab when all the glass instruments went flying causing her to have multiple lacerations and glass embedded in her skin, she was the worst though.
Rodney immediately went to Jennifer when he heard of her condition. Running through the halls to the medical center as Sam got various systems up and running.
"Jennifer, are you okay?" Rodney asks as she is sitting on a gurney.
"I'm fine Rodney." She assured him and has her arm in a sling and deep purple bruise across the top of her forearm.
"That doesn't look fine," Rodney stated in his worried tone.
"It could have been a lot worse we're fine," Jennifer claims.
Jennifer closes her eyes sharply when she says we're. She has only found out about the baby and it's still early very early, and just because a baby happened in the time dilation doesn't mean that this new timeline allows the opportunity. So many things could go wrong so early on, she wished her other self would have kept it a secret. By her calculations she would only be a few weeks along, she wouldn't have even known yet. She really didn't even know yet. She took a breath wondering if she should have Carson run a test.
Richard Wolsey finally was able to open communications and had found all although they'd been in the time dilation for almost 42 hours only 24 hours had passed and although they had missed a check-in, the SGC had no clue anything was a miss as there were regular issues with communication being out between the galaxy.
After everyone was certain they were out of immediate danger, most people went to bed, ready to go over the 9 years' worth of data that everyone had collected and put on storage devices. They hoped it would be quite the advancement.
Jack strolled into, the control room. "5 more days until touch down." He says. Sam and Rodney confirmed that Atlantis was set to land on a planet on the very edge of the Pegasus galaxy. Rodney's theory is that it would want to save as much energy as possible. Sam had agreed.
"Yes, well as soon as we set up, we have a list of people going, home." Richard Wolsey explained.
Jack looked at him.
"I am one of them, and I need someone non-military to take over, the rest of my time. I talked to the SGC and the president today, after this last incident I have found it in the interest of Atlantis, that I take my leave. General, I mean former General you fit the bill technically and I would be honored if you would relieve me of duty as soon as we get everything in order."
Jack looked stunned. As did everyone else in the control room.
"Richard, you're doing fine. We got through it." Jack said.
"We did but not on my account. Please I only have 4 more months and you were the first choice on the list for everyone in the conversation."
"I highly doubt that!" Jack stated.
"Well, mostly everyone," Richard said.
Jack smiled.
"I'm old Richard, I'm retired, I would like to actually retire and spend time with my soon-to-be wife," Jack said.
"Well, I knew you would say that. The higher-ups have no issues with her staying here a few months, and then you can go from there just until they find a replacement." Richard claims.
"They want to meet with you tomorrow either way," Richard claims.
"Of course they do," Jack stated.
Sam, Daniel, Rodney, and John walk into the control room wondering what the heavy topic was.
"Sam, how do you like the Pegasus Galaxy, to hold the universe's best wedding of all time?" Jack asks.
Sam scrunches her face not entirely sure what her soon-to-be husband has up his sleeve.
"I would say we'll talk about it over dinner," Sam said.
"Cool! A dinner date, we haven't had a lot of those Carter every time we try something comes up." Jack claimed.
"Well baring any other major slip-ups, I'll be there 1800," Sam claims.
Jack smiles again.
"We just wanted to give an update on where we're at. It seems our alternate timeline has found so much information in the database. I guess they really didn't have much else to do. The 9 years' worth of research is more like 20 because they had all their time to dedicate towards it. I can't even comprehend some of it, of course, we just did highlight the first go around, but I think we may have found a cure for the wraith." Sam said excitingly.
"Well, now we're back in their territory make that first priority, also say hello to your new leader as soon as I leave for Earth" Richard said.
Everyone is stunned as he points to Jack O'Neill.
"It's a short story really," Jack says.
"I have decided on taking my leave as soon as we have the ship in order, and land on the new Atlantis home planet. After a meeting, The retired General was the first and only pick until a replacement can come through. Don't worry Sam, this will not interfere with your wedding I made sure of it. He is retired and you are still under command of the SGC but you're here as long as you want to be." Richard explained.
Everyone looked around not knowing what to say.
"I know that I took this job from you Sam, and trust me when I say it wasn't my decision, I know we haven't been friends but what has happened in the past 72 hours has been the final nail in the coffin. I was overconfident in my abilities. I know that Atlantis will have Earth's top people caring for it. If you could all come up with a short list of who you feel should be the next commander I would be interested in it. Please, continue with your work." Richard asked.
Everyone looked at each other as the man walked away back into his office.
John was about to go after him.
"Let him go, give him some time," Jack stated.
Jennifer felt ridiculous, she should have just let Carson run a test. She had her arm in a sling, the other free hand with a urine cup. They had pregnancy tests just in case from when they originally went to Atlantis. They were technically outdated but Jennifer knew that a false positive was slim a false negative on the other hand…. She took the small strip and dipped it in the liquid before setting it down. She stared at the control line that turned dark and then waited for the second line. She didn't know how long she waited and there were a few times that she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. So finally she closed her eyes and counted to 10 as quickly as possible to know for certain. There were 2 dark lines indicating that she like the other Jennifer was indeed pregnant.
Jennifer sighed, not sure how she felt. Confirming her future alternate timeline self just made her stomach flip again. Could she even have a kid on Atlantis? Torren was here of course but that was different. Teyla could have returned to her people but she chose to fight. Jennifer wasn't a fighter she was a medical doctor. Jennifer wasn't sure what to do, so she quickly dumped the urine wrapped the test in 20 paper towels, and put it down in the bottom of the trash. She knew she had been acting weird but everyone was, so they all just attributed it to the last few days nothing more, nothing less. This was going to be an awkward conversation. She loved Rodney and could easily imagine them married. She hadn't imagined kids, she certainly thought when she was older, when she and Rodney had no longer felt the need to cling to Atlantis but that was years from now not today. She took a deep breath closed her eyes and went over the conversation in her mind.