Author's Notes: Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Sorry this has taken so long, I've had this chapter half-written for a while but just managed to finish it now.
And I also have the next chapter done which will be up soon.
Enjoy.
Laura Cadman smiled as she watched the crew of the Seaquest mix with the inhabitants of Atlantis. Small groups of soldiers and scientists were sitting around swapping stories about their time on the mythical city or on the flagship of the UEO. It was good to see the two crews interacting so easily.
"It's about time you got here," Rodney said the moment she walked into his lab, "As much as I think she's worrying over nothing Sha're believes I need a babysitter while on the Seaquest."
Laura chuckled, "A better term is buffer."
He frowned at her and Laura patted his arm, "We all adore you, Rodney and we understand your own brand of…communication but other people don't quite get that beneath the egotistical ass is a teddy bear."
"Was that meant to be a compliment?" Rodney demanded.
Laura smiled sweetly at him, "If that's how you want to think of it."
He rolled his eyes and grabbed his tablet before motioning her to hurry up. Laura walked with him to the Seaquest, listening as he rhymed off some ideas he'd had. They reached the boat and were shown to a station to work.
"Captain Bridger," Laura greeted the man in charge when he came over to speak to them, "I'm Major Laura Cadman."
"Major," Bridger shook her hand before turning to Rodney, "Dr McKay."
Rodney glanced up from his tablet and nodded quickly.
Bridger frowned slightly, "Dr…"
"Captain," Laura stopped him saying anything, "If you need anything, please speak to me. Rodney gets a little…brusque when he's focussed."
"And that makes you what?" Bridger asked sarcastically.
Laura gave a blithe smile, "His translator."
Bridger shook his head in bemusement before telling them, "Lucas was hoping he could assist in checking the boat."
Rodney looked up suddenly, "Lucas Wolenczak?"
"Yes," Bridger stated.
Laura saw the protectiveness in the man's eyes, the readiness to defend which disappeared when Rodney nodded.
"I've read his work," Rodney continued looking back at his screen, "He'll be helpful."
Bridger disappeared to call the young scientist leaving them alone again.
"Before I forget," Rodney glanced up at her suddenly, "Jeannie emailed me. She's coming for a visit in a few months, if you want her to bring anything for you."
Laura smiled, "That's great. I heard Madison is in line for one of the SGC internships."
"Of course she is," Rodney replied with a grin as he went back to work, "She takes after her mother…and me."
Laura chuckled, "Any news on little John?"
"He is a maths genius like his mother," Rodney said proudly before he put his tablet down and turned to her with a slight grimace, "I still can't believe she called my nephew after Sheppard."
"He did deliver the baby," Laura reminded him with another chuckle.
"Is that the rule?" Rodney demanded, retreading an old conversation, "Because I delivered Torren and he's still called after Sheppard."
Laura held up her hands in mock defeat, "If I ever have a kid that you deliver then I will call her Meredith or him Rodney. Are you happy?"
Rodney rolled his eyes at her but didn't retort as a teenager appeared. Laura saw the frown of confusion on Rodney's face as he looked at the kid.
"You're Wolenczak?" Rodney demanded continuing before the kid could answer, "I thought you were younger."
Laura forced down a snort of laughter at the stunned look on the teenager's face obviously not used to that particular reaction. When they began to discuss ideas Laura took a seat settling in for a long afternoon.
The sun made both the sea and the city sparkle. Tim and Miguel stared out across the ocean from a balcony on the central tower as Ari stood to one side.
"You guys okay over there?" Ari asked with a chuckle.
Tim turned back to look at her, "Perfectly fine."
"I could stand here all day," Miguel added without looking back.
Ari smiled to herself amused, she still hadn't worked out the secret but she'd at least got the chance to show the city to her two new friends.
"You could see it all the time if you joined us," she noted with a smirk.
The two men turned to her, almost identical frowns on their faces.
"You promised you'd stop," Tim told her.
"I promised no such thing," she laughed at him, "Part of my job is to find the best candidates to work with us and you guys would have great careers at the SGC or here in Atlantis."
Miguel rolled his eyes, "Send me an offer and I'll consider it."
"Miguel?" Tim cried.
The other man shrugged, "There's nothing to say I can't look at alternative job offers. But it'll have to be spectacular to beat the Seaquest."
"Ari," her father's voice sounded over her radio suddenly, "Can you come to my lab?"
"I'll have to drop Tim and Miguel off first," Ari told him.
There was a momentary pause before he spoke again, "Tim is the one who did the translation, right?"
"Yeah."
"Bring him along. He might like to see this."
x
Daniel looked up when his daughter walked into his lab with two of the Seaquest crew. He was so proud of how she'd worked with the crew of the UEO's flagship and helped find their way here.
"Dad, this is Miguel Ortiz and Tim O'Neill," Ari introduced.
Daniel smiled slightly, "The O'Neill who managed to translate Ancient?"
"The very same," Ari grinned.
Daniel offered the younger men his hand, "It's nice to meet you, Mr O'Neill. And please forgive the constant amused smirks. We're all just used to General O'Neill's continual pretence he's dumb."
Tim chuckled shaking Daniel's hand with a smile.
"And Mr Ortiz," Daniel turned to him and offered his hand which Miguel shook quickly, "So has my daughter offered you a job yet?" Daniel asked as Ari looked innocently at him.
"A couple of times now," Miguel replied, "I'm waiting for full details of the offer before I make a decision."
Daniel chuckled motioning them over to the bench where he pulled up the section of the database he'd been working on.
"The boxes that you used to move from Earth to the original Lantea and now here," Daniel explained to them, "Were made by a Lantean scientist called Aldershan. Rodney and I have been studying him for a while now so the information you gave us is extremely useful. In fact within the box we found this."
Tim frowned confused at the symbols on the screen, "What is that?"
"It's a Gate address," Ari explained before turning to Daniel again, "You think there's more information offworld?"
Daniel nodded, "And I thought, since you've all done so much work on this, you'd like to come with me when I go to check it out."
Tim and Miguel stared at him stunned while Ari frowned.
"Really?" she asked suspiciously.
Daniel nodded.
"You know Jack refuses to let me go to any planet that's not been double checked and an honour guard of at least two SG teams," she reminded him.
"I know," he smiled fondly at his daughter, "But I will be there then I can keep an eye on you," Daniel turned to the other two men, "So, do you feel like a trip?"
x
Nathan frowned in thought as the two men stood before him waiting for his answer. He glanced to one side where the younger Doctor Jackson waited smiling slightly.
"Alright," he nodded finally, "You have my permission to join Dr Jackson. One trip only, gentlemen. The Seaquest still needs you."
"Yes sir," they chorused and left quickly before he could change his mind.
"Dr Jackson," Nathan called after the young woman before she could leave, "Please stop trying to poach my officers until after we manage to get the Seaquest back to Earth."
A smile appeared on the young woman's face, "Of course. Though now they're going through the Gate I won't have to keep pitching."
With a smile she left making Nathan shake his head. Heading back up to the bridge he looked over to where Lucas was working with Dr McKay. Major Cadman was sitting to one side with an amused smile on her face as the Head Scientist of Atlantis worked with Nathan's own computer genius. Lucas seemed to be enjoying himself which Nathan had to admit he was relieved about considering McKay came with a self-proclaimed translator.
"Captain," Lucas grinned when he looked up to see him, "Dr McKay has offered to show me the ZPM control room."
A little bemused Nathan nodded, "Good."
"It's what provides the power to the whole of the city," Lucas explained excited.
"Okay," was all Nathan could think to say.
"Do you need me?" Lucas asked hopefully, "Or can I go?"
Nathan chuckled, "Go. Enjoy yourself."
Lucas grinned and joined McKay heading off the bridge, the two talking animatedly as they walked.
Nathan sighed.
"Something wrong?" Cadman asked joining him.
"I've a feeling I'll be leaving here without half my officers," he noted.
Cadman chuckled, "From what I can see they're all very loyal to you. I wouldn't worry," she paused and grinned at him, "Too much for the moment."
"What?" Daniel asked his wife when she walked into his lab while he checked he had everything he needed.
Sha're frowned at him slightly, "Are you going to tell me why you are suddenly happy to take our daughter offworld?"
Daniel chuckled moving to catch her around her waist, "I have taken Ari offworld before, remember?"
Sha're placed a finger on his chest pushing him back from her, "True but usually you surround her with more security than the President."
Daniel looked at her innocently, "I have a security team and she did so much work on this she deserves to see what we find."
Sha're folded her arms across her chest and frowned, "Who are you and where is my husband?"
"She's grown up," Daniel sighed softly, "Just watching her interact with the Seaquest crew I can see that she's not my little girl anymore and if I hold her back she'll begin to resent me."
Sha're slid her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest, "She is close to the age you were when we met."
Daniel pulled back, "Do not give me those nightmares."
She chuckled giving him a quick kiss, "Be careful, my love and take care of our daughter."
x
Sha're smiled when she met the captain of the Seaquest walking through the corridors.
"Good afternoon, Captain," Sha're greeted him, "How are you enjoying your stay on Atlantis?"
"It's interesting, Mrs Jackson," he replied with a smile, "Although I am worried that I'll be leaving without half my crew. Especially if your daughter has her way."
Sha're chuckled, "Arianna can be very determined, something she gets from her father," she told him, "And please call me Sha're."
"Nathan," he reciprocated.
Sha're smiled, "Kristen has told me a great deal about her time on the Seaquest. You and Lucas feature in most of her stories."
"That sounds ominous," Nathan laughed.
She gave a mysterious smile, "More interesting."
"So, your daughter has explained the history of the Stargate and Dr Jackson's part in opening it," Nathan said, "How did you get involved?"
Sha're chuckled amused, "Arianna didn't tell you?"
Nathan shook his head, "I was only given the brief history."
"Considering the situation I understand that," Sha're mused before she smiled again, "I met Dan'iel when he came through the Stargate to Abydos."
Nathan stared at her as he realised what she was saying, "You're not…"
"I am not from Earth," Sha're finished, "Dan'iel and I were married not long after Ra was killed."
They reached the Gateroom and Sha're turned to him again, "Excuse me, Nathan. I need to speak to my daughter before they go but I hope we could talk some more. I am interested in the Seaquest."
x
Nathan watched the graceful young woman who looked more like an older sister than a mother walk over to the daughter before he turned to his two crew members.
"So, are you both ready?" Nathan asked Ortiz and O'Neill.
"Yes, sir," Ortiz answered for them both.
Nathan could see the excitement in their eyes, "As with all missions with other agencies do not embarrass the UEO and listen to any orders Dr Jackson gives."
They nodded. Nathan stepped back and watched them join the team. The younger Dr Jackson gave him a quick nod as she moved away from her mother and joined them.
Sha're Jackson joined him again, "You will want to watch this," she told them before she turned and nodded up to the man sitting at the controls.
The large circle in the centre of the room began to spin, every few seconds one of the sections, he worked out were called chevrons, lit up. Someone called the seventh chevron was locked and Nathan gasped in amazement as the burst of what looked like water came from the centre.
"Yeah," he sighed to himself, "I may have lost half my crew."
Tim let out a gasp as he stumbled through the Stargate. He took a few shaky steps and stared around him astonished that he was on another planet. Somehow being at Atlantis didn't have the same impact than this did.
Turning he saw Miguel at the other side staring around as much as he was.
"How long will we leave them?" Ari's amused voice came.
Tim saw Dr Jackson frown at her.
"Ari," her father said, "They haven't been doing this all their life."
Tim took a deep breath before taking a few steps forward, his steps becoming more assured after a minute. Turning he saw Miguel was still staring at the horizon.
"You okay?" he asked his friend quietly.
Miguel turned a huge grin on his face, "Oh yeah. Aren't you?"
Tim chuckled, turning to the team from Atlantis as they were called.
"Alright," Daniel Jackson called, "Let's get going."
Ari appeared at their sides and motioned them to follow on as they started walking towards the caves opposite the Stargate.
"We think the lab is nearby," Ari explained, "My dad is pretty good at finding these things, though Mom does like to joke he has a habit of falling over them."
"Your mother is one to talk," her father called back to her.
Tim chuckled sharing an amused look with Miguel as they continued on towards the lab.
x
Daniel glanced back to check on his daughter as she walked with the two members of the Seaquest crew. He knew how hard it was for Ari to make friends within the SGC because of both her gifts and who her family were. It was nice to see her so relaxed.
The lab didn't take them long to find. Daniel quickly found the lock and scanned over it reading the script before checking the notes he'd brought with him.
"Well?" Ari asked from his side.
Daniel looked down at her with a fond smile, "I don't think there will be any traps when I open the door but keep your shield up."
Ari nodded and waited expectantly at his side as he input what he hoped was the code. There was a pause before the door slid open and he heard a soft sigh of relief from his daughter.
"Okay," Daniel turned to his team, "Let's have a look. Be careful and don't touch anything."
Daniel stepped back allowing Ari, her new friends and the small team he'd brought to walk round the room. He was so proud of her, he knew Sha're was as well.
The unusual things that had happened to him during his years within the SGC including ascension and his exposure to sarcophagus had muted his aging. Which meant he thankfully didn't look much older than his beloved wife, though many people mentioned he was too young to have a daughter in her twenties and he'd been thinking recently how nice it would be to do it all again, to have a child they could raise together.
A soft smile touched his lips as he imagined a baby boy, abruptly yanked out of his thoughts by an alarm sounding.
"What did you do?" he snapped running over to the control panel that was suddenly lit up.
The young tech shook his head, "I don't know, sir."
Checking over everything Daniel managed to shut off the alarm. The sound of a projectile slicing through the air made him spin and he saw the weapon fly towards Ari. Before he could make a move to do anything O'Neill pushed her out of the way.
"Tim," Ari's horrified voice mingled with Ortiz as the arrow slammed into the man and he fell to the ground blood dripping onto the floor.