ShaViva's Stargate Fan ... Stuff

Thursday 23rd April | 0900 hours | Infirmary, Private Quarters

Elizabeth sat in her room, dressed and with her legs folded as she flipped through some open files. After the scare during Atlantis' latest chaos, Elizabeth had landed herself substantial residence in the private sector of the infirmary. There had been some concern that her body and consciousness might be rejecting one another. Or, what would be worse, somehow she had remained infected by the nanites that once plagued her body, although no obvious trace of them could be found.

Luckily for her all the tests they could think of to run proved to be negative. All of them so far. That had helped the physicians narrow it down to a neurological matter. While that itself was a little scary, at least they knew where to begin treatment. And, it had also meant she could tackle more work while she was staying there. Goodness knew she was far enough behind already.

Elizabeth had only to sit and wait for her final diagnosis before she was to be released as normal. That was assuming nothing was physically wrong. She had been visited by someone from the psychiatric team to help walk her through stress and new meditation methods, and it had seemed to help balance out the mood swings. She still had some issues sleeping, but with the piles of work she had to catch up on it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The sooner she could leave, the better.

It was to a point where there were nearly too many bridges to mend if she had to remain away much longer. These days the former leader of Atlantis lived under fear of public opinion even more so than when she first took her post. She could handle people questioning her abilities. But when her health itself was questionable ... it wasn't an easy thing to reassure people about.

Sighing Elizabeth rubbed her eyes as she crossed the Ts and dotted the Is on another paper. She would give anything for a decent cup of coffee. But, given her sleeping habits it was unadvised.

Doctor Keller knocked on the door as she pushed it open. "Dr. Weir." She smiled at her. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better," Elizabeth admitted with a relieved sigh. A soft smile spread across her face as the other woman entered the room.

Elizabeth didn't have as much time as she would have liked to get to know Jennifer. Regardless, she respected the woman who had stepped up into Carson's shoes with little hesitation. Because of that and from the proof of her merit, Elizabeth had grown quite quickly to respect her.

"So, how am I?" she asked hopefully.

"I have good news," Jennifer stated. "I've gone over all of your most recent test results, and we're confident that the cause of all your problems was - well, for lack of better terminology, Conscious Rejection. Since you've begun the meditation all of our tests have started to normalize. Your latest MRI showed very little of the hyper brain activity that we noticed before. With routine follow-ups, I don't see why we can't release you."

A broad grin spread across Elizabeth's face, relief following soon after. It was really too good to be true. Though she felt slightly silly that she had essentially panicked herself into this position. To her credit she had been thrown many bombs at her feet while she was regaining her balance. And now she would have proof she trusted that everything truly was under her own control.

"That's wonderful to hear," Elizabeth beamed. "Thank you for everything, Jennifer." She hoped that she still had the right to be informal. "Are there any other actions I should take?" She wanted to make sure she really did have everything under control. "When should I check in again?"

"In one week," Keller explained. "We'll do weekly check-ups for a while, and if you continue to improve, those will go to monthly. In six months time, if there hasn't been another incident, or any sign of deterioration, we can wait another six months before your next check-up. We want to keep an eye on your progress, but I see no reason why you won't continue to improve. You were put through quite an ordeal, in hindsight we should have allowed you longer to recover. As of right now, I'm going to say that you're fit to return to your normal daily routine."

"Don't trouble yourself too much," Elizabeth reassured her. She knew that doctors must feel every mistake even more deeply than other leaders on Atlantis. After all, they personally held lives in their hands.

"Thank you so much," Elizabeth added once more as she started gathering her belongings ... the things she planned to migrate back to her still unsorted office. "I'm glad I can have peace of mind now ... no pun intended." She grinned, glad that the ordeal was over.

Well, one step down, one to go.

Friday 24th April | 1100 hours | Dip Ops Division, Elizabeth's Office

Elizabeth stood in the middle of her office with a sense of pride. After being released from the infirmary the day before she had moved back into her permanent quarters. There she had finished up the paperwork she had brought from the infirmary. Then, first thing in the morning she had marched her way to her office. While Leia and Daniel had obviously pitched in to see that the room wasn't a complete disaster of papers, reports, and things she hadn't had the chance to put away, there had still been a lot to tackle.

Yet, only three hours after she had arrived she had managed to get all the stray items dusted and organized. That included, of course, an organized pile of papers that needed to be signed off on, read, or otherwise authorized. They ranged from urgent to the kind of claims that made Rodney's citrus restriction propositions seem almost legitimate. Her arms crossed over her chest, Elizabeth nodded, satisfied. Now, off to actually making a dent in the unfinished papers.

Elizabeth pulled the first file and had opened it with an optimistic mindset. She wanted to whittle the stack down to half before she left today. And, with any luck, finish the rest before lunch the next. First the technical stuff, then the people stuff. She did have to prove she was still a competent and dedicated worker after all. She had no sooner leaned back in her chair, though, than a light knock came tapping at her door.

"Come in," she welcomed, placing the paper down.

"Doctor Weir," Major Lorne stood in the doorway, looking a little uncertain. Truth be told he felt a little guilty it had taken him so long to check in with Doctor Weir. Too many hours together spent wondering what trouble Team Sheppard had gotten themselves into had forged a friendship between the two. Of course Lorne had visited Elizabeth in the infirmary when she'd first been allowed visitors but then his ATA problems had escalated, culminating in him crashing the Jumper and shaking his brain up but good. In fact, this was only the second day he'd been allowed back on restricted duty, his forehead still bearing the evidence of the impact with the Jumper front view screen. "It's good to see you back here," Evan added. "How're you feeling?"

"Evan!" Elizabeth leaned back with a grin ... seeing his forehead she frowned deeply.

She had, of course, heard about his little trip. In Atlantis it seemed that even the walls had ears. But Elizabeth hadn't seen the evidence of it yet. It was always troubling on several accounts to see men like Lorne and Sheppard injured. They were military, in control. They faced danger because of honor and duty and at times it made them seem indestructible. But it was times like these, the visible bruises and scars, that served as reminders otherwise.

"Much better then you appear," Elizabeth said in response with some morose. She knew they wouldn't release him or allow him back to work if he was unwell. But she wasn't about to underestimate the power of persuasion. After all, she'd used the tactic herself once or twice. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Almost back to normal," Evan relied. "Don't let the bruises fool you ... they make it look at lot worse than it was. I'll be back to full duty in a couple of days."

"I noticed you had two of your team members placed within my department," Elizabeth began. "Is your new team coming together well?" What might seem like idle chatter was actually important to her. Lorne's team was the second line. That being the case, he didn't get into much better positions than Sheppard. And that was saying something. She had grown to like Evan quite a bit. She'd hate to see something happen to him when he could have a better support group.

"Yeah - Moreno and Parker transferred a few weeks back," Lorne replied. "I would have already sorted the new placements if not for ...," he trailed off, gesturing to his head with a rueful shrug. "Got a couple of ideas for replacements. Have to talk to them first ... see if they're interested." Evan glanced at all the paperwork neatly sorted and raised an eyebrow in enquiry. "You settling back into work okay?"

"Yes," she agreed. "My time away actually quite helped me catch up on all of ...," she paused, looking down at her desk, seeing the stacks still there and chuckled slightly. "Well this. I know it doesn't look it, but... it would have been twice as high."

"Actually..." Elizabeth breathed out, setting her elbows on the table. She should be honest. "It's still a bit ... strange. Having less work should feel freeing ... but it's still a little ... I don't know." She leaned back in her chair. She didn't really want her her old job back. To be frank, she was growing tired of true administration. She was sick of second guessing, worrying about the blame that would later be needlessly placed - it only led to quieting her instincts. But it still felt like there was something missing. Elizabeth just couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"You got a clean bill of health from the Docs?" Lorne asked, frowning as he considered her words. She nodded an affirmative reply. "Maybe you just need time to get used to everything," he suggested, relaxing a little. "It's a pretty big shift in roles ... and you know, being in charge can be a little addicting. Hard to give up control," Evan smiled ruefully before adding, "Well, the illusion of control anyway. The up side will be you'll get to go off world more than you ever could before ... once the reshuffling and reorganising is over."

Elizabeth smiled at the thoughts that entered her head. She had always wistfully wished that she'd been able to venture off Atlantis a little more in the past. Then again, she'd also been on the worrying end too many times to count. She wasn't afraid of danger. Well, at least not unreasonably so. But she couldn't help but wonder if one day a team would be coming to rescue her own team. Was that likely?

"We can never truly be in control of anything. The best we can do is prepare for the possibilities," Elizabeth said with conviction. "Still, you're right. It will be nice to be able to face some of the peoples I've heard so much about in person."

"That’s what all the training and planning is all about," Evan agreed, shifting to rest some of his weight comfortably against the nearest handy piece of furniture.

"But I suppose that also means I get to assemble my own team." the realization dawned on Elizabeth, causing her to look quite quizzical. She hadn't considered it. She had made plenty of recommendations and approvals for such things in the past. But since most of the groups were military based, it was rarely within her actual jurisdiction. "Any suggestions?"

"How about Moreno and Parker?" Evan quipped, but semi seriously. "They were assigned to your department based on backgrounds that indicated they'd be compatible with the diplomatic nature of the work. Then you choose a linguist with a similar background and you'd have yourself a pretty strong team."

Elizabeth nodded. The thought of those two had crossed her mind. After all, if Evan had trusted them they must have been decent. She just hadn't been positive if they would both be a good match.

"Doesn't Moreno know a few languages herself?" Elizabeth said more in thought to herself. "Yes, I believe she does. Granted you're right, we may need a linguist other than myself. But between the three of us we'll either be a very effective team... or drive poor Parker mad!" She smirked.

The diplomat exhaled happily. She would have to make it a point to see Evan more often. He really was a good friend to her.

"Thank you," she said, out of the blue, without further explanation.

"Hey, all part of the service," Lorne returned, eyes twinkling with amusement. "You had what you wanted for your team already there so I don't think I helped that much." He sobered as he looked at Elizabeth. "You know ... it's really good to have you back and well again Doctor Weir."

Elizabeth smiled ... Evan knew it would take time for her to truly feel like she was back to her old self but she'd already come a long way.

"I'll just leave you to your catching up," Lorne said, taking his leave with a friendly wave and a mental promise to himself that he'd make more effort in future to stop in on Elizabeth, even just to say hello.

Saturday 25th April | 1000 hours | Daniel’s office

Major Lorne walked down the corridor towards Cultural Sciences, feeling more like himself than he had since the whole Puddle Jumper debacle. Happy to have his ATA gene working as it should be and looking forward to returning to full duty on Monday, Evan's morning mission was about what to do with his still half empty team. Since Daniel was the only other member still assigned and his 2IC, the Major felt that discussing his ideas before acting on them made sense.

"Daniel," Lorne stopped in the doorway and waited for the other man to look up from his work. "Got a minute?"

"Of course," Daniel looked up with an affable smile followed by a low groan and stretch where he had been bent over his work station. He waved his hand at the coffee maker sitting on the credenza, "Come in, coffee's fresh and I'm glad to see you back out and around."

Daniel had been to see Lorne off and on during his convalescence but only briefly and not as often as he should have considering the man was his team leader. Unfortunately, all of the upsets from the sabotage had seen a reduction in Daniel's work force as several of his staff had requested transfers back to Earth or out of the SGC altogether. This had left the department chief with even more work than normal.

"Not as much as I am," Lorne replied with a grin. "Sitting around all day doesn’t do it for me normally, even less so with all the restrictions. Still – all the brain cells appear to be in tact so that's something, right?"

Walking over to the coffee, Evan poured himself a mug and moved to sit in the chair across from Daniel’s.

“I’ve had plenty of time the past few days to think about the team,” he began, sipping his drink and smiling appreciably. “With Moreno and Parker reassigned ... well, I’ve got a couple of ideas for replacements and I wanted to get an opinion before I take it any further.”

"That's a positive spin on being concussed and out of action," Daniel stated. "Let's hear it." Turning, Daniel grabbed a fresh cup of coffee and settled in with his bright blue eyes focused on his CO. Team balance was of paramount importance so Daniel would give this subject all the consideration and input he could from the standpoint of over twelve years of experience.

“Okay, Moreno and Parker were military but I don’t see any reason why we necessarily need to replace them both following that same mix. Although I’d like at least one other person I can expect to follow orders without question,” Lorne grinned. “I’m thinking Captain Sterling ... if he’s interested and if General O’Neill will release him.”

"Mixed teams can be an asset...and a detriment," Daniel noted with a grin at Lorne's token prod at having a known renegade civilian as his second. "I only met Hauptmann Sterling in passing. Seemed like a good man and I know if Jack selected him he was top of his game."

“There’s that,” Lorne agreed. “I had the chance to work with him during the investigation and spoke to him before they left. He’s smart ... he notices things ... and I can already hear the philosophical debates the two of you are likely to get into.”

"Then he sounds like a good fit, Evan. No better way to find out, though, than to try it out," Daniel stated affably.

“For the remaining position I’m thinking to emulate Colonel Sheppard’s team and go for a permanent scientist ... Radek, actually, if I can convince him to say yes.”

Daniel took a few more moments to answer on Lorne's last suggestion. He liked Radek Zelenka and admired the man's intellect and perseverance in the face of situations he could hardly have anticipated encountering. "Radek's a great scientist. What about his field experience and actual field training? I know at the SGC everyone was required to go through the eight week training course...even if they were expected to only be in research and development. I'm less familiar with protocol and procedure on that out here."

“They’ll both have to complete the required training here,” Lorne agreed. “Radek’s done some but could probably do with the complete treatment again. Sterling will get credit for some of his SGC training but at the very least he’ll take Ronon’s program. Assuming that either of them actually wants to join the team of course.”

Daniel nodded, both acknowledgment and agreement, "Sounds like a good balance for us if it works out." Pausing, he grinned wryly at Lorne, "I probably should take whatever required training there is here as well. I'm up-to-date on all my SGC requirements, weapons re-qualifying, HTH...as much as I've ever been able to qualify on that..."

"There are a few extra sessions specific to Pegasus," Lorne agreed. "You should sit in on those as well as checking out Ronon's hand to hand course." Evan grinned. "Who knows ... maybe Ronon can push you past the barrier, get you qualified at a higher level."

Daniel shook his head, "Hmmmm...no. I've done my HTH sparring with a T-Rex. Remember, Teal'c handled that training for our team. However, I will sit in on the Pegasus Basics." He grinned at Evan not adding that he loathed HTH and having someone hit him really only served to piss him off and he found hitting back barbaric and it usually made him equally angry.

"Hey, that fight was stopped before we found out who would have won," Lorne teased, alluding to the sparring match between Ronon and Teal'c that had ended in a draw when Colonel Carter had broken it up. "But I take your point ... hand to hand qualifications via Teal'c gets you a tick in that particular box." Standing, Evan nodded purposefully. "Okay - so that's the plan. I'll talk to Sterling and Radek and then take it from there. Thanks Daniel."

Lorne had suspected Daniel wouldn't object to his choices ... and if all went according to plan they'd end up with a well balanced team.

Sunday, 26 April 2009 | 0700 Hours | North Pier 

Daniel made his way slowly to the North Pier. Jack had been back on Atlantis for almost a week and busy with setting up his new department. Jackson had often found himself drafted to aid in doing this and that so overall it had been a busy week. He had not begrudged sharing his time considering that it meant another member of his family would be staying on Atlantis for the foreseeable future. He did begrudge being dragged to the pier at this obscenely early hour on a Sunday, however, and intended to grumble until the Old Man bought breakfast.

Setting his gun case down, Daniel stepped back inside the corridor and across to a locked storage room. Keying in a pass code on the lock, he walked in and wheeled the portable skeet shooting trap out to a safe point on the pier. Uncoiling the power cord, he trailed it back to just inside and slotted the plug into a receptacle. Returning, he made sure the machine was not powered up before returning to the storage room and bringing out several boxes of the clay pigeon targets.

With the chute loaded and a thorough safety check done on the machine, Daniel sat down on the bench, pulled a thermos from his ammo pouch and poured a cup of hot coffee. Next, he opened his gun case and began pulling each piece of the 12-gauge Kolar Skeet Max shotgun out, wiping it down with a soft close, checking for cleanliness and slotting the sections together.

If asked several years previously what he thought about skeet shooting, Daniel would have simply looked clueless and asked what area of the globe skeet were native to and why shoot them? Jack had, however, thought shooting at innocuous and harmless clay birds was the ideal way to train Daniel's eye and get him adjusted to the noise of gunfire. Although they wore ear protection on the skeet range, the sport had served its purpose. Daniel could now cope with the sound of gunfire without closing his eyes and trying to burrow under the nearest rock to get away from the noise. And, with specially fitted contact lenses, he had proved himself a better than average marksman with an instinctual ability to track and fire.

It had not endeared guns to Daniel, but it had taught him how to accept and handle them with skill and safety. It was another measure of the man that he was that Daniel tended to do the best he could at any endeavour despite his liking or disliking for that endeavour. He deplored killing and carrying guns, but that was a necessity in order not to unduly endanger the rest of his teammates. Daniel had adapted, trained, and learned what he had to in order to be proficient. Now...while an entirely different weapon altogether than the Beretta 9mm sidearms and P-90 assault rifles, the Kolar still let him hone his eye and targeting skills during mission dry spells and in between training sessions.

With the shotgun together, but no rounds loaded, Daniel leaned back to enjoy his coffee and wait for Jack.

“Oh good,” Jack strode out onto the pier five minutes late to find Daniel already there and waiting for him. “You set up?” he nodded to the portable skeet shooter while at the same time dropping his bag to the bench and unzipping it, pulling out a Marine Remington 870 12-gauge pump action shot gun with side saddle for extra rounds.

He’d requisitioned the gun from Munitions late the previous day, opting for a standard issue Air Force weapon rather than the specialised gun Daniel favoured.

Daniel had come a long way since the first time they’d stood next to a clay pigeon shooter and Jack had insisted Daniel fire at the targets. It had been a while too and Jack was curious to see whether his friend had kept up his skills.

The archaeologist grinned and pointed at a spare thermos of hot coffee already doctored to Jack's liking, "Sam mumbled something about killing me if we didn't take her to breakfast after this," Daniel said by way of greeting his friend.

The younger man could not help but wonder if this outing was a test to see if he had kept his training up to date since Daniel was once again assigned to a field team after only the briefest of breaks from being out of the field. Not only a member of one of Atlantis' top teams but also it's second-in-command. Mentally, Daniel grinned. This was as close as Jack came to being a Mother Hen unless blood loss occurred.

Daniel waited a few moments while Jack got set up and got his first sips of coffee. He then stepped over by the trap and set the switch to on and moved the foot pedal to a safe distance. He knew the first couple of shots would be needed to calibrate for wind direction and speed as well as correct the throw from the trap if necessary.

"Yell when ready," Daniel said knowing that both he and Jack were very lax about the formal call of Pull to indicate releasing a target.

Jack set his coffee aside, checked his shotgun and then quickly slotted three of a possible eight rounds into the bottom loading internal tube magazine. The ratcheting sound the pump action made was always satisfying, the sound alone striking fear into the hearts of would be attackers.

Moving to the railing, Jack raised the weapon to shoulder height, right eye squinting through the iron sight.

“Hit me,” he said confidently, tracking the clay pigeon as it released smoothly and then sailed rapidly away before veering sharply in the wind.

Pulling the trigger, Jack went with the recoil instinctively after years of practice, grinning over at Daniel as the target shattered into a burst of red dust before being blown from sight.

“A little more speed,” he advised, stepping back and lowering the gun.

Daniel nodded and made the adjustments as well as making his own mental notes on the trajectory of the target, wind speed and direction. Stepping back, he place his foot lightly on the control pedal, "Ready."

Jack readied himself again, sighted and then said quietly “Hit me.”

The clay disk spun through the air faster than before, the extra speed enough to counter the wind. Acquiring the target, setting himself, and executing the shot were second nature to Jack ... years spent in black ops doing things he’d never admit to anyone. He fired moments after the target was released. As with the first, the second pigeon burst into tiny granules and was carried away to nothingness.

“Your turn,” Jack lowered his shotgun, putting the safety on and placing it carefully on the bench away from their position. Returning, he motioned Daniel away from the release peddle, waving a hand to get him moving into position. “Let’s see what you can do,” Jack challenged, waiting for Daniel to give the word that he was ready.

Daniel nodded and picked up the Kolar, sliding a round into the top and bottom chambers. Settling the gun familiarly against the padded shoulder of his shooting jacket, he narrowed his eyes against the sunlight before lowering the gun and nodding at Jack.

"Pull," he said and tracked the clay target as it hurtled up and away. Bringing the shotgun smoothly into position, he fired the top barrel and watched as the target shattered, and then called Pull again using the lower barrel to take out the second target with practiced ease.

"Sweet," Jack grinned, delighted at his friends prowess. "You been practising?" he asked as he moved to reload the skeet shooter so Daniel could impress him some more.

Daniel grinned, "Not only practicing but I joined a club back home for awhile." He flipped the safety and lowered the shotgun, opening the chamber and removing the expended rounds. His sigh at having mastered this skill was inaudible although he felt a faint flush of pleasure that Jack both approved and seemed impressed. It was hard to please the older man and even more difficult to impress him. While Daniel did not spend hours and hours with worrying about those things or even striving for them...it felt good when they happened.

"And ... you know ... field missions ... running, screaming, being shot at, shooting things. It had to settle in this hard head of mine eventually, dontcha' think?" Daniel quipped back the response that would be expected, keeping his other thoughts regarding having become better than average as a marksman to himself.

"No matter how unwillingly," Jack agreed, knowing that part of Daniel would always mourn the fact that he was no longer the idealistic young archeologist who'd walked through the Stargate for the first time. The General didn't regret that he'd forced Daniel to set foot on that journey, more convinced now than he'd been at the time that their efforts to fight back their enemies needed Daniel at the forefront. "You going again?" he nodded towards the skeet shooter enquiringly.

Daniel shook his head and reached for his coffee thermos, "I thought I'd let the old dog show me any new tricks," he teased. "I haven't done this in a bit. I need the caffeine input to help me plot against the targets." He obligingly stepped over to the trap preparing to pull for Jack after laying his gun on the its case.

Picking up his shotgun, Jack loaded the full eight rounds and took up his stance at the railing. Slanting a glance at Daniel he grinned in anticipation. "Old dog huh Daniel?" he thought in amusement. "Eight targets, five second intervals," he requested aloud.

The next forty seconds were filled with the sounds of the clay pigeon being launched, Jack's shotgun racheting in each new round as the spent one hit the floor, the echoing burst of each round fired followed closely by the hardly discernable sound of the targets disintergrating. Eight targets ... eight direct hits ... not bad for an old man ... if Jack said so himself.

Lowering the shotgun, Jack grinned across at Daniel. "Breakfast?" he asked, done with showing off for one day.

Daniel grinned and said affably, "Seeing as there's no way I can match that...breakfast sounds good. Will you break down the guns while I store the trap?"

Jack's response: "So ... not such an old dog after all," Jack quipped, moving to take care of both his and Daniel's weapons. In most things Daniel could have his head spinning inside of five minutes ... it was nice to know that he hadn't lost his edge where he was counted on.

Sunday, 26 April 2009 | 0900 Hours |Club Thirty-Nine

Daniel and Jack separated at the elevator/transporter depot to each go and remove the smell of gun oil after their morning on the pier with Daniel heading back to Sam's quarters where he was spending the majority of his free time these days. Sam was up and dressed and greeted him with a kiss and demand for breakfast. Daniel nodded and slipped into the shower returning a few moments later dressed for the day in jeans and a white button-down thrown over a light blue T-shirt.

Taking her hand, they exited the quarters and headed for the club to meet Jack. Daniel knew with the change in his and Sam's personal relationship that there would be adjustments for all three of them to make with one another. Arriving at the entrance of Club Thirty-Nine, Daniel spotted Jack almost immediately at a table on the balcony. He and Sam made their way outside and took seats flanking Jack.

"Hey, Jack," Daniel greeted affably, taking his seat after seeing Sam seated first. "Our little outing has stirred up an appetite..."

"Daniel, Sam," Jack greeted his friends, noting again the change in the atmosphere now they'd 'declared' themselves a couple. The fact that they'd turned up together ... a unit ... had a whole host of emotions swirling inside and Jack realised he probably had some adjusting of his own to do. It was just another example of how the team had moved on ... grown and changed ... while he'd been chained to a desk job in Washington. Jack had spent plenty of time mourning everything he'd lost being forced to take a promotion and location change when General Hammond had retired, but clearly he wasn't quite done yet. Still, no point in bringing that whole mess to the breakfast table.

Shooting a sly grin at Daniel, Jack then looked at Sam. "Did Daniel tell you the highlights of our little outing?"

"He said that the two of you spent the morning just shooting the breeze," she said with a smile. "Which explains why he had his gun with him. It sounded like a sport the pair of you would come up with," she teased, knowing very well they were skeet shooting. "How are you settling in," she asked him.

"Fine," Jack replied blandly. "Not much to settle at this point ... things will heat up once the Daedalus arrives."

Daniel turned to Sam, eyes sparkling with humor as he decided to impart the highlights of their morning since Jack seemed reluctant, "Well...age and bad knees notwithstanding, Jack won the skeet round hands down. I may have to ante up for a pump action shotgun instead of the over-and-under. Jack didn't miss a shot," he added with a note of pride in his voice for his friend's accomplishment. Nailing every target with the lag of having to pump a new round into the chamber was no easy feat. Daniel knew Sam would easily be able to appreciate that point as she had, in the past, often accompanied the two men on these outings.

"Well done." Carter gave the General a pleased look. "What did the two of you have planned for the rest of the day," she asked.

"I try," Jack said modestly in response to her praise. Expression thoughtful, he added "I have no idea what there is to do around here ... probably stick with Simpson's and beer, not necessarily in that order. Sheppard promised me a game of chess but I'm free until midday." Looking slyly from one to the other, O'Neill smirked. "I'm guessing the two of you have plenty to keep you occupied."

Daniel returned Jack's look with a bland one of his own, "Actually...Sam and I hadn't made any plans for today beyond this morning. So...what about an afternoon on the Swimming Pier? Jack can fish...Sam and I can...fish."

"You want to go fishing?" Jack asked, surprised, and more than a little touched that Daniel would go so far to make sure Jack wasn't spending the day alone - not that's he'd ever admit it. Grinning, the General nodded. "I wonder what's biting."

The archaeologist chuckled, "Actually, I was thinking of a picnic basket and swim trunks...lots of splashing around...scaring the fish. Of course, there's the beach blanket, iPod, and catching the sun angle too."

"Now that sounds more like you Daniel," Jack smiled. "Swimming it is ... I'll go grab my gear, see you ... where exactly?"

"How about Sam and I meet you at your quarters? We'll provide the picnic basket," Daniel said just as the server showed with their breakfast orders.

"Sure," Jack agreed, before turning his attention to breakfast.

They lingered awhile longer over their morning mean before paying the tab and exiting. Splitting at the transporter, Daniel told Jack it would probably be a half hour before they got everything put together for their day on the pier.

Sunday, 26th April | 1200 hours | Mess Hall Balcony

General Jack O'Neill walked into the Mess Hall a couple of minutes before his scheduled meeting with Colonel Sheppard. Tucked under his arm was a wooden box, scuffed and worn in places, but held in such a way as to suggest that the contents were important to the General. Choosing a table on the balcony Jack sat, opened the box and began setting up the contents. Chequered board of black and ivory squares first and then two sets of matching chess pieces in a classic design. He was just positioning the last pawn when he heard footsteps approaching.

Col. Sheppard had been on time in the Mess Hall but he saw that General O'Neill was already there. Walking out on the balcony the General had chosen, Sheppard saw the chess set nearly set up. It was an old-fashioned wood set with classical pieces; one that looked like it had seen many a good game over the years. "General," Sheppard stopped on the other side of the table.

"Colonel," Jack replied, waving a hand toward the opposite chair. "Have a seat," he invited casually. It was chess but Jack was hoping for an easygoing atmosphere - more the chance to get to know the other man better than to assess whether he had any skill at the game.

Sheppard settled on one of the chairs opposite of the General. Letting his eyes wander over the chess board for a moment, taking in the figures ready to move, he smiled appreciatively. "I see you got everything already set, Sir." So they'd just need to get started and allocate sides.

"I did," Jack agreed. Taking up a white and black pawn, Jack held them behind his back and shuffled them a few times before clasping one in each closed fist and holding them out in front of him. "Which hand?" he asked Sheppard with a slight smile.

Sheppard grinned. "Right," he chose.

Jack opened his right hand to reveal the black pawn. "I guess I go first," he said, replacing the two pawns and then considering his first move. Electing to begin the opening stage of the game from the centre, Jack moved one of the middle pawns two spaces forward. "How'd it go confessing to your team?" he asked, sitting back casually.

Sheppard had taken the black side gladly. Having the initiative often meant you relied on that fact and became blind to other options. "It went good," he replied, moving one of his pawns in a semi-classical response to the classical opening move. "Friends like them are rare."

"I know how that goes," Jack replied, taking a moment and then quickly making another move. "That mission I mentioned before I left ... had to lie to my entire team and sure, they were more than a little peeved, but they forgave me."

Sheppard listened, his curiosity peaked. "You had to fully outright lie to them?" he asked, wondering what kind of mission required such a measure. "I... I’m not sure if a lie would even work with my team," he admitted.

“Almost didn’t with mine,” Jack admitted. “I really had to hit low to get them to believe my cover story. You think they won’t believe a lie but you know them better than anyone else ... you know where their Achilles heel is. You aim for that and they’ll believe you because they believe even less that you’d ever use that knowledge against them.”

Studying the last move the General had made on the chess-board, Sheppard didn't reply at once. "But what if your team knows you equally well - and knows beyond a shadow of doubt what you'd do or not do?" He asked moving a pawn towards the white knight. "If they know you better than you know yourself at times?"

"Then you take them into your confidences because they'll get there on their own anyway," O'Neill replied with a shrug, making a suitable counter move. "What worked for me early in the piece wouldn't work now ... because they do know me too well ... or at least they think they do."

Sheppard frowned, not at the words but at the move on the board. It was a surprise, forcing him to take another set of moves into consideration. "After ten years? I'd swear they do." He had observed the closeness between them the moment the General had come to Atlantis to investigate the incidents. "But then - that's what it takes beyond the gate - if we can't rely on each other absolutely we won't last long out there. Rely on each other, trust each other and know that we'll bring our people home - no matter what." The last was accompanied by another move on the board while Sheppard looked up, meeting the General's eyes.

"Always room for a little mystery," O'Neill quipped, focussing on the other man's move for a few moments thoughtfully. He'd been attempting to gain dominance over the middle of the board ... Sheppard's move hadn't derailed that but he'd have to make a couple of extra moves to get back on track. Looking up as the last part of Sheppard's statement registered, Jack nodded intently. "First rule of business," he agreed. "No one gets left behind. Makes sense from a military perspective ... how can we expect our people to risk their lives unless they can count on someone backing them up?"

Sheppard studied the General's move - damn, he'd have to be careful! Selecting one of the bishops he moved in right of centre. Plans within plans within plans. "It’s more than that, Sir," he said, "it’s a message we send to those allied with us, and the picture we present to the cultures we’re dealing with. If we can’t be loyal to our own people - how can we be loyal to our allies or expected to keep our word?"

"Would be nice if they were loyal ... kept their word ... in return," O'Neill replied, his expression bland. "I've seen the Atlantis mission reports ... you know what I'm talking about. We make alliances, commit our resources and turn up when requested. Don't always get the same treatment in return." The prior moves had given him the option of castling and Jack used that now to protect his King. He was happy with the campaign so far ... the group of pawns he'd moved forward to hinder Sheppard's ability to attack primary pieces ... his foot soldiers capable of winning the war. Looking back up at Sheppard, Jack grinned. "Of course it would help if we stopped making allies of our enemies ... that never works out, does it?"

Mass tactics - in a real fight it would take some good weeding out of enemy ranks, on the chess board it took some more manoeuvring. "So we go with the 'most-hated-archenemy' attitude and decide the realm of evil is out here and won't ever change?" Sheppard challenged the last statement. "Go for total annihilation as the one total victory instead?" He knew that sometimes there might be no other solution, but before he ever went there, he wanted to make sure that there really was no other solution.

"In the overall campaign an individual decision to test the enemy ... turn him into friend instead of foe ... can have an impact," Jack responded, "even if that individual battle doesn't go in our favour. But at the end of the day I don't believe it's about good versus evil ... its about reality ... and in reality rarely does an enemy of the magnitude of the Wraith ... or the Gou'ald become a true ally. They might give the appearance of operating side by side but in a conflict that threatens their existence, true nature will out." Jack shrugged. "That doesn't discount being friends with one specific Wraith for example ... I've been around long enough to know there are always exceptions to every rule." Looking down at the board, Jack made a move consistent with his planned approach and sat back to await Sheppard's reply.

"Being friends with that particular Wraith taught me first and foremost what I don’t know about Wraith," Sheppard replied, indirectly paraphrasing what was the first credo of his antagonistic friendship with Todd. "And if we stop trying - if we decide the Wraith can never change and never be anything but an enemy - then we’ll have to fight them to total extermination, because that will be the only way to end the conflict." Sheppard moved his knight to the left, drawing his forces more apart. The figure ticked on the board forcefully. "I’m not sure if I'll ever be ready to plan a genocide."

"How is exterminating the Wraith any different from exterminating a virus capable of killing millions?" O'Neill countered, playing devil’s advocate even though to some extent he agreed with the Colonel's position. "This isn't a race that wants to take our land or force us to serve them. They need humans to survive which puts them in the same class as a mosquito ... would you stop to consider the life of a bug before you squashed it? Just because the Wraith look a lot more like us and speak our language doesn't alter that equation." As he spoke Jack considered Sheppard’s last move ... a key aspect of the game was the ongoing decision over whether to stick with the plan or allow the moves of the other player to lure you away from it. Too much one way and you’d open the door for being blindsided down the track ... too little and you’d end up allowing yourself to be led around the board. In this instance, considering the following moves that might be made, the General decided on staying with the plan, continuing to advance his pawns as a company of soldiers.

"The difference is that they are an intelligent species," Sheppard did not touch the game pieces as he spoke, "and exterminating them wouldn’t be that different from the genocide we’ve committed back home." He took a deep breath ... he had wrestled with the topic for years now. "When we stepped out of this gate, we accepted we’d run into alien life forms, not all of them compatible with us. Does that give us the right to slaughter them? If we believe so, then the Alterans and the other old species had it perhaps right and we’re not ready for this." Slowly releasing the tense attitude, Sheppard spoke on in lower tones. "I thought the same after our first run-ins with the Wraith. But over time I learned that they were no animals, but a species - people in a way. I don't have a solution for our problem, no magic wand to put the Wraith problem right, but I know this. Should we go to wipe the Wraith out, we'd become something we despise in the process."

“I’m not saying that we need to exterminate every last Wraith,” O’Neill returned, intrigued by what the Colonel had said, what it implied about him. Sheppard, more than most humans ... from Earth anyway ... had reason to hate the Wraith, to want to see them gone. And yet he was arguing for their continuing existence ... in the face of experiences that would have broken a lesser man, and with two members of his team having driving reasons of their own for wanting to see the Wraith wiped out. Ronon’s world had been destroyed, the Satedan’s reduced to the status of endangered species. And Teyla’s people had been all but exterminated by Michael ... an experiment gone wrong but a Wraith none the less.

“But solving the problem another way carries just as many ethical minefields,” Jack pointed out. “We need to stop being their food ... but do we have the right to alter them so they don’t need to feed on us anymore? Against their will, or with the cooperation of the ‘friendly’ ones ... changing them fundamentally isn’t any different from wiping them out completely. They won't be who they were because of our needs.”

Inwardly Sheppard agreed - any attempt to change the Wraith back to human, or something resembling human, had opened the doors for more disasters. Michael was a painful reminder of that - with all that he had done later. "The core problem is that we don't know enough about the whole feeding process - we know the outward symptoms," he bit down a wince, remembering too well being fed on, "but we don't really know how it works on us, or how the Wraith are even able to reverse the process. Nor do we know enough about Wraith physiology - or how they evolved from Iratus bug to Wraith. I guess what I'm saying is - as long as we don't understand the process better any tinkering on it will lead to worse results."

"Indeed," Jack agreed, hardly aware any more that he often borrowed that words inflection from Teal'c. "It's not a no-win situation but there are complications we probably haven't even discovered yet." Looking back at the chess board to Sheppard's last move, Jack considered a range of moves he could make, mapping them forward to their potential conclusions based on what he'd already learnt about how John played the game. Making his own move, one of the final consolidating dominance over the centre of the board, he thought ahead to attack strategies. "Defeating the enemy, no matter who they are, has to be about understanding them ... we've both faced enough enemies back home and off world to understand that."

Sheppard's eyes sparkled when he studied the chessboard. The General had built up a solid centre while he himself had worked on a tactic relying on several groups of pieces. Now things got really interesting. "I agree." he said, moving his castle forward. "The Ancients were responsible for creating the Wraith and in the end ran from the problem, the renegade Asgard we encountered were only thinking about getting rid of the Wraith - both were supposedly highly evolved species. It sometimes makes me wonder - what will we do when we run into the same problem? When we first have to face some of us permanently changed by something we encounter out here."

"We've been close," Jack acknowledged, thinking Ancient downloads, Priors, and Ascension. "Lucky for us, every time we managed to pull ourselves back from the edge of being different forever, eventually." Not wanting to dwell on the months spent believing Daniel was gone forever, Jack turned his attention to the board. Time to move into the middle game ... looking for weaknesses in your opponents placement. Sheppard held ground in multiple locations but had done so at the expense of numbers ... Jack would just have to work out how to turn that into a weakness he could exploit. Making a first attacking move, he sat back again, folding his arms across his chest and watching as Sheppard thought about his next move.

It occurred to him suddenly that both he and Colonel Sheppard had each cut loose during the course of the conversation ... not in the sense of letting go of propriety or responsibility, more the opposite. They’d each let go of a little of their image ... the ‘I’m just a soldier, feel free to underestimate me’ facade they both wore so well. Without Daniel, Sam or Teal’c there expecting him to behave in a certain way, at least outwardly, Jack had dropped the dumb act and used the opportunity to discuss difficult subjects with someone he suspected was of a like mind. He wondered whether Sheppard had thought the same, had made a deliberate choice to let some of his intellect show beyond the ‘crazy idea at just the right time’ smarts he’d shown previously.

The attack move came, targeting one of his groups. John smiled, his eyes running over the General's pieces, calculating the moves they could make given their current positions. It was all in the numbers, the patterns were much like mathematics, things working out along precise calculations, numbers that eventually added up to one grand equation that could only dissolve to zero. Having found the right point, the spot he had been looking for, Sheppard moved his knight to attack himself.

He realised then that the General studied him silently. Watched. He wondered when they had come to their silent agreement to let go of the dumb soldier attitude. With everyone else Sheppard would have talked about something silly, hiding the fact that he was calculating the moves on the board rapidly. Nor would he have discussed half of what they were talking about. "We were lucky so far," he agreed with the General. "But one day we might not be. I guess when it comes down to it, it'll be like Pandora and the box: when the box is open and the problem's out, we can either do what Pandora did: hastily close the lid, pretend nothing happened and seal hope inside - or take things as they are and get to the bottom of the box."

"I think we opened Pandora's Box the day we first stepped through the Stargate," Jack replied seriously. "Could have gone with the slam it closed approach ... and believe me, more than one high ranking official wanted to. We didn't ... and changed the world as a result ... not that most people who live in it will ever know. Was it the right thing to do? I'd like to think so."

Sheppard's mind wandered back to that day in the chopper from McMurdo to the site in Antarctica - his whole world had been turned upside down and back again within a matter of hours when he had learned about the Stargate, the Ancient gene and the Atlantis expedition. "It was the only thing to do," Sheppard replied slowly, "even if the gate had been buried again, that wouldn't have protected us from being attacked from space. And beyond that - we can't hide from the future or the world out there."

"No we can't, much as some of us would like to," Jack agreed, his thoughts taken with history as he almost absently kept up with the game in front of him. Both players had lost pieces - some sacrificed to acquire position and others outmanoeuvred by a better approach. It had been an interesting game given their very different strategies and at this point Jack wasn't sure who had the upper hand. "Makes the entire program vulnerable to those who think they know better than us how to use what we've discovered. Organisations like those behind Lieutenant Hunter's actions."

"Do they really think they know better - or do they just want control?" Sheppard asked, making another move. The game was a tough one and still hung in the balance.

"Oh control would be right up there," Jack returned with grim amusement. "There's always an agenda." He made his next move, kept up his attack and defend alternating approach. "And my gut is telling me this one has a few surprises still in store for us."

John's eyes quickly darted over the board, he had to be damn careful now. He moved his knight forward. "The question is: what IS this agenda? What is it they want? Knowing that might help us to anticipate what they'll throw at us next." He hated political second-guessing, but it might spare them trouble later on.

O'Neill considered that question as he assessed the state of play on the board. He'd created some weaknesses in Sheppard's defence and was now moving into the endgame ... that stage of the match where he tried to use his remaining power pieces to take advantage of those weaknesses. Jack had already sacrificed his queen in order to take out Sheppard's queen ... but he'd also been steadily progressing his cluster of pawns across the board with the sole intention of queening one of them - trading it back for the queen he'd lost. Once he did that it would only be a matter of time before he'd be able to check John's king. Making a move to progress that plan, Jack sat back. "Based on how they attacked the first time I'd have to say power," he replied. "Power to either control the direction we take things here or power over how what we find here is used back on Earth. Either way, there are too many ways they could achieve those aims that don't involve directly targeting leadership in this city. We need to be on our toes ... not take anything ... anyone for granted."

John nodded. "I agree, and I hope we can help the people we have here - all the people we have here - to stand together and become one team, one mission." He knew he was voicing something that was a complicated topic at best. There were those to whom Atlantis was home and those for whom it was just another duty-station. And that were the easy differences. He moved his remaining castle in on the General's war host of pawns. That group was a problem, he saw that clearly enough.

"Too little too late my friend," Jack thought in amusement as Sheppard finally made a deliberate attack on his pawns. The number of moves it would take for him to break the group was more than the moves the General required to get his queen back. "This is an interesting place to be posted," O'Neill commented as he moved a pawn forward. "Civilians and military working so closely together ... relying on both aspects for things to run smoothly. That's a challenge I don't envy Carter. It'll be tough enough to set up this new department given the dual roles we've been charged with ... trying to become one team while under cover we put the magnifying glass on everyone. Could be a can of worms we end up wishing we'd never opened."

John saw the move he expected to come, and continued his strategy. "Maybe, maybe not, Sir." He replied, looking up from the game. "Sir - you are the senior officer with the longest experience out of the gate there is, if anyone can understand the things we encounter here in Pegasus, or why we threw out the rule book more than once, it is you." Part of Sheppard was sure, the General did understand, otherwise he would never have allowed John to return to Atlantis after the Alteran incident. "Our people will learn to trust you and your team." And he was sure the General would learn to understand Atlantis.

"Ah yes, the rule book," Jack smirked, mind flashing back to numerous times when he'd practically decimated the rules himself ... always from necessity. "Like an annoying aunt always nagging you to 'do the right thing'. Trouble's always been working out what that is ... and it's never as simple as it seems on paper." His move made, O'Neill looked across at John. "Having people in command who understand that is an advantage."

John winced at the mention of annoying old aunts. Aunts one could hate in peace and otherwise ignore ... other rule-mongers might be people one wanted to respect if only they were less stuck-up. "The question of what's right and what's easy?" he made his next move on the board. Somehow most of their conversation had been about exactly that - the question of what was the right thing to do, as opposed to what was easy, or by the book for that matter. "Somehow I think that was the one problem we encountered since the day we first set foot on Atlantis." A day John never would forget.

"Since the first day we stepped into the wormhole," Jack returned, thinking back to Abydos. "We brought Earth to the attention of the Gou'ald. Hell, Daniel and Vala tried a harmless looking Ancient device that called down the armies of the Ori! And yes, you drew the attention of the Wraith. You were operating outside of known parameters Sheppard ... if you step back from the immediate reaction - the fact that we were responsible for the Wraith waking early and enmasse - and look at the why you'd see that it was inevitable. Because of that right instead of easy equation. As long as we have people like yourself pushing that line we'll be able to stand by the consequences." Moving his pawn to the edge of the board, Jack smiled faintly. "Queen me."

Sheppard nodded, exchanging the pawn for the Queen. He had guessed that was to come, it was the move that made sense. But having the biggest club didn't equate with strength. He moved one of his pawns then, cover for his last knight that was already in a good position to threaten the General's king. "That day - when we arrived here and all those things happened - I argued with Dr. Weir, argued for going after our people, to get them back from those attackers. She warned me that we could make things much worse in the process, but ultimately let us go. At the end of that day," or what had felt far longer than that, "I wasn't so sure any more. I'm not sure what should have been the right thing that day. And yet - if we got one of those solar flares and could go back to do it all over again - I would probably do the same." Only that he'd hurry more to get to that Wraith bitch before she could eat Sumner alive. Sheppard shook off the musings. "Bottom line is: it was those things that tied us to this place, we became part of this city, this galaxy in a short matter of time."

"It wasn't just the Wraith," O'Neill replied, immediately putting his restored queen to good use by threatening Sheppard's king, forcing him to move his knight. "Those funky genes we both carry say that link was always there. Whether we'd found the Wraith the first day or not for years, we would have stayed. And at the end of the day I'm entirely comfortable with never leaving our people behind. We all sign up for the risks attached to that in advance."

John had forgotten that the General counted among the strongest natural gene-carriers. He probably felt the city as much as the others positive on the gene did. Seeing the Queen he knew exactly what plan the General had and he had other plans. Using one of his last pieces he created a stop gap measure, it was only a pawn but it would buy him time, because the General would dislike risking his Queen just as he had gotten her back. Sheppard smiled as he set down the piece on the board. "And in that we are in agreement."

Jack grinned, reminded again how much of his younger self he saw in Sheppard ... that same ideal of always finding a solution, never giving up on anyone, no matter how bad the situation seemed. Studying the board for a few moments, the General considered all the moves he could make along with the responses Sheppard would have to give in return. If Jack protected his queen he'd eventually win the game but not without dragging it out. But if he took Sheppards pawn right there, leaving his queen in a vulnerable position, then within a couple of moves he'd be able to force a checkmate. It wasn't guaranteed but taking risks ... playing the odds ... understanding when to sacrifice and when to protect ... were at the core of every belief he held. They guided him in his career and would serve him equally well on the chess board. "Interesting," Jack commented, taking Sheppard's pawn and waiting for the response.

Damn, the man was good! He'd made the one move John would have made too, and the one move John didn't need right then. Studying all the pieces left on the board, calculating their potential moves, he saw only two ways. Either he made good on the threat on the Queen, which would leave his king wide open for a checkmate through the remains of the General's warhost of pawns, or he moved the knight, both scenarios had they weakness. Taking up the knight he moved it.

"Resisting temptation I see," the General commented. Now that they were down to the tail end of the game, taking the time to think was crucial. As Jack studied the board the true situation became obvious. With one final move he could lock down every one of Sheppard's remaining pieces ... all he had to do was move his own king. Making the final play, Jack looked at John with a bland expression. It wasn't about the victory, it was about the battle and what it told him about his opponent ... and what he'd revealed to Sheppard in return. Next time they played Jack would find it difficult to impossible to pull off the same distract and sneak game plan. "Checkmate."

Sheppard needed only moments to study the board andsee there were no moves left. The General had outmanoeuvred him.

Putting down his king John grinned. "That was a surprise," he admitted. "I didn't see that one coming." Something that rarely happened to him. He had truly enjoyed the game - the General was one hell of a strategist and had kept John on his toes throughout the game.

"This time," Jack agreed. "Next time you'll be looking for sneak attacks ... I'll have to come up with a different strategy to beat you again." Opening the wooden carry case, O'Neill gathered up the pieces and carefully packed the set away. "Thanks for the game Colonel," he said when done. "You can call a rematch any time."

Sunday 26th April | 1430 hours | Library

The room had a unique look, Darek had to admit that. He didn't know what the room had been used for before being converted to Atlantis' main library, but he definitely liked what they had done with the place. With the large windows and a wide balcony there were many places to sit down and read right there, as well as the option to borrow books. Browsing through the shelves made clear how many languages and topics were assembled, reflecting the wide selection of staff and nations on the base. Sitting in a corner near a window Darek was soon lost in the book he had chosen, his mind far away.

Lorne walked towards the library, finished book in one hand ready to be swapped for another. After a week of restricted reading because of the concussion, the Major was happy to be pretty much back to normal. Evan's reading tastes varied depending on his mood and what had been going on in missions or his personal life. Sometimes he went for the whimsical or light hearted novel, other times it would be something autobiographical - an artist or military strategist he admired or thought he could learn from. Today's return was a little of all three ... One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. History, romance and fantasy combined in a way Lorne had enjoyed.

Entering the library, Evan realised immediately that he didn't have the place to himself. Spying Captain Sterling sitting in the corner, Lorne hesitated. He should leave the other man to his solitude but ... there was something he wanted to discuss with Darek and this could be the perfect opportunity. "Captain?" Evan spoke quietly, the room always seeming to escalate the volume of any conversation. "Do you mind if I interrupt your reading?"

The voice startled Darek, bringing him back from an article about some remote regions of the great Himalayans to the library of Atlantis. Realising who had been talking to him came only a second later. "Not in the least, Sir," he replied.

"Thanks," Lorne approached and took a seat across from Darek. "Settling in okay?" he asked.

Darek nodded. "Well enough, Sir. Once my mind accepted that I am now stationed in a sunken city, the rest came quite easily." There was a hint of humor in the statement. "Returning here came as a surprise, though."

"A good one I hope," Lorne commented. "Listen, we're both off duty here so there's no need for you to Sir me - Lorne is fine, or Major if you must." Evan wasn't one to stand on protocol ... the chain of command was important during military situations but the rest of the time he saw no reason for people to Sir him. Friendships couldn't be built in an atmosphere of forced respect.

For one moment Darek wasn't sure he'd heard right. One of the first things the preparatory course for international deployment in Laupheim had drilled into them that most international forces had a stricter standing on protocol than the Bunderwehr usually had and that they'd better learned to adhere to it to avoid unnecessary conflicts. He had adjusted to that. "If you don't mind me asking - I had the impression that USAF protocol was rather strict on base." He asked, leaving at least the 'Sir' off for the moment.

"In general that's true," Lorne agreed. "Atlantis is a little different though - heavy mix of civilian and military personnel working in close quarters, assigned to off world teams. We're a little more relaxed here ... well, I am," Evan added with a shrug. "This is a workplace but it's home too ... and personally it gets kind of tiring being Sir'd 24/7 because of that." Lorne looked at Darek seriously. "Of course I can't insist that you don't call me Sir off duty ... it's entirely up to you."

Darek fell silent, thinking it through for a moment, then nodded. "Then I'll do so," he replied. He wouldn't mind to be a little more relaxed when not on duty.

Smiling, Lorne nodded, pleased to have that agreement done. "There was something I wanted to raise with you," Evan began. "I'd have to clear it with General O'Neill as well but before I did I wanted to run it past you. With some recent reassignments I'm two men down on my team ... off world, the more skills you can take with those four people, the better. I could really use someone with your skill sets ... if you're interested?"

Lorne definitely had set out to surprise Darek, that much was sure. For a brief moment Darek wondered if everything said before had been said to unbalance him, a type of test to see his reactions in an odd situation. "While I am glad you think that highly of my skills, Lorne" he decided to take the challenge up full and play the game by the rules he had been given, "there should be plenty of people with similar qualifications around here."

"There are," Lorne agreed, "but to be honest most of them are already assigned permanent spots on other teams. I don't want to switch things around unnecessarily." Thinking about how best to explain his reasoning Evan narrowed his eyes, considering his words. "Traditionally I've run at least one place on my team for the more inexperienced officers to get some field time ... the last spot has been rotated around with the scientists depending on the specific mission. You could look on this as part of your acclimation to Pegasus - you've got some field time with the SGC but things are a little different out here."

Something in that answer didn't fit with Darek's initial assumption that this was part of a test. He relaxed, gave up on his slightly defensive attitude. "I didn't mean to imply I wasn't interested. I am actually surprised you are considering me, given I have no experience here and only limited off world experience at the SGC." he admitted. Remembering their conversation before he left, the things about Wraith and the dangers out there they had discussed, he allowed himself a small grin. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't interested. But I have no idea what General O'Neill will be saying about it."

"I'm sure the General had plans for your posting here," Evan agreed. "And maybe it is a little out of the blue for me to consider you for my team," he added, not sure he could even explain why he had. Some of it was the fact that they'd worked well together during the sabotage investigation ... Lorne had observed the Captain's approach closely during the hours he and Cadman had been retrieving and transporting bomb components from the Hammond to Darek in the lab and been impressed with how thoroughly he'd summarised the evidence. Some was the conversation they'd shared before Darek had returned to Earth ... nothing specific but more the sense that he'd work well with Darek ... that Daniel would appreciate the perspective Darek would bring to the team. Talking to Daniel the previous day had confirmed in Evan's mind that taking a chance on Sterling was the right thing to do. If the last spot was filled as Evan was thinking then he'd end up with a very strong, well rounded team. "But stacked up against the rest of those shipping in new, you've got more gate time. And you notice things other people would miss ... sometimes that can make all the difference off world."

So the investigation had probably created the impression. Darek chuckled. "I am relieved to hear that, for a moment you had me fearing you had pegged me because I spent a good deal of my early army time learning how to get dismantled grenade launchers and heavy equipment packed on mules and transported across passes without screwing up the logistics timetable - and you were in need to dump some of the low-tech transport problems on someone." Getting serious again he added: "Provided the General agrees - you could always get a look at my file - do a skill assessment and if it holds up to your expectations, I'd be honoured to join your team."

"That's great Darek," Evan grinned. "I'd do that as a matter of course - got about a hundred files stacked up on my desk right now for just that purpose - but I don't think there'll be anything in your file to change my mind. I'll make the request for your assignment to General O'Neill and get back to you once he's had a chance consider it." Sitting back, Lorne thought for a moment, considering what else the other man should know before finalising his agreement. "I have someone in mind for the last vacancy," he offered. "Assuming that goes as planned, you and I will be the only military personnel on the team. Doctor Jackson is my 2IC - civilian but I'm sure you know enough by reputation alone to appreciate how much experience he brings to the team. Most of our missions will be follow ups of things Colonel Sheppard's team finds ... and then there're the missions where we have to go out and find them," Evan added with an amused chuckle. "They get into trouble ... a lot," he added."

The team would definitely have an odd structure, Darek admitted. And a civilian in the command hierarchy was something most armies had some problems with. Now the whole start of their conversation began to make sense to Darek. Perhaps Lorne tried to build up something that could accommodate both sets of conduct and still be functioning. "I had heard of Dr. Jackson ever since I came to preliminary SGC training in Colorado," Darek replied. "And his reputation is impressive." Hell, the man had practically made the whole program possible! "I have learned to respect the command structure, if he's 2IC of the team I can handle that." Darek answered the indirect question that had been included in the things Lorne had said.

"Good to know the structure ahead of time," Evan explained, glad that his take on Darek's ability to fit within the less than traditional format hadn't been wrong. Achieving what he'd wanted, Evan stood, picking up his discarded book. "I'll let you get back to your reading," he said lightly. "Thanks for letting me interrupt you Captain."

Darek leaned back, but not taking up his book again. "Lorne, as we agreed to not be on protocol outside of duty - it's never a crime to drop by with someone for a chat." Meaning that he could go back to reading later, if the other man rather felt like talking.

"What you reading?" Evan asked curiously, craning his head. Like anyone who truly loved books he could never resist the urge to find out what others found interesting.

Darek turned the National Geographic he had been reading around, so the open double page got readable for Lorne. "It's an article about a region in the Himalayans, Arunachal Pradesh in Tibet," he said. "I had intended to catch up on some of these articles for a while."

"You climb?" Lorne asked with interest, retaking his seat.

Darek grinned at being caught. "I do," he admitted. "but it's not that alone. Those mountains are far more than a climber's challenge. There is nothing more awesome, or impressive - at least on Earth - than this long chain of mountains ahead of you, coming closer and closer each passing day. I think it's the same thing Kipling describes in The Miracle of Purun Baghat when the old Sanyasi has made his way up the passes and he turns around and sees India so far behind him."

“A different kind of solitude to this," Lorne held up his own book so Darek could see the title. "Achieving the sense of being alone by physically leaving the world behind I understand." Evan shrugged, looking down at the cover of One Hundred Years of Solitude. "Alone because of a lack of understanding .... but surrounded by family? Not something to aspire to."

One Hundred Years of Solitude! Darek had read the book a long time ago, it was a great novel. "I agree," he replied. "That sense of isolation is nothing that can be understood, I guess. It must be lived - and I'd rather not try, too." Still he understood what was so fascinating about the book. "You like South-American authors, or Spanish-language Authors in general?" he asked.

"I l ike a lot of stuff," Lorne said with a chuckle. "I'll read pretty much anything if the mood strikes me. One of the advantages of being posted here. This library was created from books donated by most of the countries represented here ... shipped in on the Daedalus after contact was re-established with Earth only a couple of months after I was posted here."

"That explains the broad selection of topics and book types," Darek too valued a good library that invited one to discover new stuff, "and the languages present as well." Turning his attention back to the books on the table he added: "What do you think of the "Hundred Years" so far?"

“It's a strange mix," Lorne settled back, turning his thoughts to the book he'd just read. Rarely did he get the chance for a discussion like this ... not that there weren't others who used the library but most of Evan's time was spent within the military side of Atlantis ... books weren't at the top of the list of hobbies for most soldiers. "If I were a scientist I'd say 'one hundred' is a little inaccurate," Evan grinned, "Márquez had a pretty loose interpretation of time in general, didn't he? The military side of me could talk for days about pointless civil war after civil war. The characters were ... interesting," he concluded. "What did you think of it?"

"I think the hundred years were not meant as exactly hundred years in the sense of the calendar, more like the time is felt by all the generations in the book. Honestly - in a way this circle - war after war and no way out - felt to me like it was a far longer span of time." Darek still remembered the first time he had read the novel. "One of the first things I did was getting out a set of maps and checking if Macondo existed - or a place that inspired the novel. The descriptions in the book give some hints what areas or places the author might have been thinking of, but I still wonder if there is one particular place he had in mind, when he wrote this."

"Or maybe he deliberated set it somewhere fictional," Lorne suggested. "Remove it from the possibility of offence or defence so that the message he was trying to get across wouldn't be lost. Maybe the location itself wasn't important ... only the events that took place there."

"I agree that he probably chose a fictional location deliberately," Darek replied. "But most authors who do so still have a place in mind that inspires them." He shrugged. "More likely it's only me - too much of a habit to check over a place on a map and, if it isn't on modern maps, to dig up some older ones." A small scale precision map from the late 19th century was often a good start for things like that.

"I guess that'd be true," Lorne agreed. "How much do things usually change from the old style maps to the modern ones?"

"Precision and detail declines drastically, often. Old style maps were done by meticulous surveys, very detailed and often very precise. Maps based on modern aerial or satellite surveys are downright sloppy beside them." Darek had often gotten annoyed with modern maps. How often had he dug out Stieler's Handatlas or old Staff-maps when in need of details? "The downside is that today many details are not up to date anymore. Rail tracks have gone out of use, roads have changed and things like that. So I usually work with an old one and a modern one in tandem when necessary. But when looking for some small village on the back of the Balkans and unable to find it on a modern map, I'll always backtrack to old maps."

"But satellite imagery has improved our military abilities in many areas," Lorne commented. "Not that that's necessarily for the better ... the ability to hone in on targets without risking ground troops only continues to allow us to remove the immediate personal element from much of the battles that take place. We still see the personal element on the ground of course - support and security detail ... but not in much of our engagement of the enemy. That's one of the things I think new recruits here struggle the most to understand ... battle here is very personal, despite the fact that we have Puddle Jumpers and space ships and drones ..."

"I don't doubt satellite imagery has improved our military abilities, but what we print into maps is still not precise enough ... but perhaps we just don't give the best pictures to the publishing houses?" Darek's attention was more on the other things Lorne had said. "I agree with you, that isn't exactly for the better. When you have seen the man - his face - have seen him die and knew that it was you who took him out, it brings what you are doing into perspective and also that you better have damn good reasons to do it. The first time - close combat kill, I mean - is always hard, but the shock wears off after a while." Catching himself, Darek steered the conversation back to where it belonged: "So the new troops here will need some help and support after the first real fight, I take it?"

“They usually do," Lorne agreed, not missing that Darek obviously had close combat experience to base his words on. "Although the horror element is just as much about being confronted with an actual Wraith for the first time as it is about taking the life of someone ... something right in front of your face. You think you're prepared for that ... seeing the Wraith up close ... but no amount of research can fully illustrate their speed, strength, endurance, and recuperative powers ... not to mention what it feels like to be looked at like a piece of steak for a hungry lion ... it's unnerving to say the least. Get through that and you can probably face down anything we'll see out here ... well, that we know about anyway."

What Lorne said gave Darek some idea what would be waiting for him. He could hear in Lorne's voice how serious the man was about this, how close the topic still seemed to be. And he was a veteran when it came to off-world warfare, so Darek took what he said damn seriously. "I guess we've come full circle," he finally said, remembering their conversation days back, before leaving Atlantis.

“I guess,” Lorne agreed, realising he’d probably gone over some of the same ground he’s already covered with Sterling before. “You’ll get training specific to operations here in the Pegasus galaxy,” he continued. “Plus Ronon runs the training for all the new recruits,” Evan’s eyes twinkled as he teased, “I think you’re gonna enjoy those sessions ... once all the bruises fade.”

"Each bruise another mistake I should avoid," Darek grinned. He had always liked Hand-to-Hand training and some real advanced training was something to look forward to. The news about specific training didn't really surprise him, that was to be expected and probably important with all the dangers Pegasus offered. "Are there other training/skill-assessment-rounds/tests I should prepare to do soon?" During initial SGC training in Colorado Darek had had the distinct impression that their instructors tried to push them again and again until they had seen each and every single skill their trainees had in practice. And then they had pushed some more, in case there was more to see. It had only been an impression, due to two or three things that Darek had encountered time and again over the course of several weeks.

"I'll look over your record," Lorne replied. "You should be able to get credit for some of the stuff we run here that's based on the SGC program ... so count on weapons, fitness and procedural tests to confirm you know what's required. We've got off world training facilities for endurance and survival scenario testing - nobody gets out of doing those. For the rest we'll just slot you in with the new recruits coming in on the Daedalus in a couple of weeks." Evan looked at Darek intently. "All of it's designed to test each participant ... not to highlight weaknesses in any negative way ... just so we know where to focus maximum effort. I'm sure you'll do fine."

The Major picked up his book, getting to his feet again. "Good talking to you again Captain," he said. "I'll let you know what General O'Neill says." Smiling, Evan turned and made his way out of the library, keen to review Sterling's file before meeting with the General.

Skill evaluation, off world training, survival scenario - it sounded much like what Darek had come to expect. He'd have to put in some effort, with an enemy like the Wraith out there, expectations were sure to be high. But for this chance he'd take on nearly any pre-requisite training or harsh instructor.

Sunday 26th April | evening | Mess Hall

Now that Major Lorne had Darek signed up, assuming General O'Neill agreed, he was keen to get the last member of his team signed up as well.

"Lorne to Doctor Zelenka," Evan tapped his radio, hoping the other man wouldn't be busy.

There was the sound of the radio chirping in acknowledgment, then after a pause, Radek's warm voice in his ear. "Yes, Major, how may I help you? Forgive the delay, I fear you caught me with a mouthful of not-quite-hamburger. Would you care to join me?"

"Sure," Lorne agreed, changing course and heading for the Mess Hall. "I'll see you in five."

Covering the distance in the promised time, Evan arrived and quickly spied Radek sitting at a table near the edge of the room, his datapad beside him. Pausing to grab a mug of coffee on the way through, he pulled at a chair and sat down.

"I have a proposition for you," Lorne began, deciding just jumping in with the idea would be the best approach. "You ever thought about joining an off world team on a permanent basis? Because I have a vacant spot on mine I think you'd be perfect for."

Radek's response was immediate and spectacular. He spit out his mouthful of coffee and began to cough, hard.

Then he looked up at Lorne and gasped, "Me? Are you sure?"

Lorne found himself grinning at Radek's reaction. "Yes you ... and of course I'm sure. You're good under pressure and you've had plenty of experience with Wraith technology. We could really use those skills out in the field. So ... what do you think?"

"I think you are making mistake," Radek replied, his diction slipping as always when emotional. "I am coward. I run from children with face paint. I prefer being in lab."

Lorne held in a smile with difficulty, silently letting his friend argue himself into agreeing.

Radek broke off, blinking as his eyes grew huge behind the glasses. "Huh. And I realise I am making excuses like McKay." He tilted his head, looking at Lorne. "If you are certain -- I suppose I could give it a try."

"I'm certain," Lorne replied. "But listen, if it makes you feel better we can call it a trial ... okay?"

Radek smiled. "I am a scientist, remember? A trial -- an experiment -- is exactly what I need."

"That's great Doc," Lorne was pleased that Radek seemed more relaxed about the idea. "I know you've done some of the off world training but ... well, you're gonna have to get fully qualified to join a permanent team. It'll be good for you ... have you feeling ready for whatever we find out there. I was thinking you could just join the group of new recruits when they arrive in a couple of weeks. Okay?"

Radek nodded slowly. His voice lowered, just in case it carried. "You should know -- I did compulsory military as a younger man. I will join the new recruits as you say -- but I do not want you to be surprised if my initial scores are better than expected for a lab-bound scientist."

"I should have known that," Evan said apologetically. "Hopefully that experience will help you adjust quickly to the new set of requirements." Smiling at his friend, Lorne nodded. "You know, I think this is going to work out really well for everyone."

"I think you just might be right," Radek smiled at him.

"You know that Doctor Jackson is my 2IC," Lorne explained. "Not military but years of experience back at the SGC. The remaining position on the team notionally will go to Captain Darek Sterling, one of General O'Neill's team. I still need to get approval from the General ... and Colonel Carter where your placement is concerned. You might want to speak to her yourself ... you being a department head and all. That's not going to be a problem for you is it?" Evan asked, suddenly concerned about putting too much pressure on Radek to be everywhere all at once.

Radek looked down at his meal, pushing the food around slightly. "Perhaps not. But I am one man, and it is difficult to be multiple places all at once." He looked back up. "Would you think me coward if I said I rather would you do it?" He shook his head slightly. "I am not afraid of her, but I am-- here." He turned the tablet beside him to Evan, showing him everything on the screen that had to be done.

It was huge.

He looked at Evan with apologetic eyes.

"I can do that," Lorne replied, looking at Radek's to do list with a dismayed expression. "You know, this could be good for you Radek. You're gonna have to learn how to delegate some of this."

"Yes, yes, completely agreed," Radek said, turning the tablet back around. "But, sadly, not today. When do the new recruits arrive and my work with them begin? And no," he smiled, "I did not just change the subject. Once I know that, things will be easier to begin to delegate."

"The Daedalus is due early May," Lorne replied. "Gives you a couple of weeks to block out some training time. I'll email you the schedule once I'm back in my office." Lorne grinned, happy anticipating the time when his new team was fully trained and ready for off world missions. "Anything else you need Doc?" he asked, keen to make sure Radek knew as much as he needed to feel confident about the changes to his role.

"Not right now," Radek said, smiling. "Anything else you wish me to know?"

"We'll work the rest out as we go along," Lorne admitted ruefully. "Be good practice for the first time we have to go out and rescue Colonel Sheppard's team." Still smiling, Evan glanced at his friend, unfinished meal in front of him. "I'll go set up that meet with Colonel Carter," he said, getting to his feet. Lorne took a step away from the table but then stopped. "You'll be fine Radek," he said confidently, meeting the other man's eyes and nodding before continuing on his way.

Radek watched him go, feeling the same mix of excitement and dull fear that he felt on the verge of a breakthrough in the labs. "What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered, picking up his tablet in one hand and his tray in another. He put the trash into the bin, and then headed out of the mess hall, pondering the new path his life had just embarked on.

Tuesday 28th April | Morning | AOHS - General O'Neill's office

Major Lorne walked towards the new Atlantis Office of Homeland Security, curious to see how much progress they'd made in setting everything up. Of course, the bulk of what was required was still enroute on the Daedalus along with additional staff to run the day to day operations.

After his discussions with Darek and Radek over the weekend Evan had a pretty clear idea on who his team should be ... now he just had to get the okay to make it official. First part of that was a talk with General O'Neill.

"Sir," he knocked on the General's door and waited for an acknowledgement.

"Major," Jack looked up and motioned for Lorne to come in. "How's the head?" He'd heard about the other man's troubles with a Puddle Jumper and had only sympathy for the patience required during recovery from a concussion. He'd had a few of those in his time and the concept of feeling physically fine but being restricted for duty had never sat well with him.

"Much better Sir," Lorne replied with a slight smile. "Having everything working like it should be ... ATA gene especially, in a relief."

"Ah yes," Jack sat back in his chair, waving Evan into the seat across from his desk. "It is kinda neat having the city eager to do things for you, isn't it?"

"It is," Lorne laughed, "but I wouldn't admit that too loudly Sir or your name will be at the top of the 'turn this on please' list with the science department."

"I'll keep that in mind," Jack replied, looking at the Major curiously. "What can I do for you Major?"

"You may not be aware Sir, but with the split and reshuffle of the Cultural and Diplomatic Operations departments after Doctor Weir returned, half of my team was reassigned to work with Elizabeth. I'm two men down and was wondering Sir, what your plans were for Captain Sterling."

"You want Sterling on your team?" Jack asked in surprise.

"Yes Sir," Lorne replied simply.

"Why?" Jack returned bluntly.

"A number of reasons, Sir," Lorne said, considering how best to present his case. "The team placements we have right now work well and Colonel Sheppard and I agreed now wasn't the time to be shuffling that up so I'm looking for new blood so to speak. Sterling has some off world experience - not a lot admittedly and none of it in this galaxy but even having completed a few missions through the Stargate puts him up there on the list of candidates I have to choose from. More than that Sir I was impressed with the way he handled his part of the sabotage investigation ... he noticed things not everyone would and that's a handy skill to have off world. Having had the chance to work with him , particularly with the Hammond bombs, I'm pretty sure we'd get along. I also took the liberty of speaking with Daniel Sir ... he hasn't had the chance to spend much time with Captain Sterling but wasn't opposed to the idea."

"That's it," General O'Neill asked.

Yes Sir," Evan replied, adding quickly "I know the Captain was slotted for your department Sir but I can't see any reason why he couldn't do both ... off world missions run on a regular basis but it's not an everyday thing."

Jack sat for a moment, eyes narrowed as he considered the proposition. Having Sterling on an off world team would be useful ... in fact Jack had already decided he'd have to either run a team directly from his department or co-opt one from Sheppard. This was actually neater and fit better with the primary objective of keeping a broader eye on Atlantis and her off world allies. Lorne having made the approach sealed it in Jack's mind ... their undercover objective of ultimately unearthing the real person behind Hunter's demise had more chance of remaining a secret with one of Jack's team placed inside Lorne's team at his instigation.

"It's a good plan," the General finally spoke, looking at Lorne thoughtfully and then deciding full disclosure was a necessity. No way could he send Sterling to Lorne with even the hint of him being a spy. Sitting forward, Jack looked at Evan with a serious expression. "What I'm about to tell you stays in this room Major," he ordered, waiting for Lorne to nod before continuing. "The primary reason for the new department is to put more of a focus on our relations with the other powers in the Pegasus galaxy but that's not the only reason. I wouldn't go so far as to call us Internal Affairs, but we are here to ensure that something like what happened with Hunter can't happen again. Having Captain Sterling being a part of your team will assist me in doing that ... making him 'one of the guys' with the other off world teams."

"You believe they'll strike again Sir," Lorne asked, a whole host of other questions bubbling to the forefront of his mind.

"I think we all do Major," Jack replied. "Colonel Carter and Colonel Sheppard are both aware of our secondary role ... Daniel as well. I won't send Sterling in to be a spy so every member of your team will need to be made aware of his status. You can have him for your team but in all other respects he'll still report to me."

"Thank you Sir," Evan smiled slightly, more than happy with the arrangement.

"I know I don't have to tell you to keep a closer eye on everything Evan," Jack said, knowing the other man had taken Hunter's fall from grace on board as something he should have been able to stop. "Having more information about the background of Atlantis personnel might help us spot a new, potential 'Hunter' but it's not a guarantee. On paper, how suspicious did he really look?"

"I wouldn't have pegged him as someone who'd turn Sir," Lorne was forced to admit. "Even with the gambling debts. Lieutenant Hunter had put in a lot of effort to forge a military career ... he looked the goods and behaviour wise he really didn't show signs that anything had changed, at least none that anybody noticed."

"Exactly," O'Neill agreed. "Which means we're dealing with someone very good at finding the hook ... whatever it was that manipulated Hunter to the point of no return. We can be on our guard ... report anything that seems out of place ... use people like Captain Sterling to take all those tiny signs and turn them into the big picture. Beyond that we have to wait until the real villains show their hand again."

"I'm not very good at waiting under circumstances like those Sir," Lorne admitted.

"Neither am I Major," Jack agreed with a shrug. "But these are the cards we've been deal right now." The General nodded, before continuing. "I'll leave it to you to inform Captain Sterling of his new dual role ... I'll speak to him about the entirety of that once you've had a chance to form your team."

"Thank you General," Lorne replied, getting up with a nod.

"Not so fast Major," Jack stopped him with a faint smirk. "I need something in return."

"Sir?" Evan turned back, expression curious.

"Lieutenant Cadman," Jack replied. "I checked with Sheppard ... currently she's floating teams and posts. While I'm sure she's enjoying the variety I think that's a waste of her skills and experience. In return for releasing Captain Sterling to your team I get to transfer Cadman into my department."

"Ah, of course Sir," Evan replied uncertainly, "respectfully Sir, I'm not sure I could stop you ... you being a General and all."

"Nothing wrong with a little courtesy," Jack said piously, humour twinkling from his eyes. "I'm running it past you because Colonel Sheppard indicated that you'd probably know best her preferences for a permanent position. I need to know before I transfer her that she's going to be happy because if not I'll choose somebody else."

"As long as she gets to go off world occasionally and blow stuff up from time to time she'll be happy Sir," Evan replied with a grin. He already had respect for the General but the fact he'd taken the time to consider whether a transfer would make the transferee happy only escalated him in Lorne's eyes. That wasn't always the case ... as he knew from some of his less than inspiring former positions.

"Very good," Jack replied. "We'll call it a done deal then."

"Yes Sir," Lorne nodded, taking that as he cue to exit. "One down," he thought on the way out, "one to go."

Tuesday 28th April | 1130 hours | Colonel Carter's office

Even though Radek was a civilian Major Lorne has asked to speak to both Colonel's Carter and Sheppard about his permanent placement to an off world team. Radek had been enthusiastic if a little hesitant, and in some respects this meeting was more a formality than a requirement. The practice of including science staff on teams depending on their speciality and the nature of the planet they were going to was already established and Doctor McKay being on Sheppard's own team had set a precedent. Radek was the head of his department though and Lorne felt it best to dot the i's and cross the t's on this one, even assuming Radek would speak to Colonel Carter himself about his plans for a changed role.

"Sir, Ma'am," Major Lorne greeted his superiors respectfully, taking the seat Colonel Carter indicated.

"Major." Sam's head inclined once he was seated. She was not surprised by his request so much as curious. It was not often that Lorne's queries came through her office, at least with so little information known in advance and with a personal audience requested. Carter was, in a word, intrigued. "What can we do for you?"

"It's about my team Ma'am," Lorne began. "With Moreno and Parker reassigned we were down two ... I'd like Captain Sterling and Doctor Zelenka to fill those positions on a permanent basis. Since neither of them are US military and I already have one civilian on the team I felt it required your approval," turning to look at Colonel Sheppard, Evan added, "yours too Sir."

"A permanent scientist for your team is a good idea," Sheppard agreed. "And Dr. Zelenka makes an excellent choice in that regard. But you will have to do the full field training routine with him."

"Understood Sir," Lorne replied, nodding his agreement. "I've already reviewed his file ... he's done some of the requirements but most of that a couple of years back. I was thinking to just include Radek with the new recruits when they arrive, take him through the whole program from scratch." Evan looked towards Colonel Carter expectantly. "Ma'am?" he asked, hoping to get approval from her as well, knowing that her considerations extended beyond just the military aspects.

Carter considered it from all sides. In the end, she nodded. "I don't see why not, Major. I think Colonel Sheppard is right. It is a good idea. As long as Dr. Zelenka completes the field training satisfactorily, I see no reason why he couldn't be included. He has his own department to run, but then, so do Rodney and Daniel. Just keep in mind that I may have to occasionally pull Zelenka when Rodney is off world. But no more than I might have to pull another team member for city needs."

"Of course," Lorne nodded his understanding. "As for Captain Sterling, I took the liberty of speaking with General O'Neill. He approved the assignment on the understanding that in all other matters Sterling will still report to him."

Sheppard weighted what he knew of the candidate against what he had seen of him and all that he could summarise in general. The picture was complicated at best. He trusted Lorne to pick the people he could work with best even when the selection surprised him. "Will he be able to take orders from your 2IC and follow them?" he asked, phrasing the question very carefully.

"I've explained the command structure within the team and Sterling didn't raise an eyebrow Sir," Lorne replied. "I think he sees himself as still needing to acquire experience ... have his skills tested. Some time down the track that will change ... if he's set on advancing up the ranks then the team mix might not serve him very well. But then he'll have whatever work he does for General O'Neill to balance that out." Evan shrugged, comfortable with his assessment. "I don't think it'll be a problem Sir," he summarised.

"Very well then," Carter nodded. "I'm satisfied with the arrangement," she looked at Sheppard, if he had any misgivings at all, now was the time to express them - although from his response and expression it didn't look as though he did.

"It sounds like a good team in the making," Sheppard announced his assessment. "I have no objections."

"Thank you Sir, Ma'am," Lorne said, enthusiasm evident in his eyes. Grinning, he nodded to both Colonel's, getting an acknowledgement in return. Meeting concluded, the Major left, eager to inform his team that they were a go.

Friday, 1st May | 1100 hours | Gym - Fire

Colonel Cameron Mitchell twirled his staff before launching into another set of exercises he'd learned from the Sodan and further augmented by Teal'c. He let the steady rhythm distract from his thoughts as of late. His ship was still waiting more supplies and while he was enjoying being around Sam and Jackson again, he was starting to miss Vala. A lot. Which was weird.

He wasn't missing the fact that she tried to steal his wallet alot, but the other stuff... The smell of her perfume, half-listening when she started talking about whatever. Cam sighed and pushed himself harder, feeling restless and needing someone to go against.

Teyla entered the gym – there were only a few people using it at the moment and most seemed intent on giving Col. Mitchell a wide berth. As she kicked off her sandals she watched him as he battled air. His expression was rather intent and, she thought, mildly frustrated. Whatever his thoughts were, however, they weren’t distracting him from his exercise. She stood and watched for a few minutes, the handles of her gym bag looped over a shoulder and her Bantos rods poking up out of its zippered closure.

Cam spun, turning with the staff and caught sight of Miss Emmagan. He flashed her a grin and did a complicated twirl before sliding the staff under his arm. "Hey," he greeted her with a grin. "Am I in your spot?" Cam asked, wondering if she had dibs on the floor right now or if he could continue.

She couldn’t stop her own answering smile. “No, Colonel, you are not.” She sat her bag down. “I believe there is more than enough room.” She pulled her Bantos rods free and gave them a lazy twirl. “If you are willing to share, that is,” she added, one eyebrow slightly raised. “You seem like you would welcome some company right now.”

Cam was relieved to hear that. "Good. I'm glad," he told her. "I'm definitely willing to share and you are correct. I usually find that having a partner makes things just a little more fun. I hear that you kick Sheppard's butt all the time... Not saying I'll be much better, but I might give you a challenge or two..."

Teyla glided out onto the floor and gave the colonel a friendly smile. “Hmm. Yes, Colonel Sheppard … he really does need to practice more.” She gave the rods a twirl, settled into the first basic defense form and didn’t bother with a warm up. “Now Ronon – he makes me work, so please, do not worry about being gentle with me.” She gave him a nod. “When you are ready.”

Cam gave her a quick grin and attacked, striking her guard and sweeping a leg under her. "Probably does... If his file's anything to go by, he does tend to be rather shiftless," he said, teasing slightly as he took her words to heart but still being respectful to her.

Teyla easily avoided the leg sweep. “I wouldn’t call him shiftless,” she said as she casually flicked a rod toward Cameron’s head. He blocked it, the sound sharp in the room, then managed to catch the attack to his open flank in time. “Enthusiastic, perhaps.” She started to circle to her right, then let loose a volley of easily blocked attacks that let her test his reach and reaction time. “You should spar with him – Teal’c seemed to enjoy it.”

Cam grinned at her as she tested him. "I was talking about Sheppard. I know Ronon's good. I was able to bribe a few people to get footage of that sparring match," he told her, a little proud of that one. Vala had taught him well... not that he needed her to. "I feel bad about saying this, but I sorta wish they'd been able to finish..."

Lieutenant Cadman had been quietly finishing her workout when Colonel Mitchell had arrived and begun twirling his staff around in an impressive manner. Intrigued, Laura had taken a seat on one of the benches against the far wall and just watched. Teyla's arrival had added an extra element and when the Lieutenant realised a match between the two was about to begin, mischief had sparkled from her eyes.

"Chuck," she opened a channel to the gateroom tech and spoke quietly. "Colonel Mitchell is about to get his butt kicked by Teyla in the gym. Pass the word."

"Will do Lieutenant," Chuck replied with a hint of excitement in his voice.

Mischief made, Laura sat back and watched the match begin ... things were about to get interesting.

Teyla noticed Lt. Cadman as she came back around. “It would have been interesting,” she said then pressed a serious attack, one rod serving as a shield against the Colonel’s counter moves. For several minutes the only sound in the gym was the sharp crack of wood against wood, the shuffle or slap of feet across the flooring, and the hiss of their breath as they danced. They broke apart as if from an unspoken consensus and Teyla dipped her head. “You are quite skilled, Colonel.”

Cam breathed out and returned her nod. "As are you, Ma'am. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end in a true battle, that's for sure!" he told her, feeling good about their sparing match.

A strand of hair had come free from her ponytail and Teyla blew it out of the way, and the smile that lit her face was … mischievous. “Now that we are warmed up, shall we continue?”

"I was hoping you'd say that, Teyla. I really was," he told her as they stepped back and assumed fighting stances. "Like my Grandma always told me, 'Ladies First,' " Cam told her.

Radek came jogging into the gym and over to Cadman. "Am I too late?"

"Not at all Doctor," Cadman replied, shifting on the bench to make room. "I think they've been warming up ... testing each other out. You're just in time to see the real action."

"Oh, good!" Radek smiled as he sat down. "This should be interesting."

"Who's your money on?" Cadman asked, eyes on the two opponents circling each other assessingly.

"I am a smart man," Radek smiled. "Teyla. Yours?"

"Part of me wants to say Colonel Mitchell ... just to keep it interesting," Cadman replied, grinning at Radek. "Shall we have ourselves a harmless wager?"

He smirked at her. "Name your terms."

Teyla darted in low and fast before Cameron had finished the last word of his sentence. He blocked but she was already using the momentum of her attack to spin around and deflect the blow he aimed at her head. The crack of wood hitting wood seemed to echo in the small gym and blow the two combatants apart. Teyla had a speed advantage with the two rods, but Cameron had a better reach with the staff, and for a minute she kept him busy blocking her faster attacks. Then she saw her moment, ducked in under a slightly extended attack, and as she shot by flicked her wrist and swatted him soundly across the backside.

Sheppard was always doing the same thing. And received the same treatment.

Laura winced as Mitchell got a nasty smack from Teyla. Turning back to Radek, she smiled. "Terms? How about if Teyla wins you get an invite to the next girls poker night? You'll be the envy of most of the marines ... they're always trying to gate crash us ... and you'll hear things that might give you a betting advantage in the latest pools."

Radek's face lit. "And if Mitchell wins -- I give you the recipe for my 'hooch'."

"Deal!" Cadman replied, holding out a hand so they could shake on it.

Radek shook her hand and turned to watch the battle unfold.

Cam yelped and laughed at her, swiping at her graceful legs, trying to get her entangled as she jumped and missed his shot. He grinned, pressing his attack and longer reach as she was put on the defensive. The beat created by their cracks was almost musical as they pushed each other harder and harder. Cam could see the sheen of sweat on her skin, making her glow as he caught her soundly right at the knees and made her fall straight on her butt.

Teyla's surprise only lasted for a second - Ronon was the only one to ever achieve that particular result. She rolled backwards and up onto one knee, her Bantos rods crossed in front of her to catch Cam's staff as it returned on his backswing. She lifted an eyebrow at him.

Cam looked at her with a happy smile, eyes shining with pride as she grabbed his staff. He pulled, trying to get her to her feet again and knowing that he was vulnerable should she start using her legs. But he was pretty glad to get one up on her. Neither one was a slouch and he was glad to give her a real challenge.

As Cam pulled back Teyla surged to her feet and used his momentum against him. She scissored her rods around his staff and as his balance became compromised, twisted to the side and pushed. He hit the floor on his back, and she stood over him, the rods crossed over his throat. The smile on her face was bright and full of laughter. "Ronon forgets that move as well," she said.

Cam looked at her surprise. "I can see why... Damn," he said with a chuckle. "Ok... Ok, you win, you win. Hell of a match! Thank you, Teyla. I appreciate this," Cam told her, still lying on the floor.

Teyla backed away and transferred both rods to one hand, then offered her free hand to the Colonel. "Thank you for the workout, Colonel. It is always a pleasure to spar with new opponents - it keeps me on my toes." She helped him to his feet, then surreptitiously as possible rubbed her sore backside. "And, apparently, on other parts of my anatomy as well," she said as deadpan as possible.

Cam pulled himself up and rubbed his butt. "I know what you mean..." he said as his eyes twinkled at her. "You're welcome. I'll be around if you want to go again," Cam told her with a nod.

"Gladly. I look forward to it." Teyla inclined her head then had to brush sweat soaked hair from her face. She wandered over to her where he gym bag sat and retrieved a towel. She glanced over to where Lt. Cadman and Radek sat and grinned at them. Especially Radek.

"Well, that was interesting," Cadman said, getting to her feet and smiling down at Radek. "I'll give you the details for the next poker night as soon as it's arranged."

Radek nodded, smiling happily.

Nodding to Teyla and Colonel Mitchell, Laura headed out. Next time she'd go with the favourite ... although ... seeing Radek at an all girl social event wasn't exactly a lose in her book. In fact, she was kinda looking forward to it!

Monday, 4th May | 1100 hours | Cameron Mitchell's Quarters

Colonel Cameron Mitchell sat in his quarters having just started his paperwork. He’d been e-mailed the supply lists and the updated personnel files courtesy of the Daedalus and was going over them inch by inch. He would have to do a personal check later, but it was good to have an idea of what they’d brought him. After a few minutes of familiarizing himself with the lists, he sat back with a confused look on his face. "Personal comfort - One? What the hell?" Cam asked, moving to open an email to Colonel Caldwell to ask for an explanation.

Strolling down the corridor towards Cameron's quarters, Vala passed a few people, nodding a lazy acknowledgment even though none of them would recognize her. At Cameron's door, she swiped a hand over the chime and then arranged herself against the opposite wall ... her pose casual but designed to accentuate to her mind her key attributes. The door opened and Vala smiled at her quarry. "Personal comfort reporting as ordered," she said with a cheeky grin.

Cam heard the chime and stopped what he was doing, wondering who might be coming to see him when the door slid open and Vala stood there. She was looking just as she was when he’d left to come to Pegasus. Flowing dark hair, playful expression, and if he were honest with himself, she was looking just as pretty, if not more so, than the last time. Cam got to his feet, going to her. "Vala! So ... you're the 'Personal comfort'? Who’d you bribe to let you stow away?" he asked, grinning at her.

"Didn't have to bribe anyone," Vala returned, pushing off the wall and walking around him, brushing his shoulder casually on the way through. Glancing around his room curiously she turned and smiled. "General O’Neill likes me, and apparently he likes you too ... said you might be missing home." Taking a step closer, she raised an eyebrow. "So ... did you miss me Cameron?"

Cam looked at her as she invited herself in, slightly surprised. "I am ... and yeah, I did actually. There's something about not having your unique take on everything greeting me every day," he admitted. "Besides, didn't we go over this? We're not on the same team anymore ... you can call me Cam," he told her with a wry grin, wondering if the General knew this was what he’d needed or just took a shot in the dark.

"That's right, we did ... Cameron," Vala replied, sticking to his full name despite his invitation to shorten it. She liked the feel of Cameron rolling off her tongue and besides ... no one else called him that which made it - and to her mind him - hers. Not that she was possessive ... much.

Turning, Vala walked around the room, looking at everything. She was curious to see what he thought important enough to bring from Earth ... running a finger over a photo of his parents she smiled. "Do they know you're going to be away for longer than you intended? Because I certainly didn't - until General O'Neill informed me."

He rolled his eyes at her stubborn use of his whole name. "Well, I am the man in charge of the Hammond. It would be kinda irresponsible if I didn't oversee how repairs were going," Cam said, returning to his desk and sitting down. "But not yet. The data burst just went out and they're probably still working on getting messages delivered. They'll know in a few days I'm sure. We're a Military family. Postings change all the time," he said, resigned to the entire thing. "Although I am going to miss my niece's birthday. I got leave just for that too ...," Cam sighed. "What about you? What are you doing these days?"

“To be honest, not much," Vala replied with an edge of dissatisfaction. "It was bad enough when Sam left and then Daniel. Muscles is busy on Chulak and now you have your ship. And what do I have?" Not waiting for a response she crossed her arms over her chest and sighed dramatically. "I'll tell you what I have Cameron - a big fat nothing, that's what!"

Cam looked at her and couldn't help the smile. He couldn't. As much as he wanted to at least fake being sympathetic to her... it just amused him too much. "I thought you had that exploration thing worked out with Reynolds? You tag along with the teams ... he doesn't put you in the brig for whatever you've done this week. Besides, I thought you were supposed to comfort me, not the other way around, short stack," he said.

"Reynolds is ... well you know him! He's not you," Vala walked back to Cam as she spoke, propping a hip on the desk beside him until she was just shy of invading his personal space. "But you're right ... I am here to comfort you. So tell me Cameron ... what sort of comfort were you looking for?" It wasn't intentional ... not really ... but it came out with suggestive innuendo just the same.

Cam nodded his head then stopped, blinking as he actually heard what she was saying. Really heard it instead of the normal half-listening thing he wound up doing because he was trying to work while she talked about this, that, and the other. She really thought so highly of him? As she got close into the edge of his personal space, he could smell the slight perfume she was wearing, something very her though he couldn't even try to guess what it was. "Why Miss Mal Doran ... are you propositioning me?" he joked with her, knowing she did that most of the time anyway.

"I was rather hoping you were propositioning me Colonel Mitchell," Vala replied. She said it lightly ... he could easily take it as one of her usual amusements ... but underneath the surface Vala was surprised to realize she meant it. All too often it was her doing the flirting ... it was part of her outward facade and by now everyone knew that. And no one took her seriously. That was entirely her doing and she found it amusing to realize that her inherent seriousness had been buried under so many layers of 'image' that even she struggled to find it sometimes.

Cam looked at her, a funny expression appearing on his face. He could take her up on the offer ... be a jerk, have relations with her, prove to her that a quick romp was meaningless, but that was just it ... it wasn't meaningless. Not with her. He wasn't sure when he'd gotten to that point. Her chasing after Jackson all that time notwithstanding, and then them being thrown together as the rest of the team spread to the four winds. It had to be there and then, he supposed, surprised that he hadn't cottoned on quicker. Maybe it was just him not working out with Amy who’d been his imagined ‘ideal’ ... and not being able to recognize what was here.

Standing abruptly, Cam closed the distance between them, putting a hand on her face. "Why are you always so difficult?" he asked softly, trying to sort out what she was doing to him.

Vala felt something jump inside at the touch of his hand ... not the usual 'this man is hot and I want to rumple the sheets with him' - although that was there too. No, it was the expression in his eyes and the way his question cut to the heart of her. The teasing and flirting they'd been engaging in since the rest of the team had disbanded had suddenly dropped away, revealing more of her than she was comfortable with. Because all of a sudden she was worried that Cameron saw her. The real her, and not the sexy carefree exterior she had constructed to cover up her fears - her life - all the things she couldn't talk about.

Putting on her big smile, the one that loudly proclaimed 'I don't have a care in the world!' she ducked her head away and laughed. "Men think all women are difficult Colonel. I would hardly stand out from the crowd."

Cam felt a flare of frustration bubble up and wanted to shout, shake Vala and tell her to stop pretending. Hell, he could almost feel his hands on her shoulders he was so frustrated with her. He took a calming breath and looked at her. "No, Vala ... that's the thing. You do stand out. Hell, you take the cake, the table settings and the silverware too. But that's just you," he told her then frowned, looking slightly disappointed. "I just wish you'd stop pretending with me," Cam told her, exhaling sharply, then realizing what he’d just said ... and how much it revealed in that moment.

"I'm not pretending," Vala insisted stubbornly even though apparently they both knew that was a lie. She'd missed nothing as he'd spoken - reading the shifting nuances of his expressions with a strange mix of delight and terror. Oh God ... had he really just admitted what she thought he'd admitted? "I really do want you to proposition me Cameron," she said in her sultry temptress voice, moving in closer and running a finger lightly down the side of his face.

Inside, the war was raging. One side insisting that she had to act true to form and find out just what Cam would do in response, the other side disappointed that she couldn't just step up to the plate and put herself at risk.

Cam looked at her, letting out a harsh sounding breath. "You are pretending," he said, grasping her wrist as she stroked his face. “You always pretend, trying to push and push and push ...," he said low and rough, bristling at her games. But God, he wanted to take her for all she was offering. "What kind of person do you want me to be, Vala? The one that proves to you once again that you're right and all people want from you is your body? Or do you want me to be myself? Would you let me treat you like you deserve?" he asked, angry and lost in the moment, unable to censor himself like usual.

Emotions surging inside alarmingly, Vala gazed at Cam wordlessly. She was close enough to feel his anger and frustration and a little ashamed that she was so 'excited' by it. Not sure what that said about her she pushed it down where she could ignore it and tried to focus on the moment. On Cameron.

"That might not be all they want," Vala tried to create some distance between them despite the fact that he still held her wrist in a firm but surprisingly gentle grip. “But it's a large part." Spearing him with an intense look she challenged "Come now Colonel ... don't tell me you're not standing there right now imagining the two us getting hot and sweaty together."

Cam let out a shuddering breath, letting go of her wrist and turning from her. "God damn, Vala. You never quit, do you?" he asked. He was guilty of what she was saying ... he was and while he didn't want to be, he couldn't help but be aroused by her and her brashness. He turned back to her. "Not everyone is like that ... surely you didn't think Jackson was, right?" Cam asked, avoiding her question and putting her on the spot again.

Watching him turn away from her, Vala felt suddenly on the edge of tears. It was alright to disappoint herself ... been there, done that too many times to count. But with sudden clarity she realised she'd disappointed Cameron as well ... and that was a lot harder to take. He turned back to her before she could work out what to say - how to fix things between them without spilling her entire life history. And then he mentioned Daniel and she felt ... sad.

"Daniel was a mistake," Vala admitted, turning and crossing to Cam’s window to look down on what she could see of the city below. "We never ... it was never like this. Maybe that makes me a bad person but ... he didn't want me and I couldn't resist the challenge," she sighed tiredly before turning back to face Cam. "It was nothing because I was nothing and you know what? I'd really like it if we never mentioned it again."

Cam watched as she turned away and knew he had hurt her ... which was the last thing he wanted. He wanted to get her to realize that they ... that she didn't have to pretend ... that she was fine the way she was. That he liked her a lot as she was. When she said it was never like this, he wondered what she meant. Like what they were? He didn't even know what that was to be honest ... which led to what was going on here.

As she sighed, he shifted closer, wanting to comfort her, do something to fix it. He frowned when she said she was nothing, moving quickly to deny her conclusion.

"Vala ... God, woman. You're anything but nothing. You always have been and always will be. Okay, so Jackson was a challenge ... a challenge that didn't quite work out the way you planned. But what makes you think I'm just another of these fly by night, screw 'em and leave 'em types?” Cam looked at her intently as he continued. “I like you. I've missed you ... and I'm sorry, but I've never thought you were nothing and there's little, even with as much as you piss me off, that will change that."

There was so much contained in Cam's response that it took a moment for Vala to digest it. When she realised what he'd admitted to she found herself strangely touched, despite the fact he'd been more than a little grumpy saying it. Vala desperately needed to regroup - to think without him actively blindsiding her - before she admitted something she couldn't take back. Going with the best defence being an effective offence, Vala moved to take back control.

"Well now, that deserves some kind of reward," she said seductively as she went back to him, standing toe to toe and running her hands up his chest and behind his neck. Applying enough force to either raise herself up to him or pull him down to her if he didn't resist, she smiled, whispered "I like you too," and then touched her lips to his.

Cam was surprised as she ran her hands up his chest, feeling slightly electrified as she moved him with ease. Their lips touched and he wrapped his arms around her waist, deepening the kiss. Cam snaked his hand up her back and got entangled in her thick mane of hair, feeling the soft waves in his fist. Time stopped as they dueled for dominance, finally breaking away when both had run out of air. "I'm glad," he said, rasping slightly, his voice low.

"I'm glad you're glad," Vala returned with a teasing grin, enjoying the lingering feeling of connection ... of finally getting to sample what she'd been imagining for too long. Ordinarily she would have been more than willing to progress them to the ultimate conclusion ... and she had no doubt that sex with Cameron would be the ultimate. She wanted ... god did she want ... but her fears were overriding her desires and she was reluctant to take the risk. What if she revealed too much? What if intimacy made her vulnerable to him?

It wasn't like she could take it back once the act was done and so she did something out of character. She stepped back a pace and put a hand on his chest, patting him lightly before dropping it back to her side. "I should let you get back to work," she said lightly. "I've distracted you for long enough ... I'm sure that wasn't General O'Neill's plan when he invited me to come here."

Cam blinked stupidly as she gave him all the signals that he thought meant 'Go, Go, Go!' and instead stepped back, him ending up untangling his hand from her sweet smelling hair while she patted his chest fondly. He was struck dumb, not sure what to say and how to say it. "I enjoyed it," he said quickly, knowing that they had crossed some sort of invisible line just now ... with the whole kissing thing. "The dis- The Visit, I mean. I've ... I am enjoying the visit now. It wasn't a distraction. That's what I wanted to say. It's not a distraction," he said, grasping at straws on how to handle this.

"Well then, I'll have to try harder next time," Vala promised, pouting in mock disappointment. She'd expected ... well, she wasn't sure what she'd expected. Had she just bested him or was it the other way around? The fact that she didn't know only added to the frustration she was already feeling ... most of it self inflicted at that.

Cam looked at her, wondering what the hell he was supposed to do now. "Vala ...," he started, drawing her name out slow. "You are ... without a doubt ... the most aggravating, frustrating, wonderful, self sacrificing, and amazing woman I've ever met. Now, will you just shut the hell up and kiss me again?" he asked her, finally having enough of it.

"Well ... since you asked me so nicely," Vala returned, captivated in spite of herself. What the hell ... it was just a kiss. How much trouble was she likely to get into over one simple kiss? Throwing caution to the wind she launched herself at Cam, trusting that he'd catch her before they both ended up on the floor. He did. Wrapping her legs around his waist and grinning down at him Vala paused. "Now ... where were we?" she quipped.

Giving him no further warning she threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling his head back so that what she most wanted right then was exactly where she needed it. Meshing her lips to his she took them straight from 'Hello' to 'You can leave your shoes by my bed any time' in a heartbeat, trusting that he'd be along for the ride.

Cam caught her as she leapt at him, letting her take control as they kissed again.

Vala lost herself in that second kiss as Cam held her close, the heat between them quickly turning something simple into a driving force. At the back of her mind a little voice was shouting to her that clearly one kiss could lead to a whole world of trouble, but passion drowned it out.

Cam shifted the balance of power, passionately deepening the kiss with each step towards the bed. Finally he broke away and threw her down, letting her bounce on the mattress. "If we do this ... it's not just a one time, wham bam, thank you Ma'am type deal, you hear?" he asked her, wanting to know if she was just playing about again or if they wanted the same things. "We do this ... it means that we've started something, got me?"

"I don't have you yet Cameron," Vala replied, sprawled out on the bed where he'd thrown her. Pushing her hair away from her face, she raised herself up to her elbows and deliberately looked him up and down. "But I certainly intend to." At the back of her mind the seriousness of the situation wasn't lost on her ... he wanted promises from her that she wasn't using him for a quick fix. She wasn't ... but whether she could be what he expected, that 'something' he thought they were starting? That was another matter.

It wasn't misleading him to not know the answers yet ... he wouldn't realise how big a step it was for her to give herself in a situation where it wasn't just about using everything she had at her disposal to get what she needed. The scene was frozen ... a moment where doubts could surface ... a turning point. Then Vala smiled challengingly up at him. "Are you just going to stand there flyboy or show me what you're made of?"

Cam watched her, then smirked, closing his eyes for a moment. Okay ... if that was the game she was playing, he could certainly play along too. "You've been hanging out with the ladies on the base too much," he muttered, starting to strip his clothing off.

"You mean fly boys don't do it at high speed?" Vala quipped as she watched him remove his shirt. "I certainly hope not!" Of course she'd seen his chest before ... he seemed to have a knack for losing his clothing with alarming regularity ... and there had been that one unfortunate incident when she'd forced him to strip for her. But seeing muscles rippling when you couldn't remember your own name was a little different from now ... when she fully expected to be enjoying his strength at very close range.

Down to his boxers, Cam turned his attention to her. Kissing her, his hands found her shirt and started stripping her slowly, treating her with the upmost respect.

"Not always ... We have fast and super fast speeds set in," he quipped as he undressed them further until both were naked. He paused, pulling back so he could look at her, naked and beautiful, stripped bare before him.

Vala shifted accommodatingly as he moved to catch her up. He was surprisingly smooth as he dealt with buttons and snaps and other women's only accouterments. That had her wondering inappropriately when he'd last engaged in such activities. And of course the thought traveled from her head straight to her mouth, not pausing at reason on the way. "How long has it been since you've done this?" she asked with a hint of suspicion.

He blinked at her question, lost in staring at her and smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know," Cam told her, leaning in closer to kiss her neck before relenting. "It's been," he said, distracted by her silky skin, “probably ... Seven months. Since that last night with Amy," he admitted, pausing for a moment as the bitter memories swam back up for a brief moment. "But I'm not here to worry about her ... I'm more concerned with you," Cam said.

"I knew it," Vala retorted with a faint moan, finding concentrating on the conversation difficult when he was making her tingle with frankly blow your socks off sensation. Shifting as he concentrated all of his attention on her she almost missed his last statement. "Don't be concerned," she whispered, pulling his lips back to hers and kissing him passionately before breaking away again. "Just ... keep doing what you're doing and ...," she instructed, trailing off with an "Oh God," when he did just that. The feel of his skin on hers was distracting ... inspiring ... exciting.

Everything that followed was about the present ... the two of them and the atmosphere they created together. Vala lost herself in moment after moment as they journeyed from being innocent of each other to having the most intimate knowledge.

When it was over, Cam lazily kissed her neck as he shifted his weight so he didn't squish her. "That was the most amazing sex I've ever had," he told her, holding her in a loving embrace.

Snapping back to reality, Vala locked eyes with Cam, reading too much of what hadn't been said in his statement. He meant it ... and what was worse, if she were honest she'd have to say the same thing. She'd gone from not exactly simple sex to a life changing experience ... a shared life altering experience as it turned out. God, how had this gotten so complicated? Leaning over to kiss him lightly she quipped a flippant "Back at ya," before pulling away.

He hadn't been expecting that, his arms clasped around her too loosely to hold her in place. Hardly able to believe her own cowardice, that she was actually going to be as clichéd as to have sex and run, Vala scrambled to pick up her clothes, pulling things on without even straightening them. "Now I really do have to let you get back to work," she said lamely, giving him a weak imitation of her usual smile without meeting his eyes.

Cam watched her pick up her clothing and put it on, feeling slightly hurt that she was running. "I doubt I'll be doing much work today," he said softly, too tired to want to move. Usually sex didn't take this much out of him, but he just wanted to hold her and sleep for a little bit. Of course, with her taking off, that plan went to hell. "I -," he started, things already awkward now. "Don't be a stranger, okay?" he pleaded with her, knowing that he had to sort out what happened for himself before he could pursue her.

"I'm here for you," Vala replied, her expression softening as she finally looked at him. Stretched out on the bed in all his naked glory, the sight of Cam had her momentarily forgetting what she'd been intending to say. When she realised what she'd already said she gave a fake chuckle. "I mean, I'm here to visit you ... you and Samantha and Daniel," she corrected awkwardly.

Cam almost flinched at her words, wanting to tell her that if she were here for him to get back in bed. "You shouldn't keep Jackson waiting," he said instead, sounding a lot more jealous than he wanted too.

Vala flinched in turn at his mention of Daniel. Rather than remind him that she's asked that he forget her past mistakes Vala shot him a pointed look. "I came here first," she reminded him, holding up a hand and shaking her head before he could respond.

Dressed and with shoes in hand she walked towards the door. Leaving without saying anything else wasn't possible though ... Vala couldn't have described every emotion Cameron was feeling right then but she knew him well enough to know hurt would be one of them.

She'd done that ... with her cowardice and her haste ... running had always been the smart thing to do but for the first time she appreciated that wasn't always the case. "I'm sorry," she said sadly, back still to him. And then Vala did leave, letting the door swish closed silently behind her as she walked away, still carrying her shoes. She couldn't fix it now ... couldn't fix herself enough to even know what it took to be the person Cameron needed.

As she fled, Cam flopped over on his back, looking at the ceiling. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as he tried to figure out what came next and how he should fix this ... because he couldn't lose her.

Back in her guest quarters, Vala leant against the closed door for a few moments, eyes rapidly filling with tears that spilled down her cheeks. Brushing them aside angrily, she walked purposefully towards the bathroom, stripping off clothes and throwing them irritably in the corner. That anger carried her through the next minute ... until she was confronted by her own image in the mirror. Seeing her face, obvious signs of what she'd been fully engaged in only minutes before readily apparent, was bad enough, but the torment in her eyes had more tears pooling uncontrollably.

Cameron had been so caring ... gentle ... so focussed on her and her needs. She'd felt safe in his arms ... protected from the past and the things she feared revealing. The contrast was vivid ... the good of today stacked up against the bad of the past. And she'd blown it ... tossed it away like it was nothing. God, she was more screwed up than even she'd thought!

Tuesday, 5th May | 0800 hours | Mess Hall

Cameron Mitchell headed into the Mess, looking distracted and a little upset. After yesterday's disastrous meeting with Vala, he had been unable to concentrate fully, doing everything that he had to do to get his ship up and running and not thinking about her. But he couldn't get her out of his head. He couldn't. Thank God he was only making sure they worked to their normal efficiency, not actually fixing the thing. Definitely out of his skill set. Cam glumly sat down, shoveling food into his mouth absently.

Keeping busy in a city the size of Atlantis should be easy but Vala found that even here there was nowhere for her to escape her thoughts. She’d slept poorly and woken early, going for a walk that had ended with her standing outside the Mess Hall.

Walking in, Vala glanced around, her eyes drawn immediately to where Cameron sat. “Not today,” she muttered under her breath, turning to leave and instead walking straight into someone coming into the Mess.

Looking up Vala groaned, wondering who’d decided to deliver such a poor start to her day.

“Daniel,” Vala said lightly, pasting a bright smile on her face.

"Vala!" Daniel looked up on as he collided with a warm body. He had his iPod going with the latest Dean R. Koontz novel and had not been paying attention to where he was going. Looking up and looking around, he finally focused on where he was and frowned. This was Atlantis, not the SGC. Returning his gaze to the woman staring up at him, he blinked, "Vala? What are you doing here?" His tone of voice denoted nothing more than confusion and curiosity. It was getting to be old home week on Atlantis.

"Um ...vacation?" Vala suggested uncertainly. "Don't let me keep you," she smiled again, and made to move around him to complete her escape.

"Vacation in the Pegasus? Didn't realize we were one of the tourist's hot spots these days," Daniel responded. "But, hey! You can't just do a hit and run. I didn't know you were coming, join me for breakfast..." The archaeologist looked around and grinned when he spotted another old acquaintance. "Look, there's Mitchell. I know he'd want to play catch up too. Almost like old times...if you discount all the green and stained glass," he added taking her arm, oblivious to any dismay his words may have caused, he steered Vala over toward Mitchell's table.

"Oh, no that's quite ...," Vala's words fell on deaf ears as Daniel steered her into the Mess Hall and across to Cameron's table. She could have resisted but that would have likely drawn attention from the one she was trying to avoid ... and in any case, escape was out of the question as soon as Cam looked up and spotted her ... with Daniel.

"Hey, Mitchell," Daniel greeted genially as he showed Vala into a seat and took one himself, "Look who I found wandering around the Mess Hall. Vala says she's here on vacation...personally, I'd have chosen Hawaii." He grinned as he dropped into his seat. "Almost old home week, just missing T and Sam....although Sam's here...well not here here...in the city here."

"Colonel Mitchell already knows I'm here Daniel," Vala said in a low voice, purposefully looking anywhere but directly at Cameron.

Cam gave Jackson a tight smile and didn't look at Vala, not ready to face that. "Probably wouldn't let her go... afraid she'd take most of the island," he joked weakly, finally looking at her and couldn't hide the pain that brief look held. God... she was... This was awkward. "But you know... Good friends, lots of history... Atlantis is quite the hot spot in it's own right," he told Daniel, not wanting to be rude and leave. Even though he really, really wanted too. Nothing like the object of his affection with the object of her affections to make things weird.

“I left my island stealing days behind a long time ago,” Vala returned, hurt that Cameron would use her past to joke his way out of saying anything real. And then he looked up at her and she saw the expression in his eyes ... wincing internally that there was still hurt and anger clearly visible.

She felt her face flush with shame over her behaviour of the prior day and looked away quickly, barely listening to the rest of his words, sure that she’d never felt so awkward or uncomfortable in her life.

“I won’t be here long anyway Daniel,” Vala returned the conversation back to where it had started, going for a light and breezy tone but not really pulling it off. “A girl has to be flexible ... go where she’s wanted.”

"Well...maybe we can all get together before you return home, Vala," Daniel said, still mostly oblivious to everything except the fact that he had forgotten to get his coffee. "I'll be right back," he excused himself and headed for the coffee service center.

"Sounds good, Jackson. I'd like that and it'd be a good way to celebrate Vala's arrival," Cam said, liking the idea as awkward as it was for him to say so. As Daniel took off, he realized that he was alone with her now. The thing that had been driving him to distraction all day. He could still feel the silky strands of her hair in his fist. "You're always wanted, Vala." he said stiffly. "Don't lowball the value of your company."

“Well I'm surprised you feel that way after what happened yesterday,” Vala returned in a low voice. She’d run out on him – there was no way to sugar coat that. And although she’d implicitly agreed that they would be starting something if they started down that path, she hadn’t lived up to that ... wasn’t sure now the deed was done that she was even capable of doing so. And after his comments about Daniel and her past, Vala couldn’t see Cameron really wanting her to make the attempt.

Cam looked at her, slamming his fists on the table and making his tray and it's contents clatter. "I'm not the one that left!" he snapped at her, rage and hurt swimming in his eyes.

Vala flinched, unused to being the object of Cameron’s anger and deciding she really didn’t like it very much at all. “I did you a favour,” she shot back in a harsh whisper. “You just don’t want to admit that you were wrong about something!”

Daniel returned with a large mug of coffee and resumed his seat and froze as he detected emotional under currents that he was not sure how to place in his former teammates. It also left him in the ignore it and act stupid or ask what's up and get snapped at quandary. He mentally sighed as he spoke, "Okay...what's up, guys? Did one of you get stood up for prom or something?"

Cam looked at her, getting more angry. "Oh. So it was just a favor-" he asked then cut himself off as Daniel popped back up. He forced himself to take a deep breath and looked at Jackson. Cam laughed, slightly bitter. "I crashed and burned, Jackson," he told him, eyes flickering towards Vala.

“Oh please,” Vala stood up and glared at him, completely oblivious to Daniel’s witnessing their argument, along with anyone else sitting close by. “Like you didn’t get exactly what you wanted Colonel! If you could just be man enough to admit it instead of trying to pretty it up we wouldn’t be having this conversation!”

Breathing hard she suddenly realised what she’d said and how it must have sounded to Daniel. Mortified, Vala stared at Cameron, tears brimming in her eyes, before she turned and hurried from the room.

Daniel's eyes widened as Vala rushed from the Mess Hall leaving him to turn his gaze to Mitchell, "Well...are you going to go after her or not?" He asked, mildly exasperated with the younger man.

Cam looked at her as she stood up and snapped at her. He glared at her. "What I wanted was something more than you just leaving!" he said, raising his voice then looking startled as he realized that people were watching... and he was being stared at. His stomach dropped to his boots as she fled, wondering if he was destined to keep FUBARing this. As Daniel looked at him like he was stupid, Cam blinked. "I... Yes. Yes, I am. Glad to see you again, Jackson. Thanks. We'll talk later," he said, running after her.

By the time she got to the corridor Vala was running, tears going from threatened to actual. Angry with herself she slowed a little and swiped at her face, keeping her head low as she passed people she didn’t recognise.

He had no right to be angry! Well ... he did but not in front of Daniel, of all people. Provoking her defences ... making her feel guilty. She shouldn’t have to feel that way! Well ... maybe just a little but she wasn’t going to admit it. If he really wanted her then ...

Cam ran after her, finally catching up as she slowed and kept her head down. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him. "Vala! Stop!" Cam told her, looking at her crying face, feeling about 2 inches tall. God, what a jerk he'd been... what a jerk.

"No Cameron," Vala pulled at the arm he held angrily. "You stop! Just ... stop pretending. This is going nowhere and we both know it.”

"Only because you don't want it too!" he told her, refusing to let her go. "What the hell are you so afraid of? Huh? What is it Vala? That I can't handle your past? That's bullshit and you know it!"

“Let me go,” Vala’s tone was a warning that she was at the limit. A warning Cam obviously didn’t pick up on because he tightened his grip instead.

Without hesitation, Vala used his hold on her arm to pull him in sharply to her, raising her knee at just the right moment – hard enough that he let go with a grunt of pain. Not staying to watch the aftermath, Vala turned and strode away, sure that this time he wouldn’t be following her.

Cam fell to his knees as his eyes watered, hearing her stride away. He groaned and fought to get up, knowing that she was gone and he needed to go get checked out... something.

On to Part 3