Epilogue

“Fraiser says Sanchez looks pretty good. He should be up and around in a couple of months – just in time to catch the next officer’s training class.”

“Good.”

“How’s Sheppard?”

“He’s bitching and moaning about being stuck in bed.”

Jack O’Neill smiled.

“Is he well enough to get up yet?”

Mitchell shook her head.

“Probably not. Maybe by the end of the week.”

“And Beckett?”

She smirked.

“He’s going to be in bed for a while longer.”

Jack grinned.

“I’ll bet he loves that.”

Melony nodded, knowing that the uplink through the Stargate wasn’t enough to truly convey her amusement at Carson’s exasperation at having caught a cold.

“He’s not a happy camper right now, no.”

“And they’re sure it’s just a cold? Not that bacterium?”

Melony nodded.

“They ran the tests several times – just to make sure. He just didn’t take care of himself, and now he’s paying the price.”

O’Neill’s grin faded, and he turned serious.

“He did really well, though, didn’t he?”

She smiled.

“Yeah. They all did. It could have been very bad…”

Jack knew. He’d read all her reports, after all.

“Yeah, well… maybe he’s not the weenie I thought he was…”

Melony’s smile broadened.

“Think so?”

“I didn’t say he was Arnold Schwarzenegger,” O’Neill said, holding up a hand.

“But he did do good, didn’t he?” Mitchell persisted, amused.

“Yeah.”

“And you’ll tell him that?”

Peter Grodin, who had been listening in on the conversation couldn’t help but grin, too. And feel a surge of pride, since he knew that Mitchell was also talking about him and his role in things. As scared as he’d been, it felt good to know that he’d managed to pull it together enough to still manage to function – and do it well enough that he’d been part of the team that had helped save the city. It wasn’t a position he found himself in often. That was the kind of things heroes did, not ordinary guys like him.

O’Neill hesitated, knowing that if he said yes she’d probably hold him to it, but then shrugged and nodded.

“Yup.”

It was the truth.

She smiled.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Jack rolled his eyes.

“Is Weir there?”

Mitchell chuckled, well aware that he was changing the subject but more than willing to allow it since she’d already gotten the promise from him.

“She’s not on duty right now, Jack. But I’ll tell her to give you a call.”

O’Neill nodded.

“Teal’c arrived here this morning. He and Teyla will be back there tomorrow.”

“Good. You told them everything?”

“Yeah. I let them read the reports.” He looked at his watch. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yup.”

“Then I’ll talk to you later – and Weir, too.”

“Got a hot date?”

Jack scowled, but Melony wasn’t even fazed. In fact, if anything, her smile grew.

Think he really does have a date? Talon asked, catching the thought.

Who knows?

She wasn’t on Earth very much these days, so she didn’t know. But it almost seemed that way, didn’t it?

Hmmm…

“I’ve got a meeting,” Jack told her.

Mitchell smirked, but left it at that.

“Tell Sam hi for me.”

“I will when I see her.”

Ha!

The Stargate disengaged and Grodin looked over at her to see if there was anyone else she wanted him to dial. Of course, all their people were back in the city – aside from Teal’c and Teyla – and only Kale was here from any other world.

Melony was still amused, and her smile showed it clearly.

“I’ll be checking on Doctor Beckett if anyone’s looking for me.”

Grodin nodded.

“I’ll let them know.”

As she walked out, though, he couldn’t help but grin himself. Apparently O’Neill wasn’t the only one with a hot date.

OOOOOOOOO

Like she’d told Jack O’Neill, Carson Beckett was not a happy camper. In fact, he looked downright miserable and trying very hard to hide it. Bundled up in comforters and quilts, he was in his bed with only his head sticking out of the blankets and pillows propping him up so he wasn’t stuck staring at the ceiling all day. On the bed beside him were several empty boxes of Kleenex and a half-full bottle of water. The lighting in the room was turned way down in deference to his headache, and he still winced when the door opened and Melony came in.

She smiled, and set the tray she was carrying down on the table next to his bed.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

Since he sneezed almost immediately after that statement, she shook her head.

“You don’t look fine.”

“I am. I never get sick.”

“I know.”

He’d only told her that a hundred times already.

He scowled.

“Don’t patronize me.”

Another huge sneeze.

She ignored his irritation.

“Anything I can bring you?”

He looked at the tray.

“What’s that?”

“Chicken soup, and a sandwich.”

“I don’t want it.”

“I brought it for me.”

He looked at her, surprised, and she smiled.

“I might share it with you, though.”

Annoyed again, he huffed and buried himself a little deeper in his heap of blankets.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Thirsty?”

“No.”

She kept that particular comment to herself, but gave Talon a purely mental poke.

He’s used to being the doctor, not the patient.

Talon gave a mental huff that was almost identical to Carson’s vocal one, but he didn’t say anything else.

Melony sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Lonely?”

He poked his nose out of the blankets and looked at her, hopefully.

“You’re staying?”

Everyone else was leaving him to stew in his misery – because none of them wanted what he had.

She shrugged.

“You can’t get me sick.”

He brightened. A little.

Talon huffed again, but Melony ignored him as she stretched out beside Carson – although she didn’t steal any of his blankets. There was a faintly audible sigh from the mountain of blankets, and she smiled as he reached for the soup.

“Are there any crackers?”

THE END

So! Another story down. Hope you guys liked it, and I hope you don’t think the ending too abrupt. Let me know! (and let me know if you want another one, eventually)

Melony