New Home (Stargate Atlantis fanfiction)

31 The surprise

"Did you like the feeling of piloting such a..." started John looking at O'Neill who still sat in the control chair.

"Vessel?" Provided Jack.

"...vessel." John nodded. "Was it fun?"

"Oh yeah, fun indeed." Jack left the chair with a wide grin on his face. "Good to be a retired general if you can pick a ride like that."

"It's not just a ride."

"Not just a ride?" Asked Jack curiously.

"Elizabeth wanted to take you with us to Pegasus if you agree." Said John. "You, flying the city with the warmhole drive to Lantia, staying there for some time, getting some fun..."

"You serious?"

"It was discussed with everyone who needed to be notified, you have a go. You just need to want it."

Jack pretended to think about the proposition but John sensed that there was nothing there, O'Neill was going to agree.

"Well, if you ask nicely..."

"Great to have you with us, sir."

"Loose the 'sir', Sheppard, it's O'Neill now."

"Lunch?" Asked John.

"Just what I thought."

The first week in the City was not really busy. There was a handful of scientists who tended to do a lot of things with the systems that were not understandable to the rest of the inhabitants.

"So, who's going to lead the expedition when Elizabeth is away...?" Asked Jack when they were in the gym playing table tennis. "And what is it with the surprise McKay keeps telling everyone about?"

"Elizabeth asked Richard Woolsey to cover for her now, in that trip and in future, when she is not fit to cover all the responsibilities."

"Not fit?" Asked Jack. "Is something wrong with Elizabeth's health?"

"No, she is okay." Said John then looked closer at Jack. "She didn't tell you, did she?"

"Obviously not. What's up?"

"She will have my head for this, but I better tell you in advance. Elizabeth is pregnant."

"Congratulations." Said Jack with a wide grin. "What about the surprise?"

"Elizabeth wanted her return to be a surprise to most of the personell." Explained John. "There is only a handful of those who know she is back from the dead. The ones who saw her here went with her on a ship and besides McKay everyone else who stayed here is going to keep the secret."

"ok, but what's with Woolsey?"

"Elizabeth is sure he changed for the better and is confident he will be a good right hand."

The day Atlantis was about to take off was a hectic day to say the least. The scientists were running between the labs and the control room and the military tried to get out of the way. The only person who was communicative seemed t be Amelia, who stayed in the control room the whole morning to calibrate all the sensors but she seemed to leak all the important info to Jack and John who used the time in the rec room watching some old movies.

"You sure you took all the possible dvds?" Asked Jack. "It's going to be a little strange to ask for more as soon as we arrive." He passed along a bowl of popcorn.

"Every single one I could find in several stores." Answered John. "Plus everyone was allowed to contribute to the 'needed list' so there should be every single movie on earth there." John pointed to a big stack of boxes in the corner of the room.