Beyond the Iris: A Stargate Story

Chapter 20

Eleanor

Months had passed since we acquired the device. The planet formally referred to as PC5-143 we retrieved it from was now known in the records as Angdar. There had been no known time jumps since we took the device and rehoused it. They moved the ring to a neutral zone between the three countries and we had common emissary meetings in place now for the future of our two planets' kinship. Because of the work that I had done on the planet, General Hammond had asked if I wanted to continue with the off-world summits only pertaining to Angdar. I journeyed there twice more to meet with the other two countries' representatives and then stepped down allowing for SG teams that were more comfortable with diplomacy to further deal with trade and relations. However, I kept in frequent correspondence with all three municipalities chancellors of history at their respective universities finding a trove of information to compile for their respective files.

Summer had come and gone, and with it Daniel and I had quietly grown closer. June was filled with lazy rainy days in bed together, curled up watching movies and eating take out while we debated over whether historical accuracies in film mattered when taking artistic vision into consideration. In July near his birthday, we had turned a work trip Daniel had to take to his old stomping grounds at the University of Chicago into a long weekend away together. Seeing hand in hand around the city and relishing in time dedicated to him.  August the SGC had brought Dr. McKay back to work on the time device in an attempt to figure out how to stabilize the crystal and the remote piece together. He was tormenting the science department to the point I had to step in and play psychological punching bag when Sam was off world.

By September most afternoons I was cataloging and compiling reports from my laptop in Dr. McKay's shared lab with Dr. Lee to keep the peace between the two. Bill had left early for an appointment and it was just McKay and I working in silence. I had debated leaving to go back to my office, but I found that when I would leave he often found someone else to berate. If I just sat like a sandbag working on files while he shot arrows at me every time he was frustrated, things ran smoothly. He needed someone to boost his egos to problem solve, and although at one point I suggested therapy for him I found if I just sat with headphones in ignoring him, he was none the wiser.

"... many common people like you assume Newtonian physics is hard because of that and it's not. My 2-year old niece could grasp the concept." He was muttering to me as he was soldering pieces together.

"Please, explain in further detail," I replied back, yawning and continuing to comb through the last planetary jump records tuning him out. Daniel walked in, hands in pockets and messenger bag slumped over one shoulder.

"Ready to head out?" He asked, eyeing McKay in the corner.

"I am wrapping up an email, give me about five minutes." I smiled back and he took up on a stool next to me, pulling a book from his satchel and cracking it open. McKay popped up from his work and looked back at us.

"Are," he paused, eyeing between us, "she has a jealous boyfriend you know." He said very matter of factly. Daniel tried to restrain a smile and pursed his lips together.

"So I've heard," he continued reading his book while I snapped my computer shut.

Colonel O'Neill came walking in, red and black checked flannel shirt and jeans on, clearly ready to shed the work week away as quickly as possible. "I'm going up north to the cabin with Teal'c and Carter for the four day weekend. Want to join?"

Daniel looked up, "thanks but no thanks, I have plans," his hand gently nudged against mine on the desk and I felt a flush creep over my freckled cheeks. Something about the small display of affection in such a public place felt so comforting. Like it solidified our relationship. I knew most everyone in the office knew we were dating, everyone aside from apparently McKay. But, we made a point to keep our work life very professional and our private life separate. To the point where during group meetings we would sit at opposite ends of the room. However, we often rode into work together or took lunch in one another's office when he was Earth side.