Sorry. No excuse. It's been almost two years since I've posted anything to this story. No acceptable excuse. And what's worse... I have no more chapter's written for this story. I've sort of hit a roadblock on this story. But I'll probably wrap up this story in ten or so chapters to wrap up some few loose ends (at least one that I know about) and lay down a foundation for the final story in the Disclosure arc that is currently under the running title of Imminent Disclosure. For that story I have near nothing written except a general idea and a few snippets. Sadly I have more (about 130 pages) for an offshoot of this story that will be a crossover between SG-1 and the new Battlestar Galactica, running title is Long Way Home.

I hope you enjoy this short return to the world I created from borrowed pieces of Stargate SG-1, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Novels, Frank Herbert's Dune, and Stargate Atlantis.

14. Exchange

"You have got to be kidding me!"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Rodney McKay pointed at his face.

Major John Sheppard leaned over to his weapons expert, Lt. Aiden Ford, "We need to work on that…"

"Seriously, now. I really think that we need to-"

"Major Sheppard, Dr. McKay report to the control room immediately!"

All three men looked at one another briefly before heeding the urgent voice they heard over their comm units. When they rushed into the control room they heard their base commander, Dr. Elizabeth Weir, already engaged in a dialogue.

"…I have to say, it's really good to hear your voice. H-"

"I get that a lot," the voice on the radio replied.

The three new arrivals looked at each other oddly, unsure who Elizabeth was speaking with so casually. Sheppard called out to Grodin, "Who she talking to?"

The young man turned to him with a wide smile, "Earth. They've made contact with us!"

With the new knowledge in hand they turned their full attention to the conversation.

"… A little something on a planet near here… We're sending you a package, you want to open up your iris?"

Elizabeth turned to Grodin, "Raise the shield…Door's open, sir," she communicated to Earth.

"Standby to receive the package."

Liz turned to John and Rodney and could barely keep the excitement off her face, not that she was trying to. "Home," she mouthed to them.

"How did they contact us?" Rodney asked.

"We don't know," Liz shrugged. She honestly didn't care all that much, they had made contact with Earth.

"What are they sending through exactly? How long can they keep the connection open? Any chance they can send us some s-"

"Rodney!"

Rodney stopped mid-sentence and looked at John. "What?" he asked defensively.

"We don't know much," Liz clarified.

Once the MALP was sent through, Jack's voice came over the radio again, "Let me direct your attention to the container with a ribbon on it."

"What's in it?" she asked.

"I don't want to ruin your surprise… But I have a feeling you'll know what to do with it."

John looked down at the MALP and rushed down to retrieve the case. He bounded back up the stairs and set the metal case on one of the workstations. He looked around at his friends and coworkers before opening the case.

He was speechless as he opened the case and looked down at the prize. He looked back up at those in the room, finally settling on Liz's eyes.

"What is it?" she asked.

He smirked at them all, "Our ticket home…" He slowly reached into the case and withdrew a zero point module.

No one said anything as they all admired the small energy source that would possibly allow them to return to Earth.

"Did you guys get it?"

Liz blinked as she processed Jack's voice over the radio. Her response was barely above a whisper, "Yeah…"

"Carter says it's fully charged. Once you guys test it out and contact us, we'll remake contact and send a team with some supplies through… Any requests?"

Eight hours later the members of SG-1 were the first ones to travel to the Pegasus galaxy in the past four years.

They all stepped out into the Atlantis gate room together and were greeted by the lead members of the Atlantis expedition. Elizabeth smiled excitedly at their new guests while the military personnel stood at attention and greeted General O'Neill.

Jack snapped off a quick salute, "Elizabeth… So good to see you."

She approached him and shook his hand eagerly., "You have no idea how good it is to see you!"

The rest of SG-1 reintroduced themselves to the lead members of the Atlantis expedition; Major John Shepherd, Dr. Rodney McKay, Lt. Aiden Ford, Dr. Carson Beckett, Zelenka, Grodin, and others, including Teyla Amagman, an Athosian.

"So what have we got in this part of the universe?" Jack asked nonchalantly as they headed up the stairs.

Over the next three hours Dr. Weir and her people filled in Jack and his team on the highlights of the Atlantis Expedition since their arrival.

SG-1 learned of their various treaties and allies, including their close alliance with the Athosians, and also of their enemies, the Genii and more importantly, the Wraith. They explained some of the technology they had discovered, some that they were still working on, and included some of what they had learned of the fate of the Ancients, which did not amount to much.

Once the main briefing had concluded, they split off into smaller groups. Sam followed Rodney and Zelenka to the research area, Daniel joined Teyla to discuss some of the allies and local history, while Teal'c joined Aiden in an inventory of Atlantis' defenses.

Jack found himself alone with Weir and Sheppard in the conference room. "So how long?"

Liz and John looked at each other in confusion, "'How long', what?"

"How long you two been married?"

They were speechless as their mouths opened and closed searching for words that refused to voice themselves.

"Sir-"

"General-"

They both stopped and looked at each other briefly before looking back to Jack.

Jack raised his hand, "Just one question, and please be honest, has it affected the way you run this expedition and how you interact with the other personnel?"

There was a pause before either of them spoke. "General, I'm a civilian and therefore-"

"No sir."

Elizabeth looked at John questioningly. John ignored her gaze and focused on Jack whom he suspected understood their situation better than they anticipated.

Jack nodded his head satisfactorily, "Okay… So what have you guys got to eat around here?" Jack turned around and made to move out.

John began to follow him but was stopped by Elizabeth's outstretched hand, "What just happened?"

He shrugged his shoulders in response, "Don't know… but I think he understands."

Jack stopped and headed back to the couple. "There've been a few changes over the past few years. Both in the government and in the way the SGC is run… A little over a year ago we got into a shooting match with Japan… It was short and we won… But…"

"But, what?" Liz demanded to know.

"The United States government suffered the worst imaginable tragedy… A rogue Japanese pilot flew a 747 into the Capitol Building during a Joint Session of Congress."

Elizabeth's one hand flew to her mouth in shock while her other reached out to John for support.

"I know you were friends Elizabeth, but President Durling died in the attack… As did most of the members of Congress, the Joint Chiefs, the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, and a lot of other innocent people."

"How could…?"

Jack shrugged his shoulders, "Fanatics will do anything for what they believe in…"

"What happened, sir?"

Jack nodded understanding the question to be how the country was able to put itself back together after such a horrific tragedy where the head of the nation had been removed.

"Jack Ryan became President of the United States."

Elizabeth was shocked to hear the name, "The Deputy Director of the CIA?"

"Formerly… After a two year retirement he was asked by President Durling to be the NSA, and then eventually to be Vice President after that Keating guy resigned… Jack was being sworn in when the plane struck."

There was a heavy silence as they processed the information.

Elizabeth shook her head in amazement, "He rebuilt the entire U.S. Government? From scratch?"

Jack smiled proudly of his friend, "Essentially… Jack's a real smart guy."

"You know him?" she asked in surprise.

He smiled, "I go way back with him and his wife… A few months ago the President visited the SGC. After he left, he made some decisions concerning the SGC. The rules against fraternization no longer apply to the SGC and related front line contingencies… He knows that we know what all is at stake and that we won't compromise the fate of the planet or each other because of our feelings for one another… So as long as we get the job done and it doesn't cause any problems, and a superior officer clears it… Well, needless to say, we've taken advantage of the rule change and it hasn't affected our jobs."

"But we're not both bound by the same regulations… As a civilian I have to maintain-"

"Elizabeth," Jack called out. "Just accept the situation for what it is and be thankful… I know I am."

She quirked an eyebrow at him, "General?"

He smiled, "Carter and I."

She blinked rapidly, "Really?" He shook his head knowingly. "Actually, I'm not all that surprised after her blackmailing me while you were down in Antarctica."

"Yes well… She can be very stubborn."

Elizabeth smiled at him, "Really? I'd heard the same thing about you." She then walked past the two military men

Jack tried to act offended as his hand landed on his chest. "Who'd you hear that from?" he called out.

TBC (but not for a while...)