Henry and Kevin led a bloodied Allison back into the chamber. "I'm not working with Beverly. There is no flesh-eating bacteria. I reprogrammed GD's security sensor into thinking there was."

"Why?" Allison watched as her son willingly sat in the SRT chair.

"I knew you and Nathan were trying to separate Kevin and Summer from the Artifact. I realized when I saw the alchemy formula that the SRT chamber was the way to do it."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I tried, but you and Nathan froze me out. You didn't trust me."

XXXXXX

"Almost there, Carter," Nathan said as Jack neared the bottom.

"Never thought I'd be so relieved to get to the bottom of an elevator shaft," Jack said as he tried to loosen his cramped muscles.

"You okay," Nathan asked as he took off his pack.

"Yeah. Yeah. But I'll feel better when we get inside."

Nathan pulled out two plasma torches and handed one to Jack. "Hey, Carter. I just wanted you to know I appreciate everything you've done."

They started up their torches. "Let's do this," Jack said before they started cutting through the ceiling.

XXXXXX

Inside Henry and Allison stood at a computer, looking at Kevin. "For years, I've wondered what goes on inside of his head," she sighed.

"Is it what you hoped for?"

"Better," she smiled. "I know that he's happy and that's all I've ever wanted." She paused for a moment. "Henry, if this works, will he be like he is now, of how he used to be?"

"His autism is likely to return," Henry said sincerely.

"I'll be fine, mom," Kevin called from the chair. "Don't be disappointed."

"Honey, it's okay," Allison said sitting next to him. "All I care about is that you're safe." She stroked the side of his face gently. "See you in a minute."

Henry left their side and headed to the observation wall where the Artifact was waiting.

"Don't do it, Henry." Beverly appeared from the office doorway. "We have all the knowledge of the universe at our fingertips. It could be centuries before someone else connects to the field. Think about what this means, Henry. What we could learn."

"It's like you said." He shook his head. "We're not ready."

"I can't let you do this."

"Or what? You'll do to me what you did to Kim?"

"If that's what it takes," Beverly said as she unsheathed a letter opener she'd taken from Allison's desk. She swung once before Jack and Nathan entered the room.

Jack drew his gun and pointed it at Beverly. "Drop it." She sighed but did as she was bidden. Henry went to pick up the discarded blade, but Jack's gun followed him. "Henry, not you!"

Nathan walked in and grabbed the blade as Henry spoke. "This could save them."

"It will kill them," Nathan countered angrily. "You don't have all the data!"

"What are you talking about? What data?" Allison began freaking out.

"Kevin's KB-201 file. It has his original DNA. You need both profiles, which I would have told you if you'd bother to come to me."

"I did and you refused my help!"

"So this is how you decide to fix it, to put all these innocent lives at risk?"

"And she's how you decide to fix it?" Henry gestured to Beverly.

"All right, this stops now!" Jack interrupted. "Everybody, just take a breath. This is over."

"No, Carter, it's not." Nathan turned to look at him. "They will die if I don't do this now. I've been tracking the mutations. The Akashic Field is taking over their brains. The only thing Henry's right about is the SRT is the way to separate them from it."

"This is your call," Jack told him.

Nathan sighed. "Ali, pull the file."

Allison did so and asked, "What about Summer? We didn't take her DNA until after she merged with the Artifact."

"That's what I've been working on," the Artifact stated as it continued to work on the computer. Nathan and Henry joined it on either side to look at the screen. "This is the receptacle's original DNA chain. I made a few changes for her."

"You tampered with her DNA?" Nathan was shocked.

"Modified," the Artifact corrected before continuing very quietly. "She will get headaches from time to time. Unfortunately, I cannot fully leave her. A piece of me will always remain in her brain. But it will not grow. It will simply be a limited connection with my plane of understanding. One I have shared with few others." At Nathan's hesitation, it continued. "Don't worry. She will still be herself."

He only nodded before Beverly spoke. "You all are about to make a mistake of biblical proportions."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Jack stated as everyone went behind the observation wall.

"I've calibrated the destination coordinates fight back to this room," Henry said from bent over a computer.

"The markers are set," Nathan confirmed. "Let's do this."

Henry activated the SRT. "Three…"

"I love you, baby," Allison said through the glass.

"Two…"

"I love you, too, mom," Kevin replied.

"…One."

"SRT transport sequence initialized," The computer warned them.

The SRT began its sequence. After a few moments of bright flickering lights the machine stopped and powered down. The first layer of skin was all that could be seen on the chair. "He should be right here."

"Where's my son?" Allison turned on him before running to the chair.

"Ali, his body might not have been able to process," Nathan started as She stood next to the chair.

She gently touched the skin that formed the outline of her son and it collapsed into dust. Allison sobbed into the chair. "Oh, no, baby. No!"

Everyone was at a loss for words until they heard music. "Mom? Mom, where are you?"

Allison rushed into her office followed by everyone else, excluding Beverly. Kevin stood in the center of the room, devoid of any clothing, looking very scared. Allison held him close. "Oh, you're okay. Get a blanket."

Nathan grabbed the blanket from the couch and draped it around the boy. The Artifact smiled lightly at the scene before everyone noticed the computer.

"We've got to shut this down," Nathan said referring to the bio-hazard. "Or there's gonna be a thermal cleaning."

Henry stepped up to the computer. "I cant. Something's overriding my control."

"That would be your Douglas Fargo," the Artifact replied.

The group sighed as the bio alert was canceled. "Systems reset. Nice work, Fargo," Henry complimented.

"SRT transport sequence initialized," the computer rang over their heads.

"Beverly, no!"

"How?"

Jack and Henry ran into the chamber too late to stop her. "Damn it! Her DNA's already programmed into the system." The lights faded and her skin began to collapse. "She could be anywhere now."

"She'll be found," Jack assured.

"No, she wont," Henry disagreed. "And it doesn't matter now." He walked back to the office. "Um… We're ready for the Artifact now."

"Have you reprogrammed the coordinates, again?"

"It's simple. Come on." Henry held out his hand to it and let it lead the way back to the chamber.

Nathan followed with a blanket in his arms. The Artifact smiled at him and bowed hits head. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Nathan nodded.

The Artifact turned to Henry. "It will turn out for the best. You will not fall far from grace because of the actions you have taken."

"Yes, I will," Henry said as it sat in the chair.

The Artifact merely shrugged before the two men went behind the observation wall. "SRT transport sequence initialized." The Machine whirred, the blinding lights flashed, and then only her skin remained.

"Nathan?"

The men hurried to the office again where they found Summer crouched into a ball. "Summer?" Nathan dropped the blanket over her before pulling her close. "You're okay now."

"The lights are gone. For the first time in months I can see. Somehow it seems a little darker." She stood and clung to him. "Can we go home now? It's been a long day, and I've left Sam home alone.

"Ali get General Mansfield on the line and get us out of here," Nathan said as he sat Summer on the couch.

XXXXXX

Half an hour later the Panic Room began to rise. The six of them exited the office and were greeted by the General himself. "Dr. Blake, are you alright?"

"Yes, sir, with everyone's help here."

"Where's Beverly Barlow?" Mansfield turned to Nathan.

"She's dead. Not much left."

"And we'll deal with this internally," Jack added.

Mansfield looked them all over. "I would love to know who's responsible for all this."

There was a long pause before Henry spoke up behind them all. "I am."

Henry was taken into Federal custody. Allison and Kevin went home where he slept till noon the next day. Nick and Nathan both brought Summer home where they each filled the other two in on what had happened. Jack returned to his daughters party.

Once in a great long while there is a time when no danger befalls a dangerous place. Eureka had it's first day off.

End

XXXXXX

A/n: Yay! I'm done! You don't have to be bothered by me for a bit now. I have to figure out how I'm going to write the first few episodes of S3. Let me know if you have any ideas!