Sigh. Just came back from the Grand Slam, my very first con. Read all about it at my Live Journal post. So I thought maybe I should wrap this up. Not that it needed anything, but here's a short thing...

Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

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Impulse: noun. The influence of a particular feeling, mental state, etc. A sudden, involuntary inclination prompting to action; a psychic drive or instinctual urge.

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Today

"It's your move," Sheppard said around a yawn. They had spent nearly three weeks clearing away debris, and scavenging what the Ancients had left behind. After sweeping the endless corridors, they had finally rid the floors of scattered blocks of dismembered Asurans. This is like sweeping Legos! John had thought earlier.

Finally, today most of the former expedition were returning. Those few who decided to stay were replaced with those who wanted a chance to see what all the scuttlebutt was about, lending their expertise wherever it was needed. The colonel had tried to count how many new ones he'd have to brief, but ended up falling asleep somewhere around thirty. He didn't envy Elizabeth Weir at all, having to negotiate, and mediate for their fiasco, then having to ask for additional members for the next expedition.

Rodney McKay had come out on the balcony with the colonel to observe the Daedelus' landing. The sun was bright and high in the sky, causing The City to gleam and shimmer against the blue sky. Sheppard slipped on his aviators, waiting patiently for the scientist to stop hammering on his keyboard. Right now, chess was the only thing that calmed them both.

"Didn't I just move?" Without waiting for an answer, he absently pushed his rook sideways the length of the board.

Sheppard snorted. "Look, if you didn't want to play, you should've said so."

"What are you talking about, Sheppard?" McKay stopped attacking his laptop to look at the colonel. Sheppard was staring off across the horizon with his eyes closed, the wind ruffling his messy hair. The

dark circles under his eyes had faded, and he seemed to be in better spirits the more he connected with The City. McKay had a feeling the colonel had been doing just that as he leaned against the cool metal wall.

"I'm saying I was hoping for a real game this time." The pilot looked over the rims of his sunglasses at his companion. "If you keep moving like that, I'll take this game in six moves."

"How– Oh. You're right." McKay closed his computer and focused on the game at hand. "Six moves, huh? Let's see what ya got."

Sheppard made his final move. "Checkm–"

A sonic boom sounded, rattling the board and their ears. The Daedelus had arrived.

"Well, let's go see– Sheppard?" McKay looked up and the colonel was nowhere to be found. By the time he had reached the gigantic cargo bay, Colonel Sheppard stood ridgidly at a safe distance while the bay doors opened. McKay wanted to ask how he got here so fast, but The City would put him in two places at once if he asked. Not that he could talk anyway; McKay was out of breath when he came to stand next to the colonel.

The first one off the ship was Colonel Caldwell, who shook his head in amusement.

"Welcome back. Sir."

"Sheppard, you are like a bad penny," Caldwell said around a cruel smile. "So you managed to keep Atlantis after all." The tone of his voice was neutral, but Sheppard made a face anyway. "I suppose if General O'Neill and the rest of the United States government didn't want you here, you wouldn't." The Daedelus' commander frowned greatly, the neutral tone quickly disappearing.

"Or maybe they just like me better," the younger colonel said, smiling coyly.

Sheppard, must you always antagonize him? McKay rolled his eyes, and left to meet his returning staff. To say he was surprised to see everyone returning would be a bit of an understatement. Even Miko greeted him with a beaming smile.

Caldwell watched McKay leave, giving him a slight nod. Turning his intense gaze back on the Atlantean militay officer, he shook his head again. "While I don't condone what you did, I will say it was a helluva

move, Colonel. Off the record, of course."

Sheppard tilted his head in acquiescence. "Of course." He ducked away from Caldwell to greet Major Lorne. "Major."

"Colonel." Lorne paused to glance at Caldwell, who left the bay on a course for the control room. The major allowed an easy smile to crease his face. "The place looks pretty good for being under attack, sir."

"Yeah. Had to do some patch work here and there, sweep up a few piles of Replicators. But other than that..."

The major laughed. "Good to see you, Colonel." He stripped off his tac vest, ready to help unload. More Marines and assorted military personnel filed out of the huge ship, eyes round and overwhelmed. Looking back at the pensive colonel, Lorne crossed his arms. "This is going to be a long briefing, isn't it?"

Sheppard clapped the shorter man on the back, and raised his brows. "Major, you don't know the half of it."

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The End!

Okay, so it wasn't so painful, just wish I could have done it sooner. Dang you, RL! All right, Brendan. Now it's time to see what you've been up to...