Fic: Aleatoric Life 23/25: Repente Dissonante
Title: Aleatoric Life 23: Repente Dissonante
Author: SGAtlantisLight
Characters: McKay, Sheppard, Beckett, Halling, Emmagan, Caldwell, Weir, Corrigan, Stackhouse, Lorne
Relationships: Beckett/McKay/Sheppard, Corrigan/Stackhouse/2 OCs, Dex/Zelenka
Rating: PG-13, though the series as a whole is NC-17
Warnings: Mention of non-con, language, DADT
Spoilers: None this part
Summary: They had rescued him, but they had yet to truly bring him safely home. Part of the Aleatoric Life series.
Disclaimer: Undoubtedly I own them, and a whole lot of other things, in some universe, but not this one.
The hall was decked with flowers and wreaths, the tables practically groaning under the weight of all the food. John watched as Halling engaged in an animated conversation with Sergeant Mulford, while Sergeant Alvarez stumbled through a conversation with Teyla.
"And I thought I was bad," Rodney murmured.
"You are bad," John answered, grinning. "He wouldn't make a bad match for her..."
"Are you kidding? He's way too immature."
"You two aren't actually playing armchair matchmaker, are you?" Carson asked as he walked up.
John grinned. "Just discussing Alvarez's chances."
Carson watched the man in question. "Oh, I'd wager they're not that bad. Teyla's blushing."
"God, she is!" Rodney exclaimed.
John glanced at the doors as they slid open. Almost everyone was already here.
"Colonel Caldwell," Elizabeth greeted. "You're just in time. Grab a glass of champagne and join us."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Doctor Weir." Caldwell's face was a blank mask as he turned to John and raised his voice. "I have orders to arrest Sergeant John Stackhouse for violating articles 125 and 134 of the UCMJ."
"What?!" John reacted. "You can't--"
"I also have orders that you, Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, also be placed under arrest for violations of the same articles."
"What's this about?" Elizabeth asked.
"Article 125 is the anti-sodomy regulation-- the one they get you on for homosexual behaviour," John explained. "Article 134 is a catch-all for other offenses."
"Including polygamy," Caldwell said, "which is the specific charge against Sergeant Stackhouse and yourself."
"You can't do this!" Elizabeth spat.
"I'm sorry, Doctor Weir. I'm under orders."
"In Sergeant Stackhouse's case, I'm afraid Executive Order 15776 supersedes any orders you may be under, unless your orders are straight from the Commander-in-Chief," Elizabeth pointed out.
"Only in cases where the marriage involves 'indigenous peoples.' Sergeant Stackhouse's marriage also involves Doctor Henry Corrigan, who is certainly not an indigenous person."
"Yes, it does cover Sergeant Stackhouse," she answered. "It was specifically-worded to include cases such as his."
"I'm afraid there are people who don't agree with your interpretation, Doctor."
Elizabeth glared at him. "We'll win this in court, if we have to."
He nodded. "I sincerely hope so. But even so, I have to arrest him." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "And I'm afraid the protocols pose no protection for Colonel Sheppard at all."
John felt Carson's fingers brush the back of his arm and then withdraw and closed his eyes. He'd risked everything for them and now...
"You have no basis for any charges against him at all."
"The UCMJ specifically includes marrying or attempting to marry a member of the same sex as homosexual behaviour. There are photographs of Colonel Sheppard's wedding to not one, but two men."
There were gasps of shock around the room.
"Colonel Sheppard is married?" Alvarez's voice carried. "To who?"
"John?" Elizabeth asked, turning to him.
"I'm sorry, Doctor, but it's really best if he doesn't answer you in front of me," Caldwell said.
Elizabeth nodded. "Very well. We need to take this to private conference. Colonel Caldwell, Colonel Sheppard, Sergeant Stackhouse, Doctor Corrigan..." She glanced around the room. "... and Lieutenant Millard, my office, please."
John paused and watched the others walk out, looked to Rodney and Carson, his expression asking for their silence, and then followed the Atlantis JAG officer to Elizabeth's office.
***
When the door shut behind them, Elizabeth turned and looked at them all. "All right. I need to know what sort of photographs you have."
Caldwell pulled out a file folder and dropped a photograph in front of Elizabeth. "This is a weather satellite image taken approximately four months ago over the Mainland. Doctor Corrigan identified the ritual taking place as a wedding ceremony. In fact, he said the gold robes on the figures within the stone circle were only worn during weddings and only by the brides or grooms."
Millard picked up the photo. "You can't make out the identities of these figures at all."
"True," Caldwell said. "However, this is another print-out of the same photograph. The grooms are easily identifiable."
"What?" Corrigan yelped, snatching up the picture. He looked up at John, eyes wide. "That bastard! He intentionally gave me a blurred photograph so I wouldn't know..." He slammed the print down. "Goddammit!"
John found a chair and sank into it, burying his head in his hands, shock and disbelief making him feel weak. The room fell silent.
"Colonel Caldwell, I think I need to speak to my people in private," Elizabeth said quietly.
"I understand. I'm... Well, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news."
"But you were under orders." Elizabeth's voice held an undertone of bitter anger.
"Yes, I was. I'll leave you to discuss this."
Another silence fell as the door slid shut.
"I'm so sorry, Colonel," Corrigan said. "I would never have--"
"Harry," Stackhouse said warningly. "Leave it."
"Lieutenant, what can we do?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, my understanding of the wording of the protocols-- and I reviewed them specifically for the Sergeant's situation-- is that he's safe. He may have to go to courts martial to defend that, however."
"And Colonel Sheppard?"
There was a long pause. "I'm sorry, Doctor. The protocols weren't intended to cover his situation and they don't."
"If I plea bargain, is it possible for me to get off without serving time?" John spoke for the first time.
"What?! John, you can't be serious. You have to fight--"
"There's nothing to fight, Elizabeth. There's incontrovertible proof."
"The U.S. military regulations on homosexuality are outmoded and unfair," she argued.
"Yes. There are a lot of things about the military that are outmoded and unfair, but I agreed to them when I signed on. This isn't a civilian authority, Elizabeth. When I signed on the dotted line, they got my ass and every other part of me. I've seen a man get in trouble because his wife gave him a hickey over the weekend, for God's sake! I knew the regs when I joined, I agreed to them. I didn't think it would be an issue." He sighed. "And I should have resigned when it became one."
She gaped at him. "John?"
He looked at Millard. "What are the odds that I can avoid time?"
The lieutenant considered. "A lot of will depend on how bloodthirsty they want to be. From the looks of things, someone wants to make a statement. They may not deal."
John sank his fingers into his hair, pulling at it, hoping to wake up from the horrible nightmare.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, quietly.
He shrugged. "You get in the habit of not discussing your sexual proclivities with your superior in the military."
"I'm not military."
"Habit, Elizabeth. Please. This isn't helping."
"I could have written the protocols to protect you," she said.
"Well, then, I'll just have Rodney pull out his handy time machine and we'll go back and fix it!"
"We have to fight this!"
"We can't fight this."
She picked up the photograph and shoved it under his nose. "If I lose you, I lose them, too. We have to fight this."
He closed his eyes and sighed, feeling frozen. "How? Tell me how, Elizabeth, and I'll fight this."
There was a knock at the door.
He listened to Elizabeth step to the door and open it.
"Doctor Weir," Halling's voice resonated, "I have been asking about this problem and--"
"I'm sorry, Halling. I know you'd like to help, but this is an Earth matter."
"No. It is not an Earth matter, as it involves Athosians. I think I may have a solution, if you could better explain these protocols to me."
Elizabeth sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry I snapped. Please, come in."
***
"Here," Alvarez said, shoving a drink into Carson's hands. "Everything's going to be okay, docs. Doctor Weir, man, she'll get him out of this."
Carson raised the glass to his lips, shaking so badly he slopped the drink over his hand. "Dear Lord, I hope so."
Rodney had gone eerily silent, mouth pressed into a thin pale line, his eyes glimmering with tears, hands pressed into his lap.
Carson reached out, uncurling Rodney's fist and interlacing their fingers, needing the reassurance of the touch, no longer caring what people thought.
To the other side of him, Teyla was speaking quietly with Liata and Adeka Isharom. The Athosians who'd attended the celebration sat on the floor near their distressed people, confused and mystified.
Ronon and Radek stood nearby, looking helpless. The room was slowly emptying of Atlanteans, everyone slipping away, a few with a quiet word to Carson and Rodney as it became apparent who the unnamed husbands were.
Carson looked up into the accusing eyes of Katie Brown. He didn't know what to say to her. It all seemed so unreal. She tilted her head, thrusting her jaw out stubbornly in an expression not dissimilar to one Rodney wore frequently and nodded to him, eyes flickering to Rodney's devastated face and then away. She walked out, several other female scientists and a couple of female Marines trailing after her.
He sighed.
"Can I top off that drink, doc?" Alvarez asked. "Or get you something else?"
"Food?" Ronon offered.
Lorne walked into the room, eyes sweeping the sparse band of stragglers, and headed for their chairs. "Excuse me, doctors, ah, and family Isharom. Doctor Weir would like to see you in her office."
"What's this all about?" Carson asked.
"I don't know, doc."
Carson stood, feeling shaky and weak. Lorne's hand curled around his elbow. "Thank you, son," Carson whispered.
"No problem. Doctor McKay?"
"This is my fault!" Rodney blurted out. "Oh, God, this is my fault."
Lorne's face remained impassive. "I didn't know you determined U.S. military policy, doctor."
Rodney blinked. "What?"
Lorne's eyes softened. "Now isn't the time to panic or start flinging blame, doc. Right now, Doctor Weir needs you in her office."
Rodney seemed to shake himself out of his daze. "Right. Right. Of course." He stood.
Lorne released Carson's elbow, guiding him toward his husband, and turned to the two Athosian women. "Ma'ams? If you'll come with me, please."
***
By the time he reached Elizabeth's door, shock, fear, and recriminations had turned to anger. How dare they?
"All right, Elizabeth, you need to make it very clear to the SGC that if Sheppard goes, Carson and I both go as well. They can't do this and think they can get away with it!"
"Rodney--"
"I have connections. Granted, only some of them are with the U.S. government, but still, it's worth shaking the tree and seeing what falls out, right?"
"Rodney, I--"
"And I also have connections in Russia that may be able to influence the oversight committee. Threaten them with losing the three of us in one fell swoop and see how happy they're going to be!"
"Rodney! Just shut up a moment and listen. We think we may have a solution."
"And we can't forget the Canadians, of c--" His voice died and he blinked. "I'm sorry. Did you say you have a solution?"
"Yes. We think we might. Please, come in and sit down."
AN: Repente Dissonante is a musical phrase meaning "suddenly dissonant"
Next part
Author: SGAtlantisLight
Characters: McKay, Sheppard, Beckett, Halling, Emmagan, Caldwell, Weir, Corrigan, Stackhouse, Lorne
Relationships: Beckett/McKay/Sheppard, Corrigan/Stackhouse/2 OCs, Dex/Zelenka
Rating: PG-13, though the series as a whole is NC-17
Warnings: Mention of non-con, language, DADT
Spoilers: None this part
Summary: They had rescued him, but they had yet to truly bring him safely home. Part of the Aleatoric Life series.
Disclaimer: Undoubtedly I own them, and a whole lot of other things, in some universe, but not this one.
The hall was decked with flowers and wreaths, the tables practically groaning under the weight of all the food. John watched as Halling engaged in an animated conversation with Sergeant Mulford, while Sergeant Alvarez stumbled through a conversation with Teyla.
"And I thought I was bad," Rodney murmured.
"You are bad," John answered, grinning. "He wouldn't make a bad match for her..."
"Are you kidding? He's way too immature."
"You two aren't actually playing armchair matchmaker, are you?" Carson asked as he walked up.
John grinned. "Just discussing Alvarez's chances."
Carson watched the man in question. "Oh, I'd wager they're not that bad. Teyla's blushing."
"God, she is!" Rodney exclaimed.
John glanced at the doors as they slid open. Almost everyone was already here.
"Colonel Caldwell," Elizabeth greeted. "You're just in time. Grab a glass of champagne and join us."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Doctor Weir." Caldwell's face was a blank mask as he turned to John and raised his voice. "I have orders to arrest Sergeant John Stackhouse for violating articles 125 and 134 of the UCMJ."
"What?!" John reacted. "You can't--"
"I also have orders that you, Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, also be placed under arrest for violations of the same articles."
"What's this about?" Elizabeth asked.
"Article 125 is the anti-sodomy regulation-- the one they get you on for homosexual behaviour," John explained. "Article 134 is a catch-all for other offenses."
"Including polygamy," Caldwell said, "which is the specific charge against Sergeant Stackhouse and yourself."
"You can't do this!" Elizabeth spat.
"I'm sorry, Doctor Weir. I'm under orders."
"In Sergeant Stackhouse's case, I'm afraid Executive Order 15776 supersedes any orders you may be under, unless your orders are straight from the Commander-in-Chief," Elizabeth pointed out.
"Only in cases where the marriage involves 'indigenous peoples.' Sergeant Stackhouse's marriage also involves Doctor Henry Corrigan, who is certainly not an indigenous person."
"Yes, it does cover Sergeant Stackhouse," she answered. "It was specifically-worded to include cases such as his."
"I'm afraid there are people who don't agree with your interpretation, Doctor."
Elizabeth glared at him. "We'll win this in court, if we have to."
He nodded. "I sincerely hope so. But even so, I have to arrest him." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "And I'm afraid the protocols pose no protection for Colonel Sheppard at all."
John felt Carson's fingers brush the back of his arm and then withdraw and closed his eyes. He'd risked everything for them and now...
"You have no basis for any charges against him at all."
"The UCMJ specifically includes marrying or attempting to marry a member of the same sex as homosexual behaviour. There are photographs of Colonel Sheppard's wedding to not one, but two men."
There were gasps of shock around the room.
"Colonel Sheppard is married?" Alvarez's voice carried. "To who?"
"John?" Elizabeth asked, turning to him.
"I'm sorry, Doctor, but it's really best if he doesn't answer you in front of me," Caldwell said.
Elizabeth nodded. "Very well. We need to take this to private conference. Colonel Caldwell, Colonel Sheppard, Sergeant Stackhouse, Doctor Corrigan..." She glanced around the room. "... and Lieutenant Millard, my office, please."
John paused and watched the others walk out, looked to Rodney and Carson, his expression asking for their silence, and then followed the Atlantis JAG officer to Elizabeth's office.
***
When the door shut behind them, Elizabeth turned and looked at them all. "All right. I need to know what sort of photographs you have."
Caldwell pulled out a file folder and dropped a photograph in front of Elizabeth. "This is a weather satellite image taken approximately four months ago over the Mainland. Doctor Corrigan identified the ritual taking place as a wedding ceremony. In fact, he said the gold robes on the figures within the stone circle were only worn during weddings and only by the brides or grooms."
Millard picked up the photo. "You can't make out the identities of these figures at all."
"True," Caldwell said. "However, this is another print-out of the same photograph. The grooms are easily identifiable."
"What?" Corrigan yelped, snatching up the picture. He looked up at John, eyes wide. "That bastard! He intentionally gave me a blurred photograph so I wouldn't know..." He slammed the print down. "Goddammit!"
John found a chair and sank into it, burying his head in his hands, shock and disbelief making him feel weak. The room fell silent.
"Colonel Caldwell, I think I need to speak to my people in private," Elizabeth said quietly.
"I understand. I'm... Well, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news."
"But you were under orders." Elizabeth's voice held an undertone of bitter anger.
"Yes, I was. I'll leave you to discuss this."
Another silence fell as the door slid shut.
"I'm so sorry, Colonel," Corrigan said. "I would never have--"
"Harry," Stackhouse said warningly. "Leave it."
"Lieutenant, what can we do?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, my understanding of the wording of the protocols-- and I reviewed them specifically for the Sergeant's situation-- is that he's safe. He may have to go to courts martial to defend that, however."
"And Colonel Sheppard?"
There was a long pause. "I'm sorry, Doctor. The protocols weren't intended to cover his situation and they don't."
"If I plea bargain, is it possible for me to get off without serving time?" John spoke for the first time.
"What?! John, you can't be serious. You have to fight--"
"There's nothing to fight, Elizabeth. There's incontrovertible proof."
"The U.S. military regulations on homosexuality are outmoded and unfair," she argued.
"Yes. There are a lot of things about the military that are outmoded and unfair, but I agreed to them when I signed on. This isn't a civilian authority, Elizabeth. When I signed on the dotted line, they got my ass and every other part of me. I've seen a man get in trouble because his wife gave him a hickey over the weekend, for God's sake! I knew the regs when I joined, I agreed to them. I didn't think it would be an issue." He sighed. "And I should have resigned when it became one."
She gaped at him. "John?"
He looked at Millard. "What are the odds that I can avoid time?"
The lieutenant considered. "A lot of will depend on how bloodthirsty they want to be. From the looks of things, someone wants to make a statement. They may not deal."
John sank his fingers into his hair, pulling at it, hoping to wake up from the horrible nightmare.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, quietly.
He shrugged. "You get in the habit of not discussing your sexual proclivities with your superior in the military."
"I'm not military."
"Habit, Elizabeth. Please. This isn't helping."
"I could have written the protocols to protect you," she said.
"Well, then, I'll just have Rodney pull out his handy time machine and we'll go back and fix it!"
"We have to fight this!"
"We can't fight this."
She picked up the photograph and shoved it under his nose. "If I lose you, I lose them, too. We have to fight this."
He closed his eyes and sighed, feeling frozen. "How? Tell me how, Elizabeth, and I'll fight this."
There was a knock at the door.
He listened to Elizabeth step to the door and open it.
"Doctor Weir," Halling's voice resonated, "I have been asking about this problem and--"
"I'm sorry, Halling. I know you'd like to help, but this is an Earth matter."
"No. It is not an Earth matter, as it involves Athosians. I think I may have a solution, if you could better explain these protocols to me."
Elizabeth sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry I snapped. Please, come in."
***
"Here," Alvarez said, shoving a drink into Carson's hands. "Everything's going to be okay, docs. Doctor Weir, man, she'll get him out of this."
Carson raised the glass to his lips, shaking so badly he slopped the drink over his hand. "Dear Lord, I hope so."
Rodney had gone eerily silent, mouth pressed into a thin pale line, his eyes glimmering with tears, hands pressed into his lap.
Carson reached out, uncurling Rodney's fist and interlacing their fingers, needing the reassurance of the touch, no longer caring what people thought.
To the other side of him, Teyla was speaking quietly with Liata and Adeka Isharom. The Athosians who'd attended the celebration sat on the floor near their distressed people, confused and mystified.
Ronon and Radek stood nearby, looking helpless. The room was slowly emptying of Atlanteans, everyone slipping away, a few with a quiet word to Carson and Rodney as it became apparent who the unnamed husbands were.
Carson looked up into the accusing eyes of Katie Brown. He didn't know what to say to her. It all seemed so unreal. She tilted her head, thrusting her jaw out stubbornly in an expression not dissimilar to one Rodney wore frequently and nodded to him, eyes flickering to Rodney's devastated face and then away. She walked out, several other female scientists and a couple of female Marines trailing after her.
He sighed.
"Can I top off that drink, doc?" Alvarez asked. "Or get you something else?"
"Food?" Ronon offered.
Lorne walked into the room, eyes sweeping the sparse band of stragglers, and headed for their chairs. "Excuse me, doctors, ah, and family Isharom. Doctor Weir would like to see you in her office."
"What's this all about?" Carson asked.
"I don't know, doc."
Carson stood, feeling shaky and weak. Lorne's hand curled around his elbow. "Thank you, son," Carson whispered.
"No problem. Doctor McKay?"
"This is my fault!" Rodney blurted out. "Oh, God, this is my fault."
Lorne's face remained impassive. "I didn't know you determined U.S. military policy, doctor."
Rodney blinked. "What?"
Lorne's eyes softened. "Now isn't the time to panic or start flinging blame, doc. Right now, Doctor Weir needs you in her office."
Rodney seemed to shake himself out of his daze. "Right. Right. Of course." He stood.
Lorne released Carson's elbow, guiding him toward his husband, and turned to the two Athosian women. "Ma'ams? If you'll come with me, please."
***
By the time he reached Elizabeth's door, shock, fear, and recriminations had turned to anger. How dare they?
"All right, Elizabeth, you need to make it very clear to the SGC that if Sheppard goes, Carson and I both go as well. They can't do this and think they can get away with it!"
"Rodney--"
"I have connections. Granted, only some of them are with the U.S. government, but still, it's worth shaking the tree and seeing what falls out, right?"
"Rodney, I--"
"And I also have connections in Russia that may be able to influence the oversight committee. Threaten them with losing the three of us in one fell swoop and see how happy they're going to be!"
"Rodney! Just shut up a moment and listen. We think we may have a solution."
"And we can't forget the Canadians, of c--" His voice died and he blinked. "I'm sorry. Did you say you have a solution?"
"Yes. We think we might. Please, come in and sit down."
AN: Repente Dissonante is a musical phrase meaning "suddenly dissonant"
Next part