Coup tag - Unlikely Conversation
Title:An Unlikely Conversation
Author: padawan_aneiki
Rating/Pairing: G/None
Characters: John Sheppard and Dahlia Radeem
Summary: John and Dahlia get to know each other.
An Unlikely Conversation
He wasn’t sure exactly why he felt prompted to wander down to the Infirmary after leaving Elizabeth’s office, but John wandered that way anyway, thinking over recent events. He smothered a wide yawn with his hand, realizing he was exhausted. Between Ladon gassing him and his men, and all the convoluted political intrigue, John felt as if he could sleep for a week.
Carson had pronounced the members of both teams healthy enough to return to duty, and John had been grateful for that. No nasty surprises lying in wait after all the nasty surprises. He’d had his chat with Elizabeth, and now...he felt himself drawn back to the Infirmary.
As he thought the door open and stepped into domain of Carson Beckett, he found the Scot looking over some test results from the small group of Genii patients who were still in Atlantis. “Hey, Doc,” he greeted casually, and Beckett nearly did a double-take at his approach.
“Colonel Sheppard...Are ye feelin’ all right, lad?” Carson asked immediately, sharp eyes sweeping over the appearance of the man he’d just sent off with a clean bill of health not long ago. “Any headache; or dizziness?” he queried, concerned that perhaps the unfamiliar gas Ladon had used was manifesting unforeseen effects.
“Nah, I’m fine, Carson,” John waved him off and glanced around. Several of the Genii patients were within his range of sight, and he turned back to the physician. “How’re they doing?”
“Most of them are respondin’ ta treatment,” Carson relayed the same information he had given Elizabeth not long ago. “A few I canna do anythin’ for, but make them as comfortable as I can.” John nodded and flicked his gaze around the Infirmary once again.
“Ladon’s sister?” he inquired. “I don’t see her.”
“Dahlia? Aye, she’s doin’ fairly well for havin’ major surgery, an’ she’s restin’ as comfortably as we can make her.”
“Good, good...” John nodded, and suddenly he knew why he had come down here. The alliance with the Genii had always been tenuous even at its best, and he wasn’t entirely sure that it was much better now with Ladon Radim in charge. Perhaps a little good will would help things along. “She allowed to have visitors?” he asked, and Carson glanced at him curiously.
“I suppose I can let ye sit with her for a time, Colonel, but no more than fifteen minutes; she’s still vera weak.”
John nodded absently; at the very least he could give Ladon a status report later. He followed Carson over to the curtained off area where Dahlia was sleeping, and he pulled up a chair. Fifteen minutes passed in silent contemplation, at the end of which he dutifully rose to go, but not before he leaned down and promised, “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
The next day, he made a point of coming and sitting with Dahlia for fifteen minutes in the morning, and fifteen minutes in the afternoon. That evening he asked for and got permission to contact Ladon Radim and pass along an update on his sister’s condition. The third day, Dahlia happened to wake up during his visit, and he smiled impulsively.
“Hey, you’re awake,” he greeted, and she groaned softly. “Let me get Dr. Beckett for you.”
Gradually as the days passed, Dahlia began to regain her strength, and John was allowed to stay for longer periods of time. He passed messages back and forth between brother and sister, told stories, even read to her a little bit.
Her treatments continued and Ladon visited a few times. The Genii leader remained cautious, but grateful, and glad to see his sister. He had been surprised and grudgingly impressed to find that Colonel Sheppard had been making the effort to keep Dahlia company in a strange place while she was going through such a difficult circumstance.
As time went on in the course of Dahlia’s recovery and further treatment, she was strong enough to get up from bed for short walks to the balcony and a few minutes of sun before having to return to bed. Sometimes she asked for her walks to coincide with John’s visits, and he escorted her into the Lantean sun.
“Thank you,” Dahlia said as they emerged onto the balcony during one such visit. “It’s so nice to feel the sun and the breeze.”
“Well I’ve spent enough time cooped up in here for one reason or another,” Sheppard shrugged a little. “I know how nice it can be to just to get a little air. This balcony is my favorite place anytime I’m Carson’s guest.”
Dahlia nodded and allowed herself to lean on John’s arm, until they reached the small bench on which they took their outdoor visits. He helped her to sit down, and then settled beside her, leaning back against the balcony wall. They sat in silence for several moments, just appreciating the sunshine.
“Colonel Sheppard,” Dahlia prefaced and turned slightly to face him. “I appreciate all that you have done for me. I have to admit...you are nothing like I believed you to be.”
“Oh well, you can’t believe everything you hear on the grapevine around here...” John started, but Dahlia shook her head slightly.
“You don’t understand, Colonel,” she continued. “Ladon told me everything about Commander Kolya’s failed mission here. And how you single-handedly killed sixty of our people by engaging the Stargate’s shield.”
“Well...if you had been in the same...”
“I was to become the wife of one of the men you killed,” Dahlia said simply. John swallowed tightly; this wasn’t exactly what he’d had in mind to foster good will.
“Look, Dahlia...”
Ladon’s sister shook her head and held up her hand. “I came here, Colonel Sheppard, fully prepared to hate you. I came here as part of the mission hoping Ladon would be forced to kill you.” She was frank, but soft-spoken and John wasn’t exactly sure how to take that, until something she said registered with him.
“Ladon didn’t tell you what he was planning; or at least not entirely.” he commented curiously. “About the coup, I mean.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “He sent you here to keep you safe in case things went bad.”
It was just as much a revelation to Dahlia as it had to John, and she blinked, considering it.
“I don’t...”
“He knew you were sick, he knew there was a possibility things could still go wrong, and he knew in Atlantis you might have a chance. He’d been here, he’d seen for himself the kind of Ancient technology we have here. He hoped to save your life no matter what.”
“I don’t understand...” she shook her head. “Ladon held you responsible...”
“He also knew he needed us. He used me, and I’m not happy about that, but the outcome is one I can live with. And he knew if he could get you to hate us...me...enough that you’d gladly volunteer for the one-way trip to Atlantis just to see us fail...and you would be safe.”
They both fell silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts regarding Ladon’s clever engineering of his takeover of the Genii leadership.
“You were doing what you had to do to protect your people,” Dahlia murmured at last, looking up at John. “I do not know how Ladon views you now, Colonel Sheppard, but I can’t find it in me to hate you any longer, and I know that Ladon and Jerin were acting on orders.”
“Well, I don’t expect it to be easy for you to like me,” John interjected, his expression soft and serious. “I’m not even all that sure how much trust exists between our people. I just know how hard it is to have to spend a long time getting better in a strange place without anybody to talk to. I thought maybe you could use the company, and maybe...maybe we could make it a little better for the Genii and for us to communicate in the future.”
“No, it is not easy,” Dahlia answered honestly. “I still miss Jerin a great deal, Colonel. But you’ve been kind and attentive, and I think I can see why Sora came to respect you and your people. Maybe there’s hope for us all yet.”
“I’d like to think so,” John canted his head, a smile on his features. “The smarter we can be in the fight against the Wraith; the better off it’ll be for everybody.”
“I agree, Colonel Sheppard.”
“John. Try calling me John; friends do that.”
Dahlia smiled a little, one of the few smiles he had seen her give readily. “Very well, John. Of all the conversations I thought I might have here, this was certainly the most unexpected. And perhaps the most necessary. Thank you.”
“Well that’s something else we agree about,” Sheppard replied, and easy smile coming to his features as well. “You’re welcome.”
Author: padawan_aneiki
Rating/Pairing: G/None
Characters: John Sheppard and Dahlia Radeem
Summary: John and Dahlia get to know each other.
An Unlikely Conversation
He wasn’t sure exactly why he felt prompted to wander down to the Infirmary after leaving Elizabeth’s office, but John wandered that way anyway, thinking over recent events. He smothered a wide yawn with his hand, realizing he was exhausted. Between Ladon gassing him and his men, and all the convoluted political intrigue, John felt as if he could sleep for a week.
Carson had pronounced the members of both teams healthy enough to return to duty, and John had been grateful for that. No nasty surprises lying in wait after all the nasty surprises. He’d had his chat with Elizabeth, and now...he felt himself drawn back to the Infirmary.
As he thought the door open and stepped into domain of Carson Beckett, he found the Scot looking over some test results from the small group of Genii patients who were still in Atlantis. “Hey, Doc,” he greeted casually, and Beckett nearly did a double-take at his approach.
“Colonel Sheppard...Are ye feelin’ all right, lad?” Carson asked immediately, sharp eyes sweeping over the appearance of the man he’d just sent off with a clean bill of health not long ago. “Any headache; or dizziness?” he queried, concerned that perhaps the unfamiliar gas Ladon had used was manifesting unforeseen effects.
“Nah, I’m fine, Carson,” John waved him off and glanced around. Several of the Genii patients were within his range of sight, and he turned back to the physician. “How’re they doing?”
“Most of them are respondin’ ta treatment,” Carson relayed the same information he had given Elizabeth not long ago. “A few I canna do anythin’ for, but make them as comfortable as I can.” John nodded and flicked his gaze around the Infirmary once again.
“Ladon’s sister?” he inquired. “I don’t see her.”
“Dahlia? Aye, she’s doin’ fairly well for havin’ major surgery, an’ she’s restin’ as comfortably as we can make her.”
“Good, good...” John nodded, and suddenly he knew why he had come down here. The alliance with the Genii had always been tenuous even at its best, and he wasn’t entirely sure that it was much better now with Ladon Radim in charge. Perhaps a little good will would help things along. “She allowed to have visitors?” he asked, and Carson glanced at him curiously.
“I suppose I can let ye sit with her for a time, Colonel, but no more than fifteen minutes; she’s still vera weak.”
John nodded absently; at the very least he could give Ladon a status report later. He followed Carson over to the curtained off area where Dahlia was sleeping, and he pulled up a chair. Fifteen minutes passed in silent contemplation, at the end of which he dutifully rose to go, but not before he leaned down and promised, “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
The next day, he made a point of coming and sitting with Dahlia for fifteen minutes in the morning, and fifteen minutes in the afternoon. That evening he asked for and got permission to contact Ladon Radim and pass along an update on his sister’s condition. The third day, Dahlia happened to wake up during his visit, and he smiled impulsively.
“Hey, you’re awake,” he greeted, and she groaned softly. “Let me get Dr. Beckett for you.”
Gradually as the days passed, Dahlia began to regain her strength, and John was allowed to stay for longer periods of time. He passed messages back and forth between brother and sister, told stories, even read to her a little bit.
Her treatments continued and Ladon visited a few times. The Genii leader remained cautious, but grateful, and glad to see his sister. He had been surprised and grudgingly impressed to find that Colonel Sheppard had been making the effort to keep Dahlia company in a strange place while she was going through such a difficult circumstance.
As time went on in the course of Dahlia’s recovery and further treatment, she was strong enough to get up from bed for short walks to the balcony and a few minutes of sun before having to return to bed. Sometimes she asked for her walks to coincide with John’s visits, and he escorted her into the Lantean sun.
“Thank you,” Dahlia said as they emerged onto the balcony during one such visit. “It’s so nice to feel the sun and the breeze.”
“Well I’ve spent enough time cooped up in here for one reason or another,” Sheppard shrugged a little. “I know how nice it can be to just to get a little air. This balcony is my favorite place anytime I’m Carson’s guest.”
Dahlia nodded and allowed herself to lean on John’s arm, until they reached the small bench on which they took their outdoor visits. He helped her to sit down, and then settled beside her, leaning back against the balcony wall. They sat in silence for several moments, just appreciating the sunshine.
“Colonel Sheppard,” Dahlia prefaced and turned slightly to face him. “I appreciate all that you have done for me. I have to admit...you are nothing like I believed you to be.”
“Oh well, you can’t believe everything you hear on the grapevine around here...” John started, but Dahlia shook her head slightly.
“You don’t understand, Colonel,” she continued. “Ladon told me everything about Commander Kolya’s failed mission here. And how you single-handedly killed sixty of our people by engaging the Stargate’s shield.”
“Well...if you had been in the same...”
“I was to become the wife of one of the men you killed,” Dahlia said simply. John swallowed tightly; this wasn’t exactly what he’d had in mind to foster good will.
“Look, Dahlia...”
Ladon’s sister shook her head and held up her hand. “I came here, Colonel Sheppard, fully prepared to hate you. I came here as part of the mission hoping Ladon would be forced to kill you.” She was frank, but soft-spoken and John wasn’t exactly sure how to take that, until something she said registered with him.
“Ladon didn’t tell you what he was planning; or at least not entirely.” he commented curiously. “About the coup, I mean.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “He sent you here to keep you safe in case things went bad.”
It was just as much a revelation to Dahlia as it had to John, and she blinked, considering it.
“I don’t...”
“He knew you were sick, he knew there was a possibility things could still go wrong, and he knew in Atlantis you might have a chance. He’d been here, he’d seen for himself the kind of Ancient technology we have here. He hoped to save your life no matter what.”
“I don’t understand...” she shook her head. “Ladon held you responsible...”
“He also knew he needed us. He used me, and I’m not happy about that, but the outcome is one I can live with. And he knew if he could get you to hate us...me...enough that you’d gladly volunteer for the one-way trip to Atlantis just to see us fail...and you would be safe.”
They both fell silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts regarding Ladon’s clever engineering of his takeover of the Genii leadership.
“You were doing what you had to do to protect your people,” Dahlia murmured at last, looking up at John. “I do not know how Ladon views you now, Colonel Sheppard, but I can’t find it in me to hate you any longer, and I know that Ladon and Jerin were acting on orders.”
“Well, I don’t expect it to be easy for you to like me,” John interjected, his expression soft and serious. “I’m not even all that sure how much trust exists between our people. I just know how hard it is to have to spend a long time getting better in a strange place without anybody to talk to. I thought maybe you could use the company, and maybe...maybe we could make it a little better for the Genii and for us to communicate in the future.”
“No, it is not easy,” Dahlia answered honestly. “I still miss Jerin a great deal, Colonel. But you’ve been kind and attentive, and I think I can see why Sora came to respect you and your people. Maybe there’s hope for us all yet.”
“I’d like to think so,” John canted his head, a smile on his features. “The smarter we can be in the fight against the Wraith; the better off it’ll be for everybody.”
“I agree, Colonel Sheppard.”
“John. Try calling me John; friends do that.”
Dahlia smiled a little, one of the few smiles he had seen her give readily. “Very well, John. Of all the conversations I thought I might have here, this was certainly the most unexpected. And perhaps the most necessary. Thank you.”
“Well that’s something else we agree about,” Sheppard replied, and easy smile coming to his features as well. “You’re welcome.”