Not Your Typical After-Action Report - August 15th
Twisted Shorts August Fic-a-Day Challenge - Day 15
Title: Not Your Typical After-Action Report
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG/FR13/K+
Crossover: BtVS/SG:A
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Stargate people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: Healing Atlantis isn’t just about the medicine, you have to face your truths.
Notes: Part 40 of Faith Sheppard - Links Page
Seasons: Post-series/Season 3
Word Count: 1550
“Is this wise?” Michael hissed.
“Ronon is off-world,” John assured him. “He and Teyla and Beckett, apparently. They went to get some plant from M6H-491.” He scoffed in anger. “McKay came under Lucius’s effect while we were gone.”
“Do you have the address?” Michael asked as he used a pipette to remove a small amount of liquid from the vial of Lucius’s medicine bottle.
“Why?” he said suspiciously.
“I am a scientist, Colonel Sheppard,” Michael told him. “I have studied thousands of plants and animals.”
“Haly,” John said. “Can you get the address?” He wrote the designation on a piece of paper and handed it to her with a pen.
She nodded. Michael’s lab did not have a computer networked to the rest of Atlantis. She hurried to the dialing computer and asked Chuck for it. He asked no questions, just jotted it down and handed it back. She ran back to the lab and gave it to John.
“Here,” John showed Michael.
“I have studied this world,” Michael said. “There is an herb…”
“What?”
“The villagers, you said they appeared sick?”
“Yes, but more…depressed.”
Michael jerked his chin in Haly’s direction. “What of the children?”
“They hated him,” Haly said. “Hoped he would stay away.”
“What are you thinking?” John asked.
“Your sickness prevents inhalation through the nose, yes?” Michael clarified.
“Yes…” John replied slowly.
“This planet has an herb that when manipulated affects the pheromones of the user. When inhaled by other humans the prefrontal cortex becomes addicted to the substance.”
“The…happy emotions part of the brain,” Haly said, proudly remembering her lessons on the brain.
Michael nodded. “These types of pheromones do not affect children until after puberty.”
“Gamblers,” John said, recognizing the information from a journal he’d read about the industry of addiction and positive feedback in Las Vegas. “Can we reverse it? Or counteract it in Lucius?”
“Perhaps,” Michael said. “I know the chemical formula of the herb, I just need to study this vial for any alterations made. But the antidote should work on this Lucius and those affected by the pheromone.”
“Good,” John replied. “Get to work.”
“What about Faith and Ronon?” Haly asked in a panic.
Michael frowned, not understanding the concern.
“She shouldn’t have been affected,” Haly told John. “Slayers are immune.”
John considered that but the answer came to him almost immediately. “You know how Faith doesn’t drink alcohol?”
“Yes.”
“Her family - on her mother’s side - are a bunch of people who drink too much. Her brain is predisposed to find something that makes her happy and be addicted to it.”
“And Ronon?”
“Big and tough - still has a brain that likes... happiness and good feelings.” He frowned at his own words, knowing they were neither things he generally associated with his teammate.
He was saved from further interrogation. “The injection should work on both,” Michael assured.
“How long will this take?”
“A few hours.”
88888888
Faith groaned in disgust, a metallic taste coated her tongue and her head was pounding.
“Hey,” a familiar voice said softly.
“Carson? A truck hit me?”
“Afraid not, lass,” he said apologetically. “You were stunned a few times to keep you under.”
“Under?” she opened her eyes and regretted it, closing them again.
“I’m going to give you a shot, should speed up your recovery from the stunner.” A sharp needle pierced the skin on her arm.
Within a few minutes the medication took effect, letting her open her eyes and sit up. “What happened?”
“It would be a better story for someone else to tell, I’m afraid I don’t come out well in it - neither do most of us.”
The infirmary door opened and John entered. “Hey,” he greeted.
“Want to tell me what happened?”
“What’s the last thing you remember?”
Faith frowned, digging at her memories. “Haly!” She launched herself from the bed.
“She’s fine! She’s fine, I promise. Everyone is, actually,” he shouted as he kept her in place.
“Michael escaped, he…he had a…”
“It’s more complicated than that. Just sit down and listen.” Faith slowly took a seat on the bed again. “Do you remember Lucius?”
She made a disgusted face. “Unfortunately.”
“You and Beckett were seduced by his hoodoo herb.”
“We…We brought him back to Atlantis.”
“Not your faults.” He took a stool and sat down next to her. “But the hero here…is Haly.”
“Haly?”
“She knows you, Faith. She became suspicious and distraught when you seemed interested in Lucius’s advances.” He looked her over. “How much does she know about your history - the abuse?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a general idea, I never know how much she overheard during my sessions with Susan - or at poker night.”
He nodded. “Well, she knew you would normally slug him, not let him make suggestions of bedding you.”
“What did she do?”
“Stole keys from Lorne, picked up a Wraith stunner, released Michael, and made him help her knock out the first team that found them a few hours later.”
“Why?”
“She knew you would go after Michael, that you would protect the City first. It was a guaranteed way to get you away from Lucius.”
“And get Michael killed,” she said.
John grinned. “She used the hostage training we gave her against you and Ronon.”
“Of course, who else would charge after Michael ready to kill him?”
“And that was before he even knew that Haly was his ‘hostage.’”
“Where is Haly?”
“With Susan, writing up her first after-action report. And being evaluated for trauma.”
“Two-in-one.” She sighed. “Why did I keep getting stunned?”
“Your predisposition to addiction,” he told her. “Carson wanted to make sure you were fully recovered from the effects of the pheromone before letting you wake up. None of us really wanted to take you on if you were still under Lucius’s influence. If it makes you feel any better, we’ve locked Ronon in the brig until he is clear headed and lets me explain about Michael and Haly.”
88888888
Haly listened as Susan read back the report to her.
“Does that sound right?” Susan asked where she was sitting next to Haly on the couch.
Haly nodded.
“You did really good today, Haly.”
She twisted her mouth. “Do you think Ronon is going to be mad at me?”
“Why would he be?”
“He doesn’t like Michael,” she said. “And I helped him escape and gave him a weapon and let him shoot Ronon…then I shot him.”
Susan hit the save button and closed the file. Then she set her laptop on the table and turned to face Haly. “Lucius was a bad man,” she tried to explain. “He hurt a lot of people, you saw what he did here on Atlantis and in that village Sheppard took you to.”
Haly nodded.
“Not every type of hurt is something that leaves a mark or a bruise. And everyone will understand what you did. Most will have questions about why you let Michael out. But in the end, I think they’ll get it. Especially if they know Faith.”
“Why would they have to know Faith?”
“Because what you did, was exactly the kind of thing she would - if she were five years old and only three and a half feet tall. You trusted your instincts about Faith and Lucius. About Michael. You took the training you’ve been getting from Ronon and you put it to use.”
88888888
Faith swept Haly into her arms. “Hey, kid.”
Haly sniffled into her shoulder.
“Rough day?” she said softly.
She nodded.
“You want to go to our room and talk about it?”
Haly shook her head. “I’m hungry.”
“You want to go to the cafeteria?”
“Yes.”
Faith adjusted her and started walking. They entered the cafeteria. Given the time, it was pretty full. One of the sergeants spotted them first and looked like they were about to approach. Faith waved them off.
With the help of the staff, two trays were prepared and set on the nearest opened table. Faith was able to get Haly into her own seat. Luckily, hunger managed to distract them for a few minutes. Once the anxiety started to fade, Haly was able to look around.
“They’re all looking at us,” she noted.
“Don’t worry about it,” Faith told her. “Just eat.” She discreetly shooed away everyone who tried to approach until they seemed get the idea.
When they finished and returned the trays, Haly was more than happy to take Faith’s hand on the walk back. They reached the hall their room was on and nearly ran into Ronon.
He looked Faith over a second before turning his gaze to Haly. Her hand clenched tighter to Faith’s.
Ronon hugged her as he picked her up. “I’m sorry,” he choked out.
Haly let go of Faith and wrapped her arms around Ronon’s neck.
He turned a little to be able to look at Faith as he explained to Haly. “I took Lucius’s words at face value. Michael was dead, you were safe with Sheppard. Lucius suggested we get the herb - get in more Wraith kills… so I went. Instead of coming after you, making sure you were alright.”
“It’s not your fault,” Haly whispered into his neck. “Lucius was bad.”
Ronon shook his head. “I’ll always come after you.” His gaze darted to Faith. “Both of you.”
“We will too,” Haly told him.
Faith’s eyes met his and she jerked her chin down in agreement.
Title: Not Your Typical After-Action Report
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG/FR13/K+
Crossover: BtVS/SG:A
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Stargate people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: Healing Atlantis isn’t just about the medicine, you have to face your truths.
Notes: Part 40 of Faith Sheppard - Links Page
Seasons: Post-series/Season 3
Word Count: 1550
“Is this wise?” Michael hissed.
“Ronon is off-world,” John assured him. “He and Teyla and Beckett, apparently. They went to get some plant from M6H-491.” He scoffed in anger. “McKay came under Lucius’s effect while we were gone.”
“Do you have the address?” Michael asked as he used a pipette to remove a small amount of liquid from the vial of Lucius’s medicine bottle.
“Why?” he said suspiciously.
“I am a scientist, Colonel Sheppard,” Michael told him. “I have studied thousands of plants and animals.”
“Haly,” John said. “Can you get the address?” He wrote the designation on a piece of paper and handed it to her with a pen.
She nodded. Michael’s lab did not have a computer networked to the rest of Atlantis. She hurried to the dialing computer and asked Chuck for it. He asked no questions, just jotted it down and handed it back. She ran back to the lab and gave it to John.
“Here,” John showed Michael.
“I have studied this world,” Michael said. “There is an herb…”
“What?”
“The villagers, you said they appeared sick?”
“Yes, but more…depressed.”
Michael jerked his chin in Haly’s direction. “What of the children?”
“They hated him,” Haly said. “Hoped he would stay away.”
“What are you thinking?” John asked.
“Your sickness prevents inhalation through the nose, yes?” Michael clarified.
“Yes…” John replied slowly.
“This planet has an herb that when manipulated affects the pheromones of the user. When inhaled by other humans the prefrontal cortex becomes addicted to the substance.”
“The…happy emotions part of the brain,” Haly said, proudly remembering her lessons on the brain.
Michael nodded. “These types of pheromones do not affect children until after puberty.”
“Gamblers,” John said, recognizing the information from a journal he’d read about the industry of addiction and positive feedback in Las Vegas. “Can we reverse it? Or counteract it in Lucius?”
“Perhaps,” Michael said. “I know the chemical formula of the herb, I just need to study this vial for any alterations made. But the antidote should work on this Lucius and those affected by the pheromone.”
“Good,” John replied. “Get to work.”
“What about Faith and Ronon?” Haly asked in a panic.
Michael frowned, not understanding the concern.
“She shouldn’t have been affected,” Haly told John. “Slayers are immune.”
John considered that but the answer came to him almost immediately. “You know how Faith doesn’t drink alcohol?”
“Yes.”
“Her family - on her mother’s side - are a bunch of people who drink too much. Her brain is predisposed to find something that makes her happy and be addicted to it.”
“And Ronon?”
“Big and tough - still has a brain that likes... happiness and good feelings.” He frowned at his own words, knowing they were neither things he generally associated with his teammate.
He was saved from further interrogation. “The injection should work on both,” Michael assured.
“How long will this take?”
“A few hours.”
88888888
Faith groaned in disgust, a metallic taste coated her tongue and her head was pounding.
“Hey,” a familiar voice said softly.
“Carson? A truck hit me?”
“Afraid not, lass,” he said apologetically. “You were stunned a few times to keep you under.”
“Under?” she opened her eyes and regretted it, closing them again.
“I’m going to give you a shot, should speed up your recovery from the stunner.” A sharp needle pierced the skin on her arm.
Within a few minutes the medication took effect, letting her open her eyes and sit up. “What happened?”
“It would be a better story for someone else to tell, I’m afraid I don’t come out well in it - neither do most of us.”
The infirmary door opened and John entered. “Hey,” he greeted.
“Want to tell me what happened?”
“What’s the last thing you remember?”
Faith frowned, digging at her memories. “Haly!” She launched herself from the bed.
“She’s fine! She’s fine, I promise. Everyone is, actually,” he shouted as he kept her in place.
“Michael escaped, he…he had a…”
“It’s more complicated than that. Just sit down and listen.” Faith slowly took a seat on the bed again. “Do you remember Lucius?”
She made a disgusted face. “Unfortunately.”
“You and Beckett were seduced by his hoodoo herb.”
“We…We brought him back to Atlantis.”
“Not your faults.” He took a stool and sat down next to her. “But the hero here…is Haly.”
“Haly?”
“She knows you, Faith. She became suspicious and distraught when you seemed interested in Lucius’s advances.” He looked her over. “How much does she know about your history - the abuse?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a general idea, I never know how much she overheard during my sessions with Susan - or at poker night.”
He nodded. “Well, she knew you would normally slug him, not let him make suggestions of bedding you.”
“What did she do?”
“Stole keys from Lorne, picked up a Wraith stunner, released Michael, and made him help her knock out the first team that found them a few hours later.”
“Why?”
“She knew you would go after Michael, that you would protect the City first. It was a guaranteed way to get you away from Lucius.”
“And get Michael killed,” she said.
John grinned. “She used the hostage training we gave her against you and Ronon.”
“Of course, who else would charge after Michael ready to kill him?”
“And that was before he even knew that Haly was his ‘hostage.’”
“Where is Haly?”
“With Susan, writing up her first after-action report. And being evaluated for trauma.”
“Two-in-one.” She sighed. “Why did I keep getting stunned?”
“Your predisposition to addiction,” he told her. “Carson wanted to make sure you were fully recovered from the effects of the pheromone before letting you wake up. None of us really wanted to take you on if you were still under Lucius’s influence. If it makes you feel any better, we’ve locked Ronon in the brig until he is clear headed and lets me explain about Michael and Haly.”
88888888
Haly listened as Susan read back the report to her.
“Does that sound right?” Susan asked where she was sitting next to Haly on the couch.
Haly nodded.
“You did really good today, Haly.”
She twisted her mouth. “Do you think Ronon is going to be mad at me?”
“Why would he be?”
“He doesn’t like Michael,” she said. “And I helped him escape and gave him a weapon and let him shoot Ronon…then I shot him.”
Susan hit the save button and closed the file. Then she set her laptop on the table and turned to face Haly. “Lucius was a bad man,” she tried to explain. “He hurt a lot of people, you saw what he did here on Atlantis and in that village Sheppard took you to.”
Haly nodded.
“Not every type of hurt is something that leaves a mark or a bruise. And everyone will understand what you did. Most will have questions about why you let Michael out. But in the end, I think they’ll get it. Especially if they know Faith.”
“Why would they have to know Faith?”
“Because what you did, was exactly the kind of thing she would - if she were five years old and only three and a half feet tall. You trusted your instincts about Faith and Lucius. About Michael. You took the training you’ve been getting from Ronon and you put it to use.”
88888888
Faith swept Haly into her arms. “Hey, kid.”
Haly sniffled into her shoulder.
“Rough day?” she said softly.
She nodded.
“You want to go to our room and talk about it?”
Haly shook her head. “I’m hungry.”
“You want to go to the cafeteria?”
“Yes.”
Faith adjusted her and started walking. They entered the cafeteria. Given the time, it was pretty full. One of the sergeants spotted them first and looked like they were about to approach. Faith waved them off.
With the help of the staff, two trays were prepared and set on the nearest opened table. Faith was able to get Haly into her own seat. Luckily, hunger managed to distract them for a few minutes. Once the anxiety started to fade, Haly was able to look around.
“They’re all looking at us,” she noted.
“Don’t worry about it,” Faith told her. “Just eat.” She discreetly shooed away everyone who tried to approach until they seemed get the idea.
When they finished and returned the trays, Haly was more than happy to take Faith’s hand on the walk back. They reached the hall their room was on and nearly ran into Ronon.
He looked Faith over a second before turning his gaze to Haly. Her hand clenched tighter to Faith’s.
Ronon hugged her as he picked her up. “I’m sorry,” he choked out.
Haly let go of Faith and wrapped her arms around Ronon’s neck.
He turned a little to be able to look at Faith as he explained to Haly. “I took Lucius’s words at face value. Michael was dead, you were safe with Sheppard. Lucius suggested we get the herb - get in more Wraith kills… so I went. Instead of coming after you, making sure you were alright.”
“It’s not your fault,” Haly whispered into his neck. “Lucius was bad.”
Ronon shook his head. “I’ll always come after you.” His gaze darted to Faith. “Both of you.”
“We will too,” Haly told him.
Faith’s eyes met his and she jerked her chin down in agreement.