A Cry in the dark. Chapter Five...In Two parts: Part One
I am so incredibly sorry that it has taken me so long to update this story.
We have a slight problem in that this chapter is longer than the others and as such LJ isn't letting me post it all in one go so it's going to have to be posted in two parts. To see it as one big chapter though the story is on fanfiction.net under my name sparxxa.
Title: A Cry in the Dark
Chapter: 5/? Part One
Author: sparxxa
Rating: 12ish I guess
Set: Season 3, a few weeks after Phantoms.
Spoilers: Seasons One through Four.
Warning: I am not a doctor, scientist or mathematician, a lot of what I say along those lines is most likely to be wrong.
Previous Chapters: http://sparxxa.livejournal.com/42943.html#cutid1
Chapter Five Part One.
The gate closed sharply behind them as they walked through into the gateroom and Sheppard was mildly surprised, to say the least, to see Doctors McKay and Beckett stood with Doctor Weir; and it was fair to say that they looked a little surprised too.
He could have sworn that the two Doctors and their military escorts weren’t due back until the next day but he was sure that there would be a reasonable, logical explanation for their early return; or at the very least some sort of explanation.
If Doctor Weir truly was surprised to see a presumed dead member of her expedition walking back into Atlantis then she hid it very well. With a warm smile she approached the returning team, Doctors McKay and Beckett following her.
“Welcome back” she greeted before looking to Sergeant Markham, “It’s good to see you Sergeant.”
Sergeant Markham managed a weak smile and a polite “Ma’am.” But it was obvious that things were starting to take its toll on him. He was leaning a little more heavily against Sergeant Stackhouse than he had before as the adrenaline wore off, the fear diminished and the tiredness from the exertion he had been under caught up.
Noticing this Doctor Beckett intervened. “Right then, ‘better get Sergeant Markham here down to the infirmary to see to that leg. I’ll call for a stretcher.”
“Please, Sir,” spoke up Markham, “I can make it; I can walk.”
Beckett eyed him warily, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea son.”
“I can make sure he gets there Sir.” Said Stackhouse awkwardly, feeling the need, possibly out of guilt, to speak up for his friend.
Beckett looked to Doctor Weir. Quarantine protocols were already shot to pieces as they hadn’t been expecting them back so soon, so the harm was already done. Weir looked back to him an eyebrow raised in amusement, offering no help at all and Sheppard just shrugged amiably like he always did in this situation. It was a battle he faced every time a member of the military contingent was injured and he knew it was one he would probably never win.
He sighed resignedly, “Alright then. Off we go.”
He followed as Stackhouse helped Markham out of the gateroom muttering to himself. Not all of the words were clear but most of them heard: “Bloody military. All as bad as each other. Take after their Colonel. Stubborn bloody buggars…”
With their exit from the gateroom the mission was unofficially over, with the silent implication that all mission reports would have to be in as soon as possible. Without saying anything they all dispersed, Lorne going over to speak with Lieutenant Kemp who was now in the gateroom, and Zelenka was summoned over to look at something by one of the technicians, Craig Cullen, who was gesturing at him rather enthusiastically from where he was stood by Chuck; leaving Doctor Weir, Doctor McKay, Sheppard and Ronon at the bottom of the steps.
“So what are you and Beckett doing back?” Sheppard asked McKay, hoping to clear up that matter.
“Mission ended early.” McKay replied succinctly.
“I’d gathered that, what happened?”
“There was a misunderstanding and we were asked to leave.”
“What?” Sheppard asked surprised. “That was meant to be a straight forward trade mission, how did you screw it up?”
“Me? Why do you think it’s my fault?” McKay retorted indignantly.
“Rodney.”
“According to Doctor Beckett, Doctor McKay and Corporal Barton started bickering which upset the local indigenous peoples. Carson and Sergeant Kagan were able to save the trade agreement with one proviso.” Doctor Weir explained.
“What’s that?” Sheppard asked warily.
“That we leave Doctor McKay and Corporal Barton here next time we visit.” Weir replied with a wry smile.
“Barton.” Sheppard muttered to himself shaking his head, “Don’t worry I’ve got a few things I need to talk to her about anyway.” To which Ronon started chuckling, gaining himself a sharp but pleading look from Sheppard.
Deciding to overlook whatever that was about Doctor Weir changed the subject.
“You were back a lot sooner than we expected.” She said as she turned and headed up the stairs, leading them up towards her office.
Sheppard shrugged, “Three hours. Not bad I guess.”
Weir stopped sharply, looking to him in surprise. “Three hours? John you were gone thirty minutes at the most.”
Sheppard shot a look at Ronon and then smirked, “No way.”
“You left here at four, it’s half past now.”
“But McKay…”
“Arrived back fifteen minutes ago.” Explained Rodney “Just enough time to tell Elizabeth about what had happened and get a brief rundown of where you lot had disappeared to.”
Sheppard shook his head, “This can’t be right. It took a little while for us to get our bearings and for Zelenka to examine the DHD, then about thirty minutes searching before Ronon and Lorne caught the trail, another forty-five for us to catch up, then there was a problem with making sure we were all who we said we were, before heading back to the gate. It took three hours.”
“At least.” Added Ronon.
Weir frowned, “John look at your watch.”
He was sceptical to say the least but he thought he might as well humour her. Checking his watch he was shocked to see that she was in fact correct. Looking up he checked the main time piece that they had eventually hung up on one of the walls to make sure they were all on the right time and that was showing the time as being just after half past four, as well. Glancing around he realised that with the exception of the additions of Lieutenant Kemp, Sergeant Hansen and technician Craig Cullen, it was still the same basic skeleton graveyard shift that had been on duty when they had left; surely if they had been gone for three hours then the morning shift would have already taken over.
Looking down to where Lorne was he could see that his second in command appeared to be having a similar conversation with Kemp. Something wasn’t adding up.
“We should continue this in my office.” Weir decided “I’ll contact Carson, see if he has any idea about this.”
He nodded. This was definitely turning into one of those days.
Adam Stackhouse was still in something of a daze as he made his way through the still quiet corridors of the city. He’d just left Jamie in the infirmary with Doctor Beckett, after getting his own post mission check (since he was there) to make sure he wasn’t carrying anything contagious- and getting the all clear- , and that thought alone completely threw him. Jamie was back; Jamie was alive. After two long years… it really didn’t make any sense at all.
Before he knew where his feet were taking him he ended up out on one of the balconies, staring out across the vast ocean surrounding the great city of Atlantis. He stood there quite a while, thinking over everything that had just occurred when a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
“And the award for most predictable marine in Atlantis this morning goes to…”
Adam smirked as Sergeant Tim Kagan came over and took up his position standing next to him, staring out into the distance. He had a point. Every time something thought-provoking, devastating, or just plain weird happened in Atlantis-anything that really needed to be thought about and/or discussed- the two of them would find themselves on that particular balcony talking about it. From Jamie’s death to the siege that had taken away so many of their friends and colleagues to the most recent case of the mission where Kagan had nearly died numerous times; predictably they always ended up there.
“So I hear Jamie’s back.” Kagan commented.
“On the Atlantis grapevine already is it?” Adam replied dryly.
“Not yet, give it an hour when everyone’s awake then the place will be buzzing with stories. No, Croz told me.”
Adam nodded; it figured. Crosby had still been on duty when they’d left and he thought he’d seen him when they’d arrived back. “So he set you on me.”
“Is it true then?”
“Apparently Jamie’s as indecisive about dying as you are.” He replied, wincing and regretting the words the moment he said them. He knew how much that mission had affected his friend and the guilt Kagan felt for being the one Beckett chose to save while he was hallucinating and not Barroso. “Sorry Tim.”
Kagan shrugged dismissively. “It’s ok.” Adam knew it wasn’t but before he could say anything else Kagan changed the subject. “Is he ok?”
“He’s getting checked out by Beckett now.”
“Are you ok?”
Adam looked at his friend in surprise. “What?”
“Are you ok?” Kagan repeated, “It’s not everyday someone comes back from the dead…especially after two years.”
“It’s…weird…I don’t know what I’m going to say to him.” He confessed.
Kagan nodded. “He know how long he was gone yet?”
Adam sighed. “I don’t think he knows he was dead yet.”
“Ah.”
“Exactly.”
They lapsed into silence for a moment before Kagan turned to Adam with a grin.
“Well it’s all happening now. You’ll never guess who might be visiting next time we get a visit from the IOA.”
“Who?”
“I’ll give you a clue.” Kagan said before glaring at him.
“Bates?” Adam guessed, a tad incredulously, as Kagan nodded. “He’s working for them?”
“Got an honourable discharge and started working for them a while ago.” Tim confirmed.
“How did you find out?”
“Shameless.” Kagan replied, referring to Lieutenant Seamus Lee who he had worked with at the SGC before coming to Atlantis.
“Seamus? When? The Daedalus hasn’t been here in weeks.”
“Ah.” He replied, looking decidedly sheepish, “A few months back.”
“You’ve only just remembered?”
“We were all really busy after I heard, then I was busy dying last time Daedalus was here, so yeah it sort of slipped my mind.”
Adam shook his head.
“So Marko’s back and you’re stood here because…?” Kagan prompted.
“It’s all too ridiculous to believe.” Adam responded, used to Kagan’s way of abruptly changing the subject, returning it to serious matters. “He’s been dead for two years, I thought I watched him die and now he’s back, alive, and it’s kind of hard to take in.”
“Understandable.”
“We’re not the same people we were before. I don’t want to go into details before we’ve had a mission debrief but Jamie…he’s…different. I don’t know how he’s going to cope with everything that’s happened in the time he’s been gone. I get this feeling I’m going to lose him again after we’ve only just got him back. I really don’t know what to do.”
Kagan was silent for a moment. “You take a chance. You talk to him. Maybe you’ll find the old Marko, maybe you wont. You’ve got a second chance though Stacks; don’t waste it.”
“So...?”
“So it’s not every day we get to take down a picture from the memorial. Stop wasting time talking to me and talk to him.”
Adam nodded. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Adam turned and began to walk back into the city before pausing. “You’re locked out of your room again aren’t you?”
“Aren’t I always?”
Adam smirked and shook his head. “Three years Kages. Three years.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go say hi to Marko for me.”
This time Adam really did go back indoors. He had to go and see if Jamie was alright and put his own mind at rest. Even if they couldn’t make it past everything that had happened at least this time he could get some closure on such an important part of his life.
We have a slight problem in that this chapter is longer than the others and as such LJ isn't letting me post it all in one go so it's going to have to be posted in two parts. To see it as one big chapter though the story is on fanfiction.net under my name sparxxa.
Title: A Cry in the Dark
Chapter: 5/? Part One
Author: sparxxa
Rating: 12ish I guess
Set: Season 3, a few weeks after Phantoms.
Spoilers: Seasons One through Four.
Warning: I am not a doctor, scientist or mathematician, a lot of what I say along those lines is most likely to be wrong.
Previous Chapters: http://sparxxa.livejournal.com/42943.html#cutid1
Chapter Five Part One.
The gate closed sharply behind them as they walked through into the gateroom and Sheppard was mildly surprised, to say the least, to see Doctors McKay and Beckett stood with Doctor Weir; and it was fair to say that they looked a little surprised too.
He could have sworn that the two Doctors and their military escorts weren’t due back until the next day but he was sure that there would be a reasonable, logical explanation for their early return; or at the very least some sort of explanation.
If Doctor Weir truly was surprised to see a presumed dead member of her expedition walking back into Atlantis then she hid it very well. With a warm smile she approached the returning team, Doctors McKay and Beckett following her.
“Welcome back” she greeted before looking to Sergeant Markham, “It’s good to see you Sergeant.”
Sergeant Markham managed a weak smile and a polite “Ma’am.” But it was obvious that things were starting to take its toll on him. He was leaning a little more heavily against Sergeant Stackhouse than he had before as the adrenaline wore off, the fear diminished and the tiredness from the exertion he had been under caught up.
Noticing this Doctor Beckett intervened. “Right then, ‘better get Sergeant Markham here down to the infirmary to see to that leg. I’ll call for a stretcher.”
“Please, Sir,” spoke up Markham, “I can make it; I can walk.”
Beckett eyed him warily, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea son.”
“I can make sure he gets there Sir.” Said Stackhouse awkwardly, feeling the need, possibly out of guilt, to speak up for his friend.
Beckett looked to Doctor Weir. Quarantine protocols were already shot to pieces as they hadn’t been expecting them back so soon, so the harm was already done. Weir looked back to him an eyebrow raised in amusement, offering no help at all and Sheppard just shrugged amiably like he always did in this situation. It was a battle he faced every time a member of the military contingent was injured and he knew it was one he would probably never win.
He sighed resignedly, “Alright then. Off we go.”
He followed as Stackhouse helped Markham out of the gateroom muttering to himself. Not all of the words were clear but most of them heard: “Bloody military. All as bad as each other. Take after their Colonel. Stubborn bloody buggars…”
With their exit from the gateroom the mission was unofficially over, with the silent implication that all mission reports would have to be in as soon as possible. Without saying anything they all dispersed, Lorne going over to speak with Lieutenant Kemp who was now in the gateroom, and Zelenka was summoned over to look at something by one of the technicians, Craig Cullen, who was gesturing at him rather enthusiastically from where he was stood by Chuck; leaving Doctor Weir, Doctor McKay, Sheppard and Ronon at the bottom of the steps.
“So what are you and Beckett doing back?” Sheppard asked McKay, hoping to clear up that matter.
“Mission ended early.” McKay replied succinctly.
“I’d gathered that, what happened?”
“There was a misunderstanding and we were asked to leave.”
“What?” Sheppard asked surprised. “That was meant to be a straight forward trade mission, how did you screw it up?”
“Me? Why do you think it’s my fault?” McKay retorted indignantly.
“Rodney.”
“According to Doctor Beckett, Doctor McKay and Corporal Barton started bickering which upset the local indigenous peoples. Carson and Sergeant Kagan were able to save the trade agreement with one proviso.” Doctor Weir explained.
“What’s that?” Sheppard asked warily.
“That we leave Doctor McKay and Corporal Barton here next time we visit.” Weir replied with a wry smile.
“Barton.” Sheppard muttered to himself shaking his head, “Don’t worry I’ve got a few things I need to talk to her about anyway.” To which Ronon started chuckling, gaining himself a sharp but pleading look from Sheppard.
Deciding to overlook whatever that was about Doctor Weir changed the subject.
“You were back a lot sooner than we expected.” She said as she turned and headed up the stairs, leading them up towards her office.
Sheppard shrugged, “Three hours. Not bad I guess.”
Weir stopped sharply, looking to him in surprise. “Three hours? John you were gone thirty minutes at the most.”
Sheppard shot a look at Ronon and then smirked, “No way.”
“You left here at four, it’s half past now.”
“But McKay…”
“Arrived back fifteen minutes ago.” Explained Rodney “Just enough time to tell Elizabeth about what had happened and get a brief rundown of where you lot had disappeared to.”
Sheppard shook his head, “This can’t be right. It took a little while for us to get our bearings and for Zelenka to examine the DHD, then about thirty minutes searching before Ronon and Lorne caught the trail, another forty-five for us to catch up, then there was a problem with making sure we were all who we said we were, before heading back to the gate. It took three hours.”
“At least.” Added Ronon.
Weir frowned, “John look at your watch.”
He was sceptical to say the least but he thought he might as well humour her. Checking his watch he was shocked to see that she was in fact correct. Looking up he checked the main time piece that they had eventually hung up on one of the walls to make sure they were all on the right time and that was showing the time as being just after half past four, as well. Glancing around he realised that with the exception of the additions of Lieutenant Kemp, Sergeant Hansen and technician Craig Cullen, it was still the same basic skeleton graveyard shift that had been on duty when they had left; surely if they had been gone for three hours then the morning shift would have already taken over.
Looking down to where Lorne was he could see that his second in command appeared to be having a similar conversation with Kemp. Something wasn’t adding up.
“We should continue this in my office.” Weir decided “I’ll contact Carson, see if he has any idea about this.”
He nodded. This was definitely turning into one of those days.
Adam Stackhouse was still in something of a daze as he made his way through the still quiet corridors of the city. He’d just left Jamie in the infirmary with Doctor Beckett, after getting his own post mission check (since he was there) to make sure he wasn’t carrying anything contagious- and getting the all clear- , and that thought alone completely threw him. Jamie was back; Jamie was alive. After two long years… it really didn’t make any sense at all.
Before he knew where his feet were taking him he ended up out on one of the balconies, staring out across the vast ocean surrounding the great city of Atlantis. He stood there quite a while, thinking over everything that had just occurred when a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
“And the award for most predictable marine in Atlantis this morning goes to…”
Adam smirked as Sergeant Tim Kagan came over and took up his position standing next to him, staring out into the distance. He had a point. Every time something thought-provoking, devastating, or just plain weird happened in Atlantis-anything that really needed to be thought about and/or discussed- the two of them would find themselves on that particular balcony talking about it. From Jamie’s death to the siege that had taken away so many of their friends and colleagues to the most recent case of the mission where Kagan had nearly died numerous times; predictably they always ended up there.
“So I hear Jamie’s back.” Kagan commented.
“On the Atlantis grapevine already is it?” Adam replied dryly.
“Not yet, give it an hour when everyone’s awake then the place will be buzzing with stories. No, Croz told me.”
Adam nodded; it figured. Crosby had still been on duty when they’d left and he thought he’d seen him when they’d arrived back. “So he set you on me.”
“Is it true then?”
“Apparently Jamie’s as indecisive about dying as you are.” He replied, wincing and regretting the words the moment he said them. He knew how much that mission had affected his friend and the guilt Kagan felt for being the one Beckett chose to save while he was hallucinating and not Barroso. “Sorry Tim.”
Kagan shrugged dismissively. “It’s ok.” Adam knew it wasn’t but before he could say anything else Kagan changed the subject. “Is he ok?”
“He’s getting checked out by Beckett now.”
“Are you ok?”
Adam looked at his friend in surprise. “What?”
“Are you ok?” Kagan repeated, “It’s not everyday someone comes back from the dead…especially after two years.”
“It’s…weird…I don’t know what I’m going to say to him.” He confessed.
Kagan nodded. “He know how long he was gone yet?”
Adam sighed. “I don’t think he knows he was dead yet.”
“Ah.”
“Exactly.”
They lapsed into silence for a moment before Kagan turned to Adam with a grin.
“Well it’s all happening now. You’ll never guess who might be visiting next time we get a visit from the IOA.”
“Who?”
“I’ll give you a clue.” Kagan said before glaring at him.
“Bates?” Adam guessed, a tad incredulously, as Kagan nodded. “He’s working for them?”
“Got an honourable discharge and started working for them a while ago.” Tim confirmed.
“How did you find out?”
“Shameless.” Kagan replied, referring to Lieutenant Seamus Lee who he had worked with at the SGC before coming to Atlantis.
“Seamus? When? The Daedalus hasn’t been here in weeks.”
“Ah.” He replied, looking decidedly sheepish, “A few months back.”
“You’ve only just remembered?”
“We were all really busy after I heard, then I was busy dying last time Daedalus was here, so yeah it sort of slipped my mind.”
Adam shook his head.
“So Marko’s back and you’re stood here because…?” Kagan prompted.
“It’s all too ridiculous to believe.” Adam responded, used to Kagan’s way of abruptly changing the subject, returning it to serious matters. “He’s been dead for two years, I thought I watched him die and now he’s back, alive, and it’s kind of hard to take in.”
“Understandable.”
“We’re not the same people we were before. I don’t want to go into details before we’ve had a mission debrief but Jamie…he’s…different. I don’t know how he’s going to cope with everything that’s happened in the time he’s been gone. I get this feeling I’m going to lose him again after we’ve only just got him back. I really don’t know what to do.”
Kagan was silent for a moment. “You take a chance. You talk to him. Maybe you’ll find the old Marko, maybe you wont. You’ve got a second chance though Stacks; don’t waste it.”
“So...?”
“So it’s not every day we get to take down a picture from the memorial. Stop wasting time talking to me and talk to him.”
Adam nodded. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Adam turned and began to walk back into the city before pausing. “You’re locked out of your room again aren’t you?”
“Aren’t I always?”
Adam smirked and shook his head. “Three years Kages. Three years.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go say hi to Marko for me.”
This time Adam really did go back indoors. He had to go and see if Jamie was alright and put his own mind at rest. Even if they couldn’t make it past everything that had happened at least this time he could get some closure on such an important part of his life.