Day 48, afternoon; corridors, east pier, jumper bay; attn: Reichstadt [f]

[j_sheppard]

"Major?"

John turned and took in the German scientist heading for him... the one he'd asked to follow him out of the conference room... the one who apparently had followed him out and probably had overheard his argument with Rodney. "Doctor Reichstadt." John nodded. "Were you...?" He motioned vaguely, not even sure what he was asking.

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[dr_reichstadt]

At first he wasn't sure what Sheppard was asking, but then the shadow of guilt he didn't feel at overhearing the conversation between John and Rodney reminded him of certain proprieties, which he promptly ignored. "I want to help. What's Family for?" He shrugged, a small encouraging smile showing that nothing he'd heard had affected his opinion of the man.

[j_sheppard]

John blinked, not sure what Reichstadt meant by 'Family', but shrugged to cover his discomfort. "Come on, then." He hit his radio. "Hernandez, how's the structure looking?"

"Everything looks stable to us, sir," Hernandez answered, "but we really need a structural engineer to be sure."

"You're not going to get one," John answered, tamping down on his anger. "Assemble a team. We're going to get it moved to the jumper bay after we take a good look at it."

"Seriously?" Hernandez's voice asked.

"Did I sound like I was joking?" John snapped.

"No, sir. It's just... It might be kind of dangerous and we..."

"Yeah, well, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it," John answered. "Get a team on figuring out how to get it moved and I'll be there in a couple minutes."

[dr_reichstadt]

He nodded and followed Sheppard. He wasn't going to push the issue, not thinking this was the time for it. When the Major finished radioing Hernandez, Christoph caught up with him, his stride as long as Sheppard's, if not longer. "Now I must admit I'm not yet completely familiar with the Wraith language, but I'll do my best to be quick," he said. He didn't want to promise and fail, but he wanted to reassure the man. Christoph knew not everyone took him seriously because of his age and appearance.

[j_sheppard]

"Thanks, Doc. It's good to know someone's actually interested in getting our people back."

John fell silent as they walked, still smarting from McKay's words, feeling betrayed in ways he couldn't even put into words.

"Um," he started, uncomfortable, "I don't know what you may have overheard, and it probably doesn't make any difference anyway, but, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep it on the down-low."

[dr_reichstadt]

He shrugged, walking along. "I understand. It doesn't make a difference to me, anyway," he said quietly. "Like I said, Family." He offered John a lopsided smile.