Day 44: Elizabeth's office, staff meeting: attn staff and invited others [F]

[dr_liz_weir]

Elizabeth leaned back in her chair as her computer booted. The meeting would be starting in a few minutes. Halling and Charin were already there, waiting for the others. She could hear Rodney and Radek sniping at each other down in the gate room, working until the last minute trying to get the gate back online so they could recall their offworld

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[sgt_fields]

Chuck set his system to continue its work on its own, adjusting some search parameters before turning things over to the occasional eye of another surviving technician. He was finally feeling as though they were making progress, as certain systems began to stabilise and stay stabilised, but he wasn't confident they had purged 100 per cent of the virus just yet. Still ... it was improving.

He stood, too tired to bother stretching. He grabbed a coffee mug, and slipped another pill into his mouth, washing it down with a mouthful of cold, bitter caffeine.

Time to get to the meeting.

[tsgtriuz]

TSGT Caridad Ruiz walked into the conference room, trying to put more energy into her step than she actually felt. It was important to look confident and in control, for morale if nothing else. Inside, she just wanted to crawl into her bed and pull the covers over her head for a while, and cry from frustration, fear and grief.

She nodded to Dr. Weir as she took her seat and tried to smile at Halling and Charin. Hopefully, the smile didn't look as strained as it felt, like her face would break from the effort.

There was so much that needed to be done, she almost felt lazy sitting here. But there was a need to plan and communicate. She needed information to do her job more effectively and they needed to know the limits of her resources to accomplish that. Ruiz just had to hope she didn't fall asleep where she sat.

[jahjackson]

Jack slowly made his way up the stairs on his crutch, feeling like the old man he'd been on Argos. He almost slipped at one point, but caught himself and shuddered at the thought of what a fall down the stairs could have done.

He slipped into the room, feeling out of place in his scrubs and slippers-- nothing he owned fit anymore-- and levered himself into the seat next to Ruiz.

[dr_liz_weir]

Elizabeth looked up as several people entered the room, one after another. First Ruiz, who gave an impression of being tired and trying not to show it. A few moments later, Jackson had arrived, moving carefullly on his crutches.

Lt. Miller came in and, after looking at Jackson curiously, settled on Ruiz's other side. They put their heads together briefly, the NCO no doubt updating the officer.

Now if only the science faction would arrive, they could get started. She knew Rodney and Radek were working on the Gate and hoped that the reason they were running late was that they were close to fixing it.

With a sigh, she went back to her computer while she waited.

[j_sheppard]

John stepped into Elizabeth's office, eyes automatically going to the seat Evan usually took during staff meetings. He knew Evan wouldn't be there, but it was still a punch in the gut to see Miller there.

Biro looked up then and he had to quickly marshall his emotions, control his breathing, and calmly make his way to his usual seat, nodding at Elizabeth.

He slouched down, feeling a twinge in his back that had never been there before. He'd finally gotten a good, long look at himself-- the silver at his temples and scattered throughout the rest of his hair, the deepened lines on his face. He was lucky, he knew. No, not luck. Markham had died saving him. He could never forget that.

Still, he felt like a stranger in his body now. It was going to take some getting used to-- just like the absence of people at this table, the presence of others.