Keep It Together - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Coping
“Although we’d planned for the possibility of Atlantis being an independent colony in the event that Operation Phoenix was activated, we weren’t ready. I think if Atlantis had broken free of Earth in the usual way, there would have been a lot of things we would have done differently. I mean, we had plenty of scientists and soldiers, but no tailors or farmers. We had doctors, but not nearly enough. And there were no families-no spouses, no children, no parents-which is great if you’re talking about an outpost, but not so great for a colony that needs to be self-sustaining, and probably for a long period of time.”
~Interview with Sam Carter
Daniel took a sip of the strong tea the Athosians preferred with a purely internal sigh of regret. There were rumors of private coffee stashes on Atlantis, but nothing confirmed. Not that it would matter, because Daniel didn’t have anything to offer in trade.
“You know, if I’d been thinking about it at the time, I would have had Teal’c buy up all the coffee he could get his hands on before we left Earth,” Jack said, sliding into the seat next to Daniel.
Daniel shrugged. “Elizabeth said she was looking for a viable alternative.”
“We’re looking for a lot of viable alternatives,” Jack replied grimly, shifting in his chair.
Daniel frowned. “Are you still hurting?”
“Just stiff,” Jack said. “I’ll be fine.”
Jack had never been one to open up about his feelings, but Daniel had known him a long time now, and he’d seen the dark circles under Jack’s eyes, and the corresponding weariness on Sam’s face.
“You and Sam okay?” Daniel asked in a low voice.
Jack shot him a dirty look. “That’s none of your business.”
“Jack,” Daniel said, using his best warning voice.
“We’re fine,” Jack muttered as Elizabeth entered the conference room. “I’m fine.”
Daniel resolved to corner Sam soon and question her, since she was usually more forthcoming. The room was crowded by the time everyone had arrived, since it included all of the higher-ranking personnel on Atlantis, SG-1, Teyla, Ronon, Laro, Jon, and Halling.
“Thank you all for coming,” Elizabeth said, calling the meeting to order. “We’re here to talk strategy for the upcoming months, including how we’re going to deal with Earth.”
There was some restless shifting at that, but no one spoke. “First, Dr. Zelenka, how is the city mapping going?”
“We have bigger quarters cleared for approximately four dozen people,” Zelenka replied. “We are working on more. In a week, we will have bigger quarters for another two dozen.”
“Good,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m going to open them up by seniority, unless someone has another suggestion.”
No one objected, and Elizabeth nodded. “Halling, I believe you had a report for us as well.”
“Gesi and Huson have both agreed to your offer,” Halling announced. “They would be happy to teach you whatever they know.”
Carson cleared his throat. “If they’re willing, I’d like to examine them when they come to Atlantis. There might be something we can do for them.”
Halling nodded. “So Major Lorne had said. They’ve indicated they’re willing.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Carson?”
“We’re running low on several items,” Carson admitted. “Including anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and hormonal birth control. The chemists believe they will soon have an alternative to the first two, but we haven’t found a means to create effective forms of birth control. I suggest we caution personnel accordingly.”
Dr. Parrish raised his hand. “Teyla pointed us in the direction of a couple of plants that the Athosians use. It might not be as effective, but it will likely be better than nothing.”
“Any alternatives to coffee?” McKay asked plaintively.
There were chuckles from nearly everyone in the room. Parrish shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to say anything prematurely…”
“Go ahead,” Elizabeth said.
“I think we might have something similar,” Parrish said. “We believe it’s very similar to coffee, but we’re still testing for toxicity and side effects. Give us another couple of weeks, and we’ll know more.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Wonderful. Next item of business is Dr. Carter’s project, building additional generators.”
Daniel only half-listened as Sam gave her report; he knew she’d been having trouble locating enough naquadah to make a real go of it. When Sam had finished, Elizabeth looked at Daniel. “Dr. Jackson?”
“I’ve begun translating an entry that I believe might be instructions on how to build a ZPM,” Daniel announced, smiling when the room erupted with exclamations. Since he’d just finished translating enough of the passage to figure out what the instructions were for, Daniel didn’t feel too bad about springing the news in a briefing like this.
“How long have you been sitting on this?” McKay demanded.
“Pretty much since the briefing started,” Daniel admitted, enjoying the opportunity to fuck with McKay.
Sheppard, who had remained quiet up until now, smirked at Daniel as though he knew exactly what Daniel was doing. “How much did you get through, Dr. Jackson?” he drawled.
“About half,” Daniel admitted. “Just enough to let me know what it’s all about.”
“Why didn’t you say that immediately?” McKay demanded.
Daniel grinned. “Because Dr. Weir didn’t call on me first.” He got a few chuckles for that, and added, “I’ve only just begun the translation. I have no idea if the information is complete.”
“You’ll send me word as soon as you have the translation done,” McKay said, his usual arrogance firmly in place.
“Of course,” Daniel replied.
Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. “John, what do you have?”
“We’re still working on locating Kolya,” Sheppard said. “We’ve got another mission scheduled for this afternoon.”
Elizabeth nodded. “How’s the leg?”
“I’m good to go,” Sheppard replied.
Daniel had to hide a smirk when Elizabeth pointedly looked at Carson. “He’s ready for fieldwork,” Carson admitted.
Sheppard rolled his eyes. “I told you I was good.”
Elizabeth didn’t dignify that comment with a response. “Very well. General O’Neill?”
Daniel straightened. He had no idea what Jack had been working on that would warrant being called on now.
“We’re all wondering what’s going on back on Earth,” Jack began. “We need information, and I think we all want to know what’s happened to our friends and families. Personally, I want confirmation on the status of the teams I sent out, since they should have beat me here.”
Sam was staring resolutely at the table, but Mitchell leaned forward eagerly. “You’re looking for volunteers?” he asked.
Jack shot Mitchell a look. “I take it you’re interested.”
Mitchell held up his right hand. “They’re going to underestimate me with this; they might not even recognize me. I’m not doing anything here that someone else couldn’t.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Cam, that’s not true.”
“You’ve got General O’Neill,” Mitchell replied bluntly. “And it makes a lot more sense to have him be your alternate, not me.”
Daniel had worked with Jack long enough to recognize a tendency towards self-sacrifice when he saw one. “You’re a member of SG-1,” Daniel protested. “They’re going to be watching for you.”
Mitchell shook his head. “No, they won’t. Not if we do this right.”
“And they won’t expect him to be with me,” Jon said.
Jack’s clone hadn’t taken a seat at the table. Instead, he’d found a corner of the room to lean on and had his arms crossed in a pose that was typically Jack. Daniel had wondered what Jon was going to do on Atlantis.
Apparently, Jon wasn’t planning on staying on Atlantis.
“Should someone from Atlantis go?” Lorne asked, sounding hesitant, his eyes focused on Jack.
Daniel glanced at Laro, who had stiffened, although he remained silent.
“I can’t spare you, Evan,” Sheppard said quietly. “And I think two people will be less conspicuous than three or four.”
Daniel didn’t miss the relief on Lorne’s face, or on Laro’s.
“Cam, this is a suicide mission!” Sam protested.
“I wouldn’t ask anybody to go on a suicide mission, Carter,” Jack snapped. “They’ll be coming back, hopefully with more of our people.”
Sam shut her mouth, her lips forming a thin, tight line.
“Elizabeth and I agreed,” Sheppard said. “We’ll minimize the risk as much as we can, but the truth is that we need to know what we’re facing, and we need to know if we can retake Earth with a strategic strike now. If we wait too long, we risk the Trust becoming too entrenched for us to move against them.”
“And if they’re already too entrenched?” Daniel demanded. “They basically shut down the SGC. We’ve all got warrants out for our arrest. This isn’t just going to go away.”
“Agreed,” Elizabeth replied simply. “But if that’s the case, there are people who are going to need to get out. To that end, we’re going to need a list from everyone on the city-no more than three people they think would be in the most danger. We’ll operate on a lottery system.”
There were murmurs from around the room, but no one disagreed. A lottery was the fairest means to choose who was coming to Atlantis.
“And if you can transport a lot of coffee, even better,” McKay said. “Scientists do not run on tea alone.”
The rest of the meeting was rather subdued, and Daniel listened with only half an ear. As soon as they were done, Sam was on her feet and the door. Vala nodded when Daniel caught her eye, and Daniel ran after Sam.
“Sam!” Daniel called. “Come on, Sam! Wait up!”
She slowed down slightly. “I have work to do, Daniel.”
“You can talk to me first,” he insisted. “I know we’ve been up to our ears with work since we got here, but I want to know what’s going on with you and Jack.”
“Nothing is going on,” she shot back. “We’re fine.”
“You know, that’s what he said, and I didn’t believe him either.” Daniel grabbed her arm. “Sam, this is me you’re talking to. You know that.”
She stopped suddenly, her shoulders slumping. “Let’s talk about this in my lab.”
Daniel followed her inside, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Okay, Sam, what’s up?”
“We had an argument,” she admitted. “Jack knew Jon was going to volunteer, and I knew Cam would. I wanted Jack to tell Cam he couldn’t go, but Jack refused.”
Daniel wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You know it has to be Cam’s decision.”
“Cam thinks he has something to prove!” Sam protested. “And he doesn’t.”
“What reason did Jack give?” Daniel asked.
She leaned her forehead against Daniel’s shoulder. “The same one you did.”
“You know he’s right.”
“I know Jack wants revenge,” Sam countered. “And while I don’t blame him, I wish he’d talk to me, but he won’t. Nothing I say gets through to him.”
“Give him time,” Daniel advised. “You know how Jack is.”
“I can’t stand the thought of losing him now that I’ve got him back,” Sam murmured.
Daniel just hugged her tightly, knowing that there were no assurances he could give.
~~~~~
Vala didn’t like to see a friend hurting, and she knew Sam was upset about O’Neill’s plan and Cam’s decision. She trusted that Daniel would look after her, since Vala was scheduled to go out with Sheppard’s team.
Even though Elizabeth had wanted to send SG-1 out on missions, that hadn’t happened yet, and Vala was fairly sure it was because no one wanted to go out as a team without Cam. And Sam and Daniel both had so much to do they didn’t feel the need to leave.
Vala, of course, was in a different position entirely, and she was grateful for Sheppard’s willingness to include her. “Good to have you,” Sheppard said as Vala arrived in the gate room.
“I’m always happy to lend a hand,” she replied cheerfully.
She was a little surprised to see McKay there, since he hadn’t accompanied them the last couple of times Vala had gone on a mission with Sheppard’s team.
“You sure you want to join us, McKay?” Sheppard drawled.
“Like I’m going to let you out of my sight,” McKay shot back. “You’re not getting shot again, not on my watch.”
Sheppard opened his mouth to make a quick retort, and then snapped his mouth shut. “Yeah, buddy. I know you’ll do your best.”
McKay glared at Teyla, Ronon, and Vala. “I’m holding all of you responsible,” he said. “Watch him.”
Major Lorne jogged into the gate room. “I wish you would let me go, sir.”
“Not a chance, Major,” Sheppard replied with an easy grin. “I owe Kolya, and this is the best shot we’ve got.”
Lorne nodded, his mouth twisting downwards. “Yes, sir.”
“Relax, Lorne,” Sheppard replied. “You’ll get your chance. I promise, next lead we have, we’ll flip for it.”
Lorne smiled. “Good luck, Colonel.”
“Look after my city,” Sheppard instructed.
Lorne saluted. “Yes, sir.”
They went through the gate, their weapons out and ready. Sheppard clearly didn’t want to take any chances, and they fanned out from the gate silently, taking up their positions, keeping McKay in the middle.
McKay fumbled the life signs detector out of his vest and frowned when he saw the screen. “We’ve got no one close by,” McKay said quietly.
Sheppard sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. Let’s start a search grid.”
So far, this mission looked as though it would be less fruitful than exploring the city, but it was still more interesting than watching Daniel research. Besides, Vala liked going through the gate, and she appreciated the opportunity to help down the people who had killed those kids.
This time, Vala was paired off with one of the younger Marines, a Sergeant Robbins, whose demeanor was mixture of enthusiasm and grim determination. “Generally, I’m on trade missions, not manhunts,” Robbins remarked.
“It’s my first manhunt, too,” Vala replied. “Although I’m not opposed to hunting down the bad guys.”
“Me neither,” Robbins replied with a grin.
“Should I call you something other than Sergeant Robbins?” Vala asked.
“Becky,” she replied. “It’s just Becky.”
“Very well, then, ‘just Becky,’” Vala replied cheerfully. “Let’s hunt down the bad guys.”
They worked the search grid methodically, because to do otherwise was to risk friendly fire, and Becky murmured, “It’s a bit like hunting deer back home.”
“You were a hunter?” Vala asked in a low tone.
Becky shot her a grin. “Yes, ma’am. Deer, turkey, even elk a few times.”
“I have no idea what those are,” Vala admitted.
Becky laughed. “They’re good eating, which is pretty much all you need to know.”
Vala stopped, hearing something up ahead. “Becky?” she whispered.
Becky nodded sharply, bringing her weapon up to bear.
Vala nearly squeezed off a shot before she realized that it was just a kid running through the woods. He let out a frightened squeak when he saw them, and Vala let her P-90 hang from its strap as she reached out to stop him.
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “You’re okay. What are you running from?”
“Men!” he gasped. “I didn’t mean to spy, I didn’t!”
“Which way?” Becky asked urgently.
The boy pointed, and Vala said, “Climb a tree and hide. If you go crashing through the forest, you’re going to get hurt.”
The boy didn’t need to be told twice; he shimmied up a nearby tree, disappearing into the branches. Satisfied that he was safe, they set out. Vala tapped her radio. “Colonel?”
“Go ahead.”
“We think we’ve got a location on the Genii,” Vala said.
“Approach with caution,” he advised. “If they have superior firepower, hang back and wait for the rest of us.”
“Of course,” Vala replied, although she wasn’t sure she meant it. She wasn’t willing to risk not going back to Daniel, or to risk Becky getting killed, but superior firepower hadn’t stopped her yet.
They approached cautiously, making as little noise as possible. The camp was well hidden; Vala nearly stepped right into the middle of it before she realized she’d reached the perimeter. She motioned to Becky, and they both stepped back, trying to erase any sign of their passage.
Becky led the way around the edge, and Vala kept her eyes open for Genii. She spotted one of them patrolling, an ancient-looking pistol in his hand.
Vala put a finger to her lips, motioning Becky to be silent, and then she fired the zat, rendering him unconscious. Becky smirked and whispered, “I really want one of those.”
“Get in line,” Vala replied in a whisper.
Together, they dragged the Genii soldier into the underbrush, and Becky used a zip tie to bind his wrists.
“What about a gag?” Vala whispered.
Becky smirked and reached into her pack, pulling out a rag and stuffing it into the man’s mouth. “Next?”
They took out another sentry without causing a ripple, and they gave him the same treatment they’d given the first. By that point, Sheppard had joined them, and he grinned wolfishly when he saw their prisoner. “You guys are awesome,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” Vala replied, even as Becky blushed. “And yes, we are.”
“How many?” Sheppard asked as McKay reached them.
Becky shook her head. “We took out two, including this one, but we haven’t seen any others.”
“We’ll surround the encampment and do what we can to corral them, then,” Sheppard replied. “Hold your positions here.”
Vala wanted to shoot a few more people, but she supposed it was only fair to let the others take their turns.
They held their positions until Sheppard signaled the all clear.
“There’s no sign of Kolya,” Sheppard said with a frustrated sigh. “Dammit. I wanted to end this.”
Becky cleared her throat. “Uh, sir? We do have two Genii in custody.”
“Give me fifteen minutes,” Ronon said, an evil glint in his eyes.
Vala could tell that Sheppard was torn. He ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it even further. He glanced over at McKay, who was staring determinedly at the ground, then he looked at Teyla. “What do you think?”
“I think we should be-” Teyla paused delicately and finished, “persuasive.”
Sheppard pinched the bridge of his nose. “Robbins, I want you to go back and secure the gate. Make sure the locals are okay, and wait for us there.”
Becky looked as though she wanted to protest, but she finally nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Teyla, Ronon, you’re with me,” Sheppard said.
Vala cleared her throat. “As am I.”
“Vala-” Sheppard began.
She offered a thin smile. “You forget, I was host to a Goa’uld for a long time, and I have many ways of getting someone to tell their secrets. I have no qualms about this, Colonel. Perhaps you should go back to the gate.”
“I’m not going to ask anyone to do something I won’t do myself,” Sheppard replied. “But I’ll take the assist. Robbins? Take McKay and the rest of the Marines with you.”
“John!” McKay protested. “I can stay!”
“Rodney, I would really prefer if you didn’t.”
Vala watched as their eyes locked, and she could see the battle of wills take place. Eventually, McKay nodded, his mouth in a tight, angry line. “Fine, John. Take this on, too.”
“It’s not like I have a choice, Rodney,” John shot back. “We need information. Just-go.”
McKay stalked off into the brush, leaving Becky and the others to follow in his wake. Teyla gave Sheppard a reproving look. “Rodney cares for you, John.”
“I know he does, but he doesn’t need to be here for this,” Sheppard replied.
Ronon smirked. “Bet you I won’t even have to touch ‘em.”
“And what are we going to do with them after?” Sheppard asked wearily. “We can’t take them back to Atlantis, and we can’t exactly let them go.”
“Could let them run,” Ronon suggested. “And then shoot them.”
Sheppard appeared to think this over fairly seriously before he said, “Let’s use the usual interrogation techniques first. If we can’t get anything out of them, we’ll get more creative.”
Vala showed Ronon where their first sentry was trussed up. Together, they dragged him back to the clearing, leaving the second Genii tied up right where he was. Vala figured he’d be wondering what had happened to his compatriot by the time they got to him.
They dropped the first Genii in the middle of the clearing, and Ronon pulled the gag from his mouth.
Sheppard smiled at the young man. “Here’s the thing,” he began conversationally. “I would like to let you make a run for the gate, but I’ve got people here who would prefer to kill you immediately. It’s up to you as to who gets their way.”
The man brought his chin up in a stubborn tilt. “I won’t tell you anything.”
“That’s what you think,” Sheppard replied. “Ronon, he’s all yours.”
Ronon loomed over the man, who was looking more nervous by the second.
Clearing her throat, Vala said, “Don’t hurt him too much. He’s really rather pretty.”
Ronon chuckled, a sinister sound that sent chills up Vala’s spine, even though it wasn’t directed at her. “I’ll leave his face alone.”
The young man blanched, but he held firm. “I won’t tell you anything.”
“Maybe you won’t, but your friend might,” Ronon replied, advancing on the man with a drawn knife. “It’s just a matter of time.”
The man squeaked, but said nothing.
Ronon smirked. “Good. More fun for me that way.”
Taking Ronon’s cue, Vala said, “I think we should bring his friend over here. Sometimes watching can be just as instructive as hands-on learning.”
The man swallowed, looking between Ronon and Vala as though trying to gauge how serious they were. “You’re from Atlantis,” he protested. “You won’t hurt me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Vala replied. “I’m not from Atlantis, and I have no problem hurting someone who would kill small children.”
“Come on, Vala,” Sheppard said. “Let’s collect his friend, and then we can start digging the graves.”
Vala led Sheppard back towards the place where they’d left the other sentry trussed up. “You don’t want to do this,” Vala observed.
“I want to believe we’re above torture,” Sheppard replied wearily.
“Who said anything about torture?” Vala asked. “There are plenty of ways to get information, Colonel. I’ve used many of them, if not most of them. Intimidation, threats, psychological coercion-you name it.”
“And you think that’s going to work on the Genii?” Sheppard asked.
Vala shook her head. “John, it works on everybody. We all have secrets we don’t want to reveal, and we give ourselves away at every turn. We just have to find the right button to push.”
“If you say so,” Sheppard muttered, reaching down to haul the Genii sentry to his feet.
Vala seized the man’s other arm. “You know, Colonel, I think we should leave the person who doesn’t talk out for the Wraith to find. Remember those Wraith worshippers? I’ll bet they’d be happy to have another sacrifice.”
Sheppard shot her a look, and then nodded. “I know just the planet.”
~~~~~
Cam figured that just about everyone on Atlantis had a favorite balcony, a place to watch the sun rise or set, or to look up at a sky full of alien constellations. His favorite spot was out of the way; he hadn’t seen anyone else on this balcony since he’d found the spot shortly after he’d been released from the infirmary.
That was why he was a little surprised to have Elizabeth step up to join him, leaning on the railing.
“I didn’t think you ever got out of your office,” Cam joked.
Elizabeth laughed. “On occasion, I do. I like this spot, too.”
“I haven’t seen anyone else out here,” Cam replied.
She smiled. “Yes, well, that’s probably because most people know that you prefer your privacy.”
Cam looked out over the ocean, which had been turned orange by the setting sun. “I didn’t use to. I like people.”
Elizabeth stayed silent, leaning against the railing, just looking at him.
“But when I was recovering after Antarctica, I didn’t want to see anybody,” Cam continued. “My parents visited a couple of times, but that was it. O’Neill, Sam, Jackson, even Teal’c showed up, but they didn’t stay long. I didn’t want them to.”
“So, you’re running away now?” she asked.
“No, I’m doing something that matters,” Cam countered. “Maybe if General O’Neill hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have volunteered, but he’s probably more capable than I am of being your alternate. I don’t know that I’m ready to sit behind a desk, and this gives me a chance to get out in the field.”
Elizabeth put a hand on Cam’s forearm. “I understand, but I’ll miss you.”
Cam realized he’d miss her, too, more than he’d thought possible. “Same here.”
“And you’re really okay with going on this mission with General O’Neill’s clone?” she asked with a grin.
Cam laughed. “It’s a little weird, I’ll grant you, but weird seems to be normal in this line of work.” He looked up at the sky. “I always wanted to fly; I just never thought I’d be on another planet.”
“I don’t think any of us did,” Elizabeth replied. “Certainly not like this.”
“Is there anyone you want me to check in on while we’re on Earth?” Cam asked, meaning it.
Elizabeth grimaced. “My mom, if you have a chance. She has no idea where I am, and I’d rather she not know unless she’s in danger.” She paused. “Are you going to check on your parents?”
Cam hitched one shoulder. “I’m going to try. If it’s too dangerous, then I’ll let them keep wondering.”
“You’ll have a lot of leeway,” Elizabeth observed. “You can check on a lot of people, help them go underground if necessary, and then come back here.”
“I am coming back,” Cam promised. “I’ve got two weeks with the Athosians to look forward to.”
“I’ve heard it’s a good time,” Elizabeth replied. She put her hand over Cam’s where it curled around the railing.
“Maybe you should get away,” Cam suggested. “You need a break, Elizabeth. Even when I’m supposedly in charge, you’re still on call. Maybe you should get off the city for a few days.”
“Maybe I will,” she replied with a smile.
He turned his hand over and let their fingers interlace. “Have Sheppard and the others come back yet?”
She shook her head, leaving her hand where it was. “Not yet. I’m expecting a call any minute now.”
Cam nodded. “You worried?”
“I’m always worried,” Elizabeth admitted. “It’s just a matter of degree.”
The radio crackled, as though Cam’s question had summoned answers, and Chuck said, “We’ve got an unscheduled gate activation. It’s Colonel Sheppard’s IDC.”
“Let him through,” Elizabeth ordered, and she squeezed Cam’s hand once before letting go. “Would you like to join me?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Cam replied.
~~~~~
Jack had handpicked most of the personnel who had gone through the gate to Atlantis on the first wave, including Carson Beckett. Beckett was not only an expert in his field; he was also a dedicated, empathetic physician who could handle the demands that an expedition to another galaxy would place on him.
That didn’t mean Jack liked what he had to say, however.
“There’s got to be a way to fix this,” Jack protested. “Dammit, I can’t live my life on painkillers. You don’t have enough!”
“We’re working on alternatives,” Beckett replied soothingly. “As much as I could wish for a magic wand, I believe you’ve seen as much improvement now as you ever will.”
Jack thought of the ache in his bones most mornings, and how difficult it was to respond to Carter’s advances.
No, it was Sam now, and he shouldn’t forget that.
“So, what the hell am I supposed to do?” he demanded. “You need all the able-bodied people you can get.”
Beckett fixed him with a stern expression. “We do, but we also need able administrators. You might not like it, but Elizabeth could use a break, particularly now that Colonel Mitchell has volunteered to gather information on Earth.”
Jack had never wanted to be stuck behind a desk, but he’d taken the promotion because he’d known it was only a matter of time before he was more hindrance than help in the field, and he hadn’t been ready to retire.
But he’d always held on to the idea that he could go out in the field if he was needed; Hammond had done so on a few memorable occasions. Now, Jack knew that he had no choice but to ride the bench. He couldn’t move fast enough, and he wasn’t strong enough, to make the risk worthwhile.
It just hurt like a motherfucker to admit that he never would be field ready again; he was always going to be in pain-the question was how much.
Jack managed to thank Beckett for his time and then stalked out of the infirmary, limping down the hallway. He wanted a drink. Actually, he wanted to get shit-faced and just forget for a while-forget his failures, forget his losses, forget the horror he’d left behind. He wasn’t paying much attention to where he was going and ran right into Sheppard.
“General O’Neill,” Sheppard said, putting out a steadying hand. “Sorry about that.”
Jack shook his head. He wasn’t in the mood to make small talk. “Don’t worry about it.”
He stepped aside, planning to go around Sheppard, who didn’t move his hand. “If you don’t mind me saying so, sir, you look like you could use a drink.”
Jack bit back a snarl and took a deep breath. “I don’t suppose you know where I could get one.”
Sheppard smirked. “As a matter of fact, I do. You ever tried ruus wine? The Athosians make it.”
“I’m more of a beer man,” Jack replied.
Sheppard shook his head. “All due respect, sir, ruus wine is what you want. It gets the job done a hell of a lot faster.”
Jack liked the sound of that. “Never let it be said that I passed up the opportunity to try the homebrew.”
“Let me make a call,” Sheppard replied.
Jack couldn’t help but hear Sheppard’s side of the conversation. “It’s Sheppard. Do me a favor and bring that bottle of ruus wine to the pier, would you? And a few glasses.”
“We having a party?” Jack asked.
“It’s always a party around here,” Sheppard replied cheerfully. “Don’t worry, sir. You’ll enjoy the company. Let’s head out to the east pier.”
Jack glared at him. “Are you managing me?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Sheppard replied.
The moon had risen over the ocean when they stepped out onto the pier. “I heard you rounded up a couple of Genii.”
“They won’t be bothering us again,” Sheppard replied.
Jack raised his eyebrows. “Did you kill them?”
“No, we stranded them on a planet with a space gate,” Sheppard replied. “They might survive, and then again they might not.”
“Did you use torture?”
Sheppard shook his head. “I didn’t need to. Do you know how scary Vala and Ronon can be when you put them together?”
“No, and I don’t think I want to know.” Jack sat down on the edge of the pier. “Where’s that wine?”
“On its way,” Sheppard replied complacently. “In fact, I think it’s here now. Jackson, good of you to join us.” He pushed himself to his feet. “And I just remembered that I had a thing tonight. Sorry to desert you, General O’Neill, Dr. Jackson.”
Jack glared at Sheppard’s retreating form. “I knew you were managing me!” he shouted after him.
Sheppard turned and offered a sloppy salute before disappearing inside.
“You arranged this,” Jack accused.
Daniel shrugged. “I might have. I told a couple of people to keep an eye out for you. I knew you’d avoid me.”
Jack stared straight ahead. “You’re overstepping your bounds.”
“You’re my best friend, and Sam is like a sister to me,” Daniel replied. “And she was just about crying on my shoulder today. So, yeah, I ambushed you, and I’m going to pull out every trick I know.” Daniel poured them both a mug of wine. “And I know you’re more likely to talk about what’s bothering you if you’re drunk.”
Jack took a sip and raised his eyebrows. “This isn’t bad.”
“From what I’ve heard, the Athosians know how to celebrate,” Daniel replied. “Next time they have a celebration, we’ll have to go to the mainland.”
Jack took another, deeper drink. “Yeah, maybe so.”
Daniel just sat quietly for a long time as they drank. Jack pretended not to notice that Daniel drank far less than he did, and he slowly felt the anger drain away.
“I’m not going back out in the field,” Jack said quietly.
Daniel sighed. “I know.”
“I hurt all the time,” Jack admitted. “And Beckett has a limited supply of painkillers.”
Daniel didn’t say anything.
“The first night-was great,” Jack said quietly. “But I’m an old man, Daniel. Sam deserves better than some broken down soldier.”
Daniel smiled. “Jack, Sam’s been in love with you for years. I think you’re doing her a disservice.”
“I’m not talking about this with you,” Jack cautioned.
“You already are,” Daniel observed.
Jack held his silence for a while, trying to shake off his irritation. “I spent my whole life serving my country and my planet,” he finally said.
“And what do you have to show for it?”
“Exactly!” Jack knew he was saying more now that he was drunk than he would have if he were sober. He didn’t mind, actually. The words were easier to say with a little lubrication. “I’ve got nothing.”
“You could retire,” Daniel suggested. “Just retire here. There’s fishing, there’s Sam. What more could you want?”
Jack grimaced. “A job?”
Daniel smirked. “How did I know you were going to say that?”
“Because you know me way too well,” Jack responded readily. “Danny, I don’t know how to do this.”
“Fake it ‘til you make it, Jack,” Daniel countered. “Sam loves you; you love her. The situation sucks, but all we’ve got is each other, to give voice to a cliché.”
“Suck it up, buttercup?” Jack suggested.
Daniel smiled. “If you’d rather.”
“I got through that shit because I wanted to get back to Carter,” Jack admitted suddenly. “I wanted to get back to my team.”
“So, go to her,” Daniel replied. “Go, and tell her everything you just told me. This is Sam. She’ll understand.”
Jack wanted to argue, but he knew Danny was right.
And he hated that.
“Yeah, fine,” he replied, pushing himself to his feet. “I’ll talk to her.”
“I’ll walk you back,” Daniel said, snagging the now-empty wine jug and the mugs. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Jack said, swaying a bit, and reaching out to steady himself on the railing. “Just give me a sec.”
Daniel, to his credit, stayed where he was, not offering the help Jack didn’t want to accept. They made their slow way down the hall towards the quarters Jack had been sharing with Sam since he’d arrived on Atlantis. Daniel set the jug down on the floor and clapped Jack on the shoulder. “None of us are getting through this unscathed, but it’s up to us to find a way to live with the scars.”
Daniel walked away, and the door slid open upon Jack’s silent request. Sam was sitting cross-legged on the bed, a laptop balanced on her legs. “Hey,” she said cautiously.
Jack sat down next to her, settling himself gingerly on the edge of the bed. The alcohol had dimmed the worst of the pain, and he moved a lot better than he had since before the Trust got ahold of him. “Hey.”
He met her eyes, knowing that they had always done their best communicating through silence. For so long, they hadn’t been able to risk putting words to the bond between them; Jack drew on that silent understanding now.
Sam watched him steadily, and her face softened. “You want to tell me about it?”
“I can barely get out of bed in the morning,” Jack confessed.
Sam set her laptop on the floor and reached for him. “I know,” she replied. “I don’t care, just as long as you’re here.”
And Jack held onto her, because she was about the only thing he had left to hang onto.
~~~~~
Sam was grateful to wake up with Jack curled around her, as he’d seemed to be pulling away over the last couple of weeks. Maybe they hadn’t said much the night before, but she felt like they’d said enough.
Fumbling for her radio, she put it on, and then gently extricated herself from Jack’s grasp. He groaned. “Shit. Kill me now.”
Sam smiled. “That ruus wine has quite the kick, doesn’t it?”
“Shut up,” Jack muttered. “How can you be so cheerful?”
“I don’t have a hangover,” Sam reminded him. “Go back to sleep, Jack.”
He rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. Sam smiled and ran a tender hand over the back of Jack’s head, feeling the fine, gray hair. She pulled on a pair of BDUs that weren’t the cleanest, and set off on her run.
The circuit she’d mapped out over the last weeks generally meant that she picked up at least a couple of people. This morning, Lorne fell into step next to her, and then Cassie joined them. She’d clearly been waiting for Sam, and she shrugged when Sam sent her a questioning look. “I started running to combat the freshman 15,” Cassie explained. “I might not be able to keep up the whole time, but it’s better than running alone.”
“You’re welcome to join us any time,” Sam replied.
“Good to have you,” Lorne said.
Cassie nodded and managed to keep pace with Sam and Lorne. Halfway through their run, they ran into Sheppard and Ronon, who slowed their pace slightly. “How are you settling in, Cassie?” Sheppard asked.
Cassie blinked and smiled uncertainly. “Uh, good. Dr. Beckett has been great.”
Sheppard smiled. “Glad to hear it.”
He and Ronon were the first to peel off, and then Lorne dropped out. Sam ran with Cassie back to her quarters. “Thanks for letting me join you,” Cassie said. “I hope I didn’t slow you down too much.”
Even though they were both sweaty, Sam didn’t hesitate to pull Cassie into a hug. “Never. You want to grab breakfast together?”
Cassie nodded. “Yeah. How’s Jack?”
“Hung over,” Sam replied honestly. “But I think he’ll be all right. Fifteen minutes?”
Cassie grinned. “Perfect.”
When Sam entered their quarters, Jack had pulled a pillow over his head, and Sam tried to be quiet so as not to disturb him, even if she was sorely tempted to start slamming around just to torture him a little bit. Still, she resisted, because she was nicer than that.
Instead, she took a shower and got cleaned up, and pulled on a clean uniform. “Hey,” Sam said softly, putting a hand on Jack’s back. “You want anything?”
Jack groaned. “No.”
“Drink some water, and take the aspirin,” Sam advised, leaving the glass of water and a couple of Tylenol on the bedside table.
Cassie was waiting for Sam outside her quarters, wearing a black Atlantis uniform. Sam wondered what Janet would have thought of her daughter in uniform, and decided that her friend probably would have been happy that Cassie was relatively safe.
Sam draped her arm over Cassie’s shoulders. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy.”
Cassie leaned into Sam. “It’s not your fault. And really, Dr. Beckett has been keeping me busy, too.”
“I wish you could have stayed in school,” Sam replied.
Cassie smiled. “I don’t want to be anywhere else. I’m with my family.”
“Yeah, but there aren’t a lot of people your age here,” Sam countered.
Cassie gave her a mischievous grin. “Yeah, but some of the Marines are pretty cute.”
“I will blow them up if they mess with you,” Sam replied, only half-kidding. “And if I don’t blow them up, you know what Jack will do.”
Cassie tried to glare, but Sam could see the smile playing around her mouth. “Which is why if I find someone I’m really interested in, I expect you to run interference.”
“Only after I vet him first,” Sam countered.
“Deal,” Cassie agreed as they walked into the mess.
Lorne was already there, with Laro by his side, and he waved them over. “Glad to have you both join me this morning,” Lorne said.
Sam set her tray down. “Do you make a regular habit of it?”
Lorne offered a bashful grin. “As often as I can drag myself out of bed early enough. I might manage it more often if I knew someone was waiting on me. Colonel Sheppard and Ronon set a brutal pace.”
“I don’t,” Sam replied. “So, tomorrow?”
“I think I can make that work,” Lorne replied. “Cassie? You going to join us?”
Cassie shrugged, but she appeared pleased to have been asked. “That would be cool.”
Sam knew that Cassie had always been comfortable with adults, and she hoped that would serve her well on Atlantis, since most of the Marines were at least a few years older than her. And from what Sam had seen, none of them were worthy of Cassie’s time.
Then again, Lorne had proven that the sea was bigger and had more fish than anyone had thought, at least on Atlantis.
Daniel joined them about fifteen minutes later, sitting on the other side of Cassie. “Do you still have time to help me today?” he asked her.
Cassie nodded. “I don’t have a lot on my plate.”
“Great,” Daniel replied. “I’ve got some transcription work that I could really use your help on.” Daniel shot a look at Sam. “I’m still hoping to lure Cassie to the dark side.”
“Maybe I should start charging for my time,” Cassie joked.
“And maybe I should tempt her with high-power weaponry,” Lorne replied.
“The weapons might tempt me,” Cassie replied.
Lorne grinned. “Any time you want to hit the range, just let me know.”
“I might take you up on that,” Cassie replied.
“Then you can join me,” Laro replied gallantly. “I’m also learning how to handle weapons.”
Cassie smiled. “That would be nice.”
Sam was intrigued. “I didn’t realize you were learning how to use weaponry, Laro.”
Laro shrugged. “It seems wise if I’m to stay on Atlantis. I’m also learning how to fly a Jumper. It appears that I’m one of the few Athosians for whom the gene therapy worked.”
“The gene therapy took for me, too, which seems crazy,” Cassie said.
“The Ancients originated from your galaxy,” Laro pointed out. “It makes sense that more people there would have their genetic capabilities.”
Cassie smiled thinly. “Yeah, I’m special. Excuse me. I’m going to get more of the not-bacon.”
Laro and Lorne watched her go. Daniel stared down at his plate. “Did I offend her?” Laro asked after a moment.
Sam shook her head. “No, but Cassie’s people were used as guinea pigs by the Goa’uld, and Cassie was the only survivor from her planet.”
“A guinea pig is an animal that is often used as a test subject for an experiment, particularly when survival is not guaranteed,” Daniel supplied.
Laro grimaced. “I see.”
Cassie returned to the table with another helping of the meat that might almost be bacon, and some of the fruit local to Pegasus. “Did I miss anything?”
“Nothing at all,” Sam replied.
She didn’t see the need to bring up Cassie’s past in front of her, not when Cassie tried so hard to put it behind her.
Cassie gave her a sharp look, as though she knew what the topic of conversation had been, and then she shrugged. “So, did you all hear the latest gossip?” she began. “About Marie and the guy from botany?”
Sam figured that Cassie was fitting in just fine.
Chapter 9
“Although we’d planned for the possibility of Atlantis being an independent colony in the event that Operation Phoenix was activated, we weren’t ready. I think if Atlantis had broken free of Earth in the usual way, there would have been a lot of things we would have done differently. I mean, we had plenty of scientists and soldiers, but no tailors or farmers. We had doctors, but not nearly enough. And there were no families-no spouses, no children, no parents-which is great if you’re talking about an outpost, but not so great for a colony that needs to be self-sustaining, and probably for a long period of time.”
~Interview with Sam Carter
Daniel took a sip of the strong tea the Athosians preferred with a purely internal sigh of regret. There were rumors of private coffee stashes on Atlantis, but nothing confirmed. Not that it would matter, because Daniel didn’t have anything to offer in trade.
“You know, if I’d been thinking about it at the time, I would have had Teal’c buy up all the coffee he could get his hands on before we left Earth,” Jack said, sliding into the seat next to Daniel.
Daniel shrugged. “Elizabeth said she was looking for a viable alternative.”
“We’re looking for a lot of viable alternatives,” Jack replied grimly, shifting in his chair.
Daniel frowned. “Are you still hurting?”
“Just stiff,” Jack said. “I’ll be fine.”
Jack had never been one to open up about his feelings, but Daniel had known him a long time now, and he’d seen the dark circles under Jack’s eyes, and the corresponding weariness on Sam’s face.
“You and Sam okay?” Daniel asked in a low voice.
Jack shot him a dirty look. “That’s none of your business.”
“Jack,” Daniel said, using his best warning voice.
“We’re fine,” Jack muttered as Elizabeth entered the conference room. “I’m fine.”
Daniel resolved to corner Sam soon and question her, since she was usually more forthcoming. The room was crowded by the time everyone had arrived, since it included all of the higher-ranking personnel on Atlantis, SG-1, Teyla, Ronon, Laro, Jon, and Halling.
“Thank you all for coming,” Elizabeth said, calling the meeting to order. “We’re here to talk strategy for the upcoming months, including how we’re going to deal with Earth.”
There was some restless shifting at that, but no one spoke. “First, Dr. Zelenka, how is the city mapping going?”
“We have bigger quarters cleared for approximately four dozen people,” Zelenka replied. “We are working on more. In a week, we will have bigger quarters for another two dozen.”
“Good,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m going to open them up by seniority, unless someone has another suggestion.”
No one objected, and Elizabeth nodded. “Halling, I believe you had a report for us as well.”
“Gesi and Huson have both agreed to your offer,” Halling announced. “They would be happy to teach you whatever they know.”
Carson cleared his throat. “If they’re willing, I’d like to examine them when they come to Atlantis. There might be something we can do for them.”
Halling nodded. “So Major Lorne had said. They’ve indicated they’re willing.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Carson?”
“We’re running low on several items,” Carson admitted. “Including anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and hormonal birth control. The chemists believe they will soon have an alternative to the first two, but we haven’t found a means to create effective forms of birth control. I suggest we caution personnel accordingly.”
Dr. Parrish raised his hand. “Teyla pointed us in the direction of a couple of plants that the Athosians use. It might not be as effective, but it will likely be better than nothing.”
“Any alternatives to coffee?” McKay asked plaintively.
There were chuckles from nearly everyone in the room. Parrish shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to say anything prematurely…”
“Go ahead,” Elizabeth said.
“I think we might have something similar,” Parrish said. “We believe it’s very similar to coffee, but we’re still testing for toxicity and side effects. Give us another couple of weeks, and we’ll know more.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Wonderful. Next item of business is Dr. Carter’s project, building additional generators.”
Daniel only half-listened as Sam gave her report; he knew she’d been having trouble locating enough naquadah to make a real go of it. When Sam had finished, Elizabeth looked at Daniel. “Dr. Jackson?”
“I’ve begun translating an entry that I believe might be instructions on how to build a ZPM,” Daniel announced, smiling when the room erupted with exclamations. Since he’d just finished translating enough of the passage to figure out what the instructions were for, Daniel didn’t feel too bad about springing the news in a briefing like this.
“How long have you been sitting on this?” McKay demanded.
“Pretty much since the briefing started,” Daniel admitted, enjoying the opportunity to fuck with McKay.
Sheppard, who had remained quiet up until now, smirked at Daniel as though he knew exactly what Daniel was doing. “How much did you get through, Dr. Jackson?” he drawled.
“About half,” Daniel admitted. “Just enough to let me know what it’s all about.”
“Why didn’t you say that immediately?” McKay demanded.
Daniel grinned. “Because Dr. Weir didn’t call on me first.” He got a few chuckles for that, and added, “I’ve only just begun the translation. I have no idea if the information is complete.”
“You’ll send me word as soon as you have the translation done,” McKay said, his usual arrogance firmly in place.
“Of course,” Daniel replied.
Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. “John, what do you have?”
“We’re still working on locating Kolya,” Sheppard said. “We’ve got another mission scheduled for this afternoon.”
Elizabeth nodded. “How’s the leg?”
“I’m good to go,” Sheppard replied.
Daniel had to hide a smirk when Elizabeth pointedly looked at Carson. “He’s ready for fieldwork,” Carson admitted.
Sheppard rolled his eyes. “I told you I was good.”
Elizabeth didn’t dignify that comment with a response. “Very well. General O’Neill?”
Daniel straightened. He had no idea what Jack had been working on that would warrant being called on now.
“We’re all wondering what’s going on back on Earth,” Jack began. “We need information, and I think we all want to know what’s happened to our friends and families. Personally, I want confirmation on the status of the teams I sent out, since they should have beat me here.”
Sam was staring resolutely at the table, but Mitchell leaned forward eagerly. “You’re looking for volunteers?” he asked.
Jack shot Mitchell a look. “I take it you’re interested.”
Mitchell held up his right hand. “They’re going to underestimate me with this; they might not even recognize me. I’m not doing anything here that someone else couldn’t.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Cam, that’s not true.”
“You’ve got General O’Neill,” Mitchell replied bluntly. “And it makes a lot more sense to have him be your alternate, not me.”
Daniel had worked with Jack long enough to recognize a tendency towards self-sacrifice when he saw one. “You’re a member of SG-1,” Daniel protested. “They’re going to be watching for you.”
Mitchell shook his head. “No, they won’t. Not if we do this right.”
“And they won’t expect him to be with me,” Jon said.
Jack’s clone hadn’t taken a seat at the table. Instead, he’d found a corner of the room to lean on and had his arms crossed in a pose that was typically Jack. Daniel had wondered what Jon was going to do on Atlantis.
Apparently, Jon wasn’t planning on staying on Atlantis.
“Should someone from Atlantis go?” Lorne asked, sounding hesitant, his eyes focused on Jack.
Daniel glanced at Laro, who had stiffened, although he remained silent.
“I can’t spare you, Evan,” Sheppard said quietly. “And I think two people will be less conspicuous than three or four.”
Daniel didn’t miss the relief on Lorne’s face, or on Laro’s.
“Cam, this is a suicide mission!” Sam protested.
“I wouldn’t ask anybody to go on a suicide mission, Carter,” Jack snapped. “They’ll be coming back, hopefully with more of our people.”
Sam shut her mouth, her lips forming a thin, tight line.
“Elizabeth and I agreed,” Sheppard said. “We’ll minimize the risk as much as we can, but the truth is that we need to know what we’re facing, and we need to know if we can retake Earth with a strategic strike now. If we wait too long, we risk the Trust becoming too entrenched for us to move against them.”
“And if they’re already too entrenched?” Daniel demanded. “They basically shut down the SGC. We’ve all got warrants out for our arrest. This isn’t just going to go away.”
“Agreed,” Elizabeth replied simply. “But if that’s the case, there are people who are going to need to get out. To that end, we’re going to need a list from everyone on the city-no more than three people they think would be in the most danger. We’ll operate on a lottery system.”
There were murmurs from around the room, but no one disagreed. A lottery was the fairest means to choose who was coming to Atlantis.
“And if you can transport a lot of coffee, even better,” McKay said. “Scientists do not run on tea alone.”
The rest of the meeting was rather subdued, and Daniel listened with only half an ear. As soon as they were done, Sam was on her feet and the door. Vala nodded when Daniel caught her eye, and Daniel ran after Sam.
“Sam!” Daniel called. “Come on, Sam! Wait up!”
She slowed down slightly. “I have work to do, Daniel.”
“You can talk to me first,” he insisted. “I know we’ve been up to our ears with work since we got here, but I want to know what’s going on with you and Jack.”
“Nothing is going on,” she shot back. “We’re fine.”
“You know, that’s what he said, and I didn’t believe him either.” Daniel grabbed her arm. “Sam, this is me you’re talking to. You know that.”
She stopped suddenly, her shoulders slumping. “Let’s talk about this in my lab.”
Daniel followed her inside, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Okay, Sam, what’s up?”
“We had an argument,” she admitted. “Jack knew Jon was going to volunteer, and I knew Cam would. I wanted Jack to tell Cam he couldn’t go, but Jack refused.”
Daniel wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You know it has to be Cam’s decision.”
“Cam thinks he has something to prove!” Sam protested. “And he doesn’t.”
“What reason did Jack give?” Daniel asked.
She leaned her forehead against Daniel’s shoulder. “The same one you did.”
“You know he’s right.”
“I know Jack wants revenge,” Sam countered. “And while I don’t blame him, I wish he’d talk to me, but he won’t. Nothing I say gets through to him.”
“Give him time,” Daniel advised. “You know how Jack is.”
“I can’t stand the thought of losing him now that I’ve got him back,” Sam murmured.
Daniel just hugged her tightly, knowing that there were no assurances he could give.
~~~~~
Vala didn’t like to see a friend hurting, and she knew Sam was upset about O’Neill’s plan and Cam’s decision. She trusted that Daniel would look after her, since Vala was scheduled to go out with Sheppard’s team.
Even though Elizabeth had wanted to send SG-1 out on missions, that hadn’t happened yet, and Vala was fairly sure it was because no one wanted to go out as a team without Cam. And Sam and Daniel both had so much to do they didn’t feel the need to leave.
Vala, of course, was in a different position entirely, and she was grateful for Sheppard’s willingness to include her. “Good to have you,” Sheppard said as Vala arrived in the gate room.
“I’m always happy to lend a hand,” she replied cheerfully.
She was a little surprised to see McKay there, since he hadn’t accompanied them the last couple of times Vala had gone on a mission with Sheppard’s team.
“You sure you want to join us, McKay?” Sheppard drawled.
“Like I’m going to let you out of my sight,” McKay shot back. “You’re not getting shot again, not on my watch.”
Sheppard opened his mouth to make a quick retort, and then snapped his mouth shut. “Yeah, buddy. I know you’ll do your best.”
McKay glared at Teyla, Ronon, and Vala. “I’m holding all of you responsible,” he said. “Watch him.”
Major Lorne jogged into the gate room. “I wish you would let me go, sir.”
“Not a chance, Major,” Sheppard replied with an easy grin. “I owe Kolya, and this is the best shot we’ve got.”
Lorne nodded, his mouth twisting downwards. “Yes, sir.”
“Relax, Lorne,” Sheppard replied. “You’ll get your chance. I promise, next lead we have, we’ll flip for it.”
Lorne smiled. “Good luck, Colonel.”
“Look after my city,” Sheppard instructed.
Lorne saluted. “Yes, sir.”
They went through the gate, their weapons out and ready. Sheppard clearly didn’t want to take any chances, and they fanned out from the gate silently, taking up their positions, keeping McKay in the middle.
McKay fumbled the life signs detector out of his vest and frowned when he saw the screen. “We’ve got no one close by,” McKay said quietly.
Sheppard sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. Let’s start a search grid.”
So far, this mission looked as though it would be less fruitful than exploring the city, but it was still more interesting than watching Daniel research. Besides, Vala liked going through the gate, and she appreciated the opportunity to help down the people who had killed those kids.
This time, Vala was paired off with one of the younger Marines, a Sergeant Robbins, whose demeanor was mixture of enthusiasm and grim determination. “Generally, I’m on trade missions, not manhunts,” Robbins remarked.
“It’s my first manhunt, too,” Vala replied. “Although I’m not opposed to hunting down the bad guys.”
“Me neither,” Robbins replied with a grin.
“Should I call you something other than Sergeant Robbins?” Vala asked.
“Becky,” she replied. “It’s just Becky.”
“Very well, then, ‘just Becky,’” Vala replied cheerfully. “Let’s hunt down the bad guys.”
They worked the search grid methodically, because to do otherwise was to risk friendly fire, and Becky murmured, “It’s a bit like hunting deer back home.”
“You were a hunter?” Vala asked in a low tone.
Becky shot her a grin. “Yes, ma’am. Deer, turkey, even elk a few times.”
“I have no idea what those are,” Vala admitted.
Becky laughed. “They’re good eating, which is pretty much all you need to know.”
Vala stopped, hearing something up ahead. “Becky?” she whispered.
Becky nodded sharply, bringing her weapon up to bear.
Vala nearly squeezed off a shot before she realized that it was just a kid running through the woods. He let out a frightened squeak when he saw them, and Vala let her P-90 hang from its strap as she reached out to stop him.
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “You’re okay. What are you running from?”
“Men!” he gasped. “I didn’t mean to spy, I didn’t!”
“Which way?” Becky asked urgently.
The boy pointed, and Vala said, “Climb a tree and hide. If you go crashing through the forest, you’re going to get hurt.”
The boy didn’t need to be told twice; he shimmied up a nearby tree, disappearing into the branches. Satisfied that he was safe, they set out. Vala tapped her radio. “Colonel?”
“Go ahead.”
“We think we’ve got a location on the Genii,” Vala said.
“Approach with caution,” he advised. “If they have superior firepower, hang back and wait for the rest of us.”
“Of course,” Vala replied, although she wasn’t sure she meant it. She wasn’t willing to risk not going back to Daniel, or to risk Becky getting killed, but superior firepower hadn’t stopped her yet.
They approached cautiously, making as little noise as possible. The camp was well hidden; Vala nearly stepped right into the middle of it before she realized she’d reached the perimeter. She motioned to Becky, and they both stepped back, trying to erase any sign of their passage.
Becky led the way around the edge, and Vala kept her eyes open for Genii. She spotted one of them patrolling, an ancient-looking pistol in his hand.
Vala put a finger to her lips, motioning Becky to be silent, and then she fired the zat, rendering him unconscious. Becky smirked and whispered, “I really want one of those.”
“Get in line,” Vala replied in a whisper.
Together, they dragged the Genii soldier into the underbrush, and Becky used a zip tie to bind his wrists.
“What about a gag?” Vala whispered.
Becky smirked and reached into her pack, pulling out a rag and stuffing it into the man’s mouth. “Next?”
They took out another sentry without causing a ripple, and they gave him the same treatment they’d given the first. By that point, Sheppard had joined them, and he grinned wolfishly when he saw their prisoner. “You guys are awesome,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” Vala replied, even as Becky blushed. “And yes, we are.”
“How many?” Sheppard asked as McKay reached them.
Becky shook her head. “We took out two, including this one, but we haven’t seen any others.”
“We’ll surround the encampment and do what we can to corral them, then,” Sheppard replied. “Hold your positions here.”
Vala wanted to shoot a few more people, but she supposed it was only fair to let the others take their turns.
They held their positions until Sheppard signaled the all clear.
“There’s no sign of Kolya,” Sheppard said with a frustrated sigh. “Dammit. I wanted to end this.”
Becky cleared her throat. “Uh, sir? We do have two Genii in custody.”
“Give me fifteen minutes,” Ronon said, an evil glint in his eyes.
Vala could tell that Sheppard was torn. He ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it even further. He glanced over at McKay, who was staring determinedly at the ground, then he looked at Teyla. “What do you think?”
“I think we should be-” Teyla paused delicately and finished, “persuasive.”
Sheppard pinched the bridge of his nose. “Robbins, I want you to go back and secure the gate. Make sure the locals are okay, and wait for us there.”
Becky looked as though she wanted to protest, but she finally nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Teyla, Ronon, you’re with me,” Sheppard said.
Vala cleared her throat. “As am I.”
“Vala-” Sheppard began.
She offered a thin smile. “You forget, I was host to a Goa’uld for a long time, and I have many ways of getting someone to tell their secrets. I have no qualms about this, Colonel. Perhaps you should go back to the gate.”
“I’m not going to ask anyone to do something I won’t do myself,” Sheppard replied. “But I’ll take the assist. Robbins? Take McKay and the rest of the Marines with you.”
“John!” McKay protested. “I can stay!”
“Rodney, I would really prefer if you didn’t.”
Vala watched as their eyes locked, and she could see the battle of wills take place. Eventually, McKay nodded, his mouth in a tight, angry line. “Fine, John. Take this on, too.”
“It’s not like I have a choice, Rodney,” John shot back. “We need information. Just-go.”
McKay stalked off into the brush, leaving Becky and the others to follow in his wake. Teyla gave Sheppard a reproving look. “Rodney cares for you, John.”
“I know he does, but he doesn’t need to be here for this,” Sheppard replied.
Ronon smirked. “Bet you I won’t even have to touch ‘em.”
“And what are we going to do with them after?” Sheppard asked wearily. “We can’t take them back to Atlantis, and we can’t exactly let them go.”
“Could let them run,” Ronon suggested. “And then shoot them.”
Sheppard appeared to think this over fairly seriously before he said, “Let’s use the usual interrogation techniques first. If we can’t get anything out of them, we’ll get more creative.”
Vala showed Ronon where their first sentry was trussed up. Together, they dragged him back to the clearing, leaving the second Genii tied up right where he was. Vala figured he’d be wondering what had happened to his compatriot by the time they got to him.
They dropped the first Genii in the middle of the clearing, and Ronon pulled the gag from his mouth.
Sheppard smiled at the young man. “Here’s the thing,” he began conversationally. “I would like to let you make a run for the gate, but I’ve got people here who would prefer to kill you immediately. It’s up to you as to who gets their way.”
The man brought his chin up in a stubborn tilt. “I won’t tell you anything.”
“That’s what you think,” Sheppard replied. “Ronon, he’s all yours.”
Ronon loomed over the man, who was looking more nervous by the second.
Clearing her throat, Vala said, “Don’t hurt him too much. He’s really rather pretty.”
Ronon chuckled, a sinister sound that sent chills up Vala’s spine, even though it wasn’t directed at her. “I’ll leave his face alone.”
The young man blanched, but he held firm. “I won’t tell you anything.”
“Maybe you won’t, but your friend might,” Ronon replied, advancing on the man with a drawn knife. “It’s just a matter of time.”
The man squeaked, but said nothing.
Ronon smirked. “Good. More fun for me that way.”
Taking Ronon’s cue, Vala said, “I think we should bring his friend over here. Sometimes watching can be just as instructive as hands-on learning.”
The man swallowed, looking between Ronon and Vala as though trying to gauge how serious they were. “You’re from Atlantis,” he protested. “You won’t hurt me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Vala replied. “I’m not from Atlantis, and I have no problem hurting someone who would kill small children.”
“Come on, Vala,” Sheppard said. “Let’s collect his friend, and then we can start digging the graves.”
Vala led Sheppard back towards the place where they’d left the other sentry trussed up. “You don’t want to do this,” Vala observed.
“I want to believe we’re above torture,” Sheppard replied wearily.
“Who said anything about torture?” Vala asked. “There are plenty of ways to get information, Colonel. I’ve used many of them, if not most of them. Intimidation, threats, psychological coercion-you name it.”
“And you think that’s going to work on the Genii?” Sheppard asked.
Vala shook her head. “John, it works on everybody. We all have secrets we don’t want to reveal, and we give ourselves away at every turn. We just have to find the right button to push.”
“If you say so,” Sheppard muttered, reaching down to haul the Genii sentry to his feet.
Vala seized the man’s other arm. “You know, Colonel, I think we should leave the person who doesn’t talk out for the Wraith to find. Remember those Wraith worshippers? I’ll bet they’d be happy to have another sacrifice.”
Sheppard shot her a look, and then nodded. “I know just the planet.”
~~~~~
Cam figured that just about everyone on Atlantis had a favorite balcony, a place to watch the sun rise or set, or to look up at a sky full of alien constellations. His favorite spot was out of the way; he hadn’t seen anyone else on this balcony since he’d found the spot shortly after he’d been released from the infirmary.
That was why he was a little surprised to have Elizabeth step up to join him, leaning on the railing.
“I didn’t think you ever got out of your office,” Cam joked.
Elizabeth laughed. “On occasion, I do. I like this spot, too.”
“I haven’t seen anyone else out here,” Cam replied.
She smiled. “Yes, well, that’s probably because most people know that you prefer your privacy.”
Cam looked out over the ocean, which had been turned orange by the setting sun. “I didn’t use to. I like people.”
Elizabeth stayed silent, leaning against the railing, just looking at him.
“But when I was recovering after Antarctica, I didn’t want to see anybody,” Cam continued. “My parents visited a couple of times, but that was it. O’Neill, Sam, Jackson, even Teal’c showed up, but they didn’t stay long. I didn’t want them to.”
“So, you’re running away now?” she asked.
“No, I’m doing something that matters,” Cam countered. “Maybe if General O’Neill hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have volunteered, but he’s probably more capable than I am of being your alternate. I don’t know that I’m ready to sit behind a desk, and this gives me a chance to get out in the field.”
Elizabeth put a hand on Cam’s forearm. “I understand, but I’ll miss you.”
Cam realized he’d miss her, too, more than he’d thought possible. “Same here.”
“And you’re really okay with going on this mission with General O’Neill’s clone?” she asked with a grin.
Cam laughed. “It’s a little weird, I’ll grant you, but weird seems to be normal in this line of work.” He looked up at the sky. “I always wanted to fly; I just never thought I’d be on another planet.”
“I don’t think any of us did,” Elizabeth replied. “Certainly not like this.”
“Is there anyone you want me to check in on while we’re on Earth?” Cam asked, meaning it.
Elizabeth grimaced. “My mom, if you have a chance. She has no idea where I am, and I’d rather she not know unless she’s in danger.” She paused. “Are you going to check on your parents?”
Cam hitched one shoulder. “I’m going to try. If it’s too dangerous, then I’ll let them keep wondering.”
“You’ll have a lot of leeway,” Elizabeth observed. “You can check on a lot of people, help them go underground if necessary, and then come back here.”
“I am coming back,” Cam promised. “I’ve got two weeks with the Athosians to look forward to.”
“I’ve heard it’s a good time,” Elizabeth replied. She put her hand over Cam’s where it curled around the railing.
“Maybe you should get away,” Cam suggested. “You need a break, Elizabeth. Even when I’m supposedly in charge, you’re still on call. Maybe you should get off the city for a few days.”
“Maybe I will,” she replied with a smile.
He turned his hand over and let their fingers interlace. “Have Sheppard and the others come back yet?”
She shook her head, leaving her hand where it was. “Not yet. I’m expecting a call any minute now.”
Cam nodded. “You worried?”
“I’m always worried,” Elizabeth admitted. “It’s just a matter of degree.”
The radio crackled, as though Cam’s question had summoned answers, and Chuck said, “We’ve got an unscheduled gate activation. It’s Colonel Sheppard’s IDC.”
“Let him through,” Elizabeth ordered, and she squeezed Cam’s hand once before letting go. “Would you like to join me?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Cam replied.
~~~~~
Jack had handpicked most of the personnel who had gone through the gate to Atlantis on the first wave, including Carson Beckett. Beckett was not only an expert in his field; he was also a dedicated, empathetic physician who could handle the demands that an expedition to another galaxy would place on him.
That didn’t mean Jack liked what he had to say, however.
“There’s got to be a way to fix this,” Jack protested. “Dammit, I can’t live my life on painkillers. You don’t have enough!”
“We’re working on alternatives,” Beckett replied soothingly. “As much as I could wish for a magic wand, I believe you’ve seen as much improvement now as you ever will.”
Jack thought of the ache in his bones most mornings, and how difficult it was to respond to Carter’s advances.
No, it was Sam now, and he shouldn’t forget that.
“So, what the hell am I supposed to do?” he demanded. “You need all the able-bodied people you can get.”
Beckett fixed him with a stern expression. “We do, but we also need able administrators. You might not like it, but Elizabeth could use a break, particularly now that Colonel Mitchell has volunteered to gather information on Earth.”
Jack had never wanted to be stuck behind a desk, but he’d taken the promotion because he’d known it was only a matter of time before he was more hindrance than help in the field, and he hadn’t been ready to retire.
But he’d always held on to the idea that he could go out in the field if he was needed; Hammond had done so on a few memorable occasions. Now, Jack knew that he had no choice but to ride the bench. He couldn’t move fast enough, and he wasn’t strong enough, to make the risk worthwhile.
It just hurt like a motherfucker to admit that he never would be field ready again; he was always going to be in pain-the question was how much.
Jack managed to thank Beckett for his time and then stalked out of the infirmary, limping down the hallway. He wanted a drink. Actually, he wanted to get shit-faced and just forget for a while-forget his failures, forget his losses, forget the horror he’d left behind. He wasn’t paying much attention to where he was going and ran right into Sheppard.
“General O’Neill,” Sheppard said, putting out a steadying hand. “Sorry about that.”
Jack shook his head. He wasn’t in the mood to make small talk. “Don’t worry about it.”
He stepped aside, planning to go around Sheppard, who didn’t move his hand. “If you don’t mind me saying so, sir, you look like you could use a drink.”
Jack bit back a snarl and took a deep breath. “I don’t suppose you know where I could get one.”
Sheppard smirked. “As a matter of fact, I do. You ever tried ruus wine? The Athosians make it.”
“I’m more of a beer man,” Jack replied.
Sheppard shook his head. “All due respect, sir, ruus wine is what you want. It gets the job done a hell of a lot faster.”
Jack liked the sound of that. “Never let it be said that I passed up the opportunity to try the homebrew.”
“Let me make a call,” Sheppard replied.
Jack couldn’t help but hear Sheppard’s side of the conversation. “It’s Sheppard. Do me a favor and bring that bottle of ruus wine to the pier, would you? And a few glasses.”
“We having a party?” Jack asked.
“It’s always a party around here,” Sheppard replied cheerfully. “Don’t worry, sir. You’ll enjoy the company. Let’s head out to the east pier.”
Jack glared at him. “Are you managing me?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Sheppard replied.
The moon had risen over the ocean when they stepped out onto the pier. “I heard you rounded up a couple of Genii.”
“They won’t be bothering us again,” Sheppard replied.
Jack raised his eyebrows. “Did you kill them?”
“No, we stranded them on a planet with a space gate,” Sheppard replied. “They might survive, and then again they might not.”
“Did you use torture?”
Sheppard shook his head. “I didn’t need to. Do you know how scary Vala and Ronon can be when you put them together?”
“No, and I don’t think I want to know.” Jack sat down on the edge of the pier. “Where’s that wine?”
“On its way,” Sheppard replied complacently. “In fact, I think it’s here now. Jackson, good of you to join us.” He pushed himself to his feet. “And I just remembered that I had a thing tonight. Sorry to desert you, General O’Neill, Dr. Jackson.”
Jack glared at Sheppard’s retreating form. “I knew you were managing me!” he shouted after him.
Sheppard turned and offered a sloppy salute before disappearing inside.
“You arranged this,” Jack accused.
Daniel shrugged. “I might have. I told a couple of people to keep an eye out for you. I knew you’d avoid me.”
Jack stared straight ahead. “You’re overstepping your bounds.”
“You’re my best friend, and Sam is like a sister to me,” Daniel replied. “And she was just about crying on my shoulder today. So, yeah, I ambushed you, and I’m going to pull out every trick I know.” Daniel poured them both a mug of wine. “And I know you’re more likely to talk about what’s bothering you if you’re drunk.”
Jack took a sip and raised his eyebrows. “This isn’t bad.”
“From what I’ve heard, the Athosians know how to celebrate,” Daniel replied. “Next time they have a celebration, we’ll have to go to the mainland.”
Jack took another, deeper drink. “Yeah, maybe so.”
Daniel just sat quietly for a long time as they drank. Jack pretended not to notice that Daniel drank far less than he did, and he slowly felt the anger drain away.
“I’m not going back out in the field,” Jack said quietly.
Daniel sighed. “I know.”
“I hurt all the time,” Jack admitted. “And Beckett has a limited supply of painkillers.”
Daniel didn’t say anything.
“The first night-was great,” Jack said quietly. “But I’m an old man, Daniel. Sam deserves better than some broken down soldier.”
Daniel smiled. “Jack, Sam’s been in love with you for years. I think you’re doing her a disservice.”
“I’m not talking about this with you,” Jack cautioned.
“You already are,” Daniel observed.
Jack held his silence for a while, trying to shake off his irritation. “I spent my whole life serving my country and my planet,” he finally said.
“And what do you have to show for it?”
“Exactly!” Jack knew he was saying more now that he was drunk than he would have if he were sober. He didn’t mind, actually. The words were easier to say with a little lubrication. “I’ve got nothing.”
“You could retire,” Daniel suggested. “Just retire here. There’s fishing, there’s Sam. What more could you want?”
Jack grimaced. “A job?”
Daniel smirked. “How did I know you were going to say that?”
“Because you know me way too well,” Jack responded readily. “Danny, I don’t know how to do this.”
“Fake it ‘til you make it, Jack,” Daniel countered. “Sam loves you; you love her. The situation sucks, but all we’ve got is each other, to give voice to a cliché.”
“Suck it up, buttercup?” Jack suggested.
Daniel smiled. “If you’d rather.”
“I got through that shit because I wanted to get back to Carter,” Jack admitted suddenly. “I wanted to get back to my team.”
“So, go to her,” Daniel replied. “Go, and tell her everything you just told me. This is Sam. She’ll understand.”
Jack wanted to argue, but he knew Danny was right.
And he hated that.
“Yeah, fine,” he replied, pushing himself to his feet. “I’ll talk to her.”
“I’ll walk you back,” Daniel said, snagging the now-empty wine jug and the mugs. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Jack said, swaying a bit, and reaching out to steady himself on the railing. “Just give me a sec.”
Daniel, to his credit, stayed where he was, not offering the help Jack didn’t want to accept. They made their slow way down the hall towards the quarters Jack had been sharing with Sam since he’d arrived on Atlantis. Daniel set the jug down on the floor and clapped Jack on the shoulder. “None of us are getting through this unscathed, but it’s up to us to find a way to live with the scars.”
Daniel walked away, and the door slid open upon Jack’s silent request. Sam was sitting cross-legged on the bed, a laptop balanced on her legs. “Hey,” she said cautiously.
Jack sat down next to her, settling himself gingerly on the edge of the bed. The alcohol had dimmed the worst of the pain, and he moved a lot better than he had since before the Trust got ahold of him. “Hey.”
He met her eyes, knowing that they had always done their best communicating through silence. For so long, they hadn’t been able to risk putting words to the bond between them; Jack drew on that silent understanding now.
Sam watched him steadily, and her face softened. “You want to tell me about it?”
“I can barely get out of bed in the morning,” Jack confessed.
Sam set her laptop on the floor and reached for him. “I know,” she replied. “I don’t care, just as long as you’re here.”
And Jack held onto her, because she was about the only thing he had left to hang onto.
~~~~~
Sam was grateful to wake up with Jack curled around her, as he’d seemed to be pulling away over the last couple of weeks. Maybe they hadn’t said much the night before, but she felt like they’d said enough.
Fumbling for her radio, she put it on, and then gently extricated herself from Jack’s grasp. He groaned. “Shit. Kill me now.”
Sam smiled. “That ruus wine has quite the kick, doesn’t it?”
“Shut up,” Jack muttered. “How can you be so cheerful?”
“I don’t have a hangover,” Sam reminded him. “Go back to sleep, Jack.”
He rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. Sam smiled and ran a tender hand over the back of Jack’s head, feeling the fine, gray hair. She pulled on a pair of BDUs that weren’t the cleanest, and set off on her run.
The circuit she’d mapped out over the last weeks generally meant that she picked up at least a couple of people. This morning, Lorne fell into step next to her, and then Cassie joined them. She’d clearly been waiting for Sam, and she shrugged when Sam sent her a questioning look. “I started running to combat the freshman 15,” Cassie explained. “I might not be able to keep up the whole time, but it’s better than running alone.”
“You’re welcome to join us any time,” Sam replied.
“Good to have you,” Lorne said.
Cassie nodded and managed to keep pace with Sam and Lorne. Halfway through their run, they ran into Sheppard and Ronon, who slowed their pace slightly. “How are you settling in, Cassie?” Sheppard asked.
Cassie blinked and smiled uncertainly. “Uh, good. Dr. Beckett has been great.”
Sheppard smiled. “Glad to hear it.”
He and Ronon were the first to peel off, and then Lorne dropped out. Sam ran with Cassie back to her quarters. “Thanks for letting me join you,” Cassie said. “I hope I didn’t slow you down too much.”
Even though they were both sweaty, Sam didn’t hesitate to pull Cassie into a hug. “Never. You want to grab breakfast together?”
Cassie nodded. “Yeah. How’s Jack?”
“Hung over,” Sam replied honestly. “But I think he’ll be all right. Fifteen minutes?”
Cassie grinned. “Perfect.”
When Sam entered their quarters, Jack had pulled a pillow over his head, and Sam tried to be quiet so as not to disturb him, even if she was sorely tempted to start slamming around just to torture him a little bit. Still, she resisted, because she was nicer than that.
Instead, she took a shower and got cleaned up, and pulled on a clean uniform. “Hey,” Sam said softly, putting a hand on Jack’s back. “You want anything?”
Jack groaned. “No.”
“Drink some water, and take the aspirin,” Sam advised, leaving the glass of water and a couple of Tylenol on the bedside table.
Cassie was waiting for Sam outside her quarters, wearing a black Atlantis uniform. Sam wondered what Janet would have thought of her daughter in uniform, and decided that her friend probably would have been happy that Cassie was relatively safe.
Sam draped her arm over Cassie’s shoulders. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy.”
Cassie leaned into Sam. “It’s not your fault. And really, Dr. Beckett has been keeping me busy, too.”
“I wish you could have stayed in school,” Sam replied.
Cassie smiled. “I don’t want to be anywhere else. I’m with my family.”
“Yeah, but there aren’t a lot of people your age here,” Sam countered.
Cassie gave her a mischievous grin. “Yeah, but some of the Marines are pretty cute.”
“I will blow them up if they mess with you,” Sam replied, only half-kidding. “And if I don’t blow them up, you know what Jack will do.”
Cassie tried to glare, but Sam could see the smile playing around her mouth. “Which is why if I find someone I’m really interested in, I expect you to run interference.”
“Only after I vet him first,” Sam countered.
“Deal,” Cassie agreed as they walked into the mess.
Lorne was already there, with Laro by his side, and he waved them over. “Glad to have you both join me this morning,” Lorne said.
Sam set her tray down. “Do you make a regular habit of it?”
Lorne offered a bashful grin. “As often as I can drag myself out of bed early enough. I might manage it more often if I knew someone was waiting on me. Colonel Sheppard and Ronon set a brutal pace.”
“I don’t,” Sam replied. “So, tomorrow?”
“I think I can make that work,” Lorne replied. “Cassie? You going to join us?”
Cassie shrugged, but she appeared pleased to have been asked. “That would be cool.”
Sam knew that Cassie had always been comfortable with adults, and she hoped that would serve her well on Atlantis, since most of the Marines were at least a few years older than her. And from what Sam had seen, none of them were worthy of Cassie’s time.
Then again, Lorne had proven that the sea was bigger and had more fish than anyone had thought, at least on Atlantis.
Daniel joined them about fifteen minutes later, sitting on the other side of Cassie. “Do you still have time to help me today?” he asked her.
Cassie nodded. “I don’t have a lot on my plate.”
“Great,” Daniel replied. “I’ve got some transcription work that I could really use your help on.” Daniel shot a look at Sam. “I’m still hoping to lure Cassie to the dark side.”
“Maybe I should start charging for my time,” Cassie joked.
“And maybe I should tempt her with high-power weaponry,” Lorne replied.
“The weapons might tempt me,” Cassie replied.
Lorne grinned. “Any time you want to hit the range, just let me know.”
“I might take you up on that,” Cassie replied.
“Then you can join me,” Laro replied gallantly. “I’m also learning how to handle weapons.”
Cassie smiled. “That would be nice.”
Sam was intrigued. “I didn’t realize you were learning how to use weaponry, Laro.”
Laro shrugged. “It seems wise if I’m to stay on Atlantis. I’m also learning how to fly a Jumper. It appears that I’m one of the few Athosians for whom the gene therapy worked.”
“The gene therapy took for me, too, which seems crazy,” Cassie said.
“The Ancients originated from your galaxy,” Laro pointed out. “It makes sense that more people there would have their genetic capabilities.”
Cassie smiled thinly. “Yeah, I’m special. Excuse me. I’m going to get more of the not-bacon.”
Laro and Lorne watched her go. Daniel stared down at his plate. “Did I offend her?” Laro asked after a moment.
Sam shook her head. “No, but Cassie’s people were used as guinea pigs by the Goa’uld, and Cassie was the only survivor from her planet.”
“A guinea pig is an animal that is often used as a test subject for an experiment, particularly when survival is not guaranteed,” Daniel supplied.
Laro grimaced. “I see.”
Cassie returned to the table with another helping of the meat that might almost be bacon, and some of the fruit local to Pegasus. “Did I miss anything?”
“Nothing at all,” Sam replied.
She didn’t see the need to bring up Cassie’s past in front of her, not when Cassie tried so hard to put it behind her.
Cassie gave her a sharp look, as though she knew what the topic of conversation had been, and then she shrugged. “So, did you all hear the latest gossip?” she began. “About Marie and the guy from botany?”
Sam figured that Cassie was fitting in just fine.
Chapter 9