Stargate Atlantis fic: Never Go Home
And another one, this one from March 2007! This one I really thought was posted elsewhere...oh, well. It's here now.
Title: Never Go Home
Author: philote_auctor
Rating: PG (K+)
Summary: The problem with the good guys switching sides was that they went with inside information. Ford knew his ex-team far too well. Missing scene for “Lost Boys.”
Disclaimer: The characters and situations of Stargate: Atlantis do not belong to me. I make no money from this story. Please don’t sue.
Author’s Note: Written for the ‘villains’ challenge on sga_flashfic. Spoilers through “Lost Boys.”
oOo
Sheppard wasn’t sleeping.
The other three were asleep, albeit fitfully. But Sheppard was sitting on his cot in the little sleeping area designated for the team, his attention quite fixated on his team members. Keeping watch was one thing, but he wasn’t even paying much attention to what was happening outside their doorway.
Aiden took a seat in the nearby shadows, watching him watch. This was no good. Sheppard was supposed to be seeing how great this could be, not keeping bedside vigils like he feared they might die in their sleep.
The Major-no, no, it was Lieutenant Colonel now-he was a very crucial part of Aiden’s plan. It was Sheppard who led the military contingent of Atlantis, Sheppard who held the influence. Sheppard needed to see what an asset the enzyme could be.
He needed Sheppard to understand, and using his team members was the best way Aiden knew to do it.
He’d known McKay was going to freak out. McKay freaked out when he ran out of his favorite flavor of power bar. He’d also known that Teyla would be unhappy, would go silent and disapproving, but that she would handle it.
Dex was the unknown factor. Aiden didn’t know him at all, aside from having saved his life from the Wraith that was chasing him, aside from the little fact that he’d taken his teammates hostage the first time they’d met. He’d certainly been surprised to find Dex on the team now. He wouldn’t have thought Sheppard would be so quick to forgive and take in the stray.
Of course, if he could be trusted, Dex was obviously an asset. He was huge and strong and seemed handy with weapons. He was a sort of super-soldier.
Aiden was a super-soldier now too, better equipped to fight the Wraith than even Ronon Dex. But McKay, Teyla, and yes, even Sheppard didn’t want to work with him anymore. Not while he was special, not while he had the abilities to actually do some real good for the fight.
What kind of sense did that make?
There were times when he thought he hated them, all three of them, and several others he used to call friends back in the city. Why couldn’t they accept him for what he was, why did they have to be so hell-bent on making him weak again?
But those moments would pass, and then he would realize that they just didn’t understand. He just needed to show them.
So he was doing just that.
He was pulled from his thoughts as the little cove suddenly grew more animated. McKay mumbled something in his sleep and turned onto his side. Sheppard straightened, attention glued to his scientist. A few moments later McKay tossed again, whimpering.
The nightmares weren’t uncommon, especially with the initial introduction of the enzyme. Aiden had been expecting them.
Maybe Sheppard had, too. He was up and moving to McKay immediately. Dex and Teyla were abruptly awake as well, both sitting up and glancing about for whatever the threat might be.
Sheppard perched on the edge of the cot as McKay rolled towards the wall. He reached for him, grasping his shoulders and giving him a light shake.
He hadn’t anticipated the reaction, however; that was clear when McKay came up swinging.
The punch was strong and perfectly aimed. Suddenly McKay bore little resemblance to the man who’d nearly sprained something trying to un-holster his gun a few months back.
Aiden smiled.
Sheppard went reeling back and McKay shot to his feet, heading inexplicably for the exit. He was probably still half-caught in the nightmare.
Ronon shot up and reached the door first, though he’d had twice as far to go. He intercepted the fist that was thrown at him easily and caught both arms, soon trapping the physicist against him. McKay stopped the fruitless struggling after a moment, though he remained tense and practically vibrating in Dex’s arms.
Aiden was surprised at the carefulness of the grip. It wasn’t light by any means, and there was no way McKay would be breaking it without a good bit more enzyme, but it wasn’t a harsh grip characteristic of the fights around here, either.
Sheppard climbed back up to sit on McKay’s cot, rubbing at his jaw. He spoke to the restrained scientist quietly for several long moments.
Dex seemed well-tuned to McKay, for when the physicist wilted he shifted his grip and easily steered him back to his cot.
McKay sat down hard and put his face in his hands. Aiden thought he caught a soft, “I’m sorry” being repeated, along with some other things he couldn’t make out. This time when Sheppard reached for him, he didn’t pull away.
Dex stepped back, exchanging a look with Teyla as McKay allowed himself to be pulled against Sheppard. He leaned heavily into the offered shoulder. Aiden couldn’t tell if the scientist was crying or just clinging to the stabilizing force as he tried to calm down. Whatever the case, Sheppard wrapped an arm around him and rubbed a soothing hand along his spine.
The scene stayed frozen for long moments. The only sounds were Sheppard’s quiet murmurs to the man he held and McKay’s ragged breaths. Dex remained standing nearby, hovering and hulking, and Teyla looked on silently with gentle concern.
And Aiden suddenly had an eerie feeling, like he was spying on a tender moment between strangers. Like he had no business seeing it at all. He frowned and shifted uncomfortably.
And Sheppard suddenly looked up, right at him, as if he’d sensed his presence all along.
Their eyes locked, and Aiden found he couldn’t look away. Sheppard stared hard at him for a moment, then cradled McKay closer. Protectively. As if Aiden was nothing more than another captor, another bad guy to be dealt with. No better than the Genii.
Sheppard cut his eyes to Ronon and then back to the hallway. It was quick and hardly noticeable; a signal between team members. The kind of thing Aiden would have shared with his CO a few months back.
Ronon caught it easily and responded as if he’d been doing it for years. He made record time to the door again, insinuating himself into the opening until he’d completely blocked Aiden’s view of the others. Then he just stood there, arms crossed across his chest, sporting a glare that would have made McKay proud.
The threat was very clear.
Aiden was quite certain he could take the man, of course. But this wasn’t just a physical threat. This was another man, an alien no less, who stood guard over his team members, and would clearly protect them however he could.
And it was in that moment that Aiden hated him.
He narrowed his eyes, raised his chin, and smirked. Then he stood and very calmly sauntered away.
But once his back was turned, his jaw clenched. As soon as he was out of eyesight he stalked back to his own quarters. He was forced to admit to himself that there might be one big problem with the plan-they weren’t his team anymore.
They’d replaced him. They’d been stunned to see him; they hadn’t even been looking for him. If he hadn’t had them jumped and dragged through the Stargate…
They’d replaced him.
How was he supposed to get them to understand when they didn’t care about him anymore?
How was he supposed to get through to them now?
He replayed the scene he’d just witnessed in his head. He forced past the anger at Dex and the emotion he refused to name, the one that was eating at his insides and making his blood boil even as it created an unwelcome pressure behind his eyes.
He thought of the Colonel keeping such careful watch over the others. He thought of Sheppard soothing McKay, protecting him as best he could, even when there was nothing he could do. He thought of Teyla’s concern and Dex’s turn at gentle giant.
It simply served as a reminder. Aiden knew them well, and he’d seen enough of Dex to go ahead with his plans.
This had become more than a demonstration. If he knew John Sheppard at all then the man had some sort of plan to get out of here. So it was now a matter of controlling this little experiment-of controlling them long enough to get his point across. And Aiden knew quite clearly how to control the soldiers.
McKay was the weak link. He always had been. Certainly the easiest to break…but Aiden wasn’t interested in breaking him. He was interested in manipulating the others. For all McKay’s brainpower and the miracles he could pull with it, he was still the most vulnerable in the field. Somehow, despite the man’s attitude, the close-knit bonds of Sheppard’s team made them all especially protective over their scientist. Aiden had been subject to that himself. Separating McKay, threatening him-that was the key.
It would royally piss Sheppard off. But he’d never risk his friend’s life. He’d be forced to go through with the mission as planned, and by the time they got back he’d understand. He’d see that Aiden was right about the enzyme’s potential. And McKay would be fine, so Sheppard would forgive the heavy-handed methods.
Aiden settled onto his bunk, calming enough to grin. They were gonna do this mission, and he was gonna show them. He wasn’t the same old Ford; he was better. They’d see.
Now, he just had more to prove.
oOo
Title: Never Go Home
Author: philote_auctor
Rating: PG (K+)
Summary: The problem with the good guys switching sides was that they went with inside information. Ford knew his ex-team far too well. Missing scene for “Lost Boys.”
Disclaimer: The characters and situations of Stargate: Atlantis do not belong to me. I make no money from this story. Please don’t sue.
Author’s Note: Written for the ‘villains’ challenge on sga_flashfic. Spoilers through “Lost Boys.”
oOo
Sheppard wasn’t sleeping.
The other three were asleep, albeit fitfully. But Sheppard was sitting on his cot in the little sleeping area designated for the team, his attention quite fixated on his team members. Keeping watch was one thing, but he wasn’t even paying much attention to what was happening outside their doorway.
Aiden took a seat in the nearby shadows, watching him watch. This was no good. Sheppard was supposed to be seeing how great this could be, not keeping bedside vigils like he feared they might die in their sleep.
The Major-no, no, it was Lieutenant Colonel now-he was a very crucial part of Aiden’s plan. It was Sheppard who led the military contingent of Atlantis, Sheppard who held the influence. Sheppard needed to see what an asset the enzyme could be.
He needed Sheppard to understand, and using his team members was the best way Aiden knew to do it.
He’d known McKay was going to freak out. McKay freaked out when he ran out of his favorite flavor of power bar. He’d also known that Teyla would be unhappy, would go silent and disapproving, but that she would handle it.
Dex was the unknown factor. Aiden didn’t know him at all, aside from having saved his life from the Wraith that was chasing him, aside from the little fact that he’d taken his teammates hostage the first time they’d met. He’d certainly been surprised to find Dex on the team now. He wouldn’t have thought Sheppard would be so quick to forgive and take in the stray.
Of course, if he could be trusted, Dex was obviously an asset. He was huge and strong and seemed handy with weapons. He was a sort of super-soldier.
Aiden was a super-soldier now too, better equipped to fight the Wraith than even Ronon Dex. But McKay, Teyla, and yes, even Sheppard didn’t want to work with him anymore. Not while he was special, not while he had the abilities to actually do some real good for the fight.
What kind of sense did that make?
There were times when he thought he hated them, all three of them, and several others he used to call friends back in the city. Why couldn’t they accept him for what he was, why did they have to be so hell-bent on making him weak again?
But those moments would pass, and then he would realize that they just didn’t understand. He just needed to show them.
So he was doing just that.
He was pulled from his thoughts as the little cove suddenly grew more animated. McKay mumbled something in his sleep and turned onto his side. Sheppard straightened, attention glued to his scientist. A few moments later McKay tossed again, whimpering.
The nightmares weren’t uncommon, especially with the initial introduction of the enzyme. Aiden had been expecting them.
Maybe Sheppard had, too. He was up and moving to McKay immediately. Dex and Teyla were abruptly awake as well, both sitting up and glancing about for whatever the threat might be.
Sheppard perched on the edge of the cot as McKay rolled towards the wall. He reached for him, grasping his shoulders and giving him a light shake.
He hadn’t anticipated the reaction, however; that was clear when McKay came up swinging.
The punch was strong and perfectly aimed. Suddenly McKay bore little resemblance to the man who’d nearly sprained something trying to un-holster his gun a few months back.
Aiden smiled.
Sheppard went reeling back and McKay shot to his feet, heading inexplicably for the exit. He was probably still half-caught in the nightmare.
Ronon shot up and reached the door first, though he’d had twice as far to go. He intercepted the fist that was thrown at him easily and caught both arms, soon trapping the physicist against him. McKay stopped the fruitless struggling after a moment, though he remained tense and practically vibrating in Dex’s arms.
Aiden was surprised at the carefulness of the grip. It wasn’t light by any means, and there was no way McKay would be breaking it without a good bit more enzyme, but it wasn’t a harsh grip characteristic of the fights around here, either.
Sheppard climbed back up to sit on McKay’s cot, rubbing at his jaw. He spoke to the restrained scientist quietly for several long moments.
Dex seemed well-tuned to McKay, for when the physicist wilted he shifted his grip and easily steered him back to his cot.
McKay sat down hard and put his face in his hands. Aiden thought he caught a soft, “I’m sorry” being repeated, along with some other things he couldn’t make out. This time when Sheppard reached for him, he didn’t pull away.
Dex stepped back, exchanging a look with Teyla as McKay allowed himself to be pulled against Sheppard. He leaned heavily into the offered shoulder. Aiden couldn’t tell if the scientist was crying or just clinging to the stabilizing force as he tried to calm down. Whatever the case, Sheppard wrapped an arm around him and rubbed a soothing hand along his spine.
The scene stayed frozen for long moments. The only sounds were Sheppard’s quiet murmurs to the man he held and McKay’s ragged breaths. Dex remained standing nearby, hovering and hulking, and Teyla looked on silently with gentle concern.
And Aiden suddenly had an eerie feeling, like he was spying on a tender moment between strangers. Like he had no business seeing it at all. He frowned and shifted uncomfortably.
And Sheppard suddenly looked up, right at him, as if he’d sensed his presence all along.
Their eyes locked, and Aiden found he couldn’t look away. Sheppard stared hard at him for a moment, then cradled McKay closer. Protectively. As if Aiden was nothing more than another captor, another bad guy to be dealt with. No better than the Genii.
Sheppard cut his eyes to Ronon and then back to the hallway. It was quick and hardly noticeable; a signal between team members. The kind of thing Aiden would have shared with his CO a few months back.
Ronon caught it easily and responded as if he’d been doing it for years. He made record time to the door again, insinuating himself into the opening until he’d completely blocked Aiden’s view of the others. Then he just stood there, arms crossed across his chest, sporting a glare that would have made McKay proud.
The threat was very clear.
Aiden was quite certain he could take the man, of course. But this wasn’t just a physical threat. This was another man, an alien no less, who stood guard over his team members, and would clearly protect them however he could.
And it was in that moment that Aiden hated him.
He narrowed his eyes, raised his chin, and smirked. Then he stood and very calmly sauntered away.
But once his back was turned, his jaw clenched. As soon as he was out of eyesight he stalked back to his own quarters. He was forced to admit to himself that there might be one big problem with the plan-they weren’t his team anymore.
They’d replaced him. They’d been stunned to see him; they hadn’t even been looking for him. If he hadn’t had them jumped and dragged through the Stargate…
They’d replaced him.
How was he supposed to get them to understand when they didn’t care about him anymore?
How was he supposed to get through to them now?
He replayed the scene he’d just witnessed in his head. He forced past the anger at Dex and the emotion he refused to name, the one that was eating at his insides and making his blood boil even as it created an unwelcome pressure behind his eyes.
He thought of the Colonel keeping such careful watch over the others. He thought of Sheppard soothing McKay, protecting him as best he could, even when there was nothing he could do. He thought of Teyla’s concern and Dex’s turn at gentle giant.
It simply served as a reminder. Aiden knew them well, and he’d seen enough of Dex to go ahead with his plans.
This had become more than a demonstration. If he knew John Sheppard at all then the man had some sort of plan to get out of here. So it was now a matter of controlling this little experiment-of controlling them long enough to get his point across. And Aiden knew quite clearly how to control the soldiers.
McKay was the weak link. He always had been. Certainly the easiest to break…but Aiden wasn’t interested in breaking him. He was interested in manipulating the others. For all McKay’s brainpower and the miracles he could pull with it, he was still the most vulnerable in the field. Somehow, despite the man’s attitude, the close-knit bonds of Sheppard’s team made them all especially protective over their scientist. Aiden had been subject to that himself. Separating McKay, threatening him-that was the key.
It would royally piss Sheppard off. But he’d never risk his friend’s life. He’d be forced to go through with the mission as planned, and by the time they got back he’d understand. He’d see that Aiden was right about the enzyme’s potential. And McKay would be fine, so Sheppard would forgive the heavy-handed methods.
Aiden settled onto his bunk, calming enough to grin. They were gonna do this mission, and he was gonna show them. He wasn’t the same old Ford; he was better. They’d see.
Now, he just had more to prove.
oOo