Disclaimers: I do not own these characters; this is written for fun, I make no money etc.
Spoilers:general Season 1, and 38 Minutes for some reason I've now forgotten.

A/N:Plot bunny up for adoption by Purpleyin at McKay/Weir Central, many thanks! Wonderful beta from rodlox.

Summary: Charin's staff causes an accident that leaves Rodney critically ill, but there's something else going on... McKay/Weir with mysterious Sheppard/Weir :)

Chapter One

"It is wonderful to see you, Charin." Teyla entered the tent and approached her friend.

"Teyla! You came back to us." She gripped the young Athosian woman by the shoulders with surprising strength. Her long grey-white hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her sage-green robe hung loosely on her thin frame.

"I came back to visit with you, Charin. I do not intend to remain." Teyla looked Charin in the eye, then held her hand as they sat down together on the wooden bench that ran along the side of the tent.

Charin bowed her head, saying plainly, "You will not return and lead us?"

Teyla sighed. "No, Charin. My path lies with Dr Weir, and the others from Earth. We can defeat the Wraith, with the power of the City of the Ancestors." She forced a smile and continued brightly, "I am pleased to be here, Charin. Let me enjoy a few days among my own people in a spirit of happiness."

Charin tucked her walking stick beside her. "As you wish, my child. You have chosen your own destiny, and what time you spend with us is precious." Suddenly, she gave a sharp cough, and leaned heavily on the carved staff.

Teyla frowned. "Charin. Are you not well?" She put an arm around the old woman, and leaned close in concern.

Waving her off, Charin shook her head. "I am fine, do not fuss. Old as I am, I can still see through you. You are happy to be home." She looked at Teyla through clear, blue eyes. "Return to us, Teyla."

Teyla looked away, and then, swallowing hard and with a deep breath, she looked once more at Charin. "I cannot, Charin. But you are always in my thoughts."

They exchanged fond looks. Teyla was indeed happy to see her people again, but she had forged a strong bond with those in Atlantis. She would say the floating City was her home now... if she was asked.

Charin gave another small cough and rubbed a wizened hand over Teyla's arm. "Can I offer you some soup?"

Teyla grinned. "Of course. I could never refuse your soup, Charin." She watched as the old lady stood up slowly, and walked across to the stove, leaning on her staff with each step.

In the hazy sunlight streaming into the tent, Teyla could see light reflecting off small crystal panels embedded in Charin's staff. The opaque shapes seemed to glow in the morning light, and Teyla squinted at them, as if she was seeing them for the first time.

Charin fussed over the stove, pouring soup into bowls. Her staff was propped up near her, and Teyla found herself mesmerised by the carvings and the crystals.

"Charin…?"

"Yes, my child?"

"Your staff…? Where did it come from?"

Charin placed the bowls on a tray, and beckoned to Teyla to collect them. She then took her staff in her hand and used it to help her return to the bench, following Teyla.

"I have always had it. It belonged to my mother."

"I never truly noticed before - it has crystal pieces embedded into it."

"Yes," Charin nodded, and took a bowl of soup onto her lap. "It is a beautiful staff. No one else has one like it."

"What does it do?" Teyla lifted a spoonful of soup to her mouth.

Charin frowned. "I do not understand what you mean. It is my staff. I walk with it. I have needed it for some time. My knee… I cannot walk without it." The old lady's eyes narrowed as she watched Teyla's bowed head.

Teyla nodded and sipped her soup in silence for a moment, taking glances at the staff.

"Charin…?"

"Yes, my child?"

"Your staff… The crystals are like those I have seen on Atlantis. Smaller, of course. Were you aware of that?"

"The crystals do remind me of the keys on the pedestal near the Ring of the Ancestors. It is a beautiful staff. It was special to my mother, and now it is special to me." With gnarled fingers she stroked the pair of dull, opaque crystal shapes that adorned each side of the staff near the top. Carvings of Ancient writing flowed across the wooden surface, and spilled onto the crystals. She looked up and saw Teyla lost in concentration.

"What are you thinking, Teyla?"

Teyla paused, and then said, "I am thinking I have a friend who would very much like to see your staff."

0o0o0

"No, Rodney, you cannot just 'take her stick'." Elizabeth smiled patiently.

Rodney pouted and leaned back in his chair. The senior staff were ranged around the conference table, discussing what Teyla had discovered on the Mainland.

Elizabeth continued, "Teyla, would it be acceptable to Charin if Dr McKay and Dr Zelenka studied the staff for a short while, at her convenience? She can be present if she wishes."

Teyla nodded. "I am sure she will be willing to let them look at it. As I said before, I do not know if the staff has any purpose or significance."

"Let us worry about that," Rodney said quickly. "I can't wait to see it."

"All right. Major Sheppard, you can take your team - and Dr Zelenka."

John nodded. "Fine by me."

0o0o0

Aiden hoisted the strap of the case further onto his shoulder. "You sure this is all you need, Doc?"

The Czech engineer smiled. "It is not too heavy for you, Lieutenant?"

Aiden narrowed his eyes. "No sir. Come on, let's not keep the Major waiting."

Radek smiled and followed the young lieutenant up the ramp of the jumper.

Rodney swivelled around in the co-pilot seat. "Ah, good. At last. Get your gear away so we can go." He folded his arms and watched the last two arrivals in the rear of the jumper.

"Peter suggested I brought one of the console crystals for comparison, Rodney." Radek came forward, looking around him slightly nervously, and sat down behind the Chief Scientist.

Rodney cocked his head to one side, "Yeah, OK. Good thinking. So, what do we really imagine here? A remote-control dialling device?"

The Czech pulled a face. "I simply cannot see how it could work at all without a power source. We will just have to see it for ourselves."

John Sheppard brought the jumper to life and it hovered gracefully up through the open roof of the bay. "Don't worry, you'll soon get your chance. Here we go."

The puddlejumper picked up speed as it cut through the blue sky, heading for the mainland. The short journey gave the two scientists enough time to come up with a good plan.

"And that's your plan?" Aiden sounded amused.

"Look," Rodney retorted, "letting the Major try and activate it is a very good plan."

"Nobody asked me," John complained. "What if it's dangerous?"

"Come on, Major. How dangerous can a woman's stick be?"

John raised an eyebrow at Rodney, and Teyla laughed.

"Point taken. But that's the plan." Rodney folded his arms.

Touching down on the outskirts of the village, the team exited the jumper, to be greeted by Halling.

The Athosian elder greeted Teyla warmly but cautiously; he made the traditional greeting, touching foreheads, but then asked her sombrely, "What is your intention with Charin?"

Teyla looked surprised, "I do not know what you mean, Halling. We wish to study her staff, to see if it holds some significance that we were not aware of. The Ancestors would wish it."

Halling looked suspiciously at her. "Charin would know if it held a significance. She does not."

"That is not true, Halling. Charin has agreed to let Dr McKay and Dr Zelenka study the staff, and we are going to her now." She bowed her head briefly, and walked past the tall man, her head held high.

Aiden grinned and followed her. John, bringing up the rear, acknowledged Halling with a curt nod as he passed him.

0o0o0

Aiden stood outside the tent on Sheppard's orders. It always paid to be careful.

Rodney tried to contain his enthusiasm as they participated in Charin's welcome of tea. Teyla and John both recognised that the old woman was biding her time in order to size up the new faces.

"What do you hope my staff can do, Dr McKay?" Her eyes were twinkling.

"Uh, well, we hope that it will give us some kind of tactical advantage that will help us against the Wraith. Maybe some kind of remote dial for the gate, or…"

"What will I use to walk with, if you take it away?" There was amusement in the old woman's voice.

"What? Oh. Well, I'm sure we can find you a really nice..."

"What if it was connected with my mother's role in the community?" Charin asked quietly.

Rodney blinked. "Your…? She…? Uh, what did she do, exactly?"

"She took away the darkness."

Rodney looked at Teyla, who shook her head, indicating this was not something she was aware of. "Right. And what would that be, exactly?"

Charin shrugged, and saw Teyla looking curiously at her. "I do not truly know. People would come and see her for advice. I was very young when she was… taken."

Rodney thought for a moment, then smiled. "Well, I'm sure the staff didn't have anything to do with your mother's… ah, special role. We'll be very careful, I promise."

John rolled his eyes, and sipped his tea. Rodney was acting very respectfully towards Charin in order to get his hands on the staff, and he found it amusing.

Charin told Teyla about recent happenings in the village, and then let Radek help her clear away the cups. Finally, she sat down on the long bench, and held out her staff to Radek.

"Dr Zelenka, perhaps you would like to see if my staff has any power left?"

Radek glanced at Rodney, whose mouth had dropped open, and accepted the staff from Charin, kneeling in front of her.

"Thank you, Charin. I would like that very much." He turned the staff over in his hands, looking carefully at the wood, the carvings and the crystals.

Rodney stood over his shoulder, running fingers over the surface. "The crystals look just like miniature diallers. There's only the two, like Teyla said."

Radek frowned. "Hmmm. The writing is unusual though. They are not gate symbols. I cannot… perhaps Dr Weir…"

"Yes, we need her to take a look at these. Let's take some pictures of that first." Rodney lifted his camera and they began to carefully record each side of the staff. It was rounded for the most part, then flattened out near the top, where the crystals and writings encircled it. The dark wood was more ornately carved at the top, with a random geometric pattern.

Rodney lowered the camera. "Any sign of a power source?"

"I think…" Radek lifted the staff, as if weighing it, "it feels odd, like it is not entirely wood. I believe there may have been a power source somewhere inside. Like that of a scanner, perhaps?"

Rodney nodded, "Major? If you would?"

John came closer. "Are you guys sure about this?"

Rodney took the staff from Radek and held it out. "Go on. If anyone can light it up, you can. I've not had any effect on it."

John looked at Charin, who was watching impassively. He took the staff, and admired the carvings and the crystals. "Nice stick, Charin," he smiled.

"Touch the crystals," Rodney said eagerly.

John held the staff with one hand and poked at a crystal with an index finger. It certainly didn't give under his touch like the DHD crystals. Nothing had happened. He took a thumb and pressed it onto the crystal. He felt a familiar sensation as the crystal glowed ever so weakly.

"Wow," breathed Rodney, "You did it."

"Yeah, but what did I do?"

Radek snapped his fingers, "Scanner." He hurried over to his kit bag.

"Let's see if the other one will light up." Rodney reached out a hand and pressed the crystal on the other side of the staff. He grinned as he saw the glow, just before the staff exploded.

TBC