Artificial Selection
Yellow.
The bright color was a glob on a slide, stained to the garish hue to be immediately noticeable as it slid along the cell walls, like a predator circling, seeking entrance. Moira Sheppard frowned, staring into the microscope. "It's not working. Carson, do you see?"
"Aye, love, I see," the Scottish doctor agreed, examining his own slide as they sat in the infirmary. "The retro-virus can strip the bug DNA and just leave the human...but the reverse does not work. When we attempt to strip away the human DNA to just leave the bug DNA the result is necrosis. Complete cell death. An organism wouldn't survive the process if we even tried to attempt it."
"So what does that mean?" Moira asked. "Those Wraith mutations weren't caused by another version of the retro-virus. What caused them?" She glanced at the stroller. The baby was playing with a set of toys attached to the front bar. Little brows furrowed in concentration, lower lip sticking out as he pondered how to make them move. Looking just like his father. She smiled at the resemblance.
"Frankly, I have no idea," Carson Beckett sighed, sat back from the microscope. "We're missing a crucial element here, but I can't work my mind to it. Some other protein. Perhaps those mutations were naturally occurring. Such things do happen."
Moira sighed, stood and squatted near the stroller. She spun the toys. They clanged in a series of notes. The baby chortled, smiling. Little hands grabbing at the soft plastic shapes. "There, Johnny, see?" She kissed the baby, stood. "Carson, we've always believed that the Ancients created the Wraith, correct?"
"Yes, either through accident or design...and you suggested after that evolution may have taken over from there."
"Yes. I think we need to look at why. Why would the Ancients create these creatures in the first place?" Moira asked. "And what could be changing some of them now?"
"Doctor Sheppard to the 'Gate room. Doctor Sheppard to the 'Gate room," a voice announced over the PA.
Moira smiled at the summons. A sense of relief and anticipation sweeping through her. "Johnny! Did you hear that? Daddy's finally home!" The baby gurgled at her. "Excuse me, Carson! I need to, um, get ready! Let's go, Johnny!" She wheeled the infant out of the infirmary.
"Mama! Mama!" the baby prattled, gurgling as he was wheeled into their quarters.
"Yes, darling! Let me change and then we can go see daddy!" She loosened her ponytail, pulling a few strands of hair free, knowing John liked the messy look. As if it made her more accessible to him. She smoothed down her lilac V-neck shirt, pulled it lower with a smirk. She smoothed the khaki pants over her rear. Grinned, knowing his avid interest. She returned to the baby, lifted him. Kissed him. "Here we go, Johnny! Let's go see daddy!"
John Sheppard emerged from the wormhole with his team. Shaking his head he stepped to Elizabeth Weir who stood waiting. "There's not much left, I'm afraid. The ZPM was nearly fried but we brought it along with us anyway. We just missed being culled ourselves. We had to hide out in the caves with the villagers. There weren't many survivors," he grimly noted. "And we did what we could but that..." He broke off, seeing Moira holding the baby as she entered the 'Gate room, stood waiting. He smiled.
"Gaga! Gaga goo!" the baby cried, little arms waving towards his father.
"I suppose a depleted ZPM is better than none," Elizabeth noted, glancing at Rodney McKay who was clutching the Ancient device to him like a teddy bear.
"Huh?" John met her gaze, startled by his son's words. "Oh yeah, depleted. Rodney thinks he could use it to–"
"I'm sure your kid could activate it," Rodney remarked.
"My son is not a battery charger!"
"Gaga goo! Gaga, gaga!" the baby repeated. Insisted. Demanding his father as he squirmed in his mother's arms.
Elizabeth smiled at John's perplexed expression. "Your son is calling you, John. Go on. Debrief in thirty."
"Me? He's calling..." John stared at Moira and the baby, seemingly frozen in place. The team laughed indulgently. He strode to his wife and son. "Moy?" he asked. "He's–"
"Talking? A very little, John. It's more sounds than actual words. He missed you."
"John," Rodney called, smirking, "are you going to tell her about the woman?"
"What woman?" Moira asked.
"Well, women, really," Rodney clarified. "I don't know if it's just him, or the wedding ring, or if he smells like baby now, but they were all over him! Very keen to initiate a welcoming ceremony, weren't they, John?"
"That's enough, Rodney," John curtly interrupted. Let the baby catch his finger in one little hand. Met his wife's gaze. "It was nothing, Moira."
"Nothing?" Rodney exclaimed, warming to the subject. "I'm telling you, Moira, if it had been me surrounded by those beautiful, eager women of that earldom I would have–"
"But it wasn't you so shut up!" John rebuked.
"Hmm...this sounds like it will be a very interesting debrief," Elizabeth teased. "Maybe Moira should attend as well."
"Maybe I will," Moira agreed.
"John had those women practically panting to–"
"That's enough, Rodney!" John snapped.
The baby started to fuss. "He's hungry, John. It's lunchtime. Grab me a sandwich on your way to us, would you?"
"Okay, Moira." John freed his finger. "Hungry again, huh?" His gaze lowered to her breasts. He smiled. "So am I."
Moira frowned as he met her gaze. "Hilarious, John."
"I'll meet you in five. Ours. I've got to drop off my ordnance first."
"Oh?" She smiled coyly, gaze running down to his crotch, back to his face. "Not all of it, I hope, colonel."
He smiled. "Not all, baby. Don't feed junior until I'm there."
"Gaga!" the baby cried.
John touched the baby's arm. Tickled. "Dada, junior. Get it right. In five, Moira."
Moira smiled. Quickly kissed him, left. Called over her shoulder, "don't forget my sandwich, flyboy!"
"As ordered, your highness!" he rejoined. Turned to see his team staring at him. "What?" He shrugged, headed out of the 'Gate room. Feeling a surge of pride, of relief at being back home. At being back with his wife and son.
He dropped off his P90, TAC vest. Strode to the cafeteria to grab some food. Almost sprinted to his room. He entered, frowned. "Shit! When did that happen?" He carried a tray to the table. Sat next to Moira as she sat on the bed, cradling the baby as she fed him from a bottle.
"Just recently, John. He's stubborn, but he's taking to it gradually."
"Oh." Disappointment. "Oh." Realization. He smiled. "So the girls are my sole property once again, baby?"
She laughed. "Yes, pretty much, sweetie. At my discretion."
"Of course. Wonderful." He stood, moved to the bathroom. Washed his hands, his face. Pushing aside emotions. He returned, sat at the table to grab a beer. He sipped, long swallows.
Moira smirked, looking from one to the other. Both sucking down their beverages with gusto. Lips locked around their respective bottles. John made a satisfied sound, licked his lips. Just as the baby freed the bottle to do the same.
John burped. "Sorry, Moy!"
She laughed as the baby burped. Grinned at her. "You two are scarily alike sometimes. Here!" She stood, handed him the baby and a burping cloth. "Hold him while I eat." She sat, unwrapped the sandwich and devoured it. The baby gurgled, burping at his father's shoulder. Spitting up a little.
"Gaga!"
"Dada, yes, sport. Here we go, captain." John stood, holding the infant at his shoulder. Walked round, gently patting his back.
"So...women?" Moira asked round a mouthful, watching him.
"Huh? Oh. That. Rodney was exaggerating. That's all. What's this? Impromptu kitchen?" He stared at the camp stove set near the far side of the table.
"Yes. Jason set it up for me. For the bottles. To heat Johnny's milk and to sterilize the bottles," she explained.
"I see the fridge is in here too," John noted, gaze moving to the compact refrigerator.
"Yes. It just made sense, John. Not to be in the nursery."
"I'm surprised you didn't have him double check the crib or build a jungle gym while he was at it," John sourly said. An odd jealousy flaring.
Moira smiled. "No. The crib you built is fine. Sturdy. Johnny's almost used to it now although he might want to be back in here since you're home. I've had to sleep in my old bed next to the crib a few nights to ease him into his nursery. Besides, John, I know you don't want anyone doing that stuff besides you. I didn't want you to think Jason was impinging on your territory, being alpha male and all," she teased.
"Yeah, I don't like anyone impinging on my territory. Or my wife's." He met her gaze, saw her merriment. "It's not funny, Moira."
"Yes, it is, sweetie. So alpha."
John sighed. Sat on the bed, held the baby on his lap. "Is that so, captain?"
Moira sat next to John, touched his arm. "Are you all right, sweetie? The mission?"
"Later, Moy. We've only got thirty before I have to leave."
"Oh oh...he's got that look. You better move him, John," she warned.
"Move him? Why? What look? Oh," he replied, feeling the diaper filling.
Moira laughed. "Somebody did a messy!"
The baby looked at his father, gurgled as John lifted him. "I'll say! Shit!" He eyed the stain on his pants. "You think that's funny, captain? Here–"
"Oh no!" Moira held up her hands. "It's your turn, colonel. Everything is in his room on the changing table." She pointed to the nursery.
John sighed. "Fine. Let's go, captain." He carried the baby into the nursery.
"Don't forget the baby powder, John!" Moira called.
"I know, Moy! I've done this before!" John called back to her, sounding irritated. "Don't you worry, captain. Military precision. Hey, Moira! Could you get me a clean pair of pants?"
"Yes, colonel." She laughed, moved to the dresser and pulled out a pair.
"Damn!"
"John?"
"Grab me a clean shirt too, Moy. He shoots he scores."
Moira laughed. "I'm glad he hit you for a change!"
"Hilarious, Moira!" John smiled at the baby. "Oh, you think that's funny, captain?"
"Gaga! Gaga goo!" the baby prattled happily.
"Dada do. This is pretty funny too, captain." He blew a wet raspberry on the baby's bare tummy. The baby giggled in delight. John laughed, finished changing the diaper. Dressed the infant. "Here we go, captain!" He lifted the baby high in the air, made plane sounds and carried him back to his room. The infant gurgled, giggled. Blue eyes bright. "Here. Clean and dry." He handed the baby to Moira, pulled off his shirt. "Wish I could say the same."
"Mama! Mama goo!"
Moira laughed. "Yes, darling, good job!" She smirked at her husband's scowl. "Did daddy do a good job?" She kissed the baby, set him into his playpen, watching John pull on the clean shirt.
"Wait! What's this?" She moved to him, touched his side where a bruise was forming.
"Nothing, Moy. We tumbled down to the caverns. Just a bump." He smiled. "Do you want to kiss it and make it all better, baby?"
She smiled. Kissed him. "Later, sweetie. Get your pants off."
"Huh? Oh." He sat, undid his boots. Stood. "No comments about my undies, baby." He pulled off the soiled pants. Frowned at Moira's snicker.
"Oh John...those are–"
"Hush! Or I will spank that pert little ass blue, baby!" he vowed.
Moira ran her hand up his back, slid in front of him before he could put on the pants. "Oh sweetie, what's the rush?" She kissed him. A long, yielding kiss, opening her mouth to his. Inviting his tongue with a flicker of her own.
John's arms encircled her, pulling her against him. "Moira," he muttered. Nibbled her earlobe. "Fuck. I only have ten."
"That's too bad, sweetie. I never could resist a man in polka dots." She laughed. "Ow!"she complained as he swatted her rear.
He smirked. "Baby, when I get back I will personally inspect every inch of your–"
"Colonel Sheppard to the conference room!"
"Shit." He freed her, pulled on his pants. Sat to restore his boots to his feet.
Moira sighed. "I thought you had ten."
"So did I. Wait for me." He kissed her as he stood. "Moira." He freed her, moved to the door. Turned back to her. "Have the girls out for my inspection."
"Hilarious, John!"
He grinned. "I'm serious, Moira. I'm the only John Sheppard to suck those fucking beautiful tits now, aren't I?"
"John!"
He laughed, winked at the baby, and left.
