Chapter 1

Stargate Atlantis, set in season 3.

I do not own any of these characters.

I am sorry if my English sucks.

"Elizabeth, what is this about? Did something happen? Because I didn't get any warning signals that something was wrong. I would be the first one to be contacted if something were wrong. I would get reports, alarm signals, people freaking out, the occasional screaming -"
"Rodney, nothing is wrong with the city. Sit down please".
A look of confusion flashed over his face.
"We have just received a message through the stargate"
McKay's eyes narrowed. A message coming through the stargate hardly ever bore good news.
"Your mother has had an accident".
McKay's eyes opened wide in shock.
"She was brought to the hospital, but her injuries were to severe. She died at 0400 this morning".
McKay squeezed his eyes close in sorrow and regret.
"What kind of accident was she in?", he choked out.
"She... appeared... to have fallen down the stairs".
McKay immediately picked up on the hesitation, and opened his eyes in suspicion.
"Appeared?"
"Yes... Some... injuries... seem out of place. They didn't give me all the details, however".
"And is somebody investigating the circumstances?", he asked in a deadly voice.
"They did an investigation. But the police cleared everything".
McKay sucked in a sharp breath, but then seemed to deflate. His shoulders sacked in resignation.
"When can I leave?"
"Um...", Elizabeth started, a bit stunned by McKay's reaction.
"You are scheduled to depart at 1100".
McKay nodded again and stood up.
"Rodney-", Elizabeth started, but gasped as she saw the emotions swirling behind his eyes.
"I... I am terribly sorry for your loss, Rodney. I wish it could have been different".
McKay nodded.
"So do I", he whispered, more to himself it seemed than to her.
"Thank you, Elizabeth. I'll go pack now", and with that he walked away.

...

Rodney entered the gate room a little before 11 and stopped dead in his tracks as he saw who was standing in front of the gate, packed and all.
"Sheppard! You don't need to come along! It's just a funeral!", Rodney said hastily.
The last thing he wanted was somebody witnessing his turmoil.
"McKay! Your mother died. It might be nice to have someone there for you, someone to lean on".
Rodney suddenly felt anger clawing it's way up.
"I don't need your help and I don't need your pity! I don't need somebody to lean on! I have been doing just fine on my own my whole life. I can handle a funeral on my own as well!"
"McKay- Rodney... We're your friends. You might be acting all tough now, but it's going to come crashing in sooner or later".
Rodney was starting to panic slightly. He didn't want them to see. He didn't want them to know.
"I don't want you there!", he nearly yelled, as a last desperate attempt at keeping them from accompanying him.
Suddenly Ronon took a few steps towards him, his face frighteningly close to his. Rodney immediately felt his muscles tense and his body jump into alert-mode.
"We're coming with you, McKay! Whether you like it or not! So suck it up and shut up about it!", Ronon said.
The little color he had drained from Rodney's face.
Then Elizabeth stepped up to them.
"Rodney. Teyla couldn't make it, but she sends her sympathies and she will be right here, waiting for you when you return".
She made a gesture towards Chuck and the gate whooshed open. She exchanged a couple of short sentences with whomever was on the other side of the gate.
"You have a go!"
She grabbed Rodney's hand.
"My thoughts will be with you, Rodney".
As she released his hand and stepped away from them, she send Sheppard a meaningful look.
"Be careful!"
Sheppard nodded and put a hand on Rodney's shoulder.
"Ready?".
Rodney let out a sigh and nodded.
"Here we go", Sheppard said, as they walked through the stargate.

They stepped out of the wormhole into the gate room on earth. Ronon looked around. Thick walls, blast doors, guards stationed at every exit. This was a military base, that was for sure.
He trailed behind Sheppard and McKay, who walked straight to a man and a woman waiting for them at the end of the ramp.
"General", McKay said, nodding at the man.
"Sam".
Sheppard repeated the process.
"McKay, welcome back to earth", the woman said.
"I wish it were under different circumstances."
"Yes, so do I."
The woman grabbed his hand, "I am sorry for your loss, McKay. Loosing a parent...-"
"Yes yes. It's all very sad. I don't need Your pity as well!", he said, anger in his voice, and he pulled his hand back.
The woman looked taken back for a second, but then disregarded it.
"Has transportation been taken care of?", McKay said, now directing his question at the man.
The man nodded slowly.
"Why don't you get checked out in the infirmary first, and then we'll continue this conversation in the conference room".
Even McKay could clearly hear the not-a-suggestion tone through his words, and he nodded his affirmative, swiftly walking out of the room.
Then the man's gaze fell on Ronon.
Sheppard quickly stepped up and introduced them officially.
"General O'Neill, this is Specialist Ronon Dex, a member of my team. Ronon, this is Brigadier General Jack O'Neill, commander of Stargate Command".
They both nodded.
"Ronon Dex. I have heard great things about you. I am sorry your visit was a bit unexpected. I'd love to have seen you in action in a training session against my airmen. I have heard great deals about your skills".
"Maybe next time I can see what your airmen are made off", Ronon smirked.
O'Neill laughed as well.
"I am looking forward to that. For now, welcome on this base".
"Carter", O'Neill said, looking at the woman, "Could you bring them to the infirmary?".
"Yes sir!", she said, as he took his leave.
"I am Colonel Samantha Carter, it is nice to meet you".
Ronon could clearly recognize a warrior in her.
"Ronon", he answered.
"Shall we go? McKay is probably nearly finished his exam by now..."
Sam nodded.
"McKay would surely start the meeting without you if general O'Neill would let him".
Sheppard nodded.
Carter showed them the way to the infirmary. McKay was just closing up his shirt as they entered the infirmary.
"Already finished, McKay?"
"You were the ones who decided to stay behind and chat, not me", he said as he moved out of the way for Sheppard and Ronon.
"Hey, I was just introducing Ronon to General O'Neill. If you weren't so rude-"
"Well, I'm sorry, COLONEL!", Rodney said, emphasizing Sheppard's rank, "I have some other things on my mind. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll wait upstairs in the conference room!", he said angrily.
Ronon watched him as the scientist stomped out of the room. Something was up. He knew grief like no other. He knew how people acted and how they tended to cope with it, but this was not just grief that he saw in his team member. Something was up.
Sheppard also looked as McKay left the room. He knew his friend tended to lash out, but this was different. This wasn't just grief or anger. He clearly remembered Elizabeth's words.
'Sheppard...', Elizabeth said as the Colonel stood to leave. 'I have a bad feeling about this. Something doesn't add up. I don't know what yet, but something is going on. I want you to keep your eyes open... and Sheppard... Protect him! I have a feeling he will be in danger...'
Sheppard nodded. He could see the seriousness in Elizabeth's eyes. He had learned to trust Elizabeth's instincts some time ago. If she had a bad feeling, then there was sure to be something going on, something that they would need to be on full alert for.
'I will, Elizabeth. I will bring him back home safe and sound'.
Elizabeth looked him in the eyes, and she could see his promise there. He would bring McKay back, if it were the last thing he would do.
'Thank you, John. Good luck!'
It seemed McKay had also picked up on something. But why was he hiding his theories from them. Normally he would share whatever theory he had, even if it was just for them to keep in mind. Sheppard sighed.
He hoped they would get a good chance to talk during the trip to Canada. If McKay had picked up on something, he had to make sure the scientist wasn't going to run off somewhere without them to watch his back.
"Now then, who wants to go first?", an Asian doctor said as she walked up towards them.

"Finally! Could you have taken any longer?!", McKay said, angrily typing away on his tablet.
"I could have been half way up to Canada by now!"
"Be nice, McKay. We came here as fast as we could".
"Nice? I -"
But McKay was cut short as General O'Neill walked up the stairs. Sheppard and Carter both stood up quickly.
"At ease, both of you", O'Neill said, waving away the official stance.
"First of all, I am very sorry for your loss, McKay. It's not something you wish for anyone".
McKay nodded.
"Of course we have taken care of transportation. An airman will drive you to the airport. A jet is waiting for you to fly you to Edmonton. An airman will wait for you there and take you to your hotel in Cold Lake".
O'Neill paused for a second.
"I should remind you that both you, Ronon and McKay, are a popular target. Many people would love to get their hands on either of you. I should also remind you, however, that we have no jurisdiction whatsoever in Canada. If something were to happen, someone were to come after any of you, there is no legal way for us to back you up".
He looked Sheppard in the eyes for a moment, making sure he got the message. Then he signaled to an airman standing in the far corner. The young lieutenant walked up to them with several thick folders in his hands.
"This is all the information we have about your mother's accident, the circumstances surrounding her death and her medical history", O'Neill said.
"Elizabeth told us you would get the information one way or another. To stop you from committing a crime, she suggested that we'd have the information ready for you when you arrived".
McKay took the folders from the airman, gratitude flashing across his face for a brief moment.
"Thank you, General. I really appreciate this!"
"Now then, you'd better get ready. The jet leaves in 45 minutes!".
They all stood to leave.
"Oh, and Ronon... do be careful waving that gun around in public. I'd rather not attract attention when it's not necessary".
Ronon looked at the General like it was the stupidest thing he ever said.
"Keep a low profile... Check!", Sheppard quickly said, intercepting any comment Ronon was about to make.
"If we need anything else, we'll contact you".
"I'm sure Carter will love to be at your service, don't you Carter?", O'Neill responded, an evil smirk on his face.
"Yes... Sir", she said, an evil glint in her eyes.
By the looks of it, O'Neill was gonna pay for that sooner or later.
"Off to see the wizard, then!".
Everyone said their goodbyes and soon they were on their way to Edmonton, Canada.

\To be continued