The Power of Words by Betty Bokor
Sam/Daniel. A memorial for Elizabeth Weir brings people from Atlantis and the SGC together with unexpected consequences.
Spoilers: of SG-1 and Atlantis, including the movies.
Disclaimer: The Stargate original characters belong to MGM/Showtime, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Film Corp. This was written strictly for the purpose of entertainment. No attempt at copyright infringement has been made.
The Power of Words Chapter 1
A.N.: This last weekend we got a chance to listen to Michael Shanks talking about his character, Daniel Jackson, and this story was born out of some of his comments and of the episode Shrine from Atlantis.
Richard Woolsey had always been a good administrator and, though his vision of "good government" had radically changed since he had taken charge of Atlantis, he still knew what he had to do. Right after the incident with the replicators, he knew he had to finally declare Elizabeth Weir dead. Her missing in action status had lasted long enough and her family needed the closure that his decision would bring. Immediately after putting it on paper, he organized a memorial service to give the same closure to the Atlantis personnel.
When the SGC finally followed his example and agreed to a memorial service on the surface, to allow Dr. Weir's family to attend, everybody got their cover stories in order and joined the ceremony. Atlantis sent two of Elizabeth's co-workers to honor her memory, albeit with clearly twisted versions of what had happened during her job with the Air Force.
John Sheppard insisted that he had to be there and he was allowed to return from the Pegasus Galaxy. Right by his side was Rodney McKay. The scientist had encountered far more problems to receive permission to join his friend. Dr. Keller was not certain that he was in good enough shape after the impromptu brain surgery he had undergone in a planet controlled by the Wraith. The lack of adequate instruments and the unsanitary environment in which it had taken place had made the surgery almost as dangerous as not performing it.
Finally she had agreed to allow his trip under the condition that she would join the group and keep an eye on her patient. Although Woolsey thought that the doctors on Earth could do as good a job as the young physician, he attributed her request to as a subconscious desire to return home and decided to grant it. After all, she had been under a considerable amount of stress since Dr. Beckett's death.
The service was poignant and the Weir family was very grateful to have a chance to talk to people who had been close to her during her long stay abroad.
As everybody was leaving the cemetery where the ceremony had taken place, Daniel Jackson noticed McKay trying to search something on a PDA as he walked toward the cars. He approached him and asked, "Do you need help?"
"Oh, Jackson. No, no, thanks. Just looking for a hotel to stay. I hate having to stay in that base and I already sold my apartment here. No point on having one when there's not much of a chance of using it, you know…"
"I have a guestroom, if you don't mind the books and papers all around the house," Daniel offered sincerely.
"Oh, no, I wouldn't-" he looked at Daniel for a second and then asked, "Really?"
"Yeah, really. It's not too big, but I always prefer the house over any hotel room."
"Well, it sounds nice. I wouldn't mind-"
"Then, it's done. We can get some take-out dinner and I'll take you home."
"Great. Thanks. Sounds good. Any food sounds good at this time. I can't even remember when was the last time I ate something."
Daniel smiled and was about to start walking toward his car when Dr. Keller approached them.
"Hi. Dr. Jackson," she greeted with a movement of her head. "Rodney," she added looking at McKay, "Where do you think you're going? You need to stay at the Infirmary in the base."
Daniel groaned inwardly. That was something he really would not want to have to do.
"What are you talking about? I'm fine. I got permission to come here. I don't need to be in the Infirmary."
"That's the only place where I can keep an eye on you. You're not fully recovered. To be under my care was a condition of your coming here."
McKay was about to object when Daniel intervened. "You can come with us. You can have my room and I'll sleep in my home office. I have a sofa bed there."
"Oh, thank you, but that would be too much of a nuisance," she tried.
"I'm not going back to that base unless we're on our way home." McKay interrupted.
"It's not a nuisance at all," Daniel replied to her.
"It just feels like it. I should have a place of my own around here, but we don't come often enough."
"Stop worrying. Help us choose what to get for dinner and we'll be home in no time."
Jennifer smiled and nodded in agreement.
John Sheppard approached them a few seconds later.
"What are you guys doing?"
"We're about to pick up some take out and head-home. Would you like to join us?" Daniel asked him.
"I should really be taking a plane and going home myself. I need to see my brother before we go back, but dinner sounds fine. Maybe I can take a red-eye later."
"Then it's a deal," McKay said with a smile and they all went back to walking towards the parking lot.
"Oh, there's Sam," Jennifer said as she looked to their right. "We should ask her if she'd like to join us. We didn't get a chance to talk since we came."
"Maybe she has other plans," McKay said in a suggestive tone.
Daniel looked at him without understanding, but he still turned toward Sam Carter and yelled. "Hey, Sam, care to join us for dinner?"
Sam took a few seconds to reply and then she said, "Sure," and joined the group.