A/N: This fic was written for the Sheppard H/C Secret Santa Exchange and is also over at my LJ. Story takes place between Season 2 episode "Critical Mass" and Season 3's "Phantoms". Episodes in this timeframe are heavily referenced. An excuse for "research", no? Enjoy! Story is complete, will be posted in entirety over the next day or two.
Atlantis, 1yr 6mo
(just before Critical Mass)
"Welcome to Atlantis. No time to stand around. You'll get plenty of that when you're babysitting a doorjam. Line up by the ramp and grab the bag that's handed to you. No, it won't be your own bag. Doesn't matter. Grab and go. A tag with a room and bunk number was added to every bag on the trip through the void. Take whatever bag you get. You'll receive instructions on where to put them next. You frostbites smart enough to figure all that out?"
"Yes, sir!" shouted Cpl Alex Weiss along with the rest of the crowd of new recruits. The usually intimidating bellow of about 40 voices was swallowed up by the vast emptiness of almost 360 degrees of ocean view and the constant white noise of water shushing against Atlantis' East pier. The impressive bulk of the Daedalus squatted over the landing pad like an enormous bird of prey, throwing the storage bay ramps and most of the pier into shadow.
Alex followed the herd towards the spot where their "cruise director"—the Lieutenant in charge of new blood during the trip to Pegasus—was bellowing them towards the piles of duffle bags that were appearing out of the cavernous Daedalus storage holds. Daedalus crew were lugging bags, crates and pallet after pallet of supplies to the doors. Teams of Atlantis personnel, military and civilian alike, took the goods off the ramps and piled them into storage bunkers that lined the pier.
"Hey, Case. Think we'll be moving this crap into the city for the rest of the week?" Alex said throwing an elbow into the side of the guy standing in line next to him. They'd been bunkmates for the trip. Case seemed to know everything about Atlantis already, even though he was as newbie as the rest of them. He acted like he knew everything, anyway.
"You will, probably," Case replied with a grin. "I'm going for 'gate team."
"You're full of shit. They won't let you offworld for a month, at least. Hutch heard that Sheppard runs the toughest orientation in the whole stargate program."
"Yeah. I heard that, too. I heard Sheppard takes orientation teams out himself."
"Whoever told you that is full of shit, too. No Colonel is going to babysit a bunch of frostbites on a training run."
Case stiffened and Alex snickered privately. It hadn't taken him long to figure out that the easiest way to push Case's buttons was to say anything that contradicted his impression of their new CO.
"Sheppard's unlike any other Colonel at the SGC. It wouldn't surprise me if he personally evaluates every offworld candidate. I'll be ready when he does."
"Ready to pucker up and start sucking," Alex muttered, low enough so Case wouldn't hear, but he was grinning.
"Quit your rubbernecking. Get your asses moving!" The cruise director continued to bellow.
Case and Alex moved slowly to the front of the line, then heaved straps over their shoulders when a Daedalus troll tossed them each a couple of bags. The group then milled together into a clump, waiting for the order to go somewhere else. They were rubbernecking, all of them.
"I bet they're letting us hang around, just to take in the view," Alex said to Case, finding that today's 'hurry up and wait' wasn't nearly as boring as usual. In addition to the unsettling view of endless ocean in every direction, the cluster of central city buildings rose in hazy spires at the end of the pier. It was late morning and blue-sky clear. Panes of glass on the central tower flashed with reflected sunlight in blinding flickers.
On the pier itself, the bustle and murmur of voices reminded Alex of a middle-eastern bazaar. Everyone was going somewhere, doing something and carrying stuff as they did it. A crate with very large warning signs and scary symbols painted on the sides rumbled by on a trolley pushed by four Atlantis military technicians. The box was trailed by a twitchy looking civilian with frizzy hair and wire-rimmed glasses.
"They brought some serious shit this trip," Alex commented, with another jab at Case to point out the crate.
"We've only been in contact with Atlantis for six months. The SGC is still stocking it with supplies and personnel." He slapped Alex's back. "You're part of that stock, jarhead."
"Lucky us."
"We are lucky. I put my request in months ago to serve under Colonel Sheppard."
"I heard the top brass wanted to replace him after they re-instated contact with the SGC."
Alex was expecting Case to get all pissy again, but instead he just got more excited. "Colonel Caldwell went to bat for him. I heard that Everett and Caldwell were so impressed with Sheppard's command during the siege of Atlantis that they recommended promotion on the spot but Sheppard had to wait until the brass at the SGC were convinced. That's why Sheppard and Weir and the rest went to Earth. Did I tell you I got to meet Sheppard that month they were home last year?"
"Only about a hundred times."
"He's a very casual guy. Drives the top brass crazy, but that's why he's so good out here. He's a rogue. Not afraid to bend the rules, find creative solutions. Just last month he took out-"
"Two hive ships by himself in a single dart. Jesus, Case. Hang a rosary and start praying to the guy why don't you." Alex's spotted a trio of men overseeing the organized chaos, "Or go say, hi. Sheppard's right over there." His pulse raced a little faster in excitement of his own, despite his joshing.
Case immediately stood on tiptoes and jostled shoulders until he could see the Colonel, too. Sheppard was standing between a guy Alex thought was probably Major Lorne and another man who could only be Ronon. Rumors were that Sheppard kept the wild native on a tight leash and that the warrior Satedan followed Sheppard around everywhere.
The other frostbites also started craning their necks to see. Alex heard Sheppard's name buzzing up and down the line. Apparently Case wasn't the only one who had a healthy dose of respect going for the Atlantis Colonel. Alex admired the guy, too - admired the rumors, at least - but in the same way he reserved for anyone who had stayed alive doing the job as long as Sheppard. (And who had the misfortune of not being a Marine).
"Ooo, he's shorter than I thought he'd be," someone called out in a mocking falsetto and the line chortled self consciously.
"Yeah, but I heard he can kill Wraith with his eyes," someone else added, playing along. Everyone guffawed except Case who had his disapproving scowl back on. Case probably believed Sheppard could kill with his eyes, Alex thought with another private snicker. There was more conversation on the topic, generally discussing those rumors that had already been hashed to death.
"Jesus, people. I'm sure Sheppard pisses standing up just like the rest of us," came another mutter from behind them in the huddle. Alex and Case turned to see a zoomie Tech Sergeant rolling his eyes. Alex hadn't hung out with him any. The scoffer lowered his voice, but Alex and Case could still hear him when he said, "And he'll have to watch his ass now that the SGC is on top of things again. The top brass don't think Sheppard's experienced enough to cut it out here. They say he's just gotten lucky, so far. Caldwell wants his job so bad he can taste it."
Case had gone stiff as a statue and Alex thought for a second he might actually walk over and deck the guy. Alex thought he was just mouthing off to look important - and that he might actually know more, being higher up the zoomie chain of command. He was saved from having to stop a fight by the cruise director's bellow.
"Move out, recruits! Follow the pier to the East doors. Take the Eastern highway to the control tower. In-processing is on level three of the barracks section. Now's when we find out if you studied those maps like I told you to!"
The group settled down and bumped elbows until they spread out into a long line of twos and threes. Alex stayed with Case for no reason except he was the only guy Alex had spent any time with, so far. Case was stalling. By the way he was staring, he was still dying to get a good look at the Colonel when they walked by. A few recruits shoved past with annoyed chuffs. A moment later, they were right in front of Sheppard when Case took a subtle step to the side, stuck out his foot and hooked his heel into the next guy passing them.
From anywhere else, it would have looked like a total accident, but Alex had caught Case's calculated glance over his shoulder as he stepped. The TSgt who had mouthed off about Sheppard dropped to the deck like a sack of potatoes. The bags he was carrying swung as he fell and threw him off-balance and he landed, hard, on his left arm.
The guy yelped and made some awful faces when he sat up, holding his arm tight against his chest.
"Jesus, Case!" Alex hissed and dashed over to help the Tech Sergeant untangle the bags and get him back up on his feet. His buddies were hovering around, looking like dumbasses who didn't know what to do. The line of new recruits stalled.
The commotion drew the attention of Sheppard, and the next thing Alex knew, the Colonel himself was jogging over, trailing Lorne and Ronon.
"Lorne, go pull Walker off crate duty," Sheppard was saying as he drew close. Alex had just heaved the TSgt to his feet, but was keeping an arm around his waist because the guy didn't seem too steady. His face was flushed and it was pretty clear he was hurting.
Alex couldn't exactly salute the Colonel like he thought he should with his hands on the TSgt, so he sort of jerked his head up and down and bellowed, "Sir!"
Sheppard waved off the formality with a flap of his hand. "As you were, Corporal. You need some help, Sergeant?" he asked, striking a concerned pose. He sounded matter-of-fact, but kind. This Colonel wasn't the type that chewed you out for clumsiness, at least.
"Yes, sir. I think I broke my arm, sir," the TSgt managed.
Another sergeant jogged up, dressed in Atlantis BDUs that were soaked with sweat around the neck and pits. "You asked for me, Colonel?"
"Yeah, Corpsman Walker, would you check out the sergeant's arm and help him get to the infirmary?"
"Sure thing, sir. Where does it hurt?" Walker asked and Alex was able to let go when the corpsman took his place at the TSgt's side and started to pull him towards a nearby crate where he could sit for a minute.
The crowd around them started to break up and the new recruits turned back towards their temporarily forgotten destination. Sheppard spent another second watching the medic, as if to make sure they were good on their own, then turned his attention back to Ronon and his own concerns.
Alex was heaving the TSgt's bags over his shoulder with his own when Case stepped into Sheppard's path and offered him a salute, that Sheppard returned, then stuck out his hand.
"Sgt. Andrew Case. Just arrived on the Daedalus. Can I say it's an honor to serve under your command, sir?"
Alex snapped his head up. "I can't believe that brown nose!" he muttered furiously to himself. He just almost called Case out. He'd seen him trip the TSgt and the guy had gotten hurt, bad. No one else had seen it the way Alex had. But it would be his word against Case's and Case outranked him by a grade. Case was ambitious, too. Crossing him now could really be a bad move in the future when teams were being formed.
Sheppard took Case's handshake and gave a slight nod of approval. "Welcome to Atlantis, Sergeant," he said, then turned and walked towards the far side of the loading zone with the stride of someone who knew he had work to do and where it needed to be done. Alex held his tongue.
"Did you see how the Colonel knew the corpsman by name?" Case gushed when he'd fallen back in beside Alex. Alex ignored him, pissed.
"And how Sheppard came over to personally check on the situation? The man is not afraid to put his time in. I hear he's offworld as much as he's on base. He's the most talented field officer you or I will ever have."
Alex just concentrated on lugging his double load of bags. Case was a piece of work, but it was a small, isolated post. He'd have to get along with the guy, whether he liked him or not.
He just hoped he didn't have to share a room.
Atlantis, 1yr 8mo
(just after The Long Goodbye)
"Dismissed! Go get some lunch, guys. Final training-assessment schedules will go up this afternoon. Sorry they're late. Had to entertain some last minute company...in my head."
There was a rumble of amusement and then the sudden screech of chairs being scooted as the hundred or so guys occupying the duty room stood and stretched. John remained on the edge of his desk, trying not to look as tired as he felt. Thalen had done a number on him, physically as well as mentally. He was still sore from chasing Phoebus all over Atlantis and his arm throbbed from the bullet Rodney had nicked him with.
Carson had told him to take a few days off, but he needed to get back in front of his command. He needed them to see he was himself again and - more importantly - on top of things. He, Lorne, and a still recovering Ronon had spent the last two days writing protocol and creating a set of codes for handling a situation like they'd just survived. The briefing he'd just concluded was the second of the day; he'd gotten all the officers up to speed before breakfast.
Lorne wandered over, took an appraising look at John's sagging shoulders and clucked his tongue.
"I told you we could handle the briefings. You don't always have to run these yourself, sir. That's the beauty of a chain of command."
"I know," John replied, stifling a yawn. "But this time, I had to do it."
Lorne rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, sir. If Beckett says you're you, I believe it. And if I believe it, these guys believe it, too. Whether they want to or not."
"That's reassuring...I think." John grinned and then was distracted by a man hovering behind Lorne, looking halfway like he wanted to interrupt and half like he was trying not to. "What can I do for you, Sergeant?"
The kid immediately stopped skulking and put on a formal, but overly hearty, smile. "Just wanted to say I'm glad you're back on your feet, sir. And to express my congratulations on defeating the enemy, Thalen."
"Thanks. But it was a team effort, Sergeant. Teyla deserves most of the credit."
"Hey!" Lorne protested, but he was smirking.
"And I suppose Lorne helped out a little, too."
"Nice of you to say so," Lorne pretended to grouse and John laughed. The Sergeant just looked back and forth between them, looking slightly puzzled.
Ok, so no sense of humor, here, John thought. "Anything else, Sergeant...?"
"Case, sir. Andrew Case."
"Anything else, Case?"
"No, sir. I just look forward to working again with you."
"Again?" John was feeling a bit behind. He didn't know this kid at all. The name rang a bell but he was pretty sure he was one of the newer relief forces from the Daedauls' last run. They had only just finished their training exercises and John hadn't run any ops with any of them yet, although they'd be spreading their wings soon.
"I was on Lorne's search team when you were recovered...?"
"Oh." John used every ounce of control not to laugh. Lorne wasn't helping. John ignored him making screwy faces just out of Case's line of sight. "I was a little busy being possessed and unconscious at the time, but...thanks for the backup."
"My pleasure, sir!"
Case's smile seemed a little exaggerated, but he turned smartly and left the duty room with the last of the crowd.
Lorne waited until he'd gone out the door then snorted. "I bust my chops chasing your sorry ass all over the city and the kid gives you the dreamy eye!" he pouted with mock disgust. "And you were worried they'd lose respect for you? Sir."
"I think the sergeant recognizes superior leadership when he sees it. He'll do well here," John deadpanned. Lorne glared for a beat, then they both busted up.
"Superior at getting into trouble."
"You're right about that." John stretched and then groaned as the motion tweaked his arm again.
"Will you go get some rest, now, sir?"
"That is an excellent idea, Major."
"At least someone appreciates me."
John slapped Lorne on the shoulder as he sauntered past, relishing the thought of a few minutes of vertical in his bunk. "And don't forget it."
Atlantis, 1yr 9 mo
(just after Coup D'etat)
The ready room exploded with cheers, hoots and applause when Walker and Jones were shoved through the door by a triumphant combat team consisting of Case, Mickey, Hutch and three or four other guys from the 36 squad.
"Dude, we thought you were dead," Alex Weiss shouted over the din from where he was changing by his locker. He was just coming off duty and was thrilled he happened to be there when the group returned. Walker swatted away the hands that kept slapping his back, looking exhausted but happy.
"Major Lorne ok?" someone else called and Walker nodded.
"Yeah, he's changing in the officer's ready room. That guy, Ladon, took us hostage and faked our deaths. Least, that's what the Colonel told us when he showed up in the slammer, too. Ladon turned on Cowen and let us go. From what little I overheard on the gate room floor just now, Ladon had some big scheme all along. The Genii are under a coup as we speak." Walker collapsed on the bench beside his locker and started to tug wearily at his shoes.
Alex gave Hutch and Mickey high-fives, happy they'd made it back, too, then hurried to finish changing. If he was reading the signs right, there was a hell of a party gearing up. His friends had been on the Colonel's strike force, looking to recover a ZPM from the Genii, last anyone around here had heard. Alex had been worried about them all day.
"Did you get the ZPM?" Alex asked Case whose locker was right next to his. Damned if the people upstairs didn't keep them bumping shoulders. Case hadn't made gate team, but he'd proven himself bloodthirsty enough to get picked for offworld combat offensives. Alex was still pulling guard duty, but looked forward to his promotion in a month for the chance to join the rest of his squad on more exciting jobs.
"Nah," Case was vibrating with pent-up, post-mission energy. He rattled the latch on his locker, up and down, a bunch of times before slamming the door open. His body language looked manic - Alex gave him a bit more room in front of the lockers - but he was grinning like a fool. "The ZPM was a fake. It was a trap, like Walker said. But the Colonel pulled it off. He talked that Genii, Ladon, into turning on Cowen, against his own commander, and got our asses out of there."
"Cool," Alex replied, noncommittaly. Case had a habit of exaggerating missions - especially his own or Sheppard's part in them. He'd wait to get the real story from Mickey.
Case stripped his sweaty t-shirt off, revealing bulky muscles that the man had put on since his tour on Atlantis started. The guy worked out constantly, he was as nuts about being in shape as he was about Sheppard. Alex wouldn't spar with the guy for nothing.
"Fuckin' cool," Case agreed and did a little victory shuffle before slamming the shirt into the bottom of his locker. "I thought we were toast when the fuckers gassed us. Was sure we'd wake up dead. You have no idea what an ice machine Sheppard is. Nothin' rattles the man. He came back from the Genii interrogation under double guard like he'd been for a stroll in the park. And then he manages to walk us out without firing another shot. Unbelievable!"
"You got that right," Alex muttered. "Sounds like a hell of an op."
"He's amazing," Case kept saying, almost talking to himself while Alex finished changing. "He's a brilliant commander. We're lucky. Damn lucky, I tell you. If Weir ever cut his strings loose, we'd clear out the Wraith within a month. He just needs the chance. You just wait. You'll see. One day we'll stop dicking around with the Genii and Sheppard will destroy those bastard Wraith once and for all..."
Atlantis, 1yr 11 mo
(right after Inferno, just before Allies)
John shook hands with Chancellor Lycus then walked slowly towards the active Stargate where his team and a couple of Marines were waiting for him. He was edgy, ready to go home, but he forced himself to complete the pleasantries. The Taranians had given them the Orion after all, and it was their best hope against the approaching Hive.
"We are grateful for all the help Atlantis has provided to our people. Both on Taranis and here on our new world," Lycus said.
"Just stay in touch. Let us know how you're doing," John replied, sincerely. "We have to go now and...work out some of our own problems, but hopefully things will be back to normal soon." John hoped he didn't sound as pessimistic as he felt.
"We look forward to a long and fruitful alliance with your people. Perhaps someday we'll be able to repay you for all your kindnesses."
"Letting us use the Orion is a pretty big payment. We thank you for that."
"Well, you have proven your ability to make use of the Ancestors' technology. In the end, that can only benefit the entire galaxy in the fight against the Wraith."
John fidgeted. "I hope you're right," was all he could think to say.
The Chancellor stepped back to stand by the DHD and John nodded to Ronon who dove into the event horizon first, followed immediately by Rodney and Teyla. His team, and Rodney especially, was just as anxious to return to Atlantis and prepare for the fight to come. The Marines stiffened to attention at his approach then followed him through the gate.
Rodney and Teyla were already in the control room by the time John had made it off the platform and he found himself walking towards the ready rooms with Ronon and the Marines.
"Any trouble at the gate, Sergeant?" he asked the closest Marine, just for something to say. The kid was walking at his shoulder like they were strolling together towards their favorite bar.
"None, sir. Pretty planet. The Taranians have a nice place to resettle. Do you think we'll end up moving Atlantis to another planet ourselves?"
"I have no idea. I hope not," John said and left it at that. He wasn't feeling particularly chatty. His thoughts kept drifting to the preparations they were undertaking.
"Me, too. Bring the bastards on. Let them come. Hell, I'd love it if they sent the whole damn fleet. Give us a chance to pick them off, one by one. Get rid of all of them."
"Personally, I'd rather they didn't come. We're not equipped to take on the whole fleet. The Ancients weren't equipped to take on the whole Wraith fleet. Remember that, Sergeant. Never forget that we're outnumbered and out gunned." He let a bit of the testiness he was feeling creep into his voice.
"Sure, but-"
"No buts, Sergeant..." John flicked a glance at the man's nametag, "Case. We're not getting out of this with brute force."
"Yes, sir."
They walked a bit further in an awkward silence. The kid was looking embarrassed and a bit put off at being corrected for his enthusiasm, but John didn't regret his words. There was nothing worse than strategy built on false bravado and the kid needed to learn that now. Before he got himself or his colleagues killed. Ronon also seemed pissed all of a sudden. Great.
"What?" John snapped as the frost radiating from Ronon's side of the hallway got annoying.
"I don't like hiding and playing dead," Ronon replied succinctly. John rolled his eyes.
"Look, you weren't here the last time the Wraith had us under siege. We only made it out of that scrape with a scam and a whole damn lot of luck. We've got more going for us this time, and if we get the chance, we'll take out the Hive. But I'm not going to start a fight I can't finish, not if there's a chance they'll just go away."
Ronon grunted, not exactly with agreement, but at least with mutual understanding. They still butted heads now and then, especially since the whole Michael thing had gone to hell. Some of the coldness, John thought, was Ronon's way of saying "I told you so."
"You'll get your chance, big guy. There will be lots of opportunities to kill Wraith."
"I look forward to it, sir. When you give the word, we'll be ready. I trust your judgment completely," blurted the eager Sergeant with a scowl at Ronon - as if he hadn't just been the one corrected. John forced himself not to roll his eyes. He remembered this guy, now - Mr. Appreciation...to use the polite term.
"Just don't try to stop me if they enter the city," Ronon growled, trying for fierce. John chuckled.
"I hear ya. But just to keep up the appearance that I'm in command, I'd appreciate it if you waited for my word. Like the good sergeant, here." He spoke the words with a heavy dollop of sarcasm, knowing Ronon would get the point. John had no doubts about Ronon's loyalty - or his ability to take orders. He did, however, feel the need to remind the man that he was in front of subordinates. And - case in point - the sergeant was glaring daggers at Ronon, no doubt out of loyalty to his commander.
Ronon also chortled. "Whatever you say, Sheppard." Which was as good as John was going to get. Sometimes, he wished Ronon wasn't quite so himself.
They reached the ready rooms and John shooed the two sergeants through the first door and then got waylaid by an anxious Lorne before he made it to the officer's ready room. An hour later, still shadowed by Ronon, John finally made it to his locker and began to peel off his tactical vest and by-now-sweat-soaked t-shirt. Ronon rustled at his own locker two slots down, then grunted in surprise once he'd flung the door open.
"What?" John asked from inside a fresh shirt.
"Someone trashed my stuff."
John yanked the shirt down and stepped over to look. The few clothes and toiletries that Ronon kept in his locker were dumped, wadded, spilled, and – upon closer inspection – slashed.
"What the hell!" John was furious. Ronon just shrugged and began to clean up the mess.
"I guess someone doesn't like me." He gave John a mischievous look, which didn't soothe any of John's anger, but alleviated the fear that Ronon would take offense.
"That someone is an idiot," John growled. "I'll put the word out that this is unacceptable. If we find the guy, there'll be hell to pay."
"Save it for the wraith, Sheppard."
"Right."
The wraith. The hive barreling towards them, due to arrive within the day. He looked at Ronon mopping up spilled shampoo with his spare shirt. Because there wasn't enough to worry about. He hurried to finish changing, knowing that Elizabeth and Lorne were waiting on him to go over final preparations.
Some days, he really just didn't get paid enough.
Atlantis, 2yrs 1 mo
(Just after Misbegotten)
Alex slouched into the rec room, beat down, but not ready to crash in his bunk yet. Most of his squad seemed to have the same idea and Alex headed to the table of guys plus Jensen - the only woman in their squad, although there were others on base. The rest of the base seemed to be blowing off steam. All the ping pong tables were full, and there was a crowd around the pool table where Walker was hustling a couple zoomies for money again. The group at the corner table was subdued, though.
Alex pulled up a chair and put his water bottle down on the table to join the crowd of bowed heads and distant expressions. Hutch was rubbing his eyes like he was tired and Jensen kept twisting her hair. Case was sitting opposite and was doing this weird thing where he unscrewed and rescrewed his bottle cap off and on three times before he took a drink.
"Hey," Alex mumbled in greeting. There were nods, but nobody spoke. "I, uh...I volunteered to pack up Mickey's stuff. They're taking him and the rest of Morrison's team back when the Daedalus leaves for Earth."
"I'll help. Just let me know when," Hutch said with a slap at his arm. His voice was sad, resigned, and the rest fidgeted a bit, offering the same with a look or a nod.
"Thanks, man." More silence passed, but it was comfortable.
"Not that there's anything to take back," Case finally growled and shoved himself back in his seat. Alex blinked at the venom in his voice and felt a flush of annoyance. They were trying to grieve, here.
"You know what I mean. Their stuff and medals and shit. You're not pissed they didn't get the bodies are you? 'Cause I read the report. Sheppard nuked that freaky wraith camp from space to keep them all from flying the coop. Lt. Morrison and Mickey - they were already dead."
"No, I'm not mad they didn't bring them back. Sheppard did everything he could. I heard he barely got his own team out."
"Then why so pissy?" Alex immediately regretted the question, but Case was constantly rubbing his wrong these days. Ever since he'd been on the mission with Sheppard to Cowen's Genii lair, the man's arrogance had become nearly unbearable. Alex was just out of sorts enough to call him on it.
Case leaned forward and lowered his voice, although it was no less harsh.
"If Weir had listened to Sheppard in the first place, we would have pulled the plug on the freaky things in the Hive and jettisoned them out the garbage chute. We could have kept the Hive and Morrison wouldn't have been left alone in that death camp. Sheppard never supported Weir in building out that creepy colony. And the goddamn Wraith sucked Mickey to dust because of it. That's what I'm pissed about."
"You don't know any of that, Case. You're just pulling that out of your ass. The whole thing could have been Sheppard's idea for all we know."
Case wasn't going to let it go. His heel thumped under table and he kept twisting his bottle cap off and on, off and on. "I know Sheppard. Sheppard went after the hive single-handedly when it headed towards Earth. Sheppard damaged them in the void and delayed them long enough for the Daedalus to finish them off. He never would have let this happen if he hadn't been overruled."
The other guys at the table were squirming as the conversation got dangerously close to an argument…and politics. Alex was feeling cranky enough to go at Case, but the other guys, they didn't need this right now. He held his breath and counted to ten before he spoke again, as calmly as he could muster.
"Look, Case, I'm just saying - you weren't there. I don't think you should be speaking on behalf of the Colonel, just because it's what you want him to think. 'Ours is not to reason why' - and all that crap. Ours is to mourn our dead and do as we're told. Let's keep perspective."
"My perspective is that Mickey is dead because of those blood-sucking bastard wraith." Case's words were almost a growl of rage.
"Hear, hear! Fuck the wraith!" Hutch exclaimed suddenly, and the rest of the table raised their bottles. Alex threw him a look of gratitude. Hating the wraith was something they could all agree upon. He glared at Case until the guy looked away, finally dropping it. Alex raised his water bottle once more.
"To Morrie and Mickey. May they raise some hell and kick some Wraith butt in the afterlife."
"Hell, yeah!" the rest chorused.
Alex finally headed back to his bunk, drunk on bottled water and some therapeutic reminiscing. Case had bailed shortly after the toasts, to his relief. It was late and he was on early shift in the morning, but he was glad he'd gone to hang out. He'd be able to face Mickey's room, tomorrow, a little bit more prepared. He was just about to swipe the bar to his own room when Case appeared like a phantom around the corner. Alex jumped.
"Jesus, Case. Cough or something the next time you're skulking around the halls. Scared the pee out of me, and believe me, I gotta go."
Case got in his face, cold fury in his eyes. A prickle of alarm raised the hair on the back of Alex's neck.
"If I ever hear you accuse the Colonel of collaborating with the Wraith again, I will kill you," Case spat.
Alex stared, then laughed out loud. He couldn't help it. "What the hell are you talking about, Case? I never said no such thing."
"I know what I heard."
"You've gone off the deep end, man."
"Just remember. I'm watching you. You've never respected the Colonel. And I don't like traitors." Case shoved Alex in the chest and stalked off. Alex watched him go, heart pounding and stiff with anger.
"What the hell was that about?"
He was still breathing hard when he flopped into his bunk. Both of his roommates were already out, so he didn't turn on his light. He stared into the black ceiling over him. Case didn't scare him - he was all talk. But was slipping from annoying into creepy.
"He's messed up about Mickey," Alex whispered to himself, eventually satisfied by his logic. Case had been as close to Sgt. Michael Keys as the rest of them. Mickey was – had been – just that kind of a guy; he got along with everyone. Even the obnoxious Case. "He'll snap out of it." Alex closed his eyes. "He'd better."
Atlantis, 2yrs 4 mo
(Common Ground)
Ronon solemnly turned his gun around and offered it, butt first, to John. There was glee in his eyes. Ronon was looking forward to John's revenge. Revenge for what "they'd all seen", Beckett had said. But they hadn't seen it all. John took the weapon. Aimed it at the Wraith. Fired. It seized and crumpled to the ground.
Ronon snatched his gun back, checked the settings. "You didn't kill it!" Ronon's look was all fury and confusion. One of the Marines covering the Wraith twitched, the kid's face as furious as Ronon's.
"No. I didn't. Get him in the jumper. We're gonna drop him off somewhere."
John kept his face stern, but he felt his heart racing when the Marines, at least, followed his order and began to heave at the Wraith. Most of the Marines. The angry kid stood as frozen as the rest of his friends. Staring at him. They were all staring at him. The instinct to flee took hold. John threw his shoulders back and walked past Rodney and a very confused Teyla and Beckett.
"Thanks for showing up," he shot at Rodney, then smiled privately when he started to splutter. It was a low blow, but it worked. A few more snarky quips and maybe everyone would back off.
Half an hour later, he slipped back into the jumper's cloak and collapsed on the back bunk, leaving the Wraith behind for the darts to find. Rodney closed the hatch and lurched the jumper towards the active stargate without a command to do so, and that suited John fine.
All remnants of the high he'd felt after the Wraith's shocking "gift" had vanished. He was running on fumes. He scrubbed his face and left his head in his hands to keep them from shaking. Rodney was piloting and the rest of his team sat around him in silence. They were still staring, but John felt the attention shifting from shock and sympathy to concern. He could handle concern. It was sympathy he hated. Sympathy implied understanding. He didn't understand most of it himself.
"How could you do that, sir?"
The question was soft, indignant, strangled. There was rustling as his team and the Marines shifted at the awkward moment. John lifted his head, found the face asking the question. It was the angry Sergeant, the one who had seemed so shocked when John spared the wraith on Kolya's planet. He recognized the kid, but couldn't pull up a name in his current state.
"Do what, Sergeant?"
"How could you let that thing go? After what it did to you. After what the Wraith did to the Daedalus, to Morrison's team, three months ago?"
"I don't have to explain myself, Sergeant." John put his head back in his hands. On another day, he would have explained. Right now, he wasn't even sure he could stay upright.
"It fed on you!"
"Shut up, Case," another Marine hissed.
"It's the enemy. You let it go. You led it straight back to its own kind!"
"That Wraith is no threat to us. It had been held by the Genii for years. It doesn't know a damn thing and I think I just said it's none of your damn business, Sergeant," John snapped.
The angry sergeant opened his mouth, hesitated long enough for his companion to dig a ferocious elbow into his side, then snapped his trap shut. The kid looked away to glare at the storage netting above John's head. John threw a meaningful look at Ronon, then slumped over to prop his elbows on his knees. He shouldn't have done that. Snapping at the kid was only going to make him confused and pissed. But at the same time, John was a little past caring right at that moment.
"Colonel," Beckett whispered, "are you sure you're feeling yourself?"
"I'm tired, doc!" John snapped again. Damn. He had no control at the moment.
"Aye. I could see why you would be."
John sighed, buried his face in his hands and threw every ounce of control he did have into simply making it home. Rodney had almost made the turnaround at P96-249 (where they'd gated from the Wraith planet to prevent any trail back to Atlantis). It wouldn't be long. He could escape from all the staring, soon. He felt a firm grip on his shoulder.
"We're very glad to have you with us, son. Tired or no, it's still a great relief to find you whole and well."
"You mean young," John quipped from behind his hands. He knew what they were all thinking. They'd all seen...
"Aye," Beckett agreed firmly with a squeeze before he pulled his hand away.
"Well," Ronon began with enough mischief in his voice that John peeked through his fingers to see what his friend was up to. "Not that old at least."
"Ronon!" Teyla scolded.
John glared and Ronon just guffawed at the impotent threat.
"I take back being grateful you showed up," he growled even as he felt his lips twitch into a grin. But it's nice that you did, he thought.
Alex, Case, Jones, and Hutch stood up once the jumper's hatch hit the bay floor and stood at attention until the Colonel was escorted out, surrounded by his team and Dr. Beckett. Dex, (who carried the equivalent rank of Captain) released them with a wave. Alex's face still felt hot with fury and he kept his glare on Case, ignoring the welcome-home party at the bottom of the ramp and paying no attention to Dr. Weir's exclamations of surprise or her leap at Colonel Sheppard followed by a scandalous hug.
Beckett finally tugged hard enough to get the Colonel moving in the direction of the infirmary and Alex's team headed in the opposite direction, towards the ready rooms and armory. He had every intention of holding Case back, but the guy was already walking like the wounded. He looked as dazed as the Colonel they'd just recovered. Jones and Hutch turned into the hall first and Alex grabbed Case by the vest to slam him into the bay wall the second they were out of site.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Alex spat. Case blinked and dumbly stared back. "Are you high? Jesus, what were you thinking, questioning the Colonel's orders to his face like that? After what he'd just been though?"
"He let it go. He just...let it go." Case spoke like he'd just seen Sheppard commit murder.
"So what? Sheppard can give the damn Wraith a hand job for all we care. It's his call. But if you ever embarrass me or our squad that way again, I will personally see to it your life is a living hell. I busted my ass to get put on offworld ops. I will not let you fuck that up for me!"
Alex could never remember being so angry. The Colonel had been tortured by the Genii, fed on by the wraith, according to Beckett himself. And still, Sheppard had managed to break himself out. Case should be singing the man's praises like usual. Alex couldn't figure out what he was so screwed up about.
"The Wraith got in his head, forced him to let it go. He was compromised. That has to be it." Case was doing that talking to himself thing again.
"Case, you DON'T KNOW what happened!" Alex yelled.
"I saw what happened. The Senior commander of our base just collaborated with the Wraith and released it back to the enemy. We sat there and let him do it."
"Because Sheppard ordered us to."
"No!" Case finally looked at Alex like he saw him, and a shiver went down Alex's spine. There was something in Case's eyes that wasn't...right. "Colonel Sheppard would never collaborate with the enemy. NEVER!"
"Jesus, Case, that's what I've been saying! Are you fucking schizophrenic? We don't have the whole story. Shit, the people upstairs don't even have the whole story. Beckett told us to expect Sheppard to look like an old man so we wouldn't freak when we found him."
"The Wraith unsucked him," Case muttered, gone again. "It called him its...brother. Oh, god. He let it go."
Alex cursed in disgust. "Fuck you, Case. I give up. You're so sure Sheppard screwed up? YOU go tell him. Just do it on your own time and leave the rest of us out of it. I'm out of here." Alex shoved Case in the chest and turned to leave the bay, but Case was faster. Alex felt his arm yanked behind his back and twisted into his shoulder blades. His cheek hit the wall and Case pressed close, crushing him into the patterned metal.
"Get off!" Alex spat and struggled against the hold, but Case was twenty pounds heavier and bulkier than him. He started to cough when the pressure against his chest pushed the air out. "Case!" he gasped as loud as he could muster. Case let go and Alex spun, his back against the wall his hands defensive.
Case was just standing there, looking confused. He looked on the freakin verge of tears. "I know what I saw."
"You don't know shit," Alex spat, too furious to think. "Don't you ever touch me again. Ever."
Alex fled the jumper bay before he tried to belt that freaky arrogance off Case's face. He had no idea what had just happened. He couldn't figure out anything Case had said. The only thing he was certain of was that Case was nuts. More than he thought.
He was done. Done being Case's conscience. Done trying to get the man to see reality. It only pissed him off and didn't work anyway.
"He'll get what's coming," Alex growled to himself. "One of these days, he'll flip in front of Lorne or Sheppard himself and it'll be all over. He'll find his ass on the first wormhole back to Earth."
And Alex would buy the first round of drinks when that happened.
Alex kept clear of Case for the next two weeks. It wasn't easy - they were in the same squad and often pulled the same offworld jobs together. When he did have to be in the same place, he stuck to his work and didn't talk to Case at all beyond what was required. Off duty, though, he made it a point to have nothing to do with the man. Case seemed to be doing the same.
On the job, Case seemed himself: arrogant, know-it-all, as zoomie-wannabee as ever. Off duty was a different story. Alex saw him get into two fights before he started to sit by himself in the rec room in the evenings, usually staring into space. He was alone all the time. He drank more, too. Most of them didn't have the spare dough to spend on the contraband beer that made it to Pegasus - not for less than a special occasion, at least. Case seemed to have his own reasons. He'd gotten over the Sheppard thing, too. Alex hadn't heard him drop Sheppard's name or imply a 'close personal relationship' once since they'd picked the Colonel off of Kolya's planet.
Overall, Alex considered this an improvement and, eventually, stopped thinking about it all together.