Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with nor do I own any part of Stargate, Stargate SG1 or its' movies, Stargate Atlantis, or any of the characters. My stories are for purely entertainment purposes, with no monetary gain. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is based on the episode "Critical Mass" and continues from my 'Epiphany Missing Scenes'.
*O-O*
Interesting to note that Hermiod is determined to save Atlantis, to the point of damaging the Daedalus... just something to keep in mind for my post series story...
Setting: Post medical exams as Ronon and John leave the debrief I am assuming they had, after all Elizabeth will have to send a report.
*O-O*
"What?"
Sheppard glanced around before pulling Ronon onto a balcony, "Ah... just... honestly? You wouldn't have touched Kavanagh?"
Ronon rolled his eyes, "He passed out."
"But if he hadn't..."
"I would have done what needed to be done."
"Right, but ah that's not what you told Weir."
"She's not military, she does ok; but she needs to be able to sleep at night... said what I did to ease her conscious."
"So the whole, 'I wouldn't have touched him. Fear of what maybe is just as an effective method of intimidation as actual violence.' was just a conscious easier or you really wouldn't have touched him?"
"Look if he hadn't been innocent no one would have cared what I did to him, not even Dr. Weir.
When we first suggested that I be able to interrogate; McKay and Weir were against it, when we all were about to die... only Weir had to be convinced, everybody else was like go for it. They had the wrong guy, that stuff happens sometimes. Caldwell, you, me ... we can live with that, Weir and McKay can't. I told them what they wanted to hear and they'll believe me because they need to."
"So... ah Kavanagh..."
"Damn lucky he passed out."
John quietly agreed, "Yeah."
"We done?"
"Almost. Uhm... you ok with us choosing you to ... well you know."
"I volunteered." At John's silence, Ronon expounded, "Look, both you and non-Gou'lded Caldwell might be trained for it; but that doesn't mean either of you could sleep any better than Weir and McKay. I was the best choice."
"Cause you can sleep with the knowledge that you did what you had..."
Dex interrupted, "Because I've seen more evil than the lot of you together. I already don't sleep, at least not like you're accustomed too. It needed to be done." with a look that finished the conversation Ronon repeated, "I was the best choice; one you'll use again if you have to." and with a nod he left John standing on the balcony, grateful once again that Ronon was on their side.