Richard knows his reputation.

Uptight.

Asshole

Wouldn't know an exception to the rule if it fell on his head.

And those are some of the nicer ones. He doesn't like to think of the others.

- *

Richard knows that what he does is necessary. For every John Sheppard, for every Rodney McKay, there is one Richard Woolsey. He is necessary. After all, not everybody can be charismatic and charming, not everybody can be an abrasive genius.

Sometimes, the world needs somebody who follows the rules.

- *

He feels lost since he's come to Atlantis. The rules, the rules that he helped come up with, just don't seem to apply like they should.

He finds himself bending one rule, twisting another, until in a fit of rage, Richard throws the entire rulebook out of his window. He looks down and watches the papers spiral as they fall into the ocean and are swept away.

- *

Every time he goes back to Earth, Richard feels more and more isolated from his lawyer and bureaucrat friends. They are all chattering about how they managed to get this great corporation out of bankruptcy and how great it was that they used their skills and managed to win.

Richard just sits there blankly until one of his friends - his best friend from his Harvard days - turns to him and asks him what he thinks of their latest achievement.

All Richard can think of to say is, "But did you do the right thing?"

His friend stares at him for a second, a bemused expression on his face, and then turns away.

- *

Richard doesn't fit in at Atlantis either.

His idea of relaxing is sitting back, dressed in his immaculately pressed suit, with a cigar and a brandy.

When everything is quiet, he hides in his room and tries to pretend that none of this is happening. That the Wraith aren't attacking, that every decision of his isn't sending people - his friends - into danger, that it is still as simple as it was back on Earth when he was part of the IOA when 1 + 1 equaled two and some paths made more logical sense than others.

He knows now that logic sometimes gets people killed.

- *

Richard prides himself on knowing people. That's what won him numerous court cases that people told him were impossible to win.

Yet, he's surprised when he realises that Sheppard's team actually likes him. That their smiles at his suit, cigar and brandy aren't malicious but merely friendly teasing.

He's even more surprised when he realises, after a horrifying encounter with the Wraith, that while he's locked away in his room, cigar in hand, Sheppard goes and finds a spare jumper and flies away. McKay's in a science lab, furiously scribbling down equations with an intense look on his face. Ronon and Teyla are in some room, fighting with sticks, angry expressions on their face.

Yet, they're a team. A cohesive team.

- *

Maybe, Richard realises, just maybe, he fits in here after all.

He smiles at Sheppard who blows smoke rings at him.