Title: The One Who Stays
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: After Weir's going away party, one of the team is left confused and alone in their time of need. When the one person they thought they could rely on backs down, can the one they least expected step up and pick up the pieces?
Season: 3/4
Spoilers: MAJOR spoilers for UNCONFIRMED spoilers for season 4.
Notes: The season three episode "Sunday" NEVER HAPPENED! So, yes, that character will be making several appearances. Elizabeth's "exit" it one of my own doing. It's really my own Atlantis-verse…XD!
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long…I'm lazy. Oo I want to give special thanks to janib, CenasNakedInMyBedWithMe, Anonymous, cc, lisa, and tvnut127 for taking the time to read my little story and give me nice reviews. I love you aalll…XD Sorry this chapter is as short as the first, but I wanted to get it up before the new year. Oh, have a happy one of those, by the way. New year, that is. Um…ok. XD
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"I dunno, I can't explain it." Sheppard shrugged as he thought back on the previous mission, "It was like an explosion, only not as…explosive."
Dr. Elizabeth Weir raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at the shell-shocked colonel, "Well, that makes perfect sense."
"You know what I'm tryin' to say!"
After finding Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Page unconscious in the cave, and seeing the energy crystal lying shattered on the floor, the team immediately headed back to Atlantis with a medical emergency. Both patients escaped with merely bumps on their heads, but the incident still couldn't be explained. Page had been medically cleared earlier, and he and a small team of scientists had gone to review the video documentation to see if they could come up with an answer to it all.
"How ya feeling, butterfingers?"
Sheppard rolled his eyes as Rodney strode in, the smirk on his face a mixture of smarmy and angry, "I didn't drop the damn thing, Rodney! It was still encased in rock when I touched it!"
"Oh sure, try to save your own behind by covering up the fact that you destroyed a device that had the potential to be the next great discovery of all mankind!"
"Ok, now you're just exaggerating."
"Maybe a little, but that's not the point!"
Sheppard sighed, "Look, I'm sorry I took away your Nobel Prize, but it wasn't my fault, ok?!"
Elizabeth cleared her throat, "Rodney, perhaps you should go and check on Dr. Page's progress--see if he's found anything interesting on the video?"
"Why? I'm not the one that got hurt!"
Elizabeth and Sheppard both gave him a look.
"Ok. Fine. I know where I'm not wanted." He glared and spun around, marching out of the infirmary, and Sheppard couldn't help but laugh softly before looking up at Elizabeth, "So, how are your party plans coming along?"
"Depressingly." She smiled sadly, "I hate leaving, but it's something I have to do."
"It's just six months." He shrugged, "You'll be ok."
"Six months or more." She sighed, "Diplomacy is not an easy thing--not when you have to leave your home."
"Hey, don't worry," He smirked, "We'll keep the porch light on for you."
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Despite his complaints to Elizabeth, the truth was, Rodney really had nothing to do at the moment and found himself wandering into the lab currently occupied by Page and his scientists. He was surprised to find Teyla seated at one of the tables, watching a technician as he worked on his laptop. Rodney cleared his throat, and she looked up.
"Dr. McKay." She half-smiled, "How is Colonel Sheppard doing?"
"Completely unfazed, as usual. How is the, uh, video documentation going?"
"To be honest, I am not quite sure." Teyla shrugged, "All they do is zoom in and take notes. It all looks the same to me."
"You and me, both." Rodney mumbled, "What are you doing in here anyway?"
She shrugged, "Sheer curiosity. You?"
"Sheer boredom."
Teyla smiled slightly, shifting in her seat, her elbow propped on the table as she eyed Rodney curiously, "Rodney, it may not be my place to ask, but…how are you handling Dr. Weir leaving Atlantis?" She laughed nervously, "I am sorry. That was…"
"No, no--it's fine." He cleared his throat and shrugged. The truth was, so much had been happening lately that he hadn't honestly had the time to process the news of Elizabeth leaving Atlantis temporarily. Of course, her leaving was for the sake of everyone--the military, as well as the government, were considering shutting down the Atlantis expedition for the sake of Earth, and it was up to Elizabeth to convince them all that keeping the Atlantis expedition open was the best thing for Earth, as well as the rest of the universe. Now that he thought about it, Rodney realized that a part of him was actually going to miss her. He was human after all, he thought with a small smile. He looked at Teyla, "Now that I think about it, she will be missed."
Teyla raised an eyebrow, "By you?"
"Well, um…" He fumbled nervously, and then gave up, "Yes. By me."
She smiled, "Me too."
"Right." He cleared his throat, and before he could think of a different subject to discuss, Dr. Page burst in with one of his McKay-like rants.
"…I can't believe him! After all that's happened, and he doesn't show up at the debriefing, and he borrowed my data pad and still hasn't given it back!"
Rodney held up his hands, "Calm down, Casey! What are you babbling about?!" He frowned, almost feeling like the young scientist was moving in on Rodney's "overly caffeinated and erratic" status.
Casey sighed and looked at Rodney, "Lieutenant Loughlin! He had been helping me document the artifact and when he took a break, he still had my data pad. I didn't need it at the time, but now…"
Teyla frowned, "He did not appear at the debriefing?" She thought about it and mentally confirmed it for herself, "Perhaps I should go look for him."
"No, I'll do it!" Casey snapped, in anger at Loughlin, not necessarily Teyla, "I intend to give him a piece of my mind!"
"Well, why didn't you do that in the first place instead of coming in here screaming bloody murder?" Rodney mumbled, and received an evil glare from Casey.
"I heard that." Casey growled, before storming out of the lab. Teyla and Rodney exchanged humorous glances before turning their attention back to the footage on the laptop.
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