Chapter 6
"Oh...Rodney I didn't know you had a pet," Jennifer comment as he walked into the infirmary with the duck in tail.
He scowled for a moment, "I do not have a pet. It's a duck. Not a pet. But if you want it, please, take it."
"No, that's okay. I think she kind of likes you."
"So now it's a she?"
"Or he...you don't have to be so touchy about it..."
They both fell silent for a moment.
"Sam wants you to examine it for any possible contagions," Rodney suddenly stated.
"What?" she laughed, "I examine humans...I have no practical veterinary knowledge."
"Yeah well...not my problem," Rodney shrugged, "Oh, and these guys have been in Wraith captivity. They need a full check-up."
"Yes, thank you Rodney. That Sam informed me of," she suddenly turned to the cameraman and paused staring awkwardly into the lens, "Ah...gentlemen...if I can just get you to take a seat in a bed, some of my staff will begin to examine you."
"But we're fine..." Todd remarked as he did a spin.
"Kay, that's good to hear. Now please take a seat so you can begin your physical."
With a sigh from Todd, he and the cameraman proceeded towards a bed. Climbing onto it the camera view went skewed on the floor before focusing on Jennifer, Rodney, and the duck.
"Well, guess I should start working on you," Jennifer stated as she smiled down at the duck.
"Quack...quack..."
Bending down she reached out to pick the duck up, but before she could grab hold it started to fly around the room. Rodney started to holler as he waved his hands around and tried to avoid the flying bird. Jennifer stopped chasing after it and placed her hands firmly on her waist.
"Quack...quack..." it voiced as it settled back on the floor and padded over to stand next to McKay.
"Well that didn't work..."
"Really?" Rodney huffed as he came to a halt, "What makes you think that?"
"Rodney..." Jennifer slowly started as she looked over at him.
His eyes widened for a moment as he backed away.
"No," he firmly stated.
"What? I haven't even said anything..." Jennifer remarked.
"I don't care. I know what you're going to say and the answer is no."
"You know, I have to be honest...sometimes I can't believe I'm here and I worry that I won't be able to do this," Jennifer said as she looked into the camera, "I mean I'm in a whole different galaxy. I don't think I'm as prepared as I should be, but then again I'm not really sure what else I could have done..."
"Doctor Keller, I'm sorry, but I just asked the name of your parents."
"Oh...I'm so sorry. Wait, is there a time limit?" she questioned.
"No, it's fine."
"Okay...good. Well I should return to my duties," she stated with a smile as she stood up and walked away.
"But...ah...we didn't finish the set questions."
"Maybe next session?"
"Do we need a next session? I think she just gave us her life story..."
"I don't know. Can we get a playback? Maybe we can use the footage."
Suddenly the camera started to rewind.
"See that wasn't so bad..." Jennifer stated as Rodney stood holding the duck on the nearby table.
"Quack...quack..." the duck started up again as it craned its neck, focusing its shiny black eyes on Rodney.
"Speak for yourself..." Rodney fumed, "Are you planning on paying the bill when I need therapy?"
Jennifer laughed, "Come on. You just walked over and picked it right up. No flying. No pecking. No anything."
"I don't care. This is highly stressful given my existing fear of birds."
"Well then I'm glad you did it. Sometimes you just need to face what you're afraid of and see that it's really not that bad."
"I say this once more, speak for yourself."
With a smile Jennifer shook her head and walked away. After a period off camera she returned.
"Well it appears all is in order," she turned to the camera crew, "You checked out and are now free to go."
"And the duck?" Rodney asked quickly letting go of the bird.
"She's free to go to."
"What?" Rodney cried, "You can't quarantine it or something? Maybe it's a health risk...flying around the city. What if it runs into someone?"
"I think the only person its going to run into is you. So you might want to avoid any fast stops."
Rodney opened his mouth to comment, but paused, "That's not funny."
"Sorry," Jennifer replied, "But there's really nothing I can do..."
With crossed arms Rodney started towards the door. The crew immediately jumped up to follow.
"I don't think so. Go bother someone else," Rodney said waving at the camera.
"What about the duck?" Todd remarked, "She gets to follow you..."
"I'm loosing it in the hallway..." Rodney reluctantly stated as he marched out of the room with the duck waddling close behind.
Ronon sat idly in the chair, eyes locked on to whoever happened to be behind the camera.
"Okay...well it seems Colonel Sheppard is otherwise engaged, so we're going to have to do this on our own..."
Ronon smiled.
"So I thought we'd try a different approach?"
Ronon continued his unwavering stare.
"Alrighty, ah we're just going to open this up. What do you want to talk about?"
Ronon sat for a moment; blinking a few times he stood up and walked off frame.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"Couldn't think of anything," Ronon replied.
"Damn it! That didn't work either...kill the camera."
Abruptly the feed went dead.
As the camera man walked down the hallway slews of personnel ahead took detours, disappearing down random off-shoots before the camera closed in.
"Well this is just great...How are we supposed to film life if all the 'life' keeps running away?" Todd comment as he kept in stride, his profile coming into frame every-so-often.
Suddenly a thud rang out from nearby.
"Did you hear that?"
"Of course I did," Todd remarked, "Find it!"
Weaving through the hall the camera rushed into a room capturing the image of Ronon helping Colonel Sheppard up. Sheppard stood for a moment rubbing his back.
"Now why'd you have to go and do that?" Colonel Sheppard complained before they both fell silent and stared at the camera.
"We're not here," Todd restated his request.
"Yeah you are," Ronon promptly replied.
"You know that's a great idea," Colonel Sheppard interjected as everyone turned to stare at him, confused by his remark.
"What?" Todd and Ronon both inquired, though Ronon sounded more puzzled.
"Maybe good ol' Todd would like to go for a round..." he smiled as he reached down and picked up his sparing sticks, "Nothing like capturing off-world life first hand, eh?"
"What? No..." Todd slowly backed away as Colonel Sheppard placed them in his hands.
"Go easy on him," Sheppard remarked as he walked off to the side, giving Ronon a pat on the back.
"Is that an order?" Ronon asked with a raised brow.
"No."
"Good. 'Cuz I'm not following it," Ronon smiled as he turned to Todd who looked oddly out of place holding the sticks.
"What is this? Some kind of game?" Todd asked.
"I guess you could say that..." Colonel Sheppard replied as Ronon stalked towards his new sparring partner.
