Spoilers: Suspicion
A/N: Thanks to Keenir for beta, what a star!
Chapter Seven
Annette watched as the large man used the stylus to draw the crude picture on the touch screen. Dressed in a brown linen tunic, held in place by the thick leather belt, the Athosian was concentrating hard on his task. Occasionally he would scratch at this short beard, and mumble to himself.
Eventually, he handed back the stylus. "Yes. It looked like this. See, the leaves come out in pairs. Yes." He brow was furrowed, still trying to remember all the things she had asked about.
Annette beamed. "Thank you, Myro. I am most grateful. And you say that anyone who drank the tea would only sleep for a few hours?" Her eyes shone with fascination.
"Indeed." The man's attention was distracted for a moment as a young boy came hurtling into the room.
"Father! Father! Jinto and I want to go to the North Tower. Can we, father, please?"
The man took on a stern tone. "Wex. You should not have interrupted. We shall talk of this later." He sighed, his tone softening. "Yes, go, but try not to get into any trouble. Be back well in time for the evening meal." He reached out a large hand and gave his son a pat and a gentle shove to send him on his way.
"Sorry, father! Thank you!" Wex tore out of the room and disappeared as fast as he had arrived.
Myro sighed. "I apologise. My son is very excited to be here in the city of the Ancestors. But I am pleased he does not feel the pain of having to leave our world as I do."
Annette smiled, trying to imagine how hard it must be, to be an Athosian in the city. "Don't worry. The boys are no trouble, really."
"Dr McKay is not pleased at their presence."
"I understand Dr McKay is rarely pleased." She laughed lightly.
Darkness filled Myro's eyes, as he made the declaration. "We are going to leave the city. We want to live on the land that has been found on this world. It will be better for all of us."
Annette had heard the news of the landmass from Peter, and he'd also talked to her about the possibility of someone in the city being an informer for the Wraith. Despite the temporary curfew on the Athosians, she was shocked that these people wanted to leave the relative safety of Atlantis. She didn't realise it had become this bad.
"I am very sorry to hear that, Myro. I have been very privileged to ask you about your knowledge and customs. I shall miss you if you leave."
He nodded. "I, too, will be sorry. But we cannot stay where we are no longer welcome. It has been a pleasure helping you, Dr Dumais. Perhaps… if it is possible, you can come to our new settlement, and I can show you some of the remedies we use for our families."
Annette's eyes lit up. "Of course I would love to! That would be excellent. Thank you, Myro. It would be very sad if you do leave, but if that's what it comes to, then I really hope I can come and visit you."
0o0o0
The Scottish brogue of Dr Beckett reached her ears as she entered the infirmary. He was looking slightly exasperated as he propelled a surly-looking Dr McKay towards the exit.
"I'm sorry, Rodney, truly I am, but we just don't have much to spare. You'll just have to suffer. It's really not that bad, surely?"
"I can't work with a headache, Carson. Just an aspirin, is that too much to ask? It's not like I ask all the time. When was I last here with a headache, hmm? Usually I've been stunned or injured or something." McKay pleaded with his hands.
"Go on, get away with you. Come back in a couple of hours if rest doesn't get rid of it, then I'll think about it." With one last push, the Scot rid his infirmary of the disappointed Canadian. McKay showed no sigh of acknowledging Annette as he reluctantly headed out.
Leaning against the closed door, Beckett sighed and shut his eyes briefly. He opened them again and gave his attention to his new visitor.
"Sorry about that, lass. What can I do for you?"
Annette smiled. "Sorry to interrupt. Myro has contacted me from the mainland. He's found several useful plant species for their traditional remedies. He wonders if I want to go over and check them out."
Beckett grinned and gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Oh, aye, that's grand, Annette. Well done, lass. On you go, just ask Peter to sort you out with a 'jumper and a pilot and so on. Will you need anything from me?"
She shook her head. "No, no, that's fine. Unless you want to come too? I'll probably go this afternoon, if I can get it arranged."
He suddenly looked a little uncomfortable. "No, no, it's all right. Just you handle it. I don't really want to go in one of those puddlejumper things yet. Not until I really have to, I suppose." He gulped nervously.
"I understand, Skip. It's no problem." she grinned - and winked at him - as she turned to leave. She could hear his chuckle as she headed for the control room.
Peter quickly contacted Miller when she made her request. He spoke to the pilot, and arranged for him to take Annette to the mainland.
Turning in his chair, Peter told her what he'd arranged. "There, all set. Fourteen hundred hours. Right, have you time for lunch?"
"Great idea. I don't have any more preparation for my trip, it's all done."
"Can you wait for me? My replacement should be here any minute."
"Of course."
She didn't have to wait long, as the Canadian was just arriving. She watched from the top of the stairs, as Peter gave the sergeant a thorough handover, and seemed to explain something in more detail in response to a question from his colleague. Once Peter was satisfied everything was covered, and got plenty of affirmative gestures, he joined Annette, and they headed down the stairs and made their way to the mess hall.
The two of them collected their food and were heading towards the free tables, when an accented voice called them.
"Peter, Dr Dumais, you should join us." Radek Zelenka was waving them across to his table, where he sat with an oblivious Rodney McKay.
Exchanging glances and nods, Peter and Annette sat with the two men.
"You found him then, Dr McKay?" Annette asked the astrophysicist.
He looked up from his meal and took in her appearance, as if mentally placing her. "Right. Yes, I did. And here we are."
She chuckled, and turned to Zelenka. "Thank you again, Dr Zelenka, my centrifuge is working perfectly."
"It's Radek. And please, it was nothing. Anytime." He gave her a shy smile.
McKay surprised them all by putting down his fork and saying, "So, Dr Dumais. How come you're not wearing the maple leaf?"
She grinned. "Ah. Peter told you. Well. Let's just say they knew you were coming, and didn't need another Canadian genius. I decided to come under my French nationality to spare you the competition." She laughed as the Chief of Science paled for a moment.
"Hey! What…?" he slumped a little. "Oh, very funny." He gave her a quirky smile, and pointed a finger at her. "I like your style, Dumais. But leave the genius stuff to me, OK?"
"Yes sir, boss." She grinned back, and glanced across to Peter, who rolled his eyes.
Radek began quizzing Peter about data compression methods, and McKay told them they were 'wasting their breath, my way's gonna work much better' and chose to ignore them thereafter, instead turning to Annette. He asked her more about how she found herself in Atlantis under the French flag. She enjoyed sharing a bit of her background, laughing at his amusing comments about her Canadian upbringing and French parentage.
The Chief of Science laid his hands on the table. "Well, it's been nice, Dumais, finding out you're French and Canadian, not French-Canadian. But Radek and I need to go. And don't keep Miller waiting."
"I won't, Dr McKay." She watched as he hurried the Czech along, and he and Radek left the mess together.
Peter muttered after them. "That man is insufferable sometimes."
Annette nudged him in the ribs. "Don't be like that. I bet you think he's brilliant. And I like him, he's… interesting."
"Yes, quite." Peter mumbled.
Finishing up their lunch, Peter checked if Annette needed anything else for her trip to the mainland.
"I'm all set, Peter."
"You will… take care, won't you?"
"Peter, don't worry, I'll be fine. You worry too much." She stood up, and they deposited their trays before heading out into the corridor.
Peter glanced about, seeing no else was around, and took hold of her hand. "Annette. When you get back, will you come and see me? We could have dinner together… I think I'd like to know you are OK." His anxious eyes betrayed his fears.
She'd spoken to Peter most days since they arrived a few months ago. He was funny - his dry wit always making her laugh. Knowing he was there to help her when she ran into a problem had been great. His big brown eyes on her had always made her feel special. This was good.
"Sure. Why not? I'd hate for you to miss me too much." She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and he covered the side of his face with his hand.
Leaving him with a pleased and bemused expression on his face, she went to load the 'jumper for her trip.
A/N: Thanks for reading, I really appreciate the company! A little kiss at last... ;)