The Storm
"You have to go."
"I'm not going."
"You have to!"
"Stop now, Lieutenant."
Lieutenant Gonzalez threw his hands up in the air.
Sergeant Cooper stepped in. "Chief, you really have to. Dr. Weir's orders."
Chief Leiter moved away and began cleaning another counter, effectively cutting off any other conversation.
John Sheppard leaned in the kitchen and heard the exchange. "Chief?" he said, slowly.
"Sir!" Gonzalez turned to face him. "Good! Maybe you can talk some sense into her."
Helena spun at this point and glared at her subordinate.
Before she spoke, John dismissed the other two expedition members and sat on one of the stools. "You know they're right."
"I am not going," she enunciated clearly.
His eyebrows rose. "You know I could pull rank."
"You know you could kiss my -" She stopped and dropped her head. "I'm sorry, John."
He smiled. "Apology ignored. Why don't you want to leave?"
"This is my home, John. I didn't leave my home in '92 when Hurricane Andrew knocked it down around me and I'm not going to leave now. I'm sure you can use some help around here." Her eyes pleaded with him.
"The only people staying are myself, Dr. Weir, and Rodney," he explained. "The only reason Dr. Weir is staying is because of her codes. Rodney's staying because he's the only one who knows how to do what needs to be done. And I'm staying to help. We don't need or want anymore help. It's too dangerous."
She glared at him. "I hate going through the Stargate."
John smiled. "Ah, now the truth comes out."
She sighed. "It's unsettling."
"You sound like Carson."
"And what's wrong with that?" she snapped.
John raised his hands in the air in a surrender motion. "Nothing! Really."
She sighed again. "I'm so sorry, John. I really don't want to go, but if you insist, I will."
John stood and moved toward her and took her upper arms in his hands. "Helena, you have to go. If for no other reason, than to help Carson see to the needs of our people. The Manerans don't seem all that friendly."
Helena looked down, then up to him. "Fine. I'll go. I won't be happy about it and don't ask me for a turkey sandwich anytime soon, but I'll go."
"Can I get one before you go?"
She tried to glare at him, but he used his most charming smile on her. She sighed and shrugged out of his hands, went to the pantry, grabbed a sandwich and threw it at him. "Get out. I have packing to do."
"You have two hours."
"So stand there yappin' at me and watch me be late. Go 'way."
John smiled and bit into his sandwich as he walked out of the kitchen.
