"Sheppard says you won't join our team?" Tey'la asked.
Max was leaning against a balcony in ops watching the daily ebb and flow of personnel. She looked over at Tey'la tall, strong, competent, beautiful and exotic and smiled tiredly.
"Look, no offense, I don't know Colonel Sheppard so maybe I'm dead wrong but I get the feeling he sees me as an asset. Okay I kind of am but I'm also a person. I've been locked up for five years during which I was a number at best. I deserve prison but if I'm not going to be in prison I'm not going to be treated like an object…a weapon. A long time ago I was okay with thinking of myself that way but … I'm sorry I'm not explaining this very well."
"You've been through a great deal." Tey'la said sympathetically.
"Yeah well no more or less than you and your people, this city, Sheppard and the rest of the people assigned here."
"You're too hard on yourself I think."
"You do? Noted." Max said and winced at the note of sarcasm in her voice.
"I'm sorry you're the first person to really be nice to me aside from Lorne and Carter since I got here, I mean, outside of their job y'know? Beckett seems really cool but it's his job to not be an asshole…I'm babbling again."
"Would you like some tea?" Tey'la asked with another of her patented smiles.
"I can see why you're a diplomat." Max said as Tey'la handed her a warm cup. Tey'la smiled and inclined her head slightly at the compliment.
"You are among strangers it is long overdue that you were made welcome."
"Major Lorne did right by me, and Sam – uh Colonel Carter is a friend. I haven't really been here long –"
"And you have been without friends or family for longer." Tey'la soothed.
"I talk too much, it's this thing I do." Max said and sipped her tea.
"You should meet Dr. McKay." Tey'la said with a smile.
"I think I did, sorta. He's the pudgy nervous guy that hangs out with your team?"
"Indeed, he is a member of the team."
"Oh. Sorry. He's probably amazing at what he does right?" Max said feeling like an asshole.
"Yes, but he is…an acquired taste."
"Thanks for uh this" Max gestured at the tea, "I really appreciate it."
"Colonel we need her."
"I agree." Carter said. They were in her office, she seated behind her desk and he pacing in front of it.
"You can order –"
"So can you, so why don't you?" Carter asked innocently.
He scowled at her.
"John you won't order her because we both know drafting her is a mistake. All she agreed to do was come here and be tested on a wraith. Whether she knows it or not she's free to go back to Earth now."
"So what are you saying?" He asked in a tone that was almost sullen.
"Talk to her, figure out why she's hesitating and convince her to join voluntarily."
"That easy?"
"Clearly you haven't talked to her much."