Metcalf dreaded opening the door. He sincerely doubted Mckay would reconsider without some kind of persuasive measure being taken. He'd just spent the last hour convincing his superiors to start with the unknown man they'd captured with Mckay instead of Mckay's sister.
Metcalf placed his hand on the door latch but hesitated before scanning his access card. He couldn't be sympathetic. He couldn't let them see how much what was about to happen would bother him. He had to be strong. The fate of the world depended on it.
An image of the photo he'd seen in Mckay's wallet flashed unbidden behind his eyes. Mckay standing a bit awkwardly as his niece held his face in either hand and kissed his cheek while Jeanie looked on laughing at her brother's discomfort.
Stop it!
He couldn't think of such things. Metcalf instead focused on his friend Dr. Brendan Gall. They'd been roommates all through college, undergraduate and graduate studies. Though Metcalf had always been a bit jealous of Brendan's easy brilliance, they'd been best friends. Metcalf had once again cause for envy when Brendan was tapped for an incredible new posting. It had been top secret, he couldn't tell Jonathan any of the details but he had been so incredibly excited.
Months had gone by without any word and then the news. Brendan had died. That seemed to be all anyone knew. Some kind of accident but no one could give him any details until Metcalf finally got his own tap on the shoulder. He was read into the Stargate program and finally learned the fate of his best friend. Brendan had been fed on by a Wraith and, heroically, taken his own life to prevent Mckay's staying by his side when he was needed elsewhere.
From the moment he put that redacted report down, Metcalf had made it his mission to be assigned to Atlantis and longed for the day he could take a more active role in wiping out the monsters who'd taken away his only friend. Yet, year after year passed and Metcalf was not chosen…not by the Atlantis expedition anyway.
His zeal had, however, caught the attention of another organization. The Trust had explained to him how ineffective Stargate Command really was. They'd opened his eyes to the gruesome reality of the Universe and made him realize that nothing mattered except saving Earth. No individual could stand in the way of keeping this world safe. Metcalf would sacrifice his life at a moment's notice to protect the people of his planet. Hadn't his best friend already made that sacrifice? He would sacrifice his life, his honor, his own personal self worth.
Metcalf hated the things he had done to protect Earth. He hated himself for doing them. Yet, that was the price that had to be paid. He respected Dr. Mckay's brilliance and his honor but the Trust had explained that while Mckay would give up his life to protect Earth, he and others were unwilling to sacrifice what Metcalf would. They were unwilling to live with the consequences of making the hard choices.
If they were unwilling or incapable, someone had to step into the breach. That someone was Metcalf. He had often wondered what he would do after Earth's fate had been secured. Originally, he had planned to kill himself but he decided that was cowardly and unjust. He knew he should be punished but it was not his place to meet out his own punishment.
Once the necessary evil had been done, his plan was to reveal the existence of the Stargate program to the world. He would confess what he had done and give himself and all his co-conspirators over to the people of Earth to do with as they saw fit. That would be justice.
Still he stood at this door afraid of what needed to be done, the hand holding the access card trembling. He closed his eyes, squared his shoulders and swiped the card. He had an unpleasant job to do. Best get it over with.
For a moment, all his dark thoughts receded into absolute astonishment.
The room was completely trashed. The cot had been dismantled; bits of dry wall littered the floor and in the middle of it stood Mckay…and only Mckay. The man's dark fatigues were covered in the dusty plaster from the dry wall. As Metcalf entered the room the scientist was in mid kick. He appeared to have sawed through the bottom of one of the wall studs, Metcalf had no idea how, and was attempting to kick the stud free.
Into the void left by his dismissed train of thought rushed anger. He felt his face flush hotly. Mckay looked crestfallen and well he should. Now there was nothing standing between this man and pain. Metcalf was going to have to inflict pain on a man he respected and admired; A man who had saved the people of Earth many times over. The man his best friend had died to help protect. His eyes stung with tears of unmitigated rage.
"What are you going?" He found himself screaming. He rushed forward, grabbed Mckay by his shirt front and shook him fiercely. "Do you know what you've done?" He demanded, still screaming.
Mckay did the most unexpected thing then. He laughed.
Metcalf felt something akin to a large boulder settle in his stomach.
"Guard!" The man stationed outside the door rushed in. "Give me your radio."
The man just stood there, his eyes raking wonderingly over the demolished room. Metcalf struck him.
"Your radio!" The guard unclasped it and handed it to him.
"Control. What is the status of the shield?" He shouted.
"Shield is online." The metallic voice responded.
He felt a moment's hope.
"Have there been any fluctuations?" He asked.
"A few." The voice droned. "There was a blink about twenty minutes ago but it was only for about 20, 30 seconds."
Mckay grinned triumphantly and Metcalf hit him. He was a bit surprised how severe Mckay's reaction was until he realized he'd struck him with the hand holding the radio. He bit his lip, snapping his mouth shut against the automatic "I'm sorry" almost escaped his lips.
"You may think you've won but you've forced their hand." He said instead, shaking his head. "My hand."
He walked over to the wall and kicked viciously. He realized he should have kicked Mckay. He should have used this anger. It would be harder to hurt the man when he wasn't so emotional. But the thought came with a recession of his anger. It was too late. Now he'd have to think about hurting Mckay, he'd have to force himself to do what was necessary.
"Take him." He said quietly to the men who'd accompanied him. The men who had been meant to take Mckay and his friend. They grabbed the scientist, still grinning despite a bleeding cut on his chin where Metcalf had struck him.
Metcalf admired his bravery. He showed no signs of fear or dread.
"You think you can break me?" Mckay said, his voice clear and confident. "You think you can do worse than the Wraith? I'm gonna enjoy seeing you try."
Metcalf sighed wearily. "No, Dr. Mckay. You won't."
And neither will I. He thought sadly as he closed the door behind the procession.
