Rodney sidled into the medical lab and plopped down on a stool with a sigh. He poked at a computer for a few minutes, then glanced at the technician who was sitting on the next stool over.
"Hey," Rodney said, hoping he didn't sound as awkward as he thought he did.
"Hello, Dr. McKay," replied the technician. He had thick red hair and a rosy complexion. Rodney couldn't remember if he'd ever spoken to the man before. He thought he had seen him around in the labs and the infirmary once and a while, though.
Rodney tapped for another minute or two, then looked over again.
"You working on the staph bacteria, too?" Rodney asked.
"Me? No. Not qualified. I'm just a technician. I run blood tests and stuff like that for Dr. Keller. We don't see you in here that often, doctor."
"No. Medicine is definitely not my specialty. But Sheppard's a good friend, and Sgt. Hicks is very sick. I thought I'd try to help out."
"Admirable. I'm Quentin, by the way. Quentin Fletcher."
"Dr. Fletcher."
"No. No, just Fletcher. No "d"s – M, ph, or otherwise."
"Ah," Rodney typed for a second, then leaned towards Fletcher with an air of conspiracy. "This staph infection, Doctor Keller believes that we're dealing with a bioengineered mutation here. Not many people are in on the investigation, but I mention it because you may be in a position to help. We've been focusing all our attention on Hicks and Sheppard. If you see something from another patient, or anything else that seems unusual in your ordinary daily work, make sure you bring it up. Anything could be important."
Fletched seemed to fidget slightly, and Rodney was quick to return to his work at the computer.
"I'll be sure to do that, doctor," Fletcher answered somewhat stiffly. Then, "Does Doctor Keller believe this mutation was created locally? Some enemy of the Colonel's in the Pegasus Galaxy?"
Rodney forced himself to keep looking at the screen. "No. She's pretty certain the bacteria and delivery system are Earth technology." He looked up suddenly, glanced around the room. "Hey, don't tell anyone I told you. Lorne is trying to keep the investigation under wraps. He thinks someone on Atlantis planted the bacteria in Sheppard's path."
"Of course not. Mum's the word. If you'll excuse me, doctor, I have to deliver these samples to Doctor Keller."
"Mmm? Oh, sure."
Rodney watched sidelong as the red-haired technician bolted out of the room.
Teyla pushed off the wall and walked briskly down the hall after Fletcher. The technician was almost running by the time they turned out of the medical tower. When Fletcher turned into the corridors that led towards the main control tower, she nodded thoughtfully to herself. Interesting. She hung back far enough to stay out of earshot, but kept him in her sights. She tapped her earpiece and spoke quietly into it.
"He's heading towards the duty room."
"Understood. We'll pick him up when he gets here."
"Understood."
Teyla followed Fletcher until he turned into the duty room, and then she passed on by.
Major Lorne looked up from the paperwork on his desk – Sheppard's desk actually – and spotted Fletcher race towards the duty desk. Lorne shuffled a stack into a neat pile, and waited until the now very nervous-looking Fletcher finished asking his questions. Lorne quickly looked down when Fletcher shot a worried glance his way, and then raced to the duty desk once Fletcher had left the room.
"Who did he ask for?" Lorne asked quickly.
The duty desk officer jumped at the urgency in Lorne's voice. "Lieutenant Kaulkin, sir."
"Where is Lt. Kaulkin? Where did you send him?"
"Kaulkin's about to head offworld with Major Harrison's team. I told him to go to the ready room if he needs to catch him before he's gone."
Lorne acknowledged, then tapped his earpiece, "Ronon, send your team to the ready room. Apprehend Lt. Kaulkin and Fletcher, and hold the rest of Major Harrison's team for questioning."
"Got it," came Ronon's reply. "We're on our way."
"So am I."
Teyla, Lorne and Ronon reached the ready room at the same time. Lorne waved in Ronon's security force, waited for the initial confrontation to play out, then ducked into the room with Teyla at his side. The ready room was cramped with both teams packed into it, but Ronon had Harrison's team and Fletcher backed up against the lockers, his own men standing in easy readiness.
Major Harrison flicked a stern, but calm look at Lorne.
"What's the trouble, Lorne?"
"Mr. Fletcher and Lt. Kaulkin are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder. We need you to ask the rest of your team to cooperate for the time being."
"Of course," Harrison looked shocked. He turned to his man, Kaulkin. "Philip? What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Sir, I don't have to say nothing." Kaulkin had turned pale and looked like he might pass out from fright. "You can't prove nothing."
"We can," Ronon growled and took a menacing step towards the cowering lieutenant. "We have transmissions that we can trace to your friend here. We have three bounty hunters in custody that have agreed to identify their contact."
Kaulkin closed his eyes and turned to hiss at Fletcher, "You said there was no way they'd figure it out! You said –."
"Shut up!" snarled Fletcher but Kaulkin turned to his commander, begging with his expression.
"Sir! You've got to protect me. Fletcher said he'd take out the whole city if I didn't help him, he said –."
"Get out of my sight," Harrison growled in disgust, turning away. Lorne saw the betrayal in the Major's eyes and felt a tiny instant of relief. The Major's reaction had convinced him, at least, that Harrison wasn't involved. Kaulkin sank against a locker and closed his eyes.
"Ronon, take them to the holding cells. Harrison, I'd appreciate it if you went with them for now. Hopefully we'll get this sorted out and you can get out of there soon."
Harrison and the rest of his team began to move slowly towards the door, led by Teyla and Lorne. Ronon's men gathered more closely around Kaulkin and Fletcher.
"Move," Ronon bellowed.
Fletcher took one look the group of men standing around him and shrugged. He turned to his co-conspirator.
"Sorry, Phil," he said. Something in Fletcher's voice turned Lorne's head.
"Grenade!" Ronon bellowed.
Ronon threw his men back from the suspects. Harrison shoved Lorne into the hall. The explosion that shook the ready room was muffled, almost wet sounding. Lorne got his feet under him and dove back into the room. Ronon was rolling off the top of the pile of security guards. They were filthy, but seemed unharmed. And as for Kaulkin and Fletcher –
"Oh…shit," Lorne whispered swallowing back bile.
- There wasn't too much left of them.
Lorne, McKay, Teyla, Ronon and Woolsey stood gathered around Woolsey's desk. Rodney saw Woolsey sigh with a great breath of frustration.
"So did we learn anything before our suspects killed themselves?" he asked.
"We still have the transmission that we caught broadcasting to Earth during the last open wormhole, and the others that we found in the logs, although we don't have the content of those," Rodney replied, realizing that it was precious little.
"And our bounty hunters confirm that Kaulkin was the one who approached them with the offer. Harrison is beating himself up about it. That team has been on community relations for months. Hell of a way to relate."
"We're pretty certain that we have identified everyone involved on Atlantis. Our interviews of Kaulkin and Fletcher's friends and co-workers suggest that they were working together," Lorne added.
"That's good. Do we have any idea why these two were working together? What they hoped to accomplish by assassinating Colonel Sheppard?"
"That's been harder," McKay agreed. "No one has suggested they seemed disgruntled. Kaulkin was a model soldier until he started posting wanted signs." He looked at the faces around him. "At this point, the trail leads to the SGC. I suggest we pass on the information and have them pick up the investigation there. Fletcher was transmitting to someone on Earth. If we learn who that someone is, we'll be closer to understanding why they were acting here."
"I'm going anyway," Ronon reminded them. "I'll take the information."
"I will assist with the investigation when I arrive as well," Teyla added. "Torren and Kanaan will join us on Earth in a week to join me on the journey home when the Daedalus leaves."
Rodney wrung his hands, indecisive. He desperately wanted to return to Earth, but not to continue the investigation. He wanted to check up on Sheppard. But he also felt compelled to continue working on the cure here. If only…
"I'm going too," a new voice announced, and all heads turned to watch Jennifer walk into the room and join them. "Richard, I'd like to take my research and continue working on an antidote back on Earth where I can also keep an eye on Colonel Sheppard. That way, I'll be that much closer to him to deliver any treatments we discover."
"Permission granted, doctor," Woolsey agreed immediately. "But what about Sgt. Hicks? Would you like him relocated as well?"
Jennifer closed her eyes briefly and a sad expression crossed her face. "I just put Sgt. Hicks in stasis. His system was becoming overwhelmed by the infection. He was on the verge of permanent organ damage. Even if he lived for another forty-eight hours, the damage would be lifetime debilitating. At least in stasis, he won't get any worse. If we find a treatment, he'll have time to receive it. John on the other hand…"
"I understand." Woolsey sat down at his desk and looked up at the group, suddenly seeming almost amused to Rodney. "Well. My military commander, chief of medicine, and chief scientist are all off base at once. I suppose it's going to be quiet around here for a few weeks."
"I hope so," muttered Lorne, looking left out. Rodney could sympathize.
There was a moment of contemplation.
"Well. Let's go!" Ronon snapped impatiently.
"Yes!" Rodney agreed. The meeting broke up quickly.
An hour later, he stood with Jennifer, Teyla, Ronon and a pile of luggage on the gate platform watching the lights chase their way around as the technicians dialed Earth. Once the wormhole was established, Rodney grabbed up his duffel back and scuffled for a moment with Ronon over who was going to help Jennifer with hers. Then they stood waiting for the go ahead from above.
It was Woolsey who called down to them.
"The SGC is expecting you. Report to Dr. Lam in the infirmary for briefing and medical check-in."
"Is Sheppard already there?" Jennifer called back up. Woolsey leaned against the balcony railing.
"No. There's apparently been some trouble. You'll be briefed once you're there."
"What kind of trouble could he get into at his brother's courtroom drama?" Rodney exclaimed. They'd sent the recall instructions hours ago. Surely even John wasn't so stubborn he'd ignore orders of that magnitude? Rodney turned to Keller. She looked just as surprised.
"Let's go," she said, almost running to the event horizon. Ronon was right behind her. Rodney walked more slowly, thinking as he followed Teyla.
What the hell are you up to, Sheppard?