"You wanted to see me Sir." Sheppard said entering Ellis's small, temporary office on Atlantis.
"Yes, now I am finally off the ship and on land I wanted to get these reports knocked off as quickly as possible so I can actually enjoy having fresh air and wind near by for the whole day I'm here. To that end I am just doing my side of the paper work regarding this whole fiasco and have a couple of questions I need answering."
"Ok."
"No need to stand on ceremony. Take a seat." Ellis instructed, making Sheppard worry. As soon as Sheppard had sat down the Colonel asked.
"Something's been worrying me."
"About how it got so bad?" Sheppard guessed.
"No, about the handling of Morris after he was identified."
"Mr Woolsey suggested that Dr Keller's word might not be enough. We did-" Sheppard started only for Ellis to cut him off.
"I didn't mean that. I meant after the rest of his team had been taken in for questioning why wasn't Morris transferred to a holding cell?"
"I assumed his room was secure." Sheppard said.
"Big assumption." Ellis said.
"There was no balcony to his quarters and there were two marines posted outside."
"One of whom was his customer."
"I didn't know that at the time."
"Indeed. So the lack of security had nothing to do with the fact that you wanted him to escape?"
"Why would I want that?" Sheppard asked.
"Shooting a man in a cell raises eyebrows."
"I didn't -" Sheppard started.
"Ok Sheppard let's move this discussion off the record. Morris hurt one of your people and was corrupting others. We both know any punishment handed out back on Earth would have been too lenient. If I'd have been in your position I know what I would have liked to happen. At the end of the day Morris escaped either because you screwed up or you indirectly helped. I'd like to think I'm a good judge of character. I have already told you what I think of you. Because I have such a high opinion of you I know his escape did not arise from poor planning nor was it an accident and you could have avoided it if you wanted to. At the end of the day, the outcome was the best achievable for everyone. But if this situation ever arises again make damn sure it is not so obvious to me. I can only turn a blind eye so many times."
Sheppard sat opposite Ellis unsure what to say. Fortunately for him Ellis was not expecting an answer and instead said.
"Ok, let's wrap this up. All prisoners are being transferred to the Apollo as soon as Dr Beckett has finished running tests on them, which I believe should be in the next couple of hours. Once we have restocked we'll take them back to Earth. I assume you have submitted all the evidence?"
"I have, except the doferil."
"Give me a small sample and destroy the rest. Let's not have anyone getting tempted." Ellis replied.
"I'll get McKay straight on it." Sheppard said.
"Good and Colonel you look like crap, get some rest." Ellis said effectively dismissing John.
"Yes Sir." Sheppard said standing and leaving, not not sure how he felt about what Ellis had said. Deciding he could analyse it later he went to find the Satedan, knowing he had a difficult conversation ahead of him.
-00-
"Ronon." Sheppard said entering the gym.
"Sheppard." Ronon returned. As John walked towards the former runner he scanned the area to make sure they were alone.
"Problem?" Ronon asked.
"No. Just wanted to talk in private." Sheppard said.
"About?"
"The doc"
"Something happened?" Ronon questioned, jumping to conclusions.
"No."
"Then?"
"I need to know, well I'd like to know, actually no I need to know if you are interested in the doc."
"Interested?" Ronon asked getting a feeling of deja vu. "Like intentions?"
"Not how I would have phrased it, but I guess."
"Why?" Ronon asked.
"I think...You remember the lockdown when you were locked in the infirmary with the doc?"
"Yeah."
"Did something happen?"
"Apart from you scaling the building, McKay being McKay and Zelenka saving the day?" Ronon asked.
"I meant with you and the doc." Sheppard clarified, wondering if Ronon was being deliberately obtuse.
"We tried to blow the doors."
"I meant something personal. You seemed to treat her differently afterwards, like you were interested in her romantically." Sheppard said. When Ronon just stared at him John said. "Look I don't want to pry, but I need to know are you wanting to … you know?"
"No."
"No you don't? Or no you don't know?" Sheppard asked.
"The second one." Ronon said.
"Ok, are you wanting to start a relationship with the doc?"
"Why?"
"Because I think I may have feelings for her, but I don't want to mess something up for you."
"She's not interested in me." Ronon said.
"She's not?"
"No."
"How'd-"
"She told me she was interested in someone else."
"Sorry buddy." Sheppard said.
"It's ok." Ronon shrugged. As Sheppard started to turn away Ronon pulled a face then said. "Sheppard, McKay's also interested."
"He is?"
"Yeah."
"How the hell do you know that?" John asked, wondering when the former runner had become the source of such personal knowledge.
"We had a similar talk to this."
"You did?"
"Yeah, it was odd." Ronon explained.
"I'll bet." Sheppard said, unable to picture such a scene in his mind. Suddenly he was struck with realisation and asked. "Is he the someone else?"
"Don't know she didn't say." Ronon said before adding. "Could be you."
"Right, ok then. Thanks Ronon." John said leaving the gym, knowing that he should not pursue his feelings. Knowing that if he did he could end up hurting Jennifer, hurting Rodney or being left disappointed. Thinking back to earlier that evening and what had happened, or nearly happened, he cursed himself for being so stupid and knew that only one course of action was available to him.
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up tomorrow.