Chapter 52
Spoilers for Inquisition
She remains seated on the edge of her bed after he's left her room, not knowing what to make of all this. They should never have gotten so close. It could only lead to heartache. What he said is spinning in her mind and she finally moves to her desk to find some painkillers for the migraine she feels is building up. She's been instructed by Jen to call if anything was the matter but she doesn't want to have to explain why she has a migraine in the first place so she just takes the med and gets in bed. She realizes he's not even said what her punishment was. She keeps the thought for a rainy day knowing she'll know soon enough.
The next morning, she wakes up early and sees it's raining outside. She shakes her head at the irony of it and watches the drops of water trickle one after the other on her window panes for a few minutes before she musters the courage to trudge to the bathroom to shower and get ready for her day. No one has called her yet but since she's been discharged from the infirmary, she surmises she'll soon need to report to Woolsey's office at the very least.
She passes her hand over the sensor to open the door and is met with the sight of a stern-looking marine guarding her door. He nods and greets her with a curt "Ma'am." She looks at him bemused. He taps his headset. "Sir, Ms Léger is awake. Shall I bring her to you?" He listens to the answer intently then disconnects his communicator and turns to her. "Please, follow me. Mr Woolsey is waiting for you."
She does as told and no matter how many questions she asks him, she's only met by stubborn silence. When they reach Woolsey's office – by which time she's white as a sheet from the shame she feels at being escorted by an armed guard through the city – he opens the door and introduces her then closes the door and stands nearby. Only Woolsey is in his office. She understands she's going to be informed of her sentence. She would have thought John would be there but Woolsey offers her a seat and she sees John is still not coming.
"I imagine you know why you're here, Ms Léger?" Mr Woolsey says kindly.
She nods. "Yes, Sir. Colonel Sheppard said I'd be disciplined for my insubordination..."
"And your lies, yes," he adds, making her blush.
"Isn't Colonel Sheppard going to join us?" she asks in a small voice.
Woolsey gives her a tense smile. "Colonel Sheppard does not wish to see you for the time being, Ms Léger," he informs her, looking embarrassed, "and to tell you the truth, I can't blame him." She gasps and tears well-up in her eyes. "Yet you must know we've agreed on an appropriate punishment for your behavior." She nods quietly. "Do we agree you're guilty of all charges?" he asks, to make sure she understands she needs to be disciplined. She nods again and breathes out, trying to remain calm. He smiles at her gently. "It's only for your own good and the good of the City, Ms Léger. We do not want to be cruel after what you've been through but this is necessary. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir, I do. I will accept the punishment." She doesn't care what they're gonna do to her. She's been punished enough already by the absence of her friend at this very meeting.
"Very well, then. Colonel Sheppard and I have decided you will remain apart from the rest of this City for the next three weeks. You will stay in your quarters. No work, no walks to the kitchen or anywhere else except one hour per day spent at the gym if you wish but only on set hours when no one is around. No visits to or from your friends. No trip to the mainland and of course, no off-world missions. You will also hand me that headset now," he says, motioning for her to pass it along. She removes it and hands it to him relunctantly across the desk, still trying to grasp what this means. "Your walkie-talkie as well as your computer are being removed from your quarters as we speak. Your meals will be delivered to your quarters and a guard will be assigned to your door round the clock. That will be all." He says sternly, making it clear the meeting is over.
She stands in a transe and finally musters the courage to speak. "You're shunning me?" she whispers, her voice hoarse with unshed tears.
He nods. "Colonel Sheppard wanted to put you in the brig but he realized you might still find a way to see people. This way, he hopes, you'll finally understand what choosing to fend for oneself feels like."
He signals for the guard to come in. She looks Woolsey in the eye before being escorted back to her room. "I'm sorry," she simply says.
He smiles sadly at her. "I know you are. And I know Colonel Sheppard's decision is harsh but I believe it's an apt punishment for what you did."
She walks back to her room, her head down, letting the information sink in – he's the one who came up with her sentence, even if Woolsey agrees with it. She gulps and tries to keep the tears at bay while she passes people in the corridors. They take a transporter to the private quarters' section of the City and when they exit it, he's on the far end of the hall, talking to Zelenka, his arms crossed over his chest. He lifts his head as he sees her and the marine step into the hall. Their eyes lock for what feels like an eternity and she doesn't care that people see her crying by now. She lets the tears fall freely from her eyes and doesn't care to brush them away.
He bites his bottom lip and for a split second, she thinks he's going to come and talk to her but the moment has passed and he steers Zelenka away from the hall, breaking eye contact, and never turns back. "We need to keep moving, Ma'am," the marine tells her. He's gentle but he's got orders. Sheppard has been adamant about it – no softies on this shift. She needs to be an example for the rest of the City.
She doesn't see him again during those weeks, nor does she see anyone else except her guards, who change every day. She feels like a lion in a cage. Not even Jen is allowed in her quarters. They take her twice a week to the infirmary for her check ups and on those occasions, her guards are always females who stay in the room and remind the doctor she's not allowed to talk to her except for medical reasons.
Jen worries about her health and storms one day in Sheppard's office. "She's lost four pounds, Sheppard," she growls at him. "I've been told she barely touches her trays. She exerts herself in the gym and has asked to be taken there in the middle of the night because, apparently, she's got problems sleeping. When is this mockery gonna end?" she demands, hands on hips.
He shrugs, looking detached. "Checked her vitals?" he asks casually.
"Yeah!" she replies, royally pissed.
"So?" he prods, raising his eyebrows.
"Have you heard a word of what I just said?" she counters.
He shrugs. "Yeah, I have. If she wants to starve herself or deprive herself of sleep, her problem. Now, if you tell me she needs to be hospitalized, that's a different matter." She shakes her head. "Well, then," he says, pointing at the door," this conversation is over."
"Don't you care about her?" she demands.
He sniggers. "It's because I care a little bit too much about her she's in there, Doc. She needs to understand once and for all before she gets herself killed."
Her door whooshes open, taking her by surprise. It's not the time for her daily walk to the gym or her meals. Mr Woolsey comes in and nods at the guard, who closes the door.
She looks at him in surprise. "Mr Woolsey? Has my sentence been upturned?"
He shakes his head. "Not exactly, Ms Léger, but I might have to lift it for the time being. I need your help."
She feels a sense of foreboding. No way John has allowed for her to be on any mission while she's being shunned. Something must be the matter. She motions for him to take the chair and sits herself on the edge of her bed.
"I'm afraid Colonel Sheppard and his team have been abducted," he informs her and lays a hand on hers when he sees her stand in alarm. "Sit, Ms Léger. We need to make hasty work. I need to explain the situation to you and then I'll tell you how you come into the picture."
She gears up in haste and is joined by Lorne who's come back fom yet another wild goose chase reconnaissance mission. They have found no trace of them and their only hope rests in the negociation Mr Woolsey is about to lead. "We've located Beckett. He'll join you off-world. Major Harriman is going to escort you with Ridgeway. Louise, I need you to understand this could turn out to be a very dangerous mission. We don't know who to trust anymore and you're about to try and use leverage on our trading partners. I know Mr Woolsey briefed you on it but Colonel Sheppard is not here..."
"And if he were, he'd never allow me to go off-world because it's too dangerous, I know," she pouts. "John has got to stop trying to damn protect me and you have to stop acting as his understudy," she points out wickedly.
Lorne pouts. She shakes her head. The guy does know how to make her feel guilty for being nasty and she can never be pissed at him. One too many eye candy on base, she sniggers inwardly.
"You well know why he protects you so," he counters, giving her a look.
She sighs. "Because I'm reckless, I know."
He shakes his head. "You two are as blind and stupid as can be and this thing is getting old, ya' know. He loves you, silly, and is afraid you might not make it alive, that's all! Come on," he huffs, not waiting for an answer. "We gotta gate. We have to get these nogociations going. These people need to understand they don't want to get on the wrong side of our petite cook!" he sniggers. She stays stubborly rooted in place so he wheels round. "What?" he demands.
She shakes her head despondently. "What is it with you all, people? John doesn't care a damn shit about what happens to me more than anyone else. He's just pissed I disobeyed him once again."
He shakes his head too. "Exactly what I was saying. You're really starting to piss me off, ya' know? Do you never stop and take the time to see how he looks at you?"
She scoffs. "Yeah, well, you'd better ask yourself how he looks at Larrin!"
He rolls his eyes and crosses his arms on his chest. "Ya' know, it takes a lot to make me fly off the handle but you're no ordinary woman, as quite a few eligible men have noticed on board, and you have to stop doing this – belittling yourself all the time. I say John Sheppard would go to hell and back for you. Period. And I know you'll do the same for him. That tells something, don't ya' think?" he grabs her arm. "Now, get going, lady. We have a few of our people to save. And stop gaping. It's not becoming!" he sniggers.
They've been going at it for hours – negociating with their most faithful and oldest trading partners. Lorne has gone to several of their planets and told them their "friend" – he's insisted on the word though he knows most are very fond of her – needed to see them asap. Woolsey wants her to make them see the light – that if John's team is declared guilty and sentenced to exile, Atlantis will be found guilty as well and shunned, meaning there will be no trading with the City anymore and no help from this powerful ally, either. She's taken Beckett with her because over the years, trading for food and medical supplies as well as help from the City's doctors has become a staple for those partners.
"They take us for granted, Ms Léger," Woolsey has told her. "They think they can turn a blind eye on what's happening so they can get both ends of the bargain – the political support of the coalition as well as our help. I want you to show them they're going to lose much more than they can win."
She huffs at hearing yet another excuse from her so-called friends and finally flies off the hook. "You got to be kidding me, right?" she growls. "You really think we're going to go on trading with people who are ready to let their friends be sentenced to a shunning on a barely habitable planet? You think we'll go on helping you?" She sees Beckett's reproving look but looks at him intently, hoping he gets her lead.
She slaps her hand on the negociation table. "Well, guess what! If my friends' team is condemned in this so-called mockery of a trial, it won't be long before we leave this galaxy altogether and let you all take care of your sorry asses on your own. No more trade, no free medical help, no military support. You'll be on your own, kids, and good luck with that!" she adds, staring them down. "Oh and let's not forget the trading organization we've created under Dr Weir's leadership for which I devote quite a large amount of my free time – free of charge, might I add. You think it will survive our departure and the subsequent taking over by the coalition? Do you really think those guys will help you without compensation?"
She snorts disdainfully and gets up from her chair, ignoring their looks of dismay. "I'm out of here. Clearly, I'm wasting my time! You coming, Carson?" she asks casually. Her heart is beating two hundred miles an hour. John has tried to teach her poker tons of time but ended up quitting because she's not able to bluff and cannot help giggling every time she does. This time, though, she doesn't feel like giggling. She feels murderous.
Beckett stands and follows her lead. "You're right, love. It's high time we flew the City back to the Milky Way where it belongs. We'll figure a way with our scientists back there to get to our guys. Did McKay ever mention to you Sam Carter is even more brilliant than he is?" he says casually, as they head to the door, not sparing a look for the people around the table.
She sees where this is leading. Apparently, she's not the only one with an ace in the hole. "Yeah," she drawls lazily. "And that's without counting McKay's sister. Those two are gonna make a great team."
"You were brilliant back there," Lorne compliments her and Beckett. "Did I mention they were brilliant?" he insists, his eyes twinkling with pride. They're all sitting at one of the tables in the mess hall. John, his team and Woolsey have returned earlier on and they've just finished sharing a hearty meal Louise has prepared for them.
John is sitting opposite Louise, lounging in his chair. He scratches at his five-o' clock shadow looking thoughtful. "You might have," he deadpans but then his eyes twinkle and lock with hers and she lets out the breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thank you all," he says and raises from his chair. "Celebrations are well and dandy but I know of a certain lady who has not finished her penance," he points out wickedly, making everyone protest around the table.
She doesn't say a word and stands. Woolsey does too. "Surely, Colonel, with all she's done today to help save you, you cannot think of making her go back to her quarters. There are only a few days left on her sentence..."
"A deal is a deal, Mr Woolsey, and she accepted it. Didn't you?" he asks Louise. She nods silently and hangs her head. Whatever she does will not change what she's done back there. "Come on," he says sternly, motioning for her to follow him. "Time to head back to your cell, jailbird." She sees the shadow of a smile forming on his lips but doesn't dare hope he'll change his mind. To be fair, he's right. She cannot be seen as the teacher's pet and people need to learn from her mistake. After checking it's OK with him, she hugs her friends one by one and then leaves by his side towards her quarters. He doesn't utter a word while they are on the transporter or the corridors but follows her inside her room. There's no guard at the moment in front of her door.
"You don't need to put a guard on my door, John. I'll comply with your rules. I promise," she says, shuffling her feet.
He bites his bottom lip and reaches out in his pocket. He hands her her headset. "You're still grounded, Léger, and the headset is only set to reach my channel. Should you wish to talk to me," he adds before heading for the door.
"John?" she calls after him.
He turns and watches her expectantly. "Louise?"
"I do wish to talk to you. Thank you," she says with a tentative smile. He nods and leaves. She smiles at the door that whooshes closed and counts to ten before she taps her headset.
"You waited long enough," he replies gruffly. She giggles. "No giggling, Louise. Shall I remind you you're still grounded?" he points out wickedly. He hears her snort and rolls his eyes. "Talk to you later," he sighs, heading for the balcony to join Woolsey who's instructed him to come and see him when he's done with her.
They stand in silence for a while after lighting their cigars. "Have you two found some common ground?" Woolsey asks. He's the one who suggested John might want to give her some peace offering and he's glad he has.
John takes a sip at his glass. "Don't know, Sir. I'm treading on shaky ground with her these days. I'd like to see us settle into a waltz and for some time I thought we were almost there but Louise and I, it's always been more like a chacha," he sniggers despondently.
Woolsey scoffs. "I get it. You like Ferris Wheels and she likes roller coasters. Give her time to adjust to the pace, Colonel. With everything that's happened in her life, it's no wonder she needs time to see the light. But she will. I'm sure she will," he assures his 2IC and pats his arm before leaving the younger man to his thoughts.
TBC
