Threat

I was allowed to return to my quarters, but I couldn't leave except for mealtimes. I didn't want to leave, anyway. I didn't like the way people looked at me in the corridors. I'd seen Evan, Keith and Paul in the Mess Hall, but they'd ignored me. Could I blame them?

I was married to a Venator.

I sat alone, the tables around me also empty. Evening meal was burgers – meat and vegetables between bread buns. I almost dropped my burger when Evan sat across from me.

"So," he said, "a Wraith, huh?"

I couldn't look at him. "Yeah."

"He's taken the therapy?"

"Yeah." I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that came with talking to Evan. Despite turning down his affections, I felt that he still wanted me, and I didn't like that. It wasn't right that he had to hold onto feelings for someone that could never return them.

"Ronon's not too happy."

"Ronon will never be happy about it. He hates the Venator too much."

"Do you hate them?"

"I… do. I do. Solus is an exception."

"Solus… so that's his name." Evan exhaled slowly. Blood pounded in my ears. "I guess… congratulations. Are you planning to stay?"

"I don't think I'd be welcome anymore. I'd just be a liability."

"Fair enough."

We fell silent and ate our food. I tried not to imagine what Evan would be feeling.

I guess… it would have been easier if I'd forsaken my vows and returned Evan's feelings. That would be an easily acceptable union and I would've stayed on Atlantis to be with him. However, it wouldn't be right. I would never be able to let go of my feelings for Solus. If I hadn't known Solus' love when I arrived here? There might have been a chance for Evan. Sometimes, things just didn't work out. In my situation, there was no way to make everybody happy.

"What do you wanna do?" Evan asked. I swallowed.

"I… want to leave, with Solus. I want to go back to the way things were before, just us." It was a relief to finally say it.

"Okay. I'll do whatever I can to make that happen." He smiled weakly.

"Thank you."

"It'll be easier to move on if you're not around, I guess." He froze. "Um, I don't know why I just said that. I'm so sorry."

I said nothing. Evan flushed and made a hasty retreat. On the other side of the Mess Hall, I spotted Paul and Keith. They saw me looking and waved.

Well, there might actually be a chance that Solus and I could get what we wanted.

o.O.o

I walked into the Conference Room exuding a confidence I didn't feel. Two people waited inside: Coolidge and Xiao Shen.

"Molli," Coolidge said. I sat down and swallowed.

"Please understand that we are not here to interrogate you," Xiao said. "We are merely here to get the facts behind this strange turn of events."

"Okay."

Coolidge leant forward in his chair. "Why did you come to Atlantis, knowing full well that you were under the power of such a creature?" I stared at him. Xiao turned her gaze to him, clearly annoyed at his question. He noticed the intensity of our stares and shrugged. "As far as I'm concerned, you're consorting with the enemy."

"I didn't 'come to Atlantis'. I was brought here without my knowledge."

"But you stayed."

"I had nowhere else to go."

"Do you feel that your involvement with the Wraith impacted your ability to take part in missions?" Xiao said, completely dismissing Coolidge.

"No. He's not a full Venator, anyway. He's a hybrid."

"Your Doctor's tests support that claim." Xiao cleared her throat. "Why did you keep this a secret?"

"I knew that this would happen." I gestured to Coolidge. He scoffed indignantly.

"With all due respect-"

"With all due respect," I snapped, "my marriage doesn't concern you. I didn't want to do this meeting, but you seem to think it necessary. Haven't I bled for Atlantis enough?"

"Watch it, girl," Coolidge said. "This interview is what stands between you and a cell in Area Fifty-One."

"Are you planning to imprison me?"

"That depends on the result of this interview."

"You're going to… imprison me… for falling in love?"

Silence.

Awkwardness.

Coolidge realised the stupidity of his claim and an ugly flush rose to his cheeks.

"That's not the point. The point is that you consorted with the enemy-"

"Before I came across the expedition." I frowned. "Am I on trial for something that happened well before I knew you existed?"

"No." Xiao glared at Coolidge. "We just wish to determine if your involvement will become a liability."

"It won't."

"Can you guarantee that?"

"I want to leave with my husband when we arrive back in Pegasus."

"Leave?" Coolidge gaped. "Knowing everything you do about the city and its defences? What if you were captured? We can't trust you to keep this secret."

"Coolidge," Xiao snapped, "that is enough."

"I spent six years avoiding imprisonment," I said. "Besides, no one wants me here. I can't make a life here anymore."

"Your future is important to the I.O.A.," Xiao said, speaking quickly so Coolidge couldn't interject. "We wish to make sure that no matter what you do, you will pose no risk to this expedition."

"Put us on a planet without a Ring." I shrugged. "Somewhere uninhabited."

"Not a bad idea." Coolidge laced his fingers together. "The I.O.A. will think about what to do with you and the Wraith. Dismissed."

"Thank you for coming," Xiao said, rolling her eyes.

o.O.o

The months passed on Earth. I remained in lockdown in my room, and Solus remained under quarantine in the observation room. We were allowed to see each other briefly every few days, and those brief visits were the only reason I kept my sanity.

Ronon refused to talk to me and likely never would again. At mealtimes, I ate with Evan, Keith and Paul, but conversation was usually between the men. I didn't quite fit anymore. I felt the rift between myself and the Lanteans growing with every passing morning and I began counting the days until we returned to Pegasus.

The treatment was a success. Using the results, Jennifer was able to synthesise a treatment for full Venators. Todd didn't consent to injection, which was understandable. I enjoyed sitting at Solus' bedside and stroking his palms or watching him eat human food. He was in awe of the variety of flavours that food could have.

"Now I understand why the humans are so insistent on us taking this therapy." He munched on a piece of fruit.

Then the six months were over. Finally. All expedition members returned to the city. Food was restocked, supplies were replenished, and the city was fully repaired. All Jumpers were recalled, and the countdown began.

John would fly the city this time. I laid in bed and stared at the ceiling as the city rumbled and rose from the ocean.

We were going home. Home to Pegasus.