Chapter 2: Malfunctions

Rodney was sitting on the couch enjoying a movie with Jennifer when his com activated. He decided that he was going to ignore it; he didn't get time off very often and as it was Easter Sunday he was going to enjoy his time with Jennifer. Leaning down he grabbed a chocolate egg from the bowl on the coffee table, sat up and ate it while putting his arm around her.

He looked at Jennifer and she seemed engrossed in the movie, so she didn't look up when his com activated again. Cuddling closer to Jennifer, he ignored it again.

"Aren't you going to get that?" She asked him still staring at the movie.

"No I'm not. It's my day off and I intend to enjoy it with you. If there's a problem Radek can handle it.

"Radek wouldn't be trying to contact you if he could handle it, would he?" She asked with a look of determination that he'd seen a few times before.

"I guess you're right." He told her and tapped his earpiece.

"McKay here."

"Rodney its Radek here, we appear to have a virus in the computer system and transporters are down."

"Is there any other systems affected at the moment?"

"Yes it appears that internal sensors are affected as well."

"Well keep working on it and I'll be there in ten minutes, McKay out."

"See you soon, Zelenka out."

He turned to look and Jennifer and the look that crossed her face could only be described as disappointment. "I'm sorry Jenn, but I have to go."

She looked at him and smiled, "you and I both know that the safety of Atlantis and its inhabitants is paramount."

"Thanks for understanding Jenn, hopefully I'll be back by lunch time and can you please save some of that chocolate for me?"

"Anything for you Rodney." She told him and then kissed him on the lips, "I'll see you later darling."

Rodney pulled away from her and he waved as he left her quarters, he couldn't wait to get back there, as it was his day off after all.

Luckily Jennifer's quarters were close to his lab; he only had to go up one flight of stairs to get there. They were close to the infirmary as well; he suspected that was why she had chosen them.

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The pile of eggs and candy on the floor was steadily getting larger, as Teyla and Torren continued to search for eggs. She suspected that they would need something bigger than the basket John was thinking of to transport them all.

Watching Torren searching for and finding eggs was an amazing thing, as she never had so much fun growing up. Torren would grow up in a very different world than she did. He would grow up with access to earth and all the wonderful things that she never did. She had tears brimming in her eyes when she thought of all the opportunities he would have for a college education when he got older.

She had made up her mind to ask John to undertake the bonding ceremony and for him to officially become Torren's father according to the traditions of her people. She had discussed it with Kanaan and he was happy for her to proceed with the handing over ceremony for Torren; the only thing that he asked was that he be allowed to see Torren from time to time.

She was startled from her contemplation by Torren speaking to her, "Momma you otay?"

She looked down at her son and smiled, he'd been eating chocolate again that was evidenced by the amount on his face and clothes. She also suspected that he'd need a diaper change soon as well and it wouldn't be nice for the person who had to change it. Of course she had forgotten to bring the diaper bag as well.

"I'm okay sweetheart I'm just wondering where daddy is."

"Loot Momma." Torren said as he pointed to the pile of eggs and candy on the floor.

"That is a lot of eggs Torren. I hope daddy will be able to find something big enough to put it all in. Do you think that you have found them all?"

"I tink so Momma."

"Okay let us sit over here and wait for daddy then."

"Where Daddy?" Torren asked looking around the room they were in.

"I am not sure sweetheart. Daddy went looking for a basket, but he has not returned yet. If he does not come back soon I will try and contact him."

"Otay Momma." Torren said, as he sat down and cuddled up to her.

As she held him tight and cuddled him, she wondered how much longer John would be. Settling back, she thought about closing her eyes and having a nap. Looking at her son she realised that he had already fallen asleep. Closing her own eyes, it wasn't long before she fell into a deep sleep.

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Rodney arrived in his lab ten minutes later to find that Radek was waving his hands in the air and talking to himself.

"What's happening Radek?"

Radek turned and looked at him, "I have absolutely no idea."

Rodney took a stool beside of him and turned on his computer, "Wow this is a real mess how long ago did start?"

"It's been going on for about an hour now and I haven't been able to find a cause." Radek explained, running his fingers through his unruly hair.

Rodney furrowed his brow, "and it's only the transporters and internal sensors?"

"Yes it is at this stage."

"Okay, well I'm here now, so let's get started."

He watched as Radek stood up and he wondered what he was up too, "Hey Radek where are you going? We've got work to do."

"I'm just going to get some coffee, would you like some?" Radek asked, with a confused look on his face, one that Rodney knew well.

"Thanks Radek that would be great."

It wasn't long before Radek put a steaming hot cup of coffee in front of him and they were both able to get to work."

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Woolsey awoke after a long peaceful night's sleep, feeling more refreshed than he had for a long time. He was planning on having the whole day off and he'd even ordered himself some chocolate from earth, which had been delivered the last time the Daedalus had docked on Atlantis. He suspected that Torren would be sick this evening by the large amount of Chocolate and candy Colonel Sheppard had had delivered that day as well.

He knew that it was none of his business how much chocolate the Colonel fed his son, but he would hate to have to clean up the mess if Torren was sick.

He didn't dwell on the matter for long, because today he was going to enjoy himself, however others planned to enjoy the day was there choice and not his.

He hopped out of his bed and got himself dressed and decided that he would go to the mess hall for his breakfast and everything was going well until he tried to open his door and it remained closed. Sighing he tried again and still nothing happened. Great this is the last thing I need, he thought.

He tapped his earpiece, "Woolsey to McKay come in please?"

"I'm a bit busy now, Mr Woolsey."

"What is going on Dr McKay, the door to my quarters won't open."

"Great that's another malfunction we have to deal with."

"How many other malfunctions are there?"

"At this point it's only the internal sensors and transporters. Oh and now it's the doors as well."

"Do you know where Colonel Sheppard is, do you know if he able to get to the control room?"

"The last time I saw Sheppard, he was off on an egg hunt with Torren and Teyla. At the moment there is no way for him to get to the control room."

"Can you let him know what's going on please and then try and contact the control room, I guess I'll have to find something to eat in my room this morning."

"I'll keep working on it, McKay out."

"Keep me informed, Woolsey out."

He had no idea what he was going to do now. I guess I should look and see what I can have for breakfast. Walking over to his small kitchen he looked in his fridge and cupboard, all he could find was half a loaf of bread and some coffee. Chocolate and Coffee it is then.

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Teyla was awakened by a strange crackling sound coming from her ear and for a while she was so disoriented that she couldn't quite work out what it was. She slowly became aware and realised that she was sitting against a cold hard wall. Why, am I here and why am I sleeping against a wall and what is that strange crackling sound. These are all good questions so maybe I'd better open my eyes and find out.

Opening her eyes she began to look around and soon realised that Torren was sitting next to her fast asleep that's when it all came back to her, they were on an Easter hunt and John was supposed to be going to get something to carry the eggs in.

She heard the crackling in her ear again and realised that it was her com unit activating, which meant someone was trying to contact her.

She tapped the earpiece, "Teyla here?"

"Teyla its Rodney here, at last you've answered, I've been trying to contact Sheppard for half an hour is he with you?"

"No he has gone to get a basket to put our Easter eggs in." She had no idea what the time was and she suspected that more than twenty minutes had passed since John had left. "Rodney what time is it?"

"It's 1100 hours, I would have thought you'd be finished your hunt by now and be back in your quarters."

"Well John left well over and hour ago and I have not seen him since and why are you trying to contact him Rodney?"

"Well the transporters, doors and internal sensors are malfunctioning and Woolsey wants me to let Sheppard know what's going on."

"He is definitely not down here with me, so I have no idea where he is."

"Well maybe he'll find his way to the control room by himself. Sit tight Teyla, we'll get this fixed as soon as possible, or if you feel like a long walk I'm sure you can find your way back to your quarters, McKay out."

"I think we will stay here for now, Teyla out."

Teyla leant back against the wall and closed her eyes again; this was definitely not the way she wanted to spend the day. She and John had so much planned and now she was stuck in the lower levels of Atlantis with her young son and all they had to eat was chocolate and candy. She had no doubt that at some point during the day Torren was going to be sick from an over consumption of chocolate.

She opened her eyes when she felt someone shaking her and looked down to see her son staring at her.

"Torren you are awake did you have a nice nap." She asked him gently.

"Yes Momma, where Daddy?"

"I have absolutely no idea where Daddy is at the moment, but hopefully he will be back soon."

"Otay Momma, eat Choclit." Torren suggested handing her a large egg.

She took it from him and started to eat it. It wasn't really what she needed right now, but it was all there was, so she decided that she would enjoy it,

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It took a moment for John to realise that the malfunctioning transporter had dumped him outside. He hadn't been to this area of the city before, but he suspected that it was going to be a long walk back to his quarters.

Maybe I should head to the control room and see what is going on, he thought, while heading over to a door which would lead to the interior of the city.

Swiping his hand over the door panel, he totally expected it to open, when it didn't he felt the urge to hit something. He tried again and still nothing.

He knew that he should have brought his headset with him, but Teyla had taken hers with her when they'd left the apartment and the last thing he thought would happen would be this. Which was really stupid of him, because this was Atlantis and anything could go wrong on any given day, the fact that it was Easter Sunday and his day off made no difference.

He looked over the railing of the small balcony he was on and realised that there was a narrow walkway around most of the city and he hoped that if he followed it eventually he would come to an open door.

As he was standing there contemplating what he should do next, a shooting pain shot through his leg again. Holding on to the wall he decided that he should sit down for a while and rest.

Sitting down he thought back to what had happened a few days ago in the gym. He had been sparring with Ronon and had been thrown on the mat several times; he'd managed to floor Ronon a few time's as well though. One time he had hit the edge of the mat hard and it had jarred his leg, he had felt the radiating pain at the time and thought nothing of it, as after a few minutes it had calmed down again. Perhaps he should have gone to the infirmary then and got one of the docs to check it out.

He knew there was no sense in thinking about what he should have done back then, because it wouldn't help him in his current predicament. Closing his eyes he decided that it wouldn't hurt to rest for a while and maybe take a little nap; it was his day off after all.

TBC…

There's not much of John in this chapter, but there will be in the next chapter.