Disclaimer - I do not own SGA or its characters. I do own Orla Grant. I am not making a profit from this story.

Rating - M for violence & threat.

A/N - Thank you to bailey1ak for being a great Beta and friend.

Setting; Season 5, Ronon / OC, Carson is still CMO of Atlantis but Keller is also on Atlantis.


Present Day

Sheppard entered the main laboratory looking for Rodney McKay. Working his way through to the rear of the lab he eventually saw the physicist fractiously pointing to the tablet he held in his hands while going back and forth between Major Lorne and Radek. Thinking the men looked like they'd welcome a break from the tirade he called out, "McKay?"

"Give me a minute, Sheppard," Rodney quickly dismissed the Colonel going back to his conversation.

"Everything okay, Colonel?" A voice to his left interrupted his thoughts.

Turning he saw the figure of Orla Grant; she was seated pouring over schematics. "Orla, how you doing, feeling okay?"

"I'm good thanks, just compiling the last information for Radek to take with him." She replied.

"Sheppard?" McKay cried out loudly.

"Rodney, see you got your team hard at it. Guessing you've got an answer as to how we stop the leak before we all become superheroes?"

"For the last time, nobody is turning into a superhero. It's not dangerous."

"You said we need Hazmat suits and to quarantine the area?"

"Well you do. Look, upon further testing, I was able to confirm its Alpha radiation. That in itself isn't dangerous, your clothing could block it at close contact. It can't travel far anyway before it loses its kinetic energy, grabs at the two of the nearest electrons turning itself into helium. Worst case your voice gets all squeaky."

"Why the suits then?" Sheppard quizzed.

"Because, like all radiation, Sheppard, it shouldn't be absorbed into your body. Whether that's from long term inhalation, a scratch or wound. Bodies don't like radiation internally. So, when Radek goes in to block the leak he'll need a suit. He'll be in the Pier longer than us. Same goes for Major Lorne. As for the quarantine you can cancel it. We'll put a notice up for a while until it naturally dissipates."

"Why aren't you taking care of this, you found the leak?" Sheppard queried.

"Because I have more important things to worry about than basic radiation. P2Y-3337 looks like it might have the right climate and infrastructure to be an Alpha site. I need to check over the details and make sure there are no hidden surprises. Might be worth organizing a trip out soon," McKay explained as he moved towards Orla. "How're the schematics coming along?"

McKay being nice and to a fellow scientist had Sheppard doing a double-take. The penny dropped, Ronon! McKay had always been able to complain, even snark at Orla at times as he did with Zelenka. But since the couple announced a baby was due, McKay was a little wary of upsetting a pregnant scientist whose partner just happened to be a hardened warrior and a friend.

"Good Dr McKay, just finished them now. You're right, once we contain AT0311 within the lead container the artefact is probably safe for at least the next 10 years." Orla announced to a beaming McKay.

"Great, here, let me take those schematics. I'll let Radek have them," McKay took the tablet from Orla and moved to find Radek.

"You know, you hold the most power of anyone in Atlantis at the moment," Sheppard whispered to Orla chuckling, amused at the scene he'd just witnessed.

"I do?"

"Let's see, you got Ronon walking around grinning at people, you know he's terrifying more people than ever now doing that, especially the Marines. They think he's nice, then wham, he sends them to Beckett. You got Rodney, terrified of making you cry, he thinks Ronon's probably lurking in a corner ready to defend you. Come to think of it, that's probably not so strange. You have Woolsey who's worried you'll have the baby any second. Teyla's trying to teach Ronon patience, not to mention threatening everyone with her Bantos Rods if she hears of you being upset. Not sure about the other amigos but I can imagine the havoc they'll rage sooner or later with baby showers and stuff. Then you got me," he smiled at Orla who was looking nonplussed. "Makes me feel a little happy to know there's gonna be a kid about the place, probably wanting his Uncle John to teach him to fly, after all, he might get the gene passed down."

Orla laughed, "I didn't stop to think about the gene being passing down, I guess it could. But what if it's a girl? Will you be interested in teaching her to fly?"

"Course I would, you know that, whatever the baby is, it's gonna have everyone wrapped around their little finger, you do know that?" Sheppard smiled broadly.

"Orla?" Ronon shouted as he strode purposefully into the laboratory.

McKay jumped upon hearing the large ex-runner's shout, he swallowed a yelp of surprise that threatened to escape. He wasn't truly terrified of the man, just a bit. He didn't doubt he could push Ronon into causing him actual harm but he also knew that more often than not, Ronon kept Rodney away from harm. "Where the hell did you come from?" he yelled.

Ronon stared at McKay just a little more stoic than normal, "where'd you think?" He watched the physicist pull at his jacket trying to regain his composure and quietly snorted, he knew he could intimidate McKay, he liked to, now and again, just to make the man remember to be kind to Orla, even if she did berate him for it.

"Ronon, over here," Orla called.

"Try to be nicer Chewie. Sometimes we need his brains," Sheppard reasoned.

"Humph! Thought I'd take Orla to the mess hall to get some food."

"I can't Ronon, need to make sure everything goes okay with AT0311."

"You're not going near that box!" Said Ronon growled.

"Of course not," Orla added quickly, "but there are power fluctuations and variables I need to watch to make sure Radek and Lorne are okay. We can go eat afterward?" She tried to reason.

"Thought you'd say that, here, brought some food," with that Ronon handed over a pillowcase full of food.

"Ronon, is this our pillowcase?" Orla exclaimed incredulously.

Ronon shrugged his shoulders, "didn't have a bag."

"Oh food!" McKay excitedly uttered as he slid alongside the large Satedan helping himself, "really shouldn't have this in the lab you know but since you're, you know, with baby, we can let it slide, this time. Oh nice, Chicken Caesar wrap!"

"That's for Orla," Ronon barked grabbing the wrap from McKay.

"It's fine Ronon, there's plenty, let Rodney have it, he needs food too."

"Like I said, not even born yet …" Sheppard winked at Orla as Ronon and Rodney looked confused at one another.


Zelenka moved steadily in the hazmat suit with Major Lorne at his side, they entered the South Pier. The suits making every step difficult, gestures had to be exaggerated to work.

"Major Lorne, this way, we need AT0311," Radek explained as he pointed to the aisle to his left.

"After you, Radek."

The pair slowly made their way down the aisle checking the tech's designation until they'd reached the case. "Here," was all Radek remarked pointing to a small black case.

"Now what?"

"Now, I seal the container, we will weld it closed then we contain it inside the lead container you have in your hands," the scientist explained. "You must stand back; welding is not good in this environment and the less time you are exposed to it, the better."

"What about you, Radek?"

"I'm fine, I know what I'm doing but please stand back a little until I ask for the lead container."

"It's pretty heavy, can I leave it on the floor?"

"Of course, but please stand back." Radek began the slow process of welding the leaking container's seal permanently shut. Finally, he placed the now extinguished welding torch onto the floor and stood up. "Major, the container if you please?"

"Say Doc, can you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That, the ticking, you can't hear it? Come closer to me and listen," Lorne beckoned.

"I hear it, you're wearing a loud watch?"

"Me? No, you?" Lorne asked.

"No, come quickly we must finish this job before we explore the noise, one problem at a time."

Lorne bent down grabbed the lead container and handed it over to Radek. He watched as the scientist fitted the smaller container inside the new lead box and sealed it shut. Then he lifted the box and finally moved it back into place from where they'd originally found it.

The ticking grew louder and louder.

Suddenly, everything went deadly quiet, what followed the men would go on to describe as a sudden wall of pressure followed by what sounded like a "whomp". Both men looked at each other, neither had passed out or appeared injured, they shrugged.


Atlantis' alarms began to wail, lights flickered albeit briefly bringing Woolsey quickly out of his office and down into the gate room. "Report!"

"Power fluctuations, Sir, don't know much more just yet," Chuck replied frantically trying to work out if Atlantis was under attack.

McKay, Sheppard and Ronon entered the gate room minutes later on the run.

"Move," demanded an almost breathless McKay to Chuck as he rushed toward the power console.

"What do we know, Sir?" Sheppard yelled, turning to Woolsey.

"Nothing yet, Colonel."

As the alarms quieted, the men looked at one another and then finally to McKay. "Doctor?" Woolsey asked tentatively.

Rodney ignored the Lantean Commander, this couldn't be right, he thought. He anxiously re-read the console. "No, no, no, no," was all he uttered as he moved back and forth from one console to another.

"McKay," Sheppard asked growing agitated by Rodney's manner, "what's happening?"

"We've lost power," he added in disbelief.

"Lights still on," Ronon said matter-of-factly.

"Oh right, that's okay then," McKay snarked before he could say something further, he was interrupted by Woolsey.

"Dr McKay, perhaps you'd care to elaborate?"

"For some reason, and no I don't know why, yet, we've lost a tremendous amount of energy from the ZPM. This is serious, we're talking a lot of power."

"How?" Ronon asked.

"How do I know, I just got here!"

Ronon began to growl, his irritation at Rodney's snarky manner beginning to show. Sheppard stepped forward placing a hand on Ronon's shoulder squeezing it lightly telling the man to quiet down. "McKay, figure out what's happened then let us know, asap." Sheppard demanded.

"Give me a few minutes." Static blew from Rodney's earpiece causing him to wince and pull at the offending radio. "What the hell?" he screamed throwing the radio onto the keyboard. "My radio's fried, all that's coming through is static." He looked at Sheppard, "Yours?"

Sheppard tapped at his earpiece; static buzzed from it. "Mine too," he pulled the offending radio from his ear, "Rodney keep trying to figure out what just happened, I'll go get some more radios."

"Dr McKay, you said we've lost a lot of power from the ZPM, are we in danger?" Woolsey asked.

"Not imminently, unless it happens again of course," McKay garbled as he resumed his work.

Sheppard hurriedly re-entered the gate room with multiple radios. Handing one to Woolsey and McKay he turned to Ronon and then paused. "I'm gonna hazard a guess you're not wearing your radio, Ronon?"

"Nope."

Sheppard sighed, "You gotta learn to wear one on Atlantis while on duty, Ronon."

"Why? I'm usually with you anyway."

"Not the point, Buddy. Here, put it on. What if Orla needs you?" Sheppard hoped he'd at least get through to him using the scientist as an example.

"She'd come find me," Ronon responded flatly.

"What if she couldn't?" Sheppard's patience was wearing thin.

"Why wouldn't she be able to find me?"

"Just wear it, Ronon! McKay, anything?" Sheppard shouted.

"Umm," McKay fitted his radio into place clicking the channel open to test it when the agitated voice of Radek Zelenka broke through. "Radek, slow down, you're talking gibberish!"

"Did you hear it, Dr McKay," Radek excitedly explained, relieved he could finally get through to the main building.

"Hear what? We've had a power failure, the ZPM has been drained of power. Wait, hear what, what did you hear?"

"I was with Major Lorne in the South Pier, we heard a noise, it was a ticking sound. We were about to place the radioactive container into the lead one. Not long afterward it quieted but then we heard another sound. It was like being hit with a great wave of sound; it made a whomping noise. We've located the device it's a cylinder, grey with just a symbol on the top."

"What the hell is a whomping noise? Wait, when was the sound?"

"It's a sound like whomp beyond that I do not know how to explain it Rodney. It wasn't long ago, maybe 15 minutes," Radek explained, "Major Lorne and I are leaving the Pier now, should we bring the device with us?"

"No! If it's the device that drained the ZPM then I don't want it anywhere near the gate room!" bellowed McKay.

"Rodney?" Sheppard hissed, "what's going on?"

"Come back in Radek, get decontaminated and meet Orla and I in the lab," Rodney turned to Sheppard, "sounds like we may have found the reason for the energy loss, not a hundred percent sure but I don't believe in coincidences."

"Explain on the way back to the lab, Rodney, Mr. Woolsey once we've ascertained the actual reason for the loss of energy, I'll report back to you. Ronon, you're with me." Sheppard nodded at the Lantean Commander not waiting for anyone to brook his decisions as he headed for the exit.