Promises Made
Summary: Dr. Weir steps through the gate with Sheppard and his team. You don't really expect things to go well, do you? Part of my Conversations Universe.
Spoilers: It's mostly AU now, but up to Childhood's End to be safe.
Disclaimers: Stargate Atlantis and its characters do not belong to me.
Author's Note: Thanks again for all the reviews of my other stories. (Sorry for some of the incorrect science stuff in the one before this.) For this one, I thought I'd give a little credit to Weir's negotiation skills since it's mentioned in her bio...plus we all know that Sheppard isn't any good at it. Standard rules for this AU apply: while this isn't a full on Weir/Sheppard fic, there will be shippy undertones.
"I don't think she's going to like this."
Lt. Aiden Ford is sitting across the conference room table from Major John Sheppard with his arms crossed and his head shaking from side to side.
"I don't just think she won't like it, I know she won't like it." That remark is from the man sitting next to Ford, Dr. Rodney McKay.
"I concur with Dr. McKay." Teyla's agreement makes John scowl. He notices that they all chose to sit separated from him...but he's probably just being paranoid.
"Come on guys. I don't think you're giving her enough credit. Weir is going to fine with this."
"What exactly am I going to be fine with?"
The voice behind him makes John flinch despite himself. He beams up at Dr. Elizabeth Weir.
"Elizabeth! How are you? Have a good time on the mainland? Baby doing okay?"
Damn! No smile. And yup, there goes the eyebrow.
Weir is looking at him with narrowed eyes, clearly suspicious at his cheery tone and attempt to change the subject. She finally sits down with a slight shake of her head.
"The mainland is doing well. Mother and baby are both healthy. I've left Dr. Beckett with Amara just in case." She turns to Teyla. "Amara is eager to present her first-born to you."
"Thank for ensuring that the birth went well. I look forward to visiting with her after the briefing."
"We have a Jumper ready and waiting." Sheppard thinks he's been successful in changing the subject until Elizabeth turns back to him. "So what was it that I'm going to be fine with?"
Sheppard decides to start with a little background.
"There are actually two different civilizations on Teyne. We were able to meet with both - didn't want to look like we're favoring one over the other. They apparently have an agreement for each to use the Stargate. It's actually an interesting coincidence that the Stargate sits in the middle of both their lands..."
Elizabeth is now frowning. "You're stalling." She turn to the three sitting across the table. There's no hesitation.
"The Teynes are in the middle of a civil war." Starts McKay.
"They are currently in a fragile cease fire." Teyla adds.
"Major Sheppard offered your help to broker a more stable peace agreement." Finishes Ford.
"You mean our help, right?" Sheppard starts to answer Weir, but Ford beats him to it.
"No. Major Sheppard volunteered your help specifically."
Traitor. Sheppard scowls at Ford. He was going to break that to her a little slower.
"Did he now?" Elizabeth does not sound happy.
Correction – traitors. The three of them are all nodding their heads. Way to stand together as a team, guys.
Sheppard's scowl isn't nearly as effective as Weir's and his team is not sorry to be sitting away from their CO.
"They really need help. And there's nobody as qualified as you to help them achieve the peace they need. You've had so much success in the past."
Elizabeth ignores his attempt to compliment her previous accomplishments and turns to the other side of the table.
"Aiden, Rodney. I'd like your briefing reports by the end of the day. Teyla, you're free to go to the mainland after your checkup in the infirmary."
Sheppard's team get up eagerly in a chorus of thank yous and see you laters. At least Teyla shoots him a look of compassion as she walks out the door. Elizabeth turns back to him, waiting for an explanation of his most recent actions.
"I can explain."
"That's doubtful, but I'd like to hear you try."
"They really are hurting themselves with this war. There's no need for them to be fighting each other when they need to worry about the Wraith."
"And?"
"Peace is good."
"And?"
"And McKay thinks there may be a ZPM in the ruins which sits in an area whose ownership is contested by both governments." Sheppards lets out in a rush.
"So if we achieve peace, we get access to the ruins?"
"Not exactly."
"What exactly did you agree to?"
"We provide a moderator to broker a peace accord between the two governments and help them rebuild some of the more heavily damaged areas from the war."
"In return, we get..."
"An ally in the fight against the Wraith and food when they can start actively farming again."
"What reaction do you think we'll get when we start poking around in their ruins?"
"I don't really know. I was hoping that we could try out McKay's tracker and see if there's anything viable before bringing it up in the negotiations."
"So we don't really know if there's a ZPM in the ruins?"
"We were too far away to get a reading."
"Let me see if I have this right. You have agreed for me to negotiate peace between two governments I know nothing about and stretch our already tight resources to help them rebuild from a long civil war. In return, we get food when they eventually recover from this war – if the Wraith manage not to attack in the meantime – along with maybe getting a chance to get close enough to pinpoint a ZPM that we have no guarantee of being able to walk away with."
It really doesn't sound so good when she puts it that way.
"Don't forget gaining an ally against the Wraith."
"And they have weaponry to help fend off a Wraith attack?"
"They're about at pre-WWII levels minus the tanks and planes and battleships and stuff."
"Do you not understand that the goal of negotiations is for both sides to gain something positive?"
"Which is exactly why you need to be involved in this!"
If possible, her glare gets more intense.
"You're really pushing it with me Major."
"I know. I'm sorry, Legs. But it was the only thing I could think of. It's an opportunity we can't ignore."
"You've already promised both sides I would do this, didn't you?"
"Uh, yeah. There was no way we were going to get access to the ruins if they start fighting again."
"And you think it'll be safe for us to be in the middle of a situation where hostilities could break out at any moment?"
This makes John frown. He really hadn't thought about putting Elizabeth in danger.
"I would never let anything happen to you."
Elizabeth smiles. His concern is touching even though she's still annoyed.
"Bates is going to have a fit when I tell him that I'm going off-world."
"So you'll do it?"
Elizabeth sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose before looking back at John.
"I don't think you've really given me much of a choice."
