— HIDDEN RESOURCES —

PART SIX: INSIDE AND OUT

Sheppard worked out a crick in his neck, watching as Dr. Weir paced the room. Her jaw was clenched tightly, something which Sheppard didn't find too surprising after what he'd just told her. Finally, she stopped moving, sighing slightly.

"Frankly, Major, I don't understand."

Sheppard shrugged, "What's not to understand?"

"If you were so sure they were lying to you," she explained, leaning over the table and squinting at him, "then why did you leave Teyla, Lieutenant Ford and Doctor McKay there? You know what McKay is like with new technology—he's worse than the proverbial fox in a henhouse."

Sheppard grinned, he'd have to remember to use that one next time he saw Teyla. "Meaning?"

"Meaning he's not going to wait for you to return before tackling this so-called shield. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if hasn't already disposed of it."

Sheppard's eyes narrowed a little, "Really? You think he's that good?"

"Major...."

"Right, yes, well, look," Sheppard titled his head at her, "so what? I didn't tell him not to try. And if he has gotten rid of it, great for the folks of Deucalion. And good for us, because then we should be able to strike a deal with them to let us study it," his eyebrows waggled, "maybe even find a way to copy it for our own benefit. If McKay can figure out how it works—"

"But Major!" Weir was standing up straight, her hands clenched, "You just got through telling me they couldn't be trusted! And now you want to be friends with them?"

Sheppard grimaced, then he shrugged, "Well, I've been thinking it over, and it's possible I may have been over thinking things. I mean, sure, the governor's a politician, but so are you, and I don't hold that against you anymore."

Weir blinked, and a crooked smile creased her face. "Thanks," she mocked, "I think."

"Don't mention it."

"Look, Major—"

"Doc, there is another reason."

Her lips pinched together, then she nodded, "You think we should try to help if we can."

"Yes."

"Because it's our fault they were attacked without warning."

"Yes."

"Even though you don't trust them."

The major opened his mouth once more to say "yes," but the word died in his throat. He just couldn't ignore his instincts, and Weir knew it. Finally he sighed, shaking his head.

"I don't know. Something felt wrong, but I was the only one who thought so, and they were in some serious trouble. McKay can probably help, and who are we really to deny them that?"

She watched him a moment longer until, finally, a genuine smile graced her face. "Okay," she said softly, "Thing is, Major, I tend to think your instincts are usually right, and it's very likely that you have good reason not to trust these people, even if it's nothing obvious. So, here's how we're going to play this. You're going back there, but not alone. Take another team with you, one which can stay by the gate and be in radio contact in case something does happen in Deucalion. In the meantime, you join back up with your team and let McKay work. However, if he hasn't made any progress or thinks that he can make progress by the time it gets dark on that planet," she looked down at her watch, "assuming that's about eight hours from now, then I want you to bring them all back here. I'll take care of McKay if he complains."

Sheppard smiled, "Oh, he'll complain." He winced, "In fact, I can hear him already."

Weir smiled more broadly, "Like I said, I'll handle it." She looked down at her watch again, "By the way, if you meant what you said to Teyla about returning within the hour, you'd best leave now." She looked up, "I just hope nothing has happened since you've been gone."

"Oh come on," Sheppard laughed, standing up, "it's only been an hour. What could happen in an hour?"

Ford and Teyla strode down the hall to the Governor's office in perfect step with each other, their expressions identical—they were both furious. A still stoic Colonel Luphron led the way, and several other guards walked with them. Ford was hefting McKay's backpack, because the Deucalion scientists had all been eyeing it greedily—like vultures—and he wasn't about to let those people touch the doctor's thing. Both Atlanteans also still held on to their weapons, as Ford was very clear in his determination not to give them up, and, again, the people of Deucalion had backed down. Ford had a strong suspicion that these people were, at their core, basically cowards.

The Colonel stopped at the doors, raising a fist to knock, but Ford swept past him and shoved the doors open.

Governor Borin sprang to her feet, and a young woman with her who looked to be holding plans in her arms, jumped back from the edge of the desk as if she'd been bitten. Their eyes focused on Teyla and Ford as they pushed their way in and stood directly in front of the Governor's desk.

"Why did you do this?" Teyla spat, resting her hands on the edge of the table and leaning forward. "You know perfectly well that, had he been told what standing inside that corridor would mean, Doctor McKay would have simply stepped out. He did not need to be in there—he could have easily found a way to trigger the lowering of the shield from outside."

A shuddering breath emerged from the Governor's throat, and she nodded. "Of course, you are correct, and I am sorry. However, we had good reason for not telling him. We needed him to inside the Weapon, to repair it, if it's been damaged. He is the only one who can."

"Then you should have asked! You should have told us what would happen, and what it would mean. How do you know he would not volunteer to do just that?"

"I didn't," she shook her head, "but I couldn't take that risk." She drew herself up, "I am sorry, but I have my entire people to think about, Miss Emmagen. One man's rights, particularly an alien's rights, seemed less important. Surely you can understand that."

"No," Teyla shook her head, standing up off of the desk and crossing her arms, "I can not. You had no right to choose for him, or us, no matter who we are or what the reason."

"Besides," Ford added, his hand still curled tightly around his weapon, "how do you know he'll play along? McKay may be inside your Weapon, but that doesn't mean he'll fix it for you. Hell, he's probably just trying to find a way out or a way to contact us right now."

The Governor's eyes grew colder as she turned to face the young man, "Because, lieutenant, if he does want to leave, he will have to fix the Weapon to do so. Otherwise there is no way out."

TBC