II – One Night
Sheppard let the door slide closed. He walked a few paces and stopped. Elizabeth was exhausted, and he wanted to be sure that she didn't try to slip back to her office after he left. He strained his ears, listening for any sound of restlessness. Or worse, that she might be too shaken or frightened to sleep.
He waited five minutes before the sound of gentle snoring came from the darkened room. Smiling to himself, he turned for the 'Gate room. He walked slowly, wary of making any sound.
The halls were dim, and the air was as quiet and cool as the moment he first stepped out of the Stargate. The city's incredible age was almost palpable. Atlantis had weathered many storms like the ones it had seen tonight, inside and out, and it would do so again.
Reaching the 'Gate room, he was snapped back to the present. Dead Genii littered the room where he and Ford had cut them down as they fled. Sheppard stepped forward and swiftly kicked one of the bodies, watching in morbid fascination as it rolled over. The man, the intruder, stared up at him. Sheppard shuffled back, raising his weapon, before he realized the man was dead. Those eyes were frozen in surprise, accusing him of snatching the life away.
Sheppard turned and hurried up the stairs to the control center, suddenly unsure of himself. If there were survivors, would he offer them aid, or a final bullet? He wasn't sure which course of action would be right, or which was just.
Sheppard toggled his radio. "McKay, are you there?"
"Yeah?" Even over the radio, McKay was curt.
"Can we reconnect the grounds so we can get out into the city again?"
"Sure," McKay replied. "It'll be pretty simple to do."
"Now?" Sheppard added.
"Go right ahead."
Sheppard growled. "I don't know what to do with the computers," he said.
"I'm indisposed at the moment. Unless you know how to bandage a deep laceration, or at least care for a concussion, that is."
"Fine," Sheppard barked. "Get yourself patched up."
Sheppard crossed the control room to the dialing computer. Punching in the address for the Maneran's world, he walked onto the balcony as the wormhole exploded into existence, turning his radio on again.
"This is Major Sheppard calling the Atlantis expedition team, please respond." It was less than a minute before he got a reply.
"Major, this is Sergeant Bates."
"What's your situation, Sergeant?"
"Everything is good here, sir," Bates replied. "The Manerans have generally ignored us. I've got a few men standing watch, but everyone else is sleeping."
"Any sign of the Genii?"
"Genii?" he asked, puzzled. "No sir."
Sheppard sagged against the rail, relieved. "Good. That's good to hear, Sergeant."
"Sir, has something happened?"
"The situation has been resolved. I need a few people to come back early and clean things up."
Bates took a few seconds to process the Major's cryptic instructions. "Understood, sir. I'll get a squad ready and bring them back."
"Bring someone from the medical staff. And Zelenca, too. Wake them up if you have to."
"Roger sir. We'll be there in twenty minutes."
"I'll be waiting."
Author's note: I had originally intended this story to just be a one-shot, but I just couldn't leave it alone.