AFTERMATH -- PART THREE
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CHAPTER FIVE: HOME RULE
"House arrest?" Sheppard crossed his arms, ignoring the twinge in his left. "What the hell does that mean?"
Elizabeth stood, turning to stare out the window of her office to the gate room below. "It means what you think it means, John." She paused, then lowered her head, "Rodney is confined to his quarters. He is allowed visitors, but other than that, he is to be kept apart from the rest of the City until the hearing."
"Hearing." It was muttered, and not nicely.
She took another breath, then turned to look at him, her chin lifted. "Yes, John, his hearing." Her jaw flexed, her eyes steeled, and the leader took over. "Listen to me, whether you want to accept it or not, a man killed himself on your mission, a man that many people here liked. Rodney was alone with Brendan, and, though you and I both know he could not possibly have had anything to do with it, a number of people have demanded a hearing. People here need to know what happened, John. They need to understand why. Look, you know as well as I that If we were on earth, regardless if that man was military or civilian, there would be an investigation. There is always an investigation in a suicide, even when the facts are spelled out too clearly to be denied. And we may be out on the frontier here, John, and I may be the only one here who is a lawyer, but we must uphold the law here as well."
"Even if it destroys a good man in the process?"
She shook her head, "I can't help what this is doing to Rodney, but perhaps this is best for him as well. He needs to face what happened."
"Bull. He may need to face it, but not like this. And, frankly, we're not on earth, Elizabeth. We're cut off, and there is nothing that says we have to follow every law while we're here. I don't see any need to hurt him like this."
"Not follow every law…." She sighed, looking down, her eyes closing for a moment. When she looked up again, there was something more in her eyes.
"Do you know why we have laws, John?"
The major sneered, "to keep lawyers employed?"
She was not amused. "Major."
He rolled his eyes, "Fine. To prevent crimes and punish the—"
"No," she cut him off harshly, "that may be one of its consequences, but that is not what it is for."
That startled him a little, and he frowned. "Okay, fine. Then what's it for?"
She straightened a little, "To protect us." Her eyes lightened a little as she continued, "Fundamentally, the law is designed to protect people who can't protect themselves—the innocent, the victims, the minorities, the…" she waved a hand about, "the defenseless. It protects our rights and our freedoms, our ability to be ourselves and take stands for what we believe in, even if others think its wrong or ugly or distasteful. It's there to protect those who would be vilified and criminalized for speaking their mind, or for being a certain stereotype, or for believing in a different god, or, in this case, simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It doesn't always work, but that is what is for. And in most democratic countries, that ethos is the same. It is well known that the strong can take care of themselves, but the weak need the law."
He just stared at her, his eyes narrowed slightly. "So?"
"So," her eyebrows lifted, "I happen to believe that bringing those ethics with us wherever we go is important. Not, not just important—vital. Now, I know you dismissed me when I brought up the Geneva Convention, but the convention wasn't meant to only work between those people who signed it. The United States, and many others, agreed to uphold the Geneva Convention, regardless of who is on the other side, because it represents the ideals that we strive for; what we hope to embody, no matter where we go or who we meet. I will not condone torture, or the use of biological weapons, or any other war crime unless there is no choice--unless it is the only means by which we may survive out here. The Wraith…are the strong, right now; they are the majority, the tyranny, and we are the weak. I understand that we must protect ourselves against them, by any means; I know that. But against the Genii," her eyes closed for a second, taking in a breath as the feel of Kolya's bruising grip around her waist tingled across her memory, then she opened them again, "especially against the Genii and any other race we may meet, we must abide by the principles and ethics and laws that millions have died for on earth to codify and make real. I will not just let that go the window because we are cut off or because we are afraid. I will not pick and choose amongst what laws feel right to follow this day and what don't. I will not dishonor the memory of those that died for our country, for the countries of everyone here, by acting as if the rule of law doesn't mean anything out here. Can you understand that?"
The major's eyes had lessened their squint, and he looked at her openly. Finally, he sighed, "So what are you telling me?"
"I'm telling you that I am going to maintain the law here. There is going to be a hearing. Not to be trite, but Rodney will have his day in court before his peers. And not just for him, but for all of Atlantis. Do you understand?"
Sheppard looked down, then shook his head, "I guess…maybe….but if it goes the wrong way…."
"It won't," she sat down again, leaning forward across the table. "It won't. I want this hearing to be about the truth. I will not let it be anything else."
Sheppard closed his eyes, took a breath, then stood up, swaying a little before getting his bearings. He looked up at her after a moment, ignoring the concerned look on her face, and grimaced.
"I can see him?"
"Of course."
"Thanks."
He turned to leave, stopping only when she spoke again.
"Remember, it's a hearing, John, not a trial."
He snorted, "right."
As he disappeared through her door, Elizabeth sighed deeply, rubbing a hand through her hair.
Please let this work, she pleaded silently.
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CHAPTER SIX: HOUSE ARREST
Sheppard glared at the marine standing next to Rodney's closed room, and the marine, for his part, kept his eyes down. Without saying a word, the major knocked hard on the metal door, bruising his knuckles a little at the force of the knock.
When no one answered, he knocked again, harder.
A shuffle, then a sharp, "Yes?" echoed through the door. It was McKay's don't-bother-me tone.
"It's me," Sheppard stated. "Let me in."
Another pause, then the door opened with a soft swish. The major glanced once more at the still silent marine, then stepped inside, letting the door close behind him.
McKay was sitting at a paper strewn desk on one side of the room,notepads and piles of loose legal and graph paper surrounding a laptop that looked small in comparison. Several crushed wads of paper were on the floor around his chair, along with what looked like an untouched tray of food. A couple of small looking Ancient devices that seemed to be acting as paperweights sat atop two of the piles, and Sheppard also spotted the now dead personal shield device precariously sitting on one corner, lookingclose to falling off the edge. The doctor himself was sitting a little slumped, one leg bent sideways on the chair, the other tucked beneath the desk. He was staring at the laptop, the fingers of his right hand resting on the mouse, his other hand resting loosely on his bent leg. He looked like he was reading something.
There was still no expression on his face. It was unnerving.
The sharp eyes looked askance over at Sheppard by the door, then returned to the screen.
"Should you be up?" he asked curtly.
"Beckett released me."
"Oh," McKay looked at him again, this time with a little more assessment, then arched an eyebrow. "You don't look well enough to be up. You're paler than usual." He looked back at the screen, "You should go get some sleep." The fingers of his right hand drifted across the mouse, and his thumbs clicked away at the buttons.
"I'm fine," Sheppard looked around at the somewhat messy room. A few clothes thrown over another chair, a pair of pale blue boxers thrown across the end of the bed, along with a somewhat ratty looking T-shirt with "Maple Leafs" emblazoned on it in faded letters, and several more small Ancient devices strewn about on various shelves in the room. His eyes also noticed unhappily that the other outside leading doorway in the room, the one leading to McKay's small lab, was sealed. That is to say, someone had placed a piece of what looked like duct tape across it. No one was foolish enough to think they could actually stop McKay from getting through that door if he really wanted to. It was symbolic, only. It didn't look like the scientist had made any attempt to remove it.
He sighed, moving to sit in the free chair, tossing the clothes there onto the bed. He didn't realize how tired he was until he actually sat, and part of him really wanted to close his eyes.
In fact…he did close his eyes.
"Major?"
Rodney's concerned voice caused him to frown, and his eyes blinked open. The scientist was crouching in front of him, one hand lightly touching his right arm. The doorway to the hall was open, and the marine was watching them, obviously not sure what to do.
Aw crap, Sheppard realized stupidly. I fell asleep.
"Major, are you all right?" McKay's face radiated worry, and the major nearly smiled. It was the first expression he'd seen on the man's face since the desert planet. But, instead of smiling, a slow drumbeat started up behind his right temple, and Sheppard unconsciously frowned.
"Yeah," he muttered as the drumbeat morphed into a pile-driver. "Got any water?"
McKay looked at the marine, and the man sprung into action, stepping around the two men and heading to the small bathroom off to one side. A moment later, he returned with a glass of water, which Sheppard took gratefully.
"He needs to be in his own room," McKay said, looking up at the marine. "Can you page someone to help him—"
"I'm fine!" Sheppard announced, his tone angry. "Just wore myself out a bit. I'll be fine in a moment." He took another sip of water, and rubbed at the spot on his head where the pile-driver was trying to break through his skull.
McKay grimaced, then looked at the marine again and mouthed "get someone" while the major was distracted. The marine nodded at the command and backed out of the room.
The door closed, and Rodney stood up, backing up and moving to sit back in his chair by the desk. Once settled, he stared at the major, leaning forward so that his elbows rested on his knees, and the expressionless mask returned to his face.
"He's going to get someone to help you get back to your room," McKay said unnecessarily.
The Major sighed, but shrugged. "Fine." Didn't mean he actually had to leave.
McKay looked down, then back up. "So…was there something you needed?" He indicated his room, to demonstrate his confinement, "There's not really much I can do right now."
John stared at him a moment, his brow slightly furrowed. "No, McKay, I don't need anything. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Me?" the scientist snorted, "I wasn't the one who was shot, Major. Or knocked on my ass by a Wraith several times. Or nearly blown up." He smiled then, just a tiny one, and he looked at the floor, "I just showed up at the end and didn't have the wherewithal to think about reloading my gun when I ran out of bullets."
Sheppard smiled a little at that as well, then let it fade as Rodney didn't lift his eyes from the floor, the smile on the scientist's face already long gone. The major sighed, wondering what exactly Rodney was seeing, because he was certain it wasn't the floor.
"Hell, McKay, you know what I mean." He waved his good arm around a little, "I mean all this. The confinement. The hearing. What happened to Gall. You can't be—"
"It's fine, Major," the curt tone was back. "It is what it is." Suddenly, he was on his feet, "You should go now. You need rest."
"McKay…."
But the scientist was already at the door, opening it to talk to the marine. Sheppard gritted his teeth at the information that Lieutenant Ford would be there "any minute."
"McKay!"
Rodney looked back at him when he shouted, then turned away, returning to his desk. When he sat down, he didn't look at the Major; he just stared at the wall over his desk. The picture of calm and control…and with a jaw so tense it looked like it would shatter with one good punch.
"Rodney," Sheppard softened his tone, shifting forward on the chair he was sitting on, "listen to me. You're not fine. You couldn't possibly be—"
"Don't," Rodney whispered, the plea barely passing his lips.
Sheppard licked his lips, then shook his head, "I can't. McKay, you're a member of my team. I need to know that you're—"
"I said I'm fine, major. Look, are we done?" McKay turned back to his laptop, "Because you really shouldn't be here."
"Shouldn't be here? What does—"
"You should be resting. Besides, I have work to do." And he clicked at a few keys on the laptop as if to prove it.
"Work? McKay, come on, you—"
"Seriously, where is Ford?" McKay stared at the door. "What is taking him so long?"
"Who cares about Ford! McKay, will you just—"
"I thought marines were supposed to be punctual. Or is that the boy scouts?"
"McKay! Damn it! Stop—"
"I really don't have time for this," McKay tapped away impatiently at the keys. "If Ford would just get here already…."
"DAMN IT, McKay, stop cutting me off!" Sheppard shouted, his face bright red by now. "Even if Ford arrived right now, don't think I'm just—"
"Is the yelling helping your headache, Major?" McKay stared right at him then, and Sheppard couldn't hide his surprise. How did he know he had a headache?
Then again, he thought as he lowered his hand from where he'd been rubbing his temple unconsciously, maybe that was a dumb question.
A polite knock on the door startled him further, and he looked up to see Ford in the doorway. The lieutenant gave a small smile, then walked in.
"Oh thank God," McKay muttered, slumping again. Sheppard glared at him.
"Hey Major," Ford greeted his superior, "I heard you might need a hand getting back to your room."
Sheppard frowned at him, "Thanks, lieutenant, but I don't need any help."
"Yes he does," McKay stated unequivocally. "Don't let him push you away, lieutenant." The scientist turned, focusing back on his laptop so that he wouldn't have to look at any one anymore. "He needs rest. He passed out in my chair, there. Besides, he's getting in my way and he doesn't seem capable of leaving on his own."
Ford arched an eyebrow at the major, but Sheppard was staring at McKay's bowed back. After a moment, he closed his eyes in resignation, and stood up. He must have swayed and tripped a little, because suddenly Ford's hand was under his arm.
McKay had glanced at them over his shoulder when he heard the major misstep, saw that Ford had things under control, and looked away again. But for a split second, the scared man had shown through, all his fear and worry transparent on his face, before being abruptly covered up, hidden behind the mask of arrogance and disinterest.
At that realization, Sheppard shook, not with cold, but with anger. McKay was in nine kinds of pain, and no one seemed to see it but him.
"There's not going to be a hearing, you hear me?" he declared forcefully, his right hand gripping in a fist, ignoring the way McKay suddenly flinched. "I won't let you go through that. Ford," the major stood ram-rod straight, turning to the door, "I'm not heading to my room, so you can take off. I've going to see Weir."
"No!" McKay's shout was almost as forceful as the major's. Sheppard and Ford both turned to look at where the scientist had jumped to his feet, his own hands gripped into fists. "It's not your decision! I want that hearing. I need people to hear what happened. I won't let you take it away from me."
Ford looked stunned, but it was the major who was the most confused.
"What?" Sheppard gasped. "Are you kidding? You want the hearing?"
"Yes!"
"You can't mean that."
McKay snorted, a mocking smile on his face, "Oh?"
"Because if you do, you're insane."
McKay's eyes narrowed, all pretension gone, "Get out."
Sheppard ignored him, "Jesus Christ, McKay, do you not get what's going on here? You're under house arrest! For what? You didn't do anything wrong! You don't deserve this!"
"How do you know!" McKay shot back, "You weren't there! You didn't…." he shut his eyes suddenly, trailing off, aware he was visibly shaking. After a moment, he calmed down enough to turn around, facing away from them. "Ford," he hissed through obviously clenched teeth, "please…take him out of here."
"Take me out of here?" Sheppard's eyes narrowed, glaring at the man's back. "I'm not some pet, McKay. You can't just—"
"Sir?" Ford tugged on his arm, "perhaps we should just—"
"No! Let go of my arm lieutenant. I'm not done here. McKay! Damn it, turn around and look at me!"
"Get him out of here!" Rodney spat, still not turning around. "Ford, please!"
"Sir!" Ford pulled a little more insistently on Sheppard's arm.
The major's jaw was dropped, still not comprehending what was happening.
"McKay? McKay, come on, you can't be serious about—"
"OUT!" McKay turned, and a hand jabbed out, pointing to the door. "GET HIM OUT OF HERE!"
Ford physically cringed at the shout, grabbing tighter at the major's arm, even though his wide eyes were watching McKay, perhaps really seeing him for the first time since the planet. And still Sheppard still didn't budge, the major holding up a hand placatingly….
"McKay, look, just…just stop and think about this for a mo—"
"What the hell do you think I've been doing?" McKay snarled, his voice shaking, his cheeks flushed with anger. "It's all I can do! Just sit here, trapped in this room, with my god damned thoughts! Thinking and thinking and thinking! I want this over, do you understand? I want it OVER!" The pain in Rodney's face was so plain now as to be almost overwhelming, "I want this done with, can't you see that? And I want you to leave. NOW!"
"Let's go sir." This time, Ford grabbed the major's arm in a real grip, and pulled, causing Sheppard to stumble, but it got him moving.
Rodney fell back down into his chair, leaning forward and covering his face with his hands.
And Sheppard let Ford pull him out of the room, the door sliding shut behind them.
The major shook himself out of the grip as soon as he could, and Ford backed off. The younger man actually had the good sense to look embarrassed. The major strode off, and Ford followed. Once they were out of earshot of McKay's room and the marine guarding it, Ford spoke up again.
"Look, sir, I'm sorry about all this, but—"
Sheppard stopped and spun around, nailing Ford with a glare that could have stripped the paint of a car. "Hell yes, you're sorry, lieutenant. Do you understand now what I was trying to tell you back on the jumper? He doesn't need a hearing; he needs help! And all we can do is lock him up and let him go crazy on his own. So, well done, lieutenant. Very well done. I'm sure we'll all thank you when this is over." He stepped forward, and Ford actually ducked his head, turning his head away. "Do me a favor, Ford. Think about exactly what you set in motion back on that planet, then, when you can see what exactly you did wrong, you come see me. Okay?"
Ford lifted his head to stare at the major, wide eyed. After a moment, he nodded, "Yes sir."
"Good."
And with that, the major turned and headed to his room, leaving the lieutenant in the hallway, still staring at the floor.
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TBC