"Colonel Mitchell?"
Weir stepped forward, looking up – way up – at Kale, who was looking around with interest.
"Doctor Weir. Might I introduce Kale? He's one of the Light Ones."
Like she hadn't been able to figure that out on her own? How many other aliens fit the description? She just hadn't expected Mitchell to bring one back with her – and hadn't expected him to be so... human looking. He was fairly good looking, with pale hair and eyes, and a lively twinkle in those eyes when he looked down at her. And he was naked – which made her keep her eyes on his face as she tried to keep from blushing like a schoolgirl.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kale," she said.
"The pleasure is mine, Doctor Weir," Kale answered with a slight bow.
"Kale? This is Doctor Carson Beckett. He's our chief medical officer here – and has already saved my life more than once."
Melony gave Carson a smile that made him forget the little stab of jealousy he'd felt when he'd seen her put her hand so familiarly on the alien's arm – he'd heard about the Light Ones, too, of course, and during the last few days, McKay had been telling him even more in the course of pouting about not being allowed to go along with Mitchell.
"It is doubly a pleasure to meet you then, Doctor Carson Beckett," Kale said, nodding to Beckett, who wondered why he'd called him by his full name, and realized Kale probably didn't know it was more than was needed.
"Nice to meet you," he said, nodding as well.
"So how was the trip?" Sheppard asked Melony. "Obviously you didn't have any trouble finding the Light Ones again."
"Oh, we found a lot more than that," Melony said, grinning. "Plus, the Council has agreed to let Kale help me with my reconnoitering."
"Good. That should-"
"Um, Colonel Mitchell?"
"Yes, Doctor Weir?"
"Maybe we should find... Kale... some clothing?"
Mitchell grinned up at Kale, resting her hand on his arm again to reassure him. Of course, she'd told him that they'd be surprised at his lack of dress – but not dismayed – and she'd been right on the money. As usual.
"We definitely should."
"Major? Would you take Kale to the supply room and get him something to wear? I'd like a chance to talk to Colonel Mitchell for a moment."
Meaning she wanted to know exactly what Mitchell had been thinking to bring an alien to Atlantis without even asking permission. John nodded.
"Kale? Care to join me for a quick naked walk through the halls?"
Melony snickered, and even Weir had to smile at that. She wondered how many people they would encounter on the way to the room that was used as their supply room – and how many would walk away beet red when they realized what they were seeing.
Kale looked at Mitchell, who nodded.
"I'll be right behind you, Kale. I just need to talk to Doctor Weir first."
"Very well."
The Light One allowed Sheppard to lead him out of the command room, and Weir looked at Mitchell, who waited for the first question. It didn't take long.
"What is he doing here?"
"He's going to fly me around and help me find a planet I can use to study the Wraith."
"Yes, I know that. But what's he doing here?"
"We need to look at the mission files from the places that have been explored here – well I do, anyways," She amended. "So we can decide which planets not to bother with, and which ones look promising."
"You brought an alien to Atlantis without asking-"
"He's an ally."
"It doesn't matter."
"Of course it does. I brought him here because I need him here, for now. I need to rig up a harness to make it easier for him to carry me, and I need him here for that. I need him to be where I can easily find him, and since I don't have a Kale summoner button on my utility belt it's easier for me if he's here and not back on the planet with the other Light Ones. And besides, like I said; he's an ally, which means you need to get to know him, so you can know what his people are like, and the only way you can do that is if I brought him here."
It was obvious that Mitchell had thought things out, but Weir didn't like not being asked, first. Of course, there were already precedents – like when Sheppard had brought back the Athosians – so she wondered why she was even surprised. Or annoyed.
"He's not going to cause any problems, is he?"
"He and his people are very kind, Doctor Weir," She assured her. "And friendly."
"Oh, yes. I've heard all about how friendly they are," Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes.
Melony laughed.
"It's true. But you'll find that Kale is really a nice guy once you get past the whole naked thing. He's intelligent – and his other forms are truly spectacular."
"I'd like to see them."
"I'll have him give you a demonstration – although that brings up the whole naked thing again, since their clothes don't transform."
"We can get around that."
It'd be worth it to see something so amazing.
"I figured we could."
"Let's go see about getting him dressed, and then we'll get him a room somewhere..."
Weir headed for the door, presumably heading for the supply room as well.
She was glad that Weir was apparently agreed to the idea of Kale being at Atlantis, now, because Melony didn't want to have to go somewhere else – although she would have if Weir had insisted. She had all the equipment she needed here, and all the files and disks – and something else that wasn't found anywhere else.
She looked over at Carson, who had been standing off to the side, listening to the conversation and waiting. He had an odd look in his eyes, but it faded when she walked over to him instead of following Weir.
"Are you okay?" She asked him, curious.
"I'm fine." He looked like he wanted to say something else, but Melony reached out and took his hand.
"I missed you, Carson."
Oh, God... he was in love with her. Had there been any doubt before – and he hadn't been sure if it was love or lust – there wasn't any, now. Not from the way he turned to goo at those simple words.
It took him a moment to be able to speak.
"I missed you, too, Melony."
She smiled, and let his hand go.
"Come on, you've got to see Kale transform. It's amazing."