Chapter 8

The discussion over Rodney's impromptu incarceration and ensuing jailbreak made valuable fuel for ribbing the scientist throughout the team's debriefing. Several times, Dr. Beckett found himself pounding a back or handing over a glass of water to help stop choking, induced by laughing too hard with a mouthful of food by one of the members. It wasn't until Major Sheppard grew quiet, drawing away from the others and pacing, that the tone of the conversation returned to the seriousness of the situation.

"So he just breaks out and decides to take you along for the ride? I don't buy it, McKay. It all seems too easy." Sheppard's half-eaten dinner forgotten, he leaned against the foot of Rodney's bed to meet the scientist's intense gaze. "How did Grose know about the panel? And, which line to cut? I mean, hell, even you can't do that."

"And," Dr. Weir interjected, coming to stand beside the major, "if he and his team were on the planet for over a month, what were they interested in that they took that much time to investigate? I might not be a geologist, but even I think that is a bit excessive. I can't imagine allowing an offworld team that much exposure."

His eyes narrowed, Rodney appeared to stare at a fixed point on the opposite wall, while sorting the events in his mind. An unconscious swallow signaling that he was finished, he shifted to meet their gaze. "He said he'd never felt an earthquake before."

The group exchanged glances before Beckett spoke up, "Well, maybe they don't happen where he's from?"

"I don't think so." A quick toss of the blanket and Rodney pushed himself off the mattress, his bare feet slapping on the floor, as he made his way to Beckett's computer. "When I was with Dr. Mika, she showed me a documented history of tremors that had been occurring for over the past month. When I asked her if the activity was normal, she said 'no'." He punched several keys, stopping when the display shifted, presenting a graph of spikes and dips. Catching the look of disbelief, he shrugged, "What? I save all my data on a backup system I keep in the jumper. I downloaded it once Carson let me up from my nap."

The Scotsman shrugged with a grin before the major leaned over to examine the display closer, "So, that's a history of the tremors?"

Rodney nodded, "And as you can clearly see, they started approximately two months ago."

Weir settled her hip on the corner of the desk, her lips drawn in a thin line, "The same time Grose told us he and his team began investigating the anomaly."

From her position just inside Beckett's office doorway, Teyla spoke up,"What about the picture you removed from Dr. Mika's office?."

Rodney glanced about at the others, "What picture?"

"When we went back to the science center to check out Mika's lab, we found a picture of her receiving some award." Sheppard rummaged through his pack he'd brought by earlier. Removing the water bottle and used power bar wrapper first, he grinned at McKay, "Thanks for the trail, by the way. Although stuck in a bush? You really expected one of us to find that there?"

Rodney shrugged, a quirk of a smile resting on his lips. "I didn't see any trash cans, so I left it for you."

"Yeah, well you can thank Teyla for finding that one." Reaching into the front compartment, he pulled out the photo and passed it to Rodney. "Look familiar?"

"Yes. Apparently, there was a recent discovery of…" Rodney stopped, his brow furrowing as he studied the picture. Looking up to meet the others concerned expressons, he pointed to a man standing behind Dr. Mika, "That's him."

Sheppard plucked the picture back, "Him, who?"

"The man who I heard arguing with Dr. Mika. When I went back to her office to pick up my datapad, he practically knocked me over in his rush to leave."

"Well, he was there when she got the award. Do you know what theit was for?"

Remnants of his trip plagued Rodney, making standing tiresome and he looked for a place to sit. When he moved to take Beckett's chair, the good doctor intercepted him, steering the scientist back towards his bed. "Now, Rodney, you should rest. Whatever you need, we'll get for you."

The others followed and waited silently until he was situated comfortably, leaning against the upraised back of the bed.

"With out getting too technical for you and sending you all into mind numbing shock, I'll try to spare you most of the science. Her award was for discovering the 'dirty' side of geothermal energy."

"Pennatroca uses Flash Plants to generate electricity. Now, using thermal energy is nothing new on Earth, and was used by the Romans to treat eye and skin disease, Pompeii to heat buildings, the native Americans used it to cook before it evolved to become a source of energy to heat cities, run factories. Many people thought they had found an alternative to coal-fired or atomic plants. But...the down side is that it's 'dirty'. There's thermal and chemical pollution."

"Dr. Mika discovered that they were actually poisoning the citizens with arsenic, lead, and mercury, to name a few of the elements. She presented an article and was awarded recognition for 'Saving the People'," Rodney air-quoted.

"And this guy in the picture," Sheppard probed curiously, "killed her because she discovered a way to help everyone?"

Rodney scratched his head in irritation, "Think about it, to find another form of energy is difficult, time consuming, and costly. Most don't understand that to continue their current usage at such high dependency is leading to trouble. Why inform the masses about the possibility of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and poisonous water runoff if they are currently ignorant of the dangers and reliant on their current system?"

"What Mika and I disagreed upon was the fact that they are injecting the waste water and toxins back into reservoirs located along the planetary fault lines. If they continue, the pressure between the plates will eventually shift, causing either said earthquake or volcanic eruption. They already have to deal with the polluted water systems." Leaning back, he closed his eyes to block out the overhead lights, stopping the return of the headache. "Or, he was her jilted lover."

Weir smiled as the others in the room chuckled softly. "So, we still don't know what Grose and his team were up to. I must admit I'm torn at the moment. Do I send him back to Pennatroca and just be grateful to have everyone here safe and accounted for, or do we allow him to think we have agreed to help him, and stop the Pennatrocans from destroying themselves?"

"I say we send him back with a boot print on his ass."

Teyla came to stand beside Weir, frowning at Sheppard's comment, "Major, how do you know that he was not also trying to help the Pennatrocans?"

"Because if he was, why didn't he say so in the first place?"

"Excuse me," Beckett quietly interrupted before the debate escalated any further, "why don't you continue this outside?" All eyes turned to look at the physician, finding him with his arms crossed, blocking their view of Rodney. "He's asleep. I'll release him in the mornin'. Until then, I suggest you continue your conversation elsewhere."

SG: A

Departing the infirmary, the group disbanded before Dr. Weir stopped Sheppard with a hand on his arm, "Major, would you care to join me in a chat with our guest?"

An uneasy feeling passed over him as he took in her look of determination. Some day this woman was going to get hurt if she wasn't careful. He nodded as she pulled her hand away, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Good." She turned and made her way down the hall, not looking to see if he was following.

Seeing her sidestep around individuals and head towards the guest quarters, he swore under his breath before catching up. "You've talked to him already, haven't you?"

Weir frowned at his tone, "As a matter of fact, I did, while you were sleeping earlier."

This time he was the one to grab her arm, bringing their movements to a halt, "Are you crazy? Did you have a guard with you?"

"Major, I know how to handle my own personal safety." Tugging her arm free, she shot him a withering look, "I had Lt. Ford accompany me."

"Look, I'm sorry, but we don't know who this guy is or what he wants. We almost lost McKay and we can't afford to take any chances." The look he got from her would have stopped most from continuing, but not him. "Elizabeth, he's dangerous."

"We don't know that for certain, Major. And until that time, I will speak with Mr. Grose when I deem necessary." Watching his features tighten in anger, she met his glare, "I can take care of myself." Nodding to the guard outside of the guest quarters, she touched the panel and let herself in.

"I hope you're right," Sheppard sighed, making to follow her. When she urgently called his name from the other side of the doorway, he quickly ducked inside, spotting Grose's body lying face down in the middle of the floor. "What happened?"

"He was that way when I came in." Dropping to her knees beside the still figure, she was surprised when Sheppard pulled her back.

"Go get Beckett," he ordered. Seeing her mouth open to protest, he held out his hand to stop her, "Now!" Rolling the stranger onto his back, Sheppard took in the man's sickly appearance. He was breathing, albeit slowly. 'Oh, crap.' "Come on Grose, wakey, wakey," he encouraged, patting the man's clammy face.

The stranger moaned, raising his hands to stop Sheppard. "Please," he gasped, his eyes scrunched in pain.

"Dr. Beckett's on his way. You just need to stay still until he gets here." Seeing the man nod slightly, Sheppard sat back on his heels. "What happened, Grose?"

"Headache," he mumbled.

'Yeah, I hear those are going around, right now."

"Major," Beckett's voice called from the doorway, before he came to kneel on the floor beside them, "what happened?"

"Headache, doc."

Removing his stethoscope, Beckett set to work on his newest patient. "Have you been sick, Mr. Grose?"

"No."

"Ingest anything since you came to Atlantis?" Wrapping the BP cuff, he checked the man's pressure, before tearing it off.

"No."

"How long have you been feelin' poorly?"

Grose swallowed, his eyes still tightly clamped shut, "Not long."

Carson looked up to meet Sheppard and Weir's concerned expressions, "I want to get him to the infirmary."

"Doc, do you think that's such a good idea?" Before Sheppard had the chance to continue, Grose rolled to his side and began to heave miserably.

"Aye, Major, I do." Motioning to the team in the hallway with the litter, Carson helped get Grose settled before whisking him away. Weir and Sheppard followed close behind.

"This day just keeps getting better and better," the major groaned.

TBC