Teyla adjusted her hat to make sure it was covering her face sufficiently before she stepped through the Stargate. She was not convinced that this disguise would prevent the Decarians from recognizing her, but they had few choices remaining. Dr. McKay had been missing for five days now. If they did not find him soon, it would be too late.
Once on Decaria, she glanced behind her to make sure the rest of her team had made it through safely. She had been disappointed when she was told that Major Sheppard and Lt. Ford would not be accompanying her, but she knew that it was wise for them to remain behind. It was a risk for her to return to this world even while disguised, let alone for all of them to return together. They were sure to be recognized if they were together, but they were hoping that if only one of them returned with people who had never been seen by the Decarians, they would get away with pretending to be ordinary traders from one of the worlds in the confederation.
It was a risk, but one that Teyla was willing to take if it meant finding Dr. McKay.
Not a word passed between the members of her new team as they started on their way to the town. Teyla kept a sharp eye out for anyone who might be watching them, but she saw nothing unusual. She knew now, however, that this might not mean that no one was there.
It seemed strange to her that everything looked just the same when they reached the marketplace. Aside from the new tent that had been erected in place of Jassin Tiya's, of course. It just seemed odd that no one was acting any differently after what had happened just a few days earlier. It was almost as if no one even cared that one of their fellow merchants had been murdered. They had simply covered the ashes that had been left behind and moved on.
"This won't make our search any easier, will it?" Lt. Ashford said, leaning in close to speak directly into Teyla's ear.
Teyla shook her head. "There was most likely nothing we could have gained from searching the ruins of Jassin Tiya's booth," she said. "We must mingle amongst the townspeople and try to glean information without drawing attention to ourselves."
Lt. Ashford gave her a look that said, 'Easier said than done.' Teyla knew he was right. It would be very difficult to get the information they needed without actually asking the questions outright.
Difficult, but not impossible.
"We will start with the place where tongues tend to be loosened," she said with a sly look on her face.
Lt. Ashford looked puzzled.
Teyla smiled. "The alehouse, Lt. Ashford," she said. "You will find that every planet has its vices. Where there is vice, there is weakness, and where there is weakness, there are answers to our questions."
She did not bother to clarify this statement as she turned and started walking in the direction of the alehouse. She walked with confidence, knowing that the others were following her without question, and that this was the right course of action to take. They may not receive the answers right away, but someone who knew what had happened to Dr. McKay was bound to stop in for a drink at some point.
When they did, she would be waiting.
John jogged down the steps to meet Lt. Ashford as he came through the gate.
"You did take the scenic route, right?" he asked before the wormhole had even disengaged.
"Yes, Sir," Ashford replied. "Anybody who may have seen me input the address would think I gated to M5S-249."
"Good job," John said. "Have you found anything yet?"
Ashford looked beyond John to the stairs, where John could hear someone coming down them to stand behind him. He knew without looking that it was Dr. Weir, so he just stood there waiting impatiently for Ashford's answer.
"Not yet, Sir," Ashford finally said. "Teyla took us to the local 'alehouse' yesterday, and we tried poking around there to see if anyone knew anything. No such luck. After a few hours, we called it a night and rented rooms upstairs."
"The alehouse... that was a good idea," Dr. Weir said. "People are more likely to give information willingly when they're drinking."
"No kidding," John muttered. "That's how Kolya figured out a way onto Atlantis."
"That's exactly what Teyla said, Sir," Ashford agreed. "She seems to think that if we hang around there long enough, we'll get what we need eventually."
John sighed. "Not that I like the idea of 'eventually,'" he said, "but it's better than nothing. Tell her to keep her eyes open."
"Yes, Sir."
John turned and started to wander off, not really knowing where he was heading but just wanting to get as far away from the temptation of heading through the gate to help Teyla out as possible.
"Wait a couple of hours, and you can head back to Decaria," he heard Dr. Weir say to Ashford. Then he heard her rapid footsteps heading his way.
"Major Sheppard?"
He was already halfway up the steps by the time she called his name, so he only slowed down as he kept on climbing. "Yeah?"
"Could I have a word with you in my office, please?"
John could feel his entire body stiffen at the words, but he tried to seem calm and casual as he said, "Sure," and started in that direction. Inside, though, he was feeling anything but calm. Ever since she'd denied him permission to lead the team heading back to Decaria, he'd been avoiding her as much as possible. Even though he understood her reasoning behind it, he'd been so angry over it that he hadn't trusted himself not to do or say something he would later regret.
A few days had passed since then, however, so he was hopeful that he could keep himself under control.
Maybe.
"Have a seat, Major," she said once they entered her office.
John watched her with a wary eye as he eased himself down into a chair. She leaned back against the edge of her desk and folded her arms in front of her, meeting his gaze with a firm look on her face.
That did not bode well.
After a few moments, her expression softened, and she said quietly, "How are you doing?"
John was puzzled by her sudden change of attitude, but he didn't let it shake him. "As well as can be expected," he said. Truthful, yet vague. Perfect.
She looked down for a second, and when she looked up at him again, her expression had changed yet again to one of extreme seriousness. "Look... John," she said, "I know it's hard for you to just sit here doing nothing while the others are out there... but it seems as though you've been angry with me over my decision, and that has to stop right here, right now."
John nodded slowly. He knew she was right, but dammit, he needed to be doing something. "I know," he said with a sigh. "I just feel like you've left me hanging here, you know? What happened to Rodney was my fault, and part of me feels as though you're holding that against me and keeping me off the team so I don't screw things up even more."
There was silence in the room as Dr. Weir's jaw dropped and John's clamped shut. He hadn't realized until he'd said it, but that was exactly how he was feeling - that Dr. Weir's decision to keep him there on the base was based entirely on the fact that he'd messed up and Rodney had gone missing because of it. He could see how close Weir and McKay had become over the past weeks, and while she never showed him any favouritism, her emotions were bound to be calling some of the shots in this situation.
"Excuse me?" she said, finally regaining her voice.
John swallowed hard, knowing he was walking on thin ice. How to word it so he didn't offend her further... "I feel as though you don't trust me after all of this." He winced and watched her through narrowed eyes for her reaction.
Dr. Weir gave a very unamused laugh. "Wh... I don't blame you for any of this," she said in a tone of disbelief. "I told you my reasons for keeping you off the team, Major. It would have been too risky to send you in there when so many people know what you look like."
"Yet you sent Teyla in there with no problems."
"We had to send someone who knew the area and knew the people, and Teyla was easily disguisable."
"Yeah, I know," John said, feeling his temper flaring and not doing a thing to hold it back. "I guess I've just got one of those faces that people can recognize a mile away. Or maybe you just think I'm so volatile that sending me out there would result in casualties that you'd feel responsible for. After all, the only assignments you've given me through the whole search and rescue effort were busting into a prison and torturing that guard half to death."
He regretted the words as soon as he'd said them, especially when he saw the stricken look on her face. They hadn't talked about what he'd done to that guard, and he'd intended to keep it that way. Not only for her benefit, either. It made him feel sick every time he thought about it, so he much preferred to just lock it away in the back of his mind and forget the whole thing.
After a few moments passed in silence, Dr. Weir took a deep breath and said, "I went to see him earlier today." She paused for effect, and then continued, "He seems much better. I'm planning on releasing him as soon as we find Rodney."
"Sounds like a good idea," John said, trying not to sound as self-conscious as he felt.
Dr. Weir uncrossed her arms and gripped the edge of the desk behind her, leaning forward slightly to show she meant business as she spoke. "For the record... I do trust you, and I didn't consider you too volatile to send on that mission. You just have to understand here that Rodney is a very dear friend of mine, and it is literally painful for me to have to make decisions that, if they are the wrong ones, might mean we'll never get him back. I am very sorry that I asked you to... to do what I asked you to do... but believe me, Major, that wasn't the extent of what I'll be asking of you. As soon as we get word of where they are keeping Rodney, I need you to lead the team that will bring him home. Can you do that?"
John nodded. "Of course I can."
"Good." She stood up and walked around her desk to sit down in her chair. "Now, please get the hell out of my office," she said, the words harsh but her voice sounding drained.
John knew he'd upset her, but hadn't a clue how to go about healing the wounds he'd caused. At least, not yet.
Without another word, he stood up and left her office, making his way to the infirmary to have a chat with Beckett. Rodney had been missing for six days now, so if and when they found out where he was, he wanted Beckett on the team that would be going in to rescue him. They probably wouldn't have much time to waste.