As always thanks for the reviews guys. There is a spoiler (well not really a spoiler but a funny moment) from The Gift but that's all. Hopefully you all recognise it or else I didn't write it very well.
Chapter 7
Elizabeth hit the down arrow button on her laptop and scanned the flowing data on the screen. Every now and then she'd stop to examine a personnel profile in closer detail and then move on. She had been looking through files for the past two hours and had only highlighted a handful of people, mainly marines, who could have been angry with John Sheppard. Elizabeth let out a small yawn and rubbed her eyes. It wasn't till now that she realised she hadn't slept in over 24 hours and could feel the heaviness in her eyelids. Standing up and exiting her quarters she made her way to the mess hall for some more coffee.
When she got there she made her way through the empty hall and reheated the coffee she had made just 2 hours ago. Elizabeth did not have the strength to make some more and knew if Rodney, aka the coffee king, had ever found out she would not hear the end of it. Despite her silent jab at the scientist Elizabeth was extremely pleased with Rodney, as well as grateful. He had managed to create many malfunctions through out the city, without destroying it or causing any permanent damage, which had kept Everett and Caldwell occupied for most of the day. Hearing the click on the pot she poured the steaming black liquid into her mug and made her way back to her room. In fact everyone who she had asked to help John had done everything they could, especially keeping it under wraps. Now it was just a matter of looking at all of the results, which they were meeting up to do at 0530 this morning. Atlantis would be quiet then so hopefully they would not have many interruptions.
Just as she stepped off the transporter on the desired level she bumped into someone almost spilling her coffee over them.
"Oh sorry!" she stuttered but then stopped when she saw who it was. Elizabeth had just crash into Colonel Everett and he was giving her smile which made her very uncomfortable.
"That alright Elizabeth." He said over cheerily and Elizabeth shuddered hearing him use her first name. "I'm surprised to see you up so late."
"Well, I have some reports to catch up on." She explained trying to keep her voice steady as her feeling of uneasiness increased. Moving to the side to step around him she jumped when he stood in front of her.
"And I bet that recent events have been keeping you up as well, having a killer on Atlantis." Everett's voice was low and menacing but Elizabeth gave him a defiant stare.
"Actually I've been sleeping fine. No matter what you may think I know Colonel Sheppard would never hurt me." She told the smug looking marine and slid past him and began walking quickly to her room.
Elizabeth heard footsteps behind her and knew he was following. When she reached her door, she opened it and turned round to find Everett right in her face.
"If you are having trouble sleeping, maybe I could keep you company." He whispered and placed a hand on Elizabeth's waist.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and pushed his hand off of her. Matching his volume she said "No thank you. And if you ever lay another hand on me I will scream so loud the Wraith will hear it."
Expecting him to back off she was surprised he didn't move but instead gave her a delighted grin. "I like a woman who is as strong and confident as you are Elizabeth." She did not miss the evil glint in his eyes and began to get very nervous. "In fact, I find it very…arousing,"
Growling at the last remark Everett pushed Elizabeth into her room causing her stumble and drop her coffee. As she failed to regain her balance she fell on her back gasping for breath. He wouldn't, not here! She thought panicky as she saw him loom over her. Using her hands to push herself away from him he stood and gave her a smirk. Seeing he wasn't perusing her, Elizabeth grabbed onto the side of her bed and pulled her body into a standing position. She silently winced as she felt her back twitch with pain.
"Don't cross me Elizabeth" Everett warned whilst slowly edging towards her. "Your constant reluctance at seeing Sheppard's true nature is only going to cause more hassle, and pain."
Elizabeth was about to retort when another voice jumped into the heated conversation.
"Colonel Everett?"
Weir looked passed the marine to see Lt Holden standing in the doorway and breathed a sigh of relief. She saw Everett bite his lip and turned round to face the young man.
"Holden! I was just seeing Dr Weir to her quarters and she invited me in for a quick chat." He explained whilst Elizabeth gaped in shock. The bastard really did just lie his way through everything. He stood to the side so both he and Holden could see her. "Isn't that right Dr Weir?"
Seeing the evil glint still in his eyes Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to tell Holden everything that had transpired before he arrived but knew Everett would eventually get his comeuppance. Plastering on a fake smile she said "Yes. Everything is fine Lt." and bit back the urge to scream the truth at him when he nodded. "Now, gentlemen if you wouldn't mind I have some reports that need finishing."
"Of course Dr. Sorry to have kept you back" Everett politely apologised and strode out the room. Holden gave Elizabeth a quick look that she couldn't decipher and then followed his CO.
Breathing out slowly she began rubbing her back to try and ease the pain. Making Everett was no longer near and that the door was locked she returned to her laptop and noticed it was 5 AM. She had to find something soon.
Rodney began impatiently tapping his fingers on the table again and everyone around it began to grind their teeth again. Ford rolled his eyes and slammed his hands on it making everyone jump, including the scientist.
"Damn it McKay!" he yelled. "Stop doing that!"
"Well, I'm sorry Lt. but I've had very little sleep the past few days and if some people would just hurry up then maybe we could get Colonel Sheppard out of his current predicament and get back to bed!"
Both men glared at each other then heard something slide across the table towards Rodney. He glanced at it and saw it was a power bar. Looking for its owner he saw Elizabeth nod towards it and he couldn't help but feel he was being coddled. Picking it up her gave her a nod to say thanks and began eating it. Although he would not admit it to anyone, he quite liked it when she did that. The room was silent once again the only sound coming from Rodney chomping and swallowing the power bar. Finally the door opened and everyone smiled when Carson Beckett came in.
"Carson…" Elizabeth began but was cut off by Rodney spitting crumbs out on the table.
"Well it's about time! Do you know how long we've been waiting here? I'm mean seriously, how long does it take to…"
"Rodney!" Elizabeth scolded and he shut up. "Sorry Carson. We're all a little on edge."
"That's alright. I'm sorry am late but it took a while to process the data." The Scot explained and stood next to one of the other scientists.
"Right. Now we are all here let's start with Teyla. What did the security team find?" she asked directing her question at the Athosian.
"Very little I'm afraid." She told them and received some disappointed looks. "We found nothing out of the ordinary in either's quarters. However, we did notice that Colonel Everett and John Sheppard both possess the same type of clothing."
Elizabeth nodded in understanding. "Of course. Standard clothing for military personnel. It would have been easy to plant a t-shirt similar to what John wears everyday. "
"Also, Everett and Colonel Sheppard are around about the same height and build." Ford pointed out.
Teyla jumped in again. "I already check their sizes too, they are the same."
Elizabeth looked at Carson. "What did you find on the t-shirt?"
"Apart from Bates' blood I found both Colonel Sheppard and Colonel Everett's DNA on it. The initial tests did not reveal Everett's was on it, just Sheppard's."
"Really?" Elizabeth asked hopefully but then remembered another reason for this discovery. Sighing she said "John and Everett got into a fight earlier on today so that would explain the DNA. And John did change t-shirts because he wanted to get cleaned up. Anything else?"
Everyone else glanced at each other but no one had anything else. It was Weir's turn. "Well, as you all know I've been searching through all personnel files to see if anyone stood out that could have helped Everett. Now I have highlighted several who have had run-ins with John. I'm sorry to say this Lt. Ford but most are marines."
Ford nodded and she continued. "I'll read off the names and we can discuss what we know of them."
An hour later they were still discussing a Sergeant Nixon, a marine that came through with Everett just before the Wraith attack. He had several indiscretions as well as a noted temper but it still did not clarify his involvement.
"This is no use! Yet another dead end!" Rodney cried frustrated and about 5 power bars were flung at him. "Very funny!" he complained but took them all anyway.
Elizabeth sighed. "He's right. There is no one we can say for sure would have helped Everett." She stood up angrily and turned away from the group so they couldn't see the tears of tiredness and defeat fill up her eyes. Everyone sat in silence deep in thought and again the only sound was Rodney munching his snacks.
Elizabeth had crossed her arms and was thinking through the events of the past few days when a thought struck her. Spinning round to face the table she grabbed her laptop currently in front of Lt. Ford and plonked down in front of it. The rest of the group watched her with puzzled expressions and finally McKay spoke up.
"Um, Elizabeth. I don't mean to nit pick but you almost broke the lap…"
"Sssh!" she ordered and stuck up her index finger whilst reading the screen.
Rodney mimicked the finger action saying "There it is again, the finger. What is that?" he asked the group and was answered by many voices saying "Sssh!"
"Fine." He mumbled and watched the diplomat curiously.
Finally her face lit up with realisation and she gasped. "I can't believe I didn't know this!" she cried.
"Ma'am?" Ford asked puzzled and she spun the small computer until he could see the screen. He read the profile and gasped too. "Oh my god!" he exclaimed and looked up at Elizabeth with wide eyes. "I never knew…"
"Neither did I." She said.
"What? What?" Rodney asked looking from one to the other.
"I think we've found Everett's partner." She explained although her voice was void of excitement. Ford showed the rest the profile on the screen.
"Him? What's he got to do with Sheppard?" Carson asked and Elizabeth and Ford glanced at each other.
Elizabeth elaborated. "Lt. Holden is Colonel Sumner's son."
Author's note: All will be explained.
