MISCONSTRUED - by NotTasha
okay, we've reached
the final roundup! Here we go with the last bits
CHAPTER 23: BACKS AND BUTTS
There was a sudden burst of activity in the infirmary, as John called out for Beckett and his team. Rodney leaned toward the other bed, calling and trying to get Zelenka's attention, but Radek had gone silent again.
Beckett came back in a hustle, trailing Weir, Teyla and Ford with him, and a half-dozen folks from the medical team. They crowded around Zelenka's bed, making a tremendous fuss. Beckett kept saying, 'It's good, it's good…" even though Radek didn't make another peep.
Meanwhile, Sheppard stepped away from the crowded bed, coming around the other side of Rodney's. McKay was half on his side, twisted toward the other bed in an effort to see what was going on.
"Hey," John said, calling for attention.
McKay looked back at him, gasping, "I can't see anything." There were too many backs and butts blocking his way. He strained to turn further, but winced as the pressure against his busted ribs increased. "Aw, damn," he murmured as he wheezed painfully.
Gently, but firmly, Sheppard grasped McKay by the shoulders and leveraged him onto his back again. "Nothing's happening," Sheppard explained quietly as the buzz continued one-bed-over. He carefully settled the broken arm back on its pillow. "Beckett's as happy as a clam though. Seems like it's a good thing." He glanced up at the others, watching their movements around the Czech.
"He's coming around?" McKay asked.
"Yeah, seems to be. But, it looks like he's sleeping now." Turning his attention on McKay, Sheppard couldn't help but think how truly wretched Rodney appeared – it looked as if he'd been taken out behind a school and had the snot kicked out of him. "Hard business, waking up again."
"Yeah," McKay agreed, his eyelids drooping. He blinked and turned his head back toward the crowd. "He's going to be all right?" he asked.
"Sure," Sheppard responded, not knowing, but it was the only answer he cared to give at that moment.
Rodney nodded dumbly, his eyes hooded with exhaustion. "Good…" he murmured, "… good."
Seeing that McKay was fighting to remain awake, Sheppard told him, "Go to sleep, Rodney. No more faking it."
The almost-closed eyes opened. "You'll wake me up if he says anything else."
"Yeah," Sheppard agreed.
"'Cause if you don't… I'll come lookin' for you…"
"You do that."
Eyes closed again, and McKay said softly, his voice fading, "It's good to have you home, Major."
"Yeah," John agreed. "Good to be back." He watched Rodney for a few more minutes. The group around Radek's bed was breaking up. Everyone seemed cheerful as hell about what had happened, but Sheppard had yet to feel glad – no he wouldn't feel good until this whole mess was straightened out and they'd cleared up all the misunderstandings that had so shattered the Canadian.
CHAPTER 24: QUESTIONS
"Where am I?"
At the softly voiced question, Sheppard slid a marker into his book and set it aside. "You're in the infirmary, Radek."
"Major Sheppard?" Zelenka turned his head and looked toward him in confusion. His voice was soft and hoarse. "You're back?"
"Yeah," Sheppard responded brusquely. "Finally."
"Oh," Radek responded and then frowned, confused. "What happened?"
"You got caught up in a cave-in… and…"
"Yes…yes… I… Rodney!" The Czech's eyes opened wide with worry.
"He's okay," Sheppard assured. "He's right over here, sleeping." He patted the bed at his side.
Beckett had been pleased when he checked on McKay after assessing Zelenka. Apparently, the genius was finally getting some real sleep, something he hadn't gotten since he first awoke. And in the hours that followed, he remained sleeping deeply.
"How long have I been here?" Radek asked next.
"Three days," Sheppard responded. He glanced toward Maria, catching her attention. The nurse nodded, understanding, and bustled off to get the doctor on duty.
"Three days? Oh, that's so long."
"That's what I've been thinking. You've been worrying the hell out of everyone."
"Worry?" Zelenka repeated. "Yes, reason to worry." He blinked and squinted at Sheppard as if he couldn't quite focus on him.
The action concerned Sheppard for a moment, until he remembered the spectacles on the table beside him. He settled the book and picked up the glasses, handing them to the scientist. "You want these?" he asked, opening the frames.
"Yes, please," Zelenka responded, pulling one shaky hand from beneath the sheets. "Rodney is okay?" he asked again, as he settled the glasses on his nose.
"Got banged up pretty good, but he's going to pull through. Probably will do a lot better now that you're awake."
There was a commotion, and Maria came back, bringing that tall dark-skinned doctor with her. Sheppard stepped back, letting the man have access to the patient. Together, the nurse and doctor checked Radek over, asking questions – like 'what's your name?'… 'do you know where you are?" Sheppard listened intently, waiting for the tall doctor to ask, 'do you know my name?' so that Radek might supply the answer to the problem that had been plaguing John, but the question was never asked. Damn
As the hubbub continued, Sheppard moved closer to Rodney's bed and considered waking him as promised, but after seeing that the physicist he was resting so peacefully, the major decided against it. If this was the first real rest he'd gotten since this began, then McKay deserved to sleep just a little while longer unmolested.
The black doctor turned to him suddenly and asked in his deep, rich voice, "John, can you stay with Radek for a few minutes? We have to set up some equipment and will be right back."
"Sure… Doc," John responded, smiling weakly.
Doctor No-name gave him a big, warm, disarming smile and a slap on the shoulder, before he turned and walked away with Maria, going on about what needed to be done next. Maria, damn her, responded to him with a proper, "Yes, doctor." Too bad, because Sheppard was thinking that maybe the two of them were gettin' it on.
Moving back to the Czech's bed, he noted that Zelenka was still awake, but probably not for long. "Radek," he asked. "Do you remember anything about what happened? There's been a lot of crap being slung around and we really need to clear this up."
Zelenka narrowed his eyes at Sheppard. "I know…" Radek replied softly, fading. "He is not the only one who's been listening."
CHAPTER 25: ANSWERS
Zelenka was returned from the tests, and slept for the rest of the night. At sunrise, when the Czech awoke again, Beckett, Weir, Ford and Teyla joined Sheppard in the infirmary, along with Kavanagh, Burnaby and Powell, who'd also found out about Czech's recovery. Somehow, news always traveled like lightning through the facility.
When Radek was awake again, he peered up owlishly at them, looking apprehensive at the number of them. He wasn't the type that liked crowds.
Kavanagh, Burnaby and Powell stood across the foot of his bed. Beckett and Weir were on his right side, with Ford and Teyla at the left. Sheppard was between his people, sitting on McKay's bed, who slept – oblivious. John watched Burnaby, Powell and Kavanagh with a scowl. The three men squirmed a bit under the scrutiny – perhaps finally realizing that they were marked men.
"Are you sure you feel up to this right now, Radek?" Weir asked.
"Yes," was the response. "I've heard much of what was said here." Zelenka scowled. "It was frustrating that I couldn't say anything, that I could only listen to their... drek. Now, I can speak, so I will speak."
At that statement, Sheppard gripped the skin on McKay's arm and gave it a twist. McKay came awake with a little squeak, and blinked blearily at the ceiling before turning to Sheppard. "You pinched me," he stated huskily, "Again!" And he seemed to come to another realization as he added, "And you're sitting on my bed. Couldn't you find a chair…?"
"Shut up and listen," Sheppard returned in a low voice, barely moving his lips. "Time you heard this from someone else for a change."
"Can you tell us what happened?" Weir asked, not hearing them. "In the underground complex."
"It was as they said," Zelenka explained. "Rodney and Dr. Merritt were not … getting along. Rodney had discovered a panel when Alvin joined us. We found a device and were trying to remove it when the earthquake struck." He furrowed his brow, remembering. "Rodney demanded that we all leave immediately. Alvin would not go without the device. They argued. Dr. McKay made me leave, for my safety and to ensure all the others evacuated."
Zelenka glanced around at the group surrounding him, finally letting his gaze land on McKay, who slept beside him. He spoke softly, as if he didn't want to wake his friend, "Alvin would not leave without the device, so Rodney stayed to help him remove it, in spite of the earthquake."
"That's not right!" Burnaby shot back. "I heard him. I heard McKay screaming at Alvin to get the damn thing out of the wall. McKay wasn't helping, he was ordering."
"You, who know nothing, should not speak!" Zelenka snapped.
Zelenka continued with, "You heard what was said, but you misunderstood it all."
"I know what I heard," Burnaby continued, unaware. "And McKay was making Alvin stay to get that thing out." Powell nodded in agreement, and even Kavanagh added his own snide nod, despite the fact that he hadn't even been on the planet. "I heard the way McKay was shouting at Alvin," Burnaby included.
Annoyed with the interruption, Zelenka stated, "The earth was shaking! Alvin would not hurry! That is reason to shout!" He glared at the three scientists by his feet, and went on, "The earthquake stopped. Dr. McKay called me back. I went. Rodney was disconnecting the device while Alvin held it. Alvin could not hold it alone and Rodney's hands were busy." Zelenka held up his own hands as if to demonstrate. "He would not leave Alvin, and Alvin would not leave the device. It was the only way to save him."
"We removed it… all three of us," Zelenka added, his eyes closing a moment and he winced against his headache. "We tried to go, but again, Alvin would not leave. He wanted to stay and look for further devices. Rodney was angry, yes. He pushed Alvin from the room." Shaking his head in disbelief, Radek continued. "Alvin needed to be pushed to safety! The fool! Blbec! Anyone could see we were in danger, but Alvin would not go!"
Burnaby and Powell straightened, ready to spill out a stream of what they thought about Zelenka's remarks. Sheppard began to stand, wanting to finally get his hands around their necks, but paused when Ford leaned toward the scientists and said in a low voice, "You interrupt him again, and you'll be the next ones in these beds. You understand me?"
Powell looked shocked. Burnaby opened his mouth a moment and turned toward Weir. The expedition leader reacted as if she hadn't heard the threat. Burnaby slammed his mouth shut in consternation. Kavanagh, at first looked stung, but that expression was replaced with his usually confident, smug expression as he decided that it was the others that were bawled out – he, again, came out smelling like a rose. Until he glanced at Sheppard.
Zelenka's voice became softer, as squinted and continued, "The shaking returned. Alvin, he stopped moving. Rodney tried to make him move, but he would not go. Rodney shoved him, yes. Shoved him to the exit. We had to get out or die." He stopped, his eyes wide behind his glasses as he looked to Weir. "It was horrible! Strašný! The ceiling came down on poor Alvin. Boom!"
"There was nothing you could do?" Weir asked as kindly as she could.
Radek looked distraught. "Nothing. It was so fast. Horrible. I could not move. Rodney, he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. There was a room that was fortified. Rodney brought us there. I could barely see. My glasses…" and he touched the frames as he spoke. "Were obscured. Rodney led the way. He found the alcove and he put me into it, and he went away. I didn't know where he had gone." Radek's voice had grown faster as he related the whole incident. "Everything was shaking. Rocks were falling. I was calling 'Rodney! Rodney!' and he said, 'keep your head down' and I did. I was so afraid!"
Zelenka glanced to Rodney's bed, but the Canadian had closed his eyes, his brow furrowed as he listened.
"Everything shook. Dust came down. Tiles, rocks, it all fell. The sound was tremendous! My heart, it was racing so hard. I heard Rodney shout out in pain, but I couldn't move. I covered my head. And then shaking stopped and it was quiet, so I called again, 'Rodney! Rodney!' and there was no answer. Where could he have gone? I was afraid… for him… so I looked out to find him and that was the last thing I remember."
Zelenka was quiet then, blinking up at the others. "That is all true," he added in case anyone denied him.
"And so where was McKay?" Sheppard asked, wanting to hear everything correctly.
Ford turned to Sheppard. "He was in another alcove, sir. It was much smaller. Probably why Dr. McKay got so banged up while Dr. Zelenka only got hit when he stuck his head out. Something must have fallen loose just then."
Radek laid a hand on his achy head. "I had to find him," Zelenka insisted.
Weir, smiling gratefully, leaned over Zelenka and took his free hand. "Thank you, Radek."
"Now, now!" Beckett chimed, "Let's let him rest. Radek has had a busy day." And he gave the Czech a smile. "Relax and get your strength up. And the rest of you… shoo!"
Burnaby and Powell snorted unhappily, still preferring to believe their previous version of events, but they knew enough about Zelenka to trust his word. The Czech was almost pathologically honest. Kavanagh rolled his eyes and grumbled, knowing that, once again, his hopes had been thwarted. Sheppard crossed his arms over his chest, watching their frustrated movements. When they glanced at him, they came to the instant consensus that it was time to go. They left, slinking and silent.
Radek was already falling asleep, having exhausted himself with his speech. Weir stepped back, to talk to Beckett. Ford was grinning like a loon, obviously happy with the events as Radek presented them. A weight seemed to have lifted from Teyla as well. They both turned to John to see his reaction, but the major was looking down at McKay.
"So," Sheppard stated, "That make more sense?"
McKay blinked, still worn out. He gave John a chagrinned expression as he said, "That might be closer to right."
"Glad to hear you say it," Sheppard responded, and gave him another pinch on the arm.
Huffily, McKay flexed the spot, reaching toward it with the cast-encumbered arm. He glared at Sheppard. "Did you have to keeping doing that?" he griped. "I bruise easily."
I can see that, Sheppard thought, taking in his friend's black-and-blue appearance. Still, he answered, "Figured it was appropriate."
"Hell of a way to treat a sick man," McKay complained, but his annoyed expression smoothed out as he gazed across at the other bed. "He's going to be okay," he stated and this time there was no question in his statement.
"Yeah," Sheppard agreed. "You will be, too." You'd better be, he added silently. John stood, stretched and said to the others, "What do you say about hitting the mess? I hear that they're serving up some of the pastries from the Capilanos for breakfast."
"You would not want to miss that, Lieutenant," Teyla encouraged.
Ford nodded, smiling broadly at the thought, looking like he needed something to smile about.
"Hey, what about me?" McKay put in. "A little something sweet would be nice."
"Sweet? For you? Somehow 'sweet' and 'McKay' just don't go together," John jibed.
"Come on…"
"You gotta eat what Beckett brings you. I still see that Jell-O waiting."
"But it's yellow…"
"I'll make sure he gets you some red."
"Not just red!"
"Cherry! Okay, I got it. God you're particular." But John smiled as he added, "I'll grab a doughnut or two, see if I can smuggle them in. Maybe he'll let you have something else later, tomorrow maybe, if you behave." They said their goodbyes to McKay and left the room.
McKay watched them go, seeing the major drape an arm over Ford's shoulder. He smiled at the gesture, thinking that the lieutenant needed that, deserved it.
Once they were gone, he breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, he stared at the ceiling, feeling, finally, as if he might be okay. The aches didn't seem so bad and he seemed to be breathing easier in any case. Thank God, he thought, thank God… I didn't kill them.
"Rodney," a voice called softly from beside him.
McKay turned. "Ah, Zeloynka," he returned. "You're still awake."
The greeting made the Czech sigh. "The device…" he started, his voice soft. "Did they discover its use?"
After blowing out a breath, McKay stated, "They have no answers. You think they'd have it by now, but they keep following misguided theories. They have all the wrong ideas. They really are worthless without me, you know?"
"So, it is still there?" Zelenka asked. "Waiting to be figured out?"
McKay raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Yeah, I'll check it out when I get out of here. If you're up and around, I guess you can join me."
"Two heads are better than one," Zelenka reminded.
"That's a fallacy," McKay returned with a sniff, turning his head and relaxing into his pillow. "Still, assistance wouldn't hurt."
"Naturally," Zelenka returned. "But, the others have already claimed it as their project, no?"
"Well," McKay returned. "I am the head of the science department. That should account for something."
CHAPTER 26: MAN ON A MISSION
Sheppard was a man on a mission… two missions. First he'd been called to the infirmary and told that there had been an escape during the night shift. Two days after Radek's recovery there'd been a jailbreak. Both incarcerated scientists had disappeared from beneath the nose of Doctor No-Name. He'd been rather upset by their shenanigans, snapping at Sheppard, saying that he shouldn't have to put up with that sort of behavior from grown men – they were about to be released to their quarters in any case, pending an examination in the morning.
Radek had spent the days resting, and had recovered marvelously. McKay had been eating like a horse, talking nonstop to anyone who walked by, complaining to the nurses, so Beckett was done with him. In a few more hours they would have been released, so why the hell did they take off in the night?
Sheppard had nodded, letting the normally calm MD rant, and slunk away as quickly as possible. He knew that McKay had been getting restless since Zelenka had recovered, and he realized it was only a matter of time before the Canadian was demanding to return to his over-stuffed work schedule – and of course, he'd drag Zelenka along with him. He wasn't one for leaving friends behind.
Sheppard's second mission was a bit of detective work. There had been a theft from Dr. Merritt's lab. Someone, during the night, had managed to get through his security system and remove a piece of Ancient technology that had been under scrutiny. Doctors Burnaby and Powell were upset – especially since their office chairs disappeared at the same time. Funny, but Burnaby and Powell didn't seem to want to make their complaints directly to him.
In any case, Sheppard had a pretty strong feeling that the incidents were related.
The device, the chairs and the two doctors had been missing in action ever since – and Sheppard had gone in search of them. He'd managed to draft Teyla into assisting him, but Ford had made himself scarce and Sheppard had yet to find him.
They checked the most likely places first -- McKay's lab with its attached living quarters, the lab that Zelenka usually used when he wasn't under McKay's thumb, then Zelenka's quarters. They proved empty. From there all of Atlantis was a possibility… until Sheppard recalled a lab they'd found during a recent exploration.
It was high in one of the towers, far off by a pier, near a transporter, and affording a lovely view of the ocean and the rest of Atlantis. McKay had expressed a certain fondness for the location, but Sheppard had told him that unless he wanted to live as a hermit, he'd better stay closer to the center of the city.
It would be the perfect hideout for a couple of errant scientists.
So, when the transporter doors whooshed open on that uninhabited portion of Atlantis, neither Teyla nor Sheppard were surprised to hear voices, but the intensity was what astounded them. They didn't need the Life Signs Detector to lead them.
"Look, would it kill you to pay attention to what I'm saying?" They heard McKay's voice carrying through the corridors. "Because I'm explaining how this device works and your cockamamie theories are … cockamamie! No, that's not right. Keep your mitts out of there."
Someone answered in a softer voice, and McKay continued, "That would be wrong."
There was some mucking about, a clatter and the sound of something being moved, and McKay spoke again, "It's because I know what I am doing and you do not."
God, Sheppard thought, who the hell is he fighting with now? Did Burnaby and Powell figure this out already? And then something started buzzing. Sheppard threw Teyla a concerned look and both hurried along the corridor.
Suddenly the buzz stopped, a yelp sounded, followed by a crash, a clatter, a thud and a concerned shout. Don't tell me they're throwing punches now! Son of a bitch!
Teyla and Sheppard broke out into a run. They rounded a corner to reach the lab in time to find Zelenka righting a chair, McKay fussing with the microwave-shaped device, and Aiden Ford unsteadily getting to his feet.
"Ford?" Sheppard stated the name in surprise.
The young soldier looked embarrassed as he dusted at his trousers.
"Major!" McKay responded brightly. He still appeared rather unhealthy, propping himself against the counter with one hand, and the other arm in a sling, but he looked definitely better than before.
Zelenka leaned on the chair once it was settled and nodded happily in their direction. "Good morning, Major," he greeted.
Ford shook his head woefully and muttered, "Glad you showed up."
"What the hell's going on here?" Sheppard asked as he entered the space, looking from the two sick men to Ford.
"I…" Ford started, holding up his hands. "Honestly, sir, I was trying to stop them. I caught them wheeling this chair down the corridor with that thing on it and…" He dropped his hands in frustration. "They shanghaied me."
McKay was humming happily as he poked about at the machine with his one good hand, testing one crystal and then another. "I think we almost got this licked," he commented.
Teyla approached the closer man. "Doctor Zelenka, should you be standing? Doctor Beckett would want you resting." And she gestured to the chair.
Zelenka gave her a prudent grin and shook her head. "No, this is not for me. We have enlisted Lt. Ford to assist us. Lieutenant?" He moved away from the chair to give Ford full access.
Ford crossed his arms over his chest and muttered, "I'm not getting on that thing again until you guys know what the hell you're doing!"
Zelenka rubbed a hand on his head as he shuffled over to McKay. It was obvious that both were still hurting, but the task had taken over any sensibility they might have had. "Have you perfected the initiation sequence yet, hmmm?" Radek asked as he joined the other scientist.
Testily, McKay replied, "I nearly have it now. This one, for certain, is it." He pressed a probe against another crystal, making a disgruntled face. "Okay, the next one."
Laying his arms along the counter, and squinting, Zelenka said, "Try the one above your last attempt. That certainly is the one."
"No it wouldn't be," McKay snapped back.
With a shrug, the Czech said, "I think it is correct."
"Fine… fine. See? Not the right one! Okay? I proved you wrong… again. Now… okay, wait. Hang on…that's interesting."
Ford came to stand beside Teyla and Sheppard as the two scientists leaned into the opened side of the device.
"Ah," Zelenka said, "If you were to wire this crystal to that one and cross over to…"
"I got it! I got it!" McKay retorted. "See? There! Yes! That's it! It has to be it."
"Has to be," Zelenka responded confidently. "It's easier to adhere the wiring if you have two working hands. Let me." And he leaned closer to the machine.
Zelenka finished with messing about, and both men looked up at Ford. They smiled like cats.
"No!" Ford responded. "I will not be your guinea pig again!"
"But you know how to do it," McKay responded. "And I really don't want to go through the training process again with one of these…" and he flipped his hand at Teyla and Sheppard. "… others."
"If you're all so smart, one of you should do it!" Ford replied.
Zelenka and McKay exchanged a look. Neither of them really appeared as if they should be even standing up. They turned toward him. "No," Zelenka stated.
"I'm with him," McKay agreed. "Now, just sit down, lieutenant. This won't take long." He smiled again. "It'll be fun."
"That's what you said the first time," Ford complained, stepping forward with an apparent limp. He looked to Sheppard for support, but John just shrugged. Disheartened, Aiden sat on the roll-around office chair, resting his feet over the wheels, and grasping onto the chair seat with his hands.
Sheppard moved through the room to join the scientists. "So, what's it do?"
"It has nothing to do with the production of ZPMs," McKay haughtily responded.
"Okay," Sheppard responded, "so I ask again, what does it do?"
McKay paused for dramatic effect. "It produces an anti-gravitational field." And he held out his good hand, spreading his fingers in an open-palmed gesture of wonder.
"Uh-huh," Zelenka added. "One that can be directed to a single item." He picked up something that might have been a laser gun if this were a show on the Sci-Fi Channel. The 'gun' had been wired into the newfound device, obviously a new addition. "For instance, a heavy instrument that requires precise movement, on an extremely delicate machine that cannot handle being moved under most circumstances."
"Or a man on an office chair?" Sheppard added.
"Well, yeah," McKay responded. "The site, we believe, was used for construction of equipment that was used to construct ZPMs."
"So it did have something to do with ZPMs," Sheppard put in.
Annoyed, McKay responded, "Only in the most vague terms. ZPMs were never created there. The room with the fortified structure?" he paused seeing if they remembered. "…was probably utilized to build the equipment that would be eventually used to build the containment units within the ZPMs. Tricky business."
"So… it still had something to do with ZPM construction. The information we find there may still be useful," Sheppard tried.
"No," McKay returned succinctly. "Now, Lieutenant, are you ready?"
"No!" Ford growled.
With a sigh, McKay fired it up anyway.
The whirr recommenced, and Teyla stepped back. Radek aimed the 'gun' at the base of the chair, and a beam emanated from the tip of the 'weapon'. McKay made adjustments. Ford closed his eyes and looked miserable. "Hang on, lieutenant," McKay called. And in a moment, he was airborne.
Sheppard broke out in a grin as the soldier rose into the air on the chair, like an angel floating on a cloud. Ford's expression did much to ruin that image though. He bobbed a foot from the ceiling as McKay messed with the controls and Zelenka pointed.
"That is so cool," Sheppard remarked.
"The landings aren't!" Aiden grumbled, already tense and ready for what would come next.
"We have that fixed, Lieutenant," McKay told him. "There were some loose connections, that's all."
"It is all fixed," Zelenka put in, glancing to their handiwork. "Except maybe this here…" And he reached in a finger.
"Don't!" McKay shouted, but it was too late. The beam interrupted and the floating chair suddenly wasn't floating any longer. Ford, already prepared, did his best to leap away from the falling chair and to land in a tuck-n-roll. The chair crashed to the ground, clattering and spinning its wheels.
The scientists looked disappointed, and McKay turned to Zelenka saying, "Don't do that."
"No, you see here?" Zelenka poked at the innards of the device. "This piece was not fully connected. The failure was due to your inability to finish what you started. Only one hand…"
"I was working just fine with one hand until you started messing with it!" McKay snipped back.
Sheppard offered Ford a hand. "You okay?" he asked, getting the young man on his feet.
"Yeah, yeah…" Ford replied, brushing at his pants. "I'm used to it." He lowered his voice as he stated excitedly, "It's really kinda cool… if they can ever get it working right." And Ford grinned like a kid.
They watched as McKay and Zelenka griped at each other, poking and messing about with the device. "Oh," Sheppard stated, "They will." It was good to see Ford smiling again, Sheppard decided. He looked more like himself. "Thanks for watching out for them," Sheppard stated, indicating McKay and Zelenka.
Ford shrugged. "Someone's got to," he responded.
"Definitely," Sheppard replied.
Teyla had walked over to the unwell scientists, found a pair of lab stools that had been in the corner and brought them over. She got the pair sitting without much fuss – in fact, they hardly seemed to notice her movements around them.
Sheppard appraised Ford a moment, then added quietly, "He really appreciated that you sat with him."
"I know," Ford responded quickly.
"He tell you that?"
With a small laugh, Ford responded, "Well, he didn't come right out and say it, but he has his ways." He shrugged. "And I just know it."
"You been staying away from Burnaby and Powell?"
With a snort, Ford just smiled at his CO, saying nothing.
"Now, I think we have it adjusted correctly," McKay stated from his perch. He paused and looked about, as if startled to find himself sitting. But he continued on nonetheless. "Lieutenant, are you ready?"
"I'll give it a try," Sheppard decided, stepping in. "Guess I could use a few new bruises. Haven't had a chance to do any of that stick fighting with Teyla recently."
"I will be next," Teyla decided. "It looks… interesting." And she smiled, obviously intrigued with the idea.
Annoyed with the sudden interest, Ford added, "Wait a minute… I thought I was the test subject!"
"Someone, please get in the chair!" McKay groused.
Sheppard grinned, grabbing the chair first and setting it on its wheels. "Why's it gotta be a chair?" he asked.
"Because," Zelenka started, "This way, we can direct the beam at something other than living flesh."
"Always a good idea," Sheppard decided.
"And the wheels assist in the take off and landing," Zelenka continued. "It allows for some manipulation at low levels." He got a wicked gleam in his eye as he added, "And, if we can perfect the landing, one might be able to …zoom…" and he smacked his hands together, "… down the hallway."
"Why do you need someone in it?" Sheppard continued questioning.
Looking put upon, McKay responded, "Because, until we can fine-tune the regulator, you will need to aid in the steering… lean to the left, the right… Ford can explain it."
"I think I got it," Sheppard replied. "Do we need to use helmets?"
"No, no… we're good," McKay responded assuredly.
Ford ducked his head in memory of an earlier collision with the ceiling.
Letting out a breath, Sheppard nodded. "Okay, fine… let's go." He settled his feet over the wheels of the chair and gripped the seat tightly.
McKay leaned into the device as if he was about to set it off, but he pulled back suddenly. "You said that you were going to bring me some of those pastries… you know… from the Capilanos' home world."
"Ah yes, you did say as much," Radek included. "I heard you."
"Yeah, well," Sheppard started, "I did…I got you a couple of their doughnutty things."
"…and…" McKay led on, looking suspicious.
"You were asleep when I got back." John raised his eyebrows, smugly. "Both of you were asleep. And Beckett wouldn't let me leave them. Something about you not being up to solid foods at the time."
"But I am now!" McKay whined. "So what did you do? You didn't just eat them?"
"No, I didn't just eat them. I'd already had a couple and was full."
"Then what did you do? Don't tell me you threw them out?" McKay asked, his face bleak. "I checked and they're all gone in the mess. I mean, I can finally eat decent food and they're gone."
"Neither of us got any," Zelenka added.
Both scientists tried to look angry, but the effect was wasted because by their appearance; neither would be able to do much of anything in combat.
"They're stashed in my room," John told them. "Sealed them in a bag to keep them fresh, in fact."
"Hmmm," McKay returned, lowering his gaze to futz about with the device. "To be devoured during one of your midnight snack attacks," he grumbled.
"Hey, I'll give them to you."
"Maybe you should go get them before we do this thing."
"McKay, I thought I was doing you a favor by being a test subject?" John returned. "Now turn on that beam and make me fly around the room." And he wobbled back and forth on the wheels, impatient for his chance.
"I was rather looking forward to the pastries. Like doughnuts, you said?"
"A little bready for doughnuts," Ford joined in. "Kinda like a mix between that and a bagel, more like a Danish, with a sweet filling – tasted a bit like apricots."
"Kolache?" Zelenka asked. "Oh, I'd kill for a kolache."
McKay nodded toward Zelenka. "See, he'd kill for one. Me, I'd just maim. And personally, I'd prefer the cheese-filled, but definitely not the poppy-seed. Now, please. If you don't go along and fetch us our kolaches, my one good hand may slip on the controls due to fatigue brought on by manly hunger. Who knows what would happen?" He flicked his hand about to demonstrate.
"Could be messy," Zelenka added.
Sheppard scowled.
"It is true, Major," Teyla put in, grabbing Sheppard by the wrist and prying his hand from the chair. "You would not want them to be incapacitated any more than their current state."
Sheppard glared at the Athosian, feeling she was horning in on his chance to hover like Aladdin on his magic carpet, but she tipped her head toward McKay and Zelenka. Radek's head was bowed and he squinted against a growing headache. McKay was holding his good arm over the sling and was looking rather pale.
"Okay then," Sheppard revised as he stood. "Why don't we all head down there and I can split them between the two of you."
"Excellent idea!" Zelenka interjected.
"Excellent for you," McKay grumbled. "They were originally both for me."
"You misunderstood me," Sheppard responded. "They were to share. You shouldn't make assumptions, McKay. Come on, let's go."
"Oh, the thing…" Ford said, pointing to the box. "We should bring it with us."
"Hmmm…" McKay touched his lips as he thought. "Burnaby and Powell might get their hands on it."
"Ah, but we've already discovered the secret of it," Zelenka reminded. "We've beaten them to the solution."
"Ah yes," McKay returned, and then nodded, okay with that situation. "Very well then, Lt. Ford? Might you pick it up for us? You seem capable of carrying it. Me, you know, the arm." And he tugged at his sling.
"And I am a bit… dizzy," Zelenka declared with a grin, but as he stepped down from the stool, he tottered and blinked in surprise.
McKay jumped down immediately, as if he could offer some help, but his own weariness had caught up to him, and he had to grip the counter to keep from plummeting to the ground.
"You need to sit," Teyla proclaimed as she grabbed the roll-around chair and brought it around to the other side of the counter. "It is unfortunate that there is only one chair," she stated, "otherwise, we would be able to bring both of you back in this manner."
"Oh," McKay stated, looking about ready to pass out. "There's another one is over by the transporter." He waved his hand to demonstrate the direction.
"Yeah," Ford concurred. "I'll go get it. What were you doing with two chairs anyway? We only used the one to move the device and to do the tests."
Zelenka and McKay exchanged a glance. Radek answered, "We couldn't take just Dr. Burnaby's and leave Powell's."
"Figured we had to piss 'em both off, equally," McKay filled in with a grin.
Sheppard shook his head, and gave Ford a nod to get the other chair and bring it back to the room. Soon they were headed back to the inner hub of Atlantis, with Ford carrying the device, and Teyla and Sheppard wheeling the done-in scientists back in the ungainly chairs of Burnaby and Powell.
"Think we should dump them in the ocean?" Sheppard asked as they passed an open balcony, revealing the still-dark sea.
"What?" McKay cried, dropping his feet to brake their movement and turning to the major. He grimaced as his ribs pulled.
"The chairs… the chairs!" Sheppard enlightened.
"Oh," McKay rejoined. "Hmmm, no. It would be more fun hiding them."
"We hide them on that ledge near the ceiling," Zelenka added, half-a-hall's length ahead of them.
"Come on," Sheppard grumbled. "Get your feet up. Let's go."
McKay lifted his feet, putting them over the wheels again and letting Sheppard shove him onward. "Yes, yes…there's enough room, and they won't see them up there. They're not the kind to think outside the box… or off floor level," Rodney muttered. "Of course the anti-grav should help a lot. Might need cables to keep them in place." He grinned at that idea, and moved his good hand, as if already fiddling with cables. "Highly possible. We would need help though. Not sure if Radek and I will be up to it for a while."
"You look for trouble, don't you?" Sheppard responded. He moved his hands from the chair back and rested them on McKay's shoulders. "And you look for ways to get me in trouble."
"Well, of course," McKay responded, turning his head to look at John, curious about the gesture. "What else would I do with my free time?"
"Should take up a hobby," Sheppard told him. "I was thinking, maybe we could rig up some sort of a boat – go sailing sometime."
Pausing a moment, McKay told him, "Sounds possible. Lt. Ford, what do you think?"
Looking over his shoulder, Sheppard caught sight of Ford, easily carrying the device and smiling broadly. He responded, "Sounds like a great time."
Sheppard nodded at the young man, glad to see him feeling better. Yeah, it had been a piss-poor week for all of them, and there was some yet retribution to be doled out. Powell and Burnaby would probably have more than a couple missing chairs to deal with. And the look Ford gave him told Sheppard that Aiden would be right there with him. The best part about it was that they hardly had to do anything to get the scientists in a tizzy. He only had to fix them with a glare and let them assume the worst.
Assholes. They wouldn't be going through the Gate again anytime soon. Let them stay in their little labs for a while and worry about the retribution if it were ever to fall on them. They were already shuddering like scared rabbits.
Sheppard shoved the scientist onward on Powell's office chair. He kept his hands on McKay's shoulders, happy that he still had the ability to do so. It was good to have things back to normal. In spite of how things turned, it looked like everything was going to be okay. The misunderstandings had been cleared up.
Stupid son of a bitch, he thought as he regarded the physicist. Believing the shit they were slinging around. Didn't have the common sense to figure they were wrong. Wouldn't have happened if I were here, he decided. Won't happen again, he pledged as they moved along.
Ahead of them, Zelenka signaled a right turn, and Sheppard shook his head in amusement as Teyla didn't understand. "Right!" Sheppard helpfully shouted.
And they were back in the more familiar passageways of Atlantis, arriving before the morning crowds. They had plenty of time to put things back where they belonged (or didn't belong) before the other scientists were up and around.
"Ah," Rodney stated as he was rolled along. "It's good to be home." He half-turned to see Sheppard. "Think you could speed it up a bit, Jeeves? They're getting ahead of us," he commented.
Sheppard considered what he might do to the scientist, but thought better of it. Tomorrow was another day, and maybe once the physicist healed up a bit, he'd feel better about shoving the chair and its occupant down a stairwell.
"Yes, it's good to be home," John commented,
stepping one foot onto a rear wheel, and digging in with the other.
Forcefully, he shoved off. He smiled when McKay let out a
girlish scream and they careened toward Zelenka and Teyla, and behind
them, Ford laughed. "Yup… good to be home."
-------------------
THE END- There you go. I
hope you enjoyed it. Let me know if you liked it, okay?
NT
