Chapter 15: Discussions
Dr. Weir was walking back to her quarters the news about the Major still fresh in her mind. She was brought out of her thoughts by a voice calling to catch up to her from behind.
"Dr. Weir, may I have a word with you?"
Elizabeth froze in her tracks. She knew that voice all too well. She was not too crazy about coming across this individual, especially after the trying morning she was having.
Dr. Weir made it a point to find something about everyone on the Atlantis staff that she liked and appreciated. She had become very good at tolerating many personality quirks in her line of work. However, the voice that belonged to the person coming up behind her went beyond her tolerable limits.
Although, he was a brilliant scientist, he was on of the worst team players on her staff. He had almost cost them the lives of Major Sheppard and his team and she has had to remind him of his lack of commitment on at least one dreadful occasion.
Dr. Weir slowly turned around not really wanting to confront the body attached to that voice and encountered Dr. Kavanagh. Thankfully, the hallway they were in was uninhabited. Based on her past experience with this egoistic scientist, she knew any conversation with him could potentially get heated up and was hoping no one else would be around to witness their discussion.
"Dr. Kavanagh, what can I do for you?" she asked in an overly civil tone laced with a bit of ice. She repositioned herself to a nearby niche in the hallway forcing Kavanagh to follow. If this discussion did get hot, she wanted to avoid another public display.
"I wanted to discuss an issue that has come to the attention of myself and some of the other scientists."
Oh...this was so not going to be good, "What scientists, exactly?"
"Uh...myself, Simpson, and Grodin." Dr. Weir raised an eyebrow. Dr. Kavanagh continued, "We understand that Major Sheppard has been incapacitated over the past week."
"And...where are you getting your information from?" Dr. Weir was not doing a good job of hiding her impatience with this man as she crossed her arms across her chest waiting for his explanation.
"Well...you know. People talk. Everyone knows he's been in the infirmary for a week. This has made us concerned for the safety of Atlantis. We feel the base is extremely vulnerable with our primary military leadership out of commission."
"What are you suggesting, Dr. Kavanagh?" Weir wasn't in the mood to correct his assumption about the Major.
"Well, we believe you should appoint someone else to take his place. If the Major's unable to perform his duties to their fullest, we need someone who can. We have discussed it and would like to see Sgt. Bates placed in charge."
Dr. Weir felt her throat tighten subconsciously in self-defense. "Sgt. Bates is already in charge of security for the base."
"Yes...that's all well and good; however, he only has authority over operations on Atlantis. Who's in charge if some outside threat comes through that gate and we need top military authority. What happens then?"
Unfortunately, the scientist had a valid point and Dr. Weir admitted to herself she did not want to even consider the Major not recovering fast enough to handle an unforeseen threat.
"Lt. Ford would be next in line to command in Major Sheppard's absence."
Kavanagh rolled his eyes and smirked dramatically. "That two month old? What does he know?" he commented sarcastically.
Dr. Weir's blood began to boil. How dare this man presume to judge the character of her crew? Lowering her arms, she took a step forward getting into Kavanagh's face. "I'll have you know that Lt. Ford has displayed on more than one occasion, the most level-headed demeanor than most other people on this crew. That young man has displayed poise and good judgment under less than ideal circumstances, especially under fire, and furthermore has not once complained about it."
Kavanagh continued to smirk, shaking his head in disbelief at Dr. Weir's rant.
That did it. "I trust his judgment over a certain scientist I know," Dr. Weir said locking eyes with Kavanagh.
Dr. Kavanagh abruptly stopped smirking returning Dr. Weir's gaze. He wasn't about to let that one slip by. Finding his grin again he countered, "I might have to agree with you on that point. Perhaps it would be best if Lt. Ford were in charge. The Major has demonstrated from the beginning a certain level of incompetence. He was responsible for losing Sumner and unleashed the Wraith on the entire galaxy on his first mission out."
That really did it. Dr. Weir made a huge effort to check her anger. It wouldn't be worth her effort to unleash her wrath on this arrogant annoyance. "Until you go out there in the field and deal with some of the unknowns the Major and his team have had to contend with, you have no right to judge his actions. I couldn't even rely on you during a crisis here on Atlantis. I'd be hard pressed to trust you off-world. So, Mr. Kavanagh," she emphasized 'Mr.' purposely dropping his appropriate title, "before you go around deciding who should be in charge, I encourage you to first think about your own unimpressive track record." Even though her voice had increased in volume, there was a controlled lethality in it that made Kavanagh take a step back.
"I haven't exactly seen you display initiative and act as a team player. I have other duties to attend to so if you don't have any more positive suggestions, this conversation is over." Dr. Weir brushed past Dr. Kavanagh before she unleashed her entire wrath on the scientist. He was becoming a huge problem and she wasn't sure what she was going to do about it. A fuming Dr. Weir intending to retreat to her quarters, stormed down the hall leaving an equally fuming Dr. Kavanagh behind.
Dr. Weir hadn't even walked a hundred feet when she heard, yet, another voice calling her name from behind. "Now what?" she thought to herself still irritated by her run-in with Dr. Kavanagh.
"Dr. Weir...Dr. Weir?" the voice called.
Recognizing the voice, Elizabeth turned around in a huff. "Now what, Lieutenant?"
Lieutenant Ford was slightly taken aback but was not entirely surprised by Dr. Weir's demeanor.
"For the last time, Lieutenant, the Major is fine," she flared assuming he was about to ask one more time about the Major's condition.
Lt. Ford, seemingly unphased by her outburst continued, "Yes ma'am. I understand ma'am. It's just that...well, some of us got together and made the Major some get well cards and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving them to him the next time you see him?" The Lieutenant held what looked like several greeting cards out in front of him.
Upon hearing these sentiments, Dr. Weir immediately regretted her reaction to the Lieutenant. Softening her demeanor, she reached out for the cards and smiled warmly at the young man. "Thank you Lieutenant. I'm sure the Major will appreciate the gesture."
Lt. Ford broke out in his usual beaming grin. "Yes ma'am, we made them ourselves," he reported enthusiastically proud of his ingenuity.
Dr. Weir smiled back. Yes...this young man was the epitome of grace under fire. "I will see to it that the Major receives these and, by the way, the Major is doing fine."
"Thanks, Dr. Weir." Lt. Ford turned to leave not wanting to take up too much of her time.
"Oh, Lieutenant," Dr. Weir called after him, "I need to ask you a favor."
"Sure, name it."
"I need to have Teyla brought back from the mainland. I would like to assign the task to you."
"The Lieutenant smiled widely jumping at any chance to pilot a puddle jumper. He was somewhat honored knowing that Dr. Weir could have asked Stackhouse or Markham, instead.
"Sure, I'd be happy to pick Teyla up."
"Good, I will notify Teyla and make arrangements to have her ready in the morning at say around oh nine-hundred hours?
"Yes, ma'am," Lt. Ford dipped his head in confirmation, "I'll have a Puddle Jumper 1 ready."
"Very well, Lieutenant. I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes, ma'am," The Lieutenant turned on his heels sporting an extra spring in his step delighting in the thought that he would be piloting a puddle jumper on his own. Granted it didn't involve a jump through the Stargate but he would take it just the same. He would be sure to do the Major and Dr. Weir proud.
Dr. Weir had just made the split second decision to ask Teyla to come back to Atlantis so that she could be present when she made the formal announcement to the team regarding the Major's health and his mental state. Yes...she had made up her mind right then and there. She would tell the team about John's physical condition and mental state.
As testament of the team's commitment to each other, the greeting cards she held in her hand influenced her decision to give a report to them the very next day whether she had the Major's approval or not. They deserved to know and to be a part of his healing process. She would let John know of her plans, of course, but she was determined to convince him that it would be in his best interest.