Sensitivity: Part Three

Not As Usual

"Tinael?" Elizabeth questioned.

The warning concerned her, not least because they'd already seen arrangements for food collapse one by one as allies turned out to be rather less than they'd hoped. The city was, if not on the verge of starvation, certainly not glutting itself on excess.

Sheppard shrugged but said nothing. It was Rodney who answered her question. "It probably means 'foreigner' or something like that. They were...uh...insular. Especially when the Major started a comparative testosterone calibration with one of the locals."

Comparative testosterone calib-- Oh, no. "You got into a fight?" Elizabeth asked sharply.

"It was a disagreement," John said with a brief glare at Rodney before looking to her. "One that we sorted out."

"There was a misunderstanding regarding the intent of one of the locals," was Teyla's explanation. "It was eventually cleared up."

"Eventually?"

Sheppard was trying to be guileless. "They're still willing to trade."

Which was a start; it just didn't entirely ease Elizabeth's concerns about the agreement and how simple everything had been so far. A glance at the Lieutenant showed him in concordance with Major Sheppard, and Rodney nodded as she looked at him for confirmation. And Teyla had said that the misunderstanding had been cleared up.

So why was she getting the feeling that something had been left out of the narrative?

She nearly asked about it, and then decided that it wasn't relevant to this specific debriefing. She could follow it up with John or Teyla later.

"So we didn't find out what the warning meant?"

"I tried to inquire further about the term, but Dr. McKay and Lieutenant Ford returned only a little while afterwards," Teyla said. "There was no time to get sufficient explanation for her concern."

"And do you think she was serious about the warning?"

"I do not believe she would have given it if she was not."

A stray thought crossed Elizabeth's mind. "Would it have had anything to do with the fight between Major Sheppard and the man?"

John sat up in his chair, about to protest. Teyla glanced at him, then met Elizabeth's gaze squarely. "The warning by Hatiana was given before the argument with Istekhon."

"Istekhon?"

"The guy who was all over Teyla," Lieutenant Ford said.

"He was not 'all over' me, Lieutenant," Teyla said with patient reproof.

John snorted. "He was definitely all over you, Teyla."

"Although the terms 'leering' or 'ogling' might be just as accurate," Rodney commented airily. "His interest in Teyla was obvious - even to me."

Elizabeth was surprised. The attitudes of Teyla's team-mates were more protective than usual And Rodney's comment concerned her. "Was that why Major Sheppard got into a fight--?"

"Look, it wasn't a fight, okay? It was a disagreement."

As though that made any difference! Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "A disagreement over how this man was...showing his interest in Teyla?"

"Dr. Weir, this guy had more hands than Doc Ock," Lieutenant Ford said, while John made 'agreeing' motions in Ford's direction.

"Teyla?" It was a diversion, but one that she instinctively felt needed to be followed now. Elizabeth looked to the Athosian woman. "Was this ...Istekhon's behaviour bothering you?"

Teyla's gaze was calm, although traces of her discomfort showed in her eyes. The behaviour had bothered her, but not so much that her team-mates had needed to step in. Her words only confirmed Elizabeth's instincts. "It was nothing with which I couldn't deal."

Which was about as close as the other woman would get to saying that she hadn't required their help.

Elizabeth didn't quite sigh, but she did fix the guys with an intent expression. "And the warning?" It was the warning that concerned her more. If it meant they couldn't go back for the food in a few days' time...

"I do not know what Hatiana meant by it," Teyla replied. "However, we received no warnings of trouble from anyone else that we met."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we at the end of our tether regarding supplies?" Rodney asked. "Figuratively speaking, of course."

"I just want to be sure that any people I send to pick up the supplies won't be in any danger," Elizabeth said firmly.

"Hatiana said the next few days," Sheppard noted. "After that there shouldn't be a problem."

"Are you sure of that?"

"She said the next few days," he protested. "Look, everything else pans out, we go back in four days and get the food - nothing to worry about."

"And if everything else doesn't pan out?"

"Then we go on rations and look for other options."

There were moments when Elizabeth Weir fully understood the frustration of previous commanders of John Sheppard. This was one of them. "Rodney, how long will it take you and Carson to go through the tests for the major allergies?"

Rodney looked up from the computer board he'd brought with him into the briefing room. "Oh. Two days. Maybe. I'm busy right now with the computations of just how much energy we managed to retain from the lightning strikes during the storm. There's obviously not enough to keep the shield up, but it might be enough for other purposes."

"Then get busy with working out whether or not we can eat this stuff," John said, exasperated. "You can go back to your computations afterwards."

"On a full stomach, instead of rations," Lieutenant Ford added.

"I'd appreciate it if you gave this your immediate attention, Rodney," Elizabeth said, catching the gleam in his eyes just before he opened his mouth to make a pithy retort. "Warning or not, we need to know that the food is safe for us to eat. Once we do, I'll review the situation on Tabaasa in the light of the warning Teyla was given."

It was all she could really do.

Well, that, and grill John about it when he turned up on the balcony terrace later.

oOo

"I don't suppose you'd care to give a more solid reason for picking a fight with locals than 'because one of them looked at Teyla the wrong way'?" She settled herself on the railing, staring out over the sea.

He leaned down on the railing beside her, comfortably shoulder to shoulder. "It needs a more solid reason than that?"

"Teyla is more capable of defending herself," Elizabeth pointed out. "Something that you keep complaining about after your training sessions with her." And from the sound of it, the young woman had been discomforted by Istekhon's attention, but hardly in need of rescuing.

"She's good against someone whose moves she knows," John said. "And he wasn't the only one watching her, either. For a bunch of paedophiles, all the guys seemed to have their eyes on Teyla."

Elizabeth winced. In terms of Earth sexuality, yes, the term was appropriate. In terms of culture... "Mediaeval and Renaissance women were married off as soon as they reached puberty and childbearing age, too, you know."

John frowned at her. "You're not supposed to be defending them."

"And I said I don't approve of the practise. However, it's a custom among this people. They'd probably find our practise of letting a woman choose her own man as strange as we find their practises."

"I prefer ours."

You wouldn't want a bride fresh from the cradle?" Elizabeth asked, leaning back the better to see him. He answered in all seriousness.

"I like my women mature," John retorted.

Elizabeth thought of Cheya Sar and kept her mouth shut. Although the Ancients didn't calculate age like humans did, they'd been around for a long time. Hence the name 'the Ancients'.

"That still doesn't explain why you picked a fight--"

"I. Didn't. Pick. A. Fight." John straightened, turning to face her. "This man was getting extremely personal with her--"

His repetitions were becoming irritating. "How personal?" Obviously not personal enough for Teyla to intervene.

The next moment, he moved in towards her, his face angled far too close to hers. "This personal," he said. Elizabeth heard the change in his tone of voice, was close enough to catch the crisp scent of his aftershave, could see very clearly the patterns of hazel in his eyes...

Alarm bells rang down her spine.

This wasn't usual for John. Physical contact - occasionally, friendly teasing - yes, proximity comfort - without a doubt; but intimacy like this?

She automatically stepped back, a conscious rejection of what he offered. Attractive he might be; but her loyalties were still bound to another man, even if he was galaxies away. "That's...very personal," she said, taking care to keep her voice even.

"Which is why I objected," he said, and was nothing more than the man she'd come to regard with respect and affection. If he noticed her discomfort at his behaviour, the only thing she received from him was a searching look. "Look, I didn't do anything more than haul him off her."

Elizabeth regarded him with a sceptical look. "Nothing?"

"Nothing," he said firmly.

She had her doubts. However, she let it go, and rested her arms back on the railing again.

A moment later, he joined her, squinting out to sea. "So are we having the party like Ford suggested?"

"Drs. Matthews, Campbell, and Cohen are arranging it," she said, referring to the three personnel in charge of mess hall. "They'll need a couple of days to work out how to cook what the Tabaasi have given us, so we'll probably have a celebration under the full moon. Or maybe a day or two later."

"Great," John said, shifting himself backwards a little and smiling at her. "We could do with something upbeat for a change."

Elizabeth understood exactly what he meant. They'd been struggling to keep abreast of the situation for the last couple of weeks, trying to determine how much the storm had damaged the city, dealing with the discoveries uncovered by the storm damage, and realising just how difficult their position was in facing the Wraith and keeping the city going at the same time.

Still, amidst the big crises, the smaller threads of life went on. And nothing reminded Elizabeth of this as much as the women sitting in the mess hall, teasing one of the younger women about her love life.

She was sitting at a table that overlooked the balcony when she overheard the conversation.

"...the earth didn't move for you, then?"

There was a spate of giggles from the women. "The earth wouldn't have moved," someone else said archly, her accent - broadly British - marked her out as Val Weissman, working with the technical team. "Although Atlantis might have rocked a little."

It sounded like someone was choking, and there was laughter and offers of back-patting before another woman asked. "So, what are the regs on this expedition?"

"Regs, Sharon? It's not like this is the SGC."

"Maybe not, but most of the eligible men - and by that, I mean the guys actually worth getting in the sack - are military, so they might have ideas about...fraternisation."

"Well, I guess it's safe to say that Davison sure got ideas about fraternising with Michelle!"

"And had the cojones to do something about them!" The accent was Midwestern, and the tone teasing. "It's no fun when they're all look and no touch."

"It is no fun when you do not want their interest, though," said another woman with a slightly sing-song lilt to her voice. South-East Asian. Probably, Alice Singh - her family hailed from Malaysia.

"Yeah, but that's Cavanaugh," the Midwestern girl said. "He's had the bug up his butt since Weir sent him back to the drawing board months ago."

"Wait, has Cavanaugh been bullying you again, Alice?"

"Again?"

Alice muttered something about possibly misunderstanding his intentions.

"Hon, if it makes you uncomfortable, then it's not a case of misunderstanding. You say something - to him, to your lab leader, hell - you say something to us!"

"I guess it's too much to hope that we get to kick the crap out of him?"

Elizabeth bit back a smile. She was the leader of Atlantis, and showing overt favouritism was out of line. That didn't stop her from having favourites among the personnel. More sobering was Alice's problem with Cavanaugh, although it seemed that the other women were taking care of it.

"I'll have a word with Silen," someone said. "Cavanaugh won't take advice from many people, but Silen's one of them."

"You know, that whole department's been getting...fresh...in the last couple of days," Val Weissman noted. "I was checking one of the cultures last night - you know we've been keeping track of the remaining bugs we found in that lab - and Janowicz started breathing down my neck. I almost had to shove him away before he moved."

"Janowicz...doesn't he have a wife and kids back home?"

"Like that makes a difference out here."

"You know, the guys in my section have been real touchy-feely lately," Sharon said, thoughtfully. "Kyle offered me chocolate yesterday."

"Kyle offered you chocolate? And you didn't share?"

"Would you?"

"Okay, I know whose room is getting raided the next time I've got cramps!"

Elizabeth smiled to herself. So far from home, certain commodities had become rare and treasured. Coffee was one, chocolate another. She still had a significant stash of chocolate in her quarters, and it would take death or torture to get her to reveal it.

There was the clatter of footsteps and male laughter at the door leading out to the eating area, and a group of marines entered the mess hall, Teyla walking before them. She was speaking with one of the younger men, the tone of her voice low and easy as it spread before her.

She caught Elizabeth's eye, and finished the conversation with the young marine a moment later. But Elizabeth noted that the young man stared after Teyla as she walked away. And not just the young man, either. A number of the older officers watched her make her way towards Elizabeth.

A number of the officers fixed very intent gazes on Elizabeth, too. More direct than she was used to getting from any of the men in Atlantis - with perhaps the exception of John and Rodney.

It was...unnerving. As unnerving as being brought a cup of coffee or having her personal space invaded.

"That's Lieutenant Bashiev, isn't it?"

Teyla nodded as she seated herself opposite Elizabeth. "He was offering to explain the military strategies of some of your battles on Earth."

"I thought Sergeant Bates objected." Although the Sergeant had little direct command over the marines, he had a considerable amount of influence, even over the officers; and that reflected in the marines' attitudes to Teyla.

"That was my understanding," Teyla said, brushing back a strand of hair. "However, he has once again offered to sit down with me and take me through aspects of your history." She hesitated, a momentary indecision crossing her face before she spoke again. "Dr. Weir, I have little familiarity with the ways of intimacy between your people. Your customs are different to those of my people, and I have seen a greater attention towards the women in Atlantis of late."

Elizabeth paused in the middle of her meal. "Do you think Lieutenant Bashiev--?"

"I do not know," the young woman said simply. She paused again, a little longer this time. "The other day, while sparring against the Major, I noticed unusual behaviours from the men on the base."

"And Major Sheppard?"

"He was...edgy." It was not the whole truth, but Teyla would not be willing to divulge more. Elizabeth saw that immediately.

"Do you think his actions on the planet were related to this?"

There was a burst of laughter from the table behind Elizabeth, and she saw Teyla's eyes flick beyond her shoulder. "I do not know. The Tabaasi man - Istakhon - was solicitous - although his affection was nothing that I have not previously encountered and did not discomfort me as it discomforted Major Sheppard. I believe the behaviour of the Tabaasi men is customary; they seemed to be affectionate towards their women as well."

"But the Major's intervention--"

"Is not as usual." Teyla said.

Elizabeth sat back in her chair, frowning a little. Behind her, she could hear further laughter. Once again, Teyla's eyes flickered to the group beyond her. Feeling a need to explain, Elizabeth half-glanced over her shoulder. "Some of the other women on the expedition have noticed unusual behaviour from the men. Or," she corrected, "Less common behaviour from them."

Teyla was no fool - and was a leader among her people. She was accustomed to seeing behaviour patterns that might be damaging to the community as a whole. Her expression shifted, became alert and intent. "You believe there is reason to be concerned and take action?"

"Concerned, yes," she said, after a moment. "Taking action..."

She could take some measures now, make inquiries of the section leaders, see Kate Heitmeyer about the mental state of the city, ask the lead military personnel to keep their eyes open for any unusual - particularly among the men. And she'd have to make sure that any men whose behaviour was out of line received appropriate reprimands.

Everyone in Atlantis was in the same boat. That meant getting along and respecting others.

"Dr. Weir," Teyla interrupted her thoughts, "I did not wish to add to your concerns in mentioning Major Sheppard's behaviour. I am capable of defending myself if interest such as the Tabaasi men develops among others."

"What about the women who aren't capable of defending themselves, Teyla?"

The young woman glanced away to the table beyond. "Today, some of the women approached me regarding self-defence classes. I gave them no definite answer because I was not sure as to whether such a request should be channelled through you or Major Sheppard."

Elizabeth felt a momentary pleasure that the women had approached Teyla. She knew that the young Athosian found it difficult to fit in among the Earth women. "I think that's an excellent idea, Teyla," she said warmly. "If you're willing to have more than just a few students, then I'm sure that many women will take up the classes."

Teyla seemed relieved by the answer. "I was not sure to whom I should speak regarding such things."

"Well, if you don't have any objections, I can inform the section leaders to spread the news among the women of the base."

Teyla hesitated, then nodded, as though coming to a decision of her own. "Thank you, Dr. Weir."

"No," she said, "Thank you, Teyla."

Given the way things were tending in Atlantis, it would be a start.

And in the meantime, Elizabeth would have conversations with some men of her acquaintance.

Nothing had happened yet. That didn't mean that nothing ever would.

oOo

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