Elizabeth stormed out of the room, feeling the stress, worry and frustrations of the past couple of days building up in her chest. The knot in her chest had now moved to her throat, and it hurt. She placed her face on her hands and breathed deeply.
Lt. Ford had walked out after her and found her standing against the wall, "Dr. Weir, you ok?"
Elizabeth quickly stood up straight and forced her mind and body to calm down, "I'm fine, thank you."
Then she turned around and walked to the nearest transporter, but instead of going back to work, she headed to her private spot. The balcony, that was hers and hers alone, was situated across from her room.
She needed some alone time as she could feel her mind wasn't going to hold on for much longer and she didn't feel like breaking down in front of everybody. She couldn't be seen like this, she was a leader after all.
Once at the balcony, she opened the door and was immediately engulfed in a cool ocean breeze, which felt as if it were taking all her worries away. Elizabeth made it to the railing, placed her arms on top of the railing and her face on her hands.
Every ounce of stress, worry and frustration wanted to get out from her system, and yet she couldn't. She couldn't let this situation take control over her. At least that is what she wanted to think.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Rodney smiled widely, being released from the infirmary at last had boost his energy a little. He was still feeling some pain, but Carson had provided him with some painkillers and had ordered him to take it easy for the time being.
Carson had threatened Rodney that if he wasn't in his quarters when he checked by, he would immediately confine Rodney back to the infirmary for a few more days.
Rodney slowly made his way back to his room when he noticed Elizabeth walk out of a transporter heading onto the balcony across from her room. Rodney stopped, noticing she looked as if she was about to fall apart.
He moved towards the door of the balcony as well but hesitated to go out; as he wasn't sure he should intrude on her privacy. But then again maybe she needed someone to talk to. Rodney hesitated some more, feeling kind of awkward but after a while he could no longer resist the feeling to go in and lend his shoulder to her. There was no way in hell he was going to let her carry this burden, or whatever it was, alone.
He opened the balcony door and slowly made his way outside. He found Elizabeth sitting on the balcony floor against a wall. Her eyes were focused somewhere on the floor beneath her.
Elizabeth looked up, and when she realized that it was Rodney the person in front of her, she quickly stood up, "Aren't you supposed to be in the infirmary?"
Rodney gave her a small smile, "Carson just released me."
"How are you feeling?"
"Given the circumstances… I'm great!"
Elizabeth nodded and fell silent. The silence hung around for a moment until Rodney said, "I was going to ask you the same."
"Huh?" Elizabeth let out, with a frown on her face.
"How are you doing?"
She took a deep breath, soothing her troubled mind, "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine," Rodney was far from satisfied with her answer as he could clearly see she was far from fine. She was troubled and damn him if he wouldn't find out what it was.
She sighed heavily, "It's just this... John... the Genii."
"What happened?" Rodney asked.
Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably while she stared at the ocean. Realizing Rodney was going to let go, she told him what had just occurred while visiting John/Ignatius.
Rodney listened without interruption and what he heard wasn't all that good. He waited in silence until she was finished but by then Elizabeth was trying hard to control the anger in her voice.
"I'm sorry. I feel so stupid, I went in there believing that at least we were going to gain some hope. But there we have a Major Sheppard who just told me that he wants to watch when Kolya rapes me... I don't know if I should be frustrated, sad or really, really angry."
Rodney stared at Elizabeth in silence. He had never been good at this comforting-thing and as a result he never knew what to say or do in this kind of situation. Elizabeth leaned completely against the railing and looked down, "I feel so stupid."
"Don't... I just can't believe he said that." Rodney watched her and realized that anger was starting to build up on top of what anger he had been feeling from being shot by the captured Major. He wasn't angry with the Major, he could never be angry with that man or at least not for a very long time.
But this wasn't the real Major Sheppard; this was a man claiming to be someone he was not and therefore in no control of his actions.
No, his anger was directed at the Genii, the people whom had tried to take their technology by force. Attempting to take Atlantis, and in the process threatening the lives of everyone on the base. Haven't they done enough? What the hell do they want from us?
Rodney kept Elizabeth some company, talking about everything and nothing, allowing their minds to be on other matters. After a while Rodney knew Elizabeth had calmed down to an acceptable level and talked her into taking some rest. He was sure that after a good nap she would be able to see things more clear and maybe deal with the rest of the people in Atlantis.
Elizabeth agreed without complain and Rodney made sure she actually entered her room and crawled into her bed. He hadn't yet turned back to the door or she had already drifted off, exhausted by all the emotions and events.
Knowing Carson would be checking on him in his quarters he headed out that way but at the transporter he changed his mind and decided to confront the son of a bitch that had shot him. He would have the bastard tell him everything they needed to know. And he had absolutely no intention to leave Ignatius before he had at least the minimum chance that Major Sheppard was still there.
But first he would say what he had to say, he would make it his job to let Ignatius know what they thought of him. It might be helpful afterwards.