Thanks for the encouragement so far and for the reviews… This is only my first fic so I'm still finding my way around… Hopefully it won't be too boring with the direction I am going to take this in… So far I'm just laying the foundations :o)

PART III

"He is beautiful, Sharia. You must be so proud."

In the quiet of the infirmary, Kirra held the dozing newborn gently in her arms. His eyes were squeezed shut in slumber and his tiny fists failed about silently in his sleep. She smiled down at the babe. "He will be strong."

Sharia smiled weakly from her bed, her auburn hair spread over the white pillow like a sunburnt cloud. Dr Beckett had been kind enough to section off a private area so that she could recover from the difficult birth in peace. "He will be smart," she said.

Kirra returned the smile brightly. "Oh yes he will." She looked over the child's head at her sister and her people's leader, suddenly serious. "You made sure of that."

Sharia sighed at the probing expression on Kirra's face and leaned back against the pillows. "Yes I did. For the good of our people."

PART IV

"You let McKay breed, Sheppard?"

John grimaced. "I didn't let McKay do anything!"

He turned his head to face Ronon Dex as they stood on the observation deck overlooking the ancient city of Atlantis. Waves lapped against the city piers bellow and the air was heavy with the now familiar salty smell of their new home. Thanks to Kirra's very public announcement of the baby's parentage in the infirmary a mere few hours ago, the news had spread like wildfire throughout the city. Now the mountain of man stood calmly beside the Earth pilot reflecting on the recent surprising event.

Ronon was silent for a moment as he digested the Colonel's heartfelt protest. "He doesn't seem to be taking it well," he said, referring to the scientist.

John snorted. "None of us is taking this well. The last thing we need are mini-McKays underfoot." John looked positively depressed. "One is hard enough as it is."

They stared out over the city in companionable silence, watching the sun slowly start to fade on the horizon. Ronon wasn't much of a conversationalist but in this instance, John was glad for the chance to take in the recent bombshell.

Moments later, he heard the door swish open behind them. The two men turned, greeted by a serious faced Elizabeth. "John, Ronon. It's time we got to the bottom of this."

John exhaled slowly. He didn't have to ask what Dr Weir was referring to. It seemed that there was only one thing on every one's mind. He wasn't looking forward to another scene that would no doubt have McKay hyperventilating once again, but he knew they needed to find out more. There were some things that just didn't add up. "I think you're right, Elizabeth."

The three of them turned to enter the meeting room. Elizabeth regarded Rodney in concern. Seated beside him was the Scotsman, looking all but fed up with the scientist's dramatics. "Are you alright, Rodney?"

A short sharp shake of the head indicated he was not. The now common, albeit crumpled brown paper bag remained attached to his face with a white knuckled fist as he breathed in strained gasps.

The diplomat sighed as she took her seat in the Atlantean meeting room. Ronon and John followed suit, settling themselves on the opposite side of the table to the scientist and his carer. Teyla also sat quietly at the table, waiting for the meeting to commence.

Elizabeth picked up the data pad from the desk top and studied its screen with a frown. "According to your mission reports, your trip to PU-X78 was relatively uneventful, was it not?"

She placed the data pad on the desktop and looked around at her personnel. Although she had enjoyed seeing the spirits lift around Atlantis, the knowledge that Rodney had fathered a child totally unknowingly on an off-world mission concerned her.

Across the table, John lifted one shoulder in a half hearted shrug. "Well, yeah. Save for the rather hazy recollections of the feast. I just figured we drank too much."

"But during the welcome festival, they drugged you with their local drink, and-"

"Took advantage of McKay?" John looked slightly queasy at the thought.

McKay ripped the paper bag away from his face. "Why don't I remember anything?" he demanded loudly.

Beside him, Carson sighed, rolling his eyes to the heavens. "Oh good lord." He faced the physicist. "I told you, Rodney. They drugged you."

McKay sat back heavily in his chair and crossed his arms tightly over his chest. He practically pouted. "They really didn't need to do that!"

Rodney's upset temporarily forgotten, Carson became excitable at the thought of a potential medical advancements. "It was some kind of herbal fertility drink. Quite remarkable from what Sharia has told me. I would like to know more about it."

"The Quadroni people are well known for their medicinal knowledge. Although they aren't as technologically advanced as the Hoff, their knowledge and creation of herbal remedies is their primary merchandise for trade." Teyla spoke quietly. "Their women travel through the various worlds as skilled and sort after midwives."

"Oh god," Rodney snatched up the bag and held it to his face once again as he panted. "Oh god!"

John rolled his eyes. "You've said that already, McKay."

Rodney paused mid breath and glared at the solider. "Don't you laugh, Colonel! I wasn't the only one who drank that local stuff. If I remember correctly, you had more than me and Kirra was sitting close to you!"

The Colonel froze slack jawed like a rabbit stuck in car headlights. Oh crap!

"Ha. Not so smug now, are we now?" Rodney smirked, the paper bag forgotten in his hand. John swallowed uncomfortably as he directed his attention to Elizabeth.

"You don't really think that they..." Elizabeth lifted an eyebrow at the Colonel expectantly. He struggled to get the words out. "You know, with er... Me too, do you?"

Elizabeth shrugged delicately, fighting back a smile. The pilot looked positively terrified at the thought. Having seen him come face to face with more life threatening situations than she cared to remember, she found his reaction to possible fatherhood almost... comical.

"But why the secrecy? Why drug you so that you would stay the night in their village? Surely they weren't that desperate for trading partners?"

Ronon looked at Rodney. "Desperate would be right."

Rodney sat up, indignant at the Satitian's statement. "Hey, I am a genius remember. The answer man." He gestured to himself. "Who wouldn't want these genes?"

"Oh god, this is going to his head," Carson muttered darkly. Teyla discretely hid a smile.

"Gentleman, please." Dr Weir held up her hands. "Let's try to go back to the beginning. Tell me what you remember-"

"Wait," John interrupted. "Shouldn't Kirra be here for this?"

They exchanged glances around the table and Elizabeth nodded and looked down at the data pad once again as she considered. The young woman could hold the key to what really happened that night, and as to what was really going on. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea."

TBC