A/N: I seem to have left the angst behind. I tell you, I don't write these stories- they write me.
The next morning, Caldwell was astonished to see McKay show up at his office door, looking tired and pale and oddly more mature in jeans and a T-shirt.
"I, um…I wanted to apologize for that…scene yesterday. I don't usually…that is, the, ah, news was – well, unexpected. I don't have any other…family left." His hands, usually so active when he spoke, were tightly clasped, and he couldn't meet Caldwell's eyes. "It's – I'm mortified to have…well…"
"Don't worry about it, Doctor McKay," Caldwell answered, eager to halt the speech that was becoming painfully embarrassing to both of them. "Doctor Weir explained to me that you've been under a great deal of stress lately. I'm sorry I wasn't able to prepare you for the bad news, but I was unaware of the contents of the letter."
"Oh, no, it – it wasn't your fault. I just – I tried to contact her, you know? When we were on Earth. Now I know why she didn't get back to me." His gaze dropped to the floor, his mouth turning down sharply at the corners, and for one hugely awkward moment, Caldwell thought he might start crying again.
Sheppard's unruly head appeared around the door, a pleased grin lighting his face at the sight of McKay. "Oh, hey, there you are! I was looking for you. Hello, sir," he added to Caldwell, almost as an afterthought. The rest of his body followed him into the room, and Caldwell couldn't help but stare. The sleeveless, knee-length black and red wetsuit left little to the imagination, and fit Sheppard perfectly.
"You're not dressed, Rodney. We've got to get going if we want to catch the waves." He slung a casual arm over McKay's shoulders. "Elizabeth gave us a couple of days off, said we're all too stressed out, so I'm taking Rodney to the mainland. There are some great beaches there, I thought I'd teach him to surf."
"I'm not going to allow you to drown me in the name of cheering me up. I agreed to go, but I intend to sit on the sand and catch up on the latest scientific journals from Earth. I'm sure I'll get horribly sunburned, but there's no way I'm putting on a wetsuit, and we have no idea what might be in the water. The marine biologists are still studying the chemical composition of the water, for heaven's sake." His tone was sharp and irritated, but McKay's face had brightened noticeably.
"That's why we're going to be on top of the water, Rodney." Sheppard leaned nonchalantly against the scientist. "That's the whole point of surfing. No more excuses, Elizabeth told me to get you out in the sunshine and fresh air. Are you done with the Colonel?"
"I'm out in the sunshine and fresh air all the time! Every time we go on a mission, it's nothing but fresh air. Trees, and bugs, and fresh air. And rocks. And more trees. And – "
Caldwell jumped in, eager to get them out of his office. Sheppard was laying the 'buddy' thing on a bit thick, and he could see McKay lapping it up eagerly. He'd heard them at it before, lobbing quips and complaints back and forth like verbal tennis…or like flirting.
"Yes, Colonel, we're done here. Doctor McKay was just leaving."
He knew he sounded a little terse, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Doctor Weir had spoken to Sheppard after her angry lecture to him yesterday, and now Sheppard was taunting him with his suspicions. He wouldn't put it past Sheppard to do so whether he and McKay were in a relationship or not, which further clouded the issue. This was exactly why Caldwell had been unhappy with Weir's insistence on Sheppard maintaining military command of Atlantis. He had the loyalty of his men, certainly, and the support of the full science contingent, not just McKay, which was even more impressive for a career screw-up who had a history of arguing with and disobeying superior officers. But his casual manner and easygoing style of command set a bad example, invited disobedience and laziness, and this – this thing he had going with McKay was completely inappropriate and against military regs. It was understandable when they had been completely cut off from Earth, with little to no hope of ever contacting home, but Sheppard should have broken it off as soon as regular contact with Earth was restored.
Caldwell watched the two men leave, Sheppard's arm still around McKay's shoulders, and came to a decision. He had to know. He needed to know if his suspicions were correct. This could be the issue that ousted Sheppard from command of Atlantis, and was just one more reason he should be removed.
Among the original expedition, there was one person who had repeatedly made it clear that Weir, Sheppard and McKay did not have his unquestioning loyalty. One person whom Caldwell could be sure wouldn't lie to him.
He checked his laptop for the location of the lab occupied by one Doctor Calvin Kavanagh.
The video sent to Earth via a microburst communication through the wormhole had given Caldwell the impression of a pinch-faced, pedantic man with even fewer social graces than McKay. The reality only confirmed his assessment. The ridiculous affectation of the pony-tail only compounded the offensiveness of his manner. He looked and sounded like he smelled something disgusting, and suspected the odor originated with whomever he was speaking to.
Caldwell had thought Kavanagh would jump eagerly to his aid, particularly given his video diatribe against the Atlantis triumvirate and his litany of procedures abandoned, dangers ignored, and reckless chances taken. But the man listened quietly and spent a long moment in serious thought before replying.
"I have to tell you that I'm rather surprised to be asked something like this, especially by you, of all people. I'd like to know if you're conducting an official investigation, because this does rather violate the 'don't ask, don't tell' rule."
"It's not an official investigation yet. But I can't ignore the circumstantial evidence, not when Sheppard keeps flaunting it in front of me. I'd hoped I could rely on your support and previous experience with Colonel Sheppard and Doctor McKay."
Kavanagh's smile was unmistakably cold. "Circumstantial evidence is not grounds for investigation, Colonel Caldwell. I will, however, tell you what I know to be fact."
He felt a righteous thrill at the assertion of solid evidence, and leaned forward eagerly. He had made the right decision in coming to talk to Kavanagh. Sheppard's time on Atlantis was limited, as of this moment.
A/N: I'm so mean...I know what Kavanagh is going to tell Caldwell, but you'll just have to wait until I write it down.
And I'd just like to say thanks so much to everyone who has read and reviewed this, and any of my other stories. I keep meaning to acknowledge you all, and I get so caught up in the process of writing that I forget. I see many of the same names again and again, and I feel like I have my own little fan club. You have all been so sweet and so complimentary, I'm in terrible danger of getting a swelled ego. I really appreciate your kind words, and I promise - updating my stories is never dependent on reviews. As long as I keep getting ideas, I'll keep writing and posting. :-x