Part Three: Aftershock
"Fine! Be like that!"
Elizabeth watched John storm away from Rodney and head towards the rear of the jumper. He hesitated when he saw her. She grabbed the moment and held out a hand to stop him.
"Do you want to tell me what's going on?" She enquired, one eyebrow raised. She could not afford to have John and Rodney fighting amongst themselves, not right now.
John screwed up his face, and looked away. He sighed, then returned her stare. "You talk to Rodney!" Her heart sank. If he was asking that, it must be bad. John could always win round the Canadian. He continued, "He's been mouthing off about Ford, damn it! Doesn't he get it?" His eyes pleaded with her to understand, to share his frustration. But Elizabeth had her own special gene. The diplomatic one.
"Take it easy, John." Her hand was firmly on his chest, restraining his anger. "Rodney won't be taking this well." She lowered her eyes, knowing it would still the Major. "It's only a few days since we lost Peter. Since he lost Peter. You know they were close. You know Rodney doesn't really do close. Now this?" She pointed to the blood still dripping around the rear locker. "Dr Zelenka is his right hand man. How do you think he's going to feel?" She let the words sink into John's mind. She could see him relax, and she let her arm drop to her side.
"Rodney cares a lot about Ford. We all do. You know that. If there was something Rodney could do to help, you know he would, no question. It's just…it's hard for him to lose friends or see them hurt. Rodney doesn't do…friends." She looked for a response in John's eyes, but all she could see was a blank void.
"Like I said, you talk to him." His voice was quiet and controlled, and it had lost the desperate edge. John sidestepped her and made his way out of the jumper bay.
Elizabeth sighed. This was not going to be easy to fix. She checked to see whether Rodney had been aware of their conversation. He was still working at the front of the jumper, his movements agitated and almost clumsy. She was right, he wasn't taking this well.
A/N: Don't worry, we'll see more of Radek soon! Thanks everyone!