Chapter Twenty Six

The information was laid out before her, Weir had the knife in one hand and the contained vial on the desk in front of her. Finally after looking it over, she looked up at Sheppard. "I can't believe this."

"It all speaks for itself," Sheppard replied without emotion. "Doctor Beckett himself confirmed it." He leaned forward in his chair, making his presence in the room more and more evident. "I think it's time we talked to Kiki."

"We still don't know she was involved John," Weir said, giving him a tired look.

"No," Sheppard admitted that much. "But she's the only one who can tell us about it, it's her weapon afterall."

"I'm well aware." Weir took another look at the knife, running a finger over the decorate handle, the smooth texture cooling at her touch. It was a formidable looking weapon and to think it was twice as deadly as it appeared was, quite frankly, disturbing. Even if Kiki did or didn't know about the vial, they still needed answers about the origins of the knife. She sat back in her seat. "You have a go."

--

"Are you sure you don't want Doctor Beckett or Teyla here?" Ford asked after Sheppard had tracked him down. He still couldn't get over all the things that they had found out about the knife, it gave a whole new meaning to just stabbing someone but infecting them too.

"No why would I?" Sheppard asked, keeping his gaze ahead of him as they walked to Kiki's quarters.

"Just figured that it might be helpful to have something there she trusts."

"She can trust us."

"When we don't trust her sir?" Ford asked stopping momentarily. Sheppard noticed the lack of footsteps and turned to Ford.

"I'm just being cautious. I mean you understand, it seems only us military types do."

Ford continued working, seeing this as a signal to go ahead and carry on. "I take it Teyla didn't take the news too well sir," he asked as they rounded another corner.

"No she didn't, gave me the mother of all glares as soon as she saw me and Bates heading out the infirmary."

"And Doctor Beckett."

Sheppard hesitated a moment before answering, glancing sideways to Ford. "Let's just say that he seems like the kind of man you should never piss off. Ever."

Another corner and they found themselves standing outside, Sheppard was beginning to reconsider Ford's suggestion of bringing in Teyla or Beckett. "We need to make it so she doesn't feel threatened, we don't want Kiki to think that we're…that we want to…"

"Interrogate her?" Ford offered with raised eyebrows.

"Exactly. We need to make it seem more… seem more…"

"Casual," Ford interrupted.

"Let me finish my damn sentences," Sheppard replied. "But yeah. We need to make it seem casual."

"That I can do sir."

"Great," Sheppard said, feeling a little better and allowing himself to relax marginally. This whole thing was going to be a complete bitch to orchestrate. "Let's get this over with."

--

The door opened, Kiki turned in the direction of the door but surprisingly didn't look panicked, for she had heard the conversation outside the door. For what she could not see, she made up for with excellent hearing and it confirmed her belief that some would not allow themselves to trust her.

"Major Sheppard, Lieutenant Ford."

Sheppard and Ford gave each other a surprised look. "Kiki." Another awkward look exchanged. "How did you know it was us?"

Kiki had been taught never to lie even though it seemed that all the words out of their mouths were only lies. "I heard you talking to one another in the corridor. What is it you wish to speak to me about? Have I do something wrong?" she asked quietly. Ford and Sheppard remained silent, both seemed to be considering what they were going to say. Kiki was growing ever so tired of this routine, honesty was all she wanted. "Please do not insult my intelligence by lying to me."

"Okay," Sheppard said moving in and taking a seat. "Doctor McKay is very ill, he's infected with a toxin that is making his body fight against him." Ford watched the girl carefully, awaiting some sort of reaction. For some look of recognition.

"That is terrible," Kiki whispered gently with a slight frown, her eyes in the direction of the floor. "Is there anything Doctor Beckett is able to do for him?"

"He's doing his best," Sheppard assured her while looking to Ford and back.

"How did he get infected?" Kiki asked lifting her head, bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs to keep them there. Kiki rested her chin on her knees and rocked back and fourth slightly.

Here came the hardest part and Sheppard knew better than to hesitate. "It was concealed in the knife Kiki." He tried to keep the accusation out of his voice. "Your knife, the one you attacked him with."

Immediately, the young girl stopped rocking and stayed perfectly still. Deathly still in fact, causing both Sheppard and Ford to lean in to see if she were even breathing. Kiki blinked once, then started blinking rapidly to fight tears that blinded her even more. "You are saying that I am the cause of this?" she asked gently.

"It was your weapon."

"I was the one carrying it, I am the one attacked him and injured him. It is my fault." Kiki sniffed. "I should receive punishment for what I did."

Both Teyla and Beckett had returned, when the doors opened and Beckett's smile faded at the sight of Ford, Sheppard and an obviously distraught Kiki. "What the hell is going on here?" Beckett demanded, both men turned to him about to offer an explanation.

"Do not be angry," Kiki said gently, tears rolling down her cheeks and onto her knees. "They have explained the situation. I will take any punishment you wish to give me."

"Punishment?" Beckett echoed looking specifically at Sheppard. Teyla standing beside him with a look that rivalled his own.

"It's not what you think," Sheppard said holding up a hand to them both.

This revelation seemed genuine, Ford glanced to Sheppard then back to Kiki. "It's not your fault," he said gently, not knowing what to do.

"Kiki, who gave you the weapon?" Sheppard asked, matching Ford's tone.

"No one, I acquired it on my own terms."

Beckett and Teyla seemed to calm down as he moved over and placed an arm round her, Kiki smiled at the warmth Beckett provided and rested her head against his chest. So much like her own father. She felt safe and loved. "Where did you get it?" Beckett asked softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"The large structure," Kiki answered quietly. "The one where I encountered Doctor McKay and Lieutenant Ford." Beckett looked up from her to Sheppard, amazingly even he wasn't angry anymore. Sheppard stood up and looked to Teyla.

"The temple."