Long Strange Trip
Chapter 8
Regular SGA-1 team on Alternate Atlantis
"There you are!" Rodney McKay gaped as the woman who was his wife – at least on this Atlantis – hurried over and gently removed Lizzie from his arms. He and Colonel Sheppard had been walking down the corridors of the city, trying to locate the day-care center Jessica had spoken of, and failing miserably. Rodney was reluctant to ask anyone, afraid the question would draw attention, revealing them as imposters.
And that's exactly what he felt like as Jessica cradled her daughter close, looking carefully at Rodney. He squirmed under her scrutiny, then froze as she leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. Her brown eyes glowed with love, and Rodney felt his stomach lurch. When was the last time a woman looked at him like that? He couldn't remember.
"Hey little girl. You been hanging with Daddy and Uncle John?" Jessica asked the baby, and Lizzie giggled. She waved her arms around, then stuck a fist in her mouth.
"Ummm….hey, Mrs. McKay," John blurted out and Rodney cringed. Jessica stared thoughtfully at John, who fidgeted, then returned her gaze to her husband.
"Okay, what are you guys up to?" She switched Lizzie to the other arm, ignoring the fact that the girl was yanking on her stethoscope. "And since when do you call me Mrs. McKay?" This was directed at Sheppard.
"Ummm….ahhh..we were just going to check on a new Ancient device," Rodney explained, his hands twisting together nervously. Jessica continued to eye him doubtfully, then gave a small sigh.
"Fine. Don't tell me. Just don't get hurt, okay?" Both men mumbled a reply, and Jessica turned Lizzie towards Rodney. "Give Daddy a kiss bye bye, honey." Rodney unconsciously leaned in and gave the child a quick kiss on the cheek, then froze as Jessica grabbed his hand.
"I mean it, Rodney. Don't be playing the hero again, got it? That goes for you, too, Major Sheppard." Jessica gave both men one more sharp glance, then snorted and trotted off down the hallway. Lizzie peered happily over her mother's shoulder, burbling the whole time.
"Wow! That was your wife? Pretty…but I don't think we fooled her, McKay." John turned towards the scientist, alarmed at the regret on Rodney's face.
"Rodney? You okay?" The scientist nodded silently, his gaze on the two figures disappearing around the corner. He cleared his throat, then gave a shrug.
"I'm fine. Let's go and check out the room."
oOo
The tall runner watched as his new-found friend dialed the gate. It roared to life with a whoosh, and Owen turned and grabbed Ronon's arm.
"I don't understand why you need to stay here, my friend, but I hope you find what you're looking for. Remember this address…." Owen gestured at the DHD,
"and if you need me, I'll be here." Ronon nodded, then stepped back as Owen strolled into the event horizon, and disappeared.
Silence filled the air as the gate snapped off. Ronon remained in place, staring at the gate, still unsure of his next move. If he stayed here, more Wraith were bound to show up, attracted by the locator still embedded in his back. And according to Owen, removal was impossible, unless he wanted to end up in a few hundred pieces.
Still…..leaving this world and heading somewhere else, even if it was the Atlantis Alpha site, presented a different set of problems. What if he needed to remain on this world, and wait? What if leaving meant that he would never return to the people he considered his friends, a city he now considered his home? Could he really return to the life of a runner, always moving, never relaxing for a moment?
And what of the others? What if they were hurt…or worse? Not knowing what was happening to Teyla or Sheppard, or even McKay, was enough to drive him mad.
He had to make a decision, and soon. Ronon knew that whatever he decided to do, the course he chose would probably be irreversible. Still, he would give it another day, and risk having the Wraith find him on this world. Owen had left him enough weapons, and Ronon still had his skill as a runner. He would buy himself some time…and hope that it was worth it.
oOo
Teyla Emmagen knew she had gone too far. Surrounding her, in the flickering firelight, was the remaining hundred or so people who constituted the Athosian race. Anger and disbelief reflected off their faces as the former leader stood, opening her arms and requesting to be heard.
"You are shunned, woman! You do not exist – your words have no meaning!" This from an elderly man, garbed in stinking rags. He glared at Teyla, daring her to speak again.
"I beg you, my people, to just listen to me for a moment. I only have your welfare in mind," she said, standing her ground. Behind her, she could feel Halling's reassuringly large presence.
Shouts answered her plea, and for a moment, Teyla felt real fear as the crowd swarmed towards her. It was Halling who saved her yet again, standing in front of the Athosian leader, and glaring at the mob.
"Teyla Emmagen was once our leader. She asks now that you merely listen to her. I, for one, have not forgotten her friendship and loyalty, and will give her the respect she has earned." He remained positioned in front of her, his body shielding her from the hatred of the others. With a shake of her head, Teyla stepped out from behind Halling, giving him a grateful look.
"I will be all right, Halling. Thank you." She turned and focused her gaze on the faces before her. "My people, I know you believe that I failed you. When the humans came from the city of the ancestors, it was my decision to trust them, to allow them to enter our city and move among us as friends." Reluctantly, the jeers from the crowd died down, a few of the Athosians nodding in agreement.
Teyla paused, taking a deep breath. She could only imagine the hardships her people had suffered since the Wraith had come.
"Perhaps that decision was wrong. In any case, the end result is the same: the Wraith were reawakened early, and our family and friends have paid the price."
Silence, broken only by the snap and crackle of the fire, descended. Teyla realized that her words were being heard, and she knew she had to tread carefully.
"We have lost contact with many of our allies. Those that we do still trade with are in much the same situation – poor crops, ruined shelters, sickness and disease. Although we are a proud people, we are dying. Look around you…"
Teyla gestured with her arms, pointing at the ramshackle huts, the rags the people wore. Now some of the people were nodding, tears on their cheeks.
"I am shunned. I am dead already. Therefore, I have nothing to lose." Teyla paused again, then stood taller, her face a mask.
"I wish to return to the humans of Atlantis. I wish to negotiate a treaty with their leader, Dr. Elizabeth Weir. I believe that I can convince them to offer us shelter, give us food and clothing…." Teyla was abruptly cut off by the angry roar of the
crowd.
"Never!"
"It is the humans who deserted us when we needed them most!"
"You dare to speak of treaties and negotiations! You are no longer our leader, Teyla! You have no authority here."
The crowd surged forward, enraged. Halling grabbed her arm, running towards the shelter of the woods as stones and sticks were cast at them. Teyla gasped as she was struck by a large rock, then began running in earnest. Behind them, she could hear the Athosians jeering, many of the mob taking up torches and pursuing the two into the trees.
So much for gaining the support of her people, Teyla thought as she and Halling ran for their lives. She would have to leave Athos, perhaps even leave Halling behind, and return to the Atlantis Alpha site alone. It was clear that her people wanted nothing to do with either herself or the humans. Teyla felt defeat settle in as she nimbly ran through the trees and brush. She needed to help her people, only they wouldn't let her. Even if she managed to escape Athos, convince the soldiers at the Alpha site to let her into Atlantis, and then persuade Dr. Weir and Colonel Sheppard to help the Athosians, she was sure that her people would refuse any assistance.
Teyla and Halling crouched at the base of a stone outcropping, panting to catch their breath. Teyla grasped Halling's hand, and the tall man looked down at her.
"Halling, I must get to the stargate. Whether my people agree with me or not, I must return to Atlantis. Will you help me?"
He was silent for a long moment, then reluctantly nodded his head. "I will help you, Teyla." Without another word, he silently led them down a sheltered path, Teyla on his heels.
TBC