Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
John stood waiting for Jeannie as she dried off and changed, unlike Rodney she was more than happy to change into the clothes offered by Tollas. Rodney had snapped that he would rather go back into the room full of water than dress in something that would make him look a reject of a cult, so the Doctor had taken him back to the TARDIS to get dry and changed.
"Hey."
John turned as Jeannie appeared, she looked a little better than before dressed in the white robe but her face was still extraordinarily pale.
"Hey," he smiled at her, "Feeling better?"
"Warm and dry again," she replied with a shrug.
John caught her arm and made her look at him, "And?"
Jeannie sighed and held out her hand to show him how much it was shaking. She sniffed a little trying to hold back the tears that were threatening her.
"Hey it's okay," John soothed pulling her into a tight hug; he wrapped one arm around so he was rubbing her back while his other hand slid into her hair rocking her gently as she rested against his chest, "You're okay Jeannie."
"I was useless," she cried, "After my little speech to you I was absolutely useless."
John continued to gently rub her back, "You know everyone's afraid of something."
Jeannie pulled back to look at him whispering, "And what are you afraid of?"
He stared into her eyes his hand gently stroking her cheek, "Losing the people I care about."
They moved closer, their lips were almost touching but John pulled away as Aris called to Jeannie.
"Aris," she moved away from John and turned just as Aris entered the room.
The other man pulled her into an embrace not seeing John grimace at them, "I was so worried about you."
"I'm fine Aris," Jeannie told him as she stepped back.
"Where have you been?" John asked suspiciously.
Aris turned to him disdain on his face, "I was trying to help and then a member of the council ordered me to the chambers. They wish to see you all."
"Won't that be fun," John murmured.
x
"So," the Doctor said as Rodney reappeared in the console room, "Feeling better?"
Rodney stared at him for a second, "Fine," he dropped his eyes down.
"You're a dreadful liar," the Doctor laughed before becoming serious, "She's not here, you can let it go."
"There's nothing wrong," Rodney snapped.
"I know what it's like," the Doctor told him, "Having someone who is important to you in danger and no matter what you do it feels like it's never going to be enough. I know how bad it feels Rodney."
"Look…"
"Jeannie adores you," the Doctor continued, "She may have been afraid but she didn't lose her trust in you to get you both out of it. I've seen Jeannie surrounded by water before and she isn't able to move. We were able to see into the room and you had her floating, she was able to move enough to catch those handles. With you there," the Doctor continued his voice rising, "she was able to hang on. Stop feeling sorry for yourself."
Rodney's head snapped up, "I'm not feeling sorry for myself," he snapped back, "I don't want her here. I don't want her put in dangerous situations. You drag her around with you and from what she's told me people seem to try to kill you everywhere you go. I don't want my sister subjected to that."
"She chose to come with me," the Doctor told him, "This time she knew exactly what she was getting into and she decided to come anyway. You two are more alike than you realise."
Before Rodney could reply the Doctor was heading out, "Are you coming?"
Rodney sat his arms wrapped around his body as he watched Jeannie sleep; her face was as pale as the cast that covered her leg. He could still hear it echoing in his mind the snap of her leg, and then she'd screamed.
"Rodney."
He looked up to see his mother holding out a drink for him, she touched his cheek soothingly making him look a little surprised. She had always thought of him as a nuisance but now she was comforting him.
"When your father gets here we'll go get something to eat," she told him softly her hand lingering on his head, "Then you can stay with her tonight. Okay?"
Rodney nodded a little surprised before blurting out, "She screamed so loud."
"She was in a lot of pain," his mother reminded him, "But the doctors have given her medicine to make her feel better."
Rodney knew he was a genius but at times like these having this woman comfort him with such mundane knowledge, even though she didn't like him normally, he felt better.
x
Melissa McKay sat beside her son and rested her arm around him amazed as he leaned into her. At eleven years old he was overly smart, could be extraordinarily sarcastic and yet strangely quiet making her uncomfortable around him. Jeannie was so like her, open and vivacious Jeannie was able to get along with absolutely everyone especially her brother. Melissa didn't understand Rodney, she didn't know how to deal with his brilliance or with the way he connected to Jeannie.
So many times she wished she could bond with him but instead of trying she followed her husband and allowed her frustration on him. She only wanted one child, a girl she could spoil and befriend as she became older. Having two meant a lot of their plans were thrown out of the window something Stuart resented, a resentment Rodney felt at every turn.
x
Jeannie groaned as she woke up.
Glancing to one side she saw her brother asleep on the bed across from her. He sleepily opened his eyes jumping up when he saw her awake.
"Are you okay?" he asked his words tumbling out, "How do you feel? Does your leg hurt?"
"Rodney," she breathed, "I'm feeling a little weird. And I don't know how my leg feels."
Rodney looked at her worry still filling his eyes, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," she sighed, "Where are they?"
Rodney squeezed her hand, "Mom and Dad will be back soon. Mom's acting really weird."
"Weird how?" Jeannie asked still feeling a little strange thanks to the medication.
"She keeps hugging me," Rodney replied wrinkling his nose.
Jeannie laughed, "Sign my cast," she ordered.
Jeannie stared down at the cast she wore remembering how annoying it had been the first time she'd broken her leg, the exact same leg. The cast had a few signatures scrawled on it from her friends but she didn't like it as much as the last cast. Rodney had taken over that one meticulously drawing strange patterns which meant nothing to anyone but him.
She groaned when she heard the door open, her mother was driving her absolutely insane coddling her.
"Don't do that," her brother scolded, "I travel all this way to see you and all I get is a groan."
"Rodney?" Jeannie grinned reaching out for him to hug her.
He smiled hugging her tightly, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she sighed, "Just stuck here for the next six weeks at least. What about you? How long are you here for?"
Rodney glanced down at the floor, "I have to leave in about an hour; I've got an exam tomorrow."
"Oh," she grimaced, "Thanks for coming and for calling Mom to tell her I was in the accident."
Rodney nodded softly, "I was in the lab at the time, tossed a cup of coffee over the lecturer."
Jeannie giggled at the thought, "Don't you have any lectures today?"
Rodney waved away the question, "The TA is going to give me the notes."
"Well," Jeannie grinned at him, "You can make me some tea."
x
Melissa McKay stopped surprised when she entered the room finding both her children sitting drinking tea laughing.
"Rodney?"
He jumped when she entered the room, as always he looked a little wary at her not sure how she was going to react to his presence.
"Mom," he nodded softly at her before setting his mug on the table, "Hi."
Melissa smiled at him handing Jeannie the magazines she'd fetched her, "Are you staying for dinner?"
"I have to leave now," he told her, "I have an exam tomorrow."
"Then you shouldn't be here," Melissa scolded, "Your father and I are paying a great deal of money for you to study so far away…"
"Mom," Jeannie cut her off, "He studied on the flight and will study on the way back."
Rodney grabbed his jacket leaning over and hugging his sister tightly.
"Call me when you get there," she ordered as he was about to leave.
"Sure," Rodney replied turning to face their mother.
Melissa handed him his backpack, "Make sure you study."
Rodney nodded rolling his eyes at Jeannie who grinned at him watching her brother leave.
They'd survived.
Disappointment coursed through him more than anger, this would just mean he'd have more work to kill the Doctor than before.
However now he would have the chance to start on that plan. The creature's consciousness had now been obliterated meaning he had complete control of the body and the body was not only strong but had features that only enhanced his powers.
He was very pleased.
x
"Wow," Rodney laughed when he stepped into the room and saw his sister, "All you need is the halo and wings."
Jeannie turned and with her hands on her hips smiled back rolling her eyes, "As opposed to your horns and tail?"
"Children," John called, "Enough."
They turned and gave him identical dark looks.
"The Council wish to speak with you all," Aris reminded them interrupting the argument before it began.
"Excellent," the Doctor smacked his hands together, "These people are always fun."
"You have an odd definition of fun," John noted.
"Please," Aris interrupted again, "They are quite anxious."
The four time travellers nodded and Aris started to lead them about to offer Jeannie his arm but Rodney beat him to it. He slung his arm around his sister's shoulders leading her along the corridors.
"Are you okay?" Rodney asked softly.
Jeannie hugged him slightly as they walked, "I'm okay," she promised, "Just a little shaky."
"You'll be okay once the TARDIS is powered up and we get back to our time," Rodney told her, "You can get some sleep."
Jeannie sighed at the thought, "Alright I'll agree that you can occasionally be called genius."
Rodney pinched her arm wincing as she punched him in his side.
"Do I need to separate you two?" the Doctor laughed.
x
Tollas met them at the Council chambers which John and Rodney knew as the briefing room.
"They are waiting for you," he said, "Doctor, they are very anxious to know why a Timelord has come to Atlantis."
"Popular as always," Jeannie laughed taking Tollas arm when he offered it to her.
They entered the room, Jeannie turned as the doors closed behind them but the three men remained facing front.
"I am Torvel," the woman at the head of the table introduced herself, she was slim with long golden hair, green eyes and alabaster skin, "It is a great honour to have a Timelord in our midst."
The Doctor shrugged.
"Aris informs us that your companions were recently trapped within Tollas laboratory," Torvel spoke softly; "They are fine now?"
"Completely," the Doctor replied as Jeannie made sure her brother didn't say anything.
"Now, may I ask why you have come to Atlantis?" Torvel asked her voice never rising above the soft tone but carried the air of authority.
"Just stopping by," the Doctor shrugged, "As we were here I thought I should visit an old friend."
"Then that is all the business you have here?"
"It was," the Doctor replied, "until someone tried to kill Jeannie and Rodney. So I intend to stay until I find out who it was."
The woman nodded, "I understand. Tollas has expressed an interest also. Therefore I am happy for you to remain in Atlantis until this has been resolved."
The Doctor nodded, "Good. We'll see you later."
With that said he turned and headed towards the exit, knowing Jeannie would follow him meaning Rodney and John would follow her.
x
"Now what?" John asked as they headed back towards Tollas' lab.
"Now we find out who trapped those two in there," the Doctor replied.
Tollas smiled, "Aris, could you head to your own laboratory and find who had access to the computers, also who within the city has the skills."
"Of course," Aris nodded, "Jeannie, would you accompany me? I have some things to show you that build upon the work I was doing when we first met."
Jeannie looked a little caught out by his request but after glancing quickly at her brother who nodded she smiled at Aris, "Of course. We'll be back soon guys."
x
"What's wrong with you?" Rodney asked as he passed John who was standing in the corner scowling.
"That guy Aris," John noted, "I don't trust him."
Rodney's eyebrow rose, "Really?"
"When you were trapped in that room," John explained, "He disappeared. He only arrived back once you were both safe."
Rodney frowned, "Jeannie will tell me if she needs help. She knows this guy already."
"I know he's an old friend of hers," John replied trying not to let his personal feelings interfere with this, "But I don't trust him."
Rodney let out a long sigh folding his arms across his chest, "The Doctor also says he's a good guy."
"What's your opinion?" John demanded.
Rodney sighed hating that he wasn't trusting his twin sister, "There's something about him that bugs me."
x
"It is wonderful to have you here," Aris told her as they walked through the corridors, "I knew that once I closed the wormhole I wouldn't see you again."
"Aris…"
"I missed you," he told her softly.
"You are a great guy," Jeannie told him, "But at the moment my life is too complicated to even contemplate getting involved with anyone."
"Even Sheppard?"
Jeannie looked at him shocked, "John is my brother's friend."
"And he looks at you the way I always have," Aris told her.
This made her smile before she shook her head, "John is my brother's friend," she repeated a little annoyed that she was defending herself against something that wasn't even happening, "And he has saved my life at least once. He just looks out for me because he and Rodney are very good friends."
"I don't believe that," Aris told her as they reached his lab allowing her inside.
"Aris, I'm not involved with John," Jeannie told him sharply, "I don't see myself ever getting involved with him and quite frankly it is none of your business."
He dropped his head for a second, "I apologise."
"Accepted," she replied, "So, what's so interesting you dragged me here?"
"Come with me," he pulled her across the room to a hidden door, opening it Jeannie found herself on a small balcony. Looking round she frowned at the hole in the hand-rail her stomach turning slightly at the thought that there was just a body of water below.
"Jeannie," Aris called standing at the open door, "I have a way to save the others. My work has meant I've found a way to protect everyone in Atlantis."
She followed him inside looking around at the empty room, "So?"
"No," Aris breathed fearfully, "It's gone."
"What's gone?" Jeannie asked.
The door behind them slammed shut making them spin to find the Wraith standing behind them.
"I am still here," the alien rasped a smile curving on its lips he turned to Jeannie, "I told the Doctor this was not over Miss McKay."
Ice filled Jeannie as she stared at the creature before her, "The Master."