Last Part of December: Chapter 7
The scene in the gateroom was quite familiar for most of the personnel involved, even if the circumstances were somewhat altered. Colonel Sheppard sat on the floor, looking somewhat dazed, displaying a soon to be darkening forehead bruise, a few small cuts, and rubbing his left arm. Both Dr. Weir and Miko hovered nearby, somewhat worriedly. The regular medical personnel exchanged knowing looks. Bets as usual had been laid: one of the constants of the Pegasus galaxy appeared to be injury finding a certain spiky-haired Colonel. Today appeared to be no exception.
Sheppard himself saw the looks exchanged, and shook his head. Sometimes he wondered how much of an economy his misadventures supported, and if it wasn't for him, would there be a thriving black market for certain items; instead they were collateral. The Sheppard economy, he mused, trying to dredge up the relevant topics he'd covered in his math classes. Actually if someone wanted to do an economic study in Atlantis, valid topics could be the number of coffee-producing countries Rodney supported with daily consumption – actually there were days he wondered what was more essential – a regular supply of coffee or a functioning ZPM. One could also attempt to calculate Dr. Beckett's net worth if he had a nickel every time Colonel Sheppard landed in the infirmary.
"What happened?" demanded Ronon gruffly, warming to the medical role, and interrupting the Colonel's reverie.
"He hit his head and nearly electrocuted himself while checking one of the consoles," supplied Miko quickly, looking at the Colonel with a mixture of guilt and sympathy.
"I'm fine," Colonel Sheppard. "Where's Rodney? I thought he was with you guys?" he attempted to shrug off the ministrations of various personnel.
"He's a bit tied up at the moment," grinned Ronon. "You know the rules Sheppard, infirmary now."
"I'll accompany him," volunteered Miko, hoping to catch a glimpse of her (not so secret) beloved.
Colonel Sheppard tried to protest, but realized from the look on Ronon's face the Satedan would probably carry him. He sighed and settled for muttering about people power-tripping. Hopefully Beckett didn't hear all the details: the Colonel knew Ronon felt that he still owed the Scotsman a debt, but the last thing he needed was Ronon relishing his time running the infirmary and the doctor taking advantage of that.
Luckily for the Colonel, the lunch concocted by Dr. Simpson soon displaced his latest injuries as the topic of conversation. While Dr. McKay grudgingly respected her skills in the physics lab, the rest of Atlantis was gaining a new appreciation for her culinary skills. Rodney did make a mental note that she be included in any future expeditions requiring extended time off world, hopefully she could do something with the MREs. Dr. Weir was trying to find a polite way to approach her and suggest she spend more time in the kitchen without insulting her skills as an engineer, and, more importantly, without aggravating the regular staff. You simply could not tell a world-renown engineer she needed to give up her research and spend more time in the kitchen. Actually, mused Dr. Weir, maybe she'd "hint" to Kavanaugh to make that suggestion, picturing a couple possible reactions.
Most of the off-world teams had begun returning and were quickly cleared by medical, to everyone's relief. A few bumps and bruises, nothing too serious, although Dr. Weir thought she detected a new appreciation for the role of military in Atlantis, and conversely, an understanding that most of the civilian personnel were tougher than they looked and could survive outside their research labs. She mused that it would be interesting to see what transpired in the coming weeks. She imagined more than a few personnel would at least begin the training necessary for off-world missions. Colonel Sheppard and Major Lorne might find themselves with more than a few requests for weapons training. It remained to be seen: she could see some decisions going the way of New Year's resolutions, forgotten or ignored by mid-January.
Hearing Miko "correcting" someone in the lab (she had picked up a few things from Rodney, judging from her tone), Dr. Weir idly wondered where Colonel Sheppard was, since he had not re-appeared in the gateroom and she hadn't heard of any explosions in the science lab. He was, however, in an unlikely place: the infirmary. The Colonel and a now-freed Dr. McKay were seated on two of the beds, playing a fast-paced game of gin rummy. Ronon watched, slightly bored.
"I thought Miko would have you back in one of the science labs," she lectured, startling the two card players. "You don't seem to be getting in the spirit of the day."
The Colonel smiled at her unintentional double entendre. "I figured I'd make Zelenka's pool more interesting, hanging out here for the day. Besides, you left your post," he scolded, before McKay could interrupt about his ongoing torture.
"You're right, this is a little odd, swapping roles for the day," she started to explain. "Everyone's back from off-world, so things are a little slow. Well, almost everyone's back, except Lt. Cadman's group. I'm a little concerned, but with Lt. Bond and Major Lorne in that group, they should be more than capable of handling themselves."
"Where'd they gate to?" asked Sheppard. "As far as I know, every place on the list was uninhabited."
"MSX-173. Nothing there except rock formations, maybe a few plants. Strange day/night cycle, according to MALP telemetry. What is it Ronon," she finished, noticing the man stiffen.
"You have pictures from the … MALP?" he struggled for the correct terminology.
"Yes, why,"
"I have heard descriptions of a planet, similar to this. I hope it is not the one they went to. The planet suffers regular earth quakings. The gate does not always work. The Wraith know this, they will regularly fly in, see if anyone has been caught. A quick hunt." While Ronon was explaining, Dr. Weir accessed one of the terminals and pulled up the relevant files. He nodded, much to her dismay. "I believe that is the planet."
Colonel Sheppard immediately grabbed his radio. "I'm afraid we're going to have to override Dr. Zelenka's command on this, not that he wouldn't agree. I need a couple teams, regardless of what they're supposed to be doing, also a medical team. We'll take a couple jumpers. McKay, I need a list of nearby gates, in case we can't gate in, or more likely can't gate out. That's what I'm assuming has happened."
Dr. Weir was slightly stunned as Sheppard sprung into military mode, calling for various personnel to meet him in the jumper bay in fifteen. Nearby medical personnel began grabbing gear. Dr. McKay also grabbed his radio and headed for the door.
"I'm going with you, Katie's in that group." Ronon and Sheppard both nodded quickly, they both knew better than to try and argue once the Canadian's mind was made up. Besides, whoever said chivalry was dead?
TBC
A/N: There will definitely be some whumpage to follow.