Secrets

By: SNBRADY

Disclaimer: I don't own Atlantis, darn it.

Authors note: This is my first attempt at fan fiction so bear with me till I figure things out.

The Meeting

Dr. Elizabeth Weir stared across the conference room table at Dr. Sarah Reilly, M.D. and couldn't help thinking to herself that Dr. Reilly was an absolutely striking woman. She had her curly dark copper red hair pulled neatly into a ponytail, leaving in full view the delicate bone structure of her pale face and the way her eyes seemed to sparkle like fine emeralds. If it weren't for the fact that Dr. Reilly wasn't particularly tall she could have easily been a model, also the younger woman carried herself in a way that seemed far beyond her years, though granted Dr. Reilly was in fact thirty she looked to be maybe 23-24 years old.

Elizabeth had reviewed Dr. Reilly's file, so she didn't find it surprising that the young doctor was extremely mature, given her back ground. Dr. Reilly was raised in a military home, her father being Admiral Patrick Reilly, U.S. Navy, she had begun college at the age of thirteen, graduating from medical school at the age of 20, and spent the next four years in a residency with the United States Navy. That is until she left the Navy to become part of the SGC six years ago, and now she has chosen to come to Atlantis.

Wrinkling her forehead slightly Elizabeth glanced over at Col. Caldwell who was slowly tapping his fingers on the table with one hand and rubbing his temple with the other.

"Are Col. Sheppard and Dr. Beckett even aware that their presence is required for this meeting," Col. Caldwell asks clearly annoyed.

Elizabeth smiles placidly at him, "I'm sure they'll be here any minute, as you can imagine it does get rather busy around here when a new group comes in. I mean just getting everyone into quarters is a logistical nightmare."

Out of the corner of her eye Elizabeth saw Dr. Reilly break into a big smile and then move to cover her mouth with her hand and Elizabeth turns to look at her curiously.

"It's alright Dr. Weir," Sarah says sweetly, "I can only imagine you have people annoying you with requests like," breaking into a very dramatic tone of voice, "'I want a room with a view of the ocean, but I also want to get the sun in the morning but not to much sun, you got anything like that'."

Elizabeth is trying desperately not to laugh at how accurately Dr. Reilly had described more than one request she had been subjected to. Suddenly from the doorway Elizabeth hears Lt. Col. John Sheppard say, "wow, it's like she's channeling McKay when we were trying to find him quarters."

Liz finally loses the battle with her laughter at John's quip. John steps inside the conference quickly followed by Dr. Carson Beckett, "sorry we're late," states Carson in that Scottish brogue of his.

The late arrivals quickly spots the beautiful young doctor, who is standing to greet them, "hi, I'm Col. Sheppard," "I'm Dr. Beckett," they both say at the same time extending their hands out to shake hers.

Sarah's eyes flick between the two men in front of her, though out of the corner of her eye she sees Dr. Weir roll her eyes at them. Allowing a pleasant smile to curl her lips Sarah extends her hand to the two men as well, "it's very nice to meet you Col. Sheppard and Dr. Beckett, I'm Dr. Sarah Reilly."

Recognition suddenly registers on Carson's face, "Dr. Sarah Reilly… you didn't write that paper on 'Disease and the Human Immune System' did you?"

Sarah's smiles gets a little bigger, "as a matter of fact yes I did. I wrote that years ago, I'm surprised anyone even remembers it."

Carson smiles brightly at Sarah showing off his dimples, "well of course I remember, it was absolutely brilliant." Eyeing her for a moment Carson continues, "even though I wasn't informed of it, if you're here to join my staff I'm quite pleased."

Sarah's smile never wavering, "I'm truly flattered Dr. Beckett; however, I'm afraid that I won't be joining your staff, though I'm sure we will be working together on occasion."

Carson opened his mouth to say something else but just then Col. Caldwell says in that gruff way of his, "Doctors, please there will be time for you to talk later but right now I'd like to get this meeting out of the way."

Sarah turns back to the Colonel smiling softly, "of course Col. Caldwell I know you're anxious to get back to the Deadalus so I'll try to make this meeting as quick as possible," turning back to John and Carson, "please gentlemen sit."

After everyone is seated Col. Caldwell starts, "I'm sure everyone is wondering why they were called to this meeting," opening up an electronic file on his lap top, "as you all know six months ago Atlantis was very nearly destroyed when a Goa'uld infiltrated this base and planted a bomb and very nearly exposed the existence of this city to the wraith." Everyone nodded their understanding, "well," continues Col. Caldwell, "Dr. Reilly has been assigned to the Deadalus as the new CMO in an effort to circumvent any further Goa'uld interference within this base."

The other three people in the room look quite confused, and Sarah bites her lip lightly as everyone turn to look at her.

"Maybe I missed something in that little history lesson but how exactly are you going to 'circumvent' the Goa'uld, Dr. Reilly?" asked Lt. Col. Sheppard in his usual sarcastic tone.

Sarah allows a small nervous smile to curve her lips before answering, "in a nutshell… I'm host to a Tok'ra, and we will be monitoring all the new personnel for any Goa'uld infestation before they arrive here on Atlantis."

Col. Caldwell flashes an uncharacteristic smile, "very subtle, Doctor."

Sarah smiles brightly at the Colonel's jab, responding with a "thank you," while everyone else just sit there trying to process what they have just heard.

Elizabeth is the first to recover, "you're a host to a Tok'ra," she says more like a question than a statement.

A gentle smile comes to Sarah's face, "yes… for more than three years now."

For the rest of the meeting it was explained that Dr. Reilly and her symbiote Ashatsinu (Ash) had been assigned by the high council to assist the Tauri now that the majority of the Goa'uld had been effectively defeated. However, her true nature would be kept a secret as not to tip off the Goa'uld that they could be exposed and the only ones who would know were the five people in that room, the president and General Landry.

The subject of what would be done when the newest battle cruiser the Odyssey was due to be completed within the year and that Sarah would at that point be transferred to the city to work under Dr. Beckett at that time. Even though it wouldn't be as effective as catching the Goa'uld before they left Earth and as much as the SGC wished she could Sarah couldn't be in more than one place at a time and the high council was unwilling to assign any more operatives at this time.