I offer an unimaginative thanking sequence to you Angela and all the best to your ailing computer!
Notes: Thanks for the comments you guys, they're still cracking me up! I'd like to apologise to Jell-O for the bad rep I've accidentally given it.
Distance
"What do you mean, you're going?" Rodney's stomach twists further, he wrings his hands and his heart skips a few beats.
Teyla shrugs, as if she is extremely unconcerned by the question, as if she does not care about the outcome of this mission. "It is you they wish to keep, Rodney. We must allow them to do so, for the good of Atlantis. You said so yourself, they are quite an evolved people, they could easily be a threat."
His blue eyes are wide and filled with disbelief. Sheppard supposes he might've looked the same if he wasn't so proficient in the calm and collected façade. Surely, he's misunderstanding Teyla, she would never go along with what the…the…these people want! They're not giving them Rodney!
"You wouldn't want to hand them Atlantis, would ya Doc?" Ford, in all his innocent glory, smiles encouragingly.
Rodney looks unsure but regains control of himself easily. "Ha ha. Very funny. Yes, let's gang up on the one who's under threat of lifelong slavery! Thank you! That's too kind, really. Can we please get on with devising a plan to get home so I don't have to play house with the Lipsticks."
"Lopstack," Teyla corrects automatically. Stepping forward brings her in Rodney's personal space. She lays a hand on his arm. "We are sorry Rodney. You must understand this is for Atlantis."
"But…"
Ronon glares at him. "You want us to put the city in danger for you? One life for all the ones back home?"
Uncertainty comes to stay on the scientist's features. "No, but you can't just sell me to the highest bidder!"
"We are not selling you. We are merely attempting to keep Atlantis safe, it is a trade. You must see this is the better course of action? You cannot wish to put any additional threats on the head of the people of Atlantis to save your own. As Ronon said, you are in no danger of death. They wish you to help."
"Yeah McKay, they realise how smart you are. Thought you'd like that. Plus, they're pretty advanced. You might find the scientists are smarter here! That'd be good, right? Smart people fanning over you!" Ford's attempt is pitiful at best, like a used automobile dealer trying to sell a Fiat.
Sheppard thinks he's lost his mind. "What are you guys talking about! We're not going along with this!" The grateful look he receives from his, their, genius sets him on edge. How can Rodney believe them! They wouldn't leave him! He's not the most pleasant of individual but he's on the team! He's Rodney, for God's sake! They're not leaving him!
"We have no other choice Colonel, you know it as well as I do."
"Apparently I don't, Teyla!" This farce is over, it's not even remotely funny. He moves to stand beside Rodney, hoping his proximity will reassure the man. So smart, yet so gullible, he'll believe anything.
"You can do what you want. I'm leaving. Only a coward would deny his duty to save his people. I don't travel with cowards." Ronon turns and ambles up the path leading to the gate.
Ford looks at him, turns an apologetic gaze to Sheppard and Rodney. "Nothing against you Doc, you're an okay guy, this is for Atlantis." He turns and follows the departing leather-clad man.
"We're not done here people!" Sheppard frowns as both men ignore him.
Teyla smiles, comes closer, evidently intent on the Athosian farewell. Rodney complies, bending his head, taking hold of her upper arm while her hands settle on his shoulders. "All will be well. Now, you are truly a hero and will be spoken of with admiration." She releases him and looks at John, eyebrow arched. "Colonel, shall we proceed to the gate."
He can't speak, doesn't know what to say. He can't believe they're really abandoning Rodney! This isn't a joke, he'd be in on it if it was. Hell, he'd probably be a willing participant, but not like this, not this long. He looks over to where Rodney is standing, his shoulders drooped, a crestfallen look upon his face. Finally, he finds the perfect word, one he's known for a very many years, one he's had to use frequently since adding the man of the hour to his team. "No."
"Colonel, we must not get separated, you know where it can lead. Best to follow, Ronon's nearly reached the gate."
"Not get separated! What about Rodney? You think it'll be separate enough?"
"He is an acceptable casualty." She looks at him with something akin to pity. "Doctor Zelenka is as capable and immensely more pleasant. There will be no need to ground the team if that is what is worrying you."
He knew it! Rodney knew it! It's always an act! These guys were really good! He was completely fooled, thinking they cared, they understood, they liked him! God, he'd been such a fool! His eyes trail to Sheppard, who stands in appalled fury. Maybe it'll be alright, maybe they won't force him to stay here.
Teyla's hand goes to her radio. "Yes Ronon?" She listens to words they cannot hear but can guess, judging by her response. "I am on my way." She eyes the Colonel who frowns at her. "If you wish to remain I will not dispute that right but we will not come back for you. It is for Atlantis, your people and my own. Surely, you understand?"
"What you don't seem to understand is that Rodney's my people, he's our people!" How had he misjudged his team so much?
She nods, a mocking smile upon her lips. "Yes, you do have a certain fondness for him…" She breathes in deeply. "I regret this parting, but I must go and if you are unwilling to see reason, then I must go without you both." She moves to offer the Athosian greeting to him but he takes a step back.
His face is cold and unforgiving. He doesn't understand. Why are they fleeing before the Lopstack threat! He found it completely ridiculous for the people of this world to ask for Rodney in trade. He informed them that they did not trade human beings, as a policy. That is when the big guns came out, in the hands of the big men. It was Rodney or Atlantis, Atlantis or Rodney. To him, there was no thought involved, there no Atlantis without Rodney; he refused. Things had gone high up on the problematic scale; the Lopstack asked for him to be removed from the proceeding. He sat outside on the stone steps and the first thing he knew, they were walking to the gate, a contingent of big men and guns following closely. He missed the part where his team, whom he trusted, turned on one of their own. "You better go, they'll be waiting."
She seems shocked for a moment. "Yes…" but she regains her composure quickly. "Be well, John." She turns and walks away.
Rodney couldn't disregard the well wishes she offered only to Sheppard. She must think he doesn't deserve them. Of course, they've basically just sold him into slavery; therefore, it would be unkind to wish him well. The two men watch her walk up the hill, toward the Stargate.
Rodney turns to his last remaining teammate. "You should go too…no sense in two of us being here. Now that I've saved Atlantis, in a very easy and restful way, it'll still need you."
"No it won't."
"You're CO, Sheppard. Team leader, mutant overeager show off gene man. It needs you."
"Military's full of potential COs. Lorne can take over the team, he's good and loads of people have the gene now."
"Fine, you're the best pilot there is."
"Yeah, that's true, but the Air Force's full of pilot. Military's really resourceful you know, lots of people join up."
"Sheppard!"
"Rodney?"
"Don't do this. There's no sense in both of us being stuck here!"
"We're not stuck here, we'll find a way."
"Sheppard, seriously, Atlantis needs you!"
"No. Atlantis needs us."
"You're the epitome of idiocy. Now's not the time to be noble. Go home."
"No."
"Do you always have to be so contrary?"
"Bit rich coming from you –"
"I don't want you here! It'll be worst to know you're here because of me than be left behind, ok? Can't you just go! I don't want to be responsible for you!"
"I can take care of myself, but thank you. Your concern for my well-being is overwhelming. I think…" he breathes in deeply, "I think I might need a hug now." It's all he can do to prevent the smile from spreading.
"Oh shut up! First, you're pathetic. Second, you can't take care of yourself as was made evident by the incredible amount of time I had to come to your rescue and further proved by the fact that you are in the military which is the next best thing to living in a dictatorship. Third, this isn't about you. You'll guilt trip me, we'll fight, hate each other and both be stuck here and I'll have to murder you in your sleep because you'll have driven me to the edge of insanity!"
"Funny, I thought you were there already, teetering dangerously." He smirks at Rodney's scowl. "We're going to make it home."
"No, we're not, Dorothy! I know what it is; your hair's a natural shield to common sense, you're forced to live in a world where only absurdities exist! That explains everything!" He rolls his eyes exaggeratedly. "If you don't go now, we'll both be stuck together, grow old and be miserable! Frankly, I don't really want to envision the rest of my life with you!"
"Come on, Tin Man. Friends don't leave friends behind. Get it through your thick, follicle-deprived head and it might make it to your make-believe heart!"
The group of men that had followed them move inexorably closer. "Looks like your window of opportunity is shrinking." Rodney thinks he'll give good ol' honesty a try. "Please. Go home. I really don't want to be responsible for this, for your being here. You're a friend, act like one. Don't make me take a guilt trip. It's nice that you're offering, but I can't let you do this. Go home…"
"Sorry, better you on the guilt train than me. Just imagine what Elizabeth will do to me if I show up without you?"
"Oh, I get it, you just want to avoid the Wrath of Weir." He understands. He probably would not have left either, though he doesn't believe he is as brave and selfless as Sheppard. It warms him to the core to have him stay, to know that there is someone who cares that much. He won't be able to change the man's mind, it's already too late; the army that accompanied them to the bottom of the hill is a few metres behind. The people here were polite, for slave-loving, double-crossing, lying, threatening bastards. He gives it one more try. "If you make a run for it, you can get to the gate before the two neurones they share amongst themselves find each other."
"Yeah, I could." Sheppard spreads his feet further apart and crosses his arms, clearly indicating that he will not be swayed. He watches the wormhole blink out of existence. They have truly left. At least Rodney's here, they'll be back home for diner. He would hope they had a plan, that it was all meant to confound the Lopstack, but if it was, wouldn't he know? He was away from his team for so long after they'd stumbled upon the Celebrant on Atle, maybe they don't regard him as the leader anymore. Maybe he's just tagging along, not to be involved, not to be trusted. Teyla could've told him, why didn't she say…the Athosian farewell! Oh, he could kick himself! It would've been the perfect opportunity to communicate any type of rescue they might've considered. He missed it.
"Yeah…you could."
The men are upon them, and the smallest one speaks. "Doctor McKay, please follow us to the Square." He eyes Sheppard appraisingly. "Will you be coming as well?"
"Yep, going to follow the Doctor here." He moves closer to McKay, an overprotective gesture that will accomplish nothing, if not unite them. That unity will in turn accomplish nothing, but he feels better for it.
"Very well. We will have to relocate your living space Doctor, but it should not be a problem. You will, of course, be residing together." Turning to a younger man, he instructs him to run ahead and have the necessary arrangement made.
For slave traders, they are quite civilized and Rodney feels the slightest bit better. This might not be as bad as he imagined, and Sheppard is here, isn't he? It can't be that bad…