Part 15 – Lies bite
The Genii home-world – one and a half months ago
Less than a day had passed since the accident at the hydro-electric power station and Sora was still numb. She waited for news but didn't really expect to hear that they'd found McKay alive. Two bodies had already been recovered from the river and she knew it was just a matter of time before the search parties found others. She hoped that his would never be found because then she could hope that he had survived, that he'd somehow make his way to the Star Gate and off the planet. If his body was found she would have no hope left.
Her communicator beeped. "Report to my office, Sora," came Cowen's tinny voice.
"Yes, Sir," she responded automatically then turned and began walking to Cowen's office. It was only logical that she would be assigned to other work now but she rebelled against the thought. It was too soon, she needed time; she needed to grieve.
She knocked and entered Cowen's office quickly taking up her usual spot in front of his desk. Cowen had a broad smile on his face; he looked inordinately pleased about something. He sat looking at her for several minutes, his smile growing broader at the time. Finally he spoke.
"Well, Sora, you are to be congratulated. McKay has come back," he said and then leant back in his chair waiting for her response.
She stared at him blankly. "I am sorry, Sir, I do not understand."
"He came back," Cowen emphasised the words. He frowned at the uncomprehending look on Sora's face. "He survived the river, Sora and came back to us of his own accord. He didn't even try to get to the Star Gate. You know what that means don't you?" He spelt it out for her, "He's integrated, Sora. You did it."
Sora stood there in shocked silence and then forced herself to speak. "Then I should go to him. Where is he?" her voice trailed off.
"In the infirmary," Cowen responded.
Sora nodded and then turned to leave. She paused and looked back at Cowen, "Thank you, Sir," and then left.
Once she had left the room Kolya stepped forward from where he had been standing in a shadowed alcove. Cowen rose up from his chair and both men walked to the hallway where they watched Sora's rapid progress, she was almost running.
"She has become too involved," observed Kolya dispassionately. "She may not be able to keep her distance as she should."
"I fear you are right, my old friend," replied Cowen with a sad shake of his head. "I fear you are right but the question is what do we do?"
"At this moment? Nothing. Just keep up the surveillance on McKay," Kolya's expression was unreadable. "If we suspect anything is not as it should be then we shall act swiftly."
Cowen watched Sora's retreating back with narrowed eyes and curtly nodded his agreement.
Sora broke into a run and ran purposefully through the corridors of the Genii base until she reached the infirmary. She concentrated on getting there as quickly as possible, suppressing her emotions and thoughts as she ran. She came to a halt and stood leaning on the wall breathing hard. She could hear voices from inside the infirmary and one voice in particular.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. You are a barbarian. Stop it!" McKay was lying on his back propped up on his elbows and was complaining. His complaints were being directed at the patient looking medic holding one of his feet who was painstakingly cleaning out all the cuts and bruises that covered it.
"All the nurse is doing is making sure that the cuts on your feet are free from any dirt or grit as that may cause an infection at a later stage. So please hold still, Dr McKay," Dr Fellit said in an exasperated voice. McKay wondered abstractly if doctors learnt how to sound exasperated as part of their medical training since, for a moment, Fellit had reminded him of Carson. He felt a twinge of homesickness and then ruthlessly suppressed it.
"Ow! No he is not! He's trying to cripple me. Ow, what are you doing?" McKay tried to pull his foot away but it was held firm.
"Dr McKay, that is enough! Lie still and let us treat your injuries. If you do not I will get someone in here to hold you down whilst we do. Do you understand?" Yep, Fellit was definitely like Carson McKay decided. He stopped struggling and lay back on the bed resting his head on his hands carrying on his verbal assault.
"Why are you so concerned about my feet anyway, huh? Surely you should be checking my back? Evert's damn heavy you know. Have you any idea how bad it is for my back to carry heavy weights like that? And I don't even have a proper mattress here so my posture is shot to hell and… OW! That hurt!"
Sora smiled at the complaints and walked in. McKay looked no worse for his ordeal. Just a little tired with a few scrapes. He was dressed in the clothes of the surface dwellers which caused a smile to tug at the corner of her mouth.
Then it struck her. The truth she had been hiding from. He could have left but he had come back because of her - her lies and manipulations.
Guilt rose up in her throat choking her and the tension and stress of the deception she had been living for the past months threatened to overwhelm her. At first there was just a light trembling but soon she was shaking. She stepped forward into the room and he noticed her.
"Sora, can you tell these brutes to cut it out? They should be concentrating on my back, that's where the real problem is…" he broke off as he saw her expression. "Are you OK, Sora?" he asked.
Wordlessly she shook her head and stumbled towards him tears filling her eyes. She put out one hand and laid it on his arm. "You came back," she whispered. "You came back." The tears were flowing freely down her cheeks now and the shaking was almost violent. "Why?" she asked in a low whisper her words almost an accusation.
"Jesus, Sora, keep it together," McKay was shocked by the sight of her. She was pale and shaking. "You look a mess; you know you really shouldn't cry like this." He was trying to tease her out of it.
"Stop it, McKay and answer my question!" she yelled back at him shoving his shoulder.
McKay looked at her thoughtfully considering what she needed to hear. "Evert would never have survived if I hadn't brought him back and I couldn't risk anything happening to you," he said finally.
Then McKay reached out and slowly drew her towards him. Sora's face was a mess of tears now and her breath was coming in short gasps. He kissed her briefly and then leant his head against hers and whispered, "I don't want them to hurt you, Sora. I couldn't risk it."
The depth of feeling in his words sent a stab of pain through Sora. He'd come back for her! For her and her lies. Desperate for some form of absolution she leaned into his arms unable to control the sobs that wracked her body. She was aware of his arms around her, soothing, caressing and calming her.
"I'm sorry, McKay," she sobbed into his shoulder.
At her words McKay took her shoulders and forced her to look at him. He met her eyes, held them with his and then he spoke. "You know what, Sora? I think it's time you started calling me Rodney."
