Title: The Hidden Strength of Quiet Waters

Author: Hawkeye/Katy

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis

Rating: FRT

Pairing: Rodney/Carson and Sheppard/Zelenka

Tucking one of Carson's arms over his shoulder, Rodney struggled to support the doctor's weight. Radek ran forward, ignoring Sheppard's yell, taking hold of Carson's other arm. Together, the two scientists maneuvered the unconscious doctor down to the infirmary. They placed him carefully onto a bed, Rodney yelling for a doctor the entire time. Radek glanced behind him, winced slightly and placed a hand on the frantic astrophysicist's arm.

"Rodney…" Zelenka said softly.

"Damn it! Where are all the medics? Get your rattle-shaking asses in here!" Rodney yelled, ignoring Zelenka.

"Rodney!" Zelenka called.

Rodney spun on the Czech, "What!"

Zelenka pointed to the pale-faced medical staff, their backs pressed up against the wall, all staring at Carson in horror, "Will not help," he said softly.

Rodney turned, finally seeing the medical staff lining the back wall. His eyes widened, then darkened with anger. How dare they! They were medics; they all took the Hippocratic Oath. Rodney took a step towards the cowering medics, but was stopped by a low moan. He spun on his heel and hurried over to the bed, glancing over his shoulder at the infirmary staff.

"Get out. If you aren't going to help, then get out."

Carson blinked slowly, hearing a muffled voice. Rodney? He turned his head to the side, catching sight of the Canadian staring down at him, worrying his lip between his teeth. Carson struggled to sit up, wincing as his head throbbed. Rodney put an arm around his shoulders, using his other arm to raise the bed into a sitting position. He eased Carson back onto the pillows. Carson winced again as his head throbbed painfully.

Rodney frowned, "What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

Carson shook his head, and immediately wished he hadn't, "Oh ow. No, lad, I'm alright. It's just a headache."

Rodney moved over to the drug cabinet, "Well, aspirin for headaches, or paracetamol," he turned back to Carson, "Which one?"

Carson winced again, "The ibuprofen, actually, Rodney. The key's in my desk drawer, second from the left. The ibuprofen should be on the third shelf, back right corner."

Rodney found the key easily, moving to the cabinet and hesitantly searching through, looking for the ibuprofen. He pulled out bottle after bottle, finally finding the one he was looking for. He grabbed the bottle of ibuprofen. He turned back to Carson, noticing that Radek had already gotten the Scot a glass of water. He opened the bottle, handing it to Carson, unsure of what the doctor wanted. Carson shook out 2 tablets before handing the bottle back to Rodney and giving the Canadian a wan smile. With a barely concealed wince, Carson downed the ibuprofen. He sat back against the pillows and glanced around the infirmary, his gaze coming back to Rodney and Zelenka.

"Where's my staff?" he asked, confusion on his face.

The two scientists looked away, before Zelenka spoke, "Staff were scared. Did not want to help. Rodney threw them out."

"Scared?" Carson whispered, his face falling, "They were scared of me?"

Zelenka nodded sadly, "Am sorry, Carson. Do not think this will be taken very well. Rodney and I know you save Atlantis, but…" the Czech shook his head.

Rodney snorted, "But nobody else would even let us finish. They don't know that the shield failed after the first wave of darts."

Carson sighed, "I expected as much, Rodney. Now do ye see why I never tried anything or told anyone?"

Rodney nodded, opening his mouth to speak. He was interrupted, however, by the arrival of a group of four Marines. The two scientists and the doctor turned to face them, blinking in surprise. The Marines marched into the infirmary, armed to the teeth, their faces stoic. What was obviously the leader stepped forward.

"Doctor McKay, Doctor Zelenka, Doctor Weir wants you in the boardroom ASAP."

Zelenka raised an eyebrow, "And Carson?"

The Marine spoke again, "We'll stay here with Doctor Beckett."

Rodney's eyes widened, "Carson's under military guard!"

The Marine sighed, "Look, Doctors, we all saw what Doctor Beckett did. Please, Doctor McKay, let me finish…" he said, as Rodney opened his mouth to interrupt, "We also overheard you talking in the hall about the shield. So, we know that what the doc did was for the good of the city."

Another Marine stepped up, "And with all due respect, Doctor Beckett, that was pretty damn cool!"

Carson shot the Marine a wan smile, "Thank you, son."

Rodney and Radek looked first at Carson, then at each other. Carson shot them a small smile and waved them off. The Marines set up their posts, the leader and the 'pretty-damn-cool' Marine took up places on either side of Carson's bed. Radek headed for the door, Rodney following behind him, shooting Carson a glance over his shoulder. With a barely concealed sigh, Rodney pushed open the door to the boardroom and took a seat opposite Elizabeth.

Elizabeth glanced around the table, "As much as it pains me to do this, I've called this meeting so that we can determine whether or not Doctor Beckett, now that his true identity and abilities have been brought to light, is a threat to this city and the people within it."

Rodney stared at her, stunned, "You can't be serious."

Sergeant Bates glared at him from his seat next to Elizabeth, "Did you see what he did? How can you say he's not a security risk? He's a danger to the entire city!"

Rodney shot him an 'are-you-always-this-stupid?' glare, before retorting sarcastically, "Oh yeah, because the man who won't think his hall light on for fear of blowing something up is so sinister and dastardly… Oh help me, save me; I'm shaking in my military issue boots."

Radek gave Bates an equally offensive look, muttering darkly in Czech before continuing, "My God! Is Carson… is man who won't fly jumpers, won't sit in weapons chair unless Rodney throw temper tantrum and scream like little girl!"

Both scientists turned to Sheppard and Teyla, looking for allies, but finding none. Teyla and Sheppard both looked apologetic, but stuck to their guns. In their eyes, Carson was a threat. Rodney blinked in shock. This wasn't happening. Zelenka murmured something in Czech, shaking his head, before turning back to the rest of the group.

"Do not see, do you?" he said in disbelief, "Carson saved Atlantis. Would all be dead if not for Carson."

Sergeant Bates let out an inelegant snort. Elizabeth gave a small condescending smile. Teyla made a disbelieving noise. Only the Major stayed silent, but his eyes still held a measure of skepticism. Zelenka's eyes narrowed and he let out a string of what were obviously Czech curses. Rodney glared around the table. He scowled at each person in turn. Then he dropped his eyes to the table before speaking in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.

"Radek is right. If Carson hadn't done what he did, we wouldn't be here right now. Atlantis wouldn't be here right now. There wasn't enough power in the shield to hold back the second wave of Wraith darts. That's what we were trying to tell you. That's what you didn't have time to listen to," Rodney looked up, fire in his eyes, "And now, you're sitting here criticizing the person who risked everything to save this city and the people in it?"

"Rodney," Elizabeth started, using her diplomat's voice.

"Don't, Elizabeth, just don't," Rodney interrupted scathingly, "You and I both know that if any of the military had done what Carson did, you'd be bowing down and worshipping them as heroes. But because it was Carson, because it was a civilian, because it was your CMO, you're waving your arms and yelling 'threat, threat, threat'."

Elizabeth stared at the irate astrophysicist across the table from her. Rodney glared back, eyes flashing angrily, before getting to his feet and walking out of the boardroom. She turned to Zelenka and opened her mouth to speak. Zelenka held up his hand, pushed his glasses up his nose, and beat her to it.

"Do not ask me to change his mind. Will not do it," Zelenka said calmly.

"But surely, Dr. Zelenka, you can see…" Elizabeth started.

"Ano," Zelenka started, his own eyes flashing in anger, "Can see. Can see that Rodney is right. Will not try to change his mind, Dr. Weir, because I agree with him."

Zelenka snorted inelegantly and continued, "If Rodney had not gone to Carson for help, what would you have done? Blamed him. Blamed us. Because science team all-powerful, science team fix everything. Military… jít špatně… go wrong… svůj dobrý… its ok. Because science team will fix."

Zelenka stood up as well, brutally aware that his English had gotten steadily worse as he had gotten angrier. He watched as Elizabeth's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. He looked at each person at the table in turn, pausing at Sheppard and shaking his head sadly. Turning on his heel, the Czech scientist walked out.

Outside the boardroom, Rodney leaned against the wall with a sigh and closed his eyes. This was bad. How could they, how could anyone, believe that Carson was a threat? Carson Beckett, the eternally compassionate. The only member of the medical team who didn't treat Rodney like he was a whining hypochondriac and one of Rodney's few real friends. Something more than a friend, if Rodney wanted to admit it to himself. He rubbed his temples tiredly, opening his eyes as he heard footsteps stop in front of him. He looked down into Radek's concerned face, the Czech holding out a hand to help him off the wall.

"Radek?" Rodney said, taking the Czech's hand and allowing himself to be pulled back to his feet.

"Ano?" Zelenka answered, pushing his glasses further up his nose.

"Why did you do that? Defend Carson I mean…" Rodney continued, looking uncharacteristically confused.

The Czech shrugged, "Is Carson. Is my friend," Radek's face broke into a devilish smirk, "Also, have seen the way you look at him, ano? If bossman is playing doctor with doctor, can't yell at second-in-command for relationship with Major."

Zelenka grinned as Rodney choked and spluttered, "You what!" the Canadian coughed out, "You… the Major…?"

Radek pasted an innocent look onto his face, "What? Is problem?"

"No, no," Rodney assured him, "Just… startled me, that's all."

Radek nodded, "Good, good. Now, you talk to Carson, ano? I talk to John, see if I change his mind."

Rodney just blinked at his second-in-command before turning to walk towards Carson's quarters, "That was an image I didn't need, Radek."

The deceptively innocent look wormed its way back onto Zelenka's face, "What?" before morphing into a decidedly evil smirk, "He is one with big gun, ano?"