Title: Denial
Author: Bebda Sheppard
Summary: He'd failed because he had wanted so badly to suceed; to save her.
Ships: Shweir...later on
Spoilers: slight mentions of The Storm and the Eye.
Chapter One
"You know McKay. I really don't need this right now." Major John Sheppard said through gritted teeth as he flew the puddle jumper back to the stargate after his team was unceremoniously kicked out of the village they had been visiting. His anger towards the astrophysicist was wearing thin.
"You can't possibly blame me for this. I…I was merely doing some…research." A grunt sounded in front of Rodney as he attempted to describe his interaction with the latest natives. "Well Ford, I really didn't see you attempting to be productive."
"Rodney, while he did not perform any extra tasks to learn about the Yequida, he did not defame an ancient relic." Teyla gently pointed out.
" And damnit Rodney! You know how important this was to Elizabeth." Sheppard remarked. "We really…"
"…needed that food," Dr. Elizabeth Wier pounded the table in frustration, much to the bewilderment of the others sitting around her in the Atlantis metting room. She took a deep breath and rubbed her temples; however, all her thoughts wandered to John Sheppard who had been studying her during the briefing. She knew he was the only one noticing her constant headaches and it unnerved her. Elizabeth had always gotten headaches at one time or another but had never needed to worry about causing others, besides maybe Carson, concern. She took another deep breath. "It's alright Rodney just tell me what happened."
"It began as just another boring introduction to a primitive culture. The usual useless banter about Ancestors' Rings and the never ending threat of the Wraith occurred. Naturally my superior observation skills led me to take note of a small ancient ruin on the far west side of the village. Ford and I broke away to investigate it further as Major and Teyla stayed to attempt to trade for some food.
"Once we arrived at the Ancient Temple the possibility of finding something useful quickly diminished. While the writings may once have been useful they are now in poor condition because of the humid environment on the planet. The one item I did deem as salvageable was a medium size tablet which appeared to be able to more to reveal something inside. There was again indiscernible writing on the front but we had nothing to lose by opening it."
This remark received a grunt from Sheppard which Rodney ignored and continued.
"I slid the tablet to reveal a staff, less than a meter long and somehow reminiscent of a ZPM. Well obviously I was intrigued." Rodney continued. "I took it out from its resting place and I twirled it around a couple of times not expecting the native to take offense."
"Take offense!" Sheppard cried jumping out of his seat. "Take offense! Rodney it was like a bomb had gone off! Their demeanor completely changed. One moment they were about to give us all the food we could ask for and then BAM they were pushing us out the door!"
"Yes well, that…that was regrettable."
"Regrettable! Will you listen to this Elizabeth! Rodney we needed…"
"That's enough Major." Elizabeth yelled, still fighting back the ever persistent headache. John backed down once he saw he was only adding to her pain. "It's fine Major. Or at least it will be. They didn't use violence to push you out of the village, did they?"
"No," Sheppard answered begrudgingly, "Mostly they just assured us we now had no chance of completing a trade because of the…how did they say it? Oh yeah. Because of 'the vulgar man who belittled the Ancestors' great gift.'"
"Well," Elizabeth weighed her options, "Good, then I will return with you all to M9B-288 tomorrow and hopefully salvage a new trade relationship. Thank you, that's all for today."
Elizabeth pushed back her chair from the table and quickly exited the room not noticing John Sheppard quickly walk over to Rodney.
"Now look what you've done." Sheppard commanded. "You know she's been under a lot of stress lately and you know I hate taking her off world. God McKay, do you have to make any and every situation worse?"
"Well, you'll be happy to know I will not be returning with you to, how you say, 'make this situation worse'." Rodney mocked. "I don't think they would be very excited to see me."
"Oh don't think you're getting out of this one McKay. Be ready with an oscar worthy apology because I am not taking Dr. Weir off-world unless I know we're going to get something out of it."
Sheppard briskly walked out of the room leaving Rodney to contemplate how married to that idea John was.
"Sir?"
"Yes."
"We have new report from Atlantis. We've learned that SGA-1 along with Doctor Weir will be going returning to M9B-288 tomorrow to try to repair relations with the Yequida."
"Thank you private. You're dismissed."
Commander Acastus Kolya smiled as he walked to the window. The intel from their spy in Atlantis had been, up till this point, too slow to be useful. But now Kolya had a chance to take his revenge and, with the addition of Doctor Weir, he knew it had been worth the wait.
Uh-Oh! It's Kolya! Well...thanks for reading my story please review so I can put up the next chapter! constructive criticism is much appreciated.
