Of Duty, Atonement, and Redemption—Chapter Twenty-Three
By SGC Gategirl

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For warnings, comments, summary, etc, please see part one.

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Tracking someone in a city such as Atlantis was difficult, even for Ronon. Not impossible, only more difficult than usual.

He could catch tell-tail traces of where someone had recently passed—a smudge, a smell, a footprint in the dust. On a planet there was always so much more evidence to look for. Here, he was limited by what the hard walls and floor could hold.

Ronon moved cautiously, carefully. He didn't want McKay to know he was being watched or followed. He had no intention of spooking the already on-edge scientist. Even though he'd only been here a short time, he'd seen what the man could do—what he did on a regular basis. Atlantis stood a much better chance with him here.

Nearly fifteen minutes later, Ronon finally spotted him on yet another balcony. He'd almost passed this particular place by, preparing to move on, until he caught the slight hint of color against the grey.

Moving closer to the doors, but not near enough to trigger the automatic sensor, he leaned in, smiling to himself as he spotted the missing scientist, sitting slumped against the outer wall of the city, knees drawn up against his chest, arms pulling them tight, his head leaning back against the wall behind as he eyes gazed out, nearly unblinking, toward the horizon.

Backing up several feet, he ducked into an alcove across the hall and waited, watching. Maybe one day, there wouldn't be a need for any of them to hide.

xxx

"How did I make it worse?" John Sheppard asked, throwing his hands up in the air as he stalked to the far side of the room. He turned sharply, whipping around to face Elizabeth again. "You were the one that just let him walk away without a fight. I at least tried to talk some sense into him."

Elizabeth's eyebrow rose at his statement and he rolled his eyes a little, scowling at her. "So, maybe you wouldn't classify what we did as talk…"

"John," she said, drawing the word out a little as she leaned back in her chair, eyeing everyone in the room. Lorne, Radek, Carson, and Teyla had followed him in only to find Kate already here, perched on one of the chairs in the office.

"Okay, fine, we argued, but that's a mite better than saying absolutely nothing at all," he said, his voice rising. "It was like you actually wanted him to leave."

He turned, glancing at the people standing silently behind him. "Why is it that I'm the only one talking here?"

Carson glanced down for a moment before he raised his head, meeting the Colonel's gaze. "Kate recommended that we allow Rodney to make his own decisions about what he wanted to do from this point on."

"And this is different than normal?"

When the doctor refused to continue, he turned on the seated woman, advancing toward her several steps. "How is letting Rodney resign a good thing?"

"With all the events that he's been through recently, I believe Rodney has lost his sense of being and his own sense of direction. For him to…heal, he needs to feel like he has control of his actions once again." Kate shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. Her gaze shifted slightly to Elizabeth before she continued. Apparently there had been a conversation between the two of them before they'd arrived. Now that would have been interesting to hear.

"I suggested to both Elizabeth and Carson that we show our support for whatever decision Rodney made."

"Well, that was bad advice."

"John," Weir warned, the tone of her voice clear.

"What?" he asked turning toward her, one hand gesturing toward Kate. "It was bad advice. I'm not one to sugarcoat things, Elizabeth."

"I agree, ma'am," Lorne said, stepping forward, the muscles of his jaw tight. "By not fighting to keep him, we're basically telling him we don't want him here, that he doesn't matter to us or the city."

"You all agree?"

Several nods echoed around the room.

"So what do you propose?" Weir asked, an eyebrow raised.

Sheppard glanced at Lorne, catching Beckett's gaze as well. "Simple. We have to make Rodney think staying is his idea."

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Rodney glanced around the room, hands on his hips as he surveyed his accumulated possessions. He had a few days to put everything in order, but why wait until last minute?

But, there was something so permanent about packing.

Granted, he still had nearly everything organized since before his mission to 218, but that was more as a courtesy for whoever was going to have to pack it up. He never thought it would be him.

A call over his radio, though, distracted him. "Zelenka to McKay, please respond."

Rolling his eyes, he tapped his headset. "Didn't you get the memo? I resigned. You're in charge. That's why you're going to be getting the big bucks."

"Does your resignation mean that brain is not working anymore?"

"No, of course not," Rodney scowled, more out of habit than for effect.

"So, I require your help with a project. Would you be able to tear yourself away from lounging in chair to assist?"

He sighed, throwing his hands up in the air. "Fine. What do you want?"

"This is not phone consult. I require your presence in the labs."

"Zelenka, I'm in the middle—"

"And did I mention that this is time sensitive? Now would be good. I expect to see you in five minutes. Zelenka out."

With click of the closing connection, Radek was gone, leaving Rodney standing in the middle of his room with his mouth hanging open. Shaking himself, he moved automatically to the door, tugging his casual shirt down over the top of his jeans as he stepped into the hall.

So much for packing.

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Lorne could hear McKay long before he saw him.

He knew from their plotting that Radek was part of the first wave, but Lorne was never sure what the Czech was up to half of the time. Hell, he knew better than to ask the man who provided him with some fine, smooth slightly illegal alcohol on a semi-regular basis.

He just didn't expect to have McKay—and now Zelenka—yelling at each other at the top of their lungs. As he turned the corner, finally walking into the lab he spotted the two men in question standing only a foot or two apart, their hands waving, expressions serious. Lorne was surprised they'd actually managed to avoid hitting each other with the way their arms were whipping about.

"…you take stupid pills this morning?"

"Just because I happen to disagree with your—"

"Disagree! How about totally ignoring what I've been saying for the past three hours!"

"Ignoring you is hard to do so with the sheer volume you emit. While I agree that the beginning of your hypothesis may be accurate, I am merely suggesting that there may be another way to continue the project without sacrificing the little weapon's grade naquadah we have been able to obtain."

Before Rodney could continue on his rant, Lorne cleared his throat and cut in. "Gentlemen, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Only the sheer stupidity of one of Atlantis' scientists," Rodney replied, gesturing with his left hand toward Zelenka as he fixed his eyes on the Major. "Did you want something or were you just standing there for your health? I have things to do you know."

"How do you know I'm here looking for you?"

McKay's eyes widened a little as he crossed his hands over his chest. "There is always the possibility that you may want to talk to one of the morons who work in this department. And if that's the case, have at it. I've been trying to pack all morning." McKay took a few steps forward, moving as if he was going to go around Lorne, but the Major reached out, snagging a piece of the physicist's t-shirt, stopping him.

"I was, actually, looking for you."

"Oh?" McKay paused for a beat. "So, what was it you wanted? I don't have all day."

"I thought you did. Weir said your resignation was effective immediately, so for the next nine days you have all the time in the world to kick back and relax."

He scowled slightly, but didn't argue.

"So, I wanted to see if you'd be interested in grabbing lunch. I'm not sure how the rest of my week will be, but since I have time now I didn't want to miss the chance to at least eat one meal with you before you left."

A strange expression crossed Rodney's face for a moment, his eyes turning to focus on the far side of the room. Lorne risked a quick glance at the Czech standing behind, getting a grin in response. So far, so good.

"Fine." Rodney huffed, throwing his hands up in the air. "But I'll only agree to this if you'll let me pack in peace afterwards."

"Deal," Lorne said, smiling, already moving toward the door. When he realized the scientist wasn't following, he spun around, raising an eyebrow. McKay was standing, staring at him, confusion and bewilderment on his face, as if Lorne were a puzzle meant to be solved.

"Well?" The Major widened his eyes, tilting his head toward the door. "Food?"

"Fine fine," Rodney finally said, shaking off whatever he'd been thinking, his quick strides bringing him up alongside Lorne. He paused as they reached the door, however, apparently realizing that they were leaving Radek behind. A sheepish expression crossed his face this time as he turned back. "I'm, ah, going with the Major," Rodney said, gesturing with his thumb toward the door. "Were we done? Did you want anything?"

"Go," Radek said, shaking his head. "I can survive a few more hours without the need for food. You, however, should go. Your blood sugar must be depleted since you were obviously not thinking straight when we were speaking before."

"Not thinking straight," McKay fumed, moving as if he were going to go right back to the scientist until Lorne's hand latched onto his upper arm.

"Food, Rodney. Now."

The physicist glanced down at the hand on his arm, before tilting his head up to look at Lorne. He nodded a few beats later. "Food, right. Let's go."

Shaking off the Major, he turned and headed for the door. Lorne threw a smile over his shoulder and followed him out, hollering at McKay to wait up.

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The next few days were pretty much the same.

He'd get a call mid-morning from someone—anyone really, and another in the afternoon. It changed every day and the list was getting longer every time he turned around. Right now it included Zelenka, Lorne, Carson, Teyla, Ronon, Kusangi, the Canadian tech in the gateroom whose name he now never needed to bother learning, Katie Brown, a few of the marines asking for pointers about getting on Radek's good side, and a hand full of other scientists. They had all asked him for help, ranging from small favors, advice on projects, a consult about one thing or another, a simple meal, or a slightly more complex farewell ritual and ceremony that had involved lots of candles, some strange Athosian food—none containing the hint of citrus—and incense.

He'd packed in between everything, little by little. Throwing out some stuff, shoving the rest into crates for shipment back to Earth, he was almost done. With two days left until the Daedalus' departure, he knew he needed to hurry, but Radek had called again this morning about yet another project and Rodney had gone. They'd argued and discussed and then argued some more until they were both satisfied with the results.

So now, Rodney was wandering around the lab looking for anything else he might have left behind. He'd been through here twice already, but right now he couldn't make himself go back to packing. So instead, he snooped, ignoring the glares and annoyed sighs coming from Zelenka.

Picking up some pages the Czech had left on his desk, he paged through them, stopping at a memo from Elizabeth. The date was recent, yesterday afternoon in fact. Pulling it free from the stack, he scanned it quickly.

It was the passenger and cargo manifest for the next departure.

He immediately ran through what he remembered was going back to the SGC from the science department and most of it looked exactly as it should. He flipped over the page, finding the passenger list at the end.

He spotted his name quickly, at the top out of alpha order. He rolled his eyes. They must be eager to get rid of him.

Other names were not surprising. Some of the sick and injured who needed more constant care were going back. Some scientists and military personnel who he knew were rotating out of this assignment.

He paused, though, at three names.

Andrews.

Clark.

Wisinski.

Rodney knew the scientist was not scheduled to return for another year at the least. And the other two…why were they heading back? They'd only joined the expedition a few months ago.

"Zelenka," Rodney said, waving the memo in his hands as he dumped the rest of the sheets back onto the table, "mind if I borrow this?"

The Czech didn't even raise his head from his computer. "If it means you will stop riffling through my papers, yes. Go already."

"Huh," Rodney said absently, his mind already on his next conversation as he walked out of the lab.

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"Zelenka to Lorne."

The major paused in his inventory of the armory, tapping his headset. "I read you, Doctor Z."

"I believe Rodney is on his way to you. He discovered the memo."

"Roger that. I'll be waiting."

Lorne clicked off and a beat later it chirped again. "McKay to Lorne."

"Lorne here," he said, trying to conceal the smile on his face. "What can I do for you, McKay?"

"Are you busy? I needed to ask you something."

"I'm in the middle of inventory."

"Oh."

After a pause of silence, Lorne spoke up, shaking his head. "Did you want something?"

"It won't take long. I just need to confirm something and I thought you would know. But it's really not that important. More of a curiosity, actually," McKay said, beginning to ramble.

"McKay!" Lorne shouted into the link, pushing through the noise that was Rodney. "I'm in the armory and can always use a break. Swing by if you want."

"Oh, thanks, Major. I'll do that. McKay out."

Lorne smiled, tapping his headset one last time. "Lorne to Sheppard."

"Sheppard here."

"Hook, line, and sinker, sir. He'll be coming at you within the hour."

"Thanks. I'll be ready. Sheppard out."

Shaking his head, a broad smile on his face, Lorne turned back to his PDA, checking where he'd left off. He didn't have a lot of time until Hurricane McKay swept through and he did want to finish this up before tomorrow.

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Striding into the armory, McKay spotted Lorne at the far end, concentration on his face as he went through a crate of C4. He felt bad for the man—mainly for the mind-numbing work he was doing now, not the remaining behind to fight the scary aliens who can suck your life from your chest thing.

"Major," he said, pitching his voice to carry to the other side of the room as he sidestepped around crates and boxes. It normally wasn't this bad, he recalled, but apparently after a delivery from the SGC it was going to be like this until they got everything stored.

Lorne glanced up quickly, before turning back to his PDA. "Give me one, second," he said, tapping at the screen. Nodding to himself, he turned around, heading toward McKay.

"So," he said as they both reached a crate in the middle of the room, hitching up a leg to rest on the corner while McKay decided to remain standing. "What did you want?"

"Have you looked at this?" McKay asked, shoving the slightly wrinkled pages into the Major's hands, pacing several steps away as Lorne looked it over.

"I see you're stealing Zelenka's mail," Lorne commented and McKay turned on his heel, catching the tail-end of a smile on the other man's face.

"I borrowed it. And, besides, he said I could."

Lorne nodded, his eyes dropping back to the sheets of paper in his hands, reading each page. "It looks pretty routine, McKay," he finally said, offering it back to him several minutes later.

"What do you know about Clark and Andrews?"

"What about them?" Lorne asked, rubbing a hand across his face.

"Why are they headed back? Didn't they just get here?"

Lorne shrugged. "I have no idea, McKay. You might want to ask Colonel Sheppard or Doctor Weir. They'd know for sure."

"No," McKay said, unease growing at the thought of talking to either of them. "No, that's okay."

"Look, if you're curious enough to track me down, it's obviously important to you. Just find Colonel Sheppard. I'm sure he'd be able to tell you what you wanted to know. And, speaking of the Colonel," Lorne said, rising to his feet, "I should get back to work. He wanted this finished today before we headed out on the mission tomorrow."

"Mission?"

"Yeah. We're headed back to 218. We wanted to see if we could learn more about the Oracle and check to make sure one of the other survivors was doing okay. A neighborly visit."

"Huh," McKay said, not remembering anything about an Oracle or another survivor of the culling. It was like things were proceeding as normal even though he was not part of it anymore.

"McKay?" Lorne asked, drawing Rodney's attention back to the other man.

"Thank, Major," he answered, ignoring the concern he'd heard in the single word. Moving toward the exit, he threw the rest of his response over his shoulder. "I think I'm going to find Colonel Sheppard. Thanks for your help."

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Thanks to Lorne's quick call on the radio, Carson managed to catch up with the physicist a few corridors away from the armory.

"Rodney," Carson called, managing to stop the other man before he rounded the corner toward the nearest transporter.

Holding up a finger, he pointed to his headset and scowled. "Yes, Colonel, I appreciate you taking the time to squeeze me into your busy schedule. Now, would you mind telling me where you are?"

Carson watched, trying to keep a smile off his face, as Rodney listened to Sheppard's directions.

"What the hell are you doing there?" Rodney finally said, shaking his head. "Fine, fine. I'll be there in about ten minutes. McKay out." Turning his attention to Carson, he narrowed his eyes. "You wanted something I presume."

Shaking his head, Carson rolled his eyes at the curt statement. "Yes, I saw you and wanted to remind you about your departure exam."

"Yes, yes, yes," Rodney said, waving his hand as he turned to start walking down the hall again, Carson at his side. "I have time yet. We can do it tomorrow or the next morning after. Plenty of time."

"Just don't put it off too long. Without it you can't head back to the SGC."

Rodney glared at him, but continued walking. "This is one thing I don't understand. I have how long on board the Daedalus? Why don't they just do it there?"

"I imagine it's because Colonel Caldwell doesn't want any strange disease on his ship. We are trying to make sure we don't infect Earth as well."

"Fine," Rodney huffed. "I won't forget. I'll make sure you get one last chance to poke holes in me. Anything else?"

"Nae, that's all," he said as they finally stopped outside the transporter. When Rodney didn't move to enter, Carson raised an eyebrow. "Your ten minutes is running out."

"I'm surprised Sheppard actually knows how to tell time sometimes," Rodney said, stepping in, the door sliding shut behind him a moment later. When they re-opened, it was empty and Carson entered, selecting the point closest to the infirmary. If things went as planned, Rodney should be slinking in within the next few hours for a pre-mission physical.

If things went according to plan.

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John Sheppard liked patrolling Atlantis. It wasn't hard and it gave him time to explore and enjoy the city they'd come to call home. He didn't get the opportunity to do it often, mainly because of his other responsibilities and missions, but when he got the time, he usually put himself on the rotation.

Like today.

Granted, this time it fit into their plans for him to be out in the boonies, but all for good reason. If he and McKay were going to talk, John didn't want an audience.

Passing the grounding station, John rolled his shoulders, trying to ease some of the tension that was building. Ever since their argument about a week ago, he'd managed to avoid Rodney. Although from what he'd heard, McKay had been doing his own Sheppard-and-Weir avoidance dance when he wasn't busy helping everyone out, trying to stay out of the mess hall or other public locations John and Elizabeth frequented regularly.

There was a time when they'd coordinated their schedules to sit and have lunch together, but that seemed like a long time ago.

He heard McKay's footfalls echoing down the hall before he saw the scientist. Pausing, John back-tracked pausing outside the door to the grounding station as Rodney came into view, annoyance in his face, anger in his movements, his hand clenched around several sheets of paper which he started waving in the air as soon as he spotted Sheppard.

"Now that you made me trek all the way out here, you had better be able to answer my damn question." He shoved the papers in John's face.

Sheppard raised an eyebrow, but took the sheets out of McKay's hands, smoothing them as he glanced down. When Rodney didn't continue, he looked up, catching the scientist staring at him. "You had a question, McKay?"

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TBC