Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

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Chapter Twenty-One

All of them watched McKay leave the control room and there was a brief silence. Weir knew the man had a reputation for not being very…social but it didn't mean that he wouldn't work well with others, she had seen both he and Zelenka work very well together on occasion. It just didn't occur that often.

Aiden looked round the control room nervously and thought it would be best to get a conversation going. "Sounds promising," Ford said with a less than enthusiastic tone in his voice. It wasn't that he doubted McKay's plan of action, it was the time it would take that bothered him. Weir glanced to the young lieutenant; she could emphasise with him completely as they were all worried about Teyla and Major Sheppard.

Even though Teyla was receiving the best medical care in both galaxies, it simply wasn't enough but she hoped that was about to change. She had lost too many people and she wasn't about to lose anymore, not if it could be prevented.

"Sergeant, Lieutenant. I want you to return to Bre'tar, back to Silveas' village," she began calmly. "Not only do I want know what Kolya wanted with those people he took but we could get some vital information about something else."

"Teyla."

"That's right." Weir looked back to the gate briefly. "They did this to her," she said pointedly. "They should have something, an antidote, anything." She paused a moment and addressed Bates mainly as she said the last part. "I don't want any force used unless it's necessary, we need their co-operation."

Surprisingly, it wasn't Bates who responded with the outburst she'd expected and stared at Ford. "They betrayed us, they betrayed Teyla. And Major Sheppard." The young man didn't bother to hide his anger and his frustration. "We don't owe them anything!"

Weir was used to such outbursts, to people speaking out of turn and most of the time it was John who enjoyed enforcing his opinion so she had learned not to take such events personally. "Lieutenant," she said cautiously. "I will not have any of my people responsible for causing more conflicts," she added adamantly. "Yes…the Bre'tar set us up but did they really have a choice?"

"With all due respect ma'am, you weren't there."

"Whether or not I was there is irrelevant," Weir answered quickly, ever searching for diplomatic solutions.

"Sounds to me they could use a firm hand," Bates said speaking up.

Weir forced herself not to shout at him. "If we want something from these people, we will ask for it without resorting to violence. Is that understood?" She looked to Ford and Bates in turn and didn't like it when neither of them answered so she asked again. "Understood?"

Bates looked to her first. "Yes ma'am." Ford's response was a little delayed and even more reluctant but eventually he gave it to her.

"You got it, Doctor."

Elizabeth had felt her stomach tighten during the short wait but now she had their word she was able to relax. "Take a team you see fit but if you do encounter any problems…" She left the comment hanging as she didn't want to be the one to condone their actions and she certainly didn't need any further misinterpretations of her orders. "Nevermind. Just stay safe."

Ford and Bates exchanged yet another one of their looks before nodded to Weir. She left them standing there as she walked briskly into her office.

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Even though he couldn't see the event, he could still hear it and a whole range of emotions threatened to overwhelm and consume Sheppard as he stared at the wall before him. It was bad enough that he had heard it but witnessing it was something he didn't think he could handle. It was sight that he never wanted to see again as long as he lived. No matter how much time he had left.

The incident with Jeana had too many associations for him, with his first mission. A mission to rescue the Athosians and their own people who had been taken by the Wraith Darts. That had been when he was forced to take another life, to shoot Colonel Sumner.

John swallowed gently and tried to push the thought aside, the look Jeana had given him eerily reminded him of the look Sumner had given him when he was at the hands of the Wraith caretaker. Every night he replayed the horrific scene through his head and tried in vain to come up with a different solution, one that would have saved him but it always ended up the same.

The Wraith had already drained enough life to ensure he wouldn't survive so John had made one of the most difficult decisions of his life. He had raised his weapon and pulled the trigger.

"Sheppard!"

Snapped out of his reverie, Sheppard gradually turned around to look at Kolya. As he did, he caught sight of Jeana's body and forced his eyes not to look down to what used to be a young and healthy woman. Once he had his attention, Kolya stepped around the body so he could speak to Sheppard. "I'm truly sorry you had to witness that Major."

"The Hell you are," John retorted bitterly.

"I didn't want it to come to this," Kolya replied with the same polite tone.

"So why'd you do it?" Sheppard asked.

"This Wraith has answers are that invaluable to me and my people Major Sheppard," Kolya said quietly being careful to maintain a respectful distance. Any closer and he was absolutely certain the man would lash out at him. Kolya wasn't about to give Sheppard the satisfaction. "Surely you of all people could appreciate that."

"I wouldn't do this," he answered with conviction. "No matter how badly I wanted something. I would not resort to this."

He gave a small smirk while looking Sheppard up and down, Kolya hadn't seen the Major so angry since the time he had set up a trap for him in which lead to them losing a valuable Z.P.M. Kolya finally looked back up to him. "I guess you have no ambition," he said calmly.

"There's a difference between being ambitious and being a murderer you son of a bitch!" Sheppard said closing the distance once more and grabbing the bars with both hands. The bastard had stood just out of reach so he wouldn't be able to get at him, John had known not to underestimate him. Just had Kolya had learned not to underestimate him.

"As I said before Major," Kolya answered frankly. "You and I are more alike than you know."

"As soon as I get out of this place," Sheppard said with a dangerously low voice. "I will kill you." It wasn't a threat, it was a promise. A John Sheppard guarantee. Kolya wasn't in the least bit intimidated and actually gave him an amused look. He chuckled and walked over to the door, which was opened for him. "I'll shoot you point blank if I have too," Sheppard continued pulling on the door once more. "I mean it Kolya, I'll kill you!"

Kolya stopped walking and stood in the doorway. His jaw set and all trace of his amusement was gone as he turned to face John once more, instead replaced with a formidable look in his eyes. His tone took on the same as Sheppard's as he answered.

"I'd like to see you try."

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