A/N: Sorry it took longer to get Ch. 6 up, but there were some problems with this chapter that needed to be tweaked with. I'm happy with it now, though.
Chapter 6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Rodney, why is the sky blue?" "Waves of blue light are scattered off the particles in the atmosphere." "Rodney, what's an atmosphere?" "It's the gases that surround the planet." "Well, what's a gas?" "It's one of the basic states of elements. They have no fixed shape or volume. Like air." "So how can light scatter off of a gas if we can't see it?" "Do you know what 'quiet' means?" "Rodney, you didn't answer my question." "Yes, because it was stupid and annoying." "Uncle Radek said there no such thing as a 'stupid question'." "Well, he's wrong. I thought I told you that you could stay if you were quiet."
The lab settled into relative silence as Rodney continued to type. He picked up one of the Ancient devices he'd been playing with, but it didn't activate. "Rodney?"
"What?" He looked up at her out stretched hand. "Fine."
Chi smiled as she took the artifact and it light up under her touch. She handed it back to him, a little smirk that she must have picked up from Sheppard gracing her lips.
"Yes yes, you have the gene, congratulations," Rodney said, although there was no bite to his words, as he snatched the device back.
"Don't be jealous, Rodney," Sheppard said. Rodney turned around to see him standing in the doorway and scowled.
"John," Chi cried out as she ran to other man and jumped up on him. Sheppard easily lifted her up.
"I'm not jealous. I can't possibly be jealous because there's nothing to be jealous about. Was there something you wanted or do you just enjoy interrupting my important work?"
"Actually, Weir wanted to see you," Sheppard answered with a smirk.
"And she couldn't use the radio because?" Rodney asked, his hands making wild gestures.
"I was on the way anyway. I though Chi might want to take a ride in the Puddlejumper."
"Yay! Can I, Rodney? Can I?" she asked as she squirmed in Sheppard's arms. The colonel sighed and put her down. She ran to Rodney and pulled on his shirt. "Please, Rodney?"
"Yes, yes, fine, go," Rodney replied as he shut down his laptop. Chi squealed and rushed at Rodney to hug him. Rodney grimaced as he looked down at her. He awkwardly patted her head, but she hardly seemed to notice.
"Thanks, Rodney," she said as she released him and ran back to Sheppard. Rodney looked up and saw Sheppard smiling.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"John, why do you call it a 'Puddlejumper'?" Chi asked as she walked out of the lab.
"Well, that's an interesting story," Sheppard started as he followed.
"Colonel?"
"Yeah, Rodney."
"Um…just…you know…be careful."
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"We all think it's in the best interest of the child, Rodney," Elizabeth said firmly as she picked up her tablet.
"Chi. Her name is Chi. And who's 'all'? Because I don't suppose you've asked her, have you?" Rodney shot back, his temper rising. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow as she tapped something on her tablet.
"She's 7, Rodney. She doesn't know what's in her best interest."
"Oh please, Elizabeth, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Okay, well, maybe not the stupidest thing I've ever heard. There was this time in grad school where a guy I was tutoring thought that the Theory of Relativity was-"
"Rodney, as fascinating as this is, was there a point?" Elizabeth interrupted. Rodney looked at her. He raised his finger to make a point when he remembered that he was pissed.
"My point is that's it's the stupidest thing I've heard today. I think Chi is perfectly capable of making her own decisions. She's a child, not a brain dead moron"
"No one is saying that, Rodney. But Chi needs a stable environment and the Athosians can offer that to her," Kate Heightmeyer said from the doorway.
"And Kima and Selik are wonderfully people, Rodney. I have known them both for many years. They are delighted that Chi is coming live with them," Teyla added. Rodney groaned as he turned around to face the two women in the doorway. He'd forgotten that they were still there.
"Stable environment? Are you forgetting the space vampires that suck the life from you with their hand? I'm sure Sim and Kekkie are fine people but-"
"Kima and Selik," Teyla interrupted.
"Whatever." He turned back to Elizabeth. "She's already been here a month. Don't you think taking her away will, I don't know, do more damage?"
"It's a risk, Rodney, but I think Chi needs a normal life. She needs to be part of a stable family unit with a mother, a father, and children her own age. It's been shown that orphaned children are able to adjust into healthy, productive adults if they are raised in an established household," Heightmeyer explained. Rodney just stared at her for a moment as if she just grew another arm.
"Elizabeth-"
"Atlantis is no place for a child, Rodney. And considering how she reacted when you came back wounded. I agree with Doctor Heightmeyer, and Teyla already found a family willing to take her. Carson said she's well enough to travel, so first thing tomorrow you'll take her to the mainland," Elizabeth said in her "and that's final" voice. Rodney just didn't want to take no for an answer. Despite all his whining, he really did not want to dump Chi off on the mainland.
"But-but, she has the gene."
"Yes, and she is more than welcome to come back to Atlantis when she's 18. If you'll excuse me." Elizabeth moved pasted Rodney, slipped through Teyla and Kate, and was gone.
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The closer they got to the mainland, the larger that pit in Rodney's stomach became, and he could hardly speak around the lump in his throat. This whole plan was stupid, not to mention wrong. Wrongwrongwrongwrong. WRONG! This was the worst betrayal ever, and his part in it made him physically sick. The fact that he wouldn't go through this betrayal alone was a cold comfort.
"You didn't have to come, you know?"
Sheppard offered him a quick pained glance before turning his attention back to flying.
"Kima and Selik are my friends, as are you, Rodney," Teyla answered, mistaking the comment for her. Rodney didn't correct her. He'd yelled at her so much during the last nineteen hours and she still came along to offer her support.
"Um…prime?" Chi asked from the back of the Puddlejumper.
"That's right, Chi." Sheppard tried to sound pleased, but Rodney could hear the strain. "Wasn't that good, Rodney?"
"Uh, oh yeah, good job, Chi. Try 193." Rodney added.
Rodney turned in his seat and looked back at the girl. Her face was skewed in concentration as she absently moved Nen's wings back and forth. And since when did he start thinking about that little ratty stuffed toy as Nen and not a ratty stuffed toy. Rodney watched her for a moment as she tried to work the numbers in her head and something very odd happened.
"I can't do this."
"Rodney."
"No, really. I, um, I left an experiment running in the lab, and, um, it's very important, and I have to finish it, so we have to turn back so I can-" He stopped in his ramblings when a hand squeezed his shoulder.
"I know, Rodney."
"Kima and Selik said they would meet us in that clearing over there," Teyla said as she leaned forward and pointed to a spot not too far away. Sheppard let go of Rodney's arm, swallowed, and steered the 'jumper to the indicated clearing. When they landed, Sheppard opened the hatch, but neither him nor Rodney stood for a few moments.
"They are here," Teyla said from the back of the Puddlejumper. Rodney turned around and nodded. He hadn't even heard her leave.
Sheppard rose and gave Rodney a look before joining Teyla in the back. Rodney took a deep breath before he also rose. It was time. Rodney wished he was anywhere but in that 'jumper. He took the few steps to the back of the 'jumper and looked down at Chi. She looked back up at him and beamed.
"Prime."
"What?"
"193. It's a prime number. Right?" she asked, looking a little uncertain. Rodney tried to smile, but he knew he failed when Chi frowned.
"That's right, Kiddo," Sheppard answered for him. "You're getting pretty good at this."
"Um, yeah, good job," Rodney added. Chi's smile returned and she reached out her hand, which Rodney took without much thought.
"Where are we going, Rodney? What are we doing? Can I…" her voice trailed off as they left the 'jumper and she noticed the people standing under a near by tree. She moved behind Rodney, her eyes darting from the people to the sky and back to the people.
"Rodney?" she whispered. "Who are those people?"
"They're, um, they're friends," Rodney replied. He felt like such a bastard as he moved forward, Chi reluctantly following him.
"Chi, this is Kima and Selik," Teyla introduced when they arrived at the tree. Kima dropped to one knee and reached out for Chi.
"We are very happy you are here, Chi," she said. Chi nodded, but looked up at Rodney.
"Can we go home now, Rodney? I don't like it out here. I want to go home"
Rodney could actually hear his heart breaking. He risked a glance to Sheppard, but the colonel just shook his head. For the first time in a very long time, Rodney wanted to break down and cry and scream. He wanted nothing more than to tell these backwater Athosians to get lost, they weren't going to take Chi. He didn't realize this would hurt so much and it both scared and awed him.
"We are going to take you home for a little while, Chi. But I am sure Doctor McKay will visit you when he has time," Selik answered Chi's questions. Chi just looked at Rodney, the tears splashing down her cheeks.
"Rodney. I want to go home with you."
Kima grabbed her arm and pulled her away. Chi, in her shook, let go of Rodney's hand to struggle against the Athosian woman.
"No, I don't want to. Rodney! I want to go with you!"
"Chi, calm down. We will provide you with a wonderful home and family," Kima said as she struggled with the fighting child. Teyla tapped Rodney's arm.
"We should go."
Every molecule of Rodney's body screamed that this was wrong as Teyla led him away. He didn't want to leave her with these strangers. What if she didn't understand? What if she hated him for this? Rodney didn't think he could stand that thought. God, this was so horrible.
"Rodney! Rodney!" Chi shrieked. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do anything wrong." She sobbed. "Don't leave me! Rodney!"
Rodney could feel the tears threatening to fall from his already damp eyes. He looked at Sheppard, who was solemn faced and wiping at his eyes.
"This is stupid," Rodney finally voiced over Chi's screams.
"It is for the best."
"Oh, what part of this is for the best, uh? Obviously, she doesn't want to be here and none of us really want her to go. So forgive me if I don't see where 'best' comes into the picture."
"Please, Rodney, try to see-"
"Chi!"
Rodney spun around. He was sprinting back toward Chi when he saw her face down on the ground, shaking. Sheppard got there first and turned her over.
"She's having a seizer," he said as he held her down. Rodney knelt on the ground beside them.
"We have to get her to Carson." Sheppard just nodded. He passed Chi off to Rodney and was on the way back to the ship before Rodney could say anything else. The scientist gathered the little girl in his arms and stood. He was halfway back to the 'jumper when Kima stepped in front of him. Rodney steeled himself because there was no way in hell he was going to let the woman have Chi now, but she just handed over Nen and smiled.
''May the Ancestors protect your daughter."
"She's not-"
"McKay!" Sheppard shouted from the 'jumper.
"Yeah, um, thanks."
