Once through the gate, Ronon cast his eyes upward to the glass walls of Dr. Weir's office. From his vantage point it appeared she and Sheppard were in a deep conversation. Not feeling up to standing around and waiting or locking himself in his quarters yet he opted to make his way to the balcony. After spending almost a week on an extremely humid planet it felt good to be able to stand out on the balcony and enjoy the calm, cool breeze emitted from the Lantean sea. He only wished the winds that soothed his body could as easily soothe his memories. Leaning over the railing he couldn't help but think of all his friend had shared with him.
This was supposed to have been a simple diplomatic trade mission. Dr. Weir had allotted him some extra time to meet with some friends he'd only recently found out had escaped the attack on Sateda. He had met with Grell, a friend of his in the government at the time of the culling. He had hoped by finding Grell he might find others he had known on Sateda who had had access to the stargate.
"We tried to keep the gate address to the new world a secret so that the Wraith couldn't follow us. But Fallon knew," Grell had said sadly. "Fallon made sure his wife and children were through but was himself caught by a dart before he could get through the gate. We had to shut the gate down on the other side. At first we thought Fallon might have died in the wormhole. We later found out he had been taken by one of the darts. Apparently after his capture they implanted some sort of tracking device in him before letting him go."
Ronon cringed inside, thinking of his own years as a runner. It was a nightmare he'd never dreamed he'd be free of. Realizing he had stopped paying attention he quickly refocused his attention on his friend.
"Fallon couldn't stand it. He came there wanting only to see his family, make sure they were alive, and explain what had happened. We would have left then if we had only known. We didn't know what had happened to him until he told us why he couldn't stay." Ronon frowned as Grell spoke, all too familiar with this story. "By that time it was too late. The Wraith were upon us almost before we knew what was happening. Only a few of us escaped."
"And Fallon and his family?"
Gravely, Grell shook his head.
oooOooo
"Ronon," Teyla's voice came from behind taking him by surprise. "How was your trip?"
"It was…" He paused, searching for the right word. "Enlightening."
"Oh?"
"So, did anything exciting happen while I was gone?"
It was Teyla's turn to contemplate an answer. Ronon was quick to interpret her silence. "I take that as a yes."
Teyla smiled softly, aware he had not fully answered her question either.
"I knew leaving a bored Sheppard with McKay could only lead to trouble," he said, amused. "What happened?"
"We found a book."
"A book? That's it? I was sure I'd come back and they would've blown something up." He commented dryly. He smiled when he saw the shock register in Teyla's expression. "They did, didn't they?"
Teyla quickly schooled her features and told him, "I am not at liberty to discuss it right now. Sheppard has asked me to wait. So instead I will tell you about our find."
Although that did by no means placate his curiosity and concern, he still nodded for her to go on.
"It seems the book we found was a journal of sorts written by the older youth designated to look after the younger children in a hidden room during Wraith attacks."
"A hidden room?"
Holding up her hand to stop him she leaned back on the railing. "Kaura-Lei was her name. Apparently it all began as a geological exploration mission to Kaura's planet. She stayed at the village with the children while her parents went with the Lanteans to assist them in their search for a particular compound found only on their planet. While they were gone the first Wraith dart was spotted speeding for the village. Her parents were forced to wait out the attack with the Lanteans in a cloaked jumper. It seemed as if the attack would go on forever but finally the sound of darts overhead ended."
"By the time they reached the village it was over. Everyone was either dead or gone. Many of the houses were burning. Thankfully, Kaura-Lei had made it to the shelter as she had been taught but had only been able to save three of the children. The Lanteans, wanting to help their friends, offered them refuge on Atlantis. Before they had been on Atlantis two full days the Wraith were bearing down upon the city. Unable to bear the thought of loosing any more children the father persuaded the Lanteans to prepare a safe place to hide them."
"But why? The city was shielded."
"There obviously had to be some concern of it failing. And after just watching their whole village culled or destroyed I do not think they were willing to take the chance of the Wraith locating their children in the event Atlantis did fall."
"Then why not just send them through the gate until the attack was over?"
Looking him directly in the eyes, she answered, "Ronon, you know as well as I that until these people came none of us had ever known a place that had not been culled by the Wraith."
Ronon nodded, remembering his years as a runner. Even if there had been a world which had never been culled, the Wraith would have found it eventually. They always did. His recent visit with Grell had been proof of that.
"The original plan had been to gate them off to Earth. It was the one place the Wraith knew nothing of but it also required more power to gate there. When the attack began all power had to be diverted to the shields and weapons."
Teyla went on. "John said that on their world there was a similar time when almost the entire world was at war. It was said during this time on their world that a great fear griped the people. Many people built hidden rooms such as this. Some used attics, basements, or barns. Thankfully there were no such things as life sign detectors and such."
Taking a deep breath of ocean air Teyla went on, "Apparently it was during this time the Ancestors began to work on a plan to make the city disappear forever."
"By sinking it," Ronon stated.
"Yes. It was then that they were able to gate everyone off, including Kaura-Lei and her family. It was the Lantean couple's one final gift to their friends. They could not protect their home so they gave them a home the enemy could never find."
"And now the people from Earth came back and returned the favor," Ronan commented.
Teyla agreed, "Yes, I suppose they did." Except now they were fighting instead of running and somehow in the end she knew that they would win.
oooOooo
It had been two days since their latest escapade. Dr. Beckett had finally released Rodney from the infirmary the previous afternoon with instructions to take it easy. Rodney would agree to anything to get out of Carson's clutches. Ordinarily, his idea of taking it easy and Dr. Beckett's were rarely the same.
Sheppard listened to the echo of his own footfalls as he walked down the hall toward the lab, the memory of Rodney's collapse and the explosion playing through his mind for the one thousandth time. The reality of how close he had come to loosing one of his best friends still shocked him. The very thought of traveling all the way to the Pegasus galaxy, battling Wraith, standing up to the Genii, and still living, only to die because your blood sugar got too low was inconceivable!
"Morning, Rodney," he greeted, finding his friend bent over the table intent on whatever was on the screen in front of him..
"Oh…yes. I guess it is," was the inattentive reply.
Sheppard watched him for a moment, waiting for Rodney to realize he wasn't going to be left alone just yet. It was obvious that Rodney hadn't slept much, if at all, last night.
He finally looked up in obvious annoyance. "Was there something you wanted?"
"Breakfast."
"Yes, well, as you can see I am the scientist who's working on something very important at the moment, not the cook who'll prepare your eggs over easy."
"That's a relief," Sheppard murmured. Still he waited.
"Very funny, Sheppard. Now if you'll excuse me I have a ton of data to finish before our briefing this afternoon."
"After breakfast," Sheppard persisted. After his meeting with Elizabeth he had met Ronon and Teyla coming in from the balcony and had asked them to meet them for a late breakfast. "Come on. I hear they made waffles this morning."
"I'm not hungry."
"Still feeling nauseous, huh?" Sheppard surmised.
Shrugging, Rodney replied, "Carson did say it might take awhile."
"I thought he gave you something to help with that."
"Yes, but they would have left me spending most of my day either drowsy or sleeping."
"You have a virus. No one expects you to be at your best." Sheppard refused to back off the topic. "How often have you been dropping anyhow?"
Rodney rolled his eyes. Not his favorite topic of conversation at the moment. "I'm hypoglycemic, Colonel. An occasional drop in blood sugar is quite normal I assure you."
Sheppard grabbed for a stool and sat across the table from Rodney. "Well, I did a little checking when you spent the night in the infirmary. Seems you've been dropping more often than usual since you've had this virus. If the nausea's that bad…"
Rodney cut him off angrily, "Do I need to remind you how seriously I take my responsibilities here? You want a gate harvesting program. Atlantis needs a weapon to defeat the Wraith. Ancient technology needs to be examined to determine its use. We have missions, and you and Elizabeth need information on potential gate sites. It's what I was brought here for. All of that takes time. Time that you are using up right now while we are holding this conversation."
Sheppard felt his own anger began to rise but it was more out of concern for his friend than anything else. "What happens if one of those nights you lock yourself in your lab and while fulfilling your 'duties' you pass out from low blood sugar and there's no one here to help you? Carson said there are times it can happen more quickly than others. The bottom line is: if you continue to push yourself like this you might not be around to do any of those things, including gating off-world with us." He paused before adding with a grin, "And to be honest, I'd hate to break up the team."
"Look, your concern is appreciated. And I suppose I can make a more concerted effort to find my way to the mess despite the way I feel. But I am not a child. I know how to care of myself."
"So put away your toys, take your meds, and then let's go get something to eat." Getting up from the stool, Sheppard got Rodney a glass of water and handed it to him, the message clear.
Sighing heavily, Rodney realized Sheppard was not about to let this go. Better to placate the man. Maybe then he could get some work done. "Fine."
"Fine." Sheppard crossed his arms and grinned, not willing to press his luck with the sleep deprived scientist at the moment.
"So," Rodney began, tilting back the glass of water to wash the pill down, "did Carson send you?"
"Actually it was more of a 'since you're headed that way' kind of thing," Sheppard told him. "Oh yeah, before I forget, he also said if you gave me any trouble to remind you there are still two other ways to administer the meds."
"Resorting to threats now, are we?"
"Whatever works. But I have to warn you, by the sadistic grin on Carson's face and the way Elizabeth backs him, I would be more prone to call it a promise than a threat."
"Oh, that is wrong on so many levels."
Sheppard shrugged. "Then just take the medicine and be done with it. This virus will pass, hopefully sooner than later. Carson's a little reticent to clear you for gate travel until then."
"What?" Rodney exclaimed. "I'm perfectly capable of performing all my duties, including gate travel."
"Don't feel so bad. I'm not cleared for gate travel yet either." Holding up a hand to forestall any arguments, Sheppard decided now might be a good time to change the subject. "So tell me what's had you up all night?"
"More research. I've been going over the journal and comparing it to the city archives. I want to find out why someone went to all that trouble to build that room."
"Still thinking about that too, huh?" If truth be told, Sheppard was still curious about it also.
"The bottom line is that the Wraith were on their way to Atlantis not more than twenty four hours after they brought the refugees back. Knowing their fear, the Lanteans showed it to them to hide their children." Rodney paused and took a sip of water unable to hide the slight tremors in his hands. "Convenient? Yes. Intended for that purpose? Not a chance. It was more of a right place, right time situation."
"But you intend to find out." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Of course."
"Good. Now let's go eat before you pass out on me."
oooOooo
When they arrived at the mess Rodney was surprised to see Ronon back again. They quickly got their plates piled high with waffles and warm syrup. Teyla stopped to say she had gotten their coffee for them before seating herself beside Ronon at the small table in the back of the room.
"We have been waiting on you, Rodney," She told him. "Ronon has yet to hear the story of our entrapment. And the colonel and I felt you would be the best one to tell it to him."
Everyone at the table smiled as his eyes lit up. Taking a quick sip of his coffee he tried his best to appear casual but failed miserably. "Oh… well… I guess I would be the best one to tell the most accurate version of the story," he began, but Sheppard cut him off.
"Waffles get soggy pretty fast. Let's eat and then you can brief him." Looking up at Teyla, he winked.
"I'm in no hurry," Ronon added in his deep, gravely voice. It wasn't exactly true, but there was obviously more to this team breakfast than he had first thought.
"Really?" Rodney said, lifting a bite to his mouth. "Yes… well… very well then. I suppose if you don't mind waiting."
Content, Rodney began shoveling food in. The pill must have started to kick in because he was suddenly ravenous. He had forgotten how good it was to enjoy eating after a week of almost constant nausea. How could he have wanted to pass up waffles? Or breakfast with friends for that matter?
As soon as he had his fill, Rodney leaned back in his chair and tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn. Still, he launched into his version of the story. There would be time later for more research. Atlantis may not have given up all her mysteries yet. But then they had just begun to look.
The End… for now…
oooOooo
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has taken time to read this. I hope you enjoyed it. For those of you still a little interested in what Rodney will find out about that room, I hope you will read the next one I am in the process of writing…oh those plot bunnies… Anyway, I appreciate all your comments. Thanks! Until next time… Meli
