Title: Blackmail
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Sheyla
Summary: Col. Sheppard is reassigned to Earth.
Part: 1?
Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Stargate: Atlantis or any of the characters.
"Ma'am the Daedalus has just arrived in orbit and is requesting permission to land on the East Pier," A technician said to Dr. Weir.
"Permission Granted," Weir replied and went back into her office.
Sitting down in her chair Doctor Weir began to shift through the mountain of paper work that she'd let build up over the past few days. I guess I'll start with status reports she thought. Roughly fifteen minutes later she was interrupted by a knock at her door.
"Can I come in?" Steven Caldwell asked.
"Of course how was your trip Colonel?" Elizabeth asked setting down her data tablet.
"It was uneventful," Caldwell replied.
"Was there something you needed?" Elizabeth asked really needing to get back to her work.
"Yes it's about Colonel Sheppard," Caldwell said coldly and in his normal flat tone.
"What? Would you like to complain more about his command structure?" Elizabeth asked I really don't need this now she thought.
"No not at all. I'm here to deliver Colonel Sheppard's new orders," Steven said showing Dr. Weir the envelop in his hands.
"And they are?" She asked.
"The Colonel is being reassigned Doctor," Steven said handing her the papers.
"Where?" Weir asked in a confused tone.
"Sheppard's been reassigned to Earth and Major Lorne will be taking command of Sheppard's team. And if I could have those but I'll go inform him of his change in post," Caldwell holding a hand out for the papers.
"Wait isn't that for me to decide?" Elizabeth asked
"The decision has already been made Doctor and the paper," Steven said.
"I'll tell him and save you the trip Colonel," Elizabeth said placing the papers back into the envelop and putting it off to the side.
"Very well…I'll leave you too your work then Doctor,"
"Thank you Colonel," Elizabeth said as Caldwell walled out the door and she cast a glance at the offending envelop. This day just keeps getting better and better doesn't it Elizabeth thought to her self. Standing for her desk she walked out in the Control Room.
"Would gather Colonel Sheppard's team and have them meet me in the Conference room in twenty minutes," Elizabeth asked the technician seating at the DHD panel.
"Yes ma'am," the technician replied and started tracking down the four team members.
"Thank you I'll be in the Conference Room if anyone needs me," Dr Weir said walking over to the Conference Room.
Twenty minutes later Teyla, Ronon, McKay, along with Weir were all gathered in the Conference room waiting for Sheppard.
"So can we make this quick I was in the middle of something very important," McKay said as Sheppard walked into the room and the doors shut behind him.
"Look I'll get straight to the point here," Elizabeth said leaning forward in her chair with a sad look on her face.
"Colonel Sheppard you've been reassigned to the SGC," Elizabeth stated bluntly and in response was met with four shocked faces.
"What! Why! The Colonel has the strongest ATA gene we need him here it doesn't make sense to assign him to Earth," McKay said shocked that they'd send the one of the most important people in Atlantis away.
"I agree with Doctor McKay why would your people send away someone as important as John. Do you not need him to activate and control Ancient technology?" Teyla asked too shocked that John was going to be leaving quite possibly never to return.
"I don't like it either but those are his orders," Elizabeth said and all four turned to gauge John's reaction to the news.
"I guess I should get packing then," John said sadly.
"What so you're just okay with this?" McKay said loudly.
"If those are my orders then that's what I'm going to do. I my not like them but I can't do anything about it, if I'm lucky I'll be able to visit every once and awhile." John said casting looks to gauge his team's reaction.
"You'll leave first thing tomorrow morning John you should start getting your things in order," Elizabeth said sadly.
"Yeah…who's getting command of the team?" John asked.
"Major Lorne will be taking command of your team,"
"Guess I should give Lorne advice on putting up with McKay," John said trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm should he'll appreciate the advice Colonel," Teyla said looking at John sadly.
"So I guess I have some packing to do," John said standing from the chair and walking from the room.
"I can't believe that they'd reassign him like this," McKay said to Elizabeth.
"I know something doesn't smell right about this. The International Committee wouldn't rightly reassign someone like John away from here. Like you said Rodney he has the most control over Ancient Technology you'd think they'd want to keep him here at all costs?" Elizabeth said making a note to herself to get to the bottom of this and get her head of Military but on Atlantis where he belonged.
"I believe that all we can do for him now is be there him until we find a way to bring him back here," Teyla said standing from her seat at the table and left for her room.
I can't believe he is leaving…my worst fear has come true Teyla thought to herself on the way to her quarter's needing to be alone to process this information.
In John's room the man was busily packing away his belonging which wasn't much considering he never really stayed somewhere for very long. But I thought this would be different some stability for once in my life. John thought sadly wondering if he'd ever find a place that he could stay settle down. Earth was never really home to me I have nothing there that's why I took this offer to come to Atlantis. I'd be serving my country and I'd maybe find a place to call home…a real home.
"Damn it!" John yelled in anger punching the wall and then immediately regretted doing so. Physical pain I can deal with John thought. I really thought this time would be different, but NO! they had to go and take something else from me. Wasn't my parents and career enough…I finally find a place to call home and people to call family and they take it away!
The heavy repeating sounds of feet could be heard as Ronon ran along one of Atlantis's many catwalks. This was how he'd dealt with emotional problem's not that he'd really had that many over the years. I'm not going to take this standing down..no wait…sitting down…yeah that's was what McKay had said. I owe Sheppard a lot…he gave me my life back, a way to avenge my people and get revenge. Finishing that thought Ronon stopped to take a swing from his water bottle. I wonder how Teyla's handling the news.
The sound of crying could be heard throughout the room and its source came from a lone figure in the corner of the room. Her back pressed up against the wall her knees hugging tightly to her chest and her head resting across her crossed arms that sat atop her knees.
How could they do this to him…Just order him to pick up his life here and return to Earth at a moments notice? Why now when Atlantis needed him the most…when I need him. Teyla thought while still crying she did not cry very often only recently after Charin had died. I have only just begun to look at our relationship and my feeling for him and now he must leave. What had she done to deserve such treatment from the ancestors?
Down in Chair Room sat a lonely Doctor Rodney McKay blankly staring at a computer screen displaying some trivial data that paled in comparison to the news he'd received. I can't believe their doing this. I know I say that I hate military types and all but Sheppard didn't look at me like everyone else. Who just dismissed me as an annoying, self-centered scientist. The man actually considered me an equal to him, gave to the benefit of the doubt and trusts me. If I really think about it he's one the first real friends I've had in a long time and now those brush-cuts want to take him away from where he's needed. We won't let them…but first we need to find out the who and the why behind this. McKay thought and got to work researching trying to find a way to keep his friend on Atlantis.
The door chimed announcing to the room's occupant that someone wished to enter.
"Come in!" John called out and the door opened to reveal Teyla Emmagan.
"Teyla how are you doing?" John said noticing that she'd been crying recently.
"I should be asking you the same question John," Teyla said.
"I asked first," John retorted.
"I'm fine Teyla,"
"You're just fine that your people are asking you to pick up and leave everyone you care for behind?" Teyla said in a slightly elevated voice.
"I that it would come to an end sooner or later…in the military you never expect to stay in one place to long it comes with the job. I may not like but I accept it as part of my job." John said continuing with his packing.
"Is there no way you can fight this?" Teyla asked hopefully.
"No…it's not my place to question where they want just to go and do a good job." John said and knew it was a lame response even to his ears.
"It's not like you to not question orders John," Teyla said as he hopeful thought was crushed by his response.
"I question orders when I see there's a need to question them. It's not my place to question these new orders just because I don't like 'em the higher ups obviously see a need for me to be at SGC or they wouldn't have sent me these orders.
"But-"
"Teyla just let it go, no need wasting energy trying to their reasoning," John said casting a sad look in her direction.
"So that's it you're leaving?" Teyla asked feeling fresh tears forming in her eyes.
"Yeah," John said defeated and Teyla rushed forward wrapping her arms around his neck and cried softly against his shoulder.
"Hey it's alright you can still visit me on Earth," John said wrapping his arms around Teyla.
"It will not be the same without you here," Teyla said quietly.
"Yeah," John said absent mindedly.
The next morning, Dr. Weir, Teyla, McKay and Ronon were in the gate room waiting for the dialing sequence to be completed and John Sheppard, to depart for Earth.
"Chevron Eight locked" the technician said as the event horizon formed and stabilized casting the room with the familiar blue light.
John's belongings sat to the side of the gate and moved forward to say good-bye to the people he called family. The four stood side by side in line to the event horizon. First was Doctor Weir.
"Thanks for this chance Elizabeth it meant a lot," John said wrapping his arms around Elizabeth giving her a friendly goodbye hug.
"You'll be back here before ya know it John so don't say goodbye just yet," Elizabeth replied hugging him back.
"You really are a hopelessly optimistic person and you have to work on it," John said releasing Weir and moved to the next person. McKay.
"It's been an honor to be graced by presence McKay," John said shaking the man's hand.
"Funny…I can't believe you can joke at a time like this," McKay said.
"It's who I am McKay and keep Atlantis safe while I'm gone," John said.
"Don't I always," McKay said and John released his hand and moved onto Ronon.
"Take care big guy and watch out for McKay and Teyla will ya," John asked reaching out to shake his offered hand.
"You know I will and you take care off yourself on Earth," Ronon said and John moved onto the last person in line.
"It's been an honor Teyla," John said hugging her tightly.
"It's been an honor serving with you too John," Teyla replied hugging him back just as tightly.
"You take care of yourself," John said.
"And you," Teyla said pulling back from the welcomed hug and bowed her head per the Athosian greeting.
John bowed his head in kind and the pair touched foreheads. Pulling back John gave Teyla the same boyish smile as when they'd first met and then pressed a light kissed to her cheek and whisper the words "I love you".
To shocked to say or do anything Teyla watched as John walked over and picked up all his belongings and walked through the gate leaving her behind with her confused emotions and thoughts.
A/N: I've had this in my head for a while and figured I might as well start it. R&R.
