A/N: This chapter contains the plot bunny that started this whole story. I couldn't get it out of my head, so it is being produced.

Disclaimer: Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: SG-1, and all of their characters and locations are the intellectual property of others. This amateur work is not intended as an infringement.

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Personal Requests

SGC – Cheyenne Mountain Complex

"You asked to see me, General Landry?" Mr. Woolsey stood in the doorway to Landry's office.

The general rose and gestured to a chair facing his desk. "Yes, please have a seat." Woolsey sat down. Shutting the door, Landry sat down behind his desk and eyed Woolsey speculatively.

"Mr. Woolsey, you have stated the Council's concern about Colonel Sheppard's availability for the defense of Earth."

"Yes," nodded Woolsey, "the council feels that defense of the home world should come before the importance of any outpost."

Landry nodded, one had stroking his chin. "OK. I think General O'Neill shared with you our concern about Colonel Sheppard's willingness to accept such an assignment."

Woolsey looked uncomfortable. "I must admit, General, I have been giving a lot of thought to General O'Neill's comments. I don't think the Council ever considered the possibility of Sheppard's refusal. I am, frankly, unsure how to present such a situation to the council. They were adamant regarding his reposting to Earth."

"As you know, we have been testing vigorously for the ATA gene . . ."

"But you have not found it in anyone as strongly as it is in Colonel Sheppard," interrupted Woolsey.

Landry nodded. "I have a suggestion in that regard. It might just allow us to keep a valuable member of the Air Force while satisfying the council. It will, however, require some compromise." Landry looked pointedly at Woolsey.

Woolsey settled back in his chair. "I think any suggestion at this point is worth entertaining."

"Thank you, Mr. Woolsey." And Landry continued to outline the idea he had sketched out to O'Neill earlier.

General Jack O'Neill, meanwhile, was leaning against the door to the lab where Colonel Samantha Carter was working. Sensing his presence she looked up and smiled, though somewhat hesitantly.

Pushing off from the door, O'Neill ambled over to her workbench. "Hi," he said, hands in pockets.

Sam glanced at him then refocused on her work. "Hi yourself. Everything ok with Sheppard?"

"Yeah. He had no fever today so the doc is considering letting him out on crutches tomorrow. He has to be checked out by the physical therapist first."

"That's good. Thanks, by the way, for taking the first watch."

"No problem." A silence began to stretch between them.

"Uh, I noticed you didn't come with Daniel when he came up to fetch me."

"Well, you had said you needed some space, and I didn't want to press you." Sam continued moving things around on her workbench, studiously avoiding Jack's eyes.

"I think an emergency wouldn't have counted as 'pressing.'"

Sam stopped moving her hands. "I just wasn't sure how you would react, and I didn't want to have Daniel as an audience if you reacted badly."

"Did I react OK?"

"Yes." She looked up with that same hesitant smile and found a similar one on his face. Now it was his turn to find the workbench fascinating.

"You know, I may have found a solution to our little problem."

"Jack, it's OK, I understand. . . "

"No, Carter, it's not OK. I don't want to deny you anything. I just had to get my head around a few things." He looked up at her, then, and she could see he meant what he said.

"OK, then, what do you have in mind?"

"Well, it seems that Landry's having this problem with Sheppard and the IOC, and one solution might involve us, if you are willing."

Intrigued, Sam Carter settled down to listen to her suddenly shy husband.

The next day, Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard was finding it difficult to manipulate crutches. He hated being awkward, but as he lurched down the hall, that was exactly how he felt.

"You want to minimize the amount of weight you put on your leg since it isn't stitched," the doctor had told him. "I want you moving around, but don't put stress on the wound. In a few days you can start full physical therapy, but for now, just take it easy."

So, here he was, making his way grimly down the hall in the SGC. After three days in the infirmary, he was glad to be in base quarters and a uniform, even if modified for his leg wound. Actually, the shorts looked pretty good with his black t-shirt. He had been unsuccessful in manipulating the doctor into giving him scrubs early, and had only finally gotten rid of the catheter two days ago. God he hated hospital gowns!

He stopped in at the mess hall more to rest his arms than to get something to eat. Still, he grabbed some water to take with him to his command performance. General Landry had asked to meet with him.

John Sheppard entered the SGC briefing room and looked around. He was early. Given his difficulties with the crutches, he had allowed himself plenty of time to get to the meeting. He lurched over to the large window and looked at the Stargate in the embarkation room. Sometimes he found it hard to believe that two and half years ago he did not even know one could 'gate to other worlds. Now he was the military commander of a scientific base in another galaxy. At least, he thought he still was. He had a hunch that he had been called to this meeting to discuss that posting.

General Hank Landry entered the room and closed the door behind him. John came to attention.

"At ease, Colonel," said Landry, coming to stand next to him at the window, gazing down on the Stargate. Even when not operational, it was impressive. "Amazing, isn't it? I still have trouble believing all the things that we've done."

Sheppard glanced over at the General and nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. I certainly didn't expect to be posted to Atlantis when I joined the Air Force."

Landry chuckled. "And I didn't think I would be commanding soldiers who explored space. Fate has a way of dealing us odd hands."

"Yes sir," said John, wondering where this was going.

Landry turned toward the table and motioned for John to join him. Sheppard walked over and carefully sat down, placing the crutches beside his chair. Landry, rather than taking the head of the table, took a seat across from John. He leaned on his arms with his hands clasped then looked up. "Colonel, I have a matter of some delicacy to discuss with you, and I want you to speak freely."

John was amazed that the general seemed uncomfortable. Feeling even more uneasy, John nodded. "OK, sir, whatever."

Landry cleared his throat and thought a moment. No matter what he said, this was going to be difficult.

"As you know, in our recent battle with the wraith, we were having a lot of trouble using the ancient weapons until you showed up." John nodded in acknowledgement. Landry glanced at his hands clasped on the table.

"This experience has made the international council very uncomfortable. They are concerned that the best person to use the weapons is stationed in another galaxy."

John paled. "While that is true, Atlantis can now send me back at any time."

"Yes, I know that Colonel, but the council is still concerned, and they asked specifically that you be reassigned to Earth for its protection."

Sheppard quickly looked down at the table and tried to impose a mask on his features. His body, however, stiffened, and his voice showed some strain. "So does this mean I am not to return to Atlantis?" Proof again that no good deed goes unpunished.

"That's the wish of the council. . . . However,. . . "

Sheppard looked up at the general as he paused. Could there be a little hope in that comment?

Clearing his throat again, Landry looked up and continued. "The United States is concerned that Earth's defense not depend on one man. That is why we have been testing aggressively for the ATA gene. As you can see, our search for the naturally occurring gene has not been all that successful."

John nodded, not sure what else to do.

"The gene therapy developed by Dr. Beckett has also had some limited success, but not adequate to the defense of the planet."

John nodded again. So far the general had brought up naturally occurring and unnaturally occurring genes. What did that leave?

"So, our government would like to attempt a more aggressive method for propagating the gene in the population." He paused.

Sheppard was confused. If this meant a better gene therapy, shouldn't the general be talking to Beckett?

"Colonel, there is no easy way to say this." Another pause as the general cleared his throat. "We would like you to provide us with some of your DNA to help us increase the frequency of the gene."

John paused. "Would this be just a better gene therapy?"

"Uh, no, Colonel. We are asking you to be a . . . sperm donor."

John Sheppard was stunned. Shaking his head, as if to clear it, he said "Let me get this straight. The International Council is concerned about me being in Atlantis and wants me to remain on Earth, but the United States is willing to let me go back if I will make a few deposits in a cup?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it that way," said Landry, "but that is essentially correct."

John got up, grabbed his crutches, and returned to the window, his movements even more jerky with agitation. He was now facing the gate again with his head down. "At least the last folks who 'asked for my DNA' sent a beautiful woman to seduce me." His body radiated tension.

Landry leaned back in his chair. He had had no idea how this man would take this request. Most men were flattered, and some were downright eager. He knew, however, that there were men who were very uncomfortable with the idea of sperm donation, and he was afraid he had just met one. He decided to wait in silence to see if Sheppard would volunteer any more information.

"I can understand the concern for finding the gene, but your request goes against decisions I made long ago. I have done everything I can to be sure there are no extra little unwanted or unloved Sheppards running around without fathers. . . ."

Landry decided that was something he could answer. "Wait a moment. Your, uh, donations would be used to provide children for carefully screened couples, couples who are eager to have a child. In two cases, they have been unable to conceive –"

John swung toward Landry, a stunned look on his face. "You already have them picked out?"

"Well, yes, we wanted to know how feasible this idea was, so we started looking for appropriate homes."

Sheppard, angry at the cavalier attitude of the USAF, crutched over to Landry who was still at the table. "We are not talking about puppies here, General, we are talking about my children."

But Landry was getting testy as well, and he rose and leaned over the conference table. "Yes we are, Colonel, and your children will carry a gene that will help to protect Earth into the future." Coming around the table and invading Sheppard's space, he continued, "We need your children."

Sheppard pulled back, and Landry knew when to make a strategic retreat and set up the big guns.

"I think you need a while to think about this. I know it came out of left field. We'll talk about it more later." The general nodded, then turned and headed for the door.

John backed up some and tried to take a deep breath. He turned back to stare at the gateroom. He was almost desperate to get back to Atlantis. He had been gone four weeks, by his count, and no message had been sent. The Daedalus wouldn't be in communications range for another two weeks. He was worried about Elizabeth.

He heard the door open softly behind him and another person enter and move over to the window.

"Hello, Colonel."

John looked up to see General Jack O'Neill standing next to him. "Hello, General."

"Colonel, I'm retired. It's just Jack," he said, holding out his hand.

"John," said Sheppard, accepting the peace offering. As he dropped O'Neill's hand, he glanced away. "I take it you know about this request they are making?

"Uh, yeah. In fact, Carter and I are one of the couples."

John's head swung around and he stared at O'Neill. "You and Colonel Carter?"

"Yeah, well, when I retired a lot of those pesky regulations went away."

"No, sir, that's not what I meant. I would have thought you would want your own son."

"Well, we did. Unfortunately, we left it a little late, so things don't work as well as they used to." He paused. "Essentially, I'm shooting blanks, and Carter really wants a child," he said softly.

John took a moment to consider the situation. He knew, first hand, what it was like to love from afar due to regulations. He could not imagine what it was like to finally be together only to have this experience denied to them. But here was one man who might understand his position. John scratched the back of his head nervously and cleared his throat.

"General, . . .

"Uh-uh, Jack."

"Jack, one reason this request bothers me so much is that I've only recently even considered having children. And the one person I want to have children with is, well, officially beyond my reach."

"I wondered about that. I was going to suggest that you consider using this situation to your advantage."

"How so, sir?"

"Well, it appears to me that Atlantis is not a military expedition, and even if it was, it is in very unique circumstances. Therefore, the usual regulations make no sense."

There was a pause as John considered this statement. Hesitantly, he said, "So I might suggest changes to the regulations in exchange for my, uh, donations?"

"I think that would be an excellent plan, John. And since I have experience with this sort of tension, I think I can help you out there."

For the first time since he began his meeting with Landry, John thought this might turn out ok.

"Look, John, I think you need to get your mind on something else for awhile. I was thinking, since you are now allowed out, why don't we adjourn to a watering hole and relax, talk about something else. Carter, Daniel, Teal'c, and Cameron sent me to invite you. They'd like to hear about some of the fun of the Pegasus galaxy."

"Wraith? Fun? Well, those are two words I wouldn't put together, but there are some other events that might be worth mentioning." He began to ease toward the door, and O'Neill moved to get in front and open it for him. "Thanks. I'm not too coordinated with the crutches."

As they moved down the hall toward the elevator, John said, "So, did I tell you the one about the Athosian version of hide and seek?"

Atlantis

Elizabeth Weir stared at what she had typed.

Lieutenant Colonel John Shepard joined the Atlantis expedition in the final days before departure, but he brought with him a full commitment to its success. Besides having the Ancient gene, Colonel Sheppard had an excellent military mind, and complete dedication to the safety of those under his care.

It sounded so dull. Where was the quirky sense of humor? The spiky hair? Ferris wheels, football, and the complete joy in flying anything? "John, how am I going to capture the real you in a piece short enough to get through without breaking down?"

She and Teyla had begun the process of preparing the memorial service. They were going to give the Daedalus two more weeks to get home, but they were going to hold it in two weeks regardless. Beckett and Heightmeyer had insisted she begin to write out what she would say, hoping the process would help her grieve. She had already written something about Ronon. Her attempt to honor Rodney was only marginally better than the paragraph she had on John.

At a soft knock, she looked up to find Teyla at her office door.

"Are you working on your memorials?"

"Yes. I reached a block and I thought I would come find you to see how you were doing." She came into the office and sat in the chair in front of Elizabeth's desk. "As leader of a people constantly culled by the wraith, I have lost many friends and family. This loss feels worse, for some reason."

Elizabeth leaned forward, clasping her hands on the desk before looking up. "Perhaps it is because you were part of a team, and you weren't there to protect them or to share their fate."

Teyla stared at her hands in her lap. "Perhaps."

There was silence for a moment as both women considered the lost team.

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Teyla, I was wondering if you would help me compose a video message to both John's family and Rodney's family. I know neither of them were particularly close to their homes, but I feel I need to offer their families closure. I thought I would see if you wanted to speak to them since you were on the same team."

Teyla looked up at Elizabeth and considered the request. "I would be honored. Please let me know when you would like to prepare this message."

Elizabeth gave a small smile. "Thank you, Teyla. I appreciate your willingness to help. I will let you know when I can arrange a video camera."

Teyla stood to leave. "Do you wish to spar tomorrow?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, I think sparring has helped a little bit."

"Yes, you are improving as well. I will check with you tomorrow at lunch, then. Good night."

"Good night Teyla." She watched the other woman leave, then turned back to her laptop. The stark paragraph was still on the screen. It said little about the captivating man she had come to. . . what? Care for? Love? Sighing, she saved her work and shut down the machine. She left it on her desk as she went to find "their" balcony. Perhaps she would find some inspiration.

SGC – Cheyenne Mountain Complex

"The doctors have said they would like ten specimens to start with."

John swallowed hard. He was sitting in Landry's office, working through exactly what they wanted from him as a sperm donor. He was armed with a lot of suggestions made last night by O'Neill and SG-1, but he was not prepared for the number of 'donations' requested.

He looked Landry in the eye. "In return for these specimens, I respectfully request that the SGC revisit the fraternization rules. As a mixed expedition of military and civilian personnel, the traditional rules do not easily apply to Atlantis. I suggest that they could be revised and clarified to allow some types of relationships in a situation so far from home."

Landry had wondered if there was someone in Atlantis. Sheppard had seemed almost desperate to go back since he had regained consciousness. Now it seems there was a strong tie here.

"I was not aware this was a negotiation, Colonel."

"I have learned from an expert, sir, that almost anything can be a negotiation." John smiled, thinking of an international negotiator who now worked on the interplanetary, no intergalactic scale.

"Colonel, you know the reasons for those regulations as well as I do."

"Yes sir, and I think some will have to stay in place. For example, the prohibition of relationships between people in the same military chain of command should be preserved. The problem, sir, is that the rules have been interpreted to apply to the entire mission, civilians and military, and the restrictions have caused some problems. I have found that most people want to obey the rules, but some rules are too difficult to obey."

"I assume you have some suggestions you would like to put forward?"

"Yes sir. In exchange for these concessions, and my return to Atlantis in my role as military commander, I would provide . . . five donations for the doctors. If more are needed later, I can return. I also will agree to return through the Stargate any time Earth is threatened."

Landry considered the offer. It was what the doctors wanted. He had just doubled the number to have a fallback position. The rules and regs seemed ridiculous in a situation such as Atlantis, so Sheppard's changes would probably not be so bad.

"I'll take your proposal to the council. In the mean time, you can write up those recommendations." Landry stood and extended his hand.

John took it and looked carefully at the general's face. As they shook hands, John felt that this man was dealing fairly, and if a good solution could come from this, he would make it happen. He decided to risk one more request.

"Thank you, sir. Could I ask for one more favor?"

Cautious, Landry responded, "What's on your mind, Colonel?"

"Well, sir, I missed the Daedalus, and I was wondering if we could borrow the ZPM long enough to give me a lift home."

After some consideration, Landry nodded. "Ok, Colonel, I think that can be arranged. I was planning on using it to contact Atlantis about the battle. But if we are going to expend the power, let's use it to get some more people there. I have some personnel files you can review while you're waiting to donate."

"Waiting, sir? Surely it would only take a day or so to make five donations."

"I've been told by the doctors that they prefer around 48 hours between donations, so you will be with us for awhile longer".

Landry turned to precede him out the door. "Oh, and Colonel," Landry paused before opening the door. "Since you are anxious to get back, you might want to consider making a donation today. If you start today, you can be out of here in," he stopped to think, "eight days." With a smile, Landry opened the door and ushered John out.

John blinked. Eight more days! He shook his head and turned toward the infirmary. He would get the regulations changed first, then look for some additional personnel. And while he was at it, he'd see what he could do about finding some new amenities for Atlantis.

TBC

Please review! I am particularly interested in what folks think of this twist, the "consequences" of the title.