-1Three hours later, Elizabeth, Rodney, Radek, Carson, Kate, all three Sheppards, Teyla and Ronan sat in the main conference room.
They sat looking at each other for several seconds before Sheppard leaned forward. "So, who's going to break the ice?"
"We have nothing new to report," Radek reluctantly answered.
"Except for the fact that you and your team are incapable of translating Ancient correctly," spat Rodney. He turned to the others. "The machine doesn't make you as strong as three men; it turns you into three men. And so far, we can't find a way to reverse it."
"So you're telling me I'm now a permanent part of the Three Amigos now?" Sheppard asked, rolling his eyes. "For being the brightest people in the galaxy, sometimes you guys really suck."
"Sheppard," Teyla warned quietly.
It wasn't lost on Ronan what she called him. He leaned towards her ear. "Sheppard?" As long as he had known her, she had always addressed him as Colonel or John.
She nodded slightly without explaining herself.
Elizabeth changed the subject. "Carson, what did you find?"
"All three are definitely John Sheppard. DNA tests confirm that," he answered.
"But?" Elizabeth could always tell when Carson wasn't being particularly forthcoming in his diagnosis.
"But, each one is a little different personality wise," Kate chimed in. "After a while, we began to notice subtle, but definite personality differences between the men. We gave each one of them a personality test, which is why we were slightly longer than we anticipated."
She pointed to the one closest to her. "He is most driven by responsibility and duty. He's the most rigid out of the three." She smiled to show she meant no offence by what she said.
"He," she said, referring to the man in the middle, "is much more unorthodox about the way he approaches things. Almost to the point of recklessness and rebellion."
Elizabeth nodded. "That's a John I'm a bit more familiar with."
"And finally, he…" she paused, looking at Sheppard the closest to Teyla.
Teyla exchanged a glance with Heightmeyer before answering. "He is not afraid to use his charm to get out of doing things he doesn't want to. Like taking personality tests."
He shrugged his shoulders as he flashed Elizabeth a lazy smile. "Do you blame me?"
Rodney grunted. "Great, now we have John Sheppard, the kiss ass, the wise ass and the want some--"
"That's enough, Rodney," Elizabeth interrupted.
"To avoid confusion, each man is going to go by a different name," Kate explained. "Next to Teyla, we have John. Besides him is Sheppard. And finally, we have Elmer closest to me."
Rodney laughed. "Elmer? Tell me, is that after the glue or the cartoon?"
Sheppard squinted at him. "It's my middle name. Back off, Meredith."
"Actually, I wouldn't mind just being called Colonel, for the tenth time," said the colonel. He shot a look at Kate. "I promise, my psyche isn't going to suffer any long term damage just because I 'don't have a real name'. Besides, given my personality traits, doesn't it make more sense?"
Heightmeyer held up her hands. "Fine, we'll just call you colonel, Colonel."
"So now what do we do?" asked Elizabeth. "We can't exactly have three John Sheppards running around the base."
"I am not staying in my quarters the whole time," said all three men.
Sheppard winced. "We have really got to stop doing that."
"Elizabeth," Carson interrupted, "I don't see any reason of the colonel, any of them, should be restricted to do anything. They are as healthy as they have ever been. Outside of it being a bit peculiar, there is nothing wrong with them."
Elizabeth turned her glance to the redhead. "Since Dr. McKay and Zelenka don't have any idea when this problem might be fixed, it would be beneficial for them to get acclimated into their living environment. Locking them away could do more harm than good," came Heightmeyer's quiet reply.
Weir shot each of the men a look. "I trust each of you to be on your best behavior." She was answered with three looks of innocence, one more sincere than the other two. "We will all meet up again tomorrow evening for a progress report," she said, mainly addressing the scientists.
As they all stood up to leave, Elizabeth looked up. "Teyla, Ronan, if you could stay here for a second please."
Ronan exchanged a look with Sheppard and John looked forlornly at Teyla as the colonel pulled them out of the room.
When everyone had exited she turned to the two. "I need to ask a favor of the two of you. Please, keep an eye on the three of them. He spends more time with the two of you on his off time than anyone else."
Teyla smiled reassuringly at her. "We will do our best."
"None of the Sheppards need a baby sitter," Ronan disagreed.
Elizabeth grimaced. She knew this was a delicate situation. On one hand, she needed to try to allow John, all three of them, to have their dignity intact. But, on the other, she knew how much trouble one John could be.
"I am aware of that, Ronan. But, maybe it would be an easier adjustment if the two of you were around, just in case he has trouble adapting," she answered.
Teyla looked at Ronan. "It would be our privilege to help our friend out." She raised her eyebrows. "Come, Ronan."
After they left the room, Elizabeth put her head in her hands. For some reason, she could now emphasize with a mother of triplets.