Dr. Miko Kusanagi kept her eyes studiously on her computer monitor as Dr's Kavanagh and Zelenka argued not far behind her. Their voices had been steadily rising. She could hear that others in the room had stopped their work and were watching the clash with interest. Though she tried to focus on her work, Miko kept finding herself clenching and unclenching her hands as she listened.
"I tell you already. I do not know what is wrong with Dr. McKay or when he will be available. Perhaps you can ask him when he is better. In the meantime his decisions stand. You do not have authorization to begin this experiment and I will not give it at this time." Dr. Zelenka sounded very upset.
"Then when will McKay be 'available' and when will you be ready? Is our work supposed to just stop because the 'Great McKay' isn't available?" Miko could hear the derisive sneer in Dr. Kavanagh's voice as he spoke. His words were manipulative. The truth was that everyone had projects to be working on, including him, and Dr McKay's unavailability would not hold those ones back. Dr. Kavanagh was trying to abuse this situation to go around Dr. McKay. Miko was glad that Dr. Zelenka would not allow it.
"I grow tired of repeating myself," Dr. Zelenka's voice was tight with impatience and his accent was growing thicker with each word.
But Dr. Kavanagh was showing no signs of backing down. That man gave no respect but expected much, "I grow tired of my work and my position here not receiving the respect it deserves. You're with-holding information, and so is he. I can smell it. So what is it, huh? Was McKay hurt by a weapon none of our countries are supposed to know about? Or is it something for that precious Nobel prize he's so desperate for he'd risk all our lives to get it?!"
"You smell something? I tell you what smells!" Outrage was clear in Zelenka's tone now, and Miko found herself agreeing. Everyone knew that Dr. McKay had brought Dr. Kavanagh back to the Atlantis base. Almost immediately afterward, Dr. McKay had fallen mysteriously ill. That Dr. Kavanagh had said so many ill things of Dr. McKay since then, when Dr. McKay could not defend himself, was very upsetting.
"Oh, very mature." Dr. Kavanagh interrupted whatever else Dr. Zelenka had been going to say. "I, for one, will be in the commissary until we get a real explanation."
"Good!" Dr. Zelenka called after the retreating back of Dr. Kavanagh, "Stay there as long as you like. Then maybe I can get work done without you pestering me with question I do not have the answer to and that are none of your business."
Dr. Zelenka muttered a few choice phrases in Czech as he returned to where his own lap-top was set up beside Miko's. "He is back two days and already he will use any excuse for a vacation."
Miko turned to offer a comforting smile to Dr. Zelenka, but instead felt her jaw drop and her eyes widen. She stood and watched as all but a few of the core scientists packed up their stations and walked out to join Dr. Kavanagh.
When she turned back to Dr. Zelenka he still hadn't turned around but wore a defeated look that made her wince in sympathy, "They've all gone, haven't they?"
"Not all…" Miko offered.
"Dr. Weir will not pleased," Dr. Zelenka observed with a small sigh. Miko had often noticed that he would go out of his way to impress Dr. Weir. She didn't think it was because she was the mission leader.
As if on queue, Dr. Zelenka's radio flared to life at that moment, 'Dr. Zelenka? This is Dr. Weir. Come in please.'
Dr. Zelenka jumped and fumbled his radio. He sounded frazzled by the time he picked it up again and answered, "Dr. Weir. I'm here."
'I thought you'd like to know that Rodney will be back to work as usual some-time tomorrow.' Dr. Weir's tone held a wary concern, and the hint of a question. She had caught the frazzled sound in Dr. Zelenka's voice.
Dr. Zelenka pursed his lips at the unspoken question, he had to tell her now, "That is good, but I am afraid we have a situation."
'What sort of situation?'
Dr. Zelenka closed his eyes miserably as he answered, "A mutiny."
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Only on-duty military members of Atlantis now wandered or patrolled the ancient city. They were doing their best not to interfere with the apparent strike that the scientists had decided on. Unless a member of the command team ordered action they intended to stay well away from that. It was a running joke and lasting wisdom among the military that there are three categories of people that one should never cross the bad side of if it can be avoided; your wife, your mother-in-law, and civilian scientists on a civilian led mission.
As things stood now, the commissary was being given a wide berth. With that many angry scientists in one room something was bound to blow, probably literally.
It was tense. And quiet. If people spoke at all it was a whisper, as though anything louder would set off the bomb.
Then, a familiar sound broke through the tension.
"I cannot BELIEVE you didn't tell me what was happening IMMEDIATELY!"
"I didn't know! I've been busy with YOU. Besides. I can't believe you didn't tell Ronon and Teyla everything!
"They don't need to know!"
"It's Ronon and Teyla!"
"Conan and Xena wouldn't understand it all anyway!"
"It's RONON and TEYLA!"
"Would you please not raise your voice! I'd like to maintain SOME privacy if you don't mind!"
"You are un-be-lievable!"
The two bickering friends seemed oblivious to the elated stares of people as they stormed past, intent on reaching to commissary as soon as possible.
By the time they reached the commissary the argument showed no signs of slowing. Lt. Cadman turned from where she'd been standing guard, aka eavesdropping on the scientists, and grinned.
"You know what?" Rodney sniped, "Sheppard really doesn't suit you. I think Col. Pitbull is far more apt."
"Go ahead Rodney, say all you like about me. I don't mind. You know why? Because I know that you're going to get it when Carson finds out you left the infirmary!" Col. Sheppard pointed out smugly.
"Ha! You're going to get it too!" Rodney pointed back.
It was obvious they weren't going to notice her on their own so Cadman broke in at the slight ebb in their flow, "Rodney!"
Rodney turned to her and blanched, speechless for a moment, "L-lt. uh Cadman. We were just, we were just…"
Cadman and Sheppard both rolled their eyes. Rodney just couldn't seem to stop being freaked out by that whole shared body thing. Taking time to get used to the idea was one thing, but this was just silly.
"Going in there?" Cadman finished for him and motioned to the commissary.
"Yes, of course." Rodney looked at the door a moment but didn't move.
"You haven't figured out what to say yet, have you?" Sheppard prodded verbally, still miffed at Rodney having the last word before they were interrupted.
Rodney just pulled a glare at him.
"Why don't you just tell them the truth, Rodney? I'm sure it's not that big a deal." Cadman offered.
McKay just tilted his head toward her and gave her a look that said that was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard in his life, "Oh, you're sure, are you? And what's that? Women's intuition?"
Cadman narrowed her eyes in return. Women's intuition? She was only trying to be helpful. Fine then, this was now war. "You forget I've been in your head, Rodney. I already know your biggest secret."
Realization struck Sheppard like a bolt of lightening. Of course that's why McKay was so freaked out by Cadman. "You do?" Sheppard cut in with a teasing grin before McKay could panic and give away more than he intended, "You haven't been holding back valuable information I hope?"
Cadman leaned forward conspiratorially, "Only that deep down under all that catty sarcasm he's really just a cuddly kitten."
"Catty!?" McKay gaped at her.
"C'mon McKay," Sheppard nudged McKay's shoulder as he spoke, "Beckett is gonna flip as it is. No more dawdling."
"I cannot believe she just called me catty!" Rodney continued to gripe.
"Well you like to play with string theory, don't you?" Sheppard poked.
McKay groaned, "You know that was terrible, right? Please don't ever repeat it."
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Kavanagh stood at the head of Atlantis' Commissary arguing loudly with Dr. Weir. She had arrived some time ago to address the scientists and ask them why they had left their duties. Kavanagh had taken it upon himself to speak for all of them. Radek and the few scientists whom had elected to remain at their posts stood with her. She'd wanted all of them present for the settling of this dispute.
The more Kavanagh spoke, Elizabeth had been observing, the more annoyed those scientists who had elected to join him looked. To Elizabeth's diplomatic eye it seemed that most had had their own reasons for demanding more information. It was a good sign. If this many people had actually been ready to believe that scientific data was being with-held it would have meant trouble for the expedition.
As it was now, Elizabeth was content to let Kavanagh keep talking himself into this hole. She was placing her bets on the crowd getting fed up enough to voice what the real issue was and take Kavanagh down a notch for her.
"C'mon!" Kavanagh sneered and blustered, "Everyone knows McKays in the American's pocket. McKay's worked more for the American's than for any other country."
Kavanagh then did the best thing he could have for Elizabeth. He turned to one the crowd members, gesturing to where the Canadian Technician from the gate-room had just entered, at Elizabeth's invitation, "How does it feel knowing that your Country doesn't really have a fair representative on the science team?"
Elizabeth just smiled encouragingly and nodded her assent for the man to answer as he pleased. The man looked surprised at the question, "He requisitioned supplies of Tim Horton's coffee to be distributed to Canadian personnel on Canada day just this year. That's good enough for me."
Kavanagh stared at him in disbelief, "He's the most obnoxious, conceited man in the entire city and he insults you on a regular basis, and he bought you with Coffee?"
The Canadian looked at Kavanagh as though he had his head on backwards, "It was Tim Horton's."
A few heads with Canadian flag patches attached to their arms nodded agreement.
"What the hell is going on in here?" The voice of one irate science team leader echoed through the room. Even Elizabeth jumped at the tone.
The entire room stared as the man many of them had feared the worst for stormed to the head of the room. Behind him, a trail of military personnel were gathering around the doorway, "I have a full docket of research that's been put on hold for what? Hmm? You do realize how much is depending on this research, don't you? What is so important that you think it's worth risking all our lives and the lives of everyone in TWO galaxies? Hmm?"
Kavanagh was the first to recover. He pointed an accusing finger at McKay, "You've been in the infirmary for two days without any explanation! What were you doing that has to be kept secret from us?"
Rodney rounded on Kavanagh with a deadly calm that was more startling than his boisterous entrance, "How is that your business?"
"You're head of the Science Department!" Kavanagh squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes.
Rodney squared back, "Oh? So I don't get doctor -patient confidentiality?"
"We have a right to full disclosure of all information related to the Atlantis Project." Kavanagh countered.
Rodney just rolled his eyes and turned dismissively from him to the crowd, "I cannot believe how out of hand this has gotten! Alright! Fine! If you're all so sure you have a right to know my personal affairs, I had a hang-over. I'm not much of a drinker. There! Happy now?"
It was Kavanagh's turn to roll his eyes, "For two days!?"
"You have Beckett to thank for that. He gave me a little too much of the good stuff to help sleep it off." Rodney folded his arms as though daring anyone to poke a hole in his explanation.
A quiet murmuring drifted through the room as the scientists discussed the plausibility of the explanation. Sheppard caught a few whispers of, 'Beckett probably couldn't stand the complaining anymore.' And, 'it makes sense not wanting to publicize a leader getting plastered…maybe.'
"What about the scorch marks?" One of the scientists piped up.
"Oh please!" Rodney gestured expansively and heaved a laboured sigh, "Everyone in this room listen up! Raise your hand if you have NEVER blown something up when drunk."
Elizabeth looked around the room and noted that frighteningly few hands were raised. She might have to discuss this with Major Lorne.
Kavanagh folded his arms and practically snarled, "You don't really expect us to believe that!"
Rodney raised his hands in the air in exasperation, "You want a conspiracy theory Kavanagh? Fine! A secret organization abducted me as a child, gave me super mutant powers which mis-fired two nights ago– causing the explosion and placing me in the care of Dr. Beckett. As well as make random things explode for no apparent reason I can divine the will of the ancestors and make things float. All of this I've managed to keep secret even while working with the Pentagon, Area 51, and the StarGate program. Of course, I had a little help from the CIA, who kindly erased my short lived career as a super-villain. Did I ever tell you about my secret lab under the volcano?"
A few chuckles rippled through the audience, while Kavanagh just turned red at being made fun of.
But McKay was anything but laughing, his expression grew darker with each word to come and the room grew quiet, "Now I am only going to say this once. There is no Atlantean related research taking place in this city that is being kept from your governments. You have had full disclosure in that regard. I have a few personal papers that are none of your business. Consider them a hobby. If I ever think they'd be of use to our work here you'll be the first to know. I'm feeling generous today. So I'm going to give you one minute, starting now, to end this little mutiny and get back to work. In return, I'll act as though this never happened."
For a heart beat everyone stared at him then looked to each-other for guidance.
"54 seconds, 53 seconds, 52…"
Kavanagh gawked as the room was cleared in half a second. He turned and glowered at McKay, "I'm on to you McKay. Something is definitely not right about you."
"30 seconds, 29, 28, 27."
Kavanagh stormed swiftly from the room without another word.
Not until only Sheppard and Elizabeth remained did he let his guard fall and he dropped into the nearest chair.
Elizabeth just looked at him. That had been an eye-opening experience to say the least. He'd blown in here out of no-where while she'd been in the middle of trying to fix the situation diplomatically. Granted, it had worked. But still, that wasn't the point. And now, there he sat slumped like he had the universe on his shoulders. She didn't have the heart to properly scold him now. "Well, that was very… theatrical Rodney."
"And effective," Sheppard added before tilting his head inquisitively, "Super-villain?"
"Not now Sheppard," McKay sniped in annoyance.
"Ok. Fine." Sheppard's mind kept running with it though. McKay had mentioned he'd had some fun before the CIA got a-hold of him, "But that part about the secret lab under the volcano..."
"Please not now," all snipe was replaced by a simple quiet plea as McKay leant forward and buried his head in his hands. It was all just too much.
"Ya, buddy" Sheppard agreed sincerely as he pulled up a chair beside his friend, "Not now."