Trials of Faith – Chapter 17

Rumours

Atlantis was a buzz with all sorts of gossip. Astra's powers, Astra's relationship with Ronan, Astra saving Teyla, and the newest most unusual topic – John and Teyla. If that was truly the case. Rumours were evil beasts which embellished truths and told straight out lies. There had been rumours before involving Teyla and an airman, John and numerous off world alien women, even Rodney and Kate Heightmeyer, Atlantis's psychologist. Some were true, and of course, some were not. That's what drove people insane, was it true? They couldn't walk up to the Colonel and feisty Athosian asking them outright because it was none of their business. But they wanted to know…It's not like they had the typical celeb gossip they would have ignored back on Earth. They didn't have much to do but work in Atlantis, so any little morsel of normal life was seized upon like a piranha would jump onto flesh. Around here, the Colonel's team were the A-list, and when two of the A-list started with the smoochies - supposed smoochies - it was news.

People would sidle up to the two people likely to spill the news if asked in the correct way, be it flattery or concern. One had to be clever so as not to give away ones true purpose. One must be sneaky.

'Get outta here! Get back to work and stop living through insane and illogical gossip!' Rodney yelled at a small blonde scientist – who had not been sneaky enough. She next tried Carson – with no luck. They had both been getting these devious little visitors for the last twenty four hours. Obviously one of the Nurses in the room at the time had told someone about John and Teyla's…moment. And that's what it seemed to be to Carson, nothing more than a moment. Teyla and John were now walking around the city, avoiding each other, and when they were forced to be in the same room, there was little eye contact and awkward silences.

Astra was his main concern now. She lay in bed, sleeping still. Her healing abilities had caused a near fatal drain on her life force. Ronan sat by her bed side, patiently.

Carson wandered over, doing the usual checks. He smiled at Ronan who nodded in return. Carson paused, about to leave, but something was obviously on his mind.

Ronan raised an eyebrow. 'Doc?'

'Mh?' He looked at Ronan. 'Oh, I was just thinking…'

'About?'

Carson looked at him with his blue eyes, unsure of what to say. 'Well, you know the other day when Astra healed Teyla, and the Colonel being overly happy, relieved, ecstatic…whatever you would like to call it, and he…' He rolled his hands indicating that Ronan knew what was to follow.

'Yeah.' Ronan was always amused by this man.

'Well, isn't it going to put a wrench in the works? I mean they're acting a little strange now…' He folded his arms listening to what Ronan would say, hoping it would be helpful.

'I dunno.'

Carson nodded. 'Right.' He turned to leave. 'Well, it's just that they were friends and they're on the same team, and now it's different.'

Ronan leant forward, Carson was a persistent man. 'They were never really friends. The passion was always there.' Carson stared, wanting more. 'They'll get over it.'

'What?' Carson asked, it had not been the answer he was looking for.

'They'll either see each other or they won't, but they'll still be on the same team. They have to decide what to do.'

'Aye, well I hope they decide soon, I got all these bloody people coming to me to asking subtle little questions about it. Bunch of nosy buggers.' Carson growled, eyeing a brunette scientist in the doorway about to come and do exactly as the other girl had done before. 'I don't know! I don't want to know! Now get back to work!' He called, then turned to Ronan. 'So what do we know? Apart from they might or they might not? Is Elizabeth having a fit? Do you reckon she thinks it inappropriate?'

Ronan gently shook his head.

'And she is still asleep…' Said a voice over their shoulders. Rodney entered the room with a small Ancient pad looking supremely disappointed.

'What's that Rodney?' Carson asked.

'I thought she would want to search the Database with me, seeing as it's about her ancestors. Seriously, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack; I mean this is important – contact with another galaxy! Even if it was short contact, they should have it somewhere…besides, doing this alone is impossible. I've got a few of my scientists working on it, but they don't count, not really – they're not actually searching as much as they are whining constantly about how we're never going to find anything…Is that Jello?' Rodney took a breath, looking at the empty cup by Ronan on the floor. 'Where did you get that? They never serve Jello.'

'Rodney,' Carson sighed 'How's about I give you hand? I don't know when she's going to wake up, and Feretti won't come in for his check up for another two hours yet.' Carson offered, smiling weakly. He didn't want to do it, but he would.

'Yeah right, Carson, I don't think so.' Rodney craned his neck around the infirmary, looking for the source of the Jello.

'And why not?' Carson said indignantly. 'You said you needed help!'

'Not your help.' He blinked at the Doctor with frowning eyes.

'Rodney-' Carson warned.

'Look, can you read Ancient?' Rodney snapped.

'No.' Carson retorted harshly.

'Then you're no good to me!'

'Well, can Astra read Ancient?' Carson yelled.

'Well, I don't know!' Rodney snapped. 'I have to ask her when she wakes up.'

'Which won't be too long if you two don't shut up.' Ronan said low. 'If you wake her up Mckay, she will throw you off the balcony just by blinking.' Ronan glared.

'She wouldn't.' He said, not all that convinced.

'She would if I asked her to.' He grinned.

'And why would you-'

'Gentlemen!' Carson shouted, then quickly looked to Astra. She did not wake. 'That's enough. Rodney, I'll tell you when she wakes up, okay?'

Rodney paused. 'Fine.' He snapped, and marched from the infirmary.

'Do you think she'd chuck him off the balcony if I asked her to?' He said to Ronan. He just grinned.

Rodney stormed into the large room with four interfaces lining the walls; he went to the far one. His scientists sensed his mood and said nothing.

'Have you found anything yet?' He snarled.

Who would answer? They exchanged glances. Touris looked to the floor, not wanting the Beast to eat her alive while Chamberlain stared intently at the screen in front of him. Rodney turned on them.

'I am not telepathic people, needing answers here!' He yelled.

'No! Nothing new since you left five minutes ago.' Chamberlain answered, trying hard to keep attitude out of his voice.

'Oh! I am so surprised!' Rodney fake gasped, turning back to his interface. He paused and looked to the left wall. 'Where's Clarke?'

Chamberlain was about to open his mouth when Hannah Clarke walked into the room holding three cups of coffee. 'Sorry Hailey, but the Decaf was out…' She paused looking into the face of a very angry Mckay. 'I'm sorry Doctor Mckay; I should have got you one too.' She handed Touris a black coffee and gave another to Chamberlain.

'We do not have time for coffee breaks Clarke!' He barked. 'And why didn't you get me one?'

'Well, you left, and I wasn't sure if you were coming-'

'Oh, I'll just have that-' He snatched the last coffee, her coffee, and turned. He took a sip and spluttered. 'Black? No milk? Why would you drink this?' He snapped.

She raised an eyebrow at his back and sighed, casting a weary look at her comrades as she returned to work, coffee-less.

'Chamberlain, have you cross referenced all related material-'

'Yes.' He interrupted. Mckay glared.

'Well good, we're finally getting somewhere. Wraith on our doorstep and you all want a coffee break!' Rodney took a reluctant sip from the stolen coffee in his hands, appreciating the human being who discovered caffeine.

'Is Atlantis being attacked again?' Touris asked frantically.

'No! Not at this very moment, but if the Wraith find out that Astra is here, then yes, the Wraith will then be on our doorstep.' Rodney glared at the embarrassed scientist.

'How long is Astra staying?' Chamberlain asked.

'Don't know, and right now, not caring.' Rodney touched the interface, a new screen popping up. 'Well that is just not handy.' He mumbled.

'The thing is, we haven't been told anything, the scientists or the military personnel. I mean, she arrives in Atlantis, Teyla bleeding onto the floor and the only thing we know is that she is supposed to be some sort of big Wraith killer and that while she's here, we're a main target for the Wraith because they are looking for her, specifically.' He said, turning to Rodney with an expression imploring him to say something. They were all in the dark. Only the A-list knew the whole deal. Everyone else had no idea where she had come from or what Astra was capable of.

Rodney didn't look at him at first. The constant interruptions were getting on his nerves; he gritted his teeth and turned. 'You have been told all you need to know. If we were in any real danger, you would be notified. Now can we please get back to work?'

'Jim has a point.' Hannah said, turning to face Mckay. Mckay rolled his eyes.

'No he does n- wait, Jim?' He frowned.

'Chamberlain, Jim Chamberlain? It's his first name Rodney.' Hannah cocked her head, disappointment in this man a constant nowadays.

'Yeah, okay, he does not have a point. You are told everything you need to be told of. No more and no less.' Rodney was about to get back to work when Touris joined in.

'Well, actually, I think-'

'Yes?' Rodney barked.

'Let her speak, Rodney.' Chamberlain snapped.

'You know, there are too many people using my first name, it is Doctor Mckay, okay, just FYI.' Mckay looked at them in turn.

'Well, as your 'people,' Doctor Mckay, we may not need to be told of what is going on in Atlantis – which I think is wrong, since we live here – but shouldn't we be told what it is exactly we're suppose to be looking for in the Ancient Database?' Hannah folded her arms, Chamberlain and Touris admiring her new found bravery.

Rodney paused. 'You know what you're looking for, what are you talking about?'

'We've been given lists of things to look for which we know are related to Astra, but they are kinda vague…' Touris picked up a piece of paper. "Ancient outpost" – like there aren't a million, "neighbouring galaxy" – as in which one? And "alien species capable of incredible feats" – I don't know if the database understands "incredible" but it sure understands "alien species" and "feats," there are thousands of them!'

'Yeah, I got "intergalactic evil" and "unstoppable foe." Is that talking about Astra?' Chamberlain looked at Hannah with a frown.

'Oh, my personal favourite – "Grand-scale rescue operation to save typical hominid with supposed supernatural abilities." I mean, you did write these, didn't you?' Hannah asked, all the scientists turning to Rodney.

Rodney glared at all of them. His minions were beginning to get a little mouthy.

'Yes, I did, and you should be working on them and narrowing the information down to a capable field. We don't have time for useless questions about perfectly fine search criteria.' He snapped, harshness was something they understood having been exposed to the evil that is Mckay. The minions glared.

"Unstoppable Foe?" Chamberlain repeated.

'Chamberlain, shut up.' Rodney said, pointing at his interface.

'You know I have had just about enough of your sulky, arrogant, big-headed, hostile, pathetic little-' Chamberlain began, Hannah giving him a warning look and Touris looking afraid.

'Hey.' They turned. John stood in the door way, eyebrows raised. 'What's going on here?'

Hannah and Touris looked at Chamberlain, who glared at Mckay as Mckay glared back.

'We were having a little chat about the unsatisfactory work being produced, about how there was so little of it.' Mckay snarled.

'That's not fair!' Hannah said, pointing at Mckay.

'Clarke?' Sheppard asked firmly.

'If you are going to use my last name, Colonel, it is Doctor Clarke or Hannah, not just Clarke. We are not school children!' She snapped. John was stunned momentarily; she had always been quiet – and nice. Plus, people didn't speak to him that way, none of the scientists did. 'Doctor Chamberlain was making a perfectly valid point when Mckay-'

'-Doctor-' Rodney chimed.

-'yeah, we'll see.' Hannah growled. Rodney raised his eyebrows. 'Mckay shot it down when every single person on Atlantis is asking the exact same question! And we're reaching the end of our tether!'

'What question?' John looked at all of them.

'What in the hell is going on and why are we being kept in the dark?' Chamberlain replied.

'We haven't been told anything. Only that Astra is here to help us. But there have been rumours, saying that she's dangerous, that the Wraith are coming for her.' Touris said, stumbling over her words slightly, not liking the attention being pinned on her.

'Well, Astra is here to help us and in order for her to do that, we have to help her figure out a few things first.' John informed them, smiling gently.

'Has she made demands for the information?' Chamberlain asked.

'No.' John frowned.

'Did she destroy planets with her mind, just by thinking it?' Touris asked.

'No!' John repeated, confusion surrounding him.

'Well who is she? And what help can she possibly give us?' Hannah asked. Everyone looked to him now; he was the fresh outlet of information.

'Did she hurt Teyla?' Touris asked.

John paused. 'No.' He said firmly. Touris took a timid step back.

'Well who did?' Chamberlain frowned.

How could they not know? Hadn't Rodney told them?

'The Wraith.' John stepped into the room.

'So the Wraith are coming.' Hannah stated.

'No! We don't know, not right now-' He jumbled.

'Who are we kidding, the Wraith are always coming.' Chamberlain stated.

'Mr Positive.' Rodney shot at him.

'Hypocrite.' He shot back. Rodney glared.

'Okay!' John shouted before Rodney engaged in a battle of words. 'Look, you've been told all you need to know to do the work, so how about you just do it?'

'Not the most persuasive thing you could have said, Colonel.' Hannah looked away from him.

'I don't have to be persuasive, Doctor Clarke, you have been ordered by the head Scientist to do the work, I am just enforcing that order.' He said menacingly.

Hannah was unimpressed. 'I am not in the military, Colonel, you can't tell me to do anything. And Rodney may be head Scientist, be we are not his play things to do with as he pleases. And until we get some answers, we are not going to be able to help Astra figure out anything.' She growled, giving him a final glare and then storming from the room with Chamberlain in tow. Touris cast them a half apologetic smile and joined them.

'Well that went well.' John said to the floor, momentarily stunned at what had happened.

'I am not sulky or pathetic!' Rodney snapped suddenly.

'You go Rodney!' John enthused, frowning at him. Rodney rolled his eyes and turned back to the console.

'So, now what?' John asked.

'Now I find some people actually willing to do their jobs. Can you believe that we are paying these people?' John shook his head while Rodney continued with the work. A silence fell. 'What did you want, you know, before all of the drama?'

'An update, but judging from the sour faces, I'm thinking you got nothing.' Sheppard commented.

'Yes, we got nothing.' Rodney sighed, tired of people reminding him that. He decided to turn the conversation down another path. 'So, how's Teyla? With the aftermath of the whole glowy, healy thing?'

John took a sharp breath and paused. 'Good. She's good. No bleeding or any other nasty little things to make us sweat.'

Rodney turned to face him giving him an expecting look.

'What?' John said.

'Nothing.' The expectant look continued.

'Okay, I'll go see if Astra's up and about yet.' He gave Rodney a large fake smile and left the lab.

'Huh.' Rodney folded his arms for a moment before putting a hand to his radio. 'Zalenka! Send me Baker, Louis and the Chinese girl.'

The argument had spread through the city like wild fire, some rumours had it that Hannah had punched Sheppard; other said that Chamberlain had kicked Mckay, one which Chamberlain liked immensely. This was only three hours later.

Hannah, Chamberlain and Touris sat in the lunch hall with seven other scientists and even more military personnel. All of them gathered around a single table meant for ten.

'I get what you're saying; we all feel the exact same way. But we can't say anything because Sheppard would put our asses back in line quicker than you can say "out of a job." Lieutenant Holland explained.

Hannah nodded. 'Maybe you don't have to say anything; your presence would be enough to show her that we're not happy. If she orders you to get back to work, then you go, and the scientists actually having some room to rebel, will stay.'

Chamberlain jumped in. 'We need to know more, and until we do, none of us are going back to work.' All the scientists nodded, the majority of the military personnel nodding their praise.

'If I say something, I can be reprimanded.' The Lieutenant stated.

Hannah nodded. 'Understood. We'll do all the talking, trust me.'

'It's the one moment I wish Mckay were on our side, he could talk for Canada.' A Sergeant stated, people chuckled in agreement.

The Lieutenant searched the faces of all his boys. They were game.

'Okay. When?'

Hannah gave him a fake look of confusion, and smiled. 'Now.'

'Astra is still out cold, Ronan and Carson are getting twitchy, plus Mckay hasn't found anything to do with her background. We're nowhere.' Sheppard informed, Weir nodding her head.

'Okay, I would like to wait until she wakes up, and then your team can check out that facility she was talking about. If the database has nothing, then maybe you can find something there.' She smiled slightly.

'Yeah, we may have a little problem.' John began.

'Besides the ones we already have?' Elizabeth grinned.

'Mh, except this is a little closer to home.' John watched her frown. 'It's probably nothing, it'll blow over in a day or so, but just so you know – there are some people who are kinda angry.'

Elizabeth leant back in her chair, putting the screen of her laptop down. 'About what?'

'I think they haven't been told what's been going on and they're all a little pissed.' John sat.

"They're all" being…?'

'Three people.' John looked at her raised eyebrow. 'Like I said, it'll probably blow over.'

'They will not do any more until they are told.'

Carson and Ronan looked up.

Astra sat up slowly; she studied them with her blue eyes. 'There is much frustration in the city. I am the cause.' She stated.

'How do you feel?' Ronan leant forward, taking her hand. Carson watched.

'I am better, a little sore, but I will be fine.'

'Thank you, for what you did.' Carson said, smiling kindly.

'I was in her debt, and like so many others, she did not deserve to die.'

'It hurts you, when you use your abilities.' Ronan stated, fixing her with a look telling her to be truthful.

'It does, but I recover.' She glanced between them. 'I fear there is much unrest, it climbs as we speak, moving forward with many hearts in same state of mind.'

Carson frowned.

'I'm sorry?'

John stood and was about to leave when he caught a look on Weir's face that made him freeze. She was gaping outside of her office as she stood. John turned. About twenty people were walking across the control room, lead by Hannah Clarke and Jim Chamberlain, all of them coming to Weir's office.

Hannah stepped forward into the office, Chamberlain and Lieutenant Holland just behind.

'Doctor Weir?' She said lightly. 'We would like a word.'