Chapter 3 – Complications.

Elizabeth put her head in her hands and shut her eyes. It was the first day. The first day that the new arrivals had been here, not two hours had gone by and here was Sheppard, Rodney, Radik and Carson in her office, yelling at the top of their lungs.

'She was completely out of order-' Rodney shouted at Radik.

'Well you are a difficult person!' Radik replied.

'She didn't have a leg to stand on, she was out of line-' Sheppard insisted angrily.

'That's because the both of you were being complete jerks!' Carson snapped.

'Alright!' Elizabeth yelled, standing. 'That's enough.'

'But-' Rodney began.

Elizabeth held her hand up and Rodney fell silent, sulking.

'I can see that there are some problems here, but for some reason I have no idea what you're talking about. It could be the fact that you haven't told me exactly what is bothering you; instead you walk in here and begin a shouting match.' She stared them down, wanting them to feel guilty and displeased with themselves. 'Carson, tell me what you're so upset about.'

The group turned to Carson, Sheppard and McKay looking livid that she had asked him and not them.

'Well, I heard that Colonel Sheppard and Rodney were coming to complain about Doctor Chase and decided to complain about their complaining seeing as their behaviour was positively foul.' He said firmly.

'Oh please! She started it!' Rodney exclaimed. Elizabeth glared at him and he stopped talking.

'John, what exactly did she do?' She asked lightly, indicating for him to be as professional as possible.

John looked fit to burst, but managed to keep his temper with a dangerous voice. 'From the moment she walked in here she acts like she owns the place and the people in it.'

'That's not true.' Radik stated, pushing his glasses up his nose.

'It is so true, I mean, have you seen the way she dresses? And also, the blatant dismissal of the chain of command-' Rodney began.

'You're both embarrassed that she verbally kicked your butts.' Carson commented, folding his arms. 'That's all this is Elizabeth, I guarantee you.'

John and Rodney both started yelling at him, another minute went by before Elizabeth had to silence them. She glared mercilessly, moving to the front of her desk.

'Alright.' She said angrily. 'I can see that you're upset, but yelling isn't going to solve anything. And may I remind you Colonel that I was there the moment you first met Doctor Chase, and from what I could see, you were the one in the wrong, not her.'

John stared at her icily. 'I thought the "she" was a "he," and I also knew that she was recommended by the DOA.' He said, as though it made everything clear. She's got to be evil!

'Yes, excellent. She can't be trusted.' Rodney stated.

'We have no idea of her relationship with the DOA, and she seems like a lovely person-' Radik began.

'Yeah right, and it had nothing to do with the two mountainous peaks staring at you from her front…' Rodney said in disgust. Sheppard made a loud noise of approval. Damn straight, even though they are kinda hard to avoid…

'How dare you suggest that I-' Radik began furiously.

'Don't get all angry and righteous with me pal now that you've suddenly decided to grow a pair-' Rodney spat.

'Rodney.' Elizabeth snapped.

'You are an arrogant, sorry excuse for a human bei-' Radik sneered at him.

'Oh, cry me a river, Zalenka.' Rodney growled.

'Stop, that's enough! I don't care what's happening; all I know is that the two of you are acting like strangers.' Elizabeth said dangerously. 'The both of you need to cool down. Understood?'

'This is ridiculous.' Rodney glowered at them and left the office muttering venomously.

'I agree with McKay…for once.' Sheppard stated and left directly after.

Elizabeth sighed heavily and turned to the last two. 'What is going on?'

'Rodney's being his usual self, just more so, but Sheppard…I'm not sure.' Carson answered. 'Chase was just defending herself. Rodney and the Colonel were being…well…mean.'

'Mh, I've heard from some of the new soldiers that Sheppard's been making inappropriate comments about her appearance…and how it relates to certain bedroom situations…' Radik explained.

'What?' Elizabeth said incredulously. That's not possible…that's not the John Sheppard I know.

'Personally, I think they're both deprived of some action, if you catch my meaning. Maybe this will blow over in a few days, after they've vented some more.' Carson suggested positively.

'Maybe, but that's not the point. I don't understand why they hate her so much…' She wondered.

'Hate is a strong word-' Radik began.

'Aye, but it's not far off.' Carson gave him a grim expression, one which he reluctantly mirrored.

'Okay.' Elizabeth returned to her desk. 'Keep an eye on them; tell me if anything major happens. Let's just hope that all they need is some space.' They nodded at her with slightly sad faces and left her office talking as they went.

Elizabeth watched them go, and then her gaze was drawn to Teyla as she wandered through the control room to her office, a troubled expression on her face. She stood in the doorway with a questioning eyebrow.

'Trouble?'

Elizabeth nodded. 'Woman trouble.'

Teyla looked mildly surprised. 'I tried to speak to Colonel Sheppard when he left your office, but he just walked by me as though I had not spoken.'

Elizabeth shook her head. There was no excuse for their behaviour.

'It is strange.' Teyla entered her office further. 'Colonel Sheppard is acting agitated and cruel, and yet Ronan is surprisingly…happy.'

Elizabeth leant forward, eyebrows raised. 'Happy?'

'Yes. I caught him humming.' Teyla said slowly with a comical expression.

'Ronan…humming?' Elizabeth leant back. 'Well that's different. I wonder why he's so upbeat?' She frowned.

'I believe it is the same thing that has Colonel Sheppard agitated.' She explained. Elizabeth smiled slightly, partly because she was amused, and partly because it convoluted things even more.

'I see.' She shook her head slightly. 'Aren't men complicated? It's not just me thinking it, is it?'

Teyla smiled. 'You are not alone, Doctor Weir.'

Dinner in the main hall was always loud, busy and generally chaotic. The rush to get the food you wanted before it ran out, to get the preferred spot away from the soldiers or nearer to the Nurses. Or as far away from Rodney McKay as possible. Some people noticed his absence, and that of Sheppard. The gossip was vicious and the rumours spread quickly like a flame to gasoline. Most of it concerned the two people at the top table, the table where the leading team sat. The table on which Ronan and a blonde female were sitting.

Chase laughed at Ronan's blunt and honest answers, she liked being spoken to like this. Straight and direct, no lies and cover ups, awkward moments where he tried to figure out the new person. He didn't care what boundaries there were, and as of yet, she hadn't presented any.

'That's simply because he's military – beards aren't allowed.' She explained.

'So he shaves it off and then covers himself in perfume.' He said incredulously. 'He always reeks of the stuff.' Ronan commented.

'It's after shave.' Chase explained. 'Not perfume. Don't let him hear you call it that, I'm not sure his ego could take much more today.'

Ronan watched her. He had heard of what had happened and had approached Carson about it when he hadn't been able to find Sheppard or McKay. He had been told that it was not her fault. He believed this only because of the next person he ran into, Lorne, who told him what Sheppard had been saying behind her back to the soldiers about her shapely appearance. It was totally out of character, and he didn't understand it at all. Something's wrong with Sheppard. So he had decided to meet her for dinner after all. And so far, it was going great. Well, I think. It's not a disaster.

Ronan liked her. She had a spirit, a fire about her that got him excited, that made him flirt – no matter how badly he did it. Chase smiled at him as she cut up a piece of her steak and ate it. That was also something that impressed him – her eating habits. While most of the women on the base, Teyla included, seemed to always eat the healthier options with only something small as their naughty course – Chase went all out. Medium rare steak with chips, onion rings and mushy peas (which she had pushed to the side of the plate, telling him that she hated the texture and what was the point of mushing them?) It was exactly what he had, except he had about twice the size of everything on her plate – he was a big guy.

He watched her a moment longer before impaling a chip and eating it.

'What's your name?' He asked.

She looked up, surprised.

'I don't know you're name - can't keep calling you Chase.' He explained, a smile on his lips. She grinned in return.

'Christina.' She said lightly. 'But people call me Chris.'

'Chris.' He echoed. She nodded. 'There's a soldier called Chris under Sheppard.'

Chris cocked her head. 'What's your point?' She asked.

'You act like a man.' He stated. Chris looked up from her meal, expressionless. 'Talk like a man – but you definitely don't look like a man.'

Chris remained unresponsive to the fully male look he was giving her. Her eyes looked down at her food. 'It's not easy for a woman in my position, especially looking as I do. Most guys think that because I have a big ass and an even bigger chest that I shouldn't work next to them. That's the excuse they give anyway, never mind that I'm far more intelligent than they are.' She said stiffly, giving him a half smile.

Ronan nodded. He had found a boundary. But weren't boundaries meant to be pushed?

'You handle yourself well.' He commented. 'No one expects it of you, and they get a mouthful. It's their own fault.' He turned back to his food. Chris smiled at him, feeling a rush of liking toward the man. 'McKay's an idiot, but Sheppard isn't usually like that.' He explained.

Chris looked doubtful. 'The moment I stepped onto Atlantis Ronan, the man hated my blonde, big-brained guts.' She stated.

Ronan leant back with a grin on his face. 'You're intimidating.'

Chris paused and looked at him with a playful expression. 'You don't look all that intimidated by me.' She leant back in the same fashion he had, arms crossed.

Ronan locked eyes with her. 'Maybe I hide it well.'

They shared a smile.

'What a nice couple you make.' A voice sneered at them. 'I can't believe you invited her to sit at our table.'

Ronan and Chris looked up at Rodney, tray in hand and a vile look on his face. Chris pushed her chair out, an expression of anger setting her fine features.

'Sit.' Ronan stated, looking completely defiant.

Chris looked at him. 'I know when I'm not wanted.' She moved her chair again.

'Sit.' Ronan repeated. This time Chris paused, and then pulled her chair back in. Ronan leant forward and continued eating. Chris followed suit.

'You're choosing the dumb blonde over me?' Rodney snapped incredulously.

Ronan stood viciously fast, Chris directly after him.

'Ronan.' She warned. 'Don't.'

Ronan faced McKay with a look of venom. McKay stared back with loathing.

'Sit, or walk.' He said dangerously.

Rodney was livid, and also hurt. 'I can't believe this. I can't believe that after everything we've been through, you'd let your…member…determine your friends.'

Ronan advanced and Chris sped around the table, putting a hand on his chest. Rodney had taken several steps back looking surprised. Ronan glared at him with the gifts of his intimidating appearance.

Rodney put the tray on a table of scientists behind him and didn't look Ronan in the eye. 'Fine.' He stalked off.

Chris looked around the hall at the faces looking up at them and whispering to their neighbour. She turned to Ronan who looked down at her with an intense expression.

'I'm sorry.' She said quietly, but looked him in the eye.

Ronan nodded. 'McKay was out of line.'

'Yes he was.' She agreed. 'But his anger is understandable.' She laughed bitterly. 'It seems my presence has caused a bit of a stir.' She looked to the floor.

'I like your presence.' He stated, sitting. 'McKay doesn't bother me.'

Chris stared at him for a few seconds before sitting in her chair once more, keeping the smile and the warmness she felt for his comment inside of her as they continued eating.

Sheppard watched from the entrance of the food court, arms folded, a dark expression on his face. Ronan and Chase. He loathed the idea. Beauty and the Beast – except in this case, Ronan would be the Beauty. This would not end well and he would make sure of it.

Radik Zalenka sat at the table surrounded by the usual lab devices making bleeping sounds and tapped gently on his computer, pausing to sip his coffee.

'Radik.' A voice barked.

Hot coffee sloshed onto his shirt. Rodney marched into the room and Radik rolled his eyes, his hand straying to the sopping wet, brown patch on his once clean shirt.

'I thought you were going to eat something?' He stated, hating the idea that he would have to spend another hour in the same room with this man with the mood he was in.

'I lost my appetite.' Rodney snapped. 'Where are we?'

Radik raised his eyebrows. 'You lost your appetite? Is that even possible-?'

'What's our status on this ridiculous mission to get everyone killed.' Rodney stated venomously.

Radik could feel the hostility radiating from him in waves. There was no point in arguing.

'We're almost done. I'm going to recommend that we begin in the morning.' He stated wearily.

'Are you now?' Rodney turned on him, arms folded. 'Well, I guess I can't stop you, can I?' He turned to his computer.

Radik felt a tinge of anger sweep through him. Rodney could be the biggest idiot in the universe and he could never see it because he was so wrapped up in his own problems. He watched Rodney glare at his computer and folded his arms. Rodney took a moment to feel the Czech's eyes drilling into the back of his head, and turned, giving him a deathly glare of his own.

'What?' He said viciously.

Radik narrowed his eyes. 'What has got you in this mood?'

Rodney stood. 'Excuse me?'

'You've been like this for a while, before Chase, before the discovery of this device.' He stated, casting a look at the small machine sat on the desk. It was the size of an apple with an obvious Ancient design; the cool metal was dark, indicating its lifelessness. They knew that when it was active, it could produce enough light to combat a star. 'What is bothering you?'

Rodney shook with anger, his lips tightening. 'Nothing is bothering me. Nothing except ridiculous questions from ridiculous people.' He unhooked his computer, slammed it shut and stormed to the door. 'It's a wonder we get anything done around here.'

Radik shook his head and then took a moment before clicking his head set. 'Doctor Weir? This is Zalenka.'

The familiar voice responded. 'Go ahead.'

'We are ready to transport the equipment to the chosen planet, if you would like to start straight away, may I suggest tomorrow morning, bright and early?' He said tiredly.

'Yes, absolutely, thank you Radik.' There was a pause. 'Is everything alright?'

Radik sighed. 'Not really, but there's little to be done about it.'

Elizabeth knew what that meant. 'Alright. Meet me in my office at six, we'll discuss arrangements.'

'Of course, goodnight Doctor Weir.'

'Night Radik.' Elizabeth clicked her headset and rose from her desk. She made her way to the food court with an Ancient Pad in hand. She paused at the steps and scanned the room. It was late, and the crowd was thinning. She could see some of the late-nighters getting large cups of coffee, those who had finished their work and had eaten were putting their trays on the stacks. Her eyebrows rose when she spotted Ronan and Chase rising from a table and walking away, both talking with smiles on their faces.

She wandered up the stairs and over to the buffet, scanning the various foods to find one compatible with her mood. She picked up a Caesar salad and sat on the closest table, giving the Ancient Pad her undivided attention. A tray fell in front of her and Sheppard slipped into the seat opposite.

'Colonel Sheppard.' Elizabeth greeted, a slight apprehension to her voice.

'Doctor Weir.' He said coldly, turning to his food.

Elizabeth glared at him. 'You can't be mad at me for your behaviour?' She asked waspishly. John looked up at her slowly, his eyes pinning her.

'My behaviour…?'

'Yes, from what I've heard, you're not the John Sheppard we know.' She leant forwards. 'And further more, what have you been saying to your soldiers?'

John frowned. 'Saying…? What?'

'Unkind things about Doctor Chase, things that I'm sure every single one of your male soldiers would appreciate, but not your female soldiers.' She said harshly. 'If one of them decides to assault you, I'm likely to let it go.' She turned to her own food. It was John's turn to be upset with her.

'That's not fair.' He stated.

'No, it's not fair. Because they'll have robbed me of the satisfaction of knocking some sense into you.' She said firmly, her green eyes furious at him. 'What were you thinking?'

John fidgeted in his seat, avoiding her gaze. 'I wasn't. I was just being one of the guys for once and she's-' He reasoned.

'You're not one of the guys, Colonel, you are the superior military officer of this expedition and I suggest that start acting like it.' Elizabeth scolded him.

John was still, his eyes narrowed at her. He stood slowly, his eyes watching her.

'Yes, ma'am.' He said coldly, and left the table, his food forgotten.

Elizabeth watched him go and then shook her head looking highly miffed and highly guilty. She leant back with her arms folded, the pad sat on the table in front of her. She sighed. I hate it when things get complicated. She tried her best to think of tomorrow and the things that would need to be done for the experiment. A large chunk of her personnel would be going off world – John and Rodney included. Elizabeth paused. I think it might be best if I ask Doctor Chase to go along. Maybe the time spent together will do them good…and then again maybe it won't. All she could do was hope.