Chapter 4 – Midnight Stroll
The morning had been hell for all involved. Rodney had made a huge noise about how much of a disaster the experiment would be until Elizabeth had firmly told him to shut it. Sheppard, who was already angry at Elizabeth, was livid that his team and Major Lorne's had been dragged into it in order to do the heavy lifting and the security detail. Elizabeth had saved the best for last - that some of the new scientists would be accompanying them – Chase included. All the teddies went out of the cot as Rodney and John seethed at the idea.
Elizabeth had silenced them and insisted that this was an ideal off world mission for beginners. It was a low risk mission with a large escort. Rodney reminded her that it was about as low risk as eating a basket full of brownies on a strict diet and praying to God that you didn't gain weight.
Carson had been asked to join the team in order to assess the health risks, a suggestion made by Zalenka. He had happily packed up his things and wandered into the gate room as cheery as ever, then he ran into Rodney and a storm blew into his cheerful attitude. Ronan however was quite content; he liked the idea of escorting Chase around an alien planet at the same time as annoying the hell out of McKay.
It had taken two hours to get all the equipment through the Gate, and Radik reckoned it would take the majority of the day to set up – and this was after the security teams did their sweep.
The planet was beautiful, one of their Alpha sites. Large forests and lakes, open meadows and warm Sun. They transported the equipment to a large clearing a ten minute walk from the Gate. Radik, who despite the constant moody attitude from McKay, was smiling brightly. He stopped in the middle of the field, dropped the large bag he was carrying and turned to Lorne.
'This should do very nicely.' He chimed.
Rodney threw him a dirty look, obviously hating the happiness he exuded. He slapped his neck. 'Yes. Right in the middle of bug central. Great idea.' He stated lazily.
Chris carried two large bags, and was busy concentrating on guiding Ronan. He carried a large rectangular container which obstructed his view, Chris was throwing directions and warnings his way and they both seemed to have a great time doing it.
'Okay, a little to the left, there's a hole coming up – maybe some sort of alien rabbit – Oh!' She laughed heartily as Ronan stumbled and then up righted himself. The Satedan gave her a wide smile from behind the container.
'We are supposed to be working – not having a social get together.' Rodney criticized sharply. The two paused, dropping the container and the bags. Chris gave him a steely eye.
'And what did you bring?' She asked, folding her arms.
'This.' He stated, looking down at the small rucksack. 'Essentials, the delicate stuff.'
Chris raised an eyebrow. 'Control crystals and the power device?' She queried.
'Lunch, sun cream and bug repellent.' He stated.
Ronan and Chris looked at each before walking off. Rodney was blank. Lorne walked by, dumping a large bag and giving him a cold look. 'Get moving, Doc.'
'What?' He exclaimed, clueless. 'Look, I have to make sure that my lunch doesn't get warm, I've got meat in here.' He paused, looking for someone who was interested. 'Do you want the head scientist to get food poisoning in the middle of a deadly experiment?'
He drooped and trooped back to the Gate as slowly as possible.
Once the equipment had been transported and the roomy, sturdy tents set up, the tables and chairs went in, the files and laptops for research. This filled half the tent; the other half was cordoned off as the soldiers – instructed by the scientists – began to construct a large glass case where the device would be housed. It was designed so that a person could walk in and touch things if they needed to, but since the container was a special Ancient material meant to minimalise the intense and deadly effects of radiation, there was a doubt that anyone would go in there after it had been set up. The device was set on a pedestal made by Zalenka and Rodney to act as an interface with the device. They had a fair idea of how it would be used and knew that the interface needed to patch directly into the device so that it could be controlled and new information could be uploaded into it. An interface outside of the walk-in container was linked to the one inside. This was where commands would safely be given. Meanwhile, two other tents were set up across from the main tent – one where the staff would sleep, and one where they would eat. It was a long term project which meant a lot of people working on it in rotating shifts.
It was dark by the time they had finished. The majority were only now setting their small bags with their personal items by their camp beds, and Rodney had started to fuss.
'I should be near the door – or the exit, it's not exactly a door – in case something goes wrong. I can get to the device quicker.' He stated.
'You mean you can get to the Gate quicker.' Ronan corrected him. Rodney glared at him.
Chris, who had dropped her bag – and herself – onto the camp bed next to Ronan, put her arms behind her head and looked at Mckay.
'You know that being nearer to the door means being nearer not only to the bugs, but to whatever nocturnal beasts this planet has to offer?' She said lightly.
Teyla grinned at Chase and watched Rodney considering this new information whilst thinking of how to look dignified.
'Well, I have a gun.' He said, nose in the air.
'And if you shoot a person instead of an evil, man-eating beast?' Chris asked, eyebrow raised expectantly.
Rodney paused, and then turned to his bed, grabbed his gear – of which there was a lot – and headed to the other end of the tent.
Chris lay back down and closed her eyes, giving a light sigh. Ronan, who had been watching her, stared down with a bemused expression. 'What?'
She opened her eyes and looked at the top of the tent. 'First time through the Gate, and now I'm kipping over on an alien planet in another galaxy.' She stated.
Teyla smiled. 'It must be strange. I cannot imagine it as I have lived in this galaxy all my life.' She perched on her camp bed while Chris sat up and did the same.
'Well, I imagine the both of you will be in the position I'm in when you go to Earth – if you go. Do you want to?' She asked.
'I would very much like to travel to your world, from what I have heard it is a wondrous place.' Teyla noted that Sheppard had entered the tent looking stiff at their friendly conversation. 'Especially Ferris wheels.' She looked pointedly at Sheppard. 'I believe Colonel Sheppard has a great love of them, as well as football.'
Teyla smiled up at him as he walked past. Chris felt the awkwardness of Teyla trying to patch things up and hurried to help. 'That figures, football's an intense game. I suppose it's the ideal sport for a pilot.' She left it open for him to contribute, but he never did. He walked to the other end and began a conversation with Mckay.
'Well this is lovely.'
Carson entered the tent and took the spot next to Ronan, looking genuinely impressed by their lodging.
'Only you would think that bugs and back pain are "lovely."' Rodney sneered, pouring the contents out of his bag, half of them falling to the floor.
'It's camping Rodney.' Carson said stiffly. 'Fresh air and fishing – that's a real holiday.'
'You go camping?' Chris asked, taking an interest. 'My Father used to take me.'
Rodney groaned and plopped onto the bed, giving Sheppard a dark look. 'Wonderful, something else for them to bond over.' He muttered. Teyla who had been waiting for such a comment, scowled at him.
'In fact, we use to travel to Scotland to camp as a family.' Chris told him. Carson who looked absolutely delighted at this fact, sat on Ronan's bed to talk to her, ignoring the look Ronan gave him.
'Really? Where did you go?' He asked excitedly.
They reminisced over camping details and discovered that they had camped in the same location when they were kids, and they laughed over the evasive fish in that Lake.
'It was incredible. I swear, they were non-existent! My Father got so frustrated at one point; he leant too far over the side to get a better look and tipped the whole boat over. My Mother was less than pleased.' Carson chuckled.
'Mh, my Brother and I would insist that we kept seeing the fish on different sides of the boat. He got so agitated swinging the line in every other direction that eventually he took us by arm and threw us in the water. He laughed so hard that he didn't see my Mother sneak up behind him and push him in after us.' She grinned. 'Suffice to say, we drank a lot of hot coffee that summer.'
'Oh aye, Scotland's a beautiful country, but when it's cold – it's damned cold.' Carson nodded.
'It sounds similar to a Lake on Athos. My Father would take many of us to the lake to fish. It produced a large number, enough for the whole of my people.' Teyla told them. Carson gazed wistfully at her.
'If only I were so lucky in my efforts.' He sighed.
'Well this is wonderful chit chat, but maybe we can clear out and get some food, mh?' Rodney suggested, interrupting the conversation.
'We wait for Lorne to get back, and then we eat.' Sheppard stated, busying himself with his side arm. He emptied the gun of the ammo clip and looked at it.
'Where is Major Lorne?' Chris asked with a frown.
Sheppard looked at her, slipping the clip back into the gun with a sharp snap. 'He's checking the perimeter with his team.' Chris nodded. A silence filled the tent as Sheppard and Mckay brushed past and left.
Carson watched Chris with sympathy and then stood. 'Well, there's no harm in going out and getting some air?' He suggested. Chris smiled as he led the way out.
Teyla lingered, taking Ronan's wrist before he left. 'Ronan.' He ducked back into the tent and frowned at Teyla's troubled expression. 'We must talk of John and Rodney.'
'What's there to talk about?' He asked stiffly.
'Much.' She frowned.
'No.' He stated. 'If they get out of line, I stop them.' He said forcefully.
'These are our friends, Ronan. We must help them.' She said, equally as forceful. 'I will talk to Rodney; he is more likely to talk to me than to you.'
She waited for him to say that he would take Sheppard, but he didn't. She narrowed her eyes at him.
'Maybe.' He stated, and left the tent and Teyla in a state of disquiet.
The group came to a number of twelve. Sheppard, Teyla, Ronan, Rodney, Carson, Chris, Radik, Lorne, Captain Wallis and Lieutenant Harding, Doctor Troy and Doctor Griffin. Sheppard had been baffled by the fact that Elizabeth wanted his team there. Rodney was understandable, but Ronan, Teyla and himself? And then Lorne's team, with the exception of Sgt Davies who was ill with appendicitis, had been ordered to come also. A lot of security for a deserted planet.
He stormed by the tree line, the darkness absolute. The stars shone above in all their alien wonder. An orange planet the size of a foot ball could be seen in the sky. He hadn't paid too much attention to it. He was busy thinking.
His angry thoughts were interrupted by someone calling his name, at first he thought it was Teyla, and then with a furious realisation, he found that the voice belonged to Chase. He quickened his pace.
'Colonel!' She called, only a few steps behind him.
The light of the camp could be seen to their left, but Sheppard had gone as far as possible to get away from the noise and busy commotion. Chase was not invited.
'Colonel, I know you can hear me, so why don't we start behaving like adults instead of sulking children?' She said angrily, obviously peeved at being ignored.
Sheppard growled low in his throat and turned with such viciousness that it made her jump. 'Get back to the camp.' He barked. She planted a hand on her hip and looked highly doubtful. 'I am not sulking, this is me walking.' He stated harshly.
'Oh I know, I only said it so that you'd be forced to talk to me.' She said simply.
John shook his head as though trying to clear her face from his mind, turning to continue his walk. She hurried to catch him up and then sped up to stand in front of him so that he practically walked into her.
'What are you doing?' He asked irritatedly.
'Mending bridges.' She stated, looking up at him sternly.
'Really? Because it looks like you're getting in the way.' He said nastily, and swept past her.
She watched him go feeling an irritation of her own. 'You loathed me before you even met me, Colonel.' She called out. 'It's not fair.'
John paused. At least she was direct. He turned to face her.
'I don't know why you loathe me so, but I can tell you that I will not be punished for it.' She walked toward him. 'And there is absolutely no reason that your friends should be punished for it.' She said angrily.
John advanced, his movements showing nothing but attitude. 'I am not punishing anyone – I haven't done anything here.'
'Maybe that's the problem.' She stated confidently. 'Maybe you need to do something.'
They stopped just short of each other, both with folded arms and elbows almost touching. John looked down at her condescendingly.
'Like what?'
Chris narrowed her eyes at him. 'Apologise.'
John laughed bitterly and turned. 'I don't think so.
'Why not?'
'I have nothing to apologise for.' He growled.
Chris caught his arm and swung him round, John giving her a venomous glare as he saw her green eyes willing for him to burn. 'How about treating me like nothing more than an object to be desired?' She seethed, her voice shaking. 'How about for sharing that notion with your soldier boys?'
John looked at her warily. 'How did you-?'
'Rumours, Colonel.' She said quietly. 'And just so you know, I do not own handcuffs or a bunny rabbit tail – so most of the scenarios you conjured will be impossible.' She drew closer to his face. 'Not that I would ever even consider touching you with my bare hands when I can't even look at you without feeling the intense urge to cause you pain.' She said furiously, her voice full of emotion. She gave him a final look of loathing and marched in the other direction.
Sheppard watched her go, hating her – and hating himself. He knew he had been unfair, but the reason he had taken this little walk was to try and figure out why. He was a nice guy, but there was something about this woman that ruffled his feathers. What worried him more than anything was that he seemed to be acting like Mckay – and that was the last person he wanted to be. The only reason Rodney could get angry is because someone had taken a jab at his ego – was it the same for Sheppard? Usually he would relish the challenge of a beautiful woman poking at him, but he had treated this differently, he had taken offence. And now it was tearing the team apart.
John threw a hand through his hair and moved his feet impatiently, looking back at the camp. Chase had just walked into the tent, away from the noise of the group. He shook his head.
Women. Why do they make everything so complicated? I'm a simple guy, and it works for me. Give me a gun, give me a Wraith and we're off to the races. He paused. He needed perspective, and he had – reluctantly – found some. It all boiled down to two things. No one deserved to be treated the way he had treated her, and nothing was worth dividing his team.
John started toward the camp, but veered away from the main tent and aimed for the tent with the camp beds, the tent Chase had just walked into. He wasn't sure what he would say. An apology? Maybe…she deserved it, but to be frank, he didn't really do apologies. He hated anything awkward. What he really wanted to say was nothing at all, there were plenty of things he wanted to do with her…John looked to the dark ground, scolding himself for the mental images flying through his head.
Get a grip, John. Like she'd go for that – did you not hear? She can't bear to look at you let alone touch you…and I don't like her all that much so why am I even thinking of…just say sorry and go to bed. Wake up in the morning ready to start over…yeah, that's a plan. He walked to the tent with more purpose.
He picked up speed, feeling the urge to see her face and take back the words he had said. Or to get into another little spat. As perverted as it was, he enjoyed it. He liked that there was someone with the wit to challenge him.
It wasn't until he saw another figure moving toward the tent that he slowed to a stop. He recognised the tall, graceful strides of the Satedan and watched him duck into the tent. John heard gentle voices and hesitated. Okay, so he wasn't going to apologise now. Later. Tomorrow. Bright and early.
New plan. Okay. He hesitated before turning to the main tent, moving toward the noises and bright lights.
He couldn't help but look back. He marched toward the main tent feeling a surge of frustration, he shook his head. He willed himself to believe that it had nothing, not the faintest thing, to do with jealousy.
The night drew on and eventually all the members of the expedition dragged themselves to bed. They all knew that tomorrow promised them a long day of challenges, and the thought itself was enough to tire them. All slept well until Mckay woke with a start at one in the morning.
His snores cut short; he snapped up, the sleeping bag clutched at his chest. It was dark – pitch black. His nerves shot through the roof. He could still hear extremely well, his ears straining to catch the sound that had woken him. Blood pounded through him, his breathing heavy.
Rodney waited to see if anyone else had woken up, waited for his eyes to adjust to the dark. He started to see the other beds, the lumps breathing slowly, one or two shifting positions. Someone was snoring – he was certain it was Carson. Someone else was grunting gently and he knew immediately that it was Ronan. Other than that, the wind whistled through the tent and the night was still.
He relaxed slightly, slowly laying his head back on the pillow. If you can call this thing a pillow, more like a brick. I can't believe we weren't provided with proper stuff, like this sleeping bag is any good here. I'm freezing. An idea floated into his mind, like so many brilliant others, but this one was of the more simple persuasion. There was coffee in the food tent, hot liquid to make him tingle with warmth. Anything to stop hypothermia, I mean seriously, did they not know that there were sub zero temperatures on this planet at night? Reconnaissance is such a joke. He sat up again with the intention of hunting for that coffee, and then something else dawned on him. Dark. It's dark and I have no flashlight, not to mention the fact that this is an alien planet – there could be anything out there. I mean, I know I heard something, I wasn't just dreaming it…It could still be out there.
Rodney quickly lay back down and rolled over rubbing his arms. Fine, I'll just have to freeze.
A muffled thump sounded next to the tent and Mckay shot up with a yelp. No one else woke, a lump toward the end shuffled to the other side, but no one else had heard it. Rodney started panicking, eyes darting all over the tent, and then finally to his side of the tent, where just outside, the sound had happened. He scrambled out of bed, tripping on his sleeping bag and falling flat on his face.
'That was graceful.' He squeaked, moving frantically on hands and knees to the sleeping form of Sheppard next to his bed. Rodney gave him a sharp poke.
John grunted, stirred, and did not move again. Rodney growled low in his throat and poked him again, harder. John woke, barely, eyes searching the top of the tent. He made another grunt, and turned over.
'Sheppard!' Rodney rasped. 'Wake up! We have an emergency here!'
The Colonel started to snore. Rodney hung his head.
'Saviour of the Universe – yeah right.' Rodney muttered bitterly.
'Rodney?'
Rodney flew to his feet at the whisper of his name.
'Who's there?' He squeaked.
'Chase.'
Rodney scowled to the darkness as a curvy figure moved through the centre toward him.
'Go back to bed.' He snapped quietly.
'Kinda difficult with you making all that noise.' She whispered. 'What's the matter?'
'Nothing.' He folded his arms defiantly.
'Nothing was making you wake Sheppard…or trying to wake Sheppard.' She prodded, giving the Colonel a stern look.
Rodney's heart was still beating quickly, he had no idea what was going on, but he did know that he did not want to do this with her.
'I heard something.' He said stiffly.
'A thump?' She asked.
Rodney looked up at her. 'You heard it too?'
'Yeah, and there were a couple earlier.' She replied.
'Well why didn't you wake anyone?' Rodney huffed.
'Because it's probably nothing.' She said shortly.
'And if its not?' Rodney argued.
'Then we get eaten.' Chase answered.
Chase heard Rodney breathe sharply. 'Well, maybe you should go check it out.' He insisted.
'Me? Why me?' She asked.
'Because you think it's nothing.' He said lightly, masking his fear poorly.
'And if it's not nothing?' She asked firmly.
Rodney paused. 'Well, I hear you die and then I wake the others to go and kill it.'
Rodney watched her silhouette fold her arms. 'My Knight in shining armour.' She drawled.
'Well what are we supposed to - !' Rodney began angrily.
'Grab your side arm, Mckay.' Chase turned and walked down the centre.
Rodney froze only for a moment before fumbling with the things beside his bed, feeling the cold metal of the weapon, and plucking it from amongst the clothing. He shuffled down the centre in time to see Chase lean down next to Ronan.
'Yes, excellent, wake Ronan.' Rodney said with relief. He then saw Chase pick up his gun from the ground and turn to him, her head looking down at it.
'What? We are going out there?' He said incredulously.
'Yes.' She said, sweeping past him to the exit.
'Wait, wait, wait a second!' He flapped his arms to get her attention.
'Don't wake anyone!' She said urgently.
'Why not!'
'Because, like I said, it's probably nothing.'
'But-'
'Look, you can stand behind me, if there is something; it can attack me first – okay?' She offered.
Rodney paused. 'Okay.' He sounded completely fine with it. 'But if it is something, may I just say now before the screaming ensues – I told you so.'
Chase paused at the entrance, breathing through the anger. She moved into the cold night and immediately looked up to the sky. The moon, the stars, the orange planet all shone brightly. She turned to see Rodney emerge in some sort of dark pyjamas and bare feet.
'You didn't think shoes would be a good idea?' She commented, moving around to the edge of the tent.
Rodney glared at her. He could see her face now in the light of the moon. The landscape was eerie, the forest black but showered in silver light. The wind bit at his toes. Maybe shoes would've been a good idea, not that he would admit it. He kept close to Chase.
She paused at the edge, and Rodney who had been looking nervously at the tree line across from them on the other side of the camp, bumped into her. She turned to give him a dirty look.
'What?' He said waspishly.
'Nothing.' She whispered.
Mckay glared at her back as she peeked around the corner. He could see that she was wearing a large fleece, his eyes fell to her bare legs and he gaped.
'Wh – hu- what are you wearing? Please tell me you are wearing underwear!' He said nastily.
'Yes I am, and shorts for your information. Now concentrate on what we're out here for and not on my ass.' She whispered shortly. She slinked down the side of the tent with Ronan's weapon raised and Mckay followed.
'Do you even know how to use that thing?' He asked testily.
'Yes, Ronan showed me.'
'Wh, huh! It's not even on!' He exclaimed.
'Rodney, if I turn it on, it'll emit a red light, and if there is something around the back of this tent, then they will be able to locate us very easily. I will turn it on when it is needed.' She turned back to the forest. 'If they haven't already been alerted to our presence by your constant talking.' She muttered.
'What was that?' He said quickly.
'Nothing.'
'You said-'
'Shhh!' Chase peeked around to the back of the tent, and then stepped out. Rodney, who had not been prepared, stumbled out behind her, fumbling with his weapon for a few seconds before pointing it into the darkness of the forest.
There was only grass between the forest and the tent.
'See, nothing.' Chase stated, lowering the weapon.
Suddenly a loud 'crack' sounded in the darkness and both of them aimed their weapons into the forest, alert and tense.
'What was that?' He whimpered.
Chase remained silent.
'Can you see anything?'
A few seconds went by and the stars shone unnaturally. 'No. Nothing.'
'…there!' Rodney said loudly, his eyes full of panic.