Chapter 3: Coffee

.oOo.

Miko had been right. Return bearing gifts after a cooling off period was the trick to disarm a further explosive outburst from Rodney. He was in fact pleasantly surprised by the coffee. A quick narrow glance at Gwen when he took the offered cups from Miko showed them a possibility that he wasn't a complete lost cause when it came to understanding people.

"Four sugars each right?" he asked distractedly, to neither one of them in particular. Too busy taking a sip. Then letting out a big satisfied sigh, he took several more bigger drinks. Savoring the flavor, he didn't notice the questioning look Gwen threw Miko.

The woman only grinned but became solemn once again when Rodney after swallowing, opened his eyes. Looking to Gwen, he noticed all that she was holding and inquired, "What happened?"

Following his gaze from the state of her hair to a crack in the plastic of her laptop, Gwen offered nervously, "I ah... Sorta dropped it on my way here."

"Then I would suggest you fix it first. Then get the proper accessories so when you drop it again you'll save yourself some trouble. Now let me ask again and this time please do explain, what happened?" he asked again and put the coffee down and waited.

Gwen resisted the urge to fuss with her tangled up hair. Instead she straightened and admitted, "I was late."

"Yes," Rodney gave a grin but the impatience in it was growing by the second. "That much is obvious Dr. Reyes. So is the question. And I wonder how many times do I have to ask. Why were-"

"Dr. McKay?" Miko calmly stepped closer and interrupted with, "Are you not, still busy? If so, allow me to show Gwen around for you."

Suddenly looking a little uncomfortable he lowered his voice and agreed, "Actually, that sounds perfect." Pausing he looked about before adding even lower, "Sorry if I was-before when I... Well I'm better now."

Miko gave him a small forgiving smile. Then head high she made her way to Gwen. Once out of earshot her mouth split into a wider one as she finally explained, "I will have him drinking it black within the year. He eats entirely too much sugar!"

Not wanting to press her luck, Gwen hid hers and decided to save her questions about Michael for later. Miko as promised showed her around and introduced her to the others. Most she had already met aboard the Daedalus but only in passing. Anybody setting foot on the Earth ship had little time for chit chat.

Everyone was polite and mostly friendly but soon reabsorbed themselves in their work. Lastly Miko showed Gwen to her work space before settling down to her own.

Finally finding a moment to address her hair, Gwen patted down her pockets. But not finding what she was looking for decided, "I must have forgotten it." Plopping down with a grimace she assessed the damage to her items from the fall. Her expression deepened when she grumbled, "Oh this just keeps getting better and better. I lost my music too?"

It was then Radek and Rodney began to argue. Wincing at the battle of egos she watched everyone try to focus on their work harder. Sighing Gwen decided mentally, Yep... Without some tunes this is going to be a very long day.

An hour crawled by. Twenty or so minutes ago Rodney was crowing in success, Radek was hurling insults in his native tongue and now they were both laughing about something.

During that time Gwen found her computer's operating system wasn't working. But at least the hard drive was intact. Gwen sighed in relief, backed up the information on it to another laptop and as Radek left, she in curiosity began a careful examination to assess why the operating system had failed.

With Radek gone, Rodney settled down and said little unless he needed something or needed someone to get out of his way. When he noticed Gwen was still working on fixing her laptop he said. "Oh, put that away already and get over here. I was kidding about fixing it. Just try to retrieve any pertinent data and-"

"I've already done that Dr. McKay," she reported before reaching his side.

"Well in that case, get a new one if you want tomorrow." Rodney next handed over a data pad carefully. When she took it he mumbled, "Just try not to drop this okay?"

Taking a firmer grip than necessary on it, Gwen gave him a serious look. Showing him she wasn't about to and hoped the sooner he forgot about her being late and dropping things the better.

As they sat down to work, he absently attempted small talk, "So where are you from?"

"Blanco, Texas."

"Never heard of it."

"Well it's pretty small, near Canyon Lake sorta between Austin and San Antonio. Actually I grew up on a ranch outside of town."

"Huh and I thought everything was big in Texas."

Gwen couldn't help adding with a grin, "Yeah like I haven't heard that one before, Sir."

"Please don't call me that, Dr. McKay will do." He then wondered aloud, "You said you lived outside of town, what on a ranch? What were you a cowgirl or something?"

"Sure, you could say that. Since, I did my fair share of chores on the ranch."

In her peripheral vision, she noted Rodney gave her an inquiring glance. Focusing on what was on the data pad she refused to elaborate.

Sure beats being called a goatgirl, Gwen thought and gave a secret yet slightly pained smile at her high school nick name. Even though her family was well off like the other families in the area, she was still teased with the name due to what her family raised, not cattle but just goats and a few horses.

Also a little luck had helped too. Her great grandparents started with just a small parcel of rough land and stumbled upon a modest pocket of silver. Yet even though it didn't take long for the mine to run out her grandparents were able to purchase more land and animals. And passing the land along with the tradition of working hard, saving and investing rather than spending to maintain an image had kept her family well into the black.

The values were thoroughly ground into her. Growing up, she as well as her sister and two brothers had no idea the full extent of their family's finances. They were safe and comfortable but beyond that, they were too busy to give money much thought between their ranch duties and school work. And later on, at the reading of their parents will, three years ago the news of the exact extent had come as quite a shock.

Realizing he wasn't going to get any more on that subject, Rodney changed it. "So what brought you here?"

"The usual, boredom - wanted a challenge," Gwen said although that was only the beginning of it. After her parents' death in a random car accident, her siblings had coped in various ways. Her younger brother moved to Las Vegas and was probably having too much fun. Her older brother, sister-in-law and their children settled into work by taking over the responsibilities of running the ranch. And her older sister with husband in tow decided to travel. Gwen had coped by burrowing herself deeper into her work.

"Ah," Rodney mumbled in understanding. It wasn't the first time he got that loaded answer or that distant look of homesickness. "Well, you're certainly not alone. At least in that matter," he offered before being redrawn back into the Wraith programming codes they were deciphering.

Gwen appreciated his understanding but was also grateful he wasn't asking her anymore questions. More quiet time passed. Only when Gwen felt he was completely relaxed, did she finally decided to give collecting more information about Michael a try. It was also shortly after Rodney had something to eat and taken more coffee into his system. All brought to him by Miko, Rodney did thanked her, however distractedly.

"Dr. McKay?" A grunt was all Gwen got but she took it as a good sign and continued, "I was just wondering if you know a Michael."

He didn't look up but stuck out his hand for a tool. "Michael who? What is there like three or four here at least?"

Squinting at what he was doing she scanned over the five that were sitting well within his reach. When Rodney started snapping for it, holding her breath she handed over her best guess. It was the right one and he continued to work. Letting out a relieved breath she added, "Well that's what I would like to know. I didn't have much time when I bumped into him with Colonel Sheppard, Specialist Dex and some other military personnel out in the hallway earlier."

Rodney didn't say anything for the longest time, he just kept on working. But she didn't miss the fact that he was doing so slower as if he was figuring out what to say next. Finally he asked, "Oh... Well how do – I mean, why would you want to know about Lieutenant Kenmore?"

Gwen took a moment to observe Rodney's nervous twitching smile before feigning a casual shrug, "I think he might have accidently taken my iPod and I'd like it back is all."

That finally earned his full interest and had him firing questions in rapid succession, "You're what? What's an iPod? When?"

"Wow I forgot you've been away for..." at his panicked look she hastened to explain, "Well it's like a walkman only better. You can put up to-"

"The point," Rodney reminded impatiently.

"It's harmless, what's the matter?"

He relaxed a little but still demanded, "How did he get it."

"I told you, accidently. We bumped into each other in the hallway when I was heading here. I dropped all of my stuff and he was kind enough to help me pick things up."

Getting up, he corrected, "No you left that last part out."

Not wanting to get Rodney further worked up or Michael into trouble she started to back pedal, "Actually-you know what? I can go back to my quarters and double check that I didn't forget it this morning or maybe it's still somewhere in one of the halls. Or maybe it's even the mess hall, come to think of it. How about I double check?" She moved to leave.

But Rodney got in front of her and held up a hand haltingly, "Oh no Missy you can do that later. Anything else turn up missing?"

She didn't like that worried look he had and she really doubted it was over her being deprived of music.

"Not that I'm aware of but let me check to see if I still have those latest Dart circuitry schematics from Dr. Zelenka," she delivered deadpan. But she took a slightly wicked joy in watching her boss's eyes bug since she had already double checked hours ago that she wasn't missing anything else.

Rodney jerked but noticed the playful glint in Gwen's eyes, narrowed his and muttered, "That wasn't funny, Reyes."

She shrugged again and tried for a disarming smile, "I try. Besides what's the big deal if he's got it. It's just a bunch of music files. He probably didn't even realize he kept it since they'll seemed to be in a hurry and-"

"You have got to be kidding me! What delusional little world did you come from?"

Gwen opened her mouth to give him the obvious answer but Rodney pointed a finger at her. "Don't," he warned then looked about grimacing and blinking. "I need... I need to go talk to Elizabeth. Ah... Stay here." Turning to Miko as he walked to the door he ordered, "Keep an eye on her. I'll be right back."

Incredulous, Gwen watched him quickly leave the lab then asked, "What just happened? They're not going to fire me over this are they? I just got here and sending me back would be-"

"Of course not," Miko reassured. But then drew closer to ask, "Nobody has told you about Lieutenant Kennmore?"

"No," Gwen frowned at keeping herself too busy as of late. Spotting what Miko was working on Gwen automatically offered, "Need help?"

"I guess it is to be expected since you have just transferred," Miko nodded and handing her the clear attached slyest, used for rerouting and reprogramming the crystal like Ancient circuit panels.

"Yeah," Gwen admitted and made a mental note to try to keep her head above the sand and below the clouds more often. Twiddling the slyest nervously in her fingers she tried to joke, "I suppose nobody's gotten around to it. I missed a memo or something."

They went back to work. At least Gwen tried but when she couldn't focus, she blurted out, "Why do I get the distinct impression from everyone so far that he's in some kind of trouble?"

Even though Miko was told why, it was second hand information. Various reasons and rumors were circulating and she didn't know what to believe. Unsure what to admit, she shook her head slowly and decided on, "It's not what he's done."

To that Gwen felt a chill slither down her spine but it didn't stop her asking, "What do you mean by that?"

.oOo.