Chapter 5: Right where it belongs

.oOo.

Not wanting to start or help spread possible existing rumors, Miko lowered her voice and tried to stick to just the facts, "What I mean is... Our concern is what has been done to him."

Gwen connected the dots with the things she too had partially overheard while aboard the Daedalus and guessed, "So that's him?" With her expression becoming pained she hesitantly inquired, "What exactly happened?"

Miko shrugged in frustration, "I don't know-I don't think they entirely know either."

Stomach churning Gwen tried not to think about, what else her former crew mates had speculated over in regards to Michael. She had never caught the name only they bits of gossip about him. One claimed that when some of the senior staff had first brought him back, all he had done for nearly a week was howl, as if he was in unspeakable pain. And that he had also shouted various threats and insults at the top of his lungs. Another mentioned how Dr. Beckett had kept him under a strict quarantine. All of her colleagues had agreed at the very least that, the man recovered from the Wraith was no longer the same and felt in some way he was pushed over to the deep end by the experience.

"Yet he seems better now," Gwen thought aloud.

"You think so? I would not know. But perhaps they would know more," Miko pointed to the entrance behind her.

Gwen turned expecting Rodney but it was John and he was all business, even the playful twinkle in his eyes was gone. Drawing close he gave a half smile. But it held a nervous tightness while he whispered, "Dr. Reyes? Dr. Weir wishes to talk with you."

Somberly Gwen moved to follow him but stopped short when Elizabeth entered. Quickly under her breath, Gwen asked John, "Not being escorted to her office is a good sign, right?"

Hearing her, he shrugged and smirked, "Well then again, you never know. She just might want to be discrete."

The twinkle was back. The double take confirmed it. "Oh thanks," Gwen muttered as John gave Miko a polite nod.

Without being asked, Miko along with the few others left for another room in the lab as a flushed Rodney entered.

"It was still there," he mumbled distracted.

John threw Rodney a questioning look then remembered with smirk, "Oh yeah. It was, Gwen must have dropped it."

Incredulous, Rodney looked to her. Gwen winced at his hurt look and with regret, she discreetly gave a pointed look to John. Rodney not missing it gave him an outraged huff, "I knew it! I can't believe this! You gave her-"

"Hey, you were shouting and it's not like I explained to her how-"

"Boys," Elizabeth warned with just that one word. Both men dropped the topic and watched tensely. Being reminded suddenly of her tough but fair sixth grade teacher, Gwen too snapped to respective attention.

Swallowing a little, Gwen doubted this visit had anything to do with her running in the halls or being tardy. Eyeing the three senior staff members she wondered how much trouble she was about to be in for but to Gwen's small relief, Elizabeth didn't seem angry. Instead she was calm and radiated utter control with every precise move she made. With a smile Elizabeth started, "John's told me you've had a run in with Lieutenant Kenmore."

"Yes Dr. Weir, we accidentally bumped into each other." Although attempting casual, Gwen couldn't help stressing that one word.

Elizabeth looked down and nodded thoughtfully. When she looked up, brow arched high she asked, "And he helped you?"

Rodney sniffed in disbelief, "Helped?"

Elizabeth ignored him and handed over the item in question. Warmly she continued, "Well regardless of his motive... John's told me that Michael wishes for the opportunity to apologize in person for taking this."

Gwen took it, blushed, shoved it into her pocket and gave a, "Thank you, Ma'am but it's no big deal really."

"Actually if it's okay with you," Elizabeth paused, took a step closer and finished, "I would still like him to give you that apology."

Rodney made a noise of protest as John threw him a silencing look. But with Elizabeth's plan revealed, John voiced if not an opinion of it but at least his concern. "With all due respect, is that really a good idea? After all, we're still trying to figure out what they have done to him. And if he's been compromised in some way."

"It's a minor risk, John. But after all he's been through this might be a step in the right direction." She crossed her arms and turned back to Gwen, "What do you say? Will you help us?"

If it meant staying out of trouble and making Elizabeth happy, Gwen wasn't about to decline, "Sure if you feel it will help him."

Elizabeth smiled and said simply, "Then come with me. I'll explain the situation we are dealing with along the way."

John and Rodney followed them, several steps behind and the two men bickered the entire way, to one another. About what, Gwen couldn't hear but would place favorable odds it was still something regarding a particular fruit. A few times, it was a struggle to keep a straight face, as they all made their way to Michael's quarters. In fact, Gwen would have laughed about it if she felt she could. But they were the senior staff of the expedition, she was also new and didn't know the waters on what she could or could not get away with yet.

Ignoring Rodney and John, Gwen tried to focus on what Elizabeth was saying about Lt. Kenmore's combat skills, training, capture, rescue and tenuous mental state. Gwen was surprised from all the warning, rules and precautions she was given, that they were even allowing her to speak with him alone, almost.

"He's been through a great deal after he was captured by the Wraith. Dr. Heightmeyer feels because of it he's having trouble connecting with others and that is where we hope you can help us."

"But why me?"

"You're the first person he's shown any interest in and he helped you."

"True, Ma'am but he might have just done that to steal-"

"I'm aware of that possibility but I feel this apology he wants to offer is worth a try again, as a step in the right direction."

As they reached the door Elizabeth lowered her voice and stressed, "Now that you know all of the risks, if you're having second thoughts we'll understand."

To Gwen's uncertain look, John added, "You're not in any trouble for what's happened. Like Elizabeth said, you don't have to do this."

John was trying to tell her something more but what, Gwen could not determine beyond it being just a basic warning. She could also tell that he didn't care for this at all. Rodney also seemed uncomfortable with the situation but resigned to it, said nothing and stared at the floor.

Gwen thoughts turned to Michael. Since discovering one of her items missing, she had hoped it was only forgotten or misplaced and not taken. Now she wondered if his help had been nothing more than a ploy and if so, she wanted to know why.

"He should apologize," Gwen decided. "And I'm still willing to hear him out."

"Alright," Elizabeth nodded and started to relax. "Now... If there's a problem-which we doubt there will be, the cameras will let us know. It will take us no time at all to get in there. The guards will be right outside of the door. Ready?"

Although edgy from everyone else's tense mood, Gwen forced her muscles to remain relaxed. Keeping her breaths slow and steady she answered evenly, "Sure."

"Good," Elizabeth stated and gave the guard a nod to let Gwen in.

Through the glass door she spotted Michael sitting on the edge of his bed, looking out the window. When she entered he didn't bother to turn to see who it was, instead he assumed, "Back for more blood Dr. Beckett?"

When Michael didn't get a response, he turned and he commented softly, "Oh... It's you. I didn't think they would have..." he trailed off and looked nervous as she felt.

It helped Gwen realized that she was not the only one. Feeling her heart rate starting to return to normal, she managed, "Hello."

When she gave him a grin, he mirrored it and approached. Stopping arm's length apart from her he asked, "It's Dr. Gwen Reyes, right?" He didn't offer his hand but instead rubbed them nervously on the sides of his thighs.

"Yes, but you can call me Gwen, if you'd like."

"I would. Just call me Michael," his said then looked thoughtful. More to himself than to her he added, "Another doctor... I don't remember you ever assisting Dr. Beckett."

"I'm not a part of his field. I have a doctorate in science rather than medicine."

Confidently he concluded, "A doctor like Dr. McKay then."

"Sorta, I did study some astrophysics but mostly stuck with hardware, encryption and program codes in college."

She could tell he had no idea what that meant. His next question confirmed it, "So you...?"

"I'm currently working under Dr. McKay and Dr. Zelenka. Mainly I do the grunt work to unravel various aspects of Wraith technology. Umm... You know, break it down into parts so if possible we can apply some of what we have gathered to our own. Also I am to look for potential weak-" Gwen cut herself off abruptly and glanced at the camera. Remembering, probably too late one of the rules, Elizabeth had just given. She was under no circumstances, to go into discussing details regarding Wraith, Ancient and any other forms of technology with Michael.

Rolling her eyes at herself, Gwen waved the comment away and tried to recover with, "Never mind. I won't bore you."

Noticing Michael's hands clench at her explanation she realized he was somehow familiar with the rule also and didn't care for it.

"I see," he grumbled and Gwen watched as he started to close off. Like he did before, when leaving with Ronon and the two guards. Keeping her arms loosely at her sides, she looked to the floor a bit dejected.

Since entering college she had been all work and no play. Correction her work was her play and single mindedness at it had gotten her this far. But now unable to talk about her passion Gwen was now for a moment at a loss for words. It also gave her a good shake to how narrowly focused her life had become.

But not anymore, the auto pilot is now off, Gwen realized and determined lifted her eyes back up. Aloud she finally whispered, "No... You don't."

Her frustration rather than her words had him snapping back to attention and they studied one another for a moment. Neither one of them knowing what to say or do next. Finally Michael gestured to the chair at his desk and asked, "Would you care to sit down?"

Gwen without a word took it. When Michael settled back down on the edge of his bed, he took a while before starting, "I am sorry that I took it and I must explain part of the reason why. It was on impulse, I didn't know it was just yours-plus I was bored. I don't know how much you know about my situation but I don't have much to do."

At his gesture to his surroundings, she obliged and looked about them. His sparsely decorated quarters looked hardly lived in and had little personality. There was just a hat, a photo of an elderly couple, another one of him lounging in a beach chair and a small wooden box. Unable to find anything to possibly pass the time besides a laptop on his desk, she agreed, "That's understandable, I guess. But I don't understand, why didn't you think it wasn't mine?"

"I thought it was a shared tool of sorts."

"Oh," she commented and started to realize the extent of his memory loss.

They fell into silence again but after a while, hesitantly he started, "Did you know me at all? Before I was captured?" He looked so hopeful for something-anything new that would tell him more about who he was.

Gwen hated to let him down but said calmly, "No. I didn't arrive till after..." biting her lower lip she didn't bother to finish.

He gave her a confused look but dropped it to ask, "What else did they tell you about what happened to me?"

She leaned in and dropped her voice, "You provided cover fire for your team to get away from the Wraith but then you were captured by them. And before they managed to rescue you, somehow you had lost your memory. They don't know if it was from your injuries or due to something the Wraith did to you. May I ask you some questions?"

"Yes."

"You don't remember anything at all?"

Michael took an obliging moment to search then confirmed, "Nothing."

"Have they tried anything to help you remember?"

"Not lately."

Giving him now a confused look she mumbled absently, "That's odd. But I guess normal. It's only been a little while since you've been brought back. Maybe they feel you're not ready yet."

"Is it also normal for them to be watching me this closely?"

He seemed fine to her now but that was just it. Eyeing one of the cameras in the corner Gwen answered, "I don't know." To his worried look, she quickly continued in the hopes to put at least his mind at ease, "However they probably know what's best. Your situation is new to us. Maybe that's why. We don't know what, if anything the Wraith did to you. I think it's not only for our safety but for yours as well."

Returning her attention back to Michael she found him deep in thought. Gwen took the opportunity to openly study him. To take an admiring note of the lean compact muscle tone of his chest, shoulders, legs and arms. Watching the tendons in the later ripple as his hands moved restlessly over one another. She remembered the feel of them. How his left arm had wrapped around her waist as his right hand clasped her shoulder. His strength when they had run into each other and on how even though she was steadied, he had continued to hold her very close. Pressed to one another, Gwen recalled and bit her lip again.

"Their safety? What about yours?" When she didn't answer, he looked up. Caught she blushed and looked at her own hands. When she worked up the courage to look at him again she found him still staring at her. Tilting his head he asked, "Why do you study me so closely?"

"Ah... I..." Gwen floundered but was saved from answering by John entering.

"The two of you are going to have to wrap things up. Gwen, needs to get back to work," John explained looking from her to Michael.

"Of course," Gwen agreed but had no doubts about what at least John saw and thought. That she and Michael were getting a little too close for comfort.

When she got up, Michael politely did too saying, "I had hoped for more time. We have not had the opportunity to discuss music, yet." She could see his frustration even though he kept it in check.

"Sorry, but you don't wish for her to get into trouble do you?" John questioned and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"No," Michael said quickly. Turning to her, he added kindly, "It was nice meeting you again, Gwen."

"It was nice meeting you again too," she agreed and suddenly with a smile and idea occurred. After reaching into her pocket she handed the iPod back to him and added, "Speaking of music, here. You can keep it for a few more days. If..." she turned to John and dialed her smile up another notch "...if it's okay?"

John gave the idea some hard thought but caved in with a nod, "Sure why not?"

Michael took it without a word, staring at it a little in disbelief at the generous offer.

Tilting his head towards Gwen and giving Michael a pointed look, John prodded, "You're welcome."

Michael furrowed his brows, watched them go and then understood. "Thank you," he managed to call out before John and Gwen left.

She paused at the threshold, met his eyes warmly and grinned. "No problem."

.oOo.

End Notes: I made the assumption that only the senior members and a few other personnel of the expedition knew what Michael truly was and to my knowledge the show never made that point very clear. Given the ethical issues they struggled with in this experiment it would seem logical that what happened was on a need to know bases.