Rodney McKay was rushing through the corridors of Atlantis. He was late. He, of all people, had overslept. He had barely allowed himself to brush his teeth before running out from his quarters to the nearest transporter. He hated being late as a rule, but most of all he hated the looks of compassion he knew this would earn him from his colleagues.
This was the sixth day since the storm had come and passed, and finally the damage control inspections were nearing an end. There were still some remote parts of the city below the eastern pier to go, but they didn't use those areas so they could wait.
As soon as he'd been released from the infirmary, Rodney went straight to work. Tons of things needed to be done and he'd already lost two and a half days lying in a semi-conscious state at the mercy of Carson's nurses. There were sweep teams to coordinate and safety protocols to be rewritten. The wound in his arm was healing nicely, although it still proved painful. The fluid Eve had poured into it to seal it apparently served well as an antiseptic, so the infection was avoided. And she was back in her cage.
That was exactly the subject he was going to bring up at today's meeting. It made him angry that everyone chose to ignore the fact that she'd saved his life. He couldn't even explain it to himself, but he wanted her out of the damned cage. It hurt him to see her locked up.
He could feel her pain more and more, and it was making him uneasy. Sometimes, it felt as if he was the one being caged.
Just the other morning, he woke to her voice in his head, telling him she was hungry. He was still half numb with sleep when he reached her cage, locked himself in there with her and took his shirt off before embracing her. It was beyond his control. They were alone in the chamber that held the cage. The other inhabitants of the city were busing themselves with inspections and repairs.
I feel fear, Rodney! Eve told him silently as she fed on his similar emotion.
While allowing her to feed from him, he found himself whispering a promise in her ear.
She let him hold her long after she was done. One of his trembling hands found its way into her hair, caressing it, while the velvety-soft braids curled around his wrist and came up to return the caress, playing over his cheek.
Now he was determined to keep his word. As expected, the rest of Atlantis's senior staff was already in the conference room.
"Dr McKay, we were just getting started," Elizabeth reassured him. And there it was-that look! Elizabeth's concerned eyes were mirrored in Carson's. Sheppard hid his feelings better.
"Right, let's get the ball rolling, then, hmm?" Rodney smiled while taking his seat. "The repairs, I'm proud to report, are going well. The storm caused some systems to fail, as we all know. Fortunately, nothing vital."
"Good to hear," Elizabeth said. "Now, if we could move to the subject we neglected until now-we are still holding a Wraith. Before the storm we were going to have this meeting to decide what to do, and if the risks were worth taking. The subject is now on the table."
"I have learned a great deal about her physiology and about how different she is from her race. Apparently, she started her life as an Iratus bug," Carson said. "The Ancients observed somehow that the iratus could feed on emotions, and they hoped to use that to help themselves ascend faster. So they experimented."
"And they got what?" Rodney asked. "Wraith?"
"Aye. Now the Wraith evolved from the Iratus species over generations of the bugs feeding off the human population and incorporating human DNA gradually into their own. In Eve's case, the evolution was somewhat more rapid. They meddled with her DNA enough to make her evolve in her own lifetime. Of course, they soon learned that by feeding their negative feelings to the Iratus bugs, they were by no means getting rid of them. They continued the research, trying to obtain longer lifetimes for themselves, as the Iratus and the Wraith can live for thousands of years." Carson compressed his lips. "She says she's the only survivor of those experiments that involved her and a male Iratus. So she's not exactly genetically a Wraith."
"You hear that, McKay? Your girlfriend is a bug!" Ford said, amused, but his smile quickly faded as no one else seemed to find it funny.
"So," John asked, trying not to wince, "how old is she?"
"I'm more concerned with the implications of these assumptions," Elizabeth said. "This means that the Ancients made the Wraith intentionally and released them on the human population. And then changed their minds when it became clear to them they could not contain their creation."
"Well, for my two cent's worth, she knows a lot about quantum and astrophysics. What?" Rodney said, when John and Elizabeth looked at him askance. "This city's priority is getting a ZPM. I believe she can help me figure out how to make one. I say we keep her. And, also I think we should rethink her accommodations."
"It's too much of a security risk," John snapped immediately. "I'm not having a Wraith running around Atlantis!" Sheppard's tone was flat, but everyone in the room could sense the anger boiling underneath the surface.
"She's not a real Wraith!" Rodney snapped back. "And she helped with the Genii situation when she could have taken the chance to escape."
John's eyes narrowed. "Did it ever occur to you in all your brilliance that she might just want to gather information before she leaves?"
Rodney just rolled his eyes. "Look-she had the one, perfect chance to escape, and she gave that up to save my life. Now, if we move her out from the cage and give her quarters of her own, well, frankly, I don't see why we shouldn't do it. As a gesture of good faith on our part."
"What if she escapes?" Ford intervened, hating the shocked and almost hurt look on John's face.
"How could she?" Rodney said easily. "We can control her access to the gate, and otherwise we're in the middle of the ocean."
"She told you she can't swim and you believed her?" Ford said incredulously.
"No, you moron," Rodney snarled. "I'm actually pretty sure she could swim. But if you'd paid attention, you might have picked up that she is actually a humanized Iratus. And Iratus bugs tend to die when in contact with salt water. I'm sure even your pea-sized brain can work out the subtle connection between ocean water and salt, right?"
John all but snarled back at him, but Ford just said, "Well, what if she goes on a killing spree and then just goes through the gate?" apparently unfazed by Rodney's insult. "The incident with the Genii proved that she can do it."
"That is where I come in," Rodney said smugly. "In the generous amount of free time I have,"—he smiled sarcastically and put a small instrument on the table—"I worked out this little device. It's simple really, so I'll get right to it. If Carson implants this in her body, I guarantee it will blow her to tiny little pieces if she goes through the gate. And if we tell her that, she won't try it, given she has a great amount of self-preservation. And, to skip your next question entirely," he said as Ford opened his mouth, "I have a few ideas about how to stop her from feeding on any of us like she did with the Genii. With Carson's help, we may be able to control what kind of enzyme she uses to feed."
"That is right!" Carson said, blinking. "There are two types off enzyme used in her feeding process... but I'm not sure, Rodney. I'll need to run some more tests."
"Well, let's get to it then, hmm?" Rodney looked at Elizabeth, his expression a mixture of question and triumph.
"If it's possible to ensure our safety, certainly" Elizabeth said reluctantly. "You have a go."
"Has it completely escaped you that this...this human-bug thing is perfectly capable of snapping someone's neck without breaking a sweat?" Sheppard tried one last warning, knowing this was an argument he'd already lost.
"So can you, Major," Rodney shot back easily. "-But we don't keep you in cage." He followed Carson to his lab.
***
Eve sat on the examination table, idly dangling her feet, avoiding looking at the two soldiers pointing their P90s at her. Carson was examining her blood and feeding fluids under a microscope, while Rodney just stood to the side, fiddling with the small device they explained would have to be implanted in her. She not only understood, but also appreciated their fear of her, which was why she hadn't said anything about what they were doing. They stirred her anger, true, but she was prepared to suffer anything if it meant no more cages. So when the doctor suggested cutting out the enzyme sack that enabled her to drain her victims, she said nothing.
"I'm sorry," the one called Carson said, apparently with true regret. "It seems to be the only way we can be sure you won't kill anyone on this base. I can work on a serum that would inhibit your producing the enzyme, but I need time. And I can't guarantee success. If you want out of that cage now, we need to remove the gland entirely." He smiled at her, but she could still easily feel his fear. "It is definitively your choice, lass."
"You may not be Lanteans," Eve said quietly, "but I can see the resemblance." She spread her hands helplessly. "I have not been free in thousands of years." Her voice was calm, and Rodney closed his eyes against the shudder her words started inside him. "I want to be free," she said. "Cut as much of my flesh as you will, but, free me."
"Carson, do we have to do that?" Rodney asked. "Are you sure you can't-?"
"Aye," Carson said regretfully. "Right now there is no other choice." He turned back to the Wraith. "What concerns me is that as far as my tests have revealed, there is no substance to anaesthetize you with. I would hate to operate without an anesthetic. Do you know of anything that would make you sleep, feel no pain?"
The Wraith just looked at him steadily. "No."
"Oh, God..." Rodney muttered, mostly to himself. He resolutely pushed the vivid images out of his mind.
Carson sighed. "Let's get to it then, shall we?" Carson pulled on his surgical gloves, while one of the Marines secured Eve's hands above her head with plastic restraints. She fixed her gaze onto Rodney's eyes as he put his own surgical mask in place, swallowing hard. The scalpel caught the artificial light in the room on its blade.
Look into my eyes. I don't want you to see my blood. Her voice offered small comfort to his panicked mind.
Carson made the first incision to the side of her left breast. Her bluish skin yielded to the steel, revealing gray flesh and releasing rivulets of black blood, thick and shiny. It felt to Rodney like he was receiving the cut himself and all the fine hairs stood to attention at the back of his neck. When Carson rinsed the blood away it was easy to see the gash now went from breast to armpit. It was deep and oozing.
A nurse appeared at Carson's side, taking over the control of the small hose-like instrument that was used to rinse the blood off. Carson's hands worked fast, continuing to cut into Eve before her body could react and start healing and closing up the wound. Her left arm shook, nerves wound up tight, and Rodney reached out to stroke it, trying to soothe her.
"Doctor...please...hurry. I can feel...I'm going to heal." Eve ground out between clenched teeth.
Doubling his efforts, Carson moved faster. He made cut after cut, pulling on the enzyme sack to free it from Eve's body. Her neck arched back, her face the image of agony. Rodney grabbed her hand as she hissed like his cat used to do back on Earth when he accidentally stepped on its tail. He could see the structure of bone still incasing a part of the sack.
"I can't break through it! Get a bone saw, STAT!" Carson yelled, his accent thickened the way it only got when he was deeply distressed. He continued to cut at the cords of muscle that kept growing back over the enzyme sack. They were like small serpents, lashing out at the intrusion.
Eve's back lifted off the bed in agony as the saw touched bone. She hid her contorted face under her arm, facing away from the wound in her side.
All Rodney could do was stare at her, holding onto her. He knew he would never be able to forget the dry smell of her blood.
"Place the device, now!" Carson yelled.
Rodney reacted mechanically. He pushed the small piece of alloy into Eve's wound and barely managed to take his hand away as her muscles swirled around it. Eve was now panting exhaustedly, lying limp on the operating table. Her blood just kept coming, widening the stain on the white, sterile sheet.
Rodney... Even her voice in his mind felt weak. Help me...please!
"Carson," Rodney said immediately. "Could you dress her wound so I can get her out of here?"
"I had a bed prepared in the infirmary for her," Carson said. "I think she should be under supervision-"
"Carson!" Rodney barked. "She's scared. Look at her! She knows me. I think she trusts me. I can handle her." He tried to make his tone sound calm and reasonable, but all he could think of was getting Eve to his room and holding her until her shivers passed. He felt savagely jealous of any other hands touching her. He hadn't felt this way since his cat got ran over by a car and almost died. All he wanted to do was to get Eve away from this place where she was suffering and those who inflicted the pain. He hoped to God Carson wouldn't fight him on this. He already felt very on the edge.
"You aren't fit to nurse a house plant!" Carson shot back. "You won't do her her any good, Rodney." Carson argued while dressing the wound.
"I'll have you know I had a cat back on Earth and...and he was just fine! And he loved me!"
Carson blinked at him. "I'm concerned about you, Rodney" he said, more gently. "I think you should have a chat with Dr. Heightmeyer. Really, Rodney, you look exhausted yourself, Lad. And while I understand you might feel grateful towards ...um...Eve, that's no reason for-"
"Wanting to return the favor?" Rodney snapped. Out of all the people on this base, she knows me best. I've been feeding her since she got here, for Christ's sake!" Rodney gestured violently at Eve's still body. "She's almost catatonic, Carson! I can help her."
"Ro-dney..." Eve's broken voice came barley above a whisper.
McKay crossed his arms over his chest, his chin jutting forward in a challenging pose as if to say 'see, I told you so'.
"She can hardly speak and you expect her to walk away with you?" Carson demanded. He took a breath. "Look, I can arrange for a second bed to be set up next to hers, if that's the only way to make you get some sleep!"
Rodney knew not to press his luck and nodded his agreement. Eve was moved into a separate room, and Carson made the arrangements for the second bed.
The room was extraordinarily small-its original use had probably been closer to storage closet than a private hospital room, so the beds were pushed together. Eve's still form was laid on the bed closer to the wall.
With one last warning of 'get some sleep or else' Rodney was left alone with her. He climbed into the second bed, never taking his eyes off Eve. He felt a smile forming as he became aware he was thinking of her as Eve more and more lately. No more 'it/she/the Wraith', but Eve.
He reached out to caress her cheek, but didn't dare touch, so his hand just hovered in the air above her pale skin. Sheppard had called her a computer, and Rodney had thought that was the right definition, albeit twisted. Now he thought that witnessing-or even performing-a change of hardware in a computer had never taken such a toll on him in the past. Nor did it leave him weak in the knees. He loved his computers, in the way that Sheppard probably loved his puddle jumpers or Carson his medical equipment. But none of those things bled or screamed in pain.
McKay's hand finally touched Eve's skin at that thought, and it was cool and smooth under his fingers. Her eyes slid open and their intense green glow slowly focused on his face. Everything felt beyond his control as Rodney moved away just enough to take his shirt off. He joined his hand to hers and shuddered as he felt the opening of her feeding slit press against the skin of his palm. He could feel it move, the tiny, sharp spikes that adorned its edges pricking his skin.
But Eve didn't move. It looked like a huge effort for her to keep her eyes open.
"Do you want to...? " Rodney trailed off, moving her open palm to his chest and holding it flat against himself there. The spikes caressed his skin as if she couldn't breach it. "Try. It'll make you heal faster," Rodney urged, pressing her hand harder over his skin even as a small voice in the back of his mind screamed he was insane. He was asking, no, pleading with a Wraith to feed on him? Every shred of common sense he still had argued against that. Yet somehow the dark bright green of her eyes seemed to make a stronger case.
Eve let out a strangled breath as she obviously made an effort to comply with his request.
"Pain...burning." Was all she managed before her hand went slack in his again. This wasn't going to work. He could not help her. Fear spread over Rodney's nerve endings at the thought of her starving, unable to ever feed again. Heavy lids covered her eyes and he tapped on her hand to get her to look at him again.
"What can I do? How do I help you?"
He could swear she gave him a weak smile that made his gut twist painfully. "Sleep. Must sleep." Her soft voice echoed in his mind and he set her hand back on the bed beside her.
"I'll be here when you awake." Rodney settled on his bed after carefully pulling his shirt back on. Her eyes closed again and soon afterward his did the same.
***
The pain kept her mind alert. It felt like a blanket of pure fire was wrapped around her torso. The wound healed slowly but the real source of the pain was the small device that was implanted in her side. Her flesh refused to contain it. She could feel her body already trying to reject it. The human's mind was opening more and more for her and he was vulnerable. She could feel him breaking, less and less able to control himself around her. Yet not all his affection was a product of the substances she forced into him while feeding. There was something genuine about his gentleness. She could not understand it. Humans either naturally feared her or adored her because of her mind altering substances. It was as if this one actually wanted to be good to her.
Thinking on it kept her mind from submitting to the pain.
At some point she felt his hand touching her cheek again. Soft, reverent caresses, his fingers nimble and warm, so warm against her skin. She willed her hand to move and wrapped her fingers on his wrist. There was a sharp intake of breath, telling her he hadn't expected her to move. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. This human was very different indeed. She let her hand travel up his forearm, over his elbow, higher, over a pectoral muscle. His hand came up next to hers, opening his shirt, letting her feel skin. He held her opened palm over his chest, just like before. Only this time she was stronger. The feeding spikes pierced his skin, injecting the enzymatic fluid. His voice was a broken plea, as his breathing picked up pace. His mind opened for her and suddenly it felt like he was actively pulling her in, wanting her, needing her. The rush of pleasure that overwhelmed her almost dissolved her pain. And she transmitted the feeling back to him, creating a loop between their minds.
He felt strong, and alive, almost vibrating under her touch. She opened her eyes at that, look at me! And then his opened too: dark pools contained in thin circles of blue.
"Eve... I... please!"
His very soul opened under her touch, emotions pouring over. It was then she knew she had broken him. His last defenses were breached. She mirrored his feelings, unable to find any of her own to match his. His loneliness could only be compared to her desire to find freedom. He was the perfect choice. Now all it would take was patience, but hers was worn thin.
He bit his lip to keep silent while she fed. When she was done he lifted her hand to his mouth to kiss the slit in her palm, tasting his own blood there. She saw in his mind how he wanted to kiss her mouth... a human way to express love, closeness. Her kind had no such notion. It intrigued her. He was seeking a physical closeness. Ah, she had forgotten it was the way of the humans. She knew it would only serve to bind him to her further. She wondered briefly if she could bring herself to let him achieve such closeness to her.
He looked up at her with pleading eyes as he leaned over. She felt herself stiffen. She managed to turn her face at last avoiding his lips. If and when she would deem it necessary, of course she would do anything for her freedom. It didn't feel necessary yet. She moved across the bed and stood.
"I'm sorry," he said sadly. I-I wasn't thinking..."
She held her hand out to him and he took it, following her back to the infirmary. The medical exam was soon over and Rodney walked her to her new quarters. He seemed reluctant to leave her alone.
"I need to be by myself," she said.
