After returning from the Tower, Rodney McKay locked himself in the Genii lab. Carson kept an eye on his friend, seeing how little the physicist ate or slept. McKay started looking haggard, and the weight he'd lost became even more apparent. But it was McKay's silence and Zelenka's concern that eventually forced him to act. Within minutes after the Czech's visit to the clinic, Carson headed for the lab that McKay had commandeered.

Pushing past the rubble still piled at the door of the lab, he stepped inside and looked around. Various Genii equipment cluttered the area, with the bit of technology Rodney managed to salvage from Atlantis in the mix. Power generators hummed in the background, a familiar sound given the one that sat outside the clinic. Carson merely looked around, slowly taking in the strange combination of retro gear and modern. Being here made him think of Dahlia, of Kiah, and of Kolya's attack. He could not imagine what living in this room had done to Rodney. Evidence of the physicist's living conditions showed in the unmade cot against one wall.

The man in question sat hunched over a work bench, his back to the door. He straightened and looked at the ceiling as if in exaggerated patience. "No, Radek, I'm not hungry. Now leave me alone!"

No wonder Radek had been concerned. McKay had lost enough weight that his clothing hung on his shoulders and the quick glimpse Carson got of his face showed hollow cheeks. "I'm not Radek."

Rodney turned around slowly, his face showing his emotional state more than anything. Dark circles beneath his eyes, his gaunt features, and his bloodshot eyes gave him the look of a crack addict. He hadn't shaved in days, and the stench of body odor was bearable from this distance. "I'm fine, Carson."

"Aye," Carson replied, barely keeping himself from rolling his eyes. "I can see that."

Rodney had started to turn back to whatever he was working on when he stopped. "What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, only that your friends are worried about you."

Rodney snorted. "Yeah. Well, considering I haven't even seen Sheppard or Ronon since we got back and this is the first I've seen you, I guess I can feel the love."

"Rodney, that's not fair."

"Not fair?" McKay glared. "Let me tell you what's not fair! I am trapped an entire galaxy away from home with no way of ever making it back! Tell me how that's fair!"

"We knew this could be a possibility when we came to Pegasus."

"This?" McKay held up his hands, indicating his surroundings. "I knew being marooned on Atlantis was a possibility, but being in this rundown, pathetic excuse of a city without any kind of modern convenience isn't what I had in mind."

"Neither did I," Carson said. "But, Rodney, you can't just lock yourself in here night and day."

"Can't I?" McKay's controlled, simmering anger was frightening to Carson, who was more concerned than if he'd actually vented the emotions. "If I can't find a way back home, we're gonna be stuck here forever."

"I don't think you're bein' fair, Rodney." Carson kept his voice calm though he knew that he was about to push some serious buttons. "Colonel Sheppard, Major Lorne, and Ronon are doin' everything in their power to make certain all of us have everything we need."

"What about me, hmm?" McKay's jaw jutted out as he folded his arms. "What do you think I am doing? Playing?"

"Of course not." Carson met his friend's eyes, seeing the irritation there. "I'm just sayin' you should cut them some slack. They've got a lot on their plates."

"And I don't? Carson, I'm stuck on this godforsaken planet, doing nothing of value when I should be working to interface a ZedPM with the gate. But can I? No, I can't because Colonel Kirk had to go and deplete it just to play the hero!"

"Rodney, I was there." Carson took a step toward his friend. "Colonel Sheppard didn't deplete that ZPM just to play the hero. There was a legitimate threat to Ronon and Teyla, one that would have destroyed the village."

"And he got to be the hero by destroying our only hope of getting home!" McKay actually chuckled, but it wasn't a happy chuckle. "They were ready to give him the position of Lord Protector! They wanted him to stay, said he was their 'savior' and should become their leader! You saw what happened!"

"Aye," Carson said again. He had seen how the people had willingly given Sheppard everything he asked for—drones, Jumpers, crown, girl, wealth, whatever—just for killing the treacherous Chamberlain. Carson felt that Sheppard had dealt with the situation correctly, though Mara's manner with the colonel concerned him. "I also saw how grateful they were to you for savin' 'em."

McKay scoffed. "Yeah. Like they know how much I did."

"Maybe not, but that's not what matters."

"Of course it matters!" Rodney looked at Carson, his face turning purple. "Who do they expect to find a way back home? Who do they look at when everything goes wrong and they need help? Who is supposed to know what to do all the time? Me! That's who! They want me to do everything but they won't give me the tools I need to do it!" He punctuated his tirade with a fist on the table. Several items rattled, and one of them actually fell.

"Rodney. . . ."

"Shut up, Carson!" McKay yelled. "Just shut up!" The dam finally broke, and Rodney reached over to pick up a metal cup near his hand. He threw it against the wall and then swept a hand across the table. For several moments, inconsequential items fell, broke, were thrown, or otherwise flew through the air as McKay finally let go of the emotions he'd kept so contained for so long. The strength of them surprised Carson, but he backed into a corner to wait. McKay's anger was a sight to behold, but Carson preferred him to vent the emotions rather than suppressing them.

When the storm petered out, Carson blinked. Rodney stood hunched over a table, his face red from anger as tears started tracking their way down his cheeks. Carson moved to his friend's side and put a hand on his shoulder, gently leading the physicist to a chair. Rodney continued to cry as Carson checked his pulse and blood pressure. They were up, as expected, but the knot in his stomach had begun to come unraveled. At least he didn't need to worry so much about Rodney now.

Once the storm passed, Carson crouched in front of his friend. "Rodney." He waited while McKay met his eyes. "When was the last time you ate?"

Rodney looked confused. "Um. . . ."

Carson pulled a power bar from his pocket. "Here. I've got some stew at home. I'll bring you some."

"Okay." Rodney began tearing the power bar open as Carson stepped over the mess to head to the clinic. He hurried, knowing that Rodney would be asleep soon. Exhaustion had finally won out, and he wanted some nutrition into his friend before the collapse happened.

When he got back to the lab, McKay had moved from the workbench to sit on his cot. The stale aroma of the room would be helped in coming days, but Rodney needed rest. And a bath, though that could wait until after the physicist got some sleep. Carson shoved the bowl of stew into his friend's hands and watched closely as McKay ate every bite as if he was starving. And maybe he was. Once the stew was gone, Rodney looked at him. "Thanks, Carson."

Carson nodded. He watched while McKay slowly lay down. The physicist was asleep within seconds. Carson smiled at the sleeping figure. "You're welcome, my friend."

Rising from his seat, Carson collected up the bowl, spent a few moments tidying the lab, and left Rodney to his rest. He would return in a few hours with the supplies to truly clean the lab, but he doubted McKay would even stir. The temper tantrum had exhausted what little reserves of strength the physicist possessed.

At the clinic, Carson glanced up in time to see Lorne and Shani headed for their daily flight. His eyes narrowed as he watched the pair. Shani smiled every time Lorne's name came up in conversation, and the major rested a hand on the small of her back as they rounded a corner. The concern that had uncoiled from his stomach began to return as he realized that he now had something else to consider. Javan had given him the duty of protecting and providing for Shani, and Carson had taken that duty seriously. He didn't look forward to confronting another person in one day and decided to think about that later. For now, he chose to enjoy a quiet cup of tea and let the residual concern for McKay fade from his mind.

oOo

Shani met Evan later that same day for their flying lesson. She smiled at him, paying attention to everything he told her about the Jumper. Today was to be the day she would take the controls for the first time since her disastrous first flight, and it made her a bit nervous. To help with that, Evan flew her into orbit, and they sat and watched the planet turn beneath them as they talked.

It was odd how comforting talking with Evan could be. Shani smiled as he told a story of his childhood, though she did not understand much of what he said. Many things about his world were unknown to her, but she loved to see how his eyes lit up. He still did not speak of his family often. That he had a sister and his mother was still alive was the extent of her knowledge. But, given how much she missed being around Javan and Demir, she could understand. She was a simple step through the Stargate away from Ataliya. Evan was cut off from home. As much as she found her circumstances difficult, she had learned that she had never known hard times until now.

Finally, he looked at her. "It's time."

"I know." She stood and switched places with him. As she sat down, she felt the muscles in her shoulders bunch up.

Evan picked up on her tension and put a hand on her shoulder. His thumb gently massaged the muscle there, rubbing over the bare skin of her neck in a comforting and sensual fashion. "Relax." He smiled at her. "I'm right here, and I'm not gonna let anything happen."

Shani nodded, not certain if she could speak. She had been married and had, of course, experienced the physical intimacy that came with marriage. But her love for her husband had been one born out of their marriage, not one that came from attraction so intense that it fairly crackled between them. With Evan, she could almost feel when his eyes turned toward her, and it thrilled her when he did smile. She had never had something like this before and was now uncertain of herself.

"Okay." Evan dropped his hand from her shoulder as he motioned to the control panel. "Just take a few deep breaths and relax. All we're gonna do is fly around the planet."

Again, Shani nodded. In the last few days, he had taught her about how Ancestor technology responded to thought. A "neural interface," he called it. Her thoughts needed to be controlled and focused, not erratic. Drawing on her years as a healer, she cleared her mind and concentrated on just making the small ship jerk forward.

It took a few tries, but Shani soon had the little ship flying around the planet. She felt Evan's mind in the machinery, feeling very odd about the entire situation. She could not read his thoughts, but the control he exhibited over the Jumper was uncanny. Almost instinctive to him. Once she was comfortable with flying in space, he instructed her to take the Jumper home. At first, she panicked. The ship responded to those thoughts, its course becoming erratic. Evan quickly took control and smiled at her. "Deep breaths, Shani. You're not gonna crash. Just takin' her home for the evening."

Shani nodded for the hundredth time that day and tried to keep a tight reign on her emotions. She had always been able to set aside personal thoughts and concerns when treating individuals, and that practice helped now. The descent through the planet's atmosphere was difficult as she felt the tug of the wind currents through the technology. All the information flooding into her mind was overwhelming, but Evan talked her through it. Soon, she hovered above the hangar and carefully, albeit slowly, nudged the Jumper into its spot.

Evan sat back with a huge smile on his face. "How do you feel?"

Shani took a moment to take stock. "Good!" She laughed with him, shaking her head. "I do not know if I will ever be as comfortable flying these ships as you are, but I now feel like I can do so without crashing the thing."

"That's the point." Evan stood with her, his hand on the small of her back as they left the Jumper. He had done that earlier, as well, and it thrilled her just as much now as it had then. He grinned. "Before long, you'll be zipping all over the place in one of those."

"Zipping?"

"It's. . .ah. . .it's a phrase we use on Earth." He shrugged sheepishly. "Basically means you'll be flying the Jumper around quickly and easily."

"I see." She smiled at him. "Thank you, Evan."

"You're very welcome." He opened his mouth as if to say something and seemed to change his mind. "Have a good evening, Shani."

"You, too." She watched him walk away with a confused expression. What had he been about to say? Deciding that it wasn't important, she turned toward the clinic. Carson had been away when Evan arrived to pick her up for their lesson, and she wanted to find out how Dr. McKay was faring. His welfare had concerned Carson more than a little in the past few days, and the doctor had only checked on his friend at Shani's insistence.

Inside the clinic, she heard Carson in the treatment room. The building consisted of three rooms: the large area that held Carson's research equipment and work stations, the treatment room where he performed all checks and surgeries, and a tiny storeroom that he had converted into his own personal space. He seemed quite happy with the arrangement, choosing to use the kitchen off of the main area to prepare his meals and keep tea ready for them. Shani had taken to spending her evenings either with Carson or with Olina. The Kian woman was still grieving, but Shani enjoyed the company.

Within just a few minutes of her return to the clinic, Carson followed a soldier from the treatment room, spouting off instructions as he went. He caught sight of Shani as the man left the clinic. "Oh, there ya are." He smiled. "Flyin' lesson with Major Lorne?"

"Yes." Shani wasn't able to keep the smile from her face. "I flew the Jumper today."

"Did ye?" Carson shook his head. "I'm still not comfortable with those bloody ships. They're best left for men like Colonel Sheppard or Major Lorne."

"I quite liked it," Shani said as she prepared two cups of tea.

Carson gave her a shrewd glance. "I'm not surprised, love." His smile widened. "Your people are full of surprises, Shani. I wouldnae be shocked if you became as good of a pilot as the major."

The compliment made her blush, but not from humility. Her feelings for Evan had deepened over the last week, and she wondered if the strength of them ought to concern her. Rather than thinking on that, she met Carson's eyes. "How is Dr. McKay?"

Carson sobered. "Better." He shook his head. "I had to goad him into a fight just to get to the real emotion of the situation."

"I am sorry."

"Don't be, love." Carson accepted the tea she offered him. "I should ha'e visited him sooner, but I know Rodney. He wouldn't have reacted well before now."

"From what you tell me, he did not react well today."

"Aye." Carson sighed. "But he at least ate and got some sleep. I had just come from cleanin' up the mess he made when that last patient came in. He was still asleep when I left."

"Good." Shani smiled. "He is lucky to have friends like you."

Carson looked her in the eyes. "I'm the lucky one. He's a prickly sort, but Rodney McKay is the truest friend a person could have."

Shani nodded and turned her attention to her tea. Instead of continuing the conversation, she let Carson's words roll through her head. While this entire people was foreign to her, she suspected that all of them were loyal to a fault. She just hoped someone did not figure out that that loyalty could also be a weakness and exploit it. And she pitied the man who tried to do just that.

oOo

Over the next few days, more and more people arrived through the gate. Ronon met every group, smiling in welcome as he and Lorne set down the ground rules. Things were simple on Sateda. Every person earned their keep, and nothing was hoarded for themselves. Of course, this did not apply to personal possessions the men and women brought through the gate. With the influx of people came children, making the Athosian children happy as well. The city was far from filled, but the glow of lights after nightfall made their portion of the city seem bright and happy.

A week after Kell's death, a man stepped through the Ring with a singular purpose. He listened as Kell's killer spoke about their obligations with returning to Sateda. He was willing to contribute to the city, but he also had business off world. The short, stocky man with Ronon, called Major Lorne, explained that anything that would benefit Sateda would be accepted. The newcomer smiled and nodded, not explaining anything.

When Kell died, he left behind a void. And he had filled the void with glee. Many of his off world operations would need his touch, and he knew he could spin things so that it appeared to be trade and nothing more. Content that he had found a base of operations, he settled into the home provided to him and slowly made contact with the men and women of his group that he'd already sent to Sateda.

It was time to get to work.

~TBC