The Return of Katie Brown

Part V - Entrapment

One by one the group filed out of Richard Woolsey's office. An air of anticipation swirled around them like a long flowing cloak. Sheppard's plan to induce Kavanagh to go after Rodney and Katie to go after Sam would be put into effect tonight.

Rodney went to the infirmary to let Jennifer in on what was happening. Dr. Cole had finally relented and allowed her to return to work part time as long as she stayed off her feet as much as possible and didn't do any lifting. Jennifer was ticked off because of the guard Sheppard had put on her but Rodney didn't care as long as she was safe. If he lost her… He resolutely pushed that thought away as he walked into the infirmary. The breath he didn't know he was holding whooshed out when he saw her sitting at her desk peering intently at her computer monitor. Her head came up at his knock. She smiled and he knew that everything would be okay.

*****

The time was 2100 hours. Radek Zelenka paused outside the door to the level 12 west science lab and took a deep breath. If Peter Kavanagh was the one who had pushed Jennifer down the stairs then, given his personality, it wouldn't take all that much to get him going again. He felt that Rodney and Sam had the more difficult task and did not envy them. The door slid open and he went in.

*****

At the same time Radek was setting the scene with Kavanagh Sam and Rodney were preparing to do the same with Katie. They were in Sam's quarters playing Gin again and again Rodney was winning. After he'd won five hands in a row putting her so far behind she would never catch up, she threw her cards down in disgust and suggested they play a different game. She'd just dealt the cards when Teyla's voice sounded in her ear. (Another shameless plug by author: Read Hide and Sleep.)

"Colonel Carter, this is Teyla. Dr. Brown is on her way. She will be arriving near your quarters in about one minute."

"Thank you, Teyla." To Rodney she said, "You ready for this?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. You really think this will work?"

"Ever heard the saying 'hell hath no fury…"

"…like that of a woman scorned'. I get it. Uh, maybe you should…" He gestured.

Sam quickly pulled the elastic from her ponytail and ran her hands through the long blonde strands tousling them. She tossed her jacket on the bed, pulled her shirt from the waistband of her slacks and undid all but one of the buttons. "Ready."

"You don't have to do this, you know." He kept his eyes resolutely on her face.

"Yes, I do. I'm helping a friend." She gave his hand a quick squeeze. "Besides, no one hurts one of my friends and gets away with it."

They went to the door together. "I promise not to enjoy it too much." He told her with a smile.

"Good. Just remember that I know hundreds of ways to kill you that would look like natural causes."

"I know and I respect that. As long as you remember this was Sheppard's idea." He checked the clock. "Okay. Show time." Sam passed her hand over the door sensor and he stepped through turning back to face her. He hesitated so she pulled him into an embrace and kissed him. His arms went to her waist instinctively. Katie arrived at that exact moment, coming to a stumbling halt when she saw them. They broke apart when they heard her gasp both looking at her in pretend horror. Rodney took a step toward her and she backed up, turned and fled.

Rodney waited a few seconds then touched his earpiece. "She's gone. Anyone see her?"

Thirty seconds later Ronon's voice came to them. "Here, at her quarters. Looked really angry."

Radek's voice broke in a few seconds later. "I have also concluded my part. Dr. Kavanagh is well and truly angry with you Rodney."

"What did you say to him?" Rodney asked.

"I told him that you said he had the intelligence, charm and personality of knedliky. They are potato dumplings that are simple to make and have very little taste." Laughter greeted his account.

"Good work everyone." Sheppard responded. "Now we wait for one of them to make a move."

* * * * *

All was quiet during the night. In the morning, and according to plan, Rodney sought Katie out. He finally located her in the Mess Hall pushing her food around on her plate instead of eating. His purpose was to reinforce the scene from the night before in Katie's mind so she would go after Sam next. Radek had already done the same with Kavanagh. All it took was for him to enter the lab and say "good morning".

"Katie, could I, uh, speak to you for a moment?" She nodded and he seated himself across from her, Sheppard's advice echoing in his mind: don't apologize, don't respond to accusations, stick to the script. "I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't mention anything to Jennifer about what you saw last night. I don't want to…hurt her."

Katie carefully kept her face blank though color began to tinge her cheeks a bright shade of pink. "I won't. But I have to wonder if you also cheated on me when we were together." Abruptly, she pushed away from the table and stood. Now the anger was apparent, her voice rising. "You are the last man I would have thought would be unfaithful." A single tear slipped silently down her cheek and she brushed it away as she hurried from the room.

Rodney felt the eyes of the others on him but ignored them. He felt lower than low. He tried to appease his conscience by telling it that the deception was necessary to keep Jennifer safe but it didn't make him feel any better. Finding himself with no appetite for the first time in, well, ever he headed for the main science lab. On the way he contacted his teammates with an update.

*****

He turned his back on the stunning view of Atlantis at night and smiled as she walked toward him out of the darkness. Just her face was illuminated by the glow of the moons and he felt she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. "Did anyone see you?"

She shook her head smiling back and taking his hands in hers. "I still can't believe we had to come all the way to Atlantis to find each other."

He didn't answer, just hugged her gently against his chest. She was so small and fragile looking, barely reaching his shoulder. Last night, the first time he'd held her like this, he'd been afraid he might hurt her but she was much stronger than she looked. Her slender arms slid up his chest and around his neck bringing his head down for a kiss that left them both breathless. Just as it did the night before, passion flared bright, dazzling them both with its intensity.

*****

In his quarters later that night Rodney tossed his jacket and earpiece on his desk. He yawned as he removed his shoes and exchanged his uniform for sleep pants and t-shirt. Reaching into the small box of chocolates on his bedside table he popped one in his mouth and chewed as he turned the bed down. He'd gotten the candies for Jennifer after she'd been shot during the body switching incident and she insisted on keeping them here. Giving in to temptation he had a second one then went into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

His arms began to itch. He looked down to see hives appearing. He coughed and felt his airway begin to swell making breathing difficult. A wave of dizziness as his blood pressure dropped dangerously. There was no doubt that he was having an allergic reaction. It had been many years since the last one but the only thing that affected him this quickly was citrus.

Gasping, he reached for the EpiPen he kept in the bathroom drawer, removed the gray locking cap, wrapped his fist around the tube and jabbed it firmly into his thigh until he heard the click and felt the prick of the spring-loaded needle. He counted to ten and waited for the epinephrine to do its work. He felt no rush of adrenaline as he should have within seconds of the injection. He thought of Jennifer as darkness descended and he slumped to the floor unconscious.

TBC