Chapter 14: Colonel Carter, welcome to Atlantis
"You two got married?" Evan asked incredulously, looking from John to me and back again.
"Vegas style," Rodney quipped, pushing past us, impatient with the chit chat and keen to leave the Gateroom. "It wasn't even that bad," he called out over his shoulder before disappearing down the corridor.
"Don't listen to him Major," Teyla drew up alongside us. "It was a special event. I was pleased to be able to attend my first Earth wedding."
"What she said," Ronon rumbled, taking Teyla's arm and escorting her across the Gateroom after Rodney.
"You invited them but not your own team?" Evan's eyes narrowed and he gave me his 'I am not impressed' look.
"It was a spur of the moment thing," I retorted defensively. "I had no choice!"
"And this after you said you hadn't known each other long enough," Evan teased pointedly.
"When was that?" John asked, glancing at me curiously.
"Months ago," I dismissed. "A lot's happened since then."
"At least tell me you got photos," Evan kept up with the teasing, even though he could see I was uncomfortable.
"Ah ...," I looked at John uncertainly, vaguely recalling something about that in the arrangements I'd made. I'd vettoed the whole 'pose for photos' thing but hadn't dismissed candid shots being taken ... with the uncertainty before John's agreement to proceed and my overall nervousness I hadn't given it a seconds thought.
"Don't worry Major," John answered for me. "There were a few photos ... the hotel promised to send them through to the SGC. Someone will pass them on to us eventually."
"You were so into the whole thing you didn't notice someone taking photos of you?" Lorne shook his head with a fond laugh. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
"Yes – ha ha," I retorted irritably. "Just watch it Major or else I might decide not to invite you to the reception either."
"You're having a party?" the Major perked up immediately. "Why didn't you say that in the first place?"
oOo
The news of our marriage got around Atlantis faster than even I could have imagined. But as John had predicted, the unusual level of interest in our relationship died down just as quickly. Apart from having to put up with the traffic of people stopping by to congratulate me the first full day we were back, I was pretty much free to continue along as always.
With John in command of the entire city, including the military, team Sheppard was grounded until a new leader could be appointed. The flow on effect was that Major Lorne was fully engaged with command duties too, seconding John with the military side of things and taking as much of the load as he could. That meant team Lorne was also grounded ... part of me was keen to get back out into the field but the rest was just relieved that John had Evan helping him, since there was no way he could do everything he'd done before as well as Doctor Weir's job, even a scaled down version of it. Evan had loaned Lieutenants' Parker and Brown out for support duty with other off world teams but I decided to stick around the city, concentrate on documenting what I thought we'd learned about the NAP project before I consigned it to the abandoned basket.
"Finally," I looked up from my solitary table in the Mess Hall to see all three of my team mates converging on me.
"Hey guys!" I smiled, happy to see Colin and Alex for the first time since we'd returned. "How've you been?"
"Don't 'hey guys!' us," Alex returned indignantly, throwing himself down in the chair opposite me and glaring reproachfully.
"What?" I looked from him to Colin, watching the other man settling himself next to Alex, leaving the seat beside me for Major Lorne. "What'd I do?"
"What did she do?" Alex looked at Colin and shook his head sadly. "How about running off and getting married without having your team present?"
"Didn't Major Lorne fill you in on the specifics?" I raised an eyebrow at Evan, who was looking back at me with amused innocence. "It all happened really quick ... and I couldn't leave it for the IOA to control. Who knows how long it would have taken them to approve something happening here."
"We're your team," Colin said sternly. "First rule: the team sticks together. Second rule: members of the team don't go off getting married with another team present without said team also present." Looking back at Alex he continued. "Maybe it's our fault ... we haven't properly indoctrinated her on correct team procedure."
"Yes, John's team was present," I agreed. "And if you guys had happened to be on Earth at the time I would have invited you too."
"Come to think of it," Evan spoke for the first time since they'd all sat down, "you never explained why Teyla, Ronon and McKay joined you on Earth."
"John needed some help tracking someone down," I said evasively, not meeting his eyes. "I guess General Landry thought having the whole team there would make everything go faster."
"That's it?" Evan asked, frowning when I shrugged rather than replying. I could have told them all about Walker and my treatment at his hands but that was a can of worms I wasn't quite ready to open to the general public. "And that new scar you're sporting?"
"Huh?" I put a hand to my cheek, surprised I'd almost forgotten the mostly healed wound was there. "Oh this ... I had a slight ... run in with ... someone," I explained somewhat lamely. "So anyway, am I forgiven about the whole marriage thing?" I quickly changed the subject.
"Should we forgive her?" Alex, Colin and Evan shared a look, all of them deliberately teasing me with their silence.
"There's a party?" I offered that carrot hopefully. "You're all invited to that."
"You're forgiven," Alex let his stern mask drop, laughing at my exaggerated sigh of relief. "Seriously Sabina, congratulations."
"Thank you," I smiled across at him.
"Yeah, we're really happy for you," Colin added. "Hope Colonel Sheppard know's how lucky he is!"
"Oh he does," John's voice came from directly behind Colin. It was comical the way Parker froze, his expression panicked. Turning reluctantly he acknowledged John's presence.
"Sir," he tried to smile in the face of John's stern expression. "I ah ... I didn't mean anything by that Sir."
"Of course not Lieutenant," John let the amusement show on his face, smiling as Colin visbily relaxed. "Sorry to interrupt your conversation ... I just wanted to tell my wife not to wait up for me."
"More meetings?" I watched with concern as he drew a chair from the ajoining table next to mine and slumped into it wearily. He was tired and grumpy because he'd much rather be out there doing something that stuck in Elizabeth's office or the Conference Room talking to people all day.
"Apparently it's extremely urgent that we talk about acquiring more plant samples from M5T-899," John quipped. "Unless Doctor Parrish is gonna find me an enormous Venus fly trap that eats Wraith I can't see the point." Sending a stern glance at Lorne and the others he added "don't tell him I said that."
"Of course not Sir," Evan kept the smirk off his face with effort.
"Any news on when we're getting a new leader Sir?" Alex asked curiously.
"Unfortunately not Lieutenant," John replied, glancing at his watch with a sigh. "Duty calls," he announced, getting up reluctantly. "Sabina," he let the way he said my name be his goodbye, running a hand down my hair before turning to the others. "Gentlemen. Carry on."
I watched him walk away with a frown. Elizabeth's capture had an immediate effect on us in obvious ways ... it was only as time passed that I appreciated the not so obvious effects, the ones created by the many ways Doctor Weir had influenced the city and everyone in it.
"You knew he was there didn't you?" Colin asked weakly, drawing my attention back to the table.
Evan and I traded glances before turning back to the other two with almost identical grins. "Sure did!"
oOo
John was still hopeful the IOA would make a quick leadership decision now we were back in the city. I wanted that too to take the load off John ... but at the same time I didn't, because welcoming a new leader was the final nail in the coffin of my hopes for finding Elizabeth.
"I just spoke to Stargate Command," John announced a few days after our return. "They've decided on a new leader ... finally."
"Are you allowed to tell me who?" I asked, looking up from our bed and checking out his demeanour – did he seem happy or not? It was hard to tell which made me just a little worried.
"I can't see why not," John decided. "She'll be taking over in a couple of days."
"She?" I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I thought for sure they'd take the opportunity to put a man in charge – and I don't mean that as any kind of sexist remark."
"I think the IOA are very concerned about the dual threat of Wraith and Replicators, both of whom have shown more than a passing interest in Earth," John explained. "They've gone with someone who's military but also expert as far as Replicator tech goes."
"Colonel Carter?" I guessed, not that difficult since I couldn't think of anyone else with that combination of skills.
"Yeah," John admitted.
"And you're not disappointed it wasn't you?" I asked curiously, pretty sure I already knew the answer but wanting to give him the chance to acknowledge it out in the open.
"Like I said before, I wasn't looking for more responsibility," John said with an easy casualness. "I watched Elizabeth grapple with the politics, the red tape and the double standards for long enough to know I'd suck at that."
"You would not!" I protested. "Just because you don't want to do it doesn't mean you couldn't, if you had to."
"Well thank you for the vote of confidence Mrs Sheppard," John smiled.
"You're welcome Mr Sheppard," I replied solemnly before ruining it by laughing. "How long do you think it'll take us to get sick of that?"
"I'm not there yet," John admitted freely.
"So what's Colonel Carter like?" I asked. "I know Daniel was on her team for all those years – he mentions her a lot but it's more the friendship stuff and how he misses her now they've kinda gone their separate ways."
"I forgot you didn't get to meet her when she was here before," John sat down on the bed, putting an arm around me as he thought about his answer. "She's very smart, capable ... got loads of experience fighting alien enemies including the Replicators. This is her first big command."
"Does this mean your role will be different now?" I suddenly worked out the ramifications of there being a higher ranked military officer than John on the base.
"I don't know," John admitted. "I'd have to say yes because it won't be like with Elizabeth where I could override decisions if I thought the situation called for it from a military standpoint. I won't be able to do that with Colonel Carter – although hopefully I won't have to because she's military. Elizabeth never gave me orders or expected me to blindly follow everything she said either."
"It's a big job to run the civilian side of the city as well as the military," I said worriedly.
"We'll still have that split of duties," John explained. "It'll just be at crunch time where I'll probably notice the difference. I felt free to argue with Elizabeth – I'm not saying I won't still speak up if I think there's a need, but the chain of command is clear and in the end that will take precedence."
"It's a lot to take in," I commented. "I guess we just have to give it time?"
"Don't worry," John reassured me. "This isn't the first change of command I've lived through. Remember too this is the military we're talking about – it'll go like clockwork."
"I hope so," I replied. "I don't know how receptive people are gonna be to Colonel Carter taking over. Everybody liked Doctor Weir. That along with the decided lack of support from Earth for a mission to go find her might make the first few weeks of the transition ... awkward for the Colonel."
"I'm sure she can handle it," John reassured me again. "On a completely different topic, how're the plans coming for that party we promised everyone?"
"Um," I grimaced slightly before admitting I'd made no progress. "Are you sure we still have to do it? We're old news now so everyone's probably forgotten about it, especially once they learn we've got a new leader."
"Not likely," John laughed at my crestfallen expression. "I'm sure Teyla will help you if you're struggling."
"Fine," I muttered. "It's only the fact that you've been so busy keeping everything going here that I'm letting you off having to do something to help."
"And I appreciate that," John replied, letting himself flop back on the bed tiredly. "Colonel Carter taking over can't come soon enough because I am heartily sick of all the requests, mostly from the science staff, for things I just can't justify granting. I don't know how Elizabeth put up with that for three years! If that's not bad enough I've got a heap of reports to get ready for when Colonel Carter gets here too. Did I mention I was tired?"
"You didn't have to. You sleep – I'll let you know if someone needs you," I promised, smiling as he turned over and burrowed into the pillows with a mumbled thanks.
oOo
"Are you coming?" John stopped in at my lab on his way to the gate room.
"Mm?" I looked up from my laptop distractedly.
"Colonel Carter's about to dial in," John reminded me. "It'd be good if you could be down there with me."
"Oh, ah ... sure," I replied, shutting off my laptop reluctantly. "Although I don't really think she'd notice if I waited till later to meet her."
"You don't want to meet the Colonel?" John stopped and looked at me in surprise.
"I don't not want to meet her," I admitted. "I just ... it's just ... permanent, you know? I can't help but think of Elizabeth."
"You won't be the only one," John promised. "That'll be the same no matter when we do this so ..."
"Might as well get it over with?" I asked with a faint smile.
"Exactly," John grabbed my hand and urged me down the corridor.
And then there we all were, gathered around the Stargate, up the stairs and even on the balcony – one big picture of welcoming support. I stood back with most of the staff as John stepped forward to greet our new leader, flanked closely by Rodney and Radek.
"Colonel Carter, welcome to Atlantis," John said formally.
"Thank you," Colonel Carter said with a smile. "It's nice to be here." Turning her gaze away from John she extended that smile to greet all of us, John and the others remaining at her side in a silent show of support. "Uh, I want you all to know how honoured I am to accept this appointment. I've come here fully committed to this expedition, to Atlantis, and most importantly, to each and every one of you. I look forward to working with all of you. Thank you."
That was a very clear signal that the official welcome, thankfully brief, was over. I moved to head off with the others but John motioned me over, grabbing my hand as soon as I was close enough and pulling me the rest of the way in.
"Nice speech," Rodney complimented Colonel Carter.
"Thank you. I also do weddings and award shows," the Colonel quipped. "Book early to avoid disappointment."
"Before I show you to your new digs," John began, "I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Sabina Sheppard. Sabina, this is Colonel Samantha Carter."
"Colonel Carter," I smiled and held out a hand in the standard greeting, trying to hide the nice little tingle John's use of the word 'wife' had caused. Man it was hard to get used to hearing myself introduced like that!
"Daniel told me you'd gotten married when I got back from area 51," Carter said with a genuine smile, shaking my hand in return. She had a purposeful, confident handshake that probably said a lot about her character. "Congratulations! Actually I spoke to General O'Neill just before I left – he said he hopes his reception invitation doesn't go to the same address as his wedding one."
"Funny," I smiled, pleased that the General had even remembered me to Colonel Carter. "I'm still kinda working on the whole reception thing."
"Well, I'm sure everyone will look forward to it when you get there," Colonel Carter replied with another, friendly smile.
"Do you want to get settled in your quarters first?" John got things back to business.
"Yeah," Colonel Carter agreed. She and Rodney then did a little head nod, first name greeting to each other before she followed John from the Gateroom.
I couldn't help but notice Rodney doing the once over on Colonel Carter's ... assets as she walked away.
"Rodney," I frowned sternly, "you didn't just check out our new leader's backside did you?"
"I knew her before she was even a Colonel," Rodney tried to excuse his behaviour.
"That only makes it worse," I shook my head. "What about Katie, huh?"
"I'm a guy – we look!" Rodney said with that whine in his voice. "What – you don't think Sheppard looks?" Rodney swallowed nervously at the glare I gave him before rushing back into speech. "Besides it's not like I'd ever go beyond that!"
"Well if you know her it stands to reason Colonel Carter knows you too," I relented with a cheeky grin. "I bet she's well prepared for anything you could dish out."
"Probably," Rodney muttered miserably.
oOo
"First chance I got, I spoke with Colonel Carter about Elizabeth," John told me later that night.
"And she said no too?" I asked in resignation, not expecting anything different.
"Not exactly," John admitted. "What she did say is that if I can bring her a plan that has some chance for success, she'll consider it, which is more than we've had from the IOA since we lost Elizabeth."
"Oh," I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So now we just have to devise a plan?"
"Easier said than done," John replied somewhat sadly. "Trying to come up with something this afternoon made me realise why the SGC and to a lesser extent the IOA said no in the first place. On paper, every plan I come up with looks like a suicide mission. After all these weeks none of us have been able to work out anything even remotely doable."
"So we really are giving up?" I asked weakly.
"Not giving up," John countered insistently. "Bidding our time ... trusting that something will turn up we can use to our advantage."
"Okay," I agreed with a sigh. "I guess I can go with that."
"Me too," John gathered me close, the two of us together enough to smooth out the emotional rough edges.
Author's Note:
This was a bit of a nothing chapter but I had to get them back to the city and settled in ... and ready to take part in the first true Season 4 episode! Also I feel compelled to remind you all that Team Lorne is made up of Major Lorne, Lieutenant Colin Parker, Lieutenant Alex Brown, and Sabina herself. By this stage Sabina would be referring to them all by their first names ... hence the 'Colin' and 'Alex' used here.
Next Up? Fortunate Journey Season 4 Chapter 15