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Ronan liked to start each day with a nice long run. Most days he dragged John to go out with him or sometimes even Teyla, but this morning he was out by himself. He was well into his run when his course took him down to the east pier. He was thinking about Sheppard's sister. Their ASL lessons were gonna start soon and he wondered why he was so happy to accept the offer.

Usually he hated stuff like that. He figured his job was to 1) protect Sheppard, this extended to his sister now... and how could he properly protect her if he couldn't talk to her? 2) he wanted to make her feel more at home and part of his family here on Atlantis- and if she couldn't talk to more people, he figured she must feel left out, and 3) he kinda, sort of, maybe... had to admit that he just wanted to get to know her better.

Unlike most mornings, Rowan actually had gotten up early. So as Ronan had been on his run, Rowan had been in her room contemplating how to approach her day.

She had decided she wanted to go off world. She had in her possession a very unique skill set and KNEW she could be of value off-world. No one, and really NO ONE could match her skills when it came to deciphering ancient technology. How many times did off world teams come across some device that they didn't know what is was or did? Ever since Rowan had stumbled upon (ok, hacked into) the SGA database and the facts that there were OTHER WORLDS to explore and the STARGATE program, almost two years ago, she had taught herself the Ancient written and programming languages. John had always been better at learning the spoken languages, but she was better at the written. It didn't take her long at all to understand the principles behind the crystalline interface and Ancient coding. In one year she had taught herself everything that the so called experts knew. And she was now pushing the boundaries of what had yet to be discovered with the Ancient database, the information it held (or hid, in many cases) and what that data could be used for. Who knew how much more information had yet to be found off-world? All the abandoned outposts and research stations were just begging to be explored!

Knowing her brother... he would object to her idea. Sometimes his protective instinct was a little overbearing, to say the very least. So how could she get around this...? Would going direct to Weir make him even more upset? Or should she try talk to him directly?

In the end, she decided that asking John for permission to be assigned to an of-fworld team would push the limits of their new-found truce too far, better to go the official route and ask Weir first. If Weir said yes, John would have no choice but to follow the decision. Weir was, after all, the one in charge of all non-military personnel. Rowan promised herself that if Weir said "no", that she'd abide by the recommendation, no matter how much she wanted this.

Rowan wasn't looking forward to any of this. Asking Weir or of telling her brother her plans. She knew John was going to have a nervous breakdown at the idea of her going off world...but frankly, she hadn't had or needed his 'protection' in a long, long time, and knew could, for the most part, look after herself.

With her decision made- she'd ask Weir today - she got up from her desk, abandoning her work and went to get showered and dressed.

While Rowan was contemplating her days task, Colonel John Sheppard's 2IC was contemplating his own task for the day.

Evan Lorne was still wrapping his head around the fact that Colonel Sheppard was gay. It had been weeks since he had told him, but he still couldn't believe it. It didn't matter to him, of course, but it's just that the guy set of ZERO gaydar points. I mean seriously, half the female population was lusting after him. But then again, John really did seem 100% completely clueless about that...or what to do about it. Add to that fact that most of the base thought Sheppard and Teyla were together, including himself, and he could see how that pretty much helped the Colonel keep his secret so well.

The biggest takeaway for Evan was that: Teyla. Was. Single... Maybe. Yowzers.

For a while now, he had grown to really admire and appreciate her. Ever since Teyla had decided to stay on Atlantis, while the rest of the Athosians were on the mainland, he had the chance to get to knew her a lot better. If Evan was Colonel Sheppard's right-hand-man, then Teyla could be said to be Dr. Weir's right-hand-woman. So being the "right hands" to the two people in charge, Teyla and Evan had begun to spend a lot more time together. They'd so far only gotten together to hash out schedules for diplomatic missions and what-not, but Evan always looked forward to the times when those meetings were on his schedule. He found Teyla to be very level headed, wise beyond her years, and with a very subtle, sly, and wicked sense of humor and of course, she was hands down the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

Today was the day. He was going to find out if she was seeing someone, and if not, maybe they could give it a go.

He put on his "nice set" of black BDUs, made sure he looked his best, and got mentally geared up for the day.

"What does Weir wanna see us for?" It was unusual for Ronan to be called into these meetings with Sheppard and Weir. they had lots of stuff they always had to hash out between themselves, being in charge and all of the whole base, but they rarely needed his input.

"Don't know buddy. Guess we'll find out soon enough." As John and Ronan entered the gateroom and approached the stairs leading up to Dr. Weir's office, they both saw that Rowan was already there.

John leaned his head into the office while knocking on the door jamb, "This a bad time Doc?"

Elizabeth looked up and said, "No, no, thank you both for coming, come in."

John and Ronan stepped into the office. Rowan was sin a chair to the left of the door. Dr. Weir was standing in front of her desk, leaning back on it. Ronan immediately made the space seem smaller, and leaned against the wall opposite from where Rowan was sitting. John turned and nodded his head in acknowledgement of Rowan's presence and signed [Hey sis, what's up?]

Rowan was avoiding his gaze and simply looked in Dr. Weir's direction. She clearly wanted Elizabeth to guide the meeting.

So John turned toward Dr. Weir slowy while saying, "...ok. What's up Elizabeth? How may Chewie and I be of assistance?"

Elizabeth knew this was going to be hard on John. Rowan had come to her just a few minutes ago asking for permission to join an offworld team. Elizabeth could certainly see both the advantages and disadvantages of Rowan leaving the city. Her knowledge and skills pertaining to Ancient technology were almost unmatched (Drs. McKay and Zalenka really the only ones who surpassed her, and that was mainly because they'd been in Altantis longer). Rowan was undoubtedly more adaptable and skilled than 99% of the expedition. She was however, deaf. This put her at a very distinct disadvantage when one considered safety...which was definitely under the scope of the military. The Atlantis one was defined as a scientific endeavor, however, the safety of all involved was under the purview of the various international military branches- which was headed by Colonel Sheppard. Who first and (rightly) foremost was brother to the scientist who was now asking for permission to go on offworld missions, with what some would say, was a dangerous disadvantage.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and said, "Rowan has requested permission to join an off-world-"

John cut her off, spinning on his heels to glare at his sister, "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" he yelled. Rowan had no problem reading his lips.

Elizabeth for her part spoke over him and continued, "-she has requested to join and offworld team, which I have PROVISIONALLY granted-"

"WHAT?! GODDAMMIT ELIZABETH! YOU CAN'T-"

"COLONEL SHEPPARD!" Elizabeth said loudly, "I CAN and I HAVE, granted her request - providing Mr. Dex clears her for duty."

Elizabeth continued, while Colonel Sheppard stood fuming and glaring at his sister, "Ronan trains ALL personnel -scientists and Marines- it is his judgement on who IS and who is NOT capable of participating in off-world missions. This case is NO different. If Rowan can pass the training, she can go. End of story. She is not military, and as such, is under MY command. Understood Colonel? Ronan?"

Ronan glared at Dr. Weir, he was pretty pissed that he was put in the middle of this mess, but he couldn't really disagree with Dr. Weir, she was right. He'd been in charge of training the Marines since he joined John's team, and he started training the scientists not long after that. He trained the Marines as best he could, most of them would never be up to Satedan standards, but he made sure they could defend themselves and put up a good fight. The scientists were a different story. He made sure they had a basic understanding of safety protocols and defensive training, but still, it was his part of his job on Atlantis, and he took a lot of pride in it. He made sure that Rowan would be up to these standards before he let her go off-world.

Ronan shifted his gaze to Sheppard's sister and glared at her, trying to size her up. He nodded to her curtly, and said, "Got it."

John turned to Ronan, "You can't possibly believe that a DEAF person won't be in danger out there! COME ON RONAN!"

Ronan shrugged his shoulders, "It's dangerous anyway."

"BUT SHE CAN'T HEAR. How in the HELL CAN WE KEEP HER SAFE OUT THERE?" John yelled.

"I'm not going to go easy in her Sheppard. If she can't pass my training, she won't go," Ronan replied calmly. "Trust me. I'll be able to tell if she can handle herself offworld or not."

"And John," said Elizabeth, "Rowan knows she won't be on any first contact teams or expedition teams. Research only. On planets that have already been deemed safe."

John looked incredulous and waved his arms in the air, "WHEN IS IT EVER SAFE IN THIS GALAXY?!"

Dr. Weir and Ronan both had nod and concede that. John had a point.

"The decision is made John. No one wants to put Rowan or a team in unnecessary danger. Which is why Ronan is going to make sure she will be able to handle this. Otherwise, it won't happen. Trust me. Trust Ronan, and trust your sister."

John knew he wasn't going to win this one. Not with Ronan and Weir on the same page. He turned to his sister, [Rowan. I am begging you, please reconsider this.]

[I can be an asset to a team. I know I can.] she signed.

[I know you can, but it's dangerous.] John signed.

Rowan rolled her eyes him, [John, I can do this. I won't be a burden to anyone. I'll make sure of it, Ronan will too.]

John scrubbed at his face and sighed. "I don't know why you bothered asking me here Elizabeth, it seems you all have it in hand." then he turned on his heels and left.

Rowan sighed. [THANK YOU] she signed with a nod to Dr. Weir and Ronan, as she stood up to follow her brother out of the office.

Rowan found him a few minutes later standing out on his favorite balcony high above the East Pier. She walked up to the railing and leaned on it, next to her brother. The salt air was blowing hard, and she could see the choppy waves below them crashing into the city's walls.

[Don't be angry with me John.]

[You have NO IDEA how dangerous it is out there Ro.]

It was Rowan's turn to look exasperated. [Christ John, I'm not a fucking moron.] Now it was her turn to storm off, or at least try to.

John grabbed her arm and spun her around, [It's my job to protect everybody on this expedition. That's mean you too. There are space vampires, the Genii, crazy fucking, giant, stampeding cows, man eating plants, crumbling buildings, Ancient traps, dangerous labs! And that's just off the top of my head! If you can't hear, and I hate to break it to you, but you can't, this is dangerous shit, and if it were up to me-]

[I know what you'd do, John. But you can't keep me locked up in the City. I want to be treated like every other geek here and at least be given the chance to help offworld.]

[That's all I'm asking for, is a chance to prove myself, even you can understand that.] She said looking at him steadily.

John looked sharply at her, [It's not the same.]

Rowan continued, [I know people think I'm weak, that I'm a freak. That being deaf is a liability. You never felt that you had to be a better, stronger, faster soldier because you're gay to prove to yourself that you were just as good as everybody else? Don't lie to me, you jackass.]

[It's not the same.] John signed, [I'm talking about actual physical danger that you won't be able to hear. I'm talking about not being able to communicate with your team in dangerous situations.]

Rowan continued to hold her ground, [And I'm talking about being treated equally, being given the chance to train with Ronan. If he says I'm not up to muster, I'll drop it,I promise. But I want this, and I'm going to try.]

John sighed. He knew she was right, it was just hard to think of Rowan being put into Pegasus Galaxy batshit insane situations. It scared him. He pulled her in for a hug. After a few moments they broke apart, John signed, [You know Ronan's going to try and kick your ass right?]

Rowan smiled broadly, [You know he's going to fail right?]

And John just rubbed his face then signed, [yeah, I know] .