A/N: Hey Everyone! Sorry it took me a bit to update. I was getting ready for my reunion with some of my High School friends in NYC. Had a blast! It's amazing how some people still look the same after 15 years. Anyway, I'll stop rambling now. Here is the next chapter with a little bit of fluff for Rodney. Enjoy and Happy Reading.
Tollara sat in Sam's office with Colar and was informing him of everything that happened in the gym and about the conversation he just had with Teyla and Danielle.
Colar listened to his teacher intently and was very happy to know that a decision would be made in an hour as to whether the descendants would help. Listening to his teacher something else tugged at Colar's soul. It was distressing him and he needed to speak to his teacher in private.
"Colonel, I do not mean to bother but since we still have some time before you and Tollara meet back with Teyla and Danielle, I would like to show Tollara the balcony area at the gate room. It is a beautiful day and I for one would like to spend it in the sun. If that is alright with the both of you?" Colar asked.
Sam was sitting at her desk looking over paper work in her office and almost forgot that Tollara and Colar when in her office. She had a mountain of paperwork to catch up on since this whole thing started. Sam still hadn't informed the IOA or the SGC about what was happening. The last thing she needed right now was outside interference from people like Woolsey making a already strange situation even more difficult. "I'll inform them after Teyla and Campbell's decision." Sam said to herself. Sam turned her attention away from her paperwork to the young man standing in front of her. She instantly felt bad that she had kept them in her office when she should have put them up in some guest quarters.
"My apologies to you both. I should have placed in some quarters. I would like to rectify that now. If you think the view from the gate room is great just wait until you see it from the guest quarters. They have a fantastic view of the whole city. Plus it will give you some privacy and a place to rest until it's time for us to meet. Corporal Matthews, come in here please." Sam said.
"Yes ma'am." Corporal Matthews said.
"Corporal Matthews would you please escort our guest to Level 9 guest quarters. You can place them in E9. You will also be their personal escort during the rest of their stay here with us. If they need anything please see to it. Councilman, Colar, if you follow Corporal Matthews he will escort you to your quarters." Sam said.
"Thank you Colonel. Someplace quiet and private would be nice to reflect on what has occurred." Tollara said.
"No need to thank me. I will let you know when Teyla and Danielle are ready for you." Sam said.
"If you'll follow me sirs." Corporal Matthews said.
A short time later Corporal Matthews brought Tollara and Colar to their guest quarters. When they stepped inside they immediately saw the lovely view of the city Colonel Carter told them about.
"I will be out here if you need me." Corporal Matthews said as he left and took his position out side their door.
Colar and Tollar walked out to the balcony of their quarters and looked out. It was indeed a beautiful view. They were on the other side of Atlantis and from the balcony they could see the city with the sun in the background shining making the city sparkle like jewel.
Colar didn't know if he should question his teacher's actions but he felt he must. Maybe if he knew the whole picture instead of parts of it he would feel better about what they were doing.
"The view is beautiful from here. Colonel Carter was right." Tollara said looking outside and taking in a deep breath of sea air.
"Yes it is. Tollara, I do not understand why we have not told them the whole truth of our situation. They seem to be more than willing to help us. All they asked us for is the truth." Colar said.
Tollara looked at his student and saw that same look he had many years ago when he was young. With youth comes being naïve and the luxury that the truth fixes everything. Age teaches you teaches you neither is true and that sometimes a lie sometimes serves you better then the truth.
"Colar, I believe that they are a good people as well and I feel bad that I must not tell them the whole truth but for our people's sake I must tell them what I feel would save our people." Tollara said.
"Yes, but a lie is still a lie."Colar said.
"I will do whatever is necessary to save our people Colar. All that matters is the Honor and Glory of Naharra. Once the memory of the sisters is restored they will understand why I have done what I have. Believe me Colar, if there was another way I would have found it." Tollara said
" I disagree. This will not honor our people by lying to them. You of all people know that there is pain involved when using the essence stones. When you used Namora's stone you suffered greatly. They should have been told. If we are to truly honor the sisters and their descendants they should have been told that. We owe them that. I owe them that. They also need to know everything else instead of the half truth we gave them." Colar said.
"I agree but we only have a limited amount of time to save our people and I could not take the chance of them saying no. If there was more time I would have given them the whole truth but this half truth with have to do for now. You will not say anything to them Colar. Do you understand?" Tollara said.
"I know my duty. I will not say anything." Colar said.
"Good. Now I would like to mediate while we wait. Would like to join me?" Tollara said.
"No. I will leave you to your thoughts. I will ask for some tea to brought to you and I will have something Colonel Sheppard introduced me to. It is called soda. I like the one called Pepsi." Colar said.
"Very well." Tollara said then sat down on the balcony and started to meditate.
As Colar walked away from his teacher he went over everything he was just told in his head. He would keep his word by not telling the descendants what was going on but he knew at some point they would need to know the truth and when that time came would he be able to keep his word? Colar didn't know.
***********************************************************************************
Rodney was in his lab going through the Ancient data base with when he looked at his watch and knew he would have to leave soon to go back to the infirmary and find out what his friends were going to do. He really didn't want to leave Dr. Sona again because they were making progress in there research and he also like being around her. She was just like him when it came to research. Dr. Sona was very thorough and hated to be interrupted when she was on the verge of learning something important. She snapped many time at his staff just he would but unlike Rodney, she apologized to them after her tirade.
Dr Sona was just about take a much needed break when she found some information about the chambers the sisters where placed in.
"Dr. McKay! I think I found the information we have been looking for." Dr. Sona said.
Rodney walked over to the terminal Dr. Sona was working on. He leaned over her shoulder to get a better look. Rodney looked down at the screen and saw that Dr. Sona had found the notes and designs schematics for the chambers the sisters were in.
"I can't believe you found them. This is fantastic. I will have my team start to download these notes." Rodney said.
As Dr. Sona scrolled through the notes and designs her joy turned sour very quickly when she noticed that the notes and designs were incomplete.
"Wait, Dr. McKay, the notes are incomplete. They are only half of what we need." Dr. Sona said.
"Well something is better than nothing. I'm sure the rest of what we need is in there. We just need to keep looking and if we can't find what we need then we'll improvise." Rodney said.
"Improvise?" Dr. Sona asked.
"Yes. If there is one thing I learned while living in the Pegasus galaxy is that when the universe doesn't provide what you need, you improvise to save the day. Is there anyway that my team and I can take a look at the chambers on Naharra? Maybe with the specs that we do have and taking a look at the actually equipment might give us what we need to figure out what's missing." Rodney said.
"Of course. I can arrange to take you down to the site tomorrow if you like. The only problem is that we can't get anything to work and the site where the chambers is unstable. There have been several cave ins. I was told before I left that our engineers will be trying to stabilize the area before we come down to work." Dr. Sona said.
"Why are they only doing that now? I mean after ten thousand years you would have thought someone would've said we need to get that done." Rodney said. He realized how harsh that might have sounded. Good going Rodney. Way to impress her by putting her people down he said to himself.
"I'm sorry that came out harsher than I had intended." Rodney said.
Dr. Sona looked at Rodney's face and new he was instantly sorry for what he said the moment the words left his lips. She liked Rodney not just because he was cute but he was smart. Really smart and that drew her to him even more. Yes, he was a bit crazier around the lab then she was but with genius comes a little insanity she mused.
"It's alright Dr. McKay." Dr. Sona said.
"Rodney, please." Rodney said.
"Then I insist you call me Mina." she said.
"Mina. That's a beautiful name. It means precious one in Ancient right?" Rodney said then looked up to see it was Mina's turn to blush.
"Thank you and yes you are right. It also means gift of the gods in Naharran." Mina said.
They both stood their staring at each other. Soon Mina became uncomfortable with he silence between them and change the subject back the matter at hand.
"I agree with what you said about waiting so long. The scientific community has been back and forth with our religious leaders for years to let us excavate the site but they refuse to let us because the site is sacred. It was only recently when word that the shield was failing was let out that they relented." Mina said.
"So, how soon tomorrow can we get down there?" Rodney asked.
"Probably by tomorrow afternoon. You and your team and whoever else is planing to go down there must be blessed first." Mina said.
"Blessed? What does that entail?" Rodney asked.
"Well, one of religious leader most likely Tollara, will say a blessing over you and then let you pass. You have to understand Rodney, that although that this site is very important to our work it is equally significant to my people because it was the last place where the sister stood. So, we must tread very carefully." Mina said.
"I understand." Rodney said.
"I know you have to go soon to meet back up with your friends but I was hoping that we might share some food together. I believe I heard one the other scientist calling it the "mess hall". I have not eaten since this morning and some food would help me work faster. The sweeter the better." Mina said.
"Of course, I would love to share a bite to eat with you." Rodney said. He wasn't really all that hungry but once Mina had suggest eating with him he was all the sudden starving.
Before leaving the lab with Mina, Rodney walked over to Zelenka and told him to start looking at the data that was just downloaded and start comparing that data with what they already had about the chambers the ancients used. Hopefully something in there would help fill in the blank of the missing data.
Rodney walked Mina over to the mess hall and showed her all the wonderful things the chief had created. Mina was very excited about all the choices of food in front of her. She decided to take a little bit of everything. Mina noticed that her tray was just as full as Rodney's which made her smile. She finally met someone who had the same hearty appetite as her.
Once Mina had made all her choices Rodney walked Mina to the back of the mess hall away from some of the noise. They sat at a table for two that had a wonderful view of the ocean. Mina felt the cool ocean breeze and thought Rodney had chosen the perfect spot to eat.
Mina looked at the food on her tray and didn't know where to start. Everything looked so good. So she decided to ask the local expert she had in front of her.
"Everything looks wonderful. Where do you think I should start?" Mina asked.
Rodney was about to answer then noticed that with all the food they had, something was actually missing. Well two thing really.
"Hold that thought. I just noticed that we are missing two things. I'll be right back." Rodney said then quickly got up from his seat and headed back over to the food.
Mina watched and laughed as Rodney cut through the line and went ahead of many of the soldiers who had been waiting patiently. Many of them let Rodney know they were not happy he went ahead of them. He keep telling them to "suck it up" because he had someone waiting. When Rodney returned he had a smaller tray with him. He placed the tray down and placed two items in front of Mina. One was blue while the other was brown and looked very good.
"Sorry about that but I couldn't let you eat with out you enjoying two Earth delicacies. This one here is called chocolate cake. You said you like sweets and you can't get any better then this. I had the chief put on extra chocolate sauce on it. Try it. I guarantee you'll love it." Rodney said.
Mina grabbed her fork and dug into the chocolate cake. She took the piece in her mouth and there was this flavor explosion in her mouth. Mina had never tasted anything like chocolate cake before. She couldn't help the noise she was making as she chewed the cake. The mmmm's and ooooo's just kept coming out. Mina felt like she had lost all senses in that one bite. When she finally came back from her chocolate cake euphoria she saw Rodney sitting there looking at her and smiling. Mina felt her cheeks redden from embarrassment. She put the cake to the side so she could eat it later and hopefully not embarrass herself again.
"I'm sorry. I have just never tasted anything like that before it was exquisite. I.. I.. apologize if I embarrassed you." Mina said.
"I'm glad you liked it and no you didn't embarrass me. I liked looking at you. I mean I like watching you eat. I...I mean.." Rodney tried to stop himself before he said something else stupid.
Mina smiled and put her hand on top of Rodney's catching his attention and focusing it on her.
"I know what you are trying to say. Now, what is the other surprise you have for me?" Mina said.
Rodney was glad that he had not totally made a fool out of himself. He was suddenly very glad that no one else was around to see him acting like a love struck teenager. If Sheppard, Ronon, or Carson were here they would never let him live it down.
"I have saved the best for last." Rodney said as he placed the blue cup in front of Mina.
Mina looked at then looked back at Rodney.
"What is it?" Mina asked. It didn't look as appealing as the cake did. She wasn't sure she wanted to eat something that was blue and see through.
"It's called Jello. It comes in many colors but blue is the best one I think. Now, it's not as sweet as the cake but it does taste good. Plus,it's fun and ... it wiggles." Rodney said with a smile.
"It wiggles?" Mina said nervously.
"You'll see." Rodney said.
Mina looked at the blue thing in front of and almost pushed it away. It looked too different, too weird for her to enjoy, but she knew that would be rude and might offend Rodney, so she decided to try it against her better judgment. After all, he wasn't wrong about the cake. Mina picked up her spoon and dug into the blue. As she was bringing the spoon to her mouth that's when she noticed the wiggle. She laughed and started to shake her spoon again. Mina had never see food move like this Jello was. She felt like a child again watching it.
"Wait until you eat it." Rodney said.
Mina placed the spoon in her mouth with the blue Jello and felt it wiggle on her tongue. Again she laughed causing Rodney to laugh with her. It was very good. She was very glad that Rodney had saved that for last. When she swallowed the Jello she liked how it felt sliding down her throat. It was cool and cold a nice combination she thought.
"So, good huh?"Rodney asked.
"It was very good... and fun." Mina said.
"Now, we usually don't eat desert before our meals but once and a while you have to break the rules." Rodney said.
"Yes, a little chaos now and then is a good thing." Mina said.
They both laughed then started to eat the rest of their food. When they were done they sat quietly together enjoying each others company and the silence.
Rodney was about to ask Mina something but was interrupted by Sheppard's voice coming from his ear piece
"Sheppard to McKay. Where are you?" John asked.
"I'm in the mess hall with Mina." Rodney said.
John was about to make a smart ass comment about Rodney always being in the mass hall but then he noticed that Rodney said he was with someone. He couldn't let it go without saying something.
"Who's Mina?" John asked playfully.
"Dr. Sona." Rodney said instantly regretting that he said Mina's name. He knew left the door wide open for John to make fun of him.
"Oh yeah, the Naharran scientist. So?" John said.
"What?" Rodney asked.
"On a first name basis already. You sly dog you, I'm impressed. Never knew you had it in you." John said.
"Shut up. What do want?" Rodney grumbled.
"No need to be so touchy Meredith. We're waiting for you in the infirmary." John said.
Rodney rolled his eyes at the use of his dreaded first name.
"I'll be right there. Let me walk Mina...I mean Dr. Sona back to the lab." Rodney said.
"Oh, that's so special Rodney. You're walking her back to the lab. I can't believe how much you've grown up. Are you going to give her a kiss good-bye?" John said.
Rodney could hear the snickers in the background.
"You're a riot Sheppard. McKay out." Rodney said.
Rodney and Mina cleaned off the table and then dumped their trays and started back towards his lab. When they arrived at the lab Rodney followed Mina back to her station.
"Well, I have to go and meet the others. If you need anything just get with Zelenka, after me he's the next smartest person on Atlantis. Well more like the third. I take up both spots." Rodney said. He was never afraid to let anyone know he was the smartest person in any room.
"I don't doubt it. You better get going." Mina said.
"Yeah, I'll see you later." Rodney said.
Rodney turned to leave and was just about to activate the sensor to let him out when he heard Mina call his name. He turned around and saw her coming towards him. He felt his heart start to beat faster as she approached him.
"Rodney, I just wanted to thank you for introducing me to chocolate cake and Jello. I had a really nice time. Perhaps in the future we can share another piece of cake?" Mina said.
"I'd like that." Rodney said then turned to leave with a huge smile on his face.
*************************************************