A/N: A slight disclaimer. Throughout this series, I'm probably going to make story choices that alot of people might dislike.
Apologies in advance for that but thats just the way it is. I'm trying to keep the chapter endings less cliffhangarish too :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just love the show.
Chapter Two: Waiting Game
With little more to be done at the present time, Doctor Keller slumped into the chair and closed her eyes, enjoying a brief moment of respite from the horrendous events of the past six hours. She had successfully managed to maintain her composure through the rescue operation and the subsequent surgery she was forced to perform on Kanaan but they had taken their toll on the young medic.
Opening her eyes, she glanced around at the two newest arrivals in her sickbay. Whereas Kanaan looked like he had been through hell and back, there was an eerie peacefulness about Colonel Sheppard. Sure he had a few minor contusions and a broken collarbone but aside from that, he simply looked as if he was sleeping and that was what concerned Keller the most. Her friend had not shown any signs of waking since he was pulled from the wreckage of the storage bay.
Despite the fatigue she was currently feeling, she managed to drag herself to her feet and amble over to the Colonel, checking his vital signs in the hopes of a spontaneous recovery from the coma he was currently in. If anyone could do so, it would be Sheppard she told herself inwardly. Not only had she heard about his incredible resilience to everything he had been forced to endure, she had seen it herself.
"How is he?"
Doctor Keller spun around to find Teyla standing before her, making a concerted effort to conceal the pain she must be feeling at this time. Keller admired the strength of Teyla's character, often with a hint of envy too. But today it was tinged with an overwhelming feeling of sympathy for her Athosian friend, who stood on the precipice of losing both her partner and best friend.
"Kanaan is stable for now, surgery went well" said Keller reassuringly.
"That is good to hear. But I was talking about John" replied Teyla
"Oh!" said Keller with a hint of surprise. "No change I'm afraid. The Colonel is still in a coma and shows no signs of waking."
Teyla looked devastated by the news but desperately fought to keep her feelings in check. She would be of no use to anyone were she to breakdown now, she must remain strong. She made her way to Kanaan's bedside, some what disturbed by the numbers of tubes protruding from his battered body. Doctor Keller wandered over to her side, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"He took a real beating, but he's a fighter. He's not out of the woods yet, but he's doing better than I hoped" said Keller.
"May I stay with him?" asked Teyla weakly.
"Of course, take all the time you need. I'll be over there" said Keller, nodding at her desk.
"Thank you Doctor Keller"
- - SGA - -
"This is not good" said Zelenka as he examined the primary flow regulator.
"No kidding" replied Rodney as a look of genuine concern crossed his face.
The two scientists had reached the primary power flow regulator almost an hour ago and were still assessing the damage, so extensive it was. Though neither man had dared speak about their fears, both had come to the same worrying conclusion. There was absolutely no chance they could repair this system in the time remaining on the countdown clock. Which meant they had to find another solution or else Atlantis would be scattered into a million little pieces in roughly four days time.
"How long?" asked Zelenka
"To fix? Two weeks. Minimum" replied Rodney ruefully.
"We need to tell the others Rodney"
"Not until we come up with a solution"
The two scientists then began the laborious task of coming up with any and all ideas of how to fix this situation before the deadline expired. But frustration began to build when each and every plan they made was simply unworkable.
"Rodney, we've been at this for hours. We need to take a break. We should get some fresh air" said Zelenka.
"Wait...what did you just say?" asked Rodney.
"That we've been at this for hours and need a break..."
"No not that, you said you needed some fresh air...Thats it! Radek you're a genius" exclaimed Rodney as the figurative light bulb lit up above his head
"I am? I mean, of course I am...how exactly?"
Rodney was too busy making a series of calculations to bother responding so Zelenka edged his way over to the side of his illustrious colleague and peaked at the screen he was so feverishly working on. It didn't take long for Zelenka to catch up with Rodney's train of thought and he had to admit, McKay was certainly brilliant if a little unorthodox. The Czech scientist then began offering his own ideas about the plan, though Rodney continually dismissed them all. As usual thought Zelenka.
"This could definitely work" said Zelenka enthusiastically.
"Of course it can, its my idea. Now lets get to work" replied Rodney dismissively.
- - SGA - -
The investigation into the explosion was only a few hours old yet was already producing disturbing results for Major Lorne and Ronon. Preliminary analysis of the wreckage had discovered an anomaly: trace amounts of weapons-grade naquadah that could only have originated from an external source.
"You know what this means, don't you?" asked Major Lorne, flipping through the report.
"Yep. We've got a traitor on board" replied Ronon as he checked his pistol was loaded.
"We should see if the techs have been able to pull any video from the security cams"
With that, they exited the conference room and headed for the control room, hoping that the techs had managed to find some evidence to support or dismiss their theory of intentional sabotage. Neither Ronon and Major Lorne were big on small talk so the journey was made in almost complete silence, both men focused on the mission at hand.
"Tell me you've got something Alex!" said Lorne hopefully as they reached the control room.
"Oh I've got something, but I'm not sure you're going to like it" replied the tech.
"Doesn't matter if I like it, show me anyway."
The tech hit a few buttons on the keyboard and the screen in front of him flickered into life. It was slightly grainy footage of the storage bay, looking pristine compared to its current state. Alex began to narrate as the video continued to play.
"So I went back and studied the footage from the moments leading up the explosion as you asked. In the minutes leading up the explosion, only two people even visited the storage bay" he explained.
"Sheppard and Kanaan" Ronon suggested and Alex confirmed.
"So what aren't I going to like?" asked Lorne impatiently.
"Well...this."
Alex stopped the video feed but didn't need to point out what he had meant. The still screen in front of them was indisputable evidence yet both Lorne and Ronon still struggled to comprehend it. It showed Kanaan adjusting a small device on the wall of the storage area, just minutes before Sheppard arrived on the scene.
"That sure looks like a micro charge. Can we see when he placed the device there?" asked Lorne.
"The feed from the hours leading up to the attack are fried, this was all I could manage to save" replied Alex.
"Its enough" said Ronon.
Major Lorne reluctantly nodded his head in agreement. Though he didn't like it, the evidence was mounting. Kanaan was a saboteur and responsible for knocking out power on Atlantis and putting Sheppard into a coma. But why?
"We need to let Woolsey know" he said unhappily.
"Yep" said Ronon succinctly.
The two men made the short journey to Woolsey's office. After a polite knock, the two men entered the room and took their seats opposite the administrative head of the expedition. Neither was entirely comfortable with what they were about to say and do, but they had no choice.
"Gentleman, I assume you have some news for me?" asked Woolsey knowingly.
"Yes sir. But I don't think you're going to like it" replied Lorne.
"Why is that?"
"Because I...we don't like it"
With that, Lorne and Ronon began to explain the results of their investigations to Woolsey, who became more and more agitated as the evidence was presented to him. How could no-one have seen this? He had been a thrall to Michael after all, how could they have trusted him so implicitly?
"Who's going to tell Teyla?" asked Lorne.
"That would be my responsibility" replied a shell-shocked Woolsey.
"I'll do it" chimed Ronon. He knew that his friendship would make the news easier to believe for her, though it would make things much harder for him, knowing that he would most likely break his friend's heart.
Woolsey was about to argue the point but relented, understanding how difficult volunteering for the duty must have been for Ronon. The big man always had his reasons and truthfully, Woolsey was glad he did not have to break such news.
"Very well Mr Dex, dismissed".