.*Wake up, young one.* The voice drew Heart from sleep, and she stirred, shifting and opening her eyes. The light in the isolation room was dimmer than before, but she had no trouble seeing Todd, still sitting next to her bed. He sat meditatively staring at the wall, giving no outward indication that he had woken her up; his eyes finally turned to her as she moved.
Feeling better than she had the last few days, Heart slowly sat up. She carefully stretched and yawned, pleased that she was able to do so with only a minor ache. Glancing at the guards by the door, she wondered when Dr. Keller would come by so she could tell her that her plan seemed to be working.
.*I take it you are feeling better?* Todd asked, and she turned to him, nodding as she gave a small smile.
.*Much.* Just as she responded, she felt a pang in her stomach and put a hand to it as it gurgled unhappily.
.*Are you alright?* Todd leaned forward, causing Heart to move her hand away from her stomach as her cheeks flushed with color.
.*I'm just…hungry* she answered, pleasantly surprised to realize that the pain was the normal hunger she had felt her whole life, not the burning need she had only recently begun to experience. Her father gave a nod and leaned back.
.*It is early, but I can…persuade the guards to bring you the morning meal. The humans want to meet with us again in a few hours, but first, I wanted to continue our discussion from last night* the elder wraith explained, and Heart's good mood deflated as she recalled their argument from the night before. Todd saw her smile fade and leaned forward with a small mental sigh. He was silent for a moment, and when he finally spoke, it was with some hesitation, as if what he wanted to say wasn't easy.
.*What I told you yesterday, that I thought of you and your mother throughout my imprisonment, was not a lie. I wanted nothing more than to be free of those humans and to return to you, but…it is not…easy to admit such a thing. I also did not lie when I said that anger kept me strong; it stopped the constant hunger from breaking me.* Heart was quiet for a moment as she considered his words.
.*Isn't it possible that it was both your anger and your hope that kept you strong?* she finally asked quietly. *After what happened to mother I…I lost myself to anger. I tried so many times to kill him or the drones that were assigned to him, but I wasn't strong enough.* She frowned as she recalled those dark days. *All I could think about was getting revenge against him for his betrayal. Then, I had a dream; mother was there and she-* Heart stopped, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. Once she felt that she wasn't going to start crying, she continued. *She asked me why I was so angry, and I told her that she was…that I was angry because she was dead, and I hadn't been able to stop it. She smiled and she said-* The lump reappeared and Heart's throat burned as tears filled her eyes.
Todd watched her with an inscrutable expression. When the first tear escaped and began trailing down her cheek, he stood and carefully sat down next to her on the bed. Hesitantly, he put a hand on her face, cupping her cheek and wiping away the tear. She looked at him with watery eyes and saw the same pain she felt mirrored in his eyes as he allowed his stoic expression to fade, and Heart found the strength to finish her story.
.*She said that as long as I was alive, she couldn't truly be gone. She told me that anger can make me strong, but it can also make me reckless. She said that my life must have purpose beyond revenge, or it would only be a half-life. And then…* Heart took a breath and smiled softly as another tear fell. *Then she hugged me and told me she was proud of me.* She shook her head, feeling a little silly. *I know it was only a dream, but…it felt so real and it…it gave me hope.* She offered Todd a wry smile at her admittance, but he didn't return it. Instead, he pulled his hand from her face and, eyes suspiciously wet, carefully pulled her into an embrace. Surprised by the move, Heart didn't pull away, but leaned into him, wrapping her arms around him as his grip on her tightened into a proper hug.
.*I am so sorry that I wasn't there for you and your mother* his mind whispered to her, pained remorse evident in his tone. *I would give anything to have been able to save her, and to spare you what you went through.* He stroked her hair as he 'talked', and Heart buried her face in his chest as more tears rolled down her cheeks. *I know she would have been proud of you, as I am.*
.*If you return with me, I will not force you to feed, but you must know that it will take time for the others to understand. You will have to prove that it does not make you weak.* Todd finally said a minute later, pulling away. Heart put a hand to her face and wiped the remainder of her tears away. Her next thoughts came slowly.
.*You said that the Lanteans were only strong because they are adaptable. What if we became adaptable? There aren't enough humans since all the wraith woke up, and I heard some of the humans have developed a weapon that kills wraith if they feed on them. If wraith are constantly fighting over human worlds, they will become weaker. What if we could ally with the Lanteans? And learn how to make our own food? We wouldn't need to fight for worlds, or risk culling the wrong humans, or-* Heart's thoughts ran faster as she went, until the elder wraith cut her off with a verbal laugh, leaning back. Her gaze hardened and he shook his head, still chuckling quietly.
.*I do not laugh at you, young Heart. But I would suggest that you get settled into your role as Queen before trying to implement any of your…ideas* he told her, and she ducked her head, blushing. *You will need to be patient; change won't happen quickly, or easily. Until an alternative option is available, cullings need to continue, and you will be responsible for ordering them.*
Heart bit her lip, looking down at her lap at the realization that she would have to order the deaths of innocent humans to take care of the wraith in her hive. Her hive; the thought startled her as she realized that she had subconsciously already decided to go with To-her father. Just as suddenly, doubt began to seep back in. It seemed an insurmountable task to take control of a ship full of wraith both older and stronger than herself, even with her father backing her.
.*Does this mean you will return with me?* The elder wraith asked slowly, his tone carefully measured. Heart paused, swallowing as she considered. Finally, she gave a tentative nod.
.*I want to, but I…I don't know if I'm ready to lead a hive* she admitted nervously.
.*You are very young to take control of an entire hive* Todd admitted. *But I will act as your advisor until you feel confident enough to lead on your own.* Heart slowly nodded, still uncertain but also a little excited by the opportunity. In the silence that followed, her stomach's gurgle was plainly heard by both wraith, and Heart blushed again as she put a hand to her midsection while Todd chuckled quietly. He stood from her bed and looked to the guards.
.*I'll have them bring you some food, young one.*
….
Dr. Keller, Colonel Sheppard, and a nurse arrived just as Heart was finishing her breakfast. Todd stood on the opposite side of the bed and had resumed his gruff demeanor, glaring as the doctor asked Heart how she felt and having her carefully stretch and stand in various ways to test her body. The young wraith was happy to oblige, pleased to finally feel healthy again, and even more pleased when both doctor and nurse worked to disconnect her from the medical equipment. They set up a privacy screen they had brought with them so Heart could change out of the thin hospital gown into a new set of grey clothes.
.*We'll get you a proper gown once we return to the hive* Todd told her, eyeing the loose shirt. Heart nodded as her fingers played with the hem at her waist. She heard a throat clear and looked up to see Dr. Keller staring at her father. The nurse standing beside her was holding a small tray that held various items and looked nervous. Colonel Sheppard was standing to the side, but looked tense, watching Todd closely.
"What?" Todd snapped, crossing his arms.
"I'm going to run what's called a paternity test, to make sure you really are Heart's father." As she spoke, she gave a reassuring smile to the young wraith, but looked back at Todd as he growled and took a menacing step forward, prompting the guards to raise their weapons.
"I already told you-"
"I just need a sample of your blood," the doctor interrupted him, flushing but standing her ground.
"Your 'test' isn't necessary; she has already agreed to go with me," he snarled between clenched teeth. Dr. Keller looked at Heart in surprise, then her lips pursed and she glanced at the Colonel.
"Colonel Carter just heard back from the IOA." Sheppard paused and met Todd's eyes. Heart was confused, not knowing who or what the IOA was. "They've ordered us to keep Heart here." At this, Todd growled again, stepping closer to the young wraith. Heart felt a chill go up her spine as her eyes widened in surprise, wondering if this was the moment that the humans betrayed them both. She looked between the humans in front of her, then at the guards who had stepped away from the doorway, eyes locked on the two wraith. Before either could say anything, the colonel continued. "If we can show you are Heart's father, that gives us a valid reason to ignore that order, if that's what she wants."
"And if your 'test' doesn't work?" Todd sneered.
"The test looks at your DNA-I've already sequenced Heart's," Dr. Keller stated firmly. "If you are her father, the test will prove it." Todd's expression didn't change and Colonel Sheppard sighed loudly.
"Damn it, Todd, if we weren't gonna try to work with you, I'd have already shot you and shipped you back to your hive by now."
"And every wraith ship in range would be told the location of this city," Todd growled. The two glared at each other, neither willing to back down. Heart knew that she and Todd were at a disadvantage, and yet the humans were still trying to negotiate. It could be a ploy, but she didn't think so. She slowly stepped forward to stand next to her father, causing all to look at her.
"All you need is some of his blood?" she asked. Dr. Keller nodded, grabbing a small tube from the tray.
"Just a small amount. It'll only take an hour or so to run the test."
.*This isn't n-* Todd started in her mind, but Heart ignored him.
"Do you promise to let me go if it proves he is my father?" Her gaze went from the doctor to the colonel. Sheppard nodded slowly, but looked confused.
"If that's what you want-but yesterday you said you didn't want to go with him. What changed your mind?" Heart glanced at the wraith standing next to her, then back at the colonel.
"We…talked," she said slowly, not really wanting to go into detail about what all was discussed the day before.
"Even though you don't want to feed?" he asked disbelievingly. Heart took a breath to answer, but Todd broke in.
"If you're going to insist on this, let's get it over with," he sneered. Colonel Sheppard studied the elder wraith for a moment then nodded shortly, stepping to the side to let Dr. Keller and the nurse step forward. The doctor motioned for Todd to sit.
"Please remove your jacket," she said, waiting until he had done so before moving to his left arm and preparing it for the blood draw. Heart took a step back to give the doctor room to work, watching.
"Who is the IOA?" she asked as the doctor inserted a needle into the crook of Todd's elbow, then attached the vial to the needle.
"They're a group of bureaucrats back on Earth that like to pretend they know what's going on out here," Colonel Sheppard answered derisively.
"I thought Colonel Carter was in charge of Atlantis?" Sheppard grimaced and tilted his head to the side.
"She is, at least when it comes to the day-to-day stuff, but the IOA controls our funding and who is assigned here. Sometimes they issue orders that we're supposed to follow, but there are usually ways around them."
"Your politics are unnecessarily complex," Todd growled as the needle was withdrawn from his arm. Sheppard crossed his arms as he nodded in agreement. Heart concurred with her father, though she wouldn't mind learning more at some point.
"They are, but at least I don't have to deal with them directly like Carter does." Sheppard gestured for Todd to stand. Dr. Keller had laid the needle and vial back on the tray held by the nurse and was instructing her to take it back to the infirmary to be tested.
"Speaking of Carter, we need to get to the briefing room." Todd's nostrils flared in annoyance as he put his long coat back on and gave a meaningful look to Heart. He stood, and when the young wraith had passed him, he moved to be directly behind her right side, the way Heart had seen her mother's guard stand. They followed the doctor and colonel out the door and were flanked on all four sides by armed guards.
