A/N: Soo…still don't believe me? That's okay. I'll say it again. I do not own Stargate Atlantis, you know. The best series ever.
IMPORTANT: If you have not read the re-written version of Chapter 20, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND GO READ IT. NOW. Thanks ^.^
Okay. If you've already read the new and improved Chapter 20: Remembering the forgotten, then you may continue on to Chapter 21. Just want to make you sure you're all caught up.
I want to thank everyone who has been keeping up with this story and who continues to read it. It means a lot to me to still have so many readers so far into the story.
This story will be ending soon, I'm afraid. Not sure when, but it's coming to a close. There will be a sequel though, don't worry.
Okay! On to Chapter 21!
Chapter 21
The stargate engaged and the chevrons locked. The SGC received the idc from Atlantis and opened the iris. General O'Neill moved from the control room down into the gate room.
He stood at the bottom of the ramp awaiting the arrivals.
Colonel John Sheppard and Dr. Elizabeth Weir stepped through the gate and walked down the ramp. "Dr. Weir, Colonel Sheppard. Glad to see you've made it. I hope you're prepared for this meeting. It's starting in five minutes."
Elizabeth nodded and stood next to Jack. "We're ready. We have a lot to discuss." John nodded and looked around to see if Mitchell had made an appearance yet or not. "If you're looking for Colonel Mitchell, he's out with SG-1 on a mission at the moment. He should be back before you leave."
John nodded and followed them as they headed to the conference room for the big meeting that would determine what would happen with the new zpms. He had been put in charge of coming up with what they could be used for. Elizabeth was in charge of coming up with arguments for each idea.
They worked as a team to put their plan together and make it fool proof. They just hoped that the IOA, the president, and everyone else who would be at this meeting would agree with the things they wanted to use the zpms for. Their strongest argument was that it would boost morale significantly to have some change on Atlantis. Some good change for once.
They walked into the conference room and sat down at the table. General O'Neill and General Landry sat down on the opposite side of the table along with the top members of the IOA.
John glanced over at Elizabeth and could tell she was nervous. He smiled at her. "No matter the outcome, it's still home and it's still ours." She locked eyes with him and smiled. "That's very insightful, John." He smirked and nodded. "Yeah, well, I've been around Nikki too much it looks like."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Thanks." Sheppard nodded and turned and stood as the President of the United States walked into the room with his bodyguards. He moved to the head of the table. He looked around the table at everyone and smiled. "Let's get started, shall we?"
SGA
Nikki paced the recreational room they were occupying. Ronon, Lorne, and Alex were sitting at a table watching Nikki pace the room back and forth. She paced for a good half hour.
Kira was laying on the couch staring at the ceiling with her arms folded behind her head. Rodney was pacing the other end of the room and Keller was trying to get him to sit down already. His pacing was giving her a headache. Teyla walked into the room and watched the scene in front of her.
She sat down on the couch next to Kira. Lorne sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "This is ridiculous. Are we really going to just sit here until they get back from the meeting?"
Ronon grunted and looked at him. "We're not just sitting here. We're watching them pace."
Evan rolled his eyes and looked at the man. "And it's driving me nuts. We need to do something to get our minds off of this. They've been gone for seven hours, I'm sure it won't be too much longer."
Kira sat up and looked at the wall. "He's right. We can't just keep sitting here, or pacing. There are no missions, and even if there were, the Colonel said no going off-world until he got back. Maybe we could go to the Mainland. Spend some time there for a while."
Rodney stopped pacing and looked at her. "Yes, but then we wouldn't be here when they did get back. They'll probably hold a meeting as soon as they do get back and then we'll miss the meeting because you're bored and want to go exploring!"
"Rodney!" He turned to look at Jennifer. She tugged on his hand and made him sit down on the couch next to her. "Sorry. I'm just nervous."
Nikki stopped pacing as well and looked out the window that was facing the ocean. "Okay, so we need something to do to occupy the time that doesn't include leaving the city. Any ideas?"
Ronon looked at Nikki. "We could watch that movie that Shep likes." Rodney snorted. "You mean Star Trek or the old football clips? No, if we watch a movie, then our minds will just wander off and we'll be thinking about them again. That won't work."
Teyla nodded. "I agree with Rodney. We need to keep our minds active."
"We could always play a game." Everyone turned and looked at Jennifer. Ronon was looking at her as if she were crazy. Nikki turned to face her. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well, we could play this game from Earth. It's called Battle of the Sexes. It pits guys against girls. It could be interesting and help us pass the time."
Nikki turned and looked at Teyla and Kira. "I'm up for it. How about everyone else?"
Ronon and Lorne exchanged looks. They were about to object when they received looks from Teyla and Kira. They immediately shut up and nodded. They knew what was best for them.
"Rodney?" Jennifer turned to look at Rodney. He was looking at the men across the room. He gulped and nodded. He didn't want to get on Jennifer's bad side.
Lorne sighed and looked at Jennifer. "Okay, what do we do?"
"We split into two groups: guys and girls. Once we're in two groups, we ask the other group questions they have to answer to get points. Like, the girls ask guys more feminine questions and the guys ask the girls more masculine questions. In this case, we won't be able to limit the questions to Earth-based questions. More universal."
They split into two groups across from each other at the table. "Okay, we'll go first. Rodney, can I see your data pad, please?"
He handed her the data pad and she brought up a notepad to keep score. She typed in the two columns for their scores and the guys' scores. "Okay, we'll ask you questions that more girls would know. If you get the question right, we keep asking questions and you get the opportunity to keep earning points. If you get it wrong, you ask the question and we get the opportunity to earn points. Is everyone ready?"
They all nodded and Jennifer looked at her teammates: Teyla, Kira, and Nikki. "Okay, what do we want to ask them?"
They discussed amongst themselves and Jennifer asked the question. "This is an Earth-based question, sorry, Ronon. Before you answer, you can talk amongst your group to confer with your teammates. Here's the question: Name the 7 dwarves in the children's fairy tale, Snow White."
Rodney's eyes widened and he turned to look at Lorne frantically. Lorne just smiled and looked at Jennifer. "Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Bashful, Doc, and Sneezy."
Rodney stared at Lorne wide-eyed. "What? I have two nephews…"
Kira laughed. "That's one point for the boys!" Ronon grunted. "Next question."
The girls whispered to each other and Teyla looked across the table. "A skillet is a type of what?"
All four men looked at each other. Ronon and Alex shrugged and looked at the other two. Rodney stared at Lorne expecting him to get the question. "What?"
"Well, you should know the answer, Mr. Seven dwarves!" "That doesn't mean I know how to cook!"
Nikki chuckled and looked at Lorne. "Do you have an answer or forfeit that question?" Lorne sighed. "I guess we forfeit."
Jennifer nodded. "Okay, it's your turn to ask a question." The men conversed with each other to come up with a question.
"Where would you find a head gasket?" Nikki snorted. "That's easy. In a car engine."
Jennifer added a point to their column after Lorne confirmed the answer was right. "Okay, what's the name given to someone who works with a band who arranges transportation and sets up equipment?"
Jennifer smiled. "A roadie." Rodney looked at Jennifer with an incredulous look on his face. "What? I was a roadie for a band in high school."
Alex snorted. "For some reason, that doesn't surprise me." Jennifer smiled and added another point to their score. "Okay, ask the next question, gentleman."
Ronon didn't wait to confer with the others. "How many Photon torpedoes could a federation starship simultaneously launch from a single photon torpedo tube?"
Everyone turned to look at him. Lorne started laughing. "I think you and Sheppard have been watching too much Star Trek, but that's a good question."
He turned and looked at the girls. They all looked at each other with blank expressions. Nikki was just about to guess when her com activated. "Dr. Teagan, this is the control room. Please respond."
She reached up and hit her com. "Teagan here." Rodney pointed at her. "No fair! No cheating!"
Nikki rolled her eyes and listened to Chuck. "Thanks, Chuck. We're on our way."
She looked at her friends. "They're back and they're calling a meeting. We're all to report to the central tower conference room immediately."
They nodded and exited the room together, making their way to the conference room. Radek and Beckett were already in the conference room when they arrived. The Colonel and Dr. Weir were still in her office preparing for the meeting.
They sat down around the table and talked amongst themselves nervously for a couple of minutes before Dr. Weir and Colonel Sheppard walked through the doors into the room. The doors shut behind them and they took their seats at the front of the table.
They both looked worn out and Nikki guessed it had been a pretty long meeting. Elizabeth arranged the notes she had taken during the meeting and gathered her thoughts before she looked up and looked around the room. Her face was neutral, so no one could tell what the verdict was. John's face was the same way.
"As you all know, Colonel Sheppard and I just came from a meeting with the President of the United States, the IOA, General O'Neill, and several others. As of right now, only part of the plan has been approved. We're still waiting to hear about the rest of it."
Rodney's brow furrowed and he sat forward. "Wait, so they sent you back without telling you what they had decided?"
Elizabeth nodded and looked down at her notes. "It seems the IOA wanted to talk with the others without us around so they had us sent back." She threw a look the Colonel's way before leaning forward and clasping her hands in front of her.
"It's not my fault the IOA are a bunch of narrow-minded, arrogant, sons of-."
"John." John shut his mouth and looked at the table. The group exchanged glances with each other before Beckett spoke up. "Are we missin' somethin' here?"
"The Colonel decided it was a good idea to get into a shouting match with the head of the IOA. Luckily for him, the President was on his side."
John looked up at Elizabeth. "I was going to let it go, but he wouldn't keep his mouth shut. He's just lucky there were two generals there that I happen to respect."
Elizabeth looked at him and gathered her thoughts before she spoke. "I understand why you were upset, hell, I was angry myself. They were out of line, I get that. But we're trying to get them to approve a plan that I know you want as much as everyone else."
Nikki looked at John and saw how tense he was. She could tell he was still pretty angry about whatever had gone down during the meeting. She decided she was going talk to him about it later when they were in private.
John nodded. "Let's just get back to the meeting, shall we?" Elizabeth nodded and looked down at her notes. "We suggested converting a room into a small church for those on Atlantis who are religious or when we have a use for a church. They approved and we'll be searching for a good location. We also need to find someone to be a sort of pastor." Beckett perked up. "Oh! I know just the man for that job, Elizabeth."
She looked up and smiled. "Excellent. You're in charge of talking to General O'Neill about getting him security clearance then." Beckett nodded, pleased that a friend of his may be coming to Atlantis.
"Drs. Beckett and Keller will be going back to Earth when we hear back from General O'Neill. We're expanding the infirmary so we'll need more doctors. You're in charge of selecting them."
Keller nodded and squeezed Rodney's hand. They had planned to have a date later that night, but it looked like it was going to have to be rescheduled.
John seemed to have calmed down and joined in. "We're also going to be building a day care since there will soon be kids running around the city. I suggest that Nikki and Teyla select who the day care providers be." Elizabeth nodded. "Since their children will be in the day care, it makes perfect sense. You'll go back with the doctors."
John turned to look at Nikki. "And you're not going to leave the SGC." She was about to protest but she saw the look in his eyes and nodded. She would talk to him about that later as well.
"We're going to be expanding the mess hall as well. It's crowded as it is, we might as well expand it while we have the resources and the time." John looked over at Lorne. "Major, you and I will be leading teams searching every inch of the uninhabited areas of the city. If there's any damage, I want to know about it. I want to know how bad it is, if it can be fixed, what rooms are living quarters and what ones are labs, I want to know everything."
Lorne nodded. "Yes, sir." John looked at Kira. "You'll also be leading your own team."
Kira's head snapped up and she looked at John with wide eyes. "You're letting me lead my own team?"
John smiled and nodded. "Sure am. That is…unless you'd rather not. I can assign someone else to lead it." "No! That's fine." Her face was lit up as she sat back in her chair. She didn't think she'd been there long enough to lead her own team for anything.
John glanced at Nikki and she smiled. Elizabeth smiled as well and continued on. "At some point, depending on the decision of the SGC, we'll be starting a small school. If the plan to have family members come to Atlantis is approved, then we'll have kids in the city who will need an education. We'll need to find teachers and build a curriculum. That can wait until there are children on Atlantis."
"Didn't you mention something about morale officers?" Elizabeth looked up at John and nodded. "Yes, I think it would do the city some good to have some morale officers. They can plan some events, especially if we'll have families coming to the city. The boredom of people off-duty should go down as well."
Ronon looked from John to Elizabeth. "Events? Like knife-throwing or something?"
Elizabeth smiled. "Well, that could be one, I suppose. Just events to get people's minds off the latest crisis of the city." Ronon grunted. "I say we should have a knife-throwing contest. Shep and I could take on the whole city."
John turned and looked at his friend with a smirk on his face. "I agree with Chewy. We should have one. You know…good for morale." Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but continued with the meeting.
"If the plan is approved, we'll need more food. Any suggestions?" Elizabeth looked around the room, but everyone stayed silent for a moment. "I could ask my people if there is any way to plant more harvest."
Dr. Weir nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Talk to your people when you get back from Earth and let me know what they say." Teyla nodded.
Elizabeth reviewed her notes once before looking up at everyone. "Well, I think that's all until we hear back from the SGC." They all stood up and left the conference room.
John and Nikki left together and went back to their quarters. Well, John's quarters, since they still hadn't found new quarters.
When they got back to the room, John sat down on the edge of the bed and ran his hands through his hair. Nikki sat down beside him and rubbed his back.
"So, want to tell me what happened in the meeting?" John took a few moments to think about what to say. "They called my judgment into question. They said, 'Should he really be here when it's obvious his priorities are screwed up?'" Nikki paused for a second. "Priorities? What are they talking about?"
"Apparently because I'm becoming a father, my priorities are all screwed to hell. According to them, I'm unfit to be the commanding officer and I should be replaced."
"You're kidding me, right? They can't do that! You're the best person for the job. They can't just take it away from you just because you're going to have a family."
John nodded. "That's what I said. And then they made a low blow and said, 'Well, if you had any sense of honor you would have waited until the two of you were married before you knocked her up. From what I hear, you were only together for a month!' They're lucky the generals were there, otherwise they'd still be unconscious for that one."
Nikki frowned and looked at John. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. "I'm sorry, John." John looked down at her with a frown on his face. "Why are you sorry?" "Because it's my fault this is happening to you."
He snorted and shook his head. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but it takes two people for the stork to come. Unless there's something I'm missing, I was there too. It's as much my fault as it is yours. And besides, it's not like they can just take my job from me just because I'm starting a family. The president said the same thing."
Nikki looked up at him. "So that's what Elizabeth meant by him being on your side?" He nodded and explained to her how the President had told the IOA to back off. "It was pretty cool actually. I probably would have laughed if I hadn't been so pissed off."
She nodded and rested her head back on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. "Back in the meeting, you looked like you wanted to argue with me."
Nikki nodded again, but stayed where she was. "I didn't want to argue in front of everyone about it, but…I don't understand."
"I told you a few days ago that I don't want you going back to Earth for a while because of what happened with Nancy. Now that you are going back to Earth, I don't want you leaving the SGC. It's the safest place for you. Especially since I'm not going with. I won't be there to protect you."
At this she did look up at him. "I can protect myself, you know." He chuckled and nodded. "Yes, I know, but I'm your fiancée and the father of the children you're carrying. It's kind of my job to kick some ass for you."
A smile lit her face and she reached up and kissed him. The kiss deepened and they slowly laid back on the bed. They probably would have gone further, but suddenly John's com activated. "Colonel Sheppard, this is the control room. Please come in." He sighed and looked at Nikki. "Duty calls." He reached up and hit his com. "This is Sheppard."
"Sir, General O'Neill has dialed in from the SGC and is requesting to speak to you." He sat up and looked at Nikki. "Can you patch it through to my quarters?" Nikki nodded and went to take a quick shower while he talked to the general.
Chuck patched the it through to John's laptop that was sitting on his desk in the corner of the room. John sat down in the chair in front of it. General O'Neill's face appeared on the screen. "General O'Neill." Jack nodded. "Colonel. Let's get down to business, shall we?"
John nodded and waited for Jack to continue. "The IOA was strongly against the plan." John nodded. "I figured they were, sir. They didn't quite keep that to themselves."
"No, they certainly didn't. But the President overruled them. It seems he has a fondness for you and took your side. The plan has been approved and you're to put together a list of people who may want to go to Atlantis. Once you have the list, you are to send it here and I'll take it from there. I'll keep you updated, of course. Also, I ask that you hold off on sending the good doctors for now. You see, we're still in the process of finding suitable candidates. I'll dial in when we're ready for them."
John nodded. "Yes, sir. You also may want to find some suitable candidates for day care providers. We'll be sending Teyla and Dr. Teagan with the doctors to find people for the day care."
Jack nodded. "Will do. I'll pass along the word. Well, I hate to chat and run, but I have some dreaded paperwork to catch up on. I'm sure you understand that. Take care." "Yes, sir. You too, sir."
Jack nodded again and the screen went dark. John sat back in his chair and thought about what the general had said. He hit his com. "Sheppard to Dr. Weir."
"This is Weir. What is it, John?" "Did you talk to the General?" There was a pause. "I wasn't aware that he had dialed in. I went for a walk to clear my head. I assume you talked to him?"
John smiled and walked over to the bed. He sat down before continuing. "Yep. It seems the plan was approved. We're to send the doctors and Teyla the next time they dial in. They're still trying to come up with candidates for them to sort through. We're also supposed to make a list of family that may be interested in coming to the city."
"That's good news! I'll let them know they're off-world journey will have to wait for now. I'll also start on the list when I get back to my office. Meet me in my office first thing tomorrow and we'll continue the process."
John nodded to himself, laying back on his bed, getting relaxed. "I'll see you then. Sheppard out."
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He vaguely heard the shower turning off and then a couple of minutes later the bed moved next to him.
He peeked his eyes open and looked to his left. Nikki was laying there in a towel and watching him. She smiled when he turned to look at her. "So, good news?"
He nodded and his face brightened a little. "The plan was approved. And you wanna know the best part?"
"What's that?" His smile grew and he tugged her down on top of him. "You're not leaving tonight. So you're all mine."
She giggled and nuzzled his neck. "And what is it we'll be doing?"
He wrapped his arms around her and rolled them over so that he was on top. "Oh, you know. The same thing we did for the good ole stork to be paying us a visit in a few months."
She giggled again as his mouth came down on a very sensitive spot on her neck. They were going to have a pretty good night. They usually did when it was just the two of them.
He pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes. "You know, I really can't wait to be your husband." Her face brightened. "And why is that, John?" "Because I'll have the most beautiful wife a man could possibly have."
So. The plan was approved and that means Dave and his family will have the oppurtunity to move to Atlantis! That is..if the kids want to...They still have to talk to them about it. What do you think about the plan so far? What did you think about the game they played while they waited for the meeting to be over?
Also...Alex needs a girlfriend, I think. Any suggestions? I have someone in mind...but, I'm still debating on it. Let me know what you think! Review please!