Disclaimer: The characters of, "Stargate: SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis", are owned by Robert C. Cooper, Brad Wright, Sci-Fi Channel and whoever else was involved with the creation and production of these two shows. Any new characters and story lines that come into play are of my own creation. No copyright infringement is intended. This is a fanfiction intended for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made off of it.
Chapter 3: The Tower
Sheppard looked up from the floor of the tower and saw that Teyla was being dangled over the edge of the balcony by the girl. "No! Stop!" Sheppard yelled as he ignored the pain in his leg and got unsteadily to his feet, using the wall of the tower to hold him up.
The girl paused, her hands still enclosed on Teyla's throat, but she had released the pressure enough which allowed a minimal amount of air to go into Teyla's lungs.
Sheppard stepped forward. "It's all right, you can let her go. I don't want you to hurt her. She is a friend," Sheppard said calmly yet firmly as he focused intently on the girl and trying not to look at Teyla.
The girl hesitated for a moment before she pulled Teyla back from the edge. She released Teyla and stepped back.
As Teyla rubbed her sore throat, she couldn't keep her eyes of the girl, wondering if she was going to attack again.
"Teyla, I suggest that you slowly come to me," Sheppard said as he kept his eyes on the girl. He had his hands held in the air the universal sign of meaning no harm.
Sheppard breathed a sigh of relief, but it didn't last long when he sensed someone else in the tower. He slowly turned around and saw Ronan standing in the doorway, his gun firmly in his hand ready to fire at a second's notice. Sheppard saw Ronan look at Teyla and when Ronan's knuckles turned white, Sheppard knew that he had seen the newly formed bruises on Teyla's neck.
Ronan was about to leap at the girl but Sheppard stepped in between them. "Calm down. The fight is over."
The look that Ronan shot Sheppard would have cut through a diamond, but Sheppard just ignored him and signaled for Teyla to come to the door, slowly so she wouldn't seem threatening.
The girl watched with suspicious eyes as Teyla walked over to Sheppard and Ronan.
"You're just going to leave her here?" Ronan asked incredulously when Sheppard had turned to the stairs.
"Uh, yeah," Sheppard answered as he signaled that they should go and gave Ronan a firm look when he didn't move. "That's an order, Ronan."
Ronan was about to argue but Teyla placed her hand on his arm. When he looked at Teyla, she was shaking her head, for she knew that it was best not to argue with Sheppard when he had made up his mind.
"Colonel Sheppard, you left the girl in the tower?" Dr. Weir asked wondering why the girl hadn't been securely locked in a cell.
"Yes, because I think that would be better than locking her up."
"Look, Sheppard, the girl is dangerous. We should return her to that forsaken planet and never dial that address again," Ronan said.
"Ronan, she was frightened and confused. She's all right now," Sheppard replied.
"I agree with Ronan. She is a danger. She attacked Dr. Beckett and then she attacked Teyla, who hadn't even posed a threat to her."
"She stopped trying to hurt Teyla when I asked her to. I know she won't attack Teyla or anyone else again," Sheppard said keeping his eyes steady and firm on Dr. Weir.
Dr. Weir sighed and refrained from rubbing her temple. "How can you be so sure?"
"I just know, Elizabeth," Sheppard said in a low voice but it was filled with conviction.
Dr. Weir nodded, knowing the look in Sheppard's eyes. "Very well. She is your responsibility and therefore if she causes trouble, you are going to have to deal with the consequences without a complaint or a comment."
Sheppard agreed with a nod of his head.
Dr. Weir saw that Sheppard was still placing his weight on his uninjured leg. "Colonel, I want you to get some rest so your leg will heal."
"Of course, Dr. Weir. Ma'am," Sheppard replied.
Dr. Weir knew that Sheppard wouldn't rest because he would be up in the tower with the girl. "You are both dismissed."
"Colonel Sheppard," Dr. Weir called out.
Sheppard turned around and stood just inside the door. "Yes?"
"Why did you leave the girl up at the tower?" Dr. Weir asked keeping her eyes firmly locked onto Sheppard's eyes.
Sheppard drummed his fingers on the wall before he answered. "I let her remain in the tower because she likes it up there. It keeps her calm."
Weir nodded and dismissed Sheppard with a wave of her hand. When Sheppard left, she looked at the notes that she had taken while she had been told of what had happened. She wondered if Sheppard should be placing his trust in a girl who had tried to kill a member of his team, regardless of the fact that she had stopped when he had asked her to.
Weir hoped that Sheppard wouldn't get too attached to the girl in case she proved to be to dangerous to handle. She didn't want to think about what would happen if that was the case, but she knew she had to be prepared. That was the only way to protect the people who had come to depend on her and to protect Atlantis.
When Sheppard stepped out of Dr. Weir's office, he saw that Ronan was leaning against the wall and that Teyla was walking towards him.
"I thought Dr. Beckett's assistant was checking you out?"
"He did," Teyla nodded, "but now I am here to report to Dr. Weir. I see that you and Ronan have already spoken with her."
"Yes," Sheppard replied.
Teyla frowned, clearly knowing what Dr. Weir had decided and what Sheppard had said for their leader to make that decision.
Sheppard couldn't help but feel the tension between him and Teyla about the girl. Sheppard knew that their friendship was at risk, but the girl needed someone to be on her side and it seemed that he was the only one there to do the job.
Once Teyla had stepped into Dr. Weir's office, Ronan indicated with a look to Sheppard that he wished to speak with him, alone.
"I usually back you up, Sheppard, but this girl is dangerous. We have no idea who she is or what she can do."
"You're right about that Ronan, but she does listen to me, for whatever reason. She needs to be given a chance; just like the chance you were given."
"That was different," Ronan said knowing the chance that Sheppard had given him and hoping that Sheppard wasn't about to make a mistake this time with the girl.
"I really don't see the difference, Ronan. A lot of people here considered you dangerous and that we should have dropped you off on some distant planet."
Ronan sighed, not understanding why Sheppard couldn't see that the girl was a threat to not only Teyla and himself, but also Atlantis. "Look, Sheppard, I back you up on all of your decisions," Ronan said as he ignored the "yeah-right" look that Sheppard just gave him, "but this is one I can't support."
Sheppard nodded his head accepting that it was Ronan's choice to disagree or agree with him, but he was the team leader and it was his decision. "Ronan, I appreciate everything, but I have the situation handled. I have to get back."
Ronan watched as Sheppard limped away, wondering why the man was being so stubborn and blind. He knew that Sheppard only thought he had the situation handled as well as the girl, but Ronan knew that he had better stay close and guard the girl from the shadows.
"Uh, hello," Sheppard said cautiously as he stepped up to the girl who hadn't moved or indicated that she knew of his presence.
"You don't talk much, do you?" Sheppard asked as he waited for the girl to give him some sort of sign that she understood what he was saying. When she didn't respond, he sighed audibly and wondered exactly what he had gotten himself into by becoming the girl's protector.
Sheppard looked into the girl's eyes and then looked at the sky. The cloudless sky was the purest blue he had ever seen. When he looked at the girl, he saw that her eyes were the same color.
"Well, since you don't speak, can't tell me your name and you seem to enjoy looking at the sky I'll call you Sky." Sheppard wasn't expecting the girl to respond but was surprised when she turned and looked him in the eye. She nodded her head once before her gaze returned to the sky that seemed to have her enchanted.
"I'm glad that you agree. At least, I hope that's why you nodded. Well, Sky, I guess I'll stick with you for a little while. Maybe I'll find out why you enjoy staring up at the sky so much." Sheppard leaned on railing and gazed at the sky, feeling as though he and the strange girl were two sentinels guarding over everything that lay beneath the vast blue sky.
guardianM3: Thanks to those who have reviewed this story so far. Sorry about the long wait. I hope you all will enjoy it.