EIGHT HOURS EARLIER
Rodney sat in the chair in front of Elizabeth's desk and tried not to fidget as she read his report.
Elizabeth looked up from the tablet computer. "You won't need the 'gate on P4J-631?"
Rodney shook his head. "No. Once Zelenka shuts down all of the Asurian security measures in place to detect the ATA gene, we can use the 'gate and jumpers to get there and back." Rodney crossed his arms over his chest, stared at the pot on the end of Elizabeth's desk, and muttered, "Assuming he's even trying to shut down the security measures."
"I'm sure he's doing his best," Elizabeth replied with a tiny smile.
Rodney narrowed his eyes. "Maybe."
Elizabeth shook her head and focused on the report.
Rodney sat forward and pointed at the computer. "Whatever. The 'gate the Daedalus is harvesting from M2X-418 is the last one we need for the Pegasus side of the 'gate bridge. The next step will be for the Daedalus to place the space 'gates on our side of the void between the Pegasus and Milky Way galaxies."
He stood, walked around the desk, and paged through the report until he found the section on the final 'gate bridge configuration. "Once the bridge is complete, it should look something like this," he said, pointing to an image of a series of 'gates on planets close to Atlantis and then switching to a line of space 'gates in the void, terminating at a space station with a Pegasus 'gate on one end and a Milky Way 'gate on the other.
"Once they're all in place, I can finish the calibrations and start testing the macro."
Elizabeth studied the information on the screen and nodded. "How long before we can start testing the entire system?"
Rodney pressed his lips into a thin line. "It's going to take at least a month for the Daedalus to place the 'gates and then another month for testing."
Elizabeth looked up from the computer. "That long?"
"I would ... I would hate to think that recent events might have permanently dimmed your faith in my abilities, or your trust. At the very least, I hope I can earn that back."
"That may take a while."
He would not make that mistake again, Rodney silently vowed.
Thanks to an abundance of Zed-PMs, the Ancients had never considered the idea of a 'gate bridge linking the Pegasus and Milky Way galaxies. He was well aware of not only the scrutiny the SGC had him under to make this work but also what was at stake if the test failed.
A lot more than his reputation and another lost chance for a Nobel Prize, he thought grimly. He would check and double-check everything before allowing anything organic through the 'gate bridge.
Rodney straightened with his hands behind his back. "It could be longer if there are problems placing the 'gates or issues with the macro."
Elizabeth frowned. "General Landry, not to mention the IOA, are expecting results soon. I'll need to give them a reason for the delay."
Rodney scowled. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm a little short-handed at the moment, thanks to the fact Radek and every other scientist who doesn't have the ATA gene has been crawling all over that Asurian tower for the last three weeks."
"Radek's hunch was right," Elizabeth reminded him. "His team wasn't locked out of the tower, and they have made progress with the Asurian systems."
Rodney snorted. "His team," he grumbled. "I just know Zelenka has been hoarding all of the good stuff for himself. I've read his reports. He must have found something more interesting than the Asurian database and a few artefacts by now."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, and Rodney forced down the spurt of impatience. "I'm certain whatever they bring back will keep all of you busy for the next several months," she said.
Rodney chose not to press the issue or his luck. He moved around to the front of Elizabeth's desk and stood behind the visitor's chair. "In addition to trying to get the 'gate bridge working, I'm still working on that idea for trans-universe harvesting of zero-point energy, and I have a crate of Ancient devices Major Lorne's team brought back from M9R-174 weeks ago to analyse. Then there's the teams on the mainland -" He stopped speaking when Elizabeth held up a hand.
"All right," Elizabeth replied, handing back the computer. "You've made your point. I'll inform Stargate Command that we are still a couple of months from final testing."
Rodney took the computer and closed the report. "What about construction of the space station we need for the crossover?"
Elizabeth rested her arms on the desk, and Rodney knew from her closed expression that he would not like her answer. "The IOA wants proof your 'gate bridge idea will work before they authorise the time and resources to complete the Midway Station infrastructure."
Rodney shook his head.
No one appreciated what he was trying to do with the 'gate bridge, he grumbled to himself. They only saw a faster way to get from Atlantis to Earth and back again. And now the IOA was holding back on finishing the station? He wasn't an idiot. He knew that without a completed Midway Station, they would have to test the bridge with a ship.
Which meant a pilot.
Which meant Sheppard would likely be the one making that first test run.
Everything will be triple-checked before that happens, he silently vowed.
"Figures." Rodney huffed out a breath.
Elizabeth nodded. "Once the Daedalus collects the 'gate on M2X-418, Colonel Caldwell will pick up Radek's team and bring them home. That should help with your overwhelming workload."
Rodney narrowed his eyes. Was she being sarcastic? he wondered.
Elizabeth sat back in her chair. "I assume Colonel Sheppard told you about the mission briefing tomorrow morning? Your team is scheduled to survey P4X-237."
Rodney scowled. "Was I not clear about everything I need to get done?"
"Doctor Beckett signed off on your return to full duty last week," Elizabeth told him. "Your team is up next in the mission rotation. Unless there is a compelling reason to pull you …" She let the sentence hang.
Rodney sighed and shook his head. As much as he would welcome the additional time to get work done, he knew Sheppard would never pass up the chance to explore a new planet.
"I can't do anything with the 'gate bridge until the Daedalus finishes their part, and everything else can wait, I guess."
Elizabeth nodded and opened her computer. "Then I'll see you at the briefing tomorrow morning."
Rodney took the hint and left the office, ignoring the techs at the consoles as he left the control center and headed toward his lab.
"Rodney!" a voice called behind him as he neared the transporter.
Rodney ignored the voice and kept walking. He had too many things he needed to get done, he thought. He didn't have time to waste on idle chit-chat.
He felt a hand on his arm, looked to his left, and saw Teyla standing beside him. "Did you not hear me?" she asked.
"Oh, umm, sorry," Rodney replied. "A lot on my mind." He frowned and kept walking toward the transporter. "I thought you were on the mainland."
"I was," Teyla replied, keeping pace with him. "However, Colonel Sheppard radioed and said a mission briefing was scheduled for tomorrow. Sergeant Stackhouse was returning to the city after delivering supplies to Doctor Brown's team, and I returned with him."
Rodney remembered Sheppard mentioning something about Teyla returning to the city at breakfast and grunted. They reached the transporter, and Rodney tried to reach around Teyla for the sensor, but she moved with him and blocked his escape route.
Teyla studied him for a moment and frowned. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I just have a lot I need to get done. So, if you don't mind …" Rodney inched around her and waved his hand over the transporter sensor.
Teyla rested a hand on Rodney's arm. "Since I am here, and as you missed our last few training sessions while recovering from quelen fever, I thought we could have a defence class this afternoon."
"Um." Rodney glanced at the tablet computer. "I really don't -"
"I spoke to Colonel Sheppard before coming to find you," Teyla continued. "He was the one to suggest we meet."
Figures, Rodney thought to himself. Sheppard had made more than a few not-so-subtle hints the last few days about the neglected classes.
"I have also asked Ronon to join us," Teyla finished.
Rodney had a flash memory of Ronon slamming him into a window and felt a jolt in his stomach. "Ronon? Umm, why?" he asked, hoping he sounded curious and not nervous.
Teyla smiled. "You have made excellent progress in learning to defend yourself against hand-to-hand attacks. The next thing you must learn is how to defend against grappling opponents. Ronon has agreed to assist me in teaching you how to defend against and escape from various holds."
Rodney grimaced. "I really don't think," he started to say but stopped when Teyla frowned. "Fine," he capitulated. "But when Ronon breaks me in half, you can explain it to Sheppard."
"I will see you at our regular time," Teyla replied. She took a few steps, then turned and added, "And I am certain Ronon will not do anything to hurt you."
"I'm not," Rodney grumbled. He waved his hand over the transporter sensor again and, once inside, pressed the map section for his lab.
"Just what I need," he muttered as he entered the lab, made sure the lab door was closed, and set the tablet computer on his desk. "More work than I have time to deal with, and now Ronon pummeling me in the name of training."
He glanced at the crate of Ancient items sitting at the end of the work table and then at the two computers with his current work on harvesting zero-point energy through a trans-universe bridge.
Maybe he needed to research cloning, he thought. If there were two of him, he might stand a chance of getting something done.
He picked up one of the Ancient devices and turned it over in his hand.
"Doctor McKay?" Doctor McNab said from the open doorway.
"What?" Rodney replied. He glanced at the door and frowned. "What is all of that?"
McNab entered the lab and set the crate of items on the work table. "This is the last of the artefacts Major Lorne's team brought back from M9R-174."
Rodney stood and peered into the crate. He had read Lorne's mission brief but hadn't had the time to learn more about what they had brought back from the planet.
"So far, no one has been able to get any of these to function," McNab continued, "so we can't do further analysis."
Rodney looked up from the crate with a glare. "Tell me you aren't just picking up random objects and telling them 'on'."
McNab frowned. "Of course not. Everyone has been following the standard procedure." He waved his hand at the crate. "Doctor Kusanagi's report is in the file at the top. She is unsure if some other component is missing from these items or if they are simply non-functioning. She wanted to know if you had any other ideas."
Rodney picked up a small device that looked like a portable keypad. "Fine. I'll figure out what they do when I have some time."
Lorne's last trip to M9R-174 was almost two months ago, and the crate of Ancient artefacts still sat untouched where McNab had left it two weeks ago. Rodney set the device back on top of the pile and turned to the computers.
The need for a permanent power source outweighed his curiosity about the various devices, he reminded himself, and pushed the crate toward the end of the work table.
"Get the zero-point wormhole issue solved. Then worry about the artefacts."
Rodney pulled out the stool, sat in front of the computer with the trans-universe program, and re-ran his simulation on the second computer. As with his previous three attempts, the wormhole collapsed before it could fully form.
"The theory is sound," he muttered. "There has to be a way to focus the energy so the pocket won't collapse."
As Rodney stared at the mathematical models on the computer screen, he remembered the enclosure on Rivis with the emitter and rings. At the time, he had suspected the Ancients were attempting to find a new way to harvest the zero-point energy needed to charge the Zed-PMs.
Could he build something similar? he wondered.
He booted up a third computer and created a search string for the data dump he'd recovered from Rivas.
How much of the database had Chaudhri's team translated? Rodney thought as he hit the return key. While the math was universal, he'd need detailed descriptions of the rings and the emitter if he wanted to build an updated version. He made sure the search had started, then returned to the first computer and rechecked his math.
He was through the first set of equations when the computer running the search pinged. Rodney glanced at the list of files and nodded when he saw most of them had been translated.
"Yes! Now we're getting somewhere," he said as he opened the first file and scanned the schematic and the translated notes.
The more he read, the more he realised he might be onto something and he started making notes on a fourth computer. He was lost in the math and the potential success of the idea when a persistent beeping noise brought him back to the present.
Rodney shut off the alarm and glanced at his watch.
Lesson with Teyla, he reminded himself. He weighed the pros and cons of conveniently forgetting the lesson for a few seconds, then sighed and stood.
"Better to get it over with," he decided as he left the lab.
He stopped in his quarters long enough to change into a t-shirt and sweatpants, then headed for the section with the gym and workout rooms.
Rodney crept into the training room only a few minutes late and half expected Ronon to jump him as soon as he cleared the doorway.
Nothing happened.
Rodney relaxed as he peered around the empty room. "Teyla?" he needlessly called.
He waited a few seconds, then blew out a breath and backed toward the door. "If anyone asks, you can always tell Sheppard you showed up."
He had only managed a few backward steps when he felt arms wrapped around him from behind, trapping his arms at his sides.
"Hey!" Rodney exclaimed. He felt a spurt of panic and then noticed the leather bracers wrapped around his attacker's forearms. "Ronon?" he squeaked. "What are you doing? Let me go."
He tried to squirm out of Dex's hold, but it was no use. He didn't have the leverage to break Ronon's grip, and Dex's arms wrapped around his chest made it difficult for him to breathe.
"Have to do better than that, McKay," Ronon growled in his ear and lifted Rodney a few centimeters off his feet.
Rodney squirmed harder and heard Ronon chuckling behind him.
Rodney tried twisting his arms, but Ronon only tightened his hold.
"Put me down," Rodney ordered, a little breathless from Ronon's squeezing.
"Not how this works," Ronon replied. "Figure it out."
Rodney grimaced and tried to think. He twisted his arms and realised his left hand was dangerously close to Ronon's groin. He hesitated, then felt an evil smile curl his lips as he started pinching Dex's inner thigh.
The effect was immediate and surprising.
Ronon growled, released his hold, and shoved Rodney away from him.
Rodney stumbled as he fought to regain his balance, not to mention his breath, then turned, expecting Dex to attack. He raised his arms like Teyla had shown him and watched as Ronon glared and flexed his hands.
What were you thinking? Rodney berated himself. He is going to kill you! It worked, though, he mentally countered with a tiny private smile.
"You'll pay for that," Dex growled, stalking across the room.
Rodney gulped and tried to remember everything Teyla had shown him as he quickly backed away from Dex.
"Ronon? Rodney?" Teyla said as she entered the room. She set a workout bag on one of the benches and glanced from Ronon to Rodney. "What is going on?"
Ronon stopped moving, glowered at Rodney, then turned to Teyla. "Nothing."
Rodney waited until Ronon took several steps away, then dropped his hands.
Teyla glanced from Rodney to Ronon and shook her head. "In that case," she motioned Rodney toward the mats placed on the floor in the center of the room. "Ronon?" she added.
Ronon glared at Rodney, then crossed the room and stood beside Teyla.
"There will be times when you are surprised -" Teyla started to say.
Rodney couldn't stop his smirk, and Ronon growled.
Teyla glanced at Dex with a puzzled frown. "When you are surprised," she continued to Rodney, "or confronted by more than one opponent and find yourself restrained."
Teyla moved onto the mats between Rodney and Ronon. "Ronon, please take Rodney's right arm in a restraining hold behind his back."
Rodney saw Dex's feral grin and swallowed. "Are you sure about this?" he asked Teyla as Ronon twisted his right arm behind his back. Rodney winced as Ronon increased the pressure on his shoulder joint.
Ronon wrapped his left arm around Rodney's throat and squeezed. "Told you," he murmured in Rodney's ear. "Try that again."
Rodney found it hard to breathe and started struggling, ignoring the strain on his shoulder.
"Ronon," Teyla admonished.
Ronon loosened the arm wrapped around Rodney's neck.
Teyla checked Ronon's hold, then stepped back. "All right, Rodney. Try to break Ronon's hold."
"You're kidding, right?" Rodney demanded as he tried to pull out of Ronon's grip.
"You must use your opponent's weaknesses to your advantage," she patiently reminded him.
Rodney scowled as he continued to struggle. "In case you haven't noticed, I don't think Ronon has any weaknesses."
Teyla smiled. "The key is in the grip Ronon has on your arm."
Rodney grunted. "I think it's the one he's got wrapped around my neck," he sarcastically replied.
"You can do this," Teyla told him.
Rodney rolled his eyes, then tried twisting one way, then the other.
Ronon responded by inching Rodney's arm farther up his back.
Rodney winced and stopped struggling. "I give up. How do I get him to let go?"
"Didn't try very hard," Ronon said.
Rodney glowered and pulled against Dex's arm wrapped around his throat.
Ronon remained unmoved.
Rodney stopped pulling on Ronon's arm and glared at Teyla. "A little help?"
"It is all a matter of leverage," Teyla replied, stepping in front of Rodney. "First, reach up with your left hand," she positioned Rodney's hand around Ronon's wrist, "and pull down hard on Ronon's wrist wrapped around your throat. That will loosen the hold.
"At the same time, step forward with your right foot," she tapped Rodney's foot until he took a step, "and twist your hips. As you twist, you will break Ronon's grip on your arm."
Rodney gave her a skeptical glance.
"Trust me," Teyla said with a smile. "It will work."
Rodney blew out a breath and did as Teyla suggested. His first few attempts had no effect, but the third time he tried, he managed to loosen Ronon's hold on his neck.
"Good," Teyla said. "Next, use the continued motion from your left arm, pulling down to strike Ronon's right forearm with your elbow. If your timing is correct, you will break Ronon's grip on your arm and be able to escape."
Feeling a little more confident, Rodney dutifully moved through the steps Teyla outlined.
"This isn't working," Rodney grunted as he tried to coordinate stepping, twisting, and striking simultaneously. No matter what he did, he couldn't break Ronon's grip on his right arm.
"You are doing well for your first attempts," Teyla said, and Rodney snorted in disbelief. "It is only a matter of practice and timing," she told him as Ronon wrapped his arm around Rodney's throat again.
Thirty minutes later, Rodney had managed to break out of Ronon's hold twice. After his second successful escape, he stood with his hands braced on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.
"I believe that is enough for today," Teyla said, handing Rodney a water bottle. "We will continue practising at our next lesson."
"Lovely," Rodney muttered, taking the bottle.
"Ronon, thank you for your assistance," she added, offering Ronon a second bottle.
"Any time," Ronon replied. He grinned at Rodney, emptied the bottle, tossed it into a bin near the door, and left the room.
Rodney waited until he was certain Dex was gone, then stood straight and swallowed some water.
"You did well today," Teyla said, picking up her workout bag.
Rodney grunted. "If you say so."
Teyla smiled. "Do you want to tell me what happened between you and Ronon before I arrived?"
Rodney drained the water bottle and shook his head. "Like Ronon said, nothing important." He threw away the empty bottle and added, "Thanks for the lesson." He glanced at the bruise forming on his wrist. "I think."
Teyla smiled. "You are welcome," she replied, leading the way out of the workout room and down the hall toward the transporters.
The transporter doors opened, and Rodney was about to step inside when Teyla tapped his arm. "Remember, you successfully escaped from Ronon twice. As you noted, he is not an easy opponent to overcome."
Rodney thought about that for a moment, then nodded.
"I will see you later," Teyla said.
Rodney stepped out of the transporter and frowned. "Later?"
Teyla nodded. "I thought Colonel Sheppard told you. He wants to share another movie with us this evening."
Rodney stared at the map on the transporter wall and thought back to breakfast.
John set down his coffee cup. "I sent word to the village about the mission briefing tomorrow."
Rodney sighed. He'd managed to stall John an extra week, pleading he needed to catch up on work after getting sick, but one look at Sheppard's eager expression told him it wasn't worth the effort to try and delay their return to the mission rotation longer.
"Stackhouse is making a supply run out to the mainland. Teyla can hitch a ride back with him and be here in a couple of hours," John said.
"What sort of mission? Ronon asked.
"New planet survey." John finished his fruit and sat back in his chair. " And since Teyla has been out on the mainland for the past two weeks, I thought we could have a team night. Make some popcorn. Watch a movie. I've got a good one all picked out."
Rodney grimaced. Team movie night, he reminded himself. So much for working late in the lab.
"Rodney? You will be there?"
"Oh, umm, sure. Wouldn't miss it."
He waited until the transporter doors closed, then returned to his quarters for a shower and a clean uniform. He returned to the lab and spent the next three hours reviewing the files from the Rivis database on the emitter and rings.
"It could work," he muttered as he made more notes. "But it's going to take something massive. Far bigger than the little emitter they used."
He sat back on his stool, crossed one arm over his chest, and pressed his finger against his lips as he stared at the schematic image.
Quantum theory proofs and mathematical equations bled together in his mind as he considered the scale of the housing he'd need to build and the energy requirements needed to punch a hole into a parallel universe.
"This is going to drain at least fifty percent of the Zed-PM's energy reserve," he realised. "How are you going to justify that to Sheppard and Elizabeth, not to mention the IOA?"
He stood and paced from the work table to the door. "But if it works …"
A vision of a fully powered Atlantis rose in his mind. They'd be safe from the Wraith, he thought. Not to mention the Genii and whoever else might be a threat. And that was just in Atlantis. If this worked, the SGC could use Zed-PMs to power entire cities on Earth.
Rodney stopped short when he realised what he was doing. "Stop it," he ordered himself. "Before you do anything, you need to show your idea to Zelenka and Carter."
He walked back to the work table, saved his work, and closed the computers.
"Think about something else," Rodney ordered himself and glanced at the crate of Ancient devices. "Perfect," he muttered. He plucked one of the devices from the crate and turned it over in his hand.
The device had a small screen in the center with a series of buttons on either side and a knob on one end.
"Clearly a control device of some sort," he said, setting the device on the work table.
He found the folder with Kusanagi's notes, opened it, and searched through the pages of item descriptions until he found the report on the screen device. He scanned the description, then reviewed everything Kusanagi's team had done to activate the artefact.
"For once, they did exactly what they were supposed to," he muttered.
He set down the report, picked up the device, and, after a brief hesitation, pressed a few buttons.
The screen remained stubbornly dark.
"Maybe McNab was right. Maybe it really is broken."
Rodney set the device on the work table and dipped his hand into the crate again. He had a dozen items lined up on the work table and was reaching for a small cube when he heard his name over the radio.
"Sheppard to McKay. Rodney, where are you?"
Rodney tapped his earpiece. "In my lab. Why?"
"Dinner and team night, remember? Teyla says she reminded you about it after your lesson this afternoon."
Rodney glanced at his watch and picked up the cube. "I've been a little busy," he replied, glancing at the array of items on the table.
"All the more reason to take some time and relax," John replied.
"Easy for you to say," Rodney retorted. "Do you have any idea how much I need to get done?"
"You still need to eat," John replied. "We're all in the mess hall waiting for you."
Maybe he should take a break, Rodney thought, turning the cube over in his hand.
"Teyla mentioned something about a movie?" Rodney asked as he turned the cube one way and then the other. "Tell me it's at least something good."
"Chinatown."
Rodney looked up from the cube. "Seriously? You didn't get enough noir after The Maltese Falcon and Double Indemnity?"
"Hey, Chinatown is a classic!" John rebutted. "Teyla and Ronon need the full experience."
Rodney smiled and shook his head. "Fine. I'll meet you in the mess hall in a few minutes. I just need to finish something."
"Ten minutes," John countered. "Then I'm sending Ronon down to get you."
Rodney grunted and tapped off the radio. He hated to admit it, but he had enjoyed introducing Teyla and Ronon to the world of hard-boiled detectives and femme fatales. Jake Gittes was no Philip Marlowe, but Chinatown was still a good movie, he thought, and visions of a gritty cityscape and fighting the mob rose in his mind as he studied the cube.
To his surprise, the cube suddenly started glowing with a soft blue light.
Rodney only had a split-second to realise he had made a serious mistake picking it up before the lab faded, and he felt himself falling.
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
John tapped off his radio and shook his head.
"Is everything all right?" Teyla asked.
John glanced at the growing mess line and nodded. "McKay's just complaining about being overworked. He should be here soon." He leaned back in his chair and added, "How was your visit to the mainland?"
"I had a pleasant time," Teyla replied with a smile. "I saw Doctor Corrigan while I was there. He told me he believes the history project is nearing completion."
"That was fast," John said.
"Everyone was excited to participate," Teyla agreed. "They filled most of the books Doctor Brown gave to me." She rested her arms on the table. "Doctor Corrigan is still going through the various stories with help from Iranda, Rada, and a few others, but he believes he will have something ready to show me in a few more months."
John nodded. "Sounds like the project has been a success."
"Yes," Teyla replied. "Doctor Corrigan's work the past few months has done much to relieve my mind. Thanks to him, my people's history will not be forgotten." Teyla smiled. "Once the work is complete, Iranda and some of the others wish to thank him for his assistance with a celebration in his honor."
"Will there be food?" Ronon asked.
"I am sure there will be," Teyla replied.
"I'm in," Ronon replied, glancing at the mess line. "McKay doesn't get here soon, I'm eating without him."
John glanced at his watch. "We'll give him a few more minutes." He turned to Teyla and asked, "What about the translation key? Was Halling able to use it to decipher those books you mentioned?"
Teyla nodded. "He has made some progress. Isla and Kanaan have also shown an interest in the work. The progress is slow, but Halling hopes, in time, they may have one of the books finished." She reached forward and rested a hand on John's arm. "I want to thank you and Rodney again for making this possible. Without your help, I fear much of my people's past would have been lost."
John waved off the thanks. "Your people are doing most of the work."
"Still, I appreciate you both taking my concern seriously." Teyla's smile turned wistful.
"What's wrong?" Ronon asked.
"The news about the history projects is, as you would say, the good news."
Ronon sat forward in his chair. "What's the bad news?"
Teyla shook her head. "It is not any one thing. Halling says the harvest will be adequate but not as good as in previous years. There will be little for trade. He also told me the hunting parties are reporting that game is more scarce this year. Finding deer or even rabbits has become more difficult."
She clasped her hands on the table. "Halling thinks it is because of the various science teams scaring off the animals." She sighed. "I overheard him … discussing the matter with Doctor Brown."
"If we need to pull back the teams -" John started to say, but Teyla shook her head.
"Doctor Brown showed me the data her teams had collected regarding the animal's recent movements. I was forced to agree with her assessment that the lack of game was likely due to the animals foraging farther afield due to the drought and not the various science teams in the area." Teyla sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I take it that did not sit well with Halling," John said.
Teyla gave him a tiny smile. "No. It did not. And before I could resolve the matter, I received your message about our upcoming mission and returned to the city."
John winced. Because the issues with a drought weren't enough of a problem, he thought. Now Teyla had her fracturing relationship with Halling to worry about.
He sat forward in his chair. "If there's anything we can do …"
"I know, and thank you, John," Teyla replied. "It is nearing the beginning of summer, and while there is not much we can do about the crops, I am still hoping the hunting and foraging will improve. This is not the first time we have dealt with a bad season. We will be fine."
John studied her for a moment, then let the matter drop. It wouldn't hurt to mention the problem to Elizabeth, he thought. Maybe they could recall some of the scientists—just until conditions improved on the mainland. That would make Halling happy, easing the tension between him and Teyla.
Might help McKay, too, he added to himself. Even without the link to tell him, it wasn't hard to see how Rodney was working himself to exhaustion with so many scientists on the mainland or working in the Asurian tower. Which was why he hadn't argued when Rodney pushed for another week to work in the lab.
Over the next fifteen minutes the noise level in the mess hall increased as the room filled with scientists and Marines.
John shifted in his chair and glanced to his right when the mess hall doors opened. A gaggle of scientists entered and joined the line waiting for food, and John checked his watch for the third time.
Your ten minutes were up ten minutes ago, John thought as he pushed back his chair and stood. "I'll be back," he said to Teyla and Ronon.
"Want help?" Ronon asked.
John smiled. "No need."
John left the mess hall and considered various ways to pry Rodney out of his lab. In the weeks since the mission to P4J-631, John had rarely seen him outside of his lab other than at breakfast. Once Rodney had recovered from the quelen fever, he had spent most of his time working on various projects.
"Which must not be going well, considering how frustrated he sounded over the radio," John muttered as he walked down the hall toward the transporter. "All the more reason to get him to take a break."
He swiped his hand over the sensor, and once inside, he tapped the map section for the science labs. The transporter doors opened, and John stepped out into a quiet hallway. He rounded the corner and wasn't surprised when he saw the door to Rodney's lab closed.
He rapped on the door and called, "Rodney? It's John. Open up." He waited a few moments, and when he didn't get an answer, he waved his hand over the sensor.
The door whispered open, and John entered the lab. "Hey, I said you had … Rodney!"
John tapped his earpiece as he crossed the lab and knelt beside Rodney lying on the floor between the work table and his desk.
"This is Sheppard. I need a medical team in Doctor McKay's lab now."
