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Hot Zone
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Teyla moved around the gym. John held a bantos rod in each of his hands adjusting his grip as he tried to surprise her when he attacked. He feinted right and charged her from the left. She stepped to the side elegantly and smacked him on the butt as he sailed past her.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, rubbing his ass painfully. He pulled himself up and turned back to face her an indignant set to his mouth.
Teyla smirked as John swung back around lifting the rods once more. The Major was a formidable man who did not like to lose, but he also did not easily give up.
John attacked again, swinging the rods powerfully. An overhead strike followed by one aimed low towards her knee. Teyla blocked agilely, slamming his rod down against the floor and pinning it there. She forced him to stillness, arching a brow challengingly.
John huffed impatiently as Teyla stood. Her skirt flowing around her legs as she paced around the Major. She twirled the rods in a flashy show of her skill meant to pressure him into attacking as she padded barefoot around the mat.
John twirled his own much slower, flashing her a cocky grin. She had tricked him before into launching what she called an emotion based attack. He wouldn't be suckered in again.
He waited until she was close and struck, slamming the rods down powerfully trying to use his strength against her. She deflected each one easily. She caught the rod and slapped his forearm sharply with the other.
John dropped the rod. "Ahh!" he exclaimed as his hand went numb. She whipped around catching the back of his knee, spilling him to the ground as she pulled her rods across his throat.
"You have not been practicing," she chastised.
"Yes I have," John defended as he fought to catch his breath.
"If this was a real fight-" she began to lecture.
John wasn't one of her normal students however and instead of listening serenely he chuckled wryly. "If this were a real fight I would have shot you by now," he responded.
Teyla grunted and released the Major, shoving him away from her. No matter how hard she tried, the Major never quite seemed to take their training seriously. He enjoyed the challenge,but she doubted he would ever fully embrace her people's teachings.
"You know," John said climbing back to his feet. "Now matter how many hours I put into this you're still going to kick my ass."
Teyla chuckled. "It's not for the winning that we practice," she told not for the first time.
"Well then what's the point?" John asked good naturedly, repeating an old argument.
Teyla smiled indulgently and shook her head as she patted her skin dry.
"You've been pretty busy," John said taking a drink from his water bottle. "Getting lots of practice lately," he added with a smile.
Teyla nodded. "Yes, between the soldiers and Athosians I am keeping quite busy," Teyla replied. In truth on days when they didn't have a mission she spent almost all day in the gym working with the different people from the expedition. All seemed to appreciate the extra training.
"Bates tells me Zian has been sparring with you every morning," John said carefully as he put his towel over the back of his neck.
Teyla went very still as she processed all he was not saying in his casual observation. "I was not aware that would be a problem."
"It's not!" John responded too quickly. "As far as I'm concerned Zian can do as she pleases."
Teyla frowned. "And yet, Sergeant Bates is still monitoring her movements?"
"I-" John started to say. "He-"
Teyla quickly spoke up before he could stammer out an excuse. "Have you considered sparring with Kai?"
John pulled back. "Zian? No why? Why would I do that?" his voice rose slightly at the end.
Teyla kept her face carefully devoid of emotion and shrugged casually, not wanting to make too big of a deal out of it. "Well, your skill levels are fairly evenly matched. And perhaps the time getting to know her better would put you more at ease."
John's mouth hardened into a determined line. "I know her just fine," he said, a little sharper than he intended. "I don't need to get to know her any better," he added, more for his own benefit than Teyla's. If he was honest he had been avoiding Kai over the last few weeks. She made him uncomfortable, and he needed to stay focused.
"Well she has been sparring with me lately. Knowing your skill level and her own I thought..."
"Since when does she feel the need to train?" John asked suspiciously. He didn't agree necessarily with Weir's rules but part of their agreement had been that she would stay away from the military side of things. If something had changed in the last couple of weeks, he needed to know about it.
Teyla's face softened. "Since she healed after what commander Kolya of the Genii did to her."
John's jaw tightened as guilt tore through him. It had been his fault she had gotten hurt. He shouldn't have put her in that position in the first place. He regretted it when any of his people were hurt, and it was strange for him to feel this way about one in particular, especially one who was so well trained. John wasn't one for self reflection, and it took him a while to realize the guilt was because he had asked her to fight the Genii. He just couldn't get the look on her face when she told him she didn't want to go back to that life out of his mind. She had asked for peace and not a month later John had put a gun in her hand.
"I think it's best if we just keep things the way they are..."John said heading towards the door.
Weir's voice came over the PA. "May I have everyone's attention please? We've run into a questionable medical situation and at Doctor Beckett's suggestion we have decided to put the city into a self regulated quarantine. For at least the next couple of hours I need everyone to stay where they are and report anyone moving freely through the halls. I hope you understand. Thank you."
John swung back around to face Teyla, his face pinched with concern. They were stuck here.
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Almost all of the science teams were down on the east pier evaluating the damage the storm surge and subsequent flooding had caused. Kai wished she had been able to join them at the time. After all, it had been her and Zelenka who had worked to pump the water out of that section of the city and she was curious about what secrets the ancient city still held. AR-3 however, had come in experiencing problems with the seal on Jumper 3's rear hatch that morning and Kai had stayed behind to get the jumper repaired.
Now, it seemed the science teams had encountered some kind of pathogen and all of Atlantis was in lockdown. Unfortunately, she had been back in one of the storage rooms gathering parts when the doors had sealed shut hours before. Kai did not sit still well and there was nothing to do in the small room. She was in her third round of push-ups when her comm activated.
"Kai," Doctor Weir's voice came over her radio.
"Yes, Doctor Weir?" Kai responded almost too eagerly. She needed to get out of this room. She wasn't claustrophobic, but she was going stir crazy. She didn't even have her tablet or laptop with her.
"As you know, we have a situation. All of the science teams are quarantined on the east side of the city. The Major and McKay have come up with a plan, and the Major could use some help..." Weir dragged off, not quite asking for help and not quite ordering her.
"I'm happy to help Doctor Weir," Kai responded quickly. "But, I'm trapped in Storage Room 8. The doors won't open."
"Roger that Zian," the Major's gruff voice came over the comm. "I'm coming to get you."
"I should warn you," Doctor Weir said. "The plan has the potential to be dangerous."
Kai bristled at the implication, snorting humorlessly. "How long until you're here Major?"
"Ten minutes," came the Major's reply. It sounded like he was jogging. In the background she could hear his short breathing and the sharp slap of his boots against the ground.
"All right Doctor Weir, what is this plan?" she asked.
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"You want to do what?" Kai asked the Major in disbelief as the doors hissed open. Under one arm he was carrying a naquadah generator and under the other he had a maroon hazmat suit that matched the one he was wearing.
John's lips flattened impatiently. Aidan only had thirty minutes to live. They had to get moving. Kai wore a mechanics jumpsuit, her hair was covered by her scarf and she had a smudge of grease on one cheek. He tossed her the hazmat suit. "We think that if we detonate-"
"A bomb in the atmosphere," Kai finished for him. "Yeah, I thought I heard that the first time from Weir. I was just clarifying," she said.
"I can't fly the jumper AND overload the generator then shove it out the back hatch. So come on," he said jerking his chin towards the door. "Beckett says you're the only one here basically guaranteed to not be infected, but you'll need that to get through the doors."
Kai frowned as she began stripping out of the over-sized mechanics suit she had been wearing. The Major's eyes widened when she untied the arms from around her narrow waist and began pulling it down her legs. He spun around, his ears burning.
"I'm not naked," Kai said impatiently. Underneath she had been wearing fitted black leggings and her customary long-sleeved black t-shirt. She pulled on the suit, wrinkling her nose when she realized how big it was. "Did Beckett say why I'm safe?" She asked curiously.
"Well because you're not-" John started to respond, turning back to face her. He cut himself off, pinching his lips together as he realized how badly it was going to sound. Kai looked like a little kid in the over-sized suit. They were supposed to be one size fits all, but apparently they hadn't considered someone as small as Kai.
"Human?" Kai finished for him, straightening as she picked up her helmet.
"Well-" he started to argue.
Kai snorted. "No offense taken Major, I'm not," she said simply. "Let's go."
John nodded, carrying the naquadah generator under his arm the two of them jogged towards the jumper bay. Kai struggled in the suit, but they made good time. The two of them boarded Jumper One. John set the generator down on the rear hatch and pulled off his helmet, tossing it on the seat.
"Zian and I are in the jumper," John reported to Weir and McKay.
Kai jerked off the hazmat suit. It was impossible for her to move in the over-sized suit. The arms and legs were inches too long and the gloves were clumsy.
McKay came over the comm. "All right, we have twenty minutes people. One of you is going to have to overload the generator and one of you is going to have to fly the jumper. So...who is the better pilot?"
Kai and John both lifted their eyes, staring one another down. John scowled at her when she didn't immediately back down. She arched one of her eyebrows and her lips twisted into a smirk that made John's stomach do flip flops.
"Oh for Pete's sake," McKay snapped after a moment. "We do not have time for this. Zian I need you on the generator."
Kai tore her eyes from the Major's intense gaze and turned back to the generator as he moved to the controls. The Major lifted off and flew them straight up until they were twenty miles above the city.
"Will the E.M. effect the puddle jumper?" John called back to Kai.
Kai didn't look up from the generator as she initiated to core, powering it up. "It shouldn't," she said. "Lantean technology should be impervious."
John glanced over his shoulder. "Should be?" he asked.
Kai flashed him a mischievous smile. "Should be," she repeated.
He groaned. "What about the shock wave?" he asked.
"That's my concern. Think you can fly fast enough?" Kai couldn't help but tease the Major. There were lines of stress around his mouth and she had the irrational urge to make him smile despite the tense situation they were in.
"I think I can manage," he growled back sarcastically. "Just don't fall out." A few seconds later he activated the radio. "I'm almost in position."
McKay's voice came over the comm. "Once Kai initiates the overload you are only going to have thirty seconds to throw it out of the jumper. Then you need to get as far away from the blast as you can."
John's sarcastic response was biting. "Get as far away from the nuclear explosion as possible, good advice Rodney, thanks."
"You're welcome," McKay responded gruffly, the silence between them stretching with all the things Rodney wanted to say but didn't.
"In position," John called. "Ready back there?"
"Lower the hatch," Kai's voice was tense as she went to work.
"How we doing Zian?" John asked after a moment.
"Overloading...now!" she yelled and she shoved the generator out of the jumper.
John slammed his fist down on the hatch control and threw the jumper forward as fast as possible. If he could break atmosphere they stood a better chance against the shockwave.
Kai ran up and climbed into the co-pilot chair. Her hands moved over the controls. "Shockwave in ten seconds," she told the Major. "I've adjusted the inertial dampeners-" she started to say and the shock wave hit them. It blasted against the hull of the small ship. The ship rocked violently. Instead of fighting it, Sheppard released the controls, letting the ship ride the wave out into space. The light was so bright it exploded painfully behind her eyes. Her hands tightened into fists on the arms of the chair, as she fought to hold herself in place.
When it was done all she could hear was the major's quiet, steady heartbeat as the two of them fought to catch their breath. John turned to look at Kai. "You okay?" he asked, concern showing in his hazel eyes.
"Yeah, you?" she asked, still a little breathless.
"In one piece," he agreed.
Static sounded over the radio and Kai frowned. She leaned forward adjusting the controls and Weir's voice sounded loud and clear through the radio. "Major do you read me?"
"This is Sheppard," John responded. "We cleared the blast. We're returning home."
Weir let out a relieved sigh. "Glad to hear it Major."
"Did it work?" John asked as he turned the jumper around and set a course to Atlantis.
"We're about to find out," Weir said cautiously hopeful.
McKay's voice was sharp with disappointment. "The blast should have been instantaneous, the systems-"
Weir let out a relieved chuckle. "The city is already ahead of you Rodney, you have a green light to return."
Kai exhaled and looked back at the Major. John flashed her a relieved smile. It worked.
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"Are you okay?" Weir asked as she met with the Major in her office later that night.
John sat back in his chair. "Just a little nuke, nothing really," he said casually. The truth was, he was exhausted. He wasn't sure why Elizabeth had insisted on a debriefing so late, but he hadn't had the energy to argue.
Weir sat down behind her desk. She folded her hands together. "And Kai?"
John stiffened. "Zian seemed fine," he said a little sharply.
Elizabeth nodded, choosing to ignore the Major's sharp response over Kai alone. "The Naquadah generator plan was very clever. Good work," she congratulated.
John nodded uncomfortably. "Thank you," he couldn't help feeling like there was an elephant in the room. The tension between them stretching uncomfortably. He pushed himself to his feet. "I'm going to bed," he said excusing himself from the room as quickly as possible.
Weir didn't move. "We need to discuss what happened earlier," she said sharply. She didn't want to do this. She regretted that the situation had happened at all. She liked John and she felt they led the expedition well together. But what had happened was inexcusable and if she let it go unanswered, it would happen again.
John swung back around to face her. "Now?" he asked impetuously.
Elizabeth's eyes were hard and her mouth severe. "That can never happen again," she ground out the words firmly but was careful to not sound angry. If she responded with anger a man like John would just get defensive. They needed to come to an understanding.
John sighed and moved back to take the seat across from her. "Look, I'm sorry about-"
Weir cut him off quickly, refusing to give over control of the conversation. "I understand and respect your expertise in military matters Major, and I agree that I should defer to those expertise in such situations."
John scowled. This felt like a trap. "Thank you," he said slowly.
"But you are not the one who decides what is and is not a military situation," she said sharply.
John pressed his lips together impatiently. She just didn't understand. She was a civilian. Elizabeth had a bad habit of getting locked into a decision early on and couldn't always adjust once the action started.
"Now," Elizabeth continued. "Both General O'Neil and Colonel Sumner warned me that you don't respect the proper chain of command. But I went to bat for you anyway."
John's jaw tightened and he leaned forward. "Sometimes I see a situation a little different than you-"
"No," Weir cut him off ruthlessly. "Listen to me John. Now, you endangered yourself and the lives of many others."
John stabbed his finger down on the desk. "Because I thought it was the best action to take, and by the way I saved your ass."
Weir sighed. "I know you did," she agreed. "But you have to trust me."
It was like a kick in the gut. He knew that Elizabeth had pushed to get him on this mission, and it felt like she was questioning his loyalty to her. "I do."
"Do you?" Weir challenged, lift her eyebrows.
"Do you guys have a minute?" McKay asked barging into the room unceremoniously as Beckett trailed behind him uncertainly. "We've been able to spend some quality time with the nano-virus samples."
Beckett looked back and forth between the Major and Doctor Weir. Unlike McKay he had the ability to sense the tension in the room and knew they had interrupted something serious. When Weir gestured for them to continue he stumbled over his words uncomfortably. "From what we can tell, they've all been incapacitated."
"Well that's good news," Weir said briskly.
McKay's face was grim and his arms were crossed over his chest. "Yes, well upon further investigation I think that we can rule out that they were created by the wraith."
Weir tilted her head in confusion.
McKay sighed. "I even had Zian take a look at them just to be sure. It's nothing like Wraith technology either one of us have seen."
John scowled. "If not the wraith?" he asked. "Then who made them?"
"I honestly don't know," McKay admitted begrudgingly. "Whoever they were, let's just hope they're not still around."
"Let's hope," Weir agreed.
John and Elizabeth shared a long look, both of them knowing whoever made the virus would be a formidable enemy. John nodded as he stared into Elizabeth's eyes. He wanted her to know he was with her, and they would face whatever this new threat was together.
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