"That's just your hope."
"I can't promise anything," Jennifer said. "It's like doing humanitarian relief work in a war zone. You may not like the war, but you also can't stop it. You can only help the people you can."
"Believe me, I appreciate the potential benefits," Woolsey said. "I'm just concerned about placing you in such a risky situation. You'll be entirely isolated, and any contact with Atlantis will be entirely on Guide and Alabaster's terms. We may not be in a position to retrieve you if they decide to break off ongoing relations with us."
"I understand that," Jennifer said. "But this retrovirus — this was my idea, and I feel a responsibility. More than that — I want to do this. It feels a lot more important than being here in the infirmary taping sprained ankles and trying to figure out whether stomach pains are indigestion or an ulcer."
"Those things are important, too," Woolsey said.
"I do know that. But I don't think I'm the best person to do them."
"Very well, Dr. Keller. I'll put your proposal to Guide and Alabaster," Woolsey said. "If they agree, I'm afraid you'll need to be ready to leave in a matter of hours."
"Of course," Jennifer said, but she felt a bit flustered. "I can do that, but… you're saying yes, just like that? I just thought you'd want some time to think about it."
"I expect that as soon as the IOA has time to think about the events of the last few days, they're going to recall me and start looking for my replacement," Woolsey said. "So I'm authorizing this mission now, and accepting your resignation as chief medical officer effective immediately. Unless you're having second thoughts?"
There was some reflexive part of her that wanted to say Yes, this is crazy, but underneath she could feel the same calm certainty that came to her in surgery when someone's life was in her hands. "No," she said. "This is the right thing to do."
"Then I wish you the best of luck," Woolsey said. "And I'm sure the next head of the Atlantis expedition will appreciate whatever information you can pass along."
"Thank you," Jennifer said. She stood, and hesitated. "If they do replace you — I'm really sorry."
"Thank you," Woolsey said. He sounded more surprised than she thought he should.
"For what it's worth, I've been glad to have a civilian in this position. Not that I'm criticizing Colonel Carter, but — I just think it helps everybody remember that the point of being here is not just to be a military base. And I think you've done a really good job."
"So have you, Dr. Keller," Woolsey said, and shook her hand like they were already saying goodbye.
John found Ronon out on the balcony, elbows on the rail, staring out at the water.
"Ronon."
Ronon turned, looking unsurprised to see him. "I'm sorry."
"Are you?" When he didn't answer for a moment, John went on anyway. "I'm not actually pissed off that you nearly got me killed," he said. "I talked you out of using the weapon, and I was ready to take the consequences. If you'd gotten Rodney killed, I would have been pissed off. And if I were Sam, I expect I'd be pretty pissed off right now."
"I wasn't trying to get her people hurt," Ronon said. "I was going to use the weapon before the Wraith engaged her ship. Only when it came down to killing McKay and Teyla and Torren—"
"You couldn't do it. I know. I also know I ordered you to bring me the weapon as soon as you found it. And don't say you didn't really think it was an order."
"It was an order," Ronon said.
"If you were in the Air Force, they'd court-martial you. And they'd be right."
"You want me to leave?"
"I want you to say you won't do it again." John looked Ronon straight in the eye. "I have to be able to trust you not to take off on your own like that. If you have a problem with what we're doing, you come to me."
"And if I think what you're doing is wrong?"
"Then walk away if you have to. If you can't stay on the team, we'll still be friends. You said that yourself. But as long as you are on the team, you have to trust me."
"I joined the team to fight the Wraith," Ronon said. "If we're not doing that, I don't know how long I can stay."
"Maybe not forever. I get that. But while you're here, should I be watching my back, or are you on my team?"
"I thought you were going to court-martial me."
"I can't actually do that when you're not in the Air Force."
"I can't join your Air Force."
"So I don't have to court-martial you."
"You don't have to watch your back," Ronon said. "As long as I'm here, I'm on your team."
"Good," John said. "I'm glad to hear it."
"You really think McKay's going to be the same as he was before the Wraith took him?"
"No," John said after a moment. "But I think he's going to be okay. And so are we."
Chapter Twenty-seven
The Heirs of the Ancients
The morning sun shone brightly through the gateroom windows as Jack O'Neill came into the control room above. The wormhole was bright, three figures disappearing into the blue glare. Dick Woolsey watched as the gate deactivated. He'd been grateful for SG-1's help, but he had to admit he was also grateful to see them go.
"So everyone off?" O'Neill said.
Woolsey nodded. "All of the seriously wounded have been sent through to the SGC. That was SG-1 going home."
O'Neill frowned. "That was only three of them."
"Dr. Jackson asked if he could stay several more days. Apparently there's some work in the Ancient database he wants to do, and he's excited about Dr. Lynn's work over on the island. I don't see any reason he can't stay a while if he wants to," Woolsey said, shrugging. "After all, he is…"
"…the foremost authority on the Ancients, yeah, yeah." O'Neill shook his head. "Your problem, not mine."
Behind O'Neill, McKay was leaning over one of the airman's shoulders, one arm in a sling, grumbling about something on the screen in front of him.
Dr. Parrish came up the steps with a box in his arms. "Dr. McKay?"
"What now?" McKay said.
The box let out a yowl. A Siamese cat poked his head out the top where the flaps didn't quite meet, expressing Siamese disapproval at full volume.
"I found him in the botany lab," Dr. Parrish said. "Sitting in a pot of nepeta cataria. I think he belongs to you?"
"He does," McKay said, hurrying over to the box. Newton oozed out the top, climbing up his shoulder with all claws and butting McKay's chin with his head, purring wildly. "Hey, Newton. Did you get lost? Was it scary down there?" Newton butted him again, rubbing his chin against McKay's as McKay clutched him awkwardly one-handed to his chest.
"Newton?" said Dr. Parrish.
"After Sir Isaac Newton," McKay said.
Dr. Parrish sniffed. "That's not very original. I think you should have named him Tesla."
"At least I didn’t name him Edison," McKay said.
"I don't see any cat here," Woolsey said, and O'Neill snorted a laugh.
Once back in his office, Woolsey gazed at the trio in front of him with something like benevolence. McKay had stowed Newton safely out of sight in his quarters, and he took the visitor chair, nursing his injured wrist, while Zelenka and Beckett hovered in the background.
"And therefore it seems to me that all systems are stable," Zelenka finished. "We are somewhat closer to the equator now, and while this is not as warm a world as Atlantis' previous homes, the weather is somewhat better. We can expect moderate temperatures today and above freezing tonight. As we are near the equator, it may be that we can expect this kind of weather year round."