New Fic - The Obsever
Title: The Observer
Author: L.E McMurray
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Laura and Rodney have adjusted to their situation but the Daedalus is bringing someone to disrupt everything. Sequel to A Tail Of Teamwork
Disclaimer: I own nothing, unfortunately.
Author’s Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
I’m so glad people are enjoying these stories and I have at least two more stirring in the dark recess of this brain of mine.
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Elizabeth Weir’s day up until now had been quiet and relaxing.
“Ma’am,” the technician, whose name she could never remember, called to her, “Colonel Caldwell wishes to speak to you.”
Elizabeth managed not to grimace at the thought, she and the Colonel very rarely agreed. If he was calling her when they were two days out, then she knew it couldn’t be good news.
“Colonel,” she greeted once he was connected through to her, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I’m afraid I have to give you some advance warning of some…cargo I have,” Caldwell replied.
Elizabeth frowned to herself at his hesitation, “Cargo?”
Caldwell coughed softly, “There have been several discussions within the oversight committee regarding Lieutenant Cadman and whether or not she should remain on Atlantis,” he explained, “And they’ve sent someone along with us to observe her situation.”
Elizabeth bristled instantly, ready to defend the young woman in question, “They can’t seriously believe making her leave Atlantis would be beneficial. We’ve proven time and again that she and Rodney need to in the same room every five hours so that she doesn’t become…”
“Feral?” Caldwell suggested as she hesitated herself.
“Precisely,” Elizabeth smiled.
“I completely agree with you Dr Weir,” Caldwell told her, “I have seen this myself. However that is not the worst part of the news. The man they’ve sent is someone Lieutenant Cadman is definitely not going to be happy to see.”
Elizabeth caught this information worriedly, “Who is it?”
“I’m sending you the details,” Caldwell said, just as Elizabeth’s computer beeped alerting her that the information had arrived.
Quickly she opened the file and scanned it.
“Oh dear,” she breathed.
“On that Dr Weir,” Caldwell said with a sigh, “We completely agree.”
Rodney sat in the corner of the gym, tapping away at his computer as Laura trained with Ronan. Over the past few months they’d created a schedule that worked pretty well, most of the time. They met up every few hours and when she trained he worked in a corner of the gym, close enough to help if she lost control.
Rodney glanced up as a loud thud reverberated around the room, just in time to see Ronan roll to a stand from the spot Laura had thrown him. They immediately started their hand-to-hand combat once more and Rodney stopped working for the moment to watch.
He didn’t care about what Ronan was doing, his focus was on Laura as she blocked each of Ronan’s attacks swiftly, each attack she made sharp and precise.
“Enough,” Ronan called an end to their practice.
“Come on,” Laura cried annoyed, “I’ve barely worked up a sweat.”
“Maybe,” Ronan smiled at her amused. “But I agreed to help Sheppard with his latest training session and I am due there now.”
“Fine,” Laura pouted, “I’ll work out on my own for a while.”
Ronan clapped her on her shoulder, grabbing his gear he headed out the door. Laura grimaced and turned to where Rodney was watching her.
“What?”
“You’re getting stronger,” Rodney noted as she walked over to him, “Doesn’t that worry you?”
Laura laughed dropping to sit across from him, “As long as I’m not trying to jump you. I don’t mind.”
“Cadman,” he snapped, “We still don’t know what the long term effects this is going to have on you. Doesn’t that worry you at all?”
Laura leaned back on her hands, stretching her long legs out, letting her hair stream down between her arms, “Does it worry you?”
Rodney threw a gaze heavenwards, “Yes.”
This amazed her and Laura sat up properly to look at him, “Really?”
“Of course it does,” Rodney gave her the look that plainly said ‘you idiot’, “You’re a member of my team. I want to know that you’re not going to keel over whilst someone’s shooting at us and I’d have to drag your ass back through the Gate.”
Laura stood up and glared at him, “Nice to know you care so much Rodney,” she spun on her heel and grabbed her back, “I’ll see you at dinner,” she threw over her shoulder as she stalked out the gym, her tail swinging wildly in her annoyance.
“What did I say?” Rodney murmured to the empty room, he closed his laptop and gathered up his things to return to his lab.
********************************************
Valentines Day.
It was a day that Rodney and John, in complete disgust of the whole concept, had over the past few years created their own tradition for. They took over one of the rec rooms away from all the couples and watched as many non-romantic movies they could, ignoring and avoiding everything to do with the holiday, especially the mess.
Year one. It had been the two of them plus Teyla, who wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about. Ford wasn’t there and labelled a traitor by them, as the only member of the team who had a date.
Year two. It was all four members of the team. Rodney had been depressed since breaking up with Katie Brown after six dates, Ronan had no idea what was going on so he had come along, while several others who’d heard over the grapevine there was a non-Valentines day oasis had wandered in and been welcomed.
This year so far, it was only John and Rodney setting up their movie fest.
“What time did we say this was starting?” Rodney asked, dropping onto the couch, claiming his seat for the night.
John checked his watch, “In about half an hour. Wonder who’ll make it this year.”
Rodney shrugged, “Well, so far the usual suspects are here. Did you know Teyla’s got a date?”
“With who?” John demanded, astonished he hadn’t known until now.
Rodney waved his hand, “One of the new goons who got here a few months ago. He’s been following her around like a puppy dog for weeks. I think she took pity on him.”
The door burst open and both men watched as Laura Cadman stormed in, her tail swinging wildly as she threw herself onto the other side of the couch; she swung her legs round resting her feet on Rodney’s lap.
“Do I look like a footstool?” Rodney demanded, shoving her legs off him.
Laura frowned at him, pulling her legs up so they were curled up under her, “More like a dummy.”
Rodney looked a little surprised at the venom in her tone, “What’s your problem?”
“Carson has a date,” Laura grimaced disgustedly.
The two men shared a confused look.
“Didn’t you guys break up months ago?” Rodney asked confused.
“That is so not the point Rodney,” Laura snapped at him.
“What so is the point Laura?” Rodney mocked, wincing as she hit him with her tail.
Laura glared at him, “It’s the fact he’s dating before I am.”
“Oh God,” Rodney cried in horror, “I’m having flashbacks to a Jeannie High School rant.”
Before Laura could reply the door opened again and Elizabeth entered. She walked to the couch and stood waiting for someone to move. Laura slid into the middle seat and Elizabeth took the seat.
“Isn’t Ronan coming?” Elizabeth asked, noting the absence of the large Satedan.
Laura smiled amused, “He has a date.”
Everyone turned to her.
“With who?” Rodney demanded.
“Elaine O’Hara,” Laura smirked at the astonished faces, “The nurse who yelled at him for trying to remove his bandage that time. They’ve been running into each other every so often for a few weeks now.”
Silence descended on the room as they all contemplated that both aliens had dates tonight. During this conversation several others drifted in, claiming seats and grabbing some snacks from the table set up in the corner. John checked his watch wondering if anyone else was going to join them.
“I should just start the movie,” he decided, glancing around the few people there, “I doubt anyone else is going to come.”
Without waiting for a consensus John hit play and dropped into his chair, relaxing back as the movie started.
Elizabeth sat watching the film, she had no idea why they let Rodney and John choose the films for this thing. For some reason they always picked horror movies for the Movie fest, which was possibly why it was nicknamed the Valentines Day Massacre.
Glancing over to Laura and Rodney, Elizabeth frowned. The Daedalus was due tomorrow and she’d decided not to tell them about what was coming. She smiled amused at the way they were sitting. At some point Laura had leaned against Rodney’s arm, this position changed gradually over the night from Evil Dead to The Living Dead, until she was resting against his chest with Rodney’s arm placed across her shoulder, her tail curled tightly around his wrist. To someone who didn’t know the story and those who did, they looked every bit like a couple.
The first time they’d ended up like that, Rodney and Laura had thrown themselves apart as fast as possible. Carson had finally, after a few times watching this amused, reminded them that what had changed Laura had created a telepathic link between them. The mating instinct meant, when they relaxed, their sub-conscious drew them together. After this explanation they didn’t bother too much about it.
Elizabeth was worried knowing what was heading their way, they’d finally managed to work out most of their differences, not all unfortunately but most and now Elizabeth knew this could shatter the very fragile friendship they had.
“Was it me or was Dr Weir watching us most of the night?” Laura asked as they walked back to their rooms, the final movie having just finished.
“Didn’t notice,” Rodney looked at her with bemusement, “It must have been you.”
She glared at him before marching away, “You are so self-absorbed sometimes Rodney.”
Rodney stopped and threw his hands in the air confused, “What did I say?”
When he didn’t get an answer Rodney continued on, finding Laura had already entered her own room. Rodney opened his door and started getting ready to get some sleep. He glanced at the door that separated their rooms and moved towards it before changing his mind. He needed to get some sleep
*******************************************
Elizabeth nodded hello to John as he entered her office the next morning.
“You called?” John drawled, slouching in the seat across from her.
Elizabeth sighed, “As you know the Daedalus will be here soon.”
John rolled his eyes, “I take it Caldwell has been in touch concerning some idea he has for me doing my job.”
“Yes on him contacting us,” Elizabeth told him, “You’d better have a look at whose coming with him.”
Bemused John moved to the other side of the desk and quickly scanned the memo there.
“We have a problem,” John noted.
“I’d noticed,” Elizabeth said dryly.
John grimaced, “Even more than the obvious. He was a commanding officer of mine several years ago.”
“And?” Elizabeth could feel the headache starting already.
John shrugged with an apologetic grimace, “The man hated me.”
Laura wandered towards the mess for lunch. The Daedalus had just arrived, so the place was swarming with new people as well as returning faces. When she entered the mess Laura smiled hearing Lorne’s voice nearby, he was boasting about the perfect nephew his sister had just had, passing pictures around. Laura wandered over to say hi, stopping in her tracks as she recognised one of the new recruits sitting eating. He turned and a slow sly grin spread across his face.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Laura snapped angrily.
Major Dominic Reed stood; he was slightly taller than she was, although not by much but the way he stood looking down at her made Laura even more infuriated.
“That’s not exactly the nicest way to say hello Laura,” Reed smirked at her, his head tilting from side to side to get a better look at her tail.
“Well,” Laura folded her arms across her chest, “Considering our last conversation Dom,” she spat his name out disgusted, “I’m sure you know why.”
“You haven’t changed,” Reed chuckled.
Laura turned away, heading across the mess to meet Rodney for lunch.
“Then again,” Dom reached out and slid his hand along her tail, “This is different.”
Laura spun; grabbing Reed by his throat, she slammed him against the wall. Reed stared at her, choking in surprise as he realised his feet weren’t touching the floor.
“Cadman,” Lorne yelled, his hand gripping her arm, trying to get her to release the other man’s neck.
“Cadman,” Rodney’s voice came, “I have exactly twenty-eight minutes before I have to get back to my lab. So put that down.”
Laura gave Reed one more venomous look before dropping him; turning on her heel she joined Rodney.
Reed rubbed his neck as he retook his seat; frowning as he saw Lorne looking at him amused.
“What?” Reed demanded angrily.
“Boy,” Lorne told him, “Did you just make an enemy.”
“Who Laura?” Reed snorted with laughter, “I know how to handle her.”
“Oh no, not Cadman,” Lorne grinned even more, “You just made an enemy of Rodney McKay.”
“McKay?” Reed frowned trying to think, “You mean the geek?”
Everyone at the table winced, a few shaking their heads while others hissed in sympathy. Reed looked around the table, confused at the reaction of everyone.
Lorne glanced around the people sitting, waiting to see if anyone else wanted to explain. Everyone motioned for him to continue.
“McKay may be a geek,” Lorne noted, “But he is without a doubt the ‘King Geek’ around here. He is someone you don’t mess with. Trust me. I once said something about Miko over there,” he motioned to the shy young scientist sitting across from him, who smiled slightly, “Nothing in the city worked for me for about a week until I apologised to her. Even if someone used it before or after I did,” Lorne took in a deep breath of sympathy, “And Rodney’s become very…protective of Cadman lately. Believe me, you’re in trouble.”
“So,” Rodney asked when Laura sat beside him with her tray, “Toilet exploding, things not working, freezing cold quarters or my new personal favourite, lights and noise every hour at random times when he’s trying to sleep?”
“Don’t bother Rodney,” she laughed softly, squeezing his wrist affectionately with her tail, “I can handle Dom,”
Rodney glanced over at the man sitting next to Lorne, “What is he? Ex-boyfriend?”
Laura stabbed her fork into what she hoped was a piece of chicken, “Unfortunately.”
“And that’s all I’m getting?” Rodney pushed.
Laura frowned at him, “Yes. So, leave it Rodney.”
He shrugged and stole the extra chocolate muffin she had sitting on her tray, which she specifically gotten for him to steal. The rest of their meal was eaten in silence.
“I’ll walk you back,” Laura told Rodney as he stood to head out of the mess, “I’m going to work out for a bit.”
She threw Reed a dark glance, absently slipping her tail around Rodney’s arm as he talked about the experiment he was in the middle of.
“Dr McKay, Lieutenant Cadman,” Elizabeth’s voice sounded over the cities speakers, “Report to the briefing room.”
Rodney sighed hitting his radio, “Radek, you’re on your own for the rest of this,” he told his second in command before turning to Laura, “Wonder what’s going on.”
“We do have a mission to the planet of the bird people tomorrow,” Rodney reminded her as they headed up the stairs towards the briefing room.
“Rodney,” Laura rolled her eyes at him, “They wore feathers, they weren’t bird people.”
Rodney shrugged, “Sheppard was the one who said they were cuckoo.”
A giggle escaped Laura and she hit his arm slightly, “That was awful.”
Rodney smiled slightly, he liked when she laughed. There were times; like earlier when she’d slammed that goon against the wall, he worried she was losing herself to this thing.
Rodney grinned at her, his grin fading as she stopped suddenly and her tail wrapped around his wrist. Rodney looked up to where Elizabeth, John and Caldwell stood noting the unknown man standing with them.
“What’s going on?” Rodney demanded, Laura’s tail was squeezing tighter than before.
“Rodney,” Elizabeth motioned the stranger, “This is General Greg Cadman.”
“Cadman,” Rodney repeated, turning to Laura who was glaring at the General.
“Hello Laura,” Greg stepped forward.
Laura took a step back, “What are you doing here Dad?”
He stopped and frowned at her, “I’m here to evaluate your status with this mission.”
“My…” anger filled her brown eyes and Laura turned grabbing Rodney’s arm, yanking him out of the room, “Let’s go.”
Rodney gave John and Elizabeth a bemused look just before he was pulled away.
*******************************************
Rodney winced as Laura tossed another victim across the mat. She’d stormed through the corridors dragging Rodney, who was unable to get loose from her grip, along behind her. When they’d arrived here, she’d shoved him to the corner and started pounding the marines already working out.
“Dr McKay?” Elizabeth’s voice sounded in his ear.
“Yes Elizabeth?” Rodney moved to the other corner, away from the slaughter, “Something wrong?”
“Is Lieutenant Cadman with you?” he could hear the frown in her voice at his flippant reply.
Rodney glanced over to the woman in question, “Technically.”
“The General is not happy,” Elizabeth told him.
Rodney leaned against the wall, cringing as one more opponent bit the dust, “I’ve a feeling his daughter isn’t exactly ecstatic either.”
“You have to bring her back to the briefing room,” Elizabeth continued, “This is important.”
Rodney frowned, glancing back to see Laura was losing control, “I’ll talk to you later Elizabeth,” he switched off his radio and ran, grabbing Laura around her waist and pulling her away from her latest victim.
“Let me go,” Laura snapped furiously, she struggled against him but despite her superior strength, whenever Rodney held her like this she couldn’t break free.
“Everybody out,” Rodney ordered, his eyes focussing on Captain Dawes. He’d been part of Laura’s team when this had happened to her and understood.
Within seconds Dawes had the room clear, leaving Rodney and Laura sitting on the mat where he continued to hold her letting her calm down. Suddenly Rodney realised she was crying.
“Cadman?” Rodney murmured, feeling uncomfortable as she turned and sobbed on his shoulder, “Cadman, you need to take a breath.”
With an annoyed sigh, Rodney gently rubbed her back, rocking her gently until she calmed.
“I’m sorry Rodney,” she pulled away from him, “I know he’s come to take me back to Earth and I can’t go. I can’t leave Atlantis because without you around I’m…” she sighed, “I’m not me.”
Rodney’s ice blue eyes became warmer for a second before he looked away from her, “He’ll be able to find you here. Let’s face it, the trail of blood those grunts left lead right back here.” He was relieved when she let out a soft giggle, “Your quarters are a no too,” he snapped his fingers, “Come on. I know somewhere, even if they know where you are, they won’t be able to get to you.”
“This is your lab,” Laura stated, looking around the room he’d led her to, “Everyone knows where this is.”
“And it locks,” Rodney reminded her, he was opening up his laptop, “You can sit and relax here while I see what’s going on. You remember the code right?”
Laura nodded; she was a little unnerved by how nice he was being.
“No one else knows it other than you or me,” he reminded her, “So you’ll be alone.”
“Not even Zelenka?” Laura asked.
“Possibly,” Rodney rolled his eyes, “But most assume if I’ve locked the door, I’m in such a bad mood they don’t want to be anywhere near me.”
“Oh my God,” Laura laughed in realisation; “You sit in here and watch movies on your computer. Don’t you?”
Rodney shrugged unashamedly, “I need to get some peace and quiet somehow.”
“Thanks for this,” Laura said softly.
Rodney coughed, slightly embarrassed now, “Well, what else is a…mate for?” with a shy smile he disappeared leaving her alone.
“I want to know where she is right now,” Greg Cadman snapped at Rodney, who fixed a scornful glance at the man.
“Lieutenant Cadman has expressed a wish to be alone just now,” Rodney replied lightly, twirling a pen around his fingers as he leaned back in his seat, “Take my advice, and leave her alone.”
Greg glared at Rodney, “I am her Commanding Officer…”
“No,” Rodney cut him off, “You’re her father and you think taking her home is the best thing for her. I’m telling you, if you do that then make sure you say everything you ever want to say to her within the first five hours. After that she’ll be unable to talk to you.”
“Rodney,” Elizabeth spoke up, “General Cadman only has his daughter’s best interests at heart.”
Rodney snorted and threw a disdainful look her way, “If he’d read anything Carson had sent back to Earth, he’d know that separating us is not in her best interest.”
Greg slammed his hand on the table, “Enough.”
“You’re right,” Rodney stood up, “Enough of this nonsense. When Laura wants to talk to you then I’ll not stand in the way.”
He started out; finding his road blocked by the man Laura had slammed against the wall in the mess earlier.
“Move,” Rodney told the man.
“Make me,” Reed sneered at Rodney.
“Major Reed,” Greg snapped, “Allow Dr McKay to leave.”
As soon as Reed had moved, Rodney started walking again. He stopped and turned back.
“If you want to know exactly what your daughter is capable of,” he told Greg, “I’d ask the man she slammed against the wall earlier today for touching her inappropriately.”
With that he left.
******************************************
Radek chewed on his pen as he studied the laptop in front of him. He’d been annoyed that Rodney had been pulled away from their experiment earlier but the experiment had been completed successfully. However, writing this report was annoying the hell out of him. Rodney had locked himself in his lab again, meaning that unless this was perfect Radek knew he’d have to listen to a long-winded lecture on how useless everyone other than Rodney was.
“There are times Radek,” Rodney appeared through the door carrying a tray with food on it, “When I wonder why we let the military do anything.”
Radek glanced back to the locked door before looking at Rodney again, “What are you doing out here?”
“Getting food,” Rodney replied, shaking his head at Radek’s stupidity, “Any noise from in there?”
Radek shook his head, completely confused.
“Good,” Rodney placed the tray down, tapping in the code to open the door, “That means my lab is still in one piece.”
Without another word Rodney grabbed the tray and disappeared into the other room, leaving Radek alone again.
“He is a strange, strange man,” Radek mused, returning to his work once more.
Laura jumped up when the door opened; she relaxed as Rodney walked in and set a tray of food on the bench.
“Thought you might be hungry,” he said, dragging a seat over for himself, “I am. Stupidity always makes me peckish.”
Laura raised an eyebrow in question but didn’t get the chance to ask as Rodney continued in his rant.
“I mean seriously Cadman,” Rodney continued, pulling dinner over to him, “I know he’s your father and everything but you definitely didn’t get your brains from him.”
“You know Rodney,” she interrupted when he started eating, “That’s possibly the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Rodney shrugged at her continuing to eat.
“Is he mad?” Laura asked softly.
Rodney threw her an amused look, “Take a guess.”
She sighed; dropping her head onto the bench groaning, “I can’t do this. I just can’t fight with him about this.”
“Really?” disbelief filled Rodney’s voice.
“I love my father,” Laura told him, “We very rarely see eye to eye on just about everything but I hate disappointing him.” The look in Rodney’s eyes made her frown at him, “I guess your relationship with your parents isn’t exactly the same.”
Rodney started to concentrate hard on his meal, Laura caught his hand in hers making him look up.
“I didn’t mean to dredge up bad stuff,” she told him.
Rodney glanced away again, not able to talk about his parents. Laura sighed continuing her dinner deciding not to push. He obviously had issues.
“My family isn’t the problem,” Rodney spoke up, “It’s your family. Plus that goon your father brought with him.”
Laura grimaced as she remembered Reed was on Atlantis, “Yeah,” she sighed, “You’re not kidding.”
“Colonel.”
John looked up, jumping to a stand as General Cadman entered his office, “Sir.”
“Sit down,” Greg told him, “You still manage sarcasm standing like that.”
John sank back into his seat, “Thank you sir,” he waited, until the silence got too much for him, “Is there something you want sir?”
Greg paced around the office, “I never thought you would ever get here Colonel. Your record, your nature, marked you to never rise above the rank of Captain and yet here you are.”
“Yes sir.”
Greg laughed, “Now I know you’ve more than that to say, Colonel.”
“Permission to speak freely sir?” John asked, watching the other man warily.
Greg nodded, “I look forward to hearing this.”
John stood up and moved to the window to look out across the city, “What you’re here to do is stupid.”
Greg tilted his head amused, “You never were one to mince words, were you?”
“Lieutenant Cadman and Rodney need to be together,” John reminded him, “Her…condition means that without his presence she does go pretty crazy.”
Greg folded his arms across his chest, “Have you seen this?”
“Not just seen sir,” John replied, “She knocked me across the room after taking out five other men. As you can read in our mission reports, when Rodney was abducted we had to sedate and lock her in the back of the Jumper until we landed, so she wouldn’t wipe the three of us over the controls.”
“Tell me more about Laura’s relationship with Dr McKay?” the General took a seat waiting.
John frowned, “Wouldn’t it be better to talk to them?”
“My daughter does not wish to speak to me at the moment,” Greg reminded John, “Therefore I’m asking you.”
John winced, “Well, they don’t hate each other like they did at first.”
The General raised an eyebrow at John, taking a seat he motioned to John to continue.
“Over the past few months they’ve created a schedule,” John told the other man, “It doesn’t always work and there’s been the occasional yelling match but other than that…” John trailed off seeing Greg frowning slightly, “They’re friends. Nothing more, despite what it occasionally seems to an outsider. He cares for her a lot, more than he even knows and Laura cares about him more than the mating instinct gives. Is that what you wanted to know?”
Greg nodded slightly, “For now,” he stood up and headed out of the office, he stopped at the door and turned back, “If I believe taking Laura back to Earth is the best thing for her then nothing will stop me.”
John let out a long breath when the man had finally left, “You obviously don’t know anything about Rodney McKay.”
Part Two