Cast between Worlds

Chapter 10; Misbegotten Infatuations

Gym – Atlantis

Harry twisted, easily dodging Sora’s strike, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her passed him and off balance before turning slowly. He had yet been in trouble and they’d spent an entire week of mornings sparring against each other. She fought with her entire being, her mind, heart and every ounce of energy and it made her easy to predict. She kicked at him but Harry stepped out of the way and grabbed her foot before stepping forwards to unbalance her. She tried to hop to regain it but Harry took the opportunity, lifted her and slammed her down onto the ground with his hand on her collar bone.

He glanced at Teyla with raised eyebrows before stepping away and rolling his arms, knowing that his Helly pulled tight across his chest. “It’s the same. You try too hard and put every you have into every strike as if every move you make is the killing blow. You need to learn to fight an opponent not to kill them.”

“Why?” Sora asked.

“You can’t kill somebody without fighting them.” Teyla told her.

“Besides, you’re current method doesn’t seem to be doing you any good.” Harry told her. “You’ve yet to provide a challenge.”

She went red in the face. “Don’t take offence to that Sora.” Teyla stepped in. “Captain Potter is an excellent warrior.” Harry smiled at her and slipped out letting Teyla and Sora talk together without interruption. It was still early so he headed back to his own room for a shower before heading up to the control room along with the wallet of information that Rodney had printed for him.

“How is Major Sheppard’s mission?” He asked Grodin.

“Everything was to plan on the last check up thirty minutes ago.” Grodin told him. “Did you want me to request an update?”

“Oh no.” Harry shook his head. “I’ll be in the firing range this morning and then out on the east pier with the Marines. You can contact me if anything crops up.”

“Yes, Sir.” He nodded. Harry left the room and headed for the canteen where he served himself and sat down opposite a still rather sleepy looking Ford and an amused Elizabeth. He eyed them both before looking at Ford. “Lieutenant? Looking forward to our drills later?”

“Urgh!” Ford groaned before realising who he was talking to. “Sorry, Captain. Yes, Sir.”

Elizabeth laughed at him. “I’m glad I’m not included in this.”

“Well, you know, Elizabeth. Major Sheppard and I were planning on making the scientists do the same thing.” Harry grinned at her as he started in on his food. “We’d probably cut down on the level but still...”

He trailed off and she looked at him closely, thoughtfully. “Can you make us do that?”

“Yup.” Harry grinned. “Well, Major Sheppard can. The ranking military officer is responsible for maintaining a satisfactory level of fitness amongst all members of the expedition. It says so in the guidelines.”

“John read the guidelines?” Elizabeth’s eyebrows shot up.

Harry snorted. “Of course he didn’t.”

“You did?” She pressed.

Harry laughed. “Definitely not. Sergeant Bates brought up the condition of the scientists and brought it to my attention.” He explained. “All most of you do is work in your labs, eat and sleep. It’s not healthy. If we’re going to be here long term maybe we should arrange for time on the mainland. Maybe a few hunting trips with the Athosians as guides.”

“You’re going over to the mainland tonight, right?” Elizabeth asked. Harry nodded. “You can bring it up with Halling. It might be good for relations.”

“Hmm...” Harry nodded and turned and opened the wallet to his previous page.

“What’s that?” Ford asked. Harry glanced up at him and chuckled.

“Science stuff about electro-magnetic storms.” Harry told him. “Rodney found it for me, he wants to try a little experiment and I need to know everything about them before I can try.”

He didn’t say it out loud but both knew about his weather manipulating abilities. “You think that’s possible?” Elizabeth asked.

“Rodney’s been going on about how stupid the scientists are back on Earth for not suggesting it.” Harry rolled his eyes. “You should hear him, he’s like an excited child.”

“Sucks to be you.” Ford laughed before going red again as Harry and Elizabeth looked at him in amusement.

“Just for that, Lieutenant, you’ll be the one that has to beat my scores.” Harry told him with an evil glint.

“Which ones?” Ford asked with a wince.

“Let me think. Short range, target shooting and let’s add shuttles into that one too.” Harry told him with a serious face.” Ford groaned and pushed away his plate and put his head down on the table.

“Here’s to hoping the Wraith attack today.” Ford muttered making Harry wink at Elizabeth. Harry kept the Marines active putting them through drills to maintain their aim since ammo was a limited resource. They had several drills, short range shooting inside, a long range sniper drill and finally a number of physical trials. This week’s was shuttle runs. There were a few half hearted complaints but Bates agreed with Harry that since they were confined to the city they needed to make sure they were ready for anything.

Harry finished off his breakfast while reading his material before he gathered it up and headed out with Ford at his side, heading for the indoor shooting range down within the lower section of the tower. Apart from Major Sheppard and the four on duty in the Gateroom every Marine was there.

“I bet you’re all looking forward to this.” Harry grinned at them all as he walked into the room and they all turned to look at him dubiously. “Should be fun.”

“I noted how the Major managed to find himself a mission to get out of it.” Sergeant Markham muttered, making no effort to keep his voice low.

Harry laughed. “And Lieutenant Ford has kindly offered to compare his scores against mine.” Everybody smirked at their officer, only just trying to hide their amusement. “I’m sure he’s eager.”

Ford sighed dramatically and the test began. They all had their targets to unload ten shots against and they all proved their worth to the expedition with their speed and accuracy. When Harry and Ford came to their turn, last of all, the target was changed to the cut outs of two men. Sketched over as if they were pointing guns at them so that the shape of the gun was blacked out with small targets like the chest and hands that were hard to hit.

“Six shots, five seconds.” Harry announced. “One to each knee cap, one to each hand, heart and forehead. Score by closest to each.”

Ford watched him for a moment but accepted the pistol Sergeant Bates handed him. They both opened the magazines and checked the rounds and then cocked them, just like all the others had. Harry held his gun loosely, honing his entire body to the world around him, it wasn’t just himself, the gun and the target like most others preferred, but everything in the room. He took in the floor, the walls, the ceiling and all of the other Marines around him as well.

When Bates started the test Harry lifted the gun even as Ford fired his first two shots at the knees of his own target. Harry fired six times with only two brief pauses and finished at the same time as Ford before he dumped the magazine, caught it with his off hand and turned around. He handed his gun to Bates before grinning at Ford who was shaking his head. Harry had won. They’d hit their targets almost perfectly. Harry’s shots weren’t just closer to perfect, they were on the dot whereas Ford had clipped his target’s left hand when aiming for the heart and his last shot to the head was slightly up to the left.

“You’re aim is excellent, Lieutenant.” Harry said after looking his target over.

“Not as good as yours.” Ford complained. “You were barely trying.”

“Perhaps it’s more that you were trying too much.” Harry chuckled. “So, who’s up for something difficult?”

The bond between all the Marines were growing. It was long passed the point where there was any tension between the Marines and their Air Force commanders, especially after Harry and Major Sheppard had cleared the city of a superior force by themselves.

They went outside with the two M40-A3 sniper rifles and Harry gave them three shots each. They were only doing shots at half a mile and most could hit the target without much trouble. When it came to Harry he took the shot from a knee rather than lying out on the ground. The move made it much harder to accurately shoot since he had to take the shot while controlling his entire body. As per the rules Ford had to take the same shot and his shot clipped the bottom of the target which was still rather good for somebody who’d never taken a shot at that range with those restrictions before.

They went in for lunch and gathered out on the east pier after an hour or so of free time. The watch had swapped around so he had a few Marines that he hadn’t had that morning. He also had six of the scientists, including Lieutenant Miller, who had requested the chance to compare themselves to the Marines. They were the few scientists who really looked after themselves.

Harry set them all to warming up and made his way out onto the pier to set up two heavy tapes to mark the edge of the shuttles. He warmed himself up in the same way he warmed up for his morning exercises, finishing off with a back flip that amused the Marines immensely. He was among the few with a lithe build amongst them.

They lined up and Harry blew his whistle to start them off. He’d simply signal each of the runs, he wasn’t pushing them beyond their limits. This exercise was for another purpose, to let the Marines vent off some steam. It was almost an hour later before Harry called a stop and only a few had gone off for a run around the outside of the pier before he signalled the end. Harry led the rest on a slow jog before cooling down. As he stretched he looked up to see Elizabeth approaching with Teyla at her side. Teyla flashed him a smile and Harry stood upright to greet them.

“What’s up?” Harry asked.

“I’m worried about John’s team.” Elizabeth told him. “We had to lose contact when he went down to the surface but I’m not comfortable with him being so far away without help in the area.”

“So you want me to take a Jumper and go over in case?” Harry asked. “It’s a long way to go when there might be nothing wrong.”

“You don’t think we should?” Elizabeth seemed surprised.

“Of course I think we should.” Harry chuckled. “I just wanted to see if you realised how paranoid you sound.”

“Harry...” Elizabeth sighed and he grinned at her.

Harry turned. “Ford! Get showered, suited up and to the Jumper Bay as soon as you can.” Ford sketched a mock salute and went running. “Teyla? You’re with me. We’ll be gone in twenty minutes, Elizabeth.”

She nodded and Harry turned to dismiss the Marines back to their duties. Something told him that the sooner they left the better.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Jumper Two – almost sixteen hours later

Harry slowly settled the ship on course and activated the ship’s autopilot to keep it on track. Only Rodney, Major Sheppard and himself could control the ship and the other two men were in no condition to do anything right now. Harry left Ford and Teyla in the cockpit before he headed into the back section and shut the door to give the sleeping Rodney some peace and quiet while Ford and Teyla chatted together.

Major Sheppard was sitting on the bench opposite where Rodney was lain out and he had his elbows on his knees and his head hanging low. Harry winced as he realised he was looking over his fellow officer’s form, the fine arch of his back and the smooth skin of the exposed back of his neck. He shook himself out of it and crouched in front of him. “I’m sorry about Abrams and Gaul.” Harry told him softly.

“We ran into it.” He sighed.

“It was only one Wraith.” Harry told him making him snap his head up to look at him in horror. Harry shook his head. “I don’t mean it like that. I mean that if it took you so long to kill him then nobody could have done anything more.”

 “Thanks.” The Major sighed out and hung his head again. “You’d have done better though.”

“How?” Harry asked.

“You could have...” He looked up and made flickering motions with his fingers. “And blasted him.”

Harry laughed and shook his head. “It’s not the answer to everything you know.”

The Major looked at him and Harry couldn’t turn away even if he’d wanted to. Sheppard blinked a few times and a small smile spread across his face. Harry stood before he could end up smiling back and turned. “You’re shirt’s looking a little ratty.” Harry told him as he pulled a bag from the storage compartment. “You can put on a spare one and while you’re at it you can let me look at your arm.”

The Major sat up straighter before glancing at his arm. The bullet had gone straight through and it was just a flesh wound but it did need looking at, especially with a fifteen hour journey before Carsen could get a look at him. He slowly pulled his Helly over his head and Harry moved to sit beside him. Sheppard tried to turn to look at him but Harry pushed his other shoulder to turn him back forward so his injured arm was towards him. Harry couldn’t help but take a moment to look over Sheppard’s defined chest and flat stomach and he surprised himself by allowing himself that moment before he concentrated solely on cleaning and closing the wound with a loose hold knowing that Carsen would want to redo it himself at a later time.

He helped his senior officer into the clean top before handing him a sling to rest his arm in. “Get some sleep, Sir.” Harry told him.

“Is that an order?” Sheppard grinned at him.

“Yes, Sir.” Harry grinned at him.

Sheppard twisted around and lay back along the chair, resting his feet flat on the seat so his legs were bent. “I know it’s against protocol, Captain, but this is an odd situation. Why don’t we try John for a while?”

Harry frowned as he looked down at him from next to his knees. “Odd situation?” Harry asked, unsure whether he meant Harry’s attraction or something else.

“I mean the whole ‘stuck in another galaxy’ thing.” He pointed out.

Harry paused thoughtfully. They’d had it drilled into them in Black Ops that you didn’t get close enough to another operative to use their first name. You used their surnames when you couldn’t use their ranks. Things with Iain, Clare and Alex had been different because the other three were pilots with only the basics in ground combat. Harry and the Major were cut from the same mould, they wore a shield of ice around their hearts but hid that coldness with a warm exterior that came across normally as irresponsibility and a casual disregard for authority. But even with all of that, the Major was a kindred spirit out here. None of the others in the expedition understood their strange personalities and Harry couldn’t help but want to be close to the Major and since Sheppard had been the one to suggest it, it almost seemed to be permission for Harry to be attracted to him.

“Alright, John.” Harry shot him a small grin and watched as John sighed in relief. “Get some rest.”

“Thanks, Harry.”

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two days later

Harry had finished his morning spar with Teyla and John and even finished a jog around the city with John before taking a shower and heading for Rodney’s lab. “You’re up late.” Rodney told him as he walked inside. “And you say that scientists are lazy.”

“I never said scientists are lazy, Rodney.” Harry countered. “I said you were lazy. Beside’s I’ve already spent an hour sparring with Teyla and Major Sheppard and then went for a five mile run, what about you?”

Rodney narrowed his eyes at him. “Sit on the table.”

“Yes, Sir.” Harry laughed but did as told. Rodney grabbed the normal diodes and Harry pulled his shirt over his head so that Rodney could connect the little sensors to his chest, spine and neck and then around his head. “And what’s the task today?”

“I’ve been thinking about how you’ve been having trouble creating an electro-magnetic storm and I think I’ve found out why.” Rodney explained. “You’ve never witnessed one.”

“Right...?” Harry pressed.

“Well you know the theory behind one but you’ve never felt it like you told me you felt that storm when you were learning to use your abilities.” Rodney explained. “Well I want to try exposing you to a very small electro-magnetic pulse so you can try to mimic it.”

“You want to...” Harry frowned. “What?”

“I brought an EM generator with us.” Rodney was going on. “You never know when something like that might come in handy. Just a small field and then you might be able to alter it while it’s running.”

“You’re sure about this?” Harry asked.

“Of course I am.” Rodney scoffed. “What? Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I don’t!” Harry laughed. “Let’s get it over and done with and hope you don’t blow up Atlantis in the process.”

“Technically it doesn’t affect...” Rodney started.

“Rodney!” Harry shouted over him. “Just do it.”

Rodney shrugged and headed to a short cylinder about half a metre in diameter and about a metre long that was set on top of one of his lab tables and started tapping away at its controls. Harry felt it even before Rodney stepped away and headed for his computer. “There we go. Can you feel anything?” Rodney glanced up when Harry didn’t answer and saw that Harry’s eyes had gone almost solid black like they usually did. He shuddered at the sight of the Air Force Captain with thick storm clouds in his eyes. “Captain!?”

Harry’s eyes flickered as if a green sun was coming through the clouds and suddenly Rodney was looking at a slightly less scary version of their intrepid Captain. “What?”

“Could you sense anything?” Rodney repeated.

“Of course I did.” Harry told him bluntly. “The air’s charged like water being shaken up inside a fizzy drinks bottle.”

“Do you think you can manipulate it?” Rodney asked. “The pulse isn’t more than a foot from the outside of the device, see if you can spread the effect to these sensors here.” Rodney pointed at a couple of diodes on the end of his own table, as far from his laptop as possible.

Harry delved into his powers again, feeling the air around the generator. It was hard to describe what he actually did when he created storms, really he willed it to happen and the air moved to obey him, it took some knowledge of the fundamentals but a lot of it was instinct and experience. This time he knew before hand that the electro-magnetic pulse was an explosion of erratically spiralling free electrons. In practice he could see the generator causing the electrons in the air to spiral which created the electro-magnetic pulse.

Harry concentrated on the calmer air around the field and envisioned the same thing happening to the electrons there. What he didn’t think about rather foolishly was that what he did always had an effect elsewhere. He was used to thinking about that but this time he simply tried to manipulate one small bit of the field, just adding a new area to the area effected but instead of just creating that he felt a shift in the air so profound his eyes snapped open in time to see a small burst of flickering light in the middle of the room and then a dull thump against his eardrums before everything electrical in the room blinked out of existence.

“Whoa!” Rodney was on his feet, staring at where the light had flickered, “I said small!”

Harry stood without thinking but his knees failed on him and he collapsed to the ground, feeling dizzy, his eyes unfocussed slightly but he got himself under control and stood up again with Rodney’s help. “That was small.” Harry defended himself. “Or at least I was aiming for small.”

“You’re electro-neuro levels spiked before that burst.” Rodney told him. “Clearly it takes more out of you than we guessed.

“You guessed.” Harry complained. “I didn’t say a thing.”

“Are you okay?” Rodney asked worriedly as Harry swayed on his feet.

“Carsen, now.” Harry told him and sat on the edge of the table.

“Uh...right.” Rodney grabbed for his radio. “Doctor Beckett, could you join me in my lab?”

“I’m a bit busy, Rodney.” Carsen’s voice was clear even as Harry lay back on the table and let his eyes unfocus as he stared at the ceiling.

“I’m not calling for the sake of it, Carsen.” Rodney complained irritably as he tried to reboot his laptop.

“Right.” Carsen obviously heard something in his voice. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

Harry was feeling a lot better when Carsen arrived with a med kit. “What in the hell happened?” Carsen yelled, looking at Harry shirtless and covered in wires.

“Please, Doc, don’t yell.” Harry muttered. “I’ve got a headache.”

Carsen appeared over him. “And what exactly were you doing?”

“Just fix me.” Harry complained.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day

Harry had the honour of staying in one of the private rooms that had been designated part of the infirmary. He’d been put to bed by Carsen and strapped up to a machine to keep track of his slowly normalising electro-neural levels. When he tried to get up in the morning to shower and change into normal clothes one of Carsen’s rather diligent nurses had told him off and forced him to stay in bed.

Harry gave her a rather nasty ‘Don’t you know what I’m capable off?’ look but she’d just smirked at him and left the room. It was ten more minutes before Elizabeth, John, Rodney and Carsen had walked into the room. By that time Harry had gotten up, changed into his clothes from the day before, and taken to sitting in the window. Carsen glared at him and wheeled the machine over to reconnect the wires to his head.

“I’m fine, Carsen.” Harry told him. His headache was gone and the dizziness from before was only a memory.

“Imagine not telling me this!” Carsen turned to look at the other three, seemingly unwilling to take his outrage out on a patient. “And experimenting without proper medical supervision.”

“I take it you told him then?” Harry asked Elizabeth dryly.

“He wouldn’t stop ranting.” John shut his mouth quickly when Carsen glared at him.

“As Chief Medical Officer I should have been aware of any abnormalities...”

“Carsen! That’s just not nice.” Harry interrupted.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Carsen defended. “But what would have happened if you’d hurt yourself in an emergency situation and nobody had told me? I wouldn’t have known how to help you.”

“It was just a spike, Carsen.” Rodney pointed out. “He said that whenever he overextends it spikes. It was normal.”

“Really, Doctor.” Harry stood up when Carsen went to argue. “It was more that it took a different type of manipulation to cause the effect and I wasn’t prepared for the loss of energy.”

“The point is, now we know he can do it and how much he is capable of.” Rodney pointed out. “It could really be useful.”

“What I’m capable of?” Harry asked with raised eyebrows. “You can work that out from our experiment?”

“Well no.” Rodney glanced around. “I was hoping you’d tell us.”

“Not a clue.” Harry shrugged. “It takes experimentation to determine limits and I have no experience with electro-magnetic storms. I don’t know if they can become sustainable or how they could maintain themselves. I don’t know if there is a difference between the pulse I created or a storm and I don’t know whether the strain on me will be reasonably proportional to the size of the creation or exponential. I also don’t know whether I could counter a sustained storm once created. Anything else?”

John, Carsen and Elizabeth were staring at him in confusion while Rodney was staring at him in surprise. “What the hell did he just say?” John asked everybody before looking at Harry. “Couldn’t you have just left it at ‘not a clue’?”

Harry shrugged. Elizabeth shook her head. “Let’s not experiment for the time being. Rodney and Zelenka can work on a simulation from the data that the city’s internal sensors recorded but for the meantime I think we should take it easy.”

“I agree.” Carsen nodded. “And I don’t want any more experiments done without my personal supervision.”

“Fine.” Harry shrugged. “Can I go?”

“Yeah...” Carsen muttered without thinking. “What? Wait!”

Harry was already walking out with an amused John at his side. He wanted to go for a run before he found an excuse to go to the mainland that afternoon.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two days later – Mainland

Harry signalled to Markham as he crouched on the ground just to the side of a tree. He and the Sergeant had joined Halling and his son, Jinto, on a hunting expedition. Elizabeth had given Harry the chance to get away and relax since he was among the few that hadn’t taken any time away since coming out here. He’d asked Markham to join him since among all the Marines he showed the most promise with a sniper rifle.

The Athosians had been careful to hunt evenly around the area and with the help of the Atlantis team and their Puddle Jumpers they’d been able to hunt all over the continent so they didn’t affect the local wildlife too much.

Harry crawled forwards with Halling on his left and Markham on the right. Harry was armed only with a pistol and his Sai at the moment since they weren’t really in any danger with Markham with the M40-A3 and Halling and Jinto with bows. They hadn’t even brought any P-90’s with them even if there were two in Jumper two. They were on a cliff that Harry had spotted on the cloaked flyover where they’d found the herd of deer that Halling felt was suitable to hunt.

Harry crawled right to the edge and peered over the edge. There was a broad plain below them but the cliff was rocky and sloped down rather than fell off so they’d be able to walk down if they needed to. Markham set up the legs of the sniper but Harry stopped him. “If you can shoot without the supports you’re better off.” He whispered. Markham nodded and set himself up to support the barrel with his own arm. Harry turned to Halling. “How would you prefer to do this?”

“Well if we are to teach these to hunt properly then they must do it.” Halling nodded to him. “You have hunted before?” He asked.

“For survival.” Harry told him. “There is no reason to hunt on our world except for enjoyment and most of that is illegally done. When I was on assignment in one of our Rainforests I had to watch a group of men for a month and that entailed hunting for food. I didn’t do that with a gun though.”

“What did you use?” Jinto asked curiously.

“A compound bow.” Harry told him. “It’s limbs are too stiff to move by hand so it relies on a pulley system to store energy. It has a greater range, power and accuracy. Unfortunately I didn’t think to bring one in our equipment. If we ever get the chance I’ll try to get one.”

“I would like to see this bow.” Halling nodded.

“How about this? Jinto can take a shot and try to bring one down and then the Sergeant can take his shot, bring a few down.” Harry suggested to bring them back to topic.

“Agreed.” Halling nodded and patted his son on the arm. “If he misses they may not run though.”

“Really?” Harry was surprised but he realised he shouldn’t be. “I suppose they are unused to such an attack. Unless one dies they won’t see a threat from an arrow in the ground.”

“Whenever you wish, Jinto.” Haling told him and turned to see Markham silently prepping himself, lining up the M40-A3 and switching off the safety.

“I expect at least three kills from you before they get out of range, Sergeant.” Harry told him. “Clean kills mind you so don’t rush. Speed is never everything.”

“Yes, Sir.” Markham nodded.

Jinto stood up slowly and took aim. Harry pulled a couple of scopes from his pocket and handed one to Halling to observe the strike. He could hear Markham adjusting his sight since his own scope had a distance laser on it but Jinto had to make all the adjustments himself. Harry would let Markham do it this time but eventually he’d remove the scope and leave the Sergeant with only the inbuilt sights to work with.

Harry studied the deer, for they were obviously deer even if their colouring was slightly redder than he was used too, they were a large herd, easily a thousand or more. Deer never grouped together like this on his own world which was depressing. He heard the twang of the bow and the sound was hard and strong. Harry glanced away from the scope to find the arrow, he guessed it’s fall, and then looked for it as it fell amongst the herd. At this range it was difficult to aim at a particular deer and with smaller herds you’d aim to take an older or injured member out but Jinto was aiming for the herd in general.

It didn’t take long to find out if the shot had hit since the herd almost instantly began to charge, crossing the river in the bottom of the valley. Harry could see a large stag on the ground and barely had to wait for the first of Markham’s ringing shots. Another large deer fell even as a second and third shot rang out with only seconds between them. Harry might have been able to do slightly better but not by much. In all they took down four deer. Enough to keep the Athosians afloat until their own cattle took hold properly. When that happened they’d be able to hunt to supply the Atlantis expedition with meat.

“Good shot, Jinto.” Harry complimented before nodding at Markham. Markham knew his shots were good and Harry didn’t need to say it. This had been a test and Harry would start allowing Markham to take one of the M40-A3’s with him on missions. “Markham head back and pick up the Jumper then come pick us up down in the valley. We’ll load the kills and head back to the camp. Doctor Weir gave us the go ahead to get some R&R out here tonight so once we get back to camp feel free to live it up.”

Markham chuckled and handed Harry the M40-A3. Harry stood up and with Halling behind him and Jinto off to the right they began the trek down into the valley. As they came up to the four deer one moved. Harry propped the sniper on the ground next to it, slid out one of his Sai and neatly killed it. It went still without any pain. Harry pulled out the Sai and cleaned it off with one of the wipes he kept in his pouches.

“Can you hunt with those?” Jinto asked him. Harry turned to take in the other kills. This one had been Jinto’s and the arrow hadn’t killed it cleanly. The other three were a little distance away but the bullets had killed them almost instantly through their chests.

“Not for this.” Harry told him.

“Why not?” Jinto asked. Harry moved to help Halling pull one of the deer closer to the first.

“I swore and oath when I was given these.” Harry told him and saw that Halling was listening too. “The particular blend of martial arts that I was taught it designed to incapacitate or kill with great efficiency. It’s an assassins art and the Sai have very little effect when you try to use them to hurt though they are excellent at killing or defending yourself. When I learnt the art and was gifted with these Sai, I swore that I’d never use them to kill unless the situation really required it.”

“But you’ll kill with a gun or bow?” Halling asked.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’ll kill with these, like with the Wraith. I just won’t use them for something like hunting.” Harry told him. “These weapons are designed to kill an enemy and my art instructs that you only kill when you need to protect another whether he is holding a hostage captive or he’s holding the trigger of a bomb in the middle of a town or city.”

“That’s honourable.” Halling nodded to him.

“There is a legend amongst my art that if an innocent ever dies upon one of your blades then they will fail you when you need them most.” Harry told them with a grin. “I don’t much believe in karma and Fate’s always been a particular bitch to me so I suppose I can trust that she owes me a lot.”

“She?” Jinto frowned. “Who is this Fate? Is she a member of your team.”

Harry laughed but it was Halling that grinned and spoke up. “I believe this Fate is a superstition on your world?”

“Supposedly a being that controls the paths of all lives.” Harry told him. “I never much liked her.” Harry told him thinking about the prophecy and his own expulsion and his friends’ betrayal.

It wasn’t long before the Jumper arrived and Harry, Jinto, Halling and Markham bagged the kills and stowed them away. He and Markham spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with the Athosians and Harry taught Markham how to clean and store a kill properly before he was talked into sparring with a couple of young men that clearly fought like Teyla, though not with as much skill. Harry found the time enheartening and it took his mind off of everything else.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day – Atlantis – South Pier

Because of the recent flood a lot of the South Pier had been flooded and inaccessible until recently and Harry had spent the last eight hours roaming the halls with Zelenka as they checked the place over. It was mainly structural integrity that they were looking at since the area had been catalogued before. Harry, Ford and two Corporals were the only military aid with the group, since these rooms had been checked for booby traps once before they were there more for protocol than anything else.

They met up with Rodney, Ford and another scientist a few minutes later on their way back to the group and Harry put up with their game of Prime or Not Prime for almost ten minutes before he had to step in to stop Ford from doing something unpleasant to a teasing Zelenka.

He added his own quick report to Elizabeth when Rodney reported to her that everything seemed structurally sound and Harry did a quick head count, using his practice to count them all within a second or two. He moved to Zelenka who was checking everybody in. “We’re missing two.” Harry told him.

“Wait!” Zelenka called as Rodney made to lead them all back to the central city. “We’re missing Johnson and Wagner.”

Harry frowned but took the lead and tapped the talk button on his earpiece. “Johnson, Wagner, report please.” Harry requested shortly.

He got nothing in return for a moment before they all heard a scream. It was both in Harry’s ear and from the speakers on the scientists’ radios. “We need back up!” Somebody screamed. “They’re coming at us!”

“Where are they?” Rodney asked Zelenka loudly.

“Straight down there!” Zelenka told him pointing down the hall.

“Ford!” Harry snapped and took off quickly, swinging his P-90 up and flicking off the safety. He jogged down the hall and around a single bend in the corridor before he stumbled across the two missing scientists. One was lying on his back while the woman was sitting against the wall with her head on her knees and her arms wrapped around him. “Perimeter.” Harry ordered even as he crouched beside the man on the floor and put his fingers to his neck. There wasn’t a pulse and there was blood running from his mouth and nose.

He glanced around at the crowd of scientists around them. Ford was at the end of the corridor looking around and the two other Marines were guarding the other end as well as the scientists. Harry was about to get up and speak when the woman screamed and started struggling. Rodney and Zelenka grabbed her but it looked like she was having a fit. “Beckett! I need a medical team down here now!” Rodney shouted down his radio.

Harry stood up and moved to her side but couldn’t really do anything as she screamed in terror, scratching at Rodney and Zelenka before seizing up and going limp. Zelenka cradled her head, moving hair out of her newly blood streaked face before touching her neck gently. “It’s too late.” Zelenka sighed. “She’s dead.”

“McKay, this is Beckett.” He sounded rather flustered but still calm. “What exactly is the nature of the emergency?”

Rodney sat back heavily as Harry stood up. “It’s too late.” Rodney said into his radio. “They’re gone.”

“Who’s gone?” Carsen replied. “How?”

“Johnson and Wagner.” Rodney replied and glanced at Harry. “We need a containment team.”

Harry nodded his agreement even as Ford spoke up. “Containment team? Why?”

“People don’t just see things and drop dead, Lieutenant.” Rodney snapped even as all the scientists got edgy. “I think Johnson and Wagner were exposed to something.”

“It’s a safe deduction.” Harry put in. “If they were infected then some or all of us might be too.”

“I recommend a level four quarantine until we know what we’re dealing with.” Zelenka put in.

“I agree.” Rodney nodded. “Carsen, did you hear all of that?”

“Aye.” Carsen told them. “We’ll get to the hazmat gear and head down. I’ll make sure Doctor Weir is briefed.”

“Thank you.” Rodney told him.

“So, wait.” A scientist spoke up. Peterson, Harry seemed to remember. “We’re just going to stay here?”

“That’s the plan.” Harry told him.

“May I say it’s a terrible one?” Peterson asked impetuously.

“No.” Harry told him. “You’re all under my command here, I shouldn’t have to remind you all about protocol.”

Rodney stared at him for a moment but nodded. “I think we should get out of here!” Peterson shouted.

“I hate to say this but if any of you try my men have permission to shoot you.” Harry told everybody loudly and the scientists all looked around at each other, at Harry and then at Ford, and the two Corporals, Ike and Samuels.

Harry moved aside to talk to Ike and Samuels but was drawn back to Rodney when he announced he wanted to move. To explore the labs Johnson and Wagner had been assigned to. Harry moved to the front beside Ford, Zelenka and Rodney. “You wouldn’t really shoot us right?”

“We have the authority to.” Harry pointed out. “In quarantine situations military personnel have control. Don’t worry, Rodney, I’ll aim for your legs.”

Ford snorted and Rodney glared at him. Harry chuckled. “Well this is a scientific...”

“Don’t sweat it, Rodney.” Harry told him in amusement. “As long as everybody stays where they should you’re in charge.”

“I’m thrilled.” Rodney deadpanned.

They came to a stop outside a half open set of doors into one of the labs, it wasn’t an area Harry had been to yet. “Right, everybody stay here.”

Harry nodded to Ford who nodded back. Harry slipped through the door in front of Rodney and scouted the place out in case some sort of device had killed the two poor scientists. The room seemed innocent enough except for the numerous broken cylinders above a work station in the middle of the room. It was clearly a lab and those cylinders worried Harry.

It took a while but eventually the entire team was sequestered in the lab with their laptops trying to find a clue. Harry set Ford to one side of the room while Ike and Samuels watched from inside the door in case anybody took a stroll. It was almost half an hour when Harry’s attention was drawn to the middle of the room when another of the scientists screamed and started clawing at Peterson who panicked and almost ran back away from her. Harry was there in an instant holding her shoulders down to the floor when she collapsed. Ike held her legs still as she went into a seizure.

She died the same was as Johnson and Wagner and Harry checked her pulse before sighing and closing her eyes. He tapped his microphone. “Doctor Beckett, you’d better hurry it up.” Harry told him. “We just lost another member of the team.”

“Where’s Peterson?” Ford suddenly asked. Harry stood up quickly and turned to Ike and Samuels who glanced at him and winced. There was no need to say anything to them about leaving the doorway.

“Fucking hell.” Harry muttered under his breath before heading for the door. He knew protocol stated he shouldn’t go after him but he didn’t have much choice. “Nobody else leaves or Ford shoots them.” Harry snapped over his shoulder.

He touched his microphone as he jogged down the hall. “Doctor Weir, Peterson’s taken a stroll, can you find him on sensors?”

“Give us a moment.” It was Grodin’s voice.

“Captain, what happened?” This time it was John.

“We were distracted when Dumais went into a fit.” Harry told him. “He slipped out. I’m on his tail.”

“What are you going to do, Captain?” John asked.

“Whatever I have to do to stop him from spreading whatever this thing is to the rest of you.” Harry told him.

“We’ve got him.” Elizabeth’s voice told him. “He’s heading back to the central city. We’re closing all the doors and shutting down the power to that section. We should be okay.”

“The Captain has to stop him.” Rodney was clearly monitoring.

“It’s okay, Rodney, we’ve got it under control.” Elizabeth assured him. Harry didn’t pause in following Peterson.

“No, Elizabeth, it’s not under control.” Rodney snapped. “Peterson knows almost as much as I do about Ancient technology. At the very most, all you are doing is slowing him down.”

“Doctor Weir, you need to try to get him to come to me. He’s got a good three minutes on me.” Harry told her before concentrating on slipping through the series of cracked open doors. Peterson was fast and he wasn’t carrying gear like Harry was.

“Somebody has to do something.” John snapped a few minutes later

“We are doing something.” Elizabeth told him. “I’ve tried talking to him but he doesn’t respond. Grodin is trying to limit the door controls.”

“I’m heading out.” John told her. There was a moment where Harry frowned before John’s annoyed voice came to him. “What the hell is this?”

“I can’t chance you getting infected.” Elizabeth told him. Harry winced, she’d obviously locked him in the gym and since John had never bothered to learn how to bypass the door controls like Harry had, he was stuck there.

“I can’t chance you getting infected.” John countered. “Bates?”

Harry grimaced this time and sped up even while slowly drawing the air in the corridor towards him. He was causing all the air in this section to blow towards him, hopefully slowing Peterson and making it harder for him to run fast without as much air. He knew that if it came to it he could suck all the air out of the area and suffocate Peterson but he wanted to talk him out of running first. He really didn’t want to kill one of their own men, especially since he was simply frightened of dying.

“Yes, Sir.” It was Bates’ voice and Harry narrowed his eyes knowing what John would order.

“Unlock the Gym.” John ordered.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Don’t!” Elizabeth snapped over the open radio connection even though she was probably standing right next to him.

“Sergeant Bates, I am ordering you to open up the doors between the Gym and the med lab right now.” John ordered.

Harry knew he had to step in. “Sergeant Bates, you’ll follow the orders of the expedition leader and not the military leader in this case. You will follow Doctor Weir’s orders and you will do so under my orders or I will string you up for endangering the life of the senior military commander of Atlantis.” Harry paused. “Is that understood, Bates!?”

“Yes, Sir.” Bates told him shortly.

“Captain!” John was pissed.

“With all due respect, Major. You are in self regulated quarantine and not on the scene, I am.” Harry told him. “I agree with Doctor Weir. I can stop him with whatever means necessary.”

“Thank you, Captain.” Elizabeth told him.

“Major, pissed at me or not I need your agreement.” Harry paused slightly. “If Elizabeth can’t talk him down I need permission to stop him at all costs.”

Harry hated saying it on the net because he knew that at least half of the expedition would be able to hear him. “You have it, Captain.” John sounded sour and Harry knew he’d get yelled at later but he was happy as long as John didn’t endanger himself for no good reason.

“He won’t make the central city, Major.” Harry told him. “You know what I can do.”

Harry listened to reports from Elizabeth telling him where he was so he wasn’t surprised when he came around one of the corners to see Peterson trying to get through another door. “Peterson, turn around and look at me.” Harry demanded.

Peterson managed to get the door open but Harry cocked his gun making Peterson stare at him in surprise. Obviously it wasn’t until now that he took Harry seriously. “You wouldn’t...”

“Peterson, you clearly don’t know me.” Harry told him knowing that their conversation was being monitored through his radio. “My job on this mission is to keep the rest of the expedition alive and that includes from internal dangers. If you get to the city centre you will cause the deaths of everybody else on this mission. I can’t let that happen and I can’t stop you without killing you. Why don’t you come back with me? Doctor Beckett has already started treating the others. I’ll put my weapon on the ground and you can come back with me.”

Peterson stared at him as Harry slowly bent and place the P-90 on the ground. He even took his pistol out and put it on the floor before straightening, leaving his hands at his sides. “Come on Peterson, don’t be foolish, nobody wants anybody else to die today and I sure as hell don’t want to be the one to kill you. The expedition needs you.”

“I can’t go back there. I’ll get infected!” Peterson argued.

“Then we’ll go somewhere else, but not into the city where everybody else is.” Harry told him.

“Why not take me to the med lab?” Peterson pleaded. “You can keep me there!”

“No, Peterson.” Harry shook his head. “You know that’s not possible. You can’t go beyond this door. I can’t let you, not when sixty more people are at risk.”

“No!” Peterson spun and tried to get to the open slot in the door only a few feet from him but Harry had seen the look in his eye as he’d made the decision. Harry’s right hand grabbed his Sai and in an instant it left his palm and flew silently across the room, a flight of only a half second before it cut straight through the back of Peterson’s torso. The blade pierced his heart, killing him instantly, and he fell to the ground against the door. His eyes dying even as he rolled to the ground.

Harry walked forwards and crouched in front of Peterson. He looked down at the floor between his knees to gain his composure. He’d never killed like this before. Not a good man that was merely frightened and the knowledge that he’d done it to save everybody else didn’t help him all that much. Peterson wasn’t an innocent but he wasn’t really guilty either.

“Captain?” It was Elizabeth calling him. She’d obviously heard a commotion, as had everybody else listening to the radio. “Harry? Are you okay?”

“Captain, report!” John almost shouted.

“It’s taken care of.” Harry told them, knowing that his voice was cold and hard.

“Captain, what happened?” Elizabeth asked.

Harry moved and lay Peterson out straight before taking the Sai out of his back and cleaning it on one of his cloths as he answered. “I need to return to the group. I’ll report to you later.”

“Okay, Captain.” John’s voice held none of the snappy tone from before. “Get back to Beckett and get checked out.”

“Yes, Sir.” Harry told him before pocketing his Sai. He reached out one last time and closed Peterson’s eyelids. “Sorry, Peterson.” He said quietly making sure he wasn’t transmitting.

He picked up his pistol and P-90 before starting back for the ruined lab at a jog. When he arrived Ike and Samuels gave him small nods but didn’t comment. Ford came over when he saw him. “Sorry, Sir.”

“For what, Lieutenant?” Harry asked, not liking the pity-filled look from the Marine officer. “We do what we have to do.”

“Yes, Sir.” Ford looked at the floor.

Carsen, in a grey-blue hazmat suit, stopped in front of him. “We need to get a look at you.” His voice was muffled by the suit but also came through the military frequency into his ear. Even the doctors had heard the scuffle. Harry handed Ford his P-90 and leaned against one of the consoles as he let Carsen check numerous things about him. He was well aware throughout the check up that he was getting looks from everybody in the room and he knew why. They were scared of him now.

“So, what’s the current hypothesis?” Harry asked Rodney while Carsen worked.

“Well it’s not really a hypothesis.” Rodney told him without any of his normal attitude. “We’re all infected with a nano-virus that was being studied in this lab. It’s got a hibernation period of twelve hours before it ruptures an artery in the brain to kill the host.”

“Though it doesn’t seem to target Ancients.” Zelenka pointed out.

“Yes, yes.” Rodney waved him off with some of his normal blasé. “It doesn’t affect those with the ATA gene. We’ve already established that’s not going to help.”

“It means I won’t be affected.” Harry pointed out.

“Good for us.” Rodney told him. “My twelve hours is already up.”

“Which means so is mine.” Harry frowned and stood up, pushing Carsen away. “And that means...”

“Hay’s died just after you started back.” Carsen told him with a sigh.

“So, can we stop it now that we know what it is?” Harry asked.

“I have a plan but it means creating an EMP burst from my lab.” Rodney told him. “And we don’t have much time.”

“My times up in twenty minutes.” Ford told him.

“And mine.” Zelenka pointed out.

“The burst from your lab...” Harry turned to Rodney. “Will that be large enough to reach here?”

“It’ll cleanse the central part of the city...” Rodney paused. “If we’re lucky.”

Harry looked around the group. Carsen, Ford, Zelenka and Rodney, all knew about his abilities. Harry nodded.

“No, Captain.” Carsen shook his head. Ford and Zelenka looked shocked and then frowned while Rodney sighed in resignation. He’d clearly been the only one to think about it.

“Sorry, doctor, but the math is simple.” Harry told him.

“Can you create a large enough blast?” Rodney asked quietly so that none of the others could hear.

“It didn’t take much effort to create the one that covered your lab.” Harry pointed out. “The effect on me might be fatal though.”

“Exactly my point.” Carsen pointed out. “I won’t allow it.”

“Sorry, Doctor, you don’t get a say.” Harry told him. “You might want to come with us though. Zelenka stay here. Ford, you’d better come.”

He didn’t have to tell anybody that Ford was coming to carry him back inside afterwards. Carsen argued but Harry shut him up with a glare. He ordered Ike and Samuels not to let anybody out until Rodney gave the all clear and left the two confused Marine Corporals behind as he walked down the corridor with Rodney, Ford and Carsen.

“This could be suicide.” Carsen pointed out as they emerged from the corridors and out into fresh air. He could control it better from out here.

“Carsen.” Harry turned to him. “I brought you out here so that you can do what you can afterwards but if I don’t do this then Ford and Zelenka die in seventeen minutes and then the rest of the party soon after. It’s a serious risk but it’s necessary.”

“Doctor Weir?” Carsen spoke up. “Can you talk some sense into him?”

“What’s happening?” Elizabeth asked. Nobody but they knew what was happening.

“In short, Doctor Weir, we need a large electro-magnetic burst that’ll cleanse the entire city in the next sixteen minutes.” Harry told her. “Do you have any other suggestions?”

“No, Captain.” Elizabeth sounded strained.

“Major?” Harry winced.

“Do it, Captain.” John told him. Harry hadn’t needed his permission but Harry found that he simply wanted to know that John knew what he was doing. He wanted John there with him.

Harry stepped away from the others, handing his weapons and pouches to Ford. He stopped a few feet away and looked up into the sky. Looking at a point maybe half a mile above the central tower. His eyes flashed black even though none saw it in the late evening light. Harry struck out with everything he had, forcing the electrons to spin out of control within the restraints of their mother molecules. Forcing the blast that they needed. A flash of white light burst out of nothing within the air. The burst struck out in a sphere or energy that only Harry could feel with his senses.

The light dimmed and Harry suddenly couldn’t feel anything in his body. His eyes slipped closed as his head screamed at him. He felt a wave of dizziness that refused to abate and before he realised it the world was spinning in a circle around him and he collapsed to the ground hoping only that it had worked.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next morning

Harry opened his eyes slowly and groggily, he felt worse than he had when he’d crashed in Antarctica. He was on his side looking at the window and was surprised to see John standing there in his uniform trousers and a white Helly. He almost thought it was the same John as the hallucination from the Wraith Hive ship but his eyes weren’t so bright. Harry squinted against the light, bringing John into focus properly before he turned his head up to the ceiling.

“How long have I been out?” He asked John when his senior officer didn’t speak.

“A day.” John told him. “Doctor Beckett’s been beside himself.”

“A day?” Harry frowned. “So it worked?”

John smiled and came closer. “It worked.” He stopped at the edge of his bed. “How do you feel?”

“About the same as when I crashed in Antarctica.” Harry groaned. “Can you turn down the light?”

John laughed but turned back to the window and pulled the blinds down. “I’m glad you’re okay, Harry.”

Harry rolled painfully onto his back and winced when he tried to sit up. He lifted tired arms to pull the sheet up passed his waist and then let them flop into his lap. He was bare chested and he had to have at least two dozen wired connected to him that led to a lab top on the side table. “John, I’m sorry about what happened with Bates.”

John sighed explosively. “Elizabeth was right, I shouldn’t have countered her orders in front of everybody.”

“And I shouldn’t have countered yours.” Harry pointed out.

“We both did what we thought was right.” John sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, facing Harry. “I wanted to make sure that Peterson couldn’t reach the city. I wasn’t sure if you’d catch him up or not.”

“I only countered your orders because I knew Peterson couldn’t have escaped me.” Harry told him and caught his eye. “He was alone in that part of the city. I could have taken all the air out of the corridors and suffocated him.”

John stared at him for a moment. “But you wanted to give him a chance to give in.” John nodded slowly. “I agree with what happened, nobody thinks otherwise.”

“That’s bull.” Harry snapped before he could stop himself. “People might realise it was the only option but nobody really says they agree with it. They’ll always think I should have come up with another way.”

“You couldn’t have saved him.” John pointed out. “His twelve hours would have been up about half an hour after you killed him. If you’d let him get away he would have infected the others and even if we would have saved them we didn’t know it was possible at the time.”

“But I still have to know I killed him.” Harry put his head back. “It’s the first time I’ve killed somebody like that, you know.”

“Like that?” John asked.

“It’s the first time I’ve had to kill a man that only wanted to save himself.” Harry said quietly before dropping his head. John made him jump when he felt his hand take his own carefully.

“If our positions had been reversed I would have done exactly the same thing.” John told him, staring into his eyes to push his point across.

Harry squeezed John’s hand before extricating his hand. “What about the others? Are people asking what happened?”

“Everybody knows that you did something to create an EMP burst that saved them but nobody knows how and Elizabeth, Rodney, Zelenka and I have simply told people that it’s classified.” John told him. “The popular theory is that you and Rodney have been working on a secret project.”

Harry smiled weakly. “So, when can I get out of here?”

“Carsen’s been frantic all day yesterday. Your electro-neuro levels went so high that Carsen thought you’d have an aneurism.” John told him. “It wasn’t until late last night that he convinced himself you’d survive. What you did was...”

“Necessary.” Harry interrupted.

“Necessary.” John sighed and hung his head. “Harry, I...”

When John didn’t continue Harry let his head fall back on the back of the bed. “You remember I said that if we were back home we’d make good friends?” Harry asked. John nodded. “Well I think we can be good friends out here too.”

John laughed before grinning. “Sure, Harry.”

“John...” Harry paused. “Thanks for hanging around.”

“Anytime.” John made to take Harry’s hand again but then seemed to think better of it and stood up instead. “Carsen said you should try to get some more rest.”

Harry nodded. “You think you could ask him for some food too? I haven’t eaten since before we went out on that survey.”

“Sure, Harry.” John nodded. “I’ll let Elizabeth know you’re awake.”

John left the room and Harry sighed out before sinking back into bed properly.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day

“Carsen, there is no way in hell you are going to get me into that wheelchair.” Harry snapped. He was changed and was finally being released by Carsen as long as he took it easy.

“I told you, you have to take it easy.” Carsen sighed.

“Taking it easy does not require a wheelchair, Carsen.” Harry told him blandly and slipped off the bed onto his feet. One of the expedition’s nurses, if they could be called just that, rushed to his side. Harry glared at the man angrily and he took a hasty step back away from him. Harry let go of the side of the bed. “See?”

“You’ll barely make it down the corridor like that, Captain.” Carsen sighed and rubbed at his head.

“Carsen, there are thirty Marines in this city that look to me for strength and leadership.” Harry told him. “I can’t do that from a wheelchair.”

“You’re not on duty until at least the end of next week.” Carsen pointed out.

“Yet I have a reputation to maintain.” Harry told him. “I can’t look weak.”

“But you are and nobody blames you.” Carsen shook his head pleadingly. “What you did nearly killed you.”

“What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” Harry countered.

“Or simply kills you next time.” Carsen argued.

“I don’t plan on a next time any time soon, Carsen.” Harry pointed out. “Besides even if I am weak I can’t look to be pampering it. I’ll walk and if I need to rest then I will and that’s okay but I won’t pamper that weakness by rolling around the corridors like I’m on a holiday.”

“Fine!” Carsen threw up his hands. “Just get out of here before I change my mind and strap you to the bed.”

Harry flashed him a grin of victory. “I swear that I’ll take it easy, Carsen. And I won’t stress my body. I know how to look after myself. Trust me, Carsen.”

“I don’t trust patients, Captain.” Carsen told him blandly.

Harry laughed and slowly made his way to the door.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Half an hour later

Harry paused in Elizabeth’s office door, he’d used the second door that led to the corridor so that he didn’t have to walk through the control room. She was typing on her laptop and hadn’t noticed him so he gave in to his exhausted legs and leant a shoulder against the door frame and crossed his arms across his front. He was wearing full uniform except for the Atlantis grey jacket and he was completely unarmed. Normally he’d wear his leather jacket when off duty like this but it was a warm day and he didn’t fancy it.

Eventually she moved the mouse, clicked to save whatever she was doing, and then sat back before jumping when she looked up and saw Harry watching her. “Harry.” She stated.

“Last time I checked, but I did fry myself quite bad so maybe it isn’t.” Harry grinned at her. Took the four steps to the chair opposite her and rather gracelessly flopped out on it, stretching his legs and sighing out in satisfaction.

“I thought Carsen wanted you to use a wheelchair.” Elizabeth frowned, looking him over.

“Well I told him where he could put that idea.” Harry flashed her a cheeky grin. “Well I was polite about it. He might not talk to me until I’m fully back on duty but that’s his prerogative.”

“Well I’m glad you weren’t permanently hurt.” Elizabeth smiled. “What you did was incredible and Rodney’s been singing your praises for two days now.”

“You mean Rodney knows how to compliment somebody else?” Harry asked and laughed along with Elizabeth.

“Did you actually need anything, Harry?” Elizabeth asked. “I’m sure the walk here didn’t do you any good when I would have come to see you later anyway.”

“I just wanted to make sure you didn’t leave me out of the loop.” Harry told her. “My body might be tired and I might have the world’s largest headache but I’m still the Major’s second in command. I won’t be standing watch or going off world but there’s still a lot to do around here.”

“I know, Harry.” She smirked at him. “You’ll be involved in every meeting of importance, every command decision and you’re still in direct control of the Marines.”

“Good.” Harry paused before tilting his head to the side. “What did you say to John about what happened?”

“About...?”

“About ordering Bates to open the gym.” Harry pressed.

She winced. “Sometimes he makes a decision and demands to see it to the end and he doesn’t respect the chain of command when he should.”

“Doesn’t mean he wasn’t right to think that.” Harry pointed out.

“I know, Harry.” Elizabeth sighed.

“John’s impetuous but he has good instincts and he’s a good man.” Harry told her. “He’s had his bad luck on some of his assignments but you have to realise something with both of us. We’re taught by numbers really. We’re taught to assess the damage of any action and then take the required course even if it’s the lesser of two evils. His decision to leave the Gym was a number decision. The risk against himself compared to the loss of the rest of the expedition.”

“John?” Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him but Harry just shrugged. “I understand all of that, Harry, but I need the two of you to follow my orders in situations like that.”

“I hate to point out the obvious, Elizabeth, but before I came under your command I could have counted all of the times I’ve been under a civilian leader on one hand.” Harry told her honestly. “Actually I can tell you that I’ve only taken orders from a civilian twice in my life. Once by the Queen of England when she ordered me to leave the RAF and join the USAF and then with a CIA operative in Chile. John’s about the same.”

“I know it’s difficult for you to accept that a civilian like me can have the same good judgement as a senior officer but I need you to try.” Elizabeth frowned when Harry started laughing.

“Elizabeth, it’s not that at all. You’ve already proven to both of us that you’re more than capable for the job.” Harry turned serious. “It’s because you don’t understand our personalities.”

“I’ve spent most of my career around the military, Harry.” Elizabeth pointed out.

“And how many Black Ops have you met?” Harry asked. She shook her head. “And now you’ve got two of them in your command. We’re not normal people, Elizabeth, our training involves things you couldn’t imagine in your nightmares and we’re supposed to be moulded into killers so that when we’re told to target a person we don’t even ask who they are before we carry out the mission.”

“I understand that.” Elizabeth told him.

“I don’t think you do, but that’s okay.” Harry told her. “We don’t expect you to understand us but you need to realise that we can come to some heavy, life changing, decisions in seconds. We have to do it all the time and decisions that risk our own lives come naturally to us. When I was down there with the virus I never once thought about how long I had left until it killed me and I doubt John really thought about the fact that he could catch the virus. We make decisions as we have to and we hope there’s a psychologist good enough to get us through it.”

“Well I don’t want two screwed up officers under my command.” Elizabeth told him.

“Don’t worry about us really, Elizabeth.” Harry shrugged and gave her a warm smile that rarely graced his lips. “I’ve been in this life since I was eighteen and John has done the same. We’re good at what we do because we can deal with the mental repercussions.”

“You fill me with confidence.” Elizabeth deadpanned. Harry laughed and stood slowly. He stretched his legs.

“Oh, Elizabeth. I’m sorry about Peterson, if there had been any other way to ensure he didn’t infect the rest of you I would have done it.” Harry told her sadly. “I don’t like what I did any more than everybody else but I do what is necessary to keep the rest of you safe and I make no excuses for that.”

“Nobody thinks otherwise, Harry.” Elizabeth told him. “I mean it.”

Harry nodded and turned to leave the office. He had an early lunch planned and then he’d pay a visit to Doctor Heightmeyer for his private chat. He’d come to like the doctor and her methods weren’t so screening as the other therapists he’d been required to talk to in the past.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Four days later

Harry’s weakness had rapidly fallen away and with every day he began to feel like himself again. According the Carsen, who was still talking to him by some miracle, the overload of electro-neuros had shorted his nervous system but now that the levels had fallen back to something slightly higher than normal, like usual, his body was beginning to wake back up.

Harry had ignored his demands to not train and had come outside every morning to run a few laps of the broad east pier with or without Teyla, John, Ford or any of the other Marines that joined him. Without any normal duties he’d left Bate in charge while John and Ford had gone on a mission with Rodney and Teyla, the normal team. He’d decided to spend the day out in the sun on the edge of the pier running through Sai drills and he was pleased that his flexibility and speed hadn’t been unduly affected by what he’d done.

The team had been offworld for several hours now. Harry knew that they’d initially run into Wraith trouble and the cloaking generator had been knocked offline but a large explosion from the surface had destroyed the Wraith ships with little effort. Harry had heard the initial report come through the Stargate before the team had cut the Gate’s power and headed down to the planet to find the locals.

They hadn’t heard anything back after that but Harry knew that eventually John would have to take the ship up into orbit to open the Stargate and report in. It was almost three hours after John should have landed on the planet when Elizabeth called Harry who was still training out on the pier. “Captain Potter. You’d better get cleaned up and come up to the Gateroom.”

“Understood, Doctor Weir.” Harry replied after a moment to control his breathing. “How long have I got?”

“About half an hour.” Elizabeth told him. “The Major and his team are bringing back a guest.”

“Should we take precautions?” Harry asked.

“I don’t think that will be entirely necessary, Captain.” Elizabeth told him kindly.

So, just his Sai and pistol then, Harry decided and jogged back the two miles of corridors and stairs back to his room. He was tired by the time he got there but by the time he’d had a warm shower and had changed into his full uniform he was ready to greet any guest. He clipped his Sai pouches into his trousers and then clipped his pistol holster over the top of his right Sai.

He arrived in the control room just in time to greet Elizabeth before the wormhole opened. “I did say you didn’t need to take precautions.”

“These aren’t precautions.” Harry told her. “They’re common sense.”

“We’re receiving Major Sheppard’s IDC.” Grodin told him.

“Is the Major going to bring our guest back down here?” Harry asked. She nodded to him just as the Jumper came slowly through the Stargate before rising up through the ceiling and into the Jumper Bay.

It was a few minutes before John led a woman into the Gateroom followed by Rodney, Teyla and Ford. Elizabeth walked down the steps but Harry was slower to start as he took in the woman’s appearance. She was remarkably beautiful, untouched by the rigours of life, with a gentle tan and bright eyes that looked around with an expression that Harry couldn’t quite place. Something between wonder and happiness. Granted neither were particularly misplaced but still her expression worried Harry. Then again, Harry realised, it could just be the way that John was waiting on her. Harry pushed that thought aside telling himself that it really wasn’t any of his business.

In the end he was only a few steps behind Elizabeth when she stopped in front of the woman with a bright smile on her face. “Welcome to Atlantis, Chaya.” Elizabeth greeted and offered her hand. Chaya took it gently before her eyes slid passed Elizabeth to Harry. Her expression flickered so briefly that Harry wouldn’t have sworn to have seen it in the first place. Then again Harry was a trained sniper and they didn’t miss much. “This is Major Sheppard’s second in command, Captain Potter.”

Harry felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time, something that had taken years to realise he had felt in the first place. It was hard describe but he put the thought aside as he nodded to Chaya without smiling. His normal cold exterior was up and he ignored the glare that John shot his way at his harsh attitude. Harry suddenly found himself tempted to glare back at him as if angry with a child with a new toy.

“I hope you don’t mind but our doctors do require a medical exam of all offworld team members and our visitors.” Elizabeth continued after the brief moment of silence. “But after that perhaps you would like a full tour.”

“I would love that.” She smiled happily.

“Major Sheppard has already promised to do so.” Teyla spoke up.

“Of course he has.” Elizabeth sounded weird and Harry took in her own expression, she looked amused. Clearly everybody here saw John’s infatuation even if nobody said anything. “How about I show you to the infirmary?” Elizabeth offered and Chaya and John off out of the room.

“Maybe I should tag along in case you have any questions that the Major can’t answer?” Rodney shouted after them.

“I think I can handle it, Rodney.” John told him over his shoulder with a negligent gesture.

“There’s a lot of systems you know absolutely...”

“Got it covered.” John shouted back before disappearing.

“Fine.” Rodney huffed before looking at Teyla and then Harry. “Captain.” He greeted before turning to go.

“Hold on a second, Rodney.” Harry frowned after where John had disappeared. “You too, Teyla.”

“What is it?” Rodney asked.

“I want a report on your mission.” Harry told them.

Teyla nodded but Rodney looked slightly irritated. “We’ll write...”

“Now, Rodney.” Harry snapped and turned to head up to Elizabeth’s office. He leaned on Elizabeth’s desk while the two sat down in the chairs. “So the last I heard you were saved from a few Wraith Darts by some kind of Energy Weapon.”

“Oh yes.” Rodney spoke sarcastically. “The great Othara saved us.”

Teyla rolled her eyes. “Perhaps the Captain would like a more serious report.” She offered.

“Go on Teyla.” Harry nodded sending a ‘shut it’ look at Rodney.

“We visited one of the small villages on the planet and the people were rather unsophisticated.” Teyla told him. “We described what had happened to us but the people had never heard of the Wraith.”

“That’s strange isn’t it?” Harry asked her.

“I have never heard of such a thing.” Teyla nodded at him. “They told us that Othana protects them and eventually they took us to see their High Priestess, Chaya. We hoped to find a sanctuary if the Wraith attack us but Chaya said that Othana refused.”

“Sure!” Rodney rolled his eyes. “Let’s go pray, maybe that’ll help.”

“Rodney.” Harry warned. “So the Major brought her back to try to convince her?”

“I believe that is his hope.” Teyla nodded.

“And I take it you think she’s hiding something, Rodney?” Harry asked.

“Somebody on that planet has to know about that weapon.” Rodney pointed out. “If it’s supposed to be Othana than her High Priestess should know about it. If she doesn’t then we are wasting our time.”

Harry nodded. “Teyla, what do you think?”

“There is something peculiar about it but perhaps the weapon is automated and they truly do not know anything about it.” Teyla told him.

Harry sat back on the table and waved them off when they made to leave. He stayed leaning against the table for perhaps half an hour thinking about that sensation he’d felt when she’d looked at him but couldn’t quite place it.

He was interrupted by Rodney and Elizabeth. “Carsen has the results on her scans if you want to come with us.” She didn’t seem bothered that Harry was leaning on her desk but Harry just shrugged and followed them from the room.

They found Carsen in his office behind his laptop. “What’ve you got?” Harry asked.

“Blood work shows no viral, bacterial or parasitic infections.” Carsen told them instantly, “MRI shows no tumours or cancers. No heart defects of any kind. Blood pressure is one-thirty over seventy. Total Cholesterol is one-oh-seven. She’s in perfect health.”

“I’m happy for her.” Elizabeth frowned. “Why did you need to tell us that?”

“Because, Doctor, she’s too healthy.” Carsen told her bluntly.

“What does that mean?” Rodney asked.

“There’s no trace of any diseases or congenital conditions that you typically find in pre-technological societies. No rickets, fungi or STDs.”

“Perfect health.” Elizabeth frowned this time.

“Exactly.” Carsen nodded.

“And that’s a problem because?” Elizabeth prompted.

“It’s unnatural.” Harry interrupted Carsen with a sharp jerk of his head. “Is there any sign that this perfect health is due to any outside intervention?”

“What do you mean?” Carsen asked.

“Was she born perfect and has always been that way or has something powerful treated any and all problems?” Harry prompted.

“From what I can see she was born this way.” Carsen frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“Thank you, Carsen.” Harry nodded and left the room with Elizabeth and Rodney.

“What was that about, Harry?” Elizabeth asked.

“I don’t know yet.” Harry told her with a shrug. “I’ll let you know if I work it out. I’d suggest we keep an eye on her though.”

“Major Sheppard will be thrilled.” Rodney pointed out dryly.

“He’ll live.” Harry grunted and turned to the cafeteria for some dinner.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Early the next morning

Harry woke with a start, he was almost naked as usual without a sheet over him but the locks on the door made sure that nobody could enter without him unlocking the door. He never slept well when he was covered by a blanket because of his treatment at his relatives and from his cupboard and he liked the breeze that came in through his open balcony door.

His sleep hadn’t been restful though, he’d dreamt about a dozen dreams of his time at Hogwarts, especially the parts about Albus Dumbledore and his damn twinkle. It was like his sub-conscious mind was trying to answer the previous day’s questions and they had. When Chaya had looked at him she’d entered his mind just like Albus Dumbledore had, it had been a bare moment yet Harry had the feeling that she’d seen straight into his deepest thoughts.

Which meant she was a witch of some kind which could explain the perfect health even if that hadn’t been a common thing amongst those on Earth. He got out of bed, showered and dressed. He armed himself again before heading out. He crossed the hall to Rodney’s rooms but got no answer so he headed for the control room.

It was too early for there to be many people on duty apart from the four Marines sitting on the steps who leapt up when they saw Harry approaching. Harry waved them back carelessly and entered the control room. He didn’t really know the two technicians on duty but they straightened up when they saw him. “Do either of you know where Doctor McKay is?” Harry asked sharply.

“We think he’s in his lab, Sir.” One answered. “We moved the new scanner there last night. I think he’s working on it.”

“Overnight?” Harry raised his eyebrows at them. They nodded. Harry turned and left the room, heading downstairs to Rodney lab. The new scanner picked up life signs like the normal life signs detector but actually scanned them, defining the different species’.

Harry didn’t bother knocking and made Rodney jump with a loud cough. The man was working over a laptop sitting on the top of the console for the new sensor. “Find anything interesting?” Harry asked.

“Yes actually.” Rodney told him. “I thought about using this to see if our guest is hiding anything and well... see for yourself.”

Rodney tapped on the laptop screen. At the bottom was a simple looking wavelength while above it was a highly complicated version. “What am I looking at?” Harry asked.

“This is any one of our signatures.” Rodney told him. “And this is Chaya’s. She’s obviously not human.”

“Could it just be a different branch of human?” Harry asked. “We are in another galaxy after all.”

“Granted but Teyla’s is the same as ours. The only one that’s different is yours.” Rodney opened a side panel and brought out what seemed to be a bookmarked file. The wavelength was slightly distorted, almost as if there was a second frequency slightly higher than the first.

“Hey, what can I say?” Harry shrugged. “I’m weird.”

“So, is there a reason you’re up this early?” Rodney asked.

“Yes.” Harry nodded. “I’m giving you authorisation to do what you need to do to find out what Chaya is hiding.”

“I don’t think Major Sheppard will accept that so easily.” Rodney pointed out.

“I have higher clearance than anybody else on this expedition and that includes both Doctor Weir and Major Sheppard.” Harry explained looking at Rodney’s shocked look. “I can’t explain why but she might just be the reason. If the expedition is under threat from something covered by that clearance I have the authority to overrule Major Sheppard.”

“He’s not going to like that.” Rodney pointed out.

“He doesn’t have to like it.” Harry told him. “Sometimes we have to do our duty before giving into our infatuations.”

“He’s not particularly subtle.” Rodney scoffed.

“Find a way to find out what she’s doing and report to me and Elizabeth first thing tomorrow.”

“I’ve got an idea.” Rodney told him. “Give me a couple of hours to work out the details and I’ll find you before the briefing later.”

Harry nodded and left to go beat something up in the gym. He knew he was beyond pissed and for the first time he admitted something to himself. He wanted something between himself and John even passed the social barriers placed on them by the military. But John clearly didn’t care for Harry despite the little smiles they shared and his insistence on being friends. John was obviously infatuated with Chaya and was flaunting it around as if they were a couple.

Harry spun on the spot and delivered a violent kick to the dummy after almost an hour of drills. The dummy made an ominous groan and Harry straightened and stretched his muscles. He ached because he’d pushed himself beyond his limits and he knew that Carsen would kill him if he found out. Harry dried off and pulled his shirt back on over his head before dressing fully and heading back to his quarters for a quick rinse off. He couldn’t help but realise that he was jealous and that he was falling for his superior officer.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Elizabeth’s office

“Elizabeth it doesn’t matter what you think is morally right.” Harry told her over the table. “Protocol dictates that if I have proper cause to suspect a certain situation I have the right to overrule you and the military commander, even a general, to ensure proper precautions are taken.”

“But you won’t tell me what you think is happening?” Elizabeth asked sharply.

“It’s classified.” Harry told her yet again. “It’s the thing that General O’Neill told me isn’t to be disclosed under any situation. Sorry, Elizabeth, but as of right now you can’t counter any of my orders in relation to her. Rodney will do his scans during the meeting and if I decide to take action neither you nor the Major can do anything about it.”

“John is not going to be happy about this.” Elizabeth told him.

“I hope I’m wrong, Elizabeth, but if there’s even a fraction of a chance I’m right then I want all precautions in place.” Harry told her. “What’s covered under that classification is too dangerous for us to just let the Major be taken in by her. And if I am right there is a possibility that she is causing Major Sheppard’s infatuation.”

“What?” Elizabeth was half out of her seat.

“Perhaps now you understand part of my concern.” Harry sighed. “Major Sheppard didn’t want anybody other than Teyla, you, him and Chaya in your negotiations but I’m adding myself and Rodney.”

“We need this negotiation to go well, Harry.” Elizabeth pointed out.

“If I do nothing and I’m right in my fears she could destroy us before I can take action.” Harry told her. “This isn’t negotiable, Doctor Weir, and I won’t apologise if I’m wrong. Too much is at stake to trust Major Sheppard’s instinct when there is evidence that states that she is not what she claims to be.”

“Fine. Just keep any argument with John out of the public eye.” Elizabeth told him. Harry nodded and left.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

An hour later

Harry stood to one side of the room, behind Rodney. Teyla, Elizabeth, John and Chaya all sat at the table. John had kicked up a fuss about Harry and Rodney’s presence, though he didn’t know why Rodney was there, but Elizabeth had told him to deal with it rather than have an argument between Harry and John. What neither of them realised was that two Marines with Wraith stunners waited outside the doors in case Harry called them in.

They were talking about things that Harry wasn’t particularly fussed about. Chaya was unconvinced that there would be any reason to form an alliance and the one time she had looked up at him Harry had felt that trickle against his mind. This time he didn’t let it go unnoticed and he narrowed his eyes at her and his hand trailed to his side, where his pistol was. He couldn’t do anything to keep her from his mind, no amount of will power could help him without his old magic, but he concentrated on the thought that he didn’t want her in his head and that if she didn’t stop he’d force her out somehow. And that if she hurt John he’d make sure she regretted it.

She gave him a level look and Harry had his proof that she was hiding something and that she’d heard his directed thoughts. “In the end it’s a matter of trust.” Elizabeth’s voice made him turn away from Chaya and look at her.

“Yes it is.” Chaya agreed simply. Harry looked back at her but she was looking at Rodney. “Have your scans found anything yet, Doctor McKay?”

Rodney looked startled but Harry stepped forwards with narrowed eyes. He stuttered a few times before closing the lid of the laptop. “Actually, no.”

“What the hell is this?” John growled out as he half stood. He looked at Elizabeth angrily.

“I ordered it.” Harry spoke up.

“What!?” John glared at him but Harry’s cold expression didn’t change.

“I had legitimate reason to activate the clearance protocol.” Harry told him.

“Captain...” John was beyond angry it seemed but Harry’s cold expression didn’t shift.

“We had legitimate reason..” Elizabeth started.

“...about whether I was what I claimed to be.” Chaya finished for her.

“I’m sorry, Chaya. I honestly felt it would do no harm.”

“Stop apologising, Elizabeth.” Rodney stood up. “How did she know?”

“If anything she just proved my point.” Harry stepped in to agree with Rodney. She’d detected the scans too accurately. “She either detected the scans or took the knowledge of them out of my mind. Either one needs powers a human shouldn’t have.”

“I’m not what you fear.” Chaya told him without standing up.

“Captain...” John tried again but Harry talked over him.

“I can’t take the risk of finding out you’re lying.” Harry told her.

“Captain!” John snapped loudly making Harry look at him.

“She’s an Ancient, Major.” It was Rodney that spoke up. Harry looked at him feeling surprised. He had thought about that when trying to work out alternatives to a Witch but he’d prepared for the worst of the two.

“She’s what?” John gasped in surprise.

“I’m right aren’t I?” Rodney asked. “The perfect health, the energy weapon, the fact that she has the gene. It’s the only logical explanation.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” John asked.

“I just don’t understand the act.” Rodney turned to Chaya. “I mean, you must know that we’d give almost anything to talk to you, to learn from you. I mean what is it? Are you checking us out?”

“I see that in my desire to come to Atlantis I have revealed too much of myself.” Chaya sighed. Harry relaxed slightly at the admission. He studied her face seeing the sadness there. There was none of the alternative air he’d gotten before.

“He’s right?” Elizabeth was clearly shocked.

“I’m right?” Rodney was even more shocked.

“I am what you call an Ancient.” She nodded before looking at Harry. “I am not what you fear, Captain Potter, though I see how you would be worried and I blame you not.”

“I was concerned that you had forced the Major’s response.” Harry told her with a sigh.

“What!?” John looked shocked, looking between the two of them. “Captain, that’s out of line.”

“John.” Chaya cut him off and Harry knew she’d seen the flash of hurt on Harry’s face. “I’m afraid it’s also true that I can’t offer you sanctuary. But you are wrong about why I came here.”

“Why did you come here?” John asked, calming down though Harry knew he’d get an earful later.

“You, John.” Chaya said it simply but Harry felt himself tense up. Chaya gave him the briefest of looks.

“Me?”

“I have lived in solitude for so long that when you asked me to come with you to Atlantis, I...” She trailed off.

“Oh my god.” Rodney cursed. “He is Kirk.”

“This was never about...” John glanced around nervously. “Could we just have a moment here to ourselves?”

“No!” Harry was the only other person in the room not to shout at him.

“That’s alright.” Chaya sighed. “I’ve stayed here long enough.”

She stood up and John followed her from the room, sending an irritated glare at the rest of them. Harry leaned on the desk but moved forwards when the Marines tensed up as Chaya collapsed into John’s arms on the steps. Harry waved them down and they lowered their stunners.

Before Harry could move to help John with her she turned to face John before she began to shine. Harry couldn’t have said exactly when she became a floating cloud of white light but it happened steadily over the span of a couple of seconds. The Stargate burst to life and filled and what Harry now knew was an Ascended Ancient floated away through the wormhole.

“I’m taking a Jumper after her.” John told Elizabeth sharply.

“What just happened?” Elizabeth asked.

“There’s only one way to find out.” John was already heading down the steps and for the Jumper bay.

“Go.” Elizabeth said rather pointlessly.

Harry glanced at Rodney and Teyla with a tired look. “That went well.” Rodney deadpanned.

“Stand down.” Harry ordered the Marine before looking at Teyla, Rodney and Elizabeth. “Better than I expected.”

“Better?” Elizabeth asked.

“If you don’t mind, Doctor Weir. I’ll take my leave. I’d rather not be in the Major’s firing line when he returns.” Harry asked. She nodded her head and Harry turned on his heel and headed to his rooms and some peace and quiet.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

That night

Harry was leaning against his balcony and he had been for almost an hour. A small squall had set in around the city and the waves had picked up, sending spray up against the edge of the piers and dark clouds had blotted out the first of the stars. Wind swept the city’s towers but no rain or lightning had started to fall just yet. Harry didn’t want to have to go inside and Carsen would have his head if he caught a cold or something like that.

A chime sounded from within his room. “It’s unlocked.” Harry yelled without turning around. He heard the door open and light footsteps across the floor and out onto the balcony.

“When did the weather turn bad?” Harry wasn’t shocked to hear John’s voice. Harry turned to look at him with his blackened eyes. “Oh.” John glanced around. Harry released his ability and the wind almost instantly being to slacken off. It would take a few hours for the clouds to thin and disperse. “Should you really be doing that?”

“As long as I don’t hurt anybody.” Harry shrugged. “Just don’t tell Carsen.”

John walked up to his side and leaned his elbows on the balcony. “We need to talk about what happened.”

“I don’t think there’s anything to discuss.” Harry told him bluntly. “I was doing my job.”

“No, you were looking for trouble.” John almost lost his calm.

“With respect, Major.” Harry straightened up. “My job is to assess everybody that comes into Atlantis for threats, that includes people you get a crush on.”

“Captain, be careful...” John turned to look at him.

“No, Major.” Harry told him. “You let up your guard because you liked her and I stepped in to take the precautions you were too caught up to take and in doing so I found a threat and took steps to counter them.”

“You shouldn’t have taken steps, you should have come to me.” John snapped.

“You wouldn’t have listened to me!” Harry snapped right back. “Just like right now! If she’d proven to be what I thought she was we could have been in serious trouble.”

“How would somebody from Earth have gotten out here?” John snapped.

“What?” Harry took a step backwards.

“She told me.” John told him, still with the harsh clip to his voice. “She said you were worried she was like some of the people on Earth. What was she talking about?”

“That’s classified.” Harry told him shortly.

“Not anymore.” John shook his head.

“It’s not a threat anymore.” Harry said bluntly. “She proved not to be what I thought so the danger is passed.”

“Then I think you owe me an apology for going behind my back with Rodney and Elizabeth.” John pointed out.

“No, Major. I don’t.” Harry was beyond angry now. He knew it was irrational but John was the cause of all of it. “You screwed up because of an infatuation and that could have put us all at risk. I won’t let you take that out on me because I took the necessary steps to safeguard the city. I won’t risk this expedition on a short term crush.”

John visibly blanched this time and there was a flash of something in his eyes. “You mean for me.” John turned his head away from Harry for a second. “She said...” He shook his head. “You won’t let an infatuation for me get in the way of this expedition.”

Harry saw red, he was too angry to think. “Get out.” Harry snapped and gestured blindly at the door.

“No, Captain.” John shook his head.

Harry eyes flashed black and a wind slammed through the city, whistling through the towers. A few seconds later a wall of rain slammed against the windows. “Get out.” Harry narrowed his eyes at him. “Whatever she told you, she ripped out of my mind. My thoughts, you have no right to talk about it so just get out of my rooms!” He yelled the last bit and a flash of lightning struck the water a mile or so from the edge of the city. Harry wasn’t going to risk the city in his venting, no matter how angry he was. The thunder slammed through the city a second later and John finally shook his head and retreated out of the wind and rain and through his rooms to the corridor.

Harry turned and sagged against the banister as a small storm raged through the city. Harry kept a close lease on it but he expected to hear from Elizabeth in the morning but at least he’d have vented his irritation out on something more pliable than a human.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter