A Double Edged Sword - Chapter 5

He only caught a glimpse of the creature as their captain led it past him, down the long narrow passage way to what Kanaan assumed were his personal quarters. He himself had never been there but he assumed the man slept, although he had never seen him do so with his own eyes. It had to be the drug, keeping him operating at what seemed to be full power all hours of the day and night, but his people refused to take it, even Wex, the young man having done everything in his power to make Kanaan’s life more difficult after he had made this choice. 

As if there ever was a choice. 

He had watched the love of his life fly away, on a mission he knew in his heart may take her away from him forever, leaving his people to hope for the best. 

The best, however, hadn’t come. 

Maybe in some fantasy story the good guys take a risk and make the ultimate sacrifice, taking the bad guys down in a blaze of glory, but the super hive was just that, a hive, a single solitary collective of villains but by no means did it hold them all. The rest of the Wraith had been just sitting in the wings, waiting, hoping that the idiots from the Milky Way would do their work for them and they had, both of the major powers of the galaxy disappearing in the blink of an eye. 

It had taken exactly four months for the hives to arrive, not bothering to sneak in under the cover of night or anything as dramatic. They had shown up at the morning meal, blasting anything in sight that was inedible. Kanaan hadn’t been sure for a few days later, but his people, a once flourishing race, had been reduced to twenty two. 

Just thinking about that number made him sick. 

There had been no time for speeches or other heroics. It was pure and simple, Kanaan was the eldest and most able-bodied person in the village with the experience to lead a group so he had taken charge. No one argued, not even the trio of teens that had banded together, Jinto, Wex and Akira, who seemed to have reach the rebellious stage of their development at the most inopportune of times. There was nothing that they really could say, there was no better option. The tribe had found caves on the mainland, moving their residences there and all was well for the rainy season. 

Until the ship arrived, until Aiden Ford showed up, in gear so similar to what Teyla herself wore as she helped the Earthlings, until he made them an offer he couldn’t refuse.

They thought they were safe, finally.

Ford’s story had been believable enough, the Wraith left behind as the strongest chased Atlantis across the universe went into a feeding frenzy. Kanaan had been witness to that, the attack on their village was brutal in a way that he was not used to, Wraith feeding on their victims right there, tossing the corpses aside. Apparently that had been the pattern of behavior across the galaxy, in some cases whole cities decimated in way they had’t been before. The power vacuum left by the loss of Atlantis after their accidental awakening of the Wraith had been the worst in the history of the galaxy. 

Enter Aiden Ford, refusing to acknowledge his Earth title of Lieutenant any longer. Ford had managed to take over a smaller hive ship, forcing the Wraith into service, making his way across the galaxy, battling the other ships, intervening on behalf of the humans when he could. He told Kanaan that this was for the good of his species, but Kanaan knew that for as honest as the man was being he was still addicted to the enzyme that had given his caramel skin a tinge of blue and make his eyes black as pitch. 

What Kanaan didn’t totally understand was why, by the time Ford has landed on Atlantica looking for his people to return, why his ship was being manned by Wraith, free Wraith, Wraith that answered to him. It wasn’t until he agreed to bring his people on board, to fight to save his galaxy that he heard the screams echoing through the ship. Too late to turn back now, his soul sold to the devil, Kanaan just kept a daily headcount of his own while serving as Ford’s second in command. 

And now their visitor, one that Ford was keeping close at hand. He remembered this Wraith working with John Sheppard. He had seen him when he was with Teyla on Atlantis, before he had made the painful choice to protect their people while Teyla and her friends waged war from the city. 

A choice that separated him from her and left her with these creatures, who had returned to slaughter their people. 

Was Teyla home? 

He should have been thinking about their people, about the mission to overtake the other hives, but all he could think about was Teyla and his son. 

Had Torren lived? How big was he now? Did he look like him? 

“Kanaan?” 

It was time to begin, go over the next attack with his people. Turning around to face his men, Kanaan vowed to find a way to Ford’s quarters, if not for any reason than to find out the fate of his family. 

*****

Teyla couldn’t help but smile at Daniel’s message. 

Wanted to talk to you before the appointment. Could you swing by the auxiliary lab?

It wasn’t that he wanted to talk with her, she had anticipated that, as they would know today if their second attempt at implantation took. Adrienne had been very excited and Daniel knew that were this not to work she might not take it well, the entire process being more emotionally taxing on the Earth woman that she had expected. She had gotten to know Adrienne very well over this entire process, coming to understand her in a way that she hadn’t before. The Cajun was complex, intelligent, and forever giving of herself in a way that Teyla found at time utterly heartbreaking. 

So, it wasn’t anything having to do with she and Adrienne’s newfound closeness that was making that sly smile creep across her face. 

It was the ‘auxiliary lab.’ 

She had honestly been somewhat surprised that Daniel and Adrienne even allowed themselves to be separated for as long as they had, but she was certain that Daniel was trying to remain professional. Married or not however, one could not argue that they were an amazing team and as Daniel was starting to resume gate exploration to take a survey of former allies across the galaxy, he needed his parter to bounce ideas off of. 

That, and he missed her, which was heartwarming. 

He’d even started requesting to come on some scouting missions himself here and there, leaving Ronon in charge in his stead. Adrienne was more than capable, but she could tell he missed the excitement of the discovery and sharing it with his wife. 

This afternoon however, after her appointment, he would not be going to the mainland, sending his first recon team alone. Teyla had retained her place on the team, a team now made of she, John, Adrienne and Sam. Ronon felt his place was running security full time, especially with the true whereabouts of the Wraith still unknown and Teyla couldn’t say she didn’t agree. Torren now looked after himself for the most part, young, as most Athosian children did, and it made her feel safe leaving him behind with Ronon protecting them all. She would load into a jumper with her team, her new team, heading out to explore the mainland in a much scientific fashion, in an attempt to discover what had happened to her people. 

A wave of hunger raced over her, Teyla smiling as she grabbed a piece of fruit from her table. It took, she knew it had taken, no test Carson could or would run could convince her otherwise. A smile on her face, she reached down for her stomach hoping the child that had to be inside knew how very many people wanted to see his or her beautiful face. 

She walked back over to the control panel, messaging Daniel that she would be there momentarily, her mind already counting down to deliver the happy news she knew she would need herself after visit to the village. 

*****

“Error, upload does not compute,” the hologram stated, Adrienne beating her head dramatically onto her desk. 

“Dammit, yes it does, it’s SIMPLE GAH DAMN ASGARD YA DAMN COOYON MACHINE!” she screamed as she lifted her head and stood, hands on her shoulders pushing her down into her seat. 

“It can’t understand you ja-wer, but I can. And hear you, next door, while I was conferencing with Botany and Oceanography...” Daniel whispered in her ear softly, Adrienne slamming herself into her seat, head again on her arms.

“Language not recognized. What is coo-yon?” the creepy Star Trek character asked, Adrienne peeking up at it again. 

“It’s you,” she replied smartly.

“I am Data, the Digital Ancient Technological Archive, a holographic informational system  based on the character played by Brent Spiner in the television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation which ran from..” 

Daniel stared as the voice stopped, the shimmering mouth continuing to ramble on, presumably state other nerdy fact that he was certain that his wife knew. 

“He gets on my nerves so I added mute to the remote,” she said from her arms, head back on desk, Daniel unable to stifle is laughter at Adrienne’s small tantrum. 

“Now I know what Anakin felt like when he built 3PO,” she added without looking up, her hand wandering around her desk in search of her vitamin water he was sure, Daniel reaching out to slide it into her grasp.

“What?” he asked confused as she popped her head up to take a sip of the beverage. 

“Star Wars, Episode One, The Phantom Menace. I knew you fell asleep,” she shot back, a playful cajun glare in his direction. 

“I did not, but anyway,” he decided to change the topic quickly since he had indeed fallen asleep during that particular film, twice, “why don’t you take a break from your toy? You guys leave in about an hour.” 

“I know,” she responded, “bags packed.” 

Daniel frowned in confusion, “With what? This is recon to get some information to set up a site, you aren’t staying and you are not setting up a site.” 

“Yeah,” she said as she stood, pointing the remote over her head making the green skinned reminder of her geek status flickering into nothing, “but I want to start gridding if I can, before we go out there again. When Dex and John went out there a second time they said they saw signs of a struggle. I want to see if there is anything, debris, casings, any other clues.” 

Daniel just laughed, shaking his head, knowing he should have expected as much.

“Workaholic.” 

“I learned from the best.” 

“No, you came like that. That’s how I got stuck with you,” he joked back, peeking over his shoulder before reaching out to grab her hands, pulling her into a slow, deep kiss. 

“What was that for?” she asked as she pulled away, flushing at the sudden outward display of affection, the door to her lab open for any of her staff to wander in and catch them.

“Because I can and I need to make up for sitting upstairs and missing the opportunity,” he teased, leaning in for just one more peck.

“Nice try but being sweet doesn’t get you out of daddy duty,” she said as she let their hands drop away, walking over to shoulder her bag. 

“Isn’t the woman supposed to plan birthday parties?” 

Cajun glare number two, but he deserved that one. 

“I’m not kidding Daniel, CLEAR YOUR CALENDAR, get that space, threaten Rodney, do whatever you need to do and go through that gah damned list,” she warned, Daniel nodding. 

“Fine Ad, fine. It’s next on my agenda I swear,” he reached out for her again, this time Adrienne tossing her arms onto his shoulders. 

“See you at the appointment,” she said before kissing him lightly, resisting the urge herself to get carried away lest the staff she was worried about only moments ago walking in on their indiscretion.

“I have a good feeling about this one,” he whispered, holding her tightly, hoping his hunch was correct.

“Me too,” and she was pulling away, heading for the door. 

“Gonna run by Sam’s before we go and tell Nicholas good-bye. Love you sha,” she shouted as she walked backwards, waving with her free hand. 

“I love you too. Be safe,” and she was gone. 

Smiling Daniel returned to his new workspace, a whole ten feet away. 

*****

Spying was not something Athosians did; it seemed dishonorable and their culture prided themselves on standing up to face the challenges in their lives. On the other hand, whoever had made up those rules did not think to include trapped on a hive ship after making a huge mistake as a possible exception to the rule. Therefore, Kanaan rationalized, he had every right to check on things happening through the narrow and less populated passageways of the ship. 

There had been fewer screams lately and Kanaan wasn’t sure if that meant they were out of victims or Ford had stifled their cries but either way he would have liked some sort of sound in the as he made his way through the dark hallways. Not a soul passed by him, making him wonder if he had been wrong in his mental notes and observations, that maybe there was nothing suspicious going on here as he had thought.

The space grew tighter, darker, Kanaan barely able to see in front of himself, forcing him to reach out and touch the moist organic walls to guide his movements. He was starting to think this was a bad idea, maybe he should just wait to see if Ford would seek him out when he felt a hand on his back, freezing at the touch. 

“I know you.” 

Heart in his throat Kanaan turned around to see the Wraith, the visitor, that familiar face staring down at him.  

“You’re the female’s mate.” 

Teyla, he thought, he knows Teyla...

“She looked for you, when we arrived. She took John to the village. She thinks you are dead,” he added, Kanaan nearly losing his breath. 

Teyla was alive and back in the galaxy, back on their world, safe, sound and looking for him.

“See, look at his face. He wants to go; there’s really no question,” and there was Ford, not down this hallway at all but standing right behind the blue creature as if he had been waiting all along, or following Kanaan on his hunt.

“Go where?” Kanaan asked, hoping his crazy thoughts were not influencing his good judgement, his hopes getting ahead of him. 

“To Atlantis. We need to explain to Dr. Jackson the way things work now,” Ford replied gazing back at Todd who stood beside him expressionless, a million thoughts running through Kanaan’s mind.

Who was Dr. Jackson? 

Haven’t I heard that name before?

Why did he need to be explained anything? 

What was Ford talking about ‘the way things work’?

And...

“Why me?” he vocalized the last question, his dark eyes darting back and forth to see which of the two men would answer first. Of course he wanted to go, wanted to take Teyla into his arms, see his son, but Ford didn’t care about that, he didn’t have the ties that bonded Kanaan. 

“Because our friend here made the error of punching Dr. Jackson’s wife in the face and from what I’ve heard, he’s not as mild mannered now as we might remember,” was the response, Kanaan’s heart sinking.

So you aren’t sending me to talk with anyone; you’re sending me to possibly die.

“Come with me. There are things we need to discuss before you leave,” Ford motioned kindly, too kindly, leading teh way down the hall.

*****

“Alright everyone remember, we don’t know what we could be walking in to and the personal shields drain quickly. Only activate if you’re given the signal,” John ordered as the team zipped up their vests, ready to work. 

“At least he let us take them, I thought I was going to have to beg,” Adrienne joked, lifting her own shield as it hung at her neck. 

“Or send me. Jennifer or not, Rodney still stares at me with this, look...” Sam replied, Teyla shaking her head. 

“There is no Jennifer any longer,” she corrected softly, both woman glaring back at Teyla in surprise. 

“What happened?” Adrienne asked before she could contain herself. It wasn’t any of her business but they had been together longer than she and Daniel and it just was unsettling to see anything happen to another couple. Not that she thought anything was wrong with her and Daniel, but Adrienne had become a bit of a soft heart when it came to romance, another consequence of her relationship with Daniel. 

Stupid Daniel.

“I am uncertain. I do believe there was some hesitation on Jennifer’s part about returning to the Pegasus and Rodney did not share the hesitation,” she explained, Adrienne catching Sam breathing out. 

“Really?” she was asking Sam more this time because she was able to read something on her former’s boss’ face that she couldn’t hide. 

“It’s not my place, but I think Teyla isn’t too far off the mark,” she answered quietly, shaking her head, Adrienne making a to ask her later. If that was the case, Adrienne was almost certain that it would have been Rodney leaving Jennifer in the rudest way 

“We’re on a limited time frame guys, Daniel said four hours tops,” John was shouting, Sam walking to join him. 

“Addy, you and Teyla take the northern part of the village and we will start here?” Sam too stopped discussing Rodney McKay’s personal life, Adrienne and Teyla nodding in agreement as they hitched up their packs and began to walk across the village.

*****

Daniel peeked up at the sound of foot steps, Jack marching into his lab, Nicholas in tow. 

“What’s so urgent? I was about to blast Munchkin’s star cruiser out of the cosmos,” Jack asked as he crossed the small space to find a chair, pulling it out and taking a seat. 

“Whatever Uncle Jack, if that makes you feel better,” Nicholas said with a smile, trotting to his dad’s side. 

“Video games?!” Daniel asked, knowing that the care schedule on Jack’s wall had been a crock of garbage, now having his proof. 

“Self defense,” Jack answered. 

“Computer programming too,” Nicky added, smiling over at Jack, “I adjusted the settings on the shields for the allied vessels. It’s more accurate to what we know about updated Asgard technology.” 

“Really Daniel, you expect me to teach that?” Jack pointed over his shoulder. 

“Point taken, Nicholas stop cheating on video games,” Daniel said as he reached down to pick up his son and set him on the table. 

“I didn’t. I have them available to Uncle Jack too, but he has to figure out how to use them. Otherwise, it IS a cheat and not an update,” the boy argued, Daniel shaking his head. 

He is so his mother’s child. 

“Adrienne has left me a to-do list,” Daniel changed the subject, Jack already leaning back and laughing in the chair. 

“It never ceases to amaze me how you, the most stubborn person I have ever met, bow down to Dr. Perky like you do,” the retired general shot, peeking at his charge for support. 

“It’s not bowing, it’s a marriage,” Daniel answered, for his son’s benefit and his son’s benefit alone. 

“No, it’s justice for being such a pain in my ass for so many years but carry on,” Jack laughed some more, shaking his head at the reply. 

“She wants to have a party for you Nicholas,” Daniel started, now looking at the boy, “but I want to make sure we do what you want to do and not what your mom has read in a book. She wants me to figure out the basics so she can start planning.” 

“But Mom doesn’t like to make a big deal over stuff, she didn’t for your anniversary,” Nicholas responded. 

“She does for birthdays, the more romantic celebrations she feels is rubbing it in other people’s faces,” the archaeologist explained. 

“Does she make a big deal for your birthday?” his son asked, Daniel laughing. 

“Oh yeah. I’m actually a little scared as to what she’s gonna do,” he responded, Jack chuckling from the chair. 

“Dr. Perky and I need to talk...”

Daniel shot him a glare, rolling his eyes as he grabbed the legal pad to do the only thing his wife had asked him to do in her absence, “Ok, first thing on the list is your mother wants you to have a smash cake, so we need to pick at the very least, a flavor.”

“What’s that?” Jack was frowning, Daniel taking a breath before he continued, knowing what was to come. 

“It’s a small cake, just for Nicholas. We let him tear it apart.” 

A small hand waved in front of him, right on cue.

“Wait, I don’t get a fork?” the boy asked, Daniel trying not to take any side in the argument that he knew was forming.

“No,” Daniel replied, anticipating this reaction, “you just dive right in. With your hands and face...”

“Mom does realize my IQ is about 172, right?”

“She also still refers to you as a teddy bear,” Jack spoke up, Daniel pinching his nose under his glasses.

“Ewok,” he corrected, avoiding eye contact with his son.

“Right, who despite their primitive appearance were quite the warriors, not, well, not...” 

“Not messy eaters?” Jack offered. 

“Yeah,” Nicholas agreed, “that.” 

Thanks Jack, you’ve always got my back...

“Nicholas, she was quite insistent...” Daniel tried, his son giving him his own frown. 

“Then you eat it,” the boy replied, Jack cracking up. 

“Oh yeah, Daniel can eat it let Dr. Perky clean him up, I bet that would be...” 

“My son is in the room,” Daniel shouted at Jack, who just rolled his eyes, sitting back in the chair with that stupid grin on his face.

“Your son isn’t ignorant which brings us back to the point of this entire conversation,” Nicholas added, Daniel glaring at him, “Sir, uh, sorry Dad, I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just that mom -” but Daniel was waving his hand, halting his son’s apology.

“Can we at least agree for you to do something with the cake in front of everyone?” Daniel now tried, sympathizing. After all, the child was half his as well, and if Daniel thought this was foolish as well the least he could do was support his son.

“Can I pie Uncle Jack?” the boy perked up, changing his tune, “Like in the Three Stooges?” 

“Hey!!” Jack sat up, a smile spreading across Daniel’s face.

“You taught him that, not us,” the commander replied to his old friend, turning to face Nicholas, “agreed. Now, item number two, a theme...”

*****

“I hope that the news of Rodney and Jennifer did not upset you,” Teyla had waited until Adrienne was on her knees digging carefully where it looked as if a weapon had been discharged before bringing up the subject again. 

Damn empathic Athosian.

“You know me too well,” the archaeologist replied in earnest as she sat back on her heels, glancing over at her friend with a forced smile.

“It does not mean that you and Daniel will fade,” the Athosian ventured, Adrienne shaking her head, although there was always that worry, not that he and Daniel would fade but that her perfect life was just a dream from which some day she would wake up.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just sad when something like that dies,” she answered, Teyla returning the grin sympathetically.

“What if there was nothing alive there in the first place?”

Adrienne shrugged at her suggestion, still worried about Jennifer, yet another friend she had neglected worrying about her own problems, looking back to the ground. 

“We will receive good news today,” Teyla added quickly, trying to change the subject Adrienne could tell. The Cajun paused again for a moment, not wanting to exhibit any emotion one way or the other, but Daniel had said that very thing to her this morning. 

Please let it be real...

“I hope so,” she whispered, glancing back down at the marked area.

“I know so,” Teyla countered, still sitting and watching as Adrienne looked up again, disregarding her work for a second time. 

“You do?”

Please...

“Yes. We Athosians know things.” 

“Are you late?” Adrienne’s heart raced, fantasies already rocketing through her head, Teyla telling her, Adrienne dashing back across the waters to find Daniel, run to him, throw herself in his arms and tell him that it worked that they were gonna have another baby...

“Late?”

Of course she wouldn’t use Earth terminology; why would Teyla have any idea what that meant. Hands waving as she tried to think, Adrienne searched her brain for words that wouldn’t make her start blushing like mad. 

“Your cycle. Have you not bled?” she tried, the words still more than her upbringing would allow her to comfortably say.

“I have not bled since Carson started the hormonal treatments,” Teyla replied, thankfully needed no further explanation.

Ok, that’s a no go...

“Cramping, hunger, exhaustion?” the Cajun tried, her friend shaking her head.

“No,” Teyla whispered as Adrienne’s mood changed. 

It was a hunch. Teyla had a hunch and no proof; she was just trying to make Adrienne feel better. 

“Oh,” and Adrienne looked back at the blast sight, leaning closer to the loose granules. 

Stop getting your hopes up Addy...

“Trust me Adrienne, all will be well,” Teyla assured, Adrienne digging back into the soil, trying not to think about it. 

*****

Kanaan had never flown a jumper before, but Ford didn’t seem to want to allow Todd to return to Atlantis. Instead, the Wraith had been ordered to program the auto pilot, at a speed fast enough where Kanaan would reach the city in just a few hours. He didn’t dare ask how fast that was, how quickly he would be hurdling through space in a machine that he couldn’t control, instead pulling Halling into his quarters to explain where he was going. He told him very little, just that the city had been found and that Ford was sending Kanaan to show themselves and see how their friends from Earth were faring after all of these years.. 

He avoided the rest; Halling would not have approved. 

Kanaan didn’t either, really, Ford proclaiming himself some sort of genetic god of the area. He claimed that Kanaan needed to tell this Dr. Jackson, some scientist from Earth who had been chosen to lead the expedition this time, Kanaan thought the name was familiar, that they had succeeded in culling the population to only two hives outside of their own. That much Kanaan thought was true, or believed to be true, the only two other hives that they were aware of not nearly as strong as they were. That didn’t, however, mean that others hadn’t gone into hiding, there could be any number of remobilizing Wraith waiting in the wings. It wasn’t as if there was some master list of hive ships that Ford could go down, knocking them out one by one. 

When it was time to leave he found it odd that he wasn’t given any kind of warning. Surely Todd had told their leader about Teyla, surely they knew that Kanaan would most likely beg his mate and child to join him so he could insure their safety. In fact no one even warned him that he was not to stay on the base himself, joining the people of Earth once more. Perhaps that was not a concern; maybe Ford knew that Kanaan wouldn’t leave what was left of his people or just didn’t care if he did.

The ship sat alone in the bay, the back hatch open, a sight that he thought he would never see again. Atlantis, according to Halling, was all that was left of the Lantians here and when it went to Earth it took that little bit of their heritage with them. Kanaan wasn’t sure if he believed that, part of him still questioning the validity of stories that his ancestors swore were just stories, horror stories that were told to keep curious children from messing with any technologies that they may find. No turning back, Kanaan stepped forward, letting children’s tales chill his soul as he made his way to the captain’s chair. 

He took a seat, looking forward, not knowing what he should do to start the ship when the machine itself activated, the door coming to a close behind him. Turning, he peered over his shoulder to see that he was truly alone, that he was asked to be doing this alone, the only thought driving him onward knowing that Teyla was on the other side. 

The vessel shook and started to move, Kanaan holding on to the sides of the seat when his hand slipped on something smooth, a tiny piece of paper shoving into the handle. Puzzled, he opened the folded sliver, confused by the scratching on its surface.

*****

“Addy, you there?” Sam’s voice broke Adrienne’s trance, yes she had admitted after years of being with Daniel that she did get into a trance and it was just like he did, the archaeologist sitting back on here knees to tap at her ear and answer the call.

“Unfortunately,” she replied, taking the opportunity to peek over at Teyla who was rummaging through piles of pottery, a sad look on her face as she did so. There had been an attack, that much was obvious, but all of the blast sights seemed to be Athosian weaponry and things that the villagers had gotten from Atlantis, nothing to indicate who had attacked them. Adrienne knew in her heart what that meant, there was only one species of creature that didn't need weapons and that species of creature had clocked her in the face only a few weeks ago and escaped from their control. 

She was such an idiot. 

“I need you and Teyla over here, now,” her voice was calm but cautious, Adrienne frowning. She’d found something, that much was clear, but whether or not that something was a sight for the person who could be at this moment carrying her unborn child was still up for debate. 

“Teyla? You sure?” 

“John says so, says that she’ll read it on us anyway,” Sam responded sadly, Adrienne nodding  even though Sam couldn’t see. She was right, Teyla’s empathic abilities were such a gift in so many ways and a complete pain in the ass in others. 

Must be how Daniel felt about Adrienne reading his own emotions. 

Oh well. 

“We’ll be right there,” the Cajun replied, looking up from her area and over at Teyla, who was already peering over at her. 

“John has found something,” she stated calmly as Adrienne tried to avoid rolling her eyes.

Of course you know what’s up.

“Maybe, they just want us over there pronto,” Adrienne answered, standing and pointing to the mess at her feet, “leave this. I want to take some pictures to bring back to the lab and for my report for Daniel, but the rest can wait.” 

Setting her tools gently aside, Teyla rose as well, her dark eyes at Adrienne. 

“They found them,” she whispered calmly, the look in her eyes enough to chill anyone to the core. 

“No, they found something, but she didn’t tell me what.” 

“If it were anything else, Samantha would have said. But she did not,” Teyla pointed out, Adrienne breathing out strongly. 

She had a point...

“Come on, we aren’t gonna know until we get there. Leave everything, we can come back for it before we leave. Let’s go see what Sam’s yammerin’ about. Who knows; it might be some thousand year old treasury and we can take it all back and laugh while Vala wallows in gold,” Adrienne tried to joke but Teyla didn’t look convinced, she didn’t have any emotion at all. 

Walking ahead to lead the way, Adrienne resisted the urge to call her husband, her best friend, the one person that she wanted at this very moment. 

*****

“Nicholas, you can’t, your mother will fall to pieces,” Daniel pleaded, the small child holding his ground. He was about to offer an alternative, start bribing even, Jack laughing away from where he was sitting at the side desk reading some comic book when the loudspeaker clicked on, Davidson’s voice wafting across the room. 

“Sir, the Genii delegation is here.” 

“Of course they are,” Daniel sighed, looking over at Jack, “can you talk some sense into him. He needs to learn how women work.” 

“From you? That’s the problem right there,” Jack said as he stood, the boy looking between the two of them. 

“Does that mean the party planning is over?” the boy asked, reaching for Jack to get help down. 

“No, Nicholas, you need to pick a theme that doesn’t let your mother know that you can operate jumpers and essentially fly this city,” Daniel ordered as he packed his satchel. 

“But it’s fun, flying, the cake can look like the control panel. You KNOW Mom would LOVE to make that..” 

“I’m just so glad that you have two of them now,” Jack said with a smile as he stood to help the boy to the floor. 

“No, no ships, no flying, no. Keep working down that list while I go put on my bureaucrat face,” Daniel said from the door, slipping out, headed for the transporters to his main office. 

“She’d hate those books you read too,” Jack joked, Nicholas shrugging. 

“I know...” he muttered, trying to think of something else. 

*****

“Teyla slow down!” John was shouting because he knew that she would know, the Athosian woman nearly at a full sprint by the time she and Adrienne got to the rise. 

“What is it?” Adrienne paused to ask Sam, letting John deal with his old friend as Sam shook her head, passing over a zat. 

“The dead. They burned the dead and it’s...” she took a breath, composing herself, “it’s so many.” 

Adrienne was about to ask for more details when she heard a shriek, stepping forward to help Teyla, knowing what her own reaction would be, but Sam stopped her, holding her gently by the arm. 

“Let John, I think she just needs John.” 

Biting her lip, Adrienne took Sam’s hand in her own, needing the contact of her friend. 

*****

Since they arrived on Atlantis, Adrienne had played the precarious position of ‘ I am a department head and a member of the first Recon team and I am also married to the commander of the city‘ and played it well she thought. Other the sneaking into Daniel’s office in the wee hours of the night for occasional marital hanky panky, she tended to keep her distance from him, especially during normal working hours. 

Right now she didn’t give a shit. 

He was there waiting when she got off the the jumper, Sam had called ahead as Adrienne was consoling Teyla, John the one flying the ship home. The archaeologist had made her way over to the site after giving Teyla a moment of privacy, one in which one of the kindest people Adrienne had ever met had thrown up and was kneeling at the ground in front of a mound of ashes and black, ashes that were clearly human remains. 

She almost threw up herself. 

But she held it together, just as she promised Sam she would, her arm wrapped around Teyla’s shoulder the entire way home until the jumper landed, Teyla insisting that she change and stop by her quarters before her doctor’s appointment. Adrienne had forgotten completely, but the guilt washing over her was more than she could bear as her friend’s only concern was to get to an appointment to see if she was carrying another woman's baby, while the father of her own could have been a pile of ashes. 

Dr. Adrienne Jackson rushed her husband the minute she saw him, burying herself into his body despite the gawks and stares of the personnel in the jumper bay. Daniel didn’t shrug her away, wrapping his arms protectively around her as Sam approached, shaking her head. 

“Any idea how many?” he asked as Adrienne felt fingers running through her hair. 

“No, I can take Vala and John and head back tomorrow, but it’s a hard sight,” Sam answered, Adrienne pulling her own head back to look up at him. 

“I can go, I’m sorry Indy, I’ve seen bodies before, it was just so many and Teyla, sha it could be Kanaan in there and I just,” she was trying, she hoped he knew she was, but the tears were flowing uncontrollably. Daniel didn’t say or do a thing to make her feel embarrassed, just kissed her head and looked back at Sam, taking Adrienne back into his arms. 

“Do you mind getting Vala and Ronon and heading back now, while we’re in the appointment? At least take a survey of that area so I can look at it later? I’d like to head out to the site myself...” he started, Adrienne pulling away.

“No Indy, you should go, I’ll head down to the infirmary,” she protested but Daniel shook his head. 

“No, I want to be there for this, for us. And before anyone else goes out there I want Ronon to give it the all clear,” he reasoned, Adrienne nodding in understanding. 

“Sure. Let me go tell Jack, I’ll make sure Nicholas isn’t in earshot and I’ll call Vala on the way,” Sam replied, her hand already at her communicator. Sniffing in, Adrienne pulled back to compose herself, straightening her tac vest and shirt only to feel fingers at her own, Daniel holding her hand. 

“Let’s head on down to Carson. You can tell me along the way what you found,” he said, not seeming to care in the least that Adrienne had just been in the jumper bay, sobbing as she clung to him for dear life. Sucking in a few more tears, Adrienne reached in to slip her arm around his waist, letting him lead her out into the hallway. 

“What did you find?” he asked the moment they were away, pulling away from her clasp only enough to walk comfortably. 

“Teyla and I not too much. There was fighting, but it looks like it was very one sided, the Athosians using whatever they had to keep everyone at bay,” Adrienne started, letting her arm slip down his waist to take his hand into her own. 

“So Wraith?” 

“I’m thinking so, well, based on that and the...” she started to stammer, Daniel stopping in the hallway to hold her. 

“You’ve never seen anything like that before, have you?” he asked the question to which  he knew the answer, Adrienne nodding into his chest. 

“Not in real life. And I never realized how much is left even after you burn and the smell..” and she was crying again, Daniel holding her tightly, kissing her head.

“They’ve been there a while, but I’d read that the smell lingers and it did, it was so awful and poor Teyla. I’m not sure how we’ll be able to identify them Daniel, but the thought of you being in there...” 

“Stop ja-wer,” he whispered in her ear, lightly kissing her temple, “I’m right here and everyone needs to just step back, let Ronon do his job before we start jumping to conclusions. A very intelligent woman once told me that jumping to conclusions just makes you worry in advance about things you can’t control.” 

“No fair using my own lectures against me,” she countering, sucking in more tears, Daniel reaching his palm to her face. 

“You’re missing the positive side of this entire horror Ad,” he said gently, Adrienne shrugging much like he would do. 

“There’s a positive?” 

“If someone took the time to clean up the bodies and try to burn them, that means that someone lived. The Wraith would have left them,” he answered simply, his thumb wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. 

Her jaw dropped; she hadn’t thought of that, she’d done just what she used to accuse him of doing, only looking at the negative. 

“He could be alive,” Adrienne sputtered out, Daniel nodding. 

“He was a leader. What if he led the attack back, saved who he could, burned the dead in the most respectful manner possible and escaped?” 

Damn Daniel always being damn right. 

Lately, anyway. 

This is why she married this man, one of them always managed to be the other’s rock, creating a give and take she hadn’t really thought was part of real life. 

“See,” he continued, smiling down at her, “you didn’t think of that did you? Now look who became the old sourpuss.” 

“I did not, well, not totally, but if I did it must be something else you, uh, transmitted to me,” she teased before she could control herself, Daniel’s cheeks reddening. 

“Let’s head down to the room, call over and check on Nicky before we get to the infirmary,” he offered, reaching for her hand again. Smiling Adrienne took it, not caring that everyone saw her walking openly, hand in hand, with the leader of the city. 

*****

Adrienne had insisted that they stay outside while Carson did the internal ultrasound despite Teyla’s protests. Daniel knew that despite everything she had seen, she would always be a proper Southern girl and things like that just were not handled in public.  

He found it endearing. 

Instead, they waited outside, Daniel pulling his wife into his lap as he sat in the one chair situated in the main area, resting his head gently on her back. He couldn’t help it, despite what he had bravely told Adrienne, the news of what had happened to the Athosians had upset him greatly and even he couldn’t shake the thought of losing his own family in people the way Teyla lost her. He felt so very helpless, wanting more than anything her touch and contact. 

Please let it take, his heart pleaded, please let me get some good news. 

The Genii had been as they expected, militant, confrontational, the first of his meetings with other worlds ending in the man, some General named Uthos who was related to the late General Cowen, informing him that he was too weak to run a city. 

Yep, it had been a great day, all around. 

Daniel didn’t even care if the other doctors or nurses noticed as he ran his hand up his wife’s tank top to rub her back. Let them talk; if anything he needed his rock right now and judging by the fierce pounding of her heart he could feel as he caressed her smooth skin, she could too. 

“Carson says if this one doesn’t take he’s gonna probably have to make more embryos. I didn’t realize it, but you implant more than one. I know I must have read that somewhere, but I was just too nervous to remember, I’m sorry sha,” Adrienne whispered, leaning back against him, forcing him to slid his hand to her stomach. 

“You, Adrienne Jackson, not research something to the hilt? Are you feeling well?” he joked, his wife elbowing him playfully.

“Well smartass, if we need more embryos, that means that you’re gonna have to go entertain yourself in an exam room again,” she joked back, Daniel burying his face in her shoulder. 

“Don’t remind me,” he mumbled, Adrienne laughing as the door swung open in front of them, Daniel peering up, his heart pounding in his chest. 

There was Teyla, Carson behind her, the Athosian woman lit up with a smile, the first time she had seen that expression from Teyla all day. 

“It is my pleasure to inform you both that we are going to have a baby,” she announced, this time both Adrienne and Daniel not bothering to contain their tears.  

*****

“Mom?” Nicholas Jackson called out into the dark, not wanting to look behind himself, back down the dark hall illuminated only by his nightlight. His mother, however, didn’t answer and he could hear her breathing lightly, still asleep. 

Taking a deep breath, as big as his tiny lungs would allow, Nicholas took another step closer to the foot of the bed to try a second time. 

“Mom?”

Still no answer. 

There was no way in hell that he was gonna go back to his room now. 

Reaching for the foot of the bed, he grabbed the best he could, realizing only as he tried to pull his tiny body up onto the surface his left hand was holding onto his dad’s ankle and not his mom’s.

“Nicholas are you ok?” and there was Dad, looking right at him. 

With Mom, it was much easier to be, well, a kid, with Dad he just felt stupid. There wasn’t any particular reason, his dad had never said anything to him to indicate he expected him to behave otherwise, but more than anything Nicholas just didn’t want to disappoint him, to be less than he expected. 

“I had a bad dream,” he whispered, letting go and looking at the floor in embarrassment. There was shuffling, the foot moving away and there was a face in his, blue eyes sparkling in the light of the his mom’s electronics. 

“You know they’re not real. Right?” was his father’s response, Nicholas trying not to cry as he remembered the dream, his small dark eyes looking under his parent’s bed. 

“Yes,” he replied, peeking back up at his father, “of course I do Dad but that doesn’t mean the emotions surrounding them are any less intense.” 

That’s it Nicholas, make it scientific and then you don’t sound like a baby...

“Do you want to sleep with us?” his father asked instead, surprising him.

“Yeah...” Nicholas mumbled, diverting his eyes from underneath the bed.

There was more shuffling, hands reaching down for him, lifting him up onto the bed. He watched as his father pulled back the covers, his mom still out cold, clearing a place between them for him to sleep. Relieved, Nicholas started to crawl forward when he stopped, looking over at his dad, a small frown on his face.

“This feels weird,” Nicholas whispered, looking down again.

“Why?”  

“I dunno, because I’m not a baby.” 

His dad just laughed. 

“Yes, you are. Advanced intellect or not, increased growth rate, whatever, you’re not even one yet and if you were ten I wouldn’t care. You’re still my son and I love you.” 

Nicholas smiled. He heard his dad say that to his mom, a lot, but he really didn’t say it that much to him. It wasn’t that he thought his father didn’t love him, he knew he did, but he guessed they just didn’t say it much to each other because they were male. 

Now, however, no one was around. 

“I love you too dad.”

Without further argument he crawled into the space provided, letting his dad tuck the blanket around him. 

“Better?” he asked as he lay down himself, still looking over at the boy.  

“Yeah. I feel safer with you guys,” the child whispered softly. 

“I’m glad, that’s part of our job.”

Nicholas nodded, even though he wasn’t sure if his father saw.  He was just about to close his eyes when the dream came rushing back, making him turn his head in the dark. 

“Dad?” 

“Yeah.”

Just ask, Dad won’t lie to you. He knows you’re too smart for that. 

“Do you think Todd is gonna bring the Wraith?”

There was a pause, shivers running down his small spine. 

“Doesn’t matter if he does,” the answer finally came, “Ronon’s ready for him. We’re ready for him.” 

Nicholas went to answer when he felt movement beside him and an arm, an arm reaching across his small body and coming to a rest across him, the hand holding onto his mom’s arm. Nestled safely between his parents, the small child let himself go back to sleep, visions of his dad blasting away the monsters dancing through his head. 

***** 

“Daniel!!” a voice was shouting over the main loud speaker, not his communicator, the main loud speaker, a female voice, one who’s life ambition was to never let him sleep. 

“DANIEL!!” 

“Christ Vala what!?” he shouted back, the boy stirring beside him, his wife not moving in the least. 

BIG surprise there. 

“You need to get your ass down here,” she demanded, Daniel sitting up in the bed. 

“Dad?” and now Nicholas was awake, the child’s patterns a strange mix between he and Adrienne’s, “What’s going on?” 

“Vala it’s the middle of the god damn night. Is the base burning down?” he refrained from swearing any more in front of his son, swearing at himself inside for agreeing to let Vala work the night shift in his place from time to time. 

“We have company,” she answered smartly, “you just need your ass out of bed, now!” 

“Indy, what’s going on? Why’s Nicky in the bed? Is everything ok?” And now Adrienne was up, just proving that Vala had to have the intercom at full blast, Daniel noting it was a little after two in the morning. 

“I had a bad dream, and Aunt Vala is screaming over the intercom,” the child explained for his father, Daniel reaching for his glasses. 

“Something’s wrong, I need to get down there,” he said as he got out of bed, Adrienne reaching protectively for Nicholas. 

“Daniel you be careful,” she ordered, her eyes darting between her husband and her child. She paused for a moment before she was hunting around for her communicator, shoving it to her ear. 

“I’ll call Jack, let me come with you,” she changed her mind, standing from the bed herself, tapping her ear. 

“Ja-wer, it’s a visitor...” Daniel tried to be discrete, knowing that any language that he spoke would be understood by the boy. 

“Dad is it Todd?” Nicholas was still sitting in the bed, the blanket pulled to his chin, looking more childlike than normal. 

“I have no idea, but I want both of you to stay here. Please.” 

Reading his face, Adrienne nodded, her hand drawing away from her communicator and her other arm closer to their son. Without further discussion, Daniel raced to the dresser, throwing jeans over his boxers and a t-shirt over his head, not even bothering with shoes. 

*****

She couldn’t explain it, but Teyla was compelled to get out of bed, even though Carson told her she needed as much sleep as possible in these early stages of pregnancy, but she stood anyway, walking to the door. It had been warm, the summer earlier here than on Earth and she had gone to bed with a fan blowing lightly and wearing very little. She didn’t bother with a robe, she didn’t bother with many clothes at all, gliding out of the door to her quarters in the thin sheer gown.

*****

Daniel had expected to see Todd standing there, after all, the news of his going to be a father again couldn’t just last for one night, he couldn’t get one night of happiness. 

Instead, it was Lt. Davidson that greeted him, waiting outside of the main office, his main office, a look of confusion on his face. 

“Davidson do you sleep?” Daniel had to ask, halting his advance to the door. 

“Not much sir,” the young man answered quickly. 

“Who’s in there?” 

“Miss Mal Doran and a man. Says he’s Athosian and has been sent to speak with you,” Davidson replied, Daniel frowning. 

Athosian? 

“Thanks, can you call down to Ronon, have his people run a sweep? I need to know immediately if this man came alone or if his vessel is bugged,” Daniel added, turning the knob. 

“Already done sir.” 

Damn this kid is good...

“Thanks, uh, do you mind hanging around in case Adrienne calls?” he asked the last thing he could think that he needed to take care of. 

“Yes sir and ff Dr. Jackson calls should I direct it to your office?” 

Good question, Daniel wanted to say, pausing for a moment before shaking his head in the negative. 

“No, just stall her until I know what is going on,” Daniel ordered, the man looking concerned for the first time in this entire conversation. 

He must have gotten the Cajun glare before. 

“She’s not as bad a she wants you to believe trust me,” Daniel said with a smile, hoping he wasn’t lying to the poor man, Adrienne was that bad when it came to him, opening the door to his office. 

Sitting on his desk was Vala legs crossed and looking thoroughly bored, not surprising, across from her was a tall man, caramel skin and clearly Athosian clothes. He peered over his shoulder right at Daniel, standing quickly and stepping away from the chair. 

“Greetings Dr. Jackson, you have not met me before but my name is...” 

“Kanaan...” 

Daniel had forgotten to close the door behind him he discovered that the moment that Teyla burst in behind him, standing at his side as though she had seen a ghost. 

“Teyla...” 

“If this is gonna get like Glasses and Addy then I’m out!” Vala declared, leaping from the desk to whisk herself from the room. 

“I thought you to be dead,” Teyla whispered, stepping forward as the man did the same, careful and cautious. 

“As did I,” he murmured, Daniel suddenly feeling very uncomfortable at the reunion, probably what his staff felt every time he and Adrienne were in the same room.

“Where have you been? What happened to our people?” Teyla was asking when Daniel noticed she was practically naked, making him turn away, trying to cover his eyes without being impolite.

“The Wraith, we held them off as long as possible but we were unable to for long. I took what was left and we fled the planet,” he explained, Teyla shaking her head in bewilderment. 

“How? We left no ships.” 

Daniel wanted to hear the answer to this too, but Kanaan didn’t answer verbally, directing his attention to Daniel instead. 

“I believe this is for you,” he said, handing over a piece of paper, tattered, torn, a piece that looked like it had come from a sketchpad but was balled up before use. Puzzled, Daniel unfolded the fragile sheet, pushing his glasses up his face as he squinted to read. 

Whatever he tells you do not do as he asks. 

What Ford has done is unnatural.