Chapter Text
As SG-1 beams down from the Daedalus Sergeant Martin Coughlin secures his P-90 in a tighter grip and resumes his watch duty at the Gate. On his side Reed seems a bit more interested. It’s SG-1 after all and most of the ‘real’ Marines have some sort of hard on for them. At least the newer ones. For old hats on Atlantis like the Lieutenant and him it's not that amazing to have them here.
And why would it, he can’t help but thinking as they march up to the stairs and are welcomed by Woolsey.
Sure, the SGC had had their very own threats, but having people pray to false gods somewhat loses its scariness when one had to look at mummified corpses of children, before being chased by white haired Marylin Mansons with life sucking hands. He would think that people should have at least the same kind of awe for AR-1 that they bring on the table for the fabled SG-1. But maybe that's just him.
“They don’t look happy.”
Glancing over to Reed, he sees the slight frown in his Lieutenants face and follows his line of sight. They probably being Sheppard, McKay and Lorne. And it’s true enough. Sure, there is the usual ‘I am the most harmless Colonel that ever Colonel'd’-smile on Sheppard's face but that's all. Light is on but no open door. Or something like that. Martin still sometimes has problems with English phrases.
McKay's smile is fixed and as fake as it can get. Not even seeing Carter seems to do anything on that front. Not that there would much happening anyway. The crush that everyone and their grandmother knew about, got pretty much burned out at the time she was in charge here. The stranger thing is, that there is almost nothing else happening. Nothing loud anyway. Only that fake as fuck smile and a short, sarcastic sounding welcome.
And while he likes to think that he has somewhat of an idea how Sheppard and McKay would be reacting to actual welcome guests, he doesn’t really have that much more insight. But their own team leader, Major Lorne? He can read him just fine after being in the guy's team for a few years. And that very friendly smile and professional handshakes are just as much fake as McKay's. If it were real there would be movement in the man. The shoulders would be going down for the handshakes, inviting people to react and talk.
“There is something going on for sure, Sir”, he mutters back, and they exchange a look. Good thing they are penciled in for a mission soon and they can try to get some kind of intel.
Trying being the most important word there.
The Major is a good officer and probably an even better 2IC for Atlantis. Which is good for all of them, but that makes it hard to needle information out of him. That guy can be steely Teflon while still smiling amicable and giving nicest son-in-law vibes. Maybe it’s an Air Force thing, because the Colonel has a very similar smile. Only with more rebellious surfer boy touch.
They watch the group walking into the meeting room and relax into a looser stance. It’s the gate room and they only have two teams out in the moment. Teams that aren’t scheduled for a check in for a while. But that gets him thinking. AR-2 doesn’t have to do gate shift all that often. They are after all their main relief & rescue team and with that kinda always on duty. It’s a thing.
“Think the Major put us here for a reason today?” he wants to know and can see Reed mulling that over. “Could be. He knows we are not big on the gossip.” Coughlin nods, eyes still on the now closed doors. “But he also knows that we see things.” After all they are special trained to get other teams out of their shit and sometimes that requires to find out who of the nice native people has them in the first place.
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see”, Reed decides, before looking up, as if he can see the Daedalus through the ceiling, “Hope they brought some new stuff for the Rec-Room. If I have to watch the same football games one more time, I might start a rebellion.”
Martin snorts. “You could just try to watch some real sport for a change.” He waits just long enough to be insolent. “Sir.” Reed just rolls his eyes at him. “Don’t start up with your soccer again.” He shrugs, not caring about the annoyed tone. “At least there is something happening for 45 minutes before break. Not that bullshit, one move and back to formation thing you guys have going on.”
“I just told you not to start again!”
“My ears must be going bad from all the screaming my bleeding heart does. Sir.”
The Lieutenant rubs a hand over his face and shakes his head in apparent despair. “You are the worst. You know that there are Germans in Atlantis that like football? But of course, I had to get you on my team.”
Coughlin grins brightly, a move he may or may not have copied from their Major. “I am sure they are all from Austria, Sir.”
“The. Worst.”
Martin thinks that's a point for him, in their never-ending bickering about sports. By now he dislikes everything Reed likes as a principle of life. It’s always fun to rile the man up a bit and letting him shed the calm exterior.
The Lieutenant is like a rattlesnake, and Martin is the fakir to let him dance to his tune. And maybe he would get shit for it on other teams, but Lorne always has this knowing spark in his eyes, whenever Martin needles Reed into some human behavior. So he isn’t that worried about getting written up. Besides, Reed isn’t one to hold his rank around him like a shield. They each have their job, and they do it. That’s how AR-2 works anyway.
He is just thinking about an answer as the doors to the meeting room open and McKay storms out with a dark cloud all around him. Coughlin blinks, seeing their Colonel next in the door, still looking into the inside with hand movements that look more for soothing a wild beast then talking to SG-1. But then he turns and after getting pointed into a direction by Chuck the man follows McKay. Then it’s their Major that appears, this time with the smile that is usually reserved for hostile natives that wants to take them hostage.
“.. will have to go over the missions for the next few days, so that you get the full experience on our teams. I will come back to you with a schedule that should help you out. If you have any other concerns radio me and I will try to straighten it out. Have a good day, Sir’s, Ma’am.”
Reed sighs deeply. “I get the feeling they are here to fuck someone over.”
Yep, that's the vibe Martin got as well. After all there isn’t much that sends McKay into a silent rage. Even the big Wraith motherships bring out the most interesting notes. If not in sound, then in volume. “I think it might be prudent to be a little bit gossipy about that one.” Reed hums, staring after their team lead, that already has a tablet out and is working on it while walking. “Radio Parrish. He has a good connection to Zelenka. Let’s see what the other side of the city knows or might need to know.”
Hand already moving to follow the command he sees movement on the gate room balcony. SG-1 talking to each other. Still looking relaxed. Mostly. Even there is some kind of undercurrent. Coughlin can’t wait to find out what's going on. But if the info that Lorne presented them on a very nice silver tablet is true, then it’s at least a review of their teams. At minimum. McKays dramatic exit belies that a bit. So, it might be that the main target is, as usual, AR-1. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s Wraith, Genii or the SGC.
But the thing is.. AR-1 isn’t alone, and this isn’t under the fucking claustrophobic mountain. This is Atlantis and here people are actually looking out for each other, not just for the next promotion. Dr Rodney screamsalot but savesthemoften McKay included.
**********
Hours later, no one in the mess hall even gives them a second look as Parrish puts his tray down on their table. If they are not needed for all the searching and rescuing but are still on the gate rotation, they are often enough used to accompany and protect scientists. They see it as some sort of downtime and that attitude makes their team appealing. Unlike other teams they don’t think it boring to stand around for hours. Reed thinks that is because they are at least trying to talk to the guys and broaden their own horizon. The Major thinks it’s because they wouldn’t dare to give any kind of bad-mannered attitude with him around.
Martin believes the other two are full of bullshit and just can’t accept the fact that they are maintaining their spy network. Americans always have the need to appear so golden and shiny and heroic while the truth is so much cooler. In Martins opinion anyway. He never did so much easy and strangely funny blackops work before in his whole life.
“So, what’s the scuttlebutt Doc?”
The tall but really slim botanist rolls his eyes. “Hello to you too, David.” Which has Reed rolling his eyes right back. “Yes. Well. Hello Parrish.” Martin grins, relaxing his legs into a long stretch. “Good evening, Doctor David.” The man smiles brightly at him. “You are refreshing as always, Martin.” But then he is leaning in a bit closer.
“Radek couldn’t tell me all that much. Rodney came back from the meeting seething. Went to the main laptop and pulled all his personal projects without a single word. No one is really sure why, but if he does that, then there must be a reason, so all the others did it too. By now there shouldn’t be anything on the open network besides all the approved projects left.”
Martin frowns, exchanging a quick look with his Lieutenant. “I don’t get it. Aren’t you guys allowed to have private projects?” Parrish shrugs. “We are. It is something Rodney encourages. Some of the most pressing needs of Atlantis often have some periods of waiting time. But not enough to start on another big one. Almost every one of us has some side projects we are working on, and they did help often enough in emergencies or in furthering another fields study. We are not stingy with them.”
Reed leans back in his chair, throwing a look at the empty table that is usually the one where AR-1 takes their meals. “So, we have SG-1 here, know something about missions they will be going out with our teams and that McKay pulled all private research from the servers.”
Parrish blinks owlishly before a mulish expression sets in. “You don’t think they are here to replace AR-1. Right? That would be ridiculous. Don’t they have enough to do on Earth?”
“I don’t see a straight up replacing taking place. They must know how the people here would react to that.” But even while saying that, Martin can’t shake the feeling that there will be some trouble coming for them.
Reed sighs, grabbing his fork again and spearing some of the peas on his plate. “Let’s see what the Major says tomorrow and go from there. Doc, if you would just keep your eyes and ears open for anything unusual that would help us a lot.”
“Of course. I will keep you guys up to date. On another note, did I tell you guys about this new soil we have in test?”
******
They were just finishing with the jumper inventory for the mission as their Major walks up the ramp, together with Colonel Mitchell. Exchanging a quick glance with Coughlin before they snap out their salutes, they are probably thinking the same thing. It might not be their Major they need to focus on for more information.
“Okay guys, when our last member for the mission gets here, we will do our usual overview. Col. Mitchell will be with us in a more observing role but will obviously jump in if we need it. I am still the lead. The jumper ready?”
David nods. “Yes, Sir. We are fully loaded for planned overnight and prepared for a week on rations.” The Major accepts that and turns to Coughlin. “Medical supplies are restocked. We are good to go.”
“Good job.”
Mitchell does some kind of waving at them, before following Lorne up to the pilot seats. At that point McKay stomps up the ramp, still in quite a mood. But this is not their first rodeo with the guy. Even if they usually get at least a mail in warning beforehand.
“Yo McKay! It has been quite a while since you were last with us. Finally, someone that I can roll my eyes at, whenever these guys get too much American heroism going on.” The Sergeant is smiling widely, and it only takes a second before McKay snorts. “You should get your own Alien warrior or queen on the team, Sergeant. Can’t recommend it enough.” The German waves his hands around. “That’s what I have been saying for ages!” McKay shakes his head, apparently amused against his will.
They look at each other and for once he is even noticed by his rank. Same as the Major. But then the Doc notices Mitchell and all amusement vanishes. “You didn’t inform me about Colonel Citrus, Lorne.” The jumper door closes with perfect timing. “Must have slipped my mind. Let me finish pre-flight, then we go over the mission.” Reed likes to believe that Coughlin isn’t too far off when he calls Lorne ‘Major Teflon’. Not that he would ever tell the guy. Either of them.
“Colonel Citrus? The Major introduced him as Mitchell.” The Sergeants voice is just only loud enough to be heard. If you don’t concentrate on anything else and Reed can see how the SG-1 guy stills.
McKay sits on one of the benches and takes his laptop out of his bag. “At least there is one person on this damn city that doesn’t drown in worship”, he grumbles. “Sheppard found it very funny to give Mitchell a citrus to threaten me with, if things got complicated. Like they always do.”
“Ohh”, Coughlin takes a spot opposite of McKay. “So, he failed the test, and you are rubbing it in. I see. Well, I mean you can do it. You are a civilian after all. Sheppard wouldn’t be able too. I am sure he appreciates your effort on his behalf.”
This has the Colonel giving up on pretending about not listening in, while McKay looks confused as fuck.
“What test are you talking about?”, the man asks, moving from the spot on Lornes side in the front, back to them. The Sergeant frowns at him. “Sorry Sir. We shouldn’t have talked about it here.” Reed sneaks a glance at his Major, who by now has turned his seat around and is leaning forward, with his underarms on his legs. Watching them silently. Mitchell waves his hand. “What test?”
McKay is back to staring at his laptop, but Reed can see him trying to work out what the German is on about. Thats the one nice thing about the Doc. Sure, he couldn’t lie into your face to safe his own life, but when the man knows he has to be on the lookout for something, he is pretty fast in gathering clues and putting them together.
“Sir, shouldn’t that be kind of obvious?”, Coughlin asks, before turning to McKay. “Doc, how often did Sheppard threaten you with citrus so far?” The genius frowns. “Obviously never. Beside this one laps in character he is almost as thorough with making sure there is none of it in my vicinity as I am. As is the rest of my team.”
The Sergeant nods and makes a ‘so there’ gesture at the Colonel. “Nobody here has to threat a civilian with a possible deadly reaction to an allergy. I am feeling bad that I somehow got roped into it now, by not being able to shut up, but you failed a big Sheppard test there, Sir. That man is as protective of his team as a Lioness about her cubs.”
This might just be as well his own cue. He frowns deeply, turning to Mitchell who so far has done nothing more than gaping. “Sir, you don’t carry any citrus around with you right now, do you? If so, I would have to tell you in my double role as team medic that I couldn’t allow that in the jumper at all. Not as long as we are doctor McKay's protection detail.”
“Guys..”, that's the Majors long suffering voice. “I am sure the Colonel didn’t actually threaten McKay with a citrus. You all can..” He stops as he notices the Doctors enraged face and Mitchells ‘damn it, I got caught out with my pants down’-expression. David is very sure that Martin has just as a hard time as he does, not to laugh like a maniac. “Wait. Sir? You did?!” With that amount of disbelief in the Majors voice, no one would ever believe that he and McKay have a long-standing tradition about threats of shooting the genius.
“He very well did!”
Reed has to give it to the guy. He does the ‘enraged scientist’ like no one else. By now David is certain that the Doc caught on and is on board. Not that he himself has any idea what the real plan is, but so far they are pretty good at jumping at presented chances. And while he found the Colonel somewhat likeable whenever they crossed paths in the past, there are just some lines you don’t cross.
“It wasn’t even a real one! Listen, McKay. I am sorry. Really. It will not be happening again.” That sounds sincere enough, but he knows his team. And himself. He is the team medic at the end of the day. There is nothing funny about these kinds of threats. As if they weren’t busy enough with everything else this galaxy throws at them. And wasn’t McKay not some kind of loan to the SGC for that mission? Way to handle your people. Not.
Same for Martin and Lorne. By now they had a good way to handle the Doc whenever he was with them, for whatever reason: Keep the guy happy and have a successful mission. Thats it. On a coincidental note: A happy McKay was actually a pretty decent, sometimes even funny guy. And on another, other note: If all fails, throw the Major in and let them snipe at each other. Works for at least a few hours.
All of them take it kind of personally if their adjunct teammates are threatened with possible death. Which by now might as well include half of the city. There is a reason they are a 3-man team after all. And no matter what Martin says, it isn’t a spy network. It’s a protection umbrella.
“Damn straight it will never happen again! I didn’t know it wasn’t real, Mitchell! And now shut up about it. In case you are wondering, some of us have actual work to do instead of just sitting around and observing.”
“On that note”, the Major starts, “I requested McKay from AR-1 for our mission, because Carter will go with them today and it doesn’t make sense to have two of your calibers out on the same team for that kind of mission.” Reed notices the brief confusion that flashes through the scientists' eyes. “And utilizing that brainpower, I decided we might just as well go for another survey on PM3-SE9.”
The confusion gives way to surprise and then honest to god elation, before it vanishes into glee, just as McKay nods his assent and looks back down at his laptop. And that's the moment Reed gets it. That planet is the one that every single scientist from McKays department loves to go out.
The energy reading there confuses them and they can’t seem to get a grip what exactly is happening there. It’s drives them into crazy long debates with lots of hand weaving and shouting. It’s like catnip for them and everyone else likes it too, because there is absolutely nothing happening there. It’s the kind of meditative boring that has them playing cards and bringing down their own guards.
And he remembers that AR-1 was slotted in for the next visit there, because Zelenka was pouting over it, over a shared meal with them. Which would mean.. He glances at the placid looking Major, that lines out the mission parameters for them.
Lorne didn’t just pull McKay from AR-1 but swapped their missions too. No ‘amazing and unusual’ energy readings for Carter, that might just now get the probably boring second contact mission, they had slotted in for today. No ‘interesting and crazy’ Pegasus Mission for Mitchell and one very happy, in data readings absorbed McKay.
Major Lorne is one scary man. For an Air Force officer anyway.