Bonding with Woolsey
Chapter 1
By Rocza
I'm not sure exactly when it happened. I just noticed that suddenly, out of the blue, that Woolsey wasn't so bad. I know. It's not a huge revelation. It's not the answer to life, the universe, and everything. But it did come as a surprise to me.
Woolsey has always been annoying. He is my opposite. He has always been more concerned with counting his beans than what those beans represented. Always the one to use a diplomatic phrase for an undiplomatic problem.
I, on the other hand, took the loss of each bean personally. Because that is what they were; persons. And as for diplomacy... well, let's just say that the kindest way to describe my diplomatic skills is `strait shooter.'
To say we had a philosophical difference is understating the problem. But, however we differed, I always knew that Woolsey was just trying his best. I may have questioned his actions, but never his motives. I never thought he was evil or bad, just misguided... and annoying. Really annoying. Complete with the whiney voice and the hand wringing. Ack!
Anyway, sometime during our negotiations with the Lantians, I had the epiphany that Woolsey wasn't so bad. Don't worry. He is not my new best friend or anything. Just... not so bad. And that is why I feel so very guilty right now.
Here we are running and hiding from human form replicators as they systematically assassinate all the Lantians. I know that there is a very strong possibility that we are going to die, right here on Atlantis. If not from the replicators, then from the nuke that Hank should be sending through soon. But I don't have the heart to tell Woolsey. Instead, I let him cling to the hope that we can steal a ship or make it to the gate and back to Earth.
"Let's hole up here for awhile," I whisper to him. "Get some rest."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? What if they find us?" Woolsey asks me.
"Then they find us and we can rest. Either way, we rest," I reply. He's giving me the look. You know the one. The one that says, `he's finally cracked, humor him till we can get his gun away.' Whatever it takes.
It takes awhile, but he finally overcomes his fear of making noise to ask, "Aren't you afraid of what they will do to us when they find us?" His voice cracks at the end.
Obviously, he is wound up tighter than a spring. I take a minute to ponder my answer. A reasonable question deserves a reasonable answer. I let out a sigh, "If… If they find us… And, not really." I reply honestly. "I already know what they will do when they catch us. I've lived through it before. The worst they can do is kill us. The best... well... we may just wish we were dead." I give him a sad smile. "But, they haven't caught us yet. So, buck up... and ... all that," I finish lamely with a hand wave. Apparently, my words are not soothing his fears. He is staring at me with a terrified look. "What?"
"I don't think I can do this," he whispers. "I am a diplomat. I have spent years working to get to my position." He huddled lower in the corner, as if fold in on himself. "I have no idea what to do now. No frame of reference. I'm going to die here. I know it."
I may be a bit thick towards other people's feelings. But I can hear a scream for help when I hear it. It made me feel even guiltier. Do I even have a right to give him hope in a hopeless situation? Crap. Wolsey with the big hopeless eyes is way worse than a sad puppy. I can't tell him the truth. I can't take his hope away. So, I start to laugh.
OK, Mr. Sensitivity I am not. But I do have a reputation for a twisted sense of humor. Woolsey stares at me wide eyed with shock, and it just makes me laugh harder. Then he does the fish mouth thing, and I lose it completely. Yep, doubled over, laughing, with tears, honest to god, tears squeezing out of my eyes.
It takes him a full minute to say something. "Well, General O'Neill, I'm glad you find my inadequacy funny," he sneers. "Ohh, just go do something, brutish and military, and let me wallow in my helplessness."
As I finally regain control, I give him a big cheeky grin. "On the contrary, you are far from helpless. And be glad you have no frame of reference. Ignorance is bliss in this situation. As for not knowing what to do, you take this," I point at his pistol, "and defend yourself. Survive. Hide when you can, shoot if you must. The rest..." my hand circles to encompass everything in the room, "... is just details."
He frowned back at me. I can tell that he is hung up on the details. Well, he is an accountant at heart. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to scout us some lunch." I stand and wave as I turn to leave our hidey hole.
"Wait!” his panicked shout stopped me. “You can't just leave me here. What if they come? What if you get caught?"
"Details. We'll deal with them IF and WHEN they happen. Until then… think positive. Oh, and remember that you are HIDING. Don't reveal yourself, unless you are sure it is me. Don't talk, don't call out, and don't make any noise." I turn to leave and turn back, "And, please, don't shoot me." Then I turn one more time and leave before he can call me back again.
~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~ SG~~SG
Finally free of Woolsey, my training kicks in and I ghost through the halls of Atlantis. The city is eerily quiet as I slide between levels and rooms. I can't find any of the Lantians. I do pass several Replicator patrols, if you could call them that. They didn't seem to be doing anything but walking, oblivious to their surroundings.
An hour later, I make it to the chow hall. I was way back in the kitchen when my luck ran out. I have just enough time to hide when the replicators enter. I have a court-side view as they capture the Captain of the Lantian ship. Apparently, she was caught attempting to gather food. Just like I was.
They didn’t bother moving her to start questioning. I watched as they first interrogated her and then tapped into her brain. It looked about like what I thought. Painful. Ten minutes pass without anyone moving.
Finally, the head replicator removed his hand and she dropped to the ground unconscious. "All the Lantians are dead," the replicator announced. "She attempted to hide that information from us. Atlantis is ours. Begin phase II to repair the city. Notify me when repairs are complete." The replicator then turned his weapon on the unconscious Captain and killed her. Without another word the group scattered to their tasks.
OK, good news and bad news. Good news, the replicators don't know about Woolsey and I. Bad news, all our allies are dead. I packed all the non-perishable food I can carry. I had found several cases of MRE’s and some power bars before the replicators started their show. I don't think it's a good idea to return here, even if they are not looking for us.
I slowly made my way back to Woolsey, silent as a ghost. As I pass the Jumper Bay, I can see the replicators working between the ships. No escape there, either. Unless we grow gills… which is not entirely outside the realm of possibility… we are trapped here. Details, details.
~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~ SG~~SG
Continued in Chapter 2.
Bonding with Woolsey
Chapter 2
By Rocza
The next day, I once again get ready to scout the area. As I prepare to leave, Woolsey loses his grasp on calm rationality and panics.
"You can't leave me. Please, let's just sit tight for rescue. Please, General."
I sigh. Damn puppy dog eyes. "I'll wait a bit, but we need to have intelligence on the area. Otherwise, the rescue may not make it to us. Besides, we need to move."
"Why? I thought we were safe here."
"Atlantis is enemy territory. There is no safe place on Atlantis. We need to use basic E&E. Escape and Evasion. We have escaped detection. Now, we evade contact. We need to move to ensure we are as safe as possible. That is why I need to scout the area. Now, eat." I toss a power bar his way.
He was quiet and ate what was placed in front of him. After our silent meal, I once again make ready to scout. This time he doesn’t try to stop me.
His quiet voice stills my movements, "I'm afraid to be alone.” No shit, Sherlock. “I'm not as strong as you are."
Man, I don't need this. I hate giving the fear vs. courage lecture. Every time I give it, it makes me feel older. I snort, "I'm not strong. I'm stubborn… BIG difference."
It takes him several minutes to digest that nugget before he asks, "You're afraid?"
Inside I smile; outside I try to look indignant. "Hell, yes, I'm afraid." I pause, "I just don't let it stop me from doing what needs to be done." I gave him a gentle smile, "of course, if you tell anyone I said that, I'll deny it."
I started to gear up again before he replied. "And things to need to be done. We need to scout, so we can move, so we can stay alive, so we can be rescued." He laid out the details just like I knew he would. And not one was ‘cower in fear until captured.’
"Exactly!" I got to give him credit. He caught on pretty fast. Faster than Ferretti ever did. And I honestly don’t think Kawalsky ever did. They turned out ok. Sort of. Alright, bad example.
"How long?" he asked. My smile faded, guilty pains shot through my stomach, "As long as it takes." As long as it takes to escape. As long as it takes till Hank sends the bomb. As long as it takes to be captured and killed. I left off the details. He really didn’t need them. "As long as it takes."
~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~ SG~~SG
The next few days were a blur of sameness. Scout in the morning, move in the afternoon, and scrounge dinner in the evening. We even got into a routine. I go out and scout or scrounge; he forgets to hide and calls out his position. His hiding skills are a hopeless cause.
Then the radio came alive with Lt Col Sheppard's voice. I've never been more pissed and happy at the same time. But being me, I let pissed take over. I let my lie slip. I forgot that Wolsey didn’t know about the bomb. His hurt expression tells me everything I need to know.
Way to go, O’Neill. Just kick the sad puppy now.
The next few hours were a blur of activity and pain. Adrenaline rush from trying to open the doors and not drown. Adrenaline rush from capture and subsequent hand in the head torture. Adrenaline rush from rescue.
Finally, with Atlantis secure, Woolsey and I were ready to go home. As we waited before the gate, I was overcome with the need to apologize. Yes, I had lied to Wolsey. I even felt bad about it.
"Woolsey, I just wanted to say `I'm sorry' ... about not telling you about the bomb. I just ... didn't have the heart to tell you." I took a deep breath. "You did real good, ya know. Well, except for the calling out your position thing."
Woolsey actually looked stunned, "Thanks, General, that really means a lot coming from you."
"Well, ya know..." We watched the gate activate before us, "it was nice to have company." As we walked towards the gate, I gave him a cheeky smile, "but don't think I'm going to authorize you to lead any of my teams now."
I watched him sputter to a halt as I stepped through the event horizon. I actually waited for him to catch up on the other side. I must be a glutton for punishment. You’d think I was sick of the guy by now. We walked to the infirmary together.
"You know, General, you're not so bad ... for someone afraid to be alone."
This time I staggered to a halt as he flashed me a sly grin. "Good one, Woolsey." He would be alright with time. And he really wasn't so bad after all. At least the IOA meetings will be more fun now.
~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~SG~~ SG~~SG~~SG
END