“Come on, Dad,” Alisa cried, “It’s not like I’ve not been on the Daedalus before. I’ll stay with Hermiod; you won’t have to worry about me. Come on.”
Rodney tried not to groan aloud, from the moment Alisa heard they were going to look at the Ancient ship she’d been all over him to bring her along. True, it had only been a week since he’d managed to repair the rift between them, the rift he really hadn’t been completely aware of but the thought of taking her off-world…
“I agree to you coming on one condition,” Rodney said.
Alisa perked up, “What’s that?”
“If Sheppard and Elizabeth agree to you coming,” he told her, sure this would end the discussion. To his annoyance, Alisa grinned even more.
“They already said yes,” Alisa replied with a smirk, “If you said I could come,” she darted out of the room, leaving him standing.
“Manipulative brat,” he muttered to himself before smiling, he’d taught her very, very well.
“You know,” Rodney said as he and John stood looking out the window at the bright lights of hyperspace, “We really have to communicate little details to one another, considering Alisa just ran all over the three of us.”
John laughed, “I was sure you would say no.”
“Alisa can whine,” Rodney reminded him, “And it gets really annoying after a few hours.”
“I wonder where she gets that from,” John murmured, looking innocent as Rodney turned his glare on him.
“Next time, tell me,” Rodney told him.
“Don’t worry, I will,” John replied, “We can’t let the kid beat the three of us more than once. It’s embarrassing.”
Rodney laughed, turning back to look at the lights; it had been an interesting week. Everyone becoming aware of who Alisa really was had caused a few ripples in the entire city, especially the science department. He’d heard that there were a few people who made some snide comments within Alisa’s earshot but his kid was tough and simply put them in their place with a few well chosen words. Something that left many wondering how they hadn’t noticed the family resemblance until it had been pointed out.
“Dad,” the object of his thoughts appeared, “Hermiod is questioning my hacking skills.”
Rodney rolled his eyes, “Don’t even think about it.”
John looked at them confused.
“Long story,” Alisa smirked, “And one you’re not getting told, yet.”
“And why is that?” John demanded.
“Colonel Sheppard and Dr McKay report to the bridge,” Caldwell’s voice came over the speakers as Alisa smirked.
“That’s why.”
Rodney deliberately messed her hair as he walked passed, smiling as she rolled her eyes at him.
*********************************************
Alisa stood at Hermiod’s console, her fingers tapping nervously.
“They’re cutting this a little close,” Alisa noted, her voice twanging with panic that she was trying to hide.
Hermiod tilted his head slightly in a nod, “I agree. The Wraith Cruisers have arrived.”
Alisa’s grip on the panel tightened, she heard Caldwell’s order to beam them on board and let out a sigh of relief. Ignoring everything else, she shot out of the engine room to find her father. She found him as he and John were heading towards the infirmary, without a word he pulled her into a hug.
“We’re fine,” Rodney assured her, “Little Wraith trouble but nothing to worry about.”
Alisa smiled, missing the sad look that passed between the two men. She walked with them and stood patiently as they were checked over by the doctor.
“I don’t know about you,” Rodney said from the bed he was sitting on, “But I’m starving.”
“Me too,” John agreed, “Wonder if they have any good pie.”
“So,” John turned to Alisa, his mug of coffee held close to him in comfort, “What is this about your hacking skills?”
“Nothing,” Rodney replied quickly, “Absolutely nothing.”
Alisa smiled, “Dad wasn't too happy with the one time I showed them off at school.”
“I believe Ronan and I are once again on the wrong side of the cultural bridge,” Teyla noted, “Can you explain hacking?”
“It’s when someone gets into a computer system,” Caldwell appeared taking a seat, “Something like that and I have no doubt Miss McKay is a master of it.”
Rodney rolled his eyes, “So much so, it almost got her expelled. At about the same time I was heading to join the project.”
“That wasn't my fault,” Alisa defended herself, receiving a dark glare from her father.
“Of course not,” Caldwell laughed, he grabbed some coffee.
“Just tell us,” Ronan demanded, “It’ll be faster than everyone making stupid comments.”
Rodney sighed, “Alright, just a few weeks before I headed to Antarctica…”
“Dr McKay,” Jennifer, his assistant poked her head through the door, “You have a visitor.”
Rodney frowned, he hated being interrupted when he was in the middle of a project but Jennifer wouldn’t have interrupted him unless it was important. The fact she didn’t use his first name as normal, meant it was someone high up in the food chain.
“Fine,” he told her.
She disappeared for a few seconds and Rodney ran a hand through his hair. Jennifer was good at her job; she had worked here for years and was one of the few people here that knew about Alisa. He would go to her for help every so often when his daughter was trying to drive him crazy, the fact she had about twenty grandkids helped.
“Hi there, Doc,” the cheerful greeting made him blink.
“Colonel…sorry General O’Neill,” Rodney stared at the man, “What are you doing here?”
Jack O’Neill stepped into the room and grabbed the only free seat, “I am here to offer you a job.”
Suspicion filled Rodney, “A job?”
“You’ve heard about what happened in Antarctica, right?” Jack asked.
Rodney nodded, “Yeah, there’s some sort of Ancient base there.”
“Well,” Jack leaned back, “Since Weir’s taken over she’s been looking for someone to take control of the scientists. There’s no real order for what’s going on just now. She’s trying to get a Dr Radek Zelenka on board as well, ever heard of him?”
“Czech scientist,” Rodney mused, “I’ve read some of his work.”
“So,” Jack said, “Do you want the job?”
Rodney stared at the General, “Antarctica?”
“Yep,” Jack grinned at him, “Your name came up as one of our top scientists.”
“What? Carter not have a look at the list?” Rodney snapped, his mind was reeling at the thought. He sighed as he knew what his answer had to be, “I can’t.”
Jack raised an eyebrow, “Really?”
“You know why,” Rodney snapped, “You know exactly why I can’t.”
“I have a solution to that,” Jack told him, “As best as I possibly can. You have three weeks there and spend a week at home. I’ll find some way for Alisa to be watched.”
Rodney wanted this; he wanted this so much but… “I need to think about it.”
“Sure,” Jack nodded, “Give me a call when you’ve made your decision.”
The door opened again and Jennifer appeared, “I’m sorry, Dr McKay but there is an important call for you from Dr Tutor.”
Rodney closed his eyes at the coded message, “School, great what’s she done now?” Jennifer looked a little shocked but Rodney waved her away, “It’s alright he knows.”
“I’ll let you deal with whatever this is,” Jack told him, “You have a week to make the decision.”
Rodney arrived at the school and found Alisa sitting outside the Principal’s office, looking extremely angry.
“What did you do this time?” Rodney demanded.
“This isn’t my fault,” Alisa told him.
“Dr McKay,” Mrs Elliot, the Principal appeared from her office and motioned to him, “Please come in.”
Rodney threw his daughter an angry look and entered the office, “Mrs Elliot,” he took the seat she motioned him to, “What happened this time?”
“Alisa hacked into the school’s computer system,” Elliot told him seriously.
Rodney knew his mouth fell open, “She what?”
“During her computer class, she hacked into the school records,” Elliot explained, “She became quite agitated when she was caught.”
Rodney sighed, “I prefer she be in here while we talk about this.”
Elliot nodded; she headed to the door and motioned Alisa inside. The teenager sat beside her father, folded her arms and glared at them both.
“Alisa,” Rodney said as patiently as he could muster, “What happened?”
“Sikes was talking about how the school computer systems had been hit by a virus,” Alisa explained.
“That would be Mr Sikes,” Elliot snapped.
“Fine, ‘Mr’ Sikes,” Alisa replied, “I pointed out that the schools system didn’t have adequate security for their important records.”
“And?” Rodney asked.
“I simply pointed out that I could get into my own records in under five minutes,” Alisa told them, “He said, he didn’t think that was possible and to tell him when I’d done it.”
Rodney bit the inside of his lip so he wouldn’t laugh, “So you did.”
“I just wanted to help,” she explained, “I didn’t mean…”
Rodney gently squeezed her shoulder, “I understand. Mrs Elliot, I suggest you get Mr Sikes in here to explain why he felt the need to punish Alisa for something he authorised her to do.”
Elliot frowned; she hated dealing with the McKay’s.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” Alisa said as he drove them home, “I didn’t expect to get into trouble for this one.”
Rodney let out a deep sigh, this made his decision about O’Neill’s job offer easier to refuse. He couldn’t leave Alisa when she so frequently got into trouble. Her brilliance meant she got bored easily, especially in school and he remembered what it was like, he remembered the way he’d felt at her age.
“Dad, do you have something on your mind?” Alisa asked nervously, “Or are you really mad?”
“What?” Rodney asked, he shook his head, “It’s nothing for you to worry about, Lissa.”
Alisa grimaced, not believing him but she stayed silent until they got home and after dinner.
“Dad?” she called as they were sitting watching TV, pulling him out of his thoughts, “Are you listening to me or not?”
“Sorry,” he turned to her, “What were saying?”
Alisa looked at him worriedly, “Dad, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he told her, “Just watch the movie.”
“We’re watching the Twilight Zone,” Alisa replied sharply, “Are you mad about today?”
Rodney shook his head, “No, I’m not mad. I was in the middle of a meeting when I got the call.”
Alisa winced, “You know I tried to get them not to call you at work.”
“Anyway,” Rodney continued, “I was being offered a job.”
Alisa brightened at this, “Really? That’s great, you said you were getting bored…” she trailed off at his look, “It’s not great?”
“It’s in Antarctica,” he told her.
“Antarctica?” Alisa gasped, her eyes wide, “Oh.”
Rodney reached out and gently squeezed her arm, “I’m not going, Lissa. I told them no.”
“Why?”
Rodney stared at her, “You know why.”
“Dad, I’m fifteen,” she reminded him, “I’m not a kid anymore. You don’t have to refuse jobs because of me.”
“Where would you stay?” Rodney demanded, “Who would you stay with because you’re not staying here alone.”
“We could find something,” Alisa assured him, “Dad, do you want to do this?”
Rodney sighed as she looked at him with wide eyes, “Yeah. I do, Lissa”
“Then do it,” she told him.
Rodney stared at his daughter, he chewed his lip thoughtfully, “Three weeks there and a week here. That’s what I was offered. Do you think you could stay out of trouble for at least three weeks every month?”
Alisa smirked at him, “Of course I can.”
Rodney laughed, and pulled her into a hug, “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
*********************************************
“You know it doesn’t surprise me,” Caldwell laughed, “You being so much trouble.”
“I would take offence to that,” Alisa cried before shrugging, “Except I told that story.”
The other around the table laughed at her wry look.
“She wasn't always trouble,” Rodney noted, he reached out and affectionately squeezed her shoulder, “Weeks went past without me being summoned to the school.”
“And I was never expelled,” Alisa reminded him, “Just suspended a few times.”
Caldwell shook his head, “Dare I even ask what got you suspended?”
Alisa grimaced, “When Dad’s not around. He gets a little annoyed when I tell those stories.”
“Not stories,” Rodney reminded her, “Tales of mischief.”
Alisa turned to the commander of the Daedalus and gave him an innocent smile. Caldwell couldn’t help but smile back at her. He’d never liked the fact that there was a teenager on Atlantis, disliking even more how much access she had to important information as well as the fact she could move freely through every system in the city. However, he had to admit she was an endearing young woman.
“Colonel.”
Caldwell turned to the call, surprised to find Alisa jogging after him.
“Yes, Miss McKay,” he stopped, “What can I do for you? This isn’t the time for a tale of mischief.”
Alisa rolled her eyes at him, “Trust me, I’m going to save that for while. I just wanted to speak to you for a second.”
Caldwell tilted his head, intrigued, “About?”
“You don’t like me being here,” Alisa stated, “And I know why.”
Caldwell frowned, “I have nothing against you being in Atlantis, what I disagree with is the amount of knowledge you are given concerning essential systems.”
Alisa smiled slightly, “Have you ever wondered why Dad and Radek let me have this?”
Caldwell shrugged.
“I’ll take that as a no,” the teenager laughed softly before becoming serious again, “Colonel, I’m going to be working in Atlantis when I’m older, in fact I plan on having Dad’s job and he knows it. Best way for me to train is to learn now.”
Caldwell shook his head, “I can understand why they think you’re too dangerous to be left on Earth unsupervised.”
Alisa gave him an innocent smile, “Good.”
“Miss McKay,” Caldwell called after her as she started away.
“Yes?” she turned back to him.
“Just because I understand,” he told her, “Doesn’t mean I like it.”
Alisa laughed, “You know that’s exactly how I feel a lot of the time. It’s called being a teenager with an overprotective father,” she threw over her shoulder.
John and Rodney stood on one of the balconies near Rodney’s lab, each holding a mug of coffee.
“You did good today, Rodney,” John told him, “I know how much you hate enclosed spaces.”
Rodney glanced at the other man, wondering if this meant John’s trust in him was nearing the way it was before Doranda, “I needed to warn you.”
John sighed, “I wish we could…”
“Me too,” Rodney said as his friend trailed off.
John stared up at the sky, “It was a fantastic ship, wasn’t it?”
Rodney laughed, “I would love to have spent several months taking her apart.”
John nodded, “Would have had fun trying to fly her.”
The two men continued to stare at the night sky, a comfortable silence between them.
“Colonel Sheppard, Dr McKay,” Radek’s voice came over the radio, “We need you both in the Jumper Bay. We have a problem.”
John groaned, “I guess it was too much to hope for a full night of peace.”
Rodney dropped his head, “”Let’s go and see what they’ve done this time.”
With a sigh, the two men pulled themselves to their feet turning their back on the night sky just as one star twinkled slightly brighter.
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