Care To Explain

by Annie

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asa/annie/caretoex.php
Summary: Putting down the file he was reading, he said, "I called you here so you can explain why you fouled up when evacuating Midway."

John looked up as Lieutenants Lowdon and Wilson made their way into the room and stood at attention in front of his desk. Putting down the file he was reading, he said, "I called you here so you can explain why you fouled up when evacuating Midway."

"Sir?"

"Well we can start with why Doctor McKay took the lead into the EVA prep room instead of one of you."

"Doctor McKay led the way because we were covering the rear," Lieutenant Lowdon answered.

"Neither of you were covering the rear when you let Doctors Lee and Kavanagh enter the prep room hatch without confirming the way was clear. You both entered the hatch leaving Doctor McKay in the prep room by himself."

"Yes, Sir."

"Didn't it occur to either of you that there could have still been hostiles alive? One of you should have been taking point and the other taking the rear position at all times."

"The Wraith were dead, Colonel, Doctor McKay had vented the oxygen in the station," said Lieutenant Wilson.

"I know he did, Lieutenant, I ordered him to. The thing is you shouldn't have assumed one of them hadn't survived, after all I was out there with them and managed to make it."

"Yes, Sir."

"Care to explain why, when you were gaining access to the jumper, neither of you bothered to check on the fact that Doctor McKay hadn't followed you? Or why, with only twenty seconds till the self destruct was going to explode, you weren't finding out where he was instead of just standing in the rear of the jumper?" John asked, his voice taking on a hard edge. "You've both made it onto off-world teams and that should mean you're the best at what you do. Yes, Doctor McKay is very good at what he does, he wouldn't be on my team if he wasn't, but he is still a civilian. Your job, gentlemen, is to protect the civilians and you both failed in that task. So care to explain why I shouldn't have both of you shipped back to Earth?"

The lieutenants looked at each other, but as neither could provide an answer that they knew would satisfy John, they kept quiet.

"When we get back to Atlantis, you both have a new assignment. And that is to provide help and support to Doctors McKay, Zelenka, Simpson and Kusanagi. You will be on call 24/7, and if they say jump your only response is to ask how high. And when you're not working with them, you're going to be volunteering your time to Ronon and his training sessions. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir!" both lieutenants answered.

"Any questions?"

"No, Sir."

"Good, then you're dismissed."

Both men saluted, turned then exited the room. John shook his head and picked up the file he had been reading. He hadn't even opened it again before the door to his office opened and Rodney entered.

"Hey, you up for some lunch?"

"Sure, Rodney."

"So what's with Lowan and Williams? I just saw them leave."

"It's Lowdon and Wilson, and we were just going over what happened on Midway."

"And?"

John got up from the desk and made his way over to where his lover was standing. "And when we get back, the labs will have two lieutenants helping out when required."

"Right, and why would that be?"

"Because they need to learn how to appreciate the civilians," John answered, pulling Rodney into his arms and quickly kissing him.

"As long as they don't appreciate me in the same way you do: one flyboy scaring me into a potential heart attack is more than enough for me, thank you very much."

"Hey!"

"It never gets old, did you know that?"

"What doesn't?"

"Seeing in what new and improved ways I almost end your life."

"Excuse me? When have you..."

"Maybe you've forgotten when you decided to hand deliver a nuke I'd finished building to the Wraith." Rodney sighed before quietly saying, "You told me to vent the oxygen, John, and said not to wait for you. Of course I'm not going to worry when you say things like that, especially when you didn't reply when I tried to hail you. I re-pressurised the station thinking you were dead, that I'd killed you. And then we almost left without you, you're lucky I heard the noise from the suit."

"I know, and thanks for getting me out of it."

"No problem, just don't forget it's your turn to save me next time."

John laughed and said, "Sure, Rodney," before opening the door and walking out of the room. Rodney followed him and they made their way along the corridors of the Daedalus towards the mess hall.

"Oh yeah, and another thing. You so owe me for leaving me in the rear of the jumper to deal with Kavanagh and Bill Lee!"