A best friend is the one who brings out the best in you.

John Sheppard stuck his head in the door of Elizabeth Weir's office. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, I did." Weir closed the folder she had been studying and gestured to a chair. "Have a seat." He came into the room and she went on. "Have you given any thought to what we talked about last night?"

"We talked about a lot of things."

"I am referring specifically to the members of your team."

"Oh, that." Sheppard raised his eyebrows. "You really want us to get out there already after what I told you about the Wraith?"

Weir leaned forward. "Especially after what you told me about the Wraith. We need friends, John. And information. Right now we have very little of either. Now have you thought about who you want?"

"Ford," said Sheppard decisively. "And Teyla, if she's interested." He held up a hand at Weir's surprised look. "I know, I know. She's a civilian. But she's a civilian from this neck of the woods and as you said yourself, we need information. It's going to be a lot easier to learn about this galaxy if we have somebody local to show us around."

Weir nodded. "All right. Ford and Teyla. Who do you want for your scientist?"

"Scientist?" Sheppard shook his head. "No way. Look, Elizabeth, the Wraith are too dangerous. I don't want to take any civilians in the field under these circumstances. We need those people here, figuring out how to run this place and hopefully get us back home some day. There isn't a single one I'd want with me out there."

"I appreciate what you're saying, John, but I think any fact-finding mission would be a lot more effective with a scientist on board. What about Rodney McKay?"

Sheppard groaned. "Forget it. He's annoying and arrogant, he panics, and he never shuts up. He's the last person I'd want to take offworld." At the look on her face he stood up. "Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm not. What's the problem, John? We came here to explore and look for technology that could help Earth in the fight against the Goa'uld. Surely you didn't think all these scientists were going to stay here on Atlantis. Some of them were going to want to go offworld. I know Rodney doesn't have the most pleasant personality and there might be some friction but he's only the first one to make the request. He won't be the last."

Sheppard sat back down. "I realize that." He took a deep breath. "Look, you didn't see Colonel Sumner, the way he was...at the end. You don't know what the Wraith do."

"I read the report." At his pointed look Weir said softly, "I know it's not the same as actually seeing it, John. And I know you had a hard choice…"

"A hard choice?" Sheppard laughed mirthlessly. "I killed my commanding officer because he was being tortured to death, because he was dying and I wanted to save him from further suffering." He got up again and took a turn around the room, pausing by the door to look out over the gate room. "Our people, the Wraith would see them as so many lambs for the slaughter. For the eating." He swallowed hard, then came back to sit down again. "Maybe in time, when we've got this Wraith situation under control, some of the scientists could go offworld. But for now…"

"John, I don't think we have that option. If we're going to find useful technology, we need people in the field who can recognize it."

"I know a gun when I see one," Sheppard interrupted.

Weir smiled. "I'm sure you do. But would you know something like a ZPM when you see one? If I didn't know what it was and what it can do, I would think it was for interior decoration. There could be all kinds of things out there we can use and someone like Rodney could identify them and save a lot of time in the field." Sheppard looked unconvinced and Weir sighed. "I don't expect you to take anyone on your team you're not comfortable with, but you do need to take a scientist with you and Rodney McKay is the best one we have. Spend some time with him. Get to know him before you make any decisions."

Sheppard frowned. "Is that an order?"

Weir looked surprised. "Does it need to be?"

He shook his head. "No, Elizabeth, it doesn't need to be."

"Good! At this time of the day you can find Rodney in one of two places. The lab, or the cafeteria."

"You want me to spend some time with him today?" asked Sheppard incredulously.

Weir chuckled at the look on the major's face. "No time like the present."