A/N: Well, I don't how well this story will go over with die hard Atlantis fans, but it's been a story (well, a series of stories, really) that has been floating around in my head for some time. Actually, this story came about way before I found out that Carter would be joining the Atlantis team. So, at the risk of this entire story series becoming AU in a few months, I want to start posting it now. Needless to say, I'm a fan of both SG-1 and Atlantis, and I love the characters on both. So, in that capacity, I wanted to write this series in which we see two characters who have had almost no on-screen interaction actually being friends.
There are five stories in this series, one for each time the Atlantis team is back on Earth (and, of course, one set during "The Pegasus Project", where SG-1 is on Atlantis). So, I hope that you enjoy these stories. The first is set during "Stargate Atlantis: The Rising".
Disclaimer: I do not own the Stargate franchise (or anything for that matter...).
Major John Sheppard was still amazed at the idea of the Stargate. He hadn't accepted the idea that he would soon possibly travel through the device to another galaxy quite yet; for now, the shear greatness of what the Stargate had already done was enough to keep his thoughts occupied.
General O'Neill had caught him in the gate room more that once, just staring at the huge stone ring. Claiming that he was tired of looking out the briefing room window, only to be welcomed by the site of a military officer drooling over the gate, General O'Neill had finally ordered Sheppard out of the gate room to "bug someone else".
Thus, Sheppard found himself wandering around the halls of the SGC, unsure of where anything was, or who anyone was. He'd briefly met some of his fellow expedition members, and Dr. Weir had made it clear that she would not mind talking with him, if he had any doubts about the expedition. However, she'd been in back-to-back meetings for the past two days and was thus quite unavailable.
Sheppard still did not know what to think of any of the expedition members he had met; he hadn't gotten much of a chance to speak with any of them, as most were preparing those materials that they would need in the Pegasus galaxy as well as getting their own personal affairs in order. He was hoping to get to learn more about some of them before the expedition began.
Sheppard pressed himself against a wall as two men pushing carts loaded with supplies came by. When he looked back down the hall to verify that no other carts were coming, he caught sight of a tall woman with blonde hair, dressed in standard SGC BDUs, who was also pressed against the wall. She stepped away from the wall and made her way towards him, a smile on her lips.
"You know? I almost can't wait until the expedition team is able to leave. Things have been so hectic around here lately," she said to Sheppard.
Sheppard, unsure of what to say, merely plastered a half-smile on his face.
The woman extended her hand to him. "Samantha Carter," she said in introduction.
He'd heard the name Sam Carter many times since his arrival at the SGC; he'd admittedly assumed that the commander of the flagship team at the SGC was a man, so he was pleasantly surprised to learn that the leader of SG-1 was a beautiful blonde woman who was both an Air Force officer and an accomplished scientist. Sheppard took her hand and shook it. "John Sheppard."
Recognition dawned on Carter's face. "You're the natural at Ancient technology," she observed. "General O'Neill told me about you."
Sheppard, again unsure of what to say, merely shrugged.
"I was hoping to meet you. I was wondering if you could help me with something," she said.
"Sure," Sheppard replied, partly glad that he now had something to do and partly annoyed that, yet again, it seemed as if his only reason for being at the SGC at all was his ability to use Ancient technology.
"I'm working on a device in my lab; I've run as many tests as I can think of on it, and I can't find anything that would suggest that it's dangerous, but I can't turn it on. I'm assuming that someone with the Ancient gene would have to initiate it," Carter informed Sheppard as she led the way to her lab.
After a few minutes of walking, Carter broke the silence and asked, "So, are you excited to be going on this expedition?"
Sheppard shrugged. "I guess. I'm still trying to put my head around it all."
Carter nodded. "It's a lot to take in at once."
"When do you get used to it?" Sheppard asked.
"Never, I suppose. You just start accepting that every day will be another surprise," Carter answered.
They reached Carter's lab and entered. There were at least three different devices on her lab table, all under various stages of scrutiny. Carter led the way around the table to the device she wanted Sheppard to help her with.
"We think that it can be used as some sort of data storage device. There may be some information stored in here that could help the expedition team," Carter explained.
Sheppard touched the device and felt a slight vibration under his fingers, but the movement abruptly stopped. Sheppard looked at Carter and shook his head. Carter sighed and contemplated the contraption.
"Maybe you need to think something like 'on'," she speculated.
Sheppard nodded and touched the device again, this time thinking 'on'. He again felt a slight vibration, but it too was short-lived.
"Maybe there's a piece missing," Sheppard suggested.
Carter started to shake her head but then stopped, and looked around the lab table until she found a small device on the far end. "We found this with it," she told Sheppard. "I couldn't figure out how you attach it to the device, but maybe the user needs to hold it and the machine in order to make it work," she said.
Sheppard took the device from her and held it in his left hand as he touched the device in his right. He immediately felt the device come to life under his hand. He looked up at Carter to see her face light up with excitement as a screen came up with writing in Ancient.
"I'll need Daniel to translate this," she said. She motioned for Sheppard to take his hand off of the device and took the hand-held device from him. She put her own free hand on the device and found that it turned on to her touch now. "Thanks for all your help," she said, beaming at Sheppard.
"No problem," Sheppard replied, smiling genuinely for what seemed to be the first time since he'd agreed to go on the expedition. After being transferred to MacMurdoh, Sheppard hadn't had much of an opportunity to help others. But now, he had people who would be counting on him for assistance.
Sheppard was beginning to look forward to the expedition; potentially discovering new technologies such as the one in front of him. And he would be an integral part in figuring many of the devices did.
"Major Carter," a man said as he walked by the door.
"McKay," Carter greeted, her teeth slowly clenching. "It's Lieutenant Colonel," she added in correction.
"Oh, right. I thought I'd heard something about your promotion," McKay said.
"Can I help you?" Carter asked.
"No, I was just passing by. Figured you'd be hurt if I didn't come by and see you," McKay answered.
"How thoughtful, McKay," Carter replied. "But I'm busy."
"Come on, Sam. I'll be in Pegasus in a few days. And who knows when we'll be back," McKay said.
"Oh, that's right," Sheppard said suddenly. "I knew you looked familiar. You're on the expedition team."
McKay glanced over at Sheppard for a moment and considered him. "I could have sworn that's what I just said," he mused before turning back to Carter.
Sheppard blinked in shock. Carter looked over at him and shook her head slightly, sending the message that it wasn't just Sheppard; McKay was always like that.
Perhaps there was some merit to his feelings of apprehension…..
McKay looked over at the lab table, at the device that Carter and Sheppard had just been working on. "What's this?" he asked.
"It's an Ancient device that we believe stores information," Carter replied.
"Need some help with it?" McKay asked, his face lighting up.
"I think we've got it figured out. I just need Daniel to translate what it says," Carter replied.
"Fine," McKay replied, looking hurt. "You know where to find me if you need me. Perhaps we can have dinner together later," he added before turning and leaving the lab.
Carter turned to Sheppard. "Sorry about that. He can be a little…"
"Arrogant?" Sheppard offered.
"I was going to say 'condescending'," Carter replied. "But you get used to him. He's really quite brilliant."
"Yeah, well, I just hope not everyone on the expedition is like him," Sheppard said.
"I didn't get to know Dr. Weir all that well, but from what I saw during the time that she was commanding this base, I'd say she's pretty good at what she does," Carter informed him.
Sheppard nodded; from what he'd learned about Dr. Weir in the last few days, she was probably the best person to lead the expedition to the Pegasus Galaxy, despite the fact that she was a civilian.
"Thanks again for all of your help," Carter said. "Would you be interested in seeing any of the other devices the SG teams have brought back lately?"
Sheppard nodded, eager to see more of what he could potentially be uncovering in a few weeks.
"Sheppard," came a voice from the doorway.
Sheppard and Carter both stood up a little straighter as General O'Neill entered the lab. Carter relaxed quickly when O'Neill threw her a look.
"Here you are," O'Neill said. "When I told you to go find someone else to bug, I didn't think you'd come up to the labs."
"Sorry, sir," Sheppard said. "I was just helping Colonel Carter out with this device."
"Already recruiting the new guy to help you with your doohickeys, Carter?" O'Neill asked. Carter smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "She's always reelin' in the new ones," O'Neill informed Sheppard.
"Well, sir, we were able to turn the device on," Carter said with a smile.
"I'm impressed, Sheppard. Most people don't even understand what Carter says half the time," O'Neill said with a smile. "She must have really liked you if she asked nicely from the start."
"Sir," Carter said with mock indignation.
Sheppard watched the two bickering. They'd been on the same team for seven years, had worked side-by-side every day, and this relationship was the product. They were friends, probably best friends.
Sheppard knew, at that moment, that regardless of people like McKay who would be on the expedition, if he was able to be half as close to his team members as SG-1 seemed to be, then the Atlantis expedition would be the best assignment that he'd ever had.