MoYS, Radek/Carson AU chapter three

[gilascave]

Chapter Three


When Rodney had finally wound down enough to demand that Radek start answering his questions, they were near enough to the control center that Radek was able to put him off until they got to Dr. Weir's office. They'd begun passing others in the hallways and the furtive glances he was getting were unmistakable. There were whispers which, in this form, he could not quite make out but he could guess their content.

Carson's hand tightened on his as they passed a group of scientists watching them go by. Radek looked down at the floor, but could see how Rodney, Sheppard, and Ford closed in in front of him as they walked past.

Rodney seemed to understand his refusal to speak. With too many people to overhear, Radek found himself growing afraid again. Not that he believed any longer that Dr. Weir would have him executed for what he was, but perhaps others would decide for her.

"Dr. Zelenka! Are you all right?"

Startled, he looked up quickly. Dr. Suzanna Titov, an engineer he'd become friends with since arriving in Atlantis, was hurrying towards him with an expression of relief. Several strands of hair had fallen out of her ponytail and she looked exhausted.

"They said you'd run off into one of the unexplored areas of the city! Are you all right? I wanted to join one of the groups to go look for you, but Dr. Weir said you'd freak out less if it was just small team that showed up." She stepped past Sheppard and Rodney, apparently ignoring their attempt to cordon him off from anyone.

"I...am fine," he said, surprised all over again at this revelation. "I encountered nothing." He frowned slightly. "Actually, that is not true. There was a room with a very large series of pipes. It did not have any visible power, but the number and varying diameters of--"

"Radek," Carson interrupted.

Radek looked at him. "Yes?"

"Elizabeth is waiting for us."

"Why-- oh. Yes." He turned back to Suzanna. "We should talk about it later. Maybe make arrangements to go back there and find out what the pipes were for. There seemed to be too many to simply be for water or waste materials. I think--"

"Radek," Carson said again, this time he tugged on Radek's hand.

Suzanna nodded at him. "Go on; I'll catch up with you later. I can pull up the blueprints we have of the city and see if I find anything like it." She hurried off, excitedly, pausing to turn and wave at him over her shoulder. "Glad you're OK!"

He watched her grab onto Dr. Miller as she went past him, no doubt to get his assistance. "Sorry," he said to Carson.

"Why didn't you mention this room to me?" Rodney asked. "I'm interested. Mysterious Ancient pipes?"

"I did not think of it before now," he confessed.

"You have to admit he had reason to be distracted," Sheppard put in.

"Dr. Weir says she wants the whole city explored -- why not start with the room with the pipes?" Ford commented as they continued on their way to Dr. Weir's office.

"Why not?" Rodney asked. "There obviously weren't any sleeping monsters hidden in that section of the city." He gave Radek a look, holding back a grin. "Oh, sorry. One sleeping monster. What else did you find? We didn't fully retrace your steps, you know. We tracked your life sign and used the transporter to catch up with you after we found your clothes, so we missed most of it. Were you able to use the transporter or did you walk the whole way? I suppose there's no reason why you couldn't have, except for reaching the control panel...." He looked at Radek, from head to toe. "There would have to be a conservation of mass because even if some got turned into energy, you still have to change back and you look the same size-- of course eventually you'd shrink to nothing and wouldn't live past age three, so obviously there's conservation of mass, brilliant, Rodney." He rolled his eyes.

"I am starving, though," Radek interjected.

Instead of prompting Rodney to suggest they stop at the mess hall, this served only to make Rodney nod and continue talking about the amount of work that must be required to change forms. Just as Radek had suspected it would.

"Sorry," Sheppard mouthed, giving Radek a shrug.

"Do you want to get breakfast?" Carson asked.

He did, but -- he didn't want to put this off any longer. A missed meal wasn't going to hurt him, and they were almost at the control center. In fact, Dr. Weir was walking towards them even now.

"I can wait," he said. His stomach did not feel like it could accept food at the moment. Dr. Weir was walking towards them, looking serious and concerned. Their group came to a halt as she approached.

"Dr. Zelenka, I trust everything is all right?" He saw her eyes flick over to Sheppard -- down to his and Carson's hands.

He managed to nod.

She smiled, then, and he knew it was meant to be reassuring. "Why don't we head to the conference room?" She paused, looking at each of the others. But she said nothing. Radek wondered if she'd intended to tell them they were free to go but decided none of them would do so.

"It's about time," Rodney said. "I won't even mention how many questions I still have."

"Why am I not surprised?" Dr. Weir said, giving him a grin. "But let's not completely overwhelm Dr. Zelenka with a barrage of nosy questions."

Radek wanted to tell her he didn't mind, but Carson spoke up before he could. "Elizabeth, do you mind explaining what, exactly, is going to happen now?"

She frowned at him. "We're going to the conference room to talk."

"No, I mean, after." He gave Radek a sidelong glance. "To reassure him we're not about to haul him down to the cell and keep him for study."

Dr. Weir came to an abrupt halt; Radek couldn't look her in the eye. He tried, briefly, to let go of Carson's hand, but Carson wasn't letting go of his.

"Dr. Zelenka," she began, speaking clearly and loudly enough for anyone around to overhear. "My only concern is to deal with any potential problems this new information might give rise to. I can certainly understand if members of this expedition have difficulty accepting the fact that you're a werewolf."

Radek was impressed at how she said it as though it were nothing. He didn't interrupt as she kept talking.

"But I want to stress that this does not change your status as a member of this expedition. And I won't tolerate your being treated any differently than any other person here." She glanced down again and looked like she was suppressing another smile. "For any reason."

Carson coughed, but didn't take advantage of the invitation. Radek didn't see any point -- he barely knew, himself, what his relationship with Carson would be now. All he knew was that Carson wouldn't let go of his hand.

"Let's go into my office, and see if we can allay some of Dr. McKay's frustrations."

There was another choked cough, and Rodney said, "What are you, ten? That's not what she meant."

Radek let them lead him to the conference room and he settled into a chair. Carson finally let go of his hand, but brought a chair up close to his. Dr. Weir sat down in her usual place at the head of the table, while Rodney and the others settled in on the opposite side.

There was a moment when no one spoke, then Rodney clasped his hands together on top of the table and said, "So. Talk."

"Oh, very nice, Rodney," Sheppard said. "Way to make him feel comfortable."

"Fine. So, Radek, how are you? Turned into any other animals lately? Have you finished the report on the water modulator -- actually, I really do want to know that."

"I have not," Radek said, holding back a faint smile. "I was interrupted."

"Right, right, the moon thing." Rodney waved a hand.

"Actually, I was interrupted by my department head coming in and asking me to stop what I was doing and assist him with his own project. I was working on it the day before yesterday. Yesterday, I was studying the ZPMs, as I had been requested by the same department head."

Rodney was giving him a flat look. "Can we get back to the werewolf stuff?"

"I'm interested in hearing more about the water thingy," Sheppard said.

Dr. Weir cleared her throat and the two of them subsided.

"I do not know what Carson has told you," Radek began.

"Not much. Hardly anything," Rodney said quickly. "Assume he said nothing and begin there."

"Very well." He took a deep breath, reassuring himself -- curiosity only. No fear, no anger.

"Werewolves are not created by biting someone. I was born this way, as are all werewolves. I do not know what the exact genetic make-up is -- most wolves consider themselves a separate species, or sub-species of human, even though in this form we are nearly identical to humans." He gestured towards himself, feeling awkward and self-conscious. But he forced himself to go on. "I passed the American Air Force's physicals with no trouble, as I have always done. There are some differences, of course, even in this form. But the doctors always call the differences 'unusual but within expected parameters'."

He glanced over and saw Carson listening intently, his eyes wide. Of course he would be fascinated, and Radek found...he didn't mind it so much from Carson.

"I have not been examined by the Ancients' diagnostic table," he said as the thought occurred to him. "I do not know what it would detect."

"From a purely medical standpoint, I'd like to recommend it -- in case you're hurt or become sick. We should have as accurate a baseline as possible," Carson said. His tone was apologetic -- but as eager as Rodney's.

Slowly, Radek nodded. It made sense, even if his first impulse was to refuse. He looked at Rodney again. "I do not know 'where the hair goes.' I change, I change back. I could not even tell you why it happens during the full moon."

"Three moons," Dr. Weir said. "That's got to be...hectic."

"And they have not completely figured out the orbit for the second moon. Or the third, now," Radek reminded her. "Usually I have a few days' warning and can make sure I am safely in my quarters. Last night...the third moon was unexpected." He saw a look of realisation appear on Carson's face. "I did not anticipate a full moon occurring without warning."

"Which would be why we've been on Atlantis for so long and this is the first we've found out about your being a werewolf." Weir paused and Radek could see she was reacting to the words she'd just said. Not immune, then, to the oddity of the situation. Just a very good diplomat.

"The moon is full again tonight," Rodney said, eagerly.

Radek froze. He knew what Rodney wanted. What any of them would want.

Sooner or later, they would *have* to see.

"I think that can wait," Dr. Weir said, smoothly and Radek was grateful. Rodney didn't seem to mind, despite his small pout. Dr. Weir frowned suddenly and said, "Dr. Zelenka, you do understand you are under no obligation to do or say anything you're not comfortable with. Even these questions -- I just assumed you'd be all right with answering them, but--"

"No, it is all right," Radek hastened to assure her. "Questions, I don't mind." Being stared at was another prospect entirely.

Dr. Weir nodded. "I think...maybe we should give the astronomy department that time in the Puddle Jumper they've been requesting," she said to Sheppard. "I'm thinking it would be good to know the lunar orbits as accurately as possible."

"It is...not necessary," Radek told her. "I have managed...until now, that is. If there is a fourth moon I would very much like to know."

But Weir shook her head. "It's simple enough -- it just hasn't been a priority before now. But we can send a Jumper up and let them calculate the orbits of all the moons."

"I'll do it," Sheppard volunteered. "I'll make Rodney go with me and he can practise flying." He smirked at Rodney.

"You will crash into a moon," Radek said, surprising himself a bit that he felt comfortable enough to tease Rodney.

"You're just bitter the gene therapy didn't take and you can't even learn how to fly," Rodney returned.

"Of course it didn't take!" Carson suddenly exclaimed. "The gene therapy was specifically designed for humans."

"Which, despite appearances and...close genetic relationship, I would assume, I am not," Radek agreed. He could see the desire in Carson's eyes and found himself seriously considering saying yes to the questions there. Here, in the Pegasus galaxy, on a mission that was classified so that most people back on Earth would never know about any of it -- would it do so much harm?

He had already agreed to let the Ancients' diagnostic table examine him. What more was a bit of blood?

"Perhaps," he said slowly and Carson's face lit up.

"You don't have to," Carson began.

"I...will think about it." He suspected he would say yes - but it was not a thing to rush into, simply because he liked the man doing the research.

"Excuse me? What are you talking about?" Rodney asked.

"Just a wee blood sample," Carson explained. "He's offering to let me have some to study."

"Oh, you'll let him have some blood but I can't even get a few questions answered?" Rodney didn't sound as put out as he meant them to believe.

"Ask me a question, Rodney," Radek said. He suddenly realised he had relaxed -- not entirely. But the tension and the fear had faded until they were very close to nothing.

Rodney opened his mouth. Then stopped. Radek waited as Rodney frowned.

"Run out of questions?" Sheppard teased.

"I can't decide what to ask first," Rodney said quickly. "I suppose the most obvious set of questions would be -- horror movies. I get the feeling not much of them are true?"

"I have never seen any horror movies about werewolves," Radek said, to the apparent astonishment of everyone in the room. He shrugged. "My mother forbid it."

"Er, oh. OK, that makes sense, I guess." Rodney nodded. "So -- raving monster, eats people, turns people into werewolves by biting them, killed by silver bullets...do you remember anything while you're a wolf?"

Radek blinked. "Of course I do. I am not drunk, I am simply a wolf." What sort of horror movies did humans make?

"Really? Then...you're in control of yourself," Rodney said.

"That's what I said," Carson put in. "Why we didn't have to consider him a danger to anyone."

"I am in control of myself as much as I am any other time. I do not eat people, or bite them." He hesitated, then added, "The part about silver is true. An allergy of sorts, but fatal."

"Like being severely allergic to citrus," Rodney said, nodding. "Makes sense. Well, why would an entire species be allergic to something, so no it doesn't make complete sense. So are you...totally wolf-like? Or just...a big, hairy man with fangs and claws?" He held his hands up as though displaying claws.

Radek thought he really wanted to see some of these horror movies. "I look like a wolf. Larger than a grey wolf, a bit. You are correct about the conservation of mass; I do not get smaller. Or larger. I just become wolf-shaped."

He knew he was setting himself up -- but it couldn't be avoided. He could not hide himself anymore, and answering their questions would only make them more curious to see the transformation.

"Wow." Rodney was staring at him. "A wolf. Walking around on all fours, fur, snout, ears...." He was gesturing at his face as he mentioned the features, and Radek knew what his next question would be.

Radek sighed. Perhaps it would be easier to simply get it over with. "I do not want to be stared at," he began. He held up a hand to forestall the protests that erupted. "But...it would be all right for one or two people to...be there, tonight."

He could see the looks of disappointment on Dr. Weir's and Major Sheppard's faces. Ford looked faintly relieved -- all of them because they knew who the one or two would be. There would be no way to prevent Rodney from being there, now that Radek had granted permission. And Carson...well, Radek thought perhaps it would be easier with Carson there.

He moved his hand slightly towards Carson and Carson took it, giving him a smile. "I've seen it before, you know. Charlie's mum had a fit when she found out after the first time."

"What I can't believe is that you knew about this and never told me," Rodney said. "You couldn't find a moment to say 'hey, Rodney, guess what? Werewolves are real.'"

"I promised not to," Carson said, seriously. "Besides, you would have thought I was insane."

Rodney gave a huff of frustration, but didn't deny it. "Still." He waved a hand, then gave Radek a hopeful look. "Can I really watch?"

He hoped he did not end up regretting this. "You can. Just please do not tell my mother."