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Duet Cont
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Kai was so upset she left the gym without finishing her workout. She stomped through the hallways towards her quarters mumbling under her breath about overbearing Colonels. She turned a corner and nearly walked into McKay who seemed to be having an argument with himself.

She hesitated for a moment, glancing around them to make sure there wasn't someone else nearby she has missed. "Are you all right?" she asked slowly.

He seemed startled to see her suddenly standing in front of him. He jumped back than quickly worked to compose himself. "Y-Yes, I'm fine," he said quickly smoothing his hands down his thighs.

She nodded and turned to go. McKay shifted, his whole demeanor changing. His hip popped out and his head tilted sympathetically. "Kai, what's wrong?" he asked, a slightly feminine lilt to his voice.

Kai frowned at him and pulled back slightly. It was one thing to know there were two consciousnesses in McKay's body and another to see it in action. There was no doubt in Kai's mind that Cadman was in charge now. McKay's hand clasped her arm and Kai tried not to stiffen. What would have been a natural action from Cadman was foreign coming from McKay.

"Are you okay? You look upset," Cadman/McKay said in concern. McKays dark brows furrowed as his blue eyes widened sympathetically.

It was for sure not McKay in control.

Kai frowned at them, feeling suddenly incredibly uncomfortable. "I'm fine," she assured them, quickly composing herself. Controlling her emotions had never been a problem before, only Sheppard seemed capable of stirring her up so far past her control.

"Are you guys okay?" Kai asked.

They waved her off with a distinctly feminine flip to their wrist and headed off the opposite way mumbling to themselves.

Kai chewed on her lip and hurried back to her room. It was clear she and Zelenka needed to get this problem solved as quickly as possible. She wanted to stretch, grab a fast shower and return to the lab. She ripped off her sweat soaked long sleeve top then threw it across the room leaving her in a tank top. Her encounter with McKay had cooled her temper, but she needed to clear her mind the rest of the way so she could focus on finding a way to help McKay.

She moved through her stretches. She could already feel her muscles tightening up from where Ronon had slammed her against the mats. She arched down, folding in half at the waist to release the tension in her lower back. Between getting tossed around by Ronon, her shouting match with the Colonel, and work with Zelenka she was holding a lot of tension.

Her door hissed open unexpectedly.

She whipped around in surprise and then pulled up when she spotted Ronon leaning into the doorframe, a powerful hand on either side. His mouth was pulled into a grim line as he stared at her. Kai realized she was only in a tank top and crossed her arms over her chest uncomfortably.

"You weren't in the mess for lunch." He said by way of explanation. If he noticed she was uncomfortable, he gave no indication. His eyes were locked intently on her face, waiting for a reply.

"We've been using mice as test subjects for the Rematerializer. They've been coming out charbroiled. After yesterday I learned the smell was easier to endure on an empty stomach," Kai replied straightening the rest of the way.

Ronon nodded but didn't seem to know what to say. He fidgeted uncomfortably for a few seconds. He peaked at her under his lashes in way that reminded her of a little boy who had gotten in trouble and was embarrassed. "I didn't mean-" he started to say.

"You didn't," she promised quickly. She was already feeling raw after her fight with Sheppard. She didn't want to go into discussing her feelings with Ronon. She felt like of everyone he would understand that and respect it.

He nodded once and that boyish look was gone, replaced by the hardened warrior. "I wanted to apologize," he said in a low, gruff voice.

Kai's eyes flickered to the guards standing behind him. She respected how hard it would be to come and apologize and didn't think he needed an audience. "Come in," Kai invited politely.

He stepped across the threshold and the guard behind him met Kai's gaze. Kai nodded to show she was fine. He looked doubtful and she shot him a determined glare when he moved to follow Ronon. The young man pulled up short and the door started to hiss closed. Just before it shut she saw him reach up and touch his ear piece. She tightened her jaw, he was reporting to the Colonel no doubt.

Ronon stepped into her room and looked around uncomfortably.

"Don't worry about it," she assured him. "It was pretty impressive," she added. Her eyes scanned the room quickly. She wanted to pull something on to cover her arms but she had throw her overshirt in the hamper and her room was neat as a pin.

Ronon grunted. He looked around her room with interest. There wasn't much to see. Her only possessions were her clothes, knives and the scarf Sheppard had bought for her.

"How's your training going?" she asked after a few uncomfortable moments.

"You mean testing?" he asked. He leaned back against her dresser and crossed his powerful arms over his chest.

Kai's lips tugged into a smirk, she had gone through the same experience so she understood.

He noticed her expression and arched a brow. "Am I wrong?"

She shrugged. "The Colonel thinks you might be a good addition to his team. He would want to be certain."

Ronon nodded but didn't look surprised. "Why did you join them?" He asked after a moment.

Kai pressed her lips into a grim line, trying to decide how best to answer. For some inexplicable reason she found herself considering honesty. There was something about Ronon that made her feel like he would accept nothing less and like he would understand. "They were my ride off a planet filled with Wraith," she said. She moved back towards her bed and sat down. "I was sick, wasn't going to make it on my own. So I lied to them and bribed them into bringing me here. I planned on staying until I was better...and then I just kept staying," she said with a shrug. "There were a couple times when I thought they might find out about my past and I probably should have run, but..." she shook her head. "I don't know." She admitted with a bewildered shrug.

Ronon was watching her intently, he tilted his head to the side. "I think you do," he said, his deep voice rumbling.

Kai snorted think Ronon was far more effective at getting people to talk than Doctor Heightmeyer. "For the first time I was helping. I was doing something good. I'm not on Sheppard's team," she clarified, uncertain if anyone had ever explained that to him. "I work with the jumpers and assist one of the lead scientists...as chaotic as it can be around here...it brought me peace for the first time in my life."

The look in Ronon's eyes was so intensely vulnerable for a minute Kai was glad she decided to be honest. Then his expression shuttered once more and he crossed his powerful arms over his chest.

"There's also the fact that Atlantis is the best chance against the Wraith..." Kai dragged off than she peeked back up at him from
under her lashes. "I'm guessing you think that too, or you would have already left."

He smirked and nodded. He paused for a minute and looked around her room once more. His eyes landed on where her Blade was resting on her new midnight blue scarf. "You're a Mortii aren't you?" he asked without looking at her. His words were a low rumble like he knew how intensely personal the question was.

Kai folded her arms over her chest self consciously. "What makes you say that?" she challenged.

He chewed on his lip. "I've seen two of you before...At first I thought you must have just taken the Blade from one, but now that I've gotten to know you, seen you fight..." he dragged off. Then he leveled his intense green eyes at her as he studied her. His eyes touched on the scars that criss crossed her arms.

Kai shifted, her eyes flitting over to a black jacket resting over the back of her chair.

He seemed to notice he had made her uncomfortable and turned back to where the Blade rested on the scarf.

"The legends all said Mortii wear black scarves and always cover their faces..." he dragged off.

"They do." Kai confirmed. She stepped across the room and snatched up the jacket. "I didn't cover up here as much because it made people uncomfortable," she said stabbing her arms into the sleeves and zipping up the jacket. "Mine was damaged off world on a mission and The Colonel found that one to replace it."

Ronon grunted and turned back to face her once she had the jacket on and seemed more settled. "So you and Sheppard..." he dragged off.

"What?" She asked in confusion.

Ronon studied her face for a second and realized she honesty didn't see what he had. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. It wasn't his business. "Nothing," he responded with a shake of his head. He turned to head towards the door. "Sorry again," he repeated. "And sorry I bothered you in your room," he said gesturing vaguely towards her. He of all people understood what it meant to be self conscious of the scars life had left on your body.

"Ronon," Kai called after him. "If you decide to stay...I'd be happy to spar with you again."

A challenging smirk lit his face and he nodded. "I'd enjoy trying my hand against a Mortii."

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Weir headed down to the gym later that day. She hadn't spent much time in the sparring room, just the occasional visit to the weight room to keep in shape.

When the door slid open Her eyes widened. Ronon was holding one of the young marines with a knife to his throat. Her hand was halfway to her comm before the marine spoke.

"Awesome," the young man said with an appreciative chuckle. "Thanks dude."

Ronon stepped back nodding twirling the knife he held through his fingers expertly.

"Ronon," Weir called uncomfortably. "Can I have a word?" She inquired, her eyes flickering to the group of young marines who had gathered to learn from the large Satedan.

Ronon handed the knife back to one of the other marines and walked towards Weir, crossing his powerful arms over his chest.

"I understand Colonel Sheppard extended an invitation to you to join his team," Weir said, resisting the urge to squirm under his intense gaze.

"Yeah he did," Ronon deadpanned.

"Well, he was supposed to speak to me about that first," she explained with a small, indulgent smile.

"Okay," Ronon said with a shrug, he wasn't sure what the had to do with him or why the leader of Atlantis was standing in front of him.

"Look, it's not that I don't trust you or value any contributions you have made or will make if you decide to join us, it's just, its a rather big decision..." she dragged  off studying his face carefully as she spoke. It was impossible to get a read on the man. He was somehow even more stoic than Kai could be. "How do you feel?" She finally asked.

He shrugged as though the decision didn't matter to him one way or another. "I'm thinking about it," he said casually.

"Good," she dragged off the word, staring hard at his face. "I'm thinking about it too. So I guess we'll just keep in touch then."

"Okay," he said and he turned back to the room.

"Okay..." Weir dragged off, exhaling.

Ronon pulled another knife from his belt and twirled it through his fingers as he approached the men. "Now, dismembering the feeding arm with two knives..."

Weir left them alone in the gym to talk about dismembering.

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Kai and Zelenka worked tirelessly for the rest of the day in the lab. Eventually they were able to get the power current to the right level and rematerialize the pair of mice, but they only lived a couple of minutes.

She and Radek were at the end of what they could do when he was called to the Infirmary. McKay had collapsed. Without any other options Kai began flipping through the database, desperate for anything that might help.

The doors hissed open and Sheppard walked in. He peeked around the console at her looking a little sheepish.

She scowled back at him.

"Look," Sheppard said shifting his weight uncomfortably. "I...owe you an apology. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."

Kai blinked at him, surprised he would come down all this way just to apologize.

He seemed to realize she was weakening because he lifted a paper bag. "I brought you a snack as a piece offering."

The smell coming from the bag was a strange combination of buttery and salty. It peaked her curiosity. She grunted in agitation. He always seemed to know what to say to distract her.

"Whats in the bag?" She finally asked begrudgingly.

The triumphant smile that lit his handsome face was just as distracting as the smell. "Popcorn."

Kai snorted at his excitement. "I've never heard of it."

"I know," John said. "You guys don't have it here. I have to ship it in. I keep a stash in my room," he handed over the bag. "For you."

Kai reached in frowning at the lightweight food. She stared down at the handful wondering how this could be good. It certainly didn't look edible.

Beside her Sheppard grunted impatiently. "It isn't poisoned." He stepped up beside her, snatched up a piece and popped it in his mouth.

She studied his face as he seemed to enjoy eating it and tentatively tried a piece. It was airy on her tongue but the butter and saltiness were delicious. She made a noise of appreciation and took another bite.

Sheppard smiled triumphantly and toss a piece in the air and caught it in his mouth. He was certain he had been forgiven.

She shook her head at his boyish antics. "Is he staying?" She asked after a moment, setting the popcorn on the table between them.

John rubbed the back of his neck. "The decision is Elizabeth's," he hedged.

Kai turned to fully face him. "I don't want what happen to effect his ability to stay," she said firmly. "He came to my quarters and apologized."

"He came to your quarters?" The question leaked out before John could stop himself. He wanted to kick himself. He sounded like a jealous boyfriend.

Kai turned unreadable eyes back to him. "Yes, to apologize. Your men already told you that."

Sheppard shook his head. "Security details report directly to Major Lorne."

Kai suddenly felt foolish. She shifted in her chair. She was just as at fault for jumping to conclusions as The Colonel.

"I-" she started to say but the doors hissed open.

McKay rushed in towards her terminal. "Move! Move!" he barked. Kai scrambled back out of the way so fast she tripped over her feet. John caught her around her waist, straightening her.

"What's going on?" John asked.

McKay and Zelenka were already connecting the dart to the gates crystal control modules. Kai and John shared bewildered looks as Weir and Beckett trotted into the room.

"All right, let's do this," McKay said determinedly after only a few minutes of work.

"Just because it works in the simulation doesn't mean-" Radek started to say.

"Look, I would rather not suffer a fatal siezure while you round up more mice for testing. Shall we?" McKay stepped in front of the beam, making minor adjustments. "Don't try to talk me out of this, I might very well listen," he said.

"Hold on McKay," Sheppard said stepping forward. "I thought all the mice died."

"Well, what are we, mice or men?" he asked, flashing his friend a grim smile.

Kai moved to stand in front of her computer to prepare for the test.

"Are you sure about this?" Weir asked.

"Absolutely, yes," McKay agreed. "Just...give me a second," he said and he stepped back. "Well, good luck to us both," he muttered.

"It's ready," Zelenka said.

"Wait," McKay's voice said, but his posture had changed completely and he stalked over to Carson with a sassy sway to his hips. He grabbed the front of Carson's shirt and pressed his lips against his. When he pulled back he smirked up at him seductively. "Just in case this doesn't work," he said with a wink and he strutted back over to stand in front of the beam.

Then McKay took a breath and his eyes widened as his whole posture changed once more. "Just...just...hit it," he said cupping his forehead in his hand in horror.

Zelenka hit the enter key and the beam swept over Mckay.

"I have two life signs," Kai reported from the readout on her monitor. "And power levels are steady."

"Get them out of there!" Sheppard exclaimed.

Zelenka rematerialized them and they both appeared before collapsing unconscious.

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Once they got Camden and McKay squared away and resting in the infirmary everyone went their separate ways to rest of the excitement of the past couple of days.

John trotted after Weir as she headed back towards the control room. "Did you get the chance to talk to Ronon?" he called.

Elizabeth stopped and waited for the Colonel to catch up. "Yes I did, chatty fellow isn't he?" She asked as she resumed walking.

"And?" John asked.

Weir stopped for a moment and stared him hard in the face. "Are you sure he would make a good addition?" She asked.

John hesitated for only a second. He kept replaying what had happened with Kai over and over in his head and finally was able to conclude it might have been him overreacting. Though he would never admit that. "Absolutely."

"Well, he would be your responsibility," she hedged.

A pleased smile lit John's face. "I knew you'd say yes."

"I haven't said yes," She said frowning at him indignantly.

"Well, you were about to," Sheppard said defensively.

Elizabeth scowled at him, hating how well he knew her. "Yes," she snapped sarcastically.

A boyish grin stretched John's face. "There you go."

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Thank you all! I hope you enjoyed the update!

For those of you who love Condemned and Trinity I'm very sorry. I'm skipping ahead to one of my personal favorites. I'm afraid you'll have to miss out on McKay destroying half a solar system