sga_flashfic | Five Reflections by Slybrarian

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Title: Five Reflections
Author:

slybrarian
Rating: Pg-13
Pairing: Um... gen-ish with a dash of Sheppard/Lorne if you squint
Words: ~1300
Notes: Beta by

archae_ology.
Spoilers: Through "Doppleganger"

Summary: Five reactions to an unexpected ghost / scientifically explainable apparition.

1) Lorne

"Oh, Major Lorne," Kate Heightmeyer said, leaning into a briefing room where he and the other team leaders were reviewing mission plans. "Are we still on for your appointment this afternoon?"

Evan and the rest of the officers all turned to stare at her. After a long silence, Evan hesitantly said, "I...um, sure?"

"Good! I'll see you there," she replied cheerfully, before drifting down the corridor.

After another silence, Evan asked, "This may seem like an odd question, but did our dead psychiatrist just talk to me?"

"Yeah, she did," John answered, looking a bit annoyed.

"Just checking." Evan scratched his head and eyed his tablet. "Anyways. Sir, what exactly did you mean when you wrote 'purple gooey lizard things' in your report for P2X-833?"

2) Teyla

Even after three years of living with them, Teyla did not understand the Earthers. They held so many contradictions. By their very natures they were predisposed to taking apart the universe around them, demanding an explanation for every facet of life. On the other hand, they had a bewildering variety of religious beliefs. Many expedition members were quite devout, and the comparative discussions hosted by the city's chaplain were among the most interesting she had ever taken part in. This dichotomy could make it hard to predict how how the others would react when confronted with the unexplained.

"There is a perfectly rational explanation!" Rodney said. Of course, some were more predictable than others, and now at any moment....

On cue John turned his head and asked, "Oh really?"

"Yes, really, Colonel. She was in a very deep yet lucid dreaming state when she died. Maybe it induced some sort of partial ascension or something. Honestly, if Daniel Jackson can do it at a drop of a hat, how hard can it be?" Rodney snapped his fingers and looked over at Colonel Carter. "Actually, this could be an opportunity to do all sorts of interesting research."

"McKay, we're not experimenting on an expedition member's ghost," Carter quickly and forcefully replied, to Teyla's approval. She knew that it was unlikely Rodney would do any such thing, but sometimes it was best not to let him get started. Carter looked over at John, and asked, "She doesn't seem to be threatening, does she?"

There was a momentary pause before John replied, "Well, no, not really."

"In many cultures, it is believed that restless spirits sometimes remain behind to complete unfinished tasks," Teyla offered. She ignored Rodney's snort, and went on, "Whatever her physical nature, perhaps that is the cause for her continued presence."

"We've got stories like that on Earth, too," Colonel Carter replied. She looked around the room and asked, "Has she given any indication at all of why she's here?"

Again, there was a pause, longer this time as John shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Finally he said, "It seems like she thinks she, ah, abandoned her responsibilities and wants there to be a smooth transition. She's been setting up appointments to talk about, uh. Things."

"Well, that doesn't sound too bad," Carter said with a cheerful sigh. Teyla suppressed the urge to sigh. Clearly, the colonel had not yet realized how difficult talking about 'things' could be for some of the city's residents. She wondered if poor Kate had forgotten that as well.

3) Sheppard

"Look. Kate. It's not that I don't like you, but really, I feel fine," John said a little desperately. "As sane as ever. There hasn't even been a single bad incident since our last session."

"Oh, Colonel, that's hardly true," Heightmeyer replied. "You had to confront an evil version of yourself, who was created from your deepest fears. You nearly got your best friend killed, that's a highly traumatic event even under normal circumstances. In fact, you did kill me, and we both know how hard you take any loss that's remotely your fault."

"Yes! Exactly!" John said, desperately seeking a potential out. "And since you're so closely connected, it'd probably be a bad idea for you to be the one to help be with it."

"Not at all. If anything, I'll be better able to help you come to terms with my loss." Heightmeyer seemed to glow a little brighter, and she had an eager grin that was starting to make John more nervous. "Actually, I was thinking that my experience could help you in so many ways. I have a unique perspective that I think could help us explore and deal with your suicidal urges."

"For the last time, I don't have suicidal urges!" John protested.

A look of annoyance passed across the ex-psychiatrist's transparent blue visage. "You can tell yourself that, Colonel, but we both know the truth. Let me help you."

"No. Out of the question. We're done. It was nice knowing you, but please, go away." John turned and started to stride down the corridor, ignoring Heightmeyer's calls for him to come back, and really, really hoping her eyes hadn't actually turned bright red. It was probably just his imagination.

4) McKay

"This had better be good," Rodney grumbled as he stomped across his room, wondering what sort of idiot would be pounding on his door this ungodly hour of the night. When it slid open, he found Sheppard standing on the other side. Rodney's grumpy frown slowly turned into a pleased grin as he took in Sheppard's appearance. His fly was undone, his t-shirt was inside out, his hair was even more ruffled than normal, and what were most delightful - at least as far as Rodney was concerned - were the multi-colored splotches of paint liberally covering his skin. "Well, well, well, Colonel. What happened to you?"

"Shut. Up." Sheppard shoved his way inside and pointed an accusatory finger at Rodney "Just. Do something about this. Now."

"Well, I suppose I could rig up a hose, but if that's all you want go bother Zelenka."

"Fuck you, McKay," Sheppard growled. "You know what, never mind. Maybe Reverend Baxter can help."

"Oh, please. She's a Unitarian; they're too touchy-feely to do exorcisms." Rodney smiled a wicked smile. "Luckily for you, Colonel, as usual I already have a plan."

5) Carter

"You know," Sam said to Chuck as they watched Heightmeyer float around the gate room and pester a returning team, "I hate to say this, but I'm starting to agree with McKay."

"Mmmm," Chuck replied with a nod.

Sam turned around to face him before Heightmeyer could catch her staring and start analyzing that, and went on, "It was touching at first, but now it's starting to be a bit creepy."

"I know," Chuck said with a nod. "She came by my quarters last night. She wanted to talk about the moose again, and tried to link it me liking a botanist."

"Wait, moose?" Sam frowned, torn between her innate curiosity and a sense of sanity preservation well honed by years around Jack O'Neill. Just as she was about to give in and ask to hear more, Chuck's eyes suddenly widened and he ducked behind his console. Sam spun around to see what was the matter, and her eyes fell on the lower entrance, where Sheppard and McKay were standing. She had just enough time to register that they were holding odd devices connected backpacks before twin bolts of golden lighting shot across the gateroom and connected with the ghost.

"Remember," McKay shouted over the crackle of the streams and the furious screeches of Heightmeyer, "don't cross-"

"I know!" Sheppard shouted back.

"Just checking!"

Sam knew she should be saying something, but every time she opened her mouth nothing came out. The scene became even more surreal when Heightmeyer started to scream out things about McKay's mother, Sheppard's father, and unhealthy levels of co-dependency. Finally, Zelenka came scurrying up behind the pair and tossed a rectangular object across the floor, which emitted a cone of blue light and caused Heightmeyer to disappear with an electric sucking sound.

As Sheppard smirked and everyone else stared, McKay strode across the room, bent down, and held the device up triumphantly. "Science!"

God, no wonder she'd found a bottle of Athosian liquor in Weir's desk drawer.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

rhianona

Gods this is terrific! I can just see McKay and John rubbing their hands in glee at being Ghostbusters.

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