screaming 2

[jm]

"And why isn't one of the Protector oversight groups screaming about this? Why, exactly, am I sitting in a bunker half way around the world - with a link into that facility I might add - instead of doing something? I mean, you didn't read me into this mess for a tease, Richard. It's not your style."

That got him a half quirked smile. "Indeed. We have access to some equipment that makes it possible to extract Sheppard from his current location and could bring him to you but you would have to be willing to be his guide for an unknown duration."

Rodney sat back in his chair, fingers still gliding over the edge of the keyboard. He resisted the urge to look at the screen again, look at the man again. "Setting aside this 'equipment' and don't think I'm not coming back to that, I ask again, why me."

"You already had a high enough clearance, even if it wasn't with the right agency."

He snorted. "That means nothing."

"In this case, it meant everything." Richard held up his hand, stopping Rodney from speaking. "You are also used to the military, to sentinels and you were a preliminary personality match. At short notice you were our best choice."

"You left out the part where I have a heart of gold and a soft touch." He refused to stand up and pace. Too easy of a tell. "You're taking me away from my own research for a long time. If he's as damaged as it appears it could be months before...." He waved his hand in the air, leaving it as vague as the end of his sentence.

"He's got a background in mathematics. He's even published a few papers. And frankly, he's worked a desk before. He knows the routine. It's the price that the service pays for him to be in the field the rest of the time."

Rodney allowed himself a glance at the dark screen. "You're assuming he'll be able to go back in the field again. I won't push him into that."

Woolsey nodded. "And that's the other reason we wanted you. You're a stubborn man, doctor. We're counting on that."