Author's Notes - I do not own those characters that actually appear in or have appeared in any way, shape or form any of the Stargate programs so please don't take it personally and please don't sue me if you don't like how I've written them. I would like to thank my friend Bruni for her ideas and insight into my work and my brother Bill for his many comments, suggestions and thoughts that have hopefully led me to be a more responsible writer.

I apologize to those who may feel as though I have strayed a bit in my portrayal of some characters from what is generally considered proper. However, to paraphrase a quote by my favorite Sci-Fi author, Roy W. Penn: "Everyone has an opinion, I am no different than anyone else…. This is my opportunity to put mine up for the whole world to see. If you still don't like it, you're welcome to click the little X in the upper right corner."

I further defend any character assassinations by simply stating this - My stories take place in an Alternate Universe and thus certain changes in personality can be expected. If you can't live with that either I say again—you're welcome to click the little X in the upper right corner. I hope you won't, though. I hope you'll read, enjoy and review my work—key word is enjoy! Thanks and have a good day.

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In the world of auto racing a bad pit stop can leave you a lap or more down from the leader and can take a good driver out of contention for the win. In the world of relationships a bad decision can destroy one's trust in another and take you out of contention for a life together. But NASCAR has the free pass or what is called the Lucky Dog. It could almost be thought of as a kind of do over. It gives the driver a lap back under caution and a chance to possibly get back in the race and contend for the win. However, in life there are no do overs. In life there are no free passes. If you make a bad decision and destroy someone's trust in you, it's very unlikely you will get the chance to do things over and make a life together.

LUCKY DOG

The "Lucky dog" rule known as the Free Pass… is a NASCAR rule. The rule allows the driver of the next lapped car or truck behind the leader to gain back a lap during a caution.

— Wikipedia

Second Chances

"What say we break for lunch?" Colonel John Sheppard had leaned back in his chair and was stretching his arms up over his head. Major Evan Lorne sat across the table from him. He didn't move. "Hey, Lorne, wanna break for lunch?" There was still no sign of acknowledgment. "Lorne!" Sheppard had gotten up and was standing right next to the major.

"Sir?"

"I said 'you wanna break for lunch?'"

"Oh, sure, good idea," Lorne finally answered.

Sheppard peered over Lorne's shoulder to see what it was that he was reading that had him so engrossed that he had ignored the chance to take a break. It was the personnel file on one of the new people arriving on the Daedalus. "She sure sounds like quite a talented woman, doesn't she?"

"She certainly was."

"Excuse me?" Sheppard looked a little confused by the major's comment. It sounded a lot like he knew the woman.

"Sir?" Lorne asked to the colonel's inquiry.

"You said she was. Sounds like either you know her or she's dead."

"Well, actually I do know her. Or did, I guess. Ex-girlfriend or more precisely… ex-fiancée."

"No kidding? She got smart and called it off before it was too late, huh?"

"Well, not exactly. I was an idiot. Wrote her a stupid letter and left while she was at work. Not something I'm all that proud of."

"So not so much a mutual parting of the ways, huh? Should we have the cook hide the frying pans?"

Lorne chuckled a bit at the suggestion. "No, that won't be necessary. Kat wasn't the kind of woman who was prone to emotional or physical outbursts. She was pretty levelheaded. With her it was more about the look. She had a way of looking at you that made words unnecessary. I bet she could stop a charging bull without making a single sound – just by looking at it. If anything, you might want to break out the parkas, it could get a little chilly around here."

*****

The Daedalus was about six days from arriving in Atlantis. Her holds contained the usual supplies; among them were canned goods, some fresh meat and other foodstuffs not available from any of the worlds they traded with. There were new uniforms to replace the ones that had seen better days and were getting a bit worn out. There were medical supplies and a fresh batch of movies and reading material for the men and women to enjoy during down time.

Daedalus also brought some new personnel for the expedition this trip. There were seven new Marines, two scientists, two medical technicians, one combination nurse/therapist and one cook. Actually the cook was a Marine who was also trained in communications. All told, there were twelve new people arriving from Earth.

Katherine Anderson was one of those people. She was a trauma nurse and a physical rehab therapist specializing in traumatic injuries. She was also new to the Stargate program, which meant she had spent two months at the SGC going through a kind of basic training. The idea behind the training was to familiarize the civilians with the structure, hierarchy and protocols of what was in essence a military installation. They were also given basic firearms and hand-to-hand combat training. It was important for them to understand what they would be subjected to in their new home. If they couldn't handle things on Earth, there was no place for them some three million light-years away in another galaxy.

Katherine had been sitting in a conference room with the other civilians, all new to the Stargate program and assigned to the Pegasus Galaxy Project, when she learned about him. Major Evan Lorne was third in command of the entire Atlantis base. Evan Lorne, who had been a captain when he had asked her to be his wife. He had been a captain when he wrote her a letter outlining his reasons for leaving her. He had been a captain when she never heard from or saw him again. Now he was a major.

And now she was on her way to him, less than a week away from the very real prospect of meeting up with him again. Atlantis was big, very big, so it was possible that they wouldn't be seeing each other on a regular basis. Still a vast majority of the city had not yet been explored and therefore not used. It was a given that they would have contact with one another at some point. But he was in a position of leadership and would surely need to meet all the new arrivals. That meant they would be seeing each other for the first time in almost six years.

Katherine wasn't sure how she was going to deal with seeing Evan. She had gotten over hating him a long time ago. She had gotten over the anger and the hurt as well. Other than some lingering mistrust, she really wasn't sure how she felt about him. She had no idea how he felt about her now. It had been evident in his letter that he loved her a great deal even as he was writing it. Why else would he have been so concerned about the possibility of causing her undue hardship? But why hadn't he just come to her and let them hash it out. Simple, she would have talked him into staying and he had known that.

*****

The Daedalus touched down as the sun was setting on the city. It made for a beautiful sight. Colonel Samantha Carter met the ship and greeted each new expedition member personally. There was a brief meeting in one of the small conference rooms adjacent to the pier where Daedalus had landed. Colonel Sheppard joined them just before it started. In the meeting the new people were given their first schedules and assigned their quarters. They were then given the rest of the evening to settle in. They would all report to their respective department heads in the morning. Apparently Major Lorne was off world and would meet each of them one on one when he returned, which was supposed to be the next day. That gave Katherine one more night to figure out what to say to him. The last thing she wanted to do was cause an embarrassing scene.

Katherine's first day in Atlantis started with meeting Dr Carson Beckett, Chief Medical Officer. He explained to her that she had originally been brought into the program for mainly nursing duties and to perform therapy duties as needed. However, the PT in charge of that minor department (it consisted of one PT and one PTA) had been called back to Earth on a personal matter. It was unlikely she would return. Dr Beckett asked Katherine if she would be willing to become the department head. The other therapist was also trained in radiology but was only a physical therapy assistant. Katherine's qualifications were originally thought to be a little more than were necessary since most patients needing extensive rehab were sent back to Earth. Those who remained could be treated adequately by PTAs.

Katherine was a little surprised at the offer but accepted it without hesitation. Once she had been given a tour of the Infirmary and met those on duty she was shown to the therapy room and given some time to become familiar with it.

She had been so preoccupied with acclimating herself to her new surroundings and getting her mind around the sudden promotion to department head that she had all but forgotten that Evan was due back today and would more than likely be seeking her out.

"Hello Kat." It was Evan.

She turned around to see him standing in the doorway of the therapy room. "Hello Evan."

He came into the room and she took a couple of steps towards him. They embraced like two old friends who had not seen each other in many years. He let go of her and she took a step back.

He took her hands in his and looked at her. She looked into his eyes. Neither of them said anything. They just looked at each other. It was like Lorne had told Sheppard a week ago – Kat had a way with the look that made words unnecessary.

*****
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