AN: So I wanted to write a fic with Lorne and Zelenka, so this is for the wonderful Psalm 136 who gave me the inspiration. She also happens to be Lorne's girl. Damn lucky thing! I'm planning a second chapter which will be from Sunday and on (including season 4). And I apologize if I have Lorne say Doc in there way too much. At the start that's really all he calls Zelenka and I seem to have a liking to put that in

Unexpected Friends Forever

"Uh Major, what are you doing out here?" Radek Zelenka asked as he came out onto the balcony. An hour or so ago he had walked by and seen Major Evan Lorne standing out there. On his second time passing by he saw that the new military second in command remained unmoved.

Evan turned his head too look at the accented speaker that had interrupted his thoughts, not that the interruption was unwelcome.

"Oh hey there Doc. I was just enjoying the view." He gestured outward over the railing. This balcony, rather than looking out to the ocean, gave a view of the central towers of the city.

"For over an hour?" Radek asked dubiously.

Evan shrugged. "Sure why not? It would be a great picture to paint, don't ya think?"

"Uh sure."

There was a brief moment of silence before Evan spoke again.

"Hey Doc, don't you miss Earth at all?"

The question caught Radek off guard. Did he think he didn't? But Radek had been there for about a year and a half now, Evan for only a couple of months. While the scientist had become very used to the city and fairly attached, he figured the Major might be feeling homesick.

"Yes of course, now and then. But, well, I don't have much back there and I love being here. This city is incredible. "

"That it is. So no family?"

"My sister has a family. A husband and a boy," he intoned.

Evan smiled. "You don't like kids?"

Radek grimaced and shook his head emphatically while the other man laughed lightly. He seemed less gloomy than he had been a minute ago.

"Do you have a family back home Major?"

"I've got my mom and my sister and her kids. Love em to bits. I'd like to have some of my own someday."

Radek made another face but Evan didn't notice. He had a sad smile on his face.

"Do you, uh, have someone back there?" Radek questioned.

"Yeah I do. A great girl. I met her while I was at the SGC. It's harder being way out here."

"Yes I imagine," Radek said sympathetically.

"But I know she'd be happy about where I am, if she knew, about this place. I gotta say, I'm rather fond if this city already."

"Yes it seems to have that affect on people. I don't have anything to do for Rodney at the moment. Would you like to go play a game of chess?"

Evan looked surprised at the sudden invitation. He hadn't noticed the male bonding that had just seemed to take place. But Dr. Zelenka was a good person (had to be to work with McKay), if not a bit geeky. But it seemed scientists got on pretty well with some of the military personnel.

"Alright, sounds nice, but I'm not too good at it."

Zelenka laughed. Did it sound a bit evil?

"Oh don't worry Major, you don't have a chance against me."

"Were you gonna cheat me Doc?" he asked semi-incredulously.

"Oh never Major, never."

Evan strode down the hallway very bored. Now that Atlantis wasn't going to be blown into oblivion, he was coming down from all the excitement didn't exactly have anything to do at the moment. So here he was, walking around aimlessly for a little while, looking for some sort of entertainment.

And then he found it.

Radek was coming down the hall with a scowl on his face and he was muttering to himself in Czech. Or what he assumed must be Czech.

"Hey Doc, I like the new look."

Radek glared but Evan was unfazed by it. He stepped into pace with him. After that first game of chess, the two had started talking more.

"Really, it's good on you. I mean they could have given you more blue, but – "

"Shut up Major. Sheppard and McKay already ganged up on me."

Yeah ok, that was never good. But he couldn't resist. "Well you gotta admit, it's kinda funny."

Radek pointed to his face. "This is why I do not like kids."

"Well I bet they loved you." He smirked. "May have to take you with on the next check up on them."

The small man said something else in his native language, which could not have been pleasant, and then stomped off, leaving Evan smiling in the hallway.

"You're just mad because Dr. Weir kicked your ass."

The man in question looked slightly embarrassed. "Where'd you here that Doc?"

"I don't think I should tell you that Major."

"Well FYI, she caught us all off guard. And that woman in her head must have had some serious military training."

Radek snorted. "If you say so." He was enjoying this little chance to make fun of him immensely. Part of it was payback for his comments when he had come back from M7G-677.

Evan glared but it softened to a smile as he admitted, "Well my girlfriend could probably kick my ass too."

Radek looked at him for a moment, as he seemed lost in thought.

"You know, now that we have the Daedalus, we are able to take some time off to visit Earth."

Evan sighed. "Well I can't just ask Dr. Weir like you can. I have to go to Colonel Sheppard, and I am his second in command, so I don't think I'm going anywhere for a while. Plus, I think I should let the other's who have been here longer have their turns."

Radek nodded before taking up his previous topic of conversation.

"I wonder if it was caught on tape," he mused.

Evan looked horrified. "Doc! Come on, you wouldn't do that to me!?"

He just smiled.

Radek walked into the infirmary and stopped to stare at the man sitting on one of the beds.

"Major Lorne?"

"Hey there doc!" he smiled easily.

"You're alive!"

Evan grinned wide. "That I am Doc. Didn't get the memo I suppose?"

"Uh, I guess not…but the bodies…"

"Just my dog tags. The Genii wanted to trick you."

"I see."

Carson walked over then. "Hello Radek. Anything I can do for you?"

"Oh, uh, I just came to check up on Dr. Parks, you know since he messed with that device in the lab?"

"Aye of course." He turned to Evan briefly. "You're all clear to leave lad."

"Thank you!" he smiled and started to walk away.

"Good to see you alive and well Major!" Radek called out.

As the bridge of the Orion kept exploding, Evan was glad to suddenly find himself on the bridge of the Daedalus.

"Sorry Sir, we did our best." He said to Caldwell.

"Nothing to apologize for Major." The Colonel turned to another officer. Evan looked over at Radek who looked quite shaken up.

"You okay Zelenka?"

"What? Oh yes, I'm fine."

"You sure? Cause you look pretty scared."

"Uh, I've just never been in a situation quite like that."

"Well like I said, we did our best."

He smiled at Evan gratefully. "Thank you." And he turned to Caldwell to comment, having somehow caught what had been said.

Evan got up from the table when the phone rang. They'd been back on Earth for a little while now and although he was only too happy to be back, he was surprised at how much he missed Atlantis and its people. Life had always certainly been interesting.

He hadn't exactly been expecting to hear the voice he did on the other end of the line.

"Major?"

"Doctor Z!" he smiled broadly into the receiver. "How'd you get my number?"

"Uh well, I just asked the Air Force, I've still got some security clearance."

"I'll have to remember that. So how are you?"

"I'm good I'm good. Would it make any sense if I said I wished McKay were here to bother me?"

Evan chuckled. "Yeah, that's kinda how I feel. Except I could probably do without McKay."

He heard Radek laugh. "Yeah, well the job is good. I'm working at Masaryk University. It is actually nice to see our own land again. What about you?"

"Oh I'm good. I'm really enjoying being back. Not quite as relaxing though since they put me back at that top secret facility."

He could sense the momentary confusion before Radek caught on. "Oh you are at the SGC. You have someone there?"

Evan smiled at Stina, who smiled back, eyes sparkling. Whoever was on the phone must be a friend from wherever he had been stationed. He was lit up at the moment just like he did whenever he talked about the place, telling her what he could. She walked over and kissed him on the cheek before leaving the kitchen to let him talk.

"Yeah my girlfriend Stina," he said. "Hey Doc, you interested in anyone?"

His happy laughter carried through the apartment.

"No! No more help. Clearly, we are not qualified. Now turn this thing off, disconnect the power and seal the room." Elizabeth Weir stood, glaring at the two men, Rodney's best scientist and Colonel Sheppard's second in command.

"But, ok, we…" Radek tried.

"Now," she stated firmly.

"Mmm yes."

They started to do as she asked and she walked away.

"And I was supposed to ask her about that ascension machine later."

Evan laughed humorlessly. "Yeah, I'm going to be avoiding the good Doctor for a little while."

"Hmm yes that is probably in both of our best interests."

XXXX

Evan made his way to Radek's lab with a small carrying case he had brought with him when he had been gladly reassigned to Atlantis. He had just come from the mess hall after a meeting with Dr. Weir. He would be needed later to fly Baden and Nola back to their planet. The whole time he was in her office Evan had been freaked, quickly making his escape.

Radek looked up from the computer when Evan walked in.

"Hey Doc, you up for a game of chess?"

Radek smiled. "I am up for a game anytime." As they set up the game, Radek looked at him questioningly. "How did it go with Dr. Weir?"

Evan gave a small shrug and a look of indifference. "Didn't seem too happy yet of course, but it wasn't so bad. Bet we're back in her good books soon."

Radek huffed as he made the starting move on the board. "Yes, well probably only after Rodney and Colonel Sheppard."

Evan laughed. "Well I guess we can't help it if she rather likes the wild hair and of course McKay is his best friend." He winked at the scientist and made his first move after some thought.

Radek looked surprised but before he could comment, Evan continued. "You know we're a lot like them."

His opponent looked confused as he moved his knight.

"Like McKay and Colonel Sheppard I mean."

Radek scrunched up his face in thought, but as though he didn't believe it. "Uh, you think so?"

"Well yeah, I mean other than the fact that you're way less arrogant and I'm less inclined to die. You just wouldn't really expect it. We're friends, right? We hang out. And you could rival McKay in your department, and I'm Colonel Sheppard's second in command. I even saw them playing chess in the mess hall."

"Really?"

"Yep, but the difference is that it's Colonel Sheppard that wins."

Radek laughed. And laughed. "Oh Major," he started with an uneasy breath, "Never tell me something that funny again." He took off his glasses to wipe his eyes. Evan raised an eyebrow at him. "I am holding that over Rodney for forever." He chuckled. "Anyway, you are getting better."

"You think so?"

"No, not really. Check."

"Damn." His eyes searched the board for a way out of it.

"So tell me about Dr. Weir liking Colonel Sheppard. I think I see the start of some new bets."

Evan smiled. Yep, now that he thought about it, scientists were pretty cool.