Chapter 1

I sat down at an empty table in the mess hall right up against the big glass windows so I could overlook the ocean while I ate my fruit salad. Everyone around me was talking animatedly with their friends happy to take a break. I had been here for 3 weeks and still knew nobody. I sighed heavily looking down at my food as I pushed it around with my fork. I nearly choked on a grape when someone sat down in the chair opposite me. Something I was definitely not used to. I looked up rather confused to see Lt Colonel John Sheppard smiling at me from across the table.

"I'm pretty much done with my food so the table's all yours." I smiled politely as I stood from my seat but I was stopped by an outstretched hand.

"Don't be silly! There's plenty of room for everyone. No need to leave on my account!" He chuckled at the confused look on my face motioning for me to sit back down.

"Yes sir." I said it without thinking cringing at how pathetic I must have sounded.

We sat there awkwardly for a moment unsure of what to say. I glumly finished my fruit salad putting the fork down next to the cup on my tray. I reached my arms up leaning back slightly stretching loudly. A content sigh left my lips as I brought my arms down and relaxed. I noticed Sheppard watching me with genuine curiosity.

"You're the new scientist aren't you?" He quirked an eyebrow in question. I nodded. "McKay has been raving on about you for a week. Good to finally put a name to a face."

I felt my cheeks heat up slightly. "McKay has been raving about me?" I snorted in an unladylike manner at the thought. "McKay only shows interest in food and anybody that brings him food."

He threw his head back laughing loudly. "I like you. I'm Sheppard by the way." He wiped his hand on his pants before sticking it out for me to shake.

"I know. You can call me Effie." I met his firm handshake with my own, an impressed look flashing across his face.

"So why was a pretty thing like you sitting all alone?" He sent me a dazzling smile, to which I had to remind myself he was just being friendly.

"Don't really know anyone." I shrugged my shoulders and dropped my eyes back down to my tray.

He watched me for a moment, crossing his arms across his broad chest. I felt squeemish under his intense gaze and had to avert my eyes. I have never been able to cope with direct eye contact with people. Old habits die hard I suppose.

I couldn't take it any longer and placed my hands on the table heavily. He arched an amused brow at my behaviour. "What the fuck are you staring at?"

I realised too late and slapped a hand over my mouth, a look of horror painted across my face as I realised what I just said. He was silent for a moment before he relaxed and laughed.

"I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable, it is not intentional. I'm just intrigued by you." He raised his hands in fake surrender, a friendly smile on his lips.

I sighed shaking my head. Talk about embarrassing. "No you did nothing wrong. I'm not used to people being friendly with me. Social skills was never my strong point."

He nodded along like he understood what I meant. He suddenly looked over my shoulder and raised his arm waving at somebody. I was confused until I heard people approaching. I froze in place when 3 other people joined us at the table. I recognised them as Mckay, Teyla and Ronan. All members of John's team. Great.

"Guys this is Effie, one of the new scientists here." He waved over at me in a lousy introduction.

I briefly looked up with a tight smile before my eyes dropped back to stare at my lunch tray. I felt my nerves act up, going shy and choosing to stay silent.

"Oh yeah, hey." Rodney gave me an awkward glance before eating his lunch.

"What exactly is it you do?" Teyla was across from me and seemed genuinely curious. Her face was friendly enough as she smiled at me encouragingly.

I swallowed the lump in my throat clearing it a few times before I looked up. "I focus on genetics. So things like DNA manipulation and engineering, vaccines and shit like that." I could have kicked myself when I let shit slip.

"Holy shit. You look really young." Sheppard looked impressed at first then confused.

This is the part I hated most. "That's because I am young. I'm 24."

"So young and yet so accomplished." Teyla smiled at me.

"Even I will admit she is the best in her field." McKay looked conflicted as he confessed this making me feel good about myself. That was a great compliment coming from him.

"So are you a scientist like McKay or a healer like Beckett?" Ronan's gruff voice broke me from my trance.

I mulled it over for a moment not even sure of it myself. "I guess I'm more like Beckett in the sense I have the same training but instead of seeing patients I work more behind the scene developing better treatment." I tried explaining it so he would understand and hopefully didn't offend him doing so.

He shocked me with a smile. "That's really cool."

What the fuck is happening? Have I made some friends or do they just feel sorry for me? Oh well, either way I'm going to just enjoy this. I relaxed into my seat and felt a small genuine smile form, something that hasn't happened in a very long time. Right now in this moment, I feel content. Hopefully it lasts.