Chords of Faith Chapter 1: Does Anybody Hear Her?, a stargate: atlantis fanfic

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Stargate: Atlantis. It belongs to MGM. I'm just taking the characters for a ride.

Author's Note: I'll admit to being inspired by Penelope the Perky Penguin's challenge and story, "Celebration of Melodies." I'm not trying to jump onto her bandwagon or steal her thunder. I just have these songs I've loved for a long time burning in me and have to let them out. I am a Christian and, as such, will be using Christian songs. This story will be a lot like my "Christmas Carols," in that it'll be comprised of one-shots. However, I might revisit a character again if the inspiration strikes, building on the previous appearance of that character. I don't know when or if this story will end, or how often I'll add to it. I have other, bigger, projects in the works and am focusing on those. But these Chords won't leave me alone, so I'm writing them. I pray you are blessed by them. ~lg

oOo

She is running a hundred miles an hour
In the wrong direction.
She is trying, but the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart.

Jennifer Keller certainly related to the words of this song. She glanced at the CD cover and frowned. Who put a Christian CD in the mix of others at the base library? It didn't matter. She'd heard Marie listening to it on her MP3 player at work and decided she needed to give the CD a try. So far, she'd liked most of the songs even if they made her think of her mother's family.

So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older and
She's three more steps behind.

Boy, did that describe the last few months! Jennifer shook her head, thinking of the time she'd spent in Atlantis. First Carson, and then Elizabeth, had died. Then Kate. And then the Athosians. The deaths kept piling up, and Jennifer wasn't sure she could handle everything.

Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple,
With all the lost and lonely people,
Looking for the hope that's tucked away in you and me.
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?

The chorus of the song brought tears to Jennifer's eyes. How had the song's writer known her struggles? She'd wondered for weeks if someone, somewhere, understood what she'd gone through. The nights of questions. The days of insecurities. The moments when lives rested in the decisions she made. Just a simple mistake in someone's medication could end a life. Did anyone see those struggles?

She is yearning for shelter and affection
That she never found at home.

Well, Jennifer didn't relate to that. She'd had wonderful parents who gave her everything she needed and a lot of what she wanted. During her years at college, she'd loved to return to their home, ignore the world, and study. But her home was devoid of one thing: companionship. While she had her parents, she never really had a close friend. Not when all of her classmates were five years her senior. Or more.

She is searching for a hero to ride in,
To ride in and save the day.
And in walks her Prince Charming
And he knows just what to say.
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away.

Jennifer knew all about momentary lapses of reason. She'd had a few of them over the years. The first had been during her sophomore year of college. She'd been all of sixteen years old, rebellious, and thinking she knew more than her parents. Her education in the harshness of life came the night she snuck from her parents' home in order to meet the twenty-year-old guy from her English class. He'd left her broken and crying in the back seat of his car as he drove her back to her home.

Later, she learned he did this to all freshmen and sophomores. But, at that moment, Jennifer decided she didn't want that sort of relationship. She'd changed her mind in later years, of course. But that experience colored everything.

Yes, Jennifer Keller had cried those words. Whispered those words. Wondered those words. Did anyone even care about her?

If judgment looms under every steeple,
If lofty glances from lofty people,
Can't see past her scarlet letter,
And we've never even met her.

Was there a place where she could find peace? Jennifer wondered as she let the final strains of the song play through the headphones she'd found in the back of her dresser. How had one person known her inner struggles? It was as if someone had told the writer of the song.

As she settled back in her chair, Jennifer thought she heard a voice. I care. She glanced around. Who had spoken to her? From somewhere, peace flooded into her mind, and she smiled for the first time in days. She didn't care who had spoken to her. Someone saw her struggles and cared. Lifting eyes suspiciously wet, she watched those around her settle in for lunch or leave for duty shifts. The tears blurred the images, but they didn't fall. Not yet. She would shed those in private. For now, this was enough.

Movement drew her attention, and she glanced over in time to see Major Lorne leave the mess hall as the final words of the song played into her ears.

He is running a hundred miles an hour,
In the wrong direction.

Author's Note II: You can blame this one on my hubby, Lithane. He gave me the song and character. I just wrote what came to mind. "Does Anybody Hear Her?" was written by Mark Hall and recorded by Casting Crowns in 2005 for their album "Lifesong." Also, I have not included a word count here because I didn't give myself one. After completing my two New Year's stories, I'm enjoying the freedom of not worrying about how many words I write. :)