Date : 08.10.2007

Title : Loves' Secret

Author : ElaineDex

Chapter : 1 of ?

Rating : M

Pairings : Lt. Col. John Sheppard/Lyssa Sheppard

Major Evan Lorne/Dr Ellie Lorne

Warnings : Romance/Angst/Some Strong Language.

Spoilers : This story is part of a series and follows on from Loves' Moment of Truth.

Feedback : Yes

Disclaimer : Dr Ellie Lorne, Major James Reece, Lt Franks and any OC's are mine. Lyssa Hunter-Sheppard belongs to Kazavid. Stargate Atlantis, unfortunately, has nothing to do with me.

Summary : Just when it looks like Ronon has found himself a new love interest something happens which means Ellie could be his for the taking once more and what will Sheppard do when Lyssa and Lorne give him the same unwelcome news that they gave to Ellie?

The creatures that had once belonged to Michael, the half human Wraith, had long since killed one another having had no one to feed and control them and the lab Michael had used had lain dormant for nearly two years or more.

Until now…….

In the darkness of the corridors where the lab was situated, a race of people called the Catheans explored and gathered together Michael's abandoned projects and research.

One man named Alandro turned to the woman at his side as they watched their soldiers gather together the vials and various charts.

"Do you think that you will be able to use what is here?", he asked her and he watched as a wicked smile spread across her harsh features.

"Oh yes. This is more than I had hoped for….it will be more than adequate for our plans".

"Good", Alandro replied, satisfied by her answer.

OOoOO

Lorne's team was off world.

They were on a short recon mission and Ellie was taking the opportunity to collect some soil samples, a job she knew Lorne hated hanging around for whilst she did and she suspected that he was only as patient as he was because she was his wife.

She smiled to herself as she held up a jar half full of soil. Since the memory loss incident on Atlantis a couple of months ago, hers and Lorne's relationship had gone from strength to strength and the only thing she sometimes let worry her was the fact that she still wasn't pregnant.

She knew that although Lorne had assured her that he didn't mind if they never had a child he would be disappointed if she never conceived.

Frowning she dropped the jar into its position in her sample case and snapped the lid shut. She looked around for Lieutenant Franks, her frown deepening when she couldn't see him.

Just then her ear buzzed and Lorne said,

"Ellie……are you done yet, we need to be getting back to the jumper?" and she swallowed nervously as she tapped her ear to reply.

"Er yeah, I'm good to go but I ah…….I kinda lost Lieutenant Franks".

Lyssa glanced at Lorne and saw a flash of anger cross his features as he looked around.

"Damn it Ellie….how many times do I have to tell you not to wander off?", he snapped and Ellie stuck her tongue out knowing that he couldn't see her.

"Actually I didn't……", she began but he cut her off.

"Just stay where you are and we'll come find you…..jeez Ellie….", he muttered and Ellie sighed.

She was going to have fun when he finally found her……or so she thought.

She had just finished packing up her lap top when Lorne and Lyssa rounded the trees that she was working near but before she could say anything, Lorne grabbed her arm and dragged her close to him.

"We've been through this a million times Ellie……you do not leave the side of whoever I assign you to. Why do you always disobey my orders? What am I to you, some kind of joke? Just because we're married doesn't mean you can disregard what I tell you to do when we're off world. Now why the hell didn't you stay with Franks?", he said angrily and Ellie glanced at Lyssa who looked away, not comfortable witnessing her friend having a telling off.

"I didn't wander away from him…….", Ellie began but Lorne shook his head in disbelief.

"Evan….I didn't", she said, wondering what the hell had gotten into her husband.

"Well why don't we ask Franks….see what his version of events are", Lorne said indicating over her shoulder and she turned to see Franks heading toward them.

"Feel free", she grated, wrenching her arm from his grasp.

"I take it you've been searching for my wife", Lorne asked and Franks frowned and shook his head.

"No Sir, she's right where I left her. I had to pee so I went to find a suitable spot……", he trailed off as Ellie began to snatch up her belongings and she pushed past Lorne.

"Ellie……", he said but she ignored him.

Lorne groaned as Franks looked on bemused.

Lyssa threw him a dirty look and headed after Ellie, taking the lap top from her friend before she dropped it as she struggled with the samples case.

"What's with him?", Lyssa asked and Ellie shrugged, so annoyed she could barely speak.

"Don't ask me", she replied tightly.

"Maybe he was just worried about you", Lyssa suggested as Ellie continued to walk quickly toward where they'd left the jumper.

"I don't know…..I was only just thinking how perfect everything was between us too…..I guess I was wrong", she said and Lyssa sighed.

"Don't get too downhearted about it Ellie…..I really do think he just panics about you being out here alone".

"Well……maybe you could give me some tips….you know…..self defence", Ellie said hopefully and Lyssa frowned.

Lots of people on Atlantis had already tried to train Ellie in self-defence and they usually ended up injured in some way.

"We'll see", she said and Ellie smiled gratefully leaving Lyssa wondering how she could get out of this one.

OOoOO

"Aren't women funny creatures", Sheppard commented to Ronon as they leaned on the railing of the floor above the gate room.

They were watching Atlantis' newest recruits beaming down from the Daedalus and also the gang of female marines who were oohhing and ahhing at the new men.

"What do you mean?", Ronon asked as he put his daughter Hope, onto his shoulders, keeping hold of her small calves for safety.

"Well", Sheppard replied, transferring his son, Conner to his other arm before continuing,

"Look at those female marines down there drooling over the new guys but if you were to ask any one of them if they need a man…….", he trailed off and Ronon nodded in acknowledgement.

"I get you", he said and Sheppard sighed.

"Boy am I glad I'm out of the dating scene", he muttered, then cursed as he realised that Ronon was still very much single.

"Sorry", he said but Ronon shook his head.

"No problem……..look at all those women who don't need a man", he said and Sheppard laughed.

"Yeah buddy…..".

Ronon laughed along with Sheppard but deep inside he knew that causal sex was not what he wanted. He still longed for the stability of the relationship he had had with Ellie and even though she seemed happy with Lorne he still had a tiny part of him that wished she would come back to him.

Sheppard looked at his son and tickled his stomach before saying,

"Ah well…..I'd best drop Conner off with Teyla whilst I go check in the newbie's".

"I'll see you later", Ronon said but as he went to head in a different direction to Sheppard he spotted a tall brunette woman amongst the crowd of newcomers and he watched as she laughed at something the woman stood next to her had said.

Suddenly she looked up and caught his eye.

Ronon looked away and lifted Hope from his shoulders. As she wrapped her little arms around his neck, Ronon patted her back and resisted the urge to look down at the attractive brunette once more.

Instead he walked away leaving Lieutenant Christina Lorne wondering who on earth the gorgeous man with the dreads was.

OOoOO

As Lorne walked with Franks he realised what a huge mistake he had made. Ellie must think he was a total asshole.

"Sorry Sir….I only left her for a minute….I really needed to pee", Franks said and Lorne glanced at him disdainfully before saying,

"It's not your fault".

Franks nodded before saying,

"Hey, the place I picked to pee…..there was this building nearby…looked like a ruin of some kind. I bet Ellie would be real interested in it….." and he winked at Lorne in a way that suggested it might get his c/o out of the dog house.

They got back to the jumper and Ellie dumped her stuff on the seats in the rear, determinedly keeping her back to Lorne as he came up behind her.

"Franks saw some ruins near where you were working…..want to go back and have a look around?", he asked, his fingers brushing hers and Ellie turned to look at him.

"Do I get an apology?", she asked and Lorne sighed.

"You do have a habit of wandering off on your own…..you cant deny that", he said and Ellie frowned at him.

"No, I cant deny that but this time I didn't….I stayed put……and I was accused wrongly".

Lorne glanced at Lyssa and Franks who were hovering at the back of the jumper before turning back to face her.

"Okay I'm sorry…now do you want to check out the ruins or not?", he said and Ellie stuck her tongue out at him.

"Okay grumpy but I thought we had to get back?".

"Half an hour won't hurt", Lorne said bending quickly, only intending to kiss her cheek but Ellie had other ideas and turned her face so that his lips met hers instead.

"Elle…..", Lorne murmured and she pulled back reluctantly, knowing that he didn't like showing too much affection when they were off-world just in case any potential enemies were watching and decided to use her to get to him.

They were shielded by the jumper but even so Ellie decided not to push it and she moved away from him.

"Let's go then", she said, heading back out to join Lyssa and Franks as Lorne secured the jumper once more.

They headed back toward the trees and the ruin unaware that they were being observed from some distance away.

End of Chapter 1