So, basically, I'm new to the Stargate: Atlantis universe, and I'm apologizing in advance if anything seems a bit off or doesn't make sense.

This story will follow my OC, Camila Buchanan, and her adjustment into the Atlantis expedition. I've set the story in the third season…pretty much sometime after "Echoes". I plan to follow my own storyline as I'm guessing everyone out there is familiar with the series, and it would seem a bit redundant to rehash everything. However, there will be some episodes that are mentioned or included in the story (though, it will focus more on Camila than what's going on in the episode itself). This will be a Ronon/OC with Sheppard/Teyla as well.

Rated "T" for language.

Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate: Atlantis or any of its wonderful characters.

Camila Buchanan eyed her twin brother over the slice of pizza in her hand. The television blared in the background, the announcer going over the weekend football highlights. She took a bite, chewing slowly as she tried to come up with the best way to tell him she was leaving indefinitely.

For his part, Cruz Buchanan seemed oblivious to his sister's plight. He gestured wildly at the television, yelling a few obscenities when they showed a replay of the play that cost his team the win. When she didn't react, he looked at her curiously.

"What's up with you? You've barely said anything all night." He took a swig of his beer, leaning over the table to grab another pizza slice.

Cami's light green eyes flicked over to his brown ones. She placed her pizza back in the box, then wiped her hands on a napkin. Thinking about never seeing her family again made her appetite disappear. She grabbed her own beer bottle, taking a long drink while her mind played over recent events.

"I'm going away," Cami said carefully. She lowered her gaze on the beer bottle in her hand.

"Yeah?" Cruz asked, taking a huge bite of his pizza slice and talking between mouthfuls. "Finally going to England like you always wanted?"

"No, this is..." Cami took a deep breath trying to figure out the best way to explain. "This is for the marines. I got chosen as part of a search and rescue team."

"Search and rescue, seriously?" Cruz grabbed a napkin and hastily wiped his mouth. He leaned back in his chair, taking another swig of his beer. "What about First Recon?"

She sighed. The decision to leave her beloved sniper unit had been hard. "I've been reassigned. It's a classified mission," she said slowly.

Her brother frowned, placing his beer bottle back on the table and crossing his arms over his chest. "Afghanistan...again?"

Cami shook her head to assuage her brother's fears. "You wouldn't believe it even if I told you."

"Try me," he said, eyes narrowed.

Cami took another long drink of her beer, essentially chugging it until nothing was left. She wracked her mind trying to think of a viable location her brother would find acceptable, but she couldn't really think of anything. After a few seconds, she finally decided to just tell him the truth. It wasn't like she had been sworn to secrecy. Besides, if there would be anyone in the world she could tell, it would be her twin brother. He would understand...eventually.

"Atlantis," she finally said, her eyes unflinching.

Cruz stared at her for a few seconds before bursting out into a laugh. He stood up, picking up the pizza box and going to the kitchen to place it on the counter. He stopped by the fridge to pick up a couple more beers, then sat back down at the table.

"Seriously," he said, opening a bottle and offering it to her. "Where are you going to be stationed?"

"Atlantis," she said again, taking the beer and gripping it in both hands.

Cruz smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Cam..."

"Cruz, I know it's hard to believe. Hell, even I didn't believe it when I was first told, but it's true."

He continued to stare at her, the smile on his face slowly fading as he began to realize how serious she was. Maybe this is why they don't swear you to secrecy, she thought. Because no one would believe you if you told them.

"Okay," Cruz said, leaning over the table as he processed what she had just told him. "Say you are telling the truth. How did this happen? Did some aliens come to you in your sleep and tell you of the existence of this lost city?"

Cami rolled her eyes at him, though the idea was a bit comical. She threw him a balled up napkin. "I am telling the truth, smartass. My team was called in for a physical a few weeks ago. But it wasn't a regular physical...you know, like how they check your height, weight, eyesight and stuff."

Cruz nodded, still staring at her disbelievingly.

"They did some blood work, too. Some guys visited me at the base a few days later. They said they were from some agency called 'Stargate Command' - "

"'Stargate Command'?" Cruz interrupted, his voice laced with skepticism.

"It's a top secret military organization," Cami replied, very aware of how unbelievable it sounded. "Anyway, they said they were impressed by my military record and wanted to recruit me for an ongoing expedition. To make a long story short, the city of Atlantis was discovered about three years ago, and they were building a new team to send as reinforcements. They mentioned that I have some kind of gene that can activate certain technology on Atlantis."

"A 'gene'? I don't know, Cami, this all sounds like bullshit to me." He opened his arms wide as if to emphasize his point. "These guys just happened to know you have this...this gene that can help them operate the city of Atlantis?"

"Cruz, they ran tests on all my team, not just me. I was the only one with the gene, and I was the only one chosen for the Atlantis expedition." She looked down at the table, running her finger along a nick engraved on the wooden surface. "They kinda made it seem like they've been testing everyone in the military for this particular gene."

Cruz opened his mouth to say something, and then leaned back in his seat, brows furrowing as if he had just remembered something.

"Holy shit..."

"What?" Her eyes snapped back to his face.

"I just remembered...my unit got called in for a physical about a month ago, too. That son of a bitch, Anderson, was reassigned a week later."

"Anderson?" Cami frowned, a sudden thought crossing through her mind. "As in Major Keith Anderson?"

"Major Keith Got-A-Stick-Up-His-Ass Anderson? Yeah. That guy is a pain in the ass. Thinks he's better than everybody. He always hated me for some reason. Probably because I always beat him at everything." Cruz chuckled, thinking about all the ways he had bested Anderson. Then, something seemed to register in his mind. He gave her a sharp look. "No."

Cami nodded, confirming his suspicions. "I'm afraid so."

"Fuck," he whispered.

"Ditto." She let out a sigh already regretting taking on the assignment. "Maybe he's only a douche to you," she suggested. "I mean, you can be a bit of an asshole sometimes."

Cruz rolled his eyes at her. "Keep thinking that if it makes you feel better. That guy's an ass to anybody and everybody. Wait 'til he finds out you're my sister."

Cami groaned. "Damn it, Cruz! Why'd you have to get on the guy's bad side?"

He barked out a laugh. "Don't tell me..."

"Yeah, you bastard. He's my team leader." She rubbed her hands over her face, grovelling at the idea of serving under a guy like Anderson.

"Wait a minute," Cruz suddenly spoke up, his laughter dying down as he realized something. "How come I wasn't visited by the guys from Stargate Command? We're twins, we should have the same genes, right?"

"How should I know?" She shrugged. "Maybe you have the gene but they only recruited a certain number of people?"

He shook his head looking a bit dejected. "No, that doesn't sound right. This expedition sounds huge...and judging by the amount of personnel they're testing..."

Cami shot him a sympathetic look. They stayed quiet for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. She looked down at the tattoo on her wrist...the Roman numeral two, the same tattoo Cruz had on his own body.

"When do you leave?" he finally asked, the question she had been dreading since she had first mentioned she was being reassigned.

"Tomorrow." There was a slight pause while she waited for him to digest the information. "I-I don't know when...if I'll be back."

"Gavin and Alec?" he asked, referring to their two older brothers.

"I spoke to them earlier. They don't know the details, but I told them I would be gone for a while."

Cruz stood up suddenly and disappeared into his room. Cami remained at the table unsure what to make of his sudden departure.

"Cruz?" she called out after him, not sure whether to follow him or not.

"Here," he said, walking back into the dining area and placing two combat knives on the table. "I know they're not standard military, but who knows what you'll run into over there."

"Your Kukri knives? I can't take these." She pushed them back towards him.

"Who said anything about taking them? I'm only gonna let you borrow them. You better bring them back to me in one piece."

Cami blinked back tears, the reality of the situation suddenly hitting her full force. She was leaving everything - everyone - behind. Her fingers lightly touched the hilts of her brother's favorite knives.

"Thanks," she finally whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. She took a few minutes to regain her composure and then spoke up again, a hint of a smile touching her lips. "Cruz, if you tell anyone where I'm stationed, I'm gonna have to kill you."

Her brother smiled back, getting her to her feet to give her a big hug. "And if anything happens to my combat knives," he whispered in her ear, "I'll kill you."