A/N: This started out as a one-shot but evolved into something longer. I blame my sick habit of wanting to whump Major Lorne be it physically, mentally, or a combination of both. Takes place during 'Sunday' (aka the episode I hate with a passion) so there are spoilers (obviously) and it won't be a very happy fic, so don't read if you want to feel chipper at the end. You have been warned. Disclaimer for all chapters; I own Max and the other characters you don't remeber ever seeing on SGA, the character of Lydia belongs to BiteMeTechie, and everything else belongs to TPTB. Read and Review!

Max shifted and moved to curl up next to Evan but cold sheets welcomed her. Opening her eyes, she looked up to see him walking back into the bedroom.

"Did I wake you?" Evan asked, sitting on the edge of the bed next to her.

"No, where're you going?" she asked turning around so that she was facing him.

"I'm gonna go finish painting the control towers, I was thinking we could put it in the nursery when it's done."

"If you ever finish." Max replied, drawing the covers up around her and stifling a yawn. "You've been working on that since last year."

"I know, but it's almost finished." Evan said moving closer to Max and smiling.

"Ew, you smell like turpentine and paint." Max wrinkled her nose at the smell; ever since becoming pregnant she couldn't handle even the faintest of smells, let alone the stronger ones, getting sick every time.

"I seem to remember you telling me that you found those smells very sexy." Evan teased, smiling.

"That was when I was trying to get you in bed with me." Max retorted, playfully pushing Evan away.

"Well it looks like it worked."

"I guess so." Max replied drowsily, trying not to fall back asleep.

Evan saw that Max was still tired and knew that she wasn't going to get many more chances to sleep in. "Why don't you go back to sleep and I'll see you later, hmm?" he said, sweeping hair out of her face and then kissing her. "We'll go to the mainland this afternoon and watch the sun set."

"Mmkay." Max mumbled already half-asleep.

Evan smiled and walked out into the living room to gather up his painting supplies, easel, and canvas before heading out. Stepping out into the sun-filled sky Evan smiled and looked forwards to the relaxing day ahead.

Later in the day...

Max felt the wind start to sir and automatically put a hand on the papers so they wouldn't blow away. Not pausing in her reading she shifted arms and grabbed the red pen, uncapping it with her teeth, making a few notes on the paper. Turning to a new page she continued to read the essay and made more corrections. Five pages later she reached the end, wrote a few sentences and then a letter grade.

Refolding the paper, Max set it on the pile to her right. Then she glanced at the stack on her right, which was larger than the one on the left, and sighed while reaching for a fresh essay.

"I thought that this was a day off."

Max looked up and saw that standing next to her was Lydia. "It is." Max said, as her friend sat down across from her.

"Then why are you grading essays?" Lydia asked, raising an eyebrow at the stack of papers on the table.

"Because I want to get something done today." Max replied, putting her pen down. "Besides, I told the Athosian kids I'd have their papers graded before the end of the week. And don't tell me that you haven't done any work today because I know for a fact that you spent a few hours in your lab."

Lydia frowned, "It really sucks that you're married to the head of security."

"And it doesn't help that I ran into James on the way over." Max grinned as she started gathering up the papers and standing.

"He is so dead." Lydia muttered. Knitting her eyebrows together she asked, "Leaving already? I was hoping we could catch up; we haven't seen each other in a while."

"Sorry, Evan's taking me to the mainland for the afternoon."

"I'm impressed; you trained him well."

Max smiled at the comment, "Yeah…I did. I'll see you later." She then headed inside to drop the papers back off in her office. Walking into the small room, Max set the pile and sighed at the mess her desk was in. "Oh well," she thought to herself walking back out into the hallway. "I'll clean it up later." Tapping her headset she walked down the hallway while saying, "Evan you ready?"

Carson had just left when Max called him over the headset. A quick glance at his watch told him that it was a few minutes shy of three. Where had the time gone?

"I'm almost done, can I have another half-hour?" he asked. Evan didn't want to stop now, who knew when he'd get another chance?

Evan heard Max sigh then say, "Fine, but you owe me a half-hour on the mainland then."

"I love you." Evan said, smiling.

"It better be one hell of painting."

"It will." Evan then picked up his brush again and continued painting.

Max sighed and wondered what she was going to do for a half-hour. She didn't want to trek all the way back to her office and continue grading in there and by the time she went back to there, picked up her stuff, and then headed over to the cafeteria she'd have all of ten minutes to grade before leaving again.

Deciding to take a walk Max noticed how everyone was enjoying the day off; some where just relaxing or catching up on mundane things, things that normally they didn't have time to do. A trivial chat with a friend, reading the book that had been collecting dust, a nice walk along the balconies, or just lounging around. She passed Teyla who was talking with a friend and returned the smile Teyla gave her.

She was halfway down the hallway when she felt her back spasm. Stopping, she flinched and placed a hand on the offending spot hoping to massage away the pain. Next thing she knew she was on the ground, her ears ringing and searing pain coursing through her.

Then she felt nothing.