AN: This is the third story in the New Beginnings series. The first two (New Beginings and Mind Games) and a ficlet (Nicknames) are all up here. You don't need to have read them for the story to make sense, but it'll probably help as there are OC's involved that are introduced in those stories. Having said that, read and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine, but I'm wishing really, really hard!

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"Incoming wormhole," Chuck said over the intercom as the gate ka-whooshed into life below the control room.

Kara Hopkins held onto Alex Owens arm tightly as her friend jumped to her feet. Kara's boss, Major Evan Lorne, had been sent back to Earth a week ago to brief twenty new Marines that were being sent to Atlantis to help with the evacuation of settlements in the Pegasus galaxy that were in imminent danger from the Replicators. Evan Lorne also happened to be Alex's boyfriend and Alex had missed him a lot over the past week. She was excited about his return and so had dragged Kara down to the gateroom to wait with her.

"You do realise that even though he's back he won't be free for at least another two hours," Kara told her friend. "He has to take the new Marines on the tour of the base and then show them to their quarters."

"I don't care," Alex replied, not bother one bit by her friend's pessimism. "If I get to see him, just for a few moments it'll be worth it."

"You're besotted," Kara said.

"Who's besotted?" Dr Radek Zelenka asked from the stairs behind Kara.

"Alex is," Kara told the scientist, bending backwards so she could see him. "Are we getting new scientists today?"

"Yes and Rodney doesn't want to see them. He's sent me to make sure they're all present and accounted for," Radek said, looking every bit the put down second in command.

"You're doing them a favour," Alex told him kindly. "Can you imagine if Rodney came to meet the new scientist in person? Half of them would run back to Earth before they've even left the gateroom."

Radek laughed and moved past the women to collect the first few scientists who were doing very good goldfish impressions as they stared around their new home.

Alex tried to move towards the gate, but Kara was still holding her arm. "Let him come to you," Kara suggested. "See if he's missed you as much as you've missed him."

"I don't need to test him," Alex told Kara, but she didn't shake off her friend hand.

Lorne would be the last one through the gate, Alex knew, making sure that everyone and everything destined for Atlantis made it to its new home.

Alex felt her heart speed up as the last of the Marines emerged from the gate, Evan following them and talking to a man in a science uniform. She smiled and started to move towards Evan when the other man turned and she stopped in her tracks, blood rushing from her face and her stomach churning uncomfortably.

Kara watched her friend freeze before she could reach Lorne, her eyes on the man next to Lorne rather than Lorne himself. He looked familiar but Kara wasn't sure where she'd seen him before. He seemed to be smiling confidently at Alex, while Lorne was looking puzzled at his girlfriend's behaviour.

Kara walked over to Alex and put a hand on her arm, breaking the moment and causing Alex to whip her head round to face her. Hurt was plain on her face and her eyes showed how much she was hurting.

"What is it?" Kara asked.

"Doug," was all Alex said before she shrugged out of Kara grip and left the gateroom at a speed just slightly slower than a run, leaving a very confused and concerned Lorne, and a very pissed-off Kara.

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Evan Lorne frowned as he watched his girlfriend turn and rush out of the gateroom. He moved his gaze from were Alex had just disappeared to the now advancing figure of his team mate and friend Kara Hopkins.

"Did I miss something?" he asked once Kara was within a few feet.

"Obviously," Kara said bluntly. She waited a few seconds, glaring at the new scientist stood next to Lorne before saying, "Well, what are you waiting for? Go after her."

"But…the Marines," Lorne stuttered.

"I'll sort them. Go find your girlfriend and get her to tell you what wrong," Kara ordered.

Evan didn't need to be told twice. He walked quickly after Alex, wondering where she had gone.

Kara waited until Lorne was out of ear shot before rounding on the man he'd been talking to when he walked through the gate. "You must be Doctor Doug Stepson," she said not too warmly.

"I hadn't realised I was famous," the man said flashing Kara a smile.

Kara gave the man a quick once over before replying, "You're not. In fact I think it's quite possible that I'm the only person here who knows who you are."

"Tell me; will that work in my favour or against it?" Doug asked.

Kara had to work hard to control the urge to hit him. If it hadn't been for the fact that she knew Alex's past with him, Kara probably would have flirted back. Doug Stepson was an attractive man; blonde hair was cut just longer than military regulations would allow, blue eyes were sparkling and his smile could have probably lit up the city during the one night a year that both its moons were fully dark. He was charming as well; obviously well aware of his good looks and the effect he had on most women.

"I will only worn you once," Kara had lowered her voice to the tone that made most Marines cower, but Doug smile barely faltered. "Alex Owens is a well liked and well respected member of this expedition. She hadn't told anyone except me of your history together, and seeing as she isn't a vindictive sort of person, I doubt she'll be gossiping now that you've arrived.

"Now, if you breathe one word, or do anything to hurt or upset her, I will make sure that everybody here knows just how badly you treated her and I have no doubt that after everyone finds out you're stay here in Pegasus will be most uncomfortable. Have I made myself clear, Doug?"

"Crystal, captain," Doug responded, not breaking eye contact with Kara until Dr Zelenka called him to join the other scientists. "I'll see you around," Doug said as he moved to join Zelenka.

Kara watched until Doug and the other scientists left her field of vision before rounding on the new Marines who where still stood looking like lost sheep. Taking a deep breath and exhaling deeply she called, "Alright boys, lets get this over with."

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