Disclaimer: I do not own the Stargate franchise or any of its characters from the movie/show you may recognize. I only own my character Isabelle and other minor characters you don't recognize, along with the storyline.
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Chapter 3
Fragments
This was the first time Isabelle had a smile on her face since waking up in Atlantis. It was her last day in the infirmary, and she was glad to leave. Her wounds hadn't healed completely, but there was nothing else Jennifer could do besides confine her patient to rest in her own quarters. Isabelle was dressed in the uniform Jennifer had provided her and saw McKay enter the infirmary, with his laptop in hand. She watched him walk towards her awkwardly; his eyes darting everywhere else but her.
"Dr. McKay, right?" Isabelle knew she was right.
"Yea….Yea, McKay," he paused in front of her, "Sheppard told me you had trouble accessing your quarters."
"I couldn't get in." She watched him glance at his laptop, then her but quickly look away.
"I just need to reset the access code. So, if you'll walk with me," he walked ahead of her now, "We can get it set up for you in no time."
Isabelle thought of McKay to be the most interesting person she had met in the past two days. He reacted differently than the others towards her. It was like he tried extra hard not to be uncomfortable, but it just made the situation even worse. She was certainly amused by his actions. They walked along the corridors, which involved Isabelle following McKay's lead; and stopped in front of the sliding doors that separated them from her room.
"Alright," he opened the console and plugged some sort of port into it from his laptop, "let's get this done so I go do some real work." He said to himself, not intending for Isabelle to hear it.
The way McKay presented himself towards his peers clearly showed he had a god-complex. Maybe it was an insecurity that originated from his social ineptness that forced him to display his intelligence in a way that others would consider arrogant. But Isabelle knew that it was simply a façade created to show his competence, to earn respect.
After a few minutes of tampering with the console, a rhythmic beep resounded.
"Ahh, fixed." McKay unplugged the ports and closed the console, "if you don't need anything else, I'll be heading back to the laboratory."
Isabelle didn't say anything, instead she waved her hand in front of the console. The doors opened, "Nothing else."
"Okay then…" He stood for a few seconds, not knowing what else to say, before he turned to leave.
"Thank you," Isabelle said at last, "for this."
McKay turned at the sound of her voice, and once he registered her words, he uneasily smiled and left.
Isabelle shook her head before entering her room. She saw that it was quite small, like she had expected, as the only furniture it housed were the bed, a chair, and the dresser. But it was decorated just to her liking, simple but elegant. The burgundy and white chiffon curtains accented the bluish-gray hue of the room. A couple of orchid plants, one pink and the other yellow, resided in opposite sides of the room. A few picture frames sat gracefully on the dresser, which at closer inspection were of Isabelle's family and friends. Seeing the warm, welcoming smiles of her parents reminded her how loving they were. Her sister's smirk reminded Isabelle the situations they had gotten themselves into as children. Being the older one, Isabelle had always possessed an overprotective stance for her sister. Isabelle's chest tightened at the view of the ones she loved, she missed them dearly.
What have I gotten myself into?
She lazily sat down on the edge of her bed, hunching as she held back the tears that threatened to escape. She inhaled deeply and exhaled. She was determined not to lose self-control or pity her situation. Letting her emotions settle, Isabelle stood up and made her way to the large windows. She parted the curtains to reveal the beautiful ocean view that was in front of her. A smile crept on her lips as she stared at the sunlight that glittered on the surface of the waves.
It truly is beautiful here.
As she stood in her room appreciating the simple beauty life had to offer in the strangest of situations, her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten anything all morning and her stomach showed its displeasure. Isabelle washed her face, making sure not to get the bandages wet, to rejuvenate herself. The bandages on her abdomen were still present, much to her disapproval, but Jennifer assured her they would be removed soon enough. She stepped out of her room ready to go to the mess hall; if only she could recall which way that was.
ooOoo
"Hey," Jennifer walked down the corridor, towards Isabelle.
Isabelle sighed with relief, "Hi, could you tell me where the mess hall is located?"
Jennifer laughed, "I'm heading there myself. Come on."
They entered the mess hall together and Jennifer guided her towards the food table where she was allowed to select whatever items she pleased. Once they were finished, Jennifer led her towards the back of the sitting area. As the distance between them and the table decreased, Isabelle noticed that it was currently occupied with four other people, three of whom she recognized. The face that was unfamiliar to her belonged to a beautiful woman who looked confident yet understanding. From where Isabelle stood, she could see that the woman wore tribal clothes, similar in essence to those Ronon wore.
"Hi, Isabelle," Sheppard greeted her, "take a seat."
Isabelle sat in the seat closest to the window panes, next to the unknown woman and across from McKay. She greeted everyone but looked at the one who sat next to her expectantly.
She seemed to understand what Isabelle expected, "I'm Teyla."
"Nice to meet you," Isabelle stated, waiting for the stillness that followed to disperse.
"How are you feeling?" Teyla asked in a serene voice.
"I'm fine…better." Isabelle tried to be casual. The idea that others knew more about her than she did disturbed her. She didn't remember much about the past two years, she didn't know what had changed, and most unnerving of all she didn't know what they knew about her. But she did know that being out of control made her anxious.
Sheppard cleared his throat, "Rodney, Isabelle here was wondering how the Stargate worked."
"Oh," McKay's face lit up at the thought of providing his technical knowledge, "well, you see, two Stargates, when activated, form a singular gateway between the two locations providing a shorter way of travel."
"A singular gateway…a wormhole?" Isabelle asked incredulously.
"Exactly, a wormhole." McKay smiled widely.
Isabelle looked around and saw that the others held a sober expression. They were not joking. She shook her head in disbelief, "Wouldn't the excessive gravity inside the wormhole be too much a person? I mean…it would tear them apart."
McKay looked astounded by her speculation, "Yes well, you're right. But the person is sent through as an energy signature. They're reintegrated once they cross over to the other end."
Isabelle absorbed the information, still not believing him. Disintegrated and then reintegrated – it just didn't seem possible, "If you say so."
She stabbed the fruit in her plate with her fork before eating it. The rest of them continued to eat. Isabelle saw that this was one of the rare times when they were able to sit, relax and enjoy their moments together. They were like a family; they were all supportive, loving and protective. She had a hard time imagining herself as one of their own. Most of their conversations were filled with small talk that referenced to their prior missions, none of which she remembered.
They tried to include her in conversations but those usually died quickly. Eventually, Isabelle excused herself from the table and headed out. Walking around the base, with no idea where she was going, she attempted to form a mental map of the place. Isabelle tried to retrace her steps but at times found herself forlorn in unknown areas, surrounded by faces she didn't recognize. Fatigue took over her body so she walked out onto the balcony, her refuge.
The breeze blew her hair back; the setting sun's blaze glistened on the ocean surface, giving it a reddish-orange hue. It had been awhile since she had seen a sunset; she fully took advantage of this moment and let her thoughts wander. She didn't even worry that anyone else might be looking for her; she felt so isolated among them. They all had a history together, which at one point did include her but not anymore. Isabelle didn't blame them, she couldn't…everyone was a victim of circumstances. She knew all too well the feeling of being placed in an alien environment.
ooOoo
In her room now, Isabelle stripped down her clothes and headed into the shower; she was sweaty and exhausted from her day of nothingness. Her wounds had healed well enough that the water didn't cause any pain. The warm water felt so good against her skin, so gentle and relaxing. Lost in the feeling of repose, she didn't worry about the events that had passed. She just let her thoughts roam while her body absorbed the heat. The sudden image of Sheppard touching her bare skin flashed through her mind causing Isabelle to stumble against the bathroom wall.
What the hell was that?
She looked around as if to make sure no one had seen her, knowing fully well that she was alone in the bathroom. Her hand reached over to shut off the water and she made her way out of the stall. The towel that once hung on the bar was now wrapped around her; it covered everything from her chest to her mid-thighs. Her hair was damp, so she clipped it back partially, not caring that it was disordered, letting a few tendrils fall on the sides of her face.
Isabelle opened the bathroom door and walked into her cold bedroom, but jumped when she saw Sheppard standing before her. Her feet stood prone because she was too busy trying to conclude whether it was a hallucination or he was actually there.
"Wha-what are you doing here?" Her mouth had gone dry from seeing him.
Isabelle saw his dark eyes raking her up and down her body. The cool air didn't give her shivers, because the look he had was lustful enough to make her quiver. Her arms were still lying across her chest, while her hands were trying to hold on to her towel.
She was no more than three feet in front of him with nothing but a towel on; and she realized that the only thing that separated him from her naked body was a piece of cloth. It seemed Sheppard decided that he should say something to break the awkward silence.
"I-uh-came to give you, um…this," he had trouble forming words or thinking for that matter. Isabelle slowly, very slowly processed what he was saying and saw that he had an earpiece in his hand.
When she looked back up, she saw that he was still looking at her attentively and was moving a little closer towards her. Isabelle wanted to step back but didn't, instead she stood still while her eyes tried to say what she wasn't able to form with her voice. She wanted him to stop moving towards her, stop making her feel so vulnerable, just stop everything.
She realized the amount of fabric she had on, and looked around for clothes but didn't see any clean ones within reach. The grip she had on the towel got tighter, she felt so exposed standing, barely clothed, in a room with a man she had not even known a few days ago. Suddenly images flashed through her mind once more.
Rough hands grazed her arms, as he leaned his face into hers. Isabelle's breaths became shallow when she felt his forehead leaning on hers. She saw the familiar green eyes. His left hand moved up from her arm to her shoulder, then neck and lingered there for a few caresses before moving up to grasp her cheek in the palm of his hand.
Swiftly, he pulled her face in and kissed her lips with his own. The kiss was gentle at first, as they were getting used to the sensation, but quickly it became rough. The emotions that had built up during the day's events poured into the kiss. Isabelle felt his tongue begging for entrance as it grazed her lips—
Isabelle's felt disoriented from the images causing her to stumble. Sheppard rushed over and grabbed her before she fell.
"You alright?" He asked, concern clearly evident on his face.
Isabelle wondered whether whatever she had witnessed were true. He helped her stand up, while she kept staring at him. She pulled away from his grip and turned away, trying to avoid any eye contact. Her breathing got faster—she wanted him to leave, to let her get dressed so that she could look more respectable.
Sheppard realized that he had over stayed his welcome, "We…uh need you in the lab…so meet us there as soon as possible."
She looked up hesitantly to let him know that she acknowledged him, and saw that he had rushed out of her room.
Isabelle didn't know how to believe those images she just had in her mind. Could it be possible that she and Sheppard had a relationship? The longer her thoughts lingered on the subject, the more she realized that he was always slightly awkward with her when they were alone. Deciding that she needed to focus on the task at hand and not on potential scenarios, Isabelle quickly dressed herself and left without bothering to fix her hair.
ooOoo
The laboratory was currently occupied by McKay, Sheppard and Teyla. They were conversing amongst themselves; however this atmosphere was unlike the one Isabelle had witnessed during lunch time. She construed they were discussing work related issues, most likely something she had been or would be a part of. She wasn't certain whether this idea frightened or thrilled her.
"Hello, Isabelle," Teyla said as she turned to see her enter the lab.
Isabelle realized she had unconsciously paused just a few feet behind them.
McKay looked up from the desk, "Oh, hello."
"Hi," Isabelle began to move towards them, noticing that Sheppard had not acknowledged her presence. She studied his actions as she her took place between Teyla and McKay. He was clearly avoiding her.
"So," McKay turned to face her, "ready for a trip back to Mironel?"
Isabelle stared back, "Wh-excuse me?"
"Well, I…uh," McKay looked back and forth between her and Sheppard, "I thought—
Sheppard cleared his throat and shook his head.
"Oh…well," realization dawned on McKay, "apparently Kirk here forgot to do his job."
Kirk?
"Dr. Keller," Teyla spoke up, "deemed you fit for off-world travel, as long as you take it easy."
"Off-world?" Isabelle questioned, hating the feeling of ignorance.
"I'm sorry," Sheppard apologized, "we—I should've explained all of this to you before this meeting. By off-world, we mean traveling to other worlds through the gate. It's a quick way to get to know your neighbors, make a few friends and form trade relations."
"So what's the purpose of this off-world trip?" Isabelle asked, seeing McKay's attention return to the artifacts he had laid out on the table. Teyla did not respond either.
Sheppard finally answered, "It will simply be a reconnaissance mission...thought it might be good way to ease you back."
Isabelle nodded, still at unease by McKay's lack of input. Usually he was so eager to advertise his opinion and knowledge.
"I must leave now, Torren must be waiting for his nightly walk," Teyla's smile glistened in her eyes.
She must have noticed Isabelle's bewildered look, because she continued to explain that Torren was her infant son.
"See you tomorrow morning, 0800 sharp," Sheppard stated.
"Good night," McKay added.
The silence suddenly became awkward once Teyla had exited the lab. It seemed like McKay and Sheppard wanted to speak to each other but couldn't or didn't want to in Isabelle's presence.
"So," Isabelle finally broke the silence, "I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow morning?"
"Yea," Sheppard agreed, "see ya."
Isabelle saw McKay smiled awkwardly in acknowledgment as she left, following the steps Teyla had taken only moments earlier.
As she walked through the corridors, troubling thoughts boggled her mind and a feeling of discomfort washed over her. The entire situation she had just experienced disturbed her. It was as if they were trying to hide something from her, and she wasn't sure whether it was for her benefit or theirs.
ooOoo
Isabelle had been so apprehensive about the imminent mission that her sleep had mostly included her tossing and turning in bed. Having gotten about three hours of sleep, Isabelle had woken up in an irritable disposition. Even after her shower, she felt ill-tempered. The only thing Isabelle hoped for now was that her teammates knew she wasn't a morning person.
She attempted to find her way to gateroom, but came upon the infirmary on her way. Jennifer seemed to be the one person she had trusted implicitly in the past…so why not now. Isabelle wanted to share her concerns, relieve some tension and hopefully earn a pep talk. Upon entering the infirmary she saw the familiar Asian doctor working at a desk, but before she could ask Jennifer's whereabouts, she heard familiar voices.
"I simply wanted to voice my concerns, Colonel, but the final decision does lie in your hands."
Isabelle moved towards the doorway leading to a separate research area, and saw Jennifer talking to Sheppard.
"I understand, Doc, but we need this one," Sheppard stated, his back facing Isabelle. There was a pause before he continued, "You know I'm not going to let anything happen to her."
"That's not really any of my busi—
"I know she used to tell you everything, Doc; I just wanted to put your worries at ease."
Jennifer sighed and moved to grab a box of test tubes, "I just don't think she's ready to face her past just yet."
"She's gotta face it as some point, better now than later. And who knows, this might jog her memory," Sheppard tried to reason.
"Fine, just see to it that she's safe this time."
Sheppard stiffened at her comment, paused a bit before he turned to leave without saying another word.
Isabelle quickly stepped away from his path and turned away from him. The words he stated ran through her mind. She wondered whether he cared about her as a member of his team or if there truly was something more to it. Her instincts agreed with the latter, but who knew. She heard his footsteps pass by behind her, but waited a few moments before going in to talk to Jennifer.
"Hey," Isabelle slowly entered.
Jennifer turned to face her, slightly bewildered by her presence, "Oh, hey…I thought you were going off-world with—
"I am. I just wanted to come and talk to you for a bit beforehand."
"Oh, what's up?"
"Nothing, really…just wondering if there's anything I should be worried about, you know regarding this mission."
"Like what?" Jennifer eyed her suspiciously.
"I don't know," Isabelle shrugged, "I've never been off-world before, well you know what I mean, and I'm not sure what to expect. Is there anything I should prepare myself for?"
"I don't think so…I mean, Sheppard's team is highly capable of keeping you safe."
Isabelle didn't believe these words, considering what she just heard before, "Are you sure? Is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Um...not that I'm aware of," Jennifer smiled, "don't worry. It'll be fine. You might even like it."
Isabelle reciprocated the false gesture, "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"
"I'm not needed there, Isabelle."
"Well it's my first time off-world and I thought I could share the experience with a friend."
Jennifer's smile vanished and her eyes seemed to turn to stone.
Isabelle furrowed her brow, "What?"
Jennifer shook her head, "Nothing. I can't go, ok. Just take care of yourself."
ooOoo
They arrived in Mironel just as the sun moved to beam directly upon them. Isabelle's first walk through the stargate was a success—she had reintegrated safely in the designated location. The team walked through a wooded pathway, without the destination in view. Sheppard was leading alongside McKay, who was reading some sort of hand sized monitoring device. Isabelle and Teyla were right behind them, side by side, with Ronon walking steadfast behind all of them.
"We're almost there," McKay informed the others.
"We're aware, Rodney," Teyla assured him, "we've been here before."
"Oh, well," Rodney shut off his device, "I'm sorry not all of our internal compasses are up to par as yours is."
Teyla smiled, shaking her head at his immaturity.
"No need to get defensive, Rodney," Sheppard calmed him, "I'm sure you'll be of some use…at some point."
Rodney rolled his eyes, knowing Sheppard was teasing him.
Isabelle studied the interaction between all of them and once again concluded that they truly were a family. A slight sense of childlike jealousy shot through her for not being able to engage similarly.
After twenty minutes of walking through the woods and passing over a river, they finally reached the inhabited area. Even from the outskirts, people noticed them approaching. Isabelle smiled at the sight of children rushing over to greet them, but she could see McKay was visibly frightened.
Behind the herd of children, a couple of young men, wearing a welcoming smile, walked over towards them.
"Hey, Theos," Sheppard greeted one of them.
"Hello, Colonel," the shorter man replied, "it is good to see you, all of you."
The taller, raven haired and gray eyed man stood behind the shorter one, not saying anything. Isabelle noticed he greeted the others with a nod, but simply stared at her. It unnerved her. It didn't last long though, because the next second Sheppard's back blocked his view of her. She wondered whether it was a conscious move on Sheppard's part; but quickly erased the thought.
"Evran," Theos grabbed his attention, "lead them to Avrine's home."
The tall man waved his arm in the direction behind him, "This way."
Before Isabelle could follow, she felt something tug at her slacks. She looked down to see one of the children had grabbed her leg.
"Hi," Isabelle smiled at him, "what's your name?"
"Very funny, Issy," he pouted before releasing his grasp on her leg and in turn grabbed her hand, "come on."
She tried to keep up with the kid as he ran down the dirt pathway, quickly catching up with the rest of them. Ronon turned around and smirked when he saw Isabelle short of breath.
Once they reached the home, an elderly woman greeted them and led them into the sitting area.
Avrine served all of them tea and cookies, "How is everything?"
"Everything is well," Teyla responded, "we hope everything is just as well here at Mironel."
"Everything has been great since the doctor informed us of the shield to protect us from the wraith," Theos stated.
"Mmm," McKay approved of the cookies he was grabbing, "yea glad I could help. These cookies are delicious by the way."
"Have more Doctor," Avrine smirked, "we are very happy about having you all back, more so because we dearly miss having Isabelle around here."
Isabelle shifted uncomfortably, complete ignorant of the context. She had no idea who these people were, but they clearly had a connection with her. Everyone from the little boy, to the mysterious gray eyed man to the caring woman in front of her.
"Actually," Sheppard interjected, "there's something we need to tell you."
The next few moments were reminiscent of the meeting in Woolsey's office. The second time around wasn't as difficult for Isabelle to withstand; but seeing the look of pity in their eyes for her situation bothered her. Luckily they were quite understanding of the matter and decided not the press the issue. The awkwardness subsided allowing the comfortable atmosphere to return.
Author's Note: Thanks for your reviews once again! You guys are great : )
This chapter was a little anti-climatic, but it sort is a set up for the next chapter. However, I do need to know whether this was an interesting chapter for you guys to read – like did it keep you engaged?
Provide your inputs in the reviews!
