I'm back! Things are pretty crazy around here, so I haven't had as much time as I'd like. But I put up 2 chapters to make it up to you guys. :)
No, I don't own SG-A. But Nick is mine. Mwa-ha-ha!! Just kidding.
And now on with the show!

Outside Looking In

On the other side of the gate was a whole new world.

Nick found herself once more behind Rodney and John. She was so in awe of her surroundings that she only just remembered to step forward out of the way before Ronon came through behind her. Teyla was last and then the gate closed, but Nick was too busy looking around to notice.

"It's amazing." She didn't know if she was referring to the stargate's power or the wonder of Atlantis. Maybe both.

The room was unlike anything she had ever seen before. It was big and spacious with several doorways opening on to corridors. Overlooking the room was a balcony from which someone could monitor and control the gate. It was full of people and control panels. The place had undoubtedly been built by the Ancestors. Nick knew that for a fact, but something about it just felt different. A few men in a type of uniform were on the ground, probably soldiers. A blonde woman was coming toward them from the stairs. She seemed nice enough, and probably had a sense of humor, but it was obvious that those under her command respected her, and she them.

"Colonel Carter," John said, acknowledging the woman. He turned and motioned for Nick to come forward. "This is Nichelle. Nick, Colonel Carter."

Samantha Carter held out her hand and they shook. Then she turned back to John.

"The wraith?" she asked.

"Gone," John said. "There was a small group on the ground, probably just looking for food. I think we killed them all. The others left with the cruiser." He glanced at Nick, who was waiting in silence. "Nick actually took one out with a knife."

"Really?" Sam asked. She looked at Nick, slightly amazed.

"I just jumped down on her and slit his throat," Nick said simply.

"Cut his head off," Ronon said, coming up behind them. Nick shrugged. She had just done what she had to do. Samantha Carter, though, seemed to be taking a second look at her.

"Well if you don't mind," she said, talking to the entire team, "I'd like to go ahead and hear your report now." John and the others nodded. All six started walking toward a doorway together. Nick hurried after them, trying to take in everything and still keep up.

They walked through a door and into a large corridor with people walking up and down it. On one side was a window opening out onto Atlantis and offering a full view of all the towers and buildings, as well as the sea beyond. Nick stopped in front of it, mouth open and eyes wide.

"Whoa."

She stared out the window, hardly able to believe all the splendor she was seeing. She had heard great tales of the city of the Ancestors all her life, but never in her wildest dreams had she imagined such splendor. Nor had she realized how big it was.

"Are you coming?"

Teyla's voice jerked Nick back to the present. Suddenly realizing that the team had moved on and she was about to be left behind, she turned and hurried after them.

- - -

"I think that's everything," Dr. Keller said.

While Colonel Carter asked the team all the questions she had, she had asked a doctor to give Nick a routine check-up to make sure she was healthy. It hadn't taken very long at all. Dr. Keller had come in just in time to finish it up.

"I'll run some tests on that blood sample and have the results to you tomorrow," Dr. Keller said. "But as far as I can see, you're fine." She gave a small smile, to which Nick nodded.

She got down from the bed she had been sitting on and started toward the infirmary door. In the doorway she turned.

"Thanks for trying to help," she said. Her voice betrayed no emotion.

"My mom died a few years ago," Jennifer said a bit quietly, knowing immediately what she had meant. "I understand." Nick nodded and left.

- - -

It was lunchtime when she left the infirmary, and Nick was hungry. She had to stop and ask someone for directions to the mess hall, but that just confused her more. Seeing that he wasn't getting anywhere, the man kindly offered to just show her where it was. When they reached their destination a few moments later, she thanked him several times before heading inside.

She got her food and then searched the sea of tables and people for a place to sit. Her eyes lit on the table where John, Teyla, Ronon, and Rodney were all sitting together. Rodney had just said something, his face perfectly serious. Ronon and John were grinning at each other, and Teyla was rolling her eyes. Rodney then said something that seemed to be along the lines of, "I'm serious," which made John and Ronon grin more.

Nick had never had the chance to interact with anyone except her mother and their suppliers, and, though she would have died before admitting it, she was eager to impress the Atlantis team. But the sight of them all together made her suddenly aware of a bond they already shared, an understanding she would have to earn a part of. She found she was up to the challenge.

Ronon suddenly saw her standing there and he gave her a nod of greeting. John turned around partway and waved her over. She walked over to the table and Ronon moved over to make room for her. Across from her, Teyla smiled welcomingly.

"So I guess you're not contaminated or anything," Rodney said in a semi-joking way. Nick shook her head.

"She still has to test a blood sample, but other than that I'm fine." Teyla and John glanced at each other, but Nick didn't notice. She grabbed her fork and took a bite of something. She chewed it for a moment, and then gave a small nod. Not bad.

"How do you like Atlantis?" Teyla asked, making conversation. Nick shrugged.

"It's a lot bigger than I thought. Pretty intimidating. But kind of neat too." She looked around. "You can tell the Ancestors made it just from the architecture and stuff." She took another bite. "So if you aren't from Atlantis, then why are you here?"

"Originally we were supposed to explore the Pegasus galaxy," Rodney said.

"Now they're fighting the wraith," Ronon finished. Nick froze and rested her fork on her plate.

"Can I help?"

"You were pretty brave yesterday," John said. "Attacking one by yourself. That takes guts." He was obviously dodging the question.

"Can you fight?" Ronon asked curiously, cutting off Nick's reply. She nodded.

"I can use a knife. And I know some stick fighting and some physical stuff. My mom taught me."

"You up for a spar?" Ronon asked, looking for something to do with his missionless afternoon. Nick took a good look at him, sizing him up. John, remembering the millions of bruises he had earned from Ronon, was about to suggest that maybe that wasn't such a good idea, but Nick spoke first.

"Okay," she said, nodding gamely. Ronon grinned.

- - -

Dr. Keller turned around as Ronon and Nick came into the infirmary. There was a gash on the right side of Ronon's forehead that was bleeding, as well as a bruise on his cheek. She gave them both a funny look.

"What happened to you?" she asked, going over to examine Ronon's gash.

"We were sparring," he said simply.

"I hit him kind of hard," Nick said, giving him an apologetic look.

"I'm fine," Ronon said, more to Jennifer than to Nick. He glanced over at the girl. "How'd you get so fast?"

"Practice," Nick said. She rolled her shoulder around, showing that it was sore from the force of some of his harder blows. "How'd you get so strong?"

"Practice," Ronon said. The two fighters grinned at each other. No hard feelings.

"Well, it looks like you hit him pretty good," Dr. Keller said, looking at the gash. "It's going to need a few stitches." She went over to the cabinet, looking for a needle and thread. Ronon rolled his eyes.

"Guess I'll get going," Nick said, suddenly feeling a bit awkward. She turned and started for the door.

"This isn't over," Ronon called. Nick stopped in the door and turned. When she saw his face, a small grin touched her own.

"Ready whenever you are," she said. Then she turned and left.

Ronon went and sat down on the bed. Dr. Keller shut the cabinet and went over to him. He lay down while she threaded her needle.

"Good job," she said.

"On getting my butt kicked?" Ronon asked, somewhat sarcastically. A hint of a smile touched Jennifer's face.

"You made her smile."

"So?" Ronon said. Jennifer shook her head. When her own mother died, it had been days before she smiled. But the significance was lost on Ronon.

"Hold still," she said, moving on. "This'll only take a sec."

Ronon rolled his eyes. He'd already known that. He'd been in the infirmary for stitches more times than he could count. Usually after sparring. He knew what to expect.

He did his best to get comfortable.

- - -

Nick spent the rest of her day with Rodney and Zelenka, who were alternating between working in the gate room and running various tests on the samples the team had brought back from the compound. Radek was more than happy to answer each and every question she asked. In fact, he seemed thrilled that she actually expressed an interest in all of it. It took Rodney a bit longer, but he soon overcame his initial uneasiness over the fact that she was a girl. Once he realized she really was interested, he actually got fairly excited. When dinner came, the three of them sat down together near John and the others and the two scientists continued to fill Nick in on some project they were working on, which she actually seemed to understand at least a bit. A table over, Ronon, complete with brand new stitches, just rolled his eyes.

Once again, a bit slow. Sorry! But the mystery begins to unfold in the next chapter. But before you move on, how about hitting the review button?