The Unseen

By: SNBRADY

Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate:Atlantis or any of it's characters.

A/N: This chapter will be from Aaralyn's point of view.

Finding A New Way Home

Aaralyn listens closely as Michael walks away, the sound of a closing door never reaches her ears, only the sound of footsteps and the rustle of leaves. There is also the feeling of soft earth under her instead of the hardness of a wooden floor, it makes her think that she must either be outdoors or perhaps in a cave if the slight smell of musk that hung in the air was any indication. Licking her lips, Aaralyn lets out a sharp whistle, the sounds quickly bouncing back at her from nearly every direction gave her the answer to that question, it was a cave. Listening even more carefully she can't hear any other sounds besides the rustle of leaves on the wind or the occasional call of a bird which indicated that they weren't very close to the village.

Suddenly warmth began to seep through Aaralyn's clothes, reminding her of the plate on her lap. She hadn't been joking when she'd told Michael how hungry she was, in fact it was at this moment that her stomach made an audible protest at being so empty. Aaralyn let her fingers become her eyes as they sought out the plate, finally they connected with the rim and she let them skim up the edge. The plate had a beautifully slick texture, very different from the rough earthenware she was used to at home. The food was warm under her touch, picking up a piece she rolled it in her fingers, the texture and fragrance indicating that it was some kind of meat. She pushes the food between her lips, Michael wasn't joking either when he said he couldn't cook; however, at the moment the needs of her stomach far outweighed the desires of her palate.

Before she even realized it Aaralyn had eaten all of the food on the plate and was feeling so much better now that she was no longer contemplating chewing off her own arm. She finally began to consider what she was to do now, a very fresh sense of sadness crept through her heart as she recalled yet again the events of the previous night that have left her to fend for herself. A few tears escape her eyes, she quickly brushes them away and banishes the rest with a deeply inhaled breath, she refuses to let her own fear and uncertainty cripple her.

Michael has already said that he'll take her to the village, but what will she do there, she doesn't know anyone there and who really wants to take in a blind girl. Perhaps Michael knows someone who'd be willing to let her work for them.

A ghost of a smile comes to her lips as her thought turn to Michael… her savior. He seems to be a rather interesting man, he has been very kind, he saved her life as well as her virtue, he gave her food and shelter, even comfort and yet there was something so… odd about him. The little interaction they've had he's acted so nervous and guarded like he was afraid to say the wrong thing. The only reason she could think of was that perhaps Michael was some kind of hermit who isn't used to talking with other people, unfortunately that strange voice of his makes it nearly impossible to even guess at his age.

Aaralyn had been so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Michael's approaching footsteps until he spoke, "you're finished?"

Aaralyn jumps at Michael's sudden appearance but quickly gets her response under control, "yes," she answers an embarrassed little smile coming to her lips, "thank you."

Michael was quite for several moments before Aaralyn could hear him finally move closer to her. He came to knell next to her, "this is for you," he says quietly taking one of her hands into his. The coolness of the water feels good against her still battered fingers, so much so that a little smile comes to her lips, "will you umm… will you need help getting clean?"

Michael's question comes out sounding so nervous that Aaralyn can't help smiling a little bigger, she could practically hear the blush in his voice, "no Michael, I can do it myself."

"Well then I'll just umm… I'll be outside," Michael says as the weight of the plate leaves Aaralyn's lap and Michael's footsteps make there way out of the cave again.

Aaralyn sits listening for more than a minute for any indication that Michael might still be nearby. When she doesn't hear anything Aaralyn pulls up her skirt to reveal only one leg before running the wet cloth over the surface of the smooth skin there. She continues the process revealing only one part of her body at a time, Michael might be a very nice man and may have saved her life but she still wasn't about to let him see her without her clothes on. Once Aaralyn had cleaned everywhere that she could without removing any of her clothes she stopped to listen again and when she heard no sign of Michael she slowly began to undo the ties on her jacket. The undershirt that would be left once her jacket was removed would protect most of Aaralyn's modesty, all the Michael would see of her were her bare arms and a bit more of her neck but it still made her nervous. Among Aaralyn's people it would be considered unseemly for a young unmarried woman to expose even so little of her flesh to anyone outside of her family.

Removing the jacket was a bit of an ordeal, the still rather painful bruises making it difficult to move her arms behind her so the garment could slip off. Finally it was gone and then she reached back to grab the jacket, it had an unusually stiff feeling to it. Aaralyn brought it in front of her to try and figure out what was wrong with it, bringing it to her nose several smells assaulted her at once making her stomach turn. Blood, sweat and fear had nestled their way into her clothes and again reminded her of the horrible events of the night before. Tears stung at the backs of her eyes and the desire to wash out the smells is almost overwhelming but then another smell catches her, a familiar one, Marek.

With the smell of her brother come so many memories of home, tending the gardens around their home with their father, learning to cook and clean with their mother and playing with their brothers and sisters as children. Aaralyn can't help thinking that this may be the last time she will be able to inhale the smell of home and that's when it hits her how lost and alone she really is.

The sobs come almost immediately and at the moment she wouldn't be able to stop them even if she'd wanted to. All of the pain in her heart and soul comes spilling from her eyes and her mouth with little cries of anguish. Aaralyn's mouth again filled with the salty taste of tears, her nose lost the ability to smell anything and her ears rushed with the sound of her own blood. This was the reason she hated crying it made her feel helpless when all of her other senses became dulled.

A sudden light breeze swept over her skin and then she heard Michael ask in a muffled voice, "are you hurt?"

The worry in his voice is obvious even when she can't hear properly, Aaralyn tries to answer but all she can get out are gasping gulps and resorts to shaking her head. It feels like an eternity before strong arms wrap around her and Aaralyn finds herself burying her face into Michael's chest. A funny feeling sweeps through her as Michael holds her, it's an odd sense of release, like having a huge weight lifted off of her, every muscle in her body relaxes, even as she begins to sob harder.

Time goes by in a haze, so Aaralyn isn't sure how long Michael has been holding her like this, his fingers drawing gentle patterns along her back as he slowly rocks her in his arms. Her breath is still coming out deep and shuddering but at least she has stopped weeping. Aaralyn is feeling much calmer now that her senses are no longer impaired, finally her sense of smell has returned and she gets her first opportunity to truly inhale Michael's scent. It is a warm, musky smell with an underlying spiciness, also there is the distinct fragrance of leather from his clothes.

Unfortunately it is at this moment that Aaralyn realizes how far into his neck her nose is and remembers that she isn't entirely dressed. Pulling away from Michael's arms Aaralyn makes a vain attempt to cover her bare arms with her hands, "I'm sorry Michael."

He must have realized how uncomfortable she was because the next thing Aaralyn knew Michael was placing a blanket around her, "it's alright, are you feeling better now?"

Michael's question is simple but the answer is so complex that Aaralyn doesn't even know where to start, "well at least I've stopped crying." A ragged sigh escapes her lips, "but no I don't think I am alright, I'm scared… and I don't know what I'm going to do now without Marek."

"That's your brother?" Michael asks and she gives him a little nod in response, "well I'm sure the rest of your family is quite worried about you."

The urge to cry hits Aaralyn again but she closes her eyes willing herself not to start weeping all over again, "no they're… they're dead," the words were even harder to say than she'd imagined and tears she can't stop are trickling down her cheeks again.

Michael is quiet for what seems like a long time before finally speaking, "was it… the Wraith."

"Yes," the word comes as barely a whisper.

Again Michael goes quiet as though he's lost in his own thoughts, just as Aaralyn is lost in her own memories of home, "if you wanted you could stay with me… for a little while."

A/N: Ok so I hope ya'll liked chapter 4, the next chapter will be a bit more interesting, especially for Michael. Thank you to everyone who have been leaving me such wonderful reviews, I appreciate every single one. Oh and I'd like to thank 'Feral Geek' aka Amie for all of her encouragement with this fic and all of the advertising (cough-pimping-cough) that she's been doing for me on her incredible fic 'Show No Fear' lots of love to you.