Date : 13.04.2008
Title : Worlds Apart
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 4 of ?
Rating : M
Pairings : Major Evan Lorne/Dr. Ellie Harrison
Warnings : Some Sexual Content, Romance, Adventure, Strong Language.
Spoilers : This story is part of a challenge set by puppypower01 - The Challenge of the Gate worlds - which you can find on her profile page - and part of an idea I had for another AU story…it has nothing to do with either of my other two series' which I will be continuing with shortly.
Feedback : Yes please, always welcome whatever it may be.
Disclaimer : Dr. Ellie Harrison is mine. Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1 and all their characters, unfortunately, have nothing to do with me.
Summary : AU : Major Lorne is left all alone with his newborn daughter and swears that he will never fall in love again…then he meets Dr Ellie Harrison…then still swears that he will never fall in love again!
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Ellie was getting ready to leave the infirmary when she saw Lt. Cadman sit up in bed and she cautiously made her way over.
"Hey, how're you feeling?", she asked.
"I'm fine…", Cadman replied stiffly and Ellie nodded as the Lt. continued,
"Evan told me that you called the meds and took care of Emma".
"Yeah it…", Ellie began to reply but Cadman cut her off.
"I couldn't help what happened…and you needn't concern yourself with Emma's care or being there for Evan whilst I'm in here. Thanks for what you did but they're my responsibility".
Ellie opened her mouth to respond but changed her mind and shut it again. She looked at Cadman and sighed.
"I'd like it if we could be friends", she said eventually and Cadman lifted her head and glared at Ellie.
"What, so that you can use me to get closer to Evan? I don't think so Doctor…".
Ellie frowned and retorted,
"I have no idea what you are talking about but trust me when I say that I wouldn't need your help to get closer to Evan 'if' indeed that is what I was trying to do".
Cadman watched as the petite Doctor whirled away and went back to the bed she had been resting on, she saw her pull on a robe, snatch up her uniform and head for the exit.
Sighing deeply she flopped back against her pillows.
She knew that Evan had every right to move on with his life but she was scared that once he did then Brianna's memory would be gone and she couldn't let that happen.
Emma needed to know who her mother was, and Evan needed to remember just how much his wife had meant to him…how much she should still mean to him…
OoOoO
As Ellie made her way to the mess hall to join Lorne and Emma, she wondered if maybe she should tell him that she couldn't stay.
She didn't want to cause any trouble with Cadman and it was obvious that the Lieutenant wasn't ready for her brother-in-law to have any new 'friends'.
She began to think about what she could say to get out of their dinner arrangement as she entered the mess hall but when she saw Lorne sat at a table, Emma perched on his knee, she realised that she didn't want to get out of the plans they had made.
She wanted to be here and as long as Lorne was okay with it then what could be the harm?
Lorne looked up just in time to see Ellie walking toward his table and he again felt the tug of desire that he'd felt in the infirmary earlier.
Squashing it down he smiled at the Doctor as she reached them.
"Hi", she said, taking Emma's small hand in hers as the toddler held it out to her.
"Hey", Lorne replied, keeping a tight hold on his wriggling daughter as she strained to go to Ellie.
"How are your legs?", he asked as Ellie slid into the chair opposite.
"A little sore, but I'll survive", she said. "They haven't earned me any sick leave at any rate so they cant be that bad".
Lorne smiled at her attempt at a joke but the thought of how serious the earlier incident could have been still weighed upon his mind.
"So…do you want me to get the food in?", Ellie's voice broke into his thoughts and he said.
"If you watch Emma I'll get it".
"Okay", Ellie agreed and Lorne stood and put his daughter on the chair next to Ellie.
He watched as Ellie pulled the chair closer to her and then he said,
"The main tonight is chicken in some kinda sauce…you okay with that?".
"Yeah sure", Ellie replied and Lorne nodded and headed off to the food counter.
When he returned, Emma surprised him by staying quite happily where she was and Ellie began to feed her a little bit of the chicken.
Lorne shook his head as he ate his own food.
"I cant believe how quickly she's taken to you", he commented and Ellie smiled at the little girl by her side.
"That's because I'm just sooo cool, isn't that right Emma?", she said and the toddler grinned and clapped her hands.
Lorne laughed and regarded Ellie as she ate some of her own chicken.
"So how's the gate problem?", he asked and watched as Ellie grimaced.
"Not good. We cant seem to figure out what is going on. There has to be a reason why all the gates from all of the different worlds have opened up like they have but there is absolutely nothing in the ancient database about it".
"Maybe it has nothing to do with the ancients", Lorne offered and Ellie sighed.
"Maybe. We need to figure something out though and soon. Colonel Carter is far from happy about the cities' gate being wide open like it is and I heard that General Landry is fast changing his mind about the situation too".
"Yeah, its pretty unsettling, not being in control of our own gates", Lorne said glancing at his daughter.
"It is…but we have good security", Ellie replied avoiding his eyes as he looked back at her.
"Was that a compliment?", he asked and Ellie smiled.
"Maybe", she answered coyly.
Lorne cleared his throat and Ellie decided to change the subject as she didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
"I'm surprised actually that Landry hasn't requested that I to go back to the SGC. I was only supposed to be covering for Rodney but since he doesn't seem to be making any effort to go back to Earth, I thought that maybe they would want me to go back".
Lorne frowned as though he found the idea displeasing and he said,
"I didn't think of that".
"Well hopefully they'll let me stay for a while longer…I'm starting to like it around here", Ellie said and Lorne smiled.
"I'm glad".
They finished their meal, laughing at some of Emma's antics and once dessert was over, Lorne suggested a walk.
"Just so long as we stay off those higher walk-ways", Ellie said as they stood to leave the mess hall.
"No problem", Lorne replied as he lifted Emma into his arms.
They walked for a little while, taking in the lights glinting off the calm water that surrounded the city.
"I heard on the grapevine that you paint", Ellie said suddenly and watched as colour crept into Lorne's cheekbones.
"Well…I used to…but I haven't done anything since Brianna…", he trailed off and nuzzled his face against Emma's cheek as Ellie looked at him.
"Well you should take it up again, I mean you have the perfect subject right there in your arms", she said and Lorne smiled.
"Like she would sit still long enough for me to paint her", he said and Ellie reached out and took Emma's hand, laughing as the toddler suddenly launched herself at her and she gathered her into her arms as she left her father's hold.
"Well I'm sure I could help", she offered as Lorne looked on as though considering her offer.
It had been a long time since he'd had the urge to paint but now that he had talked about it, he felt the stirrings of interest in his old hobby biting at his ankles.
He looked out at the water as he thought about how Ellie had made a difference to his life already and she'd only been on Atlantis for a week or so…
Emma somehow seemed a little changed too and she seemed to brighten instantly whenever she saw Ellie.
He wondered if it was just his imagination or not. Maybe it had nothing to do with Ellie. Maybe it was just the right time to begin to move on with their lives.
No woman could replace Brianna in his heart, he knew that…but there was no harm in having a friend to talk to, to share things with.
Sure Laura was great, but she had been affected by Brianna's death too and whenever they got together all they seemed to end up talking about was the past…never the present or the future.
He turned back to find that Ellie had moved a little away from him with Emma and they were pointing out at the water and laughing at something.
He moved up behind them just as Ellie stepped backwards and his hands went to her waist to steady her as her she bumped into him .
"Sorry", he said, his mouth dangerously close to her ear and Ellie closed her eyes as heat washed over her.
"Thats okay", she said, squeezing her eyes more tightly shut as she realised how breathy her voice sounded.
Thankfully, Emma laughed, breaking the moment and Ellie opened her eyes as Lorne removed his hands and moved to her side.
"What are you guys looking at?", he asked and Ellie was glad that Lorne didn't seem affected by what had just happened.
"It seems that Sheppard and Ronon decided to do a little evening fishing but its gone a bit wrong", she said as Lorne leant forward and saw that Sheppard was being hauled back into the small dingy by Ronon who was laughing his head off at the same time.
Lorne laughed at the sight of his dripping wet C/O and Ellie smiled.
They watched on as Ronon rowed them back in and when they disappeared from sight, Lorne turned to Ellie.
"I guess I should be getting this little one to bed".
"I think so", Ellie replied as she handed a sleepy Emma back to her daddy.
They walked back the way they had come and once inside Ellie said,
"That was nice".
"Yeah", Lorne replied, rubbing a hand across Emma's back as she snuggled into his shoulder.
"Well, let me know if you need a hand if you decide to paint her", Ellie said and Lorne nodded.
"I will", he replied.
They hovered for a second or two and then Ellie began to move away.
"Bye Evan", she said and he held up his spare hand to wave at her as she left him, wondering why he was so reluctant to bid her goodnight.
End of Chapter 4