Authors Note: Ok so I lied… I was planning to do my 3 essays and then became horribly wrapped up in my writing…haha so much for my priorities.. But Really! I'm seriously going to have do my uni work after this posting… ENJOY and thank you for the reviews they make me smile and encourage me :-D ALSO: as annoying as I find it.. i'm breaking the story up with SGASGA.. i wanted astericks but they don't seem to be working... hmmm just lettting you know!
"Ooo Pretty" Riley said she picked up an egg shaped device and somehow turned on the flashing lights. McKay turned away from the white board "What's pretty?" he asked exasperated Riley was really trying his patience today. She was late from a meeting and had been distracted nearly the whole time with a goofy smile on her face.
Riley held up a Wraith Grenade the lights were flashing "this" Riley said. McKay's eyes went wide "OH MY GOD" he exclaimed
"What?" Riley asked lost
"You activated it" McKay said slowly as if she didn't understand.
"I was just playing with it… what is it?" She asked tossing between her two hands like a ball
"It's a wraith grenade" McKay said his heart was going into palpitations.
"What?" Riley said almost dropping it.
...SGASGASGA..
When the Control room reported an explosion off the East Pier Sheppard called Lorne to meet him at the site of the reports and assess the situation. When they reached the location of the reports they found Riley leaning over the balcony with Rodney shouting at her.
"HOW CAN YOU BE SO CHEERFUL? WE ALMOST DIED!"
"Don't do your block in McKay" Riley said not paying attention to McKay who was red in the face with anger.
"WHAT? HONESTLY YOU'VE BEEN DISTRAC-"
"What the hell is going on?" Sheppard demanded, cutting McKay's rant off. Riley was halfway over the railing "Hey Sheppard, Lorne" Riley said cheerfully. "It was a bomb… well a grenade right?" Riley corrected as she continued to lean precariously over the railing.
McKay looked at him "She!" McKay pointing at Riley "is crazy! I can't work with her anymore for today!"
"Grenade? What were you doing with a grenade" Sheppard asked, Lorne walked over and pulled Riley back from the railing worried she might fall. "You ok?" Lorne asked he brushed his hand down her back, Riley blushed and bit her bottom lip looking at Lorne "Yeah I'm good you?" she asked breaking into a wide smile.
"Of course she's fine…She picked up a bomb and started playing with it… like it's a toy!" McKay said angrily, Sheppard and Lorne exchanged looks.
"Pfft I threw it in the ocean before it exploded… no one was hurt and no damage to the city no big deal" Riley said plainly shrugging off the seriousness of it all.
"It could have been a big deal! I could of died honestly are you sure you and Cadman aren't related?" McKay asked "Because you both have a thing for bombs"
"It wasn't like that! I didn't know it was a bomb! I thought it was a toy or a doohickie… Maybe if you had a warning label attached to it then we could have avoided this situation... anyway who leaves a wraith grenade lying on their desk" Riley said.
McKay stopped short on an answer as Sheppard shot him a look wanting to know the answer aswell. "Well…I.." McKay started.
"and seriously why would the wraith have a bomb that could possibly destroy their food source" Riley added she stretched and yawned "it must be time for lunch" she stated she picked up Lorne's arm and looked at his watch.
"Shall we?" Riley asked. Trying to move the conversation on Sheppard and Lorne both were bemused as she clapped McKay on the back who was still trying to come up with a reasonable answer "Come on McKay let's eat, I think you need a meal after such an harrowing event" Riley said as she pushed him forwards in the direction of the mess. "I mean we almost died" she said melodramatically she looked back at Sheppard and Lorne ad rolled her eyes.
"Don't think I'm not done yet!" McKay said as he let Riley push him towards the transporter.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA...
Teyla giggled as Riley regaled the story of the bomb and doing impressions of McKay shouting at her. "And so my story ends with us here" Riley sat down next to Ronon on her right and Sheppard on her left with Lorne opposite her next to Teyla. McKay was stewing at the head of the table. "awwh come on McKay. Smile it was funny" Riley said.
"Honestly today working with you was like working with a 5 year old" McKay complained.
"A very intelligent 5 year old" she said with a smile, she finished her drink "So Teyla shall we go?"
Teyla nodded and started to get up from the table with Riley.
"Where are you two going?" Sheppard asked
"I am going to teach Riley Bantos fighting" Teyla said as she rounded the table to stand next to Riley.
"Really" Sheppard said surprised at how quickly in the last two weeks Riley had fitted into the Atlantis family "Well try not to get hit it hurts… a lot" he stressed
"Thank you for sage advice" Riley said stifling a giggle as she and Teyla waved and left the gentlemen to themselves.
"I wonder where she gets her energy" Sheppard mused as Riley and Teyla left.
"She sleeps on the job" McKay grumbled as he ate his fruits
"You woke her up after Girl's poker night of course she'll sleep" Sheppard said, "So Lorne what's up with you and the pretty redhead… Having hot relations or something?"
McKay choked on a grape Ronon wacked him on the back.
"Smooth sir" Lorne said trying not to laugh at McKay's reaction.
"Didn't answer the question" Sheppard stated
"Don't know what you mean?" Lorne said not wanting to give Sheppard anything. "We are just friendly neighbours" he got up and started to walk away
"You aren't fooling anybody Lorne" Sheppard shouted as Lorne walked off people turned to see what it was about. Ronon raised an eyebrow at Sheppard "My 2IC is falling in love" Sheppard said he wiped a fake tear away "They grow up so fast"
SGASGASGASGASGA...
Lorne double checked everything was set. The door chimed. Lorne opened the door to reveal Riley she was dressed in grey slacks and a white tank top with a black vest over the top. She was sporting some red welts on her arms.
"Come in" Lorne said as she came in he closed the door. Riley took his quarters, everything was neat except for one corner where he had his paintings stacked there was an easel and palette and many other art supplies. Riley smothered a laugh "What's so funny?" Lorne asked
"Nothing, I was just remembering something Laura told me" Riley said she walked over to the paintings "So these are the paintings…May I?" she asked
"Sure" Lorne said he stood beside her and watched her and she looked at every painting slowly.
After a few minutes Riley looked up at him "These are amazing… you have painted Atlantis from every angle…the use of colour and space is quite amazing… I love impressionistic art… your style no?"
"Yeah it is… you know art?"
"Not really, I read a book or two and my grandparents loved Monet and Renoir I remember when I was a kid we would stare at their artwork in books for hours but that was it" Riley said she smiled at the memory she placed the paintings back safely.
"What was your favourite?"
"Well I liked 'Luncheon of the Boating party' by Renoir. My grandmother cross-stitched and had it framed on the wall I could stare at it all day lost in it just a snapshot of a party with everyone's thoughts and feelings just frozen in time" She stopped and pulled a face."Sound stupid"
"No, I get it before I joined the Air Force I backpacked around Europe visited all the great museums and art galleries: the Hermitage in Russia, the Louvre in Paris, Musee de borge in Belgium, the Prado in Madrid. It was magical really I could spend hours lost in paintings. Bruegel's 'Fall of Icarus', Turner's water colours…anything by El Greco" He said he smiled with a fondness of the memory.
"Well you are very talented, not the amateur I was lead to believe" Riley said she
"Thank you… shall we eat?" Lorne gestured to the table.
"Sounds good" Riley looked at the table with the candles and wine "I'm impressed" she said as Lorne pulled out the chair for her. "Where did you get a set up like this?" she asked gesturing to the dinner and wine.
It was spaghetti tossed with sundried tomatoes and basil "If I told you I'd have to kill you" Lorne said as he took his seat.
"Hmm this is good" Riley said as she took her first bite.
"I take it the first lesson with Teyla didn't go so well?" Lorne asked gesturing to the welts she was sporting.
Riley smiled as she swirled spaghetti onto her fork "Yeah I learn quicker when I'm thrown into the deep end of things" Riley said "Teyla thrashed me, but it was fun" she added.
"Last night you told me of how you and Cadman are friends but how did you get to be a linguist?" Lorne asked, Riley stopped eating and put her fork down.
"Funny story, I actually wanted be a Doctor when I was growing up" Riley started.
"Really" Lorne said "Weren't you a medic in the army"
"Well I have an M.D. and a medical degree all paid for by the Australian army. It was the only way I could get a degree. My grandparents own a used bookshop they make enough money to get by and I didn't want to burden them. When I was 16 I thought 3 years in an army hospital when there isn't any war going on wouldn't be too bad"
"16?"
"I graduated from university when I was 20… I was a smart ass" Riley supplied "I served one year in East Timor and then September 11 happened and I was sent to Iraq" she took a sip of wine. "It wasn't too bad the first 6 months I was posted at a hospital smack bang in the middle of the green zone. But then I was sent to Camp Ramadi, that was an eye opener to say the least" she paused seemingly caught up in some memory and she cleared her throat "that's when I met Calen"
"Camp Ramadi is a US base" Lorne stated he'd been posted there too he knew exactly what she meant an eye opener was an understatement. He had taken wounded to the base hospital, it was not a place one wanted to remember.
"Yeah, I was on loan for a year… Calen loves telling how our helicopter was shot down we were lucky to survive and picked up by a convoy and then Calen somehow was reassigned there as to what he did I don't know" Riley took a sip of her wine before continuing "Anyway, In the last few months of my tour I had 2 days R&R in Dubai and I happened to help this businessman not get ripped off by a tailor and he offered me a job as an interpreter once I got out of the army" Riley continued "I laughed and said I'd be a doctor until the day I died but he gave me his card…he said 'you never know'… but being a doctor gave me purpose" she said in a retrospective voice.
"Obviously something changed your mind" Lorne said as he topped up Riley and his glass with wine.
"Yeah" Riley looked at the table she wore a serious expression. "Well, the ah 'you never know' happened and as you know war is no picnic" she shook herself out of whatever funk she was feeling "When I finished my service I took him up on his offer and I became a wildly successful interpreter" Riley finished she picked up her glass and sipped the wine.
Lorne nodded he could see she was still haunted, as flickers of sadness were present in her. He didn't want to push her. Everyone has scars they didn't like to talk about.
She picked up her fork and continued to eat "I actually don't mind being an interpreter it's easy work, get to travel the world" she said casually
"And other galaxies" Lorne replied,
"Yes, don't forget the free accommodation with ocean views" Riley said smiling "and the food"
"Dr Callahan please report to Lab4" Came over the PA "Dr Callahan Report to Lab4" Repeated again. Riley went for her ear piece but remembered she left it in her quarters "Do you mind if I borrow your radio?" She asked "I left mine next door"
"Sure" Lorne answered he got up and retrieved his hand set for her. The PA repeated the message "They must be desperate" Lorne said Riley took the radio from him they were both standing.
"Callahan to Control room" She said into the radio, she looked up at Lorne.
"Control room" the radio crackled
"Who is calling for me?"
"Dr McKay he said you weren't answering your radio Ma'am"
Riley sighed "Thank you… Patch me through to McKay"
"McKay here"
"McKay, Sunshine of my existence," she started sarcastically "What's going on?"
"I've been calling you for 20 minutes, where are you?"
"Eating dinner… it's supposed to be my night off" Riley said she gestured that they continue to eat, Lorne took his seat and as did Riley who took a bite of her pasta "I need you to translate something" McKay's voice came over the radio "So come to my Lab when you are done"
Riley swallowed her food and picked up the radio "Are you not listening? I said it's my night off" she replied as she swirled the last of her spaghetti onto her fork waiting for McKay.
"It's important and can't wait" McKay stated "So finish your meal and get over here" he ordered.
Riley pursed her lips unimpressed and then ate the last bite of her pasta and looked Lorne as she leaned in her chair "Did you not hear me?" McKay asked.
"Excuse me for one moment" she said to Lorne she picked up the radio and stood up from the table and turned her back to Lorne.
"I heard you McKay, and I have 6 linguists on the base who can help you with your dilemma so get a pen and paper and write them down, Dr Nayo, Grieves, Hartman, Krahn, Felsoov, and Handford. So why don't you radio all of them and if they can't put their 6 heads together and solve your translation issue then I will get to it tomorrow afternoon"
"They are incompetent I need a translation on the spot"
"Tomorrow afternoon it is"
"Tomorrow is too late!"
"Don't push it… I indulge you enough as it is… I could decide to leave all your work for next week" Riley warned. Lorne smiled beside the minor intrusion he liked where her priorities were at the moment for which seemed she wanted to be with him.
There was a long pause followed by a "Fine,tomorrow… Goodnight"
"Goodnight" she said, she turned off the radio and sighed she turned back to Lorne "I am so sorry that was really rude of me"
"Don't worry you can't help it" Lorne said he cleared away the plates to the side
"McKay is a slave driver for no reason at all" Riley said shaking her head she took her seat "So what's for dessert?" she asked raising an eyebrow. Lorne pulled out a plate with that was covered with a stainless steel lid and placed it in the middle of the table. Riley leaned forward in anticipation "Did I tell you Dessert is my favourite meal?" she asked, looking at Lorne.
"Really" he paused "I don't want you to be disappointed we are in the Pegasus Galaxy it may not be the best" he warned,
"You could have two cups of jelly turned upside down on this plate and I'd be happy as king" Riley replied sweetly.
"If I had known that earlier I could have arranged it" Lorne said as he lid off to reveal a slice of triple chocolate cheesecake. It was the chef's specialty he called it the 'Mortal Sin' and only made it on special occasions. It was surrounded by strawberries and grapes.
"Mmmm" Riley moaned as she ate a bite of the cheesecake "this is sooo good!"
"I'm glad you are enjoying it… it's called Mortal Sin" Lorne said watching as Riley enjoyed the dessert far more than he'd seen a person enjoy cheesecake before.
"A very apt name… you aren't going to have any?" she asked as she picked up a strawberry and bit into it.
"I was caught up your enjoyment" Lorne said with a sly smile.
"Can't help myself, it's the simple pleasures in life" Riley said frankly she carved another bit of cheesecake and enjoyed the delicious richness of the cake.
"Though I have a feeling you could spoil a girl" Riley said she had to admit she liked this, she hadn't been on a date in over 3 years. But there was something easy and freeing about around Lorne. She felt she could spill her guts on every facet of her life, but refrained there would be time for that.
"I guess you'll find out" Lorne said as he ate a bite of the cheesecake.