Authors Note:

Thank you to those who reviewed yesterday's chapter - this new chapter will probably be the last one for this week, next chapter to be posted Monday. In the meantime I'll catch up on review replies. Anyways, hope you enjoy the latest addition to the story. Thanks!

Chapter 10: Embarrassment

"Lost a planet Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing."
Yoda

"Doctor Keller, this is Colonel Carter. Can you report to the main conference room please?"

Jennifer frowned, dropping the pen she'd been updating records with and quickly standing. The Colonel's voice held a degree of urgency, but usually medical emergencies weren't discussed before they were acted on.

"On my way," she radioed back, closing her office door behind her and hurrying from the infirmary.

When she walked into the conference room and saw every member of Major Lorne's team was present – except for the Major himself – she couldn't help the feeling of dread that washed over her. "Colonel," she greeted Sam, raising a brow at Coughlin and getting a quick shake of the head in reply.

"Doctor Keller," Sam motioned for Jenn to sit down. Colonel Sheppard was also there and Jennifer glanced at him briefly before turning her attention to Carter.

"We have a … situation … on M8M-474," Sam began. "I think it best if Lieutenant Coughlin explains it firsthand. Lieutenant."

"Yes Ma'am," Nate didn't hesitate as he launched into an explanation that was so far from what Jennifer had been expecting she was almost speechless. "Major Lorne requested we get a medic there – before the drugs that woman slipped him clear his system," Nate finished.

"You're sure he was drugged?" Jennifer queried.

"Not one hundred percent, no," Nate admitted, "but Major Lorne definitely wasn't himself. He wasn't as sharp as usual and, excuse the description, he looked like he was about to hurl."

"Forgive me Lieutenant, but what you describe could just as easily be the effects of too much alcohol," Jennifer pointed out.

"No amount of getting drunk would make a guy's pupils that big," Nate countered. "Major Lorne's were completely black – even though it wasn't exactly well lit where they had us wait for him."

"Mmm," Jennifer's eyes narrowed consideringly. "That does sound suspicious."

"Recommend someone who can accompany Colonel Sheppard's team back to the planet Doctor," Colonel Carter requested.

"If I may, I'd like to take this mission myself Colonel," Jennifer proposed, telling herself her reasons had nothing to do with wanting to see for herself that Evan would be cared for appropriately. "In all likelihood we may be able to find further evidence to support Major Lorne's innocence. I have some experience in forensics, more than any of the field medics on my staff."

"Very well Doctor," Sam agreed without protest. "Be ready to leave in ten minutes."

"Respectfully Ma'am, we'd like to go back there too," Coughlin requested, Reed and Chiang both nodding their agreement.

"I don't think that would be wise - I'm sorry Lieutenant," Jennifer spoke before Sam could. "Until we know if and with what Major Lorne was drugged we can't be sure the three of you aren't also affected. We need to get samples from you as well … you'll help Major Lorne much more by staying here than you could going back there right now."

Nate clenched his teeth, his expression grim, but he gave her a nod. Reed opened his mouth, looking ready to protest until Coughlin gave him a look and a quick shake of the head. Jennifer was right and they all knew it.

"Check your gear in and then report to the infirmary," Colonel Carter told the three disappointed men. "If we can determine that none of you are affected and there's cause to do so, you'll get to go back to assist Major Lorne's rescue."

"Thank you Ma'am," Nate said gratefully.

The meeting adjourned, Jennifer sprung up and hurried back to the infirmary to collect specialised forensics kits as well as anything else she thought might assist her, working on the assumption that she wouldn't get to bring evidence back to the city. An Ancient medical scanner, small portable microscope and centrifuge, as well as additional blood and saliva testing supplies all went in with the basic off world medical kit.

Grabbing both bags she called Doctor Cole in from standby duty to take over the rest of her shift, only briefly explaining that she was needed off world. She also gave the other doctor a heads up that Major Lorne's team would be arriving soon and that Amanda was to run every blood test possible, looking for anything foreign.

"Doctor," Marie called her aside when she was almost done packing. "Lieutenant Coughlin sent these," she said discretely, handing Jennifer a small bundle of clothing.

"Thank you," Jenn replied, taking the clothes and adding them to her pack, impressed with Nate's forethought and consideration for his team leader.

Just as the ten minutes were up Jennifer half ran across the Gateroom floor, coming to a halt beside Colonel Sheppard just as the kawhoosh burst from the Stargate.

"All set?" John asked her, his P-90 held casually at the ready.

"I hope so," Jennifer returned.

"You'll do fine," he said, waiting for Ronon to lead the way before he walked towards the wormhole, Rodney at his side. Aware that Teyla was bringing up the rear, Jennifer stepped forward and through the wormhole.

Lorne wasn't sure how long it had been … by the time the cell door opened he was feeling better than he had when he'd woken up – usually that would be a good thing, except when you were hoping like hell you'd been drugged with something that would make it impossible for you to do what you were being accused of doing.

"Major," Colonel Sheppard strode in first. When Evan saw who followed him in, he clenched his jaw, dismayed and mortified and wondering how it was possible for him to feel even more dread than he'd already been feeling.

"Sir," he stood up quickly, too quickly if the sudden dizziness was anything to go by.

"You're not looking too steady there Lorne," John noted, stepping forward ready to catch the other man if he needed it.

Evan gave his CO a 'ya think?' look as he braced himself before straightening to his full height. "Let's hope that's because I've been drugged Sir," he said sarcastically, "or else my week is about to get considerably more screwed up."

"That's what I'm here for," Jennifer spoke, holding up her medical bag. "Forensics kit," she explained.

"Right, sure," Lorne cringed internally. Only then did his brain make the connection between needing evidence and how that evidence was going to get collected. Maybe the Minister's punishment wouldn't have been as bad as he'd imagined after all.

"Buck up Major," John looked amused. "I'm sure you'll want to do whatever it takes to get out of here."

"Yes Sir," Lorne agreed, although he was no longer as sure that was true. In all likelihood, if the predicament he'd gotten himself into didn't cure Jennifer of her 'interest' in him, having to collect from him whatever the hell passed as forensic evidence in cases like this was sure to do so.

"Minister Quaero didn't give us a lot of time initially," Jennifer announced. She looked at Colonel Sheppard and then to Evan. "For now I'm going to take a blood sample, solely to look for the presence of anything foreign in your system. I'll then conduct a full SAFE kit with Atrala – that's going to take me a couple of hours. Since you can't remember what happened, I'm going to have to do the same with you."

"A SAFE kit?" Evan queried, sure she'd glossed over that one deliberately.

"A sexual assault forensic evidence kit," Jennifer expanded. "It contains a series of steps to collect every piece of evidence that can be used to determine victim and attacker. I can explain what's involved if that helps?"

"But I wasn't assaulted," Evan protested, aware of his CO silently observing him close by.

"How do you know?" Jennifer challenged quietly.

Lorne looked away, disturbed because she was right. He couldn't remember – how the hell could he be sure of anything? Face expressionless but for the renewed clenching of his jaw, he nodded.

"Okay, so let's take that blood first," Jennifer put her bag on the floor and knelt in front of him. He'd had enough blood tests over the years to appreciate how painless she made it. A couple of minutes later she had two vials stoppered and labelled and was standing again, dusting off the knees of her pants as she turned to John.

"I'll run some tests on this later – the important thing was to take the samples without further delay."

"So, back to Minister Quaero to meet his charming sister then?" John queried.

Jennifer nodded. "I'll be back as soon as I can," she told Evan. "Until then try not to do anything that will disturb any evidence you might have on you."

Right, like he had any idea what that meant. "No problem," he told her with false confidence. "I think you'll understand what I mean when I say don't hurry back."

Jennifer smiled. "This part will be over before you know it," she promised.

"I'd prefer it to be over without me knowing it," he quipped back.

"I can always have Ronon stun you," Sheppard offered helpfully.

"Right now that's looking pretty attractive Sir," Lorne returned, only half in jest. Jennifer hesitated – he could see she was thinking about how to reassure him. "Go," he urged. "Get to Atrala before she can get rid of anything that incriminates her."

"Hang in there Major," Sheppard urged, putting a hand to Jennifer's back to escort her out.

When the door closed this time, Lorne couldn't help the faint shudder that ran through him. "Don't think about it," he told himself firmly. How had a simple refusal to entertain a woman's interest gone so horribly wrong? His future rested in the hands of Jennifer Keller now … he had to trust that she'd find the means to clear him.

"That could have gone better," Jennifer muttered, walking beside John as they returned to Minister Quaero's office. The Minister's residence wasn't a house as such – from what she could tell it was an administrative building that included areas devoted to his work, space for his personal use, visitor and guard quarters, and the holding cells Major Lorne was currently occupying. They'd been told Evan would be shifted to the town's jail once the team had finished with their investigation – Jenn's mission had narrowed down to making sure that didn't happen.

"Telling a man you're gonna have to …," Sheppard paused, gave a vague hand wave to replace the word he didn't want to use, and then continued "his man parts is never going to go well Doc," he told her. "Personally I thought he took it pretty well. And if worse comes to worse I really can have Ronon stun him."

"I usually prefer my patients to be conscious when I examine them, if at all possible," Jennifer said pointedly, "and besides, in this case I think it's important for Major Lorne to be fully aware of everything taking place, just in case …," she stopped abruptly.

"Just in case he really was assaulted," John finished, and suddenly it was all way too serious.

"And if he was?" Jennifer asked in a low tone.

"Then we make sure that woman never gets the chance to get her claws into anyone else," John promised. "And we do whatever it takes to help Lorne get past this, okay?"

"Okay," Jennifer swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, giving John a weak smile.

When they got to the Minister's office they found Lumenis in the middle of confronting a woman. Where the minister was tall, almost slender, his dark hair and green eyes standing out starkly against pale skin, the woman before him was all warmth and colour. Her lack of height didn't seem a disadvantage if the way she stood glaring up at Lumenis was any indicator. "I told you not to let Atrala out of your sight!" he shouted. "It was a simple request Dama. How was she able to evade you?"

"Was I supposed to escort her while she relieved herself husband?" Dama demanded irritably.

"Yes!" Lumenis turned away, only then spotting the Atlantis people standing in the doorway. "You have the samples from Major Lorne?" he queried, his shift to a more placid demeanour not hiding his prior agitation.

"The initial ones, yes," Jennifer replied. "I'd like to proceed with examining your sister now."

"Ah, yes, of course," the Minister grimaced.

"Do we have a problem Minister Quaero?" Sheppard asked intently.

"Perhaps," Lumenis sighed. "My wife allowed Atrala to use the facilities without escort. It seems my sister took the opportunity to wash and change clothes while she was in there."

"So, there goes that evidence," John said grimly, exchanging a worried glance with Jennifer.

Watching the Minister Jenn could see his sister's actions troubled him – he'd been full of anger when he'd allowed them entrance to his residence but had simmered down since then. That alone wouldn't help Evan. Unless she could find something that Atrala couldn't wash away, nothing would.