Stargate Atlantis

by Forestmoon

"Noura"

Chapter 12 – Time to Say Goodbye Part 1

The next morning was a welcomed sight. The sky was clear and bright and everyone was glad to be back and safe on the Atlantis base. Leah, Adam and Julia met up for breakfast as usual and spoke about all the things that had happened during their stay.

"Can you believe we are leaving in three days?" Julia asked then looked to Adam with a smile.

Adam took her hand and returned the smile. "I hope we get good reviews. I have my first interview later this morning."

Leah raised a brow at the two holding hands. A sign of relief overcame her and she was thankful that the two of them finally hooked up. It has taken them over a year to get to that point. Now all she needed was her own hero, someone she could smile at and share her life with—someone who understood her.

"I am so nervous for my interview." Julia giggled with excitement.

"You will both be fine. I am sure you will get excellent reviews." Leah added. "I would be proud to work with you in the field any day."

Julia reached out and took Leah's other hand. "Promise me." She said looking at both Adam and Leah. "No matter what happens or where we land up, that we will stay in touch."

Leah nodded and Adam smiled, he wasn't planning on letting Julia out of his sight any time soon and didn't want to think about the possibility of them being separated on different assignments. For now he had to focus on being happy.

After breakfast they left to attend their assignments. Julia headed to the lab and continued to work on her study. Julia was tasked with writing a report on her findings as a final assignment for Dr. Brown. This would reflect on her review in the program.

Adam had a short time to spare before he needed to be at his interview so he decided to go over what he might say. Leah had no assignment so she went to go find Sheppard.

"Colonel." She greeted after finding him wondering around the halls.

"Lieutenant." He responded and continued to walk.

"Sir, anything you need me to do?" She asked. After all, she was assigned to him and it was his responsibility to see to it that she had something to do.

"I am heading to the conference room for Adam's interview. I believe your's is this afternoon. See you later then."

Leah stopped and let him walk off then tilted on her heels. Her interview was last and only scheduled for much later. She had to find something to do while she waited.

First she went to the prep room and checked, then rechecked her gear. After cleaning her rifle she decided to go work out. She reached the gym room and found Smithy there using the treadmill. She was about to turn and leave when he stopped and called to her.

"Turner, may I have a word?" He asked.

Her face cringed and she took a deep breath then turned around again and smiled. "Sure, what's up?"

Smithy wiped the sweat off his face and took a huge gulp of water. "I just want to apologise for the other day and let you know all is forgiven and you don't have to worry, I did not lodge a complaint."

Leah looked confused but relieved. She already had a few black marks to her record and being out of commission most of her stay here did not help. So all in all, she was glad this matter could be forgotten.

"Well I am sorry for hitting you."

Smithy laughed. "Yes well, we all did stupid things that day. I say we just forget about it."

They shook hands and finalised the matter. Smithy knew he was out of line and Leah knew she too was out of line during the training exersice so they were both in the wrong, no point in making it an issue.

Leah spent at least an hour or more in the gym, mostly practicing her martial arts, before getting bored. After a relaxing shower, she went to go find Adam to see how his interview went. He was in the lab working on a program when she finally found him.

"Adam, how did it go?"

He hardly looked up too engrossed in his work. "Oh, um, fine I guess."

She stood there for a minute and realised he was in his zone so she bid him farewell and wondered off again. Julia would be in her interview by now. Leah laughed at the though of Julia sitting in the room with all the senior officers—a nervous wreck.

Leah then headed to the mess hall and decided to grab some lunch. She wasn't that hungry but figured it was something to do to pass the time. She decided to sit outside on the balcony and eat her lunch but it was rather empty. Looking at the time she realised it was past lunch time so the mad rush must be over. The time was still however passing too slowly.

After giving herself a loud deliberate sigh, she sat down in the far corner away from everyone and looked out at the ocean.

A few moments later, Sheppard arrived and came to sit at her table. He had no food with him, just a beer.

"A little early for that, don't you think?" Leah asked but Shepard just shrugged.

She decided to try eat her food not to let it go to waste and leaned forward reaching for her fork. A hand met hers and held it firm. She looked up and found Sheppard staring at her smiling, holding her hand.

She could feel herself blushing. This was not some friendly touch or look, there was something behind it that have her stomach butterflies. Nervously she tried to pull her hand away but he held firm and had her pinned.

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you Leah." Sheppard confessed and looked around for onlookers then leaned in closer.

"Um, yes?"

"Since the first time I saw you, I knew you were special. Heck, when Carter took you away I was jealous."

Leah blushed some more. This was by for the least expected thing she could have imagined. Sheppard continued not wanting to loose his nerve.

"Soon you will no longer be under my command and I was hoping perhaps on my next shore leave, we could maybe, get together?"

He smiled again and Leah felt like melting. She knew exactly what he meant and this made her blush even more. She could not believe what she was hearing. Her feelings for Sheppard were buried deep and this brought them all to the surface. Now, he was suggesting they get together which meant that he must feel the same way.

If that was the case, why was he avoiding her so much, and yes, he was. It became apparent since they were assigned together. He would only spend time with her if they had to. She truly thought she repelled him. This confirmed she was wrong.

"I would like that very much." She finally managed to say.

He smiled and lifted her hand giving it a tight squeeze then got up and left the table.

Suddenly Leah jerked and almost fell off her chair. Two personnel sitting a little way away from her looked up to make sure she was alright. She waved in embarrassment and her face then sunk into a deep sadness.

"Just a dream." She mumbled.

As she looked up, Sheppard stepped onto the mess hall balcony. He spotted Leah and walked over to her. She pinched herself to make sure she was awake and had to control her erratic emotions. She took a deep breath and reminded herself it was only a dream.

"Turner, glad I found you." He greeted standing next to the table. "You okay? You look, flustered."

"Yeah." She lied. "Just ate something that did not agree with me."

He paused for a second as if he knew she was lying but let it slide. "Wanted to tell you your interview has been postponed till tomorrow. Something came up."

Leah looked disappointed. She was already so bored and now she had to wait even longer. "Oh."

Sheppard could tell there was something wrong and against his better judgement, he grabbed a chair and sat down at the table. This made Leah nervous but she was good at not showing it.

"No need to stay on my account, I am sure you have lots to do." She pointed out and looked at her now cold food. To top it off, there was a bug floating in her glass of water. She just rolled her eyes and sat back into her uncomfortable chair.

Sheppard smiled. He found her irritated state amusing. "Actually I have nothing on. Perhaps you'd like to join me for a round of golf?"

She eyed him suspiciously and frowned. "I don't recall seeing a golf course out here."

"We make do. Besides, I can't ask Ronon, he tends to break the clubs and everyone else is busy. Come on, it will be fun." He shrugged and read her expression. "Unless you have somewhere else you need to be?"

Leah grabbed her wasted lunch and smiled. "Nope, I'm all yours."

As she stood up she thwarted herself in her mind for saying such a stupid thing, how awkward. "Shall we?"

"Not going to finish your lunch?" He asked looking at her untouched food.

"Not really hungry."

They left the mess hall and had to make a stop at Sheppard's room to collect his golf clubs. Leah waited at the door unsure if she should go in or not.

"I don't bite." Sheppard joked obviously noticing her reluctance.

She hesitated and walked in but not very far. This was the first time she had been in his room and she took a moment to look around.

"Oh, do you play much?" She asked pointing out his guitar.

"Used to, not so much anymore. You play?"

"Kinda, did the whole band thing a while back."

Sheppard's face lit up and he could not help but smile. This reminded him of something he read in her personnel file.

"What?" She asked concerned. "We've all done the rock star gig some time in our lives."

"No, was just thinking about something I read. Ready?" He asked with his golf bag slung over his shoulder and a six-pack of beer in the other hand.

As they walked to the open balcony Sheppard could not get the grin off his face. This was beginning to bother Leah.

"Seriously, what did you read? It must have been good if you're still thinking about it." She pushed determined to be in on the joke and trying to avoid as much awkward silence as possible.

"It's nothing really."

"Apparently not."

There was a long silence as they reached John's favourite t-off spot. He began setting up the pin and choosing a club for Leah then handed it to her. After choosing his own club he took a golf ball and placed it on the tee. He was about to swing when he stopped and smile keeping his gaze to the ground.

"Did you really land up in jail for dancing on tables?"

Leah was shocked and speechless. How could he know that? Was it in her file? Was that what he's been laughing about?

'Be cool.' She thought to herself. This conversation can go south very fast.

"It sounds silly I know, but there was more to it than that." She began and waved her metal golf club cunningly nearby in a threatening manner. "That's supposed to be classified, off the record."

"Well some things get unclassified if they are deemed necessary."

"How is that information necessary here?"

"We got given full disclosure to personality traits and such. Part of the program. When you go out into the field you need to know who you can trust."

Leah laughed and shook her head sarcastically. "Well I hope that bit of information cleared things up for you."

"No, not quite. It was very vague. Perhaps you can explain to me what exactly happened." As he asked that, he gave a generous swing of his club and smacked the golf ball out into the ocean.

"I still don't see how it is relevant."

"Indulge me." He asked and this time he looked up at her.

"Are you ordering me to tell you?"

"Fine, I order you to tell me."

They both stood there with serious faces and both equally stubborn to get their way. Finally Leah gave in and walked up to the pin. She placed her gold ball down and prepared to swing. Sheppard stood back and watched as she gave a perfect swing hitting the ball a few yards further than Sheppard.

His mouth hung open. "I thought you said you didn't know how to play! What was that!?"

Leah shrugged and kept herself calm and neutral. "Actually, I didn't say anything, you just assumed."

"Anything else I should know?" He asked as he reached for two beers.

"Probably." She replied and took the beer he offered her. "Probably not." She smiled.

They retired the golf clubs for the moment and sat on the rim of the balcony. It was already afternoon and the sun was off to the side preparing to set.

"So, those tables." John began still waiting for his explanation.

"Fine." She smiled and shrugged. "It was years back when I had just joined the air force. I was out with some friends celebrating our finals. We over did it slightly with the shots and next thing you know I'm dancing on a table."

Sheppard took a sip of his beer and knew she was hiding something form him. "So they locked you up for disorderly conduct?"

"Hmph." She mumbled taking a sip herself trying to avoid the question.

"What aren't you telling me?" He pressed not so much out of curiosity but because he could tell she needed to get it off her chest.

"Just between you and me right?" She caved feeling the need to tell someone, why not him.

He nodded.

"I admit we got a little wasted, my friends more so than me. We were in a bar just off base so we figured we could let loose a bit, you know. There was this older guy hitting on my one friend, she wasn't interested but he would not let it slide. She was a civilian, old childhood buddy, moved to England years back and flew all the way over to see me. So naturally, it was my job to look out for her."

"Go on." He encouraged as she took another sip of her beer.

"The table dance was on a dare. Had to win a bet you see. But while I was up there things got precarious for my friend in the back of the bar. The guy got a little forceful and rough with her, completely wasted. He somehow managed to corner her away from the crowd, luckily I was—elevated—to see over them. I guess I didn't think, just acted. Rushed over, pulled the guy off her. He had already ripped her blouse. He was not happy, grabbed me and I just wacked him one, straight to the nose. Then we got out of there fast."

She looked down at her drink recalling the event. "Later, when they came to arrest me, I learned I hit a senior officer. He pressed charges, it got on my permanent record. He could not implement himself so he simply put it down to the table dance. And he had friends, witnesses, I did not stand a chance to defend myself. Anyway, when I joined the program, Samantha found out and convinced them to black list it so that it would not be a permanent eye sore on my record. They opted to keep it there but classify it."

Sheppard shook his head, it didn't surprise him how some people abused their power like that. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's over with and I'm the wiser for it."

"Oh, how so?"

"Next time, before I punch a guy, I will ask his name and rank." She laughed and John could not help but laugh with her.

Disclaimer: Fanfiction. I only own the character(s) I added and created for this story being 1st Lt. Leah Turner, Dr. Adam Lee, Dr. Julia West and Lt. Smithy McTaggard.