A/N: Thank Crystal Moon Magic for this update. This was not the story I wanted to update, but the desperate email I received while on vacation got me going with this little filler chapter-as I like to call them. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews and feedback. Thanks BetherdyBabe for the quick beta.

Doctor Keller was doing everything by-the-book as far as Victoria could tell, down to the stretcher she brought with her through the gate and it drove the archaeologist nuts. When Victoria balked at getting on it, an annoyed CMO stated that she'd order one of the "strong men standing around here to pick you up and place you on it."

A nod from Richards to Doctor Keller as he moved to take off his gun had Victoria leaping onto the stretcher for her ride to the infirmary.

A humiliated Doctor Parker allowed Marie to finish with her blood draw. The nurse told her that it was standard procedure after being off world and that she shouldn't be upset about all the tests.

"People have developed terrible conditions from the tiniest things in this galaxy," Marie said as she patted Victoria's arm. "Besides, enjoy all the attention." The nurse winked knowingly and left.

The archaeologist had no idea what she was talking about so she slumped back on the infirmary bed as she groused some more. There's no way I'll be allowed to leave tonight. Her eyes drifted to the tray with a sandwich and soup. Better deal with the crappy food and get some rest.

A soft knock on the door drew her from her musings. Master Gunnery Sergeant Richards stood in the doorway dressed in a black t-shirt, which outlined the muscles on his chest, black pants and what looked like hiking boots in place of the combat boots most of the Marines favored. He had one hand behind his back and the other was raced to knock on the frame.

"H-hi," Victoria gasped. She'd had several visitors before Doctor Keller chased them all away: Major Lorne, sheepishly following Pamela, Colonel Sheppard, Doctor Zelenka, Ronon and Teyla. She'd heard the voices of Sergeants Raven, Mehra and Warrington, but they'd been sent packing by the CMO.

"I brought some contraband," he held out a white bag obviously taken from the cafeteria.

"What?"

"Doctor Foster's nutritional restrictions don't allow this, but I think you deserve it."

"You're breaking the rules? Aren't you like a Boy Scout-Super Soldier?" Victoria asked with a smile as Richards entered the room and let the door slide shut behind him.

"You know what they say about rumors," he replied in a deep voice devoid of emotion, but she swore his lips were twitching and his eyes held only humor in them.

"That they always have a basis in fact." Victoria hated the rumor mill and realized she was just quoting it. "But I never take stock in it. I like to make my own opinions."

"And what are your opinions of me?" He pulled up a stool and held onto the white bag like it held something important as he sat down.

Victoria felt heat rise up her neck, which was exposed by the hospital gown. She couldn't find anything to say except to stammer about not knowing him and being impressed with the way everyone deferred to him. "I mean you're the head of security…"

"No, Major Deborah Hawley is the head of security, reporting to Major Lorne," he corrected with a smile overtaking the grim line his lips were trying to maintain. "And I was never a Boy Scout."

"Really?" Victoria had an image of the All-American boy, star of the football team if she thought about his childhood.

"Nope. Far from it," he replied. "Don't you want to see what's in the bag?"

"Of course, but I don't want to be rude."

"You're too polite for that."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Victoria raised her brows and observed the big man resting on the stool, which seemed too small for his six-foot-three frame.

"Exactly what it means. Now enjoy your food before Doctor Foster smells it and comes to confiscate it." The smile he showed fleetingly over the last twenty-four hours had taken up residence on his face and she thought it made him look younger than the crows' feet around his eyes implied.

Victoria opened the bag and her mouth fell open for a moment before she could put together words. "Is that a chocolate chip, chocolate frosted brownie?"

"A favorite of Colonel Carter when she was here and Mister Woolsey as well since he never stopped the special order. Only a select few of us know about the two dozen that arrive with each Daedalus run."

"You stole one?" Her eyes widened as she looked into grey eyes that never wavered from her blue eyes.

"It was more like I called in a favor. Now eat up."

After one bite of the decadent dessert, Victoria closed her eyes and moaned. "This is heavenly. I could kiss you."

"I know for a fact that Doctor Keller won't tolerate that behavior in her infirmary unless it's her and Doctor McKay," he said, a full grin finally splitting his features.

"No!" Victoria shouted, causing her to swallow too much brownie and start coughing. Within seconds a glass of water was in her hand and a large hand rested on her back. "I… No… D-don't want to… kiss you… Only… figure of speech." She labored to get the words out between coughs and sips of water.

"I understand. Carter rescued you, so he should get the kiss." Richards looked toward the door and then back to Victoria while letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"Yuck. That'd be like kissing one of my brothers," she replied as he smiled at her embarrassment. The thought of being kissed by a man like Richards sent a shiver down her spine all the way to her toes. His focus and intensity would probably make a woman pass out if it was invested in a kiss.

"Please excuse interruption," a thickly accented Russian voice said after the door swished open.

Victoria looked from Richards to her boss; Doctor Sidorov seemed to have his wild hair under control for once. The normally gruff man seemed subdued and Victoria wondered if McKay just fired him.

"You're not interrupting anything," Victoria replied quickly as she glanced at Richards who stood up but made no move to leave.

"I am sorry about today. Vere you injured badly?" Sidorov glanced at Richards and then his eyes connected with Victoria's. "Doctors Upton and Toledo are being removed from Atlantis tonight."

"I hope you're not being fired. I'm sure I can…" Victoria was cut off before she could finish by a gruff laugh and wave of hand.

"It vill take man much greater than McKay to fire me." His laughter intensified and caused Victoria to offer a weak smile. "Are you okay? You vill be here until tomorrow, da?"

"Doctor Keller wants to make sure nothing weird happened to me while I was dangling in the pyramid." Victoria's annoyance at her confinement was showing in her normally calm demeanor.

A heartier laugh came from the Russian archaeologist. "Not a surprise. You are now big star with McKay. He cannot vait to go back there and you vill be leading our efforts."

"Me?"

"Da. You did good job with finding jumpers, even Caldwell staying to help if ve need them. The military is always happy to have more veapons," Sidorov announced and then his eyes fell on Richards, who had remained next to her bed, and lingered for a few moments. "You are great American Marine Sergeant Richards."

Sidorov spoke as if he stated a fact and it drew a raised brow from the Marine. Victoria had no idea what had caused her boss to say such a thing, but she guessed even he had heard the stories of Richards' exploits and saw him as a bit of a celebrity.

"My son said you and O'Neill vere only Americans he'd ever fight with."

Victoria's eyes widened because she had no idea Sidorov had a son or that he was a soldier in the SGC.

"I was sorry to hear about your loss." Richards nodded solemnly to the older man, who offered a brief smile.

"Anatoly vanted to be soldier since he vas a little boy. When I heard he vould never valk again after battle with Ori, I knew he vas already dead. Only took a year for it to finally happen." Sidorov said gruffly, obviously trying not to let any emotions show.

"Doctor Sidorov, I'm so sorry." Victoria felt her heart breaking for this man. He'd seemed as cold as a Siberian winter, but obviously dealt with a great deal grief in his life. She knew that his wife died long ago from a heart attack but never heard a word about a son.

"Thank you, dorogój," Sidorov nodded as a look of genuine affection covered his bearded face. "I leave you two alone now. Vill see you at meeting with McKay in the morning." The Russian turned and left after a nod to the Marine.

"I am never going to allow anyone to say anything bad about him again," Victoria announced as a protective wave overcame her. "The losses he's endured give him the right to be cold and withdrawn if he wants to be. I have all my family and three of my four grandparents. I can't imagine losing those closest to you. How do you go on?"

"It does get easier with time." Richards had turned to fully face her.

As she looked into his eyes once more, she saw a flash of an emotion she never imagined he showed to anyone, regret. "Are… Did your parents…"

"Yes," he stopped her from finishing. "A long, long time ago."

"I'm sorry," she said as the desire to reach out and take his hand caused hers to lift, but she thought better of it and grabbed the bag holding more of her brownie instead. "I'll shut up now."

"Don't feel bad. You haven't done anything but be the compassionate person I know you to be."

"How do you know so much about me?" she asked as her curiosity about his all-knowing reputation got the best of her.

Before he could respond someone else came through the door to her room.

"There you are. I think Jennifer hid you back her so I couldn't find you," Rodney McKay began as he barreled into her room not knocking or even really looking at her. "I wanted to talk about tomorrow."

"I think Doctor Parker needs to rest tonight, Doctor McKay," Richards said from her side, causing her department head to jump.

"Oh, Sergeant. I mean, Master Sergeant. No, Gunny…" he mumbled. "Master Gunny, I didn't see you there. I only wanted to let her know we're not doing anything tomorrow until she's fit for duty. Nope. No work before you're ready." The genius waved a scolding finger at Victoria as if she suggested she get to work right now.

"I'm fine. Really. Doctor Keller just wants to be…"

"You can never be too cautious in the Pegasus Galaxy. I've had tons of problems come from the simplest of missions," McKay began as he put his hands in his pocket and seemed to be afraid to make eye contact with her or look too long in her direction. "I, um. I'll just go and…"

"I want a guard outside this room." Jennifer Keller's voice cut off her fiancé. "No more visitors," she said to Victoria.

"I didn't ask for them. They keep showing up," the archaeologist defended herself.

"I'm not mad at you. This one," she grabbed the sleeve of McKay's jacket, "knows better than to disturb someone who's on restricted duty."

"I just wanted to let her know that she doesn't need to be worried about anything. When she's ready, whatever she needs we'll get," Rodney said, shooting a smile at Victoria and putting a hand on Jennifer's arm. "I don't want her stressing about work."

"Out." Jennifer pointed to the door. "No talk of work until I release her."

Rodney bowed his head, looked at Victoria and said, "Get some rest. I'm glad you're not injured. That idiot is gone so he won't injure anyone again by the way."

Victoria felt bad because it was her nature to never want anything bad to happen to anyone because of her, but she couldn't help having a small bit of satisfaction that Rodney McKay got rid of a thorn in her side. Upton got what he deserved, a voice said in the back of her mind and it made her smile at the astrophysicist."Thank you, Doctor McKay. I'll be ready as soon as I'm released for any meetings you need to have."

"Excellent," Rodney said as his face brightened.

"Out," the CMO said as she now shoved her boyfriend out the door. "And two minutes for you too."

"Yes, ma'am," Richards replied.

"You better go. I don't want you to get in trouble. You've already brought me an illegal substance." She smiled as she licked her lips, which still tasted like chocolate.

"Gotta keep up the bad boy persona somehow," he said as he stepped closer to the bed.

"You were a bad boy?" she asked still amazed at all this man was sharing with her this evening.

"That's a conversation for another day." Richards glanced at his watch. "I believe you'll spend tomorrow with Doctors Sidorov, Zelenka and McKay, but if you get to have a meal without them let me know."

"Why? Are you asking me on a date?" Victoria spoke the words and then felt her face heat up.

A chuckle came from Richards. "It's just grabbing some food together. I'd hardly call that a date."

Victoria was stunned. "Um. I-I'd love to. If I'm free."

"Of course. Same here." Richards smiled once more. "Get some rest, Victoria."

There was something so intimate about hearing her first name coming from his mouth that she couldn't speak. With her mouth partially open she watched as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

TBC

A/N: This was a hard one to write as it's not the normal way I write Richards. I hope the die-hard fans will allow my indulgence.