A/N: Thank you for the reviews and for dealing with my clichéd cliffhanger from the last chapter. This should have been published last night, but power outage from freak snowstorm on East Coast delayed.
The walls were made of a stone/metal alloy similar to the internal walls on Atlantis. For the KA-BAR knife to penetrate them spoke of unbelievable power behind it. The man wielding that power snarled something through clenched teeth into Ares ear before he stepped back and let the young man fall unceremoniously to the floor. What sounded like a sob echoing from him.
The corridor was quiet until everyone released a collective breath. Victoria saw Dwayne turn to look at her, but refuse to make eye contact. He unclipped his gun, removed his holster and handed them to Warrington who stood next to her. His gaze then drifted to his CO as he stood at attention. "Permission to bring Victoria to Doctor Keller, sir."
Lorne looked at Victoria, perhaps seeing her for the first time since he came upon the scene. His eyes widened as he quickly dropped his gun and grabbed something from his Tac Vest. A piece of gauze was handed to Dwayne who gently pressed it to her cut cheek. She had no idea when he pulled his jacket off, but it suddenly engulfed her in his warmth.
The gentle contact after witnessing him nearly ram a seven-inch blade through Ares' skull seemed to erase the strength the adrenaline burst provided. Her legs suddenly felt like jelly and she couldn't keep the sob from being heard as a wave of tears started to fall. She knew they were mostly due to the fact that she'd just survived the second scariest moment of her life, but the men around her didn't.
Dwayne moved swiftly, scooping her into his arms and once again looked at his CO.
"Permission granted," Lorne said, still stunned like the others.
Victoria awoke to the sound of quiet laughter, a thump and then a loud "Hey, that hurt."
"Watch where you put your hands," a female voice growled.
"You think I'd try something here?" a familiar voice replied. It was deeper than Victoria remembered Will Carter sounding.
Will Carter? Dusty? Her eyes flew open to stare into bright infirmary lights. She turned her head and saw Dusty on the bed next to her with her leg in a cast and Carter seated on the edge of the female Marine's bed. A table sat over Dusty's lap with cards on it.
"You'd try something in a church," Dusty replied, with a smirk.
"Wanna head down to the chapel?" Will raised his eyes only to shout when he got soundly smacked on the back of his head.
"You're insufferable," Shyan stated as she smiled at Victoria. "How're you feeling? Nothing like sleeping for twelve hours now is there."
"Twelve hours? I've been asleep for twelve hours!" Victoria shot up in bed and looked around the room.
"Yeah," Shyan said as she sat at the foot of Victoria's bed. "Care to tell us what happened? I've never known the place to be so tight-lipped in my life."
Victoria tried to remember what happened after Dwayne nearly killed Ares. She was lifted effortlessly into Dwayne's arms and her head immediately rested on his broad shoulders, his heartbeat the best lullaby she'd ever heard.
As she looked at her friends she realized Dwayne wasn't waiting for her to wake up. That could mean one of two things; he didn't want to see her… An invisible fist closed around her heart and an icy chill flowed through her veins. "Is Gunny in the brig?"
"What?" three thoroughly startled Marines all said loudly.
"I…" Victoria suddenly realized that Shyan said no one knew what was going on.
"Victoria, what happened?" Carter stood up and moved to stare down at her. It was a move her oldest brother Christopher did all the time. Trying to get the truth out of her by sheer physical dominance.
"I can't talk about it," she said with a heavy heart. Her friends continued to badger her, but she wasn't listening. If Dwayne's not in the brig, he doesn't want to be here.
She'd made him do the unthinkable. He'd snapped and nearly killed the leader of one of Atlantis' oldest allies. Because you were stupid and wandered off because you couldn't overlook a jealous co-worker's comment. Tears stung her eyes so she shut them quickly while her friends continued to shoot questions at her.
Thankfully, Doctor Keller came in and shooed everyone out.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Dwayne Richards stood at attention outside Colonel Sheppard's office for the last hour. John was in a meeting with Mister Woolsey and Colonel Caldwell organizing security for M7G-677. Because this was the jackpot as McKay called it, security was essential. They all believed there were IOA moles on Atlantis, so they let no one speak of the discovery.
A drone factory. John shook his head at the luck of the young archaeologist who was in the infirmary. Well… Luck and the infirmary doesn't go together but damn that girl's in the right place at the right time… all the time.
Jennifer said Rodney nearly passed out when Victoria muttered something about drone production while being carried to the jumper by the man standing outside John's office. John would love to have seen that.
Once Caldwell and Woolsey left, he stepped out of his office. "Master Gunny, come in. Take a seat."
Since he assumed command of Atlantis' military, the big Marine never took the seat he offered, but John felt he needed to keep up the tradition.
"I'll stand." Was the patented response. "Permission to speak freely, sir."
John's eyes widened as he fell into his seat. "Of-of course." That's a phrase Sheppard never heard before.
"I'm willing to stand trial and face whatever punishment the leaders of M7G-677 would hand down, sir. I know the importance of what Victoria found and don't want to stand in the way of the security of Atlantis and Earth." Richards spoke in his normal tone, but something was wrong.
John stared into grey eyes that he'd looked into in the direst of situations. Eyes that for the first time showed an emotion. Regret.
"Master Gunny, I have no clue what you're talking about?" Sheppard sat up and crossed his arms on his desk, leaning forward. "Is there something you'd like to add to Major Lorne's report?"
The Marine raised a brow. "Sir?"
John stood up so he wasn't too much smaller than the Marine. "Major Lorne reported that you found Doctor Parker in a state of distress. All of you thought she'd been assaulted. A misunderstanding ensued, which was quickly cleared up. You then brought her to the infirmary after she nearly gave McKay a heart attack."
Dwayne raised both brows. "Misunderstanding?"
"Direct quote from Lorne's report." John stared back, unblinking.
"Sir…" Richards narrowed his eyes.
"You're the best soldier I've ever had the privilege of serving with. Because of that I'm ordering you to take some of the leave you've got piled up. Go and comfort Victoria now." Sheppard stepped around the desk. "She's been through a lot. Those damned… sorry excuses for soldiers treated her like shit."
Dwayne visibly tensed at John's words.
"It's a good thing she's a lot tougher than she looks," the Colonel said. "Once Teldy gets her eye checked out, she's back on the Daedalus by the way." He chuckled when Richards looked questioningly at him. "Simpson nearly laid her flat. That woman is a force to be reckoned with."
"No wonder the Major is…" Dwayne started.
"Generous," the Colonel replied and laughed. His 2IC was whipped and everyone knew it. "Now get the hell out of here."
Richards snapped to attention. "Yes, sir."
John smiled after Master Gunny left and turned to see Major Lorne approach from the other direction. "Major."
"Sir," Evan looked sheepish. "About the report…"
"I only got one email from you today, Major." Johns' hazel eyes bore into the blues of his 2IC. "This matter is closed."
"Yes, sir."
Victoria stood on the barracks level staring around. She'd been released from the infirmary and was escorted to her quarters by Shyan. The young woman was so upset that Dwayne hadn't seen her since he left her in Doctor Keller's care, she said little. The Marine was talking about something, but Victoria didn't hear her.
After waiting in her quarters for a couple of hours, an intuition she'd never had before told her to go to him. He needs you. That a man like Richards would need Victoria was ludicrous but she couldn't deny the incredible premonition that he did.
Victoria had never been to the barracks level and was terrified it was off-limits. She'd never been told that, but it seemed like she was breaking the rules. Now that she was there, she was at a loss as to what quarters were his because they didn't have names on them. What an idiot you are? You can't wander the corridors…
"Richards is just down the hall from me," Master Sergeant Dixson said as he came up behind her.
"S-sorry." she stammered. Her initial confusion at seeing the Master Sergeant was replaced with gratitude when she realized all the senior Non-commissioned officers would be on the same level. "Is it okay I'm here?"
"Holy…" Dixson gasped when he saw her face. "When's the funeral for whoever did that to you?"
"What?" Victoria suddenly felt the pull of the butterfly bandages on her cheek. "Oh… Just an accident." She touched her cheek and ducked her head.
"No wonder Richards was tearing up everyone in the gym. He must be pissed he didn't keep you safe," Dixson said. He motioned for her to follow him. "His room is two doors from mine."
Her eyes widened at his comment, but she followed after the older man. Dwayne was in the gym and not with me? Confusion reigned as she tentatively reached up to ring the chime. Her heart was hammering in her chest, but her love for him held her firm. If he doesn't want you anymore at least let him know he made you feel special for a while. The sting of tears was back so she shook her head to chase them away.
The door opened and Victoria's eyes widened. She'd seen Dwayne in a t-shirt before but this one seemed to be stuck to him. The wet hair told her he'd just came from the shower and probably pulled it on while wet.
She felt her cheeks flush as she struggled to look at his eyes. They were wide with surprise.
"Victoria, what are you doing here?"
"I…" His reaction was her worst nightmare. 'What are you doing here'meant he didn't want to see her. "I-I wanted to make sure you were-were o-okay…" She couldn't continue and turned to go.
"Victoria," Dwayne called. "Don't… don't go."
She turned to see him standing in the doorway. His arms hung loosely by his sides, but when his eyes traced over her face his fists clenched.
"How are you?" she asked. It came out weaker than she meant it to.
"How are you? You were injured." He turned the question around and stepped back to let her enter.
If Victoria had encountered this situation a month ago, she would have run for the safety of her room, her books and DVDs. But this new Victoria had survived going off world, befriended some tough female Marines and fallen in love with the heroic man before her.
There was no use denying the emotion she felt for Dwayne. Not that she'd ever been in love before but this feeling reminded her of the devotion her parents had for each other. And there aren't any more star-crossed people in love than my parents.
"I…" She took a moment to look around his spartan quarters. There were a few photos on his desk, a television, small sofa and bed. When her eyes settled on it, she felt a flutter deep in her stomach and heat flood her cheeks. "I was… I didn't…"
"Victoria," his voice was off again.
She quickly turned only to see the bathroom door open and steam on the mirrors, which confirmed her suspicions about the shower. Everywhere she looked things reminded her of the masculine man in the tiny room with her. What was I thinking?
"I'd love to know what you're thinking."
Closing her eyes and groaning, Victoria stumbled into his desk chair. "I need to stop…"
Warm hands grasped her arms and held her steady. When she opened her eyes she looked into nearly black ones staring back.
"No, you don't need to stop. It's usually when you talk to yourself that I find out the important details," he said, releasing her and stepping back.
"And that's wrong." Victoria was stung when he stepped away and decided to go for broke. It's obvious he hated her because of what she nearly made him do. "If you love someone you should be able to tell them anything. It shouldn't be hard to speak…"
Her words were lost in the sudden onslaught of Dwayne's lips. They gentled immediately as his hands cradled her face. Her hands immediately gripped his forearms, trying to absorb the strength radiating from him and to stay upright although as he deepened the kiss, thoughts of becoming horizontal flooded her mind.
TBC
A/N: Is this a better cliffhanger? I'll try to update soon.
