It had been two days since the day that Janet Fraiser had died, two days since Lieutenant Nicola Carpenter had spent the night in his bed and two days since Lorne had last spoken to someone he hoped was still at the very least his good friend. After moving from the couch into his bedroom, and bed, the next morning Lorne had awoken with Nicola still in his arms and she had not immediately run from him which is what he had expected. In fact, she had seemed oddly calm despite the fact that inside his mind was raging that he had taken advantage of a woman in despair, a junior officer and his friend. He had accompanied her to the base where she had soon gone off on her own to find her team, while Lorne had found his own. The memorial service was held and Lorne had watched Nicola from a distance, although he had noticed Daniel holding her hand throughout.
Lorne knew that he needed to speak with her, but he was also aware that he could not push things, however the opportunity soon presented itself to him as he saw Nicola approaching him in the corridor. Smiling hesitantly at her, she noticed, smiled back and stopped at the same time as him, a few steps separating them.
"Nicola, can I have a word?"
"Of course, Major." They both moved to the side of the corridor. "What's up?"
He had flinched slightly at her using his rank despite the fact that they were on base and it was completely normal for her to use his rank. All it served to do was highlight the fact that he had taken advantage of a vulnerable junior officer. No matter what his morals when it came to the flings he had, Lorne would never take advantage of anyone especially not someone with whom he worked and someone about whom he cared. "We need to talk."
"Is this really the right place?"
"Probably not."
"Major," she started and then seemed to correct herself. "Evan, you don't have anything to worry about." He looked at her in confusion. "I'm not just some junior officer on my first posting to a real base and surrounded by real men all of a sudden. I'm a grown woman and I knew what I was doing the other night. In fact, I believe I instigated the whole thing." She smiled slightly at him and he could not help but smile in return.
"It's not that simple."
"Why not? I needed a distraction."
Then it dawned on him. "You used me."
"And I'm sorry. You're my friend and I shouldn't have used you. If you're worried about work and me being a junior officer, trust me when I say that you didn't take advantage of me and I don't plan on telling anyone. I won't hurt your reputation or ever use what happened against you. I'm good at compartmentalising."
"It's not my reputation I'm worried about." There was an element at the back of his mind that was questioning what would happen should the information get out, a small scandal could be huge news at any military base. "It's you."
She looked at him, their eyes meeting, and she smiled at him again. "My reputation will be fine, too."
"I didn't mean that."
"Haven't you ever needed a distraction, sir? Or a friend with benefits?" she asked and stepped away from him. "I have to get to a meeting. Still on for swimming tonight?"
"I… I'll let you know." Ignoring the disappointed look on her face, Lorne walked off first, unable to figure out quite what was happening. In the space of two days, all of Nicola's vulnerability had gone, yet whilst her words tried to tell him that she was fine, the Nicola he knew did not randomly sleep with senior officers as a means of coping with a situation and compartmentalising would not work forever.
