CHAPTER 52
"This should be a simple mission. Our contacts say that these are simple, friendly folks."
"Like the Genii." Marshal muttered.
Lorne looked around at his team. Marshal and Ericson had their game faces on; neutral in front of the newest, perhaps temporary, member.
"We go in. We make nice. We keep Kezenki here safe while he studies the local flora. "
"Yes, Sir." His team replied in a desultory fashion. There was no help for it. They got boring missions until they had a new team member integrated.
Lorne led his group through the Gate with mild trepidation. Elrose was good, but he was also arrogant. He had been on Atlantis for a week and had already started to get a reputation of running his mouth as if he were an expert whether he knew what he was talking about or not.
Arrogant and condescending, he could give Dr. McKay a run for his money. The redeeming quality about Dr. McKay – he did know what he was talking about. Ah, well, Lorne sighed, they had to start weeding out the chaff somewhere.
SGA
Sheppard was leaving Dr. Weir's office when Lorne's team came back through the gate a day earlier than expected. The question he started to call down died on his lips at Lorne's thunderous look. Marshal and Ericson didn't look too happy either. Kezenki looked as furious as Lorne.
The new man, El… something, said something and Lorne rounded on him anger flashing in his eyes. "Specialist Elrose, I've read your file. I know your skills and your accomplishments. You however do not know Pegasus or just how quickly a simple mission can go south and until you do you will do exactly as ordered without question."
"Sir, I am quite capable of responding to a hostile situation…"
"There wouldn't have been a hostile situation if you had not called the friendly folk superstitious airbags and tried to pluck a sacred lily!"
"Don't tell me you take that crap seriously! Forest gods? Come on!" Elrose scoffed his face twisting into a sneer.
"It doesn't matter if I believe it or not," Lorne shouted. "What matters is that people in this galaxy tend to shoot or sacrifice disbelievers."
He stepped into Elrose's personal space. "So next time you are told to stay away from the sacred lilies, stay away!"
"They're flowers not holy relics! It wasn't going to hurt anything to pluck one!" Elrose argued.
"Not hurt anything? Not hurt? Those superstitious folks live very long, very healthy lives. They don't have heart attacks; they don't have arthritis; they don't get cataracts and now we don't get to find out if that is because of something in what they eat! Something we could have arranged trade for!" Kezenki shouted, red with rage.
"You are now assigned to guard the salinization tanks."
"What?" Specialist Elrose glared at him.
Lorne stared at the young man implacably. The man was good, very good and he would be dead soon if he didn't learn fast that Pegasus demanded different responses.
"Yes, Sir." Elrose sneered disrespectfully. "How long, Sir?"
"Until I'm not pissed off anymore." Lorne's hands tightened on his weapon. He turned and stalked off.
Well, thought Sheppard, who's next on his list of dubious possibilities.
SGA
Lorne stalked into his quarters wishing that Atlantis had doors that slammed. He jerked his gear off and heaved it into the corner.
"Things did not go well?" Reanna asked watching him.
Evan ran a hand through his hair. "The man is a pompous, condescending, wind-bag! He singlehandedly ruined the mission."
Reanna frowned at the computer, hit a couple of keys hesitantly and then looked back at Evan. "Was anyone hurt?"
"Luckily, no." Evan huffed. "Stay away from the sacred lilies. That was all he had to do."
"So what happened?"
"He's caught fingering the lilies! If he had actually plucked one, he would have been sacrificed to appease their gods. We would have had to let them kill him or kill a lot of them to save his uppity skin."
"So he is not the newest member on your team." Reanna stated with a grin that faded as she scowled at the computer and gently pressed another key.
"No, he is the newest salinization guard." Evan growled. "What are you doing?" He finally noticed her preoccupation with the computer.
Reanna sighed and glowered at the computer. "Teyla is trying to teach me to use this…this thing. She gave me the learning program she used when she first arrived."
Evan hid his grin at her obvious frustration and moved over behind her. "So what are you having trouble with?"
"It is asking for answers and I know the answer, but it will not accept the number when I try to enter it."
She demonstrated. She hit the number key and the cursor moved but no number appeared.
Evan glanced over the keyboard. "Here, you have to have the Number Lock on." He pressed the key and pressed the number and it appeared.
Reanna shook her head. "I fear I will never remember all of these things. I understand the dangers of Jurassic much better."
Evan laughed and wrapped arms around her. "Perhaps, I could distract you from the frustrating computer for awhile." He trailed tiny kisses along her neck.
Reanna twisted in his embrace, standing as she slid from the chair. Her arms wrapped around his neck as his lips moved down her neck to trace over her collarbone. "This is much more interesting and I know how to push your buttons."
She tugged his head up and kissed him hungrily. His hands reached for the hem of her shirt breaking the kiss just long enough to tug it over her head. His fingers splayed over her soft skin, stroking gently while he moaned into her mouth.
She broke the kiss and tugged his shirt off. "I never get enough of you," she whispered as she stroked over his chest muscles.
Evan carried her to the bed and divested them both of the rest of their clothes. He couldn't believe the love and trust that she gave him so willingly. His heart swelled with emotion as he stroked her body until it was hot and wet and she was shaking with the first onslaught of her orgasm.
"I love you so much, Re." He murmured against her skin as she cried out in pleasure at his ministrations.
"And I would love you much more if you would quit teasing and fill me." She mock growled as her body bucked beneath him.
Evan laughed as he teasingly prodded the hot, velvet opening. "How much more?"
"Lots," she panted as the large head stretched her only to retreat.
"Lots and lots?" Evan pressed forward burying his head inside her heat.
"Yes," she hissed jerking forward to take more of him.
He groaned and put his hands on her hips to keep her from taking him all the way in. He pulled back and slid forward in tiny increments driving them both wild with hunger.
"Enough to marry me?" Evan asked quietly.
Reanna stilled. Startled eyes flew open to meet his. "You are serious? You wish to make me your permanent mate?"
"Yes." Evan had surprised himself with the question. He had wanted to ask her since he realized how close he had come to losing her on Jurassic, but hadn't planned on now or like this. It felt right though, he thought as he gazed down at her stunned expression.
Tears filled Reanna's eyes and spilled over. "Yes," she whispered. A ragged laugh slipped out and she grinned. Her hands tugged him toward her. "Yes."
Evan let go of the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. She said yes! His eyes glowed as he buried himself in her as their lips met.
