Setting: Between Stargate Atlantis episodes 2.01, "The Siege, Part 3" and 2.02, "The Intruder".

Disclaimer: I do not own the Stargate franchise.


"You are Major Lorne?" asked the beautiful, bronze-skinned woman. She had to be Teyla Emmagan, the Pegasus Galaxy's answer to Teal'c. Though she couldn't be more than five foot four, she stood with the limber grace of a dancer and the confidence of a soldier that belied her stature.

"Yep, that'd be me," Evan replied with a smile. "You're Teyla, right?"

"That is correct, Major." She bowed her head slightly in respect, though Evan could practically feel her eyes evaluating him from head to boots. Fortunately, he was used to this sort of appraisal; he was hardly a rookie, after all, and two years at the SGC didn't hurt, either. "I feel that it is important that we get to know each other before Doctor Weir and Major Sheppard return to your homeworld. I understand that you will be leading the military personnel while Major Sheppard is away."

Her tone made it very clear that she expected his return to Earth to be a temporary one. From the reports he'd read, Evan knew that Teyla had a great deal of respect for Major Sheppard, and vice versa. "And you'll be in charge of the overall Expedition," he observed. It was quite telling how much they trusted her already. "On that note, I want you to know that while I'm not the same man as Major Sheppard, I know all you've done to help us out over the past year, and I respect it. And, seeing as I'm the new guy here, I'd appreciate any advice or insights you can give me."

Teyla smiled slowly – he must have said something right. "I would be happy to do so, Major." There was a brilliant glint in her eyes, as if he had passed a test. Maybe he had. "Please, tell me something of yourself. It does not do for us to be strangers."

"Well, I was born in San Francisco. It's a coastal city, probably best known for the Golden Gate Bridge and its rather liberal culture and community," Evan chuckled, remembering a few... interesting... encounters he'd had growing up. "My mom teaches art, and my dad is a businessman. I have one sister, who's married with two kids. I joined the Air Force after college so I could become a pilot."

Evan spotted Teyla's eyes widen ever so slightly. Sheppard was a pilot, Evan knew, though he flew choppers, while Evan was a jet jock. Stevens, Evan's second, was also a chopper pilot; there were more than a few ribbings back and forth over it during their time on SG-23. Evan already missed him, Stevens having been left behind on Earth due to an infernally unfortunate injury not long before Atlantis made contact.

"I was recruited to the Stargate Program about two years ago, and I flew F-302 fighter-interceptors for a few months before I was injured in a training accident. Then I spent several months off-world at a mining operation." At Teyla's inquiring expression, he gladly elaborated. "I have a background in geology, which for once proved useful!" Evan grinned briefly before continuing. "After that, I was given command of one of the Stargate teams. I was originally going to be part of the Expedition because I have the ATA gene naturally, but then they discovered Major Sheppard-"

"-and so he came instead of you," Teyla finished his sentence with a smile. "But now you are here as well. I was born on the planet Athos, though both my mother and my father died long ago. I am a leader amongst my people, and I have traveled to many, many worlds. My people are farmers, hunters, and traders. When your people first came through the Stargate, I did not know what to think of you. In all my travels, I had never met such as you. But when Major Sheppard rescued us from the Wraith and brought us to Atlantis, I thought the Ancestors must truly have blessed us. This city is truly a place of wonders."

This was going even better than Evan could have hoped. He offered Teyla a friendly smile. "I have a few things to do at the moment, but maybe we could talk more later."

"I would like that," Teyla replied. "Perhaps over a cup of tea."