This is what I do when I am in a writing mood but need a break from NaNoWriMo.

Do not know when/if will continue this story. Stay tuned.

I do not own Stargate Atlantis or its cannon characters. The only thing that is mine is my characters.

Chapter 1

Caught

I usual am a night owl.

Usually.

Today, or should I say tonight, I just was not feeling it. Having the night shift at the infirmary gave me time to work on reports in between checks, but it was still pretty boring.

"Good Night, Mari Love." Dr. Beckett cheeky grin greeted her.

"What do we got tonight?" Sipping at my smoothie while looking over his shoulder at the chart. A fruity goodness of my own creation of a combination of new fruit-like plants found on a recent planet. So far they were a healthier alternative to caffeine. But test were still being run on long term consumption.

"Pretty quiet today." His thick Scottish accent deepened with fatigue.

"Bed one has some stomach bug but should be leaving once the meds kick in." Glancing up from his notes to wave 'Good Night' to Jen when she went by, he continued. I gave her a pinky wave, which she returned with a sleepy grin, since my hands were full.

"Bed three sprained his ankle, horribly, sparring today. I wish Ronon would take it easy on the new recruits." The last part mumbled while he flipping to the next page.

"And Bed six, Rodney McKay." My head jerked up to the half pulled curtain shielding the well-known scientist.

"I warn you, he's a handful. He is to only have fluids, Jell-O if he'll take it, and get plenty of sleep. He had a nasty run in with some ancient tech and will be in bed for at least a week."

My stomach did a little wobble. The taste of the cactus looking fruit in my smoothie coming up.

"If he gives you any trouble, tell him I gave you permission to knock him out with a sedative." Dr. Beckett missing my smirk to lay the clipboard on the desk.

"Night, Love. Com if you need anything."

"Mmm." Humming around a smoothie sip. "Oh, try the spiny fruit. It's like a kiwi and an orange. Trust me, sounds gross, but it's pretty good."

He gave me a little over-shoulder wave and continued on to dinner.

I gave McKay another glance before going to the nurse's station. Grumbling to myself about the trash left behind, I arranging my data pad, notes, and files before picking up the clipboard.

Flipping through the notes I made my way to the patient at Bed One.

"Dr. Ketch, my name is Mari. I will be supervising you for the rest of your time here. How are you feeling?"

"Better." She groaned. "The meds are kicking in now."

"Good." Scribbling something on her chart. "How about I check on the rest of the patients then I will discharge you, if you feel up to it."

"Perfect." She grumbled, rubbing her stomach. "I would like to sleep in my own bed tonight. I hate these concrete slabs."

"You and me both." I smiled. "I'll hurry up with these other two and get you out of here."

She gave a thankful smile before closing her eyes.

"Private Metz, my name is Mari. How are you feeling?" The young man jumping at my appearance then winced.

"Hurts like hell, ma'am." He ground out through clenched teeth.

Poor kid.

"Says here, sparing accident?" Keeping him talking while I examined his bandaged ankle. His left one almost twice the size of his right.

"Yes, ma'am. Mr. Dex is a lot faster than he looks. Threw me across the room before I even knew he had me." Scribbling down his vitals I smirked.

"I hear he is pretty aggressive." I mumbled, making notes to not think about the brooding Statidan.

"Yes, ma'am." He winced again.

"Oh! Come on!" Both of us glancing over to the half hidden Doctor tapping away at his Data Pad.

"It says here you are due for some more meds. I'll get you some pain killers and hopefully they will help you sleep through the night."

"Thank you, ma'am." Carefully shifting himself to a more comfortable position. "Whatever will help me sleep through THAT."

Gesturing with his head to the very verbally frustrated scientist.

I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile before making my way to the last, and one I was least looking forward to, patient.

"Dr. MaKay, I can see you." He tries to hide the DataPad under his blanket like a four year old caught with a package of cookies before bedtime. I march over, hand outstretched.

"Dr. Becket has you on strict orders to 'rest'. That includes staying off your DataPad." Lips set in a firm line, he cocks an eyebrow. Challenging me. I stared him down.

"I have permission to trank you if I have to." He blinks first. With a smile I pluck the electronic from his uncooperative fingers.

"But I'm BOARD." He wines.

"I have a Sudoku book, brand new one, if you want it." I remember seeing it on the desk. Tucking the electronic under my arm he waves me off.

"I'll finish it in four hours."

"Is that a record?" I asked, writing down his vitals.

"Every time I finish a book, it is half an hour faster." Doing that little prideful upwards tilt to his head he did the other time she saw him.

Not now.

With all these science experts on base, that explains why Dr. Becket orders a box of word puzzles a month. Mr. McKay was probably in here every other month, from what I was told, just himself.

"My last one was four and a half-wait- I know you." Snapping his fingers as if my name is right at the tip of his tongue.

Turning to look at a screen, though I'd already taken those vitals, to hide my blush.

"Do you work in the Botany department? Chavez?" He glanced at my nametag and I was relieved, a little. "Do you work with Kate?"

"I go in there sometimes to collect data. But I mostly manage personnel nutrition during the day and some nights I am here. So you may have seen me in passing." He blinked, I bit my tongue. Waiting for him make the connection.

"They need a whole person to decide what we eat ? And I can't get a competent assistant?" I knew full well, as did everyone on the base since it was made known to every new recruit as soon as they set foot through the Gate, Dr. McKays reputation for being a conceded know-it-all. But I will admit, I bristled a little. My fear of him remembering who I was put on the backburner.

Coyly, I turned to him, causing him to blink.

"Tell me 'Dr'. Can you tell me how much protein a base of two hundred and twenty-seven personnel need to maintain a healthy diet for a week?"

"Well-I-That is-" He stuttered.

"What can you tell me about the nutritional requirements of someone on the verge of being diabetic. Or if the new "peach" found on M76392 is classified as a fruit or a vegetable and how it can be incorporated into the bases diets?" Still working up a response.

"And 'Dr', can you tell me a healthy alternative for you, since you are allergic to," making a show of quickly flipping through his chart though I didn't need to, "citrus, to get your daily Vitamin C intake? Because if you don't, you could get Scurvy." Concern flooded his face.

"Let me get that Sudoku book for you." Abruptly putting an end to his babbling, I walked away. I still hadn't forgiven him for embarrassing me. Though I know he, at that point, had not realized his ability to read minds. And, I mean, I was thinking about my orders and just happened to look up and saw the huge Satiden and it just popped in my head right when he suddenly got mind reading powers. That was a fun email from Dr. Weir, detailing Dr. McKays condition and giving caution, after I ran away.

But, still. The Doc was a pain.

Luckily I was only in there one night during his stay. And judging from the look he gave me when I handed him the book and pen, considering giving him a pencil just to see the insult in his eyes, it would be a much quieter one and I could focus on my reports. Taking care of the other patients, Dr. Ketch grateful to be gone, I settled at computer. Logging in under my user I flipped through my reports before coming to the one I was currently working on. Glancing at Dr. McKay, judging from the pages he was a quarter done with his book, I started typing.

An email notification popped up.

I usually ignore them when I am in the middle of my work but it was from Dr. Weir.

Mandatory training?

My eyes scanned through the brief, yet to the point, email from Dr. Weir.

As of this week, Monday, all non-essential personnel will be required to train once a week with their assigned instructor for two hours. Time schedules are attached. If your time conflicts with your daily duties, email Major Lorne at-

I skimmed over the official email to open the attached document. I am scheduled with Teyla Emmagan at 3pm on Tuesdays. It didn't clash with any of my duties, but it was in the middle of the day.

I was part of a running group, not that I have anything against self-defense, but this was ridiculous since I never go off-world.

Sighing, I closed my laptop. This was probably because of those-oh, what were they call-infiltrated the base last year. Or maybe it was because of the Wraith attack. Whoever is to blame, I blame them.

Plus, Taila kind of scares me.

"Bad news?" Dr. McKay continuing to work on his book but his ear was gleefully turned towards me.

"Everyone has to take mandatory mission training with a personal trainer."

"Really?" Dr. McKay glanced up, smugly. "Have fun with that."

"Your trainer is Ronan." Private Metz snickered, Dr. McKays head jerking in my direction.

"B-but I have training. I'm on SGA-1 for heaven's sake!"