Una Semana
Disclaimer: I don't own Atlantis or any of her characters. I'm just borrowing them for a short time.
Summary: Post- "Allies;" full of angst-ridden Sparky goodness with a "blink and you'll miss it" mention of Spanky
A/N: Reviews are love.
It had been one week, one week since he'd gone missing, seven days since an aching hollow had settled in her heart. She hadn't handled it very well when Caldwell told her. Actually that was an understatement; she had ended up "shooting the messenger," so to speak. And to top it all off, two other members of her team were missing, the Wraith were headed for Earth, and all of it was her fault. She had screwed up royally and all of them would suffer the consequences.
"Missing and presumed dead" was the official report she'd received from the Colonel about Atlantis' military commander, while her leading scientist and resident Satedan were listed simply as "missing in action." She thought the more appropriate term for the two of them was "prisoners of war," but she hadn't questioned the commander of the Daedalus' phrasing. To be quite honest she hasn't done anything rationally after hearing the news. After viciously lashing out at Caldwell (something she apologized for later) she had run to their balcony to get away from the suffocating hallways and people's pitying stares. She had told herself firmly that she would not cry, no way no how; but out there, leaning against the railing on the one place in the city where no one else except him would dare set foot, she had felt tears well in her eyes. Angrily she had brushed them away and told herself that she had a job to do and she couldn't fall apart. Squaring her shoulders she had marched back into the city, determined to stay strong and not let anyone see how much this had affected her. And she had performed admirably, a steel vise held her aching heart; a stony mask covered her face. Only at night, when the exhaustion of putting up a brave front caught up with her did she let go and cry, soundless sobs that racked her body. She didn't get much sleep, making her masquerade the next day that much harder.
And so the week had passed, each day worse than the one before, until today. Today the gate had activated and the three missing team members had waltzed through. She couldn't move and for a few moments she forgot to breathe. The fourth member of Atlantis' flagship team ran over to meet them, launching herself into the former Runner's arms. Surprised though she was by the Athosian woman's uncharacteristic behavior, it wasn't enough to shake her out of her rigid state. Then his eyes found hers and she remembered to breathe. His nonchalant stance and devil-may-care smile caused anger to boil beneath her calm exterior. How dare he! How dare he come sauntering back in here acting like nothing had happened, like it wasn't a big deal! Her emotions in turmoil, she broke eye contact. She was furious, intrigued, guilt-ridden, and relieved, all at the same time. As everyone in the control room ran down to greet their formerly missing comrades, she stayed where she was at the top of the stairs. Suddenly he was there, standing right in her line of vision. When her eyes once again met his, something inside of her broke and she pulled him to her. She held him close, feeling treacherous tears prickle in her eyes. He hugged her back just as tightly and breathed her name into her hair. She told him in no uncertain terms that if he ever died out there she was going to kill him. This elicited a quiet chuckle from the Lt. Colonel. Feeling the rumble in his chest as he laughed, his warmth, and catching a whiff of that scent that was unmistakably his, she was able to let it sink in that he was safe, that he had come home. And for the moment nothing else mattered; all was right with the world.