Author: Jadelyn Tate
Story: Falling In the Black
Rating: M (just to be safe--it won't get up to NC-17 but I honestly don't know how mature it will get)
Disclaimer: I own no one but Nicole Scott.
Short summery: She didn't know she was searching for a place to belong...until she found it.
A/N: This focuses mostly on an OC dealing with life in the Pegasus galaxy from Season one through…whenever I end it. :D Also, this is for my own personal prompt challenge of 50 prompts. If I get enough interest, I may LJ community the prompts.

Prompt: #2 – Gift

Nicole was in the middle of a translation when the door chimed. Looking up, she concentrated. The door slid open and she smiled. Sometimes, she really liked having the ATA gene.

"Carson, Radek, hi," she greeted the two with a smile. Ever since the heights thing, she'd gotten to be rather good friends with the two. They smiled back as they stepped inside her quarters. Carson frowned at all the boxes.

"That's a lot of stuff, lass," he commented and she gave a wry smile.

"Welcome to my office," she said and he frowned.

"You're office?" Radek asked adjusting his glasses. "Don't have one?"

"None of the culture department does," she admitted. "We've been working out of our quarters."

"Well, that is not right," Radek muttered. "We've been here a month. Have you spoken to Dr. Weir?"

"She's got other things on her mind," Nicole shrugged. "So, lunch?"

"That's why we stopped by," Carson agreed from where he was looking at a collage of pictures by her bed. He glanced at her. "Your family?"

"Yeah," she smiled softly. "I'm the oldest of five kids."

"Five?" Carson asked, shocked. Nicole nodded.

"I have two younger sisters and two younger brothers," she told them, reaching up to fiddle with her necklace. "They're the thing I miss most about Earth, being able to call them for any little thing."

"I know the feeling," Carson said. "I miss my mum."

"My sister," Radek admitted. "Miss her a lot."

"Well, let's go eat," Carson suggested. Nicole nodded, standing and stretching.

"Just no balcony's," she warned and the two men laughed.

~~*A*~~

Later that evening Nicole was back in her quarters when the door rang again. Frowning, she opened it with a thought and then paused. Standing outside was Major Sheppard. He frowned at the door.

"Okay, I did not mean to do that," he said, sounding exasperated. Nicole blinked at him, wondering how many times he'd done something without meaning to.

"I thought you were Carson so I opened it myself," she informed him, standing up when he and Lt. Ford came in with three other military men. "Can I help you Major?"

"We have a set of offices and stuff for you and your people," the Air Force officer told her. "Which boxes do you want us to take?"

"Uh…," she gaped at him a moment before finally pointing at a pile next to the wall. "Those ones?"

"Alright, you heard the lady, grab the boxes and let's get going," the Major ordered. Nicole frowned.

"Major, where--where are we going to be?" she asked warily. He smiled reassuringly at her.

"We found a nice set up for you and your group," he told her. He paused a moment. "There are five of you, right?"

"Yeah, why?" she asked. He smiled at her.

"The place we found has a large common room with a bunch of tables and database terminals with what appears to be six offices around it," he explained. "Thought that would work for you."

"Yeah, that—that sounds good," she agreed. She paused again. "Are there any balconies?"

"Yeah, one off the main room and off two of the offices," he told her, smiling. "Nice view of the ocean."

"Don't worry lass, I checked the room over," Carson said, coming in with a smile. "It has blinds so you don't have to see the drop if you don't have to."

"You're afraid of heights?" Lt. Ford asked, smiling. Nicole made a face.

"Phobic," she replied, relaxing in the presence of the cheerful men. "I nearly passed out the other day on one of the balcony's."

"You were pretty pale," Carson agreed. "Let's just keep you as far from obvious heights as possible."

"Thank you Carson," she whispered as she followed the Major and Lieutenant, all four of them carrying boxes from her quarters. He smiled at her over his armful.

"No problem, lass," he told her. "Radek and I went and talked to Elizabeth. She hadn't realized you hadn't claimed anywhere yet so she had John start looking. He found the place pretty quick."

"Thank you, Major," she called out.

"Welcome," he called back as a door opened. Nicole followed him and the young lieutenant, eyes wide.

The place was perfect. A large room with several tables and a few database terminals, she could easily see the place in action in her mind. One entire wall was windows and stain glass, showing what would have been a gorgeous view of the ocean if she wasn't getting dizzy just looking outside.

She turned to the other walls. Shelves were already set up on either side of the door and Josh and Catarina were already unloading boxes of books and other reference items they'd brought. On the other two walls were three doors and through one she could see James setting down a couple boxes. Major Sheppard took her box out of her hands and handed it to Lt. Ford before steering her out the room.

"Major, what…?" she asked and then fell silent as he opened the door directly across from the conference room. She paused in the doorway and then slowly walked in. Smaller than the conference room but larger than the six offices, it was obviously set up as half lab, half office. One side held what appeared to be a large terminal with a table/desk in front of it and a chair in between. On the opposite side were long tables where she could spread her notes out and still have room to spare.

"I figured since you have height phobia, you could use an office without a balcony," the Major said. She turned around, a smile in place.

"Thank you Major," she told him. "It's perfect."

"Oh, nice," Richard said, poking his head in the open doorway as the military commander headed out to collect his men. "You're office?"

"I have issues with heights so yeah, this is mine," she agreed. He grinned at her.

"Very appropriate," he approved. "All our boxes are in the office. We're gonna spend tonight unpacking."

"That's fine," she agreed. "I'll be there in a minute."

He smiled at her and then disappeared. Concentrating, she shut the door behind him. Looking around her new office, she smiled.

Maybe she could make this work. Maybe.