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: #23 – Music
Nicole was looking through some translations her team had done, soft music playing from her personal laptop when the door to the Cultural Center opened.
"Can I help you, Dr. McKay?" Richard asked politely. Nicole's head shot up, looking at the CSO in shock.
"What is that?" he demanded. She frowned.
"What is what?" she asked, confused. He made a gesture around his head.
"That noise," he said impatiently.
"Phantom of the Opera?" she asked, frowning.
"Where'd you get Phantom of the Opera?" he demanded. Nicole frowned.
"I brought it," she told him. She paused and because he hadn't started yelling at her yet added, "I'm addicted to music."
"What kind do you have?" he asked, moving over to her. "I'm getting sick of all the classical they keep playing in the labs."
"A little bit of everything," she answered, finally understanding what he was doing there. Quite a few people bemoaned the lack of music around Atlantis but the culture department never had to. Between her and Josh, who loved music as much as she did and brought an impressive collection of his own, they had several genres to choose from. Today, for instance, they had been listening to every musical they had.
Sighing, she quickly rummaged through the pile of objects on the main conference table before finding the burned CD she'd made for Carson the week before that he'd returned that morning. "Here," she handed them to him. "Bring it back when you're sick of listening to that one."
"Does it have classical?" he asked warily, even as he grabbed the CD eagerly. Nicole's lips twitched.
"It has a little bit of everything," she told him. "Country, pop, rock, classical, R&B, rap."
"Good," he nodded just as the song ended and a new one came on. Everyone in the room paused as the strains of "My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada" flowed out of her personal laptop's speakers. Nicole froze and then glanced at the CSO, a bit warily, and started. He had a small smirk on his face as he listened to the song.
Still smirking when the song ended, the CSO of Atlantis walked out without a word. The room was silent for a minute before everyone burst out laughing. Shaking her head and still chuckling, Nicole went back to her work.
~~*A*~~
Nicole ignored the ding at her door. She wasn't sure how but the knowledge that the Culture Center had a eclectic mix of music had gotten out and people had been showing up the entire day, asking if she had any CD's or whatnot they could listen to. She couldn't blame them all that much since they'd been in Atlantis for close to two months with no contact with Earth but after the fifth person, she'd fled to her private office with her laptop, intent of ignoring everyone.
The door opened and she groaned.
"I don't have anymore CD's!" she snapped out, not looking up from her work. A chuckle made her turn around, cheeks red.
"Dr. Weir, I am so sorry," she told her. The woman waved it away.
"It's not a problem, Dr. Kenmore explained it," she smiled. "And call me Elizabeth."
"Nicole," she mumbled. "Did you need something? I sent an update an hour ago."
"I know," Elizabeth agreed. "You all are doing great. I actually came because of the music issue."
"Oh," she said, frowning. "Did you want me to stop?"
"No, actually I was hoping you and Dr. Kenmore would be willing to burn CD's for a music library," she explained. "I'm going to ask everyone to burn or make copies of any music they have so people aren't having to listen to the same thing over and over."
"Oh!" she said, eyes bright. "That sounds like a good idea."
"And they'll stop interrupting your work," Elizabeth agreed with a smile. "Dr. Zelenka has gathered a rather impressive collection of blank audio CD's that we don't really need but we brought anyway. If you could make the CD's and compile a list of everything we'll have, we'll put the checkout here in the Culture Center."
"I can do that," Nicole agreed after a moment. "It'll take some time though—Josh and I have a lot of music and some of it overlaps."
"That's fine," Elizabeth smiled. "I'll send a bulletin for everyone so they know to quit bothering you five and in a few days we'll hopefully have the library up and running."
"Okay," she agreed. "I'll get started once I get the CD's."
Elizabeth stood up. "I'll send someone over with them as soon as possible." She paused a moment and Nicole smiled slightly, guessing what was on her mind.
"I have a genre mix if you'd like something now," she said. Elizabeth grinned sheepishly and accepted the CD without comment.
~~*A*~~
"Dr. Scott?"
Nicole looked up. Standing in the doorway of the Culture Center was Dr. Peter Grodin, Gate Room tech and Elizabeth's personal aid. She smiled at the Brit and the box in his arms.
"Are those my blank CD's?" she asked, standing up. He nodded and placed the box on the research table.
"Elizabeth said it's possible we'll get more later on," he told her and Josh, who was already rummaging in the box. "She was wondering how you're going to organize the library checkouts."
"A sign out sheet," she said, pointing at a legal pad with a list of mixes and CD's they had plans for. "Everyone will have to sign out each CD and will be allowed them for one week, maximum. I'm hoping Radek can get a system in place that makes it impossible for someone to check out more than two CD's at a time but I'm not holding my breath."
Peter nodded, making some notes on his computer. "Any idea when the Library will be done?"
"A few days," Josh said, speaking up. The man was slightly older than Nicole but not by much. They'd been working together at Stargate Command for several years and had a great respect for each other. Nicole couldn't think of a better person to be her 2iC of the Culture Center.
Peter nodded and left after making plans to meet up with Catarina for dinner. Smiling at the good-natured ribbing, Nicole turned up the volume on her laptop.
All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are
As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light
You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye
You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye