Date : 15.02.2008
Title : The A.U. Series : Lost City Of The ZPM's
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 9 of 9
Rating : M
Pairings : Lt. Col. John Sheppard/Lyssa Hunter
Warnings : Some Sexual Content, Romance, Adventure, Maybe Some Strong Language.
Spoilers : This story has character's in it from my Loves series and follows on from my last story - New Beginnings.
Feedback : Yes please, always welcome whatever it may be.
Disclaimer : Dr. Ellie Harrison, Lt. Matthew Franks, and any O/C's are mine. Lyssa Hunter belongs to Kazavid and is from her Atlantis stories Behind The Mask and Reunions. Stargate Atlantis, unfortunately, has nothing to do with me.
Summary : Can the teams survive an adventure fit for Indiana Jones as they search for a whole city supposedly full of ZPM's?
As the water continued to spill around them Lorne looked down at Ellie and at first he thought he had crushed her to death as she was lying beneath him with her eyes closed and she wasn't moving.
He rested his weight on his elbows, his body still on hers as he moved her wet hair away from her face.
"Ellie?", he said, his voice sounding urgent. "Ellie come on…talk to me".
Ellie opened her eyes and looked up at him. She was perfectly fine, she just didn't want him to move.
"Are you okay?", he asked, his voice sounding gentle for once and she blinked at him as she realised how cute he was when he wasn't yelling at her.
"You owe me a kiss for saving you from the boiling oil", she blurted without meaning to and Lorne's eyes widened at her comment.
"I don't recall agreeing to that", he replied but he made no move to move off of her and he wondered what had come over him all of a sudden as he realised that her lips really did look quite inviting.
His head lowered a fraction and he watched as Ellie's eyelids fluttered closed in what he could only think was anticipation of his kiss and he was just about to lower his mouth to hers when Sheppard and Lyssa appeared in the archway to the room they had landed in.
"Major? What happened?", Sheppard asked and at the sound of his voice, Lorne sprang up off of Ellie and she opened her eyes and tried to mask her disappointment.
"We set off this trap Sir", Lorne replied to the question and it was only then that he and Ellie realised that the water hadn't stopped and was fast spreading across the floor of this room and out into the next.
"I can see that", Sheppard replied as Ellie stood.
"Is that going to stop?", Lyssa asked looking at the flowing water and Ellie glanced at the chute then back at Lyssa.
"I don't know. Where's the exit?", she asked and Sheppard shrugged.
"There is no way off this level from what we can see and if that water doesn't stop, pretty soon we're going to drown".
"Great", Lorne said then added, "Ronon radioed that he and Dr McKay were having some kind of trouble but we were a little stuck ourselves so we couldn't assist them…we haven't heard from them since".
"Our radios are screwed too", Sheppard said as he looked at Ellie.
"You have to know a way to get us out of here", he said and she stared at him.
"I do?", she queried, but upon receiving a look that could kill she added, "I do…yeah…of course I do…leave it with me", and she took off, splashing through the now ankle deep water.
If the situation Ronon found himself in wasn't so serious, he felt certain that he would normally have been rolling around by now in fits of laughter at the sight of McKay stripped half naked and stood in a pot of water with what looked like vegetables bobbing all around him.
As a finishing touch, the 'Nimrods' had put an ornate headdress on Rodney's head which consisted of feathers and flowers and they were just starting to place pieces of wood all around the base of the pot.
"This is not happening to me", McKay screeched in his usual, 'I'm in total panic mode', voice and Ronon tried to break free from the bonds at his hands.
He glanced around and tried to look for a way out…for anything or anyone who could help them.
And that's when he saw it.
"McKay! Look!", he said and Rodney glanced over to where Ronon was indicating with movements of his head and he saw a ZPM sitting in a cut out part of a boulder as though it was some kind of worship point or offering.
"I don't believe it", Rodney said, then promptly squealed again as a native proceeded to set fire to the wood around the pot he was stood in.
Rodney tried to blow on the fast rising flames and he waved his arms around, trying to splash water out of the pot and onto the fire but it didn't quite work.
The natives who had been watching his antics suddenly started to mimic his actions and they started to wave their arms and yell.
"What the hell are you doing McKay, this is no time to play with the locals", Ronon shouted and Rodney glared at him.
"Are you serious!", Rodney yelled back as he felt the bottom of the pot slowly beginning to heat up.
Ronon gritted his teeth and strained against his bonds.
He had to get them out of this and soon.
Teyla and Franks waited half and hour.
"I cannot stand this", Teyla said and Franks agreed.
"Me neither", he said moving into the pilots seat. "Let's get going".
Teyla nodded and sat in the co-pilots seat as he started the jumper and they slowly took off.
They flew over the distance back to the temple and Franks said,
"Do you see anything down there?".
Teyla peered out of the jumpers' window and sighed deeply.
"No…nothing".
"I'll go around again", Franks said steering the jumper to the left.
Lorne, Sheppard and Lyssa watched as Ellie felt her way around the walls and it was Lyssa who moved to help first.
"What're you looking for?", she asked and Ellie smiled at her.
"I have no idea…but don't tell them that", she whispered and Lyssa had to laugh.
She wanted to tell Ellie about what had happened between her and Sheppard but now was probably not the best time. She was beginning to wonder though if they were ever going to get out of this temple at all.
Ellie saw the fleeting look of worry that crossed Lyssa's face and she said,
"Seriously, I'm just looking for any kind of loose stone or a catch or anything that looks out of place".
Lyssa nodded and moved over to another section of wall, starting to search with Ellie.
Sheppard and Lorne looked at one another and then down at the rising water which was rapidly reaching their knees and they knew they had to do something.
"You got any C4?", Sheppard asked and Lorne nodded and reached into a couple of his tac vest pockets and produced the explosive.
Sheppard nodded and took it from him and they moved over to what they hoped was an outside wall.
"What are you doing?", Ellie asked as she watched Sheppard secure two blocks to the dry part of the stone wall.
"Getting us out of here", Sheppard replied.
"But the explosion could bring the whole place down", Ellie objected and Lyssa nodded in agreement and Sheppard sighed.
"Okay look, keep searching for the release button but the second the water gets to this point", and he indicated to a mark on the wall, a little underneath the C4, "We blow this, alright?".
Ellie and Lyssa agreed and started searching again.
Sheppard moved over to Lyssa and whispered,
"Are you okay?".
"Yeah, sure…are you?", she replied suddenly feeling hot under his gaze, despite the cold water climbing up her thighs.
"I will be once we get back to Atlantis and you and I take a hot shower", Sheppard replied and Lyssa looked at him.
"And would that shower be together or apart?", she asked and he cocked his head at her.
"What do you think?".
Lorne sighed as he watched Sheppard and Lyssa talking and he moved to where Ellie was.
"You alright?", he asked and although she nodded he could tell that she had lost some of her sparkle.
"Once we get out of here we still might come across some ZPM's", he said, trying to sound encouraging but she shook her head at him.
"I doubt it…so it looks like I'll be resigning and then I'll be out of your hair Major".
Lorne frowned at her.
"Ellie…", he began but was cut off as the water suddenly began to rise extremely quickly around them and he and Sheppard looked at one another from across the room urgently. They made sure their guns and ammo were kept above the water just in case.
"The charge", Sheppard said, battling the water and moving over to check the C4 whilst Lorne ushered Ellie and Lyssa well back and around the archway.
Sheppard joined them and detonated the C4 just before the water had a chance to engulf it and them.
The blast blew a large hole in the wall and as the water rushed through it, the four of them lost their footings and were swept along with it out into what looked like a large stone courtyard that was vastly overgrown.
They lay sprawled, catching their breath as the remaining water gushed out of the temple and flowed away.
They sat up and looked around and Ellie was the first to let out a cry of delight as she saw two ZPM's glinting in the sunlight….they were nestled amongst some rocks, but were there nonetheless.
She stood and raced over to them, examining the rocks for booby traps before picking up one of the ZPM's.
Sheppard and Lyssa glanced at one another and Lyssa laughed, relived for Ellie's sake that they had finally come across some of what they had come here for.
Lorne shook his head and raked a hand through his wet hair, also secretly glad that this mission hadn't been a complete failure.
He went to look away from Ellie but a movement to her left caught his eye and he immediately reached for his P-90, his action causing Sheppard and Lyssa to do the same and they aimed at the wraith who suddenly appeared from the trees.
Ellie saw what they were doing and her stomach filled with dread as she turned her head and saw the wraith stood not too far from her side. She clutched the ZPM tightly and took a deep breath before starting to run at full pelt back toward Lorne, Lyssa and Sheppard.
The second she was clear they opened fire and the wraith eventually dropped to the floor.
"Do you think there's more of them?", Ellie asked and Sheppard nodded.
"I reckon so", he replied. "Get that other ZPM and lets see if we can find McKay and Ronon".
Franks and Teyla hovered near the temple and Teyla tried to see through the gaps in the trees below.
She felt like it was useless and really they needed to be on the ground but there was nowhere for Franks to land the jumper.
Franks was just about to move away again when Teyla spotted what she thought looked like fire flickering and then she saw movement.
"Wait!", she cried and Franks looked at her.
"What is it?".
"There is something happening below, I think I can see a fire of some kind", she informed him.
"It may be our people", Franks said and Teyla frowned.
"It could also be the local people".
"I'll try and take us lower, see if there's any room to get through some of the trees", Franks said and began manoeuvring the jumper down.
Luckily he found a clearing and he guided the jumper carefully through.
McKay was beginning to feel the heat and he started to hop up and down, which prompted the natives to follow suit and Ronon closed his eyes and shook his head as he continued to work free from his bonds.
"You know this isn't the kind of dinner invitation I was thinking of", McKay yelled but the natives just grinned at him.
Finally Ronon got his hands free just as the jumper appeared at the edge of the trees, scaring the natives half to death and most of them fled for the cover of the opposite trees whilst some of the warriors stayed.
Franks and Teyla stared at the sight of Rodney in a cooking pot and Franks couldn't help the laugh that escaped him.
Teyla looked at him chidingly but the corners of her mouth ached with the effort not to curl up into a smile.
Franks fired off a blast to frighten and clear the remaining natives and as Ronon raced over to Rodney, Teyla moved to the back of the jumper and opened it up.
"Can you climb out?", Ronon asked as he started to kick dirt at the flames that were beginning to slow cook Rodney.
"Not really", McKay answered, sounding exasperated and Ronon nodded.
"I'll have to tip this over then…get ready".
Rodney braced himself as Ronon leaned against the pot and eventually it tipped over and the water, vegetables and Rodney poured out.
"Let's get out of here", Ronon said as Rodney staggered to his feet but then headed in another direction.
"McKay!", Ronon yelled but then saw that Rodney was only going to grab the ZPM from its place in the rock before re-joining him.
Teyla helped them onto the back of the jumper and when they were safely inside, Franks took them out of the area and high above the temple again.
Lyssa and Lorne walked ahead of Ellie and Sheppard and Ellie felt a little disappointed at how quickly Lorne had seemed to want to break up their pairing.
She stomped along, her boots squelching and Sheppard regarded her.
"You alright?", he asked and she nodded glumly.
"So why the long face then? We got two ZPM's and we may come across more yet", Sheppard said and she nodded but still kept silent.
"Is your heart okay?", Sheppard asked and Ellie sighed.
"John, I'm fine, really. I guess I'm just a little tired", she lied, hoping to appease him.
It seemed to work and Sheppard said,
"I just want to go a little further, see if we can see anything of Ronon and McKay and then we'll stop for a break".
"Great", Ellie said, forcing a smile as Sheppard jogged forward and drew alongside of Lyssa.
Ellie sighed and looked around at the trees as she walked.
Lorne glanced at her over his shoulder at the same time and dropped back from Lyssa and Sheppard, telling himself it was for safety reasons, but in truth he missed her company.
Just then though the jumper appeared overhead and Lyssa and Sheppard began waving their arms like crazy and Lorne joined in and so Ellie missed the fact that he had been going to join her entirely.
Franks lowered the jumper as close to the ground as he could and they clambered on board.
"What happened to you?", Sheppard asked as he took in McKay's headdress and Rodney snatched it from his head as if he'd forgotten he'd even been wearing it.
"You might well ask", he muttered.
"At least we got this", Ronon said, holding aloft the ZPM that Rodney had retrieved and Ellie finally smiled and moved closer to Ronon.
"We got two", she beamed at him and Ronon grinned at her.
"Lieutenant, take us home", Sheppard ordered, moving to the front of the jumper and Franks did as instructed.
News spread fast that three ZPM's had been brought back to Atlantis and a celebration of sorts had been arranged in the bar area for that night.
Sheppard and Lorne's teams had briefed Weir on the mission and had been dismissed for the day.
Sheppard and Lyssa had sneaked off to his quarters together and the rest had gone their separate ways to get cleaned up.
Once Ellie was showered and changed she went to the mess hall. She still felt inexplicably miserable over Lorne and when she felt miserable she needed cake.
Chocolate cake to be precise.
She also needed to see Michael but the cake was more important right now.
She got herself a huge piece and as she went to find a seat she saw a sizeable group of people gathered around one table that was pushed against a wall.
Her curiosity peaked, she headed over to the group, her cake on a plate in her hand.
"What's going on?", Ellie asked of Laura Cadman and the Lieutenant turned and grinned at her.
"Valentines cards", she stated and Ellie frowned as she suddenly remembered that it was indeed Valentines Day that day.
"The crew from the Daedalus brought a whole batch of blank cards from home for us to use to send to people if we want to", Cadman elaborated when Ellie continued to look perplexed.
"You'd better get one before they all go Doc if you want to send one to your sweetheart that is", Cadman said teasingly and Ellie regarded her.
"My sweetheart?", she said and Cadman nodded.
"Yeah, Major Lorne…you two argue so much but its sooo obvious that you're hot for each other".
"Yeah right" Ellie retorted, sticking her tongue out at Cadman before taking her cake and going to find a seat.
As she ate her cake though, she thought about what Cadman had said and a plan began to form in her mind.
'Would it hurt to send Lorne a card?', she wondered. He didn't have to know it was from her…and she certainly wouldn't tell him.
She waited until the crowd had died down around the table, then as she left the mess hall she snatched one up on her way past and crushed it against her chest, folding her arms over it.
She took it back to her quarters and stared at it, wondering what on earth had come over her.
She was about to sit down on her bed when her door buzzed and so she threw the card onto her bed and headed to open it.
It was Lyssa who was looking all clean and fresh and VERY chirpy.
"Hi…have you got a few minutes?", Lyssa asked and Ellie nodded and stepped back.
"Sure, come in".
Lyssa entered Ellie's room and immediately noticed how 'girly' it was. There were dresses and shoes and bottles of lotions and perfumes strewn around and Ellie blushed.
"Sorry about the mess…I was trying to decide what to wear to the bar later", she explained and Lyssa smiled.
"Its okay. I was wondering if I could talk to you about Shep…John…", she said, correcting her mistake.
She didn't know whether she could get used to calling Sheppard by his first name but if they were going to get involved she would have to try.
"John?", Ellie asked as they sat on her bed and Lyssa nodded.
"I wanted to tell you…before things went any further….", she began and Ellie wondered what Lyssa was trying to tell her.
Lyssa took a deep breath and looked straight at Ellie as she blurted,
"John and I made love in the temple and just now…in his quarters…and I hope you're okay with that because I 'really' like him", and then she blushed scarlet as Ellie blinked at her.
"Ohhh", Ellie said, then smiled, "Of course I'm okay with it Lyssa…you don't need to explain yourself to me".
Lyssa looked worried as she explained, "Well, you and he were together but I want us to be friends and I didn't want the fact that I'm going to be seeing John to interfere with that in any way".
Ellie reached out and touched Lyssa's shoulder.
"It was nice of you to think of me…but honestly, it's fine…I have no problems with you and John…in fact, I have this", Ellie paused as she stretched and grabbed the valentines card from the bedside table and handed it to Lyssa before continuing, "You can help me write it out".
"What is it?", Lyssa asked looking at the white card with red hearts all over it.
"It's a Valentines card…its something we do on earth to show that we like someone…but you're supposed to keep your identity a secret", Ellie replied.
"But how will the person know that you like them in that case?", Lyssa asked and Ellie shrugged.
"I know its stupid, it's just a laugh really".
"So who are you planning on sending this to?", Lyssa queried and Ellie blushed.
"Major Lorne", she replied and Lyssa gawped at her.
"But you two hate each other…don't you?".
"Well yeah…sort of…I just wanted to wind him up really", Ellie said, avoiding Lyssa's gaze.
"But you actually do like him don't you", Lyssa said and Ellie looked at her.
"Yes…but don't you dare tell him…or John…or anyone for that matter".
"My lips are sealed", Lyssa replied. "So what are you putting inside?".
"Well I know these two verses", Ellie said and then recited them for Lyssa.
ooOoo
'I love you more than chocolate
Red wine and biscuits too.
I'd happily go on a diet
If I could have more of you'.
ooOoo
'Your smile is the smile of an angel.
Your voice is as soft as a harp.
I'd give you French kisses my darling
But your tongue is far too sharp'.
Lyssa rolled about laughing.
"I love them…you have to put both of them in there", she said and Ellie nodded and began to try and disguise her handwriting by holding her pen awkwardly.
When she was done she was about to put the card in its envelope when Lyssa snatched it from her and unknowingly grabbed Ellie's favourite perfume from her chest of drawers and squirted some inside.
"No!", Ellie cried, snatching the card back and blowing on it to try and rid it of the scent but it was useless and the damage was done.
"What?", Lyssa asked innocently and Ellie sighed.
"Well, now he has a scent to go off", she said and Lyssa shrugged.
"Just don't wear that one for a while", she suggested and Ellie nodded and put the card into its envelope.
"I'll drop it into Lorne's office on my way to get changed for the bar if you like", Lyssa said and Ellie smiled gratefully and handed her the envelope. She didn't really want to risk getting caught doing it herself.
Lyssa moved to the door.
"I'd better go. So I'll see you later at the party?", she asked and Ellie nodded.
"Sure…I'll look forward to it", she said, but the second Lyssa had left her quarters with the Valentines card she wondered if she had done the right thing.
The End
The AU Series will continue soon with the next story : Ellie and The Major