Chapter 14

A/N Please point out any mistakes to me... thanks!

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Willow rushed around the lab trying to put things away when suddenly realized she had not looked at herself in the mirror all day. Aiden would be there in a few minutes and she didn't even have a mirror! She hadn't even seen one in the infirmary or the lab either. When was the last time she had spared herself a glance in one anyway? She picked up a metal tray covered with a thin white sheet with liberally spaced scalpels and other doctor's tools and uncaringly tossed all onto the table. She made a bit of clanging noise but who cared—she had been given the job as Lab Assistant—she'd have to clean up the mess anyway. Using the tray as a mirror she tried to get a good image of herself. She couldn't really see much, except her hair—it was blessedly free of any obvious tangles and lying in the best possible configuration.

"Oh good lord, Firebug. You look fine." Willow heard McKay's loud voice from his hospital bed. She didn't bother answering. She had worked out a way of conversing with McKay. She didn't speak to him when he said anything rude—and he would pause—sheepish and then try a more polite verbal tactic.

"What? That was a compliment!" McKay didn't have a clue what he had said wrong. After over three hours in the infirmary, he had been sure he had mostly figured Willow Rosenberg out. If he was what she deemed as, 'mean' then she ignored him. If he was 'sweet' she spoke to him. Didn't his last comment fit her 'sweet' category? You look fine. Three words. Three harmless words. Right? What had her in such a tizzy anyway?

"Really, lass. You look lovely." Beckett looked over his laptop at Willow. She was scrutinizing her face in the metal tin. He was sure she couldn't see a thing—and if it had been any other person he wouldn't be struggling not to laugh. He really didn't want to hurt her feelings. Who was she trying look, pretty for anyway? Zelenka? He really hoped it wasn't Zelenka. He was a nice man but a little long in the tooth.

"Really?" Willow spoke the word as a question and switched her focus from McKay to Beckett and then back to McKay. McKay was by far the most critical man she had ever met—and if he said she passed muster then she must surely pass muster. Notwithstanding the fact she had no clue as to the meaning of the word muster.

"Yes." Both men said the word at once and Willow felt okay. She busied herself reorganizing the implements onto the tray and bent to put the tray in its place. As the tray slid into position she heard Aiden's voice in the infirmary.

"What's up, McKay—hey you can sit up! That's an improvement." Aiden's voice sounded quite happy. Willow was really afraid of showing herself. She knew she was being ridiculous. The man knew she was in the infirmary. He had invited her to lunch and here he was gathering her for said lunch and she didn't have the guts to make herself seen. She counted to three inside her head and stood up. She found Aiden with his back towards her. She could see his hand on McKay's shoulder.

"You seen Willow?" Aiden asked the question. Willow felt pink spots burst out on her cheeks. Beckett and McKay were sure to know exactly whom she had been checking her attractiveness in a GOD AWFUL aluminum tray for. Geez.

"Considering that bad grammar I shouldn't point her out to you… because I am a 'sweet man' I will tell you. Look behind you…" McKay didn't say a whole sentence; he just let his words trail off. He had a clue that Aiden wouldn't be listening once he had located Willow.

"Who told you that lie?" Aiden couldn't believe anyone would use the word 'sweet' to describe McKay. As he spoke he turned around to locate Willow. She was absolutely gorgeous and sweet.

Aiden gave her a small smile that she couldn't help but return. She felt that unsettled feeling she always experienced when she was in the presence of a crush.

"Let me just put the last test tube away and I--we can go—yep… give me one minute." Willow picked up the test tube holder and quickly moved to put in its storage place. Her hands were shaking a little and she hoped Dr. Beckett couldn't hear the rattle of the glass tubes.

Beckett couldn't hear a single rattle but he did hear the glass breaking. He knew instantly what had happened and didn't really care. When he was regulated to cleaning up he broke far more than one tube in a day. He stood up and began walking towards Willow. "Oh lass, don't worry about the glass. I'll pick it up. You just head to…"

"Restore-mend. Remake your shape." Willow, quickly spoke the words to the spell. It was a simple one—she'd been doing this one for ages- usually on broken pens for Buffy. Buffy went through quite a few pens in the average day. Either she was daydreaming or thinking too hard and squeezed and burst the pens. The spell was completely second nature to her.

"Neva' mind." Beckett, gave her a disbelieving glance. He couldn't believe she had done such a thing. He was a man of science—despite the fact that McKay fully believed medical science was akin to voodoo and that he- Dr. Beckett- only the world foremost witch doctor. Willow was the real deal. She just reshaped the broken glass. Beckett went back to his stool and back to work. He was working on a memo to Dr. Weir. He would have to add this to his observations. So far he had mused about how she was a wonderful find for the lab. He would have to make an additional mention of her mysterious magical abilities.

"So how is Willow working out as a lab assistant?" Beckett hadn't even noticed that Aiden had walked closer to his workspace.

"She is great. A little witchy, if you know what I mean, but great."

"In fact"… Beckett let his words trail off as he saw Willow move closer to where Aiden stood.

"Lass, Aiden here just asked me how you are working out as lab assistant. Willow suddenly found her shoes very interesting. "I think you are doing a wonderful job."

"Really?" Willow looked up and into Beckett's caring face. She was glad he thought she was doing okay, despite the fact she had broken one test tube.

"Yes really. I can't believe you came into this with no experience except relevant coursework." Beckett could see Willow perking up. He was glad he could tell the truth and help change her view of herself.

"Yeah, maybe with Willow around, the next time someone is knocked unconscious in the line of duty you can cut the response time down by at least a minute!" McKay made the remark irregardless of the fact that he had just insulted Dr. Beckett and every person that worked in the infirmary.

"Rodney? What are you talking about?" Beckett gave McKay a hard look.

"How would you know the response time anyway—if you were unconscious?" Willow made the logical observation and was surprised to find McKay silent. She saw Beckett struggling with silent laughter and Aiden with his hand over his face and his shoulders shaking.

"Hey McKay—is your silence a belated effect of the wraith stunner?" Aiden couldn't help but make the observation. This had to be the first time he had ever seen McKay struck dumb by a frank observation.

"Funny. Very funny."

"Let's go." Aiden moved to the doorway with Willow at his side. He paused to allow her to exit, in front of him and she did so. McKay and Beckett watched them leave.

"That has to end in disaster." McKay made the first observation.

"What are you going on about, man?" Beckett had no clue as to how or why Rodney had to start off every conversation with a negative remark. And anyway how could he make such a judgment?

"Well, for starters she is so much more than him. Smarter than him—prettier than him—and what is Ford anyway? A grunt?"

"He is a West Point graduate for Pete's sake. He is far from developmentally delayed. Not everyone is a wormhole physicist." Beckett was quite annoyed at McKay's assumption that anyone that could not go toe to toe with him in whatever wonky sciences he was doctor of was a complete imbecile.

"Really? West Point? Humph. I would never have guessed." McKay looked thoughtful.

Beckett couldn't help but ask, "Is that a negative or a positive comment?"

"I am really not sure."

"What about Willow—she is some girl-woman who is unknowingly harboring some potentially dangerous technology—seriously, things cannot end well for those two." McKay knew he was right. Sure, it was sad and all that—potentially tragic really, but there was just no way Willow was a witch, and there was just no way this could all end well.

"I am not so sure she is harboring some technology." Beckett made his statement in front of McKay's shocked face.

"Oh God, not you too—what did I expect? You are a witch doctor yourself. You actually believe she is a witch? You have got to be kidding me."

"What-e-ver" McKay drew the word out and closed his eyes and settled himself back into his hospital bed. He reopened one eye—"What did she do to convince you?"

"Received an email from her friends back on Earth—responded and reformed a broken test tube." Beckett knew his evidence was pretty convincing.

"That's it?" McKay couldn't help but state outright.

"Wait a minute—she received and sent an email—give me her laptop." McKay made this announcement and sat straight up on the bed.

"No."
"No? What do you mean, no?" McKay couldn't believe Beckett could be such an idiot to let such a chance go unexplored—contact with earth.

"No way am I going through my lovely new lab assistant's things." Beckett couldn't help but look smug when he saw Rodney's body drop back onto the bed in defeat.

"Okay, okay—scratch that. Give me your radio—I need to get Ford to get Willow back here so I can ask her about the email… what are you doing? You are not shaking your head—no? What is your problem? This is our first big break in a while and you are shaking your head?"

"I am not interrupting two possible love birds."

"Love birds? What are you talking about—love can wait. I am talking about getting an email message to her friends and them relaying it to Stargate Command somehow and us… eh, I need to think on this. There are too many possibilities. What are the odds that her friends will be able to get the message to Stargate Command anyway… I am no good with subterfuge—I wonder if we could send a data stream… I will have to talk to Willow after she returns—well after my briefing… and after her briefing… and after dinner." McKay was so frustrated by the entire wasted day. He hadn't been able to do much of anything except think. And his thoughts were jumbled—it had to be an aftereffect of the wraith stunner. Usually he was so well composed.

"What about the broken test tube?" McKay had to ask.

"Hmm… sorry I wasn't listening."

McKay struggled to hold his piddling rage inside. He repeated very slowly, "What about the broken test tube?"

"Oh, that. Willow just repaired it—she said something about restore and remake and there it was, like new."

"Hmm. Interesting."

"That it is, Rodney. That it is."

Willow found the walk to the mess hall quite comfortable. Aiden walked at her side and they chatted agreeably about her day and random things. Willow had told him how satisfied she was to have been given a job as a lab assistant. She had told him about how she had become acquainted with Radek. Aiden would nod in the right places and make relevant comments. Overall it seemed to Willow as if he were quite interested in what she had to say but unwilling to delve into a full discussion on the walk. She respected the fact that he wanted to take his time. It wasn't as if the only moments they had to communicate were these few minutes in the corridors.

They entered the cafeteria. It was two thirds of the way full. Most people were already seated with a half a dozen or so standing around the buffet line or the drink stations. Aiden stepped aside to allow Willow to enter in front of him. He noticed, at first, Dr. Zelenka. Willow had mentioned, Radek, and Aiden had rationalized the twinge of jealousy he had felt. He was confident Willow saw Zelenka as a potential friend and there was really no reason to feel any unnecessary protectiveness. Aiden inclined his chin to the older man and was amused by the fact that he seemed unsure as how to respond. Aiden was sure Zelenka's genius brain was working out a dozen permutations as to exactly what an inclined chin could possibly mean in a humanoid species. Aiden didn't dare chuckle—then he would have to explain himself to the beautiful woman standing in line beside him, and he wasn't so sure she would be so understanding of his pulling of jungle rank on the kindly scientist.

Perhaps he could grunt as well. If only there was a special grunt that those with a certain amount of testosterone could hear. He would then be able to grunt—announce to all the testosterone inclined men of Atlantis, that he—Aiden Ford--was interested in Willow and they had better stay away.

Willow loaded her plate with a simple burger and a bun and a serving of macaroni and cheese. She was most interested in dessert and something to drink but she wasn't that interested in Jello. Sure Jello, packed well—but that was really no reason why they had so many different colors to choose from. She noticed Aiden's plate. He had gathered a good quantity of macaroni and cheese as well as two slices of pizza. He had also forgone any choice of the Jello.

Aiden led the way to a table somewhat close to the drink station and off to the side of the cafeteria. Aiden moved in front of her and sat his tray on the table. He moved her chair out as a courtesy and waited for her to sit. "Would you like something to drink?" Aiden was still standing and prepared to go off and retrieve something for Willow.

"Um. Something red." Willow was surprised she could even speak. Aiden had pulled her chair out for her and was off gathering her something to drink. She'd always been skeptical when women made statements about gentlemanly men. What was that anyway? She had always thought it was a little demeaning for a man to have to live his life always stepping aside to let a woman get a cab before him or standing and waiting for a woman to sit down- before he sat. Now that Aiden was doing these little things, in her presence, she actually realized just how nice it was to be put on a slight pedestal. Being cherished was definitely something she could get used to.

Aiden brought back fruit punch for willow and a large glass of water for himself. He really hoped he wasn't making her uncomfortable by being courteous. He really wasn't sure he even knew how to behave any other way. He placed the glass in front of her and sat down.

"So if I were to tip the glass forward—could you freeze the liquid?" He was half joking and half serious. Could she?

Willow laughed lightly. "Actually, I am not sure. I know a spell to suspend an object in place but like many things—I have not tried it." I could freeze a drop of water though.

"May I?" She asked, indicating his water and his straw. Aiden nodded, yes. Willow pulled Aiden's straw out of his glass of water and dripped a single drop of water onto the table. She returned the straw to him. She placed her thumb and her first index finger around the droplet of water making a 'c' formation. She spoke the single word, 'Thicken' and the water froze in place on the table.

'See' Willow looked up at Aiden. She didn't know what she was expecting to see—perhaps shock or horror. She was most surprised to see honest admiration.

"Wow! That's amazing!" Aiden rubbed his thumb on top of the frozen droplet and felt it begin to warm to his touch. Willow's hand was still gathered around the droplet. He rubbed the frozen bead of ice until it had begun to melt and then gathered Willow's hand in his. He slipped his hand into her palm and rubbed his thumb along the center of her hand.

Willow caught herself staring at him. His thumb was slightly rough and was doing things to her hand and her body that she really wouldn't have expected. The ice added extra sensation for a few moments and then she could only feel Aiden-- heat up and warm her palm.

She was just about to remove her hand from his when he released her. "How did you do it?" Aiden was curious—about the magic and of course about other things—but there really was no need to rush anything. The last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable.

"Um--" Willow had to stop to clear her throat. Her voice had dropped a half of an octave as it always did when she felt more than a little excited or agitated.

"It is somewhat about will. When the need is great—depending on a witch's development and ability you can do a few spells—if you know the correct incantation and pronunciation. Out loud—I told the droplet to 'thicken'. Inside—my thoughts convinced each molecule to stop movement and to thicken and to freeze. It is easiest with non-sentient beings." Willow paused and considered her words. Her explanation was sound. She hadn't segued into a babble—she'd just kept it simple. Had she told him the truth? Was this really the limit to her abilities?

"If this were a dangerous person or a demon—I most likely wouldn't have been able to do a thing—unless perhaps the need was great. I have some talent—but it is far from well developed." Willow felt was shocked she was so composed. Something about his touch had quieted that turbulence in her belly. Maybe this was the way it was supposed to be? She didn't really want to name the pronoun? What was the 'it' anyway? Was it love? Like? Lust? Interest? Desire? Fascination?

"Enough about me—what about you? I am a witch and you are…"

"Lieutenant Aiden Ford, West Point grad, explosives expert… etc. etc. I am Major Sheppard's 2IC, that's Second in Command. Most of the time I help organize the scientists and things. Once every couple of days I go out on offworld missions with my team and try to find Z.P.M.'s or maybe set up a trade route."

Willow looked suitably impressed.

"Trust me, it is nothing to be impressed by—I am just a soldier—doing my job."

"No—you are a solider defending the lives of everyone on this base. That's a noble job." Willow noticed a slight blush creeping up in two identical streaks on each of Aiden's cheeks. He couldn't hold her gaze. He looked down as if he were a little embarrassed.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to embarrass you. No, no. You are just a soldier—doing your job!" Willow smiled at him and reached for his hand again. She didn't know if she were reaching to comfort him or only reaching to touch him. Despite the consequences, she slipped her hand into his.

"Pre-Atlantis… what did you do for fun?" Aiden had to ask the question. He couldn't believe he had blushed at her praise. He hadn't done something like that in ages. If he had anything to do with it- he would try to match her up with some comparable activities—now that she was in Atlantis, and of course add himself into the mix.

"Hmm… lots of dancing out with friends at the local club, the Bronze… lots of coffee and conversation… a little beach going… movies… dinner… normal stuff." Willow looked pensive for a moment and then she brightened. She had made contact with her friends. Yeah she missed them but she knew they were okay and they knew she was okay. It wasn't as if she were the key person in Sunnydale that could turn the tides of anything. She was sure that between the rest of the gang, the fort could be held down for as long as she were to stay in the Pegasus Galaxy.

"I am sorry." Aiden wanted to kick himself. He had just reminded her of her friends.

"No, no. it is okay. I received an email from them earlier today—they are okay." Willow gave Aiden a bright smile.

"Really? That's surprising." He was quite shocked. What she had said made no sense. It was clearly impossible—otherwise Dr. Weir would be in constant contact with Stargate Command—oh, magic.

"I'll have to show you the email when I return to the lab! Geez--time is speeding past us!" Willow looked around at the now mostly deserted mess hall.

"We have to get back." Willow released Aiden's hand and turned her attention back to her lunch. She tried to finish off her food as quickly and as neatly as possible. Aiden did the same. After they had finished most of their food, Willow heard the crackle of Aiden's radio activating.

"Ford? Ford? Are you there?" It was McKay. Ford and Willow both rolled their eyes at the interruption. Willow sat back in her chair to listen and be amused by the one sided conversation and Ford's facial expressions.

"Yeah, yeah, what do you want me to bring you from the mess…"
"Oh come on, you are predictable".
"It's burgers and pizza and mac and cheese."
"Of course, there is Jello. The Jello is a given- no point in mentioning it."
"So you want two slices of pizza, two burgers with everything- on the side and one bowl of cherry Jello?"
"Really, I got it. Really!"
"Ford, out."

"Okay, we should really go, McKay is on the edge of hypoglycemia-- maybe you can tell me more about your first day in Atlantis on the walk back?" Aiden didn't want to leave the mess hall but it was mostly empty. The briefing would happen shortly after McKay was walking and fed.

"I can and I will—but only if you do the same." Willow knew she was flirting. It felt good.

Aiden felt as if he was soaring in a puddle jumper, "How about tonight?"

"Sure. What do people do for fun around here anyway?" Willow was giddy. I have a date! I have a date! Her internal monologue seemed stuck on those four words.

Aiden could only tell her the truth, "Research."

"You have something else in mind, right?" Willow- gave him a skeptical smile. In her experience, while research was interesting—there was too much of a time-countdown-element to it for it to be fun. She really didn't need any apocalypse reminders. She needed new memories with Aiden.

"Of course. How about I swing by your quarters at 7:30?" Aiden couldn't wait—he had a briefing to go to and a date to plan. Life was wonderful.

He had six hours to find something interesting for them to do! He'd gone against wraith—been lodged- and stranded in a puddle jumper while stuck in the Stargate. Hell, he had even sparred with Teyla. This would be a piece of cake.