Date : 28.02.2008
Title : The A.U. Series : Ellie and The Major
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 3 of ?
Rating : M
Pairings : Major Evan Lorne/Dr. Ellie Harrison
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 - Lost City of the ZPM's
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 : Lorne owes Ellie his life and not for the first time but when payback time comes, will the Major be able to do what needs to be done to stop her turning to another for help?
A few days after the power cutting incident with new guy Henry Cavendish and his encounter with Charlotte, whom he had managed to evade since, Lorne leant against the doorway of Ellie's lab, his arms folded as he watched her dancing around, oblivious to him and everything around her since she had her MP-3 cranked up high and her eyes closed.
He still wasn't sure who his valentine card had been from and he hadn't managed to catch the scent on anyone since, but he found himself wondering more and more if the culprit was Ellie.
He continued to watch as she shimmied around the workbench, his eyes drawn to her hips and his mouth twitched in a smile as she banged into a chair, bounced off of it and then bashed her arm on a filing cabinet drawer that had been left open.
Her eyes sprang open and he saw her wince and he shoved away from the doorway and moved further into the room.
"Hey…pinball", he called out, his smile widening as Ellie spun around and bashed her other arm against the same drawer.
He put a hand out and pulled one of the earphones from her ear and Ellie looked at him, blushing as she rubbed her arms.
"Major", she greeted him before pulling out the other earphone and throwing the MP-3 onto the bench.
"Are you okay?", Lorne asked, his fingers brushing one of her arms softly and Ellie's breath caught and she could only nod in response.
They stared at one another for a moment or two until Lorne remembered that he had actually gone to the lab for a reason and he cleared his throat and let his fingers fall away from Ellie's arm, leaving her feeling inexplicably bereft.
"I just stopped by to tell you that we'll be going off world later", he said and Ellie resumed absently rubbing her arms, knowing that she would get bruises and she sighed as she looked at him.
"We're we going? Anywhere interesting?", she asked and Lorne pulled a face.
"I'm not sure…it's a planet that SGA-4 found that's full of inhabitants who can apparently heal people", he said and Ellie frowned.
"Heal people?", she repeated and Lorne shrugged.
"They're called the Abalakians and Dr Weir wants us to check them out", he said and Ellie smiled.
"Okay then…how long before we have to leave?", she asked and Lorne checked his watch.
"Two hours".
"Okay, I'll be ready", Ellie said and Lorne nodded.
"Oh…and pinball…try to not dent any more of the lab furniture", he said, backing toward the door as her mouth formed an outraged 'O' and she scooped up her MP-3 from the workbench and hurled it at him.
Lorne smirked and caught it against his chest. He turned on his heels and left and it wasn't until he'd gone that Ellie allowed herself the luxury of realising that Lorne had just given her a cute nickname.
"Pinball….", she muttered, shaking her head as she turned and promptly crashed into the same offending drawer yet again.
She cried out and then slammed it shut, resisting the urge to curse colourfully.
"Are you okay?", Lyssa asked from the doorway and Ellie turned and offered her a weak smile.
"Yeah…what's up?", she asked and then, noting that Lyssa looked exceptionally happy she added, "How's things with you and John?".
"They're great, thanks, apart from the fact that Ronon doesn't know yet. In fact, no-one knows, apart from you", Lyssa replied and Ellie nodded as she wandered around the lab, gathering her off-world equipment together.
"I don't envy you the day when Ronon finds out", she said and Lyssa sighed.
"Thanks for that", she said and Ellie blushed.
"I'm sorry, its just everyone knew how crazy Ronon was about you, that's all".
"That's okay…how's it going with Lorne? Did you hear he was going around sniffing women's perfume the other night?", Lyssa said and Ellie gasped and put a hand to her mouth.
"What is it?", Lyssa asked and Ellie groaned.
"I forgot to put a different scent on that night and I wore the one you sprayed in the card. Do you think he knows that it was me that sent it to him?", she asked, wondering if that was why he had just touched her arm like he had.
"I don't know…maybe", Lyssa answered truthfully and Ellie sighed, looking suddenly miserable.
"Ellie…wear the scent this afternoon when we go off-world. If there is one thing that I have learned since being here on Atlantis it is that life is too short to waste time dancing around what you want. If you want Lorne then get out there and get him", Lyssa told her sternly, pointing toward the door and Ellie looked at her new friend, her hopes soaring from the mini pep talk.
"Do you think I have a chance with him?", she asked, her eyes hopeful and Lyssa folded her arms.
"Why wouldn't you?", she asked and Ellie sighed, thinking of Charlotte and Jessica who were both red-heads and both very pretty.
She knew that she wasn't the kind of woman that drove men wild with passion, more like wild with anger and frustration. She knew that she wasn't pert or pretty, or at least in her mind she wasn't.
She sometimes wished that she was taller and that her brunette curls were a little less unruly and more sleek, yeah sure she could use straightening irons but just a little hint of moisture and it went straight back to being curly, she was grateful though that it didn't frizz, it just curled which was a godsend.
She also didn't realise that she was very attractive in her own unique way and that a lot of the military guys liked her for the way she was stubborn and didn't cower under their authority when she knew she was right about something.
Suddenly she squared her shoulders and smiled at Lyssa.
"You're right. Why wouldn't I have a chance with Lorne".
Nodding, Lyssa smiled.
"That's the way!".
As Lorne left the lab, he pushed one of Ellie's earphones into his ear and grimaced as he heard some energetic dance music blaring away.
He shook his head and was just switching off the MP-3 when he bumped into Charlotte.
"That's not really your colour", Charlotte said, eyeing the pink MP-3 and Lorne hastily shoved it into his combat's pocket and replied,
"It belongs to Ellie".
Charlotte's face instantly clouded over and she said,
"When can we talk Evan…? I'd like to set things straight between us, explain properly why I wanted to terminate the pregnancy".
Lorne regarded her for a moment and he remembered all the good times that they had shared, before the abortion.
He remained silent and Charlotte edged toward him.
"I missed you these last couple of years", she said, her voice seductive and Lorne felt the familiar tug on his heart, the same one that he had felt the last time they had been close. He had thought he was over her…but now he wasn't so sure.
"My team and I are going off world soon…we could maybe catch up when I get back", he told her, his curiosity peaked with the mention of the abortion.
"That would be great. I'll see you when you return then", Charlotte said, looking pleased as she brushed past him and continued down the corridor.
Lorne watched her go and released a breath he hadn't known he had been holding before continuing on his own way.
As Lorne's team went on foot through the gate, their first impressions of the Abalakian city was that it looked to be pleasant and well maintained and the people they came across on their walk to the centre were all very friendly and polite.
They walked up the stone steps to the meeting hall that SGA-4 had told them the city elders where located and walked up to what looked like a reception desk.
A pretty blonde woman smiled at them, her eyes lingering on Lorne and she said,
"Can I help you?".
Before Lorne could reply though, an elderly man appeared by the blondes' side and he smiled happily at them.
"You must be from Atlantis…welcome!".
Lorne glanced at Lyssa, Franks and Ellie whose faces remained impassive and he replied,
"Thank you. Our leader, Dr Elizabeth Weir sent us to discuss the possibilities of an alliance. We hear that you have unique healing…abilities…", he trailed off though as the man stepped out from behind the counter and approached Ellie, obviously no longer listening to what Lorne was saying.
"My poor child, your heart is weak", he said, raising his hand as though he was going to press it against Ellie's chest and Lorne, Franks and Lyssa immediately raised their P-90's, making the blonde receptionist gasp and other Abalakian's pause mid-step as they passed the area.
"Step away from her", Lorne said, his tone brooking no refusal and the man smiled at Ellie and dropped his hand down back to his side.
"I meant no harm, our only purpose in life is to heal", he said and Ellie offered him a smile but stepped away and closer to Franks nonetheless.
"We'd like to discuss things further, learn more about your methods of healing before we even think about letting you attempt to heal anyone", Lorne said and the older man nodded and extended an arm.
"Please…come this way and I will introduce you to some of the other council members".
Following Lorne's lead and lowering their weapons cautiously, Lyssa and Franks, then Ellie and Lorne let the man lead them into another room.
A long table ran down the middle of the room but only four people sat around it.
"Please, be seated", the man said and they did as he said, glancing at the other people.
"Firstly let me introduce myself", the man said, "My name is Aram and this is my wife Tirese, my son Allen and my daughter Zerrin", and he pointed to each particular family member in turn as he said their names.
"I'm Major Evan Lorne, this is Dr Ellie Harrison, Lieutenant Matthew Franks and Lyssa Hunter", Lorne introduced his team in response.
"Welcome", Tirese said offering them all a drink which they refused.
"So…", Aram began, his eyes resting on Ellie, "Why don't you tell me what is wrong with your heart?".
"Oh…well…", Ellie began, feeling uncomfortable and Lorne cleared his throat.
"I'd rather if you told us a little about yourselves first", he said and the son, Allen looked at Lorne.
"Our people have had the ability to heal all manner of illnesses and other afflictions for many generations now", he said.
"And you can also heal yourselves I take it?", Ellie asked and Allen smiled warmly at her.
"Yes", he replied.
"So there are never any sick people around here then?", Lyssa asked.
"No…none", Allen replied and Lorne noticed that the daughter of the family looked quite uncomfortable at this point.
He remained silent though for now as Aram said,
"Please, let us show you around…let you meet some of our people for yourself", he said, standing and Lorne, Franks, Lyssa and Ellie were forced to do the same.
As Tirese and Zerrin led the way outside through some glass doors, Aram whispered to his son,
"Well?".
"The dark haired one father…I liked her", replied Allen.
"But her illness….and I suspect she will also not be pure, mixing with men as she does in such 'teams'….", Aram trailed off as Allen shook his head.
"Those things do not matter…I can see to that…I want her father".
"Very well", Aram said, smiling at Lorne who had paused to glance over his shoulder.
End of Chapter 3