Date : 03.03.2008
Title : The A.U. Series : Ellie and The Major
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 4 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?
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After the guided tour and after meeting some more of the Abalakians, Lorne and his team felt a little more at ease.
Everyone seemed happy and friendly and more than willing to sing the praises of their unique abilities.
Everyone except Aram's daughter Zerrin. She skulked around at the back of them as they walked and Lorne got the feeling that she was trying to attract their attention.
He moved a little closer to her but her mother, Tirese, automatically blocked his way, making a show of introducing them to an elderly woman who had never had a days sickness in her long life.
Lorne feigned interest and when they moved on he got next to Ellie. He leaned in close to her and was about to tell her to try and get close to Zerrin when his nostrils were filled with the perfume from the valentine card and he momentarily lost his train of thought as the realisation that the card must have come from Ellie hit him.
"What's wrong?", Ellie asked, glancing at him as she wondered why he had leaned in as though he had been about to whisper something to her but then had proceeded to say nothing. She hoped it was because he had been able to smell the perfume that she had practically bathed in before they'd left Atlantis.
Lorne looked at her and knew that this was not the time or the place to be discussing their personal life and so he said,
"The daughter looks a little cagey, try and talk to her…I'll keep the mother talking".
"Okay", Ellie replied, trying not to let her disappointment show and she moved off and tried to get a little closer to Zerrin.
The task proved difficult as although Lorne was indeed keeping Tirese busy, every time Ellie got close to Zerrin, either Aram or Allen would move in.
Franks and Lyssa soon got the idea of what Lorne and Ellie were trying to do though and Franks homed in on Aram and Lyssa latched onto Allen.
Ellie knew she wouldn't have much time and so she quickly moved to Zerrin's side.
"Hey…are you alright?", she asked and Zerrin looked at her, her eyes looking haunted for one so young.
She remained silent and Ellie sighed and said,
"You don't look like you agree with what goes on around here…am I right?".
Zerrin nodded and glanced over Ellie's shoulder. She could see that her family were agitated because Ellie was stood with her.
"You should leave…as soon as possible. It's not safe for you here…especially with your illness…".
"Why would it not be safe for me Zerrin, I mean if anything your people could help me couldn't they?", Ellie replied and Zerrin glanced at her nervously before looking back to where her father had broken away from Franks and was heading toward them.
"If my mother offers you water…do not drink it…and leave as soon as possible, for all your sakes", she said urgently just as Aram came up alongside them.
"Zerrin, go and help your mother prepare the mid-day meal", he told her, glaring at her before turning to Ellie. "You will join us wont you?".
Ellie looked at him and then glanced at Lorne who was watching nearby.
If she said that they were leaving now it would arouse suspicion and would probably get Zerrin into trouble and so she turned back to Aram and smiled sweetly.
"That would be nice, thank you".
Aram smiled and indicated they move along, back toward the large hall that they had originally come from.
Ellie had thought that she would be able to get the warning to Lorne, Lyssa and Franks not to drink the water but it was as though Aram knew that Zerrin had warned her off and he kept her talking all the way and then he sat her down next to him, away from the others, a fact that did not sit well with Lorne.
The food was served but Ellie only nibbled at what was on her plate as she was constantly watching Tirese and the water pitcher that was by her side.
"My son is looking to take a wife soon. The occasion shall be a grand one", Aram was saying and Ellie nodded absently as Tirese stood and picked up the pitcher.
"He has a lot to prove to the council and taking a wife will help his standing in the community", Aram said but he could tell Ellie's attention was taken by his wife and he sighed.
As usual it seemed his daughter had not been able to keep her mouth shut. This time though she would pay for her mistake.
Ellie tried to catch Lyssa's eye as Tirese poured her friend some water but Lyssa was not looking her way. She leant forward and tried to get Lorne's attention but he was talking with Franks and so her eyes darted back to Lyssa who was just raising the glass to her lips.
Ellie stood abruptly and cried out,
"Lyssa no! Don't drink that".
Lyssa's hand paused with the glass half-way to her lips and looked at Ellie, as did everyone else in the room.
Zerrin looked particularly terrified as silence descended upon the hall.
Aram sighed deeply and stood.
"I had hoped to avoid any unpleasantness…", he said almost sounding weary and Lorne looked at Ellie.
"What's wrong with the water?", he asked and Ellie looked to Zerrin.
"I don't know…but I was advised that we shouldn't drink it", she replied.
Lorne stood as did Franks and Lyssa.
"I think it's time we were leaving", Lorne said, his eyes telling Ellie to move away from Aram but when she went to, Aram shot out a hand and gripped her arm.
Lorne, Lyssa and Franks immediately raised their P-90's but with a flick of his free hand, Aram called forward his own soldiers who had previously gone un-noticed as they were dressed in casual clothing, their own guns concealed beneath their robes.
"I didn't want it to be this way", Aram said, pulling Ellie closer and she struggled against him but his grip on her arm was too strong.
"Let her go and we'll be on our way…we don't want any trouble", Lorne said, his eyes not leaving Aram as he trusted Franks and Lyssa to keep a watch on the Abalakian soldiers.
"I'm afraid that I cannot do that…you three may leave, but she stays here", Aram replied, gripping Ellie's arm even tighter and she winced as he continued,
"My son wishes to take a wife and he must abide by an ancient custom to keep the peace amongst our elders".
Lorne regarded Aram coldly.
"And what exactly is this custom?", he asked, watching warily as Aram's son, Allen began to move toward Aram and Ellie.
"Allen's bride must be not only pure in heart but also in body", Aram said and Ellie glanced at Lyssa.
"Well that rules us out then", she said and Lyssa nodded, her eyes not leaving the soldiers.
"If the woman I choose does not have a pure body I can make it so that she does", Allen said and Ellie gulped as she realised that he was looking at her in a way that made her think 'she' was the woman he wanted.
"What the hell are you talking about…?", Lorne said then called out, "Hey!!", as Allen gripped Ellie's arm and when Aram released her he hauled her up against him.
Lorne went to move forward but soldiers surrounded him, Lyssa and Franks and they could only watch as Allen spun Ellie so that she had her back to his chest and he flattened his hands against the bottom of her stomach.
Ellie struggled furiously until a golden glow began to emanate from Allen's hands and she felt her whole body grow languid.
"What are you doing to her?", Lorne shouted angrily as Ellie let out a low moan.
"He is making her pure again", Aram replied and Lorne frowned.
"What?".
"I think he means he's giving her back her virginity", Lyssa said and Lorne looked at her, his eyes widening before he looked back at Ellie.
"You gotta be kidding me", he muttered.
Ellie who had regained her senses, began to struggle again,
"You cant give me my virginity back…I don't want it….it took me too long to lose it in the first place…please…if you have to heal something then heal my heart", she ranted but when Allen merely smiled she looked to Lorne.
"Do something!", she beseeched him but before Lorne could respond Aram stepped forward.
"It is too late…you are once more pure of body and will marry my son in the morning".
"Wait a damn minute", Lorne said angrily, "Ellie is marrying no-one in the morning", and he shoved at the two soldiers who were stood by his side, prompting Lyssa and Franks to do the same.
Lorne was about to grab for Ellie when Allen produced a gun from beneath his robes and aimed it at Lorne.
"Noo!!", Ellie screamed as Allen fired and the shot hit Lorne in the temple and he fell backwards onto the floor and lay there, un-moving.
Time seemed to stand still and Ellie felt the blood drain from her face. For an endless moment no-one moved and then, suddenly, Ellie began to struggle furiously against Allen's hold.
He released her and she raced to Lorne's side, landing on her knees as Lyssa and Franks watched on, horror on their faces as the soldiers surrounded them and removed their weapons.
"Evan!", Ellie cried, tears blurring her vision as she put her arm under the back of Lorne's shoulders and head and as he looked up at her, his eyes glazed, she could tell he was not going to make it, there was blood everywhere and she couldn't stop the flow.
"I'm….sorry….", Lorne managed and Ellie shook her head at him, her hand caressing his face, her fingers covered in his blood as her tears spilled onto her cheeks.
"Evan….", she whispered as his eyes began to close.
"Evan, no!", and she shook him, gently at first, then a little harder…angry when he didn't respond.
She swung her head around and looked wildly at Allen and Aram who were observing her silently.
"Heal him!", she said through gritted teeth but Aram shook his head.
"I said HEAL HIM!", Ellie all but screamed and Lyssa gripped Franks' arm as the realisation hit them that Lorne was dying.
When Allen still looked set to refuse, Ellie closed her eyes briefly, trying not to think too much on what she was about to say.
"Heal him and I'll stay with you…willingly. I'll tell my friends to never come back for me, you have my word".
"Ellie!", Lyssa cried out but Ellie refused to look at her friend.
After considering what she said, Allen moved forward slowly.
"Very well", he said, kneeling at Lorne's other side, opposite Ellie.
He moved his hands over Lorne's temple and the same golden glow as he'd used on Ellie appeared and slowly the blood and the gun-shot wound in Lorne's temple disappeared and Allen moved away as Lorne opened his eyes and blinked.
"Say your goodbyes", Allen said to Ellie who looked down at Lorne.
"What the hell just happened?", Lorne asked as Ellie smiled at him through her tears.
"You got shot so I had Allen heal you", she replied and Lorne struggled to sit up as he felt woozy.
"In exchange for what?", he asked suspiciously, frowning when Ellie looked away.
"She told him that she'd stay with him and that we wouldn't try and come back for her", Lyssa shouted over and Lorne looked at Ellie.
"Why? Why would you do that?", he whispered frantically as he saw soldiers beginning to close in around them.
"Because….because…..", Ellie trailed off as they both stood and she too saw the soldiers moving in to separate them.
"Because what?", Lorne pressed.
"Because I couldn't let you die Evan….", she said, frightened to tell him that she didn't want him to die because she had feelings for him that went beyond them being just team-mates.
"Ellie…..", Lorne began just as two soldiers grabbed his arms and began to drag him away from her and toward Lyssa and Franks.
Ellie glanced back at Allen and Aram and that was when the panic began to set in.
"Evan!", she cried racing toward him and Lorne managed to shrug off the two soldiers in time to catch her as she barrelled into him.
She pressed her mouth close to his ear as she clung to him.
"You will come back for me…right?", she whispered and Lorne pressed his lips to her temple as he held her tightly against him, his arms around her waist.
"You know I will", he replied and Ellie nodded, swallowing past the lump of fear in her throat.
As the soldiers began to separate them again, Ellie couldn't stop herself pressing her mouth to Lorne's and he tasted the salt of her tears briefly before they were torn apart.
"Escort them to the gate and then once they're through it, seal it off", Aram instructed his men and Ellie gasped as she realised that there would be no way Lorne would be able to get back through the gate to rescue her.
She held Lorne's gaze until the last possible moment and the second he rounded the corner and was gone she knew that she had never felt so alone before in her life.
End of Chapter 4