Authors Note:

This is just a little something I wrote today, too small to even count as a story really ... it's for bailey1ak (because I wanted to do something to show you how much I appreciated your time and your support the other day). I hope you like it! Oh, and it's stand alone - the only thing I borrowed from my other Lorne stories is his sister's name.

Challenge Seven: House Resolution 1113

"Doc," Lorne called Jennifer over to his bed in the infirmary. He and his team had been caught earlier that day in a vicious storm on the way back to the gate ... it had been a routine mission until it ended poorly. Visibility had been almost non existence, the rain so loud it made hearing anything, let alone cries for help, difficult but somehow Evan had heard something. Turned out it was a child from the nearby village, out playing where she shouldn't have been. She'd also been caught in the storm and fallen part way down a steep hill. Lorne went down to rescue her, had managed to get her back up to the rest of his team before the hillside gave way and he'd taken an unexpected and very muddy ride all the way to the bottom. The last part had been a free fall from about twenty feet – he'd hit his head somewhere before that and lost touch with reality, hadn't been able to control his landing and ended up unconscious and needing rescue himself. All in all, not one of his better days.

"Major?" Jenn cast an assessing eye over her patient, noting a face still pale with pain she knew he wouldn't admit to. "Do you need something?"

"Ah ...," he hesitated, trying to work out the best way to couch his request. "Is there any chance I can get out of here ... before they do the dial in to the SGC tonight?"

"You're joking, right?" Jennifer gave him an incredulous look. "You've got a broken leg, multiple lacerations and a concussion!"

"So I guess that's a no then," Evan concluded weakly. Shifting to sit up in the bed he gave a grimace, feeling every one of those injuries too much to be able to mount any kind of convincing protest.

"Yes, that's a no," Jennifer said with exaggerated patience. She didn't miss the disappointment on his face but had long since developed an immunity to that kind of thing - most of the military contingent had tried to pity their way out of the infirmary at one time or another.

"What about a temporary pass?" Evan suggested. "Just for a couple of hours. I promise I'll come right back and stay here as long as you say I have to."

"What's this about Major?" Jennifer asked, curious now.

"It's ... personal." Lorne tried for a charming smile, hoping to sway her with what a girlfriend when he'd been a lot younger had called his 'impossible to resist' face. "Please?"

"I'm sorry Major," Jennifer said earnestly. "You were unconscious for over an hour before your team got you back here. And that leg injury isn't simple either – and not just because it's the second time you've broken it. I can't allow you to be without medical supervision, not even temporarily."

"Right, of course," Evan nodded, his thoughts spinning the options rapidly. Looking around the infirmary he realised that he was the only inpatient - a spot of good luck in a bad day because it meant there were no witnesses. It galled that he'd have to ask Jennifer for something and in the process share a slice of his personal life when it really wasn't his thing. But ... needs must. "Then, can I ... I ah, I need to ask a favour of you Doc, if that's okay?"

"Of course it's okay," Jennifer replied earnestly. "Ask away Major."

"Can you have someone go to my quarters and bring me my laptop, my webcam, and a USB drive?" Lorne asked quickly.

"That's your favour?" Jennifer frowned, not sure what she'd expected except it hadn't been that. "Surely any work you have can wait until you're well enough to leave the infirmary."

"It's not work," Evan rubbed the back on his neck, embarrassed because he knew he'd have to fully explain why he wanted his things before she'd agree. "Like I said, it's personal. I need to record and send a message and it has to go out with today's transmission. That's only a few hours away - and it's not something that will wait until next time."

"Because?" Jennifer asked.

"Because it's Mother's Day tomorrow," Evan said simply. "I've never missed one, no matter where I've been stationed. I can't let a little injury ruin that, and you know," he smiled weakly, "I don't want to disappoint my Mom."

Jennifer couldn't help the little warm and fuzzy feeling inside at the Major's explanation – that and the faint tinge of red on his face coupled with the determination in his eyes both charmed and amused her. "It's more than just a 'little' injury Major," she corrected, sternly. "But for a cause like that I'm sure we can arrange something." Putting a hand to his arm she squeezed lightly. "Just give me a few minutes to get it organised."

"Thanks Doc," Evan said gratefully, slumping back in his bed relieved. He'd been prepared to dig in his heels stubbornly but luckily Jennifer hadn't made him go that far. He was dozing lightly when she returned a few minutes later, the things he'd asked for clutched in her arms.

"Here we go Major," she said. Helping him to sit up again first, she handed over the laptop and watched as he set it on his lap and turned it on. "Is your Mom going to be worried when she sees you looking like this?" Jennifer asked.

"Depends," Lorne replied. "How bad do I look?"

Getting up Jennifer went one better than trying to explain. Instead she brought over a small mirror and let Evan look at himself. She smiled when he did nothing more than take a quick glance before handing it back - no vanity there!

"Should be okay," Evan decided. He had some bruising across one cheek, plus quite a few cuts and scratches to go with it. As long as his Mom didn't see the rest of it - more bruising all over his torso plus the broken leg - they'd be fine. Maybe that was misleading his Mom but Lorne couldn't see the point telling her the full story when she was too far away to even acknowledge it.

"All right," Jennifer nodded. "I'll just give you some privacy," she said gently, satisfied he wasn't putting undue pressure on his injured leg.

Nodding, Evan attached the webcam, positioning it so he'd be about centre. Loading up his recording software, he gathered his thoughts while it initialised. When he clicked record he already had a soft smile on his face.

"Hi Mom ... Happy Mother's Day. I'm sorry I couldn't get back to celebrate with you again this year - I know, I say that every year! I'm still rostered for leave at Christmas so that's something, right?" He grinned. "About now I'm guessing you're wondering what I did to myself. Relax, it probably looks worse than it is. My team got caught in a storm today and your clumsy son managed to fall down a hill. Got banged up a little but I'll be back to my usual self long before I live down that embarrassment with the guys. Actually - I'm not sure I'll ever live it down!" He paused, turning serious again. He wished he could hear her voice - because he'd had a crappy day and because the passing of another occasion reminded him again of all the things he was missing. Moms had a knack for making that kind of thing a little smaller ... manageable. She'd probably tell him to stop being a baby, right before she started treating him like a naughty child because he'd gotten injured agan.

"I miss you guys – don't have to tell you that, I know," he continued. "It's there all the time but special occasions, you know – they're tough sometimes. I'll content myself tomorrow imagining you and Elaine going out and doing whatever it is you do when it's 'girl' time," he did the air quotes knowing that always made his Mom laugh. "Meanwhile I'll be stuck in the infirmary having someone looking after me, bringing me jello." He chuckled. "Yeah, it doesn't sound that bad when I put it like that." Aware that he'd been talking for a few minutes and not wanting to make the resulting video file too big he went into his usual closing statements. "So ... I'll send you another video in a couple of weeks as usual. Tell Elaine and the boys that I said hi." He looked straight into the camera and smiled. "Love you Mom ... have a great day tomorrow okay." Giving the camera a half wave, he clicked end, and saved the file. Jennifer had left the USB within reach and it only took a couple of minutes for him to create something that the SGC would forward to his Mom's email address. He'd almost finished shutting down his laptop when Jennifer returned.

"All done?" she asked casually.

"Yeah," Lorne nodded. "Thanks Doc."

"It was no trouble Major. Without sounding corny, I admire a man who remembers Mother's Day even when he's laid up in a hospital bed," Jennifer returned. "I've seen enough during my residency to appreciate the whole 'men and their Mothers' thing but to be honest I never gave it much thought here."

"It's not a Momma's boy thing Doc," Lorne felt compelled to point out. "It's just something that started because my first posting away from home happened around this time of year. Besides, if you look at it from a certain point of view, I'm actually required to acknowledge my Mom tomorrow," Evan said knowledgeably.

"And why is that?" Jennifer kept a straight face with difficulty. She'd never realised how cute the Major could be when he was embarrassed and defensive.

"House Resolution 1113," Evan said simply. When she didn't look enlightened he grinned. "What? You mean you don't know what it is?" he asked smugly.

"No ... I tend to clutter up my brain with useful information of the medical variety," Jennifer returned dryly. "So tell me Major, what's house resolution 1113?"

"It's a bill that was passed in congress in April," Lorne explained. "Basically it endorses celebrating the role of mothers in the U.S., specifically supporting the ideals of Mother's Day. Since this is a military base we should lead by example, don't you think?"

"Of course Major," Jennifer agreed. She didn't point out that he'd been very secretive about it, begging the comment 'example to who?' "I'm surprised you'd know about that though, given you said it was only passed a month ago."

"I like to be in the know Doc," Evan said loftily. He could see the amusement in her eyes and had to laugh too. "Plus I've got a sister who likes to fill all her emails to me with what she calls meaningful information. I think it was her way of not of so subtly reminding me to call my Mom – even though I've never forgotten before. She does something equally creative every year."

"Sounds like you're all really close," Jennifer commented in a low tone with a hint of wistfullness.

"It was just my Mom, my sister and I for a lot of years," Evan shrugged, and then looked at Jennifer curiously. "What about you Doc? You got family back home?"

"Just my Dad," Jennifer smiled. "And yes, every Father's Day I send him something, no matter where I am. So I completely understand having traditions. It's for us just as much as it is for them, right?"

"I guess so," Evan looked down at the USB drive he'd been holding and then back to Jennifer.

"I can take that to Chuck personally if you like," Jennifer offered before he could ask. "I'll make sure he sends it with everything else tonight."

"That'd be great Doc ... thank you," Evan said gratefully.

"You're welcome Major," Jennifer took the USB drive. "Now, please, try and get some rest. Don't be a hero about the pain either - if it's keeping you awake ask for something ... because I'll administer medications anyway if I have to."

"But ...," Evan trailed off, seeing the stubborn look on her face, and then sighed. "Sure thing Doc – if I can't get to sleep on my own I'll take something ... willingly."

"Very good," Jennifer smiled, patted his hand and then left him alone.

Settling back in his bed, Evan gave a tired yawn and then closed his eyes, determined he'd be asleep before Jennifer got back. As he drifted off he was smiling, thinking about his Mom watching his video the next day.

The End.

Authors Note:

Got the info about the House Resolution from govtrack dot us forward slash congress. It was only passed May 2008 - no dea how that fits in timeline wise with Season 5 but it's not really important. The challenge prompt from writingprompt was 'her voice' and I added the Mother's Day element.

It's officially clicked over into Mother's Day here so let me just wish all the Mums (or Moms depending on where you live) a happy day!