I smell the sent of coffee being brewed and I think, "When did I make a pot?" I open my eyes and see that I'm not in my bed. I'm still in Evan and Maria's quarters. I sit up and stretch, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Morning." I hear Evan say.

"Morning." I say, standing. God, I must look like such a mess right now. My hair is always frizzy and wild when I first wake up and I haven't had any caffeine yet so my mind is a little slow. I automatically pull back my hair but realize that I don't have a hair tie. Damn.

"You were out cold when I got back and didn't think you wanted to be woken up." He says, walking over to the perking pot of coffee. "Hope you slept alright."

I nod my head and say, "I did, thanks for asking."

"No problem. Decaf or regular?"

"Regular, gotta have that caffeine in the morning."

"Good, 'cause that's all I got." Evan then takes the pot off and pours coffee into two mugs. Holding one out to me he says, "There's cream and sugar if you want any."

"Thanks." I say moving for them. I can't stand the taste of plain coffee, gotta have a lot of sugar and cream in mine. After doctoring my coffee, I take a sip and smile. "Mmmm, that's good stuff."

Evan laughs and says, "Yea we live on the stuff here."

"With your hours I believe it." I turn to look at out the window and am greeted to a rising sun and a range of colors. We then both walk on over to the window and stare out at the water glinting in the sunlight.

"She adores you." Evan suddenly says.

"I'm sorry?" I say, not sure what he's talking about.

"Maria. She adores you." He repeats. "I'm sure you noticed how she acted when you were trying to make the Daedalus. She's never done that before with anyone else."

I smile and say, "Well, I adore her right back and she's special. They all are, when you think about it. To raise kids in a place surrounded by danger is no easy feat. I'm surprised that they're so well adjusted as they are." I say, holding my mug of coffee in both hands and looking at Marc while leaning sideways against the glass. It's cool to my touch and I can't help but wonder how cold it is outside.

Evan smiles and says, "We try to shield them from as much as we can. It's not easy, I'll tell you that, and there are something's that we have to sacrifice-"

"Like time with them." I say, knowing that that was what he was going to say. He nods his head and takes a sip from his mug, as do I.

"That's true; there are times that I think about asking for a transfer back to the SGC and taking Maria with me so I'd be around more."

He hesitates and I know what he's trying to say. "But you don't because you go through the Gate and you see all sorts of amazing things and realize that by fighting all the evil out there you're making this place that much better for Maria to grow up in."

He smiles and says, "That's right. How do you know so much? It's like you're reading my mind."

I laugh at the comment and say, "Believe me if I was reading your mind you'd know it. All parents want to do anything to make where ever they live a better place for their kids to grow up in."

"And how do you know that? Is there something that didn't come up on your background checks?"

I raise an eyebrow at that. "And how would you know if there's something missing from my background checks?" I ask.

"I'm head of security. I get to look at the SGC's many background checks before any new personnel even sets foot on Atlantis."

I smile cryptically and say, "No, there's nothing missing from my background checks." We're silent for bit after that, each lost in our own thoughts. Before we can talk further Maria comes out of her room in her pj's, looking adorable. She spots Evan and breaks into a grin. She then runs towards him and hugs his leg while saying, "Daddy!"

Evan looks down at Maria and smiles. "Hey kiddo," he says ruffling her already slightly mussed hair. "you sleep good?"

"Yup. Max let me stay up and watch the dancing dog boy." She says, still hugging his legs.

Evan looks at me with confusion on his face and mouths, "dancing dog boy?"

"We watched the second season of 'Dark Angel' last night and one of the characters was a dog boy." I clarify.

"Joshua, yea I remember the show." He says, the confusion clearing up. "Did you know that they cancelled the show to air 'Firefly'?"

"Yup. Kind of ironic isn't it?" I say.

"How so?"

"Well, 'Dark Angel' got cancelled so FOX could air a show that only lasted not even half a season."

"Yea that is kind of-"

"Daddy." Maria says, tugging on his BDU pants and interrupting him mid-sentence.

"What sweetheart?" he asks, looking down.

"I'm hungry. When can we get breakfast?"

We both smile at her comment and Evan says, "When you go get dressed."

" 'K." she says, running back into her room.

I laugh and say, "She's adorable, I'll give you that." Gone was the shy little girl.

"Oh you should have seen it when we first brought her here. I was surrounded by ladies whenever we were in the cafeteria. They just couldn't stay away from me."

I roll my eyes at the last statement. "I hate to break it to you, but they were only using you to get to Maria."

"Oh, that hurts." Evan says, pretending to be wounded.

"I'm dressed!" Maria says, bolting out of her room. Going up to Evan, she grabs his hand and starts to tug on it. "Can we go now?"

Evan laughs and says, "Ok, ok." He allows himself to be dragged to the door and I follow. After we enter the hallway Evan turns to me and says, "Want to join us?"

"Thanks, but I've got to go back to my place and get ready for the day. There's never any rest for us teachers you know. Unlike you security guys, just sitting around watching monitors, spying on us working people." I tease.

Evan grins and says, "You better believe it lady. We see all kinds of things."

"Ooooo, I'm so scared." I reply, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Evan opens his mouth to reply when Maria shouts, "Daddy!"

"Ok, ok. We're going." He says. "See you later."

"Later." I say as they walk off towards the cafeteria. I head back to my room and once I'm inside I turn on the shower and get ready for the day ahead. As I'm showering I can't help but wonder why all of a sudden Evan is opening up to me, he's always been on the reserved side when we've talked. I shrug it off, maybe it's because he sees how taken Maria is with me. Yea, that's it. What other reason could there be?

-And it's something quite peculiar Something that's shimmering and white Leads you here despite your destination Under the milky way tonight...-

"This really sucks." Crysta says to me as we walk down the hallway. It's grey and raining outside, the rain pelting against the windows.

"How so?" I ask. I love the rain, especially when there's thunder and lightning. There's just something about it that I find captivating. Although it's a bitch when you're trying to sleep.

"Well it's raining, for one thing, and-"

"Heads up!"

I look up and see a football headed towards me and Crysta. Crysta scrambles out of the way while I just stand there and catch the ball. "Who threw this?" I ask the group of Marines just ahead of us.

"That would be me." I hear Evan say, stepping out of the crowd and holding his hands out. "Toss it back."

"You know," I reply as I spiral it back to him. "your aim sucks and you throw like a girl."

Evan catches the ball with ease and says, "So do you."

"That's 'cause I am one, what's your excuse?"

The Marines laugh at that one and Evan just smirks. "You play?"

"Haven't for a while, why?" I ask, thinking that he's up to something.

"Well we were going to play a little flag football but we have an odd number. Want to join?"

"Flag or contact?"

"Flag, Carson would have our heads if we played contact."

"What the hell, I'm in. Shirts vs. skins I take it."

"Of course, you want to be skin?" Evan asks with a smile.

I roll my eyes, "You wish."

"Fine you'll be shirt. Be on the South Balcony in a half-hour."

"See you there."

Evan and the Marines head off while Crysta asks, "Are you sure you want to do this?" "Why not?"

"Other than the fact that you could end up with a concussion or something broken? The whole thing's so violent."

"Well duh. But rugby's worse than football. And you're more likely to die from boxing injuries than football injuries." I point out. "So I take it you're not going to watch?"

"Couldn't even if I wanted to. Research calls."

"That's one reason I didn't become a science major, you're always doing research."

"And one reason I didn't become a teacher is that you're always doing paperwork."

"Ooo, your razor sharp wit astounds me." I deadpan.

"As does yours." Crysta replies. As we pass a window I see that the rain has stopped but it's still cloudy outside. At the intersection we part and I stop off at my place, to change into some more comfortable clothes, and then start to make my way over.

The door to the transporter slides open and I see that Logan's inside. "Hey." I say, stepping in.

"Sparring session with Teyla?"

"If I had a death wish, some guys are going to play football and I'm joining."

"Really, where?"

"South Balcony, why?" I say, my eyes wandering over the map of Atlantis looking for the balcony. I see Logan's hand come into my line of sight and press down on the map. Then a flash of light and we're there. I turn around to find Logan in front of me, his arm against the wall.

"Just wondering." Logan says, smiling.

I feel my cheeks start to heat up and I smile nervously. The doors open and I'm grateful for the rush of cool air. "Wh-what a-about, uh, you?" I stammer out. "Where are, uh, you headed?"

"The same."

"Oh, you're playing?" I ask stepping out of the transporter.

"Nope, working." Logan replies, walking with me.

"And what do computers possibly have to do with the Marina?" Evan says coming up behind us, football in hand. He smiles at me and says, "Hey Max."

"Hey."

"Major." Logan says in restrained voice, losing the smile he had on since I saw him in the transporter.

"Cale." Evan replies in the same tone, the smile gone from his face as well. "So what exactly are you doing here, Cale?"

"Like I told Max, work. You know what most of us here do." Logan replies.

"At least I know how to have fun." Evan snarks.

"And I don't just sitting around watching monitors all day." Logan retorts back.

I raise an eyebrow at the exchange. Where did this all come from?

But before Evan can snap back, Logan turns to me and says, "Later."

"Later." I say slightly confused. Logan takes off with one last dirty look towards Evan.

"Everyone here?" I ask, grabbing the football and walking backwards.

"Yea, although you're gonna have to be a sub. Lewis had to drop out at the last moment." Evan says, following me.

"Aw, that sucks." I say. Then it hits me. I toss the ball back to Evan and say, "Be back in a minute."

"Where you going?" I hear Evan shout as I jog down the hallway.

"To get an even number." I yell back. I round the corner and find Logan working away at a console. "You play football?" I ask, leaning on it.

"Used to, why?" Logan replies without looking up.

"We need an extra for the game and since you happen to be in the area-"

"You want me to play." Logan finishes for me. He looks me in the eye and I flash him a smile.

"Pretty please with sugar on top?" I ask, giving him the 'puppy dog' look.

Logan laughs, "I have five nieces and they all use that look on me; I'm immune to it."

"Dang." I give him a mock pout. "But will you?"

"Don't know how this is going to take, sorry."

"Oh, didn't hurt to ask did it?"

"Nope. See you later?"

"Sure." I reply, slightly disappointed; I was looking forward to playing with Logan. I make my way back to the balcony and join the guys.

"Didn't want to play huh?" Evan says, coming up to me.

"Too busy." I reply, shrugging and determined not to let it get to me.

"Oh well, I got Anderson to sub so you can play." Evan says as we walk out onto the balcony. "Although you'll have to be skins."

"Excuse me?" I ask, stopping and raising an eyebrow.

Evan turns around, "I tried to get one of the guys to switch but couldn't." he says, an innocent look on his face.

"Uh-huh." I say, not convinced. "Fine with me."

Now it's Evan's turn to look surprised. "Really?"

"Really." I say, turning around. Fortunately I have an undershirt on. I take the shirt off and turn around to see Evan's crestfallen face. "Oh get over it, I'm still skin." I say, throwing my shirt at him. It hits him in the face and he catches it as it falls; I just smile and walk away. By that time the other Marines see me and I get a chorus of whistles and catcalls.

I smirk and say, "In your dreams boys. Now are we gonna play or what?"

-They only want you when you're seventeen When you're twenty-one you're no fun They take a Polaroid and let you go Say that they'll let you know So come on...-

"Oof!" I trip and hit the floor, sliding a bit. But I pop back up, none worse for the wear. And I caught the ball so it's all good.

The ball is snapped for the next play and I run forwards, weaving between the Marines. However I can't get clear in time so the ball's thrown to someone else and it's intercepted. Damn, we were only a few yards from a TD. We get ready for a new play when I glance over to the side and see Logan.

"Time!" I yell as I jump up and head over to where Logan is. "Hey."

"Hey, can I still play?" Logan asks, smiling.

"Sorry we just got an even number." I hear Evan say behind me. "Maybe if you had shown up at the beginning you could've played."

"Didn't I just see LeHay just leave?" I ask.

"Yea, he left about a minute ago. Why?"

I give Evan a 'how dense are you' look and say, "Logan can take his place."

"Oh. If he wants to."

"Of course. Shirt or skin?"

"Shirt." Evan replies, shoving the football at Logan's stomach. "That ok with you?"

"Yea, that's fine." Logan said, catching the ball before it hurt him. "What's up with him?"

"Got me." I say, wondering what's gotten into Evan as well. But I let it go and grab Logan's hand, pulling him towards the guys. "Enough talking, let's play."

We walk back and the game continues. Logan's team manages to score a TD and the extra point. On the second play for my team there was another interception and turnover. Logan gave up QB to another player and ends up rushing. As we're playing I can't help but notice how he seems to get the most tags and a few hits that no one else but me seems to see. I ask Evan about it and he claims innocence, but I have my doubts.

My team manages an interception of our own when Logan's team is at the five yard mark and we get the ball. It's snapped and I go running for it. I manage to catch it and run; I'm able to get past the defense and make a run for the goal line. Logan makes a grab for me and, laughingly, I doge him and continue on my way towards the line. I glance behind my shoulder to see who's behind me; Logan, Evan, and a few others. I'm not worried about Logan or Evan, they're not going to be able to catch me, but there's one Marine who's right behind me. I speed up and face forwards in time to see another Marine in front of me. I try to stop but my feet slip and I careen forwards. I yelp and plow into him. We go down and I hit the floor hard, then I feel someone on top of me. Fortunately that person's only on me for a few seconds and I roll off of the Marine that I ran into.

Ow, I feel like I've run into a parked car.

"Max!" I hear Logan say.

"You ok?" Evan asks, both of them coming over to me.

I shake my head to clear it, and realize that that wasn't the best thing to do. "I'm fine." I say, holding out my arms for them to help me up. They each grab one and pull me up. I sway a bit, trying to regain my balance.

"You sure?" Logan asks, concern on his face.

I smile and say, "Yea, just as soon as there's one of you."

"Maybe you should go down to sick bay." He says, taking my arm.

"No really, I was kidding." I say, somewhat lying. For a moment there were two Logan's.

"Still you should go just to be on the safe side."

"Hey, if she says she's fine then she's fine." Evan says, in a defensive tone.

"She could have a concussion, you stop to think about that?" Logan shoots back.

"And you could be overprotective, you think about that?" Evan retorts, grabbing Logan's arm.

Logan lets go of me and shoves Evan away. Evan shoves right back and soon they're in a shoving match.

"Hey!" I shout. When that doesn't work, I raise my fingers to my lips and whistle. They stop and look at me. "I'm fine, a few aspirin and I'm good. Just let me know when you two can act your age." I then walk past them and pick up my shirt on the way inside. Stepping inside the transporter, I turn around and can't help but smile at their bewildered looks.

A/N: Longish post this time around and some random 'Dark Angel' Factoids for ya. I thought that it'd be nice to have some more Cale/Lorne bitchiness, thus the football incident was created. For those who are football illiterate 'TD' is TouchDown and QB is 'QuarterBack'. Crysta is owned by Nenya, Maria is owned by Reefgirl, Logan is property of James Cameron, and I own Max, leaving everything else to MGM/Cooper-Wright. Tell me what you think of the chapter.