Authors' Note: Hi there, just so you know, this story was co-authored with my friend Nimeria. This story is as much hers as mine.
Disclaimer: We don't own anyone or anything you recognize. Except for ourselves. And that last bit's only a "maybe" on a good day.
Why to Always Have an Escape Route
Chapter 7
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Sheppard: (He stares in awe, then grins and sits next to Mary and grabs a plate as Daniel sits next to him.) So is there a particular movie or genre these food sculptures have to be from?
Mary: Not really. Just make your food legible.
Sheppard: (pause) Wait, what?
Jessie: It's Mary-speak.
Taylor: Just make sure we can guess what it is.
Sheppard: Aaah. Right. (sets to work on his own creation)
Mary: Jess, Balrog: whip or sword?
Jessie: I preferred the whip myself.
Mary: Okay. (stares at potatoes) How does one make a whip out of starchy goodness?
Jack: Starchy-
Taylor and Jessie: Mary-speak.
Jack: Oh. Right.
Jessie: Taylor, what should I make?
Taylor: (shrugs) Just whatever.
(Jessie pouts)
Taylor: Oh fine, ummmm… (She leans over and whispers in Jess's ear. Jessie's face lights up and she immediately sets to work.)
Mitchell: So what do you think this is? (pushes own potatoes sculpture over)
(The girls tilt their heads first one way then another.)
Mary: I wanna say... umm. A tomato?
Mitchell: (groans) It's the cradle of life. From the Tomb Raider movie. You know?
Taylor: Um yeah. I see it.
Jack: That's cheating. You can't just make a sphere and call it something random.
(Sheppard makes an irritated noise and smashes his creation back into the plate.)
(A random staff person runs into the cafeteria and comes over to the group.)
RSP: I'm to tell you that we've received a signal and are about to momentarily drop out of hyperspace to pick up Dr. McKay and Ronon.
Jack: Thank you.
Sheppard: Which bay?
RSP: Two.
Mitchell: To two it is then. (All get up, the girls rather reluctantly leaving their sculptures, and head to bay two.)
(The whole party is now walking en massè to bay number 2.)
Mary: (staring at the walls and corridors as they pass through the halls)
Man, I would so get lost in here.
Jess: (cheerily) I wouldn't!
(Taylor and Mary warily stare at Jessie, and simultaneously slink behind Daniel Jackson)
Daniel: What now?
Taylor: She's creeping us out.
Mary: And I'm not sure she's not kidding...
Sheppard: Here we are kids. Bay 2.
(The doors, as if on cue, open and standing there is Ronon looking quite stoic and handsome as ever, and next to him stands McKay, looking a little aggravated.)
Jack: Ronon, Rodney.
(Taylor and Jessie pause only long enough to draw breath)
Mary: Oh no... (she attempts to grab a hold of her minions but misses as Taylor and Jessie, as one, pounce forward until they are standing in front of a Very confused Ronon.)
Taylor: Jessie, it's...
Jessie: ...so much better in person!
Mary: Oh, please don't-
(the twins simultaneously reach up and start petting Ronon's hair)
Mary: (hangs her head) do...that...Uh, Ronon; please try not to kill them.
(Ronon glowers)
McKay: Did I miss something?
Jack: I think I did too.
Mary: Will explain later.
(walks over beside the twins, who are completely enthralled by Ronon's hair)
Mary: (ahem) Taylor, Jessie? Can you stop that please?
Taylor: (looking over but not stopping) But it's so fun!
(Jessie merely grins in agreement)
Mary: I will not be responsible if he kills you, you know. Please don't make me order you to stop. You know I will.
Jessie: Never! Too! Much! Fun!
Sheppard: Uh, may I be of some assistance? I have funny hair too, you know.
McKay: I definitely missed something here.
Daniel: Sometimes, actually most times, it's best not to ask them.
McKay: Ah.
Taylor: (is staring at Sheppard) Mary did he just...?
Mary: He did.
Jessie: (pulls her hand from Ronon's head) Did he mean it?
(Taylor's hand slips in amazement and Ronon sprints out of the room. McKay follows quickly after and the others follow him. Sheppard stares back at Taylor.)
Sheppard: I did. Ronon is dangerous. So yes. I have funny hair too.
(Taylor inches towards him in a daze and reaches out hesitantly towards his hair. Sheppard has a look that says he clearly thinks he's going to regret this but doesn't take off. Taylor's hand connects with Sheppard's hair and she strokes it once, makes a sound in the back of her throat, and runs off. Jessie glares at Sheppard before running after her twin.)
Sheppard: What was that?
Mary: You'll have to forgive her. She's, well, she's shy.
Sheppard: Shy? Really? She doesn't seem the type.
Mary: No. Normally she doesn't but... she likes you. I mean she really likes you. She likes everyone here naturally but for some reason you... I don't know. She likes you more than anyone else. It was fine when you were trying to stay away from her because she wouldn't have to worry about anything, but by offering up your hair, which you are, by the way, way over protective of, it threw things out of whack for her and now she realizes
that you're paying attention to her and she probably feels like an idiot for taking you up on the offer.
Sheppard: Oh. Umm. Oh. (has adorably puzzled look on face)
Mary: As for Jessie. She's gone off to comfort Taylor and probably find her ice cream.
Sheppard: Should I...
Mary: No. Jess'll make sure she's alright. But if Taylor starts acting funny around you don't be surprised. Actually, try and do whatever you can to make her feel more normal.
(The two of them walk out of bay and off to where everyone else is. They arrive and sure enough Jessie is sitting in a corner with Taylor who is munching on ice cream.) (They wait for Sam, Daniel, Rodney, and Ronon to come up with a plan. After about a half hour Taylor starts to look less stressed. Sheppard inches his way over to her slowly making sure she isn't going to freak out again.)
Sheppard: (when he finally gets over to her and sits down) You know we're going to have to fly the puddle jumper to Atlantis. Do you want to ride shotgun?
(Before Taylor can answer, Sam walks in with Daniel, McKay and Ronon.)
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