Chapter Five
As the sun rose up from behind the horizon, Reva watched it with interest. Since arriving here, she made sure to get up early every morning and watch it and today was no different except that she was in Kate Heightmeyer's office. She was watching the view through one of the many blinded windows.
Kate sat on her white chair, her legs crossed, and her notepad and pen in hand, ready to write once Reva had said something. Reva sighed lightly. She knew that Kate was waiting patiently but so far Reva had nothing to tell her. Eventually she turned and walked to the chair sitting opposite Kate and she sat down.
Kate gave her a small smile. "How are you feeling today?"
Inwardly, Reva sighed in annoyance. Every time she had seen Kate, she started off with the same question. She had to admit though; it wasn't the worst way to start the conversation off. Reva looked at Kate and sighed loudly.
"I'm feeling good, actually," Reva replied. "Back to my old self."
"That's good to hear," Kate said quietly, writing something down without looking away. "And how are things going with Ronon?"
"Good," Reva said instantly. "I think our brother/sister relationship is about back to normal, back to where it should be."
"You've forgiven him?"
Reva frowned faintly. "For what?"
"For not looking for you," Kate clarified. "He had been gone for a while. Never went back to the planet he left you on."
Reva shrugged and looked down in her lap and watched her fiddling hands. Kate noticed it too. "I don't really think there's anything to forgive. I mean, he was on the run from the Wraith, unable to stay in any one place too long. It wasn't his fault. We're back together now. I think that's what matters."
For a moment, Reva felt worried at the look that Kate gave her. Didn't she believe her? It was true, she was angry at Ronon for not returning for her but she was sure he had good reasons and she was sure that love wasn't the problem. Growing up, they had been close; he'd always looked out for her. A sudden thought hit Reva. Was that it? Was Ronon sick of looking out for her?
Mentally, Reva kicked herself. Ronon thought that family was one of the most important things in life. No matter how much he may have disliked always having to look out for her she was sure he wouldn't just abandon her. With family, it was now just the two of them. They were all each other had left. Though, Reva had noticed how close he was to some of the people on this base. That he probably saw them as family now too. If she was completely honest with herself, she could admit that a small part of her was bothered by that fact.
After a moment Kate nodded slowly. "I suppose that's true. It's good to know that the both of you can move on from past experiences and not hold onto them too long," Kate said softly. "And how are things with Colonel Sheppard?"
Reva felt her cheeks turn warm, a light pink colour staining them. "Um... things are going well. It's been a few weeks and we're getting more and more comfortable with each other as time goes by."
Reva still felt the embarrassment but she had spoken the truth. She had Sheppard hadn't done too much physical yet but Reva was hoping it would happen soon, although she wasn't quite ready to discuss that with anyone just yet. That seemed a little too personal to share with anyone.
"Well, it sounds like things are going quite smoothly," Kate stated. "Is there anything bothering, anything you wish to talk about or discuss?"
Reva shook her head slowly as she gave it some thought. "No, I can't think of anything..."
"No bad dreams or recurring nightmares?" asked Kate. "No violent images or flashing, no sudden bouts of anger or hatred?"
"No," Reva replied quickly. "Nothing like that."
Kate closed her notepad and placed the pen on top before looking at Reva again. "Well, I think there's nothing left for us to talk about," she said with a small smile. "But remember, if anything comes up, you come and see me."
Reva nodded as she got to her feet. "I will," she said, returning the smile. "Thank you."
Kate nodded her head once but said nothing and Reva left, returning to her quarters. She felt as though it were too early for breakfast and for the moment she just wanted to concentrate on the beautiful morning outside first before anything else came up.
When the afternoon rolled around, Reva sat was still in her quarters. After returning from seeing Kate, she lay down on her bed again and ended up falling asleep. She couldn't understand why she was so tired but Reva knew it had happened before. There couldn't be anything wrong because the Dr. Beckett would have found something when he checked her.
At the moment, Reva sat on the end of the bed, just thinking. Suddenly, a knock at door sounded, startling her. Reva glanced at it with a small frown as though it had scared her on purpose. Slowly, she got to her feet and opened it quickly. It was her brother. He was already looking at her, leaning against the opening of the doorway.
"Ronon?" she questioned in surprise. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said gruffly. "Sheppard's calling a meeting for something and he told me to get you."
"He wants me to be in the meeting? Why?"
Ronon just shrugged and pushed off the wall before walking away. He soon turned back to Reva. "Come on," he said gesturing with his hand.
Reva got her head together quickly and she followed her brother to the briefing room. Besides themselves, Elizabeth, John, Teyla, Rodney and Lorne were present. Instantly, Reva wondered if she had done something wrong.
"Please, take a seat," Elizabeth said politely, pointing to an empty chair.
"Okay," Reva whispered inaudibly. She sat down in an empty and chair and leaned against the back, waiting to hear the reason of why she was here. She kept her eyes on Elizabeth, wanting to keep the meeting professional.
"Colonel Sheppard and I have been trying to find a new team member for Lorne's team," Elizabeth began. "And Lorne put your name forward. I know things seem boring here for you and you'd like something more, which is understandable."
"And?" asked Reva quietly.
"We've come to an agreement that you should join Lorne's team, although it is up to you."
"Why me?" Reva asked quickly. "I'm sure there are many other qualified people on the base."
Elizabeth turned to Lorne, making everyone else do the same. "I saw you and Ronon in the shooting range before. You've got good aim and you seem confident. I could use someone like that."
"And what's with the other people here that can hold a gun confidently?" Reva asked, a small smile playing her lips.
Lorne smiled tightly. It was harder than he thought it would be. "It's not just that. Along with Ronon and Teyla, you have a vast knowledge of this universe and I think having someone else like that on a team would be a good thing."
Hearing that actually made Reva think about it. He had a good argument, she couldn't deny that but did she really want to join a team? Reva's eyes travelled to the surface of the table as her mind raced. Of course she had thought about joining a team but she pushed that thought ages ago, thinking that no one here would be willing to give her a go.
The silent was quickly broken as Reva pushed her chair back, showing that she was going to stand up at any moment. But she stopped and placed her hands against the edge of the table, pushing against it gently. She looked up at Lorne again.
"Do you mind if I think about it?"
Lorne immediately shook his head. "Of course not," he replied. "Take your time."
"Thank you," Reva said, getting to her feet. She turned to leave but stopped and glanced at Elizabeth. "And thank you for the offer, Dr. Weir."
She received a silent head nod and Reva left the briefing room, feeling as though she wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. She reached her quarters in record time and raced into the bathroom, just making it to the toilet to be sick. When it was over, Reva wiped her mouth and sat on the edge of the small porcelain white bathtub.
Thinking about joining a team made Reva think about what would happen once she left this base. She would be confronted by all her past fears; the Wraith, the Genii; other smaller enemies she may have made. Reva was more than unsure if she wanted to revisit all of that just yet.
As Reva ate dinner in the mess hall later that night, she pushed her food around her tray and she looked at it. Sometimes the meals here weren't bad but sometimes it really made a person wonder what it was made from.
Reva sighed and continued to push the food around, leaning her head against her propped up arm. She had given Lorne's offer some more thought since the meeting. It had been the only thing she had thought of.
"May I join you?"
Reva quickly looked up to see Teyla's smiling face. Reva cleared her throat and sat up straighter. "Sure, of course," she said quickly.
Teyla's warm smile widened and she set her own tray down before sitting opposite her. Teyla wasted no time in getting to the point.
"I know none of it concerns me but Ronon is a dear friend and I do hope you come to be also," Teyla started softly.
"Same," was all Reva managed to say.
Teyla's smile lingered. "This afternoon you seemed quite alarmed at being asked to join a team. Is the reason of what's out there, your past?"
Reva looked down at her tray as her head tilted to the side and her lips tightened into a thin line. She shrugged faintly before answering Teyla, keeping her eyes down.
"I suppose," she muttered. "After everything I don't want to fight Wraith... but I think I'm more afraid of coming face to face with the Genii again."
"I do believe that Major Lorne will make sure you are safe," Teyla said quickly. "Lorne has lost quite a few good people and I believe he thinks that he may have better luck with you."
Reva took a moment and looked around the room. Other than them, the room was quiet for a main meal time. Reva glanced at the members of different teams that sat, socialising together. Could it be like that for her? Reva had never made friends easily but in a galaxy at war as much as theirs was, it wasn't always very easy to trust anyone.
"You think I should join the team..." Reva said knowingly, looking back at Teyla.
Teyla gave a sly smile. "Well, I do believe you should greatly consider it. Major Lorne is a good officer. I believe you will do well on his team."
The rest of the meal was eaten in relative silence and Reva knew that Teyla spoke truthfully, that she had good knowledge in the people here. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. If it didn't work out, Reva was sure they wouldn't have trouble in finding someone else.
The next morning, Reva awoke refreshed and prepared with an answer. She was still a little unsure about going back out there and fighting but the people here did it every day and they didn't even belong to this galaxy. She was a part of it, she should be helping them.
Reva quickly found out where Lorne was for the day and she promptly made her way there. He was in the sparring room with two men, which Reva assumed to be his team members. No one noticed Reva until the sparring ended. Lorne turned to her with a hesitant smile, wondering if he was going to hear good or bad news.
"Morning, Major," she said politely. Lorne returned the greeting, wanting her to get on with it. "I've made a decision. I would be honoured to join your team."
Lorne's face broke out into a huge grin. "What made you change your mind?" he asked with chuckle.
Reva shrugged faintly. "A few things," she replied quietly. "I just really realised that I belong to this galaxy and I'm able to fight, so I should."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it," Lorne said, still smiling. "And while you're here you can meet your teammates."
She followed Lorne to the other side of the room where the two men were watching, both of them wondering what was going on. Lorne pointed to each as he introduced them.
"This is Sergeant Smith and Lieutenant Linkins. Boys, this is Reva Dex, our new team member."
Both of them grunted their greetings as Reva looked Smith over first. He towered over her and looking into his large brown eyes made Reva instantly feel comfortable. She always thought the best way to know someone was to look into their eyes first. She looked him over again, taking more in. He's head was almost completely shaved and his uniform was identical to Lorne's.
Linkins on the other hand, Reva wasn't so certain about being comfortable with. His blue eyes hard a hard, cold edge to them. He had short, brown hair which was put into short spikes. The sweat against his tanned skin gleamed off the bright lights above them. There was something there that Reva couldn't quite put her finger on.
"Nice to meet both of you," she added politely.
"Good work guys. We can pick up again tomorrow morning," Lorne said to Reva as he walked towards the door. He then sent a small gesture to Reva. 'Come on, I'll show you the locker room and armoury and everything."
Reva nodded at his words and mumbled a good bye to her two teammates before silently leaving the room and following Lorne for her orientation.