Date : 26.09.2009
Title : The Fate Series : Part 1 - A Touch of Fate
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 12 of ?
Rating : M
Pairings : Lt. Colonel John Sheppard/OC
Major Evan Lorne/OC
Warnings : Some Sexual Content, Romance, Angst, Maybe Some Strong Language.
Feedback : Yes please, always welcome whatever it may be.
Disclaimer : Dr. Ellie Lorne, and any O/C's are mine. Lyssa Hunter belongs to Kazavid and is from her Atlantis stories Behind The Mask and Reunions. Lexi Roberts was created by Soccer-Bitch. Stargate Atlantis, unfortunately, has nothing to do with me.
Summary : AU : Lorne is gone for good this time and Ellie must move on with her life. There'll be no second chances this time, no way around them being parted…or is there…and is that what Ellie and Lorne for that matter, really wants?
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A/N : My O/C's are in this story quite predominantly at one point and I do apologise for that, but I felt it necessary for the series to work. Hopefully though, you'll like them enough to continue to read on and enjoy what they're getting up to! There are of course all the old favourites in here and a newbie or two…oh and remember…forget the Ellie and Lorne's of the past, this is another AU
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ellie's knuckles turned white as she gripped the window railing of the observation room above where Sheppard and Statham were interviewing the other Lorne.
He had given them information chapter and verse about what had happened with the Genii and Sheppard had admitted that what he had told them could probably save this Atlantis, if the Genii were to attack it in such a way, although at the moment the two were allies.
"So were we…or so we thought," Lorne had commented.
After that Lorne had been questioned about other things…his role on the other Atlantis, the chain of command on the other Atlantis, his personal life on the other Atlantis…and this was where Ellie had started to feel a little sick.
He had just revealed the details of his divorce to 'his' Ellie and his new, and what had been blossoming, relationship with 'his' Lyssa.
Her mind whirled as Sheppard began to explain to Lorne that obviously he was welcome to stay on this Atlantis once he had been cleared by Keller, but that he would be guarded for a while and obviously he couldn't carry out any military duties for now as he wasn't 'their' Lorne and therefore they had to start to trust him first before any of that could start to take place and even then he would have to undergo training and other physical and psychological examinations.
"I understand Sir," Lorne replied, "We'd have done the same thing if your Lorne had turned up in our universe."
As Sheppard nodded and began to instruct Statham to take Lorne to the infirmary to get checked out, Ellie turned away from the glass, starting as she saw Lyssa was stood in the doorway behind her.
She'd had no idea that her friend had been there.
"Hey," she said, her voice sounding shaky, "You made me jump."
"Sorry," Lyssa replied, eyeing her cautiously before continuing, "So…are you alright?"
Ellie sighed and folded her arms.
"I guess…he and I…well, the other me…they're divorced."
"Right," Lyssa replied, unsure if to tell Ellie that she already knew, but before she had the chance to, Ellie said,
"He was dating the other you when the attack happened."
Lyssa took a ragged breath and moved from one foot to the other uncomfortably as she replied,
"And how do you feel about that?"
"I don't know…" Ellie replied. "Kinda confused I guess. You and I…we're so different despite us being best friends…I suppose…oh, I don't know…" she trailed off, running a hand over her face tiredly.
"Why don't you go and get some rest? This must have knocked the wind out of you some…" Lyssa suggested.
Ellie glanced back down to the interview room and found that it was now empty and she realised that they had already gone to the infirmary.
"I was going to follow them to the infirmary and see how he gets on there," she told her friend.
"Ellie…do you think that's such a good idea?" Lyssa asked and Ellie frowned.
"Why?"
"Well…why don't you let them settle him in and then see how the land lies in a few days?" Lyssa said.
"But I…I feel like I need to talk to him…to…just look at him…" she shook her head, knowing it sounded silly.
Lyssa moved to her friend and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Ellie…you have to remember that…as much as he looks like your Evan…he isn't…and don't forget Frank…have you even thought about how he's feeling right now?"
Ellie's eyes snapped to Lyssa's and she replied,
"Has he said something to you?"
Lyssa shook her head, "No, but I can see its bothering him…the double of your late husband just showed up and you and him are in a relationship now…" she stopped as Ellie moved away from her and her hand dropped back to her side.
"Frank isn't like that…we're just…sleeping together, you know that as well as he does. Even you told me to watch him, that he's not the caring type," Ellie said a little too snappily for Lyssa's liking and she felt her hackles rise.
"Look, Ellie, all I'm saying is be careful around this new Lorne…I don't want to see you hurt."
Ellie nodded, but the look on her face told Lyssa that she was still going to go to the infirmary anyway.
Sighing again she said,
"I'll come with you."
Ellie nodded and they left the observation room together.
OoOoOoO
In the infirmary, Statham watched as Dr. Keller started the examination on new Lorne.
"I'll be right over here," he told them, joining two other on duty marines at the doors.
About ten minutes in he turned to one of them.
"I need to pee…watch him," he instructed and then headed off to the infirmary bathrooms.
Just as he disappeared, Ellie and Lyssa arrived.
"I'm just going to hang on out here," Lyssa said, smiling at the two marines whom she knew from her sparring sessions with Ronon.
Ellie nodded and moved inside the infirmary, looking for Lorne.
She was just passing a curtained off area, when the curtain was whipped back and he was revealed to her by Keller and he was now in infirmary scrubs and in bed.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her eyes locking with his and Keller smiled.
"Our new Major Lorne here is a little too dehydrated for my liking and I'm running some blood tests too…so I'm just going to keep him in over night to be on the safe side," she said, smiling at Ellie as Lorne said,
"Beats having to have a night in the Brig."
Ellie nodded as Keller patted her shoulder and the doctor briefly wondered whether Ellie should really be there. Deciding to leave her for now she said,
"I'll be right back," and left the two alone.
"So..." Lorne ventured when Ellie merely stared at him. "Looks like I'm able to stay..."
"Yes..." Ellie replied, edging closer to the side of his bed.
Lorne regarded her as she continued to stare at him and he shifted a little uncomfortoubly and cleared his throat.
"Are you alright?" he asked, "I realise this must be a little hard for you...seeing me..." he stopped as Ellie suddenly reached out and touched his face with her fingertips.
Ellie felt her heart begin to beat a little faster and she quickly pulled her hand away as if he'd burnt her.
"I'm sorry..." she said.
Lorne smiled at her. "It's alright...I feel the same way about Lyssa..." he said, his eyes straying to the doorway of the infirmary.
Ellie felt like he had slapped her in the face and she had to fight to keep her composure.
Her common sense told her that it wasnt his fault, that he had never loved her, that it wasnt her Lorne that was longing for her best friend instead of her, but her heart told her otherwise.
"Excuse me," she said, her voice no more than a whisper as she whirled away and headed for the doors, tears pooling in her eyes.
Lorne watched her go, frowning.
oooo
Statham left the bathroom and just saw Ellie moving away from Lorne's bedside.
He approached quickly, his voice stern as he asked,
"What did you say to her?"
"Nothing!" Lorne replied, his frown deepening as Major Statham cursed colourfully before heading after Ellie.
oooo
Lyssa jumped as Ellie crashed through the doors and all but ran down the corridor.
"Ellie!?" she said, about to follow her when Statham barelled through the infirmary exit too.
He glanced at Lyssa and said,
"I'll go..."
Lyssa nodded and watched him jog after Ellie who had just turned the corner up ahead.
Statham caught up to Ellie and grabbed her arm to stop her running.
"Hey, what's going on...what did he say to you?" he asked, his brow furrowing when he saw her tears.
"Nothing," Ellie replied, avoiding his eyes.
"Bullshit nothing!" he swore and Ellie looked at him.
"It wasn't his fault, it's me..." she said, swiping at her tears angrily, annoyed with herself.
"Okay, so what did you say to him?" Statham asked, stabbing around in the dark as he tried to figure out what had upset her other than just seeing another Lorne in the flesh again.
"Nothing, look Frank...just leave it...please..." she said and he released her arm and looked at her.
"Alright, if that's what you want," he said, not feeling very happy when Ellie nodded,
"Yes, it is."
They looked at each other for a moment and Statham had the overwhelming feeling that he was losing her.
'Not that you ever really had her, right?' he said to himself. Their relationship wasnt like that.
"I'm going to head to my room," she said and he nodded.
"I should get back to the infirmary."
"Right..." Ellie replied, turning away and as she walked away from him, Sthatham had a feeling in his gut that told him that from that moment on, their relationship was going to change...whether it be for good or bad, he wasnt yet sure.
ooooooo
Lyssa debated whether to go in and see new Lorne or not, but as she looked at him through the glass of the infirmary doors and saw how utterly alone he looked, she decided to go and talk to him for a little while.
His face brightened instantly as she approached his bedside and Lyssa's insides gave an uneasy twitch.
"Hey," he said, smiling at her.
"Hi...how are you doing?" she replied, half returning his smile, not wanting to seem overly friendly.
"I'm dehydrated apparently and Doc Keller is running some blood tests so decided to keep me in overnight...its just a precaution," he told her and she nodded.
"Is Ellie alright?" he asked. "She didnt say much before she took off..."
"Frank has gone after her...I think she's just a little in shock, seeing you and all," Lyssa said, then added, "I think she's still a lot more fragile where you...the other you is concerned...than she realises. She and Evan were inseperable."
Lorne nodded.
"The other her and me...we just weren't like that. Not even in the beginning," he said and Lyssa frowned as he continued, "My Ellie was quite a hard woman, never really let anyone in," he shrugged and looked at her, "Sometimes I wonder how we even ended up together."
Lyssa's eyes widened and she folded her arms as she thought how different the other Ellie sounded to hers.
"How did your Ellie react to your being with the other me?" she asked and Lorne smiled.
"Believe it or not, she actually set us up."
Lyssa mouth opened but no sound came out. Eventually she managed to croak, "Really?"
"Yeah," Lorne replied, his eyes twinkling at her before he said, "Are you...with anyone right now?" and colour tinged his cheekbones as he realised he perhaps shouldn't have been so forward, it was just that he felt so at ease with her.
"Um...no...but..." she trailed off gratefully as Statham re-entered the infirmary and headed for the bed.
"Ellie's gone to her room," he informed Lyssa, glaring at Lorne for a second before saying "Will you check on her in a little while?"
"Sure...in fact i'll head that way now," she replied, wanting to get away from the conversation she had been about to get into with new Lorne.
Statham nodded and walked with her to the door.
"I'll see you," she offered to Lorne over her shoulder as she walked away.
"Yeah," Lorne replied a little glumly, raising a hand to her as she left.
ooooo
Lyssa tapped her ear piece as she headed for the quarters' level.
"Ellie?" she said.
In her room, Ellie was just getting undressed and she pressed her own ear piece.
"Hey," she replied, sounding weary.
"You want me to stop by? Are you alright?" Lyssa asked.
"No Lyss, it's okay...i'm going to have a shower and head to bed...but thanks," Ellie replied and Lyssa sighed before replying,
"Okay, well, i'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, night Lyss," Ellie replied before removing her head piece and tossing it onto the bedside drawers.
As she headed for the shower, Lyssa headed for her own room, wanting to end this particular day too.
ooooo
Much later, Statham hovered outside of Ellie's room for the longest time.
With a deep sigh he moved away and walked to his own quarters...this would be the first night that they had spent apart since their 'just having sex' pact and he wasnt sure he liked it. Ellie knew where he was if she wanted him though and he figured she needed some space right now.
Sometimes fate was a bitch!
End of Chapter 12