It wasn't as though anyone needed to know. She bore through their scolding for another while until they got it all out of their system.
"You will stay in your quarters until such time as I see fit."
Great. Lennah thought ruefully. Pops is groundin me.
By this time, Teyla had showed up and far be it from Mom to not the levelheaded voice of reason.
"You cannot say that John's actions are unwarranted." She soothed as she escorted Lennah back to her room. "He certainly can only have your own best interest in mind."
Lennah bowed her head and nodded. "I understand." Teyla said no more as she allowed Lennah to step inside before she waved the doors shut.
Colare turned and looked at her apartment, once an unintentional hermitage now was a deserved prison. This isn't where she wanted to be anymore. There was little she could do about that presently, aside from draft a resignation.
Would she really leave? It would make things easier. She could move on and grow from it. There would now be the mark on her record. Having Sheppard brought on board now required that he report the incident of 'failure to report'.
Nothing she could do about that now. She'd be stuck in this room until Sheppard figured out her mess. Stuck in the reminder of her incapability to do anything to fix it.
The white fur on the carpet, that had given her hope before, now caused pain. But it was bittersweet, some fond memories wrapped up in there somewhere.
Tired and beaten down, she needed something to prop her up until she could figure out what to do.
In her desk were hardcopies of various candids and cityscapes she'd shot in her time at Atlantis. She'd be required by her confidentiality contract to leave them here. They were all product of military contract. The pictures of friends laughing, strangers smiling, and moments of meaning only to those who were aware of their importance, to her, would be filed away or discarded.
The pelt would be too, as the remnant DNA contained in the skin and hair follicles could be nothing Earthly.
It would be hell to get through customs, anyway.
She made use of the largest shelf in the room and spread out the photos on the floor. The cramped position of sorting them reminded her of the physical and emotionally draining day she'd had. She could lie out on the fur after a hot shower and look through them more closely.
Bath, bubbles, shaving her legs, music: almost as good as chocolate. In the back end of her closet, was yet another item she'd gotten as a party-favor for a cousin's bachelorette party. A particularly elegant and meddling cousin whose generosity went years back as is evident by the extent of her 'private collection'. The item in question was a soft ivory chemise. If it wasn't so short in length, it may have been an evening dress. If she was bold, she'd have worn it with jeans but one needed a license to carry that much cleavage.
It was a sign of complete desperation.
Who wears perfume and lingerie to a bed for one? Lennah mused as she dried her hair. Obviously, only someone as completely pathetic as you, dearie.
She threw her pillows and blankets onto the floor and crawled into the heap.
Hot smooth skin and cool satin burrowed into the pile, making a den. It was quiet and pitch black under her cobbled tent. The simple pleasure of knowing no one could see her was euphoric. It reminded her of that night in the tent with the others, crowded together and cozy. If she weren't careful, she'd ruin a perfectly good night with tears.
Of course the door would chime right when she got comfortable. It was Teyla back to check with her emotional state or Sheppard to regurgitate more of the same.
She grabbed her red robe and was pulling it on as she waved the doors open.
She'd guessed wrong.
Surprise registered first.