CHAPTER 67 - TROUBLE FROM ANOTHER QUARTER

If peace meant an absence of dimensional rifts, time portals and ripples through both space and time, then it could be said that a measure of peace was found in the two weeks following the closure of the portal on the mainland. John managed to unwrap the cotton wool long enough to leave Gina's side to recommence offworld missions with the rest of his team. As he had already mentioned to Sam, he had a backlog of them to complete and once a routine was established, things fitted together once again like a well oiled wheel. Mostly.

Once Carson was convinced Gina's health was more or less back to normal with the closure of the portal and no longer being in proximity of the device that had been stored in Carlie's stomach, he agreed that she could take on light duties. His lab being the place where he wanted her to start, mainly so that he could keep an eye on her - but she had other ideas. She and Sam had plans to work their way through Rodney's notes and partly conceived ideas and theories. Sam was unable to commit full time as chief scientist as she also had to fulfill her role as base commander and there was a lot of paperwork associated with them. As Sam came to find out in short order.

Mission reports were up to date. Mostly. John had had to spend many a late night in their private quarters, laptop open on the table, shoulders hunched in frustration as he tried to find the words to show what had really happened. Gina would lean over his shoulder and offer suggestions, or reach forward and change his wording from time to time until, the feel of her breath on his neck caused shivers to fan outward and certain parts of his anatomy to show appreciation for her close proximity. And that of course led to other things. Meanwhile the mission reports stayed semi complete until laughingly the next morning, she would shoo him out to whatever planet he was scheduled to visit that day, and sit down at the table with a coffee - rationed these days by the doctor - and finish them for him.

And so two weeks later she snapped his laptop shut one morning, finally completing the last report. Signed off in his name of course. John and his team had left for a mission yesterday afternoon and they were due back later today. This particular mission had necessitated them staying overnight due to particular trading protocols and she had had to argue forcibly with him to get him to go. Stretching now, she yawned and regretted the fact that she was only allowed the one cup of coffee in the mornings. A second one was needed about now, but sighing, she knew better than to cross Carson when he was in one of his moods. And she did acknowledge the fact that little Carlie inside her did not need to be infused with cafeine this early into her life. Time enough for her to develop that habit on her own when she was much much older.

She intended to meet with Sam in the lab after lunch, and needing some exercise she smiled widely when she literally ran into Major Lorne in the hallway out side one of the rec room.

"Just the man I want to see."

She missed the blush that crept up his neck at her comment, putting a smile on his face and putting out his hands to steady her before she overbalanced.

"Hey there! Steady on, you'll be doing some of us damage if you run into us like that."

She laughed. "More likely the other way round Major. Running into you is like tackling a tree trunk." She rubbed her shoulder that had connected with the P90 he had mounted on his tactical vest."

He reached up with hand that had steadied her and gave her shoulder a rub. "Sorry about that. Mind was elsewhere and I didn't expect you to come flying around the corner like that. Why were you looking for me?"

Not quite sure what to do with his hands now, he placed one on his P90. She disconcerted him, his feelings for her had not diminished and he had managed to avoid her for the past couple of weeks as much as he was able - hoping that things would simply die down. Unfortunately, this small amount of contact with her had brought them all rushing back and he ducked his head a little, not wanting her to read the thoughts that were there.

"I need some physical activity..." at this he mentally groaned. Physical activity with her meant touching... and he didn't know, no he most definitely knew... that was not a good idea. "... and I thought we could do some training? John and his team are offworld again and Sam and I have some work to do this afternoon. I could run I guess, or work out with the weights, but Ronon was going to sort out a programme for me and hasn't got around to it yet. I'm technically banned from the gym until I have a safe programme. So Major.. you're it! That is, if you've got the time?" She eyed his tactical vest and weapons. "I suppose you're on your way offworld too."

The dejected look on her face had his smile back. She looked like a puppy in need of a play mate. All soft corners and big sad eyes.

"Just came back Gina, so I'm all yours. Had to fly a team of scientists to P8Y194 and they needed to be there when the sun came up. Didn't quite get the whole technical explanation, but needless to say, it was early to rise, early to finish."

She linked her arm through his and tipped her face up so she could smile at him. "So... babysitting duties? Do they still apply?"

"I guess that one didn't escape you then..." He led her down the hallway intent on taking her to the special outdoor area where they had set up a military obstacle course for training. He could do with the workout himself and a bit of company for a couple of hours would make it that much more pleasant. Especially when company came in this form.

"No Major, it didn't escape my notice. I was barely left alone for a single minute in the day... I believe the term used was 'tag teaming?'". Her soft laughter made him debate again whether this was such a good idea, but the Colonel had given clear instruction that she was to be checked on regularly, and he was one of the roster security personnel. He grimaced recalling the conversation that the Colonel and he had had - not long after the portal was closed. Sheppard had made it clear that if he had any inappropriate thoughts about his woman, then now was the time to come clean and hash it out. Obviously Lorne had been transparent in his feelings and it was at that point that he had resolved to stay away from her - did not need the Colonel breathing down his neck and checking his every movement. So he looked him in the eye and told the Colonel that what he felt for Gina was friendship and nothing more. Lied. But wished more than anything that it was the truth. Life would be easier.

She had not made her pregnancy public knowledge yet - only John and his immediate team knew, along with Sam and Carson, preferring to keep it private until she was showing and it became obvious. Now she eyed the obstacle course that met her eyes as she walked outside, and feeling her pause Lorne looked down at her.

"Not scared of heights I hope?"

"Not usually... but those are rather...high..."

"Don't worry, we'll start off with the lower stuff, then work up - once you're comfortable. Good to see you've got appropriate clothing on." He gaze skimmed down at her tight fitting track pants with lycra mix that while allowing for all range of movement, hugged her thighs a little more tightly than he was comfortable with and when she let go his arm and moved in front of him he was treated to the back view. For this he had to close his eyes and take a couple of calming breaths. Discreetly of course.

He instructed her as to the course procedure, leaving the high ropes out for now. They tended to cause damage to hands if care was not taken and did not want incur the Colonel's wrath if she came away from this injured. He couldn't help it. She had him helpless with laughter when she became tangled in the low ropes, fighting them with as much ferocity as if they were an alien life form and striding through them to try and extricate her, seeing her peeved expression when she saw that he found the whole thing funny, only served to fuel his humour more. By the time he got her through the low ropes and over some of the lower hurdles he felt as though he had almost done the course himself. She gave it her best shot, she really did. Her size did not assist her in any way. Tiny, but determined. Unfortunately this did not get her over the hurdles, hauling herself up so far and collapsing back from where she had just come. When she looked ready to give up,he was behind her, offering her a boost that had her on top of the hurdle looking as though she had scaled Mt Everest. And he felt her sense of triumph as though it were his own.

An hour later she lay sweating and laughing on the floor,having managed only a half of the circuit. He stood over her and reached down a hand, smiling when she took it. He pulled her up effortlessly, the impetus pulling her against him just for a moment, before he quickly released her as though burned. He'd made the decision to stick with friendship,and he'd do his damnedest to honour that decision. But that meant not touching unnecessarily. Althought his hand itched to dust off the area that she was presently dusting - namely her more than delectable derierre that was covered in dust from lying on the ground. But he simply squeezed his fist tightly and took another step back from her, saved by Sam Carter's voice calling out to him as she came down this section of the pier.

Saved by the Colonel... he thought and breathed a sigh of relief. Another crisis averted.

"Colonel? What it is?"

Sam flicked a glance at Gina and mentally groaned. She wanted to speak to Major Lorne privately on a security matter, but knew that there could be potential implications if she did not include her in this conversation. So she made the decision to speak freely in front of them both and got ready for the fall out.

"We've lost communication with Colonel Sheppard and his team. They were scheduled to check in first thing this morning when the trade negotiations were due to take place and they missed that communication. We have attempted to get them online,but no luck so far."

Lorne had snapped to attention and shot a concerned glance at Gina. "Do you want me to put together a team Colonel? Go after them?"

Gina had not made the expected outburst and concerned, Sam looked at her watching how pale her face had become.

"We'll give them another chance to make the second designated call in. If they miss that one,then yes - get a team ready, full gear Major."

"Gina? Best thing to do in these situations is keep busy. Generally they turn out to be nothing but system or equipment malfunction. But we know their last co-ordinates on check in last night - know they made it safely to the planet. Likely, there will be some sort of disturbance that's affecting their radios."

"You've tried a linkup through the gate? Is the gate dialling?" Lorne had begun walking back into the city as they talked, automatically taking Gina's elbow to escort her along. Her skin felt cold and clammy, and alarmed now, he paused and peered down into her face - his hand going automatically to her pulse, the other touching the cool, clammy skin. "Gina? You ok?"

Sam murmured to Lorne. "Get her to the infirmary, get her under Carson's care. Then meet me in the control room. We'll try one more communication then go from there."

Lorne nodded, then slipping a hand down to her waist her kept a tight hold on her as he moved her away and into the city. She stopped, refusing to move and looked back at Sam.

"I want to go with Major Lorne. To get him. I don't want to stay here." The words were said clearly and unemotionally as though she had pushed down all the emotion to make her plea lucid and commanding. Sam immediately shook her head.

"You don't have the training Gina - I'm sorry. The best thing to do is stay here. I can't let you go. You'll be a liability to the rescue team and they'll be having to watch out for you rather than attempting a rescue mission. I can't allow it."

"Gina - do as she says. I don't want to be worrying about you while we're out there. Please? And if Colonel Sheppard finds out, we'll all be feeling his anger." Lorne shot Sam a look and she veered off toward the control room, while Lorne continued down to the infirmary.

They didn't make it to the infirmary. Lorne's radio activated telling him to about face and come immediately to the control room. With Gina. Sam didn't elaborate and he turned off his radio with a glance at Gina. "Damned if I know what that was about, but Colonel Carter did not sound impressed. Control room it is. You up for this? You're still pale and I didn't like the way your pulse was racing along back there... I should really take you to Carson first, but orders are orders. Come on, let's go see what the game plan is."

He had taken her arm again and felt her quick glances at him, but he had his military face on now and the laughing Major from earlier was gone.

Sam was pacing in the control room when they arrived, and she had been joined by Zalenka and two IOA officials who had just arrived through the gate not an hour earlier. Their official babysitters. Just what Sam needed and if the look on her face was anything to go by, they were not going to have the most pleasant introduction to Atlantis. She was certainly not in the mood for them.

"Change of plan Colonel?" Lorne was brisk now, ignoring the IOA men, focused on his commanding officer.

"We've just had communication Major. From the planet where Colonel Sheppard and his team are. They're being held captive. Seems it's not over."

"Sam?" Gina's voice was small. "What do you mean?"

"The men holding them captive Gina. Are from the dimension where Carlie came from. We may have closed our portal, but they have found another. And somehow - either by design or by coincidence - they have managed to capture Colonel Sheppard and his team by appearing to be the very traders that they had a meeting with this morning. It seems they still only want one thing. You, Gina. They're willing to trade the Colonel and his team - for you."

Gina sagged slightly and with a will pulled herself upright, and away from Lorne's supporting arm. She turned and faced them in the room - Lorne, Sam, Zalenka and the IOA men who stood watching her curiously - the same ones who had been to Atlantis a lifetime ago...

"This was supposed to be over. We got Carlie out safely. We closed the portal. It was supposed to be over! What happened?"

"We don't know the full story Gina, I'm sorry. We can only assume that they are the same group - they asked specifically for you and mentioned Carlie by name. They've not only threatened the Colonel - they know how to get back to 1962. They've given us 24 hours to get you there, then they will kill the Colonel and go back to 1962. To destroy the very things that we have put into place to ensure that there is a stargate programme. And I don't know if Callandra and your father can stop them this time."

Gina's eyes were cold.

"Then I will."