John jogged to the gate room after his meeting with Weir and his conversation with his sister.
Sheppard made it down to the gate to meet up with his team, 2 minutes to spare.
"What'd Weir want?" blurted Rodney while adjusting his backpack.
John pulled out his aviators, putting them on he said, "Rowan wants to join up with a team. Go offworld."
"Oh, cool." replied Rodney.
"No, McKay. Not cool. Not by a mile. But it's out of my hands. Weir and Chewie here have decided if she can pass the standard training then she can go." John said bluntly."I'm actually pretty pissed about it, so if you could just drop it- that'd be great. OK?"
Teyla glanced at the Colonel, "John, you know no one would ever knowingly put her into a dangerous situation."
Ronan added in- "Dude, she's gonna be OK. If she doesn't-"
"WHAT ABOUT 'DROP IT' IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE?!" yelled John as he strode into the glimmering Stargate leaving Rodney, Ronan and Teyla to catch up.
The sun was beating down on PX-528. John was already a few feet in front of the gate when the rest of his team caught up to him.
They were there on a scouting mission for a possible settlement relocation and evac site.
John couldn't quite figure out what was upsetting him so much about his little sister training for offworld missions. He knew that she was more than capable of taking care of herself in most situations. The whole purpose of the Atlantis Expedition was basically for scientific research, with the military providing security and safety... that was his job! But he just couldn't stomach the idea of Rowan in danger...
For the present he'd have to shelve his emotions, it was time to work. He turned to look at his team and said "All right guys, Chewie- you and Teyla go East. McKay and I will go West. After 3 clicks sweep NW for another 3, then drop back S to meet up with us here. We'll do the opposite range. Lorne already marked the sites to the NW and SE yesterday. If or when you come upon a site flat enough to set up evac camps, mark them. We've got 3 hours until the sun sets. Radio communication every 20min. Let's head out."
By the end of the afternoon, they had found only one more sight within range of the gate suitable for an evac camp. It had been a long, hot, boring day and they were all glad to be gating back to Atlantis.
Major Lorne was on gateroom duty when SGA-1 came back through, looking sweaty and out of sorts.
He knew this wasn't the best time to ask Teyla about going out on a date, but he had resolved to do it today, and by golly, he just wanted to get it over with. He figured he was going to get shot down anyway, so better to face the humiliation now...
He nodded his head to Sheppard as he walked past, it was standard procedure to head to the locker rooms and check all your gear back in before heading to the infirmary for a check after each mission. John said to him, "Found one more site. Tell Keller that the planet looks to be fine for evac. Send Parrish and Team 4 through tomorrow to clear the environment, let's make sure the plants aren't gonna poison us or attack us."
"Got it," said Lorne.
Teyla, Ronan, and McKay had already left for the locker rooms, so Lorne made sure Chuck was 'ok', and let Weir know he was leaving the gateroom for the night.
Evan detoured down to the botany labs to tell Parrish about the upcoming mission in-person. While he was there, he hit David up for a small posey of flowers. All girls like flowers right? Even Pegasus galaxy girls...right?
"So who're the flowers for Major?" David said with a wiggle of the eyebrows and wink of the eye. David Parrish and Evan Lorne had been friends since the botanist joined the expedition. They were able to tease each other like this.
Lorne rolled his eyes, but was hit with a sudden case of the nerves. "Oh man David. I don't know what I'm doing...I was thinking of asking Teyla out? I think? Maybe? Ugh! She's gonna shoot me down so hard...I dunno, should I bring flowers? Tell me what to do man."
David laughed. "It's good to see something DOES scare you and that you have actual manly like desires! I was beginning to think you took some vow of solitude or abstinence or something!"
"Shut up man." said Evan plopping down against a table. This is hard! We've finally had a few weeks around here where the shit hasn't hit the fan and nobody has died...so, yeah...I'd like to ask her out...but...god. What do Athosians do? Do they date? Do you know?"
"Hey man, I thought she and Sheppard were a thing. So I guess you KNOW that's not happening I guess?" said David.
Evan could tell that David was angling for some gossip, but he just gave him a pointed look and ignored him. Evan responded with "Dude. You think I'd ask her out if I wasn't sure she wasn't with the Colonel? I'm not suicidal man. She's single."
David smiled, "Well good, man. Just go for it. She's not gonna get upset or anything. You and she are friends. I think you've got a good shot at this!"
Lorne pushed off from the counter he was leaning on, "ugh. Ok. I hate me. ugh. OK. ok...I'm going now. Give me the damn flowers."
David smiled and handed him the small posy of flowers he had gathered. He tied it together with some string and handed over the small bundle of pink, yellow, and purple space alien flowers to his friend, patted him on the back and said, "Good luck dude. You're gonna need it.- KIDDING! Just go man. It'll be fine."
As Major Evan Lorne walked through halls toward the infirmary EVERY. SINGLE. WOMAN. noticed he was carrying flowers...and whispers followed. Evan inwardly groaned thinking that the flowers were definitely a mistake, now the whole base was going to try and find out what he was up to. But dammit he was raised to believe that you brought a woman flowers! He tried to ignore the gawkers and focus on what he was going to say to Teyla.
As he approached the infirmary, Teyla, Rodney, Ronan and Sheppard were all just leaving, apparently having gotten the All Clear from Drs Beckett and Keller.
John was the first one to notice that Lorne was walking up to them AND that he held flowers (even if he was trying to hide them behind his back). He not so subtly grabbed McKay and Ronan and spun them around in the opposite direction, while at the same time shoving Teyla toward Evan.
Rodney yelped, "What the Hell Sheppard?!"
Ronan was too startled to say anything and was trying to turn back around against John's hold on his arm to see what was going on.
John was smirking and said, "I think Teyla and Lorne need to discuss something."
Rodney said "Geez, fine, but did you have to yank my arm out of it's socket?"
Ronan was still trying to look behind him to assess what was going on back there and saw Teyla and Lorne facing each other, the flowers, and the sheepish look on Sheppard's 2IC face and figured it out, he smiled too. He liked Lorne, thought he was a good guy.
Ronan smile at the tableau behind them and said, "Come on McKay, dinner's getting cold. Let's go eat."
Rodney certainly wasn't going to argue that point and quickly forgot about Lorne and Teyla.
After having recovered from John shoving her toward Major Lorne, Teyla smiled to herself. She immediately knew what was going on, and was not averse to the idea. She didn't know Major Lorne all that well, but she had spent more time with him, in an official capacity, over the last few months. She knew he had an excellent work ethic. The amount of paperwork that John delegated to him was astounding, and the Major never complained, and in fact, always had it completed in a timely manner. Elizabeth never had to hound after Major Lorne for completed reports and files- like she did with Ronan and John. In fact, Teyla often wondered how Major Lorne managed it all- the paperwork, the new recruits, several offworld missions every month... he did it all and seemed to stay level headed through it all. She admired him very much for those facts alone. She also thought he was handsome...very handsome indeed. So, having reviewed all this in the last moment, she stood patiently before him, with what she hoped was an encouraging smile and waited...
Evan Lorne couldn't believe Sheppard just did that. OK, he could totally believe it. He should never have asked John about this. He loved that he and his CO were on such good terms, but now he was even more freaked out about asking Teyla out... now that he had her literally shoved in his face. Awkward. Well. Jesus. Even the wraith weren't this intimidating.
"...uh. Hey Teyla. Um. These are for you." He thrust the flowers toward her so forcefully that several petals flew off and drifted into the hall. "Geez, uh. Sorry. Look Teyla," he sighed in frustration and grabbed her elbow pulling her toward an alcove down the hall so they weren't in full view of the nurses who were openly staring and giggling at him. He let go of her after positioning himself right in front of her and with his back to the hall and out of sight of any curious eyes.
"Look, Teyla, uh." He rubbed hand across his face. "Teyla, I, uh. Iwaswonderingifyouwouldliketohavedinnerwithme?"
Lorne just wished the the floor would open up and swallow him whole. What the fuck had he been thinking?! Despite being a good looking guy, and having lots of confidence at work, Lorne was pretty inexperienced when it came to women. He had dated his middle school sweetheart until he signed up with the Air Force. After his first deployment, Steph decided she couldn't handle it, and they mutually agreed to split up, they were still pretty much friends in fact. Since then, he hadn't had more than a few dates, mostly blind- none of which went anywhere beyond the first date. This was pretty much his first time asking anyone out. He mumbled (oh jesus christ on a crutch) under his breath. "Nevermind. Sorry. Ohmygod."
He spun on his heels and started to turn (run) away.
Teyla decided to take pity on the poor major and grabbed his shoulders turning him around, "Major. I would be more than happy to have dinner with you."
Evan, who had been studying his feet intensely, looked up in wonder. "Really? Great! Uh...ok! How about tomorrow? 7? I'll pick you up at your quarters." He started to back up into the hall, unfortunately colliding into Zalenka in the process. He fell over backwards, landing on top of the flowers which he held up into the air towards Teyla who was now openly laughing. She Rowanfully took the bouquet and Evan not so Rowanfully extricated himself from Zalenka, helping him up as well and scooping up his papers that also went flying.
Then he fled, the sound of giggling nurses trailing after him.
John, Ronan and Rodney had made their way down to the cafeteria and were now seated at their usual balcony table relaxing after the long, hot and boring mission.
Rodney had piled up his tray with sandwiches and pie and was, as usual, eating as if he was in a contest. Ronan was, unusually, taking his time and sitting looking at Sheppard.
"Hey. Dude." Ronan said towards John.
John groaned. He knew what was coming. "Drop it Chewie. Seriously. I cannot think about this right now OK?"
"No way man. You're making this into a bigger deal than it needs to be. Rowan'll be fine." Ronan stated, picking up his apple and taking a huge bite.
John rubbed both his hands over his face. He was sitting in the chair with the back towards the ocean and had his legs stretched out onto the other chair, TRYING to relax. Ronan and McKay were sitting opposite to him, in the two chairs on the other side of the table.
"Look, guys-I know in my head that she made a legitimate request, that she can PROBABLY pass the proficiency tests to go offworld, that she is tough-ass motherfucker who doesn't take shit from anyone... but, she is still my little sister. And believe me, I know this, she's crazier and more hardheaded than I am. I'm not sure how all that will blend together on a team. Her attitude, her brashness, her deafness... she's not exactly politic- if you know what I mean. And there are FUCKING SPACE VAMPIRES out there. You know?"
He sighed, and let his body relax an inch, "I just need to get used to the idea ok? Just give me a few days."
Fortunately for John, Teyla was walking up to the table with her lunch tray, providing an easy distraction.
John pulled his feet from off the chair, leaned forward and pulled out the chair for her to sit in. "Oh hey Teyla! SOooooo? Whatcha talk about with Loooorne?" he said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
Teyla rolled her eyes, but had a definitely smile playing at her lips. "As you, obviously, very well know, Colonel" she started with a pointed look, "Major Lorne asked me to dinner. I agreed. That is all."
Ronan smirked and said, "Way to go Teyla, about time you hooked up with someone, been long enough."
"Thank you Ronan, I think. I genuinely like Major Lorne. I am looking forward to getting to know him better."
"Hey, even better!" Ronan replied and help his hand up for a high five. Teyla rolled her eyes again, but obliged.
Rodney looked stunned and had his fork stopped midway to his mouth. "Lorne? Lorne? You're gonna go out with a grunt?"
"Rodney!" admonished Teyla, "You know very well that Major Lorne is a very respectable man, much more than 'just a grunt'. I do believe I would have more in common with Evan than I would with a scientist, for that matter."
John piped in, "Well, speaking for someone who knows both of the interested parties pretty well (I'd like to think), I think you guys are gonna hit it off great!"
There was a break in the conversation as the friends sat and enjoyed the Lantean sunset. It was a few minutes later that Rowan walked up to the group.
She was wearing her clothing, her piercings more numerous today than most. She pulled up a chair and everyone acknowledged her presence in some way, a wave, a nod, a smile.
[You still pissed at me?] she signed as she sat down, this was obviously directed to John.
John sighed. [No, no of course not. I just... I just...] his hands stuttered in mid air for a moment until he let his hands flop down onto the table for a second. It was a few seconds before he started again, "I just worry, that's all. It's my job as CO of this base and as your big brother to worry, to make sure that everyone is safe, but I know Ronan won't let you off this base if he doesn't think you can handle it. I trust him, and I trust you." this was all signed and spoken aloud as Sheppard looked out over the ocean. He turned his head to his sister after his speech, and gave her a small smile.
Rowan nodded her head. She rarely smiled, and didn't now, but both she and John knew they reached another milestone in their newly established relationship, strengthening it step by step.
Everyone at the table was pleased that Rowan had sought them out and chose to join them. They sat in an easy silence, waiting for Rowan to say something, it was obvious something was on her mind.
She rested her hands in her lap and looked down at the table. Were these her friends? She wasn't sure. She knew John considered them family. Ever since she and John had their falling out, Rowan considered herself pretty much without a real family. Back on Earth, she had always worked alone, and never fostered any true friendships. But seeing John these last few weeks made her long for the relationships he had with these people. To have a group of people who you wanted to be with, to have fun, to seek out each other's company and advice and companionship. It was an unusual feeling for her, she never really longed for these things before.
Rowan looked up after a few minutes and signed, [Thank you for being patient with John and me, for welcoming me. And for wanting learn ASL. It means a lot to me.] She made eye contact first with Ronan, then Teyla, and lastly Rodney. She held her hand to her chin, open palm toward her face, and pushed it outward in one motion. [Thank you.]
John briefly translated for his friends, beaming from ear to ear.