Title: Lost Among The Stars

Summary: When Major Evan Lorne is attacked on a mission off-world, a series of events is put into motion that reveals the very secret John Sheppard had worked so hard to keep hidden. Eventual Sheppard/Lorne. Spoilers for "Coup d'etat" and "Doppleganger".

A/N: Wow! You guys have been super awesome! As such, I'm posting this chapter a little earlier than I originally planned. Let this be a lesson, the more reviews and favorites I receive on a story the faster I write. It's excellent motivation to keep my readers pleased and begging for more.

I hope you like this next chapter!

[EDIT: this chapter was re-uploaded on 8/1/2018]

Characters: Evan Lorne, John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Ronon, Teyla, Elizabeth Weir, Sam Carter, Radek Zelenka, Jennifer Keller, and other minor characters and OCs.

Disclaimer: all rights belong to MGM.

Warning: mentions of non-consensual rape.

~o~o~

Lorne woke with a start, desperately clutching the bed beneath him.

He instantly panicked, not recognizing his surroundings. Adrenaline flooded his system. Antiseptic smell, monotonous beeping, small bed, scratchy gown. He was in the infirmary. On Atlantis. Instead of calming him, the realization only served to increase his panic. What happened?

The beeping of his heart rate monitor increased sharply but Lorne ignored it, his thoughts were elsewhere. The last thing he remembered was standing guard in the banquet hall on PXK-233… everything else was a big blur of emotions, smells, and sounds - a jumbled mess of distorted flashes. What had happened to his team? Where was John? When did he get back on Atlantis?

"Major Lorne?"

Why couldn't he remember?

"Major!"

A sudden slap across his face jarred the Major from his jumbled thoughts. Reflexively, his hand shot up and tightly grabbed the wrist of the person who'd hit him. It took him a moment to realize it was only Teyla.

"What?" Lorne asked, confused. "Teyla?"

"Oh, good, you are with me now," the Athosian replied, visibly relieved. "I am sorry, but you did not appear to be aware of your surrounding."

Lorne blinked a few times at his friend. Slowly, he released the captured wrist from his crushing grip. Looking up, he met Teyla's worried eyes. She gave him a small, reassuring smile that didn't quite reach her tired eyes.

But before Lorne could ask what happened, the curtain next to his bed opened and Dr. Jennifer Keller rushed in.

"What's going on in here?" she demanded.

"He just woke up and started to hyperventilate," Teyla explained.

"He had an anxiety attack?"

Teyla nodded. "Yes."

Jennifer seemed to deflate at the admission but frowned when she looked over the machines attached to her patient. "You shouldn't be awake yet," the Doctor tisked.

"He is stubborn that way," Teyla said with a fond smile.

"What happened?" Lorne asked.

He blinked, fragmented memories of cold, wandering hands dancing in his mind's eye. Seeing the look that passed between Jennifer and Teyla, the Major's stomach dropped. Something unpleasant had happened. Very unpleasant. He blinked again. A haunting suspicion entered the back of his mind. Nausea, fear, desperation, pain.

"W-what happened?" he asked a second time, ignoring the slight quiver in his voice.

Jennifer hesitated. "I don't think that's such a good idea right now. You need to rest," she gently stated. "You don't need any additional stress."

"No, what he needs is the truth," Teyla firmly argued, her face settling into a diplomatic mask that Lorne easily recognized. "Otherwise this scene will repeat itself the next time he wakes."

"I don't like it. I think a sedative would be the best thing for him right now."

"You do not have to right to withhold this information from him," the Athosian persisted; the sudden fierceness in her voice surprised Lorne. "And did you not say that he should not be awake yet? Should you really give him another sedative while the medicine you gave him earlier is still in his blood?"

"Teyla," Lorne interrupted, "what happened? Something went wrong, didn't it? With the negotiations."

"Yes," Teyla confirmed.

"Is everyone else okay? Sheppard? Ronon? McKay?" There was a moment of silence. "Oh god, Dr. Weir?"

Teyla tenderly placed a warm hand on his forearm in an effort to calm him. "Everyone else is fine, including Elizabeth," she soothed.

"Then what…" All of a sudden it dawned upon him. "I was attacked," he inferred.

He blinked slowly, another barrage of memories left him breathless: a man's needy touch, a familiar voice, a distinct fear, a taste of cherries… Drugged. He has been drugged, kidnapped. Victim to a man he considered a friend.

"He spiked my drink, didn't he?"

"He drugged you, yes," Teyla stated before continuing on quickly. "But you were able to fight the drug and alert the team. You lost your earpiece, so they could only follow your signal so far. The Disrutu stone made it impossible for them to use the LSD to find you. But Ronon was able to track you. They got to you in time, before he could do anything."

The relief that flooded his system was indescribable. Lorne sank back against the pillows, tension leaving his body. Teyla leaned forward, gently patting his arm in a reassuring manner. Jennifer seemed happy that the Major's heart rate finally slowed, no longer dangerously high.

"I'll go let the others know you're awake," the Doctor told Lorne before turning towards Teyla. "Try to keep him calm."

Lorne had a million of questions he wanted to ask. Why hadn't he noticed his drink was spiked? Had he tried to resist him? What really happened when he was separated from the team? Teyla said he'd contacted the team, but she made mention that he witnessed his rescue. She said nothing happened, but how does she know for sure?

"Major Lorne," comforted Teyla as the Major's heart rate spiked once more. Her hand calmly ran through his short hair. "All is fine, you are safe. We all are."

Lorne nodded, and settling for one of the least confrontational questions he had, he asked, "How long?"

Teyla raised an eyebrow, silently requesting an elaboration.

"How long have I been here?" Lorne amended.

"Almost a full day."

Lorne was stunned he had been unconscious for so long.

"Where are the others?" Lorne questioned. "Are they here?"

"They are getting some coffee from the cafeteria. I will go see what is taking Jennifer so long."

The Major nodded. Teyla stepped away from the bed but did not get very far before their missing friends appeared, coffee in hand.

"Major Lorne!" Rodney deafeningly exclaimed. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he lightly punched the Major's arm.

Lorne stared at Rodney, clearly perturbed at the fact the scientist just punched him. Clearly the man did not know how to interact with soldiers other than John. "Okay, I guess."

"Everybody else was so worried." The scientist rolled his eyes. "I wasn't, of course. I mean, you had me with you. I could have single-handedly rescued you all by myself but I thought it would be best to bring the whole team, you know," Rodney rambled. "Anyway, just remember this next time, because you really shouldn't give me so much grief abou-"

"McKay…" John growled, effectively cutting off the boisterous man. "It's good to see you awake, Lorne." The Colonel offered him a tight smile.

Everyone nodded.

"What do you remember?" Ronon asked.

"Not very much." Lorne admitted. "Just flashes, and feelings."

Rodney piped up, "That's the drug." Lorne turned his head to look at the scientist. "The drug he used causes anterograde amnesia. You could get your memory back, later on that is."

"I expected as much," he said, a bit embarrassed to even be in this type of situation.

"I'm just glad you're okay, Major," John quietly reassured him.

Lorne looked at the Colonel in surprise for a few seconds, acutely aware of his use of the singular. Touched by his admission, though unable to voice it for fear of expressing his emotions too freely, he merely nodded his head. John gently smiled before patting his arm with his long, cold fingers.

Cold fingers. Lorne blinked, his breath hitched. Another flash of memory bombarded his senses, only this time it was tactile. Cold fingers ghosted over his face and chest. Roaming and needy hands. Lorne shivered, not all of the touches on his chest were through fabric; some of them were skin to skin. His grip on the bed sheets tightened.

"Ronon, when you found me…" The words stuck in his throat.

"Yes?"

"Nothing happened?"

The Satedan warrior hesitated for a second but replied nonetheless. "He had ripped off your shirt, but that was all."

Shit. He removed his shirt and touched him. Lorne swallowed and suppressed a shudder at the thought. It made his skin crawl to think of his would-be rapist touching him, groping him. Even the half remembered touches caused a wave of disgust to crash over him.

John must have sensed Lorne's inner turmoil because he leaned forward in an attempt comfort him. Lorne almost reached out, desperately wanting to feel safe in the Colonel's arms. He needed to be reassured that he was here, alive, unsullied. But, just as he was about to give in and beg John to hold him, he smelled something.

Coffee and peppermint.

Lorne choked. Images and emotions suddenly overwhelmed him. Hysteric, Lorne forcefully shoved John away, unthinkingly, gasping as he attempted to control his terror. He scrambled to sit up. Scampering away from his friends. Fear and disgust and helplessness welled up inside of him along with flashes of naked skin, hot lips and, of all things, traces of that familiar scent.

"Lorne?"

"Oh my God!"

"Major, what's happening?"

"LORNE!"

The cacophony of voices broke through the Major's rising panic. Sucking in a deep breathe, Lorne drew himself to focus on the present - silently telling himself, over and over, that it was done, finished. Eventually the incessant beeping of his heart monitor decreased to a more manageable level. Finally getting his breathing under control, he beckoned Ronon to move closer to the side of his bed. The Satedan complied.

"You caught him?" Lorne asked, still slightly breathless.

"Yes, we did," Ronon proudly declared.

"Elizabeth is still on PXK-233, overseeing his detainment." Lorne's head turned to look at his commanding officer again. "We wanted to bring him back to Atlantis but Lord Solove demanded that he receive punishment on his homeworld." John's lips were pursed in a straight line.

Lorne nodded. He was relieved that his attacker was at least imprisoned where he wouldn't be able to harm anyone ever again, including himself.

"Elizabeth is still trying to decide if the new trade agreement should be honored," Teyla added.

Lorne scowled at the thought of anyone ever going back to the planet.

"Um, are we just going to ignore what just happened?" Rodney inquired uncertainly, referring to Lorne's most recent panic attack.

"I remembered some more…" the Major winced, "stuff," he finished lamely.

"Interesting," Rodney hummed, "what was the trigger?"

Glancing shyly at his commanding officer, Lorne grimaced. "Colonel Sheppard's scent, I think," he explained, a little uncertain himself.

"Let me," Ronon said, stepping closer to John and taking a sniff. "Yup, you smell just like Baltier."

Lorne flinched at the casual use of his would-be rapist's name.

"You mean-" John began, horrified.

Rodney nervously cleared his throat. "They do say smell is the most powerful memory trigger."

"Oh God, I'm so sorry."

Closing his eyes, Lorne sank back into his pillow. "It wasn't your fault, sir. You just caught me unawares." Lorne sighed. He pressed his hands onto his face, hiding the embarrassed blush threatening to make itself known. "So what happens now?" he mumbled, mostly to himself.

"Well, it's still in the early stages, but I'll be returning tomorrow to the planet to oversee Baltier's trial and punishment. To see if it meets my standards," John said. "Apparently, it's my right as your commanding officer."

"I'm going, too," Ronon gruffly announced, frowning slightly, "as a witness."

Rodney snorted. "I'd rather not step foot on that planet ever again, thank you very much."

"Neither would I," Teyla agreed.

Slightly intrigued, the Major asked, "What do you think his punishment will be?"

John scowled. "Death would be too kind."

"On Sateda he would have been castrated."

"Hey, that's not a bad idea," the Colonel voiced, snapping his fingers. "I'll have to recommend that to Lord Solove."

Just then the curtain was pulled aside and Jennifer walked in. "Ah, Major Lorne. It's good to see you still awake. No more panic attacks?"

"Just one, ma'am," Lorne said, slightly ashamed.

Glancing down at the chart in her hand, Jennifer commented, "Don't worry, that's to be expected. I plan on keeping you overnight for observation." Looking back up at Lorne, she snapped the chart closed and said, "Alright then, I'm just going to give you a quick once over and then let you rest." Then, addressing the rest of the crowd around the bed, the Doctor declared, "Visiting hours are over, people! You can check on him tomorrow."

Slowly, everyone started to trail out of the infirmary. A chorus of "Get well" and "See you tomorrow" lingered long after the room emptied. Eventually Jennifer finished her exam and also left.

Lorne was alone at last.

~o~o~

John dreaded going back to PXK-233.

But responsibility forced him to go. It was his job after all.

It had been sunny the first time he stepped out of the Stargate, but this time it was raining. Big, fat raindrops. Within minutes John and Ronon were soaked.

The two teammates began jogging toward the castle looming in the distance. Halfway there they were met by Lieutenant Abrams, one of Lorne's soldiers that had stayed behind to guard Elizabeth until John returned.

John nodded at him in greeting. "Lieutenant, report!"

"Colonel Sheppard!" Abrams snapped a quick salute before stating, "Dr. Weir spent most of yesterday with Lord Solove. He refuses to allow his Head Protector to be taken off-world. He's locked up in the dungeons right now, sir. No one's to talk to him or see him until the trial. It took all of Dr. Weir's negotiating power to even let us visit him," he sneered, making reference to Baltier, Lorne's attacker.

"And?"

"The bastard was a sniveling mess, sir. Keep claiming that it was the Major's fault..." the Lieutenant shuttered, "t-that he wanted it."

Ronon growled. John felt the same.

The three eventually reached the castle. After being given fresh cloth to dry themselves off, they were greeted by two Protectors who quickly ushered them toward the throne room. Just as they were to pass through the final doorway Abrams suddenly stopped walking. "Sir?"

"Yeah."

"Major Lorne," Abrams swallowed, glanced down at his hands briefly before looking up to catch the Colonel's eye, "is he okay?"

There was a pregnant pause. "He'll be fine. Nothing happened." John's voice never wavered.

Abrams nodded, turned his back, and jogged ahead to catch up to Ronon and their escorts. John watched after him. Not sure if he had spoken the truth or if it was just wishful thinking. The Colonel shook his head. Lorne was stoic, resolute even, he would get through this. He had too.

"He'll be fine." John said again, more to himself than anyone else.

~o~o~

"This is an outrage!"

John slammed his hand down on the table in front of him, cracking it.

The trial had been a farce. It had barely lasted more than an hour. Lord Solove had led the proceedings, directing the questioning of the witnesses. Two servants who handled the drinks at the banquet testified that had not seen Lorne drink anything other than Luptis all night. However, the guard, who was on duty at the door Lorne and Baltier exited, claimed that the Major stank of wine and was clearly intoxicated. The two accounts completely contradicted each other, so much so that they were dismissed entirely.

Baltier was eventually called up to speak. The Head Protector spoke slowly and clearly. He spun a ridiculous story that Lorne had a little too much to drink and asked to be escorted to the guest quarters. "One thing led to another and Evan voiced his attraction," Baltier shrugged casually. "He consented."

John nearly exploded at the informal use of Lorne's first name. "Consented?! You drugged him, you bastard!" It took all of Ronon's strength to hold back his friend, who fully intended to attack the sandy-haired man before him. It took the threat of being removed from the trial for the Colonel to finally calm down. After that Elizabeth, John, and his team were not allowed to speak.

It was only at the very end of the proceedings that Ronon was called forward as a witness. The Satedan warrior answered all the questions in great detail. He explained the call for help and the subsequent search for the Major. He described the damning position that Baltier was found in. Ronon asserted that the Major was dazed and confused, nearly unconscious. Even if he had not been drugged, Ronon stated, he would not have been in his right mind to consent to anything.

After a brief break, Lord Solove returned to the throne room and gave his verdict. Baltier was to be publicly whipped and imprisoned for a fortnight. "You will no longer bear the burden of Head Protector. You will have to earn your title back."

The sentence had been lenient. Too lenient for such a crime.

Before they could react, the guests were taken back to Elizabeth's quarters. It was there John had almost broken the table. "A flogging! That's all?" He ran his hands through his spiked hair as he paced back and forth. "Lorne was almost raped and they…" John puffed out air angrily, "They took away his title. Big deal. He's still a fucking Protector. Some Protector. Who's to stop him from doing it again?"

"There's not much we can do," Elizabeth voiced. "We have no power here."

"We could always take him back with us," Ronon grunted. "It wouldn't be hard."

Elizabeth sighed. "Tempting, but no. We can't risk it."

"Risk it?" John sneered. "You aren't seriously still thinking of trading with these," he waved his arm around wildly, "these savages."

"Of course not!"

Silence fell over the room's occupants.

Elizabeth exhaled deeply. "I believe they only held the trail because of us. They clearly did not take what happen to Major Lorne seriously. Somehow I would not be surprised if this has happened in the past." Elizabeth eased herself down into a beautifully furnished chair beside the damaged table. "It was all a show. Lord Solove was just trying to save any trade between our two people." She pressed her lips together, displeased with the turn of events. "No, there is nothing here for us now. Not even the promise of Disrutu stone can remedy that disgusting display of justice."

Ronon stepped closer to his team leader. "I think we should leave."

"Before the punishment?" John frowned. "Not happening. I fully intend to see that man in pain, no matter how little."

"If what Dr. Weir says is true, I doubt they would let us watch," Ronon argued. "Lord Solove probably isn't even planning to put his praised Head Protector through such a public display." The Satedan shook his head. "Think about it, there was barely anyone in the throne room during the trial. Just us and a few advisors. The witnesses were barely in the room to begin with."

"Just a show," John whispered, horrified. "You're right, we should leave. I don't like these guys anymore. Lieutenant Abrams?"

"Sir?"

"Pack up, we're going back to Atlantis."

"Yes, sir."

A half hour later the group was ready to head back to Stargate. A few guards attempted to stop them. The Colonel had ordered his men to expect resistance and to act in kind. Ronon took the order the heart and even knocked down a particularly pushy Protector that tried to detain Elizabeth.

"Dr. Weir!"

John and Ronon whipped around to face Lord Solove. They raised their weapons against the local ruler. Abrams covered their backs while two other Marines protectively surrounded Elizabeth.

"Yes?" Elizabeth sniffed.

"You are leaving?"

"Yes."

"But what of trade?"

"I am cutting off all relations with this planet," she said bluntly. "You have nothing we want."

"But the Disrutu st-"

"Inconsequential."

Lord Solove blinked, clearly not expecting such hostility from his once honored guests. He attempted to step forward but was stopped when John clicked the safety off his P-90. Visibly swallowing, he stepped back and tried again, "There must be something…"

"Baltier."

"What?"

"Give us Baltier," Elizabeth spoke clearly, "Allow us to punish him as we see fit and I will consider reopening negotiations."

"I can't-"

"Then we have nothing to discuss." She turned back around. "An attack on one of my people is an attack on me."

"But-"

Elizabeth continued toward the exit. The group moved to follow their leader. "Ronon?"

"Yeah."

"Shoot anyone who gets in our way."

The Satedan bared his teeth in a feral grin. "With pleasure."

Luckily the rain had stopped, leaving behind a dense fog. The group trudged through the thick mud, burdened under their overnight packs. Fortunately, Ronon led the way so they didn't have to worry about getting lost. But progress was slow. It took at least an hour to get back to the Stargate and dial in.

And, when they passed through the event horizon, they were greeted by a nervous Rodney.

"Back so soon?"

No one responded.

"Sheppard?"

"I don't want to talk about it, McKay."

"It didn't go well?"

John snorted. "You could say that." He clipped the P-90 to the front of his TAC vest. "I have to go see Lorne."

Elizabeth nodded. "I'll try to come by later but first I want to make sure no one else ever returns to PXK-233. It will be marked as a hostile planet in our database."

Rodney huffed as he watched his two friends walk in opposite directions. "What the hell happened?" he demanded.

"Come on," Ronon slung his arm around the shorter man's shoulders. "I'll tell you over a cup of coffee."

~o~o~

A/N: Oh, no! With Baltier still on the loose what's Lorne to do? :P

Now this is just the beginning of our little adventure. I hope to have a lot more action in later chapters for our favorite heroes to face. And, don't worry, the Wraith will definitely be making an appearance.

If you guys haven't figured it out yet, I have made the timeline post-"Sunday". Dr. Carson Beckett won't make any appearances in this story, though he will be referenced a few times. In my mind this story takes place in the beginning of season 4. The events of "Doppelganger" have not yet occurred.

A lot of Lost Among The Stars switches between John's and Lorne's perspective. They are both equal characters in my mind. As such, I hope to offer a lot character exposition and background in this story.

Please favorite and review! XOXO

[EDIT: Some material in the first two chapters are adopted from "Everything Sparkles" by Valerie Vancollie. With permission from the author, I have put this disclaimer and utilized the basic plot of the one-shot as exposition for this current story. Obviously, past the very beginning the two stories differ greatly.

Inspiration was also drawn from "Precarious" by MildyInsane.]