Chapter 29 – Woolsey
We've reached the beginning of season 3. Sorry for forgetting to mention it in the previous chapter.
Woolsey has finally left, letting both herself and Elizabeth know they can stay in the City – for now. With that man, it seems there's always a but. He's waited until almost the last minute to come and see her. She knew he was scheduled to leave any time soon and had not seen the likes of him ever since he'd stepped through the stargate. She knew he had gone round the City, making people squirm wherever he went – even Colonel Caldwell. She used to despise the guy for wanting to lay his hands on Elizabeth's job but he's redeemed himself recently, siding with the leader of Atlantis.
He's been told about her run in with the IOA and has dropped by during evening service to compliment her on her cooking and tell her he's sorry she'd had to go through all this. It's something they have in common – their distrust and spite for the delegates. They chat a little while she cleans tables. He offers her to join him for a game of chess and coffee. She confesses she doesn't know how to play and he offers to teach her the basics. They have a good time – considering. He's difficult to place – both authoritative and seemingly very kind. He mentions seeing her at the SGC, back when she was training. He confesses she looked so shy he'd never dared talk to her. She laughs at that. She's indeed a far cry from who she was then.
She sees Elizabeth observe them from afar as she sits with the flagship team. It's not often she sees Elizabeth intermingle with the people on base. They badly need to reconnect though, after everything that's happened. Caldwell sees her glance towards them and offers her to call it quits. "I know you've missed them dearly. Feel free to join your friends," he offers with a smile.
She shakes her head. "No, I'm good, Colonel."
"Steven," he corrects her. She blushes ever so slightly, not used to being befriended by the top brass.
"Louise," she replies, not wanting to hurt his feelings by looking cold and aloof.
"You sure you don't want to go and see them? I do appreciate your company but I've seen you look at John Sheppard several times already, not to mention he has returned the favor..." She doesn't know if he's baiting her. She falls silent, not knowing what to answer. "I'm not trying to trick you here, Louise."
She shakes her head and pouts. "Sorry about that. It's just I've just been cleared of pretty nasty accusations. I'm being weary of what people think. Colonel Sheppard is my friend. Period."
He nods and smiles. "I get it. No love affair. I was just stating you two seem attached at the hip. It's not a bad thing actually. It gets pretty lonely, being a CO. He's lucky to have you."
She doesn't know what to make of that so she just nods again. They play a couple of more games before he heads back to his temporary quarters.
"You sure were homey with Caldwell last night," John mentions in passing when he drops by at her quarters for their morning run.
She narrow her eyes at him. "Are you jealous, John Sheppard?" she teases him and tickles his side, making him growl.
"Am not," he replies indignantly. "You can date whoever you want."
It's her turn to look indignant. "It was so not a date, Sheppard!"
He sniggers. "He calls you Louise," he answers pointedly.
She rolls her eyes. "So what? You guys really start getting on my nerves, ya' know. Buckley mentioned it to me at breakfast as did Rodney when he dropped by to get his morning fix of coffee. What is wrong with you all? And you, John Sheppard, of all people, should know a man and woman can see each other without calling that a date!"
Her voice has risen a tad and he knows he's nailed her all right. He chuckles. "It's so easy to get you on your high horse and so entertaining too, I wonder why I don't do it more often!" he teases her. She glares at him, hands on hips. He laughs out loud. "You're beautiful when you're angry." He winks at her and motions for her to follow him. "Come on, we haven't got all day." He sees her gape. "Close your mouth, sweetie. You might swallow a fly if you don't." He looks smug for rendering her speechless.
"My grandfather used to say that to my granny when she was angry. It always took the wind out of her sails," she says in a small voice.
He tickles her and gives her his trademark grin. "Well, you sure are very much like your granny, it seems. Come. If you're a good girl and run your five K, I might even reward you with chocolate."
She takes a long, hot shower after their run and heads back to the kitchen. She's a little early. It might even give her time on her own to experiment on a new recipe. She's met in the mess hall by Woolsey who's apparently waiting for her. "Good, you're early, Ms Léger," he nods approvingly, glancing at his watch.
"Mr Woolsey, I thought you'd already left by now." The guy is like a leech, she reflects, her mood becoming suddenly sour. He never lets go.
He gives her a terse smile. "I wouldn't have without seeing you first, Ms Léger. It was in the IOA's prerogatives that you should be evaluated on certain aspects of your relationship with your direct superior. I have been observing you ever since you came back here, I might add. I didn't want to disturb you. We do need to talk though so I can finish my evaluation."
"And what can I do to put your mind and that of the IOA at rest?" she replies curtly.
"And have me leave you alone..." he fills in, not without sarcasm.
She can't help chuckling. "Yeah, that too!"
His lips twitch though he's trying to remain strictly professional. "You're blunt. I like it. It will save us time."
"I'll take that as a compliment," she replies with a smirk.
"It is, Ms Léger. Now, I wouldn't like to interfere with your work but I was wondering if you might have time to prepare some light lunch for me before I leave. I know it's too early for the midday service..." He lets it hang in there, waiting for her answer. She could of course get some leftovers from the fridge but she has an inkling he's testing her to see where she stands.
She smiles at him. "Of course, Sir. It won't be an inconvenience at all. Actually, we do that all the time around here, as I'm sure you've noticed. And it's the case too at the SGC. People come and go all the time. We don't have office hours. We just adapt to whoever needs to be fed at a moment's notice."
"Good. So I guess I'll be able to see Mr Buckley as well then."
She makes a face. "I'm afraid not, Sir. Mr Buckley usually drops by much later."
He smirks. "That's what I thought... I'll have to be content with talking to you then."
She tilts her head. "You want to have lunch or talk to me?"
"Actually, I was hoping you might allow me to have lunch in the kitchen. I'd very much like to get a tour of the place." He lifts his eyebrows expectantly.
"Sure, no problem. If we make it quick. I'm gonna have a lot on my hands very soon," she answers, glancing at her watch. "Follow me."
She sets the table for him at the table in the middle of the kitchen and offers him to sit. "What would you like to have for lunch, Mr Woolsey?" she asks him, folding her hands on the apron she's just donned.
"Well, I'll let you be the judge of it, Ms Léger. I was told the whole point of your presence on this expedition was that you seemed to have an uncanny ability to know what people liked. What would I like then?" He's baiting her. This is her evaluation. If she passes it, she'll never have to worry about the man anymore.
She thinks hard, tapping her forefinger on her lower lip. "Let me see... I'm sure you'd love to taste my baked oysters but I don't have any at the moment. Besides, I was told you were not really keen on travelling through the gate so we'll opt for something safer..." She smirks, seeing he's disappointed by the lack of the first option but relieved she's gotten his point. "I'm thinking green salad with goat cheese, green apple and roasted pecans then broiled tilapia with parmesan. And if you still feel up to some dessert, I have fresh mango-like fruit from one of our trading partners. Actually it tastes like mango but is raspberry-colored. I use it in sherbets. One scoop on top of an almond soft cookie." She waits for his go-ahead.
He gives her a broad smile. "I think I'd like that very much, Ms Léger. Please, proceed," he says, putting his napkin on his knees resolutely, his eyes twinkling.
She chuckles inwardly. Mr Woolsey likes the good things in life, after all. She'd pinned him for a stuck up workaholic but that will do just fine for her. She sets to work and within minutes has his salad ready and the fish on the way. She cuts thin slices of rye bread she's made this morning, puts them in a basket that she lays on the table with a small butter dish filled with room temperature semi-salted butter. She then gets the ingredients for his dessert from the pantry and walk-in fridge. The tilapia is ready so she serves it with the salad bowl and motions for him to tuck in.
"Areen't you going to join me?" he asks, feeling awkward, sitting there at the long table on his own. She chuckles. "I normally have lunch with my staff but sure, I can sit with you." She grabs a glass and pours herself some water.
He mainly eats in silence, humming in approval at the meal she's served him and when he's done with dessert and has set his napkin on the table, he nods with a smile. "I see why Dr McKay chose you, dear. I'm giving you my blessing."
She nods too and stands to clear the table. "I have one more thing, though, to discuss with you, young lady. Please, sit." She does. The butterflies in her stomach have returned. What now? she cringes inwardly. He sees her worried. "I'm not trying to make you squirm, Ms Léger."
"Well, for someone who's not trying, you're doing quite a good job, I might say!" She pouts.
"Do I? Well, I didn't know people regarded me as such a dragon! It's good to know. Or is that just you?"
"Oh, no, don't worry. It's everyone, I think." She sees him smirk and refrains from rolling her eyes. The guy likes his job a little bit too much.
"I just wanted to make sure you'd follow the IOA's recommendation and set things straight with Mr Buckley." He lifts his eyebrows.
She smiles. "Don't you worry, Mr Woolsey. Now I've had a pep talk from everyone including the IOA and yourself, I'll make sure to do that asap."
"Louise," John watches her curiously as she comes to his table to see if everything's all right. It's early in the evening and he hasn't seen her all day. They're all worried about the interview but apparently she hasn't been sent back to Earth so he gathers things went fine. "How did it go with Mr Woolsey? I saw him enter the kitchen before midday service. He wasn't nasty with you, I hope." He still thinks the guy is a prick, even after he's given Elizabeth his support. Too close to the IOA, too much of a politician, too ambitious to John's liking.
She laughs. "No, he wasn't. Actually, he liked my food so much he said it was a shame Atlantis wasn't closer to home or he'd drop by more often."
He sneers but seeing the look of amusement on her face, realizes she got him right there. "Minx!" he says, "I'll make you pay for that."
She tucks her tongue at him. He hasn't seen her that happy and carefree in days.
"So you worked your wonders again, little witch?" McKay adds with a smirk. "I knew he didn't stand a chance."
She rewards him with a smile and kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Rodney, for the unconditional support you always have for my cooking. It warms my witchy heart," she replies with a smile that could light up the whole City.
"Hey! What about me?" John cries out indignantly. She looks at him fondly and blows him a kiss before heading back towards the kitchens. "Hey, Louise! Wait! Where are you going?"
She turns her head and winks at him, looking very wicked. "I'm going to set things straight with someone, as instructed by Mr Woosley. Won't take long. Keep a seat for me. I'll bring cake to celebrate!"
TBC
Extract from Louise's Cookbook
Mr Woolsey seems to like food, which tells me he's not a lost cause after all. He particularly complimented me on my Broiled Tilapia with Parmesan.
butter
parmesan
mayonnaise
lemon juice
basil and onion, chopped
celery salt
tilapia fillet
Mix the first seven ingredients.
Broil the fillet for 2 to 3 mn on each side. Remove from the oven.
Cover with the mixture on the top side and broil for three more minutes.
Serve with brocolis or a salad.