Well, not sure if posting during this crazy time is a smart idea, but I am back to actually writing for this. And yes, I think I am two chapters ahead right now. Fingers crossed life stays nice to me and my inspiration.


What had been excitement at first quickly turned into an elaborate game of taboo. Yes, Mer enjoyed the moments when she could assist her father and obviously knew a little more than he him of this time, but it got hard not spilling how or keeping their identities secret.

Cadman especially was sneaky and very much almost caught them more than once before.

Meredith wanders around camp and is looking for Torren. She wants to try and apologize and maybe get him to omit the scene she caused from his report.

As if Golden Boy would do that.

"Hey, T. You got a minute?" she approaches him. The other Atlantis personnel already know the nickname so there is no harm in that.

"Doctor?" he raises his eyebrows, telling Mer he really doesn't appreciate the interruption, but he follows her to a secluded section anyway.

"Listen," she starts and nervously plays with her hands. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. It's not your fault that command made this stupid decision. I just, I, I just got used to working with Lorne…" she trails off when they hear the rustling of leaves in the woods behind them.

"Who's there?" Torren shouts and points his gun.

"Easy tiger," the voice of Laura Cadman greets them. "You two really should have better situational awareness. And I got to admit for someone that, and I quote," she laughs and adds bunny ears around the next part, "got used to working with Lorne"

Cadman shakes her head, and Mer can feel her cheeks starting to burn.

"You really don't seem to like him very much."

"Don't you remember the order not to ask us about the future anymore?" Torren interjects and holds Mer back.

"If you're that irresponsible and continue to let things slip…." Cadman replies in a singsong voice and walks off.

"Now get a grip, McKay, and stop blurting out stuff." Torren levels with her, barely concealing his annoyance, while Mer simply glares back with a quip. "You're one to talk. T!"

She adds extra emphasis on the T. "Oh, and by the way, I hope the General told you before we left, but when we get back, I am taking the next shuttle home. I have put in for leave, and I need to get to earth to get my parents' surprise ready."

"He did, and to make things a bit more agreeable for you, you are going to get to spend the journey to earth with your favorite lieutenant," Torren replies and Mer again feels her cheeks flush, and she lowers her head.

Where did that man get the nerve or even the ability to tease her like that?

Mer seethed inward and started counting down the days until they could get off this godforsaken planet and back to the city.

Torren and the team did their absolute best to prevent any prolonged run-ins between Mer and the other Atlantis team, especially Cadman, who probably had started telling her Lorne all the things she managed to overhear.
"If she is eavesdropping one more time, there will be a burial," Mer mumbles while packing up her gear, only to hear.
"We're not going to kill anyone!" from behind.
"T!" she whirls around and glares at her now team leader.
"If you kill her, you know the timeline will be altered. But as long as we're alone, I wanted to ask one thing: What is the surprise you're organizing? My parents refuse to say anything, but I am sure at least," he stops briefly, " the General and command know, right?"
Mer has to concentrate not to burst out laughing at Torren's almost fearful tone.
"Of course they know," she waves him off, "I even asked Earth command beforehand about the security clearance. I am trying to get my mom's maid of honor to come for the celebration."
"Oh wow," Torren seems impressed and nods appreciatively while also packing up his stuff.
Two weeks had flown by in a flurry, and the team had to hurry not to miss the next window. Her final chance to actually make it to the scheduled travel through the gate bridge with Markus. Deep down inside, Mer was glad they would get to spend those 48 hours in quarantine together. She had really missed their movie nights together.

As soon as the team was back in the city, Mer double-checked with Sheppard, and she still was good to go. She told her parents the story she was sticking with: She needed to do some seminars on Earth to keep her research creds current.

In her quarters, she picks the old DVDs of Wormhole X-Treme so they could maybe have a laugh together and then heads for the gate. As she descends the stairs, she can already see Markus standing there with his crutches. His pack was securely on his back.

On Midway, they both get their quarters assigned and Markus all but sprints into his, well, as much as humanly possible on crutches. Mer frowns a little. She'd been looking forward to spending this time with him and basically reconnecting.
After a few minutes of stewing on her bed, she pushes up, grabs a tablet, the DVDs, and the connectors she'd need, and walks to his room.
"Come in," Markus calls out instead of walking to the door. Probably keeping off his feet is a smart idea, Mer thinks to herself and waves her hand over the sensor.
"I thought we could take advantage of this time here and watch an episode or two," she smiles and holds up the equipment.
She spots the flash of happiness across his face and can feel her cheeks starting to burn, but a dark cloud is hanging over his head just a moment later.
"What's wrong?" she drops everything on the small table and kneels next to him, "Does it hurt? Do you need something?"
"Mer," he sighs, a little uncomfortable. "Get up. You're not my mother. I am okay, I just," he stops, and Mer can feel herself getting annoyed at his wandering eyes.
"Whatever it is, spit it out. I am not Miss Innocence or someone that needs to be babied..." she finally presses out with a bite.
"Why are you even here?"
"No, you're not getting out of saying what you just started," Mer stems her hand on her hip and looks at him sternly.
"Mer, I am your team leader," Markus lets out and just stares at her.
"So, you're coming back?" Mer asks after a moment of prolonged silence as her brain tries to catch up.
"Of course. I mean, as long as command wants me back."

Markus' gaze shifts to his leg, and Mer impulsively reaches out to squeeze his hand. She doesn't pull back even when he stiffens immediately. Something is seriously wrong here, but before she can press the issue further, they hear the dial-in alert from the gate, and the tablet on Markus's desk starts beeping.
"General Mitchell," Mer comments, handing it over before gathering up her things again.
"Hey," she can hear Markus answering the call and curiously turns around. That definitely wasn't the military way to greet the head of the SGC.
"Rascal, welcome home, almost," comes out of the speaker, followed by a "Cam, what if he isn't alone or in a public space!" and Markus blushes a little but still meets her eyes.
"Thanks, guys. I am not alone," he sighs and turns the camera a little.
"Dr. McKay," General Mitchell acknowledges her, "Sir," she replies politely and then adds, "I'll leave the DVDs for you and give you some privacy. See you tomorrow, sir."
She makes a mental note to ask about the interaction she just witnessed, maybe over breakfast or so.
After a good night's sleep, Mer gets up and makes her way to Markus' room again. Just like last night, she gets called in almost immediately and can see he already has his breakfast.
"You got room service?" she raises an eyebrow, "I was just about to ask if we should have breakfast together."
"Mer, we talked about this. I am your team leader," Markus sighs.
"Yeah, and? I am not military. Plus, we're friends. We're doing nothing wrong by spending time together. Teams should do that, right?"
"Maybe, but this isn't a team hangout, is it? Plus the colonel..."

"What did that stupid moron say? Is he the reason you were so tired last time we wanted to watch a movie?" Mer interrupts him immediately and Markus hangs his head even further.
"Mer, he is my boss. Can we not call him a moron?" he tries weakly.
"He is, though. I've never seen him with anyone. Always alone and now trying to make us miserable too!" she argues back.
"He is right, Mer. I have to focus if I want to come back to Atlantis, and I have to show I am a good leader. I can't give them any possibility at all," Markus tries to explain himself further, but Mer has heard enough and heads for the door, waving her hand over the sensor.

"You're making a mistake," she whispers before walking out on him.

She should've known it was what happened. The Air Force probably had ingrained into him that the chain of command was sacred. If your boss gives you an order or makes a suggestion, you follow it. And as a leader, you have to be impartial on your team.
She wants to scream and yell some more but also knows it won't help. They'd fought too many times to count before. Maybe some more distance will be a good thing.
Back down on earth, in the SGC infirmary, the atmosphere between them is frosty at best, and as soon as she is cleared, Mer grabs her stuff and leaves without a goodbye. She still catches Dr. Lam's comment and Markus's deflection.

"Well, this is not what I expected. What happened?"

"Can we just discuss my PT, Aunt Carolyn?"

And he accuses me of nepotism, but the wife of SGC command is his aunt, and the General calls him a rascal?