Warning : see chapter 1
July 7, 2006
Ronon Dex was no ordinary warrior. His missions required him to stalk and kill his prey. His instincts were alert. When he arrived at the cafeteria to have lunch with his team. John quickly realized that something was wrong with his teammate. He was getting to know him well enough to know that the former runner was on his guard.
The colonel set down his tray, grapes and pancakes lining his plate. Teyla had taken a bottle of water and a fruit salad. Ronon had taken apples and jelly, tasting both to make a strange mixture that he found to his liking. The assistant had left them to return to her quarters.
"Ronon, are you okay ?" asked the colonel.
The warrior looked up. He relaxed as he finished his tray.
"The assistant… there's something weird," says the former runner.
"I feel the same way. Something is bothering me but I can't say what," Teyla confessed.
"You're wrong, I know you have keen senses, but to say there's something about the wizard is pushing the boundaries a bit," John raised his voice.
"You say that because she caught your attention," Ronon replies, smiling.
"You even admitted it, we heard you, colonel" remembers the Athosian.
"I just said she was attractive. I never said I would like to have a relationship with her," the colonel refutes, rolling his eyes.
"I suppose you didn't notice the dangerous glint in his eyes," the warrior comments.
"Unlike you, I seemed to see sadness. So it hid a deep misfortune" declares Teyla looking at Ronon.
Their discussion was cut off by the arrival of Rodney. He puts his tray down with a big smile on his lips.
"You seem in a good mood," John said, troubled.
"I had an appointment with Doctor Brown" admits the scientist.
"It's good news," says Teyla.
Rodney rubbed his hands together before eating his breakfast. They stopped talking about the young woman as they prepared for their future missions to come.
Two hours later, eight o'clock finally strikes. Kendra is dressed in a gray turtleneck sweater, black wool poncho with skinny jeans and brown boots. She was in civilian clothes for today. She would work alone in her corner.
Dr. Heightmeyer was in consultation with Michael. Kendra knew this was going to last several minutes if not hours. A cup of tea in her hands, the young woman was relaxed. She classified the files by saving them on her professional computer.
Michael stood in front of the window of Dr. Heightmeyer's consulting room. He was still dreaming like the previous evenings. He remained silent as Kate stood a few feet away from him.
"Your dreams are probably caused by the shock you suffered," she said. "It's a classic phenomenon in cases like yours," she continued.
Michael let out a sigh.
"Why don't you ask Dr. Beckett to prescribe you some sleeping pills ?" advises the psychologist.
"Yes, but I still think that something is wrong with me," confides the lieutenant.
"You are sick ?" Kate questions.
"No, but I don't know what I know, I think I have a problem, everyone I meet knows something that they don't want to tell me," he declares.
Kate looks worried.
"You all have the same expression" Michael recalls. "People are careful with me, I don't feel that way," he continued.
He moved over, sitting down on one of the chairs.
"Do you feel like people are hiding information from you ?" Kate asked cautiously.
"They don't necessarily do it on purpose, I feel like they know things about me. So this whole thing makes me angry," he replied. "If the wraiths did something to me, then I would like to know what it was," he concluded.
Kate thought for a full minute. She had to change the subject.
"Is there anyone you feel comfortable with ?" she asked.
Michael fell into thought. He remembered his conversation with Kendra.
"Your assistant... she seemed scared after we discussed dreams," the lieutenant admits.
"Kendra...she didn't say anything," the psychiatrist said.
"Having met her just once, she looked like me. Lost, added the lieutenant.
"You could go talk to her. She's a very calm person, she will listen to you" advised Kate.
Michael just nodded. He finally got up and left the room. He was accompanied by a soldier. He crossed the corridors of the city towards the young woman's neighborhood. Kendra tapped on her keyboard as a pile of files sat on her desk.
Michael looked at the guard who remained impassive. The lieutenant knocked again. The doors opened before Kendra left her office. She thought it was Kate.
"Doctor Heightmeyer, I have finished completing the files, you can collect them" declares the assistant.
Michael entered, leaving his guard behind as the doors closed. He approached cautiously.
"I'm sure Dr. Heightmeyer would be impressed with your work," Michael said, smiling.
Kendra jumped, dropping her cup of tea. The noise from the window did not alert the guard. Michael rushed to pick up the broken pieces.
"You scared me !" Kendra raised her voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to disturb you," assures the lieutenant.
Kendra sighed. She rose from her chair to kneel in front of the lieutenant. His hand unconsciously brushed against the hand. Michael noticed that she had thin eyebrows and full lips.
He blushed slightly as he put the pieces in the trash. Kendra winced, cutting her index finger. Blood was flowing from his wound. Michael placed his hand on his chest as he heard his heart pounding. Kendra feigns ignorance by looking away from the lieutenant. She was embarrassed by the situation, despite herself.
She took a bandage to hide her cut. She turned to face Michael.
"What are you doing here ? Weren't you in a session with Kate ?" Kendra asked.
"She advised me to come and talk to you. You are one of the rare people who understands what I feel. I have the impression that everyone is hiding something from me about this city" he confided easily .
"Look, what I'm feeling about you is one of the consequences of the bond that was created between us. It's not real and I'm sure it will fade with time. You need to focus on something else " admits the young woman.
"You are as troubled as I am. I feel lost," he admits.
"I don't need to immerse myself in that kind of feeling. And I need to keep working," she says.
She tried to appear cold but he stepped forward as she looked away, disturbed. She was pressed against her desk. He leaned towards her. She found herself lying on her desk, her heart pounding, her cheeks flushed, and a strange light shining in her eyes.
Appearing blinded by the bond that united them, he leaned towards her when he smelled a foreign odor. His curiosity took over. Unconsciously, Kendra bit her lower lip. He looked into her eyes, sinking his soul into hers.
She stifled a moan as she heard her heart beat rapidly. The pain was intense. Michael narrows his eyes but stops all movement when he sees the young woman's hands. She was shaking as she clutched her chest.
He shakes his head, regaining his senses. He squeezes his hands, calming the tremors. Kendra tilted her head back, her eyes glistening as she fell into a trance. She dug her nails into Michael's fingers.
She spasmed as she saw the dream he had had. She saw him as a specter, devouring and delighting in his victims. She felt a fear deep and embedded in her memory. He was afraid of his true nature.
Kendra clenched her jaw as she sucked that fear deep within herself, etching it into her soul.
This feeling was more intense than Kate's fear. She was real and fiery. Michael winced in pain as blood began to spurt from the scratches. He ends up stepping back while the young woman finds herself on her knees, panting.
Michael groaned as he looked at his scratched hands, the pain present. He opened the doors as Kendra stood up, her head bowed, her forehead covered by her thick hair. She took off her poncho as the guard turned his head.
He saw the young woman dig her nails into the palms of her hands. Michael breathed slowly, feeling strangely soothed. He came to his senses when he noticed the assistant's state. She was feverish and didn't move an inch.
The soldier remained on his guard. He threatened the lieutenant with his gun. His target, however, was occupied by the young woman. Michael walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. Kendra's head spun as her body finally collapsed onto Michael's.
He fell backwards as she passed out.
The soldier approached the young woman and took her pulse. He pressed his earpiece.
"It's Collins, I'm requesting that a medical team come to Ms. Lloyd's quarters," the soldier said calmly.
A medical team quickly intervened and took care of Kendra. They took him to the infirmary before Michael was sent back to his quarters.