fic: Haven't Slept In Years, PG-13 [Teyla/Lorne]

[tielan]

To the people who answered the last post: thanks. All of what you say is true, but sometimes one just needs to grumble about the universe.

On to the fic!

--

TITLE: Haven't Slept In Years
SUMMARY: His men have gone for their showers; Mark Lorne would do the same, but for one, small thing...
CATEGORY: Vignette, Episode Epilogue
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: 2.17 Coup d'Etat
NOTES: Requested by verstehen: Teyla/Lorne, phrase 'haven't slept in years' - the song seems slightly twisted/odd, so I just used the title and not the song concept.

Haven't Slept In Years

His men go for their showers, longing for hot water and cleanliness. Mark Lorne stays behind.

He feels like he hadn't slept in years, but this is an imperative that goes further than physical discomfort: something that he needs to do.

And somewhere, further out in the infirmary rooms, he can hear her. Nothing more than the low cadence of her voice, rising and falling, distinctive as her easy walk through the city.

"Are you all right, son?" Beckett pauses next to him. "You looking for someone?"

Mark's not sure what to say, so he prevaricates. "Uh, just...who are these people?"

He knows who these people are: they're the Gennii who were sent to Atlantis as fake hostages while Ladon lured Sheppard and his strike team into an ambush. Judging by the Doc's slightly sceptical look, Beckett knows Mark knows - and he knows why Mark's hanging around, too.

Still, Beckett plays by the rules rather than calling Mark out the way others might. "They're the Gennii patients," says the Doc. "They've got varying degrees of radiation sickness and are in the process of being cured - what we can manage of it." The older man pauses, then adds, "Teyla's in there, speaking with some of her acquaintances."

Yeah, Beckett's got Mark's measure.

The Doc glances at him one more time, then continues on his rounds through the ward.

Mark sighs to himself and wonders if it's going to be all through the base by nightfall.

He wonders if he should take that shower and go looking for her later. After all, she's probably busy and he's definitely filthy.

But he wants to see her, just a glimpse, before he scours himself clean of several days worth of sweat, dirt, and grime, and tries to forget he spent a good chunk of the last week in a cell waiting to find out what was going to happen to him and his team. So Mark makes his way through the infirmary, listening for the sound of her voice over the murmurs of the nurses and the Gennii conversations.

He takes two steps into one of the wards and nearly runs into Sheppard.

"Major?" The Colonel arches an eyebrow.

Mark curses to himself. On his list of people not to run into while looking for Teyla, Sheppard ties for first place with Ronon Dex. Mark's not sure he likes his chances once those two discover Mark's interest in Teyla. McKay won't notice it until someone smacks him about the head with it, and Dr. Weir will lift an eyebrow and bite back a smile, but Sheppard and Dex won't hesitate to make things difficult if they don't think Mark's good enough for Teyla.

If Mark was the paranoid sort, he'd say they're protective bordering on jealous when it comes to Teyla. But even plain old protective is worrying when it's coming from two very competent, rather aggressive, military-trained men.

And to top it all off, Sheppard is Mark's commanding officer.

He goes for polite. "Sir."

"Thought you'd be drowning yourself in all the hot water Atlantis could provide by now."

"Just about to get to it."

"I'm sure." Sheppard pauses. "I'm pretty sure the showers are that way." He indicates behind Mark.

Mark shrugs as he glances around the room at the Gennii, several of whom have turned from their contemplations to regard him and Sheppard. "I was curious to see the Gennii, sir."

It's a blatant lie and he can see the Colonel about to call him on it.

Then, in the room beyond, Mark sees her rise from beside a bedridden man, her eyes on him. He's not aware of the smile that starts on his lips, but something in him lifts at the pleasure in her expression, the way she brightens as she sees him.

He was right to come looking for her. It's good to know.

Not even Sheppard's sudden comprehension can douse that.

He tears his eyes away from her and looks coolly back at his commanding officer, whose expression has turned diamond-hard.

"I'll get that shower now, sir." At this moment, a shower sounds divine.

Maybe Mark's in for it, and maybe he's really in for it, but he's riding his own wave of exultation at seeing her again - at seeing the relief in her expression when she looks at him. Right now, he doesn't care what fate Sheppard has in mind for him, he'll take it.

With another brief smile for Teyla, he follows his men.

But he doesn't need to turn around to know that Sheppard's watching him.

- fin -

FINAL NOTES: I admit, when I watched Coup d'Etat and the scene in Elizabeth's office, I went 'SQUEE!' not only for the Elizabeth/Ronon interaction there, but for the way Teyla held onto Lorne's pic before she enters the conversation. I love my Shep/Teyla, but Teyla/Lorne is an enjoyable secondary pairing for me.

...I don't suppose I could prevail upon any of you guys to write me a Shep/Teyla story? Even the people who don't usually write it? Especially the people who don't write it. I write pairings I don't necessarily see for characters that I don't think are fleshed out half enough. I'd like to see someone else do it for a change. Right now, I'm bloody tired of writing the fic and my favourite authors are not producing enough. *glares* Besides, I'd like to read something by someone who's a good writer first and the Shep/Teyla (or, hell, Shep&Teyla as friends and the focus of the story) is secondary.

Think of it as a challenge!

Comments

[verstehen.livejournal.com]

Oh, hee, I like this. Esp. the way you manage to have Lorne and Teyla interact by proxy. It's neat!

And if I weren't completely sick, I'd poke a short Sheppard/Teyla out for you.

[tielan]

Glad you liked it!

And thank you for the offer...you can do it when you feel better! ;)

Incidentally, what is that song about? I couldn't make head nor tail of the lyrics. Otherwise I would have tried to write something dark-ish.

[snoggingpicard.livejournal.com]

Teyla/Lorne does work strangely enough, and I definitely like Lorne's acknowledgement of the position he's in -- competition with Sheppard and Ronon would not be pleasant. His observation of the team structure works well too, and it's nice to get a kind of outsider's view on the relationships between the characters. Very nice.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Very nice. The subtlety (someday, I am going to have to learn to spell that word) is perfect for these two.

Perhaps a scene from "Michael"?

[cetpar.livejournal.com]

I love Teyla/Lorne! And I liked your Lorne POV in this, esp in regards to his interaction with Sheppard. Thanks.

[miera-c.livejournal.com]

:)

I can just picture the highly dangerous expression Teyla would get if she found out John or Ronon were discouraging a man she was interested in. *eg*

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

...I don't suppose I could prevail upon any of you guys to write me a Shep/Teyla story? Even the people who don't usually write it? Especially the people who don't write it.

Be careful what you wish for, m'dear: Shatter (http://ladyjax.livejournal.com/403541.html)

Honestly, I did not mean it to come out so bleak but I hope you like it.

Oh yeah

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

Lorne knows what he wants and so does Teyla. John, John, John. I love him here. He's got this great big brother/commanding officer thing going on that's very funny to see.

[hardlyfatal.livejournal.com]

Lovely, I like how you take something so simple, a moment so brief, and spin it into something touching. And you don't make Lorne into a girly-man, either. Great job :)

[madjm.livejournal.com]

OK, so you know that I'm completely in love with J/T, right? But I maybe have a little adulterous thing going on with Teyla/Lorne, too. Bad Jamie! There's just something about the pairing that gets me, possibly because I heart Lorne, big-time. My favorite part of this is that even though he would have to deal with the overprotectiveness/jealousy/whatever of Sheppard AND Ronon, he still can't stop himself from having these feelings for Teyla. And hoping that maybe she feels it, too. Awww.

[stungunbilly.livejournal.com]

This was great. I suddenly feel that I could really get into Teyla/Lorne. Hope you get the T/S you want.

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

This was ace. Subtle and sly and touching all at once.

I'll have a go at S/T, I've always wanted to. I sort of have a half finished friendship (possibly UST, too, if you look at it right) fic for them and I'll make effort to finish it - if I can find the file about...

[tielan]

Friendship fic, UST fic, RST fic... Any fic! I'm just tired of the bad rap S/T seems to have and the complete lack of anyone even experimenting with it.

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

I have a few S/T bunnies, but admit I've not been overly inspired on SGA lately, in the last month or so - not for any pairing really. That fic I mentioned is many months old and unfinished. It's about half written and then I got stuck and never went back to it.

I always intended to dabble with some S/T in a M/W WIP of mine, but the fic in question needs an overhaul, I don't know when it'll be updated - but whenever that is the chapter is meant to have some UST in. I also had a slightly dark S/T bunny for Conversion, and I don't know why I haven't written it yet because I was really taken with the idea... So I shall try and write some S/T, depending on my spare time and muses.

I wouldn't say the pairing has a bad rap, it's just a few shippers that give "Sheyla" a bad name really. I just get the impression many people like it but not enough to do anything for it. I know alot of McKay/Weir shippers also like Shep/Teyla (many whom also write), but they don't do fic for it for some reason. I don't know why though, unless it's that they're happy with what's on the show or just lack ideas? Next time there's a S/T ficathon I'll sign up (if I find out about it in time that is) and could prod a few people into doing so perhaps... :)

[tielan]

Well, the number of people who dismiss S/T at the outset and won't even try it is discouraging. Especially given that I'm a fussy reader and I've only found 4 authors who meet my standards for grammar, spelling, characterisation and plot every time.

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

I think in general alot of SGA people dismiss het overall. The fandom is quite preoccupied with slash, and mainly McKay/Sheppard. It often gets depressing to see a gazillion McShep fics out and barely any het I'd like. Sometimes I do read M/S, but I'm picky about just what because there's so much and it doesn't always interest me. Be nice if there were more people writing het, but I suppose I'm lucky there are so many M/W writers compared to other het pairings.

I've no idea if I'll meet your standards for grammar, spelling, characterisation and plot, but I'll give it a go and try and encourage more S/T fic generally, if I can in any way. :)

[tielan]

Thank you. *hugs*

I like your stuff. I used to read it more when I was into Rodney/Elizabeth, but I sorta drifted a bit.

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Though I now cringe at my earlier stuff, mostly the hulking WIP's. Hopefully I've improved quite a bit since those, and I have an excellent beta in Fanwoman, who I out to try and get to write S/T because I always liked the hints of it in her M/W stories.

I wouldn't blame you for drifting away from M/W, I think alot of people have with S2. Even my muses for that pairing have gone a little awol right now as well, but I'm sure they'll be back with a vengance sometime.

Mainly I've been bitten by the 4400 bug at the moment - and in that show I have a new cute pairing to be all inspired by. Which is a little fickle of me, but there's enjoyment to be had in having a pairing that's actually canon and consistent. :D I'm getting slightly annoyed with SGA's ship tease from TPTB...

[tielan]

It's interesting, I never expected anything but a ship tease from the Stargate PTB. They've provided me with two shows I love and characters that the plotbunnies adore, but I'm well aware of their failings in plot, characterisation, continuity, and consistent emotional development.

I'm sorta more at the Elizabeth/Rodney friendship thing right now. I don't think she'd put up with Rodney, and Rodney wouldn't change for her. On the other hand, I think Teyla would be more likely to accept Rodney's quirks, while Rodney would change, if only because Teyla's a little...intimidating...

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

Well, I was never that aware of the whole Sam/Jack fandom issue for SG-1, and I guess I'm having to just accept the writers are like that. Even if they have a ship they probably won't go anywhere much with it. I suppose the ship tease doesn't bother me sometimes, but with S2 it feels like they've been upping the Sheppard/Weir scenes and cutting back on anything much McKay/Weir - even friendship, it's like they barely have one compared to S1 and that irks me if they're doing it to emphasise another ship that they're really only playing with.

[tielan]

Yes. A few of what I think are more interesting relationship developments have been dropped by the wayside in favour of Shep/Weir and Shep/McKay. It's somewhat disappointing - which is probably why I don't watch the show that much, and find myself writing more fanfic.

[maxbo.livejournal.com]

I love how you've taken such a tiny moment and made it into something memorable. It's especially enjoyable that the events in this fic could easily be imagined as a tag for Coup d'Etat. This Teyla and Lorne pairing is really growing on me.