FanFic100: #014 Green
Why exactly is she here again, among dignitaries, four star generals and a lot of other people who are all wearing Mess Dress, tuxedos or evening gowns when she hates nothing more than spending her evening with exactly these kind of people?
Oh, right. Because it was an order.
Since Atlantis landed in the Bay and is there to stay until they figure out a way of getting it back to the Pegasus Galaxy - thus effectively trapping its crew here as well - someone up the chain of command had decided to celebrate the joyous occasion of Earth having been saved etc. blahblahblah with a stupid ball. She’s not totally averse to this kind of event, but… yeah, prom had been much, much more fun.
At least there it wouldn’t have had dire consequences if she had decided she could take all of this only with the appropriate dose of alcohol in her system. Now she would be charged with conduct unbecoming of a United States Marine, even though she isn’t even wearing uniform and that’s something she’s not willing to risk. So she has to put up with all of it - boring and pointless speeches, self-important politicians, Rodney McKay flirting with every blonde not fast enough to get away in time even though he’s here with Jennifer… - relatively sober. Oh well… it’s obviously a lesson in patience, endurance and docility.
But what’s really starting to tick her off is her inability to tear her gaze off one of her COs and the woman that’s obviously his date. It’s so stupid that she can’t stop staring at Major Lorne and whoever it is he brought to the ball, because of… a million reasons. First of all… she has no right to be jealous. If she was jealous, that is. But she’s not. Why should she be? There was nothing - except a few meaningful looks and smiles, that is, but she could have misinterpreted that - and there never will be anything. Very easy.
So why the hell does she feel her gaze glued to the couple and just can’t shake off the grumpiness? Dammit, she should be having fun here, most of all if she’s forced to be here. She’s pretty sure that she just saw some of the younger chemists pour something in the punch - how old are these guys? Twelve? - and Chuck is obviously giving a couple of young female SGC soldiers a performance of how he heroically saved two galaxies all on his own. So… plenty of opportunities to fool around, without being actually involved in anything embarrassing or incriminating.
It’s just that… she can’t stop watching the Major and his date. The woman must be in her thirties, elegant but not over dressed, long dark hair… God, why is she so interested in that? There are plenty of other good-looking guys here, and she’s caught a few of them watching her like she’s watching the Major right now. She feels like a goddamn teenager again, mooning for the object of her affections from afar every time she crosses his path in the high school hallway… yeah, well and also like a freaky stalker.
He’s dancing with the woman now, laughing and teasing her. It’s apparent that they know each other really well, because they dance effortlessly, like they don’t have to think about their steps… nearly perfectly in synch. Oh crap, she thinks. He’s married. Funny he never seemed to have told anyone, never wore a ring, not even off-duty. And dammit, that does not warrant an “Oh crap.” because there’s nothing wrong with Major Lorne being married.
This is really it, she decides. She’s going to have fun tonight and she will not waste another glance on Major Lorne. Except… except that he stopped dancing and has spotted her, looking at her just a tad too long. She pretends not to watch them, but from the corner of her eye she can see that the woman by his side seems to have noticed this. She says something to him, startling him a bit and… laughing. He rubs his neck and… comes her way. Oh crap. She so doesn’t want to talk to that couple right now, but there’s no way she could escape now without causing major awkwardness for all of them.
So she steels herself like she usually steels herself for a difficult mission and turns back to them. They have reached her now and subconsciously, she squares her shoulders. She tries a non-committal smile, but she’s afraid that she only managed something looking mighty stupid. “Evening, Captain Cadman.”
She really hopes that it’s just the temperature in this room that makes her skin suddenly feel so warm. “Evening, sir.” Uncomfortable silence. Oh great.
That is, until the Major’s date gives him a not so gentle bump with her shoulder. “Oh, right. Sorry.” Aw, isn’t that cute? No… no, it’s weird how easy it is for her to imagine a very slight blush on Major Lorne’s cheek. “Judy, this is Captain Laura Cadman, one of our Marines. She specializes in explosives. Captain Cadman, this is Judith Abrams, my sister.” Ah, his sister. His sister? Oh God, she so wants the Earth to swallow her right now. His goddamn sister.
“I specialize in reminding my brother of his manners.” A pointed look towards the Major and then a smile and a hand outstretched towards her. “Nice to meet you, Captain. I’ve heard quite a bit about you already.” What the…? A little confused, she sneaks Major Lorne a look and he shakes his head, almost desperately.
“Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Abrams. I’m afraid I can’t say the same about you, though.” The Major earns an indignant look from his sister and she feels compelled to clarify her statement a little. “Major Lorne keeps most of his private life to himself, which we all respect.” While it’s true that she never asked him any questions about his family, it would be a lie to say that she wasn’t interested in it. Like it would be a lie if she said that she isn’t interested in Major Lorne, but she should really keep that to herself.
“Please, it’s Judy. So… have you danced yet?” No, I was busy with being jealous of you, for which I feel like an idiot now. Mh. Probably not the best answer she can offer. Better try again.
“Actually, no. I’m kind of… lacking a partner.” Something in that answer raises Major Lorne’s interest.
“Oh, but I thought Carson…”
“Is here with Dr. Porter, I believe.” Dammit. Interrupting your CO is never a good idea, not even when you’re both off-duty and he’s wearing Mess Dress and you’re wearing an evening gown. “Oh, sorry for interrupting you, sir, I just…”
Judy can barely hide a smile, while the Major doesn’t look as peeved as she thought he would look. In fact, he looks a little… relieved. Huh. “It’s okay, Captain. I… uh… shouldn’t have inquired that anyway and…” He clears his throat, looking a bit uncomfortable now. His sister just rolls her eyes.
“It’s a shame none of these striking young officers here had the guts to ask you to the dance floor yet. If you want to, I can lend my date to you.” Both of them stare at her a little bewildered. She even seems to enjoy it. “It was a bit like dancing with my brother, anyway.” Major Lorne has something that could be described as “very close to a coughing fit”. Yeah, thank you, she thinks. Why don’t you just say you aren’t interested in any dancing with me?
“That’s… nice of you, but I’m not that much of a dancer, anyway.” Liar, she thinks. She loves dancing. Granted, not necessarily standard dances - she still remembers the pained face of her partner for the dancing class her brother forced to take her for his wedding - but otherwise there’s really nothing wrong with dancing.
The Major wants to say something, but for some reason, Judy scowls at him. What’s going on here? Anyway, the Major clears his throat again and then surprises her with, “If I didn’t know better, Captain… I’d say you’re trying to chicken out.” Judy rolls her eyes. Well, if one of her brothers would have said that… she’d have thought something along the lines of “Way to ask a girl for a dance, idiot.” and whacked the brother in question over his head.
But… that’s Major Lorne. He wasn’t trying to ask her for a dance, right? And anyway, that’s just not fair. “Never, sir. Just want to spare your toes an inhuman amount of pain.”
“You’ll be amazed at some of things they teach them at the Academy, Captain. If there ever was an officer better able to keep his toes out of trouble, it’s Evan.” Dammit, why is Judy so intent on getting her to dance with Major Lorne? There are no real excuses left now, and it would be rude if she kept refusing.
It doesn’t mean, though, that she can’t play hard to get a little longer. She’s… beginning to enjoy this little game. “Oh well… I’m afraid to say that I’m a real challenge.”
The Major seems to have seen that she’s not really putting up any more resistance and gives her a little winning grin. “I was never afraid of challenges.” With that, he offers her his hand and after one last bit of hesitation she takes it. “I hope you don’t mind if I take Captain Cadman for a dance, Judy?”
Judy chuckles. “Of course I don’t. Without me, you wouldn’t even have had the guts to ask her.” What… is that supposed to mean? But Major Lorne doesn’t give her the opportunity to ponder this strange remark any further, because even with the first steps he does prove to be very good at evading her occasionally misplaced feet. Mh, she thinks, maybe this whole Welcome-Back-ball hasn’t been such a bad idea after all.