Fic: Puzzling Evidence (Part XXX), NC-17, Lorne/Zelenka by inkscribe
Title: Puzzling Evidence (Part XXX)
Author: inkscribe
Pairings: Lorne/Zelenka
Kink: mild D/s, bondage, spanking
Warnings: Only a tiny bit of smut.
Promises: No pre-Sunday canon characters are permanently harmed in the making of this fic. EVER.
Angst-o-meter: milli-angst (low)
Rating: NC-17
Words: ~3600 (this part)
Spoilers: none (this part)
Locations: atlantiskink, welovezelenka, slashing_lorne, sgaauwtptbdfu, my LJ
Feedback: yes, please!
Summary: What we see is not always what it seems.
Chapter Summary: Opposition.
New to this WIP? Check out the Puzzling Evidence chapter index! Please remember to read the header block of each chapter for related spoiler alerts, warnings, and notes.
Author's Notes: Apologies, dear readers, that this chapter took longer to form and post than I had hoped. Real life was, sadly, an unpleasant mish-mash of demands that kept conflicting with getting this chapter created.
A secondary challenge was the need for some smut. It seemed a tragic waste to have a chapter with a triple-X notation that was somehow completely sans smut, so I hope you all appreciate the effort. *g*
Mega-thank-yous to my betas darkmuadib, and mice1900 for helping flesh out (sorry for the pun!) a couple of tricky points, in addition to the ongoing care and attention they give to my prose; any errors remaining are most definitely mine. ;-)
I should also mention that Puzzling Evidence is an AU (see Promises, above).
Disclaimer: Anything you recognise is not mine; please don’t sue, we’ll both regret it in the morning.
Ronon stood in the exercise room, breathing hard. He faced off against Teyla for yet another round, and grinned when she raised her eyebrow and asked, “Ready?”
They danced around the room - feint, lunge, fall back. Their shadows followed them, hues of orange and brown from the stained glass scattering in their wake. With a clash of wood on wood, they met in the middle, Ronon’s strength easily matched by Teyla’s precise alignment and ability to shift in sudden and unexpected ways.
“Enough?” she asked.
Ronon grinned and nodded. “Enough,” he agreed. “For today.”
Teyla smiled back. “It is interesting to me that you can always find time for sparring, but never for meditation.”
He shrugged, knowing his usual response would annoy her, but it was the truth. “I’d rather be sleeping.”
“And I’d rather be in Seattle,” came a voice from the doorway.
“Sea-at-tell?” Ronon asked, looking over at Sheppard. “What’s that?”
He shrugged. “Just a place, back on Earth.”
Ronon caught the wink he tossed at Teyla, saw her smile in return. He narrowed his eyes. “Sheppard,” he warned.
Sheppard raised his hands in mock innocence. “Oh, hey, buddy. Not my problem if you decided to skip out on our last movie night just because we were running chick flicks.”
Ronon stood straighter and crossed his arms. “They’re boring.”
“Yeah,” Sheppard said. “But the chicks like ‘em.”
Ronon laughed as Teyla smacked Sheppard on the back of the head.
“Just remember, John,” she said, her voice serious but her eyes amused. “Some of the chicks here carry sticks.”
Ronon chuckled. He enjoyed the team banter. While they remained on Atlantis for the time being, they had surprisingly few opportunities to get together, given the massive amount of interference they were running on the latest Daedalus visit. McKay was practically in hiding in the bowels of the city, and Teyla and Ronon both had engaged in various distraction techniques with key personnel. Sometimes, their apparent lack of knowledge of all things Earth was a significant strategic advantage.
Sheppard seemed to be handling things well, but Ronon knew him well enough to see that the situation wasn’t entirely as relaxed as he projected to those around him. Ronon knew that Colonel Caldwell was going to have at least one very loud, very long talk with Sheppard any time now. Ronon didn’t envy him the responsibility.
“I’m heading down to the commissary to grab an early dinner. You two want to join me?” Sheppard asked.
Ronon and Teyla exchanged glances. “Sure,” Ronon said. “Are we bringing McKay?”
Sheppard nodded. “Sure, if we can find him.”
Ronon chuckled. “I can find him.”
“Well, shall we go then?” Teyla said, leading them from the room.
oOo
Rodney sighed in frustration as he once again failed to get Crystal A to slide into Slot B. He wished, not for the first time, that Radek was there to give him a hand. Radek had small, graceful hands that fit where Rodney’s simply never would, no matter how he might wish otherwise.
Rodney honestly wondered at times whether the Ancients used child labour - he didn’t believe there were sufficient small-handed adults in a given population to be able to maintain the vast number of almost-inaccessible crystal slots throughout the city.
“Or maybe they had some sort of midget underclass,” he muttered to himself. “Ewoks, even.” He shook his head and tried again. Failed again.
He would have been happy to order some other minion down here, but he wanted to stay as scarce as possible to avoid the inevitable fallout from Colonel Caldwell. Rodney didn’t answer to Caldwell, of course, but he knew the colonel wouldn’t hesitate to twist Rodney’s arm to get what he wanted if it was in the scientist’s ability to provide it.
He breathed yet another sigh of relief that there was nothing he - or Caldwell or anyone else, for that matter - could do. The gate on Kidkill was nonfunctioning, and once Caldwell learned his quarry was there, yet not accessible, there wasn’t going to be a damn thing he could do about it.
Thinking of Kidkill brought him back to thinking about Carson - again. He was starting to feel a bit obsessive about the man, and on one level, it worried him. Then again, Rodney smiled, obsessions can be a happy thing for the lonely. A hopeful thing, at any rate.
He deserved a break. He needed a break.
He glanced around. No one was here, and no one would be here, but he couldn’t be too careful. One of the annoying things about Atlantis was that anyone with the gene could easily override a locked door, and if someone did come looking for him, a locked door would be more worrying than not, and could prove far more embarrassing.
He eased himself out from under the console and headed over to the side of the room. This particular lab had a series of smaller rooms, semi-enclosed spaces that Rodney believed were originally for storage but had been completely emptied sometime before the Ancients abandoned Atlantis.
He stepped into the second storage room, the one most hidden from the door. He turned to face the wall, his head resting lightly against it. He brushed his hand across his crotch, the fabric rasping against his fingertips, his cock stiffening rapidly. He sighed. He loved the long tease, the way a light touch when fully-clothed could make him hard. More so when it was someone else’s touch, but there was nothing he could do about that at the moment. He brushed his fingers over the fabric again.
Carson, he thought, and an image of the man, exasperated, came to Rodney. He smiled. Poor Carson, Rodney thought. I’ve got to be his worst patient in all of Atlantis.
He opened his trousers, reaching in to his boxers to grasp his cock. He closed his eyes, imagining Carson’s hands, firm and sure, doing the same. His cock hardened further at the thought. He pulled, long, slow strokes that ran heat from his groin to the balls of his feet and the palms of his hands.
Immersed in his imagination, he was soon lost also to the sensation in his cock. He sped up, stroking harder, faster. His breath came short and sharp, and then he stiffened for a moment before his orgasm curled from within him with a heavy shudder.
He moaned.
Breathing heavily, he continued to lean against the wall for a few moments before pushing back and tucking himself away. He turned to grab a shop towel to clean up the evidence, but stopped. He could hear voices in the corridor.
What the hell? he wondered. He glanced at his clothes, hoping he looked presentable, thankful he had taken some precautions after all. He rushed to the console and managed to look busy just as the rest of his team appeared in the doorway.
“Hey McKay,” John said. “We thought we’d rescue you from the basement here and grab some lunch together.”
“Is that such a good idea?” Rodney asked. “I mean, won’t that make it easier for Caldwell to find us?”
“Well, we’ve got to eat, and avoiding lunchtime much longer is probably going to be more suspicious than just showing up and eating. Besides, Caldwell isn’t going to hunt me down if the three of you are there to watch my back.”
Ronon grinned at Sheppard as Rodney winced. “Hunt us down, more likely,” he muttered.
John grinned and shrugged. “Well, yeah. But Teyla and Ronon can handle it, I’m sure.”
Teyla nodded gracefully at the compliment, then winked at Rodney and grinned.
Rodney looked sceptically at the three of them. “You do remember this is Colonel Caldwell we’re talking about,” he said. “The guy who can have us beamed into hard vacuum if we whump him too hard?”
Ronon chuckled. “Yeah, but he won’t. C’mon, let’s go eat.”
Barely half a dozen metres down the corridor and Rodney realised Ronon was smirking at him. He threw the Satedan a questioning look and was mortified to see him quirk an eyebrow and glance at Rodney’s crotch.
Oh my god, he thought as he checked his trousers. Is there a wet spot? A smear?
His eyes met Ronon’s grinning face. He knew they showed he was both worried and confused - confused until the man wrinkled his nose quickly a couple of times.
Oh god, he groaned silently to himself, forcing his hands to stay firmly away from his head despite his imminent desire to clutch at it, or at least rub the bridge of his nose to soothe the sudden headache he was certain would appear momentarily. Of course Conan the Barbarian can smell me! He turned his head, determined to stay focused somewhere - anywhere - else but on Ronon. His mortification did not turn to simple embarrassment until he felt the man clap a large hand on his shoulder, both reassurance and commiseration in the silent touch.
oOo
John tried not to fidget, but failed. He looked around the room - at the floor, the wall, the ceiling and then to the floor again. He heard Kate clear her throat.
“So, John,” she said, her voice pleasant but neutral. “Do you want to let me in on why you’re here?”
He winced at the question. Why does she always have to be so damned nice, he thought.
“John?”
“Okay, okay,” he said, still not looking her in the eye. “I’m here because McKay keeps freaking me out.”
“Freaking you out?” Kate repeated.
“Yeah,” he admitted.
“How so?”
“Every time I see him, he freaks me out.”
He heard Kate stifle a tiny sigh of exasperation. “Listen, we just had lunch,” he continued. “And it happened again. I - I just need to talk to someone who won’t take it any further.”
“John,” Kate said. “You know anything you say to me is confidential.”
He looked her in the eye and sighed himself. “I - I know. It’s more that I need to understand this, and I can’t ask anybody.”
“What happened, John?” Kate asked gently.
John fished in his pocket for a moment, then shook out what he was holding so Kate could see the braided cord, black and shiny even in the soft light of Kate’s office.
“McKay had this,” he explained. “And he told me that Carson - Carson used it to -”
He stopped as Kate’s eyes went wide with recognition. “Kate?” John asked, his voice tight as he wondered just how much Kate already knew, really knew about what was going on here. “Kate - is the stuff McKay told me true? Carson - guys - people, I mean - people sometimes try to choke themselves off, just for an orgasm?”
Kate nodded. “Yes,” she said simply.
John ran fingers through his hair. He hadn’t realised just how much he had hoped the whole story was just the product of McKay’s genius, fevered brain. Something strange that astrophysicists who drank too much coffee might come up with after a few nights working too late and not getting enough fresh air.
“Woah,” he finally sighed. “Okay, listen. I really, really need some more information here, because I just don’t get it, and it’s really freaking me out.”
“And it’s not like you can google it,” Kate joked.
“Google?” John said, surprised. He slumped his head into his hand. “Of course this would be on google, along with all the porn.”
“It’s nothing to do with porn, John,” Kate corrected.
He shook his head. “I didn’t mean that,” he protested weakly, mumbling toward his feet. “It’s just that, well, back on Earth, I could look it up or something. Privately. Freak out a bit without needing to talk to you about it.” He glanced up again and felt himself blush. “Sorry - not that you’re a bad person to talk to or anything, but -” he trailed off.
Kate smiled at him sympathetically. “But there are some things you’d rather have time to think about before trying to put into words?”
John nodded. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“Well, John,” she said. “Even in a population as small as our expedition here on Atlantis, human sexual needs, expression, and behaviours vary wildly.”
“Yeah, but - but strangling yourself? Almost dying?”
Kate shook her head sadly. “Autoerotic asphyxiation is a highly risky practise. It’s unfortunate, but many people are willing to take that risk.”
“But - Carson. He’s a doctor. Shouldn’t he know better?”
“I can’t discuss a specific person with you John, but in general, theoretical terms?Yes - a doctor should know that the risks associated with such practises are extreme,” she said.
“But he did it anyway,” John said.
Kate simply looked at him. He winced. “Right. Sorry - you can’t really tell me that.”
The psychologist looked thoughtful for a moment, then leaned forward slightly. “No, I can’t give you specific information on a particular individual, but I’m happy to discuss the roles that such practises may play - in general - for those that are drawn to them.”
“Roles?” John repeated, confused.
“Yes,” Kate nodded.
“So there’s more to it than just orgasm?”
“Sometimes,” she said. “I think I can fill you in on what you need to know.”
oOo
“Oh, hey - I’m glad you’re here,” Rodney heard as John stepped into his lab.
“Hmm?” Rodney said, distracted, hunched over his computer. “Yes, yes, I’m here. Just for a minute, though,” he mused, pushing a couple keys and eyeing the screen closely. “Aha!” He turned to look at John. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
Rodney wondered at John for a moment as his face appeared to blush lightly. “I was just saying I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to talk to you for a couple minutes.”
He nodded. “Sure, but -”
“What a coincidence,” came a voice from the corridor. “I want to talk to you for a couple of minutes, too.”
Rodney felt a sick twist in his gut as Colonel Caldwell stepped into the room, blocking the door. He forced himself not to glance at John, instead only hearing his friend shift from a relaxed slouch to an alert stance.
Rodney blinked rapidly at the Daedalus commander. Oh fuck, he thought, taking in the man’s appearance. Colonel Caldwell looks one shade away from apoplectic.
“I’m looking for Major Lorne, actually,” Colonel Caldwell said. “But it has come to my attention that the man is nowhere to be found. Apparently he is on an off-world mission.”
Rodney tried to swallow against a dry throat as the colonel’s eyes bore into him.
“I’ve also learned that the world he is visiting does not currently have an operational gate,” Caldwell said.
Rodney again blinked rapidly, then brightened. “Well, yes,” he said. “That’s correct.”
“Their gate just happened to require maintenance at this time?” Caldwell said, his voice controlled and level.
Rodney nodded, hoping against hope that his movements didn’t betray the nervousness within him. “According to the report we received, yes.”
“An astounding coincidence,” the colonel said dryly.
From the corner of his eye, he saw John step forward. “Leave him alone, Colonel,” John said. “The gate’s down for maintenance - it was down a couple of days before you even arrived, for that matter. And there’s absolutely nothing McKay can do about it from here.”
The colonel moved his unrelenting gaze to John. “In that case, Colonel Sheppard, that talk I need will require only your presence.” He gestured to the corridor. “Doctor Weir’s office. After you.”
Uninvited, Rodney tagged along behind the two colonels. I’m the one who got this whole stupid mess going, he thought, his guts twisting into knots. I’m not leaving John to face this on his own. Rodney absentmindedly traced his fingers across his wrist, scribing an invisible copy of the pattern of Radek’s scars, scars that Rodney had healed, only to create new, gaping wounds in his friend’s life. Staring at the military-straight backs of the two colonels as they walked, he could only wonder and worry at how many more lives his good intentions might end up destroying.
oOo
Elizabeth watched the exchange with tightly controlled fury. How dare he come in here like this, treat my people like this, she thought. She took several long, deep breaths to calm herself before speaking.
“Colonel Caldwell,” she interrupted.
The colonel ignored her and continued his tirade against Lieutenant-Colonel Sheppard.
“That’s enough, colonel!” she commanded, putting every ounce of authority into her tone. The colonel’s response was instantaneous, snapping to attention briefly before his mind remembered that this was a civilian speaking to him, not a commanding officer.
He relaxed slightly and huffed at her. “You have no authority in this matter, Doctor Weir,” he said, emphasising her academic title.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and allowed her voice to carry a hint of the venom she felt within her. “On the contrary, colonel, I have all the authority I need. This is my expedition, and I am both its leader and the final authority on matters of operations and discipline on this base,” she said. “You may not be in my direct chain of command, but neither do you have the authority to come on to this base and threaten, harass, or intimidate my people. Any of my people.”
“This is a military matter, Elizabeth -” the colonel snapped back in response, stopping suddenly as she raised a hand against his voice.
“You will continue with Doctor Weir, colonel,” she said coldly. “And from where I stand, this is not a military matter. You have spent the last several minutes threatening Colonel Sheppard regarding a man under his command. A man who is on a mission fully authorised by both Colonel Sheppard and myself, and one that does not require any other party to approve.”
“And this just happens to be approved around the same time that my communications officer notified your base that we would be apprehending Major Lorne to return to Earth on a military matter?” he said, his own continuing to betray his anger.
“I will undertake whatever means necessary to maintain the ongoing good relations with our allies in this galaxy,” she replied. “I should think that as a military man, you would understand the concept.” She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
He snorted at her, silent for a moment.
“And that’s another thing,” she continued. “I will be speaking to the IOC regarding your ... request ... to take one of my people away from this base.”
Caldwell turned a deeper shade of red. “Make no mistake, doctor,” he hissed. “This is not a request.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Perhaps not, but this is an unprecedented demand on the part of the American military, and as the senior administrator on Atlantis, I will not see an outside authority come and attempt to dictate either the ongoing deployment of permanent personnel who have made no indication of a desire to leave this posting. Nor will I accept that you or anyone else has the right to come in here and threaten anyone on this base.”
“Outside authority?” the colonel snorted. “Who do you think is providing the military support here, private contractors?”
“Our military contingent may be comprised of officers from officially recognised national militaries, but it is a contingent, colonel,” she said levelly. “This is a civilian mission, not military.”
Caldwell snorted again. “You and your expedition would be dead several times over by now without that contingent,” he said.
“And that same contingent would be dead several times over without the work of Doctors McKay and Zelenka,” Elizabeth said. “This discussion is over, colonel.”
“It’s not over, not by a long shot,” the colonel spat.
“It is for now. You’re dismissed,” she said, borrowing the military term.
He responded with a mocking smirk. “You’ll regret this, doctor,” he hissed.
“I believe I’ve already explained to you that you are not to threaten my personnel,” Elizabeth said levelly, staring him down. “That extends also to making threats against me. You have a ship to prepare and a long journey ahead of you. I suggest you make wiser use of your time than antagonising me further.”
The colonel stared at her for a moment, naked hatred in his eyes. He turned and abruptly strode from the room, ignoring the two men standing there, almost gap-mouthed as they watched the exchange.
Elizabeth glanced at them and smiled wanly. “Gentlemen?”
Rodney cleared his throat before responding. “Yes?”
“I think you can consider yourselves dismissed, too,” she said. “I also suggest you continue to make yourselves scarce. I may have won this battle, but the war itself may be another matter entirely.”
She saw the two men exchange worried glances. “Thanks, Elizabeth,” John said.
“Go,” she smiled. The two nodded at her, then turned and left her office.
She returned to her computer, pulling up her research files. She did not use the term war to describe this matter lightly - and she knew she needed far more study to best prepare herself for the many battles yet unfought.
End Part XXX
Author: inkscribe
Pairings: Lorne/Zelenka
Kink: mild D/s, bondage, spanking
Warnings: Only a tiny bit of smut.
Promises: No pre-Sunday canon characters are permanently harmed in the making of this fic. EVER.
Angst-o-meter: milli-angst (low)
Rating: NC-17
Words: ~3600 (this part)
Spoilers: none (this part)
Locations: atlantiskink, welovezelenka, slashing_lorne, sgaauwtptbdfu, my LJ
Feedback: yes, please!
Summary: What we see is not always what it seems.
Chapter Summary: Opposition.
New to this WIP? Check out the Puzzling Evidence chapter index! Please remember to read the header block of each chapter for related spoiler alerts, warnings, and notes.
Author's Notes: Apologies, dear readers, that this chapter took longer to form and post than I had hoped. Real life was, sadly, an unpleasant mish-mash of demands that kept conflicting with getting this chapter created.
A secondary challenge was the need for some smut. It seemed a tragic waste to have a chapter with a triple-X notation that was somehow completely sans smut, so I hope you all appreciate the effort. *g*
Mega-thank-yous to my betas darkmuadib, and mice1900 for helping flesh out (sorry for the pun!) a couple of tricky points, in addition to the ongoing care and attention they give to my prose; any errors remaining are most definitely mine. ;-)
I should also mention that Puzzling Evidence is an AU (see Promises, above).
Disclaimer: Anything you recognise is not mine; please don’t sue, we’ll both regret it in the morning.
Ronon stood in the exercise room, breathing hard. He faced off against Teyla for yet another round, and grinned when she raised her eyebrow and asked, “Ready?”
They danced around the room - feint, lunge, fall back. Their shadows followed them, hues of orange and brown from the stained glass scattering in their wake. With a clash of wood on wood, they met in the middle, Ronon’s strength easily matched by Teyla’s precise alignment and ability to shift in sudden and unexpected ways.
“Enough?” she asked.
Ronon grinned and nodded. “Enough,” he agreed. “For today.”
Teyla smiled back. “It is interesting to me that you can always find time for sparring, but never for meditation.”
He shrugged, knowing his usual response would annoy her, but it was the truth. “I’d rather be sleeping.”
“And I’d rather be in Seattle,” came a voice from the doorway.
“Sea-at-tell?” Ronon asked, looking over at Sheppard. “What’s that?”
He shrugged. “Just a place, back on Earth.”
Ronon caught the wink he tossed at Teyla, saw her smile in return. He narrowed his eyes. “Sheppard,” he warned.
Sheppard raised his hands in mock innocence. “Oh, hey, buddy. Not my problem if you decided to skip out on our last movie night just because we were running chick flicks.”
Ronon stood straighter and crossed his arms. “They’re boring.”
“Yeah,” Sheppard said. “But the chicks like ‘em.”
Ronon laughed as Teyla smacked Sheppard on the back of the head.
“Just remember, John,” she said, her voice serious but her eyes amused. “Some of the chicks here carry sticks.”
Ronon chuckled. He enjoyed the team banter. While they remained on Atlantis for the time being, they had surprisingly few opportunities to get together, given the massive amount of interference they were running on the latest Daedalus visit. McKay was practically in hiding in the bowels of the city, and Teyla and Ronon both had engaged in various distraction techniques with key personnel. Sometimes, their apparent lack of knowledge of all things Earth was a significant strategic advantage.
Sheppard seemed to be handling things well, but Ronon knew him well enough to see that the situation wasn’t entirely as relaxed as he projected to those around him. Ronon knew that Colonel Caldwell was going to have at least one very loud, very long talk with Sheppard any time now. Ronon didn’t envy him the responsibility.
“I’m heading down to the commissary to grab an early dinner. You two want to join me?” Sheppard asked.
Ronon and Teyla exchanged glances. “Sure,” Ronon said. “Are we bringing McKay?”
Sheppard nodded. “Sure, if we can find him.”
Ronon chuckled. “I can find him.”
“Well, shall we go then?” Teyla said, leading them from the room.
oOo
Rodney sighed in frustration as he once again failed to get Crystal A to slide into Slot B. He wished, not for the first time, that Radek was there to give him a hand. Radek had small, graceful hands that fit where Rodney’s simply never would, no matter how he might wish otherwise.
Rodney honestly wondered at times whether the Ancients used child labour - he didn’t believe there were sufficient small-handed adults in a given population to be able to maintain the vast number of almost-inaccessible crystal slots throughout the city.
“Or maybe they had some sort of midget underclass,” he muttered to himself. “Ewoks, even.” He shook his head and tried again. Failed again.
He would have been happy to order some other minion down here, but he wanted to stay as scarce as possible to avoid the inevitable fallout from Colonel Caldwell. Rodney didn’t answer to Caldwell, of course, but he knew the colonel wouldn’t hesitate to twist Rodney’s arm to get what he wanted if it was in the scientist’s ability to provide it.
He breathed yet another sigh of relief that there was nothing he - or Caldwell or anyone else, for that matter - could do. The gate on Kidkill was nonfunctioning, and once Caldwell learned his quarry was there, yet not accessible, there wasn’t going to be a damn thing he could do about it.
Thinking of Kidkill brought him back to thinking about Carson - again. He was starting to feel a bit obsessive about the man, and on one level, it worried him. Then again, Rodney smiled, obsessions can be a happy thing for the lonely. A hopeful thing, at any rate.
He deserved a break. He needed a break.
He glanced around. No one was here, and no one would be here, but he couldn’t be too careful. One of the annoying things about Atlantis was that anyone with the gene could easily override a locked door, and if someone did come looking for him, a locked door would be more worrying than not, and could prove far more embarrassing.
He eased himself out from under the console and headed over to the side of the room. This particular lab had a series of smaller rooms, semi-enclosed spaces that Rodney believed were originally for storage but had been completely emptied sometime before the Ancients abandoned Atlantis.
He stepped into the second storage room, the one most hidden from the door. He turned to face the wall, his head resting lightly against it. He brushed his hand across his crotch, the fabric rasping against his fingertips, his cock stiffening rapidly. He sighed. He loved the long tease, the way a light touch when fully-clothed could make him hard. More so when it was someone else’s touch, but there was nothing he could do about that at the moment. He brushed his fingers over the fabric again.
Carson, he thought, and an image of the man, exasperated, came to Rodney. He smiled. Poor Carson, Rodney thought. I’ve got to be his worst patient in all of Atlantis.
He opened his trousers, reaching in to his boxers to grasp his cock. He closed his eyes, imagining Carson’s hands, firm and sure, doing the same. His cock hardened further at the thought. He pulled, long, slow strokes that ran heat from his groin to the balls of his feet and the palms of his hands.
Immersed in his imagination, he was soon lost also to the sensation in his cock. He sped up, stroking harder, faster. His breath came short and sharp, and then he stiffened for a moment before his orgasm curled from within him with a heavy shudder.
He moaned.
Breathing heavily, he continued to lean against the wall for a few moments before pushing back and tucking himself away. He turned to grab a shop towel to clean up the evidence, but stopped. He could hear voices in the corridor.
What the hell? he wondered. He glanced at his clothes, hoping he looked presentable, thankful he had taken some precautions after all. He rushed to the console and managed to look busy just as the rest of his team appeared in the doorway.
“Hey McKay,” John said. “We thought we’d rescue you from the basement here and grab some lunch together.”
“Is that such a good idea?” Rodney asked. “I mean, won’t that make it easier for Caldwell to find us?”
“Well, we’ve got to eat, and avoiding lunchtime much longer is probably going to be more suspicious than just showing up and eating. Besides, Caldwell isn’t going to hunt me down if the three of you are there to watch my back.”
Ronon grinned at Sheppard as Rodney winced. “Hunt us down, more likely,” he muttered.
John grinned and shrugged. “Well, yeah. But Teyla and Ronon can handle it, I’m sure.”
Teyla nodded gracefully at the compliment, then winked at Rodney and grinned.
Rodney looked sceptically at the three of them. “You do remember this is Colonel Caldwell we’re talking about,” he said. “The guy who can have us beamed into hard vacuum if we whump him too hard?”
Ronon chuckled. “Yeah, but he won’t. C’mon, let’s go eat.”
Barely half a dozen metres down the corridor and Rodney realised Ronon was smirking at him. He threw the Satedan a questioning look and was mortified to see him quirk an eyebrow and glance at Rodney’s crotch.
Oh my god, he thought as he checked his trousers. Is there a wet spot? A smear?
His eyes met Ronon’s grinning face. He knew they showed he was both worried and confused - confused until the man wrinkled his nose quickly a couple of times.
Oh god, he groaned silently to himself, forcing his hands to stay firmly away from his head despite his imminent desire to clutch at it, or at least rub the bridge of his nose to soothe the sudden headache he was certain would appear momentarily. Of course Conan the Barbarian can smell me! He turned his head, determined to stay focused somewhere - anywhere - else but on Ronon. His mortification did not turn to simple embarrassment until he felt the man clap a large hand on his shoulder, both reassurance and commiseration in the silent touch.
oOo
John tried not to fidget, but failed. He looked around the room - at the floor, the wall, the ceiling and then to the floor again. He heard Kate clear her throat.
“So, John,” she said, her voice pleasant but neutral. “Do you want to let me in on why you’re here?”
He winced at the question. Why does she always have to be so damned nice, he thought.
“John?”
“Okay, okay,” he said, still not looking her in the eye. “I’m here because McKay keeps freaking me out.”
“Freaking you out?” Kate repeated.
“Yeah,” he admitted.
“How so?”
“Every time I see him, he freaks me out.”
He heard Kate stifle a tiny sigh of exasperation. “Listen, we just had lunch,” he continued. “And it happened again. I - I just need to talk to someone who won’t take it any further.”
“John,” Kate said. “You know anything you say to me is confidential.”
He looked her in the eye and sighed himself. “I - I know. It’s more that I need to understand this, and I can’t ask anybody.”
“What happened, John?” Kate asked gently.
John fished in his pocket for a moment, then shook out what he was holding so Kate could see the braided cord, black and shiny even in the soft light of Kate’s office.
“McKay had this,” he explained. “And he told me that Carson - Carson used it to -”
He stopped as Kate’s eyes went wide with recognition. “Kate?” John asked, his voice tight as he wondered just how much Kate already knew, really knew about what was going on here. “Kate - is the stuff McKay told me true? Carson - guys - people, I mean - people sometimes try to choke themselves off, just for an orgasm?”
Kate nodded. “Yes,” she said simply.
John ran fingers through his hair. He hadn’t realised just how much he had hoped the whole story was just the product of McKay’s genius, fevered brain. Something strange that astrophysicists who drank too much coffee might come up with after a few nights working too late and not getting enough fresh air.
“Woah,” he finally sighed. “Okay, listen. I really, really need some more information here, because I just don’t get it, and it’s really freaking me out.”
“And it’s not like you can google it,” Kate joked.
“Google?” John said, surprised. He slumped his head into his hand. “Of course this would be on google, along with all the porn.”
“It’s nothing to do with porn, John,” Kate corrected.
He shook his head. “I didn’t mean that,” he protested weakly, mumbling toward his feet. “It’s just that, well, back on Earth, I could look it up or something. Privately. Freak out a bit without needing to talk to you about it.” He glanced up again and felt himself blush. “Sorry - not that you’re a bad person to talk to or anything, but -” he trailed off.
Kate smiled at him sympathetically. “But there are some things you’d rather have time to think about before trying to put into words?”
John nodded. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“Well, John,” she said. “Even in a population as small as our expedition here on Atlantis, human sexual needs, expression, and behaviours vary wildly.”
“Yeah, but - but strangling yourself? Almost dying?”
Kate shook her head sadly. “Autoerotic asphyxiation is a highly risky practise. It’s unfortunate, but many people are willing to take that risk.”
“But - Carson. He’s a doctor. Shouldn’t he know better?”
“I can’t discuss a specific person with you John, but in general, theoretical terms?Yes - a doctor should know that the risks associated with such practises are extreme,” she said.
“But he did it anyway,” John said.
Kate simply looked at him. He winced. “Right. Sorry - you can’t really tell me that.”
The psychologist looked thoughtful for a moment, then leaned forward slightly. “No, I can’t give you specific information on a particular individual, but I’m happy to discuss the roles that such practises may play - in general - for those that are drawn to them.”
“Roles?” John repeated, confused.
“Yes,” Kate nodded.
“So there’s more to it than just orgasm?”
“Sometimes,” she said. “I think I can fill you in on what you need to know.”
oOo
“Oh, hey - I’m glad you’re here,” Rodney heard as John stepped into his lab.
“Hmm?” Rodney said, distracted, hunched over his computer. “Yes, yes, I’m here. Just for a minute, though,” he mused, pushing a couple keys and eyeing the screen closely. “Aha!” He turned to look at John. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
Rodney wondered at John for a moment as his face appeared to blush lightly. “I was just saying I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to talk to you for a couple minutes.”
He nodded. “Sure, but -”
“What a coincidence,” came a voice from the corridor. “I want to talk to you for a couple of minutes, too.”
Rodney felt a sick twist in his gut as Colonel Caldwell stepped into the room, blocking the door. He forced himself not to glance at John, instead only hearing his friend shift from a relaxed slouch to an alert stance.
Rodney blinked rapidly at the Daedalus commander. Oh fuck, he thought, taking in the man’s appearance. Colonel Caldwell looks one shade away from apoplectic.
“I’m looking for Major Lorne, actually,” Colonel Caldwell said. “But it has come to my attention that the man is nowhere to be found. Apparently he is on an off-world mission.”
Rodney tried to swallow against a dry throat as the colonel’s eyes bore into him.
“I’ve also learned that the world he is visiting does not currently have an operational gate,” Caldwell said.
Rodney again blinked rapidly, then brightened. “Well, yes,” he said. “That’s correct.”
“Their gate just happened to require maintenance at this time?” Caldwell said, his voice controlled and level.
Rodney nodded, hoping against hope that his movements didn’t betray the nervousness within him. “According to the report we received, yes.”
“An astounding coincidence,” the colonel said dryly.
From the corner of his eye, he saw John step forward. “Leave him alone, Colonel,” John said. “The gate’s down for maintenance - it was down a couple of days before you even arrived, for that matter. And there’s absolutely nothing McKay can do about it from here.”
The colonel moved his unrelenting gaze to John. “In that case, Colonel Sheppard, that talk I need will require only your presence.” He gestured to the corridor. “Doctor Weir’s office. After you.”
Uninvited, Rodney tagged along behind the two colonels. I’m the one who got this whole stupid mess going, he thought, his guts twisting into knots. I’m not leaving John to face this on his own. Rodney absentmindedly traced his fingers across his wrist, scribing an invisible copy of the pattern of Radek’s scars, scars that Rodney had healed, only to create new, gaping wounds in his friend’s life. Staring at the military-straight backs of the two colonels as they walked, he could only wonder and worry at how many more lives his good intentions might end up destroying.
oOo
Elizabeth watched the exchange with tightly controlled fury. How dare he come in here like this, treat my people like this, she thought. She took several long, deep breaths to calm herself before speaking.
“Colonel Caldwell,” she interrupted.
The colonel ignored her and continued his tirade against Lieutenant-Colonel Sheppard.
“That’s enough, colonel!” she commanded, putting every ounce of authority into her tone. The colonel’s response was instantaneous, snapping to attention briefly before his mind remembered that this was a civilian speaking to him, not a commanding officer.
He relaxed slightly and huffed at her. “You have no authority in this matter, Doctor Weir,” he said, emphasising her academic title.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and allowed her voice to carry a hint of the venom she felt within her. “On the contrary, colonel, I have all the authority I need. This is my expedition, and I am both its leader and the final authority on matters of operations and discipline on this base,” she said. “You may not be in my direct chain of command, but neither do you have the authority to come on to this base and threaten, harass, or intimidate my people. Any of my people.”
“This is a military matter, Elizabeth -” the colonel snapped back in response, stopping suddenly as she raised a hand against his voice.
“You will continue with Doctor Weir, colonel,” she said coldly. “And from where I stand, this is not a military matter. You have spent the last several minutes threatening Colonel Sheppard regarding a man under his command. A man who is on a mission fully authorised by both Colonel Sheppard and myself, and one that does not require any other party to approve.”
“And this just happens to be approved around the same time that my communications officer notified your base that we would be apprehending Major Lorne to return to Earth on a military matter?” he said, his own continuing to betray his anger.
“I will undertake whatever means necessary to maintain the ongoing good relations with our allies in this galaxy,” she replied. “I should think that as a military man, you would understand the concept.” She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
He snorted at her, silent for a moment.
“And that’s another thing,” she continued. “I will be speaking to the IOC regarding your ... request ... to take one of my people away from this base.”
Caldwell turned a deeper shade of red. “Make no mistake, doctor,” he hissed. “This is not a request.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Perhaps not, but this is an unprecedented demand on the part of the American military, and as the senior administrator on Atlantis, I will not see an outside authority come and attempt to dictate either the ongoing deployment of permanent personnel who have made no indication of a desire to leave this posting. Nor will I accept that you or anyone else has the right to come in here and threaten anyone on this base.”
“Outside authority?” the colonel snorted. “Who do you think is providing the military support here, private contractors?”
“Our military contingent may be comprised of officers from officially recognised national militaries, but it is a contingent, colonel,” she said levelly. “This is a civilian mission, not military.”
Caldwell snorted again. “You and your expedition would be dead several times over by now without that contingent,” he said.
“And that same contingent would be dead several times over without the work of Doctors McKay and Zelenka,” Elizabeth said. “This discussion is over, colonel.”
“It’s not over, not by a long shot,” the colonel spat.
“It is for now. You’re dismissed,” she said, borrowing the military term.
He responded with a mocking smirk. “You’ll regret this, doctor,” he hissed.
“I believe I’ve already explained to you that you are not to threaten my personnel,” Elizabeth said levelly, staring him down. “That extends also to making threats against me. You have a ship to prepare and a long journey ahead of you. I suggest you make wiser use of your time than antagonising me further.”
The colonel stared at her for a moment, naked hatred in his eyes. He turned and abruptly strode from the room, ignoring the two men standing there, almost gap-mouthed as they watched the exchange.
Elizabeth glanced at them and smiled wanly. “Gentlemen?”
Rodney cleared his throat before responding. “Yes?”
“I think you can consider yourselves dismissed, too,” she said. “I also suggest you continue to make yourselves scarce. I may have won this battle, but the war itself may be another matter entirely.”
She saw the two men exchange worried glances. “Thanks, Elizabeth,” John said.
“Go,” she smiled. The two nodded at her, then turned and left her office.
She returned to her computer, pulling up her research files. She did not use the term war to describe this matter lightly - and she knew she needed far more study to best prepare herself for the many battles yet unfought.
End Part XXX