Fic: Puzzling Evidence (Part XXII), NC-17, Lorne/Zelenka by inkscribe
Title: Puzzling Evidence (Part XXII)
Author: inkscribe
Pairings: Lorne/Zelenka
Kink: mild D/s, bondage, spanking
Warnings: none (this part)
Angst-o-meter: deci-angst (moderate)
Rating: NC-17
Words: ~2300 (this part)
Spoilers: S3.11 - “The Return, part II” (oblique, obscure reference)
Locations: atlantiskink, welovezelenka, slashing_lorne, my LJ
Feedback: yes, please!
Summary: What we see is not always what it seems.
Chapter Summary: Suggestion.
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: What can I say here? A couple last chapters of pseudo-calmness before the angstfest churns into a force nine hurricane. Enjoy!
As always, huge thank yous to darkmuadib, and mice1900 for the betas; any errors remaining are most definitely mine. ;-)
Disclaimer: Anything you recognise is not mine; please don’t sue, we’ll both regret it in the morning.
Elizabeth regarded John as he absorbed the news. “Three days?” he repeated.
She nodded. “Yes - and then they are scheduled to remain here for one week before returning to Earth.”
“Business week, or -?” John joked. Elizabeth allowed herself a smirk at the small jest - things would be even more tense soon enough without losing their ability to deal with things humorously.
“Full week. Seven days,” she said.
John pulled a pained face. “Well, that’s just su-per,” he drawled. “Seven days of hide-and-go-seek.”
“Pardon me?” Elizabeth said, confused. She was familiar with John’s tangents, but he could still surprise her.
“Hide-and-go-seek,” he repeated. “It’s a game.”
“I understand that, colonel,” she said, emphasising his title. “I don’t understand your meaning.”
John moved forward, balancing on the edge of his seat. “Listen, Elizabeth,” he said. “The only reason he’s under any investigation whatsoever is because I screwed up and they heard enough about it to get their collective military boxers in a knot. I’m not going to just hand him over to go back to Earth.”
“But surely you’re not suggesting you’re prepared to disobey orders?” she asked.
“Who said anything about disobedience?” John shrugged. “The major will be on an offworld expedition for the duration of the Daedelus visit.”
“But surely Colonel Caldwell will order you to return him, to conclude the mission early,” she said.
“You didn’t let me finish,” he said. “The major will be on a mission where something goes mysteriously wrong just long enough for him to not be able to return until the ship is safely back in hyperspace on its return journey to Earth.”
“Won’t the military simply delay the Daedelus’ return until Major Lorne is brought back?”
“Not likely,” John said.
“But this won’t change the orders to send him back,” Elizabeth clarified, worried that John was not thinking clearly about the situation, allowing his anger and self-recriminations to get in the way of sound thinking, sound planning. Hiding out would only be a stopgap measure at best, not a solution. “They’ll just take him another trip.”
She could see that she need not have worried when John scoffed. “Of course it won’t change the orders, Elizabeth,” John said. “What it will do is buy us some time to save Marc’s ass.”
John winced.
“What?” Elizabeth asked, concerned.
“Nothing,” John mumbled.
“John?” she repeated. “What’s wrong?” She still could not hear the mumbled reply. “Pardon?”
John’s face flushed red and he stammered his response. “I said that this is about the most inappropriate conversation ever for me to be mentioning Major Lorne’s ass.”
Elizabeth felt the heat rise in her cheeks in turn. “Um, well - yes, of course, you’re right,” she stammered in return. She took a moment to study the hangings on her wall, a moment to get her surprise under control and to settle her thoughts, then focused again on John. “Let’s get back on track with the problem at hand,” she said. “Hide-and-seek will buy us some time. Time for what?”
John nodded, still red and awkward. “It’ll buy us some time for you to put your famous diplomatic skills to work and find us a solution.”
“Me?” Elizabeth said, surprised. “I don’t think I hold any influence with the military,” she said.
“Elizabeth,” John said. “I don’t want you looking for a military solution. I can tell you right now - there won’t be one. Not now - probably not in my lifetime. And you’re right, they’re not going to be influenced by you. But maybe you forget that I wasn’t exactly sent on this mission because of my stellar relationship with the brass. Thanks to you, I was allowed on this mission despite my record. But on this issue, the military isn’t going to listen to me any more than it will listen to you. Not anytime soon. Not in time for Marc, I can guarantee you that. So that’s why we need to cut our losses and find a different way.”
Elizabeth sat back, considering. “You’ve been thinking about this,” she said. She was deeply pleased that John had, in fact, been thinking several steps ahead of her on this matter.
John nodded, frowning, his mien serious. “I’m well aware of how badly I’ve fucked over my junior officer.” He stopped, winced. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him. “Sorry,” John mumbled. “I really need to watch my language when talking about matters involving a more,” he paused as he searched for the right word. “Delicate nature.”
Elizabeth smiled, again amused at the inadvertent pun. She nodded agreement with his sentiments.
“I need to get the mission planned,” John said, standing. “Then speak with Major Lorne.”
oOo
“We want to understand,” Carson said.
Radek looked from Carson to Marc, saw their expectant faces, saw the worry in their eyes. He did not know where to begin, how to start, how to explain anything to these men, how to describe what he had spent so many years trying to forget. How will they ever understand? he thought.
“I do not think I can tell you this,” he whispered, looking first at Carson, then at Marc. “Or you.” His lover squeezed his fingers, Marc’s warm hand strong and firm around his own.
“Please,” Marc said. “I want you to get better. I want you to stop feeling afraid.”
“It will help us understand,” Carson repeated, his voice gentle.
Radek shook his head. “That is impossible,” he said. “No one can understand.”
He felt Marc’s fingers tighten around his again, saw the worry in his eyes. “Please, Radek?” he said. “You can trust us - you can trust me. You know I love you. Nothing you say to me will change that.”
He looked in wonder at Marc. Could it be true? Then he slid his gaze to Carson, noting a gentle nod of encouragement from the doctor. He hung his head, suddenly tired, suddenly unable to fight against his lover. Unable to fight against the doctor’s request. They will not understand.
“I do not know where to begin, miláčku,” he whispered.
Carson gave him a warm smile. “Begin wherever you can, Radek,” he said.
“I cannot - “ Radek said, then stuttered to a stop, unable to continue. He felt his body begin to tighten, fear and stress rising from deep within. He clutched at his lover’s hand, afraid and feeling as though he would be overwhelmed any moment. Suddenly, he felt Marc’s breath warm against his ear, a light kiss brushed against his cheek.
“Tell me just a little bit, today,” Marc breathed into his ear. “Just what you can.”
Radek tried to regain control of his own breath, breath coming harsh and irregular; tried to make his voice work again. “No one in my family expected that I would be allowed to go to university,” Radek began, whispering.
oOo
Ronon sat across from Teyla in the exercise room. For the past hour they had spoken in hushed tones, both alert for the sounds of approaching people, for evidence of eavesdropping. He was confident that neither of them would miss the signs; their time in Atlantis had not softened them that much from the finely-honed edge of hunter-and-seeker instincts they both relied on in their personal pasts.
He listened to the Athosian woman, surprised that he had missed so many of the subtle undercurrents among the Earth people in the city. He had felt an unusual tension the past few weeks, something he could not identify clearly in his mind. People were unsettled, uncomfortable - things that were unspoken. He had seen, though, the strain in the way some people stood, the way they walked, the way they talked. He realised how off-kilter things really were the night Sheppard and he had found McKay, senseless from lack of food. He was often impressed by his teammate’s core of resilience, one hidden deep within him, one that most people would never guess existed - but even Ronon had never guessed McKay could manage to avoid eating deliberately.
Then there was McKay getting into that whole, what was it? Cissy thing? Cissassee? Breaking into Carson’s quarters and looking around, not really admitting to Ronon what he was actually doing there in the first place - that wasn’t exactly normal for McKay, either.
And Beckett - something wasn’t right there. Teyla knew that too; Doctor Weir and Sheppard also. Ronon liked the doctor, was impressed not only by his skills but also his compassion for others. The first time they’d met, the doctor had not hesitated to help him, help he had given freely again and again to Ronon and to others. It was a gift Ronon often repaid in his own way - carrying Beckett’s heavy med pack when they were offworld together, keeping an eye on him in the field.
Beckett seemed to get along with everyone, yet rumour had it that the man was depressed, had tried to take his own life. That his heart-attack was an accident of his suicide attempt. Ronon shook his head in consternation. Maybe he needs more help, he thought. Maybe he has too many burdens. Yet Ronon, who had lived on the edge of death for years as a Runner - Ronon could not conceive of trying to take his own life, even in the midst of the terror visited on him every minute by the pursuing Wraith.
Yet here - Teyla was making more connections, linking together the unease and the strangeness he could feel - sometimes see - and starting to build the picture he needed to understand. Her friendship with Doctor Weir, her insights as a trader and hunter, even her insights as a woman - those things brought her different ideas, different conclusions than Ronon would have come to on his own.
“So what should we do?” Ronon said, completely at a loss.
Teyla frowned, her mouth a hard, tense line. “I do not know,” she sighed. “I must admit that at first, I attributed these things to their fear. They are in a new galaxy; they are facing enemies they could not imagine. Now, though,” she said. “Now I wonder if there is not more, something beyond fear.”
“Separation?” Ronon asked.
“Perhaps,” she said, nodding. “Many of the newer marines often express their longing to return home at the end of their tour.”
“Yeah,” Ronon agreed. “But not the others.”
Teyla considered his words. “No,” she agreed. “You are correct. Those who came first - they do not often discuss missing their home, missing the lives they once led.”
“Sheppard seems to like it here,” Ronon said.
“Yes,” Teyla nodded. “I do not think he would willingly leave here a second time.”
“No,” Ronon agreed. He watched her frown, thinking. She was an enigmatic woman, not one to express herself easily in some circumstances, yet she usually remained open when speaking with him privately. He wondered why she was hesitating now.
“Ronon,” she said, peering at him thoughtfully. “Do you not find it strange that the Earth people have not established families here?”
He considered her question. He did find it strange, yet so many things about the Atlantis expedition struck him as strange - so many things they mentioned about their history, their culture, their foods, their customs - their wars. He brought himself out of his thoughts and offered, “Well, it is a combat situation.”
“Yes,” Teyla agreed. “Often it has been so. But when they first came here, they did not know of the Wraith, they had no reason to expect that their journey would take them into the midst of a war, into the midst of our very fight for survival.”
Ronon thought about that. “Yes,” he said, nodding. “Sheppard woke the Wraith, right?”
“Yes,” she said. “Before that, though - during their planning for the expedition - they had no reason to anticipate ongoing combat conditions.”
“They were exploring,” Ronon shrugged. “Not trying to colonise.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Teyla said.
Ronon felt his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Oh?”
oOo
Carson tried to keep his own anxiety for his friend and patient under tight control. Whatever had hurt the man was hidden deeply, thoroughly. Until the last few days, Carson had never had cause to realise the man had once suffered any significant troubles whatsoever, at least, suffered any troubles beyond those that were commonplace on Atlantis. Radek needed his friends right now.
He worried that Radek kept his eyes down, not willing to look at either Marc or Carson. Perhaps he was only trying to pull the memories back to the surface, back through his attempts to wall them away forever. Carson worried, though, that the lack of eye-contact might indicate something worse, some sort of terrible complicity in whatever had happened to the man, whatever had happened with him, perhaps.
“Major?” he heard faintly through his door as a knock sounded. His staff knew not to disturb him during this consultation, knew that privacy for the three men was important. He trusted his staff, though, and if they allowed the colonel to interrupt, it must be both serious and urgent.
He gave Marc a pained expression, apologising silently for the interruption. At the door he hesitated for a moment as he realised the colonel had called for Marc when he knocked. He had a sudden feeling of dread.
“Yes?” Carson acknowledged.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Carson,” Sheppard said. “Major Lorne? We’ve got a problem.”
End Part XXII
Czech, in order of appearance:
miláčku - beloved
Author: inkscribe
Pairings: Lorne/Zelenka
Kink: mild D/s, bondage, spanking
Warnings: none (this part)
Angst-o-meter: deci-angst (moderate)
Rating: NC-17
Words: ~2300 (this part)
Spoilers: S3.11 - “The Return, part II” (oblique, obscure reference)
Locations: atlantiskink, welovezelenka, slashing_lorne, my LJ
Feedback: yes, please!
Summary: What we see is not always what it seems.
Chapter Summary: Suggestion.
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: What can I say here? A couple last chapters of pseudo-calmness before the angstfest churns into a force nine hurricane. Enjoy!
As always, huge thank yous to darkmuadib, and mice1900 for the betas; any errors remaining are most definitely mine. ;-)
Disclaimer: Anything you recognise is not mine; please don’t sue, we’ll both regret it in the morning.
Elizabeth regarded John as he absorbed the news. “Three days?” he repeated.
She nodded. “Yes - and then they are scheduled to remain here for one week before returning to Earth.”
“Business week, or -?” John joked. Elizabeth allowed herself a smirk at the small jest - things would be even more tense soon enough without losing their ability to deal with things humorously.
“Full week. Seven days,” she said.
John pulled a pained face. “Well, that’s just su-per,” he drawled. “Seven days of hide-and-go-seek.”
“Pardon me?” Elizabeth said, confused. She was familiar with John’s tangents, but he could still surprise her.
“Hide-and-go-seek,” he repeated. “It’s a game.”
“I understand that, colonel,” she said, emphasising his title. “I don’t understand your meaning.”
John moved forward, balancing on the edge of his seat. “Listen, Elizabeth,” he said. “The only reason he’s under any investigation whatsoever is because I screwed up and they heard enough about it to get their collective military boxers in a knot. I’m not going to just hand him over to go back to Earth.”
“But surely you’re not suggesting you’re prepared to disobey orders?” she asked.
“Who said anything about disobedience?” John shrugged. “The major will be on an offworld expedition for the duration of the Daedelus visit.”
“But surely Colonel Caldwell will order you to return him, to conclude the mission early,” she said.
“You didn’t let me finish,” he said. “The major will be on a mission where something goes mysteriously wrong just long enough for him to not be able to return until the ship is safely back in hyperspace on its return journey to Earth.”
“Won’t the military simply delay the Daedelus’ return until Major Lorne is brought back?”
“Not likely,” John said.
“But this won’t change the orders to send him back,” Elizabeth clarified, worried that John was not thinking clearly about the situation, allowing his anger and self-recriminations to get in the way of sound thinking, sound planning. Hiding out would only be a stopgap measure at best, not a solution. “They’ll just take him another trip.”
She could see that she need not have worried when John scoffed. “Of course it won’t change the orders, Elizabeth,” John said. “What it will do is buy us some time to save Marc’s ass.”
John winced.
“What?” Elizabeth asked, concerned.
“Nothing,” John mumbled.
“John?” she repeated. “What’s wrong?” She still could not hear the mumbled reply. “Pardon?”
John’s face flushed red and he stammered his response. “I said that this is about the most inappropriate conversation ever for me to be mentioning Major Lorne’s ass.”
Elizabeth felt the heat rise in her cheeks in turn. “Um, well - yes, of course, you’re right,” she stammered in return. She took a moment to study the hangings on her wall, a moment to get her surprise under control and to settle her thoughts, then focused again on John. “Let’s get back on track with the problem at hand,” she said. “Hide-and-seek will buy us some time. Time for what?”
John nodded, still red and awkward. “It’ll buy us some time for you to put your famous diplomatic skills to work and find us a solution.”
“Me?” Elizabeth said, surprised. “I don’t think I hold any influence with the military,” she said.
“Elizabeth,” John said. “I don’t want you looking for a military solution. I can tell you right now - there won’t be one. Not now - probably not in my lifetime. And you’re right, they’re not going to be influenced by you. But maybe you forget that I wasn’t exactly sent on this mission because of my stellar relationship with the brass. Thanks to you, I was allowed on this mission despite my record. But on this issue, the military isn’t going to listen to me any more than it will listen to you. Not anytime soon. Not in time for Marc, I can guarantee you that. So that’s why we need to cut our losses and find a different way.”
Elizabeth sat back, considering. “You’ve been thinking about this,” she said. She was deeply pleased that John had, in fact, been thinking several steps ahead of her on this matter.
John nodded, frowning, his mien serious. “I’m well aware of how badly I’ve fucked over my junior officer.” He stopped, winced. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him. “Sorry,” John mumbled. “I really need to watch my language when talking about matters involving a more,” he paused as he searched for the right word. “Delicate nature.”
Elizabeth smiled, again amused at the inadvertent pun. She nodded agreement with his sentiments.
“I need to get the mission planned,” John said, standing. “Then speak with Major Lorne.”
oOo
“We want to understand,” Carson said.
Radek looked from Carson to Marc, saw their expectant faces, saw the worry in their eyes. He did not know where to begin, how to start, how to explain anything to these men, how to describe what he had spent so many years trying to forget. How will they ever understand? he thought.
“I do not think I can tell you this,” he whispered, looking first at Carson, then at Marc. “Or you.” His lover squeezed his fingers, Marc’s warm hand strong and firm around his own.
“Please,” Marc said. “I want you to get better. I want you to stop feeling afraid.”
“It will help us understand,” Carson repeated, his voice gentle.
Radek shook his head. “That is impossible,” he said. “No one can understand.”
He felt Marc’s fingers tighten around his again, saw the worry in his eyes. “Please, Radek?” he said. “You can trust us - you can trust me. You know I love you. Nothing you say to me will change that.”
He looked in wonder at Marc. Could it be true? Then he slid his gaze to Carson, noting a gentle nod of encouragement from the doctor. He hung his head, suddenly tired, suddenly unable to fight against his lover. Unable to fight against the doctor’s request. They will not understand.
“I do not know where to begin, miláčku,” he whispered.
Carson gave him a warm smile. “Begin wherever you can, Radek,” he said.
“I cannot - “ Radek said, then stuttered to a stop, unable to continue. He felt his body begin to tighten, fear and stress rising from deep within. He clutched at his lover’s hand, afraid and feeling as though he would be overwhelmed any moment. Suddenly, he felt Marc’s breath warm against his ear, a light kiss brushed against his cheek.
“Tell me just a little bit, today,” Marc breathed into his ear. “Just what you can.”
Radek tried to regain control of his own breath, breath coming harsh and irregular; tried to make his voice work again. “No one in my family expected that I would be allowed to go to university,” Radek began, whispering.
oOo
Ronon sat across from Teyla in the exercise room. For the past hour they had spoken in hushed tones, both alert for the sounds of approaching people, for evidence of eavesdropping. He was confident that neither of them would miss the signs; their time in Atlantis had not softened them that much from the finely-honed edge of hunter-and-seeker instincts they both relied on in their personal pasts.
He listened to the Athosian woman, surprised that he had missed so many of the subtle undercurrents among the Earth people in the city. He had felt an unusual tension the past few weeks, something he could not identify clearly in his mind. People were unsettled, uncomfortable - things that were unspoken. He had seen, though, the strain in the way some people stood, the way they walked, the way they talked. He realised how off-kilter things really were the night Sheppard and he had found McKay, senseless from lack of food. He was often impressed by his teammate’s core of resilience, one hidden deep within him, one that most people would never guess existed - but even Ronon had never guessed McKay could manage to avoid eating deliberately.
Then there was McKay getting into that whole, what was it? Cissy thing? Cissassee? Breaking into Carson’s quarters and looking around, not really admitting to Ronon what he was actually doing there in the first place - that wasn’t exactly normal for McKay, either.
And Beckett - something wasn’t right there. Teyla knew that too; Doctor Weir and Sheppard also. Ronon liked the doctor, was impressed not only by his skills but also his compassion for others. The first time they’d met, the doctor had not hesitated to help him, help he had given freely again and again to Ronon and to others. It was a gift Ronon often repaid in his own way - carrying Beckett’s heavy med pack when they were offworld together, keeping an eye on him in the field.
Beckett seemed to get along with everyone, yet rumour had it that the man was depressed, had tried to take his own life. That his heart-attack was an accident of his suicide attempt. Ronon shook his head in consternation. Maybe he needs more help, he thought. Maybe he has too many burdens. Yet Ronon, who had lived on the edge of death for years as a Runner - Ronon could not conceive of trying to take his own life, even in the midst of the terror visited on him every minute by the pursuing Wraith.
Yet here - Teyla was making more connections, linking together the unease and the strangeness he could feel - sometimes see - and starting to build the picture he needed to understand. Her friendship with Doctor Weir, her insights as a trader and hunter, even her insights as a woman - those things brought her different ideas, different conclusions than Ronon would have come to on his own.
“So what should we do?” Ronon said, completely at a loss.
Teyla frowned, her mouth a hard, tense line. “I do not know,” she sighed. “I must admit that at first, I attributed these things to their fear. They are in a new galaxy; they are facing enemies they could not imagine. Now, though,” she said. “Now I wonder if there is not more, something beyond fear.”
“Separation?” Ronon asked.
“Perhaps,” she said, nodding. “Many of the newer marines often express their longing to return home at the end of their tour.”
“Yeah,” Ronon agreed. “But not the others.”
Teyla considered his words. “No,” she agreed. “You are correct. Those who came first - they do not often discuss missing their home, missing the lives they once led.”
“Sheppard seems to like it here,” Ronon said.
“Yes,” Teyla nodded. “I do not think he would willingly leave here a second time.”
“No,” Ronon agreed. He watched her frown, thinking. She was an enigmatic woman, not one to express herself easily in some circumstances, yet she usually remained open when speaking with him privately. He wondered why she was hesitating now.
“Ronon,” she said, peering at him thoughtfully. “Do you not find it strange that the Earth people have not established families here?”
He considered her question. He did find it strange, yet so many things about the Atlantis expedition struck him as strange - so many things they mentioned about their history, their culture, their foods, their customs - their wars. He brought himself out of his thoughts and offered, “Well, it is a combat situation.”
“Yes,” Teyla agreed. “Often it has been so. But when they first came here, they did not know of the Wraith, they had no reason to expect that their journey would take them into the midst of a war, into the midst of our very fight for survival.”
Ronon thought about that. “Yes,” he said, nodding. “Sheppard woke the Wraith, right?”
“Yes,” she said. “Before that, though - during their planning for the expedition - they had no reason to anticipate ongoing combat conditions.”
“They were exploring,” Ronon shrugged. “Not trying to colonise.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Teyla said.
Ronon felt his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Oh?”
oOo
Carson tried to keep his own anxiety for his friend and patient under tight control. Whatever had hurt the man was hidden deeply, thoroughly. Until the last few days, Carson had never had cause to realise the man had once suffered any significant troubles whatsoever, at least, suffered any troubles beyond those that were commonplace on Atlantis. Radek needed his friends right now.
He worried that Radek kept his eyes down, not willing to look at either Marc or Carson. Perhaps he was only trying to pull the memories back to the surface, back through his attempts to wall them away forever. Carson worried, though, that the lack of eye-contact might indicate something worse, some sort of terrible complicity in whatever had happened to the man, whatever had happened with him, perhaps.
“Major?” he heard faintly through his door as a knock sounded. His staff knew not to disturb him during this consultation, knew that privacy for the three men was important. He trusted his staff, though, and if they allowed the colonel to interrupt, it must be both serious and urgent.
He gave Marc a pained expression, apologising silently for the interruption. At the door he hesitated for a moment as he realised the colonel had called for Marc when he knocked. He had a sudden feeling of dread.
“Yes?” Carson acknowledged.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Carson,” Sheppard said. “Major Lorne? We’ve got a problem.”
End Part XXII
Czech, in order of appearance:
miláčku - beloved