Fic: Connecting the Dots 7/19; AU; G
Title: Connecting the Dots: Chapter 5 - 7/19 (completed)
Chapter Pairing: Evan/Chuck, John
Chapter Rating: G
Chapter Word Count: 1462
Chapter Summary: Evan learns something about himself
Chapter Notes: after Coup D'etat
Notes: Connecting the Dots is a look at Evan's journey throughout Stargate. Overall it's approximately 38,000 words, with chapter ratings mostly hovering between PG-13 and NC-17. I began this some time ago (>1 year) and it was initially betaed by fififolle and whytewytch4who provided great feedback on plot, punctuation and a host of other issues. (Thanks!) Any remaining issues are completely attributable to me.
“Maybe it’s just Pegasus,” Evan reasons to himself. Nothing seems to go according to plan here. Ever.
In the few months he’s been on Atlantis, Sheppard’s team - either together or separately - has been kidnapped multiple times; a solar system has been destroyed (five-sixths!); Sheppard’s been turned into a bug; people have been taken over by other consciousnesses and today, depending on who you ask, he returns to the city after having been kidnapped or killed.
He sighs to himself. “Sadly, it’s just another day.”
Finally entering his quarters he sloughs off clothes as he makes his way to the bathroom. Glaring at the timer he gives it the finger before stepping into the shower and turning on the water. Standing under the hot spray he moans in pleasure as dirt, weariness and mental fatigue are rinsed away and calm washes over him.
Indifferent to the time spent under the warm water he eventually washes and exits the shower.
Drying himself, he stands in front of his closet debating: food or bed? Realizing he hasn’t had any real food in over a week he puts on a pair of sleep pants and a t-shirt in order to head to the mess hall.
As he opens the door he is surprised to find Chuck leaning down with a covered tray of food.
“Chuck?” He questions with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, uh, hi, Ev - Major. I, uh, I brought you this.” He stands offering Evan the tray.
“Thanks,” Evan says with a broad smile. “I was just about to go get something.”
“Yeah, I thought you might want something relatively familiar.”
“You have no idea.” He is about to politely send Chuck on his way when he meets the sergeant’s eyes. Seeing the genuine concern in Chuck’s eyes, Evan asks, “Would you like to come in for a bit? I could use the company. I love my team but after being with them for over a week, I could stand to talk to someone else for a change.”
Chuck shrugs. “Sure.” He follows Evan through the room and out onto the balcony.
“As the nexus for all the gossip in Atlantis, catch me up with what’s been going on since I’ve been gone,” Evan says as he begins nibbling on the food. He listens as Chuck passes on a number of anecdotes about various members of the expedition. When Chuck begins telling him the actual stories behind some of the reports waiting for him in his office Evan laughs heartily.
“Looks like some things never change,” he says after hearing a story about one of the teams.
“Yeah.” Chuck fidgets uncomfortably.
“Hey, what’s up?” Evan leans closer to the younger man.
“Nothing. Major, I -”
“It’s Evan,” he says softly. “We’re not on duty.”
“Evan,” he sighs, “I’m just relieved to see you back safe. I was worried that you were…”
Evan meets Chuck’s eyes and again sees real emotion behind the words. “Thanks, Chuck.” As he continues to hold Chuck’s gaze, he sees a light blush creeping into the other man’s cheeks.
Taking a chance Evan asks, “I was going to watch a secret video I smuggled in. I have the entire Danger Mouse series. I was going to marathon it since I’m off duty for a few days. You in?”
“Cor! Crikey, Chief!” Chuck exclaims in imitation of Penfold. “If you have episodes of that you may never get rid of me.”
“I don’t think I’d mind that,” Evan says with a wink. “But I’m going to ask that we move inside and get comfortable…after a snack run.”
Chuck looks at him in disbelief. “But you just ate.”
“True, but at three in the morning I don’t want to head to the mess hall looking all jacked up like a pothead with the munchies.”
Chuck laughs at Evan’s description and joins him on the trip.
On their way back Chuck makes a detour to his quarters to change out of his uniform into clothes to relax in.
“Come on in,” Evan calls when the chime activates. He’s laying on his bed in boxers and nothing else expecting Chuck to walk through the door.
“Lorne,” John says with a raised eyebrow. “Bad time?”
“Uh, no, sir,” Evan leaps off the bed, standing at attention. “What can I do for you?”
“Christ,” John swears. “We’re off duty - you’re in your underwear, for Pete’s sake - can’t you just -” he growls in irritation. “At ease,” he finishes giving a wave of his hand.
“Sorry…John,” he says hesitantly, looking warily at his CO to see how addressing him by his first name would go over.
“No problem, Evan.” John gives him a genuine smile. “I came by to check on you. I’ve been wondering how you were doing after -”
“Okay, I’m ready to do this, Evan,” Chuck announces as he walks into the room, also in a pair of boxers, a t-shirt and socks. He stops short seeing John.
Turning to face Chuck, John sighs wearily as he rolls his eyes. “Really?” He turns back to Evan and sighs again. “Evan, why….?”
“John,” Evan says calmly, “we were going to have a Danger Mouse marathon. Care to join us?”
“Thanks but I’m sure I’d be in the way,” John says with annoyance. He turns and walks out of the room.
“What was that?” Chuck asks.
“Never mind him. It’s nothing to worry about,” Evan says laying down on the bed and patting the empty spot next to him. “Time to pay a visit to Baker Street.” Once Chuck is settled into the empty spot Evan moves his laptop to straddle both their legs and thinks the lights lower. “Hope you don’t mind,” he says about the lights. “It’ll just make things easier.”
“Easier?”
He nods. “Trust me.”
It takes two and a half episodes before Evan feels Chuck move his leg closer. He smiles to himself but does nothing to encourage or discourage the younger man. By the time the episode’s finished Chuck is fully pressed against him.
Wrapping an arm around Chuck’s shoulders Evan whispers in his ear, “Told you it’d be easier.” He gives the lobe a quick nibble, then feels Chuck lean into him and sigh contentedly.
“Evan,” Chuck says softly but Evan can hear the hesitation in his voice.
“Yeah?” Having been there a few times he knows what’s coming next.
“I’ve never…”
“It’s okay. Only what you want. We can just lay here and watch the show and that’ll be fine.”
“Thanks.” Chuck snuggles closer to Evan. “Since you arrived in the city, I’ve wanted…I don’t know.” He sighs. “I just know that when they said you were missing…and then you came back…I had to try.”
“Well, I’m glad you did.” Evan is surprised by how true the statement is. Since joining the Stargate Program he’s not had an intimate moment with anyone. Sure, back in Colorado he had sex - quick fucks - whenever he could but he’s not been able to hold someone…or be held. As he lies next to Chuck, he realizes how much he wants that.
---
“Are we on for dinner tonight?” Evan asks. On his way back to his quarters after a mission debrief he stops by Chuck’s station.
For the past month they’ve been dating and Evan’s loved every minute of it. Taking time to get to know Chuck, learning what his desires are and how he approaches life is amazing. He’s never done that before and it surprises him how fulfilling it is. And the fact that they haven’t had sex yet just makes his attraction to the younger man stronger.
“We need to talk,” is Chuck’s quiet response. He doesn’t meet Evan’s eyes as he continues entering commands into the console and typing messages on his laptop.
“What’s up?”
“Not here. Later.”
The way Chuck is intentionally avoiding eye contact and his tense posture puts Evan on guard.
“Chuck?” Evan’s voice, though low, has taken on his command tone.
“Fine.” Chuck stands and leads Evan to a semi-secluded corner of the command center.
“What’s going on?” Evan asks tenderly. Watching Chuck fidget nervously he gets worried. “Chuck, babe, what’s the problem?”
“This is,” he whispers.
“What?”
“Your job, the secrecy about us... I can’t handle it. I thought I could but I can’t.”
“Fine. I understand.” And Evan truly does understand. “Friends?”
“Sure.” Chuck finally looks up at him with a sad smile.
Evan returns the smile with a nod of his head. He reaches out and pats Chuck on the shoulder fondly before leaving the area.
Evan makes his way to his quarters in a daze. Upon arrival he quickly strips and steps into the shower. As the water cascades over his face he hopes to hide the tears of loss from himself.
Chapter 6
Chapter Pairing: Evan/Chuck, John
Chapter Rating: G
Chapter Word Count: 1462
Chapter Summary: Evan learns something about himself
Chapter Notes: after Coup D'etat
Notes: Connecting the Dots is a look at Evan's journey throughout Stargate. Overall it's approximately 38,000 words, with chapter ratings mostly hovering between PG-13 and NC-17. I began this some time ago (>1 year) and it was initially betaed by fififolle and whytewytch4who provided great feedback on plot, punctuation and a host of other issues. (Thanks!) Any remaining issues are completely attributable to me.
“Maybe it’s just Pegasus,” Evan reasons to himself. Nothing seems to go according to plan here. Ever.
In the few months he’s been on Atlantis, Sheppard’s team - either together or separately - has been kidnapped multiple times; a solar system has been destroyed (five-sixths!); Sheppard’s been turned into a bug; people have been taken over by other consciousnesses and today, depending on who you ask, he returns to the city after having been kidnapped or killed.
He sighs to himself. “Sadly, it’s just another day.”
Finally entering his quarters he sloughs off clothes as he makes his way to the bathroom. Glaring at the timer he gives it the finger before stepping into the shower and turning on the water. Standing under the hot spray he moans in pleasure as dirt, weariness and mental fatigue are rinsed away and calm washes over him.
Indifferent to the time spent under the warm water he eventually washes and exits the shower.
Drying himself, he stands in front of his closet debating: food or bed? Realizing he hasn’t had any real food in over a week he puts on a pair of sleep pants and a t-shirt in order to head to the mess hall.
As he opens the door he is surprised to find Chuck leaning down with a covered tray of food.
“Chuck?” He questions with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, uh, hi, Ev - Major. I, uh, I brought you this.” He stands offering Evan the tray.
“Thanks,” Evan says with a broad smile. “I was just about to go get something.”
“Yeah, I thought you might want something relatively familiar.”
“You have no idea.” He is about to politely send Chuck on his way when he meets the sergeant’s eyes. Seeing the genuine concern in Chuck’s eyes, Evan asks, “Would you like to come in for a bit? I could use the company. I love my team but after being with them for over a week, I could stand to talk to someone else for a change.”
Chuck shrugs. “Sure.” He follows Evan through the room and out onto the balcony.
“As the nexus for all the gossip in Atlantis, catch me up with what’s been going on since I’ve been gone,” Evan says as he begins nibbling on the food. He listens as Chuck passes on a number of anecdotes about various members of the expedition. When Chuck begins telling him the actual stories behind some of the reports waiting for him in his office Evan laughs heartily.
“Looks like some things never change,” he says after hearing a story about one of the teams.
“Yeah.” Chuck fidgets uncomfortably.
“Hey, what’s up?” Evan leans closer to the younger man.
“Nothing. Major, I -”
“It’s Evan,” he says softly. “We’re not on duty.”
“Evan,” he sighs, “I’m just relieved to see you back safe. I was worried that you were…”
Evan meets Chuck’s eyes and again sees real emotion behind the words. “Thanks, Chuck.” As he continues to hold Chuck’s gaze, he sees a light blush creeping into the other man’s cheeks.
Taking a chance Evan asks, “I was going to watch a secret video I smuggled in. I have the entire Danger Mouse series. I was going to marathon it since I’m off duty for a few days. You in?”
“Cor! Crikey, Chief!” Chuck exclaims in imitation of Penfold. “If you have episodes of that you may never get rid of me.”
“I don’t think I’d mind that,” Evan says with a wink. “But I’m going to ask that we move inside and get comfortable…after a snack run.”
Chuck looks at him in disbelief. “But you just ate.”
“True, but at three in the morning I don’t want to head to the mess hall looking all jacked up like a pothead with the munchies.”
Chuck laughs at Evan’s description and joins him on the trip.
On their way back Chuck makes a detour to his quarters to change out of his uniform into clothes to relax in.
“Come on in,” Evan calls when the chime activates. He’s laying on his bed in boxers and nothing else expecting Chuck to walk through the door.
“Lorne,” John says with a raised eyebrow. “Bad time?”
“Uh, no, sir,” Evan leaps off the bed, standing at attention. “What can I do for you?”
“Christ,” John swears. “We’re off duty - you’re in your underwear, for Pete’s sake - can’t you just -” he growls in irritation. “At ease,” he finishes giving a wave of his hand.
“Sorry…John,” he says hesitantly, looking warily at his CO to see how addressing him by his first name would go over.
“No problem, Evan.” John gives him a genuine smile. “I came by to check on you. I’ve been wondering how you were doing after -”
“Okay, I’m ready to do this, Evan,” Chuck announces as he walks into the room, also in a pair of boxers, a t-shirt and socks. He stops short seeing John.
Turning to face Chuck, John sighs wearily as he rolls his eyes. “Really?” He turns back to Evan and sighs again. “Evan, why….?”
“John,” Evan says calmly, “we were going to have a Danger Mouse marathon. Care to join us?”
“Thanks but I’m sure I’d be in the way,” John says with annoyance. He turns and walks out of the room.
“What was that?” Chuck asks.
“Never mind him. It’s nothing to worry about,” Evan says laying down on the bed and patting the empty spot next to him. “Time to pay a visit to Baker Street.” Once Chuck is settled into the empty spot Evan moves his laptop to straddle both their legs and thinks the lights lower. “Hope you don’t mind,” he says about the lights. “It’ll just make things easier.”
“Easier?”
He nods. “Trust me.”
It takes two and a half episodes before Evan feels Chuck move his leg closer. He smiles to himself but does nothing to encourage or discourage the younger man. By the time the episode’s finished Chuck is fully pressed against him.
Wrapping an arm around Chuck’s shoulders Evan whispers in his ear, “Told you it’d be easier.” He gives the lobe a quick nibble, then feels Chuck lean into him and sigh contentedly.
“Evan,” Chuck says softly but Evan can hear the hesitation in his voice.
“Yeah?” Having been there a few times he knows what’s coming next.
“I’ve never…”
“It’s okay. Only what you want. We can just lay here and watch the show and that’ll be fine.”
“Thanks.” Chuck snuggles closer to Evan. “Since you arrived in the city, I’ve wanted…I don’t know.” He sighs. “I just know that when they said you were missing…and then you came back…I had to try.”
“Well, I’m glad you did.” Evan is surprised by how true the statement is. Since joining the Stargate Program he’s not had an intimate moment with anyone. Sure, back in Colorado he had sex - quick fucks - whenever he could but he’s not been able to hold someone…or be held. As he lies next to Chuck, he realizes how much he wants that.
---
“Are we on for dinner tonight?” Evan asks. On his way back to his quarters after a mission debrief he stops by Chuck’s station.
For the past month they’ve been dating and Evan’s loved every minute of it. Taking time to get to know Chuck, learning what his desires are and how he approaches life is amazing. He’s never done that before and it surprises him how fulfilling it is. And the fact that they haven’t had sex yet just makes his attraction to the younger man stronger.
“We need to talk,” is Chuck’s quiet response. He doesn’t meet Evan’s eyes as he continues entering commands into the console and typing messages on his laptop.
“What’s up?”
“Not here. Later.”
The way Chuck is intentionally avoiding eye contact and his tense posture puts Evan on guard.
“Chuck?” Evan’s voice, though low, has taken on his command tone.
“Fine.” Chuck stands and leads Evan to a semi-secluded corner of the command center.
“What’s going on?” Evan asks tenderly. Watching Chuck fidget nervously he gets worried. “Chuck, babe, what’s the problem?”
“This is,” he whispers.
“What?”
“Your job, the secrecy about us... I can’t handle it. I thought I could but I can’t.”
“Fine. I understand.” And Evan truly does understand. “Friends?”
“Sure.” Chuck finally looks up at him with a sad smile.
Evan returns the smile with a nod of his head. He reaches out and pats Chuck on the shoulder fondly before leaving the area.
Evan makes his way to his quarters in a daze. Upon arrival he quickly strips and steps into the shower. As the water cascades over his face he hopes to hide the tears of loss from himself.
Chapter 6