Stargateland fic: Returning by Quiet Footfalls
Returning by Quiet Footfalls - Stargate Atlantis - Evan Lorne/David Parrish - Words: 835
Written for Stargateland's Ships Challenge, based off this beautiful artwork by calcitrix.
Summary: Atlantis was theirs again and nothing could bring them greater peace.
Content Notes: None. PG.
Evan set his radio down on his desk and stood with his eyes closed for what felt like the first time in forever. They had been back on Atlantis for less than twelve hours and he had spent almost all of that time side by side with groups of marines as they cleaned up what damage they could and made lists of what could be repaired. After four days of battle, an evacuation of all personnel to the alpha site, another week of utter chaos where they fought to regain the city, all Evan wanted to do was to sink down in bed and not think of the sounds of combat that still reverberated in his mind.
"Hey, I was hoping you'd wind up back here," David said as he exited the bathroom with a towel in one hand. He was in one of Evan's gray USAF shirts and a pair of bright green boxers, his long pale limbs stretching out as he yawned.
"Did what we could for the day. Sheppard and I posted guards on a rotation and sent everyone to get some rest. How bad was the damage in your section?" Evan asked with a twinge of guilt. He'd meant to go check on David and the rest of the botanists during the day but after seeing that David had come back through the Stargate unscathed Evan had become inundated with requests for military accompaniment to various sectors of the city. The scans confirmed over and over that they were once again alone on Atlantis but that didn't stop the lingering fear that the invaders were still waiting in the shadows.
David shook his head and dumped the towel in the laundry receptacle. "Mostly undamaged. The automated systems took care of the plants for the most part. There's a broken window section in greenhouse two, but we covered the opening and cleaned up the mess. I'm guessing the engineering labs and the infirmary probably took the worst of it?"
Evan nodded grimly. Rodney McKay had been uncharacteristically speechless when they'd gone into the main labs. Radek had just muttered in Czeck for a few minutes and started to dig through the mess to see what they could possibly salvage. The rest of them had mutely pitched in, but much of the assessment had to be left for people who knew what they were doing with the technology.
"We're home," David said quietly and his arms wrapped around Evan's shoulders. They stayed there for long heartbeats until Evan turned in David's arms so they were chest to chest.
"Home," Evan echoed, because somewhere in the past year Atlantis, and David, had become home. Even if they'd had to stay out at the alpha site, or rebuild somewhere else, Evan thought it would still feel like home if he was there with David. But being back in the city filled him with a sense of gratitude and something more. His ATA-gene gave him a special connection to the city and now every time Evan touched a control panel or even a wall he felt a nearly pure surge of energy in response. From the way Sheppard looked as his fingers lingered on a battle-scarred panel in the tower it was the same for him too.
"Come to bed," David said. When they were standing he was just at the right height to speak softly into Evan's ear.
Evan nodded, not even wanting to spend the time it would take to shower and change. He was exhausted and past ready to collapse into bed somewhere safe where he wouldn't be woken by word of combat reports being given one tent flap over.
David released him and went directly for the bed. It was summer on New Atlantea and they only had a loose sheet for a blanket.
Evan shrugged out of his uniform jacket. The shirt he'd had on underneath was a soft blue, not uniform regulation but that hardly mattered these past few days. His pants came off just as easily, his tired fingers releasing the snaps on his thigh holster, and he managed to untie his boots far enough to pull the entire mess of clothing off and kick it to the side. He usually preferred his quarters neat but at the moment he could hardly bring himself to care.
Moments later he was in bed, his and David's bed, and plastering himself to David's back. The light of the two moons filtered in through the window and Evan took one last look, savoring the muted tones of Atlantis in the night and the sight of David curled up next to him, and closed his eyes. His head fell on the same pillow as David's and he rested one arm over David's chest. Their legs tangled together beneath the sheet until their ankles and knees were comfortably intertwined. Listening as David's breathing became slow and steady, Evan allowed himself to be drawn into the first restful sleep he'd had in days.
Written for Stargateland's Ships Challenge, based off this beautiful artwork by calcitrix.
Summary: Atlantis was theirs again and nothing could bring them greater peace.
Content Notes: None. PG.
Evan set his radio down on his desk and stood with his eyes closed for what felt like the first time in forever. They had been back on Atlantis for less than twelve hours and he had spent almost all of that time side by side with groups of marines as they cleaned up what damage they could and made lists of what could be repaired. After four days of battle, an evacuation of all personnel to the alpha site, another week of utter chaos where they fought to regain the city, all Evan wanted to do was to sink down in bed and not think of the sounds of combat that still reverberated in his mind.
"Hey, I was hoping you'd wind up back here," David said as he exited the bathroom with a towel in one hand. He was in one of Evan's gray USAF shirts and a pair of bright green boxers, his long pale limbs stretching out as he yawned.
"Did what we could for the day. Sheppard and I posted guards on a rotation and sent everyone to get some rest. How bad was the damage in your section?" Evan asked with a twinge of guilt. He'd meant to go check on David and the rest of the botanists during the day but after seeing that David had come back through the Stargate unscathed Evan had become inundated with requests for military accompaniment to various sectors of the city. The scans confirmed over and over that they were once again alone on Atlantis but that didn't stop the lingering fear that the invaders were still waiting in the shadows.
David shook his head and dumped the towel in the laundry receptacle. "Mostly undamaged. The automated systems took care of the plants for the most part. There's a broken window section in greenhouse two, but we covered the opening and cleaned up the mess. I'm guessing the engineering labs and the infirmary probably took the worst of it?"
Evan nodded grimly. Rodney McKay had been uncharacteristically speechless when they'd gone into the main labs. Radek had just muttered in Czeck for a few minutes and started to dig through the mess to see what they could possibly salvage. The rest of them had mutely pitched in, but much of the assessment had to be left for people who knew what they were doing with the technology.
"We're home," David said quietly and his arms wrapped around Evan's shoulders. They stayed there for long heartbeats until Evan turned in David's arms so they were chest to chest.
"Home," Evan echoed, because somewhere in the past year Atlantis, and David, had become home. Even if they'd had to stay out at the alpha site, or rebuild somewhere else, Evan thought it would still feel like home if he was there with David. But being back in the city filled him with a sense of gratitude and something more. His ATA-gene gave him a special connection to the city and now every time Evan touched a control panel or even a wall he felt a nearly pure surge of energy in response. From the way Sheppard looked as his fingers lingered on a battle-scarred panel in the tower it was the same for him too.
"Come to bed," David said. When they were standing he was just at the right height to speak softly into Evan's ear.
Evan nodded, not even wanting to spend the time it would take to shower and change. He was exhausted and past ready to collapse into bed somewhere safe where he wouldn't be woken by word of combat reports being given one tent flap over.
David released him and went directly for the bed. It was summer on New Atlantea and they only had a loose sheet for a blanket.
Evan shrugged out of his uniform jacket. The shirt he'd had on underneath was a soft blue, not uniform regulation but that hardly mattered these past few days. His pants came off just as easily, his tired fingers releasing the snaps on his thigh holster, and he managed to untie his boots far enough to pull the entire mess of clothing off and kick it to the side. He usually preferred his quarters neat but at the moment he could hardly bring himself to care.
Moments later he was in bed, his and David's bed, and plastering himself to David's back. The light of the two moons filtered in through the window and Evan took one last look, savoring the muted tones of Atlantis in the night and the sight of David curled up next to him, and closed his eyes. His head fell on the same pillow as David's and he rested one arm over David's chest. Their legs tangled together beneath the sheet until their ankles and knees were comfortably intertwined. Listening as David's breathing became slow and steady, Evan allowed himself to be drawn into the first restful sleep he'd had in days.