10_ocs: #06 Shadow
Title: Brothers in Arms
Fandom: Stargate SG1
Character: Major Evan Lorne
Prompt: #06 Shadow
Word Count: 1.849
Rating: K+
Summary: Major Evan Lorne has no clue why Master Sergeant Simon DeLisle still keeps taking crap from his CO, Major Thomas Moore.
Author's Notes: And here we go with the last Preludes 10_ocs piece. And because I just can't write in order, this one takes place before the other three pieces (i.e. DeLisle was the first of Moore's team Lorne met). I wrote this as the last one because the Sergeant proved to be the hardest one, always keeping to himself and all that. I also tried to shed a little light on the year Moore was gone from everyone's radar but... he's very persistent about keeping that a secret and Dee isn't exactly helping either. Also... mackenziesmomma and I will definitely go to beta and author hell, respectively. You really should see her snark to the groundwork I give her...
And here's the table.
PS.: Decided to make this the master post to the Preludes, so the links are in correct reading order.
Brothers in Arms
“Through these fields of destruction
baptisms of fire
I've witnessed your suffering
as the battle raised higher
and though they did hurt me so bad
in the fear and alarm
you did not desert me my brothers in arms.”
Dire Straits, “Brothers in Arms”
He’s been watching them for quite a while now but he still doesn’t get them. It’s been three months since Major Thomas Moore and Master Sergeant Simon DeLisle arrived at the SGC, only a few weeks after he did and ever since then he can’t help but watch them. He used to know one of them - Major Moore, that is - fairly well but that feels like it was ages ago.
Okay, actually, it was kind of ages ago. They were in the same Academy class a few years ago and kept in touch through all the years, seeing each other on postings, deployments, training courses, weddings, formal functions… and then, suddenly, Moore had been gone. Just from one day to the next, he hadn't answered any e-mails, phone calls, postcards… just nothing, to anyone. It had been like Moore had just vanished.
And now, suddenly, after a year he’s back again and shows up at the SGC of all places, like it were the most normal thing to do… with that quiet, serious Sergeant in tow. At first he hadn't even noticed DeLisle while he’d been trying to reconnect with Moore - who had been particularly unwilling. It’s not like he’d brushed him off or anything… he’d even been kind of his usual obnoxious self but whenever he’d tried to ask him about that year he’d been gone… he’d just ignored the question.
After a while he’d realized that whenever he tried to wiggle it out of Moore where he’d been or what he’d done… DeLisle had been not far away, almost always giving Moore a reason to break off the conversation and head somewhere to do… whatever. In fact, DeLisle seems to be around pretty much whenever Moore is in danger of being asked about that year… or had to confront a larger group of people… or when he needed back-up on a mission…
At first he’d thought that maybe DeLisle was a watchdog assigned to Moore to keep him in check for some inexplicable reason but the more he kept observing them, the more he realized that DeLisle wasn’t watching Moore… he was protecting him. Or well, doing his best to try to because Moore being Moore… he’s pretty sure Moore gave his Sergeant the slip at least a few times but DeLisle just keeps on doing it. Unobtrusively, observant and watchful and making him really, really curious.
So he’d tried to do a little research both on Moore and DeLisle. But everything that had come up on Moore had been things he already knew - even when he tapped into the not exactly open parts of the results that turned up - and really nothing about that year. DeLisle, however… had posed a whole new puzzle. The man had been doing classified work for a whole lot longer than Moore… Jeez, he doesn’t even know if Simon DeLisle is really his name. And he’s almost sure he must have set off a few triggers during his search for information on the Sergeant - otherwise the crashing of his laptop, complete with the hard drive wiped clean irretrievably two weeks ago would have been a really big coincidence even by SGC standards. He’d stayed away from any computer-based research ever since then.
So he’d concentrated on strictly observing and doing some human intelligence recon - also known as ‘trying to talk people into revealing stuff that’s too classified even for SGC personnel’ - again but so far… he doesn’t know much more than before.
For example… how DeLisle can stay so unbelievably calm when Moore takes out his anger on him at any given moment. Just a few days ago they’d been on a mission together that had gone down the drain very, very fast and while Moore had stayed completely calm and professional under fire - almost a little too calm, considering he’d never heard language more colorful than back in their Academy days on those drills with Moore - he’d started to bitch at DeLisle the moment he’d thought they were alone.
He’d ranted and cursed and vented off steam like in the good old times and DeLisle had just stood there and let the nurse patch up his injured arm. But the most astonishing thing had been when the nurse had had enough and had tried to shout back at Moore to shut him up, DeLisle had just shaken his head, said something to the nurse… and had gone right back to listening to Moore’s tirade.
It hadn't been the first time that had occurred and over the last few weeks it had turned into the greatest puzzle for him. Hell, he had been tempted to yell at Moore and shove his crap where it was dark one or two times when he’d seen him going off on DeLisle in a corridor or growling at him in the mess hall or snapping at him in the ready room. But DeLisle… just takes it with stoic calm… not even a discreet rolling of his eyes or irritated shaking of his head.
Only… only sometimes a twitching of his shoulders… like… the equivalent of a very short, very soft worried sigh. Dammit, he’s never going to find out what it is between them if he doesn’t… if he doesn’t talk to DeLisle. Huh. That was kind of a no-brainer… or would have been if DeLisle hadn't been so damn low-key in all his mannerisms.
Ready to smack himself for overlooking the most logical course of action for so long he decides to go looking for the explosives lab because that had been one of the very, very few things he’d found out; DeLisle’s prime specialty are explosives and he has access to the SGC lab. So maybe someone in there can tell him when he’s most likely to encounter De… oh. Huh. There he is.
Okay… okay, not scare him off now. Cautiously, he walks into the lab and comes to stand beside the Sergeant who is bent over a sample dish. Before he can get to announce himself with clearing his throat or something like that, DeLisle says, “Anything I can help you with, sir?”
Right. That… was probably to be expected. If there’s one thing that the non-existent information told him it’s that Simon DeLisle is probably a very dangerous man and would know how defend himself in any given situation. Being always aware of his surroundings must come almost naturally to him.
So… excuse. He needs some excuse why he’s here… “I uh… I was looking for Major Moore. Do you have any idea where he might have disappeared to?” That’s probably the lamest fake request ever.
“You might want to try the gym, sir. That time of day he can usually be found working out.” Right. That… didn’t get him exactly far.
He clears his throat, feeling exceptionally stupid for some strange reason. DeLisle, however, seems to be not the least bit impressed. “Of course… thanks. I’ll just…” No. He might never get another chance at catching DeLisle alone and also… dammit, he’s a Major. Hasn’t been one for long but that’s not the point here. “Oh, no, one more thing: it’s really been bugging me for a while. How exactly did you meet Major Moore?”
At that, DeLisle raises his eyebrows. “Sir?” Oh great, the Sergeant just managed to make him feel even more stupid… with only a little facial movement and a single word. Yep, that’s definitely a dangerous man.
“Well, you see, Major Moore and I were in the same Academy class and we kind of lost touch a while before you came here. I’m just… trying to piece together what actually happened.” Okay, maybe he just should have said outright that he just can’t get Moore to talk.
But from the look of it, DeLisle just pieced that together himself, anyway. “With all due respect, sir but… I’d rather you not ask me. It’s… not my place to tell you anything about it.” Yeah, he should have known that. Unfortunately, it only served to heighten his curiosity because… in his whole bearing the Sergeant just displayed an astounding amount of loyalty and he can’t help but wonder what inspired it.
Oh well. Since DeLisle knows what he wants and why he’s here anyway, he can drop all beating around the bush anyway. “So… you were with him this past year?”
For a moment it looks like DeLisle… does want to tell him something but in the end he leaves it at a rather clipped, “Can’t answer that, sir.”
Sure. It still told him enough, though, just from the way the Sergeant said it. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
DeLisle starts to look a little uncomfortable but manages to keep his tone almost level. “Again sir… the answer to that is above my pay grade.” Actually… it’s more like the answer is above his pay grade or at least that’s the feeling he’s starting to get. This is starting to get really interesting… and probably too hot to touch. Whatever Moore and DeLisle did during that year… it must have been dirty. Very dirty; and it occurs to him that maybe he doesn’t want to know what it was after all. Maybe… he should really keep his fingers off that one, at least for a few more years.
However… there’s still one thing he’d like to know and can’t keep from asking. “Okay… okay, I get that. I just wonder… why in hell do you still put up with Major Moore and the crap he gives you on a regular basis?”
Again, DeLisle opens his mouth to say something but seems to think better of it. In the end, he settles with a quiet and dead serious, “Because someone has to, sir.”
Oh. Well… that’s… that’s really all that needs to be said, actually. It also… makes him realize that he’s been… an abysmal friend. Instead of talking to Moore just for the sake of talking to an old friend, he’d tried to sound him out, stalked his records… even went as far as trying to interrogate his subordinate, for Heaven’s sake. He takes a deep breath and nods. “Thanks, Sergeant.”
The Sergeant… just looks at him for a moment and seems to have realized that the little word… was for more than just a simple answer and it… makes him crack a tiny half-smile for a moment and say, “You’re welcome sir.”
He nods again, and even goes as far as rubbing his neck a little embarrassed. “Yeah, uh… well, I’ll be off to the gym then.” And with that he takes his leave and goes in search of Thomas Moore… maybe to talk about house hunting in Colorado Springs or how the Falcons are doing this season… just the things friends talk about, you know?
( All the Great Things )
( Both Sides )
( A Push )
Fandom: Stargate SG1
Character: Major Evan Lorne
Prompt: #06 Shadow
Word Count: 1.849
Rating: K+
Summary: Major Evan Lorne has no clue why Master Sergeant Simon DeLisle still keeps taking crap from his CO, Major Thomas Moore.
Author's Notes: And here we go with the last Preludes 10_ocs piece. And because I just can't write in order, this one takes place before the other three pieces (i.e. DeLisle was the first of Moore's team Lorne met). I wrote this as the last one because the Sergeant proved to be the hardest one, always keeping to himself and all that. I also tried to shed a little light on the year Moore was gone from everyone's radar but... he's very persistent about keeping that a secret and Dee isn't exactly helping either. Also... mackenziesmomma and I will definitely go to beta and author hell, respectively. You really should see her snark to the groundwork I give her...
And here's the table.
PS.: Decided to make this the master post to the Preludes, so the links are in correct reading order.
Brothers in Arms
“Through these fields of destruction
baptisms of fire
I've witnessed your suffering
as the battle raised higher
and though they did hurt me so bad
in the fear and alarm
you did not desert me my brothers in arms.”
Dire Straits, “Brothers in Arms”
He’s been watching them for quite a while now but he still doesn’t get them. It’s been three months since Major Thomas Moore and Master Sergeant Simon DeLisle arrived at the SGC, only a few weeks after he did and ever since then he can’t help but watch them. He used to know one of them - Major Moore, that is - fairly well but that feels like it was ages ago.
Okay, actually, it was kind of ages ago. They were in the same Academy class a few years ago and kept in touch through all the years, seeing each other on postings, deployments, training courses, weddings, formal functions… and then, suddenly, Moore had been gone. Just from one day to the next, he hadn't answered any e-mails, phone calls, postcards… just nothing, to anyone. It had been like Moore had just vanished.
And now, suddenly, after a year he’s back again and shows up at the SGC of all places, like it were the most normal thing to do… with that quiet, serious Sergeant in tow. At first he hadn't even noticed DeLisle while he’d been trying to reconnect with Moore - who had been particularly unwilling. It’s not like he’d brushed him off or anything… he’d even been kind of his usual obnoxious self but whenever he’d tried to ask him about that year he’d been gone… he’d just ignored the question.
After a while he’d realized that whenever he tried to wiggle it out of Moore where he’d been or what he’d done… DeLisle had been not far away, almost always giving Moore a reason to break off the conversation and head somewhere to do… whatever. In fact, DeLisle seems to be around pretty much whenever Moore is in danger of being asked about that year… or had to confront a larger group of people… or when he needed back-up on a mission…
At first he’d thought that maybe DeLisle was a watchdog assigned to Moore to keep him in check for some inexplicable reason but the more he kept observing them, the more he realized that DeLisle wasn’t watching Moore… he was protecting him. Or well, doing his best to try to because Moore being Moore… he’s pretty sure Moore gave his Sergeant the slip at least a few times but DeLisle just keeps on doing it. Unobtrusively, observant and watchful and making him really, really curious.
So he’d tried to do a little research both on Moore and DeLisle. But everything that had come up on Moore had been things he already knew - even when he tapped into the not exactly open parts of the results that turned up - and really nothing about that year. DeLisle, however… had posed a whole new puzzle. The man had been doing classified work for a whole lot longer than Moore… Jeez, he doesn’t even know if Simon DeLisle is really his name. And he’s almost sure he must have set off a few triggers during his search for information on the Sergeant - otherwise the crashing of his laptop, complete with the hard drive wiped clean irretrievably two weeks ago would have been a really big coincidence even by SGC standards. He’d stayed away from any computer-based research ever since then.
So he’d concentrated on strictly observing and doing some human intelligence recon - also known as ‘trying to talk people into revealing stuff that’s too classified even for SGC personnel’ - again but so far… he doesn’t know much more than before.
For example… how DeLisle can stay so unbelievably calm when Moore takes out his anger on him at any given moment. Just a few days ago they’d been on a mission together that had gone down the drain very, very fast and while Moore had stayed completely calm and professional under fire - almost a little too calm, considering he’d never heard language more colorful than back in their Academy days on those drills with Moore - he’d started to bitch at DeLisle the moment he’d thought they were alone.
He’d ranted and cursed and vented off steam like in the good old times and DeLisle had just stood there and let the nurse patch up his injured arm. But the most astonishing thing had been when the nurse had had enough and had tried to shout back at Moore to shut him up, DeLisle had just shaken his head, said something to the nurse… and had gone right back to listening to Moore’s tirade.
It hadn't been the first time that had occurred and over the last few weeks it had turned into the greatest puzzle for him. Hell, he had been tempted to yell at Moore and shove his crap where it was dark one or two times when he’d seen him going off on DeLisle in a corridor or growling at him in the mess hall or snapping at him in the ready room. But DeLisle… just takes it with stoic calm… not even a discreet rolling of his eyes or irritated shaking of his head.
Only… only sometimes a twitching of his shoulders… like… the equivalent of a very short, very soft worried sigh. Dammit, he’s never going to find out what it is between them if he doesn’t… if he doesn’t talk to DeLisle. Huh. That was kind of a no-brainer… or would have been if DeLisle hadn't been so damn low-key in all his mannerisms.
Ready to smack himself for overlooking the most logical course of action for so long he decides to go looking for the explosives lab because that had been one of the very, very few things he’d found out; DeLisle’s prime specialty are explosives and he has access to the SGC lab. So maybe someone in there can tell him when he’s most likely to encounter De… oh. Huh. There he is.
Okay… okay, not scare him off now. Cautiously, he walks into the lab and comes to stand beside the Sergeant who is bent over a sample dish. Before he can get to announce himself with clearing his throat or something like that, DeLisle says, “Anything I can help you with, sir?”
Right. That… was probably to be expected. If there’s one thing that the non-existent information told him it’s that Simon DeLisle is probably a very dangerous man and would know how defend himself in any given situation. Being always aware of his surroundings must come almost naturally to him.
So… excuse. He needs some excuse why he’s here… “I uh… I was looking for Major Moore. Do you have any idea where he might have disappeared to?” That’s probably the lamest fake request ever.
“You might want to try the gym, sir. That time of day he can usually be found working out.” Right. That… didn’t get him exactly far.
He clears his throat, feeling exceptionally stupid for some strange reason. DeLisle, however, seems to be not the least bit impressed. “Of course… thanks. I’ll just…” No. He might never get another chance at catching DeLisle alone and also… dammit, he’s a Major. Hasn’t been one for long but that’s not the point here. “Oh, no, one more thing: it’s really been bugging me for a while. How exactly did you meet Major Moore?”
At that, DeLisle raises his eyebrows. “Sir?” Oh great, the Sergeant just managed to make him feel even more stupid… with only a little facial movement and a single word. Yep, that’s definitely a dangerous man.
“Well, you see, Major Moore and I were in the same Academy class and we kind of lost touch a while before you came here. I’m just… trying to piece together what actually happened.” Okay, maybe he just should have said outright that he just can’t get Moore to talk.
But from the look of it, DeLisle just pieced that together himself, anyway. “With all due respect, sir but… I’d rather you not ask me. It’s… not my place to tell you anything about it.” Yeah, he should have known that. Unfortunately, it only served to heighten his curiosity because… in his whole bearing the Sergeant just displayed an astounding amount of loyalty and he can’t help but wonder what inspired it.
Oh well. Since DeLisle knows what he wants and why he’s here anyway, he can drop all beating around the bush anyway. “So… you were with him this past year?”
For a moment it looks like DeLisle… does want to tell him something but in the end he leaves it at a rather clipped, “Can’t answer that, sir.”
Sure. It still told him enough, though, just from the way the Sergeant said it. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
DeLisle starts to look a little uncomfortable but manages to keep his tone almost level. “Again sir… the answer to that is above my pay grade.” Actually… it’s more like the answer is above his pay grade or at least that’s the feeling he’s starting to get. This is starting to get really interesting… and probably too hot to touch. Whatever Moore and DeLisle did during that year… it must have been dirty. Very dirty; and it occurs to him that maybe he doesn’t want to know what it was after all. Maybe… he should really keep his fingers off that one, at least for a few more years.
However… there’s still one thing he’d like to know and can’t keep from asking. “Okay… okay, I get that. I just wonder… why in hell do you still put up with Major Moore and the crap he gives you on a regular basis?”
Again, DeLisle opens his mouth to say something but seems to think better of it. In the end, he settles with a quiet and dead serious, “Because someone has to, sir.”
Oh. Well… that’s… that’s really all that needs to be said, actually. It also… makes him realize that he’s been… an abysmal friend. Instead of talking to Moore just for the sake of talking to an old friend, he’d tried to sound him out, stalked his records… even went as far as trying to interrogate his subordinate, for Heaven’s sake. He takes a deep breath and nods. “Thanks, Sergeant.”
The Sergeant… just looks at him for a moment and seems to have realized that the little word… was for more than just a simple answer and it… makes him crack a tiny half-smile for a moment and say, “You’re welcome sir.”
He nods again, and even goes as far as rubbing his neck a little embarrassed. “Yeah, uh… well, I’ll be off to the gym then.” And with that he takes his leave and goes in search of Thomas Moore… maybe to talk about house hunting in Colorado Springs or how the Falcons are doing this season… just the things friends talk about, you know?
( All the Great Things )
( Both Sides )
( A Push )