SGA fic: Tell-Tale Twitch
Tell-Tale Twitch
A Stargate Atlantis ficlette
Summary: Teyla takes the chance to get to know Lt. Cadman after the events in "Duet".
Rating: PG for swearing
Disclaimer: Sony and MGM own all things Stargate Atlantis. I'm only borrowing and will return them at the end of the fic.
Setting: After "Duet" in season 2 (spoilers for the episode liek whoa)
Characters: Teyla and Lt. Laura Cadman
Word count:: 2,925
Note: Why? Because girl fights are hawt. And Cadman rocks my socks. But, I really just wanted to write this so I could use the subtitle of "Cadman and Teyla bondage." Also, my first shot at writing Teyla POV. Fun times.
~*~
Teyla carried her tray up the stairs in the commissary, idly wondering what sort of creature was in the 'meatloaf' and who had killed it. Her people ate a variety of animals, but they never cut good meat into a paste and mashed it up into cakes such as these.
Glancing up from her study of the odd meal, Teyla's steps faltered. She had been heading for her usual table, not noticing that it was full of Marines. Smoothly, she changed course. She had no desire to spend an excess of time around the Marines that had come from Earth with Colonel Everett; their presence unnerved her at times. They were military as much as Colonel Sheppard, but they were as different from him as water from sky.
The only free space Teyla could see was on the far side of the room, by the windows. A familiar blonde woman was the table's lone occupant, gazing out at the water.
"Lt. Cadman?" Teyla said. "Is this seat taken?"
The woman blinked up at Teyla, obviously startled. "What? Oh, no."
Supposing that was all the permission she was likely to receive, Teyla slid into the chair across the table. The Lanteans had such differing manners. If Teyla had asked the same question of Dr. Beckett, he would have stood while she sat down. Colonel Sheppard would have raised his eyebrow and given her a perfunctory nod. Dr. McKay would not have acknowledged her presence until some minutes later, when her words had percolated through his concentration on his work.
Dr. Weir was always as polite as possible, and on occasion Teyla wondered if the Earthers taught their girl children different things than their male children. The Athosians did no such thing; with the Wraith cullings, every member of the community needed all skills. No one could be irreplaceable.
Teyla shook herself out of her wandering thoughts. Cadman was watching her, curiously but silently eating the odd meatloaf.
Teyla smiled. "How are you recovering?"
Cadman shrugged. "It's been a week since I was stuck in Rodney's head. Carson says I'm perfectly good to go," she said. "I'd ask how Rodney's doing, but he's not exactly a delicate flower about letting everyone know."
"That is true," Teyla admitted. She cut a small corner off her meatloaf and raised it to her lips for a caution taste.
"It's not half bad," Cadman said. Indeed, the meatloaf appeared to be the only thing that the woman had eaten. The rest of the food on her tray had been stirred and mashed into a fine consistency. "Anything's better than my cooking."
"You do not cook?" Teyla said. The meatloaf had a strange flavoring, like all the Lantean food, but she was getting used to it. Most importantly, under the mask of spices, the meat did not taste off.
"Nah." Cadman almost smiled. "My mom used to say I went into the Marines just so I'd never poison myself by trying to cook for myself."
Teyla stared at her tray, wondering what had caused the strange pang in her heart. None of her teammates had ever asked her about her family, and none ever spoke of their own. "I do not have many memories of my own mother," Teyla said.
Cadman set her fork down with a bit of a clatter. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry, it's the Wraith, right?" Then she winced. "I'm sorry about the swearing, we all got the lecture on Earth about that--"
"Do not worry about it," Teyla quickly reassured her. "It was a very long time ago, and it does not pain me to remember my mother." Cadman looked slightly mollified, so Teyla continued. "The strongest memory I have of her is when she taught me how to make the tea my people drink in the morning."
"Is that the stuff the mess serves in the mornings when we're out of coffee?" Cadman asked. "That stuff is potent."
"A bracing start to the day."
"Sort of like a kick to the head," Cadman said, unable to hide a smile. "In a good way, though, not like a real kick to the head, which would really blow."
Even though she had spent the past year listening to Colonel Sheppard and Dr. McKay use idioms she did not immediately comprehend, Cadman's speech was different, looser. Teyla found she liked it. "What is this lecture you speak of?" she asked after taking another bite of meatloaf.
"Oh, that." Cadman started to scrape her uneaten food into a small tower. "One of those things we got before coming out here, '101 ways not to Cause A Scene in the Pegasus Galaxy'. I think forty-six on the list was not to swear and cuss around the civilians. And for a pack of Marines, you know that's a hell of a lot to ask."
A number of questions popped into Teyla's head, but it occurred to her that she could finally have an answer to a question that Colonel Sheppard refused to answer. "Are Marines very different from the other parts of your military?"
Cadman finished constructing her makeshift tower. "You talking about the Colonel and his Air Force stuff?" she asked, picking up a stray pea that had fallen off Teyla's tray, and setting it on top of her tower. "It's real different."
"But it cannot be too different, as the Colonel is in charge of all the military officers on Atlantis."
Cadman wrinkled her nose. "He's the commanding officer. It's different. Back on Earth, he'd still be flying planes and helicopters in Antarctica."
"That seems a waste of his skills," Teyla said.
"We're all playing to a different skill set out here," Cadman agreed. "If I didn't have the Ancient gene, I'd probably be in Iraq, blowing shit up."
Teyla frowned. "I have heard mention of that place from Major Lorne, but he did not tell me what the Marines would have been doing there."
Cadman's eyes went wide. "You... No one told you about Iraq?" Teyla shook her head. "I thought Sheppard would have explained the whole thing when he told you about Afghanistan."
"Is that another place on your world?" Teyla pushed her tray away. "I have never heard that name."
Cadman squished her mashed tower down with her fork. "It's... fuck, it's complicated. You should talk to Weir about all that, she'd be able to explain the history and socio-political crap," she said. Something serious lurked in the woman's eyes. "I had classmates at the Academy-- I mean, friends of mine. Their company was overrun in the desert."
The nearly hidden pain in her voice reminded Teyla of people speaking of family they had lost to the Wraith. "I am sorry for your loss," she said formally, inclining her head.
"No, don't worry about it." Cadman ruthlessly dismembered the lone pea on her tray. "We all knew what we were signing up for. Even out here. They highlighted the 'extremely high risk of having your life sucked by space vampires' in all the lectures."
"And still you chose to come."
"Hey, you know what they say," Cadman said, grinning once again. "Go big or go home."
Teyla did not know who 'they' were, or why they said such a thing, but she believed she understood the gist of Cadman's words.
"Teyla, come in."
"Excuse me," Teyla said to Cadman, tapping her earpiece. "Yes, Colonel Sheppard."
"McKay's got himself hip-deep in a mess down in the chair room," the man said, annoyed. "We're not going to be able to go to Ritera to look at those ruins this afternoon."
"I see. Is there anything else you require me for?"
"Nah." Sheppard coughed a couple of times. "I've got to get this paperwork done before Weir locks me in quarantine to finish things up. Maybe come by the chair room later and threaten McKay a bit, to hurry it up?"
"Dr. McKay responds to your threats more often than he does mine," Teyla reminded the man. "If you wish to avoid your obligations, I will not be able to assist you."
"Can't say I didn't try. Sheppard out."
Teyla lowered her hand to the table. "My apologies for the interruption."
Cadman waved her hand. "No worries." She gripped the sides of her tray as she pushed her chair back. "I'm going to go see if I can bum something to read off the scientists."
"You are not on duty?"
"Not yet." Her eyes flicked to the corner of the room where the table of Marines was making a great deal of noise. "In a few days, Carson said."
"So you have the afternoon free?"
"Yeah," Cadman said slowly. "You need something?"
"Only if you wish it," Teyla said. "I am curious as to Earth forms of fighting."
"Hasn't the Colonel shown you those? We thought--" Cadman pulled herself up short. "I mean, you two spend so much time working out together... hasn't he shown you?"
"No." Teyla stood. "He insists on learning my ways of fighting, instead teaching me of his own." Teyla suspected that Sheppard's reasoning had less to do with his pride, as he often ended up on his back on the exercise room floor, and more to do with his desire to master a difficult skill. Still, that insight into the man's character was Teyla's personal observation, and she did not wish to explain that to someone who had to take orders from him.
"That would be cool," Cadman said, grinning again. Teyla wondered how old this woman was. She looked younger than Lt. Ford when she smiled, but Teyla was not adept at gauging the age of the Lanteans. And strangely, the thought of Aiden did not pain her as much as it had only a few weeks ago. Life goes on, even when those I consider family are taken away from me by the Wraith."Can you show me some of the Athosian stuff, too?"
"Indeed, Lt. Cadman."
"Call me Laura," the woman said. "Please? I hear lieutenant so much sometimes I think I'll stop answering to Laura."
"As you wish," Teyla said. There was no way the woman could have known that among the Athosian people, being asked to call someone by their personal name was a sign of great trust and respect. Even so, Teyla would not disregard such a gesture. "Laura."
~~~~
Teyla flew through the air, having only the briefest of moments to prepare for the impact before her back hit the ground. She scrambled to her feet, hands held loose at her sides.
Laura danced back. "Nice one," she panted. "You sure you've never done any of this before?"
"I am sure." Teyla catalogued the other woman's movements, noting how her stance was both similar and dissimilar to those of Colonel Sheppard. "Do all of your military personnel fight in this manner?"
"For the most part." Laura lunged forward. Teyla almost fell for the feint, but at the last moment spotted the tell-tale twitch in her shoulder. Spinning around, Teyla grabbed Laura's elbow and twisted. Laura went down hard but bounced up a moment later. "Good one!"
The lieutenant's enthusiasm was infectious. It had been a long time since Teyla had sparred with another woman, and she found that she missed it. The men with whom she practiced, even Colonel Sheppard, were more likely to attempt to hold back so as not to injure her, even if she held no such return reservations.
"May I ask you a question?" Teyla said, moving quickly to the side.
"Knock yourself out."
"Why were you sitting by yourself at lunch?"
Laura shrugged, using the causal gesture to mask her movement, and Teyla once again had to quickly side-step.
"Don't know," Laura said shortly. The next few minutes were filled with ragged breathing and the sound of skin slapping against skin and cloth, until Laura was lying face down on the floor, arm twisted up behind her back. "Okay, ow!"
Teyla released her arm and sat back on her heels while Laura dragged herself into a sitting position. The lieutenant rubbed the red marks on her wrist, eyeing Teyla.
"I just didn't want any company," Laura finally said. "Mealtimes are usually a million Marines who don't get it, or scientists who look like they want to dissect me for answers, about being in Rodney's brain."
Teyla was unsure if there was more to the comment than that. "Did I interrupt you when you did not wish company?"
"Huh? No, not at all." Instead of standing, Laura drew her knees up to her chest, absently tapping her thumb against a developing bruise. "Maybe I was getting too alone."
As leader of the Athosian people, Teyla had often acted as counselor to those who were experiencing troubles. Sometimes, her people needed consolation; others they needed only someone to listen. Teyla chose to remain silent.
"And it's really dumb, because McKay can be the biggest jerk ever, but he wasn't..." Laura pushed her hair back from her face. "He wasn't any more of a jerk when I was in his head, than he normally is to me. Well, to anyone." She gave Teyla a look. "How do you put up with him all the time?"
"I am not sure how you mean."
"Off world and all that. For days at a time?"
Carefully considering her answer, Teyla said, "Dr. McKay is an extraordinarily brilliant man."
"As he tells us all on every occasion he gets," Laura interjected.
"And his eccentricities are..." Teyla hesitated on her first choice of words, as Colonel Sheppard had reacted badly when she had used one of his idioms, an acquired taste, in the context of another person. "One gets used to them."
"You can get used to McKay?"
Teyla smiled. "His eccentricities are no more of a challenge than any one else on the expedition. You all have quirks."
"Even the Colonel?"
"Especially the Colonel," Teyla said. "In the beginning, he spoke half the time using phrases that made no sense, even when explained."
"They have a lot of free time at McMurdo," Laura said. "He probably watched too much TV." She wrinkled her nose again. "It's kind of ironic, don't you think?"
Teyla narrowed her eyes slightly. "Are we speaking of Colonel Sheppard's cultural eccentricities?"
"Not really." Laura ducked her eyes for a moment. "I was talking to Carson, while I was stuck in the infirmary, catching up with the history of the expedition. He told me about you had a bit of Wraith DNA, just like the Colonel has the Ancient gene?"
"And how is that 'ironic'?"
"You know! The Wraith and the Ancients were sworn enemies, and here you two are, being on the same team and all that for the betterment of all humankind." Laura grinned. "And you both deserve sainthood for putting up with McKay all the time."
"I am not sure I would go so far," Teyla said. She was rather surprised that Laura seemed so accepting of her genetic abnormality. None of the other Marines who knew had been able to look at her without wondering. Wondering if she was a danger, a threat to the expedition.
"It's pretty cool." Laura's gaze darted over to the wall, where the fighting sticks were arrayed on hooks.
Teyla followed her gaze. "Would you be interested in learning how to fight in the Athosian style now?" she offered.
"That would be so cool."
Teyla rose gracefully to her feet. "I will show you, if you wish."
The brilliance of Laura's smile warmed the room. "That would totally rock."
That was probably positive, but Teyla had learned by this point that it was hardly ever worth it, to question the odd words the Lanteans used. "Then let us begin."
~~~~
"Hey."
Teyla paused as she passed the door of Colonel Sheppard's office. "Yes, Colonel?"
"Just hey." The Colonel leaned back in his chair, almost hidden behind piles of paper. "Anything happening?"
"No." Teyla leaned against the door, wondering if he had made any progress in his work. "Is Dr. McKay progressing on his work?"
"A bit." Sheppard gave her a look. "I hear you've been teaching Cadman to kick ass, Athosian style."
Teyla raised her eyebrows. She had only just left the practice room. The efficiencies of the Atlantis gossip system was astonishing. "Indeed I have."
Sheppard pushed a pile of paper to the side. "How's she doing?"
"It has been one lesson, but she is progressing quite well."
"Cool, girls' fight club." There was a hint of an expression lingering in the corners of his mouth; a smirk or a smile, Teyla was never sure which. "You should see if Elizabeth is up to some training, too."
It took her a moment to make the connection. Sometimes, Sheppard made the oddest comments, that reminded her that he wasn't of her people, no matter how easily he had blended into her life.
Instead, she looked at him squarely and said, "Thank you for the suggestion. I will make her the offer when we return from Ritera."
The smirk-or-smile grew. "How would you feel about Ronon coming with us off-world tomorrow? Let him have a chance to see how we do things in the Pegasus Galaxy?"
"He knows how we do things in the Pegasus Galaxy, he has lived here all his life." Teyla had to work very hard to hide a smile when Sheppard's face fell.
"Never mind, it's like a thing," he grumbled, pushing himself to his feet. "Come on, let's grab some dinner and go watch Rodney traumatize his science team."
Teyla thought about what Laura had told her, about wishing no one would bother her, while worrying about being alone, and said, "Yes, I think spending time with Dr. McKay is a good idea."
end