012. Orange; Our Little Secret
Title: Our Little Secret
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters: Amelia Banks, Richard Woolsey, Ronon Dex, OC.
Prompt: 012 Orange
Word Count: 784
Rating: G
Summary: A few Athosians come for a routine visit to the city and Amelia gets stuck babysitting once again.
Notes: Because I know what Amelia is going through... LDT.
*
“Offworld Activation.” Amelia looked up to see Major Lorne’s IDC on the monitor. “Opening shield.” And off went the almost automatic key sequence that let travellers enter the ancient city of Atlantis.
Amelia walked to the balcony overlooking the gate room below and grinned as she saw the familiar hair of her temporary charge underneath.
“Jane!” She called. The little girl’s name wasn’t actually Jane but it was easier to pronounce, and close enough, to her real name. The blonde head turned and blue eyes met brown.
“Amy!” She squealed back. Amelia moved away from the balcony and even over the other Athosians currently coming through the gate, she could hear Jane’s little pattering of feet up the stairs. Amelia met her at the top. “I went through all by myself!” She was squealing with delight as Amelia took her up in her arms. “I didn’t hold Karana’s hand or nothing!”
“Well done, I’m so proud of you.” Jane’s smile was enough to cause the same happiness for her. “But you didn’t go before Major Evan told you to, did you?” When Jane shook her head, the blonde wisps flew around her with the enthusiasm. “Good girl.”
*
“Ah, Jane, don’t touch that,” Amelia called to the Athosian child currently sitting beside her. Usually the swivel chairs amused her for a while - until she got off her shift - but today Jane was strangely curious about all the dimly lit buttons. “Remember what I told you?”
“Touching ancestor’s things is bad.”
“That’s right.” Amelia went back to running a diagnostic and was so absorbed that she jumped when Jane yelled out from right beside her.
“Woolly!” Amelia blushed for the girl who now was standing on her chair, leaning over the console.
“Hello,” Replied the leader of Atlantis as he approached the desk. Amelia could see he was trying to remember the name of the girl and having quite a bit of trouble. Jane didn’t seem to mind.
“Hello, Mr Woolsey,” She said, cutting off him off and effectually saving him from a disappointed child.
“Amelia,” He said, acknowledging the technician. “The results?”
“Yes, sir, they are right here.” Amelia mumbled, searching the stack of papers on the table behind her. Jane picked up a sheet of paper, nudged Amelia and gave them to her. “They are right here.” She smiled somewhat sheepishly and handed them over.
“Thank you, Amelia and...” He was having trouble again. Amelia mouthed Jane to him and he repeated the name with a grateful smile.
The little girl was grinning from ear to ear as he walked away. She indicated for Amelia to come closer and as she did, Jane leaned in to whisper in her ear, “He knew my name.”
*
“So what do you want for lunch today, sweetie?” Amelia asked Jane as they stood before the large amounts of food in the commissary. “We just got a new shipment of fruit, do you want an apple or an orange?”
She shook her head, blonde hair flowing again. They moved up the line.
“What about some bread - I can make you a sandwich?”
She shook her head. They moved up the line.
“What do you want then?”
She thought about it, her forehead creasing in concentration. Amelia instantly regretted asking the question.
*
Once they had reached Amelia’s quarters, Jane ran up to the bed and jumped up then squirmed her way under the covers.
“Movie time!”
Amelia just looked at her confused. “You don’t have to be in bed for that...”
“But Ronon lets me when I watch movies with him.”
“Yes, but he can’t say no to you,” Amelia said, now sitting on the side of the bed. “What else does he let you do?”
“Nothing.” Jane replied all too quickly, just realising she shouldn’t say anymore if she wanted her special treatment to continue.
*
“Bye, Jane, I’ll see you next week, okay?” Amelia said, kissing the top of her head and sending her towards the gate where Major Lorne and the rest of the Athosian people stood waiting for the few stragglers.
“Bye, Amy...” She said, waving. She turned to go with her people back through the gate but at the last moment turned and came running back to her. “Amy, please don’t tell Ronon I told you... I like him.”
“Okay, it’ll be our little secret.”
Jane stepped back through the gate all by herself. Karana, who stood waiting for the child, waved to Amelia and followed after.
Amelia waited for the gate to shut off then calmly and surely walked up the stairs to the control room.
“Chuck, can you tell me where Ronon is right now, please? I need to talk to him.”
*