Chapter Text
He’s just settled back against the rear of his chair, hard to come by coffee in his hand, when the Stargate in the chamber below starts dialling. The next team isn’t due back for thirty minutes, so Chuck lurches upright at his station, cursing as hot liquid spills across his hand and wrist.
Mug set to one side, he simultaneously slams his hand down on the button to activate the shield as the gate splashes to life.
“Unscheduled offworld activation!”
Colonel Sheppard paces into the control room moments later, sending a questioning glance his way. The radio crackles to life, Major Lorne’s voice coming over the frequency.
“This is Major Lorne. We’re coming in hot. Requesting medical assistance.”
Chuck’s laptop pings a moment later, Lorne’s IDC confirmed on the display.
“Lower the shield. I want a medical team here, now.”
Complying with Sheppard’s requests, Chuck lowers the shield as the Colonel bounds down the stairs to the platform below. With a swing of his hand the security teams raise their weapons and settle into a ready stance.
“Major Lorne, you’re clear to come through,” Chuck relays over his comm.
Receiving confirmation the medical team is on their way, Chuck shakes his head. This was the new XO’s first mission since transferring from the SGC. And now they were coming back two hours early, possibly under attack and definitely injured.
The event horizon ripples, and seconds later four figures appear. Every member of the team is coated in mud and leaves. Lorne’s 2IC Captain Stevens has his arm bandaged from elbow down. His two Lieutenants, Walker and Coughlin, are bruised and battered; Walker has a distinguishable limp and Coughlin is stiffly hunched over, arm holding his side. The Major himself is moving most capably, though his uniform is shredded and face marred by scratches. The most bizarre thing about it all is that every member is barefoot.
The gate shuts down and the security teams relax, lowering their weapons and stepping back off the platform. Chuck can hear Sheppard addressing his XO in bemusement.
“So Major, successful first mission in the Pegasus galaxy?”
Lorne grimaces at his commanding officer.
“Oh just peachy, sir. Stevens here was investigating a seemingly innocent bush, which produces a fruit similar to a blackberry. Unbeknownst to us, this particular bush is sacred to the locals. They pursued us with animals akin to hunting dogs, so Walker decided it would be a good idea to traverse the marsh to throw the dogs off our scent. Not a bad idea in principle, until we were attacked by the mini crocodiles that live in the marsh. They mauled Stevens' arm, Walker's leg and my face.”
Lorne glances down to his bare feet.
“Plus we lost our shoes in the bog.”
“And Coughlin?”
“Oh he managed to trip over a root as we were running for the gate. Fell into the DHD and busted a rib or two.”
“Settling in well then, Major?"
“If every mission is like this Colonel, I might just request a transfer back to the SGC.”
There’s a glint in the Major’s eye, and Sheppard only chuckles, moving aside as the medical team rushes into the gateroom.
“Just teething problems, Major. Just teething problems. Every team has them. In a couple of weeks, things will be running like a well oiled machine.”
⁂
Four weeks later, Chuck is supervising a simulation for McKay when the Stargate bursts into life. The IDC flashes up on his screen almost instantaneously, as Sheppard pauses in his debrief with Sergeant Stackhouse two stations over.
“IDC?”
“It’s Major Lorne, sir.”
Nodding in acknowledgement, Sheppard and Stackhouse descend to greet the team.
Chuck lowers the shield and sends confirmation. He baulks at the scene that emerges through the Stargate. He pictures the raised eyebrow on Colonel Sheppard's face as he addresses his 2IC.
“Major, what exactly happened this time?”
The Major pulls his toga-like dress tighter, a flush spreading across his cheeks.
“Well sir, Walker here…”