Do You Know My Shadow? (1/17)
by Lisa 04
They drove back to camp in silence. Devon was still stunned by Katarina's attack and Sheppard was numbed at the loss of his sister. She had stabbed him in her attempt to kill Devon but the wound was only superficial. Danziger's quick reaction had prevented Devon from being harmed but Katarina was not so lucky. Against Danziger's better judgment, Devon had invited Sheppard to join their group and he had accepted. As he drove the dunerail Danziger wondered why this bothered him so much and convinced himself it was because they knew nothing about this man. The veiled warning by the Elder to "be careful and take care" didn't help much to calm his nerves either. At least True seemed to come out of the whole situation fairly unscathed. She had fallen asleep in the back of the dunerail thirty minutes ago. "That kid could sleep through anything," he thought to himself.
"Do you want me to drive for awhile? " Devon asked, "you don't look like you feel too well and you're still weak from the fever." "I'm fine, you OK?" Danziger asked not turning to look at her. "Yeah," she replied, "though still a little shaken up I guess. Thanks." She paused then turned her attention the other passenger in the back of the vehicle, "Sheppard, how's your arm," Devon asked with concern. "It'll be all right," he answered quietly, looking up at Devon. "I'm truly sorry about Katarina," she whispered as she reached out and took his hand.
"I know," he said quietly as he squeezed her hand. As they all settled back into their silence, Danziger reflected back on the events that had occurred the last few days. It all started when he had gotten ill while on a solo scout which Devon had been opposed to in the first place. "I don't think it's a good idea." she had said, "What if something happens, you won't have any backup and it might take us hours to get to you." "You worry too much Adair." Danziger mused, " Besides, everyone is busy with other things and for once I happen to be the one with nothing to do. The vehicles have been winterized and the generator is working without any problems. I'm starting to feel a little useless. I need something to do and someone needs to check out the terrain beyond the far ridge for a passage out of here when it thaws out. "
"Well I can't argue with that.. but," she started. " Then don't," he countered, "I'll be back before it gets dark. You won't even have time to miss me. And before you say it, I'll be careful and keep my gear on." He coughed loudly as he finished talking. "All right, but keep in contact and have Julia check out that cough before you go."
"Yes mother, " Danziger scoffed, dodging Devon's swing as he ducked out of the biodome and headed to Julia's tent. " Hey Julia, you got something for a cough?" Danziger asked as he entered the medtent. Julia looked up from her bench where she had been analyzing several plants for possible medicinal uses.
"Sure, " she replied, " how long have you had the cough? Are you running a fever?"
"Whoa there Doc, it's just a little cough. Nothing to get excited about." " If you're sure you're feeling OK, otherwise, you can take one of these," she said, giving him a small white pill. " It should take care of the cough, but," she warned, "if you start to feel worse, check back with me. All right?" "Jeez, OK mother number two."
Julia watched as the big mechanic lumbered out of the tent. He didn't look sick but there were still a lot of unknowns where this planet was concerned and she wanted to keep a close eye on anyone that became ill whether it appeared to be a simple "cold" or not.
The rest is history as they say. He had gathered up his gear and set out on foot toward the ridge. He elected not to take the dunerail as he could take a shortcut on foot and cut a couple of hours off of his trip. Besides, it wasn't that cold when he started out. Halfway to the ridge, though, a storm moved in and it began to snow. He also wasn't feeling too hot. His cough had actually worsened and he was starting to feel dizzy. The snow had begun to fall much harder and his body was racked with coughing spasms. The next thing he knew, he was in some sort of cave covered with blankets and feeling like he had been hit by a transrover. Devon was kneeling beside him and pleading with him to get up. She looked terrified, mumbling something about a man knowing things about her and that they had to leave.
" God, if I could have only gotten up then," Danziger mentally chastised himself, "Then maybe none of this would have happened and we would be back at camp now. Everything back to normal." But everything wasn't back to normal, someone was dead and they were heading back to the winter camp with a total stranger. One he didn't trust, no matter what Devon said. "That guy was sent here as a penal colonist for a reason, and I'm not buying the ‘I was set up plea' he's selling to Adair," Danziger thought as he glanced over at Devon. One bad experience with Gaal was enough to make him suspicious of any person they met on this supposedly uninhabited planet. He also didn't trust someone who couldn't seem to look him in the eyes, though he could've sworn he had felt Sheppard's stare at his back several times as they drove towards home. He also didn't like the fact that the only way Devon knew this guy was from some dream he had manipulated by using the hibernating terrians to access the dreamplane. Sounded like a pretty shaky way to get to know someone. His thoughts were interrupted when he started to cough again. "OK, that does it John Danziger. Pull the dunerail over now, I'm driving." "Really, I'm fine,"
"No you're not and I'm not going to argue with you," Devon stated flatly, "now pull the vehicle over."
"All right, you win," Danziger replied weakly as he wiped his forehead. He was sweating despite the freezing temperature. "I guess I'm still a little sick, but hey Adair, try not to put us in a snowbank, OK ?" "Uh huh, very funny, now move over."
Sheppard had witnessed this exchange and was none to pleased with the concern he heard in Devon's voice or saw in her eyes as she watched John Danziger get into the other seat. " I'll have to watch out for John Danziger," he contemplated, "Devon seems to depend on him quite a bit." The remainder of the ride continued without much conversation. The terrain gradually changed from the desolate plateau that had housed the entrance to the caverns, to the plush yet snow-covered forest which surrounded their winter camp. True had awakened once but quickly returned to sleep after being reassured by Devon that her father was just getting some much needed rest and was otherwise all right.
Sheppard occasionally closed his eyes but Devon somehow doubted he was dozing. She however, had no problems staying wide awake. The last couple of days kept playing in her mind. She realized how lucky they had been that no one had been seriously hurt and that she had miraculously come face to face with a man that she new only through her dreams but felt as if she had known a lifetime. As they drove into camp, everyone rushed to meet them. Julia immediately tended to Danziger while she and Alonzo helped him into the medtent. Uly had clung to his mother's arm, suspiciously eyeing the stranger that had climbed out of the vehicle to stand beside Devon. Yale also viewed the stranger with curiosity.
"Everyone, I want you to meet Sheppard. He'll be joining us on our way to New Pacifica," Devon began. With this announcement, Devon was hit with a barrage of questions and comments from the group. "Who is he?" Ebon asked.
"How did he get here?" Walman threw in, not at all happy with how close the man was standing to Devon.
"I don't think we should just pick up complete strangers," Morgan commented with a frown. "We barely have enough food for ourselves and remember what happened with Gaal." This bought a sharp jab from Bess and a look that could ice an ocean. "Ow, Bess, what.." Morgan started then changed his mind when he saw the look in her eyes, "uh, sorry."
"I know you all have a lot of questions," Devon said as she threw up her hands in a gesture to halt the conversation, "but those can wait for a bit, it's been a very long day and right now we could use some rest." Devon turned to Sheppard, "I also want Julia to look at your arm." Knowing no more answers would be given for now, the crowd disbursed as Devon and Sheppard made their way to the medtent.
While Devon and Sheppard turned away, many curious eyes followed them. Something in his memory banks seemed to click as Yale watched Devon and the stranger enter the medtent, but he just couldn't seem to access it. "I'll keep trying," he thought, "something about that man seems very familiar." "How's the patient?" Devon asked Julia, approaching the cot where Danziger was sitting with True in his lap.
"Grumpy as usual, but he'll live," Julia replied as she pulled the inoculation gun from his arm. "He's still got pneumonia but the white cell stimulant I gave him should help. You can try and convince him to get the rest he needs, I don't seem to be having much luck in that department." "Look Julia, the dunerail took quite a pounding with the load we had to carry back," Danziger stated as he briefly glanced towards Sheppard, "it could use some tuning up and I'm really feeling better. I swear." "Danziger, the rail can wait. None of us are going anywhere for a while. Please do as Julia asked and get some rest. We don't need you to get sicker," Devon pleaded in her best diplomatic tone as she held his gaze. Danziger, matching her gaze and knowing she wasn't going to back down, agreed to retire to his tent.
After True and her father had left, Devon turned to Julia. "Julia, I didn't get a chance to introduce you and Alonzo to Sheppard, he'll be traveling with us to New Pacifica." Alonzo had stepped up from the back of the tent where he had receded when Devon and the man had entered. "Nice to meet you," Alonzo offered as he extended his hand in greeting. "Very nice to meet you also," Sheppard returned, wincing as he accepted Alonzo's handshake.
"Julia, could you take a look at his shoulder, he hurt it." Devon asked as Julia stepped in after noticing Sheppard's painful expression. "Here, let's take a look at that." Julia commented as she began to remove Sheppard's coat to get a better look at his shoulder. "What happened, this looks like a knife wound?"
"It's a long story that I'd rather not get into right now Julia," Devon answered before Sheppard could respond. Julia glanced at Devon and nodded her head, "OK, that should do it," she said as she returned her attention to dressing the man's wound. "I'll want to take another look at it tomorrow to make sure it's not getting infected, but it should be fine. In the meantime I don't want you using your arm too much, it might start bleeding again."
"Yes, thank you Doctor. I'll do as you ask." Sheppard answered distantly as he tried to pull his coat on. "Devon, I'm sure the Doctor has plenty of work to get back to, why don't we excuse ourselves." "Yes, you're right," Devon agreed as she helped him with his coat. "We could both use something to eat."
"Thanks Julia," Devon said as she followed Sheppard out of the medtent and towards the biodome. "I'll talk with you later." Julia and Alonzo watched as Devon caught up to the waiting older man and proceeded toward the Biodome. As they disappeared inside Alonzo turned to Julia.
"Who the hell is that guy and why is Devon hovering over him?" "I have no idea but there's something strange about him. I'm just not sure what it is," Julia replied with a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Hopefully Devon will feel like talking about it later." With that said, Julia turned and entered the medtent leaving a bewildered Alonzo to stare at the now closed door of the main building.
End Part 1
Story Notes:
Finally!! Yes, finally I have finished this story! For all of you who started reading this thing several years ago and stuck with it, I thank you. Thanks to all of you who wrote to me, encouraging me to finish the story. I fully intended to, it just took a little longer than expected. For those of you that are new to the list, I'm reposting parts 1-15 along with the final 2 parts (16 &17) so that you can read the whole monster if you wish.
Just to reinterate. This is my 'new' ending to the Sheppard episode, "The Greatest Love Story Never Told". I thought that episode played Devon way out of character and I wanted to rewrite the ending to try and explain some things. I also wanted to give my spin on what might have happened had Sheppard survived and joined the group. Hope you enjoy it. (I promise any future stories will be finished before they are posted.)
Lisa
Disclaimer - These characters are the property of Amblin Entertainment and NBC (lame network that it is). This story is just for fun and not profit. And by the way CBS, I think you're pretty lame too for cancelling "EZ Streets", that one had alot of potential if you'd just gotten the ants out of your pants and waited a minute for the viewers to catch on. But I digress........on with the story......
Just to reinterate. This is my 'new' ending to the Sheppard episode, "The Greatest Love Story Never Told". I thought that episode played Devon way out of character and I wanted to rewrite the ending to try and explain some things. I also wanted to give my spin on what might have happened had Sheppard survived and joined the group. Hope you enjoy it. (I promise any future stories will be finished before they are posted.)
Lisa
Disclaimer - These characters are the property of Amblin Entertainment and NBC (lame network that it is). This story is just for fun and not profit. And by the way CBS, I think you're pretty lame too for cancelling "EZ Streets", that one had alot of potential if you'd just gotten the ants out of your pants and waited a minute for the viewers to catch on. But I digress........on with the story......