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The New Girl
Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sheppard stood next to Ronan as Todd and Colonel Carter sat with the Wraith Queen under a grove of large trees.  They had been talking for nearly an hour and Sheppard was board, but he knew things like this took time, and needed to be looked at from every angle possible.  After all, if this all went to hell, they wanted to at least have a backup plan in place so as not to be caught with their preverbal pants down.  The planet they had chosen for the meeting was very much like the one Todd's alliance inhabited.  Remote and life sustaining, with plenty of animals and vegetation though no intelligent life-forms other then the Queen's envoy and the Atlantis team.  Though depending on how this meeting went, there might be a new alliance of Wraith making this world their temporary home.

Todd didn't like it, he could feel that the Queen was hiding something from them, he just couldn't figure out what.  Though she was willing to adhere to Carter's rules and in all outward appearance seemed concerned for her soldiers, Todd couldn't shake how her mind seemed to mock him in its ability to block his subtle probing.  Even so Carter went on with negotiations, saying,
"So you are willing to remain here on this world and wait for the cure, and follow our instructions when it comes to taking blood samples from you and your men?"  The Queen nodded saying,
"I am, though I must allow some of my ships to be able to come and go as needed, seeing as how our feeding stores are getting very low.  As I have mentioned before, several officers have already been put down due to their inability to stave off their hunger, we've stretched our stores too far as it is."  Todd stepped in then and said,
"Would you be willing to allow someone to look your feeding stores over and assess..."
"Whether I'm telling the truth?" the Queen interrupted, her eyes glaring at Todd accusingly.  Carter spoke up then, saying,
"Only a precaution, to be sure that your stores are low, and if so what can be done to replenish them.  But only if it's absolutely necessary for you and your men to survive.  Are we agreed?"

It was a moment or two before the Queen nodded her head in acceptance of this, which effectively ended the meeting except for a few miner details.  The Queen was to have herself and her alliance give Atlantis blood samples over the next few days.  Then depending on how things progressed, and if the Queen's alliance followed the rules, then she might be allowed access to the research for the cure that has been accumulated thus far.  Though both Todd and Carter felt it would be best to keep the research under wraps until they were sure of what this Queen's true motives were, the Queen had been very adamant in requesting access to the research in return for all her cooperation.  So Carter relented, but it was agreed the Queen would only receive the research a bit at a time, enough to meet the bargain, but not enough for the Queen to make off with.  All in all a seemingly reasonable arrangement, and by the end of it all, hopefully, more lives would be saved with the more Wraiths they cured.

Once Todd and the other's were on board the Jumper headed back to Atlantis Carter relaid the meeting and the outcome to Sheppard, who proceeded to try and talk his commander out of sharing Serena's research.  But Carter remained resolved to keep her end of the bargain, saying,
"It's not like we'll be giving them everything, John."  Sheppard growled saying,
"No but you know she'll have her own scientists looking the notes over, who knows she might even come up with the cure before us, especially with Serena's new and improved theories since the memory transfer."  This was Todd's worry as well.  If they went ahead with this and allowed the Queen access to Serena's new notes, even if it was just a bit at a time, they may come up with a cure before she did.  Todd was about to voice his agreement with Sheppard when Carter spoke, saying,
"Who says we're going to give her Serena's new notes?"  Both Todd and Sheppard stared at Carter for a moment, and then Todd grinned as Sheppard said,
"Wait!  You mean to give them her old notes instead.  Was this the plan from the beginning?!"  It was at that point that Todd laughed, saying,
"It is like I said when we first met Sheppard...you are more like us then you know."  It was John's turn to smile as he turned back to Carter saying,
"Nice one Colonel.  Only thing is, will they catch on that we've sent them useless notes?"   Todd smiled as he looked at Carter with a new found respect as he answered, saying,
"The notes aren't completely useless, but they are incomplete.  Without the new information Serena received from my...Queen, this new alliance won't be able to make a viable cure without certain side effects.  As you have already seen and experienced with Michael."

Sheppard considered this as the Jumper approached the space gate that would lead them home.  Soon the gate was open and the I.D.C. was sent through to let Atlantis know it was them so they could lower the shield to let them through.  They received the ok to head through, and were soon through the gate and moving up to the Jumper docks.  As soon as the Jumper door opened Todd was out and on his way to Serena's lab to check on her, while Sheppard remained behind to continue discussing their new guests and what precautions should be taken to warn them if the Queen decided to attack.  Todd moved through the halls quickly.  He wasn't sure why he was so anxious, but he knew he'd feel better once he found Serena and held her for a while.  Just as this thought went through his head Todd stopped mid-stride thinking to himself,
'When did I start needing her to calm my mind?'  But deep down he knew that he had started needing her presence to ease his thoughts long before he had even realized he had deeper feeling for her.  Serena had wormed her way into his heart, and now there was no getting rid of her.  Not that he wanted her gone, quite the opposite in fact, especially now that she was carrying his child.  He started walking again as his mind wondered to how she would start to look in the coming months, round with child and glowing with love and pride as she listened to their child's thoughts and emotions.  It was enough to make him purr under his breath as he finally made it to Serena's lab and entered to find the object of his desire sitting at her desk, back to him, looking into a microscope.

Todd just stood in the doorway watching her work for a few minutes admiring how she was starting to show slightly.  Keller had told him that she would really start to show in her second trimester, which she had just started a few days ago.  He remembered the doctor's words, saying,
"Now she'll be starting to fill out and gain more weight, which means she'll be achey here and there, her ankles may swell a bit, and her lower back will be tender, but it's all completely normal."  Todd also recalled Keller's suggestion of messaging Serena to help rid her of the aches and to help with the swelling.  He rather liked the idea of helping Serena through out her pregnancy, and not just with her aching body.  Their minds were so intimately connected in a way that Todd had yet to understand, but in many ways he didn't care how it was that they were able to feel each other so clearly and intimately.  He was able to calm her mind and touch her emotionally, as well as give and receive reassurance on the inner most levels of their psyche.  It filled him with wonder and pride that their bond was so strong and unmatched by any other that either knew of.

As he stood there reveling in the feelings that he could sense from Serena, she straightened slightly as if just realizing something.  It was then that she said while still facing her desk,
"Well are you going to come in, or are you just going to stand in the doorway staring at me?  Cause if you have nothing better to do then that, I can think of a few things for you to do."  Todd couldn't help the smile that broke out on his face as he pushed away from the door frame and walked over to Serena.  She was looking through her microscope again, seeming to ignore his presence entirely when she moved over to jot down some notes.  Though he knew she was engrossed in what she was doing, Todd didn't take to being ignored, and before Serena had the chance to return to gazing through her microscope Todd covered the eye piece with his hand.  When Serena turned back to find a hand in her way she looked up to say she had work to do, but was silenced by Todd's lips.  He kissed her slowly and passionately, putting every thought and emotion he had for her through their link, making Serena groan into his mouth in response.

The sound of someone clearing their throat was what brought an end to the lover's embrace.  They both turned to find McKay standing in the doorway looking very uncomfortable and even a bit ill.  Serena couldn't help the small giggle, which she tried to hide in Todd's shoulder, but the vibration from her laugh caused him to make a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a growl.  This only served to make Rodney more nervous as he said in a shaky voice,
"Um...Carter wants to a....see you two... in command."  The look on Todd's face made Rodney want to run for the hills.  Sufficed to say, Todd wasn't happy about being interrupted for such a simple thing, but Serena tried to sooth it over by running her fingers over his spine.  Instantly Todd's eyes rolled back in his head as he took a deep shuddering breath, while Serena motioned for McKay to beat it, saying,
"We'll be there in a bit."  Rodney nodded and booked it as fast as he could out the door and down the hall before Todd could come back to himself.

Serena shivered as Todd growled into her shoulder, his sharp teeth grazing against the skin while his hands tightened around her waist.  In the back of her head Serena knew they didn't have time for this, but it felt so good, and they hadn't had any real time together since he had returned from checking on his own alliance.  Todd moved them so she was laying back on an empty part of her desk, while he continued to move above her, his desire pressing solidly against her.  She could feel his ache just as acutely as if it were her own, but she rained in her desire and said,
"We have to go, or soon Sheppard will be banging the door down."  Todd just growled in response, actually digging his teeth into her skin slightly saying through their link,
'Let him come.'  Serena laughed, which soon turned into a groan as Todd sucked on the wound he had made.  She was loosing her concentration and Todd wasn't cooperating.  Finally She managed to pry his mouth off of her neck saying,
"We really need to go, this may be important."  Todd sighed and moved back to allow Serena off her desk.  She straightened herself up a bit and then walked out the door with a grumbling Wraith Commander in tow.

Carter was in her office along with Sheppard when they finally made it to command.  Sheppard gave them both a disapproving look before heading out, which meant he and Colonel Carter had already heard of Rodney's latest escape from Todd's wrath.  Though to be fair he hadn't knocked before barging into Serena's lab like he owned the place.  However, that wasn't the reason Carter had called them to her office.  The Colonel was sitting at her desk when they entered, but she soon rose and moved to stand in front of the desk as she spoke, saying,
"I'm assuming that Todd has yet to tell you about the outcome of our negotiations with this new Queen and her alliance?"  Serena looked up at Todd, but he answer was directed at the Colonel as she said,
"No he hasn't, but then again he had something else on his mind."  Carter grinned slightly, and then sighed saying,
"Yes, so I've heard.  In any case, I wanted to talk to you about one of the terms of the agreement we have made with the Queen.  She wishes to have access to your notes while you are trying to come up with a cure, so that if there are any discrepancies in your research she might be able to help you correct them, as she put it."  Before Serena had the chance to voice her outrage Carter cut in saying,
"We aren't going to be giving her your redone notes since the memory transfer, just the ones you had before that, and only in small chunks at a time.  Hopefully these will keep her busy, thinking she has the real thing, long enough for us to discern whether her motives are what she says they are."  Serena calmed slightly as she listened and thought it through.  Even if they thought they had the cure and made a serum of their own, without her newly advanced notes they would suffer side effects very similar to Michael's, if not worse.  But, she also saw how this could be the best way to keep the Queen busy until they knew what she was really after.  So Serena nodded saying,
"Alright, I'll make copies of my old notes and have them to you by tomorrow morning."  Cater looked up at Todd and smiled at his expression saying,
"Oh there's no need to rush, why don't you get them to me sometime in the next couple of days.  After all it's been awhile since you've had a break, and I'm told you shouldn't be working too hard in your present condition.  Take some time off."  The last bit was said as an order and when Serena looked up at Todd she realized she wasn't going to be getting out of this one.

The New Girl
Chapter Twenty-Eight

Todd had tried to go easy on her, but Serena had bit, clawed and begged for him to give her more.  And in all honesty Todd hadn't been one to deny his lover what they wanted, though he was far more attentive, making sure not to push her too far that their child would be in danger.  Still when Serena woke up the next day she was soar, sure she liked it and reveled in the knowledge that Todd had given into her desires, but at the same time it was going to make her day difficult.  So very carefully she untangled herself from a still sleeping Todd and tip-toed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.  The clock told her it was past noon already, and even if Carter had told her to take time off she still wanted to get her old notes copied and sent off before she did anything else.

She was in the middle of rinsing her hair from its second wash when she felt two strong arms encircle her waist.  Todd slid in under the hot stream of water pulling Serena flush against him.  His mind was open and his body calm as he ran his hands over her belly, feeling their child, its mind and body just as calm as his.  It was all Serena could do to keep herself from falling asleep in the shower as her mind followed theirs.  Todd's arms held her up until she came back to herself, at which time she cursed him in her mind playfully while she helped him to get clean.  Once they were both dressed Serena decided to head to her lab to get her notes.  Todd, however, wouldn't have it and instead of walking her to the lab steered her to the mess-hall.  Serena grumbled under her breath saying,
"I need to get those notes copied and sent to Colonel Carter."
"But you also need to eat, and rest.  Colonel Carter told you the notes could wait, and to take some time for yourself.  Besides I can feel how hungry you both are." said Todd, rubbing Serena's belly to emphasize his last point.

Serena sighed, but relented as she smelled bacon, eggs, Belgian waffles and fresh coffee.  She filled her plate, then got a glass of milk and was about to get herself a cup of coffee when Todd stopped her, saying,
"Keller said decaf if you still wish to drink coffee."  In a huff Serena did as instructed and poured herself a cup of decaf before heading to a nearby sitting area.  The chairs were far more comfortable then in the mess-hall, and easier on her back and legs.  Todd sat with her in silence watching as she ate thinking of how wonderful it would be to join her.  Though he could technically eat like she could, his body took no substance from it, no nourishment.  That was what he longed for, to be able to sit and eat with her, to become full and satisfied with her.  It may seem strange to any other being, but to him it would draw them even closer then they already were.  In his mind he could feel their child getting stronger, growing bigger everyday as she woke, worked, ate and slept.  He just hoped to whatever Gods were listening that his child wouldn't inherit his ability to feed on humans, humans like its mother.  He shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts before Serena caught on, and just watched her as she finished her eggs and dug into the waffles.

Though Todd had Serena on a tight leash on what she was and was not allowed to do, he did allow her to retrieve her notes from her lab under the condition that she take time to just relax and not worry about getting them copied.  This proved to be more difficult then she had anticipated, cause though Serena loved that she had so much time to spend with Todd, she couldn't help that little nagging at the back of her head.  Those notes needed to get done, and Serena found she just couldn't ignore them.  So with Todd's help they sat on the bed in their room and began the slow and tedious task of copying her note together.  Even if it wasn't the kind of time Todd was hoping to spend with Serena, he still found himself relaxing into the motions of copying.  Stopping every once in a while to look over at Serena and feel out whether she was getting tired, or hungry yet.  After about two hours worth of work, the notes were done and Serena wanted to drop them by Carter's office on the way to the mess-hall.  Todd took the notes from her saying,
"You go and eat, I will deliver the notes to Colonel Carter."  Serena was about to protest, but the look she got from Todd left no room for argument.  So she relented and headed down the hallway to get something to eat knowing Todd would meet up with her at the mess-hall as soon as he was done.

As Serena sat with her lunch just munching rather then really eating it, she thought on this new Queen that they hoped to form an alliance with.  Though Carter wanted to cure as many Wraith as possible so as to help the human peoples throughout the Pegasus Galaxy, Serena was very wary of the new Queen.  True everyone was suspicious of her true intentions, but that didn't seem to stop them from inviting her to join their cause.  Although she and her men were told to remain on a world a ways away from Atlantis, Serena could still feel that prickling at the back of her mind.  Like someone was constantly at the back door trying to peek in past the curtains, but never seeming to get a clear view of what was inside.  She hated that feeling, and no matter what she did, Serena couldn't seem to get rid of that presence.  Serena was so focused on that feeling in her mind that she didn't notice Todd come in and sit next to her at their usual spot in the sitting area.

When Todd sat down he noted how distracted she was and gently touched her arm to let Serena know he was there.  This startled her slightly, but once she looked up into his eyes she smiled saying,
"Hey, how'd it go with Colonel Carter?"  Todd tilted his head slightly at her question.  She knew he had only been delivering her notes, why would it have gone badly?  Then he gently probed her mind, glancing over her feelings of worry and that nagging at the back of her brain.  It was at this point that he became concerned, and said,
"How long have been able to feel her from this distance?"  At first Serena looked confused, but after a moment she hung her head as if she were a child telling its parent an embarrassing secret, saying,
"Since yesterday afternoon.  It's just a constant feeling of eyes on me, though they can't seem to see much.  God! it's so hard to describe."  Todd smiled slightly saying,
"You don't need to, I can feel it too, though I'm surprised she has focused in on you too."

Serena stood up and walked over to Todd, who opened his arms for her to sit on his lap.  She leaned completely against him, letting her body sink into his along with her mind.  Though Todd knew she liked to have her thoughts to herself, Serena couldn't deny that being able to share one's feelings and thoughts in the way they could was refreshing.  Not only did they understand each other on a deeper level, but it made it so much easier to handle their relationship knowing what the other was thinking and feeling.  However, now they had another mind in on their privet little conference, and Serena smiled as she felt the small and slightly timid poke of their child's mind.  Todd could feel Serena's smile and their child's subtle prodding and gently, but firmly pushed it back so as not to let on the seriousness of the situation and cause the fetus any undo stress.  Serena looked up at him confused at first, but as he spoke in her mind, Todd's concerns became quite clear.
'This Queen is searching for something other then the cure, though for what I am not sure.  Until I know what it is she seeks I want you to practice closing off your mind, even from me.'  He quieted her before she could protest saying aloud,
"Just until I know what's going on.  It would be best that we keep her as in the dark as possible until we are certain she can be trusted."

That statement had Serena wrinkling her nose saying,
"I don't trust her period.  What are we even doing letting her in on the cure, if and when we find it?  For all we know she could just waiting for the right moment to destroy Atlantis so she can make a name for herself.  Plus if she has the cure, her soldiers won't need to fight the other alliances for food, they could just annihilate them until hers is the only faction left.  Then what?!  An age of being ruled by a race of Wraith who no longer need to feed, but need our resources to keep them strong.  Oh yes that sounds a heap of a lot better!"  Todd couldn't help the smile on his face as she went on and on, but finally he pulled her to him tight, letting his calm mind flow over hers saying,
"I am well aware of the dangers that could be had from letting her become our ally, my Serena.  But, if you remember, we had little choice in the matter.  The only thing that remains now is finding out how she came to know of our location and what her true motives are."  Serena huffed in slight irritation as Todd went on,
"In any case, let's not worry about such things now.  Let us enjoy the time we have together before I must return to my men."  The last bit was said as he rubbed his hand along her slightly swollen belly.  Serena giggle saying,
"And how do you know it'll be a boy, for all you know it could just as easily be a girl."  Todd smiled and place both of his palms on her womb saying,
"Whether male or female, this child is a part of both of us, and therefor will be my pride and joy."  With those words the two of them sat in complete silence, not a word needed to be spoken mentally or otherwise.  It was just the three of them in that sitting area.  The cares and worries of their everyday lives could wait, so long as they stayed in each other's arms.

The rest of the day pasted by lazily, yet both Todd and Serena felt it was over too soon.  Though they knew they had an other day or two before Todd needed to head back to his men, and Serena back to her lab.  They felt that it just wasn't enough time, and Serena was beginning to feeling like they would never have enough time to spend together.  Even if they had their disagreements and trials along the way, Serena still felt she would never get enough of Todd.  She's miss him when he was gone, love him while he was close, laugh when he failed to understand human nuance, and get pissed at him when he got overly protective.  Yep, it was official.  They were in this for the long haul, and there was on one and nothing that could tear them apart, at least none that Serena could see.

Description
The New Girl
Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sheppard stood next to Ronan as Todd and Colonel Carter sat with the Wraith Queen under a grove of large trees.  They had been talking for nearly an hour and Sheppard was board, but he knew things like this took time, and needed to be looked at from every angle possible.  After all, if this all went to hell, they wanted to at least have a backup plan in place so as not to be caught with their preverbal pants down.  The planet they had chosen for the meeting was very much like the one Todd's alliance inhabited.  Remote and life sustaining, with plenty of animals and vegetation though no intelligent life-forms other then the Queen's envoy and the Atlantis team.  Though depending on how this meeting went, there might be a new alliance of Wraith making this world their temporary home.

Todd didn't like it, he could feel that the Queen was hiding something from them, he just couldn't figure out what.  Though she was willing to adhere to Carter's rules and in all outward appearance seemed concerned for her soldiers, Todd couldn't shake how her mind seemed to mock him in its ability to block his subtle probing.  Even so Carter went on with negotiations, saying,
"So you are willing to remain here on this world and wait for the cure, and follow our instructions when it comes to taking blood samples from you and your men?"  The Queen nodded saying,
"I am, though I must allow some of my ships to be able to come and go as needed, seeing as how our feeding stores are getting very low.  As I have mentioned before, several officers have already been put down due to their inability to stave off their hunger, we've stretched our stores too far as it is."  Todd stepped in then and said,
"Would you be willing to allow someone to look your feeding stores over and assess..."
"Whether I'm telling the truth?" the Queen interrupted, her eyes glaring at Todd accusingly.  Carter spoke up then, saying,
"Only a precaution, to be sure that your stores are low, and if so what can be done to replenish them.  But only if it's absolutely necessary for you and your men to survive.  Are we agreed?"

It was a moment or two before the Queen nodded her head in acceptance of this, which effectively ended the meeting except for a few miner details.  The Queen was to have herself and her alliance give Atlantis blood samples over the next few days.  Then depending on how things progressed, and if the Queen's alliance followed the rules, then she might be allowed access to the research for the cure that has been accumulated thus far.  Though both Todd and Carter felt it would be best to keep the research under wraps until they were sure of what this Queen's true motives were, the Queen had been very adamant in requesting access to the research in return for all her cooperation.  So Carter relented, but it was agreed the Queen would only receive the research a bit at a time, enough to meet the bargain, but not enough for the Queen to make off with.  All in all a seemingly reasonable arrangement, and by the end of it all, hopefully, more lives would be saved with the more Wraiths they cured.

Once Todd and the other's were on board the Jumper headed back to Atlantis Carter relaid the meeting and the outcome to Sheppard, who proceeded to try and talk his commander out of sharing Serena's research.  But Carter remained resolved to keep her end of the bargain, saying,
"It's not like we'll be giving them everything, John."  Sheppard growled saying,
"No but you know she'll have her own scientists looking the notes over, who knows she might even come up with the cure before us, especially with Serena's new and improved theories since the memory transfer."  This was Todd's worry as well.  If they went ahead with this and allowed the Queen access to Serena's new notes, even if it was just a bit at a time, they may come up with a cure before she did.  Todd was about to voice his agreement with Sheppard when Carter spoke, saying,
"Who says we're going to give her Serena's new notes?"  Both Todd and Sheppard stared at Carter for a moment, and then Todd grinned as Sheppard said,
"Wait!  You mean to give them her old notes instead.  Was this the plan from the beginning?!"  It was at that point that Todd laughed, saying,
"It is like I said when we first met Sheppard...you are more like us then you know."  It was John's turn to smile as he turned back to Carter saying,
"Nice one Colonel.  Only thing is, will they catch on that we've sent them useless notes?"   Todd smiled as he looked at Carter with a new found respect as he answered, saying,
"The notes aren't completely useless, but they are incomplete.  Without the new information Serena received from my...Queen, this new alliance won't be able to make a viable cure without certain side effects.  As you have already seen and experienced with Michael."

Sheppard considered this as the Jumper approached the space gate that would lead them home.  Soon the gate was open and the I.D.C. was sent through to let Atlantis know it was them so they could lower the shield to let them through.  They received the ok to head through, and were soon through the gate and moving up to the Jumper docks.  As soon as the Jumper door opened Todd was out and on his way to Serena's lab to check on her, while Sheppard remained behind to continue discussing their new guests and what precautions should be taken to warn them if the Queen decided to attack.  Todd moved through the halls quickly.  He wasn't sure why he was so anxious, but he knew he'd feel better once he found Serena and held her for a while.  Just as this thought went through his head Todd stopped mid-stride thinking to himself,
'When did I start needing her to calm my mind?'  But deep down he knew that he had started needing her presence to ease his thoughts long before he had even realized he had deeper feeling for her.  Serena had wormed her way into his heart, and now there was no getting rid of her.  Not that he wanted her gone, quite the opposite in fact, especially now that she was carrying his child.  He started walking again as his mind wondered to how she would start to look in the coming months, round with child and glowing with love and pride as she listened to their child's thoughts and emotions.  It was enough to make him purr under his breath as he finally made it to Serena's lab and entered to find the object of his desire sitting at her desk, back to him, looking into a microscope.

Todd just stood in the doorway watching her work for a few minutes admiring how she was starting to show slightly.  Keller had told him that she would really start to show in her second trimester, which she had just started a few days ago.  He remembered the doctor's words, saying,
"Now she'll be starting to fill out and gain more weight, which means she'll be achey here and there, her ankles may swell a bit, and her lower back will be tender, but it's all completely normal."  Todd also recalled Keller's suggestion of messaging Serena to help rid her of the aches and to help with the swelling.  He rather liked the idea of helping Serena through out her pregnancy, and not just with her aching body.  Their minds were so intimately connected in a way that Todd had yet to understand, but in many ways he didn't care how it was that they were able to feel each other so clearly and intimately.  He was able to calm her mind and touch her emotionally, as well as give and receive reassurance on the inner most levels of their psyche.  It filled him with wonder and pride that their bond was so strong and unmatched by any other that either knew of.

As he stood there reveling in the feelings that he could sense from Serena, she straightened slightly as if just realizing something.  It was then that she said while still facing her desk,
"Well are you going to come in, or are you just going to stand in the doorway staring at me?  Cause if you have nothing better to do then that, I can think of a few things for you to do."  Todd couldn't help the smile that broke out on his face as he pushed away from the door frame and walked over to Serena.  She was looking through her microscope again, seeming to ignore his presence entirely when she moved over to jot down some notes.  Though he knew she was engrossed in what she was doing, Todd didn't take to being ignored, and before Serena had the chance to return to gazing through her microscope Todd covered the eye piece with his hand.  When Serena turned back to find a hand in her way she looked up to say she had work to do, but was silenced by Todd's lips.  He kissed her slowly and passionately, putting every thought and emotion he had for her through their link, making Serena groan into his mouth in response.

The sound of someone clearing their throat was what brought an end to the lover's embrace.  They both turned to find McKay standing in the doorway looking very uncomfortable and even a bit ill.  Serena couldn't help the small giggle, which she tried to hide in Todd's shoulder, but the vibration from her laugh caused him to make a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a growl.  This only served to make Rodney more nervous as he said in a shaky voice,
"Um...Carter wants to a....see you two... in command."  The look on Todd's face made Rodney want to run for the hills.  Sufficed to say, Todd wasn't happy about being interrupted for such a simple thing, but Serena tried to sooth it over by running her fingers over his spine.  Instantly Todd's eyes rolled back in his head as he took a deep shuddering breath, while Serena motioned for McKay to beat it, saying,
"We'll be there in a bit."  Rodney nodded and booked it as fast as he could out the door and down the hall before Todd could come back to himself.

Serena shivered as Todd growled into her shoulder, his sharp teeth grazing against the skin while his hands tightened around her waist.  In the back of her head Serena knew they didn't have time for this, but it felt so good, and they hadn't had any real time together since he had returned from checking on his own alliance.  Todd moved them so she was laying back on an empty part of her desk, while he continued to move above her, his desire pressing solidly against her.  She could feel his ache just as acutely as if it were her own, but she rained in her desire and said,
"We have to go, or soon Sheppard will be banging the door down."  Todd just growled in response, actually digging his teeth into her skin slightly saying through their link,
'Let him come.'  Serena laughed, which soon turned into a groan as Todd sucked on the wound he had made.  She was loosing her concentration and Todd wasn't cooperating.  Finally She managed to pry his mouth off of her neck saying,
"We really need to go, this may be important."  Todd sighed and moved back to allow Serena off her desk.  She straightened herself up a bit and then walked out the door with a grumbling Wraith Commander in tow.

Carter was in her office along with Sheppard when they finally made it to command.  Sheppard gave them both a disapproving look before heading out, which meant he and Colonel Carter had already heard of Rodney's latest escape from Todd's wrath.  Though to be fair he hadn't knocked before barging into Serena's lab like he owned the place.  However, that wasn't the reason Carter had called them to her office.  The Colonel was sitting at her desk when they entered, but she soon rose and moved to stand in front of the desk as she spoke, saying,
"I'm assuming that Todd has yet to tell you about the outcome of our negotiations with this new Queen and her alliance?"  Serena looked up at Todd, but he answer was directed at the Colonel as she said,
"No he hasn't, but then again he had something else on his mind."  Carter grinned slightly, and then sighed saying,
"Yes, so I've heard.  In any case, I wanted to talk to you about one of the terms of the agreement we have made with the Queen.  She wishes to have access to your notes while you are trying to come up with a cure, so that if there are any discrepancies in your research she might be able to help you correct them, as she put it."  Before Serena had the chance to voice her outrage Carter cut in saying,
"We aren't going to be giving her your redone notes since the memory transfer, just the ones you had before that, and only in small chunks at a time.  Hopefully these will keep her busy, thinking she has the real thing, long enough for us to discern whether her motives are what she says they are."  Serena calmed slightly as she listened and thought it through.  Even if they thought they had the cure and made a serum of their own, without her newly advanced notes they would suffer side effects very similar to Michael's, if not worse.  But, she also saw how this could be the best way to keep the Queen busy until they knew what she was really after.  So Serena nodded saying,
"Alright, I'll make copies of my old notes and have them to you by tomorrow morning."  Cater looked up at Todd and smiled at his expression saying,
"Oh there's no need to rush, why don't you get them to me sometime in the next couple of days.  After all it's been awhile since you've had a break, and I'm told you shouldn't be working too hard in your present condition.  Take some time off."  The last bit was said as an order and when Serena looked up at Todd she realized she wasn't going to be getting out of this one.

The New Girl
Chapter Twenty-Eight

Todd had tried to go easy on her, but Serena had bit, clawed and begged for him to give her more.  And in all honesty Todd hadn't been one to deny his lover what they wanted, though he was far more attentive, making sure not to push her too far that their child would be in danger.  Still when Serena woke up the next day she was soar, sure she liked it and reveled in the knowledge that Todd had given into her desires, but at the same time it was going to make her day difficult.  So very carefully she untangled herself from a still sleeping Todd and tip-toed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.  The clock told her it was past noon already, and even if Carter had told her to take time off she still wanted to get her old notes copied and sent off before she did anything else.

She was in the middle of rinsing her hair from its second wash when she felt two strong arms encircle her waist.  Todd slid in under the hot stream of water pulling Serena flush against him.  His mind was open and his body calm as he ran his hands over her belly, feeling their child, its mind and body just as calm as his.  It was all Serena could do to keep herself from falling asleep in the shower as her mind followed theirs.  Todd's arms held her up until she came back to herself, at which time she cursed him in her mind playfully while she helped him to get clean.  Once they were both dressed Serena decided to head to her lab to get her notes.  Todd, however, wouldn't have it and instead of walking her to the lab steered her to the mess-hall.  Serena grumbled under her breath saying,
"I need to get those notes copied and sent to Colonel Carter."
"But you also need to eat, and rest.  Colonel Carter told you the notes could wait, and to take some time for yourself.  Besides I can feel how hungry you both are." said Todd, rubbing Serena's belly to emphasize his last point.

Serena sighed, but relented as she smelled bacon, eggs, Belgian waffles and fresh coffee.  She filled her plate, then got a glass of milk and was about to get herself a cup of coffee when Todd stopped her, saying,
"Keller said decaf if you still wish to drink coffee."  In a huff Serena did as instructed and poured herself a cup of decaf before heading to a nearby sitting area.  The chairs were far more comfortable then in the mess-hall, and easier on her back and legs.  Todd sat with her in silence watching as she ate thinking of how wonderful it would be to join her.  Though he could technically eat like she could, his body took no substance from it, no nourishment.  That was what he longed for, to be able to sit and eat with her, to become full and satisfied with her.  It may seem strange to any other being, but to him it would draw them even closer then they already were.  In his mind he could feel their child getting stronger, growing bigger everyday as she woke, worked, ate and slept.  He just hoped to whatever Gods were listening that his child wouldn't inherit his ability to feed on humans, humans like its mother.  He shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts before Serena caught on, and just watched her as she finished her eggs and dug into the waffles.

Though Todd had Serena on a tight leash on what she was and was not allowed to do, he did allow her to retrieve her notes from her lab under the condition that she take time to just relax and not worry about getting them copied.  This proved to be more difficult then she had anticipated, cause though Serena loved that she had so much time to spend with Todd, she couldn't help that little nagging at the back of her head.  Those notes needed to get done, and Serena found she just couldn't ignore them.  So with Todd's help they sat on the bed in their room and began the slow and tedious task of copying her note together.  Even if it wasn't the kind of time Todd was hoping to spend with Serena, he still found himself relaxing into the motions of copying.  Stopping every once in a while to look over at Serena and feel out whether she was getting tired, or hungry yet.  After about two hours worth of work, the notes were done and Serena wanted to drop them by Carter's office on the way to the mess-hall.  Todd took the notes from her saying,
"You go and eat, I will deliver the notes to Colonel Carter."  Serena was about to protest, but the look she got from Todd left no room for argument.  So she relented and headed down the hallway to get something to eat knowing Todd would meet up with her at the mess-hall as soon as he was done.

As Serena sat with her lunch just munching rather then really eating it, she thought on this new Queen that they hoped to form an alliance with.  Though Carter wanted to cure as many Wraith as possible so as to help the human peoples throughout the Pegasus Galaxy, Serena was very wary of the new Queen.  True everyone was suspicious of her true intentions, but that didn't seem to stop them from inviting her to join their cause.  Although she and her men were told to remain on a world a ways away from Atlantis, Serena could still feel that prickling at the back of her mind.  Like someone was constantly at the back door trying to peek in past the curtains, but never seeming to get a clear view of what was inside.  She hated that feeling, and no matter what she did, Serena couldn't seem to get rid of that presence.  Serena was so focused on that feeling in her mind that she didn't notice Todd come in and sit next to her at their usual spot in the sitting area.

When Todd sat down he noted how distracted she was and gently touched her arm to let Serena know he was there.  This startled her slightly, but once she looked up into his eyes she smiled saying,
"Hey, how'd it go with Colonel Carter?"  Todd tilted his head slightly at her question.  She knew he had only been delivering her notes, why would it have gone badly?  Then he gently probed her mind, glancing over her feelings of worry and that nagging at the back of her brain.  It was at this point that he became concerned, and said,
"How long have been able to feel her from this distance?"  At first Serena looked confused, but after a moment she hung her head as if she were a child telling its parent an embarrassing secret, saying,
"Since yesterday afternoon.  It's just a constant feeling of eyes on me, though they can't seem to see much.  God! it's so hard to describe."  Todd smiled slightly saying,
"You don't need to, I can feel it too, though I'm surprised she has focused in on you too."

Serena stood up and walked over to Todd, who opened his arms for her to sit on his lap.  She leaned completely against him, letting her body sink into his along with her mind.  Though Todd knew she liked to have her thoughts to herself, Serena couldn't deny that being able to share one's feelings and thoughts in the way they could was refreshing.  Not only did they understand each other on a deeper level, but it made it so much easier to handle their relationship knowing what the other was thinking and feeling.  However, now they had another mind in on their privet little conference, and Serena smiled as she felt the small and slightly timid poke of their child's mind.  Todd could feel Serena's smile and their child's subtle prodding and gently, but firmly pushed it back so as not to let on the seriousness of the situation and cause the fetus any undo stress.  Serena looked up at him confused at first, but as he spoke in her mind, Todd's concerns became quite clear.
'This Queen is searching for something other then the cure, though for what I am not sure.  Until I know what it is she seeks I want you to practice closing off your mind, even from me.'  He quieted her before she could protest saying aloud,
"Just until I know what's going on.  It would be best that we keep her as in the dark as possible until we are certain she can be trusted."

That statement had Serena wrinkling her nose saying,
"I don't trust her period.  What are we even doing letting her in on the cure, if and when we find it?  For all we know she could just waiting for the right moment to destroy Atlantis so she can make a name for herself.  Plus if she has the cure, her soldiers won't need to fight the other alliances for food, they could just annihilate them until hers is the only faction left.  Then what?!  An age of being ruled by a race of Wraith who no longer need to feed, but need our resources to keep them strong.  Oh yes that sounds a heap of a lot better!"  Todd couldn't help the smile on his face as she went on and on, but finally he pulled her to him tight, letting his calm mind flow over hers saying,
"I am well aware of the dangers that could be had from letting her become our ally, my Serena.  But, if you remember, we had little choice in the matter.  The only thing that remains now is finding out how she came to know of our location and what her true motives are."  Serena huffed in slight irritation as Todd went on,
"In any case, let's not worry about such things now.  Let us enjoy the time we have together before I must return to my men."  The last bit was said as he rubbed his hand along her slightly swollen belly.  Serena giggle saying,
"And how do you know it'll be a boy, for all you know it could just as easily be a girl."  Todd smiled and place both of his palms on her womb saying,
"Whether male or female, this child is a part of both of us, and therefor will be my pride and joy."  With those words the two of them sat in complete silence, not a word needed to be spoken mentally or otherwise.  It was just the three of them in that sitting area.  The cares and worries of their everyday lives could wait, so long as they stayed in each other's arms.

The rest of the day pasted by lazily, yet both Todd and Serena felt it was over too soon.  Though they knew they had an other day or two before Todd needed to head back to his men, and Serena back to her lab.  They felt that it just wasn't enough time, and Serena was beginning to feeling like they would never have enough time to spend together.  Even if they had their disagreements and trials along the way, Serena still felt she would never get enough of Todd.  She's miss him when he was gone, love him while he was close, laugh when he failed to understand human nuance, and get pissed at him when he got overly protective.  Yep, it was official.  They were in this for the long haul, and there was on one and nothing that could tear them apart, at least none that Serena could see.