{"id":984,"date":"2024-08-25T21:01:46","date_gmt":"2024-08-25T21:01:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=984"},"modified":"2024-08-25T21:01:47","modified_gmt":"2024-08-25T21:01:47","slug":"wires-crossed","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=984","title":{"rendered":"Wires Crossed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Title:<\/strong>\u00a0Wires Crossed
Fandoms: <\/strong>Stargate Atlantis\/NCIS
Pairing(s): <\/strong>Ziva David, John Sheppard
Genre:<\/strong> HET, adventure
Summary:<\/strong> In a tumultuous turn of events, John Sheppard finds himself wondering why the Asgard are on this planet and why his supposed dead friend is up in space, too.
Published: <\/strong>2023
Word Count: <\/strong>3186 words<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Different day, same shit<\/em>, John Sheppard thought as he found himself stranded on an unfamiliar planet without getting in touch with any of his team, or Atlantis. Recently, it was more of a miracle if the mission went off without a hitch, but somehow, Atlantis\u2019 favourite Botanist Dr. Parrish had managed to piss off the universe or something and every mission ended up with at least one of the team lost, only to show up a few days later worse for wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And to be honest, Sheppard was not in the mood to spend days in the infirmary again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t have to be a scientist though to know that there was a bad storm coming, and he had to find shelter. Fast. It was likely the storm that had cut him off from all communication with his team, and all he needed to do was survive the storm and then see if he could get a pickup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was likely, but not a given. This new Galaxy they were in, perched on the edge of Pegasus, was a harsh and unforgiving one with new dangers providing higher stakes than they had encountered before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard found a cave hidden behind some bushes, they were always behind bushes when you were in a freaking forest, and it was surprisingly dry. He used the flashlight on his P90 to get his bearings and to check for any critters, but much to his surprise, there was nothing special about this cave. No cobwebs, no droppings, no markings, nothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which, in itself, was special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potentially dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the sky unleashed its fury outside the cave, the thunder coming down and shaking the ground, the earth underneath him opened up and he got swallowed up by it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was falling through a void, accelerating every second. The lights flashing by were not any different than the event horizon and the lights of a stargate, but this journey was uncontrolled and he had definitely not stepped through a stargate. Eventually, the plummeting came to a full stop and Sheppard collided with the solid ground, the force expelling air from his lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh, now what?\u201d he groaned as he sat up and rubbed his neck, looking around, shining his P90 flashlight in the area, casting its beam into the shadows. Sheppard once again found himself in a cave, with peculiar symbols and drawings etched into the stone walls. If he didn\u2019t know any better, he\u2019d have sworn they were Norse runes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if they were Norse runes? What were the Asgard doing here? Wherever here was?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He eventually found his way out of the cave, and through the trees he could see a small settlement nearby. It was dark, and not many people were out in the street, but maybe that was a good thing because the settlement looked a lot like a human village, complete with historic buildings and a town square and he was definitely not inconspicuous with his submachine gun, his uniform and all the gear he had on him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard hid his gun as well as he could, making use of the darkness and walked around the town square. He noticed a restaurant called the Mystic Grill, a hardware store carrying the name Mystic Falls, same with the apothecary, a mall, a bookstore, a flower shop\u2026 was he in a place called Mystic Falls?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He found an old news paper laying on one of the benches in the town square, the Mystic Falls Gazette, and it mentioned some small town news, mentioned Virginia and some recent news from the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no way that he had landed himself back on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked sliced through the air, causing him to freeze in his tracks. The female voice that followed, initially mistaken for Arabic, quickly revealed itself as Hebrew, and it didn\u2019t sound too nice. \u201cI would love to answer you but I have no idea what you just said,\u201d he said as he dropped the newspaper and put his hands up in surrender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh for heaven\u2019s sake,\u201d the woman sounded exasperated, the tension evident in her voice.  Sheppard could hear the gun go back on safety before he was being spun around. \u201cOf course it\u2019s you who finds me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To say that Sheppard was surprised, was an understatement, and all he could do was look at the woman with his mouth open, completely at a loss for words. This woman, by all accounts, was supposed to be dead, and she shouldn\u2019t be out in space on a planet. \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho sent you? Was it Gibbs? Tony?\u201d the woman holstered her gun but reached for his ear and pulled him along with her. \u201cAbby?\u201d

\u201cOuch! No!\u201d Sheppard protested as he was being pulled into a dark alleyway like a petulant child. \u201cCan you tell me what you\u2019re doing alive and in space?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d the woman stopped dragging him and now it was her turn to look at him, dumbfounded. For a moment she considered his words before hitting him on the arm. \u201cWe\u2019re in Mystic Falls, Virginia. Earth,\u201d she responded and shrugged. \u201cI think being up there with you is a better hiding spot though\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard rubbed his arm as he stared at her. She looked amazing for a dead person. \u201cWhy aren\u2019t you dead?\u201d It was out before he knew it. \u201cNot that I\u2019m not happy to see you alive and well, but Ziva, you died three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, if that little thing even convinced you\u2026\u201d she said as a matter of factly and then shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know, John, I thought better of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, don\u2019t you start. I looked into your death personally with all the technology we have at our disposal. There was no trace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd that should have been a clue,\u201d Ziva pointed out. \u201cI have been looking for those responsible since it happened.\u201d She pushed him against the nearest wall. \u201cBut I swear, if you tell a soul that you\u2019ve seen me here, so close to everyone, I will kill you, John Sheppard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have a lot to answer for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Ziva said with half a shrug, keeping Sheppard pushed against the wall. \u201cBut I have my reasons and those reasons are known to Tony.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard gently cupped Ziva\u2019s face and smiled at her the moment that he detected a chink in her emotional armor. \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re not dead, Ziva, but if you\u2019re in trouble, you should have reached out to me,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She turned her face away from him and withdrew from his touch as she took a step back. Ziva took a deep breath and shook her head. \u201cI don\u2019t want you to die. This is my battle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy duty is up in space, Ziva,\u201d Sheppard retorted, slightly frustrated. \u201cI deal with space vampires, zombies and all sorts of cosmic threats. Our botanist pissed off the universe and everytime we go out, we risk dying even more,\u201d he berated her. \u201cSo don\u2019t use the excuse that you don\u2019t want other people to get killed because of your battle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She grumbled and grabbed him by the sleeve as she pulled him along to her temporary residence. \u201cI\u2019m heavily relying on my network of people to plan what I\u2019m going to do next,\u201d Ziva told him. \u201cOccasionally I find Tony and Tali and watch them from afar, but never too long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is going on, Ziva? Can I help in any way?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. You need to get off the streets,\u201d she motioned at his outfit. \u201cAnd then, you\u2019re going to stay the night, in the morning you can phone up your friends to come and pick you up, after I leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re really in danger, you could come with?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot without Tony and Tali,\u201d she countered. \u201cAnd I will not allow my daughter to grow up on a– space station.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAtlantis is more than that, you\u2019ve been there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know, and I don\u2019t want Tali to grow up there. She\u2019s safe, with Tony,\u201d she opened the door to her small home and locked it with several locks. \u201cSorry, I don\u2019t have a bed,\u201d Ziva motioned towards the couch that was strategically set up to see all entry points and corners of the home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard walked a circuit around the room, peering out the windows through the curtains and glanced over at her. \u201cMaybe you should tell me what exactly is going on,\u201d he eventually said, realizing that he was dealing with a Ziva who was scared and wanting to protect what was hers. It was unlike her to be scared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need your help,\u201d she insisted as she watched him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know, but maybe it will help if you could talk to a friend who lives mostly up there<\/em>,\u201d he pointed to the sky as he sat down next to the coffee table and unclipped his gun, placing it on the table. The next thing he lost was his vest. \u201cAnd you know I don\u2019t talk to your friends much, I\u2019m pretty sure Gibbs still wants to shoot me for that time where I did take you to my home without telling him and you returning with a new scar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A small smile appeared on Ziva\u2019s face as she sat down on the couch, remembering the event fondly. \u201cDid it bother you learning that Tony and I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He let out a breath. \u201cOf course, but I also wasn\u2019t under the assumption that you and I would last. Tony was always going to be your end game, so as long as you\u2019re happy, I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood, because I thought—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut you\u2019re not happy,\u201d Sheppard pointed out and scooted up a little so he was closer to her, still sitting on the floor. \u201cAnd I promise, I will not help, but maybe it helps to off load your burden a little. I could offer a new perspective on whatever you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ziva knew that her old friend made sense, but she could feel the fear in her heart. The only thing she knew for certain was that the farmhouse explosion should have claimed both hers and her daughter\u2019s lives. Only through divine intervention did she manage to escape with Tali before that actually happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while she was far from being happy, at the moment, she held on to the hope that it would return once she discovered the mystery behind the threat against her life. \u201cI wish I could, John,\u201d she confessed. \u201cBut I have gone over everything found on the scene. Every rapport, every piece of evidence from all agencies involved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven the SGC?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, of course not, I don\u2019t have access to that, nor do I have friends who—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWrong,\u201d he interjected. \u201cI am still your friend, and you know how to reach me. So, give me your laptop,\u201d he requested, extending his hand to receive what he asked for \u201cKnowing you, your laptop is armed to the teeth and secure to make a connection with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally? You\u2019re going to give me access to classified government material, the freedom to snoop around and even see if there are aliens at Area 51?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are no aliens at Area 51, Ziva,\u201d he responded with a playful eye roll. \u201cI\u2019m going to download the file and send it to you, before logging out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI may have a keylogger on my laptop, you never know,\u201d she quipped with a smile as she produced her laptop from underneath one of the couch cushions. \u201cI may have picked up a trick or two from McGee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ll be back on duty tomorrow where I can change my password,\u201d he pointed out. \u201cIt will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that, Ziva handed him the laptop, and he began the process of accessing the information that Ziva could use to shed more light on the mysterious event of her nearly losing her life. Ziva, meanwhile, went over to the kitchen to make some tea for the both of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave you had any contact with a friend during these last few years?\u201d he asked as he logged into the secure server and went looking for the reports they had on the explosion. \u201cAside from texting Tony?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Aren’t you lonely?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s worth it,” she replied as she set out two mugs and put tea bags in them. \u201cBecause in the end, everyone will be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to do this on your own, you know,\u201d he repeated, but he also knew that if Ziva had an idea in her head that it was difficult to take her off of it. He glanced back at the laptop, then added with a nonchalant shrug, “But alright, it appears you’re on the hunt for a woman.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Oh?” Ziva carefully poured hot water into the mugs before carrying them to the table. “How do you figure? All the evidence yielded nothing, no DNA.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrue,\u201d he said as he showed her the information. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019m in the process of copying this to your hard drive. We have technology capable of detecting energy signatures, capturing scents, or essentially providing a snapshot of past events. It’s not foolproof,” Sheppard explained as he watched her take a seat beside him, “but if this represents you and Tali,” he gestured to faint purple streaks emanating from the cabin, not very distinct but still discernible, “then this might be the person you’re after. The color has faded with time, but…”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat even looks like a woman,\u201d Ziva said surprised, almost crawling into John\u2019s lap as she looked at the picture closer. \u201cI mean, if you squint.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. I mean, all the information is in the file. Like you said, we didn\u2019t find anything of substance, and without a DNA signature it\u2019s hard to determine who this person was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But at least it narrows down the list of suspects!” Ziva’s excitement bubbled over, and she impulsively grasped John’s face with both hands, planting a kiss on his lips before realizing her actions and hastily pulling away. “My apologies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard couldn\u2019t help but to smile at her enthusiasm and the brief moment where the walls she put up came down. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d and she shouldn\u2019t. It wasn\u2019t as if they hadn\u2019t done it before, although now things were slightly different with her having chosen Tony and having a child with him. \u201cI just hope all of this helps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ziva played with the tea bag in her mug before discarding the tea bag. \u201cI shall dive into this tomorrow after I found a new place to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m most definitely going to leave because of your pick-up,\u201d she pointed out, not looking up from her mug, a bit of red on her cheeks. \u201cDrink you tea, have a shower if you\u2019d like. Take the couch, I\u2019ll take the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take the floor,\u201d he said as he made sure to remove all evidence of him having been on Ziva\u2019s laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ziva let out a frustrated whine. \u201cJohn Sheppard, you are impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, you are,\u201d he winked at her before closing the laptop and drinking his tea. \u201cCome on, you\u2019ve missed this, some normal, human interaction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She opened her mouth to say something back, but opted against it and changed the subject instead. \u201cIf you were up \u2026 there, how come did you end up\u2026 here, of all places?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m not entirely sure, to be honest,” he said, propping himself up on his hands and leaning back slightly. “Possibly Asgard involvement; there were some Norse-looking drawings in that cave.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Ah,” Ziva responded, taking a sip of her tea. “I do believe this town has a history of Viking settlers.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Damn,” he muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRule 39, though,\u201d Ziva pointed out. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s something your people can look into.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard thought for a moment, the rules. Gibbs\u2019 rules. Ziva had made him memorize them and whenever there was an update, she had emailed him with the new numbers and rules. Something about coincidences. That there weren\u2019t any. \u201cOh, they will after I give them my after-action report, especially considering this hasn\u2019t happened before to my knowledge, and why here, now, and all that jazz,\u201d he nonchalantly waved his hand in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not remotely interested?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho do you think is going to take a science expedition back to where I fell through the universe and hope that nobody else is going to fall through the floor and end up here?\u201d Sheppard said with half a chuckle. \u201cIt\u2019ll be fine. It\u2019s not\u2026 life threatening like your situation is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be fine, like you,\u201d Ziva smiled at him, rose to her feet and settled on the couch, knowing that John didn\u2019t need blankets, much like herself. \u201cGood night, John.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Night, Ziva,” he replied, returning her smile. They shared a silent understanding that neither of them would likely get any sleep tonight, and Ziva was probably going to make her exit as soon as he closed his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe both know we won\u2019t be sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She propped herself up on her arm and lazily smiled. \u201cWhat are you suggesting?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silence settled between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the silence of two people who had seen their fair share of chaos and had learned to appreciate the moments of calm, even if they were in the most unusual of circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the hours ticked by, they continued to talk and shared stories. The bond between them grew stronger, a reassuring constant in a world where everything else was uncertain. And even though sleep eluded them, the night was not entirely lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard hadn\u2019t given up on Ziva, knowing her quite well. Her transition from the couch to the floor had been a quiet and unspoken invitation, one that he readily accepted. Carefully, he adjusted his position to make her more comfortable, cradling her in his arms as she settled in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ziva’s breathing soon became steady and deep, a clear indication of her exhaustion. Sheppard didn’t dare to move, not wanting to disturb her fragile slumber. He knew that she had likely gone without sleep for a very long time, and this moment of rest was a gift for her and he didn\u2019t want to ruin it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ziva wasn\u2019t his. She was never his, despite them having some fun in the past. They were good friends and he was doing her a favor by giving her the comfort she needed. He wasn\u2019t supposed to be here, but he was, and Ziva was happily snoring in his arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, she was most likely going to beat him up when she woke up later, but for now, the little scared ninja could feel some safety and not so alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following morning when Sheppard woke up, Ziva wasn\u2019t there anymore. Her belongings, gone, except for a cellphone that had been wiped clean, but in the notes of the phone he found a note to him saying \u2018thank you\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smiling, Sheppard dialed the number of General O\u2019Neill and requested a pick up from Mystic Falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh boy, this was going to be one long debrief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n