stargateficrec | Colorado Hold 'Em by ShippenStand (T)

Show: SGA

Rec Category: Evan Lorne
Characters: Evan Lorne, Laura Cadman, John Sheppard, Richard Woolsey
Pairings: Evan Lorne/Laura Cadman
Categories: Mostly Gen, with a bit of het
Warnings: None
Author on LJ:

shippen_stand
Author's Website: On AO3
Link: Colorado Hold 'Em

Why This Must Be Read: Because Evan Lorne is seriously badass (the other characters in the fic call him Batman) but also having a rough time adjusting to life outside of the military. This is set in the Vegas alternate timeline, so John Sheppard is also one of Evan's colleagues with LVPD. This story demonstrates Evan's brilliance against the backdrop of a mystery. Also Laura Cadman is pretty badass herself, and she makes a lovely protagonist alongside Evan.

“License and registration, ma’am,” Lorne said, looking at the underdressed woman in the car. She had bleached white hair and a halter top he could look down without trying. In fact, she seemed to be hoping that her breasts would get her out of a ticket. “You have a brake light out.”

Flustered, she reached for her purse, and Lorne put his hand on his weapon, just in case she was reaching for something else. She keeping a stream of I’m sorry. I can’t believe it, and a muttered You’ve got to be shitting me, brake light. She jerked her hand up rapidly, and Lorne had his weapon out and trained on her before he recognized a bright lime-green wallet. The woman’s eyes and mouth all formed perfectly round Os of surprise. He pulled the weapon back and pointed it up, his fingers clearly far from the trigger, quickly flipping on the safety. “Sorry, ma’am. You startled me.” He holstered his gun and took out his citation book. When he glanced up, she still hadn’t moved, the comic expression frozen on her face. He said, “License and registration.”

She seemed to recover herself and opened the wallet, reaching for the license, and Lorne let himself relax. She held it out, but not all the way out the window, and as Lorne reached for it, she gunned the engine.

He didn’t even think. His hand shot out and grabbed the end of her open window, and he swung himself up on the roof of the car, and only when he landed on the metal did he realize just what he’d gotten himself into. The woman panicked and slammed on the brakes, and his feet continued the swing around to the hood of the car, and he slid, coming to a stop spreadeagled just off center, looking directly into her face through the windshield. He jumped down and stuck his entire torso in the window, pinning her to the seat while reaching awkwardly with his left hand to cut the engine.

When he leaned back, Cadman was on the other side of the car, weapon drawn, held pointing up, just to the left side of her head. Now he knew she was a Marine, because he’d seen men go into that stance like they were stepping out the front door—balanced, relaxed, ready to move or aim in any direction.

The woman in the car had started to cry, babbling in a fast high-pitched voice. Not my fault. He made me. “Detective,” Lorne said, not taking his eyes off the woman in the car.

“Come out and keep your hands where we can see them,” Cadman called. Lorne put his hand on his weapon, and opened the door with his left hand, keeping the door between him and her, in case she was armed. She got out of the car, arms up, and Lorne quickly turned her to face the car and cuffed her, fumbling for a moment because he was more used to zip ties and uncooperative detainees. Cadman said, “Ma’am, we want to search the vehicle. Your attempted escape gives us probable cause.”

Lorne pulled the woman back slightly and turned her toward the car. Cadman walked over to the driver’s side, blocked him. “It’s not a regular cruiser, Lorne. We can’t leave her alone. Sit her on the curb, and I’ll watch her. You search.”

Lorne nodded and let Cadman take the woman’s arm. He gave a glance over the interior, but went for the easiest thing first and popped the trunk. There was a suitcase, which he opened. It was full of bundled cash. “We’re gonna need some help on this one,” he said.

Cadman glanced up. “Call it in.” He started to the unmarked car, and she called his name. He turned. “Don’t do that again,” she said. “You do know you’re not really Batman, right?”

There was the briefest hint of a smile beneath her words, and he flushed.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he murmured, carefully keeping the answering grin off his face.