OOM: Tabula Rasa

[callmemajor]

Lorne waits just outside the infirmary while Sheppard's team talks to him, fills him in on everything that's happened. He's twitching a little, still sweating, heart still beating a little too fast. Every so often he sniffs loudly, startling himself with the sound. When they finally come out, he gives them a sheepish look, apologizes to Teyla yet again, and steps inside.

Sheppard is sprawled over his bed, working on a sudoku.

"Sir?"

He looks up at Lorne and smiles. "Major."

Lorne takes that as an invitation and steps a little closer. "I...wanted to apolo..."

Sheppard cuts him off with a wave of his hand. "Don't even say it. It wasn't your fault."

"With all due respect, sir, it kind of was. I took way too many of those stimulants, and my behavior was completely unacceptable." He's talking too fast, and it takes all his concentration to make himself comprehensible.

Sheppard frowns. "You had...space pox. You were ordered to take those pills, and you followed those orders. Anything you did under their influence was not your fault."

Lorne's skin is prickling, and he taps his fingers compulsively on his thigh. "This is the second time I've pulled a weapon on you, sir."

Sheppard sighs and scrubs a hand over his face. "Will it make you feel better if I accept your apology?"

"A little?"

"I accept your apology."

Lorne rolls his eyes. Even in his current state, he knows it's useless to try to argue with Sheppard now. "Thank you, sir," he says.

Sheppard nods like everything's fixed now. "Go get some sleep, Major. You could use it."

"Yes, sir," Lorne says softly. He turns to go, stops at the door, turns back, starts to say something, shakes his head and steps out.