Disclaimer: SGU and it's Characters belong to their respective owners which, sadly, is not me. I do, however, own Alex and her story line and squad, etc, etc. This has come from my mind because my mind knows no boundaries.

Rated for the language and various adult situations down the line.

No Rest for the Wicked

=Rush's P.O.V=

"Afternoon Doctor Rush"

I jumped slightly and turned at the sound of my name before glanced up to the Brit standing next to me, how on earth she managed to keep sneaking up on me was beyond me. "Afternoon Colonel"

A smile flickered to her lips before she shook her head. "How many more times much I tell you?" She asked before grinned softly. "It's Alex"

I bit back the smile creeping to my lips and focused on the board in front of me. "How are you?"

"Alright," She shrugged lightly. "Skiving off for a fag in the hopes Young won't call me back to fix that god damn jet again" She stated pulling out a carton of cigarettes and flicked open the top. "You?"

"How do I look?"

"Tired and pissed off," She stated without skipping a beat, her eyes flicked up, a cheeky grin spreading to her lips. "But what's new there love?"

I glanced towards her giving her a glare and rubbed at the ache in my neck. "A break sounds like a good idea right now"

She grinned. "Another converted, brilliant, my plan is working"

I shook my head lightly turning to follow after the skinny Brit, I stopped briefly to grab my own cigarettes and looked up to find her waiting in the doorway for me, cigarette resting behind her ear, dirty black jumpsuit tied around her waist, the grey tank top she wore covered in grease, sweat and hydraulic fluid, she was busy straightening out the messy pony tail she'd thrown her black hair up into.

"So figured out anything else about the gate yet?"

I shook my head lightly as we continued down the hall towards the small balcony set up for smokers. "Nay, there's still something wrong with the proof"

Alex nodded nudging open the door and weaved around the dining table in the officers eating mess before heading towards the door on the other side, Alex always claimed it saved time than walking around the entire room; Young however didn't approve but let her get away with it anyway.

"So what is it? Power, the gate or the proof?" Alex asked tugging the cigarette from behind her ear and slipped it between her lips before brushing back the black fringe getting into her eyes.

"I'm still not sure, we matched the power requirements but we still can't make a connection, it's like there's something wrong with the address but how can there? We've known the first eight symbols for donkey's years"

Alex shrugged lightly nudging open another door and held it open with her heel as she lit her cigarette and inhaled deeply, a smile reaching her lips as she let the door go and took a seat on one of the wrought iron chairs.

I watched her icy blue irises sweep over the horizon before us, the sky painted a brilliant shade of gold from the sun and Naquadria under the planet's surface.

"Beautiful isn't it?" She murmured letting out a thin stream of smoke.

"Aye"

She glanced towards me as she tipped her ash into the tray in the centre of the table. "I'm supposed to be retiring soon"

"You? Retire? Do you even know the meaning of the word?"

Alex grinned lightly throwing up her fingers at me. "Bite me love," She stated before shrugging lightly. "Supposed to, are the operative words there, I'm not going to though"

"Why?"

"I enjoy this shit too much, plus without Sean at home there's not much point in returning, I would prefer to renew my contract and stay here," She looked over at me. "Help you and this team find out how to unlock that ninth chevron"

I nodded lightly filling my lungs with asinine smoke and slowly released it. "What about your family?"

"What family?" She asked cracking a broken smile. "Got no kids, father disowned me when he found out I was marrying an Irishman, grandfather died last year, mother died when I was a kid and her parents are living somewhere in Wales," She shrugged lightly. "It's always been me and Sean, now it's just me," She pushed back a few longer strands of her fringe tucking them behind her ear. "Beside's what's so great about earth anyway when you've got nothing there? I would prefer to be doing this, I thrive off doing this"

I watched her for a moment, in all the talks we'd had she'd never mentioned her family, she very rarely ever mentioned her husband anymore, but the pain in her eyes always confirmed she'd never quite gotten over his death.

I traced a light pattern on the wrought iron table top and watched the sky line remembering how we'd been sat here when she'd first come back after hearing of the news.

"Colonel O'Rouke?" I was surprised to see the Brit out here so late, not since she would usually be asleep by now.

"Doctor Rush" Her voice cracked as she acknowledge me and tipped her head back, icy eyes foggy from the straight whiskey she'd been drinking, she cleared her throat slightly and tried to focus her eyes. "It's actually Colonel Hunter now" Her voice cracked again as she tipped her head forward to watch the sun slowly creeping up from the horizon.

"Hunter? You got married?" I was treading carefully, I didn't want to upset her anymore than she already was, she'd been absent from Icarus base a week short of a month after being called away on O'Neill's order.

"Widowed actually" Her voice was so quiet I nearly missed what she said.

"I'm..."

"If the next word out of your mouth is sorry I will give you a god damn reason to be," She spat, her mood turning sour instantly from one of sadness to one of hate. "I'm sorry Rush," Her shoulders slumped as she spoke. "It's just everyone keeps saying it and no one really means it, it's just something they say when they have nothing else to say" She sighed heavily taking a long drink from the almost empty bottle of Whiskey.

"Would it help to know I do mean it?" I asked as I took a seat on the opposite side of the table and poured myself a glass of whiskey.

"You do?" She looked towards me, eyes foggy and glassy from the alcohol.

I nodded downing part of the glass. "My wife, Gloria, she died nearly two years ago"

I watched the Brit smile bitterly before grabbing the bottle and taking another long drink. "I don't think I'm drunk enough do you?" She asked sinking into the chair leaving her fingers lingering around the neck of the bottle.

"Certainly not"

She gave a small genuine smile, a laugh slipping through her lips. "See, this is why I like you, you don't have a stick shoved up your arse," She grinned brokenly. "Most days anyway," She chuckled softly in my direction. "Unlike Young, He doesn't know how to have fun, you do" She stated before taking another long drink from the bottle and placed it back on the table.

I watched her silently contemplating what she'd said, she was speaking freely, thoughts she probably would have usually kept to herself. I watched her irises watching the sun rising, she may have been here physically but mentally she wasn't, her mind was elsewhere.

"You know Rush, I had the overwhelming urge to deck you when I first met you," Her eyes flicked back to mine as she wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. "I mean, you were being a god damn prick when we met"

I had to agree, I had been, no sleep, no coffee and no cigarettes had made me into a right prick and how I'd greeted her hadn't been the nicest. "Aye, I was wasn't I?" I chuckled lightly draining my glass before checking my watch.

"I supposed I'd better go and get some sleep," The Colonel said rubbing her raw eyes. "At least an hour should do before something breaks down and needs my attention," She stood yawning and turned towards me leaning over to place a gentle kiss against my cheek. "Thank you Doctor Rush" She said grabbing her bottle of whiskey and headed towards the door.

"It's Nick," I called after her causing her to stall in the doorway.

"Then call me Alex Nick" A small smile slipped to her lips before fading as she turned away.

I rested my hand on my cheek and looked back after her before getting up and rushing after her.

"Colonel Hunter come in"

I glanced to Alex as she rolled her eyes and flicked the end of her cigarette into the ash tray.

"This is her" She answered, a tired sigh emitting from her chest as she clicked the radio off.

"It's Young; I need you to take a look at something for me"

She groaned softly placing her head against the table top. "God damn it, really? I just fucking took a break," She murmured before clicking the radio on a sighing heavily. "Where?"

"Hanger six"

She groaned softly banging her forehead against the table lightly. "It's that fucking jet again, I'll bet you," She clicked her radio on as she stood and crushed the end of her cigarette into the tray. "On my way, Hunter out"

"No rest for the wicked"

She glared lightly and shook her head. "What about you then?" A grin flashed over her lips before she leant over the edge of the balcony looking towards the hangers underneath the complex. "Someone's been playing with my toys again," She stated. "Fucking Telford, I told him not to take that god damn jet out" She spat hotly before clipping the radio onto her tank top strap and headed towards the door. "Talk to you later Nick" She threw me a wink before leaving and hurried out down the hall breaking into a light jog.

Feel free to review, they are nice to read and criticism is always welcomed providing it's constructive and you're not just going to sit there and poke fun at this, tell me where I can improve, correct my spelling or whatever I do not mind but the simple thing is, don't like it don't read.

This is the first piece in the Thrive series, yes I do plan on going further than just the one story but it may take time, I'm working on three stories at the moment, my Chibs SOA fic (Horsepower VS Irish Hardware) and a Once Upon a Time Fic for (Stolen Tune) and as with the two of them I will be posting art on my DA account, Alex's bio is already up on my DA account under my Thrive Series folder.