Fic: Only Human
(All disclaimers and info here, rest of story here. Apologies for not updating since December'07!)
"Well, that marks the last of Michael's old labs as being neutralized," John reported, leaning back in his chair. He and the rest of his team, with the exception of Teyla, sat in their customary places, joined by Major Lorne and his team of Marines. The Athosian woman had been assigned to Michael's re-acclimatization and was exempted from all off-world missions. John wasn't sure if he was annoyed by this due to the fact that he was a team-mate shy of a full group, or if it was because of the forced time with Michael that Teyla had to endure. If he was being honest with himself, he'd admit it was a bit of both, but he was never one for honesty when it came to his deeper feelings for Teyla.
Carter nodded once, her eyes drifting to McKay. "Did you have any problems recovering any data or equipment?"
McKay shook his head. "No, we got it all. I have to give Michael credit on giving us the intel we needed to lift the remainder of his research."
"Good." Carter made eye contact with each person. "You did well, everyone. Barring a few near-misses and a couple of almost-encounters with the Wraith and Michael's spawn, you managed to tie up the loose ends to a long-dead experiment."
John's lips twisted into a wry smile. "Yeah, so we could begin a whole new chapter on how not to use Carson's research."
Carter sighed. "Please tell me we aren't going to have this conversation again, John," she asked, weariness colouring her words and making them sound almost plaintive.
John knew he had been difficult to get along with since they resumed Michael's treatments, and Carter didn't deserve it, but being annoyed with his latest boss beat the hell out of physical training, or thinking too closely on his personal feelings. He decided to concede this time and shook his head. "No, ma'am. We won't have this conversation again."
"Thank you. Take the next couple of days off, everyone. You've definitely earned it with all of your work these last several weeks. Dismissed."
John knew it would be impossible to out-run everyone as they filed out, so he resigned himself to letting Ronon fall into step with him. John knew he could check the impulse to throw a punch, with the Satedan doing the interrogating, since giving in would mean a trip to the infirmary for the Colonel.
John waited until they cleared the Control Room and were wandering down a hallway in the vague direction to the living quarters before saying, "Okay, let's hear it."
Ronon smirked and raised a brow. "Hear what, Sheppard?"
"How my irritation is a lame attempt at covering something up and would I please share it with you," he offered, with a vague gesture to emphasize his words.
"Why would I say that, when I could just beat it out of you during our next sparring session?"
John gave Ronon a side-long glance, trying not to wince at the phantoms pains from the imagery invoked by Ronon's statement. "You've been taking lessons from Teyla, haven't you?"
"Something like that," Ronon replied. "Of course, me spending time with her doesn't bother you half as much as it does when she's with Michael."
John stopped in his tracks. "Teyla spending time with Michael does not bother me."
"Yes it does," Ronon replied with a tiny sigh. "Look, man. I don't know what goes on in your head when it comes to Teyla, but I do know that it kills you every time something bad happens to her."
"Because she's my friend, Ronon. It kills me when bad things happen to any of you - including McKay, believe it or not - and you'll have to excuse me if I go a little nutty in those situations."
Ronon gave Sheppard a hard, searching look, and then nodded. "Right. Whatever. But when you're ready to finally admit what I suspect, I'll be there." The Satedan flashed a tired smile, gave John's shoulder a brotherly squeeze, and then headed off towards his room, leaving a bewildered John behind.
"Well, that marks the last of Michael's old labs as being neutralized," John reported, leaning back in his chair. He and the rest of his team, with the exception of Teyla, sat in their customary places, joined by Major Lorne and his team of Marines. The Athosian woman had been assigned to Michael's re-acclimatization and was exempted from all off-world missions. John wasn't sure if he was annoyed by this due to the fact that he was a team-mate shy of a full group, or if it was because of the forced time with Michael that Teyla had to endure. If he was being honest with himself, he'd admit it was a bit of both, but he was never one for honesty when it came to his deeper feelings for Teyla.
Carter nodded once, her eyes drifting to McKay. "Did you have any problems recovering any data or equipment?"
McKay shook his head. "No, we got it all. I have to give Michael credit on giving us the intel we needed to lift the remainder of his research."
"Good." Carter made eye contact with each person. "You did well, everyone. Barring a few near-misses and a couple of almost-encounters with the Wraith and Michael's spawn, you managed to tie up the loose ends to a long-dead experiment."
John's lips twisted into a wry smile. "Yeah, so we could begin a whole new chapter on how not to use Carson's research."
Carter sighed. "Please tell me we aren't going to have this conversation again, John," she asked, weariness colouring her words and making them sound almost plaintive.
John knew he had been difficult to get along with since they resumed Michael's treatments, and Carter didn't deserve it, but being annoyed with his latest boss beat the hell out of physical training, or thinking too closely on his personal feelings. He decided to concede this time and shook his head. "No, ma'am. We won't have this conversation again."
"Thank you. Take the next couple of days off, everyone. You've definitely earned it with all of your work these last several weeks. Dismissed."
John knew it would be impossible to out-run everyone as they filed out, so he resigned himself to letting Ronon fall into step with him. John knew he could check the impulse to throw a punch, with the Satedan doing the interrogating, since giving in would mean a trip to the infirmary for the Colonel.
John waited until they cleared the Control Room and were wandering down a hallway in the vague direction to the living quarters before saying, "Okay, let's hear it."
Ronon smirked and raised a brow. "Hear what, Sheppard?"
"How my irritation is a lame attempt at covering something up and would I please share it with you," he offered, with a vague gesture to emphasize his words.
"Why would I say that, when I could just beat it out of you during our next sparring session?"
John gave Ronon a side-long glance, trying not to wince at the phantoms pains from the imagery invoked by Ronon's statement. "You've been taking lessons from Teyla, haven't you?"
"Something like that," Ronon replied. "Of course, me spending time with her doesn't bother you half as much as it does when she's with Michael."
John stopped in his tracks. "Teyla spending time with Michael does not bother me."
"Yes it does," Ronon replied with a tiny sigh. "Look, man. I don't know what goes on in your head when it comes to Teyla, but I do know that it kills you every time something bad happens to her."
"Because she's my friend, Ronon. It kills me when bad things happen to any of you - including McKay, believe it or not - and you'll have to excuse me if I go a little nutty in those situations."
Ronon gave Sheppard a hard, searching look, and then nodded. "Right. Whatever. But when you're ready to finally admit what I suspect, I'll be there." The Satedan flashed a tired smile, gave John's shoulder a brotherly squeeze, and then headed off towards his room, leaving a bewildered John behind.