Land ho

[dr_macgregor]

Rae smiled at John. He seemed so at ease, carrying the cooler to the beach. How he'd gotten the Athosians to build a small dock here, she'd never know, but it was perfect. She carried some of the folding deck chairs from the boat while Rodney brought the umbrellas. A small glance of concern at John confirmed her worry as Rodney headed for dry

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[dr_rodneymckay]

Rodney planted himself firmly on the beach when they landed and refused to move from under the umbrella. When Rae called for him, Rodney considered denying her for all of two seconds. With a heavy sigh, he relinquished his chair to Radek, who gleefully took it, and made his way down to Rae.

"Yes?" He wasn't avoiding the water, per se...just...didn't want to get wet sand everywhere.

[lt_col_sheppard]

John closes his eyes and tries to lean back in his lounge chair, his heels planted firmly in the warm sand in front of them. Though he tries to maintain a veneer of complete relaxation, his lashes part every few seconds, making sure Rodney's safe and not drowning or flailing. Radek's near, fake-coconut scented and murmuring to himself, and John reaches out to grab his lotion-slick hand.

"told you I'd bring you to the water, Radek....you going to come swimming with me? I promise to stay beside you the entire time..."

[engineer_radek]

Radek frowned at John, but held his husband's hand tightly. "You know I cannot swim." At John's pleading look, Radek relents. "Fine, fine. But if I am pulled under by current, you explain to Rezavý."

[lt_col_sheppard]

John grins easily, lashes flicking to the side for a moment, casting long shadows on his cheeks as he glances over at Rae and Rodney again.

"you know I wouldn't let anything hurt you, Radek...you know I'd never put you in danger. I just want to.....I want to share this with you. I want you to feel what I feel."

He pulls Radek to his feet and digs in his pockets, the tags making a familiar clanking sound in his hand. It wouldn't do to lose them all in the water.

"had these made--did most of it myself, actually--we don't exactly keep tag blanks around as a general rule. You don't have to wear them all the time, but if you ever go offworld, whether it's with me or with any of the other teams, I want you to wear them ok?"

John steps forward, brows raised, and holds the chain up over Radek's head, almost asking permission. As the tags turn in the bright sun, the engraving on each side stands out in stark relief.

Front:
R. Zelenka
3 21 67
Atlantis base

[engineer_radek]

Radek smiled at John. "I know." He leaned up to kiss John then settled back on his heels.

He stares at John in shock as he reveals the tags. Nodding dumbly, Radek ducked his head for John to put the tags around his neck. He inspects them when John lets go and isn't ashamed of the tears that cloud his vision. "Oh."

After a minute, Radek looks up at John and smiles brightly. "Promise, miláčku. Thank you."

[dr_macgregor]

She continued to hold out her hand. "Just stand with me? You're taller and stronger, and it's only up to my knees. And it's nice and warm. I promise, nothing will happen." Rachel saw the war of thoughts on his face before he very carefully stepped forward and took her hand. She smiled and drew him into a warm hug, her arms going around his waist. The water tickled their legs as it moved around them, a comfortable temperature. She just let the sun warm them both for a while. Soon, she pulled back and looked up at him.

"Come out to waist height with me. No further, I promise, and the tide is very calm." Rae winked at him, trailing one hand lightly down the front of his shorts. "Make it worth your while..."

[dr_rodneymckay]

Rodney tried to glare at Rae, but his twitching lips gave away the fact that he was two seconds away from grinning. "Cheater." He looks around, making sure no half-naked Lt. Colonels are waiting to spring up from the ocean depths, then slowly follows Rae deeper into the water. He'd deny it to his dying day, but his grip on Rae was tight enough to leave bruises.

"This is insane. Okay, yes, you grew up around water. Me? No. Cold, cold, cold then the deserts of Nevada. And, yes, I did go to school in Boston, but that doesn't count. It was rainy and wet and I spent a lot of my time indoors."

He happens to look down and blushes when he sees what he's wearing. "I developed a slight...respect for the water--ocean, at least--after shooting Triangle. Loved the costumes so I asked if I could have them, but that movie did nothing to endear me to open waters."

[dr_macgregor]

The water came up slightly below her breasts, darkening the swimsuit material. She laughed at his words. "Oh, silly. Did you ever get to Newfoundland? Bloody short time it's warm enough to swim anywhere outdoors there. But you *have* to know how, just for safety's sake. It wasn't until I went to Europe that I really liked swimming

[dr_rodneymckay]

Rodney rolled his eyes. "I didn't say I didn't know how to swim. I do. I just don't like to. I have better things to do than waste valuable time in the water."

He grinned as he peered back at Carson. "Well, I offered him my sunscreen but he insisted that the commercial stuff was just as good." His tone said all about what he thought of that.

Rodney watched Rae go under. She was beautiful in the water, like she was born to it and Rodney felt something tug in his chest at that thought. Why couldn't he have known her like he does now when he was stuck in that jumper? He wouldn't have minded so much having her there with him instead of Sam. He smiled in amusement when she stopped in front of him and actually giggled when she blew bubbles up his shorts. It tickled more than aroused, though that changed when she came up. The water flowing off of her and the way her hair sprung back into curls was...

"Wow."

[dr_macgregor]

Rae glanced over his shoulder to see Radek gingerly entering the water with John holding his hand. She beamed with pride and love to see him stop about where she and Rodney had the first time. She spoke softly, moving closer to embrace Rodney. "Look, hon... You're not the only one being brave today." Just then, she felt his interest as her wet hair touched him where she laid her head on his chest.

"Hmmm. I doubt he's as excited about being in the water as you are..."

[dr_rodneymckay]

Rodney half-turned to look at where Radek was letting John lead him into the water. "Huh. Never thought I'd see the day. His dislike for water is almost pathological. You have no idea how surprised I was that he was in the jumper with John when they pulled me from the bottom of the ocean. Thought he was another halucination..."

He automatically wrapped his arms around her then turned back to face her fully. Despite himself, Rodney blushes under the sunscreen when Rae laid her head on his chest. The feel of her hair rubbing his nipples, however unintentional it might have been, had him biting back a moan while other, lower, parts of him took notice.

She notices, of course, and Rodney rolls his eyes at himself before kissing the top of her head. "Well, he doesn't have the hottest redhead on the planet snuggled up against him, now does he?"

[dr_macgregor]

He kissed the top of her head, and she looked up. "No, just the hottest pilot around. We'll just have to make him share..." She looked towards the beach. "I have an idea..." She moved out of Rodney's arms, glancing back slyly at him as his arm brushed her breasts when she turned. Looking back at the beach, she called out to the remaining spouse, dozing on the sand.