Theme 11: Appearance

[regularamanda]

Today's theme:
Appearance 1. Submit your drabble that fits this theme as a comment to this post. It should be between 100-300 words, if you go over/under a bit that's fine! If it's longer than say 400 words, I ask that you post on your journal or fanfiction.net and then submit the link to this post. If you find that your story is going to be very

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[failegaidin]

Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Claim: John/Elizabeth
Rating: PG
Drabbles completed so far: 10/100
A/N: Set during The Return, Pt.1

The knock on her door didn't really surprise her. Her walls had been hastily constructed, but she had managed to keep them all at bay for a time. She knew they wouldn't hold forever, though, and it was better to let them in the door rather than make them tear through the walls.

She had expected Carson. When she saw John idly leaning against the doorframe, hands in his pockets and understanding in his eyes, she knew she didn't stand a chance.

He didn't ask, and she didn't offer. He just stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

She tried - she really did. Shoulders straightened and a weak smile on her face, she fought back the tears. "John -"

He nodded. "I know." Stepping closer, right through every wall - even the ones she'd spent years building - he reached out and ran one finger along her knuckles. "Missed you," he whispered, his voice ragged and pained. The admission seemed to startle him slightly, but he didn't take them back, didn't pull away.

A tear slid down her cheek, searing a path across her skin. Her fingers caught his, joining, entwining, lying between their bodies. His head was bowed, and he brushed his nose against the side of her face, forcing her grip on him to tighten.

She hadn't breathed since they left Atlantis.

She didn't breathe again until he kissed her and stole the air from her lungs.