SOT Transitions 13
Disclaimer: All characters of StarGate and StarGate Atlantis belong to their respective writers and MGM. This is a work of fan fiction. I just want to play with them for awhile.
Copyright 2010 awakethepassion
Transitions Part 13
This was not happening.
“Excuse me?” Susan tensed. She looked at Nathan. “How the hell-“
Woolsey cleared his throat. Fingered his tie; cast a wary glance at the man behind him. “Doctor Sheppard, I realize that now is perhaps not the best time-“
“God damn right, its not.” She snarled.
“Susan, I just want a few minutes.”
She took a step back, glared at her brother. “Not now, Nathan.” She heard a noise and turned her head. John was sitting up, pushing the blanket off of his legs. She pointed a finger at him. “If you put one hairy toe on that floor I will put that catheter back in myself.”
John’s eyes darkened with anger but she didn’t back down from him. “I mean it, Sheppard.”
John’s eyes narrowed. “Ronan, get me some scrubs.”
Susan’s jaw tightened. “John-“
He wasn’t listening to her. He pushed off the blanket and swung his legs over the side. He reached back, tugged at the tie at the back of his neck.
Susan shot him an angry look. She turned back to Woolsey. “Did you really have to do this now?”
“I-“
“I will deal with you later.” She put her hand on his chest and shoved him back so hard that he stumbled into Nathan. She jerked the privacy screens together and then turned back to her husband. “What the hell do you think that you’re doing?”
“What the hell does it look like?” John yanked the IV out of the back of his hand and let it fall to the floor. He reached over and flipped off the monitoring equipment and reached for the scrub set that Ronan tossed to him.
“John, please. Stop it.” She moved to the bed, grabbed the scrub top.
“Colonel…” Carson moved to stop him but dropped his hand when John turned on him. “I could order you back to bed, John.”
“Heard it before.” John shook his head. “Ain’t gonna happen.” He turned back to Susan. “Let it go.” He growled.
She dropped the top and tapped at one of the electrical pads on his chest. “Don’t you think that you need to get rid of these first?” She smiled sweetly, slipped a finger under one and yanked.
“God damn!” John yelled when she took a tuft of hair with it. He grabbed her wrist before she could yank off another one. He clenched his teeth and snarled at her. “Don’t. Do. That. Again.”
“Pussy.” She gave him a look of disgust, like she’d love to hook a hundred of the things to his ass and pull them off one by one. She reached for another one and he slapped her hand away.
He made quick work of unplugging the things then he slid his arms into the scrub top and reached for the pants. Not caring that Ronan was watching, he tossed the hospital Johnny on the floor. He winced and let out a hiss of pain when he bent over to slip the things over his legs.
“Give them to me.” Susan put her hand on his wrist. “If you’re so fucking-“
One of the privacy screens moved. Susan looked at Ronan but before he could move Elizabeth Weir was stepping inside.
“John, what the…what the hell are you doing?”
“Being a jackass.” Susan dropped the pants on his lap.
John scowled, snatched them up. He dragged the blanket over himself, covering up until he could work his legs in. He slipped off the edge of the narrow bed and nearly dropped the blanket. He growled in frustration when Susan grabbed the pants and shimmed them up and over his hips.
“You made this decision yourself.” Elizabeth caught a pale flash of hip when he pushed Susan’s hands away and tied them up himself.
“Is that a problem?” John said, his green eyes serious.
She nodded. “Yes.”
John tuned out the rest of her tirade. He pushed Susan out of the way and stumbled to the chair she’d had been sleeping in. “Shoes.” He grumbled.
“John, I am not going to go through this with you again-“
His jaw tightened in anger. “Then shut up and get my god damn shoes.” Susan glared at him and he glared back. “Don’t give me any lip, Suzie Q.” He glanced around the room. “Just do-“He looked up when Ronan practically shoved the things in his face. “Thanks.”
He put his bare feet in the Nikes, struggling a little because they were already tied but he managed to shove his feet in.
Elizabeth tried to reason with him. “John, I’m asking you as a friend. Please…don’t push yourself like this.”
“I’m not pushing myself.” He growled at her. “I know my limits, Elizabeth.” He pushed the screens out of the way. He frowned slightly and turned his head, looking at Susan. “Where’s Woolsey and Walker?”
Elizabeth stiffened slightly. “They were here?” She wanted to know. “Why?”
“They wanted to talk to me.” Susan said. “I told them no.”
Elizabeth frowned and looked at Ronan, stiffening slightly when his gaze shot to Sheppard. “You’ve been with Major Lorne. Who authorized Major Walker’s release?”
John didn’t look back at his friend. He kept his stare riveted on Elizabeth and his expression was guarded. “It wasn’t you?”
“Not likely.” Elizabeth said. She smelled a rat and this time it wasn’t just Richard Woolsey. “I would not make a habit of releasing the man that had a hand in nearly killing my ranking Military Commander, John.”
“Who then?” Susan asked.
“Woolsey. Has to be.” Ronan said.
Elizabeth shook her head. “He has no authority-“
“But the IOA does.” John laughed bitterly. “Woolsey wouldn’t be involved if their fingers weren’t somehow sticking in the pie.” He looked at Elizabeth. “I did some digging of my own. I didn’t find much but I’d bet everything that Walker is involved with them too.”
Elizabeth frowned. She didn’t exactly like the idea of John doing any ‘digging’ that she didn’t know about but she’d learned to expect nothing less from the man. Shaking her head, she looked at Susan. “I didn’t see either of them when I came into the infirmary. Any idea on where they could have gone?”
“Woolsey’s office.” John gave her a black look. “Perfect place for a couple of weasel’s to hide. I’ve been cooped up in here too damn long. Come on, Ronan. Let’s go and pay them a little visit.” He stepped around Susan and started to push the screens out of his way but stopped when Elizabeth reached out and grasped his arm.
“No, John.” She shook her head. “I will handle this.”
“Elizabeth-“ He glared at her, teeth and lips so tight together that his jaw ached.
“I said no, John..” She looked at Carson and then at Susan. “I suggest that for the next two weeks that Colonel Sheppard be put on medical leave. Are we agreed?”
Susan knew that he was watching her, knew that he was going to go ballistic but one look at him and they both nodded.
“Not a chance in hell!” John took an unsteady step and nearly fell. Susan went to help him but he angrily pushed her away. “Elizabeth, you can’t do this.”
“Sorry, John but yes. I can.” Elizabeth sighed. “Look at yourself. You are still too weak and no matter how much you might think that you can handle this? I will not let you push yourself into another relapse.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “But with Carson’s consent you can spend the rest of your time in your own quarters.” She turned her head and looked at the doctor hovering nearby. “Carson?”
Carson nodded. “I have no problem with that. Provided that the Colonel will follow my orders this time.”
Elizabeth smiled slightly. “I think we all know the answer to that one, Carson. But this time he really doesn’t have much of a choice.” She looked at John. He was staring at her, so angry that she could practically hear his teeth grinding together. “It’s up to you, Colonel. Let me deal with Woolsey and Walker and you can spend your time healing in the comfort of your own quarters. Are we clear on that?”
“I will not-“
“I said are we clear, Colonel?”
“On one condition.” He snarled.
“No.” She waved her hand, cutting him off. “No conditions. You do this or you can spend your time here, under guard until Carson deems you fit for duty. Do you understand me?”
His head snapped up. He was more than angry. He was furious. It shivered over him like a cold chill and he was practically shaking with it. Then slowly, he nodded.
“I want to hear it, Colonel. Are we clear?”
“John, she means it. Take the deal or leave it.” Susan moved to him, not backing down when he gave her a murderous glare.
“We’re clear.” He said coldly.
“Good.” Elizabeth nodded. “Now I suggest that you let Susan and Ronan help you back to your quarters. Get something to eat and then rest. I’ll be by later to check on you.”
John didn’t say a word. He just turned around, shoved the screens so hard that they fell over and stalked out of the infirmary.
Susan went after him. “John! Wait…listen to me!”
John just kept walking. He wasn’t in the mood to hear her mouth. Anger swam around him, covering him like a black cloud and even Ronan had enough sense to walk more than a step behind him.
But Susan? He snorted. She was walking way too close to him for her own damned good.
When she put her hand on his arm, he tensed. He was ready to snap and he had to force back the urge to wrap his fingers around her throat and choke the shit out of her. God damn her and Elizabeth both. Even Carson was pretty high on his shit list too.
He shook her off and kept moving until they were in front of the door to their quarters. He looked up and scowled at Ronan. “You can get lost now, Chewie.” He threw an angry glare at Susan. “Do me a favor and take her ass with you while you’re at it.”
Susan pursued her lips angrily. “It’s alright, Ronan. I’ll take it from here. Thank you.”
“You sure?” Ronan was watching the Colonel’s back. Sheppard was tight, his body as tense as a coiled spring. He didn’t even look around, just limped down the hallway and in a few seconds the bedroom door slammed shut. “I can stick around for a bit. You know…in case you need help.”
“No.” Susan shook her head. She liked Ronan but this was something that she had to deal with on her own. “I can handle him.”
He was still staring at her when she stepped inside and let the doors close behind her. She stool still for a few minutes then went to the bedroom door. Feeling like she was walking into a lion’s den, she put her hand on the knob, turned it and pushed it open.
The bedroom was in shadows. She glanced out the wide windows. Where it had been sunny before, the sky was an ominous black and lightening flickered under the edge of the thick storm clouds blocking out the sun.
Storm clouds as dark and black as John’s mood.
For a minute she just watched the rain and the sea then she turned her head because just looking at the mass of churning waves was making her stomach twist into knots. She huffed out a sigh and sank down in the chair near the window, curling her legs under her. John was lying on the bed, eyes closed and hands clasped behind his head.
“Are you hungry?”
“No.” He answered tersely.
“Do you want to take a shower?”
“Not with you.”
“Are you in pain?”
“What’s it to you?” He asked coldly. “Unless you’re just planning to drug me up again.”
“If I wanted to drug you up, I would have left you in the infirmary.” She picked up a blanket and draped it over her legs. “No, Sheppard. I want you here.” Her tone hardened. “And I don’t give a good god damn how pissed off you are, you fucking son of a bitch.”
He sat up then. Even in the dim light she could see the fire flashing in his eyes. A wave of anger rushed over her and suddenly she was throwing off the blanket and crawling over the end of the bed. She grabbed his arms, straddled his waist and smacked him as hard as she could across the mouth.
“Fuck!” He grunted and his head rocked back, then he was twisting his hands free and grabbing at her wrists to keep her from smacking him again.
“You stupid bastard!” She rolled off of him and off the bed. She got to her feet, reached for the water glass on the night table and slammed it against the wall.
John ducked, covering his head. “God damn it, woman! What the hell is wrong with you?’
“Me?” She raged at him. He started to sit up and she shoved him back. “You asshole! Don’t even try making this my fault.”
He grabbed her wrist. “Stop it!”
She fought him, smacking at him until he dragged her down across the bed. Still she fought him, struggling and twisting until she had him on his back and her arm was around his neck in a strangle hold.
He grunted, dug his fingers into her arm and tried to twist free but she got her legs around his waist. One foot pressed against his thigh until he grimaced from the pain.
Then just as suddenly, she let him go and pushed him off of her. Sliding to the end of the bed, she got to her feet and stood staring down at him while he struggled to untangle himself from the twisted bed covers.
“Do you see how easy that was?” She snarled at him. “You’re too weak to fight even me off. How in the hell do you expect to fight off someone even stronger?”
Eyes black with rage, he pushed himself over. Before he could say anything, she picked up the bottle of pills from the bedside table and threw them at him. They bounced off of his chest and rolled to the end of the bed.
“You stupid, arrogant, son of a bitch.” She shook her head and started to pace. “You’re so fucking hot to go after Nathan…” She stopped and glared at him. “I want to know what you and Ronan were talking to Lorne about.”
“It’s none of your business.” Fury rippled through John’s voice. He pushed off of the bed, wiped his hand over his face and barely made it to the chair before his leg gave out. He rubbed at it. It was tingling and throbbing at the point where her foot had pressed but he would be damned if he was going to tell her about it.
“I’m making it my business, Sheppard.”
“This is not a discussion.” John told her firmly, his fingers tightening into a fist. “And if you ever attack me like that again-“
“I will knock you on your fucking ass.” Susan shook her head as she leaned forward. “I’ve had enough of this, Sheppard.”
John rose jerkily from the chair, his expression and his tone icily furious. “Get out.”
“No.” Susan stood her ground. He was glaring at her, his eyes wild, dark and deadly. “Not until you tell me what you wanted Lorne to do.”
John’s mouth tightened but there was something in his stare, a flicker. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared but still it made her wish that she hadn’t seen it.
John’s voice was as hard as hers. “I am not going to have this argument with you.”
“And I’m not going to bury my head in the sand and pretend that I don’t know that you’re up to something.” She was as furious with him as he was with her.
“Leave it alone, Susan-“
“Damn it! It’s always the same with you! I’m not stupid, I’m your wife. Your partner. Not some fucking mushroom that you can feed shit and keep in the dark all the time.” She took a deep breath. “If you didn’t want me involved then you shouldn’t have given me his file.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I gave you Nathan’s file because I thought that you needed to know what was going on.” He looked away from her. “And that was a big fucking mistake.” He said slowly. He went still for a long moment. When he looked back at her, his eyes were dark with emotion. “I won’t do that again.”
“Oh, I get it.” Her voice was tight and her face white with anger. “You don’t trust me.”
Expression grim, he started toward her. “No-“
Slowly, she took a step back then turned, went to the closet and pulled out her back pack. She carried it to the dresser, opened a drawer and started stuffing clothes into it.
Fury rising, he grabbed the pack out of her hands and threw it on the floor. “Nice try, sweetheart. If I’m stuck here then you’re stuck here with me.”
“Why? If I’m gone than you won’t have to worry about my trust and you can play your little cloak and dagger games as much as you want to, John.” She pushed past him and headed for the door.
“No!” He caught her before she could put her hand on the knob. He grabbed her arm and spun her around, shoving her back against the door and pressing against her so that she couldn’t move.
“Let go of me!” She beat at his chest with her fists but he leaned into her harder, trapping her with his weight. He held her back with one hand pressed between her breasts while his other hand slid over her hip and up her back. His fingers scraped over the back of her neck and then curled in her thick hair.
Her warm scent fired his lust and he jerked her head back, covering her mouth with his in a hard, savage kiss. She fought him at first and then she was kissing him back, fingers digging into his skin, sliding down to work at the hem of the scrub top and then raking over his belly.
He groaned, let her go long enough to tug the scrub top off and then he was kissing her again, tasting her, inhaling her scent. She clutched at him hungrily, hands sliding over his chest and back, twisting and tugging at his hair. She worked her hands back down, fingers working at the tie on the scrub pants, jerking it loose and then shoving the pants down around his hips and then over his thighs. She gripped him tight, sliding her hot palm back and forth across his quickly hardening shaft until he growled from the pressure.
He let go of her mouth, lips and teeth sliding along the edge of her jaw, burying his face in her neck, his sharp teeth biting into her shoulder while his own fingers tore at the snap on her pants. He jerked down the zipper, the sound of the cloth tearing loud in his ears and then his hand was sliding inside, fingers roughly tugging at the lace and silk of her thong, ripping it, shredding it.
She moaned, pumping him harder when his fingers slid into her, scraping hard over that little button of pleasure that had her kicking out of her shoes and working the pants off her legs. One long leg wrapped around his hip, holding him tight and then she was guiding him to her heat, head falling back, panting and groaning when he thrust into her hard.
She urged him on, matching him thrust for thrust and he worked her harder and harder, pumping out his anger, grunting and moaning until the veins in his neck and arms were standing out. She spread herself wider, fingers clawing at him, her sharp nails raking down his back and digging into his ass cheeks, their thighs slapping together.
He fucked her to the hilt and she threw her head back, taking all of it, all of him. He found her sweet spot and she gasped, crying out when he fucked her even deeper. That was all it took for him, one more hard push and he was sliding over the edge. His dick pulsed, a throbbing twitch and then he was coming in thick hot spurts but still he kept pumping, kept rubbing and squeezing, pressing at her clit until she was coming too.
She clutched at him, riding out the wave of pleasure with him until they both had nothing else to give and she went limp in his arms.
Sweat pouring down his face, John ignored the pain in his leg as he turned her toward the bed. Hands gentle, he pushed her down tugged off her shirt and pushed her back against the pillows. He shucked off the come stained scrub pants and held them up to his nose, inhaling their scent before he dropped them on the floor. He picked up the blanket that she’d discarded, stretched out beside her and spread it over them. Exhausted, he rested his own head against the pillows and she snuggled into him, her head on his chest, one hand sliding over his belly to rest on his hip.
He tried not to tense when her fingers trailed down to lightly trace the scar on his thigh. It was still red around the edges and tender to the touch.
The anger faded away and he rubbed his hand down her back, shivering a little when her breath cooled the sweat on his chest. His voice was rough. Raw. “”You are flat out crazy, woman.”
Slowly, she began to stroke her fingers up and down his thigh. “I know. Its how I keep my sanity when I have to put up with you.”
His muscles flexed and she sensed his determination to not give in. She looked up at him and he looked away from her, wouldn’t let her see his eyes.
“John, I admire you. I admire your strength…the sheer power of your will.” She laughed softly. “I wish that I even had a third of what you have.”
He rolled into her, easing his leg up and pressing against her so that she fit snugly between her thighs. His voice was hoarse. “Why take a third when you can have it all?”
“That’s not the power that I’m talking about.” She pushed against his chest, slipped away from him. She sighed then gave him a sharp look. “I know that you’re going to do it anyway so…I want you to do it.”
“Do what?” He asked coolly though his eyes flared with heat. He reached out, grabbed her wrist and pulled her back against him. He ran his hands over her belly, settled on her hips, pulling her tight against his erection. He rubbed against her and his voice was smooth, hungry. “This again?”
“Stop trying to distract me.” She pulled away from his touch. Pushed his hands away. “And don’t try to pretend that you don’t know what I’m talking about.” She rubbed her arms. “I’m not blind so please…don’t treat me like I’m too ignorant to know what’s going on.”
He moved his head closer to her until they were nose to nose on the pillow. “Why?” He asked. “Why now?”
“Because…”
“Because what?”
“Because I want this over with.” She sighed and rolled over so that her back was to him. “I want this business with Nathan done. Over with, John…I just…I just want him gone.”
“Gone from Atlantis?” He reached out, rubbed a hand down her spine. “Or gone for good?”
“I-“ She stopped and didn’t say another word. She didn’t have to.
“Susan…” He moved closer and pressed against her back. He pushed back her hair and pressed his mouth to her ear. “All it would take is one word from you and Nathan Walker would disappear from our lives for good.”
He wouldn’t tell her that he’d had this same conversation with Ronan and Lorne. The less she knew right now the safer she would be.
“I know.” She let out a breath, turned into him and pressed her forehead against his chest. She looked up at him, searched his gaze. He would do whatever she asked him to but- “I won’t do that.”
“You want it.” He touched her face, rough fingers trailing over her soft skin. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“Yes…I do. Damn me to hell…but I do.” Her arms went around him, holding him tight. “But I want you more.” She tilted her head slightly. Brushed her mouth against his. “As much as I hate my brother…I won’t ask you to murder for me.”
He snorted and his warm breath brushed against her cheek. “After what that bastard did to us…it would be justified.”
“To you…to me, yes…but would Elizabeth see it that way?” She rested her cheek against his shoulder. “Would Jack O’Neill?”
“I don’t care-“
“But I do.” She tightened her arms around him. “John, I know that you don’t want to do this but-“ She tipped her head back and looked up at him. “Please…let yourself heal before you go jumping into something that could blow up in your face.”
“Suzie Q-“ He struggled with himself, trying to force back the howl of rage and frustration inside of him.
“You wanted a word, John. You wanted a word and this is it.”
“What about before?” He growled.
“Before?” Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Yes. Before. In the infirmary.” He tightened his grip. “Don’t tell me you forgot Elizabeth’s little talk already?”
Her eyes went dark. “No. I haven’t forgotten that.” She replied dryly. She was quiet for a moment and then she sat up, pushing her hair back so that she could look down at him. “But I’m not sorry for it either.”
“I know.” He sat up, pushing down with his arms until he was leaning back against the pillow but before he could flare up again, she was touching his face, gripping his chin and turning his head so that he had to look at her.
“You might think that I betrayed you, John but I didn’t.”
His expression hardened. “You sided with them.”
“Do you really blame me?” She asked quietly. “For weeks I sat by your side. Watching over you, trying to keep you safe, and worried every damn second that I was going to lose you.” She shook her head, let go of him and leaned back against the pillows beside him. “But if you still want to be mad at me then go ahead. Just remember…if I think that I have to I’ll do it again.”
“I know you will.” He smiled slightly at that then a frown touched the corner of his mouth. “I won’t let him get away, Suzie Q.”
“I know.” She nestled against him, her head on his shoulder, one arm curled around his waist. “But this time? Please…let Elizabeth handle the two of them. At least for the time being.”
“Elizabeth, won’t-“
“She was just as angry as you, John. Do you really think that she’s going to let Richard Woolsey get away with going over her head that easily?”
“And how the hell is she going to stop him?” He replied coldly.
“By being Elizabeth Weir.” She smiled slightly. Seeing the expression on his face she sat up and gripped his arms, tried to make him look at her. “Don’t underestimate her, John. She’s a lot stronger than you think.”
He gave her a look, pushed off her hand and sat up on the side of the bed.
“John, trust her.” Determined, she pushed off the blanket and moved up behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him back so that her breasts pressed against him. “Trust me.”
“You’re the one person that I can trust. And if I didn’t?” He turned his head, gave her a smoldering look. “You wouldn’t still be in this bed.”
She kissed him lightly. “Then listen to me. I know that you want to investigate, Nathan and find out what he’s up to. I’ll help you. Together we can come up with a plan-“
“No!” He shook his head. “I won’t involve you. Not again. If I do this? I do it alone.”
“No.” She tightened her hold on his neck. “We do this, John. You, me and whoever else you want but I will be involved.”
He gripped her arms, tugged her hold loose so that he could pull her around and settle her on his lap, groaning when his cock pressed against her wet warmth. When he spoke his voice was hoarse with want. “Not if I lock you up. If it means keeping you safe I won’t stop short of having you locked up in the brig.”
She wiggled a little, grinning when he groaned again. “If I’m locked up in the brig then how am I supposed to keep you safe?”
He rolled his eyes at her and then bent his head so that he could nibble her neck.
“Stop trying to change the subject, Sheppard.” She sighed and stroked her fingers over his shoulder and up the side of his neck. “You don’t always have to be the strong one, John.” She hugged him tight, then grabbed his exploring hand and moved it higher up on her thigh. “You don’t always have to be the big hero.”
“Yes, I do.” He whispered huskily. He rolled, flipping her over so that she was on her back and he was between her thighs. He gripped his cock and eased the swollen head into the warm wetness between her thighs. “And right now…I’m really big.”
Copyright 2010 awakethepassion
Transitions Part 13
This was not happening.
“Excuse me?” Susan tensed. She looked at Nathan. “How the hell-“
Woolsey cleared his throat. Fingered his tie; cast a wary glance at the man behind him. “Doctor Sheppard, I realize that now is perhaps not the best time-“
“God damn right, its not.” She snarled.
“Susan, I just want a few minutes.”
She took a step back, glared at her brother. “Not now, Nathan.” She heard a noise and turned her head. John was sitting up, pushing the blanket off of his legs. She pointed a finger at him. “If you put one hairy toe on that floor I will put that catheter back in myself.”
John’s eyes darkened with anger but she didn’t back down from him. “I mean it, Sheppard.”
John’s eyes narrowed. “Ronan, get me some scrubs.”
Susan’s jaw tightened. “John-“
He wasn’t listening to her. He pushed off the blanket and swung his legs over the side. He reached back, tugged at the tie at the back of his neck.
Susan shot him an angry look. She turned back to Woolsey. “Did you really have to do this now?”
“I-“
“I will deal with you later.” She put her hand on his chest and shoved him back so hard that he stumbled into Nathan. She jerked the privacy screens together and then turned back to her husband. “What the hell do you think that you’re doing?”
“What the hell does it look like?” John yanked the IV out of the back of his hand and let it fall to the floor. He reached over and flipped off the monitoring equipment and reached for the scrub set that Ronan tossed to him.
“John, please. Stop it.” She moved to the bed, grabbed the scrub top.
“Colonel…” Carson moved to stop him but dropped his hand when John turned on him. “I could order you back to bed, John.”
“Heard it before.” John shook his head. “Ain’t gonna happen.” He turned back to Susan. “Let it go.” He growled.
She dropped the top and tapped at one of the electrical pads on his chest. “Don’t you think that you need to get rid of these first?” She smiled sweetly, slipped a finger under one and yanked.
“God damn!” John yelled when she took a tuft of hair with it. He grabbed her wrist before she could yank off another one. He clenched his teeth and snarled at her. “Don’t. Do. That. Again.”
“Pussy.” She gave him a look of disgust, like she’d love to hook a hundred of the things to his ass and pull them off one by one. She reached for another one and he slapped her hand away.
He made quick work of unplugging the things then he slid his arms into the scrub top and reached for the pants. Not caring that Ronan was watching, he tossed the hospital Johnny on the floor. He winced and let out a hiss of pain when he bent over to slip the things over his legs.
“Give them to me.” Susan put her hand on his wrist. “If you’re so fucking-“
One of the privacy screens moved. Susan looked at Ronan but before he could move Elizabeth Weir was stepping inside.
“John, what the…what the hell are you doing?”
“Being a jackass.” Susan dropped the pants on his lap.
John scowled, snatched them up. He dragged the blanket over himself, covering up until he could work his legs in. He slipped off the edge of the narrow bed and nearly dropped the blanket. He growled in frustration when Susan grabbed the pants and shimmed them up and over his hips.
“You made this decision yourself.” Elizabeth caught a pale flash of hip when he pushed Susan’s hands away and tied them up himself.
“Is that a problem?” John said, his green eyes serious.
She nodded. “Yes.”
John tuned out the rest of her tirade. He pushed Susan out of the way and stumbled to the chair she’d had been sleeping in. “Shoes.” He grumbled.
“John, I am not going to go through this with you again-“
His jaw tightened in anger. “Then shut up and get my god damn shoes.” Susan glared at him and he glared back. “Don’t give me any lip, Suzie Q.” He glanced around the room. “Just do-“He looked up when Ronan practically shoved the things in his face. “Thanks.”
He put his bare feet in the Nikes, struggling a little because they were already tied but he managed to shove his feet in.
Elizabeth tried to reason with him. “John, I’m asking you as a friend. Please…don’t push yourself like this.”
“I’m not pushing myself.” He growled at her. “I know my limits, Elizabeth.” He pushed the screens out of the way. He frowned slightly and turned his head, looking at Susan. “Where’s Woolsey and Walker?”
Elizabeth stiffened slightly. “They were here?” She wanted to know. “Why?”
“They wanted to talk to me.” Susan said. “I told them no.”
Elizabeth frowned and looked at Ronan, stiffening slightly when his gaze shot to Sheppard. “You’ve been with Major Lorne. Who authorized Major Walker’s release?”
John didn’t look back at his friend. He kept his stare riveted on Elizabeth and his expression was guarded. “It wasn’t you?”
“Not likely.” Elizabeth said. She smelled a rat and this time it wasn’t just Richard Woolsey. “I would not make a habit of releasing the man that had a hand in nearly killing my ranking Military Commander, John.”
“Who then?” Susan asked.
“Woolsey. Has to be.” Ronan said.
Elizabeth shook her head. “He has no authority-“
“But the IOA does.” John laughed bitterly. “Woolsey wouldn’t be involved if their fingers weren’t somehow sticking in the pie.” He looked at Elizabeth. “I did some digging of my own. I didn’t find much but I’d bet everything that Walker is involved with them too.”
Elizabeth frowned. She didn’t exactly like the idea of John doing any ‘digging’ that she didn’t know about but she’d learned to expect nothing less from the man. Shaking her head, she looked at Susan. “I didn’t see either of them when I came into the infirmary. Any idea on where they could have gone?”
“Woolsey’s office.” John gave her a black look. “Perfect place for a couple of weasel’s to hide. I’ve been cooped up in here too damn long. Come on, Ronan. Let’s go and pay them a little visit.” He stepped around Susan and started to push the screens out of his way but stopped when Elizabeth reached out and grasped his arm.
“No, John.” She shook her head. “I will handle this.”
“Elizabeth-“ He glared at her, teeth and lips so tight together that his jaw ached.
“I said no, John..” She looked at Carson and then at Susan. “I suggest that for the next two weeks that Colonel Sheppard be put on medical leave. Are we agreed?”
Susan knew that he was watching her, knew that he was going to go ballistic but one look at him and they both nodded.
“Not a chance in hell!” John took an unsteady step and nearly fell. Susan went to help him but he angrily pushed her away. “Elizabeth, you can’t do this.”
“Sorry, John but yes. I can.” Elizabeth sighed. “Look at yourself. You are still too weak and no matter how much you might think that you can handle this? I will not let you push yourself into another relapse.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “But with Carson’s consent you can spend the rest of your time in your own quarters.” She turned her head and looked at the doctor hovering nearby. “Carson?”
Carson nodded. “I have no problem with that. Provided that the Colonel will follow my orders this time.”
Elizabeth smiled slightly. “I think we all know the answer to that one, Carson. But this time he really doesn’t have much of a choice.” She looked at John. He was staring at her, so angry that she could practically hear his teeth grinding together. “It’s up to you, Colonel. Let me deal with Woolsey and Walker and you can spend your time healing in the comfort of your own quarters. Are we clear on that?”
“I will not-“
“I said are we clear, Colonel?”
“On one condition.” He snarled.
“No.” She waved her hand, cutting him off. “No conditions. You do this or you can spend your time here, under guard until Carson deems you fit for duty. Do you understand me?”
His head snapped up. He was more than angry. He was furious. It shivered over him like a cold chill and he was practically shaking with it. Then slowly, he nodded.
“I want to hear it, Colonel. Are we clear?”
“John, she means it. Take the deal or leave it.” Susan moved to him, not backing down when he gave her a murderous glare.
“We’re clear.” He said coldly.
“Good.” Elizabeth nodded. “Now I suggest that you let Susan and Ronan help you back to your quarters. Get something to eat and then rest. I’ll be by later to check on you.”
John didn’t say a word. He just turned around, shoved the screens so hard that they fell over and stalked out of the infirmary.
Susan went after him. “John! Wait…listen to me!”
John just kept walking. He wasn’t in the mood to hear her mouth. Anger swam around him, covering him like a black cloud and even Ronan had enough sense to walk more than a step behind him.
But Susan? He snorted. She was walking way too close to him for her own damned good.
When she put her hand on his arm, he tensed. He was ready to snap and he had to force back the urge to wrap his fingers around her throat and choke the shit out of her. God damn her and Elizabeth both. Even Carson was pretty high on his shit list too.
He shook her off and kept moving until they were in front of the door to their quarters. He looked up and scowled at Ronan. “You can get lost now, Chewie.” He threw an angry glare at Susan. “Do me a favor and take her ass with you while you’re at it.”
Susan pursued her lips angrily. “It’s alright, Ronan. I’ll take it from here. Thank you.”
“You sure?” Ronan was watching the Colonel’s back. Sheppard was tight, his body as tense as a coiled spring. He didn’t even look around, just limped down the hallway and in a few seconds the bedroom door slammed shut. “I can stick around for a bit. You know…in case you need help.”
“No.” Susan shook her head. She liked Ronan but this was something that she had to deal with on her own. “I can handle him.”
He was still staring at her when she stepped inside and let the doors close behind her. She stool still for a few minutes then went to the bedroom door. Feeling like she was walking into a lion’s den, she put her hand on the knob, turned it and pushed it open.
The bedroom was in shadows. She glanced out the wide windows. Where it had been sunny before, the sky was an ominous black and lightening flickered under the edge of the thick storm clouds blocking out the sun.
Storm clouds as dark and black as John’s mood.
For a minute she just watched the rain and the sea then she turned her head because just looking at the mass of churning waves was making her stomach twist into knots. She huffed out a sigh and sank down in the chair near the window, curling her legs under her. John was lying on the bed, eyes closed and hands clasped behind his head.
“Are you hungry?”
“No.” He answered tersely.
“Do you want to take a shower?”
“Not with you.”
“Are you in pain?”
“What’s it to you?” He asked coldly. “Unless you’re just planning to drug me up again.”
“If I wanted to drug you up, I would have left you in the infirmary.” She picked up a blanket and draped it over her legs. “No, Sheppard. I want you here.” Her tone hardened. “And I don’t give a good god damn how pissed off you are, you fucking son of a bitch.”
He sat up then. Even in the dim light she could see the fire flashing in his eyes. A wave of anger rushed over her and suddenly she was throwing off the blanket and crawling over the end of the bed. She grabbed his arms, straddled his waist and smacked him as hard as she could across the mouth.
“Fuck!” He grunted and his head rocked back, then he was twisting his hands free and grabbing at her wrists to keep her from smacking him again.
“You stupid bastard!” She rolled off of him and off the bed. She got to her feet, reached for the water glass on the night table and slammed it against the wall.
John ducked, covering his head. “God damn it, woman! What the hell is wrong with you?’
“Me?” She raged at him. He started to sit up and she shoved him back. “You asshole! Don’t even try making this my fault.”
He grabbed her wrist. “Stop it!”
She fought him, smacking at him until he dragged her down across the bed. Still she fought him, struggling and twisting until she had him on his back and her arm was around his neck in a strangle hold.
He grunted, dug his fingers into her arm and tried to twist free but she got her legs around his waist. One foot pressed against his thigh until he grimaced from the pain.
Then just as suddenly, she let him go and pushed him off of her. Sliding to the end of the bed, she got to her feet and stood staring down at him while he struggled to untangle himself from the twisted bed covers.
“Do you see how easy that was?” She snarled at him. “You’re too weak to fight even me off. How in the hell do you expect to fight off someone even stronger?”
Eyes black with rage, he pushed himself over. Before he could say anything, she picked up the bottle of pills from the bedside table and threw them at him. They bounced off of his chest and rolled to the end of the bed.
“You stupid, arrogant, son of a bitch.” She shook her head and started to pace. “You’re so fucking hot to go after Nathan…” She stopped and glared at him. “I want to know what you and Ronan were talking to Lorne about.”
“It’s none of your business.” Fury rippled through John’s voice. He pushed off of the bed, wiped his hand over his face and barely made it to the chair before his leg gave out. He rubbed at it. It was tingling and throbbing at the point where her foot had pressed but he would be damned if he was going to tell her about it.
“I’m making it my business, Sheppard.”
“This is not a discussion.” John told her firmly, his fingers tightening into a fist. “And if you ever attack me like that again-“
“I will knock you on your fucking ass.” Susan shook her head as she leaned forward. “I’ve had enough of this, Sheppard.”
John rose jerkily from the chair, his expression and his tone icily furious. “Get out.”
“No.” Susan stood her ground. He was glaring at her, his eyes wild, dark and deadly. “Not until you tell me what you wanted Lorne to do.”
John’s mouth tightened but there was something in his stare, a flicker. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared but still it made her wish that she hadn’t seen it.
John’s voice was as hard as hers. “I am not going to have this argument with you.”
“And I’m not going to bury my head in the sand and pretend that I don’t know that you’re up to something.” She was as furious with him as he was with her.
“Leave it alone, Susan-“
“Damn it! It’s always the same with you! I’m not stupid, I’m your wife. Your partner. Not some fucking mushroom that you can feed shit and keep in the dark all the time.” She took a deep breath. “If you didn’t want me involved then you shouldn’t have given me his file.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I gave you Nathan’s file because I thought that you needed to know what was going on.” He looked away from her. “And that was a big fucking mistake.” He said slowly. He went still for a long moment. When he looked back at her, his eyes were dark with emotion. “I won’t do that again.”
“Oh, I get it.” Her voice was tight and her face white with anger. “You don’t trust me.”
Expression grim, he started toward her. “No-“
Slowly, she took a step back then turned, went to the closet and pulled out her back pack. She carried it to the dresser, opened a drawer and started stuffing clothes into it.
Fury rising, he grabbed the pack out of her hands and threw it on the floor. “Nice try, sweetheart. If I’m stuck here then you’re stuck here with me.”
“Why? If I’m gone than you won’t have to worry about my trust and you can play your little cloak and dagger games as much as you want to, John.” She pushed past him and headed for the door.
“No!” He caught her before she could put her hand on the knob. He grabbed her arm and spun her around, shoving her back against the door and pressing against her so that she couldn’t move.
“Let go of me!” She beat at his chest with her fists but he leaned into her harder, trapping her with his weight. He held her back with one hand pressed between her breasts while his other hand slid over her hip and up her back. His fingers scraped over the back of her neck and then curled in her thick hair.
Her warm scent fired his lust and he jerked her head back, covering her mouth with his in a hard, savage kiss. She fought him at first and then she was kissing him back, fingers digging into his skin, sliding down to work at the hem of the scrub top and then raking over his belly.
He groaned, let her go long enough to tug the scrub top off and then he was kissing her again, tasting her, inhaling her scent. She clutched at him hungrily, hands sliding over his chest and back, twisting and tugging at his hair. She worked her hands back down, fingers working at the tie on the scrub pants, jerking it loose and then shoving the pants down around his hips and then over his thighs. She gripped him tight, sliding her hot palm back and forth across his quickly hardening shaft until he growled from the pressure.
He let go of her mouth, lips and teeth sliding along the edge of her jaw, burying his face in her neck, his sharp teeth biting into her shoulder while his own fingers tore at the snap on her pants. He jerked down the zipper, the sound of the cloth tearing loud in his ears and then his hand was sliding inside, fingers roughly tugging at the lace and silk of her thong, ripping it, shredding it.
She moaned, pumping him harder when his fingers slid into her, scraping hard over that little button of pleasure that had her kicking out of her shoes and working the pants off her legs. One long leg wrapped around his hip, holding him tight and then she was guiding him to her heat, head falling back, panting and groaning when he thrust into her hard.
She urged him on, matching him thrust for thrust and he worked her harder and harder, pumping out his anger, grunting and moaning until the veins in his neck and arms were standing out. She spread herself wider, fingers clawing at him, her sharp nails raking down his back and digging into his ass cheeks, their thighs slapping together.
He fucked her to the hilt and she threw her head back, taking all of it, all of him. He found her sweet spot and she gasped, crying out when he fucked her even deeper. That was all it took for him, one more hard push and he was sliding over the edge. His dick pulsed, a throbbing twitch and then he was coming in thick hot spurts but still he kept pumping, kept rubbing and squeezing, pressing at her clit until she was coming too.
She clutched at him, riding out the wave of pleasure with him until they both had nothing else to give and she went limp in his arms.
Sweat pouring down his face, John ignored the pain in his leg as he turned her toward the bed. Hands gentle, he pushed her down tugged off her shirt and pushed her back against the pillows. He shucked off the come stained scrub pants and held them up to his nose, inhaling their scent before he dropped them on the floor. He picked up the blanket that she’d discarded, stretched out beside her and spread it over them. Exhausted, he rested his own head against the pillows and she snuggled into him, her head on his chest, one hand sliding over his belly to rest on his hip.
He tried not to tense when her fingers trailed down to lightly trace the scar on his thigh. It was still red around the edges and tender to the touch.
The anger faded away and he rubbed his hand down her back, shivering a little when her breath cooled the sweat on his chest. His voice was rough. Raw. “”You are flat out crazy, woman.”
Slowly, she began to stroke her fingers up and down his thigh. “I know. Its how I keep my sanity when I have to put up with you.”
His muscles flexed and she sensed his determination to not give in. She looked up at him and he looked away from her, wouldn’t let her see his eyes.
“John, I admire you. I admire your strength…the sheer power of your will.” She laughed softly. “I wish that I even had a third of what you have.”
He rolled into her, easing his leg up and pressing against her so that she fit snugly between her thighs. His voice was hoarse. “Why take a third when you can have it all?”
“That’s not the power that I’m talking about.” She pushed against his chest, slipped away from him. She sighed then gave him a sharp look. “I know that you’re going to do it anyway so…I want you to do it.”
“Do what?” He asked coolly though his eyes flared with heat. He reached out, grabbed her wrist and pulled her back against him. He ran his hands over her belly, settled on her hips, pulling her tight against his erection. He rubbed against her and his voice was smooth, hungry. “This again?”
“Stop trying to distract me.” She pulled away from his touch. Pushed his hands away. “And don’t try to pretend that you don’t know what I’m talking about.” She rubbed her arms. “I’m not blind so please…don’t treat me like I’m too ignorant to know what’s going on.”
He moved his head closer to her until they were nose to nose on the pillow. “Why?” He asked. “Why now?”
“Because…”
“Because what?”
“Because I want this over with.” She sighed and rolled over so that her back was to him. “I want this business with Nathan done. Over with, John…I just…I just want him gone.”
“Gone from Atlantis?” He reached out, rubbed a hand down her spine. “Or gone for good?”
“I-“ She stopped and didn’t say another word. She didn’t have to.
“Susan…” He moved closer and pressed against her back. He pushed back her hair and pressed his mouth to her ear. “All it would take is one word from you and Nathan Walker would disappear from our lives for good.”
He wouldn’t tell her that he’d had this same conversation with Ronan and Lorne. The less she knew right now the safer she would be.
“I know.” She let out a breath, turned into him and pressed her forehead against his chest. She looked up at him, searched his gaze. He would do whatever she asked him to but- “I won’t do that.”
“You want it.” He touched her face, rough fingers trailing over her soft skin. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“Yes…I do. Damn me to hell…but I do.” Her arms went around him, holding him tight. “But I want you more.” She tilted her head slightly. Brushed her mouth against his. “As much as I hate my brother…I won’t ask you to murder for me.”
He snorted and his warm breath brushed against her cheek. “After what that bastard did to us…it would be justified.”
“To you…to me, yes…but would Elizabeth see it that way?” She rested her cheek against his shoulder. “Would Jack O’Neill?”
“I don’t care-“
“But I do.” She tightened her arms around him. “John, I know that you don’t want to do this but-“ She tipped her head back and looked up at him. “Please…let yourself heal before you go jumping into something that could blow up in your face.”
“Suzie Q-“ He struggled with himself, trying to force back the howl of rage and frustration inside of him.
“You wanted a word, John. You wanted a word and this is it.”
“What about before?” He growled.
“Before?” Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Yes. Before. In the infirmary.” He tightened his grip. “Don’t tell me you forgot Elizabeth’s little talk already?”
Her eyes went dark. “No. I haven’t forgotten that.” She replied dryly. She was quiet for a moment and then she sat up, pushing her hair back so that she could look down at him. “But I’m not sorry for it either.”
“I know.” He sat up, pushing down with his arms until he was leaning back against the pillow but before he could flare up again, she was touching his face, gripping his chin and turning his head so that he had to look at her.
“You might think that I betrayed you, John but I didn’t.”
His expression hardened. “You sided with them.”
“Do you really blame me?” She asked quietly. “For weeks I sat by your side. Watching over you, trying to keep you safe, and worried every damn second that I was going to lose you.” She shook her head, let go of him and leaned back against the pillows beside him. “But if you still want to be mad at me then go ahead. Just remember…if I think that I have to I’ll do it again.”
“I know you will.” He smiled slightly at that then a frown touched the corner of his mouth. “I won’t let him get away, Suzie Q.”
“I know.” She nestled against him, her head on his shoulder, one arm curled around his waist. “But this time? Please…let Elizabeth handle the two of them. At least for the time being.”
“Elizabeth, won’t-“
“She was just as angry as you, John. Do you really think that she’s going to let Richard Woolsey get away with going over her head that easily?”
“And how the hell is she going to stop him?” He replied coldly.
“By being Elizabeth Weir.” She smiled slightly. Seeing the expression on his face she sat up and gripped his arms, tried to make him look at her. “Don’t underestimate her, John. She’s a lot stronger than you think.”
He gave her a look, pushed off her hand and sat up on the side of the bed.
“John, trust her.” Determined, she pushed off the blanket and moved up behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him back so that her breasts pressed against him. “Trust me.”
“You’re the one person that I can trust. And if I didn’t?” He turned his head, gave her a smoldering look. “You wouldn’t still be in this bed.”
She kissed him lightly. “Then listen to me. I know that you want to investigate, Nathan and find out what he’s up to. I’ll help you. Together we can come up with a plan-“
“No!” He shook his head. “I won’t involve you. Not again. If I do this? I do it alone.”
“No.” She tightened her hold on his neck. “We do this, John. You, me and whoever else you want but I will be involved.”
He gripped her arms, tugged her hold loose so that he could pull her around and settle her on his lap, groaning when his cock pressed against her wet warmth. When he spoke his voice was hoarse with want. “Not if I lock you up. If it means keeping you safe I won’t stop short of having you locked up in the brig.”
She wiggled a little, grinning when he groaned again. “If I’m locked up in the brig then how am I supposed to keep you safe?”
He rolled his eyes at her and then bent his head so that he could nibble her neck.
“Stop trying to change the subject, Sheppard.” She sighed and stroked her fingers over his shoulder and up the side of his neck. “You don’t always have to be the strong one, John.” She hugged him tight, then grabbed his exploring hand and moved it higher up on her thigh. “You don’t always have to be the big hero.”
“Yes, I do.” He whispered huskily. He rolled, flipping her over so that she was on her back and he was between her thighs. He gripped his cock and eased the swollen head into the warm wetness between her thighs. “And right now…I’m really big.”