Two shortish fics
I came up with so many plot bunnies while I was on holiday, and these are two of them.
I swear I am now going to work on the update for Scum of the Galaxy and nothing else until it's done. I know I suck at updating, but it's been a fairly crazy few weeks.
Title: Numerous Possibilities
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: PG
Summary: It's just a calm day on Atlantis. A good time to talk to friends and take stock of things.
Pairing: Implied S/W...kinda
She heard the footsteps growing closer to her office door, but she still didn’t look up. Elizabeth had been testing the theory that she could identify people by the sound of their footsteps, but it was difficult. Considering most of the military personnel wore the same type of boots, it was near impossible to tell one person from another. However, she at least knew when it was a member of the military personnel, and respond accordingly.
“Hey there,” came the voice from the doorway, and she finally looked up. She smiled to find that it was John leaning on the frame of the open door. He had his arms folded as he quickly scanned her office and her body with his eyes. John was amused to find her not sat at her desk, but sat on the couch at one side with her laptop on her out stretched legs. She looked calm and relaxed; from the soft smile that graced her lips down to the fact her shoes were lying on the floor next to her, exposing her socks to the world.
“Hey,” she responded, her voice slow and gentle. There was no hint of the usual strength and power her voice commanded. Everything about her was peaceful.
“So,” he began, stepping into her office fully. “I’m guessing today’s fairly stress free then.”
“You could say that,” she said, watching him with her bright green eyes. He walked across the office, glancing from side to side before coming to her desk. Turning, he leaned on the desk and let his gaze settle on her once more. Elizabeth was forced to turn in her seat in order to face him, letting her body gracefully move in one fluid motion. When she was comfortable, she closed the laptop and placed it next to her. “I’ve been reading some mission reports,” she said at last, breaking the silence that had settled over the room.
“Anything interesting?”
“What is it with you and alien women?” she asked in reply, raising one eyebrow. In reply, John shrugged his shoulders and let his familiar smirk appear.
“I guess I’m just popular,” he replied at last, with a mischievous look in his eyes. He watched as Elizabeth shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. “Well,” he sighed. “It’s not like any of them of ever lasted. It’s more ‘What is it with me and women I can’t be with?’ than ‘What is it with me and alien women?’” She nodded her head slowly; he did have a point. Not one of the women he had encountered off world had been around longer than a few days, or even just a few hours in some cases.
“So,” she asked at last. “There’s no one at all who’s been around very long? Not even here on Atlantis itself?”
John let out a long, loud breath and turned to look at the control centre. After a few moments, he looked back at Elizabeth, his eyes locking with hers.
“There is someone who I’ve gotten fairly close to, but it’s another one of those cases where I can’t be with her.”
“Why not?” she asked, truly showing interest in what John was saying. He was probably the closest thing she had to a friend, and friends usually told each other things no one else knew.
“She’s way out of my league, she’s intelligent and beautiful, and I don’t think she’d date anyone on Atlantis.”
“Have you asked?” tried Elizabeth, feeling colour rise in her cheeks.
“No. But I don’t wanna talk about it. How about you? You seemed to have remained fairly virtuous.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh at John calling her ‘virtuous’, and John found himself joining in the laughter. It was good to actually have something to laugh about for once.
“Well, at first I did have someone back on Earth, but then I found out he’d found someone else. It’s the story of my life, falling for men who then find someone else.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is it the same on Atlantis?” he asked. Elizabeth smiled softly to hear the genuine concern in his voice.
“Kind of. There was someone I cared about a lot, but I’ve getting mixed signals from him. He seems to more interested in alien women than anyone else.”
“Have you asked him why? You know, he might have a reason.”
Elizabeth shook her head as a reply and suddenly stood up. She picked up the laptop, and went to place it on the desk. John remained where he was, so she had to move close to him to place the laptop safely on her desk. She could smell his aftershave clearly, and was surprised to find that she liked the scent of it. In the same way, John could smell Elizabeth’s perfume. He couldn’t tell what it was, all he knew was that it smelt nice and he liked it. Pulling back, they stood close together, their eyes locked on each other’s. Various different ways the situation could end raced through their minds, though they kept it hidden. Their eyes didn’t betray a hint of emotion, a skill they had both learnt a long time ago.
“How about we get some lunch?” asked John at last, the strange spell that seemed to have settled on them suddenly broken.
“Lunch sounds good,” replied Elizabeth, turning to put her shoes back on. Once that was sorted, she walked across to the door where John was waiting for her. They both smiled at each other, before John stepped back to allow Elizabeth to leave first. Together, they left the busy control centre and headed towards the commissary, their thoughts playing on what the other had said. They both knew what had just taken place, but neither wanted to destroy the calmness of the day with a long and meaningful talk. There were plenty of other days to reveal hidden feelings.
Usually on the ones filled with mortal peril.
End
Title: Small Gestures
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: G
Summary: As the storm rages on, John finds himself watching his quiet leader.
Notes: Set after the Genii have gone in 'The Eye'.
Pairing: Sheppard/Weir friendship...unless you want to read it as ship
The control room seemed strangely quiet without its usual throng of people milling around and going about their daily business. The only sound now was the rain still thundering against the city. Every so often there was a few tapping sounds from McKay as he stared intently at his laptop screen. Teyla and Ford were talking quietly, but it was only a low murmur. There was Sora as well, but she had been tied to a chair. She definitely had nothing to say. The only quiet people were John, Elizabeth and Carson. But Carson was only quiet because he was unconscious.
As the storm continued rumble outside, John watched Elizabeth as she sat at one side of the control room. After the events of the day he was worried about she was. She’d barely said a word since they’d raised the shield, and now she was sat curled up next to one of the consoles. Her legs were drawn up to her chest and her head was resting on her knees. There was a strange faraway look in her eyes he’d never seen before, and it was beginning to worry him even more.
Without warning, Teyla stood up and walked across the control room. Her footsteps echoed across the near silent city. The sound attracted everyone’s attention, and they found themselves watching her walk, her outline illuminated by a sudden flash of lightning. At last she reached the silent Elizabeth, and knelt down next to her.
“Are you alright Doctor Weir?” she asked softly.
“I’m fine Teyla, thank you,” she replied, the glazed look fading from her face. She glanced slowly around the room. But John could see that they barely registered the people there.
“Are you sure?” tried Teyla once more, clearly concerned about the Lantean leader after her ordeal at the hands of the Genii.
“I’m fine honestly. Perhaps you should go see to Carson.”
Teyla nodded her head with a smile, and headed back to the still unconscious Doctor.
With a sigh, John stood up slowly and walked across to Elizabeth. She didn’t even seem to notice him, until he was kneeling right in front of her.
“Oh, hey Major,” she said, lifting her head up to look at him.
“Hey Doc. You realise, I know you’re lying,” John said, smirking at her.
“What do you mean?”
“You told Teyla you were fine, when you’re quite clearly not. Even if no one else can tell, you’re shaking.”
Elizabeth shook her head, her eyebrows raised. “You may be forgetting, but I was stuck outside in the middle of a storm for quite a while.”
“Or it could be shock.”
Now Elizabeth’s eyebrows were raised even more now, shooting a look that even John was afraid of.
“Okay,” he started. “So it’s not shock, lets go with the rain and the cold. In which case, we should help you get warm.”
John turned his head and quickly found what he was looking for.
“Hey Ford,” he called across the room, hearing the echo has it bounced off the walls around them.
“Yes sir?” asked Aiden, turning quickly to face his commanding officer.
“Gimme your jacket.”
“My jacket?”
“Yeah,” replied John, gesturing with his hand to emphasise his strange request.
“Okay,” sighed Aiden, quickly pulling off his jacket. He threw it across to John, it landing just a few inches in front of him.
“Thanks,” smiled John. “I’ll give you this back later.”
Turning back to face Elizabeth, John quickly placed the jacket around her shoulders. With a shake of her head, she pulled the jacket further around her, glad of the warmth that it held. She looked up at John and smiled at him, and he was glad to see her eyes regaining some of their warmth he had grown so used to.
Glancing back to the others, John found himself debating whether to go back to the others. McKay was too distracted by his laptop and the complex images that flashed across the screen. Teyla and Ford were once more deep in conversation, with the still body of Doctor Beckett next to them. He then noticed Sora, still silent and watching her old friend intently. John wondered whether he should go and check on Beckett when Elizabeth’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Would you mind staying here for a while?” she asked, her voice hesitant and not much more than a whisper.
Turning back to her, he could see the brightness in her eyes fixed upon him. She had said earlier that she wasn’t okay, and it was now fairly clear she wasn’t.
“Sure,” he replied with a smile and settled down next to her. She shuffled a little closer to him, her shaking slowly subsiding. John was happy to have the company, especially hers. He was just glad that she was alive and safe, and no longer in the hands of the twisted Kolya.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said suddenly, her voice a little stronger than before. It felt like her strength was returning as she slowly got warmer, and her sudden company.
“No problem,” responded John. “Though if I hadn’t got the jacket off Ford, I would have got it off Beckett. It’s not like he would have noticed.”
Next to him, Elizabeth let out a slight laugh, and it made John’s heart soar. After the stress and worry of the day, to hear someone laugh made everything seem worthwhile. The sound echoed in his ears for what seemed like an eternity before she spoke again.
“I didn’t mean that. I meant for saving more life.”
“Oh that,” he said, the moment of levity having made him forget his deeds.
“Yes that. Thank you John. From the bottom of my heart.”
“No problem,” he smiled, his mind barely registering that she had called him by his first name for the first time. “But you realise you owe me one now.”
Glancing to the side, he saw her shake her head like she usually did with him. His smile grew a little wider, but he managed to disguise it.
As lightning filled the control centre with light once more, and thunder rumbled overhead, John felt a slight pressure on his shoulder. Looking down, he found Elizabeth’s head resting on his shoulder. She’d stopped shaking completely and he could see the colour slowly returning to her pale skin.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
“I’m getting there,” she replied, her eyes flitting up to his before looking back out across the deserted Gate room.
Without hesitation, John wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in a little closer to him. She happily snuggled into him as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I told you you’d feel better later,” he said, resting his head on hers.
“Yes,” she said with a smile he couldn’t see. “Yes you did.”
End
I swear I am now going to work on the update for Scum of the Galaxy and nothing else until it's done. I know I suck at updating, but it's been a fairly crazy few weeks.
Title: Numerous Possibilities
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: PG
Summary: It's just a calm day on Atlantis. A good time to talk to friends and take stock of things.
Pairing: Implied S/W...kinda
She heard the footsteps growing closer to her office door, but she still didn’t look up. Elizabeth had been testing the theory that she could identify people by the sound of their footsteps, but it was difficult. Considering most of the military personnel wore the same type of boots, it was near impossible to tell one person from another. However, she at least knew when it was a member of the military personnel, and respond accordingly.
“Hey there,” came the voice from the doorway, and she finally looked up. She smiled to find that it was John leaning on the frame of the open door. He had his arms folded as he quickly scanned her office and her body with his eyes. John was amused to find her not sat at her desk, but sat on the couch at one side with her laptop on her out stretched legs. She looked calm and relaxed; from the soft smile that graced her lips down to the fact her shoes were lying on the floor next to her, exposing her socks to the world.
“Hey,” she responded, her voice slow and gentle. There was no hint of the usual strength and power her voice commanded. Everything about her was peaceful.
“So,” he began, stepping into her office fully. “I’m guessing today’s fairly stress free then.”
“You could say that,” she said, watching him with her bright green eyes. He walked across the office, glancing from side to side before coming to her desk. Turning, he leaned on the desk and let his gaze settle on her once more. Elizabeth was forced to turn in her seat in order to face him, letting her body gracefully move in one fluid motion. When she was comfortable, she closed the laptop and placed it next to her. “I’ve been reading some mission reports,” she said at last, breaking the silence that had settled over the room.
“Anything interesting?”
“What is it with you and alien women?” she asked in reply, raising one eyebrow. In reply, John shrugged his shoulders and let his familiar smirk appear.
“I guess I’m just popular,” he replied at last, with a mischievous look in his eyes. He watched as Elizabeth shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. “Well,” he sighed. “It’s not like any of them of ever lasted. It’s more ‘What is it with me and women I can’t be with?’ than ‘What is it with me and alien women?’” She nodded her head slowly; he did have a point. Not one of the women he had encountered off world had been around longer than a few days, or even just a few hours in some cases.
“So,” she asked at last. “There’s no one at all who’s been around very long? Not even here on Atlantis itself?”
John let out a long, loud breath and turned to look at the control centre. After a few moments, he looked back at Elizabeth, his eyes locking with hers.
“There is someone who I’ve gotten fairly close to, but it’s another one of those cases where I can’t be with her.”
“Why not?” she asked, truly showing interest in what John was saying. He was probably the closest thing she had to a friend, and friends usually told each other things no one else knew.
“She’s way out of my league, she’s intelligent and beautiful, and I don’t think she’d date anyone on Atlantis.”
“Have you asked?” tried Elizabeth, feeling colour rise in her cheeks.
“No. But I don’t wanna talk about it. How about you? You seemed to have remained fairly virtuous.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh at John calling her ‘virtuous’, and John found himself joining in the laughter. It was good to actually have something to laugh about for once.
“Well, at first I did have someone back on Earth, but then I found out he’d found someone else. It’s the story of my life, falling for men who then find someone else.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is it the same on Atlantis?” he asked. Elizabeth smiled softly to hear the genuine concern in his voice.
“Kind of. There was someone I cared about a lot, but I’ve getting mixed signals from him. He seems to more interested in alien women than anyone else.”
“Have you asked him why? You know, he might have a reason.”
Elizabeth shook her head as a reply and suddenly stood up. She picked up the laptop, and went to place it on the desk. John remained where he was, so she had to move close to him to place the laptop safely on her desk. She could smell his aftershave clearly, and was surprised to find that she liked the scent of it. In the same way, John could smell Elizabeth’s perfume. He couldn’t tell what it was, all he knew was that it smelt nice and he liked it. Pulling back, they stood close together, their eyes locked on each other’s. Various different ways the situation could end raced through their minds, though they kept it hidden. Their eyes didn’t betray a hint of emotion, a skill they had both learnt a long time ago.
“How about we get some lunch?” asked John at last, the strange spell that seemed to have settled on them suddenly broken.
“Lunch sounds good,” replied Elizabeth, turning to put her shoes back on. Once that was sorted, she walked across to the door where John was waiting for her. They both smiled at each other, before John stepped back to allow Elizabeth to leave first. Together, they left the busy control centre and headed towards the commissary, their thoughts playing on what the other had said. They both knew what had just taken place, but neither wanted to destroy the calmness of the day with a long and meaningful talk. There were plenty of other days to reveal hidden feelings.
Usually on the ones filled with mortal peril.
End
Title: Small Gestures
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: G
Summary: As the storm rages on, John finds himself watching his quiet leader.
Notes: Set after the Genii have gone in 'The Eye'.
Pairing: Sheppard/Weir friendship...unless you want to read it as ship
The control room seemed strangely quiet without its usual throng of people milling around and going about their daily business. The only sound now was the rain still thundering against the city. Every so often there was a few tapping sounds from McKay as he stared intently at his laptop screen. Teyla and Ford were talking quietly, but it was only a low murmur. There was Sora as well, but she had been tied to a chair. She definitely had nothing to say. The only quiet people were John, Elizabeth and Carson. But Carson was only quiet because he was unconscious.
As the storm continued rumble outside, John watched Elizabeth as she sat at one side of the control room. After the events of the day he was worried about she was. She’d barely said a word since they’d raised the shield, and now she was sat curled up next to one of the consoles. Her legs were drawn up to her chest and her head was resting on her knees. There was a strange faraway look in her eyes he’d never seen before, and it was beginning to worry him even more.
Without warning, Teyla stood up and walked across the control room. Her footsteps echoed across the near silent city. The sound attracted everyone’s attention, and they found themselves watching her walk, her outline illuminated by a sudden flash of lightning. At last she reached the silent Elizabeth, and knelt down next to her.
“Are you alright Doctor Weir?” she asked softly.
“I’m fine Teyla, thank you,” she replied, the glazed look fading from her face. She glanced slowly around the room. But John could see that they barely registered the people there.
“Are you sure?” tried Teyla once more, clearly concerned about the Lantean leader after her ordeal at the hands of the Genii.
“I’m fine honestly. Perhaps you should go see to Carson.”
Teyla nodded her head with a smile, and headed back to the still unconscious Doctor.
With a sigh, John stood up slowly and walked across to Elizabeth. She didn’t even seem to notice him, until he was kneeling right in front of her.
“Oh, hey Major,” she said, lifting her head up to look at him.
“Hey Doc. You realise, I know you’re lying,” John said, smirking at her.
“What do you mean?”
“You told Teyla you were fine, when you’re quite clearly not. Even if no one else can tell, you’re shaking.”
Elizabeth shook her head, her eyebrows raised. “You may be forgetting, but I was stuck outside in the middle of a storm for quite a while.”
“Or it could be shock.”
Now Elizabeth’s eyebrows were raised even more now, shooting a look that even John was afraid of.
“Okay,” he started. “So it’s not shock, lets go with the rain and the cold. In which case, we should help you get warm.”
John turned his head and quickly found what he was looking for.
“Hey Ford,” he called across the room, hearing the echo has it bounced off the walls around them.
“Yes sir?” asked Aiden, turning quickly to face his commanding officer.
“Gimme your jacket.”
“My jacket?”
“Yeah,” replied John, gesturing with his hand to emphasise his strange request.
“Okay,” sighed Aiden, quickly pulling off his jacket. He threw it across to John, it landing just a few inches in front of him.
“Thanks,” smiled John. “I’ll give you this back later.”
Turning back to face Elizabeth, John quickly placed the jacket around her shoulders. With a shake of her head, she pulled the jacket further around her, glad of the warmth that it held. She looked up at John and smiled at him, and he was glad to see her eyes regaining some of their warmth he had grown so used to.
Glancing back to the others, John found himself debating whether to go back to the others. McKay was too distracted by his laptop and the complex images that flashed across the screen. Teyla and Ford were once more deep in conversation, with the still body of Doctor Beckett next to them. He then noticed Sora, still silent and watching her old friend intently. John wondered whether he should go and check on Beckett when Elizabeth’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Would you mind staying here for a while?” she asked, her voice hesitant and not much more than a whisper.
Turning back to her, he could see the brightness in her eyes fixed upon him. She had said earlier that she wasn’t okay, and it was now fairly clear she wasn’t.
“Sure,” he replied with a smile and settled down next to her. She shuffled a little closer to him, her shaking slowly subsiding. John was happy to have the company, especially hers. He was just glad that she was alive and safe, and no longer in the hands of the twisted Kolya.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said suddenly, her voice a little stronger than before. It felt like her strength was returning as she slowly got warmer, and her sudden company.
“No problem,” responded John. “Though if I hadn’t got the jacket off Ford, I would have got it off Beckett. It’s not like he would have noticed.”
Next to him, Elizabeth let out a slight laugh, and it made John’s heart soar. After the stress and worry of the day, to hear someone laugh made everything seem worthwhile. The sound echoed in his ears for what seemed like an eternity before she spoke again.
“I didn’t mean that. I meant for saving more life.”
“Oh that,” he said, the moment of levity having made him forget his deeds.
“Yes that. Thank you John. From the bottom of my heart.”
“No problem,” he smiled, his mind barely registering that she had called him by his first name for the first time. “But you realise you owe me one now.”
Glancing to the side, he saw her shake her head like she usually did with him. His smile grew a little wider, but he managed to disguise it.
As lightning filled the control centre with light once more, and thunder rumbled overhead, John felt a slight pressure on his shoulder. Looking down, he found Elizabeth’s head resting on his shoulder. She’d stopped shaking completely and he could see the colour slowly returning to her pale skin.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
“I’m getting there,” she replied, her eyes flitting up to his before looking back out across the deserted Gate room.
Without hesitation, John wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in a little closer to him. She happily snuggled into him as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I told you you’d feel better later,” he said, resting his head on hers.
“Yes,” she said with a smile he couldn’t see. “Yes you did.”
End