Fic: Doctor, Doctor (Unified Theory 2/?) (R)
Title: Doctor Doctor
Author: SGAtlantisLight
Characters: McKay, Sheppard, Beckett, Emmagan, Everett, Cadman, Stackhouse, Weir, Zelenka, Kusanagi, Dex, Kavanagh, Lorne, Ford
Relationships: McKay/Sheppard, Lorne/Weir
Rating: R for smut
Warnings: Het smut
Spoilers: References to events (some somewhat different in this AU) to Duet, Runner, Conversion, and The Siege trilogy
Summary: Part 2 of the Unified Theory series-- an AU where Everett was never drained by the Wraith and kept his position as military commander of Atlantis.
Disclaimer: The characters, the setting, etc. are NOT mine, even if I wish they were.
The traditional meet and greet with the new staff got turned into an impromptu welcome-home and wedding reception. When John and Rodney arrived at the designated time, it was to cheers and catcalls from the members of the original expedition who had arrived early.
The kitchen staff had pulled out all the stops and created a towering cake for the center table in addition to the usual sandwiches and finger foods.
Carson was the first to swoop in and shake their hands. "Congratulation, Rodney, John. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks," John answered, smiling. "He made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
Rodney grinned. "And have you noticed how much more responsive the city seems to be now that he's gotten back here?"
Carson considered and nodded. "Aye, it has at that."
Teyla stepped up then, greeting them both in traditional Athosian manner. "I am happy you have returned to us," there was a pause as she seemed to consider what to call John, "Doctor Sheppard-McKay."
"It's John. Especially since we're both Doctor Sheppard-McKay. How have you been, Teyla?"
"I am well, thank you. My people send their greetings."
Seeing Everett walk in, John reached out and gave Rodney's arm an affectionate squeeze. Rodney hid his surprise well enough, smiling at John, then frowned over his husband's shoulder. John turned to see a petite strawberry blonde approaching, a knowing grin on her face.
"So, Rodney, this is the great John Sheppard I've heard so much about. I hear congratulations are in order."
Rodney lifted his chin in a classic Rodney defensive gesture. "Yes. Thank you."
"Well, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"John, this is Lieutenant Laura Cadman. Cadman, this is my husband Doctor John Sheppard-McKay."
Cadman looked at him expectantly and seemed surprised when he didn't react. "It's good to meet you," John said, neutrally, wondering at her easy familiarity.
She turned to Rodney. "You didn't tell him, did you?"
"I didn't think it was necessary," Rodney said.
"Tell me what?" John asked.
"Well," she smirked, "I guess you two have been busy with other things."
"Tell me what?" John asked Rodney.
"It's really nothing," Rodney answered. "Just a bit of a mix-up with a wraith transport beam."
"A wraith transport beam," John exclaimed. "You, Rodney?"
"Well, yes. And Cadman here. Radek had a bit of difficulty getting us out, but it all worked out in the end."
Cadman rolled her eyes.
"That's all?" John asked.
"I'll tell you later," Rodney answered, his eyes pleading.
John wavered between pushing and giving in. Before he could make up his mind, Sergeant Stackhouse walked up to their little group. "Maj-- er, Doctor, welcome back to Atlantis."
"Thank you, sergeant," John nodded.
"And congratulations! I always sort of wondered, but... well, you know."
John raised his eyebrows. "Oh... uh... well."
"It's okay, sir, uh, doctor. I never had a problem with it."
John's smile was more than a little forced. "Well, that's very... enlightened of you. Say, did Bates ever make it back?" John changed the subject.
Carson shook his head. "There was some neurological damage, I'm afraid."
Stackhouse nodded. "Colonel Everett ended up putting me in charge of security. Oh, speaking of which, since you're both Doctors Sheppard-McKay, how should we distinguish you on radio?"
John grinned. "'Maiden' names should work fine, sergeant."
"That's what I was thinking, but I didn't want you thinking I was being insensitive or anything."
John was saved from further conversing with the overly earnest Marine by Elizabeth clapping her hands for attention.
"I would like to welcome all our new expedition members," she said. "I'd like to encourage everyone to mingle and get to know one another better. I would also like to extend a warm welcome home to our former head of military operations, who is returning to join our science team and who also arrives newly married. While few of us knew the depths of affection these two apparently grew to share while here, it isn't entirely surprising to those of us who saw their close friendship while working together to assure the survival and success of this expedition. So, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Atlantis's first newlyweds, Doctors John and Rodney Sheppard-McKay."
As people clapped, John had the sudden, uncomfortable realisation that they needed to do something and then Rodney was slipping his arms around his neck, body fitting up against John's, and pulling his head down. His thoughts shuddered to a stop as their lips met and then Rodney was pulling back, looking flushed and a little embarrassed and awkward.
Out of the corner of his eye, John caught Everett scowling. A little thrill of satisfaction raced through him at the man's reaction and he reached out and took Rodney's hand, smiling broadly. Everett turned and walked out of the room.
"Oh, there's Doctor Ager. You'll be working with him on the puddlejumpers. I wonder where Radek is. I thought I saw him earlier..."
***
"Doctor Kusanagi?" Radek called gently, stepping into the lab.
The Japanese scientist was sitting in a corner, knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped around them. Her face was a ruin-- red, puffy eyes; blotchy, tear-streaked skin. She sniffed and swiped a hand over her eyes.
Radek approached as one might a skittish animal, then sat down in front of her, setting down a bottle and two metal mugs. "Becherovka," he said. "I have been saving it for a special occasion."
She slipped her glasses back on and blinked at him, her eyes huge through the lenses. "What special occasion?"
Radek carefully poured the gold liqueur into the two mugs. "The day we both lost opportunity to win Rodney McKay's affections."
She looked at him, startled. "You... you, too?"
He nodded. "He is annoying, pompous, arrogant man, but I think I loved him just a little."
She smiled a little and took the proffered cup. "Yes, he is. We should be happy for him, I suppose."
"In public. But here, we can enjoy our mutual misery." He clinked his mug against hers. "To company."
***
"So, who's the wookie over there talking to Doctor Kavanagh?" John asked.
Rodney didn't even look. "That would be Specialist Ronon Dex of the late, great planet of Sateda."
"They're on Everett's team together," Lorne, who'd been at Elizabeth's elbow most of the evening, said.
John blinked. "Kavanagh is on an offworld team?"
"He and Colonel Everett are old friends from the SGC days, apparently," Elizabeth said. "It's embarrassing to admit, but Everett seems to have a good handle on him."
John considered the two men, taking in Kavanagh's ponytail and the mane of dreadlocks on the hulking alien. "And Everett doesn't complain about the hair?"
Lorne laughed. "Actually, he complains constantly about Kavanagh's hair. It's like a tradition with them to start off every mission with Everett telling Kavanagh to get a haircut and Kavanagh telling him to go to hell. Now, Ronon's a different story. I think Everett may have mentioned it once, but the man's very attached to his hair. And he growls. But he's got a lot of intelligence on planets in the Pegasus Galaxy and he did save Doctor McKay's life, so we cut him some slack."
"He saved Rodney's life?" John asked, turning to the man in question. "Why haven't I heard this story?"
Rodney waved frantically. "It wasn't anything, really."
"I'm surprised you haven't asked about the scar," Lorne said.
John opened his mouth, then shut it quickly before he gave them away.
"Well, you know Rodney," Elizabeth said, quickly. "If the injury's relatively insignificant, you'd think he was dying, but he doesn't really talk very much about really traumatic experiences."
Rodney gave her a thankful look before looking offended. "Hey! I do not complain about insignificant injuries."
Lorne and John exchanged grins. "Yeah, sure, Doc," Lorne said.
Rodney saw someone approaching behind John and made shushing sounds, plastering a false smile on his face. Alarmed, John turned and stood gazing mutely for a minute.
"It's good to see you again, major. Or, I guess it's doctor now."
John automatically held out his hand to be shaken. "Ford. It's... it's good to see you."
***
John sat on the edge of the bed, not really listening to Rodney talk about all the work he was facing the next day, unable to shake the feeling that he was suddenly a stranger here. So much had happened in the time he had been gone.
"Are you going to tell me about it?" he blurted suddenly.
Rodney froze. "Tell you about what?"
"You know what, Rodney." John sighed. "Dammit, Rodney, if we're going to pull this off, it would be nice if you would tell me about obvious things like, oh, horrible scars."
Rodney flushed, crossing his arms in a way John couldn't help but think was defensive. "They're not... they're not that bad."
"What happened?"
Rodney seemed to deflate some. "Ford... We found a Wraith on a planet. Which, by the way, had dangerously high levels of UV radiation and not a single member of the offworld team seemed to--"
"Rodney!"
"Yes. Sorry. Well, the Wraith was dead, killed, and it occurred to us that it might be Ford. So, Everett brought in a team and..." Rodney's mouth turned down in a frown. "Long story short, I ended up with Ford, who wasn't exactly... sane at the time."
John stared at him. "And?"
"He... he shot me."
"He shot you?" John yelped.
"Well, yes. But he was... he's been really sorry about it."
"Let me see," John said.
"I... You don't need to--"
"Rodney, don't argue, please. I need to see."
Rodney looked embarrassed. He turned his back to John and pulled his shirt off. John could see the angry red jagged shape of an exit wound, then the other man turned, blushing, to reveal the circular scar a couple of inches below his left nipple.
"God!" John exclaimed, reaching out and touching it gently. Rodney shuddered at the touch and John pulled back. "I didn't... If I'd been there... How bad was it?"
"Pneumothorax," Rodney answered. "Ronon tackled him just as he started to fire a second time... figured out how to use the radio and called for help."
"I really have missed a lot, haven't I?"
Rodney pulled open a drawer and grabbed a ratty tee shirt that he used as pyjamas and pulled it on. "We'll get you up to speed. You really have no idea how... dead the city felt without you here. Half my staff started theorising the city was semi-sentient and, well, missed you."
John grinned. "Cool. Hey are you okay with sharing the bed tonight? I didn't get a chance to get the futon set up in my office."
Rodney shrugged. "It's not like we haven't slept together before, with all those offworld missions sharing a tent and the trip back on the Daedalus."
"Good," John answered
Rodney watched as John stood up and unself-consciously stripped, then began digging through drawers for sleep clothes. He couldn't help but admire the long, lean form of the man before turning away.
***
"What the hell is your problem?" Kavanagh said, standing at the entrance to Everett's quarters.
Everett glared at him, then sighed and stepped back. "Come in, Liam."
Kavanagh stalked in and turned, arms crossed. "Well?"
"I have issues with their relationship."
"Oh, please, don't go all macho on me, Dillon. You're not a homophobe, thank God, so why are you acting like one?"
"No, I'm not, but I still follow regulations, and that includes the ones you're so fond of mocking."
Kavanagh rolled his eyes. "He's not military anymore, in case the title and the panels on his uniform didn't give it away for you."
"True, but he was military and Dr. McKay was on his offworld team, under his command. No one seems particularly surprised to discover they're both apparently gay and involved, which leads me to think their prior behaviour here, while Major Sheppard was in command, led to that conclusion. If that's the case, then their behaviour is unconscionable."
Kavanagh considered him. "And this doesn't have anything to do with any jealousy over how well-liked Sheppard is?"
Everett gave him a sour look.
Kavanagh smirked. "Thought so." He shifted his weight, unfolding his arms and shoving his hands in his pockets. "So, uh, offworld teams... you'd have a problem with an involvement between team members?"
Everett considered him, the wheels turning. "Why do you ask?"
"Uh, well, nothing right now. Just wondering... for possible future reference."
***
Lorne tucked his hand behind his head and stretched, enjoying the sense of cool air against his overheated skin. "It's a marriage of convenience, isn't it? They aren't even lovers."
Elizabeth sat up beside him, leaning her head on a hand. "That's what I'm guessing. Though I won't be surprised to see it develop into something more than that." She reached out and ran a hand down his chest.
He shivered and then pulled her to him, kissing her. "Don't tell me you haven't had enough."
She gave a throaty laugh. "Of you? Never!"
He ran his fingers through her hair, a softness in his eyes. "God, I still can't believe this sometimes. I was so afraid I'd hurt you when I remembered what I'd done."
"Shhh," she said, kissing him. "It's in the past. You didn't force me."
"But, I might have... would have, if you hadn't--"
"Chris, shhh. It worked out all right. It's okay."
He hummed happily, slipping his arms around her, enjoying the slide of flesh against flesh. "When's the last time I told you I loved you?"
She arched her eyebrows. "Oh, about fifteen minutes ago, in the throes of passion. Much, much too long ago."
"Oh, well, in that case, I love you."
"You silly man," she said, kissing his nose, "how did I get so lucky to have you here on Atlantis?"
He grinned. "I failed the Bambi test."
She threw her head back and laughed, looking so joyous and beautiful that he couldn't resist rolling them both over and then kissing her senseless until he ached for her and had to sate himself within her willing body.
Next part
Author: SGAtlantisLight
Characters: McKay, Sheppard, Beckett, Emmagan, Everett, Cadman, Stackhouse, Weir, Zelenka, Kusanagi, Dex, Kavanagh, Lorne, Ford
Relationships: McKay/Sheppard, Lorne/Weir
Rating: R for smut
Warnings: Het smut
Spoilers: References to events (some somewhat different in this AU) to Duet, Runner, Conversion, and The Siege trilogy
Summary: Part 2 of the Unified Theory series-- an AU where Everett was never drained by the Wraith and kept his position as military commander of Atlantis.
Disclaimer: The characters, the setting, etc. are NOT mine, even if I wish they were.
The traditional meet and greet with the new staff got turned into an impromptu welcome-home and wedding reception. When John and Rodney arrived at the designated time, it was to cheers and catcalls from the members of the original expedition who had arrived early.
The kitchen staff had pulled out all the stops and created a towering cake for the center table in addition to the usual sandwiches and finger foods.
Carson was the first to swoop in and shake their hands. "Congratulation, Rodney, John. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks," John answered, smiling. "He made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
Rodney grinned. "And have you noticed how much more responsive the city seems to be now that he's gotten back here?"
Carson considered and nodded. "Aye, it has at that."
Teyla stepped up then, greeting them both in traditional Athosian manner. "I am happy you have returned to us," there was a pause as she seemed to consider what to call John, "Doctor Sheppard-McKay."
"It's John. Especially since we're both Doctor Sheppard-McKay. How have you been, Teyla?"
"I am well, thank you. My people send their greetings."
Seeing Everett walk in, John reached out and gave Rodney's arm an affectionate squeeze. Rodney hid his surprise well enough, smiling at John, then frowned over his husband's shoulder. John turned to see a petite strawberry blonde approaching, a knowing grin on her face.
"So, Rodney, this is the great John Sheppard I've heard so much about. I hear congratulations are in order."
Rodney lifted his chin in a classic Rodney defensive gesture. "Yes. Thank you."
"Well, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"John, this is Lieutenant Laura Cadman. Cadman, this is my husband Doctor John Sheppard-McKay."
Cadman looked at him expectantly and seemed surprised when he didn't react. "It's good to meet you," John said, neutrally, wondering at her easy familiarity.
She turned to Rodney. "You didn't tell him, did you?"
"I didn't think it was necessary," Rodney said.
"Tell me what?" John asked.
"Well," she smirked, "I guess you two have been busy with other things."
"Tell me what?" John asked Rodney.
"It's really nothing," Rodney answered. "Just a bit of a mix-up with a wraith transport beam."
"A wraith transport beam," John exclaimed. "You, Rodney?"
"Well, yes. And Cadman here. Radek had a bit of difficulty getting us out, but it all worked out in the end."
Cadman rolled her eyes.
"That's all?" John asked.
"I'll tell you later," Rodney answered, his eyes pleading.
John wavered between pushing and giving in. Before he could make up his mind, Sergeant Stackhouse walked up to their little group. "Maj-- er, Doctor, welcome back to Atlantis."
"Thank you, sergeant," John nodded.
"And congratulations! I always sort of wondered, but... well, you know."
John raised his eyebrows. "Oh... uh... well."
"It's okay, sir, uh, doctor. I never had a problem with it."
John's smile was more than a little forced. "Well, that's very... enlightened of you. Say, did Bates ever make it back?" John changed the subject.
Carson shook his head. "There was some neurological damage, I'm afraid."
Stackhouse nodded. "Colonel Everett ended up putting me in charge of security. Oh, speaking of which, since you're both Doctors Sheppard-McKay, how should we distinguish you on radio?"
John grinned. "'Maiden' names should work fine, sergeant."
"That's what I was thinking, but I didn't want you thinking I was being insensitive or anything."
John was saved from further conversing with the overly earnest Marine by Elizabeth clapping her hands for attention.
"I would like to welcome all our new expedition members," she said. "I'd like to encourage everyone to mingle and get to know one another better. I would also like to extend a warm welcome home to our former head of military operations, who is returning to join our science team and who also arrives newly married. While few of us knew the depths of affection these two apparently grew to share while here, it isn't entirely surprising to those of us who saw their close friendship while working together to assure the survival and success of this expedition. So, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Atlantis's first newlyweds, Doctors John and Rodney Sheppard-McKay."
As people clapped, John had the sudden, uncomfortable realisation that they needed to do something and then Rodney was slipping his arms around his neck, body fitting up against John's, and pulling his head down. His thoughts shuddered to a stop as their lips met and then Rodney was pulling back, looking flushed and a little embarrassed and awkward.
Out of the corner of his eye, John caught Everett scowling. A little thrill of satisfaction raced through him at the man's reaction and he reached out and took Rodney's hand, smiling broadly. Everett turned and walked out of the room.
"Oh, there's Doctor Ager. You'll be working with him on the puddlejumpers. I wonder where Radek is. I thought I saw him earlier..."
***
"Doctor Kusanagi?" Radek called gently, stepping into the lab.
The Japanese scientist was sitting in a corner, knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped around them. Her face was a ruin-- red, puffy eyes; blotchy, tear-streaked skin. She sniffed and swiped a hand over her eyes.
Radek approached as one might a skittish animal, then sat down in front of her, setting down a bottle and two metal mugs. "Becherovka," he said. "I have been saving it for a special occasion."
She slipped her glasses back on and blinked at him, her eyes huge through the lenses. "What special occasion?"
Radek carefully poured the gold liqueur into the two mugs. "The day we both lost opportunity to win Rodney McKay's affections."
She looked at him, startled. "You... you, too?"
He nodded. "He is annoying, pompous, arrogant man, but I think I loved him just a little."
She smiled a little and took the proffered cup. "Yes, he is. We should be happy for him, I suppose."
"In public. But here, we can enjoy our mutual misery." He clinked his mug against hers. "To company."
***
"So, who's the wookie over there talking to Doctor Kavanagh?" John asked.
Rodney didn't even look. "That would be Specialist Ronon Dex of the late, great planet of Sateda."
"They're on Everett's team together," Lorne, who'd been at Elizabeth's elbow most of the evening, said.
John blinked. "Kavanagh is on an offworld team?"
"He and Colonel Everett are old friends from the SGC days, apparently," Elizabeth said. "It's embarrassing to admit, but Everett seems to have a good handle on him."
John considered the two men, taking in Kavanagh's ponytail and the mane of dreadlocks on the hulking alien. "And Everett doesn't complain about the hair?"
Lorne laughed. "Actually, he complains constantly about Kavanagh's hair. It's like a tradition with them to start off every mission with Everett telling Kavanagh to get a haircut and Kavanagh telling him to go to hell. Now, Ronon's a different story. I think Everett may have mentioned it once, but the man's very attached to his hair. And he growls. But he's got a lot of intelligence on planets in the Pegasus Galaxy and he did save Doctor McKay's life, so we cut him some slack."
"He saved Rodney's life?" John asked, turning to the man in question. "Why haven't I heard this story?"
Rodney waved frantically. "It wasn't anything, really."
"I'm surprised you haven't asked about the scar," Lorne said.
John opened his mouth, then shut it quickly before he gave them away.
"Well, you know Rodney," Elizabeth said, quickly. "If the injury's relatively insignificant, you'd think he was dying, but he doesn't really talk very much about really traumatic experiences."
Rodney gave her a thankful look before looking offended. "Hey! I do not complain about insignificant injuries."
Lorne and John exchanged grins. "Yeah, sure, Doc," Lorne said.
Rodney saw someone approaching behind John and made shushing sounds, plastering a false smile on his face. Alarmed, John turned and stood gazing mutely for a minute.
"It's good to see you again, major. Or, I guess it's doctor now."
John automatically held out his hand to be shaken. "Ford. It's... it's good to see you."
***
John sat on the edge of the bed, not really listening to Rodney talk about all the work he was facing the next day, unable to shake the feeling that he was suddenly a stranger here. So much had happened in the time he had been gone.
"Are you going to tell me about it?" he blurted suddenly.
Rodney froze. "Tell you about what?"
"You know what, Rodney." John sighed. "Dammit, Rodney, if we're going to pull this off, it would be nice if you would tell me about obvious things like, oh, horrible scars."
Rodney flushed, crossing his arms in a way John couldn't help but think was defensive. "They're not... they're not that bad."
"What happened?"
Rodney seemed to deflate some. "Ford... We found a Wraith on a planet. Which, by the way, had dangerously high levels of UV radiation and not a single member of the offworld team seemed to--"
"Rodney!"
"Yes. Sorry. Well, the Wraith was dead, killed, and it occurred to us that it might be Ford. So, Everett brought in a team and..." Rodney's mouth turned down in a frown. "Long story short, I ended up with Ford, who wasn't exactly... sane at the time."
John stared at him. "And?"
"He... he shot me."
"He shot you?" John yelped.
"Well, yes. But he was... he's been really sorry about it."
"Let me see," John said.
"I... You don't need to--"
"Rodney, don't argue, please. I need to see."
Rodney looked embarrassed. He turned his back to John and pulled his shirt off. John could see the angry red jagged shape of an exit wound, then the other man turned, blushing, to reveal the circular scar a couple of inches below his left nipple.
"God!" John exclaimed, reaching out and touching it gently. Rodney shuddered at the touch and John pulled back. "I didn't... If I'd been there... How bad was it?"
"Pneumothorax," Rodney answered. "Ronon tackled him just as he started to fire a second time... figured out how to use the radio and called for help."
"I really have missed a lot, haven't I?"
Rodney pulled open a drawer and grabbed a ratty tee shirt that he used as pyjamas and pulled it on. "We'll get you up to speed. You really have no idea how... dead the city felt without you here. Half my staff started theorising the city was semi-sentient and, well, missed you."
John grinned. "Cool. Hey are you okay with sharing the bed tonight? I didn't get a chance to get the futon set up in my office."
Rodney shrugged. "It's not like we haven't slept together before, with all those offworld missions sharing a tent and the trip back on the Daedalus."
"Good," John answered
Rodney watched as John stood up and unself-consciously stripped, then began digging through drawers for sleep clothes. He couldn't help but admire the long, lean form of the man before turning away.
***
"What the hell is your problem?" Kavanagh said, standing at the entrance to Everett's quarters.
Everett glared at him, then sighed and stepped back. "Come in, Liam."
Kavanagh stalked in and turned, arms crossed. "Well?"
"I have issues with their relationship."
"Oh, please, don't go all macho on me, Dillon. You're not a homophobe, thank God, so why are you acting like one?"
"No, I'm not, but I still follow regulations, and that includes the ones you're so fond of mocking."
Kavanagh rolled his eyes. "He's not military anymore, in case the title and the panels on his uniform didn't give it away for you."
"True, but he was military and Dr. McKay was on his offworld team, under his command. No one seems particularly surprised to discover they're both apparently gay and involved, which leads me to think their prior behaviour here, while Major Sheppard was in command, led to that conclusion. If that's the case, then their behaviour is unconscionable."
Kavanagh considered him. "And this doesn't have anything to do with any jealousy over how well-liked Sheppard is?"
Everett gave him a sour look.
Kavanagh smirked. "Thought so." He shifted his weight, unfolding his arms and shoving his hands in his pockets. "So, uh, offworld teams... you'd have a problem with an involvement between team members?"
Everett considered him, the wheels turning. "Why do you ask?"
"Uh, well, nothing right now. Just wondering... for possible future reference."
***
Lorne tucked his hand behind his head and stretched, enjoying the sense of cool air against his overheated skin. "It's a marriage of convenience, isn't it? They aren't even lovers."
Elizabeth sat up beside him, leaning her head on a hand. "That's what I'm guessing. Though I won't be surprised to see it develop into something more than that." She reached out and ran a hand down his chest.
He shivered and then pulled her to him, kissing her. "Don't tell me you haven't had enough."
She gave a throaty laugh. "Of you? Never!"
He ran his fingers through her hair, a softness in his eyes. "God, I still can't believe this sometimes. I was so afraid I'd hurt you when I remembered what I'd done."
"Shhh," she said, kissing him. "It's in the past. You didn't force me."
"But, I might have... would have, if you hadn't--"
"Chris, shhh. It worked out all right. It's okay."
He hummed happily, slipping his arms around her, enjoying the slide of flesh against flesh. "When's the last time I told you I loved you?"
She arched her eyebrows. "Oh, about fifteen minutes ago, in the throes of passion. Much, much too long ago."
"Oh, well, in that case, I love you."
"You silly man," she said, kissing his nose, "how did I get so lucky to have you here on Atlantis?"
He grinned. "I failed the Bambi test."
She threw her head back and laughed, looking so joyous and beautiful that he couldn't resist rolling them both over and then kissing her senseless until he ached for her and had to sate himself within her willing body.
Next part