"Colonel Caldwell."

She sounded surprised for once, like she really hadn't expected to see him tonight. Maybe she honestly hadn't, seasoned diplomat though she was, if her current attire was any indication.

Freshly showered, Elizabeth wore only a plush white robe, haphazardly thrown on yet secured tightly at the waist. Caldwell tried desperately to ignore the way a few damp curls stuck to her bare throat, tried to ignore the droplets of water sliding down her pale chest.

It took Elizabeth a moment to realize that Caldwell hadn't responded to her greeting, and another moment to recognize his suddenly rigid posture for what it was - embarrassment.

"Please, come in." Her invitation interrupted him just as he'd opened his mouth to apologize for intruding on her evening, to insist he'd had nothing important to say, just felt like dropping by, then abruptly excuse himself and return swiftly to his quarters on the Daedalus.

But Elizabeth had made a beeline for her living room, a humid and fragrant shampoo cloud trailing behind her. So he followed her, not trusting himself to speak, allowing the doors to slide shut behind him.

She indicated her sofa, offered him a drink (which he politely declined), and then disappeared into her bedroom for a few moments. Once she was out of his sight, Steven's brain seemed to start working again. He swallowed against a sudden moment of panic. God, what am I doing here? Chatting with a friend? Perving over her shampoo, more like. You're such a dipshit, Steve.

His thoughts were interrupted as Elizabeth returned, wearing a t-shirt and what looked like yoga pants. Steven tried not to notice whether she'd put on a bra or not. She had. Her hair was still wet. She folded her legs under herself as she gracefully sat down, facing him expectantly.

"I hope I'm not intruding, just showing up like this." He was delighted to find that his voice sounded normal and relatively calm.

"Not at all, Colonel." Her voice was even and measured like it always was, damn her. "Was there something you needed?"

He blushed slightly as he thought of how he actually wanted to answer her. Yes, Elizabeth. I need to tell you that I'm sorry about the things that Goa'uld bastard said and did. I need to make it up to you. Ideally I'd like to do that by carnally pleasuring your body, you saucy, sexy bitch.

Rather than voice those particular thoughts, Caldwell crossed his long legs and rested his hands in his lap.

"I'm here to apologize, Doctor Weir."

"You already apologized," she reminded him, her voice softening. "You're in no way responsible for the actions of the Goa'uld symbiote, Steven."

"I know. But I was there. I saw everything he did, and I just..." He trailed off, watching with fascination as her hand covered his knee and gave it a brief squeeze. He couldn't help but notice how warm her touch was, and how cold his knee felt after her hand had left it.

"Elizabeth, I can't help but feel like I ought to do something. I want to make up for not being able to stop him while I was a host." He paused for effect, swallowed once, then softly murmured: "I want you to know that you can trust me."

"Is that all you came for?" He looked up, startled by how quickly she'd seen through his expertly crafted sincerity.

"No." He couldn't suppress his smirk, and she snorted a little.

"Then tell me what you came here in the middle of the night to tell me, Steven." Smooth and cool. All business this evening, our Doctor Weir.

"All right, but you asked for it." And then he was stumped. What to tell her first?

"I'm waiting." She quirked an eyebrow at him, challenging. He levelled his gaze at her.

"You're beautiful." Both eyebrows at her hairline now. He chuckled. "I've wanted to tell you that for ages. But the timing was never right, and then there was the whole problem with there being a snake controlling my brain. And then there was that ten-thousand-year-old psychopath controlling your brain."

"But now's a good time?" Gentle, teasing.

"As good a time as any. Especially now that I've got Sheppard to watch out for. We all saw that kiss."

"Do I detect a hint of jealousy, Colonel?" Teasing in earnest now, moving closer.

"More than a hint, Doctor."

And then she was kissing him, one hand at the back of his neck and the other curling around the zipper of his flight suit.