CHAPTER ONE
John carried his food tray over to a table occupied by Teyla, Ronon and Rodney and threw it down as he saw it was covered in hand cut love hearts. He sat down with a brief smile to his team and began eating. After a short time he picked up one of the love hearts and eyed it.
'I wish I had enough spare time to waste on stuff like this.' John said.
'You telling me? I was up until 2am reconfiguring one of the generators. And I have a cold.' Rodney complained.
'You should get down to the infirmary with that.' John replied sarcastically.
'I believe it is a great gesture the effort that is going into this evening.' Teyla chipped in.
'A great waste of time more like.' Rodney murmured.
'I don't know what you're complaining about – you have a date.' John pointed out.
'Are you kidding me? The great Kirk doesn't have a date. I'm suddenly quite keen to show my face.' Rodney said rubbing his hands.
'Alright, alright. There've been offers, just nobody I fancy spending the evening with.' John said defensively.
'Why not?' Ronon asked.
'I don't know – there's something very needy about most of the women here – probably just missing home but it's not my scene.' John shrugged.
'No, you prefer to chase after ascended women.' Rodney said with his mouth half full.
'Rodney.' Teyla said with a warning look.
Steven Caldwell walked into the room wearing a polo shirt and jeans – certainly not his usual Daedalus uniform and smiled at Sheppard's team, joining them at their table. He took a swig from the coffee he had brought with him and picked up one of the love hearts.
'I trust you'll all be going to the Valentine's ball tonight?' He asked.
'Yes. I am excited to see this tradition of your people.' Teyla said.
Caldwell smiled at her kindly, causing Ronon to bluntly state, 'She's with me.'
'How nice for you both – as long as it doesn't affect your work for the team.'
Ronon angrily stood up and kissed Teyla on the cheek before picking up his tray and walking off. Teyla suspected she would find him sparring when she had finished her own lunch. Feeling incredibly awkward a glance passed between John and Rodney before they returned to eating their food.
'You didn't answer my question men – will you be going tonight?' Caldwell asked, turning his attention to John and Rodney.
'Yes, I'll be going. I'm taking my girlfriend Katie.' Rodney smugly answered.
'I'm not quite decided.' John said with a grimace.
'Why not? Surely you must have girls queuing up to go with you.' Caldwell said eying John curiously.
'Well there have been offers, but to be frank I'd rather take on a hive ship single handed than spend the evening eating love heart burgers and dancing to 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'. I didn't really have it down as the sort of thing you'd enjoy either.' John said to Caldwell.
'Normally it isn't, but I happen to be taking somebody very special.' Caldwell said mysteriously.
Rodney's attention suddenly perked up from his jello and Caldwell had both of their undivided attention, and he was fully aware of it.
'Who is it? Somebody off Daedalus or Atlantis?' Rodney asked eagerly.
'Atlantis.'
'Who?' Rodney persisted.
'Elizabeth.' Caldwell said simply, playing with the rim of his cup.
'Elizabeth, Elizabeth Weir?' John asked.
'Yes.'
John felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach but passed it off as fear for his military position on Atlantis if Caldwell was dating Elizabeth. Without realising it, his body stiffened slightly and closed away from Caldwell. Teyla and Rodney were both staring at Caldwell with their mouths formed into small 'o' shapes.
'I should probably be going. See you tonight.' Caldwell said with a nod of the head.
Teyla looked at her colleagues and raised her eyebrows, 'I must admit I am quite shocked.'
'Elizabeth and Caldwell! That just doesn't make sense.' Rodney said looking perplexed.
'You can say that again.' John said watching Caldwell leave.
'I am going to find Ronon. I can let him know of Doctor Weir's news.' Teyla said leaving the table.
John nodded at her but couldn't quite find it in himself to smile. On the occasions when he'd pondered the sort of man Elizabeth would be attracted to the older, more serious man hadn't been top of the list. He wasn't even good looking, John thought to himself. Elizabeth could have gone with most of the guys on Atlantis – he would have taken her himself if he realised she'd end up going with Caldwell. A creeping sense of regret began envelope him that he hadn't asked her himself – on a platonic basis of course.
'Sheppard? Sheppard? John?' Rodney said impatiently.
'Huh? What?'
'You could at least pretend to listen to me.'
'Sorry, what were you saying?' John said.
'If Elizabeth is, you know, all relaxed and happy with Caldwell, then maybe I can persuade her to let me develop a stable power source linked directly to the chair.' Rodney said eagerly.
'You're talking about the idea which Elizabeth has turned down seventeen times on last count?'
'Well, I was hoping to get her a bit drunk first.'
John rolled his eyes to himself whilst Rodney informed him of the benefits of his experiment once again. Hurrying his lunch to escape Rodney's eagerness he quickly stood up and made his excuses leaving Rodney looking slightly crestfallen. Once out of the canteen he pondered his options – if everybody else was going this evening he should probably take up one of those offers. Or skip it all together. Although he wouldn't be able to keep an eye on Caldwell that way. No, he'd definitely be going to that ball tonight, it was just a case of finding a partner who wouldn't get swept away by the idea of Valentine's Day. After walking through the city for a while, he decided that he'd ask to go with one of the engineers from the control room who'd asked him four days ago – she was fairly attractive and didn't seem like the sort of woman who was looking for a relationship.
The first person he saw as he walked into the control room was Hannah Baker, another girl who had asked him to accompany her to the ball. He smiled at her and walked past her quickly to avoid having to turn her down again. When he reached his prospective date for the evening he gave her a slow smile.
'Hey, look I know I said I'd get back to you a few days ago about tonight, but I've been pretty busy. Does the offer still stand?' He asked confidently.
'Umm, I'm sorry Colonel, I assumed you didn't want to go, so I kind of accepted Chuck's offer.' She said turning a deep shade of red.
John turned to look at Chuck who gave him an awkward smile which he returned before turning to leave the control room.
'What are you doing here John?' Elizabeth asked as she walked into control room.
He hadn't noticed her and felt a slightly awkward after just being turned down. 'Just making a few arrangements for this evening.'
'You're going with Courtney?' Elizabeth asked looking over his shoulder at the girl.
'Well, she asked me a few days ago and I never really got back to her so now she's going with Chuck.'
Elizabeth nodded and smiled, 'Holding out for somebody else?'
'No, I just wasn't sure if I'd have the time. Paperwork...' He said hesitantly.
'Paperwork?' Elizabeth asked with an amused look.
'Anyway, it sounds like you've got yourself a hot date.' John said turning the tables.
'Caldwell?' Elizabeth looked surprised, 'It's not exactly a hot date! Actually, I'm pretty sure the only reason he's asked me is to persuade me into accepting some of his military ideas – which of course I won't.' Elizabeth added seeing John's face.
'You could always come with me.' John said nonchalantly.
'Hmm, tempting, but I don't think Caldwell would be so cooperative if I stood him up for you of all people.'
'Might stop him strutting round like he owns the place though.' John said cheekily.
'I'll see you tonight.' Elizabeth said, smiling despite herself.
Relieved that the date between Elizabeth and Caldwell was nothing other than work related, John decided that there was no point looking for a date – most women would already have been paired up for the night anyway.
