A/N: Yes, this is a tag/sequel to Making Amends. It was requested by, well, you know who you are. Enjoy!

Sandy

Making Amends

The Tag - Part 1

Dating is Not for Wimps

Barracks Level

Sheppard's Quarters

John checked his look in the mirror. He'd never given up trying to make his hair behave though it never worked. His mother had spent much time in her own attempts at behavior modification, both on his hair and his personality. All attempts had been futile so she just let both alone and accepted the inevitable.

He felt closer to his brother now than he had in a long time though they were still working things out. Their…discussion in Hawaii had gone a long way toward healing some of the hurts both had suffered over the years. They also had a greater appreciation of each others professions and that helped as well.

Tonight he was taking Jeannie out to dinner. Sometimes he spent the night after an evening out but not always. Not the type of man to take advantage or pressure a woman to sleep with him, he never assumed he'd be invited to do so.

Slipping into his suit jacket, he exited his quarters and was in the Gate Room moments later.

"Colonel." Chuck addressed him with a nod.

"I'm ready whenever Hammond is, Sergeant." One more quick hair check, a tug on the cuffs of his shirt, a moment of disorientation and he was on the front steps of Jeannie's home. He raised his hand to knock just as it was opened from the inside. Kaleb and Madison were on their way out. The men greeted each other warily, Kaleb with mistrust.

"Colonel Sheppard."

"Mr. Miller."

"Mom! Colonel Sheppard's here!" Madison shouted breaking through the tension. To John she said, "She's almost ready. You can go in the living room and wait." Kaleb stepped out as John went in. "Dad's taking me to a birthday party at the Games 'n More Fun Zone tomorrow."

"Never been there. Sounds like fun." John told the girl in all sincerity. "Maybe I can get your mom to go."

"That would be so cool! Tomorrow they're having a bunch of clowns come in just for Derrick's birthday." With that parting shot, she turned and ran down the sidewalk. "Bye."

John resisted a shudder and waved as they drove away. He closed the front door, pulled off his headset and stuck it in his pocket. Not normally nervous in these situations, he unbuttoned his jacket and sat on the sofa to wait for Jeannie to come down.

A few minutes later a sound at the bottom of the stairs drew his attention from his contemplation of a spot six inches in front of his face and he turned to see Jeannie come into sight. She was wearing the dress he'd bought her in Hawaii and looked as stunning in it as he thought she would. A small clutch was in one hand and a lacy shawl in the other, her blonde hair piled on top of her head. She was so beautiful, it made him breathless.

Jeannie stopped in the entrance to the living room and waited for John's reaction. He came slowly to his feet but didn't say a word, that unreadable look in his eyes again. She finally realized he did that when he was afraid to voice his feelings or wanted to appear unaffected by something. Either way, it was sometimes annoying…like tonight. "Well? How do I look?" And he seemed to be holding his breath.

"Perfect." He took the shawl and draped it around her shoulders. She shivered slightly when his fingertips grazed her upper arms. The touch was barely felt, as if it were an accident but she knew better. John didn't do anything by accident.

"Shall we?" He extended his arm and she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, giving it a slight squeeze.

John and Jeannie had finished dinner and were enjoying the music when he got the urge to hold her hand. He started to reach for her but chickened out at the last second instead taking another roll though he really didn't want it.

The music changed to something slow and romantic. Jeannie hoped that this time John would ask her to dance but he didn't. Just as in the past, she was disappointed and tried not to show it.

The server, a young man with bleached blonde hair and a goatee refilled their wine glasses. As he passed behind Jeannie, John saw him point at her and swirl his finger in a circle while mouthing ask her to dance! With an imperceptible nod, John stood, laid his napkin to the side of his plate and extended his left hand. "May I have this dance?"

She placed her hand in his with a smile. "Of course."

When they reached the dance floor, John brought Jeannie into the classic dance pose but so far away he might have been dancing with his sister. As they moved around the floor, she not-so-subtly used the hand on his shoulder to bring the two of them closer. She wanted him to hold her close, to feel his heart beating under her hand. She wanted her head on his shoulder. She was a McKay and she'd have her way or else.

Jeannie slid her hand across his shoulder to touch the side of his neck. "John?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

With a sardonic grin he said, "It's called the Waltz. I know I'm a little rusty but…"

She could tell he was trying to keep the conversation light but she was done with that. "We're lovers, John, not BFFs."

"BFFs?"

"Best Friends Forever." She waited. He was intelligent. He'd figure it out.

"So what you're saying is…"

She rolled her bright blue eyes and sighed in exasperation. "I'm saying you have a right to hold me."

He still looked confused. "I know."

"So…" tightening her arms until they were pressed together, she moved his hands to her waist and wrapped her arms around his neck, "…hold me like you mean it." After a moment's hesitation, she felt his arms relax their stiffness and his hands settle on that spot on her back just above her waist that he seemed to find so intriguing. She resisted the urge to moan when he did that because it pressed her against him even more with the inevitable results. Taking advantage of her position, she moved against him to increase the effect until his hands clamped on her hips.

"Jeannie, you need to stop."

Jeannie grinned at him, her fingers toying with the short hair at the nape of his neck. "Not gonna happen, buddy."

Walking down the street just enjoying a companionable silence, Jeannie thought about what a near perfect night it had been so far. Her hand was nestled in the crook of his arm, the closest he ever got to a public display of affection. She wanted John tonight, really wanted him, and could sense the same from him. He would stay the night and they'd be together. Any other ending was unthinkable. She understood why he never stayed when Madison was there but she was with her father this weekend. They'd have the entire house, and two whole days, to themselves as long as work didn't interfere.

They got in the car and John pulled smoothly into traffic. Jeannie was debating putting her hand on his leg or holding his hand but didn't want to cause an accident so she just stared out the front window and thought about the things they'd soon be doing.

Spring's All Organic Food Store

John looked at his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes. Jeannie had been inside the store for nearly fifteen minutes. All she was after was soy milk and according to the number of cars in the parking lot, the store wasn't that busy. I should have gone in with her.

"I'll give her another…" Movement inside the store that was at odds with the usual operation caught his eye. A man was walking with his hands raised in the air followed by another man. The second man's face was covered by a ski mask and he was holding what looked like a Remington 870 shotgun. They crossed the entire front of the store to the far side and went into an office, shutting the door behind them.

His side of the car faced away from the building and he used it for cover. Whipping off his jacket he tossed it in the front seat before quietly closing the door. Taking care to stay out of sight and avoiding the sensor that opened the door, he made his way to the far side of the entrance. He glanced around looking for anything he could use as a weapon, but all he could find was a trash can. Not a bad idea but a little hard to conceal and it cut down on the element of surprise.

To the right of the entrance was a sign with the photo of a smiling man in his thirties, Harvey Kunkle, the manager. It was the same man he'd seen with the only visible gunman. Probably has a partner though. Slowly coming to his feet, he moved his head around trying to get a bead on the other employees and customers.

Curly hair showing just behind one of the registers farthest from the door had him slumping in relief. Jeannie was okay for the moment. Still standing next to her register looking as if she were going to cry was a teenage girl. A second armed man held the same type of weapon on them. His face was also covered with a ski mask but this man was more nervous than the first one. He gestured and the customers moved into sight, Jeannie in front. John silenced a snort when he saw her face. She was gritting her teeth and watching the second gunman. It appeared that it was her intense stare that was making him nervous and John wished she'd stop before someone got hurt.

The only way to get inside where he'd have a chance of ending the situation was to become one of them. John skirted the pillar, boldly walked in through the automatic door, scooping up a basket as he went. He turned left down the main aisle that crossed the front of the store, stopping at the register where the people were gathered. "Excuse me. Where can I find the unfiltered pomegranate juice?" Silence greeted his question. "My cholesterol's been a little high and my doctor said-whoa!" The gunman stuck the shotgun in his face.

TBC