Disclaimer: Not mine, but I would pay good money for Sheppard!
Season: 1
I kind of have an idea as to where this is going. It starts off more humour oriented, but it will get darker as it goes along. Hope you all read and hope you all review. I'm one of those fanfic writers who has to see reviews to be motivated to write. After all, I write it all for you guys. Enjoy!
Sheppard groaned but didn't open his eyes. Sunlight was pouring in from somewhere and he could feel the hot sun on his face, which meant that if he did open his eyes, it would only exacerbate his already pounding head.
With full consciousness inevitable, he opened his eyes and let them lazily scan the room.
Not his room.
Not Atlantis.
No, he was off world, that's right, he consoled himself and let out a sigh of relief.
Sheppard moved up to his elbows and surveyed his surroundings.
Nope, still wasn't his room.
Another equally worrying development was his lack of clothing and he peered under the sheets just to make sure.
Yep, definitely naked.
He pulled the sheets tightly around him and sat up, cupping his head in his hands and swallowing against the nausea at the pit of his stomach. He rubbed at his temples in the hopes of coaxing the memories to the forefront of his mind. They were on the tip of his…brain, Was that an expression, but he couldn't quite grasp them and turn them into something tangible.
He lowered his head and groaned again.
What the hell had happened last night?
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The night before:
Sheppard stepped outside and took in a deep breath of the crisp cold air. It was freezing and already his teeth were starting to chatter in an extremely unmanly manner. He tapped his ear piece and wrapped his arms around himself as he waited for Elizabeth's voice.
"Major? What's our status?"
Sheppard began to pace and looked down the street as a couple walked towards him. They were cuddled up close, probably sharing body heat, and Sheppard wondered if they would mind if he joined in.
Crap it was cold. "Negotiations have gone well. They just want us to have some kind of feast to bind the agreement." His breath came out in a mist and he watched it ascend to the black sky.
"Good to hear things are going our way for a change." There was some static across the air waves.
"Ah it was just my natural wit and charm," he said and knew she was smiling on the other end.
The couple finally reached him and he stepped aside as they entered the noisy establishment behind him.
"What's that noise?" he heard Elizabeth ask.
"Oh that…nothing," he said, taking an exaggerated step away from the door and feeling a cold blast of wind assault his face.
"You're clear to come back," she said.
"About that," started Sheppard, already feeling the hot flush of guilt, "We've been offered some accommodations here for the night by the Ambassador."
"And you want to stay?" queried Elizabeth.
"Well..we have..the feast," he said stuttering slightly.
There was silence and Sheppard wondered for a moment whether she had bought the whole story. In truth, they had bound the agreement earlier that day and now he was trying to buy them some extra time.
"Are you sure it's safe there?" she asked.
"Perfectly. I've checked it out myself." Even as he said that he felt distinctly naked without his P90. They had left them back in their rooms, but he still had his handgun if it was needed.
Elizabeth was still reluctant to agree but she figured Sheppard knew what he was talking about. "Well, I guess we wouldn't want to strain relationships with our only hope of alliance," she said reluctantly, "But I want you back here bright and early tomorrow. I was counting on being briefed tonight."
Sheppard found himself releasing the breath he didn't realise he was holding, "Tomorrow it is,"
"And Major?"
"Yes?" He screwed up his face and waited.
"Don't drink too much at this feast."
"Yes Doctor," he said and disconnected his radio.
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When Sheppard entered the public house he could see Mckay sat up at the bar, leaning over a bright pink drink and sucking it up through a straw. Sheppard cast his eyes over to see Ford and Teyla sat in the corner, smiling and laughing at something one of them had said.
Sheppard sidled up onto a stool next to Mckay and ordered himself a drink. Though he vowed it would most definitely not be pink.
"She bought it," he said rubbing his hands together.
Rodney sighed and shook his head, "You shouldn't have lied to her."
"I didn't lie," said Sheppard, "I just used my imagination a little. I told her we were at a feast."
"There's my problem," said Mckay pausing to have another sip of his drink, "This planet is as developed as earth and as a consequence I doubt they would have primitive feasts."
"Dinner party then," said Sheppard shrugging, "Come on, lighten up and enjoy our free time."
Mckay was sighing again, "I have important work to do in my lab. What makes you think that I want this free time?"
"Do you have to be so serious all of the time," said Sheppard receiving his drink and tossing the straw to the side, "And did you have to pick a drink that was pink?"
Mckay picked up the glass and eyed the liquid, "It's the only non alcoholic drink they have."
Sheppard waved a dismissive hand at him, "We all deserve a little r and r. Relax. Its not like Elizabeth is going to come off world to check up on us."
"I don't want to relax. I want to work on those equations I have back in my lab."
Sheppard pushed himself off his stool, "Fine Mckay, you go back then. The gate is five miles due east. You remember through that creepy forest?" He took a swig of his drink, "I just hope you don't bump into any wraith on the way."
Mckay snorted, "I'm just saying I don't want to be part of the lie. Elizabeth respects me and if she thought I was abusing her authority then-"
"Then what?" asked Sheppard incredulously, "Look. I am the head of the military contingent. Any teams that go off world are my responsibility, and I'm saying that we are entitled to a break. That's my decision, it's final. An order even."
"But you're scared to tell Elizabeth."
"I am not scared," said Sheppard walking towards Ford and Teyla's table.
Mckay jumped off his stool and followed.
"We're using our time at our own discretion."
"We're not supposed to drink off word," said Mckay bringing a finger up to make a point.
"We're not gonna get hammered Rodney. This is morale boosting. Isn't that right Ford?" he asked slapping the younger man on the back.
Ford looked up and nodded, "Morale boosting," he repeated and held up his drink with a goofy grin.
Sheppard pulled his drink from his hand and set it aside, "I think you've had enough already."
Ford scowled and leant on his palms.
"I want you to all keep your eyes and ears open. Two drink maximum, three if I'm not looking-" said Sheppard scanning the room as he spoke.
"Now who's sapping all of the fun out of this," snarked Mckay.
"I'm going to take a trip to the men's," said Sheppard handing his drink to Teyla for safe keeping and then set off in search of a toilet.
As Mckay sat down Teyla raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why does Major Sheppard wish to drink here?"
"I think this place reminds him of bars on earth," said Mckay.
Ford nodded, "It's kinda like a sports bar. Except without the sports."
Mckay snorted again and said, "Yes Major Sheppard is feeling nostalgic today."
Teyla nodded "And these bars, they are for social gatherings?" she inquired.
Ford settled back in his seat, "Yeah, get together with the guys, have a few beers, watch the football, perhaps meet someone." He smiled at a memory but didn't reveal anymore and Mckay found himself longing for that memory.
"Football," said Mckay with a derisory laugh, "Yeah that's sport."
Ford shot him a look and leant forward, "This from the guy who is drinking the pink."
"That's it," said Mckay slamming it down on the table with such force some of the liquid spattered back in his face, "It's the only non alcoholic drink they have. I'm not going to kill off my brain cells drinking here."
"Do you know how to have fun Mckay? Live a little," said Ford and he pushed Sheppard's drink towards him.
Mckay pushed it back to him, "I don't need alcohol to have a good time."
"Only people who don't drink say that," said Ford glancing over to Teyla.
"I'll have you know that Zelenka and I quite often have a little tipple of whiskey-"
Ford broke out into laughter and Mckay looked over to Teyla to see if he had missed something. She looked equally as puzzled.
"I'm sorry, " said Ford bringing up a hand to wipe his tearing eyes, "Did you just say 'tipple'?"
Mckay sighed and took a sip of his pink drink.
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Sheppard meandered back from the men's through various people and found himself sharing a glance with a woman who was clearly having an argument of some kind with a man. His hands were up and Sheppard toyed with the idea of interfering. He sighed and walked over to the two.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked directing his gaze at the man.
He narrowed his eyes at Sheppard and lowered his hands, "Who are you?"
"I'm a concerned party," said Sheppard and he turned to the woman. She was a little shorter than him, with long dark hair and green eyes, "Are you okay?"
She glanced at the man who was with her and then back to Sheppard, "Yes we're fine." Something flashed in her eyes and she stared up at Sheppard for a lot longer than was humanly comfortable.
Sheppard cleared his throat, nodded and turned to walk away but felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned around slowly, "Look I was just-"
The fist that caught him under the chin rocked his head back and made him see stars. Sheppard managed to set himself straight and before he could be hit again he punched the guy back in the stomach. The man went to his knees coughing and spluttering as Sheppard rubbed at his chin.
The woman got between them and held up her hands, "Please, stop." Again she looked at Sheppard, as if studying his face and bought a hand up to touch his arm.
Sheppard took a step backwards, "He started it."
He was aware that Teyla, Ford and Mckay were all standing behind him.
"What did you do?" asked Mckay, arms folded across his chest.
Sheppard turned to him, "I didn't do anything," and he turned back to the woman. She was helping up the man but he shoved her off him and turned to Sheppard, pointing a finger at him, "If you had any idea who I was, you wouldn't have done that,." Then he stalked off and out of the bar.
"I'm so sorry," said the woman with a shake of her head, "He is so hot-headed."
Sheppard looked away from her gaze and back to Mckay who was jutting his chin out and waiting for an explanation, "Mckay don't look at me like that, " he said feeling the start of a headache.
Mckay shook his head, "Not your fault huh?"
"No," stated Sheppard firmly and he could feel the woman standing closer to him now. Her hand was brushing his leg and he stiffened.
"Perhaps that was our cue to leave," suggested Mckay and he was rewarded by protests from both the unknown, problematic woman and Sheppard.
"Rodney, just because you want to go, doesn't mean we're leaving."
"You can not leave. Please, let me buy you a drink in apology." Said the woman.
Sheppard was reluctant but allowed himself to be led over to the bar as his team mates went to sit back down all mumbling to each other.
"I am Leena," she said holding out her hand.
She looked up at the man before her. He was strong, had youthful looks and funny hair. His eyes were a strange colour, sometimes they looked hazel, but in the right light green. He was very handsome and she wanted him.
Sheppard sat up on one of the bar stools and removed his hand from rubbing his chin long enough to give her hand a little shake, "Major John Sheppard. Who was that guy?"
She avoided his gaze and turned to the bar tender requesting two drinks. "Were those people your friends?" she asked gesturing to Mckay et al.
Sheppard nodded.
"You are travellers?" she asked and as she moved her hand, Sheppard was sure she brushed his knee. He decided he was being overly sensitive and let the brief contact go.
"We came through the stargate from a place called Atlantis," he said rubbing at his chin.
"Atlantis?" she said, this time her hand stayed on his knee. He could feel his leg stiffen under her touch and he cleared his throat to compensate. Not that he didn't mind this type of behaviour usually but he was not in the mood for being groped, especially when this woman was the cause of the soreness in his jaw.
"Yeah, you heard of it?" he asked shooting a look to where Mckay was talking to Ford loudly.
She nodded, "I hear it is a wonderful place." Her hand snaked higher up his leg and this time he jumped and she stared at him strangely.
"So where are these drinks?" he asked feeling hot and flustered. She wasn't his type, he told himself. He obviously was hers.
"Thank you for your help," she passed him his drink but at the same time she carelessly dropped her purse.
Sheppard stooped to pick it up for her and missed her dropping a few drops of an unidentifiable liquid into his drink.
He passed her her purse and smiled. This was the one, she told herself. The perfect candidate and what a gentleman. He had picked up her purse as soon as she had dropped it.
She pushed his drink towards him and he picked up the shot glass, looking at its contents with curiosity, "What is this?"
"My apology," said Leena smiling, "Now drink it in one go, or I shall be offended."
Sheppard nodded and clinked his glass with hers before knocking the liquid back. He thought it wouldn't do any harm, after all it was technically his first drink, seen as he had to retrieve his drink back off Teyla.
Sheppard coughed into his fist when the liquid burned and through watery eyes he said, "Smooth."
Leena seemed puzzled, "You do not like?"
"Oh I like," he said wiping his eyes, "Just a bit….strong." He smiled.
He was suddenly starting to feel a bit strange and everything behind Leena was swirling and moving.
He swayed a little in his chair and rubbed at his eyes.
"Are you okay?" asked Leena placing a hand on his shoulder to steady him.
"I'm fine," he said blinking her back into focus. "What was in that?"
Damn he was feeling weird, off keel, and not drinking for the past few months was not the reason he was feeling so out of it. He refused to believe he was a light weight; he had always been able to hold his alcohol well.
"Maybe you would like some air?" she enquired pulling him by the arm and off the stool.
"Yeah, that sounds good," he slurred.
He swayed a little and found himself unsteady on his feet, so he was more than glad when Leena took his arm and placed it around her shoulder. She started to drag him towards the door.
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"What is he doing?" said Mckay swivelling around his chair.
"Looks like the Major has got lucky," said Ford smiling.
Mckay shot him a glance and would have said something scathing if Teyla had not interjected, "Got lucky?" she questioned much to the amusement of Ford.
"He was the one who convinced us to stay here, he's not going to go off with some….woman," stated Mckay and he pushed himself up out of his seat and started after Sheppard.
When he reached them he could see the state that Sheppard was in. He was sweating profusely, unsteady on his feet and his eyes were wildly unfocused.
He gave Mckay a smile and gripped his shoulder with his hand, "Hey," he said drunkenly.
"What are you doing?" asked Mckay putting his hands on his hips defiantly, "What's wrong with you?" He put his face in front Sheppard's and continued to talk as Sheppard felt himself loosing the battle with his insides.
"Have you been drinking? Are you drunk?" Mckay was saying, well two of them were saying. Sheppard closed his eyes and gave himself a mental shake. He had to snap out of it.
"You look like crap," said Mckay, his face so very close to Sheppard's.
Sheppard pushed him away, "Don't get in my face like that," he said swaying.
Mckay was eyeing the woman whom he had his arm around carefully and went to grab Sheppard, "I will take it from here," he said assuming her previous position and walking Sheppard towards their table.
Leena stood watching for a moment and cursed. It should be her with him. How was she to get him on her own if they were monopolising his time. She didn't have time to wonder as suddenly Sheppard was pushing Mckay off him and unsteadily running towards the door, his hand over his mouth all the way.
Mckay followed quickly and exited and Leena decided to do the same.
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Mckay found Sheppard in the alleyway next to the bar throwing up against the wall, one hand placed on the wall for support, the other now wiping at his face.
"Are you okay?" asked Mckay.
Sheppard didn't move, stayed prone against the wall and muttered something that sounded like 'go away', or possibly 'don't watch' or maybe even 'I hate you'. Either way Mckay ignored him and took a step forward. He gave Sheppard a rub on the back, which only prompted Sheppard to expel more of his stomach contents.
He groaned afterwards and then gave Mckay a push backwards.
"I bet you're loving this," said Sheppard hanging his head down between his outstretched arms.
Mckay couldn't help but notice how glassy his eyes looked and how pale the Major looked.
"Leave me alone," said Sheppard miserably.
Mckay bought his hands up placating and took a step backwards, "You're sick," he said leaning against the alleyway wall.
"Something I drank didn't agree," admitted Sheppard. "Go inside."
"You sure you don't want me to stay out here with you?" enquired Mckay. His stomach was already rolling from the smell.
Sheppard shook his head, "As you can see I don't need you to hold my hair back," he said and turned to look at Mckay, eyes unfocused, "I'll be fine. Just leave me and my misery to-" His hand went up to his mouth again and he watched as Mckay made a hasty retreat.
Although he felt sick to his stomach he realised he didn't have anything left in there to bring up. He had told Elizabeth that they were going to feast, well it seemed his feast had come back up to him.
He slumped against the other wall and slid down onto the floor. It was cool and it started to seep through his clothes. Man, he felt miserable and he would have been quite content to curl up into a ball and die there.
A shadow over his face appealed him to look up and he was looking in to the eyes of Leena. She pressed a hand up to his forehead and sighed, "I didn't think it would make you sick," she said despondently.
Sheppard pushed himself up into a standing position, still using the wall for support and said, "You couldn't have known." He felt too ill to feel embarrassed and waved a hand at her to stop fussing over him.
"Perhaps I can help?" she said reaching out her hand.
Sheppard took it, man he was feeling off. "Where are we going?" Her hand continued to clasp his own and he didn't have the energy to wonder whether this was another one of her overt advances. He figured in his current state he didn't look the most attractive sight and felt compelled to believe that this was a genuine display of concern.
"I will take you to mine, you can rest."
"No I should stay here," he said weakly.
"You are not well," pressed Leena.
"I should tell my friends."
"They already know," she said and guided him out of the alley.
TBC
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