Title: Suffer Little Children

Author: Lia

Classification: Romance

Rating: T

Pairing: John/Elizabeth (tiny mentions of Ronon/Teyla, Beckett/Cadman, Rodney/Katie)

Spoilers: No

Summary: Fate and circumstance bring John and Elizabeth together in a common endeavor. SheppardWeir

Disclaimers: Stargate Atlantis and all its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author´s Note: As always, biggest thank you to Pat for beta. Couldn´t do this without you.

I don´t know what has happened to me, I used to write angst, people, angst. This is not angst. Not even close. This is fluff. And feedback is much wanted andappreciated.

All the parts McKay is mentioned are dedicated to allaboutthegate, I am so making her like Rodney and Atlantis in general!

Enjoy the story!

-----------

She was standing in the gate room, watching the alien refugees step through the gate, stopping to eye their surroundings suspiciously before being guided down into the infirmary gently but firmly by the marines.

She glanced back to the gate just in time to see him coming through, holding a little child in his arm, his other hand resting against his P-90. A child a little older had a hold of his leg, little fingers curled tightly around the fabric of his pants, not letting go.

"We´re the last. Close the gate." He called to the technician and relaxed only after the familiar sound of gate closing was heard behind him.

"Okay, sweethearts, you´re safe now." His voice was soft when he spoke to the children.

But the little arms only wrapped around his neck tighter, and he looked down to see the other child hiding behind him, still holding tightly to his leg. A soft chuckle left his lips and he lifted his eyes to see Elizabeth walking to where he was standing.

"No, colonel, you can´t keep them." She told him smiling, and he grinned at her.

"A little help maybe?"

She kneeled down next to him, smiling assuring to the small toddler who was hiding behind his legs. Her words were soft and calm as she lured the girl to let go of his leg and come to her. After hesitating a little, the child moved quickly from behind his legs into her arms and wrapped her hands around her neck tightly.

He chuckled a little at the surprised look on her face. "No, you can´t keep her." He repeated her earlier words and she looked up to him smiling, before standing up the little girl now in her arms.

They started their way into the infirmary, his free hand brushing against the small of her back as he guided her through the hallways.

In the infirmary, they sat on the free bed, the children still refusing to let go.

"Orphans." He told her quietly and a sad look in her eyes lasted long enough for him to see it.

She settled the little girl better in her lap and brushed back a long, messy hair from her face. "What´s your name, honey?" She asked softly.

"Neither of them have said a word since I found them." He told her and moved the child in his lap to more comfortable position.

A few minutes passed before Carson came to see them and took over the situation. He was not surprised to see the children; there were many others with the refugees. He gently unwrapped the little girl´s arms around John´s neck, only to make the small child cry heart-breakingly.

"I´ve got her." John moved to take her back in his arms and the crying stopped. "It´s okay, sweetie." He hushed her softly, wiping the fallen tears away from her cheeks gently with his thumb.

Elizabeth smiled at him, the girl in her arms tightening her hold as if afraid someone would be trying to take her away too. "This could be a little problem." She said softly.

"We´ll just wait until they fall asleep." John shrugged his shoulders. "They have been through a lot, I don´t want to upset them any more than necessary."

It took only a little time after Carson had carefully stuck the small needle in to each little arm causing both girls cry a little and glare at him, more upset and their feelings hurt than in real pain, before they were slowly drifting into a peaceful sleep.

Elizabeth brushed back a lock of dark hair from the smaller girl´s face, the smile on her lips almost sad. John touched the small of her back, gently urging her towards the door as she hesitated by the bed the small children shared.

"Come on." He guided her out to the hallway and towards her office.

Reaching her office, she took a seat behind her desk and he sat down comfortably on the chair opposite her. He gave her a quick report of what had happened in the alien planet earlier. How the Wraith had forced the people leaving their home and find safety from Atlantis.

"I found the girls hiding in the forest near the gate."

When he told her that no one wanted to take the children, the sad look returned on her green eyes. "I couldn´t just leave them there." He told her with a soft voice, and the sadness she felt for the orphans was reflected back from his dark eyes.

He told her that the villagers knew about the children, but no one wanted to take care of them. Their mother had died only a few days ago, and the children had been left alone, to survive by themselves.

"Their mother was outcast. She lived on the far side of the village and had no other family. The girls are on their own."

-----------

Hit the review button and leave me a note if you liked it. More to come...