It's night in Atlantis, the soft sounds of waves lapping against the buildings fading into the background of the whirring of machines, and the clicking steps of the guards at watch. The moon is full and gold, beautiful. Elizabeth Weir lays in bed, sighing in exasperation. This cannot be happening. It's two a.m. She's just gone to bed. And she can't fall asleep. She knows what she wants to do. And she doesn't want to do it anymore. It's seedy. Shady. Unbecoming.

Sighing, she brings herself up to a sitting position. She brushes her hair out of her face, and slips her feet into slippers. She opens the door and begins to walk out into the hallway.

She'd be stupid if she said she didn't hear the rumors. She has. Rodney made it a point to bring it up every chance he could. Stop it, Kirk! That's where it started. And now she couldn't stop. Nor could she explain her actions. But she knew that was a lie. The behavior could all be explained by one word: jealousy.

She pads down the hallway softly, cursing herself with every step.

She's even joked to him about it. Hidden her pain behind a veneer of humor and smiles. He told her that he got the girl, and they stepped into their familiar routine of witty repartee. Old pros. Like Fred and Ginger. But she can't keep this up any longer. Just like heels probably did a number on old Ginger's back, this is taking a toll on her heart.

She stops in front of the door, breathing heavily. Her heart thuds loudly in her heart, and all she can hear is her own labored breathing. She reaches for the door handle.

She's become the green-eyed monster and there's no going back now. Like a housewife with too much time on her hands, the suspicion has just grabbed hold of her and not let her go. Like a cancer, it spreads. It started in her head, and gradually spread down her body until she can't sleep until she does this. The adrenaline races through her. She knows she can get caught. She knows she eventually will get caught. But she can't not do it. She needs to know. Needs to know that he's--she takes a gulp of air. She can't think like this. She'll go crazy. He's not hers. He doesn't belong to her. And it's stupid to think that he is.

She pulls it open a crack and her eyes fall on the sleeping form on the body. She notes the space in the bed and sighs. He's alone. She stands there for a second, letting her eyes absorb his sleeping form, knowing that it's the only time she can.

He shifts in his sleep, laying on his stomach.

As she goes to close the door, his rumbling voice interrupts her.

"Elizabeth, what are you doing?"

Her eyes widen in surprise, adrenal glands working full time. Her breaths are short and she simply stands there for a second.

"Elizabeth?"

She turns and runs.