Title: All In The Introduction
Characters/Pairings: Sheppard/Beckett, General O'Neill, Elizabeth Weir.
Rating: G
Word Count: 545
Disclaimer: All characters depicted in sexual situations in this post/fanfiction/fanart (including material in the comments) are fictional and are intended to be and considered to be by the author of said material of the legal age of consent in the United States state of California, regardless of what age these characters may be in the material they are derived from.
Notes/Warnings: Un-betaed; The first in one-hundred themes; today's theme is "Introductions".
As far as introductions went, they pretty much introduced themselves. John was used to running important people to important places and knowing nothing more about them; but when a squid was launched at them he got a glimpse. At least, that's what he figured he would get, not a job landing in his lap. He had been lingering, waiting for General O'Neill to have him bring him back from Antarctica to the States, when he heard some fussing over on a platform.
He lingered more, in the shadows, until he felt it was time to say something. It wasn't long before he sat himself in the chair and got levered back. At first he thought it was a glorified (albeit uncomfortable) recliner, but as everyone flocked around, he realized he'd just done something potentially catastrophic.
Of course everything was explained, and the guy—Beckett—was going on about how he was clearly better at handling ancient technology (how had the level of technology declined over the years, anyway? At least chairs were more comfortable now) than Beckett ever was. Sheppard was lost in all of this new information, so it took him some time to come up with any answer to any questions.
It took them three days there for Doctor Elizabeth Weir to approach him with a job offer. Sheppard was surprised, but also ready to back out of this whole ordeal. To be perfectly honest, he shrugged at her and said he felt better serving his country another way. He was on his way out to prep the helicopter when he literally bumped into Beckett.
"Ah, sorry lad."
John's lips pressed in a thin line as he gave a sharp nod to the man and moved to continue on to the lift. Beckett, apparently, had other ideas. He nabbed John's wrist and spoke quietly.
"You do know that everyone would feel a lot better with you on the expedition, right?" Beckett's eyes showed John that he was only hoping that he didn't have to sit in that uncomfortable chair again. John just shook his head and turned back in the direction he'd been initially heading in. Beckett dropped his wrist and watched him go.
When General O'Neill spoke to him about it, it left John thinking about what to do. He thought over everything. He was still dead-set on not going anywhere with any 'expedition', but Beckett's face sprang to mind. His hope: it won him over in the end. And when he packed his things; when he spoke to O'Neill; when he was in the gate room; when he crossed over to the Pegasus Galaxy—he remembered the hope in Beckett's eyes.
Once he was on the Atlantis city and everything was sorted out, he immediately sought out Beckett without really knowing why. He just sat in the infirmary and watched everyone putting things away, making the place their own. He ended up hanging over the good doctor's shoulder as he went over lists of everything brought. He didn't leave the man's side for a good few hours: afterwards he walked silently with Beckett. He ended up picking out personal quarters right next to the other man's. Neither knew why it happened, but they steadily became friends. It's all in the introduction.
Tomorrow's Theme: "Love"