Elizabeth stared out into the ocean with her jaw set in a firm line. From the outside she appeared calm, such as the surface of the ocean which she was staring into, but beneath, her chest was pounding, and if you looked a little closer she was surreptitiously wringing her hands. Behind her, John Sheppard was sat on her (their) bed staring at the wall opposite him. Neither had said a word since her meeting with the IOA. Neither needed to. It was all too obvious to bother using words.
She cursed herself for her stupidity. They had never taken a risk before. Their routine had become as natural to her a breathing. And then one night John had grabbed her in her office and leaned in for a kiss. And there was Steven Caldwell – the disgust on his face quickly followed by a smirk which confirmed all of Elizabeth's fears. He told the IOA. Of course he told the IOA. Not only was he looking for a way to take the leadership of Atlantis, but Elizabeth was pretty sure he still wanted to get even after she'd turned him down.
That was all irrelevant now though – her main task was to try and persuade the IOA that she was still capable of doing her job, and John his. And the small matter of ending their relationship.
'Is there no way...we can, I dunno, persuade them that none of this affects work?' John asked.
'Wolsey made the situation pretty clear – we end this or we're being sent back to Earth.' Elizabeth said sadly.
'No chance of talking him round?'
'No.' Elizabeth said sadly.
She went over to the bed and sat down, taking his hand in her own, hoping to comfort him. It was impossible to look at him though. One glance into those eyes and she was pretty sure her heart would break.
'We could walk.' He suggested lamely.
'I would never make you do that John. I know how much you love this place and your job.'
'I know. I couldn't do that to you either.'
'So we tell them that it was just sex, nothing more and...' Elizabeth paused.
'And?' John asked.
'And we end.'
Quickly, she looked down at her feet, to hide the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes. The pain was raw and her whole heart felt like it was collapsing. Her resolve remained unshaken though – they would do this. Never again would they share this bed, and never again would she sit by his side with their hands entwined. It was for the best, but, God, it was hard.
'We could carry on in secret...'
'No. They'll be watching our every move like hawks, we'd get caught.'
From beside her he got up, and walked over to the other side of the room and promptly kicked her waste bin against the wall. She immediately went over to him and clung to him. After a few seconds he gave in to his emotions and wrapped his arms around her and breathed in that scent of coconut which was so familiar.
'I love you so much.' Elizabeth said hollowly.
'I love you too.' He replied and squeezed her tighter.
They remained in one another's arms until John's watch beeped to tell him that he had a meeting with the IOA which meant he was walking away from all of this for good. With one final kiss, he left her quarters for good.