He sits on the corner of her desk, watching her with concern. She tips her head into her hands with a rough sigh, and he can hear her exhaustion. Her utter disappointment in herself. She rakes a hand through her tousled curls. "Look, Elizabeth," he whispers. "You're human. You're not immune to making mistakes."
"I just—" She pauses, searching for the words. "It's different than a mistake this time. It was a mistake in judgment and—you know, he said that he didn't trust my leadership." She gives a soft chuckle. "And he was right."
"He wasn't right," he whispers, his hand taking hers. "And you know that. We all have trust in you, Elizabeth. Would we be here if we didn't?"
She's silent, brooding. She picks up the watch by its chain, and sets it in his palm. "My father gave me that watch," she whispers. "When I was eighteen. He said his father gave it to him, and it was the greatest possession he ever had." She feels tears threatening to spill, and taking a shaky breath, wills herself to continue. "And I feel, in a way, that I failed him."
He sets the watch back on her desk before walking towards her, turning her chair to face him, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. He runs his hands through her hair. A soothing gesture, she closes her eyes. A few tears trickle from the corners of her eyes. She takes another shaky breath. "Listen to me. Atlantis wouldn't be the same without you."
She leans on him in a half-hearted hug, her face buried in the crook of his shoulder. "I'm sorry about this," she mumbles. "Look at me. I'm a crying, emotional wreck." He places a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
"Don't let Kavanaugh make you doubt yourself. It's, uh, it's like…" He pauses, struggling to find the words. "Boyats'ya sobstvennoi teni."
She pulls away from him, quirking an eyebrow. She smiles. "John Sheppard, you are just full of surprises."
He looks down, mildly embarrassed. "I, uh, spent some time in Moscow," he mumbles. She takes his face in her hands, and leans in, brushing her lips against his. He looks surprised but goes in again, capturing her bottom lip between his, tongues sliding smoothly. His fingers trace little circles at the base of her neck, and her hands wind up into his already mussed hair. He pulls her closer and she groans into the kiss. When they pull apart, her face is a delightful shade of pink, her lips swollen. She licks her lips and he feels his resolve begin to fade.
He quirks an eyebrow and grins at her. "Want to make out in a closet somewhere?"
She laughs, tossing her head back. His eyes linger on the pale, smooth expanse of skin before him. He licks his lips as she takes his hand. "Yep. John Sheppard. Full of surprises."
She leans her head on his shoulder, and he smiles. "Is that a yes?"