Symbiosis
Black.
The blackness of space was daunting. Vast. A universe of nothingness, spangled with distant stars and even more distant planets. Tiny flashes of light in an otherwise gloomy, overwhelming expanse of emptiness. It could have been depressing. It could have been humbling. To realize that you were nothing but a tiny spec in the vast cosmos. But it was neither of these things to John Sheppard.
He strolled through the Daedalus, feeling the faint vibration of the engines as the ship lurched smoothly into hyperspace. He walked quickly, anxious to return to his cabin. Felt more like he was floating these days, as if his boots were scarcely hitting the floor. Buoyed by sheer happiness. Wrapped in his own little world. His own little family, something he had never imagined he would ever have. His wife. His son. The perfect circle.
He quietly entered his cabin.
Moira Sheppard was sitting near the viewport, staring into the vastness of space. At the streams of colors created by the hyperspace window. Her face was pensive. Brown eyes narrowed in serious thought. She held a baby on her lap, gently bouncing the infant. John Sheppard Junior was also staring at the blurred star field. Blue eyes wide. But he looked over to gurgle at his father.
John smiled ear to ear, beaming at his son. His wife. Emotions overwhelming for a moment. He swallowed past them, finding his voice. "Hey Moira. John junior." He sat behind her on the bench. Glanced at the star field.
"Hey John," she responded tiredly. She scooted back against his chest as his arms surrounded her. He tickled his son with gentle fingers, evoking another gurgle.
"We'll be dropping out of hyperspace in about ten. Then it's only another hour to Atlantis." She was silent, staring at the blurry stars. "He seems to have taken to space travel, huh?"
"Just like his father," she noted. "John...it's going to be...it's going to be weird."
"Weird? Yeah, I know," he agreed. "We'll manage." He kissed her cheek. "So will he."
Moira turned suddenly, handing him the baby. "Here. I need to stretch my legs." She stood as John at first awkwardly, then more deftly held the baby on his knees. Rocked him gently. He watched Moira arch, stretch her arms, her neck. Flex her legs. He smiled, feeling a tightening in his groin that had nothing to do with the baby in his lap. Moira straightened. Met his warm gaze. Saw the sensual glint in his brilliant green eyes. "John? You have to be kidding me!"
He laughed, shrugged. "Well, Moira, when you display yourself like that..." He gave her a suggestive look. Licked his lips. Slowly.
She frowned. "Stop it, John. Take care of your son. I need to get out of this cabin. You'll be all right with him, won't you?"
"Yes, Moy. I can manage to watch my own son," he acerbically noted "Go on."
"You're sure?" She hesitated, moved to him. The baby gurgled at her, one little hand raised towards her. "If you–"
"Go on, sweetheart," John encouraged. "It will give us some male bonding time. Maybe we'll even have a beer."
She smiled. "Okay. If you're sure..." She kissed him. Kissed the baby. Left before he changed his mind.
Moira strolled briskly through the ship, enjoying the quiet. The freedom. Needing a break from the cabin, from the baby. All the care, the feedings, the lack of sleep, the worry, the stress as she adjusted. As John adjusted. It was so much to get used to and she couldn't imagine it getting any easier once they were back in Atlantis. And John would inevitably be parted from her.
She felt guilty at needing the time to herself. Nevertheless she kept going, exploring the huge ship, descending levels, politely greeting those in passing. Mind turning to other things, other interests, but inevitably returning to the baby.
John was happily playing with his son, a gentle game when the PA crackled. "Colonel Sheppard report to the bridge. Colonel Sheppard report to the bridge."
"Crap." John sighed. Looked at his son who was staring at him with big blue eyes. The baby grinned. John smiled. "Yeah? Well, its' not so funny, buddy. Your mother as the worst timing." He swung the baby as he stood, eliciting a chortling gurgle. He carried the infant to the bridge. Ignored the collective oohs and aahs and smiles although he felt a surge of pride. He moved to Caldwell as he sat in the captain's chair. "Sir?"
Steven Caldwell didn't bat an eye as he regarded his subordinate clad in BDUs but holding a gurgling baby. The infant was staring round, little hands clutching his father's black shirt. "Lieutenant colonel, we've just detected Wraith darts. Scouting party. In our vector which means–"
"A hive ship is nearby," John finished for him. Frowned.
"And we need to eliminate those darts before they can relay our position."
"Yes, sir. I'll take a squadron of X302s," John said, already heading for the bay. Laughter erupted.
Steven smirked. "Excuse me, Lieutenant Colonel Sheppard? Were you going to take your son with you on this one?" More laughter.
"No!" Moira objected. She had been at the other end of the ship. Had nearly run all the way to the bridge, hearing the summons for her husband. She skidded to a walk, catching her breath. Hair slipping askew from her ponytail. "John Sheppard! What are you doing with our baby?"
John turned at the breathy voice, the scolding tone. He stared as her fuller breasts were heaving under her shirt and jacket. His gaze lingered, lingered, then met hers. Smiled at the reprimand in her brown eyes but laconically said, "It's his first flight lesson, Moira. You can't start too young, you know." He handed her the baby. "Back in a few." He kissed her, kissed the baby. Sprinted out of the bridge.
Moira stared after him. The baby in her arms did the same, one little hand clumsily outstretched towards his father. "Did you say Wraith?"
"Yes, Moira. You should probably go wait in your cabin. It'd be more secure," Steven advised.
"No. We'll wait here. John junior wants to see his father in action," she remarked. She settled into an empty seat, dread running up her back. She cuddled the baby to her.
John's voice crackled over the comm. "Red Flight on me. Two flanking, two aft. Fire at will on my mark. Mark." John grasped the stick, flew straight at the darts. Shooting down dart after dart. Wraith after Wraith. Instinct and training taking over automatically although he had not been in a ship of any kind for months. Had not faced any threat remotely like this in months.
Grimly he eliminated all threats to his wife and child.
He flew in an arc, sweeping the way clear. "Plow the field," he ordered, flying up and over, circling. It felt good to be flying again. He hadn't realized how much he had missed being in a ship, any kind of ship under his control. Lasers flashed. Drones flew. Darts exploded, drifted to create a heavy debris field. "Daedalus, this is Red leader. All bogeys destroyed. Repeat, all bogeys destroyed. Sensors indicate hive ship not yet approaching. Orders?"
"Copy, Red leader. Linger and make sure there are no stragglers." Steven turned in his chair. "How long until we can make the final jump?"
"Five minutes, sir. Gathering coordinates now."
"Make it three, sergeant."
John smiled. Flying through space, examining the debris field. Scans running smoothly. His grasp relaxed on the controls, as the sheer joy of flying again filled him. The freedom. The sense of control, of escape. Although he was mindful of who awaited his safe return. His wife. His son. Still, the quiet was refreshing. The solitude welcome, as long as it was only temporary.
"This is Red leader," he reported. "No stragglers, sir. But I've the hive ship on sensors. It's moving slowly. Seems to have noticed the fight."
"Fall back. We'll be jumping in three."
"Yes, sir. All flight fall back. Sheppard out."
Moira sat back in her chair, not having realized she was on the edge of it, listening. She eased her hold on the baby as he started to fuss, pressed so tightly to his mother. She absently kissed his chubby cheek, staring out at the star field as the X302s zoomed by, circling round to return to the Daedalus and safety. The tension eased from her body. Finding herself unaccountably fearful now that John was once again in harm's way. Once again facing a dangerous and unpredictable enemy. Could once again be taken from her.
She found herself shaken out of her cocoon of safety. The warm lethargy that enveloped them during the months they had spent on Earth. Living like any other ordinary married couple with a new baby. Doing all of the ordinary things, although living in a hotel suite. Albeit a luxurious one. A set of rooms with a spectacular mountain view. Adjusting to the care of an infant. Shopping. Sightseeing. Trying to create a schedule where sleep was possible.
As if there were no dangers. No Wraith. No threats other than extreme fatigue.
John disembarked. Strode back to the bridge after a reluctant glance back at the ship. He found himself anticipating flying a Puddle Jumper again. Recalled the power of that ship. The smooth motions. The symbiosis of pilot and ship, as long as the pilot had the ATA gene. "Colonel," he began to report, "the hive's maintaining distance but altering its course for possible interception to our own Moira Sheppard!" The last ended in a stern bark of her name.
"Interception to our what?" Steven asked, amusement in his voice.
"John?" Moira started at his tone, nearly dropping the baby as she stood. The baby appeared nonplused, gurgling happily at the sight of his father.
John strode to her. "Why aren't you safely in our cabin?" he demanded.
"Um... I, I mean John junior wanted to see his father fly a–"
"He did? Don't hide behind John junior, Moira!" he scolded, raising his finger in admonishment. The baby caught it, grinned. Drooled. John smiled at him.
"Turn hard aft," Steven ordered, ignoring the family conflict behind him. "We need to avoid detection just a little longer."
"How long?" John asked, freeing his finger to view the screens.
"Three minutes, sergeant," Steven ordered.
The baby began to fuss, whimper. Moira rocked him, staring out the viewport. John looked at her. "Go."
"John, you–"
"Go. You'll be safer in our cabin, and besides, he's hungry again. I know I am. Go." She nodded, reluctant, but left. John relaxed, moved to Steven. "Will we get clear in time?"
"Yes. If not you'll need to take out another squadron. Our weapons aren't up to specs to face down a hive for very long."
"Great, just great," John muttered. Glaring at the space field.
"Welcome back to the Pegasus galaxy, Sheppard."