Darkness Comes

Chapter One

Morning, Mrs. Sheppard

Merry woke slowly on the morning after her wedding. Her wedding. That had a nice ring to it. She lay tangled in the bed sheets of the enormous king sized bed that filled most of the hotel suite she and her husband shared. My husband. That had a nice ring to it, too. She rolled over and grinned at the sight that greeted her.

She had never known a man who could so completely fill such a large space. John was sprawled at an angle, his face on the pillow next to hers but his body spread-eagled over the rest of the bed. His arm half-covered his face, the other at a ninety-degree angle and hanging off the bed. His legs were tangled in the sheets, one on top of the covers and the other resting next to hers. He was naked, like she was, and she had never seen a more beautiful man in her life. Of course, she could never tell him that; men were not beautiful in his world.

She leaned over and kissed him gently on the mouth. She could just taste last night's wine and something else. She kissed him again, and felt him moan; once more, and he gripped her head in his hands and held her tightly, ravishing her mouth.

When they finally separated, he opened one eye halfway and glanced over at her. His voice was thick with sleep. "Morning, Mrs. Sheppard."

She giggled. "Morning, Mr. Sheppard."

He grinned. "That's Colonel to you, missy."

She leaned over and brushed his lips with hers. "Then that's Doctor to you, mister."

They lost the thread of the conversation for a moment, before he pulled back and smiled. "If you're going to be that way, I'll call you Doctor Sheppard for the rest of my life."

She laughed. "Fine. But I get to call you Johnny-boy."

He gasped in mock-horror. "Oh no!" He slapped his hand against his chest. "Whatever shall I do?" He growled low in his throat and winked. "I know. I have some unfinished business from last night." He rolled on top of her as she giggled, and they didn't speak again for some time.

~*~

They spent the first three days of their two-week honeymoon lounging in the hotel bed, ordering room service and denying the maid entrance. They woke early on the fourth day and decided that it was time to do some exploring. After all, it wasn't every day that they were on the sunny Greek island of Corfu. And the hotel wasn't the only sight to see.

She had planned this honeymoon for weeks, and had even scheduled their time together in the hotel. They were on Corfu for a week, most of it spent lazing about a beach or in their room, with a few sight-seeing side trips. After Corfu, they were travelling, by sailboat, to the mainland, where they would spend the rest of the time in and around Athens. She had always wanted to go to Greece, and he liked sunny beaches. It was the perfect honeymoon.

On their twelfth day, he received a call while they were touring the Acropolis. He waved her forward while he spoke to whoever was on the other line. She listened with half an ear to the tour guide and watched him as his face when from cheerful to sober in less than a heartbeat.

He hung up and walked over to her, looping her arm through his. She leaned in and whispered into his ear. "What's wrong?"

He looked down and shook his head. "Nothing. Everything's fine."

They finished the tour and took a few pictures, but instead of going to a restaurant, he steered her towards the hotel, a scowl on his face.

They walked in silence for the most part, until they were about two blocks away. She pulled him to a stop.

"Okay, John, talk to me. What's wrong?"

He grimaced. "Nothing serious. Can we not talk about this here?"

She frowned and waited. He threw up his hands. "Fine! We just got the weekly call, and it looks like we'll have to get back a little early, that's all."

Her eyes widened. "We…we're leaving? Now? But I thought we had the full two weeks…"

He shook his head. "No, we get to finish the honeymoon. We'll just be getting back a lot…sooner…than expected."

She leaned in. "What are you talking about?"

He smiled. "No three week trip back in tight spaces for us, Mrs. Sheppard."

~*~

The call ruined what was left of their vacation, but they still hit every spot on her list. She took pictures for Leslie and the rest of Atlantis, knowing full well that she wouldn't have a moment's peace if she didn't show absolutely everyone her honeymoon pictures. She didn't really begrudge them the opportunity to live vicariously through her; most didn't get the chance to leave very often.

He surprised her with a small present before they left the hotel room. Everything had been packed for an hour, and she had left to take a few final pictures of the hotel and nearby beach, leaving him to take a nap before their flight. She had come back, expecting to leave immediately.

There were red rose petals covering the bed, and a little room-service cart held lunch and a bottle of champagne. She laughed when she saw it.

"What are you doing?"

He spun, in the process of lighting one of the tapered candles on their small hotel table. "Uh, lunch?"

She slipped out of her shoes and lifted the lid. "Oh, what's this?"

He straightened, grinning proudly. "The best the hotel had to offer. Roast lamb with vegetables, something that I can't pronounce, and two slices of double chocolate cake with strawberries. Oh, and the champagne, of course."

She giggled. "This is perfect, John. And the bed?"

He grinned. "Desert?"

~*~

Even with all their preparations, they still had to rush to check out of their hotel on time and still make their flight back to Colorado Springs. He hadn't really explained how they were getting back to Atlantis yet, but she was sure he would by the time they got back to Stargate Command.

The plane trip home was quiet and relatively painless, but she could tell that John was itching to get back. He had this nervous habit of shredding anything he came into contact with- she didn't know where he had picked it up, but she could guess. Any time she had tried to start a conversation, his responses had been uninterested and monosyllabic. She gave up after only twenty minutes.

He was nearly the first out of the plane when they landed, dragging their luggage behind him down the terminal until they ran into their driver. It was a sergeant from Stargate Command; she didn't even have time to ask his name. John ordered him to put the bags in the car- a non-descript sedan- and to make the car go faster, even when they hit traffic.

Merry couldn't get a word in, and she was getting more and more angry the longer it went on. Finally, after a particularly biting remark that had her looking for a certain scientist, she pulled on his arm and made him face her.

"What the hell is going on, John?"

He sighed. "We got the weekly dial in a couple days ago; I told you that. There's been some problems in the Pegasus Galaxy, and they need us back as soon as humanly possible."

She smiled. "Which means…"

John grinned. "We're going back by the gate. Quick as a step."

~*~

After the rush of the hotel, the flight, and the drive to Cheyenne Mountain, the step through the gate was somewhat anticlimactic. Their bags were tossed through after them; the majority of their things would be sent back on the Daedalus' next flight.

Ronon, Teyla, Rodney, and Leslie were waiting for them at the base of the stairs, wide smiles on their faces. Even Ronon looked pleased.

Teyla grinned and hugged John while Leslie pounced on her best friend. Ronon patted John on the back, and Rodney stood back with an awkward smile until John pulled him into the group.

Mr. Woolsey stood above them in the gateroom control center. "Welcome back, Colonel Sheppard, Doctor Steel."

Merry grinned. "It's actually Doctor Sheppard now, if you don't mind."

Woolsey's mouth tensed. "Of course. Colonel, the briefing is in an hour."

Merry turned to John with wounded eyes. "Already?"

He sighed. "I've got to get back to work. You, however, have the next few days to get reacquainted with the city before Doctor Ames wants you. I talked to them before we left."

She kissed his cheek. "Thanks. Walk me to our quarters?"

He held out his arm. "Gladly."

~*~

There had obviously been a memo. It seemed that every single person in the city just happened to be in the hallways that led to their corridors. She hadn't even known there were that many people on the base. Even Rodney, oblivious as he usually was, commented on it.

They made it safely to their quarters, still grinning happily. It was good to be home.

Before they had left for the wedding, John had commandeered larger quarters for them. They had even had the few days before going back to Earth to set them up. Teyla had been tasked with keeping everyone out.

The quarters were perfect. There was a large open room with a seating area looking at Merry's present to John- a television and DVD equipment. Just off of the sitting room was a very small kitchenette, with a fridge and a stovetop, as well as a table and chairs.

On the other side were three bedrooms. Merry was looking forward, in a year or two, to filling one of them, but for now, they had the master bedroom, with its own balcony and bath, and two smaller rooms, one for storage, and one for a personal gym for John. He was actually more pleased about that than the TV. Their offices were still in their respective departments, but they had a large desk in the main room for the two of them.

Merry wanted nothing more than to lay down on the bed and take a nap for days. She had forgotten that the city forever smelled like the ocean; it was a different smell than Greece. They had arrived just in time for sunset, and, as Rodney reminded them, dinner.

John kissed her cheek. "You'll have to go without me. I gotta go talk to Woolsey right now."

He turned to his friends. "You coming to this briefing?"

Rodney shook his head. "Ah, no. We've already had it. And I've ah…I've got a date tonight."

John smirked. "With who?"

Rodney blushed, but didn't answer.

Ronon frowned. "Yeah, I've got a sparring rematch with a couple of the Marines."

John grinned. "Don't beat them up too badly."

Ronon grinned back. "No promises."

Teyla bowed out too. "Kanaan and I have a babysitter tonight. We…"

John interrupted. "Sorry Teyla, but I seriously don't need to know that."

She smiled. "As you wish."

They left John and Merry alone. He smiled down at her. "Sorry."

She laughed. "Don't worry. I'm sure Leslie is waiting for me in the mess hall, with a bunch of the girls, just waiting for the details. I'll be fine. If I'm not here when you get back, you'd better rescue me."

John smirked. "I have plans for you tonight, Mrs. Sheppard. Don't be late."

She giggled. "You either."