Title: Untold

Author: shannyfish (previously atlantis child - Command Dynamics), innocent choir girl A new section of Atlantis is opened, but what allows them to access the technology and information?

Genres: Angst, Drama, Introspect, Hurt/Comfort

Warnings: None. Be proud!

Rating: PG

Chapter: 1 "Innocent Conversations"

Author's Notes: This is a response to the challenge called: A lot more than I'm suppose to by Stargatecrazy. Challenge Summary: An Atlantis version of Divide and Conquer. John and Elizabeth have to admit their feelings for one another. Include all the these characters: John, Elizabeth, Rodney, Teyla, Ronon, Carson and Zelenka.

This story is going to have some spoilers for episodes after "The Return", read at your own risk.

I apologize for this chapter being so short, but I just wanted to get the start going ;) More will follow and most likely at longer page lengths!

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Sun streamed in through the multi-colored stained glass of Elizabeth's office. A small smile played on her lips as she read over Rodney's report; she could practically hear his excitement from his report on a newly found section of Atlantis. The city was so large that they were always finding new sections with new components, technology, information, and secrets… There was something with the section though, they couldn't pass through the invisible shield and Rodney wanted permission to put together a science team to work on it and to help discover the secrets that the tucked away section held.

"What's so amusing?" John asked as he walked into her office without knocking or asking permission. He lopped down across from her in one of her chairs. "Because you should really share…I just got some mumblings from McKay about something that's supposed to be completely fascinating…coming from a scientist…I think that means boring."

Elizabeth smiled up at him, she loved when John came. He was one of her distractions, and she often found great amusement in his visits. "He was probably trying to tell you to persuade me to okay his team going down to that new area they discovered."

"Ah," John said not really knowing what new area she was talking about. "Anything shiny? Because that could distract McKay for…weeks maybe…"

"Be nice, John," she scolded without any heart in it. Elizabeth loved how John and Rodney had such a cute brotherly bond and banter that went on. She knew that even though sometimes they acted mean towards each other, that they were really good friends, which was probably why they worked so well together. John knew exactly how to push Rodney's buttons, and Rodney knew just how to annoy the hell out of John. "I'm pretty sure the jumpers are shiny and I've seen you in awe over those… You never know, there could be some kind of military toy behind that shield."

"Every other place has been a science lab…" John told her shrugging it off. "Like we'd actually subtle onto something good like Ancient weapons or cooler jumpers…" He watched her and grinned when he saw her eyes sparkling as she moved forward in her chair and pushed aside the paperwork she had been working on. He loved to distract her, that's when he saw the Elizabeth that he remembered who had reminded Colonel Sumner that she was the one in charge of the expedition when they left the SGC. He saw the curiosity and wonder in her eyes and not the tiredness and worry that was most often occupying her green eyes.

Tilting her head, she smiled brightly at him, "Cooler jumpers, huh? All the way over there?" She shook her head, "You might be better off sending a letter to Santa for a cooler jumper, John. Maybe he'll even paint your name on the side of it and give you some flames."

Laughing, he leaned back in his chair and shook his head at her. "I don't know about flames, but definitely some cool pin striping! And maybe not my name, but a cool name for it…" He put his hands behind his head as he leaned back looking at her. "So, do you have any hook-ups? Do you think you could talk Santa into getting me a jumper like that? Maybe something with some cool guns."

"I don't know if you've been a good enough boy, John. Santa only brings toys for good boys," she teased. They didn't really feel the holidays on Atlantis, and sometimes Elizabeth really mourned that… She missed having those fun times…but holidays were often a family event, and many of those on the expedition would feel homesick… Elizabeth knew that she would long to be sharing it with her mother and even Sedgewick.

He leaned forward and folded his hands laying them onto her desk. "So, do you think Santa will bring you anything?" And then John was curious, "Is there anything you want?"

"Intergalactic peace too much to ask for?"

John wasn't surprised by that. Heck, he wished for it sometimes for her, sometimes he watched as she worked herself to exhaustion and still tried to push herself, but she was too guarded to let them see that…or get too close. "I think that's a bit out of Santa's jurisdiction."

"Do you think it's wrong for us not to celebrate as a community here?"

Shrugging, John pointed out, as he knew that if he didn't that she would. "Well, we've got people from all over Earth…and we'd be celebrating more than Christmas…plus who knows what kind of winter celebrations are celebrated by the Athosians or Ronon's people. Though, that could be good, too… Lots of celebrations means lots of celebrating…"

Elizabeth smiled and nodded, "Which might not be bad for morale…"

"What about geek morale?" John questioned curious as to what Elizabeth's decision on Rodney's request would be. At least he could go and harass Rodney about taking too long and to poke around the area that the science team was trying to break into. At the very least, it would be something to do…

"I suppose, as long as there's supervision…" she responded not wanting Rodney to get too over his head down there. "Maybe a Marine who knows basic first aid…if not more… Remember when Atlantis went on lock-down because of them accidentally exposing themselves to viruses?"

"Ye-ah…maybe a team of Marines…"

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TBC…