As the suns rose over Atlantis, the city was bathed in a golden light, tipping the control tower first, and then washing over the gleaming roofs, leaving fathomless dark green shadows to settle over the lower levels. A still figure huddled into a blanket, perched on one of the higher balconies, absorbing the beauty of the morning. She had quite a view over the city and the ocean, loving to wake up early so that she could watch sunrise stretch over the city. It was one of the perks of being married to Atlantis' Military Commander, having a suite of rooms with such a magnificent view. Mind you, there was another magnificent view that she also enjoyed watching from her vantage point. Her husband was doing his usual spider impression, all arms and legs, twisted up with the bed clothes, giving her tantalising glimpses of pink flesh.

Cat rested her chin in her hands and contemplated her life. Sometimes, with the mania that was a usual Atlantis day, there just wasn't time to pause and reflect. Three months on since John's expulsion from the city in disgrace and his return in glory, they had settled into a very happy routine, as much as was ever possible here. It had taken time for her to truly trust him again, though she had never stopped loving him, and they had only in the last month really got back to normal. It was again possible for him to surprise her with a sexual adventure, without her suffering the shadow of a fear, no more really than an echo of the feelings she had endured during his absence from Atlantis. John's job necessarily involved him with so many other people, that there was little time for a private life, and she really valued times like this, when they could be alone and together. At any moment, day or night, he could be called away, and possibly gone for days. In the last three months, she supposed they'd spent maybe a couple of dozen whole nights together. John stirred, untwisted his right leg, but only succeeded in tying up the sheets around his left thigh, now the only bit of his body covered, giving her a very good view that was far too tempting.

She crawled back into bed, faced her husband and kissed his forehead tenderly, which meant that as he opened his eyes, he had an eye-full of her breasts.

'Now, that's what I mean by a wake-up call,' he laughed, before kissing her, firmly wrapping her up in the covers with him. 'You're cold! Have you been on one of your morning vigils?' he asked. 'Now, let's see if I can't warm you up.'

The pattern of life and friendships had been subtly shifting of late. Once, John's team were a group of isolated and dysfunctional loners who had found another family in their closeness. Now, Rodney was a new father, Kate having given birth to a girl, Rosa, a month ago. John was to be Rosa's godfather and he was delighted, already an honorary uncle to Torren and to several other little ones too. Ronon and Amelia had sort of formalised their relationship, spending the nights in either his or her rooms and Teyla; Kanaan and Torren continued to work out how to be a family. There were other couples now in the city who were either married, had children or both, enough for a nursery to be opened up, and very shortly they would be in need of a teacher. Pegasus and Earth natives had lived together long enough to begin to create a new Lantean people and the city was now more than a military outpost, more a colony. There were people here who not just 'posted' to Atlantis, but who saw it as a home for their future and their children's.

Cat was becoming a little anxious about the whole 'baby' business. Ever since Teyla had hinted to him that she might be pregnant in order to get them back together again, he had seemed a little distracted, making a few comments about parenthood and fathers, though they had not had 'the discussion' yet. She was dreading it and she could see it coming, because it would open up a can of worms which she didn't want to take the can opener too. There was a history which she'd rather not have to share with anyone, even John. Her first marriage had been a disaster, he much more interested in the young men who worked for him, and it really had been a marriage of convenience, more of a connection of families for business reasons than anything else, so it had not been surprising that she'd had no children with him. After that, and until John, there had been a series of short-term relationships and she had reconciled herself to never having children, nor did she especially want them now. For her, they were perfect as they were and she didn't want to share him with anyone. There were other nasty skeletons too. In her teens, she had a fling with a tutor at college and had become pregnant. She had wanted to keep the baby, a boy she had called David, but her parents had insisted that he be adopted, citing all sorts of reasons about how it would ruin her future, she'd never get herself a man, etc. That had been the hardest thing she had ever had to do in her life and it had left her with a gnawing pain, as of something missing, ever since. Sometimes she thought about him, amazed that he would be 25 by now, but mostly she put him away into the place where she put all the things she didn't want to think about. There had been some moments early in her relationship with John when she had thought about having a baby and she sort of thought if it happened, then fine, but it probably wouldn't. After all, though she hadn't exactly been 'careful' recently more out of absent mindedness than any deliberate forethought, she was heading towards her forty second birthday.

She headed off to the cafeteria for breakfast. John had left about half-an-hour earlier, so she didn't expect him to be there and was surprised when he was. Katie and Rodney had brought little Rosa in with them and there was a small crowd of cooing adults surrounding them. When Cat reached the table, she could see why there were so many women in the group: John was sitting at the table, Rosa in his arms, making ridiculous gurgling noises at her, and you could almost hear the hormones of the women around him hum with pleasure. Words percolated through to her: 'Oh, you're so good with her'; 'make an excellent father'; 'I'd volunteer' and the like. She took one desperate look at him then turned on her heels, not willing to be part of the scene. Oh, yes, this was going to get up and bite her sooner rather than later. What she needed was space to think, and for that she needed a little time alone.

After two years exploring the city, and with the benefit of a stronger than average ATA gene, she had managed to find a few hiding places where she was certain that she couldn't be detected. A few months ago, she had discovered a small space, hidden at the back of one of the older Ancient labs. Cat had been an only child, and she still needed a few precious moments in her own company once in a while. She headed straight for it, and shutting the almost invisible door behind her, sat with her knees up under her chin, enjoying the calm and silence of the little green room. While there was not natural light down here, the walls glowed for her with an almost iridescent green, like the leaves in a rain forest where the sun glistened off the moisture. She wasn't ready to make decisions about having 'that discussion' now, more she needed space and time to calm herself so that she could go out into the world smiling again.

She must have fallen asleep, because when she woke up, she was sore and stiff. She could hear the noises of distant voices, but it wasn't until she differentiated the word 'Cat' that she realised they were looking for her. Oh, crap. John will not be happy with her. She tentatively opened the door and peeked her head out. Rodney was standing in the middle of the lab, shouting her name.

'Um, hello Rodney', she said cautiously, and he nearly jumped out of his skin. 'What time is it?'

'Oh thank God, Sheppard I've found her, you are so in trouble; he's been going mental trying to find you. It's gone two in the afternoon and you've been missing for hours. I'm glad it's you and not me this time.' He tapped his radio. 'We're in that old lab where we found the ascension device.' Rodney winced as a voice spoke into his ear. 'Um, he says stay put and he'll be here soon, but not in quite those words. Now, if you'll excuse me, I want to stay alive to see my daughter grow up, so I'm getting out of his way. Never come between a furious Colonel and the object of his wrath, I always say, or at least I do now!'

'Shit! I fell asleep. Is he really pissed, Rodney? I'd better go and find him and apologise.'

'Oh, I don't think you'll need to find him, 'and he literally sprinted from the room, just missing a hurtling John coming the other way.

Cat had never seen him look so furious. I mean, she'd seen him angry at Rodney and cross with a marine, but this was different. In a very steady and deliberate voice he said, 'What the hell do you think you're doing? I've had several teams searching for you for the last 2 hours. You wasted valuable manpower: I even called off an off-world mission to find you.' Then he stood, hands on hips, demanding an answer.

She knew she should have just apologised, but at that moment her stubbornness wouldn't let her. A righteous anger fired inside her. 'I needed some space. I don't see why you were so worried, after all I'm not a child and I don't need your permission to be alone.'

She regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth. He took one last livid look at her, then stormed out of the room.

'Oh, well done, Cat.'

She half-expected him to go to his old rooms that night and by midnight she had resigned herself to a night alone in a cold bed, but in the early hours of the morning, he crept under the covers. He said nothing to her as he got up a few hours later, and managed to leave the room with not so much as a glance. Well, that could have been worse, she thought....though not much! Cat often found that her work was the best way to take her mind of things, so she headed down to the archives, skipping breakfast and the sight of any more cooing women. It was about half way through the morning when she had the call to meet SGA1 in Woolsey's office.

The team were gathered in their usual places around the huge leather topped conference table that Woolsey had brought with him from Earth. When Cat arrived, she glanced to her right at John, who studiously avoided making eye contact.

'Doctor Sheppard. We have been contacted by a delegation from a planet called Danthos. It appears that they have a very interesting problem which they would like our help with, and I think you might be just the person. Apparently, according to their mythology, there is an Ancient library in the basement of an old ruined building on the outskirts of their main town. In this library are some texts which, they say, will help them with a very sticky problem they have, although they wouldn't go into much detail as to what the problem is: something about old medicines and cures. Anyway, it seems to me that, as they are a peaceful and agrarian society and we still have need of allies who can provide us with supplies, especially with Atlantis' growing population, it would be politic to lend them a hand. Now, the Colonel here could probably help with this ATA gene, but I think that given the nature of what they are looking for, your expertise could be most helpful, especially as they have a limited knowledge of Ancient. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it is right up your street,'

Getting ready for the mission and the trip through the gate was probably the most uncomfortable she had ever felt. John studiously ignored her, even failing to check her back pack, which he always did. He stomped ahead, back solid with anger. In fact, nobody said very much, all sensing the unpleasant atmosphere. Several times, Cat tried to catch up with him, but he was absolutely resolute in his bad temper and it wasn't until they arrived in the village that he spoke at all, putting on his usual charming smile for the strangers who greeted them, but all the while alert to possible danger.

'Hi. My name's Colonel John Sheppard. This is Doctor Mckay, Ronon, Teyla and,' here he paused, 'Doctor Catherine Sheppard.'

'Welcome, people of Atlantis. We are honoured and grateful that you are prepared to assist us. My name is High Counsellor Balthus.' Balthus was a slight man, with bright blue eyes and pepper and salt hair which made him impossible to age. He was wearing a long cream coloured robe, with some kind of iridescent red stone, set in a circular mount, hanging from a gold chain around his neck. 'Your sister perhaps, Colonel?' he asked.

Rodney emitted a snort of suppressed laughter at the thought and earned a glower from John, who then corrected the man, rather curtly Cat thought, before asking, 'so, what is it that we can do for you? You said you had a problem that we could solve.'

Balthus paused. 'Yes indeed, Colonel, but that can come later. It is our custom to greet honoured guests with a feast.' Cat inwardly giggled at Rodney's enthusiastic expression. 'Please, come this way and I will show you to your quarters.'

Ronon whispered in John's ear, 'Quarters? I didn't know we were staying?'

'Let's go with it for the moment, Ronon. But stay alert. I think we could all do with a bit of rest and relaxation. It makes a change from being shot at, kidnapped or blown up!'

The rooms were sumptuously furnished, with red velvet like fabric draping the walls and the beds and candles lit in delicately gilt sconces, flickering seductive shadows across the floor and furnishings. Rodney and Ronon were given one room (I'm not sleeping with you, if that's what you think,' winced Rodney), Teyla a smaller room to herself and Cat and John the third and grandest.

'Why do you get the master bedroom and I have to sleep with the Yeti here,' complained Rodney,' You know how badly he snores!'

Which earned him a snort and a scowl from Ronon? 'Well at least I don't talk in my sleep. Does anyone have any earplugs handy?'

'Let's just make the most of a bad job, shall we?' replied John. Cat grimaced at the implication. One way or another she needed to make it up to and with him.

The feast was magnificent. Balthus and the Danthosians treated them like royalty. Ronon drank too much in an attempt to pass out before he had to cope with Rodney's sleep-talking, guaranteeing that he would snore more than ever, and Rodney drank too much so that he would not hear Ronon's drink induced snoring. Both staggered to their rooms and passed out on the huge bed. Cat was grateful not to spending the night with them: she suspected the air might be a little stale in there come morning. Teyla was dignified, quiet and diplomatic as always, sweet-talking Balthus before politely wishing everyone goodnight. John was still not looking at her, let alone talking to her. At one point in the evening, she thought she heard her name mentioned when Balthus whispered something in his ear, but couldn't be sure. When they finally left the festivities, still likely to continue for some time without the guests of honour, the silence between them was as cold as the Antarctic winter.

She sat down on the end of the bed as her husband quickly undressed, like a shy school boy not wanting to show any naked flesh, and almost leapt under the covers, still with his boxers on, and turned with his back firmly away from her.

'Oh, I've had enough of this,' she thought, as she undressed, deciding to wear as little in bed as she usually did, and she snuggled up behind him. He shifted slightly and rather awkwardly, but still was determined to carry on the charade. She placed her hand round his waist, feeling the contraction of his stomach muscles as she began to stroke his skin and then leant forward, pressing her breasts, which she knew he was quite fond of, against his back and started to kiss up the back of his long neck and nibble the tip of his wonderfully pointed ear. For a moment, she thought he would carry on ignoring her, then suddenly he turned around, grabbed her arms and pinned her to the bed beneath him, his eyes dark with a combination of pure lust and retained anger. Wordlessly, she held his stare, frozen briefly in the moment, before passion and desire got the better of him and the kiss she received was full of a burning fire, leaving them both breathless and panting. Then, his mouth came crashing down on hers again and he moved his hand down he trembling body, finding the places that he knew drove her wild. Cat could feel the heat building from her toes upwards as he touched her, the strength of his emotions clearly evident in his body too and they fell into a frenzied and ardent lovemaking, both losing awareness of anything but the moment, both knowing that it had never been quite like this between them before. Afterwards they were left in a panting heap, sleepy and content, all anger dissipated, and a familiar peace settled on them as they curled up in each other's arms and slept the night through.

In the distance, had they been awake, they would have heard the thunderous rumble of Ronon's snoring and the squeaky whine of Rodney's voice, complaining even in sleep.

In the morning, Cat woke up to an empty bed and briefly panicked less John should have remembered their argument and still not forgiven her. However, her fears abated as he entered the room, already in his BDU's, and threw his gorgeous toothy smile, the one that he reserved only for her.

'Come on, sleepy head, we've work to do. Balthus wants to head off to the ruins as soon as possible, something about short days and nasty bear-like creatures in the outer forests.' He leant over and kissed her, a kiss that was in danger of becoming more, especially given her naked state and the mutually shared thought of uniform on bare flesh. He reluctantly pulled away and laughingly threw her clothes at her. 'Meet you in 10?'

The walk to the ruins was an obstacle course of sharp, jagged rocks and dense undergrowth. They were only about an hour's walk from the village, though given Rodney's grumpy bedraggled appearance and Ronon's sour face, it might have been ten times as far. Hidden in a mass of green moss and climbers was a large stone doorway, with no obvious way to open it. John nodded in Cat's direction and she walked over to the door, passing her hand over the rough surface to see if she could find a handle of button of some sort. In the middle was a circular and spherical indentation. Cat's eyes were drawn to the pendant around Balthus' neck.

'High Counsellor? Have you tried placing your necklace in this mark?'

He nodded.

'Yes, many years ago. It is a perfect fit, but nothing happened. That is one of the reasons why we asked you here. We feel certain that it must be some kind of key, but maybe the mechanism is broken?'

'Would you mind giving it to me, and I will see if I can make it work?' Balthus passed it to her and she was about to press it into the door when John grasped her arm and pulled her back.

'Wait! We don't know what it will do. McKay, have your scans showed up anything?'

'No, nothing. And by nothing, I mean nothing. Zero. Zip. Blank.' Rodney grimaced and went an even paler shade of green.

John nodded at her and let go of her arm. Stepping forward, Cat placed the stone into its place in the centre of the door. There was a bright flash and she felt herself thrown forwards, then everything went dark.