John Sheppard watched her walk through the cafeteria. It was impossibly late and he should have been in bed. Unfortunately, he had been unable to sleep and was in the cafeteria for a late night snack when she walked in, a doctor from Beckett's staff.
She wore low slung, loose fitting pants that reminded him of men's pajama bottoms and a thin, black camisole that covered full breasts, leaving little to the imagination. Her midriff was bare, showing a stomach that was flat and fit. She walked up to the snack area and picked up a banana, a bowl of fruit and a small carton of milk. Then she went to find a seat.
And he watched her.
She casually put a straw into the milk carton and folded her legs into the chair with her. Her full lips circled the shaft of the straw and her cheeks collapsed only slightly as she sucked the fluid up through the straw, as she thumbed through a magazine.
He felt himself respond to the sight and swallowed hard, diverting his eyes to the tray in front of him. When he looked back up, she was putting a piece of fruit into her mouth, the lights of the cafeteria reflected against the glisten of the juices her lips. When some of the juice dribbled on to her chin, she wiped it with a well-manicured finger. Then she put that finger, absently, into her mouth.
He took a deep breath and glanced down. A moment later, she was peeling the banana, without really looking at it. When she wrapped her lips around the fruit, his hand jerked, knocking over his bottle of water. He jumped to pick it up quickly, thankful that he'd thought to put the cap back on it. When he sat back down, he found she was looking at him with an eyebrow raised.
John smiled at her.
She smiled back and looked at the banana in her hand. Then she smiled wider and put the banana down on the table as she put her hand to rub her forehead, a soft pink glow coloring her cheeks as she looked down. She looked at him again, still smiling and he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
Her eyebrow rose again as if he'd issued a challenge. After a moment, she picked up the banana again and took a bite, glancing up at him as she did.
He leaned forward to show his interest as she chewed.
Her eyes narrowed as she swallowed and she smiled at him, her left eyebrow, again, raised.
He grinned back and wiggled his eyebrows again.
She licked her lips and began to gather her food as though to leave. He did the same, not breaking eye contact.
At the same time, they stood, and walked to the trash receptacle. He waited as she threw her banana peel and empty milk carton away. She glanced at him and kept the half-filled fruit bowl as she put her tray away. He dumped his tray and smiled down at her.
She lifted the fruit bowl slightly. "Want some?"
His smile widened. "Desperately," he said, lowly.
She pinked again. "I think I have a fork in my quarters," she said.
John Sheppard didn't even begin to think about the irony of her statement as they stood near the door of the cafeteria. He simply nodded, slightly, and followed her out.