...On Apologies and Perseverance...
"Colonel.""Elizabeth."
"Colonel Sheppard?"
"Liz." With a forced-scowl she turned to face him.
"What?"
"You're avoiding me."
"Does Dr. Beckett know where you are?" she asked, walking again.
"I'm released. I'm fine. You're avoiding me," he replied, turning and keeping pace.
"Rodney wanted to talk to you."
"If he's Rodney than I'm John. I talked to him. You're avoiding me."
"Ronon—"
"Ronon and I grunted, then he picked me up in a literal bear hug, and then threatened to kill me next time I get captured. It was unsettling. You're avoiding me."
"John—" She stopped to face him again.
"Ahha! John! Now we're getting somewhere!"
"I'm in the middle of something, but later—"
"Damnit, Liz, you're always busy!" he growled, taking a step into her personal space.
"Look, I'm not avoiding you, but—"
"You stop by the infirmary once during the week Carson kept me trapped there running tests, and all you do is say you're sorry and you're glad I'm back and okay. You don't think that's avoiding me?"
"Look—"
"No, you look!"
"Fine!" she snapped, dragging him out onto a nearby balcony. When she looked at him, her expression crumbled. "Fine," she repeated, softer. "You deserve your say." He was taken aback.
"Look, Liz," he sighed, running a hand through rumpled hair. "I don't know if what you saw disgusted you, or—"
"What?" she asked, shocked.
"The wraith…feeding me. I know I was old, but I don't know…look, I understand if you…feel…different. But let's not let this mess up our professional…God, Liz, I'm sorry you had to…to…"
"John, what the hell are you talking about?" He looked at her and saw she was honestly confused.
"Isn't that why you're avoiding me?" he frowned.
"John! How could you…how…of course not!"
"Then why?"
"John…I…I thought you'd be…I tried but I didn't know how…"
'Liz, you did what you had to do! What I would have done." His voice dropped a notch. "What I wanted you to do."
"It doesn't change the fact that we don't leave men behind, John," she whispered.
"First and foremost we don't cooperate with terrorists. You did the right thing."
"I know."
"Liz! You did the right thing."
"I know! …I know. I know, John, I just…I should've been able to do more."
"You can't think like that! You can't let them get to you because then they win." His hands had somehow slid up to grab her firmly by the arms, his mouth mere inches from hers as he tried desperately to convince her. Her breath hitched in her throat, and she blinked unsteadily.
"I'm sorry, John."
"You didn't give up on me, Liz. That's what's important. That's what I count on you for," he added, voice dropping.
"Of course I wouldn't give up on you!" She frowned, and then let it melt into a soft, ironic smile. "After all, I owed you one." He ducked his head in rare embarrassment and she laughed gently in reply. "The cocky Lt. Colonel blushing? I am good!" John's eyes lifted to meet hers and she felt herself gasp a little at the intensity of his gaze.
"I've always thought so," he whispered, and leaned forward to claim her lips.
Outside the balcony Rodney, Carson, and Ronon sighed in relief.
"About bloody time they made up!" Carson shook his head in a mixture of disbelief and happiness.
"I don't think I could've taken much more of our resident optimist being so depressed…completely trying to take over my job of pessimist…." Rodney muttered, and Ronon, watching them, laughed. At their expression, he shrugged.
"You two are such romantics, it's ridiculous," he grinned, and turned off, leaving an outraged Carson and Rodney.
"You're not gettin' away with that, laddie! You're just as bad as us! Don't you dare keep walking! I know you heard me! Just wait until your next visit to the infirmary, lad!"