Stargate Atlantis: Devil's Advocate
John Sheppard.
I couldn't stop thinking about him. He was in my thoughts every day and every night. I found myself going over every detail of every brief encounter. I found myself going over every detail of that handsome man: the wayward dark brown hair and the sexy sideburns with a hint of grey. The elfish ears were unique to him. The handsome face composed of a strong jaw line shadowed by a hint, just a hint of stubble. Sometimes more. Those green, green eyes conveyed a host of complex emotions just beneath the surface. Those perfect, perfect lips formed a perfect Cupid's bow of a mouth. That luscious lower lip and darting tongue were enchanting. That long neck. The broad shoulders and muscles of his arms and torso hidden under the black shirts that he wore now were enticing.
The sleeves always rolled up to reveal the dark body hair. Sometimes he wore a woven shirt unbuttoned just enough for a teasing glimpse of chest hair. That long, lean, muscled body as he moved with that confident swagger, a slow saunter or a quick stride on those long, long legs. The black pants were not as molded to his form as the grey one had been, but they were still very flattering. He was attractive both coming and going, from every angle.
Of course I knew I didn't stand a chance with him. What would a man like that ever see in me, Moira O'Meara, a plain paleontologist and evolutionary biologist?
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John grabbed a tray, grunted as it was filled with food. Until he had his first cup of coffee he wasn't much of a conversationalist, not that he ever was. He moved along the line, gaze darting everywhere, noting scientists and marines, technicians and medics. Teyla Emmagan was sitting with her husband Kanaan and their little boy Torren. Ronon Dex was sitting with Amelia Banks. He had been doing that a lot recently, ever since they had returned from Earth. Rodney McKay was still in line but quietly talking to the botanist Katie Brown. It pleased John to see his friend emerging from his mourning to talk with a woman that better suited him.
John sat. He drank some coffee and began to eat his breakfast. He let his gaze rest on Carson Beckett and Alison Porter as they sat together, talking and smiling. Every one of his friends seemed to be paired with someone, and although that pleased him to see his friends happy it also underscored his own solitary existence. It had never really bothered him since he had his friends and his work which took up most of his time.
He had enjoyed the occasional romantic or sexual dalliance and that suited him much better than any long-term relationship. But now as he sat alone, watching his friends as they formed ties to possibly significant others he felt the aloofness and the loneliness of his position, his job, his personality.
His life.
He spotted Ann Teldy as she joined a few other female marines at a table. As usual she was in uniform, impeccably dressed, her blond hair tidily captured in a bun. She had a serious expression on her pretty face as she spoke. She always looked serious. John had never caught her in some embarrassing situation, or ever heard her mumble her words or stammer. She was very good at her job and respected by her colleagues. She had several friends in the city. She was a very lovely woman, and he speculated what she would be like if she let her hair down, literally and figuratively.
"You should go talk to her."
"Huh?" John looked up at the interruption. Teyla smiled, joining him. She was clad in some Athosian garments, a long light coat over a snug tunic and leggings although her husband was wearing a bland Atlantis technician's uniform.
"You should go talk to her, John," Teyla repeated. "I understand that there are some military protocols that may prevent you but I am certain you can get around them. You always say that things are different out here in Pegasus."
"I do?"
"Yes."
"You mean Ann, er, Teldy?" he asked, although his stare had been patently obvious. As had his thoughts, apparently. To John's chagrin little escaped the Athosian woman's notice.
Teyla's smile broadened at his sudden discomfort. "Yes, John."
"Ask her out." Ronon's voice was firm as he joined them. He exchanged an amused glance with Teyla. The Satedan was clad in leather, a sleeveless tunic and pants, weapons at his back and hip although there was no scheduled mission. He was rarely without his weapons, ever since his serious injury. An injury he still refused to discuss.
John shifted in his chair, uncomfortable. He drank some coffee, ate a few bites of his pancake. Syrup stained his lips until he licked them. "Why?"
"Because you like her, obviously," Ronon snorted with an eye roll for good measure. "She'd be good for you."
"Since when is my love life or the lack of one a concern to both of you?" John snapped. He stabbed his egg with his fork. Yolk spurted like blood.
"Since we're your friends," Rodney said, joining them. He set a very full tray onto the table. "You're talking about Ann, right? Yes, I do think she would be good for you, John. And never mind the fact that you can't date her because you're her commanding officer and all of that, you can easily get round that by having her reassigned or something, right? You always say that things are different out here in Pegasus. Ask her out!" he urged round a mouthful of waffles.
"That's what I just said," Ronon agreed with a nod.
"Surely you could get round any rules that may prevent you, as Rodney suggested," Teyla urged. She glanced at her son as the baby began to fuss, squirming in his father's arms.
John put down his fork, glaring at his friends and their smiles. "Enough! I'm not having this conversation, all right? What I do in my private life is private, get it?"
"Of course, John. We just want to help. You are bold in other ventures, but this one thing seems to elude you," Teyla commented with a sly smile, turning back to him.
"Unless it concerns ascended women," Rodney jested with a grin.
"Ask her out," Ronon repeated. His gaze darted to Amelia for a moment. The auburn-haired woman was smiling, patiently awaiting his return.
"Are we dispensing advice to our lovelorn colonel now?" Carson asked, joining them. "About bloody time! Who is the lucky woman?"
"Or unlucky one," Rodney snorted, but yelped as Teyla elbowed him.
"Ann Teldy," Ronon informed.
Everyone's gaze traveled to the blond woman. She was oblivious, talking in serious tones to the women sitting with her. A frown marred her features, making her appear even more serious and stern, blond brows furrowed above her blue eyes.
"I'm not asking her out!" John insisted, voice low, drawing their gazes back to him.
"Och, you're right there, John. She's not the one you want, obviously. You should ask Moira out instead."
"Who?" Rodney asked.
"Doctor O'Meara, the paleontologist."
"Evolutionary biologist, and no," John said, eying his food. He grabbed a piece of toast and dunked it into the spilling egg yolk. He sloppily ate it then wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"I agree with you, Sheppard. Teldy's more your type," Ronon stated.
"And I agree with Ronon on this one," Rodney endorsed, waving his empty fork in the air for emphasis. "O'Meara? A scientist? With him? No way!"
"Perhaps it would be more exciting than dating a military woman," Teyla pondered. She was scrutinizing John as he tried to finish his breakfast without squirming in his seat. Her gaze flitted to Ann, then back to John as she tried to imagine them together on a date.
"He likes Teldy well enough but he is more attracted to O'Meara," Carson surmised. He glanced over to see Alison giving him a brief wave as she left to return to work. He acknowledged her with a quick smile.
"But Teldy would suit him better," Rodney argued. "Both being military and all. They both speak that language. Just like I am better suited to scientists," he argued, glancing up to see Katie finishing her breakfast. A shadow of grief came and went, a shadow of guilt as the memory of Jennifer Keller flitted and was gone.
"There are rules against fraternization," Carson disagreed, shaking his head. "No, O'Meara is the one he wants, the one he really wants. He wants someone different, not the same." The doctor eyed John but he was trying to finish his breakfast, trying to ignore the speculation and argument of his friends. He was trying to ignore the idea of both women entirely.
"He could get round any rules, if he so wanted," Teyla stated.
"He's done it often enough before," Ronon agreed.
"Usually he has to fend off women with a stick so I don't understand this odd reluctance to ask one out or to even go on a date. Perhaps it's the fear of rejection although to my knowledge no woman has ever rejected him before. Fends them off with a stick, remember? Although there was that time when that sexy blond scientist chick did seem to prefer me to-" Rodney began to theorize.
John swore, losing patience and losing his appetite. "Enough!" He slammed his palm on the table, making the trays jump. "I don't need a damn panel debating about my love life!"
"Or lack thereof?" Rodney quipped.
"And whom I should or should not date! Got it?" John flared, ignoring Rodney's jibe and the quiet laughter that had followed it. People were looking over at that table, having heard his outburst although it had been quiet. But not private enough as people were staring. It only made John angrier, more uncomfortable. Expletives filled his mind.
"Colonel Sheppard to the control room," a voice droned over the PA. "Colonel Sheppard to the control room," it repeated.
"Thank God!" John moved to his feet, never as thankful to have a summons interrupt him as he was at that moment. "Not another word about this! I don't have time for all of this dating nonsense anyway!" He stomped out of the cafeteria, leaving the remains of his half-eaten breakfast on the table.
His friends exchanged glances, smiles. They shared a laugh before arguing over the two women once more.