"Can you teach me how to give a blow job?"

Anna spat her coffee out and choked on the bit that had been sucked down her throat. "Jesus Rodney, you don't ask shit like that"

"You don't?"

"Well, not out here and when I'm halfway through my coffee"

He grinned at her.

"It's not funny McKay"

"Sorry"

"Really?"

"Uh, no. You missed a bit" He smirked at her and gestured to his own chin.

Glaring at him she grabbed a napkin and wiped her face. Placing it on the table and picking up her coffee Anna kept her voice low. "Why?"

He shrugged. "We get paired up in a week"

She smiled at him. "Rodney, you don't have to have sex with them. It's not part of your duties"

"But everyone says that when you're joined, and out there, relationships build, bonds form. And I don't want to not know what I'm doing"

Anna sighed. "Yeah, its pretty intense but the only bond you need to form is one of trust, friendship. You are not expected to take it to another level"

"But most do?"

She chewed her lip. "Um, a lot do but not everyone. You get to see all of them, and they get to see all of you. All the bad bits and the good bits. It's hard to separate once you've been in each others head but that doesn't always mean sex. Just spend some time in their company, relax and read, or watch a movie. Quite often just sitting touching shoulders will be enough to prevent the shock"

"Shock?"

"Of being suddenly separated"

"In training they said I'd just feel…empty for a while?"

Anna nodded. "Yeah, and kinda lonely. You can also feel cold, shaky, anxious"

"Shit"

"But that's only when the mission has been intensely brutal which isn't as often as it was. For your normal milk runs that won't happen as long as your Pilot knows to stick around for a while after. And they don't give any Pilot a Navigator if they haven't passed all the tests" She squeezed his hand. "Just make sure you stay close until you feel better, and don't jump into the sex thing. It's not necessary, and if you're not gay pushing yourself that way could really fuck you up ok?"

He nodded. "I am gay"

"Don't lie Rodney. Why would you need me to explain blow jobs if you were gay?"

Her friend looked down at the mug clasped in his hands.

"Rodney?" She squeezed his hand again. "Honey you ok?"

He nodded again and took a deep breath. "I only fancy men"

"Right"

"But I've never um, you know"

"Really?"

"Yeah"

"Sweetie aren't you like thirty-five?"

"Yes, thank you"

Anna smiled gently at him. "So you've waited?"

Rodney shifted in his chair a little. "I've uh, never been um, confident about that kinda stuff"

She furrowed her brow trying to read into his sentence. "Oh. But you're so smart, and a kick arse Navi, and really hot"

He snorted. "I know the first two, but I'm not uh, hot"

"Yeah, you really are honey"

Rodney raised his head. "You have to say that, you're my friend"

"Uh uh, as your friend I am contractually obliged to tell you if you need to start working out, change up your wardrobe or you have spinach in your teeth" She grinned at him. "You're hot, deal with it" Then she frowned. "Is there a reason you don't think you're hot?"

"No"

"Liar"

"Bite me"

"No"

He sighed. "When I first went to a gay bar this guy, he was chatting me up all night, you know small innuendoes, little touches. I uh, thought that maybe he could be the one to uh, you know. Then this other guy comes up to him and they just start making out right in front of me. When they broke apart he laughed in my face, slung his arm over the guys shoulder and said 'Please, you were fun, getting you all riled up but you're not pretty enough to be a true gay'. Then he winked at me and left"

"Oh sweetie…"

"Don't"

"He was an asshole Rodney. And it happens, to straight people too. There's always dicks like that, but you need to meet them so you can learn to spot them a mile off"

"Right, like you've been told you weren't pretty enough, ever"

"Of course I have" She curled her legs under her. "One of the most memorable was some prick who came over to chat up my friend when we were at a club. When she went to the bathroom he had the cheek to say to me 'no offence darlin' you're hot but your tits are way too small'"

He gaped at her. "What did you say?"

"I punched him in the face and told my friend he was a prick. She fucked him anyway"

Rodney snorted. "God I love you"

"Love you too honey"

"Your tits are great by the way"

Anna looked down. "I've grown to love them. As have many men after him"


Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell raised a brow as she looked down at her chest and said something causing her lunch companion to grin. His attention had been caught by them after a choking sound had drifted through the doors to the balcony that ran outside the mess and he'd watched her mop up her coffee, and wipe a drip from her chin. He licked his lips, lost in his own thoughts.

"Stop ogling the Navi's Mitchell"

He looked up and rolled his eyes at Colonel Caldwell. Like fuck he was gonna salute. "Not ogling"

"Yeah you were" Lieutenant Colonel Sheppard smirked at him over the table. "And you kept licking your lips"

"Fuck off Shep, was not"

"Was too"

"Was not"

"Shut up" Caldwell sat down and unrolled his cutlery. "How you two ever made it into the programme is beyond me"

"We're awesome"

"Yeah, awesome dicks"

Major Lorne grinned into his coffee.

"Shut up Lorne"

"Hey, didn't say a word"

"I can hear your thoughts"

"Bullshit"

"Gentlemen, please get a fucking grip" Caldwell poked Mitchell's hand with his fork.

"Hey!"

"And cut it out Mitchell"

He glared at his fellow Pilot. "I'm not doing anything Sir"

"In the words of Major Lorne, bullshit" Caldwell grinned at him. "And be careful what you wish for. She's the late Sumner's old Navi"

Mitchell watched Lorne's mouth gape open a little. "Fucking hell, really?"

"Yep"

Mitchell raised a brow at Sheppard who shrugged. Rolling his eyes he turned back to his supposedly superior officer. "She looks young, thought this was her first run?"

"Nope. O'Neill pulled her out of some lab at the mountain when she was nineteen and shoved her into Navi training. Apparently he'd gotten sick of fights breaking out all over the base every time she got pissed"

"She's an Empath too?"

"Oh yeah"

"Huh. So all of that is a bad thing because?"

"Not a bad thing son, but she's a tricky pairing. And this is her first trip back after his death"

"Oh"

Caldwell sighed and placed his cutlery back on the plate. "She's a natural Navigator, and that guy sitting with her is the only one who's gotten close to her ability. When she was paired with Sumner it took everyone by surprise, even the geeks who perform the tests. But they worked. They became the pair, the ones who you wanted with you on every mission. For two years they took down everything Pegasus could throw at them"

He tapped the table thoughtfully. "Then one day they face down this thing, this hybrid Krill, it was huge, the shielding and weaponry beyond anything we'd seen before, or have seen since. Sumner was taken out, speared through the windscreen and into his chair. Anna downloaded the intel as ordered, finished off the Krill and flew the Viper back to the city"

Sheppard raised a brow. "Alone?"

"Yep" he picked up his cutlery again. "Only Navi on record as being able to fly a Viper without a Pilot"

"Shit"

"Exactly Mitchell" He grinned at the other Pilot. "Not saying she's gonna get her wings anytime soon, the flight path was erratic, and the landing messy but she did it. In shock and without her Pilot"

He frowned. "Thought Sumner died a year ago? And this is her first run?"

"Took her three weeks to regain consciousness, and another three months in rehab. Apparently when you're a Navigator and an Empath having your Pilot's connection ripped from you fucks you up. Then she took herself off to Athos. Been working the front line, staging rescue missions" He gestured subtly behind his shoulder. "The guy is Rodney McKay, she met him out there, identified him as a fellow Navi and dragged his arse back with her. Told O'Neill she'd rejoin the programme if McKay could be trained up. Turn's out he was missed by the SGC, was only at the mountain a few months, right around the time we were just starting to realise that identifying and pairing Navi's with Pilots meant a lot more work than we first thought"

"And he's that good? Even after coming to training later?"

"Umhmm" Caldwell poked his food thoughtfully. "Damn shame, he could have been another Anna if he'd been caught early enough"


11 months and 3 weeks ago.

Anna sat on the floor in the V of his legs and played with the label of her beer bottle, the movie on the screen in front of her beginning to blur slightly. She took a quiet but shaky breath trying to will herself to calm down, come down. She'd nearly lost him, lost them and several other Viper's too. A hand stroked gently over her hair.

"Relax Angel" His voice always seeped inside, warming her, easing the ache in her tired muscles. She slumped a little against his thigh. "That's it, good girl. Let it go. We're home now. You were so good Angel, always are"

She panicked a little at the small moan that threatened to escape her lips and fought it back down, trying to find enough purchase to push off his leg. She shouldn't want this, feel this. It was weird and wrong, and something she'd resisted just fine for two years. But she couldn't shake the images of him dying back there and they were fucking with her usual iron clad control, and then the hand was back and she wanted to push up into it, like a cat who begs to be stroked. A small tear escaped and she tried to subtly brush it away.

The hand trailed down, reaching her chin and tipping her head up. "Why the tears my Angel?"

She shook her head and tried to pull away. He'd started calling her Angel after their third mission together where she'd spotted a Krill that he hadn't, and taken it out with a volley of shots before he could blink.

He frowned. "Anna?"

Swallowing she looked back up at him. "You were nearly gone" She whispered.

His face softened. "But I'm not. I'm right here, never going to leave you Angel"

Anna nodded and tried to blink away the last of the tears. And then she was being pulled up, curled awkwardly in his lap. She shifted, trying to slide down next to him, his proximity always tested her. His grip tightened. "Anything you need Anna, anything you want"

She took another shaky breath and tried to relax into the security of his hold. Arms wrapped tight around her, chest pressed close to her side, warm breath ghosting over her hair. Anna tipped her head and lightly pressed her lips against his. Her Pilot moaned quietly and moved one of his hands so it could bury in her hair, sure tongue cool from beer sliding between her slightly parted lips and running over hers.

She whimpered softly, and he stood, still with her hooked in his arms, tongue exploring her mouth and padded through to his bedroom, the door being kicked shut behind him.

Her Pilot was everywhere, arms braced around her, body pressed to hers, dick sliding in and out of her. "So beautiful Angel, I've waited so long for you to be ready. Now you're mine, all mine" As his words brought down the last of her walls his emotions crashed into her. Desire, want, lust suddenly overwhelmed by love, belonging. As the waves hit her body shook, pure bliss, true love ripped through her, an orgasm so powerful it stopped her breath and blacked out her world.

Lying in his arms the tears came again. Anna berated herself for being so fucking weak, such a slave to her Empath side.

"There shouldn't be anymore tears Anna"

She pressed her face further into his chest. "Don't leave me"

His hold tightened. "Not going anywhere Angel"

The next day.

As the piece of metal pierced his chest and he screamed Anna screamed right along with him. The pain he felt radiated through her body, tore through their connection. Then it was quiet, dark, lonely.

She sat slumped in the chair sobbing, desperately seeking him out and finding nothing but silence. Then the rage came.

A different scream this time. One that rang with anger and hate, and despair. As she destroyed the Krill she took everything it had, just as it had taken everything she had. When it began to break apart and the Viper rocked from the explosions she turned and set a course for home. She gripped the arms of the chair. Not home, home was sat in the chair before her, lifeless, eyes wide, mouth gaping, blood pouring from its chest. She was going back to base, one she had every intention of walking away from and never coming back.


Present Day

"You are distracted today Anna" Teyla watched her sparring partner as she rubbed the feeling back into her hand.

"Actually I'm pretty sure you're just more kick arse today"

The Athosian raised a brow. Teyla had been the first alien occupant of the city, met with distrust and not so easily disguised suspicion but with Colonel Carter's, and her team's, help she had made a place for herself here. Walking away from her home planet when the last of her family were killed in battle. Now she was a valued resident, a warrior with a strong Empathic side and a deep understanding of their enemies.

Anna had gone to her to request training in the art of hand to hand after Sumner had encouraged her. "Sometimes we will not be in the air when we face our enemies Angel, and sometimes enemies will not show themselves until it is too late"

She'd never really figured out the last part of the sentence but she had been grateful for his urgings. Anna had indeed faced some enemies on the ground and they had fallen in the face of the Athosian's expert training. And when she'd woken all those months ago, having to deal with the grief for a second time as her memories came flooding back Teyla had been there, had proved a great friend. Anna was sure she would still be a drooling wreck if it wasn't for her.

"Anna?"

She blinked. "Right, sorry Tey" She smiled. "Got a little lost then"

Teyla nodded. "You are to be paired with another soon?"

Anna shrugged. "Maybe. But there's a good chance there won't be a match for me this time round. Some Navigator's have to wait two or three runs before they are successfully paired"

"And if you are?"

"It isn't an unknown procedure for me, it holds no fear"

"And yet I feel it"

"Your Empath side sucks"

Teyla smiled. "Actually I believe it is very powerful"

Anna rolled her eyes. "You know what I meant Athosian" She sighed and sat on the mat, sticks in front of her. She rolled one back and forth thoughtfully. "The day the pairings are to be announced is the day that…." She chewed her lip and sighed again.

"He died"

Anna nodded.

Teyla sat in front of her. "A cruel twist Anna. But to join with another Pilot is not a sign of disrespect towards him or his memory, nor will it take him from you. You shall remember and so will your pairing. Marshall's knowledge, his experiences, skills, will be passed to another through you"

She licked her lips. "Yeah"

"There are things you do not wish to share?"

"Maybe"

"They do not allow these Pilot's a Navigator if they are not deemed worthy. They will have passed all the tests Anna, know what to expect. And many of them have seen battle, lost loved ones"

"You basically just repeated what I said to Rodney a few days ago"

Teyla tilted her head.

"Believe me you don't want to know"

"I am quite sure I do"

"You really don't" Anna grinned at her. "Although the look on his face when I answered his question was priceless. Should have taken a photo"

"I am intrigued"

"You can beat it out of him when he comes for his training later" Anna had insisted her new friend meet with Teyla. He may have been serving on the front line back on Athos but his CO had been a dick, refusing to teach him anything that would come in useful during combat. The engineers hadn't even been allowed to carry a weapon.


Steven watched her as she and McKay stood from their dinner table and parted ways. He'd been intrigued to see her again and had been surprised at how relaxed and happy she seemed. The last time he'd seen her she'd silently blinked up at him from her hospital bed as his words of condolence and comfort had appeared to roll off her, not penetrating the walls she'd rebuilt in the wake of her Pilot's death. Anna had been broken, there'd been no other word for it, and he'd not only mourned his old friend Sumner but the loss of an outstanding Navi,a brilliant young woman.

In two days the latest pairings would be announced, and when he'd heard the proposed date he'd grimaced. Anna would meet her new Pilot on the one year anniversary of the death of her first, and only, pairing. A man Steven was pretty sure she had fallen in love with, and he her. If he wasn't privy to the fact that she had Landry wrapped around her little finger he'd have sworn the bastard had done it on purpose. But despite the upcoming date she still seemed to be projecting the same easy confidence, relaxed attitude that he remembered before her world had been ripped apart.

"Steven?"

He looked up into amused eyes, that he now realised were the same colour of the Lantean Sea.

"Penny for them?"

He raised a row. "Do you have a penny?"

"Uh, no"

He grinned. "Then you don't get to hear them"

Anna rolled her eyes and sat opposite him. "You're still an annoying bastard"

"Thank you" He took his last mouthful of dinner and swallowed. "How you doing Anna? I've been meaning to catch up but it's been crazy since I got here"

"Good" She tilted her head thoughtfully. "But your presence was a little surprising. You've decided to rejoin the programme?"

"Figure I have a couple of years left before they stick me behind a desk. Hopefully in that time I can see the fuckers gone for good"

She nodded. "I hope you get what you wish for"

"I have no doubt with you back in the sky"

Anna pulled her face. "I may not even get back in the sky this run. And I'm not some fucking miracle worker Steven, there are plenty of people who bring awesome skills to the fight"

"Hmm, like your shiny new friend"

"I don't believe Rodney is shiny. A good job too, he would give away our position"

"I see your stunning wit is still intact"

"Yep"

Steven took a sip of coffee. "However I still look forward to flying with you again"

"You do?"

"Yep, even though you called me a crazy arse Pilot with suicidal tendencies matched only by my God complex"

There was a snort behind him. "She knows you well Caldwell"

"Bite me Mitchell"

The other Pilot took a seat next to him. "No thank you"

Steven glared at him. "Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, this is Anna Rayne"

"Pleased to meet you Miss Rayne" Mitchell gave a lopsided smile. "I've heard only good things"

The other man rolled his eyes.

"Thank you" Anna smiled back. "Are you enjoying your time on Atlantis?"

"If one more person sticks a needle in me I'm gonna punch them in the face"

Steven snorted.

Anna grinned. "Only two more days then the tests stop. Then its three weeks downtime, which will probably result in a nervous twitch and a life-long aversion to the movie franchise Aliens"

Mitchell raised a brow.

"They're Ronan's favourite, and everyone's too scared to say no"

"Um, ok"

Steven smirked at him. "You've not met Ronan?"

"I don't think so"

"Believe me, you'd remember"

"Umhmm" Anna played with a discarded napkin. "He's like a hotter version of Schwarzenegger's Conan"

"Oh, wow"

"Yep"

"Is he a Pilot?"

"Nope, he's from Sateda. Was part of their military until he was captured by the Krill"

"He survived the Krill?"

Anna nodded. "Carter's team found him on the run. After he'd had a shower and been found some clothes we decided to keep him. He pretties up the place"

"Anna, that is inappropriate"

Mitchell's brow raised again. The Colonel was looking at her with an expression of fond exasperation. He wondered how far back their history went, and just what was hidden there.

"Don't be a bore Steven, and I'm sure I say much more inappropriate things too"

"Shut up" He briefly looked up as Lorne and Sheppard joined their table, nodding a greeting. "So, how was Athos?"

"Hot, smelly and full of crazy people trying to kill you"

"Sounds fun"

"Oh yeah, it was a laugh a minute"

Sheppard grinned into his coffee.

"Miss Rayne"

Anna tilted her head up at the young man in a technicians uniform. "Yes?"

"It is time for your psych test"

"Didn't I already do one of those?"

"Three years ago Rayne" Steven flicked his fork towards her. "Fuck off, and behave yourself. No trying to manipulate the test"

She stuck her tongue and stood. "Your manners still suck"

"Go away"

They watched her follow the tech through the tables of the mess. Lorne cleared his throat. "Didn't realise you knew her personally"

Steven stabbed another piece of food with his fork. "Sumner and I joined the programme at the same time. And we both got new Navi's the run he was paired with Anna"

"Oh, that sucks"

"Yeah Major, it really did"


Anna woke quickly and quietly but her heart was still pounding, hands shaking, hair stuck to the back of her neck with sweat. She shivered slightly. Fucking nightmares. The arm slung over her waist tightened and he stirred.

"You ok?"

"Hmm" She buried further into his hold trying to get warm. "Sorry Rodney"

"Hey it's ok. This is what I'm here for right?"

She nodded and closed her eyes. Back on Athos, when he'd found her for the third night running hunched by a fire behind the front line, shaking hands grasping her tea, Rodney had asked about the nightmares. She'd told him, everything, which had scared her a little but he'd been projecting concern and kindness, with a hint of fear nudging its way along the edges of his emotions and Anna had gratefully shared her fears, her grief. Others seemed to shy away from her, not sure what to say, ask, about the rumours that had followed her out there.

Rodney had listened quietly, nodding occasionally, his emotions rolling over her almost matching hers perfectly. She had found another Navigator, stuck out in the arse end of hell. So when he'd suggested sleeping beside her she'd agreed, searching him for any hint of desire or lust and finding nothing. She'd always wondered why he'd never wanted her and their conversation a few days ago had finally given her the reason.

And now he was back in her bed, the nightmares returning as the date drew nearer. She smiled a little, wondering what Landry would say if he suddenly strolled in looking for her as he often did.

"Anna?"

"Yeah" She yawned.

"What will happen when we're paired up?"

"You mean about this?"

"Yeah" He shifted slightly. "Um, I was told they're pretty possessive, even before the first true joining"

She snorted. "Oh yeah. I'm afraid this won't be allowed"

"Will you be ok?"

"Of course. If I'm paired I'll have a Pilot to go to if they get bad"

"And if you're not and I am?"

"Then I'll find a hot guy and make him stay with me"

"Whore"

"Virgin"


Two days later.

Anna went for a run, a long run. She pounded the catwalks, up and down flights of stairs, taking a minutes breather to stop at the end of the pier and watch the sunrise. It was beautiful here. Shame about the sucky neighbours. Bouncing gently on the balls of her feet she tilted her head, trying to decide how much longer she could run for before she threw up. Her time with Teyla, and on the front line, had pushed her fitness to another level, but she wasn't exactly boasting Marathon runner stamina yet.

She nodded before setting off at a gentler pace back down the pier, if she took it slow she could run for another couple of hours. That'd be long enough to miss the tech who would bring her news of any pairing. It was cowardly, and completely useless, as they'd find her anyway but she needed this. One last act of independence, of having him all to herself. If she was to be joined her grief wouldn't be private anymore, nothing would be, and that scared the shit out of her more than any Krill.

She stopped in front of her door and ripped off the envelope that had been stuck to it. Anna looked at it and sighed. She'd run until she was drenched in sweat, her legs beginning to turn to jello and her lungs burning. She really needed to give up those last few cigarettes that were becoming a hard habit to break. She couldn't run anymore but she still felt restless, anxious. Today was gonna suck.

The door slid shut behind her and she turned the envelope over in her hands.

"Putting off the inevitable Miss Rayne?"

Her head snapped up. Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell was propped against the far wall, hands in his pockets, ankles crossed.

"Uh.."

"Don't worry, you're in the right quarters. Although I must admit I too was a little confused when I found Rodney McKay in here earlier"

She blinked at him, brain trying to recover from the mindless physical torture she'd just put her body through.

"Does he stay every night?"

"Uh, no"

"Hmm. Would you care to tell me why?"

"He snores"

Mitchell growled quietly and she gripped the letter a little tighter. There was no need to open it, she knew she had a new Pilot now, and exactly who he was. "Try again Miss Rayne"

Her skin goosebumped, the sweat cooling and tightening it. A list of perfectly valid reasons were all available, all sitting on the tip of her tongue but it would be a worthless lie. In a few weeks time he'd know exactly why Rodney stayed, why she curled in to her friends embrace and buried her face in his warmth. Then she felt a little sad that she wouldn't get that anymore. It seemed Mitchell was a textbook example of a Pilot, and she wouldn't be surprised if she'd no longer be allowed to take a piss by herself.

"I'm waiting"

Anna took a discreet breath to try to even her nerves, make sure her voice didn't crack. "I get nightmares"

He stood a little straighter and raised a brow.

She licked her lips. "Mostly Sumner, sometimes other's"

"Others?"

Anna shrugged. "People we lost along the way"

"I see" He pushed off the wall and stepped in front of her, taking the letter from her hand. "No need for this now I guess" He flipped it between his fingers thoughtfully. "The idea of him here makes me a little edgy Anna but if you need him to sleep, and his Pilot agrees, you may continue"

"Uh.."

"Be quiet. But if I think there's anything other than comfort.."

She shook her head silently.

"And McKay's Pilot would be pissed too. He's nearly as much of a bastard as I am"

Anna fought the urge to snort in laughter, keeping her face straight. "I am not Rodney's type"

"I think you're everyone's type"

She rolled her eyes. "I don't have a penis"

"Excuse me?"

Anna shot him her best 'you're a fucking idiot' look and waited for him to catch on.

"Huh. Really?"

"Yes, I really don't have a penis"

Mitchell sighed. "Are you trying to piss me off?"

She widened her eyes. "Um, no?"

He suddenly grinned at her. "You know I doubted these tests when I got my letter this morning but I think we're going to get along just fine"

"We are?"

"Oh yes"

"Crap"

He chuckled. "Grab a shower then we're outta here"

"We are?"

He gently cuffed her.

"Hey!"

"Stop pissing about" He wiped his hand on his BDU's. "And please go shower, what did you do? Run a fucking Marathon?"

"Half a one actually" She eyed him.

"Oh no, I'm staying right here. No more running today Anna"


He listened to the shower turn on and the thunk of sweaty clothes hitting the bathroom floor before sitting on the edge of her bed, hands still holding her letter, informing her that he was her match. He stared at it, expecting it to suddenly burst into flames or for Sumner's voice to sound in his ear, telling him it was a mistake, that he wasn't ready, not for her.

Mitchell scrubbed a hand over his face. When he'd opened his he'd stood in the middle of his quarters staring at it until the words had gone all blurry and a headache had started threatening. Stirring himself he'd dropped the letter on his desk and ripped open the larger brown envelope, the one that held his Navigator's files. Reading through them realisation had dawned on him as to why they had been paired. Now he just needed to decide wether to take it slow or encourage their bond before the official joining. He had a feeling being hit with the full force of what was inside her head without any preparation could cause some embarrassing effects in full view of the techs.

"It was very generous of you but I won't need Rodney anymore" He looked up to see her propped against the bathroom door, the wet hair, soft tight jeans and a baggy cropped tee making her look even younger.

"You won't?"

"A Navigator only needs their Pilot, as long as that Pilot is prepared to put in the time and effort needed"

"I read the instruction manual"

She rolled her eyes at him.

He pursed his lips in thought. She'd obviously been thinking in the shower. "Come sit" He gestured to the bed next to him and watched her unhesitatingly pad over and take a seat, crossing her legs under her, pulling her hair to the side and starting to plait it. Mitchell grabbed her wrist and felt her flinch slightly. "Leave it down"

Anna paused then nodded, dropping the section of hair she'd been holding. He ran his fingers through it, undoing her work. "Do you know why we're paired Anna? Why you were paired with Sumner?"

She shook her head. "Navi's aren't told. Guess it's based on personality, aptitude or something"

"Partly" He ran the fingers that had been in her hair down her arm. "There's also DNA, strength of the ATA that kind of thing. And wants, needs, desires"

"Uh.."

"Sumner could give you what you needed and so can I"

"Um.."

"It's supposed to strengthen the pairing, make us faster, better, stronger"

She opened her mouth then snapped it shut. Then she frowned. "Uh, like one big dating agency?"

He snorted. "Yeah, a little"

"Oh. Well, that's a little creepy"

"Tell me about it. But.." Mitchell leant in and she nearly fell off the bed in her haste to get away. He frowned. "I've been reliably informed I'm pretty hot"

"Good for you"

"Anna?"

"What?" She was stood now, sullen looking at the edge of the bed.

Crap. Mitchell changed tactics and stood, the height difference would be an advantage, she only had to be five four in her bare feet. As he stepped towards her she stepped back until his Navi was pressed against the wall between her bathroom and bedroom and he was looking down at her.


Anna stared at his black cotton-clad chest and tried to gather her thoughts. Shit, he'd obviously taken her little comment about not needing Rodney to mean that she'd be sharing his bed from now on. When she'd spoken to Teyla about the night before Marshall died Anna had discovered that sex, while not mandatory, was pretty much the norm between Pilots and their Navigator's. It had played a large part in the repeal of DADT, the government recognising that the benefits of a relationship between them far outweighed any half-assed fuddy-duddy ideals.

She'd been shocked to realise that Marshall had waited on her because she was young and he'd probably recognised her many issues that, had she not been an Empath with tight control over her emotions, could have caused her to self-implode years ago. Sexual or romantic relationships outside of the flight team were not even considered, the bond, and the time and effort placed into it, left no room for another. He'd basically been celibate, keeping his desire under wraps until she was ready. It had made his death even more painful, and her more angry. If he'd told her they could have had a lot longer together.

And now her new Pilot was suggesting that a big factor in who you were paired with was that you'd make a good couple. She snorted to herself. The whole of the SGC had gone insane. And, oh God, Rodney. She hoped whoever he had got would understand, listen, even if they were a bastard. It didn't matter anyway, she knew the truth, sex didn't make you better in the air, she'd done it after two years of successful missions and her Pilot had been killed straight after. She licked her lips. She shouldn't have given in to her weird little desires, should have kept listening to the voice in her head that said it was wrong.

"Princess" His voice was low and soft in her ear. "You didn't know any of this?"

She shook her head.

"Sumner never told you?"

She swallowed and shook her head again not trusting herself to speak yet. Nothing like a squeaky hamster voice to give away your palm-sweating panic.

"You didn't do this with him?"

Anna just stared down at his boots. She knew today was gonna suck but rehashing past fuck-ups was not supposed to have been a part of it. She shivered a little as he growled low in her ear.

"Did he hurt you Anna?"

"What?!" Her head snapped up and she winced as it collided with the wall behind her. "No, no, never" You know, until he died and left me all alone with an all-consuming feeling of guilt and despair. Her Pilot pulled her forward slightly so his hand could rub gently over where she'd smacked her head into the wall and she clenched her fists against the whimper crawling up her throat. Stupid tlc-loving body.

She tried not to relax into him too much and chewed on her lip, face thankfully hidden from his gaze. This Colonel Mitchell, her Pilot, did seem a little similar to Marshall, he certainly had the whole in-chargey, I'm gonna take care of you thing happening which always got under her skin. But he was more direct and, it appeared, honest. And she was sure he wouldn't have waited two whole years to get laid.

But of course he wouldn't be exactly the same as Marshall because she wasn't the same as she was three years ago. She'd been paired with someone who suited her now, a Navi who'd seen a lot of combat and lost a Pilot. She was a little older, maybe a little wiser, definitely a little more experienced. Anna realised the hand had stopped rubbing the slightly throbbing spot on her head and was now braced against the wall behind her.

His lips skittered up her neck, hot breath ghosting over her ear. "I've read the reports Princess, can't believe you flew together like that without sharing a bed"

Anna tried to ignore the way her skin was heating. "It doesn't work"

His tongue flicked behind her ear. "What?"

She tried to squirm away as his arm snaked round her waist but his grip just tightened, pulling her in closer which in no way made her think about how hard the chest was that she was pressed up against. "I..we only once..the night before.." God, she was shit at this stuff, and she was a damn Empath. An Empath whose own feelings freaked her out so much they were firmly locked behind a door she'd worked hard to reinforce in her mind.

Her Pilot groaned quietly in her ear and his other hand buried into her hair pulling her in even tighter. "Baby girl, I'm so sorry. But it wasn't your fault, you faced down some kind of Super-Krill with one Viper, you were lucky to make it back at all. And I'm sorry you didn't get to feel the bond grow, enjoy your deeper connection"

Anna nodded as best she could in his grasp and felt him sigh. "You having sex didn't sign his death warrant Anna. If anything it saved you, you used his knowledge to get yourself home"

She shrugged. She still didn't remember anything between turning her back on the burning Krill and waking up in hospital. "We'll talk more about this Princess but first…" A light kiss was dropped to the top of her head and her back gently bumped the wall again, his leg sliding between hers, raising her up on tiptoes.

His voice sounded in her ear, all soft southern drawl and low octaves. "I know all about you Anna, I know what it is you need, what it is you want. I know about your Daddy issues, and your lovely little submissive streak. And they chose well when they picked me. I'm gonna take such good care of you baby girl, in the chair and out. You're so special, such a good girl"

Anna silently cursed out her stupid traitorous body as it gave a little shiver in response to his last two words, dragged out, lengthened by his suddenly thickening accent. No one had spoken to her like that for a long time and she'd almost forgotten how strong her reactions could be to it. Her hips gave a little involuntary roll and her Pilot hummed in pleasure.

As her Pilots leg released her and she slid back down the wall Anna went to her knees in front of him. With this one she wouldn't waste any time, deny herself any comfort, pleasure. In three weeks they would be in the sky and it could all be taken from her again. He growled her name as she flicked open his belt buckle and undid his BDU pants, pulling down his boxers and catching the head of his dick in her mouth as it sprang free.

He braced his hands on the wall as she slid her lips halfway down his length and hummed around him. Applying light suction she pulled back, swirling her tongue around the head before sliding back down, taking all of him in this time. "Damn baby girl, so good"

Humming again Anna made sure her lips were tightly closed around him, pushing the flat of her tongue against the underside of his dick and swallowing around his tip. "Fuck, so good" He twitched against her tongue and a little dribble of pre-cum ran down her throat. Tilting her head slightly she released him from her throat and slid her mouth back along him, tongue running gentle swirls over the velvet skin.

She slid up and down and one of his hands bunched up into her hair. "Oh baby girl, so good. So fucking good, so special" Anna moaned around him, partly through her own pleasure, partly 'cause she knew the vibrations would do wonderful things to her Pilot's dick. As he grew closer to his climax the grip in her hair tightened and his words washed over her, making her feel warmer than she had done in a whole year. "So good….I'm gonna look after you….it's all gonna be ok….so fucking special….all mine" When she took him back down and swallowed again her body shook with her own climax as he shot ribbons of cum down her throat.


Cameron strolled into the mess and headed towards the food feeling slightly more relaxed than he had this morning when he'd gone to his new Navi's room and found a half-dressed man there. The awesome blow job had definitely helped, her cumming right along with him without a single touch had to be the hottest thing he'd ever seen, but Anna had also seemed to accept their pairing pretty easily despite her obvious lingering guilt over Sumner's death.

He had no doubt there'd still be some shit to deal with but that was why he had been chosen for her. To nurture and control were his main kinks and being paired with her would allow him to over-indulge to his heart's content. He also had three weeks before they were joined officially and he already had a good beat on what she needed to work well, and relax.

Snagging a sandwich and a bottle of water he headed over to where his old friend was sat, head bent over some papers, deep in discussion with his Navigator. He dropped into a chair and propped his feet on another.

"Comfy Mitchell?"

He grinned at him. "Yes, thank you. You?"

Sheppard rolled his eyes then smirked at him. "Lost your new friend already?"

Rodney snorted beside him but kept his eyes focused on the files. Cam flipped him off. "She's training with Teyla"

Sheppard raised a brow. "Really?"

"Really. Apparently Anna is also pretty awesome on the ground too"

Rodney raised his head. "Pretty awesome? She'd have you flat on your back in thirty seconds"

"If I'm lucky"

The Navigator screwed up his face. "Just wrong"

Cam smirked at him and took a bite of sandwich.

Rodney eyed him curiously. "Is she ok today?"

He swallowed his food and raised a brow. "Yes. I'm really not that bad once you get to know me"

"Bullshit"

"Shut up Shep"

Rodney huffed. "I wasn't talking about you idiot flyboy.."

"Hey!"

"I just thought today would be pretty tough that's all"

"Because of getting a new asshole Pilot?"

Rodney rolled his eyes at his Pilot and then turned on Mitchell. "Partly.." Cam flipped him off. "..but it's also.." He waved his hand around. "…you know"

"No, I have no fucking idea what you're going on about"

"Oh for God's sake. It's in her file, didn't you read it?"

"Just spit it out McKay" Cam was starting to lose his lovely post-blowjob bliss.

"It's the anniversary today…of his death"

Cam blinked at him. "Really?"

"No, I'm making it up just to piss you off"

Sheppard tapped his Navi's hand. "That's enough Rodney"

"Well really, the man's…"

"Enough" Sheppard raised a brow at his friend. "You didn't know?"

"No, pretty sure I would have remembered if it was in her file. And she didn't tell me" He took a gulp of water. "Crap"

"If she didn't tell you and she seems fine then don't worry" Sheppard shrugged. "Maybe she just wants to move on, forget about it. Perhaps she requested it not to be in her file? Nothing like people walking on eggshells around you to make things worse"

"Yeah, maybe" Cam peered over at the papers on the table, he'd bring it up later, see what her reaction was. "What you doing?"

John grinned at him. "When I found out first time Navi's don't get a look at the Viper's until the first run I brought down the schematics for Rodney to look over. He thinks he can shave a few seconds off the top speed"

Cam raised a brow. "Really?"

"Yep. And improve manoeuvrability"

"Well fuck me. Just what were you doing stuck out on the front line?"

"Trying to repair Jumpers with some planks of wood and a few nails" Rodney smiled tightly at him. "My CO wouldn't let me go without a fight, apparently I'm too much of a genius"

"And modest too" John took a sip of coffee. "Who was your CO?"

"Dixon"

John made a little disgusted noise. "Yeah, the man's a prick"

"So Anna informed him"

Cam grinned. "Really?"

Rodney smirked back. "Yeah, several times. I believe she also questioned his parentage with much frequency"

"She must have spent most of her time in the brig"

"Nope. He may be a prick but he's not stupid. Landry dotes on her, and O'Neill consider's her one of his 'kids'. Along with the other crazies he recruited to the programme"

"O'Neill recruited me"

"And me"

"My point proved exactly"

"Gee thanks" John sprawled back with his coffee. "What are the Jumper's like?"

"Slower than the Viper's, mainly due to their size. But their shielding and weaponry are pretty much the same by the looks of it" Rodney waved a hand over the papers. "They're ideal for rescue and recon because you can fit a couple of teams in them along with supplies etc. That's why they were moved to the fronts, they're more useful there than in the city"

"Yeah I guess. Sounds like a couple would come in handy here too though. I mean, Viper's go down sometimes right?"

Rodney nodded. "Apparently. But from what Anna says if you survive the crash landing you're pretty much on your own until you can reach a tower or gate, if you even can. Think that's why Sumner had her train with Teyla, and why she encouraged me to do it aswell"

"You train too?" John raised a brow.

"Yep, four times a week. I also have Firearms three times a week with Ronan and run twice a week with Anna"

Cam watched his friend gape slightly at his Navi. "Well fuck me"

Rodney rolled his eyes. "I have no desire to die at the hands of the Krill or their creepy footmen and this is one of the ways I can prevent that from happening. And also, you know, making sure we don't get shot down"

"Thanks for the faith Rodney"

Cam snorted. "He's obviously seen you fly Shep"

"Fuck off, I'm awesome"

"You're insane"

Rodney sighed. "Great, just fucking great"

The two Pilot's grinned at each other.


"You know, you're making it very hard to sneak other men in here"

"Very funny Princess" Mitchell swiveled from side to side in her desk chair. "Saw your friend Rodney at lunch"

"Ok" Anna dumped her gym bag on the floor and grabbed a water from her mini fridge. "Oh I meant to ask earlier, who'd he get?"

"What?"

She rolled her eyes and took a gulp. "Pilot, who did he get?"

"Sheppard"

She furrowed her brow. "Oh, the pretty one who thinks he's awesome"

"Isn't that me?"

"You're not pretty"

"Gee thanks"

"Welcome" Anna wrinkled her nose. "Another shower for me I think. Did you need something or am I allowed to be clean first?'

"Your attitude is appalling"

"So is yours"

Her Pilot shot her a look that she'd seen before, mainly on the faces of authority that had passed in and out of her life just before the yelling started. "Why didn't you tell me it was a year ago today?"

Her water bottle stopped halfway to her mouth. "Uh, it didn't seem important" Anna took another gulp to hide her sudden onslaught of fresh feelings. She'd been doing so well too, bastard.

"You're saying today doesn't mean anything to you?"

"Um, I guess, a little. But it's not a big deal. I have other stuff going on, and it was a long time ago"

"So your best friend being in your bed for the past three nights 'cause of nightmares has nothing to do with it?"

"Are you stalking me?"

He growled quietly and the hairs on the back of her neck raised.

"It's happened before"

"But not since you've been back here Princess, and then all of a sudden three nights in a row?"

"Why is this so important to you?"

"Because you're important to me, and you didn't tell me. You were just gonna struggle through the day and hope no one said anything?"

"Not struggling" She pouted.

"Yeah you are" He stayed in his seat but dropped his voice again, trying to hit the tone he'd managed to find earlier that had her opening up to him. "I'm not here to replace him baby girl, I don't want you to forget him. He was a big part of your life and he was taken away from you. If you want me to leave you in peace until tomorrow I will, if you want to curl up and eat junk and watch a movie you can do that in my arms, if you want sex for comfort I can do that too. Anything you want Anna"

His last sentence rocked her back on her heels a little as the force of the memories ran into her. She tried to blink them away and dropped her walls a little, curious to experience what he was feeling as he said them. Anna had kept them firmly in place this morning, not really wanting to know what a man who she'd gone to her knees for after thirty minutes of conversation actually felt about her.

Her brow rose as concern edged with a little desire nudged its way through the crack she'd made, she opened up a little further and her other brow met it's fellow. The desire was a little stronger now but it was still over-whelmed with his concern, his need to comfort. He also appeared to be a little pissed, she reckoned that was because she hadn't told him about today, how important it was, and not just because she'd taken a new Pilot.

"Baby girl, you reading me?"

Anna snapped back her connection and looked at him. "No"

"Liar"

"Am not"

Mitchell rolled his eyes. "See anything you don't like?"

"The self-love and hint of insanity could be a cause for concern"

"You're hilarious"

"I bet you're laughing on the inside"

"Really not" Her Pilot stretched his legs out in front of him. "So, you want me to go? Start again tomorrow?"

Anna chewed on her lip. On one hand the idea of shutting herself away for the rest of the day, and possibly getting steadily drunk, sounded quite attractive. However, hangover's sucked, she'd probably end up radioing her Pilot anyway when she hit the horny stage of pissedness, and she knew after months on the front line that isolating yourself wasn't the answer. She sighed and shook her head. "I still need to eat"

He nodded, face blank which had her wishing she'd kept a little window open to pick up on his emotions. "Ok Princess, grab your shower then we'll hit the mess"

"You haven't eaten?"

"Yep, I'll just top up my caffeine levels. And watch you"

"That's a little weird"


Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard watched his Navi plug one of the tablets that kinda reminded him of iPad's into their Viper and start muttering to himself, fingers flicking over the screen. John was pretty shit hot at Mathematics and wasn't stupid, despite the image he projected, but this was way beyond his abilities so he was choosing to sit back and watch a self-proclaimed genius at work.

He was pretty sure it was a sight he'd definitely enjoy more and more, the slight awkwardness and shyness Rodney had displayed when he'd met him had disappeared once he'd been presented with the blueprints of the Viper's, and as the work had become more detailed, more complex he'd almost started vibrating with pleasure. As his Navi started mumbling about 'college drop-out engineers' and 'neanderthal mechanics' John grinned and sprawled back in the chair, following his progress through half-lidded eyes.


Rodney froze as warmth pressed up against his back. "How you getting on?" His Pilot's chin rested on his shoulder as he peered down to the tablet in his hands.

"Um" He cleared his throat. "Uh, nearly done, but we'll have to run a few thousand simulations first. Unless you want to explode during take-off"

"Are we talking the kind with flames and stuff?"

Rodney pushed back the weird feeling his Pilot was flirting with him. The man was ridiculously hot. "Uh, there's another kind?"

A chuckle ghosted over his neck. "Yeah"

"Um.."

Then the warmth disappeared long enough for his Pilot to turn him so they were face to face and the back of his knees were hitting the console behind him. He opened his mouth to ask him, well Rodney wasn't sure what to ask him but this was all getting a little surreal, when soft lips crashed against his and a tongue slid into his mouth. He mumbled an obscenity that was lost in the others mans mouth and tried to find a hand hold to steady himself against the force of the kiss.

But then there was an arm wrapping around his waist and a hand gripping his hair, and a very talented tongue curling around his and Rodney gave up. He lost himself in the sensation of being rather roughly taken by his new Pilot, desperately ignoring the doubting little voice in his head.

The other man moaned quietly and the arm around his waist slid down until it was forcing Rodney's hips forward, a strong muscled thigh sliding between his legs, a distinct hardness pressing against his own. His Pilot ground forward and Rodney whimpered. Shit, shit, he needed time to think, to breath and to maybe get a handle on the fact that his Pilot seemed to expect Rodney to know what he was doing. There was a little wave of panic and he managed to yank his head away.

Sheppard pouted at him, all blown eyes and wet bruised lips. Rodney swallowed and took a shaky breath. "You..I..can't do this"

"Why?" And now that voice that had been raising little goosebumps on his skin all morning was even more lazy, huskier.

Rodney's dick twitched. "Shit, because…"

His Pilot rolled his hips again and smirked at the little whimper. Rodney glared at him. "I, uh…shit"

The other man frowned. "What is it Rodney?"

"I…" Crap, crap. He should have just gone with it, he was a genius for fuck's sake, he would have been able to figure it out as he went along. But now he'd made the other man suspicious.

"If I've read you wrong Rodney I'm sorry. I wouldn't force this on you"

"No um, it's just I haven't ever uh.." He trailed off. Yeah, real smooth McKay.

"Never?"

Crap. "No"

"But you're so hot"

"Um, I am?"

His Pilot dipped his head, running a slick stripe up Rodney's neck. "Yeah, you really are" He murmured. "Just relax baby, I'll do it all" There was a nip at his earlobe and Rodney jumped a little. Another bruising kiss landed on his mouth but this time a hand was snaking between them gently palming his crotch. Rodney groaned and felt the lips against his give a quick grin before they were once again insistently pushing down. Then sure fingers were tugging on his fly, slipping inside to trail over his dick.

The hot wet mouth slid down to Rodney's jaw line, trailing up to his ear. Porn worthy murmurs of pleasure were being breathed over his skin as his dick was pulled free from his pants and a hand wrapped around it and, oh God, was pressed up against the other man's dick, held in the same firm grasp. "When.." Rodney gave a little gasp at the first stroke. "..did you undo your pants?"

There was a deep chuckle in his ear. "Be quiet Rodney" The sensations of being dragged up and down against another man's dick were overwhelming, a trickle of sweat began to run down the small of his back as his skin heated and sparks of pleasure fired up his nerves. As the strokes began to build in speed, pre-cum slicking up and down both of them Rodney moaned at the first signs of his climax. The coiling of his stomach, the tightening of his balls, this was going to be embarrassingly quick. He began to run through the specs of the Viper's, trying to prolong the pleasure, and not shame himself.

His Pilot's breathing was ragged in his ear now, the other hand gripping the console behind them. "No cheating baby" The grip tightened. "This is meant to be a quickie. A taster" A tongue flicked into his ear on the next downstroke and the other man let out another quiet moan as his hips began to roll. "Then I'm going to take you back to my quarters so I can fuck you properly"

"Oh crap, oh crap" Rodney felt his legs begin to shake as the first wave of pleasure hit deep inside of him, and this was so much better than his own hand and crappy porn.

"Hmm" Sheppard sped his stroking up. "Like the sound of that? Cum for me while you're thinking about me taking you, all spread out and screaming my name"

"Fuck, bastard" Rodney gripped an arm as the next wave hit, and then he couldn't stop it. It rose up and crashed over him, his muscles tensed and shook as he fought for breath and closed his eyes as the first hot stream left him.

He was vaguely aware that the other man's movements had become erratic and then there was a deep low growl in his ear as his stomach was splattered with warm liquid. "Mine"

He blinked back white spots. "Holy fucking shit"

His Pilot huffed into his neck and released his dick. "Finish up baby, I want to see all of you, and soon"

"Shit"


Cam rolled his eyes as his Navi played with her food then looked up as Major Lorne slid into a chair, a young good-looking guy taking a seat opposite him, next to Anna. He raised a brow and she shot him a look before turning to the newcomer smiling. "Chuck, its good to see you. Didn't think you'd be ready"

"That doesn't sound promising Ev" Cam smirked at his friend as Lorne flipped him off.

"Actually its Chuck's fourth run Mitchell. He's just escaped quarantine, was part of the team that went to Palon"

"Huh, how was it?"

Chuck sighed. "Any planet that smells that bad should be instantly destroyed"

"You should ask Jack" Anna waved her fork around. "He loves blowing shit up"

Chuck snorted. "Yeah, I remember"

"You one of O'Neill's too?"

"Yep, same training group as Anna, and we flew on the same squadron for a while" He grinned at Evan. "Don't worry I'm awesome"

Anna snorted. "And still so modest" She prodded her potatoes.

Cam sighed. "Anna will you eat that rather than trying to make a pretty picture with it"

She glared at him. "Not hungry"

"The amount of exercise you've done today means you have to eat"

"Stop interfering with my nutritional intake"

The two other men shared a grin.

"We're not going til you've eaten it"

"Bossy"

"Disobedient"

Anna rolled her eyes and turned back to the other Navi. "This is my new Pilot, he's very annoying"

"Anna!"

Someone snorted and took the chair the other side of her. Rodney grinned. "Driving your Pilot insane already I see"

"I hate to break with tradition" She grinned back. "Where you been?"

"Looking at the Viper's, think I can make some improvements"

"Really? Like what?" She looked curiously at him.

"The interface with the chairs can certainly be upgraded pretty easily, and there seems to be a slight drag by the left wing that I'm working on" He frowned. "Some kind of weight that throws off the balance"

Cam raised a brow at John who'd sat at the end of the table, keeping close to his Navi. He smirked back at him. Cam flipped him off.

Anna raised a brow. "Very impressive, you picked up on that already?"

"Genius" He matched her brow raise. "You know what it is?"

His Navi nodded at her friend. "Yeah, it's like a mini ZPM encased in a Trinium/Naquadah alloy. Without it the Viper's wouldn't be able to travel such long distances. You can't get rid of it, but if you balance it out with something on the other side you lose about 0.89 seconds off your top speed"

"Damn" He tapped the table."Why don't we just centralise it?"

"Cause at the moment if it blows up you just lose a wing, if it's under you you're totally screwed"

"Bollocks" He huffed. "Back to the heavily complex drawing board"

"You'll sort it sweetie. Wait til you've done a couple of flights, the more you fly the deeper you can get into the systems"

"With my brain?"

"Yes, with your giant brain"


Checking her Pilot was still deeply involved in a conversation with Sheppard and Lorne she poked her friend in the side and slipped into Athosian, just in case they suddenly turned their attention back to the Navi's sat at the table.

"Your Pilot's hot, any sex on the horizon?"

Rodney flushed slightly and glared at her. "I'd ask you the same but we all know you're a giant whore"

She stuck her tongue out. "Well?"

"He uh, might have molested me in the Viper"

"Awesome"

"And apparently I'm staying at his tonight"

"You feeling ok hon?" Anna studied him carefully.

Rodney shifted slightly. "I'm a little nervous but the inappropriate touching earlier has taken the edge off"

Anna snorted. "How inappropriate?"

"Not telling"

"Did he touch you down there?"

Chuck choked on his coffee and Anna glared at him. "No drawing attention to our conversation"

"No talking about sex at the dinner table"

"Have you had sex with Lorne?"

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Give me chance, I just left the infirmary"

"See Chuck's a whore too"

"Hey!"

She raised a brow at Rodney. "Don't do anything that weirds you out or makes you feel uncomfortable. And remember your training, if he pushes it just lay him out"

"Yeah, and then call us so we can come take pictures"

"Not helping, either of you"

"And make sure you tell him about you know.." She waved her hand around. "He's needs to be gentle the first time"

"Oh God"

Chuck leant forward and grinned. "Yeah man, you'll need some quality prepping time"

"Oh God, shut up the both of you. I wish there was an Athosian word for fuck off"

"Bet Tey does too"

Rodney shot her a look. "What about you? You doing ok today?"

"Fine"

"You sure?"

"Yes Rodney I'm sure"

"Is he giving you time?"

"Time for what?"

"To deal with today idiot, he seems a little pushy"

"He's a controlling asshole but apparently that's what I go for"

"You are seriously screwed up"

"Thanks, you too"

"Have you uh…?" Rodney gestured with his fork.

Anna rolled her eyes. "You have to at least be able to say it McKay. And no, but I did treat him to a rather outstanding blow job earlier"

"You have no shame"

"Apparently not…"

"Anna?"

Uh oh. "Yes Cameron" She smiled at him through her lashes.

He glared at her. "What language is that?"

"Athosian"

Sheppard raised a brow. "You can all speak Athosian?"

"Yep, picked it up at the front. Except for Chuck, he made the effort to learn it on his first run"

Evan looked at his Navi curiously. "Why?"

"We deal a lot with the Athosians, it comes in handy"

"But there are no Athosians here"

Anna eyed her Pilot. "And?"

"And so why do you need to be speaking their language?"

"So you don't know what I'm saying"

Rodney snorted. "Trust me, you didn't want to be in on the conversation"

"Prude"

"Whore"

"Anna, cut it out!"


Rodney let his thoughts wander to his friend, her new Pilot was indeed a controlling asshole however he also appeared to already care for her, and Anna had always had a way with authority figures, more dominant personality's. It was like they were drawn to her, and she naturally knew just how to act around them, the right mix of rebellion and compliance. Maybe they were as good a match as the tests had said.

He just hoped that this Mitchell was good enough to read her, see through the witty comebacks and childish naïvety she projected. Rodney was pretty sure there was stuff in her past even he had never been told about, stuff so powerful it had moulded her very persona, and the needs that came with it. Perhaps…warm hands slid down his arms and he shivered slightly.

"You with me baby?"

He nodded and swallowed as his Pilot nipped at his neck, warmth pressing up behind him. Hot breath puffed over his ear.

"Just relax Rodney. It's been a long time since I had someone so totally untouched as you in my bed, I'm gonna take my time, make it good, I promise. This is going to bring me so much pleasure baby, and you" Warm swirls ran over his throat and the other man hummed quietly. Rodney swallowed and licked his lips.

The warmth disappeared from his back. "Strip down to your underwear"

Shedding his clothes Rodney tried to ignore the burning gaze of his Pilot, and how much his body seemed to like having someone watch him strip. As he kicked off his trousers his hand drifted towards his own dick.

"No" His hand stilled an inch away from his body at his Pilot's voice. "You don't touch yourself. You have to leave it all to me"

Rodney fought down the little moan and dropped his hands back to his sides, it was going to be long night, thank God they were on downtime. The sounds of undressing reached his ears and then John Sheppard stepped round in front of him, dark eyes glinting slightly in the low light that had been requested of Atlantis, and naked, very naked. Rodney tried to keep his gaze firmly in front him.

Huffing a quiet laugh his Pilot moved in front of him and pressed a kiss to his lips, tongue pushing insistently on his mouth until Rodney got with the programme and opened up. Just as the kiss got passionate enough for him to think the other man had reached the point where he was just going to tackle Rodney onto the bed John stepped back and knelt.

Rodney hissed in a quiet breath as a finger ran over his still covered erection before his boxers were slowly pulled down. He closed his eyes. "So beautiful" A gentle puff of air was blown over him, feeling cool as it hit the small amount of pre-cum forming at his tip. His Pilot hummed and then slipped his lips over the head, tongue lapping up the moisture. There was a weird sound which Rodney figured out he'd made in response to someone taking his dick into their mouth and then slight panic that he might cum right there and then.

But before he could completely embarrass himself his Pilot moved away and stood, grabbing his hand and taking him over to the bed. "On your back baby" Trying to fight down the once again rising panic Rodney attempted to gracefully comply but still felt incredibly awkward against the other man's obvious ease, and his intense perusal. Sinking his head into the pillow he inhaled quietly and tried to relax.

Then his body was literally covered by his Pilot's, another hard demanding kiss while the body over his rocked slightly, pressing their dicks together and causing little sparks of friction that made him moan into John's mouth. Leaving Rodney to pull in long breaths the man slid his mouth down his throat, over his collarbone, until he closed his lips over a nipple, sucking gently while sure fingers rolled and pinched the other. Waiting until they were so hard it was almost painful his Pilot abandoned his chest and ran a slick stripe down to his navel, briefly dipping in before more hot breath hit his dick.

Rodney fisted the sheets in anticipation. Shit, please don't cum in the first five seconds. A tongue ran over his head and his hips twitched.

"Don't hold back baby. Want you nice and relaxed"

Then his dick was swallowed down in one movement and his hips did a full jerk this time. "Shit"

"Hmm" The vibrations travelled up his length and Rodney moaned quietly, this was so not fair. Strong hands gripped his hips, pinning them to the bed as John slid back off until only the head was sat in his mouth, tongue swirling briefly before he swallowed back down. All thoughts of panic and fear were lost in, if he had anything to compare to, what Rodney believed was the most awesome blow job ever. He whimpered slightly as the familiar feeling washed over him, it was too soon, he never wanted this to end.

"John stop I…"

But the sucking just became more insistent, and the grip became more bruising and Rodney gasped for breath as he saw stars and came hard down the other mans throat. He slowly released the balled up sheets. "Shit"

"Hmm" His Pilot raised himself back up, going in for another kiss, letting Rodney have a taste of himself. John pulled back and looked thoughtfully down at him. "Now, how to get you nice and hard again?"

"Fuck"

"Hmm, eventually"

Rodney's dick twitched. Yeah it was gonna be a long night.


Anna stretched her legs out and took another gulp of whisky, turning the page of her book. There was some football game on the screen that her Pilot had wanted to watch, apparently he was behind in the season, whatever the hell that meant. He hadn't said a word when she'd chosen to prop herself against the front of the couch by his foot, rather than sitting on it next to him, and for that she was grateful.

It was kinda nice to be able to do this again but she wasn't quite ready to curl between his legs like she'd done with Marshall. Topping up her drink she settled back down and turned another page, the pretence of reading letting her mind freely wander without interruption from him. It seemed her habit of gazing off into nothing while she processed thoughts made him curious, and a little uneasy.

Dinner had been nice, apart from the slight bollocking she'd gotten for the Athosian thing, and Anna had enjoyed talking with Rodney and Chuck. At least her Pilot didn't seem fussed about her having close friendships with other Navi's, despite his little reaction to Chuck sitting next to her. It was important to not cut yourself off completely, rely solely on your Pilot for company, things could get scarily intense if you worked like that, and when one of you was lost…. it had been hard enough to deal with Marshall's sudden death, if she hadn't had Teyla's and Ronan's friendship, and Chuck calling in with treats and the latest gossip, Anna was sure she would never have gotten out of that damn hospital.

Also meeting Rodney's Pilot had eased her worries about her friends impending deflowering, she grinned to herself, Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard was hot, and he'd interacted well with Rodney. She'd briefly reached out, skimmed his emotions, and had been pleasantly surprised at what she'd sensed. Especially the little wave of fondness that he gave out whenever he looked at the other man. She just hoped he was an awesome lay.

She took another sip, another page turn, enjoying the warmth from the alcohol spreading through her chest and swirling around her stomach. Shame it didn't reach her feet, she frowned, should have put socks on, she had some nice thick wooly ones tucked away in her drawer. They probably would put her Pilot off sex for weeks. The frown turned into a subtle smirk which she hid by taking more of her drink.

"Easy on the whisky baby girl" A finger ran through her hair.

Anna rolled her eyes. A year on the front line drinking with the slightly insane marines that were posted out there meant she could probably drink most people in the city under the table. Except for McKay, the only time she'd gone drink for drink with him he'd had to carry her back to their tent. He was the one who'd got her into whisky, Marshall had only ever provided beer, not wanting them to ever get so inebriated they couldn't answer an emergency call.

"Anna?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you actually reading that book?"

Damn. "Yes"

"And?"

"And what?"

"Whats it about?"

"Uh" Her eyes flickered down. "Someone called Paul?"

She heard her Pilot sigh. "You don't have to pretend to be occupied"

"Ok"

He slid off the couch and sat next to her, topping up her glass and then his. "Why?"

"Uh, why what?"

"Why are you pretending to read?"

"Um, I'm thinking"

He raised a brow. "You think I'm so bad I don't want you to think?"

"No" She shifted. "I just have you know, wandering thoughts, a lot, and you seem to like to know what I'm thinking"

Mitchell swirled his glass. "I don't need to know everything Princess, just the stuff that's important"

"But I don't know what you think is important"

"I need to know if you're worried, or upset, or confused. Apart from that your thoughts are your own, not sure I even want to know half the shit that goes on in your head"

"Hey!" Anna pouted. "I have awesome thoughts"

"And incredibly disturbed ones"

"Do not"

"Yeah you do" He grinned and tipped her head slightly. "So what awesome thoughts were you just having?"

"Um, that dinner was nice, I wished I'd put socks on and that Rodney is lucky he got Sheppard as his first fuck"

Mitchell groaned. "That last thought is inappropriate"

"Why?"

"You know why. And no thinking about it whilst we're flying, we'll probably end up embedded in the side of a mountain or something"

"No way, I'm too awesome"

Her Pilot glared at her. "No more thinking about other people having sex, especially Sheppard"

"I'm not sure I can mange that. I mean you must think about it too?"

"Never"

"Liar"

"Pushing it baby girl" He looked down. "Why the socks?"

"Duh, my feet are cold"

He shot her a look then grabbed the glasses and bottle. "Better get them into bed then"

"Just my feet?"

"Shut up"

She was pulled up and dragged into the bedroom. Dumping the drinks on the side table he released her and shoved her towards the bathroom. "Go do whatever the hell it is you do before bed"

"I usually go for a run"

"No running. Jesus how much exercise do you need?"

"A lot"

"Go away"

Rolling her eyes Anna padded into the bathroom and began to wash up before grabbing her toothbrush. She stopped and looked at it. Her Pilot had brought the drinks in with them so maybe she could have another, and mint mixed with whisky was blah. She dropped it back into the holder and peered around the door. "Am I getting more alcohol because if so I'm not brushing my teeth"

Mitchell raised a brow. "Sure, if you want"

"Cool" She strolled back out and moved over to her drawers, rummaging around for a vest and shorts as she heard him disappear into the bathroom, door sliding shut behind him.

Quickly stripping and sliding on her clean nightwear Anna made her way over to the bed, topped up her glass and slipped under the sheets. She wriggled her feet trying to warm them. He stepped out and eyed her. "That was quick"

"I have had plenty of practice"

"Are you always like this?" Mitchell grabbed his own glass and padded round the bed.

"Yep"

"Great"

"Yeah I know"

"Wasn't meant as a compliment, or praise" He propped himself against the headboard and stretched his legs out. "Feel warmer?"

"Umhmm" Anna wiggled her feet again. "It was so worth bringing all this with me" She may have pulled out some serious pouting to get O'Neill to let her ship over all her new bedding, and a few other home comforts, but it was worth the effort. Her quarters were warm, and homely, and gave her a lot of comfort.

"And who did you talk into letting you do that?"

"Jack, he's a sucker for sad puppy eyes"

"That's my General you're talking about"

"Still a sucker, and a big softie"

"And thank you for another disturbing piece of information"

"Welcome"

He sighed beside her and tugged her in until she was moulded up against his side. "Hmm better. You ok baby girl? Today's nearly over"

"Told you I was fine"

"And you were lying"

"Cameron…"

"Anna, I mean it"

She squirmed uncomfortably in his grip then grumbled when she realised she probably wouldn't escape either his hold or his questioning. "It sucked but it was a year ago, a very busy year too. I'm fine"

"That's it?"

"Yes"

He growled quietly and she fought the urge to shiver despite the comforter and his body heat. Anna drained her drink and waggled her glass. "More please"

"No"

The glass was plucked from her fingers. "Hey!"

"I was hoping the alcohol might loosen your tongue but it appears I underestimated your capacity for twenty year old whisky"

"You know most people get others drunk to get laid"

"Yeah" Her chin was gripped and tugged up so she was face to face with him. "That's the new plan"

Anna ignored the weird twisty feeling in her stomach. "It is?"

"Hmm, maybe when I'm balls deep in you you'll be more inclined to answer my questions honestly"

"So romantic"

Her Pilot glared at her before pulling her into a bruising kiss, the taste of whisky on his tongue as it curled around hers and forcefully claimed every inch of her mouth.