Title: What it Took
Summary: What did it take for Elizabeth and John to realise their true feelings? Lots of obstacles in their way of course.
Paring: ShWeir!
Season: Future - maybe season 3 or even 4
Spoilers: None in this chapter I'm pretty sure. Perhaps later on anything up to Allies.
Disclaimer: -checks-Nope still don't own anything...unless someone gives me it as a pressie for Christmas...
Not Betaed So sorry for all mistakes
The following weeks were torture for Elizabeth. Although she kept convincing herself it was for the best, she missed everything about him.
The silent looks exchanged between briefings.
Bringing her coffee throughout the day, and dragging her to the mess for a meal.
The slow up and down movements of his chest as her head lay against it.
He feel of his hair as she ran her hands through it.
The moments before the kiss at her room door.
How safe she felt cradled in his arms.
The way she melted whenever she looked into his deep brown eyes.
Stop it! She ordered herself, You can't think of him like that anymore. He is your Military Officer and nothing more.
She got up from where she was sitting behind her desk and paced around the room. It was early in the morning – about 5 – but she hadn't been able to sleep. It had been over two months since the break-up, almost 3, but there were still reminders of him in her room. She had been sleeping more recently, but little enough for Carson to prescribe her with some sleeping pills.
The doctor had confronted her a week ago, at first she was mad, but she was comforted by the fact that at least someone cared for her.
Carson knew something was troubling Elizabeth, and he had a fair idea of what it was. He had realised from early on there was something between her and John, although around 8 months ago the flirting and playful banter had decreased – but his suspicions were confirmed when he saw one Colonel Sheppard sneak out of her room in the early hours one morning, looking a little rushed and semi-dressed.
He had simply nodded to the man and ever since had been looking out for more chemistry between the pair. They both seemed closer, yet tried more desperately to hide it. They both were happier – he could tell just by glancing at them.
But something was definitely wrong now. For over 2 months he had noticed they were more distant and often avoided each other for days on end. Elizabeth was sleeping less, eating less and working more which worried him greatly. He was determined to find out what was wrong with his friend, and hoped he could help fix it.
Elizabeth looked up when she heard the knock at her door, and smiled as Carson came in.
"Hi Elizabeth, can I talk to you?"
"Sure Carson have a seat. What's up?"
"Well actually that's what I was going to ask you."
She frowned at him, unaware as to what he meant.
He walked towards her and sat at the chair nearest her desk.
"Lassie, I know there's something going on, something that has upset you. Is it to do with the Colonel?"
Elizabeth froze, worried she hadn't been as careful with her emotions as she had thought. She took a deep breath and looked at the kind Scot, "What do you think it is that's wrong Carson?" She hadn't decided what she would say, and what did he know?
"Well, I don't know the full story but it seems to me that you and Colonel Sheppard have had one hell of a falling out."
"Well, yes we did…"
"Elizabeth, it's been affecting you greatly – you are distant, unhappy and starting to look unhealthy. Tell me what happened."
She stared at her clasped hands then back up too his face. Realising that she had to tell someone before she went crazy, she opened up to him.
"We were seeing each other, for about 5 or 6 months." The doctor nodded, that he had suspected.
"And we broke up. It just hurt so much because…" She felt the tears welling up in her eyes. "Because I cared for him. More than I have ever done for any man, but he doesn't feel the same. He's not the kind of guy to go for long and meaningful relationship. I knew that before, but I couldn't help myself. And now I've lost him completely."
Carson pulled her into a tight hug as she released the tears that had been kept below the surface for weeks. She pulled back after a while and straightened herself out.
"Thank you Carson, for listening and being here for me. It really has helped," she looked at him, face full of thanks, "I think I'll go for a walk, please see yourself out." She turned slowly and calmly walked towards the eastern side of Atlantis.
Carson followed swiftly after, but heading towards Rodney's lab to drag him down to the infirmary. The scientist had managed to blow something up again and needed his dress wounds to be checked.
He paused outside the room, hearing two voices joking inside – one Colonel Sheppard and one young scientist. He entered the lab to find the two standing close and Sheppard clearly flirting with the young woman. He backed out quickly, fuming with anger towards a certain cocky Air Force pilot who didn't seem to care that he had broken Elizabeth's heart.
-TBC-
A/N: okay im not sure how this chapter went but i was trying to get the point across that Elizabeth had taken a lot from the realtionship, and for John to not have. hm...did itwork? please review - you will make me very very happy!
