Chapter Two:

John changed into the only suit he had brought with him – navy blue and rather cheap because of the discreet tear in the lining. For several minutes he fretted over whether he should wear a tie or not, eventually deciding not to in the hope he would appear more relaxed and, well, attractive to the opposite sex. His mind briefly wandered to what Caldwell would be wearing, but shut the thought out as he realised he was late.

On his way to the canteen he noticed a few appreciative glances in his direction but only replied with brief smiles, not having the time to stop and talk. Strangely, he felt quite nervous – nothing with such romantic connotations had occurred on Atlantis before, mainly due to Elizabeth's strict regulations. When he had heard that Elizabeth had agreed to allow the Valentine's Ball he had been one of the most surprised.

The room was lit with fairy lights and covered in red drapes, with rose petals spread delicately over the tables – it was quite romantic and it was almost a shame he didn't have anybody to share this with. A few couples were dancing in the middle of the room to the drones of 'Three Times a Lady'. When he spotted Rodney and Carson with their dates he made his way over to them.

'Hey.' John said sitting down.

'No date?' Rodney asked.

'No date.'

'Shame.' Rodney said, looking as though he believed the exact opposite.

'I'm sure there'll be women on their own too.' Carson said kindly.

'I think I'll be okay on my own,' John said, taking a glass of champagne from the middle of the table. 'Lovely.' He said with a grimace.

'Aye, it's not the best.' Carson said.

'Rodney would you stop looking for Elizabeth and forget about work – just for one night.' Katie Brown said pleadingly.

'I just wanted to run a few ideas past – okay, okay.' Rodney said seeing the look in Katie's eye.

John looked round as he saw his group of friends smile past him – Teyla and Ronon had appeared. Teyla was wearing full Athosian celebration wear and Ronon was, rather amusingly, wearing a tie which he was grumpily loosening from his neck. Between their bodies, their hands were entwined and John smiled to himself to see two of his closest friends looking so happy together.

'How are you all?' Teyla asked.

'Fine – John hasn't got a date.' Rodney said excitedly.

'Can we drop the whole 'John hasn't got a date thing'?' John asked feeling irritated.

'Come and dance with me.' Katie said to Rodney.

'Dance? Oh no, no, no, no, I don't dance.' Rodney said looking positively terrified.

'Everybody dances.' Katie laughed as she pulled up Rodney who submitted with a last pleading look.

'Has anybody got a camera?' Carson asked.

'Why would anybody bring a camera to this?' Ronon asked.

'When our people celebrate, we bring cameras along so you can never forget the embarrassing memories.' John said.

'Why?' Ronon asked, still looking confused.

'Pretty much what John said; memories.' Laura Cadman said with a shrug.

Ronon turned his attention to Teyla and whispered something in her ear which made her blush slightly. John looked away, pretending not to have noticed and was met with the eyes of Caldwell. To Caldwell's right was Elizabeth who looking quite...stunning. Even John was surprised – obviously he was aware his boss was an attractive lady, but wow. Her body was cloaked in a tight, strapless, red knee-length dress which revealed one of her shapely legs through a slit and she was wearing her hair up, with loose curls dropping seductively round her face. When Elizabeth saw John her face lit up and she led Caldwell over to his table.

'Mind if we join you?' Elizabeth asked.

'Of course no. You look great.' John said.

'Doesn't she?' Caldwell said smiling intimately at her.

John wanted to punch Caldwell for the obvious pleasure he was getting from being in such close proximity to Elizabeth, but fought the urge with the knowledge that Elizabeth wasn't interested in him.

'It's nice to see you relaxing Elizabeth.' Carson said.

'It's nice to be relaxing Carson.' Elizabeth said taking a glass of champagne and raising it to the group – a gesture which they returned.

Elizabeth's arrival had sparked Rodney attention and he soon marched through fellow dancers with a disappointed Katie Brown in tow. He sat directly across from Elizabeth and lifted the champagne bottle to refill a surprised Elizabeth's glass, then returned the bottle without offering anybody else a refill.

'Dr Weir, you look lovely.' Katie said as she took her seat next to Rodney.

'Thank you. I was beginning to think I'd never put this dress to use.' She laughed shyly.

'And it's great that you finally got the opportunity.' The group stared at Rodney, 'Because it's a nice dress – not because you look nice. Although obviously you do look nice.' He said hurriedly.

'What do you want?' Elizabeth asked with a raised eyebrow.

'Me? Nothing. Nothing at all.' Rodney said with a laugh.

'Rodney.' Elizabeth said warningly.

'Nothing! Why don't we go and dance again Katie?' Rodney asked and unexpectedly grabbed her hand, taking her away from his embarrassment.

'That was strange.' Elizabeth said.

'Can you blame him in the presence of such a beautiful woman?' Caldwell asked smoothly.

Elizabeth looked completely taken aback by Caldwell's manner and swigged from her champagne glass. It was becoming increasingly clear that the date between them was more than work related – to Caldwell anyway.

The evening passed relatively quietly with only a few surprise pairings taking to the floor such as Zelenka in a floral print shirt and a rather attractive Lieutenant from Lorne's team called Naomi. Rodney had stood on Katie's foot once too often and they had departed the floor and taken a table of their own. John was beginning to feel rather mellow with the effects of cheap champagne and warm air, and was even managing to make small talk to Caldwell after Ronon had been persuaded by Teyla to 'take some fresh air', and Carson was waltzing with Cadman. Conversation didn't exactly flow with someone as serious with Caldwell but John barely noticed with alcohol pumping through his body. His manner with Elizabeth was also becoming more confident – something which Caldwell noticed.

'Come on Lizabeth, I've told you how many women I've slept with.' John said leaning forward.

'And frankly I'm still in shock!' Elizabeth laughed.

'Is this really appropriate?' Caldwell said sternly.

'Don't worry; he won't be getting a number out of me.' Elizabeth said.

'We had a deal Doctor Weir.' John pouted.

'And you didn't tell me it would be that personal – I told you all the other stuff!'

'Then you have to face the forfeit.' John warned.

'As long as it isn't too humiliating.' Elizabeth said diplomatically.

'Doctor Weir, would you care to dance with me?' John dared.

'That's my forfeit?' Elizabeth thought over the proposition for a second or so. 'Why not?'

Elizabeth stood up and accepted John's hand, swaying slightly from the vast amounts of alcohol consumed.

'I thought you said you didn't like dancing.' Caldwell said suspiciously.

'Well it is Valentine's Day.' John shrugged.

'And Elizabeth is my date.' Caldwell said warningly to John.

'It's just one dance, Steve.' Elizabeth said allowing John to take her away from Caldwell to the dance floor.

John slipped one arm around Elizabeth waist and his other into her petite hand of which the nails were painted a deep red and they slowly moved together to the notes of 'I Can't Help Falling in Love with You'. He smiled at her as he pulled her into his body and breathed in the scent of her perfume, the effect of which it had on him was rather surprising as he found himself fighting the urge to kiss her. Instead he rested his cheek against hers something which caused her to inhale deeply.

Smiling to himself, John asked, 'You okay?'

'Good. You?'

'Good.'

Nothing else needed to be said, so John resumed his concentration into the dance, intimately stroking Elizabeth's back with his thumb. Emotions were beginning to stir up within John that he hadn't previously experienced and he was very much aware of a longing deep inside of him to hold Elizabeth like this again and again.

'I think it's my turn.' It was Caldwell and he sounded far from amused.

John pulled apart from Elizabeth reluctantly and saw that Caldwell was looking pretty downright angry. Elizabeth looked at John with a confused expression on her face before being taken in hold by Caldwell as the notes of 'Close to You' began.

Slightly disgruntled, John walked away to the outskirts of the room, grabbing another glass of champagne as he went, and watched Elizabeth through the gaps of the bodies in front of him. It was pleasing to see the space between Caldwell and Elizabeth was far greater than the space that he had shared with her. Caldwell's hand lifted from Elizabeth's and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her eyes, before returning to take her hand. Despite an initial surge of annoyance, John managed to steady himself by finishing his glass of champagne.

As the song played out Elizabeth's eyes met John's from time to time, but hurriedly returned to Caldwell's, an action which made John's stomach churn slightly. When the song reached its end Caldwell released Elizabeth from his arms and smiled intensely at her causing her to blush. As they made their way to one of the tables Elizabeth whispered something to Caldwell and hurriedly left the room.