CHAPTER 2 – BREAKING THROUGH

He caught up to her at the doorway to the gate room. For all her anger and swagger, once she had reached the doorway, he saw her body sag slightly then quickly right itself.

Aaah, thought John, a small chink in that shiny armour. Not so tough, little girl – are you? I'm thinking O'Neill sent you out here to strip you of that armour, once and for all. Perhaps this game could get a little interesting, after all...

"Gate travel's a bitch, first time. Millions of molecules disintegrating and reintegrating inside you. Gotta screw you up, big time. But hey? I'm still here, and more or less in one piece. I'll give you the VIP tour, if you're up for it. Then, as I just heard the early warning signs for full out hunger about to make itself known, we can go eat. That is? If that giant chip on your shoulder lets you fit down that hallway."

Surprised laughter bubbled out of her and he started slightly at the sound. Musical and light, it didn't seek to fit with that dark glare that settled across the beautiful features.

"That giant chip, Colonel Sheppard? Keeps me firmly weighted to the ground. Something you flyboys seem to be missing..."

And then he got it. Pilots were definitely not high on her list of approved reading. Not after the way her father had been killed.

So, on behalf of all the pilots in the world, I take on Miss Josephine Barlow, daughter of the late Colonel Barlow – Rest in Peace. By the end of this tour little lady, I'll have you saluting me. One way or another!

He moved in beside her and didn't respond, just slanted his eyes at her, watching as those silver ones of hers moved restlessly over the intricate and somewhat ornate decorating that graced the entire city of Atlantis. He could see that she was impressed in spite of herself and struggling not to show it. He grinned, attempting to push it down, but knew he'd failed when she flicked those dangerous eyes in his direction, watching as they narrowed slightly.

"I'm glad you find me amusing, Colonel. I assure you – after six months? That may not be the case. I don't like military and I don't like you. You stand for everything I walked away from. Rules, regulations...and a safe place to call home. She finished the sentence in her mind and he watched curiously as her eyes changed, softened and knew that she was not here in Atlantis at the moment, but somewhere else. Where the memories held the last bit of peace that she had managed to find.

He kept it light. "I don't usually evoke that extreme a reaction at first meeting, so I guess I should be flattered... hmmm? Anyway... this is the mess, so we'll make this first stop. I'd hate to have food deprivation added to my list of imagined indiscretions and the gangs all here.. so a good chance to meet my team and some of the people you'll be working with."

They paused in the doorway and John definitely had to work to push down the smile that threatened to piss her off. All noise in the mess simply... stopped. And all eyes were drawn to the confident swagger and the mass of wild, almost black hair that tumbled in disregard, much like it's mistress. But it was the eyes that drew that collective breath of every male in that room. Hot silver and flashing with just the right amount of derision, sending spikes of lust to most of them. And those it didn't? John figured they had to be dead from the waist down. One was all about sensation when in the vicinity of this woman. Not always a good thing.

He stepped in close to her, murmuring quietly against her ear so that only she could hear. "You always do this when you walk into a room, Jo? 'Cause that was kinda fun..."

Again that surprised laughter and it was her turn to push it down. Guard it. He guided her over to the table where his team lounged, in different stages of dinner consumption. Ronon sat back in his seat, half full plate in front of him. Interupting Ronon's eating was not recommended. He took his food seriously and the still piled plate caused Jo's eyebrows to lift slightly and taking in the large, almost primal build of the Satedan, John noted that her eyebrows lifted even higher.

Ronon's frank curiousity triggered something in John and he flashed his eyes at Ronon, receiving only a smirk in return. This one would get under Ronon's skin, he knew that up front. She was hot, she was tough and she was mouthy. All that rolled into a package for Ronon? He'd think all his Christmas's had come at once, and John intended to head him off at the pass before he committed that fatal error.

Teyla and Rodney both regarded her politely, waiting for the introductions and John noted that her attitude was a little less arctic towards them and figured it was because of the lack of uniform. Military one, anyway. She exchanged pleasantries with Teyla, sitting down in the seat opposite her and finding herself drawn quickly into a conversation about Teyla's world. John had seen immediately that she was fascinated in spite of herself, with the fact that Teyla was not from earth.

Rodney followed the conversation for a while, then returned his own attention to his food. More than just a little self centred, he had incorrectly assumed that she would not included in his small sphere and John decided to upset his somewhat unstable applecart.

"Jo'll be helping fit out the jumpers with the Asgard technology, Rodney. Your constant whining to the SGC finally secured you the help you're been asking for."

That got Rodney's attention. "Hmm. About time. And may I ask what your doctorate is in?" A polite smile on his face, he looked at their newest city inhabitant and John mentally rubbed his hands in glee.

"Doctorate? Hmmm... that would be... 'kick you ass if you don't wipe that condenscending smile off your face'. That do?"

Ronon laughed out loud, food spluttering as he made no effort at all to contain his mirth. Shaking his head at Sheppard, the message in his eyes was clear. This one's mine!

And John made the return message in his eyes just as clear. Back off!

Rodney's mouth hung open slighty and Jo simply reached over and placing her hand underneath his jaw, snapped it shut, narrowing missing causing him to bite his tongue.

Flustered now, he put down his spoon that had been about to bury itself in it's container of bright blue jello. "Ok... so what is your science degree in?"

Oh, this was gonna be good... John felt like a referee in a ping pong match.

"I'm a mechanic. That good enough for you?" She was clearly getting bored with this little game and tapped her foot impatiently on the floor.

A red flush crept up over Rodney's neck and he spluttered. "A mechanic? They send me a damn mechanic to fit out Asgard technology. What the hell sort of joke is that. Sheppard?"

John had pulled up a seat and sat down beside Jo and he felt the stinging blow on his ankle as a foot connected with it. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the movement of her leg under the table, dangerously near his own, and knew that the missile had come from her. He turned slightly and widening his eyes, met the silver mercury of hers and read the message there, loud and clear.

Thanks for setting me up... Colonel. Payback's a bitch... you'll get yours.

And those damn silver eyes held a promise that he felt in the pit of his stomach.