Extinction Event2
John rolled onto his back. Reluctantly woke. Blinked against the bright sunlight streaming into the room. Casting the walls into shimmering aquamarine shades. "Moira?" he called, but knew she wasn't there. The silence was heavy. Sounds of the ocean wafting up to his ears. He stared at the ceiling for a moment. Reflecting. Thoughts on his wife. The baby she was carrying. The conflict with Weir, but he brushed that aside.
Thinking of Moira again. The pregnancy. Her desire to be with him. Only with him. To go to Pleistocene Park to conduct her research. The difficulties she was still having with the pregnancy, although she would never admit it. Yet John knew all the same. Knew the added stress of her insecurities and doubts wasn't doing either her or the baby any good. He pondered how to alleviate it.
He wondered if her reactions were normal. Normal for a pregnant woman, or just normal for Moira. He couldn't understand all of her insecurities, her embarrassment. Quibbling over every little change, every little emotion or mood swing. Doubting herself, her capabilities. He sighed. Wondered idly if there was a handbook for husbands of pregnant wives.
Grimacing he sat. Moira's words playing in his head, to resolve the conflict, to make nice, to stop being so stubborn. He smiled. More amused than annoyed by her nagging. Her insistence. Got out of the bed and headed for the bathroom to shower, get dressed. To face the day.
After a quick breakfast he loaded a Jumper with everything he needed. Making several trips back and forth, to his room, to the cafeteria. Ignoring the curious stares, the unasked questions on faces as he passed people. Finally he entered the control room. Everything was calm. Running smoothly. He ascended the stairs. Paused. Then headed for the open doorway. He lounged in it, filling the threshold with his lean, lanky form. "We're going out. For lunch."
Elizabeth looked up hearing John's voice. Disbelief vying with amusement as he filled the doorframe. "Excuse me?"
John smiled his best you know you can't resist me smile, but his brilliant green eyes were hard. Brooking no challenge. No denial. "I said Moira and I are going out for lunch. And by going out I mean we're taking a Puddle Jumper to Pleistocene Park. She needs to get away from here, and frankly, so do I. Just for a few hours. Do I need to file a report?" The last came out almost bitterly. As if issuing a challenge.
"Oh."
He waited, tensing for an argument, a lecture, sarcasm, anything. He frowned. "Oh? That's it?"
Elizabeth smiled. Evidently Moira hadn't talked to him yet. "Yes, John. Does it really matter what I say? You've obviously set your mind on this. Even the military commander gets to have lunch."
"Oh. Yeah...that's right. Okay. I...um...back in a few..." he stammered, thrown by her demeanor. Suspicious. He turned to go. Turned back. "By any chance did Moira happen to talk to you this morning?"
Elizabeth smirked at his expression. "Why yes, John, she did. We had a nice chat. Cleared up everything."
"Oh you did, did you? The pair of you?" he asked, frowning.
"Yes. Enjoy your lunch. And be sure you are back in a few," she called as he turned, headed away from the office. She shook her head, amused at his consternation and anger.
John headed for the bio lab. Confident he would find his wife there. As he approached he heard several voices all at once, raised in argument. Moira's among them. He quickened his pace, honing in on her voice amid the clamor.
Moira was standing with the other scientists, all their voices raised in simultaneous argument. "But it's not an aberration! Not a natural one! Don't you see it? They aren't genetic mutations, they can't be given the natural evolution of the species! This isn't some leap in their evolution! It's more like a step back, a step sideways if you will to the," she paused as suddenly her voice was the only one in the air. "Why am I the only one talking?"
John smirked. His entrance had silenced all of the other biologists. But not Moira. "When are you not the only one talking?" he quipped.
She whirled. Glowered at him. "Hilarious, John! What do you want?"
He smiled. "You." He beckoned with his fingers.
She sighed. "Fine. I'll be back." She moved to him.
"No, she won't, actually." He drew her into the hallway. "What was that argument about?"
"Huh?" Her gaze was following the snug black t-shirt he wore. The gray pants. The double straps of his holster enclosing one thigh. "The footage. The footage!" She touched his arm, meeting his gaze. "John! That thing...whatever it is, er, was...was Wraith. Some form of Wraith but whether or not it was an aberration or mutation or genetic fluke we're not sure. We need samples of its DNA to–"
"Not happening. Sorry. The thing was decomposing when we saw it. By now it's probably gone. Ronon told the villagers to burn it," he said. "We're going out to lunch, Moy."
"Burn it! John!" She hit his arm. "That was valuable data you destroyed again, colonel! You...wait, what? Lunch?"
He smiled. "Lunch. You. Me. Not here."
She eyed him. Caught his wrist to look at his watch. "It's a little early, isn't it? I mean, I could eat something now but not a full...oh stop it! It's not funny!" She freed his wrist as he let out the laugh he had been unsuccessfully concealing from her.
"It is, baby. Hilarious. Wow! Traveling with you will be like traveling with Rodney!"
"You bastard!" She hit his arm. "I'm pregnant because of your damn sperm, colonel! So watch your mouth!"
He laughed, led her down the hallway. "Sorry, Moira. That was a cheap shot. Anyway, we'll stop at our rooms so you can change."
"Change? Did you find a nice restaurant out in the Pegasus Galaxy, sweetie?"
"Hilarious, Moira. We're going out."
"Out? John, the cafeteria does not qualify as going out. Nor does the balcony."
"True," he agreed amiably. "We're not going to either." He led her into their rooms. "Farther out. Lose the sweater, baby. Where we are going it is warm."
"Oh! The mainland? Okay, John. A picnic? Wow." She removed the sweater, revealing a long-sleeved gray shirt and matching slacks. "I'll still need a jacket, though, and–"
"No. Farther out. And you won't need a jacket, baby. It's very warm, humid. Sultry..." he teased, watching her as she placed the sweater on the bed.
She paused. Turned to him. Hand on the baby bump as she frowned. "Yes. It's bigger. All of a sudden! A little bigger."
He licked his lips. "Oh. That wasn't quite what I was noticing," he said, voice low as his gaze was locked onto her breasts. Every curve and swell accentuated by the tight gray shirt she wore.
"John!" He laughed at her tone of exasperation. "Men! Sultry? Another planet?"
"Bingo." He folded his arms across his chest. Waiting.
She considered. "Care to tell me which one?"
"No. It's a surprise, Moy. You know. Like the way you commandeered my little altercation with Weir and made nice."
"Oh." She moved to the dresser, suddenly nervous about his reaction. She opened a drawer. "Sultry, did you say? I always seem to be hot these days...let me see..."
"Moira..." he said, drawing out her name.
She pretended she didn't hear him. "Now, let's see...this will do, I think, with a shirt over it. I hope this place, wherever it is has cold, cold drinks. You'd think getting a cold, cold drink here would be easy, wouldn't you? But the Ancients just don't get the idea of how cold a drink should be, do they? Have you noticed the ice tastes funny here? Not like ours on Earth but a–"
"Moira!" He snorted a laugh, shaking his head. He moved to her. Touched her shoulders. Ran his mouth along her cheek, her throat. "Very cute, baby, but it won't work. Once again you have intervened in my career, in my conflicts, haven't you? Well? Moira?"
She replied evenly, "If you hadn't noticed, colonel, we are married so what is yours is mine. Including your career or any conflicts. So get over it, okay? While your fine, fine ass was in our bed I took care of things. So its settled, sorted. Like it should be."
"Meaning?" he asked, fingers slightly caressing her shoulders.
"Meaning that you two need to get your shit together and run this city as a team. Not as competitors. She is the leader of this expedition, John, and you just have to deal with that. But you are the military commander. You are in control of the marines and the security of this city. Of everything that comes through the 'Gate or goes out of it. And she understands that now. Your security concerns. And you need to understand her concerns. About our mission out here, John. Not just to fight the Wraith but to learn all that we can. To make alliances where we can, not just for defense but for meaningful trade. Trade of goods and knowledge. Science."
"Okay...I'm with you so far, Moira. And?"
"And...you...you. You need to stop, um, stop worrying so much about me. Okay? I...I shouldn't be your main concern, John, not in your job anyway. I shouldn't cause you to hesitate or to doubt yourself. I'm sorry. I never stopped to think how all of this is affecting you."
"Did she say that? That you shouldn't be my main concern?" he asked. Too quickly.
Moira heard the anger. She turned to him. Touched his chest. "No. I'm saying it, John. I'm fine. The baby's fine. Don't you hesitate or worry." She eyed him a moment, saw a flinch, a slight reaction that made her wonder what had popped into his mind at her words.
"But I do worry, Moy. I can't stop that," he said, growing uncomfortable under her sudden assessing stare. Brown eyes studying him. "And you are my main concern. Hell, my only concern. My most important one. You. The baby." He gently touched her abdomen. Gaze locked with hers. "So just deal with it, sweetheart. Elizabeth will have to deal with it too."
Moira frowned. "No, John! Not in the line of duty. Not in the commission of your job! And no more secrets, John!"
"Huh? I don't keep things from you, Moira," he stated, puzzled. He swallowed. Nervous.
"Not from me! From Weir! Full disclosure on all research, all missions. On her end too," she added before he could protest. "All right? No one is to be excluded or out of the loop."
"Okay, doctor." He relaxed. Kissed her. Stepped back from her. "Now get into something cooler and get that pert little ass of yours to the Jumper bay! We leave in ten. Ten, Moy!" He smiled at her glower, abruptly left her.