"Sheppard! What the hell did you do? Weir's trying to resign her post." Jack O'Neil's pissed off voice couldn't be suppressed even as it travelled galaxies to reach John's ears.
"Sir?"
"Don't play dumb with me Sheppard; I saw her looking at your messy head with those big doe eyes of hers. You were like the grand finale at the 4th of July fireworks when you sat down in that chair in Antarctica. I told you not to touch anything!"
John felt like he'd been kicked in the gut. "She resigned."
"What- did you get hit in the head recently? Let's get it together Sheppard."
John rubbed his hands over his face. He didn't think she'd go through with it, didn't think she'd do something so rash so quickly. She'd done it on purpose he realized, done it before even giving him a chance to talk her out of it. He'd been looking for her since last night, constantly until the moment Chuck called him to the control room for this "conference call" with General O'Neil.
"Sheppard, I'm talking here and you're not paying a damn bit of attention. You listening yet?"
"Sorry sir." John blinked wondering how long he'd withdrawn to his thoughts. "Yes sir, I'm listening."
"You want her to leave?" Jack asked, blunt as his usual charming self could be.
John pressed his eyes together, turning his head away from the monitor before him.
Jack's voice rattled away. "Chuck, get out of there I know you're hovering. Walter, take a break."
John focused on his breathing, barely noticing that Jack was effectively clearing both of their rooms so they could speak in private.
"Sheppard, I can only do so much from here. I told her I only accept resignations one day a year. That day was yesterday so she'll have to wait. She wasn't too happy about that."
"I'll bet." John said, barely realizing he'd spoken aloud.
"What the hell did you do? You'd think you'd blown up a galaxy or something."
John winced visibly.
"Sheppard, you didn't."
"No, but it might have been close to the size of a solar system."
"You really have a knack for taking people's breath away, you know that right?" Jack turned his head from side to side as though ensuring no one was listening. "Look. I've heard…talk. I know what it's like to work together and feel…more than you're supposed to for co-workers. Don't let that stop you."
"Sir?"
"For Christ's sakes John, kiss her already." O'Neil hissed.
"Been there, done that."
"Are you sure you're doing it right?"
John's head turned along with his rolling eyes. "Hasn't seemed to be a problem before sir."
"Well try again! And stop blowing up solar systems! I'll expect a full report of your progress in one week. Sheppard, Carter's tapped to be a replacement if Elizabeth ever leaves."
"Yes sir, she would be an excellent choice I'm sure."
"Sheppard, I will personally see to it that your life becomes a living hell if Sam ends up in the Pegasus galaxy. Like I said, I know what it's like to feel more than I'm supposed to for my co-workers. One week." The screen went dead before him.
John had been trying to catch up with Elizabeth since his feet finally obeyed his commands to move. That had taken almost five minutes after Elizabeth left the night before. One week might not give him enough time to even find her at the rate he was going. Sighing, he rose to his feet. He was going to need some help, and the help he needed, well…He needed to do some damage control with his relationship with McKay anyway.
A/N. Hmm… so shoot me, I was wrong. This is obviously not the end, so how 'bout this time I just say…TBC
