Ok I can't think of a decent excuse for not up-dating sooner, it's just the usual life got annoyingly in the way. I'm going on holiday (vacation) for 2 weeks with no net access, but I am going to complete the story, then I will post it up at regular intervals, when I come back. Thanks so much to katrina (who refuses to post her fab story til it's finished -moans- ) for beta-ing for me -hugs-
I don't own anything ya-da-ya.
Since the last chapter, AR-1 have been out on missions and everything is getting back to normal, but John and Elizabeth have still been distant with each other. It's now a few weeks since chapter 3. Anyhow…. onto the story!
Elizabeth walked into the briefing room to find the newly returned AR-1 already sitting at the table, John at his new seat of next to Ronon.
"Well none of you ended up in the infirmary, I'll take that as a sign the mission went well?"
"Yeah sure, met some nice folks, they told us some tales, offered us some stuff…the normal," John answered her.
For all the teams but yours, Elizabeth thought to herself.
"I understand we may have a future trade partner?"
"The Samyrans are farmers and many also are carvers of wood," Teyla explained, "They have offered a substantial proportion of their crop, as well as the opportunity to trade for pots and such. They require our help to produce a medicine from a certain plant that grows on their planet. At the moment, it is used to cure a fatal illness, but leave thepatients almost blind. We had hoped Dr Beckett might be able to assist them."
"Very well. Colonel, have your team ready to embark at 10 00 hours tomorrow morning. I shall inform Carson."
"The Samyrans have requested that you accompany us to finalise the negotiations, and to meet with the leaders of the tribes."
"Ok, I'll meet you in the gateroom. So tell me what happened on the mission then."
At the end of the briefing, Teyla, Ronon and Rodney got up and left, and Elizabeth turned back to her computer. She was aware of the other presence in the room, but after a few minutes, and him not having any intention of leaving, she looked up.
"Colonel Sheppard, did you need something?"
He looked up abruptly; she had obviously caught him deep in thought.
"Uh, well, I was wondering if you were sure about going off tomorrow. I mean you barely paused to think about it and all."
Elizabeth was quietly surprised that John thought she was being irrational. Once, she had taken comfort in knowing that he was protective of her, but now he had no right. He needed to let go of the past. She had. That's a lie and you know it.
"I'm a big girl Colonel, I can take care of myself," she put emphasis on his rank, an action she he knew hated.
He looked genuinely shocked for a moment, but then recovered himself.
"I know, I meant that are you sure you're okay spending the whole day offworld…with me?"
She couldn't believe he was acting like this, growing more infuriated with him by the second. "Do I need to get another team assigned to the mission? Are you really that uncomfortable around me John?" She let his name slip out accidentally, being too mad at him to momentarily talk as Elizabeth, instead of Dr Weir, his leader.
He looked across to her then back to his clasped hands. "No." He stood up slowly, as if wanting to add more, but obviously changing his mind and walked quickly out of the door.
The planet Samyr looked almost exactly like all the majority of planets the Atlantis expedition had come across – trees, grass, villages full of people… however the planet circled two suns which meant that although there was a few hours before the closest sun was in high orbit, it was already sweltering hot. They had just sighted the village when two men came out to meet them.
The first to speak was a rather short and round man, but one who looked to be good humoured. "Greetings once more travellers! I see you have brought with you Dr Weir!" The man gave Elizabeth a small bow, "I am Amir, the leader of this village of the Samyrans. Dr McKay, Teyla, Ronon and Colonel Sheppard – this is my son Elven, who will take you to the village and see to you needs whilst I accompany Dr Weir to the negotiations."
The group headed off with Amir and Carson taking the lead. Elven fell into step alongside Elizabeth, and she allowed herself to give a smile to the friendly man. He had clearly inherited his looks from his mother – him being a tall, muscular blonde. But he wasn't build like a soldier, and seemed to be a very peaceful person. She could tell that they would get on well.
John watched Elizabeth and the alien Elven chat alongside each other quite happily until they reached the village. He wasn't aware of anything Rodney was saying to him, and just nodded every so often.
He sat down on the wall of a fountain and took a long cool sip of water, enjoying the flow of the cold water down his throat. Elizabeth and the doc were going to be in negotiations for a while, and meanwhile he would be stuck babysitting Rodney. He allowed his glance to wander over to Elizabeth. He tried not to think of her as anything more than his boss now, not even his friend. A deep pang of jealously tore through him as he saw Elven, the charmer that he is, give Elizabeth a delicate kiss on the hand, as she blushed profusely.Looks like Elizabeth has another man after her heart.
Elizabeth exited the small hut and was hit by the soothing heat from the lowering sun. They had been stuck in negotiations for a few hours due to the differences of opinion of the village leaders.
"Everything go okay?" She turned around to look at the speaker.
"Yes, we'll get a share of their crops and in exchange Carson's team will work with them on the drug. That's the jist anyway; don't want to bore you with details. Where's the rest of you team Rodney, we're heading back."
"What, no party?"
She laughed at his frowning face. "No sorry ... you'll need to pick out our trade partners more selectively if you expect a party."
At that moment the rest of AR-1 arrived along with Carson, who had gone to find them.
"Let's go then," mumbled John.
Elizabeth looked at Teyla questionly as to his behaviour, but the Athosian just shrugged.
Elizabeth ran to catch up with him as they headed off into the woods.
"John, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
She was answered with a grunt.
"John? Hello, what's wrong?"
"Why does anything have to be wrong?"
"I'm not stupid you know. I can tell when something is bothering you."
"If you're so concerned about me then why don't you try to stop bothering me?"
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing."
"I want to know what you meant!"
"Not here."
"Here is just fine! The rest of your team is far enough for them not to hear. Tell me. Please."
John stopped and looked at Elizabeth. He saw the concern and slight fear in her eyes, the pain in her face. She had broken him down. After that bump in with Carson, he had decided to never have this talk with her … but she demanded it.
He looked around, but seeing Ronon and Teyla relatively close, he knew it was now and quick, or never if he lost the guts.
"It's just…"
He was cut short by a thud next to his foot. He looked down to see a volleyball sized metal object, glowing, and counting down.
"Ah crap."
AN:you know you all want to hit that nice little button down there -points- leave me nice reviews to come back to!