a/n: Spoilers for Epiphany.
seven
It's a harrowing couple of hours both outside the time-dilation field and inside, but they find Col. Sheppard. He looks different, of course. "The beard's interesting," Elizabeth smirks as she looks him over.
John grimaces. "It's the first thing to go when we get home. Let's get out of here," he growls.
During the trek back to the 'doorway' and out of the time dilation field, Elizabeth tries to get John to tell her about his experience with the Ancients but he's strangely remote, cool even. Both she and Rodney have repeatedly apologized for the delay he experienced in their arrival and he's repeatedly told them not to worry about it; but Elizabeth can tell he's fighting back hurt and anger. Deep down, he knows they would never leave him behind, but after six months of questioning that loyalty, it's going to take some time for him to get over those negative feelings.
Elizabeth definitely wants him to talk with Kate as soon as possible.
There's one thing she doesn't want to talk to him about, at least not in earshot of the others, especially Ronon. Elizabeth noticed the way that woman looked at John. She's seen that look on a number of the women in Atlantis. Not love, per se, but there was definite tenderness… a shared one at that. And she had wanted John to join her. For a brief moment, Elizabeth was terrified he'd accept and leave them all behind. Leave Angie behind.
Angie! She has no idea what's been happening. "John," Elizabeth ventures, trying to break through the barriers he's put up. "Angie was still off-world when we left. She may not be back yet."
"Geez, Elizabeth," Rodney chimes in. "Give the man a break. He's already been attacked by one monster, he doesn't –"
She shoots Rodney a cool look and he shuts up immediately. "She doesn't know what's happened to you."
John merely nods. A flush of red rises up his neck only to get hidden under the beard.
"That reminds me, Colonel," Carson says. "How have you been feeling? Did the headaches return? Any withdrawals?"
John shakes his head but it's more of a 'not-right-now' answer than anything else.
Elizabeth feels her gut tighten. Something is wrong. He won't look her in the eyes. He won't talk. And the anger radiating from him doesn't seem to be directed at any of them in particular. It's more like he's angry with himself.
Oh, crap! Elizabeth closes her eyes against the realization. She can't possibly say it out loud or Ronon would kill John before he could explain himself. Part of her wants to kill him even as another part simply wants to hold him and apologize yet again for taking so long.
Six months! Six months of waiting. Of believing he'd been abandoned. And finally giving up hope of ever getting home. Kate was definitely going to have her hands full with this situation.
XOXOXO
They make it home in good time. As soon as the puddle jumper settles in the bay and the rear hatch comes down, John is the first one bounding out. Carson follows quickly behind, calling after him. "Everyone to the infirmary especially you, Colonel," Carson declares. "Don't make me pull out the big needles."
John stalls in his rush to get out then his shoulders slump and he gives a half-hearted nod.
He sits still as Carson and the nurses check him over, poking and prodding. He simply takes it, his eyes dark, face tight. If someone speaks, asks a question, his answers are curt. Carson again brings up the subject of the withdrawals and John winces as if being stabbed in the chest. Carson orders an MRI and CT Scan for comparisons to previous scans.
Elizabeth rests her hand in John's before she leaves. "Come see me… if you want to talk." He finally lifts his eyes to hers and squeezes her hand, but doesn't say anything. He doesn't have to, really. She knows and he knows she knows. She wants to understand. Can understand, really. And maybe – given time – Angie will understand as well.
"Elizabeth," he calls and she turns from the door. "Thank you."
She gives him a smile. "Welcome home, John."
He nods, dropping his gaze to his hands fisted at his sides on the gurney. "Home," he says quietly.
As Elizabeth reaches the Control Room, the Stargate engages. Chuck announces it's Sgt. Stackhouse's IDC and he lowers the shield as she nods. Instead of going into her office, Elizabeth trots down the stairs and waits for the team from PXT-705 to arrive. Her heart flutters the instant she thinks of Jonathan.
Stackhouse and Radner appear first followed by Angie and Kate. In fact, Angie's holding Kate upright. A giggling Kate. Because of that, Elizabeth barely notices the last three coming through – even though one is her husband – her attention is fixated on the laughing, drunken mess that is the city's resident psychologist.
"Angela?" Elizabeth starts, hands on hips. "What did you do?"
"She's a lightweight," Angie groans. "One sip and boom! She fell off her chair."
Kate chuckles hearing about her exploits. "Right on my ass."
Jonathan comes up behind them and the wormhole extinguishes a moment later. He strips off his vest and hands it and his weapons to Radner. "You should have been there," he tells Elizabeth with the most adorable little boy grin, full of dimples. "Funniest damn thing I've seen in a long time."
Elizabeth can't help smiling, desperately trying to suppress a giggle. Angie's wiggling in place and practically shoves Kate at Jonathan. The doctor falls into him, laughing. Before Elizabeth can say a word or ask about the scratches on her throat or the burgeoning bruise on her cheek, Angie's rushing off after grabbing a heavy looking backpack that Garrison holds out to her – Elizabeth can guess what's inside. "Sorry, gotta pee!" Angie calls as she races away.
"Damn," Elizabeth mutters and Jonathan's smile drops.
"What's wrong?"
Elizabeth moves to help him with Kate, who's still giggling uncontrollably. "It's nothing."
Kate's head rolls toward Elizabeth. "Wanna talk about it?"
Elizabeth sniggers and shakes her head. "One sip, huh?"
"More like a gulp… a big gulp. Angie kinda dared her."
Elizabeth nods. She's been on the receiving end of a few of those dares… and always complied.
"My teeth itch and my hair is all tingly."
Jonathan chuckles as do the other members of AT-4. Elizabeth glances at Stackhouse trying to be stern, but most likely failing miserably. Nevertheless, he nods and turns to his men. "Dismissed."
"We should probably get her out of the public eye," Jonathan suggests. Elizabeth agrees and they head for the nearest transporter.
By the time they get Kate near her quarters, the doctor is unconscious. Getting off the transporter, Jonathan graciously picks her up and carries her the rest of the way with Elizabeth right by his side. He settles her on the bed and Elizabeth removes her boots. Then she pulls the blankets up to Kate's shoulders.
"She'll be fine," Jonathan says as they leave. "Angie swears that stuff doesn't leave a hangover."
"Angie says a lot of things, but that one's true." She feels him stiffen. "What?" When Jonathan doesn't answer, Elizabeth presses. "How bad was it over there?"
"Pretty bad… for a while."
"Tell me."
Jonathan stops walking and looks into her eyes. "What about privilege?"
"You're not a doctor."
"Elizabeth –"
She holds up a hand. "I'm going to find out anyway. I already know about the fugue states and the missing time. Missing memories. Angie's quite the open book these days. At least with me." He rolls his eyes and chews on his bottom lip. "She's my friend, Jon. I need to know she's all right."
He nods. "I think she will be… in time."
"Did she remember something?"
"Yeah… something big."
Elizabeth shudders, fearing what that might be. "Did Kolya… did he…?"
He shakes his head. "It's not that. She remembers killing… one of Kolya's men. A kid from what I gather, probably not much older than Stackhouse. I think it messed her up… the killing part."
Elizabeth nods. "I figured that'd catch up with her sometime. I mean…without Jax…"
He kisses Elizabeth's temple. "I'm kind of tingly myself. Wanna be naughty for a while?"
"You're changing the subject."
His lips dance over her cheek and back to her ear. "Is it working?" He nibbles on her lobe and she shivers.
"Wish I could, sweetie. But I haven't gotten through that paperwork yet."
"C'mon. You've had hours."
"Actually… I had to go off-world for a while myself." Jonathan pulls back to face her, his hands on her shoulders, his intense gaze serious. "There was an incident… with Col. Sheppard."
"What kind of incident?"
Elizabeth explains how John got stuck in the time dilation field and the need to move quickly.
"Time dilation…" he says to himself. "That explains a lot."
"About what?"
Jonathan tells her about his split second connections with Sheppard while he was on PXT-705. He doesn't tell her everything, however. She can see by the sudden gleam in his eyes… an angry gleam. He's angry at Sheppard. And he's not willing to share the information no matter how much she pries. Doesn't matter, since she already knows. She is surprised by Jonathan's reaction, however. It's not like he cares about Angie.
"That's not going to happen again, you know."
"What's not?"
"You going off-world… without me."
"Jon –" He cuts her off with a heated kiss, his hands gripping her shoulders and pulling her flush with his body. Slowly, his palms smooth down her arms then rest on her waist. His fingers find the hem of her shirt and tickle her skin just above her pants. She can taste the remnants of the alien vodka and her lips start to tingle when his tongue plays over them.
Elizabeth grasps his neck and pulls down, sinking her fingers into his hair which always elicits a heady moan from him; suckling on his mouth, his tongue as if he's been missing for six months. He smells so good, musky and grassy with a hint of sweat. She wants him now. Right now. Jonathan groans, wrapping his arms around her tight, lifting her up to her toes. She can feel his arousal pressing into her and it's making her unbearably hot.
Her mind whirls. Where are they? What rooms are empty? Damn…she can't think straight with his hands suddenly cupping her breasts, teasing them into attention. "Jon," she gasps, still unwilling to stop kissing him. "Not here."
His hands instantly move to her ass and he picks her up so she wraps her legs and arms around him, her mouth still not leaving his. Moments later they're in a dark space and he's got her pressed against the door. There are no windows but the light from under the door gives her a hint of how little space they have. It's an empty storage closet however, so the space is all theirs.
Elizabeth slides down his body and reaches for his pants to release him as he unzips her pants and pushes them down. "Take off your boots," he mutters returning his mouth to hers.
"No time," she says. "Sit down." Jonathan pulls back to look at her. His questioning eyes glistening in the minimal light. "Paperwork, remember." Without another word, Jonathan lowers himself to the floor, taking his time as his hands trail down her body, down her legs, pulling at her panties as he goes. His mouth captures her mound instantly, his tongue making her core tingle with just a few strokes. Her knees buckle at the sensation. "God Jon!" She drops, her hands gripping his shoulders, squeezing, seeking support. Their both panting, rasping with want and need. Urgency.
With her pants bunched around her boots, her knees straddle his lap. His hands grasp her hips as Elizabeth impales herself on him, taking him deep the first time. They groan in unison.
Elizabeth starts to rock and Jonathan's hands delve under her shirt, pushing it up and pulling down her bra. His mouth latches onto an exposed breast. She clutches him to her as she rises and drops onto him again, riding him with all her might. Jonathan bucks under her, shoving up as she drops down, they collide with tremendous force. "Yes!" She cries. "Yes, baby. Take me –"
Jonathan grabs her face with both hands and devours her mouth, shoving his tongue inside.
They break the kiss with mutual gasps. "Fuck!" His mouth finds the curve where her shoulder and neck meet. "I love you so much," he moans before his teeth capture her skin. "Want you so much!"
Elizabeth screams as the orgasm hits, sharp and hot. Her insides clench, making him rumble, but he doesn't join her. He's still going, pushing, needing more even as she collapses against him and stops moving. Without reprieve, Jonathan flips her onto her back, and continues driving into her, though not like before. "Damn pants!" he growls. She feels him withdraw, missing the pulsing heat immediately. "Up and over, Baby."
She barely has any strength, but manages to get onto her hands and knees and within seconds, Jonathan's pounding into her again. "Gaaw! You're-So-Fucking-Hot!" He cries, punctuating each word with a hard, deep thrust. "Grip me, Baby! Tight!" Another groan. "I love taking you like this."
Elizabeth barely caught her breath before he started slamming into her again and she can't get her mind around anything besides the feel of him inside her, the power…the pleasure. "Yes… God yes!" It's all she can manage now. Her arms shake with fatigue, but she holds herself up with simple willpower.
Ever since that time in his room when he took possession of her against the wall, asking her if anyone had ever fucked her brains out and she gave in to the power, Elizabeth knew something was happening to her. Something primal. She hadn't realized how much she wanted to be dominated during sex. She loves Jonathan's strength, she feels totally safe with him…letting him have control like this is just unbelievably cathartic in a way. She can stop worrying about being the boss and just feel, take.
He has such stamina she's almost no match for him. But the tendrils of pleasure swirl deep inside and Elizabeth can feel her strength returning along with them. She wants another orgasm, dammit. She wants a whole lot of them. She worked hard today. She deserves a damn fine time!
Jonathan's fingers dig into her skin, probably leaving bruises but she couldn't care less, as long as he keeps digging into her with his massive cock the way he is right now. She hasn't had a lot of lovers in her life... but Jonathan beats the hell out of all of them physically, as well as skill-wise.
Suddenly his arms wrap around her waist pulling her backward into a sitting position, still going strong, as usual. Elizabeth grounds against him and he hollers another "Fuck" which only spurs her on to do it again and again.
One of his hands dives under her shirt again, finding a free nipple to pinch, then moving to the other one. But his other hand….damn his other hand sinks between her legs, fingering her expertly, making her writhe with pleasure and pant his name over and over.
Leaving her breasts, his hand grabs her by the hair and yanks her head back. "Say it!"
"Fuck me hard," she gasps and his mouth descends on hers forcefully, eating at her lips even as his fingers play at taking her breath away.
She gasps and whimpers as the waves of bliss radiate from her center all throughout her body. Her hair tingles…and she giggles breathlessly, remembering Kate's words.
Then his hands take hold of her hips again, lifting her only to pull her back down plunging into her deeper and deeper. Several powerful strokes later, Jonathan shudders his release, filling her with his heated seed. Elizabeth welcomes it, clenching him tight, squeezing him dry and their mutual grunts of satisfaction fill the small room.
Elizabeth falls back against his chest and his arms go about her waist again. They sit like that, with him still inside her, his hot breath against her temple. "My wife is unbelievable," he whispers, kissing her hair.
She rubs his neck. "So's my husband." They aren't always like this. Their love-making could be the stuff of romance novels: sweet, tender, taking a lifetime, but sometimes… sometimes they just need to get off.
And Jonathan is nothing if he isn't great at getting her off. He's so energetic, so athletic… sometimes though – recently, in fact, given that she now knows about the link still being in-service – Elizabeth worries she's not enough for him. What if the link between the men has given Jon a taste of what's between the Colonel and Angie? That constant need the other couple shares. What if… what if Jon decides he wants Angie too?
Elizabeth closes that thought off as she turns her face toward Jon's neck and breathes deep. Jonathan loves her, she knows that. No matter what chemical or alien influence, he would never betray her…
Like she – and probably everyone else – believed John would never betray Angie?
XOXOXO
John clears the foggy mirror with a towel. The hot shower was heaven compared to the sponge baths he's been taking for the past six months. He looks in the mirror. Aside from the beard and a slight tan, he really hasn't changed much, maybe a little thinner and his hair has grown out. At least the beard is going bye-bye. Lathering up his face, he dips his razor and starts swiping away.
Carson released him from the infirmary after two hours that dragged by more like two days. He feels fine, figuring Teer did something to make the transition through the portal easier than when he arrived on their side. But Carson was skeptical given that part of John's body aged faster than the rest of him as Teyla and Ronon tried to pull him free of the portal. He told Carson about Hedda healing him twice, which should have included anything with abnormal aging, but he let the doctor take his blood samples and run his scans. Not that he had any choice, really.
Finally free of the furry face, he towels off and splashes on aftershave. It assaults his nostrils as if he's never smelled it before. Six months there to three hours here. He still can't wrap his mind around it. So much has happened.
And yet so little has actually happened. Living in the Cloister was like sleep-walking. Aside from a couple of deadly bouts with the 'beast' he didn't have anything other than exercise to boost his adrenaline. All those sessions in meditation simply bored him silly. At first he thought constantly about getting back to Atlantis, about his friends coming to rescue him. Wondering why they hadn't already.
Then he started worrying something else had gone wrong. Something had happened to them on the other side. Maybe a Wraith attack or worse. But that didn't track. They could've simply come through the portal after him. Why hadn't they?
Then he started getting angry.
Had they actually forgotten about him? Maybe they figured since there was another John Sheppard waiting in the wings he wasn't necessary anymore.
But then he thought about Angie and his heart ached. He remembered the look on her face when the Major told her he didn't know who she was. He'd seen it through his double's eyes while locked away on the hive ship months ago, unable to comprehend exactly what he was witnessing; thinking it nothing more than an unusually cruel dream; a Wraith induced nightmare.
In the Cloister, guilt ate him; worry clenched his gut over what she might be going through, doing to herself because of his long absence. He caught glimpses of her, standing stock still, withdrawn. Then another: her eyes full of misery and tears. He was terrified she lost herself in grief again.
But she hasn't. Because she isn't even here. She's checking on her Huskin friends… Completely carefree.
She's forgotten him too.
No! He's only been gone a few hours. Not even a whole day. Angie has no clue what he's been going through. How screwed up he's made himself with bitter anger and thoughts of abandonment. What he did… allowed himself to believe just to keep sane for a little while longer.
And she can never know. That much is clear. Angie can never find out about Teer.
John nods at his reflection. Three hours versus six months.
They didn't forget him.
They didn't trade him in for the other post-ascended model.
His friends… his family rescued him from that life of utter boredom and he will always be grateful.
So why am I still so angry?
John tries to shake it off. Yes, he's fine, physically. But mentally? Emotionally? He'll have to deal with those soon… but not today. Not now. He's bone tired and wants nothing more than a long, dreamless sleep.
He steps into his room as the door opens and Angie appears freshly showered – letting her hair dry naturally into ringlets – bright eyes and big smile, waving a bottle of the tingle inducing Huskin hooch she and everyone on Atlantis enjoys so thoroughly. "I got four of 'em for three Hershey bars. Do I know how to negotiate or what?"
Her smile widens and he stops mid-step. "What the hell…?" He reaches for her reddened cheek. "Who did that to you?"
Her brows wrinkle with momentary confusion. "Oh… it looks worse than it is. Just an accident. Doesn't even hurt." She rubs the scratches on her throat. "Now these sting like a son-of-a-bitch. I've got to remember to clip my claws."
John lifts her chin to examine the damage. "You did that?" He looks her in the eyes and what he sees is unsettlingly familiar. She's hiding something. Something she knows will worry him. And that alone is enough to make him worry. "Another accident?"
She nods, the mask melting away as her love shines through. "Pretty much." The brilliant smile returns and his heart flutters in his chest. He's forgotten how beautiful she is. How utterly intoxicating her eyes are when she looks up at him like this. And how completely crazy he is about this woman.
He buried his love for her so far down so that the mere thought of her wouldn't tear his soul apart every second of every day during his imprisonment in the Cloister. Because she was on his mind constantly. She became a burning ache in his heart; not being able to touch her, not hold her nearly drove him mad.
"Well, don't you look scrumptious in nothing but a towel," she purrs, stepping closer. She sets the bottle on the bed and gently dances her fingertips from his waist to his shoulders, stopping to study the pale scar at his neck. Her expression turns serious. "I don't remember this one."
Her finger traces the new scar as she catches his gaze again. "Guess I'll have to be even more thorough in my examinations." Then she's running the tip of her tongue over the healed area.
John's tired body instantly wakens as a groan rumbles in his throat. He breathes in deep, filling his mind with the smell of her. She wakens his every fiber with longing. Pulling at his heart with invisible strings that make it pound faster. She's everything to him. Everything he's wanted for six months and couldn't have. He didn't lie to Carson about the withdrawals. They were hell for the first few weeks, but then the pain settled into a deep ache. John wondered at the time if the healing touch of the young girl did something to him to drive out the need of Angie his body was clamoring for. But Carson says his scans are the same as before. Nothing has changed in him.
Nothing physical anyway.
Pulling her close, flush to his body, John grasps the back of Angie's head and roughly tilts it so he can capture her mouth in a fierce, hungry kiss. Wrapping his arms around her tight, he nearly crushes her within his hold. He has to have her. Now. He'll go mad if he doesn't get her under him in the next few minutes. He wants to hold her all night. Make love for days on end.
But she's struggling, moaning into his mouth. And it isn't out of desire. Flat, firm hands push against his chest and he opens his arms in release. She backs up, her expression dark, swiping the back of her hand over her mouth, tearing the remnants of his kiss from her lips. Her chest heaves, eyes ablaze. "You fuck," she says with unyielding cool. "You had sex with another woman."
"What?!"
Angie backs up again, seething. "She's all over you."
He should have known. John closes his eyes, hanging his head. He'd hoped the hot shower would have washed all traces of Teer away. "I can explain."
"Oh, really," she says in that same cool tone that reveals no emotion, unless you know her intimately. Then you know what she's truly feeling… controlled rage. Barely controlled, which is an understatement when it comes to Angie.
Jax was her control. And Jax was gone for good once she beat Kolya at his mind-warp game then killed the man with her own hand. After her time on PXT-705, Angie was like a child when it came to emotions. Everything was in the moment. Under-developed. Simply raw. She'd throw tantrums at the drop of a hat then just as quickly be giggling like a school girl or purring with seduction, ready to pounce. John had found it amusing, alluring and part of her charm… she is unique after all and utterly alive.
The more time she's in therapy, the more time that passes, the more 'grown up' she becomes. Not losing that instant gut reaction, but taming it as Jax did for so many years. It makes her a more sociable person, but John doesn't relish the chill that races his spine when she puts the brakes on her anger. It only means the explosion will be that much worse.
And usually physically taxing… for him.
He catches her gaze again. She's picked up the bottle and is tossing it from hand to hand, eyeing his head as a possible target for when she gets tired of the juggling act. "This ought to be good. Let's hear it."
"I was gone a long time, Angie."
"You left this morning." She arches a brow. "I've been gone longer than you. Didn't jump anybody on the way through the gate though, did I." She raises both brows. "Nope. Can't recall that happening."
"I got caught in this… time dilation thing-a-ma-jig."
"Thing-a-ma-jig. Cute."
"Really. Ask McKay. Ask Elizabeth. I've been gone six months."
"Hmm." She stops shifting the bottle from hand to hand and starts holding it by the neck as if she might give it a good swing. "I was wrong. That's not a good explanation." Her jaw slides to the side. "That's a fuckin' great one. Very imaginative."
"It's true."
She points to her slack face, her dark, angry eyes. "Does this say 'I care'?"
John's breath hitches. He could point out that the rage boiling inside her clearly indicates that 'yes' she does care. She cares so much it's killing him that she now knows. That he's hurt her so deeply. That's the last thing John ever wants to see.
He can feel the electric tinge in the air. The charge coming off her body as if she's made of live sparks. He deserves it. Whatever she throws at him – not the bottle, that'd be a waste of some good booze, which he could really use 'bout now – but anger, rage, anything… everything. He can't make her understand. She shouldn't have to understand.
He was thinking about her so much… too much… he thought he might break apart into little pieces. When Teer came to him. Offered herself to him. Made him see what he wanted. He didn't resist. He was stuck there with no hope of getting home. He wanted comfort and found it in a delusion. "I thought everyone left me behind. Forgot about me."
Her eyes soften a little only to narrow an instant later. "Forgot about you," she echoes, blinking repeatedly. "You thought I…" she swallows hard, not finishing the thought. Her gaze drops from his and she shakes her head ever so slightly.
"Yeah," he adds a shrug. All he can hope for is that she'll forgive him. Someday.
"How long?" The question is barely audible: a hushed whisper.
"What?" He didn't expect the conversation to continue. Where's the explosion, the cursing?
She looks at him again, the strength returning to her voice. "How long did it take you to jump into another woman's bed after being in mine just this morning?"
"But I wasn't –"
She holds up the free hand to stop him. "How long, John? A week? Ten days?"
"Five months, three days and ten hours."
Her gaze widens this time. "How many minutes?" She's baiting him. She wants to push him into a fight, into defending himself. But he isn't going to do that. When he doesn't answer she grunts and huffs. "Are you… in-love with her?"
He hears the crack in her voice and it nearly stops his heart cold. "God, no. Angel." He reaches for her but she keeps her distance. "It wasn't like that. I swear. I love you… always."
She sniffs. Nods. Then: "So. I guess you're just Kirk after all."
That's the kick in the gut he should've seen coming. She knows how much he hates that. Pointing at her, feeling the anger over his abandonment return, he can't stop his voice from rising with heat. "Hey, not so long ago you were willing to let me have a go at Elizabeth without any hesitation."
"Because she's Elizabeth, you idiot! I'd do her."
Now that he never expected. John's eyes widen in shock, surprise and his heartbeat speeds up a little, feeling that earlier spike in desire return as images pop into his mind. Sultry, fleshy, decidedly female images… "Really?"
Finally, her expression changes, softens with a touch of humor. "Well, yeah… if I went that way." Then she waves a hand and her face hardens again. "But that's not the point."
John hangs his head, trying the puppy dog eyes on her though he knows it's no use. "I know."
She waits, watching him. "Is that all you have to say?"
John reaches for her again, this time able to take her hand in both of his. "What do you want me to say? Tell me how I can fix this?"
Angie slips out of his grasp and stares at him. He can see the start of tears glistening in her eyes and knows the control is nearly gone. She bites the inside of her cheek, tilts her head then shoves her chin out defiantly. "You could've been Mensa. What could I possibly tell you that you don't already know?" With a shake of her head, she takes her bottle and stalks out of the room.
