Kin Recognition8
Moira set her bags on the floor, staring at her bed. The blankets were mussed. The comforter rumpled. She wondered, feeling like the Three Bears discovering that someone had been sleeping in her bed. She smiled. Tenderness filled her, realizing that it could only have been John. She touched the rings hanging from a chain under her shirt. A knocking on the door made her turn. Drop her hand to her side. She opened the door. "Carson. Please."
Carson entered, smiled. "It's good to have you back, love. How are you? I am so sorry about your grandmother."
"Thank you." She sighed. "The funeral was hard, but I got through it. And then John...John showed up right afterwards so..."
"Yes." Carson couldn't keep the grin off his face. He hugged her. "Congratulations, Moira!"
"Huh?" She pulled back, startled. "I...I.."
"Am I wrong?" Carson asked, blue eyes sparkling. "You are glowing with happiness, Moira! The way John was looking at you, whatever he said to make you beam like that I could see it across the room! He proposed, didn't he? I had a feeling he might, especially after taking an extra day to be with you."
"I...Carson..." She smiled, recalling John's admonishments. Do not tell. But do not lie either. "Yes. Yes! Yes, he did!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her joy. "He did! And we did! I mean we're already married!"
"What?" Carson asked, surprised. "He married you already?"
She grinned. Nearly jumping up and down in her excitement. Happiness. "Yes! Oh Carson, it was so romantic! So romantic!" she gushed, unable to stop herself. Moving round the room as if unable to keep still. "He rescued me from that horrible reception, those horrible people, took me to a fancy hotel, bought me such beautiful, amazing..." she caught herself before revealing his wealth, "things, and roses! Roses and we...we had this amazing dinner and wine and then oh he was so..." She paused, deleting the vigorous, repeated sex, "and then John wanted to do it right away."
"I bet he did," Carson agreed with a laugh.
"Carson!" she scolded, but laughed even as she blushed, "I mean the wedding! We did all of it, the honeymoon, the engagement, the wedding all in one go! One glorious night and day because it was all we had before we had to come back here! He loves me, Carson! He really loves me! I love him! I love him, Carson, I love him!"
Carson laughed, charmed. "Yes, Moira, I've been aware of you two for some time now. I am happy for you both! This is marvelous news! Wow. You are Moira Sheppard now."
"Yes!" She grinned, giggled. "Yes, I am! Oh!" She calmed, became serious. "You can't tell anyone, Carson! Not yet! John said we have to keep it low-key for now. That's why I'm not wearing the ring, nor is he. Some sort of problems, military stuff, I don't know, but you can't tell anyone yet. Please."
"All right, love. I won't tell a soul. What sort of military restrictions could there be?"
"I..." she faltered, "I don't know, something to do with his position here, the teams, I guess, but he was adamant about it. And I trust him. I do trust him."
"All right, Moira. Mums the word. Congratulations!" He smiled. "I'll leave you to unpack." He left, wondering how he would get his five dollars now.
"So...did you have a nice time?" Rodney asked, gaze examining his friend for any telltale sign of something different. Something momentous. But John appeared the same. Exactly the same.
John frowned. "It was a funeral, Rodney, so no. Which I missed, by the way. Damn reports at the SGC."
Elizabeth sighed. "Oh. I'm sorry, John."
"If I had been informed sooner–" he began.
"You were off-world. You never would have made it in time to go with her. Moira seems fine. Let's go to my office." She led him off the pier. "Everything's been quiet while you've been gone."
"Good. I should have been contacted the minute Moira was informed," he continued. "She needed me with her. You have no idea how horrible her–"
"It couldn't be helped, John. We've been over this. I've got the updated mission roster for you," Elizabeth stated, breezily ignoring his objections.
"Good. I should have been–" John persisted.
"You got there when you could. Obviously Moira is fine. You even took an extra day," she accused. Glanced over her shoulder at him as they climbed the stairs.
"Yes, you did," Rodney chimed in as he followed. "What did you do on that extra day?"
John glanced at him. "You really want to know?"
"Well, no, uh...I mean, obviously you were with Moira. I mean..." he stammered.
"Obviously." John closed the door before Rodney could enter the office. He moved to the desk as Elizabeth took her seat. Pulled a laptop to her. John sat on the desk, viewed the roster as she turned it to him. "Two teams out, one back. Lorne's due in an hour," he summarized.
"Yes. His last report was fine, but he's thirty minutes overdue. Still, it could be nothing."
"Probably nothing, but we'll see. My team's scheduled to go to...P1R582 in a few days?"
"Yes, as previously scheduled. And now you're here to lead them. Is that a problem, John?" she asked, quirked a brow as she saw a flash of disappointment across his handsome face.
"No." He could imagine Moira's reaction but she knew how life went out here as well as he did. "That's fine. If Lorne doesn't report in thirty we'll check it out." He stood, moved towards the door, bag slung over his shoulder. Smiled. Saw Rodney lingering in the control room. Pacing like a lion waiting to pounce on its prey.
"Was there something else, John?"
"No. Oh, yeah." He sauntered back to the desk. Said in an offhand manner, "you need to make a personnel status change."
"Oh?" Elizabeth brought up the screen. "Who is it?"
John smiled. "Moira O'Meara."
"Moira? How has her status changed?"
"It's not O'Meara any more. It's Moira Sheppard now."
"What?" Elizabeth's shocked gaze met his smug one. "John? Are you, are you serious? You–"
"Yes. I've got the papers in my bag. So, you'll make that change?"
"I...you...how...you...you only had day a to–"
"Yeah, and we're keeping it quiet for now. You know how people talk and interfere. So as of now if anything happens involving Moira I am to be informed immediately. Even if I am off-world."
"You...you married her? Just like that? Were you even engaged?" Elizabeth stammered, stunned. Staring at John as if she had never seen him before.
John shrugged. "Of course we were. For about...let's see...two hours or so. It's a done deal. So you'll make that status change? Thanks." He sauntered out of the office, amused at her disbelief, her shock. He met Rodney in the control room. "Let's grab some lunch."
"Okay. You can tell me about your trip," Rodney agreed. Glancing up to see Elizabeth in the doorway to her office, staring at them. "Hey, did you...oh wait! Hold on." Rodney moved to Carson. John continued to the cafeteria. "Well? I haven't had a chance to ask him yet. Well?"
Carson smiled. Knew he should keep quiet but couldn't. "Yes. You owe me five dollars."
"You're kidding!"
"No, I'm not," the doctor assured. "And what's more, Rodney, he not only proposed but married her as well. Don't tell a soul!"
"What? No, no way! He would never–"
"I just talked to Moira. He did. They did."
"What? No, no way!" Rodney repeated. "She is obviously deluded! Sheppard? Do you know how incredibly preposterous that is? Preposterous enough to think he'd propose but then to actually marry her on the same day?"
Carson frowned. "He loves her, Rodney."
"I'm sure he does, for now. But come on, Carson! You would invent such fantasies just to get your precious five dollars! Wait, is Moira in on this?"
"Rodney, no! Go ask John if you don't believe me!"
"I will! And I'll tell him it was your silly idea and he'll be pissed at you for even putting the notion of marriage into Moira's head!"
John had just taken a big bite out of his sandwich when Rodney joined him. Tray uncharacteristically devoid of food.
"I would have thought you'd be sitting with Moira," Rodney ventured. Using tact for a change instead of just blurting out his question.
John chewed, swallowed. Sipped some water. "I would be, except she's not here right now."
"Hmm." He eyed his friend's hand. His finger.
John smirked. "What?"
"Nothing. You should...you wouldn't believe how fanciful Carson is. Must be that wild, Celtic temperament. You know how emotional the Scots can be, well, the Irish too, I mean Moira's Irish, isn't she? Well, American but had Irish roots, but Carson, Carson's full-on Scottish which explains his sentimental and sappy streak, doesn't it? His–"
"Fanciful?" John asked, setting down his sandwich. Suspicious.
"We even had a bet on it, can you believe that? I knew it was a sure bet, too. But trust Carson to find a way round it, to cheat just to get his five dollars."
"A bet?" John asked, voice lowering.
"Yes! On whether or not you would propose to Moira." Rodney snorted. "As if you were on some wild romantic getaway with her, not at a funeral! And even if you were you'd never do something so preposterous. I tell you, that man's imagination knows no bounds. None!"
"Preposterous?" John inquired. Relief turning to irritation.
"Yes! I knew you'd agree, and I did try to warn him. About his romantic silliness. And don't let Moira hear about this, although Carson may have already suggested it to her. Once a woman gets a whiff of those words she'll never let it rest, John. Look at the trouble you had over that before, remember? From just a simple suggestion of getting closer rooms. How it escalated into the M word suggestion. Luckily you are not that kind of guy and luckily Moira wouldn't want to marry you anyway so–"
"She wouldn't?" John asked tersely.
"–there's no chance she'd get hung up over the suggestion let alone the idea of marriage. What with her dead, you know who and all I can't imagine her wanting to do that all over again. And you, well, that's hardly your style, is it now? The very thought is preposterous so by all rights I should get my five dollars at last from–"
"Preposterous?" John repeated curtly.
"Yes! I knew you'd agree! As if you would do such a thing! I mean, come on, John, we're both men of the world. You're John Sheppard, the darling of ascended women!" Rodney joked. Did not see his friend's glower. "Sure, you're seeing Moira now and that's great, how long you've been with her and all, but to jump from that to a proposal? He even said you had already married her! Preposterous! The things he'll say just to win a bet!" He shook his head. "Are you going to eat that?" Before John could reply Rodney snatched the other half of the sandwich. He took a bite. Chewed. Swallowed. Suddenly noticed John was very still. Staring hard. "What?"
"I did," John admitted. Deciding.
"Sorry? Did what?"
"All of it."
"You..." Rodney laughed. "Very funny, John! First Moira, now you? Are you all in on this just to have Carson win the bet?"
"No! As preposterous and inappropriate as it was I did it. Not only proposed but married her."
"Yeah, right," Rodney scoffed. "Good one, John."
"I did!" John protested.
"Is that so? You're not wearing a ring. Nor is she."
"We have them. I can show you. I'm wearing it with my–"
"Yeah, sure," Rodney dismissed. "You even went so far as to provide props? Good one, John, but I'm not falling for it! Not this time. I'm still not paying Carson, no matter how elaborate your machinations are to ensure his victory."
"Damn it, Rodney, I did!" John flared, angry now. "Look! I can prove it!" He began pulling the chain from under his shirt.
"Ha ha, John. Joke's on me, right? What's next? You'll produce signed documents? You'll have Elizabeth initiate a status change? I'm surprised you'd go to such lengths for this bet. I'm more surprised at Moira's connivance. But you'd better watch yourself, John. Even Moira might take this too seriously once she thinks it over and decides she might just want to have a wed–"
"Rodney! Damn it, I did! I–"
"Give it a rest, will you? Geez! I'm not falling for another of your stupid pranks!" Rodney stood, snatching his empty tray and moving to the counter to fill it.
John cursed. Let the chain drop back under his shirt. Felt the wedding ring jingle against his dog tags. Torn between proving it or still concealing it. Knew he had to keep it quiet for now. But was pissed at Rodney's attitude, his disbelief. His mockery. He lifted his sandwich to his mouth for another bite when the PA blared.
"Colonel Sheppard, to the 'Gate room! Colonel Sheppard to the 'Gate room!"
John swore. Set down his sandwich. Stood and strode across the cafeteria.
Rodney sneered at John passed him. "What's this? Another bride?"
"Shut up, Rodney!"
"Maybe you need to institute a revolving door policy on proposals, Sheppard!" he called, laughing as John frowned, swearing under his breath.
John sat in the conference room. Considered as the initial report was finished. He folded his arms across his chest. "So...an abandoned Wraith lab?"
"Yes, sir," Evan Lorne agreed. Glanced at his team, at Elizabeth. "Or so we believe. It reeked of Wraith technology. We need to go back to get a closer look. I'll need O'Meara on this now that she's back."
"No." John noticed Elizabeth's raised brow. He continued laconically, "We'll need McKay on this. So my team will switch missions with yours. We'll go to M17248 and you can go to...what was it...oh yes, P1R582 in a few days. Enjoy the harvest ceremony, or linen exchange, or Morris dancers, whatever." Laughter circled the table as the men groaned.
"Thanks. Thanks a lot, sir," Evan quipped. Sighed. "I still need O'Meara with me, then. Otherwise I might kill Kavanaugh."
"Major Lorne," Elizabeth scolded, noting the absence of the scientist. Noting the nodded agreement of the two marines.
"It's true, ma'am," Aaron Josephes stated.
John smiled, but could feel Elizabeth's eyes on him. Waiting. Testing. "Well," he said amiably, "you'd better take her with you, then. You've got the specs for your new mission. Dismissed. Oh, Lorne, wait a sec. Elizabeth, if you wouldn't mind?"
Elizabeth smiled. "Oh...all right. Darn it," she grumbled, guessing his intentions. The topic of conversation. She exited reluctantly.
Evan held back as the room emptied. He closed the door. Stood behind a chair. Waited. Waited. "Sir? I trust that Moira is all right? After the funeral and all?"
"She's fine, major."
"I wanted to go with her," Evan explained, misunderstanding John's studious gaze, "but she insisted on going alone. I wasn't about to force my company on her, and I did try to contact you but Doctor Weir said there was no need."
"It's all right, major. I appreciate the attempt. Your duty was to stay here while I was off-world."
"Yes, sir. So O'Meara is still on my team?"
"Yes."
"Good. Thank you, sir." He headed for the door.
"Oh, major. It's Sheppard now." John decided, smiled. Tone casual. Offhand.
Evan turned back to him. Perplexed. "Sir?"
John straightened in the chair. Couldn't seem to stop himself from telling yet again. "Sheppard. My name."
"So it is, sir," Evan agreed. "I'm not following."
John smirked. "Yes, it is, major. As is Moira's. Moira O'Meara is now Moira Sheppard. But we're keeping it quiet now so don't say a word. To anyone."
"Sir? You? And Moira? You..."
"Yes," John confirmed, enjoying the look of surprise, of disbelief on the major's face. "You realize this means you better guard her life and welfare with your own. And if anything, I mean anything happens to her I will be notified immediately. I don't care what it is. If she breaks a anil you will inform me ASAP. If you thought I was overzealous before you haven't seen anything yet."
"Sir? Oh...oh..." Befuddled he stared. Alarmed and annoyed all at once.
"Dismissed." John waved his hand towards the door as if batting a fly.
"Yes, sir, I...sir." Evan faltered. "Oh, um, congratulations, sir."
"Thank you, major." John waited until Evan had left the room before letting his laughter erupt.
