Elizabeth tapped her foot impatiently against the tar of the airstrip. 'Where is the pilot?' she thought to herself as she fanned her face. The Australian heat was finally getting to her as they waited at the airport for their Air Force escort to show. Carson had left with the medical group earlier in the morning, this leaving only half a dozen UN delegates.

Elizabeth wiped at her forehead, she knew that they were going to get some cocky flyboy who flirted with every woman he come across. Her experience with pilots in general left a lot to be desired and she had a feeling this time wasn't going to be any different.

A murmur amongst the delegates had her turning around. She watched as a car pulled out onto the airstrip heading towards the small group. Elizabeth knew she was about to find out if her suspicions about the pilot were correct. The car came to a stop and three men hopped out. Elizabeth's eyes narrowed when she spotted a familiar dark haired man stepping out.

'No! It can't be.' Her mind screamed out.

Elizabeth watched as John Sheppard searched the crowd, finding her he gave a lopsided smile and moved to stand in front of the delegation. She noticed he was dressed in a flight uniform and it suddenly hit her, 'he must be the pilot.'

Elizabeth had known that John Sheppard was in the Air Force but not that he was a pilot. She knew the reputation that followed pilots and could see John fitting the mould. Shooting another look at the man she had tried to escape, she took the time to appreciate just how good-looking John was. Like any woman, Elizabeth was susceptible to a man in a uniform, especially this man.

The three men were now standing in front of the group. Elizabeth hadn't had time to assess the other two. One was older and balding whilst the other was young and quite good looking. The bald man stepped forward and began to talk.

"Good Morning. I am Colonel Steven Caldwell. Though I won't be accompanying you on this assignment I have great faith in the two men that are." He paused for a moment before glancing left at John.

"Colonel John Sheppard is an extremely gifted pilot who will look after your interests. So I will leave you in his capable hands." Caldwell finished. He nodded at John and retreated to the car.

John glanced at Elizabeth coyly, trying to gauge her reaction to his arrival. Her face displayed no emotions and John knew that her mask was firmly in place. The younger man still standing next to him cleared his throat and John realized he'd better continue.

"Hello. I'm John Sheppard and this," he indicated to his left, "is Major Evan Lorne. We will both be flying you for the duration of your assignment."

"I would like each of you to introduce yourselves as you step on board." John told the group and he could have sworn that Elizabeth scowled.

John moved to the entrance of the plane and met each member of the delegation as they boarded, only one of which he really wanted to talk to and she was deliberately hanging back. As she moved closer and closer, he felt his heart begin to pound faster and faster. Then she was standing in front of him.

She held her hand out and smiled, "Elizabeth Weir."

"John Sheppard." He reciprocated before deciding to test her indifference. Leaning forward he whispered in her ear, "I really want to be alone with you right now."

Elizabeth pulled her head back abruptly, "What are you even doing here?" she spat at him before storming onto the plane. Though it wasn't loud, one of the delegates stared at them strangely.

John looked at the ground for a moment before moving inside the plane. Every step forward he made in their relationship was met with ten steps back.

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Elizabeth was fuming as she took her seat. 'What is he doing here?'

This was meant to be her chance to challenge herself but also her chance to remove herself from temptation. The more time she spent with John the bigger her attraction for him grew. It wasn't just his good looks anymore but his personality that appealed to her. Every time they met, she got to know a little bit more about what made him tick and she realized she was becoming greedy. Things between them when they were alone were great but there was a bigger picture and Elizabeth knew she couldn't loose sight of it.

Closing her eyes, she decided she would try to sleep for most of the plane trip.

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The flight from Australia couldn't have been more by the book if he had tried. They were outside of the capital city at the base that would serve as their home. Peacekeepers, Soldiers and Diplomats all worked out of the busy centre and John knew he would probably have difficulty getting any time alone with Elizabeth. Standing at the door to the plane, he waited until every person got off. John noticed that Elizabeth hadn't moved from her seat yet and he wondered why.

John and Elizabeth were the only ones who remained behind on the plane and he had to admit that he was starting to feel a little intimidated by the woman glaring at him from her seat. John could feel the anger radiating off her so he just stared back, not attempting to say anything to her. Elizabeth rose from her seat and picked up her bag, stalking over to him she stood right in front of him.

"Why are you here?" she demanded.

John sighed all she wanted was answers. For a moment, he had thought she was going to hit him.

"I was assigned this mission. I had NO idea you were even going to be here to begin with." John told her.

"To begin with?" she queried curiously.

"I was shown profiles of all the delegates and when I saw your face I…" he paused and cleared his throat.

"What are you doing here Elizabeth? It's too dangerous!" he exclaimed.

"I'm doing what I've always wanted to do but have been too afraid." She told him.

"You still haven't answered my question."

John looked at her, "I came so that I could look after you, protect you…I came because I had too." He told her softly.

Elizabeth's eyes shot to his and he could see her anger melting away into some emotion he did not recognize.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth? Tell me where you were going?" John asked her.

She answered his questions with one much more personal. "Why are things between us spiraling out of control no matter how much we try to rein it in?"

John's arm reached out, his hand caressing her cheek. Elizabeth nuzzled into it and he watched as she closed her eyes. He could feel her acquiescence and he felt joy bubble inside him.

"Just stop fighting Elizabeth." John whispered.

Her eyes snapped opened and she stepped back, "I can't. Don't you understand? I can't no matter how much I want too." She whispered.

"I have to catch up with the others, I'll probably see you around?" she asked him before stepping past him to stand at the plane door.

"Yeah." John nodded.

Giving him a slight smile, Elizabeth stepped down from the plane. John just watched her rush across the tarmac, trying to catch up with the rest of the group. Things were going to be a lot harder than he thought; it was all becoming too thick, too fast.

TBC