Sympatric Speciation10
Moira was moving from monitor to monitor again. Checking data as it scrolled along. She paused, flipping open a textbook, scanning the words, muttering to herself. She moved to the next console, sat briefly to type a few words. Sprang to her feet and checked another computer that was mapping a haphazard trajectory of planets. She turned again, stumbled backwards, about to fall. "John!"
He caught her arms, steadying her. Raised a brow as he glanced round the empty lab, the busy computers. "What the hell is this, Moira?"
"It's a lab, John. I realize you are no scientist but you should at least recognize it."
"Hilarious, Moira. Shit!" He kept hold of her arms, glancing round again. "Carson said you were overworking, but damn! How many different projects are you currently researching? Moira?"
She gently freed herself, trying not to be distracted by his sexy ire. By the black t-shirt enfolding his body, the gray pants. The sexy double holster straps on his thigh. The boots. "Um, five."
"Um, five?" he echoed, meeting her gaze. She appeared harried, strands of her ponytail escaping to coil against her gray t-shirt. Khaki slacks snug on her hips, her rear as she turned to move to a monitor. "Five?" he repeated, sounding angry. "Moira, enough! You can't run five projects all by yourself! Not when you are pregnant! I can get you help and you can take–"
"No, no thank you, colonel, I can manage," she refused. She turned to him as he stood, frowning. Arms crossed over his chest, stubborn stance immovable. She sighed. "John, really, I'm fine. These projects are very low priority so there's no need to involve anyone else. It's all based on theories and suppositions and the careful collation of data." She considered, recalling Evan's words. "Hey, could you get me a certain flavor of Doritos?"
"Huh? Moira, you need help and you will get help. I will decide what projects are low or high priority. So? What's all this about?" He gestured at the computers. The piles of books. The papers littering the desks. He folded his arms in front of his chest again. Waited.
She shrugged. "The migratory trajectory, extrapolating backwards to find the breeding ground. The DNA and now RNA sequencing of the Wraith genome, specifically as it pertains to the mRNA and how the other Wraith evolved differently from our own. Carson's helping me on that one because frankly all that genetic stuff is beyond me when it gets too technical. The evolutionary branches of the pachyderms and their relatives. The development of the ATA gene in general, and how those other Wraith could have possibly adapted it. The proteins, John, it all boils down to the proteins and the enzymes. It's complicated. Oh, and um, um, just a little research on, um, pregnancy because I don't know a thing about it." Her voice fell softly at the end, and she blushed. Flustered she glanced at the computers, then to John.
John had been glowering, but her last project made him smile. He moved to her. Touched her rosy cheek. Kissed her lips. "Ah. Always the scientist, is that it? I see."
"John, you...it's not funny!" she flared, hitting his chest.
"No, it's not, it's adorable, Moira." He kissed her again, pulling her into his arms. "My Moira. But enough is enough, sweetheart. You don't have to bury yourself in projects, in science. I'm here now, baby. You can bury yourself in me. Repeatedly."
"John! These are valid projects! Well, all but the last one, and–"
"No. The last one is highest priority, Moira. The rest can wait. No, I told you, I'll decide the priority here, and the priorities are you and my son."
She sighed. "No. I have work to–"
"No." He considered, keeping her close to him. He licked his lips. Gaze roving over her body before meeting her irritated expression. "Okay. Got it."
"Got what? Will you let go of me? I have work to do, damn it, and you are not going to stop me! Don't you dare stop me, John!"
"No, I'm not going to stop you, just slow you down," he agreed. "Top priority is the pregnancy. No, don't you dare argue with me," he warned before she could protest. "Next the migratory trajectory. Then the pachyderms, then the what was it? The genetic RNA stuff. Then the ATA stuff as it has nothing to do with this reality. Got it, baby? I've decided. You'll get all the help you need. You do realize we have a city full of scientists, don't you?"
"Hilarious, John! Yes, and they are all engaged in much more pressing projects and research then I am. Lower echelon, remember? So just take that fine, fine ass of yours and scoot!" She pushed.
He smiled. "If I was sensitive, Moira, I'd think you were trying to get rid of me. Luckily I'm an Alpha male so I am dense when it comes to subtlety. Come on."
"John!" She was torn between amusement and anger. Yanked free as he began to pull her towards the door. "No! I have work to–"
"Enough! The only work you have to do is in our bed, got it, baby? I will not have my son inundated with all this science even before he is born! And don't pull that lower echelon crap on me ever again! Unless you meant it as some weird kind of sexual foreplay. Did you?"
"No! Keep it in your pants, Sheppard! I have work to do! Maybe not the most important work but it is important work and I need to do it! I won't stop being a scientist, John, I won't!"
"I'd never ask that of you, Moira. Just slow down, all right? I'm here now. With you. Okay? Now come on. You need a break. I need a break. I'll talk to Weir and we can get you a team to help with all of this stuff."
"I'm not going and I don't need help!" She moved to a console. Typed. "Another planet out in the far fringes, John. We're getting there, but it's taking time. If this trajectory keeps heading out this way it will be where we've never gone before...maybe even beyond the Stargate network. How will we ever access the--" She yelped as she was suddenly swept off her feet. "John!"
He smiled as she grabbed onto him, hands scrambling along his shoulders, his neck as he supported her bent legs and back. He held her, carried her to the doorway. "Don't care. You heard my orders, baby! Damn it! I will have Carson ground that pert little ass again if I have to!
You need rest and sex, now! So do I."
She laughed, arms snaking around his neck. "John! John Sheppard, put me down! Put me down! You are acting like a caveman!"
"And it turns you on, doesn't it, baby? All those primal urges," he teased with a leer. Carried her out of the lab. "Hmm...I'm thinking the table, okay? Then the bed."
"Sounds like Sheppard's delight. No! I don't have time for–"
"You will make time for, baby, believe me! We are going to enjoy lots of fudge. We'll skip part one and go right for part two."
"John, there you are! I've been fiddling with that thingy we found on that planet and I oh am I interrupting something?" Rodney stared.
"No, not at all," John said, voice mild, as if carrying Moira in his arms was nothing out of the ordinary. "That alien thingy?"
"John, will you put me down?" Moira asked, but laughed as he swung her gently, adjusting his hold on her. She met Rodney's perplexed gaze. "Um, John interrupted my research."
"Oh. I can see that," Rodney quipped. Shook his head. "Anyway, yes, that alien artifact. I haven't got it working yet but I have successfully created an interface with our tech. Not the Ancient tech but good old Earth tech. You know that means?"
"You can finally fix the DVD again?" John quipped.
"No...well, maybe. No! It means that...are you going to just hold her like that while we talk?" Rodney asked, finding the sight of Moira swung up into John's arms distracting.
"Yes. You were saying?" John asked.
Moira giggled. "John, set me down, would you? John!"
"Hell no, you'll just run back to your lab and work. So, Rodney? Meaning?"
"I...uh...oh. Yes. This alien tech may not even be indigenous to this galaxy at all. And that means the aliens may not be either! And that means–"
"You think it might have come from our galaxy, like a stowaway on an Ancient ship when they were stealing from Earth," John surmised.
"Uh, yes. Exactly. Wow," Rodney commented.
Moira smirked. "I know. Just when you think he's all Neanderthal he flashes that Mensa brain of his and there you go. Will you please put me down now, colonel?"
"No. See if you can get it working, and send all the schematics to the Daedalus so they can transmit it to Earth. Maybe the SGC has seen something like it, or can pinpoint the origin. It's not Asgard, is it?"
"No! I would recognize that! And no, it's not Goa'uld either. Okay. That's a good idea, actually. Wow."
"I know," Moira teased again, "just when you are dazzled by his pretty head he actually says something quite intelligent and ow!"
John's hand slid to squeeze her rear. "Enough! Well, what are you waiting for? Get to work, Rodney! I've got my hands full here. I need to spank a certain biologist."
"John! Put me down, would you?" She squirmed but John tightened his hold on her, began to carry her up the hallway, moving past a bemused Rodney. "John! Damn it, John, put me down! Okay! Okay! I will go to our rooms, all right? Put me down!"
"Hell no. You need to be disciplined, baby, and I plan to be at it for hours."
"You wish! John, put me down! Seriously, I have work to do! John–"
"No. Seriously, you need a spanking and then I will thoroughly take that sweet, sweet center."
She sighed. Nuzzled his throat. Kissed up to his ear. "Jo-hn," she teased into his ear. Circled it with soft kisses. Then bit. Hard.
"Ow!" He nearly dropped her as she laughed. "Fuck! Moira, that's it!"
"Then put me down, damn it! John!"
"No. Just enjoy the ride, baby."
"Now? Or later, sweetie?" she teased.
He laughed. "Both."