Author's Note: Yes, back again with yet another fic. Have I mentioned how much I love writing Mer/John (just in case it isn't obvious by the ridiculous amount of updates I spam you guys with)? A huge thanks to calikelley for her skills as a beta. Thank you guys for commenting, you're amazing! Keep 'em comin', huh?

This shit has to stop.

Meredith doesn't know exactly what's gotten into John Sheppard, but she's beginning to wonder if she should start checking for the presence of pod people.

It's not that Sheppard was ever really not nice, because even when he was breaking her heart, he had the decency to look upset about it. It's just that at some point during the last two weeks, nice has changed into stalker and it's really starting to freak her the fuck out.

Which is why she's taken to hiding in her room rather than her lab and really, that pisses her off. She doesn't like the idea that she has to hide from Sheppard in order to get some work done and she can't help but wonder if this is all some giant joke meant to humiliate her further.

Whatever. He can try all he wants, but she knows better now and she's not going to make the same mistake twice. Genius, remember?

Leaning back in her desk chair with a quiet groan, she swipes a hand over her face and wonders if it's safe to take a trip down to the mess hall. She's surprised he hasn't tried to bring her dinner, but then she's hoping that he's finally gotten the fucking hint. She doesn't want, nor does she need his pity and she isn't going to stand for him skulking around like a puppy whose guilty of chewing his master's favorite pair of shoes.

That act was endearing for the first thirty minutes of the first day, but Jesus Christ, he has no business looking so wounded.

The sound of a knock on her door pulls her from her thoughts and as she groans loudly, she wonders if Elizabeth will hold her accountable if she actually murders him. With the way he's carrying on, she thinks she should at least be able to plead insanity.

"Go away, Sheppard!" She yells because she has no intention of opening the door. She's starting to get a little hungry, but she has enough power bars to last for another hour or so and hopefully by then, someone will try to overtake the city or something and divert his attention.

"Doctor McKay?" It's Teyla's voice and she actually sounds amused, which only serves to piss Meredith off even more. She's positive that Teyla can kick her ass with both arms tied behind her back and her eyes closed, but if she's here on a mission from Sheppard, Meredith can't be held responsible for how she might react.

But still, this is Teyla and as much as she might like to leave her standing out in the hall, she can't. So instead, she pushes herself up from the chair and makes her way over to the door, hesitantly waving her hand in front of the control panel.

When the doors swish open, she pokes her head out tentatively, checking the hallway to make sure Teyla is, in fact, alone.

"Doctor McKay?"

"Did you come alone?" Meredith asks, unable to believe her good fortune.

"Of course," she says and she almost sounds offended. "I wanted to see how you were doing."

"Me? Why?"

"You have seemed… a little out of sorts these last few weeks and I have found myself growing quite concerned. I know we are not as close as you and Doctor Weir, but I wanted to make it clear that I was here, should you wish to talk."

Meredith is genuinely taken aback by that. She's a suspicious person by nature and a small part of her wonders if John put Teyla up to this just because he's a pain in the ass, but again, she reminds herself this is Teyla. Meredith doesn't believe that she'd go for something like that and she finds herself relaxing just a bit.

"I'm fine, thank you. I've been a little busy and you know… Just… fine but busy."

"Very well," Teyla says, bowing just slightly as she offers Meredith a small smile. "Should you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Of course… and Teyla?"

"Yes, Doctor McKay?"

"Thank you." She watches as Teyla retreats and wonders if maybe she isn't alone out here as she originally thought.

The thought brings a crooked smile to her face because really, it's not every day that she realizes she actually has more than one friend. She's positive that she'll never be as close to Teyla as she is to Elizabeth, but right now, she'll take what she can get.

Her encounter with Teyla is almost enough to make her forget about Sheppard until he comes barreling around the corner, a hopeful smile on his stupid face when he spots her standing in the doorway.

"McKay!" He calls out, jogging over to her room before her doors have an opportunity to shut. "Hey, have you eaten yet?"

"Not hungry," she responds. "And actually, I'm quite busy so if you'll excuse me—"

"—I have it on good authority that they're having not-meatloaf tonight. I know it's your favorite, and I told Ford to go on and save us a seat, so c'mon."

"What part of 'not hungry' did you not understand, Major?"

"I know that's what you said, but c'mon! Meatloaf! We should probably hurry up, because you know that never lasts very long and—"

"For fuck's sake John, what are you doing?" She asks because she's had enough. She doesn't like this overexcited puppy act and she wants him to stop.

"I'm… inviting you to dinner?"

"Why?"

"Because everyone needs to eat and I just thought… well, you know, I'm going that way anyway so I thought we could eat together."

"No."

"What?"

"I don't want to eat dinner with you tonight, just like I didn't want to eat dinner with you last night. In fact, if you keep up with this shit, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I'll never want to eat dinner with you again because you're really starting to piss me off!"

He swallows hard at that and for a second, she thinks she's been too harsh with him.

But then she remembers that he chose a fucking Ancient-turned-Pretend Alien Priestess over her and she feels more than just a little justified in losing her temper. She doesn't know what game he's trying to play here, but she isn't interested.

"Meredith, listen—"

"No, you listen to me: I appreciate what you're doing here, okay? I know I was a little psycho over the whole… Chaya thing and you feel like you have to make it up to me somehow, but you don't owe me anything so stop trying."

"But I—"

"I'm going to go down to my lab and work for awhile and I swear to God if you come by with a plate of not-meatloaf, not only are you going to be wearing it, but there will no hot water for you to wash it off with. Have I made myself clear?"

"It's… just a team dinner, McKay," he said, and he looks thoroughly embarrassed. "We haven't… really done anything as a team in a couple days and we're heading out on a mission tomorrow so I thought…"

"Oh," she says, and she can't help but frown at that.

"I don't want things to be weird between us. I mean, I know it's more than a little late for that but I'm… I'm trying here, okay?"

"I'm not ready."

He looks a little crushed at that, but she convinces herself she doesn't care. Sure, it's been two weeks, but she thinks he deserves to suffer for a little longer.

"Are you going to hate me forever?" He asks and wow, he really has the wounded puppy look down. She doesn't know how to answer him.

She doesn't hate him; not by any stretch of the imagination, but she's still hurt, she's still mad and she isn't sure how long she's going to feel this way. She wants to forgive him and make things between them all better, but she just isn't ready to do that yet.

So instead, she offers him a tentative smile. "Not forever," she says "But at least until tomorrow."

He still doesn't look happy about that, but he offers her a slight nod and half a smile. "Okay then. I guess I can deal with that. You're still… you're still coming with us though… right?"

"Gate room at 1400? I'll be there."

"Good," he says and she can see that he means it. "I'm just gonna…" he gestures to the empty hallway and steps away from her door, offering an awkward wave. "See you later, McKay."

"Goodnight, Sheppard."

She watches as he turns and walks away, his shoulders hunched slightly as though he's trying to disappear into himself and she almost feels bad; just not bad enough to run after him and make things right. Maybe tomorrow or the day after that.

But at least maybe he'll stop stalking her now.