Steph7085 – Thank you for the review, Glad you like the story and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Gabumon – Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Fyd818 – Thank you for the review, John's instincts are fantastic aren't they. I'm glad you liked the last chapter so much; this one's full of shippyness so I hope you enjoy it.
KariHermione – Sorry about your computer breaking I hate it when that happens, thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Whirlwind-2005 – Wow you've been playing catch up, my email alert was going off very ten seconds lol. I'm glad you like the story and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
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Chapter 11
Elizabeth's head felt like it was going to explode as she finally walked out of the room with the two police officers. The headache was only adding to the terrible day she'd had so far. As she walked out of the room she saw John standing just down the corridor leaning against the wall obviously waiting for her.
He spotted her straight away and walked over to her his face showing his concern for her. "How'd it go?"
"It went," she told him and he nodded his head.
"How are you?"
"Fine," she lied, she was the farthest thing from fine but she wasn't about to tell anyone that, she knew he could probably see straight through it anyway.
"Well I've finally been released under orders to rest so how about we head to the hotel?" he asked her and she silently nodded her head. The two of them headed out of the hospital and to the car that she arrived in with Carl. She almost had to smile at the thought of using his first name. The entire time she had known him she'd been calling him Mouthy but now that he was dead she was using his name.
John sat in the drivers' seat and Elizabeth quickly sat in the passenger side. The drive to the hotel was made in silence as was the walk to her room. John followed her into the room and quickly scanned it for any sign of danger, more out of habit than anything else.
He watched as Elizabeth sat down on the bed and he took in the sight of the woman before him, so different to the one he normally saw. She looked exhausted, her normally perfect posture was slouching, her face was pale and her eyes held so many emotions it was hard to separate them.
John sat down on the bed next to her and she smiled sadly at him, today had really taken its toll on her. "It wasn't your fault," he stated simply knowing exactly what she was thinking.
"He died because he was protecting me," she said quietly guilt lacing her tone. "How can that not be at least partially my fault?"
"He died doing his job, he knew the risks, we all do."
Her eyes which had been locked onto his since he sat next to her looked down and he knew there was something else bothering her. "What is it?"
"When they shot him," she stated still refusing to look at him. "All I could think was that it could have been you and now I'm just glad that it wasn't."
John looked at her for a moment, to say that he her words surprised him was an understatement. He was completely shocked though part of him knew he shouldn't be.
"A man died today," Elizabeth continued. "And all I can think is that I'm glad it wasn't somebody else, does that make me a bad person?"
John had heard enough, he put his hand under her chin gently bringing her head up and forcing her to look at him. "You are not a bad person Lizabeth; you're one of the most beautiful people I've ever known, inside as well as out. Being glad that it wasn't me that died doesn't change that, I was glad it wasn't you."
Their eyes held a little longer, both of them feeling the pull of the attraction between them. If it had been anyone else John would have given into the urge he had to kiss her but he respected her and valued her friendship too much to risk it. He quickly looked away and stood up. "You should get some sleep; I'm in the next room if you need me."
Elizabeth nodded and he turned and walked out of the room and to his own next door. The room was almost exactly as he had left it the morning of the crash though room service had obviously been in there to do some cleaning at some point. He changed quickly and laid down in the bed, glad to be out of the hospital at last.
He thought back on the events of the day, he had come so close to failing her, to losing her and he was far more affected by that than he should be.
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"So they were trying to kill her because she's working on some treaty and they grabbed her and her temporary body guard, dragged them into the utility rooms in the basement of the hospital, shot her temporary body guard and were going to kill her. Meanwhile her usual body guard who was in the hospital recovering from the injuries he sustained in the crash, realised someone was after her and asked for you to help him find her, you then knocked out the four men holding her and spent the rest of the day giving your statement to the cops," Marcus summarised.
"Yep," Ronon said after taking a quick moment to allow his brain to catch up with Marcus's very fast summary.
"Wow, you're having an eventful week."
Ronon rolled his eyes as he got in his car and drove to the hospital. He went straight to Teyla's room and she once again smiled at his arrival. He wasn't sure why he kept coming back; he kept telling himself that it was because he felt bad for her having no family and being stuck in here alone. The truth was that was only part of the reason, he felt some connection with her that he couldn't explain. He felt drawn to her in a way he had never been drawn to anyone else in his life.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked taking his usual seat.
"Much better," she stated simply.
"Hello Teyla," a young male nurse said as he walked into the room. He approached Teyla with what was probably her pain meds which she accepted with a grateful smile. "You're looking much better today."
"Thank you."
Ronon watched the scene in front of him and noted the flirtatious smiles the nurse kept directing at Teyla. He was surprised to find himself wanting to hit the man, was he jealous?
"I think you're well enough to take a walk," the informed her. "Do you feel up to it?"
"Yes," Teyla stated calmly though Ronon could tell she was trying to reign in her excitement at the prospect of leaving her room.
"Well as much as I would love to take you myself, I'm a little busy at the moment so perhaps you're friend could take you," he said directing a questioning look at Ronon.
"No problem," Ronon volunteered standing up and helping Teyla do the same.
"I'll show you where the gardens are, they're far more scenic than the ward," the nurse stated directing yet another flirting glance at Teyla.
Teyla linked her arm through Ronon's so that he could support some of her weight as she walked. He guided her out of the room and followed the nurse through the corridors of the hospital. He then stopped and gestured down a hallway. "The doors at the end, bring her back in about an hour or if she starts to feel unwell."
"Okay," Ronon agreed and led Teyla down the corridor and out the door at the end. They emerged in the gardens, surrounded by trees and flowers and singing birds. This was normally not the kind of thing Ronon would enjoy, in fact he would usually avoid things like this but as he and Teyla walked along the path he found himself enjoying the moment, for some reason he felt at peace.
Teyla for her part was enjoying the feel of the gentle breeze on her skin, the fresh air and the chance to be anywhere but her hospital room. She was glad that Ronon had agreed to bring her not least because there was only so much flirting she could take from that nurse each day. He seemed nice enough but he never seemed to pick up on her subtle hints that she wasn't interested.
Ronon was silent but she still enjoyed his company, she had only known him a week but she felt as though she had known him for years. She felt an attraction to him that made her both curious and afraid at the same time. She had not allowed herself to get close to anyone especially men since she left Kyle. He had hurt her in more ways than one and she was afraid to ever allow anyone that close to her again. Ronon however seemed to completely shatter her resolve, she was getting too close to him and she found herself wanting to get closer.
TBC
