Mimicry11

Sheppard strolled through the city of Atlantis. An arrogant swagger marking his footsteps as his boots trod the hallways. An almost contemptuous sneer on his lips as he stared round. Finding the lack of security pathetic. Amusing, even. Finding this Atlantis oddly familiar, yet oddly different. Discordant, even. The number of civilians milling around. The lax marines passing him and nodding. But not with enough deference. The quiet harmony of a city at peace, a populace not poised on the brink of war. Not yet.

He entered the lower levels. Touched the panels, entered his security codes. Like magic the doors opened, and he smiled. All too easy. No matter what reality they were in apparently the John Sheppards all thought alike, or at least had the same security codes. He approached the Ancient Chair device. It was shrouded in darkness. Neglect, almost. Sheppard shook his head. Knelt, squatted and opened the lower panel. Inserted the data and locked it, using a code he instilled with a pattern his fingers played across it.

He stood. Strolled along, nodded at few people. Smiled as a few women gave him an appraising, welcoming gaze. At least some things were the same in both cities. He entered the cafeteria, as if he had all the time in the world. He couldn't remember the last time he had fresh food. So many choices arrayed before him. He grabbed a burger. Almost felt lightheaded as he snatched a bottle of beer. He took a table, ate greedily. Slurping his beer in long, deep swallows. Envying his other self the easy life he had. All the things he no doubt took for granted. Had no idea how easily he could lose them. Sheppard smiled. He would learn soon enough.

"John? I had not realized you were back."

Sheppard glanced up to see Teyla standing, looking him over with a speculative gaze. He wiped his messy mouth on a napkin. Noting the differences. This Teyla's hair was longer, lighter. She wore Atlantis BDUs. He shrugged. Arrogance tempered by caution. "Yeah."

"And Ford? Is he..." she hesitated. Cocked her head. Something was odd but she couldn't figure it out. Realized if John had had to resort to extreme measures he might be acting oddly as a result.

"Contained," Sheppard answered. Voice gruff. He downed his beer. "You're not with the Athosians then?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

She stared. "No...I have not been to their settlement in a few days. Why do you ask me that?"

"No reason. Huh." He stood. "Guess it hasn't occurred to you yet."

"What hasn't? Colonel?"

He was walking away from her. Called over his shoulder, "That you've abandoned your people for these creature comforts and a chance to explore the galaxy."

"What? I...of course not! Colonel! Colonel!" she called, outraged, but he was gone, walking out of the cafeteria with long strides.

Sheppard paused, scowled at a marine who straightened, marched down the hallway. He paused again as a beautiful blonde woman was eying him with an inviting smile. He smirked, decided to play. Walked over to her as she shifted her stance. Giving him the best view of her full breasts encased in a salmon top. Her hips filling out the gray pants.

"John, I hadn't realized you were back," Susan Williams purred. She touched his arm. "Are you feeling all right? You look...different."

"Do I?" he asked. "You busy?"

"Me?" She seemed startled by the question. "No, not really. Do you need something, John?"

"Yeah. I do. I better take the edge off before I reach her."

"What? I don't understand. Reach who? What edge?"

Sheppard smiled. "Oh you will. Susan, right? Yeah...but mine was a real slut. Are you?"

Susan's eyes widened. "What? Excuse me? You–"

"Let's find out." He hauled her into the nearest room, not caring whose.

"John? John, are you...I thought you were dating...I thought..." Susan stammered, but the rest of her protest was lost as Sheppard kissed her. Shoved her into the wall and thrust his mouth on hers. His tongue shoving into her mouth as his hands ran over her clothing.

"Get your clothes off. Now!" he ordered, stepping back only to undo his belt. His pants. Nearly laughing at the absurdity. The sheer boldness. The sheer havoc this would create for his alternate self when he returned. If he returned.

Susan was staring, stunned. Aroused. She quickly obeyed, removing her clothing. Finding his approach unusual. She had believed he had been with that other woman, some biologist or other for months. But here he was. Demanding. Rough. She touched his arm, gaze lowering as he freed himself from the confines of his shorts.

Sheppard's lips quirked. He wasn't quite hard enough. Not yet. He let his gaze travel over the naked woman waiting for him. Her voluptuous curves. Heavy breasts. She was almost panting in anticipation and it both amused and reviled him. He grabbed her shoulders, shoved her to her knees. "Do me. Now. Then I'll fuck you to get the edge off. Now!" He all but shoved her face into his cock. He tensed, groaned as she eagerly took him into her mouth. Sucking hard. Making him harder, harder. He watched her. The motion of her lips, her mouth around him. He patted her head, touched the blond hair with almost gentle concern.

Susan found herself shoved back. He slid out of her mouth, fully erect now. She was hauled up, slammed into the door and cried out as Sheppard thrust into her. She squirmed, breath coming in gasping whimpers, not quite ready. But Sheppard didn't care. Ramming into her, hard, fast, pinning her to the door. Both arms flung to either side of her head. Legs splayed wide as he pounded up, into her. "John! John!"

Sheppard grunted. Taking what he could. Envying his other self this too, but not as much as he envied him Moira. Having Moira. Still alive, still his. Now his wife. No doubt enjoying every conceivable pleasure with her. Only her.

"John! John, please! Please, enough!" Susan whimpered. Her climax coming and going but he seemed oblivious, intent on his own pleasure. On something else that was turning the sex into anger. Turning pleasure to pain. She cried out as he bent to suck her breasts, to bite her nipples so hard he broke the skin. "John! Please!" Susan cried, suddenly fearful, shocked. Wincing as he rammed into her with almost brutal violence.

Sheppard lifted his head. "I thought you liked it rough, honey." He thrust hard, groaned as he came. Slid out of her and snatched her shirt off the floor to wipe himself off. He tucked himself back into his clothes. Fastened his pants. "Oh...shit, I forgot. I'm married now."

"Wha..wha...what?" she asked, staring in complete disbelief.

Sheppard smiled. Moved her away from the door. "Yeah, that's right. I'm married to Moira now. But ssh...don't say a word. And thanks." He kissed her cheek. Exited the room.

Susan stared at nothing. Dumbfounded. More shocked by his words than by the sex.

Sheppard almost laughed. He felt sated. Relaxed. It had been awhile since he had indulged in that kind of activity and he could only imagine the fallout from it. Not that it mattered. He anticipated seeing Moira. Having her back as his. Keeping her this time. Indulging in such activities with her, but with her he would be gentle. Loving. Giving as well as taking.


Moira sighed, procured another slide. "It's funny, Carson, but these Wraith shouldn't by all accounts exist." She turned in the chair to see the doctor inputting data on a computer.

"I know, love, but they do. And if we can decipher their genetic codes just maybe we can figure out why. Not to mention how."

"We always argue over the how so let's concentrate on the why," she commented, eliciting a smile from him. She shook her head. "Carson...do you think John is–"

"Fine. Don't worry, Moira. He's highly trained, and perfectly capable. Plus he's got a lot of men with him, doesn't he? And Ronon. I expect he'll be back soon."

"I hope so...I just...this whole thing with Ford...it's..."

"Yes." Carson sighed, met her gaze. "Aiden was such a lovely lad. A nice young man, eager to serve, to explore the galaxy. He had a great sense of humor too. He was a hard one to lose. The enzyme has irrevocably changed him, I'm afraid. He's beyond our help."

"I know...and John does too. Still...he'll try to save him. If he can."

"Of course he will, love. But he knows what to do. John isn't a fool."

Moira nodded. Turned back to the microscope, stood. "There are better samples in the bio lab. I'd like to show this to Peter. He's a biologist and will have a different perspective."

"All right. Maybe he can see something we can't."

Moira exited the infirmary, made her way to the bio lab. She stopped. Turned. Heard a woman's soft sob. Then silence. She continued on her way, not wanting to intrude. She turned again, hearing someone but there was no one behind her. She waited, eying the dark corners. Suddenly dreading if John Anderson was following her. Dreading meeting him. Seeing him. She whirled, resumed her quick walk to the lab.

Sheppard smiled, stepped out of the shadows. Gazing on her. Seeing her alive and well again made his heart race. Not his Moira, but John's. For a little while, at least. He enjoyed watching her walk, stop, turn. Stare but not see him. Turn and walk quickly. The pants hugging her rear. Outlining every curve, every swell as she moved. Making his fingers itch to touch, to squeeze. His felt his cock reacting and smirked. Headed a different direction from the one she had taken.

He entered the physics lab, emboldened by his own success. Walked over and snatched the tiny tracking device.

"What the...John? Back already? What about Ford? What the–" Rodney stammered, glancing up from his work, then back again.

But Sheppard was already exiting the lab. "Ford's contained, Rodney. Get back to work!"

"Oh, fine! That's it, then, is it? You caught the guy and now onto the next disaster? Fine, I've got this calibration to set up so leave me alone!" Rodney returned to his work. Paused. Looked back at his desk. Noted the absence of the device. Frowned in thought.

Sheppard headed for the bio lab. Footsteps quickening in anticipation, in enjoyment. He nearly collided with an older man who was heading for the same lab.

"Oh! Colonel Sheppard, sorry, I was–"

"Crap." Sheppard grabbed him, cut off his oxygen. Disabled he dragged the unconscious man to the shadows. Stowed him there. He stepped quickly around the body, headed for the lab. He paused. Stood in the doorway. Smirked. Made the sound of footsteps, pretending to be the man he had intercepted.

"Peter? Good! Come look at this!" Moira invited, not looking up from the microscope.

Sheppard stood unmoving. Letting his gaze dwell on her a moment. Letting her be oblivious to her fate. Letting her believe that all was well, that she was safe for a few more moments. The ponytail snaking down her back. Down the white shirt tucked into her khaki pants.

Moira sat back from the microscope, changed the slide. Immersing herself in work as she worried about John. The mission. Ford. She peered intently. Bit her lower lip, gnawing, but paused, freed it remembering John's teasing words. She frowned. "There's still no change. Even at this micro chemical level. No cellular degeneration at all! Even of the species which doesn't prove a subspecies but perhaps a convergent evolutionary line. We've seen two subspecies already, if you will, because of the varying contributors. The Iratus bugs and the humans, proto-humans. What if there are more? Probably dead ends but all containing the similar genetic material, the same DNA coded for this development?" She waited. Waited. "Peter? I know this isn't your exact field of discipline but I would like your input just the same. I believe we have enough evidence to at least postulate the theory of Wraith cross-species contact. Peter?"

Moira looked up from the microscope. Stared round the empty room. "Great, I'm talking to myself now," she muttered. Sighed. Turned back to the microscope with a shake of her head. Switched off the light. She felt eyes on her. Turned. John lounged in the doorway. "John? What are you..." But her relief, joy evaporated. She knew. Despite the similarity of clothing. Despite the unkempt hair, the handsome face and form. He had a haggard expression. Shadowy stubble lining his jaw, chin. Amusement and arrogance mingling. His gaze hard. Harder still as her joy, her love dimmed. Dimmed.

Moira scrambled to the comm on the wall, hit the button. "Security! Security to bio lab two! Security! It's not John! It's not–"

At the same instant Sheppard saw her realization. The warmth stealing from her brown eyes. He lunged towards her, crossed the room swiftly. Grabbed her. Pulled her back against him, slamming his hand over the comm. The other clamping over her mouth. "Now, now, Moira, is that any way to greet your husband?" he teased. Voice low, harsh.

Moira struggled, struggled. Disbelief almost overwhelming her. She pried his hand off her mouth with both of hers. "You! You were following us! You were the eyes on me! The twig! When you heard I was help! Help me! Help!"she cried, but he covered her mouth again. His other arm around her waist so tight she could barely breathe.

His voice rasped in her ear. Lips nearly brushing her skin. "Yes. Let me tell you, Moira, that shocked the hell out of me. Sorry, but you're still coming with me. I need you. I couldn't turn you over to him but I'm not leaving without you."

Moira struggled, clawed, kicked. Tried to bite as the door whisked open. Sheppard turned with her still locked in his arms. But freed her mouth to pull out his gun, a swift motion as marines filed into the room. Rodney on their heels. "Rodney! It's not him!"

"Colonel Sheppard?" a marine asked. The men hesitated, guns lowering.

"John? When...oh no! I knew it! Something was off! Something...it's not John! Shoot!" Rodney exclaimed, pointing, staring at the mirror image of his friend. "You took the device!"

"Good to see you too, Rodney. And thank you. I figured that John would have destroyed it, but you...you kept it. Had Moira activate it and let me know she was still in the city. Thanks."

"What? I...oh no. No, no, no, no...shoot him! That's not Sheppard! Not ours!" Rodney's guilty lament turned to anger. "Give me a gun! Shoot him! He's an imposter! A multi-verse version of our Sheppard but he's not our Sheppard!"

Sheppard smiled. "You'd still be firing on your commanding officer, and that is a no no. Thanks again, Rodney! I couldn't have planned this without you. Gotta go."

"Rodney! Shoot him!" Moira cried, struggling.

"Bye." Sheppard tapped a box on his hip. A blaze of light enveloped them.

A gun went off. The bullet flew through the empty air where Sheppard and Moira had been standing.

"Shit. John's going to kill me," Rodney observed.