Chap. 12:
Opening his eyes, John feels his insides twist as he is confronted with the scene that took place the last time he saw Ford.
"Down that hall, fifty meters, turn left. It'll take you to Teyla and Ronon's cell. I'll hold the Wraith back for you."
Walking towards Ford, "you're coming with me."
"I'll hold the Wraith back, boss. Now go. I'll be ok."
"I'm not going without you, Lieutenant."
"John. I'll catch up. Now go!"
Hearing the wraith alarms echoing through the ship, watching Ford run away from him, "Ford!" and realizing that Ford didn't hear him and he better get going, "oh crap."
All of a sudden his surroundings change and he is lying in his infirmary bed, Lexi holding him and Beckett has just morphed into a Wraith. Before the fear that he had felt can grip him fully he feels himself slipping back into unconsciousness.
Bolting up in bed, feeling his heart thundering in his chest and trying to catch his breath, he darts his eyes around the room and realizing that he's in Lexi's quarters, he looks down on his right side and smiles as Lexi is sleeping soundly next to him.
Running his hands through his hair, he shivers and rubs his temples, as he still can't seem to shake the headache that has been plaguing him since Beckett released them from the infirmary. Quietly getting out of the bed and grabbing his hoody, which is hanging on the back of the desk chair, he pulls it over his head and heads out onto the balcony.
Reaching the railing, he grips it tightly and takes in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Leaning forward and resting his elbows on the railing, he looks up at the sky and gets lost in his thoughts.
"John?"
Nearly jumping out of his skin, he turns his head to look behind him and grimacing, "sheesh Lexi, a little warning would be nice."
Walking up to him and pulling him into her, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest, "sorry." and feeling him tightening his grip around her, "nightmare?"
Shivering a little as a chill runs through him, "yeah." and pulling away just enough to look down at her, "don't bite my head off, but d'you have anything for it?"
Standing on her toes, she leans in and kisses him and as she pulls back, "how long have you had the headache?"
Sighing and frowning at her, "why does it matter?"
Pulling him inside and towards the bed, matching his sigh, "John."
Letting her help him into the bed, "Lexi, it's just a headache." and seeing the concern mixed with annoyance written across her face, as she sits down on the edge of the bed, "oh fine. I've had it off and on since Beckett released us."
Shaking her head, she gets up and walking over to the desk, "you really are stupid sometimes you know that?"
Closing his eyes and sinking further into the mattress, wincing as the loudness of her voice ping pongs around in his head, "ah Lexi. Not so loud please." and hearing her muttering to herself about what he's not sure, he let's himself drift as now that he's lying down, he can't seem to stop himself.
"John?"
Blearily blinking his eyes open, it takes a second for them to focus and as they do so, he sees Lexi's concerned face staring back at him, "huh?"
Holding out a water bottle and two pills, "here, take these."
Propping himself up against the pillows, accepting the water and pills, eyeing them skeptically, "what are they?"
Standing up and walking around to her side of the bed, climbing into it, "something stronger than what you've been taking." and seeing the apprehension on his face, "they won't leave you loopy, I promise."
Downing the pills, he hands her the bottle and sliding further down in the bed, closing his eyes, he lets out a breath as he can already feel the jack hammers receding.
A few seconds later, he squints his eyes open as he feels her cuddling up to him, "so how much longer are these nightmares going to last?"
"Well, I'm not really sure." and shrugging her shoulders in response to the look he gives her, "but hopefully it shouldn't be too much longer."
Grimacing, "great. Just great." and scrubbing his hands over his face, "you know, this isn't exactly how I expected to spend my vacation. I should've been back on duty three weeks ago."
Matching his grimace, "I know and I'm sorry about that."
Looking her in the eyes, "Lexi, you've got nothing to be sorry about."
Fingering his dog tags, looking down at them, "yeah I do. If I hadn't gotten bitten by the snake…"
Gently gripping her chin, forcing her to look at him, "Lexi, none of this is your fault. Okay?"
Frowning, "but." and before she can say anything else, he's kissing her to stop her from talking.
Ten minutes later as he pulls away, "okay?"
Smiling a little, "okay." and not missing the exhaustion in his voice, "how about we go back to sleep?"
Smiling back at her, "that's a great idea." and letting his eyes slide shut, "love...you."
Shifting so that her head is resting on his chest, "love you too." and a couple of seconds later her breathing evens out and matches his.
xxxx
Five hours later, Lexi blearily blinks open her eyes and rolling over onto her right side, she blinks them a couple more times to bring the numbers on the clock into focus. Shaking her head as the 0730 sharpens, she let's out a sigh and turning over onto her left side, panic engulfs her as John isn't lying next to her.
Sitting up quickly, "John?"
A couple of nerve-racking seconds later, she lets out a breath of relief as John slowly walks out of the bathroom, "yeah?"
Watching him carefully, "you okay?"
Climbing into the bed, he leans over and kisses her and as he pulls back, "well, the headache's not as bad. So yeah, I'm good."
Frowning as she watches him pull the blankets over himself, "but it's not gone completely?"
Matching her frown, "Lexi, I'm fine."
Sliding on top of him, looking him in the eyes, "are you sure?"
Reaching up to push a piece of hair behind her ear, "I'm sure." and pulling her down on top of him, "let me show you." and capturing her lips with his, he kisses her, smiling through it as she pulls him up into a sitting position and pulls his hoody and t-shirt up over his head, tossing them on the floor.
With his shirts off, he shivers a little as the cool air of the room hits his skin, but the feeling is quickly forgotten as Lexi pushes him back down onto the bed and he feels her lips whispering across the skin on his stomach and chest, causing him to let out a moan of content.
xxxx
"Carson, where the hell are Sheppard, Ronon, Teyla and Lexi?"
Looking up from his breakfast tray, "well hello to you too Rodney." and seeing Keller walking up behind him, "Jennifer, welcome back."
Sitting down across from him, "yes. Yes. Hello. But I'll ask again, where is everyone?"
Taking a sip of his coffee, "well, Ronon is with Kanaan, Teyla and Torren on New Athos." and looking down at his watch, "and Lexi and Colonel Sheppard should be in Lexi's quarters, still asleep."
Staring at him, stunned, "why is Ronon with Teyla and why are Sheppard and Lexi still asleep?"
"Ronon is with Teyla because Lexi and Colonel Sheppard are still recovering."
Gently placing a hand on McKay's arm, interrupting him, "recovering from what?"
Looking at Keller, "a snake bite and the Pegasus version of meningitis."
Sharing a look with McKay, "oh."
Taking a bite of his eggs, "aye."
"Are they okay?"
Looking between them, "well as of three weeks ago, all their test results came back clean. So, I released them to Lexi's quarters with orders to take it easy."
"Have you seen them since then?"
Finishing his coffee, "no love, but I've had regular radio contact with them and they sound fine."
Standing up quickly, "you haven't seen them for three weeks, but you're trusting that they're telling the truth about being okay. How long have you known Sheppard?"
Looking up at him, "Rodney, I'm sure that Lexi wouldn't lie to Carson about how she and Colonel Sheppard are feeling. She took the same oath as we did." and turning to look at Beckett, "who was bitten and who had the meningitis?"
Smiling his appreciation at Keller and watching as McKay sits down again, "Lexi was bitten and Colonel Sheppard had the meningitis." and smile turning into a frown, "I hate to say it, but it was closer than it should've been. It's truly a miracle they're still with us."
Sitting forward, looking from Keller to Beckett, "a miracle. How close are we talking here Carson?"
Finishing his coffee, "I was ready to call all of you back to Atlantis."
Sharing a look with Keller, "why didn't you?"
"Rodney, they pulled through and they really are fine."
Standing up quickly again, rushing out of the mess, talking over his shoulder, "well then you won't mind if I just go see for myself."
"Rodney wait!" and sharing a look with each other, Keller and Beckett, rush after McKay.
xxxx
Eyes snapping open, Lexi strains her hearing to try and figure out what sound had woken her up. A few seconds later, just as she is about to close her eyes again and fall back to sleep, she hears the sound again and suddenly realizing what it is she turns over onto her left side, to see John curled in on himself, shaking like a leaf, sweat beading his forehead.
Feeling her stomach twist into knots of worry, she reaches out to pull him into her arms, only to pull back in surprise as he bolts up right and immediately turns on her, wrapping his hands around her throat, pinning her to the bed, "leave me alone!"
Gasping for air and trying to pull his hands away from her throat, "John…listen…to…my voice…it's me, Lexi."
Coming to his senses, he quickly lets go of her throat and horrified that one of his nightmares just played itself out in real life he tries to scramble out of the bed, only to fall out of it. As he pulls his legs into his chest and buries his head in his arms on top of his knees, it also hits him that he dreamt this as well.
As the rest of that nightmare plays itself out in his mind, "no, no, no. Not again. I…can't."
Climbing out of the bed, Lexi picks up her tank top from the floor and pulling it on, she tip toes her way over to his side, not wanting to spook him. As she kneels down on his right side, she frowns as she hears, "no, no, no. Not again. I…can't."
Feeling her heart clench, she sits down facing him and resting her hands on his arms, "John?"
Hearing his name, he looks up and as he realizes that Lexi is sitting in front of him, concern written across her face, "Lexi?"
Squeezing his arm gently, "yeah."
Taking in a deep breath and letting it out, "I almost…"
Pulling him into her arms, wrapping her arms around him, "but you didn't."
Burying his head in her shoulder, "damn it Lexi! I'm sorry."
Rubbing his back, "it's fine John."
Talking into her shoulder, "no, it's not fine."
Kissing his neck, talking through it, "what can…I…do…then?"
Pulling back from her, glaring at her, "get angry at me, yell at me. Just don't tell me it's fine."
"But John."
"Lexi, please."
Frowning and standing up, looking down at him, "you really want me to get angry at you? Fine." and starting to pace back and forth, "where should I start? Oh I know, how about the fact that you don't make it easy for anyone to get close to you? Or that no matter how hard I try to, you always push me away! You think it's easy for me to see you suffering? G-d John, I love you so much that it hurts, it physically hurts when you pull away from me and don't let me in!" and feeling the tears streaming down her face, she angrily swipes them away as she sits down hard on the foot of the bed, burying her face in her hands.
Completely stunned by the fact that she actually yelled at him, he pushes himself up off of the floor and sitting down next to her, he pulls her into his arms, frowning as she sobs into his chest.
xxxx
"Rodney, don't you think you should at least ring the bell?"
Reaching for the door control panel, taking it off, looking at Keller, "no." and returning his attention to the panel, "I don't."
"Rodney, I'm telling you they're fine."
Looking at Beckett, "Carson, if they're fine, why haven't you seen them over the past three weeks?"
Sighing, "probably because they haven't wanted to see anyone but each other." and seeing that this only spurs McKay on in his attempts to override the door controls, "Rodney, leave them be. They know that everyone is back from Earth. I'm sure they'll make an appearance when they're good and ready."
Looking over his shoulder, "but…"
Gripping his arm gently, "Rodney, give them a little space. I know that you want to see that they're okay, just as much as I do. But Carson's right."
Looking at her hands on his arm and then up at her face, "oh…okay." and replacing the cover on the panel, "I should be checking in on the labs anyway."
Smiling and falling into step with Keller and McKay, "good lad. So how was it back on Earth?"
xxxx
Pulling out of his arms a little, looking up at him, "do you think…they're really gone?"
Cupping her face in his hands, brushing some tears away with his thumbs, "yeah. I think so." and leaning in he kisses her and as he pulls away a few seconds later, "Lexi, why didn't you tell me how you felt sooner?"
Shrugging, "because I guess I thought it was the right way to deal with you."
Pulling her into a hug, resting his chin on her shoulder, "if it helps, I think you were right. Most shrinks I've been forced to see always pushed and I just. You know."
Pushing him away to arms length, looking him in the eyes, "but that's the thing John. I do know. I've read everything in your file."
Smirking, "and you still want to marry me?"
Smiling and leaning in, she kisses him again and as she pulls away, "yes. I still want to marry you. But do me a favor?"
Returning the smile, "that depends on what you want me to do."
Rolling her eyes, "John, I'm serious."
"Okay, okay. Sorry. What is it?"
Standing up and holding out her right hand, "let me in all the way."
Frowning as he lets her pull him to his feet, "I have let you in all the way."
Wrapping her arms around his neck, "no John you haven't and don't get me wrong, I know that you've probably told me more than you've ever told anyone else. But you haven't told me everything."
Resting his hands on the small of her back, sighing, "Lexi, there are things that I can't tell you."
Frowning, "like what happened in Afghanistan?"
Fisting his hands in the back of her tank top, not meeting her eyes, "you really have read everything, haven't you?"
Gently gripping his chin, forcing him to look at her, "yes. I have." and dropping her hand to his dog tags, running her thumb over the raised lettering, "so stop being a stubborn son of a bitch and let me in all the way."
Raising an eyebrow at her, "wow. Someone sure is taking this getting angry at me, seriously."
Hitting his shoulder lightly and pulling out of his arms, "well, you did ask me to."
Following her into the bathroom, leaning against the doorframe, he crosses his arms over his chest, watching as she reaches for her toothbrush and the toothpaste, "yeah, I did." and walking up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, he kisses the nape of her neck and talking though it, "it's…just that…you usually…don't listen to me."
Pulling her toothbrush out of her mouth, leaning forward she spits into the sink, "well it's only fair. You usually don't listen to me." and washing out her mouth, spitting out the water, "but I thought this time would be as good as any to start." and placing the toothbrush in its holder, she turns around in his arms, resting her arms on his shoulders, "so, will you let me in all the way?"
Grimacing, "if I don't will you still?"
Frowning, "will I still love you or will I still marry you?"
Looking her in the eyes, trying to gauge her reaction, "um, both."
Sighing and pulling him into a hug, "John, to quote one of my favorite movie lines, 'you had me at hello.'"
Hugging her tighter, "really?"
Feeling his arms tightening around her, she tightens her grip on him too, "yes really." and feeling him relaxing his grip on her, she leans back a little, looking up at him, "so now that you know there's no chance of losing me…"
Not meeting her eyes again, "but."
Frowning, "no John. Listen to me, okay?" and seeing him nod, "I've told you this so many times that it really is getting old. I know that I've said that it's not, but it is. You have a family here. Your team loves you, as do I and when you love someone you take the good with the bad. I also know that there is always a chance that I might lose you one day and I accepted that fact a long time ago."
Matching her frown, "see that's the problem. You shouldn't have had to accept that."
Running her fingers through the hair on the back of his head, "John, it was my choice and I have no regrets."
Leaning in to kiss her, talking through it, "are…you…sure?"
Pulling back, slightly, her heart drops into her stomach as she sees the emotions in his eyes, "yes John. I'm sure." and mentally turning on the shower, "now, how bout we shower and head down to grab some breakfast. I think there are a few people that want to see us."
Smiling as he pulls her tank top over her head, tracing every curve of her body with his eyes, "yeah. Okay."
They both undress, completely and step into the shower. An hour later, Lexi is sitting on the couch in her quarters and as she looks from John, who is sitting on the bed, lacing up his sneakers, to her watch which reads, 0930, "John, are you okay?"
Sitting up and looking at her, "I'm fine. Why?"
Leaning forward, resting her elbows on her knees, "well, you usually don't take an hour to get ready."
Sighing as he stands up, "Lexi, I'm fine. Really. So let's get going."
Matching his sigh, she also stands up and walking over to him, "are you worried about seeing everyone?"
Pulling her into his arms, shrugging his shoulders a little as she fixes his shirt collar, "I guess, a little."
Resting her hands on his chest, "it's okay to feel that way."
Gripping her hands in his, looking down at them, "maybe. But I don't know why I feel this way and it's annoying the hell outta of me."
"John look at me." and smiling as he listens to her, "you have every right to feel this way. You've had a hard couple of months and it's no surprise that you're feeling a little vulnerable right now."
Letting out a frustrated sigh, "but Lexi, it's not like I haven't been through worse."
Rolling her eyes, "John, I know that you've been through worse. But think about it. First you end up having to relive your worst fears because of the Sekkari device and then you come down with meningitis, on top of having to watch me almost die." and seeing the look he gives her, "all I'm saying is that you didn't have any time to put everything back in their boxes. So don't worry if it takes a little bit longer for you to feel normal again."
Grimacing, "will it keep Beckett from clearing me this afternoon?"
Pulling out of his arms and leading him out of the doors, "no, he should clear you. The only thing that might keep him from doing so would be the headaches you've been having."
Walking next to her, his right arm draped over her shoulders, he looks down at her, "well I haven't had one in a couple of hours. Whatever you gave me really did the trick." and stopping in front of the transporter doors, "are you going to clear me?"
Smiling up at him as she swipes the control panel for the transporter, "already done. I sent it off to Mr. Woolsey while you were getting ready."
Hitting the screen for the mess hall, smiling at her, "thanks."
Stepping out of the transporter, smiling and nodding her head at the people that send "hellos" their way, "I only cleared you because I know that getting back to work will help you put things back into their boxes, more quickly." and feeling his right hand sliding into her left, she slides herself closer to him and as they continue walking into the mess, she lowers her voice so that only he'll hear her, "I'm right here."
Squeezing her hand to let her know that he heard her, he leads her over to the food line and letting go of her hand, they each grab trays and after filling them and grabbing a cup of coffee, they head out to the balcony, taking a seat at the team's table.
xxxx
"Hey Jen. Welcome back."
Looking up from her computer, Keller smiles as she gestures at the chairs across from her, "thanks Lexi. How're you feeling?"
Sitting down, returning Keller's smile, "I'm fine. How was Earth?"
Frowning, "it was great. But Lexi, Carson told me what happened while we were gone. So I'll ask again, how are you?"
Sighing, "Jen, I really am fine. As a matter of fact, you can see for yourself. I'm here for my clearance check."
Standing up and walking around her desk, "all right then, let's get you checked out."
Also standing up, smiling at Keller as they walk out of the office, "so did you have fun with Rodney?"
Patting the gurney under the Ancient scanner, smiling as she watches Lexi climb onto it, "I had a wonderful time with him."
xxxx
Two hours later, Lexi is sitting on a gurney chatting with Keller, as Keller finishes up her notes on Lexi's file, giving her the all clear, when all of a sudden, "I'm sorry Colonel. You know the protocol." interrupts their conversation.
Looking over to the East entrance to the infirmary, Lexi smiles as she sees the exasperation on Beckett's face and the frown on John's as they make their way towards the Ancient scanner, which is two beds away from where she is sitting, "John, stop giving Carson a hard time."
Lying down on the bed, turning his head to look at her, "I'm not giving him a hard time."
Huffing out a laugh, pressing the start button on the tablet attached to the Ancient scanner, "that's like saying I'm the bloody King of England, lad." and watching the screen as the image pops up, "Jennifer, how is Lexi?"
Hitting save on the computer next to Lexi's gurney, "well except for being slightly anemic, she's all clear." and looking at Lexi from the computer, "I'm gonna prescribe some iron supplements and you should feel better in a couple of weeks."
"Doc, are you sure she's okay?"
Looking over at John, who is now sitting up on the gurney, having his blood drawn by Beckett, she is shocked by the emotion playing across his face, "yes Colonel. She's fine." and looking over at Beckett, "I'll bring those down to the labs Carson. That's where I have the iron supplements that I want to give to Lexi."
Pulling out the needle from John's arm, placing a cotton ball over the puncture sight and handing Keller the vials, "thanks love." and waiting until Keller is out of ear shot, he turns around to face John, "all right lad, how long have you had the headache?"
Looking over at Lexi, who frowns at him and back at Beckett, "how'd you know?"
Frowning as he hooks his stethoscope into his ears, "the scan lad. Up with your shirt."
Looking at Lexi again, seeing her mouthing, "tell him the truth." he grimaces as the bell of the stethoscope touches his skin, "since you released us. But I don't have one now."
Straightening up a few seconds later and slinging the stethoscope around his neck, grimacing, "John, I clearly remember telling you when I released the two of you to Lexi's quarters that you needed to tell me if something like this happened." and turning to face Lexi, "and you love, you should've known better."
Swinging her legs over the side of the gurney, standing up quickly and walking over to John's side, she glares at him but lets him take her right hand in his and looking at Beckett, "this isn't my fault Carson. John didn't tell me until this morning about the headaches."
Sighing as he reaches for the blood pressure cuff, "and you didn't have any clue?"
Wincing as the cuff tightens around his bicep, "Carson, don't blame Lexi."
"John, don't you dare cover for me."
Wincing again, "Lexi, you didn't know that I was hiding them."
Placing the blood pressure cuff on the tray table next to the gurney, "all right you two. That's enough. I don't care who knew what and who didn't know what." and typing up some notes on the computer by John's gurney, "all that I care about John, is that you've had a headache for three weeks and your pressure is little low." and heading towards the section of the infirmary where the labs are located, talking over his shoulder, "just sit tight for a wee bit longer."
Watching as Beckett walks away from them, feeling Lexi's eyes on him, he turns his head to look at her, "I thought you said he'd clear me."
Sitting down next to him, frowning, "no. I said that the headaches might cause him to not clear you."
Sighing, "great. This is just what I need."
Forty minutes later, just as John is about to wear a hole in the floor from pacing back and forth, Beckett and Keller show up and after a lecture from the two doctors about hiding things, John is cleared for active duty.
As they reach the West exit of the infirmary, John kisses Lexi on the cheek and with a promise to meet up for dinner with her and the rest of his team, they each head for their offices.
xxxx
"I should've never left."
Looking up and smiling at the owner of the voice, "I'm fine Evan. How was Hawaii?"
Walking around the desk, pulling Lexi out of her chair and giving her a hug, "it was great." and letting her go, running his eyes over her, "you sure?"
Sitting down again, focusing on her tablet, "yeah, I'm good." and looking up at him, she smiles as he's leaning against her desk, his arms crossed over his chest, "did you stop by just to say hi or was there something else?"
Sighing and uncrossing his arms, gripping the edge of the desk, "I'm concerned about the Colonel."
Raising an eyebrow, "why? Carson and Jen cleared him."
Shrugging, "I know that. But I just sat through a two-hour briefing with him and Mr. Woolsey and he was zoning out even more than he usually does."
Leaning back in her chair, looking him in the eyes, "he's fine Evan."
Smirking, "that's what he said and being that I don't feel like getting chewed out by my CO for calling him on it. I'm asking you. What's going on?"
This time it's her time to sigh, "it's been a rough couple of months for him Evan and I'm not surprised that he's zoning out."
Frowning, "but Lexi, if he's zoning out this much, he shouldn't be going on missions."
Matching his frown, "look, I wouldn't have cleared him if I didn't think that he could handle it."
"I don't doubt that. But you're too close to this."
Glaring at him, "are you questioning my ability to separate my personal feelings from my professional ones?"
"Yes, I am."
Standing up quickly, fisting her hands by her side, "he's fine Evan and if you don't believe me ask Dr. Santino. Carson had him come in to talk to us before he released us. He also signed off on John's clearance."
Holding his hands up in surrender, "whoa. Calm down. I just thought…"
Pointing a finger at him, shaking with anger, "Evan, I treated you when we were together. What makes you think I wouldn't be able to treat John?"
Reaching out for her hand and pulling her into a hug, "I'm sorry Lexi. It's just that I'm worried about him. Which is really weird cause I've had COs that I've cared about, but with Sheppard it's different."
Pulling out of his arms, smiling, "he does pull you in, doesn't he?"
Smiling back at her, "yeah, he sure does." and sitting down on the edge of the desk again, "so are we okay?"
Sitting down in the chair again, "yeah. We're good and don't worry about John. Okay?"
Standing up and leaning over, he kisses her cheek and straightening up he heads for the doors, talking over his shoulder, "okay. I'll see you later."
Smiling, she watches him until the doors close, blocking him from view and refocusing on her tablet, she gets lost in her work.
xxxx
"I guess things are back to normal around here."
Looking up from her tablet, she smiles as John is leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, "as normal as they ever get."
Pushing off the doorframe and walking into the office, "good point." and sitting down on the couch, "do you think you can pull yourself away from your work for a minute?"
Pushing back from her desk, "sure." and standing up, she walks around her desk and as she sits down, "what's up?"
Turning towards her, "well I have something to give you." and reaching into his pants pocket with his left hand, he pulls out a little black box.
Seeing the box, "John, what is that?"
Smiling and opening the box, he looks up at her as he hears her gasp and taking the ring out of the box, "it's what belongs on your finger now that you've said yes." and taking her left hand in his, he slides the ring on her ring finger, where it fits perfectly with his mom's ring.
Looking from him to the ring, which is set in platinum with twenty brilliant cut diamonds on the band, leading up to a central oval-shaped diamond, which is at least four carats and back at him, "John you shouldn't have. It's too much."
Frowning, "what's wrong with me wanting to spoil you?"
Taking his face in her hands, leaning in to kiss him, she smiles as he kisses her back, the hunger in the kiss the same as the first time they kissed. A few minutes later, pulling back slightly but keeping her arms wrapped around his shoulders, "there is nothing wrong with you wanting to spoil me. But don't you think people will talk when they see the size of it?"
Smirking, "probably. But let them talk." and pulling her to her feet, "you wanna head to bed?"
Looking at her watch, "but it's only 1740 and we're supposed to meet up…" she trails off as she sees the glint in his eye and smiling up at him, "lead the way Colonel."
Pulling her out of her office they head directly for her quarters, where once inside, he mentally locks the doors. They kiss their way over to the bed and falling on top of it, they make love as if they haven't made love in ages.
Three hours later, Lexi can only smile to herself as she and John head off to the mess to have dinner with his team. As she sits down at the table, her smile widens and she sighs in content as everything is as John said earlier, "back to normal."
