Author's Note: So apparently, I'm a liar. I didn't think this fic would be finished before Christmas (hello ridiculous cold that will not go away), but it actually only took me about 3 hours to write (including interruptions at work). This is a little different than the other two holiday fics, because where they don't follow the story timeline, this one does, set after Adrift/Lifeline, but before Carter takes over Atlantis! I can't promise that it all makes sense as 1.) I'm on midnight shift, 2.) I'm at work and 3.) did I mention I'm sick? Anyway, I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday! Know what I want for Christmas? Journal comments, so hop to it! ) Thanks to calikelley for her encouragement with this one!
Once upon a time, when he was still a kid and had both his mother and father, John actually liked Christmas. He can remember the year he was turning seven and all he wanted was a new red bicycle. That was the year he'd written countless letters to Santa, begging and pleading for one just like Randy Meyers, the obnoxious bastard down the street, had.
Unfortunately, it was also the year the cancer finally took his mother. John hadn't gotten his red bike and he'd lost his mother. It was the year he'd quit believing in Santa, in miracles and the magic of the Christmas season.
Christmas on Atlantis this year is Heightmeyer's idea. John thinks she's probably one of those people who believed in Santa until she was in high school and who believes that a little tinsel and garland can fix everything.
He disagrees, of course, because he knows better but he hopes that maybe it'll hold a little bit of magic for the rest of the city; Meredith in particular.
He knows that a couple Athosian versions of the Christmas tree and badly wrapped Christmas presents won't fill the void left by Elizabeth's death, but he hopes that maybe it'll lift her spirits a bit.
She deserves that much, he thinks as he slips inside her lab.
"Ah, Colonel," Radek greets, tugging his glasses off to clean them with the front of his shirt. "I am very glad to see you. Please get her out of here," he says, jerking his finger in the direction of Meredith's office.
"That bad, huh?" John asks sympathetically.
"She has sent three of the new scientists out in tears," Radek says. "That is a record, even for her."
"They just don't make scientists like they used to."
"Is very true," he agrees. "But she is harsh, even by my standards."
"And yet you're still here."
"I am still here."
John just grins at that. He knows that out of everyone in the department, Radek puts up with the most of Meredith's abuse and yet he has a feeling that long after the others have gone, it'll still be Radek working alongside of her.
He's glad Meredith has such a loyal friend on her side.
"Tell you what," John says, slouching against the worktable. "I'll take her off your hands on one condition."
"Anything."
"Don't work too late tonight, huh? None of you. It's Christmas Eve, after all."
"You drive a hard bargain, Colonel," Radek teases. "I do not think that will be a problem. Is just me and Simpson now anyway. We will finish up and then call it quits."
"Good," John grins. "Now, let me see what I can do about the slave driver."
Radek just waves him off.
As John approaches Meredith's office, he's surprised when she steps out, large box in hand. She stops short when she sees him, narrowing her eyes murderously.
"Why are you down here?"
"Merry Christmas to you too," he says. "What's in the box?"
"Your present," she responds. "And no, you cannot have it yet. You'll have to wait until we get upstairs," she says brusquely, pushing past him.
"Do you want me to at least carry it?" He asks, attempting to take the box out of her hands. She pulls away, scowling at him before she stomps away again.
"No, no. I've got it. You just get the door and make it quick. I want to stop off at the mess hall and get something to take back to the room before Ronon gets there and eats it all. Did you know we're having actual turkey? The SGC sent it through during our last scheduled dial in." She stops in her tracks and turns back to him. "Hi, by the way."
John just grins. "Hi," he greets, leaning over to peck her cheek. "Long day?"
"Doesn't even begin to describe it," she snorts, handing the box over to him. "Have I told you this week that I work with morons?"
"You may have mentioned it a time or two," he says, shifting the box in his arms. "What the hell is in this thing?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," she deadpans, leading the way down the hall. "You aren't going to be disappointed about just eating in the room tonight, are you? I'm not in the mood to deal with stupid people at dinner and unless we can ban the idiots in my department from coming, I'm pretty well screwed so—"
"Mer," he says, cutting her off. "It's fine. I would rather spend tonight with just you anyway."
She studies for a moment, probably trying to see if he's lying, but apparently she's satisfied for what she sees because she just nods and sets off for the mess hall again.
John can only shake his head.
.::.
By the time they make it back to their room, John's arms feel like they're about to fall off. Not only is he carrying the heavy box, but she's piled it high with food from the mess hall as well. He can't wait to put it down.
Stumbling inside the room, he waits until Meredith grabs their dinner from the top before he sets the box down under the Athosian tree.
"Should I be afraid of whatever is in there?" He asks, rubbing his forearms. "It weighs a ton."
"Probably should be a little afraid, yeah," she says, dropping down onto the bed, shoving a piece of turkey in her mouth. She falls silent for a moment while she chews and John can't help but notice how incredibly miserable she looks.
Maybe Christmas wasn't such a good idea after all.
"Hey," he says, sinking down onto the mattress beside her. "You okay?"
"Not really," she admits with a half shrug. "Just… feels wrong. The last Christmas I celebrated, Elizabeth and I went to some awful Chinese restaurant in Indiana. It was horrible. I was sick for a week after we ate there."
"Indiana?"
"Yeah, I don't know. She was there for some conference and I think she felt sorry for me because she made me come along. Most boring three weeks of my life, and trust me, my life was pretty boring before I got here."
John doesn't know what to say to that, but Meredith saves him from having to speak again.
"Anyway, whatever," she says dismissively. "Time for presents, hmm?"
"Christmas isn't until tomorrow."
"Yeah, yeah. I have a lot to do tomorrow. The city doesn't stop running just because it's December 25th in another galaxy. C'mon, presents!"
"Mer," John whines, but she ignores him, pulling him to his feet.
"I'll go first, okay? I've been wanting to give this to you for weeks now!"
John thinks about protesting again because really, everyone knows you're supposed to open Christmas presents on Christmas day, but she just looks so damn excited for the first time in weeks, so he relents.
"Fine," he drawls, slouching a little on the bed. "You go first."
She rubs her hands together excitedly as she grabs the large box from under the tree and totes it over to where he's sitting.
"No wrapping paper?"
"Waste of time. You're lucky I even put it in a box! C'mon, c'mon. Hurry up and open it!"
John cocks an eyebrow at her before he lifts the flaps, eyes widening at…
"What the hell?"
Meredith just grins as he reaches in, lifting the little mechanical dog out of the box.
"I asked Elizabeth before…" she trails off, clearing her throat. "Which is to say, I checked about getting a real dog but the SGC said no. I thought about smuggling one in on the next Daedalus run but really, dogs are smelly and gross, so I came up with the next best thing."
John can only stare.
"I've programmed it to respond only to you after you train him, so he's your responsibility," Meredith says, reaching over to flip the switch on the back of the dog's neck. "John, meet Doc."
The thing comes to life in John's arms, startling him. He nearly drops it, which earns an indignant yelp from Doc and a glare from Meredith.
"Watch it!" She scowls. "Jeez. If you can't take better care of Doc, then we'll just have to find him another home."
"Meredith, is this… is this… a Chihuahua?"
"Cute, isn't he?" She asks proudly. "I thought about modeling him after the poodle we had when I was a kid, but I thought that might be a little too feminine for you."
John thinks she's touched one too many brain altering Ancient devices if she thinks a Chihuahua isn't feminine, but he keeps that to himself. Beside, Doc is pretty cool… for a girly dog.
As if sensing his thoughts, Doc barks again and wags his little tail. John is grinning before he can help himself.
"There are sensors on various places of his body," Meredith explains, reaching out to scratch under Doc's chin. He whines and thumps his foot against John's leg. "Just like a real dog, huh?"
"This is… cool," John say, looking up at her. "Thank you. He's awesome."
Meredith beams.
"I have to ask though… Doc?"
"Doc Brown. 'Back to the Future'? Horrible movies, but I know how much you like them and I figured it would save him from having a horrible name like "Blackhawk" or "Sniper" or whatever you military types like to call your pets."
John's grin widens a little.
"He knows basic voice commands, but like I said, we'll have to program him to understand your voice. Do you really like him?" She asks hopefully.
"I love him," John assures her, reaching out to tug her down onto his lap. "Couldn't ask for anything cooler."
"Does that mean you don't want your other present?"
"I get another one? Does it involve you taking off your shirt?"
"Cute," she smirks.
"I thought so," John says, setting Doc down carefully on the mattress beside him before he wraps an arm around Meredith's waist, pulling her closer. He slides a hand under her shirt, feeling her smooth skin against his palm for a moment before she pulls away, turning in his arms to peck his lips.
"Okay, okay," she says after a moment. "Really, let me get your other present." She pulls away a little reluctantly and crouches on the floor near the bed. "You have no idea how thankful I am that you never check under the bed for anything," she says.
John watches curiously as she pulls out what looks like a long board from under the bed. It isn't until she turns it over and he sees the wheels that he realizes it's a new skateboard.
He can only stare. "How did you…?"
"I made a robotic dog… it's not exactly hard to cut and sand a piece of wood," she says. "Especially when you're a genius. I took the wheels off of the one Ronon broke. I didn't know if you wanted any kind of design or anything on the bottom, so I didn't paint it but—"
John stands and silences her with his lips. He can't remember the last time someone gave him such thoughtful gifts and he just hopes that his own presents measure up to hers.
When he pulls away, she's grinning up at him and this is the happiest he's seen her look since Elizabeth died. He thinks that just maybe, Heightmeyer wasn't completely off-base with this whole Christmas thing after all.
"I suppose you want your presents now too?" He asks playfully.
"Mmhmm. Especially if my present consists of coffee. I'm almost out and I'd hate to have to ask Simpson if I can have some of hers. Do you know she's started locking it up? I mean, the nerve. She's clearly been hanging out with Radek too much," she babbles and John can't help but laugh.
"I think you're out of luck," he says. "No coffee."
"Well shit." She frowns. "Maybe you could ask her if I can have some then? She likes you, you know."
John doesn't dignify that with a response. Instead, he heads over to the closet and pulls it open, reaching for the top shelf. "I'm thankful that you can never be bothered to put your clothes away," he teases, grabbing three small packages from the shelf.
Meredith rolls her eyes and sits down on the bed, reaching for Doc. The dog barks and trots clumsily over to where she's sitting, climbing into her lap.
John thinks he's pretty cool for a Chihuahua. He's just glad she didn't get him a purse to go with it.
"Okay," he says, handing her one of the gifts. "This one first."
She cocks an eyebrow at him before she plucks the package from his hand. "There's no way you wrapped this yourself."
"I am a many of many talents," he declares smugly.
"Bullshit. Who did it? Teyla?"
"Do you want some of Simpson's coffee?"
Meredith shuts up and tears into the wrapping paper. John can barely contain his laugh when she opens up the Star Wars DS he stole from her months ago.
"Very freakin' funny," she scowls, tossing the handheld game onto the bed. "I hope you did better than that, or this shirt isn't coming off again until well into the new year."
"Ungrateful, aren't you?"
"Yeah, yeah. Give me my real present."
"Fine," he sighs dramatically before he drops down next to her, handing her the next package. "I just want you to know I had to practically sell my soul to get a hold of this, so you'd better appreciate it," he warns.
She says nothing as she rips into the package, a wide grin spreading across her lips. It's been months since she's had any good chocolate and as she holds the package up to inspect it, he can tell she's ready to tear into it.
"Now this is a present," she says, practically caressing the label. "Thank you," she grins.
"Mmhmm… I'm not done yet though," he tells her, leaning over to kiss her. "But try to go easy on that, huh? Make it last, at least until we can get back to Earth."
"No promises," she says.
He just rolls his eyes. It'll probably be gone by morning.
"Anyway," he says, fingering the edge of the last package nervously. He bites down on his lower lip, before he holds it out and offers her a crooked smile. "Merry Christmas, Meredith."
She eyes the long box for a moment before she takes it from his hands gently. "What is it?"
"Open it up," he tells her.
She takes her time with this one, unwrapping the paper carefully as if she's afraid she'll break inside. He watches as her jaw tightens at the velvety black box inside before she opens it up.
"I know you aren't a huge jewelry person," he says nervously. "I um… wasn't even sure if I could get you something like that, but when I saw it… every beautiful woman deserves a beautiful piece of jewelry, even if it just sits in a box in the back of the closet forever."
"John…" she says, running her fingers over the diamond pendant. "This is…"
Her reaction is not at all what he was expecting. If he's being honest with himself, he almost expected her to throw it at him and demand he take it back.
It just reminds him that what you see isn't what you always get when it comes to Meredith McKay.
"Do you like it?" He asks her.
"I love it," she tells him and he knows she means it. "Would you put it on me?"
Reaching over, he takes the delicate necklace from the box and drapes it around her neck carefully. Reaching around, she pulls her hair out of the way, allowing her hand to brush his arm in the process.
"Nobody has ever given me a piece of jewelry before," she says quietly, touching the pendant where it rests on her chest. "I think…" she trails off, clearing her throat. "I think this is the most beautiful gift I've ever gotten."
"It's nowhere near as beautiful as you are though," he tells her, leaning down to kiss her shoulder before he pulls his hands away from the clasp.
"You… are so full of shit," she says. "But thank you for saying it anyway." She clears her throat again and turns, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I love you, John."
"I love you too," he says, leaning down to press his lips to hers. She melts against him, running her fingers through his hair and John can't help but smile. The last few months, with the loss of Carson and then Elizabeth, haven't been easy, but Heightmeyer was really onto something with this whole Christmas thing raising spirits.
Tomorrow, Meredith will probably go back to sniping and berating him and everyone within a mile radius in an attempt to feel 'normal' after Elizabeth's death, but for now, she's happy and for the first time in over thirty years, John thinks maybe a little Christmas magic isn't as big of a crock as he once thought it was.
"Merry Christmas Mer," he whispers in her ear.
Meredith responds by taking her shirt off.
"Merry Christmas to me," John corrects.