What time is it?' Amara mumbled as she stood from her seat, heels clicking against the floor.

'You have half an hour before they are forced to leave,' Samantha Carter replied as she handed Amara a dark blue folder.

'If they make me miss the departure time, I'm bombing congress.'

Sam laughed lowly. 'Daniel will help you.'

'Dr. Amara Chambers,' the announcer said.

Amara took a deep breath before stepping up to the podium, opening the folder in front of her before facing the politicians seated in a crescent in front of her. 'Honourable members of the Stargate Oversight Committee, my name is Amara Chambers. Most of you have already met me over the past two years I've worked with the Stargate Programme, following a year at area 51. Today I am here to encourage you to approve the funds required to establish a research outpost on P7M-903, as proposed by the IOA. The planet has proved a key location for research regarding solar wind harnessing–'

Twenty minutes later, Amara stepped down from the podium with a polite nod. Sam stood from her seat as they were excused, leading the way out into the hallway.

'Do you think they'll agree?' Amara asked as they headed to the bathrooms.

'No idea. I hope so, but you never know. In here,' Sam said and held open the door for her. 'If nothing else, you can go to Atlantis knowing you at least tried.'

'I suppose so. Do I need to do anything?'

'No, just stand still. Stay safe,' she added with a small smile.

'You too.'

Sam pulled a small device from her pocket. 'Colonel Carter to Daedalus. One ready to beam.'

Barely five seconds later, Amara heard the familiar sound of the transporter beam locking onto her. Another breath and she was standing on the bridge of the Daedalus–facing most of the senior staff of the Atlantis expedition.

'Welcome aboard,' Colonel Caldwell said.

'Thank you for waiting for me, Colonel,' Amara said and stepped away from the window.

Caldwell sat down in the captain's seat and nodded to his second. 'Let's get going. Engage hyperdrive.'

'Entering hyperspace in 3... 2... 1.'

'Glad you could make it,' Weir said kindly and shook Amara's hand. 'You've met Dr. Beckett. This is Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, military commander of Atlantis.'

Before she could reply, a familiar figure stepped onto the bridge. 'I see we're finally on our way. What took so–You?' McKay exclaimed as his eyes landed on her.

She smiled politely. 'Nice to see you too, McKay.'

'Why are you here?'

Amara shared a humorous look with Weir. 'Your genius can't figure it out? You're slacking.'

'You're not coming to work at Atlantis.'

'Already hired, I'm afraid.'

'How do you two know each other?' Sheppard asked.

'We worked together for a year in area 51. It was... a delight,' Amara said with a tight smile.

He snorted. 'I can imagine.'

'Dr. Chambers,' Caldwell said before they could continue. 'Novak asks for you in engineering.'

'I'll head there straight away. Excuse me,' she added to the others, pointedly ignoring the muttering McKay.

She headed down the hallway, giving polite nods to the crew members eyeing her oddly. Her heels clicked against the metallic floor, echoing against the bare walls loudly. Following the arrows to the nearest elevator, she came to a halt as another familiar face appeared before her further down the hallway, speaking with another military man.

'Major Lorne,' she greeted as she approached him. 'Nice to see you again.'

'Dr. Chambers,' he smiled. He paused and took in her pencil skirt and high heels. 'Not what I'd call fitting attire for space travel.'

'I was beamed straight from the capitol. With ten minutes to spare, too.'

'I see. Where are you headed?'

'Engineering. Dr. Novak wanted me for something. You don't happen to know the way?'

'Not me. Uchiha, you've been on Daedalus before, right?' he said and looked at his companion. 'Dr. Amara Chambers, Captain Shisui Uchiha.'

'Nice to meet you,' she said and shook his hand.

'Likewise,' he replied, a charming smile on his lips. 'Yeah, I can show you the way there.'

'Sorry to interrupt your conversation.'

'We have three weeks to pick it up again, don't worry about it,' Lorne said with a shrug. 'I'll see you later.'

'This way,' Shisui said and motioned to the elevator. He stepped inside after her and pressed a button on the panel, making the doors slide shut with a hiss. 'So, what are you a doctor in?'

'Mechanical Engineering, with focus on ancient technology. And you're a captain in the air force or the marines?'

'Air force. Been with SGC for almost three years now.'

'Really? Have... we met? I've worked there for two years now.'

He chuckled and ran a hand through his short curls with a slight shrug. 'We've probably run past each other. I've been part of SG-16, so it's been in and out of the gate for me.'

'That's fair,' she said as the doors slid open. She followed him out. 'I spend most of my time in the lab, so I guess we wouldn't have had a whole lot of opportunities to meet.'

'My understanding is that we can solve that in Atlantis.'

She paused momentarily as his words sunk in. Then she snorted lowly, a smile growing on her face. 'That was very forward of you.'

He flashed her a playful smirk. 'Life's too short to not be honest. Here we are,' he said as they stopped in front of a door, sporting the word Engineering in all caps above it.

'Thank you.'

'Anytime. Come find me in the mess hall later,' he added with a wink, before disappearing back the way they had come.

Amara stared after him for a long moment. Then she shook her head, a smile pulling on her lips as she replayed his words in her mind. She stepped through the door before she could think too much about it.

'Dr. Chambers,' Hermiod greeted from his place in front of a big screen. 'Welcome.'

'Thank you, Hermiod. How are you?'

'I am satisfactory. I believe Dr. Novak is in the next room.'

'Thank you. Don't overwork yourself,' she added with a smile before heading into the next room. 'Dr. Novak.'

'Dr. Chambers,' she beamed and stood from her seat in front of one of the computers. 'Thank you for coming so quickly, I'm sure it was inconvenient, I mean I know we just left Earth and you were beamed on straight from a meeting–I was the one who had to organise it after all, but either way–'

'No worries at all,' Amara cut in as she took a breath. 'What did you need help with?'

'Ah, yes. We've been asked to implement some new functions that are based on some of your work, and we wanted to ask you some questions about the compatibility with our current systems. Here,' she said and lapsed into an explanation of what they needed.

It was five hours later that Amara had the chance to locate her assigned room, with the help of Novak. Her things had already been moved there, thankfully, so she didn't have to run around the ship in order to find a change of clothes. The room wasn't especially spacious, but it had a decent bed, a small desk, and a low drawer to stow away some of her things in. She didn't need anything else–the things she truly needed was already on her computer after all.

She changed into a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers, folding her other clothes carefully and putting them into one of the drawers. She paused at the door, a certain captain's words making themselves remembered. Doubting that he'd still be there after all this time, she still dug into her bag and found her deodorant. It's just good hygiene, either way, she thought to herself.

It took her another ten minutes to locate the mess hall one floor down. It wasn't packed, but it wasn't empty either. Amara grabbed a pre-packaged sandwich from the table pushed against the wall just to the left of the entrance, and a cup of warm coffee before locating a place to sit.

The largest window towards the back offered a beautiful view of hyperspace, the light casting an eerie but beautiful pattern across the closest tables. Most of them were empty, and so Amara sat down by one, leaning back in her chair as she stared out the window as she ate.

'I was wondering when you would make an appearance. I was even beginning to think you were going to be a no-show.'

Amara blinked the haze from her mind and sat up properly, turning to meet Shisui's humorous gaze. 'I had some work to do. Good to know you were waiting for me though,' she said haughtily.

'And why is that?' he asked and sat down opposite her.

'That means you might actually be serious enough to not go running after every skirt that crosses your path.'

'To be fair, I'm pretty sure you're the only one who has a skirt here.'

She snorted and ducked her head as she shook it. Then she sighed with a smile. 'I suppose you're right about that.'

'But I see you've changed into something more suitable.'

'Ah,' she said knowingly. 'Lost interest now that I'm not wearing a skirt?'

He smirked at her tone. He leaned his elbows onto the table as he gave her a heavy look. 'Afraid you're going to have to do better than that if you want me to lose interest.'

'Oh, so not a shallow pretty boy? How rare. What would I have to do to make you lose interest then?'

'Tell me you're not interested,' he said simply.

A long moment passed as they stared at each other. Then Amara huffed humorously. She reached for her cup and took a long sip before leaning back in her seat, settling one leg over the other as she met his eye.

'Not quite yet,' she said, cradling her cup in her lap. 'How come you joined the air force?'

By the time they closed in on two weeks on the ship, Amara had learned most of the layout by heart. Beyond a few consultations with Novak and Hermiod, she didn't have much to do. Instead, she spent most of her time in the few common areas that non-crew members had been given access to and getting to know some of her future colleagues. Including one ridiculously charming captain that seemed to keep her interest.

One of the smaller hangars had been temporarily converted into a sort of makeshift gym, which included a small space for a miniature version of basketball. Which was where Amara found herself after having been dragged there by one of her newest acquaintances, a marine lieutenant by the name of Tenten Xiang. Amara had quickly learned that there was no saying no to her.

'You're not joining?' Tenten asked as one of the other military personnel bounced the ball to her.

Amara chuckled and shook her head. 'Ball sports aren't really my thing. I'll stay,' she added before Tenten could say anything, 'but I'm not playing.'

'Have it your way,' she laughed. 'But you better cheer for me.'

'It'll be my honour.'

'What's this?' Shisui hummed as he appeared next to her, dressed in the same workout clothes the other military people were wearing. 'I thought you came to cheer for me.'

'Aren't you making high stake assumptions.'

'Can you blame me, when the prize is so nice?'

She snorted and shook her head. 'Show me you're worth cheering for then. Or are you asking for pity cheers?'

'Depends what they include, I suppose,' he said haughtily and leaned against the large container she was sitting on, too close to be innocent.

She shifted her seat slightly, her knee brushing up against his hip lightly. He kept his eyes on the court where they had begun warming up, but the small smile on his lips told her he hadn't missed the shift either.

'What would you like them to include?' she asked lowly as she faced the court as well.

'What's on the table?'

She hummed thoughtfully. 'Depends how good you are.'

'Oh really now?' he chuckled. 'Who's being forward now?'

'Wasn't life too short to not be honest? Or did that change over the past two weeks?'

His hand brushed against her leg as he turned to face her. 'So we're on the same page now, hm?'

'As far as I know,' she said and met his gaze head-on, 'we always were. But,' she added when he opened his mouth to speak, 'time to prove if you're... worthy.'

A devilish smirk appeared on his face, causing her heart to skip a beat. 'I'll do my best to win the favour of the princess.'

'Believe me,' she said and mirrored his expression. 'It's been years since I've been an innocent little princess.'

He sucked in a deep breath and gave her a heavy look. 'Don't get me too excited already.'

'Or what? Are you going to run out of steam?'

He shook his head with a humorous huff. His hand ghosted over her thigh, sending a shiver through her person - something his cheeky smile told her he noticed. 'Not quite,' he said and winked.

'We're starting,' Tenten called from the court, drawing him away from Amara.

She stared after him, struggling to keep her grin from breaking out. Then she shook her head and focused on Tenten, giving her a loud cheer - smirking at Shisui when he made an indignant sound at it.

By the time dinner was going to be served in the mess hall, almost everyone had left the area. Tenten winked at her as she grabbed her jacket before heading out, leaving Amara alone with Shisui. When the door slid close behind Tenten, she jumped down from the container and walked over to where he was still throwing the ball at the hoop.

'Did I win over the not-so-innocent princess?' he chuckled as he glanced at her.

'I prefer queen.'

He hummed and threw the ball once more, watching it sail through the hoop perfectly. 'What does that make me? Your king?' he chuckled and bounced the ball at her.

She caught it and looked at it for a moment. 'My ball boy, I suppose,' she smirked - laughing loudly at the expression that came to his face.

'Oh really,' he chuckled and pounced at her, wrapping his arms around her waist to keep her from escaping. 'Are you looking down on me? Let me see your shot then.'

She laughed as his fingers moved over her waist, squirming to get away from the ticklish sensation, but his hold was absolute. 'I can't,' she gasped through her laughter.

'Can't what?' he asked, finally relenting with his tickles.

She took another moment to catch her breath before looking at him, face heating at how close he was. She swallowed thickly before she spoke. 'I don't know how, okay?'

He paused momentarily. 'Have you... never?'

'I was a bit busy studying,' she huffed.

'That was cute,' he chuckled. He put his hands on her hips and spun her to face the hoop. He gently placed his hands over hers and guided them up, into position. 'Here, I'll show you.'

'This isn't going to work.'

'It doesn't matter if it works or not,' he said as he moved closer until he was almost completely pressed up against her back. 'You should at least have done it once. This hand goes up, and this pushes it forward.'

'This is ridiculous,' she commented but didn't move away from him.

'It's not going to work if you don't want it to.'

'It's not going to work because I don't know what the hell I'm doing.'

'That's half the fun.'

'I'm not used to not knowing what I'm doing.'

'Live a little.'

'I've been flirting with you, I thought that was enough,' she mumbled.

'I don't mind being your little adventure,' he chuckled lowly, lips brushing against her ear lightly. 'You seem like you need some help relaxing a bit, after all.'

She pressed her lips together at the sensation, forcing herself to focus on the rough texture of the basketball instead. 'Fine. Show me how to do it then.'

'So sour,' he chuckled. He shifted his hands slightly over hers and nudged the back of her knees with his, forcing her to bend them. 'The motion starts in your legs, then when you feel it leave this hand, you push it with this one. Got it?'

'I guess.'

'Go for it then,' he said, but she felt his laugh through her back.

She sighed and did as he said, doing her best to push down the embarrassed blush she could feel climbing up her neck. The ball fell about a galaxy short of the hoop. It bounced on the metal floor several times sadly, both of them simply watching it. Then she felt him shake, and a moment later he burst out laughing, leaning his head on her shoulder as he did.

'We're done,' she said and tried to leave his hold.

He pulled her back against his chest firmly as he continued to laugh. 'Sorry, sorry. It was just very cute.'

'I told you I couldn't do it.'

'And I told you it doesn't matter,' he grinned, tilting his head just enough to look her in the eye. 'You did it, that's what counts.'

'It didn't work,' she said and motioned to the now-still ball. 'What's the point of doing something if it doesn't work?'

'Wow,' he said and straightened up. 'You really are a scientist.'

She turned to face him properly and narrowed her eyes at him. 'What's that supposed to mean? Being a scientist isn't a bad thing.'

'I didn't say it was,' he said quickly. 'That mentality is just very rigid. Did you know mechanical engineering from birth?'

'Of course not.'

'So why did you do it, if it didn't work?'

'Because I knew I could... make it work. It's just logical thinking.'

'Do you think I knew how to shoot the ball in the hoop in the beginning too? Or did I have to practice for hours before I started to even get close?' he waited until she huffed and crossed her arms in front of her before he grinned again. He took a small step closer, stepping into her personal space. 'Was that logical enough for you?'

She pursed her lips as she stared at him, struggling to keep her smile from breaking out. Before she lost that battle, she closed the distance between them and kissed him. He stumbled slightly but quickly recovered - his arms sliding around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he returned the kiss.

Her own settled around his shoulders as she tilted her head, deepening the kiss. She twisted her tongue with his in a hot, wet dance. She hummed lowly, a hairsbreadth from a moan, when one of his hands moved to the back of her head, a calloused thumb brushing against the soft skin behind her ear slowly.

She pulled back slowly when her lunges screamed for air, staying close enough for her nose to almost touching his as they stared at each other–kiss swollen lips parted and dark, hungry looks in their eyes. She licked her lips slowly and bit her lower lip with a small smile as he swallowed thickly. She took half a step back - staying close enough for his hand to stay on her hip as they held each other's eyes.

Another long moment passed before she cleared her throat lightly. 'We should go.'

'Did you kiss me in order to not answer me?' he asked slowly.

'Is there a problem?' she asked and tilted her head slightly. 'Oh, I see. You didn't think I had it in me to do something so... surprising.'

'It definitely didn't seem to be part of your personality,' he replied and pulled a hand through his hair as he stood properly, pulling himself up to his full height. 'Don't take that as me complaining.'

'You better not. Come on,' she said and headed to the door.

'Are we having dinner just like that after that kind of kiss?'

She paused in front of the door as it slid open, and looked at him over her shoulder. 'Who said anything about going to dinner? I'm taking you to my room.'

He paused only for a second, then he was next to her. 'Lead the way.'