Promises Made, Chapter 2

"No."

"Dr. Weir, you're going into a possible hostile situation."

"Sgt. Bates, this is not up for discussion. I said no."

Bates looks over at his CO for help. Sheppard holds up his hands and shakes his head.

"Don't look at me, I already tried."

Elizabeth is refusing Bates' offer of a sidearm. She gives him the same argument she gave Sheppard.

"It hardly instills confidence in peace if I walk in wearing a gun."

Sheppard actually hopes that Bates is successful in convincing Weir to at least carry a 9mm. John is pretty sure that Elizabeth has never even held a gun, let alone shot at anything, but he would still feel better if she was armed. So far, she's only agreed to wear a combat vest like the rest of the team as a small measure of protection.

But John isn't willing to jump into this argument again. He's in the gateroom early because he wants to make up with Elizabeth, not aggravate the situation. She hasn't talked to him since he stormed out of her office the day before.

::::Flashback::::

John is pacing in front of Weir's desk, clearly agitated, while she is calmly reading reports. He's been ranting for a while now about why she should bring a handgun to the negotiations. It has been a mostly one-sided discussion since her only response has been a short "No" every few minutes.

"Are you even listening to me?!"

"I try not to make a habit of it. But I'm sure the rest of the command center can fill me in later."

Elizabeth doesn't look up from the report and waves a hand at the glass door. Sheppard looks over and the people who were watching the scene play out in Weir's office look away quickly. He scowls, but lowers his voice.

"I'm serious."

"I never said you weren't."

John leans over and snags the report out of her hands. Elizabeth lets out a slow breath, gathering patience, before looking up to meet his eyes.

"I don't feel the need to listen to you since you refuse to listen to me."

"I'm talking about your safety."

"I agreed to wear a vest."

"That's not good enough."

"Well it's going to have to be."

"It's just a 9mm." John motions down to his own sidearm. He's taken to wearing it both on Atlantis and off-world. "It won't get in the way."

"It may not get in the way of my movement, but it shows a lack of confidence on my part that peace can be maintained."

"The rest of us are going to be armed to the teeth. I'm sure they will be too."

"You're not brokering a peace agreement and they probably have reason to be suspicious of each other to start. I hope to change that, not encourage it."

"Why are you being so stubborn about this?"

"I'm not being stubborn. I'm just exercising one of the few choices I seem to have in this whole thing."

"You're doing this out of spite? You're risking your life to make a point about my volunteering you for something before asking?"

"I didn't say that."

"Of all the childish –"

"Major Sheppard!" Elizabeth stands, her eyes flashing with sudden anger. "I suggest you not forget who you're talking to."

Sheppard clenches his jaw but says nothing.

"I have made my decision. You need to accept that. I agreed to take part in these negotiations and I will do so under my own terms. Is that understood?"

Sheppard gives her one, stiff nod in response. Elizabeth sits back down and holds her hand out for the report that he's still holding.

"Sgt. Bates would like to talk to you about adding some personnel to your team. You're excused."

John flicks the report onto the desk and it lands with a clatter as he storms out of the office.

::::End Flashback::::

"Sgt. Bates, I appreciate your concern, but it's not necessary."

Elizabeth reaches out to grip Bates' arm, causing Sheppard's brow to furrow.

"Dean, I'll be fine. I trust Major Sheppard and his team, including the two extra Marines you've insisted on, to make sure I stay safe."

Bates looks over at Sheppard as if trying to size him up. John can't help but stand a little straighter.

"If you say so Dr. Weir. Stay safe out there."

"I will. Hold down the fort."

"Yes, ma'am."

Bates walks out of the gateroom and Elizabeth turns to John. She loses the fight to not smile.

"What?"

She starts to walk up the stairs to her office, still clearly amused. He jogs after her.

"What?"

"I thought you were going to beat your chest with your fists and roar." She shakes her head. "Men and their macho primping."

"I was not primping. Besides, he was challenging my ability to protect you."

"He really wasn't."

"Yes he was."

They get to Elizabeth's office and she leans against the front of her desk, facing John. She looks like she's trying not to laugh. John is glad that she doesn't seem to be holding their last conversation in here against him.

"I think he has a crush on you."

"Bates?"

John nods and Elizabeth starts to chuckle.

"You're crazy."

Sheppard doesn't argue with her, but he knows that most of the men on Atlantis have a major crush on their fearless leader. Peter follows her around like a stray puppy and Rodney is way too eager to show her the new things he discovers. She doesn't notice, but he sees all the men straighten up and smooth down their clothes whenever Elizabeth walks into a room. Not to mention this glazed look they all get whenever she compliments them on their work. Even Ford, who John knows is purely devoted to Teyla, struts around for days after getting a pat on the back from Weir. Hell, he's willing to bet that half the women on the base have a crush on her too.

For now, he shrugs and changes the subject.

"Ford radioed in earlier. Both the Dreyans and the Inbi have agreed to your initial terms."

"Good."

"We'll meet with the Dreyans for two days, then the Inbi. We'll have a day to come home and then peace negotiations will start mid-morning on the following day."

"It's a start. Let's hope both sides are eager for this war to end."

They're quiet for a moment until Elizabeth, as usual, breaks the silence.

"I'm sorry for losing my temper with you yesterday. I know you're just concerned for my safety."

"And I'm sorry for not respecting your decision against a sidearm. It would still make me feel better if you did, but it's your choice."

He grins and she grins back.

"Don't start."

"I had to give it one more shot."

"No you didn't, but it's okay." She looks at her watch to see if they need to go back down to the gateroom. They have a few more minutes before everyone else should arrive.

"So Teyla's back on the mainland?"

"Yup. She wants to give Amara some help with the baby since her husband was lost in the Wraith attack. She says that you already talked about what she knew about the Teynes."

"Which wasn't too much, unfortunately. The civil war started after their last contact with the Athosians."

"I'm interested in finding out what started it."

"Me too."

Peter shows up in the doorway.

"Dr. Weir, Major Sheppard. We're ready when you are."

"Thanks Peter."

John and Elizabeth walk back down to the gateroom where they find McKay and Stackhouse. Ford and Markham are already waiting for them on Teyne.

Weir looks up at Peter on the command platform.

"Dial it up."

The seven chevrons lock and the Stargate wooshes to life. Elizabeth looks over at John, waiting for him to give the go signal. It's a subtle reminder to the rest of the team that, off-world, Sheppard is the mission commander.

"Alright, let's go."

McKay and Stackhouse walk through first. Weir and Sheppard walk up to the event horizon.

"Your first off-world mission."

Elizabeth grins. "I'll try not to get in the way."

"Eh, it'll be fine. I actually think this mission's objective is going to be quite enjoyable."

"How's that?"

The grin he gives her is absolutely wicked.

"My whole job is to watch your six."

Elizabeth steps through gate quickly, but not before John sees the tinge of red on her cheeks. His grin widens as he walks into the event horizon. He's having fun already.

TBC...

A few side notes:

In case you're wondering, Dean is the first name of the actor who plays Bates. The first name of the character isn't listed on the SciFi website, so I improvised.

I'll try and remember to add "TBC..." at the end of my chapters so you guys know that I plan on continuing. Sorry if I confused anyone.

Yes Sheppard is a little out of character in the flashback...but he's just worried about someone he...you know. ;-)