"...and so Arachne was cursed to forever spin webs for her insolence in challenging a goddess."
John sighed contentedly as he leaned back against the outer wall of the city, Teyla sitting in his lap. They twenty-four hour period was almost up, and he was using the last of the time giving the Athosian a massage. He had spent most of the day telling as many old stories he could think of—that he remembered with any accuracy.
"That was an...interesting story," Teyla murmured, leaning back into his hands, "Your planet seems to have a lot of ways in which to explain natural phenomenon."
John shrugged lightly, finished with the massage, and pulled her back so that she was lying against him with her head on his shoulder. "Yeah, well, I've just found out that some of those old legends were based—at least partially—in truth. Take Atlantis for instance. We've had stories and legends about the fabled 'lost city' for centuries, and I've always thought they were just that—stories. Turns out all those archaeological fanatics were right, it just wasn't on Earth as expected."
Teyla shifted slightly and looked up at him, an amused smile on her face, "Then do you believe that a woman was transformed into a spider?"
A laugh escaped him and he shook his head. "Hey, I did say 'partially' based on fact," he defended.
She shook her head and shifted again so that she was looking out at the view of the sun reflecting off the blue waters of the planet. He put his arms around her and set his chin on the top of her head. They sat that way for a long moment, content simply to be in each other's presence, in the simple contact they shared.
John reflected on his life up until this point. He hadn't wanted to come on the Atlantis expedition, despite the definite 'nowhere' he was headed with his military career. And yet, the flip of a coin had decided his fate and here he was, sitting with a beautiful woman that he knew he could love, that he was already in love with.
He'd never had a serious relationship before, never even considered it. Being in the Air Force didn't give much time for that, or rather, he let it not have much time for it. After seeing what his parents had, he'd known that that was what he wanted and he'd doubted he'd ever find his perfect soul mate on Earth.
He'd been right. John grinned and tightened his hold on Teyla. They'd had a connection from the moment he met her, and it had only grown stronger in the time since. If Lizzie had wanted to embarrass him, or whatever with the ritual thing, then it had totally backfired, because it had given him this small chance to relax and to spend time with the Athosian woman.
"Time is almost up," Teyla said softly.
"Oh no...we've got all the time in the world," John corrected, "Just because the day is almost over doesn't mean I want to stop this."
Teyla snuggled further back into his chest. "Neither do I," she murmured.
"Why don't we go back to my quarters?" he suggested.
"Yes," Teyla agreed.
But neither of them moved, both not wanting to break the comfort they'd fallen into just yet. It was nice to just be able to gaze at the view without worry overshadowing everything for once.
"Is that not Dr. Weir?" Teyla suddenly asked, pointing to the next balcony over.
John raised his head and looked. Sure enough, Dr. Weir was standing with her hands grasping the railing, looking out over the vast ocean. McKay, however, was nowhere in sight.
"Wonder what's going on there?" He remembered how flustered the woman had been during the 'coffee incident', and hoped she hadn't dismissed the excitable scientist just because she was embarrassed over a little attraction.
"Why's she so worried about it anyway?" he asked aloud.
"Why is she so worried about what?" Teyla wanted to know.
John shook his head slightly as he answered, "About being attracted to McKay. I mean, she's always treated him differently than most people do."
"Ah," said Teyla knowingly, "She is a leader, and most likely feels that her attraction is inappropriate. Some would see it as favoritism."
"Maybe," John said, "but I'm not so sure. I think there's something else."
"And why are you so concerned over it?" Teyla asked, amusement lacing her voice.
"Because," John grinned, "I'm a nosy busy-body in love, and think everyone else should be too." He held his breath, wondering if she had caught his words, hoping they hadn't come too soon.
"Oh, well, in that case perhaps we should retire to your quarters," Teyla responded, quite seriously, "because I feel the same way."
She gently extricated herself from his arms and stood so that she was looking down at him. Smiling, she extended a hand to help him up. He grinned and took it, and the two of them made their way back inside towards his quarters, still holding hands.
----
Freedom was just an hour away, only a measly little sixty minutes. So why didn't he feel as relieved as he should have?
Rodney sighed and glanced at the small device he'd been staring at without seeing for the past five minutes. It had been Elizabeth's last order to him, before she'd gone on and begun working on her paperwork, leaving him to his own devices. He hadn't been relieved then, either. In fact, he'd been more than a little disappointed, and hurt that she didn't seem to want him around.
What had happened to make her change so drastically from earlier? To make that wickedly amused sparkle in her eyes turn to distance?
Not that he cared of course. Oh all right, he did care. A lot. Which was the whole problem. She was his friend, the first friend he'd had since he was eleven and had gotten in trouble for the whole atomic bomb thing, and he didn't want to ruin that friendship with a little attraction.
Maybe that's why she had become so distant? Maybe she had picked up on it and was uncomfortable but didn't want to mention it for fear of awkwardness. The more he thought about it, the more Rodney was certain that was the case. Well, he'd just have to go find her and assure her that he was not in anyway interested in her except as a friend.
Feeling a weight lift from his shoulders at the prospect of resuming his relationship with Elizabeth as it had been, he practically bounced out of the lab; ignoring the stares Zelenka kept giving him.
He met Teyla and Sheppard in the corridor on his way, the two of them holding hands and whispering in each other's ears. Rodney rolled his eyes. How disgusting. Couldn't the two of them get a room or something?
Sheppard noticed him first and grinned in that annoying manner Rodney hated sometimes. "She's out on the balcony," Sheppard remarked, then he and Teyla continued on their way before Rodney could retort.
"What's he know about it, anyway," he muttered to himself. He nonetheless went in the direction of the balcony.
Elizabeth was standing at the edge, her hands gripping the railing tightly—he could see how white her knuckles were—and staring off into the distance. Rodney stopped just outside the door, not even jumping when it slid closed behind him, and did some staring of his own.
She was very pretty, outlined as she was against the blue sky, wearing the informal slacks and red shirt she had worn to the ceremony. The sight of her almost caved in his resolve to act as if he weren't attracted, but he remembered how calm he felt after speaking to her, even when they were arguing and straightened his shoulders.
"Elizabeth?" he asked tentatively.
The woman jumped and turned around, placing a hand over her chest and gazing at him with wide eyes. "Don't sneak up on me like that," she admonished, then collected herself and gazed at him coolly. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Rodney twitched slightly, unsure of how to go on, then took a deep breath and plunged in. "Actually, I believe that's supposed to be my line. There is still an hour left before the day is up, and somehow I don't think me working in my lab while you stand staring out at the amazing view Atlantis has to offer is what the Athosians had in mind. So, you wanna talk about what's bothering you?" He had said all of this very fast, making the sentences almost one long run-on.
Elizabeth blinked and then smiled sadly. "I don't think so, but thank you for asking, Rodney. It means a lot to me that you did."
Well, that was something at least. Rodney smiled back and walked over so that he was standing beside her. "You know, you probably won't get another offer like that one. I'm not usually so accommodating."
"Really?" The question was sarcastic.
Rodney rolled his eyes and turned to stare out at the ocean. He'd always hated doing that, but somehow, here on Atlantis he didn't mind. There was just something so right about it. As if he were finally home after moving several times.
"I know what you mean," Elizabeth said, and it took Rodney a minute to realize he'd spoken his thoughts aloud, "And that's part of the problem."
Rodney held his breath, but didn't say anything, for fear that she wouldn't continue, and turned to face her.
"I shouldn't feel this way, shouldn't want to be here so much," she said after a long minute, "When I left, even though I knew it was probably going to be a one-way trip, I didn't let myself think on it too much. I kept telling myself that we would find something and get back quickly."
She paused and took a deep breath before going on. "I left Simon knowing I wouldn't come back, but giving him hope that I would." She gave a short mirthless laugh. "I didn't even tell him the truth in person...I only made a video tape, waiting until the last minute to make sure I'd either already be in Atlantis or at least out of reach by the time he was given clearance and saw the video. What kind of person does that make me?"
She had someone back home?
"Do you...love him?" It cost Rodney a lot to ask that question, but he had to. And not just for his own benefit. She obviously needed someone to talk to. Really.
"I've known him ever since I was little," Elizabeth responded, "We've dated on and off since high school, and we've always known we'd eventually end up together. We took the same courses in college, and have basically the same job."
"That doesn't answer the question," Rodney pointed out.
She sighed and gazed down at her feet. "I know. I guess, the answer is, I really don't know whether or not I love him." She looked back up at Rodney, keeping her eyes on his, "That's not the point though, we were together, and it wouldn't be fair to just...forget about him."
"Of course not," Rodney agreed, "but you weren't thinking about fair when you left. You know what I think?" Rodney didn't wait for a response and continued on in a hurry, "I think subconsciously, you wanted a way out. I mean, you made sure every member of this team was unattached back home, and you could have given the leadership over to anyone of the anthropologists with diplomatic skills. But you didn't. You came too."
"Because it was the chance of a lifetime," Elizabeth retorted, sounding almost desperate, "Simon would have done the same thing."
"That's exactly my point," Rodney quickly interjected, "I know, that if I had someone I loved, I would do everything in my power to make sure I was able to be with them. If he was given clearance, then I'm pretty sure he would have been able to get enough clearance to go on the expedition if you asked it, right? We could have used more diplomats, I'm pretty sure."
"You're right."
The words were so soft, Rodney could barely make them out. When he did, he grinned slightly and said, "Of course I am. That's why I'm the smartest guy here."
She smiled and looked away, then looked back, completely serious. "Thank you, Rodney. For listening and for...making me see some things."
They stared at each other for a long moment, and something passed between them. Something fragile and not quite within their reach yet, but something nonetheless.
"You're welcome," Rodney said, breaking the tension.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and then grinned wickedly. "Now, we've still got a few minutes until the day is up, and there's something I want to ask you."
"Damn. I thought I'd be home free," Rodney muttered, but only half-heartedly, "Okay, do your worst."
"Why are you so afraid of singing?"
"Of all the things..." Rodney groaned, "Fine. I was in a rock band when I was in high school, only it didn't work out too well."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "You mean, all that angst over the singing was just because you were embarrassed at having been in a rock band?"
"Yes," he answered defensively, "It's not exactly something I want getting around. I mean what would people think if they knew I used to dress in leather and run around half-naked all the time? My reputation would be shot."
Elizabeth laughed. Rodney soon followed, as the sound was contagious.
"Well," she said once she had composed herself, "I suppose we'd better get back inside. It's starting to get a little chilly out."
The two of them walked side by side, both silent and reflecting. Who knew that a simple ritual could have brought about so much?
The END (for real this time)