Chapter 2

McKay was floored when Ford told him about the fight between Sheppard and Weir. To him they always got along. They seemed to be good friends. Very good friends...It bothered him that his superior mind could not come up with an idea about what was going on between them.

Why was he hugging her? Mckay didn't buy into the Major falling on her. The man didn't have an ounce of clumsiness in him.

"Maybe they were making out, or something," Ford suggested.

But they laughed as if it was the most improbable explanation ever. Weir and Sheppard? Weren't they always at odds about missions and regulations? Their last fight even proved their distaste for each other.

"Do you think he was...ah...Now I don't want to say this, because I don't think it's true, Ford, but what if-what if he was making a move on her...and she denied him."

"That would explain the fight and why he was embarrassed."

"And why Weir would want to forget all this."

"And their fight."

They looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Nooo..."

But their hearts said yes.

McKay and Ford rapped lightly on John's door.

"Come in."

Timidly, they opened the door, but remained in the doorway. The Major put his book down and gestured for them to take a seat. He sat up on his bed and swung his legs around, ready for a conference.

But they stayed in the doorway.

"Sir..." Ford began timidly, "Are you and Doctor Weir...an, an...item?"

"No."

"What was going on up..."

"Nothing for you or anyone to know. I fell, like Doctor Weir said. Take it or leave it."

"We don't believe you."

John raised his eyebrow and stood up. He towered over them, not with his height, but with his forceful manner.

"Say it straight Ford. What do you want me to tell you?"

"Truth, sir," the Lieutenant said now standing at attention.

"Have you asked to speak freely?"

"No."

"Ask."

"May I speak freely, sir?"

"No."

"I'm a civilian. I'll ask. Did she reject you?"

The Major burrowed his eyebrows and grabbed the door, ready to slam it in their faces. But he withheld his emotions, as he was taught to do, and lessened his grip on the doorknob.

"I don't understand, McKay. There was nothing to reject."

"You hugged her."

"Do you want a hug, Mckay?"

"What?!"

"Are you jealous?"

"Major, I, most certainly..."

Before he could get the rest of his denial out, the Major swept him up in a hug and thumped on his back. The "man hug".

"Happy now?"

"Yes sir," Ford answered not wanting a hug.

"Goodnight then."

With that the Major shut his door softly, leaving Ford and Mckay in the hall. Bewildered.

"He's good, Rod."

"Huh?"

"He's the best at avoiding answering."

"I got hugged," Rodney shivered and then laughed, "You're right though. After that, I'm not asking any more questions. At least not him."

"Doctor Weir?"

She looked up from her desk and smiled, well, fake smiled, at Kavanah.

"Yes?"

"I have a question on some experiments I need to run."

He took a seat across from her and placed a shoe sized box on his lap.

"What is it?"

"Well, permission basically."

"What is the experiment?"

"It's really complicated to explain, and a long drawn out explanation in layman's terms would simplify it to the extent that the essence..."

"Simplify or you don't have permission."

He rolled his eyes and let out a huff, but ultimately she had the authority, and her eyebrow was raised. Even by now Kavanah knew not to miss with her when that thing shot up.

"The shield device Rodney had...What if it could generate enough power to protect the whole base in the event that our current shield was deactivated or hindered by an enemy projectile, or some energy stream."

"Back ups are always good, Kavanah, but how would you test it?"

"See...that's the hard part. Sheppard has the most potent Ancient gene. If we hooked him up to it, and replicated the connecter and also connected it to the power source of the base's shield, we may have a new ZPM type if you will..."

"Would this cause any damage to John...the Major."

"Well...no?"

The eyebrow shot up again.

"No."

Her eye squinted.

"Oh FINE! Yes! It'll probably kill him if he's hooked up too long, but if we do it right, then he may just loose consciousness."

"I'm sorry Kavanah. I can't give you permission."

"It's just because you're in love with him isn't it?"

She gasped and gripped at the table till her knuckles turned white. He smirked, and a glint of contempt shined in his eyes.

"Kavanah," she began slowly, "You are not to tell anyone what you just said."

"So it's true. I heard you two were hugging the other night."

Inwardly she groaned to herself. It never occurred to her to deny it again.

"He fell, it wasn't a hug. And I don't love him; see...Why am I even explaining myself to you? I'm busy, is that all you wanted to discuss?"

"Yeah. Sure."

Weir got up and closed the door behind him. Sighing, she tidied up her office and got ready to turn in for the day. She was in no condition to govern anything right now.

It was an hour later before Elizabeth could get to bed. On the way to her quarters she ran into Beckett who was excitedly chattering about some new band aid creation he found...or something like that. All Elizabeth remembered was that she snapped at him. Then Ford and Mckay came firing more questions, but she snapped at them too.

Tayla even asked if she was pregnant because of her mood swings, and the Athosian had just learned from someone that earth women experienced mood swings and fits of emotion when they were pregnant. Elizabeth had barked her head off for that comment...Probably not disproving the other woman's theory...

That would be handled later.

Curled up under her covers, she couldn't sleep. The day's events kept running though her mind.

I can't believe I hurt him like that. I love you John! I'm so sorry.

It scared her that she might loose him. He always had tough exterior, but he had opened up to her, Elizabeth knew she was the only one on base who had penetrated that humorous bravado. And now that she rejected him...John put his hard military shell up...that cocky smile was still there...and so was the smirk...but now none of it would reflect in his eyes. It would be cold.

I lost him.

Who was she kidding? She couldn't sleep.

"Might as well catch up on work."

And that's when she found it. Under her office door. A letter.