Chapter 4

With her scream, Elizabeth didn't need to call a meeting. They came to her. Within a matter of seconds Major Sheppard, Ford, and Tayla were at her door. Weir was happy for their prompt response...It made her feel safe, someone was listening for her.

The scars from the day before were still there, usually John would have come right to her and ripped the letters from her hand and squeeze her hand after whispering in her ear that everything would be okay.

She wished for it. But all he did was frown.

"What's wrong, Doctor Weir?" he asked with a sharp voice that stabbed at her heart.

"These!" McKay answered handing the letters to the Major.

He skimmed them over, frowning and then peppered Elizabeth with questions about how she received these threats. But it was formal...not a drop of feeling in one syllable.

"...And why were you at your office that late?"

She couldn't tell him that she was loosing sleep over him. Or should she? Embarrass herself and admit that she loved him?

"Because I had some paperwork I forgot about."

She couldn't.

"Ok...we'll have to interview the staff...uhhh...Ford, I want you to not be on guard...but walk by here, check on Doctor Weir...at her quarters too."

"Why don't you, Major Sheppard?" Elizabeth asked crossing her fingers.

"I'm busy. And Ford is a hundred percent competent."

Ford beamed. He was like a kid being fed a cookie; John didn't serve out compliments that often. Weir however, nodded, trying to look away...back at the letters...

"We have a mission at 1500 hours. Do you want me to leave Ford, or do you think you'll be ok. Just stay behind locked doors and whatnot."

"I'll be fine. Take Ford."

"Great. Then I think we're done here. I'll get Beckett to see if he can analyze these letters."

Everyone turned to leave.

"Major. Would you stay behind?"

"Yes, Doctor Weir."

The others eyed each other as they filed out.

In a silent agreement, McKay, Ford, and Teyla, pretended to walk off, but came right back to the door to overhear their argument. But his time, the couple spoke in hushed tones and could not be overheard.

"John, I'm really worried."

"We're taking all the necessary precautions."

"I...I don't want you to skip on anything because we're not together anymore."

"So you think I'm that shallow. I know how to do my job, I can separate emotion from my work. Can you?"

"I think so."

"You better."

"I know...I know...I have to face you every day without-without being able to tell you how sorry I am."

"You're apology's accepted Elizabeth."

"Then why are you so cold?"

"Because these army regulation jackets are a piece of crap."

"You know what I mean! I'm not a beggar either. This is the last time I'm going to reach out to you."

"I know what you mean."

And he left.

John left before the others could clear away from the door. But he didn't care.

"Suit up," was all he said as he swept past.

Who does she think she is? Always embarrassing me...Making my life miserable. Who does she think she is? My team laughs at me, instead of talking my suggestions. They laugh. At me. Not at her. Oooh they should laugh at the red sequence sticking to her hair. I did. Oh I know I did. I liked being in her room...It was like invading her inner world. Violating it. Felt so good. Soon that room will be nothing more than a memorial- people mourning her pitiful life. Doesn't she wish she had protection now? Hahaha...Nothing could protect her from me. Nothing.

The mission was surprisingly uneventful. Atlantis was equally surprisingly calm. No letters, no stalkers showed up while the team was gone.

As a tradition, after debriefing, the team went to eat, but Sheppard abandoned them claiming he needed to shower because he smelled worse than the dead pig Rodney was planning on eating.

Sitting down at the table with his tray, McKay was happy to note that his sausage links were as savory as ever-despite John.

"Elizabeth is pregnant!" Teyla burst out.

They stared at her in awe...and it all made sense. Of course they were jumping to conclusions...but it was an uneventful afternoon.

"I asked her and she got very angry with me."

"Denial.." Ford mussed.

"And that's why Sheppard's so mad. I mean, look what it does to them! Our Co and his boss! That's totally against military regulations...moral regulations..."

"I bet they had a one night stand."

They nodded, and shoved forkful of food into their mouths. It was real food day on base, and anything other than powdered eggs and spam was a welcome treat.

John sighed as he sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the wall. He'd never had a broken heart before. It was always him doing the dumping. Sadly, he pulled out a small suede back pouch from under his pillow. With a slight tip, a glittering diamond ring fell into his palm. It was his mother's engagement ring...and her, being ever the romantic, made him take it with him to every base he went to just in case he found "the one". Well, he found her and it only made his world flip upside down.

It was lots of fun sneaking off, or creeping into her room at night to join her....It was fun. But obviously not true love on her part.

He tucked the ring back in the pouch. The plan had been, when she announced their relationship to Atlantis, he would propose. They were going to announce it today in fact.

But the Major was resilient as he shoved the pouch into his secrete compartment that hid all his illegal books. (Take one personal item-HAH! )

Who knows...Maybe on some other mission I'll hook up with some hot alien...I should visit the mainland more often...Check out some of those Athosians...

He was cured though. Removing the ring from under his pillow was symbolic. John could get over her, move on, and do his job. Atlantis needed him. He needed Atlantis.