Hi! Sorry this has taken so long to post, been kinda busy. Was also debating where to take the story now. You know I had a plan and now am not following it! Doh! Oh well, hope some of you are still enjoying it.

Chapter 8

Rodney McKay groaned as his alarm clock sang in his ear. Shoving his hand out, accidentally knocking it over, he banged his hand against the bedside cabinet.

"Owwwww!" he cried sitting up shaking his hand. "Son of a bitch!" he moaned scowling down at the bits and pieces on the floor that had once resembled the clock. Ha! That'll teach you! Evil clock that's only use is to disturb people's dreams about a certain Colonel! He thought triumphantly. Swinging his legs out of bed Rodney made his way to the bathroom, ignoring the mess on the floor, for a warm, relaxing shower that had made an appearance in his dream last night. Rodney smiled as the image he had seen in his sleep formed in his mind again. What a dream! He thought. Once he had dried himself off and gotten dressed he left his quarters and began to make his way to the transporter whilst humming.

Greeting the people he passed, who stared in shock at the unusually happy scientist, he thought about the day's schedule. Breakfast, meeting with science team, briefing…Rodney stopped in his tracks and frowned. Oh, briefing. Crap! A briefing meant having to sit in a room with Elizabeth Weir and John Sheppard. Not that it was a problem. Well, if you don't count an icy atmosphere with a side plate of emotional and sexual tension a problem. If that didn't bother you then you would be fine. But it did bother him and everyone else in his team.

It had been 6 weeks since 'the incident', as Ford had named it, in the infirmary and Elizabeth and John had still not talked about it. Of course they discussed missions, recent issues on Atlantis and with the crew together. But as far as anyone knew they had not discussed 'the incident'. They hardly looked at each other. When they did, it became obvious that John was still angry and hurt and that Elizabeth was regretful but absolute in her decision.

"Hey! McKay!" a voice interrupted his thoughts. "You okay? Or have you left that incredibly big brain of yours in bed?"

Rodney looked up and realised he had been standing in the same spot for the past few seconds lost in his thoughts. The interrupting voice came from one John Sheppard. Rodney took in the officer's appearance. There were bags around his eyes, he looked paler than normal and his hair was sticking out in many directions. Well, the last observation is nothing out of the ordinary he corrected himself. The whole thing with Elizabeth had obviously been hard for the pilot. She also portrayed the same features. Well, not the hair part, obviously. That feature seemed reserved only for the Major.

"McKay? You're not imagining me as a cute blond Colonel at the moment are you?" John asked staring nervously at Rodney.

"Don't have the slightest idea what you talking about Major" Rodney said looking insulted. "I do not day dream!"

John smirked at the scientist who scowled at him, stood up straight, pushed his shoulders back and continued his walk to the transporter. Shaking his head John jogged to catch up with him.

"So" John said, obviously prepared to make small talk. "What have I got to look forward to in this morning's briefing?"

"Oh, you know, the usual." McKay said casually. "A plan, my own of course, that will no doubt reduce the huge amounts of power consumption we use on Atlantis from day to day. Elizabeth will be pleased!" Rodney winced after he said the last part. Damn! Why did I have to mention her? He thought annoyed with himself.

"Am sure she will." John replied pressing the panel for the transporter door. As it opened, the two men stepped in and turned to face the doors. Rodney glanced quickly at the Major. When he noticed and looked back, Rodney turned and tried to look very interested in the wall. He heard John sigh.

"Am not gona cry, scream or die if you mention her name Rodney!" he said exasperated. "You don't have to walk on egg shells around me!"

"I wasn't! Its just…" Rodney began but John interrupted him.

"Its just what! Everyone thinks that I'm going to freak out and return to Earth. Aren't they?" he asked staring accusingly at McKay.

Rodney shook his head and then, noticing John's piercing stare, nodded reluctantly. It had been a month since Stargate Command had made contact with Atlantis informing them that they had found not one, but two ZPMs! Their luck improved yet again when they themselves found a ZPM on an abandoned planet almost a week later. It was now possible for two way travel to Earth. Since then most of the crew had been worried that one of the Atlantis leaders would finally break and decide they wanted away from each other. John sighed angrily and looked straight at Rodney.

"I would never abandon Atlantis because of my personal life Rodney. You know that." He said firmly. Rodney stared at him for a few seconds.

"Yeah, I do."

John gave him a slight nod and then stepped off the transporter when it reached their destination. The mess hall! Rodney thought happily as he followed slightly behind. At least if I'm eating I can't piss off anyone else!

John grabbed a bowl, cereal and some milk and made his way to an empty table. Sitting down heavily he pulled his chair in and rested his face in his hands. Great! Everyone thinks am gonna crack! He thought. It was true that the past few weeks had been hard but he had no intention of leaving Atlantis. That he was sure of. Elizabeth, well that was another thing. Despite her statement that she didn't love him, he could swear her eyes said something else. Like she still loved him. And if she ever left Atlantis he would be devastated. God, I miss her. He thought sadly. His bed felt cold at night without her and when he woke up he would always imagine her there, beside him, snuggling into his neck. The memory of their last morning together popped into his head. She would often kiss John to make him wake up knowing it would get a reaction. Feeling the pain of the memory tug in his chest he pushed the bowl away and stood up. I need some air! And with that thought he headed out of the mess hall in search of an empty balcony.

Elizabeth wiped a single tear from her eye and pushed herself off of the bed. Grabbing her jacket she left her room and made her way to the stairs. Ever since her run in with Chaya on the transporter Elizabeth always took the stairs. It also meant there would be less of a chance running into John. She cried every day, regardless of the day's events. She had cried on the day when Stargate Command had contacted them with the good news of the ZPMs. She had cried when she had found out Teyla and Ford were in a relationship. That day was particularly hard, seeing them so happy being together. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck raised and she shivered. Not now, please! She silently begged.

"Dr Weir."

Elizabeth turned around to see Chaya emerge from a white glow. Damn, the bane of my existence. Literally! She thought glancing wearily at the ascended being.

"Chaya. What is it?" she asked tiredly.

Chaya smiled realising how Elizabeth was feeling. It was exactly how she wanted.

"I am not happy." Chaya stated looking menacingly at Elizabeth. "You are still not doing enough to stay away from him."

Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing. The bitch wants more! She thought angrily.

"What!" she asked in shock. "What else do you want from me Chaya! You've already ruined John's and my life, all because your jealousy! What more do want!" Elizabeth realised she had been shouting the last part and heard her voice echoing down the empty corridor.

"Your little, 'meeting' last week." Chaya said.

"What meeting?" Elizabeth asked as if she didn't know.

Chaya laughed. "Oh don't play innocent with me Elizabeth." She said with venom. "Remember, I see everything."

"He came to me!" Elizabeth cried. "If you can see everything then you know I tried to make him leave my quarters! But he wouldn't!"

Chaya shook her head and looked at the doctor as if she was dirt. "Pitiful human! I told you he is mine and I will do whatever it takes to ensure it stays that way!"

All of sudden Elizabeth felt a surge of pain go through her head and held her head in her hands moaning.

"Chaya, please!" She whispered unable to speak louder due to the pain.

Her plea didn't work as the pain became more intense. She stumbled and leaned against the wall still clutching her head. Chaya looked on with glee seeing Elizabeth suffer yet again.

"Aaaah!" Elizabeth cried and lost her balance as her vision went blurry. After falling to her knees the pain stopped. Breathing heavily she slowly sat back against the wall and looked up at Chaya with hatred in her eyes.

"Try harder!" Chaya boomed. "Or next time I won't stop!" she warned as a white glow appeared from within her stomach and eventually it and her disappeared leaving Elizabeth sobbing in the now dull corridor.

With her head still sore she couldn't find the strength to stand and so sat for another few minutes. Eventually, taking a deep breath she slowly pushed herself off of the ground still using the wall for support. She heard a noise come from around the corner. Footsteps, she was sure of it. Wiping her eyes for the second time that morning she straightened her clothes and ran a hand through her hair. Elizabeth began to approach the corner when someone came rushing around it and bumped into her. She grabbed onto the person's top, a jacket, to stop herself from falling over. In turn she felt the person grab her too.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean…"

"No! It's okay it was my…" Elizabeth began but stopped when she realised who she was holding onto.

"John!"