A/N: I'm not upset over the few reviews, really, I understand. I hate reading stories with original main characters in them; it would be unreasonable to assume that people would be willing to read mine. Doesn't matter. I'll keep writing anyway, I've got to get it out.
John Sheppard stomps down a corridor of the ruins they've taken over, the familiar pins and needles all over his body not improving his mood at all.
He hates getting shot with those things.
Both the Atlantian and the Alketch scientists have taken over one of the few enclosed spaces left standing. McKay and a woman who appears to be the head Alketch scientist, or at least the loudest, are having a very animated conversation about quantum physics. The other scientists are carefully ignoring them.
While he was laid up from his little encounter, Captain Ezrikos took command of the situation.
Including his men.
He doesn't blame Ford; from his brief interaction with the captain he would assume that Ezrikos is a steamroller of a natural leader, and the cardinal rule of command has always been "act as though you assume people will follow your orders...and they usually will."
Although, as he watches her direct men from the ancient, undefendable ramparts to the clearest possible perimeter, he's surprised McKay didn't object.
He looks over at McKay again. He appears to be quite distracted over his discussion of quarks and other various subatomic particles with the other scientist.
Maybe Ezrikos had something to do with that.
He certainly wouldn't put it past her, but it's not like he's angry with her about it. As the ranking officer she had every responsibility to assume command. The fact that she's ordering his men around is probably good in the long run.
Besides, she did save his life.
He remembers that much. Staring at the Wraith as it got closer and closer, then a black period full of the sound of gunshots, and two fingers against his throat, and then Ezrikos stepping over him, putting herself between him and the Wraith.
That he would have done exactly the same thing for her or any of her people makes no difference.
She notices him and starts to come over; he meets her halfway.
"A couple of your people think they spotted an encampment three klicks southwest. I think it's worth checking out." Her tone is brisk, and businesslike, and it doesn't fool him for a second. He watched her walk back to him, take his P-90 and turn the Wraith's face into spaghetti sauce: he knows how shaken she was.
"Probably so," he says. "Mind if I go?"
She looks him over critically. "You up to it?"
When he just gives her a look she says, "I was thinking one of us should probably stay here."
"Okay."
She glares. "I'm going."
He takes another step towards her, standing close enough that she has to look up at him.
"So am I."
The staring contest would be more effective if she wasn't wearing sunglasses. As it is, the episode is unnerving.
"Do you ever take those off?"
The sudden change in subject throws her. "What?"
"The sunglasses," he explains, "Do you ever take them off?"
Her silence is more perplexed than angry. She just can't figure him out.
If he had a quarter for every time a woman had looked at him like that…
"Not often." She pauses, and then, choosing to get back on topic, says, "I can leave Desperaux in charge."
"Fine, Captain."
She nods, and turns, presumably to find Desperaux who now has the low-pressure job of defending the camp.
"By the way, thanks for saving my life."
Ezrikos turns back to him, giving him another long, measuring look.
"We may not get along, Major, but I'm hardly going to let you get eaten by a Wraith."
He nods. "Ditto."
A blank look. "I'm sorry?"
"Same here," he explains. "I wouldn't let anyone eat you either."
He's not entirely sure about the look she gives him, but it doesn't seem overtly homicidal.
"That's good to know."
And she walks away.
Three klicks doesn't sound like much, but it's a serious walk, especially when every step has to be carefully scouted before taking it.
John Sheppard decides that the best cure for his boredom is to try and get some reaction out of Ezrikos other than a long, measuring look.
Questions about the Alketch military don't do it. She's all too willing to answer something similar to his question and then turn it back on him with a question of her own. By the time he gives up that tack he's certain she knows much more about Atlantis than he intended to let her know.
He hopes she never has reason to interrogate him.
They're carefully approaching the Wraith temporary encampment when he switches to personal questions. Flirting with her isn't professional, and it isn't exactly nice, but it sure is fun.
"Major? Could this possibly wait until we are somewhere other than sixty feet from a rather large Wraith encampment?"
He squints at the group of ships through his binoculars. "Sure, Captain."
Ezrikos gives what he's fairly sure is a sigh of relief. A new reaction!
They talk military tactics for a while, and he knows she's just waiting for him to insinuate something, so he doesn't. Nothing wrong with keeping her on the edge.
The little recon group is almost back to the ruin the scouts claim is the only defensible structure around, in the deepest, darkest part of the forest, when he says, "Is now good for you?"
She stops directly in front of him, turns, and takes her sunglasses off.
Her eyes are black.
"Major?"
"Yes?" he asks, politely, staring at her. She was attractive before, in a strong, military, exotic way. Without the sunglasses as a distraction she is beautiful.
"When are you going to give this up?"
"Never, Captain." He looks her in the eye, and keeps his voice perfectly level. "I never give up."
She looks surprised at that. "Really?"
"Really."
She puts her sunglasses back on, and turns back to the path. As she starts walking again, she says, dryly,
"I like that in a man."
He stands stock still in the middle of the path for a long, shocked moment. And then he gives a sharp bark of laughter, and follows her out into the sun.
Well, that was a reaction alright.
