Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis in any shape or form.
Note: Thanks to Patricia (Dana-Carter) for Beta reading.
wolfdream:You are doing a great job with 'Weathering the storm' and
please do you original idea I'm dying to read it.
Rhin Ariel:Awww, you love my story. That is really sweet. Thanks for the positive feedback.
Ashkash: Somehow I knew you'd like how the feelings got reversed at the end. That's my favourite part. Plus I felt a little mean for everything I was putting John through because I really love him.
Quezacolt: Thanks. There are a few more chapters to this story but I've also got a sequel planned if the story works out well.
TubaPrincess: Thanks, glad you like the twist. The name of Elizabeths' daughter is going to be revealed soon, although not in this chapter. I've got to work through some things first but she will have a name soon.
Hazeydream: Thanks, I'm glad I made John an ass as well. It's just fun writing him when he's like that.
Dark faith5: Thanks, hope you enjoy Liz's reaction. It's coming up in this chapter.
Carson walked to Elizabeth. He felt sorry for the poor nurse who was trying to check her over. He walked over to the nurse and set her away. He sat in the chair next to Elizabeth. He was worried about her but knew he couldn't coddle her.
"Are you going to stop being stubborn and let me check you over?"
Elizabeth looked at him sharply, the fear, which had entered her eyes a few moments before, was still there.
"I'm fine Carson"
Carson gently covered her hand with his.
"Elizabeth, please let me check you're okay"
Elizabeth closed her eyes and nodded. Carson breathed a sigh of relief, stood up and began to check her.
Rodney, Ford and Teyla walked into the infirmary. They'd just heard from one of the nurses that Elizabeth had just given birth and they wanted to check she was okay. As they walked through the doors they saw Elizabeth sitting on one of the nearest beds being check over by Carson. They were going to go over to her when Rodney stopped and stared into Carsons' office. It had to be a trick of the light. John Sheppard was in Carsons' office, holding gently a tiny bundle that was probably Elizabeths' baby. Ford and Teyla followed Rodney's gaze into the office.
"That doesn't seem normal."
Ford commented and Rodney glared at him.
"Ya think!"
Rodney walked into Carsons' office. He could hear John whispering to the baby. His finger was still trapped in the grip of her tiny little hand.
Rodney walked up to him.
"Major, are you alright?"
John turned round and smiled at him.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Rodney this is…well she doesn't have a name yet. Elizabeth hasn't exactly given her one yet but…isn't she just the sweetest little thing you've ever seen?"
Rodney looked at John confused. Was he drunk? For the last six months he'd wanted nothing to do with that baby and now he was…smitten.
"Yeah, she's beautiful. Are you sure you're okay?"
John sighed and looked at him.
"Rodney, for the last six months everyone as been telling me that this baby as done nothing wrong, that it's an innocent. I can finally see that. Why do you want to take that away from me?"
Johns' tone was almost accusive. Rodney put his hand on Johns' arm.
"I'm not trying to take anything away from you John. But why the change of heart?"
John looked down at the baby. Her little fists curled up in a ball. Her beautiful big eyes staring at him.
"Because she's just an innocent baby. She didn't ask for this life. It was given to her. She needs us. And at the minute, I don't think Elizabeth is very willing to be there for her."
Rodney looked at him in confusion.
"Why? What happened?"
John sighed, he hadn't meant to say that. Elizabeth didn't need psychobabble coming from Rodney's girlfriend and John knew Rodney would go and tell Kate.
"It's nothing, she's just a little…confused …at the moment. She'll be fine."
Rodney was genuinely concerned for the well-being of both Elizabeth and her daughter. He really did think that talking to Kate would be a good idea.
"Maybe she should talk to Kate…"
John immediately cut him off.
"Rodney no, Elizabeth doesn't need to talk to her. She'll come around in her own time."
Rodney shook his head.
"I don't know."
John looked out of Carsons' office window to where Elizabeth was sat on the bed.
"She'll be fine because she has too. It's her daughter."
Rodney nodded and left Carsons' office. He walked over to Teyla and Ford and dragged them out of the infirmary. Elizabeth needed some time alone.
John waited until the infirmary became quieter before going out to see Elizabeth. Rodney, Ford and Teyla had left over an hour ago and soon after that, many of the nurses had left. In the infirmary now there was, Beckett, a nurse, Elizabeth and of course John. Elizabeth had been sleeping for most of the hour and the baby had been getting checked over by Carson again. Apart from being a little premature, she was perfect. She was a beautiful healthy baby. She only had one problem. Her mother didn't want anything to do with her.
John sighed and cradled the sleeping baby. She didn't even have a name yet. He didn't even know what Elizabeth wanted to call her. John closed his eyes. Maybe if he'd been there since the beginning Elizabeth wouldn't be like this.
"I'm so sorry sweetie. I should have been there for you and mummy since the beginning, then maybe this wouldn't have happened"
He looked over to where Elizabeth was sleeping; she began to stir. Maybe if John caught her in a good mood, she might accept the baby.
He left Carsons' office and began to walk over to Elizabeth. Carson stopped him.
"John, I don't think that's a good idea. Elizabeth is a mess right now. I don't think seeing the baby will help her much."
John shook his head. He understood Carsons' concern but he knew what he was doing.
"Carson. I need to do this. She needs to know that this baby is not a threat to her."
John walked around Carson, placed the baby in an Ancient version of a bassinet, and sat in the chair next to Elizabeths' bed. He was determined to make Elizabeth see sense. Elizabeth began to stir again. She opened one eye and smiled at John.
"Hi"
John smiled back, sat forward and held her hand.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
Elizabeth sighed
"Tired, very tired"
Elizabeth began to sit up; she froze when she saw the baby in the bassinet.
"What the hell is that doing there?"
John sighed, let go of her hand and stood up. He went over to the bassinet and picked up the baby, who was now awake. John sat back down in his chair. Elizabeth stared at him.
"Elizabeth, this is your child. You wanted it"
Elizabeth shouted
"I didn't ask for that that"
John nodded.
"Yes, you are right. But she didn't ask for this life. But she got it and she got it because of you. Because you wanted to keep her. Call me crazy, but I think you even love her and that's what you're scared of. The fact that you love this child scares you because you know who the father is. She was conceived in a terrible way Elizabeth. But she's innocent."
Elizabeth looked away from him and he knew he was right. He just had to keep pushing her.
"When I first found out you were pregnant, I hated you and the baby so much. But neither of you had done anything wrong. Neither of you asked for what had happened, and that is what I've slowly been realising. You two are innocent parties in all this. But you both need each other. You've been thrown together, don't turn your back on her. On your daughter."
Elizabeth brushed away the tears, which had formed, in her eyes.
Was he right? Was everything he said true?
John slowly stood up, he walked the short distance between them and placed the baby in Elizabeths' arms. Elizabeth looked down at her. She was so small. She looked so much like Elizabeth and she couldn't understand how she'd seen Kolya in her before. Was it her mind playing tricks on her? It had too be. This baby was nothing like him.
Carson shook his head. He was bloody amazed as he saw Elizabeth run her finger down the cheek of her daughter. How the hell had John Sheppard managed to do that?
Carson sighed. John wanted Elizabeth so badly. That much was obvious but for some reason he'd grown a strong attachment to the baby as well in such a short period of time. Maybe for once something was going right for them. Then again, don't speak too soon.
TBC…
