Chapter IX: Waking up and paintball promises.
Stella woke up feeling the groggy – the side effects of whatever they had given her. She slowly opened her eyes. The area was quiet, maybe too quiet. Once her sight cleared, she looked around her bed. Bates was sitting on a chair next to it, sound asleep. Stella took a good look at the Sergeant and noticed the bandage on his neck. Her mind started wandering, but her thoughts weren't clear enough, she had no idea how they had finally gotten out of that pier.
Slowly, Stella sat up, feeling achy all over, but at the same time it was manageable for her goal. She tried to move, but realized that there was a cast on her left leg. That didn't stop her, though, and with a mischievous grin across her face, she moved closer to Bates, then smacked him lightly on the forehead.
Bates woke up with a start, startled he looked around, and then realized that it was Stella. He gave her a mock glare that was quickly replaced with a smile. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."
Stella now returned to a comfortable position on the bed and glared at Bates, "Sleeping Beauty? More like beat up Shrek. How long have I been out?"
"Twelve hours."
Now, Dr. Beckett appeared, on the infirmary, probably attracted by the voices. "You're awake! How are you feeling?"
Stella looked at the doctor. "Ok, given the circumstances."
Carson started to check on Stella, once he finished, she looked at the doctor, "What about the others?"
Beckett gave Bates a glance and replied, "Sgt. Bates here had some cuts on his neck and a concussion. Lt. Ford had a cracked rib and Major Sheppard was just bruised up. No permanent damage for anyone."
"What about me?"
"A small concussion, a bruised back and a broken femur. You need at least six weeks for the leg to heal up, although it might be more time; everything depends on how your body heals up. But other than that, you'll be fine."
Now Stella wondered how she was going to endure six weeks with the damned cast on her leg. Then she heard Dr. Beckett say, "Also, you should know lass, you are quite the talker when you're drugged."
Stella stared at the doctor in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Carson looked at Bates and back at Stella. "Ask the good Sergeant here. He should be able to tell you the whole story. Now I need to check on something; call me if you need anything."
Stella nodded and once the doctor was out of sight, she looked straight at Bates. "What was he talking about?" Stella saw that Bates was now repressing a laugh, and tried to press on, "Colin..."
Bates heard the menacing tone on Stella's voice when she said his name, so he decided to begin with, "You called him the sexiest doctor alive."
"WHAT?"
Bates smiled. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Stella thought about it for a moment. "We were on the pier... you stuck a needle in my leg!"
Bates was really trying to keep a straight face. "Yes, and the drug made you act..."
Stella's face was now riddled with concern. "How?"
"Happy."
"How happy?"
Bates started telling Stella about her comments on Major Sheppard's butt, that she pinched him and so on. Stella felt she was getting smaller as she covered her face with her hand. Her mouth was hanging open in shock. She couldn't say a word, then Bates continued, now telling her about the contest, "You did the contest, picked the winner and then..."
Stella was speechless, but she gathered strength and asked, "Then what?"
At this moment, Major Sheppard walked in the room and finished for Bates. "And then, somehow you thought that my butt cheeks were bongos. Honestly, is a miracle that I can sit down at all."
Startled by his sudden appearance, Stella slowly covered herself with the bedsheets and whispered, "Bates, please make it quick! Use a pillow or your gun, but kill me now!"
John smiled and reached up for the bed sheet and took it off Stella's face. "There's no need for that. Besides, how are we going to do field training without you here? And I still want to see those paintball guns of yours."
Bates smile suddenly faded and he stared at Stella. "You have paintball guns?"
Like a kid caught up doing something wrong Stella nodded, and Bates continued, "And were you planning on telling me?"
Stella tried to look innocent. "You are the head of security, if I told you something like that... you would've wanted to know how I got them and..." Stella stopped, seeing the hurt look on Bates face, then she continued, "I was going to tell you... eventually."
Seeing Bates's reaction to the news, John placed a hand on the Sergeant's shoulder. "It's all right, Sergeant, I'm sure miss Roig is willing to share. Right?" John was now staring at Stella.
She looked guilty and replied, "Yes."
Bates now smiled at Stella. "It's ok, as long I'm in the game I don't think it's going to be a problem. Now..." Bates stood up, "I'm going to take a much needed nap, Stella. I'll be back later."
Stella nodded in acknowledgment and the Sergeant walked out of the infirmary. She now looked at John. "What about the Wraith?"
"We have a couple of teams searching the area, and fixing the transports. So far I think those were the only ones here."
John and Stella stared at each other in an awkward silence. Stella now decided to say something that was long overdue. "Umm... Major..."
"Yes?"
Stella was now really debating if she should do it, but her conscience won. "I want to... I need to apologize, not only because I said some horrible things to you yesterday. But also about the incident, I should have never done that and yesterday… I…"
John now looked at Stella, his face serious, and he cut her off. "Don't."
"No, I must. I acted very... un-grown up."
Now John moved and sat on the chair previously occupied by Bates, and continued, "Don't. If you start apologizing, then I'll have to apologize, and we'll get all mushy and hugsy and..."
At that comment, Stella gave John a look that screamed, 'Are you kidding me?'
John kept quiet for a moment, then said, "We both acted... out of age. So, let's do this; you saved my life, I saved yours. Now we're square."
Stella eyed Sheppard suspiciously. "So... we're good?"
John nodded, but Stella kept staring at him. "Are you sure?"
John smiled, "Yes, besides, I can't wait to show you how much fun you're going to have in training." Now he was giving Stella a mischievous glare.
Stella was sure she didn't like the smirk on his face. "You know Major, I never meant what I said. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. I'm not going to tell anyone about what kind of underwear you wear."
"And let you keep those guns all to yourself. I don't think so." Stella smiled, and John continued, "Now I wonder, how were you able to bring that to Atlantis?"
Stella now smiled mischievously and replied, "That's a secret I'm going to keep."
"How many do you have?"
"Four."
"FOUR?" John gave her a suspicious glare, "I'll get it out of you somehow." Now John stood up to leave, but Stella stopped him. "So... who won?"
"Excuse me?"
Stella felt a bit embarrassed, but what dignity did she have left to lose? "Bates told me that I made a "booty" contest. I want to know who won. Was it you?"
John smiled, remembering the incident. "Why do you think it was me?"
"I don't know. You seemed to be the one I harassed the most."
John smiled. "Well to keep your embarrassment at bay, I didn't won. You gave that honor to Sgt. Bates. I was second place."
Stella sighed. "I'll never hear the end of it, but somehow I can deal with that."
Sheppard smirked. "I'll let you rest now. But I'm coming back and I will harass you until we can take those toys of yours out to play."
Stella chuckled softly. "I know you will."
As Major Sheppard walked out, Stella knew she had made a mistake in letting Sheppard on her secret. Maybe it was for the best. Now Stella thought about all the punishments and revenge acts that were waiting for her once she began her training. Damn it! Why she didn't thought of it, but thankfully that was in two months from now. Stella had a lot of time to mentally prepare herself for what Sheppard might be planning for her.
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After spending her two most boring months of her life, Stella was finally set free. Today Major Sheppard had awakened her very early. He had everything prepared for her first day. Actually, Sheppard had set aside the whole day on the mainland; somehow Stella knew that Sheppard would want to use the guns for more than just training.
With that thought Stella made her way towards the Jumper Bay.
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John couldn't remember how long it had been since the last time he had had this much fun. At first he was all military with Stella, and to make it harder they were accompanied by Ford and Bates. The only reason they were there was because they wanted to play with the guns a bit. The first three hours were of pure training, and John knew he had made it hard enough. Stella had seemed at the brink of protesting a couple of times, but she did as she was told. But after the first three hours they just wanted to have a game of paintball.
After that they spent the rest of the day playing. John had teamed up with Stella, so he could pass tips to her. She hadn't done badly in her training, wasn't excellent but she could take orders if an emergency arrived.
Then by some weird chance he discovered that she could aim almost perfectly. But that he discovered at Lt. Ford's expense. Sgt. Bates had warned the Lieutenant not to challenge Stella. But Ford had turned a deaf ear.
Now he was sulking at the rear part of the Jumper. The inside of the ship was in complete silence. Ford was in the back, Sheppard driving, Bates to his side and Stella was sitting behind Bates with a smirk that could rival those of Major Sheppard.
After the quietest trip of their lives, John finally landed the Jumper inside the Jumper Bay. Now Stella jumped to her feet and placed a hand on John's shoulder. "Just drop the guns at my quarters later."
John nodded, and Stella walked towards the rear part of the Jumper. John looked at Bates, then they heard Stella's voice. "Good evening Dr. Weir."
Now John stood up and walked to the exit of the jumper, Bates walked close behind him. They found Ford still sitting in the back of the Jumper. John tapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, Lieutenant, you'll get your revenge in the next time."
John heard Ford mutter something along the lines of, "She's evil."
It was actually a funny sight, seeing Ford's forehead splattered with pink paint. Now the three soldiers walked out of the Jumper only to find Elizabeth Weir waiting for them outside. Her arms were crossed, her face serious. Until she saw Ford. Then all she was doing was trying to repress a laugh. "I was about to send a rescue team. You are two hours overdue."
Elizabeth eyed Ford again and smiled. John stepped forward. "I'm sorry, we kind of forgot about the time."
Elizabeth eyed Ford again. "And, may I ask what happened to you, Lieutenant?"
Ford tried to control himself to answer, "She waited an hour, we were ready to go, but she waited an hour. Until she got me on sight, why did I open my mouth?"
Bates now smiled. "I warned you. She might not be a soldier, but she spent her weekends at home playing with her brothers. She does know how to aim."
Now John continued, "Don't worry, Ford, that's some bump you're gonna have for the next week. But you can make her suffer for it on the next time."
Ford shook his head and started walking away. Bates walked with him and said, "Just remember, next time she's driving."
Ford was now really angry. "Next time I'll get her." And the two soldiers walked out of the Jumper Bay.
John now looked at Elizabeth; she was giving him a stare. "What?"
"Paintball? And you didn't even invite me?"
John frowned, but then relaxed. "You can play with us next time."
"I better, or I might feel inclined to confiscate those items." She gave John a smile and turned around. "We just received this month's share of that drink you love."
John's face lit up. "We have beer?"
Elizabeth stopped at the door and turned to look at him. "Yes, so I suggest you take a bath. The bar will be opened tonight only and I want to enjoy the night." She placed such emphasis in the word 'enjoy' that it sparked a smirk on John's face. Seeing this Elizabeth smiled and walked out of the bay.
John smiled broadly, he had just spent the whole day playing like a kid with new toys, and now he had a nice night to look forward to. He walked to his quarters, had a nice long shower and put some decent non-military clothes on. When he opened the door to leave, Stella was there and was about to knock. John stared at her; she was still in her painted military uniform. She was holding something on her right hand. "Stella... aren't you going to the bar tonight?"
Stella smiled a little shyly. "Yes, Bates must be waiting for me already."
John smirked at her and she quickly changed the subject. "But that's not why I'm here. I have been in my quarters, thinking for the last hour if I should give you this."
Now she handed him the item in her hand – it was two CDs. John looked at the disks and back at Stella. "What is this?"
Stella now started to stared at the floor. "I just want you to know that from the first disk, the only person who has a copy is Dr. McKay. I don't have a copy; I have deleted it from my hard drives. I definitely don't want anyone at the SGC to think I'm a perv..."
John was really confused. "Stella, what is this?"
Now Stella looked at him. "Is a copy of the footage from the day Dr. McKay lost his bet. You know the day of our incident, you running across Atlantis with no clothes on. Dr. McKay accompanied you. I really don't want to keep that in my hard drives."
John now looked at the discs in his hands, and noticed that Stella was turning around to leave. "Hey, Stella!"
She stopped and turned to look at him. "Yeah?"
"What about this other one?"
John didn't like her reaction; she looked a bit embarrassed. "Well... that one is for your eyes only. I guessed you would want to keep something like that, without having the US government knowing what you have done in Atlantis."
John looked at her, really worried and confused. "What is it?"
Stella looked like a fish, she opening and closing her mouth several times before actually making a sound. "Well… it's… the… ummmmm… let's just say that the next time your hormones are having urges that only Dr. Weir can resolve… please stay clear of the hallways. You have scarred me enough."
With that statement Stella turned around and walked away. "See you later Major."
John was in shock; he wasn't sure that he even wanted to take a look at the disc. He now remembered all those encounters he had had with Elizabeth over this past couple of months. Some of them not on very private places. That's how she knew! Oh shit! He thought about it again, Stella really had stuff to blackmail him with and hadn't used it. Wow! I really have to be careful around that woman.
John looked at the discs again, he walked toward his desk and placed them in a drawer. He would look at them once he figured it out how to tell Elizabeth about them. Yep... it's going to be an interesting night.
FIN
