Elizabeth Weir sighed as she took herself back to her quarters. It wasn't quite dark enough for the lights to come on so the corridors were suffused with a soft light highlighted by golden streaks from the dying sun. Sheppard and Teyla's report from the mainland, coupled with Carson's final analysis of the Athosian brew had solved the mystery of the behaviour seen on Atlantis in the past few days.
She had been relieved to hear that the gin had caused people to behave in ways they would never normally. Perhaps that meant she and Sheppard didn't have latent feelings for each, or if they did they could easily be pushed aside and they could get on with their jobs.
She needed to get on with her job. Starting a relationship with her ranking military officer was not professional, nor was it wise. Thankfully, the fact that their behaviour –she repressed a shudder- had been down to some spiked alcohol meant that everything could now return to normal.
And that included her relationship with John Sheppard. Especially her relationship with John Sheppard.
She was looking forward to an early night after a long, long lavender scented bath. No dreams, no midnight encounters with Sheppard at the door to her quarters. Just herself, alone with a good book.
The evening seemed to stretch a long way before her and she was suddenly surprised at a twinge of loneliness, but she marshalled her mind to bat away the feeling before really manifested itself.
She was a professional. She was the leader of her people, she couldn't afford to get involved with anybody, how could she send them into risky situations? How could she retain the respect of her people.
Sharing the bath with Sheppard might be fun though. The thought came unbidden into her mind.
What about Simon? She stopped walking shocked at herself. In all the emotional – and physical – uproar in the past few days, she'd hardly thought about Simon at all. She shook her head and continued her journey along the darkening and empty corridors until turning a corner she collided with John Sheppard.
"Hey" he said taking her by the arms and holding her away from him, "you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, stepping back so that his hands dropped away from her arms. "You okay?"
"Yeah" he nodded. "Tired though, I'm just going to catch an early night."
"Me too." She replied.
"Good" he said.
"Yes" she replied.
"I'll just be on my way then" he said and started to walk in the opposite direction.
Elizabeth went to start walking toward her quarters when a thought came to her. "Major?"
He turned back, looking at her through the slight gloom of the corridor. "Yes?"
"How did you know that was Teyla's br… undergarment?"
He grinned at her. "I have a good memory."
And with that he turned and walked away leaving Elizabeth gaping at his back.
-Fin-
