And back around again…
"Dial it up."
Elizabeth looks down at Major Lorne's team as they start the MALP lumbering forward slowly. She feels John stroll up to her side on the balcony and gives him a sideways glance.
"Another planet from the Ancient database?" he asks.
"A planet the Ancients called Archados. According to Rodney, it's a on the outer rim of the galaxy."
"So we're hoping they were able to escape some part of the Wraith cullings?"
They watch as the seventh chevron engages and nothing happens. The MALP shudders to a stop.
"Give it one more try," Elizabeth orders the technician.
"You think they're not there anymore?"
"I don't know. They may have just been smart enough to disable their gate when the cullings began."
After another dialing sequence with no connection, she decides to let the team go.
"Guess you're off the hook until tomorrow, Major Lorne. You can stand down."
She knows John is smirking before she even turns her head.
"You sound almost military," he teases.
"I could say the same for you."
"You've been waiting to use that one, haven't you?"
She shrugs and grins, then notices that he's got something in his hand. She reaches out in surprise.
"You actually finished your reports?"
He pulls the pad out her reach.
"Not quite."
"So what's that?"
"A proposal, but I'm thinking it was a bad idea."
John looks almost embarrassed and Elizabeth tries to give him a reassuring smile.
"Will you have dinner with me?" he blurts out suddenly before looking around as if to see if anyone else might have heard him.
She knows that her mouth is hanging open in surprise, so she makes a point of closing it. She opens it again, prepared to list off reasons of why they shouldn't get involved, but finds that she can't. It would only be putting off the inevitable.
"I'd love to, John."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Um, okay. Not tonight, but tomorrow. Does that work for you?"
"I'm sure it will."
They smile at each other like teenagers for a minute until they realize that the others in the control room are starting to stare. John starts to walk away, but Elizabeth stops him.
"John?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I read your proposal?"
"Sure. Why not?"
He hands her the pad with a shrug. She looks down at the title and can't keep a slow grin from spreading across her face.
"A request for recreational activities and its impact on morale, health, and general well-being."
The End