Disclaimer: Stargate is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV show, and our fantasy of owning it is not real.
A/N Tinuviel Undomiel: Okay Shweir fans, half the time in this chap you're gonna want to shoot me, and the next half you're gonna love me. Trust me, I pounded on the keyboard more than once writing this fic, so it pains me to have Elizabeth with another guy too.
A/N Nerwen Aldarion: Hey guys, you Teyla/Dex fans will have a treat this chapter when you guys find out how they got together and how they got engaged. This chappie was fun to write and Lizzie returns to Atlantis.
Commander and Chief
"I'm just saying that, all in all, I've been closer to both of them, so that's why they are going to name their first kid after me," John calmly explained to Rodney and Lorne as they headed to the conferance room.
"Yes, well if it hadn't been for me, they would be dead for about fifty times, and then they wouldn't be getting married," Rodney protested valiantly, as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Oh please, Rodney," John grinned, "I've saved your Canadian butt a million times."
"Why are you even discussing this?" Lorne questioned, as they walked into the room, "Teyla's not even pregnant. Besides, they'll name their kid after me."
"Oh yeah, right," John rolled his eyes, "Look..."
At that moment all three men saw the stunned expressions of Teyla and Ronon, who had already arrived to the conferance room.
"Oh hey, guys," John greeted them, "Can you tell these two knuckle heads that you are gonna name your first child after me."
"No, would you please inform the Colonel that I, your best friend, will be the namesake of your child," Rodney stated.
"Colonel," Teyla began, "Doctor, why is this a discussion? We are not yet married."
"Oh well, we're just planning ahead," John said.
"Yeah, I mean you guys have discussed kids right?" Rodney asked.
"We were going to wait a while before starting a family," Ronon said.
"Well, you can't always plan these things," John said with a smile, "After all, sometimes those little guys just work their way up there."
Lorne started laughing like a maniac at that, while Rodney looked disgusted, and Teyla and Ronon both looked confused.
"You...don't want...an...explanation," Lorne said between laughs.
Rodney cleared his throat, "The General's here."
Immediatley all of them took their seats, along with the rest of the senior personell. Carver walked in with a file under his arm, and placed it on the table, but didn't sit down, "I'm glad you're all here, I have some very important news. The President has decided that since Atlantis is once again a fully operational base, a new civilian commander will be in charge."
"Really?" John asked, "Who?"
Carver continued, "I believe most of you have met Dr. Elizabeth Weir."
John hung his head to where it nearly touched the table, "Oh crap."
She walked in then, dressed in her traditional uniform jacket, unbuttoned and revealing her red shirt. Her curly brown hair was the same length, and framed her lovely face in exaclty the same way. She hadn't changed a bit.
"Thank you, General Carver," She flashed him a warm smile, "It's good to be back here," Elizabeth's gaze was on her new subordinates, and her old ones. John tried not look at her, but his eyes betrayed them. Not once did she give him a glance.
"I reconize many of you, and the rest I'm sure I'll get to know you in time." She gazed at all of them, except one, "We find ourselves back in a troubling situation. A new enemy has come to the Pegasus galaxy, one we know little about. However, I am confidante in our ability to defeat them. Now I don't want to bore you with a speech, and I'm anxious to suppress this threat," She took a seat at the head of the table, while Carver sat on her left, "Now what new information to do you have to tell me?"
"How about that they are called the Elemen," John spoke up. He was sick and tired of her ignoring him, and at least wanted to meet her eyes again.
It worked, his hazel eyes met her fiery emerald green ones. Three years ago, they had held a stony anger in them when they last met, and now they still did.
"Colonel Sheppard," She said, he could feel the the ice in her voice, "You have something to say?"
"Yeah I do," You're playing with fire, John, get out while you still can. "That was a good speech you just gave, but it doesn't deteriorate from the danger. The Elemen aren't like the Wraith, they aren't doing this to survive, they just want this galaxy for the sake of taking it."
"I read your report Colonel," Elizabeth said, "I know all about that."
She actually read the report, she didn't throw it in a fire, or attatch explosives to it? John thought for a second, but for just a second, then he remembered what happened, and the anger that fueled him again came back, full throttle, "No I don't think you do," He disagreed, "These Elemen are smart, and cold-blooded. I killed their head honcho right in front of them, and they didn't bat an eyelash, so I would suggest you listen to me."
"Listen to what!" She asked, forcefully, "Do you already have a plan to defeat them? Is there some weapon or technology that will help us?"
John took a deep breath. She was too good at this game, "No."
"Then from what I can see, Colonel, there is nothing to listen to from you," With that, she turned her attention to Dr. Beckett, and began to ask about the autopsy on the Elemen female John had killed.
Unable to believe that she had just dismissed him like that, John leapt from the table and stormed out of the room. She never gave him a second glance.
Why her? He asked himself Is fate trying to play a joke on me? Out of hundreds of people who could fit this job, why did it have to be her?
Because she's the best, a little voice he had happily ignored for three years resurfaced, Because even though you hate her, you still care.
"You left that room pretty fast, Colonel," Carver came up from behind him, matching his pace.
"What was the point in sticking around?" John replied, "It's not like she'd listen."
"Do you have a problem with my fiance?"
John stopped dead in his tracks, and spun around to face the General,"Fiance?"
"Yes," Carver said, "Elizabeth and I have been seeing each other for nearly three years."
Now John felt like he'd been punched int he stomach. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. He'd thought about a lot of situations that could have happened if they had met again. From shooting each other, to ending up between the sheets, but never this. Never the thought that she would have found someone, while he never had. His anger had returned when he saw her, but so had his feelings. Those feelings that had refused to die. Those feelings that were aflame now.
"So..so you know her?' John asked, stupidly.
"Yes, I do, Colonel."
"And she..."
"She has informed me of the situation between you two, and I agree with her 100."
"Of course you would," John scoffed.
"He would what?" Elizabeth asked, coming up beside Carver, apparently the breifing was over. The General smiled, and wrapped his arm around her waist. At that, John felt a shot of fire shot through his veins. It wasn't fair! How could she move on as if nothing had happened! There had never been anythng official between her and John, but he had been certain that somehting had been there. Now she was with him, the new Military Commander. She had completely forgotten about John, while he had continued to dream about her.
"Nothing, Dr. Weir," John replied, "I was just having a conversation with your fiance."
Elizabeth was surprised that he knew. Richard must have told him. A wave of guilt washed over her for not telling him herself, but she banished it before he could see it mirrored in her eyes. She wouldn't feel sorry for him, she would never allow for that to happen. Because if she could feel guilty, she just might...
"Did you know that Teyla and Ronon are getting married too?" John asked.
"No, I was unaware of that," Elizabeth said.
"Maybe you could have a double wedding," John suggested. His tone didn't suggest any humor at all. "Congratulations, you two really deserve each other!"
For the second time that same hour, John stormed away from her.
Carver shook his head and began to leave, pulling Elizabeth with him, "Let's go."
Elizabeth watched John's retreating form, and wondered if she should follow him, but Richard was already leading her in the opposite direction. She couldn't be certain, but she thought that in his stormy eyes she had seen...pain.
Teyla was relieved that they had no missions planned for that day. She wandered the familiar halls of Atlantis, until she found herself outside of an office. Inside, Elizabeth Weir was hard at work at her desk. Teyla smiled at the familiar sight. It was good to have her back, it was also good to have some female companionship.
"Dr. Weir," Teyla said walking in, "I wasn't able to talk to you earlier, I just wanted to say I'm glad you're back."
"Teyla, thank you," Elizabeth smiled, "It's good to see you again."
Teyla sat down in the seat across from Elizabeth's desk, "I heard that you are betrothed to General Carver, congratulations."
Hm, I've never heard anyone call it quite like that, "Well thank you, how did you find out?"
"Colonel Sheppard told Colonel Lorne, who told Dr. Mckay, who told Ronon and he told me,"
Elizabeth shook her head, "News travels fast."
Teyla smiled, "Well Colonel Sheppard didn't exactley tell Colonel Lorne, he more of complained about it." She saw the look of confusion on her face, "He didn't seem happy about it," Teyla confessed.
Elizabeth sighed, "Well he didn't exactly find out in the way I had planned." She stared at the face of her laptop sadly and then closed, "Well on to better news, I have heard that you have a fiance as well, in fact I should tell you congratulations." Teyla's smile glowed, "You and Ronon, When did this happen?"
"A little over two years ago, he asked me to marry him last year."
Elizabeth smiled at Teyla, "When's the date?"
"In a few weeks,"
"Are you getting excited?"
"Yes," Teyla admitted, "and a little nervous. What about you?"
"Oh, well not for a while, I mean I just got here and we're in another galaxy."
Teyla nodded, "I see, but I'm certain things will turn out alright."
"I hope so, " Elizabeth said sadly. The way she said it Teyla knew it was not her relationship with General Carver that Dr. Weir was thinking about. Teyla also remembered the way Colonel Lorne said that Colonel Sheppard had reacted. It was then Teyla knew one thing, that there were definate feelings between them, but they were both to proud to admit it.
While Teyla and Elizabeth were having a pleasant conversation in Elizabeth's office, John was sitting bored in Rodney's lab. He was throwing a tennis ball against the wall, trying to be busy. The steady, bump, bump, bump against the wall was driving Rodney insane.
"How'd you think she met him?" John asked.
"I don't know," Rodney said, as he peered at some Ancient trinket.
Bump...,bump...,bump.
"Do you think he loves her?"
"I don't know."
Bump...,bump...,bump.
"Do you think she loves him?"
Bump...,bump...,bump.
"I don't know," Rodney said, getting tense.
Bump...,bump...,bump.
"Do you think..."
"I...don't...know!" Rodney said, jumping out of his seat, "I don't know, I don't know! I haven't seen her in three years, I don't know!" He snatched the ball out of John's hands, and flung it down the hall.
"Geeze, Rodney," John said, "Calm down."
"Calm down!" Rodney reapeated, "Calm down! Here you are sitting here, whining, and groaning and asking me stupid questions about Elizabeth's engagement, and you are telling me to calm down!"
"I'm not whining!"
"Rodney, how'd they meet?" Rodney said in a high pitched voice, "Do you think she loves him? Do you think..."
"I get it, Rodney," John cut him off, "It's just...it hurts you know?"
"Uh, well no not exactly, I've never been in your situation."
"What situation?" John asked.
"Well, I mean I've never been in love with someone, and have them get engaged to someone else."
John leapt to his feet, "What are you talking about?"
"You, we're talking about you," Rodney said.
"I'm aware of that," John said, "Please say what you just said about the word love again."
"I said that I've never been in the situation like you are in now," Rodney said, "You know, cause you're in love with Elizabeth..."
"Stop right there," John held up a hand, "I'm not in love with Elizabeth."
"Oh please, Colonel, it was the worst kept secret then and it still is now, everyone knows that you have the hots for Elizabeth."
"I...I...I...," John stuttered, "I'm shocked, I'm really shocked. Where would you get an idea like that?"
"Hmm, Let me think," Rodney siad, "I had a front row seat when you wanted to tell her something important when that bug nearly sucked the life out of you. I heard you yell into that radio at Kolya to let her go right when he was about to kill her. There were about a dozen witnessess when you hugged her after your suicide stunt. You gave her a gift for her birthday, and do I have to continue?"
"No," John said, "That...they...those things don't mean anything."
"You know I should just go talk to Elizabeth," Rodney said, "At least she doesn't live in denial."
"I'm not living in denial!"
"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt," Rodney sang.
"Oh how original," John rolled his eyes.
"I never want to see another box again," Elizabeth muttered under her breath. She was busy unpacking her things, and it seemed that everytime she unpacked one box, ten more took it's place.
She picked up a heavy box of some of her books and reached to place it on the top shelf of her closet. She stood on tip-toe, but she couldn't push it onto the shelf.
She felt someone come up from behind her and shove the box into place. Immediatley her senses detected who it was.
It felt strange to have John so close again. Her back was pressed against his chest. She could feel his warm breath in her ear. The few seconds that their bodies touched, seemed to last forever. Her heart ran it's marathon course, something it hadn't done in three years. Not even when she met Richard.
Elizabeth quickly moved out of his proximity. If she stayed too close, too long, her face would flush, and everything would come flooding back. Everything. She couldn't have herself think about those feelings again.
"Hey, I don't have the plague or anything," John said, slightly offended, "I'm just trying to help."
"If I wanted your help I would have asked for it," Elizabeth replied snarkly. Her anger would hide her trembling hands.
"Well sorry," John rolled his eyes. His apology was insincere.
"It's alright," Elizabeth replied softly, her anger dissolving. Now John cooled his anger. Seeing her standing there, with her head down, not meeting his eyes was hard on him. He'd wrestled with himself, trying to accept that he couldn't possibly be jealous of Carver, and he had failed. When he had seen her stretch out to put away that box had been more than enough to drive his senses wild. Rodney had been right.
An uncomforatable silence rested between them for several moments. "So here we are," John said, sounding like a dunce, "Back on Atlantis."
"I never thought I would see this place again," Elizabeth confessed.
"Yeah, me neither," John looked down, and then back into her eyes, "I'm sorry you didn't get what you wanted."
Elizabeth frowned in confusion, "What?"
"Right before we went back, you said you never wanted to see me again."
"Oh," Elizabeth ducked down again, "I...I didn't...really mean that," Elizabeth stammered. She had regreted saying that to him for three years. She looked back at him, concern etched in her lovely face, "John, can we do this?"
"Do what?"
"Work together, professionly," Elizabeth said, "A lot happened back then, and we left on horrible terms. We're going to have to withstand being in the same room together more than once."
"We're doing it now aren't we?" John replied, "Honestly, I don't know Elizabeth. As you said, a lot happened, and we haven't forgiven each other yet. I don't know if we can."
She nodded and looked down at the floor. His eyes had been boring into hers and she had to look away. If her she didn't, he might have seen straight into her heart.
In order to busy herself, and keep her mind off of him, Elizabeth picked up a box and began to take out more of her things.
Unsure of what to do, John picked up a small box that looked older than the rest. he was about to open it, when it was snatched out of his hands.
"I didn't tell you to go through my stuuf!" Elizabeth snapped at him.
"I thought I would try being helpful!" John shot back. The heated anger was back between them.
"Well you're doing a great job at that," was her sarcastic reply.
"Fine then," John said, stomping the door, "Next time you need help, don't bother asking me!"
"Already decided," Elizabeth replied.
He gave her one last glare before leaving the room. She punched the activator that sealed the door. The box lay undisturbed on the bed, and when she saw it tears sprung into her eyes, She picked it up and held it to her chest for a few moments. I can't let him see this box. If he knew what was inside... Elizabeth moved over to her closet and placed the box into the farthest corner of her closet. She sighed sadly when she thought about the recent arguement. One thing was for sure, they would never reach a new beginning.
A few days later, Rodney sat in his lab pouring over a strange tablet they had discovered on a mission. The natives on the planet had apparently fought a large battle with the Elemen lord living there. They had lost, badly. The entire race was destroyed, and the Elemen, seeing that he had no one to lord over, had packed up and left. Probably to find another world. When they had first gated to the world, the smell was what tipped them off to the destruction. Then they had all taken in the bodies, and saw the crumpled buildings and scorched earth. It was the first indication how baneful the Elemen could be. Seeing it had shaken them all.
In order to get his mind off the ruined planet, Rodney focused his eyes back on the tablet. The writing on it was so familiar, he just couldn't think of where he had seen it before. He concentrated on one symbol, and suddenly placed it to where he had seen it.
With a smile, Rodney looked up ready to tell someone, anyone. He saw John walking by, "Colonel!"
John chnaged his direction to Rodney's lab, "Yes Rodney?"
"Come look at this tablet," He instructed.
John walked over and gave the slab a glance, "Those look like those squiggly thingies on Rashina's door."
"Yes, I saw writing such as these in the fortress as well," Rodney said his smile growing, "I think I have discovered the Elemen language."
"That's nice Rodney," John said rolling his eyes, "Now what does it say."
Rodney shrugged, "How should I know? I'm not a linguist."
"Then what are you going to do about this?"
"I'll send a copy of the script to Dr. Daniel Jackson, perhaps the language was deriven form some ancient language on Earth," Rodney said matter of factly.
"What is looking all smug about?" Lorne asked as he walked into Rodney's lab with Ronon following.
"Oh, well I may have discovered a key element to our victory over the Elemen," Rodney replied.
John raised an eyebrow, "A key element? Rodney, all you've discoverd is that they like to scratch symbols on stones, cavemen used to do that."
"This is important!" Rodney said, outraged, "For all we know this could be battle plans, or their history or..."
"A lunch menu," John finished. Lorne gave a little chuckle.
"If we can decipher this tablet we may be able to read all writings of the Elemen," Rodney defended himself, "And that is important."
"Alright Rodney, you've got a point there," John admittred. he turned his attention to the largest member of his team, "Why aren't you with Teyla?"
"Some of the female officers said they wanted to talk to her."
"Aww, everyone has to ruin your fun, don't they?" John joked, smiling at Ronon's expression. What did they expect I would do? Come on, getting married was just begging for me to mercilessly tease them for the rest of their lives.
"Yeah, he did seem kind of down when I found him," Lorne agreed, "In fact, I saw the girls in one of the media rooms, apprantly they..." Lorne stopped when he saw John's jaw tighten, "What?" He folled the Colonel's gaze to one of the windows. The view was of Dr. Weir and General Carver apparently having a pleasant conversation, with one arme wrapping her in a close embrace. He saw the doctor give the general a light kiss on the lips, before leaving the General.
"Oh," Lorne smiled.
"You don't look happy," Ronon said to John.
"They shouldn't be doing that," John stated sternly, "I mean she's the commander, and he's her second in command, they should act professional in public, not have a make-out fest."
"One kiss doesn't qualify as making out," Rodney said, "It's just a kiss."
"Yeah," Lorne agreed. "Besides it's ot like we had to endure enough of that when you two were actually talking to one another."
"Hey, we never were together!" John protested.
"But you wanted to be," Lorne pointed out. John was silent, no matter how much he said otherwise, they all knew the truth.
"What happened between you two anyways?" Rodney asked, "One day we were think you were going to aske her out, and the next day you two were trying to kill each other."
"That's between me and Elizabeth," John said.
"Well come on, you can..."
"No Rondey," John said. He walked towards the door, "I'm outta here, be sure to tell Dr. Weir about the tablet."
Lorne looked at Ronon and Rodney after the Colonel had left. It wasn't right, him calling her Dr. Weir. They used to have no formalities. People used to bet on when they would first kiss. Now they wondered if the doctor even cared for John at all. He still does, Lorne thought, and I think she does too.
Elizabeth was heading towards her quarters for some sleep when she heard a mass amount of giggling coming from one of the media rooms. Her curiosity now peeked, she changed her course and opened the door. She saw Laura Beckett, and three other women seated around an overwhelemed looking Teyla. The Athosian smiled when she saw Dr. Weir, and a sense of hope that the commander would relive her from the giggle party.
"What's going on in here?" Elizabeth asked.
"We were just asking Teyla how she and Ronon got together." Laura said innocently.
"And I was telling them that I'm not sure if this conversation was appropriate," Teyla explained, "Don't you agree Dr. Weir?"
What ever hope that Teyla had that Elizabeth would save her from answering the question was shattered, "Actually Teyla I'm rather curious myself."
Teyla sighed knowing there was no way she was going to get out of this one, "Very well." And all of the girls all sat closer to Teyla like children about to here a magnificent story.
"Ronon and I had always felt a rather closeness to each other, probably because we were the only people here from this galaxy. When the Wraith were destroyed and our people needed a new home, we searched together and that only made us closer. But one thing we didn't want to discuss was what would happen when our people finally did part ways and settle on different planets."
"Why?" Elizabeth asked.
"Because we had already lost contact with you and Colonel Sheppard and even with Dr. Mckay, we both felt that we were losing friends and I guess we didn't want to lose each other."
"Oh that's so sweet," Lt. Janet March said all of the other women agreeing.
Teyla continued, "When we found Ateda, we knew it was a suitable planet, the only problem was deciding who would stay and who would leave. Ronon and I tried to decide for ourselves but the conversation quickley turned to how much we didn't want to part ways. Saddened I returned to talk to my people but was surprised when they informed that they had made a descision with the Satedans. They wanted to stay on Ateda with Ronon's people and unite. I was so happy I ran back to Ronon and told him what had happened. I guess in all the excitement I forgot myself and I hugged him, perhaps that was the reason for what happened next."
"What!" Laura begged, "What happened!"
Teyla was smiling at the memory of what had occured, "He kissed me, I was so shocked and amazed, I remember my heart was beating so fast. When he pulled away I asked him why he had done that. And he told me because the thought of me leaving was the worst thing he could imagine. And because I had been dreaming of that moment for so long, and hearing those words was one of the happiest moments of my life, I kissed him and told him that I had been wanting to do that for so long. We admitted so much to each other that night, it was truly magical."
"Oh my gosh!" Captain Trudy Green exclaimed, "That was so romantic!"
"Yes it is," Elizabeth agreed.
"You're engaged to General Carver, right?" Janet asked.
"Yes, I am, captain."
"Well how did you meet him?"
"Oh, well it wasn't terribly romantic," Elizabeth admitted, "We met when the president was having a social ball. General Hammond introduced us. We talked for a while, and a few days later he called me up and asked me on a date."
"That's nice, I guess," Janet said, he voice ringed with dissapointment.
"How did he ask you to marry him?" Trudy spoke up.
"Uh, well," Elizabeth stammered, blushing a little. Now she knew how Teyla felt. "Well, he took me out to dinner, it was a fancy restaurant with candles and everything. And over wine he said, 'Marry me, Elizabeth'."
All three woman looked at each other, unsure of what to say, "Um...it's...modern," Trudy said.
"Yeah," Janet agreed, "Modern."
"What about you and Ronon?" Laura asked Teyla, "How did he propose?"
"Oh well it was about a year ago when he asked me, he came to my room and said that he was taking me somewhere but he didn't tell me where we were going. He wouldn't even let me see the stargate address. He brought me to a planet that had a forest and he led me to a cave which I soon recognized was the same cave where we first met."
"And then what!" Dr. Mary Saren asked.
"He turned me around and looked deep into my eyes, he said that he loved me and told me that he'd never forget when he first saw me. He said even then he thought I was beatiful and he became intrigued even more when he began to get to know me. He said that though he hadn't told me till then, but that he had loved me since we had been on Atlantis."
Teyla paused and Laura got antsy, "Don't stop now! Keep going!"
"He contiuned by saying that when he thought we would part ways he was devastated and tried to find a way to ask me to stay, and when I told him that my people wanted to stay with his he was so happy he lost all thought. And it was a dream come true to when I kissed him back, he said that the last year was the best thing that had happened to him since meeting me and that the only thing he wanted now was to spend forever with me. And he asked me to marry him, at that moment I was so surprised and elated that I was crying, but I managed to say yes and we kissed there at the very spot where we we had first laid eyes on each other."
Teyla looked at the women and each and everyone of them was entraped, "That was the most sweetest, romantic thing I ever heard," Janet said.
"My mother told me, the more romantic the proposal the longer the marrige will last, " Laura said, "With a proposal like that, you and Ronon are going to stay together forever."
Teyla was smiling, "I think so too."
Elizabeth sat silently as all the other girls oohed and awed over Teyla's proposal. What Laura had said kept playing over and over again in her mind. The more romantic a proposal, the longer the marriage will last. Her proposal wasn't romantic. But that doesn't mean anything! Elizabeth argued with herself, Richard loves me, that's all that matters.
Her gaze wandered to the door, where she could hear someone coming near the room. She saw John walking by the door. A sudden burst of laughter from the girls- while Laura retold her proposal from Carson- made John turn his head towards the media room. His handsome features frowned in confusion, but smoothed into surprise when he saw Elizabeth. A tremor ran through her when their eyes met again. She quickly looked down before she did a stupid thing like talk to him, or blush at his gaze. She listened as he continued on his way, and with every step her heart broke again and again.
Her eyes wandered back to the empty doorway, vaguely she could hear the girls still talking about proposals, "How would Colonel Sheppard ask someone to marry him?"
Elizabeth let out a laugh as she stumbled against a wall. A strong hand caught her before she stumbed to the ground.
"Come on, John I can't see a thing!" Her vision was impared due to a blindfold tied around her eyes.
"That's the idea," He replied. She could hear the luaghter in his voice.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked for the third time.
"Nope, not gonna tell you," John said, as he continued to lead her through Atlantis.
"Please," She begged.
"Sorry, this is a surprise."
She smiled as she pushed her forward. He grabbed her shoulder to stop her, and opened a door. She could hear a light breeze, and smell the salty sea air as the wind ruffled her dark curls, "Why are we outside?"
"You'll find out," John siad, untieing her blindfold. She blinked a little in the sunlight, but she recognized her surroundings immediatley.
"The balcony?" Elizabeth asked.
"Hey don't poke fun at this place," John said, "This place is special. We argued here for the first time, we all always come out here when we want to be alone. I even kissed you here for the first time."
"I guess you're right," Elizabeth said, leaning against the pillar next to her, "A lot has happened here."
John moved beside her, and Elizabeth pondered over his expression. it was almost as if he were nervouse, but for what reason?
"Elizabeth," John began, "You know how much I love you, right?"
Elizabeth smiled, "I've had my suspicions," She teased.
"Yeah well, what I'm trying to say is that you mean everything to me,"John said, "Without you, I don't think I could live. From the first moment I saw you I knew you were diffrent."
"So did I, John," Elizabeth said, "Although I was more worried at the time that you were going to break one of the most invaluable thing since the Stargate."
John laughed at that one, "I know, but I swear all I did was sit down." They both laughed, but his expression grew serious again.
"These past few months have been wonderful, Liz," He said, "And there is something I've got to ask you before I lose courage."
She didn't realize what he was going to do until he ot down on one knee. Elizabeth gasped in surprise, and tears formed at the corners of her eyes. John pulled out a small velvet box he had concealed in his pocket, and she couldn't stop her tears of joy from brimming over.
"Elizabeth," He began to ask the greatest question Elizabeth had ever wanted to be asked, "Will you marry me?"
She couldn't answer at first. Too much emotion had taken over her body. She wanted to laugh, cry, and kiss him, all at the same time, "Yes," Was all she could respond at first, "Oh, John, yes!"
With the most beautiful smile she had ever seen, he stood up, and moved to...
"Dr. Weir?"
The unwelcome voice of Janet pulled Elizabeth out of her daydream, "What is it?" She asked.
"You said yes."
"What?"
"For some reason you just said yes," Janet explained, "Is there something going on?"
Elizabeth shook her head, "Uh no, I was just...uh...thinking about certain things." She left her chair, "I must be going." Her hands trembled as she opened the door, and walked down the hall. You are such an idiot, Elizabeth! She scolded herself, You were fantasizing about another man. You. Are. Engaged. Remember that. Don't think about him. You don't even care about him anymore. You love Richard. A sinking feeling hit her, and she leaned against a door with a groan. I do love Richard, don't I?
She realized she hadn't even noticed where she was going. A quick glance told her all she needed to know. With a gasp, she leapt from the door of someone's room. His room. Elizabeth practically broke into a sprint as she ran away from John's quarters. I can't do this. I can't. I knew I couldn't. I knew he would be here. I should have told the president no. I should have stayed on Earth. I knew those feelings would come again. I knew it, and I let this happen.
She stopped running, ans stood breathless outside her own room. Their room. Her and Richard's. I can't run from him everytime I see him. I have to face this. I will. Eventually they will fade. Eventually I will forget his smiles, his looks, his touch. I can do this...and I will.
With new determination she opened the door, and walked inside. She smiled at all of her things, and Richard's too. He would retire to their quarters soon, and when he walked through the door she was going to give him the long kiss. That would silence any old feelings for John.
Her smile faded when she saw the closet. Buried under clothes, and tucked into a corner lay a secret. Her secret. You need to get rid of it, she told herself. She walked over, and opened the door. Elizabeth pushed aside her clothes, and pulled out the hidden box. Her hands shook as she stood there, uncertain of what to do. Waves of memories came flooding through her, and she couldn't stop the sobs. This is a battle you can't win, her conscience said, Put it back. You can always remember the good times. You can always love him in secret.
But it's wrong, She argued back, Richard loves me. It's not right to him.
It's not right to John. It wasn't his fualt. You gave the order.
I know I did! But...I want to stop caring for him.
Do you?
She remained silent as she thought about this. Did she really want to end this here? Did she really want to stop her feelings for John.
Keep it. Use it to remember how much you still care.
She closed her eyes in defeat, and placed the box on the bed. She opened the lid and smiled. It wasa secret. Her secret.
A/N: What is in Elizabeth's mystery box? Feel free to guess, who knows if you are right, we mightjust tell you so. Maybe. Please R&R.
Previews for next chap:
JOHN: What's going on here?
RODNEY: It's the Genii.
KOLYA: We plan to cure ourselves of this threat.
JOHN: The Elemen are more than a threat. They can destroy your people. You need our help.
KOLYA: Do we? (shot of Wraith Darts)
ELIZABETH: They've aquaired Wraith technology. Is it enough?
RODNEY: No.
On an all new Stargate: Return to Atlantis.