Even after Elizabeth was finally discharged from the infirmary, she was still supposed to be resting for a day or two. It had been almost a week since she'd been up and about in the city, and even longer than that in her mind, so instead of heading for her quarters, she made her way up to the control room and out to her favorite spot on the balcony. She wasn't expecting to see another figure already there.
"When did Carson spring you?" John asked as Elizabeth joined him at the railing.
"Just now. I'm supposed to be 'taking it easy', but…I missed this city." He nodded, watching a smile grace her face as she took in the view.
"Yeah. I know what you mean…At least we have proof that Atlantis won't sink back into the ocean if you aren't working. That means we can force you into taking a break every once in a while now."
"Well, it means you can TRY," she replied with a smile. "And the city managed to function without you as well…although I don't think your team wants to be left in control again any time soon."
"Yeah, probably not."
"I…I wanted to thank you, though."
"For what?"
"Well…for keeping me alive." John shook his head.
"You did that yourself. It's not that easy to get rid of Elizabeth Weir."
"Still…I believed that everything was gone, and I could have given up, if it hadn't been for you."
"Eh, I just couldn't imagine this galaxy without you being here."
Elizabeth smiled. "Likewise. I don't think…that I could run this city without you…and I don't want to have to try."
"Well, I DEFINITELY don't want to have to run this city instead of you, so I think we're even," John replied with a grin.
They were both leaning on the railing, shoulders together, watching the water. John wasn't entirely sure how they wound up with their lips meeting – his brain disengaged almost instantaneously, only to be shifted back out of neutral by the sound of a door opening behind them. Ronon was standing there, a smile that was perhaps a bit too smug on his face.
"We're all here," he told John, who nodded. His team was going off-world to check out possible trading relations with a seemingly friendly planet.
"You want to meet up for dinner tonight?" he quietly asked Elizabeth as they went back inside.
"Does that mean you'll actually be coming back from your mission on time?" she replied with a smile.
"I make no promises."
John joined Ronon, Teyla, and Rodney, who were getting ready to go in the gate room, while Elizabeth made her way up the steps to the control room. Ronon and Teyla were teasing each other over something – John wasn't quite paying attention to them. They had seemed different since he'd woken up, but he hadn't spent a lot of time thinking about it, and right now, there was only one person who he wanted to be contemplating.
Once everyone was finished suiting up, a crewman in the control room started dialing the gate. As the event horizon appeared, John turned back to look for Elizabeth up above them.
"Good luck," she called. John gave her a smile and a wave before following his team out. He would do everything in his power to be back before dinner.
Fin.