Ancient History
Chapter Four: Sex and the Alien City Part 2
By Ddoskocil
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Part two of the party. It back tracks a little, so I hope it's not too confusing. It's also a little longer than I intended for this chapter to be, and I didn't quite get everything into it. I might add to this chapter later, but I'd like to hear what you people have to say. Anywho, here's chapter 4. Enjoy! Oh, and there's more kissing. ;)

Dr. Dredd: John will lighten up...sometime. Plus, there's a reason he acts the way he does. But blood will be drawn before he lets up any. All will be explained. ;)

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Erika let Carson spin her around the floor. She laughed as he dripped her at the end of the song. He smiled at her and she felt her heart skip a beat. With a smooth move and a twirl, she was back on her feet. They stood awkwardly for a few moments as they looked around. Erika noticed that there were far fewer people than when the party started.

"All right, everyone," the DJ called over the PA, "This is the last dance, so grab someone special to finish the night with."

Erika lifted an eyebrow at Carson. He smiled and took her hand in his, pulling her closer as he placed his other hand on her back. With only a slight hesitation, she put her arm around his neck. Other couples joined them on the dance floor as the song began.

"So does this mean I'm someone special?" she asked with a suggestive smile. He shrugged. Erika thought she saw him smirk, but the expression was gone when she looked again.

"Or just the closest person I could find," he replied straight-faced. Erika's eyes widened in surprise. She stared at him, but his eyes lit up, giving him away. Slowly, a grin spread across her face as she realized it was a joke. She playfully slapped at his chest.

"Oh, clever," she replied sarcastically. "Clever Doctor Beckett. Just for that, you don't get to spend the rest of the night with me." Again, he raised an eyebrow. Erika mentally slapped herself as the words reached her ears.

"Oh, I didn't think that was an option." Erika groaned and dug her head into his shoulder. She felt heat in her face and knew she was bright red. She wanted to scream and cry and curl into a little ball all at the same time.

"That's not what I meant," she mumbled into his shirt. She breathed in deeply and almost swooned against him. His scent was intoxicating. She smiled to herself as she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt him tense, but he wrapped his arms around her. Maybe that was what she really meant.

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Carson stiffened as Erika wrapped his arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. He hesitated a moment before he enfolded her in his embrace. They danced slowly around the floor. When the song ended, they held each other a moment longer before reluctantly they let go.

He stood in front of her, his hands stuffed in his pant pockets. Carson realized the irony of the situation. In his infirmary, he was in charge, confident, and called all the shots. He never hesitated. A hesitation could mean the loss of a life. But outside his element, he was full of doubt. The Genii taught him that when they took over the base. And he was very much out of his element with Captain Erika Sheppard.

He looked at Erika and studied her for a moment. She was young and attractive and she looked fantastic in that green dress. He realized there was a physical attraction, but he also knew, after watching her dance, that just about every man in Atlantis was attracted to her. She could have her pick of them, and Carson wondered why she was standing in front of him.

"Well, I guess this party is breaking up," she commented as she looked around.

"Aye," Carson replied. "Guess that means it's life back to normal."

"And what does that entail?'

"The usual. Patching up Sheppard, listening to Rodney complain about a paper cut," the Scot joked. Erika grinned and chuckled silently.

"Sheppard? Does everyone call John by his last name? God, he used to hate that," she laughed. She suddenly quieted and looked at the Stargate. Carson wondered if she was seeing some distance scene. She shook her head softly to clear whatever image she saw and he decided it better not to ask.

"Well, Doctor Beckett, hopefully I'll become part of 'the usual' around here," she commented lightly as she linked her arm through his. He led her from the command room at a stroll.

"I don't know if that would be a good idear," he replied with a small smirk. He could see the confusion as it flashed across her face.

"Oh," she said hesitantly.

"I don't want to have to patch you up just because you want to see me." He smiled when her eyes lit up. They were lovely honey-brown eyes.

"Clever clever," she replied with a small nod and lifted eyebrows. She brushed a stray hair behind her ear as her pout grow into a sidewise grin. "So I don't need to be bleeding to visit the infirmary, huh? And just how do you spell 'idear', by the way," she asked in a mocking accent. Carson straightened a little.

"I-d-e-a-r." She laughed out loud as she turned to him. He stopped walking and stood in front of her, that doubt and awkwardness returned. He mentally cursed himself. He was grown man who had faced things most could not even dream of. Why was facing this woman, this amazing woman, so difficult?

"Thanks for the dance, Carson. I really enjoyed it." She looked at the door behind her over her shoulder. Carson knew the night was over.

"I should thank you. Goodnight, Erika," he replied. He turned to walk away, but she grabbed his arm.

"I would like to get to know you better," she said quickly. "How about we get together for lunch?"

"Lunch?"

"Yes, you know, that meal you consume between breakfast and dinner. Everyone eats lunch. I don't see why we couldn't eat lunch together. What do you say?"

"I suppose we could have lunch together," he replied. She took a step toward him so they were almost touching. With her heels on, she looked him in the eye

"I would like that." Her eyes glided closed as she leaned in, her lips gently brushing his for a brief second. She pulled away and looked him in the eyes. Carson watched her, a little shocked by the unexpected kiss. He hesitated a moment too long. She sighed and turned, but Carson grabbed her arm before she could enter her room. Without a word, he pressed his lips to hers. He ran a hand through her hair as he moved the other to her back, pulling her closer. She responded in like, wrapping her arms around him and playing with the hair at the back of his neck.

Their second kiss was longer, sweeter. She parted her lips and delicately licked his lips with the tip of her tongue. He eagerly parted his own lips and darted his tongue against hers. He heard her moan against him as he pushed his tongue into her mouth.

Someone coughed behind them.

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Erika was seriously re-thinking her 'can't spend the night' comment as Carson thrust his tongue into her mouth. She moaned and pressed her body against his. She heard someone cough behind her, but she did not care. Who ever it was could mind his own business. She was disappointed when Carson slowly pulled away as the person coughed again louder.

"Colonel," Carson said. He took a step back from Erika. She frowned and turned to her cousin. At that moment, she wished looks could kill. Or at least make menacing family members leave her alone.

"Beckett," John replied slowly. He crossed his arms over his chest. Erika snorted and bit the tip of her tongue between her molars. She narrowed her eyes at her cousin, not wiling the make the first move.

Carson kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, lass. I'll see you tomorrow."

She broke her staring contest and turned to Carson. "Thanks." She kissed him lightly. "Tomorrow then." He nodded and left her with John.

Erika decided the best way to deal with her cousin was to ignore him. She turned her back to him and touched the panel next to her door. It slid open and she waltzed in. She turned to close it behind her, but, much to her dismay, John was standing in the threshold. She frowned when he pushed past her into her room.

"Come in, won't you," she commented, sarcasm dripping from her voice. She watched with hands on her hips as he looked around. "I haven't unpacked yet." She sat on the bed and took her heels off. He sat next to her.

"What the hell was that about?" he asked suddenly as he exploded off the bed. She silently stood and walked to her bathroom. She locked the door behind her, very thankful for that ATA gene everyone back on Earth was so excited about. He banged on the door.

"Hey, do you mind?' she yelled as she striped her dress off. She shoved her body into cotton pajama pants and a matching tank.

"Erika, what the hell was that back there?" he yelled again. She stuck her toothbrush in her mouth and continued to ignore him. The Ancient version of a sink still had her confused after only a few days with it, but she managed to turn it on and brush her teeth. It was quiet when she stopped. She wiped her mouth and opened the bathroom door. John was sitting on the bed, glaring at her.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, John. It was a kiss, a simple little kiss. Get over it," she said exasperated. She sunk on the bed next to him. "You're worst than my dad was."

His head snapped at her. "I am not."

"Yes you are," she replied, half amused, half upset. He frowned.

"Really?" he pouted. Erika doubled over in laughter at him. She clutched at stomach. Suddenly she felt like she was six years old again with John telling her about his day before he put her to bed. It was a weird feeling, but a familiar feeling. She straightened and crossed her legs.

"I taught you how to pout like that."

He nodded. "I'm sorry about your dad. I didn't know," he said a few seconds later.

"There're a lot of things you don't know." The following silence that filled the room was so tangible Erika felt she could wrap it around her like a blanket. An itchy wool blanket with little pieces of glass stuck in it. She stood and paced, the movement helped calm her nerves.

She noticed John twitching his foot as he watched her pace the small space. She cut around a box when she remembered her dress in the bathroom. She snatched it from the floor and hung it in a makeshift closet.

"Do me a favor?" John suddenly asked as he stood. She looked over her shoulder. She really did not want to do any favors for John.

"What?"

"No guys."

"What! Do you regulate all your personnel like this?"

"You're a little different, Erika. Just not Beckett."

"What's wrong with Carson?"

"Nothing."

"Then what's the problem?"

"He's not right for you. I'm just looking out for you."

"You don't know what's right for me. And I don't need you to look out for me, John. I've been on my own for a while now. I'm not any different from any of the other soldiers here. You know everything about all your people?" He hung his head.

"All right, fine." He stopped at the door and turned around. "I'll see ya tomorrow, Erika."

"Yeah," she replied quietly. She sighed as the door slid shut. There were going to be problems in her future. She just hoped John had enough common sense to keep it out of their professional relationship. She cursed as she flopped on the bed. There were going to be big problems in her future.