Thank you to all reviewers! Here is your continuation. (and hurrah for the premiere!)
The next night found them bent over Steven's chessboard. They were evenly matched – one brilliant move by the doctor meriting another by the soldier. It was late, he didn't know how late, and their third game was close to its end. As the last straggler exited the galley to attend to her watch, Steven allowed himself a small smile.
Two games had ended in a stalemate. That had thrown him – as an accomplished battle strategist, he hadn't expected such a challenge from the woman opposite him. They had traded wins in their games that day on Atlantis, but he had assumed distraction clouding their minds. Now, with their full attention on the game, neither could seem to outmaneuver the other.
Until now. Steven had managed to keep his queen along with a few other crucial pieces, where Dr. Weir had lost all but two pawns and a bishop besides her king. When Steven sent his castle to remove the bishop, the doctor moved her hand as if to knock her king over.
He caught her hand with his before she could reach the piece.
"What happened to never surrender, Doctor?" Their eyes locked and for a split second he forgot about the battlefield under their hands.
She couldn't seem to find anything to say. Removing her hand from his, she slid one pawn into a protective, if sacrificial, position before the king.
Steven felt slightly bad about winning this one, but by the time he called checkmate Dr. Weir had a small smile of her own and he let it go, wondering what was on her mind. They reset the pieces and Weir, playing white, went first, pushing her king's pawn out two spaces. Steven moved a knight; she followed by sending out her bishop. He sent out a castle's pawn, and she moved her queen. Confused, he moved another pawn, and-
"Checkmate," Dr. Weir was sitting there with a very smug smile on her face. Steven couldn't hide his own disbelief as he examined the board. She had moved her queen and taken his king-side bishop's pawn. No pieces around the queen could attack her, and he couldn't attack her with his king because her bishop could take him then. He was well and truly beaten.
"Where did you learn that?" Was all he could get out. And more importantly, how did he not see it coming at all. Her smile grew wider.
"My father. He taught me to play chess. The first time we played, he used that move against me, then showed me how to do it. In high school and college when I didn't really want to play but someone asked me to, I would use that move so that the game ended quickly. No one could ever figure it out." She reached out and slowly began to pick up her pieces. He reluctantly followed suit.
"So you only use that move when you don't want to play with someone?" He questioned, trying not to let his feeling slip into his voice. She grinned again.
"Well it comes in handy when playing arrogant colonels, too," Steven noticed her slightly teasing tone and relaxed. Once the pieces and board were back in their wooden box, they left the galley together.
"So I'm arrogant, now?" he asked as they neared her cabin.
"Perhaps arrogant wasn't the right word," she responded without missing a beat. "You're more along the lines of…overconfident." They were at her door now.
"Well, Elizabeth, at least I'll always have you around to keep me in my place." For the second time that night, his body seemed to be working without his brain's permission. He met her green eyed gaze strongly but his courage started to waver as he processed his own words. All she did was smile and reach back to open her door.
"Goodnight, Steven."
But wait! There's more! Read Chapter Three!