Instinct
Chapter 5: Compliments
a/n: This chapter is one big flashback. It's important you know that!
John, Elizabeth, and Dimitri were seated around a small round table in a comfortable village house. Elizabeth conveniently sat between Sheppard and Logan. Not what John had wanted, of course, though on the other hand he was just waiting for Dimitri to make a wrong move.
An intricately designed gold chalice had been placed in front of the unusual trio. It contained a tasteful red liquid resembling one of the fanciest wines from Earth. They had already gone through one glass. A toast was made.
"I'd like to propose a toast to the both of you. For now you may be guests, but hopefully in the near future you can be considered close friends. If not for your courage, we'd have never met. And for that I'd like to extend a special thanks to you, Dr. Weir."
'Cheers' went all around.
"Mr. Logan, that was extremely kind of you, thought I don't believe I need any more recognition than anyone else."
"Oh, don't put yourself down. You're a very special woman Dr. Weir and please, call me Dimitri."
"Why thank you, Dimitri. Elizabeth would be fine."
"You're very welcome, Elizabeth."
By this point John was rolling his eyes every time Dimitri opened his mouth. He couldn't believe that Elizabeth was going for this. Flattery had never worked on her, unless it came from himself. He could always make her smile, causing her to look down bashfully, as he broke through another one of her carefully constructed walls. John had a way with her; she was different than any woman he had ever been with. Ok, so technically he wasn't with her, he reminded himself, but they were pretty damn close …friends he meant. This talk from the other man was bothering him; finally fed up enough he interrupted.
"Do you use 'very' in every sentence?" Dimitri had been wondering when Sheppard would chip in.
Does it bother you, colonel?" Dimitri quipped nonchalantly.
"Only when you forget the most important characteristics." Sheppard said irritated. Elizabeth raised her eyebrows towards John quizzically as if to ask 'what are up to?'
"Care to fill me in on something I've missed?" Dimitri joked.
"Don't mind if I do. Quite a few things actually; Elizabeth is a 'very' smart, talented, and graceful woman. Not to mention 'very' beautiful. In my expert opinion, she's damn perfect." John gave Elizabeth his bedroom eyes and handsome smile causing her to blush. For a second she was at a loss for words, yet content in finding herself smiling back at John. Facing reality she reluctantly pulled her eyes away. Elizabeth was about to speak when he spoke again.
"It's getting late; we better get moving before it turns dark."
"Of course." Dimitri sneered. Angry Sheppard had showed him up.
Standing up, John followed close behind Elizabeth all the way to the gate. Yet again she found herself at a loss for words.
a/n: I would have put it with chapter 4 but I didn't want a really long chapter in the middle of short ones. Thanks! Review please!