Chapter Two: A Little fun Never Hurt Anyone

By the time noon had rolled around Elizabeth was busy refereeing arguments, searching people out to question them on something they'd written in their report, and listening to reports on what was going on throughout the city. She didn't have a spare second to herself to daydream or worry about what John was doing on the mainland.

"We have two men in the infirmary, both still recovering from the battle against the wraith they were involved in yesterday." Carson said as he sat across from Elizabeth in the briefing room.

Elizabeth took another drink of her coffee and yawned. "Thank you, Carson." She said.

"How much sleep are you getting a night Elizabeth?" Carson asked in a concerned tone.

"About four." Elizabeth said, she knew it wasn't nearly enough and that she'd get a talking to from the chief doctor, but she was a busy woman and many nights sleep was the last thing on her mind.

"That's not nearly enough. You're going to wear yourself down. I know you get here before sunrise. Perhaps you could stay in bed, sleep an extra hour or two a day." Carson suggested.

Elizabeth nodded. "I'll try, it's been pretty hectic around here lately." She said.

"It's always going to be hectic around here, all the more reason for you to get a decent amount of sleep." Carson said.

"Alright." Elizabeth said simply.

"Is there anything else bothering you? You've seemed somewhat distant lately." Carson said. Carson was a sweet and caring Scotsman who had a heart of gold, and that was one of the many reasons Elizabeth had chosen him for this expedition, and it was a big part in the reason the two became friends.

Elizabeth nodded. "No, everything's fine. I just need to get more sleep." She said with a smile.

"Alright then, I'd better get back to work." Carson said standing up.

Elizabeth followed suit, and walked him to the door of the briefing room, and watched as he walked off towards the infirmary.

She walked back to her office and took a seat at her desk and began tackling the files she had left.

"You work too hard." She heard John say from the door way.

She looked up. "I'm the leader of an off-world expedition. It sort of comes with the territory." She said.

John held up a necklace that was made of clay beads. It had all different colors in it and it was intricately designed. "I told you I'd bring you back a souvenir." He said handing it to her.

She picked it up and inspected it with a huge smile. "It's beautiful, thank you." She said.

"Here, let me help you get it on, the hook thing is weird. Teyla showed me how to do it." John said picking it up, and walking around behind her.

Elizabeth held her breath as John's hand touched the back of her neck as he worked to clasp the necklace together. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck as he looked closely at it fiddling with the two sides.

"Ah, ta-da!" He said after he finally figured it out.

Elizabeth could hardly control herself from fainting from the close touch, but she smiled so that he wouldn't think anything of it. "Thank you John." She said.

"What do you say you give up the job for just one night, and come watch a movie with Teyla, Rodney, Ronan and I." John invited. He had one eyebrow raised, obviously intrigued by what her answer would be.

At that moment Elizabeth would have said yes to him even if he had asked her to shoot Rodney. "Sure, why not." She said.

John looked a bit surprised, but smiled none the less. "It's a date then." He said before he walked off.

Elizabeth dropped her head on her desk, and sighed. "You have got to cut this out." She whispered to herself.

That night after finishing up the last few files of the day Elizabeth went to her quarters and changed into civilian clothes, and headed off to the room that had been designated as the viewing room. They had a white canvas set up, and every once and a while the Daedelus would bring a reel of a new film for them to watch, it just so happened that one came with them the last trip they had made, which was just a few days ago. When she got to the room she saw John sitting on a couch with Ronan, Teyla and Rodney. She couldn't help, but smile at the odd group that she saw sitting there. They were all very different in every way, yet they had all become good friends.

"Liz! Hey!" John said waving her over.

"I brought popcorn." She said holding up a bucket of popcorn that she had picked up on the way over.

"Ah, come sit next to me then." Teyla said.

The group moved over and made a space for her to sit in between John and Teyla. She squished in and passed the popcorn around.

"Alright, for those of you who are unaware," Teyla said.

"Rodney." John interrupted with a laugh.

"The movie we have here is something called The Breakfast Club." Teyla said ignoring John's comment and reading the paper that came along with the movie.

"It's a classic." John said.

"I've never seen it." Elizabeth confessed looking at the paper in Teyla's hand.

"Where have you been?" John asked, not quite able to grasp Elizabeth's confession.

"Busy." She said with a shrug.

"Well thank god I got you away from that desk of yours. Life may have passed you by while you were sitting there." John said.

"Start the movie!" Ronan cheered as he took a big handful of popcorn.

Elizabeth laughed along with the others as Rodney pushed the button to start the movie.

By the time the movie was over everyone was sprawled out throughout the room, and they were all in great spirits. They had laughed, and joked with each other throughout the movie. Elizabeth had never been happier. Too often she gave up a good time to work overtime or do something extra. It had gotten her to where she was today, but it had also left a hole in her life where she should have been having fun. Now, granted, before she left for Atlantis she was with Simon, and they were good together. They were in love, and that gave her an incredible amount of joy, but she didn't remember ever having as much fun with him as she had had with John and the others in the past few hours. She looked at her watch as the credits rolled and was shocked to see it was already midnight.

"Oh wow, it's late. I'd better get to bed, I've got an early morning tomorrow." She said standing up.

"I'll walk you to your quarters." John said. She opened her mouth the object, but he cut her off. "It's fine, honestly, I'm going that way anyway." He said.

She nodded, and they walked off towards her quarters after saying goodnight to the others. They walked in silence until they reached her door.

"Thank you for inviting me tonight, I had a great time." She said leaning against the door.

"I could tell, you need to get out and have fun like that more often." John said.

"I'll take that advice." She said. She was about to tell him goodnight when he leaned in and kissed her softy. When they parted she was so blown away she wasn't able to speak.

"Goodnight." John said then he walked off down the hall.

"Goodnight." Elizabeth said quietly.