Heart's Desire: Chapter 7
"Passengers, this is your pilot Colonel John Sheppard. Please put your trays in the upright position and turn off all electronic equipment," Sheppard said to his crew as the jumper rose from the jumper bay floor.
In the co-pilots seat sat McKay. Behind them sat Lorne and Carson. Carson's full medical team sat in the jump seats in back.
Today, McKay's black eye wasn't too noticeable, thanks to help from Carson. Still, Lorne wouldn't leave it alone. He leaned forwards, hands laced on his knees, a funny grin on his face.
"I'm certain you're enjoying this," McKay finally said when he couldn't stand Lorne's scrutiny any longer.
"So who did it, McKay? Who did you finally piss off enough to deck you one?"
"Probably half his science team," Carson said. He looked angelically innocent when McKay cast him a glare.
McKay turned that glare to Lorne.
"I walked into a knob."
Lorne chuckled. "There are no doorknobs on Atlantis."
"Did anyone hear me say doorknob? No. There was no door in knob. I'll repeat. There are plenty of knobs on Atlantis. " As McKay said this, he glowered sideways at Sheppard, who gave him a happy smile.
"Who's he calling knob?" Lorne asked, clueless.
"Okay now children," Sheppard said. "Let's settle down. We have work to do." Sheppard wondered if he should feel some remorse for giving McKay the shiner, but he didn't, even if McKay was calling him a knob. McKay needed to learn when to shut his flapping mouth.
Elizabeth stood at her usual place on the second story control platform as Sheppard skillfully lowered the jumper. He tried not to look toward her, but it was difficult.
"Good luck," Elizabeth's voice came over the communication line. "Remember to check in at 1100."
"Will do." Sheppard replied, his voice tight, his mind furiously trying to substitute Elizabeth's uniform of gray and red over the vision he was seeing now. "Jumper 1 out."
"St. Pauli girl?" McKay asked, measuring Sheppard's tight expression, and the fact that Sheppard was studiously avoiding looking too much toward Elizabeth.
"And she looks damn good, too." He said and centered the jumper at the shimmering stargate.
"You know, when I was in the United States once, friends took me---."
"You have friends?"
They entered the wormhole and came out the other side over green rolling fields populated by Pegasus Galaxy's version of cattle—actually they looked like an odd cross between a buffalo and a jersey cow. Supposedly they gave good milk and the meat was tasty.
"Very funny, Colonel. Let me continue. I had friends who took me to a place called Hooters, where girls in these little tops—"
"McKay, I've been to Hooters and I know what the girls look like."
"What is Hooters?" Carson asked. Lorne muffled a laugh.
"You'd like it," Lorne commented without further edifying the confused doctor.
"You know, McKay, you're not fooling me. I know what you're up to; you're trying to throw me off by giving me these mental images so you can see me stutter and flail. It ain't going to work."
"I'll think of something."
"Is this payback for the black eye?"
"Something like that," he grumped.
"You deserved it."
"I shouldn't suffer for your inability to control your temper."
"I shouldn't suffer for your inability to control your damn mouth. Not shut up and let me land this thing."
Scattered country homes gave way to denser housing that soon led to a city very much like those at home—The Pashant version of Earth's suburbs. Wood was the main choice of building material. Not surprising since the forests around the city were dense. Off in the distance, from the view of the jumper, Sheppard could see a rock quarry.
Sheppard knew he was to land the jumper near the hospital on the south end of the city. It was a 4 story gray stone building that was easy to locate.
They passed over the prosperous city toward a larger building on the horizon that housed the hospital and its labs. Sheppard put the jumper down on a stretch of grass. Waiting to the side of the area was their Pashant welcoming committee.
When the jumper bay door opened, the entourage walked up to meet them. Sheppard recognized the Mayor of the town Edsen Bradat, a portly man with thinning hair and a cheery smile. He was followed by his wife and two very comely flaxen hair daughters who thankfully stayed put in their conservative dress—no flickers of Hooter girls to be seen anywhere. Inwardly Sheppard breathed a sigh of relief, the last thing he needed was his visions to tell him that these two were compatible.
Carson, as the head diplomat of the trip, came forward to greet the mayor, his wife, the comely daughters, then shook hands with the Pashant's lead scientist. Sheppard remember that McKay liked blondes. He turned to look at him. The scientist looked like he'd taken a blow to the head.
"McKay," Sheppard said and elbowed the scientist. "You're looking at the mayor's daughters like their juicy steaks. Close your mouth."
"My mouth isn't—" he began before he realized indeed his mouth was open. He cleared his throat and leaned over to Sheppard and lowered his voice. "You can't tell me you're not seeing any suitable women in this crowd."
"Can't say I do, McKay, which proves a theory of mine."
"Which is what?"
"That deep inside, you're a bigger horndog than I am."
And for once, the day went Sheppard's way. No hidden Pashant agenda. No nuclear labs. No marauding wraith darts. No girls appearing in inappropriate attire. All that was required of him was to provide assistance to Carson—which the doctor really didn't need—and watch McKay try to keep his cool around the Mayor's daughters, which he did… sort of. Only if Sheppard discounted the scientist mumbling about his Hooter's plan backfiring.
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"Do I hear you correctly, Colonel Sheppard?" Zelenka was saying.
"You heard me," Sheppard said.
"Cattle?" he sputtered, "in the jumper?"
"I don't think Caldwell would like them in the Daedalus."
Zelenka still looked like he'd been whacked with a cowpie.
"But Colonel…"
Sexy Cowgirl Elizabeth sauntered up right at that moment. Sheppard managed to grab onto the side of the jumper and maintain his calm.
Faded Levis perfectly encased Elizabeth's long legs and molded her shapely butt, and the figure hugging pearl button vest was almost too much for him this early in the morning.
"How are we doing converting the jumpers to carry the cattle?"
"Ye-haw," Sheppard choked out.
"Dr. Weir, I protest," Zelenka started, "these were not meant to carry…"
"I know that," she said in her best diplomatic voice. "But this is a great opportunity to make Atlantis and the Athosians very self-sufficient, between the bags of seed, cattle and….."
All Sheppard heard was blah-blah-blah and instead admired her cowboy hat and tight Levis.
"What do you think, Colonel?" she was saying.
"What?" he asked, and tore his eyes away from the rear of her Levis. "Oh, I think that sounds good."
"Okay, then do it," she told Zelenka. She eyed Sheppard with one raised brow. "I'd like to see you in my office in 5, if you could Colonel."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Sheppard said. "In 5."
He turned to the scientist who was looking pretty disgusted. He lowered his voice. "What… uh… did I just say was good?"
"That you bring the cattle creatures as soon as Lorne gives the okay that the corrals are built."
"Oh, yeah. That's right."
Zelenka was looking at him. "Rodney told me about the device." Sheppard just nodded. "You were seeing something there weren't you?" Sheppard kept his mouth closed. "I was able to measure the energy in the device. It may relieve you to know that it only has approximately 8 to 10 hours of power left in it."
"That's good… good," Sheppard finally replied.
"I have some interesting hypothesis about this device," Zelenka surprised Sheppard by saying. "I would have liked to try it."
"You wouldn't get any work done."
"That's what Rodney said."
On the way to Elizabeth's office, Sheppard cleared his head and tried to think of nothing. And when his brain strayed, he brought it right back to track to… nothing. Random thoughts about the meeting with the Pashant people. Thoughts about getting the cattle into the jumper and to Atlantis' mainland. He smiled. He didn't know who he was going to assign cleanup detail after the cattle had been transported. Whoever it was, they weren't going to thank him for it.
Just before he arrived at Elizabeth's office, he stopped a moment and blanked his mind. Think of nothing, he told himself. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
He stepped inside repeating that mantra and Elizabeth was wearing….
nothing….
Sheppard strangle on a groan. Oh God. Was there nothing he could think that the device couldn't interpret?
Elizabeth looked up from her laptop and smiled. As Sheppard continued to stand, making no efforts to come close, her smile faded. "Colonel?"
He didn't trust himself to speak so he only nodded and looked out at the population of Atlantis going about their business while he, in here, was confronted with Elizabeth wearing…
nothing. Zippo. Zero. Nada. Nothing.
Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"
"No."
"The device?"
"Yes."
"Another Playboy bunny suit, colonel? I hope it's blue this time."
"No and no." He ran a hand through his hair and thought about sitting at the corner of her desk as he usually did. From his place at the door, the computer screen on her laptop covered the best parts. And if he got closer, he knew that he wouldn't be able to resist a peek over the screen. At least from here, she was safe…. Or he was safe. They were both safe. Plus, Sheppard didn't trust himself to let go of the door jamb.
"Your report made no mention of the device causing you any problems on Pashant yesterday."
"Yes."
"Then, there were no problems?"
"No."
She was silent for a moment, then smiled at him, her eyes full of uncharacteristic mischief. "Is this conversation to consist of my questions and your monosyllabic replies?" Sheppard didn't answer and her smile grew. "What did you think of before you came to my office?"
Sheppard wondered if his answer would reward him with another slap. "Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"So I am wearing—"
"Nothing," Sheppard finished for her.
Elizabeth's laugh surprised Sheppard. She seemed not the slightest bit concerned. She leaned back in her chair and Sheppard felt his knees wobble. Still, the computer screen just covered her. Barely. All he had to do was take one step. One step. His hand trembled on the door jamb.
"I would like to come to Pashant with you tomorrow," Elizabeth said.
This was unexpected, and probably not a good idea, at least. The jumper would live up to its name, because he'd probably jump her. "To… Pashant…"
"That's what we're talking about, correct? At least, I believe that's what we were talking about. I think it would be a good idea that I meet the Pashant's mayor and I would like to see the city so many of you are talking about." Elizabeth closed the laptop screen, and picked up her palm pilot. She stood and talked around the desk toward him.
Sheppard felt like he'd been struck deaf and mute, but definitely not blind. He braced himself against the wall as she approached. As if sensing his discomfort, she purposely stood next to him in all her unclothed glory. He flinched and clenched his hands; one hand finally unfurled and inched toward her. Fingers touched skin, and his hand finally came to rest on the curve of her hip. She reached up a finger and gently touched his temple.
"You're sweating Colonel," she said sweetly, then walked away, her hips swaying. Sheppard watched her go. He could not help but watch her go. She stopped and turned. "When is the jumper leaving in the morning?"
"Uh… at … a… time… some… time..." He tried to clear his head and gather his thoughts, but they were scattered in his head like a million puzzle pieces.
"I gathered it would be at some time. I'll ask Carson," she replied, laughter in her voice, but her face serious as if unaware of his predicament.
Was Elizabeth teasing him? Sheppard had to wonder. He leaned his head against the doorjamb. A cold shower would be nice right about now, as it was, he was in no condition at the moment to walk downstairs.
(TBC)