A/N: Aw, go on then, seeing as how we missed a day. Better to get it over with... they're not going to like it... they're not going to like it... I wish the site was down again...

Chapter Nine - FALLOUT

Elizabeth was standing at the bottom of the stairs when Sheppard's team came back from the jungle planet. She nodded at John. They had already reported in, and the plan was to have the debrief meeting later. John, Teyla and Ronon looked nervously at Rodney and Elizabeth, and all headed off to get cleaned up.

Rodney headed straight across to Elizabeth. "Uh... Can we talk?"

Elizabeth's face remained impassive. "Of course. My office?"

He followed her up the stairs, and they passed the Control Room in silence. Going into her office, Elizabeth let him in and closed the door behind them.

Her arms were folded across her defensively. She faced him, still as a statue.

Rodney was nervous, but he had his hands thrust into his pockets to stop them waving too much. "I just wanted you to know... I'm not the kind of guy..." He stopped, and sighed." Elizabeth, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you... left Simon." he gulped, and looked at his feet.

He glanced up at her, and marvelled at her negotiating skills once more. She hadn't moved a muscle, despite how she must be feeling, given what he now knew. Or what he thought he knew.

Finally, she spoke. "It's OK, Rodney. I must have been crazy to jump to conclusions like that. Especially when it was none of my business. What you do in your own time is nothing to do with me. It was wrong of me to treat you how I did, just because I didn't get what I never even asked for."

Rodney tried to follow her twisted reasoning, but it wasn't easy. "Why did you try and come to me? When you left him?"

"I needed a friend, Rodney. I needed you."

"Me?"

"Yes. Is that so hard to believe?"

"Well, yes, actually," his face was glum.

She looked away. "When I thought you were with her, I guess I lost it. I didn't know why, or how badly, not then. And who am I to make judgements about any of your relationships...?" She met his confused gaze.

"Nothing happened between us."

She frowned. "I thought you were there for days?"

He shrugged. "She must have found incredible strength to resist me, I guess. It was nice being with my cat, though." He blinked, wondering where this conversation would end. "Does it make you feel any better if I told you I did try and date her?"

She almost laughed, "Would I feel any better if I'd been right all along? I doubt it. I don't blame you if you hate me." She looked away.

"I still find it hard to believe you felt so strongly about me, Elizabeth. I mean, you're... you, and I'm... well, me. I barely ever believed you were really my friend, last year - it was almost surreal." Rodney rubbed a hand over his face, and walked away from her, towards the window.

After a minute, Elizabeth walked over to Rodney. She stood just behind him, looking out the window at nothing. "We were such good friends," she whispered.

Rodney bowed his head.

She sighed, "I think I fell in love with you, Rodney."

He froze.

"I think I still am in love with you." She didn't dare move.

Slowly, Rodney turned around, and looked at her. She was staring at a point somewhere on his chest, her hands clasped together nervously. He reached out a hand to move a dark curl of hair that was hanging awkwardly over her cheek. "I'm not really the kind of guy you want, Elizabeth. I could never..."

She reached up quickly with one hand, and grasped his wrist gently. Her wide eyes looked into his. "I can't help how I felt... how I feel, Rodney. It's just the way it is. Thinking you were with her, it tore me apart, and I didn't even realise."

His eyes were popping out on stalks, and he pulled his hand back, with Elizabeth still holding on. "Elizabeth, you're going to have to let me think about this. I don't want to hurt you like... like he did..." he continued to stutter, "I...I need to be sure. I mean, I want you as much as the next man, but you're in charge around here, so I never..."

"Rodney." Her voice was tinged with desperation, and she gripped his wrist firmly.

"Yes, Elizabeth," he managed to squeak.

"Let me say sorry for what I've done. Let me try and make it up to you."

Staring at her grip on him, he swallowed, and he felt her hold on him relax a little. "OK," he whispered.

What else could he say, really?

"Thank you." It was almost a sob.

"You're welcome. Can I go now?" He kept his eyes on her hand, unable to look up.

She let go of his wrist, and he left her office without looking back.

TBC

A/N: If it's any consolation, remember I promised it would be OK. Also I said it would be ten chapters long, but I've worked hard and now there are eleven, to fit in a bit more repairing of relationship. Sorry, doesn't really make up for this, does it? It's just what happened, y'know?