Elizabeth had not spoken to John alone in 3 days. Every time it looked like he was going to pull her aside she made excuses and left, trying to look inconspicuous but she guessed that John knew she was avoiding him

She couldn't stop thinking about what had happened, about his hands on her and his mouth on hers. The awareness was still there, maybe stronger then ever but so was her resilience. All of her life she had trained her mind to be stronger than her heart so that she would show no weakness but now her heart was fighting a stronger battle. She knew it was not just attraction with John but much more.

Since she had put the barriers up between them, there had been a dramatic but subtle change in their relationship, it had been what she intended but did she really want it? Elizabeth knew that what she had done was right but in what way? The more she thought about it the more she questioned it but was she too late?
...
John grimaced as Teylas sticks smacked his leg.

"Colonel, Is your mind somewhere else recently?" she questioned.

"Why do you ask?" he replied eyes warily watching her, waiting for her next move.

"You aren't concentrating." she said simply.

"Yes I am!" John retorted, "Lets go again."

Teyla nodded in acquiescence and picked up her weapons.

He started to twirl his sticks brow furrowing as he tried to predict her moves, Teyla on the other hand stood quite relaxed.

He hit out at her with both sticks but she blocked him easily and attacked him knocking one the sticks from his hands. He lashed out again but she blocks everyone of his attempts finally knocking his other stick from his hand. John stood there defenseless and raised his hands a little as if asking for lenience.

"You have not been practicing? Or you are not in the right frame of mind for fighting?" Teyla asked.

"Explain?" John replied knowing full well what she meant. Since the other night his mind had been occupied with thoughts of a certain brunette. He knew why she had cut him off but no matter how much he tried to rationalize it, it still hurt.

Teyla's voice knocked him out of his daydream, "…and I think that's why your not concentrating." she finished.

John looked up and nodded, not knowing any of what she had said but agreed anyway. He turned and collected his things and headed out of the gym.
...

"We've found some interesting reading coming from the south side of the city!" Rodney informed the briefing.

"We should really check it out." he continued sounding like a small child.

"Do we have any idea what we are looking at?" Elizabeth enquired

"Um...No, not really. Rodney started but seeing Elizabeth's eye brow raised in a look that said 'there had better be a valid reason for this' made him change his approach.

"We believe," he indicated to Zelenka and then back to himself, "that the readings are coming from an Ancient Lab of some sort. We've only recently become aware of the energy readings. It might be valuable, either way we should check it out!"

"Okay, you've convinced me." Elizabeth agreed.

"Colonel you'll accompany him." she directed at John who just looked blankly at her and nodded.

To say the least things had been strained between them, even when it came to work related conversations. Cutting each other off had been intended to help their relationship but at the present, it had only hurt it. So many things had been left unsaid and the tension between them was palpable.

He lent in to whisper something into Teyla's ear and out of the corner of his eye caught Elizabeth's eyes give him a sharp look.

"Dr Weir…" John started waiting for her to acknowledge him before continuing. She nodded and he continued.

"Can Teyla also join this mission?"

"Sure." she nodded before dismissing the team.

"Colonel, Can you wait behind please." Elizabeth commanded softly.

Rodney threw John a sympathetic look, gathered up his notes, and left along with everyone else.

"John, we really need to talk about what happened and what its doing…" She broke off as she seen his look of disbelief.

"So know your back to calling me John?" he sniggered.

Elizabeth shook her head and said, "When did this get so complicated?"

John looked directly at her, "When you made it like this! I'm only doing what you wanted. This isn't what I want and you know it!" he emphasized getting louder.

She closed her eyes and said "I know. But this is what has to be done."

"Why do we have to talk if all we are going to do is go around in circles." he pointed out his voice becoming angry while his eyes tried to seek hers out.

"I just wanted you to know that I am sorry and that I...still care." she choked out the final words. His head snapped up and he strode up to her and grabbed her arms.

"I know you care," he panted "but its hard to cut you off…Pretend that you don't mean more."

He pulled her into his arms and was suprised when she let him. Elizabeth lay her head on his shoulder allowing herself to relax for a moment before her mind kicked in. John breathed in the scent of her hair and had barely closed his eyes before he could feel her pushing away from him, he let her go. She backed away and stared at him before saying, "This is what I am talking about! We can't do this…You need to go Colonel"

John cringed at the use of his rank and turned to walk out.

"John wait…" he twisted and looked at her, "be careful out there."

He nodded and walked out.
...

Rodney shone his light down the deserted corridor and looked to John and Teyla. John nodded and consulted the life sign reader nodding, "Its clear."

"It should be the second door to the left." Rodney stated striding down the corridor. "The readings are getting stronger."

John looked at Teyla and shrugged before indicating they should follow.

This assignment was going to be good for him he could feel it.
He needed a break, a chance to get away from the centre of Atlantis from all of the eyes watching him. He needed a chance to sort himself out, sort out what this new relationship with Elizabeth meant. He knew that when the tension became too strong between them that she would back off which had happened, its why he had suppressed his urges for so long. Even now, when he knew she reciprocated he had to hold back, he knew it was right but it felt so wrong. He just wants her to be safe and happy and if keeping his distance did that then so be it.

John looks ahead and sees Rodney at one of the doors. "This is it!"

"Okay then, lets check it out…"

The three of them moved slowly into the room, as if sensing their presence the lights came on!

"That never gets old." John grinned.

Glancing around, he noticed several artifacts scattered on the benches.

"Interesting." Rodney mused from a console

"What?" John asked curiously.

"This looks like some sort of ammunitions lab." he replied.

"Perhaps it is where they created new weapons?" Teyla spoke up

"Well whatever they were creating in here is emitting strong energy readings now." Rodney turned to them. "I suggest we start looking for it!"
...
Elizabeth paced her office waiting for Rodney to check in and update her of their progress.

"Elizabeth." a voice cackled through her radio.

"John?" she answered.

"Yeah, Just thought I would update you on our progress." she smiled as she heard his voice.

"Go ahead." she ordered.

"We've found what we think is a weapons development lab."

"Good, anything interesting yet?" she asked.

"A couple of things, Rodney thinks he may have found the source of the readings. It seems to be coming from this little ball thing." he stated.

"Becareful and keep me informed." she whispered closing her eyes

A feeling of dread crept all over her and she knew that something bad was going to happen.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

John turned back to Rodney, "What have you found?"

"I think it is some kind of mini bomb, but I haven't figured out how to activate it. It would though explain the energy readings." Rodney replied excitedly.

"I am going to see if there is any information in the console over there." he pointed over towards where Teyla stood near the door.

John stood around the table fiddling with stuff and thinking of the damage a mini bomb could potentially do, when he realized that the ball was flashing.

"Uh Oh." he mumbled.

"What is it?" Rodney questioned.

"It's flashing." John pointed to the bomb.

"What did you do?" Rodney yelled at him.

"I didn't touch it." John threw back.

"I think it's armed, and the flashing maybe a count down." Rodney told him.

"Did you find out anything?" John asked.

"It's strength is similar to that of a C4 explosion."

"Do you not think it wise for us to leave?" Teyla questioned.

"We need to disarm it. We can't lose this lab." Rodney said.

"We'll grab it and throw it into another part of the city." John told him quickly.

"Okay." Rodney nodded.

Moving into the corridor, they ran down further into the deserted part of the city.

John and Rodney ran into the room, knowing time was shortened as the ball started to beep."

"Go! I'll take care of this." John yelled out.

Rodney ran to the door and John threw the ball to the other side of the room and started to leave. The bomb let out at flash of light and John scrambled to the ground with his hands of his head breathing deeply

"Colonel." Rodney screamed out.

He lifted his head and looked up seeing Rodney at the door motioning him to get up but before he could do anything the room began to collapse. Rodney lept back and stared in horror as the roof fell in on John.

Minutes passed as the dust settled and Rodney lent up against the cascade of rocks yelling Sheppard's name.

He tapped his ear, "Elizabeth."

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Elizabeth standing on the balcony gazing out to sea when she heard her radio.

"Elizabeth?" a voice hissed frantically.

"Rodney?" she asked her voice slightly loud.

"Yes!"

"What is it? Whats wrong?" she asked.

"It's the Colonel." he stammered.