Archiving: Anywhere, just ask me first.
Warnings - None.
Spoilers: Season 2
Disclaimers: I own no part of the Stargate world, I make no money from this endeavour.
Summary: A new face in Atlantis seems to be upsetting John.
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He was shaking her hand, or rather his fingers had slid around her elegant hand until it nestled in the palm of his. For a moment it looked like he was going to kiss the back of her hand, but he refrained. His eyes sparkled under the bright Atlantian lights as he gazed at her. A large easy smile slid over his handsome face as he starred appreciatively into her eyes. He was speaking soft words to her around the ever present smile, turning the charm up full notch. He was a strongly built man, with broad shoulders and solid bearing. Yet, he had the elegant hands of an academic and the soft charm of an English aristocrat. His dark hair fell to his collar, the odd wisp across his forehead, which only added to his rugged charm. His comments drew a smile and even a small chuckle from Teyla's lips. Her eyes slid away from his and a slight blush danced over her cheeks.
"Who the Hell is that?" John demanded as he watched the display from across the room.
"Who? What?" Rodney muttered as he tore his attention away from the buffet table and the massive pile of chicken. Looking over in the direction of John's straight pointed finger he shrugged dismissively. "That's Doctor Mark Martin. He was one of the new personnel from the Daedalus' last run from Earth. Do you think there is lemon on this chicken?"
"You think every thing has lemon on it, Rodney." John muttered, still not taking his eyes off the pair across the room. Why was he still holding Teyla's hand?
"Well, I have to be careful, anaphylaxis is a serious medical condition." Rodney poked at the chicken mountain with a fork.
"What is he doing here?" John demanded, indicating the offensive Doctor again.
Rodney turned and regarded the pair himself, whilst sniffing cautiously at a piece of chicken speared on his fork. "I think he's an anthropologist or something. He asked to work with Teyla as he's researching the Athosian culture."
"How long has he been here exactly?" John asked, not really sure the relevance of the question himself, but Rodney didn't seem to notice.
"I met him last week, when you were on that planet with all the pretty ladies. You were off being looked after by beautiful women and I was busy reprogramming the water recycling plant."
John sighed; he'd heard enough of Rodney's complaints about missing out on visiting that planet. "Will you stop going on about it. You should have given that job to Zalenka."
"It was an important job that needed doing properly." Rodney muttered as he nibbled the edge of the chicken. "Anyway, he seems a nice guy." He frowned down at the meat. "Tastes like honey."
"A nice guy? I thought you didn't get along with anthropologists?" John baited him, feeling unnerved that Rodney liked this man.
"Let's just say I prefer to work in real areas of science, not living with some peasants for a few months and then gaining world recognition for it. I could do that."
John finally looked away from the new Doctor and regarded Rodney, "No you couldn't. How long is he going to be here for?"
"What? Doctor Martin? I don't know. I don't care." Rodney answered as he returned his attention to the buffet.
John looked back towards the pair and was pleased to see the new Doctor had finally let go of Teyla's hand, but he was still smiling and standing within her personal space. John felt like going up and shoving him away from her. The image brought a sense of satisfaction but also of concern. He shouldn't be thinking in such a way. He hadn't even met the man face to face.
"Why do you want to know?" Rodney's voice cut through his thoughts.
Realising he needed to appear casual; John shrugged and turned back the buffet. "No reason, just like to know everyone. Hadn't seen him before is all." He made a show of piling up some chicken on his plate and headed off to find a seat.
He chose a seat in the far corner with his back to the wall, ostensibly telling himself it was a good military position in which to sit, not an easy vantage point of the new Doctor Martin.
Rodney approached with his plate, absent of chicken John noted. Across the room Teyla was smiling again. John muttered under his breath about team members being compromised as he shovelled some of the honey glazed chicken into his mouth. Rodney, obviously more observant than usual took in the frustrated body language of the Colonel. He turned and looked over his shoulder at the anthropologist Doctor.
"He seems quite popular."
John turned his attention to him with suspicion. "Why is that important?"
Rodney turned back to him, an oddly sly expression on his face. "No reason. You seemed concerned that he was up to no good."
"Up to no good? What kind of expression is that? No one talks like that, Rodney." John knew he was being defensive, but he couldn't seem to help it. He watched as Teyla smiled and laughed again. How often had he heard her laugh? Certainly not as frequently as she had in the last five minutes. More importantly, why was he so concerned about it?
"You know what I think?" Rodney stated, his focus on John's uncomfortable expression. Worry flared to life within John. He wasn't jealous. "I think you're jealous." Rodney said with great satisfaction.
John felt himself getting warm. This was ridiculous; he wasn't a teenager with a secret school yard crush. He liked to keep an eye on his team mates was all. He recognised a charmer when he saw one; he could recognise his own kind after all. Teyla wasn't from Earth and she may not understand that the Doctor's intentions were probably less than honourable.
"I am not." John blurted out, sounding just like the schoolboy he had hoped to avoid. He was a grown man, but when had that even meant anything around Rodney Mckay. They seemed to bring out the child in each other. Sometimes Rodney felt like the brother John had never had. And he had plenty of teasing to make up on.
"You are. You're used to being to one who gets all the attention." Rodney remarked with a smile on his face. He was enjoying this John realised.
"What do you mean?" He put on his best military tone, the one he used on the military personnel who didn't follow orders. Rodney seemed unfazed however.
"You've gotten all cushie with the Athosians, you go over there and play football with the kids, tell movie plots as campfire stories." John felt relief, he hadn't picked up that it was Teyla he may possibly be concerned about, not his standing with the Athosians. Rodney looked over his shoulder at Mark Martin again. John had noticed that any women who passed by the Doctor gave him a big sultry smile. "And he seems quite popular with the ladies." Rodney remarked.
"You should be the one worried, Rodney. With him about there's no chance you'll ever get a date again." The smile slipped slightly from the scientists face. Regret soothed John's annoyance, he shouldn't take it out on Rodney.
"Well, you're Mr grumpy today." Rodney snapped as he began munching on his food with a sulky expression.
"Sorry, just hungry I guess." John offered as he finished off his chicken. His eyes wandered back to the Doctor and saw that Teyla had gone. Relief broke his grumpy mood. He watched the Doctor move through his female admirers to the buffet table and began to pile his plate up with chicken. John watched how the man moved. You could tell a lot about someone by how they held themselves when they didn't think you were watching. What John saw was a confident, relaxed man who looked like he could handle himself. He would need to keep an eye on him. Make sure he didn't take advantage of Teyla, her being such a good friend of John's. Yes, he would watch out for her as he would for any female friend of his.
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TBC
