After Commander Kolya of the Genii had tried to kidnap Elizabeth, John could not help stopping by her quarters later that evening. He had nearly lost her. The look of terror in her eyes right before he shot Kolya was heart-breaking. He had felt like their working relationship was growing into a strong friendship. After today, he felt like that friendship was growing into something inevitably stronger, which was becoming harder and harder to ignore.
He had promised Elizabeth that she would be all right even though she had admitted she was not all right at all at the time. Now, he intended to keep that promise. He knew she was up since she had said he could come by. He had said he needed to give her his completed report, but he really needed to talk to her and make sure for himself that she was going to be ok.
He did not know when her safety had become so deeply tied to his own peace of mind. He thought back over the last couple of days. He had offered the jumper in desperation to Kolya when Kolya first threatened Elizabeth's life. Then John had been filled with rage and made it his personal mission to take out as many Genii as possible when Kolya claimed he killed Elizabeth. Lastly, he shot Kolya to save Elizabeth. He knew without a doubt, that he would have done it again. He would have done anything to save her.
John pressed the chime on Elizabeth's door. He heard her say to enter, and when he did, he saw her walk over in a light green nightgown with a matching green robe thrown over it. The door had automatically swooshed closed behind him.
"Hi, John," she said softly.
"Hey. Um, I'm glad you're ok. I mean, I know it may take a while to recover from the experience, like the one you had today. I just wanted to say-" John was surprised when he realized that in the space of what seemed to be half a second, Elizabeth had come over close to him and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"Thanks, John, for saving my life. I really can't thank you enough." Elizabeth's eyes teared up, and John felt sad.
"Any time, Elizabeth. You would've done the same for me." John was again surprised when Elizabeth stopped hugging him all of a sudden. He was about to leave, thinking that maybe she just wanted to sleep, but then she took his chin in her hands, and in what seemed to be slow-motion, she kissed him fully on the lips. There was so much desperation and passion in the kiss that John had to get over his shock that this was not a dream.
When Elizabeth started to pull away, probably thinking that she had crossed the line and made him feel uncomfortable, John pulled her closer and returned the kiss with equal fervor. This time they both pulled away when they had to stop for air.
"You know, we could probably get into a lot of trouble for this. The IOA, for one…" Elizabeth said thoughtfully, but John could see the mischievous glint in her eye.
"No one needs to know." John tried to sound serious. "I mean, I was just dropping off my report. Here it is, by the way."
"I don't think we'll be able to keep it from everyone. Atlantis is like a small town, and my office is like a fishbowl."
"Well, what can they really do to us? We're in another galaxy, and we don't have enough ZPMs to get home. You're a civilian, so technically we aren't breaking any frat regs. Didn't Gen. O'Neill warn you about me before you insisted on dragging me on this expedition, which I'm very grateful for, by the way, even after meeting the Wraith, Genii, and all…?"
"Shut up, John." Elizabeth said playfully, as she kissed him again.