Rise and Fall

A/N: Ok, I'm in a giving mood today. Enjoy!

Elizabeth eyed the pink and sticky cotton candy on her fingers. She then peeked sideways at John. He stuffed some of the pink sweet into his mouth. Her eyes travelled back to her sticky finger.

"You know, I'll get caries from this" she said, but licked the cotton candy from her index finger nevertheless.

"It's definitely worth it" he grinned. He looked like a five year old and Elizabeth had to tear her eyes away from this sight. It just looked adorable and it absolutely shouldn't look adorable at all.

John had taken her to a fair just outside Washington and as soon as they had set foot in the area he had bought them cotton candy.

"When was the last time you've been on a fair?" he asked and stuffed some more of his cotton candy into his mouth. Elizabeth was surprised that she had to think about that question a long time. She couldn't really remember her last time on a fair.

"It's been a while" she just said and thought hard. Maybe as a child with her parents. That was indeed a long time ago.

"I guess it's about time then, don't you think? Something to cheer you up"

"I'm fine" she said and frowned at him. She was fine. Her breakdown 2½ weeks ago had been embarrassing, yes, but it had also helped her. She really felt fine.

"Really? You didn't miss me the past few days?" he asked smugly. Elizabeth looked away to hide the blush on her cheeks.

"No" she said and he sighed.

"You just broke my heart, you know that? Want something to drink?"

He had said earlier that he would take her out to dinner and he didn't break his promise. They ate on every occasion and had sweets on every corner and Elizabeth mentally made a note to call her dentist the next day to make an appointment. On the other hand she liked strolling around with John and watching the people who walked with them. She liked it until she saw where they were heading. She stopped walking and looked at John with a raised eyebrow.

"I think now is a good time to start yelling at you" she said when they came to a halt in front of the Ferris wheel.

"Why?"

"That was your plan the whole evening, wasn't it? To get me into that thing" she said and jerked her head towards the Ferris wheel. He stepped in front of her.

"No, it wasn't. My plan was to spend an evening with you. The Ferris wheel is just a bonus"

"Forget it" she said and folded her arms in front of her chest.

"Come on, it's not that high, especially compared to our flight. That was high" he said and turned around to look at one of the dangling cabins above.

"It's high enough" she said and he looked back at her.

"I told you once that I have no problems with dragging you inside, didn't I?" he raised an eyebrow at her. Elizabeth automatically took a step back.

"You wouldn't do--aaaahhh" she screamed in surprise when John grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder. "Get me down, John" she said furiously and struggled against this sudden intrusion into her private space, but he just started walking. "I'm serious, Mr. Sheppard, get me down. Now!" she said loudly, but he didn't stop. She could make out a few people already staring at them.

"You promise to go into the Ferris wheel with me?" he asked.

"No"

"Well then I won't put you down" he said and she could feel him shrug. Elizabeth struggled as best as she could, but his hold on her legs was too strong.

"John, let me go" she said, her voice filled with anger. What was he thinking? Who was he that he thought he could just do that?

"The next cabin is ours" he said unimpressed.

"Put me down, John!" she said in a tone that would have scared the bravest man away. It didn't work on him though. She tried it again and again, but he didn't let her go. It took a few more minutes before she could feel solid ground under her feet again, but it was too late. She was now standing in one of the dangling cabins of the Ferris wheel.

They were already moving.

"Sit down, Elizabeth" John said friendly and she considered remaining on her feet just out of spite, but the well-being of her own safety finally convinced her. She sat down, folded her arms in front of her chest and stared in the direction where she wouldn't see John. She was angry. He had no right to do what he'd just done.

The evening had started out so well, she had been happy to see him after such a long time, but now she didn't know why she had wanted to see him again.

"Pretty nice view, huh?" he asked, but she ignored him. "Elizabeth?" She could now hear uncertainty in his voice and it satisfied her. "Hey" he tried again and put a hand on her shoulder, but she jerked it away. She wanted to show this cocky flyboy that he wouldn't get away with everything he did. That's was he was: a cocky flyboy who felt too confident about his charm to wrap women around his finger.

She knew that she was too stubborn for her own good, but who the hell was he that he thought he had the right to do that with her? He didn't know her and she wouldn't let him get away with it. Maybe other women fell for his charm, but she wouldn't. Absolutely not.

They sat in silence until their ride was over and Elizabeth was the first one to leave the Ferris wheel.

"Thank you for dinner" she said coldly and started walking away from him.

"Elizabeth, wait" he called after her and caught up with her. He gripped her elbow softly to make her stop. "Why are you mad at me?" he asked confused. Elizabeth gave a hollow laugh.

"Why am I-- I'm not mad at you" she said. She wasn't mad, she was raging.

"Yes, you are. Is it about the Ferris wheel? I just thought..."

"You thought wrong. Goodnight" she said and jerked her arm out of his grip and continued walking through the crowd of people around them.

"Elizabeth!" he called after her exasperated, but she didn't stop.