Ok, since everyone seemed to want more of this story and my muse has decided to come off strike I guess I will write some more. Oh BTW I don't own them, just like to play with them every now and then. This will pick a few months later, and in my world the episode "Sunday" just ABSOLUTELY DID NOT happen. So Carson will always be in my fics. Cannot believe they killed him off!!!!!!! They really better find a way to bring him back in the future. Anyway on with the story
He looked out over the ocean below him, wishing he could lose himself in the sound of the waves. However, that was not to be. The thoughts running though his mind refused to be denied. He had come to a crossroads. He had to make a decision. Pick a path. He couldn't continue with the way things were.
Much to his disappointment, things with Elizabeth had pretty much gone back to the way they were. He chalked it up to her fear, just as much as his. They were comfortable with each other and the way things were. Neither wanted to mess up a great friendship, yet he didn't see how they could continue this way.
Not after the events of the last two weeks. Two weeks ago he had reluctantly agreed to let Elizabeth go off world with them. They were entering trade negotiations with the people of MG4-P9X. The civilization was comparable to Earth in the late 1800's. They were a highly agrarian society with growing technological advances. Everything had been going swimmingly until the celebratory dinner after the negotiations were completed. While his team and Elizabeth refrained from the rather potent drink that flowed freely, the locals did not. The party was going full swing, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Daran, the younger son of the leader, Zoran, had taken a keen interest in Elizabeth. He had made a point to sit with them during dinner and had kept her engaged in conversation throughout. John was not happy about the amount of attention he was paying to Elizabeth, but he seemed harmless enough. But looks can be deceiving as the saying goes. He lured Elizabeth away from the party with promises to show her some of the artifacts from his peoples past. John hadn't been keen on the idea, but Elizabeth was insistent that she would be fine.
She had no idea that Daran, had planned to kidnap her and sell her to the local slave trade. Apparently green eyes were a rarity among the peoples of MG4-P9X and buyers would pay highly for such a unique asset in a slave or concubine. Daran, they found out later actually did like Elizabeth and planned to sell her to one of the traders he owed money to. Apparently the man was very wealthy and wanted to expand his harem so to speak. He didn't intend her to become a slave or be harmed in any way. He had a rather large debt and selling Elizabeth would have taken care of it.
When John and the others discovered that Elizabeth had been taken, all hell broke loose. Daran made no excuse for what he had done. It was an acceptable practice among their people to buy and sell slaves for all manner of uses. They had conveniently hidden that fact from them during the negotiations.
John immediately declared the treaty null and informed them, that abducting their leader was an act of war, and that Atlantis would respond accordingly. Zoran had apologized and publicly humiliated his son for placing his personal problems before the good of their people. Daran was imprisoned until he revealed the name of the trader he had given Elizabeth too. Daran was not very forthcoming, until Zoran agreed to let John and Ronan 'speak' to him.
John and Ronan left the interview with the information they sought. Unfortunately, the trader had already left the planet, and they spent the next week and a half tracking the guy down. When they finally found him, he was less than willing to part with Elizabeth. Apparently, Elizabeth hadn't taken too kindly to his advances and he was in the process of breaking her will.
John gave Ronan 'the look' and the trader never knew what hit him. John, Ronan, and Teyla stepped over the man's unconscious body and went in search of Elizabeth. Fortunately, they had caught him as he was disembarking from his ship so it was a simple matter of searching his vessel. They had located her in a small cabin towards the back of the ship. She had been restrained and looked like hell. It had obviously been several days since she had had anything to eat or drink, and bore the marks of many assaults. John only prayed that she had not been raped too.
When John had approached Elizabeth she had been sleeping, and when he touched her arm, she came awake swinging.
"Elizabeth! It's me, John. You're ok." He had said. He had watched her eyes as it took a moment for her to recognize him and quit fighting. The moment she knew it was him, she tried to hug him but her arms were secured to the wall. Ronan had neatly taken care of that though by blasting the chains. Elizabeth had been unable to stand or walk so John had carried her back to their jumper. Rodney and Carson had been ordered to wait in the jumper, in case they needed to make a quick getaway.
Even though that had not been the case, they did not tarry long and were soon on their way back to Atlantis. John had tried to turn Elizabeth over to Carson, but she refused to let go of John for him to set her down. John had no choice but to sit with Elizabeth perched precariously in his lap.
Carson had immediately started checking her wounds and doing what he could to patch her up till the returned to Atlantis. Thankfully one of the injections that Carson had given her contained a mild sedative to help her relax, and she soon drifted off to sleep on John's shoulder. A medical team met them in the jumper bay and John was able to lay Elizabeth on the gurney without fuss from her and let Carson do what he was best at.
As it turned out Elizabeth looked worse than she actually was. She had lots of bruising, needed a few stitches here and there, some rest and food, and she would be fine in a few days.
That was four days ago, and John still hadn't had the courage to go down there and see her. He was afraid of what he would say. He didn't even know how to bring the subject up.
"How do I tell her I love her?" He said aloud.
"Well, generally, you just say it." A voice responded.
"Elizabeth! What are you doing out of the infirmary?"
"I promised Carson, I would go to my quarters and stay there for the next two days, working from my bed. "
"Carson was supposed to let me know when he released you. I wanted to be there to help you."
"I told him not too. I wanted to surprise you. Did you mean it?"
"What?"
"What you said before."
"Oh that. " He replied sheepishly looking at the ground.
She watched him for a moment, and then decided to take a risk of her own. "You said I was your weakness, and I guess you know that you're mine, so where does that leave us?" She asked her eyes searching his.
To hell with it. He thought. While aloud he said, "Right here." As he took her face in his hands and kissed her in a searing kiss that left her with no doubts about his feelings for her. After a few moments the need for air became paramount and they broke apart.
"Does that answer your question?" He asked breathing heavily.
"Absolutely." She replied just as out of breath. Then she yawned. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Carson said I was going to be tired for a week or two."
He didn't really want to let her go, but he knew she really did need to rest and reluctantly said, "You should get on to your quarters and get some rest."
"Come with me."
"What?" the shock evident on his face.
"Not for that. I'm not ready for that yet. I don't want to be alone. I want you to hold me. I keep telling myself this is real and I'm not going to wake up and find myself back there, but it's hard. It'll be easier if you're with me."
Her eyes were starting to tear up and he knew that her confession had cost her but he was glad she asked him for help. He bent his forehead to hers and whispered, "Lead the way. I'll be there when you wake up in the morning, and every morning after if you want me too."
She smiled and they left the balcony together.
Ok there is the next installment what do you think? Please R&R if you want more!