Secrets of the Mind
Part 4
Disclaimers in part 1
Notes: Again, thank you to the love xfirefly9x for being a wonderful beta reader! Also, thanks to those who have taken the time to review my fanfic. I really appreciate it! Please let me know what you think of this next part!
"If you look into your own heart, you find nothing wrong there, what is there to fear?" -Confucius
"Who is this?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack O'Neill shook his head. "I said don't touch anything."
"I-I just sat down," John replied nervously.
"Major, think about where we are in the solar system," Rodney suggested.
"Did I do that?" John asked as a map of the solar system appeared.
Elizabeth smiled, amazed by how strong the Ancient gene in this man was and the look of shock on his face was priceless. After about ten minutes, Rodney allowed him to get up.
She watched O'Neill and Daniel walk away, speaking in quiet tones, before she approached the soldier. "Major Sheppard, I'm Dr. Elizabeth Weir," she said.
"What the hell is going on around here?"
"Well," she replied, "My team and I are getting ready to embark on an expedition to another galaxy. The city we're going to has technology that would benefit from someone like you who has the gene. Are you interested in joining us?"
John just stared at her. She was amazed at the color of eyes and how he seemed to look right through her. She hated the quote, "love at first sight", but at that moment it seemed to apply. There was something about this man she couldn't place. She not only needed him for this mission, she wanted him.
"Major?"
"I'll think about it, Dr. Weir," he replied.
(The Rising Part 1)
"One more thing, Major -- something I'd like you to sleep on. I have a few thoughts on it myself but..."
"Thoughts about what?" John asked.
"Who the members of your team might be."
John was a little surprised to say the least. "My team?"
"Well," Elizabeth said, "you are the ranking military officer now, or do you need to be reminded of that? We need to get back out there; do what we came to do."
She leaned against the railing, looking out at the ocean as John walked over. "You do realize I can get us into all sorts of trouble, right?"
(The Rising Part II)
"This is Weir. What's the nature of Major Sheppard's injury?"
"Some sort of funky alien bug attached itself to his neck. He's completely immobile," Ford exclaimed.
Elizabeth's heart jumped into her throat. That was not something she wanted to hear. In fact, she wanted him safely within the walls of Atlantis. She had a good mind not to ever let him leave the city again.
45 minutes later and Elizabeth was rushing to the Jumper Bay. She sank to the bench as Carson said John was going to be okay. Now she had to worry about having a heart attack herself. She nearly lost him. Again!
Elizabeth joined John's team in the infirmary for a visit. "By the way, what were you going to say?"
"When?" he asked innocently.
"Before, when you thought, you know..."
"Oh, that."
She smiled. "I didn't want you to say it at the time, but now I'm curious."
"I was going to say, um…" John paused, "take care of each other."
"That's nice," Elizabeth replied, not totally convinced.
(38 Minutes)
"Have you ever tried to clear a stump by hand?" John asked.
Elizabeth was less than amused. "Yes, it's a hobby," she replied sarcastically.
(Underground)
Just as John beamed down from Deadelus, he said to the soldiers with him,"Secure Stargate Operations." He then looked around. "Well, I'm home."
John turned to see Elizabeth approaching. Suddenly she hugged him for several minutes then released him looking relieved. "Yes. You are. I truly thought ..."
"Yeah, yeah. I thought the same thing about you a minute ago. We gotta stop that."
Elizabeth chuckled. "I'd like that."
"So, uh, where are we?" John asked flustered.
(The Siege Part III)
"This is what I do when I have problems with my laptop, I turn it off and then I... turn it on again," John said.
Elizabeth shook her head, a small smile on her face. "I think this is a little bit more complicated than that."
"I'm just saying that if we're taking a page from the John Sheppard book of computer repair, we're really desperate."
(Intruder)
Elizabeth watched as memories flooded her mind. From her wonderful memories of Atlantis to the scariest, the Wraith, Genii. How they had survived she wasn't certain until that face appeared in her mind again.
John Sheppard.
He was an unbelievable soldier and an amazing friend. He was the one person they could count on in the messed up galaxy they were in. The one person Elizabeth could count on, the one person who didn't worry about opposing her, but also listened to her feelings.
Elizabeth's eyes snapped open and her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. She remembered everything. Including how she had promised herself not to tell John what she truly felt for him. They were definitely going to need to have a little chat.
"Elizabeth?" Teyla said, worry evident in her voice.
She blinked and smiled. "I'm all right. In fact, this has helped me so much, Teyla. True, I'm having a little difficulty remember what happened before coming to Atlantis and the last few days, but I think I've made much progress."
"That is wonderful," the Athosian replied. "I am certain everyone will be relieved to hear this. Especially Colonel Sheppard. I spoke with Rodney as you were meditating. He said that the Colonel had a set back and is in the infirmary again."
Elizabeth wanted to cry. It was her fault. She had run halfway through the city because her feelings had been irrationally skewed. "Is he all right?" she asked.
"I believe so. He was just a little winded and his fever has returned. I am sure he would like to see you, as would Carson."
"Okay," she said, swallowing around the lump in her throat. This is going to be awkward, she thought to herself.
"I have excellent news, Colonel," Carson said.
"You were able to create an antidote."
Carson nodded. "We were lucky. We accomplished it on our last sound theory. "
"Things are going to be really awkward between us if she remembers what happened after you give her that. Is there a possibility?"
"Of her forgetting? Aye. If she doesn't though, the two of you will have much to talk about, I suspect." John's only reply was a sarcastic chuckle. Carson didn't know what he could do to help his friends. How did one ignore the one person they felt a connection to?
Carson knew that if it were he in John's position, he'd act on it, the consequences be damned! He remembered a time when he was young. A time when he was compulsive and was determined to be the best physician on Earth.
And when sweet Heather had died, he regretted not taking a chance on loving her completely.
"Carson? You okay?"
"Aye, Colonel, I'm fine."
John didn't seem too convinced, but let it go for now. He was about to ask Carson when he could leave when Teyla entered the room… with Elizabeth. John took a deep breath and said, "Ladies."
"It is good to see you awake, John," Teyla said. "I trust you are feeling better?"
"Much. In fact, I was waiting for Carson to say the magic words."
Carson crossed his arms. "You are not leaving this infirmary until your temperature is back to normal, Son. Don't make me break out the large needles."
Teyla interrupted the two men. "Elizabeth has remembered her time on Atlantis, yet the memories of before she came and the most recent still elude her."
"Well," Carson said, "that's certainly good to hear. To add to that, we've come up with an antidote and as soon as you're ready I'll administer it."
Elizabeth nodded, her eyes focused on John and his on her. "Could you give us a few minutes, Carson?" she asked
"Of course. I have some things to get together. I'll be back soon." Carson looked at Teyla, who nodded and followed him.
"Hey," John said.
"Hey."
John cleared his throat. "This is… wow…"
Elizabeth nodded slowly, taking a seat. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Kissing you."
"I'm not."
Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm serious, John. I shouldn't have done that, especially when I couldn't figure out what I was really feeling."
"I admit that at the time I was a little freaked out. I didn't want to admit that I had actually found someone. Not to mention the serious breach of protocol if we started seeing each other. I was afraid that if someone found out, one of us would be shipped out of here so fast our heads would spin. I don't want to leave here and I know you don't. I also know that if I was on Earth and something happened to you…"
"The feeling's mutual, John. I've come to realize that Atlantis itself wasn't the only reason I wanted to stay. It's because you're here!
"And, yes, I know I didn't show it when were on Earth after the Replicator fiasco, but I wanted time to think. I didn't know what to do."
John took her hand in his. "Maybe we should talk to someone on Earth about this. I love you too much to hide it anymore."
"I do too," Elizabeth said. Deep down she was worried about what that someone on Earth would say about their relationship, but she didn't say anything. Hopefully John wouldn't call her on it either. If Elizabeth had asked, she would know he was just as worried.
"Are you ready, Elizabeth?" Carson asked. Teyla was with him, Rodney and Ronon following.
Elizabeth nodded, placing a kiss on John's lips. The four in the immediate area already knew about them so there was no point in hiding it any longer. John smiled. "See you soon."
Ronon and Rodney exchanged a knowing grin as Carson led Elizabeth over to another bed to get situated. Teyla noticed the coloring on John's face. "Are you all right?" she asked with a small grin of her own.
"Okay, that's enough!" John exclaimed. "No more teasing your CO, that's an order!"
"But where's the fun in that?" Rodney asked.
Ronon nodded in agreement. "Besides, right now you're not on duty so technically you can't give us any orders."
John turned onto his side and closed his eyes. "Some people are trying to sleep around here!"
"Come," Teyla said. "We will leave him alone… For now."
John found himself chuckling at Teyla's dramatic pause as he drifted to sleep.
