A/N: I've included something special just for BrnEyesTX. She'll know it when she sees it. ;-) She can thank me later while I thank ladygris now for her kindness even though she's beset by RL issues.
Coffee Alert!
Thanks,
~Sandy
Wildflowers
Chapter 2
John chewed his turkey and Swiss watching as Evan and Amanda talked and laughed together on the other end of the patio. Now that he thought about it, he'd seen them together on more than a few occasions. Ronon's large frame blocked his view and he leaned to the side keeping the couple in sight until they got up and walked away together, Evan's hand on the small of Amanda's back as if they were more than just friends. He knew both of them and neither would just jump into something without a great deal of thought so there had to be more to it.
Ronon turned around but didn't see anything unusual. "What?"
"Nothing. I might have to have a long talk with someone, that's all."
"About what?"
John shrugged, dropping the subject. They were joined a few minutes later by the rest of their team bringing with them the chance for John to tease and annoy his favorite target: Rodney McKay. "What this I hear about you having a date for the beach party, Rodney?"
The physicist choked on his mouthful of coffee, grabbing his napkin to cover his mouth while Teyla patted him on the back. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"I mean, the rumor is you're taking Keller." John took another bite of his sandwich before gesturing at their companions. "We'd like to know what sort of blackmail you have on her that she'd say yes."
"I don't have any…"
Ronon chuckled. "He bribed her."
Slamming his fork down with a thump, Rodney crossed his arms. "No, Conan. I did not bribe her."
Rodney turned to Teyla for help. "Perhaps there is some other reason that Dr. Keller would want to spend time with Rodney."
Snapping his fingers, John pointed at Teyla as if she'd provided the missing piece to the puzzle. "She lost a bet."
"I do not have blackmail material on her, I didn't bribe her, and she did not lose a bet." Rodney huffed at his friends. "Did it ever occur to you that she wants to go with me?"
"No."
Pushing away from the table, Rodney picked up his unfinished meal. "And she asked me, not the other way around." He gave each of his teammates' one last glare before stalking away. Just as he was heading back into the Mess Hall, Jennifer caught up with him. They spoke briefly, he opened the door and followed her in.
"We could be wrong." John stared at the closed door a moment longer, shrugged and went back to eating. His peek into the future notwithstanding, Rodney and Jennifer weren't an obvious choice though he did wish his friend well. And he wasn't the only one. If what he'd seen earlier meant what he thought it meant, then it wouldn't be long before he'd be having a talk with his 2IC about something other than work.
~~O~~
The touch of Evan's hand on Amanda's back didn't stop until they passed Woolsey in the hall. When it was gone, she missed the warmth and gentle intimacy of that touch, wanting it to continue.
"Amanda, may I ask a personal question?"
"Sure. Though I do reserve the right to refuse to answer."
"Of course." He watched his feet for a moment. "Do you have someone waiting for you on Earth?"
"No. Whatever gave you that idea?"
He shrugged. "The day we talked about surfing…"
"Oh!" She smiled. "He's just a friend. We went to Earth for his father's funeral and stayed a few extra days to do some surfing before coming back." She hoped she didn't imagine that small sigh of relief. "You know, as the organizers of this shindig, we should probably go together."
He turned his head to the side, a smile coming to his face causing a small dimple in the cheek facing her. "You're absolutely right…except for one thing." They were close to the Infirmary and he drew her to a stop outside the entrance away from prying eyes. He leaned fractionally closer than was socially acceptable, his blue eyes roaming over her face, lingering on her lips, and coming back to her eyes. "Would you go as my date, not the co-organizer?"
Letting her eyes drop to his lips she said, "I'd love to." He took the hint and kissed her, soft and sweet, no other part of their bodies touching, just their lips. Approaching footsteps caused him to step back, his features falling into their accustomed bland mask giving away nothing of what he might be thinking…or feeling. As one of the other doctors, Cedric Evans, came around the corner, Amanda let an impish grin come to her face. "…and that's why we can't have a bounce house at the beach."
Nodding as if he knew what she was talking about, he tucked both hands behind his back again, the humorous twinkle and half-grin showing her he'd play along. "You make a valid point. I'll break the news to Colonel Sheppard myself."
"1800 tomorrow as usual? We need to go over the list of games and send out a sign-up sheet for the volleyball tournament. We should create the teams ourselves. Can't have a bunch of grunts going up against a bunch of scientists. It just wouldn't be fair."
"I agree. We should also ask for volunteers to judge the surfing contest."
"Yes. Well, have a good evening, Major."
"And you, Doctor."
Amanda forced herself not to watch him walk away as she followed Cedric into the Infirmary. Carrying her tablet to the nearest workstation, she connected it to the network and called up the patient files she'd been working on before her nightly meeting with Evan. Cedric already sat at the terminal across from her, his eyes squinted in thought.
A few minutes later, Team Garcia came in for their post-mission physicals. When their minor injuries had been tended to, Cedric and Amanda went back to their previous places, picking up where they'd left off.
Cedric began humming and Amanda didn't think much about it because he always hummed while he worked. Sometimes he even sang. They were all used to it and no one minded, until she realized what song he was singing, then her face turned a bright shade of pink.
"Mandy and the Major sittin' in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G…"
"Ced-er-ric!"
"I'm just callin' it as I see it. And don't say my name like that. You sound like Moaning Myrtle." He tried to keep a straight face at the mention of a character from the Harry Potter movies but it was a losing battle, and once he started, Amanda naturally followed. And for the next hour she purposely said his name in that same cadence to pay him back for continuing to sing the silly kids' song.
~~O~~
Satisfied that he'd kept Amanda's reputation from being tarnished by them being caught kissing, Evan headed for his office to prepare the drill schedule for the three days prior to the party. Colonel Sheppard thought it would be a good idea to get them out of the way and have the party to celebrate a job well done and he'd agreed.
Now all he had to do was make sure everyone knew the score so they'd do their best. Not that they didn't 24/7, but at least they'd know that even more than being battle-ready was riding on it. This time there was a beach party at stake.
~~O~~
Steam billowed throughout the room frosting the mirror with an opaque film that could be easily wiped away if necessary though the occupant of the shower could care less now or when he emerged. He adjusted the temperature, letting cold water hit his tired body hissing at the abrupt change. It shut off and he reached for the towel hanging on the wall. Wiping first his face then vigorously rubbing his hair until it stood on end, Evan wrapped the towel around his hips and padded out into the bedroom area.
Instead of dressing immediately, he nudged his computer out of power saver mode and accessed his email. He'd created a folder for the party and Radek had activated a filter to move only those emails into it so he'd be able to manage them easier.
Opening the spreadsheet he added the names of all those who had signed up for various games and contests. He wasn't surprised to see Sheppard's name at the top of the list for surfing, provided the waves co-operated. If they didn't, there'd be a few disappointed surfers on hand, himself included. And Amanda.
For surfing, he usually wore a wetsuit, but that wouldn't be necessary on the unspoiled planet they'd be travelling to. But just the thought of seeing her in skin tight neoprene, strands of her blonde hair sticking to her face as she swiveled her hips, cutting in and out of a wave or inching forward to hang ten drove him to distraction. This naturally led to wondering what kind of bathing suit she might wear. He had his own ideas but would keep them to himself.
Sitting back in his chair, he brought her face to mind, lips turned up in a smile, her hazel eyes dancing with humor, and it made him smile too. And with it came all the other feelings he'd kept under tight control since he'd come to Atlantis. His reserve when it came to the opposite sex had nothing to do with a relationship that ended badly though he did allow the rumor to circulate just to get some peace. He wanted to make a connection with someone that was more about finding that one person who made you feel as if they'd filled a need you didn't know you had than relieving sexual tension. And he'd gladly put up with the latter if it meant finding the former. The little voice inside his head told him that he'd found that with Amanda.
During one of their planning sessions, she'd asked him to call her Mandy. All my friends do. The problem he had with that was yes, he wanted to be her friend, but he wanted so much more than that. When they sat on the sofa in the one or the other's room to escape the noise and confusion of the rest of the city, it always had a cozy domestic feel. Something he hadn't experienced since his last visit to his sister and wanted to experience on a daily basis. He wanted to come home to a warm welcome from the family he helped create. Or to be there to welcome them home at the end of the day. After a couple of weeks spending just a few hours a day with her, he felt that connection with Amanda. Now all he had to do was find out if she felt the same. It was also the reason he continued to call her by her given name. Everyone called her either Mandy, Doc or Dr. Cole. But he didn't want to be just like everyone else. He wanted more.
Deciding that now was not the time to think about it, Evan dressed for bed, grabbed the novel he'd been trying to read for the last six months and lay down on top of the covers. He'd only read a few pages when he fell asleep, the book lying face down on his chest. And though the plot of the book fairly assured that he'd be dreaming about it, his subconscious decided on a different course.
~~O~~
The day had finally arrived for the first annual Atlantis beach party. At least that's what they were calling it for lack of a better name. It would take five Jumpers filled to capacity to carry the party-goers plus two for the food and equipment they'd need for the day. And of course one more filled with soldiers to guard the 'gate just in case. Just thinking about taking on Wraith in their bathing suits had been enough to send Amanda into a fit of giggles. Evan had laughed too, albeit in a more restrained manner. And the next day she'd received a sheet of paper with a sketch of Atlantis personnel in flip-flops, bathing suits, shorts and loud Hawaiian shirts, throwing hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, lemonade and whatnot at the Wraith as they exited the 'gate. And that was how she found out he was a gifted artist. The colored pencils he'd used to fill it in made it even funnier, if that were possible. She put it up in her room on the wall above the desk.
The next day he'd shown up with yet another drawing that made her laugh so hard, she almost did a spit-take on her computer. It was John in his black BDU shirt unbuttoned, board shorts, bare feet, a P90 slung around his neck, his finger on the trigger, smoke coming from the barrel, his death glare peering out at them with a dead Wraith that looked suspiciously like Todd at his feet, and his left arm holding a surfboard. The caption read, "I'd rather be surfing."
At the last minute, Amanda suggested they add several of the tents used as mobile labs. She'd also made up signs. Kane and Wahine, the Hawaiian words for man and woman. These would be the changing rooms pitched away from the action and close to the tree line with a larger one to store the food and supplies in as well as an emergency medical treatment area. Two of the smaller ones would be set up as bathrooms.
Chuck had been put in charge of the music. In addition to a sound system he and his band brought their instruments. They'd been practicing songs that brought to mind the beach blanket movies of the sixties though they wouldn't be setting up until later in the day.
Amanda had taken it upon herself to supervise the unloading of the Jumpers while Evan stayed on the beach giving orders for placement of the games, table and chairs, firepits for cooking, changing tents, latrines and so forth. Many had brought blankets and she'd made sure that everyone knew to bring at least one towel and a change of clothing for when the sun went down and the temperature started dropping. They'd be rotating shifts so that everyone had a chance to attend at least for a while during the day though a few of the non-swimmers signed up for the evening hours.
When the majority of the unloading had been done, she roamed around just watching as her friends and colleagues had fun. She stopped to talk now and then but mostly she just observed. Standing near the tree line, she watched as the surfing contestants practiced while a group tossed a Frisbee around and still another made sure the volleyball net was secure. The teams for the tournament had gathered to talk strategy. And down the beach a short ways, a football game had started.
The crunch of the sand behind her foretold someone coming to her side and she knew it would be Evan. She took a moment to check out his attire, a pair of board shorts-Billabong if she wasn't mistaken-and a navy blue Hawaiian shirt with vintage motorcycles design. Her eyes came to a stop at his bare feet, captivated by them. Her doctor's mind supplied the names of the bones and muscles as she grinned at herself internally because she'd always had a thing for men's feet, almost a fetish. His were perfectly shaped and proportionate for his body. The bones and tendons on the top showed through his fair skin, the nails cut short on toes that curled and flexed in the white sand digging down below the dry to the damp sand beneath.
When her eyes came back up to his, he was watching her with an unreadable expression, as if he'd seen something that startled him but didn't want it to show.
~~O~~
Evan stood outside the changing room watching Amanda. He could see the straps of her bathing suit above the white of her cover-up. To his artist's eye it was a combination of several shades of green, a cross between Emerald, clover and teal. The sarong wrapped around her back, the edges coming together in the front with the two sides twisted together and tied behind her neck. Closer he could see small flowers in all three shades scattered over the cotton, the colors making her eyes sparkle. And she too was barefoot, her toenails painted white with green flowers on the big toes.
The light breeze off the water brought with it the slight tang of saltwater he remembered from summers spent at the beach. Amanda closed her eyes and breathed deeply, the loose hairs fluttering around her ears and in that moment, he stood still, imprinting the image on his brain, his fingers itching to get it onto paper before it was forgotten. Then he almost laughed. This vision of her would stay with him the rest of his life.
She turned at that moment, breaking the spell.
He extended his right hand and without hesitation, she took it. "Let's go have some fun."
TBC