Since she had been a child, Elizabeth had had a very strict moral compass. One which had, at times, been pushed to breaking point during times as leader of Atlantis, but had always stood firm. It had now officially just been thrown out of the window. As Meredith, with Rodney's support, had rounded on her about her failure to secure a deal, she had the opportunity to reveal Jonathan's character. But she didn't. She protected him. She lied for him. And took the flack herself, explaining that she had been too tough. The rest of the team followed her lead and he had got off with little more than a slap.

Even she was bewildered as to why she had done it – he really did need brining down a peg or too. Perhaps it was John she was thinking of as she saw the anxiety in his eyes, knowing she would never publicly humiliate him. This John was different though. So different. All her immediate assumptions about him had been proven correct and at times she found herself positively loathing this arrogant, misogynist... She took a deep breath. Stop thinking about him.

After debrief, Elizabeth was fuming and had essentially told John to get lost as she made her way back to her quarters, ignoring her growling stomach. Everything had gone wrong today and she just needed some time alone to get over the simmering anger she felt. Anger which she was still feeling as the door signalled that somebody was outside. Elizabeth looked warily at it. She was pretty certain she knew who was going to be outside and she really wasn't in the mood to let him see her in her pyjamas. Despite herself, she stood up and opened the door.

'Jonathan.' She said, coldly.

'Hey. Can I come in?'

Of course you don't want the conversation we're about to have to be overheard, she thought bitterly. After giving him a dirty look she stepped aside and closed the door. She turned to look at him with her arms crossed in what she hoped was an imposing way.

'What can I do for you, Major?' She asked.

'Ouch. Not even going to offer me a drink?' He said.

'I might get the temptation to throw it at you.' She said, shocked at the harshness of her own words.

'Don't get all high and mighty. I came to say thank you. You were pretty spunky today. I was impressed.' He said.

'Trust me, that wasn't my intention.'

He stepped slightly closer and sat down on the bed, but she remained standing, folding her arms even tighter.

'Look Elizabeth, what happened today, it was a one off and I really appreciate you covering for me and all, but you're going to have to get over this Ice Queen act.' He said.

'You seriously expect me to just forget about what happened today?' She challenged.

'Yeah. We're both adults here; I don't see why this needs to be an issue.'

'Adults? The way you behaved today does not in the least bit warrant being described as 'adult', and this is very much an 'issue'. Do you realise how much she loves you?'

'That's what this about – you and him.' Jonathan said triumphantly, 'Is that why you guys aren't together? Did he cheat on you?'

'Carry on and the next slap I give you won't be an act.' Elizabeth warned.

'Did he?' He asked.

'John and I have never been together.'

'But you want to be.' He said, with a smirk.

'What right do you have, after I saved your butt, to come in here and start throwing accusations – false accusations – around? Are you trying to push me into telling Lizzie?'

At this he smirked again and Elizabeth was shaken by the desire to slap him again that was pulsing through her body.

'You won't tell Lizzie.' He said.

He stood up and walked closer to her, not breaking his eyes from hers once.

'How can you be so certain?' She asked, shakily.

'Because then you'd have to tell her about this.'

On the verge of opening her mouth to question him, she felt his mouth crash into hers and hungrily kiss her. Stunned, with her arms still folded against her chest, she felt one of his hands slide onto the back of her neck and pull her into him and the other rest on her waist. It wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling and...she began to feel her lips respond to his and her arms loosen. Sensing this, the hand on her waist slid under the seam of her top and she ran her hands through his hair to feel him closer, tighter. And then an image of the previous time she had seen of herself kissing this man swam through her mind and she pulled away, completely and utterly horrified. Uncertainly, her eyes met his, with the knowledge she most certainly didn't have any right to get all high and mighty with him anymore.

'Told you so.' He said with that smirk.

'Get out.'