Voices echoed down the path. Elizabeth dimly remembered the village and the dinner that waited. Walsh still waited just meters away on the path, chattering idly about his day. He reminded her a bit of Rodney, actually. He could go on for minutes completely absorbed in the topic, never noticing no one was listening.
For once, she welcomed the momentary reprieve it granted. She was still slightly disoriented from the rapid turn of events. One minute ago John's lips were a centimeter away from her own and now his breath fell hot against her ear, sending delicious chills racing down her spine.
"We have to go, Elizabeth." He whispered. "Besides the sooner we get there, the faster we can escape."
John's hand fell to her hip and he shifted back. She blinked slowly, allowing the world around her come completely back into focus. A sly smile stretched across John's face and she realized John knew exactly how he was affecting her. She attempted a half-hearted scowl and pushed past him.
"Come, come." Walsh hurried them onward towards the village.
John fell in beside Elizabeth, their shoulders brushing as they walked. Walsh filled the few minutes that remained on the path with talk of new variations of mead he'd been testing using seasonal fruits.
"I've a new batch that's ready, come give it a whirl before you sit down to dinner." Walsh looked expectantly towards John as they reached the village.
"That's an offer I can't refuse." John's hand fell onto Elizabeth's. "Joining us?"
He was going to have to stop touching her, she realized. She was losing the ability to think clearly and words were not coming as easily as they should.
"Elizabeth?"
She hadn't missed the hint of amusement in his voice. "Maybe later." Definitely later, she thought, but now Andara was heading her way and she needed to pay her respects to the village leader.
John squeezed her hand softly and headed off, leaving Elizabeth smiling like a smitten school girl at the deliberate gesture. It hadn't escaped her notice that in the past weeks their bodies had shifted into a familiar kind of auto-pilot with each other. He no longer startled when she touched him or grabbed him for balance, which she did far too often with the bumpy path to the cabin. It was his fault she was so unbalanced lately anyway. She liked having him invade her personal space, too much probably, but that didn't mean it didn't affect her.
She was constantly off kilter from his sheer proximity, from the underlying tension that hung in the air between them. Her skin still sizzled each time their shoulders brushed and her breath caught whenever his fingers swept errant strands of hair from her eyes. There were a hundred other little things that had begun to seem completely normal here, but they wouldn't be here forever. Before she could truly shed the last of her resistance, she needed to know they'd survive the return to Atlantis.
"Elizabeth, I told Walsh to give you more time. I know you are fond of our sunsets." Andara smiled kindly as she reached her. She took Elizabeth by the elbow, leading her towards the main table.
"It's all right, we were almost here." They'd almost been someplace else altogether, Elizabeth thought ruefully.
"Yet I sense he interrupted something." Andara steered Elizabeth around and regarded John thoughtfully. He stood at the far end of the table where the mead was laid out, still speaking with Walsh. "I know, you've told me many times. You're not together. But it's just such a waste, my dear. He is quite handsome."
Normally Elizabeth would have laughed off one of Andara's pointed barbs, but tonight… with her skin still blistering from his touch, she could only nod in quiet agreement.
One of the local teenagers appeared suddenly beside her and nodded towards John. "Sheppard noticed you staring at him, he thought maybe you were thirsty."
Thirsty. That was a loaded statement. Hungry was more appropriate. He'd noticed her staring. Smooth, Elizabeth. She shook her head briefly trying to force the lusty haze from her mind. It didn't work. The teen awkwardly thrust the cup into her hand and scampered away.
Andara's laugh broke through her mask of mock exasperation and she nudged Elizabeth towards the community table. Elena, who guided the meditation classes Elizabeth attended, was making her way towards them.
"I brought you a plate." Elena dropped down beside her. "As you can see, I loaded it with twice as much food as you would, so you'd best get to work."
Elizabeth's eyes stretched wide as she sat, noting the amount of food on that plate. Despite her efforts to stay aloof, she'd grown close to Andara, Elena. She looked at the faces gathered around the table and realized she'd grown quite fond of all of them. They had weeks, months, yet to go before the Atlantis team would be able to extract them, but Elizabeth knew would miss them all when that time came.
The aroma of the hearty meal dusted across her nose and her stomach growled in response. Tonight's meal was fresh made pasta along with vegetables she'd help to harvest just that day. Delicious as it was, she found she was too restless to eat very much. After a few bites, her thoughts wandered while she poked aimlessly at her food.
She finally stood and walked a few yards, her eyes scanning for John. He was usually pretty easy to find, always surrounded by the men and children. Both were constantly milling about, anxious for tales of adventure. John had initially indulged, but as the days stretched on, he'd started hedging. It was no wonder. All stories eventually circled back to Atlantis, his team, and the separation weighed heavy on him.
She spotted John holding his glass high to get her attention and then he pointed towards the river. Elizabeth noted his already empty plate and nodded back in understanding. John often escaped the communal dinners early. He spent his time winding through the trails near the banks of the river and the lake. She frequently joined him. The lands surrounding the village were stunning and the extra activity helped her sleep better, not insignificant with the pills from Carson far away on her nightstand in Atlantis. She watched John until he rounded a distant bend, moving out of sight.
Elena edged up beside her, her expression thoughtful. "Have you ever wondered why John takes all those long walks after dinner?"
Elizabeth's brow arched questioningly. To avoid talk of Atlantis, she'd thought.
"There are several ladies in this village who would welcome his…companionship."
Elizabeth's mouth opened softly in surprise. She'd been naïve not to realize the possibility. Twisting uncomfortably, she swallowed back an unwelcome flood of emotion.
"You needn't worry, John made it clear that he isn't available." Elena seemed unusually pleased by Elizabeth's discomfort. "He's certainly doing his part to deter that type of attention, he steers clear as much as he can from them now."
Elizabeth's hand darted for her temple, rubbing softly. She'd only recently noticed the swiftly shifting gears in their relationship and today…it felt like they had burned out the clutch. It was a lot to process. A clatter of dishes started to roar and they turned back to help clear the remains of dinner away.
"You might consider helping the man out, Elizabeth. You can't expect him to wait forever." Elena smiled devilishly. "Although there is something endearing about watching a grown man squirm from the wrong women's attention."
Elizabeth raised her glass and gulped the last of her mead.
"Come, let's get you a refill." Elena's soft laughter floated on the breeze. "I think you're going to need it tonight."
Later after the dinner had been cleared away, she wandered into the town circle and snagged a seat before they all were taken. A great bonfire had been lit, the crackling fire a soothing backup to the small group of musicians with rustic string instruments. Elena had joined the few who were already dancing and Elizabeth settled deep into her chair, ever wondrous of these group of ancients. They were more hedonistic than any she'd met before, beyond their commitment to mediation and self-awareness, they had a great appetite for food, drink… life.
Swirling skirts caught her eyes and she looked up to find Andara by her side. She draped a jewel toned shawl onto Elizabeth's shoulders. "It would be easier to stay warm if you let a certain handsome pilot stay closer to your side."
These ancients also had a great affinity for love; their attempts at matchmaking never ending. It forced her to wonder when…and why, she had determined hard work and good living had to be mutually exclusive.
Elizabeth tugged the shawl close. "Andara, you act in the best interest of your people. I see it, I've watched you. They come first. Hard as it may be to understand, this is better for my people."
Andara sat down beside Elizabeth, her face crinkled in concentration. "I may act in the best interest of my people, but I've never let my own well-being sacrifice from my responsibilities."
Elizabeth softly sighed, wishing Andara had better timing. Not only had Andara brought John back to the forefront of her mind, but also because John hadn't been wrong. Walsh's mead was stout and she was at the cusp of speaking too freely.
Elizabeth's brows furrowed together in concentration. "It's something that could cause complications. At the very least, a conflict of interest that could split my focus. I can't condone any actions that could put my team at risk." It was Elizabeth's well practiced mantra, yet tonight, she was no longer able to convince even herself.
"I didn't give you enough credit, Elizabeth. You have a strength of character that is quite rare." Andara slowly stood up and started making her way back toward the fire where more of the villagers had joined in dance.
She paused and turned back. "Perhaps, Elizabeth, you underestimate the strength you could find partnered with John. Together, I have a hard time imagining you being weaker in any sense that could threaten your expedition."
Silently, Elizabeth lifted her mead and drained the glass. Somewhere deep inside, her perception was evolving. For the first time, instead of dwelling on the archaic rules of right, wrong… complicated; she instead considered the possibilities.
A/N: Sorry, I realize I'm really delaying the bliss in this one. If you've read my works before, you know I can only hold out for so long. And thank you all who have taken time from your busy days to leave reviews. A couple of you have mentioned continuing other works. Please let me know if there are any specifically you are interested in and I'll see if my muse cooperates. I've been feeding it lots of Halloween candy and s'mores, so the odds are in your favor.
TBC...