"McKay did what!" Ford scowled and moved to peer over Zelenka's shoulder. Zelenka ignored him and continued to intently scroll through rows of streaming data on the computer monitor before him.
"What was he doing on the ladder?" Teyla asked. "He did not seem interesting in assisting us earlier. I would be surprised if his actions were intended to be helpful."
"I'm not sure. I've been trying to isolate what system he was tinkering with. If I had to guess, I'd say he was trying to reverse wire the citywide PA system." Zelenka shook his head. " Rodney was not happy at the thought of losing that bet."
Teyla's eyebrow arched. "He was altering it to become a listening device?"
Chuck's eyes popped open wide. Even for McKay that was crossing a line. Watching the video feed was one thing, everyone knew the hallways were monitored for security purposes, but listening to private conversations? He hoped McKay lucked out with a comfy infirmary bed because Major Sheppard would be intent on causing some serious bodily harm when he found out.
Teyla left her chair, dusting the crumbs from their snack off her lap. "I am going to the infirmary to speak with Dr. Beckett. It may be time for plan B."
Chuck grinned. "Plan B?"
"Yes, it may be time for, what did John call it? The hail mary." She smiled confidently.
"You're coming back here, right?"
"Are you not off duty now?" Teyla asked.
"Yes, but I'm not going anywhere, not until some of the dust settles anyway." Chuck snagged her empty seat near Zelenka.
"Dust?" Teyla's eyebrow arched again.
Chuck briefly wondered if that particular trait was a mandatory job skill for the senior staff members on Atlantis. Another pool for another day, he mused. "Never mind, just give us an update when you can. And if you need help with the hail mary-"
"I will certainly let you know." Teyla nodded.
When Teyla finally disappeared down the corridor, Chuck turned back to the control room and jumped when he found Zelenka looking at him intently.
There was an eerie twinkle in Zelenka's eyes. "I called Dr. Ambrose. She's bringing the hooch, as you call it."
"Hooch?" Ford almost tumbled over the chair behind him from laughing so loudly.
"Yes, that is correct, is it not?" Zelenka frowned and adjusted his glasses. "Tis liquor, my own special recipe."
"Your own special recipe, you don't say." Ford didn't even try to hide his amusement. "That will certainly make things interesting."
Zelenka glanced at Chuck and muttered inaudibly before returning his attention to the computers.
Chuck's sides were protesting when his laughter finally subsided. Hooch, he marveled shaking his head. Crap. He needed to call Grodin. Grodin would find all kinds of interesting ways to torture him if he found out he'd left him out of this.
Infirmary- ten minutes later:
John stood beside Elizabeth, his arms crossed tightly while he glared at McKay. "So you decided to fix it yourself? The PA system? I'm having a hard time trying to understand why you wouldn't send one of you staff members to handle that, it being dinner time and all. "
Elizabeth tilted her head. John had posed an interesting point. "Yes, it would seem as though a department head would have more important things to prioritize."
Now she understood John's irritable demeanor went beyond McKay's horrible sense of timing. McKay was up to something and she had a feeling she would not be happy to discover exactly what it was.
"Dr. Beckett, how is your newest patient faring?" Teyla breezed into the room, saving McKay from further interrogation.
"He was lucky, it was only a sprain." Carson frowned and adjusted the ice pack strapped to McKay's wrist.
"Surprisingly enough, I'm not feeling very lucky, Carson. "McKay peered behind them. "Did I miss dinner? I'm starving."
"I'll see if we can manage some dinner, Rodney." Carson said, sounding exasperated already.
"There's nothing wrong with his feet." John pointed out and Elizabeth pressed her lips together trying to hide her amusement.
"Dr. Beckett, I was wondering if you had the new medicine ready for Charin? I had planned to deliver it tonight, but I have been unable to contact Ford." Teyla said.
Elizabeth ears perked at that. Ford was not one she normally had to worry about falling off the grid. He never forgot his radio and always answered promptly. She turned to question Teyla, but her concerns fell away when her eyes washed over John's body.
"Perhaps someone else can take the medicine?" Carson offered.
"Yes. Clearly you will be busy treating Dr. McKay. Major Sheppard are you available?" Teyla paused. "John, can you take Charin's medicine over to the mainland?"
Elizabeth had to nudge John to attention.
"Hmm- what?" John blinked rapidly and it was clear he'd been paying little attention.
Carson placed a bag in John's hand. "Charin's medicine, can you-"
"I can manage that." His eyes bored into Elizabeth's. "Want to join me?"
Her face flushed instantly. At his mention of the mainland settlement, the image of them dancing by firelight flashed through her mind and her heart rate had spiked exponentially. She nodded silently in answer.
"I'm afraid something has come up and I am unable to go." Teyla said. "I put a note in the bag for Charin."
John stood so close that the nerves in her arms burned each time his arm brushed against hers. She watched his muscles ripple when he twisted even closer and she tried to ignore the overly appreciative responses flooding through her body. She could still smell his skin so sweetly scented with the powdered sugar and she licked her lips hungrily, wondering how it would taste upon his skin.
John smirked, catching her eyes lusting over his body, but she still noted the flush of red that had filled his cheeks. Her head tilted sideways and she smiled slyly. Oh yes, she definitely wanted to go along. Unconsciously her fingers had risen to her raw lips, and she reflected languidly upon his last kiss. Even now, pinned beneath nothing but his heavy eyes, her body was drawn to his and she felt an urgent need to escape the room before everyone became aware of all the telltale signs they were undoubtedly giving away.
"Are you sure you're feeling better, Elizabeth?" McKay's eyes narrowed while he scrutinized her. "Carson, I think she's flushed, look at her neck."
Elizabeth's heart seized painfully and she turned towards the door, instinctively ready to flee.
"Elizabeth." McKay wailed. "You have sugary palm prints on your…You let him touch ….Oh my god."
Elizabeth twisted around trying to spot the back of her red tank already figuring the sugar had rubbed off John's hands earlier. Even from this disadvantaged angle, she could see the dustings of white powder precariously close to her backside. She glanced back at John remembering the sugar cloud that had immersed him. His hair had morphed into a new type of crazy and his shirt was crinkled in the front where her hands had pulled him tight. They were both a mess and had clearly been entirely too distracted when they'd rushed back into the depths of Atlantis' operations. She had remembered to throw on some shoes before escorting Rodney here, but perhaps the jacket would have been more prudent.
"Sheppard! What did you guys do, roll around in the romantic dinner Ford arranged?" McKay had turned white and his good hand was waving in front of him as if trying to erase the visual memory.
Elizabeth glanced in shock at John. Ford? What had he arranged? John was no help, he seemed more flustered than her and his mouth gaped even wider than Rodney's.
Carson yanked the privacy screen crisply, effectively shielding McKay's shocked face. "That won't buy you much time. I'd hurry if I were you." He nodded towards the door.
If it hadn't been so horrifying, the sight of John snatching her hand before nearly dragging her out the infirmary door would have been comical. In fact, if McKay hadn't still been wailing like a wounded animal, Elizabeth may have found the courage to laugh at the absurdity. Instead, she had to concentrate to not stumble behind John's rapid footsteps.
They rounded a bend and almost collided with Kate Heightmeyer. Kate professionally pulled her jaw back from the floor and her expression morphed back into one of perfect composure. Her eyes apprised their rumpled bodies and she nodded towards the control room and resumed walking. "I've had some reports of strange activities in the Control Room. I assume that is where you are heading?"
Elizabeth glanced and John who seemed just as confused as she. "Yes, of course." She answered.
"We need to file a flight plan anyway. We're taking medicine over to the Athosians." John said.
"Just the two of you?" Kate asked pointedly. "I've been meaning to speak with you. I assume Teyla's given you the drawing."
"Teyla?" John and Elizabeth spoke in unison, sharing another puzzled glance.
"Yes, one of the Athosians asked her to pass it along to two. Apparently they thought you made an impressive couple."
Before they could respond, they reached the control room. It was bustling with activity. Numerous highly trusted members of the expedition were giggling and tossing around a jug of clear liquid. Ford was at the center of the obviously tipsy group trying to grab the container as it was tossed from hand to hand.
"What the hell is going on here?" John bellowed.
The jar of liquid slipped through Grodin's hands and it crashed, the glass splintering all over the floor. Giggling soon rose furiously to break the silence.
"Ford!" John marched closer, the muscles of his neck taut with anger.
"Major Sheppard." Zelenka stumbled towards him. "I can see the two of you obviously enjoyed your dinner. Is there any cake left? Dr. Ambrose loved the cake, her lips tasted so lovely- "
"Whoa. Hold up there, Doc. Too much information." John flinched and tried to look away.
Zelenka looked puzzled but only shrugged. "Well, Chuck liked the cake too. Have you seen his new screensaver Major? You and Dr. Weir look quite lovely, we've all agreed."
Elizabeth's mouth opened and although she tried, she couldn't manage a single admonishment. She looked for Chuck but all she could find were the tips of his boots peeking out from under his workstation.
Dr. Ambrose was the only brave soul left. "How is Dr. McKay? That will teach him to try to use the citywide PA to eavesdrop. Isn't that right Major Sheppard?"
Elizabeth clutched John's arm before he could even start to backtrack and harm McKay. They needed to get out of here, quickly.
"Ford? We're going to the mainland. You do remember the way to the cities brig?" Elizabeth's eyebrow arched menacingly.
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. Get them some coffee and if that doesn't work, you have my permission-"
"I understand." Ford nodded. "Dr. Weir? If it helps, they are all off duty. I was in the process of relocating everyone."
Elizabeth sighed. The sight was almost too comical for her to hold her anger. "No more mischief, understand?" Elizabeth gazed upon each member of the group in turn. She wasn't entirely convinced Ford hadn't imbibed any of the bootleg liquor and she turned hopefully towards Kate.
"I'll make sure they turn into their quarters without further incident, Dr. Weir." Kate smiled when Elizabeth grasped John's arm and began to pull him from the room. "But I still want to speak with you. Tomorrow?"
"We'll be in touch." Elizabeth hedged.
"Somebody better clean up that mess." John added.
Elizabeth tugged his elbow and within minutes they were crossing the threshold into the jumper.
"Why do I feel like we fast forwarded through dating and marriage and are now responsible for a household of naughty children?" John slumped in the pilots chair heavily, frowning at the control panel before him.
"Marriage?" Elizabeth tilted her heads towards him. Her knees quaked and she wished she'd already nestled within her own chair. "Children?"
"And the worst part is," John conveniently ignored her, pausing only long enough to jab his finger into the air. "Teyla and Ford were involved with this. As for McKay, I'm going to-"
"Don't get too far ahead of yourself, John." Elizabeth took his fingers and planted a gentle kiss upon his hand. She groaned quietly. His skin tasted better than it smelled. It was going to be a long ride over to the mainland.
"Elizabeth?"
She moved over closer to him, threading her fingers through his hair. She leaned in and pressed her lips against his cheek. "I don't want to fast forward through anything."
Elizabeth stood and edged sideways to her chair. "New beginnings are special." Ensuring she had his attention, she licked her lips. "Tasty too."
"Elizabeth." John's eyes widened with surprise.
"Isn't there an autopilot?" Elizabeth settled into her chair and peered expectantly at John.
"As a matter of fact, there is." The smoldering on his face left her little doubt she'd soon pay for her boldness. "Flight this is Puddle Jumper One, we're go for flight."
The crackling of the radio didn't cover the giggling in the control room. "Jumper One, you are clear to depart."
A voice that sounded suspiciously like Kate's carried through the radio. "Any bets on how long it takes them to turn on the auto pilot?"
Elizabeth lusty intents were lost to a wash of sheer horror as more giggling burst out in the control room. At least the Sergeant on duty was sober and clear headed, even if the crowd around him was a bit rambunctious.
"You do realize, Sergeant, that you failed to disconnect the transmission?" Zelenka's slurring voice seemed remarkably free of concern.
Elizabeth suddenly hoped they found reason to linger during their trip to the mainland. John looked as though he was already considering plans of revenge for their friends.
"They are so screwed." He smiled darkly.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes realizing that this was going to make their lives a lot more complicated than she'd considered.
She stared at John while he navigated the jumper through the gate. A heady mix of emotions clouded his face and she was struck by insanely handsome he looked at that moment. He threw a heart stopping glance her way and she realized she didn't care about the complications. This was worth it.