Title: Our Mrs. Sheppard

Pairing: Sparky

Spoilers: Nothing specific, but this takes place sometime after The Tower, so I guess anything before that is fair game.

Disclaimer: I don't own them or Firefly. sigh

Summary: Sometimes John's off-world shenanigans catch up with him. And sometimes Elizabeth gets involved. Sparky.

Author's note: All right, here's the next chapter. For some reason the writing process for this one was a little strange, so I hope it turned out okay!

Chapter 6- The processional

John walked to the conference room, unsure at the reception he was going to receive after the previous evening. His temper had significantly cooled since last night, yet he still wasn't exactly sure what had happened. One minute everything was back to normal and the next they were arguing, again. Now that he could think clearly about it, he could see Elizabeth's logic behind needing to visit Gandria herself. Truthfully, he didn't think there was anything to her suspicions, which should have meant that he had no need to worry about her, except he still did. And it wasn't that he didn't trust Lorne, he just wanted to be there himself. Not too long ago this overwhelming, and slightly irrational, feeling of protectiveness for Elizabeth would have taken him by surprise, but now he was pretty much resigned to the fact that he would risk life, limb, and apparently her anger, to keep her safe.

The only thing he justifiably angry about was that Elizabeth had talked to Lorne without speaking to him first. Even though she was the expedition leader and really didn't have to consult with him on everything, they usually went over missions together, especially if it was a more important visit involving any of the senior staff, including Elizabeth herself. Although, given how he had reacted he almost couldn't fault her for going around him. She knew he wouldn't take it very well and had probably planned on telling him privately in her office before the briefing. Of course in full view of the control room their discussion wouldn't have gotten so heated. He would have been more sarcastic than angry and she would have been coldly professional, a much better scenario for both of them than what had happened last night.

With these final thoughts he turned the last corner and walked into the conference room. Elizabeth was the only other person in the room, causing him to stop just a few steps inside the door. She looked up at the sound of his entrance, traces of wariness appearing on her features when she registered his presence.

"Hey," he said, unsure of how to proceed. Given how his apology had gone the night before, he wasn't exactly up for a repeat performance.

"Good morning, John." She answered quietly.

So Elizabeth didn't seem to be overtly angry with him anymore, which was good. It also appeared that she didn't know what to say either as they stood locked in an uncomfortable gaze for a few seconds.

John cleared his throat, "Look, I should-"

"Why Sheppard, if it isn't my favorite groom," Rodney McKay's voice boomed into the room, followed shortly by the man himself. "And how is our Mrs. Sheppard this morning? Or, what was her name again?"

John turned from Elizabeth, not noticing the faint blush appearing on her cheeks at the comment, to regard an irritatingly chipper Rodney.

"McKay," He said in a warning tone.

"What?"

John shook his head and moved to take his seat. Saying anything would just make things worse. He amused himself with ways to annoy Rodney as the rest of the group arrived, and was in the middle of a particularly creative idea involving lemons when Elizabeth started moving to her seat to begin the meeting. A brief glance around the room showed him that someone was definitely missing.

"Elizabeth," he addressed her as she moved passed his chair after talking to Teyla.

Elizabeth stopped and turned towards him with a questioning look.

"Where's Ronon?" He asked, careful to keep a mild tone of voice. This was a point he was not going to compromise on, if he couldn't be there himself, Ronon was going to look after her. "Because as we discussed last night," he started, noticing a few eyebrows around the room raise.

"I expect he is on his way." Elizabeth answered quickly and sat down.

"Oh, good." He could hear the surprise in his voice. Elizabeth looked up at his response and even though he couldn't define what passed between them, he knew that somehow they had put last night's argument behind them.

Sure enough Ronon joined them a few minutes later. The briefing wasn't a very long one as Elizabeth, Ronon, and Lorne's team were going to leave shortly. Elizabeth discussed the reasons for the day's trip to Gandria, tactfully covering the reasons he wasn't going and outlining the negotiations she would be engaging in. The civilization on Gandria wasn't too advanced, but their planet had a wide variety of natural resources and well as several plants with reported medicinal properties. In short, they were one of the more promising allies they had found so far in the Pegasus Galaxy.

After the meeting ended, John followed Elizabeth back to her office with Teyla. The two of them would be in charge of the city in Elizabeth's absence, so there were a few additional things they needed to know. After going through a thankfully short list of points, Teyla left to teach a self-defense class. He was lounging in a chair in front of her desk, while Elizabeth organized the few things she was going to take with her.

"I'm still not happy that you're going without me." He said, watching her fill the pockets of a tac vest.

Elizabeth looked up from her desk. "I know," she said with a half smile and went back to fiddling with the front of the vest.

"Let me help you with that." John offered, standing to take the vest from her. It was a trimmed down version of the military one he always wore, still containing several pockets but lacking weapons, therefore looking far less aggressive, and well military. They had started sending scientists and negotiators out in vests like these to give them protection, but not disrupt the 'we come in peace' image of negotiations.

"Aha." One of the buckles on the front of her vest had been stuck and finally gave way.

John stood from the corner of her desk he had settled on and turned to vest toward her so she could slip in it, "Here you go." He figured this was a good peace offering.

Elizabeth smiled softly at him and turned to let him help her on with the vest. When it had settled on her shoulders she tilted her head back to look at him, her eyes shining softly, "Thanks John."

He took a step back, part of his brain registering just how domestic this scene was becoming, while she buckled the vest and tucked a few more things in the pockets.

"Well, I guess I'm ready to go." She smiled at him again and raised one eyebrow, "Take care of our city for me?"

"Of course," He said, feeling his lips curve into a reassuring grin, and was once again drawn in by the light in her eyes before she started to leave the office.

Without really knowing what he was doing, John reached out to catch Elizabeth's arm. Surprise flitted across her face as he looked down at her. "Hey….um…be safe okay," he said after a pause. Then suddenly realizing how close they were standing, he quickly released her.

Somehow Elizabeth's hand found his. "Of course," she echoed his earlier response, gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, and left the office.

From Elizabeth's characteristic place on the landing outside her office, John watched the team leave and reminded himself he had nothing to worry about. When the stargate disengaged, Teyla was standing next to him. She said quietly with a knowing look, "Well whatever you did, I think you just fixed it."

TBC...