Four Months Later
I'm starting to worry about John. I never received a response to my email and it worries me. I got up early this morning as today we start our studying for term papers.
I left the cab and headed straight to my classroom. When I got there I booted up my computer and waited for my students to arrive. Today would be a really long day. I stared at my calendar realizing what today is. To my surprise and hurt today is officially the first anniversary of the day John first told me he loved me and I returned the feelings whole-heartedly.
I nearly fell out of my chair when the phone rang.
"Hello," I said into the receiver
"Professor this is Brigette. Theirs a man here to see you," Brigette said
"Hey Brigette go ahead and send him down. Did he mention who he is," I asked
"No he just said he's an old friend. Rodney do you happen to know any Mounties," she replied chuckling
"Not that I know of just send him down to my class," I told her
"Sure thing, talk to you later Rodney," she said
"You too Brigette," I said handing up
While waiting for my visitor though I couldn't figure out who I could be. I studied the new desktop background I had up. It is a picture of John, Carson, Radek, Teyla, Ronon, and Aiden standing on my favorite balcony over looking the sea.
"Man was it cold that day," a voice said from the only doorway in and out of the room. I turned around and gasped
"John," I said standing up
We took three steps towards each other both of us pulling the other into a bone-crushing hug.
"Oh my god I missed you," he said
"I missed you to John but I have a couple questions," I said pulling back
"Before I answer any questions I want to do something," with that said he leaned down and kissed me and I kissed him back.
"Wow, okay question number one what are you doing back on Earth, two what are you doing here, and three what's with the uniform," I asked
"Okay firstly I am on earth because I requested leave, secondly I came to see you, and three I switched my citizenship," he told me matter-of-factly.
"What," I muttered bewildered
"I worked it out with the Canadian government to switch my citizenship from American to Canadian while maintaining my rank in the military. I am now a royal Canadian Mountie. I came to bring you home," he said
"I can't go back to Atlantis the US government assured me I would never be able to return," I said mournfully
"Oh but they are not in charge of Atlantis is such a capacity now. Atlantis is now the first established Terran colony off world. Elizabeth has been elected Governor and is allowed to hire anyone she sees fit to have in Atlantis and the government can not over rule her decision," John explained
"I can go back," I said tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Yeah we can go home," he said pulling me into a kiss once more. He pulled back when the bell rang to signal the next class would start in five minutes.
"I have a class coming in John but I would love it if you would like to stay," I said smiling to him
"I'd love to," he said pulling a chair up to the table. He leaned back inn the chair propping his feet on the table and removed his hat setting it on his boots. He ran his fingers through his hair real fast making it stand on end.
My students filed in not one of them failing to notice the Mountie sitting so comfortably in the chair at the table.
When the bell rang for the start of class I raised my hand for silence. Everyone stopped talking immediately. They had learned very quickly that I didn't go for nonsense. They didn't know that the only person that could get me to participate in nonsense was now sitting in the front of my class.
"Welcome to class everyone. I would like to introduce Lt. Colonel John Sheppard of the Royal Canadian mounted police. He will be watching our class today," I said
All the girls batted their eyes at John and he flashed the room the smile he used for trade negotiations. I turned to walk to the podium.
I bent down to be level with his ear, "don't even think about it Kirk," I said quietly smirking
"Wouldn't dream of it babe," he said just as low as I did smirking at my nickname.
After 15 minutes it became clear that my students were paying attention to John and not myself so I stopped talking for a moment.
"Take a break for a minute everyone," I said then turned to take a seat next to John, "hey John what would you say to a little Q and A."
"Sounds like fun," he said, "within the non-disclosure though remember."
"Of course," I replied to him
"Good," he laughed
"Okay class since no one is interested in a lecture today least of all me for the rest of the period with the Colonel's assent we will be having some Q&A time," I told the class
Hands immediately went into the air.
"Mrs. Brown," I said
"My question is for Colonel Sheppard," she said
"Shoot," John said sitting up
"I was wondering if you would tell us how you met Dr. McKay," she asked
John laughed, "Sure it was three years ago. I was a chopper pilot stationed out of McMurdo Air Force base in Antarctica and Dr. McKay was overseeing a group of scientists at a nearby research facility."
"Next question Mr. O'Brien," I called
"Who are the people in your background picture Dr. McKay," he questioned
"They are member's of my team," I said, "we're a field team consisting of myself, Colonel Sheppard, Lt Aiden Ford, Dr. Carson Beckett our medic, Dr. Radek Zelenka an engineer, Teyla Emmagan and Specialist Ronon Dex who are our native guides."
"Awesome," several student said
"Yeah it's cool," John said
"Keep the questions coming I don't plan to call names but one at a time please," I said
"Colonel Sheppard on the first day of class Dr. McKay told us you were USAF. Why are you wearing a Mountie uniform," the question was asked
"There was a need to change my citizenship so I chose to become a Canadian," John said smiling at me.
Forty minutes later the bell rang and I dismissed the class. I quickly shut down my laptop and turned to find John watching me.
"What," I said
"I forgot you could be like this," he said
"Only around you John," I said brightly, "so are you staying with me."
"Huh," John said slightly confused
"Are you bunking with me or in a hotel," I asked
"Diffidently bunking with you, Canada gives me the creeps," he said smirking
"Yeah just remember your one of us now," I said laughing
"And I'm loving every minute of it," John said
Change POV: John Sheppard
Rodney and I grabbed a cab back to his apartment. He paid the cabbie and headed up the front steps. When he opened the door to his apartment I was shocked to find almost nothing inside.
There is a couch and a T.V in the living room, a small table in the kitchen, a midsize bathroom, a small bedroom and a larger one.
The one thing I realized with glee is that one wall of the main room is covered in pictures of our friends in Atlantis. All of them are ones that Aiden took. The one that is in the middle is the same one he has for the background on his laptop. Most of the pictures are of him and me though.
"Oh my god you have a picture of that," I asked pointing to the picture of me pushing him off the balcony.
"Yeah Aiden sent it to me a couple months ago. He found it in the Atlantean security footage and sent me a copy," Rodney said
"Awesome," I said.
That day was the first day I ever saw Rodney really have fun. He first woke my up then dragged me to a pier. Rodney made me shoot him in the leg to test an Ancient personal shield. An hour later he had me push him backwards off a balcony in the gate room. Elizabeth was so mad
"You want a beer," Rodney asked opening the fridge
"Sure," I answered taking a seat on the couch
Rodney handed over a beer and took a seat on the other side facing me, "so how's the new guy on the team working out," he asked
"Lt. Matthews is no longer a member of my team," I told him somewhat sadly, "one run in with Kolya and he wanted off the team. Elizabeth let us stay at four, reserving your spot of the team."
"Kolya again," he said reflexively running a hand over his right elbow
"Yeah and I'm proud to report that the bastard is dead," I said ruthlessly
"What happened," Rodney inquired
"He found us off world and he captured us yet again. Well we already had a plan set if that happened and so we went with that. When Ronon was about to tie him up so we could hand him over to Layden he made some snide comment about if we had finally gotten tired of you and I just went off. It was a week after you left and he crossed the line," I explained
"My god John," he said, "I'm glad he's dead. Saves me the trouble of doing it the next time he tries to feed you to a Wraith."
"Yeah and I don't have to worry about him trying to kill you either," I said
"So how long are you here for," he asked
"We are here for two weeks before we head back through the gate to Atlantis," I answered
"Cool," he said. He went on to tell me about how he wouldn't have to worry about finding a replacement at the college cause he only had the one class and it was only for the one semester.
We decided to watch a movie before going to sleep. Rodney put in Independence Day and I just starred at him.
"Independence Day," I asked humorsly. Knowing Rodney's affinity for hating movies that defied the laws of physics.
"Yeah I like Bill Pullman's speech at the end and Will Smith reminds me of you," Rodney said cheekily
"Will smith reminds you of me," I inquired
"Yeah the who Air Force flyboy suicide run thing," he answered
"I guess your right," I agreed
During the movie Rodney sat curled up next to me. I slung my arm over his shoulders holding him close to me. For the first time in more than six months I am finally happy.
Two Weeks Later: POV: Aiden
"Scheduled off world activation," Peter called, "it's Earth."
"Lower the shield," Elizabeth said smiling
I turned to the gate looking down over all the personnel of Atlantis who had gathered to welcome back Lt. Colonel Sheppard and Dr. McKay. A minute after the shield went down the two of them stepped through the wormhole.
"Welcome back to Atlantis," Elizabeth said walking down the stairs.
"It's good to be back," they both said smiling ear to ear
"Three cheers," Lorne yelled
"Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray," the whole room erupted in cheers and applause.
Ronon, Teyla, Carson, Radek, and I headed down the stairs. The crowd parted knowing we wanted to greet our team members so they would wait.
"Welcome back Dr. McKay," Teyla said greeting him by touching her forehead to his in Athosian tradition
"It's good to be back," Rodney said
I turned to the Colonel and saluted, "sir," I said
"Ford at ease," he said laughing
I looked back to see Carson welcoming Dr. McKay back to Atlantis
"Hey Dr. McKay," I said in greeting
"Hey Lt," he said in return
"Welcome back Rodney and John," Dr. Weir says coming up to us
"Elizabeth," Dr. McKay said still seeming to be mad at her.
"It's good to be here," Sheppard said
Dr. Weir raised her hand to quiet everyone in the room, "Rodney, John to celebrate your return to our fair city we have a party set up in the mess hall."
"Sounds like fun," colonel Sheppard said
"Absolutely," Dr. McKay agreed
"Come on," I said and everyone seemed to follow me to the mess hall.