Chapter 17: Dancing with Destiny
The Grand Ball took place that night. John, Ronan, Rodney and Elizabeth were all given the appropriate clothes to wear. John, Ronan and Rodney were each given a pair of suits that hugged the body firmly and John idly mused if Ronan had managed to hide any weapon on his person.
'Of course he would have...' John decided finally as he looked at how Ronan's hair was done. '...he's always prepared.'
Silently, with some incoherent rumblings from Rodney they three guys made their way to the grand ballroom where they were stunned by the amount of twinkle lights, and flowing white fabrics. The overall effects was a veritable winter wonderland crossed with the realm of the fae and even Rodney, who was not easily impressed- was impressed.
"This is so cool." He exclaimed quietly to Ronan who merely smiled at Rodney's childishness.
"I think that it's over the top."
"Well I think that it's..." John began as trumpets began to call and three figures descended down the stairs. The one in the lead was obviously Prime Minister Kelar. He was a man in his later years, with crystal blue eyes and greying hair. His face sported a distinguished hook nose and he was draped in a robe of royal blue accented with gold. Behind them was the Minister of Peace Jal G'dan who was wearing a black suit that matched the ones that John, Ronan and Rodney were wearing and on his arm was...
"Elizabeth?" Rodney whispered with a mixture of shock and awe as their leader descended down the stairs. "She looks good."
Elizabeth was wearing an off the shoulder white gown that hugged her body to the waist and then flared slightly down to her knees. On her feet was a pair of dainty white slippers with crystals on the top. Her hair hung over her shoulders, framing her face and was accented by a crystal band that held the longer pieces out of her eyes.
Her eyes, John noted were sparkling with amusement and merriment even though her face showed some discomfort at all the attention. An announcer stated who the three of them were and the crowd eventually began talking amongst themselves again.
John, Rodney and Ronan meanwhile watched as Elizabeth leaned over to take to Jal as he led her to the high table.
"Wow." Rodney muttered shaking his head. "I had no idea."
"She looks good." Ronan agreed, stunned himself slightly at Elizabeth's angelic appearance but it was John who was speechless. "What about you Sheppard?"
"Uh- what?" John asked awkwardly turning his attention from Elizabeth to Ronan.
"He asked you what you thought of Elizabeth's appearance." Rodney muttered with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh well," John began, stumbling over his words. "She looks- er- nice I guess."
"Just nice?" Asked a voice from behind him and John whirled around to come face to face with Jal G'dan and a very hurt looking Elizabeth. "I think that your Dr. Weir is looking most elegant tonight."
'Utterly stunning, and beautiful and gorgeous' John added silently in his mind trying to block her disappointed hazel eyes out of his minds eye.
"Minister G'dan," Elizabeth began her voice and demeanour masking her true emotions. "-perhaps we should go back to the head table. The Prime Minister and I have much to discuss."
"I agree." Jal stated with a nod. "But do call me Jal."
"Only if you call me Elizabeth."
"You have a deal." Jal responded with a laugh as he led Elizabeth away from her friends. "Your first of many tonight I hope."
As they walked away Rodney and Ronan were kinda stunned but John was out and out flabbergasted...Had she just blown him off? He thought despairingly to himself as a knot of jealousy wound itself around his heart. 'How could she just—'
"Come on Shep." Ronan stated interrupting John's thoughts. "Let's go grab something to eat, I'm starving."
oOo
The night progressed and soon the dinner had been dispensed with, as had the long and boring speeches and the people at the Grand Ball were dancing the night away. Much to his surprise both Ronan and Rodney had been asked to dance by two Telarian natives and had accepted while he, though being asked several times- decided to stick to the wall.
It was approaching midnight when Rodney stumbled over to John having just a tad to much to drink. "What are you doing on the wall Sheppard?"
"Having a good time." John answered blandly, wincing slightly at Rodney's laugh.
"Somehow I doubt that." Rodney disagreed, following John's gaze. The scientist came to see Elizabeth, with flushed cheeks dancing with the Minister of Peace and suddenly he got it. "Jealous much?"
"I'm not jealous." John defended far too quickly.
"Oh sure." Rodney scoffed as he took another sip of the wine that was being served. "And the Wraith don't suck the life out of people..."
"Rodney..."
"You know, I don't get it." Rodney began, honestly not sure what John would be jealous at Elizabeth dancing with the Minister of Peace. "You're a Kirk Sheppard, why do you care if Elizabeth is dancing with some Minister of peace unless..." Suddenly Rodney stopped, nearly dropping his wine glass as his slightly fuddled mind put two and two together. The thought was almost too incomprehensible, yet he had to ask the question. "You don't..."
"Just shut up McKay." John snapped as he snatched Rodney's wine glass out of his hands, drained what was left in the glass (which was most of it) and quite obviously stressed, began to meander in the direction of Elizabeth and Jal G'dan.
"He does..." Rodney whispered silently to himself as he watched John glare at Jal for a couple moments before finally walking up behind the dancing couple. "...how did I not see it before?"
And as John tapped Jal on the shoulder a horrifying though struck Rodney. 'My God, I could owe Zelenka a ton...'
oOo
"Excuse me." John interrupted tapping Jal on the shoulder bringing his dance with Elizabeth to an abrupt halt. "But may I interrupt?"
"Of course."
Jal bowed and let John take his place and allow Elizabeth into his arms. Vaguely, in some part of him mind John knew that this was the closest that he and Elizabeth had stood together in a fair long while and a part of him struggled to keep his jealousy in check.
They danced silently for a few moments before Elizabeth broke the ice. "You look quite dashing tonight John."
"As do you." John stated suddenly, stumbling over his words. "Beautiful I mean and-"
"That's not what you said earlier."
"Oh well..." John paused as him mind spun frantically thinking for a line. He was the master of lines, he was the 'Kirk' of the Pegasus Galaxy, he could get any alien girl in a second...
...so why did Elizabeth make him so nervous sometimes?
"...I said that for Rodney's sake." John explained with ease, flashing his classic fly-boy grin. "He thought that you looked good and was afraid that I might go all 'Kirk' on you or something."
Elizabeth laughed. "I have read his reports, he's called you a 'Kirk' more times then I've cared to count."
They danced silently before Elizabeth spoke up again. "Is there any truth to it?"
"Truth to what?" John asked blankly, too caught up in the moment to process what she was saying.
"Truth to Rodney's teasing." Elizabeth asked softly as John unconsciously pulled her closer. Her right hand felt like it was trembling in his and her left felt all sweaty on his back- yet neither was true. She was the same, outwardly calm Elizabeth- it was only her heart that was going in circles.
"Are you a Kirk?" She asked finally, looking up into his eyes, almost afraid of the answer.
"Uh..." He was at a loss, unsure on what to say. So he told the truth. "Not intentionally. I mean, I am the Mr. Fantastic of the teams so I guess that's why but—" John paused momentarily and looked into her eyes and saw that, despite being veiled- her emotions were raging within her. "—but as to if there's any truth to them? No." He shook his head and gave her hand a little squeeze. "I'm not a Kirk...not anymore at least."
"What changed?" Elizabeth asked, thinking back to their first year on Atlantis.
Back then, he had been willing to risk everything to see if Chaya was alright. Her mind then thought of when he had been trapped behind the time dilation field and had said goodbye to that Teer woman- she had looked at John with so much love in her eyes and for a moment she had been horribly frightened that he would agree to ascend with her.
There had been other instances that she knew about- one he had even confided in her about.
I even got the girl
You got the girl!?
Well I mean I could have got the girl... I turned her down.
"What changed?" She asked again, watching as John looked away clearly embarrassed. And it seemed that he was about to answer when Jal G'dan tapped him on the shoulder.
"I am terribly sorry." Jal apologized as John and Elizabeth jumped apart slightly. "But Prime Minister Kelar is ready to talk with you Elizabeth at the head table..."
"Thank you." Elizabeth stated coldly stepping out of John's arms and onto Jal's as he held it out like before. And before John's eyes, Elizabeth was swallowed into the crowd and he was left on his own...again.
A/N- Hello beloved readers. Thank you as always to Jenni, HE, lakewater and lemons for reviewing the last chatper. I hope that you all like this one too and I hope that all my readers who read this chapter will review this one. Cause I gotta say, I've seen the leaked episodes and I gotta say--- the potential angst might just be worth it (though I love where I'm heading with this too). So please read and review.