Prompt #48 - Tears

John was in the middle of having lunch with Ronon when he heard a near-hysterical voice calling him on the radio. "Colonel Sheppard? This is Lieutenant Brooks. I--" She sounded ready to burst into tears. "You s-said you could help with Aiden if, if you weren't doing anything…"

"I've got some time, Lieutenant," he said, already standing up. "Where are you?"

"I-in my quarters, sir." Her voice broke on the last word.

"I'm on my way."

XXXXXX

John could hear the baby's cries growing louder as he approached the door. He waved his hand in front of the sensor, wincing at the rise in volume when the door opened. "Evie?" he called, for the hall was empty.

Evie was in the corner of the room, bouncing Aiden up and down in her arms, desperately trying to get the baby to stop shrieking.

"Evie, what's wrong with him?" John asked, walking over to her.

"I don't know," she answered, and John saw that Aiden wasn't the only one crying. "Take him," she said, handing her husband their screaming child.

"What do you want me to do with him?" John asked, concerned by how distressed Aiden was.

"I don't care! He won't eat, he won't sleep, he won't shut up!" she replied, her voice breaking and more tears falling. She handed John a warm bottle and a baby blanket.

"Evie…I do have a meeting in twenty minutes," he commented, gently rocking the crying baby in his arms.

Her bottom lip trembled. "John, you have to take him," she begged, almost sobbing. "I've slept maybe nine hours in the last four days, and if I don't get some sleep, I don't know what I might do. Just take him and make him shut up before I do something crazy…"

John looked at her a bit skeptically. "Evie, you're not--"

"John, I'm not kidding," she pleaded. "I don't want to hurt him, but I'm so frustrated right now I could smother him with a pillow."

He looked a little stunned. "Are you serious?"

"John, I haven't slept for four days," she said, her voice sounding like she was ready to drop. "And Kate says I probably have post-partum." She looked up at him, her tired eyes pleading. "Please?"

He nodded. "I'll take him." He switched Aiden's position so that the infant was snuggled up against his chest. The boy's crying didn't even pause.

Two tears of relief slipped down Evie's cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered, then stepped forward and kissed his lips.

"Does he need to eat?" John asked.

"He doesn't need to eat for two more hours," she answered, walking over to her bed, "but if it gets him to settle down and sleep, then I don't care."

John watched as Evie collapsed on her bed, not moving to get comfortable or even pull back the covers; she could probably sleep for days. "I'll keep him until tonight," he offered.

She nodded and wiped her eyes, knowing how lucky she was that he was willing to help. She'd have to do something special for him later.

John picked up Aiden's diaper bag and turned to leave. Just before opening the door, he looked back and quietly said, "I love you." But all he heard in reply was peaceful snoring.