After the briefing, Sheppard ran down to the labs to see what was keeping McKay; he had agreed to meet the team to discuss tactics over lunch, and and John knew how much he loved his food. Besides, they were serving his favorite today. As he approached Carter's lab, he saw the white coats leaving and picked up the pace to see what had happened. As he rounded the doorway, he heard McKay's familiar whining and knew that all must be well.
"You could have killed me!" McKay squeaked in a pitch that could upset dogs for miles around.
"McKay, you're overreacting, as usual! And if you'd bothered to take any notice of the warnings by the door..."
Sheppard backed up, craning to read the sign outside "Knock and wait when red light flashes." He had to be fair, the sign was clear and the light was flashing. Seeking to annoy Rodney further he knocked, getting the attention of the labs occupants. McKay glared at him, red faced and out of breath. Sam smiled, chalk one up for the military, not that this was a competition but it was fun; and it annoyed Rodney.
Carter joined them en-route to the mess hall. She wouldn't be sitting with them but also didn't want to miss out on any blue jello.
"So, any thoughts on which colour your team is going to be?" She enquired.
"As a matter of fact, yes!" John replied, a smirk on his face. Sam looked at him, eyebrows raised. McKay, who was following with his nose in his tablet, almost walked into them as they stopped.
"So?" She pressed
"Blue. We're going with blue. So it will match your eyes when we kick your butt!" John retorted in a matter of fact tone.
Rodney interjected "Actually it's because our gate is blue, signifying the leap in technology between the analogue Milky Way system and... Hey! Kirk!" he piped up, his face suddenly red again as he noticed his team leaders flirtatious behaviour. "Back off! You're not even her type..." He raised his chin and puffed out his chest in a display of what he hoped was dominance.
"Uh.." Carter looked indignified, her piercing blue eyes cutting into McKay as he stalled.
His eyes met with hers and it took him back. It wasn't one of his favourite experiences on Atlantis but the image stuck with him. Her wet hair clung to her neck as she stood up in the water; her hands following the precise parallel lines of her highlights. Her collarbone visible beneath her soft, pink skin. His eyes followed and met her hands as they came back up, her long slender fingers caressing... McKay's soft, schoolboy expression turned to one of horror as he identified the object in her hand. A lemon.