A/N: Aaand... I'm back! Also, mac's beta block seems to have lifted which means... new stories! Yay! So, here's the first one: two unusual suspects, good advice and a bit of alcohol. It's one of two birthday gifts for mac (the other one was Four Times Rodney McKay...) and takes place sometime between Good Intentions and A Little Place Like Kokomo. Also, I really like the line on the t-shirt (you'll know what I mean when you get there) but... it's not by me but the incredible Farva of Air Force Blues (google afblues... go on, do it!) and I hope you will, too ;)

And... yeah, language warning.

A Quarter After One

"Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?
For me it happens all the time

It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now."

Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"

She's really an idiot. Or he's one. Or they're both idiots. Ah, whatever… it's the middle of the night and he should be asleep… and not doing what he's doing now. Which is sitting around in an Atlantis common room, staring out of the window and slowly sipping from a can of beer someone left in the fridge in a corner of the room and didn't bother to label with their name.

Okay, there's no mission scheduled for tomorrow – at least none the boss bothered to announce, that is – but yeah… in a place like Atlantis, you're told to grab every bit of sleep you can. It was probably the first thing he ever learned about living in the place they shipped him off to almost right after finishing the Academy – well, practically right before learning his new CO gave a damn about Air Force regulations. Or seemed like he did. Ah, hell.

But at least thinking about missions or his boss keeps him from thinking about just how much he screwed up in his personal life just a few hours ago. He still doesn't really know how he ended up here because it had started out innocently enough – talking about vacation plans with Kassandra – and had ended in a big fight about family and responsibility and being a coward and not listening to him and… lots of other stuff he couldn't get together if his life depended on it. Well… and ultimately with Kassandra throwing him out of her quarters and making it very clear that she expected him not to come back if he knew what was good for himself… ever.

Yeah… apparently, his turned from kind of to regular girlfriend just turned into very definitely not being his girlfriend anymore and he isn't even sure as to why that happened. After finding himself in the hallway, he'd briefly considered going straight to the work-out room to work off his frustration but just two weeks ago, he'd found Captain Cadman in there, furiously manhandling the punching bag and he'd been smart enough not to make his presence known to her because he'd remembered the shouting he'd heard from her lab just in time before slowly backing away. And since he'd seen Dr. McKay entering her lab today as well, shortly before he'd knocked on Kassandra's door, he'd thought better of his plan because the odds that the room would be occupied again by a seriously pissed off Laura Cadman had been too high.

And since he hadn't wanted to risk running into any of his team mates – and most of all not the boss because the man's perceptiveness in exactly the wrong moments still creeps him out sometimes – he'd snuck off to a lesser inhabited part of Atlantis and tried to work off his frustration with a method that already proved to work well at the Academy when nothing else was possible: push-ups, sit-ups and then some more push-ups and sit-ups.

However… not even that had helped and after a few unsuccessful attempts at sleeping he'd decided that if he was awake, he could very well be so at a place less oppressive – since too much in his quarters reminded him of Kassandra and she's really the one thing he doesn't want to be reminded of right now. So it's just the empty and the beer and… "Don't tell me you finally learned the art of asking for forgiveness rather than asking for permission, Lieutenant."

Good grief. At the voice of Major Moore coming from behind him suddenly, he actually winced. For a moment, he considers just ignoring the Major and continuing to stare straight out of the window but then again… he's still just a Lieutenant and as much as a pain in the ass Major Moore is, he's still a senior rank. And most of all he's a senior rank you seriously shouldn't piss off if you want a reasonably peaceful life in Atlantis.

So he turns around… and is a little surprised. The middle of the night version of Major Moore looks nothing like the version he knows. Instead, there's disheveled hair, a faded t-shirt displaying something that looks like a Lear jet and saying 'Mine's bigger.' and track pants. Well, that and an overall tired look that just doesn't want to fit with what he's used to from Major 'I killed to serve my country before your momma even let you out of the house' Moore.

He clears his throat. "With all due respect… I don't think my private life is of any of your concern, sir."

That only elicits something that could be a clueless look if that wasn't Major Moore… and then something that looks like a suppressed amused grin. "I meant the beer, Lieutenant."

Oh… oh, damn. Of course Moore was talking about the beer… not about what happened earlier today. He couldn't possibly have known about that, really.

Mh.

Or maybe… maybe that hadn't been such an impossible idea after all. He's still convinced that the one who ratted him out to Cadman had been the Major because on the list of all the people that are able and/or allowed to access the security camera tapes, Moore had been the only one he wouldn't put it past. So… he shouldn't underestimate him. Carefully he clears his throat. "Of course, sir. I… uh…"

"There still one in the fridge of those?" This… continues to puzzle him. Usually, Major Moore gives him evil looks and snaps at him, ever since he made the mistake of voicing his then disapproval of his boss a little too loudly in the mess hall. Someone – Meyers, for example – could have told him that Major Moore and Major Lorne are friends before that, honestly.

So he wordlessly nods, watching the Major trudge over to the fridge and fish out another unlabeled can. At least now he isn't the only perpetrator anymore. When Moore's done, he comes back and plops down on the couch opposite his, takes a very long draft from the can and then leans back, his eyes closed. Huh. What the hell… oh. Oh. Could it be that… nah. Surely, he didn't get thrown out by Captain Reece… or did he?

Damn, his curiosity is just too big to be kept inside… and anyway, he can blame the alcohol for it, if it happens to go wrong. So he clears his throat again. "Excuse me, sir, but... is everything okay? You don't look exactly... rested."

That was pretty… brave – in the sense of 'stupid' – and he's not quite sure if that's something that would earn him the Sergeants' pity… or their undying admiration and respect. From Moore… it earns him a raised eyebrow and then a matter-of-factly, "When 36 years old you reach, look as good you will not, hm?"

Wha… Don't laugh, Joe, just – don't – laugh. He's a Major, he's practically BFF with the boss, he can make your life a living hell. Keep it… short. "Never pegged you for a Star Wars nerd, sir."

Moore just shrug. "And I'm not. That's just the only line I ever bothered to remember."

Okay, that… went well, didn't it? "Of course, sir."

Now Moore frowns. Oh damn, what did he do wrong now? Too much attitude? Sarcasm showing through? Argh. "Hey, stranger things have happened, okay? I know for a fact that your boss... no, you have to ask him that yourself." What… was that supposed to mean? His boss and… what? Being a Star Wars nerd? He's about to ask the Major anyway but he seems to have anticipated it and goes for a diversion, "So… trouble in paradise, huh?"

Oh God, how does he do that? So yes, he was a bit afraid of Moore before… but now he realizes he should have been afraid of him a lot more. Maybe even more afraid than he's of Captain Cadman. And the way Moore looks at him – like he knows more than he'd like to – he knows he can admit it anyway. "Just a bit, sir. And… excuse me but… what gave you the idea?"

For some reason, he hopes that one can of beer was enough to loosen Moore's tongue enough that he will tell him at least a bit of his secret… "Easy. Heard the shouting coming from Miss Wilson's quarters a mile away in the hallway earlier today. Pieced one and one together… here you are, miserable as hell."

Err… is it just him or… sounded that last part more like Major Moore was talking about himself? Well, the way he just ran a hand through his unruly hair and stared at the almost empty can suggested that… that he has something like feelings? To be honest… until this moment, he always wondered if Maureen Reece was maybe controlled by some alien device because he never understood what could make someone like her – smart, funny, nice – hook up with Thomas Moore of all people. But that little glimpse… told him there is more to one of the probably most mysterious relationships in Atlantis.

Well… what now? Should he say something? Or should he… "Anyway… want to know how to avoid the next big fight?" Oh… oh, did Major Moore just offer to share a piece of his infinite flag officer wisdom?

Unfortunately, he's not really in the mood for some flag officer advice now. Also, what is it with flag officers and offering him unsolicited advice as often as they can? Not even the Sergeants are that generous with advice. But then again, they drilled respect of superiors too deeply into his head and he's tired and not really sober anymore… ah, hell. "I wouldn't say no if you had a suggestion for me, sir."

Moore leans back again and tries to look… important. Okay… "Well, the thing is… Atlantis women always have something to say, and it's usually something smart and reasonable. The biggest mistake we can make is not listening to them." That… was a no-brainer, wasn't it? Everyone knows that the female inhabitants of Atlantis are smart because otherwise they wouldn't be here… oh, wait. He meant the other kind of smart. Or maybe both.

And damn, that was another surprising hint as to how the relationship between Moore and Reece most likely works. He just can't withstand prying a little more. "What did you not listen to, sir?"

Okay, that does make Moore throw him another one of his death glares. "Careful, Lieutenant. Don't overstep your boundaries."

Right. Back away now. "Wouldn't dare dream of it, sir."

Oh God, hopefully that came across like he intended it to and the Major actually believes him… He'd never admit it, but apart from his boss and Colonel Sheppard Major Moore is the officer that can kick his ass the most in hand-to-hand combat practice… and getting beat up by his superiors is not his most favorite hobby. "Yeah, you better." Phew. That was close. "Now, go back and listen to your tech. You'll be surprised what will happen."

Yeah, right. As if Kass would ever listen to him again. "Sir, I don't think…" Another… half-glare from Moore. What? Pissed off that he dared speak against his precious advice?

"And I think you're giving up far too easily. Do you really want me to spell out how head over heels Miss Wilson is for you?" How… what… why? And… did Moore just accuse him of being a quitter?

No way he'll let anyone do that. "Alright, sir. But if she kicks me out again…"

"It's all your fault for still not listening to her," Moore just says, smirks and shrugs. The… bastard. "Now, come on, get going. Life's too short to waste it being separated… especially around here." Oh… oh, okay. Moore does have a point with that. And he still vividly remembers how stressed and worried the boss had been when Captain Cadman had been in the hand of those Genii-Hybrids or whatever they were.

Meyers later had told him in his usual… diplomatic way that shortly before Cadman had been captured, the boss and she had had a pretty big fight and that they apparently hadn't made up before that mission. At least… then he'd finally understood why the boss had ignored all regulations and standard protocols when the door to Cadman's cell had finally been opened. He takes a deep breath. "Good point, sir. If you'd… excuse me, please?"

Moore just gestures for him to get going, so he gets up, throws the empty can away… and turns around at the door because he just wondered about something. "Just… one more question, if you don't mind… What about you, sir?"

For a moment, Moore looks genuinely puzzled. Huh? "Uh… what about me?"

Oh damn, now he's forced to elaborate. How to phrase that in a way that won't get him his ass kicked… "Well, you know… Captain Reece… your couch…" Okay, certainly not like that.

From the look on Moore's face, he just considered giving him what he thinks he deserved for that comment but then he seems to have decide to give just a bit of leeway… probably because he listened to his advice in the end. So instead of glaring him to death again, Moore just shrugs and tries to be nonchalant. "Oh, she'll come around eventually."

Honestly? From the few glimpses he just got into the Major's relationship with Reece, he could almost believe that Moore isn't half as confident about this as he looks and it fascinates him that apparently, there actually are things that even that guy is afraid of. "Or… you could listen to your own advice." Damn. Damn, damn, damn, why can't he just keep his big mouth shut? He'd sworn to himself he'd never let it get the better of him again after getting his ass busted by Cadman that one time. And there he goes, doing it again and again and again.

And no, Moore doesn't look amused now. "Didn't I just tell you to be careful?" Huh… or maybe… maybe just a little bit amused? Is that what the tug in the corner of his mouth just suggested?

But anyway… better get going now before he talks himself into a hole deep enough he won't ever be able to get out of. "Just saying, sir… just saying."

"Less talking, more moving your ass back to your tech, Lieutenant." Ouch.

It's a good suggestion, though… actually, it's something he'd been wanting to do ever since she threw him out and now that he got more or less ordered to do it… it's a sign, really. "Yes, sir. Of course, sir." He's tempted to wish Moore luck for getting off the couch and back into Captain Reece's good graces – well, and the bedroom – but really… he always got told not to push it and that would definitely be pushing it. So he leaves it at, "And… good night, sir."

There's just an impatient nod and wave from the Major and he takes that as a good moment to leave. He's got something important to do now… and that's listening to Kassandra, no matter if she wants it or not, and if it's the last thing he'll ever do. Yeah, good plan.