Seven
When Colonel Sheppard has left the room, Laura turns back to him. "Evan…"
He can't contain his anger any longer, can only turn it into an icy undertone, like every time when he doesn't want to shout at her. "Is there any sensible explanation for my Lieutenant just telling me you chewed him out, Captain?" That's a low blow, and he can already see it hit home. For a moment, it looks like she's going to extract her claws and fight back with a tone as vicious as his. He really wouldn't be surprised if she did, because that's what she always does when someone hurts her: Hurt back.
But she actually takes her time with answering, obviously needing it to calm herself down. She squeezes her eyes shut, pinches the bridge of her nose, everything to keep her from lashing out like she's so good at usually. Then, after what seems like an eternity to him, "I'm… I'm sorry. Honestly. I didn't do it to interfere with your authority."
He rolls his eyes and throws up his hands. "Oh great. That's really comforting to know." Biting sarcasm now and still trying to keep himself from shouting at her… because she already looks like he just slapped her. Okay… calm down, don't let your anger get the better of you. Remember what happened last time?
But she's not making it easy for him, because she can't fully keep from biting back. "I had a reason, okay?"
Oh, a reason. Of course. "You mean a reason apart from thinking I can't solve this on my own?" That's exactly what this feels like to him. Like she thought taking matters into her own hands was necessary because Simmons was starting to get cheeky. But he had everything under control. He knew what he was doing. Honestly.
"It wasn't like that. Evan, I am sorry about this." She's getting defensive again. And how is he supposed to withstand her saying sorry in such an honest way any longer? In fact, she's really starting to look a little desperate, like she knows she screwed up big time and doesn't know how to fix it… being afraid of just having broken the whole relationship.
He shortly closes his eyes. As agitated as he is, he has a feeling that he can trust her well enough that she didn't jeopardize their relationship for no reason. Something big must have happened for her to act like this. "Well then, what was it like?"
Please, he thinks, tell me he gave you a reason for you to react like that. A reason that made in necessary for you to give him that talk on the spot and not wait until you could tell me. "Look… we… we don't have much time anymore." No, that's not what he wanted to hear. "I'd tell you now, but… I have to talk to that council and… just trust me I had a very good reason, okay?" This is just not true. What the hell is this all about? "Please, just trust me. I'll explain. Honestly. I promise. Just not now."
His first impulse is to simply close this discussion and ask her to leave, because he might do something stupid if she doesn't, but there's something in her whole bearing… something that tells him that she wants to tell him… that she wants him to know whatever caused her to do it, but simply can't. And it occurs to him… that she might be protecting Simmons. Like whatever he said or did was bad enough that she knows he'll have a go at Simmons the moment he sees him again. He starts to realize that indeed this might be a little too messed up to be cleared up with a sentence or two. Still… "Laura… do you really expect me to simply say yes to this and go along with whatever you're playing at here?"
She's looking a little relieved now… she just knows him too well. "I'm sorry, but yes… I do. Look, let's get this whole thing over with and I promise I'll give you an explanation once we've got a little more privacy." Fair enough, at least for now.
But he's still irritated enough that he can't refrain from saying, "Fine. But you realize appearing like I'm actually happy about getting married to you will take quite an effort now, right?"
At that her face – that had been hopeful for just a second – falls, and he's a little sorry for that now. "I know. And I'm sorry about that as well. But… just think about Rodney's face when he has to be nice to us the whole evening."
Aw, dammit, she really knows him much too well by now. She knew that would tempt him. On his face there's already a reluctant half-grin forming. "Mh. That's almost worth it." Her face lights up again, and that always gets him, most of all after seeing her so very distraught about knowing she screwed up and not being able to clear it all up, because she would get someone else in trouble with it. However, just for good measure, he adds, "Uh-uh, Captain, I said almost worth it. And this isn't over until you tell me your mysterious reasons."
She's giving her best to look rueful and demure, but he can see her relief showing through. "I know. Honestly. I… I gotta go, now… council's waiting and all that…"
Just a moment before she can actually turn, something comes to his mind and he walks up to the barred door where she's still standing. "Laura… just one last thing. Don't shove Simmons into the nearest wall. Give him a chance to defend himself, will you?"
And because now he's so much closer to her, he can see her blushing because he was pretty good at guessing what was really on her mind. No doubt she was already wishing she could get her hands on Simmons. "Huh… whatever gave you the idea I could go up against a strapping young SF-officer?"
"Countless hours of hand-to-hand combat training." he only deadpans.
"Oh… errr…"
Her caught in the act expression is so funny, that he has to hold back a smile. So instead he just sighs and says, a little wearily, "Just leave the shoving part to me this time, if he really did it on purpose."
She's caught herself and is all serious again. "Of course. Just for the record, Evan: I think you're a damn fine CO and I would never do anything to destroy that reputation. I will fix this."
The earnestness in her statement moves him and he has to look down for a moment because it also embarrassed him a little. Which is when he realizes that she has unconsciously put one of her hands on the bars of his cell's door, and now he does want to show her that despite all the gruffness and the disappointment he trusts her enough to clear this up. A little tentatively he puts his own hand atop hers and tells her with the same earnestness she just displayed, "Just for the record, Laura: I know that." A little startled at his unexpected move, she wants to say something, but doesn't find the right words. He smiles a little. "Now, come on, start planning this wedding. If it has to be a shot-gun wedding, it should be the best we can get."
That gets him a return smile and a squeeze of his hand before she simply says "Yes, sir." and leaves the prison, looking very relieved. God, he really hopes he isn't misplacing his trust, because even after everything the prospect of saying "I do." to her is gaining more and more appeal… and he actually has to remind himself that he will not do that in a legally binding way here.
A/N: You know, I hate writing this kind of scene... I just love my characters too much ;) And no, this still isn't really over. BTW, I hope to get the next chapter done today or tomorrow so the lovely mac can beta it before she sinks into the pre-con frenzy (have I already told you how envious I am? No? I really envy you ;)). It just means I have to stop writing out all the FanFic100 plot bunnies populating my slightly deranged mind for a day or two... (and we'll just forget about improving my Spanish).