Conditioned Assocation10

"Oh my God! Rodney, what happened?" Moira rushed to the scientist's side as Carson was preparing an ice pack. Rodney's left eye was a spectacular mass of purple and blue bruises. Swollen shut. His cheek inflamed.

"What does it look like? That brute of a husband of yours, that's what?"

"What? Why? You mean he believed the affair?" she quipped.

"What? Oh ha ha! No!"

"Affair? What affair?" Carson asked, glancing from one to the other. "Hold still, Rodney! You'll be fine. But you won't be leaving the city for a day or so."

"You see? This is what I get for prodding John off his backside to go on a mission!" Rodney whined, flinching as Carson held up a bandage.

"So it worked?" she asked.

"It worked," he whined.

"That's brilliant!" Moira hugged him as Carson stepped aside, baffled by their conversation. "I knew you could do it!"

"Again? At this rate I will believe you are having an affair," John quipped, joining them.

Moira freed Rodney, turned to John. "John Sheppard! How could you? What on Earth possessed you to–"

"I called him a momma's boy, a coward," Rodney explained. "Tied to your apron ow! OW!"

"Now who is acting like a momma's boy?" Carson asked. "Hold still!" He applied a bandage, pressing it carefully over the ugly bruise.

"Sorry, Rodney." John shrugged. Met Moira's gaze. "I...um..."

"Sorry, Rodney," she echoed, turning back to the physicist. "But thank you. John." She headed across the room. John sighed, almost flinching as he expected her anger to hit him. He followed after her reluctantly.

"Look, Moira, I just–" he began, trying to head off her accusations.

"I know." She touched his arm. "I understand. About that. Your reaction. But John, you do see our point, don't you? Mine?" She stepped closer to him. "I know you want to protect me. Keep me safe. And you do. You have. You will. But not by quitting your job and your responsibilities. You will keep us safe," she took his hand, placed it on her abdomen, "by doing your job. By leading your team. By going through the 'Gate."

He smiled. "Sounds like you want to get rid of me, Moira."

"Of course not, John. I love your company. But we have jobs . Important jobs. And this, this little baby is depending on both of us to continue in those jobs. To make a safe haven for him. Or her. Whatever. So you will lead your team, colonel. Well, once Rodney can see with both eyes, that is."

"I heard that! It's not funny!" Rodney whined. "Ouch! Could you make the tape any tighter?"

"Yes, I could," Carson retorted. Shaking his head.

"Fine. I see your point. I guess. I just..." He left the rest unsaid. The guilt. The fear of loss a dark echo in his mind. Loss of his wife. His child. His gaze briefly rested on her bruised lip. The cut on her cheek.

She smiled. Kissed his lips. "I know. Don't you worry, sweetie. Everything will be fine," she said softly. Added coyly, "besides, I still need you around here for a little while, flyboy. Two o'clock. Sheppard's delight. Cravings, you know. Okay?"

He met her playful gaze, grinned. "Absolutely, baby. You can count on me."

John reclined in a chair in Elizabeth Weir's office. Waiting. Waiting as Elizabeth read his report. Watching her reactions to his concise rendition of the recent events. Glanced subtly at his watch. Checking the time. Recalling Moira's teasing. Flirtation.

Elizabeth finally met his gaze. Sighed. "I seem to have missed quite a lot."

"Yes."

"And city is secure now?"

"Yes. We're back to normal. Mostly." He wondered at her reaction when she saw Rodney. His black eye. Bruised face. "I sincerely hope that's the last queen we ever encounter."

"You didn't keep any tissue samples or body parts?"

"No. Only what Carson already had before this transpired. I deemed the threat too severe."

"I see. And you strengthened the protocols. There's no way you could have prevented this, John. You followed your own protocols to the letter."

"Still, it was a near thing." He paused, pushed aside the rush of bad memories. "With the Alpha site compromised I suggest we look around for another one. Just in case."

"Yes, I concur. I'm sorry about Lieutenant Josephes. You've put Lorne's team on stand down for awhile?"

"Yes." John met her gaze. "Until I find a suitable replacement. Well..." he smiled. "Two."

"Two? Why two?"

John's smile broadened. "Moira. Moira's pregnant. So I need two replacements, for now. I'm thinking just two marines, not another scientist unless there's a call for one. I don't want Moira getting upset at some other scientist taking over her turf, so to speak. I'm thinking Watts or maybe Gordon to replace Josephes. Both need more off-world experience and–"

"Moira's pregnant?" Elizabeth asked slowly. Staring at him.

John smiled. Shrugged. "Yeah. She's..." he calculated, "heading for her second month now, I think. And she can't travel safely through the 'Gate until the second trimester, so she is grounded here for awhile. Well?" He waited. "Normally I receive congratulations at this point."

"What? Oh, of course! Congratulations, John! I...that just threw me..." Elizabeth stammered, not sounding pleased at all. "I mean...were you even planning to–"

"No. Not really. Not now, I mean. It just, um, happened. You know. As I was saying Carson says it will be another month or two before she can resume 'Gate travel. But I prefer she not leave Atlantis. If she insists I have contingency plans in place to ensure her safety. As you may have guessed my son will be quite strong in the ATA gene, and we need to take suitable precautions. Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth was still staring at him. Brows furrowed. Expression frozen in shock, surprise. Almost as if she couldn't understand him. As if he was speaking an alien language to her. "You got Moira pregnant?" she uttered.

He shrugged again. "Um, yes. It was me. I am her husband, after all."

"I know that! I just meant an unplanned pregnancy is the last thing we need right now! Do you realize what an impact this will have on the city? On you?"

He frowned. "Yeah, I do have some idea..." he laconically noted.

"No, I don't think you do." Elizabeth sat forward, arms folded in front of her on the desk. "Look, John, I am happy for you, really, I am, but this...this does complicate matters. You are the military commander of Atlantis! Have you even considered how you are going to juggle all of your responsibilities? Your job. Your responsibilities to the city, to your team, to your own men? Are you honestly telling me you are prepared to handle of all that plus being a husband and now a father?"

"Yes," he answered simply. Voice terse.

"Yes? Really? Let me see...you've already allocated additional resources to watch over your wife if she goes off-world."

"There is a very real threat, Elizabeth," he insisted, folding his arms across his chest. Adopting a stubborn stance.

"Even so, I need you focused on the city and the personnel as well, John. I can't have you distracted, or worse, refusing to leave the city to be with her. And you will be distracted, admit it. How could you not be? Especially as the time comes for her to have the baby."

"I can do both," he asserted. "Look, it wasn't planned, but it happened. It was going to happen eventually. And I, for one, wouldn't change a thing. Not a damn thing, and nor would Moira. We want this. We both do. And we'll adjust to all the changes."

"You sound like you are trying to convince yourself, John. Did you need to convince Moira as well? Are you certain she sees things the way you do?"

"Yes! She does, now. I'll still do my job, Doctor Weir. I do know my priorities."

"Do you?" She frowned. "It doesn't sound like it to me. An unplanned pregnancy? You should have been more careful! You should have taken precautions!"

John stood. "Why? We're not a couple of teenagers, Elizabeth! We are married!"

"You are acting like one, John! You should have known better! If not you then certainly Moira should have! Are you prepared at all? All the things you will need! She will need for the baby! My God, John, there's going to be a baby in the city! Your baby!"

"Yes, I know!" he flared. "We know exactly what we need and when we will need it! I expected better of you, Doctor Weir! Everyone else is delighted for us! This is a joyous event and you can only see it as an inconvenience to your expedition!"

"Everyone else?" She stood. "What, am I the last to know? John!"

"Yes, you are! Can you blame me if this is your reaction?"

"Yes, I can! I should have been informed first! I expected better of you, Colonel Sheppard! More planning, certainly, more preparedness! I hope you checked the mission roster because I am not changing a damn thing on it! Not a thing, except in regards to Lorne's team."

"Fine! Those are the only changes I will accept!"

"Fine! You should have told me first!" she declared. A trace of hurt in her voice, on her face.

John ignored it. "Fine. Next time my sperm make it all the way I will send you a memo!" He strode out of the office, not waiting for her reply, her rebuke. Fuming as he clenched his fists at his sides.