One Hundred Sparkified Drabbles (31-40) by AndromedaMarine
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Athosian Tea, Part Four (31)
John, whose mind was still crystal clear (apart from what tea lingered on his lips from the kiss), began to wonder if a crowbar would have any success with prying Teyla and Ronon apart.
Rodney was still making dismal attempts at flirting and it wasn't until much later that he stopped, and remembered how pretty Jennifer Keller was.
John wasted no time in taking Elizabeth back to the Jumper. He laid her on the bench, knelt beside her, and rested his hand on her cheek. "Liz," he whispered. "Liz, wake up."
Her eyes flickered open, but the tea was far from gone. "Sh...shep...no! Shiny..." She drifted back to sleep.
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Breakdown Part Two of Three (32)
John hurriedly tried to explain. "There were so many times when...when I thought I – we – were going to lose you, and I realized I...we can't live without you on this base."
Elizabeth didn't fail to notice how often he was exchanging 'I' for 'we.' "But which one is it really? Is it you or everyone?"
The colonel fumbled for words. Unable to come up with any, he ripped his gaze from her and stared out over the ocean. "Really, it's everyone – but right now...right now it's me. I never want to lose you, Elizabeth."
She continued to stare at him.
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The Lasting Idiot (33)
Elizabeth gave him a sly smile, smirking when he gave her an expression of confusion. She sidled up to him, causally leaning her side against the military commander. "John, there's a reason this balcony is completely empty at this time of night. It's freezing."
"So?" he shot back at her, suppressing a shiver. "I'm a flyboy. I can handle it."
Elizabeth laughed when he shivered again. "John, you're an idiot in more ways than one." Her smile masked what worry she'd been feeling for him. "But don't be an idiot about this." She embraced him quickly, placing a fast kiss on his cheek.
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Stargazing (34)
"It's so beautiful," she whispered, staring up at the mass of stars over the city of Atlantis. Elizabeth and John were laying side-by-side on a tower rooftop, stargazing. "There aren't stars like this in the Milky Way."
John wasn't looking at the stars. His head was on its side, angled towards his friend. "Yeah." He'd said it so breathlessly that Elizabeth looked over at him.
Her mouth cracked into a grin. "John..." She lifted herself to rest on her elbow.
Sheppard slid a hand into his pocket, his fingers brushing velvet. "I want to ask you something..." He took her hand.
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Losing a Lifeline (35)
Rodney found John on the Balcony of Sanctity, curled up in the corner near the edge. The astrophysicist slid down next to him, smacking the back of his head against the hard wall. He sighed. "Sam's not the same," Rodney muttered. "Hell – I'm not the same." He glanced at John. "And you're not the same."
"Will we ever be?" John replied in the same quiet voice. "There isn't a point anymore. We've confirmed it – she's...she's..." He couldn't finish the sentence.
Rodney's lower lip began to tremble. "Come on – Jen will kill me if we're late to dinner."
John didn't move. "Just go... I have to be alone right now. Losing her was too much..."
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Insanity (36)
Ronon stared at him. "You're insane."
"I know, I know," John replied hastily, waving his hand about. "The thought had crossed my mind, Buddy, but this – I have to do this."
"You're insane," he repeated, returning his main focus to the awaiting food. "Don't you even think of dragging me into it."
John returned the stare. "I would be insane if I even asked you, big guy. I just wanted to tell someone."
"So why not tell McKay?"
John gave a short laugh. "You kidding? He's like a tabloid waiting to happen! He would be the first to let everyone know I'm gonna ask Liz out."
Ronon began to grin as he peered over John's head. "'Sup, McKay," he said casually.
Rodney mirrored the grin and made a beeline for Lorne.
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An Issue of Missing Paperwork (37)
Another stack of badly-organized papers fluttered to the floor. "Where the hell is it?" Elizabeth muttered, ripping open another filing cabinet. A thought occurred to her. "John!" she yelled into the earpiece. His voice was closer than she thought and leapt into the air when he spoke from directly behind her.
"Yes, Elizabeth?" he asked with a badly-masked grin on his flyboy face. His hands were behind his back as Elizabeth advanced on him.
"Where is it?" She said dangerously, her eyes flashing between his eyes and how his arms curved behind his back. Without waiting for an answer she lunged for his arms, stopping cold when she ran right into his chest. "Give it back, Sheppard – I need that report. It has to go over to Landry first thing tomorrow with the transmission!"
He held the paper high over her head. "You need to stop working."
"Excuse me?"
He dropped a fleeting kiss to her forehead. "Think about it." He took the paper with him.
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Nothing Like Movie Night (38)
"Spill," Laura demanded, laughing so hard her sides hurt. "You chose truth, so truth it is – who're you crushin' on?"
Elizabeth's face turned beet red. "I don't think...I'll have to pass..."
Heightmeyer held up a hand. "I paused The Notebook for this, Elizabeth, come on! Answer!"
The leader took a deep breath, calming herself. "All right – you all know him."
Laura slumped back. "Clues? You've got to be kidding..."
"He's tall – handsome... Military."
Cadman couldn't help but snort. "Go no further – from that description we all know who he is."
"You...you do?" Elizabeth faltered.
"It's Sheppard," Laura finished. The girls burst out laughing.
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When There's No Chance of Survival (39)
Gunfire rained from the sky. Bright bursts of plasma flew from the Hives. The 'Gate was already activated, preventing their escape. John had a tight arm around Elizabeth, keeping her close to his body as they lay hidden in the underbrush. Rodney was hyperventilating a few feet away, Ronon and Teyla calmly studying their predicament. So much for a diplomatic mission. They couldn't send for help, they couldn't fight their way out, and more Hives arrived by the minute. John kept his hands gripped on her arms as he pulled her away to look into her eyes.
"If we don't make it..." He kissed her.
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Remember Me (40)
John woke in a cold sweat. The day before he'd landed the city on its new home – a home without Elizabeth. The image was still vivid, fresh in his mind, as if she really had been standing in front of him with a sad smile on her lips and tears in her eyes. "Remember me...." The words haunted his head along with the command she'd given him to leave. His vision flickered once, twice, then three times, and suddenly he saw her standing there, across the room by the door.
"Remember me, John. Remember me when you start to give up hope – because you never gave up hope on me. I'll always be here, John. All you have to do is think of me."
He fell back asleep with the image of Elizabeth in his eyes.
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Sorry about the long update... School got in the way. I'll try to have chapter five up by Spring Break.
