Inhibition5

John had to suppress another smile. "You don't know? You just pulled a gun on them for fun?"

"Well, no. I mean...I don't know why they were being such, such assholes."

"Hey! I was defending you, Doctor Sheppard! After the disgusting things he said to you," Jason objected.

"I only said the truth in a private conversation," Evan retorted.

"Enough! Did I ask either of you?" John snapped. Looked at Moira who was staring at him. He sat next to her. "Moira?"

She sighed. "All right. I should have realized sooner but you are were so damn distracting. I think the subsonic pulse has triggered an autonomic response in our hormonal levels, attacking the hypothalamus and the lower brain functions which we normally curtail or monitor with higher brain activities resulting in more aggressive or passionate behavior that–"

"Whoa. Back up, please," John interrupted. "What made you pull the gun?"

"Oh. That?" she asked, as if it was of no consequence.

John had to force his smile away again. "Yes. That," he clarified. Puzzled by her reaction as well as amused.

"I had to, John. It was the only way to stop them. I couldn't risk a physical intervention. I'm pregnant with your son, you know."

"Yes, I know," he agreed. "So you pulled a gun to–"

"You showed me where you kept it. For emergencies, you said, if I ever needed it."

"Yes, I did," he agreed again. "So you pulled a gun to–"

"I didn't have a choice. Um...there was an argument and it got rather heated. So heated they fought. I had to stop them. So I fired the gun. A warning shot, like you taught me, John. The safety off, a straight stance, arms extended but bent at the elbows to allow the–"

"Yes, Moira, I know how to fire a weapon. So you pulled a gun to make them stop?"

"Yes. And it worked too."

"And you couldn't relinquish your weapon?"

"No. You told me to never do that. Except to you, of course. To keep it if I felt threatened."

"Yes. So you felt threatened?" He glared at the two men. Gaze narrowing dangerously.

"Yes, John," she confirmed. "Me. John junior. I had to–"

"I would never hurt her, sir! I was defending her!" Jason exclaimed.

"Against me? I'd never hurt her either!" Evan argued. "We were having a private conversation when you butted in and–"

"You were upsetting Doctor Sheppard with your insults and your filthy accusations and–"

"Enough! Moira, what was the argument?" John asked.

She looked at him. "I'd rather not discuss that, colonel." She eyed the table.

John waited, but all three were silent. "Somebody tell me. Now!" He slammed his open palm on the table, startling them. Rattling the data screens.

"It was a private conversations, sir. With Moira."

"You insulted her!" Jason retorted. "Practically called her a slut to her face and then–"

"I did no such thing! I–"

"You did, you son of a–"

"Enough!" John slammed his hand on the table again. "A slut?" he quietly asked. Voice low, dangerous. "You–"

"Wait." Moira colored. Touched John's arm, restraining him. He met her gaze. "I told you, John. Too much." As he pondered her words she looked at Evan. "What were you going to say?"

"Before we were interrupted, you mean?"

"Maybe I should quote you verbatim to Colonel Sheppard," Jason threatened.

"Jason, no, please. Evan, what were you going to say?" Moira repeated. She scooted a little closer to John, her hand still on his arm. John noticed, stared hard at Evan. But Evan's gaze was locked with Moira's.

"You...you're not Moira O'Meara anymore," Evan stated.

"Well, obviously, she–" Jason scoffed.

"Jason! Please!" Moira scolded. "Evan?"

Evan glanced at Jason. Scowled. Met Moira's gaze. "You're not Moira O'Meara anymore. You do remember her, don't you? The scientist? The paleozoologist? The member of my team? Going on missions, extrapolating incredible data from the slimmest of findings. Making connections between Wraith species and us that not even Carson considered."

"I...I'm still Moira O'Meara," she answered softly, disturbed by his accusations.

"No. You're not. Think about it, Moira," Evan urged. Sincere.

"Moira Sheppard," John intoned low. Moved to his feet. "Sheppard. As in my wife. Mother of my son on the way. And as for too much," he glanced at her, "that is really none of their fucking business is it? Is it?" he snapped loudly.

"John," Moira warned.

"You should have heard him, sir. The things he said to her, about her, about you, about–" Jason baited.

"He's corrupted you, Moira. You're not yourself anymore. You're not anything now but his frequent fuck buddy–"

"Son of a bitch!" John lunged across the table, so fast, so violently he knocked Evan backwards to the floor. A data screen flew off the table and smashed onto the floor.

"No! John!" Moira cried. "Please, John!"

John ignored her. Swung his fist, moving round the table but caught himself hearing a click of a gun. Of the safety being removed. He turned slowly, expecting Josh or Jason or some marine. He stared incredulously at Moira. He glanced down at his empty holster. Back to his wife as he held the gun trained on him. "Moira?"

"Please, John. You are not thinking clearly. None of us are! Please!" she said nervously.

"Moira? You would shoot me over him?"

"No. I'd shoot you to prevent you from doing something you would regret. Please, John...stand down. Please, John." The gun wavered in her hands but she steadied it.

John swallowed his anger, his fury. Straightened. Moved slowly towards her, away from Evan who was moving to his feet. "Fine. Peterson!" The other man entered, glancing worriedly at the men, at Moira, at him. "Escort these two to the med lab. We need to find out what the hell is going on. You will go to the med lab and let Carson test you."

"John, what the... Moira?" Rodney entered, staring in shock. "Whatever it is, John, it's affecting every member of the teams you took to that planet. Carson's rounding them up as we speak. You'll probably have to be tested as well. And Moira. Moira, let's put the gun down, shall we? I don't think you really want to shoot John, now do you? Oh sure, I can understand the feeling. I've been tempted to shoot him lots of times. Lots. But we'd never really do it, would we?"

Moira blinked. "What?" She stared at Rodney. "No...I...John?" She looked at him.

John breathed a sigh of relief. He took the weapon from her hands, clicked on the safety and replaced it in his holster. "Thanks, Rodney. Lorne, Reynolds, Peterson, go now." He waited as the three men exited, glancing back in confusion. "You could have just asked me to stand down, Moira," he chided. Rattled. "You think this is because of that subsonic pulse wave? That thing hit us like a shock wave."

"Yes. That would explain your nightmare, John, and your, um, your, um...you know." She glanced at the floor.

John smiled. "Okay. Rodney, have Carson come to us when he's done. We'll be in our quarters. Moira, please." He took her arm, gently guided her out of the room. "I can't believe you pulled a gun on me," he muttered, guiding her down the stairs.

"Nor can I. I...I'm sorry, John."

"It's affecting you too, Moira. Although not as much. The Jumper protected you," he reasoned.

"Yes, yes, of course," she agreed. "I heard the noise but didn't feel any wave like you did. Like Evan. Like–"

"That's not the only reason he..." John led her to their rooms. Sighed. He freed her arm, watched her move to stand by the table. He pulled out the extra gun, returned it to his room. Stepped back into theirs to see she hadn't moved. "Moira, I should have seen this coming. I'm sorry. It's been brewing for awhile now. I thought it would just go away. I mean, it's so obvious we are together. In every sense of the word." He sat on the bed.

She stared at him. "What? I don't understand, John. How could you foresee the affect of the pulse wave on us?"

"No, not that. Isn't it obvious?" he tested, watching her.

"Isn't what obvious?" she asked, bewildered. She moved to him, stood looking at him. Honestly perplexed by his words. "John?"

"I should have realized, sweetheart," he remonstrated. "I'm sorry. I've been so wrapped up in our own little world. You. Me. John junior. Our own private happiness. Our perfect little circle, Moira, that nothing touches. That no one touches."

"Huh? Realized what?" she prompted She put her hands on her hips, waiting. "Well?"

"Wrapped up in our own little circle of heaven, Moy," he continued, gaze wandering over her. "You. Me. John junior. In our own exuberant sexual pleasure and intimacy. Fuck, you are beautiful, Moira. Glowing."

"John! Realized what? What?" she demanded, losing patience.

He smiled. "Realized that he has feelings for you."

"Huh? Who has?"

"Hello? Who is jealous of our persistent, passionate lovemaking? Who accused you of not being you?"

It took her a moment. The idea so startling, the concept so outlandish. "Evan? You think Evan has..." She laughed.

He frowned. "It's not funny, Moira."

"John! Please! You can't be serious! Evan?"

"Yes!" Her amusement was irritating him. "I think he loves you and wants to–"

She laughed again. "Don't be ridiculous, John! Of course he doesn't!"

"Excuse me? Apparently he does, Moy, and want to–"

"He does not! Don't be an ass, John!"