Vegas: Resistance8
"Disguise fair nature with hard-favored rage;"
John downs another shot of whiskey. The fiery liquid burns down his throat to his stomach. He licks his lips, makes a satisfied sound and gestures for the glass to be re-filled. The pretty blonde barmaid does just that, smiling and letting her gaze rove all over him. John ignores the invitation, preferring instead to down more alcohol with quick swallows. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand as he stares at the liquid in the glass.
"That bad?"
John looks over to see Rodney sitting next to him. He has his own glass of whiskey and downs it. He coughs, sighs, and shrugs seeing the glimmer of amusement in his friend's gaze. "Yeah."
"I heard about the capture. The flak over killing one of 'em. Stupid."
"Yeah."
The two men fall silent, drinking, musing. Beckett's is a quiet, dark bar, with quiet music in the background and small conversations pepper the air. Although Carson no longer runs the place his name is still above the door and always will be. He has moved on to better things, just as the rest of the team have. Or so they have all believed. John is not so sure.
"You taking the job?"
John glances at Rodney again. Shrugs. "Don't know." He downs the whiskey, gestures for another with an impatient motion of his long fingers. "I haven't discussed it with Moira yet." He considers, bracing himself for the inevitable argument with her. He always gets off arguing with her and shifts on the stool in sensual anticipation. "But yeah, I think we should go. You?"
"Yes. That is, if I can convince Katie, and preferably after she has the baby." Rodney smiles. Grabs a bowl of pretzels and positions it between the two men. He munches on a handful, resumes talking. "It's an unprecedented opportunity, John! And with the knowledge we have now, along with the additional ZPMs we can power the 'Gate to take us to Atlantis at last! Although it could be a one-way trip. There is a very real possibility that it could be, even with the added mojo of your kids. We may not be able to get back here."
"I know."
Rodney snorts. "Sounds like a tv show, doesn't it? An intrepid group of explorers go through the Stargate to the Pegasus Galaxy to find the lost city of Atlantis. It would make a hell of a tv show, wouldn't it?"
"Yeah, it would. Until the guys in charge fucked it up somehow like they always do."
"Yeah." Rodney downs his whiskey. "You think you can convince Moira to go?"
John grabs a handful of pretzels, munches on them. "Yes. Despite everything I think we should go. For the children. My sons…both of them have the double, you know, and they can only reach their full potential out there, I believe, with that Ancient tech. And Moira will want to go. Ever since she heard about that planet full of living prehistoric animals she's been dreaming of it, I know. Even after all these years." He smiles fondly. "I'm surprised she hasn't pushed us through the 'Gate by now." The men chuckle.
"It will be a big change for all of us. Despite everything we know from your, um, alternate self. We've practically got a blueprint as to how to proceed and what not to do. It's almost like this was scripted out for us, you know?"
"Yeah, like a tv show, got it. I wouldn't even consider it if I didn't think it was safe enough for my kids, or my wife, you know. If I didn't think the rewards outweigh the risk."
"Yes. Same here. We have to go, John!" Rodney enthuses, excited despite his worry. "It will be a fantastic advance for all of us, and what we learn there we can apply here to save our own planet! The Ancients must have databases full of knowledge that could be beneficial to the survival of our planet! The science alone is worth the—"
"Okay, got it, Rodney, I'm sold." John shakes his head. "I'll just have to sweet talk Moira."
"You will. I have no doubt, and she will see the scientific importance if nothing else! And we won't be going alone! I think that Carson will go with us. And Evan. And Elizabeth is doing everything she can to be included as a proviso leader. I think she would excel at any diplomatic relations with the other humans there."
"Weir and her big gun," John agrees.
"Yes." Rodney raises his glass. "Let's have a toast to that. No, let's have a toast to exploring the universe and saving the planet and staking our own claim in a new city."
John raises his glass. "Let's toast to the claiming of Atlantis. Our city."
The glasses clink together.
"Besides," John adds wryly, "we'll always have Vegas."
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Moira stands on the porch out back, staring up at the night sky. The stars are brilliant points of light, familiar and comforting in the darkness. They are brighter now since the lights of the city are dimmed. There are not as many people so there are not as many lights as there once were.
It is a quiet night. A soft breeze blows but soon the temperatures will dip dramatically. There is a hint of rain on the air. It can be tasted, it can be felt but more than likely the moisture will dissipate before it reaches the parched ground. Bugs buzz and chirp in the bushes. The days are shorter now, the nights longer, and will become even longer as autumn approaches.
Moira hugs herself, smiles. She can hear the excited voices of her sons and daughter in their room, as John gets them ready for bed and tells one last story before he insists that they go to sleep. It is their nightly ritual, a time for John and the children to be together and to form insoluble bonds while they can, while he is here and not gone on some dangerous mission or trapped in the mire of politics in the new government.
She quietly leaves them to their time, cherishing their joy, their love, and enjoying the brief respite of solitude at last. Although she anticipates the time she will spend later alone with her husband. Even after all these years she still finds herself amazed that this impossibly gorgeous and aggravating man loves her and wants her and has built a life with her. Sometimes it feels like a dream, or a story in some book.
Already she is forming arguments against his abrupt decision to leave not only the city and the planet but the galaxy. To start a new life and a new journey so far away that they may never get back to Earth at all. It will be a life full of challenges and dangers and excitement.
He has decided the whole family is moving to Atlantis and that is that.
Moira smiles, recalling his terse statement, the challenge in his green eyes as he informed her. She knows he is looking forward to any and all arguments with her. She knows he is practically salivating over the hot, hot sex that will follow their voracious and impassioned arguing. She will give him plenty of reasons not to go, but she knows in the end she will acquiesce because she agrees with him.
He doesn't have to know that just yet.
It is a big change. A bold adventure, scary and curious and daunting since they will be taking three little children with them, but it feels like the right decision for all of them. She doesn't know why, only that it is the right decision. As if now that the planet is saved there is really nothing more for them to do here. And as long as the whole team is going along with their own families it seems inevitable, this push towards a new beginning, a new world, a new city.
Atlantis.
Moira stares at the stars and her mind wanders to that other John Sheppard she had briefly met years ago. Another John Sheppard from another reality. She wonders about his life in his Atlantis. What he does, how he feels. She wonders about the fate of her alternate self. She wonders about the Wraith there, and the city, and what challenges that reality faces compared to what her own reality will face when they reach their Atlantis.
Most of all she wonders about that other John Sheppard.
She tries to imagine what his life is like, compared to her John Sheppard's. She recalls his guilt, his sorrow and feels bad for him. She can't help but feel for the man who is so like her husband, yet isn't. She hopes he has found someone, or at least has made peace with himself. His pain still haunts her, at times, that last look before John ushered her away from his alternate self. Even after all of this time she wishes she could have found way to help him.
"Moy? Moy! Get that pert little ass in here now, baby! I've got a warrant I am itching to serve. Repeatedly. Moira!"
Moira smiles at her husband's irate, teasing tone. She turns to enter the house. Turns back to eye the stars once more. Thousands of points of light in the dark, dark sky.
She tries to imagine that other John Sheppard.
In Atlantis.
Alone.