CHAPTER 17 – EXCURSION TO THE MAINLAND
He made a decision. She needed time out, and so did he. Away from the prying eyes, away from the conspiracy she had managed to get herself caught up in and away from the memories of something heartbreakingly sad, something that had managed to follow her from one galaxy to the next.
"Your pictures, Nic... they give you peace, solace...?" He didn't wait for her to answer, simply guided her down the hallway, back to the conference room so that she could pick up her camera.
"We'll get you some of that peace back... for a little while anyway. You game?"
She couldn't resist the small smile that lit up her face. He made her feel something she hadn't allowed herself to feel for a long time, and the truth be told? She was kind of sick of being alone,of keeping the memory of Ben alive... he would always claim that large part of her that had made her fall in love with him. Head over heels in love a long time ago. But perhaps it was time to move on, let go just a little. And perhaps this man beside her, who had managed to make her feel more in the space of a few days, than she had felt since Ben died – would be the one to bring some of the light back into the darkness.
"I'm game Colonel Sheppard. What did you have in mind... and I'll give you a heads up, ok? If it involves bedroom activities... not ready for that yet. Just saying..."
He laughed, a delighted bark of laughter. That irrespressible personality that could not be tampered down for long, and when it came out in all it's glory, he felt more than just a little overwhelmed.
"I'll take that into consideration... for now. No sweetheart, this is a little trip to the mainland. I found some caves over there, a while ago. Your photographer's eye would do it justice, I imagine. And you need some time out. It's close, it's safe and I might even let you fly."
This brought more than just a spark to those warm chocolate eyes. "You've got yourself a deal, Colonel John Sheppard. And John?"
He paused a moment, hearing something different in her voice and looked quickly down into those melt in your mouth eyes. "Yeah?"
"Thanks... for... you know... listening and stuff."
"Hey... I'm game for anything when it comes to spending some time with you. I think you get that by now, but if it's someone to listen to you and just let you be for now... then hey, I'll take what I can get and try and give you what you need. Ok?"
She nodded, leaning against him and tipping her face up towards his he had to bite down on the extremely painful desire to take her right there and then. Her lovely face smiled and using more than just a small measure of restraint, he dipped his own head and lightly brushed his lips across her forehead, keeping it deliberately casual, feeling her body relax against his. Time... she needs time... and soon? She'll need me. I'll make sure of that...
True to his word he let her fly, once he had cleared the jumper bay and had the craft hovering gently above the great city, looking down at the magestic spires that made up the city of Atlantis. He allowed her to skim the ship gracefully over the ocean, flying low and fast then pulling up to an impossibly tight angle that had even his seasoned stomach clenching in protest. But as he watched her face and saw the magic of what she was doing begin to unfold there, he deliberately kept his censoring to himself. Let her fly the ship the way she wanted. Fortunately the Lantian vessels were perfectly in tune with those they were interfaced with, and if a fiesty commander rode her helm, then she would respond in kind. And would give back as good as she got.
He allowed her to land the craft, heart in his mouth a little and sighed in relief when the ship touched down with a gentle whisper in a clearing somewhere near the centre of the mainland. There were mountains on either side and he had watched the concentration on her face as she had settled that naughty, irreverent edge to a low simmer and brought the ship under her control in a graceful and extremely natural way. Her flying ability was excellent and John was left in no doubt that when she did something, she would always strive to do it well. Competitive in nature and eager to try the new and the untested. He shook his head slightly, a little overwhelmed now at the feelings she was causing to flood through him, wondering if perhaps she was a little too much woman for him to handle.
Flicking a gaze down at her tights and tshirt, he chuckled. At least her shoes were her own. "I'll put in a clothing order for you from earth when we get back... unless something urgent is required, we usually put in an order for items say once a week. Let me know what you need and I'll put it on the list. All very well to live in borrowed clothes, but I think the choice is a little limited... there's not many woman here with your build..."
Her sharp glance had him widening his eyes in alarm. "My build? Hmmm... I could take offence by that comment. You have a problem with my build?"
"Ahhh no... not at all..." He smothered another chuckle as they moved easily towards the nearest group of low rise mountains at whose base he had located a cave system on one of his many exploratory visits to the mainland. "It's just that you're... small, tiny even. And we don't have so many... tiny... women on base." Another chuckle as the statuesque build of Sam Carter came to mind, then flicked his gaze over the tiny frame of the woman who walked beside him. She stood barely five foot two in sneakers and came up to his shoulder, and soaking wet? Hell, she probably didn't even make a hundred pounds. So no, not the typical size of the women who so far inhabited the city of Atlantis. They just seemed... bigger.
"I do believe you are making fun of me, Colonel John Sheppard... and don't try that innocent look on me. I've got your measure... and as to clothes? These are all good. Once you get to know me you'll get that. I'm not into high fashion, I don't bother with makeup and dresses? Yikes! I'd get tangled up in a heartbeat. Give me a comfortable pair of jeans and my trusty sneakers and I'm good to go. You want glitter and glamour in a woman? Cast your eyes in another direction, my friend..."
Another dry chuckle, this time aimed at himself. "Glitter and glamour I've done, Nic. And believe me, once you strip away the layers you're still left with the sharp edges and these don't make good bed mates..."
This time it was her turn to laugh, loudly and with abandon. She stopped, placing her hands on her knees to get her breath and he paused behind her, a little taken back by the lovely sound and the flush of colour that had come to her face. "Ahh John. I do believe you are exactly what I need right now..." Pushing herself upright, she indicated the dark base of the largest mountain they were walking towards. "Is that the opening to the caves... looks a little creepy... and this place? Seems like the rest of the world forgot it."
"Rest of what world? Different galaxy sweetheart, don't forget that. Many worlds... many planets and a whole lot of different. But yeah, there's not a lot of population out here. The Athosians have the one settlement near the coast – remember, you flew over them. There's some wildlife out here, not much in the way of predators so that Athosians are able to hunt as they need. This place is great to come if you need to get away from humanity. Atlantis is great, don't get me wrong. But it is a city full of people. Not green parks to escape to... so this is it. Our little escape. The mainland. When we get days off, some of the guys go fishing, hunting, hiking or just take up residence on the beach for a few hours. Here we can pretend we're back on earth, not light years away from the place where we grew up."
He pulled out a flashlight as they reached the entrance to the caves and feeling her breath against his shoulder, he turned and looked down at her. "No problems in the dark?"
"I'm not gonna run screaming out of here like a girl, Colonel..."
He chuckled. "You are a girl... Nic."
"Yeah, but not that... kind of girl."
"No, sweetheart, that you are not!" He turned and entered the caves, hearing the slight scuffling as she followed behind him and content to allow silence to follow them down the tunnel, he let the darkness wash over them, caressing them with it's own brand of calm.
Suddenly the tunnel widened and opened up to a magestic cavern that had a natural light from a narrow tunnel above that led up to the surface and the light. The light patterns were extraordinary, playing in symphony down through the gloom, creating eddies and swirls that were almost alive in their quality. There were drawings on the walls of the cave, she had seen that immediately. Beautiful, large and detailed drawings. Completed by hands unknown, foreign ancestors to the people who had once inhabited this land.
"Oh John... these are … stunning, really. Thank you..." Her voice was a whisper, and she fumbled with her camera, bumping slightly against him in her haste. He put out a hand to steady her and kept it there while she moved around the cave, her face turned up to attract the rays of light and he held his own breath as they formed a halo of sorts around her head, bathing her in a surreal light that played softly over her beautiful face and made him want to bury his hands in her hair and drag her mouth against his.
She moved around the cave, taking photos and murmuring to herself and letting her go, he was content to simply stand back and watch her work. The engrossed look on her face as she calculated an angle and the look of pure pleasure when she knew that she had got the shot she wanted. He could have watched her all day and it was a noise from the entrance of the tunnel that had his attention taken away from her and back to the here and now.
"Nic?" His voice was barely a whisper and it took her a moment to register it. She looked at him in surprise, as though she had forgotten he was there.
"I heard something, I need to check it out. Stay here, ok?"
Waiting for her nod, he gave her one last long look, then turned and entered the tunnel. It had been the sound of a rock striking rock, but softly as though whoever had done it had been trying for stealth. He crept quietly along the tunnel and heard the murmer of voices, quiet and indistinct and felt a fissure of unease creep along his spine. Athosian's? Out hunting perhaps, and seeing the craft land had decided to investigate? This was not their normal hunting area, but they didn't mean anything. They could have been out here for any reason. They were almost nomadic people, and wandering at will. He keep his movements deliberately quiet. If they were Athosian's then that was all good. But his spidey senses had come into play, and a part of himself thought that perhaps those voices he had heard, were not from the village.
He carefully took out his weapon – he was not taking any chances. There was at least one spy in Atlantis, and yes they had wanted to smoke them out. If whoever was watching Nicole had seen her and John leave for the mainland, then there was a good chance that they had been followed. A part of him had realised this when he had made the suggestion, and while he hadn't wanted to voice it out loud, he had hoped that this would bring someone out into the open. He had kept this information to himself, knowing that Sam would want him to have some sort of backup,but as usual, he had wanted to take matters into his own hand, and force their hand.
He crept down the tunnel and saw the light around the corner. The end. The voices had stopped and additional caution stilled his movements. There was no sound and he flattened himself against the rock and eased around the corner, squinting his eyes slightly against the intrusion of the sunlight. He heard a slight scuffling sound, then a pair of surprised eyes as he ducked around the corner. He did not have time to register anything. A stinging blow to the back of his neck and darkness swirled immediately, drawing him down into it's welcome arms.