CHAPTER 41 – ANNIVERSARY

Courtesy of General O'Neill, they had managed to fill in several more names on their pyramid. He had pulled every stop to look into both the outgoing and incoming communication of Kevin Fallon, including email and all encrypted communication and while most of it was well hidden from even the General's prying eyes, he was able to get his hands on some that managed to fill in some of the blanks.

Those blanks included US military, just as Nicole had surmised. Four names. One of them a General. Fortunately not a personal friend of General O'Neill's, and not one he had dealings with in the past. The other three were ex military, now involved in private industry, with one of them working on producing one of the components used for manufacturing parts on the Prometheus. The lanes on this particular information highway suddenly cleared.

Essentially, the pyramid was starting to take shape and that left General O'Neill with the very real probability that they would be successful in bringing it down. Once and for all.

Ronon had been antsy and had eventually pestered John into taking the team out on a mission. His mandate was still to kick wraith ass, and so far, they hadn't been doing a lot of that lately. While he was happy enough to help out where he could with the earth based conspiracy, he still had a mission of his own and it was time to remind John of that.

Several days after Nicole had returned from the meeting on earth, John organised for his team to visit P2B239, a planet where wraith activity had stepped up over the past two months. They had received word some time ago by the elders of the main settlement that they had endured two cullings in the space of three months and while they had plans in place to avoid the cullings, having built secure places to hide many years ago, they were concerned at the frequency of the wraith visits and had asked the Lantiens for help.

Sam had put this request on the back burner, however now seemed a good time to step up and respond to their request. Ronon needed some action, and Teyla too, needed to take part in a mission that would help rid this galaxy of the wraith. On behalf of the Athosian people, she had chosen to be a part of John's team to enable her people to have a chance to one day be free of wraith domination.

Under no circumstances was Nicole allowed to go on that mission, photographs or not. The morning before they were to leave, they had had an argument. A strengthening in their relationship had been noted by Ronon and Teyla and she had moved into his quarters. They were however, both very stubborn, and did not always see eye to eye on matters concerning Nicole's security. John wanted her wrapped in cotton wool as far as she was concerned, and Nicole was far too much of a risk taker as far as John was concerned. So... stale mate. He had told her the previous morning that he would be going to P2B239 with his team the following day and she had asked... no, demanded... that he take her with them. She had argued that part of her mission, was to photograph the wraith.

"Damn it John! Will you stop treating me like a baby. I have only a few shots of the wraith, and that was while I was lying on the damn ground about to get eaten... or whatever it is they do... by them. I need an opportunity to take some good shots, I need to get up close and personal... so to speak."

"No... No... oh, and did I mention... No!" He stood with his hand on his hips near the bed. Huffing an impatient breath, he glared at her back as she turned around on the balcony, tossing her long hair over her shoulder and in spite of himself, he felt that instant arousal, that need to throw her over his shoulder and toss her down on the bed. And get rid of that needy feeling inside of him, that seemed to take over whenever he looked at her.

She turned back to him, and he could see that she was furious. She had been bad tempered most of the previous day. Snapping for no reason, and distant at other times, and he knew that something was going on inside her, but short of tipping her upside down and shaking it out of her, he had to wait until she was ready to tell him.

"If this was... us... back on earth? You'd have no choice. My job was dangerous at times. It involved going into situations that wasn't always safe... hell, most of the time I was flying by the seat of my pants. But it's what I do. Just the same as this is what you do. How would you feel if I told you not to go on that mission, because I was worried for your safety..?"

"That's not the same, and you know it!"

"Yes it is John... this is your job... but it's also mine."

She had stormed out of the room then, and he had sat down abruptly on the bed and dropped his head into his hands. She was volatile, stubborn, hot tempered and sometimes without conscience. But damn it, he was in love with her. Yeah, he could admit that to himself now. Head over heels in love. With the most impossible woman in the whole damn universe. Half of the time she made him feel like a king, as though he could rule the world. The other half of the time? He wanted to put his hands around her neck and throttle her. Was that love? God help him if it was.

He gave her some time before he went looking for her. Amend that. He gave himself some time. To calm down and make sure he was not bringing anger her way when he eventually found her. She was not in her usual hiding places, and she had a few. But over the last few weeks he had discovered most of them, and when he had not found her after two hours of searching, he began asking around.

The gate technician was the one to give him the bad news.

"She left in a jumper, Sir. An hour ago. Said that she had your 'blessing'."

He said the last bit a little nervously. The look on the Colonel's face was intimidating and he had the sudden feeling that he had done the wrong thing.

"Blessing? Blessing? Why the hell would I give her my blessing?"

"Sir...?"

"Never mind, airman. Where did she go?"

Sam had entered the control room and raised her eyebrows in question.

"John? Problem?"

"Yeah... 5"2 and 100 pounds. Give or take. That sort of problem."

Sam sighed. "What's she done now, John?"

"Taken a damn jumper. Where?" He directed this last question to the airman.

"Sir, she said she had something she had to do. She carried a bunch of flowers..."

John's eyebrows drew together ominously. "Flowers? Why the hell would she be carrying flowers?"

Sam's puzzled expression suddenly cleared as something occurred to her. "Airman, what is the date today?"

The airman looked up at her in surprise. "Ah, it's June 22nd ma'am."

"Sam? What significance is the date?" John was watching her closely.

"It's her anniversary, John. One year since Ben Masters died. I remember the date because I was reading the article last night and I recall thinking that I must say something to Nicole, in case she wanted to do something particular as a memorial."

"Ah crap... that'll explain the mood yesterday, and the blow up this morning... it wasn't just about the mission tomorrow. Crap, Sam. I blew it again. I should have known..."

"She should have told you, John. Don't be too hard on herself. Airman?"

He looked at the two Colonel's, feeling a little lost with the direction of the conversation. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Where do you think she's gone?"

"Uh, ma'am – I think she said something about climbing a mountain... at least that's what it sounded like."

"Sam? She wouldn't go any further than the mainland, would she?"

Sam shook her head. "You know her better than I do – there's a mountain of sorts on the mainland – didn't you point it out to her when you took her over there to look a the caves?"

Suddenly relieved he nodded. It made sense to him now. She gone to climb a mountain, to sit at the top and remember the man who had died in her arms And today of all days, was not one she should be alone.

Nicole had gone to do just that. She had only given a brief thought to John's anger when she had taken the jumper. Her mood was now, and she would deal with anything else later. That was how she worked, and it would do for today as well. She'd landed the jumper in the same place that John had taken her to the caves, and taking the small posy of flowers she had managed to put together, a bottle of water and her camera, she heaved a deep breath and starting at the base of the mountain, had simply put one foot in front of the other and begun the long climb.

The sun had risen high in the sky and she was almost at the top when she saw another jumper come in to land beside the one she had flown. She's known he'd eventually work it out, but she tuned him out for now. This moment was for Ben, and his memory – and as she cleared the top of the mountain, the vista spread out around her took her breath away. Putting the flowers down gently she raised her camera and did what she did best. Took photos until the pain that had begun to pool inside her, seeped away, and the tears began to fall.

"Aahh, Ben. These last photos are for you... my legacy." She paused a moment, bringing her camera down from her face. " Did I tell you I met someone? Hell, I'm sure you already know... he's special Ben... really special. And makes me feel things I didn't think I'd feel again after you left me. I miss you Ben..." Her voice hitched then, but she pushed a smile throught the pain, feeling that he was near, was listening somehow. "Tell me.. what's it like.. where you are? Do you still think about me?"

She picked up the flowers which had begun to wilt in the heat and standing up, she drew back her arm and threw them as far as she could.

Head bowed, she said a small prayer. Not to the man up there, but to whatever fate had brought a new love into her life.

"Goodbye Ben... take care of yourself...I'll never forget you" She felt a slight breeze then, and something whispered past her cheek and she could almost hear a delighted laugh that floated away in the air and she knew that he had gone.

Turning she saw him. John. Standing there watching her... waiting.

She ran towards him and threw herself into his arms, knowing he would catch her without doubt. As he buried his face in her hair she felt his shuddering breath and knew that Ben had given her clarity, as he had always done. He had also given her his blessing.

"You ok, Nic?... I'm sorry sweetheart... I didn't know. Sam told me, I should have known..."

"It's ok, John... really. I'm ok. I said goodbye, and I felt him... here. He came to say goodbye. I think he likes you and I know he wants me to be happy."

She kissed him then, hard and needy and pushed her hands up under his tshirt to feel his sweat drenched skin. He groaned.

"God, I love your touch..."

She peeled the tshirt off his head, and dropped her own head so that she could kiss his chest, and down further until she was unbuckling his pants and he was fisting his hands in her hair.

"I want to make love to you John... here, on top of this mountain. Now."

Laughter rumbled out of John, and he pulled her back up so that he could kiss her again, then his own hands were busy removing her clothes as fast as he could, until she lay still and waiting on the grass at the top of that mountain. As he lowered himself over her, she reached up and touched his face, running her hand down his cheek and her thumb over his lower lip.

"Just so you know... Colonel John Sheppard."

"Know what... Miss Nicole Harmon?" The last came out slightly breathless as he entered her and began the rythym that felt somehow right out here on that mountain top, with the cool breeze drying the sweat on his back.

"I kinda think I'm falling in love with you... just thought I'd put that out there." Her eyes were bright as she looked up at him, and her own breathing had quickened in response.

"Already there, sweetheart. Already there..." And when he came, it was with the blinding realisation that this was the perfect fit. Always.