Even Better

"What's that?"

"What's what?"

"That!"

"Hmmm?"

John aims an exasperated glare in Elizabeth's direction. He steps forwards and touches a finger to the gift sitting upon her desk. It's quite small, perhaps the size of a book.

Elizabeth looks at it as if it's the most normal thing to be sitting amongst her paperwork and then fixes him with a blank stare. "John, I don't know what you mean."

"The present, Elizabeth. Who's it from?"

"Oh, that," she teases lightly. "That's from me."

"From you?" he repeats. "I thought that guy gave it to you."

"Mike?"

John nods and refuses to meet her eyes.

"No, I'm afraid I've scared him off," Elizabeth informs him without a hint of remorse. "He's not my type," she adds pointedly.

"What is your type then?"

"Getting a little personal there, Colonel."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I – "

"Relax. I'm joking."

John rolls his eyes and nods again at the gift upon her desk. "So? What is it then? Who's it for?"

"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps I'll give it to Rodney."

"Elizabeth," he warns.

She smiles back at him, eyes glinting. "Okay, okay. I'm done. It's for you," she says.

"Oh yeah?" He raises an eyebrow.

Elizabeth nods. "Merry Christmas, John." She reaches for the gift and hands it to him. If their hands brush it is only by accident and if they linger a little longer than necessary, it means nothing at all. Really.

John takes the gift and with a cocky grin, tears the paper carefully away to reveal the book that's beneath. He frees it of the paper and looks it over, reads the blurb on the back. He raises his eyes to meet Elizabeth's and his grin fades into a more serious look. "You know me well," he says simply. "Thank you."

He shoves a hand into his pocket then and pulls out a smaller gift wrapped in ocean blue paper. "I got you something too," he murmurs, handing it over.

"Oh yeah?"

He nods and watches as Elizabeth slowly unwraps his gift. She flips open the box inside and the look on her face when she sees the necklace in it is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.

"I love it, John," she tells him as he helps her put it on.

They share a smile.

"You know what would make this Christmas even better?"

"What?"

John doesn't tell her immediately; he takes her hand in his and gently tugs her from her seat and towards the door. "Let's get out of here," he declares and when she doesn't protest, he leads her to their quarters.

fin.