Chapter 62

We're reaching the end of this story. The sequel is coming up and is called "Life, with a little spice." (preview at the end of this chapter)

Thank you all for reading this story. Hope to see you on the next one.

They're back on Atlantis on New Year's Day. New Year's Eve was not a grand affair as they all had their work cut out for them – final preparations, double and triple checking, handing Ridgeway and Wilson the keys... Wilson is disappointed her boss won't be there for their wedding and has even offered to have the wedding earlier but Louise tells her these things need to be done in due time and not rushed.

Before she leaves the house, she makes a final tour and pauses at the door to their room. He sneaks up behind her and wraps his arms around her. "Are you sad?" he asks, kissing her neck.

She shrugs. "A little. I'd especially like to take that room with us."

He chuckles. "I know what you mean but I have an inkling you'll like our new quarters and in no time, we'll have made a lot of new memories there..."

She giggles at the innuendo and his nose tickling her neck. "Can you give me a minute, John? I'd like to do something before I leave."

He relunctantly lets her go and heads for the front door. "I'll wait for you in the car."

She looks around one more time. This house is much more hers than his. He was away most of the time. She has fond memories here but he's right – they'll make new ones. She gets a package from her bag and leaves it on her desk with a note on top for Wilson. She'll find it tomorrow when they move in. She sighs. Wilson had often looked in awe at Louise's cookbook.

How many recipes has she written in there over the years? Testing and retesting them until they're perfect and good to go. She feels it's an appropriate gift to hand her – pass on her experience instead of keeping it to herself. She knows the recipes by heart anyway. In her trunks that will be delivered tomorrow, she's packed a brand new one and her grandmother's. There are so many things she still has to test in that one. Wilson will have to wait to get it. She smiles as she recalls the many hours she's spent writing her own and can't even begin to imagine how much time her granny had put in hers. She feels overtaken by emotion as she gives hers one last look, knowing in there are the photos of all those she's held dear and met and lost over the years. Of course she has copies of all the photos but somehow, she needs it to stay on Earth as a testimony of what has been, if they never return, and it warms her heart to know it's in the hands of a trusted friend.

She heads down the stairs after locking the door, Shep shadowing her, as always. John starts the car as they both get inside. "You're ready for the adventure of your lifetime, buddy?" he asks the dog who barks enthusiastically.

"I think being with you is already the adventure of his lifetime, John," she banters.

He looks hurt as he turns the car into the driveway and heads down the dirt road towards highway 80 and San Francisco. "Are you telling me I'm a handful?" he replies indignantly.

"That's exactly what I'm telling you, Mister!" she sniggers.

"Yeah, well, that would be Sir to you, lady, and you've just earned yourself a week in the brig for being disrespectful to your CO," he counters with a sneer.

She rolls her eyes. "Oh, come on! Not again! How many times have you threatened me of that one? Never did. Never will," she replies cockily.

He glances at her for just a second. "Don't be so sure of it, sweetie. One day, I might surprise you..."

"You surprise me every day, John," she replies and kisses his cheek, ending the argument.

"Nice save, lady!" he says and taking hold of her hand, kisses it then keeps it in his as he steers the car into the highway.

"I can't believe we're finally back!" she gushes, turning slowly to take it all in. They've just arrived on Atlantis. Equipment will soon make its way to the City but right now, they're still down to the skeleton crew who's been minding the place ever since they returned to Earth.

They're planning on spending the day evaluating what still needs to be done. McKay is already in his lab. Zelenka is with the techs in the Control Room. Dr Keller will arrive shortly at the infirmary. All other scientists, medics and military are at the SGC, getting ready to be beamed on board.

"OK," John says, bouncing on his feet, looking like a kid in a candy store. "Let's tour the place, shall we?"

She smirks. "You bet!" She turns to Amelia who's already at one of the consoles, running diagnostics with Zelenka. "Amelia? Can you watch Shep while we do? I need my full attention on my tablet, not on the sneaky little thing here," she says, giggling as she sees Shep's hopeful look and wagging tail. He's sat in front of her and is trying to be a good boy in the hope she'll take him with her. She gives him a look. "Now, kiddo, you stay here with 'Melia. We'll be right back." He looks so sad she almost relents but John pushes her towards the door.

"Don't let him use his puppy looks on you, hon'," he advises her. "He's a sneaky little bastard. He's only doing it to get something from you."

She gives him a look. "Now, look who's talking?"

He looks innocent. "I don't see what you're talking about, Ma'am."

He steers her first towards her kitchen but doesn't stop there and grabbing her hand, makes a beeline for the transporter that takes them to the storage room. "Why do you want to start there?" she asks, nonplussed. "There are just a few grates left. The bulk of our food supplies will arrive tomorrow."

"Because..." he drawls lazily. "I need to test a little theory there," he supplies.

"And what would that be, Colonel?" she wonders as they enter the place that is indeed rather empty and thus looks very uninteresting to her. She can't wait to see it filled to the brink. She closes her eyes for one second, imagining how fun it's gonna be to go from one crate to another and try to organize their life on board again. She sighs and feels his arms sneak around her waist, pulling her flush to him, making her gasp as he pushes her against a crate.

"John!" she protests. "You're not being reasonable. We're on duty here!"

"Sorry," he apologizes but does not let her go, "couldn't help it. It always turns me on when you call me Colonel."

"Promising," she pouts. "How am I supposed to call you then in front of the rest of the crew. Honey?"

He laughs and starts trailing his hand up from her waist to the side of her breasts, making her moan. "God, John, stop doing that! Try to focus. We're in the storage room, for Pete's sake!"

"I know..." he whispers in her ear. "I came here on purpose. As I said, to test a theory." She feels him harden against her and closes her eyes to school herself.

"And what would that be?" she asks patiently.

"Open your eyes, Léger. I want you to tell me something." His voice is collected, trying hard to bely the bulge she still feels against her belly. She does as told and looks into his eyes. They're almost cold, something she's rarely seen when directed at her. He wraps his arm around her even more closely and leans in to whisper in her ear, making her shudder. "I want you to try and remember what you felt the first time I held you like this – in this very room."

Realization hits her. He's talking about when he'd almost turned into a Wraith and had cornered her right here in this very room. "You remember?" she says, amazed. "I thought, I thought..." she stammers.

"You thought I did not because I never talked about it. Truth is, Louise, at the time, I was too embarrassed so I just chose to ignore the problem and pray it would go away. It's been my personal elephant in the room ever since," he tells her, his look so intense she wants to look away.

"Why? It was understandable and I never blamed you for it," she replies, not getting his point.

"Understandable? That, had I been a little further gone, I would have probably had my way with you right here, against a crate like this?" he prods, making her flush.

"John," she protests, "you know you wouldn't have."

"Really? Cuz from what I remember, Léger, it wouldn't have taken much more to tip me over the edge. The memory of course is mainly unpleasant because what comes to mind first is your fear – something I'd never thought I'd inspire you. But then, my most troubling and most enduring memory – one that has plagued me ever since – is your smell and the want building in your stomach, making your temperature rise and my instincts turn wild. Your body beckoned to me that day, Louise, and I always wondered if you were even for a moment aware of it," he rumbles, pushing her against the crate a little more, making her squirm at the memory.

She's at a loss for words. He's saying he was aware he was attracted to her physically at a time when she had not been given years back – at a time when she thought he could only see her as a friend, an older friend. "I... I had never thought of it that way, John. You know I never entertained the notion of seeing you as more than a friend back then," she can only say. What he's telling her boggles her mind. Have they been lying to themselves that long?

"It's not what I'm asking you, Léger. I just want to know if you were turned on that day?" His eyes are boring into hers. She gasps when he blows warm breath up her neck and kisses his way to her mouth. "I want to know if, had we not been interrupted, had I demanded more, you would have enjoyed it?"

"Yes," she finally sighs against his lips. Want shoots through her like a bolt, making her press against him. She wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him closer. "I guess we were never really "just" friends, right?" she says as he lifts her in his arms and grinds against her, cursing their clothes.

"I guess not," he mutters, lowering her to the floor. "All those years, Louise, I've had dreams of you and I, here, making love, and when I did, I chastised myself for being exactly what Rodney accused me of. I'm glad to know I was not so far from the truth after all," he sighs and settles on top of her. "Would you very much mind..." he hesitates, not knowing how she feels about all this.

She smiles at him. "You know I don't. Stop chastising yourself, John. Let's fulfill that fantasy of yours and then I'll tell you about a few of mine..."

He smirks and kisses her tenderly. "You never cease to amaze me, Louise." Then he adds in her ear, starting to undress her slowly. "We're gonna make up for lost time, sweetie."

THE END

(for now)

Life, with a little spice – Chapter 1 preview:

It happens almost three months into their journey – three blissful months of often stepping through the gate together and running the City side by side. All this – being on the City, sharing their life, sharing the same bed at night – she knew it couldn't last. She's told him once – whatever she did in her lifetime, the universe is making her pay for it. The universe, or the Ancients or someone.

She steps hurriedly into the gateroom, asking for help and freezes, her eyes darting from one side of the room to the other in alarm. Four marines have their P90s trained on her. They order her – rather yell than order, actually – to remove her backpack, vest and sidearm slowly and slide them towards them. Her eyes widen with fear and her mind starts spinning out of control.

Stay tuned! ;)