Hello, Stargate Lovers!

Happy Sunday!

Hope you are enjoying this story so far... good things are coming, I promise!

Here is another original chapter to develop things along.

Chapter 24: Original Chapter 0.7

"Atlantis to Alex."

Alexandra looked up from her breakfast, or what was supposed to be her dinner.

"What? What is it? Is McKay hurt?"

"Why would you worry about McKay?" John sat down in front of her, frowning, as he got a bite on his apple.

"He got hurt. Multiple times last night. I had to spend the night at the lab because of him."

"Hurt?" John raised his brow. He haven't heard about anything so far and he's been up for an hour now.

"Not hurt hurt." The scientist sighed. "He's just a baby. That whines a lot. I think he just misses Katie."

"I know." The pilot sounded amused. He knew his friend was hurt after the breakup, but Rodney should have known it was coming in some other way.

Alexandra narrowed her eyes at him.

"Keep that smirk, Sheppard, and I'll kick your aaass..." She yawned, which dismissed the desired effect of the menace.

"Was that a threat, doc?" John raised his brow, now even more amused.

"He's your friend. You should be more empathetic towards him." Alexandra stilled another yawn, getting another bite on her cereals.

"You know what you need? A day out of here. I was going to MS-407. Do you want to come with me?" John would be lying if he said he was anxious for her to say yes. One entire day just the two of them?

"I should be in bed right now, Sheppard."

"C'mon." He jokingly pleaded. "It's my day off. And I happen to know it's yours too." There was conceit in his tone. "Besides you were the one to tell me I shouldn't go out alone." He mentioned, remembering her his first encounter with the Travelers.

"That is correct." Alexandra frowned, falling right into his trap. Then, narrowed her eyes once more. "That was a low blow, flyboy."

"Don't call me that." John gave her a look. "So, what do you say?" There was an almost pout on his lips.

"Fine... fine..." Alexandra rolled her eyes, almost smiling. "If I fall down on my butt because I'm too tired, it's your fault, Sheppard." She stood with her tray. "I'll get my things."

"By the way..." He waited for her to turn around towards him. "I would never let you fall down on your butt, doc." John gave her a little smirk.

Alexandra stuck her tongue out and left, making him chuckle.

The jumper left Atlantis thirty minutes later. Col. Carter giving them recommendations and a curious look to her younger friend, that looked perkier even though there were dark shadows under her eyes.

Once they arrived on the planet, the scientist eyes fell on the pilot. She had seen many looks on him, but once they flew over the trees, she could tell that was the place he felt most at ease, besides being behind an aircraft control.

For a moment, Alexandra followed his movements as well as his hazel eyes when every time they changed directions.

"You like coming here, don't you?"

"How do you know?" John gave her a brief glance.

"Your face." She smiled when he gave her a confused look. "I've come to know you pretty well in the last few months, John. And right now, you have this sense of calm I haven't seen yet. Not even on Earth."

"What are you?" The pilot raised a brow. "A guru?" He heard her snort and he smiled. "It's just a place where I can come and relax. And the people are friendly." He landed the jumper and opened the hatch. "You'll see."

"Don't tell me you have a girlfriend here too." Alexandra followed him out, teasing him a little bit.

John gave her a look, she couldn't decipher, before placing his sunglasses on.

"Sheppard!" A voice was suddenly heard, interrupting them.

"Keras!" The colonel smiled. "How are things going around here?"

"Very well. You come in good time. It's the harvest festival." The younger man said as he approached them.

"So, food, drinking and dancing."

"Exactly." Keras smiled, then turned his eyes to the unknown woman.

"Great. And this is Alexandra O'Neill, a new member from Atlantis."

"Glad to meet you, Dr. O'Neill."

"The honor is mine." The scientist took Keras offered hand. "And, please, call me Alexandra."

"Are you a doctor like McKay or Beckett?" Keras looked between the two, curious.

"No. Completely different kind of doctor. I study traditions, cultures. Mostly Ancients related." Alexandra explained as they walked to the village.

"I see. Did you come to study our Ancient device?"

"I would love to have a look, yes." Now she was excited for the unscheduled trip.

"No." John intervened, walking behind them. "You are here to relax, Alex. Have fun."

"Relax?" Keras looked curious at the word.

"Yes. It's a..." John tried to explain.

"To rest after a long day of work." Alexandra finished.

"I see. Well, like I said, we have our festivities for the next few days. You are both welcome to stay."

"Thank you, Keras." The scientist said, thrilled at the prospect of experiencing something different.

"What she said." John nodded.

For better part of the day, Alexandra talked and watched how Keras people, most of them children, worked and played and partied. And she got a quick look at the Ancient device, helped by Keras himself. She was amused by him and his eagerness to show her everything. It reminded her of Jonas Quinn at times.

Nightfall was slowly upon them when John approached the fires ready by the people to all gather around it. His eyes landed on the young group of women that surrounded Alexandra. He noticed she had taken her backpack off and jacket and was talking with them as if she had known them her entire life.

"The women like her."

John looked at Keras that appeared by his side, his eyes also on the group.

"She's a likable person."

"And a good one too for what I can see."

"She is."

"How long have you two been together, Sheppard?" There was no hesitancy on Keras part.

"What?!" John frowned, surprised at the question as he turned to the younger man. "We are friends. We work together."

"I see." Keras nodded. "I wondered because of the way you look at her."

"Well, I do care for her. And respect her." John was feeling uncomfortable now.

Keras nodded, a smile creeping up his lips as he saw the scientist approach them.

"Keras, I must thank you. Your settlement is lovely." Alexandra said as she stopped in front of them.

"Thank you, Alexandra. Our last part of the day is about to begin. Some of us are going to tell stories about the Ancient ones."

"Really? I would love to hear them, if I'm allowed."

"Of course." Keras smiled. "If Sheppard doesn't want to leave just yet."

"We can stay." John nodded, letting a little smile appear on his lips at Alexandra's twinkle in her eyes.

"Great! Keras, may I record it? Perhaps I can match the stories to what we have in our database back in Atlantis."

"Of course."

And so they sat down behind the audience already gathered around by the fire and heard the stories from the past.

"There was an Ancient. Her name was Mélya. She was kind. She fell in love with this planet so much that when the Wraith first came here she protected us…" One of the other young man told.

"She was the one that brought the device." She whispered to John.

His hazel eyes landed on her, sitting beside him. There was a fascination on her he hadn't seen yet. And the shadows of tiredness from early were gone. "Regret coming?"

Brown eyes turned to him, bright as the fire.

"Of course not." She smirked and leaned in closer. "You do know how to impress a girl, Sheppard." She teased him before turning her eyes back to the storyteller.

John watched her for a moment. What had Keras seen that he hadn't? He respected her, he cared for her as a friend, he enjoyed her company. There was attraction for sure. At least on his part. He would be lying if he said there was none. She was beautiful, smart, kind, strong, quirky... But she was an O'Neill. That was the main reason he never... actually... And then Larrin appeared on his mind. What was wrong with him? He shouldn't be thinking about her. Not when Alexandra was sitting next to him and they had just put what happened behind their backs. They were talking again, and throwing jokes at each other... teasing each other... nearing the barrier of flirting...

"John?"

"What?" His thoughts got interrupted and he frowned looking back at Alexandra.

"You're half-asleep. We should go." She said softly.

"Keras said we could stay for the night." He immediately said, remembering his talk with the village leader earlier in the day.

"Are you sure?" She leaned her head to the side, questioning his decision.

"Yeah. Sam said she didn't need us until tomorrow. And I'm half-asleep, like you said. It wouldn't be good for me to fly like this."

"I could fly us home."

"You need some uninterrupted sleep." John was not ready for the day to end. Or, if he was really honest, he was not ready for her to leave his side.

"Hm... I guess you're right. McKay would probably see me and make me spend another night at the lab. I'll get the sleeping bags from the jumper, then."

"I'll go with you." He stood at the same time she did, which turned some heads from the seats in front of them.

"Alright..." She frowned. He was acting strange. "I don't really need a bodyguard, you know?"

"I know." The pilot shrugged.

As they walked back to the Puddle Jumper, Alexandra kept looking at John. There was something odd about him.

"Is everything..." But she couldn't finish the question as they left the tree line and she saw the starry sky. "Wow…"

"Yeah." John smiled, looking up too.

"It's so… bright and… twinkly. We don't get this back on Earth, unless we are deep into the mountains, or forests, with no unnatural lights close by."

"Nope." John was pleased with himself. It was not the first time he had seen the stars pool on harvest night. And when his eyes looked down and saw the way she was smiling looking up, his heart took a slight jump.

"Thank you, John." She continued their walk to the jumper, interrupting his sudden thoughts. "Or maybe not. It's your fault if I don't get any sleep now."

"I'll gladly take the blame." He said, following her, still considering what had just happened.

Alexandra rolled her eyes as she threw a sleeping bag at him with a playful smirk.

Ps: Thoughts?

Struggled with the chapter ending this way, wanting to add something more, but at the same time didn't want to ruin it because I also like the way it ends. Maybe next chapter will have some thoughts about this night. What do you think?