Hello, Stargate fans!

Happy Sunday!

Wherever you are, hope you had a rested day and next will be full of good things.

Chapter 18: Original Episode 0.5

Alexandra was finishing her quick shower after a long mission into a pantonous planet and an equally long report to Samantha Carter about a Wraith attack on the village her team had been helping, when she heard the bell door to her quarters chime.

"Come in!" She shouted, placing her towel around her body before leaving the bathroom. "I'll be ready in one minute, Teyla." Her voice softened in surprise when she saw it wasn't the athosian by the door of her quarters. "Geez, Teyla, couldn't you have picked a better face to do a plastic on?"

John Sheppard raised a brow, amused. His hazel eyes went over her in a matter of seconds before landing on her own eyes. Now, he had a completely new set of ideas roaming through his mind. And none had anything to do what he was going to ask her before entering her quarters.

"Sheppard?" Worried, Alexandra frowned when he stayed quiet.

"What?" He coughed slightly, shaking his head from some of the ideas that had replaced the one he had in mind as he passed over her quarters door minutes before.

"Are you going to stand there or are you going to tell me why you came here? Because Teyla is waiting for me and I'm already late." She had picked up a shirt and casual pants before heading back to the bathroom.

John's eyes followed her as he stood rooted to the floor.

"Having a girls night out?" He asked, looking around. Stacks of books, her work tablet, notebooks and pens, little artifacts she might be studying in her spare time littered her room floor and tables. A soft smile appeared on his lips as he remembered their trip back to Atlantis after Jeannie's debacle on Earth.

Even though he had been certain of his decision, the life for a life still pressed on his chest. And even if most nights he slept like a baby, others he found himself roaming Atlantis hallways. And other nights he found himself in her office, watching her work when she put in the hours, and their banter always made him feel at ease. And so, his decision of coming to her quarters tonight was something that had been in his mind the entire day. Especially, since it was a special one. John Sheppard had met Alexandra O'Neill precisely four years ago. And his life had changed completely.

"Something like that." Alexandra said from the bathroom, not sure what to think about his sudden appearance in her quarters. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Naah. I see you're busy."

The scientist came out of the bathroom, brushing her hair. "You finally came to ask me for that beer." The thought came to her mind. And her heart jumped a little. But why?

"Something like that." John shrugged, sliding his hands into the pockets of his pants. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you in civilian clothes."

Alexandra looked down at her blue shirt and black jeans.

"Yeah, I guess not... Wait, yes you did. Back at my house. Years ago."

"That's right. Forgot about that. "John chuckled awkwardly, not really sure why he lied. "But you can't call leggings civilian clothes."

"Well, would you look at that. You know that name." She teased him, playfully, as she went to the door. "And you remembered. That's... disturbing."

"I do pay attention. Most of the time, at least." John shrugged.

"Well, as insightful as this conversation is, I do have to go. So, shuu!" She pushed him out the door with a gentle shove.

"What are you girls gonna do?" He asked as they exited her quarters.

"Movies. Popcorn. Me, Keller, Sam. We are going to show Teyla some girly stuff she hasn't heard about yet." She glanced at him. "Probably score the men at the base. She needs a little distraction after what happened with her people. With Kanaan."

John stopped, looking back at her surprised at those words.

"What?" She asked nonchalantly, not understanding his sudden behaviour.

"Score the men?"

"Of course, Sheppard. What do you think girls do when they're together?" Alexandra shrugged and kept walking with a smirk on her lips.

The pilot narrowed eyes followed her movements as she walked away.

"You've been here for three months. Are you sure you know every man on the base?"

"God, no." She chuckled. Then, she glanced at him. "Wait, you're not worried for your score, are you?" She stopped.

John raised his brow, his hands went back to his pockets.

"Should I be?"

Crossing her arms, Alexandra's eyes went over him. In a way she was surprised at her own behaviour. She was treading dangerous waters with John and their easy and playful banter.

"I'm sure your score will be high. So, no worries, Sheppard." Alexandra patted his arm and turned to walk away.

However, John was quick enough to catch up to her and stood in front of her, making her stop.

"That makes me wonder if you won't be bias."

"Oh, don't worry." Alexandra's heart jumped for a moment. "I'm anything but bias."

"Are you now?" John took a step closer to her, his hands closed into fists, still in his pockets.

"Well, for starters, I find Radek much more attractive."

"Really?" He was surprised.

"I'm a brains kind of girl, Sheppard. Not looks."

"Mm, I get it."

"Besides, if I'm gonna be bias, I would definitely choose Evan… I've known him far longer than you."

John frowned slightly at that information. "So, that's how you are going to score? For how long you know someone?"

The scientist narrowed her eyes. "You're very interested in this game." She raised her brow. "Oh, wait, are you afraid because of your Kirk reputation?"

"Geez!" John rolled his eyes with a chuckle.

"You're a flirt, John. I've seen it in action." She stated with a shrug.

"Did you now?" He raised his brow, his lips turning up in a smirk.

Without saying anything, Alexandra held her hand towards him, exemplifying.

"This? This is nothing." John pointed at himself, knowing what she meant.

"Is that right?" She goaded him, treading dangerous waters once again.

"Yes. Because if I was flirting..." The pilot took a step closer which made her stand still, her expression turning alert as she crossed her arms and made him choose his next words very carefully. "This night would end in a very different way." His hazel eyes were fixed on hers, somehow trying to read her thoughts on the implication of his words.

For a moment, Alexandra's heart stopped. And, in a split of a second, she was afraid of what those words meant. Out of nowhere she felt an electrical shock in her body that tickled her fingers and put her on alert. However, the sudden edginess she felt turned into a laugh.

"That's… I'm sorry, John." She took a deep breath, recovering from the surprise and finding the right words to ease the moment. "If you call that flirting than you're terrible at it." She took a step further from him. For her own safety. "I have to go. But don't worry. I won't damage your score."

Confused, John opened his mouth, not understanding what had just happened. He was completely out of sorts with her. He couldn't understand her. It was like going back and forth. And nothing that he did affected her. If it was any other woman... They had been flirting. He was sure of that. Friends or not, they had been doing it since they met. But, when before rules prevented him from stepping forward to something more, now what was the reason for his own relactancy? However, would he want to ruin their friendship just because he felt attracted to her?

John shook his head. Of course, nothing would happen. She was his friend, she was Gen. O'Neill's niece, she was an Ancient and, most of all, she was his responsibility. And, clearly, she didn't feel the same way.

Or did she?

As Alexandra walked away in direction to Teyla's room, she could still feel the electrical current under her skin. She took a series of deep breaths and reminded herself that John was just being John. A known flirter. With a good heart. A good friend, most of all. And her power was just reacting to the rush of adrenaline of being on the other end of his flirtation. After all, she was a woman.

Ugh! How the tables had turned on her! She didn't know how, but from there on, Alexandra would have to be careful on how she acted and talked with him.

Ps: Comment, please?