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Happy Sunday! Mine is almost over, but thank you for sticking around.

This chapter is a big one, but we're getting somewhere. Stay tuned for the next ones!

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Chapter 22: Original Episode 0.6

"Lorne, where are you going?" John entered the armory room and saw Evan Lorne gear up.

"Dr. O'Neill requested my help, sir. She wants to go to MS-103. It has Ancients ruins she wants to study."

"Uh. I thought it was her day off." John mentioned, remembering Alexandra's work schedule from that morning. "Is it just you and her?"

"Yes, sir. She says it will only take a couple of hours."

John nodded. A few days had gone by since her last words to him. It had made him feel good about his prospects of getting back into her good graces. After all he had given her time after that small moment. However, they just couldn't continue like that.

"You two are friends, Lorne." It was statement.

"Yes, sir." Evan looked at his commanding officer, not sure of what to think at the sudden words. "We worked a few times back on Earth."

"Was she ever stubborn? I mean... Contested orders or such in a way that could hurt her career as an officer?"

"Why are you asking me this, sir? I'm sure you read her file." Evan frowned, not enjoying that line of questioning.

"Files don't say everything."

Lorne raised a brow. "Well, Alexandra was nothing but always right with everyone, whether they were from Earth or not."

"Relax, Major." John frowned at Evan's protectiveness. "Are you interested in her, Lorne?" He ended up asking, nonchalantly.

"What?" Evan was surprised. "No, sir. We are just friends. Not that she's not beautiful, or intelligent, kind. But I can say that we are just friends. Besides, I don't think Col. Mitchell would like to hear otherwise."

"What do you mean?" That pricked John's curiosity, even though he tried not to show it. "Didn't they broke up?" Did they got back together and he didn't know?

"They did. But he's very protective, sir." Lorne said, seriously.

"Do you know what happened between the two?"

"No, sir. I was here at the time, but from what I've heard it happened around the time the Colonel and Alex were taken by Adria."

"I see." John remembered reading some SG-1 reports about the human Ori. That made him wonder about what had happened. And he could only get answers from one person. "Listen, I know she asked for you, but I need to have a talk with her."

"But, sir..." Evan was about to contest, but the look on John's eyes made him agree. "Of course, sir." Evan felt disappointed though.

"I'll make it up to you, Lorne." John patted his shoulder, leaving the room, all geared up.

Actually, the Lieut. Colonel didn't know what he was thinking, but as John found Alexandra already sat down on one of the jumpers, he knew something would come up to him.

"Hey, doc." The pilot said as he sat down on the chair next to her.

Expecting to see Evan Lorne, the scientist looked up, confused.

"Where's Major Lorne, Col. Sheppard?" She narrowed her eyes, her heart picking up the pace at the sudden change on her day.

"I gave him new assignments. I'm the one accompanying you today."

"What? No. John…" She sighed, standing up, going for the exit.

"Not Col. Sheppard anymore?" He closed the jumper's door on her, which earned him a huff. "Besides, if we don't spend anytime together, how are we gonna talk again? Hang out?"

"Open the door, Colonel."

"Are you commanding me now, Dr. O'Neill?" John raised a cheeky brow, looking at her obviously upset demeanor. "Because I thought you needed to go to… What's the planet?"

"MS-103. But it can wait. Open the door, please."

"Nope." He turned to the controls and started the jumper, talking to the radio.

"John, c'mon…"

"Did I break your date off?"

"Date?" She scrunched up her nose. "What are you talking about?"

"You and Lorne. Always so friendly." He dialed the gate.

"Again with that? You're such a child, Sheppard." Alexandra stomped over to the chair and sat down heavily.

"That's me." He shrugged as they entered the blue pool.

John had to give it to her. She knew how to ignore him as she dove into work, cataloging, writing, taking pictures and samples.

And he had actually tried to distract her.

Which had only granted him angry glances. And in return they had amused him immensely.

Suddenly, as John was about to distract her again, the sound of a Wraith dart went past them.

"Where did that come from? There are no villages or settlements on this planet." Alexandra breathed hard once inside the jumper as he sat down on the pilot chair.

"I'm taking us out of here." John flew into the sky, hoping the gate was clear.

However, the dart was able to spot them as they turned invisible. And the jumper got a hit. It rolled in itself, falling and crashing on the ground.

Alexandra woke first, her hand going for her head. She would have a nice bump in a few hours. As the thought went through her mind, her eyes fell on an unconscious John.

"No… John?" As quickly as she could, she stood and her hands went for his pulse. It was weak but he was alive. "C'mon, Sheppard..." She placed his head back on the head rest. "Don't leave me..." She muttered softly.

"I would never…" John groaned in pain as his hazel eyes met brown and he saw the worry.

Immediately, Alexandra took her hands from him, feeling relieved. To hide what she was suddenly feeling, she turned back to the controls of the jumper.

Short circuits aside, the jumper didn't look too bad, even if it was half upside down.

"I might get a hold on deep space communication." She said, assessing the damages. "We can try and communicate with Atlantis."

"Or we can wait. They know where we are and if we fail to return, Sam will send someone." Watching her take control of the situation, John's eyes followed her movements. He was not gonna lie and say that her hands hadn't felt good on him. And, of course, he was not gonna mention the fact that she was trying to conceal something from him after he had heard her words, filled with concern. It made him feel good, spite the situation.

"Hm… We can't stay here and do nothing." The scientist started by taking off her vest and going through the control panels in the back. "And you can do a security round. Hope we are invisible enough for that Wraith dart not to spot us again."

"Yes, ma'am." John nodded as he opened the door of the jumper to go outside and get some fresh air. The confined space was making him dizzy.

One hour had passed.

Walking between trees and muddy grounds, giving her time to settle after the near death experience, even for his own sanity, John returned and immediately heard her mutter as she pressed buttons in the main console.

"It's getting cold outside." Night was settling in.

"It tends to get below zero on this planet." Alexandra said without looking at him. "I was able to make the cloak permanent. Somehow. Don't ask me how."

"Good." John sat down next to her. He heard the joke in her tone and smiled. "Perhaps the heating next. Please." He closed the door of the jumper to try and keep the inside warm.

She merely nodded without noticing how he was watching her.

John's eyes followed the movement of her lips as she pressed buttons. The movement of her eyes as she read the screens. His head pressed against the back of his chair as he tried to control the pain on his side. It was getting worse and the painkillers were not helping anymore.

Suddenly, his hazel eyes caught her frown and he tried to sit still when Alexandra's eyes found his.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing." He lied.

However, Alexandra narrowed her eyes and stood.

"You're awfully quiet, John." Her hand went to his side without asking and he winced. "You're hurt."

"It's nothing." He felt her fingers dig deep. "Hey… it's just a bruise."

"That is not just a bruise. You have cracked ribs. Why didn't you tell me?" There was a quiver in her tone now.

"I didn't want to worry you."

Alexandra narrowed her eyes and went over to the rear of the jumper, getting the medical kit and pulling blankets out of compartiments.

"Strip your vest, jacket and shirt and lay down."

"You know, if you wanted to see me naked, all you had to do was ask." John stood. But he did what she said as her tone demanded for him to be as serious as she looked.

"This is not funny, John." The scientist sat on the floor, her eyes averting him as he stripped his clothes.

"It is. A little bit." He groaned as he sat next to her on the floor and let her wrap a bandage around his middle. Her hands were quick, soft and warm.

His eyes followed her movements, the way her frown kept getting deeper or smoothed, his nose catching the scent of her shampoo in her hair as it almost touched it everytime she wrapped another round of bandages around his back.

"This is will work for a little while." Alexandra eventually said, their faces too close as she felt his eyes on her.

"Are you using your powers?" He was curious, since the pain subsided a little.

"Just a bit."

"Thank you." He said softly, getting a glance from her.

"Now lay down." The scientist placed a blanket over him and his jacket as pillow. "Try to keep warm. I'll work on the heating and coms."

"You do that, doc…"

But after a while, nothing worked. She wasn't Samantha or Rodney. She only knew as much. If only she had her full powers… Also, it didn't help she was tired and frustrated.

Brown eyes fell on John. He was trembling. And when she went to check on him, her hand felt the coldness of his skin.

"That feels good..." His voice trembled with a quick smile as he sought more of her hand.

"You're freezing. Why didn't you tell me?"

"You… needed to work… on the jumper."

"It didn't do any good." Alexandra stripped her own jacket.

"What are you doing?" John frowned seeing her pull the blankets and tuck herself against his body.

"Keeping you warm. Geez!" Her arm came around his neck so it could touch the base. "This won't work if you don't relax." His body was tense besides freezing.

"If I relax, I won't respond for my actions." He tried to joke.

"Oh, please..." She tucked her head under his chin and closed her eyes, letting her warm energy flow into his body. Slowly, she felt his arms go around her.

John could feel his skin warming up, the trembling slowly stopping, her hand at the nape of his neck, slowly caressing it. He closed his eyes as his arm pulled her closer.

"Your hand his cold." She muttered against the skin of his neck.

The goosebumps in her skin made him want to touch more and see what reactions he could coax from her. That touch made him tense once more. She was helping him. Nothing more.

"What are you doing, Alex?"

"My core is warmer. So, I'm transferring a bit of my energy into your body."

"That's a neat ability." His eyes were fixed on the ceiling of the jumper, trying not to think on the curves of her body against his.

"Mhm…"

"Now think about doing this with Lorne."

"What about it? I would do it. Evan is a pleasant man." She smiled at herself. "He has a girl on Earth, you know?"

"He does?" John was surprised.

There was a brief silence.

"Why are you here, John? I told you I needed time."

"I miss hanging out with you. I apologized, I gave you time… Why are you still angry with me?" When he looked down, she looked up and her nose touched his chin. "Your nose is cold." His voice came out softly.

"Side effect. At least you stopped trembling." Her hand slipped down to his side, stopping at the bandages. "Still hurts?"

"Not as much." He could feel her hand comforting him. "I am sorry, Alex. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Why did you told her what I was?" She asked, after a moment.

"I was just…" He sighed, thinking about that day. "I was talking about Atlantis, its defenses and I started talking about you…"

"Me? Why?"

"You're my friend. I was bragging. And I think she felt jealous…"

"And you used me to make her even more jealous?"

"That doesn't sound great, I know, but…"

"You gotta get the girl, right?"

"Alex…"

"It's alright." It wasn't. She felt hurt. But why? "Besides its her loss if she feels like that."

John was about to say something else, but her words stopped him.

"Why?" He was surprised.

"Because if you have to make her jealous so she would be with you, than she's an idiot. I mean, If she doesn't see you for who you are, an intelligent, brave, kind man, not to forget handsome, than it's her loss."

"Handsome, uh?" John gave her a cheeky smirk.

"Yes." A little smile appeared on her lips. "I do have eyes, you know?"

"It's just odd." He heard her snort.

"Besides eyes, I have ears." She said after a moment. "I hear what the other women say. How do you enchant them is beyond me."

"It's my natural charm." John winked. Then his eyes stayed on her upon seeing her smile again. "You really think that much of me?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Alexandra frowned upon seeing his doubt. "You think little of you? Why?" She was confused.

The pilot didn't know how to answer it.

"I betrayed your trust. I mean you looked ready to pummel me, even today… So, why would you think that of me?"

"John…"

"No. I've failed so many times. To Atlantis, to many people. You're an Ancient, you shouldn't have…" Her fingers stopped him, pressing on his lips. His eyes locked on hers.

"You've saved Atlantis, your people countless times. You've followed your instincts and it made you win, it made you allies and friends. Teyla and Ronon wouldn't be here if nor for you, if they didn't believe in you. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

"Me?" Now, he was the one confused.

"Teaching you made me at ease with my loss, John."

The pilot stared at her, not believing her words, in what he saw in her eyes. Suddenly the urge was overwhelming. Just one pull of his hand, since she was already so close…

[Col. Sheppard. Dr. O'Neill. Do you read?]

At the jumper's coms coming alive, Alexandra disentangled from John.

"O'Neill here. Happy to hear you, Major Lorne."

[Glad we could find you. You've been overdue five hours.]

"Sorry about that. Wraith dart caught us. Col. Sheppard needs medical assistance." She continued, her eyes finding his for a moment before going to the main console. "Sending our coordinates."

[We'll be there in one minute.]

"You should be resting." John's voice came from the bed next to hers.

"And you should be sleeping." She said without looking up from her tablet.

They were both in the infirmary, back on Atlantis.

"Your energy. I feel it right under my skin." He mentioned, softly.

"That can happen. It's helping you heal."

John nodded, watching her. It was making him feel so much more.

"Listen…"

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. But you really shouldn't think like that about yourself." Alexandra finally looked up at him. "Now, get some sleep."

"Yeah, yeah..." John saw her put down the tablet and get comfortable as she closed her eyes. Would that feeling go away, he thought, as he closed his own eyes, listening to her soft breathing.

Ps: Thoughts?