Leavin' home, leavin' home, leavin' home today.

[lt_col_sheppard]

From skin to tac vest: One tattoo: Unauthorized, blue ink, on the Officer's left hip. Mandelbrot set outline. Military-issue dogtags, two, one length of breakaway chain. Underwear: Atlantis-issue, grey, boxer-briefs. The Officer wears neither piercings nor jewellry beyond his tags, and a single set of wedding bands suspended from dogtag

Comments

[dr_c_beckett]

Carson came in just as John came into the living room. He went over and gave him a kiss.

"Try not ta come home with less than ye're leaving, John." He grinned. "Then ye'd have ta be the one to explain ta Rae..."

[lt_col_sheppard]

John leans his smaller body into Carson's and returns the kiss enthusiastically, grinning after he's pulled away.

"yeah, well if I come back with more than I left with, you get to explain it."

He's bulky and hard to hug in his gear, but he squeezes Carson close anyway, his thigh tipped to the side to keep his holster far out of the way.

"I don't like goin' without him....it doesn't feel right. It makes everything feel off."

He pulls back and readjusts his vest, smoothing Carson's shirt afterward with a distracted air.

[dr_c_beckett]

Carson smiles at John, taking his face between his hands and drawing him in for a lingering kiss. "Aye, love, I know. It's trange enough ta see ye walk off without him at yer side. If there was any way ta make it safer, I'd let him go. But I have to admit ta bein' a wee bit selfish and rather see him safe and cranked off."

"Make it quick, and make it home safe, love."

[lt_col_sheppard]

John laughs softly and makes a face, patting himself down one last time before he leaves. "I used to hate the idea of him being there, being in danger. Then I got used to being able to always physically protect him. I'll get used to it, I know I will."

He gives CArson one last chaste kiss on the cheek and checks his chronometer. "time to go. I'll be home soon....maybe in time for us all to eat tonight. Tell Rodney I said bye...."

With his stomach still tight with tension, John leaves his home, his refuge, and heads back into the real world. Rodney's not beside him--but Carson's right---Rodney's safe....and that should provide some comfort. He comms Parrish, Teyla and Ronon on his way through the transporter, and by the time he gets to the gateroom, they're gathered in wait. After collecting his P-90 and ammo, he and his three teammates turn and part the event horizon, each with a weapon held solidly in front of them.

[dr_rodneymckay]

Rodney glances at the clock on his laptop and curses softly. Dammit, John was going to leave in a minute; if he hadn't already. Pushing his chair back, Rodney got up and bolted out of the suite office and down the hall to the living room just as John was about to step out of the door. "Gabriel John Sheppard, don't you dare step out that door without saying goodbye to me!"

Rodney stomped up to his husband, spun him around and, grabbing him with both fists by his tac vest much like Cadman had Carson all those months ago, pulled John into a bone-melting kiss.

Keeping his hold on John's tac vest, Rodney scowled at his husband. I expect you to come back in one piece, Sheppard. You are not allowed to get shot, stunned, bitten, stung, blown up, kidnapped, taken hostage, burned, gassed, nuked, engaged to local princesses, become king--oh yes, I know all about that one--touch Ancient technology without it first having been thoroughly checked out by either myself or Radek--and, oh look, he's not here. Oh well, guess you don't get to touch