Good Morning Part 3

[mcbeckla]

Something in the air…
Elizabeth stood contemplating the sea and the sky on the balcony outside her office. It was another beautiful day on Atlantis. She loved standing out here in the fresh air. The air on Atlantis was special; it always soothed her. Whenever she felt perturbed or upset, somehow standing on this balcony never failed to help dissolve the feelings of tension and anxiety that sometimes tied up her mind and body.

Standing here always helped her to get objective about whatever was plaguing her that day, whether it was an overdue team, blocked sewers or Rodney’s latest gadget. She had come here after the conversation in the infirmary; her face had been hot and flushed but now she felt the breeze take the heat out of the capillaries on her face and with it the tension.

Cooler blood, cooler thoughts. For the first time, she managed to think calmly about what had happened. If everyone else on Atlantis had shared their extremely vivid dreams last night that meant that Sheppard had also dreamt about their passionate… episode.

She watched the sun shimmer and play on the ocean beneath her, hearing the gentle swell of the waves as they struck the city far below. Sometimes when she was here she fancied she could smell a hint of jasmine or lavender on the breeze, and she would smile at her fantasies. Today, all she could smell was the tang of salt and ozone. Leaning over the rail slightly she marveled at the city’s beauty. The gleaming spires, the way the buildings seem to reach up and embrace the sky, the way light seemed not just to shine on it but shine from it.

She sighed.

She wasn’t unduly surprised when she heard the doors open and his soft footsteps behind her, or when he moved to stand next to her, hands on the railing and stared out toward the horizon.

Neither said anything for a few minutes. Elizabeth was content just to let the breeze blowing off the blue ocean, whisper in her ear and just let her body and mind settle to the reality of his presence.

“Elizabeth,” he said finally, “you didn’t dream about nothing last night.”

“No, I didn’t,” she said and looked down at their hands, hers white and small, his large and industrious, all four of them, neat in a row. “Neither did you.”

“Yeah,” she heard him sigh.

She felt, rather than saw him, turn toward her.

“I,” he said, “I don’t know what to say.”

“Me neither.” A small smile jerked at the corners of her mouth. She took a great interest in her hands clutching the rail in front of her, looking as the knuckles stretched the skin white above them.

The silence between them seemed to stretch as far as the purple-tinged horizon.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted suddenly.

“Sorry?” she said, confused. She finally looked at him. Their eyes caught each other’s for a moment, before he looked away, dismay and embarrassment drawn across his features.

“Yes,” he said, looking out at the ocean. The wind was catching his hair, making it more chaotic than usual. “I was the one that started it. The dream must have come from my mind. I’m sorry.”

Elizabeth wasn’t sure that she was entirely happy with her ranking military officer taking the full blame, especially when he looked so miserable. “Well, I think I played my part,” she said quietly.

He looked back at her and grinned. “You did,” he said.

She couldn’t help smiling at him, as something inside her uncoiled and spiked warmth through her body.

“Perhaps we’re overreacting,” she said, she turned so that her back faced the ocean. “It was just a dream.”

“Yes,” he said, looking a great deal more cheerful than he had a minute ago. “It was just in our heads.” He pointed at his head. “Not, not that I make a habit of dreaming about you in those terms at all Elizabeth. I mean, you’re a very attractive woman and all that… and I mean who wouldn’t…”

“It’s okay, Major, I understand.” without thinking she put out her hand and placed it over his on the railing.

It was a mistake, because as she touched his warm skin, a thousand sensations exploded in her mind, Sheppard’s hands moving over her, Sheppard’s breath on her skin. She closed her eyes and swayed slightly. She felt her hand being taken and entwined in his, his thumb moving softly over her palm and she knew he was being assailed by the same memories.

“You were incredible,” he said, so quietly it felt like a whisper in her ear.

She opened her eyes. “So were you.”

He looked back at her with a slightly goofy smile. “I was?” He seemed surprised.

“Yes,” she said simply.

For a moment they just stood and looked at each other. For the first time Elizabeth really looked at him, saw the fine lines belying his youthful demeanour and the first flecks of grey in his black hair. The look of uncertainty in his pupil-dark eyes. She took her free hand and stroked the rough bristle on his face, marveling at the difference in texture of his skin from her own. He closed his eyes and murmured in appreciation as her finger brushed against the corner of his mouth. Standing there, with his eyes closed, he suddenly looked vulnerable and she laughed softly. He opened his eyes and pouted at her.

“What?” he growled softly, and grabbed her hand pulling her towards him.

And she let him, closing her eyes, breathing in Sheppard, feeling his breath on her lips.

And then her eyes snapped wide open as she heard the door opening and excited footsteps clattering across the slate surface of the balcony.

Sheppard was suddenly six feet away from her, staring out to sea with crossed arms.

“Elizabeth.. Major… “ Rodney said, holding up what looked like a bra with a string of dried seaweed attached to it. He was slightly out of breath. “.. those dreams? Only they weren’t dreams, they actually happened!”

Last time on Stargate Atlantis:

There were hangovers all over Atlantis, and Dr Weir had a mysterious rash over her face. Major Sheppard made Dr Beckett spill his Irn Bru, in the meantime, everybody went to bed and everybody suffered experienced some very strange but vivid dreams. Dr Weir dreamt she and Major Sheppard snogged after he sang "Fly Me To the Moon" to her. Drs McKay and Beckett had gone skinny dipping with Teyla (the baggage!) and had to rescue her when she got tangled in seaweed. Peter Grodin lost all his clothes except his socks... Teyla returns to her room to discover that her bra had seaweed tangled in it... leading Dr McKay to reach the conclusion that the dreams were real after all! Meanwhile, on a balcony somewhere, Dr Weir and Major Sheppard have an encounter that leaves them hotter and sweatier than before... before Dr McKay bursts on the scene with Teyla's bra and the proof that is about to shake Atlantis to its very core...

Chapter 8:Turbulence

Teyla arrived on the balcony just after Dr McKay, having pursued him and her undergarment all the way from the infirmary. She couldn’t recall the scientist ever moving that fast before. Perhaps he had been training.

Dr Weir and Major Sheppard were already there. Major Sheppard had been staring out to sea before Dr McKay had arrived. However, after Dr McKay’s announcement, Major Sheppard now looked - Teyla searched for the word in her head. Terrified.

Dr Weir’s face, however, had turned a peculiar shade of green, she looked like she might be ill. Teyla was concerned. However, as she opened her mouth to ask after Dr Weir’s health, Major Sheppard recovered his voice.

“What?” he said. “Rodney, what are you doing with Teyla’s bra?”

Dr McKay waved it in his face, “It’s not … this… it’s the seaweed…” he shook his head and turned to look at Major Sheppard, who was standing with his mouth open looking at the object in Dr McKay’s hands.

“How did you know that was Teyla’s?” Drs McKay and Weir asked in chorus. Teyla was also puzzled, she could not recall Major Sheppard ever laying eyes upon her undergarments, so she joined the other two in regarding Major Sheppard with a piercing stare.

“I er, erm, just when this day could not be more awkward…” Major Sheppard mumbled, his face burning. “It’s got her name tag on it” he said quickly.

Teyla cocked her head to one side. “Name tag?” she questioned.

Major Sheppard looked haunted, “It’s a tag with your…”

“Never mind Major,” Dr Weir said coldly. Teyla noticed the hurt that flashed over her face and sighed inwardly. It seemed that she, Dr McKay and her undergarment had all arrived at a most inopportune moment.

“What was that about the seaweed?” Dr Weir moved away from the balcony.

“The dreams!” blurted Dr McKay “We think the dreams actually happened!”

“Aw crap” Major Sheppard ran his fingers through his hair, making it even wilder than normal. “aw crap, crap, crap” he said again, turning toward the sea and then back toward Dr McKay. He was certainly very agitated.

Dr Weir looked at Major Sheppard with irritation. Teyla could relate to Dr Weir’s plight at times, being a woman and leading men who acted like children was extremely trying.

“And that has what to do with seaweed exactly?” Dr Weir asked. Arms folded.

“Teyla in our dream” Dr McKay seemed to find Major Sheppard’s behaviour very interesting as he was somewhat distracted by it. “Are you allright Major?” he asked.

“Rodney, focus” Dr Weir said.

“Er yes. Sorry Elizabeth. In our shared dream, when we were swimming Teyla got tangled up in seaweed.. we, that is Carson and I, had to help free her. And today she found this attached to her…” Dr McKay looked at Teyla’s undergarment and held it up helpfully in front of Dr Weir.

“Bra” Weir supplied helpfully.

“Yes, thankyou, while she was searching for her … something or other…”

“My nightgown” Teyla helped Dr McKay out this time. Did the man not know what items of clothing were called?

Dr Weir looked at Major Sheppard. He looked at her.

“Your rash” he said.

“My rash.” She stated.

“What about your rash?” Dr McKay said. “Wait, you two did have the same dream didn’t you? I knew it!”

Teyla knew she had to take charge of this situation quickly or judging by the look on Dr Weir’s face, she was going to murder either Major Sheppard or Dr McKay or both of them.

“Dr Weir, may I have a word with you?” Teyla asked.

Half an hour later and Teyla and Major Sheppard were in puddlejumper one skimming across the ocean. Teyla occupied herself watching Atlantis’ sun scintillate across the surface of the water; Major Sheppard had not said a word since they had started their journey to the mainland despite Teyla’s best attempts to get him to speak to her. She was very fond of the Major, she felt that he and she had an affinity despite the fact that they had been born and raised in different galaxies and it pained her to see him so tense.

Major Sheppard sighed once again. Teyla turned to look at him, as he turned to her.

“What?” he said.

She frowned, “You seem quite perturbed Major Sheppard.”

“Yeah well, I’ve got a lot to be perturbed about.” Through the window Teyla could see the mainland growing in size on the horizon.

“Would it be of assistance if you told me what you are perturbed about?” Teyla asked him. Teyla actually had a very good idea about what was bothering Major Sheppard but she believed that if he spoke to her about it. However, she was obviously going to have to help him on his way.

“It’s just” Major Sheppard waved his free hand in the air vaguely, “it’s just Eliza… Dr Weir and I had a disagreement.”

Teyla looked at him and raised an eyebrow. Major Sheppard and Dr Weir often had disagreements Teyla had noticed. Teyla had also noticed that Major Sheppard and Dr Weir liked to stand very close to each other and they often engaged in what Athosians called “ifucage”. Teyla had in fact, surmised that Major Sheppard and Dr Weir were sexually attracted to each other but for some reason unable to act upon their feelings, which to Teyla was very strange. But there were many things she found odd about Earth people, not least of all Dr McKay’s strange dependency on a beverage called coffee.

“What?” Major Sheppard said again irritably.

Teyla was extremely tempted to reply with “Does this have any connection with the sexual attraction you and Dr Weir clearly feel for each other?” or “Why do you not mate with Dr Weir and resolve the situation?” but she felt, wisely, that neither would help the situation. Besides Major Sheppard was in control of the puddle jumper and she had no wish to crash into the ocean.

So she signed inwardly and suppressed her Athosian directness. “Was this disagreement connected to the dreams we all experienced?”

“You mean the experiences we all dreamt?”

Teyla nodded. “Yes, that is one way to look at it.”

Major Sheppard sighed. “Yes it was.”

“Did you and Dr Weir dream the same experience?”

The puddlejumper swerved violently. Teyla gripped her armrests and cursed inwardly as Major Sheppard recovered himself and got the craft under control.

“Sorry” Major Sheppard apologised. He sighed. “Yes we dreamt the same experience.”

And said nothing. Teyla looked through the window and rolled her eyes. She was obviously going to have to be more direct.

“Was that experience responsible for the rash that Dr Weir suffered?”

“Yes” Major Sheppard’s voice had a note of doom about it.

“Major Sheppard, I too remember experiencing such a rash when I was young.” Major Sheppard turned to look at her with a wry smile.

“I bet you did” he said. “Pretty girl like you? I’d be surprised if it were the opposite.”

Teyla smiled, “Athosians have very little inhibitions in the area of physical expressions of emotion…”

“Hey!” Major Sheppard exclaimed, as the tiny ship rocked slight again. “Who said anything about emotions?”

“Major Sheppard” Teyla twisted herself round in her seat so she could see the Major. “It is very apparent that you and Dr Weir are sexually attracted to each other.”

“She is? I mean it is?” Sheppard ran his hand through his hair, making it stick up even more than usual.

“When we all consumed the Athosian ale the other night, all the inhabitants of Atlantis did things that they might not normally do and if you and Dr Weir chose to consummate your attraction ….”

“Whoa! Wait a minute!” Major Sheppard exclaimed. Teyla was glad she did not normally experience flying sickness because this journey had been the most turbulent she’d experienced with the Major.

“Perhaps we should refrain from this conversation until we have arrived” Teyla said, she was a little too aware of the ground racing below for her to feel comfortable.

“Teyla are you sure that the answer to all of this can be found with your people?” Major Sheppard began to manoeuvre the ‘jumper in the way that Teyla recognised as beginning its preparations for landing.

“I believe that both the answer and the cause lie with my people” Teyla said, as the ground rushed up beneath them and the ‘jumper came into land.

And she was right, she viewed the squirming form of Jinto being held firmly by Halling’s large broad hands. Next to her, Major Sheppard also had Jinto’s best friend, Eaglen being held in a similar fashion.

The Athosian gin had been spiked by eccleberry juice. Colourless and odourless eccleberry juice was renowned for its relaxation effects, it had been until recent times, a powerful part of the Athosian spring rituals. It had taken some clever deductive work, on the part of she and Major Sheppard but finally they had identified the culprits - Jinto and Eaglen, both of whom had helped deliver the gin to the city a few days before.

No reason could be discerned for their actions, save for “We thought it would be funny”. The thinking of children sometimes defeated Teyla, especially small boys.

“Are you aware of the seriousness of this act?” Teyla had no need to raise her voice, the steeliness of her tone made Jinto quiver with fear. Eaglen had gone pale. “This could have caused much damage to the Earth people”

“I’m sorry” Jinto muttered terrified, looking at the floor.

Halling shook his head.”Major Sheppard” he boomed, “I cannot apologise enough for Jinto and Eaglen’s actions.”

Major Sheppard nodded, “Thank you” he said. “However, no real harm has come of the incident.”

Teyla disagreed, “This may be so Major, but to contaminate the gin is extremely serious action. Halling, I will leave you to devise an appropriate punishment, but I would suggest that the severity matches the crime.”

Halling nodded “Agreed Teyla. I suggest that Jinto and Eaglen be banned from making any trips to Atlantis in the foreseeable future.”

“No!” the two boys cried. Teyla nodded satisfied, she knew that Jinto and Eaglen loved to visit Atlantis and were often seen tumbling out of puddlejumpers when their fathers were delivering food to the city.

She turned to Major Sheppard, “I think it is time we returned Major” as Sheppard let the red-faced Eaglen go.

“Teyla explain the eccleberry thing to me again?” Major Sheppard asked her as they walked back to the puddlejumper.

“In the spring rituals, after the long, hard winter our ancestors would sometimes augment their liquor with eccleberries.” Teyla explained, stepping over a branch that was lying in their path.

“And that helped “relax” the Athosians?” Major Sheppard grinned as he swerved to avoid a low-lying branch and then stopped to hold it back for her to pass.

“Thank you” Teyla smiled at him. “After a long hard winter, it helped the people lose their inhibitions. A lot of Athosian children were born nine months after the spring rituals.”

“I bet” said Major Sheppard, “but your people did not experience forgetfulness?”

“In most people eccleberry juice and gin do nothing more but relax those who drink it, but in some very rare cases, people have forgotten experiences only to re-dream them.”

“So the mixture makes you do things you wouldn’t normally do?” Major Sheppard asked rounding a corner into the clearing where the puddlejumper sat.

“The mixture only decreases inhibitions Major” Teyla said, “it does not make people act against their own wishes. Or desires” she added pointedly.

Major Sheppard flushed red. Teyla sighed and decided to take the bull by the horns. “You and Dr Weir merely acted on your desires Major, as did I, in that moment I wished to swim with Doctors Beckett and McKay.”

“It’s not like that” the Major snapped. “You don’t understand! Elizabeth and I can’t have a relationship!”

“Why not?” said Teyla, “You are both leaders, and you both find each other attractive.”

“It’s not professional.”

“Professional?” Teyla wondered.

“It’s not honourable. Teyla I think we should report that the berries make people do things they wouldn’t normally do”

Teyla just stopped and looked at the Major in total astonishment, but his face was set and determined and she noticed the sad look in his eyes.

“Elizabeth has a mate back on Earth.” He said finally. “This way Elizabeth and I can return to our normal relationship”

Teyla took his arm, “Major, Earth is very far away and she may never return.”

He shook his head sadly. “If we were on Earth she would be with him, and I.. well I’m not the sort of guy that a woman like Elizabeth would go for. And” he shook off Teyla’s objections and started walking toward the ‘jumper, “if we make it back to Earth where would that leave me? If we say that the berries make people do things they’d would never do, then we can more easily forget what happened. Besides” he grinned weakly at her, “think what would happen if Peter Grodin believed that he’d always wanted to get naked in front of Kavanaugh.”

Teyla didn’t smile. He looked at her and pleaded “Please Teyla?”

Teyla sighed and nodded. Perhaps looking at the wider picture, the Major was right. Presenting the story in this fashion might help some of the Earth people come to terms with their actions. She was thinking particularly of Dr McKay.

“Thank you” he squeezed her arm and walked into the puddlejumper.

Teyla shook her head and smiled. He was afraid and surprisingly for the handsome, confident Major she knew he was unsure about how Dr Weir felt for him. As she followed him into the puddlejumper she decided that this was a battle Major Sheppard was having with himself and one he’d have to win alone.

“One thing before we leave Major” she said. “How did you know that the undergarment was mine?”

Making Major Sheppard blush was a most amusing pastime she decided.

Chapter 9: Epilogue

Elizabeth Weir sighed as she took herself back to her quarters. It wasn’t quite dark enough for the lights to come on so the corridors were suffused with a soft light highlighted by golden streaks from the dying sun. Sheppard and Teyla’s report from the mainland, coupled with Carson’s final analysis of the Athosian brew had solved the mystery of the behaviour seen on Atlantis in the past few days.

She had been relieved to hear that the gin had caused people to behave in ways they would never normally. Perhaps that meant she and Sheppard didn’t have latent feelings for each, or if they did they could easily be pushed aside and they could get on with their jobs.

She needed to get on with her job. Starting a relationship with her ranking military officer was not professional, nor was it wise. Thankfully, the fact that their behaviour -she repressed a shudder- had been down to some spiked alcohol meant that everything could now return to normal.

And that included her relationship with John Sheppard. Especially her relationship with John Sheppard.

She was looking forward to an early night after a long, long lavender scented bath. No dreams, no midnight encounters with Sheppard at the door to her quarters. Just herself, alone with a good book.

The evening seemed to stretch a long way before her and she was suddenly surprised at a twinge of loneliness, but she marshalled her mind to bat away the feeling before really manifested itself.

She was a professional. She was the leader of her people, she couldn’t afford to get involved with anybody, how could she send them into risky situations? How could she retain the respect of her people.

Sharing the bath with Sheppard might be fun though. The thought came unbidden into her mind.

What about Simon? She stopped walking shocked at herself. In all the emotional - and physical - uproar in the past few days, she’d hardly thought about Simon at all. She shook her head and continued her journey along the darkening and empty corridors until turning a corner she collided with John Sheppard.

“Hey” he said taking her by the arms and holding her away from him, “you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said, stepping back so that his hands dropped away from her arms. “You okay?”

“Yeah” he nodded. “Tired though, I’m just going to catch an early night.”

“Me too.” She replied.

“Good” he said.

“Yes” she replied.

“I’ll just be on my way then” he said and started to walk in the opposite direction.

Elizabeth went to start walking toward her quarters when a thought came to her. “Major?”

He turned back, looking at her through the slight gloom of the corridor. “Yes?”

“How did you know that was Teyla’s br… undergarment?”

He grinned at her. “I have a good memory.”

And with that he turned and walked away leaving Elizabeth gaping at his back.

-Fin-