Fic: A Day Among Friends for Chiara

[ivy-lea.livejournal.com]

Title: A Day Among Friends

Author: Ivy

Rating: PG

Spoilers: seasons one and two

Summary: John, Elizabeth, and the rest of the Atlantis personnel enjoy a festival with their new trading partners.

Disclaimer: Stargate: Atlantis and its characters are owned by MGM. This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement was intended.

Author’s Notes: Written for Chiara as part of the swficathon. She asked for an off world shippy fic, with John and Elizabeth sharing something to eat or drink. Also, thanks to Ness for the wonderful beta!

 

Elizabeth sat behind the desk in her office gathering up papers and putting them into a file folder. She had just finished with a meeting with the head of the botany lab that kept getting put off because of schedule conflicts. She looked over her notes one last time to make sure she had written everything down and that she wouldn’t have any questions when she came back to the notes later. Just as she was setting the folder aside, there was a knock at her door.

 

“Ma’am. Lt. Johnson just left with the last full jumper of personnel. As soon as you’re ready we can leave.”

 

“Thank you, Major Lorne,” she smiled. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

 

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be prepping the jumper.” He nodded to her and then turned to leave.

 

Most of the Atlantis personnel were already on the planet, Mozel, for the festival. Colonel Sheppard’s team had visited the planet a few weeks ago with positive results. The locals were very interested in opening up trade negotiations. After a few days of friendly negotiations Elizabeth and their leader, Taol, had reached an agreement. In exchange for food, Elizabeth agreed to supply them with medical supplies and help them to upgrade their technology.

 

The planet was located in a remote part of the galaxy that had yet to be reached by the Wraith. Mozel had lush vegetation and statuesque mountains reminding Elizabeth of parts of Colorado. The natives were very friendly. They were somewhat primitive and had little in the way of technology. The majority of the structures were still composed of wood and stones. However, they had recently learned how to make a substance similar to concrete and were experimenting building stronger and studier structures. They were also experimenting with different ways of supplying heat, but because of their lack of technology they were limited in how far they could progress. They had never received visitors through the Stargate, and had in fact thought the gate didn’t work. Once they realized where Sheppard and his team came from, the locals were more than eager to help out and learn more.

 

In honor of the speedy negotiations and their new-formed friendship Taol decided to have a festival. Both Elizabeth and John agreed that it would be a great opportunity for some of the personnel to get off Atlantis and have some fun. Earlier that day John and a few of the other military personnel started ferrying the Atlantis crew over to the planet. Elizabeth was on the last transport over with Major Lorne, and a few of the stragglers.

 

After shutting down her laptop, Elizabeth grabbed her jacket and made her way to the jumper bay. Walking into the jumper, she saw Major Lorne in conversation with the scientists who were accompanying them. He spotted Elizabeth out of the corner of his eye.

 

“Are you ready, ma’am?” he turned to face her.

 

“Whenever you are, Major,” she smiled and took the front seat across from him.

 

~*~

 

When they arrived the festivities were well under way. The jumper ride didn’t take too long, but by the time they landed dusk was beginning to settle on the planet. As Elizabeth, Lorne, and the scientists walked into the village she was surprised at the length Taol had gone to for the festival. Decorations hung from the structures, trees, and tables. Posts were stationed at either end of the village and streamers were draped between them. There were also decorative holders that were being lit to provide light, and a small band was playing. Elizabeth saw some of the Atlantis personnel happily mingling with the natives. Some were dancing while others were talking and eating some of the food that sat on the long wooden tables in the middle of the village. She spotted Teyla talking to a few of the local women and Ronan sat close by finishing off a plate full of food.

 

Elizabeth smiled and nodded to some of the members of her team while some of the locals stopped to welcome her. She was happy to see everyone enjoying themselves. As she cleared the crowd Taol spotted Elizabeth and called her over.

 

“Dr. Weir!” he called and waved her over. “We are so pleased that you finally joined us.” He got up from the table, walked over to her and bowed, the customary greeting for their people.

 

Elizabeth smiled, “Taol, please accept my apologies for being late. There were some matters that I needed to attend to before I could leave.”

 

“Yes, yes,” he waved his hand in dismissal. “All that matters is that you are here now. Come,” he motioned her towards the tables that contained the food. “Gather some food and drink, and join in our festival!”

 

Taol was a short, portly man with a receding hairline. He had a happy disposition, and was always laughing. He reminded Elizabeth of Friar Tuck from the Robin Hood tale, but with nicer clothes and slightly more hair. When she was younger she remembered watching a version of Robin Hood that portrayed Friar Tuck as a happy man, and once she met Taol that was who she was reminded of.

 

One of the women stood from Taol’s table and walked over to Elizabeth. “Dr. Weir, please allow me to show to you the food.” Elizabeth nodded and followed her.

 

Meanwhile, John was sitting in the grass off to the side telling a story to some of the children. He’d not seen Elizabeth enter; however, at the sound of her name John looked up from the group of children. He watched her exchange with Taol and then as she walked with a short, blonde woman, Dahlia, he remembered.

 

They spoke while Elizabeth selected a few pieces of food. She laughed at something Dahlia said causing John to smile. It had been a while since he’d seen or heard her laugh.

 

“John Sheppard, John Sheppard,” one of the little boys tugged on his pants leg. “Finish the story!” John glanced one more time at Elizabeth before turning his attention back to the children, and picking the story back up.

 

“So we were walking down the hallway when Dr. McKay touched this button…”

 

~*~

 

A while later the locals and the Atlantis personnel gathered in a field on the outskirts of the village to watch a fireworks show. The locals called them “fire bursts,” but they were actually a low-end version of fireworks. The band gathered not too far from the group and played while the different color fire bursts went off in the sky. Mazol had three small moons that orbited the planet and they, along with the stars, formed the backdrop for the show. Everyone was laughing and commenting on the show. Elizabeth had moved to the edge of the crowd and observed them. She was happy to see that everyone seemed to be having a good time. Stretching out on the grass, Elizabeth finally allowed herself to relax and enjoy the evening. She was leaning back on her hands, with her feet stretched out in front of her, when John found her.

 

“Hey,” he greeted, sitting down next to her. He carried a plate of desserts and two cups filled with the local wine. He set the items between them, and stretched out to mimic her position.

 

Elizabeth glanced at the food and drink and raised a questioning eyebrow.

 

“I thought I would grab us some desserts before McKay found them.”

 

She smiled before turning back to the fire bursts show. After a few minutes she reached over and took one of the small pastries off the plate. John watched her out of the corner of his eye and smiled, then reached over and grabbed one too. They continued to take turns sampling the pastries until the plate was empty. John took one of the cups of wine, and moved the other closer to Elizabeth.

 

The finale to the fire bursts started with large blasts of multiple colors going off randomly. The band’s tempo picked up and kept pace with the fire bursts, ending with a crescendo. Everyone cheered as the last of the colors fell from the sky and the song ended. The band continued to play on and eventually some of the group started to pair off to dance. Some of the locals pulling the Atlantis personnel along with them onto the makeshift dance floor, a section of grass a little closer to the band.

 

Elizabeth and John chuckled as one of the local women, a rather buxom brunette, pulled a protesting Rodney out onto the dance floor. He had a dessert pastry in one hand, while attempting to use his other hand to free himself of the woman’s grip. Rodney quickly finished off the pastry and was now trying to use the free hand to get loose of the woman. However, she was quicker than he and grabbed his hand, pulling him behind her. Once on the dance floor, she turned to face him, wrapping his arms around her waist and began leading him in a dance.

 

John and Elizabeth watched Rodney stumble through the dance. Every so often he would try to get free of the woman’s grip, but she held firm. John finished off the rest of his wine and stood. Elizabeth watched and looked surprised when he offered her his hand.

 

“What?” she asked, staring at his offered hand.

 

“We’re going to dance,” he stated, leaving no room for her argument.

 

A smile easily slipped into place as he watched her shake her head and ignore his hand.

 

“Yes,” he reached down and grabbed both of her hands.

 

“But, I…”

 

“Don’t tell me that you can’t dance because I know you can. So, just relax and have some fun.”

 

She looked at him for a minute, before she finally gave in and followed him to the dance floor. Taol noticed Elizabeth heading to the dance floor with John and offered his enthusiastic approval.

 

She slid into his embrace just as the current song ended and a more up tempo song started. He quickly placed his hand at her lower back and swung her around in time with the music. He effortlessly maneuvered them around the other couples dancing around them.

 

“So where did you learn to dance so well?” Elizabeth asked as John spun her out and swiftly pulled her back in.

 

“Here and there,” he replied. “It was just something that I picked up along the way in my travels.” Elizabeth smiled keeping pace with his quick steps.

 

“You are doing a good job of keeping up,” he commented. “I guess I must not be challenging you enough.”

 

She shook her head. “No, you are doing a great job. I’m considering this a success since we haven’t managed to kill our toes yet.”

 

John laughed. “I guess squashed toes are a pretty much a given at the diplomatic parties you attended.”

 

“There were some nights that I didn’t think I would be able to walk to my car. But, you just put a smile on your face and hope you don’t grimace too much when your dance partner steps on your toes one too many times.”

 

“Well, I am glad that my skills impress you,” John winked at her.

 

“Yes, your dancing skills are quite impressive,” she laughed.

 

John quickly spun her out, pulled her back in, and then dipped her. Elizabeth looked at him laughing in surprise.

 

“Gotta keep you on your toes,” he smiled, slowly bringing her back up holding her gaze. Elizabeth felt an invisible tug between them. There were times that she felt there was an invisible line connecting the two of them and every so often she felt a tug on it drawing her closer to him.

 

She continued to stare into his eyes, watching his eyes grow darker with something. But before she had the chance to figure out what she saw, Rodney yelped. Elizabeth turned and watched Rodney limping away with the brunette following him apologizing profusely. It appeared that she had stepped on his toes one too many times.

 

John chuckled and pulled Elizabeth back to him. He slowed their steps as the song changed to a slower tempo.

 

Elizabeth laughed as she watched the woman try in vain to help out Rodney.

 

“It’s good to see you laugh again.”

 

Elizabeth turned back to John and smiled. “Even if it’s at Rodney’s expense?”

 

“Especially if it’s at his expense,” John teased.

 

“Hmm,” she smiled, not really offering any reply.

 

“It looked like you were having a good time today,” John commented after a while where they were dancing in a comfortable silence.

 

“I did…am. It was nice to get off Atlantis for a while. It makes me happy to see everyone having a good time. There hasn’t been much to be happy about lately, so I am glad that they can have some fun…for a little while at least.”

 

“Don’t forget that applies to you, too,” John murmured. “You work just as hard as or even harder than anyone else. You deserve to have some down time too.”

 

“I suppose. It’s just hard to think that way sometimes.”

 

“Well, just relax and enjoy yourself now.” John pulled her closer and after a few minutes she hesitantly put her head on his shoulder. He tightened his hold on her to let her know it was okay, and she let out a sigh and relaxed. They danced that way for a while, neither of them saying anything, just enjoying being in each other’s company.

 

Eventually, Elizabeth pulled away and smiled up at him, but before she could say anything Taol came over.

 

“Come, Dr. Weir and Colonel Sheppard, we must light our ceremonial candles to signify our newfound friendship.”

 

She gave John one last look before they turned to follow Taol.

 

~*~

 

After the candles were lit and they bid their farewells, John and Elizabeth slowly walked in silence through the woods back to the puddle jumper. They didn’t want to say anything to disturb their last quiet moment.

 

They stopped short of the jumper hearing Rodney’s high pitched yell. The woman who was dancing with him earlier had apparently followed him to the jumper to give him a good-bye kiss. However, Rodney had other ideas and he was effectively avoiding her.

 

“Should we help him?” Elizabeth asked, trying not to laugh at the situation.

 

“In a minute...” John replied, clearly enjoying Rodney’s predicament.

 

The woman finally had McKay cornered and she gave him a big, wet kiss.

 

“She is obviously quite smitten with Rodney,” Elizabeth commented. Breaking the kiss, Rodney was now trying to free her arms from around his neck.

 

“Obviously,” John laughed. After another minute, Elizabeth nudged John in the shoulder indicating that he should go help his friend out.

 

“Always trying to ruin my fun,” he commented before walking over.

 

“Ready to head out, McKay?” John asked walking past the couple into the jumper.

 

“Yes!” He finally pulled free of the woman’s grasp. “Yes, yes, goodbye,” he walked towards the jumper shooing her hands away.

 

John was sitting in the front of the jumper watching the exchange with a smile on his face.

 

“Were you watching the whole time?” Rodney asked finally joining John in the jumper. When John laughed instead of replying, Rodney had his answer. “Why didn’t you do something?”

 

Elizabeth slowly followed behind Rodney, giving a small wave to the woman who was still staring after Rodney with tears in her eyes.

 

She took her seat next to John. “Did you at least get her name?” she asked Rodney.

 

“What? No, I didn’t get her name and I don’t want it!” he replied to Elizabeth.

“Didn’t you see how much trouble I was in? You could have at least helped out!” Rodney turned back to John.

 

“Why? You seemed to be doing fine on your own.”

 

“Didn’t you see…”

“Sit down and strap in, McKay.” John cut him off before he could start in on another tirade.  

 

“Fine,” Rodney mumbled. Some of the other personnel quickly loaded into the jumper and John closed the back hatch.

 

“Don’t worry, Rodney,” Elizabeth assured him. “You’ll be coming back soon, and you can get her name then.”

 

“What!”

 

“They asked for some help with developing some of their technology, so I’m going to send you.”

 

“You can’t be serious!”

 

Elizabeth turned to look at him with an innocent face.

 

“Elizabeth!”

 

She turned and winked at John before settling into her seat.

 

“Yep, this will definitely be an interesting friendship,” he commented and took off while Rodney attempted to explain to Elizabeth how it would be much better to send Zelenka back in his place.

 

Once he got the jumper in the air and through the Stargate John leaned closer to Elizabeth so he could be heard over Rodney. “Hey, what do you say we make a point to come back here soon?”

 

“Did you enjoy yourself that much?”

 

“Yeah, spending time with the kids was great, but I was thinking more along the lines of dancing.”

 

“Dancing?” Elizabeth asked.

 

“More specifically you, me, and dancing,” he smiled.

 

Elizabeth finally realized what he was hinting at and smiled in return. “I’d like that.”

 

 

~The End~

 

Comments

[chiarahhue.livejournal.com]

Yay! Worth the wait! I loved the image of them sharing dessert and then dancing together. And poor Rodney...I'm sure he won't be back anytime soon. Thanks so much for writing this for me!

[vickysg1.livejournal.com]

This is so sweet!!!

[anr]

Still a lovely story. The dancing scene is very sweet. :)