Fic: Relaxing
Sep. 29th, 2005 08:47 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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swficathonTitle: Relaxing
Author: tv_elf
Disclaimer: Naked toes
Category: gen
Rating: two thumbs up
Spoilers: none
Summary:Elizabeth really needs to relax more often.
Author's Note: For AthenaKTT who wanted a birthday gift, some other things, and bare feet. (Hey, I just follow directions! You say no shoes or socks, you get that.)
John Sheppard's feet padded softly across the catwalk to Elizabeth Weir's office. He had become so accustomed to wearing boots that he hadn't noticed how smooth, yet pliable the floors were. Maybe pliable wasn't the right word. He just knew the Ancients thought of everything when it came to comfort. He wiggled his bare toes against the floor once more before continuing on his mission.
She was behind her desk; fluffy brown hair fluffier than normal as she fought through finishing up the annual budget evaluations. Elizabeth had to admit, there was one plus to not having regular contact with Earth; no budgets. (Plus, the joy of no taxes to deal with.) Who was the wise guy who included an accountant with their latest delivery of personnel? She saw John on the catwalk outside. He seemed to be having a private moment with the flooring. There just wasn't enough time in her day to deal with everyone's eccentricities so she put his floor fetish right next to Carson's love of The Flight of the Bumblebee as things she really shouldn't bring up or think about.
John finally made it to her door. He was almost disappointed that the door's entrance didn't have the same tactile sensations.
"Yes, John?"
"Weren't you at least going to wait until I knocked?" John said with a touch of a 5-year-old's sulk.
Elizabeth blinked at him. "The door and the walls are glass. Glass that I can see through."
"Well, yeah..." John admitted. "But then where would my manners be?"
A soft chuckle answered his joke. "What can I do for you colonel?"
"Ask not what you can do for me, but what I can do for you."
She really didn't have time for this. The Daedalus was scheduled to return to Earth tomorrow and the budget paperwork had to be on it. Part of her wondered if anyone actually read some of these entries, part wondered if they could tell she couldn't even balance her own checkbook some months, and a tiny part wondered when she had stopped calling Earth home. "Uh, John? I'm a bit busy. Is there anyone bleeding or in other mortal peril?"
"Yes," John responded guardedly.
"Really?"
"Well, ok, no. But, I really need you to come with me, and I thought the excuse 'just because' wouldn't fly." He paused and breathed deeply. This had all seemed much easier when he was planning it. Though, he knew no plan survived contact with the enemy; his drill instructor beat that into his head pretty well. "Just trust me, alright? You need to come with me." John said as he padded around her desk and swiveled her chair away from her paperwork.
John could see her fighting with herself in her eyes and the twitch of her brow. She was almost his. And Ronon said it couldn't be done. "Besides, I know someone who is willing to help you with this... stuff." He waved at her desk. Shit. He saw walls come up behind those eyes. He had said something wrong.
"Ohhh, no. I am not letting Rodney near the budget! You know as well as I do that he'd transfer all the money to his department."
That knowing smirk crossed John's face. That knowing smirk that both infuriated and attracted Elizabeth. "What makes you think I would let Rodney anywhere near the budget? By the way, we could use some more funding to buy some new training gear..." He shook his head. "That is neither here nor there." He held out his hand to her. "Just trust me."
***
Her day was just getting stranger and stranger. John had led her to one of the puddle jumper and seated her in the back so she couldn't see anything. The only other item in the back was a duffle bag. A duffle bag that looked remarkably like her own. She reached across to check the ID tag. It was hers!
Elizabeth pulled the bag over and started to go through it. A low growl emanated from her throat followed quickly by a high-pitched meep. She grabbed the item that caused her the most distress and stalked over to the door separating her from a soon-to-be-dead colonel. Her fist pounded on the door. "Open up now mister!" The blue bikini bottom hung in her hand, swinging back and forth.
A tinny voice came over the speaker system. "Welcome to flight 007. Our current altitude is... Slightly above sea level. Our flying time is 30 minutes, so sit back, relax, and enjoy our in-flight entertainment." Elizabeth threw her hands in the air and slumped back down on the bench next to her bag, the bikini bottom falling to the floor.
John's idea of in-flight entertainment seemed to consist entirely of beach music. While she wasn't averse to the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean, she couldn't help thinking about the paperwork waiting for her on her desk. Calling to her. Mating with itself to create even more work while she slacked off.
Mating with itself? She really did need to get out more.
A little turbulence bounced the jumper. Her bag thumped to the floor and landed on her bare foot. "Ow!"
"Sorry for the bounces, we'll clear this turbulence in a moment. Please remain seated and buckle your seatbelts." John's voice broke into the music.
"Just tell me why we let her steal our footwear?" Elizabeth said to the walls and whatever higher deity happened to be listening. She rubbed her toes gently.
"Because you're a big softie?" The voice on the speaker said.
Not exactly the higher deity Elizabeth was thinking of. She reached into the bag to see what the really hard, heavy item was that had landed on her toes. Fishing around, she pulled out a bright blue hardcover book. Elizabeth's legs bounced up and down excitedly. Ten Big Ones. Janet Evanovich's next Stephanie Plum novel. Well, counting back to the last time she had had a chance to read for fun, the mystery writer could be on book 20 for all she knew. Elizabeth swung her legs up on the bench and opened the book.
The next thing Elizabeth knew, John was tapping her on her shoulder. "You who, we're here."
"Huh?"
He handed her the bikini bottom and repeated himself. "We're here."
The flash of bikini pulled her out of the book. "Where did you get that and why is it in my bag?" Elizabeth demanded to know. "And why is my bag even here? And where are we?"
John made calming motions with his hands. "All will become clear. Just follow me." With that, he picked up her bag and headed to the jumper's door.
"But... Uh..." Elizabeth could see he was ignoring her. "I swear, when we get back, you're on kitchen detail."
All of her focus was on the back of John's head as she followed him. If wishes came true, he'd have lice now. Crap. She realized even her imagination needed to get out a bit more if lice was as creative as she could get. It took her a moment to register the sand between her toes.
"Where?" Elizabeth looked around. They were on a white sand beach on Atlantis' mainland. Hung between two trees just off the beach was a huge banner proclaiming "Happy Birthday!" with scrawled handwriting all over it.
"They all signed it. Even the crew of the Daedalus." John said as he took off his sunglasses and squinted into the sun. She watched his nose wrinkle a little with that squint. It was the cutest little wrinkle, but she would never tell him that.
To cover the fact that she had been staring at his nose, she spun around to look at her surroundings. There was a beach chair sitting under an umbrella in the sand. Back under the sign was a tent like you'd expect to see at a fancy beach, white with red stripes. She took a second glance at the tent, and began to step closer to it. "It's not exactly regulation green anymore, but it's what we had."
"You bleached it and recolored it for me?" Her voice broke a little.
"Well, lieutenant Thrace did, actually." He put a hand on the small of her back and led her to the tent. "Now, get in, get changed, and get with relaxing. This is your birthday. Enjoy it." He opened the flap. "Oh," he continued as he pushed her in the enclosure, "ring the bell when you want refreshments or anything else."
"The bell?"
John picked up a small bell sitting on a small, folding table outside the tent. It chimed brightly and a well-muscled man in a sarong came out from behind the tent. "What would you like?" he asked.
"Sergeant Wash?" Elizabeth sputtered.
"Hi ma'am. Happy birthday!" The sergeant smiled.
"He's yours for the day," John said. "Just be gentle because he needs to be up to killing some Wraith tomorrow." He put her bag down just inside the tent. "If you don't like the book, the bag also has your knitting needles, your iPod, and a comfy pillow. Now get changed, place an order with your very own servant, and enjoy your birthday. I'll be back tonight to pick you up."
"But..." Elizabeth was completely flustered.
"Bye."
"What would you like to drink ma'am?"
"Margarita?" Elizabeth asked, as if he could tell her if that was the right choice.
"Very well ma'am. It will be waiting for you by the chair."
Now this was the way to celebrate a birthday Elizabeth decided.
***
The day had been glorious. Elizabeth felt relaxed and refreshed. She fairly bounded into her office, fresh with the energy to tackle her work.
Her work, that was piled up neatly on her desk.
"I told you it would be done," John smiled.
"Who? How?"
"Let's just say, if the IRS has any questions, they'll have to answer to a snippy Asgard."
Elizabeth grinned mischievously. She hugged John tightly and whispered her thanks into his ear. This was the best birthday ever.
Author: tv_elf
Disclaimer: Naked toes
Category: gen
Rating: two thumbs up
Spoilers: none
Summary:Elizabeth really needs to relax more often.
Author's Note: For AthenaKTT who wanted a birthday gift, some other things, and bare feet. (Hey, I just follow directions! You say no shoes or socks, you get that.)
John Sheppard's feet padded softly across the catwalk to Elizabeth Weir's office. He had become so accustomed to wearing boots that he hadn't noticed how smooth, yet pliable the floors were. Maybe pliable wasn't the right word. He just knew the Ancients thought of everything when it came to comfort. He wiggled his bare toes against the floor once more before continuing on his mission.
She was behind her desk; fluffy brown hair fluffier than normal as she fought through finishing up the annual budget evaluations. Elizabeth had to admit, there was one plus to not having regular contact with Earth; no budgets. (Plus, the joy of no taxes to deal with.) Who was the wise guy who included an accountant with their latest delivery of personnel? She saw John on the catwalk outside. He seemed to be having a private moment with the flooring. There just wasn't enough time in her day to deal with everyone's eccentricities so she put his floor fetish right next to Carson's love of The Flight of the Bumblebee as things she really shouldn't bring up or think about.
John finally made it to her door. He was almost disappointed that the door's entrance didn't have the same tactile sensations.
"Yes, John?"
"Weren't you at least going to wait until I knocked?" John said with a touch of a 5-year-old's sulk.
Elizabeth blinked at him. "The door and the walls are glass. Glass that I can see through."
"Well, yeah..." John admitted. "But then where would my manners be?"
A soft chuckle answered his joke. "What can I do for you colonel?"
"Ask not what you can do for me, but what I can do for you."
She really didn't have time for this. The Daedalus was scheduled to return to Earth tomorrow and the budget paperwork had to be on it. Part of her wondered if anyone actually read some of these entries, part wondered if they could tell she couldn't even balance her own checkbook some months, and a tiny part wondered when she had stopped calling Earth home. "Uh, John? I'm a bit busy. Is there anyone bleeding or in other mortal peril?"
"Yes," John responded guardedly.
"Really?"
"Well, ok, no. But, I really need you to come with me, and I thought the excuse 'just because' wouldn't fly." He paused and breathed deeply. This had all seemed much easier when he was planning it. Though, he knew no plan survived contact with the enemy; his drill instructor beat that into his head pretty well. "Just trust me, alright? You need to come with me." John said as he padded around her desk and swiveled her chair away from her paperwork.
John could see her fighting with herself in her eyes and the twitch of her brow. She was almost his. And Ronon said it couldn't be done. "Besides, I know someone who is willing to help you with this... stuff." He waved at her desk. Shit. He saw walls come up behind those eyes. He had said something wrong.
"Ohhh, no. I am not letting Rodney near the budget! You know as well as I do that he'd transfer all the money to his department."
That knowing smirk crossed John's face. That knowing smirk that both infuriated and attracted Elizabeth. "What makes you think I would let Rodney anywhere near the budget? By the way, we could use some more funding to buy some new training gear..." He shook his head. "That is neither here nor there." He held out his hand to her. "Just trust me."
***
Her day was just getting stranger and stranger. John had led her to one of the puddle jumper and seated her in the back so she couldn't see anything. The only other item in the back was a duffle bag. A duffle bag that looked remarkably like her own. She reached across to check the ID tag. It was hers!
Elizabeth pulled the bag over and started to go through it. A low growl emanated from her throat followed quickly by a high-pitched meep. She grabbed the item that caused her the most distress and stalked over to the door separating her from a soon-to-be-dead colonel. Her fist pounded on the door. "Open up now mister!" The blue bikini bottom hung in her hand, swinging back and forth.
A tinny voice came over the speaker system. "Welcome to flight 007. Our current altitude is... Slightly above sea level. Our flying time is 30 minutes, so sit back, relax, and enjoy our in-flight entertainment." Elizabeth threw her hands in the air and slumped back down on the bench next to her bag, the bikini bottom falling to the floor.
John's idea of in-flight entertainment seemed to consist entirely of beach music. While she wasn't averse to the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean, she couldn't help thinking about the paperwork waiting for her on her desk. Calling to her. Mating with itself to create even more work while she slacked off.
Mating with itself? She really did need to get out more.
A little turbulence bounced the jumper. Her bag thumped to the floor and landed on her bare foot. "Ow!"
"Sorry for the bounces, we'll clear this turbulence in a moment. Please remain seated and buckle your seatbelts." John's voice broke into the music.
"Just tell me why we let her steal our footwear?" Elizabeth said to the walls and whatever higher deity happened to be listening. She rubbed her toes gently.
"Because you're a big softie?" The voice on the speaker said.
Not exactly the higher deity Elizabeth was thinking of. She reached into the bag to see what the really hard, heavy item was that had landed on her toes. Fishing around, she pulled out a bright blue hardcover book. Elizabeth's legs bounced up and down excitedly. Ten Big Ones. Janet Evanovich's next Stephanie Plum novel. Well, counting back to the last time she had had a chance to read for fun, the mystery writer could be on book 20 for all she knew. Elizabeth swung her legs up on the bench and opened the book.
The next thing Elizabeth knew, John was tapping her on her shoulder. "You who, we're here."
"Huh?"
He handed her the bikini bottom and repeated himself. "We're here."
The flash of bikini pulled her out of the book. "Where did you get that and why is it in my bag?" Elizabeth demanded to know. "And why is my bag even here? And where are we?"
John made calming motions with his hands. "All will become clear. Just follow me." With that, he picked up her bag and headed to the jumper's door.
"But... Uh..." Elizabeth could see he was ignoring her. "I swear, when we get back, you're on kitchen detail."
All of her focus was on the back of John's head as she followed him. If wishes came true, he'd have lice now. Crap. She realized even her imagination needed to get out a bit more if lice was as creative as she could get. It took her a moment to register the sand between her toes.
"Where?" Elizabeth looked around. They were on a white sand beach on Atlantis' mainland. Hung between two trees just off the beach was a huge banner proclaiming "Happy Birthday!" with scrawled handwriting all over it.
"They all signed it. Even the crew of the Daedalus." John said as he took off his sunglasses and squinted into the sun. She watched his nose wrinkle a little with that squint. It was the cutest little wrinkle, but she would never tell him that.
To cover the fact that she had been staring at his nose, she spun around to look at her surroundings. There was a beach chair sitting under an umbrella in the sand. Back under the sign was a tent like you'd expect to see at a fancy beach, white with red stripes. She took a second glance at the tent, and began to step closer to it. "It's not exactly regulation green anymore, but it's what we had."
"You bleached it and recolored it for me?" Her voice broke a little.
"Well, lieutenant Thrace did, actually." He put a hand on the small of her back and led her to the tent. "Now, get in, get changed, and get with relaxing. This is your birthday. Enjoy it." He opened the flap. "Oh," he continued as he pushed her in the enclosure, "ring the bell when you want refreshments or anything else."
"The bell?"
John picked up a small bell sitting on a small, folding table outside the tent. It chimed brightly and a well-muscled man in a sarong came out from behind the tent. "What would you like?" he asked.
"Sergeant Wash?" Elizabeth sputtered.
"Hi ma'am. Happy birthday!" The sergeant smiled.
"He's yours for the day," John said. "Just be gentle because he needs to be up to killing some Wraith tomorrow." He put her bag down just inside the tent. "If you don't like the book, the bag also has your knitting needles, your iPod, and a comfy pillow. Now get changed, place an order with your very own servant, and enjoy your birthday. I'll be back tonight to pick you up."
"But..." Elizabeth was completely flustered.
"Bye."
"What would you like to drink ma'am?"
"Margarita?" Elizabeth asked, as if he could tell her if that was the right choice.
"Very well ma'am. It will be waiting for you by the chair."
Now this was the way to celebrate a birthday Elizabeth decided.
***
The day had been glorious. Elizabeth felt relaxed and refreshed. She fairly bounded into her office, fresh with the energy to tackle her work.
Her work, that was piled up neatly on her desk.
"I told you it would be done," John smiled.
"Who? How?"
"Let's just say, if the IRS has any questions, they'll have to answer to a snippy Asgard."
Elizabeth grinned mischievously. She hugged John tightly and whispered her thanks into his ear. This was the best birthday ever.
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no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 04:16 pm (UTC)The bleached tent was a nice addition, but Sergeant Wash got me the most, even though of course I'd have loved it even more if it'd been Colonel Sheppard wearing that sarong and being Elizabeth's servant for the day, and the fic were way longer and... *daydreams*
Also, snippy Asgards rule! *giggles*
no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 05:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 06:19 pm (UTC)Great stuff! I can so see John doing this! ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-30 12:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-01 04:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-06 04:29 am (UTC)I really loved John bonding with the floor moment, I can totally see him doing that.
Thanks for such a cute fic!