(consolidated and x-posted from age)

Title: Proposition+Espousal
Fandom: SGA
Characters/Pairings: Sheppard/Teyla
Word Count: 4,320
Rating: PG-13 (one itty bitty swear word)
Summary: With the return of the Athosians comes a deeper grief for one of Sheppard's team, and after lots (and lots!) of reflection, he decides to do something about it.
Author's Notes: Jag wrote me a John-proposes-to-Inara fic and demanded I do the same. Or Teyla. She said it could be Teyla. Bastard Lt.-Colonel got me out of bed early in the morning just to write down one damned line (THE line), and then 3 hours later we had the fic to go with it. I've also been randomly making up Athosian courtship rites as a matter of course for Sheppard and Inara (don't ask) so it's only fitting that I attempt to make up something....wedding-y. Oh-so not canon, and if any of my speculation ends up being even remotely close I will be....something. Speechless, maybe. You never know with this show. Or with Athosians. Or with Sheppard, for that matter.

Written to cross off #21 of our Big Damn SGA List.

Warning: Spoilers for SGA 04x04 (Doppelganger) through SGA 04x07 (Missing), SGA 04x10 and 04x11 (This Mortal Coil and BAMSR), along with the assumption of when and how the particular story-arc that began in "Missing" actually ends. Because I can. And I did. :p

Takes place sometime after 04x11 (Be All My Sins Remember'd)

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There were very few things in life that could erase jealousy. ( Time was the main one...Collapse )

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It had started off as a recon mission, ( Read more...Collapse )

He had spent the day shopping for the souvenirs on Inara's list. He didn't do too badly, if he said so himself. With the day's mission a success he decided to head back to the Bellagio.

( Read more...Collapse )

TO>UNITED STATES AIR FORCE>PETERSON>GENERAL LANDRY, HANK>FYO
FROM>UNITED STATES OF AMERICA>LAS VEGAS, NEVADA>LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SHEPPARD, JOHN

RE: MISSIONS REPORTS

Please find enclosed my reports for the next transmission to Pegasus.


John Sheppard, Lt.-Colonel.
USAF

(enc)

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( Dr. Elizabeth WeirCollapse )

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( Miss Inara SerraCollapse )

The bright lights of the Vegas strip and all the noises that went with it washed over him in a way that he was sure he was immune to. The lack of response inside to the beauty of many of the sights told him just how disconnected to this world he had become in the last 2 and a half years. He supposed that was why he chose Earth as his destination for this retreat vacation; deep down he had always known what Elizabeth had finally figured out in the last few days: John Sheppard's world has narrowed to Atlantis and the Pegasus galaxy, and the major reason he was there in the first place had been lost somewhere along the way. They had a term for it in the military. Target Fixation.

Target Fixation. The last time he had realized he was suffering from the affliction was shortly after Teyla and Ronon had gone missing and were presumed dead. He had nearly gotten half his team killed because of it then, and now he had put the entirity of Atlantis at risk because he was curious about these new people they had found. What he couldn't tell, was if his fixation was on Inara, or on trying to so desperately to make a permanent home for once in his life. Hell, he couldn't even figure out if it was merely the fact that the Milky Way had been shunted to the back burner for most of the Expedition, only though of when something directly threatened Earth or mankind.

What he did know, was that he needed a reality check, and fast. He really didn't want to have to relive handing in his resignation, or worse, be fired from the one assignment he actually wanted. Maybe his brother.......no. He wasn't going to go down that road. Those bridges had burned a long time ago, and he would not go slinking back to his brother on the heels of whatever military discharge followed whatever his last fatal command decision would be. With a sigh, he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and gazed at his surroudings, seeing everything and nothing all at once.

He had opted not to check out a firearm from the SGC, figuring that it would be hard to take a break from the whole military thing with a gun strapped to his hip. But he couldn't shut off the tactical part of his mind, and so, he was aware of the mugger over there waiting for a mark more distracted than him, he was aware of the undercover cop across the street trying to catch someone in the act of being naughty; he saw the bulge of a weapon under that pimp's jacket, and he heard the threatening growl of a pusher trying to intimidate his buyer down a random alley.

He was trying to pick a place to drop that promised hundred bucks, and found himself drawn to the sound of water cascading into a pool; it was an odd sound to pick out of the noise and bustle of commerce and tourism, but it just emphasized John's state of mind and how much he missed the sound of the ocean at night. He stopped in front of the Bellagio lake, taking in the fountains and the building that rose behind them. He was struck by a sudden longing to return to the SGC and demand that his vacation request be rescinded so he could go home.

To Atlantis.

...The Bellagio.

Close enough...



...to be continued...

Jumper One floated down into the Control Room and pivoted to line up with the Gate. The shimmering irridescence of the open wormhole greeted John's eyes, as he keyed the comm and said his final "see you soon"s. And then he settled in for the trip to Midway, as Jumper One breached the event horizon and propelled the Colonel half-way across the universe. Both legs of the trip were uneventful, and soon, the Embarkation Room at the SGC loomed in his viewport, the smiling faces of Walter and the other techs affirming a successful arrival.

He parked the Jumper and gathered his duffle, meeting General Landry at the base of the Jumper's ramp.

"Colonel, welcome back to Earth," the General said with a smile. "Didn't think I'd ever see you back on leave."

John smiled wryly. "Yes, Sir. I figured it was time to let myself take a breather from all the crazy." Elizabeth had sent in the official request for John's leave of absence, stating personal reasons as the grounds for the application. John appriciated the vote of confidence in that, knowing that Elizabeth knew that an LOA requisitioned due to lack of sound judgement on several command decisions would not endear the Colonel to anyone, from Landry right on up to the IOA.

Landry nodded knowingly. "Wish I could do that m'self. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a place far enough away to ensure success in that regard."

John chuckled. "I know how you feel, Sir. Please don't be offended if I turn my cell phone off, or ignore your phone calls."

"Why would I be offended, Colonel? I can just have whatever ship we have in orbit beam you into my office." Landry smiled in that lightly sardonic, I-am-all-powerful way of his and dismissed John, wishing him a happy vacation.


Several hours later saw John checking into a hotel in Vegas. He figured it'd be fun to lose a hundred bucks gambling, and then just chill and enjoy the night life for the next two weeks. He didn't bother unpacking his duffle just yet, deciding instead, to fall onto the bed and try and sleep off the Galaxy-lag.

He only hoped he'd be able to find sleep without the gentle sounds from Lantea's ocean and the subtle sway of the city - no matter how imagined - as it floated, rocking him into the blissful sensation of belonging he had found so far away from the planet he should be calling home, but couldn't.

After his conversation with Elizabeth, John headed back to his office and put things in order there. He left detailed notes on everything, so Lorne - whom he assumed would be in charge while John was away - could find his way around. Once all his work responsibilities were taken care of, he headed to his quarters to pack.

"Hey, whatcha doing?" McKay asked, as he sauntered into the room several minutes later. The scientist eyed Sheppard the way one would eye a feral beast ready to strike.

"Going on vacation," John replied, matter-of-factly.

"Ah...wait, hold it," McKay began, pausing in his retreat. "Since when do you go on vacation?"

"Since Elizabeth made me." John's tone brooked no argument.

"Right," McKay said with a nod, apparently understanding that John didn't want to talk about it just yet. "Well, I suppose asking if you wanted to grab some lunch is out of the question, then?"

"Yeah, pretty much," John replied. He gave McKay a weary look. "I'm sorry, Rodney, it's just." He sighed. "Look, I'll take a raincheck, okay? You'll be the first person I have lunch with when I get back, deal?"

McKay thought about it for a moment. "Deal. I'm gonna hold you to that, you know," he promised, heading out the door to find someone else to nosh with.

John watched as the door closed behind his friend. "Yeah, I'm sure you will," he said to the empty room, with a wry grin.

He turned his attention back to packing, pondering where he might go for two weeks...

This is in no way, shape or form connected with our Speciall Hell 'Verse. This is just Nic and Kat being insane girls who like to break each other's brain every once in a while. That is all.
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He's sitting alone, reading a comic book.

For once, it's his day off, and he has no fears of being interrupted during his down-time. Every now and then, he'll scope out the people milling around the cafe, eyeing the pretty girls and giving them the once-over. He gets plenty in return, although none seem to want to do more than flirt from afar.

Ah well, you win some you lose some.

Comic books it'll have to be...