New Home (Stargate Atlantis fanfiction)

21 Anxiety and guests

Radek was nervous. It was less than a week to his wedding and he and Rodney were having a really bad time coping with the anxiety. They were not really useful in the control room right now. All the preparations for wedding were going smoothly with Jennie Miller, Jennifer and Miko at the helm. The three women took over Atlantis just after Jennie's arrival and there was no one willing to go into their way. Woolsey seemed rather pleased with the situation as he sat in his office doing something on his computer and listening to some classical music.

Since the two of them had nothing to do they set to do some very important stuff in their department. Rodney was currently working on some ZPM research and Radek just finished power consumption statistics.

"I will head to the north pier to check on this damage from the landing" Said Radek after packing his computer to his backpack along with some sandwiches. "We didn't really have time to go there since our return."

"Good, good" answered Rodney without looking in Radek's direction. "Just do not destroy anything, ok."

Radek growled but said nothing.

The area he was walking through was visibly flooded during the landing. The sensors were obviously down in the area. And the light he could muster was scarce. And it smelled fault and was damp in there. It was still preferable to what was happening in the control room.

The scientist entered a partially flooded room and noticed a piece of equipment, ancient by the look of it, on the floor. It was small enough to pick it and it turned out it was unbelievably light, so he decided to take it back to his lab on his way back. The letters on the thing looked a little familiar, but it was not the time to explore it. Radek just took a photo, noted the section and level and went further to inspect the damage.

"Elizabeth" called John from the garden. She was just leaving house carrying a tray with tea and cakes. He took it from her, set it on the grass and kissed her. "We need to talk, you know."

"I don't like that tone of voice coming from you." She said sitting on the blanket he prepared. "It suggests some problems."

"It's not the problem, rather a difficulty." He commented.

She took one of the slice of apple pie and started to eat it. "So, say what's the difficulty." She leaned into him and closed her eyes.

"It's about us."

"That much I figured."

"I don't want to be so far from you."

Elizabeth tensed. She lifted up, turned her face to him and looked into his eyes.

"I don't think I can do a long distance thing." He continued. "I don't want to."

"I don't want it too" she admitted "but we have our lifes, our responsibilities, John. It's hard to just leave them and there is no to keep them both and be together all the time."

"That's what I meant by 'difficulty', Liz." He started stroking her cheek. "We will have to figure it out eventually, you know." He turned her and made her lean into him again.

"I will have you every two weeks..."

"If I am back from a mission by then..."

"And there are phones, video conferences..."

"Not tactile thing, Elizabeth." He started kissing her neck. "I will miss it, you know."

He was kissing every patch of bare skin he could reach. It was an activity he practiced every free moment they sat together. At some point he just stopped.

"Look, Elizabeth..." he started. "The thing is I already thought about it."

"John?"

"I'm going to retire from the Air Force after the wedding."