New Home (Stargate Atlantis fanfiction)

24 Back in the city

John was amazingly tired after the mission. They had a debriefing soon after emerging from the wormhole and they were all exhausted. Landry didn't look better. These were a very intensive days with everything going on. Landry virtually slept in his office, most of the allied planets chose this specific time to express their concerns and there were spaceships waiting in orbit to land in Nevada to be repaired. But the most wild was what was happening on the Destiny.

John, as one of 'the experienced' colonels was put in charge of some of the negotiations and involved in the day to day running of the SGC. Teyla helped, Porter and Hailey tried to keep up to date with everything that happened in the labs, so they will be able to give a nice debrief for Landry when he would finally have time for it. Ronon and Teal'c took it on themselves to help with overseeing the training rounds.

John had enough time every day to sleep, eat, do his job and call Elizabeth. It was routine he was not ready to miss every single day he actually was on Earth. He hasn't been in Washington for almost a month now, but he didn't have much choice. The crap in the SGC was also his responsibility. Elizabeth understood that he had to stay. Considering that he had spent almost a week with her after her rescue he had to work more to earn his pay again.

His next mission was an unusual bore that took not much time, but the following one seemed to get on his nerves more than any from the past. The natives broke the gate just to keep them on the planet and he thanked God he still got Porter and Hailey. However, it was still going to take more than a week by their estimation.

Elizabeth just finished one of her classes and headed to her small office. It was then Emma chose to approach her.

"How are you doing?" She asked. "You came back to work very soon after 'the incident'."

"Please, stop tiptoeing around this topic." Elizabeth smiled. "I was held hostage during a very sensitive negotiation. It had happened before."

"You spent a lot of time wandering in hostile environment, leading the other part of the delegation and..."

"You make it sound like I was some kind of hero, Emma." Said Elizabeth entering her office and handing her friend a glass of water. "I am not. I just did what should have been done."

"And you make it sound like it was nothing special..."

"Because it was!" Elizabeth scolded. "Nothing special, I mean."

"Elizabeth?" there was suddenly Mark in the door of her office. "There is someone who wants to speak with you."

"Ok, I will go." Said Emma. "So you can speak with him here."

"She wants to speak with you privately, on your way home, Liz." Said Mark with a strange expression.

"I have still two hours of lectures, I can't just go, Mark, and you know it."

"I know." He said. "And I told her so. She is willing to wait until you are finished." Mark turned to leave. "She will be waiting outside the building after you're after your classes."

Mark left leaving Elizabeth more than surprised.

"Who can that be?" Wondered Emma.

"You tell me..." Elizabeth knew no more. "but it has to be something to wait so long just to accompany me home."

"Speaking of which..." Emma's smile grew wide and mischievous. "What had happened with the handsome dark-haired man who used to be the topic of conversation for all the female part of campus?"

"Who?"

"The one that used to come and pick you from work..."

"Oh, you mean John..." Elizabeth blushed a little and smiled.