[LC] Outside by the 'Gate (for sevenvirtues)

[shepcrew]

After leaving the gorup and grabbing his share of the gear, John's by the DHD sorting through the packs and making sure he's got everything. He's distracted by random thoughts and trying to not think about things by going through the packs yet again.

Ronon's already come and gone, presumably headed back into the cafe to help out McKay.

He's here for someone to find him, if they so chose...

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[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

Inara did briefly think about slipping into the washroom for a moment to compose herself before going out to talk to John. But this wasn't exactly a momentary explosion, soon over and fixed.

She still has her arms wrapped around herself, fingers tight above her elbows, as though it will help. As though she can keep herself from flying into a thousand pieces by sheer force of will. Perhaps she can; she's done it before. But not with this. She's probably broken a lot of hearts, and this is the only time she's felt like hers is breaking.

And yet. She heads off in the direction John went, looking for him. Worried, still, over what was said last and that look on his face as he walked away. For now, she'll concentrate on that. She's so focused on him she barely notices anything else as she comes up, touching his arm lightly. "John..."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He's a bit startled by the touch and hearing his name. And from the last person he had expected, too, which has him glancing over her shoulder briefly.

That's when he sees the look on her face and all cares about who might be watching flee as he puts down whatever he's fidgeting with and pulls her into his arms in a tight hug.

"Hey now," he says, tucking her head protectively under his chin. "It'll be okay..."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

And she'd been coming out to comfort him. There's something funny about that, making her smile slightly even as she snuggles into him. Startled and relieved that, for once, she doesn't have to be the one to hold it together.

She might even be crying. Just a little.

But she holds on tight to him, letting it all slide away as it's so easy to do, in his arms. Sighing quietly.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He's used to having to hold it together, and he doesn't mind being the one to do so for her. He just holds her as she cries, murmuring soothing, nonsensical things and stroking her hair, veiled though it might be.

He doesn't ask anything, because it's not his place. Right now his sole purpose is to be strong for her.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

The tears subside fairly quickly. The clinging takes a little longer to. Somehow her hand comes up so that her fingers trace lightly, back and forth over his shoulder. Her breathing eases.

And she wants to say at least a few things, but. Can't find the words. Or can't bring them up out of her throat.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

Since when have they ever needed words? He clings to her, too, resting in the fact that she's here. The kiss he places on her temple is as much of an I know as it is an I've got you, you're safe and a things will work out the way they will.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She smiles. Relaxes, because... because something. She doesn't know why. Because John can do that.

And, relaxing, she also sighs a little and settles into him. No single or obvious movement, but so she's less clinging and more holding him, as he holds her. Because her original intent, anyway, had been to come out here and make sure he was all right. Or just to be with him, if he needed her.

She'll have to tell him about Mal at some point, but not now.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He doesn't care about Mal. It's funny, really. Since he realized how alike they were, he sorta understands where the Captain is coming from. And he supposes that what he said to Mal wasn't really fair in the first place, although it seemed like a good idea at the time.

And hell, his words were true for the most part; why would someone belittle a person's profession if they cared so damned much about them?

Anyway. He can't change what's happened, and he won't think about what her being here means. She's here and that's all that matters. And so help him, his brain is trying to think of that word again, and he won't let it. Because it hurts too damned much and if there's the slightest chance that she doesn't...

He gives her a gentle squeeze to derail his thoughts.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She almost giggles at that. A real giggle, not the life-like fake she's perfected. Does, really, turn her head slightly to nuzzle her nose playfully at the curve of his neck. The more pleasant side of the roller-coaster, the part where she's happy and cuddled up with him and things are more peaceful.

She isn't think about who unspeakables whom, not right now anyway. She knows how she feels even if she won't admit it, even to herself, even if it contradicts her this-is-not-a-fairy-tale attitude. And she's made her choice.

(It occurs, actually, that John should show her Pretty Woman.)

And, she's here. He's here. And after the separation last time, and the effort to get back to the Cafe, the same place at the same time, she's going to enjoy this while it lasts.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He smiles at that. His first genuine smile since they came down from the room.

"What's so funny?"

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

"I don't know..." she doesn't lift her head, but the smile is there in her voice. "You. Me. All this."

Just the moment is... well, funny, yes, but also simply delightful. Wonderful.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He pulls away slightly, but only so he can tilt her chin up so she's looking up at him. His hand cups her face and his thumb wipes away any remaining moisture on her cheek.

He's grinning in a quietly amused sort of way. "Yeah, I suppose it is sorta funny. In a weird sort of....you know, you aren't the only one new to this," he says, changing the train of the conversation suddenly.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

That also kind of surprises her, but it's a quiet surprise, eyebrows lifting slightly by way of tacitly asking him and leaving him free to interpret it as only surprise instead of a question.

And. And he's there, and his touch is soothing, and she's turning into a total ditz over this. And scolds herself mentally.

"So we're just figuring this out as we go along?"

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

His grin turns a little sad at her unspoken question. He supposes that now would be a good time to say, "I was married once. Wasn't very good at it."

And it's evident by the way he says the last part that it's more than highly likely that his ex-wife was the one that did the leaving. And he can't say anything else because it would require the use of the currently forbidden word.

Then he nods. "Yeah. I suppose we are. Am...Am I allowed to apologize in advance for anything that I might screw up?"

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

"You certainly are..." There's a wry twist of amusement when she says that, knowing they're both going to screw up, touched and amused that he offers up the apology in anticipation.

With a bit of exaggerated seriousness, and some real seriousness underneath. "And I apologize for anything I might screw up," she adds, softly brushing her fingertips over his shoulder, resting her hand finally against his chest. "And..." She might be blushing a little when she says it.

"I will tell you, instead of making you guess, as best I can, if you do."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

"Apology accepted...and you've got a deal. I'm not too good about...about talking about..." vague gesture. "Anyway. Yeah. I'll try, too."

He smiles. "Just wish we didn't have to rely on this damned place to see each other."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She does her very best not to make her answering smile goofy or girlish or shy. It only kind of works. "Then that's a bargain."

And. This place. Yes. Sigh. "Especially since it always seems to catch us in the middle of having to go somewhere else..."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

"Nah. Sometimes I show up on my day off. But, um. Not consistently enough to be predictable. Sucks that you might not come from a place on the grid..."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

While the phrase is familiar, she's not certain what the specifics are. So she tilts his head. "Define 'grid.'"

She may be plotting how to see him more often, or more consistently. Or at least with more forward planning.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He gestures with his head to the 'Gate. "The 'Gate grid. Network. Whatever. And hell, even if you did have a couple of places with one, who's to say we'd be in the same time line...or the same galaxy."

He hates the nexus with a passion right now.

"Though galaxy is doable," he says, thinking out loud, more for himself. "Specially if it's close enough..."

Wheels are turning in John Sheppard's head. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She listens to his thoughts with raised eyebrows and some thought, glancing at the Stargate. It certainly looks impressive. She has no idea how it works.

But just the fact that he's thinking about it seems to indicate that he thinks it's possible, and if he thinks it's possible then it just mightbe, and now she's thinking too...

There might be a few things she could look into. Hmm.

"And if we did have a Gate, what else would we need?" It doesn't look big enough to fly a ship through, but if it's only a personal transportation device, that's eminently do-able.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

"Well, if you did have a 'Gate, then you'd need an IDC and...well, the address for our Stargate. Getting you the IDC would be complica...not that hard, actually."

And it may not look big enough to fly a ship through to her now. Just wait till she sees a jumper go through...

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She tilts her head slightly as he takes back the complicated part. "Not that hard?"

And now, she's decided, she needs to visit Atlantis. At least once. Preferably many more times than once, but at least once.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

Rueful grin as he pulls out his GDO. "I can just give you mine. Then when I get back I can bribe one of the techs to re-program it to read the signal as coming from you and not me on our end."

He tucks the GDO back into his pocket and smiles his sheepish smile. "Only thing is that I'd have to tell people why I don't have it anymore, and that might raise a few eyebrows."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She looks amused at that. "And what would you tell the tech? Seems to me that saying why you don't have yours anymore would be easier, maybe there was a terrible brawl of some kind."

Because really, if John's that much like Mal, she has the feeling there are or will be brawls. Of some kind. Possibly being a military commander would forestall it, but... not necessarily.

And she loves his smile. Maybe traces her fingertip across his lips, briefly. "Maybe you were seduced by a beautiful princess from another world who robbed you in the middle of the night." Mischievous sparkle to that.