[SH] Packing (for sevenvirtues)

[shepcrew]

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...

Comments

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

Something about the touch shakes her, not to further nerves, but to slightly watery eyes and a smile that's less reassuring (she thinks) than she wants it to be.

"You better," she murmurs, covering his hands with hers for a moment before mirroring the gesture, then letting her hands fall to rest against his chest. "Even if that's only two reports."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He gives her a sad half-smile, before pressing his lips to hers softly, and briefly.

"I will. Promise."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She kisses him back softly, and with a bit of a sigh.

And then she does, despite her misgivings about it being the right thing to do, snuggle into his arms. Kiss him again, more lingering this time, one hand and then her arm curling around his shoulder.

She won't cling. She doesn't want to be that girl. But she's worried about him, and he'll be gone for two weeks and she'll be worried.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He wraps his arms around her, returning the kiss and all it entails. He doesn't mind the clinging. No one's ever done it sincerely before, and he's surprised at the different nuances it carries.

And he's worried about himself, too, but there's no way he'd ever express that to anyone.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She'd love to stay here. For a while. The night, the rest of the next day, the rest of the week. Maybe longer.

She doesn't even know what to say anymore. Just huddling into him, fingertips tracing the curve of his shoulderblade along his back, taking this moment for what it is now.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He ought to be packing, but he can't let her go. He won't be seeing her for two whole weeks, and he wants to imprint as much of her into his memory as possible.

and the only thing he can think of to say, is, "I miss you already."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

"I know."

She doesn't want to let him go either, or she doesn't want to let go, or something like that. Something that keeps her snuggled up against him, warm and safe in his arms for the moment and already feeling the cold of his absence.

"Only two weeks right?" She won't sniffle. Won't sniffle. Won't.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

"Only two weeks," he affirms. He gives her a gentle squeeze and kisses her on the crown of her head.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She sighs. That does relax her a little, at least. Only two weeks. She can last that long, and it'll either be good for him or she'll do something about it when he gets back.

Only two weeks.

She smiles a little. "And I'll be right here when you get back."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

When he senses her relaxing, he does too, a bit. And he knows he'll last two weeks without her. It's sort of a prerequisite for this whole trip.

He grins. "You better be," he replies light-heartedly, yet all at once earnestly.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

"Mm, I will be." She's smiling now, calmer. Him relaxing helps her relax further. "I promise."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

"Good." He kisses her lightly.

Then he's sighing and glancing behind him. "Wanna help me pack?"

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

"I don't know..." her smile is brighter now, her touch more sure but no less gentle as she reaches up to slide her hand through his scruffy hair, cup his cheek. "Wouldn't that be just encouraging you to run off for far-off lands?"

Teasing, just teasing. She kisses him softly, smiling. "Of course I will."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

"Hmmmmpossibly," he allows, with a grin. "But Elizabeth's the one dialing the 'Gate. She'll be sending me to earth, most like. But hey, I can dream."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

"Mmm." She kisses him again. Because she can. Because she wants to. Because he's leaving for two weeks and she does miss him already. "Well, you have exotic locations on Earth, don't you?" She did seem to remember reading about such things.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

"Yeeeaasorta," he allows, after kissing her back. "I mean, they aren't as exotic as some of the places you'll find out here, but they're nice."

He uses that opportunity to go back to packing, tugging her with him.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She laughs, getting up to follow him, to help if he wants it or just to stay with him. Packing one-handed is cute. Not entirely practical, but cute.

"Well maybe the lure of the exotic combined with the reassurance of the familiar," she teases with a smile.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He grins, letting go of her hand and tossing the shirt that was the victim of the aborted folding-attempt earlier at her. "Brat. I know that Teyla got a kick out of being on Earth, the last time we had to go back, so I suppose that to folks who don't live there, it is pretty exotic."

He grabs stuff out of a drawer and begins to sort them. "Extremely messed up, but exotic."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She laughs, but softer, a little quieter. "I suppose any place so far from one's home would seem exotic. I know this place did..." One hand gestured around them. "When I first came here."

"Now it just seems like home."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

It is home. "I know what you mean," is his reply, with a half-smile.

He works mechanically, as he goes through the clothing, folding the stuff that passes inspection and folding-then-putting-aside the others, with military meticulousness.

"Even Haven has its exotic moments."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She comes up behind him at one point and brushes her fingers through his hair where it meets the nape of his neck.

"So does Atlantis."

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He pauses at her touch, a shiver coursing through him. It feels like an electrical current spreading through his body, but in a good way. A very good way.

"So do you."

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

Mm. She likes that little shiver, and the way it makes him pause. Her fingertips trail down the line of his spine with that same delicate touch.

And then she turns it into a cozy arm around his waist, snuggling in close.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He shivers again, a little more lightly, as her finger moves down his spine. His hand covers hers as it slides around his waist, and he leans into her a bit.

"This is not helping me pack," he states, though his tone suggests he doesn't really mind in the least.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

"That's sort of the idea," she murmurs, sighing a little as she leans against him. Turns her head to nuzzle lightly at his shoulder, brushing a kiss there.