Jamie's Ramblings

I wrote this a few weeks ago, but it took me this long to think of a title for it, lol.


Title: I Know What You Did Last Night
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Main Characters: John Sheppard and Elizabeth Weir
Supporting Characters: Rodney McKay and Evan Lorne
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 2,398
Summary: Is Elizabeth really seeing Evan Lorne? Featuring Nosy!Rodney and Jealous!John.
Disclaimer: Don't own, just renting. I'll return them... but I can't promise they'll be in the same condition.

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Rodney scrolled down on his tablet. Radek's report was full of mistakes. Did he have to do everything himself? He slowed and looked up as he passed a room full of noise. Ah, the rec-room. Maybe he'd stop in and check out whatever was being shown... and more importantly, see if any snacks were being passed around. He stuck his head in to see who was inside and what they were watching. He'd be damned if he'd get stuck watching that stupid football game again.

He saw one of the Aliens movies on the screen. Great, like we don't get enough of that in real life. He was about to walk away when he saw a large bowl of popcorn on a table. Well, maybe I'll just go in for a few minutes. He took a step in and noticed two people sitting on the couch, engaged in a very passionate kiss. He stood there for a moment, like an idiot. It was dark and he couldn't tell who they were at first... then as they broke away he realized the man was Major Lorne. The woman still had her back towards him, but he could tell that she had curly dark brown hair.

The credits started to roll and Evan spoke up, neither he or the woman noticing Rodney at the doorway. “... you want to go someplace else?”

Rodney couldn't quite make out the name he had said. It sounded like... Oh God, it sounded like he said Liz. He watched as she nodded her head and Evan got up to take the DVD out. Rodney practically ran into the door jam trying to make his escape.

He just started walking, not even knowing where he was going. He couldn't believe it, Major Lorne and Elizabeth Weir. He had to tell somebody. His feet finally lead him to the mess hall, probably because he actually spent more time there than even his quarters. Spotting John, he sat down opposite from him and grabbed a brownie off of his tray.

“Hey!” John looked up at the brownie thief. “I was going to eat that!”

Rodney looked down at the brownie and mumbled, “Oh, sorry.” But evidently not sorry enough to give it back, however. He looked around the mess and spoke in a hushed tone, that only proceeded to get louder and sound more excited at every syllable, “You'll never believe who I just saw making out in the recreation room!”

John scoffed. “McKay... what are you, twelve?”

“Fine, if you don't want to know... I just thought you'd be interested since they're two of your closest friends.” Rodney made a motion as if he was getting up to leave, even though he had no intention of doing so.

OK, John had to admit it, he was a little interested. “Alright, fine... who?” He left any of his interest out of his voice though, talking in a tone such as an adult would to an irritating child who was trying to make them play a guessing game.

Rodney leaned in a little, “Lorne and Elizabeth.”

John practically choked on the sandwich he had just bitten into. When he finally stopped sputtering he glared at McKay. “That's not funny.”

“I'm not joking. I saw them all over each other in the rec room. They were watching a movie, well... there was a movie playing but they weren't exactly watching it. The lighting was dim... it was a total date!” He leaned back in his chair and grinned, loving that this was irking John.

John nervously ran a hand through his hair. Elizabeth wouldn't be seeing Lorne... there were rules about that kind of thing, weren't there? That's why he had never made a move himself. Well, that along with the fear of rejection from somebody he really cared about. “Are you sure it was her?”

“Don't you think I know what Elizabeth looks like by now? Besides, he called her by her name.” Rodney looked indignant that John could ever think he'd be mistaken. “I could see everything clearly!”

“I thought you said it was dark in there...”

“I said it was dim, but I could totally still see. It was definitely Elizabeth... and he asked her if she wanted to go 'someplace else'... and you know what that means.” Rodney gave John a knowing look.

John's eyebrows furrowed together. “Yes, it means that they could be coming here...”

If Rodney leaned back any further in his chair he'd fall over. He was so enjoying this, figuring it must be killing John to have any woman on Atlantis fall madly in love with anybody but him. “I don't think so, it sounded more like a 'my place or yours' proposition.”

“Whatever...” John pushed his chair back and got up. “I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for all this. We'll find out in the morning.”

Rodney smiled, “Yeah... but don't be surprised if Elizabeth runs a little late...”

John walked out of the mess hall. He had to get away from Rodney's smugness and implications. He had known Elizabeth for a long time and he knew she wouldn't be running around with Lorne... and especially in not so public a fashion. But... he slowed as his thought process went in another direction. She had seemed kind of lonely lately. Sure, they still kept their regular so-called harmless flirting up, but maybe that wasn't enough. Maybe she needed something more, someone to... well, hold her. The only problem is he thought that somebody would eventually be him. He stepped into his quarters and got ready for bed, although realizing how futile an action it was. He knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight.

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Sure enough, Elizabeth walked into the briefing twenty minutes late. Rodney gave John an 'I told you so' look.

She glanced around the room, apologetically. “Sorry I'm late.”

Rodney spoke up, gleefully. “No problem, I'm sure whatever you were doing was important.”

She tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes at him. He was far too chipper for this early in the morning, or for any time of the day really. What was he up to? A bit of suspicion slipped into her voice, “Yes, it was.” She turned back towards the rest of the group gathered around and began the morning briefing.

When Elizabeth had tilted her head, both Rodney and John's eyes widened, zeroing in on a red blotch on her neck. It looked just like...

“... a hickey.” Rodney accidentally let the words escape his lips. Fortunately they were in a whisper and nobody but John had heard him.

John died inside. It was true. Elizabeth and Lorne were seeing each other. His only consolation was that at least he hadn't stayed up all night over nothing, there really was something to worry about. But it wasn't really a consolation at all. He couldn't even look at Rodney, who he knew must be grinning like the Cheshire cat.

He wanted nothing more than to get up and run out of the room. But of course he couldn't. He'd have to sit here and listen to her prattle on about... "John...?" He jolted out of his thoughts when he heard his name, looking up to see her staring at him, expectantly waiting for whatever he was supposed to be saying. “Um, sorry, I guess I wasn't paying attention. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night.” It was the only excuse he could come up with... and it wasn't even an excuse, just the truth.

She looked at him, concerned, making a mental note to talk with him after the briefing was over. “I was just saying that Major Lorne mentioned to me that maybe you should go to the Ithorlian settlement, instead of his team. You've been there before and have probably developed a re pore with them.

John seethed. Elizabeth was shipping him off so she could spend more time with Lorne? This must be exactly why these sorts of relationships aren't allowed. His lips tightened and he nodded his OK, not trusting himself to verbally reply back. He knew he wouldn't be able to hide the sarcasm from his voice.

“Alright, that's it for now.” Elizabeth watched as everyone started to file out, noticing that John was practically bolting out of the room. “John, can I talk to you for a minute?”

He paused and begrudgingly turned around to face her, not wanting to get into this now. He needed time to process... or more likely to push his feelings on the matter deep down. He was good at that.

“Are you OK? You seem... unsettled.” She moved over to him and placed her hand on his arm.

He moved his arm, breaking the contact that he normally enjoyed. “I'm fine.”

She shot him a confused, hurt look. “OK.”

This wasn't fair! She should be the one on the defensive, the one having to explain herself. Not him. He decided to turn the tables. “So, I hear you had fun last night.”

She leaned against the table and looked at him warily. “I did.”

“When were you going to tell me about it?”

“I didn't think you'd be interested.”

“Well, I am.”

“OK, well now I'll know for next time.”

John took a slight step back. That was not the reply he had expected. Next time?

She smiled and folded her arms across her chest. “I was a little uncomfortable at first because I hadn't done it for a really long time. I'd almost forgotten how relaxing it was, didn't realize how much I'd missed it.”

John winced. This was way too much information. He grabbed a nearby glass of water, his throat had suddenly become very dry.

She reached over and placed her hand on his arm again. “You should join us next time. You seem really tense, I bet you could use it.”

He started choking on his water. Did she just say join us?

“John, what's the matter with you?!” She started patting him on the back, which only served to make things worse.

He sidestepped away and waved his arms in front of him. “I'm sorry, Elizabeth, but I'm not really into that!” He mentally added, and I didn't know you were either. He guessed there was a lot about Elizabeth Weir that he didn't know.

She felt even more confused than she usually did in one of Rodney's tirades. “You just said you were interested!”

“Well, I was wrong. What you and Lorne do on your own time is your own business.”

“What does Major Lorne have to do with any of this?!”

A little alarm started to go off in John's head, but he dismissed it and continued anyway. “I mean if you and Lorne want to see each other...”

She laughed, a real belly laugh, and their conversation started to replay in her mind. Oh God, he thought... She sank into her chair, feeling the need for the support from the laughter shaking her body so hard. She managed to get out a few words in between fits. “I'm not seeing Major Lorne!”

He looked confused. “Then it was just a one night...”

She stopped laughing. God, he was being so dense. “John, there is no me and Lorne. At all. Period!”

“But Rodney said that he saw you guys in the rec room last night... acting very friendly. He even heard your name.”

“John, I was in a Yoga class yesterday evening. When you started asking me about last night, I thought you knew.” She started to giggle again even though, and maybe because, he wasn't seeing the humor in this. “I don't know who Rodney saw with Lorne last night, but I'm betting it was Lindsay Parker. I've seen them around together lately.”

Understanding fell upon him. She was that new cute brunette scientist, the one with the curly hair. She did look like Elizabeth from the back, not that he'd been looking or anything, and he thought he had heard a few people calling her Lindz and that sounds like... “I'm going to kill Rodney!”

“Not if I get to him first!”

John had seen that look on her face before. Maybe he would let her be the one to take care of him... Then he could sit back and watch. It may prove to be even more interesting than football.

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John strolled into her office and sat down opposite her. “So I hear Rodney just left for M7G-677, the planet with all the kids.”

She gave a sly smile. “They needed a bit of help, so I sent Lieutenant Cadman along with him. She promised to make the trip extra... interesting.”

“I like this evil side of you, Elizabeth.” He didn't hesitate before adding, “As long as it's not directed at me.”

She laughed. “Yeah, well, just remember this for the future.”

He got up from the chair and sat down on the edge of her desk, leaning in and talking in a lower tone. “You know, if you need help unwinding, you don't need to take Yoga. I can show you some much more relaxing techniques.”

She felt a blush creep over her face and opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out, which was exactly the effect he was hoping for.

He got up and started to walk out, hovering by the door for a second remembering something from the other day. He leaned against the wall and gestured towards her neck. “Just how did you get that,” he paused and emphasized the next word, “hickey, anyway?”

She started to explain that it wasn't a hickey, but an unfortunate collision with Radek Zelenka and a new piece of technology, but thought back to his last comment that had made her blush. She was damned sure he wasn't going to get the last laugh on this one. “Oh, that...” She smiled and reached up and brushed her hand over it fondly. “Radek gave it to me.” Hey, it was the truth, sort of...

She looked down and hid her face behind her laptop, pretending to be busy... but peeked up for a moment to see the bewildered expression on his face. She smiled in satisfaction and resolved that someday she might take John up on his offer and trade Yoga in for him.