Hey well this is a trial chapter to see if I should go on with it. Not really sure where it's going either so suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Season: season 2 +
Pairing: If there will be any you know who it'll be.
Disclaimer: My bid for Atlantis was beaten by like, oh 10 million dollars. So close but yet so far!
Bad Horror Movie
Elizabeth Weir smiled as the warm water sprinkled on to her face and trickled down the front of her naked body. After a minute of basking in the warm flow she finally moved her entire head under the water and slowly began washing her hair.
Despite having to use the unisex showers the expedition leader was still more than happy to spend a while in there. Her own en-suit bathroom had been having plumbing problems and so far Dr Zelenka had only managed to fix the toilet. This on top of dealing with the rising number of feuds between the original expedition team and the new personnel from Earth was giving the negotiator a headache. Elizabeth had been constantly snapping, chewing and ripping anyone who crossed her path making her feel like a head mistress trying to control an unruly school. Most must have thought she had permanent PMS lately, or PMT as some women liked to call it.
Feeling her finger tips go wrinkly Elizabeth groaned and turned the delightful water off shivering as a cool breeze hit her roasting skin. Peeking out behind the curtain she double-checked no one was in with her and pulled a clean towel around her chest. She tied it ensuring it would not slip off and stepped out of the cubical. As she began to make her way to the neatly folded pile of clothes the lights suddenly began to flicker.
Pausing Elizabeth held her breath feeling slightly agitated knowing very well it might only be Dr Rodney McKay and his band of merry scientists causing havoc. It seemed like they never slept. The lights remained on and the flickering ceased. Breathing a sigh of relief Elizabeth continued her way to the bench and then groaned as all the lights went out leaving the diplomat in pitch black.
"Damn it!" She muttered into the darkness and felt her way to the bench where she knew her radio was.
Drying her ear she then slipped the radio earpiece in and tapped it.
"Control tower this is Weir. What's going on?"
The static reply came quick. "Ma'am?"
Sighing Elizabeth took a deep breath. "Lt. Smith the lights in the shower room have gone out on level 4. I take it no one else has reported it?"
"No Ma'am. But most of Atlantis is probably sleeping." He reminded her and she rolled her eyes having forgot it was almost 1 in the morning. "I will radio Dr-"
Elizabeth strained her hearing but the young marine's voice was completely distorted.
"Lt. I can't hear you." When the voice was still unclear she shook her head. "I can't hear you but if you can hear me send someone as soon as you can."
Shaking off the uneasy feeling growing in her stomach Elizabeth quickly dried herself off. She was normally fine in the dark. But combining the dark with a large room full of cubicals and no way of communicating with others in a large alien city just spelled out a bad horror movie.
Pulling her strappy black top on and comfortable jogging bottoms on Elizabeth slipped on her trainers and ditched the towels and her other clothes before heading for the door. She would collect them later, preferably when it was lighter. Walking up to the door she mentally slapped herself forgetting they wouldn't open.
Great! Stuck in this place with no way out, no way of communicating and alone. Could this night get any better? She thought annoyed and remained standing where she was.
Suddenly she heard a dripping sound and wrapped her arms around her. Relax Elizabeth, it's just the shower you were using. Keep calm.
The dripping stopped but was soon followed by a small thud. Taking a deep breath Elizabeth made her way back to the benches watching the darkness carefully. The thudding continued as she made her way towards it glancing in each of the cubicals as she went by them. Just as she reached the last one the noise stopped and Elizabeth held her breath, eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Elizabeth?"
"Aaah!" she screamed and whirled around ready to attack her attacker.
"Wow! Relax, it's me, John!" He cried grabbing her flailing arms. "Relax!"
Elizabeth tried to control her breathing and held onto the John Sheppard's arms. Once her breathing was steady again she suddenly hit her 'attacker' on the arm. "You scared the hell out of me John!"
"Sorry." He said rubbing her arms in an attempt to calm her. "But anything I did would have scared you."
Elizabeth stared at the outline of his face and nodded. "Yeah, probably. Can I leave now?"
She heard him chuckle. "Yeah, the door's open now."
"Thank god." She said and held onto John's arm as he lead her out. "Wait, why aren't the lights on then and how'd you get in?"
"Aaaah, I have my ways!" He said mysteriously and Elizabeth realized she was too tired to persue the matter further. "Don't worry about it, you go to bed and I'll take care of it."
Following the Colonel to the stairs Elizabeth was relieved to see the light filter down from the above level. "Are you sure? I mean, you weren't sleeping were you?"
"Nah, just reading." He assured her and let go of her arm. "Really, I'll deal with this. Go to bed."
Staring at his shadow covered face Elizabeth finally nodded and gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks John. I'll hear about the cause of this tomorrow. Or today." She said with a small laugh and made her way up the stairs.
"Night!" She heard him call and replied, "Night John."
Waiting in the transporter the next morning Elizabeth was now wanting to know the cause of last night's power failure in the shower room. Leaving the lift she made her way to the control tower and saw Lt. Smith hovering outside her office.
"Lt. Smith? Shouldn't you be in bed?" She asked and he smiled sheepishly at her concern for him.
"I just wanted to check you were okay." He said quietly. "I don't know what happened to the radio. But when Dr McKay got there he said you weren't there. We figured you had just left and went to bed."
Elizabeth nodded touched at the marine's concern for her. "Yeah I did. Colonel Sheppard helped me out. He waited to deal with it."
The marine frowned. "Oh, Dr McKay did not mention Colonel Sheppard." Shrugging he said, "Must have forgotten to mention it."
"Probably because he definitely came." Elizabeth said. "I fine thank you Lt. Why don't you go to bed now?"
"Yes Ma'am." Smith said as he stood to attention and left. On his way out she saw McKay and Sheppard walking towards her.
"Ah! Just the men I wanted to see." She said as she entered her office and sat down behind the desk. She smiled as they sat down looking slightly miffed. "What's wrong?"
Both went to speak at the same time but it was Rodney who managed to speak first. "Colonel Sheppard wants to postpone my scientific mission to P4X225 so he can watch the sparring contest the Athosians are putting on, they do it every year apparently."
"Yeah, I do cause not only will it help demonstrate some new moves it will also show our support for their traditions!" John said looking from Rodney to Elizabeth.
"Oh please! You just don't want to baby sit me and my team on this very important mission!"
"My team and I, Rodney" Sheppard corrected, which only aggrivated the scientist even more, before declaring, "It's not! God knows I've done it so many other times."
"Gentlemen!" Elizabeth barked gaining their attentions right away. "We will continue with the mission-" Rodney shot John a smug look. "-BUT it will be cut from 8 hours to 4 so you'll be back in time because I happen to think showing our support is a good idea." This time John returned the smug look.
"But-" Rodney began.
"If you find anything of great significance you can return to the planet another day, Rodney. And that's my final word on it." Elizabeth stated receiving one happy and one chagrinned expression. "Now, about what happened last night-"
Elizabeth did not notice the confusion laced in John's features as Rodney cut in.
"Yes, yes, yes the power cut. I really don't know what happened. Nothing was short-curcuited, there were no power surges." Rodney explained apologetically. "And as for the radio going dead, I really don't know what happened."
Elizabeth frowned. "Hmmm, so what do we put this down to?"
"I'm sorry what power surge?" John asked confused.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "You know the pitch black shower room, you scaring me half to death-"
"What?" John asked showing no recognition on his face.
Elizabeth stared at him in disbelief. "You don't remembering helping me last night? You came in, got me out and sent me to bed saying you would wait for Rodney. Which, apparently, you didn't."
While John still pondered over her statement Rodney jumped in, "That reminds me, how did you get out? There's no way the doors could have opened unless someone picked at them and they were shut when I came."
Elizabeth glared at them. "I told you John came and helped me-"
"Elizabeth I didn't leave my room last night." John said quietly, gazing worriedly at her. "I was asleep by midnight. I didn't even know about this till now."
"But-"
Elizabeth gazed at them in shock wondering what the hell was going on.
"Then who the hell helped me last night?"
A/N: what you think?