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sga_flashficTITLE: Presidential Dinner, With Gold Cufflinks - Part Three
SUMMARY: Hiding white tigers among other white tigers takes paperwork. And a few surprises.
RATING: PG-13
WORDCOUNT: 5,000 words or so. Plus images.
NOTES: Hint: watch the timestamps. They tell you what's happening ahead of time. *g*
Part Two
As far as Rodney was concerned, the night was a complete success.
He'd shaken President Hayes' hand, spoken to the President's scientific advisor about R&D and funding issues for Atlantis, spent nearly half an hour arguing with Samantha Carter for old times' sake - okay, well, and new times' sake as well, and discovered that the wife of the French Ambassador had a double-degree in astrophysics and philosophy and only slightly less fluent in English than she was in French.
Plus, she was blonde.
Rodney was so involved in the conversation with the Ambassador's wife (why hadn't he studied French in high school?) that he hardly noticed when Sheppard tapped him on the shoulder. "Teyla and I are out of here. We're going to check out a few sights of the city."
"Fine," Rodney said, hardly paying attention to the other man. "Have fun."
"Let Elizabeth know, okay? She and Ronon are up to their ears in politics."
That gave Rodney pause. "Politics? Ronon? And we're not at war yet?" Sheppard coughed pointedly. "Oh, right. The whole leash thing. Okay. Well, have fun."
He thought nothing of it.
A little while later, Elizabeth came up to see him while he was getting a drink and wondering if he should hunt Samantha down and bounce a few ideas off her while he had the chance. It was all very well to send weekly reports, but some concepts wanted for a bit more interaction. "Rodney, where's John and Teyla?"
"Oh, I don't know. Somewhere out in the city. They ran off," he said, by way of explanation. "I think John barely managed to hold back a yawn all night."
"Yes, I noticed," Elizabeth said dryly. "Ronon and I are going to head back to the hotel."
"All right. Have fun. Don't let Ronon eat all the snack bar." While Elizabeth and Teyla had been shopping this afternoon, he, Sheppard, and Ronon had stayed in the air-conditioned hotel suite. A battle for the remote control had ensued, with the winner getting to watch their choice of programming. Ronon had inspected the hotel mini bar and managed to try just about everything before Sheppard realised and instructed Ronon in the Earth-concept of 'user pays.'
Elizabeth gave him a look as Ronon came up to them. "Do you have a key for the door?"
"Somewhere. I think." Rodney shrugged. "If I have to, I'll bang on the door until you let me in."
"We'll just leave you in the hall," said Ronon, amused.
Rodney made a face at his team-mate, but ignored the comment. It was just the kind of thing he'd expect Ronon to say after hanging out with Sheppard so much. Could anyone spell 'hero-worship'?
He talked to various other people, and got involved in an argument with Samantha Carter that nearly involved having her knuckles surgically removed from Rodney's nose - she was a feisty one when she got her temper up.
Okay, so maybe he shouldn't have commented on her inability to form correct conclusions based on logical evidence. Then again, she'd commented on his inability to form polite conversation in social situations, so it all evened out - at least in his mind.
After a brief discussion with Dr. Jackson and a few words from General O'Neill, Rodney rode back to the hotel in the cab and headed up to his room, prepared to find Ronon parked in front of the television watching the Adult channel.
Rodney took no responsibility for that. That bit of Ronon's introduction to Earth culture was entirely Sheppard's fault.
As it turned out, the suite was silent when he came in and there was no sign that either set of his colleagues had made it back to the hotel. Figuring they'd gone out sightseeing, Rodney shrugged to himself and went to bed.
He'd had a good night, even if Sheppard had been bored out of his mind.
--
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 14:52
Subject: state dinner
----
Novak's hiccups are driving me insane. I swear she starts up again every time I so much as look at her.
Where did you and Teyla vanish to after the dinner the other night? One minute you were there, the next Rodney said the two of you had left a message with him and gone off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
To: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 14:56
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
So stop looking at her.
We went out dancing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 14:57
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
As in nightclubs?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
To: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 14:59
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
What other kind of dancing is there? You?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:06
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
Ronon and I just went back to the hotel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
To: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:07
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
The first time we're on Earth in how long, with guests to the planet, and you just go back to the hotel and went to bed?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:22
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
Yes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
To: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:24
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
Loser.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:25
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
:P
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Teyla loved the clash of staves, the musical ring of wood on wood as she circled, attacking and defending. It was a tattoo in her mind, irregular and syncopated, familiar background as she spoke.
"You were so eager to go to Earth. Yet you did not explore the city at all."
Ronon stepped back, blocking her strikes with solid wards. "Didn't really have time." His mouth pulled back in a tight grin. "You and Sheppard disappeared early."
She drew him high and to the right, then tried to slip in to the low left. "He expressed boredom with the proceedings and we left as soon as possible." She locked her wrist as one staff blocked hers while the other staff batted her other hand away.
"Where'd you go?"
"A nightclub." The word was still unfamiliar on her lips for all that she'd spent the better part of the night in various ones.
"A nightclub?"
"It is a place where people go to dance to loud music with a percussive beat."
"Wasn't Sheppard wearing his uniform?" Ronon punctuated his words with an attack, bounding in to engage, then dropping back to circle again. "Not exactly casual clothing."
"We went back to the hotel so he could dress in casual clothing, then took one of their taxis to the club district."
"Hmf." Ronon got in a blow against her arm, she retaliated with a rap across his wrist. "Have fun?"
Teyla remembered the throng of dancers, people laughing and talking, the heat and energy of the place, so carelessly different to anything she'd ever known. She could not deny that it had been attractive in its own way - another aspect of vibrant life and brilliant living. "Yes. You?"
He gave her an odd look. "The dinner was okay."
"You were not bored?"
"Not really. Elizabeth dealt with most of the conversation - she's good at that."
"It is her job." She couldn't quite stifle the smile that ventured onto her lips. "And afterwards?"
Dark eyes narrowed at her and he circled around, striking wide and hard. "We went back to the hotel."
Teyla didn't let his attack distract her. "And?"
"And?"
"That is all?"
Ronon eyed her, suspicious of her questioning. "What else were you expecting?"
She give him no answer. Instead, she drew him on, block for blow, blow for block, pleased by the fight and amused by what she knew.
Not until they were finished, having drawn to an exhausted standstill, did Ronon repeat his question to her. "You never said what you were expecting."
Teyla screwed the lid back onto her water bottle and reached into her bag with a smile. She displayed the item to him, and his eyes opened wide as she tossed it to him. The morning sunlight glittered off the gold cufflink, and he caught it with ease.
"You left it behind in Elizabeth's room," she said, amused to see the surprise scrawled across his face -amused to have something with which to delicately reference for his understanding - just to watch him squirm a little.
As she picked up her bag and made to leave the gym, she paused. He looked up, both rueful at being caught out and wary of what she was going to say.
Teyla smiled demurely. "I did say the journey to Earth would be memorable, did I not?"
And with nothing more than a very broad smile, she sauntered back to the central city.
- fin -
SUMMARY: Hiding white tigers among other white tigers takes paperwork. And a few surprises.
RATING: PG-13
WORDCOUNT: 5,000 words or so. Plus images.
NOTES: Hint: watch the timestamps. They tell you what's happening ahead of time. *g*
Part Two
Act Three: Goodnight, Losers!
As far as Rodney was concerned, the night was a complete success.
He'd shaken President Hayes' hand, spoken to the President's scientific advisor about R&D and funding issues for Atlantis, spent nearly half an hour arguing with Samantha Carter for old times' sake - okay, well, and new times' sake as well, and discovered that the wife of the French Ambassador had a double-degree in astrophysics and philosophy and only slightly less fluent in English than she was in French.
Plus, she was blonde.
Rodney was so involved in the conversation with the Ambassador's wife (why hadn't he studied French in high school?) that he hardly noticed when Sheppard tapped him on the shoulder. "Teyla and I are out of here. We're going to check out a few sights of the city."
"Fine," Rodney said, hardly paying attention to the other man. "Have fun."
"Let Elizabeth know, okay? She and Ronon are up to their ears in politics."
That gave Rodney pause. "Politics? Ronon? And we're not at war yet?" Sheppard coughed pointedly. "Oh, right. The whole leash thing. Okay. Well, have fun."
He thought nothing of it.
A little while later, Elizabeth came up to see him while he was getting a drink and wondering if he should hunt Samantha down and bounce a few ideas off her while he had the chance. It was all very well to send weekly reports, but some concepts wanted for a bit more interaction. "Rodney, where's John and Teyla?"
"Oh, I don't know. Somewhere out in the city. They ran off," he said, by way of explanation. "I think John barely managed to hold back a yawn all night."
"Yes, I noticed," Elizabeth said dryly. "Ronon and I are going to head back to the hotel."
"All right. Have fun. Don't let Ronon eat all the snack bar." While Elizabeth and Teyla had been shopping this afternoon, he, Sheppard, and Ronon had stayed in the air-conditioned hotel suite. A battle for the remote control had ensued, with the winner getting to watch their choice of programming. Ronon had inspected the hotel mini bar and managed to try just about everything before Sheppard realised and instructed Ronon in the Earth-concept of 'user pays.'
Elizabeth gave him a look as Ronon came up to them. "Do you have a key for the door?"
"Somewhere. I think." Rodney shrugged. "If I have to, I'll bang on the door until you let me in."
"We'll just leave you in the hall," said Ronon, amused.
Rodney made a face at his team-mate, but ignored the comment. It was just the kind of thing he'd expect Ronon to say after hanging out with Sheppard so much. Could anyone spell 'hero-worship'?
He talked to various other people, and got involved in an argument with Samantha Carter that nearly involved having her knuckles surgically removed from Rodney's nose - she was a feisty one when she got her temper up.
Okay, so maybe he shouldn't have commented on her inability to form correct conclusions based on logical evidence. Then again, she'd commented on his inability to form polite conversation in social situations, so it all evened out - at least in his mind.
After a brief discussion with Dr. Jackson and a few words from General O'Neill, Rodney rode back to the hotel in the cab and headed up to his room, prepared to find Ronon parked in front of the television watching the Adult channel.
Rodney took no responsibility for that. That bit of Ronon's introduction to Earth culture was entirely Sheppard's fault.
As it turned out, the suite was silent when he came in and there was no sign that either set of his colleagues had made it back to the hotel. Figuring they'd gone out sightseeing, Rodney shrugged to himself and went to bed.
He'd had a good night, even if Sheppard had been bored out of his mind.
--
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 14:52
Subject: state dinner
----
Novak's hiccups are driving me insane. I swear she starts up again every time I so much as look at her.
Where did you and Teyla vanish to after the dinner the other night? One minute you were there, the next Rodney said the two of you had left a message with him and gone off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
To: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 14:56
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
So stop looking at her.
We went out dancing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 14:57
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
As in nightclubs?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
To: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 14:59
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
What other kind of dancing is there? You?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:06
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
Ronon and I just went back to the hotel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
To: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:07
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
The first time we're on Earth in how long, with guests to the planet, and you just go back to the hotel and went to bed?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:22
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
Yes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
To: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:24
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
Loser.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: elizabeth.weir@daedelus.net
To: john.sheppard@daedelus.net
Date: July 28th, 15:25
Subject: Re: state dinner
----
:P
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Epilogue
Teyla loved the clash of staves, the musical ring of wood on wood as she circled, attacking and defending. It was a tattoo in her mind, irregular and syncopated, familiar background as she spoke.
"You were so eager to go to Earth. Yet you did not explore the city at all."
Ronon stepped back, blocking her strikes with solid wards. "Didn't really have time." His mouth pulled back in a tight grin. "You and Sheppard disappeared early."
She drew him high and to the right, then tried to slip in to the low left. "He expressed boredom with the proceedings and we left as soon as possible." She locked her wrist as one staff blocked hers while the other staff batted her other hand away.
"Where'd you go?"
"A nightclub." The word was still unfamiliar on her lips for all that she'd spent the better part of the night in various ones.
"A nightclub?"
"It is a place where people go to dance to loud music with a percussive beat."
"Wasn't Sheppard wearing his uniform?" Ronon punctuated his words with an attack, bounding in to engage, then dropping back to circle again. "Not exactly casual clothing."
"We went back to the hotel so he could dress in casual clothing, then took one of their taxis to the club district."
"Hmf." Ronon got in a blow against her arm, she retaliated with a rap across his wrist. "Have fun?"
Teyla remembered the throng of dancers, people laughing and talking, the heat and energy of the place, so carelessly different to anything she'd ever known. She could not deny that it had been attractive in its own way - another aspect of vibrant life and brilliant living. "Yes. You?"
He gave her an odd look. "The dinner was okay."
"You were not bored?"
"Not really. Elizabeth dealt with most of the conversation - she's good at that."
"It is her job." She couldn't quite stifle the smile that ventured onto her lips. "And afterwards?"
Dark eyes narrowed at her and he circled around, striking wide and hard. "We went back to the hotel."
Teyla didn't let his attack distract her. "And?"
"And?"
"That is all?"
Ronon eyed her, suspicious of her questioning. "What else were you expecting?"
She give him no answer. Instead, she drew him on, block for blow, blow for block, pleased by the fight and amused by what she knew.
Not until they were finished, having drawn to an exhausted standstill, did Ronon repeat his question to her. "You never said what you were expecting."
Teyla screwed the lid back onto her water bottle and reached into her bag with a smile. She displayed the item to him, and his eyes opened wide as she tossed it to him. The morning sunlight glittered off the gold cufflink, and he caught it with ease.
"You left it behind in Elizabeth's room," she said, amused to see the surprise scrawled across his face -amused to have something with which to delicately reference for his understanding - just to watch him squirm a little.
As she picked up her bag and made to leave the gym, she paused. He looked up, both rueful at being caught out and wary of what she was going to say.
Teyla smiled demurely. "I did say the journey to Earth would be memorable, did I not?"
And with nothing more than a very broad smile, she sauntered back to the central city.
- fin -